Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

This is what happens to me when I have insomnia! The gang swims to Europe (I know what you're thinking - why didn't they swim to US then?!). They are being hunted, so they join a circus. They help circus get their "act" together and are able to travel to the US. None of these movies make sense to me. All in all, I say: SKIP IT in fact - run away! runaway!

Jurassic Park series

In 1993 Spielberg put Crichton's masterpiece onto the big screen. I was still working at Cineplex Odeon Theatres at Stone Mountain Festival at the time. One of our biggest theatres had to be remodeled/retrofitted with a new surround sound system. It was a new technology - sound would now come from all over and not just the front of the theatre. It would be louder and more background noise would be heard - like raindrops and the sound of crickets. We all couldn't wait for our projectionist to finish splicing the movie together. We all stayed late, opened up the leftover bag of popcorn, and settled in for an amazing experience. I will forever love this film because it marks a first in my life.

The movie was out of a really long time. Many of my friends and I purchased the book and hurried to finish the massive thing in time for the movie. The movie was super impressive. We didn't see it in 3D has the poster shows - that came much later. Neill (The Piano), Dern (Wild At Heart), Goldblum (The Fly), Jackson (Snakes on a Plane), Wong (Mulan), and Attenborough (Elizabeth) were in the film. Dinosaurs are brought back to life by a very wealthy man and his scientist. He invites several famous scientist to come and take a ride when all hell breaks lose. All in all, I say: SEE IT

By 1997, Spielberg was ready for his sequel. I don't think it made as much as the first. This time just Goldblum (The Fly) is the only scientist from the first film to return. Moore (Non-Stop), Postlethwaite (Inception who died in 2011), Howard (Full Metal Jacket), Vaughn (Swingers), Schiff (West Wing), and Stormare (22 Jump Street) also appear. The action and plot [Different groups of scientist are studying the creatures - one as Goldblum's character. The other group is out of their depth.] were just as good as the first. All in all, I say: SEE IT

  This third installment was directed by Johnston (Jumanji). Neill's character is the main character in this film. He is asked to go to the island to help locate a wealthy family that visited the island and became lost. Macy (Fargo) and Leoni (Spanglish) are the couple. Nivola (American Hustle) and Jeter (Open Range) also appear. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it really wasn't half bad. Also, at the end - creatures escape.

Pratt (Parks & Recreation) and Howard (The Help) are the main characters in the fourth installment that will come out next year. I can't wait!

Godfather trilogy

Released in 1972 and became an immediate American classic - lines from this are repeated to this day. It's 175 minutes long and directed by the king of long films, Coppola. Brando (On the Waterfront) plays the Godfather you see above - people mimic his accent in this all the time. Pacino (Scarface) is the young son who is slotted to take over. Caan (Elf) is the older son, but he's too hot headed. IMDb writes, "The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son." Duvall (Open Range) also appears along with Keaton (Hannah and Her Sisters) and Shire (Rocky). 

Part two came out in 1974. De Niro (Raging Bull) makes an appearance. IMDb writes, "The early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York is portrayed while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on his crime syndicate stretching from Lake Tahoe, Nevada to pre-revolution 1958 Cuba." Truth is I got a little confused and bored with this one. I didn't think it was as good as the first.

IMDb writes, "In the midst of trying to legitimize his business dealings in 1979 New York and Italy, aging mafia don Michael Corleone seeks to vow for his sins while taking a young protégé under his wing." Fast forward to 1990 - that's how long it took to get the third one made. This one didn't do as good as the first two. A lot of fans didn't really seem to like it - me - it was my favorite of all three. It might have been because I was older and understood more though. It might also have been because a young Garcia
(Untouchables) was in the movie. Wallach (The Holiday), Mantegna (Searching for Bobby Fischer), Fonda (Jackie Brown), Coppola (Sophia director of Lost in Translation), and Hamilton (Love at First Bite) were also in the film. All in all, I say: SEE ALL three in a row in a movie marathon.

LOTR series

Lord of the Rings series.

In 2001, Peter Jackson released LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring. 9 set out of be rid of the ring from the book The Hobbit.
1) Baggins is played by Wood (US - Wilfred).
2) Astin (US - Rudy) plays Gamgee.
3) Boromir is played by Bean (UK - Game of Thrones).
4) Greenleaf is played by Bloom (UK - Zulu).
5) Took is played by Boyd (Scotsman - On a Clear Day).
6) Gandalf is played by McKellen (UK - X-Men).
7) Brandybuck is played by Monaghan (German - Lost).
8) Aragorn is played by Mortensen (US - GI Jane).
9) Gimli is played by Rhys-Davies (Uk - Indian Jones).

Also appearing: Blanchett (Australian - Blue Jasmine), Weaving (Nigerian - Matrix), Csokas (New Zealander - XXX), Holm (UK - Alien), and Lee (UK - Dark Shadows). If they weren't in Harry Potter then they showed up in this series - the Australians, and United Kingdom actors were super busy in the early part of the 21st century.

In LOTR: The Two Towers the groups is separated. Sam and Frodo are pretty much on their own. There is tons of action and fighting in this. The fighting, by the way, is amazing.

My favorite and yes, maybe because it's all the hot guys. There is just so much going on by this point that I don't think any plot description will do - if you haven't read the books you'll have to trust that is was well done and just mind blowing. All in all, I say: SEE THEM all in a row to get the full effect and suspense. I would do a marathon if I were you.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows (Book)

I didn't think it was as thick as Goblet, but this book was made into two movies. I have already blogged on both. Amazon describes the plot as, "In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book in the epic tale of Harry Potter, Harry and Lord Voldemort each prepare for their ultimate encounter.

Voldemort takes control of the Ministry of Magic, installs Severus Snape as headmaster at Hogwarts, and sends his Death Eaters across the country to wreak havoc and find Harry. Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Hermione embark on a desperate quest the length and breadth of Britain, trying to locate and destroy Voldemort’s four remaining Horcruxes, the magical objects in which he has hidden parts of his broken soul. They visit the Burrow, Grimmauld Place, the Ministry, Godric’s Hollow, Malfoy Manor, Diagon Alley...

But every time they solve one mystery, three more evolve—and not just about Voldemort, but about Dumbledore, and Harry’s own past, and three mysterious objects called the Deathly Hallows. The Hallows are literally things out of a children’s tale, which, if real, promise to make their possessor the “Master of Death;” and they ensnare Harry with their tantalizing claim of invulnerability.

It is only after a nigh-unbearable loss that he is brought back to his true purpose, and the trio returns to Hogwarts for the final breathtaking battle between the forces of good and evil. They fight the Death Eaters alongside members of the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore’s Army, the Weasley clan, and the full array of Hogwarts teachers and students.

Yet everything turns upon the moment the entire series has been building up to, the same meeting with which our story began: the moment when Harry and Voldemort face each other at last."

All in all, I say: READ IT - you will be satisfied with the ending and be sad at heart that it is all over.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Horcruxes according to wikia.com are, "A Horcrux is a powerful object in which a Dark wizard or witch has hidden a fragment of his or her soul for the purpose of attainingimmortality.^[1] Creating one Horcrux gives one the ability to anchor one's own soul to earth if the body is desroyed; the more horcruxes one creates, the closer one is to true immortality. Creating multiple Horcruxes is suggested to be costly to the creator, by both diminishing their humanity and even physically disfiguring them."

Year 6 - war is raging. This book is violent, gruesome, bloody, and darker than the last. I was disturb by how violent and dark things had gotten. 

Yates is still director. We go back to one of the earlier screenplay writers which means a lot is different or missing. Slughorn is played by Broadbent (UK - Gangs of New York). It wasn't bad, but it was as true to the story as I would have liked. All in all, I say: READ IT and then SEE IT

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Year five at Hogwarts. Things start to get darker and more dangerous - the reader can tell. A secret is brought back and you're on pins and needles.

So, a new director was picked - thank God, so I decided to see this one afterall. Yates (UK - State of Play tv series) directed. He is a serious director - I mean his themes are serious, so there was hope for this film. I believe there was also a new screenplay writer on this one than the last 2 - again hope. Irish actor Gleeson (Troy) plays Mad-Eye Moody. Lestrange is played by Carter (UK - Fight Club). Trelawney is played by Thompson (UK - Sense & Sensibility). The only problem - it isn't very memorable. It was ok, but I wouldn't say I was on the edge of my seat. All in all, I say: READ IT and then SEE IT

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Year four at Hogwarts and the largest book of the four. So large in fact that it is a travesty that it wasn't made into two films.

Lacking in a lot of ways - mostly because (not sure I mentioned this yet) it needed to be two (2) films! I think I got my point across on that. Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) directed this one. He would have been better suited to the third installment. It just didn't feel as suspenseful as the book. This one should have been called Harry Potter and Let's All Hook Up and Become a Couple, or Harry Potter and Let's Fall in Love. Spall (UK - Enchanted) played Wormtail. Pattinson (Twilight series) appears. I'm bitter at this point and I'm about to say forget ever seeing a movie again because I feel 3 & 4 were ruined. All in all, I say: READ IT and see if you want, but it's a little disappointing. Know why - IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 2!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Year three at Hogwarts. Also, my all time favorite in the series which is kind of surprising because of what happens. I think I read it like three times. Sirius Black is the prisoner and he has a secret.

Oldman (UK - The Dark Knight) is Black and he is perfect for the part. Thewlis (UK - War Horse) is Lupin. Irish actor Gambon (Gosford Park) played Dumbledore from this point on. First mistake, the director was Cuaron (Gravity). Second mistake, the screenplay. This movie was a disgrace - I hate it even to this day. Hate is a strong word - I loath - is that stronger? This film was nothing like the book. I'd like to pretend it never happened. All in all, I say: READ IT and then pretend they never made a movie about it - trust me.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Year two at Hogwarts.

Again, directed by Columbus with the same cast. Jones (UK - The Mist) does the voice for Dobby. Isaacs (UK - The Patriot) is Mr. Malfoy. Branagh (UK - Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit) is Lockhart. Harris had filmed his part already. It was almost exactly like the book - very well done. More and more where purchasing books and standing in line for the movie. All in all, I say: READ IT and then SEE IT

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Year One at Hogwarts school of magic. I really don't think I need to include a plot - if you have been living under a rock, in North Korea, or you have been seconded to a nunnery then let me know and I'll provide a plot.

In 2001, I was still working at Borders. Harry Potter books and movie were such a success that the New York Times added a best sellers just for young adult novels. We had to redo the stores. When we had a new book coming out we had all sorts of events starting at midnight. It was crazy. The book and this movie were perfect - not much missing or out of order so to speak. The sad part was British actor Harris (Unforgiven) was actually Dumbledore - he died in 2002. British actress McGonagall is Smith (Downton Abbey) which allowed thousands of Americans to discover how amazing she is. Scotsman Coltrane (the British tv series Cracker) is Hagrid. New British actor Radcliffe (Lady in White) is Harry Potter. Irish actress Shaw (True Blood) is Aunt Dursley. British actor Griffiths (Hugo) was Uncle Dursley - he died in 2013. British actor Hart (Klondike) is Quirrell. British little person Davis from the Leprechaun horror series was Flintwick. Ollivander is played by British actor Hurt (Alien). New British actor Grint is Weasley. New French actress Watson (Noah) played Granger. Headless Nick is Cleese (UK - Monty Python). Rickman (UK - Die Hard) is Snape. Best of all, directed by Columbus (Goonies). It is a who's who of British cinema. All in all, I say: READ IT & then SEE IT

My Gal Sunday

A Hallmark original. He is the former secretary of state and governor who know works a ranch. She is the daughter of a secret service agent who is a lawyer. Their parents are kidnapped and between the two of them they will find them in time because since they got married they have opened a private-eye business. Blanchard (tv show Clueless) is Sunday. Canadian Mathison (All My Children) is the politician - see below.

Wagner (General Hospital) is the father of Sunday. Croatian Bacic (When Calls the Heart tv series) is a hitman - see below.

It's kind of strange how many ex-soap opera stars are doing films for Hallmark. It was a cute movie for a lazy Sunday afternoon. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Planet of the Apes: Original Series of Films

In 1968 the first Ape film was released. When it was released there were action figures, books, and collectables. It was a much awaited film because of one of its actors.

Heston (Ben-Hur) is an astronaut that crashes. When he leaves the wreck he begins, slowly, to realize that he has crashed in the future and all he knows is gone. That's not all...he learns that humans are primitive and living as slaves to another creature - Apes. McDowell (Pinky and the Brain) is a scientist who studies humans. The astronaut is his biggest find because he is intelligent and can speak. This part always bothered me though - the fact that the chimps were the calm, scientific types and the gorillas were the violent ones. Typically, it's the opposite in nature. The gorillas are typically more calm whereas the chimps are more violent. All in all, I say: SEE IT. This was remade in 2001.

In 1970, the next film was released, Beneath the Planet of the Apes. A reviewer on IMDb, Kretschmann writes, "Astronaut Brent is sent to rescue Taylor but crash lands on the Planet of the Apes, just like Taylor did in the original film. Taylor has disappeared into the Forbidden Zone so Brent and Nova try to follow and find him. He discovers a cult of humans that fear the Apes' latest military movements and finds himself in the middle. Tension mounts to a climactic battle between ape and man deep in the bowels of the planet." All in all, I say: SEE IT in order to understand the next film, but I never really did like this one much.

One year later the next film was released, Escape from the Planet of the Apes. Montalban (Fantasy Island) joins the cast as does Walsh (Blade Runner) as an aide to the President. BAskin wrote this plot description for IMDb, "Following the events in "Beneath the Planet of the Apes", Cornelius and Zira flee back through time to 20th Century Los Angeles, where they face fear and persecution similar to what Taylor and Brent suffered in the future, and discover the origins of the stream of events that will shape their world." There is a surprise - the female ape scientist is pregnant - this will be important. All in all, I say: SEE IT - this one was better than the second.

The next year Conquest of the Planet of the Apes was released. The child born to the apes is Caesar. IMDb writes, "In a futuristic world that has embraced ape slavery, Caesar, the son of the late simians Cornelius and Zira, surfaces after almost twenty years of hiding out from the authorities, and prepares for a slave revolt against humanity." Apes have become pets as well as slaves. I don't remember much about this film in the series. I do know that this is the film that was sort of remade as Rise of the Planet of the Apes. All in all, I say: SEE IT before you see the remake.

In 1973, Battle for the Planet of the Apes was released. IMDb writes, "Ten years after conquering the Earth, ape leader Caesar wants the ruling apes and enslaved humans to live in peace. But warring factions of apes led by a militant gorilla general as well as various human groups threaten the stability." I don't remember this one at all. It is of interest to note that McDowell who once placed the scientist has been playing his son Caesar. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes which will be released this year, 2014, is a remake of this film. All in all, I say: SEE IT before you see the remake.

I did not see this when it was first released in 1974, but did rent it later and watch it. IMDb writes, "Two astronauts and a sympathetic chimp friend are fugitives in a future Earth dominated by a civilization of humanoid apes." Naughton (The Devil Wears Prada), McDowell (yes, the one from the films), and Lenard (Star Trek) star. It only lasted one season as you can imagine there wasn't much by way of plot unless they redid the entire film series. It's also so confusing having McDowell as a completely different character yet again. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

I, Frankenstein

Based on a graphic novel I never read, this tale is about good and evil. God's gargoyles who protect the human race are in a war to fight demons from hell. In the middle of all this is Dr. Frankenstein's monster. He is given the name Adam - he's the first of his kind. It is predictable plot wise. It isn't extraordinary in any way. It sort of lags in some spots. Eckhart (Thank You For Smoking) is amazing - it's a two shirter. He appears to be doing his own action scenes, too. Australian Strahovski (Chuck) is a human doctor. Australian Otto (The Starter Wife) is the leader of the gargoyles, and her right hand man is Australian Courtney (Jack Reacher) - see below. Now, he could have gotten more off shirt time. He's amazing at the sword play and action stuff.

Englishman Nighy (Underworld) was of course the bad guy - I mean what else would he be in a fantasy flick like this?!! Australian Stasey (Reign) had a small part as a gargoyle warrior in this, too. By now you are asking why on Earth are there so many of today's up and coming Australian actors in this? Well, the director is the Australian director, Beattie would did the Pirate of the Caribbean movies. This one has no humor - well it isn't supposed to, but because it's not very good you may find yourself laughing at its predictability. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - but when it comes out watch the fight scenes.

Klondike

Discovery Channel original. Discovery describes the plot as, 'Klondike follows the lives of two childhood best friends, Bill and Epstein, in the late 1890s as they flock to the gold rush capital in the untamed Yukon Territory. This man-versus-nature tale places our heroes in a land full of undiscovered wealth, but ravaged by harsh conditions, unpredictable weather and desperate, dangerous characters including greedy businessmen, seductive courtesans and native tribes witnessing the destruction of their people and land by opportunistic entrepreneurs." Jack London makes an appearance. British actor Roth (Pulp Fiction) is a bad guy. Shepard (Crimes of the Heart) is a preacher. Australian actress Cornish (Limitless) is a hotel owner. British actor Hart (Rogue) is a greedy businessman. Nelson (Oh, Brother Where Art Thou?) is a prospector. Scottish actor, Madden (Game of Thrones) is the main character - see below.

And.. it was a nice surprise to see New Zealand actor Csokas as a Canadian Mountie. I thought he should have had a bigger role - see below.

They could have gone deeper with some of the characters. I was based on a true story, but I felt like it was missing something. There just didn't seem to be meat to it - if that makes sense. I don't know what exactly it was missing - but it was off. All in all, I say: SKIP IT.

Getting On

As you can see it's an HBO series. It's only half an hour long. I struggled to think how to state the plot correctly. I think the person that did it for IMDb did a good job with it: "Set in a geriatric extended care wing of a down-at-the-heels hospital, Getting On follows put-upon nurses, anxious doctors and administrators as they struggle with the darkly comic, brutally honest and quietly compassionate realities of caring for the elderly." Metcalf (Rosanne) is a doctor, Fobbs (Bones) is a nurse, and Shannon (SNL) is a patient's daughter. It has some good laughs - it can also be a little disconcerting. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you're bored and you can catch it on HBOGo.

Flowers in the Attic 1987 & 2014

Based on V.C. Andrews series about Dollanganger children. Tennant (Best Seller) was psychologically and physically tortured by her crazy mother who was jealous of her daughters good looks. When he daughter falls in love and gets married her parents disown her. She and her husband have four kids. When he dies the mother is not able to take care of herself and goes back to her parents. She hopes to get back into the good graces of her father in order to inherit his money. Her mother tells her that she must hide her children away until the death. The kids are locked in the family attic. They are slowly being poisoned by their grandmother - the youngest boy dies. Fletcher (Cruel Intentions) is the grandmother who also attempts to break the kids spirit because they too are very pretty/handsome. With no human contact except each other the oldest boy and girl (Swanson from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) form an intimate relationship. Not too long after their brother dies they decide to escape and discover that their grandfather died a long time ago, and their mom has left them and married another man. All in all, I say: READ IT and then WATCH IT if you like that kind of horror. I do classify it as horror - you have to remember the time period as you read/watch.

I foolishly thought that Lifetime would only remake the movie if they were going to update it or make it into a series. Did I mention I was fooled. So, it was remade and it was worse than the original. There was a lot left out and the acting was so bad. Graham (Twin Peaks) was bad as the mother, Burstyn (The Exorcist) was bad, and Shipka (Mad Men) was bad. She acted the way she does in Mad Men which isn't go great. I thought it was boring. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Jack Ryan Series

Reboot! This is the most recent int he series, but it goes all the way back - Origins! He is in college when this begins. All the others below are after. Problem - the ones below take place in the 90s. The new one above takes place after September 11, 2001. Don't let that hold you back - go with the flow. Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet) directs and acts in this film. Pine (Star Trek) takes on the role of Jack Ryan. The second role where he has big shoes to fill. He decides to play it more like Alec Baldwin than Harrison Ford in my opinion. Knightly (Love Actually) plays his fiance - American accent horrible as usual! Costner (Dances With Wolves) is the man that has recruited him for the CIA - he is not Greer (the character played by Jones or Jackson). The action scenes are good. Pine is believable in the role. It is a relevant plot. All in all, I say: SEE IT - I saw it in theatres and I have to warn you - I got dizzy a lot with the camera work.

Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) played Jack Ryan in Hunt for Red October. He played it as a reluctant CIA analyst that would rather be behind a desk and go home every night to his wife and young kid than be in the field. It took place during the Cold War. He knows the most about the situation, so he has to go on board a US submarine and help a Russian captain defect to the US with a state if the art Russian submarine. Connery (The Rock), Glenn (Silence of the Lambs), Neill (The Piano), Jones (Click), Firth (MI-5), Curry (Young Justice), Skarsgard (Thor), and Vance (Dangerous Minds) all appear in this 1990 blockbuster. Director was John McTiernan (Die Hard). All in all, I say: SEE IT - and see it first.

Harrison Ford (Regarding Henry) played Jack Ryan the longest starting with Patriot Games in 1992. He gets involved with an IRA plot and they seek out his family for revenge. He is an older and his kids are older in this sequel to Hunt for Red October. Archer (The Art of War) is his wife, Bergin (Sleeping with the Enemy) is the main bad guy, Bean (Game of Thrones) [honestly who cares what part he plays - yummy], Birch (American Beauty) is Ryan's daughter, Jackson (Pulp Fiction), and Jones (Star Wars), and Walker (Enchanted April) also appear in this blockbuster. Director is Phillip Noyce (Salt). All in all, I say: SEE IT.

Next, Clear and Present Danger in 1994 has Jack Ryan dealing with the Colombian drug cartels and corrupt government officials. Dafoe (Finding Nemo), de Almeida (Fast Five), Archer again, Birch again, Moffat (The Thing), Sandoval (Medium), Bratt (Miss Congeniality), and Cruz (Major Crimes) also appear. Director is Phillip Noyce (The Bone Collector). All in all, I say: SEE IT.

Would You Rather

I don't usually even try horror movies that are in the form of games like Saw. What caught my eye - pun intended - were the actors in this. Snow (Pitch Perfect), Gilliard (The Machinist), Gjokaj (Dollhouse), Heard (Home Alone), and Steeples (Akeelah and the Bee). A group of people who have needs greater than they themselves can fill agree to meet at a house and play the game, would you rather. There are four rounds: 1) electrocute yourself or someone else 2) stab someone in the leg or cane someone 3) pick a punishment from a card [the picture above] or be submerged in water for 2 minutes and 4) only 2 people left shot the other person and win or you both go home. Round three was horrific (I know it's a horror movie) the other rounds were more psychological than horrific - if that makes sense. Stop reading now if you don't want to know the end

Spoiler: Snow is the main character. She goes to get bone marrow and money for her brother who has cancer. She shoots, Gjokai which goes against her character. When she gets home with her winnings, her brother has killed himself so he isn't a burden for her.

All in all, I say: SKIP IT unless you like this kind of horror. I saw it on HBO

Broken City

Wahlberg (Executive Producer of In Treatment and almost every other series on HBO past & present) is a cop who killed a rapist and was taken off the force. He then works as a PI, and gets a good paying job when the mayor (Crowe of Gladiator) of NY calls him up to catch his wife (Zeta-Jones from Chicago) in the act. What he does catch is a group of people trying to put the mayor's illegal activities out to the press. Wahlberg succeeds but at a high cost. It was ok - not bad, but not great. I saw it on HBOGo. All in all, I say: SEE IT if it comes on tv otherwise SKIP IT

Dragon Eyes

Netflix writes, "When a neighborhood is taken over by feuding drug kingpins and unprotected by corrupt cops, a newcomer with superior martial arts skills and a strong moral vision steps in to help the terrorized residents in this high-octane actioner." Van Damme (Mortal Kombat) only has a small part as the man who trains Le's (The Man with the Iron Fists) character to fight. The fight scenes are nothing spectacular. Weller (RoboCop) plays the bad cop - haha. I got bored about minutes in. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - it''s on HBO if you are interested. 

Jack the Giant Slayer

Hoult (Warm Bodies) is Jack from the fairy tale. Tomlinson (The White Queen) is the Princess whose ancestor got rid of the beanstalks and protected the kingdom from giants - according to a legend. McGregor (Haywire) and Marsan (Ray Donovan) are guards for the Princess. McShane (Deadwood) is the King. Tucci (The Hunger Games) is the bad guy. It's not too immature - the giants are designed to keep the kids interested. It's not overly romantic or barbaric. All in all, I say: SEE IT

True Detective

Harrelson (Zombieland) and McConaughey (Lincoln Lawyer) are homicide detectives in Louisiana. They catch a serial killer case. The first episode show the two detectives currently being interviewed by other detectives about the past case. It goes back and forth. By the end, the viewer realizes that the cops are being interviewed because the killer appears to be back at it - so to speak. It's gritty and some of the lines that McConaughy has to say are super deep. I don't exactly know why I write this, but it's unique. I can't really put my finger on what makes it unique, you can just tell. The 2 of them together is powerful. All in all, I say: WATCH IT on HBO - I'm going to give it a shot. You can catch up with the 1st episode on HBOGo