New ABC shows

Here's your first look at what ABC has new in store for fall.















These shows won't debut until midseason:

Fall TV Schedules (ABC)

Today's ABC's turn to unveil their lineup for the fall (New shows denoted in all CAPS).

MONDAY:
8:00 - 10:00 Dancing with the Stars
10:00 - 11:00 Castle

TUESDAY:
8:00 - 8:30 LAST MAN STANDING
8:30 - 9:00 MAN UP
9:00 - 10:00 Dancing with the Stars the Results Show
10:00 - 11:00 Body Of Proof

WEDNESDAY:
8:00 - 8:30 The Middle
8:30 - 9:00 SUBURGATORY
9:00 - 9:30 Modern Family
9:30 - 10:00 Happy Endings
10:00 - 11:00 REVENGE

THURSDAY:
8:00 - 9:00 CHARLIE'S ANGELS
9:00 - 10:00 Grey’s Anatomy
10:00 - 11:00 Private Practice

FRIDAY:
8:00 - 9:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00 - 10:00 Shark Tank
10:00 - 11:00 20/20

SATURDAY:
8:00 - 11:00 Saturday Night College Football

SUNDAY:
7:00 - 8:00 America’s Funniest Home Videos
8:00 - 9:00 ONCE UPON A TIME
9:00 - 10:00 Desperate Housewives
10:00 - 11:00 PAN AM

So right now there is nothing that I watch on ABC and I'm not sure if that will change come this fall either. Certainly I'll have to take a look at the trailers for their new shows, but most of them seem to cater to the same demographic as their existing shows - women. There isn't too much of a shakeup in their scheduling, so I'm sure ABC will maintain a status quo with regards to their ratings. Thus far, they seem to have taken the fewest amount of risks with their schedule.

New FOX shows

Here are the trailers for the shows that will debut this fall on FOX.









The following trailers are for shows that won't debut until midseason.

Fall TV Schedules (FOX)

FOX is up next. Here's what they plan on airing this fall (New shows are denoted in all CAPS)...

MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM TERRA NOVA
9:00-10:00 PM House

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Glee
9:00-9:30 PM NEW GIRL
9:30-10:00 PM Raising Hope

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:30 PM THE X FACTOR PERFORMANCE SHOW
9:30-10:00 PM I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM THE X FACTOR RESULTS SHOW
9:00-10:00 PM Bones

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM Kitchen Nightmares
9:00-10:00 PM Fringe

SATURDAY
8:00-8:30 PM Cops
8:30-9:00 PM Cops
9:00-10:00 PM Encores/America’S Most Wanted (specials)

SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 PM The OT (NFL post-game)
7:30-8:00 PM The Cleveland Show
8:00-8:30 PM The Simpsons
8:30-9:00 PM ALLEN GREGORY
9:00-9:30 PM Family Guy
9:30-10:00 PM American Dad

As far as returning shows, almost everything is status quo, so nothing to worry about there. Where the intrigue lies is with Fox's new shows. Terra Nova has the possibility to be the next Lost or a very expensive failure. Meanwhile, we'll see how much of a draw Simon Cowell really is as he totes out another talent competition in American Idol's slot. And then on Sunday's they'll do their best to try and launch a successful animated program that isn't The Simpsons or something from the mind of Seth McFarland. From my perspective, those are some big question marks, but we'll get the answers to them in just a few short months.

Dynamic Duo

Courtesy of the most recent Saturday Night Live, check out The Ambiguously Gay Duo come to life, as portrayed by Jon Hamm and Jimmy Fallon (with awesome cameos by Stephen Colbert and Steve Carrell).

New NBC shows

Here are trailers to all of the new shows on NBC that will debut later this fall.

Fall TV Schedules (NBC)

It's a big week for television viewers as the major broadcast networks unveil their new fall schedules. NBC got things started yesterday with the announcement of their slate. Here's their schedule (New shows are denoted in all CAPS):

MONDAY
8-10 p.m. – “The Sing-Off”
10-11 p.m. – “THE PLAYBOY CLUB”

TUESDAY
8-10 p.m. – “The Biggest Loser”
10-11 p.m. – “Parenthood”

WEDNESDAY
8-8:30 p.m. – “UP ALL NIGHT”
8:30-9 p.m. – “FREE AGENTS”
9-10 p.m. — “Harry’s Law”
10-11 p.m. — “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”

THURSDAY
8-8:30 p.m. – “Community”
8:30-9 p.m. — “Parks and Recreation”
9-9:30 p.m. – “The Office”
9:30-10 p.m. – “WHITNEY”
10-11 p.m. – “PRIME SUSPECT”

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. – “Chuck”
9-10 p.m. – “GRIMM”
10-11 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”

SATURDAY
Encore programming

SUNDAY
7- 8:15 p.m. — “Football Night in America”
8:15-11:30 p.m. — “NBC Sunday Night Football”

This obviously will change if there's no football because of the lockout, but I doubt that will happen. Aside from that, the interesting things of note is Chuck moving to Fridays. They were only given a 13 episode order (instead of the usual 22) and NBC has said that this will be their final season, so placing it on Friday isn't that surprising. Parks and Recreation moves back to 8:30 and hopefully can sustain viewers. 30 Rock won't be back until mid-season due to Tina Fey's pregnancy. Wednesdays are probably their biggest gamble as they try to have sitcoms succeed on a night besides Thursdays. As for their new shows, I haven't had a chance to really investigate them yet, but it's clear some of them will need to be breakout hits if NBC hopes to regain prominance. I'll post trailers for the new shows later so that you can judge them for yourself.

Tribe Watch (Week 7)

Record: 24-13

Standing: First in the AL Central

Not a whole lot to talk about this week given the off day last Monday and the fact that the last two games have been rained out. Those rain outs are a real shame too considering that series against Seattle could have been a real good opportunity to get our bats going again after they laid dormant for most of the Tampa Bay series. We were fortunate to get the first win off of them, but then their stellar pitching shut us down for the second and third game. The first game against Seattle was tremendous as Hafner's home run provided the Indians with yet another walk-off win. It really seems like the magic is back at Jacobs Field (still don't like calling it by it's new name). It's a shame though that we'll be spending this upcoming week back out on the road. We have a pair of two game series to start the week against Kansas City and Chicago. We should play well against both, but we don't want to take anything for granted since wins against divisional rivals are important. Then we'll begin a weekend series at home with the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds have played us tough in recent years and they're currently a contender, so it should be a good test to see how we handle playing against a decent team. Since I live in Dayton, I really hope we do well so that I can listen to the Reds fans complain and cry. Win or lose though, it's always fun to be an Indians fan!

Killer job

I think I may have missed the boat leaving this off my top 30 for 2011 list, especially considering how many of the films I've put on there that have turned out to be duds.

NMR: Hereafter

What a somber, dreary wreck this is. I expected a lot more from another collaboration between director Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon. The film, which has three different storylines that eventually intersect, attempts to look at what possibly happens after we die. The first problem comes from the fact that the film takes a half hour to establish each of the storylines - something that was established within 2 minutes in the film's trailer. It then spends the next hour+ spinning its wheels and maintaining this melancholy mood that almost made you want to kill yourself just so you could get the truth on the hereafter quicker. The film briefly sparked my interest as the storylines began to merge, but it didn't last long. Given the talent involved in this project, it should have been way better and more engaging. Instead, we get a rare lifeless performance and Damon and Eastwood putting all his usual directorial touches on material that didn't deserve it. This one is a definite skip. Rating: **

Steel reserve

I can't quite get a beat on this film. At best, we could be in store for some awesome robot mayhem to help fill the void after Transformers leaves the theaters or at worst, this could basically be Over the Top for the 21st century.

Hammer Time

Despite the big box office for Fast Five last weekend, it was this weekend that the summer movie season officially began and like it has for quite a few years now, it started with a comic book movie. This time around, it's Thor, the god of thunder who gets a chance to shine on the big screen. Thor may not be as well known as say, Batman or Spiderman, but still has a rich mythology that gets properly introduced in this film.

Given the lesser name recognition, Thor certainly had an uphill battle. First there's the issue of non-fans. With most comic book heroes, unless they are really well known, the director has to find a way of staying true to the character's history, while also making the film accessible to people who are not as familiar with him. Thor's story is more problematic given that it deals with two worlds. A lot of Thor's story involves his battle and interactions in his home world of Asgard. But since Thor will eventually join forces with other human heroes like Iron Man and Captain America, the film must also find a way to have him come to Earth and begin to establish relationships with characters there. Finding the right balance on both of those issues is not easy. The fact the film was being directed by Kenneth Branagh, a man not known for making these type of films just added to the likelihood of failure.

But I'm happy to report that Thor manages to overcome those obstacles and deliver a mostly entertaining film. A large part of this is thanks to a winning performance by Chris Hemsworth in the leading role. Hemsworth (last seen as Kirk's father in the Star Trek reboot) is not just some himbo that has the right look. In battle, he comes off looking mightly, but he's also adept with the lighter, humorous scenes. Those scenes typically come during his interactions with a group of scientists who find him in New Mexico after Thor's father, Odin (played by Anthony Hopkins) banished him to Earth. Hemsworth's plays particuarly well with Natalie Portman, one of the scientists who not surprisingly finds herself smitten with the Norse god. The two have a nice chemsitry together and I would have liked for there to have been more scenes between them as their pairing felt a bit rushed.

The rushed nature is due to the fact that half of the film takes place is Asgard, Thor's home world. It is there that we're introduced to a whole host of characters, including Loki (played by Tom Hiddleston), Thor's brother who resents the power and favor Thor has earned. These scenes will likely confuse a lot of non-fans, but Branagh does his best on drawing from his Shakespearian roots to makes the themes played out in these scenes to be as relatable as possible. Credit also to the director for avoiding the cheesiness that can often coincide with scenes involving rainbow bridges, gatekeepers, and frost giants.

While I enjoyed Thor, I also couldn't help still feeling frustrated. This is yet another film heavy on exposition and light on action. While there are certainly some decent battle scenes, including a brief but effective sequence involving an entity known as The Destroyer, there really isn't an engaging conflict to sink your teeth into. Similar to the first two Iron Man films, the concept of defeating a bad guy is secondary to having characters go through a trial to discover themselves. And to think, we've got to endure this again with Captain America later this summer. And it may not even get better once next summer's Avengers movie happens because most of that will likely be spent on having the heroes learning how to work with each other. Internal conflict is fine, but at some point, I just want to see good and evil duke it out in a blaze of glory. That's why The Dark Knight remains the apex of these films because it put the conflict between Batman and the Joker in center stage.

Those who were already fans of Thor from the comics will be very pleased with this film. From all that I've read and personally know about the character, those involved with the film have done a nice job of staying true to the character and making him come to life. For outsiders, there is certainly enough here, particularly the scenes on here for you to enjoy and be able to watch the film without feeling lost. Everyone needs to realize though that this is ultimately still another piece in a larger puzzle. If you can accept the lack of payoff here and the teases of bigger things to come, then you'll be in for a fun time at the multiplex. Thor isn't quite a god amongst comic book movies, but director Kenneth Branagh makes a heroic effort to have this film be as enjoyable as it is. Grade: B

Tribe Watch (Week 6)

Record: 22-11

Standing: First in the AL Central

I'm more upset with the team than I should be right now and that's because of a tough luck loss we had today. The Angels managed to get all the little bounces going their way and some tactical errors on our end led to a frustrating defeat. But on the positive side, we managed to go .500 on the road trip, which is exactly what I wanted us to do when I previewed this West Coast trip last week. The Indians faced some tough pitching this past week and we're in every game. I like how this team isn't giving up in games, which makes them exciting until the very end. And after an off day tomorrow, the Indians come back home to play and see if they can continue to build on their 13-game win streak at Progressive Field. It should be interesting as they'll be taking on a couple of teams who have been surging as of late - the Tampa Bay Rays and the Seattle Mariners. We've proven we can play well against Seattle already, but Tampa is more of a mystery. We'll be facing more tough starting pitching from them, but we've played well against them in the past, so hopefully that continues again here. Maybe if we do well, we can finally get some national recognition for our success. Then again, maybe it's better if we don't have the national spotlight on us. No need to put an unnecessary target on our backs. Whatever happens, you know I'll continue watching. Go Tribe!!

Sein language

I've got no real reason to post this other than it's hilarious and I hadn't seen it in a long time. It's segment from Conan's old show involving people auditioning to replace Seinfeld. I can't tell you how many times my friends and I repeated the phrase "What's the deal with corn nuts?" after we saw this.

NMR: The Green Hornet

For everything that this movie does right, it does twice as many things wrong. Based on an old radio superhero, this modern telling of The Green Hornet, could have been so much better than what it was. There are a lot of likable actors in the cast including a star-making turn for Jay Chou, as the Hornet's sidekick Kato, Christoph Waltz hamming it up as the villainous Chudnofsky, Tom Wilkinson as the Hornet's late father, and even James Franco shows up in a fun cameo as a drug dealer. But all of the good they bring to the film is undone by Seth Rogen as the titular Hornet. He is beyond unlikable in this film. His sophmoric antics and unappealing attitude towards those around him make you wish that the movie was about Kato and not him. Rogen can be funny, but he was not only miscast here, but since he co-wrote the film he also didn't do a decent enough job making the character work. Visually, the film is also a mixed bag. Thanks to the ingenuity of Kato, the Hornet is equipped with several cool gadgets and a suped out car known as the Black Beauty. All of them are interesting and offer interesting takes on similar movie gadgets. However, director Michel Gondry goes overboard on the special effects to the point where they actually detract from the film instead of add to it. In particular, the scenes depicting Kato analyzing how to attack bad guys before he actually does is unnecessarily elaborate and technical. The way Guy Ritchie did this in Sherlock Holmes was much more effective. The Green Hornet character is interesting and worthy of a film adaptation. However, despite some appealing aspects in this film, the bad simply outweigh the good here to merit this film a recommendation. Those who opt to give it a view will likely feel stung. Rating: ** 1/2

Eagleton deleted scenes

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NMR: The Dilemma

I actually saw this in theaters back in January, but never got around to doing a review then, so I figured I would just do one now to mark its release on DVD/Blu-Ray. Given that it stars Vince Vaughn and Kevin James, this thing is seriously devoid of laughs. Instead of letting these guys be their natural, funny selves director Ron Howard explores some dark issues relating to fidelity and addiction. With a film like Parenthood, Howard was able to yield laughs out of the relatable events that the characters were involved in. Here, he's stuck in this limbo between realism and broad comedy and it never finds the right tone. For instance, amongst the scenes we see Vaughn struggling with finding a way to tell his friend that his wife (played by Winona Ryder) is cheating on him, we have these unnaturally bawdy scenes involving Queen Latifah. The most frustrating thing of all for me was that most of the dramatic tension could have easily been resolved had the characters just actually taken the time to talk with each other. By now you should know how much that irks a communication major. It's a cheap and lazy ploy to keep the story going. The likeable leads (which also include the engaging and sexy Jennifer Connelly) are able to keep the film from being utterly terrible, but they all deserve better material than what they are working with here. There's no dilemma here, you can take a pass on this movie. Rating: ** 1/2

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

With all the big news happening lately, let's not let this momentous occurence be ignored. Last night, the Beardocalypse took place as Will Ferrell got rid of Conan O'Brien's beard. I know a lot are upset by this, but frankly I never dug it so I'm glad it's gone. Check out all the hilarity that happened before the noteworthy shave.

Tribe Watch (Week 5)

Record: 19-8

Standing: First in AL Central

Ask and ye shall deliver. In my post last week I mentioned that we had two big series against divisional rivals that we needed to do well in and boy did we ever. Sweeping both series, the Indians are on a huge roll right now breaking or trying all sorts of records. The way we won each of the three games against the Tigers in comeback fashion was not only amazing to watch, but also critical in helping this team build character and become a legitimate playoff threat. But having a great April means nothing if you can't play well in the other months. So now as we head into April, we can only hope that Tribe will be able to keep up their winning ways. They get a different test of sorts this week as they head, once again, back out west for a road trip that features series against both Oakland and the Anaheim Angels. The supposed blueprint for a playoff team is having a winning record at home and play .500 on the road. So if we can accomplish that and split these series, I'll be perfectly happy for that. I only hope that I can stay up long enough each night in order to see that happen. Given the way they are playing, I think I'll find a way.

Number crunching

Check out what happens as this Price is Right contestant celebrates his $1.00 spin on the big wheel. (Sorry for the poor quality, I'll repost if I find a better one later).

NMR: Tron: Legacy

I had hoped that I could watch the original Tron before seeing this sequel, but of course Netflix sent me this one first instead. As it turns out, it didn't really matter since story doesn't really play a large role in this film. It doesn't take much to get caught up with what had happened in the first one here. And then as far as the actual plot for this film goes, it's flimsy and pedestrian. Clearly, the filmmakers hoped that the film's visuals would serve as enough of a distraction to make people ignore the lackluster story. And for a lot of the film, it does work. The video game world offers up unique visuals and scenes like the ones on the bikes are really enthralling. Unfortunately, there's not enough of those action scenes and eventually this video game world becomes boring and redundant. It's just the black, white, orange scheme everywhere. Credit goes to Jeff Bridges for not only coming back for this sequel but doing everything in his power to lend it some gravitas. Garrett Hedlund, who plays Bridges' son in the film, is devoid of any charisma and it's even more apparent whenever he's in scenes with the infinitely more talented Bridges. Whether you watch this film or not depends on what you value more - your eyes or your brain. There's nothing intellectually stimulating about this film, but for the most part it does offer some decent eye candy that will no doubt look great on HD TVs. As for me, I just wish technology could help improve the story as much as it did the visual effects. Rating: ***

Soulmates deleted scenes

I'm a little behind. Here are the deleted scenes from last week's Parks and Recreation.

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Great Scott

Just thought I would share some quick thoughts on Steve Carell's final episode as Michael Scott on The Office. I will admit that it was sad to see him go and I think the episode struck the right tone in emotion. I liked how Michael had some interaction with each of his employees before leaving and each meeting did a nice job of truly reflecting the relationship that character had with him. Whether it was maintaining a hatred of Toby, laughing off how much Oscar doesn't value him, playing a father figure to Erin or being so emotionally connected to both Jim and Pam. I also really enjoyed Michael acknowledging that this whole thing is supposed to still be a documentary before off-mic giving us one final "That's what she said".

The Office will certainly miss Carell's presence, but I also think this gives them an interesting opportunity to reinvent themselves by bringing in a new character or two. Let's just hope that permanent person isn't Will Ferrell, who has thus far been a disappointment in his three episodes. I love Will, but he's been more of an annoying distraction rather than a comedic boost during this story arc. His character is ill-defined and all over the place. In some ways, his screentime has taken away the significance of Carell's departure. Then again, maybe in some perverse way, that was the intention of bringing him on. Next week will be Ferrell's last episode, but then things get real interesting for the finale, which features several big name actors including Jim Carrey, Ray Romano, Ricky Gervais, James Spader, and Will Arnett all coming on to apply for the job. I'm not sure I'm convinced any of them are staying on full-time, but it should be fun to watch. In the meantime, I, along with all the Office fans, should thank Steve for seven wonderful season of awkward, but hilarious humor that will go down in the annals of one of the greatest TV characters of all time.

Hogwarts and all

Are you ready for the end? Here's the first full trailer for Part 2 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

A new Wii? Oui!

Looks like gamers can expect a new console from Nintendo sometime next year. Here are a few more details on the system from Mashable.com:

Nintendo has confirmed it will launch a successor to its popular Wii gaming console in 2012.

As of March, Nintendo has sold 86.01 million Wiis since 2006 when the console was launched. However, in 2010 the company sold only 15.1 million Wiis globally — a 25% drop from 2009 when it sold 20.1 million units.

The company also revealed its yearly financial results for 2010, marking a big drop in net profit — $825 million — 66 percent less than in 2009.

The declining Wii sales paired with the shoddy financial results make this a perfect moment for Nintendo to announce the next version of Wii. A “2012 launch” is as vague as launch dates come, but Nintendo promised to have a playable unit, as well as more details and specifications of the upcoming Wii model, at the E3 Expo, which is June 7-9 in Los Angeles.

NMR: The Tourist

Given the star power that this film boasts, it should have been way better than what it was. Not even the high-wattage status of Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp can save a film mired by a weak story and glacial storytelling. This, like last summer's Knight and Day, is an action comedy which features an average nobody unwittingly being paired with someone who is running from the law whose intentions aren't exactly clear. Unlike the aforementioned film, The Tourist is light on laughs and action. The film strolls along expecting us to come along for the ride simply because it involves these big name stars. It doesn't help that all of the extras in the film stare awestruck at the two leads as if they were looking at the real people and not their characters. Meanwhile, actors in supporting roles like Paul Bettany and Timothy Dalton get absolutely lost in the shuffle. There is an attempt to salvage things at the end by throwing in a couple of twists, but by that point the audience has already figured them out or they simply don't care. Don't get fooled by the A-list names attached to the film, the B-level story makes this a film you can skip. Rating: ** 1/2

Oh Brother!

Check out Paul Rudd in his latest film, the indie comedy Our Idiot Brother.

Tribe Watch (Week 4)

Record: 13-8

Standing: First place in AL Central

The Tribe certainly ended the week on a down note losing their last three games. However, the good news is that we still remain in first place and we were competitive in every game, except for one this week. I want to believe that this is not just a hot start, but a sign that this is a team that could compete in postseason this year. But for me to be convinced, the Indians are going to have to start playing better against their AL Central rivals. Currently, we have a 3-6 record against them, which is not good. We'll certainly have a chance to improve that though this week as we are back home playing against Kansas City and Detroit. Those teams are tied for second place, each a game and a half behind us. Playing well against them could give us some separation in the standings as we head into the month of May. Let's just hope the weather behaves and allows them to play ball because win or lose, I love watching the Tribe!

Special delivery

Here's the first trailer for 30 Minutes or Less. I like the pairing of Jesse Eisenberg and Aziz Ansari, but I have never found Danny McBride funny, so this one could go either way for me. Feel free to make up your own decision on it though. Warning: NSFW!

Train of thought

It seems lately, the only movies I see at the theater are twisty sci-fi films. That's ok though when they are of the quality of last month's The Adjustment Bureau or the latest film I saw, Source Code. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, the film does a nice job of keeping the action going while also keeping the audience guessing.

Based on previews alone, the film seems very straightforward. A soldier by the name of Colter Stevens (Gyllenhaal) is tasked with stopping a bomber who has boarded a train looking to blow up Chicago. However, what appears to be a routine mission is anything but. For starters, the bomb has actually already gone off. Through technology and sci-fi magic, Stevens is able to go back before the bomb exploded in hopes of discovering who the bomber is. For some films, that would be enough of a twist, but that's not good enough here. Needless to say, the story is even more complicated than that, but I won't spoil them for you here. Just be aware that there's a lot more going on in this film than what the previews might suggest.

The film is directed by Duncan Jones, who is beginning to develop quite the resume. Jones, the son of David Bowie, first entered on the scene with his 2009 film, Moon. That film was a smaller, creative film that explored the isolation of outer space and the effects that has on an astronaut. Once again Jones plays with the ideas of perception and reality here and for the most part it's sucessful. Even while working with a large budget, Jones is able to ground his film and let the storytelling remain the focus.

Selecting Gyllenhaal for the lead character was also an effective choice. He does a nice job of conveying the sense of confusion that his character, along with the audience, is experiencing as he tries to deal with his mission. Along the way, he encounters several people who help him out with varying levels of success. On the government side of things Vera Farmiga plays an office in charge of giving him his orders, while Jeffrey Wright (unnecessarily written as a cripple) is the man who developed the technology that allows Stevens to go back in time. As for on the train, Stevens meets Christina Warren (played by Michelle Monaghan) believes he is someone else. The two actors play well off of each other and it's interesting to see their characters develop a bond even as disaster is immeninent.

Where the film begins to fall apart slightly is in its climax. Credit to the writers for not taking the cheap ambiguous route with the film's storyline. But by not only offering up explanations, but also extending the film beyond the mission, the film creates more problematic questions. There are some plot holes that could have been avoided had the film not been so forthright with the capability of this technology. These questions become so nagging, that you end up leaving the theater only focusing on them instead of the fun ride you had throughout the majority of the film.

The film does offer up enough twists and turns though to still recommend it. While I think it's good enough to seek out still in theaters, it's also a film that may be better served to watch in the comfort of your own home so that you have a better opportunity to process everything that's happening. As a bonus, if you're a fan of the show Quantum Leap, you'll definitely enjoy this movie as there are a few shoutouts to the sci-fi drama. Source Code requires some patience, but if you're willing to take the ride, you won't need to travel back in time to correct your mistake. Grade: B

Mixed media message

So this is really cool...there's a new videogame out called Portal 2. I'm not familiar with the game itself, but apparently, as part of the game there is an interactive trailer for the new film, Super 8. It's not a straightforward video showing clips from the film. Instead, it's a playable video game level where the action is connected to what will happen in the film. It's hard for me to explain, so I'll just suggest you watch the video below. This trailer doesn't really offer up any new details on the film, but is still a very slick way of advertising the film in a non-traditional manner.

NMR: Fair Game

I finally got around to watching this one from Netflix after it had been sitting on my end table for a couple of weeks. For those unfamiliar with the title, this is the film that came out near the end of last year regarding the Valerie Plame case. Naomi Watts plays Plame, while Sean Penn plays her husband, Joe Wilson. As would be expected, the acting from the two leads is excellent. Penn, especially, is good here and I tend not to like a lot of his work. The film's biggest flaw though is that it is somewhat without a purpose. Those familiar with her story (she was outed as a CIA agent after her husband spoke out against the Bush administration's claim that Iraq had WMDs) don't really learn anything new here that they didn't already know about the story. And those that either don't care about the story or don't like Plame will find nothing here that will change those opinions. The film never bores, but yet doesn't do enough to justify the existence of the film in the first place. Only those who are really fascinated by her story or big fans of the leads should bother giving this one a watch. Rating: ***

Tribe Watch 2011

Current record: 11-4

Current standing: First in AL Central

Week in review: So because of my brief hiatus away from the blog I haven't had an opportunity until now to talk about my beloved Cleveland Indians. In the past, I've tried doing weekly review columns on their performance, but they've been so terrible in recent years that I get burned out doing those posts by mid-May. Of course, this year I haven't written anything and they've been off to a hot start. I hope my starting to write about them doesn't jinx their performance.

The Tribe thus far doesn't show any signs of slowing down though and it's been a result of everyone playing well. The offense has been doing a great job of scoring early and the starting pitching has been phenomenal at keeping the opposition off the bases. Today, we capped off a great sweep against the Baltimore Orioles and today's win was doubly nice because it marked the return of Grady Sizemore who has been injured for nearly a year. He was right back into rare form today getting two hits, including a solo home run (his first dinger since '09!).

This upcoming week, we've got a big series against the Kansas City Royals. Normally, this wouldn't be the case, but the Royals have gotten off to a strong start as well and they are just a game back of us in the standings. If we perform well in this series, we could give ourselves some seperation from the rest of the division. After going to KC, we head up to Minnesota to play against the struggling Twins. Having a strong week here, could be a good indication of this being a great season instead of just a fluke opening. Regardless of the outcome though, I'll always support my team. Go Tribe!!!

Fancy Party deleted scenes

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NMR: The Fighter

This one is long overdue considering I saw it several weeks ago. It's a shame too considering how much I enjoyed this movie. This was completely worthy of all the nominations and awards it earned. Clearly the strength of this film lies in the superb acting performances for all of the leads. First and foremost is Christian Bale, who finally got the recognition he deserved by winning his first Oscar. Bale once again takes (unnecessary) risks to his own body in order to properly convey the reality of the character he's portraying. His depiction of a crack addict is somehow both touching and sobering. You also have tremendous work done by Amy Adams and Melissa Leo (who also won an Oscar) as the two primary women in boxer Mickey Ward's (played by Mark Wahlberg) life. It's riveting watching Ward try to please everyone and the way it causes him to be held back in other facets of his life and career. Because of the family dynamics involved in Mickey's life this film is portrayed as something much more than a simple boxing film. Boxing really plays a backdrop to the character study, despite the fact that the scenes that involve boxing are very well done. Because of this, the film's climax is a bit baffling. While completely true as to what happened in Mickey's own life, it seems odd to end the film on such a positive, Hollywood-esque note. It didn't seem to fit given how secondary boxing was throughout the majority of the film. It's certainly not a terrible ending, just a bit confusing and somewhat underwhelming. Still, I don't want people to focus on this aspect of the review. I am strongly recommending this film for everyone. There are enough engaging aspects here in order for anyone to find something that they'll enjoy about this movie. With very little left that I haven't seen from 2010 that I want to see, this likely will be the last film that ends up making it on my Top Ten list for last year. Rating: ****1/2

Aliens nation

Laugh at the title all you like, the latest trailer for Cowboys & Aliens continues to get me excited for this film. It looks to be one hell of an adventure and one of the must-see films for this summer.

Post #1000!!!!

I had initially held off posting this trying to give it the space that it deserved, but then I got busy and now I've neglected this entire blog for too long. Anyways, this is a special moment for me, even if it has taken practically four years to get here. If you've been an avid reader, I thank you and hope that you'll continue. And I hope you spread the word as well. I'd love to get more visitors. And if you want to see different types of content on here than what I typically post, let me know that too. I've had fun sharing all of my thoughts on here and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. Here's to a thousand more posts and beyond!

Green party

New footage of The Green Lantern was shown at Wondercon last week and a portion of it has hit the web for all of us to enjoy.

Excellent!

Fire up the phone booth...it appears that Bill and Ted are ready for another adventure. From movieline.com:

Apparently, 20 years isn’t too long to wait before making a sequel. Two decades after the last Bill & Ted movie hit theaters, Keanu Reeves has announced that franchise writers Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon are feverishly working on a script, the details of which the actor shared on Monday afternoon.

The actor sat down with MTV to promote his indie film Henry’s Crime and assured the outlet that the third Bill & Ted installment is very much underway — in spite of the fact that the titular characters, played by Alex Winter and Reeves, would be 50 today.

“I know a little bit,” Reeves revealed about the plot. “When we last got together, part of it was that Bill and Ted were supposed to have written the song that saved the world, and it hasn’t happened. […] So they’ve now become kind of possessed by trying to do that. Then there’s an element of time and they have to go back.”

So yes, the Wyld Stallyns may reunite onscreen one more time to achieve the greatness that George Carlin’s Rufus predicted in the 1989 original film. Party on, dudes.

Creating a buzz

So I know I'm a little late to the party, but in case you haven't seen it yet, here's the first full trailer for The Hangover Part II

NMR: Unstoppable

You pretty much know what you're going to get here. If you've seen any of the previous collaborations between Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott, then be prepared for more of the same here. Which is not to say that's a bad thing, because their efforts always yield very enjoyable films. The same holds true here as this once again does a nice job of balancing action and drama. Based on true events, this is a thrilling story of how an accident caused a train containing explosive material to get loose without an conductor. The efforts to stop this train produce a lot of tense moments, filmed expertly by Scott. Adding to the mix is Chris Pine, who plays a 'wet behind the ears' train worker who helps Denzel in trying to stop the runaway train. Pine proves here with another outstanding performance that his work in Star Trek was no fluke or that it was just some aberration caused by J.J. Abrams working his magic. The film is especially effective if you're unaware of how things turn out. Since has it been a huge disaster, you probably would have recalled it actually happening, so you know the film doesn't end that way. However, the fate of the primary characters is likely unclear to you and if you don't know, watching the film becomes that much more intense. This is a fun ride and a solid popcorn film that is worth a rental if you're looking for some thrills. Rating: ****

Camping deleted scenes

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Fringe goes fourth

FOX renews Fringe for Season 4!

I received the best news ever late last week when it was announced that FOX had picked up Fringe for a fourth season. Everybody who reads this blog knows what a huge fan of the show I am, but you may not realize how close the show came to cancellation. I am absolutely stunned by this news. FOX has burned me before with shows like Arrested Development, so this was a nice change of pace. I'm glad to see that FOX is committed to this show and its small, but faithful followers. Now it's our turn to show FOX our appreciation by increasing Fringe's audience. If you're watching this show, thank you and tell your friends. If you're not watching this show, pick up the first couple of seasons on DVD somehow and get caught up - you won't be disappointed!

America...F*** Yeah!

Here's the second full trailer for Captain America: The First Avenger.

NMR: Get Low

At one time, some thought this film might be in the running for some nominations during awards season, however that never came to fruition. It's easy to see why there would be such speculation when you have A-list talent like Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, and Sissy Spacek headlining your film. Each of them give solid performances, but none of them really stretch beyond their wheelhouse. So while they play their roles well, they're not giving us anything that we haven't seen before. The plot involves an old hermit (Duvall) who decides that he wants to throw a funeral for himself before he dies. He wants everyone to show up and tell stories about him. Of course, as the film goes on, we learn that there's more to this party than meets the eye. Secrets are revealed and everyone's perceptions on Duvall and themselves begin to change. I liked the film for it's folksy nature and good performances. However, it ultimately felt pointless. I didn't really see what I was supposed to have taken away from watching the film. It lacked a poignancy that would have given the film a better chance at getting those nominations. The audience for this film is limited and really I'd only recommend it if you're a big fan of the lead actors. Rating: ***

Harvest Festival Producer's Cut

Instead of posting deleted scenes for this past week's amazing episode of Parks and Recreation, here's a producer's cut of the episode that features over 4 extra minutes of awesomeness not seen in the original airing.

Matt-ers of the heart

A few weeks back I finally made it to the theater (slim pickings lately at the box office) and caught the long-delayed The Adjustment Bureau. The film is based off of a short story by Philip K. Dick, whose stories have also been turned into films such Minority Report and I, Robot. However, unlike many of the previous adaptations of his works, this film doesn't focus as much on the sci-fi and scares. Instead, this film is much more about love, destiny, and humanity.

Matt Damon stars as David Norris, a young politician running for New York Senator. While his political future has a lot of promise, he's also had some obstacles thrown in his way preventing him from achieving more sooner. David's bid for senate is thwarted due to a last-minute scandal, however the night isn't a complete disaster. While working on his concession speech in a bathroom, he meets Elise (played by Emily Blunt). It's an odd meeting, but the two instantly hit it off. This is such a critical scene for the film. Through this initial meeting, the audience has to buy into their chemistry otherwise the rest of the film, which centers around a secretive group trying to prevent them from being together, doesn't work.

Thankfully, for the film, the scene does work and the connection these two have is palpable. Both actors play their roles just right. Damon is the golden boy with just the right level of vulnerability to make him likable. And Blunt gives off a wonderful level of sexiness thanks to her balance of British civility and wild child allure. You want to see these two together and when they are, the film's energy increases ten-fold.

Of course, having them immediately get together wouldn't be much of a story. The obstacle to their love is a mysterious group of fedora clad men who seemingly have special abilities. They can freeze time, make things move with a flick of their hand and go through any door and be exactly where they want to be. One of these men (Anthony Mackie from The Hurt Locker) is assigned specifically to watch over David, but doesn't always get the job done. Mad Men's John Slattery is another member of this group who tells David that him and Elise being together is not part of the plan. The most interesting member of this adjustment bureau is Terence Stamp, who plays Thompson, an elder statesman of the group who's called in when things start to get out of hand. He adds a needed level of gravitas to both the group and the film. His scenes are fascinating as he displays a level of calm and composure, with an underlying level of menace as David and Elise continue to mess their supposed destiny.

This theme of destiny, depending on your philosophical beliefs, will likely have some feeling uneasy or incredulous as they watch the film's plot unfold. It's not the easiest sell, but I think if you can look past it, you'll be better off for it. The winning chemistry that Damon and Blunt have make you root for them and hope they wind up together regardless of if it's their destiny or not. Without divulging too much about the film's finish I will say that I was slightly disappointed. It attempts to offer up a happy ending without really giving us any answers. The fact that this isn't just a love story makes that frustrating. Why bother adding in this mysterious group to the mix if you're not going to unpack that mystery for the audience.

Still, there is enough that the film does offer that makes this worthwhile. There is enough mystery/sci-fi elements to make guys want to stick around and women will really appreciate the love story. The commercials have been somewhat misleading as to the true nature of this film, so if you're trying to convince the opposite sex in joining you to see this, they have my word that they'll enjoy this. Often movies that have their release date pushed back multiple times are doomed to fail, so I'm glad to see that this film's destiny was to be good, regardless of when it finally got released. Grade: B

Pirated movie

Here's the latest trailer for the fourth outing of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

NMR: The Switch

This is one of those films that you watch and just shake your head in confusion. As you watch, you wonder why these fine actors would choose to align themselves with such crummy material. Both the film's leads (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston) and the supporting players (Jeff Goldblum and Juliette Lewis) are likeable people both on and off screen and usually are a highlight in any film that they are in. So what are they doing slumming it in a film with a 'only in Hollywood' plot (Aniston's character wants to have a baby and Bateman secretly swaps her donor's seed with his own)? As I watched the plot unfold I just kept wishing they would eliminate the unlikable neuroses of these characters and just let them be happy together. Of course, the movie would be done in 30 seconds, but then again that probably would be preferable to what they offered up here. And it should also be made clear that despite the marketing, this isn't really a comedy. In fact, I just felt sad for most of the film. Watching characters know exactly what they want, but failing to communicate that to each other isn't my idea of hilarity. I was able to get through the film because the cast is so likable, but I wouldn't suggest you do the same. Opt for better films that also feature these actors. That's a switch that we can all support. Rating: ** 1/2

Super news

Here's a hodgepodge of news tidbits relating to upcoming superhero movies/tv shows. None of these merited their own post, so I'm just lumping them all here into one.

- Joseph Gordon Levitt has now been confirmed to have a role in The Dark Knight Rises.

- In what can never be a good sign, the crew for the Captain America movie will be doing reshoots in a couple of weeks.

- Actor C. Thomas Howell confirmed in a radio interview that the villain for next year's new Spiderman film will be Lizard.

- Director Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) has announced that he will no longer be directing the new Wolverine film.

- Finally, here is your first look at Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman, which will be airing next fall on NBC:

NMR: Doc time

Here's a pair of recent documentaries I've caught through Netflix:

Waiting for Superman: Anyone who is a teacher or has children in public education really should see this. It attempts to investigate the problems with our failing schools and the approaches we can take to fix them. Some of the director's arguments are controversial - he is rather critical of teacher unions - but I rather he take that approach than just waffle and have no voice at all. I recognize that with the economy and foreign wars there are a lot of pressing issues that this country needs to face, but this is one that deserves more of our attention. The film certainly isn't perfect. Aside from the director's opinions, I didn't feel that the individual stories of certain children he included in the film really added anything. This is one time where I feel the logos should have dominated the film instead of pathos. Still, the film's topic is so important that I really hope that a lot of people watch this documentary so that more people can begin discussing this issue and hopefuly get it resolved to help save our children and their future. Rating: ****

Freakonomics: Based on the wildly popular nonfiction book, this film takes five ideas from the book and tries to illustrate them further. The ideas are seperated into segments, each directed by renowed documentary filmmaker. The quality of the segments are wildly uneven unfortunately. The one on cheating in sumo wrestling was deathly dull, while Morgan Spurlock's examination on the importance of the name given to a child is fun, but seemingly pointless. The most interesting things to come out of the film are really the core arguments that can be found in the book itself. Apparently, nonfiction books have no better success at begin adapted for the screen than novels do. For those that have read the book, this may be a mildly amusing extension of the authors' ideas. For those who haven't read the book, skip the film and just go to the library and rent this engaging read instead. Rating: ***

More Recreation time

NBC made my day earlier this week with news that they they have renewed Parks & Recreation for another season. Also, part of the announcement was season renewals for The Office and Community. You can read more about the pickup here.

In other P & R news, Amy Poehler has been going around recently pitching the idea that Bill Murray should play the oft-mentioned, never-seen Mayor Gunderson. To me, this is a truly inspired idea and I hope that they somehow make it happen. Here's more on how she's trying to woo Murray here:

Crowne jewel

Wow, a summer movie for grown-ups that doesn't feature aliens, explosions, or robots? Given our society, this is will sadly probably tank at the box office, but I'm am completely sold after seeing this first trailer for Larry Crowne, the new film starring, written, and directed by Tom Hanks. Having a major focus of the film be about college speech class makes the film all the more relatable to me.

NMR: Stand-up fellas

Louis C.K.: Hilarious - I became familiar with Louis when he had that multi-episode arc last season on Parks and Recreation and then really began to appreciate his comedy when I watched his FX series, appropriately titled Louie, last summer. It's a very crass and curmudgeon-y style of humor, but his observations are sharp and funny. I particularly like how much he mocks the lazy, yet self-entitled culture that is sweeping our country today. His riff on how everything's amazing, yet nobody's happy is a routine I've praised on here before. But for as much as he ridicules others, he spends just as much time ragging on his own pathetic life. All of it is very funny stuff and this special is a must see for anyone who appreciates his humor. About the only downside is that Louis doesn't stray from his source material too much and with a runtime of an hour and twenty minutes approximately, it's a bit too much of the same thing. Edit it down to an hour and this is an amazing showcase. Still worth a rental if you're in need of a laugh. Rating: **** 1/2

Daniel Tosh: Happy Thoughts - I actually caught this on Comedy Central, but it's now available on DVD, so including it here works. Tosh, of course, has gained noteriety from his show Tosh.O on Comedy Central where he plays web videos and mocks the idiots in them. On that show, Tosh can be very funny, but given what's happening in the videos he's showing, it's sort of shooting fish in a barrel. His standup is a bit of a different story. Tosh is a likeable guy and has good timing, but I've found that a lot of the topics he typically covers in his routine are not areas that really speak to me. He has some good jokes, but he'll go off on tangents that also bore me. I guess this is my roundabout way of saying that just because you enjoy his weekly show doesn't mean you'll appreciate this. Given how subjective comedy is, it's hard for me to tell you whether or not you'll see this, everyone has their own tastes. For me, there was enough laughs to get me through the special, but I certainly had hoped for more. Rating: ***

Indianapolis deleted scenes

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Make it happen Cap'n

Looks like the health-stapo is out to take away another one of our beloved food mascots, but let's hope the Cap'n puts up a strong fight. Here's more details on the story from Time.com:

A flurry of reports (including our own) had noted the beloved Captain was retiring. But the Cap'n himself announced, on a newly-created Twitter account, that "I'm hearing the rumors. I would never retire. I love being a captain too much!"

As part of an initiative campaigning for healthier children's meals, it had appeared that PepsiCo. – the parent company of Quaker – had been quietly lowering the sails of the iconic breakfast cereal since 2007. Daily Finance reports that PepsiCo. “vowed to reduce added sugar per serving by 25% and saturated fat by 15% in its products over the next 10 years,” and efforts to reduce child obesity could have been the reason behind the popular breakfast item's coming end. The cereal's official website skirts around the issue of actual nutritional value, offering only, "Cap'n Crunch is a great-tasting cereal which supplies grains, an excellent source of seven essential vitamins, is low in fat, cholesterol-free, has 0 grams of trans fat, and contains 1 gram of fiber."

(More on TIME.com: Healthy and Holy? Nuns Dig Into McDonald's Over Childhood Obesity)

Cap'n Crunch was created in 1963 by flavorist Pamela Low, who created the ubiquitous yellow puffs from a brown sugar and butter concoction that her grandmother served over rice. Several successful variants were rolled out over the years, including Peanut Butter Crunch, Choco Crunch, and NewsFeed's personal favorite, the elusive and wild Crunch Berry.

Cap'n Horatio Magellan Crunch, though you may not be the healthiest cereal on the block, you're certainly a part of a balanced breakfast in our hearts. (via Daily Finance)

Lenten sacrifices

My favorite late-night hosts got into the 'holiday' spirit by offering up their takes on how we should remember Ash Wednesday.

First, Stephen Colbert explains what he plans on giving up for Lent.


Then, Conan, thanks to the aid of Pee Wee Herman, explains to use the origin story of Ash Wednesday.

NMR: The Next Three Days

Despite the star power of Russell Crowe, this film came and went from theaters last fall with little fanfare. Blame it on a rather dull and uninteresting film that couldn't be bailed out by decent acting. Written and directed by Paul Haggis, this movie took out all the interesting elements of a prison break movie. By having the plotting done by someone from the outside, none of the creativity or intelligence that comes with creating such a plan is displayed. Another major flaw is having the story jump three years after Crowe's wife (played by Elizabeth Banks) is arrested. The jump seemed to be a cop out because had we gone through watching her trial, we would have seen how flimsy of a case there was against her, which would have killed the story's credibility. It also doesn't help matters that Banks and Crowe are a mismatch and thus there's no motivation on the audience's part to really see them reconnect. The film picks up in the final act with some decent tension, but by that point it had pretty much frittered away any goodwill. As more of the best picture nominees start coming out for rental, there will be certainly bettter options than this if you're looking for a good film to watch on a Saturday night. You can skip this one unless you want to feel like you've been watching a movie for three days. Rating: **