Paul Review - Sneak Preview, Not Yet Released!

Paul (2011)



Rated: R
Running Time: 104 minutes
Genre: Sci-Fi, Comedy, Adventure
Director: Greg Mottola

To summarize the premise, two besties (& a couple of sure-fire nerds), Graeme (Simon Pegg) and Clive (Nick Frost) are embarking on a cross country adventure hoping to catch a glimpse of anything supernatural and to obtain numerous photo opts at some of the most popular alien-sighting attractions. Amid their travels, they encounter quite an oddity to say the least - something they yap about constantly but truthfully did not desire a chance meeting with - an alien! Not just any alien, Paul to be specific. This creature, while the stereotypical big-headed green man, is not quite what they expected. A smart-alec who speaks English, makes pop-culture references and appears to be a genius who has the humor of a 14 year old boy. He needs the pair of fanatics to help him dodge a top-secret government agency who'd been housing him as a consultant of sorts for decades yet they had determined he'd served his needs and was to be disposed of.

Unfortunately I have to admit, I wasn't looking forward to it - from the trailer alone, it didn't have me sold. I went because I'm not one to turn down a free screener's pass! I will say I enjoyed it more than I thought I would yet it was not consistently interesting or comical. A few of the human/alien exchanges were dry and empty. I missed some references although I did get a few of them but not enough to crack more than a grin. Some of the crude jokes/gestures were brainless and unamusing yet I suppose for this movie's target group (boys/men teens to mid thirties who have grown up going to comic cons etc..), it's quite fitting! Jason Bateman never fails to play his role perfectly and a well-placed slap had to be the best scene (aside from the ending) in the film. We all certainly know Simon Pegg, and his bff in real life, Nick Frost, is familiar too. Yet the pair didn't wow me in any way. I will say it was better than I gauged yet nothing to be too excited over. I would love the opinion of an individual who got ALL the references and is a man in the age group I mentioned above. While I do not believe girls should watch "girl" movies only and vice versa, in this case, the target group will likely be the only group able to enjoy this oddball. In addition, the references to Christians were insulting. Although I understand that as in lots of cases within film, especially a comedy, what's written about is an extreme but to make fun of a belief and attributing those who believe in it to be naive, brain-washed individuals is irritating and false.

This movie gets an overall, 1.5 out of 5 frames!



While there certainly existed hilarities (did I just make up a word?!), overall it was slowly paced with not enough laughs to have me watch again. I'm certain though for geeks (not hatin', just statin') they'll catch more of the relations and it may appeal to them more than the average viewer. FYI - NOT for kids!!

Watch the trailer if you haven't already:



Will you go see this movie, wait for netflix or nix it? Let me know - post to the forum!

Danae signing off!

source: traileraddict.com, imdb.com

Trump wants you to care about these celebrities

"Celebrity Apprentice"
Channel: NBC (check your local listings)
Day & Time: Sunday @ 9pm EST


Who doesn’t like watching Donald Trump tell has beens and people you forgot existed to do some ridiculous tasks at least once a week? Anyone? Anyone? You in the back? No? Oh, okay. I didn’t think so. Somehow it’s just more interesting watching Trump boss these “celebrities” around than regular Joe shmoes who really need the job and the money. It just seems to be easier to watch sixteen “celebrities” duke it out for money to give to charities.

This new season has brought out a higher quotient of recognizable stars than usual. The line-up this season is as follows: Gary Busey, Jose Canseco, David Cassidy, Richard Hatch, Lil Jon, Mark McGrath, Meat Loaf, John Rich, Hope Dworaczyk, La Toya Jackson, Star Jones, NeNe Leakes, Marlee Matlin, Lisa Rinna, Niki Taylor, and Dionne Warwick. If you don’t recognize any of these names you can go on over to NBC’s website and go to the show’s page and read a short bio about them. The one person on here that I can’t believe is in this group of people trying to be relevant again is Marlee Matlin. She is an Oscar winner for crying out loud! She must be doing this as a favor to Trump to make this season a little more legitimate. Or he is catering to the deaf community.

The season premier was hectic as usual. They broke off into the boys against the girls and came up with team names. The boys chose “Backbone” and the girls chose “A.S.A.P. (Actors, Singers, Authors and Professionals with a Purpose).” Hatch and Jones become the project managers for the task. The task is to run a NY pizzeria. Once at their respective shops they start calling all of their famous and/or rich friends to drum up business. Richard is controlling and obnoxious, just like when he was on Survivor. Thankfully in this reality show he is wearing clothes. He seems to enjoy picking on little David Cassidy by physically pushing him around. The guys prep for sale and somewhere along the way Busey is dubbed the “Pepperoni Profit” and he will be out on the street preaching about the pizza. The ladies take to prepping as well and Star pretty much stays as far away from things that will make her dirty as possible. She works on a way too busy poster instead.

As things start rolling Hatch insists that they only deliver pizzas to large donors. He also pushes Cassidy just one too many times and he tells him so. Hatch doesn’t really seem to care at all. The ladies find that Niki Taylor was a pizza chef in her former life. It seems the only hitch is that Warwick isn’t too quick with the register and the credit card machine. Back at the guys site they are getting big spenders in there which makes Cassidy feel a little inferior. The girls bring in the big bucks too. They also win a taste test challenge and win the right to deliver pizzas to a fire house to pick up a $35,000 donation for their team. When one of Star’s friends order 40 pies at $1000 a piece Star decides to close the shop so they can focus on the large order. She rushes the delivery ladies (Marlee & Lisa) back and gets on them for being in traffic. They are able to make it to Star’s friend, who has changed the order to just one pie for $40,000. They don’t get to the fire house though. Tsk, tsk.

In the boardroom the girls are calmly going at each other and Busey’s cell phone goes off. He is pretty much the best part of this show. So all totaled the girls kicked the guy’s butts at $115,368 to $54,104. While the ladies celebrate the guys go at each other. Or, more specifically, they guys go on about how Hatch picked on everyone especially Cassidy. Canseco wants to beat up Hatch and Busey acts like a loon. When asked who should be fired everyone agrees it should be Hatch. It comes down to Hatch, Cassidy, and Canseco in the end and Trump thinks that Cassidy just doesn’t stick up for himself enough and he ends up getting fired. Ridiculous, right?

It seems to me that they only kept Hatch around for ratings because you know he will fight with people when Cassidy most likely wouldn’t. He just doesn’t seem like that sort of guy. Personally, I think this season should be pretty good. They have some egos on there and anything with Gary Busey is always a winner. I want him to win. If not Busey then definitely Marlee Matlin.

I give this opening show 3 1/2 frames. As things go, it could have been better. I'm grading on a curve.


Until next time kids, this has been Hava.

Has it really taken Tyra 16 seasons to be taken seriously?

America’s Next Top Model
Day/Time: Wednesdays @ 9pm EST
Channel: CW (Check your local listings)

Guess whose favorite crazy ex super model is back. Yep, it’s Tyra Banks and she is back for the sixteenth cycle of America’s Next Top Model. Yes, you heard me correctly. This show has really been on for sixteen seasons. It’s amazing isn’t it? Who would have ever thought that her crazy and kooky self would have been allowed to continue this nonsense for this long? Lucky for me she has. Even luckier for everyone she is still on this kick of “high fashion.” Last season was her first venture into the “high fashion” realm. She is trying to be more serious and actually taken seriously. That is why I’m sure this season will be just as interesting to watch.

Tyra and the CW network have taken all of the guess work out of who will make it into the house and onto the show by posting the short bios and pictures of the models for this cycle. I’m pretty disappointed about it. They use to not post this stuff until maybe the day before but this time they posted it the beginning of February. That is pretty foolish if you ask me. It takes all of the fun out of the first episode wondering who is going to make it onto the show. Apparently that is neither here nor there at this point since the network is set on just letting everyone know everything ahead of time. Looking through the girls’ bios they are all pretty much 23 and under except for one glaring stand out of a girl who is 26. Cue small violins playing as she recounts over and over about how this is her last chance to break into the modeling business. I also noticed that around 95% of the girls are in college or graduated college. That’s a nice step up from some of the other seasons. Is that your way of making this show more “high fashion” Tyra?

There really isn’t much else out there to know about this cycle. The only things that we can glean from the short preview clips is that they are still going with the “high fashion” theme, Miss J Alexander is not allowed to sit on the judges’ panel anymore, Andre Leon Talley is still there trying to make the show legitimate with his connection to Vogue magazine, and the girls will be doing a runway challenge while walking on water in a giant bubble. I hope that John Travolta is the guest judge for that challenge so he can comment on the girls’ ability to control the bubble. He does have the most experience of anyone I know since he was the boy in the bubble.

The only bit of insider info I can give you is that the trip this season is to Morocco. We know that since Jay Manuel, the photo shoot creative director, tweeted about it while he was there and posted a picture of him in the desert. That should be fun. I’m anticipating all of the flashbacks I will be having to the horrendous ”Sex and the City” movie sequel. You think that’s where Tyra got the idea to go there from?

I’m not sure how I feel about this new cycle yet. True I can’t have a completely formed opinion until I see it but I just don’t know about this “high fashion” angle they are working towards now. I’m happy for Tyra and her effort to make this show mean something and her desire to be taken seriously but she’s losing her kooky, fun, and sometimes questionable sanity side of herself that we have all come to know and love. She sometimes irked the devil out of me while all of the unnecessary weirdness but without it the show just doesn’t seem the same. We can only wait and see how this season pans out. I’m going to make an early prediction based off of what I have read about the contestants. I’m going to guess that it is the girl Nicole. I’m only guessing this based on her picture. They haven’t had a blond win a while so they are due. So if it’s not Nicole then it’s one of the other blonds.

Obviously since I haven't seen any of the season yet I can't give out any frames. But I'm sure this season will be worth many a frame to come. I have included a very funny clip of Tyra mocking the stereotypes of contestants that we see on the show. Enjoy!



Until next time kids, this has been Hava!

Wompers

I am ash-a-med! I had been planning on seeing The Fighter, Black Swan, The King's Speech & Tangled for the past few weeks. Has this busy gal made time in her "sh"edule to do so? Nada! Do not fear, while I have not been able to view and thus REview any new releases, I have intermittently been watching a miniseries. One that is unexpected as it's been out for quite some time AND it's not even American! You all know of my love of Netflix and in looking for some positively commented-on movies/shows, I came across a British series called Prime Suspect. This series came out in the 1990's and ran until the early part of 2000s. The show featured Helen Mirren as British Detective Chief Inspector (DCI), Jane Tennison. She is one of a handful of women in a male dominated field. Set in London, DCI Tennison takes on every case with her whole being. She is a no-nonsense, hard-working and quite honestly, unsympathetic boss. Throughout the series, she continues to have a painstaking struggle for any and all respect. Yet nothing stops her - she demands to be heard as she truly is a good detective. Not afraid to take on cases that may end badly, aren't pretty, nor will necessarily be the best for her future - she invests all she is into each and every case. BTW, the series has won Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards and more...

Here's a clip from the first episode of season 1 (unfortunately she's not in much of this clip in particular but figured it best to show you the beginning):



There are 7 seasons in all - I'm just finished Season 3 and will onto Season 4 this weekend. No worries about needing an excess amount of time to get the whole series in; each season is comprised of just four, one-hour episodes. I'm doing a little at a time.

I rate this series (so far!) a four and a half frames out of five:



Next series in my queue: Dollhouse!

YOUR homework for today - provide recommendations of what I should add to my Netflix queue based on some of YOUR favorite series!

Danae signing off!

What is that? The Alabama of Europe?

“Archer”
Day/Time: Thursdays @ 10pm EST
Channel: FX
Rating: MA (NOT for children)

Finally “Archer” has returned! After having to wait so long for the second season of this critically hailed animated spy comedy, we were not let down. The show delivered in its usual way. There were plenty of jokes and one liners and just the right amount of suspected “unsuspected” happenings. So assuming that you read my last review of the first season and the show thus far I will continue to write this review as if you know who everybody is. If you haven’t read the aforementioned review then please do so and come back to this one so that you won’t be lost.

The second season brings us back to ISIS and we learn that Cyril and Lana have broken up and apparently Cyril has gone Tiger Woods on us went upstate to a rehab facility for a sex addiction. ISIS is still going down the tubes financially so they are trying to find an investor. That leads the whole crew to Switzerland to help guard a billionaire’s 17 year old daughter and try to sucker him into investing in ISIS. So of course hijinks ensue and, ever the ladies’ man, Sterling Archer has attracted the eye of the daughter, Anka, and is repeatedly molested by her. Of course no one believes that she is coming on to him. All this is happening while trying to fend off the bad guys who are trying to kidnap Anka. This is really hard for Archer. He is use to molesting the women but never being the victim. The more disturbing action takes place in the billionaire father’s suite with Archer’s mother, Malory, who is the head of ISIS and HR manager Pam. Pam actually has a lot in common with the man and they get involved in some hot tubbing and drinking of “green Russians.” Malory gets in the mix trying to get the financial backing and ends up in a most disgusting situation that I can’t detail here in this review.

This show had it all. There were inappropriate jokes, awkward threesomes, shooting, beating the bad guys, and a little underage coming of age realizations. Archer beats the bad guys once again and helps Anka realize why she acts out so much. There was many a good line. I’ll probably be asking if I have to supply my own lids for a little while. Well, at least until next week when another episode comes on.

If you didn’t catch this episode I’m sure you will be able to catch it on HULU in a day or two. If you weren’t watching it purposely because you still haven’t seen the first season yet then stop being stupid and watch the new season. True you will have to catch up so you can understand the dynamic between Lana and Cyril and some of the other characters, but why miss out on a sure to be great second season and put yourself further behind? That’s just nonsensical.

I definitely give this episode 4 1/2 frames. I'm taking off half just to leave room for growth. Kind of like how they do in figure skating competitions. Can't give out the 10's to the first skater.


P.S. If you like Archer you would probably like “Bob’s Burgers” on FOX. Now, it doesn’t have the cursing and kind of nudity but it is still an animated wonder. H. John Benjamin does the voice of the lead character Bob and he is just as great as he is on Archer. The comedy delivers and it is a perfect interlude between “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy.” Just a fun suggestion from me to you.

I'd add a clip of "Archer" but since it isn't for younger readers or viewers I supply you with a clip of "Bob's Burgers" just you can enjoy in the greatness of it.


Go on over to www.j1studios.com in the forum and join the discussion about "Archer." Or start a new one about "Bob's Burgers." Either way, go on over.

Until next time kids, this has been Hava.

Tron Legacy (2010)

Tron Legacy (2010)
Rated: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action
Running Time: 127 Minutes
Director: Joseph Kosinski

A highly anticipated sequel to the original Tron (which was released in 1982), takes us to the digital world where its inhabitants battle for survival.

Some background of the original movie: Jeff Bridges plays and engineer/hacker, Kevin Flynn who aims to expose Ed Dillinger (David Warner) as the thief he is. Dillinger has stolen Flynn's program(s) thus advancing within his company, ENCOM, on the coattails of someone else's work. Flynn hacks into ENCOM's system and is assisted by friends (and ENCOM employees) Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner) & Dr. Lora Baines (Cindy Morgan). Amidst the execution, Flynn gets transported into the digital world. In this realm, all programs take on the appearance of their user & The Master Control Program, which had previously prevented Flynn from accessing ENCOM's system, is controlled in the digital world by Sark. Sark manipulates programs who don't strictly abide by the mindset that you are to have no faith in their respective users. There is a struggle to defeat Sark & expose Dillinger, to which they are successful and, in conclusion, Flynn wins out and becomes CEO of ENCOM.

Tron Legacy continues this saga 20 years later with Flynn's son, Sam (Garrett Hedlund) who is doesn't take his inheritance (ownership of ENCOM) seriously and aims simply to periodically make fools of the board of directors. He is visited by Bradley, his fathers cohort 20 years ago, who pushes him to check out the former arcade, run by Flynn. Bradley received a page from Flynn's office at the arcade. Sam discovers a secret work area and accidentally gets transported into a digital world. There he discovers Clu; a program Flynn made to create a perfect world who has turned on Flynn. Sam also meets Quorra (Olivia Wilde) who is his path to finding his father and getting them out of there.

The visuals are absolutely stunning. If computer graphics continue down this path, there will be no need for human actors/actresses (although there still may be a desire for them)! Jeff Bridges' CGI equivalent is almost flawless. Aside from the somewhat awkward speeches which emphasize the imperfection, (and difficulty) of creating the perfect replica of human oral movement - the facial structure, the eyes, the small strand of hair that falls into his forehead - truly amazing. The neon-themed, contrasted world makes it hard to forget. Add in, as in the original, tons of spandex and you have a ocular winner!

Critics state that the movie lacks character development/connection. To some extent I agree - you desire to see Sam succeed but not enough to keep watching. What does keep your eyes glued to the screen are the vibrant, contrast-bearing, digital scenery AND (at least for me), the heartfelt desire to see Kevin Flynn through to the end (whatever that may be). Jeff Bridges has continued to impress me and even this somewhat unemotional world, has portrayed his earnestness, desire and amazement at all that has happened. Aside from the visual aspect, he makes this film. Kudos too to Olivia Wilde.

As in the original and now upgraded, you too cannot miss the Light Cycle races on a multi-layered board nor the disc battles.

It does seem though as though that the first Tron was smarter. While the original did focus on creating "digital" graphics, (likely considered current at the time) it more so was attentive to the framework and workings that make up Tron, ENCOM, The Grid etc... the world they are entrapped in and the programs that comprise the majority of said world. This is lacking in the sequel - while I was interested in the visuals, the "cool" factor of some of the situations Sam & Quorra fell into, I didn't feel the significance of what was said/done with the intention of having us distraught/disturbed.

A plus: Daft Punk completed the soundtrack. How can you beat this?! If you don't know of them btw, this French, electronica/house duo have done some amazing work and you NEED to find out more. The tracks need to grow on you a bit as they largely impress upon viewership of the film.

I give this a three out of five frames!



I battled with myself as I was tempted to give this a 2.5 rating; don't be dissuaded by this! It's not the top movie of 2010 nor a movie some will choose to purchase but CERTAINLY worth renting, watching, maybe watching twice AND if you can get on dvd inexpensively, I believe worth adding to your collection!

Trailer:



As The Fighter seems to be your next movie review choice - that shall be the next to follow!

Email me at pictureonawall@gmail.com, visit & chat on the forum at www.j1studios.com or go to J1 Studios Facebook page!

Danae signing off!

Archer: Codename Duchess

"Archer"
Day/Time: Thursdays @ 10pm est
Channel: FX
Rating: NR (Not for children)

If you haven’t seen the animated show “Archer” on FX then you are seriously missing out. But don’t worry, the full first season is now FINALLY out on DVD and just in time for the second season to start on 1/27/11 (Check your local listings for times). If you’re wondering why you should bother catching up on this cartoon then I will gladly tell you all about the first season. This is more than just a cartoon. It’s geared specifically for adults and the humor ranges from the ridiculous to the sublime. I haven’t met a person yet that has seen this show that hasn’t absolutely loved it.

While the first season was only a mere ten episodes long it set up plenty of back story and a plot that left you hanging and upset that you had to wait practically an entire year for the next season. As the season opens you are introduced to super spy Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) and his cohorts at ISIS. Lead by his mother Malory, who is brilliantly voiced by Jessica Walter, Archer is made to work with his ex-girlfriend Lana (Aisha Tyler), her new boyfriend and ISIS comptroller Cyril (Chris Parnell), a sexual fetishist receptionist Cheryl or Carol or whatever (Judy Greer), and the office whipping girl, HR leader Pam (Amber Nash). Together this crazy crew finds themselves in personal tangles and always seems to interfere with their espionage work.

As the season wore on you found that the work for ISIS (International Secret Intelligence Service) was only just a mild distraction for these trained spies. It was their personal lives and dramas that were the real story. “Archer” keeps the story lines new and constant running jokes. You find yourself thinking that they won’t go there, but oh yes they do and much further.

This group of hilarious cohorts find themselves searching for moles inside of ISIS, dealing with a new spy in the group that seems too good to be true (and not just because he’s black and Jewish), going up against rival assassins, protecting a “luxury airship” from bomb threats, and trying to obtain new and lucrative contracts to keep ISIS afloat. All this happens while Malory is trying to keep the identity of Archer’s real father under wraps.

I strongly suggest that you go out and buy the first season or get it on Netflix or download it free somewhere on the internet. “Archer” isn’t just some half hour long cartoon. It is a hilarious comedy full of animated action. The critics love this show, it has a huge fan base, and the voice of Archer, H. Jon Benjamin, even won an Emmy for his voice work on the show. You really can’t get much better than this. So everyone lotion up your man hands, grab your ping pong paddles, and remember, it’s just the tip. Oh, and whatever you do, DON’T LIGHT THAT MATCH! THIS PLACE WILL BLOW AT ANY SECOND! (You have to watch the first season to understand any of that. So get to it.)

I would include a video but none of them are appropriate for all reading and viewing audiences as this show is not for children. But you can go to the official website where they have full episodes and clips up and just about anything else you would want to know about the show and it's cast.

I do give this show five full frames so you know I mean business.


Head on over to www.j1studios.com and discuss "Archer" in the forum. Tell me how much you love it and then how much you love me for getting you turned on to the show.

Until next time kids, this has been Hava.