Check out what happens as this Price is Right contestant celebrates his $1.00 spin on the big wheel. (Sorry for the poor quality, I'll repost if I find a better one later).
Saturday, April 30, 2011
NMR: Tron: Legacy
I had hoped that I could watch the original Tron before seeing this sequel, but of course Netflix sent me this one first instead. As it turns out, it didn't really matter since story doesn't really play a large role in this film. It doesn't take much to get caught up with what had happened in the first one here. And then as far as the actual plot for this film goes, it's flimsy and pedestrian. Clearly, the filmmakers hoped that the film's visuals would serve as enough of a distraction to make people ignore the lackluster story. And for a lot of the film, it does work. The video game world offers up unique visuals and scenes like the ones on the bikes are really enthralling. Unfortunately, there's not enough of those action scenes and eventually this video game world becomes boring and redundant. It's just the black, white, orange scheme everywhere. Credit goes to Jeff Bridges for not only coming back for this sequel but doing everything in his power to lend it some gravitas. Garrett Hedlund, who plays Bridges' son in the film, is devoid of any charisma and it's even more apparent whenever he's in scenes with the infinitely more talented Bridges. Whether you watch this film or not depends on what you value more - your eyes or your brain. There's nothing intellectually stimulating about this film, but for the most part it does offer some decent eye candy that will no doubt look great on HD TVs. As for me, I just wish technology could help improve the story as much as it did the visual effects. Rating: ***
Soulmates deleted scenes
I'm a little behind. Here are the deleted scenes from last week's Parks and Recreation.
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Great Scott
Just thought I would share some quick thoughts on Steve Carell's final episode as Michael Scott on The Office. I will admit that it was sad to see him go and I think the episode struck the right tone in emotion. I liked how Michael had some interaction with each of his employees before leaving and each meeting did a nice job of truly reflecting the relationship that character had with him. Whether it was maintaining a hatred of Toby, laughing off how much Oscar doesn't value him, playing a father figure to Erin or being so emotionally connected to both Jim and Pam. I also really enjoyed Michael acknowledging that this whole thing is supposed to still be a documentary before off-mic giving us one final "That's what she said".
The Office will certainly miss Carell's presence, but I also think this gives them an interesting opportunity to reinvent themselves by bringing in a new character or two. Let's just hope that permanent person isn't Will Ferrell, who has thus far been a disappointment in his three episodes. I love Will, but he's been more of an annoying distraction rather than a comedic boost during this story arc. His character is ill-defined and all over the place. In some ways, his screentime has taken away the significance of Carell's departure. Then again, maybe in some perverse way, that was the intention of bringing him on. Next week will be Ferrell's last episode, but then things get real interesting for the finale, which features several big name actors including Jim Carrey, Ray Romano, Ricky Gervais, James Spader, and Will Arnett all coming on to apply for the job. I'm not sure I'm convinced any of them are staying on full-time, but it should be fun to watch. In the meantime, I, along with all the Office fans, should thank Steve for seven wonderful season of awkward, but hilarious humor that will go down in the annals of one of the greatest TV characters of all time.
The Office will certainly miss Carell's presence, but I also think this gives them an interesting opportunity to reinvent themselves by bringing in a new character or two. Let's just hope that permanent person isn't Will Ferrell, who has thus far been a disappointment in his three episodes. I love Will, but he's been more of an annoying distraction rather than a comedic boost during this story arc. His character is ill-defined and all over the place. In some ways, his screentime has taken away the significance of Carell's departure. Then again, maybe in some perverse way, that was the intention of bringing him on. Next week will be Ferrell's last episode, but then things get real interesting for the finale, which features several big name actors including Jim Carrey, Ray Romano, Ricky Gervais, James Spader, and Will Arnett all coming on to apply for the job. I'm not sure I'm convinced any of them are staying on full-time, but it should be fun to watch. In the meantime, I, along with all the Office fans, should thank Steve for seven wonderful season of awkward, but hilarious humor that will go down in the annals of one of the greatest TV characters of all time.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Hogwarts and all
Are you ready for the end? Here's the first full trailer for Part 2 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Monday, April 25, 2011
A new Wii? Oui!
Looks like gamers can expect a new console from Nintendo sometime next year. Here are a few more details on the system from Mashable.com:
Nintendo has confirmed it will launch a successor to its popular Wii gaming console in 2012.
As of March, Nintendo has sold 86.01 million Wiis since 2006 when the console was launched. However, in 2010 the company sold only 15.1 million Wiis globally — a 25% drop from 2009 when it sold 20.1 million units.
The company also revealed its yearly financial results for 2010, marking a big drop in net profit — $825 million — 66 percent less than in 2009.
The declining Wii sales paired with the shoddy financial results make this a perfect moment for Nintendo to announce the next version of Wii. A “2012 launch” is as vague as launch dates come, but Nintendo promised to have a playable unit, as well as more details and specifications of the upcoming Wii model, at the E3 Expo, which is June 7-9 in Los Angeles.
NMR: The Tourist
Given the star power that this film boasts, it should have been way better than what it was. Not even the high-wattage status of Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp can save a film mired by a weak story and glacial storytelling. This, like last summer's Knight and Day, is an action comedy which features an average nobody unwittingly being paired with someone who is running from the law whose intentions aren't exactly clear. Unlike the aforementioned film, The Tourist is light on laughs and action. The film strolls along expecting us to come along for the ride simply because it involves these big name stars. It doesn't help that all of the extras in the film stare awestruck at the two leads as if they were looking at the real people and not their characters. Meanwhile, actors in supporting roles like Paul Bettany and Timothy Dalton get absolutely lost in the shuffle. There is an attempt to salvage things at the end by throwing in a couple of twists, but by that point the audience has already figured them out or they simply don't care. Don't get fooled by the A-list names attached to the film, the B-level story makes this a film you can skip. Rating: ** 1/2
Tribe Watch (Week 4)
Record: 13-8
Standing: First place in AL Central
The Tribe certainly ended the week on a down note losing their last three games. However, the good news is that we still remain in first place and we were competitive in every game, except for one this week. I want to believe that this is not just a hot start, but a sign that this is a team that could compete in postseason this year. But for me to be convinced, the Indians are going to have to start playing better against their AL Central rivals. Currently, we have a 3-6 record against them, which is not good. We'll certainly have a chance to improve that though this week as we are back home playing against Kansas City and Detroit. Those teams are tied for second place, each a game and a half behind us. Playing well against them could give us some separation in the standings as we head into the month of May. Let's just hope the weather behaves and allows them to play ball because win or lose, I love watching the Tribe!
Standing: First place in AL Central
The Tribe certainly ended the week on a down note losing their last three games. However, the good news is that we still remain in first place and we were competitive in every game, except for one this week. I want to believe that this is not just a hot start, but a sign that this is a team that could compete in postseason this year. But for me to be convinced, the Indians are going to have to start playing better against their AL Central rivals. Currently, we have a 3-6 record against them, which is not good. We'll certainly have a chance to improve that though this week as we are back home playing against Kansas City and Detroit. Those teams are tied for second place, each a game and a half behind us. Playing well against them could give us some separation in the standings as we head into the month of May. Let's just hope the weather behaves and allows them to play ball because win or lose, I love watching the Tribe!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Special delivery
Here's the first trailer for 30 Minutes or Less. I like the pairing of Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari, but I have never found Danny McBride funny, so this one could go either way for me. Feel free to make up your own decision on it though. Warning: NSFW!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Train of thought
It seems lately, the only movies I see at the theater are twisty sci-fi films. That's ok though when they are of the quality of last month's The Adjustment Bureau or the latest film I saw, Source Code. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, the film does a nice job of keeping the action going while also keeping the audience guessing.
Based on previews alone, the film seems very straightforward. A soldier by the name of Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal) is tasked with stopping a bomber who has boarded a train looking to blow up Chicago. However, what appears to be a routine mission is anything but. For starters, the bomb has actually already gone off. Through technology and sci-fi magic, Stevens is able to go back before the bomb exploded in hopes of discovering who the bomber is. For some films, that would be enough of a twist, but that's not good enough here. Needless to say, the story is even more complicated than that, but I won't spoil them for you here. Just be aware that there's a lot more going on in this film than what the previews might suggest.
The film is directed by Duncan Jones, who is beginning to develop quite the resume. Jones, the son of David Bowie, first entered on the scene with his 2009 film, Moon. That film was a smaller, creative film that explored the isolation of outer space and the effects that has on an astronaut. Once again Jones plays with the ideas of perception and reality here and for the most part it's sucessful. Even while working with a large budget, Jones is able to ground his film and let the storytelling remain the focus.
Selecting Gyllenhaal for the lead character was also an effective choice. He does a nice job of conveying the sense of confusion that his character, along with the audience, is experiencing as he tries to deal with his mission. Along the way, he encounters several people who help him out with varying levels of success. On the government side of things Vera Farmiga plays an office in charge of giving him his orders, while Jeffrey Wright (unnecessarily written as a cripple) is the man who developed the technology that allows Stevens to go back in time. As for on the train, Stevens meets Christina Warren (played by Michelle Monaghan) believes he is someone else. The two actors play well off of each other and it's interesting to see their characters develop a bond even as disaster is immeninent.
Where the film begins to fall apart slightly is in its climax. Credit to the writers for not taking the cheap ambiguous route with the film's storyline. But by not only offering up explanations, but also extending the film beyond the mission, the film creates more problematic questions. There are some plot holes that could have been avoided had the film not been so forthright with the capability of this technology. These questions become so nagging, that you end up leaving the theater only focusing on them instead of the fun ride you had throughout the majority of the film.
The film does offer up enough twists and turns though to still recommend it. While I think it's good enough to seek out still in theaters, it's also a film that may be better served to watch in the comfort of your own home so that you have a better opportunity to process everything that's happening. As a bonus, if you're a fan of the show Quantum Leap, you'll definitely enjoy this movie as there are a few shoutouts to the sci-fi drama. Source Code requires some patience, but if you're willing to take the ride, you won't need to travel back in time to correct your mistake. Grade: B
Based on previews alone, the film seems very straightforward. A soldier by the name of Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal) is tasked with stopping a bomber who has boarded a train looking to blow up Chicago. However, what appears to be a routine mission is anything but. For starters, the bomb has actually already gone off. Through technology and sci-fi magic, Stevens is able to go back before the bomb exploded in hopes of discovering who the bomber is. For some films, that would be enough of a twist, but that's not good enough here. Needless to say, the story is even more complicated than that, but I won't spoil them for you here. Just be aware that there's a lot more going on in this film than what the previews might suggest.
The film is directed by Duncan Jones, who is beginning to develop quite the resume. Jones, the son of David Bowie, first entered on the scene with his 2009 film, Moon. That film was a smaller, creative film that explored the isolation of outer space and the effects that has on an astronaut. Once again Jones plays with the ideas of perception and reality here and for the most part it's sucessful. Even while working with a large budget, Jones is able to ground his film and let the storytelling remain the focus.
Selecting Gyllenhaal for the lead character was also an effective choice. He does a nice job of conveying the sense of confusion that his character, along with the audience, is experiencing as he tries to deal with his mission. Along the way, he encounters several people who help him out with varying levels of success. On the government side of things Vera Farmiga plays an office in charge of giving him his orders, while Jeffrey Wright (unnecessarily written as a cripple) is the man who developed the technology that allows Stevens to go back in time. As for on the train, Stevens meets Christina Warren (played by Michelle Monaghan) believes he is someone else. The two actors play well off of each other and it's interesting to see their characters develop a bond even as disaster is immeninent.
Where the film begins to fall apart slightly is in its climax. Credit to the writers for not taking the cheap ambiguous route with the film's storyline. But by not only offering up explanations, but also extending the film beyond the mission, the film creates more problematic questions. There are some plot holes that could have been avoided had the film not been so forthright with the capability of this technology. These questions become so nagging, that you end up leaving the theater only focusing on them instead of the fun ride you had throughout the majority of the film.
The film does offer up enough twists and turns though to still recommend it. While I think it's good enough to seek out still in theaters, it's also a film that may be better served to watch in the comfort of your own home so that you have a better opportunity to process everything that's happening. As a bonus, if you're a fan of the show Quantum Leap, you'll definitely enjoy this movie as there are a few shoutouts to the sci-fi drama. Source Code requires some patience, but if you're willing to take the ride, you won't need to travel back in time to correct your mistake. Grade: B
Mixed media message
So this is really cool...there's a new videogame out called Portal 2. I'm not familiar with the game itself, but apparently, as part of the game there is an interactive trailer for the new film, Super 8. It's not a straightforward video showing clips from the film. Instead, it's a playable video game level where the action is connected to what will happen in the film. It's hard for me to explain, so I'll just suggest you watch the video below. This trailer doesn't really offer up any new details on the film, but is still a very slick way of advertising the film in a non-traditional manner.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
NMR: Fair Game
I finally got around to watching this one from Netflix after it had been sitting on my end table for a couple of weeks. For those unfamiliar with the title, this is the film that came out near the end of last year regarding the Valerie Plame case. Naomi Watts plays Plame, while Sean Penn plays her husband, Joe Wilson. As would be expected, the acting from the two leads is excellent. Penn, especially, is good here and I tend not to like a lot of his work. The film's biggest flaw though is that it is somewhat without a purpose. Those familiar with her story (she was outed as a CIA agent after her husband spoke out against the Bush administration's claim that Iraq had WMDs) don't really learn anything new here that they didn't already know about the story. And those that either don't care about the story or don't like Plame will find nothing here that will change those opinions. The film never bores, but yet doesn't do enough to justify the existence of the film in the first place. Only those who are really fascinated by her story or big fans of the leads should bother giving this one a watch. Rating: ***
Tribe Watch 2011
Current record: 11-4
Current standing: First in AL Central
Week in review: So because of my brief hiatus away from the blog I haven't had an opportunity until now to talk about my beloved Cleveland Indians. In the past, I've tried doing weekly review columns on their performance, but they've been so terrible in recent years that I get burned out doing those posts by mid-May. Of course, this year I haven't written anything and they've been off to a hot start. I hope my starting to write about them doesn't jinx their performance.
The Tribe thus far doesn't show any signs of slowing down though and it's been a result of everyone playing well. The offense has been doing a great job of scoring early and the starting pitching has been phenomenal at keeping the opposition off the bases. Today, we capped off a great sweep against the Baltimore Orioles and today's win was doubly nice because it marked the return of Grady Sizemore who has been injured for nearly a year. He was right back into rare form today getting two hits, including a solo home run (his first dinger since '09!).
This upcoming week, we've got a big series against the Kansas City Royals. Normally, this wouldn't be the case, but the Royals have gotten off to a strong start as well and they are just a game back of us in the standings. If we perform well in this series, we could give ourselves some seperation from the rest of the division. After going to KC, we head up to Minnesota to play against the struggling Twins. Having a strong week here, could be a good indication of this being a great season instead of just a fluke opening. Regardless of the outcome though, I'll always support my team. Go Tribe!!!
Current standing: First in AL Central
Week in review: So because of my brief hiatus away from the blog I haven't had an opportunity until now to talk about my beloved Cleveland Indians. In the past, I've tried doing weekly review columns on their performance, but they've been so terrible in recent years that I get burned out doing those posts by mid-May. Of course, this year I haven't written anything and they've been off to a hot start. I hope my starting to write about them doesn't jinx their performance.
The Tribe thus far doesn't show any signs of slowing down though and it's been a result of everyone playing well. The offense has been doing a great job of scoring early and the starting pitching has been phenomenal at keeping the opposition off the bases. Today, we capped off a great sweep against the Baltimore Orioles and today's win was doubly nice because it marked the return of Grady Sizemore who has been injured for nearly a year. He was right back into rare form today getting two hits, including a solo home run (his first dinger since '09!).
This upcoming week, we've got a big series against the Kansas City Royals. Normally, this wouldn't be the case, but the Royals have gotten off to a strong start as well and they are just a game back of us in the standings. If we perform well in this series, we could give ourselves some seperation from the rest of the division. After going to KC, we head up to Minnesota to play against the struggling Twins. Having a strong week here, could be a good indication of this being a great season instead of just a fluke opening. Regardless of the outcome though, I'll always support my team. Go Tribe!!!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
NMR: The Fighter
This one is long overdue considering I saw it several weeks ago. It's a shame too considering how much I enjoyed this movie. This was completely worthy of all the nominations and awards it earned. Clearly the strength of this film lies in the superb acting performances for all of the leads. First and foremost is Christian Bale, who finally got the recognition he deserved by winning his first Oscar. Bale once again takes (unnecessary) risks to his own body in order to properly convey the reality of the character he's portraying. His depiction of a crack addict is somehow both touching and sobering. You also have tremendous work done by Amy Adams and Melissa Leo (who also won an Oscar) as the two primary women in boxer Mickey Ward's (played by Mark Wahlberg) life. It's riveting watching Ward try to please everyone and the way it causes him to be held back in other facets of his life and career. Because of the family dynamics involved in Mickey's life this film is portrayed as something much more than a simple boxing film. Boxing really plays a backdrop to the character study, despite the fact that the scenes that involve boxing are very well done. Because of this, the film's climax is a bit baffling. While completely true as to what happened in Mickey's own life, it seems odd to end the film on such a positive, Hollywood-esque note. It didn't seem to fit given how secondary boxing was throughout the majority of the film. It's certainly not a terrible ending, just a bit confusing and somewhat underwhelming. Still, I don't want people to focus on this aspect of the review. I am strongly recommending this film for everyone. There are enough engaging aspects here in order for anyone to find something that they'll enjoy about this movie. With very little left that I haven't seen from 2010 that I want to see, this likely will be the last film that ends up making it on my Top Ten list for last year. Rating: ****1/2
Aliens nation
Laugh at the title all you like, the latest trailer for Cowboys & Aliens continues to get me excited for this film. It looks to be one hell of an adventure and one of the must-see films for this summer.
Post #1000!!!!
I had initially held off posting this trying to give it the space that it deserved, but then I got busy and now I've neglected this entire blog for too long. Anyways, this is a special moment for me, even if it has taken practically four years to get here. If you've been an avid reader, I thank you and hope that you'll continue. And I hope you spread the word as well. I'd love to get more visitors. And if you want to see different types of content on here than what I typically post, let me know that too. I've had fun sharing all of my thoughts on here and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. Here's to a thousand more posts and beyond!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Green party
New footage of The Green Lantern was shown at Wondercon last week and a portion of it has hit the web for all of us to enjoy.
Excellent!
Fire up the phone booth...it appears that Bill and Ted are ready for another adventure. From movieline.com:
Apparently, 20 years isn’t too long to wait before making a sequel. Two decades after the last Bill & Ted movie hit theaters, Keanu Reeves has announced that franchise writers Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon are feverishly working on a script, the details of which the actor shared on Monday afternoon.
The actor sat down with MTV to promote his indie film Henry’s Crime and assured the outlet that the third Bill & Ted installment is very much underway — in spite of the fact that the titular characters, played by Alex Winter and Reeves, would be 50 today.
“I know a little bit,” Reeves revealed about the plot. “When we last got together, part of it was that Bill and Ted were supposed to have written the song that saved the world, and it hasn’t happened. […] So they’ve now become kind of possessed by trying to do that. Then there’s an element of time and they have to go back.”
So yes, the Wyld Stallyns may reunite onscreen one more time to achieve the greatness that George Carlin’s Rufus predicted in the 1989 original film. Party on, dudes.
Creating a buzz
So I know I'm a little late to the party, but in case you haven't seen it yet, here's the first full trailer for The Hangover Part II
NMR: Unstoppable
You pretty much know what you're going to get here. If you've seen any of the previous collaborations between Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott, then be prepared for more of the same here. Which is not to say that's a bad thing, because their efforts always yield very enjoyable films. The same holds true here as this once again does a nice job of balancing action and drama. Based on true events, this is a thrilling story of how an accident caused a train containing explosive material to get loose without an conductor. The efforts to stop this train produce a lot of tense moments, filmed expertly by Scott. Adding to the mix is Chris Pine, who plays a 'wet behind the ears' train worker who helps Denzel in trying to stop the runaway train. Pine proves here with another outstanding performance that his work in Star Trek was no fluke or that it was just some aberration caused by J.J. Abrams working his magic. The film is especially effective if you're unaware of how things turn out. Since has it been a huge disaster, you probably would have recalled it actually happening, so you know the film doesn't end that way. However, the fate of the primary characters is likely unclear to you and if you don't know, watching the film becomes that much more intense. This is a fun ride and a solid popcorn film that is worth a rental if you're looking for some thrills. Rating: ****
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