Bitten

A chick named Mindy wrote this plot description of the new SyFy show Bitten, "Elena Micheals thought she left the world of supernatural behind when she left Stonehaven... 'for good this time'... Until the night she got [a] mysterious call from her pack leader asking her to come home... So [now] she is ...leaving [her] life as a normal photographer back in Toronto... [to] re-enter the world of werewolves..." Mindy is not great writer. During the quick first show we learn her job, her background, and her future. What we don't know is... why is she the only female, why did she leave a "love" behind, and will she tell her future boyfriend what she is? Vandervoort (This Means War) is Elena. Bryk (A History of Violence) is her pack leader. The others are only known to people who watch a lot of SyFy channel movies/shows or love Canadian TV. There has only been one show, but it made me curious enough to go ahead and add it to my DVR list. All in all, I say: SEE IT - especially if you like Lost Girl - you might as well - you're already on the right channel on the right night.

Girls

Made for HBO and in its third season, this show is about...GIRLS. A group of friends who live in NYC and suffer through all sorts of setbacks like mental illness, broken hearts, and lost jobs. Some of the sex scenes are awkward I guess is the word, but it's the writing I watch the show for - some of the conversations are intense and some are not so intense. It's clever and different. All in all, I say: SEE IT - I'm not sure if you would like it if you're a boy though.

Admission

Fey (SNL) works as an admissions officer for Princeton University. Rudd (Clueless) is a teacher at an newly chartered high school. He believes that one of his students is the boy that Fey gave up for adoption when she was in college. The two of them fall in love while working to get the boy into Princeton. It is funny when it needed to be and serious when the scene demanded. It was smart and witty. I enjoyed every bit. Reuben (ER), Shawn (Princess Bride), Sheen (Underworld), Tomlin (9 to 5), and Walger (Common Law) also appear. All in all, I say: RENT IT or watch on HBO right now.

Nevermore: The Final Maximum Ride Adventure (Book 8)

Amazon describes the plot as, "Maximum Ride and her faithful friends stand ready to face the two greatest threats that humankind has ever known--now combining forces in an unbeatable plot to destroy life as we know it once and for all. And this time, the enemy truly can't be stopped. The danger mounts just as the boy genetically engineered to be her "perfect match", Dylan, has finally worked his way into Max's heart--and just as her beloved Fang unexpectedly returns to the flock. An explosive confrontation between the two boys with a claim to Max's heart ensues, and the entire world hangs in the balance.

In this powerful and moving finale to James Patterson's epic fantasy series, fans will finally get the answers they've been waiting for--and an ending full of shock, surprises, and the greatest conclusion you never saw coming."

One thing is for sure - don't listen to this on CD - there are sounds effects and it's super annoying. I tried, but I didn't like the love triangle thing and the constant battle between all these unseen forces. I am curious about the ending, but I can't sit through this & read it to get there. I'll see if I can find someone else who has read it. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - the series started out interesting and ok and lost me around the 5th book or so.

Incarceron

Amazon describes the plot as, "Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells and corridors, but metal forests, dilapidated cities, and wilderness. It has been sealed for centuries, and only one man has ever escaped. Finn has always been a prisoner here. Although he has no memory of his childhood, he is sure he came from Outside. His link to the Outside, his chance to break free, is Claudia, the warden's daughter, herself determined to escape an arranged marriage. They are up against impossible odds, but one thing looms above all: Incarceron itself is alive . . ."
When I read this I was pumped - I thought this will be good. I got it on CD so I could listen to it on my commute to & from work (or does the work commute already let you know to and from work?). It was two of the most painful moments of reading in my life - right up there with reading Age of Innocence. Descriptions of descriptions upon descriptions of things that aren't important to the plot at all. From what I gathered from those 2 hours - the warden's daughter was excited to marry the next leader, but he died and so she was then required to marry his step-brother who is evil. Turns out the good one isn't dead, but living in the prison with amnesia. The girl is caught inside the prison and held by the man she was once supposed to marry - she doesn't know it either yet - they probably discover all this by the end of the book and work together to put an end to the evil brother - future leader. See - didn't need to listen/read it at all. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Lee Daniel's The Butler

Based on the true story of a man that was a butler in the White House for dozens of Presidents. It reminded me of Forest Gump - showing all the decades and years and all the historical events. It didn't WOW me though. I think I had really high expectations going in - maybe too high. The acting was good, but something about the editing bothered me - it felt choppy. I didn't connect much with any of the characters. The movie didn't go deep enough I think. I'm not even going to mention who was in it. All in all, I say: SKIP IT or RENT IT - if you like historical films.

Bend It Like Beckham

An Indian-English girl (Nagra from Blacklist) loves soccer, but her family wants her to go to school, get married to a nice Indian boy, and have kids. She wants to play soccer and marry her coach (Meyers from August Rush) - not an Indian. A couple of misunderstandings get in the way of her friendship with a fellow player (Knightley from Love Actually) and her sister's wedding is almost called off. It's is subtle, but WOW when you see it. Chadha (Bride & Prejudice) directs, so you know it's amazing. All in all, I say: SEE IT