DVD Review: Dollhouse Season One

DVD Review: Dollhouse Season One

Dollhouse is a series about an ultra-secret organization that rents out people with customized identities to whoever can afford it (i.e. the ultra-rich). The organization is called the Dollhouse and the people rented out Dolls. The people who run the Dollhouse have developed a technology which allows them to wipe out someone's memories, personality, skills, abilities, basically their individuality. They then imprint a tailor-made character onto the wiped out person so they are a different person. Someone might need a hostage negotiator or a body guard or the perfect date for a perfect evening. The Dolls go out on these various missions with handlers keeping as close an eye on the Dolls as they can. The series centers on one Doll, Echo (Eliza Dushku), who has occasional glitches where previous personalities (including her original personality) bubble up from under the surface. Increasing the drama is an FBI agent (Tahmoh Penikett from Battlestar Galactica) trying to find the Dollhouse and especially Echo. The Dollhouse is aware of him and tries several times to throw him off the trail. The series set up is very intriguing and original for a science fiction show. 

Back when Dollhouse was first broadcast, my wife and I watched the initial four or five episodes and gave up because the story wasn't gelling and the writing was surprisingly substandard for a Joss Whedon production. We loved Buffy, Angel, and Firefly, so it seemed like Dollhouse should be a slam dunk. Somehow it wasn't.

A couple of months later, we heard chatter from friends and podcasts that the show really picked up after episode six and was quite good. I made a mental note to try it again someday on DVD. We finally rented it recently. The DVD set includes the original un-aired pilot and also a thirteenth episode that was never broadcast in the United States, as well as the typical "making of" bonus features and a few commentaries on episodes.

We started watching again and episode six was kind of okay. The show was marginally better but I would not go so far to call it good. A lot of moments in subsequent episodes seemed like they should be big twists or surprises but they were very obvious. We kept going and became excited by the actually surprising surprise twist in episode eleven. Finally the show had gotten good. Episode twelve was a let down. Everything had been turned topsy-turvy (in a good way) in eleven only to get reset to normal in twelve. Except for some changes that, frankly, were quite unbelievable (what happens with the FBI guy makes no sense whatsoever) even by the low standards of the show. The unaired thirteenth episode is set ten years in the future in a post-apocalyptic landscape where a group of survivors try to find their way to safety and stumble upon the ruins of the Dollhouse. They find out a lot about what caused the apocalypse (the Dollhouse technology run amuck). The episode is full of flash-backs that seem like spoilers for the on-going story and has a lot of random stuff thrown in which makes little sense.

I listened to some of the commentaries (I have this vague hope that someday someone will admit they made something not good, but have yet to hear such an admission). The Joss Whedon/Eliza Dushku commentary on the pilot episode was mostly banter and joking with little substance. The writers of episode thirteen provided that commentary and they talked more about how they production went. The comments were interesting since they got into the issues of filming simultaneously with episode twelve. The writers seemed to think they were setting up some interesting mysteries. Also, they were a little panicked that the series would be canceled, since they recorded a week before they found out the show was approved for a second season.

Overall, the show was pretty disappointing and we couldn't recommend it to others.

The Walking Dead Ep. 312, Clear

The Walking Dead Season 3, Episode 12: Clear

TV rating

TV-14

ZPAA rating

Teens and up

Gore level

7.5 out of 10--Plenty of zombie killing this week, as well as zombies skewered on spikes; the usual blood, head wounds, etc.; some human wounds and bruises; a bloody fresh human corpse.

Other offensive content

A little bit of bad language; trust issues; sanity issues; lying to loved ones; despairing attitude toward normal human reaction.

How much zombie mythology/content

Nothing new this episode.

How much fun

Michonne wins a kewpie doll, sort of. It was a funny moment in an otherwise fairly heavy episode.

Synopsis & Review

When we last saw our heroes, Rick, his son Carl, and samurai-sword-wielding misfit Michonne headed out to get more weapons to fight of the Governor (assuming he'll eventually attack the prison). They head back to Rick's old home town since he was a police officer there and can get into the police armory. On the way, they pass a hitchhiker who begs them to stop. They drive on, ignoring his pleas.

When they get there, the armory is emptied out. Rick remembers a bunch of merchants on Main Street who had hidden gun permits for their businesses. He decides to take Carl and Michonne downtown to see if the weapons are still there. Michonne thinks it's not worth it but goes along anyway, maybe to prove her loyalty.

In town, someone has set booby traps and lots of spikes to keep the zombies out. Also, there are plenty of signs warning those who can read (i.e. not zombies) to stay away. Rick and company go in anyway and wind up in a confrontation with whoever is left in their hometown.

The episode is pretty grim drama. Rick has to confront his past failures and his inability to make things come out his way. At the very least, it has the benefit of turning him from the implosive path that he's been on for the past few episodes. He'll be a better leader when he makes it back to the prison. I guess the episode is ultimately upbeat, but it sure didn't feel like it.

Book Review: The Gospel of Mark by Mary Healy

The Gospel of Mark by Mary Healy

The gospel written by the evangelist Mark is probably the least regarded of all the gospels. The style is very straightforward. The text is very brief (it's the shortest of the gospels). the content is covered mostly in the other synoptic gospels. But Mark's Gospel became part of the canon of sacred scriptures for a reason. There's more depth, theology, and literary style than is immediately obvious. Mary Healy's commentary (part of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series) demonstrates this richness. The book has a brief introduction and then goes through the gospel in little chunks, providing commentary from a Catholic perspective.

Many of the details of events had new light shed on them for me. For example, I knew the feeding of 5000 (Mark, chapter 6) resulting in 12 baskets of leftovers was symbolic of the 12 tribes of Israel. But the second miraculous feeding (Mark, chapter 8) had only 7 baskets. It happened in gentile country, so did they just get a lesser miracle? The true significance is this: the number represents the 7 foreign nations, so the gentiles would also share in the eucharistic future of Christ's church. Lots of insights like this are sprinkled throughout the commentary.

Another interesting part of Mark's style is nesting stories within other stories. There's the cryptic incident of the fruitless fig tree in chapter 11. Jesus goes to get a snack from a roadside fig tree. It has no fruit and He curses it. Jesus continues on to Jerusalem where He cleanses the temple of money changers and dove merchants (doves were used in temple sacrifices). The next day they walk past the fig tree again and Peter remarks how it is withered. Jesus replies that God will listen to our prayers and even if we pray that a mountain be lifted into the sea, it will be done. The greater meaning is that the fig tree represents the temple worship, which has become corrupt and fruitless and is about to end. Jesus emphasizes the importance of faith in prayer and fostering a close relationship, a loving relationship, with God.

The book also has a few call outs of featuring historical, biblical, and Christian elements that are part of the story of the Gospel. For example, Pilate and Herod are both given short biographies. The author describes of the importance of the Temple to Jewish life. Church teachings on the sacraments and on the nature of Hell are also given.

This book is a great, readable commentary on Mark's gospel full of many wonderful insights. I highly recommend it.

Montmartre, Paris

The hill that dominates Northern Paris is known as Montmartre. The name has two possible origins. The hill was used for pagan worship back in the Roman days and was dedicated to the gods Mars and Mercury, so the name might derive from their names. More likely is the second possible origin. The hill is said to be the site where St. Denis, the first Christian apostle to Paris, was martyred along with St. Rusticus and St. Eleutherius. So it's the Mons Martyrum, the hill where the martyrs were killed. Saint Denis's martyrdom is particularly interesting, since legend has it that he picked up his head and walked a few miles to what is now know as Saint-Denis, where a church has been built in his honor. Montmartre is much better than the old name that is still sometimes used: Butte.

Our hotel in Montmarte was at the end of one of the metro lines. The station name is Porte de Clignancourt, which I almost immediately (and shamefully) renamed Port of Klingon Court. The hotel is on the northern side of the hill, away from Paris. On our first day we decided to explore, which meant wandering up many streets and staircases.

Lots of streets are like this; why hasn't a big action movie chase scene been filmed here?

L and Mommy climbing up

Proof that we made it!

The hill is a bit of a theater and night club district as well. The infamous Moulin Rouge is here (though we didn't go) and some of the street names are quite entertaining, as in they are from popular French entertainments.

Long noses welcome here!

And, in case you think I was making up names earlier, check out this street named after a saint.

Not Saint Bugspray, either

At the top of the hill we started working our way around to the front of Sacre-Couer. We ran across a monument to Claude Charpentier (1909-1995) who according to the sign was a "Architecte - Urbaniste - Musicien."Architect, Urban planner, and musician!

Square Claude Charpentier, with Sacre-Couer hiding behind it

Next to Sacre-Couer is a large-ish castle building that is not identified in any of our guide books nor by any signs by the road.

Castle Mysteriouse

The view from the castle is similar to the Sacre-Couer view, except for the western view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance.

Looking into eastern Paris

Really, this was only two minutes after the previous picture!

An intriguing water fountain was right by the castle. We saw several of them throughout Paris but couldn't figure out how to make them work. Maybe they were shut off for the cold February temperatures.

Parisian Fountain

A few streets away we came across the Place du Tertre. The square is surrounded by restaurants and cafes. The middle of the square is full of artists selling their paintings or offering to make a quick sketch for the right price. We had two artists approach us about sketching L, which is definitely a tribute to her cuteness. Or their aggressiveness.

Restaurants and other entertainment

The cold did not discourage the artists!

The cafes were a little too busy to seat us for dinner, so we headed back down the hill to find a nice restaurant with immediate seating. On the way, we saw some more impressive windows.

I think the octopus in the middle bas relief was the motivation for taking the picture

After a yummy dinner, we headed back to get a good night's sleep before further adventures in Paris.

Sacre-Coeur, Paris

On the hilltop of Montmarte is a large church built in thanksgiving that Paris had been spared during the Franco-Prussian War of the 1870s. Work began in 1875 with a Romano-Byzantine design. The church was completed in 1914 but not consecrated until 1919. World War I interrupted a lot of things back then. The church is Sacre-Coeur, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Sacre-Coeur, Paris

The Ovoid Dome on the top of the basilica is the second highest point in Paris (the Eiffel Tower being the highest). Several bronze statues adorn the exterior of the church. In the back of the church St. Michael the Archangel vanquishes the demon in the form of a crocodile; in the front both St. Louis and St. Joan of Arc ride horseback over the entrance.

St. Michael guards the back door

St. Louis (with Joan of Arc) guards the front doors

The bell tower in the back has one of the heaviest bells in the world, weighing over 18 tons. The clapper is almost one ton by itself! The bell is called the Savoyarde. Its tone is a deep middle C. Four other bells are hung in the tower.

Bell Tower, completed in 1895

The front of the church overlooks Paris and is a popular spot for people to hang out and enjoy the view.

View of Paris

The bronze doors that lead into the church feature scenes from the life of Christ.

Entrance door

The interior is quite amazing, though photography is not allowed. I've taken the liberty of scanning a few images from the guide book I bought there.

The most striking thing in the interior is the large mosaic over the main altar. Jesus appears in white robes showing His golden Sacred Heart to all. Just below him are Joan of Arc on the right and Pope Leo XIII, who consecrated the human family to the Sacred Heart in 1899.

Main mosaic of the Sacred Heart (text from the brochure)

Other mosaics show the heavenly family of saints looking on piously at Jesus, including Saint Denis with his head in his hand! St. Denis was the first missionary to Paris back when it was known as Lutetia (the Roman name). He was martyred on Montmatre by beheading. Legend has it he picked up his head and walked off with it. More on that story in the next post.

French saints worship the Sacred Heart

St. Denis

Many side altars are dedicated to various saints, mostly French but others like Saint Joseph are thrown in too. In the Crypt are less ornate altars, including the chapel of Saint Peter where St. Theresa of the Child Jesus dedicated herself to the Sacred Heart.

Chapel of the Queens of France

St. Joseph Chapel

Pieta in the Crypt

St. Peter's Chapel, where the Little Flower dedicated herself to the Sacred Heart

The church is still in use with masses, Eucharistic adoration, and the sacrament of confession available every day.

L Keeps Herself Busy

L has gone on a crazy crafting spree lately. Whenever she's at home, she wants to draw or color something. Or cut something out. Or build something. Or make an obstacle course with J. One major project was decorating a large sheet of paper with glue, sprinkles, crayons, etc. Whatever came to hand came to the paper.

Painting with glue--two craft activities in one!

Sprinkling on the decorations

Happy with her results

Wait, one final touch!

She is still into dressing up occasionally (like when we play Just Dance Kids 2).

Pretty dress with pretty girl

Look how swishy it is!

Showing off the hairbow

Movie Review: Blessed Duns Scotus

Blessed Duns Scotus: Defender of the Immaculate Conception (2011) directed by Fernando Muraca

Portraying a theological disputation in a dramatic way is a difficult challenge. One imagines medieval university debates as a bunch of robed monks sitting around and chatting in dimly lit chambers. The movie does have a good bit of this atmosphere. Most of the action takes place at the University of Paris in dark lecture halls, small cells, and a candle-lit chapel. The final dispute is held outdoors, with Franciscan John Duns Scotus and his Dominican interlocutors walking around a bit, providing some visual variety to an otherwise typical depiction of the middle ages.

The central debate is about the Immaculate Conception, the (now dogma) that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was preserved from original sin from the moment of her conception. Many medieval theologians, including Thomas Aquinas, did not see how this was possible. The debate came to a crescendo at the University of Paris in 1305, when Scotus agreed to dispute the point with another theologian. The scene is nicely realized, with enough theological and philosophical background presented earlier in the film to make the arguments understandable. The argument is repeated by Pope Pius IX in his declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854.

The movie does a great job building a believable and engaging personality for Scotus. He has a great deal of humility but also a great deal of conviction. He knows what he knows not just through studying theological and philosophical texts, but also through contemplation, especially of the Eucharist. He relies on grace from God just as much (perhaps even more than) to teach what he has learned, what he has discovered. The actor, Adriano Braidotti, does a good job though the character does not have a huge emotional range. Enough of Scotus's history is included to make it a satisfactory bio-pic, though the religious debate is clearly the central part of the movie.

There's a bit too much of his interactions with three novices, who seem to be added to the story to provide comic relief and a minor love interest. It felt a bit like the romance was included because that's what is in movies. Another challenge for this movie is the dependence on exposition over visual presentation of information. That's the way debates happened in the 1300s--there was no PowerPoint or props. But since Scotus often discusses the importance of the beauty of creation, it would have been better to have more visuals to support those ideas.

Otherwise, this movie is an interesting watch though I am not sure it would have general appeal apart from people interested in Scotus or the Immaculate Conception.