2GuysTalking

Caption Hunt: The Shield - Snitch (Final Season, Episode 2)

2GuysTalking — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 22:23:47 -0700

Caption Hunt: Sons of Anarchy - Fun Town (Episode 3)

2GuysTalking — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:59:16 -0700

Caption Hunt: Sons of Anarchy - Seeds (Episode 2)

2GuysTalking — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:54:52 -0700

Caption Hunt: Sons of Anarchy - Pilot

2GuysTalking — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:53:16 -0700

Caption Hunt: The Shield - Genocide (Final Season, Episode 4)

2GuysTalking — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:49:38 -0700

Caption Hunt: The Shield - Money Shot (Final Season, Episode 3)

2GuysTalking — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:47:28 -0700

Caption Hunt for 30 Days - In a Wheelchair

2GuysTalking — Tue, 2 Sep 2008 13:59:17 -0700

Show Viewing Date: 6-10-2008
Show Title: 30 Days: In a Wheelchair
Network: FXHD
Reviewed By: Mike Wilkerson - 2GuysTalking.Com

Intro:

I can remember my college days - vividly. I was a student that continued to build steam as I exited high school, into my college years where I really did finally feel I was learning something that would propel me into my own and other's futures. Shortly before I graduated in 1992, there were a series of exercises that we went through that - looking back now - were clearly meant to help us lend pathos to the people that we were both assisting and might interact with in our lives as interpreters for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. You guessed it - the all-encompassing sound-drowning headphones, and (not at the same time) a comfy black, light-stealing blindfold. Each of us was charged with having a day during the semester where we were "Deaf", or we were "Blind". This episode of FX' "30 Days" provided us with the perspective that felt very similar:

What would life be like if tomorrow you were in a wheelchair?

This week, Morgan amped up the experience 100-fold, by including a twist. Morgan wouldn't be the person to "live in a wheelchair for 30 days" - he invited NFL superstar, cornerback Ray Crockett, winner of multiple Superbowls to participate in what was a very creative and introspective look at what life would be like "if you lived in a wheelchair for 30 Days."

Previews/Commercials Captioned: Yes

Opinion Review:

There is a strange "is this real" feel to this episode of "30 Days" that I think is perpetuated by an incredibly real, endearing, and HUMBLE Ray Crockett. This is a professional athlete that truly cares not only about the people around him personally, but the people around him in general AND the people that will end up watching this episode. His ability to give us, the audience "eyes" into what he is experiencing, even times where he clearly doesn't know how to react (gosh, would any of us?) provides me with a deep sense of admiration for this two-time back-to-back Superbowl winner.

Something that is missing often in so many "retrospective/what if" shows nowadays is the complete absence of real-life questions. Sure, you won't be able to drive a car the same, sure there are ramps installed in his gargantuan mansion of a home - but one question perplexes many who consider "what if one day I couldn't use my legs and was bound a to a wheelchair?

It's all about the sex. Sexual. Sexerino. The vertical bop, the cricket scratch, the double whammy, the bologna pony ride. What would "change" - would it all just "go away" if you were paralyzed, and Ray asks a newfound wheelchair-bound friend that question and you get the answer. Straight-up - so to speak.

This, along with what is outstanding perspective as Ray visits a recently-paralyzed girl in toughing it out in rehab, a series of professional wheelchair rugby players (do these guys rock the house or what? Truly inspiring stuff) makes for a wonderful viewing experience that is completely, perfectly captioned from stem to stern. The most outstanding nugget of this entire episode (indeed, perhaps what the series is based on as far as I can tell) is the accumulation of knowledge that clearly shows in the NFL veterans face as he begins to understand more and more that it's about the PEOPLE, not the chair - not the disability - not their story that put them there - not what they've lost, but what these people have or will become post injury as they learn to cope with a new avenue of life. It's touching, it's educational and it is - again - why this series is a must see regardless of your current or past perspective of those with a disability.

As I conclude this Caption Hunt review of "30 Days: In a Wheelchair" I remember again my "day" in college where I was blind. When I could almost immediately understand what a challenge not being able to use one of your senses to give your life direction. Seeing this episode allows me to understand not only how thankful I am for what I do have, both in my remaining senses and life, but how courageous, full of life, and inspirational people can become by sharing stories and perspective - which is exactly why I am a warrior in The 2GuysTalking Caption Hunt.

Overall Caption Rating:: 5

Overall Show Rating: 5

Total Rating: 5

Do You Recommend This Show to Others Who Depend on Captioning? Yes

? Mike Wilkerson
Creator/Graphic Designer/Talk Show Host
- The 2GuysTalking Podcast
2GuysTalking Original Content Podcast Network
http://www.2guystalking.com
Mike@2guystalking.com ? 314-229-7683

[Mike is a professional entertainment critic and talk show host for The 2GuysTalking Podcast Network, a multi-media podcasting company specializing in the broadcast of opinion, thought and ideas. Be sure to visit 2GuysTalking.Com for more information.]

The Shield: Coefficient of Drag

2GuysTalking — Tue, 2 Sep 2008 13:19:23 -0700

The Shield: Coefficient of Drag

2GuysTalking — Tue, 2 Sep 2008 13:16:33 -0700

Previews/Commercials Captioned: No, and No - Sigh. While many of the commercials (but not all had closed captioning), NONE of the feature film trailers presented, nor any of the future or "Tribute to The Shield" segments featured captioning. It's another one of those baby-step moments for a show that has what is easily one of the best closed captioning sets that serves as a model for other shows that are still in their closed captioned infancy. Let's get with the PROGRAM, FX. Spend some of that money that Busch is throwing through on captioning the many advertisements that you showcase. You won't be sorry you did.

Opinion Review:

My reviews for this final series of The Shield episodes will mirror the same style I've used in the past that allows me to comment with a broad brush that gives you, the reader, maximum impact by giving you detail of what I see and "think" as I'm watching the show. As with everything that is review-based, there ARE elements in this review that will destroy this episode for those that haven't seen it yet, so READ ON AT YOUR OWN PERIL! Read on for more and remember I'm ALWAYS looking for you to chime in with your thoughts on mine.

The Insertion Point: It's as if we haven't missed a step as we find Vic Mackey, along with Ronnie, whaling on Shane who have duct-taped his pregnant wife's mouth shut (something that, sadly, I think I'd have done for them), but I marvel at how quality television programs are able to stay in the moment from season to season with months and so many life events in between the start and stop. Well done, folks, well done.

Pushing Hearing Anticipation: Vic Headlines Nothing: For those that don't remember or weren't The Shield witnesses to last season's finale, Vic was on the edge of being smote as a police officer and was waiting for the decision of an impending hearing to decide his municipal fate. We got nothing from the last episode, except of course that he didn't go to the hearing directly, and as we inch into this episode at full The Shield speed, we discover that they're not spilling the beans or even wiggling the bowl that they live in yet. The jury is literally still out on the status of Vic Mackey, and even better - he will NOT be "headlining" any of the action we'll see in this final season. Does anyone else want to go in on odds with me that might not be the case this season? :) Some of the best work when wanting to "headline" things can be accomplished when everyone else thinks you're not in charge, and it looks like Vic is going to revel in it this time.

Olivia Murray ICE: What would The Shield be without another new, attractive, potential sexpot for Vic? This season we meet Olivia Murray, who presumably is working with the federal level organizations who are following the varying cartel organizations. Does anyone wanna' take odds on her ending up in a car, hotel room, closet, abandoned crack house or blue Dodge Charger before the season is out?

Top Notch Production Design: Anyone that has listened to our top-notch discussions with 24 Production Designer, Joseph Hodges is truly aware of the magic and pay-off that happens with high quality production design, and The Shield has never disappointed. In this case, we get a grizzly scene with a neighborhood street littered with body parts and sporting the "lines that have been drawn" literally with blood by the Salvadoran cartel in the streets to delineate where what will and won't happen. It's something that could SO easily could go wrong, but it is wonderfully accomplished work that always satisfies.

Unable to Sell an Ex Wife: Vic is usually able to sell just about anyone on anything, but Corine is just simply not buying into his description of the events that transpired last episode. Rather than telling her straight-out that her and the kids lives are in jeopardy, he chooses to float a fat, smelly bobbing turd of a lie out there and for the moment - Corrine takes it on and moves forward. The scene where Ronnie and Vic stumble into the man with the blackmail orgy trunk from last episode is something to remember as well and is wonderfully blocked.

The Power of Saying So Much with So Little: In our 2GuysTalking: 24 Podcast, we talk OFTEN about Keifer Sutherland's ability to say so much by saying so little. Michael Chiklis has ALWAYS been a master of this and this season appears to be his next "frame" for showcasing this skill. His one-of-a-kind ability to stare-down, to move people along, to interject but saying nothing is one of the best portrayals in American television - bar none, and it reminds me how proud I am to see an aactor of Michael's calibur working on the small screen.

Dual Arrowheading a Storyline: There are so few shows that are able to create this feature, but also then to intertwine them in a single episode that eventually is a tiny piece of an overall thread throughout a shows season that I have trouble explaining how well it's done. We have two arrowheads, heading to the same point in the form of: Vic and Ronnie (as one arrowhead in the episode's story), and Shane as the continued lone wolf element converging on the hotel room of the man who tried to murder Vic's family in the last episode. Not only are the writer's and director of this episode able to pull it off with perfect timing, but the interaction between the two forces, without them actually interacting, is simply one of the best pieces of television available. If this situation were for some unexplainable reason, happening to you, YOU WOULD DO WHAT THEY DO to get what you needed done. Show me another show that bothers to showcase that. That we'll be able to take the overall arc of what happens in the room as an element that steers this entire episode toward the end, and what I predict will be seen throughout the episode in general, is sheer GENIUS and it's appreciated completely. Again, very well done, folks.

Protected by Final Jeopardy (instead of Double Jeopardy): I love the ability of the writer's to interject little items like this that are appreciated not only by the people watching, but by the characters "under their breath" as they're being stated. It's the little bits of writing that help to sell, push and drive a storyline that is included in an episode that could totally be seen as "meaningless" but then is looped BACK into the story to become one of the largest factors guiding this last season of The Shield.

Ronnie Turning the Moral Corner: It might be that the cloak of impropriety has always been draped around Ronnie's neck over the last 6 years, but never before has his interaction with characters become as bold as outright murder. We see him take on the final responsibility that often defines the actions of one Vic Mackey. His murder of Zadofian is heartless, quick, but incredibly important, not only in the vein of the story, but in the general portrait that The Shield has created for Ronnie Gardocki. It provides him with a black stripe for his heart, that I'm not certain he'll be able to ever remove, nor will it eventually fade. He has truly become "the apprentice" for the Sith Lord that is Vic Mackey and his overall governing "law" that guides a swift and decisive (and often violent) hand to get what he wants done.

Just When Your Thought It Was Already Terrible - Chop! Another completely overlooked trait of The Shield is to be completely shocked AGAIN - with even MORE shocking events - after having just been shocked to your mortal core moments before. After Ronnie shoots Zadofian in the hotel room, thereby nullifying the direct and current threat to Vic's family (and then departing in an alleged OJ-like Ski mask), Shane struts up to the hotel room and after a quick, darting eye-flash and run downstairs to the local FIRE AX DISPENSER, HACKS OFF ZADOFIAN's FEET! It's raw, completely unexpected, but - not so amazingly - fits the need for items that can be "found" and used to foster the story that Shane plans to push to a variety of sources to get what HE wants done. Again, again, the apprentice utilizing traits he learned from watching the master for so many years.

Continuity Support: Ronnie's Face: One of the often-forgotten items that plague just about every television show, is continuity. Several years back, Ronnie has his face put to a hotplate burner in some crackhouse/house of ill-repute and he received a scar that has been regularly featured on the left side of this face. This season doesn't disappoint. It could be SOOOooo easy to write out the scar, but they take the time to address it, and it's totally appreciated and adds weight to Ronnie's situation in life.

Making a Sushi Run and the Scent of a True *****: Former Detective and Temporary Barn Captain Steve Billing's arrives back into The Barn (the title of the police station because it's made out of an old Barn that was once a church, believe it or not), complete with complaining, excuses, and some of the funniest GI Joe-style sunglasses I've ever seen. If you thought you had seen the "one person" in your workplace that was milking the "disability teat" in the past - you ain't seen nothing yet. He continues to profess that he has been completely disabled by the tiny bump on the head he received fourth-handedly while being in proximity of Vic and another Internal Affairs Officer (Forrest Whittaker, who was OUTSTANDING while on his short stint on the show, by the way) and the chicken literally has come home to (sort of) roost. Apparently Sushi provides the "shot of protein that helps him stabilize the memory problems that he's been subject to post-incident. Hoooo-boy.

The Master of Life's Combination Locks = Vic Mackey: I am certain that you are or have met someone that can slide in and out of just about every situation imaginable. They'll formulate, compile, and emote a story the likes of which no one could have ever forseen or come up with in even four times the amount of time that person had for the story. Sure, you may know someone like that, but tell me this: Do you know the person that can do allll of that, and then come up with two and three OTHER stories, that will merge right into that situation days, weeks, months, years later? Vic IS that person. Again, another stellar piece of story construction, cerebral Scrabble, and details that just will not stop.

Pinned Down and Under Fire: Raising the Bar and Lowering the Front Door - Literally: Sure, any show can have an "action-packed shootout" but how many will take the next giant leap and complete the job by DRIVING THEIR CAR through a wall!?? Vic Mackey will! To quell an uprising, with no SWAT support available for the forseeable future, Vic jumps in his trusty car of 3+ seasons, and barrels it through the front door of the establishment cloaking rogue, machine-gun-toting elements and saves the proverbial day. Again, wonderfully ch*****graphed, and engaging.

Extra Note About The Sons Of Anarchy: Another sure-fine appearance from this show for at least the first episode is something you can depend on. The detail, especially in HD is something that will be a sure-fire attention getter for tomorrow evening and we'll have it RIGHT HERE at The 2GuysTalking Caption Hunt!

Casting Masterpieces: It's all about casting, folks. There are so many times that parts could be complete throw-aways in this show. Over the last 6 years, I'd say that - 40 - actors, that could have been nothing more than people appearing in an episode and out, have been characters that you at LEAST think are interesting. Whether they've got a great on-screen disposition, a great accent, wonderfully-vibrant clothing selected for them, or just their ability to say so much with what is often so little - The Shield pulls it off WONDERFULLY again in this introductory offering for final season 7.

30 Days Before Assembling a New Committee = Vic's VooDoo: Vic's VooDoo... I plan on revisiting that at least once in each episode, and perhaps that's what we can call his masters-level combination lock of life interactions? That Vic has 30 days to "figure it all out" is an instant and wonderfully-laid plan from the writer's to amp up the tension and light a fuse not only under Vic Mackey's ***** but the viewers' as well.

Quote of the Episode: There were MANY again this episode, but I'm going to have to go with Dutch's inventive, completely fabricated quote to incite Billing's foundational ***** instincts by saying that "(another character) said that the only thing weaker than his detective skills is his spine." SHEER GENIUS!

The Junior Combination Lock Expert: The best sample of how you live your life is how you effect those around you, and this couldn't be closer to the truth, than when talking about the scheming, conniving, get-the-plan-in-this-path-to-better-me-later ability that Shane exhibits in this episode. Vic has always been the master, and has provided those around him with many of the skills that have "benefitted him" for the last 6+ years. Whether it's truly been "good" or "bad" is all up for interpretation, but one fact ramains: The strongest difference between Vic's and Shane's ability to conjure the perfect, vindictive, complex-enough-it-has-to-be-true bull***** lie is very simple... Shane's usually blow up in his face.

A Warm Story-laden Pillow for Shane: A false sense of security is what has killed or injured every single character on The Shield, and I have a feeling that it's going to be a focal point all the way around and through this season. The ability to trust, to believe in those you "have history with" and to comfortably move forward has always been dependant on your overall feeling of security. Don't pucker, folks. The veil of security is incredibly thin this season.

The captioning for this episode is probably some of the best in the closed captioning industry. The captioning appears from left to right as the people in frame speak and the lettering appears JUST before they speak so that you're right on them as they speak. MANY shows, most recently the Olympics, could learn a lot from the captioning displayed here. The captions also move from bottom to top when graphics or banners are showcased on the show, so that you can take advantage of the information provided via those banners and graphics. Many sports television shows are using this but a sadly large number of shows do not. Very well done, FX.

Overall Caption Rating: 4

Overall Show Rating: 5

Total Rating: 5

Do You Recommend This Show to Others Who Depend on Captioning? Yes

The Shield: Coefficient of Drag

2GuysTalking — Tue, 2 Sep 2008 13:05:08 -0700

Caption Hunt for 30 Days: Living Navajo

2GuysTalking — Wed, 9 Jul 2008 20:00:11 -0700

Caption Hunt for 30 Days: Same-Sex Parenting

2GuysTalking — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:42:03 -0700

Caption Hunt for 30 Days: Animal Rights

2GuysTalking — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:40:56 -0700

Caption Hunt for 30 Days - Workin in a Coal Mine

2GuysTalking — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:29:53 -0700

Show Viewing Date: 6-3-2008
Show Title: 30 Days: Workin' in a Coal Mine
Network: FXHD
Reviewed By: Mike Wilkerson - 2GuysTalking.Com

Intro:

I have never been a reality show person. The time it takes to follow, believe, and suspend disbelief that people would treat people like they do in reality programs is something I just can hardly stomach. While waiting for an episode of "The Shield" to start last season (I did a series of something called "Overcast Reviews" of several episodes of "The Shield" last season for Overcast Media - don't miss them) there was a show that caught my attention called "30 Days." During this show, you have a filmmaker, Morgan Spurlock (yes, the guy that made the "McDonalds Movie" which is an excellent showcase of what much of America is doing to itself when eating out 6 times a week), who subjects his life to a different career or situation for 30 days, and gives you the perspective he garners during that time. I instantly gravitated towards it because - well - in my life I've had the fortune to have participated in a variety of jobs as well. Not because I had my own custom television show, but because I was a professional sign language interpreter for so long. Name, the job, I've participated in it or had a part in it at one time or another. It was a great job, but like everything else, other opportunities come up and things change.

This show reminds me greatly of my life as an Interpreter - the difference? It lasts 42 minutes, during which I get to entertain myself, watch the captioning and tell all of you find people about it. Read on below for more details in regard to the Caption Hunt review of "30 Days: Workin' in a Coal Mine.:

Previews/Commercials Captioned: Yes

Opinion Review:

There are very few shows on television that I could possibly recommend not only to Deaf/Hard of Hearing viewers, but to anyone. The cavalcade of shows that are available on the perpetually-growing dial that just feel and are a waste of life experience continues to grow. This is not one of those shows, folks. You NEED to be watching this show. While I don't agree with some of the politics that Morgan tends to inject into projects, this program, this episode in particular, is something that not only helps youi appreciate the job and life that you currently have, but helps you find newfound respect for others in their sometimes-not-chosen professions.

Morgan visits his home state of West Virginia to take on the role of a coal miner for "30 Days" - a trade many in his hometown eventually took part in, while he went to New York to become a film maker. For the month he'll be working on the job, his new "boss" will not only be his direct supervisor, but also his landlord, as Morgan sets up virtual TV camp in a very colorful, pink girls bedroom to help "bring out his feminine side." His first day of work - folks - it's hell. It's some of the most unimaginable do-it-again for 8 hours straight with a 10 minute sandwich lunch that you can just barely imagine.

The closed captioning for the program is outstanding. I think that perhaps they got a hold of what was the production script before the actual audio was dubbed in though. In the captioning, his training consisted of a "40 training period" while his audio states that it took "80 hours" to get ready to go down below. Ahh, the comfort, of being hard of hearing. :) There is also something strange for FX - the elimination of the word "*****" in an area during the program where he states "covered in coal", is captioned as "as dirty as a pig in *****." Again, my experience with FX for the last several years is that they're very bold about being - bold. *****, crap, *****, goddamn it, hell, sonuvva***** and more - they're all commonplace on FX and I was surprised that they took something as straghtforward as "dirty as a pig in *****" as one of their "need to put that on the cutting room floor" moments from this episode.

Morgan's boss for this episode took the time every morning to write his wife a short note - one that Im sure all of us have written at one time or another, that told her how much he loved her and it struck Morgan enough that he began writing a postcard to his wife in New York everyday. That was something that struck me as I have developed over the years (mostly since 9-11) the habit of giving my girls a home a kiss before I leave. Do you do something like this every day? Let us know by using the contact form at 2GuysTalking.Com.

I had previously mentioned my disagreements with Morgan's politics, but I am very happy to announce that he straddles the line of common sense, reality, and reasonable thought as he addresses not only the coal miner's take on the environmental impact of "their job" but also the viewpoint of what are the people that are trying to save the vast and rich culture and environment that are the Aplallacian Mountains of West Virgina. Very well done, and adeptly captioned right in line. Something I do agree with him on, especially in what is the center of a nationwide gas escalation - we need to research alternative fuel sources , and we have simply not taken the time, effort or money to do it. Coal mining currently makes the "country go" and while everyone screams for them to stop doing it, no one can offer up an alternative - something that is also a problem in the Deaf/Hard of Hearing community as well.

One of my favorite movies, that is also wonderfully captioned (including the recent gold release - great stuff) is The Hunt for Red October. In it is one of my favorite quotes: "The Peace of Fishing". Now understand that I am not a fan of fishing in fact the last three fishing trips my Pop and I Have taken - well, we didn't catch a goddamn thing. :) BUT, the fact remains is that there's peace in the experience of fishing, and it's something that Morgan clued into while doing his wrap for this episode. The ability and opportunity to bond with the Earth while mining, the solace of "silence". The ability to be essentially one-on-one with a shovel working away for hours on end. That's something I know many people can associate with. As Morgan finished his "final lesson from his Mr. Miyagi of Coal Mining", there were several things that make me realize why I like watching this show, and why I totally recommend that you watch it as well.

My journey as an interpreter gave me just a smidgeon of magic that Morgan was able to experience during his 30 days in this vocation/situation, and it gives me and all potential viewers and incredible glimpse into something that is much more human than just the mechanized matter-of-course process that people think coal mining is..

"It's all about respect", Morgan Spurlock, exclaims.

It sure is. Morgan, and you are respected by this hard of hearing reviewer, friend.

Special/Supplemental Features Captioned: Yes! An outstanding additional note. Not only was every second of this and all of the commercials during this show captioned, they actually captioned (subtitled) several of the West Virginians that were a bit hard to understand because of additional noise while recording, or becaues of what is a sometimes-particularly deep drawl in that area of the southwestern United States. :)

Overall Caption Rating:: 5

Overall Show Rating: 5

Total Rating: 5

Do You Recommend This Show to Others Who Depend on Captioning? Yes

– Mike Wilkerson
Creator/Graphic Designer/Talk Show Host
- The 2GuysTalking Podcast
2GuysTalking Original Content Podcast Network
http://www.2guystalking.com
Mike@2guystalking.com – 314-229-7683