Thank God for over achievers.

One of the things I have noticed over the past few years is that an overwhelming amount of people make comments about the lackluster state of original television programming. If it isn't a lame idea shoved into production with either nameless rookie actors, writers and directors, then it is a television series based on either a classic movie, book, comic, or even a crap movie. Once in a while networks find the most washed up child star or industry has-been to try to spice up the marketing of the film. Actually, now that I think of it, the same thing was even happening to the movie industry a few years ago. There were a few shining stars within the past five years, but most of the films have been less than, well, watchable. We have been overrun by films like Boogieman, The Messengers, Date Movie, and a now pointless Saw series. (8 is enough?) It has only brrn in the last few months that this trend has died. It's the end of the Paul W.S. Anderson/Brett Ratner era, and the beginning of the new Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, and JJ Abrams era. Epic, Artistic, and hardworking talent has made a comeback. It's no longer about a quick box office paycheck.

My original point, though, that TV has been notoriously written off as, well....crap, has all started to shift. The majority of people I have discussed this issue with were once wildly skeptical, if not just plain against watching original TV. It seems like the major networks have finally given the money to the talent people, rather than the money people. I see it suiting to now recognize the saviors of our once again breathing industry.

House M.D.
24
Chuck
Dexter
Weeds
The Wire
The Shield
Lost
My Own Worst Enemy
Worst Week
The Big Bang Theory
Two and a Half Men
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Lie to Me (coming soon)
Fringe
Scrubs
Prison Break
Heroes (Villains)
The Office
My Name is Earl
30 Rock
How I Met Your Mother
Raising the Bar

Let's hope this trend continues. I suspect a revolution is on its way in the film/television industry, and it's going to be huge... whether it is good or bad, I can't tell you, but it is on its way.

What to watch out for... Tru3D. Tru3D is going to single handedly change the face of the animated family movie. Dreamworks has pretty much gone all out on this. the first film in Tru3D we will see is 2009's star studded Monsters vs. Aliens, featuring the voices of Stephen Colbert, Hugh Laurie, Seth Rogen, Keifer Sutherland, Reese Witherspoon, Rainn Wilson, and the always hilarious, under appreciated Will Arnett.

James Cameron. James Cameron has always gone above and beyond in whatever he takes on. While I have always found the writing in his films to be, well, not for me (Terminator, True Lies) He has always done an amazing job with keeping movies awesome. (Terminator, True Lies!).
KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED for James Cameron's IMAX revolution called Avatar. Thirteen years in the making, it should hit theatres in 2009. (Here's hoping!) It utilizes an abundance of methods to achieve 3-D in a way you have never seen it before. Cameron says this will push movies from entertainment to a full blown experience. Apparently, rumor has it that the Image Motion Captured CGI characters are 100 percent 3-D and photo realistic, therefore passing Uncanny Valley. Uncanny Valley states that the more life-like a synthetic life form (robotics) become, the more apparent its flaws become. To cross this valley was thought to be impossible (with the exception of cloning of course... on which the jury is STILL out). We'll see what happens.

Stay tuned.