HIMYM Novelty Episodes

How I Met Your Mother has definitely waned in recent years, but it’s easy to forget, it can actually be quite an inventive sitcom. Over its run, it’s had a pretty regular stream of episodes experimenting with flashing forwards and backwards, breaking up multiple stories into pieces, and altering narratives based on hazy recollections. I like to think of these as concept episodes, and below are the top 15

15. "Brunch"
Over brunch with Ted’s parents, unresolved tensions come to light, in 3 separate parts of the story, including Barney’s antics with Ted’s dad, Lily and Marshall’s reconciliation of sorts, and a revelation of divorce. It’s quite a nice mix of stories but after the events of previous episodes, Lily and Marshall’s story felt forced, and as always, Barney stole the show

14. "The Burning Beekeeper"
Much like Brunch above, this is the story of a chaotic scene at a party, the build up to which is revealed through individual stories. Perhaps this episode should be higher on the list, but the individual stories were all so over the top, and I don’t really like the character of Lily’s dad, who is a lazy stereotype played without imagination.

13. "Bad News"
The main gimmick in this episode is an idea borrowed from the film “Murder by Numbers” in which numbers randomly placed in the background sequentially count down throughout the episode. It’s a nice idea and it gave the episode a thrust which it otherwise wouldn’t have had, but the numbers were generally too obvious and ended up a little distracting. Subtlety would have gone a long way here

12. "Trilogy Time"
A flashback/forward episode in which we trace the gang’s tradition of watching the Star Wars Trilogy every three years, and predicting what their lives will be like in the future, starting with the year 2000. With each flashback 2003,2006 and 2009, we see how the characters have changed, and how their predictions were shaped by who they were at that point in their lives. Since some of these flashbacks also fall within the run of the show itself, the writers also get to have a little fun. A simple idea but it works very well.

11. "Lucky Penny"
This reminds of Malcolm in the Middle’s season 2 opener “Traffic Jam” in which Hal obsesses how a few minor differences in the moments leading up to a traffic jam could have led to him being in an accident. The same idea applies here, as Ted and Robin try to work back through all the minor little things in their day, which have led to him being late for a potentially life-changing flight. Again, a simple little idea but executed well, and with a healthy dollop of comedy.

10. "Disaster Averted"
Not exactly a concept episode, but close enough. This one uses a story framed in the past, coupled with flashbacks to what happened during Hurricane Irene. Since this falls within the run of the show, we essentially get an ‘in-between-sode” from a few seasons earlier.

9. "Three Days of Snow"
Another nice idea plays out in this episode, which involves three separate stories on what you initially think is the same day of a particularly bad snow storm. Only at the end do we see that they are actually set on sequential days, and the final act where Marshall meets Lily at the airport is as sweet as anything the show has managed. Ted hitting on a cute Star Wars fan and running a fake bar ‘Puzzles’ with Barney is another highlight in a very funny episode.

8. "The Playbook"
Barney episodes are often the best simply because he’s one of the most fun characters. This one sees him orchestrating a very elaborate plan to pick up a girl at the bar, the details of which are constantly changing so that the viewer never realises what’s going on until the very end. As usual, Barney ends up playing everyone. Classic


7. "The Bracket"
With a mystery woman sabotaging Barney’s pickup attempts, a sports-style bracket is created to whittle down the list of suspects. What’s great about this one is the number of ex-girlfriends we’ve seen previously on the show, cropping up again here. Great continuity aside, it’s also very funny, as most Barney episodes are, and the final reveal is unexpected

6. "Subway Wars"
A surprisingly exciting episode, this one features a race to get to a restaurant, as different members of the gang all believe they know the fastest modes of transport in New York. The race element is like a competition and you end up rooting for different people as things progress. It’s also nice to see Ranjit again. The final scene with Ted and Barney is also surprisingly sweet

5. "Perfect Week"
Imagined from the point of view of Barney talking to a talk show host, this is the story of the Barney trying to get 7 girls over 7 nights aka the Perfect Week. His antics end up distracting the rest of the gang from the personal problems they have going on, and in the end, everyone is cheering him on. Pure fantasy, but a great combination of character, setup, and one liners.

4. "Third Wheel"
This episode is essentially Ted and Barney recapping what happened when both of them tried to have a threesome on the same night, cutting back and forth between the two stories. The story itself is simple enough, but it provides for a lot of comedy, and a surprising amount of characterisation for both leads, and a commendably open ending. The inclusion on a WWE championship wrestling belt and Trudy from "The Pineapple Incident" (below), sweeten things even further

3. "The Platinum Rule"
This is classic HIMYM in every sense. With Ted thinking about dating Stella, his tattoo removal doctor, Barney explains that you should never try to form a relationship with someone you see regularly. It splits the gang up into 3 groups who tell intercut stories, about attempts over successive years to defy the rule, each in turn ending in failure. The brilliance is how well crafter a theory it becomes, using so many differing stories to build the case. I also quite like Wendy the waitress (from Barney’s tale) so that’s a plus.

2. "Ted Mosby: Architect"
Another episode that pulls the wool over the viewer’s eyes, it basically has Robin drive Ted away, and then spend the night investigating what seems like a stream of debauchery on his part, seen through ‘imagined’ flashbacks. It’s only at the end that we see the truth of what happened, and how Barney used Ted’s name and job to get laid. Barney’s form letter at the end is priceless

1. "The Pineapple Incident"
This episode has the highest ratings of the show so far, and for good reason. It’s awesome! Essentially Ted drinks too much, and wakes up in bed next to a mystery girl. Various members of the group, crudely made signs, and obscure voicemails all slowly piece together the mystery of what happened last night. Very Very Very funny.

Films you might not know were based on books Part 1

AKA the Books behind the films. We all know classic examples like The Godfather and Jurassic Park, but here are a few lesser known examples

Shrek

The long-running Dreamworks franchise revitalised Eddie Murphy's flailing career and used to include the highest grossing animated film of all time (Shrek 2, until it was replaced by Toy Story 3). It is inspired by "Shrek!", a picture book written and illustrated William Steig in 1990

Mrs Doubtfire

As lowbrow as this may be, it's in many respect a powerful demonstration of how Robin Williams can often squeeze so much from so little. A comedy about divorce and a transvestite nanny, it was based on the slightly more serious novel Madame Doubtfire, (also known as Alias Madame Doubtfire) from1987

Jumanji

This great 1995 family film features Williams again, this time in a story about a jungle based board game coming to life. The special effects look dated now, but they were cutting edge at the time. Based very loosely on a short illustrated story of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg


Homeward Bound

I adored this when I was a child. Its basically about some household pets who get left behind in a move, and cross the country in search of their owners and their new home. Very funny when you're young, especially Michael J Fox. It was based on The Incredible Journey  by Sheila Burnford, and actually a movie of the same name was also produced in the 60s. Another version of the same story exists with home appliances called The Brave Little Toaster which I also recommend

Psycho

A Hitchcock classic, which gave us the now oft-referenced shower scene, and an oddly soulless remake by Gus Van Sant. It was actually based on Psycho by Robert Bloch, which was released a year before the film was

Die Hard

Arguably the greatest action film ever made, this is a film that every man in the entire world loves. Its contained action comedy gave us a cocky hero who looked like he's gone to hell and back by the end, and a delicious euro-baddie in Hans Gruber. It was based  on Nothing Lasts Forever by Roderick Thorp although much license was taken, including making the hero younger, and adding more comedy

Dr Strangelove

IMDB often lists this as the greatest comedy ever made, and while I wouldn't go that far, it is a great bit of film making. It rarely outright jokes, though little throwaway gags do crop up, but the ingenuity is how the absurdity of the potential Apocalypse plays out with such realism. It was based on Peter George’s 1958 novel Red Alert, although the original simply details the ease with which Armageddon can occur - Kubrick turns this into a fully realised black comedy

Roger Rabbit

 A cult classic, and quite a clever idea to boot, this was a tale of a classic noir detective, crossed with looney toons style hijinks. It was based on Who Censored Roger Rabbit by Gary Wolf

Howl’s Moving Castle 

 This story of a young, inexperienced wizard is actually one of my least favourite Studio Ghibli productions and I guess this is one reason why. Instead of being an original idea, it is a modified version of the young adult fantasy book of the same name by Diana Wynne Jones.

First Blood

One of Stallone's 2 great franchises (although he's working hard on establishing his third), the first is by far and away the best. Dark, and claustrophobic, the tale of a Vietnam vet with PTSD trapped by a local sheriff was based on First Blood by David Morrell, written back in 1972 novel. If Hollywood had followed the novel's bleaker ending, we could all have been spared Rambo III

John Carter

This may have been a major box office flop, but I quite liked it. With some sharper scripting and editing, it may even have been our generations Star Wars. Unfortunately it was a bit confusing and unevenly paced, and the romantic chemistry lacklustre. It is based on A Princess of Mars, a 1917 pulp science fantasy novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, which is the first in a series of eleven. Hollywood had their eyes on sequels but the massive box office failure has killed all those plans

Hugo

Scorsese's first Children's/family film was met with great critical praise, but I never fell in love with it. It was sweet, but it all seemed a bit too forced for me, a bit like Burton's Big Fish. Also the British accents just grated for some reason. It is based on The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

This is an unusual one, in that the film is now very famous, as an example of errant American Youth in the 80s. What's less known is Cameron Crowe adapted the film from his own book of the same name, published a year earlier, which was a non-fiction account of his time undercover as a student in a high school

Girl, Interrupted

This mental institution drama features Angelina Jolie is one of her better roles, alongside shoplifter Ryder. It was based on Susanna Kaysen's memoir of the same name

Brokeback Mountain

I've not seen this, but its well know, unfortunately, as being "that gay cowboy film," though in truth I'm sure its much more. It was based on a 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx


Friday Night Lights

A quiet little film by Peter Berg which itself spawned a 5 series TV show, this all began as a non-fiction book called  Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H. G. Bissinger. It was an account of the Primeron Panthers, a High school Football team in Texas, and the biases and inequalities Bissinger observed during their season

List of Sci-fi Technologies, and the (possible) Science Behind Them, part 1

 Hey guys, here's the second half of tis post. Apologies it wasn't out sooner, I wrote it and then Blogger lost/deleted it, So I had to finish it again from an old copy!

Laser Guns
In nearly all sci-fi, the guns of the future are no longer metal projectiles, but rather some form of laser or ray gun. Let’s break these down to basic types.
Some Guns show a shot of bright laser shooting off from the gun to the target. Since lasers travel at light speed, this is clearly inaccurate. The only way to produce such a weapon would be sort of luminescent projectile weapon, like a gun that fires miniature torches. The projectiles/bullets themselves would be more like mini missiles or torpedoes, a bit like laser bombs. The technology for such projectiles is probably not far off, but the bigger question is, why would you bother? There are other cheaper, simpler weapons, which are just as effective.
A laser weapon in the most accurate sense, would fire a continuous beam, like a very confined line of torchlight. The Star Trek phaser is probably the most similar weapon in this regard. Lasers already exist today, (laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) but even with the phaser model there are several limits. Firstly, comes the issue of beam confinement. Obviously a precision laser is too narrow, unless you want to burn a 1mm hole in your enemy. What's needed instead is a large bore weapon, which is more difficult to produce. Interestingly enough, Microwave beams may hold the answer, Masers instead of Lasers
Secondly, comes the problem of power. A laser can cut through incredibly dense materials, as hard even as diamond, but this cutting takes a long time, which is a bit useless in a weapon. The solution is a much more powerful laser, which runs at a much higher temperature. The beam would only fire for a fraction of a second, before automatically turning off, but in that time, the energy would already have cut some way into the material: you could do some serious damage. The beam would have to turn off, otherwise you'd always run the risk of shooting behind your target. It would be like firing a gun with bullets that never stop. There are currently limits to what power we can produce but also the size of this power source. Giant batteries and lasers needing a mains power socket are obviously impractical.
Lastly, the Geneva Conventions ban laser and microwave weaponry, so production has effectively stalled. Verdict: very much within humanity's grasp

Artificial Intelligence
This is used both regards to both robots and androids, as well as with modes of transport. We all remember KITT from Knight Rider, and most sci-fi ships have some form of intelligent operating system. Even in the real world, there have been leaps and bounds in this area, with huge investment in various projects. MIT even hosts its own yearly competitions. The older thinking was to structure the computer code like you would most machine code, analysing inputs, checking against databases, and producing appropriate responses. This could certainly mimic human responses, but it wasn’t truly intelligent. The newer methods employ bots: code that behaves like a robot. Programmers have taken a leaf out of nature's book, and decided that rather than building a fully formed system, it’s better to build a simple bot, which actively learns. Verdict: Plausible, but true AI is still a long long way off

Force Fields
Force fields are basically invisible energy barriers, which are effectively impenetrable. They are used as prison doors in Buck Rogers, plasma containment fields in Star Trek, and spaceship shields in pretty much everything.
How they work is only ever been explained vaguely, as a layer of electrons, or some other mumbo jumbo. The reality? Far more complicated.
When one object touches another, the two layers of atoms at the surface are repelled by electrostatic forces. Its these forces which prevent one object from passing right through another, and incidentally its these same forces which must be overcome to cause nuclear fusion. So how do we artificially reproduce this effect?
There are 2 main schools of thought on the subject. Both are cheat methods, but the first is slightly less so. This method uses electrostatic forces and involves creating a very thin film made of fabric threads, which are essential a long line of tiny electromagnets. The collective field generated by the mesh produces a constant electromagnetic charge. The US military looked into this idea as an anti-espionage system, but the truth is a proper force field is just not plausible. Given the architecture and the energy requirements, the field could never be powerful enough to repel a person, and at that high a power level, secondary ionising and ferromagnetic effects would occur. Also it’s not a proper force field, because once you turn it off, you still can’t walk through it.
The second option is not to think of it as a shield, or a wall, or a layer. Instead, visualise it as a shape or space, which cannot to breached. Then, if an object tries to fly into the area, an opposing force or neutralising effect can be initiated. It’s a bit like throwing golf balls at a building with an excellent sniper. Each time you throw one, if it reaches a set distance from the house, no matter what the angle, it gets shot out of the sky and blown away. From the outside, it would appear as if nothing can pass a certain 'invisible wall' around the house.
This doesn’t work in the context of containment shields like jail doors or those functioning as solid matter, but it does have applications as a feasible equivalent of a spaceship shield. The big problem is the number of repellent beams/turrets. If you fire ten shots at a ship at once, you expect all ten to be blocked, but any system like this, will have to have a maximum limit Verdict: Highly unlikely, maybe even impossible

FTL travel and Time Machines
I’m not going to go into much detail in this, because pointlesstown has already covered a lot of this topic HERE. Essentially any FTL journey involves an element of causality violation. While there are theoretical solutions to the problems inherent in time travel, the only way such equations can be solved involves employing some very complex theories, which currently don’t hold anywhere near conclusive evidence. Even if these ideas worked, the generation of super intense, localised gravity fields and energy levels high enough to cause objects to approach light speed, are well beyond our grasp Verdict: near enough impossible

List of Sci-fi Technologies, and the (possible) Science Behind Them, part 1

This is quite a long one so we're gonna have to break it into 2. Here's the first part:

Transporters
These are used to instantaneously 'beam' objects from one location to another, in shows like Star Trek and Stargate. In theory, this would require a computer system capable of mapping each individual atom in an object, in sequence, fast enough to make a copy before the structure of that object changes ie from heat, air currents, and in the case of living things, ageing. It would then require the object to be destroyed, and the atomic dust fired off to another location, at which point another computer would rebuild the atoms from scratch, reforming the object.
Obviously the computing power required for even small objects would be absurdly beyond our capabilities, and the machine to break down and rebuild atomic structures from the ground up is well beyond our capabilities. Firing the atomic dust beam also creates a problem, since it has to be able to pass though walls etc or else you could only beam between two separate regions of a vacuum or low density gas. This may potentially be solved by the concept of quantum tunnelling, which in simple terms means the following:  In Quantum theory, Sum over Histories states that a particle follows every possible path between two points, and thus it has no set value for its momentum or position, but rather an infinite range of possibilities which all have differing probabilities, nine of which can be zero. So when you fire a beam of particles at an impenetrable barrier, logic dictates that the barrier stops them, seeing as how its impenetrable. But quantum tunnelling predicts that some make it through since the probability that they're on the other side can't be zero. Its a fascinating subject, which might just hold the key to teleportation.
The alternative to all this mumbo jumbo is simply not to transport the atoms. Afterall, there are plenty of free atoms lying around, why not just use those to rebuild the object at the destination site? The answer is mainly philosophical. Questions arise as to whether the new construct can be called the same object, even though it structurally identical. In the case of human transport, issues of rebuilding 'the soul' also come into play.
Verdict: Unlikely to ever be possible

 Artificial Gravity
While the idea of a spaceship with gravity seems logical,  the reality is, the idea came about due to restrictions with film effects and budgets. Creating a zero gravity effect requires filming inside a high altitude aircraft sharply descending, and even then, the descent only gives you a few minutes without gravity. The film Apollo 13 required  thousands of these descents to film. So more to the point: is artificial gravity actually possible? The short answer is, 'it depends'.
Our understanding of the laws of gravity may be good, but its mechanisms remain elusive. The graviton is the boson responsible for generating the force in question, but that hasn't seemed to help us a lot. I read about an experiment several years ago involving metallic plates, which allegedly reduced mass readings by 2%, and even caused a column of cigar smoke to rise. Ive heard nothing since on the subject.
The most realistic version of this concept I've seen, was on the space station show Babylon 5. Rather than some magic, unexplained device, it showed large rotating components as the answer. The space station was essentially like a giant centrifuge, designed such that there was a giant rotating drum, the inner surface of which served as a habitat. Calculations have shown the viability of such a system, with the inner surface so large that the curve becomes barely discernible to humans on the surface, whilst the centripetal force is strong enough to mimic gravity. The major physics problem left to overcome is inertia, but there's a more fundamental issue: construction. A component this large and complex is far far beyond our current capabilities.
Verdict: Artificial gravity in its truest sense will probably elude us, but alternatives to mimic it may one day be viable.

Androids and Cyborgs
Lets start with the first one. Androids are basically entirely made of robotic machinery, arranged in a somewhat humanoid form. Sometimes these are helpers, sometimes soldiers, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes from Lost in Space to Forbidden Planet to I, Robot.
Our current level of technology in the field of robotics is frankly astounding. We can make robots these days with incredible speed and balance. Even so, we have a long way to go. The innervated,muscular nature of the human body provides a very large range of diverse, complex and intricate movements, which is difficult to replicate robotically. Diversity is the main problem, as robots can often mimic some elements of the human body, but not all. Key current problems include a sufficient power supply, durability/life span, and especially circuitry limitations. The human nervous system allows for very intricate muscle movements, but the equivalent robotic circuitry encounters problems. As the circuits get smaller, certain electro-physical effects start to come into play. The only way to circumvent them is with even smaller computers, working at the atomic level, which is still some way off. The research is there, and computing power is growing exponentially, so its only a matter of time.
Now to Cyborgs. Unlike androids, which are entirely robotic, cyborgs are part robot, part organic flesh. One thing limiting this field of study is psychological, since the thought of us as humans built over robotic skeletons, is distinctly unpalatable. Blending robotic technology with muscle and nerve tissue is tricky business, but there have recently been great advances in organic computing, and myoelectric prosthetics are commonplace these days.
Verdict: Highly likely in the future

To be continued...

Marisa Tomei's 8 Greatest Films

When you hear of  Marisa Tomei... well actually she's not really talked about. The few mentions she does get are to complain that she didn't win the Oscar. Well I've recently discovered that she's been multiple Film of The Year Winners, she's 48 and still smoking hot, and...well actually I don't need a 3rd reason. Here's some of her awesome back catalogue

8. Oscar

Many view this Sly Stallone gangster comedy as a misstep in every way possible, but I think that's just being hard and humourless. The film is very stupid, to be sure, but there are classic screwball antics, and the sorts of farcical mix ups found in episodes of Frasier. A guilty pleasure

7. 4 Rooms

This is a film for people who like films. A sprawling drama focusing on a number of different guest rooms in one hotel, loosely linked by a Bell Hop, it features early directorial work from Rodiguez and Tarentino. Tomei has a smaller, but nonetheless substantial role in the Honeymoon suite scenes

6. The Flamingo Kid

I love coming of age dramas, and this one is a great classic, starring a young Matt Dillon. It reminds me a bit of Adventureland, the comedic story of a young man finding himself. And the young Tomei is surprisingly different looking to now

5. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

This story of brothers robbing their parents' jewellery store never really struck a chord with me. But whilst I was never too keen on, it definitely seemed to win over critics and the such. Trust me, the Tomei sex scene with Seymour-Hoffman is something you'll wish you could unsee

4. The Ides of March

A strong contender in its year, the Ides of March was complex, broody and intelligent. Tomei's role was fairly small, but its her characters which brings about some of the biggest changes that draw this political drama to its third act

3. The Wrestler

Playing a stripper with a heart of gold, who semi-starts dating a retired pro wrestler may seem like a ridiculous cliche, but its to Tomei's great credit that she is both convincing, and endearing. A wonderfully human performance, in a great film full of them

2. Happy Accidents

If film of the year was around back then, this film would 100% have won it. A romcom of sorts, but about the nature of fate, and co-incidence, coupled with an element of time travel, you have to see it to understand why its sooo good.

1. Crazy Stupid Love

I LOVE this film, so no surprise its number one. A romcom, but featuring a wide variety of differing, interconnecting scenarios and characters, with the bizarre nature of love at its central them. It also has an excellent number of scenes exploring mid life crisis, and all the cast are wonderful.

Favourite Tv Characters of the 2008-2009 Season

I think my posts are often too broad, so here's something mega-specific! This is a really difficult list, especially for me, since I watch so much TV!

10. Alexander Mahone (William Fichtner), Prison Break

William Fichtner's Sheriff Tom Underlay was the best thing about the short-lived series 'Invasion', and once again he proves he can handle a complex character with ease. Veering wildly between justice, vengeance and angry instability, Mahone was a man you wouldn't want chasing after you. Smart as hell, but also willing to kill in cold blood, he was the perfect anti-thesis to Michael Scofield.


9. Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), Desperate Housewives

You've gotta love her don't you. She's the dappiest, ditziest person you'd probably ever meet, like a character out of a rom-com movie, extended for 8 seasons. Yes its true that she does a lot of conniving, manipulating things, and she's neurotic like no-one else, but these things just seem to round her off, and make her more loveably human!


8. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), House

All the fuss is on House, but only a few people stop to consider how important a character Wilson is. Wilson is the one that gives House contrast, be it by showing the complete opposite of the rule-breaking doctor, or by showing a lesser, more rationalised approach than what House would go for. The banter between him and House forms some of the funniest parts of the series, because Wilson is the one who allows House's true nature to shine through. He's the kind of friend that would have unending patience, a strong sense of ethics, but also a fun side as well, as proven by his numerous practical jokes.


7. Burt 'Sock' Wysocki (Tyler Labine), Reaper

Tyler Labine has played similar characters in most shows he's been in and there's a reason....he plays them better than anyone out there! And the best of all these characters is hands-down, 'Reapers' Sock. Loud, brash, lazy and stupid, yet loyal to a fault, funny-as-hell and always lovable, Sock is the best friend everyone wishes they had. Interestingly, there has been many a comparison between 'Reaper' and 'Chuck', since both focus on slackers working in large retail stores. As such, Sock's equivalent would be the Buy-More's Morgan Grimes, and while I think Chuck is overall a far better show, Grimes aint got nothing on Sock!


6. Meredith Rodney McKay (David Hewlett), Stargate:Atlantis

McKay is one of those characters you love and loathe at the same time- no easy feat. A narcissistic egomaniac who is also an uncompromising genius, regularly saving countless lives, what makes him extra special is his ability to continue being arrogant and insulting throughout the entire run of the show, regardless of what situation he's in. His interaction with Radek Zelenka, another excellently understated and quirky character, is the perfect platform to show that the people that save us aren't always perfect, and often they're as flawed as we are. The reason Rodney rates above the others so far is that the premise works so well- McKay only shows his nicer side in small enough bursts to let you know he is overall a good person, but has still managed to maintain the purity of his characters flaws right to the end. Alas the show is no longer on the air, so we'll have to wait until the 'Extinction' movie is released [IF EVER!]  to catch more of the doc.


5. Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), Dexter

I love this character. I'm a huge fans of the books on which he's based, and that character comes across nicely in the show. I think we all acknowledge that we have very dark thoughts at times, thoughts we wouldn't want even our closest friends to know about. Dexter takes that to its extreme, and does the remarkable job of creating empathy. Dexter is a character we understand and relate to, even as he runs around tampering with evidence and looking for his next victim. I think the only reason he doesn't feature higher is that the character in the book is slightly more appealing to me. He's a bit more humorous and light hearted, which I prefer to Hall's Dexter, who always seems to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders despite being empty inside.


4. Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka), Heroes

Hiro is a fan favourite, and for good reason. He displayed a child-like innocence which was nothing short of endearing, and a much needed antidote to the gloom surrounding the rest of heroes. Seeing the little guy scrunch his face up, shout 'Mr Isaac!' and mumble on about being a hero is exactly the sense of fun, wonder and excitement the show needed. As Heroes went on, I think they tried to darken his character considerably, by placing emphasis on the fact that Hero's often have to make hard decisions. But the relationship between him and his best friend Ando (another fantastic character, and a close contender for the list) really helped define Hiro, without him loosing the great idealism he embodies.


3. Johnny 'Drama' Chase (Kevin Dillon), Entourage

Drama should perhaps be a lot lower on the list but I'm really Loving Entourage at the moment, and its my list! The obvious choice from Entourage might be Ari Gold, always found running around the agency in panic screaming 'LLoyd!' but where as Ari gets a lot of the best One-liners, I think Drama's biggest attribute is the jokes he shares with the group. Entourage's best feature has always been the banter between the main 4, reminding any guy of the sorts of conversation they have with their friends. And in those conversations, its Drama that shines. Combining colossal stupidity with snipey comebacks/putdowns, and sometime a complete loss of reality, Drama is the lovable loser, devoid of shame. Dillon, being the less successful brother of a Hollywood star in real life, plays this to perfection, and we end up simultaneously laughing at Drama's expense, and rooting for him as the underdog.


2. Benjamin Linus (Michael Emerson), Lost

Ben Linus is the most spectacularly slimey, weasely character is recent TV history. And that's what makes him so appealing. The man has almost no brute strength ,and little in the way of possessions. He's committed unspeakable acts and alienated everyone he knows, along the way creating some truly menacing enemies. But despite all that, somehow he always ends up alive, and its that facet of his character that creates such a warped fascination. Part of you wishes you were that clever, that skilled at manipulating people, and that prepared for any situation. Numerous flashbacks and scenes show he is only human, and just a simple man, but at every turn his actions seem to contradict this. As he says himself, 'How many times do I have to tell you, John? I always have a plan'. Chilling

.....and that takes us to my number one favourite character of the season.........



1. Jack Bauer ( Kiefer Sutherland), 24

Its a cliche I know, but who cares. Jack Bauer is the coolest man alive. We finally have a TV character not afraid to be a true bad-ass, to go to every extreme possible. A real, understated hero, sacrificing his conscience, maybe even his soul in the service of his country. All I can say is, it gives people hope to think men such as Jack Bauer might exist- if they did, the world would undoubtedly be a safer place.


And finally A few Honourable Mentions, who came close but didn't quite make it. In no particular Order...

Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) from The Big Bang Theory
Olive Snook (Kristin Chenoweth) from Pushing Daisies
Wiliam Adama (Edward James Olmos) from Battlestar Galactica
Buddy Garrity (Brad Leland) from Friday Night Lights
Agent Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) from Chuck
Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) from Entourage
John Locke (Terry O'Quinn) from Lost
Bill Buchanan (James Morrison) from 24

Its interesting to see that quite a lot of shows I watch didn't have any characters make it to the list, while several shows had more than one. I suppose it goes to show, good characters really are the backbone of good shows.

As the time for Film of the Year 2012 fast approaches, there's already been some changes. Some flicks have been removed from the Shortlist, some added in. Going into detail would reveal too much. I think its time to look back at the Film of the Year's past winners, right back to 2003 when it first began....

2003

Winner: Lost in Translation
It was a decent year for films, with The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King  and Good Bye Lenin! in the mix too, but ultimately This Tokyo-set tale wins out. A great, moving, funny story, with just the right biter sweet tone. It set up Scarlett with a long and lucrative fiml career, but in her quiet, understated role her, its impossible not to fall in love with her.
The Runner Up was oddball Sci-Fi drama The Big Empty. A very difficult film to describe, its about an out of work actor who ends up caught in some sort of alien related cult gathering in the desert. It has to be watched to be properly understood, but Favreau is endearing, and Kelsey Grammar is hilarious.

2004

Winner: The Terminal
I've had a soft-spot for his film the moment I saw it, and I can't believe 8 years have passed since it was released. Its funny, and touching, and kooky, and its all about characters. Spielberg's production is fantastic, and anyone would genuinely believe it was filmed in a real airport, and not a film studio. Hanks carries his relatively unbelievably character across so well, that you genuinely care for him.
The Runner Up was I Heart Huckabees, an existential comedy drama and a unique blend of elements I've not seen replicated since. Its a film which seems slight and lacking in depth, but once its finished you realise, it threw in some seriously big ideas. Garden State came close, but ultimately it just wasn't up to the competition

2005

Winner: Sin City.
Quite a mainstream choice, but at the time, the visuals were amazing, and the sense of style had never been seen before. A collection of low-life neo-noir stories, coupled with pithy dialogue and great action scenes, it was an instant classic.
The Runner Up was an unusually low-key choice, Nicole Kidman's The Interpreter. It wasn't a flashy story but that was its beauty. It was claustrophobic, and told the story of a quiet conspiracy most people had forgotten about or were uninterested in


2006

Winner: Lady in the water
2006 was a great year for films. There was Batman Begins [though some would put it in 2005], which began the whole Dark Reboot trend we see today. Nacho Libre was a lowbrow slapstick which somehow ended up being far more than the sum of its parts, the setting and story lending it an unusual poignancy. The Lady in the Water ended up wining out however, because it had the X factor. In that low key, condo block, the simple people we see somehow make the story feel truer. The completely original fairy tale and the brilliant cinematography make everything feel magical, and Dallas Howard and Giamatti are both as excellent as always.
The Runner Up was Stick It, a tale of a rebellious girl forced into competing in a gymnastics competition. It was a close call with the more critically acceptable Pan's Labyrinth, and of all the films on the list, this is the only one I've ever considered retroactively changing. Ultimately though, Pan was a bit dreary and depressing for my taste. Stick It may seem like a gymnastics Bring it On, but gone is most of the teen silliness, and the romcom subplots. The focus is squarely on the main character, the struggles in her past, and the difficulty of the task ahead of her, all filmed in a snappy, stylistic manner.


2007

Winner: Ratatouille
 I know its a kids cartoon and it doesn't have the critical acclaim expected of the FOTY, but if you haven't seen it, I recommend it, and if you have, I urge you to watch it again. Its a sweet and funny story, full of heart and warmth, and with a tight plot and themes that permeate throughout. Not a single frame is wasted. To my eye, this is the pinnacle of Pixar
The Runner Up is Sunshine, which was a tough call. I absolutely adored Stardust, but ultimately I think there was something about it which couldn't quite escape its own formula, and whilst Hot Rod was very funny, it just wasn't FOTY material. Sunshine won out in the end, the story of a spaceship and crew flying toward a dying sun in the hope of kick starting it and saving the future of the earth. It has a slower pace which nicely explores the characters and the state of being on a long-haul, isolated journey. Some scenes are reminiscent of Alien, but the film goes pear shaped in its horror-schlock third act, undoing most of the previous good work

2008

Winner: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Kat Dennings is perfectly cast in this film about one long night in new york as a bunch of  teens scourer the city for a secret rock gig. Its so hip and cool it makes you wish you were young again, and pine for your own past glory days. Michael Cera, who only seems to ever play Michael Cera, gets it right as well
The Runner Up Was The Wrestler. A complex film about a former wrestling champion whose best days are behind him, having to face his advancing age and lowly mediocrity . Its not as bleak as it sounds though, and the excellent across the board, making for an excellent study in male machismo, faded dreams, and living in the past

2009

Winner: Adventureland
I've always had a soft spot for coming of age stories and this one gets the mix of humour, angst, love and frustration dead on. There is something bittersweet and ponderous about this story of a teen's summer spent working at an amusement park, which makes it excellent for watching again and again
The Runner Up was a tough choice, with Up in the Air, very very narrowly beating out the Hong Kong-set superhumans action-drama Push. Reitman's tale of a loner who flies from city to city firing people, finally making a human connection, is sharp and witty, and classy throughout. Its the sort of role Clooney could play in his sleep,and some schmaltz aside, the general message of the film is a positive one.

2010

Winner: Monsters
A very simple sci-fi film, shot on a shoe strong budget, its a romantic drama of sorts, as a journalist brings his boss's daughter back from an alien infected Mexica across to the US. Considering the non-existent budget, it looks amazing, and hauntingly realistic. A slow-burner, but one which builds the emotion slowly, and ends up being quite beautiful.
The Runner Up was The Winning Season. Some sources say this was 2009, others 2010. I guess there's some discrepancy with which cut is used etc, but I'm going with 2010. Its a typical story found in any formula sports drama, but the great thing is the way there is no majesty whatsoever shown of the game. The focus is on the players, and what this games, and on the down-on-his-luck coach who finds this crappy job he didn't wants ends up transforming his life. Its also very funny, and Sam Rockwell and Emma Roberts shine. The beautifully filmed Somewhere was also considered, but ultimately the tale of a minor celebrity facing boredom with his life, showed us a little too much repetition and mundanity in his life, and I became bored as well.

2011

Winner: Crazy Stupid Love
There was some scoffing and lambasting at the decision to make this 201's film on the year, when other critical darlings like Another Earth, Drive, The Tree of Life, The Ides of March etc were all floating around. In truth it was a very good year for films,  and while this is one of the most mainstream choices so far, there's a simple reason: Its an excellent film. It may look and feel like a basic Romcom, but this Little tale of how love works in various, confusing ways, is intricately plotted, and strikes an almost pitch perfect tone (the final  high school speech scene being an exception). Its is frequently and intensely hilarious, and there is a real emotional punch to the story of a man comming to grips with middle age and the disolution of his marriage. Everyone who watches it can identify with someone in it, and you have to be hard faced not to walk away having strong feels for all the characters involved.
The Runner Up was another commercial one: Super 8. What I love about this film was that it was simple, old-school film making, drawing up memories of early Speilberg. It tells the story of children in a Small town who get caught up in an alien conspiracy. The young cast are great, and Elle Fanning proves herself yet again as being arguable the better of the Fanning sisters. Its another film that makes you long to be young again, and it manages suspense, horror, comedy and drama nicely. The closing credit sequence is also probably the best I've ever seen.