Reviews

This episode reminds you how great the series is, cuz it's 1/2 awful. Overall, I love this series. There are like 10 great characters ... well written, complex, good back stories. Then, there's Kathryn. A privileged, whiny Karen. Every scene with her and her husband, lead Erik McCormack, is painful. It is impossible to understand why Agent McLaren puts up with her for even a week. He could have left her and preserved her future history and helped the show. The one part of the episode that is interesting is when Kathryn becomes the voice of the nanites and explains to MacLeren's subconscious what is going on.

Worth watching. Starts as bubblegum ... ends very differently. Worth watching. Starts as bubblegum ... ends very differently. Worth watching. Starts as bubblegum ... ends very differently. Worth watching. Starts as bubblegum ... ends very differently.

{I haven't been able to post lately. I will submit and edit if this posts.}

So, this got a bluray release! Cool. This film is more interesting, perhaps, in its meta-plot than it's plot.

First, the bluray is beautiful. If you've seen this before, almost certainly on a US video, you will be surprised at the well shot clearly film footage.

Second, the "International" cast. U. S. Hunk Jared Martin is the Americal journalist father to his somewhat spoiled American son, played by beautiful Italian actor Kim Stuart Rossi, long before he developed muscles or chest hair and became a heartthrob in Italy. Martin speaks English throughout and Rossi speaks Italian. They do share blue eyes.

Third, this is a non-schlocky drama made by decidedly schlock Italian director, Fabrizio De Angelis. His other projects include Zombies, killer crocs, and the Thunder trilogy. This is a decidedly Italian production, made in the Phillipines, with just 1 Italian actor, and 2 American ones.

Fourth, the pacing. There are exactly FOUR named characters in all of the first 48 minutes. Dad __, son Anthony, girl he picks up at the market, Maria, and local villain, Quino. Those are the only speaking parts with more that 10 words up to then either. A mystical forest monk appears about 49 min in, though his name and role remain a mystery for a bit. He and Anthony have the first non procedural dialog, and we learn that Anthony, having spent about 1/3 the film so far shirtless, is almost 17. Mother Kim arrives, and we learn the monk is Master Kimura.

Now, we are an 59 min in to a 1h28min movie. Anthony got beat up badly by Quino, was healed by the monk, and that's it. No other plot developments really, or plans. But then, the monk promises to train Anthony, and say that "you words say know, but I can see you mean yes." 5 long minutes later, training begins. A training montage of 5 minutes ensues, with a Golden Kimono (see) presented, but not worn, till the end. Mary appears in the grass and Anthony runs out. So, not to belabor the point, Anthony remains shirtless from going to bed at, 33m, through his kidnapping, beating, rescue, training, and reuniting with Mary, at 1h05m. In the next 10 min, Mary's store is burned down, Quino fights with some guys, and Anthony raises his hand and challenges Quino, finally putting on the Golden Kimono, with another shirtless flash.

The fight proceeds quickly. Quino plays some dirty tricks. The monk appears out of nowhere and tells Anthony to use the force and fight blindfolded. Anthony wins...the crowd goes wild. Anthony must return to Venice California. His parents give some money to Maria for a new store. The End.

So, Adam Demo's d and Mike Vogel everything are still very very welcome sights, but the story is getting dull and repetitive. This through episode 7 seems all more of the same. WE GET IT. This could have wrapped up as a nice 2 hr movie, but at this point, it is a delay f. For 8 hours. There should be a lot more DRAMA in this drama. The same protean conflict between basically just 2, maybe 3 people, is just not enough to sustain this many hours. The WHOLE series would be maybe 5 mins of a Sopranos episode.