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Author Topic: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching  (Read 59465 times)

Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #120 on: November 08, 2012, 04:03:44 PM »
What I am watching on 07Nov12 -

TV Shows Being Watched --

Revolution
Revolution is an American post-apocalyptic science fiction television drama series created by Eric Kripke. It is produced by J. J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions for the NBC network. It debuted on September 17, 2012 and airs on Mondays at 10:00 pm (ET).[1] The network placed a series order in May 2012.[2] Film director Jon Favreau directed the pilot episode. The pilot episode was viewable on Hulu[3] and NBC.com,[4] prior to the series' broadcast premiere.

Complete Info

Episodes Watched --

004 - Revolution - S01E04 - The Plague Dogs
Charlie and Nora meet back up with Aaron and Maggie. Unknown to them, Nate has escaped and continues to track Miles and Charlie. After running into a group of what appears to be stray dogs, Aaron is injured and Maggie is forced to kill one of the dogs. Miles sees and fights Nate and the group capture him. It is discovered that the dogs are the companions of a man who attacks the group and stabs Maggie in revenge for her killing one of his dogs. The group tries to save her, and Charlie is captured by the man. Miles frees Nate, and he and Miles go to find Charlie. Charlie has been tied to a chair with an elaborate, crossbow booby trap that will go off if the door to the room is opened. She escapes just as Nate and Miles enter the room. They return to Aaron, Maggie and Nora just as Maggie dies. Danny continues his journey with the Militia and they are forced to take shelter during a storm. Danny escapes and is quickly recaptured by Captain Neville. While taking shelter in a storm cellar, the roof falls in trapping Neville. Danny rescues him only to be put back into cuffs. Rachel continues to be a captive of the Militia and it appears she is being tortured for information on the blackout and Ben's involvement. Monroe taunts her with the knowledge that her son will arrive shortly.
Flashbacks: Over several years, Maggie searches for a boat to return home so that she can be reunited with her family. However, all the boats have been lost or destroyed in the chaos following the blackout. As she is about to commit suicide, believing she will never see her family again, she is found by Ben, Charlie and Danny. Some years after the blackout, Rachel tearfully leaves the family "to look for supplies". For unknown reasons, she travels to the Monroe Militia where she is put into handcuffs almost immediately while a silent Miles in a Militia uniform looks on.

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Another good episode.  Sad ending.


005 - Revolution - S01E05 - Soul Train
After catching up with Captain Neville and the Militia at Noblesville, Indiana the group discovers a working steam train being prepared to take Danny to Monroe at the Capital of the Monroe Republic in Philadelphia. Charlie and Miles set off in town to look for Danny and Charlie runs into Neville. Miles and Neville fight and Miles escapes. They return and discover Nora has gone to find the local resistance and plans on blowing up the train. They are about to question "Nate" when he escapes and returns to Neville who moves Danny to the train and brings his departure forward and plans on leaving right away. Nora plants her bomb in a log and plans on it being set off in the furnace of the train but after seeing Danny on the train, has second thoughts and is then stabbed by a member of the resistance who wants revenge on the Militia for his wife. Nora is found by Charlie and Miles and they chase after the train and Miles manages to get rid of the bomb before it explodes. Charlie finds Danny and Neville on the train and they fight. Nate joins the fight and captures Charlie but helps her and Miles to escape. The train arrives where Monroe has been discussing border skirmishes with the Georgia Federation and Plains Nation. When he shows Rachel that Danny has arrived, she explains she was also part of the project that Ben was working on and she draws a picture of the Pendant, explaining that twelve of them exist and that they are the key to getting the power back on. It is revealed that "Nate" is in fact Tom Neville's son, Jason.
Flashbacks: Tom Neville is shown to be a sensitive man who is reluctant to stand up for himself and instead takes out his anger on a punching bag. A few weeks after the blackout, his next-door neighbor attempts to loot the house and winds up trying to kill Tom. A shocked Jason, who had been taught by his father never to hit another man, watches as Tom kills the assailant in self-defense. As he recovers from the brutal reality of the post-electricity world, Tom insists that his young son should also learn how to defend himself.

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 More comes out about Tom Neville and Miles.  Danny on a train heading to Philly and Charlie and Miles work to get him off.  Nora is hurt .. infections are deadly.


006 - Revolution - S01E06 - Sex and Drugs
Nora's condition worsens on the journey to Philadelphia; the party must find antibiotics in order to save her life. They are forced to turn to a drug kingpin named Drexel, who provides medical treatment, but not without a price. In return, Charlie is tasked to assassinate the head of a neighboring family who has burned down Drexel's fields. Miles escapes from Drexel's compound to rescue Charlie, and stops her before she completes the task. Drexel is furious and makes Nora and Aaron fight each other to the death, but Aaron comes up with a ruse which leaves Drexel dead instead. Miles, Nora, Charlie and Aaron reunite and continue on the trek to Philadelphia.
Flashbacks: Aaron recalls his experiences on the night of the blackout and in the months that followed. He and his wife succeeded in fleeing the city and joining up with another band of survivors. He leaves his wife and the rest of the group because he feels that he doesn't have anything to contribute to the group.

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Miles meets an old 'friend' and he is a clearly crazy drug (heroin) grower/dealer.  Although we learn Aaron's tale of woe .. Aaron proves to be more worthy than is expected.  Danny is reunited with Rachel.  Very good episode.


Movies Being Watched --

A Simple Twist of Fate
Big-screen favorite Steve Martin (Father Of The Bride) shines in this heartwarming motion picture about a single dad who discovers the joys and pain of fatherhood after adopting a daughter. All is well with this special relationship until a local politician attempts to come between them. As they fight to remain a family, the bond between father and daughter is strengthened. With an all-star cast that features winning performances from Gabriel Byrne (Point Of No Return), Stephen Baldwin (Threesome) and Catherine O'Hara (Home Alone), A Simple Twist Of Fate is a captivating movie treat that's sure to entertain you!

Wikipedia Film Info

3.5 Staring

This is a very good movie. I love the story line and the characters.  Actors all do a very good job and are very believable in their roles.

I really like Steve Martin's job .. no comedy but more drama.  And he does a very good job.  Love the rest of the cast .. Gabriel Byrne, Laura Linney, Catherine O'Hara and Alana Austin who played Mathilda.  Great job all.

This is a very good uplifting family film.

« Last Edit: November 08, 2012, 04:06:17 PM by DSig »
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Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #121 on: November 09, 2012, 04:10:16 PM »
What I am watching on 08Nov12 -

TV Shows Being Watched --

Revolution
Revolution is an American post-apocalyptic science fiction television drama series created by Eric Kripke. It is produced by J. J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions for the NBC network. It debuted on September 17, 2012 and airs on Mondays at 10:00 pm (ET).[1] The network placed a series order in May 2012.[2] Film director Jon Favreau directed the pilot episode. The pilot episode was viewable on Hulu[3] and NBC.com,[4] prior to the series' broadcast premiere.

Complete Info

Episodes Watched --

007 - Revolution - S01E07 - The Children's Crusade
Rachel and her son reunite and more information is dragged out of Rachel and her old "friends" before the black out. Charlie and the gang run into a group of children whose parents were killed by the militia about eight years ago. Miles feels responsible so he and Charlie devise a plan to get their leader, Peter, who was captured by the militia and sent to a militia ship. Though they want to do it alone, some of the boys follow them, including Peter's brother Michael. Charlie lets the militia capture her and becomes a conscript. She escapes with Peter, but she is branded with the Monroe Militia symbol on her wrist. Miles and Nora also come to her aid, but Michael sneaks in, is captured, and used against them. Back at the lighthouse, where Aaron and the children are staying, Aaron's pendant randomly starts working, lighting up the lighthouse whose light distracts the crew of the ship while Charlie, Nora, and Miles kill the crew and free everyone. Back in Philadelphia, one of Rachel's old coworkers, Dr. Bradley, is captured because of his knowledge of the blackout thanks to the information Rachel provided. His daughter is hurt and captured, to force him to reveal all he knows about the blackout, including the location of his pendant. Miles asks Aaron for an explanation about the lighthouse and he is forced to reveal the pendant to Miles and Charlie. Meanwhile, it is revealed that Grace is being held captive by Randall.
Flashbacks: Three years before the blackout, Rachel, Ben and Grace worked for a company trying to create renewable free green energy, however their experiments have the opposite effect and instead cause a blackout in a localized area. Demonstrating this to Randall, a member of the US Department of Defense, they are promised contracts to experiment further, but Rachel has reservations about the experiment being weaponized. But the son she's expecting is gravely ill, and Randall offers her a chance to enter a maxed out medical program that may save him.

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 First .. now that I am all caught up and waiting for the next episode, I am wondering ... not "Where's the Beef" but more how long this show will last.  Don't get me wrong, so far the stories have been entertaining.  But this is one of those shows that has a HUGE arc so there really never is any closure.  It will end without a final episode and although they are bringing more bits out about what happened as it goes along .. it is one of those shows that really will never have an conclusion.  I am just wondering if I want to make that investment.

Good episode.  Miles shows a different side to him as they travel to save some kids.  More about how the DOD started all this.  Molding children into soldiers .. the most evil of things to do.


Criminal Minds: Season 7
Evil is a State of Mind.

The FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) is trained to blow your mind. Season 7 of Criminal Minds explodes on to DVD with 23 thrilling episodes. The season begins with the team reeling from the presumed death of Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster), and answering to a Senate Committee about their subsequent actions. Profiling expert David Rossi (Joe Mantegna) is faced with a personal crisis involving his ex-wife, while team leader Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) oversees his crew on a series of increasingly twisted, complex cases. But with a powerhouse team that includes Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), Special Agent Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore), Special Agent Jennifer "JJ" Jareau (A.J. Cook) and technical analyst Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness), no killer ever makes a clean getaway.

Wikipedia Film Info for Season 7

Overall rating 4.0 Primary Cast

Occasional Cast

I missed all of Season 7 (last years) so starting there before I get into the new episodes.  Generally I really like this series and though at times it can become pretty dark, it still is a very good show.  Great drama, good characters and story lines.

Episodes Watched --

139 - Criminal Minds - S07E01 - It Takes a Village
The BAU team is at crossroads when they are questioned by a Senate Committee for their retaliatory actions to get revenge on Doyle with help from a familiar face, JJ, who returns. They find out that Morgan has been tracking Doyle since the day Prentiss "died" and that Doyle's son is in danger. The race against time to find Doyle before someone else does tests the team and the trust between them as it is shaken by a familiar face who is going to assist the team in this case.
Recurring character: Jayne Atkinson as Erin Strauss

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Very good follow up episode to the season 6 closer.  Prentiss has been killed and the team rushes to find Doyle before Doyle finds his son.

Very good script .. tight to the previous season.  As usual execellent performance by the cast.


140 - Criminal Minds - S07E02 - Proof
Women are being found murdered after being robbed of one of their five senses in Oklahoma, prompting attention from the BAU. JJ and Prentiss get the cold shoulder from Reid as he deals with their deception about Prentiss' presumed death, while Rossi has a cooking lesson for the team to bring them together.
Guest star: Andy Milder

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 This is a very sad episode.  To think that a problem within the family could cause something like this.  Good story.


141 - Criminal Minds - S07E03 - Dorado Falls
The BAU team investigates a mass murder at an Internet security company in nearby Charlottesville but clues reveal it is not a typical serial killer at work. Meanwhile, Prentiss must complete recertification training under Morgan's watchful eye.

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 PTSD or illness or head trauma .. a very sad episode but with a good ending.  It IS time for them to move on from the "Prentiss is Dead" bits.  Otherwise another great story. 


142 - Criminal Minds - S07E04 - Painless
Survivors of a high school massacre in Boise that occurred in October 2001 return to remember the event 10 years later, but the BAU team is called in when a new killer with a similar style targets the survivors. Also, Hotch is worried that his son, Jack, may be a victim of school bullying, while Morgan and Reid exchange pranks.
Recurring character: Cade Owens as Jack Hotchner

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Good strong script.  Back to play between team members.

143 - Criminal Minds - S07E05 - From Childhood's Hour
The BAU team investigates the abductions of young children with troubled mothers in St. Louis. Rossi reconnects with his first wife, who has shocking news for him.

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Deals with a parents worst nightmare.  Good tight script


144 - Criminal Minds - S07E06 - Epilogue
The BAU search California's Angeles National Forest after a number of bodies mysteriously turn up in the mountain lakes there. Meanwhile, Rossi struggles with an agonizing decision regarding his ex-wife.

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Another good episode.  Deals with 'end of life' issues on multiple levels.

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Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #122 on: November 10, 2012, 04:20:56 PM »
What I am watching on 10Nov12 -

TV Shows Being Watched --

Criminal Minds: Season 7
Evil is a State of Mind.

Episodes Watched --

145 - Criminal Minds - S07E07 - There's No Place Like Home
When a series of tornadoes hits Kansas, the BAU is called in to investigate bodies of young boys that turn up in the aftermath of the storms. Work pressures cause tension on JJ's home front.
Recurring character: Josh Stewart as William "Will" LaMontagne Jr.

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Another great episode.  I did see this one last year and still like it.  Not much of the old 'arc' bits here so it is just a very tight story dealing with basically 1 subject.


146 - Criminal Minds - S07E08 - Hope
A case turns personal for Garcia when the BAU investigate the disappearance of a woman in her survivors' support group whose daughter went missing seven years earlier.

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 I also saw this one last year.  It is a very good episode dealing with a creapy subject and an interesting twist.


147 - Criminal Minds - S07E09 - Self-Fulfilling Propphecy
When a small group of military academy youths commit a mass suicide, the BAU team looks into the real reasons behind their actions. Meanwhile, Hotch and Morgan disagree when a team member could be in jeopardy.
Recurring character: Jayne Atkinson as Erin Strauss
Guest Star: great actor René Auberjonois

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Military Academies .. let's just pressure out youth even earlier than legal age.  And since I never like the character Erin Strauss .. she got her come-uping.  Sad story but tight well done.


148 - Criminal Minds - S07E10 - The Bittersweet Science
The BAU team investigates a string of fatal beatings in Philadelphia and looks into to the city's boxing scene in search of the killer. Hotch makes a connection with an attractive runner, Beth Clemmons, as they both train for a triathlon.
Recurring star: Bellamy Young as Beth Clemmons
Guest Star: Charles S. Dutton
Guest Star: Shawn Hatosy

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Another sad episode again dealing with a horrible topic for parents.  But great story and performances.


149 - Criminal Minds - S07E11 - True Genius
A series of murders in San Francisco bearing the tell-tale signs of the infamous Zodiac Killer have the BAU wondering if the notorious serial killer has returned. Also, Reid ponders if he should be doing more with his genius abilities.
Guest star: Patricia Cornwell as herself

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 I did recently see this one on a rerun on TV.  A real Leopold and Loeb or Rope situation.  This is a very good story with great characters.


150 - Criminal Minds - S07E12 - Unknown Subject
The BAU team searches for a serial rapist in Houston known as "The Piano Man" who has resurfaced and is assaulting his previous victims. Also, Prentiss tries to come to terms with her trauma from last year and with rejoining the team.

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Nothing so horrible as the violation of another person.  Good tight story and keeps you wondering to the end.

BBC Misfits: Series 4

Wikipedia Series Info

3.5 Staring

Episodes Watched --

022 - Misfits - S04E01 - Episode One
Alisha and Simon have finished their community work and moved on whilst Kelly is in Africa,putting her gift to use destroying land-mines,boyfriend Seth returning for their belongings. New offenders are perky Jess,who has X-ray vision and morbid,telekinetic Finn whom Rudy unsuccessfully tries to convince that he is their probation officer. A wounded man staggers into the building with a briefcase and as he falls touches Curtis,Rudy and Seth who are infected with a green glow. This infection is a property the man acquired in the storm,the ruthless desire to gain the ...

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Great first episode to season 3 of this fun and quirky show.  Good involved script and new characters/actors do a find job.

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samuelrichardscott

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #123 on: November 10, 2012, 07:46:54 PM »
S4 E02 of Misfits was great. Episode 3 is on tomorrow night and although it isn't as good as series 1-2, it is better than S3 so far IMO. I do miss some of the original characters though. Best part of episode 1 was when they piss in the freezer though. Had me laughing.
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Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #124 on: November 11, 2012, 03:50:19 AM »
That was pretty funny.  I need to watch ep2 before tomorrow night.
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Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #125 on: November 12, 2012, 02:53:07 AM »
What I am watching on 10-11Nov12 - Somewhere I got a day off .. must be a Mayan calendar :o

TV Shows Being Watched --

Arrow
Arrow is an American action-adventure television series developed by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg. It is based on the fictional character Green Arrow, a costumed crime-fighter who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. It premiered in North America on The CW on October 10, 2012, with international broadcasting to take place in late 2012. The series follows billionaire playboy Oliver Queen, portrayed by Stephen Amell, who, after five years of being stranded on a deserted island, returns home to fight crime and corruption as a secret vigilante whose weapon of choice is a bow and arrows. Arrow will also feature appearances by other DC Comics characters. To assist in promotion, a preview comic book was released to tie into the television series.

Wikipedia Series  Info

Episodes Watched

005 - Arrow - S01E05 - Damaged
Detective Lance charges Oliver with murder, so Oliver hires Laurel to be his attorney. Given Oliver's time on the island, the district attorney offers Oliver an insanity plea with an indeterminate amount of time spent in a psychiatric facility under a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. Oliver declines, and offers to take a polygraph test for Detective Lance to prove his innocence. Although his test indicates he is telling the truth about not being the vigilante, the experience causes Oliver to have flashbacks to his time on the island. Oliver specifically remembers when he is caught by the armed professionals and tortured by Deathstroke before being saved by the hooded archer, which he shares with Laurel. While under house arrest, Oliver maintains his bachelor playboy facade by throwing a prison themed party and reveals to Diggle his plan was to get caught so that he could convince everyone that he was not the vigilante from the start. To accomplish this, Oliver has Diggle dress the vigilante and go after a German arms dealer who is in the city to sell automatic weapons to the city gangs. Oliver's plan works and the charges are dropped against him. Meanwhile, Moira meets with the "Well-dressed Man", who is tied to the list that Oliver has, regarding the vigilante attacking members of their secret organization. Walter leaves the house after confronting Moira on her deception.

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Detective Lance actually saves Oliver's life.  Good episode with fun action.  Still not sure where this is going but it could be a fun ride.

BBC Misfits: Series 4

Wikipedia Series  Info

023 - Misfits - S04E02 - Episode Two
The ASBO superheroes are back for a fourth series and new gang members Jess (Karla Crome) and Finn (Nathan McMullen) soon realise there's more to community service than scrubbing off graffiti and picking up litter... In episode two, Finn isn't quite as innocent as he looks when a dark secret he's been hiding at home is revealed. Can Seth be persuaded to come out of retirement and take a power before someone gets forced into submission? And Rudy and Curtis go into battle over a beautiful blind girl, while Jess meets new super-sexy barman Alex.

IMDB.Com Episode Info

3.0 Fun episode explains some and leaves other open to interpretation.  

Criminal Minds: Season 7
Evil is a State of Mind.

Episodes Watched --

151 - Criminal Minds - S07E13 - Snake Eyes
The BAU agents try their luck in Atlantic City when the team is called in to investigate a series of ritualistic casino-related murders. Meanwhile, after a spat with her boyfriend, Kevin, Garcia thinks she and Morgan may have gotten a little too friendly with each other.
Recurring character: Nicholas Brendon as Kevin Lynch
Guest Star: Dean Cain

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Another great script dealing with another crazy.  Fun bit between Garcia and Morgan.


152 - Criminal Minds - S07E14 - Closing Time
The BAU are summoned to Southern California to investigate when a serial killer's body dump is found in a lifeguard tower. Hotch invites Beth on a date.
Recurring character: Bellamy Young as Beth Clemmons

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5


Movies Being Watched --

Anthony Shaffer's The Wicker Man
When a young girl mysteriously disappears, Police Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward of THE EQUALIZER) travels to a remote Scottish island to investigate. But this pastoral community, led by the strange Lord Summerisle (a brilliant performance by the legendary Christopher Lee), is not what it seems as the devout Christian detective soon uncovers a secret society of wanton lust and pagan blasphemy. Can Howie now stop the cult's ultimate sacrifice before he himself comes face-to-face with the horror of THE WICKER MAN?

Britt Ekland, Diane Cilento and Ingrid Pitt co-star in this provocative shocker written by Anthony Schaffer (SLEUTH, FRENZY) that fans and critics worldwide still consider a true cult classic and a modern horror masterpiece. This is the acclaimed U.S. theatrical version of THE WICKER MAN, now fully restored from original vault materials for the first time ever.

Wikipedia Film Info

3.5 Staring

I really like this film.  It doesn't have the 'intensity' of the remake The Wicker Man (with Nicolas Cage ... but in it's own right I think it is a better film.

I really like Edward Woodward in this.  At first I didn't recognize him as i really remember him from his "The Equalizer" days.  And Brid Ekland .. ummm.  Great story line and great acting.  A strong recommendation for this one.

Total Recall
Total Recall is an action thriller about reality and memory, inspired anew by the famous short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick. Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), even though he's got a beautiful wife (Kate Beckinsale) who he loves, the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his frustrating life - real memories of life as a super-spy might be just what he needs. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. Finding himself on the run from the police – controlled by Chancellor Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston), the leader of the free world – Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Jessica Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Bill Nighy) and stop Cohaagen. The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate.

Wikipedia Film Info

3.0 Staring

Let's face it .. a film with Kate Beckinsale and Jessica Biel can't be all bad.  Even if this film had no CGI they give plenty to watch.

The bad news, it has Colin Farrel in it.  Also, there really is nothing other than CGI bits.  It has no heart ...

It may have greater CGI/SciFi bits than the origainl Total Recall but it doesn't have Arny and it doesn't have heart.

I give this a 3.0 ... does have good action sequences and of course it has Beckinsale and Biel.  Other than that this is an empty movie.

The Three Stooges
Calling all knuckleheads! From the fiercly funny Farrelly Brothers (There's Something About Mary) comes this contemporary take on the world's most beloved comedy trio...The Three Stooges!
 
Left on the doorstep of a nun-conventional orphanage as toddlers, Moe, Larry and Curly grow up eye-poking, face-slapping and head-clunking their way into adulthood. Now the bumbling trio — pure of heart, but dim of wit — find themselves on a madcap mission to save their childhood home from foreclosure. Can the Stooges survive the modern world, raise the money, and ultimately save the day? Why soitenly!

Wikipedia Film Info

3.0 Staring

From scarey old Nun (Sister Mary-Mengele played by Larry David) in the opening scenes getting a present to the adoptions at the end .. this is a pretty funny movie.

Done in 3 acts (Act/Episode 1: More Orphan Than Not, Act/Episode 2: The Bananas Split and Final Act/Episode 3: No Moe Mister Nice Guy) this film does a pretty good job of telling a very false tale (not intened as true) of a very real trio of crazies.

They aren't the Three Stooges, but this film does 'kinda' recreate the fun of the Three Stooges.  It has the feel.  I think the Farley brothers have done an excellend job here.

Don't get me wrong .. it isn't great .. but it is funny .. if you like slapstick.

Warning: Don't watch this if you are Catholic as the [Catholic League really got bent out of shape with this movie.  I don't want to be responsible for your immortal soul.

Lady in the Lake
Robert Montgomery stars in and directs this snappy adaptation of Raymond Chandler's hardboiled detective mystery. Montgomery portrays Marlowe, private eye. As director, he's also the film's private eyes, using a subjective camera presenting the action from Marlowe's point of view. What Marlowe sees, we see. When he gets slugged, we slip into blackness. The case begins when Marlowe sets out to find the missing wife of a publishing magnate. Several smack-arounds, one dead gigolo, a few angry cops, a booze-soaked frame-up and one dame in the lake later, Marlowe finds the killer...and finds he's looking at the business end of a gun.

Wikipedia Film Info

3.5 Staring

Staring and Directed by Robert Montgomery, this is an interesting film.  It uses the camera as the eyes of Marlowe.  Seldom does Montgomery show up on film other than voice.

It is a good period film, though not great.  A fun watch but not too often.

Recommended if you haven't seen it.

« Last Edit: November 12, 2012, 02:56:41 AM by DSig »
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Offline Achim

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #126 on: November 12, 2012, 05:58:44 AM »
Quote from: samuelrichardscott on November 10, 2012, 07:46:54 PM
S4 E02 of Misfits was great. Episode 3 is on tomorrow night and although it isn't as good as series 1-2, it is better than S3 so far IMO. I do miss some of the original characters though. Best part of episode 1 was when they piss in the freezer though. Had me laughing.
According the cover for the DVD, which is due out in December, only one character remains from the first two seasons? I kind of like the new guy who replaced Nathan, but now they are almost all gone...? But if you both say it is still good I might want to complete my collection...


Quote from: DSig on November 12, 2012, 02:53:07 AM
Wikipedia Film Info

I really like this film.  It doesn't have the 'intensity' of the remake The Wicker Man (with Nicolas Cage ... but in it's own right I think it is a better film.
:stars: The remake mentioned in the same sentence as the original. Admittedly, I haven't seen it, but EVERYONE I talked to before seems to think it is terrible.
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samuelrichardscott

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #127 on: November 12, 2012, 12:01:14 PM »
Quote from: Achim on November 12, 2012, 05:58:44 AM
Quote from: samuelrichardscott on November 10, 2012, 07:46:54 PM
S4 E02 of Misfits was great. Episode 3 is on tomorrow night and although it isn't as good as series 1-2, it is better than S3 so far IMO. I do miss some of the original characters though. Best part of episode 1 was when they piss in the freezer though. Had me laughing.
According the cover for the DVD, which is due out in December, only one character remains from the first two seasons? I kind of like the new guy who replaced Nathan, but now they are almost all gone...? But if you both say it is still good I might want to complete my collection...

Perhaps I spoke to soon. Last nights episode wasn't very good. Become more a drama and had only a couple of brief comic moments.
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Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #128 on: November 12, 2012, 05:42:18 PM »
Quote from: Achim on November 12, 2012, 05:58:44 AM
Quote from: DSig on November 12, 2012, 02:53:07 AM
Wikipedia Film Info

I really like this film.  It doesn't have the 'intensity' of the remake The Wicker Man (with Nicolas Cage ... but in it's own right I think it is a better film.
:stars: The remake mentioned in the same sentence as the original. Admittedly, I haven't seen it, but EVERYONE I talked to before seems to think it is terrible.

Yeah .. THAT is the problem with remakes  ;D I found the remake to have some good intensity.  Even with Nicolas Cage ...
It's like 'The Ladykillers'.  Although the original was better (well even with what passes for humor in England ;) ) than the remake ... the remake did have some good bits to it.

But I do understand as I am not a big remake fan.  Look what they did to Inspector Clouseau in the horrible remake of The Pink Panther with Steve Martin .. what was HE thinking?  Oh my

I wouldn't spend a lot for it (remake of Wicker Man) but I bought it used for 2-3 bucks
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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #129 on: November 15, 2012, 05:47:08 AM »
Quote from: DSig on November 12, 2012, 05:42:18 PM
I wouldn't spend a lot for it (remake of Wicker Man) but I bought it used for 2-3 bucks
Maybe you can sell it for $4! ;D
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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #130 on: November 15, 2012, 04:53:42 PM »
 :) Nah .. i wouldn't sell it.  I kind of like it ... hmm 4$ might not be so bad. I could buy another for 3 and sell for 4 then after a great number of those I would be rich  :)
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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #131 on: November 28, 2012, 07:16:20 AM »
What I am watching on 26Nov12 -

TV Shows Being Watched --

Revolution
Revolution is an American post-apocalyptic science fiction television drama series created by Eric Kripke. It is produced by J. J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions for the NBC network. It debuted on September 17, 2012 and airs on Mondays at 10:00 pm (ET). The network placed a series order in May 2012. Film director Jon Favreau directed the pilot episode. The pilot episode was viewable on Hulu and NBC.com, prior to the series' broadcast premiere.

Complete Info

3.5

Episodes Watched

008 - Revolution - S01E08 - Ties that Bind
When Nora encounters a close relative, she must make a difficult choice between family and a promise. Meanwhile, one of the most ruthless members of the Militia is tracking Miles, Charlie and the gang and General Monroe hands Major Neville a stern warning. The locations of numerous pendants are revealed on a working computer screen in the unknown location where Randall is holding Grace prisoner.
Flashbacks: Nora is shown to have been a teenager at the time of the blackout, as well as having a younger sister. Living in Texas shortly after the blackout, the two flee the home of their mother for their father's home in Galveston, Texas. When they arrive, their father is nowhere to be found.

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Ties that Bind
This is another great episode.  All things are leading Miles back to the General.  Not sure what will happen but ...


009 - Revolution - S01E09 - Kashmir
Charlie and the group get closer to rescuing Danny. With the aid of the rebels they use abandoned subway tunnels to get under the walls of a heavily defended Philadelphia. However, their efforts are impeded when they begin to hallucinate due to oxygen deprivation after a subway tunnel collapses. During his hallucinations it is revealed that not only did Miles attempt to assassinate Monroe, but also that Miles fears that if Monroe asked him to rejoin the Militia, he would abandon his friends and do so. Meanwhile, Rachel, still under duress by Monroe, purports to be building a device to enhance the radius of the pendant devices, but Rachel's former colleague Dr. Jaffe reveals it to be a bomb. In order to maintain her usefulness to Monroe, Rachel kills Jaffe.

Flashbacks: Unlike other episodes there are none for this episode. Instead the characters hallucinate.
Miles hallucinates about seeing Monroe again and him asking him to rejoin the Republic, Nora about being bitten by a crocodile, Aaron sees his wife again and Charlie, having been shot, hallucinates that her journey so far has been a dream.

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Kashmir
Interesting twist with the hallucinations.  Interesting to see what the characters bring out that is locked up.

Elementary
Elementary is an American take on the Sherlock Holmes story.  With Sherlock Holmes, played by Jonny Lee Miller, being an addict who has just been released from a rehabilitation center.  With the help of Joan Watson, portrayed by Lucy Liu, an ex-surgeon with demons of her own whose job it is to keep Holmes clean.

Complete Info

Episodes Watched --
007 - Elementary - S01E07 - One Way to Get Out

3.5
I still really like this show.  The plots are well conceived and acting and direction bring them through without a hitch.  The only thing i would change is the 'arc' dealing with Sherlock's past .. who really cares?

BBC Misfits: Series 4

Wikipedia Series  Info

022 - Misfits - S04E05 - Episode Five
Finn finally tracks down his real father, only to discover that he's close to death. As he tries to build a relationship with him, Finn realises that his newly discovered half-sister might know more about their father's illness than she's letting on. Finn continues his sleuthing in an attempt to win Jess's affection by discovering Alex's hidden secret.

TV.Com Episode Info

3.5 Back to great episodes after last weeks let down.  Finn is becoming more complex (how could he not) and finding he has a sister was good twist.


Movies Being Watched --

Paul Blart: Mall Cop
With a heart that won't quit, a stomach that won't stop gurgling, and a self-sworn oath to protect his turf, he's Paul Blart: Mall Cop.

Mild-mannered Paul Blart (Kevin James, "The King of Queens") has always had huge dreams of becoming a State Trooper.  Until then, he patrols the local mall as a security guard.  With his closely cropped mustache, personal transporter and gung-ho attitude, only Blart seems to take his job seriously.  All that changes when a team of thugs raids the mall and takes hostages.  Untrained, unarmed and a super-size target, Blart has to become a real cop to save the day.

Wikipedia Film Info

3.0 Staring

This is a fun watch though I have to say it is not something I will watch a over and over.  I enjoy Kevin James though I like it better when his performance is tempered by stronger actors than found here.  The supporting case is good.  The story line is not suprising but good fun.

The Bourne Legacy
The Bourne Legacy is a 2012 American action thriller film directed by Tony Gilroy. The film stars Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, and Edward Norton. In The Bourne Legacy, Aaron Cross, a member of a black ops program whose agents are genetically enhanced, goes on the run once Bourne's actions lead to the public exposure of Operations Treadstone and Blackbriar.

It is the fourth installment in the Bourne film series, which is based on Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne series. Titular character Jason Bourne does not appear in The Bourne Legacy, as actor Matt Damon, who played Bourne in the first three films, chose not to return for a fourth film, however there are various pictures of Damon as Bourne seen throughout the film. Gilroy, co-screenwriter of the first three films, sought to continue the story of the film series without changing its events, and parts of The Bourne Legacy take place at the same time as the previous film The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). The Bourne Legacy was filmed primarily in New York, with some scenes filmed in the Philippines, South Korea, and Canada. It was theatrically released on August 10, 2012, in the United States.

The film uses the same title as The Bourne Legacy, a later Bourne novel written by Eric Van Lustbader; however, this film has a completely different plot from the novel.

Wikipedia Film Info

3.5 Staring

Got a sneak reviewers dvd of this ... i know ... i know .. shame on me.

I did not see this in theaters as I looked at is a another in an endless stream of reboots that Hollywood is putting out .. due to a lack of imagination.

But .. i was pleasently surprised.  Although there was a lot of flashbacks to what happened in the previous 3 films, I think if you hadn't seen any of them you would enjoy this film by itself.  I am pretty sure that I will buy this when it hits the shelves later in December.  If you liked the first ones you will probably like this one .. if you didn't like any of the first ones then don't bother.


Enemy Mine
In this visually stunning sci-fi adventure, two warriors engaged in a savage, futuristic war between Earth and the planet Dracon, crash-land on a desolate, fiery planet. At first, the human (Dennis Quaid) and his reptilian, alien opponent (Louis Gossett, Jr.) are intent on destroying each other. But after battling the elements an each other, the two stranded pilots gradually realize that the only way either of them will survive is to overcome their undying hatred.

Wikipedia Film Info

3.0 Staring

This film was directed by Wolfgang Petersen who wrote, directed and produced some very excellent shows ... an I remember this as being one of those.  But after just watching it for the first time in 25+ years .. oh my .. it didn't age well. 

Of course the special effects are dismal by today's standards but this really shows its age.

I do like the acting of a very young Dennis Quaid and an equally good performance by Louis Gossett, Jr.  It would have to be very hard for two people to carry off a film almost all by themselves but they do a very good job.

If only it wasn't so visually rough.  I will have to watch it again to be sure that I am not overstating the problem.  Maybe I was just expecting/remembering too much.

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Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #132 on: December 07, 2012, 07:02:25 AM »
What I am watching on 29-30Nov12 -

Movies Being Watched --

Little Fockers
Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) has finally begun to earn the respect of his ex-CIA father-in-law, Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) but one important test still lies ahead: will Greg prove that he has what it takes to be the family's next "Godfocker"... or will the circle of trust be broken for good? Returning co-stars Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand are joined by newcomers Jessica Alba, Laura Dern and Harvey Keitel in this hysterical family affair.

Wikipedia Film Info

3.0 Staring

Thoughts: I'm giving it a 3 but that is a little of a stretch.  Again the great cast of characters play well together but the story line seemed a little thin.  It is a fun watch and if you liked the other two this is definetly something to see.  I have seen it before and will see it again.

Beautiful Creatures
Sexy. Witty. On-the-edge Thriller. Beautiful Creatures stars Rachel Weisz (The Mummy series) as Petula and Susan Lynch (Waking Ned Devine) as Dorothy. These two sexy creatures have only one thing in common — rotten taste in men.

When Petula and Dorothy cover up the accidental murder of one jerk boyfriend, they hatch a hilarious scheme to collect a huge ransom. It's a perfect plan until a corrupt detective and an old beau want in on the scam. How will this cat-and-mouse game end?

Venice Magazine calls Beautiful Creatures "an edgy roller coaster ride!" Three dangerous men. Two beautiful women. These poor guys...don't stand a chance.

Wikipedia Film Info

3.0 Staring

Thoughts: Really enjoyed Susan Lynch and Rachel Weisz in this one.  It is an odd duck.  This is considered a 'blackly comic film noir' which simply put means odd duck.  There are some very good bits here and I think i will have to watch it again .. maybe a couple of times before i really get it.  Maybe I will be able to raise it from 3.0 up

Far From Heaven
Julianne Moore (Hannibal, Boogie Nights) and Dennis Quaid (The Rookie, Frequency) star in this seductive story of a seemingly perfect family, and the forbidden desires that threaten to tear them apart.

Cathy Whitaker (Moore) has it all-a lovely home, two wonderful children and a handsome husband (Quaid), who is successfully climbing the corporate ladder. But Cathy's idyllic existence is just an illusion, and she is eventually forced to choose between living a lie or following her heart.

Academy Award® nominee Moore "is a vision," declared Rex Reed, and he called Quaid's performance “the best of his career,” in this stunning drama hailed by the New York Post as “one of the year’s best.”

Wikipedia Film Info

3.0 Staring

Thoughts: This one has adultry, latent homosexual feelings/actions, white woman wanting a black man .. and all of this in the 1950's.  This is a dark brooding drama with complex characters.  I didn't like it very much but understand the pull for some people.


War of the Worlds 2: The Next Wave
Two years after the Martian invasion, George Herbert's worst fears are realized: They have returned. As a second wave of Martian Walkers lay waste to what's left of Earth, an alliance of military forces prepares a daring attack on the Red Planet itself. Once again, the future of Mankind hangs in the balance.

Wikipedia Film Info

3.5 Staring

Thoughts: This is the follow-up to the 2005 H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds film.  It and the English version,  probably would have done better if they hadn't come out at the same time as the Spielberg horrific Tom Cruise version.  This is a very low tech, and the English version is even lower low tech.  I liked the very much .. being so low tech it was interesting in its own right.


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Offline DSig

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #133 on: December 07, 2012, 07:07:21 AM »
What I have been watching on 01-05Nov12 -

TV Shows Being Watched --

The Walking Dead

Episodes Watched
025 - The Walking Dead - S03E06 - Hounded
"Hounded" is the sixth episode of the third season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on November 18, 2012. In the episode, Merle Dixon (Michael Rooker), under orders from The Governor (David Morrissey), leads a group of Woodbury residents to search for Michonne (Danai Gurira). Meanwhile, Andrea (Laurie Holden) begins to find her place in Woodbury and initiates a romantic relationship with the Governor. Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) receives mysterious phone calls inside the prison.

Wikipedia Episode Info

3.5 Great episode.  Interesting continuation of the telephone calls to Rick.  Slightly disturbed.  Merle is the same ass he had always been


026 - The Walking Dead - S03E07 - When the Dead Comes Knocking
"When the Dead Come Knocking" is the seventh episode of the third season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. It originally aired on AMC in the United States on November 25, 2012.

Wikipedia Episode Info

3.5 The Governor almost gets his due ..


027 - The Walking Dead - S03E08 - Made to Suffer
"Made to Suffer" is the eighth episode and mid-season finale of the third season of the post-apocalyptic horror television series The Walking Dead. It aired on AMC in the United States on December 2, 2012.

Wikipedia Episode Info

3.5 Another great episode.  But in the end it is the Governor, Merle and Daryl.  Great ending cliff hanger


Movies Being Watched --

Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Peter (Jason Segal) is a struggling musician who finds his world turned upside down when his TV celebrity girlfriend, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), dumps him for a tragically hip rock star. It's the hysterically funny look at how far one man will go to forget a girl — and all the fun he finds along the way!

Wikipedia Film Info

3.5 Staring

Thoughts: This is a fun film.  I really like Mila Kunis in this.  I never really like her in That 70's Show ... probably just the character.  But really started liking her when she took on the role of Meg in Family Guy.  She was great in Black Swan.  Kristen Bell and Jason Sgel are also very good in this one.

Just a good fun goof ..

V for Vendetta
Who is the man who hides his scarred face behind a mask? Hero or madman? Liberator or oppressor? Who is V – and who will join him in his daring plot to destroy the totalitarian regime that dominates his nation?

From the creators of The Matrix trilogy comes V For Vendetta, an arresting and uncompromising vision of the future based on the powerfully subversive graphic novel. Natalie Portman stars as Evey, a working-class girl who must determine if her hero has become the very menace he's fighting against. Hugo Weaving plays V – a bold, charismatic freedom fighter driven to exact revenge on those who disfigured him. And Stephen Rea portrays the detective leading a desperate quest to capture V before he ignites a revolution. The stakes rise. The tension electrifies. The action explodes. Whose side are you on? In V's world, there is no middle ground.

Wikipedia Film Info

4.0 Staring

Thoughts: Although Alan Moore, author of the comics, distanced himself from the film .. actually quite blasting it .. I really like it.  And it is not just that Natalie Portman is in it.

Along with Portman, Hugo Weaving does a marvelous job as V .. his is another voice I could listen to forever.

Stephen Fry is brilliant in this.  I really wish we got more of his stuff here in the states.  While living in England several years ago I really got to love his tv show which I think was QI.  To me he is the opidity of dry English Humor .. such as it is <lol>

This is a really great watch.  One of my favorites.

Far From Home
On the other side of innocence lies fear. DREW BARRYMORE (Charlie's Angels, The Wedding Singer, Never Been Kissed), Anthony Rapp (Adventures in Babysitting), Richard Masur (License to Drive) and Matt Frewer ("Max Headroom") star in this twisted suspense thriller as an innocent girl's budding sexuality lures her into a frenzied whirlwind of seduction and murder.

Stranded in the desert with an empty gas tank, Charlie Cross (Frewer) and his beautiful young daughter Joleen (Barrymore) go to a nearby trailer park to escape the blistering noonday heat. It's there Joleen meets Jimmy, a strange and mysterious boy whose brazen and enticing sexuality captures her curiosity. But as a shy competitor vies for her attention, Joleen becomes embroiled in a deadly adult world where the price of sophistication is terror.

Wikipedia Film Info

3.0 Staring

Thoughts: This has an early film for Drew Barrymore (except for her really young bits) and Jennifer Tilly.  

I loved Tilly in Bound and she was hilarious in Let it Ride.  Matt Frewer, otherwise known as Max Headroom is very good in this.

Over all the cast is very good.  The story line is somewhat odd.

This is a watch but don't buy it until you know you like it.


Man On Fire
The opening portrays a man being declared dead in an Italian hospital by a police chief. The man is an ex-CIA agent, John Creasy. Eleanor Ringel of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says that Creasy "introduces himself to us in a Sunset Boulevard–style opening."

In Italy, wealthy families often hire bodyguards to protect family members from the threat of kidnapping. A wealthy family that needs a bodyguard hires Creasy, a burned-out ex-CIA agent, to protect their daughter, Samantha "Sam" Balletto. Creasy has been broken down from all of the death and horror of combat he witnessed in the Vietnam War and in Beirut, Lebanon. Although Creasy is not interested in being a bodyguard, especially to a twelve year old youngster, he accepts the assignment because he has no better job offers.

Creasy barely tolerates the precocious child and her pestering questions about him and his life. But slowly, she chips away at his seemingly impenetrable exterior, his defenses drop, and he opens up to her. They become friends and he replaces her parents in their absences, giving her advice, guidance and help with track. Creasy's life is shattered when Sam is kidnapped. Despite being seriously wounded during the kidnapping, Creasy vows her safe return, and vows vengeance on the kidnappers.

Ringel said that the film "is actually two movies rather clumsily stitched together. The first - and better - half is a likable character study in which Sam and Creasy get to know and like each other and thereby get to know and like themselves. The second half, alas, is a routine vigilante flick, with Creasy surviving gunshots, explosions, car crashes and a most distracting production design (Chouraqui loves Ridley Scott warehouses and non-stop rain) in his quest to rescue Sam." Ringel added that "Man on Fire" is part artsy European, part shoot-'em-up American, and the parts are so self-consciously constructed that they refuse to have anything to do with one another." The Lexington Herald-Leader said that the film "veers erratically between existential meditation and conventional vengeance drama

Wikipedia Film Info

3.0 Staring

Thoughts: I like this one but the problem with it is .. it doesn't seem to have any soul.  Visually it is very well done.  I think the cast did a good job.  Glenn is distant and disturbed.  Malle .. I really like her in the role of Sam.  Much better than Fanning did in the remake.  Peschi is good.  Not My Cousin Vinney or With Honors good but good.  Always like Danny Aiello.  As usual it is a side part .. like in Leon: The Professional.

Overall this is a good film.  It is not as flashy as the remake Man of Fire  with Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning.  That one was a Tony Scott explosion fest.

If you can live without the flash .. give this a try.

Road Games
Stacy Keach is Pat Quid, a lone trucker who plays games to keep his sanity on long hauls through the desolate Outback. Jamie Lee Curtis is a free-spirited hitchhiker looking for excitement with a game of her own. And somewhere up ahead is a maniac in a van whose game may be butchering young women along the highway. But when the killer decides to raise the stakes, Quid’s game becomes personal...and the rules of this road are about to take some very deadly turns.

Director Richard Franklin (PSYCHO II, LINK) packs plenty of Hitchcock-like twists and suspense into this sly shocker that was nominated for four Australian Film Institute Awards and remains one of the most surprising thrillers of the ‘80s.

Wikipedia Film Info

3.0 Staring

Thoughts: This is an early one for Jamie Lee Curtis and she is still fresh and sweet ... even after her brother [url-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Myers_(character)]Michael Myers[/url] tried to kill her <g>.

This is another odd duck.  It is very low budget (well $1.75 mil isn't very low) but it has that feeling.  I think if it had been given better money, director and actors <G> it could have been a very good film.

Watch Before Buying ..

The Principal
He's teaching the students at Brandel High two words… No More.

Burglary. Drugs. Assault. Rape. The students at Brandel High are more than principal Rick Latimer (JAMES BELUSHI) bargained for. Gangs fight to control the school using knives- even guns- when they have to. When Latimer and the head of security (LOUIS GOSSETT, JR.) try to clean up the school and stop the narcotics trade, they run up against a teenage mafia. A violent confrontation on the campus leads to a deadly showdown with the drug dealer's gang, and one last chance for Latimer to save his career… and his life.

BELUSHI gives a bold, gritty performance in this fast paced action film. Academy Award®-winner GOSSETT* and RAE DAWN CHONG co-star.

1983, BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN

Wikipedia Film Info

3.0 Staring

Thoughts: This is just a fun movie.  Story of a pathetic teacher being made principal at the worst high school in the town.  Drugs and gang violence reign.  Belushi is the new gun slinger in town .. backed by the tired citizen Gossett, Jr.

There is no rocket science .. or science of any kind.  But it is a fun watch.

The Keep
During World War II, in German-occupied Romania, soldiers have been sent to occupy a strategic fortress known as The Keep - but a nightmarish discovery is soon uncovered in the mysterious, ancient edifice. It seems the massive structure was built not to keep anything out, but erected to keep something terrible contained deep within its walls.

Wikipedia Film Info

2.0 Staring

Thoughts: This is Michael Mann's second film and is followed by the GREAT Manhunter just 2 years later.  Obviously he went to school or something as there is no hit of the 'badness' of The Keep in Manhunter.

As the author of the book, F. Paul Wilson said .. “Visually intriguing, but otherwise utterly incomprehensible.”

It is disjointed but engagging.  The acting is "horrible".  Something big broke with this one.

This is a Don't Bother

Switchback
Clues. Suspects. Heartpounding suspense. Spectacular stunt sequences. They're all part of the explosive mix in Switchback, the double- and triple-twist thriller directed by Jeb Stuart (co-writer of Die Hard and The Fugitive) and starring Dennis Quaid and Danny Glover.

A serial killer is on the loose. And he's kidnapped the son of the FBI agent pursuing him. But who is the killer? Where is the child hidden? With powerful performances by Quaid and Glover, Switchback zigzags through sensational thrills and surprises around each turn.

Wikipedia Film Info

3.5 Staring

Thoughts: This is another of my favorite watches.  Really love Quaid and Glover in this one.  This is one of Jared Leto's early bits .. having just come off a great performace staring in Prefontaine.  Did a very good job here.

This is a good thriller .. good acting and good script.  Filming is beautiful.  All the pieces are there.

The Deep Blue Sea
Master chronicler of post-War England Terence Davies directs Rachel Weisz as Hester Collyer, the wife of an upper-class judge (Simon Russell Beale) and a free spirit trapped in a passionless marriage. Her encounter with Freddie Page (Tom Hiddleston), a troubled former RAF pilot, throws her life in turmoil, as their erotic relationship leaves her emotionally stranded and physically isolated.

Wikipedia Film Info

3.5 Staring

Thoughts: Weisz and Hiddleston do an excellent job in this 50's period piece set in England.  This is a romantic drama dealing with love lost, adultry and suicide.

It is a very heavy watch but is very good.

Flesh and Bone
Arlis Sweeney (Dennis Quaid) leads a life as simple and unchanging as his native West Texas plains. He stocks vending machines, moving from town to town and from one familiar lover to another. Kay Davies (Meg Ryan) also calls the road her home. Running from a broken marriage, she doesn't know where she's headed, but any place is better than where she's been. Fate brings them together and gives them a future, until a figure from the past – Arlis's father (James Caan) – awakens a memory as deep and dark as a grave: a family history written in cold blood.

From the writer of The Fabulous Baker Boys and Wonder Boys, and co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow in her first major feature film role.

Wikipedia Film Info

3.5 Staring

Thoughts: This is another very good film.  With a very good csst this film hits all the right notes.  It is a very dark drama in the 'film noir' tradition.

Meg Ryan is still young, wispy and beautiful in this one.  Gwyneth Paltrow, very early in her career shows great talent in this.  Also young and wispy she challenges Ryan for screen presence.

This is a good dark role for Dennis Quaid .. similar to his new TV series "Vegas".

Highly recommended.

The Wicker Man
Out patrolling a California highway, police officer Edward Malus (Nicolas Cage) stops a station wagon to return a little girl's lost doll. Moments later, a runaway truck slams into the station wagon, igniting it into a fiery wreck with the mother and child trapped inside. Edward fails to save them before the car explodes...and then spends months of his life choking down pills to get the image of their faces out of his head. But Edward is about to get a second chance. A desperate letter from his former girlfriend, Willow (Kate Beahan), arrives at his home with no postmark. Willow came into his life and left just as unexpectedly years before. But now, her daughter Rowan has gone missing, and Edward is the only person she trusts to help locate her. She asks him to come to her home on a private island - Summersisle - a place with its own traditions where people observe a forgotten way of life. Edward seizes the opportunity to make his life right again, and soon finds himself on a seaplane bound for the islands of the Pacific Northwest. But nothing is what it seems on isolated Summersisle, where a culture, dominated by its matriarch Sister Summersisle (Ellen Burstyn), is bound together by arcane traditions and a pagan festival called "the Day of Death and Rebirth." The secretive people of Summersisle only ridicule his investigation, insisting that a child named Rowan never existed there... or if she ever did was no longer alive. But what Edward doesn't know is that Willow's plea for help has invited more into his life than a chance for redemption. In unraveling Summersisle's closely held secrets, Edward is drawn into a web of ancient traditions and murderous deceit, and each step he takes closer to the lost child brings him one step closer to the unspeakable. And one step closer to the "Wicker Man."

2 editions of the movie - an unrated version (side A) with an alternate end sequence not shown theatrically, and the widescreen theatrical release version (side B) Commentary by writer/director Neil LaBute, co-stars Leelee Sobieski and Kate Beahan, editor Joel Plotch and costume designer Lynette Meyer Theatrical trailer

Thoughts: This is a .. good film.  It is not one of Nicolas Cage's films.  I think that the role is a bit out of his range.  Basically the cast is good.  And there are some very good scenes.

BUT this is a redo of a very good film with the same name The Wicker Man staring Edward Woodward.  To me the original is a better movie.  The film holds together better than the new one.

This is a good watch and unless you are stuck on the original you should give this a try.

Watch before buying

« Last Edit: December 07, 2012, 07:48:46 PM by DSig »
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samuelrichardscott

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Re: DSig's Short List of what I'm Watching
« Reply #134 on: December 07, 2012, 10:09:29 AM »
I love Beautiful Creatures. Great performances and the humour just resonated with me.

The Deep Blue Sea was brought to my attention by Jon. Good to see another who enjoys it and I'll continue to keep my eye out for a trigger price.
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