Author Topic: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching  (Read 59475 times)

Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #90 on: October 09, 2012, 04:26:27 AM »
What I am watching on 06-07Oct12 -

Movies -

Walled In
In 1993, sixteen bodies were found entombed within the Malestrazza Building, a mysterious apartment complex built by one of the world's most renowned, yet eccentric, architects. The killer was never caught. Fifteen years later, newly graduated structural engineer Sam Walczak (Mischa Barton of THE O.C.) arrives to prepare the site for demolition. But this massive concrete crypt is not entirely empty. Its halls are lined with secrets. Its rooms are filled with fear. And behind its walls, the ultimate horror has lay waiting...until now. Cameron Bright (X-MEN: THE LAST STAND), Deborah Kara Unger (SILENT HILL) and Noam Jenkins (SAW IV) co-star in this saga of terror, torment and shocking twists based on the best-selling novel.

Complete Info

3.0 Staring

This isn't a bad film .. it just isn't really memorable for any reason.  The cast is good .. I always liked Deborah Kara Unger AND Cameron Bright is becoming a new favorite of mine .. but it just isn't that scarey.  It is a thriller .. and it does have some good bits.  I wont toss it from my collection .. but it isn't high on my replay list.

Virgin Territory
Hayden Christensen of JUMPER stars as charming scoundrel Lorenzo de Lamberti who can – and does – deflower any woman he wants in 14th century Florence. But the only maiden that truly sets his heart ablaze is the sexy beauty Pampinea (Mischa Barton of THE O.C.) who is also being pursued by an obsessed Russian count (Mathew Rhys of BROTHERS & SISTERS) and a psycho nobleman (Academy Award nominee Tim Roth of The INCREDIBLE HULK 2008) who has vowed to take her virtue. In a time when lust is contagious, can trickery become the ultimate act of seduction? Christopher Egan (ERAGON) co-stars in this sexy action-comedy where one kiss may unlock a world of pleasure and anything can happen when you're in VIRGIN TERRITORY.

Complete Info

2.5 Staring

This is a fun movie with little going for it.  The storyline is pretty lame and following it is is challenging at times.  The 'big' thing it does have going for it is the number of naked girls .. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.  I keep trying to like Hayden Christensen but sometimes ..

Ruthless People
In this fiendishly funny comedy from the creators of Airplane!, loathsome millionaire Sam Stone (Danny DeVito) is RUTHLESS. How ruthless? When his shrill wife Barbara (Bette Midler) is nabbed by inept kidnappers (Judge Reinhold, Helen Slater), Sam cries tears of joy...and refuses to pay the ransom. And when the abductors threaten to kill the abrasive heiress, Sam takes immediate action — he celebrates! Ruthless People. Raucous...outlandish...one of the top box office hits of the year!

Complete Info

3.5 Staring

This is a very funny film with a great cast.  It isn't the best work of Danny DeVito or Bette Midler but this is an early film for both of them.  I do recommend this film for its dark humor and funny bits.

The Thomas Crown Affair
"Every crime has a personality, something like the mind that planned it," says Vicky Anderson, a sleek insurance investigator out to solve a bank robbery so mystifying, it has Boston's finest completely baffled. Brilliantly created by Oscar®-nominated* director of Moonstruck, and starring Steve McQueen (The Great Escape) and Faye Dunaway (Network), this "well-tooled and professionally crafted" (Variety) suspense thriller has all the dazzling personality of the intriguing crime it portrays.

Boston Tycoon Thomas Crown (McQueen) is a lone wolf in chic clothing; a man who masterinds a darink bank job simply for the thrill of the heist.  But he meets his match when Vicky Anderson (Dunaway) takes the case.  Playing a seductive game of cat and mouse, she tries to get her man by teasing him with the one thing he can't own – her.

*Director (Norman Jewison), Moonstruck (1987), Fiddler on the Roof (1971), In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Complete Info

3.5 Staring

This is a great film .. possibly one of Steve McQueen's best.  The chemistry between McQueen and Dunaway is palpable .. A strong recommendation for this one.

« Last Edit: October 09, 2012, 04:52:39 PM by DSig »
Thank you
David

Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #91 on: October 09, 2012, 04:51:36 PM »
What I am watching on 08Oct12 -

Movies -

Speaking of Sex
When a troubled couple attempts to solve their marital problems by consulting a sex therapist and a depression expert, they end up in a courtroom battle of sexual malpractice and a hilarious whirlwind of sexual encounters. A star-packed cast turns this unconventional look at relationships into a hilarious sex romp of improbable hook ups and outcomes.

Complete Info

2.0 Staring

This film, sadly to say, is one of James Spader's worst films.  I don't think i will watch this again .. It has a really good cast but they story line is just so-so.  Lack of focus and believability



Doctor Who: The Complete Series 7



227 - Doctor Who - S07E03 - A Town Called Mercy
"A Town Called Mercy" is the third episode of the seventh series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, transmitted on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 15 September 2012. It was written by Toby Whithouse and directed by Saul Metzstein.

The episode featured alien time traveller the Doctor (Matt Smith) and his companions Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) visiting the American Frontier, or "Wild West", where they encounter a town which is cut off from the rest of the frontier until they hand over Kahler-Jex, an alien doctor, to a cyborg called the Gunslinger. However, the Gunslinger is a product of experiments by Jex to win a civil war on his planet, and the Doctor is unsure of what is the right thing to do.

Showrunner Steven Moffat pitched the Wild West theme to Whithouse when thinking of ways to give each episode a distinct theme. Whithouse further developed the theme, including classic Western tropes and a sympathetic villain. "A Town Called Mercy" and the previous episode "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" were the first to enter production for the seventh series. Much of the episode was filmed in March 2012 in the desert area of Almería, Spain, in Mini Hollywood and Fort Bravo, locations used for many Western-set films. Reviewers noted that the episode addressed a moral debate. "A Town Called Mercy" was watched by 8.22 million viewers in the UK, the highest figure for the seventh series so far. Critical reception was positive to mixed, with some critical of the Doctor's actions and pacing.

Complete Info

3.5 Good story .. fun western "British style"



228 - Doctor Who - S07E04 - The Power of Three
"The Power of Three" is the fourth episode of the seventh series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that aired on BBC One and BBC One HD on 22 September 2012. It was written by Chris Chibnall and directed by Douglas Mackinnon.

In the episode, alien time traveler the Doctor (Matt Smith) spends time on Earth with his previous traveling companions Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and her husband Rory (Arthur Darvill) while he awaits activity from millions of small cubes that appeared overnight.

"The Power of Three" focused on Amy and Rory's point of view and the impact of the Doctor's influence on their lives. It also saw the return of UNIT and introduced their new leader, Kate Stewart (Jemma Redgrave), daughter of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. Critical reception to the episode was generally positive, highlighting the emotion and humour, although many critics derided the solution to the plot.

Complete Info

4.0 A very good episode with a great storyline.  I really liked the hoping around timeline .. don't normally but it works well here.



228 - Doctor Who - S07E05 - The Angels Take Manhattan
"The Angels Take Manhattan" is the fifth episode of the seventh series of the revived British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on BBC One on 29 September 2012. It is the last in the first block of episodes in the seventh series, to be followed by a Christmas special. The episode was written by head writer Steven Moffat and directed by Nick Hurran. The story takes place in New York and features recurring monsters the Weeping Angels.

This is the final episode that features Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill).[1] Alex Kingston reprises her role as River Song, the Doctor's wife and occasional companion, the daughter of Amy and Rory.

Complete Info

4.5 Great and sad episode.  To me the best of "Doctor Eleven". The Weeping Angels are back and in New York this time.  And it is with a fond farewell we say adios to Amy Pond and Rory Williams .. they will be missed .. only thing that made the new doctor palpable to me


Thank you
David

Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #92 on: October 10, 2012, 03:56:25 PM »
What I am watching on 09Oct12 -

TV Shows -

BBC America - Copper
Copper is a drama television series created by Tom Fontana and Will Rokos currently being broadcast on BBC America. It is set in 1860s New York City during the American Civil War and stars Tom Weston-Jones as an Irish immigrant cop who patrols the Five Points neighborhood. Other cast members include Kyle Schmid, Anastasia Griffith, and Franka Potente.

Complete Info

008 - Copper - S01E08 - Better Times are Coming

4.0 This is a great episode.  Kevin Corcoran finds his wife .. at great cost.

This new series has not let me down yet .. though it is only 8 episodes old.

SyFy's Haven
Haven is a supernatural drama television series loosely based on the Stephen King novel The Colorado Kid. The show, which deals with strange events in a fictional town in Maine named Haven, is filmed on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada, and is an American/Canadian co-production. It stars Emily Rose, Lucas Bryant and Eric Balfour, whose characters struggle to help townspeople with supernatural afflictions and protect the town from the effects of those afflictions. The show is the creation of writers Jim Dunn and Sam Ernst.

The one-hour drama premiered on July 9, 2010, on Syfy. The series was the first property to be produced for Syfy Pay channels around the globe, excluding Canada and Scandinavia. On October 12, 2011, it was renewed for a third 13-episode season, which began airing on September 21, 2012.

Complete Info

Staring



Episodes Watched ..

Woot .. Season 3 has started and they are off to a very good start

027 - Haven - S03E01 - 301
Complete Info
"301" is the first episode of the third season of the supernatural American/Canadian television series Haven. It aired on SyFy on September 21, 2012. It was written by Jonathan Abrahams and it is directed by Lee Rose.

In preparation for the start of the third season Syfy has again been using Twitter to stimulate interest in the show and looking to bring more viewers to this episode by giving more back story to the program. In conjunction with the Twitter campaign several YouTube clips have been released which involve information about the Guard whose task is to bring the Troubled to Haven and protect them.

4.0 Great episode .. following on the footsteps to the season 2 finale.  Very good storyline and good acting directing.  The romantic tension between Audrey and Nathan .. i can only hope that there is no 'consumation' as that really ruins shows.

This episode reaches the level of the best of The X-Files had to offer .. which is great praise.



028 - Haven - S03E02 - Stay
Complete Info
Stay is the second episode of the third season of the supernatural American/Canadian television series Haven. It aired on SyFy on September 28, 2012. It was written by Matt McGuiness and it is directed by Shawn Piller.

Kate Kelton, who is listed in the opening credits, does not appear in this episode. She has already been seen in a series of short YouTube clips which provide background to the show.[1] In the videos her character is the public face of a group called the Guard, who help the Troubled.

3.5 Another very good episode.  Emily is recovering from being abducted AND finding a note she wrote to herself in the coffin of the Colorado Kid.  In the mean time the troubles continue as a naked 'feral' man appears in a store.  Dogs are not necessarily only man's best friend.



028 - Haven - S03E03 - The Farmer
Complete Info
The Farmer is the third episode of the third season of the supernatural American/Canadian television series Haven. It aired on SyFy on October 5, 2012. It was written by Sam Ernst & Jim Dunn and it is directed by T.W. Peacocke.

3.0 Not as good as the first 2 episodes this season.
When a jogger finds her fiancé dead in the woods with his lungs lying next to him, she's horrified and calls the police. Audrey throws herself into the case, partially to avoid telling Nathan about The Hunter and her possible disappearance.

Not impressed with the "troubles" this time around.


The 4400
PILOT
Everyone on Earth is excited about a comet passing by, but as soon as its trajectory changes to a collision course everyone starts to panic. The comet turns out to be a giant ball of light that when explodes it leaves behind 4400 people. They are missing persons who have been gone from a few months to 60 years and none have aged a day. The 4400 are put in quarantine and eventually released. Some of the returnees begin to exhibit strange and uncontrollable new abilities. Tom Bishop and Diana Skouris, two Homeland Security agents, are appointed to find out what happened to the 4400.

Complete Info

4.0 overall Series Rating Staring (in reoccuring roles)

Episodes Watched ..

001 - The 4400 - S01E01 - Pilot

Complete Info

A comet's path changes course towards Earth when suddenly it comes in for a "landing". 4400 people, assumed to be dead or missing over the past 58 years, reappear and none has aged a day or have any memories since disappearing.

4.0 Guest Stars

This was a great start to a very good series.  Builds the starting characters and storyline



002 - The 4400 - S01E02 - The New and Improved Carl Morrissey
Tom and Diana investigate Carl Morrissey, a 4400, who is using his ability of enhanced reflexes and strength to fight crime single-handedly. Lily is arrested when she attempts to see her daughter. Diana takes Maia home with her from quarantine.

Carl Morrissey is a lowlife supermarket employee who happens to be one of the 4400 returned abductees. He uses his new found powers - enhanced reflexes and strength - to become a vigilante and fight crime in his neighborhood.

4.0 A great second episode.  Episode shows more powers being discovered and what 1 man can do to bring about change.


Movies Watched --

The Signal
It's New Year's Eve in the city of Terminus, and chaos is this year's resolution. All forms of communication have been jammed by a mysterious transmission that preys on fear and desire, driving everyone in the city to murder and madness.

Complete Info

3.5 Staring

Although watching scantly clad, finely figured girls tied up with christmas tree lights can be fun .. over the long run it doesn't, a movie make.  Thankfully that is just the beginning of this film.

This is a very low budget film (50,000) and as such has all the flaws that such a film will have.

Having said that .. I like the acting for the most part .. and direction and filming also seem very good.  It is presented as 3 short stories.  Bits of humor (like "Shawn of the Dead") and bits of bloddy horror.  This really is the 'Upside of Anger'

It appears to be a new take on the apocalyptic zombie style tale .. Not great but not bad either.  I do think the ending is quite good ..

Don't spend a lot on it but do watch.

Pushing Tin
In the tradition of 'Grosse Pointe Blank' comes an unconventional comedy about two air traffic controllers whose intense rivalry and penchant for one-upmanship causes hilarious havoc with their careers, their marriages - and the planes in their airspace!

Nick Falzone (John Cusack) is the busiest, and the best, air traffic controller on Long Island - until Russell Bell (Billy Bob Thornton) roars into town like a motorcycle-riding cowboy. Fuelled by caffeine and machismo, the two men embark upon an uproarious contest of wit and wills that can ultimately only have one winner. Co-starring Cate Blanchett and Angelina Jolie, 'Pushing Tin' is "One of a kind... a high-flying, free-spirited, wildly funny blast of originality." (CBS-TV)

Complete Info

4.0 Staring

This is a great film .. one of the best performances for both John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton.  I don't know why it didn't do well in theaters but I really like this one.

I like the storyline and filming of this one.  As mentioned the acting is great and with others such as Cate Blanchett, Angelina Jolie and Jake Weber (always like Jake Weber) how could this be anything but good?


« Last Edit: October 10, 2012, 04:00:58 PM by DSig »
Thank you
David

samuelrichardscott

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #93 on: October 10, 2012, 04:27:23 PM »
Agree with you on Pushing Tin. :thumbup:

Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #94 on: October 11, 2012, 05:32:41 PM »
What I am watching on 10Oct12 -

TV Shows -

The 4400
PILOT
Everyone on Earth is excited about a comet passing by, but as soon as its trajectory changes to a collision course everyone starts to panic. The comet turns out to be a giant ball of light that when explodes it leaves behind 4400 people. They are missing persons who have been gone from a few months to 60 years and none have aged a day. The 4400 are put in quarantine and eventually released. Some of the returnees begin to exhibit strange and uncontrollable new abilities. Tom Bishop and Diana Skouris, two Homeland Security agents, are appointed to find out what happened to the 4400.

Complete Info

Episodes Watched --

003 - The 4400 - S01E03 - Becoming
Tom and Diana are tasked with investigating Oliver Knox who is using his ability of suggestion to influence men to murder women. A list of 4400s is leaked to the public. Kyle awakens from his coma after Shawn uses his ability on him. Lily finds she is pregneant .. but not been with anyone since returning.

3.5 This is another very strong episode.  A serial killer who has been inactive becomes active.  Characters are developing well and problems are coming to the 4400.



004 - The 4400 - S01E04 - Trial by Fire
Several 4400s are killed during anti-4400 terrorist bombings, Tom and Diana must race to stop the perpetrators. Kyle begins to exhibit strange behavior and begins to understand what is wrong with him.

3.5 This is another very strong episode.



005 - The 4400 - S01E05 - White Light
Tom and Diana break Kyle out of NTAC quarantine and head to Highland Beach. In a virtual reality with Kyle, Tom learns where the 4400 were taken, who took them, and why.

3.5 This is another very strong episode.  We now get a view of what happened to Kyle .. communicating with the *future*.




The 4400: The Complete Second Season

006 - The 4400 - S02E01 - Wake Up Call
Tom and Diana investigate a mysterious structure which is being built at a psychiatric hospital, based on the drawings of a schizophrenic 4400, Tess Doerner. Richard must protect his family when he and Lily are discovered to be 4400s. This is a two part episode.

4.0 Starting the second season .. this is a great episode .. and Yes that is Summer Glau we see.  No wonder the series was cancelled :).  And a new leader for the NTAC.  Great mysterious things afoot at the mental hospital.


Movies -

City of Ember
Bill Murray, Tim Robbins and Saoirse Ronan star in this heart-thumping, edge-of-your-seat adventure that comes to light in this exhilarating family film based on the best-selling novel by Jeanne Duprau.

For centuries, the residents of the underground City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights and quiet contentment. But when the City's massive power generator begins to fail, the street lamps start to fade – along with the hopes and dreams of the townspeople. Now it's up to two courageous teenagers to follow a trail of clues left by the ancient Builders and find a way out of Ember before their world is plunged into darkness forever!

Complete Info

3.5 Staring

First, I think that Bill Murry was miscast here.  He doesn't really have a lot of characters and the one played here, as the Mayor, could just as easily be Dr. Peter Venkman in [Ghostbusters.

But i really enjoyed Harry Treadaway as Doon Harrow and hope to find other things by him.  Tim Robbins was an okay casting job .. simple part.  And Cate Blanchett was again brilliant ..  So cold and heartless.  Turning all that beauty in to something so evil.  Wow.

But again, for me Saoirse Ronan was again the film.  She has shown great growth over the films she has done .. just in the last 4 years .. with "City of Ember" in 2008, "The Lovely Bones" in 2009, "The Way Back" in 2010 and "Hanna" in 2011".  What a great set of films .. of change and growth.

Although I really like this film I could only give it a 3.5 because of the film itself.  There were bits of the story and/or direction that i didn't enjoy and with Bill Murray miscast it changed the complection.

Hanna
An action-packed suspense-thriller starring Academy Award® nominee† Saoirse Ronan (Atonement, The Lovely Bones), Hanna is "an exuberant chase thriller that pulses with enery!" (Justin Chang, Variety).

Raised by her father (Eric Bana), an ex-CIA agent, in the wilds of Finland, Hanna's upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one. Sent into the world by her father on a mission, eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Academy Award® winner‡ Cate Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence, in a movie critics are calling "exhilarating, audacious and boldy original!" (Karen Durbin, Elle).

†2007 Best Supporting Actress, Atonement. ‡2004 Best Supporting Actress, The Aviator

Complete Info

4.0 Staring
Atonement and The Lovely Bones

I really love this film.  Has all the great bits of an Action / Thriller including the crazy psychotic evil henchmen.  Again Saoirse Ronan is brilliant in this film.  She is growing in depth and I really look forward to her future films.  The camera really does love her.

Prometheus
Ridley Scott, director of "Alien" and "Blade Runner," returns to the genre he helped define. With PROMETHEUS, he creates a groundbreaking mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

Complete Info

4.5 Staring

This is a masterpiece for Ridley Scott and the entire production crew .. special effects are amazing without being over done.

And the acting .. I can't say enough about this.  Noomi Rapace as always was brilliant.  Michael Fassbender as David the android was very believable.  And Idris Elba was great as Janek the pilot.  And then you have Charlize Theron.  She was perfectly cast here (as opposed to "Æon Flux".  What a performance (from everyone).

And it is anounced there will be a "Prometheus 2" .. okay .. i'm waiting for that.

This is one of the few Blu-Ray discs I have .. and it is well worth it.  I highly recommend this film


Thank you
David

Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #95 on: October 12, 2012, 04:33:58 PM »
What I am watching on 11Oct12 -

Movies -


Running Scared
Slick, fast-paced and brutally shocking, this gritty actioner will jolt your senses like nothing else you've ever experienced.

Struggling Mob hand Joey Gazelle (Paul Walker) finds his life turned inside out when a "hot" weapon he's in charge of concealing goes missing. With two Mafia families and a team of crooked cops watching his every move, Joey sets out on a chilling, bloody pursuit, maneuvering his way through a horrific web of creeps and criminals, praying he can retrieve the gun and make it home to his family - alive.

Complete Info

3.5 Staring

I really like this one.  I am not sure why as I do not normally like fueled violence fests .. but for some reason the intensity of this one fits well.  I am not sure that I like the ending but will probably watch this again to see how I react.

Paul Walker is very good in this.  And i really liked Cameron Bright and Vera Farmiga.

Don't spend a lot for it but watch it if you get the chance.

Toy Story 2
A masterpiece of great storytelling, laugh-out-loud humor, wonderful music, and eye-popping animation, Toy Story 2 is "a total joy for kids and adults!" (Neil Rosen, NYI)

This enormous box office smash garnered worldwide critical raves and won the Golden Globe award for Best Picture! Toy Story 2 features the original voice cast, headed by Tom Hanks as Woody and Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear.  Joining them is a roundup of heartwarming, unforgettable new characters, including Jessie the cowgirl, Bullseye the horse and Stinky Pete the prospector.

While Andy is away at summer camp, Woody is toynapped by Al, a greedy collector.  Before you can say "to infinity and beyond," Buzz Lightyear, Mr. Potato Head, Hamm, Rex and Slinky Dog spring into action in a thrilling and hilarious rescue mission that will have everyone cheering!

Now you can own this wonderful film on DVD for the ultimate viewing experience!

Complete Info

3.5 Staring

Although not as good as the first one, Toy Story, this one has very good moments of fun.  Good animation and a fun cast of characters



TV Shows -

Taken: Disc 1: Roswell: The Landing
Taken, also known as Steven Spielberg Presents Taken, is a science fiction miniseries which first aired on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2002 and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries. Filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, it was written by Leslie Bohem, and directed by Breck Eisner, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, John Fawcett, Tobe Hooper, Jeremy Paul Kagan, Michael Katleman, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Bryan Spicer, Jeff Woolnough and Thomas J. Wright. The executive producers were Leslie Bohem and Steven Spielberg.

The show takes place from 1944 to 2002 and follows the lives of three families; the Crawfords who seek to cover-up the Roswell crash and the existence of Aliens, the Keys who are subject to frequent experimentations by the Aliens, and the Clarkes who sheltered one of the surviving Aliens from the crash. As a result of the decades-long storyline, not a single actor or character appears in every episode of the series. Reception was positive, and the series won an Emmy Award.

001 - Taken - S01E01 - Roswell The Landing - Beyond the Sky
1947: Fighter pilot Capt. Russell Keys is in the midst of a dogfight over France during WWII when his plane becomes enveloped in a mysterious blue light, saving him and his crew of nine men from certain death.

However, none of them have any real memory of what truly happened or how they survived. After the war, Russell tries to return to normal, only to be troubled by bizarre nightmares and headaches. He learns that every other crewmember on his mission has died mysteriously, and feels compelled to begin his own quest for answers.

Meanwhile, the unscrupulous Capt. Owen Crawford leads a government search into what crashed in the desert near his army base in Roswell, NM - and what may have escaped. In nearby Texas, a lonely mother is seduced by a mysterious stranger who is gentle, kind, and not who he seems.

Complete Info

4.0 Staring

This is a great first episode to a great 10 episode miniseries.  This is the kind of layout that "The 4400" should have had.  A short number of episodes to tell a complex story.

The 4400: The Complete Second Season

008 - The 4400 - S02E03 - Voices Carry
Tom and Diana investigate a 4400 whose ability to accelerate the human body's metabolism just may be the perfect weight loss drug.

Complete Info

3.5 Good episode with more intrigue.


« Last Edit: October 12, 2012, 04:39:41 PM by DSig »
Thank you
David

samuelrichardscott

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #96 on: October 12, 2012, 05:17:41 PM »
What I am watching on 11Oct12 -

Movies -


Running Scared
Slick, fast-paced and brutally shocking, this gritty actioner will jolt your senses like nothing else you've ever experienced.

Struggling Mob hand Joey Gazelle (Paul Walker) finds his life turned inside out when a "hot" weapon he's in charge of concealing goes missing. With two Mafia families and a team of crooked cops watching his every move, Joey sets out on a chilling, bloody pursuit, maneuvering his way through a horrific web of creeps and criminals, praying he can retrieve the gun and make it home to his family - alive.

Complete Info

3.5 Staring

I really like this one.  I am not sure why as I do not normally like fueled violence fests .. but for some reason the intensity of this one fits well.  I am not sure that I like the ending but will probably watch this again to see how I react.

Paul Walker is very good in this.  And i really liked Cameron Bright and Vera Farmiga.

Don't spend a lot for it but watch it if you get the chance.
I love this movie and think it's an absolutely underrated gem. My favourite bit it where
(click to show/hide)

Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #97 on: October 12, 2012, 06:07:32 PM »
Yep :) that was a real upbeat moment.  I 'agree' that it is a gem.  There is more to the film than I first experienced.  It has had to peculate in my brain a bit.
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David

Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #98 on: October 14, 2012, 11:24:27 PM »
What I am watching on 13-14Oct12 -

TV Shows -


Taken: Disc 3: Abductions & Government Conspiracies

005 - Taken - S01E05 - Maintenance
EPISODE 5: MAINTENANCE
1980: After 20 years, Jacob Clarke returns home to say goodbye to his dying mother, where he finally shares his secret with his brother Tom, a well-known alien debunker.

4.0 As Col. Crawford's son Eric Crawford, played by Andy Powers, is nearly as evil as his father is.  Having taken over the project he will do nearly anything to advance his own needs.

In the meantime they are getting close to Jacob Clarke, played by Chad Donella, and now seem to want his son.



006 - Taken - S01E06 - Charlie and Lisa
EPISODE 6: CHARLIE AND LISA
1983: With the deaths of Jesse Keys and Jacob Clarke, the aliens begin to focus on their children, Charlie and Lisa. Lisa is protected by the aliens, while Charlie remains the subject of alien study.

Eric Crawford's cancelled UFO project is revived in 1989, thanks to the scheming of Dr. Chet Wakeman, who not only has designs on the aliens, but on Eric's daughter Mary as well.

3.5 This episode starts where the last one, "Maintenance" left off.  As the saucers leave the group Eric discovers all his evidence is taken by the visitors .. except the steel bar that started it all.


Taken: Disc 4: Alien Contact

007 - Taken - S01E07 - God's Equation
EPISODE 7: GOD'S EQUATION
Present Day: After coming to terms with a lifetime of abductions, Charlie learns that he is the father of Lisa's remarkable daughter Allie.

Dr. Wakemen and his ruthless young lover Mary Crawford, now head the government UFO project, and they conspire to snatch little Allie for their investigation.

While trapped in a perilous situation, Allie discovers powers she never knew she possessed, futhering Mary's desire to capture the little girl for the good of the project.

3.5 Poor Dr. Wakemen, played by Matt Frewer, thinks he is in control of the project but Col. Crawford's granddaughter Mary Crawford, played by Heather Donahue has other ideas .. taking on the insanity of her father and grandfather she has become evil herself.

The support group for abductees goes bad when Ray pulls a gun and shoots charlie.  But Allie shows up and heals him.



EPISODE 8: DROPPING THE DISHES
Present Day: General Beers freezes out Mary and Dr. Wakeman, and takes Allie to North Dakota where he uses her as bait to capture the aliens.

Mary, Lisa and Charlie frantically set out to find Allie, although for different reasons. With glowing lights appearing in the sky, the trap is about to be sprung.

4.0 Allie volunteers to go with the government (Mary Crawford and Dr. Wakemen) to save the others at the meeting .. but the government has other ideas.


Thank you
David

Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #99 on: October 16, 2012, 06:23:40 AM »
What I am watching on 15Oct12 -

TV Shows -

Taken: Disc 5: The Gift

Complete Info

009 - Taken - S01E09 - John
EPISODE 9: JOHN
Present Day: An alien ship brought down by the Army's firepower appears to come back to life and take Allie away. However, the scene is a trick that enables Allie to escape with her parents.

While being pursued, by Mary and Dr. Wakeman, the little girl has a unique family reunion.

3.5 John, played by , the alien who started it all is back.  And Mary Crawford continues her journey to insanity.



010 - Taken - S01E10 - Taken
EPISODE 10: TAKEN
Present Day: As danger converges on the family farm in Texas, Allie learns of her true destiny. All at once, the decades of secrets unravel, forcing Allie and her family to make the most difficult decision of their lives.

3.5 John, having been shot has to leave.  He leaves Allie behind but he has blocked her 'signal' so that the feds and other aliens can't find her.

Mary kills her lover/partner Dr. Wakeman and continues to pursue Allie ... like Ahab's unrelenting pursuit of Moby Dick.

When the "Art Bell" like character of Jefferies, played by Michael Jeter puts the message out .. hundreds of abductees and UFOfiles show up at the farm to help protect Allie.


A Dangerous Method
From acclaimed director David Cronenberg (A History of Violence) comes a dark tale of sexual and intellectual discovery, featuring two of the greatest minds of the 20th century. Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender, Shame) has just begun his psychiatric career, having been inspired by the great Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen, The Lord of the Rings trilogy). When a mysterious and beautiful woman (Keira Knightley, Atonement) goes under Jung's care, Jung finds himself crossing the line of the doctor/patient relationship, causing great conflict with his mentor and making Jung question his own morality in the process.

Complete Info

3.0 Staring

I am not a (historical) 'period' film person .. especially when dealing with the mid-late 1800 Europe.  Many of the films all seem so clean.  This is one of those.  The acting seems good etc but it just goes on.  I have no feeling for the characters or their plight.

In fact i turned it off about 2/3rds of the way through and i rarely do that.  Thankfully wikipedia let me find out all i needed to know about Sabina Spielrein and of course Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud as i needed to to see where it was going.

Big Trouble
The laughs come fast and furious as Tim Allen (Joe Somebody, Galaxy Quest) and Rene Russo (Showtime, The Thomas Crown Affair) star in a film from Barry Sonnenfeld, director of Get Shorty'and Men In Black. Based on humorist Dave Barry's best-selling first novel, Big Trouble follows the comedic chaos created when a mysterious suitcase that threatens the security of Miami changes the lives of a divorced dad, an unhappy housewife, 2 hit men, a pair of street thugs, 2 love-struck teens, 2 FBI men and a psychedelic toad. There is something for everyone no matter who is looking for Big Trouble, and in the end all-star comedy conquers all.

Complete Info

4.0 Staring

This is a very funny movie and one of my favorites.  The story was written by Dave Berry and the script work is very very funny.  Tim Allen and Rene Russo are great together.  The rest of the cast fill in very well .. working together to make a great ensemble.

This film was originally scheduled to be released on September 21, 2001.  But after the '911' attack on the United States the film was delayed because of content / story line.  It was not released until April of 2002 and with no further advertising died quickly.

This is a strong recommendation for people who like semi-sophisticated humor .. with some fart gags.

Silent Fall
There are no clues, no motives, no suspects. And what the only eyewitness knows may never be told. He's an autistic child, a nine-year-old whose memories of the brutal slaying of his parents are sealed inside him — unless a determined and caring child psychologist can unlock them.

Richard Dreyfuss is a psychologist Jake Rainer in Silent Fall, "a gripping adult mystery powered by a top-notch cast" (Jeff Craig, Sixty Second Preview) and bracingly directed by Bruce Beresford (Double Jeopardy). Linda Hamilton, John Lithgow, Liv Tyler and J.T. Walsh join Dreyfuss in this edgy whodunit that twists, turns, jolts and surprises from its harrowing set-up to its nerve-jangling climax.

Complete Info

4.0 Staring

This is on my 'near' favorites list.  I enjoy watching it and since I just got a copy of it i figured what the heck.

I believe that Liv Tyler was only 17 at the time of this film .. her first film ..  and she is, as she is quite often, magnetic.  I really enjoyed Richard Dreyfuss.  His character here reminds me a lot of his character in Nuts.  Linda Hamilton, John Lithgow and J.T. Walsh all fill in quite nicely.  And Ben Falkner, who played Tim in the film, did a great job.



The Way Back
Four-time Oscar® nominee ED HARRIS* (Apollo 13), JIM STURGESS (Across the Universe), Oscar nominee SAOIRSE RONAN** (Atonement) and COLIN FARRELL (In Bruges) star in this epic saga of survival from six-time Oscar-nominee PETER WEIR† (Witness, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World). Inspired by an incredible true story, The Way Back begins in 1940 when seven prisoners attempt the impossible: escape from a brutal Siberian gulag. Thus begins a treacherous 4,500-mile trek to freedom across the world's most merciless landscapes. They have little food and few supplies. They don't know or trust each other. But together, they must withstand nature at its most extreme. Their humanity is further tested when they meet a teenage runaway who begs to join them on their quest. A compelling testament to the human spirit, this gripping wilderness adventure is "Peter Weir at his hypnotic best" (Telluride Film Festival).

*Best Actor: Pollack, 2000; Best Supporting Actor: The Hours, 2002, The Truman Show, 1998, Apollo 13, 1995 **Best Supporting Actress: Atonement, 2007 †Best Director and Best Picture: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, 2003; Best Director: Witness, 1985, Dead Poet's Society, 1989, Green Card, 1990, The Truman Show, 1998

Complete Info

3.5 Staring

This is a very intense film that takes really watching and great patience.  It is the 'supposed' true story of a escape/trek from Siberia to India.

I liked it very much.


Thank you
David

Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #100 on: October 17, 2012, 05:34:36 AM »
What I am watching on 16Oct12 -

TV Shows -

The 4400: The Complete Second Season

Complete Info

011 - The 4400 - S02E06 - As Fate Would Have It
A morbid premonition from Maia threatens the future of the 4400 Center.

3.5 Jordan just about takes over care of Isabelle.  Maia forsees Jordons being killed.  NTAC gets all worked up.



012 - The 4400 - S02E07 - Life Interrupted
Tom finds himself in a world where the 4400 abductions never happened.

3.5 Jordan just about takes over care of Isabelle.  Maia forsees Jordons being killed.  NTAC gets all worked up.



013 - The 4400 - S02E08 - Carrier
A 4400, whose ability has turned her into a walking plague, believes she is the next messiah.

3.5



014 - The 4400 - S02E09 - Rebirth
Tom and Diana investigate a 4400 with the ability to repair defects in fetuses.

3.5



015 - The 4400 - S02E10 - Hidden
NTAC and Tom enter a race against time as they both draw closer to Jordan Collier's assassin.

3.5



016 - The 4400 - S02E11 - Lockdown
NTAC goes into an emergency lockdown when a 4400 launches a terrorist attack.

3.5



017 - The 4400 - S02E12 - The Fifth Page
4400s across the globe are developing strange, severe illnesses, leading Tom and Diana into the heart of a terrifying conspiracy.

3.5



018 - The 4400 - S02E13 - Mommy's Bosses
Tom and Diana discover the source of the plague afflicting the 4400 — a discovery that will change their lives.

3.5


Movies -

Toy Story 3
The creative minds behind Disney•Pixar's groundbreaking animated blockbusters invite you back inside the toy box for a heartwarming and hilarious movie experience you'll never forget. In Toy Story 3, Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen) and the rest of the Toy Story gang return for an all-new adventure, along with a few new faces – some plastic, some plush – imcluding Barbie's counterpart Ken (voiced by Michael Keaton), a thespian hedgehog named Mr. Pricklepants (voiced by Timothy Dalton) and a strawberry-scented bear named Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear (voiced by Ned Beatty). It's "the biggest, best, most exciting Toy Story of them all," raves Access Hollywood's Scott Mantz.
 
As Andy prepares to depart for college, Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of Andy's faithful toys wonder what will become of them. But, when a mix-up lands them at Sunnyside daycare, they meet a host of new toys and soon discover a wild new adventure is just beginning!
 
Buzzing with hours of bonus features and the Pixar short film Day & Night, the Toy Story 3 DVD goes to infinity and beyond!

Complete Info

3.0 Staring

Again with a stellar cast including Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles, Michael Keaton, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Blake Clark, Estelle Harris, Jodi Benson it is hard to go wrong.

Although this is a fun movie is is probably the least favorite of the 3.  I think the problem is coming up with original bits .. too much too similar to earlier gags.

But don't get me wrong .. it is a good watch .. and the kids love it.

Private Benjamin / Protocol
Goldie Hawn brings her charm and joy-buzzer appeal to two hilarious comedies. She's Judy Benjamin, make that 'Private Benjamin', who finds the U.S. Army doesn't quite offer the country-club atmosphere she expected. Oscar® nominations went to Hawn (for 1980 Best Actress), costar Eileen Brennan (Supporting Actress) and Nancy Meyers, Charles Shyer and Harvey Miller (Original Screenplay). And ditzy cocktail waitress Sunny Davis (Hawn) finds that diplomatic immunity is 'not' a vaccination as she brings uncommon sense to Washington and upends the rules of 'Protocol'. Politics were never so much fun!

Private Benjamin is a 1980 American comedy film starring Goldie Hawn. The film was one of the biggest box office hits of 1980, and also spawned a short-lived television series. The film is ranked 82 on the American Film Institute's "100 Funniest Movies" poll, and 59 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies"

Complete Info

3.5 Staring

This is a great fun film .. in the beginning and highpoint of Goldie Hawns career.  Love her most at her wackiest.


Thank you
David

Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #101 on: October 18, 2012, 03:50:28 PM »
What I am watching on 17Oct12 -

TV Shows -

The 4400: The Third Season
'The 4400: The Third Season' continues the breathtaking and mind-boggling adventures of 4400 missing people who suddenly and inexplicably are returned all at once to Earth, as they were on the day they vanished. This 4-disc collectible set of this unprecedented and critically acclaimed series includes exclusive featurettes, audio commentaries with the cast and filmmakers, and 12 episodes that are guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Complete Info

019-020 - The 4400 - S03E01 - The New World
Richard has to cope with two horrendous changes in his life after he discovers that Isabelle and Lily have both aged substantially. The Nova Group reveals itself as a group of 4400s who have the power to influence the world. This is a two-part episode.

Complete Info

3.5 Lily dies, Isabelle can't die and Jordan seems to be back.



021 - The 4400 - S03E03 - Being Tom Baldwin
Tom is charged with a crime he does not remember committing, and Shawn helps Isabelle through her growing pains. 

Complete Info

3.5 She may look 28 but she is only a little girl emotionally .. Meanwhile there is a new talent found and someone is imitating Tom and killing people.



022 - The 4400 - S03E04 - Gone (part 1)
Someone is targeting young 4400s and Maia gets kidnapped. Shawn receives a threat from the Nova Group.

Complete Info

4.0 This the start of a great 2 parter .. focus primarily on Maia but with bits on Isabelle (oh my green is a good color for her) and the attempt to take over the 4400 from Shawn.



023 - The 4400 - S03E05 - Gone (part 2)
Tom and Alana experience visions of Maia, whom they have no memories of. When Diana's life is put in danger, Tom makes a grim bargain to bring back the children.

Complete Info

4.0 Maia and the other stolen children are forgotten, but strange events and remembrances bring them to mind.  Another great episode



024 - The 4400 - S03E06 - Graduation Day
After Shawn is attacked, Isabelle seeks revenge on the Nova Group. Tom hesitates to kill Isabelle.

Complete Info

3.5 Isabelle is completely out of control as someone has harmed Shawn.



025 - The 4400 - S03E07 - The Home Front
Tom and Diana continue the hunt for terrorists, while Dennis Ryland finds one in an unlikely place. Nikki pays Shawn a visit.

Complete Info

4.0 This is another great episode.  Alana works to help free/hid one of the 4400



026 - The 4400 - S03E08 - Blink
Tom and Diana continue the hunt for terrorists, while Dennis Ryland finds one in an unlikely place. Nikki pays Shawn a visit.

Complete Info

3.5 Poor old Isabelle goes farther to insanity with her power and fixation on Shawn.  Of course a new 4400 pops up with strange power.  And there is a nice new drug .. Blink



027 - The 4400 - S03E09 - The Ballad of Kevin and Tess
Kevin is on the run after horribly mutating due to the promicin experiments. Tom and Diana go to Tess for help. Diana gets what she believes is the flu and discovers something startling.

Complete Info

3.5 Good episode with the return of Kevin and Tess, played by Summer Glau.  I know she has been the death-nail to several series but I still really like her.



028 - The 4400 - S03E10 - The Starzl Mutation
A former Army Ranger who was recruited for a secret government program contacts NTAC when an experiment giving him and others 4400 abilities goes wrong, causing one patient to go on a killing spree.

The Starzl Mutation

3.5 Marriage between Isabelle and Shawn. No one involved, except Isabelle, is very happy about this.  And Collier shows up asking Shawn if he knows who he is .. oh my



029 - The 4400 - S03E11 - The Gospel According to Collier
Tom and Diana discover that Jordan Collier has been spotted, and try to track him down. Kyle gets a surprising visitor in prison.

The Gospel According to Collier

3.5 Jordon regains hims memory and starts the taking back of the 4400

Thank you
David

Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #102 on: October 19, 2012, 05:44:01 PM »
What I am watching on 18Oct12 -

TV Shows -

The 4400: The Third Season: Disc Four

030 - The 4400 - S03E12 - Terrible Swift Sword
Jordan goes public about his "resurrection", and summons a 4400 with a tracking ability to find Kevin and Tess, who are still at large.

Terrible Swift Sword

3.5 Jordon returns to dispense his "message" to everyone about the war coming.



031 - The 4400 - S03E13 - Fifty - Fifty

Fifty-Fifty

4.0 So they are testing the stolen promicin to see if it can be given to everyone.  And does this show there is no greater love than a parents love?

This is a great season ending episode ..



The 4400: The Fourth Season: Disc 1

032 - The 4400 - S04E01 - The Wrath of Graham
A new director takes over NTAC, while a high-school student develops an ability after taking promicin.

The Wrath of Graham

3.5 Neglected and shorted by everyone around him, highschool student develops great trait.



033 - The 4400 - S04E02 - Fear Itself
Kyle receives a lead from Cassie, leading to a book containing a prophecy about Jordan Collier

Fear Itself

4.0 Great episode dealing with an autistic child and a new ability.



034 - The 4400 - S04E03 - Audrey Parker's Come And Gone
A woman can project herself astrally, remaining unseen, but her body is murdered during astral projection. She must find a way to contact Tom and Diana to catch her murderer.

Audrey Parker's Come and Gone

4.0 Good episode

035 - The 4400 - S04E04 - The Truth and Nothing but the Truth
Diana finds April, whose life is in danger because of promicin.

The Truth and Nothing But the Truth

3.5 Good episode

The 4400: The Fourth Season: Disc 2

036 - The 4400 - S04E05 - Try the Pie
Tom locates Jordan Collier, who is living in a small town. Meanwhile, Maia has a shocking vision of the future.

Try the Pie

3.5 Good episode.  Shawn is running for city council in Seattle but the person he is running against is using scare tactics.  Maia has seen a vision about the future if he wins.



037 - The 4400 - S04E06 - The Marked
A 4400, Curtis Peck promises to expose ten agents from the future ( the Marked, noted for their X shaped mark behind the left ear) who have taken over the bodies of prominent people in the present day. Each of the Marked are allied to the faction in the future that are opposed to the 4400, and are trapped in the past in an attempt to complete their mission: the destruction of Jordan Collier and negation of the 4400's effect on the timeline. Before being compromised, Curtis Peck is only able to name one of the ten, the CEO of Ubient Software. Tom is taken and seemingly operated on, resulting in a mark behind his left ear. The only revealed Marked meets with Tom and Diana, seemingly to feel out an alliance.



038 - The 4400 - S04E07 - Till We Have Built Jerusalem
Till We Build Jerusalem

3.5 Good episode.  Lots of machinations ..



039 - The 4400 - S04E08 - No Exit
A 4400, Curtis Peck promises to expose ten agents from the future ( the Marked, noted for their X shaped mark behind the left ear) who have taken over the bodies of prominent people in the present day. Each of the Marked are allied to the faction in the future that are opposed to the 4400, and are trapped in the past in an attempt to complete their mission: the destruction of Jordan Collier and negation of the 4400's effect on the timeline. Before being compromised, Curtis Peck is only able to name one of the ten, the CEO of Ubient Software. Tom is taken and seemingly operated on, resulting in a mark behind his left ear. The only revealed Marked meets with Tom and Diana, seemingly to feel out an alliance.

Try the Pie

3.5 Good episode

« Last Edit: October 19, 2012, 05:55:09 PM by DSig »
Thank you
David

Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #103 on: October 22, 2012, 08:25:25 PM »
What I am watching on 19-21Oct12 -

TV Shows being watched --

The Simpsons: The Complete First Season: Disc One

005 - The Simpsons - S01E05 - Bart the General
Bart begins to have troubles with Nelson Muntz, the school bully, and is forced to take drastic measures to deal with his problem.

Bart the General

3.5



006 - The Simpsons - S01E06 - Moaning Lisa
Lisa meets a new friend after she comes down with a terrible case of the blues. Meanwhile, Bart and Homer duke it out in video game boxing.

Moaning Lisa

4.5 This is a great episode .. and helped bring us the CD The Simpsons Sing the Blues.  With Bleeding Gums Murphy.


The Simpsons: The Complete First Season: Disc Two

007 - The Simpsons - S01E07 - The Call of the Simpsons

The Call of the Simpsons

3.5 "The Call of the Simpsons" is the seventh episode of The Simpsons' first season, and originally aired February 18, 1990. It was written by John Swartzwelder and directed by Wesley Archer. Albert Brooks made his first guest appearance on The Simpsons in this episode as the voice of Cowboy Bob.

In this episode, Homer decides to purchase an RV and the Simpsons set off for a vacation in the wilderness. After accidentally driving it off the edge of a cliff, the family find themselves trapped in the woods. As Homer and Bart try to find a way back to civilization, Homer gets himself covered in mud and is mistaken for Bigfoot by a naturalist. The news about the encounter spreads quickly and Bigfoot hunters converge on the woods to capture Homer. Meanwhile, Maggie finds herself separated from the family and raised by bears.



008 - The Simpsons - S01E08 - The Telltale Head
"The Telltale Head" is the eighth episode of The Simpsons' first season, and it originally aired February 25, 1990. It was written by Al Jean, Mike Reiss, Sam Simon and Matt Groening, and directed by Rich Moore. In the episode, Bart cuts the head off the statue of Jebediah Springfield in the center of town to impress Jimbo, Kearney and Dolph, three older kids he admires. The town's residents, including the three boys, are horrified and Bart regrets his actions. After telling his family, Homer and Bart head to the center of town, where they are met by an angry mob. After Bart tells the mob he has made a mistake, the townspeople forgive Bart and he places the head back on the statue. The episode's title is a reference to the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe

The Telltale Head

3.5 Good Episode



009 - The Simpsons - S01E09 - Life on the Fast Lane
"Life on the Fast Lane", also known as "Jacques To Be Wild",[2] is the ninth episode of The Simpsons first season, which originally aired on March 18, 1990. It was written by John Swartzwelder and directed by David Silverman. Albert Brooks guest starred as Jacques, a French bowling instructor, with him being credited as "A. Brooks". The episode deals with how Homer's thoughtlessness precipitates Marge's infatuation with her bowling instructor Jacques, leading to a marriage crisis between her and Homer. In the original plan for the episode, Brooks (who improvised much of his dialogue) was to voice a Swedish tennis coach called Björn, with the episode to be titled "Björn To Be Wild". The episode features a parody of the film An Officer and a Gentleman and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour) in 1990.

Life on the Fast Lane

3.5 Another good episode



010 - The Simpsons - S01E10 - Homer's Night Out
"Homer's Night Out" is the tenth episode of The Simpsons' first season, and originally aired on March 25, 1990. It was written by Jon Vitti and directed by Rich Moore. In the episode, Bart orders a mail-order spy camera, which he uses to secretly take a photograph of Homer dancing with an exotic belly dancer. Marge makes Homer apologize to the exotic dancer to teach Bart that women are not objects. Sam McMurray guest stars in the episode as Gulliver Dark, the man that introduces Homer to the crowd at the burlesque show.

The episode was well received by critics and it was the second highest rated show on the Fox network the week it aired. This episode, along with three other episodes of the show, is featured on the The Simpsons Gone Wild DVD released in 2004

Homer's Night Out

3.5



011 - The Simpsons - S01E11 - The Crepes of Wrath
"The Crepes of Wrath" is the eleventh episode of The Simpsons' first season, and originally aired April 15, 1990. The episode was written by George Meyer, Sam Simon, John Swartzwelder and Jon Vitti, and was directed by Wes Archer and Milton Gray. In the episode, Bart is sent to France on a student exchange trip, where his hosts treat him as a slave. Meanwhile, an Albanian student takes Bart's place in the Simpsons family, and shows great interest in Homer's work at the nuclear power plant.

The episode received generally positive reviews from critics, and in 1997, David Bauder from TV Guide named this episode the greatest episode of The Simpsons, and the 17th greatest episode of any television show of all time.

The Crepes of Wrath

3.5



012 - The Simpsons - S01E12 - Krusty Gets Busted
"Krusty Gets Busted" is the twelfth episode of The Simpsons' first season, and originally aired on April 29, 1990. The episode was written by Jay Kogen and Wallace Wolodarsky, and directed by Brad Bird. In the episode, Krusty the Clown, a famous TV comedian, is convicted of the armed robbery of the Kwik-E-Mart. Bart and Lisa investigate, convinced that Krusty has been framed.

This episode marks the first full-fledged appearance of Kent Brockman, and Kelsey Grammer makes his first guest appearance on the show as the voice of Sideshow Bob. The episode was well received by critics, and it was the highest rated show on the Fox Network the week it aired.

Krusty Gets Busted

3.5


The Simpsons: The Complete First Season: Disc Three

013 - The Simpsons - S01E13 - Some Enchanted Evening
"Some Enchanted Evening" is the thirteenth, final aired, and first produced episode of The Simpsons' first season and originally aired on the Fox network on May 13, 1990. Although it was the first episode produced, it aired as the season finale due to significant animation problems. The episode features Bart, Lisa, and Maggie's encounter with the notorious Babysitter Bandit. After resolving a marital dilemma, Homer and Marge want to spend a night on the town so they need a babysitter to look after their children. They hire Ms. Botz through a babysitting service. Ms. Botz is later revealed to be the "Babysitter Bandit" and after restraining the eldest children, she robs the family.

The episode features cultural references to such films as The Night of the Hunter and Psycho as well as a musical reference to A Star Is Born. It received mixed reception: some critics deemed it the best episode of the season while others regarded it as the poorest.

Some Enchanted Evening

3.5


The Simpsons: The Complete Second Season: Disc One

014 - The Simpsons - S02E01 - Bart Gets an F
"Bart Gets an F" is the first episode of The Simpsons' second season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on October 11, 1990. In the episode, Bart fails four consecutive history exams and the school psychiatrist recommends that Bart repeat the fourth grade. Bart vows that he will start to do better and attempts to get the resident class genius Martin Prince to help him, but after that backfires, Bart prays for help. That night, Springfield is hit with a massive blizzard and the school is closed, giving Bart another day to study.

The episode was written by David M. Stern and directed by David Silverman. Mayor Quimby makes his first appearance and the episode was the first to feature a new opening sequence. "Bart Gets an F" was the third episode produced for the season, but it was chosen to be the premiere of the second season because it prominently featured Bart.

Due to the success of the first season of The Simpsons, the Fox Network decided to switch the show's time slot to Thursday at 8:00 p.m. EST where it would air opposite of NBC's The Cosby Show, the number one show at the time. Through the summer, several news outlets published stories about the supposed "Bill vs. Bart" rivalry and heavily hyped the first episode of the second season. Several critics predicted that "Bart Gets an F" would do considerably worse in the ratings than The Cosby Show. However, the final Nielsen rating for the episode was 18.4 and a 29% share of the audience, finishing second in its time slot behind The Cosby Show, which had an 18.5 rating and 29% share. It finished eighth in the weekly ratings, but was watched by an estimated 33.6 million viewers, making it the number one show in terms of actual viewers that week. It became the highest rated and most watched program in the history of the Fox Network and remained in that position until January 1, 1995. As of 2012 it is still the highest rated episode in the history of The Simpsons.

The episode has received positive reviews from television critics and was ranked 31st on Entertainment Weekly's 1999 list of "The 100 Greatest Moments in Television."

Bart Gets an F

3.5



015 - The Simpsons - S02E02 - Simpson and Delilah
"Simpson and Delilah" is the second episode of The Simpsons' second season and first aired on October 18, 1990. Homer uses the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant medical insurance plan to buy Dimoxinil, a miracle hair growth formula. Homer grows hair, and is given a promotion at work which allows him to hire a secretary named Karl. The episode was directed by Rich Moore, written by Jon Vitti and guest starred Harvey Fierstein as Karl.

Simpson and Delilah

4.5



016 - The Simpsons - S02E03 - Treehouse of Horror
"Treehouse of Horror" (originally known as "The Simpsons Halloween Special") is the third episode of The Simpsons' second season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on October 25, 1990. The episode was inspired by 1950s horror comics, and begins with a disclaimer that it may be too scary for children. It is the first of a series of Halloween themed episodes. These episodes do not obey the shows' rule of realism and are not treated as canon. The opening disclaimer and a panning shot through a cemetery with humorous tombstones were features that were used sporadically in the Treehouse of Horror series and eventually dropped.

The plot revolves around three scary stories told by the Simpson children in the family's treehouse. The first segment involves a haunted house that is based on various theatrical haunted houses, primarily The Amityville Horror and Poltergeist. In the second segment, Kang and Kodos are introduced when the Simpsons are abducted by aliens. In the third, Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" is adapted. James Earl Jones guest starred in all three segments. The episode was received positively, being included on several critics' "best of" lists. Critics singled out The Raven for praise, although Simpsons creator Matt Groening was concerned that it would be seen as pretentious.

Treehouse of Horror

4.5 This is a great episode .. This is the start of the yearly much anticipated Treehouse of Horror series.



017 - The Simpsons - S02E04 - Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish
"Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish" is the fourth episode of The Simpsons' second season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 1, 1990. In the episode, Bart catches a three-eyed fish in a river downstream of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. This causes the plant to become inspected, and in order to prevent it from being shut down, Mr. Burns decides to run for governor. After a hard campaign which sees Burns rise from being universally despised to running neck and neck with popular incumbent Mary Bailey, it is decided that Burns will have dinner with a random employee the night before the election. Homer is chosen, much to Marge's chagrin.

The episode was written by Sam Simon and John Swartzwelder, and directed by Wes Archer. It was the first episode produced for season two and was intended to air as the season premiere, but was replaced with "Bart Gets an F" due to Bart's popularity in the early 1990s. The episode features cultural references to several American films, mostly the 1941 film Citizen Kane, with Burns in the role of the character Charles Foster Kane. Mary Bailey shares her name with George Bailey's wife in the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life.

Journalists have described the episode as a satire on both American politics and environmentalism. It won an Environmental Media Award in 1991 for being the best television episode of the year with an environmental message. Since the episode first aired, the three-eyed fish Blinky has been mentioned several times in news articles regarding nuclear waste and mutation. The episode was positively received by television critics for its satire on American politics. It acquired a Nielsen rating of 15.8, and was the highest-rated show on the Fox network the week it aired.

Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish

4.0 This is a great episode .. This one where Burns wants to be Mayor of Springfield and the arrival of Blinky



018 - The Simpsons - S02E05 - Dancin' Homer

Dancin' Homer

3.0 One of my least favorite ..



019 - The Simpsons - S02E06 - Dead Putting Society
"Dead Putting Society" is the sixth episode of The Simpsons' second season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 15, 1990. In the episode, Homer's son, Bart, and Ned Flanders' son, Todd, decide to enter a miniature golf tournament. Homer becomes confident that Bart will win and makes a bet with Ned that the father of the boy that does not win will have to mow their neighbors lawn in their wife's Sunday dress. On the day of the tournament, Bart and Todd make the finals but decide to call it a draw, forcing both Homer and Ned to fulfill the requirements of their bet.

The episode, which was the first to prominently feature Ned and the rest of his family, was written by Jeff Martin and directed by Rich Moore. While animating "Dead Putting Society", the animators went on a field trip to a local miniature golf course to study the mechanics of a golf club swing. Since airing, the episode has received positive reviews from television critics. It acquired a Nielsen rating of 14.3 and was the highest-rated show on the Fox network the week it aired.

Dead Putting Society

3.5 Fun


Movies being Watched --

Drowning Mona
After years of driving the town crazy, Mona Dearly (Bette Midler) drove herself into a river. But when this twist of fate turns out to be an act of murder, Chief of Police Wyatt Rash (Danny DeVito) has his work cut out for him. The obnoxious Mona is survived by a town full of enemies, aka prime suspects, including her cheating husband (William Fichtner), his mistress (Jamie Lee Curtis), a heartless son (Marcus Thomas), the police chief’s daughter (Neve Campbell) and her fiancé (Casey Affleck). To know Mona Dearly was to hate her, and the big mystery isn’t who would want to see her dead…but who wouldn’t. Now, Chief Rash tries to figure out who to blame – but the town just wants to know who to thank.

Complete Info

4.0 Staring

This is a great film .. like Cookie's Fortune, it has a brilliant ensemble cast which has a brilliant script to work from.  Danny DeVito is great in an understated performance.  Bette Midler is very very funny as the mean Mona and Jamie Lee Curtis does a great job.  Hey .. even Casey Affleck is okay here.  

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
After director Fritz Lang vaulted to prominence with such masterpieces of German cinema as Metropolis and M, he brought his art to Hollywood films, including Fury, Ministry of Fear, The Woman in the Window and more trenchant tales of innocents caught in a web of seeming guilt. His last U.S. movie is this intriguing film noir about a novelist (Dana Andrews) out to expose the injustices of capital punishment. Working with his fiancée’s (Joan Fontaine) father, a newspaper publisher (Sidney Blackmer), he frames himself for murder, intending to produce exonerating evidence at the last moment. But the publisher suddenly dies, the evidence is lost… and that’s only the first twist in a brilliantly layered plot ideally suited to Lang’s talents.

Complete Info

3.5 Staring

This is a great black and white film of the film noir style.  Directed by the great Fritz Lang (this was his last American project).  Screen play by  Douglas Morrow who also did Jim Thorpe -- All-American and The Stratton Story plus many TV episodes.

This film was remade in 2009 with Michael Douglas as a shady District Attorney.  The remake didn't have the grit that the original had.

I really like this film.  If you like films of the period you should like this one.

2000 Year Old Man

Ever wonder what life was like 2000 years ago? In this animated funny historical parody animated by Leo Salkin, Mel Brooks portrays a 2000-year-old man being interviewed by Carl Reiner. Brooks pontificates on the origins of such mundane things as singing, marriage, the legend of Robin Hood, and Shakespeare. This truly brilliant animated classic brings tears to the eyes and is credited with being one of the all-time great comedic pieces by comedians such as Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Lewis, Billy Crystal, and Bill Cosby. It's a one-of-a-kind by two of the funniest men in entertainment.

Complete Info

3.5 Staring

What do you get when you put a couple of true comic genius together and let them run wild .. you get something like this.

This animated film contains bits from their original performances and some additional bits.

Man, I can remember when this one came out.  There were several comic albums that came out about at the period .. but if I remember right this is the one I listened to the most.  How funny ..

Although it doesn't need to be on film .. it does add a 'visual' to it which to me adds a bit.

If you haven't heard any of these you might want to take a listen if not a watch.  

Collateral
Vincent (Tom Cruise) is a cool, calculating contract killer at the top of his game. Max (Jamie Foxx) is a cabbie with big dreams and little to show for it. Now, Max has to transport Vincent on his next job – one night, five stops, five hits and a getaway. And after this fateful night, neither man will ever be the same again. Tonight everything is changing...

Complete Info

3.5 Staring(note: for Tom Cruise (and Smith) I am listing the films I almost liked .. if he wasn't in them)

As you might get from my note at the beginning of this section, I really don't like Tom Cruise .. I might even go so far as to say it is a pathological dislike.  He is a 'one trick pony' .. without a trick.

If I was going to like any of his performances it would have to be this one .. but i just can't go that far.  

Smith's performance, like most of Cruise's, was phoned in .. no feeling and  no depth.  I never care about her characters.

But I do like this film and Jamie Foxx pulls it off and carries the whole thing on his shoulders.  He is very very good in this film.

Michael Mann does a great job directing this.  Use of handheld without all the jitter 'stuff'.  It brings a great feeling to this.

Basically this is a good watch (if you can ignore Cruise and Smith).  My rating would have been higher without them.

Death Defying Acts
Academy Award® Winner Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago) and Guy Pearce (LA Confidential) star in this remarkable love story from acclaimed director Gillian Armstrong. Zeta-Jones stars as Mary McGarvie: a beautiful con artist who, with the help of her young daughter (Academy Award® Nominee Saoirse Ronan, Atonement), fools audiences into believing she is psychic. When the legendary magician Harry Houdini (Pearce) comes to town with a skeptic's challenge – $10,000 to anyone who can correctly "channel" his mother's last dying words – Mary accepts his test. Entranced, Houdini enters into a passionate affair with the charming clairvoyant even as he prepares for most dangerous stunt of his career.

Complete Info

3.5 Staring

I am a sucker for 'magic' films .. especially ones with Harry Houdini in them.  He was a facination to me as a young man .. read everything about him i could find.  But I also liked films like The Illusionist and The Prestige (which along with magic has the great character Nikola Tesla in it).  

And like those films "Death Defying Acts" sticks with you .. with even a great performance by Catherine Zeta-Jomes (home i normally don't like that much).

This is a good watch .. oh and of course it has my new favorite .. Saoirse Ronan in it AND she does a very good job.

Seven Psychopaths

Complete Info

3.5 Staring

This just started Friday and this was my first chance to see it.  I didn't really have any expectations except that it appeared to have a pretty good cast.  Not having seen this I still put this in the category with Inglorious Basterds just from what I had heard and read.

I had never heard of director Martin McDonagh but now find that he ws the directory of In Bruges which i really didn't like .. glad i didn't know that before i saw "The Seven Psychopaths".

Now having seen the film I can say ...

I really liked it.  It was very quirky .. with various 'vignettes'.  Most of the characters are fun and the storyline (be sure to pay attention) is very good (even though I don't favor the choppy style).

Sam Rockwell is very very good in this.  I always enjoy him and as he really has 1 character, he never lets me down.  Colin Farrell is very good also, though again it is his same character.

Christopher Walken was great and understated as always.

I really like this one and am looking forward to getting it on DVD when it comes out so I can watch it again.  I wouldn't pay to see it in a theater again .. but on my big screen it will be fine.


« Last Edit: October 23, 2012, 12:24:19 AM by DSig »
Thank you
David

samuelrichardscott

  • Guest
Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #104 on: October 22, 2012, 08:38:55 PM »
I know you mentioned The Illusionist and The Prestige (both great movies) in your review of Death Defying Acts, but how would you compare DDA to the other two quality wise? This one passed me by and I've never heard of it...