I've Been Watching

The Simpsons..........Movie (2007) - Why the Long Pause? That's How Long it Took Them to Make a Movie

2007-08-03T14:58:00.000-05:00

I have to admit...I haven't watched the Simpsons on TV for several years. Probably not since the 6th or 7th season, but I'm a huge fan of animation. I haven't watched the Family Guy or Futurama either...I tend to stick with the animation of old, like Looney Tunes and the Hanna Barbera classics, which may not have been funnier, but it was clever. It was a little more subtle. Maybe I'm missing out on some of the new stuff...I'm told Family Guy and Futurama are hilarious. One day I'll rent them all at once and see for myself. Maybe I'll add them to my Netflix queue right now.

But I'm not here to talk about that...I'm here to talk about The Simpsons Movie. I went to see this by myself first of all...I haven't done that in a while, but Katharine was SO not interested. I sat down, not sure of what to expect. Should I expect the same old Simpsons I watched on TV seven years ago or would it be new? Would they have characters I didn't recognize? Would any of the characters have aged? Of course not. It was exactly the same. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it...well, most of it. It was certainly large enough to be worthy of the big screen...at least after the first 30 minutes went by. I was worried when it started..."it was just a giant episode"..."why pay for something I can see at home for free in my living room?" And then they kicked off the plot of the movie about pollution and Spider Pig and Homer being a dolt and the Simpsons leaving Springfield. A little preachy, but with many funny bits.

Wait...here's where I think they went WRONG (and of course this is my opinion and mine alone). This was their big chance to start again fresh. Their chance to LEAVE the Simpsons somewhere else and begin with new characters, new plot lines, something new for the fans to look at. Something to start off the next season of the longest running primetime show on television in a setting you've never seen before. But maybe that's not what die hard Simpsons fans want. I think it would have been GREAT!

One reviewer said that the Simpsons Movie wasn't just a long episode...I think it kind of was, but as I said earlier, with the visuals they provided, it was a long episode worth taking the time to go see in theaters because seeing it on TV...on DVD...really makes it just another episode of the show.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) - I Get Confused When People Refer to it as OOTP

2007-07-18T23:11:00.000-05:00

Katharine and I just came from seeing the 5th Harry Potter book (well...it was actually a movie...we didn't see the book), at the IMAX theater near our house where the last 15 minutes of the movie is in 3D.

I haven't read any of the books aside from the first 50 pages of the first one; and I've never seen the first movie, but I have really enjoyed the 4 sequels so far. Each one seems to get better than the next (with this and the last being tied for best so far). I just know that come this Saturday, when the last of the books are released, that someone is going to f*ck me over and reveal what happens to Harry...there's no way I'll make it the next two years until "Deathly Hallows" comes out in theaters to find out Harry's fate. But this isn't about that. This is about OOTP.

See it on an IMAX screen if you can. The movie is great...Harry doesn't die (because there are two more books obviously and therefore two more movies unless the kids get too old too fast), and if you're like me, you won't notice all the missing subplots from the books. They're not important...I didn't miss them. I know what they are because people told me and they sound like a bunch of filler anyway.

3D scenes...did I mention those are awesome? Did I?

Transformers (2007) - More Than Meets the Eye...and My Expectations

2007-07-11T22:07:00.000-05:00

I had no idea what to expect when we went to go see The Transformers last week...I never played with the toys and I've never seen the cartoon.

I played with Star Wars figures, Star Trek figures, Dukes of Hazzard figures, and Love Boat figures. Stop laughing...it's all true. Anyway...like I said through your laughter...I knew nothing about Transformers. For example; I didn't know Transformers talked. I didn't know there were good and bad Transformers. I didn't know Transformers were 30 feet tall. And finally, I don't recall any of the girls in my high school looking like Megan Fox's character...the leading female character of the movie playing opposite Shia LaBeouf.

Transformers was a great movie...Shia LaBeouf is showing up in movies everywhere, currently filming the 4th Indiana Jones movie and recently finishing the soon to be released on DVD Disturbia. I think he made the movie with a mix of action and humor. The only thing about the movie I didn't like was during the robot battle scenes...the robots were all jumbled together and you couldn't tell who was fighting who. That's not important though...everyone should go see this movie and bring the kids!

Live Free or Die Hard (2007) - Otherwise Known as Die Hard 4...and No, It Wasn't a Movie About New Hampshire

2007-06-30T14:45:00.000-05:00

Bruce Willis is returns to the character that made him a movie star in this 4th installment of the Die Hard series. Hollywood is finally starting to learn how to make a good sequel...it started with Rocky Balboa...this time, Die Hard 4 proves to be a better movie than Die Hard 2 and Die Hard with a Vengeance and finds itself as my second favorite Die Hard movie!

The writers really put the character in a situation that fits the rest of the series as cyberterrorists hold America hostage...the task of stopping them falls to the man who couldn't use a fax machine (in Die Hard 2), didn't have a cell phone (in the original), and in this one, doesn't know anything about computers and the Internet. That's where Justin Long comes in (the Apple commerical Mac Guy)...who offsets the gruff character of McClane with his updated humor...the two of them compliment each other perfectly. And for those annoyed that the McClane family was left out of Die Hard 3...daughter Lucy McClane makes an appearance (or two...or three) and is perfectly acted by Mary Elizabeth Winstead as a combination of Bruce Willis' character and Bonnie Bedilia's Holly Gennaro from the first two films. Lastly...the appearance of Kevin Smith in a role that had to be written for him. Genius.

The only distraction in this film that made it difficult to remember that it was a Die Hard movie was the absence of Bruce Willis' hair. It sounds stupid, and I know...people will be saying that about pictures of me in a few years too...but otherwise, this was a fantastic sequel and every Die Hard fan should go see it.

Breaking News from WWE.COM - Only in Professional Wrestling (2007)

2007-06-11T22:16:00.000-05:00

Most people laugh when you tell them that you watch WWE Wrestling. But only the WWE would kill of the chairman of the board for the sake of a publicity stunt. At least that's what I hope they're doing.

Spiderman 3 (2007) - Does Whatever a Spider Can

2007-05-16T20:15:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted a good movie review since the Grindhouse, so I thought I'd jump back in with Spiderman 3 - The IMAX Experience. What did I think of Spiderman 3? Without giving away too many plot points...too many villians. The villians for Spidey 3 have been publicly announced, but maybe you haven't read anything...I'll talk more about them after the picture.

I haven't read a lot of the old Marvel Comics, so I never know the history of the Spider villians when I go to the movies. I've grown tired over the whiny Harry Osbourne..."you killed my daddy even though he's the Green Goblin"...let it go Harry. The Sandman...cool special effects along with great acting by Thomas Hayden Church. Venom...who doesn't like Venom? The only problem with casting Topher Grace in that role was that he's the only person that could replace Tobey McGuire for Spiderman 4.

Let's talk about the main characters. Why make Peter Parker a goofball at the time in the movie where he was supposed to be evil? Kirstin Dunst's Mary Jane was whiny this time around...time for her to go and be replaced by Gwen Stacy. Right...she doesn't want to be in Spiderman 4 either from what I've read. Aunt Mae...shut the hell up and let the plot move forward. I'm still trying to figure out where Uncle Ben hid the ring as he swam across the lake. Don't worry if you're confused...Aunt Mae will clear it up for you.

It sounds like I didn't like the movie, but it was really good. It's just that it could have been 2 movies the way they kept switching from story to story. The end was great though...even if I was tilting my head like a confused dog at one point. Just see it...you'll know.

Only at the GRINDHOUSE (2007) - If Rodriguez and Tarantino Appeared on Celebrity Deathmatch, Rodriguez Would Win

2007-04-09T22:45:00.000-05:00

While others were spending quality time with family on Easter Sunday, I spent 3 1/2 hours at The Grindhouse, the new double feature movie experience by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino.

Rodriguez's Planet Terror was fast paced and gory, yet comical at the same time with just enough campiness to make it really fun. Where else can you go and see Rose McGowan running around with a machine gun stump leg, blowing away the bad guys...and the sex scene...let's just say it's something you've never seen before. It's not what you think...you have to see it to know what I'm talking about.

Quentin's DeathProof was unfortunately not as good in my opinion. It was full of interesting characters and snappy dialogue...a little bit scary even for the fist 15 minutes. And then there was the middle hour, which introduced you to the annoying female "heroes" of the film...the heroes that you sort of hoped would be killed by the stunt driving maniac. You didn't care about them. I actually disliked them and found myself rooting for the wrong side during the last 15 minutes of the movie...where I won't tell you what happens...only that it would have been the only other exciting part of the movie...except, like I said, I didn't care. By then.

The aging of the film was a neat trick...the "accidental" cut scenes and missing reels placed strategically throughout both stories was perfect and helped move the stories along. The fake previews shown during intermission were creative...hurry to the bathroom during the Eli Roth trailer for Thanksgiving like I did. Go see The Grindhouse before The Weinstein Company decides to separate the two films which defeats the entire purpose of seeing the film. It's an experience the way it is.

Dark Ride (2006) - The First of 7 of the Eight Films to Die For

2007-04-05T07:28:00.000-05:00

I don't know if you know this, but I've seen a lot of horror movies...really scary movies that prevent you from sleeping to those really boring movies that make you wonder what's wrong with you because you weren't disturbed by them.

Last November, there was a HorrorFest called 8 Films to Die For that played at a select few theaters for one weekend. I couldn't make it to the festival, but now those films have been released on DVD so I picked them up...well, I picked up 7 of them because the 8th is being released in theaters by itself. Must be good.

If Dark Ride is any indication of how good all of those movies are, then I made a quality purchase. Dark Ride is about a group of friends on a road trip that decide to spend the night in an old amusement park haunted house ride, unaware that a psychopath has taken refuge there. It's got all those quliaties that you expect in a B movie, but it's better than some high budget horror that I've seen. It's got one of the best horror endings I've seen in a long time, which I can't reveal...there's both a twist and slice of reality thrown in. Fantastic movie that gives low budget horror a good name.

Wrestlemania 23 (2007) - All Grown Up and Crushed from a Jump Off a 20 Foot Ladder

2007-04-03T17:35:00.000-05:00

I used to watch WWF wrestling when I was a kid. I took about 15 years off from watching and in that time they changed the name to WWE thanks to the World Wildlife Foundation and a lawsuit. I stopped watching years ago because I thought it was fake...that's what everyone says...wrestling is fake. I started watching again about 6 months ago when I saw a clip of a match on VH1's Hogan Knows Best, which features Hulk Hogan and his family.

I've got to tell you; although the outcome may be planned out well in advance of a WWE wrestling match, it's definitely not FAKE. There is no way in hell that you can fake this:

The highlited circle shows an entertainer jumping off of a 20 foot ladder. The next one shows him landing on his opponent who is sprawled out across another aluminum ladder.

That hurts no matter how well you plan it. The rest of the show featured similar stunts for 3 1/2 hours of fun. Check it out on DVD when it comes out and see what other action you missed including a Battle of the Billionaires resulting in shaving someone's head bald, and four championship matches.

The Riches (2007) - The Latest Basic Cable Show to Feature Strong Language, Violence, and {gasp} Nudity

2007-03-28T23:33:00.000-05:00

They've only aired 3 episodes, but so far I'm really enjoying The Riches on FX. The debut of this show starring the very funny Eddie Izzard, premiered just in time for me to watch it with Battlestar Galactica on haitus until January 08 and Nip Tuck on break until Season 5.

The plot of The Riches is something new...that's why it interested me. It's about a family of drifters...gypsies...theives. A family that separates themselves from the safety of their gang (for lack of a better word), to try and find themselves a better life.

Their involvement in a fatal car crash presents an opportunity for the Malloy family to assume the lives of the Doug Rich family who have recently purchased a house in Edenfalls over the Internet...a lawyers home in a ritzy Louisiana neighborhood. Eddie Izzard as Wayne Malloy decides that his family is going to steal the American Dream...each week they face the challenges of living in a rich man's world with no idea who or what might get in their way...like Doug's ex-wife who shows up in the upcoming episode looking for money.

300 (2007) - Should Actually Have Been Called 301 and Other Problems I Have with This Movie

2007-03-15T00:06:00.000-05:00

Let me start off with some simple math. If King Leonidas chases after the Persians with 300 men...shouldn't the movie be called 301? What a piece of crap! I should have known that I would hate a "history" movie...if you want to call it that since it's not accurate in any way. The visual effects were graphic novelly and they put some kind of cool filter on the video...which I liked, but the story...GAH. What story? To make it an even bigger piece of crap, we went to see this movie at the local IMAX theater. Nothing like seeing crap on the largest screen in New England.

Let me give you a little more than just using the word "crap" over and over again. Starting right out, it was a little cryptic who I was supposed to care about. As soon as I figured out who the main character was, I was presented with several groups of armies...not sure where any of them were from, aside from the Spartans...and I'm not sure why the additional groups were necessary to the non-story. If I were the leader of another unknown army, I wouldn't want to fight with the Spartans because the Spartans make new speeches as they head into each battle. They're chatty. Blah blah blah...we're Spartans and we can kick anyone's ass...blah blah blah...we're soldiers and you're not...you have a billion people in your army and we're still stronger...BULLSHIT. Shut up and fight. And when they do rush into battle, you can't tell who's hitting who because it's all mashed together.

There's a lot of walking in this movie. What's up with movies like this and all the walking around...300...Lord of the Rings...Eragon...all have lots of walking with no destination. I know...I know...don't trash LOTR, but really...the only good movie of those three was The Two Towers anyway.

Meanwhile, back in Sparta (or whatever their home city is called)...the queen is doing something that nobody gives a shit about and doesn't really have any impact on the outcome of the movie. It doesn't matter. I'd call this a spoiler, but the whole movie spoiled me from ever wanting to learn more about this era.

I went with 5 other people and have talked to a few others about this film...most of them liked it...I'm not sure why. Like I said...the video filters were cool...notice that's the only part of the movie I said was cool (ok, there was a cool 3 minutes near the end and someone said something funny twice)...you can see most of the visual stuff from stills on the Internet. Save your 9-13 dollars on this one and rent "Farce of the Penguins" instead. It's a lot more fun and with that, you don't expect a story...it's just about a bunch of penguins that have sex...narrated by Samuel L. Jackson.

Oh...and for anyone who thinks this movie is controversial...don't worry...if I have my way, nobody will go see it anyway. Piece of crap.

The Marine (2006) - The Best Movie Starring WWE Superstar John Cena Last Year

2007-02-14T22:09:00.000-05:00

Katharine and I just finished watching The Marine on DVD. I know what you're thinking..."a guy movie on Valentine's Day just isn't right"...but it IS right and it's a great action movie. Remember the days of Schwartzenegger, Stallone, Willis, and Norris...the days of the quality action movie are over for the most part, but John Cena brings it all back as a former marine battling a gang of diamond theives who have kidnapped his wife. Familiar plot...yes. Arnold battled to rescue his kidnapped daughter in Commando in 1985. Wasn't Alyssa Milano in that movie? I think she was 13 years old. And Arnold wasn't the governor. Bruce Willis battled terrorists to rescue his wife from the Nakatomi Plaza...but terrorists are off limits now

This isn't about them though...this is about Cena and the actress who plays Kimber on Nip/Tuck (Kelly Carlson if you must know or think I don't). Large explosions, a little comedy, fantastic fight scenes...great job WWE Films in conjunction with 20th Century Fox. You've reminded me of that feeling of watching a 1980s action movie and you did it well.

Shear Madness - So It's Not Exactly a Movie, But It's Still Something I Watched

2007-02-06T11:31:00.000-05:00

For 27 Years, Shear Madness has charmed audiences in the Boston area, and this year is no exception. Sounds like a great marketing line, and Boston can use some good marketing after last week's Aqua Teen hunger Force marketing fiasco. We went to the Charles Playhouse over the weekend to see a live stage show for a change...hmmm..."live stage show" makes it sound dirty...there is some sex, and some violence, but most of all, Shear Madness is a comedy.

From the website:
"The play is set today in a hairstyling salon in the city in which it plays. The landlady Isabel Czerny who lives above the shop is murdered, and every one of the actors has a reason to do her in. The audience gets involved in the action by questioning the actors and attempting to solve the crime."

It's a fabulous show with superb improv comedy and audience participation. I thought going into it that it would be a good show, but it surpassed those expectations. If you live in the area, go check it out...I'd see it again, but not before I go to seee Blue Man Group again!

Primeval (2007) - The Bigger the Crocodile, the More They Hate Dictators...and More Crap That Doesn't Make Sense

2007-01-17T22:47:00.000-05:00

We just got back from the movie theater...we saw Primeval, a movie that appears to be a thriller about a serial killer, when in reality it's a political movie with some bad CGI thrown in for good measure. What the fuck?! I'm going to SPOIL this movie to pieces to discourage you from seeing it. Let the SPOILING begin after the photo.

We went to this movie, thinking it was a horror type movie...it is being marketed as a horror movie...we like horror movies. We do not like political movies...this is a political movie...but a sucky political movie. We were scammed. Have you ever seen Lake Placid, the movie about the fake looking giant crocodile? This movie has the same crocodile in it...in this movie, he's moved to Africa and he's pissed off...kind of like the time that Jaws moved to the Caribbean and chased Brody's wife. This time, the crocodile has returned because he hates war...he hates dictators...he particularly hates it when a soldier with a gun tries to rape a female reporter! So much so that he sneaks into the tent they're in and attacks the would be rapist. He sneaks in...HE'S 25 FEET LONG and nobody saw him!

Basically, the movie has a group of good people, the reporters, caught between the evil that is a creature descended from dinosaurs who wants to kill them...and a warlord from a small African nation who wants to kill them. Both are equally violent and nasty opponents. but which one is worse? What is the message they're trying to get across, because there's definitely a message.

I'll repeat that this movie is nothing that the movie poster or the preview suggests, that's for certain. I've just read some reviews that I wish I read 3 hours ago and everyone is pissed...everyone feels cheated. They WERE cheated and if you pay to see this...you'll feel cheated too. Fair warning.

Rocky Balboa (2006) - The Best of the Series So Far

2006-12-27T09:37:00.000-05:00

When I first hear that they were making Rocky VI, my first thought was, "That's stupid...Rocky V was bad enough" and that was followed by, "I hope Rocky dies so they can't make another one". Of course I was going to see it anyway...just as I'll go see Die Hard 4, Rambo 4, Indiana Jones 4, and Beverly Hills Cop 4...because I grew up watching this shit and you just have to see the sequels. Notice that they're all part 4s? Anyway today I'm just talking about Rocky VI...or "Rocky Balboa" as they decided to title it to make you forget it was a 5th sequel.

Seriously, this was the best of the entire Rocky series. Some people will complain that there's not enough action, but that's only because there was a real story. A good story that didn't take away from the goodness of the original, and the 3rd and 4th movies. Don't talk to me about Rocky II...that was boring...and Rocky V...we already talked about that.

Sure, Rocky is a bit older now, but that's what this story is about. It doesn't try to pretend that he never had brain damage...that's obvious. Adrian is dead (that's not a spoiler, it's in the description of the movie), and Rocky is dealing with that and getting old...running his restaurant...trying to bond with his kid who is embarrased that he's "son of Rocky". It's a great story with a really good fight at the end that makes sense as an ending to the series. I'm not going to tell you who wins...don't be stupid. Go see the movie and find out for yourself.

Alfred, Unibrow, and the Big Headed Boy 3: A Bfuch N Krappy Holiday Movie (2005) - One Year Later, Same Old Movie

2006-12-12T21:09:00.000-05:00

Every year, you tune into A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman...why not tune in again for Alfred, Unibrow, and the Big Headed Boy 3: A Bfuch N Krappy Holiday Movie...even if you've already seen it (just click the poster to open a new window).

Since it's the movie I created and released LAST YEAR, I know you've already seen it, but why not make it a yearly tradition? It's the second best movie I've ever made.

Casino Royale (2006) - This 007 is Number 001

2006-11-25T20:41:00.000-05:00

Just came from the new James Bond movie...the twentieth...twenty-first...it doesn't really matter, because Casino Royale is a reboot of the Bond franchise so it's #1.

No longer is Bond a superhero...thankfully he's a real person, he's flawed, he can be hurt (and he is), he's without his Inspector Gadget type...gadgets. He has gadgets...not to worry, but it's possible that they could actually exist. Consider that if your hero is perfect and indestructable, there's never any worry...no real danger and that makes for a boring story.

This was a refreshing change for Bond. And Daniel Craig...who everyone complained about as the new 007, in my opinion, is the best Bond ever. EVER. Yeah, yeah...I know all of you Sean Connery fans will disagree, and some of you have never even see Sean Connery as Bond, but you'll swear he's the best because that's what everyone tells you. That's what you're parents told you who first saw James Bond in the 60s and 70s...but that was then and this is 2006. Sean Connery hasn't made a good movie since he was James Bond, so let it go. Seriously. Take a breath. Let it go.

From the really cool graphic intense title sequence to the expertly choreographed opening chase scene high above the ground...you'll be on the edge of your seat for this one. There's just enough action vs. drama...a little too much romance at one point...but the all important game at the Casino Royale, which could have been dull, is paced just right.

I didn't think I would like it...I've never been able to sit through an entire James Bond movie...they always lose my interest and I walk away. Not this time, and at 2 hours and 30 minutes, it could have easily happened.

HEROES Beats LOST as the Best New Show on TV

2006-11-23T11:58:00.000-05:00

"Save the Cheerleader...Save the World"...it may sound like a cheesy catchphrase to some of you, and it probably is, but don't let that put you off of watching Heroes on NBC. I know...I swore I would never watch another NBC show again after they cancelled Surface prematurely without warning, but Heroes is THE best show on TV right now.

If you like LOST, but think they leave a lot of questions unanswered...then Heroes is the show for you. Heroes is everything that LOST wants to be, but at the end of an episode, you have answers. Don't get me wrong...I still really like LOST, but Heroes is better.

Heroes is the story of ordinary people that discover that they have extraordinary powers. There's also an ultimate evil bringing them all together to stop the ultimate disaster. A guy who paints the future, a woman whose mirror image is more than just her reflection, a young Japanese man that can bend time and space, a cop that hears others thoughts, an indestructable cheerleader, and a guy who takes on the powers of others. There are a lot of characters to remember; that seems to be the way of the new shows, but the characters of Heroes are worth getting to know.

I Saw Saw...Did You See Saw?

2006-11-16T16:18:00.000-05:00

Last night, I went to go see the third movie in the Saw franchise...one of the best horror movie franchises EVER if you like torture in the name of showing people their lives aren't so bad...really. Our hero, Jigsaw, is really a good guy who is showing people the error of their ways. He hates murderers...he's a GOOD guy. Sure he is.

I have to say that I'm sticking by Saw II as the best in the series so far. Saw, the original, was an excellent movie. Saw III has some holes...and, oh...uhm...sorry, I think I just gave away something that happens in the movie. Let's just say that there are some twists that I didn't expect. Shit...there I go again. Suffice it to say that Jigsaw...aka John Cramer...is a crafty man...he's a genius when it comes to sharp objects. A lot of questions were answered from the first two Saw movies, but more than that was left unresolved.

The creepiest part of the movie was, and this is not a spoiler; there were only 7 of us in the theater and the whole time all I could think of was, the doors were going to be locked and over the loudspeaker we'd hear..."Hello moviegoers. I want to play a game".

LOST: Season 3, Part 1 - What I Would Do as a Captive of "The Others"

2006-11-09T15:17:00.000-05:00

If you haven't seen all 6 episodes of LOST so far...and if you DO NOT want to know what's happened so far because you haven't watched it...STOP READING because I will SPOIL it for you and then you'll be all pissy with me. Anyway...still here? Read at your own risk.

SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

Lost is gone for 13 weeks and how did they leave it? Jack, Kate, and Sawyer...all in the hands of The Others. What would you do if you were in the hands of The Others? Why am I capitalizing "The Others"?

If I were a captive of The Others...I'd be trying to escape. Kate can get out of her cell...Sawyer was free too. Both had an easy run into the jungle and instead they chose to have sex. And let me tell you...that sex will be all over the Internet by tomorrow because they're being monitored. And what about Jack? What about Jack? Jack has seen the outside world...he saw the evening news so he knows the world has moved on without him. He has a chance to kill Ben...Henry...if either of those is his real name. I'd paralyze him personally. But that's just me...Jack's trying to save Kate...and she slept with Sawyer. When did Lost become a soap opera?

And what the hell happened to Sun and Jin? Sayeed is back at camp...weren't they all together? And poor Mr Echo is dead...Locke is still convinced that Echo died for a reason...he wouldn't be saying that if Locke were dead...because he'd be dead.

An excellent start to the season, and I for one am ok with it being gone as long as I get 16 fresh episodes in a row come February. Hopefully it doesn't get cancelled before then...I still have about 200 unanswered questions. Where did the smoke monster come from? Why does Jack's hair never grow? The Others have a television...are they watching LOST? Hopefully we'll find out in February when the show returns to complete an action packed season. Unti lthen...GET LOST.

The Departed (2006) - Lots of Cat and Mouse, Short on Resolution

2006-11-04T01:18:00.000-05:00

Matt Damon, Leonardo Decaprio, Jack Nicholson, Alec Baldwin, Marky Mark without the funky bunch...in a Martin Scorsese film...blah blah blah. The Departed was pretty good...typical gangster flick with a little twist...cop infiltrating the gangsters and a gangster infiltrating the police. I'm not spoiling anything, that's the plot and it doesn't go much beyond that. I'd say it was well scripted and well acted...even Leo was pretty good and I usually can't stand him. Jack Nicholson played...well...himself as he does in every movie, and I'd have to say without a lot of depth...he was pretty much just an ass. The plot (along with some of the characters) had some holes in it and was stretched a bit more than it needed to be, The resolution was missing for something that lasted 2 1/2 hours. After sitting in the theater that long, I'd expect to walk out with some kind of feeling beyond "so now what happens?" I can't tell you more without givng away the ending...as my uncle did...blurting out the fate of several character at breakfast a few days ago to 5 people that hadn't seen the movie yet! Oops. That's bad...or maybe he saved them 2 1/2 hours. You'll have to see for yourself.

Rest Stop (2006) - Next Time You'll Just Go in the Woods

2006-11-03T00:16:00.000-05:00

I'm kind of a DVD/Movie/TV hobbyist so I decided it was time for me to write some reviews. At least this way I can help people not watch crap...my addiction won't be all for nothing.

The first of such reviews is of the movie we watched earlier tonight, "Rest Stop" just released on DVD. "Rest Stop" is the feelgood story of a girl and her man as they run off together to start a new career in Hollywood. It's a roadtrip through the middle of nowhere...where all the creepy people live. It started off right, and then the couple made the worst of horror movie mistakes. They had sex in a parked car...a convertable so everyone could see, including the movie's primary psychopath, the man in the big yellow truck. Then...they took a nap. Then...she had to GO really badly. She just couldn't hold it until they reached the next town, so they pulled into the dirtiest, nastiest, germiest rest stop EVER. There was mold and crud all over the place and she acually sat on the seat. I call bullshit on this...it would never happen in real life...it was DISGUSTING. I would've taken one step inside and turned right around to use the woods...and if I did make it into one of the stalls and read all the reading material left behing in the form of graffiti about a killer at the rest stop....geez...some people need to be hit over the fucking head....literally.

Anyway...I liked the movie right up until the end. Weird shit started happening...and I'm going to drop a couple of spoilers here, but I'll try not to give too much. Some ghosts showed up along the way...telling stories of things that happened to them and then they disappear to make that story a worthless waste of time. You never find out who the bad guy is or why he does what he does. There is a cop somewhere along the way and I thought to use his gun on the villian about 30 minutes before the characters in the movie did. The ending came quickly...it wasn't what I expected...I looked to the ALTERNATE endings for some closure and I didn't get it. Maybe the commentaries will reveal more but I don't think I'll be listening to it so if you understood the subplots of this movie...post away and please warn of spoilers.