Favorite Moments from Community: Season 2

About a month ago, I wrote a blog about my favorite moments from Community. (The best show on television that no one watches.)  In my first post I focused exclusively on episodes from season 1. Now it is time to move on and focus on season 2. Let us begin

Anthropology 101
This episode is episode one of season 2 and it picks up right where season 1 left off. The group is back from summer vacation and is in a new class together, Anthropology. (Which is taught by the eternally funny Betty White.) The fallout of the Jeff/Annie kiss is explored, and Troy begins posting Pierce sayings as tweets. Truly wonderful. Here's a fun clip of Annie finding out about Jeff and Britta hooking up.



Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Not only is Community laugh out loud funny, but it has heart and a moral message. This episode is a perfect example. Jeff is worried that "Fat" Neil is depressed, so he and the group invite him to a very special game of Dungeons & Dragons. Pierce, furious to be left out of the game, crashes it and becomes the villian we all know he can be. This is television at its finest. There's humor, sorrow, and the experience of seeing things from another person's perspective. Plus there's this:



Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas
This episode is almost entirely in claymation. CLAYMATION PEOPLE!!!! That alone is worth watching. But the fact that they bring back the old school Holiday episode just warms my nostalgic heart. This will be an episode I watch around Christmas time.



Critical Film Studies
It's an episode about a Pulp Fiction party that is encased in another movie, which I do not wish to spoil. Just keeping everything straight is a miracle. So many great character moments between Jeff and Abed. Like this one:



A Fistfull of Paintballs/ For a Few More Paintballs
Much like Modern Warfare from season 1, I cannot write a description that will do these two episodes justice. Just sit back and watch this.




P.S. They make an Ice Cream cone EVIL!!! How crazy is that?!?!?!?!?!?

Ghostbusters II: Soundtrack Found on Cassette

I recently unearthed an old cassette tape I made when I was in eighth grade. It is the soundtrack to one of my favorite movies, Ghostbusters II. It is a great representation of late 80's goodness. Majority of the soundtrack is done by Bobbie Brown, and it has some very catchy songs. I am right now in the process of converting it to audio files so that I can listen to it on my iPod.

But just listening to it reminds me of how much I enjoy the Ghostbusters' universe. It is grounded in a scientific reality, but has imagination to it. When I was little, I would run around the house busting ghosts. So much fun, and the toys were pretty amazing. Additionally, Ghostbusters really lends itself well to comics. IDW is doing a monthly series that I am a big fan of.

I think it is time to take a trip down memory lane and have a screening of Ghostbusters II.

A Great New Television Show and A Great New Book Store

Recently I was introduced to a new show on the SyFy network called Alphas. It is about a team of investigators that have special genetic mutations. The team consists of Dr. Lee Rosen who is the leader and has no special abilities. Bill who can activate his fight or flight response and increase his strength and endurance levels. Gary, an autistic person who can see the electromagnetic signals of digital devices such as cellphones, the Internet, and television. Rachel who can increase her five senses to extremely high levels. Nina who has the ability to influence (mind control) others. And finally Cameron who has perfect aim and balance. 

The premise is very similar to the X-Men. The big question of the show is how will humanity react when it learns that there are super-powered beings in the world. Even though it is not a completely original premise, the show is original. The character Gary has one of the most original and interesting super-powers in the genre. In a world that is so dependent on digital technology, having a human that can trace these devices presents many interesting plot lines.

The second season premiered back in late July and will continue through the end of September. The first season is also on Netflix streaming, I just finished it, and I am ready to start season 2.

Secondly  I was on a field trip downtown for my job yesterday and I so happened to discover a new independent bookstore. It is called After-Words Bookstore. It is off of State and Illinois. It is an absolutely wonderful bookstore. They have an incredible selection. In fact I found John Lennon's In His Own Write, which I thought was long out of print, and Raise High the Roof Beam and Franny and Zooey by my favorite author J.D. Salinger in hardcover editions.

The atmosphere of After-Words is that of the perfect bookstore. Quiet, peaceful. I personally cannot wait to go back there. If you are in the neighborhood, go check it out.

Community...My Favorite Episodes

Over the past few months, I have become a massive fan of the show Community. I have not enjoyed a comedy this much since the first two seasons of 30 Rock. Community is absolutely ridiculous with some of its storylines, yet at the same time is grounded in reality. But what makes Community so good, what is at its heart, is the characters. Jeff, Britta, Annie, Troy, Shirley, Chang, Pierce, and of course Abed are a misfit group that you can't help but love. The show is a great character study of today's society and the views of young people.

Here are a few of my favorite episodes from season 1. (I wasn't able to get clips for every episode.)


Introduction to Film
This is one of the earliest episodes of the show. (The third episode I believe.) And it explores the back story of Abed. It does a great job of highlighting the bond between the group and how they view their respective roles in the group.


Introduction to Statistics
Community's first Halloween episode. Like the first 10 Simpsons Halloween specials, these are can't miss. Non-stop laughs throughout in which Annie hosts a Dia de los Muertos party, Jeff tries to hook up with a professor, and Pierce takes some pills he got from Star Burns.



Romantic Expressionism
This is one of the earliest episodes to explore the Jeff and Annie romance. Annie is dating Britta's ex-boyfriend, hence Jeff and Britta need to act as Annie's parents and break them up. This happens while the rest of the gang watch terrible movies, a la Mystery Science Theater 3000.



Investigative Journalism
As someone who runs a college newspaper, I found so much truth with this episode. The dean puts Jeff in charge of the school newspaper.

Modern Warfare
WATCH THIS EPISODE!! I don't want to write too much, but I will say this. It is one of the greatest television episodes I have ever seen. If this episode does not win you over, nothing will.



P.S. This was a very hard list to pick. Watch the entire first season, there is not a bad episode. Especially Contemporary American Poultry, Abed starts a mafia racket over chicken strips.

A New Podcast Idea

So I'm thinking of starting a new podcast with a music buddy of mine. The theme of the podcast would be vinyl and independent record shops. My friend and I are big fans of listening to music on vinyl. We find it to be a superior listening experience. Additionally we would review, interview, and promote independent record shops. These record shops are so vital to the music industry. Currently however they are dying. So anything we can do to help promote them, would be terrific.

My question is, what are today's music generations preferred music listening experience? I'm sure it is digital, but why? Is it the convenience factor? This can be something the podcast explores. Does this sound like a good idea?

A Good Belly Laugh

So it has been well documented here that I love the NBC show Community. It is one of the most creative comedies I have ever seen, and has provided me with some great laugh out loud moments. Then came last night. I watched the episode "Pillows and Blankets" from season 3. The episode parodies a Ken Burns' Civil War documentary and traces the pillow war between Abed's Pillowtown and Troy's Blanketsburg.

There is a scene in this episode where Abed releases his secret weapon. I cannot explain to you how hard I laughed. I completely lost it for about 10mins. Below is the scene that made me laugh so hard, but I recommend you do not watch it. To truly get that great belly laugh, you need context and thus you need to watch the entire episode. Luckily below is the link to the entire episode. But watch it quick, it is only up until 8.6.12.

Full Episode

A Great Scene

P.S. I link because I do not want to spoil anything.

Batman & Robin: Ice to See You

In honor of The Dark Knight Rises release this week, I am continuing my series of reviews of bad superhero movies. The question I am asking is, "Are they truly as bad as I remember?" Today's entry is the Creme de la Creme. The movie that almost destroyed the Batman movie franchise, Batman & Robin. Much has been said about this film, but does it deserve the reputation it has?

First a little back story. I cannot wait for The Dark Knight Rises, so in order to prepare myself for the awesomeness that is to come, I thought it would be fun to watch one Batman movie a week until July 20th. I began with the original 1966 movie Batman, starring Adam West. I then worked my way down the list until I arrived at this 1997 film, in which the dynamic duo take on the dastardly Mr. Freeze, the seductive Poison Ivy, and the meat head known as Bane. (Side note, Bane will not be a meat head in Dark Knight Rises.)

So what were the conclusions I came too? Drum roll please....

Short answer yes, it is absolutely one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my entire life. Long answer, no, it is kind of a fun cartoony ride. Let me explain. The main problem that Batman & Robin faces is that it takes itself seriously. Very seriously. At the same time, the schemes of the villains are like the schemes of villains you would see on Saturday morning cartoons. I mean come on, Mr. Freeze turns a telescope into a freeze gun, and then our heroes, after a quick costume change, unfreeze the entire city of Gotham by using sun light. This is all accomplished in about 8 seconds.

Additionally, George Clooney is quite possibly the worst Batman ever!!!!! He talks in his normal Bruce Wayne voice when he is Batman. So much for a secret identity I guess.

Now I could go on and on about the utter crap of this movie (the dialogue anyone), but there are some redeeming factors in this movie too. The Alfred dying story arch I found to be very heart felt, and brought out a side of the Batman character we have never seen before. As a fan of the Batman universe, I for one never think of Alfred actually dying. I see Alfred as always being there, providing wisdom and guidance to Batman. But what would Batman's reaction be to his closest confidant's death? I find this to be a really interesting question. If this story arch was done seriously, it could be the driving force for an entire movie that would be different from every other Batman movie we have ever seen.

Secondly, Uma Thurman's performance as Poison Ivy. Given the material to work with, and the universe that her character resides in, Thurman's Poison Ivy is pretty menacing. And brings out a long brewing feud between Batman and Robin. In the comics, Ivy is known using sexual charms to manipulate individuals, and to enact her plans against our heroes. Poison Ivy does actually that in this film. Not only that, I do not believe any red blooded American male will complain about seeing her in tight green leather.

So ultimately my conclusion for Batman & Robin is, if you are looking for a film to watch with your friends and crack jokes about, Batman & Robin is your movie, and you will have a lot of fun doing it. When you watch this movie, think of it as a continuation of the Adam West Batman or as a Saturday morning cartoon. If you view it like this, you will not be disappointed. If you are looking for a serious Batman movie, DO NOT WATCH THIS!!!! Watch The Dark Knight or Batman Begins or Batman Returns. These would make a far better choice. Until then, three day until the epic conclusion!