Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz bastardize the beloved Steven Spielberg anthology series Amazing Stories for Apple TV. Season 1 consists of five episodes involving time travel, aliens, and super powers. However, only one or two are any good; the rest are predictable, uninspired tripe. And the show is pretty heavy handed in pushing its liberal politics. Also, the casts are rather lackluster, putting forth middling performances at best. Failing to capture the magic and wonder of the original series, Apple TV’s Amazing Stories was quickly cancelled and forgotten.
Jesus of Nazareth is a powerful and groundbreaking miniseries about the life of Christ. The series begins with his immaculate conception and birth and then follows Jesus’ raise as a rabbi in Judeo, and gaining a following that the Jewish authorities soon begin to fear. Featuring Robert Powell, Olivia Hussey, Anne Bancroft, Ernest Borgnine James Earl Jones, Donald Pleasence, Ian McShane, and Christopher Plummer, the cast is just incredible. Powell’s portrayal of Jesus is iconic, and the costumes and sets are exceptionally well-done. Also, the series does a good job at adhering to the Gospel story and Christ’s message of salvation. Remarkably compelling, Jesus of Nazareth is one of the best biblical miniseries ever made.
Testament: The Story of Moses is a compelling biographical docudrama from Netflix. Christian, Jewish, and Muslim scholars discuss the story of Moses; from his prophetic birth to his exile in the desert to his calling to free the Hebrews from Pharaoh. Interviews with the scholars are mixed with dramatic recreations and narration. The quality of the acting varies but is pretty good overall, and the production values, costumes, sets, score, etc., are quite well-done. Additionally, the scholars do an impressive job at articulating their points; although it gets a little confusing at times as the Muslim scriptures differ from the Judeo-Christian ones. And unlike other documentaries, the focus is less on historical proofs and more on the intent of the scripture writers in presenting Moses’ story the way that they did. Well-crafted and insightful, Testament: The Story of Moses is a comprehensive look at one of history’s most important religious figures.
Dracula is a bizarre BBC miniseries that re-envisions Bram Stoker’s literary classic. The story follows the vampire prince Dracula as he uses an attorney named Jonathan Harker to rejuvenate himself and trek to England to start a new life. The writers make several major changes to the original story (such as recasting Van Helsing as nun) but include most of the main characters and plot points in some way. The acting is serviceable, though unmemorable; not really distinguishing itself in the myriad of television and film incarnations of Stoker’s tale. Also, the tone seems to be mainly focused on the gore aspect, and not so much on the terror and adventure. A mediocre horror series, Dracula delivers some thrillers but is wholly forgettable.
Based on a bestselling novel by Stephen King, Salem’s Lot is a morbid and eerie tale of evil. The story follows a small town with a cursed house that lures a vampire, who then proceeds to sire the townspeople. The storytelling is poor and kills whatever mystery and intrigue the plot builds. Additionally, the acting is especially weak with no engaging performances. Salem’s Lot is a monotonous film that’s atmospheric and moody, but it fails to deliver any real scares.
TNT presents a modern telling of Stephen King’s classic vampire tale ‘Salem’s Lot. The story follows a small New England town that destroys itself when an ancient vampire named Barlow moves there and takes up residence in a house that carries a history of evil. Featuring a large ensemble cast that includes Rob Lowe, Donald Sutherland, James Cromwell, Rutger Hauer, and Samantha Mathis, there are some good performances. However, there are too many characters and subplots going on to get invested in the film. Still, the over-arcing story is rather interesting and the horror elements are effective at creating suspense. ‘Salem’s Lot is a flawed film, but it delivers an intriguing vision as well as a few chills.
A pseudo sequel to the 1984 film, Firestarter 2: Rekindled is a fascinating new chapter of horror. Now in her twenties, Charlie McGee is pursued once again by a secret organization that's conducting psychic research, and she must face off against a new generation of telekinetics that have been bread to be weapons. Marguerite Moreau gives a good performance as Charlie, and there are some impressive supporting performances by Malcolm McDowell and Dennis Hopper. However, the special effects are rather weak, and the sets look cheap. Additionally, there are pacing issues that cause the film to drag at times. Yet despite a few production problems, Firestarter 2: Rekindled is an entertaining thriller that continues the exciting story that Stephen King began.
Robert Ludlum’s bestselling novel The Bourne Identity is adapted as a mildly suspenseful and atmospheric TV movie. The story follows an injured man who washes ashore with no memory of who he is, but he slowly starts to suspect that he’s a hired assassin after following several clues and being pursued by a hit squad. Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith lead the cast and give cheesy, melodramatic performances. And Roger Young’s meandering, slow-paced directing doesn’t do the film any favors. The writing too is rather poor, particularly at making Bourne’s missing past a compelling mystery (which is a major failing). Incredibly long and arduous, The Bourne Identity is a bland spy thriller that feels rote and cliché.
