A Little Help

So, the girl from office is in a horrible marriage with the guy from Circle of Friends and her life gets even worse after he dies. Her overbearing sister (it puts the lotion in the basket) forces to sue the hospital and her lawyer (Sons of Anarchy) is really pushy. Turns out her sister's husband (Supernatural) has always been in love with her & for some reason this helps her sort things out and get back on the right track. I don't get it, and again I'm seeing yet another movie where I want one of the characters to leave their marriage, so I can have a happy ending. Hated the ending. All in all, I say: SKIP IT. Hard up for some trivia guess at all the actors and then look them up on IMDb. Well, I guess you would also need to not look at the above picture :)

Da Vinci's Inquest

A Canadian show - we can only see 3 of the 7 seasons in the US so far - bastards. Any ways it is a mix between CSI and Law & Order. They do things different in her majesties land of Canada. Da Vinci is a coroner and the tv show takes us through 13 cases a season. The guests will shock you - it's a who's who of Canadian actors - almost like going through all the Law & Order and CSI shows - their guests are a who's who of American actors. You will be shocked by some - it reminds me of that old MTV game show where there was a category Dead or Canadian. I think only my sister will get that connection. It's a cool show except for the soundtrack -- I really don't like Jazz. What surprised me most was that Vancouver reminds me a lot of Detroit.

  One of the detectives on the show has a brother - actor above - this guy is an American - Max Martini - he is just so hot - even though he's only seen like 4 times in 3 seasons of the show - wow. He was also on The Unit, Revenge, 24, CSI, Numb3rs, Profiler, Castle, Criminal Minds - you get the picture - he plays a lot of bad guys. All in all, I say: STREAM IT on Netflix and see if you like the format

The Walking Dead Book 1 & 2

Thanks again Missy for these. The graphic novels have all been put together into books - about 7 I think. One book has a good couple months of graphics in it. The TV show is based on these. Differences: there are a ton of additional characters in the books, a lot more sex in the books, and sequences are different. Instead of going to the CDC for example, they go to a fenced in neighbourhood in the middle of winter - oh by the way because the zombies don't have blood flowing through their body they freeze easily which really slows them down. Shane never makes it out of camp without being killed in the books, so his character continuing to be alive on tv is going to make things interesting. Andrea & the old guy are lovers - gross - in the books. After leaving the farm - in which the young girl does not die, the group holds up in a prison. I think in the tv show the prison is going to become the abandoned base near Forest Park at least that's the rumour - we will have to wait & see. It would be kind of funny though if they do go a prison next since one the main characters was on Prison Break! All in all, I say: READ IT.

Persuasion

A BBC Masterpiece Classic presentation. It has my new UK favorite hottie, Rupert Penry-Jones from the TV series I blogged about earlier - Whitechapel. In this he is amazing. There is so much feeling - these actors do an amazing job. It is so much better than all the other Austin films. This movie is now my all time favorite Austin film. My favorite Austin book is still Northanger Abbey and my favorite character is still Mr. Darcy, but there is just something about how this was written, edited, and acted that I can't help but put it on top. All in all, I say: SEE IT.

Abduction

No, I am not a Taylor fan. The way he walks and talks bothers me. The action scenes were good. In the end I broke down and rented this because of 5 actors. Sigourney Weaver (Aliens), Maria Bello (Prime Suspect US), Alfred Molina (Prince of Persia), and Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend's Wedding), and Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter). Directed is John Singleton whom I usually love for action. The foster parents Bello and Isaacs die to soon for me and then I am left with Lautner and the girl that plays his girlfriend I call her Eyebrows and if you see her you will understand. It's like here comes Eyebrows! The end where Mulroney gets a close up on his mouth is gross with his yellow, crooked teeth. All in all, I say: SKIP IT despite the great supporting cast. It would have been better without Taylor.

Nice Guy Johnny

An Edward Burns movie - written, directed, acted. As always, talking and introspection will take place and there is love involved (a typical Burns film). A young man is about to get married and leave his dream job for his girl, but after a trip back home in NY during a crazy weekend in the Hamptons with his uncle things change. He doesn't back down in the end - he's not the nice guy to fault any more. All in all, I say: SEE IT on tv sometime.

Without Men

Horrible I couldn't stand to continue after 10 minutes. All in all, I say: SKIP IT.

Nothing Personal

Bizarre, barley any talking. Dutch girl meets hermit Irishman. They eat, listen to music, perform chores, and then he dies. I guess the point was he didn't want to die alone and she needed to learn to be around people again after so unknown tragedy. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Cairo Time

Clarkson (Easy A) is a busy magazine editor that goes to Egypt for a vacation with her husband. Problem is her husband is not there - a crisis in Gaza has sent him to Israel - he's with the UN. At the beginning we find out that they are happy, have a long time marriage, and they have grown children. It seems like she wants them to spend time together now like she's ready for that part of her life to begin - he on the other hand it seems like he's not ready. During her weeks there her husband friend played by Siddig (Primevil, Strike Back, Waking the Dead, and other English productions - I remember his early years on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) - he's from Northern Sudan FYI - spends time showing Clarkson's character around and they have some great conversations. Well, they fall in love - this breaks my heart. They don't even really kiss or anything because the night the before she is supposed to leave her husband finally shows up & I'm like NOOOOO. It's horrible of me to say - but she and Siddig's character are so perfect together and I just wanted to them to kiss and end up together. All in all, I say: RENT IT or see on Showtime - the scenery of Egypt was nice.

War Horse

My gosh the people in this: Emily Watson (Punch-Drunk Love), Peter Mullen (Braveheart & Trainspotting), Niels Arestrup (Sarah's Key), David Thewlis (Seven Years in Tibet), Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock TV show), Eddie Marsen (Little Doritt) and it goes on. You know that many of those actors were in a Harry Potter movie, too. The story - I didn't read the book (wish I had) is about a boy and the horse he raised. They both go to war apart, but will they find each other again? Will they make it home? We see the horse's journey and everything he had to go through and along the way meet many of the victims of the war. It is touching and sad. All in all, I say: SEE IT - on the big screen would be good.

Outcasts

British TV series that was released in UK around 2010. It is season 1 of I think just the 1. Earth is being destroyed, so the leaders of Earth got together and picked a group of pioneers to be the 1st to settle on a new planet and pave the way for more arrivals. The season begins with another arrival once the original group have already been settled for about 10-15 years, so many of the characters we meet were much younger when they started. Any ways - scandal - there were some clones who were supposed to be killed, but weren't and the "humans" are afraid of them. Another scandal - one of the new arrivals is planning to overthrow the current leaders and create a new, not so democratic society - will anyone be able to stop him. The bad guy is Eric Mabius (from Resident Evil) and the President is Liam Cunningham (Clash of Titans, Game of Thrones, and more recently the doctor at the end of War Horse). The planet is called Carpathia after the ship that rescued the survivors of the Titanic. All in all, I say: RENT IT.

Let the Right One In

Made in Norway. A 12 year old who is bullied makes a friend in a new girl in town. She turns out to be a vampire. They fall in love while forming their friendship and help protect one another. At the beginning there is an old man helping her get food - we learn it's not her father, but are confused as to why he would be in the picture - until the end. That is what comes of the boys she falls in love with - they get older and stay with her till they die. The young boy becomes her new love and guardian. There is a cool scene in a hospital with one of her victims. All in all, I say: SEE IT unless you don't like vampire movies. Oh and the kind of vampire - can fly, climb walls, can't enter without permission, can see reflection, religion has nothing to do with it, and can't go into sun.

We Bought A Zoo

A man and his three kids live and run a zoo in order to start a new adventure once his wife dies. He meets people and animals that help him and his family be happy again. No award winning movie in my mind, but that doesn't mean it wasn't touching. All in all, I say: RENT IT.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocal

Renner (Hurt Locker) and Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) join Cruise on the team this time. They are trying to stop a nuclear war - so what's new. There is a lot of humor in this one. Everything that can go wrong does go wrong in this one. There are some cool effects and some cool fight scenes. All in all, I say: RENT IT - the one Woo directed is still my favorite.

Tremors

Just finished watching this for the one hundredth time. I love the Dune like sandworms. I like how bad the acting is and how one character is called Heather. An early Kevin Bacon film, Fred Ward, the father from Family Ties, and Rebia. Underground monster are killing people in a small (non-existent) Nevada town called Perfection. Will they escape the creator and make it through the mountains to civilization to get help or die? I love, love this movie. It is my favorite horror comedy film. All in all, I say: RENT IT

Girl With Dragon Tattoo

Daniel Craig plays Mikael, Christopher Plummer is Henrik, Stellan Skarsgard (father to True Blood actor that plays Eric) is Martin, Steven Berkoff (Victor from Beverly Hills Cop) is the lawyer, Robin Wright is Erika, Joely Richardson play Anita, Goran Visnjuc (from ER) plays Armansky, a guy from Games of Thrones is in it, Julian Sands plays the younger Henrik, 2 actors from The Killing (tv show) appear - one as editor of Mikael's magazine and one as a detective. It was 1000 times better than the superfluous novels, 100 times better than the Swedish movie. It still takes place in Sweden, but the actors speak English. I don't mind subtitles but with a plot this complicated I think it helps to not have to read. The film includes Mikael's sister (Embeth Davidtz) and daughter as opposed to the Swedish film.  I will admit I took a really long bathroom, water break during the rape scene - so I skipped that. I hope Fincher wants to make the others too because I think he did a good job editing. All in all, I say: SEE IT - take a sweater - it's winter, but in the movie it is also winter and it makes you colder.

I, Robot

I already own this and was re-watching it today. They are planning a part two. It is based on a short story by Isaac Asimov. Will Smith comes upon a computer conspiracy and with the help of a self aware robot is able to foil the plans. I love these quotes by Asimov. All in all, I say: SEE IT

It is not only the living who are killed in war.
Isaac Asimov
I don't believe in personal immortality; the only way I expect to have some version of such a thing is through my books.
Isaac Asimov
I write for the same reason I breathe - because if I didn't, I would die.
Isaac Asimov
If knowledge can create problems, it is not through ignorance that we can solve them.
Isaac Asimov
Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right.
Isaac Asimov
No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be.
Isaac Asimov
People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.
Isaac Asimov
Science fiction writers foresee the inevitable, and although problems and catastrophes may be inevitable, solutions are not.
Isaac Asimov
Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.
Isaac Asimov
The true delight is in the finding out rather than in the knowing.
Isaac Asimov

Darkness Falls

I don't know why - I can't explain it - but I LOVE this movie. It's horrible and predictable I know. Saw it in theatres and bought it the second it came out. I am watching it again today - goes with the overcast, rainy day. "A vengeful spirit has taken the form of the Tooth Fairy to exact vengeance on the town that lynched her 150 years earlier. Her only opposition is the only child, now grown up, who has survived her before." I like the actors, the plot, the bad guy, and the filming - hard to do when most of it takes place in the dark. All in all, I say: RENT IT some time.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Watson is getting married, but will the happy couple be safe with the Professor around? Spoiler: Irene gets it so anyone is game. How can Sherlock outwit someone as brilliant as he is - sacrifice! But will his sacrifice work and will it be permanent? The girl from the Swedish "Dragon Tattoo" did a good job as a gypsy. Same humour and filming tricks that make it a signature Guy Ritchie film. All in all, I say: YOU BETTER SEE IT

Trespass

A man off his meds thinks a married woman is in love with him. He follows her husband around and develops a plan to rob the family and force her to come with him. There are 2 plots the thieves and the married couple. It was done by Joel Schumaker (Lost Boys, St. Elmos Fire, and Phone Booth). It wasn't as good as it could have been - I didn't like the flashbacks. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

New Year's Eve

It's Valentine's Day, but on New Year's Eve. I like Marshall's movies and this one was just as feel good as the last one. Surprises and guest appearances galore. Zac Efron did a good job - I think he stole the show - which surprised me since I was never a fan. Seth Meyers - well - I just thought there would be more from him, but there probably wasn't time. The only thing that bothered me was the very obvious product placement, but I guess it's not going away, so I've got to get use to it. All in all, I say: RENT IT - don't need to see it on big screen.

Neverland

Tinkerbell is voiced by Kiera Knightley. The female pirate that ruled before Hook was played the the woman from Pushing Daisies. Bob Hoskins is also in the tv series that played on SyFy - which is not strange since the play a lot of the science fiction stuff from England. The series shows how it all began - it's like a prequel to Peter Pan. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Friends with Benefits

So, I put off watching this for a long time because I saw No Strings Attached in theatres first - big mistake. The screenplay for this was amazing and the cast - well - wow. Patricia Clarkson is one of my favs. It was the little stuff - the little details that made this movie. The actors made it seem effortless. It was just really well written and delivered. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Flypaper

Dempsey is a genius that misses his meds because he's in the middle of 2 groups trying to rob a bank. The teller, Judd, helps him find a murderer that is also at work during the robbery. A lot going on - yes - but it really reminded me of Clue in the way it worked. All the actors except one were pretty famous in my mind and it seemed strange that with such a cast it never made it on the big screen here. All in all, I say: RENT IT

Mansfield Park Revisited

Sequel to Mansfield Park, not by Jane Austin, called Mansfield Park Revisited. Fanny and Edward (main characters in Austin's book) are settling business in the West Indies for Edward's now deceased father. They have 2 kids. Susan - Fanny's younger sister - is now running things since Tom is always away. The book is supposed to explain how Susan and Tom end up together, but it goes in circles. There is no Austin romance about it. Aiken's writing is the closest to Austin I've read, but it fell short. All in all, I say: SKIP IT and just use your imagination.

Burned

House of Night book - Zoe's spirit split and she was in the other world. Her warrior must also pass over to help her repair her spirit and return to the living world. This book is more about Stevie Ray and Stark than Zoe. Aside from the excessive descriptions and over-writing it wasn't too bad. All in all, I say: SKIP IT unless you are reading the series.

Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Rupert Graves plays the evil husband. James Purefoy plays the brother of the woman who wants to take her son and leave the evil influence of her husband. She escapes and pretends to be a widow, but when the town starts to spread rumours it's only a matter of time before the truth comes out. While hidden away she meets a poor farmer who is the love of her life. Written by a Bronte and well acted. All in all, I say:  RENT IT.

Attack the Block

Aliens land in one of the Towers in London. A group of wanna be hoodlums fight off the creatures - protecting the block. There is a cameo that makes the movie worth it. The creatures are a bit strange, but the concept is decent. The accents are thick and they talk fast, so I recommend watching with captions. All in all, I say: SEE IT.

Archangel

3 part series from the UK. A Russian hooker, an American journalist, a British historian, relics of the Communist party, and the son of Stalin are tangled up in political conspiracy. It was ok, but it had a strange ending. All in all, I say: unless you like UK TV - SKIP IT