This Is My Blog

What I'm Watching

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:00:00 +0000

I enjoy watching TV, I really do. I enjoy the storytelling, the acting, and in some cases, the actors themselves. Now, not every show is great, and not every episode is groundbreaking. In fact, I often get chastised for liking some of the shows that I do. Still, I can't help it. There is an appeal that sometimes I cannot explain. Here are a few of those shows.

On Monday night, the highlight of my viewing is definitely Chuck. I've been watching this show from the beginning, and enjoy it more this season than any before. Besides being a big Adam Baldwin fan, I have to admit that the geek in me relates to the character of Chuck most of all. Naturally, I don't have his background or good looks, but I can still relate. Stop laughing. It's been an interesting journey from beginning to now. Our hero is now a full fledged spy, his best friend knows his secret, Brandon Routh joined the cast (although temporarily I believe) and Kristin Kreuk had a short, but awesome guest starring bit. The underlying theme of family and friends above all is still strong, and I feel, being regarded with great care this season. Overall, I'm enjoying the ride and look forward to at least another year or two.

Tuesday night now belongs to Lost. My night revolves around it. Sad, I know, but my goal is to make sure I watch it live in case anyone else is as well and they decide to text me. Too many times have I been waiting for the Tivo to catch up and received a text that was like "oh my god, I don't believe it!" Yeah, that irked me. Now, this being the final season and all has really raised the stakes. The season of answers they call it. And right they are. We've learned quite a bit thus far, and there is a great deal more to be learned. Each episode slowly brings us to a conclusion that will be of epic proportions, I can only assume of course. Each character is discovering something new about themselves this season, which after 5 years, is somewhat surprising. We get to discover this along with them in some cases, and in others, I'll be honest, we just don't care. Frankly, let's just get to the end and see how they wrap it up!

Wednesday, oddly enough, is my new comedy night. ABC introduced Modern Family this season and the world is better for it. Hands down, the funniest show I'm watching this season. The cast is diverse, and the characters are rich. Nearly each episode has had a memorable moment that had me laughing out loud. I enjoy the characters and the stories themselves that I find myself somewhat let down by the guest stars they have from time to time. The best episodes are when these characters are just being themselves.

Thursday's are tough. They have been for years. This season, the must watch show of the night is easily Fringe. It satisfies my nostalgia for "X-Files," and provides enough weird, sci-fi stuff to keep me coming back for more. Only two seasons in and we are learning a great deal about the characters and the parallel universe. Our lead characters are portrayed beautifully by some talented actors, and I've come to learn that (despite my own beliefs) two of them will getting a lot closer before the end of the season. It's gonna be a wild ride. Oh, and two more words that show how awesome this show is. Leonard Nimoy. Booyah.

Friday is the equivalent to tv's red-headed step child. This is where you put a show that have to air, but don't really expect it to perform all that well. On more than one occasion you will have heard the phrase "where tv shows go to die" in reference to a program being scheduled on a Friday night. Still, one network has managed to get it right, and that is CBS. They have had the most consistent, well performing Friday night line up for a long time now. This season is no different, now with the addition of Medium. After NBC canceled the show last season, CBS (who produces the program) picked up the rights and scheduled it after their Friday flagship show "Ghost Whisperer." You may think the shows are too similar to air next to each other, but they're really not. In my mind, "Medium" has always been the better show and most consistently good as well. What I mean by that is, I used to watch "Ghost Whisperer." (pause for laughter) Feel better? When I watched it, I found myself interested here and there, and finally when the "baby" storyline was introduced, I was out. But, with "Medium," I've been in it from the beginning and enjoyed every storyline and every character choice. It has felt more natural, or real, if you will. To me, it's clearly the better choice.

Then we come to the weekend. Not too much in the way of original programming on weekends. Sure, Sunday nights are rife with content, but not the best the networks have to offer. Instead, for good quality programming, you usually have to turn to cable, and specifically HBO. They air their best shows on Sunday's usually. I'm spoken before about True Blood and my new found love for the series, so I won't bore you again. Still, in times when that show isn't on (like now) my only saving grace on Sunday's happen to be Family Guy. My favorite show of all time. Yes. ALL TIME. There, I said it. Sure, it's a cartoon and it's appeal is not as broad as the other shows I've mentioned, but it has been so consistently wonderful that I cannot deny my feelings any longer. In fact, I find myself quoting the show to my parents like they are real friends of mine.

"Oh mom, you should have seen what Peter did last week."
"Who is Peter? Wait, is this about ..."
"He actually taped Brian to his upper lip to replace his mustache!"
"... I hate that show."
"And so when Brian faster, he was like 'Mustache fart!'"
"Ugh."
"HILARIOUS!!!"
'Leave. Now."

Good times, good times.

Review >> Couples Retreat

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:00:00 +0000

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Malin Akerman, Jason Bateman, et al.

The cast is star studded. Yes, I know, you don't like all of them. Well, like them or not, they're in there. With a few surprises as well.

Part of me had to wonder if this film would connect with considering I am not in a relationship. Would the humor be too couple oriented for me to appreciate, or understand? I'm just kidding - I didn't think, or care about any of that. Vince Vaughn is funny, the leading ladies are all beautiful, what's not to like?

Granted the story is pretty much what you get from the trailer. No deep truths are hidden here. In fact, I can't help but feel like the cast read the script, saw the location where they would be filming, and all jumped on board. Almost like a pseudo-vacation on the movie studio's dime. If that is the case, well, more power to them.

In spite of having to film in that grueling paradise, they did manage to put together a somewhat funny flick. My roommate commented that he was rather disappointed in it, but I found myself laughing quite a bit. There are the typical over dramatic parts, but for the most part, it was funny and went along smoothly at a comfortable pace.

I think part of the reason why the actors all gave good performances, and just seemed like they really enjoyed themselves, is because, well, they were on a psuedo-vacation! And who could blame them! I'm not an actor, but if someone put this script in front of me, heck yeah I would jump all over it. I'll stand around, deliver some lines, mug at the camera for a bit, just to spend some downtime in paradise. Shoot, sign me up right now.

Okay, I've gotten of course. This is turning into a plea for a vacation getaway more than a movie review. And why not?! This place looks fantastic!! The movie is funny ... you'll watch it, you'll laugh, and you'll thank me. Now - back to this whole getting me a ticket to paradise.

The Sunday Special

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:45:00 +0000

No review today. Instead, I'm going to do what everyone else is doing, and share my thoughts on this year's crop of Academy Award nominated pictures. Well, sort of.

I haven't seen too many of this year's selections, so my personal experience with performances will be somewhat limited. Still, as with most other people, that won't stop me from having an opinion about it anyway! Now, let's get started:

Best Picture
I didn't see all of the films nominated for this category, but of those that I did see, I would have voted for Avatar. The experience was amazing, and by far, the most engaging of the films I've seen. My hunch is the academy will vote this way as well.

Best Actor, in a Leading Role
I have a feeling that my vote would have been the way everyone else voted, Jeff Bridges. "Crazy Heart" was not a fantastic movie, not by a longshot, but Bridges made it look easy. His portrayal felt real, and authentic. Much like Mickey Rourke in the "The Wrestler."

Best Actor, in a Supporting Role
Hands down, Christoph Waltz. This may be the only award for "Inglourious Basterds" this evening, and if that is the case, so be it. It is beyond, well deserved. Waltz portrayed a character that I argue was the true star of the film itself. He did so beautifully, from beginning to end, with the conviction and talent of what it truly means to be an actor.

Best Actress, in a Leading Role
I'm a Sandra Bullock fan, and a Meryl Streep fan. That being said, Meryl did great in "Julie & Julia," but what I've head about Sandra in "The Blind Side" leads me to believe she did more. That's why she is my pick, and my hopeful win for this category.

Best Actress, in a Supporting Role
I've heard no one else stands a chance against the force that was Mo'Nique.

Best Animated Feature Film
I have a weird feeling that Up is going to win, and so be it. It was a good film, but personally, I really enjoyed Coraline and would not be upset if they took this honor.

Best Director
The competition seems to be between James Cameron, and Kathryn Bigelow for "Avatar," and "The Hurt Locker," respectively. I would like to think that Quentin Tarantino has a shot because of "Inglourious Basterds." The film was just fantastic, and well executed. The directing was top notch. The telling of the story, along with the performances he managed to get from his actors all lead me to believe he deserves this as much as anyone. It would be a great surprise if he were recognized once and for all, for his talent.

Best Visual Effects
Three nominees, "Avatar," "District 9," and "Star Trek." That's it. I've seen all three, and find myself torn between what exactly qualifies one film over the others. I'm going to go on a limb here and say "District 9." Only because I feel that their visual effects were the most sophisticated and authentic when it came to blending the real with the fantasy. Each of the others had elements of that as well, but for "District 9" I felt it was closer to real life than the other two.

Best Original Screenplay
Please, please give this to "Inglourious Basterds." I've already talked about Tarantino's great direction of the film, and the story behind it is just as strong. Without such a solid story that basically re-writes history, the film could have still been good, but this just made it 10x better. The talent needs to be recognized, the writing was fantastic. Remember how much we all loved "Pulp Fiction?" Yeah, this was that good.

Review >> Jennifer's Body

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:00:00 +0000

Starring: Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, and Adam Brody.

This was a crap loads better than I expected it to be. Seriously, when you see the trailer and listen to the hype, you're expecting some juvenile horror film that is just supposed to showcase how hot Megan Fox is. Well, boys and girls, it's certainly more than that.

It was a solid story! I couldn't believe it either. I mean, the premise is somewhat out there, but if you stretch your imagination a little, and just absorb it, then this turns out to be pretty darn entertaining. It's hard to say too much without giving away some major points, but I'll do my best to put what you see in the trailers into context.
Basically you have Jennifer (Fox) and "Needy" (Seyfried). They've been best friends forever, and no one can really figure out why, as they seemingly have nothing in common. Jennifer eventually becomes this creature that feeds on boys and Needy knows something is wrong. She is torn between helping her friend, and helping those she cares about. Eventually, she makes her decision, and can never go back to the way things were.

Wow. There ya go. If I made it any vaguer, it would be simply "something happens." But trust me, it's a good flick with some good stuff. Diablo Cody wrote the script, and you may or may not know she also wrote Juno. Now, I think the dialogue is similar, but only because I know who wrote it. If someone unaware of the style were to watch it, I doubt they could tie the two together. So, what I'm getting at it is simply this, if you didn't like Juno, give this a chance. It seems different enough that you may not hate it. And if you liked Juno, then, well, watch it and embrace the fact that you may like Diablo Cody after all. Did you see it already? What did you think?

Review >> Taking Chances

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:00:00 +0000

Starring: Justin Long and Emmanuelle Chriqui.

Personally, I don't get the appeal of Mr. Long here. He is perfectly adequate as the Mac Guy in those commercials, and the geek/nerd in Galaxy Quest. But, other than that, I don't buy him as much of a leading man type.

This film tries to play both sides of that coin. He is the leading man, but one who is the hapless geek who runs the local Battlefield Museum. In the small town of Patriotville, Chase Revere (Justin Long) is the curator of the Battlefield Museum, and seemingly the only one interested in the small town's history.

Soon, his museum becomes the target site for a new Indian casino and as he fights to keep that casino from ruining everything he loves, he discovers that maybe there is more out there to love. Deep right? Yeah, I just wrote that sitting here in my pajamas trying to think of something nice to say to lull you into a false sense of security. Beside the beauty of Chriqui, and the novely of seeing Star Trek: Voyager's Robert Beltran, this movie had nothing redeeming about it all.

The writing was such that I felt it lagging at different points, and the characters were just cliche for the most part. I kept waiting for something funny to happen, but it never did. No, wait, there was one scene where I chuckled. It had to do with (forgive me) balls. It was somewhat funny the way the character delivered the line, but aside from that, I was just waiting for the stupid thing to be over.

How is it Missy Pyle wasn't utilized more by the way? She is awesome! She is up there with Martha Plimpton in my book - and well, speaking of Martha Plimpton, did you see NBC is going to start airing that show Parenthood finally?! Thank God the Olympics are over - ugh. Now I can get me my Lauren Graham fix. I'm disappointed more people couldn't find good scripts for her to work with. Seriously.

Oh. The movie. Right. Avoid. There, done. 'Nuff said. What's next?

Review >> Post Grad

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:00:00 +0000

Starring: Alexis Bledel, Zach Gilford, Michael Keaton, Jane Lynch, and Carol Burnett.

Are you wondering how you never heard of this film with a cast like that? I know I sure was. According to IMDb, the film premiered at that end of August, and ran for 6 weeks. It grossed just over $6.3 million, and I think that's fair.

Don't take that the wrong way, I enjoyed the film, but for the subject matter, and the end result, it did the amount of business one should expect from a theatrical release. The real money is going to come from DVD rentals and sales, and of course, the television rights. This movie was MADE for playing on tv.

It's your basic coming of age story. Girl graduates college with a plan. The plan falls apart. Girl learns life lesson. So on, and so forth. You get the picture. If I were to focus on the negative stuff in the film, I could probably go one for awhile. But, like I told you, I kind of liked it, and let me tell you why. Two words.

Rory Gilmore.

I seriously think this film was written by a fan of the Gilmore Girls tv show. They saw Alexis and said, we need to do a Rory movie. Well, it certainly felt like that's what they wanted to do. Maybe it's like one of those alternate universe things. Yeah, that's it. A story of Rory Gilmore if such and such was different, and so and so was in her life. Really, you're not going to find too many surprises here. It follows the formula rather well.

Still, it has its humorous moments, and touching ones too. However, perhaps the most realistic moment in the film is the car accident. When the little white girl's car is hit by the Mexican's truck full of lawn equipment on a Los Angeles street, you are taken aback. Then, the next shot is that of the truck driving away .. you are suddenly brought back to reality and realize, this is real. This is what happens everyday. Oh, and just to save you some discussion time, Columbia = Columbia, and UC Creston = UCLA. You'll thank me later.

Review >> Inglourious Basterds

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:00:00 +0000

Starring: Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, and Eli Roth.

A fantastic film. Quentin Tarantino has surpassed anything he has done previously. A bold statement? Yes - but accurate. Granted, I have to give a lot of the credit to supporting actor, Christoph Waltz. In my opinion he certainly carried the film from start to finish. His performance alone is worth renting this film. Still, credit must be paid to the director, cast, and well, the rest of the crew as well. It was their combined effort that really made this a remarkable film.

In case you are unfamiliar with the plot, it takes place in 1941, in a Nazi occupied France. The Inglourious Basterds are a group of Jewish-American soldiers who go there to kill Nazis. Simple enough. Yet, the story that unfolds becomes more intriguing and complex. From the first few moments of the film, to the very last, you are enthralled and entertained, all at once. You develop connections to some, if not most, of the characters. You don't realize it until it's too late, but by the end, you feel just as invested in their mission as they are.

The film isn't afraid to be graphic, it almost prides itself on it. Still, it is not as gimmicky as you might expect. The style and the finesse is unlike anything I've seen from Tarantino before. Perhaps his style has changed, or maybe it is my taste that has. Nonetheless, I cannot fault him for giving us a great cinematic experience, and perhaps one of the best endings ever. Let me know if you disagree.

Review >> The Hurt Locker

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:44:00 +0000

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, and Brian Geraghty.

I'm almost hesitant to admit this, but I don't get the hype. Was it good? Yes. Did I like it? Yes. Do I think it deserves the recognition and awards that is receiving? No.

Please, feel free to correct me if you feel I'm being unfair, but I just don't get the hype surrounding this one. The story takes place in Iraq and follows a group of 3 soldiers responsible for disarming bombs in the heat of combat. They're called in to disarm car bombs, roadside bombs, and even suicide bombers, before it's too late. The film starts with an introduction to the team, and the death of their commander. We then meet SSG William James who comes in to take over, and we quickly realize he is no ordinary soldier. He works with a wreckless abandon, a death wish almost, and does not communicate well with the rest of his team.

As the film progresses we get a little more insight into each of the 3 characters within this group, but nothing truly substantial. I found myself not really connecting to any of the characters, and expecting any of them to die at any point. I guess that would be one good thing I can say, I didn't know what was going to happen next. Usually, you have a sense that the main character will survive any peril they're in because it's a formulaic plot, but not this time. I got the sense that anything could happen to any one of the soldiers, and for that, I was impressed.

The film has been marred in controversy, both for the subject matter, and for the way one of the producers was promoting the film during award season. The latter is less important, but the former is covered briefly in this article from The Washington Post. Overall, I think this is an adequate war film, but far from perfect. Perhaps the subject matter itself, and the sense that by liking this film you support our troops, is what has garnered all of this attention, because frankly, the end result doesn't seem all that deserving.

Tell me what you think.

Monday, February 22, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:30:00 +0000

That's today's date. In case you didn't know. No, but seriously, here are some entertainment stories that caught my interest recently.

First up we have Jim Belushi returning to series television. The Hollywood Reporter is running a story that says he will be coming out on a CBS drama. Something about lawyers and Las Vegas. Yeah, this should work out well. Sheesh.

Our next two stories happen to be Star Trek related. The first one has to do with the William Shatner returning to tv. This time, he is gonna play a blogger. No, not really, but sort of. Last August, Justin Halpern created a new Twitter account when he moved back in with his parents. He started posting quotes from his dad on that feed, and it quickly became an Internet sensation. The account is called "S**t My Dad Says" and it caught the eye of CBS early on. They've made a deal with Halpern to develop the sitcom with Shatner, and production is set to start in November. For more info on Justin and his dad, check out the LA Times article from September.

The next Star Trek related story involves Walter Koenig (he played Chekov) and more specifically, his missing son Andrew. It seems that he disappeared in Vancouver on Valentine's Day and hasn't been heard from since. His friends have taken to Twitter to try and get some news on his whereabouts, and the Vancouver police are encouraging anyone with information to contact them. For some information on what we know, and we don't, check out the article from E! Online.

And finally, we have "Shutter Island" coming in as the top movie this past weekend. The latest project from new bff's Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese made an estimated $40.2 million to easily take the lead. It's interesting that the studio distributing the film, Paramount Pictures, moved this film from its original release date in October to now. They claim that it was due to not having enough marketing money for this film, in addition to it's other releases. This causes some concern, because in theory this could be an Oscar contending film, but movies that come out so early in the year, are often overlooked. For more on this, check out this Reuters article.

Movie Review >> Pandorum

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Starring Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster.

Let me just tell you - if you don't like Ben Foster, you will not like this movie. Seriously, they gave that guy this movie and he had to carry it on his back. Overall, not a bad story, but once again we have a weak execution.

Here is your basic, cliche premise: Earth is in peril. Too many people, not enough resources. New hospitable planet is discovered. Ship and crew and many, many, more are sent there to colonize. Something goes wrong.

Sound generic enough for ya? It should. Now, I know I'm putting off that negative vibe even though I started off by saying it wasn't a bad story, so let me clarify. The foundation of the story itself is generic, yes, but the way they decided to tell this tale had some interesting points. Unfortunately, I can't say that all of it was interesting. I'll be honest, at times, I even found myself forwarding past bits and pieces. They weren't crucial, but just time wasters.

We're introduced to Corporal Bower first. He awakes from his hyper-sleep disoriented. Then, his Lieutenant wakes up, also disoriented. For the first part of this film we deal with just these two characters. A bold choice, but it was rather intense. I enjoyed it. I expected the film to stay this way and was kind of excited to see where it would go. Then, there were monsters. Ugh. Why do space movies always have to fall back on having monsters? But, see, the part that got me the most was their explanation of the monsters and how they came to be on the ship. It was just tossed out there like an after thought and accepted, and here we go running again. Whatever - I paused it at the intro to monsters to make brownies. That made the experience better for me moving forward.

I wouldn't recommend the film as something to watch if you wanted to be thoroughly entertained. Yet, if you were looking for something that made you jump here and there, and would actually cause you to try and figure things out as you went along, this would be a good one to see. Of course, you have to also know that in this future, we still like to curse quite a bit.

There you have it. This wraps up my inadvertent Sci-Fi weekend, believe me, I didn't know I would be doing this going into the weekend, but hey, I liked the ride. I'm a sucker for good Sci-Fi. That's why if and when I find them, I'll post and gush incessantly about how much I love them. Until next time folks, reach for the stars. Yes, that was obligatory. I couldn't resist.

Movie Review >> Surrogates

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Starring: Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, and James Cromwell

Robots tend to be easy targets in most science fiction stories. In fact, perhaps the most common theme among science fiction stories, is how robots will be the downfall of humanity.

Sure, each story will have its own spin to the tale, but if you think about it, they usually play out and end the same way. Things will start off innocently enough, robots being created to help humanity. Soon, one thing leads to another, and bam, the end of humanity as we know it. Or, in some cases, on the verge of the end of humanity.

This is a similar tale of such woe. In an effort to provide those humans with disabilities the chance to experience life, Surrogates were created. Think of them as human like avatars, like in that one movie. Soon, the military gets interested, other uses are discovered, and within a period of almost 20 years, they become as common as cell phones are today. Nearly every one has one, and uses them for their everyday life. People are locked away safely in their houses and apartments, hooked up to these Surrogates who are damn near invincible. There is no pain, almost no crime, and general sense of happiness in the world. For most, at least.

As with any group, there is opposition. There are factions across the globe who find these machines to be abominations and preach that use of such things is anti-human. This opposition is in the minority and thus are relegated to camps across the world where they are allowed to live in peace without interacting with the machines. Our story focuses on one guy in particular who finds a way to kill a Surrogate (which is not impossible, but difficult) and at same time, it kills the operator (which should not be possible due to fail safes.)

This incident sparks a story of morality, grief, betrayal, and even redemption. Even though they could have easily made this a more "preachy" movie, they did good enough as it was. I found myself entertained, and even surprised by a twist or two. I won't go so far as to call it predictable, because I said in the beginning, you already know the basic idea behind it, but the characters unique to this particular telling are interesting enough to keep your attention.

My overall opinion is that it's worth your time. Check it out and don't forget to think about it a little yourself. What would you choose if you had the chance to live life with a Surrogate? Let me know in the comments.

I Played The Movie, Gamer

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Starring: Gerard Butler and Michael C. Hall.

Lame. Lame, lame, lame, and more lame. I had high hopes for this one. I liked the idea and was really excited to see what sort of action and morality tale would result. Instead, I was treated to a rather bland film with some crappy action sequences (that had the potential to be awesome) and only a notion of moral outrage.

All told, I got the sense that only 15 minutes into the movie, the actors that signed on to do this were sold using a different script. They all signed a contract and had to oblige, but initially, I'm sure they were expecting something else. Certainly it could not have been this thing that is only short of being called a travesty. In case you don't remember (or just don't know) the premise of the movie is this: In the future, you have soldiers that are controlled by other human beings as if they are playing a video game. People pay to control their counterpart in battles, which are real and have no "extra life" or "continue" options.

The story focuses on one particular gamer, and his counterpart. We follow them through a typical mission, and as the film progresses we see deeper into their own lives. Well, not really. First, it should be noted that the "icons" that they people are controlling are all death row inmates. They are offered the chance to play in this game and allow themselves to be controlled for the chance of being free. If they survive 30 battles, their sentence is ended, and they are free to go. The thing is, no one has ever survived that long in the game, until now.

I really felt like there was an initial idea of where they wanted this film to go. Then, as time went on, they came up with other ideas and splintered it off. Suddenly, they realized they didn't have anything to tie it all together, so they just made stuff up to insert as needed. It's all really crappy. The first scene you encounter is an action sequence. It had the potential of being good, but the camera work was so shoddy and the edits too poorly done, that you felt like you were one of those roller coaster cars that jerk you back and forth and bruise you up real good. The kind that make you regret waiting in line all that time just to sit there and get the crap knocked out of you. Just like that.

Overall, I'll just say that there was potential and it was not achieved. Not even close. I would suggest avoiding this film no matter what. So long for now.

My Review of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Starring the voices of: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Andy Samberg, and James Caan.

For an animated film, I have to admit that I really liked it. They assembled a good cast, with a good script. It was light, and funny, and plays to both adults and children with the story and the antics.

The quality of the animation was also great, which was a surprise for me. I have not seen their other works (Open Season 2, Surf's Up) so I didn't know what to expect. I can't say for sure whether or not that was a good thing or not, it turned out well, that's all I know.

The story is pretty simple, and somewhat predictable. Flint Lockwood invents a device that turns water into food, and it ends up in the atmosphere. Soon, his small town of Swallow Falls is a tourist attraction because it rains food. Any kind of food you can think of. Soon, people are making requests like crazy and things go awry. It then comes down to Flint, his new friends and his father, to help save the town from their own gluttony. By the end of the film you are certainly invested in your main characters. Along the way you encounter the comic relief, and enjoy what they have to offer, but overall, you are intrigued by the story and wait to see how it pans out. Naturally, you know from the beginning that things will go bad, but it is the journey that is so entertaining and refreshing.

I can't go into further detail for fear of perhaps ruining your own experience for the first time, but I truly recommend this film for all ages. It's a good, lighthearted movie that everyone can enjoy. Yes, that just happened. I just busted out the cliche line - and for good reason! It's true! So long for now.

My Review of Big Fan

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Starring: Patton Oswalt and Kevin Corrigan.

Not what I expected. That was the thought that went through my head during the movie, and the first words out of my mouth when it was over.

The description said it was a comedy, well, a dark comedy, and I can see where they got that from. Still, I find it difficult to categorize this as a comedy at all. Are there some funny moments? Sure. Is Patton Oswalt a funny guy? Sure. Just not like you expect, or actually, like you have ever seen him before.

Oswalt plays Paul, and he is a die-hard, no doubt about it, NY Giants fan. He eats, breathes, lives for the Giants. He and his friend Sal (played by Corrigan) both do. They have an unspoken rivalry with a Philadelphia Eagles fan over a local sports radio show that provides some light entertainment during the flick.

The key element to the plot though, comes from a chance encounter with an actual member of the Giants team. Just imagine that you are obsessed (and I mean OBSESSED) with a certain celebrity type person. Then, on some random night out getting pizza, you see the object of your obsession before your eyes. What would you do? Probably not what happens here - but then again, it is not out of the realm of possibility.

The eventual meeting they have, the two parties, is awkward and somewhat comical. But, frankly, is results in the beating that Paul somewhat deserves, given the circumstances. Still, looking at the movie as a whole, I have to say that most of it is in fact awkward and uncomfortable, and that would be the appeal to most people. That being said, it is possible that the uneasiness you get from watching these characters is what resulted in the description of 'dark comedy' coming about. It evokes that sort of uneasy laugh or chuckle you get from seeing someone do some of these things and realizing just how bad it is. I liken it to how I feel when I watch "The Office" most times. Yeah, similar to that feeling when Michael Scott opens his mouth and you know what he is about to say will not be good.

It's a good little film with some heart, and touching moments. You root for the little guy, and like I said, you feel uncomfortable and awkward at times, but you're supposed to, and it's a good thing. There are definitely good moments, and of course, the slow, bad ones as well. For me, it was worth watching the whole thing just to get to the ending, because I felt it was a good pay off. If you're in the mood for some uncomfortableness, and awkwardness, then this is the right film for you. Enjoy. So long for now.

My Review of Crazy Heart

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Starring: Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

There is a reason why Jeff Bridges won the Golden Globe for this role. I wouldn't be surprised if he wins more awards too. Still, I can't help but think that most of that recognition will come from all of his roles over the years, and not just this one in particular.

That is not to say that I didn't enjoy his performance, or this movie as a whole. Instead, I will be honest and say that it turned out just like I expected. The most surprising part was how much I came to enjoy the music. The story was simple and predictable, but it was the music and the performances that drove it home for me.

Bridges plays country singer Bad Blake. From the start we know that he lives up to the name Bad, and that he is having a hard time of things. Soon, we're introduced to Gyllenhaal's character, Jenny, who is a writer for a small paper doing an interview of Blake when he comes to town. They develop a connection, and eventually a relationship, all of which seemed to happen way too fast and felt too insincere. Still, you set that feeling aside and go along for the journey. Blake is an alcoholic, and as the film progresses you encounter the cliche plot points and twists, and by the end, it all wraps up neatly with a pretty red bow.

If I may take a moment to gush about Bridges and his talent for a moment, he is the sole reason I wanted to see this film. For years he has been delighting me, and audiences all over the world, in various films across numerous genres. There are not many actors I feel this can be said, but this man truly can do anything. I will count him among the greatest of our time, and am proud to count myself along his many other fans, cult and otherwise. So long for now.

Finally, my experience with Avatar

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoë Saldana and Sigourney Weaver.

An amazing, visually stunning film. Hands down. I understand why my roommate said that 3D is the only way to see this film, and I couldn't agree more. That aspect really added to the experience, in a way that I feel is responsible for the success this film has enjoyed thus far.

The story is simple, the characters pretty straight forward, and the movie, too long. Still, all those ingredients mixed together in the hands of James Cameron has resulted in a great movie going experience that is unlikely to be duplicated in the near future.

There will be an onslaught of 3D movies (in a year or so) now that he has lighten the fuse. Sure, other 3D movies have trickled out over the years, but nothing has been so widely accepted and seen by the general public such as this. I really think the success of this movie in 3D will be the catalyst for the 3D tv revolution that is coming over the next few years. But, I don't want to go off on a tangent here. That is a subject matter for another post. Back to the film at hand, and the great cast and crew that brought it to life. A job well done, to say the least. The idea that it took 10 years to make this film, for the technology to catch up to his vision astounds me. Now, however, after seeing the film first hand, I can only say that it was well worth the wait.

The idea, and statement that Cameron made himself, that this movie will change the way films are done and see forever is so true. Robert Zemeckis himself is working on changing films forever as well, but Cameron has managed to do it on a grander scale with greater appeal. Hopefully, the audience will now be more accepting of new technology and story telling, so forward thinkers like Zemeckis, and Cameron, and many more are given the opportunity to expand our minds and enrich our imaginations.

At this point you may be wondering why I'm spending so little time talking about the movie, and well, what haven't you already heard somewhere else? You know how much I liked it from the beginning. But, what I do want to get across is the impact that this film will have for the future of cinema. When Cameron made Titanic, he ushered in the era of big budget films. If you recall, two major studios needed to collaborate on the financing just to ensure it got made. That started with him and that film. Now, we have this epic journey that will once again usher in a new era of film-making.

Granted, no one else may come close to this scale of notoriety, but that isn't what it's about actually. It is about the ability to try. The chance you are given to get out there and give it a shot. So many people have seen Avatar that it is now as common as asking, "How about this weather?" The door is opened for a new world of directors, writers, actors, and studios. The trick now will be wading through all the crap that will flood our theaters to find that diamond in the rough. So long for now.

My Review of 2 Movies Today

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Starring: Bobby Campo and Shantel VanSaten

Hey, if you don't recognize those names, don't worry, I didn't either. Heck, I didn't even recognize this movie to be honest with you. I rented the DVD thinking I was going to see the latest installment of the "Final Destination" franchise, but instead, I got some hobbled together piece of crap that doesn't even resemble the rest of the movies.

Now, to clarify, I always found the movies to be about more than just the gruesome death scenes. I enjoy those, but the other movies had more to it. There was a feeling of suspense, a certain energy that came from the characters realizing what was happening and trying to figure out how to cheat death.

Naturally, the films got worse as they progressed. The third one being the weakest of them all .. until this one came along. Personally, I just have to say it, has any movie in a franchise that came in at number 4 been that good? Okay, that's too broad of a statement. I tend to only remember and pick out the bad ones such as Indiana Jones 4, Star Trek 4, Police Academy 4, Aliens 4 aka Resurrection, I could go on, but I'll stop there. Pushing a franchise to four films is risky, unless you are in it for the long haul (e.g. James Bond, and Star Trek to name a couple) you run the chance of tarnishing the series of films altogether. You will end up leaving a bitter taste in the viewers mouth and any sort of loyalty you earned will be lost. Much like it was in my case with Indy. Oh Indy.

But, I digress. Back to this film - it sucked. Really bad. The death scenes were gory but too contrived and gimmicky. I say gimmicky, because initially this film was released in the theaters as 3D. The DVD comes with the 3D version too, but what's the point. Too many sequences were designed to startle the theater audience that it just doesn't play well at home. Still, that is just one of the many terrible things about this rather abysmal flick. Avoid at all costs my friends. Don't say I didn't warn you.

That brings us to my second review, Carriers.

Starring: Lou Taylor Pucci, Chris Pine, Piper Perabo, and Emily VanCamp

Guess what we have here. Another "human race is infected with a deadly disease" movie. Yawn. Still, there is an interesting take on the genre, one that proved to somewhat interesting, but altogether, not that entertaining.

Basically, the disease is spread by physical contact, blood, and is also airborne, sort of. The rules aren't all that clear, or adhered to all that closely. So, imagine every other movie you've seen where this is the case. The human race is infected. Now, pretend you are in space looking down at the earth. Then, quickly zoom in on a single car, on a deserted road on the east coast moving quickly. That's the idea behind the film. Over the entire world this disease is rapidly spreading and killing people, but the film narrows it down to one group of 4 people and focuses on a couple of days in their life. It just so happens to be the most interesting couple of days where absolutely everything seems to happen to them. Weird how that happens in movies huh?

Anyways, Pucci and Pine play brothers traveling with their respective lady friends, trying to stay alive long enough to make it to a beach they went to as kids. They have this strong sense that they will find protection there. So that is there goal. Stay uninfected and alive long enough to make it to the beach house. Thus, like I mentioned before, these are an interesting couple of days and many things take place that try to prevent them from getting there. Needless to say, not everyone makes it there.

Overall, the story was interesting enough to keep me watching and not hating life. The dynamic this group had was interesting, and so were the situations they found themselves in. Fortunately, this wasn't the type of virus that turned people into flesh or brain eating zombies, it just simply killed them slowly over the course of a few days or weeks, depending on age. At least, I think that's how it worked. They kept it vague for the most part.

So, if you are not sick of the genre yet, and would be interested in seeing a different kind of twist, one where you focus on a group just surviving with each other, then this would be okay to watch. It is by no means a big-budget studio picture, but it has a solid cast with some good moments. Take it as you will. So long for now.

My Take On - I Love You, Man

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Starring: Paul Rudd and Jason Segel

Guilty. That's what I say when someone asks me if I'm a Paul Rudd fan. I admit it, and do so freely. From Clueless, to Role Models, and everything in between (well, almost), I consistently enjoy his work. The same with Jason Segel now. I was introduced to him on Freaks and Geeks, and since then, he seemed to have disappeared for a little and came back with a vengeance in the last few years.

All that being said, it was no surprise that I enjoyed this film as much as I did. To put it simply, it was funny because of its awkwardness. Granted, that was provided mostly by Paul Rudd's character, but it really tied it together.

The situations, the conversations, the antics, they all came together to make the film funny and really entertaining. A supporting cast comprised of Andy Samberg, Jane Curtain, J.K. Simmons, Jon Favreau, Jamie Pressly, Rashida Jones, and many more, also helped to make this the good time it turned out to be. The story is simple. You have Paul Rudd's character getting married. He doesn't have many, okay no, male friends and decides to change that. We spend the first part of the film with him going on man dates, trying to find someone he connects with to keep around as a friend. It's later on that he meets Sydney, played by Segel, and the fun really starts.

Segel's character introduces Rudd's character to this whole other existence that he never knew existed. A place where men talk about uncomfortable, or private things. Where a guy can have a "man cave" that is a place of solitude and female free. Soon, the two start to bond and we see the change in both men, and to an extent, it's for the better.

A true bond forms between the two men, and you feel that happen. You are taken on this journey that feels rather absurd at first, and may even seem a little too desperate. But, as it goes on, you get the sense that this connection was fated. It was meant to happen and in doing so, enrich both of their lives from that point on. I may not agree that most of the events could really happen, but the bond that is formed. The friendship and the connection they make certainly is. It really was the focus of the movie and I felt that. A job well done by all. Yet, like I said, this is only my take on it. I would love to know if you felt differently or got a different reaction. Just let me know. So long for now.

Review: 9

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Starring the voices of: Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, Christopher Plummer, et al.

I remember the initial campaign for this movie's release, it centered on the fact that Tim Burton was involved, and played to the audience that enjoyed his film the Corpse Bride, and the one he produced and helped write, The Nightmare Before Christmas. This was mostly due to the fact that our first time director, and writer, Shane Acker was really unheard of. Now I know why.

My critique is not about that of the visual goodness that comes our way. No, instead, it is about the story or lack thereof. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Frankly, this movie comes to us by way of a college project. A short story, if you will. Shane Acker created the idea, the story, characters, world, all of it, while in college. He put together a short film in much the similar style of the film itself, and it got people's attention. It seems that so many people enjoyed the short, and responded to it, that it made its way around Hollywood and finally got made into a feature film. Personally, I would have liked there to have been a little more meat to the story, but I'm guessing that as a college assignment, he was going for something different than what I'm typically used to seeing.

To put it simply, the story takes place in the future. In fact, at the fall of mankind due to their reliance on technology, as if that wasn't a worn out story already. Still, the interesting aspect is that before his demise, this man created 9 little beings who now survive on their own. Their goal, it seems, is to exist, avoid robots, and well, that's about it. Until the introduction of 9 comes along. With him entering the world, things take a turn, and soon everything that once was, is no more.

We're not given a great deal of back story, and to be honest, there isn't much need for it. We get the point early on that man is stupid for relying on technology so much and soon, pays the price for it. There, you have your back story. The film itself deals with the adventure of a couple of these little beings trying to figure out why they exist, how they exist, and so on. Of course, different obstacles and perils prolong the conclusion that you don't see coming. And, I don't mean that in a good way.

No, in fact, it's kind of absurd the way the ending comes about. It left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied, because it almost seemed to be a means of explaining these beings away easily. Still, the actual end of the film, as in the last minute or so, is somewhat interesting because you are left to wonder and consider a few things.

Nonetheless, my overall review would have to be a negative one. I wouldn't recommend checking it out, unless you enjoy this kind of animation. If you get the dvd, there are some good bonus features that go behind the scenes and to me, were actually more entertaining that the film itself. That's just my take on it though. If you've seen it, or plan on seeing it, let me know what you think. I would welcome a discussion on what I may have missed the first time around. So long for now.

A Nice Bag of Trailer Mix

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Happy Monday Folks!

Yeah, I know, what's so good about it right? Well, I'm here to tell you what! I've got some new trailers for you to check out! Let's get started:

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

Well, right now this film doesn't have a distributor so there is no actual release date. Still, I'm hoping that they find one soon because I would love to see this in theaters. It reminds me of how much I enjoyed Shaun of the Dead. Granted, it's not the same, and probably a little campier than that, but I have feeling it's going to be just as much fun.

Grown Ups
Adam Sandler continues to employ his friends in this next film due out later this year. The premise sounds interesting enough, a group of childhood friends reconnecting again after 30 years. The trailers doesn't provide too much into the story, but one heck of a funny rope-in-a-tree scene with Kevin James. This may be worth checking out, if not in the theater, definitely on DVD:

The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Disney is giving us another Summer hit this year, and look, it start Nic Cage. Well, it also has Alfred Molina, so it can't be all bad. Can it?

Review: Answer Man

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Released: 2009
Starring: Jeff Daniels, Lauren Graham, Lou Taylor Pucci

It was a few months ago that this little indie film first came to my attention. It was one of those rare Netflix recommendations that actually makes sense. I added it to my queue and forgot about it. Recently, however, it became available for instant viewing and seeing as how I can view those films on my Tivo and PS3, it was a good time to add it and watch it.

We’re introduced to the three main characters, and start to watch the lines being drawn that will connect them to one another. The story focuses on author Arlen Faber played by Jeff Daniels. We are given the impression that he is a great author who wrote a fantastic book 20 years earlier that have people chasing after him to this day. They seek some enlightenment or answers to simple questions, all of which he is trying to avoid.

Due to a chronic back injury he is introduced to Dr. Elizabeth played by Lauren Graham and they find each other mutually interesting. Their relationship starts simply enough and starts to become something more through some awkward moments, and funny ones too. As the story goes on we learn more and more about these two and why it seems they are perfect for each other.

The film ends up being your rather typical romantic comedy, and it works. The characters are engaging enough that you stay entertained, and the acting is good enough that you enjoy the journey. For a good, heart felt tale, I would recommend checking out this title. Be cautious though, there is some swearing and although it is used comically, it can seem rather superfluous at times. So long for now.

Review: Night at the Museum 2

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Starring: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Hank Azaria, et al.

Ben Stiller returns as Larry Daly from his 2006 hit, the first Night at the Museum, in this big budget sequel. Now, I say it's big budget, but the fact they used Hank Azaria for so many roles makes me wonder if they didn't have that big of a budget at all. I kid. Azaria's voice talents have become quite well known in the industry considering is career with The Simpsons, and as such, I'm sure he requires quite the paycheck to perform as much as he did in this film.

Azaria plays the big villain this time around, the older brother to our pharaoh friend from the first film. Amy Adams joins the adventure as Amelia Earheart, although I would swear it is Amy Adams playing Katherine Hepburn as Amelia Earheart. He character serves the function that Teddy Roosevelt did in the first. The faithful companion who helps our hero realize his potential.

Since we last left Larry Daly, he has left the museum and created his own company selling his now, successful inventions. We are given a quick glimpse into his present life and shown the stereotypical downfalls of a successful, single parent in the corporate world. This leads us to believe that he isn't happy and as he journey's back to the museum after a long absence, we come to find that things aren't as he left them.

I'll be honest, I expected this film to be a rather boring carbon copy of the first one, just in a different setting. Still, I feel as though the writers did give this some effort and tried to make it seems as though Larry needed to go on this journey and therefore, becomes better for it. The story is such that some of the exhibits from the Natural History Museum are being archived in Washington D.C. Naturally, Dexter (the annoying little monkey) steals the tablet that brings them to life and when they arrive in Washington D.C., those exhibits come to life as well. This would be where the chaos ensues.

Larry finds himself, and Amelia Earheart, in an adventure that has them running like crazy through the Smithsonian Institution, and their museums. Along they way, Larry re-discovers what makes him happy and perhaps what his true calling really his. All in all, a rather simple and somewhat contrived film. Still, much like the first, it's the idea that gets me every time. There is just something amazing about the idea of these things coming to life. I know that when I was a kid, I would imagine that my toys would come to life when I wasn't around, and that's why Toy Story resonated with me so much as well. This time around, I wasn't disappointed again.

I will admit that through the whole movie, there were 2, maybe 3, moments that had me laugh out loud. The film itself is considered a comedy, and they certainly do their best to achieve that characterization, but in my opinion, fall somewhat short of a being considered a great one. Still, I will not lessen the enjoyment that I did get from watching it. Much like the first one, there is very little substance and you can certainly do something else while it plays in the background, but the message is clear and the effects are rather impressive.

Clearly, if you liked the first one (as I did) then watching this sequel is a no-brainer. It does nothing to take away from the first, and will only help to serve your imagination better. It's still a good family film, and the ending is almost as endearing as the first. So long for now.

Gonna Blaze A New Trailer!

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:46:00 +0000

So, to keep things fresh and new in 2010, I've decided to add a regular feature to the site, a collection of some movie trailers. I haven't decided on a specific day to post them yet, but I figured I would start today to see what you think and find out if whether or not you may find it useful. Take a moment to hit me up with a comment if you would like to keep this feature, or find it a bit out of place. Thanks!

Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus
Okay, this one is just me being goofy. Also, I'm posting it for my mom. She loves these types of movies. No one knows why. Doctors have tried to figure it out, but they are stumped. I've decided to stop asking why and just let her indulge. Who am I to judge? Here you go folks ... the epic battle you never knew you wanted to see:

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows Part 1

The teaser trailer is now online and you can watch it here! In case you haven't heard, the decision was made to break up the last book into two movies. This is brilliant, because frankly, so much takes place in the last book that one movie would not do it justice. The argument can be made that justice was not paid to the previous films either, but for the sake of the story that is being told via the films, breaking it into 2 is the best way to go. My only concern is what they will choose as the ending point for Part 1. That will be key. But I digress, here is the teaser:

Valentine's Day
I am a sucker for a good romantic comedy, this we know. Just look at my DVD collection. This is why I'm looking forward to this ensemble cast brought together by Garry Marshall. It has a feeling of Love Actually about it, and we all know how much I liked that one! Check out the trailer:

Grilled Cheese Magic

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Grilled Cheese sandwiches have always had this kind of hold over me. Growing up, my mom would make, in my opinion, the best grilled cheese sandwiches. For years, no one came close, not even those I would make myself. It seemed she had perfected the technique, or at the very least, used magic to get me hooked.

The sandwiches were only made better when she paired them with a serving of tomato soup. Perfection. No matter what was happening, whether it was cold outside, or I was sick, or, well, whatever. This perfect combo hit the spot every time, and just as often, satisfied me greatly. Over the years, I've tried some feeble attempts by "cooks" trying to replicate this magical concoction. All ended with either a "meh" or a "not bad." There was no comparison. Even to those with bacon.

Cut to some random January night in Southern California. It all happened so quickly that I hope not to miss any detail. Actually, there are not that many details. Frankly, all you need to know is this: there exists a food truck and that truck's name is Grilled Cheese Truck. Mom, I have found your replacement.

No, I kid, I kid. But seriously, what I'm about to tell you is out of love. After eating one of their sandwiches, I turned to my cohort during this adventure and said, "I feel like writing a strongly worded letter to mom, chastising her for not telling me that grilled cheese can be LIKE THIS!" It was quite an amazing treat, and one that I must recommend to any who share the love of the cheese that is grilled.

The experience was fantastic. The guys in the truck were awesome, hence the food turned out to be as well. My cohort was equally enthusiastic about the night's new found gold, and thus, made me feel like less of a dork for getting so excited about a grilled cheese truck! Simply put, the stars aligned perfectly for everything to have fallen into place as it did for this to turn out so well.

The night started with the grilled cheese truck, and what was referred to as the Ultimate Sandwich. It was their mac and cheese with bbq pork, and carmalized onions, served with a small cup of their tomato soup. (See, now my opening remarks are making sense, huh?) Alone, the sandwich would have been stellar, but together, it was as if the gods of food combined their powers to inject pure amazing goodness into my stomach. That may be a bit much ... but only if you haven't tried it yourself!! Ha!

That meal alone would have sufficed and kept me happy for the rest of 2 hours. Yet, there sat in the not too far distance, another glorious vehicle. This one, called Dogtown Dog, seemed to be the perfect compliment to the Grilled Cheese Truck. My cohort thought so as well - although he was brave enough to jump in right away, I needed some additional digesting time before I could attempt it. It was well worth the wait.

These brilliant men decided, "Hey, let's take an all beef hot dog, wrap it in some bacon (cooked fresh), and then top it with a fried egg, just for good measure." That is what I ate. They call it the Morning Commute, but I would dare to call it, Best Hot Dog Ever. I'm just saying. Again, my cohort would argue that his dog was the best, and then someone else would say their's was, so on and so forth. Let's not nitpick people. I'm just saying that for me, at that time, on that night, in Venice Beach, California, it was by far, the Best Hot Dog Ever.

For me, the year is off to a great start. When I can write this much about a visit to some food trucks, and truly enjoy an experience where I'm eating outside on a bench, or a wall, in the cold, and at the same time, relishing in some great company - yeah, it's a good life I lead.

Review: True Blood

noreply@blogger.com (that James guy) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Starring: Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer

Now, I will be the first to admit that I am late to the game on this one, as it usually the case with shows that appear only on pay tv. True Blood is a series on HBO that takes place in a world where Vampires are real, and they are part of our society. In fact, they are fighting to have rights just like humans.

The story focuses on the town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, and the people who reside there. Specifically, a young waitress named Sookie Stackhouse. The first episode introduces us to the varied characters in this small town, and what happens when Vampire Bill Compton returns to the home he had in his human life. We soon start see the prejudice that Vampires face from humans, and the struggle they must endure to become "mainstream" as they call it.

Now, this is a small part of the story and the appeal of the show itself. What it comes down to is the writing and the characters. The premise is rather simple, but the show itself is so complex and interesting that it sucks you in. For me, it took three episodes to become rather attached and interested in what was going to happen. It was during a marathon that I got into it, and I fear that if I had started watching when it started (in 2008) from the beginning, and waited week to week, I would not have been so patient as to wait and see how it progressed.

A friend of mine introduced me to the idea of marathon viewings and their appeal. Sadly, previous recipients of such attention have been less worthy fare and dare I say, guilty pleasures. This time I decided to use it for something that was worthwhile and recommended by another friend who has an opinion on such things that I take rather highly. She has, once again, not steered me wrong.

One thing that I must warn you about is the sexual nature of the show. There is a reason it is on HBO, and rightfully so. Still, you have to understand that Vampire lore has often been steeped in eroticism. This show doesn't water it down, and or deny it, as many others may have before. They embrace it and it becomes a part of the show, almost like a necessity. Although, should this be sold into syndication, it will have to be edited out and for the most part, the credibility and substance of the program won't suffer.

I'm only Season One right now and haven't even finished it completely as I write this. Still, I felt compelled to share with you this new obsession I have as I try to catch up to the most current season. I feel that in a sea of mediocrity (read: network tv) when a rare program such as this finds its way into the world, it should be embraced and shared with as many as possible. As I continue to enjoy this journey, I hope to provide further insight into what makes the show so good and some substance to qualify it as an actual review. Still, for now, I can only speak to the strength these characters have and the power they posses over this soon to be ex-casual viewer. So long for now.