Sherlock Holmes

This is not your grandfather's Sherlock Holmes, but that's not what's going to put people in the seats. Guy Ritchie understands that as he attempts to revamp the series into an action blockbuster.

Holmes is a man of deductive reasoning, so it stands to reason that this may be a movie which blurs the line of suspense/mystery and action blockbuster. But in an age where Michael Bay is allowed to make movies the traits of the blockbuster will always win out.

Ritchie uses the same techniques he has always used in his movies, the quick cuts and intense fight scenes. But in a series like this where most of the audience already have an idea of what Sherlock Holmes is all about, it doesn't really work.

The plot isn't all that important to the enjoyment of the movie. It has secret societies, ritual sacrifices, and the use of black magic. Its all big picture stuff, the five writers who worked on the screenplay don't pay attention to any of the important details in order to keep the audience hooked. Rather they add some details to a couple of the scenes to make Holmes look like a genius later. But the whole movie is so overcrowded with objects to make it look like a period piece, many in the audience just won't be that invested. And this is all just little fluff pieces until they can get back to the ass kicking.

What makes this movie special in any kind of way is the cast. Robert Downey Jr. takes what is given to him and really makes it his own. It becomes enjoyable to watch Downey interact with the world around him. The subtle face tweaks and quirks he adds to a character which seems to have too much brawn is what helped to resurrect his career.

Jude Law is not what you would expect out of a Watson but who cares. Law does better when acting in period pieces anyway, so why not enjoy it. He proves equal to Downey's skill and the interaction between the two is a wonderful bromance with adorable flirtations throughout the movie. Holmes' jealousy of Watson's fiance adds to the tension between the two, as you know its these two that belong together.

Rachel McAdams is hot.

Eddie Marsan also does admirably as the chief investigator for Scotland Yard and also shares some great chemistry with Downey. Mark Strong looks more like an over-sized version of Andy Garcia but doesn't take anything away from the cast. It's too bad you couldn't put this cast into a project with a little more heart, that could really be something.

The franchise has been left open for a sequel as, similar to the Batman series, fans of Sherlock Holmes realize that the hero's greatest adversary, Professor Moriarty, was not the primary villain. But this movie lacks the substance for anyone seeing it opening weekend to suggest it to friends with so many other options during the holiday season. This franchise may just be left on the shelves right next to The Golden Compass. C+

Avatar

Want to see what a quarter-of-a-billion-dollars looks like? The King-of-the-World has created a new domain to rule.
One of the most successful director's of our time, he is responsible for blockbusters like Terminator, Titanic and Aquaman his newest conquest takes place years in the future with a group of natives in the way of a precious mineral. Many have declared that Cameron's new world seen in Avatar will revolutionize the way movies are made. And at first look the movie definitely has the qualities to revolutionize Hollywood.
This first half of this movie is made to be seen on IMAX with beautiful landscapes and wonderful colors, the screen lights up. Creating such a wonderfully vivid world with creative inhabitants is definitely what Cameron gets off to and what comes out is a beautiful explosion of florescent color or at least thats how i imagine it.
Cameron wants us to connect with the environment around him and has nothing but money to burn so he spends most of the first act exploring it. And while visually stunning it takes a while to progress to any kind of story.
The story is certainly nothing special with blatant references to recent American wars and environmental issues. The story is your typical cowboy and Indian plot line that takes place in the year 2154.
The characters are also rather simplistic, not that there is anything wrong with that. It allows the audience to easily connect to the lead character Jake Sully as he decides which side is really worth fighting for. Colonel Miles Quartich played by Stephen Lang is also rather simplistic and formulaic. But that doesn't make him any less fun to watch as his character doesn't have time to feel pain he has asses to kick and inhabitants to displace. Then there is Sigourney Weaver who more or less reprises her role as Dr. Ellen Ripley.
The end battle in the movie is epic with explosions everywhere. Its everything you were waiting for and its all done right.
Many of the theaters show the movie in 3D as well as 2D. And while normally I hate this type of production Cameron never breaks the fourth wall in a way to shock the audience as most movies which use this technique do. The use of 3D is there merely to enhance the scenery.
This movie is revolutionary and visually it has set the bar for generations to come. Hollywood will only benefit from its creation, but the story has been done better before and without quite the price tag. B

Up in the Air

There is no question that George Clooney's star is among one of the brightest in Hollywood, his new movie Up in the Air shows how bright it can be.

Jason Reitman began writing this script in 2002. It was supposed to be his directorial debut, but then the opportunity to direct Thank you for Smoking and Juno came along so he put the project on hold. Then you know how the story went: housing market tanked, banks became bankrupt, and joblessness flew higher than ever. All of a sudden this movie became topical and hit at the right moment.

BRIEF SPOILER (more like an introductory summary) ALERT
Clooney's character Ryan Bingham has what would seem like the unsavory job of firing people, he is brought in when the managers don't have the sack to do it themselves. His character may or may not enjoy his work but he is good at it and he loves the perks. The perks being frequent flier miles, and elite customer service by the hotel staff and car rentals he does business with. His life on the road is in jeopardy when a young upstart reduces the amount of travel by having the firings take place over the web (think skype with nothing but bad news).
FIN

Clooney turns on the charm as only he can, any other actor playing the lead character Ryan Bingham may have ruined the movie. He makes a ruthless terminator which has severed all human connections seem endearing. The character is slick and witty, everything the aspiring business executive would want to be.

There to challenge Bingham's lifestyle is love interest Alex Goran, played by Vera Farminga, and young upstart Natalie Keener, played by Anna Kendrick. Alex is more or less Bingham with a vagina. They are turned on by elite status and revel in their lifestyle on the road. Farminga goes toe to toe with Clooney and comes out a winner. Most actresses and actors alike may become intimidated, she responds to it. Farminga shows just as much class and wit as Clooney does. She has shown her ability to interact with top names before (such as DiCaprio and Damon, in the same movie) and i hope it is seen that she is not just a character actor, she's a movie star.

Natalie is a younger version of Ryan Bingham, while she may have qualms with the type of work she is doing she wants nothing more than please her boss, played by Jason Bateman. Bateman preforms outstandingly in an ensemble role as would be expected (Jason, please stay away from roles where you're asked to shoulder all the weight like the abysmal comedy Extract, thank you.) Kendrick can make you want to kick her in the face and comfort her all within 10 minutes. Truly showing powerful range, her performance steals the show away from Clooney at certain points in the movie.

The dialogue is quick and witty, only accentuated by the perfect casting of the movie. One of the most powerful bits of scripted dialogue comes when the three main characters share their views on life, love, and business. The other moments that prove gut-wrenching is when the people are actually being fired. Rather then cast actors, besides a few notables, Reitman decides instead to cast people in St. Louis and Detroit who have actually lost their jobs.

The movie takes a turn with the tone in the third act emotionally losing a bit of its biting satirical wit for something softer. This may lose some people in the audience but here is where I really connected with the character. The message of the movie may be laid on a little thick but it doesn't take away from its strength.

Up in the Air does everything right, from the writing, to the casting, to the music selection. This movie is going to hit close to home for a lot of people right now. If people in Hollywood could churn out more movies like this there would be a lot more job security in the studios. A-

The Men Who Stare at Goats

Based on the work of non-fiction with the same name The Men Who Stare at Goats starts with a simple disclaimer: More of this is true than you would believe. And that is what draws the viewer in, a look into a government program looking for advantages in the counterculture.

The idea of this movie though is probably the most interesting part. In fact had it not been for a push from Clooney and the acquisition of the big name actors who love this genre of farce then this movie would probably not have been made.

Its these big names that are what makes the movie. Clooney gets fully entrenched in this movie. Involved in sight-gags galore mostly involving his facial twitches and bulging eyes. Kevin Spacey also does well as his rival taking a sinister approach in the New Earth Army. His laughs come from being a general douche which he plays well, especially when facing a lovable opponent.

The show stealer is Jeff Bridges as Bill Django. There are elements of 'the Dude' in his portrayal of the character just on acid instead. His discovery of the new age movement is very enjoyable in the command position But unfortunately he is not in the movie nearly enough.

The only character not carrying his own weight was Ewen McGregor which is unfortunate as you get a whole lot of him as he tries to move the plot along in this one. It's like asking Zeppo Marx to take the lead away from Groucho (who is Zeppo -- Exactly! (I hope you are not asking who Groucho is (here comes a lot of end parenthesis marks))).

It seems like a long wait until you finally get to the part of the plot that you have been waiting for. You must first trudge through his personal reasons for going into Kuwait. When you finally get there it barely seems worth all that wondering in the desert.

The movie has a lot of little laughs but they are not connected in any sort of sequence. Rookie director Grant Heslov who worked with Clooney on Good Night and Good Luck seems to rely on the big names he has obtained rather than constructing the story.

Not that he is given much to work with as writer Peter Straughan doesn't seem to give the director a quality map to follow. The book doesn't have a central plot to it, as the book instead presents the fact he has obtained using a satiric tone. It is up to Staughan to put the plot together and he doesn't seem to get it done and the jokes that he offers seem to be too sly to translate to the big screen.

For this type of movie to be effective the jokes need to be much more edgy instead it follows its own advice and instead tries to be adorable. The movie had all the tools to put together something special but misses the mark. C-

Where the Wild Things Are

I tried for a while to find the book before I went to go see this movie, but it was to no avail. I felt like I remembered a good chunk of it --Kid gets sent to bed with no dinner, Kid meets wild things, rumpus, Kid gets lonely, Kid eats his dinner which is still hot. So I was able to enter the theater with a faint feeling of nostalgia. It also helped that I went with my friend's mom and she bought my ticket. Those were the days.

Spike Jonze was the perfect pick for this movie. In fact rumor has it that he was handpicked for this movie by Maurice Sendak, the author of the 1967 book. Jonze didn't have a lot to work with -- 10 sentences to be exact. So he took the story as a springboard and jumped into his own imagination.

Jonze tries to deal with some philosophical issues with this movie. The difficulties of being a child, the impossibility of pleasing everyone, the use of anger and the effects it has on the people around you but it doesn't feel preachy. The problem is the movie has the feel of a group therapy meeting. You don't feel childhood wonder, you wonder how much rope the goat will use to end it all.

All the monsters are much more developed, Jonze gives them names, personalities and social disorders. We also learn much more of Max's backstory a lonely child in a divorced family who often uses anger to solve his problems.

This movie is not for children. I got a little scared when when Carol, portrayed by James Gandolfini, loses it. And while these monsters may look like they pal around with H.R. Pufnstuf you almost expect the other members of the Sopranos to come out of the woods and take care of business. A child around Max's age will probably have to leave the theater, so the real audience is for people who were once children.

Jonze stated that he tried to frame this movie in the eyes of a 9-year-old. But really the movie is framed in the mind of an adult who is trying to understand a child. The movie does well for itself but it starts to lose some of its wonder towards the end. Overall the world that Jonze has created is a fantastic look into the imagination of adult who refuses to grow up. Its creation does not tarnish the book but rather stands as its own artistic statement. C

Zombieland

There were so many other movies that came out at the same time you would think there would be more of a fight for the number one movie this weekend. But there is little doubt after seeing it as why it deserved to get the number one spot. Zombieland is a flat out fun movie.

The audience isn't the only one who enjoys this film. It is very clear that Woody Harrelson enjoyed doing this movie. His character has a tough exterior with a soft inside which helps to create some great jokes along with a surprisingly touching emotional side that fits in the movie. I want to see him in more stuff.

Emma Stone really needs to put it in her contract that she will only portray the love interest of hipster children. No one needs anymore House Bunny. More of this and Superbad is a plus. She lets her good looks come out and is able to play with it as she teases Jesse Eisenberg who would only go for him if he was the last guy on earth, which is appropriate.

I'm never sure what to make of narration in a film I like it here, it definitely works. Along with the visual pop-ups of the rules that Eisenberg's character has created to survive the zombie attacks. The pop-ups are done in a very humorous war that works with the tone of the movie.

For those who love the horror genre it will definitely fill your blood and guts quota. The beginning of the film is full of the flesh eating goons. But throughout the rest of the film there is sporadic reappearances without any blood or guts which may disappoint the fans of the horror genre but for those who love character development it fills the void quite nicely.

A nice tip of the hat to both "Night of the Living Dead" and "Shaun of the Dead." This movie understands how fun and gruesome zombies can be while understanding that the undead can not be taken too seriously. An amazing cameo wraps up the movie quite nicely. B+

This Week In TV

Well its been a while since I've seen a movie and I can't go that long without blogging so I thought I would give you some of my thoughts of the TV that I have seen over the week. I'll let you know if any have Spoilers.

2009 EMMYs
Can we do ourselves a favor and let Neil Patrick Harris host the Oscars? He has done a terrific job hosting both the TONNYs and the EMMYs and has received praise from almost every major outlet and a few past hosts. His opening number Put Down the Remote was great. The speeches were kept short (except for the made for TV movie section) which was a nice change of pace. 30 rock and Mad Men clearly deserved to come out on top, they are the best TV have to offer. Speaking of...

Mad Men (SPOILERS)
For those of you that claims that nothing happens on the show, there I hope you can finally be happy. A lot of action in this episode. It was nice to see Joan a lot, I usually like to turn down the volume so we can have some alone time but she really had some genuine concerns, they can't lose her so I hope something happens. And there really aren't enough lawn mower accidents on TV so while an emotional event, it was nice to add a little humor to it.

Bored to Death
This looks like its going to be a great show. I love Galifinakis and frankly its about time hes got some recognition. But hes not ever the best actor in the show Ted Danson steals every scene he is in. Its well written Schwartzman's character seems like he'll be over his head I can't wait to see what they do with it.

Curb your Enthusiasm (SPOILERS)
The show is wonderful as ever. I don't know how I feel about this Cancer plot line, but gratefully as per usual its not taken with a heavy hand. I can not wait till the Seinfeld reunion starts up and I'm wondering how much Richards will be involved with the project or if he will merely be kept in the background.

Entourage (SPOILERS)
God I wish I could stop watching this show. They clearly have no idea what they are doing with Vinny. They tried the stalker stuff but that was dragged out way to long and nothing came of it. It seems like they have mercifully gave up on him and E's new flame this season. God willing we will see more Sloan now. I do like the direction with are taking Drama Lloyd and Ari, these story lines can stay in the plot line but I doubt they will. While it is nice to see Turtle dealing with some stuff its not my cup of tea and would trade his romatic issues for Vinny's vulnerability any day of the week. Preferably Sunday.

House (SPOILERS)
I think it was good that they dealt with the mental issues the first two episodes as that is how they left the series off, and frankly don't you get tired basically seeing the same story again and again, it was a welocomed chain of scenery. And as an added bonus to a theater lover like me we were able to enjoy the company of Lin-Manuel Miranda from in the heights fame and see his skills on the mic with a helping hand from Dr. House. We also got to see his vulnerability in both a brief love interest and his desire to help one of the patients turn wrong on him. This evolution into how he sees himself may change his character hopefully it will be subtle and for the better as viewers do enjoy seeing him on the right track I doubt it will be such a dramatic shift like what we see on

How I Met Your Mother (SPOILERS)
First and foremost a moment of silence for the death of the Barney Stinson character. The character has moved on ever since #200. Robin needs to get tested. On the plus side Ted finally had a good story line since the departure of Sarah Chalke (Stella). And right now the best thing they can do is to understand that he is not the most important character in the series anymore, the writers seem to get it which is why his stories seem to be falling by the wayside. Ted's first day in school was funny, now if only they could figure out something to do with Marshall (he could be too busy with movies though)

Glee (SPOILERS)
There are too many stroylines and not enough singing. Don't get me wrong I love dancing football players as much as the next guy (so illegal). But it seems like every character is fighting for air time. And they are barely highlighting the main love interest, but there was a nice little awkward hug. Also I was hoping this pregnancy thing would end but that looks like its here to stay.
Best line of the week: Boy, the only thing missing from this place is a couple dozen bodies lined and rotting in shallow graves under the floorboards.

Modern Family
This was definitely the show to watch on Wednesday. It has a very Arrested Development feel to it. That's not to say its just as good, but it does have a loving dysfunctional family I haven't seen since that show went off the air. The gay couple is definitely the family to watch. But some wonderfully uncomfortable moments with the "hip" dad. The only problem is the show after it.

Cougartown
Maybe its because I'm a 20 year old male and not a 40 year old recently divorced woman. I did not laugh at all during this show. I loved Scrubs and I loved Spin City but this one by Bill Lawerence doesn't do it for me. Plus it would be tough for me to think a woman like Courtney Cox's has issues about her looks.

Flash Forward
Will it be the new Lost. Well not for lack of trying and the show's producer's aren't trying to hide it with appearances from Penny, Charlie and an advertisement for Oceanic Air. The story is engaging and definitely addicting with an ability to make light of the situation as well. David Goyer (Batman Begins) is a fantastic writer, during an interview with John Cho on Preston and Steve Cho stated that they have the first 3 seasons mapped out and by the end of season 1 the audience will know how everyone flashed forward. This is the best new drama of the season.

The Office
Nice to see a paranoid Michael haven't seen him in a while. Also love Jim's logic and Dwight's reaction. Nice to see a all the character back to playing the roles they had earlier in the series. Hopefully the writing will stay consistent to what we have seen. (Not that I didn't love Andy confused about his sexual orientation in the first episode).

Community
What a great pairing. I certainly hope people are watching Joel McHale is great. And in this episode Chevy Chase has a lot of screen time, which is great. Those two at the end of the episode has an awesome visual montage that are great. Ken Joeng is great in this episode as he has been in everything he does.

9

D+

ABC

ABC has the most new shows coming out so I’m going to just deal with those ones.
• Flash Forward: I’m sure the execs were wondering how they can keep the Lost crowd interested until the spring. Well this was their solution. A world wide blackout 6 months into the future. This show has a definite chance to succeed as long as they can hook the audience early. It has a solid time slot for the type of demographic the show wants. And the ensemble cast means the show is not on anyone’s back specifically. Get excited.
• Hank: The show is about an old exec who has lost everything and must now move back to his old hometown. Another attempt by Kelsey Grammer to get back on the air. Last time it didn’t work out for him and I don’t think this attempt will fair any better.
• Modern Family: I think this show has real potential. It gives off a real arrested development feel to it. It has a gay couple as new parents, newlyweds with a big age difference, and a traditional nuclear family. I’m excited to see which family stands out as the funniest.
• The Middle: I haven’t heard much about this show. It’s about a family with a very run of the mill family. Starring Patricia Heaton and the Janitor from Scrubs it’s really gotten no love from the advertisers. Maybe trying to set the bar low, but if it’s already being left behind I don’t know how it can succeed.
• Castle: As I was catching up on Lost last season they were plugging the crap out of this show on the ABC website so when it was on the other day I decided to turn it on. I like the direction of the sleuth dramedy. Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic have great chemistry, it was a solid mid season pick up and I hope it lasts.
• The Forgotten: A cold case knock off with Christian Slater as a volunteer crime fighter and EP Jerry Bruckheimer. When Jerry Bruckheimer says he wants a show, every station will listen ABC was the first to get it. But Slater had his chance with drama on NBC last year and it didn’t work out. They’ll give this one time but I don’t know if this show has the staying power but I won’t bet against it succeeding.
• Eastwick: 3 different women come into some magical powers. Sound lame, that’s what people across the biz are saying. It’s nice to see Rebecca Romijn back on TV but reports say this show has no chemistry and is far too cheesy. The show better pick up or it is sure to head to the chopping block.
• Cougar town: After a very brief stint on Scrubs Courtney Cox is back. She is still hot and on the prowl for younger boys. She brought along her friend Christa Miller. At least its not competing with Accidently on Purpose, but it is competing with Glee for the comedy fans out there. Bill Lawrence got sloppy towards the end of Scrubs but was able to pick it back up (a lot from the 7th season but not back to its glory day). I’m torn on this one and would watch if not for the competition, well that’s why they have DVR.

FOX

• Glee: This is without a doubt the most anticipated new show of the fall season. And why not it got huge numbers in May when they aired the pilot and the cast has been touring around the country mall-to-mall plugging the show. It has the possibility to give FOX the overall ratings grabber as Wednesday seems to be the night where every station is putting its new stuff. So you think you can dance fans will definitely stay tuned to more singing and dancing and the cast is all great. The show will no doubt be a hit.
• House: I have had trouble with the show since they changed teams, but the show needed a lift and wanted to stay fresh. But I lost interest in the series once Kal Penn took his new job and was written off. I don’t know, it just didn’t seem like much of a reason to tune in. Much like SVU, I can check out the reruns elsewhere as USA seems to have nothing but time on their hands and House marathons in the can. Something better happen in the overall plotline to bring me back in.
• Lie to Me: I like the idea of the show, but House which is supposed to lead me into this show doesn’t keep my attention to stay on. It seems like its doing well but not enough to get me engaged.
• Bones: This is the number 2 show I should be watching but don’t. (The first is Dexter). It gets nothing but good reviews and they are on their fourth season. Last year they delved more into the on-screen chemistry, there will no doubt be more of that.
• Fringe: They are trying to help this one out by giving it the Bones crowd but it will have its problems as it is competing against the NBC comedy line-up. It also has the problem of FOX scheduling which is notorious for moving shows around. So much so that it loses its core group of viewers (ala Family Guy (the first go-round) and Firefly). J.J. Abrams tried to create a show where you don’t need to be 100% loyal but if this time shift doesn’t work I don’t know how many more times it will be moved around.
• Brothers: Oh what to do with Michael Strahan, oh I know give him a TV show. This one isn’t a stretch as he will be playing a retired football player. It’s nice they’re trying to put comedy back on Friday night which may get some families to tune in. But unfortunately the next show on is…
• ‘Til Death: Please end this show. Please.
• Doll House: Eliza Dushku is hot.
• The Simpsons: After 21 seasons you know what you’re getting. If there’s a bad game on I’ll watch the new stuff but obviously besides a few episodes the older stuff is so much better.
• The Cleveland Show: The first black cartoon character getting a lead. Hopefully its more Family Guy than American Dad
• Family Guy: Just off its recent EMMY nomination the show has found its way again. It still does too many jump cuts to other cultural jokes but its not nearly as many. The show is great because I can always watch an episode of Family Guy as I do other work and then look up at a random point and laugh.
• American Dad: Its not for me. But Fox can not upset Seth MacFarlane so I feel like that’s why it is still on-air. By 9:30 on Sunday Fox is no longer on my TV

CBS

• How I Met Your Mother: One of the networks biggest hits. They are making a big push for the show to be a big ratings grabber. Moving it to the 8:00 time slot. Pushing for Neil Patrick Harris to be a lead man for the network as he hosted the TONYs and will now do the same for the EMMYs. However this show has lost its direction. Ted hasn’t pursued love in quite some time. They are killing one of the best characters on TV by having Barney Stinson grow up. I don’t like the Robin Barney relationship but maybe something will change as it has been stated that the two will begin a courtship. But last season was tough as both Alyson Hannigan and Cobie Smulders were both pregnant. Cobie gave birth in May but on the preview show it looked like they were still trying to hide the baby bump. So annoying. Hopefully one of my favorite shows will find its way.
• Accidently on Purpose: Hoping that Jenna Elfman will help the Monday night ratings they are gonna give this one a shot putting it between Big Bang and HIMYM. There is going to be a fair amount of shows about cougars this season. But does this one have any life after 2 seasons. Dealing with the pregnancy and then dealing with a new baby. Best of luck on this one.
• Two and a Half Men: The show is great, Charlie Sheen has always been a great straight man. Both men are nominated for an EMMY for their performance we’ll see if they can continue to set this pace.
• The Big Bang Theory: They’re pushing this one back to 9. Hopefully the youngsters can stay up an extra hour because the show has gotten so big because of the family grab. Most will be able to stay up, but this one belongs at 8 and HIMYM should be at 9.
• CSI/NCIS: I don’t watch these, but I’m sure they will get their usual numbers.
• NCIS LA: Trying to bank on possibly the most successful scripted show on air right now. This one will add Chris O’Donnel and LL Cool J as we silently wonder to ourselves where have they been. This one will also depend on if the audience remembers the two leads enough to tune in. But it does have the benefit of following the original so that will help.
• The Mentalist: The show has been solid and getting big numbers. Its reward: it will now get right after CSI which will have people not only following their show to the new time slot, but also keep viewers tuned in after CSI. It did great before its going to do better now.
• The Good Wife: About a woman who’s husband has had an affair while in public office. He is now in jail and she is looking to go back into the workplace as a lawyer. The season plotline will revolve around the personal stuff but the individual episodes will focus on the courtroom stuff.I have been intrigued about why a woman would stay with her husband after such an affair but I still don’t think right now I’ll be checking it out.
• Medium: Right after NBC dumped them they were picked up by CBS, and now the ghost stories will continue on Friday night it should help as at least they stay with the same genre on the same night.
• Three Rivers: A show about organ transplantation from 3 perspectives: The doctors, the donor and family, and the recipient. It also takes place in Pittsburgh (ala the three rivers). But it’s on Sunday so it will be interesting to see especially as it competes against football.

Fall TV Preview Part 1

It’s been a long time coming. I should have tried to tackle this a lot earlier but now I find myself with time, so here is my best attempt at a fall TV preview. Please note I’ll do my best but there is a lot of TV coming out. And I will not be previewing any reality show. Well because fuck that genre. Let’s start with NBC

NBC
• Jay Leno Show: Obviously done to keep Jay from defecting to ABC. Do these variety shows ever really work especially when it is 5 days a week and on network TV. It may work because Jay is used to putting on a daily show but I doubt I’ll be checking it out when there is so much other different content and bigger variety on other channels. This is also why there are so few new shows on TV as he will be taking up 5 days a week. NBC is banking on people wanting comedy and not dramas at 10 to lead into the news. The show is cheap to make so either way it is a win
• Heroes: This show has gone down hill to say the least. It was barely hanging on a string last season but got picked up again. Something big is going to have to happen for this show to work; I don’t think it’s in the cards.
• Mercy: Another nursing show, they have been doing well recently but how long can this trend last. People do love their hospital dramas though so we will see.
• Community: I hope this show lasts but it’s not getting positive reviews. I really like Joel McHale and I think he’s funny. It’s nice to see Chevy Chase in something else. And recently the Daily Show correspondents have been doing well for themselves so here’s hoping John Oliver does well. It also is tagged with the powerful Thursday night line-up so NBC gave it all the chances to succeed.
• Parks and Recreation: The show doesn’t do it for me. If I want to watch the Office I’ll just wait a half hour I can’t set into the series.
• The Office: Don’t get me wrong there are only two things I believe in that God supports my favorite sports teams (read: The Phightin Phils and the BU Terriers) and in Pam and Jim. But the show was so much better when they weren’t working. They tried to keep Pam away at art school but it wasn’t the same conflict. The show has gone downhill and while Andy and Dwight are great can they save an entire series: no. They’re the comic relief not the heroes.
• 30 Rock: This show is amazing. But you’re going to have to wait a while. This one is not coming back until October 15th.
• Southland: Where shows go to die, and for good reason. This will probably be the end for Southland as the show debut was also pushed back a month for some fine tuning and so it won’t have to go up against mudium.
• Law and Order: SVU: Mariska Hargitay is getting some of the credit she deserves with an Emmy nomination. But I think I prefer the reruns better than the new ones. I’ll wait till they move to USA.

(500) Days of Summer

Finally a romantic comedy that actually reflects what a real relationship is like. The ups the downs and the heartache that comes with a relationship. It took me the entire summer to see this movie but i was finally able to see it and it lived up to the Sundance hype.
The narrator provides the inner workings of Joseph Gordon-Levitt stating that this is not a love story, and I understand what new director Marc Webb is trying to do, to make sure that the audience gets the point by reinforcing ideas. But the visual aspects of the story really takes care of all that the narrator has to say. I do love the disclaimer at the beginning of the movie and it helps to set the tone early.
The leads are fantastic and charming. It would seem at first sight that these hipsters are perfect for each other. Zooey Deschane once again plays an apathetic charming love interest. It would be nice if for once she could get a role with more to it, but her type casting seems to work here. But I know she can do more. And can Joseph Gordon-Levitt do wrong. Well, yes. We all need to get paid right (read: GI Joe). But movies like this and Brick reassure me that this actor can do a lot and picks scripts that have some real substance to it.
We quickly see the beginning and end(ish) of the relationship early in the movie. The question soon becomes not what is going to happen, but how did we get here. The journey is revealed in a non-linear format with the story shifting from the good times to the bad. The structure helps to maintain the suspense and each scene seems juxtaposed brilliantly to one another.
Webb also uses some wonderfully quirky tools to convey his story which also helps with the tone. Such as a musical dance number right after the two make love for the first time. And Webb chooses none other than Hall & Oates, and what says love more than Hall & Oates. It also uses a split screen to differentiate between what Tom, portrayed by Gordon-Levitt, expects to happen and what actually happens. And we have all done this, had a belief of how life would go but it goes in a horrible different direction.
That is why this movie works, it is not about some hunk who finally realizes the girl of his dreams was his best friend. And there is no last minute chance for redemption. Someone winds up caring too much and leaves someone hurt and bruised. This is a reflection of real life romance and that may be why leave some people don't like it. People have this idea that romantic comedies have to be based in a dream world, this movie doesn't do that but still uses some aspects of the genre, that is why this movie works. B+

Inglorious Basterds

It is hard to review this movie after only one viewing, it deserves a second one and by the time this review comes out many will have seen it a second time. And with good reason, the movie is wonderfully done and Quentin Tarintino handles all of his characters with care.
It should be stated right away that this movie is not historically accurate. There should be a better lead than that but right after I got out of the movie one of my friends said its inaccuracies were criticized by some. And it shouldn't be. Just because the movie is based on an actual event doesn't mean you should be forced to take it as a historical movie. Frankly it ends the way you want it to, the whole time thinking that it can't end like this. A tip of the hat to the ending of the film (which Quentin Tarantino was quite stumped on - part of the reason the script took a decade). Tarintino gave his audience what they wanted.
The standout of the movie was without a doubt German actor Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa. He delivers a standout performance in which he is well-mannered, intelligent, and sadistic all at the same time. He sends chills down your back until he makes you laugh. He won best actor at Cannes and without a doubt deserves an Oscar nomination. After all its fairly difficult to make a Nazi sympathetic, this may be as close that anyone will ever get.
Brad Pitt plays opposite Waltz as Lt. Aldo Raine, while Pitt's portrayal does not come near to the performance of Waltz, you will fall in love with his Southern accent and may even find yourself trying to mimic his accent after the movie. The character has great one-liners given to him and I would have to agree with Roger Ebert that some of his slap-stick moments are very Marxian (Groucho that is).
Eli Roth is also great character and I can imagine we'll be seeing him again later as Halloween approaches. He also does a fine job directing the movie within the movie Nation's Pride. Til Schweiger, Michael Fassbender, and Diane Kruger all provide terrific performances as well. These characters are given some quality screen time and captivate the audience. The other performance not mentioned (including Melanie Laurent as Shosanna who has a large amount of screen time and her own plot line) merely help highlight the stronger performances of the other actors.
The Shosanna plot line has some nice moments but its always just leaves you wondering when the other characters are going to step back on. I really wanted to see more of the Basterds. After all the movie is titled for them. Tarintino loves his violence and many may believe that you get it, maybe even too much. But as a fan of his work I not only expect gruesome and sometimes comedic violence I want more of it.
Not enough can be said about Tarintino's shots as well. The wide angle views from above to the close-ups all help to accent the tension and pacing of the movie. The settings are chosen with care from the French countryside, to the quaint town movie theater.
After all Inglorious Basterds is a tribute to what Tarintino loves most, movies. The names, the plot, the setting all done as a tribute to his love of movies. Is this his masterpiece as stated in the film, maybe for any other director, but not Tarintino. Tarintino has done too well with too many other movies for it to be his masterpiece. But top 3...there you can have a discussion. A-

District 9

You wouldn't be able to guess that this movie was as low-budget as it was. It isn't until after you walk away and really think about what the movie offers that you realize what an extraordinary feat has been accomplished.
The movie is created off the disaster of Halo which may now be able to be happen due to the success of this film. Peter Jackson helped put this movie together, and his name may be the only one moviegoers will recognize. Neill Blomkamp wrote and directed the film and shot everything in Africa. Add all these details together and you get the estimated 30,000,000 on a summer blockbuster. All the money was already recouped in the opening weekend.
The first 15 minutes of the film not only gives you all very important information on the background but also gives you a taste of what is to come visually. The movie is shot in a mockumentary style, reminiscent of Cloverfield from a couple years back but with much less use of the shaky camera. Handhelds are used but the man holding it has a much steadier hand. The movie also uses faux CNN coverage and security footage to give it a much more real look.
While the beginning is great it doesn't end up in the same place. The last half hour of the film knows where it is headed but there just seems to be something missing from the film. I have no problem with how the movie ends but there is just something missing.
The prawns as they are called are disgusting creatures and you are able to feel sympathy or hatrid for the aliens depending on your mood or the point of the movie. Christopher Johnson, the lead alien, is educated and likeable as his son. Meanwhile his human counterpart played by Sharlto Copley is bumbling and upbeat enough just to be annoying, his character goes through quite a development both physically and mentally that helps the audiences attachment grow as he does.
The message of the movie is clear as it is deals with issues of intolerance and human cruelty in an area where such feelings of intolerance are still shared and dealt with today. Blomkamp does a wonderful job painting this picture with out oversaturating the situation B+

The Goods

Advertised as the comedic balance to The Hangover this movie does not even come close. The Goods is brought to you by the same people who brought you Step Brothers and Talladega Nights; that's the type of movie it is reminiscent of. A movie that tries just a little too hard to be over the top.
The movie has an all-star cast headlined by Jeremy Piven who has recently been playing the same roles over and over again; that of his Emmy award winning character Ari Gold. The character is great but they may be going to the well a little too often. And he does better when he doesn't have to take on the entire project by himself. He is assisted by Ving Rhames, Ed Helms, and Ken Jong who has been all over the silver screen recently. Will Farrel makes one of his better cameos in the movie who provides humor along with his black angel back-up singers.
While the cast is strong the material they have to work with isn't there. The movie tries too hard to be an over-the-top raunchy comedy. They throw in some crocadiles, a chainsaw, and big riots but never expand on anything just moving from zinger to zinger. They throw as march at the target hoping that something hits but nothing quite does.
Jeremy Piven made a big push for the movie but the studios knew they had a bust on their hand so it wasn't advertised as well. Wait for DVD and until you need something absolutely mindless to watch. D

G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra

GI Joe is a giant hit of nostalgia I remember playing with some of the action figures as a child and that is a wonderful memory. This movie was not like that memory it was more similar to my trip to Colonial Williamsburg, very boring and I kept wondering when it was going to get to the good stuff. It never got there.
The movie is very predictable, all you have to know is that its an action movie and I'm sure ou can guess the sequence of events. God bless their plastic little hearts they try to throw in some curve balls but you know the count and whats coming at you.
The movie relies on a lot of C.G. as most movies do now. But this is hyped up to an extreme level and at some point it even looks like the cartoon.
Channing Tatum takes another shot as lead. It works in this movie as he has been asked to play a emotionless piece of plastic. Dennis Quaid is barely in the movie despite being advertised as one of the leads and Marlon Waynes (by the way where as he been) is the comedic one-liner. His role is very bond-esc as i cringed a little bit at how hokey they all sounded.
You know what you are getting when you see this movie. If you are looking for a bad action movie, one that you can laugh at how hokey it is this is the movie to see. C-

Funny People

In John Apatow's third movie Funny People the director takes a very mature topic to share with his fan base.
Adam Sandler's character George is diagnosed at the start of the movie with a very severe type of leukemia. This is quite a change from Apatow's usual design. He usually makes the dramatic points at the end. This time he chose to have it run through out the entire movie.
Thats not to say it makes it bad, it just makes it different. And defintely different from his other movies. The majority of the humor comes out from the stankd up bits instead of character interaction. The interaction are used for dramatic purposes.
The characters are some of the most complex seen in a major studio movie in sometime. The main characters of the movie all posess many character flaws. Seth Rogan's character is really the only character who is sympathetic but even he has his flaws. It is tough to feel for any of the characters but maybe thats the most impressive thing of all. Apatow did something that hasn't been seen in a long time, he made all is characters human.
Adam Sandler who hasn't been in an arguably decent movie since 2007 does well in this one. He is able to make fun of himself with all the movies' his character stars in has him being rediculous and doing a silly voice. And it is also good to see that Leslie Mann doesn't just get the roles because she is married to Apatow but because she deserves the roles and this proves it. Her performance whis relatively small still proves to be strong.
Relative because the movie runs long. The total run time is 146 minutes and it runs long. Apatow could have delivered the same message with 30 minutes trimmed off.
There are some problems with the film and the casual film watcher may not enjoy it but the movie is well put together but not a must see. B-

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Without a doubt the most highly anticipated movie of the summer. Obviously needs to go on the blog. Please note I did not read the book, so all comparisons can get wiped away so we can just review the movie. And maybe that's the problem with the entire series of movies. There is such a hype from the that the movies can in no way match.
But there is also a problem with some of the younger actors. Danial Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint strain through most of the movie to get their lines out. It is apparent that the three leads are tired of playing the same character and are looking to move on to bigger and brighter things. The only possible exception to the big three is Rupert Grint whose humor really helps the movie in the first half. However the movie doesn't seem to move onto anything in the second half.
A big theme through the first half of the movie is young love as the actors are supposed to be dealing with raging harmones. And the movie does supply that in spades, and maybe even too long as we are looking for a showdown the entire movie. But Ralph Fiennes as the dark lord makes a very brief apperance in the movie. He is insted replaced by a couple younger actors in Hero Fiennes and Frank Dillane who have not been lost in the series yet and give off a creepy performance as we see the beginnings of the evil one. Not only do they do well but all the adult actors are fantastic. Most notably Alan Rickman and Jim Broadbent who turn in fantastic performances.
The audience keeps waiting for the battle but it never seems to come. And they will have to wait another summer. This movie will no doubt have people talking, but its mostly them wanting more as you walk out of the theater feeling unsatisfied. Don't worry there is still 2 more movies from one more book. Still plenty of Harry on the big screen, sorry Danny.

Ryan Reynolds Scores the Green Lantern Role

Ryan Reynolds is one of my favorite actors. And The Lantern Corps is my favorite comic group. I'm so jazzed

Ryan Reynolds Scores the Green Lantern Role

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Entourage

So I try to keep this to movies. But how can i disregard the biggest movie star of all time. I am of course talking about Vinnie Chase. He has a new movie coming out soon under the direction of Marty Scorsese he will be in Gatsby. While I am excited that is not what this post will be about. This ones all about the new season and I couldn't be more excited to have my sunday night program back. And while we all remember the disaster that was Season 4 due to Billy Walsh, this season looks to be headed in a solid direction.
First some comments: Sloan is bangin- God damn; Turtle has lost a whole lot of weight: good for him.
Not a whole lot happened as to drive the plot yet I was so satisfied with the show. There was a lot of playful banter with all the characters. Some great lines from Drama as per usual including:

E: He passed you for premiere tickets?
Drama: Why? Cheryl Walters let me go in the back door for Young Guns 3 tickets.
Turtle: Disgusting.

And

It's all the girls he's been getting. Pussy can smell other pussy and they have to pounce on it. That's why when you're on a hot streak you gotta press it like blackjack.

We also get to see come great character development. All the boys are growing up, and in this episode you see it exemplified better than any other episode. Each main character had some solid screen time. It was a great balance of growth and a nostalgic throwback to the carefree lifestyle of the earlier seasons. I'm pumped.

Public Enemies

There was a lot of high expectations for this movie. You'd think that with Johnny Depp and Christian Bale that it would be an automatic hit. It may have been that, or it may have been the long(ish) run time but this movie just didn't have the gusto you'd expect.
The first point of contention is the camera work. As Micheal Mann may have pissed off someone in the union this may be forgivable by some people as he seems to do it a lot. But it seemed that a lot of the movie was shot without the benefit of a tripod. This provided a lot of shakey camera work and moves back and fourth that can also be seen in any beginners college news package. He tends to do this in a lot of his movies. But I just prefer a more slick look and don't need the camera to be jarring to get the point that there is action going on
Think Johnny Depp is a hunk? Well if you love staring into his eyes then this movie may give you a better chance then any other. As Mann also tends to have a lot of close ups with the actors faces. Bale also tries out a new southern accent in this movie which is a welcomed change of bace from the Bruce Wayne accent he had in his last few movies (including Terminator: Salvation).
From what I can gather it seems like this movie is fairly accurate in the historical perspective from the perspective of both John Dillinger and FBI pursuer Melvin Purvis.
But there just doesn't seem to be a whole lot driving this movie, which is tough to do in a bio-pic if the substance isn't there. The climax seems to be going towards the capture of Dillinger but what the audience wants to see more of are his robberies and planning.
There are some quality points to this movie and you can definately do a lot worse then this movie, but this is not a must-see.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

How long can you make one explosion last? Well Micheal Bay can apparently make one last a little less than 3 hours. It is indeed an impressive feat that a studio will allow any director to create a summer blockbuster longer than 2 hours, but i guess Micheal was just too attached to all of them to let any go. It seems that Optimus Prime spends more time in the sand than Tom Hanks does in Saving Private Ryan, but there doesn't seem to be any need for a lot of it.
Many of the sequences in the movie really don't need to be there and would benefit greatly from a little more work from the editor.
While I joke that Bay does use a lot of special effects he has clearly mastered the skill. All of the fight sequences and chase sequences in the movie are well done and awesome to look at. But there are only so many different things you can do with these impressive skills.
As long as you go into the theater and go in there expecting a lot of visual excitement and a few cheap laughs than you'll be able to enjoy the movie. And its not just the explosions that are visually exciting. Bay knows what he has with Megan Fox and takes the camera away from the dialogue so the audience can see Fox taking off her clothes. Clearly the right priorities, none of the men in the audience will complain as they will also be privy to a lot of slow motion running for Fox.
The plot of the movie for anyone who is interested (which you shouldn't be) is basically that some of the cube from the last movie survived and in order to revive their old leader they are going to need it. They then need to find more of the power which is again hidden somewhere on earth and once again Shia LeBouf is the key to finding the energy source.
It's an enjoyable movie and perfect for the summer movie audience just make sure you have some time on your hand.

Up/The Hangover

So me and the boys did a double movie showing and saw 2 movies this afternoon. We'll start with the first one.

Up
This is a great family film. Pixar does it again and proves how this studio can get away with making one movie a year. A very touching story featuring a widower and a young boy and moving on. Its very easy to tear up at many of the emotional moments in the movie. The movie moves well and there is hardly a wasted frame. The first 10 minutes, which lays out the emotional back story, is sure to pull you in as a viewer. Ed Asner does a fantastic job voicing the lead to this movie, Carl Fredricksen. It is sure to rake up big numbers in the box office and we will no doubt be hearing from this movie later as it is sure to be yet another movie nominated for best animated picture.

The Hangover
Quite a different movie than "Up" this movie was curtailed to my age demographic and hit the nail on the head. There is little doubt as to why this movie destroyed Land of the Lost in the box office. The ensamble cast of Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis pulls the movie together. Galifianakis ttakes away many of the laughs with his slapstick style and one liners. Cooper maintains his type-cast role as kind of a d-bag; yet this is one of the first roles where he is able to play a protagonist and its nice to be able to root for him. Ed Helms does a fantastic job being neurotic. Each actor feeds off each other, and make the movie work. Any frat boy can relate to this movie as they try to piece together the night and figure out why they are joined by a tiger, a chicken, and a baby and are down a groom. The jokes in the movie keep coming which is a tribute to the writing. The laughs come to the very end as a picture slideshow caps off the movie. For a some good belly laughs you will want to check out this surprise success

Dave Matthews Band: Live from Beacon Theater/Conan's First Night.

The new Dave Matthews Band Album is coming out within minutes of this post. So to commemorate the occasion the band decided to put on a very intimate show at a small venue Holding about 2000 seats. For those who could not get in the people at FUSE and HULU decided to put the concert on for free. So that people like yours truly would get to watch the event.
The concert was a great success. The group is one of the best live performers out there currently I have been so lucky as to see them 6 times live and will be going for my 7th show this summer, but lets focus on this show.
The crowd was obviously into it the entire time and you could tell the band was feeding off that especially Carter Beauford on the drums. Dave was into it as well. He even got into a little dancing spree which he later revealed to the crowd that he threw his back out while doing. His interactions with the fans were great. Always making them laugh
But possibly the best moment took place while talking about the late LeRoi Moore. As he alluded to many times during the show this album was for him. The first track off the album is dedicated to him and Dave announced that the song "Why I am" is for LeRoi. Several chants of his name went off through out the whole show.
He led off with 'Funny the Way It is" which got the crowd into it and and then went onto 5 straight songs off the new album. The band was very excited about the new album. Infact Dave Matthews was quoted as saying if people will only listen to one of his albums he hopes its this one. I especially enjoyed Time Bomb and Alligator Pie.
They are much better live then they are on album so whether the album will be as good is yet to be seen.
All the fan favorites were well recieved including The Dreaming Tree, Everyday and Too Much. He wrapped up the first set with Two Step.
I would've loved to watch the encore but I felt compelled to watch Conan's first broadcast.
He opened up with a great montage of him running across the country from New York to Las Angeles.
His opening monalouge had him appear very greatful and included jokes about his new life in LA. And an exceptional joke about going to the Lakers. I'm excited to see what Conan can do with this time slot.
Thanks for reading. Stay Safe Out There

Summer Movie Preview

Summer Movies - BUITM

The BUITM staff discusses what they think the summer movie season will bring us. A couple have already come out but still we can talk amongst ourselves right.

Spring Break Plans.wav - Zach Stone

We discuss our Spring Break Plans

March 5 Sports Terrier Playoffs.wav - Zach Stone

So this is a little Terrier Sports talk with the man the myth the legend Conor Reilly. We discuss the Hockey East Playoffs and the America East Playoffs for the BU Terriers

BUITM First Thoughts March 5th

BUITM March 6 First Thoughts - Zach Stone

For all of those wondering what happened to Phil here is your answer. We also have a day in the life of our intern Manpreet and the sexual excapades she must endure

BUITM Thursday 4/9

You are going to want to check out BUITM Thursday as a real special guest will be on the show. Mrs. Kathie Lee Gifford will be calling in at 11:15. We’ll be talking about her new CD: Everyone Has A Story which we will also be giving away on air. We will also be talking about her reemergence to morning television on NBC’s Today Show.

If that wasn’t enough we’ll have a special call in from the Dean’s Office to talk to us about the Frozen Four viewing party happening at Agganis Arena.

But Wait…There’s more!

We will be wrapping our own Final Four to decide the best movie of the past 25 years. The match ups look like this:

Match 1: Titanic vs. Toy Story

Match 2: Shawshank Redemption vs. Terminator 2

If you want your favorite movie to move on then make sure you cast your vote, either on the blog, on the facebook site or contact the show.

This show is going to be big. You are not gonna want to miss it.

Peer Pressure

So I have finally succumb to the pressure of the Blog. I will be posting random work on here and every so often be posting a thought. Follow at your own risk