Quote of the Day: The Soppiness to Be

 

“Santa is real?!” – The Librarians, Season 1.

“The things that make life worth living can’t be thought here, they must be felt here?” – Flynn Carsen, The Librarian: The Quest for the Spear (TV movie).

I don’t recommend TV series all that often. In fact, if it’s on film (of sorts), I don’t tend to recommend anything much made after about the year 2000. The Librarians (and the original Librarian TV movies), featuring among others Noah Wyle and Bob Newhart, is a rare exception. I first chanced across the third of the movies a wee while back, catching it midway through. From interest, I went to amazement that they still made things like this, and went and bought all three movies on the strength of it. All of them are jewels waiting to be discovered.

For me, the biggest challenge is how to describe it all without spoiling anything – because to see any of it for the first time is one of those rare pleasures that shouldn’t be taken from us: The best I can do for now is say, what if myth and legend were real? What if running through the histories of King Arthur and Merlin, ancient Greece, the Norse myths, and the like was a vein of truth richer than we dared believe? (What if they’d made a fourth Indiana Jones movie?)

Well, that’s the sort of thing you get with The Librarian movies and, later, The Librarians TV series, roughly. It’s not always “super polished” (and in fact, that’s one of its great charms – not losing itself or the story in things that ultimately don’t really matter that much), it has its faults – though here they’re very human and endearing “imperfections”. I’d tell you more, but I don’t want to spoil even a moment of it for you. And that’s about the highest praise I can give a TV series, these days or any others.

Enjoy.

.

Published in Group Writing
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  1. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    I saw the three movies when they came out and remembered them fondly enough that I looked for them on DVD.  And once found them, but at a ridiculous price*.  They were ten year-old TV movies and they wanted $30 each.  I remembered enjoying them, but I didn’t remember enjoying them that much.

    * For scale, while I would buy some new releases, I mostly scoured the bargain bins.  I probably averaged $5-$6 each, including the new ones.

    • #1
  2. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    I saw the three movies when they came out and remembered them fondly enough that I looked for them on DVD. And once found them, but at a ridiculous price*. They were ten year-old TV movies and they wanted $30 each. I remembered enjoying them, but I didn’t remember enjoying them that much.

    * For scale, while I would buy some new releases, I mostly scoured the bargain bins. I probably averaged $5-$6 each, including the new ones.

    I was a tad luckier, I think I paid £10 for the lot (movies-wise). That was a little while ago now, and a number of DVDs lately seem to be much more expensive.

    Edit: Though I’d just add, you might find the TV series are priced more reasonably — though you might also be able to catch them on several TV channels, if that appeals.

    • #2
  3. DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone Member
    DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone
    @DrewInWisconsin

    I saw the first one and thought it was entertaining enough, but didn’t move on to the rest. I am slightly curious about the follow-up TV series.

    • #3
  4. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone (View Comment):

    I saw the first one and thought it was entertaining enough, but didn’t move on to the rest. I am slightly curious about the follow-up TV series.

    Each series is quite self-contained in its way, building through a story arc for each. I particularly liked series 2. This is the part of the intro to the more feature-length first episode of series 1, in case of it’s of any interest:

    • #4
  5. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    I don’t think I’ve found another such good-natured series, broadly. Within its limits, it’s very engaging and satisfying. Or I tended to find it so. 

    • #5
  6. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    I don’t think I’ve found another such good-natured series, broadly. Within its limits, it’s very engaging and satisfying. Or I tended to find it so.

    You might look for Warehouse 13 from the SyFy channel.

    • #6
  7. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    I don’t think I’ve found another such good-natured series, broadly. Within its limits, it’s very engaging and satisfying. Or I tended to find it so.

    You might look for Warehouse 13 from the SyFy channel.

    Thank you — I’ll add that to my, admittedly short, list of ones to look out for. 

    • #7
  8. DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone Member
    DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Have you tried Eureka?

    • #8
  9. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone (View Comment):

    Have you tried Eureka?

    Can’t say I have. I’m not even sure I know what that one’s about. I’ve very vaguely heard of Warehouse 13, I think, but not Eureka. Another one for my somewhat scanty list?

    • #9
  10. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone (View Comment):

    Have you tried Eureka?

    Can’t say I have. I’m not even sure I know what that one’s about. I’ve very vaguely heard of Warehouse 13, I think, but not Eureka. Another one for my somewhat scanty list?

    Those two shows did a couple of crossover episodes.

    • #10
  11. DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone Member
    DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Eureka has a lot of charm and won’t weigh you down with modern angst. I enjoy it.

    • #11
  12. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone (View Comment):

    Eureka has a lot of charm and won’t weigh you down with modern angst. I enjoy it.

    Good enough for me. I’ll add it to the list. Thank you.

    • #12
  13. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    I caught one of the movies years ago and enjoyed it.

    Andrew Miller: (What if they’d made a fourth Indiana Jones movie?)

    I enjoyed the trilogy. I wonder if a new actor could be brought in to continue the character. Otherwise, bring in one of his grad students to take over the role or a modern professor who read Professor Jones’ research papers and sets out to find some item he never got around to.

    • #13
  14. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    I caught one of the movies years ago and enjoyed it.

    Andrew Miller: (What if they’d made a fourth Indiana Jones movie?)

    I enjoyed the trilogy. I wonder if a new actor could be brought in to continue the character. Otherwise, bring in one of his grad students to take over the role or a modern professor who read Professor Jones’ research papers and sets out to find some item he never got around to.

    A very carefully chosen new actor and cast … maybe. But it would require something of the love with which the original films seemed to have been made — and probably, I’d say, real film in the cameras, not pixels. 

    • #14
  15. She Member
    She
    @She

    Ah, yes.  The Librarians.  Nice little set of programs (didn’t see the movies).  Must confess, I had a momentary frisson of panic when I saw the OP and thought that it was a recommendation for a series called The Libertarians.

    Nooooo………………….

    ***

    This is the Quote of the Day. Our sign-up sheet for April is here.

    There are only three empty days left: April 25, 26 and 27.  Hurry and reserve your slot, because they aren’t making any more of them, and if you miss them, they’ll be gone forever!

    Another ongoing project to encourage new voices is our Group Writing Project. April’s theme is ‘April’s Showers Bring….‘ If you’re looking to share your own thoughts rather than those of others, please sign up for Group Writing too!

    • #15
  16. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    I caught one of the movies years ago and enjoyed it.

    Andrew Miller: (What if they’d made a fourth Indiana Jones movie?)

    I enjoyed the trilogy. I wonder if a new actor could be brought in to continue the character. Otherwise, bring in one of his grad students to take over the role or a modern professor who read Professor Jones’ research papers and sets out to find some item he never got around to.

    A very carefully chosen new actor and cast … maybe. But it would require something of the love with which the original films seemed to have been made — and probably, I’d say, real film in the cameras, not pixels.

    It’s hard to change characters given that they have renamed them all, including the original, to be “Indiana Jones and the”.  You can’t keep doing that if he’s not in the movie.  And I’m not sure that “Chuck Hamilton and the Thing Indy Forgot to Do” is going to cut it.

    • #16
  17. DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone Member
    DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone
    @DrewInWisconsin

    You’d need an actor who can do the physical stuff as well as the comic moments. One with broad appeal who doesn’t take himself too seriously.

    • #17
  18. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    I caught one of the movies years ago and enjoyed it.

    Andrew Miller: (What if they’d made a fourth Indiana Jones movie?)

    I enjoyed the trilogy. I wonder if a new actor could be brought in to continue the character. Otherwise, bring in one of his grad students to take over the role or a modern professor who read Professor Jones’ research papers and sets out to find some item he never got around to.

    A very carefully chosen new actor and cast … maybe. But it would require something of the love with which the original films seemed to have been made — and probably, I’d say, real film in the cameras, not pixels.

    It’s hard to change characters given that they have renamed them all, including the original, to be “Indiana Jones and the”. You can’t keep doing that if he’s not in the movie. And I’m not sure that “Chuck Hamilton and the Thing Indy Forgot to Do” is going to cut it.

    If only there were a fine series of programs and movies we could make do with . . . Well, aside from Judge Mental and the Lost Library, of course — one of RSR Studios’ finer releases.

    • #18
  19. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone (View Comment):

    You’d need an actor who can do the physical stuff as well as the comic moments. One with broad appeal who doesn’t take himself too seriously.

    And someone with a bit of substance, too.

    • #19
  20. Midwest Southerner Coolidge
    Midwest Southerner
    @MidwestSoutherner

    Looking forward to enjoying The Librarians during some (fingers crossed) down time this weekend. 

    • #20
  21. Steve C. Member
    Steve C.
    @user_531302

    All 3 shows are charming light entertainment. The quality is generally good, though the digital effects adequate not great. But if you grew up watching Star Trek, they are more than sufficient.

    I also recommend Leverage. A coterie of “crooks” use their criminal talents to turn the tables on bad guys who’ve avoided the conventional justice system.

    • #21
  22. Mark Alexander Inactive
    Mark Alexander
    @MarkAlexander

    Eureka is a must-see, especially in later seasons when it packs a powerful and emotional punch. The Christmas episodes are classic, and I’m surprised Colin Ferguson has no other steady gig, since he is a master of both comedy and drama. 

    • #22
  23. Mark Alexander Inactive
    Mark Alexander
    @MarkAlexander

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone (View Comment):

    Have you tried Eureka?

    Can’t say I have. I’m not even sure I know what that one’s about. I’ve very vaguely heard of Warehouse 13, I think, but not Eureka. Another one for my somewhat scanty list?

    Eureka and Warehouse 13 have some crossover episodes, as I recall.

    • #23
  24. DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone Member
    DrewInEastHillAutonomousZone
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Mark Alexander (View Comment):

    Eureka is a must-see, especially in later seasons when it packs a powerful and emotional punch.

    We’ve only watched the first season (and a bit of the second) but Henry’s actions in the season 1 finale were a bit shocking. So much for that genial everyman character.

    • #24
  25. Sisyphus Member
    Sisyphus
    @Sisyphus

    I also endorse the Librarians. Warehouse 13 has a similar focus on enchanted artifacts, and is also good. Rebecca Romajn is a bit more convincing as a physical combatant than Joanne Kelly, but they are both wonderful actresses.  I didn’t find Eureka as “light” as others suggest. There is a multiverse plot that is utterly tragic early in the five seasons, and other instances of collateral damage that clashes with the overall light tone. Still worth watching.

    • #25
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