Dr. Horrible Ends on a High Low Note

The third and final act of Joss Whedon's Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, with Neil Patrick Harris in the title role, debuted Saturday. It continues in the darker tone that was set in the second installment and proceeds to get even darker while still managing to provide laughs. I can't really get into what happened because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who may happen to read this and plans to watch it at some point (and if that's you, then why haven't you already?!). Overall, I think it's a triumph. What began as a fairly silly concept turned into something that managed to be funny and dramatic with characters to cheer for and root against independent of what side of the hero/villain line they may stand. Of course, anyone who watched Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer shouldn't be surprised. The show is only going to be up until midnight Sunday, so if you want to watch it for free, get to watching! Otherwise, you'll probably have to shell out some money down the road on a DVD or a download. Although it didn't escape my notice that the total time of the show when all three acts are added together is about the same as an hour long television episode without the commercials. I wouldn't be surprised to see it pop up on television at some point.

Click here for full post

Dr. Horrible is Definitely Not

The second episode of Joss Whedon's Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is up, and this time there doesn't seem to be any major technological snafus as I've been able to successfully access it twice. It's a good thing, too, because this installment is too good to make people wait. I gave the first installment a bit of a mixed review. The second installment, however, is nothing but sweet, gooey goodness. The story takes something of a darker turn with Captain Hammer dating the girl of Dr. Horrible's dreams and proving himself to be a major tool in the process. The not-so-bad Dr. has also been given an ultimatum: if he wants to join the villainous society of his dreams, he'll have to take a life. With Captain Hammer having a less than gentlemanly attitude towards the object of his affection, the target becomes clear. Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion give superb performances in roles that could fall flat in lesser hands. After the first episode, it's gratifying to see the material rise to their level.

Click here for full post

Dr. Horrible Has a Crashing Debut

Joss Whedon's online show, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, debuted Tuesday with a server-crashing turnout from viewers. I finally got to view the first episode Tuesday night after attempting to do so all day. Out actor Neil Patrick Harris stars as the title villain looking to conquer the world and the heart of the girl at the laundromat (Felicia Day). Nathan Fillion co-stars as Dr. Horrible's nemesis, Captain Hammer, a narcissistic superhero who is obviously overly fond of the glory of superherodom. All of them are prone to breaking out into song. It's a somewhat silly premise to be sure, and the material really isn't all that strong, but Harris rises to the challenge brilliantly and sells it like nobody's business, making it an enjoyable thirteen minutes overall. The second episode will debut July 17, with the final episode scheduled to be available July 19. You can download the episodes on iTunes or watch them at Dr. Horrible's website for free.

Click here for full post