Buffy Without Whedon or Gellar ...?

... don't make me laugh! But according to E Online, this is exactly what the plans are.

This new film will not be a sequel or a prequel, but a "relaunching" on the lines of Star Trek. This also means no Willow or Zander or Spike or any of our other beloved characters. A new Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie without the film and series mastermind Joss Whedon, I just find this hard to believe.

Apparently, Fran Rubel Kuzui, the director of the 1992 Buffy movie - starring Kristy Swanson as Buffy - and her husband, Kaz Kuzui of Kuzui Enterprises feel like they need to cash in on the vampire craze that is sweeping the nation thanks to Stephenie Meyer's hit book series, Twilight.

With the success of the HBO series, True Blood, based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, the upcoming IFC series of the adaptation of Anita Blake Vampire Hunter by Laurell K. Hamilton, and the forthcoming release of the 2nd Twilight movie, New Moon - vampires seem to be everywhere.

I have been a vampire lover since Barnabas Collins entered my life in 1966. Salem's Lot by Stephen King was the first vampire book I read, but I quickly moved on to the classic by Bram Stoker, as well as Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. So this overwhelming frenzy with all things vampire, 40 years after my infatuation started, is very surprising to me.

But, in the interest of fairness, I'll wait until a movie is actually produced to make up my mind about a new Buffy launch. I'm just keeping my fingers - and toes - crossed that the Kuzui's will see reason and pull Whedon and Gellar onboard.

DOLLHOUSE

I'm sure by know that everyone has read the negative reviews regarding Joss Whedon's new series, DOLLHOUSE. I read so many negative reviews, I was afraid I would be jaded when I finally got to watch the show on Sunday afternoon.

Not great ... but not bad either. There is lots of room for improvement, and knowing what a talented writer Whedon is, I have high expectations this show will only get better and better.

I'm a huge fan of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, and the first season of this 7 season series is my least favorite. I think freshman seasons are usually slow at picking up steam, and audiences.

I am a big Eliza Dushku fan and it was great to see her back on the screen. You will remember her from playing Faith on BUFFY and ANGEL. And man, did she look buff or what??!! She was definitely in "kick-ass" mode!

So, while we didn't get much background information about the interworkings of the Dollhouse, this only leaves room for the series to get better and better. If only Fox will leave it alone! Remember FIREFLY? Fox killed this Whedon baby almost at birth.

Only time will tell ...

The Dollhouse

In Dollhouse, Eliza Dushku plays a young woman called Echo, a member of a group of people known as "Actives" or "Dolls." The Dolls have had their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with any number of new personas, including memory, muscle memory, skills, and language, for different assignments. They're then hired out for particular jobs, crimes, fantasies, and occasional good deeds. On missions, Actives are monitored internally (and remotely) by Handlers. In between tasks, they are mind-wiped into a child-like state and live in a futuristic dormitory/laboratory, a hidden facility nicknamed "The Dollhouse". The story follows Echo, who begins, in her mind-wiped state, to become self-aware.

I'm eagerly awaiting the premiere of this new Joss Whedon show tonight on FOX!

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

Joss Whedon's "Dr. Horrible" is just what the doctor ordered. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is a 40-minute, 3-part musical comedy produced for the Internet, telling the story of a low-rent supervillain, the hero who keeps beating him up, and the cute girl from the laundromat he's too shy to talk to. The movie was written by writer/director Joss Whedon; his brothers Zack Whedon (a television writer) and Jed Whedon (a composer), and Jed's fiancée, actress Maurissa Tancharoen. The writing team penned the musical during the WGA Writer's Strike. The idea was to create something small and inexpensive, yet professionally done, in a way that would circumvent the issues that were being protested during the strike.

The first act - 15 minutes long - introduces Neil Patrick Harris' Dr. Horrible; his roommate Mr. Moist (a villain with the dubiously useful power of being able to make things... moist); Penny, the pretty girl at the laundromat; and Captain Hammer, the doctor's arch-nemesis. Captain Hammer makes a great foil for Dr. Horrible, who is a twitchy, nervous sort of anti-hero. Dr. Horrible's efforts to get into the Evil League of Evil and win the heart of Penny don't start off too well, but I'm sure that the hero - or villain?? - will triumph in the end.


"I'm just trying to change the world, okay?" he whines into the camera, rejecting yet another offer for a villain-on-villain duel. "I don't have the time for a grudge match with every poser in a parka."


The second acts opens with Dr. Horrible stalking Penny and Captain Hammer, watching them dating at the Caring Hands Homeless Shelter and having fun in the park. Later, Captain Hammer taunts Dr. Horrible, telling him he plans to show Penny his command center, give her the "night of her life," and seduce her by morning. Driven over the brink by Captain Hammer's psychological torture, Dr. Horrible resolves to kill him.



The third act has Los Angeles abuzz with Captain Hammer's crusade to help the homeless, while Dr. Horrible finishes his death ray. Captain Hammer makes a speech at the homeless shelter and inadvertently embarrasses Penny, before Dr. Horrible freezes him with the Freeze Ray and prepares to kill him. But Dr. Horrible hesitates, and the Freeze Ray powers down before he can shoot Captain Hammer. Captain Hammer grabs the death ray, intending to kill Dr. Horrible, but the death ray explodes. Captain Hammer is hit and feels pain for the first time; he runs out of the room, crying. Penny is impaled by debris from the exploding Death Ray. Dr. Horrible rushes to her side.

Afterwards, Horrible rapidly rises to power as a supervillain, while Captain Hammer is seen in therapy. Having accomplished his goals, Horrible is inducted into the Evil League of Evil, complete with new costume... but his alter-ego spends his days sitting in his basement, uncostumed and alone.

I thought this was extremely quirky and hilarious at the same time. Neil Patrick Harris has great comedic timing - and he can actually sing. Though this is definitely not the same caliber as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dr. Horrible Sing-Along Blog is worth watching and sharing with friends.

Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog

Yeah!!! Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog went on line today! If you love the writing of Joss Whedon and the comical talent of Neil Patrick Harris, then you must check out Act One of Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog. The beginning is kind of slow, but it picks up. The first act is hilarious! But hurry, it's only free until July 20th.