Stephen King’s “Under the Dome” Series is Watchable, but Not Dark Enough

Stephen King is the “King” of horror and the macabre.  There have been more movie adaptions based upon his books than any other writer of his caliber so it is no surprise that his “Under the Dome” would make it to the screen.  Some of King’s movies keep you on the edge of your seat like the simple story of four boys on a journey to see a dead body in Stand By Me or a rabid St. Bernard who terrorizes a mom and her son and traps them in their car on one hot summer day (Spoiler – Dee Wallace’s character’s son dies in the book, but lives in the movie).  Other King renditions were doomed from the start like 1980’s The Shining which is the only adaptation that King “hated”.  (Strong words King since it was directed by none other than Stanley Kubrik – remember A Clockwork Orange?)  Almost 20 years later, King has The Shining re-done in a mini-series for television.  And let’s not forget The Stand, likely his best piece of work, that was first written in 1978, then re-released in a complete & uncut version in 1990 with 400 additional pages!  The Stand became a mini-series in 1994, but even with big name actors 1,152 pages was too much story for the writers.

Once again, King is trying his luck on the small screen with a 13 episode series for his 2009 novel Under the Dome.  Now, I haven’t read the book, but I know King and I know his penchant for the things that lurk in the dark, sinister corners of the mind.  He takes a simple situation and twists it ever so slowly into a nightmare beyond comprehension.  As you can tell I am a fan of his work; although, I haven’t read anything of his in many years.  So Under the Dome aired this past summer and I decided to wait until it was done…and then I would watch the entire mini-series at once.  Trust me, this is better than waiting week after week to catch the next episode.

After watching the what is now to be called Season 1 (they have signed on for a Season 2), I have the following commentary.  First, let me say the series was watchable, but not memorable.  Second, CBS was clearly the wrong choice for this series.  FX, AMC or better yet, Showtime would have been much better choices. Cable channels can go where public television cannot.  Can you imagine if The Walking Dead or SOA or Game of Thrones had been on a prime time channel?  I shudder to think of it…

Let’s start with the actors.  Not a who’s who or even an A-Lister here.  Jeff Fahey (The Lawnmower Man) and Mare Winningham (St. Elmo’s Fire) are the most reognizable, but both only make in two episodes before they are killed off.  Dean Norris, Rachelle Lafavre and Mike Vogel make up the major characters along with a number of young adult and teen actors.

Dean Norris is the resident bad guy. He plays a town council member and used car salesman. Dean’s previous roles are as a supporting actor on Breaking Bad and Medium.  He does an ok job, but I would rather have had someone else in this role.  Dean just fails to pull off the corrupt politician role.  Alexander Koch who plays Norris’s son “Junior” is the most annoying actor on the show.  Koch hasn’t done much acting and now I see why. Maybe he should look for another line of work.

Rachelle Lafavre, who plays the wife of a deceased, indebted gambler, does decent job as one of the key players.  She plays the editor of the town’s local newspaper.  Rachelle’s previous acting roles include the Twilight series, which as anyone knows me that I am not a fan of tween movies.  I like the character Julie Shumway;  I am trying not to hold that against her and give her credit for her acting in this role.

Another actor who falls short is Mike Vogel who plays a traveler who happened to be passing through Chester’s Mill at the time the dome came down.  Vogel’s character “Barbie” is a former Army vet who served in Afghanistan.  Vogel doesn’t come across as someone who has done a lot of killing in his life.

CBS gives Under the Dome a bright splash of color, some droll dialogue and sub-par acting.  This makes for great prime time television, but leaves the viewer wishing they had not wasted their time.  Overall, if you like predictable, safe drama, then this is for you.  I likely won’t watch Season 2.

Rating – 2 out of 5 Zombie Brains

 

 

Review: “Skyfall” misses the mark

Skyfall is the twenty-third film in the James Bond franchise starring Daniel Craig as 007.  Dame Judi Dench reprises her role as “M” and Javier Bardem plays the villain, along with newcomers Ralph Feinnes, Naomie Harris and Ben Wishaw.  This is Daniel Craig’s third time as the suave, sophisticated, and debonair agent, and unfortunately not his last.  The series was rebooted with Craig in Casino Royal which was originally a 1967 satirical comedy starring Peter Sellers.  Controversy has surrounded the selection of Craig as the latest James Bond.  For starters, he was 38 when he took over the role versus Sean Connery who was 32.  Connery had 6 films under his belt as 007 by age 41, but Craig who is 45 only has half of that.

Skyfall is not about James Bond, but about his relationship with M.  Judi Dench’s character plays a major role in the film.  This is probably the most we have ever seen of M who dies at the end of the film.  Daniel Craig’s portrayal of the iconic character is tiring and apathetic.  He does have a few good one liners, but it is not enough to make him believable.  There is very little action in this latest film.  The opening sequence is done in typical Bond-faire, but the remainder of the film is like a slow moving train chugging along down the track heading for a cliff. The ending is bombastic, but the mundane, boring and predictable.

The villain is the most disappointing of the film.  Javier Bardem was exceptional in No Country for Old Men, but his character Silva is gaudy and flamboyant and lacks maniacal style.  Little is known of Silva who doesn’t even make an appearance until more than midway through the movie.  One scene requires Bond to shoot the shot glass off the head of a sex slave he met earlier.  The flintlock black powder pistol shakes in his hand as a henchman holds a gun to his head and Silva taunts him.  Bond shoots and misses (no surprise).  Silva quickly shoots and kills the girl with little fanfare.  As the shot glass hits the ground Bond blandly comments about a waste of good scotch.  This is the same woman he made love to just 15 minutes prior.  This shows a side of Bond who clearly lacks compassion and caring.

The most promising portions of the movie go to Ben Wishaw who plays Q and Naomie Harris who plays Moneypenny.  Both are invigorating and breath new life into their characters.  This just isn’t enough to save the failing Skyfall.  Director Sam Mendes spends too much time on developing the relationship between Bond and M.  He tries to save it with nostalgia and incorporate the original Aston Martin, which has already appeared in several Bond films since it was first used.

Overall, Skyfall struggles to breath life into a dying franchise.  Daniel Craig is just not believable as 007 and it’s frightening to think that he is signed on for two more movies.  At the rate they are going, he will be in his mid fifties by the time he is done.  I don’t look for the series to get any better in the near future.

Rating – 2 out of 5 Zombie Brains