Weekly TV Recap

I’ve still loving Once Upon a Time and 666 Park Avenue. I hope though the plan isn’t to keep Emma and Snow in the Enchanted Forest for the entire season. I think this would be a great November Sweeps arc but then it should end after that. I am very pleased with this show. I wasn’t sure where it was going to go after magic came back to Storybrooke at the end of the Season 1 finale but it is almost as if the show has been reborn.

I tuned into Nashville’s premiere last week and I like what I saw. Ever since Friday Night Lights and American Horror Story, I’ve become a huge Connie Britton fan. I was unsure about Nashville at first. I’m not a huge country music fan but I not only enjoyed the music but the acting and the plot as well. It’s not just about music y’all. It’s political too … and it has Powers Booth chewing up the scenery as Connie’s protective, manipulative and highly unlikeable dad!

Tonight though something’s going to have to be DVRed. Nashville is going up against American Horror Story – Asylum. Season Two has a who new locale, era and cast, even though several regulars have returned. Speaking of scenery chewers, Jessica Lange is back, only this time she’s the head nun at a home for the criminally insane. Evan Peters is back – still creepy as ever – this time as an inmate in the asylum. Zachary Quinto is back as a psychologist and new faces James Cromwell, Joseph Fiennes and Adam Levin (yes, Maroon 5’s front man and featured judge on The Voice).

Hell, I might just DVR both of them because both shows are worth rewatching!

Weekly TV Recap

Look for the TV Recap every Tuesday night!

Glee came back in a big way with The Break-Up episode. You knew it was bound to happen. Long distance rarely works … especially when graduating seniors are heading off to college and/or the real world. After four months of radio silence from Finn and a lot of attention from upperclassman Brody, Rachel had purchased her tickets to Splitsville. Kurt got the companion pass as his job at Vogue opened new avenues for him that didn’t feature hometown boyfriend Blaine (who sought comfort on his own). Blaine and Finn show up in NYC and the break-ups were underway – including a heart-wrenching performance of Teenage Dream. Back in Lima, Santana returned to levy the boom on an unsuspecting Brittany. Even the adults were immune as Will’s new commission position is taking him away from Lima briefly and from Emma (although I think these two will end up back together). This episode alone almost redeemed this season for me.

The New Girl and Raising Hope were some of my favorites last season and in their second season they aren’t disappointing. Schmitt impersonating a Romney was laugh-out loud funny. I hope that postpone Jess and Nick getting together. I think it’s too early in the show’s run for that kind of couple … although it is obvious that it’s moving in that direction. Raising Hope came back as zany as ever (I can’t believe I just wrote the word zany but I think it is strangely apropos).

I missed The New Normal to give The Mindy Project a second chance. It wasn’t worth it – definitely the weak link in an otherwise strong comedy night. From now on it’s FOX from 8:00 – 9:30 and then over to NBC at 9:30 for The New Normal. Sorry Mindy.

I liked the twist of being able to steal a contestant over on The Voice. I think it will help keep the battle rounds interesting. Based on last night’s show, the coaches did an excellent job of picking teams AND musicians to help them work with the teams. Michael Buble (Team Blake), Mary J. Blige (Team Adam), Rob Thomas (Team Cee-lo) and Green Day’s  Billie Joe Armstrong(Team Christina) all added some valuable advice to the contestants. This show keeps getting better.

And so does 666 Park Avenue. I like the direction the show is heading. The subplot with the birds was sufficiently creepy and there are enough questions to keep you guessing. I’ll be watching.

And of course, I can’t end without talking about Once Upon a Time. I was worried at the end of last season, when magic returned that the show would have nowhere to go. However, it reinvented itself in a good way. I hope Mary Margaret/Snow and Emma aren’t trapped in the Enchanted Forest for the entire season. I also appreciated Charming’s explanation for David’s wishy-washiness. Charming is clearly more heroic and I’m glad to see he’s really back (and heroic is also pretty damn hot).

Movie Review: Pitch Perfect

Pitch Perfect was the perfect film to see on a cloudy, slightly chilly Sunday. I really enjoyed it. As readers of this blog know, I love a singing competition and my favorite is not American Idol or even X-Factor or The Voice but, it’s actually, The Sing-Off. Various a capella groups get together and sing. Sure, there is a cash prize and a recording contract, but Iget the feeling that these groups are formed for one reason and one reason only, and that is to sing. Pitch Perfect captured that fun, well, perfectly.

Beca (Anna Kendrick) is a wannabe deejay whose college professor father wants her to get a college eduation before she heads off to Los Angeles to find deejaying fame. What she finds is a campus filled with a capella groups including the all-male national champions, the Treble Makers, and runner-up the Bellas led by task master Aubrey (Anna Camp) and her nicer half, Chloe (Brittany Snow). Aubrey is convinced, the only way to national success is to have her hot group of girl singers sing traditional a capella songs. She’s running into two problems. Auditions make it clear that she’s going to have to dramatically expand her definition of hot girls. New members include Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson), black lesbian Cynthia Rose (Ester Dean) and others who don’t fit the mold. Secondly, she insists on using the same songs and routines that got them to nationals the year before.

Beca has other plans for the group, as well as a love interest in Jesse (Skylar Astin) who sings with the competition.

When I left Pitch Perfect, my thoughts immediately went to a movie released in June, Magic Mike. Stay with me now. Magic Mike promised to be the ultimate girls night out film. However, the movie us girls saw was not the same as the one that was promised. It was a lot more serious and there was a lot less stripping and dancing than we’d wanted. With Pitch Perfect, the audience wanted light comedy, lots of singing and fun – that’s exactly what the movie delivered.

The singing and performances were on point. Sure, it’s hard to believe that the Bellas ever got to nationals with the songs and routines they were doing but this is not a film where thinking to hard will work in your favor. Just sit back and enjoy it.

American Idol: Minaj vs. Mariah - Round 1

OMG! We are just as surprised as
everyone else that we don't get along.
We were expecting to be besties!

Is anyone surprised by the feuding and fighting (well, almost fighting, definitely threatening) between Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey? As far as I’m concerned, that’s part of the reason they were hired. Everyone knows the ratings for American Idol, while still awesome, have been declining. This is an easy way to boost them by bringing some Real Housewives kind of crap (and by crap I mean high school-ish drama) to the show.

For me, although the judges are entertaining, I watch for the talent. Maybe efforts should be spent on getting a more exciting mix of contestant and finding more relevant theme weeks. Those are changes that I could get behind. Hot messes and emotional  train wrecks have never been of much interest to me.

At the Movies - Dead Dogs, Singing Single Ladies and a Really Desperate Housewife

This weekend features three major releases.

Frankenweenie: A tale of the love between a boy and his dog that transcends the grave when young Victor manages to bring his beloved dog Sparky back to life. Burton clearly has an affection for the Halloween holiday (The Nightmare Before Christmas) and all things creepy (just about every other film he's done - Dark Shadows, Corpse Bride, Ed Wood, Edward Scissorshands, Sweeney Todd, ...) From the fertile (and weird) mind of Tim Burton I’m sure this will be a kids film that parents will love just as much.

Pitch Perfect: Leaked in limited release a week ago, Pitch Perfect expands in full release this week. With lots of music, comedy and great buzz, I think it will be competing with Frankenweenie for the top box office spot this week. As a fan of Glee and The Sing-Off (and just about every other vocal competition out there … except Duets and the stuff on the country music channel), I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while!

Taken 2: After Taken, you got the impression that deadly covert operative Bryan Mills reunited with his wife Lenore after he saved the life of his daughter Kim who’d been traveling in Europe with a friend when she was taken. Now both of them are set to be taken in Taken 2. I don’t know but if I were Lenore, this would probably be grounds for a second divorce. First they take my daughter? Now they take me and my daughter for a second time? Enough is enough! Taken 2 looks like it’s bringing the action though and if you want action (and/or Liam Neeson), this would be your best bet for the weekend.

Weekly TV Recap

Look for the TV Recap every Tuesday night!


The new Fall Season is underway and I have a few comments on some of the new shows as well as some of my recurring favorites.

New Shows

666 Park Avenue: (Sundays, 10:00 p.m. – ABC) I was looking forward to this show and after watching the premiere, I will be watching it again. Lost’s Terry O’Quinn and Vanessa L. Williams, most recently of Desperate Housewives fame, star as Gavin and Olivia Doran, the owners of the posh New York apartment building where they can give you anything you want, for a price. Rachael Taylor (Charlie’s Angels and Grey’s Anatomy) and Dave Annable (Brothers and Sisters) are the new apartment managers who will be in over their heads with the Dorans in no time. In this first episode we were introduced to several tenants and the price they’ve paid to get what they wanted (or what they thought they wanted). I like dark and this show looks like it could be dark and mysterious. It’s no American Horror Story but it will do for a Sunday night.

The New Normal: (Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. – NBC) This show is funny. Sometimes touching, other times provocative but always funny and that is what a comedy is supposed to be … funny! It’s also unexpectedly real and grounded. Justin Bartha and Andrew Rannells star as David Murray and Bryan Collins a gay couple expecting their first child with their surrogate Goldie (Georgia King). Throw in Georgia’s mom Jane (Ellen Barkin) as the Archie Bunker for the 21st Century and The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Nene Leakes as Bryan’s assistant and this show had me laughing out loud.
Other people must like The New Normal too because NBC just ordered a full season (from six episodes).

Ben and Kate: (Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. – FOX) I really like Fox on Tuesday night. Raising Hope and The New Girl are two of my favorite sitcoms. Although not quite as strong as those two, Ben and Kate was both sweet and funny. I’m hoping for more funny than sweet in coming weeks.

The Mindy Project: (Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. – FOX) Definitely the weak link in an otherwise strong night. I watched the first episode and just couldn’t get into it. Mindy is a doctor and hopeless romantic. Mindy Kaling was good as part of the ensemble on The Office but I’m just not feeling her here. I don’t think this will be a successful project.

Returning Favorites
Once Upon a Time: (Sunday, 8:00 p.m. – ABC) I have been counting down the days until September 30. I didn’t know what to expect when magic came to Storybrooke and all of our favorite characters finally remembered who they really were. I didn’t expect the direction the story would take but now I’m counting down the days until next Sunday!

Glee: (Thursday, 9:00 p.m. – FOX) I have to say I have not been that thrilled about this new season – especially since my least favorite Glee Project finalist, Alex Newell, from Season 1 is now a series regular. True he can sing but he couldn’t act his way out of a termite-filled paper bag. His presence has truly put a damper on this show for me. I do like the fact that they are following Rachel and Kurt’s exploits in New York. Kate Hudson has been really good as Rachel’s nemesis, dance instructor, Cassandra July. Sarah Jessica Parker however, was, underwhelming in her guest-role as Kurt’s boss at Vogue.com. I’m looking forward to seeing more of the new kids (except Unique) and more of what has happened to our original Gleeks now that they have graduated. However, Glee isn’t what it once was for me.

Movie Review: The Bourne Legacy

The Bourne Trilogy was a nice trio of action films, but how could Jason Bourne continue without Matt Damon? Well, it could if the hero wasn't Jason Bourne but newcomer Aaron Cross (played by Jeremy Renner). Yet, after seeing The Bourne Legacy, it's clear that continuing a franchise takes a lot more than another actor playing a similar character.

As The Bourne Legacy opens, Aaron Cross is stuck in the Alaskan wilderness, surviving on his wits and being chased by a pack of wolves. At the same time in Washington, they find that a British reporter has compromised all of their secret programs. Led by Colonel Eric Byer (Edward Norton), his top-secret governmental agency seeks to eradicate all of the black ops programs. Cross is a member of Operation Outcome (Bourne was part of Treadstone) where operatives take blue pills to enhance their mental capabilities and green pills to enhance the physical. Yet Byer wants all operatives eliminated. Cross is about the only one they can't get rid of.

While in Alaska, he runs out of pills and needs a new supply if he's going to outrun Byer's henchmen. He finds Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz) who has just narrowly escaped being killed in a rampage by a fellow co-worker (Zeljko Ivenek). She explains that he no longer needs the green pills because he has 'viraled off' of them. If they can get to Manila, where the pills are manufactured, she can viral him off of the blue pills so he will no longer need them either.

I wanted to like this movie but several things prevented that from happening. First, the Alaskan portion seemed to go on forever. Second, the scenes with Norton and in the 'control room' are bogged down with so many acronyms and technical jargon that I lost interest. Third, there is a parallel story about  Jason Bourne's whereabouts that really has nothing to do with the story. 

Fourth, yes, there is a fourth. There are the questions. Why again, was Cross traipsing around the Alaskan wilderness?  Why did the doctor go ballistic and massacre all of his co-workers? Where is Jason Bourne and what does that have to do with anything?

Renner, Weisz, Norton et. al. were solid as actors. It was Tony Gilroy (writer of the Bourne trilogy) who seemed to drop the ball as the director. The first half-hour his idea of creating a fast-pace is jetting across the globe and letting us know by placing the locations in the lower right-corner of the screen. The alphabet soup of acronyms and tech talk didn't help.

I don't know if there will be a fifth Bourne. I didn't think we needed a fourth one. However, if they do a fifth one, I hope to see Renner and Weisz but maybe someone else behind the director's chair. 

Movie Review: The Campaign

I was sold the first time I saw a trailer for The Campaign. Zack Galifianakis and Will Ferrell in the same movie! I was in. I was also nervous because where there is the potential for great reward; there is also the potential for great disappointment. I went into The Campaign hoping that I wouldn't be sorely disappointed. I wasn't.

Incumbent congressman Cam Brady (Will Farrell) loves being in office and being re-elected is easy, since he usually runs unopposed ... until now. Big-time industrialists, the Moher brothers (John Lithgow and Dan Ackroyd) want to move their Chinese factory to the U.S. with the same low wages and lack of environmental regulations and governmental controls. To make this happen, they need a congressman. Cam Brady might have been their man but a recent scandal (he left a vulgar voicemail for his mistress on the answering machine of a devout Christian family) has rocked his campaign. They need an opponent and they find one in Marty Huggins. He runs the town tourism bus and is the son of a major politico. With the help of campaign manager Tim Wattley (Dylan McDermott), Marty's innocence soon gives way to a no-holds-barred win-at-all-cost battle.

First of all, this is an R-rated comedy. The 'R' definitely stands for raunchy as the language and the subject matter isn't for the faint of heart. However, if you like your comedies with a high raunch factor, you will probably enjoy The Campaign, I know I did. There were many, many laugh out loud moments and we laughed loud and often.

Ferrell and Galifianakis delivered laughs throughout. I was surprised that Dylan McDermott could be funny but he was. At the same time Saturday Night Live alum Jason Sudeikis, along with Lithgow and Ackroyd actually played it pretty straight. 

This is a funny, slapstick and completely low-brow affairs. People going in expecting incisive political commentary or satire will be sorely disappointed. Of course, what did they expect from Ferrell, Galifianakis and director Jay Roach? This is not at all an intellectual affair.

Yet, if you like your comedies silly and you enjoy a good laugh, you'll probably like (if not love), The Campaign. I might even have to add it to my DVD collection.

What I'm Seeing: August

August is normally the stepchild of the summer movie season. Frankly, most of the best movies have been released before now. Normally, it is one of the months I dread as a moviegoer (but nothing is worse than January!). Yet, here I am, excited about a handful of movies coming out in the next few weeks. Expect reviews of the following:

The Bourne Legacy: Jeremey Renner takes over the Bourne franchise from Matt Damon (the series that turned him into an action hero). Renner doesn't play Jason Bourne but a stronger, faster, and even deadlier operative, Aaron Cross. Along for the ride are Edward Norton and Rachel Weisz. I'm really looking forward to this one! (August 10)

The Campaign: Zach Galifianakis versus Will Ferrell. Seriously??? And, they are running for Congress? Really??? This has to be funny. It just has to be! (August 10).

Hope Springs: This one just looks cute. Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones go to Steve Carell for marital advice. The trailer sold me. I hope it doesn't disappoint. (August 8)

Sparkle: This remake marks Whitney Houston's swan song and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks acting debut. I grew up with the soundtrack so I'll go for that alone and to bid a fond farewell to Whitney. (August 17)

Lawless: Not a huge Shia LeBeouf fan but my British crush Tom Hardy is in this one and his beautiful face isn't obscured behind a mask for the entire film (Dark Knight Rises). Anyway, this will be a welcome dose of drama to send my summer of popcorn flicks. (August 29)

Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises

Well, it's the end of an era. The Christopher Nolan/Christian Bale Batman trilogy has come to an end.  The Dark Knight Rises was a fitting and satisfying end. Before the first film, I doubted that the Batman series needed a reboot but Christopher Nolan did a fabulous job. Of the three, I would say this is the third best in the series. However, that is less a testament to the quality movie and more a testament to the quality of the trilogy of films that Nolan, Bale and company have produced. It's a damn good film.

The movie picks up eight years after the last movie. Harvey Dent/Two-Face (Aaron Eckhart) has been turned into a hero and Batman shunned. In fact, Batman has disappeared and Bruce Wayne (Bale) has become a recluse. Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) is still in place but is facing the end of his career with a younger Captain Foley (Matthew Modine) eager to take his place.

In regards to Wayne Enterprises, one of Bruce's final decisions before his self-imposed exile was not to move forward with a nuclear-based fusion reactor that holds the key to a clean energy future. He knew it could be easily turned into a devastating weapon. The decision has been a dire one for the once very profitable company. To save his company, he gives Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard), a wealthy investor with a passion for clean energy, the reins at Wayne Enterprises to oversee the project with Lucious Fox (Morgan Freeman). It doesn't hurt that she's stunningly beautiful, a fact that doesn't bypass Wayne.

Of course, she's not the only beautiful woman in Wayne's life. There is the cat burglar he catches in the act. She's the beautiful Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Anne Hathaway).

Then, there is the villian. The most imposing villian in the series (at least to me), Bane (the delicious Tom Hardy who is regrettably masked for all but two seconds). He's got the brains and the brawn to be a seriously formidable foe. The masked man has a plan to overthrow the powers-that-be in Gotham and hand the city back to the people ... oh and steal the reactor and turn it into a powerful nuclear weapon. Young policeman Blake knows that only Batman can save the day and, having figured out his true identity, he knows exactly who to go to to make that happen, Bruce Wayne.

There is a lot of exposition because there is a lot going on in the movie. In fact, there are long stretches with no Christian Bale at all! I did feel his absence during these extended sequences but there is a lot going on in this movie.

The performances were first-rate beginning with Bale but extending to Michael Caine (always a very protective and loving Alfred), and newcomer to Batman Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I initially had serious reservations when Anne Hathaway was casted as Catwoman but with Nolan's decision to play her sans camp, it was a good choice.

There are several stunning action sequences,  starting with the daring hijacking taking place between two planes in mid air. The football scene is a staple of the trailer but it's even more intense than what's shown there. Then, there is the new and improved - flying -Batmobile and Bat cycle.

I loved the ending. In fact, I loved the movie so much that I'll probably see it again.

Here Comes the Judge ... or Judges!

If Mimi brings the 'girls' to the Idol
judging table, she might need two
chairs!

Well, it looks as if, right now, Randy Jackson is sitting by himself at the American Idol judges table. Both Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez have announced that they won’t be back leaving two empty chairs and their corresponding Coca-Cola cups.

Rumors are rampant about possible replacements.

Mariah Carey: She’s a good friend of Randy’s and the Idol producers are said to be in hot pursuit.

DivaSoulSista: This would be a huge coup for the show. She has the success and the musical ability to make a phenomenal judge. Plus, the regular hours will allow her more time to spend with the kiddies.

Charlie Sheen: Rumors abound but there is no proof that Idol is courting him.

DivaSoulSista: Hell no and HELL NO! Charlie Sheen??? Seriously???? What musical background does he have. He’s a train wreck. I would boycott Idol for the first time if he were a judge.

Will.i.am: His name is being bandied about and he has worked with Idol contestants several times to assist Jimmie Iovine.

DivaSoulSista: I’d like to see him in this role. When he’s been on with Jimmie he’s given great advice, been very engaged and focus. Plus, he’s a proven hitmaker.

Fergie: She’s will.i.am’s bandmate in the Black Eyed Peas and a formidable solo artist.

DivaSoulSista: She could be good as long as she isn’t too nice.

Miley Cyrus: I’ve heard that she’s been approached.

DivaSoulSista: Ummm, no. Sure,she’d be a great catch for the younger demographic, but that’s not me.

Adam Lambert: He (and Clay Aiken) prove that #2 ain’t so bad. He was one of the first ones mentioned for a spot at the judges table.

DivaSoulSista: I was a Lambert fan and loved his musicality and theatricality.

Aretha Franklin: Idol hasn’t approached her but she has said she was interested … but only if she could bring pal Patti LaBelle.

DivaSoulSista: She is the Queen of Soul but, I’ve heard, she’s also a hellacious diva. Maybe a good choice if they can rein her in.

From Contestant to Judge???

American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert's name is being bandied about as a potential replacement for Jennifer Lopez. If he lands the deal, I believe he'll be the first contestant to make the leap across the stage to become a judge.

I think he'd probably make a good judge too. From what I've seen in interviews, he doesn't pull any punches. Plus, I think he'd push the contestants to take some chances and bring some much needed pizzazz to their performances. Let's face it. It's about the singing but it's about more than that. Consider that Adam, the theatrical one has had more success than the past two or three Idol winners combined. Name the past three winners. I dare you.

Looking forward to seeing how this plays out. We could be looking at an entirely new judges table come January. Steven Tyler's return is up in the air. I've also heard that stalwart Randy Jackson may be sacrificed in an attempt to raise last year's poor ratings!

Movie Review: Savages

Given the title, Savages, I was expecting Oliver Stone circa Natural Born Killers - super-violent, well-acted and over-the-top. I was disappointed. Savages had its savage moments but they were a number of mediocre moments between them.

O (Blake Lively) whose full name is Ophelia narrates the story. She is in love with two men Chon (Taylor Kitsch), a Iraq and Afghanistan vet who has brought more than a little of the war home with him and Ben (Aaron Johnson) a peace-loving, do-gooder Buddist. Together the men share more than a love for O, they also share one of the most lucrative pot growing business in the country. It's so lucrative and their weed so potent (Ben has dual degrees in business and botany) that it catches the attention of the Mexican drug cartel. Led by Elena (Salma Hayek) and her henchman Lado (Benicio Del Toro), they want to make a deal with the mellow herb-growing duo (or is it trio). Ben wants to work with them. Chon wants to kill them. Of course, Ben's way fails and they kidnap O. So you just know that things are going to end up going down Chon's way.

You know it doesn't bode will for a film when the bad guys are more interesting than the good ones. Salma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro are riveting whenever they are on screen. I can't say the same for our trio of protagonist. It started with the awful voice-over by O. Blake Lively, bless her heart, had the misfortune of having to read (and it sounded read) some truly terrible voice-over dialogue. Kitsch tried but just didn't deliver on the charisma. He did fare better than Johnson though. I didn't connect with his character or persona at all.

I did several watch checks and so did the people around me. By the time the end came (the real end and not the false one), I was really ready to leave. Really. I had purse in hand and was rummaging for my keys.

Movie Review: The Amazing Spider-Man

I have to admit when I heard they were rebooting the Spider Man series, I was not excited. When I heard that Andrew Garfield (the lanky kid from The Social Network) would play Peter Parker, I was even less enthused. Then, I started to see the trailers and thought maybe I should give it a chance. After seeing it, I can actually say that The Amazing Spider Man amazed me by being a lot better than I expected.

Even though we were promised, "the untold story," most of us are familiar with the story of high school loser and fledgling photographer Peter Parker (Garfield). He lives with his Aunt Mae (Sally Field) and Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) after his parents mysterious death in a plane accident. I guess this is the untold part. We learn that Peter's parents fled because of the work his father was doing on cross-breeding species. Apparently, he was close to a breakthrough ... a bit too close. When it became obvious that he was in danger, his father and mother dropped young Peter off at his aunt and uncle's house, promising to return. Of course, they didn't.

After finding his father's briefcase, Peter finds his father's former partner still working on cross-breeding species for Oscorp. Curt Conners (Rhys Ifans) hopes to find a means of regenerating a limb to replace an arm he's lost. When he finds Conners, Peter also finds Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), a high school classmate, Oscorp intern and daughter of the police chief (Denis Leary).

 While visiting Oscorp, Peter sneaks into a lab and gets bitten by a genetically-altered spider. I think you know the rest. As for Conners, he makes himself a human Guinea pig. Only his attempts at regeneration are short-lived and contain dastardly consequences, turning him into a human lizard. Of course, only Spider Man can stop him from unleashing his fate upon the city of New York.

 I had my doubts about Garfield but I actually enjoyed his interpretation of Parker more than I did Tobey Macguire's. He came across as more of a high school student than Macguire ever did. I also liked the untold element, even though it doesn't pay off here (although they laid down the groundwork for a payoff in the sequel). Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy is also a bonus here. I felt she and Garfield had a chemistry and a connection that worked.

 As far as drawbacks, you knew Uncle Ben's demise was on the way, only the execution of it could have been better. The evolution of the Lizard could have been delved into a little deeper. Conners goes from a man with noble intentions to a megalomaniac with ambitiously evil intentions with the snap of a finger. It was a little too quick for me. 

All in all, I was impressed with this movie. Two things to keep in mind. I saw it in 3-D. I don't know if 3-D was really necessary because there weren't that many 3-D effects (save your money). Secondly, stay when the credits roll because midway through, you'll get a taste of what awaits in the sequel.

What I've Really Been Watching

I started the summer with the best of intentions, really I did. I laid out for you, faithful blog reader, what my summer television watching would entail ... but it hasn't quite worked out that way. So what have I been watching? In two words: Breaking Bad.

It's a show I've always wanted to watch and to prepare for the fifth season (which starts on July 15), every night AMC has been playing between one and four episodes, from the pilot through the Season Four finale. I'm done and I'm finally coming up for air!

He was the sweet, lovable, roller-skating
dad on Malcolm in the Middle.

Now he's the meth-cooking, bad-ass,
killing machine on Breaking Bad.

Breaking Bad is so intense it's ridiculous. I think it's a testament to the show that I could literally watch show after show and not get bored. Not only did I never get bored, I always looked forward to my next Break Bad mini-marathon. It's hard to believe that Bryan Cranston, once the goofy, adorable, disco-skating dad on Malcolm in the Middle is now a meth-making, bomb-carrying killer on Breaking Bad. Absolutely fascinating!

Other than BB, the love affair with Gordon Ramsey continues and I have watched Hell's Kitchen and MasterChef. I'm also looking forward to Hotel Hell. What can I say, I just love his shows!

I am not loving The Glee Project. I watched the first two episodes and it's safe to say, I'm over it. I didn't connect with any of the kids and I quickly tired of it. So far, I haven't been able to get into So You Think You Can Dance. Now that the final 20 have been selected, I'll give it another shot.

What probably won't get another shot is Dallas. I watched the two hour opining and it was okay, I just didn't see myself watching it again. Ever.

Frankly, in my Breaking Bad Haze, I've completely forgotten about Rizzoli & Isles and Franklin and Bash. Oops! My bad! I might try to catch up with those two.

In the meantime, I'll be counting down the days to the Season Five premiere of Breaking Bad on Sunday, July 15th!

Movie Review: Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection

Finally! Tyler Perry gives us a straight Madea comedy without the awkward dramatic subplots.Now, if we could only get him to stop putting his name in front of every movie title.

When the movie begins George Needleman (Eugene Levy) leans from the CEO of his company (Tom Arnold) that the division he's been the Chief Financial Officer of for the past five years is the center of a huge Ponzi scheme and he was hired basically because he wouldn't be able to figure it out and to take the fall when the crap hits the fan.

Madea's nephew Brian (Tyler Perry) is on the case and needs to put Needleman in his family into witness protection. Since the mob has infiltrated several of their wtiness protection programs, they need to send the family somewhere else until Needleman can testify at the trial. Brian has the perfect place, his aunt Madea's.

Unforuately, neighborhood kid Jake who's been on the straight and narrow is involved in the scheme too. It seems that his pastor dad (John Amos) put him in charge of the church's mortgage fund and he invested the money in Needleman's company, which means the money is now gone.

When the Needleman's arrive with wife Kate (Denise Richards), bratty teen daughter Cindy (Danielle Campbell), neglected son Howie (Devan Leos) and grandma Barbara (Doris Roberts), you know that it's only a matter of time before Madea sets those kids straight and teaches a lesson or two and she helps them get back the money.

This is one of the funniest Madea movies I've seen. I appreciated the lighter touch without the heavy-handed preachiness that bogs down most of Perry's Madea movies. Eugene Levy is hilarious on his own and to add him to a Madea movie was an excellent idea. The crowd laughed loudly throughout the film and everyone had a good time.

Most critics will pan it as they do most of Perry's movies. However, I really enjoyed it. Unlike most critics, I can take a silly comedy for what it is and not be disappointed when a silly comedy isn't an Oscar-worthy endeavor. If you were considering seeing this movie, see it. I do not think you'll be disappointed.

Movie Review: Magic Mike

If there ever was a Girls Night Out movie, Magic Mike is it. When I saw it with a group of friends and co-workers Friday night, it was obvious that everyone else in that movie theater had the same idea. A movie about male strippers promised lots of candy without all the sweaty oiliness that comes with the real thing.

The story is simple, Mike (Channing Tatum) works several jobs in hopes of saving up enough to start his custom furniture business. One day on his construction job, he meets The Kid (Alex Pettyfer) and introduces him to the world of male exotic dancing. On Mike's crew are club owner Dallas (Matthew McConaughey) and the guys: Big Dick Richie (Joe Manganiello), Ken (Matt Bomer), Tito (Adam Rodriguez) and Tarzan (Kevin Nash). Yet, Mike is 30-years old and wonders how much longer he can live this life - something The Kid's overprotective (and annoying) older sister Brooke (Cody Horn) constantly reminds him.

When the focus is on the dancing, Magic Mike is magic. Frankly, I was never much of a Channing Tatum fan ... until now. Not only does he have some movies but he actually got to do some acting here and he was actually okay. However, between dance numbers, the movie got a little heavy at times. There was a point where The Kid takes a very unexpected turn that came out of nowhere. I see why they needed something like it to further the plot but the way it was executed left a lot of questions since it seemed to come out of left field.

Of the two women in Mike's life, The Kid's sister Brooke and Mike's hook-up friend Joanna (Olivia Munn), Munn had the better role. Her character, her character arc and her acting were far superior to Cody Horn who seemed to just pout and be annoyed through the entire film. She, for me, was the weakest link in the movie.

As I watched the credits, I noticed this was directed by Steven Soderbergh. I wish he had gone more of the Ocean's 11 route and made it more fun without the serious side. The women in the audience wanted a fun and frivilous Girls Night Out, when Soderbergh gave that to us, the movie succeeded wildly. When he tried to go all dramatic, the results were uneven and disappoiniting.

Movie Review: Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages was a lot of fun. If you enjoy the rock of the 80’s then you’ll probably enjoy it too. However, if you are looking for great acting, a wonderful script or anything else, you will be sorely disappointed.

An adaptation of the hit musical, Rock of Ages follows Sherrie (Julieanne Hough) from her home in safe Oklahoma with her sweet grandma to the mean streets of Los Angeles. The streets are so mean that moments after getting off the Greyhound, she is mugged and her one suitcase is stolen. The suitcase with all of her albums! Of course, coming to her aide is the adorable Drew (Diego Boneta - the South American Justin Bieber). He’s a bartender and wannabe singer at The Bourbon Club … the mecca for all things rock-n-roll. As fate would have it, a waitress has just quit. So a half-hour after getting off the bus, Sherrie has a job and a hot guy … no albums, but hey, you can’t have everything.

Dennis Dupress (Alec Baldwin) is the club’s owner. He’s banking on the night’s big act, Staccee Jaxx (Tom Cruise) and his sleezy manager Paul Gill (Paul Giamatti), to rescue the club. But hoping to close the club down is the mayor’s wife Patricia Whitmore (Catherine Zeta-Jones). She is a born-again Christian and a hardcore opponent of hard rock.

Julieanne and Diego are game but the poor kids just don’t have the acting chops. The by-the-numbers script didn’t help much either. The dialogue was functional. It’s purpose was to get from song to song. Fortunately, there were lots of songs. Even though, as singers, Hough, Boneta and Cruise gave it their all but vocally they were still a little light. I was actually scared for Julieanne when she had to sing with Mary J Blige!

Having said all of that, Rock of Ages realizes that it isn’t an Academy Award-winning event. It is fun and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. I love all 80’s music and so does the friend I saw it with. We sang along with all of the songs and had a good time. If you, like we did, know all the words to Rock You Like a Hurricane, Wanted Dead or Alive and Sister Christian then you might like this too. If you don’t like 80’s rock and hair metal or if you are swinging on the other side of the pendulum (a rock-n-roll purist who wouldn’t appreciate the musical-esque interpretation of the songs), then take a pass.

Movie Review: Prometheus

I know this isn't the movie poster,
but I just wanted to squeeze in a
pic of Idris Elba! Mmmm, good!

If you ever wondered (and I never did) where those weird-looking extra terrestrials in the Aliens series came from, you’ll get your answer in Prometheus, the prologue to the series. After two decades and a boatload of other movies ranging from Thelma and Louise to Gladiator to American Gangster, director Ridley Scott returns to the genre that he helped define: science fiction. The auteur who gave us Alien and Blade Runner returns to give us the prequel to Alien, Prometheus.

The film begins right here on planet Earth where a pair of scientist/lovers (Noomi Rapace as Elizabeth Shaw and Logan Marshall-Green as Charlie Holloway) have uncovered a series of ancient cave drawings from a variety of disparate civilizations that all point towards the same visitors from outer space. They convince Peter Weyland of the Weyland Corporatation (played by an almost unrecognizable Guy Pearce), to fund a trip to the planet they believe started our civilization. Led by icy and robot-like Meredith Vickers and her android counterpart David (Michael Fassbender) with a shuttle driven by Janek (Idris Elba – my reason for seeing the film. LOL!) his crew and a few scientists, they hope to learn about humanity's true origins.

 I don’t want to say too much more for fear of giving something away, so I’ll get on with the review. Ridley Scott has made a visually-compelling film. I would definitely see it at a theatre. I didn’t see the 3-D version and almost wish I had. I'm sure it would have looked amazing.

As a prequel, it also explains the origins of the alien we came to know, and not love, in 1979’s Alien. The film also grapple’s with one of life’s largest questions, like, “Why are we here?” and “Where did we come from?” The answers it poses are provocative at best and sacrilegious at worse (at least to those who believe in God or Darwin for that matter.

 However, what was missing for me was connection. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters. I wish they had spent more time on character development because I never really felt invested in this heroine, this pair of lovers or this crew. So as the body count rose, my concern or interest in their fates didn’t rise along with it.

 It’s taken me a couple of days to write this because I wasn’t sure how to rate it. I’m going to give it a lukewarm Liked It mainly for the visuals and special effects.

Summer TV Picks: Weekend Edition

Friday

Incredibly, there really isn’t anything piquing my interest on Friday night. So, call me crazy, but maybe, this is a sign that I need to do something crazy like get out of the house, take a night away from the B.A.T (which is what I call my 55” TV – the Big Ass Television) and have a life. You know do things, like go out to dinner, check out a few new spots, or something.

Saturday

I’ll be back home, in front of the bat, with my eyes fixed on Investigation Discovery watching Wicked Attraction at 9:00 (a repeat) and a new episode at 10:00 p.m. For those of you who aren’t ID Addicts, Wicked Attraction is a show that features couples (sometimes siblings or friends) who get together and commit terrible crimes they might not have committed if they hadn’t met the other person.

Sunday

It’s a repeat of Friday night! Only I’ll prpbably end up watching things that I’ve DVRed. Given the relatively slim summer pickings, I might try to catch up on a show I've missed like Revenge or actually make another attempt to read a book, or play with my dog or do any number of things I say I'm going to spend more time doing.

Summer TV Picks: Thursday

Thursdays my TV watching doesn’t start until 9:00 because I have salsa class (yes, I said salsa) and by the time I get home and settled in, it’s around 9:00.

Let’s start by telling you guys what I won’t be watching … cheesy dating shows on FOX. They have been promoting the hell out of Take Me Out and The Choice and neither one has even remotely piqued my interest. According to the shows descriptions, Take Me Out is about “Thirty women look for a summer fling.” The Choice is described as “Celebrities looking for love include reality-TV star Paul ``Pauly D'' Del Vecchio, musician Romeo, athlete Jeremy Bloom and actor Jason Cook.” Dating reality shows have never been my thing and neither of these flimsy shows will change that.

Music reality shows, however, are my thing. So, I should be watching the second hour of Duets; but, I don’t like coming into a show in the middle. Most likely, I’ll catch Duets over the weekend (I’m loving Time Warner’s Look Back feature!).

So what will I be watching. I’ll be watching my new favorite network, Identification Discovery or as I like to call it, “All Crime, All of the Time.” The season premiere of Behind Mansion Walls is at 9:00. Basically, this show is about really rich people who commit crimes. The late Dominick Dunne did it better on Power, Privilege and Justice on TruTV (but back when it was the far superior CourtTV) and the campy Behind Mansion Walls host makes me miss him all the more. Despite Mason, I still like the show.

I’ll stay on ID at 10:00 for a new show called Blood Relatives. This one is about family members who turn on their own. I am a definite ID addict. I’ve spent weekends on this channel! In fact, whenever, I’m looking for something to watch, I usually end up here. I can’t help it, the criminal mind is fascinating and truth is definitely stranger than fiction!

Summer TV Picks: Wednesday

Think? I know I can dance
but that's not the point.

Not much going on this evening. However, I am going to watch the entire So You Think You Can Dance? season. I’ve never seen an entire season from the beginning. I have a girlfriend who loves this show so I think I’ll give it a chance.

I might DVR the Hatfields and McCoys on Lifetime. It’s got a great cast led by Bill Paxton and Kevin Costner. It has that western feel to it. Since I grew  up watching reruns of Bonanza, Big Valley and Alias Smith and Jones with my dad, I have grown to appreciate a good western. Of course, I realize that the Hatfield and McCoy feud took place in West Virginia so it’s not really ‘western’ but you get the point.

My Summer Picks So Far

Loving MasterChef! I’m ready for them to get beyond the auditions and start cooking. Not so sure who I’m rooting for yet. I think I’ll figure it out when we get down to the actual group of contestants.

Loving the feisty group over on Hell’s Kitchen. NOT loving the fact that Barbie, the black woman, has already been set up to be this season’s villain. I’m going to have to re-watch last night’s episode to see why her entire team jumped on her back. I must have missed something while I was walking the dog because last I saw, she had helped them win the scallop challenge and was the first one to get an appetizer out of the kitchen during the dinner service. Reality TV always wants to play the Evil Black Woman card and I for one am getting tired of it.

Speaking of getting tired, I am no longer as stoked as I was for The Glee Project Season Two after the first episode. I get that Glee is about the underdog but they went totally PC for this group: the Muslim girl, the blind guy, a girl in a wheelchair, a boyish lesbian, a transgendered guy, overweight girl … as if there weren’t less visually obvious ways to be an underdog. Personally, I liked that during the first seasons of Glee we got to see how even the popular kids were flawed and sometimes felt like underdogs.

Once they announced the bottom three I knew immediately, before a note was sung, who was going home. It was that painfully PC and obvious. Aylin (the Muslim girl) versus Tyler (the transgendered guy) versus Maxfield (the white boy). From that alone, can you guess who’s going home? Aylin was really good with her version of David Guetta's Without You and I figured of the three she’d be a safe bet and she was. Then, it came down to Tyler versus Maxfield. Tyler was HORRIBLE. It was clear that the only reason he’d made it this far was because of his transgendered status. It pisses me off because someone with more talent could have taken his spot. 

His rendition of The Jackson 5’s ABC sounded like it was being sung by Steve Urkel from Family Matters. Maxfield, the country crooner, had Willie Nelson’s Always on My Mind. Comfortably in his wheelhouse, he killed it. However he’s not PC, so he was out – leaving Tyler alive another week to make my ears bleed.

Summer TV Picks: Tuesday Night

Okay, Tuesday, we have a problem. We actually have a two conflicts, one at 9:00 p.m., the other at 10:00 p.m..

8:00 PM is fine. For the second day in a row, I’ll be watching Hell’s Kitchen. Delicious!

The first conflict comes at 9:00 when MasterChef goes head-to-head with Rizzoli and Isles on TNT. I watched an episode of the first season somewhat reluctantly (nothing else was on) and I actually liked it. Angie Harmon (Jane Rizzoli) and Sasah Alexander (Maura Isles) have a great chemistry and it extends to the rest of the cast. Tuesday night on TNT is fun.

However, I think I’ll watch MasterChef and DVR R & I. Sorry ladies, Gordon Ramsey for the win!

At 10:00, it’s another TNT show. This time it’s TNT's Franklin and Bash. Mark-Paul Gosselar and Breckin Meyer are two attorneys living in a state of suspended adolescence who somehow manage to be pretty good lawyers (despite their courtroom hijinx). Okay, I don’t really know why I like this show, but I do. True, the leads have chemistry like R & I but otherwise it’s a pretty silly show. I’ll just file this one under guilty pleasures.

However, its up against the second season of The Glee Project … one of my favorite summer shows from last season. I’m a major Gleek so this really isn’t even a battle. The Glee Project wins hands-down. I’ll have to DVR Franklin and Bash. It’s entirely possible I might forget about it at all.

Summer TV Picks: Monday Night

Once upon a time, summer TV sucked. It was made up of re-runs of fall and winter TVs. One could argue that it was a good thing because you could actually go out during the long days of summer and actually do things without worrying about missing something good on TV. Of course, once upon a time, you didn't have DVRs and if you really want to go back, you didn't even have a VHS. Go back even further and you'll run into a time when kids were the remote control and TV went off at 1:00 in the morning.

I digress. Summer TV has really picked up. Now, you have an actual Summer Season with first run shows and some of them are actually good and not just cast-off shows that couldn't make it in the regular season. So this week, I'm going to share what I'll be watching over the summer. It's a mix of network but mostly cable shows. I watch a lot more cable in the summer.

Well, Hell’s Bells! It’s almost too good to be true. Starting tonight, Hell’s Kitchen comes on at 8:00 p.m. followed by MasterChef at 9:00 p.m. Two hours of Gordon Ramsey, back-to-back! I am definitely a Ramsey fan. In fact, his are the only cooking shows I watch.

First up, I can watch him go ballistic on a bunch of ‘professional’ chefs who can’t get their shit together. Then, I can watch a slightly-kinder, gentler Ramsey work with a bunch of talented amateurs on MasterChef. I can actually say that watching what these non-professionals can do, inspired me to reignite my passion for the culinary arts.

At 10:00, I might actually –gasp! – read a book. Or, what is most likely, I’ll probably watch Fatal Encounters on ID. Although I suspect the season for that show is wrapping up which will leave me with early news or reading (what a radical idea).

Movie Review Snow White and the Huntsman

Before seeing Snow White and the Huntsman, forget anything and everything you thought you knew based on the Disney film. The virginal, clean Snow White and her jolly band of elves are gone. This is not Walt Disney’s Snow White. Hell, it’s not even the Grimm Brother’s Snow White or even Once Upon a Time’s Snow.

This is Snow White: Warrior Princess. This is Snow White as an action hero. This Snow White kicks ass. The story starts off the usual way with young Snow White (Raffey Cassidy) losing her mother (Liberty Ross) and her father taking a new wife (The Evil Queen/Stepmother) (played by Charlize Theron). She banishes Snow (now played by Kristen Stewart) to a prison tower and she and her creepy brother (Sam Spruell) run the kingdom into the ground.

The Queen, however, is as vain as she is ambitious, and her ruthless quest to stay youthful has her sucking the youth out of young women and the hearts out of others. When her Mirror tells her that to attain immortality and eternal youth she must eat the heart of ‘the fairest of them all’ … and that would be Snow White.

When Snow gets her chance, she breaks out of her prison and the Queen hires a Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) to find her. Later in the search, he is joined by Snow’s childhood friend Prince William (Sam Claflin). Of course, they eventually run into the decidedly unmerry group of dwarfs (including Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone and Ian McShane).

I don’t mind a ‘reinvention’ of an old tale and this is definitely that. Snow White may be the heroine but this is an action movie. With barely a hint of romance (which I kind of missed). However, they do take the time to set up a raggedy love triangle and, frustratingly, left it unresolved at the end.

Charlize was over-the-top, but in this case, the role calls for it. She was dripping with evil as the Queen. I’ve never seen any of the Twilight movies but Kirsten Stewart was good enough. I just wish they would have invested as much in feeling as they did special effects. When it came to the Dark Forest and The Enchanted Forest the effects were outstanding. If this movie is up for any award it will be for make-up (the Queen) or Special Effects (for both forests).

The action was hot and heavy too. Lots of visually stunning fighting, swordplay and battle sequences.

Yet, I found myself yearning for more of a connection with these characters. Yet, maybe you aren’t like me and would welcome a Snow White with no mushy stuff. In that case, you’ll really enjoy Snow White and the Huntsman.

Movie Review: Men in Black 3

The Men in Black are back and if you are worried about MIB 3, just knowing that it’s better than MIB 2 should ease your mind. The movie is far from perfect (it would take an alien to jump over some of those potholes) but it’s a lot of fun and that is the basis of a great summer movie!

An almost unrecognizable Jemaine Clement (star of HBO’s quirky Flight of the Conchords) is Boris the Animal a criminal, locked up on the moon, with an axe to grind against Agent K. Boris only has one arm and it seems that 40 years ago, Agent K was responsible for him losing it. Boris wants to travel back in time to the day before the unfortunate amputation and kill K.

At first, his plan seems to work. Agent J wakes up to a world without Agent K. With some help from Agent O (Emma Thompson) goes back a day earlier in time to stop Boris. In the process, he meets the young Agent K (played by Josh Brolin). This K isn’t the reticent, unfeeling K that J knows from the present. This guy has emotion. This guy has feeling.

Brolin’s Tommy Lee Jones impression is the best thing about MIB 3. It is so spot-on that you think he’s lip synching. Will Smith is back to playing the wise-cracking Agent J. The movie is fun and enjoyable. It even tugs at your heart toward the end. I missed Zed (Rip Torn) who is now dead and Frank (the dog), he could have at least had a cameo!

The problem I had was that as we left, we had a lot of questions that revealed a lot of major plot holes. This is definitely a movie that you can’t really think about because if you do, you’ll find yourself saying, “Hey, wait a minute…” at several junctures (especially at the end).

Men in Black 3 is a light, fun movie. However, if you go, check your brain at the door, you won’t need it.

A Winner I Can Get Excited About!

I called it during his audition!
I knew it was Phil Phillips for the win!

Well, American Idol Season 11 is over and Phillip Phillips is the new American Idol. After a disappointing Celebrity Apprentice, AI got it right!


Since his audition, I was a Phil Phillips fan! When compared to Jessica Sanchez, there really wasn’t a comparison. Yes, she is hands-down the better singer but to me they packaged her all wrong. She’s a 16-year old girl, not a pageant singer, not a Celine Dion wannabe. Yet, there was nothing about this girl that said teenager. From her song choices to her gowns, they chased away anything that was youthful about her. I think she suffered from it. No doubt the girl has a future, I just think the way she was portrayed, it wasn’t going to be as the American Idol.

However, why cry for the runner-up? Clay Aiken has had a much bigger career than Ruben Studdard. Adam Lambert has left Kris Allen in the dust. So, crying about Number Two doesn’t make much sense.

Phillip though, I loved his way of interpreting a song as well as the way he remained true to himself. From song choice to wardrobe, he always seemed to have a clear idea of who he was. Personally, I liked his take on Matchbox 20’s disease last week.

The thing I really respected about him was the way he kept the focus on the music. He’s suffering from a very serious kidney ailment and is having major surgery in the next day or so. The illness is so severe that he missed several Ford commercial shoots. He had a stent put into his kidney so that he could continue in the competition but now he’s headed for surgery and that would also require a six-week recovery period.

A lot of contestants would have milked the illness angle to garner a slew of sympathy votes but even when Ryan attempted to mention his illness, he also put it back on the music.

Anyway, I’m happy with this outcome. And when he got so choked up singing after his win and put down the guitar and went to embrace his family, I thought it was the best Idol finale ever!

 Now the only Idol question that remains is who will replace J Lo next season?