The Cover-Up deleted scenes

#4


#3


#2



#1

Wahoo Wrap-Up (Week 4)

Record: 10-14, 3rd in AL Central

Maybe I should stop doing these posts on Sunday considering it seems the Tribe loses on this day each time. Then again, it's not like they're winning a lot on the other days either. The road trip finished on a bitter note as the Angels hit a walk-off bunt (yes, you read that right) to beat us in a game we should have won. We then only managed to get 1 out of 3 against the Twins to begin this homestand. The good news is that our offense seemed to perk up once we got back to Cleveland. Unfortunately the starting pitching wasn't as strong. Not to mention that the Twins are just a better team than us right now.

This week the homestand continues as we take on Toronto and Detroit. Toronto has strong together a couple of wins thanks to playing an injured Oakland team, but they are not what I would consider a formidable opponent. I would really like to see us take at least two of three from then. Then it's our old rivals, the Tigers. They have been red hot lately and played well against us at Comerica Park. If we want to have any chance of making a move in the AL Central, we're going to have to start defeating divisional opponents. Let's hope that begins this weekend. I'll be back with another recap next Sunday. Until then, let's go Tribe!

Reynolds wrapped

Check out the trailer for the film, Buried, set to come out in September and starring Ryan Reynolds. The premise is spooky enough, but it's hard to say yet if this will be cool or just come off cheesy. If done right, it could be a more effective Phone Booth. If not, it may be the most uncomfortable two hours you spend in a theater.

NMR: A couple of Critchton's

Courtesy of Netflix's instant view, here's a pair of reviews for two films based off of Michael Critchton novels.

Netflix: I remember loving the book and then ended up never seeing the movie because so many people said it was bad when it came out in 2003. Now a few years removed I thought I would give it a chance and it turns out those people were exactly right. This movie seemed to completely fail at grasping what made Critchton's books so great in the first place - the science. This film barely touches on the time travelling aspects and seems content to be a run-of-the-mill period action thriller. While annoying, I may have let it slide had the action and/or acting been any good, but neither were here. Paul Walker is his usually wooden self and the rest are just as boring, if not annoying in their performance. The movie is so dull it felt like time was standing still for me. The only bright spot was seeing David Thewlis, who is better known now as Prof. Lupin in the Harry Potter series. Rating: **

Rising Sun: This one started off promising enough in its exploration of the American/Japanese business culture within the context of a murder. However, it quickly becomes a standard cop thriller and then eventually devolves into a non-sensical mess. A major flaw here is that the film never makes the audience invested in finding out who the killer is. While I've never read the book, I have a feeling all of this made better sense there. This film seemed to have a lot of corporate influence on it as the elements of action and tension are ramped up, but cause the film's story to suffer greatly. It's always a treat to see Connery on the screen, but even he couldn't do enough to make this better than mediocre. Rating: ***

How about some hot Coco (news)?

Each day seems to bring us some new information regarding Conan O'Brien's new gig this November on TBS. Here's a summation...

-It's been confirmed that Conan will be staying in LA. Currently, they're trying to procure a lot near the Lopez Tonight set. I can't say I'm happy about this, but it's probably the more pragmatic decision.

-According to music legend Al Kooper who knows many members of Conan's band, he claims that band leader Max Weinberg will not be coming back when Conan starts his new show. If he's to be believed, the rest of the band will remain in tact, it's just Max who's not returning. It would be sad to see Max go, but there are enough other funny guys in that band (ie La Bamba) that seeing Max go wouldn't be the end of the world. You can read Kooper's interview where he makes these claims here.

-Finally, if you haven't heard, Conan can finally break his silence starting tomorrow (May 1) and will do it formally on Sunday when he's interviewed on 60 Minutes. It's sure to be an interesting piece, so be sure to tune in if you're curious about what he has to say about NBC and Jay Leno.

Body language deleted scenes

#4


#3


#2


#1

Franchise futures

Some news about the fates of a couple future sequels (both stories coming from EW.com)

We'll begin with some good news...

The Dark Knight sequel finally has a release date. Almost two years after the killer clown crime epic dominated the box office and spawned a million Halloween costumes, Warner Bros. has announced that the still-untitled Batman 3 will be released on July 20, 2012, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (In other news, I’m going off the grid from July 19, 2012 through August 1, 2012.)

There’s not a whole lot of information about the movie, which is still in the very early planning stages. Director Christopher Nolan and writer David Goyer have always been focused on presenting a more realistic take on the Batman mythos, so we’re probably not going to see Killer Croc, Mr. Freeze, or Clayface. Even though he’s a bit more outlandish, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Riddler, if only because his presence could pump up Batman’s mystery-solving detective side. But what do I know? None of my films have ever grossed over a billion dollars.

and then some not so happy news...

If you believe the tweets of GhostPanther, it is. According to the twitter feed of GhostPanther — which belongs to Adam McKay, Will Ferrell’s production partner and the co-writer/director of the original Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy — Paramount passed on the project, even after they tried lowering the budget. Said his tweet, “So bummed. Paramount basically passed on Anchorman 2. Even after we cut our budget down. We tried.”

McKay’s reps have no comment and we’ve called Paramount and have not yet received a response. A source close to the studio says Paramount didn’t officially pass, but rather wanted a lower budget than McKay and Farrell presented–a budget the duo felt was too low to make the film successfully. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more details.

UPDATE: McKay wrote a follow-up Tweet on his feed: “To all who asked: no we can’t do Anchorman 2 at another studio. Paramount owns it.”

Flop-tastic

Sign this guy up for the WWE!

Wahoo Wrap-Up (Week 3)

Record: 8-10, 3rd in AL Central

A thoroughly frustrating week that saw the Tribe start their road trip going 2-4. The main culprit was a lack of hitting. In almost every game, our starting pitching was strong and gave us plenty of opportunities to win. Sadly, time after time our bats were silent. I'm really hoping that our offense can come out of its funk because we might actually have a halfway decent team. The only starter who has struggled is Justin Masterson. If the starting pitching can keep up their performances, the weaknesses of our bullpen won't be exposed that often.

This week we'll finish up this lengthy road trip with a stop in Anaheim. They've had their struggles early on, but they also just gave the Yankees their first series loss of the season, so they may be starting to get their act together. We'll then return home on Friday to start another series with Minnesota. The Twins have looked strong so far this year, but hopefully some home cooking will be just what the doctor ordered for us and we can get on a roll. As always, Go Tribe (and oh yeah, go Cavs too).

Harvey har har

Speaking of SNL, most of last night's episode was pretty terrible, but this one small sketch mocking comedian Steve Harvey's recent guest hosting duty on Who Wants to be a Millionaire really got me laughing. Perhaps it's because I'm one of the few that still watches the syndicated version, despite the fact that the show has become horrible this season. They've eliminated the phone-a-friend hotline, they've made a mockery of the Ask the Expert lifeline (they actually used Paula Poundstone one week) and they continue to choose some dumb contestants all in an effort to save money. So while this skit may not be the funniest thing out there, I wanted to promote as a means of expressing my frustration over how terrible WWTBAM has become.

NMR: Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America: A Final Night With George W. Bush

It's been slim pickings lately on Netflix as most of the new releases that I have yet to see have a 'long wait' attached to them (Speaking of which, I swear I never had to wait long for Netflix movies when I lived in NC. C'mon people of Dayton, start returning your films faster!).

Anyways, this was a 2 hour special made last year from Ferrell's brief one man show on Broadway as the former Commander in Chief. While it's undeniable that of all the SNL cast members who attempted to do Bush, Ferrell's was by far the best, I still don't necessarily think it was his best character. Part of the reason is that Bush himself was such a character/buffoon that it's hard to top that with actual comedy. This particular show certain has its moments; I especially enjoyed him talking about a fictional time where he was trapped with his father and brothers in an abandoned mine and they all had to be saved by Barabara. The stuff that was non-political typically worked better because the political stuff has either been done better by other comedy shows or was too depressing in real-life to make it funny here. Overall, 2 hours was just a little too long of a stay for just this one character. Only see it if you're a really big Ferrell fan or if you just can't get enough Bush-bashing. Rating: ***

Secretary's Day deleted scenes

#4


#3


#2


#1

NMR: Paranormal Activity

I finally got around to see the surprise horror hit of last fall and found myself liking it more than I had anticipated. First, I'm not a big fan of the horror genre. I also tend to dislike anything that gets overhyped (see Napoleon Dynamite), yet I was curious about the buzz surrounding this film. Similar to the other indie horror blockbuster, The Blair Witch Project, there's not a lot that goes on for most of the film. However, unlike that movie I found the dialogue and interaction between the main characters here to be more realistic and engaging. They do a nice job building your curiosity as to what is really going on in their seemingly haunted house. The film's conclusion provides a nice scare, but is also cheap from a storytelling perspective since it offers a horror cliche and seemingly opens up the possibility for a sequel. Interestingly enough, the film offers some alternate endings, both of which are stronger than the original finish. I truly think this is a film that could only be enjoyed in a dark room late at night. That atmosphere is needed to truly make this film frightening. So if you like a good scare and can see it in that scenario, I think you'll enjoy this one. Rating: ***

Perverts R Us

You have to wonder sometimes what goes through the mind of toy developers. To illustrate, check out this hilarious, yet thoroughly disgusting list of unintentionally perverted toys over at Cracked.

Sadly, our family actually owned one of these toys. A prize goes to anyone who can correctly identify which one we had.

Double Oh Crap

Bad news for Bond fans...

The next James Bond sequel, tentatively titled Bond 23, has been put on hold due to MGM’s financial troubles, according to Variety. EON Productions heads Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli announced Monday that the next Daniel Craig 007 installment was facing a foe as nasty as Dr. No or Scaramanga: cash woes. “Due to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the future of MGM and the failure to close a sale of the studio, we have suspended development on Bond 23 indefinitely,” the pair said in a statement. “We do not know when development will resume and do not have a date for the release of Bond 23.” The project did not yet have a director attached, but a trio of writers had reportedly been working on a script and Craig had informed fans last fall that the film would start shooting late this year. MGM has been in the process of sorting out its future with its debt holders. MGM put itself up for sale in November. The studio’s only release this year, Hot Tub Time Machine, has grossed $42.4 million to date.

(Source: EW.com)

Masking the problem

"How come no one's ever tried to be a superhero?" That's the question at the heart of a pair of recently released new entries into the burgeoning comic book genre. Both Kick Ass and Defendor feature main characters who attempt to do just that - donning elaborate costumes and ward of evil doers in their local cities. By featuring protagonists who attempt to be superheroes without possessing any particular superpowers, both films try to seperate themselves from previous comic book films by purporting that their stories are rooted in reality while the notions of people who are faster than a speeding bullet or can shoot spider webs out of their wrists are pure fantasy. Neither film completely accomplishes this, but Defendor comes closer to making a realistic film.

Defendor was set to get a theaterical release last February, but then it got changed and went straight to DVD last week. That is a shame, because it will probably now get lost in the shuffle and deserves a better audience. Woody Harrelson stars as the titular hero who's attempting to clean up his town by eliminating Captain Industry, a villain who may or may not actually exist. We learn through a nonlinear form of storytelling that Defendor is really Arthur Poppington, a man who's had a traumatic upbringing and may not be completely sane. In his quest to find Captain Industry, Defendor befriends a hooker, (played by Kat Dennings) who sees an opportunity to play with Arthur's mental instability.

There is some strong black humor sprinkled throughout the film. We see Defendor use some creative weapons against his enemies like marbles and jars of angry bees. The film also hits all of the right emotional beats. Even if you can see the tragic ending coming, it will still move you. That is in large part due to a strong performance by Harrelson, who continues to be underrated as an actor. For the most part, the film gives an accurate depiction of what would happen if a solitary man with aspirations of heroism attempted to go against real bad guys who have weapons and evil intentions. The films greatest flaw however is its narrative structure. Instead of delivering a straightforward story, it attempts to play tricks and manipulate the audience through flashbacks and other storytelling devices. In the hands of a more capable director, this had the potential to be a very effective film.

I'm not sure if the same could ever be true for Kick Ass. Here, the story, as told to us by Kick Ass aka 17 year old Dave Lizewski, tries to sell us that this is the real world and our hero is nothing like the one you see in the movies. Too bad the film then goes on to be exactly like those films without any sense of irony about it. The film seems to want to be a satire, yet ends up merely imitating all of its predecessors. Having not read the graphic novel source material, I can't really say whether this is the fault of the source material or director Matthew Vaughn's inability to have that message translate to the screen.

Despite supposedly being set in New York City, nothing feels authentic about the world that's created in this movie. There are problems with the villains who seem to be run-of-the-mill film bad guys. The depiction of the teenagers also feels false as I don't see most of them actually behaving in the manner that they do here. Worst of all those is how the heroes are depicted. Along with Kick Ass, we also see Red Mist (played by Superbad's McLovin), Big Daddy (played by Nicholas Cage, who provides the only decent moments in the film), and his 11-year old daughter, Hit Girl. Each of them has their moments of ass-kickery in the film, depicting some truly graphic violence. This becomes problematic as the film only focuses on the glory of the kill and none of the reprecussions that would actually be associated with being a superhero in a real world setting.

None of these characters ever question the morality of their actions. They also don't give any thought as to how this will change their preexisting relationships with the people in their lives. It's just a portrayal of blind vigilantism for the sake of feeding the blood-lustful audience a huge heaping of unadulterated violence. Let it be clear that I had no problem with the violence itself, it's that the violence is not given any sort of proper context to make it acceptable. Kick Ass doesn't portray the real world, it simply puts the audience into a hyperreal video game world where everything is acceptable, so long as you're the last person left standing. It's probably apt that the film begins with the title character speaking of his penchant for self gratification because this film is one big masturbatory fantasy. Defendor: B Kick Ass: C

Wahoo Wrap-Up (Week 2)

Record: 6-6, 3rd in the AL Central

I had fully intended to start this last Sunday, but that game ended so horribly for the Indians, that I couldn't stomach doing a post then. Things are certainly much brighter this week as we are on a 4-game winning streak and just capped off a sweep against the Chicago White Sox (Yesterday was particularly nice seeing both the Indians and the Cavs take out Chicago teams).

Right now, the team is looking better than I expected. The starting rotation, in particular, has performed above expectations to begin. I'm pleased with how things have gone, but I'm far from convinced that this is actually a good team. After all, if you break down things further, you can see that we are 5-1 against the White Sox and 1-5 against the other two teams we've faced. It's hard to say whether we're good or if the White Sox are just that much more worse than us.

There's an off day tomorrow and then we begin a big road trip that features our first visit to the new Target Field in Minnesota and then a stint out west where we'll face Oakland, who's off to a very good start this year, and the Angels, who are always tough to play at home.

With no seemingly dominant team in our division, a hot start is what this team will need if it has any chance of contending this year. Let's hope this will be a productive road trip and we can finish the month off strong. Until next week, let's go Tribe!

NMR: In too Depp

Recently, I reviewed a pair of George Clooney's films and this time I look at two of another big time actor's movies.

Sleepy Hollow: This films marks one of the many collaborations between Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton. In a sense, this films lives and dies by Burton. The most recent 200th episode of South Park had it right when they mocked Burton for his redundancy. If you've seen one Tim Burton film, you've seen them all. They all have the same look, mood, and score. However, while there was nothing fresh in that regard, I found the film still being able to winning me over for two reasons; first, I really liked this interpretation of the Sleepy Hollow legend, as they infused a sort of CSI element into it. The other strength of the film is its cast. Beyond Depp, there is a wonderful group of character actors here including Michael Gambon, Jeffrey Jones, Miranda Richardson, Richard Griffiths, Ian McDermid, and Christopher Walken (who oddly doesn't utter one word the entire movie). If you're a fan of Burton's work, this one is definitely worth a view, otherwise this probably isn't for you. Rating: ****

Secret Window: One would think combining the talents of Depp with a story based on a Stephen King novel would make this film an instant winner, but they would be wrong. The movie is about a writer (Depp), who visited at his cabin by a creepy Southerner (John Turturro) accusing him of plagiarizing his story. Tormented by this accuser, Depp's character struggles to uncover the truth and keep his life together. For me, the film takes too long getting to its resolution and the journey isn't all that engaging. I did appreciate the fact that the film opted for an unconventional ending, but by that point it wasn't enough. Depp is typically good here, but he's about the only reason you should bother checking this out. Rating: ***

Copping a plea to be funny

Will Ferrell has had a rough stretch of films recently, but the trailer for his latest comedy The Other Guys seems like it could right the ship. He's back with his longtime director Adam McCay (who directed films like Anchorman) and he's got a good supporting cast around him, alleviating him of having to carry the entire film himself. Check it out below...

Cable jumpers

I know I am a few days late on these stories, but I still wanted to add my two cents in on them:

Conan strikes deal with TBS
I can't say that I thought he would wind up here, but it's not necessarily a bad deal either. There are certainly a lot of positives to it: he only has to do shows 4 days a week, ratings expectations will be significantly lower, and he'll get a lot more money than he would have got on NBC. With regards to that last point though, it should be pointed out that part of the charm, at least in my opinion, with Conan's old show was that it had a low budget feel to it. It seemed to make him more creative instead of spending a lot of money to do less funny remote bits. Let's hope that Conan uses the money wisely to still produce an awesome show. The other key downsides are that his presence will, at least initially, not be as great on cable. Also, being on at 11 o'clock, he'll have to compete against The Daily Show, which has a lot of viewers in his core demographic. The one thing that I have yet to hear about this deal is where the show will be. Personally, I think staying out in LA would be a terrible idea, yet I have a feeling that is likely where it will be. NY seems like a better fit because Conan just seems to have more of an East Coast mentality and he would more likely get better guests. Overall, I wish him the best and I'll certainly be interested to see how it all goes down come this November.

WWE Smackdown moving to SyFy
I'm sure the WWE hates that this move takes them off network TV. However, given that they were currently floundering on the hard to find MyNetworkTV channel, this will probably actually boost their presence. I'm actually surprised SyFy agreed to this since every indication has been that they've been disappointed with the ratings for the ECW and NXT shows. Ideally, I would like for this move to be the first step towards ending the brand extension, but for whatever reason, I have a feeling that Vince feels there's still money in it. Ultimately this move probably won't matter one way or the other since the business is cyclical and people that are interested in tuning in will find the show no matter what channel it's located on.

Dinner is served

Well it's about time....finally the trailer for Dinner for Schmucks, one of my top 5 movies to see in 2010 has been released and it did not disappoint. This looks like it'll be a tour de force of comedy greatness. Check it out for yourself down below.

Mustache love

I just came across this new t-shirt referring to the Ron Swanson character from Parks and Recreation and just had to share it with you. Below is an image of the front of the t-shirt. If you're a fan of the show, you'll know immediately how much this reeks of awesomeness. I'm almost tempted to buy one for myself. If you're so inclined, you can get one for yourself here.



Also, if you have not yet seen the actual summer catalog that the show created in conjunction with the episode devoted to it, you have to check it out here. These things are what move shows from 'good' to 'classic'. You will double over in laughter reading some of the courses descriptions on here.

Don't cross(promotion) me!

In an asinine attempt to get people to watch Glee, FOX has announced that they are making most of their shows have musical-themed episodes next week. You can see more on the story here. What a tremendously awful idea. Do they really think we watch to see the cast of Fringe singing about human/lizard hybrids or alternate realities? Or how about Jack Bauer interrupting his interrogation session to break into a number on 24? I thought the V countdown clock that stayed up during the entire episode of Lost was moronic, but this takes the cake. Needless to say, this attempt by FOX won't earn my viewership for thier overrated show and I'll do everything in my power to make sure it doesn't work on anyone else either.

Smell the testosterone

Here's a trio of new trailers, all fueled with man-sized action:

NMR: The Clooney bin

Reviews for a pair of 2009 films starring George Clooney coming at ya...

Up in the Air: A best picture nominee and deservedly so. Jason Reitman, who directed this, showed once again why he is one of the premiere young directors in Hollywood. I felt this had a great, timely storyline coupled with some great acting. The one thing that bugs me though is that while I can't find any flaws with it, I didn't necessarily fall in love with the movie while watching it. I wish I could understand what prevented this, but I'm at a loss. While the film is sad at times, it is not a completely depressing film, so don't let that deter anyone from checking this out. In fact, I wholeheartedly encourage others to check it out, maybe someone else can put their finger on what's missing here or at least tell me that nothing is wrong and convince me that this is a film classic. For now, I'll settle on a grade of B+, which allows it to barely get on to my Top Ten list of 2009.

The Men Who Stare At Goats: No mystery here, I definitely know I didn't like this one. That is a real shame too, because this one had so much promise. With a cast that included Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey, and Ewan McGregor, I felt this was a can't miss. They certainly proved me wrong. The story, about a group of allegedly real soliders who were trained to be Jedi-like warriors, is pretty absurd and needed a more skilled director to handle it. First time director, and frequent Clooney collaborator, Grant Heslov, fails to find the right mix of drama and humor here. The film is too silly to be taken seriously and not silly enough to be funny. When a film thinks having a character tell Ewan McGregor he can't be a Jedi is a great joke, you know you're in trouble. A major disappointment here and not worth the rental. Grade: C-

Thank you Shawn!

Here's a video recap of Shawn Michaels' farewell speech this past week from Monday Night RAW after losing to the Undertaker at Wrestlemania. I certainly don't want to see the Heartbreak Kid go, yet I hope he, unlike so many other aging wrestlers, is true to his word and sticks to this retirement. If this was the end of Shawn's in-ring career, he can be proud to go out on a high note. He's had a tremendous career and kept me a wrestling fan for a long time thanks to his consistently great matches. Thanks for all the memories Shawn!

Flying high

I had to make a quick post to give my support to the Flyers as the compete for the NIT championship tomorrow night. Now I realize that many basketball teams would rather lose in the first round of the main tournament than win the NIT, but I still think this is a big deal. What makes this even bigger is the fact that they are taking on those scumbags from UNC. Oh how sweet it would be for me to see my alma mater take down the team I despise the most. I'll definitely be watching the game and I hope all of the Flyer Faithful will be as well. I also hope I can get some support from my NC State brethern as well. They are always up for an opportunity to root against the Tar Heels. So everybody cheer on UD and let's bring home the championship!

Happy Hour deleted scenes

#2


#1

Wrestlemania XXVI predictions

So it's time once again for the biggest show of the year, the granddaddy of 'em all, Wrestlemania and this year I'm pretty darn excited. Not just because I'll actually get to watch it with a group of people this year, but because for the first time in quite a while, the WWE had done a really good job in building up most of the matches, giving the show that big-time feeling that it needs. Here's hoping the rest of you are just as excited and if not, perhaps my preview of tonight's show will convince you.

Career vs. Streak: Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker
Let it be known that I'll be rooting all the way for Shawn to win this one. I've long been a proponent for keeping the streak alive, but this year is different. I don't want Shawn to retire and let's face it, streaks are meant to be broken. The reality though is that in wrestling a retirement can be reversed, the streak cannot. For that reason, I feel the Dead Man will somehow pull out the victory.

WWE Championship Match: Batista (champ) vs. John Cena
This has actually been a well built feud. You know it's good when I want to see a John Cena match. Part of the strength of this feud is that they've actually made Cena look vulnerable, making you question the outcome. Wrestlemania is all about good prevailing over evil, though so I see Cena winning the title. The only difference this time is that I won't mind seeing him get the win.

World Heavyweight Championship Match: Chris Jericho (champ) vs. Edge
This too has a nice story surrounding it, dating back to last summer. If given time, this could be one hell of an awesome match. I do have some concerns about how healthy Edge is coming off that injury, but if he's ready to go, this one could be an instant classic. Frankly, I like both of these guys so I'll be happy either way. I'll pick Jericho to find a sneaky way to survive, but I won't be surprised by either man winning.

No Holds Barred Match: Bret "the Hitman" Hart vs. Vince McMahon
If you're any kind of wrestling fan, you know the story here. This will not be a mat classic, but certainly could be a fun garbage brawl. I'll pick Bret here as logic dictates the only way that this match should end is by having Vince tap like a little girl while in the Sharpshooter. However, it seems like that moment would be more awesome if it took place in Canada. I don't know how long Bret is committed to doing this though, so I'll say his happy moment comes here.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match
From my perspective, this match has 9 midcarders and Christian. For that reason, he seems like the only logical choice here to get the win. Of course, the purpose of the match is really not about who wins, but how many highspots can they cram into this thing. And with guys like Evan Bourne, Shelton Benjamin, and Kofi Kingston involved, I'm sure those spots will not be in short supply.

Triple H vs. Sheamus
It feels strange seeing HHH in such a low-profile match at the big show. But it's also kind of nice to see him take a back seat for once. I'm not entirely convinced in the drawing power of Sheamus, but he's HHH's buddy in real life, so I'm sure Trips will do everything in his power to make him look strong. For that reason, I'll call Sheamus with the upset victory here.

Triple Threat Match: Randy Orton vs. Ted Dibiase vs. Cody Rhodes
The only real dud on the card. In a match that I'm dubbing the "Megadouches Explode", I really don't care who wins or loses. I've given up faith in them being able to properly build up Dibiase or Rhodes as legitimate threats. For some reason, fans seem to be trying to make Orton a face again, which will likely be a disaster. I'll say Orton gets the win, but really who cares?

Unified Tag Team Championship Match: ShowMiz vs. John Morrison and R-Truth
This is the only match that feels like it's more of a TV type match than a Wrestlemania match. Still, I'm glad they found a way to get these guys on the show. Miz has really developed his persona and wrestling skills and having him team with Show only improves his profile. There's still more to do with that team, while Morrison and R-Truth have only begun teaming for this match. For that reason, I see a fairly easy win coming for ShowMiz.

Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk
The stip here is that if Rey loses, he has to join Punk's Straight Edge Society. Punk's got one of the best characters going right now and I would hate to see his momentum stalled with a loss here. It could be a lot of fun seeing Rey forced into this group against his will. If Rey wins, that kind of ends this story and does no one any good. For the sake of good storytelling, I'm picking Punk to get the victory.

10-Diva Tag Team Match
Certainly a bathroom break match, but on this loaded card, that's not necessarily a bad thing. I'll pick the face team to win here, not just because it's Wrestlemania but because I find most of the heel divas to be pretty loathsome and worthless. As long as they don't blow too many spots, this will be fine.

And there you have it, a 10 match show along with a lot of the extracurriculars that are associated with Mania (i.e. celebrities, Hall of Famers, etc.) I'm really excited to see how the show will look in Arizona too. All indications are that the stadium's roof will be open, which should create an awesome atmosphere. I hope everyone enjoys the show and reverts back to that 10 year old mark that we all have inside of us.

The clock expires for 24

Looks like I've got to do yet another TV eulogy this week. News came down yesterday that this would be the final season of 24.

I certainly have mixed feelings on this. Running for eight seasons, the show had a good run. The past few seasons have seen some highs and lows, so to think that the show could continue at the level of quality that we came to expect from the first few seasons is a bit of stretch. Certainly, the structure of the show prevented it from naturally evolving. As cool as the real time gimmick was, it was also a burden that forced the show to become repetitive over time.

Now the question turns to how the show will end. They still have the remainder of this season, plus at least one feature film in the works. I think I and most fans will want to see a happy ending for Jack Bauer. To put him through all the hell that they have these seasons, it would be cruel to kill him off, no matter how more realistic that ending would be. I look forward to seeing it play out and I'm thankful for the entertainment Keifer and the rest of those wacky CTU agents and/or moles have provided me over the past years.

Trailers: heroes vs. villains

Check out the latest pair of trailers to hit the net:

In Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Michael Cera meets the girl of his dreams, only to find out that he must battle her 7 ex-boyfriends who are all out to kill him. While it doesn't appear Michael Cera is doing anything new in the character department, at least this time he gets to display hyper-kinetic fighting skills while playing it.



I've already shown teasers for Despicable Me, but now we finally get the feature trailer. Don't confuse this with the similar MegaMind, which I also recently featured here on the blog. In that one, Will Ferrell plays the villain who tries to do good, here it is Steve Carrell

The balcony is closed

Surprising news today as it was announced that At the Movies, the film criticism show originally started by Siskel and Ebert, will be cancelled. The show had gone through some rough times in recent years. After Roger Ebert left the show due to his medical problems, his current co-host Richard Roeper tried to keep the show alive with a rotating set of guest hosts. Then the show's producers made the suicidal decision to make the show appealing to a younger crowd by hiring Ben Mankewitz and Ben Lyons, who had no business being anywhere near that show. His reviews consisted of a bunch of cliches that you could have easily found simply reading my movie reviews. I thought the show had finally rebounded this past fall when it went back to its roots and brought in legitimate critics, A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips, who were bringing back intellect and class to the program. However, ratings apparently never rebounded and now the show comes to an end after being on the air since 1980.

Personally, even in the face of the Internet and sites like Rotten Tomatoes, I still feel there is room on television for a show of movie reviews. I think two aspects are key in what the show would need to include: 1)two or more individuals who have really great chemistry together that allows them to argue with each other while still exhibiting friendship/camraderie and 2)a show that allows them to actually analyze and investigate what makes a film so great or terrible; sometime more than a two line blurb that somehow boils down the essence of a film. For anyone considering starting a new film review show, I suggest following a model similar to ESPN's Pardon the Interruption. There is a perfect example of how to successfully do a show where you can have argument without it resorting to callous name calling, yet still provides well-rounded analysis of all the topics in sports. Create a show like that, only centered around movies and you should have something that people would be interested in watching.

For more on the cancellation of At the Movies, I suggest you check out Roger Ebert's blog entry, where he basically provides a eulogy for the show and gives his take on the current state of film criticism in today's society.

NMR: Island castoffs

Here's a pair of films I caught last weekend that have connections to another film I recently saw, Shutter Island.

Mystic River: This one had been floating around in my queue for a while and I finally decided to call it up to the big leagues and give it a watch. Like Shutter Island, Mystic River is a film adaptation of a Dennis Lehane novel. And once again, the Boston, or should I say Baaaahston, influence is heavily felt. At times, the film's story is engrossing. But it's also a frustrating film experience, not just for the uncomfortable story elements, but because it's one of these films that prepares you for one ending so much that you know that won't be the ending and instead something worse will happen in the conclusion. I liked both Tim Robbins and Kevin Bacon's performances in this film, yet its Sean Penn's overt emoting that ends up meriting him the Oscar for some reason. Perhaps most noteworthy for me is that this film marks the first time I've disliked a Laura Linney performance. She's always so spectacular, but here she has a small role and is unlikeable in the small time she's on the screen. You would certainly have to be in the right mood to see this film, but if you find yourself in that situation, you'll probably enjoy the performances and the film. Rating: ***

Cape Fear: I also sought this out since it was another film being directed by Martin Scorsese. Made in 1991, this stars Robert De Niro as Max Cady, a recently paroled rapist who's out to make his defense lawyer's (played by Nick Nolte) life a living hell since he failed to get him an innocent verdict years ago. There are some terrific scenes throughout most of the picture as you watch De Niro's character be so clever in getting under Nolte's skin without doing anything illegal. On the flip side though, I wondered at times how Nolte's character could be so dense and not realize he was playing right into Cady's game. The climax of the film is a bit too long and overwrought, but overall this is a solid thriller and worth a view if you've never seen it before. Rating: ****

New Leads deleted scenes

#3


#2


#1

NMR: District 9

I actually rented this film back in January but just recently realized I never did a review for it on here. This is typically a film I would have skipped, but when it generated such high praise and even Oscar talk (ultimately resulting in a Best Picture nomination), I figured I would give it a try. I can definitely see why it earned the adulations that it did. It is very creative in its storytelling, while also making some poignant remarks about how we treat other human beings. However, some of its creativity began to wear thin on me as the film progresses. It changes narrative styles throughout; sometimes it is shot in a faux-documentary style, other times a straight action thriller. I also wished they would have had a stronger finish. The way the film ended left everything a little too conveniently wide open for a sequel, whereas I would have preferred they concluded on a powerful image that would stick with you well past watching the film. I think on the sheer ingenuity of the film's storyline, it's worth checking out. However, I'm unlikely to watch it again anytime soon. Grade: B

Mind-blowing or mega-disaster?

Here's the teaser trailer for Dreamworks' latest computer animated feature, Megamind, that boasts quite the all star cast.

Real recognizing real

I finally got a chance to see a movie in the theater again last weekend and with slim pickings for me, I opted for Martin Scorcese's Shutter Island. I've had my eye on this movie for a while, since it was originally supposed to be released last October. My suspicion is that the studio felt the combination of Scorcese and Leonardo DiCaprio gave this film a legitimate shot at contending for some Oscars. However, once they saw the film they felt it would get ignored and opted to push it back to save everyone involved from embarassment.

That reasoning makes it sound like this is a bad film, which it's not. It does, however, have the tough burden of being a Martin Scorcese film. When you're called the greatest living director, your films tend to be viewed from a skewed perspective. While this is a decent film, it pales in comparison to some of Marty's past work.

The fact that it is merely a popcorn film rather than a cinematic masterpiece is a bit surprising considering the source material. Shutter Island is based on a novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane. Lehane's previous books that were turned into films, Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone, each earned high praise, even though they were directed by a couple of guys more noted for their acting than their direction. So for Scorcese to not to turn this into a gem is a disappointment.

Instead of dwelling on Scorcese, however, let's focus on what happens in this film. The premise here is Leonardo Dicaprio is a Boston marshall who has just teamed up with a cop played by Mark Ruffalo to investigate the disappearance of female mental patient from a psych ward located on the titular island. Given the security of the facility and where she was last seen, her escape seems highly improbable. The mystery quickly shifts away from this missing female and more onto what exactly is going on at this mental hospital.

Those watching will be quick to determine that not everything they are seeing is real. So like most, I begun to try and figure out what the twist/resolution to this story would be. Without giving it away, I guessed what it was fairly correctly at an early point in the film. This proved to be a frustrating experience as I then had to sit through several dialougue-heavy scenes that never really amount to anything, regardless of if you've solved the twist or not. It's a shame too that these scenes feel like such a waste though, considering they typically featured quality acting from the like of Ben Kingsley, Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earle Haley, as well as DiCaprio and Ruffalo.

Interspersed throughout the film are also scenes involving Dicaprio's character having dreams/hallucinations/flashbacks to his life as a solidier in World War II and with his now deceased wife. Those with his wife (played by Michelle Williams) are hauntingly beautiful, yet the war sequences come off too crass and gruesome. I would have rather that aspect of the story be eliminated altogether because they really have no major significance on the outcome of the story. While these scenes are a mixed bag, I will credit Scorcese for the mood he creates in all the scenes taking place at the psych ward. The general spooky nature of this facility combined with the severe storm that hits the area during the film create a wonderful atmosphere.

Going back to the film's twist, though, whether or not you figure it out, you're likely to still be thinking about it long after the film is over. There is an ambiguity to the resolution of the story that makes you question what you just witnessed. You'll likely enjoy discussing with anyone else who has seen the film the implications of the final scenes. Often, an ambiguous ending can leave me, and many others feeling frustrated. However, this film's conclusion offers a different kind of conclusion. Its ambiguity doesn't lie in what will happened, but rather with what happened leading to this point. I'm sorry if that's not clear, but explaining it any further would ruin the film for those that haven't seen it yet.

Shutter Island can be a frustrating film at times. There are a lot of dead spots along the way, some of which never get satisfying payoffs. However, if you stick with it, the film's conclusion will offer you plenty to mull over. Based on the strength of the finish and the fine acting performances, I say there's enough here to recommend it. I enjoyed it enough, but it's nothing I'm crazy about (get it? crazy...psych ward, anybody?) Grade: B-

St. Patrick's Day deleted scenes

#3


#2


#1

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

#3


#2


#1

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

#4


#3


#2


#1

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+