Reel Expression

First episode is up! 2nd will be up on the 17th and act 3 on the 19th. However, they will be only available until midnight on the 20th! www.drhorrible.com

Never heard of it? Well then…

Teaser from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog on Vimeo.

During the writers strike, Joss Whedon (Writer/Creator/Producer of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, and the upcomming Dollhouse) decided to do something new that circumvented the studios. At least something good came from that huh?

So the entire thing is seriously low budget. But for once, its showing how low budget can actually be very good. Who better to give us something not only entertaining, but something to shove into the studio execs face, then Joss Whedon who’d been screwed over by Fox with Firefly? (If you haven’t seen Firefly, I highly suggest renting it)

It’s a “supervillain musical.” With Neil Patrick Harris as the geeky semi-competent supervillian Dr Horrible. Do I need put his past stuff in parentheses? Who can forget Doogie Howser, M.D.? (laugh) Or his recent brilliance in How I Met Your Mother - the only show with a laugh track that is not only watchable, but really good. Then you have Nathan Fillion - Captain Mal from Firefly!! - as Captain Hammer the over the top sex symbol type hero.

The writing of course is brilliant. From Act 1 (the set up) we see Doctor Horrible doing his video blog - “wow sarcasim…how origional.” We learn he’s trying to get into the Evil League of Evil. There is (of course) a girl whom he fancies, but can’t talk to. He sings about his freeze ray gun (and the girl) - the first song with brilliant lyrics. Doctor Horrible gets a response to his application for The Evil League of Evil from the leader - Bad Horse -, calling him to pull off something big. And hilarity ensues.

The editing is so subtle that I didn’t even notice it - and that’s what good editing is. Costumes are perfect - I love Captain Hammer’s T-Shirt with a hammer on it. The camera work, sound, everything is just right. The quality of it is rare in large budget productions and even more rare in low budget - just look on youtube for thousands of examples of bad amateur crap. Anyone ever see quareter life? That webisode series was just plain bad. This however is anything but bad.

Now, there are a lot of people who can’t stand musicals. My husband is one of them - I still can’t twist his arm enough to see Moulin Rouge. But, this isn’t one of those kinds of musicals. It’s over the top, campy and very very funny. Definitely reminiscent of “Once More, With Feeling,” that great musical Buffy episode. The songs are just humourous and catchy. I keep watching it over and over.

Not only would you be missing out if you didn’t watch them, but I hope you try it a 2nd time. For me, it gets better each time I view it. Also, if you want to support these types of ideas of new media you can buy them off iTunes and a DvD will be available later.