Customer Rating: Summary: Tales Comment: You definitely have to watch all three miniseries and read all six books! They are fantastic, funny, smart, poignant, and keep you wanting more! Customer Rating: Summary: Wonderful Series Suffers from Actor Replacement Comment: Often, the "extras" included in DVDs are extraneous or disappointing, adding little to the value of the title film. This is not the case here. The EXTRAS included on the disc offer a lot of insight into the series, the actors, and the characters.
First of all, replacing key actors in the roles of characters we've grown to love greatly distracts, and diminishes the experience. Period.
In the actor interviews included in the EXTRAS there are hints that there are some very interesting reasons why certain actors --none of them stars-- returned. One would think that with the cult following of the orginal, and the notoriety engendered by right-wing philosophy that real life representations should be excised from the popular media, that any actor in his right mind would fight valiantly to reprise his/her role. If anyone knows of a website that discusses the reason for the replacements, please let us know.
The most egregious replacement is that of Paul Gross as Brian. Wimp, uh, I mean Whip Hubley is a bland milque-toast totally lacking the necessary personality -and the good looks- essential to make the Brian lothario character believable. In his interview he states he never read the book or saw the original Tales Of The City [!!], and he thinks that was the right thing to do, lest he be influenced by Paul Gross' authentic, edgy turn. The result is a characterless character. We feel sorry for Laura Linney and Nina Siemaszko having to strain to play off an actor so completely lacking in understanding of the Brian character.
The idea that anyone would consider replacing Marcus D'Amico's Michael Tolliver is bizarre, and I'd love to know the rationalization there! Paul Hopkins is very likeable and brings his own bright personality and charm to "Mouse", but the fact remains, replacing this key character was very risky business and greatly distracts from the viewers' experience.
Billy Campbell as Dr. Jon Fielding is extremely likeable despite his character's flaw of chasing after the "A-gays" for approval, and he displays a great deal of charm and humanity here, as he also did in his TV series "Now and Again". Interestingly, he comes off very poorly in his interview. He seems totally bored with and distanced from the role/project, has nothing of value to say, and leaves us with the impression that the warmth and humanity he displays in his screen roles is truly just an "act".
Laura Linney's [Mary Ann] and Colin Ferguson's [Burke] interviews are intelligent and add a lot to the understanding of the characters and the enjoyment of the series, as does of course author Armistead Maupin's. We wish Parker Posey's very bright portrayal of Connie Bradshaw had been expanded so she'd have more to do.
But for true fans, despite the changes, this second installment of Tales is wonderfully entertaining and satisfying. We can't change history, so if you can get past the casting of new actors in the roles of characters we grew attached to in the original Tales Of The City, you'll enjoy yourself immensely. Customer Rating: Summary: Hot, Cool, Fun Comment: I just flat out enjoyed this show from so many different perspectives its hard to even list them. It is like a breath of fresh air! Customer Rating: Summary: Great continuation of a great series Comment: Again - faithful to the book and the characters, More is a real winner. In "More," things really start to get surreal and the situations a little crazy - but this accomplished cast pulls it off easily. Some cast changes are a bit off-putting at first, but once you make the transition - it's cake; good cake! Customer Rating: Summary: serie that is joyable to watch again and again Comment: I like the touch of the writer, Maupin, in these tales. I saw it for the very first time on TV about ten years ago, and now I got it on DVD. Lots of friends watched the serie on TV.
