Lord of the Flies is the first-ever television adaptation of William Golding's landmark 1954 novel, written by Jack Thorne and directed by Marc Munden. A co-production that aired first on the BBC before reaching Netflix, it brings fresh scale and psychological depth to a story that has haunted readers for generations.
After a plane crash strands a group of British schoolboys on a remote Pacific island in the early 1950s, the boys attempt to govern themselves. Ralph (Winston Sawyers) tries to hold the group together with the counsel of the clever, bullied Piggy (David McKenna), but the charismatic, power-hungry Jack (Lox Pratt) foments a rebellion that fractures their fragile society into fear, tribalism, and violence. The production cast a large ensemble of young newcomers, many making their professional debuts.
Released in 2026, the four-part series earned wide critical acclaim for its stunning direction and its unflinching portrait of how quickly civilization can unravel. Filmed on Malaysia's Langkawi archipelago, it stands as a definitive screen version of Golding's parable. It is streaming on Netflix.
While Yugi Muto's character is the main one, there is a wide assortment of other interesting individuals, most of whom are friends to Yugi. He is in possession of the Millennium Puzzle. This puzzle allows Yugi's body to be the host of the "Spirit of the Puzzle" . Living with his mother and his grandfather, Solomon Muto while his father is away and on business, Yugi also has a group of his friends to chum around with. Among Yugi's assortment of friends are Tristan Taylor, Joey Wheeler, Ryo Bakura, and Tea Gardner. This anime entourage encourages each other whenever they play or fight. Joey and Yugi have dueled side by side while the first series saw Miho Nosaka and Mokuba Kaiba were close to Yugi and assisted him. He has plenty of friends to help him when in battle, and the lovely Tea has expressed her feelings for Yugi while he has loved her since they were young children. Good animation and strong family ties along with warm friendships make this anime series a good one for young viewers.
"Body of Proof" will bring at least one more strong female lead to network television, bringing the sum total to approximately two. Too bad they will compete head-to-head in the same time-slot; good thing we have DVRs. "We need to have more smart women characters on television," says Dana Delany as she prepares to play medical examiner Megan Hunt in ABC's new drama, "Body of Evidence." As plots unfold on the new show, Dr. Megan Hunt's brilliance never will become an issue"”if anything she sometimes is too smart for her own good; but her compassion and human kindness frequently will be in doubt. Dr. Hunt brings a few issues to the autopsy room: Five years ago, she lost everything in the wake of a serious car accident"”her marriage, custody of her daughter,; and, most importantly, her extremely successful practice as a neurosurgeon. Promos for "Body of Evidence" are slick, stylish, sexy, and sassy. Ms. Delany looks seductively into the camera, promising, "Don't believe everything you've heard. The truth is much worse." Adding even more spice and power, Jeri Ryan ends her peripatetic travels across the dial, settling down to play Dr. Kate Murphy, the medical examiner. Set for debut on March 29, 2011, "Body of Evidence" promises to become a Tuesday ten o'clock favourite.
When the son finds he must "man up" after his father is incarcerated for some rather shady accounting practices, life becomes a roller coaster ride for the entire family. Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) is a widower who has a thirteen year old son and finds the entire family needs his support (and common sense) to survive. Mom (Lucille) lives in a penthouse by herself but cannot afford her chosen lifestyle. Michael has two brothers, Buster and GOB, in addition to a sister Lindsay and her husband Tobias plus a daughter called Maeby. They each must learn to cope with their sudden alternate financial dilemma. Seems the family financial assets have been "frozen" due to dad's shifty money handling. Each member of this rather dysfunctional family needs to learn how to cope with limited finances after living a rather pampered existence before dad went off to prison. The show is narrated by a familiar voice (Ron Howard) who is also an executive producer. This "riches to rags" story shows how selfishness and materialism can create some rather unpleasant personality conflicts but a sense of humor will prevail. And there is plenty of humor on this show.
Naruto" not exactly a household name in your household? Have you checked with your teen-age sons? When you ask, be prepared to see the look that says, "Do we even live on the same planet? "˜Naruto.' Monumental Manga. Duh." "Naruto" has exceptionally strong teen-boy appeal, partly because it exemplifies all the best attributes of manga and anime, and partly because it shows Everyboy's struggle to earn respect from his family and community. Adolescent ninja Naruto Uzumaki has tried to prove himself worthy of the title "Holage," strongest and bravest of all ninjas, in more than fifty print volumes and 220 episodes on satellite network Animax. In Japan, "Naruto" in manga form has sold more than 100 million copies. In the United States, "Naruto" Volume Eleven won the 2006 "Quill Award." Critics and teen boys consistently praise "Naruto's" fine balance of comedy and battle scenes. If you have fallen woefully behind on your viewing of "Narutu: Shippuden," the definitive "Naruto" anthology, you will find comfort in the fact that Viz released it on DVD in September, 2009, and Disney XD continues regularly airing old episodes.
As Larry David developed "Seinfeld," he openly and unabashedly acknowledged it was "a show about nothing." Now, "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Larry David's show about Larry David similarly is a show dedicated to complete dramatization of practically nothing. Somehow, it manages to be funny anyway. Larry David stars as Larry David, who is a fictionalized version of Larry David. No narcissism in that set-up. The coincidences persist through the rest of the cast: Cheryl Himes plays Cheryl, Jeff Garlin plays Jeff, and Susie Eastman plays Susie, making it much easier to play along on the home version. A semi-retired television writer, David has trouble adapting to the social conventions in Los Angeles, and he devotes a great deal of time and energy to correcting or making-up for his mistakes"¦except when he correcting other people's rude or outrageous behaviour. In its way, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" testifies to David's and the cast's comic genius, because he outlines the plot for each episode, but the actors improvise all of the dialogue, keeping their own enthusiasm well under control.
When you appear on "Jeopardy," choosing "Epic Fail" as your category, expect the big money question to read, "What is "˜The Cape'?" Score hundreds of dollars on your tote board. "The Cape" enjoyed a very brief and frighteningly unspectacular run on NBC, a 2010-2011 mid-season replacement for some equally forgettable je ne sais qua. The show didn't even struggle across the finish line; the season finale aired only on the NBC website. So surprising in light of "The Cape's" genius premise"”framed for murder, a police officer goes undercover as a masked hero, striving to restore his good name and win the privilege of once again seeing his estranged son. What son would not be thrilled to see his father in action as a masked-man; tights optional? Developed for the 9p.m. time-slot, very deliberately family-friendly, "The Cape's" few fiercely loyal viewers characterized it as "good clean fun," scathing NBC and alleging the programming execs had axed Superhero and Son because it was not sleazy and salacious enough. More tights? A handsome codpiece? A representative Yahoo review suggested, "The cape needs time to develop a fan base"¦. How can you develop characters in a short time? I think that NBC should cancel their people who make the decisions."
Reality programming has reached new heights (or is it a low?) when we see a sexy "blonde bombshell" living out her life in front of E! television cameras. Kendra Wilkinson, a former gal pal of Hugh Hefner, has moved from the Playboy mansion and married a football player named Hank Baskett. Now she must adjust to married life plus becoming a mother for the very first time. Moving from absolute luxury into the "real world" of a just above average lifestyle must have been a shocker but she copes. How can dusting, dishwashing, and vacuuming compare with the free and fun loving life she once enjoyed? Kendra began her television career in another short lived series called "The Girl Next Door" which was similar to Three's Company and its star Suzanne Somers role. Blondes always seem to draw attention especially when they are slim, sexy, and single. The Girl Next Door premise was soon replaced with marriage and motherhood however when real life Kendra married her true love, Minnesota Vikings Hank Baskett. Domestic life can be funny and Kendra makes it work.
When a British couple find success with Lyman's Boys, a sitcom they have written for the BBC, they are encouraged to take it to Hollywood in the US. When they remake the show to suit an American audience they run into problems leading them to hire Matt LeBlanc as a cast member. But LeBlanc ends up damaging the show and the Lincoln's reputation as well. With their marriage on the line Beverly and Sean Lincoln need to make some change not only in their scripts but in their lives as well. Matt LeBlanc is brought in to replace the lead and he brings along a laundry list of wants few actors would dare request. Further problems are seen when Merc Lapidus (Hollywood network big shot) decides to make some changes to the hit show Episodes. Conflicts and cultural differences are displayed in a humorous way and even though the Lincolns are worried that their success will end in the US they struggle to keep creative control. Wonderful acting and a delightful chemistry between each make this show one to look for every week.
If bad guys forced you to choose only two programs for viewing during a long captivity, you wisely and happily might choose USA's new series "Fairly Legal." Engaging, engrossing, elegant, and electric, "Fairly Legal" is one of those shows you wish would go on and on and on. If only USA had made more than eight episodes. Sparkly, sassy, stylish, and seductive, Sarah Shahi plays Kate Reed, a once-upon-a-time lawyer who officially has resigned from the professional ranks to become a full-time mediator"”hence the two elements in the title, "legal" and "fair." Kate's goal: avoid costly and ugly litigation by finding settlements that meet everybody's needs. Kate's favourite phrase: "Win-Win." Of course, the show has sexual t4ension between Kate and her ex-husband, a district attorney; it has family tension between Kate and her newly widowed young step-mother; and it has just enough ongoing mystery and suspense in the sub-plot to sustain it from episode to episode. Having San Francisco as the setting doesn't hurt either. No one at "Law and Order" need feel threatened, though, because "Fairly Legal" is far too flirty and fun to harbour any criminal intent.
Any officer involved shooting results in plenty of paperwork and some serious investigation before they may decide it was a Justified event. US Marshal Raylan Givens character is based on an intriguing and somewhat old fashioned lawman appearing in some Elmore Leonard stories. The writing is especially good as is the acting and each character in this show is someone to explored further. Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood) is a soft spoken southerner who happens to carry a Marshal's badge and has his own special style of law enforcement. Harlan Kentucky is the setting (although mostly filmed in California) and redneck style justice prevails in this back woods community. Raylan Givens must contend with relatives, ex-wife (Winona played by Natalie Zea from HBO series Hung), and crooked politicians in order to keep the streets of Harlan clean and safe. Even his own father is part of the criminal element found in this small Kentucky town. Seems like Raylan can trust no one but himself. A love interest and some multi-dimensional "bad guy" characters make this program always entertaining and intriguing.