
Began to watch Hex last night and, what can I say? I'm totally addicted! I can see where the Buffy comparisons are coming from (you could almost match up characters from each show, such as Thelma/Willow, Azazeal/Angel, Roxanna/Cordelia etc.) but, unlike Buffy, I was rather pleased that Hex went with a more Biblically gothic storyline. While Joss Whedon's world is imaginative and unique, his ideas of heaven and hell, of demons, the product of a gleefully ingenius mind, I've always quite liked new takes in the modern world on biblical canonical material.
Hellblazer/Constantine, Hellboy, Millennium, X-Files, Sandman all tackled the same subject. Heck, all of them even include their own takes on Azazeal (sometimes Azazel) and the Nephilim. In the Millennium, he's portrayed as Samiel, an attractive young man, a fallen prophet who was sent with a warning. The name reappears in Hellboy, as a beast, playing with the "Hound of Resurrection" title. The others take on Azazeal full on.
But Hex takes it to a level of Gothic romance and horror which, I must say, with Buffy long gone and my DVD sets getting a bit tiresome, is really a delight. It's definitely my kind of tv!
On another front, dunno how to feel about the role of Bellatrix being recast from Helen McCrory to Helena Bonham Carter in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Helena has too soft a face, an angelic Pre-Raphaelite face, whereas McCrory had that dark, sharp sort of look to her, the kind that would make you want to cross to the other side of the street if you were walking alone at night and found yourself walking towards her. Polly Walker was another early rumor and I think that's far more suited.
I remember Entertainment Weekly even named Helena its first choice to play Merope, Voldemort's woe-begotten mother, because of her large, sad eyes and tragically gothic look. Rather disappointed as Bellatrix is a favorite character of mine. It also seems like they're moving a bit too much towards the 'cast stars' trap that I was scared of from the beginning. Yes, the films have always had its share of heavyweights, but they were also concerned about casting the right person in other roles. To me, Helena's casting feels like, 'Well, she's very gothic, isn't she? Let's cast her, she'll be perfect!' instead of careful consideration of the character's personality and physical appearence.
On the Clive Cussler front, have started Atlantis Found, which is easily the best of the Dirk Pitt novels. It always makes me laugh that he has the most amazing knowledge of science, physics and archeology, and then is so inept with plot and characters, but they're fun, so who am I to argue? Gary Stu to the extreme but what a hoot to read!
And, yay, the second season of The Venture Bros. got off to a fantastic start! It's funny because my sister doesn't usually go for "low" humor, even when it's highbrow humor in disguise, but she's surprised me by absolutely falling in love with The Venture Bros.! Go figure! Wait until I introduce her to The Boondocks!
Peace, Ghani