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Saturday, July 10, 2010
Stephen v. Steven
In case you missed, you can check out below the awesome highlights of Steve Carell's recent visit to The Colbert Report with his old Daily Show chum, Stephen Colbert.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Emmy please!
So today the Emmy nominations were announced. You can read the full list here. Here are some quick thoughts I have based on the list...
- Overall, I would have to say that this was one of the least offensive list of nominations in quite a few years. Particularly on the drama side of things I felt almost all of the categories had worthy nominees, even if there were some omissions.
- The comedy side of the nominations was a little less appealling. I still don't get the appeal of either Glee or Modern Family, but I'm not blind so I fully expected to see them get as many nominations as they did.
- Happy to see Amy Poehler get a nom for Parks and Recreation, but sad that it failed to get any other major nominations. Where's the love for Ron Swanson?
- Disappointed that John Noble (Walter Bishop on Fringe) didn't get a nomination, but when you look at the other nominees in his category, it's hard to pick someone there who didn't deserve one. With Lost now done, hopefully that will open up some room for him to get a nomination next year.
- Speaking of Lost, it was nice to see them get plenty of recognition on their way out. On top of Ben and Locke getting noms in the supporting category, Matthew Fox picked up his first nomination in the lead acting category.
- Shocked that Survivor did not get a nomination for best reality show for it's Heroes vs. Villians season. How it didn't get chosen over Project Runway or Dancing With the Stars is baffling.
- As usual there was the usual Emmy darlings that had no business getting nominations; I'm talking about picks like Tony Shaloub for Monk and Jon Cryer for Two and Half Men.
- And in some small sense of vindication, Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show got a nomination for Best Comedy/Variety Program and Leno's did not. The Emmy's air on NBC this year, so it should be interesting to see what happens when Conan comes back to his old network for one night. You can watch that and all the other festivities when the Emmys air on August 29th.
- Overall, I would have to say that this was one of the least offensive list of nominations in quite a few years. Particularly on the drama side of things I felt almost all of the categories had worthy nominees, even if there were some omissions.
- The comedy side of the nominations was a little less appealling. I still don't get the appeal of either Glee or Modern Family, but I'm not blind so I fully expected to see them get as many nominations as they did.
- Happy to see Amy Poehler get a nom for Parks and Recreation, but sad that it failed to get any other major nominations. Where's the love for Ron Swanson?
- Disappointed that John Noble (Walter Bishop on Fringe) didn't get a nomination, but when you look at the other nominees in his category, it's hard to pick someone there who didn't deserve one. With Lost now done, hopefully that will open up some room for him to get a nomination next year.
- Speaking of Lost, it was nice to see them get plenty of recognition on their way out. On top of Ben and Locke getting noms in the supporting category, Matthew Fox picked up his first nomination in the lead acting category.
- Shocked that Survivor did not get a nomination for best reality show for it's Heroes vs. Villians season. How it didn't get chosen over Project Runway or Dancing With the Stars is baffling.
- As usual there was the usual Emmy darlings that had no business getting nominations; I'm talking about picks like Tony Shaloub for Monk and Jon Cryer for Two and Half Men.
- And in some small sense of vindication, Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show got a nomination for Best Comedy/Variety Program and Leno's did not. The Emmy's air on NBC this year, so it should be interesting to see what happens when Conan comes back to his old network for one night. You can watch that and all the other festivities when the Emmys air on August 29th.
Come on!
I got hopeful that this was a real trailer for the Arrested Development movie, but apparently I made a huge mistake. Instead, this fan-made trailer is cut so as to make the movie seem like it would be an action thriller instead of a comedy. Nicely done, but I so wish it would have been the real thing.
Monday, July 5, 2010
NMR: The Wolfman
This oft delayed film turned out to be not as bad as I feared. While it covers a lot of familiar territory (let's face it this isn't an original idea), I give director Joe Johnson for giving this film a great look. The way he depicts foggy old England creates an eerie atmosphere that is perfect for this film. Benecio Del Toro is fine as the Wolfman and Anthony Hopkins hams it up as Del Toro's father in a way that only he can do. Emily Blunt is beautiful as always, however I didn't necessarily buy the romance they try to create between her and Del Toro. As for the action, for every scene that's done effectively, there's another scene that comes off very cheesy. In the end, this will probably only be appreciated by those who enjoy films from this genre. Rating: ***
Sunday, July 4, 2010
NMR: Genre du jour - 90s sci-fi
I don't know what it is about Dayton, but ever since I've moved back, my Netflix service has been lacking. I don't get new releases immediately like I used to when I was in NC. As a result, I've been catching up on a lot of older movies that I never had a chance to see when they were first released. Today, it's a pair of science fiction films from the 90s.
Stargate: It's a wonder how there have been multiple, successful spin-offs television shows given how underwhelming I thought this movie was. Everything pretty much felt phoned in here. They started off with an interesting concept (finding a portal that can send you through time to different universes) and then did nothing with it. I felt like I could predict how everything would play out well before it happened. This movie seemed to just borrow ideas from other, more successful sci-fi films and try to pass them off as fresh. I would imagine most of the visual effects look good for the day, but now they come off looking bad as well. A definite disappointment here. Though I've never seen an episode of the spin-off shows, it sounds like everyone would be better to just watch them instead. Rating: **
Demolition Man: Starring Sly Stallone and Wesley Snipes, this is one loud, noisy sci-fi/action picture. On one hand, I'd like to credit them for some inventiveness in the way they depict the future as this utopian, pacifist place, but I found the execution of this idea to be irritating after a few minutes. There are also some subtle jabs at 90s culture in the film, but sadly those feel dated now. Once you strip that away, you're left with the action sequences between Stallone and Snipes which were run-of-the-mill and unengaging. I wish I could have liked this film better, but time has not aged it well. Rating: **
Stargate: It's a wonder how there have been multiple, successful spin-offs television shows given how underwhelming I thought this movie was. Everything pretty much felt phoned in here. They started off with an interesting concept (finding a portal that can send you through time to different universes) and then did nothing with it. I felt like I could predict how everything would play out well before it happened. This movie seemed to just borrow ideas from other, more successful sci-fi films and try to pass them off as fresh. I would imagine most of the visual effects look good for the day, but now they come off looking bad as well. A definite disappointment here. Though I've never seen an episode of the spin-off shows, it sounds like everyone would be better to just watch them instead. Rating: **
Demolition Man: Starring Sly Stallone and Wesley Snipes, this is one loud, noisy sci-fi/action picture. On one hand, I'd like to credit them for some inventiveness in the way they depict the future as this utopian, pacifist place, but I found the execution of this idea to be irritating after a few minutes. There are also some subtle jabs at 90s culture in the film, but sadly those feel dated now. Once you strip that away, you're left with the action sequences between Stallone and Snipes which were run-of-the-mill and unengaging. I wish I could have liked this film better, but time has not aged it well. Rating: **
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Starry Knight
If there's one theme that we can take away from this summer's crop of films, it's that everyone seems to want to play it safe and revert back to their regular old roles. There's the 80s nostalgia films, the endless sequels, multiple movies involving computer generated animals talking, and even Russell Crowe reverted back to historical action pieces. So it should come as no surprise to see Tom Cruise jump on the bandwagon by doing once again what brought him to the dance - playing the macho action hero. From Top Gun to the Mission: Impossible franchise, Cruise has spent nearly 30 years succeeding at wowing audiences.
In his latest, Knight and Day, Cruise once again comes out guns ablazing with a whole lot of stuff blowing up around him. For a long time, I never understood Cruise's appeal. I always had an odd disconnect with his films where I would typically love the story but absolutely loathe his character. Here, I was pleasantly surprised by the likability of his Roy Miller character; a man who's intentions are unclear throughout most of the film. Is he a spy for the government, a traitor, or someone just mentally unstable?
Cameron Diaz, who plays June Havens, asks herself these same questions as she unwittingly globetrots around the world with him trying to avoid danger. While there are many points in the film where it seems unlikely that she would continue to just go along with everything that's happening, Diaz has a winning chemistry with Cruise, so you're happy to see her play a happy (albeit sometimes drugged) camper.
Your enjoyment of the film will likely hinge on whether you buy into their relationship. The plot is barebones and used to basically loosely connect the multitude of action sequences in the film. If you care, Cruise is trying to protect the first perpetual motion battery from falling into the wrong hands. Never once did I really care what happened to the battery, but I found myself consistently entertained by the various perilous situations it led to for the two leads as they try to keep it safe.
Director James Mangold, who also did 3:10 to Yuma, keeps the film moving along nicely. Just as he did in his western, he knows how to set up a decent action piece and then just let his actors do the rest.
Perhaps a weak summer movie season this year has allowed me to see this film as being better than what it is, but I'm not going to let that bother me. This is pure escapism, which is perfectly acceptable in my book for a summer movie. It doesn't strive to be anything more than to keep you entertained for two hours. While this material could have suffered with weaker talent on screen (as proven by Killers), Cruise and Diaz still have enough star power to make this an enjoyable romp. Cruise, in particular, seems to be having fun playing a slightly askewed version of past characters. He doesn't take himself as serious here and accepts the preposterous nature of the events unfolding. It's just a shame that it took for everyone else to stop taking him seriously for him to stop himself. That aside, this is fun time at the movies and a better option than most of the dreck that's being offered in theaters right now (Yeah, that's right I'm looking directly at you Twilight!) Grade: B
In his latest, Knight and Day, Cruise once again comes out guns ablazing with a whole lot of stuff blowing up around him. For a long time, I never understood Cruise's appeal. I always had an odd disconnect with his films where I would typically love the story but absolutely loathe his character. Here, I was pleasantly surprised by the likability of his Roy Miller character; a man who's intentions are unclear throughout most of the film. Is he a spy for the government, a traitor, or someone just mentally unstable?
Cameron Diaz, who plays June Havens, asks herself these same questions as she unwittingly globetrots around the world with him trying to avoid danger. While there are many points in the film where it seems unlikely that she would continue to just go along with everything that's happening, Diaz has a winning chemistry with Cruise, so you're happy to see her play a happy (albeit sometimes drugged) camper.
Your enjoyment of the film will likely hinge on whether you buy into their relationship. The plot is barebones and used to basically loosely connect the multitude of action sequences in the film. If you care, Cruise is trying to protect the first perpetual motion battery from falling into the wrong hands. Never once did I really care what happened to the battery, but I found myself consistently entertained by the various perilous situations it led to for the two leads as they try to keep it safe.
Director James Mangold, who also did 3:10 to Yuma, keeps the film moving along nicely. Just as he did in his western, he knows how to set up a decent action piece and then just let his actors do the rest.
Perhaps a weak summer movie season this year has allowed me to see this film as being better than what it is, but I'm not going to let that bother me. This is pure escapism, which is perfectly acceptable in my book for a summer movie. It doesn't strive to be anything more than to keep you entertained for two hours. While this material could have suffered with weaker talent on screen (as proven by Killers), Cruise and Diaz still have enough star power to make this an enjoyable romp. Cruise, in particular, seems to be having fun playing a slightly askewed version of past characters. He doesn't take himself as serious here and accepts the preposterous nature of the events unfolding. It's just a shame that it took for everyone else to stop taking him seriously for him to stop himself. That aside, this is fun time at the movies and a better option than most of the dreck that's being offered in theaters right now (Yeah, that's right I'm looking directly at you Twilight!) Grade: B
NMR: Splice and dice
Since I saw Splice a few weeks ago, I decided to check out a couple more films featuring its stars, Adrian Brody and Sarah Polley; both of which were available for instant view on Netflix.
The Jacket: I remember when I first saw the advertisements for this back in '05 that I was really intriqued and thought it could be a decent thriller and yet somehow I never got around to seeing it. Sadly, I probably was better off skipping it as this is a major disappointment. The film squanders it's potential and comes off very hokey. It's never made clear whether Brody is actually time-travelling or just hallucinating when he's in the jacket. Keira Knightley is also horribly miscast here and gives a poor performance. Her relationship with Brody never comes off as believable. The only interesting thing here is an early appearance by Daniel Craig. However, it took me almost the entire movie before I even realized it was him. Rating: **
Go: Sarah Polley is part of a large ensemble from this 2000 film that has fun with its narrative. Instead of telling a linear story, it tells the same story three times from three different perspectives. When a film does something like this, it lives and dies by its gimmick. Luckily this one holds up nicely and doesn't really leave any gaps or continuity errors that I could pick up on. The film also features a wide array of actors who were relative unknowns then, but have gone on to more successful careers. I also liked a lot of the sly humor that's sprinkled throughout the film. My biggest complaint about the film is that the context with which the film takes place in is heavily rooted in sex and drugs. A large rave is a central location for the movie. While I'm no prude, I didn't really appreciate it here and felt it was part of a culture that I'm not really associated with. Given that it is a rave that most of the characters attend, the film already feels dated too. Big points for its inventiveness, minus points for its crass culture, which results in a rating of ***.
The Jacket: I remember when I first saw the advertisements for this back in '05 that I was really intriqued and thought it could be a decent thriller and yet somehow I never got around to seeing it. Sadly, I probably was better off skipping it as this is a major disappointment. The film squanders it's potential and comes off very hokey. It's never made clear whether Brody is actually time-travelling or just hallucinating when he's in the jacket. Keira Knightley is also horribly miscast here and gives a poor performance. Her relationship with Brody never comes off as believable. The only interesting thing here is an early appearance by Daniel Craig. However, it took me almost the entire movie before I even realized it was him. Rating: **
Go: Sarah Polley is part of a large ensemble from this 2000 film that has fun with its narrative. Instead of telling a linear story, it tells the same story three times from three different perspectives. When a film does something like this, it lives and dies by its gimmick. Luckily this one holds up nicely and doesn't really leave any gaps or continuity errors that I could pick up on. The film also features a wide array of actors who were relative unknowns then, but have gone on to more successful careers. I also liked a lot of the sly humor that's sprinkled throughout the film. My biggest complaint about the film is that the context with which the film takes place in is heavily rooted in sex and drugs. A large rave is a central location for the movie. While I'm no prude, I didn't really appreciate it here and felt it was part of a culture that I'm not really associated with. Given that it is a rave that most of the characters attend, the film already feels dated too. Big points for its inventiveness, minus points for its crass culture, which results in a rating of ***.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
In for a Harry ride
You're probably sick of trailer posts by now, but this is one I couldn't pass up. Here's the first official trailer for both parts of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Will The Office soon be Scott free?
From eonline.com:
If you happen to see Steve Carell in the next few days, knock him over the head, will ya? Out of love? 'Cause clearly his brain has gotten all jumbly.
One of TV's best comedic actors of all time has just confirmed to us that he is indeed leaving The Office this May—argh!—and get this, seems to think no one will care...
E! News hit the red carpet for Steve's new movie Despicable Me last night, and Steve made it clear he was not joking when he told BBC Radio he would leave The Office after the coming 2010-2011 season.
"I just think it's time," Steve told our Kristina Guerrero. "I want to fulfill my contract. When I first signed on I had a contract for seven seasons, and this coming year is my seventh. I just thought it was time for my character to go."
But according to Steve, The Office could go on without him. "It doesn't certainly mean the end of the show. I think it's just a dynamic change to the show, which could be a good thing, actually. Add some new life and some new energy...I see it as a positive in general for the show."
A positive that Michael Scott could be leaving Dunder Mifflin for good? Anyone else having a problem seeing that? Still, Steve, doused in Eau to Humility, had this to say about the attention he's receiving for his exit: "I didn't see it as a huge thing and I certainly didn't anticipate any sort of hubbub over it. I'm just not going to extend my contract, but I didn't see it as a huge deal. And the show is great, and the ensemble is so strong, and the writers are great, so it's just one part of that ensemble drifting off. They've incorporated so many new characters and so many new, great storylines that I have no doubt it'll continue as strong if not stronger than ever."
Color me gullible, but that sure doesn't sound like the usual bargaining ploy to me. So file this one under Dammit! 'Cause Steve Carell sure seems dead serious he plans to leave The Office.
Anyone else not agree with Steve that this is no big thang? Can you see the show living on without him?
Like
Yet another trailer for you to enjoy. This time it's David Fincher's (Zodiac, Seven) latest. It's a biopic about the founders of Facebook. It doesn't sound like it would translate well into a whole movie, but if anyone's capable of doing it, it would be Fincher.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Handle With Care
You'll forgive me if I begin to gush during this review for Toy Story 3; I have a tendency to do so when I see films that are this good. It should come as no surprise that Pixar has once again delivered an amazing product. While I may not have appreciated all of their recent films equally, I have always been impressed with the care that is put into each film. Whether it's the heart-breaking tenderness of Up, the poignant themes of WALL-E, or the visual majesty of Ratatouille, each Pixar films finds new ways to dazzle the eye and move your heart.
This time around, we once again see growth; both figuratively and literally. Near the beginning of the film we learn that Andy, child owner of Woody the cowboy and Buzz Lightyear, has now grown up and is ready to head off to college. This is not only a major moment in Andy's life, but for his toys as well. They now face a change of scenery as well either leaving with Andy for college, being sent to the attic or gasp possibly being thrown out. Dealing with this change becomes a major focal point of the film and is handled well. It doesn't seem silly at all for the audience to be invested in the fates of these toys. Having two previous great films before it, we know the bond that exists between Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang with Andy. Both the characters and the viewers quickly realize that it's difficult to let go even when its necessary to move on.
The film also shows growth in the sheer size of its cast. Along with all of our favorite toys from the past two films, we meet an entire new crop of playthings when the gang gets sent to Sunnyside Day Care Center. There they meet Lotso-Huggin' Bear (voiced by Ned Beatty), who is the de facto leader of all the toys there. We also meet some other interesting characters including a deformed baby doll, a sassy octopus, and a Ken doll (voiced by Michael Keaton in a terrific performance). As we begin to get to know these new characters, we learn that they aren't as cheerful as they appear. The movie soon turns into a prison break caper that is a lot of fun, thanks primarily to its ability to take a plot mostly seen in adult thrillers and have it work so seemlessly in this children's movie.
Despite the large voice cast, I was pleased to see that it did not result in any one character getting the shaft. All of the terrific voice actors have the opportunity to contribute to the story and provide some great one-liners. Everyone seems to be having a great time returning to these characters, which doesn't surprise me in the least. And while it can be a thankless role, I definitely want to point out Tom Hanks' performance as Woody, which remains the emotional core of the film. He finds the perfect way to blend youthful exuberance with touching pathos as he interacts with everyone and organizes the plan to reunite them with Andy.
I mentioned the sentimentality of the film a couple of times now, which is one aspect that is getting brought up in national news. Many adults are finding themselves becoming emotional during the film, particularly in the film's closing moments. I too will admit to getting a little misty as I watched these toys progress to the next chapter in their lives. We learn that while individuals may grow up, there will always be a love for toys whether you're 8 or 88. While they may just be hunks of plastic or fabric, they have the ability to unlock our imagination and let us reclaim that youthful spirit. Thankfully, this film has been able to do the same thing.
One thing I want to point out is that I saw this film in standard 2D and loved it. While I can't personally attest to it, I have read other reviews, which said they felt that the 3D version really didn't add anything to the experience. It's up to you how you want to view it, but it seems you may want to just save yourself the few extra dollars and see it on a normal screen.
In hindsight, it would have been easy for the Pixar people to return to this franchise simply for the money grab. Instead, they maintained their level of quality and maturity and developed a worthy close to this franchise. I'll need some successive views to determine if this one is the best of the three, but I can say for certainty right now that it is as good as the first two entries. If you have seen and enjoyed their first two outings, I strongly encourage you to seek this one out as well. And if you've already seen it, consider going a second time. From what I've read, there are several easter eggs sprinkled throughout the film referencing Pixar films of the past and future (you can seen an image of a new character for the upcoming Cars 2 on a poster in Andy's bedroom). No matter what age you are, you're never too old for toys and you won't be too old for Toy Story. This is once again another masterpiece from our friends at Pixar. Grade: A
This time around, we once again see growth; both figuratively and literally. Near the beginning of the film we learn that Andy, child owner of Woody the cowboy and Buzz Lightyear, has now grown up and is ready to head off to college. This is not only a major moment in Andy's life, but for his toys as well. They now face a change of scenery as well either leaving with Andy for college, being sent to the attic or gasp possibly being thrown out. Dealing with this change becomes a major focal point of the film and is handled well. It doesn't seem silly at all for the audience to be invested in the fates of these toys. Having two previous great films before it, we know the bond that exists between Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang with Andy. Both the characters and the viewers quickly realize that it's difficult to let go even when its necessary to move on.
The film also shows growth in the sheer size of its cast. Along with all of our favorite toys from the past two films, we meet an entire new crop of playthings when the gang gets sent to Sunnyside Day Care Center. There they meet Lotso-Huggin' Bear (voiced by Ned Beatty), who is the de facto leader of all the toys there. We also meet some other interesting characters including a deformed baby doll, a sassy octopus, and a Ken doll (voiced by Michael Keaton in a terrific performance). As we begin to get to know these new characters, we learn that they aren't as cheerful as they appear. The movie soon turns into a prison break caper that is a lot of fun, thanks primarily to its ability to take a plot mostly seen in adult thrillers and have it work so seemlessly in this children's movie.
Despite the large voice cast, I was pleased to see that it did not result in any one character getting the shaft. All of the terrific voice actors have the opportunity to contribute to the story and provide some great one-liners. Everyone seems to be having a great time returning to these characters, which doesn't surprise me in the least. And while it can be a thankless role, I definitely want to point out Tom Hanks' performance as Woody, which remains the emotional core of the film. He finds the perfect way to blend youthful exuberance with touching pathos as he interacts with everyone and organizes the plan to reunite them with Andy.
I mentioned the sentimentality of the film a couple of times now, which is one aspect that is getting brought up in national news. Many adults are finding themselves becoming emotional during the film, particularly in the film's closing moments. I too will admit to getting a little misty as I watched these toys progress to the next chapter in their lives. We learn that while individuals may grow up, there will always be a love for toys whether you're 8 or 88. While they may just be hunks of plastic or fabric, they have the ability to unlock our imagination and let us reclaim that youthful spirit. Thankfully, this film has been able to do the same thing.
One thing I want to point out is that I saw this film in standard 2D and loved it. While I can't personally attest to it, I have read other reviews, which said they felt that the 3D version really didn't add anything to the experience. It's up to you how you want to view it, but it seems you may want to just save yourself the few extra dollars and see it on a normal screen.
In hindsight, it would have been easy for the Pixar people to return to this franchise simply for the money grab. Instead, they maintained their level of quality and maturity and developed a worthy close to this franchise. I'll need some successive views to determine if this one is the best of the three, but I can say for certainty right now that it is as good as the first two entries. If you have seen and enjoyed their first two outings, I strongly encourage you to seek this one out as well. And if you've already seen it, consider going a second time. From what I've read, there are several easter eggs sprinkled throughout the film referencing Pixar films of the past and future (you can seen an image of a new character for the upcoming Cars 2 on a poster in Andy's bedroom). No matter what age you are, you're never too old for toys and you won't be too old for Toy Story. This is once again another masterpiece from our friends at Pixar. Grade: A
Seeing Red
The trailers keep rolling in. This time it is for a comic book adaptation starring a bunch of wise old veteran actors that could be a lot of fun.
Friday, June 25, 2010
NMR: Edge of Darkness
This was touted as Mel Gibson's return to acting since he last starred in Signs back in 2002 and I would imagine most people were disappointed with it. While it's a perfectly fine revenge thriller, there's nothing really special here. The title is particularly misleading I feel, since Gibson's character never really comes close to hitting the 'edge of darkness' in his quest to find his daughter's killer. I was expecting more Jack Bauer levels of anger and torture as he sought revenge, but they weren't forthcoming here. Instead, we get another shady Blackwater-esque government-funded organization as the villain and Gibson dutifully hits all the right beats in obtaining justice. I liked Martin Campbell's (Casino Royale) direction here as he made the film more lively, rather than another one of these washed-out, murky, film noir wannabes. I also appreciated Ray Winstone's performance as a man hired to help cover-up the incident. Edge of Darkness is an enjoyable enough 2 hours making it all right for rental, just don't expect an instant classic. Rating: ***
What the Fock?
Here's your first look at the latest Meet the Parents sequel, Little Fockers, due out this Christmas.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
It Blinded Me With Science
A few weeks ago, I actually saw the film Splice. It's not a movie I would typically see, but I had a friend who was excited about it and I decided to be a good friend and tag along. Since this is already quickly vanishing from theaters, I figured I better hurry up and do a review for this.
Adrian Brody and Sarah Polley star as a couple of scientists (and lovers), who, in response to their funding being cut, decide to attempt to develop a creature that has a Heinz 57 mix of DNA, including some from humans. Their experiment leads to the creation of Dren (that's 'nerd' backwards) an awkward creature that the couple decides to secretly tend after since they can't make their discovery public. The commercials for this film mislead you to believe it is a standard creature feature where the experiment would begin terrorizing everything in sight until it can finally be killed.
Instead, the film becomes a psychological exploration into the two lead characters and how their history has an impact on the way they attempt to domesticate this creature. As we learn more about these two, we begin to see Dren as more human than either one of them. This results in seeing both lead characters display some odd and, at times, uncomfortable actions and interactions with Dren. All of this may not appeal to mass audiences, but it certainly is thought-provoking. So much so, that I was actually appreciating the film for its unconventional approach to familiar material.
Unfortunately, things go awry in the film's final act where the film seemingly works itself into a corner that it can't escape. As Dren grows, it develops new abilities and the film begins to take on more of that creature feature film. With only a few human characters introduced throughout the film, the impact of Dren's terror is obvious and uninteresting. The film then takes a really wild turn with its final twist that comes off as hokey and insulting rather than the poignancy that they were hoping for. This last part of the movie really ruins what had been a solid thriller.
The film's overall premise is too strange for me to give a general recommendation, even if the climax had been stronger. However, it does provide a number of watercooler moments that make it a film worth talking about afterwards if you're one who is inclined to see it. Since the film basically bombed in theaters, if you have any interest in seeing it, wait for it to come out on DVD. However, most people can skip this odd film experiment that went horribly wrong. Grade: B-
Adrian Brody and Sarah Polley star as a couple of scientists (and lovers), who, in response to their funding being cut, decide to attempt to develop a creature that has a Heinz 57 mix of DNA, including some from humans. Their experiment leads to the creation of Dren (that's 'nerd' backwards) an awkward creature that the couple decides to secretly tend after since they can't make their discovery public. The commercials for this film mislead you to believe it is a standard creature feature where the experiment would begin terrorizing everything in sight until it can finally be killed.
Instead, the film becomes a psychological exploration into the two lead characters and how their history has an impact on the way they attempt to domesticate this creature. As we learn more about these two, we begin to see Dren as more human than either one of them. This results in seeing both lead characters display some odd and, at times, uncomfortable actions and interactions with Dren. All of this may not appeal to mass audiences, but it certainly is thought-provoking. So much so, that I was actually appreciating the film for its unconventional approach to familiar material.
Unfortunately, things go awry in the film's final act where the film seemingly works itself into a corner that it can't escape. As Dren grows, it develops new abilities and the film begins to take on more of that creature feature film. With only a few human characters introduced throughout the film, the impact of Dren's terror is obvious and uninteresting. The film then takes a really wild turn with its final twist that comes off as hokey and insulting rather than the poignancy that they were hoping for. This last part of the movie really ruins what had been a solid thriller.
The film's overall premise is too strange for me to give a general recommendation, even if the climax had been stronger. However, it does provide a number of watercooler moments that make it a film worth talking about afterwards if you're one who is inclined to see it. Since the film basically bombed in theaters, if you have any interest in seeing it, wait for it to come out on DVD. However, most people can skip this odd film experiment that went horribly wrong. Grade: B-
What to see from E3 on Wii
Last week's E3 convention had its share of big news regarding the video game industry. While many may be talking about the Microsoft Kinect or Playstation Move, I was more interested in what Nintendo had to announce for their system. Below are trailers for two of their more interesting titles.
First is Wii Party, which is a mixed blessing. On one hand it finally brings a new party game to the system, but sadly it's not with Mario characters, but rather your Miis. In addition, it doesn't appear to have online capability, which is what this genre of games is sorely needing. Still, it's hard to mess up a party game, and if the gameplay is solid, I'll most likely be picking it up. Check it out below:
Then the big news was the announcement of a brand new Goldeneye game for the Wii. As the trailer below indicates, Goldeneye 64 is one of the greatest shooter games ever, particularly for multiplayer. I never really had much of a chance to play the 64 version, but being the Bond fanatic that I am, I am especially excited to pick up this version. And unlike Wii Party, this will have online capability, which has everyone chomping at the bit to get their hands on this. The video below offers you a sneak peek at what you can expect.
First is Wii Party, which is a mixed blessing. On one hand it finally brings a new party game to the system, but sadly it's not with Mario characters, but rather your Miis. In addition, it doesn't appear to have online capability, which is what this genre of games is sorely needing. Still, it's hard to mess up a party game, and if the gameplay is solid, I'll most likely be picking it up. Check it out below:
Then the big news was the announcement of a brand new Goldeneye game for the Wii. As the trailer below indicates, Goldeneye 64 is one of the greatest shooter games ever, particularly for multiplayer. I never really had much of a chance to play the 64 version, but being the Bond fanatic that I am, I am especially excited to pick up this version. And unlike Wii Party, this will have online capability, which has everyone chomping at the bit to get their hands on this. The video below offers you a sneak peek at what you can expect.
This post is brought to you by....Christ I can't find it. To hell with it.
News hit today that there is discussion about reviving the Major League franchise. Given how terrible the Indians have become again, I'd say it's about time. Here's the story from Comingsoon.net:
David S. Ward, writer/director of Major League, tells Moviehole: "We're actually talking about doing one right now. I've written, what I see, as 'Major League 3.' We're putting that together as we speak - in fact, next week I'm off to talk to James Robinson at Morgan Creek about it.
"It's 20 years later, and Wild Thing comes out of retirement to work with this 19-year-old player," Ward added. "We've actually got three new characters in the new film. And if the new film is popular, they could carry the franchise on."
Though Ward hopes to get Tom Berenger, Corbin Bernsen and even, Wesley Snipes back for Major League 3, he's so far only spoken to Charlie Sheen about it.
"He's excited to do it if and when it happens," said Ward. "But he can't shoot it this year, because he's back doing 'Two and a Half Men,' but we could potentially shoot it next year - in his hiatus from the show."
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Stiller silliness
I'm not sure how I missed this when it was first released back last March, but here's the latest installment of Zack Galifianakis' awesome series Between Two Ferns, with special guest Ben Stiller.
NMR: The Road
I initially had high hopes for this film when I first learned about it. However, my anticipation for it waned with every delayed release to the point. Even with my low expectations, this one still managed to underwhelm me. On a positive note, the cinematography depicting a post-apocalyptic world is impressive. Nothing else really works here. The story doesn't feel orignial and also feels underdeveloped. This is most likely due to it being an adapatation of a popular novel (by author Cormac McCarthy). There were many points where I felt the book most likely developed the characters better to make you care about them. Here, I never felt a vested interest in whether the man (played by Viggo Mortensen) and his son survived their perilous situation. Perhaps worst of all is the film's attempt to bludgeon its themes over our head. We didn't need multiple scenes involving the son asking his father if they were still the 'good guys' to tell us that armageddon causes people to develop shades of grey personalities. This really deserves only about two and half stars, but since Netflix doesn't offer that option, I'll be kind and say Rating: ***
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
I smell a rat
So The Price is Right unveiled a new pricing game today called Rat Race. I think it's unique while borrowing strong elements from past games. You can see the debut playing of it below and if you're interested in seeing what into making this game, you can check out this video on priceisright.com
Can't myth moments
Tonight Mythbusters ran a 2-hour special celebrating their 25 Best Busted Myths. If you didn't catch the show, here's the list along with the episode in which the myth aired:
25. Can a 1967 Chevy take off with JATO rockets? (Jet-Assisted Chevy, 1st myth ever)
24. Can a tree be cut down using a machine gun? (Viewer's Special 2)
23. Can a bullet fired straight up in the air kill someone on the way back down? (Bullets Fired Up)
22. Can a JATO rocket launch a car through the air? (Special Supersized Myths)
21. Can an unamplified human voice shatter a wine glass? (Breaking Glass)
20. Did the Confederates really build a lethal steam-powered machine gun? (Confederate Steam Gun)
19. No myth, just a montage of the crazy costumes the crew has worn over the years
18. How can someone escape from a sinking car? (Sinking Car)
17. Can a sonic shock wave shatter glass? (Curving Bullets)
16. Do bulls in a china shop really cause complete destruction? (Red Rag to a Bull)
15. Is it possible for pants to spontaneously explode? (Exploding Pants)
14. Will duct tape plug holes in the bottom of boats and can you create a working sail-boat out of it? (Duct Tape Hour)
13. Can an airplane toilet create enough suction to cause a person to become stuck on it? (Biscuit Bazooka)
12. Theories that the Apollo moon landing was faked are tested (NASA Moon Landing)
11. Will a pack of sharks ignore a person who is playing dead? (Shark Week Special)
10. Can you ignite your own flatus? (Never before seen on air, but done as part of the Franklin's Kite episode)
9. Is it possible to water ski behind a rowing eight? (Break Step Bridge)
8. What caused the Hindenburg to explode? (Hindenburg Mystery)
7. No myth, just a montage of the crew's favorite one-liners
6. Was it possible to survive an escape from Alcatraz? (Alcatraz Escape)
5. Will a car dropped from 4,000 feet fall faster than a speeding car? (Demolition Derby)
4. No myth, just a montage of all the accidents/injuries the crew has suffered over the years
3. Two revisted myths tied: Is the compact conundrum of a two-truck head-on collision a myth? (Demolition Derby) and Can a rocket powered snow plow split a car in two? (Myth Evolution)
2. Can a lead balloon fly? (Lead Balloon)
1. Can hardened cement be removed from a cement truck using explosives? (Salsa Escape)
No surprise what came in at number one. I'll also note that while these myths were singled out, they mentioned many more myths along the way. Some of the omissions that I would have liked to see mentioned include Pop Rocks and Soda and the Phone Book friction myth. I know everyone has their favorites though, so please share your own below.
25. Can a 1967 Chevy take off with JATO rockets? (Jet-Assisted Chevy, 1st myth ever)
24. Can a tree be cut down using a machine gun? (Viewer's Special 2)
23. Can a bullet fired straight up in the air kill someone on the way back down? (Bullets Fired Up)
22. Can a JATO rocket launch a car through the air? (Special Supersized Myths)
21. Can an unamplified human voice shatter a wine glass? (Breaking Glass)
20. Did the Confederates really build a lethal steam-powered machine gun? (Confederate Steam Gun)
19. No myth, just a montage of the crazy costumes the crew has worn over the years
18. How can someone escape from a sinking car? (Sinking Car)
17. Can a sonic shock wave shatter glass? (Curving Bullets)
16. Do bulls in a china shop really cause complete destruction? (Red Rag to a Bull)
15. Is it possible for pants to spontaneously explode? (Exploding Pants)
14. Will duct tape plug holes in the bottom of boats and can you create a working sail-boat out of it? (Duct Tape Hour)
13. Can an airplane toilet create enough suction to cause a person to become stuck on it? (Biscuit Bazooka)
12. Theories that the Apollo moon landing was faked are tested (NASA Moon Landing)
11. Will a pack of sharks ignore a person who is playing dead? (Shark Week Special)
10. Can you ignite your own flatus? (Never before seen on air, but done as part of the Franklin's Kite episode)
9. Is it possible to water ski behind a rowing eight? (Break Step Bridge)
8. What caused the Hindenburg to explode? (Hindenburg Mystery)
7. No myth, just a montage of the crew's favorite one-liners
6. Was it possible to survive an escape from Alcatraz? (Alcatraz Escape)
5. Will a car dropped from 4,000 feet fall faster than a speeding car? (Demolition Derby)
4. No myth, just a montage of all the accidents/injuries the crew has suffered over the years
3. Two revisted myths tied: Is the compact conundrum of a two-truck head-on collision a myth? (Demolition Derby) and Can a rocket powered snow plow split a car in two? (Myth Evolution)
2. Can a lead balloon fly? (Lead Balloon)
1. Can hardened cement be removed from a cement truck using explosives? (Salsa Escape)
No surprise what came in at number one. I'll also note that while these myths were singled out, they mentioned many more myths along the way. Some of the omissions that I would have liked to see mentioned include Pop Rocks and Soda and the Phone Book friction myth. I know everyone has their favorites though, so please share your own below.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Crowd control
Man, the wave has nothing on what these Korean soccer fans can do. I may hate soccer, but even I have to admit this is pretty darn cool.
NMR: A Serious Man
Boy did I struggle with this one. In recent years I've gained an appreciate for the Coen brothers' films after enjoying both Burn After Reading and No Country For Old Men. However, this one was a different case. A lot of the same themes (dark humor, the random nature of life, idiotic people) all remain here and the film is expertly made, its subject matter was just too narrow for me to appreciate it. Centered around a Jewish man and the struggles he endures in both his personal and professional life, I just found myself unable to relate to the character or the context. If, however, you can relate to their culture and you have an appreciation for the Coens' work, then you'll probably really enjoy this. This is a total skip for everyone else though. Rating: **
Monday, June 14, 2010
Lost in space
For those of you who were unsatisfied by the way Lost ended, maybe this video, a smash-up of Lost and Star Wars, will suit you better.
Lost Wars: Because Adding Jedis Can Fix Anything -- powered by Cracked.com
Lost Wars: Because Adding Jedis Can Fix Anything -- powered by Cracked.com
Monday, June 7, 2010
Wahoo Wrap-Up (Week 9)
Record: 21-34, Last in the AL Central
So things seem to have hit rock bottom this week. We were beat soundly in our recent series with the Yankees and the Tigers, showing just how far away we are from competing against the American League's top teams. Of course, one of those games was the "imperfect game" which was the epitome of pathetic offense. If that wasn't bad enough, news then came that Grady Sizemore's surgery will keep him out for the rest of the season. Thankfully when things looked bleakest, along came the Chicago White Sox which seems to the cure for what ails us. We took the first two of the series against them and should have won today had the bullpen not blown it. It's pretty sad though that more than a third of our wins have come against the White Sox. If only we could play them all season long. Instead, this week we have a four game against the nasty Boston Red Sox and then officially open up interleague play with the Washington Nationals. There's a possiblity we may even see last year's #1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg in that series and if he's as good as many people think, we may be on the wrong end of another perfect game. Still though, I gotta remain loyal to my team and I gotta say, Go Tribe!
So things seem to have hit rock bottom this week. We were beat soundly in our recent series with the Yankees and the Tigers, showing just how far away we are from competing against the American League's top teams. Of course, one of those games was the "imperfect game" which was the epitome of pathetic offense. If that wasn't bad enough, news then came that Grady Sizemore's surgery will keep him out for the rest of the season. Thankfully when things looked bleakest, along came the Chicago White Sox which seems to the cure for what ails us. We took the first two of the series against them and should have won today had the bullpen not blown it. It's pretty sad though that more than a third of our wins have come against the White Sox. If only we could play them all season long. Instead, this week we have a four game against the nasty Boston Red Sox and then officially open up interleague play with the Washington Nationals. There's a possiblity we may even see last year's #1 draft pick Stephen Strasburg in that series and if he's as good as many people think, we may be on the wrong end of another perfect game. Still though, I gotta remain loyal to my team and I gotta say, Go Tribe!
Hallow victory
So here's a nice two for one...a pair of previews for the upcoming final Harry Potter film(s). The first is an unoffical trailer that I somehow missed when it hit the net late last year. The second debuted tonight on MTV's Movie Awards show. Both seem to adequately show the epic nature that the book had. Time will tell whether it's able to successfully finish off the series.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
NMR: Daybreakers
Clearly anyone that knows me knows that I want nothing to do with the stupid vampire craze that has disturbingly swept the nation. However, when I had seen the previews for this film earlier this year, the concept of this blood-sucker film was so unique, that I couldn't help but be intrigued. The premise here is that the majority of the population has become vampires and they're quickly running out of human blood to keep themselves alive. Some are hunting down the remaining humans, while Ethan Hawke joins up with Willem Dafoe to try and find a cure. The film presents a lot of clever allegories for real-life issues; dependency on oil, immigration, scientific ethics, and military power just to name a few. I found all of them to be very thought provoking and made it seem that this film would be something special. Unfortunately the second half of the film devolves into a gore-fest instead of following through on its themes. It's a shame the film decided to take that route. It cheapens the film for those, like me, who wanted something provoking and the violence comes too late in the film to appease the people that wants to see an all-out blood fest throughout. Still I think it has enough to make it worthy of a rental. While it does not completely suck, I wish it would have had a little bit more bit. Grade: B
Second helping
Here's the second trailer for the new comedy, Dinner For Schmucks, starring Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd that opens next month.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Avenger? I barely know her!
Here's a couple of images of concept art for the two Marvel superhero movies coming out next summer. Both Thor and Captain America will be part of the Avenger initiative that was mentioned in the Iron Man films.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Pilgrim's pride
Here's the newest trailer for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. I'm liking this more and more with each new footage I see. BTW, bonus points go for having Parks and Recreation's Aubrey Plaza in this film.
The clock strikes out for 24
Lost is not the only show I'm mourning this spring. I've also had to say goodbye to the CTU gang over at 24. Over the past eight seasons, the Fox drama has provided tremendous action and was unique for its real-time storytelling. Perhaps most of all it has given us one of the most iconic characters in television history - Jack Bauer. While the show had its eye-rolling moments and came under controversy for its views on torture, it was remain of the most intense shows ever on network television.
As the show came to a close, I wish it had been able to do under better terms. While not the worst season (that honor goes to a dreadful season 6), it was at best uneven. The central storyline just never had the sense of urgency which hampered the action. This season also features some of the recurring characters doing things that went against their character. Worst of all for me was seeing them kill off the Renee Walker character. I'm not an overly sentimental person that needed to see Jack finish the show with the love of his life. I simply wanted to see her live because she not only loved him, but because she was just as badass as he was when it came to taking down the bad guys. The lone bright spot for the season was seeing the return of Gregory Itzin as former President Logan. His manipulations of others is downright Shakespearean at times, so it was fun to see him play off of the other characters once again.
The final hours of the show were not as dramatic as they could be. But they also did leave a lot of doors open, which is good since there is still plans to make a feature film involving these characters at some point. Flawed as it was, I stuck with this show until the end and I'm glad for it. Oddly enough, I actually was late to the game in becoming a fan and have never seen the first season. Thankfully it's now available on Netflix's instant view, so I plan on watching that at some point over the summer. Just as I was thankful to the Lost producers, I am equally grateful of the people behind 24 for giving us such a thrilling show that will be remembered for the rest of time.
As the show came to a close, I wish it had been able to do under better terms. While not the worst season (that honor goes to a dreadful season 6), it was at best uneven. The central storyline just never had the sense of urgency which hampered the action. This season also features some of the recurring characters doing things that went against their character. Worst of all for me was seeing them kill off the Renee Walker character. I'm not an overly sentimental person that needed to see Jack finish the show with the love of his life. I simply wanted to see her live because she not only loved him, but because she was just as badass as he was when it came to taking down the bad guys. The lone bright spot for the season was seeing the return of Gregory Itzin as former President Logan. His manipulations of others is downright Shakespearean at times, so it was fun to see him play off of the other characters once again.
The final hours of the show were not as dramatic as they could be. But they also did leave a lot of doors open, which is good since there is still plans to make a feature film involving these characters at some point. Flawed as it was, I stuck with this show until the end and I'm glad for it. Oddly enough, I actually was late to the game in becoming a fan and have never seen the first season. Thankfully it's now available on Netflix's instant view, so I plan on watching that at some point over the summer. Just as I was thankful to the Lost producers, I am equally grateful of the people behind 24 for giving us such a thrilling show that will be remembered for the rest of time.
Happy Memorial Day!
In honor of today's holiday, here is the Muppets own, Sam the Eagle to sing us a nice patriotic song (or not).
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Lost but never forgotten
I've now had a week to contemplate the finale of Lost, so I guess it's time I weigh in on the conclusion and what it meant to the show overall. Like so many people, I'm left with mixed feelings about the finale. On one hand, I was completely moved by the events that unfolded. Seeing familiar faces and so many wonderful reunions was truly touching. Oddly enough, I think I was most moved by the final scene between Locke (Terry O'Quinn) and Ben (Michael Emerson). These two performers gave us one final great scene together and it was great to see Locke forgive him after all the two of them had been through together. The final revelation that the sideways world had been some sort of purgatory was poignant and fitting given everything that has gone down the past 6 seasons. I liked how the final scene of them sitting in the church as Christian opened the doors to reveal a big light was eerily reminiscent of them sitting in the plane as a big light shone behind them as the back of the plane was ripped apart. The whole thing was very emotional and left me drained by the time it was over.
Having said that, the nerd in me screams with rage that more answers to the show's mythology were never given. Now I'm not one of these people that needed to have answers to every piece of the show's minutae (I really don't care how or why there was a Dharma food drop years after their experiments were over). However, there were some critical things that were abandoned that I felt needed better resolution. Tops on that list was Charles Widmore and everything surrounding him. We never got a suitable answer as to why he was kicked off the island. We didn't discover why he so desperately wanted to get back. And I'm still unclear as to what exactly he wanted to use Desmond for. For too long in the series, it appeared that things were building to a Ben/Widmore showdown and instead that showdown turned into Jacob/the Man in Black. While that showdown had potential, I never felt it lived up to it. The characters were properly introduced too late in the game and it required us to buy into more science fiction than reality. Given the way the show ended, I wonder why they felt the need to have that element of science fiction or the unexplained. If life on the island was reality, why not root it completely in reality and have every mysterious thing explained with a logical answer.
As I look at my critique though, I find myself having an internal war with my man of faith and my man of science. I believe this is truly what the show wanted to accomplish. It's been clear that the show has always favored the man of faith and wanted its viewers to embrace that side of themselves as well. Those that can, probably really enjoyed the finale and those that can't are left feeling very frustrated. Whatever my issues are with how things wrapped up, I look forward to at some point in the near future rewatching the series from the start to see how much of it I can enjoy and appreciate from a new perspective. I also anticipate the final season's DVD set coming out sometime in August, which promises to fill in some gaps that couldn't be accomplished during the show's run. Also, if you end up getting the entire series box set, I read that there will be a 12-14 minute video featuring Hurley and Ben's time on the island running the show. That sounds can't miss. Since I already own all of the sets, I may not be able to get it, so I hope it eventually pops up on YouTube somewhere.
I know I have plenty of Lost fans that read this site, so please share with me your thoughts and opinions on the show. I'm very curious to see what everyone else thought. And to the creators of the show, I'd like to thank them for six very entertaining years of TV. I know there will be a definite void in my TV schedule next year without it around. And so as we bid Aloha to Lost, I say to all of you, Namaste!
Having said that, the nerd in me screams with rage that more answers to the show's mythology were never given. Now I'm not one of these people that needed to have answers to every piece of the show's minutae (I really don't care how or why there was a Dharma food drop years after their experiments were over). However, there were some critical things that were abandoned that I felt needed better resolution. Tops on that list was Charles Widmore and everything surrounding him. We never got a suitable answer as to why he was kicked off the island. We didn't discover why he so desperately wanted to get back. And I'm still unclear as to what exactly he wanted to use Desmond for. For too long in the series, it appeared that things were building to a Ben/Widmore showdown and instead that showdown turned into Jacob/the Man in Black. While that showdown had potential, I never felt it lived up to it. The characters were properly introduced too late in the game and it required us to buy into more science fiction than reality. Given the way the show ended, I wonder why they felt the need to have that element of science fiction or the unexplained. If life on the island was reality, why not root it completely in reality and have every mysterious thing explained with a logical answer.
As I look at my critique though, I find myself having an internal war with my man of faith and my man of science. I believe this is truly what the show wanted to accomplish. It's been clear that the show has always favored the man of faith and wanted its viewers to embrace that side of themselves as well. Those that can, probably really enjoyed the finale and those that can't are left feeling very frustrated. Whatever my issues are with how things wrapped up, I look forward to at some point in the near future rewatching the series from the start to see how much of it I can enjoy and appreciate from a new perspective. I also anticipate the final season's DVD set coming out sometime in August, which promises to fill in some gaps that couldn't be accomplished during the show's run. Also, if you end up getting the entire series box set, I read that there will be a 12-14 minute video featuring Hurley and Ben's time on the island running the show. That sounds can't miss. Since I already own all of the sets, I may not be able to get it, so I hope it eventually pops up on YouTube somewhere.
I know I have plenty of Lost fans that read this site, so please share with me your thoughts and opinions on the show. I'm very curious to see what everyone else thought. And to the creators of the show, I'd like to thank them for six very entertaining years of TV. I know there will be a definite void in my TV schedule next year without it around. And so as we bid Aloha to Lost, I say to all of you, Namaste!
NMR: 48 Hours
I caught this last night on Netflix's Instant Viewing and I have to say I wasn't impressed. I know this is supposed to be a classic 80s movie and one of the ones that jump started Eddie Murphy's film career, but I found it to be too gritty and depressing. The racially charged dialogue heard throughout the film was no doubt meant to be provocative, but I just found it to be crass and unnecessary. It just seemed so unprofessional that these two characters would take the time to have a lengthy fistfight when their attention needed to be on catching the criminal. I think a big problem with the film for me is that I have once again been spoiled by seeing parodies and knock-offs before the original material. In this case, I've seen and enjoyed films like Lethal Weapon and National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 before, so nothing in this film seemed fresh, even if it did happen first. I won't begrudge anyone that does enjoy this movie, but I'm not likely to watch it again. Rating: **
Wahoo Wrap-Up (Week 8)
Record: 18-29, Last in the AL Central
Things seem to be going from bad to worse with this team. On top of losing games on a frequent basis, we're losing key players left and right. First it was a freak accident that caused Asdrubal Cabrera to break a bone in his arm and be out 6-8 week. Then we learned this weekend that Grady will need surgery on his leg and will also be out about 6 weeks. Oddly, the scariest looking moment for an Indian though was the line drive that pitcher David Huff took off of his head. Surprisingly, the CT scan was negative and he says he's feeling fine, although it's not clear when exactly he'll return to the mound.
We've been trying to stay afloat with an inferior team, but now it looks like it's starting to catch up to us. We've sunk to the basement of the division and things don't like they'll be getting any better anytime soon. After finishing up our four game series with the Yankees tomorrow, we stay out on the road against Detroit and Chicago. I don't hold much hope, however, if we can somehow play well against those two divisional opponents we could make some movement back up the standings. I know things look bleak, but my devotion will never waver. As always, Go Tribe!
Things seem to be going from bad to worse with this team. On top of losing games on a frequent basis, we're losing key players left and right. First it was a freak accident that caused Asdrubal Cabrera to break a bone in his arm and be out 6-8 week. Then we learned this weekend that Grady will need surgery on his leg and will also be out about 6 weeks. Oddly, the scariest looking moment for an Indian though was the line drive that pitcher David Huff took off of his head. Surprisingly, the CT scan was negative and he says he's feeling fine, although it's not clear when exactly he'll return to the mound.
We've been trying to stay afloat with an inferior team, but now it looks like it's starting to catch up to us. We've sunk to the basement of the division and things don't like they'll be getting any better anytime soon. After finishing up our four game series with the Yankees tomorrow, we stay out on the road against Detroit and Chicago. I don't hold much hope, however, if we can somehow play well against those two divisional opponents we could make some movement back up the standings. I know things look bleak, but my devotion will never waver. As always, Go Tribe!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Boys and the Hood
So this review is long overdue as I actually saw Robin Hood during it's opening week. Despite this being the umpteenth iteration of this classic story, I have quite a bit to say about this film, so let's hope I still remember it all in this review.
I think the one thing that needs to be stressed about this film is its central story. If you thought this would be another version of seeing Robin stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, you would be dead wrong. This film is actually a prequel of sorts, establishing how he became the outlaw that we all know him to be today. This backstory that director Ridley Scott gives us unfortunately isn't that interesting. It really doesn't even revolve around Robin. Instead, it's a story of England's war with the French and Robin just happens to be in the middle of it. It almost seemed as I watched this film that Scott just wanted to do another historical war film, but the studio didn't find that interesting enough so he decided to shoehorn Robin Hood into the story to make it more appealing.
This time around, the classic archer is played by Russell Crowe. Crowe has teamed up with Scott in the past with big success. This time around, Scott would have been better off not relying on his old friends. As great of an actor as Crowe is, he doesn't really add much to this storied character. He doesn't give him enough energy or charisma, which causes you to wonder why anyone would bother following this guy. There are a couple of moments in the film when Crowe is giving a speech to a crowd of people and I wondered why anyone was listing. Had I been there, I would have asked, "And you are again?"
Despite that void of character, Robin Hood does of course have his followers. Sadly, because this is a prequel, they are barely given more than token acknowledgments. We see who Little John and Friar Tuck are but that's about it. Throughout the film they're either dutifully following Robin or getting drunk when he's away. At least we can see why they were considered 'merry'. Perhaps more frustrating than their lack of development is seeing quality actors thrown into the film for meaningless roles. Actors like Max Von Sydow and William Hurt show up at various points, but again fail to add the expected prestige to the movie. Hurt's presence is particularly bizarre since his character doesn't have a major impact on the flow of the story. It sadly seemed like these guys simply came in for a paycheck and have the studio use their names in the credits to give the film some added prestige.
The only other actor besides Crowe who is given something of substance is Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian. Even though she has a larger role, the script wastes her talents as well. If she's not involved in some laughable romantic comedy scenes with Crowe, then she's trying to do the female empowerment thing by getting involved in the fight scenes with the men. Neither situation feels authentic. Instead, they've molded the character to fit into today's Hollywood archetypes. If you didn't know any better, you'd swear they were trying to spin the character off into her own action adventure franchise.
While nothing about this picture feels like a real Robin Hood movie, everything about it does feel like a Ridley Scott picture. You've got a lot of fighting sequences that are edited at a frenetic pace. Although I will say that I found them to be more enjoyable here than in a lot of his other sword and sandal movies. I'm not sure why that is, but maybe it's because there were so many problems with the non-fighting scenes here that the fights just looked better by comparison. The film also has another Scott standby; themes of power and the corruption of government. Here, we see King John in over his head as king of England and use bullying tactics as a way to mask his ineptitude. Watching this performance though, you can't help but feel that King John is nothing more than a watered down version of Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus from Gladiator. Really, the whole movie feels like a tepid sampling of many of Scott's previous better films.
While Robin Hood never matches up to expectations, it never bores you either. The film moves along with a mix of action and light comedy that will likely keep most entertained. However, you will also sit and wonder what could have been. It seems like a lot of key pieces are there, but nobody felt like putting the effort in to make it something special. While Robin never missed the target, this Robin Hood definitely misses its mark. Grade: C+
I think the one thing that needs to be stressed about this film is its central story. If you thought this would be another version of seeing Robin stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, you would be dead wrong. This film is actually a prequel of sorts, establishing how he became the outlaw that we all know him to be today. This backstory that director Ridley Scott gives us unfortunately isn't that interesting. It really doesn't even revolve around Robin. Instead, it's a story of England's war with the French and Robin just happens to be in the middle of it. It almost seemed as I watched this film that Scott just wanted to do another historical war film, but the studio didn't find that interesting enough so he decided to shoehorn Robin Hood into the story to make it more appealing.
This time around, the classic archer is played by Russell Crowe. Crowe has teamed up with Scott in the past with big success. This time around, Scott would have been better off not relying on his old friends. As great of an actor as Crowe is, he doesn't really add much to this storied character. He doesn't give him enough energy or charisma, which causes you to wonder why anyone would bother following this guy. There are a couple of moments in the film when Crowe is giving a speech to a crowd of people and I wondered why anyone was listing. Had I been there, I would have asked, "And you are again?"
Despite that void of character, Robin Hood does of course have his followers. Sadly, because this is a prequel, they are barely given more than token acknowledgments. We see who Little John and Friar Tuck are but that's about it. Throughout the film they're either dutifully following Robin or getting drunk when he's away. At least we can see why they were considered 'merry'. Perhaps more frustrating than their lack of development is seeing quality actors thrown into the film for meaningless roles. Actors like Max Von Sydow and William Hurt show up at various points, but again fail to add the expected prestige to the movie. Hurt's presence is particularly bizarre since his character doesn't have a major impact on the flow of the story. It sadly seemed like these guys simply came in for a paycheck and have the studio use their names in the credits to give the film some added prestige.
The only other actor besides Crowe who is given something of substance is Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian. Even though she has a larger role, the script wastes her talents as well. If she's not involved in some laughable romantic comedy scenes with Crowe, then she's trying to do the female empowerment thing by getting involved in the fight scenes with the men. Neither situation feels authentic. Instead, they've molded the character to fit into today's Hollywood archetypes. If you didn't know any better, you'd swear they were trying to spin the character off into her own action adventure franchise.
While nothing about this picture feels like a real Robin Hood movie, everything about it does feel like a Ridley Scott picture. You've got a lot of fighting sequences that are edited at a frenetic pace. Although I will say that I found them to be more enjoyable here than in a lot of his other sword and sandal movies. I'm not sure why that is, but maybe it's because there were so many problems with the non-fighting scenes here that the fights just looked better by comparison. The film also has another Scott standby; themes of power and the corruption of government. Here, we see King John in over his head as king of England and use bullying tactics as a way to mask his ineptitude. Watching this performance though, you can't help but feel that King John is nothing more than a watered down version of Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus from Gladiator. Really, the whole movie feels like a tepid sampling of many of Scott's previous better films.
While Robin Hood never matches up to expectations, it never bores you either. The film moves along with a mix of action and light comedy that will likely keep most entertained. However, you will also sit and wonder what could have been. It seems like a lot of key pieces are there, but nobody felt like putting the effort in to make it something special. While Robin never missed the target, this Robin Hood definitely misses its mark. Grade: C+
Pyramid power
I haven't mentioned it on here yet, but about a month ago I started inexplicably getting the Game Show Network again through my cable system. Since it's return, I've been enjoying a lot of the old show, but one in particular has been the $25,000 and $100,000 Pyramid. I don't know how long I'll keep getting GSN, so I was happy to hear news that CBS is considering bringing back a daytime version of the Pyramid. Even better news is that they are finalizing the deal to have Andy Richter host it. While it may seem like an odd choice initially, I think it's a pretty good one. Andy has always seemed like a genuinely nice fellow and I think he would be invested in seeing all of the contestant succeed on the show. On top of that, Andy is pretty intelligent and well versed in game shows. He's had success on numerous occassions on Celebrity Jeopardy. Don't believe me? Well take a look for yourself. Below are two videos, one of Andy doing a piece on the old Conan show preparing for his first appearance and the second video is of him doing well during his 2009 appearance.
NMR: The Private Eyes
When I was a kid, my family and I would spend every Sunday afternoon watching old Disney/family movies. Every week we would scour our local video stores to find one we had never seen before. I fully believed we had seen everything in existence, so it came as quite as a surprise to see on Netflix this 1980 comedy starring Don Knotts and Tim Conway as bumbling detectives. Surely had we ever seen this film on the shelves at the video store we would have rented it. While The Private Eyes is very similar to other Knotts/Conway pairings (like The Apple Dumpling Gang), some of their appeal is lost on me now as an adult. As a kid, they were a fun romp, now some of the comedy just seems dumb. I was surprised though that the film didn't feature more slapstick. Instead, most of the comedy comes from Knotts and Conway being real stupid, yet somehow still solving the case. The film plays like an extended episode of Inspector Gadget only without all the cool gadgets. If you have an appreciation for these type of films, you'll probably find enough amusement in this outing. Otherwise, there's no bother in checking this out. Rating: ***
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Need some Recreation?
Who doesn't! Since NBC doesn't seem to be releasing any deleted scenes for The Office season finale, I figured I would take this time to once again plug Parks and Recreation. Below you can enjoy the special producer's cut version of their season finale.
Book review: The Lost Symbol
Believe it or not, I don't just sit in front of a TV or computer all day long. On occasion, I do still take a chance to read a good novel. I recently had the opportunity to read Dan Brown's latest, The Lost Symbol; another entry in the Robert Langdon series after Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code. Once again, Langdon is asked to solve ancient and intricate mysteries surrounding a mysterious organization, this time being the Masons.
Most of Brown's trademark writing style remains here, so if you enjoyed the previous novels you will probably enjoy this one. I can't rank this one as high as my favorite, Angels and Demons, however for a few reasons. I found the book a little slow to begin. There just a little too much standing around and talking without equal action going on. Once the plot does pick up and Langdon is on the run from the government, the action is great and it becomes a real page-turner. The book's climax is also somewhat of a letdown. After the bad guy is defeated, there's still another 50 pages of exposition that provides little pay off. Without saying too much, the big secret that's revealed is nothing as scandalous or interesting as what is proposed in The Da Vinci Code. Finally, while certainly steeped in history, I found the book's Washington DC setting lacking in the same appeal and intrique that the Vatican offered in A & D. So while this isn't Brown's best effort, it has enough to make it a decent pick-up during the summer if you're looking for somethingto read while laying out on the beach. Grade: B-
Most of Brown's trademark writing style remains here, so if you enjoyed the previous novels you will probably enjoy this one. I can't rank this one as high as my favorite, Angels and Demons, however for a few reasons. I found the book a little slow to begin. There just a little too much standing around and talking without equal action going on. Once the plot does pick up and Langdon is on the run from the government, the action is great and it becomes a real page-turner. The book's climax is also somewhat of a letdown. After the bad guy is defeated, there's still another 50 pages of exposition that provides little pay off. Without saying too much, the big secret that's revealed is nothing as scandalous or interesting as what is proposed in The Da Vinci Code. Finally, while certainly steeped in history, I found the book's Washington DC setting lacking in the same appeal and intrique that the Vatican offered in A & D. So while this isn't Brown's best effort, it has enough to make it a decent pick-up during the summer if you're looking for somethingto read while laying out on the beach. Grade: B-
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Fox on the run
From EW.com:
Well that solves half the problem. Now if they could just get rid of Shia and the rest of the humans, they might actually have a halfway decent film on their hands.
Sources close to the production of Transformers 3 confirm to EW that Megan Fox’s option for the film has not been renewed. Contrary to earlier reports, however, the decision is not a personal vendetta. The source tells EW that it was logical, considering the direction of the script, which sees leading man Shia LaBeouf developing a new love interest.
Well that solves half the problem. Now if they could just get rid of Shia and the rest of the humans, they might actually have a halfway decent film on their hands.
Fall schedule announcements (CW)
The CW just unveiled its brand new 2010-11 schedule, and here’s what you need to know now: 90210 is shifting to Monday (paired with Gossip Girl), One Tree Hill is moving to Tuesday (paired with Life Unexpected), Supernatural is relocating to Friday (reunited with former time-slot companion Smallville), and new action-drama-reboot Nikita has nabbed the plum post-Vampire Diaries slot on Thursday. The complete M-F schedule is below.
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM 90210 (New Night)
9:00-10:00 PM GOSSIP GIRL
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM ONE TREE HILL (New Night)
9:00-10:00 PM LIFE UNEXPECTED (New Night)
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL
9:00-10:00 PM HELLCATS (New Series) Watch a clip!
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM THE VAMPIRE DIARIES
9:00-10:00 PM NIKITA (New Series) Watch a clip!
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SMALLVILLE
9:00-10:00 PM SUPERNATURAL (New Night)
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM 90210 (New Night)
9:00-10:00 PM GOSSIP GIRL
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM ONE TREE HILL (New Night)
9:00-10:00 PM LIFE UNEXPECTED (New Night)
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL
9:00-10:00 PM HELLCATS (New Series) Watch a clip!
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM THE VAMPIRE DIARIES
9:00-10:00 PM NIKITA (New Series) Watch a clip!
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SMALLVILLE
9:00-10:00 PM SUPERNATURAL (New Night)
Lost answers found?!?
From TVGuide.com:
Turns out two and a half hours just wasn't enough screen time for Lost producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse to tell the whole story they wanted to tell us. An ABC source confirms to me that after Sunday’s series finale, titled "The End," airs from 9 – 11:30 pm ET/PT, the season six DVD (as well as the complete series collection, out on DVD and Blu-ray August 24) will continue the saga with upwards of twenty minutes of additional storyline.
“It’s in production now,” confirms the source, who couldn’t yet confirm the actual running time of the new scenes. “Damon and Carlton wanted to offer fans answers to additional questions they couldn’t get to in the body of the final show.”
Lindelof and Cuse have also ordered up some spectacular packaging that should make the DVDs a must-purchase for show fans. And for those of you who have completely abandoned hope of any happily-ever-afters for these poor lost souls following the recent string of island casualties, Sonja Walger, whose lucky Penny turns up in the finale, offers us a ray of hope. When I asked her to tell me who gets the best ending, she said, “We all do and you’ll see why.”
Could there perhaps be light at the end of Jacob's tunnel of light?
Fall schedule announcements (CBS)
Looks like some big changes in store for the Eye Network...
CBS released its fall 2010 schedule in anticipation of its presentation to advertisers this afternoon in New York. CBS ordered four dramas (Hawaii 5-0, Defenders, Blue Bloods, and the Forest Whitaker starrer Criminal Minds 2, which is set for a midseason debut) and two comedies (Mike and Molly, $#*! My Dad Says) for fall and canceled Ghost Whisperer, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Gary Unmarried, Cold Case, Miami Medical, Accidentally on Purpose, and Numb3rs.
CBS Corp Chairman Leslie Moonves told reporters Wednesday that he was “surprised that you were surprised” about the cancellation of shows like Whisperer and Old Christine. Ratings for the latter comedy, in fact, were trending downward, Moonves said, and “not headed in the right direction. It’s not the right place to be for the No. 1 network. This is about improving time periods.” Later, CBS’ head of scheduling Kelly Kahl quipped that it was all about the “network circle of life.”
The net execs said it felt like the right time to move to Survivor from Thursdays to Wednesdays given the show’s continued strength, and they reassured reporters that the promos for Sh#* My Dad Says won’t really employ the expletive; the voiceover will say “bleep” (yes, reporters were actually concerned about that). Moonves also said he was glad he didn’t have to sell advertisers on the notion of a “One and a Half Men” comedy since Charlie Sheen closed a new deal to stay with the hit show.
* — denotes new show
MONDAY
8 p.m . How I Met Your Mother
8:30 Rules of Engagement
9:00 Two and a Half Men
9:30 Mike and Molly *
10:00 Hawaii Five-0 *
TUESDAY
8 p.m. NCIS
9:00 NCIS LA
10:00 The Good Wife
WEDNESDAY
8 p.m. Survivor: Nicaragua
9:00 Criminal Minds
10:00 The Defenders *
THURSDAY
8 p.m. The Big Bang Theory
8:30 $#*! My Dad Says *
9:00 CSI
10:00 The Mentalist
FRIDAY
8 p.m. Medium
9:00 CSI: NY
10:00 Blue Bloods *
SATURDAY
8 p.m. Crimetime Saturday
9:00 Crimetime Saturday
10:00 48 Hours
SUNDAY
7 p.m 60 Minutes.
8:00 The Amazing Race
9:00 Undercover Boss
10:00 CSI: Miami
CBS released its fall 2010 schedule in anticipation of its presentation to advertisers this afternoon in New York. CBS ordered four dramas (Hawaii 5-0, Defenders, Blue Bloods, and the Forest Whitaker starrer Criminal Minds 2, which is set for a midseason debut) and two comedies (Mike and Molly, $#*! My Dad Says) for fall and canceled Ghost Whisperer, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Gary Unmarried, Cold Case, Miami Medical, Accidentally on Purpose, and Numb3rs.
CBS Corp Chairman Leslie Moonves told reporters Wednesday that he was “surprised that you were surprised” about the cancellation of shows like Whisperer and Old Christine. Ratings for the latter comedy, in fact, were trending downward, Moonves said, and “not headed in the right direction. It’s not the right place to be for the No. 1 network. This is about improving time periods.” Later, CBS’ head of scheduling Kelly Kahl quipped that it was all about the “network circle of life.”
The net execs said it felt like the right time to move to Survivor from Thursdays to Wednesdays given the show’s continued strength, and they reassured reporters that the promos for Sh#* My Dad Says won’t really employ the expletive; the voiceover will say “bleep” (yes, reporters were actually concerned about that). Moonves also said he was glad he didn’t have to sell advertisers on the notion of a “One and a Half Men” comedy since Charlie Sheen closed a new deal to stay with the hit show.
* — denotes new show
MONDAY
8 p.m . How I Met Your Mother
8:30 Rules of Engagement
9:00 Two and a Half Men
9:30 Mike and Molly *
10:00 Hawaii Five-0 *
TUESDAY
8 p.m. NCIS
9:00 NCIS LA
10:00 The Good Wife
WEDNESDAY
8 p.m. Survivor: Nicaragua
9:00 Criminal Minds
10:00 The Defenders *
THURSDAY
8 p.m. The Big Bang Theory
8:30 $#*! My Dad Says *
9:00 CSI
10:00 The Mentalist
FRIDAY
8 p.m. Medium
9:00 CSI: NY
10:00 Blue Bloods *
SATURDAY
8 p.m. Crimetime Saturday
9:00 Crimetime Saturday
10:00 48 Hours
SUNDAY
7 p.m 60 Minutes.
8:00 The Amazing Race
9:00 Undercover Boss
10:00 CSI: Miami
A Megamind is a terrible thing to waste
Here's the first full trailer for the new animated feature, Megamind. Let's hope the quality of the film matches the talent of the voice cast and this isn't a case of weak story being masked by big name actors.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Fall schedule announcements (ABC)
ABC released its fall 2010 schedule in anticipation of its presentation to advertisers this afternoon in New York. New series for the 2010-11 season are Better Together, Body of Proof, Detroit 1-8-7, Happy Endings, Mr. Sunshine, My Generation, No Ordinary Family, Off the Map, Secret Millionaire, and The Whole Truth. ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson told EW that V will be back midseason in the Dancing with the Stars Results Show slot, behind the network’s other high-concept show No Ordinary Family.
“It was a Sophie’s Choice,” McPherson said about his decision to renew V and cancel FlashForward. “In the end, FlashForward didn’t engage audiences like we hoped. For V, I get more anecdotal calls and emails than any other show on the schedule. A huge part of rebuilding the network is about taking chances. Some shows just don’t work out.”
MONDAY
8:00 p.m. Dancing with the Stars
10:00 p.m. Castle
TUESDAY
8:00 p.m. No Ordinary Family
9:00 p.m. Dancing with the Stars the Results Show
10:00 p.m. Detroit 1-8-7
WEDNESDAY
8:00 p.m. The Middle
8:30 p.m. Better Together
9:00 p.m. Modern Family
9:30 p.m. Cougar Town
10:00 p.m. The Whole Truth
THURSDAY
8:00 p.m. My Generation
9:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy
10:00 p.m. Private Practice
FRIDAY
8:00 p.m. Secret Millionaire
9:00 p.m. Body of Proof
10:00 p.m. 20/20
SATURDAY
8:00 p.m. Saturday Night College Football
SUNDAY
7:00 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos
8:00 p.m. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00 p.m. Desperate Housewives
10:00 p.m. Brothers & Sisters
Descriptions of the dramas:
Body of Proof Stars Dana Delany as a medical examiner, determined to solve the puzzle of who or what killed the victims of an accident that ended her career as a neurosurgeon.
Detroit 1-8-7 stars Michael Imperioli in this drama offering an insider’s glimpse of Detroit Police’s Homicide Unit.
My Generation A documentary-style dramedy about a disparate group of high schoolers from Greenbelt High School in Austin, Tex. preparing for graduation, then revisited 10 years later.
No Ordinary Family Michael Chiklis stars as the patriarch of a family that goes from ordinary to extraordinary.
Off the Map From executive producers Shonda Rhimes and creator Jenna Bans, this drama focuses a tiny town in the South American jungle which has one understaffed, under-stocked medical clinic.
The Whole Truth Rob Morrow stars in this legal drama that tells story from perspective of both the defense and prosecution.
Comedies:
Better Together A marriage comedy that stars JoAnna Garcia.
Happy Endings Elisha Cuthbert stars in this series about how a couple’s break-up will complicate all of their friends’ lives and make everyone question their choices.
Mr. Sunshine Matthew Perry stars as Ben Donovan, the self-involved manager of a second-rate San Diego sports arena who begins to re-evaluate his life on his 40th birthday.
Alternative series
Secret Millionaire A one-hour alternative series that follows some of America’s wealthiest people for one week as they leave behind their lavish lifestyles, sprawling mansions and luxury jets, conceal their true identities, and go to live and volunteer in some of the most impoverished and dangerous communities in America.
“It was a Sophie’s Choice,” McPherson said about his decision to renew V and cancel FlashForward. “In the end, FlashForward didn’t engage audiences like we hoped. For V, I get more anecdotal calls and emails than any other show on the schedule. A huge part of rebuilding the network is about taking chances. Some shows just don’t work out.”
MONDAY
8:00 p.m. Dancing with the Stars
10:00 p.m. Castle
TUESDAY
8:00 p.m. No Ordinary Family
9:00 p.m. Dancing with the Stars the Results Show
10:00 p.m. Detroit 1-8-7
WEDNESDAY
8:00 p.m. The Middle
8:30 p.m. Better Together
9:00 p.m. Modern Family
9:30 p.m. Cougar Town
10:00 p.m. The Whole Truth
THURSDAY
8:00 p.m. My Generation
9:00 p.m. Grey’s Anatomy
10:00 p.m. Private Practice
FRIDAY
8:00 p.m. Secret Millionaire
9:00 p.m. Body of Proof
10:00 p.m. 20/20
SATURDAY
8:00 p.m. Saturday Night College Football
SUNDAY
7:00 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos
8:00 p.m. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00 p.m. Desperate Housewives
10:00 p.m. Brothers & Sisters
Descriptions of the dramas:
Body of Proof Stars Dana Delany as a medical examiner, determined to solve the puzzle of who or what killed the victims of an accident that ended her career as a neurosurgeon.
Detroit 1-8-7 stars Michael Imperioli in this drama offering an insider’s glimpse of Detroit Police’s Homicide Unit.
My Generation A documentary-style dramedy about a disparate group of high schoolers from Greenbelt High School in Austin, Tex. preparing for graduation, then revisited 10 years later.
No Ordinary Family Michael Chiklis stars as the patriarch of a family that goes from ordinary to extraordinary.
Off the Map From executive producers Shonda Rhimes and creator Jenna Bans, this drama focuses a tiny town in the South American jungle which has one understaffed, under-stocked medical clinic.
The Whole Truth Rob Morrow stars in this legal drama that tells story from perspective of both the defense and prosecution.
Comedies:
Better Together A marriage comedy that stars JoAnna Garcia.
Happy Endings Elisha Cuthbert stars in this series about how a couple’s break-up will complicate all of their friends’ lives and make everyone question their choices.
Mr. Sunshine Matthew Perry stars as Ben Donovan, the self-involved manager of a second-rate San Diego sports arena who begins to re-evaluate his life on his 40th birthday.
Alternative series
Secret Millionaire A one-hour alternative series that follows some of America’s wealthiest people for one week as they leave behind their lavish lifestyles, sprawling mansions and luxury jets, conceal their true identities, and go to live and volunteer in some of the most impoverished and dangerous communities in America.
Park your butt down and watch this!
So I've tried to make a few comments on here about how much the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation has improved this year. As it nears the end of its second season it has really hit its stride. I was dismayed to see that NBC has decided to save this show until midseason next year. However, if the rumors are true and they're doing this in order to move it into the 9:30 slot after The Office, I'm cool with that. Anyways, in order to help improve its ratings I'll use this site to promote it as much as I can. Today, you can give the show a chance by checking out this extra long producer's cut of last week's penultimate episode for season 2.
Heavy mettle
I apologize for not getting this review up last week in a more timely fashion. However, by waiting, I've actually had a chance to see it again, which has allowed me to gain more perspective on the film.
Iron Man 2 picks up fairly soon after the initial film, with Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) relishing the fact that he's become a beloved superhero and sustained world peace. Meanwhile, a Russian named Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) begins to develop his own suit in order to exact revenge on Stark because his their fathers used to work together until Stark's dad had Vanko's deported. The suit Vanko develops has electric whips attached making him into the villainous Whiplash. That would be a perfectly fine setup to a comic book movie, however, in this film that is just one of many stories going on.
In addition to Whiplash seeking revenge against Stark, there are plot points involving the government wanting Stark to hand over the Iron Man suit, a rival weapons manufacturer named Justin Hammer (played oily by Sam Rockwell) trying to develop his own weaponized suit, Nick Fury's further attempts to recruit Iron Man into S.H.I.E.L.D., and Stark worrying over the fact that the Iron Man suit is poisoning his blood and could kill him. Trying to sort out all of these issues was dizzying during my first viewing of it. It becomes a little bit more clear my second time out, however, it doesn't take away from the fact that none of these stories actually get the proper development that they deserve.
What is perhaps even more troubling is that despite all that is going on, most of it feels pretty frivolous. There is no real sense that the story or franchise has advanced much once the film is over. While it is certainly a fun ride throughout, I did wish that there had been a bit more gravity or significance to the events that unfolded.
What ultimately allows this film to overcome its bloated story and maintain its fun is the superb cast, led of course by the phenomenal Downey Jr. It's really a shame that for so long Downey was largely ignored and/or underappreciated by audiences. For the past few years, he has consistently delivered fantastic performances that make you not only believe the characters being portrayed, but also allow you to see how much fun Downey is having playing them. Once again, he completely embodies Tony Stark and all of the flaws that are associated with the character. Thankfully he doesn't have to worry about carrying the show here as he has a lot of great actors to play off of. Gwyneth Paltrow once again proves that she should remain a redhead in all of her roles. It softens her and makes her so much more likeable than she is in any of her other films. Rockwell and Rourke do well in their baddie roles and each have an opportunity to have great scenes with Downey along the way.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention a couple of other newcomers here. First, there is Scarlett Johanson, who works at Stark Industries, but may be involved in more than meets the eye. She may have been included for pure eye candy, especially in the scenes where she has to wear a catsuit, but when you look as good as her, you'll never hear my complain. Don Cheadle is also in this film, replacing Terrence Howard in the role of James 'Rhodey' Rhodes. The film does a nice job of slyly acknowledging the change. However, it ultimately was a lateral move. Cheadle didn't really add anything new to the character, but didn't detract from the film either.
Does the film belong on the same level of superhero sequels like The Dark Knight? Absolutely not. However, it works perfectly well as a big blockbuster summer movie. It has a lot of action (although the final conflict here, just as in the first Iron Man, deserved to be longer) and plenty of laughs as well. It's excellent escapist fare, even if it doesn't quite match up with the first film. Where Iron Man had the advantage of providing something new, this one merely gives us more of the same. At this point, it probably does no good making a recommendation for this film. I'm sure everyone has already made up their mind as to whether or not they will see it. However, for those that have already watched it, I can tell you that I definitely did enjoy it more on the second viewing. This is particularly true if you're a comic book fan as there are many Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the film that are geeky fun. All in all, Iron Man 2 may not be as sharp as the original, but it possesses all of the elements to be a successful franchise for years to come. Grade: B
Iron Man 2 picks up fairly soon after the initial film, with Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) relishing the fact that he's become a beloved superhero and sustained world peace. Meanwhile, a Russian named Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) begins to develop his own suit in order to exact revenge on Stark because his their fathers used to work together until Stark's dad had Vanko's deported. The suit Vanko develops has electric whips attached making him into the villainous Whiplash. That would be a perfectly fine setup to a comic book movie, however, in this film that is just one of many stories going on.
In addition to Whiplash seeking revenge against Stark, there are plot points involving the government wanting Stark to hand over the Iron Man suit, a rival weapons manufacturer named Justin Hammer (played oily by Sam Rockwell) trying to develop his own weaponized suit, Nick Fury's further attempts to recruit Iron Man into S.H.I.E.L.D., and Stark worrying over the fact that the Iron Man suit is poisoning his blood and could kill him. Trying to sort out all of these issues was dizzying during my first viewing of it. It becomes a little bit more clear my second time out, however, it doesn't take away from the fact that none of these stories actually get the proper development that they deserve.
What is perhaps even more troubling is that despite all that is going on, most of it feels pretty frivolous. There is no real sense that the story or franchise has advanced much once the film is over. While it is certainly a fun ride throughout, I did wish that there had been a bit more gravity or significance to the events that unfolded.
What ultimately allows this film to overcome its bloated story and maintain its fun is the superb cast, led of course by the phenomenal Downey Jr. It's really a shame that for so long Downey was largely ignored and/or underappreciated by audiences. For the past few years, he has consistently delivered fantastic performances that make you not only believe the characters being portrayed, but also allow you to see how much fun Downey is having playing them. Once again, he completely embodies Tony Stark and all of the flaws that are associated with the character. Thankfully he doesn't have to worry about carrying the show here as he has a lot of great actors to play off of. Gwyneth Paltrow once again proves that she should remain a redhead in all of her roles. It softens her and makes her so much more likeable than she is in any of her other films. Rockwell and Rourke do well in their baddie roles and each have an opportunity to have great scenes with Downey along the way.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention a couple of other newcomers here. First, there is Scarlett Johanson, who works at Stark Industries, but may be involved in more than meets the eye. She may have been included for pure eye candy, especially in the scenes where she has to wear a catsuit, but when you look as good as her, you'll never hear my complain. Don Cheadle is also in this film, replacing Terrence Howard in the role of James 'Rhodey' Rhodes. The film does a nice job of slyly acknowledging the change. However, it ultimately was a lateral move. Cheadle didn't really add anything new to the character, but didn't detract from the film either.
Does the film belong on the same level of superhero sequels like The Dark Knight? Absolutely not. However, it works perfectly well as a big blockbuster summer movie. It has a lot of action (although the final conflict here, just as in the first Iron Man, deserved to be longer) and plenty of laughs as well. It's excellent escapist fare, even if it doesn't quite match up with the first film. Where Iron Man had the advantage of providing something new, this one merely gives us more of the same. At this point, it probably does no good making a recommendation for this film. I'm sure everyone has already made up their mind as to whether or not they will see it. However, for those that have already watched it, I can tell you that I definitely did enjoy it more on the second viewing. This is particularly true if you're a comic book fan as there are many Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the film that are geeky fun. All in all, Iron Man 2 may not be as sharp as the original, but it possesses all of the elements to be a successful franchise for years to come. Grade: B
Monday, May 17, 2010
Fall schedule announcements (FOX)
As will be the case all week, the schedule and all commentary are courtesy of EW.com
"Fox will add three new dramas and four new comedies to the schedule next season that is “designed to be aggressive, not just to maintain.” Talking with reporters today in anticipation of the network’s presentation to advertisers in New York, Entertainment President Kevin Reilly touted the network’s new “modern-day Dallas” in Lonestar that stars Jon Voight (24) and talked about the coup in scoring Keri Russell (Felicity) for the comedy Running Wilde that also stars Will Arnett. He also announced that Fox will air a special episode of Glee when the network airs the Super Bowl next year.
As usual, the conversation veered toward American Idol and its future without judge Simon Cowell. ”Auditions don’t begin until September, so we do have time,” explains Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Rice. ”There is no bigger question for the summer.”
By far, the network’s most ambitious project for next season is Terra Nova, a high-concept drama from the auspices of Steven Spielberg, ex-Fox Chairman Peter Chernin, agent-turned-producer Aaron Kaplan and scribe Brannon Braga (24). The prehistoric, time-traveling drama is in pre-production and has yet to be cast but Reilly says they’ve already hired the production designer from Avatar to work on the special effects (the show will feature dinosaurs). Because of the size of the production — it is expected to shoot in Hawaii — the show has yet to earn a time slot on the midseason schedule.
Finally, Fox did not say what it plans to do on Saturdays now that it has canceled The Wanda Sykes Show.
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM House
9:00-10:00 PM Lonestar (new)
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Glee
9:00-9:30 PM Raising Hope (new)
9:30-10:00 PM Running Wilde (new)
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Lie to Me
9:00-10:00 PM Hell’s Kitchen
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Bones
9:00-10:00 PM Fringe
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Human Target
9:00-10:00 PM The Good Guys
SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM America’s Most Wanted
SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 PM The OT (NFL post-game)
8:00-8:30 PM The Simpsons
8:30-9:00 PM The Cleveland Show
9:00-9:30 PM Family Guy
9:30-10:00 PM American Dad
Fox midseason schedule
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM House
9:00-10:00 PM Lonestar / Ride-Along (new)
TUESDAY
8:00-9:30 PM American Idol performance show
9:30-10:00 PM Running Wilde (new) / Mixed Signals (new; spring)
WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 PM Raising Hope
8:30-9:00 PM American Idol results show
9:00-10:00 PM Glee
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Bones
9:00-10:00 PM Fringe
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Human Target
9:00-10:00 PM Kitchen Nightmares
SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM America’s Most Wanted
SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 PM The Simpsons (encores)
7:30-8:00 PM American Dad
8:00-8:30 PM The Simpsons
8:30-9:00 PM Bob’s Burgers (new)
9:00-9:30 PM Family Guy
9:30-10:00 PM The Cleveland Show
Here are descriptions of the new shows:
Raising Hope A single-camera family comedy from Greg Garcia (My Name Is Earl) about a family that receives an unexpected new member into their already flawed household. Stars Cloris Leachman and Martha Plimpton.
Running Wilde A romantic comedy starring Will Arnett as an immature playboy trying to win the heart of his childhood sweetheart, played by Keri Russell.
Lonestar From the creators of Party of Five, this Texas-based soap opera about big oil families stars Adrianne Palicki and Jon Voight.
Bob’s Burgers A new animated series about a man, his family and a burger joint.
Terra Nova A time-traveling drama back to prehistoric earth from executive producers Steven Spielberg, Peter Chernin, Brannon Braga and David Fury (it has yet to be scheduled).
Ride-Along A Chicago-based cop drama starring Jason Clarke. It’s from Shawn Ryan (The Shield)."
"Fox will add three new dramas and four new comedies to the schedule next season that is “designed to be aggressive, not just to maintain.” Talking with reporters today in anticipation of the network’s presentation to advertisers in New York, Entertainment President Kevin Reilly touted the network’s new “modern-day Dallas” in Lonestar that stars Jon Voight (24) and talked about the coup in scoring Keri Russell (Felicity) for the comedy Running Wilde that also stars Will Arnett. He also announced that Fox will air a special episode of Glee when the network airs the Super Bowl next year.
As usual, the conversation veered toward American Idol and its future without judge Simon Cowell. ”Auditions don’t begin until September, so we do have time,” explains Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Rice. ”There is no bigger question for the summer.”
By far, the network’s most ambitious project for next season is Terra Nova, a high-concept drama from the auspices of Steven Spielberg, ex-Fox Chairman Peter Chernin, agent-turned-producer Aaron Kaplan and scribe Brannon Braga (24). The prehistoric, time-traveling drama is in pre-production and has yet to be cast but Reilly says they’ve already hired the production designer from Avatar to work on the special effects (the show will feature dinosaurs). Because of the size of the production — it is expected to shoot in Hawaii — the show has yet to earn a time slot on the midseason schedule.
Finally, Fox did not say what it plans to do on Saturdays now that it has canceled The Wanda Sykes Show.
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM House
9:00-10:00 PM Lonestar (new)
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Glee
9:00-9:30 PM Raising Hope (new)
9:30-10:00 PM Running Wilde (new)
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Lie to Me
9:00-10:00 PM Hell’s Kitchen
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Bones
9:00-10:00 PM Fringe
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Human Target
9:00-10:00 PM The Good Guys
SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM America’s Most Wanted
SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 PM The OT (NFL post-game)
8:00-8:30 PM The Simpsons
8:30-9:00 PM The Cleveland Show
9:00-9:30 PM Family Guy
9:30-10:00 PM American Dad
Fox midseason schedule
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM House
9:00-10:00 PM Lonestar / Ride-Along (new)
TUESDAY
8:00-9:30 PM American Idol performance show
9:30-10:00 PM Running Wilde (new) / Mixed Signals (new; spring)
WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 PM Raising Hope
8:30-9:00 PM American Idol results show
9:00-10:00 PM Glee
THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Bones
9:00-10:00 PM Fringe
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Human Target
9:00-10:00 PM Kitchen Nightmares
SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM COPS
8:30-9:00 PM COPS
9:00-10:00 PM America’s Most Wanted
SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 PM The Simpsons (encores)
7:30-8:00 PM American Dad
8:00-8:30 PM The Simpsons
8:30-9:00 PM Bob’s Burgers (new)
9:00-9:30 PM Family Guy
9:30-10:00 PM The Cleveland Show
Here are descriptions of the new shows:
Raising Hope A single-camera family comedy from Greg Garcia (My Name Is Earl) about a family that receives an unexpected new member into their already flawed household. Stars Cloris Leachman and Martha Plimpton.
Running Wilde A romantic comedy starring Will Arnett as an immature playboy trying to win the heart of his childhood sweetheart, played by Keri Russell.
Lonestar From the creators of Party of Five, this Texas-based soap opera about big oil families stars Adrianne Palicki and Jon Voight.
Bob’s Burgers A new animated series about a man, his family and a burger joint.
Terra Nova A time-traveling drama back to prehistoric earth from executive producers Steven Spielberg, Peter Chernin, Brannon Braga and David Fury (it has yet to be scheduled).
Ride-Along A Chicago-based cop drama starring Jason Clarke. It’s from Shawn Ryan (The Shield)."
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Will 8 be great?
For those of you who haven't made it out to see Iron Man 2 yet (by the way, I have and I promise to get my review up asap) here's the trailer for J.J. Abrams' new project, Super 8. Even though, it looks similar to Cloverfield, it supposedly has nothing to do with it. Regardless, it looks like it'll probably be another thrill ride for all movies fans to enjoy.
Fall schedule announcements (NBC)
So this is the week when the networks unveil their fall schedules and we start things early with NBC's lineup. Here's the schedule, plus additional comments from EW.com:
Insiders are confirming that the following NBC schedule — which the trades got a hold of this AM — is legit. The highlights? 30 Rock moving to 8:30, Parks and Recreation being held to midseason, and the romantic anthology Love Bites landing the Thursday at 10 pm perch.
MONDAY
8-9 p.m: Chuck
9-10 p.m: The Event (new)
10-11 p.m.: Chase (new)
TUESDAY
8-10 p.m.: The Biggest Loser
10-11 p.m.: Parenthood
WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m.: Undercovers (new)
9-10 p.m.: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
10-11 p.m.: Law & Order: Los Angeles (new)
THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m.: Community
8:30-9 p.m.: 30 Rock
9-9:30 p.m.: The Office
9:30-10 p.m.: Outsourced (new)
10-11 p.m.: Love Bites (new)
FRIDAY
8-9 p.m.: Who Do You Think You Are?/School Pride (new)
9-10 p.m.: Dateline NBC
10-11 p.m.: Outlaw (new)
SUNDAY
7- 8:15 p.m.: Football Night in America
8:15-11:30 p.m.: NBC Sunday Night Football
SUNDAY (midseason)
7-8 p.m.: Dateline NBC
8-9 p.m. – Minute to Win It
9-11 p.m. – The Celebrity Apprentice
Held to midseason: Parks and Recreation, plus new comedies Friends With Benefits, The Paul Reiser Show, Perfect Couples, as well as new dramas The Cape and Harry’s Law.
Insiders are confirming that the following NBC schedule — which the trades got a hold of this AM — is legit. The highlights? 30 Rock moving to 8:30, Parks and Recreation being held to midseason, and the romantic anthology Love Bites landing the Thursday at 10 pm perch.
MONDAY
8-9 p.m: Chuck
9-10 p.m: The Event (new)
10-11 p.m.: Chase (new)
TUESDAY
8-10 p.m.: The Biggest Loser
10-11 p.m.: Parenthood
WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m.: Undercovers (new)
9-10 p.m.: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
10-11 p.m.: Law & Order: Los Angeles (new)
THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m.: Community
8:30-9 p.m.: 30 Rock
9-9:30 p.m.: The Office
9:30-10 p.m.: Outsourced (new)
10-11 p.m.: Love Bites (new)
FRIDAY
8-9 p.m.: Who Do You Think You Are?/School Pride (new)
9-10 p.m.: Dateline NBC
10-11 p.m.: Outlaw (new)
SUNDAY
7- 8:15 p.m.: Football Night in America
8:15-11:30 p.m.: NBC Sunday Night Football
SUNDAY (midseason)
7-8 p.m.: Dateline NBC
8-9 p.m. – Minute to Win It
9-11 p.m. – The Celebrity Apprentice
Held to midseason: Parks and Recreation, plus new comedies Friends With Benefits, The Paul Reiser Show, Perfect Couples, as well as new dramas The Cape and Harry’s Law.
Wahoo Wrap-Up (Week 6)
Record: 15-20, Third in the American League Central
Sorry I never got around to doing a weekly recap last week. Then again, the way the Tribe was playing then didn't exactly inspire me to write much (at least nothing positive). Thankfully, the news is much better this week as the Indians managed to take two out of three in each of their last two series and have won 5 out of their last 7 games. It certainly helped that we played the Royals and Orioles, two of the AL's worst teams. Still, the way we won those games was positive and hopefully it will help motivate the team to keep up their winning ways. One of the nice things that has developed is the offense from guys like Austin Kearns and Russell Branyan; a couple of guys who weren't expected to do much but have provided some pop in the offense as well as some senior leadership for the young guys. It's a shame guys like Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner aren't doing it, but as long as someone is, I'm happy.
This week things will get a little bit tougher. We wrap up the current road trip with a two game stint against the best team in the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays. Then it is back home for series against the Royals and the Reds. We just beat up on the Royals so hopefully we can do it again at home. As for the Reds, we usually play our cross-state rival competitively, but their pitching has been very good this year, so our bats will really have to pick it up if we want to win against them. Right now, I'm just trying to stay positive about the team, which is the most we can hope for from anyone. And as always, Go Tribe!
Sorry I never got around to doing a weekly recap last week. Then again, the way the Tribe was playing then didn't exactly inspire me to write much (at least nothing positive). Thankfully, the news is much better this week as the Indians managed to take two out of three in each of their last two series and have won 5 out of their last 7 games. It certainly helped that we played the Royals and Orioles, two of the AL's worst teams. Still, the way we won those games was positive and hopefully it will help motivate the team to keep up their winning ways. One of the nice things that has developed is the offense from guys like Austin Kearns and Russell Branyan; a couple of guys who weren't expected to do much but have provided some pop in the offense as well as some senior leadership for the young guys. It's a shame guys like Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner aren't doing it, but as long as someone is, I'm happy.
This week things will get a little bit tougher. We wrap up the current road trip with a two game stint against the best team in the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays. Then it is back home for series against the Royals and the Reds. We just beat up on the Royals so hopefully we can do it again at home. As for the Reds, we usually play our cross-state rival competitively, but their pitching has been very good this year, so our bats will really have to pick it up if we want to win against them. Right now, I'm just trying to stay positive about the team, which is the most we can hope for from anyone. And as always, Go Tribe!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
TV's Grim Reaper begins to rear his ugly head
As season finales begin to air, it's once again time for fans to wait with bated breath to see what fate lies for their favorite shows. Well even though fall schedules won't be announced for another week or so, decisions on some shows have already been made.
The big announcement yesterday was that Heroes has been cancelled. This is bittersweet news for me. Like so many people, I fell in love with this show in its first year and then continued to be baffled with each successive year as it failed to reclaim that magic and turned into a overstuffed and convoluted mess. It was getting embarassing watch it try so hard and fail miserably. It's probably best that NBC just decided to be done with it. There are some rumors that they may give the show a 2-hour movie to wrap things up, but if I were NBC I would just opt to spend the money elsewhere.
Another show that felt the ax this week was Better Off Ted. This one actually hurts a little bit more since this show was still producing great TV. It just had the unfortunate situation of being on ABC - the network where good sitcoms go to die. If this had been on a different network, I feel it would have had a better opportunity to nurture and develop a fan base. Let's just hope the talented people from the cast are able to find other work quickly.
Lastly, some good news - Chuck has been renewed!! The little show that could has somehow survived and will get a fourth season. Right now, NBC has only ordered 13 episodes, but they did that last year and then ended up ordering more after being pleased with the quality of the episodes, so let's hope that happens once again this year. This show is so much fun and has a great cast. I'm glad to see they're having the opportunity to expand the show and allow the characters to grow instead of running around in circles, never answering questions. Since they creators now they could always be cancelled at the drop of the hat, they just go for broke to make sure they don't leave the audience hanging. I can't wait to see what's in store for Chuck and the Buy More gang next season.
For updates on the statuses of all of your favorite TV show, I would recommend going here. They'll give you the lowdown of who gets cut and who is granted salvation.
The big announcement yesterday was that Heroes has been cancelled. This is bittersweet news for me. Like so many people, I fell in love with this show in its first year and then continued to be baffled with each successive year as it failed to reclaim that magic and turned into a overstuffed and convoluted mess. It was getting embarassing watch it try so hard and fail miserably. It's probably best that NBC just decided to be done with it. There are some rumors that they may give the show a 2-hour movie to wrap things up, but if I were NBC I would just opt to spend the money elsewhere.
Another show that felt the ax this week was Better Off Ted. This one actually hurts a little bit more since this show was still producing great TV. It just had the unfortunate situation of being on ABC - the network where good sitcoms go to die. If this had been on a different network, I feel it would have had a better opportunity to nurture and develop a fan base. Let's just hope the talented people from the cast are able to find other work quickly.
Lastly, some good news - Chuck has been renewed!! The little show that could has somehow survived and will get a fourth season. Right now, NBC has only ordered 13 episodes, but they did that last year and then ended up ordering more after being pleased with the quality of the episodes, so let's hope that happens once again this year. This show is so much fun and has a great cast. I'm glad to see they're having the opportunity to expand the show and allow the characters to grow instead of running around in circles, never answering questions. Since they creators now they could always be cancelled at the drop of the hat, they just go for broke to make sure they don't leave the audience hanging. I can't wait to see what's in store for Chuck and the Buy More gang next season.
For updates on the statuses of all of your favorite TV show, I would recommend going here. They'll give you the lowdown of who gets cut and who is granted salvation.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wheee!
So news came out today that there are plans to make a movie based on the computer game Roller Coaster Tycoon. Now if this was being produced by WWE Films, I might claim copyright infringement since back in the day I actually created a WWE-themed amusement park on that game (complete with rides like the Rings of Saturn, The Worm, and the Rattlesnake). But since it isn't, I hope they turn the film into a thriller and have the tycoon character open up his park with his rides only half build like in the video below (Note: You will probably enjoy the video better on mute). Now that's a movie!
It's all part of the plan
We finally have a trailer for The Adjustment Bureau, a film I'm excited about that was originally set to open in July, but sadly has now been pushed back to September.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
NMR: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
This will probably only be remembered as the last film that Heath Ledger did. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially if it gets a few more people to check it out. Directed by Terry Gilliam, this is another trippy piece of eye candy that is equal parts engaging and frustrating. Gilliam's directing style is an accquired taste and when it works like in a film like The Fisher King, it's rewarding and when it doesn't it can turn into a noisy mess, like with The Brothers Grimm. Here he deals with some interesting themes involving religion, mortality, and temptation. When it sticks to its narrative, I really enjoyed the film. I particularly appreciated Tom Waits' work as the Devil. However, Gilliam can't help but attack the viewer with as many visuals as possible causing the film to frequently veer off course. One aspect that was seemless to the film was the use of substitute actors to fill in for the scenes Ledger had not completed before he passed away. Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, and Jude Law all fill in at various time in the movie, but it's never awkward. It's tough to explain here, but trust me it works. In general, this is a mixed bag but definitely worth a look if you want to see Ledger's final (and once again great) performance or if you tend to enjoy Gilliam's work. Grade: B-
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