Desperate Housewives - The Complete Second Season (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)Well, the second season of "Desperate Housewives" has finally come to an end. Season two for the most part was a pretty good one, though not quite as good as season one. While the writing and acting was still first-rate, there were a few things about season two that didn't work.
The good things about the second season of this terrific ABC series were many of the same things that made this show's first season so good: great acting by its stars. The actress I thought who came off best in season two was Eva Longoria, who plays the beautiful and sexy Gabrielle. Of the show's four leading ladies, Longoria gave by far the funniest performances throughout the season (her catfight scene with that nun midway through the season was uproarious). Marcia Cross gave the show's most powerful performances as Bree, the housewive who's an obsessive perfectionist. Felicity Huffman (Lynette) and Teri Hatcher (Susan) were both terrific as usual. And Nicolette Sheridan was delicious as Edie, the Wisteria Lane tramp. Main storylines that played out through season two include: Gaby and Carlos trying to have a baby in every possible way; Lynette going back to work; Bree battling not only alcoholism but also her brat son Andrew; Susan breaking up with Mike, then finding a potential romantic interest with a doctor; and Edie finding romance with Susan's ex-husband Karl.
But there were a few setbacks. The one asset that didn't really work on the second season of "Desperate Housewives" was the big mystery storyline involving Wisteria Lane's newest members: the Applewhites (introduced at the end of season one). This storyline wasn't even close to matching the greatness of the big mystery storyline of season one (the suicide of Mary Alice Young), and it wasted the talents of Alfre Woodard, who portrayed Betty Applewhite. It seemed that the writers couldn't make up their minds at where to go with this story, and in the process Woodard wasn't given much to do in the role. That's a shame, because Woodard is a great actress and deserved better here. This storyline was thankfully finished off in the season two finale, and it appears that Woodard will not be back for season three. One good thing came out of this storyline: a surprise twist that I didn't see coming.
Another thing I didn't see coming was the shocking ending to the season finale, which has turned out to be the big cliffhanger that will lead into season three. It will be interesting to see what ends up happening when "Desperate Housewives" comes back on the air for season three.
Critics loved season one; but hated season two. Same thing with the Emmy voters. After receiving 15 Emmy nominations for its freshman season, "Desperate Housewives" only got 7 nods for season two. Plenty of omissions this time: no nomination for Best Comedy Series, and no nominations for its leading ladies (Marcia Cross was unfairly snubbed). The only major nomination it got was for Alfre Woodard as Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, which (in my opinion) makes no sense at all. The only reason why Woodard is nominated is because Emmy voters love her. She is a past winner for some very good work that's she's done (the HBO movie Miss Evers' Boys and a guest appearence in the pilot to NBC's L.A. Law) and she's received other nominations for her other various roles. But to receive a nomination for a role in which we saw her not given a whole lot to do just proves at how boneheaded the Emmy voters can be sometimes (which is quite often). How Woodard can get a nomination for a wasted performance and Cross fails to get nominated for doing the strongest acting on the show in season two is a mystery that I don't think anyone on Wisteria Lane would be able to figure out.

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Television's hottest show gets even juicier in its delicious second season. The women of Wisteria Lane are back, and just when you thought things couldn't get any steamier, a new neighbor and her handsome teenage son arrive to make new waves on the shady side of suburbia. Join the Emmy(R) Award-winning cast for all 24 episodes of Season Two, and discover Bree's new life without Rex, Lynette's chaotic return to the working world, and what becomes of Susan's on-again, off-again relationship with Mike. That's just the beginning of the secrets in store in this six-disc DVD experience. Sizzling with sensational bonus features, including revealing, never-before-seen story lines featuring Susan Mayer and Lynette Scavo, "there are almost too many things to love in DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES" (San Francisco Chronicle).

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Take the Lead (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)I agree with many of the reviewers that "Take the Lead" could have benefitted with more dance and less "action". I agree that the plotline's been done before....inspirational teacher arrives at a tough school in a tough situation, is initially mistrusted by a cast of student characters, and prevails because he/she really cares to show up, to teach, and to provide an example and inspiration to the students. Yeah, Sidney Poitier did it, yeah, Michelle Pfeiffer did it, Robin Williams - but still, the story of Pierre Dulaine is real, and it is compelling. And the current ballroom dance "craze" allowed it to be brought to the screen.
Banderas always brings it to his films. He's somewhat of a caricature; the hot, smoky Spaniard with the true heart. I choose to believe his public persona, that he's like this in real life, as well. Banderas is more than fine as Pierre Dulaine - he has a light, believable touch. He inspires. It feels as though making this movie was not just another job, another role to him. I think that quality in Banderas is like the indefinable charm that Hugh Jackman brings to a role....and it's why they're as successful on stage as they are on screen. They're living it.
His student cast - a permanent, multicultural cast of detention junkies (why Yaya Dacoste as LahRette is in detention is anybody's guess), including Rob Brown as Rock (he was good here, fantastic in Finding Forrester), is quirky but endearing (yes, that's a tired clich?, from movies and TV as well).
Dulaine's got a somewhat successful dance studio; he's a widower, his life is busy but not full and these kids strike a chord with him. There's a little mix of hip hop with his ballroom in the classroom, but by far the most fascinating scene in the film takes place at the final competition, when dancer Jenna Dewan (a bit player in the saga of the romantic life of Justin Timberlake) heats up the floor dancing the tango with not ONE, but two partners (small role successes Lyriq Bent, as Easy and Dante Basco, who has big screen potential galore, as Ramos). This trio absolutely makes the audience, both in the film and in seats in the theater stand up and cheer for a sensuous, serious and memorable dance sequence.
I loved both Japanese and American versions of "Shall We Dance?", I was mad for "Mad Hot Ballroom", I even own the DVD of Vanessa Williams' and Chayanne's hot and sexy "Dance With Me" which aired out Latin Ballroom Dancing well before the current film and TV craze. And I loved, "Take the Lead", as well. Formulaic, yes, a little misdirected by first time film director Liz Friedlander, but still a great movie for dance-lovers, and, similar to "Shall We Dance?" and "Dance With Me", it will be a popular DVD for a wider audience.
4 Stars!

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Inspired by a true story, Antonio Banderas stars as internationally acclaimed ballroom dancer Pierre Dulane in the energetic and moving film Take The Lead. When Dulane volunteers to teach dance in the New York public school system, his background first clashes with his students' tastes...but together they create a completely new style of dance.DVD Features:Audio CommentaryMusic Clips

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Love and Basketball (New Line Platinum Series) (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)I first saw Love & Basketball at the premiere of the movie with all the stars. It was a special viewing where there was almost not a dry eye at the end of the film from tears of joy. I think you cannot get a better chemistry of on screen love then Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan. I guess the film was their destiny, because last I heard they were engaged to be married in real life. The film is simply a beautiful epic that combines a little bit of everthing from drama, comedy, action and romance. You not only care about the characters in this film, you actually see them grow up on screen.
Love & Basketball is definitely one of my all-time favorite films. It seemed so realistic as if it was a true story, and I myself being a USC graduate and former Trojan athlete from the area the film is set in can attest that the film is very realistic and true to the story being told. This film is about the true undying love of two things: the love of basketball which sees both characters in their pre-teen days on the basketball court to their days of both being professional basketball players in the hometown. It's also about the true love between a man and a woman that had to evolve and elevate just like their basketball skills had to succeed. "All is fair in love and basketball"!
The DVD version of this film is a true treasure. I love every bit of it and it gives the viewer their money's worth. The producers of this DVD out did their self with giving the view a whole complete vision of what they expressed on the screen. The two original documentaries: "The Rise Of Female Athletes" and "The Portrayal Of African-American Women By The American Media" are outstanding and really conveys the point of view the writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood experienced herself as a basketball player. Plus, the deleted scenes and bloopers, three feature length commentaries, storyboards, and music video of Lucy Pearl's hit are a treat! One thing I truly loved as a screen writer was the whole screen play of the film on the DVD. This not only helped me understand the film more, but also helped me as a screen writer as well.
Love & Basketball is definitely a classic! I loved this film when I first saw it, and I still love it today, maybe even more because of the outstanding DVD version of it. This film makes you believe in the power of Love and Basketball!

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LOVE & BASKETBALL - DVD Movie

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