St. Patrick's Day deleted scenes

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NBC Thursday sitcom comings and goings

Some big casting news from some of my favorite Thursday sitcoms:

First, there are some big changes coming to Parks and Recreation. In terms of additions, news broke last week that both Adam Scott and Rob Lowe would be coming onto the show for brief stints starting later this season. Both of these guys can be very funny and I believe will fit seemlessly into the show. Parks and Rec. is also losing a cast member. Over the weekend, it was announced that Paul Schneider, who plays Mark Brandanowitz, would be leaving the show at the end of the season to pursue a film career. You can read executive producer, Mike Schur's thoughts on this move here. Personally Schneider's character is the weak link on that show, so to see him leave is no great loss. It just allows for more time and focus on the characters that I actually enjoy.

Over on The Office, they have some casting news of their own. EW is reporting that Amy Pietz (Caroline in the City, Aliens in America) has been hired on for a multi-episode stint for later this season. The report offers no details on what her role will be, but many are speculating that she might be a new love interest for Michael. If any new details come to light on this, I'll be sure to share them with you here.

NMR: Capitalism: A Love Story

Right-wingers beware! It's Michael Moore again. Yes, this is his latest documentary dealing this time with our current financial crises. Once again he's on a crusade to correct the wrongs in our country, yet I felt this time he pulled his punches. The film features a lot of his trademarks (the incorporation of old media footage, ambushing executives at their place of business, hard luck stories, etc.), yet most of them did not strike the nerve as effectively as they have in his previous films. Perhaps he feels beaten down by all of this or perhaps this is just too complex of a problem to address in a two hour film. Regardless, the end result just isn't as impactful as I felt it should have been given the gravity of this situation. I believe what I found most frustrating is the lack or answers or explanations to all of the problems he points out. For instance, he discusses the terrible 'Dead Peasants' policy that allows certain corporations to profit from the deaths of their employees. Moore clearly illustrates how such a practice should never have been put into play, yet we get no sense as to why it was allowed to happen, other than greed. That wasn't a good enough answer for me, yet I realize that there may be no better reason out there. At the end, he makes a plea for all of us to 'do something', yet he paints a world in his film that makes you wonder if we ever can. Despite his optimism that change is coming with the Obama era, real world events suggests that things may continue to stay the same for a long time. Overall, the film was good enough to keep me engaged, but certainly not as strong as some of his past work and is only recommended to those that really enjoy his work and/or this subject. Grade: B-

The Delivery deleted scenes

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NMR: 2012

2012 might as well have been called 'disaster smorgsbord'. It basically takes elements from all the classic disaster films (Earthquake, Posideon Adventure, Towering Inferno, The Day After Tomorrow) and throws them all in here, yet fails to capture any of the charm that those films had. Now at times, the visual effects are cool, but there is nothing there to support them. The film centers around John Cusack and his family as they try to avoid death and get on one of the arks the government has been created to save as many people as possible. The problem is that I found none of the characters overly engaging or likeable, so I had no rooting interest in whether or not they lived. A lot of the film's problems would not have seemed that bad had it not been for the fact that the movie is over two and half hours long!!! I hope the real end of days (if it actually happens) goes a lot quicker. There are certainly other films which can provide you with better eye candy, so I don't see any reason why you should bother with this one. Grade: D+

Iron sharpens iron

In case you didn't stay up late to watch Jimmy Kimmel's post-Oscar special (and I don't blame you if you didn't) then you missed the debut of the new Iron Man 2 trailer. If that's the case, then here it is for you to enjoy.

NMR: The Invention of Lying

Despite not being enamored with Ghost Town, Ricky Gervais' first attempt at an American film, I decided to give him another chance with his latest comedy that came out last fall. In general, this is a stronger effort. The premise here is that everyone tells the truth until Gervais' character becomes the first person to lie. This produces a very funny first half of the film whether we see everyone being brutally honest with each other. As the film progresses however, it falls into all too familiar romantic comedy territory as Gervais uses his new found knowledge to help him win over Jennifer Garner. The film also delves into some deep religious issues that produces some funny moments, but also annoyed me since I am religious and it's clear the film tries to make a mockery of it. I think there's enough funny material to make it worth a rental, but it's by no means a great film. Grade: B-

Lost and found

Here's a couple of interesting Lost-related items that I recently stumbled upon while surfing the interwebs...

First, a really cool image from a site called Simpsons Punx, where someone has Simpson-ized the Lost cast:



Then there's this video from the "Where do they find these things" file. It's a prison training video staring a very young Michael Emerson (aka Ben Linus). It's clear that he hasn't quite honed his skills of persuasion yet, but it's fascinating to watch all the same.


Finally, I just wanted to add my two cents on the most recent episode. Man, what an intense finish there. It seems like the war that's been teased for a while is finally starting to come to a head. Right now I would not want to mess with Flocke (aka the Locke Ness Monster). The other thing that I think we're beginning to see is that this Flash Sideways world may be part of the stakes of this war. Depending on which side wins, the Sideways world may or may not become the reality for our castaways. I'm really digging seeing all of these former faces pop up, even when they are scumbags like Keamy. I cannot believe we only have 12 more episodes left. It's going by way too quick, but I'm certainly enjoying every minute of it.

Skits incredible

So I was all set to post a couple of videos from this past week's SNL, because for the first time in a while I thought the show was really funny. Then, I come across a video today from Funnyordie.com, which blows it out of the water. Check out this impressive collection of talent, as former SNL members reunite in this political skit:

Funny or Die's Presidential Reunion from Will Ferrell

I've also included the SNL skits here, since they still made me laugh, even if they don't have the comedic talent that the above film has.

NMR: Who's hungry?

Here are a pair of food and drink documentaries that I recently caught through Netflix's Instant Viewing:

Food Inc.: This is yet another documentary that attempts to expose the harsh realities of how our food is prepared. What makes this one a step above most is that it doesn't resort to gross-out visuals of animal cruelty to get its point across. Instead, it delivers a well-reasoned argument that everyone should pay attention to. Sadly, they also point out how helpless the public is in trying to get any of these practices changed or stopped. This documentary is actually up for an Oscar this year and I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up winning. At times, the subject matter can be a little difficult to swallow (no pun intended), but it's a well made film worth checking out. Rating: ****

Beer Wars: Here, the focus is on the smaller craft beers and their struggle to compete against the big giants (Bud, Miller, and Coors). As someone who enjoys tipping one back from time to time, the subject matter certainly engaged me. I was also surprised to see how many of the beers referenced in the film I knew and/or have drank. Despite the engaging topic, the film has two major negatives against it. First, it's apparent the woman who made the film is more knowledgable about beer than she is about making films. The film just came off looking amateurish at times. The other problem is that it heavily focused on the founder of Dogfish Head beer and I've never enjoyed any of their brews. It made me tough to sympathize or root for him as he told his story. Still, if you're at all interested in beer, this is a short little film that will likely hold your attention, even if it doesn't necessarily tell you anything that you didn't already know. Rating: ***

More great moments in television news

Apparently Aussie newscasters can be just as clueless as the ones in the U.S.

NMR: Whiteout

What could have been a cool mystery thriller turned out to be one moronic movie. Based on a graphic novel, the film stars Kate Beckinsale as a marshal in Antarctica who has to deal with the first murder ever on the continent. You would think that the artic setting would provide a cool backdrop for the film, but here it's merely used to create cinematic shortcuts. In the film's climatic battle between Beckinsale and the killer, it's impossible to see who's doing what because there's snow blowing everywhere and the two individuals are completely bundled up in winter clothes. While you can't see the action, you certainly can see the plot twists coming a mile away. I was calling them out loud way before they occured as I watched this film. I've never read the source material for this movie, but I have to believe it's way better than what was served up here. Then again, maybe I'm so sick of snow in real life I had a bias against this film from the start (Somehow I don't think that is the case though). Grade: C-

Italians in space

News hit this week that Nintendo is moving forward with a sequel to their hugely popular Super Mario Galaxy game, titled appropriately enough, Super Mario Galaxy 2. Below you can check out the first trailer for the game. It looks like a whole lot more of the same (only with Yoshi this time), but that's not necessarily a bad thing in this case, considering how good the first game was. I can't help but be a little dismayed that they've chosen to do this instead of a new Mario Party game, but I guess I'll just have to remain patient for that title.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 Nintendo Wii Trailer - Nintendo Summit 2010: Trailer

NMR: Four Christmases

I won't waste too much time on a review for this one because it was pretty dreadful. The idea of a couple having to endure four seperate Christmases with various relatives could have worked, but the film had such a negative tone that it was a complete put-off. I didn't buy into Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon as a couple who detested spending time with relatives. I also thought it was a stretch for us to believe that there were all of these secrets about the two protagonists that they didn't know about each other until they encountered their relatives. The mean streak of the film, the lack of decent jokes and the absence of anything truly Christmas-y about it (they could have just called it Four Thanksgivings) made this one a dud all around. A definite recommend to skip here. Rating: **

Adios crapola

I'm a little late on sharing this with all of you, but I still wanted to tell everyone my great news: Last Saturday, I finally got a new car!! After dealing with that piece of shit Toyota Corolla for the past nine years (the thing never ran well despite me only putting 69,000 miles on it), I finally had enough and decided to get something new. I was fortunate to find a great deal on a 2010 Honda Accord. It may not be ultra high-end car, but to me I'm not driving in the life of luxury. An image of my new wheels is below.

Delusions of grandeur

Every year it always seems like there is two films which seem exactly alike (Volcano/Dante's Peak, Deep Impact/Armageddon, etc.). Well this year it appear the theme is people playing superheroes without any powers. Below are the trailers Kick-Ass and Defendor, respectively. Both play with elements that interest me, but if I had to choose, I think Defendor's trailer has me more interested in seeing it than Kick-Ass. What's your take?

NMR: Drawing power

Here's a pair of recent animated films I've been able to catch:

Family Guy presents: Something, Something, Something Dark Side: After Family Guy's success at lampooning Star Wars with Blue Harvest, they decided to go another round, this time taking on The Empire Strikes Back. Your appreciation of this will depend solely on whether or not you enjoy the series in general. For fans of Family Guy, there's once again plenty here to laugh at. The fact that this was put on DVD instead of TV also gave them the freedom to be even more crass, but they don't go overboard. It was fun seeing who they chose to play the film's characters (Some were inspired like the Giant Chicken playing Boba Fett, but some fell flat like the rarely seen Carl playing Yoda). Most of the jokes work and some are downright brilliant (like Brian/Chewbacca's commentary on Mort/Lando wearing Han's clothes at the end of the film). A definite must for FG fans and a complete pass for everyone else. Rating: *****

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: Based on a 30 page children's book, this computer animated film ends up biting off more than it can chew. While the basic premise is a lot of fun, the film ends up focusing too much on spectacle and not enough on character development. Perhaps I'm being a bit too harsh on a film that's aimed at kids, but I would have preferred had they spent more time allowing us to get to know the characters and less on an elaborate rescue mission once the machine that's causing food to rain from the sky goes haywire. What works in this film is the voice acting which includes a nice mix of comedic talent (Bill Hader and Anna Faris play the leads) along with some veteran actors (like James Caan) to give the film some credibility. I found myself laughing quite a bit (for some reason I really enjoyed the Baby Brent character, voiced by Andy Samberg). In the end, however, this is another film which shows why Pixar's films are head and shoulders above everyone else in this genre. Kids will no doubt love this film. For everyone else, you can probably give it a pass. Grade: C+

Manager and Salesman deleted scenes

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Who will survive? Apparently not the Survivor Series

Here's a quote from Vince McMahon yesterday regarding the Survivor Series, one of the original big four PPVs created back in 1987.

We think that Survivor Series is obsolete, as far as that title is concerned. It was something that worked many, many years ago, in terms of a creative standpoint, various teams competing. That really is not advantageous as the consumer now looks as what actually they are buying. And it's such a broad ... Survivor Series yes, many years ago, was one of the original four pay-per-views, but it's outlasted its usage and it is one of the things in terms of rebranding, this year and going forward, that will be rebranded. No longer will we have that title, Survivor Series.

This comes after PPV buyrates for the fourth quarter were revealed showing that the Survivor Series had less buys this year in comparison to the previous year, while all the other off month shows that had changed to those gimmick PPVs (Bragging Rights, Hell in a Cell, etc.) had gone up.

This is depressing for several reasons. First, I hate to see the end of one of the big four, especially that show since I loved the original concept for the show. While it hasn't been booked very well in recent years, I still believe the concept could work. Second, that buyrate data is not only disappointing, but I believe misleading. A show featuring multiple Hell in a Cell matches sounds appealing, but was terrible in its execution. Plus there was two PPVs in October, people could have been tapped out financially, resulting in many people not buying the Survivor Series in November. This is just a bad business move all around and indicates the WWE is heading in the absolute wrong direction with how to present PPV shows.

Play together, break alone

Here's the latest trailer for Pixar's highly anticipated sequel, Toy Story 3.

NMR: The Hurt Locker

I typically don't go for the war films, but considering this is the movie that everyone seems to think has the best chance of beating Avatar at this year's Oscars, I figured I would see what all the hubbub was about.

The film centers primarily around a group of U.S. soldiers in Iraq who are responsible for finding bombs and disarming them. Naturally, this provides the film with several tense moments. And a lot of credit goes to Kathryn Bigelow for creating a wonderful sense of anxiety in these moments. She gives each scene a sense of realism without overdoing it on the melodrama. I would have absolutely no problem with her winning for Best Director (which would be unique because a) a woman has never won that award before and b) her ex-husband is James Cameron).

Another refreshing aspect of this film is that it takes a very apolitical stance. This isn't some conservative propaganda film nor is it filled with a bunch of liberal sermonizing. It's an honest look at the tremendous dangers that our soldiers still face while fighting overseas. For that reason, I enjoyed this film a lot better than some of the other recent movies that have dealt with this subject.

However, I cannot completely endorse this film for the simple fact that the environment that this film takes place in is so foreign and unengaging to me. I cannot understand why anyone would put themselves at risk like that, nor can I fathom why anyone would prefer living like that than at home with a family, which we see in the lead character, William James (played by Jeremy Renner). I felt uncomfortable and sad throughout most of the film.

I applaud the craftsmanship of the film, but I can safely say that I'll never watch it again. If you're enjoy checking out each year's Best Picture contenders, then I would certainly suggest you seek this one out. However, if you typically don't care for films about the Iraq War, then I doubt you'll want to see this one either. Grade: B

Tech wars

I don't know if this will be for everyone, but I found it interesting and wanted to share it. It's a student made video that attempts to parody The Office while commenting on how instructors use (or don't use) technology in their classroom. I think the video only moderately succeeds at being a parody and social commentary, but it does provoke some good debate on the topic; a topic that I'm thoroughly interested in. Feel free to share your own thoughts on it as well.

NMR: When good comics go bad

Here's a pair of films featuring a couple of funny guys trying to do some serious business.

Big Fan: This film stars Patton Oswalt (The King of Queens) as a huge New York Giants fan, who has a chance encounter with his favorite player and ends up getting assaulted by him. Being the huge Giants fan that he is, he refuses to press charges in fear of hurting the team. This is billed as a dark comedy, but I failed to really see the humor in any of it. This is a bleak, albeit fairly realistic examination into the level of fanaticism displayed by certain people. I thought the acting was solid here, but the story was fairly empty. I would have preferred an exploration of this issue beyond the protagonists' perspective, but we never get it. It tries so hard to give a tragically ironic finish, yet it lands more with a dull thud than with any reverberance. Grade: C

Taking Woodstock: Here we have Demitri Martin (who you should definitely see in his weekly show on Comedy Central) playing a dramatic role in Ang Lee's drama about the organization of Woodstock. I didn't think it was possible, but somehow a film about Woodstock was made without featuring one performance. Instead, we get a lot of broad, unfunny characters running in and out of the film without any true insight as to why they're being included here. The only one that receives any depth is Martin's character, but I found him to be completely unengaging. Eugene Levy brightens things up but he disappears far too quickly from the film. This felt like I was on one bad trip and I was just waiting for the buzz to wear off. Definite recommendation to avoid. Grade: D+

My two ads

Without a horse in the race for this year's Super Bowl (as is usually the case, thank you very much Cleveland Browns), I didn't really care too much about the game. That left me with the Super Bowl ads, which this year I thought were fairly disappointing. Not a lot jumped out at me as being particularly memorable. However there were a couple of bright spots...

Chevy Chase seems to be everywhere these days, but it was nice to see him reprising one of his classic roles, Clark Griswold in this ad for homeaway.com

There's actually an extended version of the commercial, a mini-movie of sorts, which you can also check out here.

However, my favorite spot came early in the night with this Snickers ad featuring Betty White. Even at her advanced age, she can still go and be just as hilarious as any of today's funny ladies.

By the way, if you're interested, there's currently a petition floating around Facebook trying to get Betty White to be a host on SNL. I think this is a fantastic idea, so add your name to the list and let's hope it comes to fruition!

NMR: Surrogates

Hopefully the movies reviews are going to keep coming in at a regular pace. If you're unfamiliar with this movie, it was a sci-fi flick starring Bruce Willis that came out last fall. Based on the trailers it appeared to be a mix of The Matrix and I, Robot. While that was true from a plot perspective, this movie fails to reach any of the intellectual highs that those films had.

The story centers around most people using robots to do their daily functions while everyone controls them from the comforts of their own home. When a cop (played by Bruce Willis wearing a variety of laughable wigs) discovers that someone can be killed as a result of their surrogate robot being destroyed, he investigates who's behind it before the entire population is put in danger.

The film initiates a lot of interesting questions, both technological and philosophical, but never really explores them. At under 90 minutes, the film barely has enough time to get any action in, let alone delve into the significance of the world it has created. The film does provide some comic relief, however it appears to be more of the unintentional kind. Most of it comes from Ving Rhames playing a radical leader who's trying to end the usage of surrogates. Despite wearing dreadlocked hair and a bushy beard, it's still clear it is Rhames, which makes it difficult to take anything the character says seriously.

Surrogates is a fun diversion, but nothing more. It wouldn't have been worth a recommendation in theaters, but is harmless enough to be enjoyed on the small screen. If you enjoy Willis or the sci-fi genre, this is probably worht a rental. Grade: C+

Speaking of Bruce Willis...

Here's a new trailer for his upcoming film Cop Out, co-starring Tracy Morgan. This one is a red band trailer and whole hell of lot funnier than the original one that was released. Check it out for yourself:

NMR: Zombieland

I have so many other movie review yet to do, but I just saw this one and figured I would do a quick write-up for it instead since it's still fresh in my head. As most probably now, the zombie genre is not one that I'm particularly fond of. Yet, for whatever reason, the trailer for this film really captured my attention, so I thought I would give it a try. Turns out my instincts were right as this is a very fun film.

The premise is simple enough, Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg are two of the few remaining humans left on a planet inhabited by zombies. On their way to seeking sanctuary from the flesh craving monsters, they come across a pair of sisters (played by Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin) and team up as they head to an amusement park that they believe is zombie-free.

While the main characters are engaging and funny, the real delight of this film comes from a cameo by a well-known actor. The surprise is too good to reveal here, so I'll keep mum. Just trust me that this person's appearance is worth the price of admission alone.

Oddly enough, my largest complaint about the film is that it had a few too many dead spots, which certainly isn't good when the film is only an hour and half long. I was expecting a more consistent level of thrills and scares. Instead, the film moseys along and takes time to ponder the meaning of life in between blowing off the heads of the living dead. Even with the lulls, the films has enough to easily make me recommend it for a rental. I'm also hopeful that a sequel will be in the works that will up the ante from this one. Grade: B

The island is not done with us yet

So Lost finally made it's big return this past week and, not surprisingly, I'm just as confused as ever, but in a good way. The two hour premiere packed a whole lot in it that will probably take a couple more viewings for me to figure it all out. We certainly got a fair share of answers (What happened to Cindy and the kids, the Man in Black is also Smokey, what was in the guitar case), but also a new slew of questions(What did Juliet mean by 'it worked', how did Sayid survive, what the hell is going on with these 'flash sideways'). It was also cool to see so many past characters return (Leslie Arzt, Boone, the marshal, Frogurt!)

I could spend days discussing everything, but I did want to give a special shout out to Terry O'Quinn, who is doing some of his best acting work recently. Portraying the menacing Man in Black, while also displaying the kind, vulnerable Locke in these flash sideways has been quite impressive.

Lastly, check out this video showing the opening scene from season 1 side by side with the way the season opened this year. There are some key differences between the two that I'm sure everyone will be deciphering from now until the series ends in a couple of months.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...Bzzzz!

Yes, it time once again for perhaps my favorite pay per view of the year, the Royal Rumble. This year seems to have a more wide open field with regard to the potential winner, so I'm definitely intriqued. And if you need any more convincing as to why this match is so awesome, here's this year's new promo video counting down the ways.

Winter warmers

Some quick thoughts on the return of a few of my favorite shows:

Chuck: I've been very pleased with how they are handling Chuck's new abilities. But what pleases me even more is the success it's having in the ratings thus far. The show has done a nice job of staying true to its roots, while still expanding. The additions of Brandon Routh and Kristen Kreuk has been handled well so far and I look forward to seeing how they'll play into the whole scheme of things as the season progresses. Overall this show has one of the most likeable casts around and you should be doing yourself a favor and checking out this show if you haven't already. Grade: A-

24: As the clock ticks again, I find myself a bit frustrated. It seems that they have some decent elements in play here: Jack looking to get out of the world saving game, the suave Middle Eastern leader with mysterious agendas, Renee turning more into Jack with each passing minute, Freddie Prinze Jr. trying to be a badass, etc. Yet after five episodes, not a whole lot has happened yet. I'll forgive the slow start if they are able to kick things into high gear as the day goes on, but right now I'm beginning to get concerned that this season is looking more like the terrible season 6 rather than their successful rebound season last year. Only time will tell...pun intended. Grade: C+

And don't forget, we still have more TV returning in the upcoming month as Lost (Feb. 2), Important Things with Dimitri Martin (Feb. 4) and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (Feb. 11) all kick off their new seasons shortly.

So long Coco

So I know I'm chiming in on this way late, but I obviously wanted to comment on the whole Leno/Conan debacle. Certainly everyone came out a loser in this situation. Conan got a raw deal, however, I can't say that I was overly thrilled with his Tonight Show. Conan felt completely out of place in L.A. So let's hope that he moves back to NY with whatever new show he decides to do. As for Leno, he comes off like the petulant brat who constantly needs to be coddled. Seeing NBC continue to cater to his unfunny ass is wholly depressing. Which brings me to NBC and their bungling of this situation. You'd like to think that hopefully they've learned their lesson after this, but given that they committed similar mistakes when Leno first took over the Tonight. I could continue ranting about this, but I think I'll let this video do a better job of summing up the situation. It appears that Conan has some powerful fans.

Mystery Men

This review for Sherlock Holmes is long overdue since I saw this film over Christmas break. Luckily, I enjoyed the film enough that a lot of it remains fresh in my head.

As you probably recall, I had at the beginning of last year put this high on my must-see list for '09. I've always been a fan of mysteries, and while I've never read any of Arthur Conan Doyle's books, I felt knowledgeable enough about the Holmes series to know this would be right up my alley. The fact that they chose Robert Downey Jr., hot off of Iron Man and Tropic Thunder, to play the super sleuth was just the cherry on top.

Downey, of course, is brilliant once again here. He immediately immerses himself into the character and really looks like he's having fun playing the intelligent, yet stand-offish Holmes. However, this portrayal would not have worked as well unless he had a proper Watson to play off of. Thankfully, Jude Law was up to the task and has great chemistry with Downey. Their love/hate relationship provides some of the film's best moments.

As many people probably picked up on, their relationship is very similar to the one you see between TV's House and Wilson. These two characters know each other so well, which allows each of them to perform better at their job, even if it means they torment each other in the process. The comparison to House shouldn't surprise anyone as the creators of House molded their character the show off of the original Sherlock Holmes character. Certainly, if you're a fan of the medical mystery show, you will appreciate the banter that's exhibited between the two leads in this movie.

While the film packs plenty of comedy, it also has its fair share of action as well. Certainly one of the biggest concerns people had before the film opened was seeing clips of Holmes involved in some bare knuckle boxing fight scenes. While it seemed a bit out of character, I felt within the film's central story it worked really well. What is nice about these fighting scenes is how we see Holmes dissect the fight to know exactly where to attack his opponent in order to win every time. Watching these scenes was akin to watching a technical wrestler in WWE pick apart his opponent. I always love when people display intelligence in a fight rather than just put on a display of senseless brutality.

As for the film's central mystery, it can be certainly be confusing at times as it centers around black magic, resurrections, and secret societies. While some may get annoyed at feeling lost while trying to follow along, I certainly appreciated the vagueries. The one thing I hate is when I can figure out how a movie will play out within the first twenty minutes. And for those who are patient with the story, they are rewarded as Holmes is of course able to figure everything out and then explain it to us so that it all makes sense.

The one fault I had with the film was the underutilization of Rachel McAdams' character. She plays Irene Adler, a thief/former love interest of Holmes, who's the only person who can seemingly match wits with him. In the time she is on the screen she is riveting, but her scenes are too far and few in between. Given the way the film played out, I'm hoping that she might return of future films. And speaking of which, I also tip my hat to this film for laying the groundwork for a sequel. Without giving too much away, the film does a nice job establishing a central story for the next film if they choose to make it. Based on the financial performance of this one, I'd say that is almost a certainty now.

Now as I said at the top, I'm an admitted mystery fan, so maybe this film worked for me more than it will for others, but from my point of view, this was completely satisfying. Even my initial concerns over the fact that the film was directed by Guy Ritchie were unfounded. He delivers a fast-paced, action-filled film that also has plenty of funny moments. If you've already seen Avatar twelve times and are ready for an alternative, still seek this out at the theaters. Otherwise, make sure you check it out once it comes out on DVD. There's no mystery about this one, it's a winner. Grade: A-

Mac is back!

Here's your first look at the trailer for Macgruber.

RIP Ludvig Borga

Former WWE wrestler Tony Halme (aka Ludvig Borga) dead at age 47



While he never really made much of a presence in the WWF, this is undoubtably a huge blow to the country of Finland. I can't believe we're only a few weeks into the new year and we already have yet another wrestler under 50 passing away. When is this trend going to stop?

NMR: Errors in judgment

Here's a pair of movies I caught recently through Netflix that not only feature main characters making questionable decisions in their lives, but also represent two cases where I incorrectly predicted the quality of the films.

Extract: This movie just kind of sits there and doesn't offer much of anything. There are a few laughs, but when you boast a cast with the likes of Jason Bateman, Mila Kunis, JK Simmons, Ben Affleck, and Kristin Wiig, you expect it to be a whole lot more funny. Director Mike Judge (King of the Hill, Office Space) has always been good on depicting varying levels of stupidity in his characters. While most of the characters exhibit stupidity here, I didn't find myself amused by their cluelessness like I have with some of his other stuff. A major disappointment here and not worth a rental unless you work in a factory and can perhaps appreciate better that environment being represented here. Rating: **

Sunshine Cleaning: Here, the opposite effect occured, as I was initially skeptical of how good this movie would be. It seemed to have all the makings for an annoying indie film. Quirky town, down-on-their-luck characters, dyfunctional families, etc. However, this one managed to avoid the cliches and deliver a strong, albeit small film. Amy Adams and Emily Blunt star as a pair of sisters, who decide to go into business for themselves as crime scene cleaners. This new employment opportunity provides them with a new outlook on life and allows their family to grow stronger as a result. Along for the ride is Alan Arkin, terrific as always, as the girls' father. Despite Arkin's presence and the word 'sunshine' in the title this nothing like Little Miss Sunshine, which was so nauseating in its attempt to be edgy and cool. This is a simple, yet engaging story that makes you want to see more of these characters even after the film ends. Don't dismiss it like I did and give this one a watch. Rating: *****

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains cast

Here's the list of the 20 competitors for the upcoming season of Survivor consisting of former castaways along with my analysis on the choices and their odds of winning:

Heroes

Rupert Boneham (Previous seasons: Pearl Islands, All-Stars) Rupert's always been a good guy, but perhaps too nice to win this game. We've seen him come close in his previous two outings. I just don't know if he's gained that killer edge to put him over the top.

James Clement (Previous seasons: China, Micronesia) I'm a little surprised he was brought back for a third time. He's obviously got superior physical strength, but I just don't see him playing the social game well enough to make it far.

Colby Donaldson (Previous seasons: The Australian Outback, All-Stars) One of the few returning castaways from an early season. Colby was a strong player back in the day, but we've seen a lot better contestants both physically and socially come along since then. It's hard to believe, but he may be an underdog considering some of the large personalities on both tribes.

Cirie Fields (Previous seasons: Panama, Micronesia) I don't know why they keep bringing her back. I've never been fond of her or her gameplay. She seems to always do well, but I can't understand why. Let's hope the same doesn't hold true this time around.

Amanda Kimmell (Previous seasons: China, Micronesia) Here's a unique case. This is Amanda's third time and she still has never been voted off once. She also has never won. Something's gotta give this time. If she makes it to the finals, lets hope she's finally figured out how to properly win over the jury. If I had to guess though, my bet is on her finally seeing her torch snuffed out.

Jessica “Sugar” Kiper (Previous season: Gabon) I had concerns that Sugar would be real irritating when I first saw her. Then she ended up getting crapped on by everyone around her, making her extremely sympathetic. It remains to see whether that will hold true again this time around. She may be a bit too naive to win it all.

Stephenie LaGrossa (Previous seasons: Palau, Guatemala) I really liked Stephanie in her first go round and then she became somewhat unpleasant in Guatamala. In neither case did she win. Win or lose, I hope we see the likeable Stephanie reemerge this season.

James “J.T.” Thomas (Previous season: Tocantins) An obvious strong player who was instantly likeable as well. They may make him an instant target, since they may want to eliminate the previous winners early. If he hangs on to the merge, he's got a good chance of making it all the way.

Tom Westman (Previous season: Palau) Tom just bulldozed through the competition in Palau, but I have a feeling he may have a more difficult time here. He's one of the oldest competitors, so I'll be watching to see if he can still hang with the big boys or if he'll just become the grumpy old man.

Candice Woodcock (Previous season: Cook Islands) Here's the first big 'huh' of the game. I had to go back and look at who this was. Even after seeing her picture, she still didn't strike me as anyone I wanted to see again, nor did I feel she's worthy of being a hero. I worry, just like with Amber during the All Star season, someone unworthy of being included in the cast will end up winning this thing because everyone else is so concerned with eliminating the big names.


Villains

Tyson Apostol (Previous season: Tocantins) Tyson was kind of outshone by other larger personalities on his own season, so I wonder if he'll be able to make himself known here or if he'll just fade into the woodwork. I don't think he has the same level of savvy as some of his teammates to survive past the merge.

Randy Bailey (Previous season: Gabon) I had high hopes for him being a standout personality during his season, but he kept to himself more than I would have liked. Despite his gruff demeanor, I actually liked Randy and hope he does well here.

Sandra Diaz-Twine (Previous season: Pearl Islands) I could have done without her being brought back. She was an undeserving winner back in Pearl Islands, so I would hate to see here go far again. I have a feeling that with so many strong men on this team, she'll go quickly.

Danielle DiLorenzo (Previous season: Panama) Basically the same comments I had about Candace apply doubly here. A major 'who???' factor here. I have to believe she only got in because they couldn't get Richard Hatch out of jail in enough time and they figured they'd rather see her naked than him. I pray to go she doesn't win either.

Russell Hantz (Previous season: Samoa) I really want him to do well after getting snubbed last season. This guy is amazing at game play. On the plus side, since this season was filmed right after Samoa, none of the other castaways should know much about him. However, the fact that he was so upset about losing last season makes me think he didn't go far this time around. Let's hope that's not the case.

Jerri Manthey (Previous seasons: Australian Outback, All-Stars) I'm not crazy about Jerri, but she's likely to make for good TV. It sounds like she's decided to embrace her inner bitch this time, which will be more tolerable than her trying to act nice and still coming off like a bitch. My guess is she's too unlikeable to win, but stranger things have happened.

“Boston” Rob Mariano (Previous seasons: Marquesas, All-Stars) Boston Rob irritated me both times he was on Survivor, but then I found him to be quite fun when he did the Amazing Race. Hopefully, he'll be more entertaining than annoying. He's proven to be pretty successful, but I wonder if he still has enough new tricks up his sleeve to maintain his dominance.

Parvati Shallow (Previous seasons: Cook Islands, Micronesia) I still can't believe she managed to pull off the victory in fans vs. favorites. I don't consider her to be a smart player, but we've seen that isn't always necessary to pick up a victory in this game. I have a feeling she'll find it's more difficult for her this time now that's she's already won.

“Coach” Benjamin Wade (Previous season: Tocantins) I'm really looking forward to seeing what the Dragon Slayer will do this time around. Some people who were outspoken in their previous seasons try going the opposite way if they play the game again, but somehow I don't see him doing that. If he becomes too intolerable, he'll get a quick boot. But finding that right alliance may allow him to coast to the finals.

Courtney Yates (Previous season: China) She was so mean and nasty, I can easily see why she was brought back on the villains side. However, I've gotten to see her doing some stuff on Entertainment Weekly with their Survivor reporter, Dalton Ross, and she's pretty hilarious on there. Oddly enough, I might be rooting for her this time around.

And now here's a video previewing the upcoming season that aired during last night's People's Choice Awards:

Spidey 4 gets tangled up

From EW.com

Sony has decided to push back the start of production on Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 4, a Sony source confirms to Variety. (The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.) The film, starring Tobey Maguire and directed by Sam Raimi, was to have begun shooting in February. The studio does not yet know when the film will get rolling, according to the reports. Last month, Raimi and co. hit the pause button on pre-production in order to do further work on the script. It is now unliklely that Spidey 4 will meet its announced May 6, 2011 release date.

Eat, Drink, and Be Suspicious

Some curious new promos photos for the upcoming final season of Lost have just surfaced. Call them images from 'The Lost Supper'. Check them out and analyze their meaning(s) below.

Happy New Year!!

I just wanted to send the best of wishes to everyone in this new year and decade. Thanks to all who have been reading this blog. I know I've had a glut of posts in the past few days, but I was working hard to match the number of posts I had this year to last year. I didn't want to seem like I've been slacking. Here's hoping I won't until the last minute to match this year's total again next year.

Anyways, I hope everyone is safe tonight and continues to prosper in 2010!

2010 movie preview (#6-1)

#6 Robin Hood (May 14)

Plot: The story of an archer in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion who fights against the Norman invaders and becomes the legendary hero known as Robin Hood.

Personal opinion: Robin Hood films have never particularly interested me before, but when you say that Russell Crowe and director Ridley Scott are attached, suddenly you've got my attention. The first trailer has been released and it looks like we can expect the same thrilling action from these two like they gave us in Gladiator.


#5 Dinner For Schmucks (July 23)

Plot: An extraordinarily stupid man possesses the ability to ruin the life of anyone who spends more than a few minutes in his company.

Personal opinion If you thought Due Date had an embarassment of riches when it came to comedic talent, you haven't seen anything yet. The cast here includes Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, and Zach Galifinakis and it's being directed by Jay Roach (Austin Powers, Meet the Parents). This seems like a can't miss. The only thing that concerns me is that the film is a remake of a French comedy and let's face it, the French aren't known for great humor. There's no trailer yet, so only time will tell whether or not Roach and co. will be able to successfully translate this for American audiences.


#4 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 (November 19)

Plot: Voldemort's power is growing stronger. He now has control over the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to finish Dumbledore's work and find the rest of the Horcruxes to defeat the Dark Lord. But little hope remains for them, so everything they do must go as planned.

Personal opinion: You know the story here. By now, either you're ready for this or not. For fans, everyone is eager to see not only this next installment, but where the producers are going to choose to end it. I still have no clue of a good spot, so I'm very interested to see what they choose. Regardless, this is a big deal and should set us up nicely for part 2 coming summer 2011.


#3 Toy Story 3 (June 18)

Plot: Woody, Buzz, and the rest of their toy-box friends are dumped in a day-care center after their owner, Andy, departs for college.

Personal opinion: Despite being some of their ealiest efforts, the first two Toy Story films remain two of Pixar's strongest efforts. I absolutely love these film (so much so that I've actually written a paper on them). Based on the premise and the initial trailer, this once again seems like an absolute can't miss here. The only thing that could potentially ruin this is the 10 year lapse between films. However, knowing Pixar, I'm sure it will seem as if the second one had just been released last year.


#2 Iron Man 2 (May 7)

Plot: With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the government, the press, and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, along with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, must forge new alliances -- and confront powerful enemies.

Personal opinion: High expectations here after everyone fell in love with the first one and Robert Downey Jr.'s performance. Most of the comic book sequels have managed to build on their original film, so let's hope the same holds true for this one. I liked the teaser trailer, but like most initial ones, it didn't give us a true sense of what the story will be. What we do know is that they have brought on Mickey Rourke, which was an inspired move. The big question mark is if people will accept Don Cheadle taking over for Terrance Howards as Rhodes.


#1 Inception (July 16)

Plot: A CEO-type becomes involved in a blackmailing scandal.

Personal opinion: Despite two trailers already being released for this, no one still really knows what this film is about. For me, it doesn't really matter. When I heard 'directed by Christopher Nolan', I was already sold. In my opinion, Nolan has yet to make a dud and I don't anticipate him to make one here. This movie looks all sorts of mind-blowing crazy. It's also boasting a strong cast and looks visually stunning. You better believe I'll be there seeing this on opening night!

A history of violence

My final movie review of 2009 ends up being one of the most unique movie experiences I've had in a while; watching Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds. I believe this was my first time actually seeing a Tarantino film (I know, I know, don't shoot me) so I didn't know quite what to expect when I saw this.

What I saw was a bloody, intense, sometimes humorous film that was anything but factual. Many probably already know this, but if you're unaware, please do not think that this is meant to be in any way historically accurate. While many of the 'main players' from World War II are used here, their fates are completely altered. That doesn't really detract from the film, but I felt it needed to said as a public service so no one confuses this for actual history.

That's not to say that Tarantino is not a history buff; it's just that his love of history falls in a particular area; film. Throughout this movie, you can see his love for the history of film. While it's most obvious in the fact that he centers his plot around people trying to assassinate Hitler while he's attending a Nazi propaganda film, there are other smaller moments that only true film buffs can appreciate. Some of them are direct nods to past films, others references are more in the stylistic choices he makes as a director. All of these references enhance the film without becoming overly meta.

Not only does Tarantino's style pay homage to films of a previous era, it also provides the film with a sustained level of intensity. There are several scenes in this film where you are completely on edge realizing that there are so many combustible elements that something graphic or extreme could happen at any second. Tarantino does a wonderful job of building up these scenes to their boiling point as the audience watches with dread (but a good kind of dread, if that makes sense), unsure of what will happen. This is where not adhering to history works for the film, because you have no real sense of who will end up dead or alive.

One man who singlehandedly creates suspense everytime he was on camera was Christoph Waltz, who plays Nazi officer Hans Landa. Nicknamed 'The Jew Hunter', he's the only Nazi portrayed with any sort of intelligence in the film. Every time he is on screen, you get a knot in your stomach, unsure of what sort of pain and agony he's going to unleash on those around him. He has been generating Oscar buzz for his performance and deservedly so. He will go down in film history as one of those great villains that you love to hate and hate to love.

There are two basic plotlines in the film that end up intersecting as the film progresses. One involves a Jewish girl named Shoshana, who has managed to avoid capture and now lives in France as a theater owner. Her theater has been chosen to host the Nazi propaganda film and she sees it as her opportunity to assassinate Hitler. Meanwhile, there is also the titular Basterds, a group of American, mostly Jewish soldiers, led by Brad Pitt, who are out to collect as many Nazi scalps as possible. Soon, they too see Hitler's appearance at the theater as the prime opportunity to take him out. In telling this story, Tarantino opted for a five chapter structure. Using this method, he basically creates five extended scenes. It may seem a bit basic, but Tarantino utilizes this method to the fullest.

After watching this film, however, I was troubled by one major question; what was the point of this? I usually enjoy deconstructing films in order to identify their themes or messages. With this movie, I was having difficulty doing that. Yes, you could interpret the film in a variety of ways - it's an attempt to destroy the Nazi mystique, or it's an attempt to illuminate that Americans are no different than Germans in our savage violence. But none of these themes seem strong enough or at least they don't seem to be the ideas Tarantino wants us to take away from this film. The most likely option may be the most troubling one of all, in that he has no central thesis with this film. He simply created a cowboy Western film only had it set during World War II. For me, it somewhat cheapens the experience and for others only gives them another example of 'new violence' that is so over the top it loses all of its meaning and significance.

Even if Tarantino had no intended message with this film, I encourage those that do see it to hold a dialogue about it afterwards so that these captivating moments that he provides can be unpacked in a way that's useful to us all. Given that this film now seems to be a lock for a Best Picture nomination at this year's Oscars, I'm hopeful that more people will go out and see it so that it can be explored further. I think this is an expertly made film, but one that will leave you feeling dirty unless you take the steps to (figuratively) wash the blood off your hands. If we don't explore films like this further, than we become the bastards. Grade: B+

PPVs of the decade (Part 2)

July - Vengeance 2003: Not a lot of strong choices here. However, this one had a really excellent tag match between The World's Greatest Tag Team and Mysterio/Kidman, the emergence of John Cena as a main event player as he took on The Undertaker (a match we may finally see again this Wrestlemania), an entertaining bar room brawl that featured Doink, Brother Love, and the Easter Bunny, and a solid triple threat main event that involved Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, and the Big Show.

August - Summerslam 2002: There were some good choices here. I could have picked 2006 for the fun DX/McMahons and Edge/Cena matches. I also liked 2000 for the first TLC match. However, I opted for 2002 since it had the most complete package. You had a hot opener between Angle and Mysterio, the momentous return of Shawn Michaels as he took on HHH in a street fight and ending with the beginning of the Brock Lesnar era as he defeated the Rock in an entertaining main event.

September - Unforgiven 2006: Of the second half of the year, this was the easiest month to pick. This show stood out from all of the other Unforgivens in a big way, thanks to three big matches. You had a really excellent TLC main event between Cena and Edge (despite the fact that Edge lost). A bloody brawl between DX and the McMahons/Big Show. Finally, you had one of the best retirements ever as Trish Stratus defeated her longtime rival, Lita, to win the Women's Championship for an unprecedented seventh time. A thoroughly entertaining and satisfying show, which was a rarity for the second half of this decade.

October - No Mercy 2002: Slim pickings here, but I went with the 2002 show since it had some notable moments. First, you had The Undertaker bleeding like a stuck pig in order to get Brock Lesnar over in their Hell in a Cell match. You also had the brief retirement of the Intercontinental Championship occur as Triple H had beaten Kane to merge the title with the World Heavyweight Championship. Finally, this show had one of the best matches of the decade as Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle took on Edge and Rey Mysterio for the new Smackdown tag team titles. Not only was the match a classic, it also signified the beginning of the 'Smackdown Six' era.

November - Survivor Series 2009: Perhaps an unconventional choice, but I've actually been disappointed with the treatment this show has gotten in recent years. Nothing can match the classic Survivor Series matches of the 80s and 90s. Anyways, this year's show was extremely enjoyable. You had two entertaining triple threat matches as your main events. Then the Survivor Series style matches actually had some significance as it featured the future of the company (Kofi Kingston, The Miz, Shaemus, and Drew McIntyre) picking up big wins in their respective matches. This show may prove to be a pivotal turning point in the company within a few years' time.

December - Armageddon 2007: Wow, not a lot to choose from here at all. What was I supposed to pick? The December to Dismember show? The 2005 Armageddon show, in which Tim White supposedly killed himself? A lot of dreck to end the year. I went with 2007, primarily for the great match between HHH and Jeff Hardy that finally allowed Hardy to burst through the glass ceiling. It also had solid matches involving Edge/Batista/Taker and HBK/Kennedy. Not a perfect show by any means, but the best from a lousy bunch.

So there you have it. The seemingly best of the best, although I'm sure many of you may disagree. I think we can all agree that the first half of the decade was a lot stronger than the second half. And we can all hope that things continue to improve for the company as they head into another new decade.

Holiday traffic hint

As everyone heads out onto the roads this holiday season, the DOT has come out with some helpful 'advice' in case you get stuck in traffic.


Tired Of Traffic? A New DOT Report Urges Drivers: 'Honk'

2010 movie preview (#12-7)

#12 The Social Network (October 15)

Plot: A story about the founders of the social-networking website, Facebook.

Personal opinion: There is little known about this film and I'll admit simply reading the plot above probably isn't going to generate much interest in this film. However, there are three words that make this an instant draw for me: director David Fincher. Zodiac was one of my favorite films of the past decade, so I'm very interested in seeing what he does for a follow up. This could easily turn out to be an utter bore, but I'm betting otherwise.


#11 Green Zone (March 12)

Plot: Discovering covert and faulty intelligence causes a U.S. Army officer (Damon) to go rogue as he hunts for Weapons on Mass Destruction in an unstable region.

Personal opinion: Seeing Matt Damon team up again with his Bourne director, Paul Greengrass makes this a must see. I know Iraq War films are exactly popular right now, but if anyone will draw them in, I think it'll be Damon. Based on the trailer, it appears as if this might be Jason Bourne in Iraq. Depending on who you are, that may or may not sweeten the deal. At the very least, we should get a decent action flick at a time of the year when there typically aren't many.


#10 Despicable Me (July 8)

Plot: A trio of orphan girls cause the normally deplorable Gru to rethink his plan to steal the moon.

Personal opinion: It may not be clear by the plot listed above, but this seems similar to another computer animated film I covered already, MegaMind. Both seem to be focused on superhero villains trying to change their ways. This one also boasts some decent voices, with Steve Carell playing the lead character, Gru. I've ranked this one higher simply for the fact that I've already seen trailers for it and have been amused with what I've seen. We shall see if the final product matches the quality of these early teases.


#9 Due Date (November 5)

Plot: A high-strung father-to-be is forced to hitch a ride with a college slacker on a road trip in order to make it to his child's birth on time.

Personal Opinion: Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifinakis star in this comedy by director Todd Phillips (The Hangover). Looking at those three names could this film have three more popular people than these guys attached to it. The sheer star power associated with this film is going to make this huge. Yes, the plot doesn't sound like it would appeal to young men that much, but I have to believe they'll find a way to make this road trip just as enjoyable as Phillips' other films.


#8 Shutter Island (February 19)

Plot: Drama is set in 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island.

Personal opinion: I feel like this is the twentieth time I've previewed this movie. If you've read this blog before you no doubt know why this film is worth checking out. Let's just hope for all of our sakes, it actually gets released on its scheduled date this time.


#7 Hot Tub Time Machine (March 19)

Plot: After a night of drinking Red Bull and vodkas, a group of guys travel back in time to when they were younger cads.

Personal opinion: If you saw my post a few weeks ago with the trailer for this film, then you saw why I find it so appealing. This seems bizarre, outrageous and downright hilarious. This film could potentially make stars out of Craig Robinson and Rob Corddry. Let's just hope this doesn't turn out to be a Snakes on a Plane where the hype is better than the actual film.

Only six slots left...what will make the top of the list?!?

Secret Santa producer's cut

They didn't release any deleted scenes for the Christmas episode of The Office. Instead, they released this producer's cut instead, which includes about 10 more minutes of new footage. Enjoy!

PPVs of the decade (Part 1)

Yes, it's another list. I can't help enjoying writing them and the end of the decade lends themselves to their creation. This time I'm going to focus on my favorite WWF(E) pay-per-views over the past ten years. Since there has been so many changes to names and times for their shows, I'm going to do my favorite show from each month.

January - Royal Rumble 2003: This was probably the month that I had the most difficulty choosing from since the Rumble usually produces a good show. For my choice, I tried going beyond the Rumble match and pick the show that has the most complete show. On top of a typically good Rumble match, the 2003 show featured one of the best matches of the decade - the Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle title match. It also features a HHH/Scott Steiner match that is so bad, you have to see it to appreciate it. Honestly, though you could make an argument for a different Rumble and I could easily agree with you as well.

February - No Way Out 2001: At the top of the card, you have a pair of really great main events with Rock/Angle and Austin/HHH in Three Stages of Hell. If that weren't enough, there's also a way better than it should be match between Trish Stratus and Stephanie McMahon. Throw in a Fatal Four Way between Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, X-Pac, and Chris Jericho and you have one heckuva good show.

March - Wrestlemania X-7: Technically, I'm cheating here since this show happened on April 1st, but I'm considering March to count for all Wrestlemanias. And based on that criteria, this one is a no-brainer. This would be my pick for pay per view of the century. So many wonderful matches here, it's an embarassment of riches. There's something for everyone whether you're a fan of technical masterpieces (Angle/Benoit), big time main events (Austin/Rock), garbage matches (Vince/Shane) or wrestlecrap (Gimmick Battle Royale). Just an amazing show and in some ways the end of the boom period for the WWF.

April - Backlash 2004: It's great when big matches deliever and its even better when the rematch manages to be just as good as the original. Benoit, HHH, and Shawn Michaels managed to keep up the quality in their rematch here while also making the match seem fresh. Having the match in Benoit's hometown only added to the energy. On top of that, you actually have a good match between Mick Foley and Randy Orton. Any show that features a good Orton match has to be recognized.

May - Judgment Day 2000: The Iron Man match between The Rock and HHH is one of my personal favorite matches. Those two can wrestle for mulitple hours and I wouldn't tire of it. When you add in Shawn Michaels as the referee and the return of the Undertaker, you have the making for a truly electric match. I also am fond of the opener featuring Angle, Edge, and Christian vs. Too Cool and Rikishi. Team ECK's 5 second pose (The Jug Band) is worth the price of admission alone.

June - ECW One Night Stand 2005: I had to go with an unconventional choice since June typically doesn't offer much. This show felt so fresh and different from everything else that WWE was offering at the time, you can't help but like it. This may not have the workrate that some of the other shows I pick have, but I was still marking out throughout the three hours. It's a shame that the WWE's insecurity couldn't allow more shows like this to happen.

Maligned Muppets

I stumbled across this interesting article today from a blog called Gunaxin Media. One of their writers has come up with a list of the Ten Worst Muppets of all time. It's a cool read that's sure to spark some debate amongst Muppet fans. Some of the author's choices are spot on, others are of the 'Who?' variety and then there are a couple which are just plain wrong. How in the hell did Dr. Bunsen Honeydew make that list?!? Anyways, check it out and feel free to share your thoughts on the best and worst of our felt friends.

Afterwards, feel free to check out this awesome version of Bohemian Rhapsody performed by the Muppets that was all the rage on the Net a couple of months ago.

2010 movie preview (#18-13)

#18 Megamind (November 5)

Plot: A satirical take on superhero movies, in which a notorious villain loses his oomph after he accidentally kills his nemesis.

Personal opinion: This is yet another computer animated film (you'll be seeing a few more before this list is over) that makes the list based on a strong concept. I always like alternative takes on the superhero genre, so I was instantly attracted to this film. Helping its cause is a strong voice cast including the likes of Brad Pitt, Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill, and Tina Fey. With it not due out until next November, I haven't seen any footage of it yet, but it's coming from the Dreamworks people who has been consistently improving their computer animated features.


#17 The A-Team (June 11)

Plot: A group of Iraq War veterans looks to clear their name with the U.S. military, who suspect the four men of committing a crime for which they were framed.

Personal opinion: I'm sure everyone is humming the theme song right now as they read this. I was a little too young to watch the original TV show, but I liked the concept and am interested to see how it will translate to the big screen. I was disappointed to hear that Mr. T will not have a cameo in this, but here's hoping that means the producers felt the film was strong enough not to resort to cheap cameos like that. No trailer has been released, so until then this promotional photo of the primary cast (including Bradley Cooper and Liam Neeson) will have to suffice.



#16 Date Night (April 9)

Plot: In New York City, a case of mistaken identity turns a bored married couple's attempt at a glamorous and romantic evening into something more thrilling and dangerous.

Personal opinion: The combination of Steve Carrel and Tina Fey (who play the married couple here) seems like a dream team. However, the first trailer for this film left a lot to be desired. The comedy seemed a bit more broad than I would have hoped. I worry since Tina isn't the writer of this film if the quality will suffer like it did in Baby Mama. Still if anyone two can rise above mediocre material, it's these two. I'd like to think that there will be enough here to make this more tolerable than say Did You Hear About the Morgans.


#15 Unstoppable (November 12)

Plot: A rail company frantically works to prevent an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train carrying combustible liquids and poisonous gas from wiping out a city.

Personal opinion: On paper, this plot sounds pretty lousy and more likely something more fit for a made-for-TV movie. However, when you consider that this is a Tony Scott directed film starring Denzel Washington, suddenly I'm a bit more interested. While their previous collaborations have not yielded Oscar winners, they typically deserve good popcorn fare. Adding to the film's appeal is the fact that Chris Pine is co-starring. After his wonderful turn as Kirk in this year's Star Trek, reboot. I'm very curious to see what he'll do for an encore.


#14 Saint John of Las Vegas (limited January 29, wide February 12)

Plot: An ex-gambler is lured back into the game by a veteran insurance-fraud investigator.

Personal opinion: This is the type of film where if it had come out later in the year, I probably would have ignored it since it's more small and independent. But since it's coming out in a few weeks, I've gotten to see the trailers and find myself charmed by both the cast and the plot. Steve Buscemi is one of those reliable actors that never gets the credit he deserves. It would be nice if this film allowed his star to shine a bit brighter, but I'd imagine it'll likely only be seen by a small audience. Hopefully, my plug will grant it a few more viewers.


#13 Hereafter (December TBA)

Plot: A supernatural thriller centered on three people -- a blue-collar American, a French journalist and a London school boy -- who are touched by death in different ways.

Personal opinion: Again, this is a film that has a late release date, so I'm only working on limited information. What we do know is that it's being directed by Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon is set to star in it. That's enough to sell me right there. After seeing their work in Invictus, I'm sure we can expect another solid effort here. And it should be very interesting to see Clint potentially delve into supernatural territory (supposedly Damon plays a medium who is uneasy about using his talents). Before all is said and done, we could be looking at one of the contenders for next year's Best Picture.

Wild blue wonder

I just got back from seeing Avatar in 3D and figured I would immediately do a review with the film still fresh in my head.

Before I get into any other aspect of the film, I cannot stress enough that if you see this movie, you must see it in 3D, if not IMAX. This is a visual masterpiece that needs to be seen in these advanced forms. Unlike so many films before it, this movie does not use the 3D technology as some sort of gimmick. It's not just a bunch of random objects being shoved in your face. All of the technology is natural to the story and really enhances the movie-going experience. Director James Cameron has done a remarkable job of finding a way of immersing you into this strange new world.

That world is Pandora, a distant planet that Earthlings have travelled to in search of 'unobtainium', a rare mineral that is highly valuable. The problem being is that the planet is inhabited by the Na'vi, who have no intention of moving to allows humans to destroy it for mining purposes. At this point, it should be apparent that Cameron has created a story that has some not so subtle parallels to the Iraq War. This is where the film falters a bit. It's disappointing to see this type of movie be bogged down with liberal preachiness. The film is the equivalent to one of those time share weekends. They lure you in with some wonderful vacation, or in this case the visual effects, only to ruin it with their pitch/message.

I fully recognize though that the film needed a central conflict and for that reason, I'll give the film some slack for its overt liberal agenda. After all, the battle scenes provide just as much visual 'wow' as the scenes where we're introduced to the creatures and wildlife of Pandora. Everything about this movie just pops off the screen. As you watch the events unfold, you begin to forget about the conventionalities of the story and just keep realizing that you're watching an epic moment in filmmaking. I've heard others say that watching this film is akin to those who saw Star Wars for the film time. I now see how that is true. Watching this film you realize you're seeing something special.

In terms of fleshing out the story, Cameron does his best to create an epic within one film. Having said that, I thought there were a lot of aspects of the story that were not fully explored. In particular, I think it would have been interesting to know more about the mythology of the Na'vi people, as well as more about the Avatar technology that allowed Jake (Sam Worthington) to integrate himself into the Na'vi culture.

I haven't really talked about the acting yet, mainly because the acting isn't an essential aspect of this story. With so many of the characters being computer generated, it is difficult to truly critique the performance. However, I will make a point of saying how nice it is to see Sigourney Weaver in a major picture like this. Back with her familiar director, she does a nice job as the scientist who is interested in studying the Na'vi culture.

I'll close this review going back to my original point regarding 3D. This was my first experience seeing a film in theaters with 3D. I'm not sure I would want to watch movies like that on a regular basis. But with what Cameron was able to do here, it was worth spending the extra money. You will be in awe with how much you will feel like you are right there amongst the characters. For so many films, it's easy for me to simply suggest you wait and watch it at home when it comes out on DVD. This is not one of those times. Whatever shortcomings the film may have with regard to its story, this film deserves to be see in the theaters. It is a truly magical experience that will engage everyone, even if on paper the story wouldn't interest you. After all these years, James Cameron has once again proven he is king of the (filmmaking) world. Grade: B+

'Busting back into theaters soon

We interrupt our 2010 movie preview for some quick news on a film you can look forward to in 2011 - Ghostbusters 3. We've been hearing rumors about it for a while and now it seems like it's becoming a reality. Here's a quote from director Harold Ramis regarding the film's status:

Something's going to happen. Dan [Aykroyd] did write a spec GB3 screenplay a few years ago, but no one was motivated to pursue it. Now, 25 years after the original, there seems to be some willingness to proceed and apparently a substantial public appetite for a sequel. We'll introduce some new young Ghostbusters, and all the old guys will be in it, too. Think Christopher Lloyd in Back to the Future...GB3 is progressing with plans to shoot next summer and release in 2011.

I'm glad to hear there is progress and I eagerly await further news with regards to casting. You can believe that if I hear anything more, I'll be sure to share it with you here.

Shhh!

Just wanted to give a quick plug to probably the funniest show you're not watching, Silent Library. Based on a Japanese game show and airing in the afternoons on MTV, the concept is 6 guys work as a team and compete in various gross out stunts, with the object being to not only complete the tasks but remain quite while doing so. Some of the things that they have these contestants do are outrageous. Check out for yourself a sample of the show below.