Act I of Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is up today on DoctorHorrible.com
For those who don't know, Doctor Horrible is being billed as the first big(ish) budget scripted direct-to-itnerwebs production. Written and produced by Joss Whedon, it stars Neil Patrick Harris as the protagonist-cum-supervillain-wannabe, whose attempts to get into the Guild of Calamitous Intent er, Evil League of Evil. He has two major problems. His evil schemes are never really evil enough, and his attempts to win the girl keep getting foiled by his arch-nemesis, Nathan Fillion's "Captain Hammer". Or as Doctor Horrible puts it, "Captain Hammer - Corporate Tool".
Hijinks ensue.
"But if it makes you feel better, I would also enjoy a world in which there are men, women, transsexuals, genderqueer folk, etc. who all enjoy pelican role-play." - JD
"Extraordinary conditions do not create or enlarge constitutional powers."
Re: Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog
This is awesome.
Also, note the model of Serenity hanging in the window in the opening scene.
A parasite feeding on bacteria growing on fungus growing on cow excrement? The only way the parasitic chain could get any longer would be if the cow excrement worked for the government.
- Smacky
Re: Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog
I hated it, and I am probably not going to stop telling everyone that for a while.
I refuse to let it soil my love for NPH, though. That skinny neck ... *sigh*
Re: Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog
I loved it, myself.
Re: Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog
I'm kind of with Ellie, I think Joss Whedon needs to chill on the angsty musical theater and get back to space smuggling soap operas.
But, as Deepak Chopra taught us, quantum physics means anything can happen at any time for no reason! Also, eat plenty of oatmeal, and animals never had a war... who's the real animal?
=Professor Farnsworth
Re: Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog
I enjoyed it, even though the end left me saying, "Wha- it's over? Where's the punchline?"
And Bad Horse (The Thoroughbred of Sin!) was awesome.
A parasite feeding on bacteria growing on fungus growing on cow excrement? The only way the parasitic chain could get any longer would be if the cow excrement worked for the government.
- Smacky
Re: Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog
The punchline is that he got everything he wanted - recognition as a villain, defeat and humiliation of Captain Hammer, etc. - at a tragic cost.
My friend Alex, after badgering me to watch it, :), said "Well, yeah - supervillains don't get happy endings." I pointed out that it's not so much an ending as it's the origin story of Dr. Horrible (at least, Dr. Horrible as a villain anyone takes seriously, as opposed to this shy guy Billy). In the pulp and superhero genres, those are very often tragic.
EDIT: And to be fair, even with the sudden knife-to-the-ribs at the climax, things really can't end nicely. There's a tease at that idea when Penny realizes Hammer is a jackass, but there's no way she'd end up with Billy. If she'd really known who he was and what he wanted, she would have rejected him; more so if he'd killed Captain Hammer. Billy has locked himself into his desire to be a villainous mad scientist (to the point that Bad Horse has resorted to a "do or die" ultimatum), so there's not much else he can do.
Re: Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog
Ah, that's the angle I was missing. Thanks!
A parasite feeding on bacteria growing on fungus growing on cow excrement? The only way the parasitic chain could get any longer would be if the cow excrement worked for the government.
- Smacky
Re: Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog
I get it, and I enjoyed it, because I'm less sensitive to these things than Ellie. But I also agree with her that it was a too-sudden change in mood. It was something of a bait-and-switch — "Happy happy, songs, light campy fun, DARK ENDING!!!!!" Yeah, it's Joss Whedon; it wasn't unexpected. But it wasn't quite . . . right.
David L. Watkins
TANSTAAFL
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hackerkey.com
Re: Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog
Honestly, I kept expecting him to get all black-eyed-and-veiny in that ending. Sure it needs to take a dark twist at the end (or does it? Maybe not) but does the twist have to be so reminiscent of previous Jossisms?
Loved the Bad Horse posse, and the date/stalking song (I rewound the soup kitchen scene a few times). A few of the other gags were funny.
Actually, I really liked NPH's character. Nathan was nicely arch in his portrayal of the self-absorbed do-gooder-for-adulation guy.
"But if it makes you feel better, I would also enjoy a world in which there are men, women, transsexuals, genderqueer folk, etc. who all enjoy pelican role-play." - JD
"Extraordinary conditions do not create or enlarge constitutional powers."
Re: Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog
See hier.
Relevant bit:
This is a personal problem. There are very few personal problems that cannot be solved through a suitable use of high explosives. This is not one of those exceptions.
Re: Doctor Horrible's Sing-along Blog
Ok, upon re-watching it's actually pretty great. I like seeing Mal singing.
But, as Deepak Chopra taught us, quantum physics means anything can happen at any time for no reason! Also, eat plenty of oatmeal, and animals never had a war... who's the real animal?
=Professor Farnsworth