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Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005–2006) (TV Series) Created by Dick Wolf

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 3:19 AM / comment : 0 , , , , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 27 February 2008)

OK maybe it was a bit too harsh to cancel this show after only 1 season and no, perhaps it was never given a fair chance and this still could had turned into yet another great watchable series of Law & Order episodes but I can also really understand why they just pulled the plug out of it.

Like most "Law & Order" watchers I always enjoyed most the second part, in which the prosecution of the crime in court took place. So having a "Law & Order" spin-off ENTIRELY focusing on the court part sounded like an awesome idea. It however never really worked out as it could had because of multiple reasons.

When the regular "Law & Order" first started off in 1990 there were zero female characters in it. They slowly changed it by inserting more female roles, such as Lt. Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson) and A.D.A. Claire Kincaid (Jill Hennessy), presumably because there was a demand for female characters. This "Law & Order" spin-off has 2 female characters as its main leads. Nothing wrong with having female leads but by watching this it becomes obvious that the "Law & Order" franchise just isn't ready yet to have female leads. The "Law & Order" universe always has been sort of a man's world, with strong tough male characters, as cops and prosecutors and everything around that. When a woman ever acts tough it's always the danger that she comes off as a bitchy type of character instead of tough. It then is also much harder to really care or sympathize ever for any of those characters. S. Epatha Merkerson still gets away with it in "Law & Order" and so does Mariska Hargitay in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" but that's because they are great actresses. Unfortunately Bebe Neuwirth and Amy Carlson weren't really. It was also a bit too obvious that they were cast more because of their looks. Looks that by the way really didn't fitted the parts they were playing.

But also the approach of storytelling made this show pretty poor to watch at times. We never got to see whatever really happened because the episodes obviously always started off with the prosecution part. It was often is if you had missed the first part and often it took a long time before you got an idea what crime had been committed. It made it painfully obvious that the "Law & Order" franchise shall always need the cop part of it.

But it also must be said that "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" had the unfortunate faith that Jerry Orbach died after filming only 2 episodes. It was obvious that Orbach was supposed to carry the series, in at least its first season, since he was already an established and well known face in the "Law & Order" franchise. They knew they were taking a risk with it because I believe that he was already seriously ill when this show began production. In the second episode he was already that sick that he couldn't speak anymore and they changed the final scene of that episode so that he could whisper, simply because he couldn't speak louder anymore. That scene is still a real special one to watch, just because it makes you realize how sick he was at that time and because it was his last ever shot sequences within a Law & Order series and in anything else really. After his death, Kirk Acevedo had to carry things on his own but he and his character just weren't good enough. The series also still had Fred Dalton Thompson as an already established face within the Law & Order franchise but his part only was always 3 minutes long at most. He wasn't just as much as Steven Hill got always used in "Law & Order", which also seemed like a great missed opportunity to me.

Also the way they wanted to show things from the 'presecuation' way was also quite poor at times. Basically the only thing that makes this thing differ from the prosecution sight shown in "Law & Order" is that we now always get to see the judge entering the courtroom from his/hers office and we often get a look into the jury room, while they are deliberating. Quite lame all if you ask me.

But also the stories for the different episodes just weren't much good. They are definitely not among the best written ones for any Law & Order series. It made some of the episodes just bad and terribly uninvolved to watch. Basically the greatest episode was the crossover one with "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" called night/day, starring also Angela Lansbury and Alfred Molina.

Obviously not the worst show that ever aired but I also won't exactly miss it either and you're basically still better of watching "Law & Order" or any of its other spin-offs.

6/10

WinneToons (TV Series 2002) Directed by Stefan Brönneke

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 4:43 PM / comment : 0 , , , , , , ,



(Review originally written at 30 July 2007)

This is an average but still of course perfectly watchable German animated production of the well known story of the fictive characters Winnetou and Old Shatterhand, by German author Karl May. An author who wrote several stories about Winnetou and Old Shatterhand, who are a rail road constructor and chief of the Apaches, who become blood brothers after saving each others life at several occasions.

To me it seemed that this production was mostly inspired by the Disney movie "Pocahontas", which also is about Indians. Several characters show some resemblances, most notably the comical sidekicks.

The comedy however mostly feels awkward and just isn't very funny but that's because this is a German production. Germans just aren't widely known for having the best sense of humor. It doesn't make this the most fun animated production to watch but the story is interesting and likable enough to keep the movie worthwhile, even though it has some very weak aspects in it and ridicules improbabilities. Most young children shall probably be bored pretty soon while watching this.

It's animations are really typically looking. You known, it's the kind of animated movie that uses zoom and camera-movements without that the drawings are really accustomed for it. There isn't spend too time on backgrounds or complicated movements. In some cases sequences even make sudden jumps and cuts, to avoid animations from ever becoming too complicated or time-consuming for the animators. Also the overall style is kept at all times simple.

I'm sure that there are some better 'Winnetou and Old Shatterhand' productions around, nevertheless this production still remains a watchable one, if you really have nothing else to do.

5/10

Crocodile Hunter (TV Series 1996–2004)

Posted by: Frank Veenstra Posted date: 10:23 AM / comment : 0 , , , , ,





(Review originally written at 4 September 2006)

Saddened and shocked by the sudden passing of Steve Irwin I decided to come here and post a comment for the television show he will always be remembered for; "Crocodile Hunter".

Thing that "Crocodile Hunter" taught us the most is that Steve Irwin was one unique character, who taught us the word 'crickey', with his typical Australian accent and other crazy Australian words and expressions. In a way he made the Australian dialect popular, all over the world. He had a passion for wildlife and crocodiles in particular, no doubt. But the way he expressed his love and passion was totally over-the-top.

When nothing else was on television and I was bored, I often watched a "Crocodile Hunter" episode. When watching the show you just knew, no matter what, that you're going to be entertained by Steve's overreactions, his silly antics, his jumping around and screaming and cheering. It gave Steve just as many haters as lovers and admirers, from all over the world. It made Steve Irwin one of the most colorful and vividly unique characters on television. Well aware of his own image Steve also often made advantage of it by appearing in television commercials all over the world and eventually even made a movie "The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course" in which he more or less spoofed himself, together with his wife and colleague Terri Irwin. There never has been a character like Steve Irwin before and there will never be one again.

The show often was more entertaining than educational and more hilarious than serious. Still it provided also some good information about the Australian wildlife. It also made it still interesting to watch, next to entertaining. Fans of wildlife shows will find definitely more than enough joy in this. Steve showed us things and places you never thought you would ever see. He certainly provided us with some unique and dangerous looking television.

Steve Irwin was brave but he was just as 'crazy'. He jumped (and I mean literally jumped) crocodiles, alligators and poisonous snakes like they formed no danger at all. His obsession almost seemed sick at times, especially when he carried his kids around with him under his arm, as a football, through dangerous swamps. I always was surprised that he never got seriously attacked or bitten and injured by an animal. He really crossed the lines at times. He had so many close calls. It sort of fits him that he died in 'action', while diving off the coast of Queensland and got stunned by a stingray through his chest, while shooting a documentary. He just was not the kind of person to die in bed at old age. Nevertheless fact is that Steve Irwin of course died way too young and he leaves a wife and two young children. He could had provided so much more educational but also mostly fun hours of television for years to come. But unfortunately it wasn't meant to be so...

Thanks for all those hours of entertaining television Steve. "Crocodile Hunter" will always be a television series to watch over and over again without ever getting boring. It will probably be still aired and remain popular for years to come. A really unique show with an unique character.

R.I.P. Steve Irwin.

8/10
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