New to See on DVD!

A lot of people take this week off, so it’s a great time to catch up on movies and TV shows, whether it’s off your DVR, in the theater or on DVD.  Looks like this is a week of horror, with the new offerings on DVD!  I don’t know if that’s the way I want to end the year!!

One of the movies that everyone is putting on their biggest bust of the year lists is Jennifer’s Body.  I’m sort of interested in seeing how “bad” it is.  It just boggled my mind that something from the pen of Diablo Cody, starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried could be such a mess, but I’ll probably never know.  Megan is a cheerleader who becomes possessed and starts killing boys who want to have sex with her.  Maybe that was too scary a thought for the target audience?

On the other hand, Paranormal Activity exceeded everyone’s expectations.  It was the viral movie of the year, starting out with an internet campaign to “ask local theaters to play it.”  Then, they only showed the movie at midnight for a while.  The buzz was enormous.  And, I love it when weird stuff like that works!  Two unknowns star as a couple living in what may be a haunted house.  He sets up a night vision camera, and scary stuff ensues!

A Perfect Getaway stars Steve Zahn, Timothy Olyphant, Kiele Sanchez and Milla Jovovich as two couples on a romantic adventure getaway in Hawaii.  They run into each other, just as news is circulating that there is a psycho killing camping couples.  Who is it?  And will the couples figure it out before they become the next victims?

9 is an animated movie from Tim Burton, about a post-apocalyptic world where the people are apparently made of burlap.  They’re survivors, who were created by a forward thinking scientist, and trying to create a new world out of the wreckage.  I hear it’s nice to look at but has story problems.

Weather Girl stars mainly unknowns in a romantic comedy about a Seattle weather girl who finds out her live-in boyfriend, who is also the morning news anchor, has been cheating.  She loses it on the air, during the morning show, then moves in with her brother.

Half-Life is a drama about a brother and sister living in troubling times.  They’re trying to come to terms with their father’s desertion and a new boyfriend in their mother’s life.

In Princess of Mars, a U.S. soldier finds himself transported to Mars, where he lands in the middle of a war between alien species.  Antonio Sabato, Junior and Traci Lords star.  This is a direct to video.

In Carriers, Chris Pine and Piper Perabo star as friends fleeing a viral pandemic.  They soon learn they are more dangerous than any virus.

The Marine 2 stars WWE star Ted DiBiase Junior as a marine, duh, who goes on vacation to a tropical resort with his wife.  But, he’s called back in to action, when terrorists strike paradise!  I wasn’t even aware there was a The Marine 1, and reportedly this has nothing to do with that one, anyway.

Facing Ali is a new documentary about Muhammed Ali.  Filmmakers talked to ten of his former rivals about fighting the champ.

New TV on DVD:

• Emily of New Moon – Season 2
• Gilligan’s Island – Season 1 and 2 set
• Glee – Season 1, Vol. 1
• Spaceballs – Totally Warped-Up Adventures
• Time Warp – Season 2
• The United States of Tara – Season 1
• The Waltons – Season 1 and 2 set
• Whale Wars – Season 2

Movie Review: A Serious Man

I’m a little confused by the film industry, in general, right now.  Movies that I thought would get wide release and lots of buzz are just fizzing out.  At least Away We Go and (500) Days of Summer were in theaters!  But, movies like The Road and the latest from the Coen Brothers, A Serious Man, are just showing in arthouses.  That’s weird to me, and it’s a shame.  That said, I’m so thankful for Cleveland Cinemas.  I saw A Serious Man on the last day before it closed, and it got me to the Capitol Theatre.  I am so pro the renovation of historical theaters.  Honestly, I don’t need stadium seating and cupholders, I know those are important to other moviegoers.  Remember when you could lean back and just look at the cool design work on the ceiling, instead of watching “The 20,” before the movie started?  There are some very nice shops and restaurants and the Gypsy coffee house now, too, in the area of Detroit and W. 65th.  Check it out, this week, if you have time off!  They’re showing Avatar in 3-D, Nine and Me and Orson Welles!

Now, back on task, let’s talk about A Serious Man.  If you were pulled in by the Oscar talk and then infuriated by the ending of No Country for Old Men, DO NOT see this film.  The Coen Brothers have benchmarks in their films.  As I reminded my friend Lynn, during the movie, when things were starting to reach a fever pitch for Larry Gopnik (above), “You know the Brothers, it’s going to get excruciatingly painful before it gets better.”  I’m not even going to get into the parallels between that and the sebaceous cyst that Larry’s brother Arthur keeps draining in the family bathroom.  Other benchmarks: you will laugh out loud at at least one person’s death.  You will feel that it’s wrong, but you won’t be able to help yourself.  And, there’s the infuriating ending, with lots of loose ends still dangling, the credits appear.  At least one person in the theater will yell, “What the…!!!”  But, if you can enjoy the ride, with the Coen Brothers immersing you in a tight Jewish community in 1967 Minnesota, you will marvel at the performances, especially Michael Stuhlbarg as our man, Larry.  You will wonder, with a performance of this authenticity and caliber, where he’s been hiding!  It wasn’t until about half way through the movie that I realized I was having a totally Jewish experience on Christmas Eve day.  The irony was not lost on Hashem, and we had a good laugh about it during Mass that night.  I am a fan of the Coen Brothers.  And, while it does not top The Big Lebowski, in my book, A Serious Man is a solid contender for top three of their films, all time.  I can’t wait to see the next one.  8 out of 10.

Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes

Sometimes, a movie will open, and I’ll think, “Now, why haven’t I heard about this?”  Not so with Sherlock Holmes.  The trailers were everywhere, it seemed, starting in August.  And, I was excited to see it.  My husband, the scientist, says, “That looks stupid.”  He is prone to making these pronouncements on occasion.  When pressed, he says that the Guy Ritchie directed film, starring Robert Downey, Junior (and ladies, doesn’t he get more attractive with each passing year?), disrespected the character of Sherlock Holmes and is far away from what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle intended.  Sir ACD was Scottish, so even though I have never read a Sherlock Holmes mystery, I feel I have some insight into his intent, moreso than my husband to be sure, and since I want to see the movie, I’m offended.  I don’t think it’s fair to judge a film on a trailer the studio put together!

Having seen Sherlock Holmes, I can say that purists might take issue with the rough and tumble tactics of Robert Downey Junior’s Holmes.  But, I think the essence of the character’s scientific method is intact.  This Holmes is smarter than everyone in the room, elitist and bored… that is, unless there’s a mystery afoot!  This caper comes about the time his dear friend, Watson, played perfectly by Jude Law, is trying to break from the dangerous bachelor and detective life and move into medical practice and marriage.  There’s some tension between the boys.  And, that’s good.  The banter and bromance between Holmes and Watson is, by far, the best thing about the movie.  They’re electric together.  I found the forensics and the mystery a bit pedestrian.  Truly, CSI and police procedurals have ruined us all for this kind of film.  But, I liked the process, with Holmes and Watson and their disapproving housekeeper.  I thought Rachel McAdams was beautiful and alluring as Holmes’ female counterpart.  I liked the way they set things up for a future film, which is elementary.  Guy Ritchie’s London has never looked grimier or more authentic.  I didn’t need all the action, myself.  But, Sherlock Holmes is fun and perfect fare for the holidays.  8 out of 10.

Movie Review: Avatar

It’s the movie of the moment, to be sure.  James Cameron’s Avatar is in theaters.  And, you have to say “James Cameron’s” before Avatar, because his fingerprints are all over it.  He wrote and directed and produced this project, and it seemingly took something this big to get him out of the water.  He’s been obsessed with Titanic, Expedition: Bismarck, Ghosts of the Abyss and such for over a decade. 

Avatar is the story of a people, the Na’vi, who live on a moon named Pandora.  There are some human settlers, but they don’t mingle.  Pandora is rich with a mineral humans want, called unobtanium.  A paralyzed marine is called upon to infiltrate a research team and gain the Na’vi’s trust to pave the way for mining.  There is an avatar that looks like a Na’vi but contains his DNA, so he can live in that virtual body while his real body is asleep.  The Na’vi are very tied to their environment.  Can you guess what’s going to happen?  Yes, I thought so.  But, you know what?  It does not matter at all.

First things first, if you go to see Avatar, take extra pains to see it in 3-D.  Movie industry types have been talking about how 3-D is the future for years, and I never believed it would come to anything, until now.  The world that James Cameron takes us to is so visually stimulating, so original, it’s breathtaking.  Young and old who’ve seen Avatar in 3-D say they were not disturbed by the 3-D glasses, in fact, they forgot they were wearing them.  I wasn’t THAT absorbed, but I was quite taken by the imagery.  This is not 3-D technology for its own sake, with arrows flying at you and a feeling of vertigo on the mountains in the movie.  This is 3-D that takes you virtually into another world.  And, since the main character, played wonderfully by Sam Worthington, is also experiencing Pandora virtually, there is a symbiance.  No, I don’t think that is really a word, but you know what I mean.

Okay.  If you’ve seen his work, you know, James Cameron is NOT a subtle filmmaker.  You will be assaulted by the message of the movie.  There is a chance you will want those bulldozers to come in and knock down the rainforest, just to rebel.  Resist that urge.  If you are white, there is a chance you will feel self loathing.  That’s okay.  I admire James Cameron for making an amazing action/scifi/romance/drama with an original script, instead of re-treading some comic book or TV story we already know.  But, there is heavy handed plotting here.  Think Native Americans combined with the Vietnam conflict combined with the Gulf War over oil.  Just under the surface of this beautiful visual feast are political and ethical machinations!  Still, I was able to immerse myself in the curiosity of these new beings, this new culture.  Love the voice work by Zoe Saldana.  You’ve heard the story before, but you’ve never seen it presented like this.  The experience of Avatar rates a 9 out of 10.

New to See on DVD!

I am excited to watch some movies this weekend!  But, it’s an internal struggle between going to the theater to see some new stuff or catching good movies I missed in theaters the first time around! 

One of the movies I really regretted not seeing in theaters is (500) Days of Summer.  I LOVE Joseph Gordon Levitt, and it’s reported to be a romantic comedy that twists the genre.  Can’t wait to see it… still!

On the other hand, All About Steve looks disturbing.  Sandra Bullock plays a crossword puzzle junkie who develops an unnatural crush on a CNN cameraman, named Steve.  Uncomfortable mayhem ensues.

American Pie Presents: The Book of Love is a take off of the American Pie franchise, with three new hapless virgins who find a mysterious book in their high school library. 

Another movie I missed in theaters and have kicked myself about ever since is District 9.  I won’t be waiting long to watch it.  An alien race is forced to live in slums by the government, but things start to change when a government agent is accidentally exposed to their biotechnology.

Amber Tamblyn and Michael Douglas star in Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, which is a remake of the 1955 film.  A writer tries to expose the dirty dealings of a District Attorney.

Staten Island follows the lives of fictional folks who live on the island in New York.  Ethan Hawke and Vincent D’Onofrio star.

In Call of the Wild 3-D, a young girl in Montana attracts the attention of an evil stranger, after she tries to nurse a hurt wolf back to health.

Blind Date is a little independent movie that some people love.  Directed by Stanley Tucci, he stars with Patricia Clarkson.  They’re a married couple who decide to role play a blind date.  But, real life serious issues are just under the surface.

In Extract, Jason Bateman plays the manager of an Extract plant who is trying to deal with personal and professional problems.  This is quirky, quirky stuff from the mind of Beavis and Butthead creator, Mike Judge.

Here’s one I might pick up for my son as an after-Christmas present, the documentary, It Might Get Loud.  It’s a movie about the electric guitar, told from the point of view of the Edge, Jack White and Jimmy Page.

New TV on DVD:

• 60 Minutes:  Personal Foul
• Baian:  The Assassin – Complete Series 
• Family Guy – Something Something Something Dark Side
• Guyver – Complete Series (Viridian Collection)
• Kyle XY – Season 3
• The Maxx
• The Secret Life of the American Teenager – Season 3
• Taxi – Season 5 and Complete Series

New to See on DVD!

Every week, I see the list of movies and TV shows that are coming out on DVD, and I am so angry that I have all these TV episodes backed up on my DVR.  How do I justify sitting down in front of a movie, when I need to watch 5 episodes of Mercy?  (actually, I’m caught up on that show after a marathon last weekend, LOVE Veronica)  Anyway, you know what I mean.  I need to cut down.

Anyway, here’s the new stuff for this week.  The holidays are a great time to catch up on some of the flicks that are going to be nominated for the big movie awards:

Inglourious Basterds – Quentin Tarantino shows a brutal page of US military history with his own sick spin.  Brad Pitt in full on southern accent Fight Club mode.

The Other Man – Liam Neeson plays a man who suspects his wife of adultery and seeks to find the other man in the title.  Laura Linney plays his wife.

Taking Woodstock – Ang Lee’s take on the events that culminated in one of the musical events of the century.  Fun to see all the actors who got to play artists in the show.  And always fun to watch Emil Hirsch.

The Headless Woman – Out of Argentina, a woman hits something with her car and has some psychological issues about it.  Mystery.

Herb & Dorothy – Documentary about Herb and Dorothy Vogel and their incredible art collection.

La Boheme, The Film – What you’d expect, a movie version of the opera based on a tragic love story set in 1830 Paris.

The Hangover – Simply one of the funniest movies of the year.  Guys go on a Bachelor Party weekend in Vegas and mayhem ensues.

The Goods:  Live Hard, Sell Hard – Jeremy Piven is a used car liquidator called in to pump up sales at a dealership’s annual sales event.

G-Force – For the kids, or anyone who wants to see a specially trained group of guinea pigs dispatched to take care of a greedy billionaire who is trying to take over the world.  ??

The Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie – Disney’s Selena Gomez plays Alex, who casts a magic spell that puts her family in jeopardy.  It’s up to the kids to save themselves!

New TV on DVD:

• Cake Boss – Cake Boss
• Collision
• Criss Angel Mindfreak – Season 5 and Collector’s Edition Megaset
• George Lopez: Tall, Dark and Chicano
• Ice Road Truckers – Season 3
• The Maxx – Complete Series
• The Paper Chase – Season 2
• Robot Chicken – Season 4
• Sherlock Holmes – The Collection
• Star Trek – Original Series, Season 3 (Blu-ray)
• The Tudors – Season 3
• Wagon Train – Season 1

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2010

It is with mixed emotions that I announce the latest group of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  I am happy, because it’s about time, for two of my favorite groups of all time.  But, now I’m spoiled, because I’ve seen a live induction ceremony in Cleveland, and I wanted these groups to be inducted in a year that I could see them here.  *sigh*

I could cry.  There is a chance that Genesis will be reunited with my Peter Gabriel.  I want to be there, if it happens.  In addition, I want to hear the members of the Hollies singing in perfect harmony, once again.  Here’s the list:

• ABBA
• GENESIS  
• JIMMY CLIFF
• THE HOLLIES
• THE STOOGES

Ahmet Ertegun Award (nonperformers):

• DAVID GEFFEN
• BARRY MANN & CYNTHIA WEIL 
• ELLIE GREENWICH & JEFF BARRY  
• JESSE STONE 
• MORT SHUMAN
• OTIS BLACKWELL 

The ceremony will be held March 15 in New York City at the Waldorf Astoria.

Brag Book!

Had to share the latest on the baby.  People always seem to be interested to see how big he’s getting!

We went to South Park to see Santa Claus.  A special pay it forward thank you to the random guy who walked up and gave us a token to ride the train.  That was nice!  Reece told Santa he wants Gormiti (thanks, Disney XD) and a movie projector.  I don’t know where the last one comes from!  They had an extended conversation, while I was buying my pictures.  Between that visit and our Advent Calendar, the pookie is VERY excited for the holidays!!

New to See on DVD!

A new week, a few more movies going on to my Christmas wish list!  Here’s what is new on DVD.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is the latest in the Harry Potter series, and in my opinion, one of the two best adaptations of the books.  It’s suitably dark, the kids have really grown into their roles, and it leaves you waiting breathlessly for the next installment.

Moonlight Serenade is an interesting looking direct to DVD movie musical and romance, starring Amy Adams as a jazz singer who starts working with a down and out musician, played by Alec Newman.  Turns out they make beautiful music together. 

Public Enemies is Michael Mann’s take on the criminal anti-heroes of the 1930’s, led by John Dillinger, played by the always fun to watch Johnny Depp.  Christian Bale plays Melvin Purvis, leading the Feds in the war on crime.

Julie and Julia shows the lives of two different women, at different times, with the common bond of cooking and food.  Meryl Streep should be nominated for an Oscar, for her work as Julia Child.  She’s marvelous!  And, most critics felt the movie didn’t hold up, because Amy Adams’ Julie Powell wasn’t… well… the tour de force that Julia was.  But, who is?  I liked this movie, a lot!

The World’s Greatest Dad is Robin Williams as a guy who has settled for an ordinary life.  He’s raising a son who is obnoxious.  And then, circumstances give him everything he thinks he’s wanted for a long time.  But guess what happens.  Success isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.  Bobcat Goldthwait writes and directs.

The Dog Who Saved Christmas is basically a retelling of Home Alone, except Kevin is not the adorable Culkin kid, it’s a dog.  The family doesn’t appreciate the dog, but he shows what he’s worth, when he saves the house from invading burglers.   

The First Saturday in May is a documentary about the Kentucky Derby, following six very different jockeys, as they prepare, in their own way, for the race.

The Cove is a documentary from a group of activists, led by renown dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry.  They expose a cove near Japan to show both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.  And, I don’t know if I want to know.

Beautiful Losers is another documentary.  This follows the lives and careers of a collective group of artists and designers, like Shepard Fairey, who inadvertently affected the art world.

Airmen and the Headhunters is a PBS documentary about a crew of airmen, shot down over the jungle of Japanese occupied Borneo, during World War II.  They were rescued by Dayak tribesmen, who were known for taking the heads of their enemies, but they ended up feeding and protecting them.

New TV on DVD: 

• Friday – Complete Series
• The Fugitive – Season 3, Vol. 2
• Get Smart – Season 5
• Highlander – Season 1 (Blu-ray)
• The Jerry Lewis Show – The Jerry Lewis Show
• The Judy Garland Show – Collection
• Lost – Season 5
• McLeod’s Daughters – Pilot Movie
• Perry Mason – Season 4, Vol. 2
• Rescue Me – Season 5, Vol. 2
• SpongeBob SquarePants – Season 6, Vol. 1

 

Movie Review: 2012

We usually try to incorporate a movie into our Thanksgiving weekend.  We had a couple of films that we wanted to see, but nothing that demanded our attention, so we went with the one that was starting next, when we got to the theater.

I’m not in love with special effects.  I think they should be there to enhance the story and movie experience, not be the main focus.  But, John Cusack is in it, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, so I expected to at least like it.  I came away from the film a little depressed.  I mean, what is Roland Emmerich’s problem?  He’s written and directed so many end of days scenarios.  Does he have a death wish for the Earth?  John Cusack plays the sort of sad sack every man, and you have to like him.  He still loves his ex-wife, and he loves his kids, he’s just a writer and distracted, until he starts piecing together that these wack jobs who are proclaiming end times are putting together some serious evidence.  We also find out that some not-so-wack-jobs are gathering evidence too.  Geologists and politicians have access to the information, and you know what?  They’re kind of keeping it to themselves.  In fact, the government is putting together a program to save only the people who can afford to buy their way on board, when the lava hits the fan.  And that, to me, is a pretty grim possibility, so forgive me if my cynicism keeps me from enjoying this movie, as John Cusack and his family fight to stay alive, as the world crumbles around them.  The effects are spectacular.  I audibly oohed and ahhhhed.  But, it’s the Poseidon and Titanic type moments that stay with you, the person who’s willing to risk their life to fix a mechanical wrong and save others, the Mother who lies down with her children and soothes them knowing none of them will ever wake up from the tragedy.  2012 is what it is, an action/adventure picture, with nothing, really, to raise it out of the molten earth and make it great.  6.5 out of 10.