Week in Rewind/Movies

GIVEAWAY UPDATE: Playstation 3 Slim!

2009-11-20T23:28:00.000-05:00

Want 100 additional entries for the Playstation 3 Slim? This is about as easy as easy gets. See those little buttons in the above right? If you share this on your Facebook account--and I know you have one!--or if you ReTweet it or Digg it, you will receive 100 additional entries. Just hit the buttons (You can do all three) and it will do the rest. WeekinRewind will appreciate it--and we'll take gracious note. The way the days are soaring past, this thing will be gone in no time.

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"The Men Who Stare At Goats": Movie Review (2009)

2009-11-20T21:42:00.000-05:00

Movie Review

"The Men Who Stare at Goats"

Directed by Grant Heslove, written by Peter Straughan, 95 minutes, rated R.

By our guest blogger, Rob Stammitti

"The Men Who Stare at Goats," directed by first-timer Grant Heslov and loosely based on the book by journalist Jon Ronson, starts out with the subtitle: "More of this is true than you would believe." It's the perfect beginning to a film that deftly combines truth and fiction, and one that concerns itself less with accuracy and more with retaining the ideals and core purpose of its subject matter. The New Earth Army, the top-secret military unit on which the film and book are based, was about changing the world through peace and the freedom of spirit.

As such, this is a very free-spirited film.

Ewan McGregor is reporter Tom Wilton, who finds himself emotionally lost after his wife leaves him and seeks meaning by heading to the Middle East to report on military contractors in Iraq. While waiting for permission to cross the border into the warzone, he meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), who reveals himself to be a trained super soldier and former member of the New Earth Army. He tells Tom he has a secret mission across the border, so Tom decides to drop his original story and join Cassady. As the two make their way through the desert to Cassady's secret destination, he explains the history of the NEA, and through flashbacks we discover it was created by Bill Django (Jeff Bridges in total Lebowski mode) and was a successful venture until the recruitment of Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey), who strove to use the training for sadistic means and threatened the project in the process.

The film is very lightly plotted, meandering around more than telling any one specific tale. This may be problem for those seeking a more edgy take on bizarre military projects and the post-9/11 world, but it actually suits the subject matter very well. The NEA was made up of free-spirits, and so, appropriately, the film is as well. It also manages to be the most optimistic film about the Iraq War yet released, passionately condemning the actions of a misdirected military and selfish security contractors but allowing for the possibility that with a little hope and push for peace, peace may actually come.

As message-based as it is, "Goats" really is a riot. McGregor and Clooney have great chemistry, and Clooney continues in the long line of perfect comedic roles he started in the beginning of the decade with "O Brother, Where Art Thou" (and he's since been brilliant in both of the other Coen brothers comedies he's been in). He's wild but not without an understated bit of heart to his performance. The flashbacks telling the history of the NEA are all fantastic, ranging from spectacularly absurd (Bridges giving an R. Lee Ermey-esque speech to his men and then following it up with a free-form dance session) to the wonderfully poignant (we see Clooney finally find escape in the NEA, the ony place where he's been accepted). Spacey gives one of his best performances in ages, relishing in his hilarious villainy. It's a minor role, but certainly a standout.

The NEA (or at least the NEA depicted by the film) believed in peace in a time when so many others didn't. The film shows us the absurdity of some of their actions but also saves room for admiration; admiration for something the world needs more of: not just desire for peace, but an attempt to create it.

Grade: A

View the trailer for "The Men Who Stare at Goats" below. What did you think of the movie?

"2012": Movie Review (2009)

2009-11-20T18:41:00.000-05:00

Movie Review

“2012”

Directed by Roland Emmerich, written by Emmerich and Harold Kloser, 158 minutes, rated PG-13.

By Christopher Smith

Roland Emmerich has a new movie out, which means it’s time to start rebuilding our infrastructure, finding new places to live, dusting off memories of what it means to successfully duck-and-cover, and slapping bandages on the world’s landmarks.

Or at least what’s left of them.

His latest epic, “2012,” once again finds the director wandering around the world, casually smashing it to bits with joyous ease, and all while delivering the destruction with some of the worst, most risible and predictable writing of the year.

Any year. Pick a year. Doesn’t matter the year.

The film, which Emmerich co-wrote with Harold Kloser, makes one wonder what Emmerich would be handed for a sentence if he were making movies during the McCarthy era. Would he be considered an American-hating communist for taking out the White House in not one but two movies (this film and “Independence Day”)? For felling the Washington Monument? For crushing our cities flat? Oh, likely, he would. And yes, he’d be on that list--the black one. And not just so he could look thinner.

About the movie. Well, it’s just a work of art, and to some degree, I’m serious. Special effects have come a long way, baby, and this movie is a showcase for the cheesy best of the best. There is no denying the sheer pleasure that goes into watching disaster movies when the disasters are played up with the sort of sheen presented here. This movie is a spit-and-shine miracle of special effects, so much so that occasionally, you do slip out of the clutch of cliches Emmerich hurls at you and marvel at how talented computers have become.

If only it were so easy for some writers. Talk about devastation--they can take out the world (and ruin a good time) with the swipe of a pen. That’s sometimes the case here, with the film’s slim shred of a plot going down like this: The year is 2012. John Cusack is Jackson Curtis, a divorced dad of two who is trying to be civil to his ex-wife, Kate (Amanda Peet), when the Earth’s crust starts to shift.

Though the scientist Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) predicted this day would come and has warned the President of the United States (Danny Glover) as well as his staff, few others knew, with the exception of Charlie (Woody Harrelson), a pot-smoking hippie living high up in Yellowstone, where he has a radio show that long has declared the end of the world.

When the end comes, it hits hard (that’s the fun part), but who wants to bet that Jackson and Kate will be thrown together, in spite of the fact that Kate is re-married to another man (Tom McCarthy)? Will they all suck up their differences in an effort to survive? Will they squeak out creaky old dialogue that could crumble Rio? And what about their daughter, who is 7 and must wear pull-ups because, for sheer character development alone, we learn that she has bladder issues? Will those be solved by the end of the movie? Will the world live on?
What do you think?

What’s so frustrating about “2012,” which nods its head broadly at Mayan prophecy, is that it could have been a great action movie. If the special effects team can do their jobs, certainly the producers behind the movie, which was budgeted at nearly $300 million, could have hired better writers that didn’t dumb down the proceedings. Not once in this film is something not telegraphed. Just try finding a surprise. It won’t be there, but the explosions will, and for some, that will be enough.

Grade: C-

View the trailer for "2012" here:

“Serious Moonlight” Movie Trailer Review

2009-11-20T17:01:00.000-05:00

By our guest blogger, Michaela Zanello

Remember how Meg Ryan starred with Timothy Hutton in “French Kiss,” a film about a scorned woman whose lover tells her he is in love with a younger woman? Well, if you liked that movie, then you’re in for some déjà vu goodness because, get this, “Serious Moonlight” is also a film starring Meg Ryan and Timothy Hutton about a scorned woman whose lover tells her he is in love with a younger woman. Only this time, instead of being set in picturesque France, the film mostly takes place in the unhappy couple's toilette.

Super woman Louise (Meg Ryan) is a fiercely independent careeraholic, albeit a little coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs, who decides to surprise her husband, Ian (Timothy Hutton), at their country home for a romantic weekend. Her plan goes awry, however, when Ian drops the bomb that he is going to Paris and leaving her for his 24-year old girlfriend, Sara (Kristen Bell). Hmm, Paris, huh? “Serious Moonlight” is seriously starting to feel like a game of I-Spy “French Kiss.” At any rate, from what is revealed in the trailer, the plot of “Serious Moonlight” does eventually deviate from its cinematic doppelganger when the opportunistic gardener, played by Justin Long, decides to burglarize Louise and Ian’s home, leaving the couple, plus Sara the mistress, duct taped in the bathroom in a very uncomfortable ménage-a-trois.

Using dialogue extracts and subtle voice-over narration, the trailer presents the film in a very formulaic way, which makes sense, seeing as, aside from a few zany components, “Serious Moonlight” is not a film that is likely to garner many accolades for innovation. The trailer does, however, manage to capture a few comical scenes, leading the audience to believe that “Serious Moonlight” has the potential to dish out some real belly laughs. Unless, of course, this is one of those instances, which happens all too often, when all of the funny parts are shown in the trailer.

The trailer portrays many elements of the film’s plot as being harebrained and madcap, particularly Louise’s desperation, but working with a story that involves a gardener turned bandit and an adulterous husband duct taped to a toilet seat by his cracked wife, there really was no getting around that. “Serious Moonlight” is what it is. But as two charismatic actors, Ryan and Hutton are likely to entertain even if the story does prove to be too wacky to stomach.

What the trailer for "Serious Moonlight" below. Thoughts?

"Vampire Diaries" Episode 10 “The Turning Point” Review

2009-11-20T16:47:00.000-05:00

By our guest blogger, Eva Medoff

Trying to asses the cultural vampire barometer has now become the stale pastime of almost every media outlet. Why is it that blood-sucking immortal creatures were able to permeate the mainstream, and no adults saw it coming? I would argue, as others have, that it never really left. “Twilight” is a natural extension of “Harry Potter,” which is a natural extension of “The Lord of the Rings.” (Moreover, are we to forget “Interview with the Vampire?”) And once a trend proves profitable, there’s really no question as to why networks and studios would sink their claws into it—or in this case, their teeth.

The latest addition, the CW’s “Vampire Diaries” had a tough act to follow after the dark brilliance of HBO’s “True Blood” and the tween dominance of Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight.” Based on a series of books (aren’t all these vampire shows?) by L.J. Smith, the show follows high school student Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev, looking bored), who has just lost both her parents in a car accident and lives with her overwhelmed aunt and juvenile delinquent brother. The Gilberts reside in the vaguely New Englandish town of Mystic Falls, which apparently is in Virginia. Enter Stefan and Damon Salvatore, two hunky and mysterious newcomers to the town, who are vampires, of course.

Stefan (Paul Wesley) poses as a high school student in order to be closer to Elena, who just so happens to look like his long lost love, Katherine, whom he loved circa 1860. The brothers engaged in a rivalry over Katherine more than a century ago, and the competition didn’t end there. Damon (Ian Somerhalder of “Lost,” by far the best actor on the show) returns to Mystic Falls to haunt his brother, drain some bodies and wreak some high-school havoc.

As it turns out, Katherine was herself is a vampire, and, if this were “True Blood,” we’d say she’s the Salvatores’ maker. As the show progresses, we come to find out that she isn’t in fact dead, but imprisoned in a tomb along with the rest of the vampire colony she had begun to create during the Civil War. Stefan considers her evil now; Damon may or may not still be in love with her. Whether Damon can bring Katherine back is a continuing point of tension on the show.

On “Vampire Diaries” episode 10, the “Turning Point,” Stefan is prepared to leave town in order to protect Elena--which is, in fact, the entire plot of “New Moon.” Damon, who has become increasingly less evil and more likeable as the show has gone on (we haven’t seen him kill anyone in awhile, for instance) wants to bury the hatchet with his brother and travel the world as friends. However, when they find out that there’s a new vampire in town, they’re obliged to stay to clean up the mess.

Said vampire is Logan, an unfortunate news anchor who Damon feasted on and assumed was dead. However, someone must have snuck in after and turned Logan into a vampire--we just don’t know who. Logan goes around spooking everyone all episode until he is met with a stake to the heart by the town’s new history teacher, Ric Saltzman, who definitely knows more than the Average Joe about the supernatural, and probably isn’t human himself. Werewolf? Shape shifter? It’s anyone’s guess.

Throughout the season, Elena has been constantly changing her mind about whether she should be with Stefan, and finally, finally admits she’s in love with him. What happens next--a sex scene--signifies how “Vampire Diaries” is staking its territory. Call it Diet “True Blood,” but definitely don’t call it a descendant of “Twilight,” where the Mormon messages ooze off the pages (the main character waits until she’s married to have sex with her vampire beau, and refuses to have an abortion even when the baby vamp inside her is eating her from the inside out, literally).

“Vampire Diaries” may sometimes be silly and contrived, especially when we’re obliged to sit through the high school nonsense that’s injected into every CW show, but when it’s caught up in plot, which is about 70 percent of the time, it’s surprisingly compelling. Like “True Blood’s” kid sibling, it always ends on a shocking note (and is starting to pick up next episode exactly where it left off, again in homage to its raunchy predecessor).

Oh, which brings me to where “Turning Point” actually ended. When Stefan leaves the room, Elena happens upon a photo of Katherine, which of course looks exactly like her (actually, it is her, Nina Dobrev, in period costume). More than a little creeped out, she hastily drives home, and suddenly crashes into a strange figure in the middle of the road. Her car flips over, trapping her inside, and we watch as the figure stands up, repairs its broken appendages, and starts walking toward the car. The episode ends on Elena’s screams--and we may as well have been listening to Sookie Stackhouse.

"New Moon" Rises at Midnight--and Breaks Box Office Records

2009-11-20T15:23:00.000-05:00

By our guest blogger, Colin George

So, Friday afternoon rolls around and you’re already reading about the records the second installment in the Twilight saga, "New Moon," has broken. According to variety.com, the film grossed $26.3 million domestically during last night’s midnight screenings, ousting previous record-holder "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince," which earned $22.2 million in its midnight run.

Frankly, I’m a little surprised to see Twilight surpassing Harry Potter already, given that as far as I know, Potter is an adolescent franchise boys and girls can geek out over, where the Twilight series is geared more exclusively to the fairer sex (and the subset of men interested in hairless wolfman man-chests). It could be argued that there’s a ‘boyfriend’ element to the equation, but then again, most of the die-hards out at midnight are saving themselves for Edward, no?

If memory serves, I recall hearing mixed reactions from fans and snide cynicism from detractors regarding the original film, but it’s hard to argue with the numbers. Twilight brought in nearly $400 million worldwide, and has had continued success in the DVD market. Call it the "Star Wars" effect. We all pay to see them, if only to hop on the Internet to complain about them.

Twilight saga, you're next!

"Supernatural": Abandon All Hope Review

2009-11-20T14:37:00.001-05:00

By our guest blogger, Kristen Lopez

A show with such a deep mythology needs to be able to keep the ball rolling while trying to be inventive in how the material is presented. Some shows try to break things up with fun episodes that don't contribute to the overall storyline, then get mired in boring “all-story” episodes when the story isn't that engaging to begin with. A great example is the popular FOX series "Fringe," a series that can't seem to strike a balance between continuity and fun. CW's "Supernatural" has amassed a diehard cult following in the five years it's been on the air. Always on the outskirts of the ratings board, the show has consistently provided creative and complex plots wrapped up in hilarious scenarios. Now entering its winter hiatus until January 21, the latest episode entitled “Abandon All Hope” isn't typical Sam and Dean slapstick but primarily focuses on getting the boys closer and closer to an epic Heaven vs. Hell showdown.

It's difficult to give the complete story of the brothers Winchester since the show has woven such an elaborate story in its five seasons. In a nutshell the series follows Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles), brothers who were raised to hunt all sorts of things that go bump in the night. Recent events have driven them to the brink of Hell, literally, as they are knee-deep in the End Times. Sam is destined to be a human “vessel” for Lucifer while Dean is meant to be a similar vessel for the angel Michael. In the end, the brothers will have to fight--and one must die. They've been doing a solid job so far of keeping their wits about them, but with Lucifer inhabiting another human and constantly placing obstacles in their way, it's become a challenge for them to hold onto the hope that they can prevent the Apocalypse.

This week's episode, “Abandon All Hope,” has the boys heading to find the demon Crowley who is supposedly in possession of the Colt pistol that can kill anything, including Lucifer. Getting the gun is half the battle though as they meet up with their angel companion Castiel, and fellow hunters Jo and Ellen, to prepare for what should be the final confrontation with the Devil.

"Supernatural" has made audiences laugh, cry and sometimes both all at once. This episode was a tear-jerker as the boys were starkly forced to realize that they might not be able to stop Judgment Day, and people they love don't always make it out alive. I can't discuss this episode without giving a SPOILER WARNING, so if you haven't watched this week, turn back now.

This was a dark day for "Supernatural" fans as we lost the lone female hunters of the series, Jo and Ellen. They haven't received the largest storylines in the show's history but every time they've appeared, they're a welcome breath of fresh air. A mother/daughter hunting duo, Jo has always been the perfect foil to Dean; she's a woman who isn't seduced by his charms or his good looks. Ellen has been the boys' surrogate mother in a sense, a mixture of bad-ass hunter yet still making sure everyone is safe.

The episode opened with group saying this could be their last night and unfortunately for our young ladies, it was. That's not to say the two weren't sent off without dignity as Sam and Dean really had to grapple with the idea that they can't always save those in trouble. Alona Tal has consistently delivered as Jo and knocked it out of the park in this episode. Watching her demand that the group leave her to die with dignity while blowing up the building to get rid of as many of the demons as possible was in line with her character and revealed to audiences what a damn good hunter she would have been. As if losing one group member wasn't enough, Ellen decided to stay with her daughter and help blow the gas station. Ellen is played brilliantly by Samantha Ferris, and fans have watched her lose her son; meanwhile, her husband was accidentally killed by the Winchesters father. So, to lose her daughter is the final nail, so to speak. She's not willing to live without another member of her family, and especially not without her baby girl, so to have her stay was heart wrenching. That final scene of them going out strong, in each others arms, was a powerful image, and the show's finest moment possibly of its entirety.

Along with that we also got to see Castiel in a few different shades of gray. The angel has been through a lot this season, and in a previous episode, we saw him cut loose completely. Here we got to see the otherwise stoic messenger of God attempt to get drunk! Throwing back 10 shots of tequila easily before stating with a blank face, “I think I feel something.” Castiel also got to kill someone, throwing the demon Meg into a protective barrier and then stepping over her flaming body. Misha Collins has become the unsung hero of the series this season and it's fantastic to finally see him on equal footing with the Winchesters instead of being the proverbial stick in the mud.

With all that it happening, Sam and Dean kind of got lost in the shuffle. The main focus was so tightly centered on everyone else that once Sam and Dean were stuck with Lucifer--and discovering the Colt DIDN'T kill him while also realizing the Devil had resurrected the Pale Horse of Death--it was a bit too much to take in. That isn't to say the boys didn't have their moments, including Dean's failed attempts at seducing Jo in the beginning, it's just that it was fairly exhausting by the end. The very last images were of the two looking at the final photograph of the group together, before they went into the town, and their faces convey everything that needs to be said. You see fear in their eyes, sadness, and possibly defeat. It could still go either way on whether they accept their destiny and turn their lives over to Lucifer and Michael, but it's obvious the events that happened in this episode will shape the rest of their path.

In all, it was a pretty heavy episode, but more than enough to keep audiences hungry for the series' return on January 21, 2010. Early plot lines for the remainder of the season sound promising and creative, so here's hoping they end this stare down with the Devil and it keeps in line with what fans expect Sam and Dean to do. Whether it's dying in their quest, or allowing good and evil to inhabit their bodies, as long as it's in line with what we've seen over the last five years, it's good enough.

Meet our Guest Bloggers

2009-11-19T23:59:00.001-05:00

Have you met our guest bloggers? These are only a few of them (more are to be added as soon as bios and photos arrive). They are among the best of the best, and WeekinRewind.com appreciates all of their insights, their humor and their dedication.

We have the best team. Meet them here.

FX's "The League": A Review

2009-11-19T21:28:00.001-05:00

By our guest blogger, Todd Larkin

Whatever you think about FX's “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”--love it, hate it--chances are you'll feel the same way about new comedy series, “The League."

I’m not an avid "It's Always Sunny" watcher but do find it pretty amusing. "The League" made me cry--I was laughing that hard. It follows a close group of guy friends who play in the same fantasy football league every year and since I just happen to be an avid fantasy football player, I found their jokes believable and outrageous without being over the top.

The five guys are League Commissioner Kevin (Stephen Rannazzisi), a married father; Kevin's best friend Pete (Mark Duplass), the reigning champ; Kevin's brother Taco (Jon Lajoie), a stoner slack-off ladies man; Ruxin (Nick Kroll), an intense defense attorney with a sexless wife; and Andre (Paul Scheer), a plastic surgeon--and terrible fantasy football player.

The interactions between the men are amusing and realistic. Anyone who has spent a lot of time in the company of men will find that the pranks and ragging on each other ring true, and sports fans will enjoy the football dialogue.

However, when the show moves away from the fantasy group, it takes a walk in the "It's Always Sunny" territory--and that may lose some viewers.

An example. At Kevin’s daughter Ellie’s 5th birthday, his brother, Taco, sings a sexually explicit song. Not only is it hard to believe someone would write a song like this in the first place and actually think it's appropriate for a child's birthday party, but there's not a chance Kevin's wife, Jenny (Katie Aselton), would have let Taco go on as long as he does. Therefore, the joke falls flat to most audiences--though I have to say that my 15-year-old comedian inside laughed out loud and rewound it about four times.

Jenny’s character needs more attention. While both Pete and Ruxin have controlling girlfriends, it turns out Jenny is quite the fantasy football expert to the point of running Kevin’s team. Hopefully, she continues to be "one of the guys" because her character is just that.

Overall, "The League" leans more heavily toward funny shtick and not as heavily toward the dirty and absurd of "It's Always Sunny." FX is starting to have a hefty setup of great shows--this is just another. Being on a cable channel, “The League” should pull in solid numbers with the only downfall being Thursday night’s huge primetime lineup.

Oh, and for the record-- I'm currently second (out of 10) in my buddy fantasy football league. In my other league, I'm tenth (out of 10), which shows you how much I enjoy “The League.”

“Up in the Air” Movie Trailer Review

2009-11-19T20:32:00.001-05:00

By our guest blogger, Michaela Zanello

With such delights as suitcase surcharges, the barefoot security line scuffle, frequent delays, and insufficient leg room (unless, however, you happen to have the leg span of a primordial dwarf or an oompa-loompa), it is no wonder that many people find air travel to be incredibly irritating. Ryan Bingham, however, is not one of those people. As a very frequent flyer, Ryan (George Clooney) takes to sterile airport existence like a duck to water. From the creative mind of writer-director Jason Reitman, “Up in the Air” is the story of a man who makes a living out of stylishly firing people, but through his relationships with fellow frequent flyer, Alex (Vera Farmiga), and fresh-out-of-college work colleague, Natalie (Anna Kendrick), he begins to realize that his predisposition for isolationism is not the most satisfying way to go through life.

“Up in the Air” is the third feature for the enormously talented Jason Reitman, who earned oodles of accolades for his first two films, “Thank You for Smoking” (2006) and “Juno” (2007). One of Reitman’s fortes as a writer is breathing hilarity into a casually pitched, insensible remark. The trailer does an excellent job of evidencing appropriate instances of this flair without stealing the thunder of the film’s more serious significance, which involves the growth and development of the central characters.

As an actor’s movie, the trailer’s main focus is to foster character understanding. Suitably so, the trailer doesn’t make use of any extraneous narration. Instead, it relies solely on quips and quotes that come straight from the characters’ mouths, especially Ryan’s--wise choice given the fact that you’d have to be off your rocker to choose the voice of “that announcer guy” over the do-me-now cadence of George Clooney. The trailer is very successful with respect to the dialogue and scene tidbits that it employs to create an empathetic tone for the film’s central relationships. It shows the uptight Natalie serving as a brilliant, comedic foil for Ryan, and it leaves the audience rapt and intrigued about the ensuing affairs between Ryan and Alex, two ultra sexy peas in a peripatetic pod.

As a film that is generating a lot of Oscar buzz, the trailer for “Up in the Air” serves it well. Setting the tone of a feel-good film with an edge, the trailer effectively communicates the film’s dual comedic and tragic nature through the traits and foibles of the characters without making the film seem contrived.

Check out the trailer for "Up in the Air" below. Any thoughts?

"Remember Me" Movie Trailer Review

2009-11-19T20:19:00.003-05:00

By our guest blogger, Rob Stammitti

When it comes to acting, your first major role will make or break you. It will very likely determine how you're remembered as a performer. "New Moon" leading man Robert Pattinson has been what some might consider lucky; he hit the mainstream running with a role in the fourth Harry Potter film and then right away made his mark as Edward in the "Twilight" series. But the young actor seems determined to prove he's not just a pretty face for teenage girls to oggle at. Earlier this year, he starred in the little-known drama "Little Ashes," in which he played the young Salvador Dali. Next year he's starring in the romantic drama "Remember Me," and judging by the newly released trailer, he may have more talent than many give him credit for.

The film is about a young man (Pattinson) desperately seeking meaning in his life. He's undecided on what he wants to do with his education, he's introverted, and he can't seem to stop starting trouble, and his wealthy father (Pierce Brosnan) is tired of needing to bail him out. He soon meets a beautiful girl (Emilie de Ravin of "Lost"), and as they become close, her overprotective and violent father (Chris Cooper) is determined to keep them apart.

The film, directed by Allen Coulter ("Hollywoodland") and co-written by Jenny Lumet (whose screenplay for "Rachel Getting Married" garnered plenty of acclaim last year), looks like a great move for Pattinson, who even at such a young age also serves as executive producer. It seems suitably removed from his "Twilight" persona, but not so much that it will isolate his primary fanbase like his more bizarre role in "Little Ashes" might have. The role could definitely lead to a more broad fanbase.

Pattinson aside, the film looks great, and I'm always happy to see Brosnan in a dramatic role (he was great, for example, in "The Matador"), and Chris Cooper is practically always at the top of his game, especially as a stern father-figure, which he pulled off extraordinarily well in "American Beauty."

This is definitely something to keep an eye out for. The film is planned to be released in March.

View the trailer for "Remember Me" below. Thoughts?

Remember Me in HD

Trailer Park | MySpace Video

“Sherlock Holmes”: Movie Trailer Review

2009-11-19T15:01:00.000-05:00

By our guest blogger, Mike Dolan

Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes. There, you are now excited.

After numerous adaptations of the famous detective, one can look at Robert Downey Jr. and say, “Now that guy is Sherlock Holmes.” Throw in Jude Law as Watson and you’ve got quite a pair at the helm of Guy Ritchie’s latest comedic action-adventure.

Downey Jr. and Law look to have developed quite the rapport together. Their quick-witted delivery--a mainstay in almost every Guy Ritchie film--is already right on target. Supporting cast members Rachel McAdams and Mark Strong, little seen in the trailer, have the daunting task of trying to keep up. Let’s hope they are up to the task.

What does Guy Ritchie have in store for the famous detective? It’s been almost a decade since we’ve seen anything special from the promising director. However, “Sherlock Holmes” looks to be right up his alley. It seems he’s captured just the right tone.

There is no doubt, though, that “Sherlock Holmes” will largely be judged on the title character's performance. At this point in his career, it’d be foolish to bet against Downey Jr. With the success of “Iron Man” and his Oscar-nominated performance in “Tropic Thunder,” he has transformed himself into a megastar.

Will “Sherlock Holmes” be a hit? The answer seems to be elementary.

View the new trailer for "Sherlock Holmes" below. Thoughts?

Glee: "Ballad" Episode Review

2009-11-19T11:36:00.000-05:00

By our guest blogger, Kristen Lopez

What can be said about Glee that hasn't already been said by every other outlet in American media? The little show that could has become a global phenomenon, permeating everything from Jay Leno to the World Series. The “Gleeks,” as the cast is affectionately known as by fans, have become stars in their own right, and the music sells like hotcakes every week on iTunes. It's unfair to compare this episode to the fantastic and heartfelt installment, “Wheels,” which aired last week, but “Ballad” continued to produce the funny and was loose enough that if you aren't into the show by now, you can easily slip in.

For the uninitiated, Glee follows a group of misfits and popular kids who all connect by performing in their school's show choir. Led by their overly optimistic Spanish teacher Will Schuester, played by Matthew Morrison, the Glee kids face opposition from other kids as well as head cheer-leading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), who wants the club disbanded so it doesn't affect her “Cheerios.” The kids all bring their own baggage to the stage ranging from club diva Rachel (Lea Michele), hunky football player Finn (Cory Monteith) and resident “gay” Kurt (Chris Colfer), just to name a few. The group may be different, and in any other high school they would never talk, but through song they connect and learn to face the trials and tribulations of the next four years together.

The episode “Ballad” follows the group as they break up into twos to perform a duet together. Rachel is paired with Mr. Schuester and develops a school-girl crush on him that gets out of hand. Finn and Kurt are teamed together, which makes Kurt question whether he should tell Finn he likes him as more than a friend. On the flip-side, Finn is grappling with having to meet Quinn's parents for the first time who don't know she's pregnant.

I mentioned before that it would be unfair to judge this week's episode, “Ballad,” against the last one since “Wheels” was the strongest episode of the series so far. That isn't to say this episode was lacking--it just didn't move me as much as the last episode did. This week focuses on revealing Quinn's secret to the most important people in her life, her parents. Quinn is seen as the golden child to her parents Russell and Judy, so when she tearfully tells her parents she's pregnant, you can see the devastation they feel before any words are spoken. Easily the most poignant part of the episode was watching Dianna Agron attempt to convince her parents to stand by her to no avail. Audiences finally got to see a bit more of Quinn as a person, instead of the typical bitchy blonde that she originally portrayed at the beginning of the season. At the same time, we learned more about Finn and his relationship with his mother. The pilot episode set up Finn's mom as a caring woman who seemed to date losers who constantly leave her--not a whole lot to give her any true definition. While it was cause for a lot of laughs in the pilot, here we see her acting like a true mother and comforting Finn when he reveals Quinn is pregnant. She takes Quinn in after the events at dinner and it showed the two very different ideologies without going into detail.

It may sound like this was a rather serious turn for the series, but don't worry as there was plenty of humor to go around. To return to said dinner, Finn did have a panic attack, which led to a side-splitting conversation with Kurt and a discussion on how long to stay in a bathroom before parents questioned what you were doing. Further complicating the situation was Finn attempting to shed his “feelings” by singing Paul Anka's “You're Having My Baby” to Quinn amidst dinner rolls. Rachel and Schuester stole the comedy card this week with their May-December romance. Schuester had flashbacks to a previous student, Suzy Pepper, who made a failed attempt at suicide by eating a hot pepper (ironically) when her feelings for him weren't reciprocated. In an attempt to let Rachel down easy he sang a mash-up of “Young Girl” and “Don't Stand So Close to Me.” The humor came from him bringing school therapist Emma (Jayma Mays) along, who also has a crush on him, while attempting to sing. Both women failed to get the message and Rachel took things to a new level by attempting to seduce the teacher with a rendition of “Crush.” It was all music-related humor and it wasn't the typical tawdry relationship seen in similar shows on the CW, but one that was handled with adult logic and sensitivity.

It's hard to find anything to fault this episode as it achieved everything the series has done in the past--entertain and make me hum along. The only nitpick is that we didn't spend nearly enough time with the other kids. Big voiced Mercedes and class jerk Puck share a scene together, and the rest of the kids are present at the beginning and end to perform the final song. It's understandable that not all the kids get a focus, but after that fantastic episode last week that really encompassed the group as a whole, it was a bit disappointing that most of them were relegated to being background singers.

“Ballad” is a fantastic episode to watch if you're jumping in mid-season. There really wasn't anything that you needed to know beforehand that couldn't be gleaned from this episode, mostly Quinn's pregnancy. I highly recommend if you're not watching "Glee" already you join in! The writing's fantastic, the cast has perfect chemistry, and it's probably one of the few comedic series that truly entertains consistently.

"FlashForward": Episode Review

2009-11-19T11:22:00.000-05:00

By our guest blogger, Todd Larkin

The last two episodes of “FlashForward” have probably been the best yet, throwing in some of the most explosive action since the premier--and adding new mysterious characters along the way.

We meet Simon (Dominic Monaghan) on a train to Los Angeles spouting off talk of the blackout. He sees a girl by the bar and uses a fresh pick-up line: "I know what caused the flash forwards." We learn that Simon supposedly is a quantum physicist genius. Another FBI agent also is added to the mix, the young Agent Al Gough (Lee Thompson Young), who later sees a vision of a bird crashing into an office window and him taking a frantic phone call from his lawyer.

At the beginning of the fifth episode, we see Benford and Wedeck's car collide head-on with another car in a parking garage. The episode jumps back a few days to show the agents traveling to campaign for more funding for the MOSAIC program from a Senate Intelligence Committee in Washington, D.C. We learn that Wedeck is a close friend to the President and then we’re struck by his vision--something horrible is going to happen six months down the road.

During Benford, Wedeck and Noh’s trip to Washington, Hawk stays behind to investigate a Somalia connection to the blackout, dating back to 1991. Her martial arts partner and new lover, Maya (Navi Rawat), explore Hawk’s flash forward as a mother to be.

As Benford prepares to plead the case for more funding, Olivia is back at home in Los Angeles worried about Mark’s stress level and his alcoholism. She later realizes her worst fear when she receives a text message from a blocked number saying her husband will be drinking in his flash forward.

With their plans failing with the committee, Wedeck pleads with the President to force the committee to grant MOSAIC more money. The President offers Wedeck the nomination for Director of Homeland Security, but he doesn't give the prestigious position a second thought.

That same night Bedford reveals to Wedeck why his flash forward was so hazy--he was loaded. Wedeck loses it as he realizes he just begged for funding for a project based on the inclinations of a man under the influence. They resolve their differences quickly over massive gun fire from mystery assailants, who crash into the team's car before launching an RPG at their vehicle. Benford, Wedeck and Noh all escape without injury. Meanwhile, at the same time as their attack, a jilted Agent Hawk, who is walking home after breaking up with her lover over her flash forward, also is attacked and shot in the stomach. Still, she manages to kill two of her attackers. Looking at her lying in the middle of the street, we wonder how Hawk’s flash forward still could come true.

The sixth episode opens with Olivia trying to save Agent Hawk’s life as the team makes their way to the hospital after their shoot-out in D.C. Olivia and Mark embrace each other in the hospital after the horrific night he has shared. They both agree to live in the present rather than being so upset and worried about their flash forward. Olivia confirms Hawk will be fine and Wedeck dismisses the team for the night--although Demetri and Al head to the morgue to inquire about the two people killed in the shoot out.

At the morgue, Demetri and Al find one of the two bodies has blue hands--a feature Mark noted as a piece of evidence when he's investigating the blackout in his flash forward.

Back at the hospital Lloyd Simcoe gets Dylan a costume for Halloween, but he instead uses the costume and the distraction of the holiday to sneak out of the hospital and onto the local bus headed to none other than the Benford home.

At Hawk’s bedside, she and Wedeck begin to talk about pregnancy and giving birth when her blood count suddenly drops and she's rushed back in for surgery. She eventually stabilizes but learns the scarring from her gunshot wound has made it almost impossible for her to become pregnant.

Dylan makes his way to the Benford's, literally walking right in and grabbing a cookie as if he is right at home. Mark soon comes home not knowing Dylan is connected to Lloyd, and then things get really awkward when Lloyd comes to retrieve Dylan and Olivia returns from work. Lloyd quickly recognizes the house from his flash forward and connects the dots. Mark wastes no time in ordering the Simcoes to leave so that he and Olivia can hash it out.

Agent Gough starts revealing more of his flash forward--the fact that he has possibly killed a single mother by accident. We start to understand the toll it is taking on him emotionally, so much so that Gough leaves a meeting and heads to the roof. The rest of the team quickly realizes what is about to happen and rush to him. Gough tells Demetri he can stop the flash forwards and prevent them from coming true--and jumps off the roof.

The episode ends on another surprise appearance from Simon, except this time he's not on top of a female but instead hiding in the back of Lloyd's car dressed as Herman Munster. Simon puts a gun to Lloyd's head saying he and some people are worried about him and need to talk.

In the early episodes, the exploration of knowing the future and how it can cause devastation to lives has been the show's entire theme. That aspect is what keeps me coming back and build a connection, it’s easy to think about how disruptive your own future could be. Yet “FlashForward” has character issues the writers need to solve to hook those viewers on the fence.

The later episodes finally start moving the story on and opening up the window for plot twists and revelations. The weak point remains--character development and diving deeper into their dark flashes.

These two episodes slowly opened that door and addressed some of those issues, smoothing out several characters. Once they figure out how to be more concerned with making us care for the characters and less on filling the one hour time block, the show will in no doubt take over Thursday nights.

"Transylmania": Movie Trailer Review

2009-11-19T11:15:00.000-05:00

By our guest blogger, Jeremy Wilkinson

In recent years, there have been a fair number of comedies to come out under the National Lampoon label. Most have these have been formulaic teen sex comedies that have failed to deliver enough laughs to make viewing them worthwhile. The upcoming film "Transylmania" is, apparently, the third in the "Dorm Daze" National Lampoon films -- and it looks like "Transylmania" will live up (or down, depending on how you look at it) to the standards of the newer Lampoon films.

The trailer opens with a parody of Twilight, which is slightly amusing. The premise of the movie is set shortly after this--college students spend a semester abroad and end up at the Razvan University. Along for the ride are vampires, a woman with a growth on her back, and a leather-clad vampire hunter. The trailer follows the typical route for a comedy preview--generic music accompanies jokes that are supposed to be funny enough to make you want to see the rest of the film.

Cast members from the previous two films in the series return. No one here seems to be a household name yet, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It does have a National Lampoon/Scary Movie 4-like feel to it, which is the main problem with the trailer. Glimmers of humor are present in the preview, but the trappings of mediocre comedy exist alongside them. The film could easily devolve into cleavage-filled shots with juvenile jokes that would condemn the movie to rental or "catch it on cable" status. Given the trend of the Lampoon movies and the spoof genre in general in recent years, the chances of that happening are good.

For what it’s trying to be, it doesn’t seem terrible--it just looks like an average comedy you laugh at in places, but is ultimately forgettable.

View the trailer for "Transylmania" below. Thoughts?

Best Documentary Shortlist Announced by Academy

2009-11-19T11:08:00.000-05:00

By our guest blogger, Rob Stammitti

The awards season draws ever closer, and today the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences released their shortlist of the 15 documentaries that may be one of the five nominated for the Best Documentary Oscar in February.

The list, alphabetically, from the AMPAS press release (included are the directors and production companies):

“The Beaches of Agnes,” Agnès Varda, director (Cine-Tamaris)
“Burma VJ,” Anders Østergaard, director (Magic Hour Films)
“The Cove,” Louie Psihoyos, director (Oceanic Preservation Society)
“Every Little Step,” James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, directors (Endgame Entertainment)
“Facing Ali,” Pete McCormack, director (Network Films Inc.)
“Food, Inc.,” Robert Kenner, director (Robert Kenner Films)
“Garbage Dreams,” Mai Iskander, director (Iskander Films, Inc.)
“Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders,” Mark N. Hopkins, director (Red Floor Pictures LLC)
“The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers,” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, directors (Kovno Communications)
“Mugabe and the White African,” Andrew Thompson and Lucy Bailey, directors (Arturi Films Limited)
“Sergio,” Greg Barker, director (Passion Pictures and Silverbridge Productions)
“Soundtrack for a Revolution,” Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, directors (Freedom Song Productions)
“Under Our Skin,” Andy Abrahams Wilson, director (Open Eye Pictures)
“Valentino The Last Emperor,” Matt Tyrnauer, director (Acolyte Films)
“Which Way Home,” Rebecca Cammisa, director (Mr. Mudd)

I actually haven't seen any of these yet, though "Food Inc." has definitely been on my radar. I'm also somewhat interested in "Soundtrack for a Revolution" (a film that tells the story of the Civil Rights Movement through the popular music of the time) and "The Most Dangerous Man in America" (about one former Pentagon insider revealing secret information about the Vietnam War to the New York Times).

The nominations for this and the rest of the categories will be announced on February 2, and the ceremony, hosted by Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, will be held on March 7.

----------------------

And this from our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

I love this time of year. The NFL makes its push towards the postseason, Christmas time is just around the corner, and best of all, it’s the start of film awards season. Academy Award speculation runs rampant around this time, as fans and critics wonder who will get nominated and who will be snubbed.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences documentary committee has watched the 89 eligible docs that were submitted and narrowed the field down to 15. The Academy announced the 15 films on the shortlist for Best Documentary, and there were quite a few glaring omissions.

The most notable is Michael Moore’s documentary "Capitalism: A Love Story." Moore’s documentary “Bowling For Columbine” won the award in 2002, and while his other films also have been controversial, but they are some of the best quality documentaries out there.

Another film that was noticeably absent was the critical darling “Anvil! The Story of Anvil.” The film has been one of the best reviewed documentaries of the year, and according to Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 98% approval rating--the best of any documentary. To put that number in context, last year the documentary “Man on Wire” held the same distinction, and went on to win the award.

Other noteworthy omissions: critical hits "Tyson" (about controversial boxer Mike Tyson), and "The September Issue" (about Anna Wintour and Vogue’s massive fall issue).

Sometimes, I think the Academy can be too methodical for its own good. Between specific rules, and eligibility guidelines, many times the best films (or songs) don’t receive nominations when they absolutely should. A good example of this was last year when Bruce Springsteen’s song for “The Wrestler” wasn’t even nominated, even though there were only three nominees up for the category of Best Song.

Of the 15 finalists, some notable titles include “Food Inc.,” which examines large-scale agricultural food production in the U.S., and “Soundtrack for a Revolution,” which tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its powerful music.

Also on the list was one of the most interesting and shocking movies I’ve seen a long time, “The Cove.” Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.

The 15 finalists will be narrowed down to five when the Academy Award nominations are released on February 2nd, 2010.

"Alice in Wonderland": Movie Trailer Review

2009-11-19T10:12:00.000-05:00

By our guest blogger, Mike Dolan

If asked what big-time director would be most fit to tackle Lewis Carroll’s classic "Alice in Wonderland," the answer would unequivocally come back Tim Burton.

Burton, along with his trusty duo of Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, has taken on the surreal before. With "Alice in Wonderland," however, the "Sweeney Todd" director faces his biggest--and perhaps most anticipated--challenge yet. Is he up to it?

So far, the answer seems to be that he is. The imaginative world of the novel already looks brought back to life in a more fantastic way than ever before. Through only minor glimpses of the characters are offered, one suspects that the visuals alone may be worth the price of admission. It doesn’t hurt that Anne Hathaway, Michael Sheen and Alan Rickman, among others, fill out the supporting cast.

Even with the relatively unknown Mia Wasikowska as the title character, Alice should have no problem drawing moviegoers out to the theaters. The allure of the novel, along with the legions of Burton and Depp loyalists, should be more than enough. Add in 3-D, not to mention IMAX, and it wouldn’t be far-fetched to predict one of the biggest March openings in recent history.

From the sights of it, there seems to no indication that "Alice in Wonderland" is getting anything but the high treatment it deserves. Based on one of the most beloved of all novels, Burton’s film adaptation promises to be an event.

Burton will have audiences going down the rabbit hole on March 5, 2010.

View the trailer for "Alice in Wonderland" below. Thoughts?

Anne Hathaway Up for 'Spider-Man 4' Role?

2009-11-19T10:06:00.000-05:00

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

What do you get when you have a big-budget franchise and an unfinished cast? Internet rumors by the dozen. So it goes in Hollywood as the list of women who may or may not appear in "Spider-Man 4" continues to grow.

Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood reports through her sources that producers have "approached" Anne Hathaway regarding a starring role in "Spider-Man 4." Finke doesn't say she's been offered the role, or that she's in negotiations to take on the role, only that she's been approached.

According to Finke: “While Sony Pictures insists no decisions have been made, sources tell me that the producers have approached Anne Hathaway to star in the film. Maybe you experts have an idea what she'll play? All I know is that she's wanted for a starring role, and she won't replace Kirsten Dunst who's also cast in the Spidey fourquel.”

The role is most likely for Black Cat, which in recent weeks has been has seen actresses names such as Rachel McAdams (who quashed that rumor) and Julia Stiles come up as possible choices.

Hathaway could be a very good choice if she’s up for the role of Felisha Hardy, who’s better known as the sometimes good crime fighter, sometimes bad thief the Black Cat. She showed in last summer’s "Get Smart" that she can play a role that requires stunts and fighting work. Also her ‘girl next door’ charm and good looks could make her an ideal choice to be another love interest for Peter Parker.

Only time will tell if the rumor turns out to be true, but Hathaway would be a welcome addition to the Spider-Man franchise.

"Spider-Man 4" hits theaters on May 6, 2011.

Bruno: DVD, Blu-ray Movie Review (2009)

2009-11-18T22:06:00.001-05:00

Movie Review

“Bruno”

Directed by Larry Charles, written by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Mazer and Jeff Schaffer, 88 minutes, rated R.

by Christopher Smith

The Sacha Baron Cohen movie, “Bruno,” really isn’t a movie at all. Calling it one is sort of like calling mutton the new white meat. It isn’t so, but for simplicity’s sake, we’ll nevertheless refer to it as such here.

Now on DVD and Blu-ray disc, this blast of flamboyant bombast is a sketch comedy of bad taste and shocking moments that took four writers to conceive and toss up onto the screen. Sometimes they score--the opening moments are the movie at its most outlandish and best--and other times they fail, which makes for a movie whose highs and lows conspire to make for an uneven experience, to say the least.

And what experiences we have in “Bruno.” The film is about the uber-gay Austrian fashionista Bruno (Cohen), who aspires to be a worldwide superstar no matter what. That’s the slim thread that carries the movie forward--but it isn’t much, and to be fair to the film, it really isn’t meant to be.

The whole point behind “Bruno” is to push buttons. It’s to make those not in on the joke feel even more uncomfortable with the gay community than they already are. “Yes,” some righteously will claim. “That’s exactly what it means to be homosexual!” Other will know that little of this has anything to do with being gay--it’s satire. And one with a double-sided edge.

Bruno’s very being--a toss of frosted hair, dusted cheek bones that could give Joan Crawford a run for money, and outfits that intentionally are ridiculous--will at once do its share of damage to the gay community, and its part in helping it. Bruno is, after all, the poster boy for homophobia, a stereotype so amplified and overwrought, the wrong people will be nodding and happily repelled, while others will come waiting for the laughs to strike.

And that’s the real problem with “Bruno.” Unlike Cohen’s much funnier “Borat,” “Bruno” seems oddly out of touch with current times. It doesn’t reflect the now--instead, it reflects the then. It’s a movie about a gay stereotype written and performed by a straight man who is married with a child. He doesn’t quite get it. The film does have its moments, just not enough of them. You watch the movie with a kind of bemused puzzlement. What is “Bruno” trying to accomplish? If the film wants to make us laugh, it doesn’t do so enough. But if it wants to infuriate and affirm certain fears, it succeeds.

And where’s the fun in that?

Grade: C

View the trailer for "Bruno" here:

GIVEAWAY: Farscape: The Complete Series!

2009-11-18T21:44:00.001-05:00

Week in Rewind is pleased to offer a giveaway of Farscape: Complete Series!

A $149.95 value!

Own it on DVD Now!

Thanks to our friends at A&E for this opportunity!

Product description: "From Jim Henson Productions comes the Sci-Fi cult classic Farscape. Follow John Crichton and the crew of Moya on a journey to places they never dreamed possible. Sizzling with brilliant characters, breathtaking effects, highstakes action, and irreverent humor, Farscape is like no science fiction before! It is a story of good versus evil, obsession, friendship, and even love. The unpredictable twists and turns of this international TV hit will keep you riveted and cheering for more."

The contest will end on January 12, 2010.

We are giving away TWO copies.

To win on Twitter:

Follow us on Twitter. You must remain a follower for the duration of the contest.
Leave a comment on this page that you entered this contest.
Tweet the following message as often as you wish to your readers. Each Tweet counts as one entry.

Just entered the Farscape Complete Series Contest! 2 copies! Win by following @WeekinRewind and RT. http://xr.com/ofi He follows back!

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Christopher

GIVEAWAY: Crime Wave: 18 Months of Mayhem!

2009-11-18T21:38:00.002-05:00

Week in Rewind is pleased to offer a giveaway of Crime Wave: 18 Months of Mayhem!

Own it on DVD Now!

Thanks to our friends at A&E for this opportunity!

Product description: "As some of the country's most notorious criminals, they were responsible for an historic crime spree that included hundreds of bank robberies, kidnappings, and murders. Though the havoc they wreaked across America lasted just 18 months, it resulted in the rise of the FBI and the nation's first "war on crime".

Meet the outlaws who defined this golden age of crime, from John Dillinger and Machine Gun Kelly to Ma Barker, Bonnie and Clyde, and Pretty Boy Floyd, as History details the crime wave of 1933-34. At the height of the Great Depression, police jurisdictions ended at state lines, the FBI barely existed, and many of the thirteen million Americans out of work blamed their troubles on the banks, setting up an opportune time for criminals to rob, steal, and kill. And with technological advances like the Tommy Gun, electric-start V-8 engines, and bulletproof vests, the robbers often had the advantage over the cops.

Attention-grabbing and action-packed, Crime Wave: 18 Months Of Mayhem mixes archival footage with evocative reenactments to help capture the hectic pace of the heists, stick-ups, and high-speed chases that turned these charismatic thieves and murderers into legendary characters, as well as the bloody sprees and shoot-outs that resulted in their deaths."

The contest will end on January 12, 2010.

We are giving away FIVE copies.

To win on Twitter:

Follow us on Twitter. You must remain a follower for the duration of the contest.
Leave a comment on this page that you entered this contest.
Tweet the following message as often as you wish to your readers. Each Tweet counts as one entry.

Just entered the Crime Wave DVD Contest! 5 copies! Win by following @WeekinRewind and RT. http://xr.com/ofi He follows back!

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Christopher

GIVEAWAY: Angels and Demons Decoded!

2009-11-18T21:34:00.001-05:00

Week in Rewind is pleased to offer a giveaway of Angels & Demons Decoded!

Own it on DVD November 24, 2009!

Thanks to our friends at A&E for this opportunity!

Product description: "Angels & Demons: Decoded investigates thefascinating truths behind The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown's first novel. From centuries-old secret societies to realworld cryptography, from the high-stakes intrigue surrounding the installation of a new Pope to the sometimes uneasy relationship between the Vatican and leading scientists, this special will thrill and inform viewers about a monumental time in world history."

The contest will end on January 12, 2010.

We are giving away FIVE copies.

To win on Twitter:

Follow us on Twitter. You must remain a follower for the duration of the contest.
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Tweet the following message as often as you wish to your readers. Each Tweet counts as one entry.

Just entered the Angels & Demons Decoded Contest! 5 copies! Win by following @WeekinRewind and RT. http://xr.com/ofi He follows back!

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Christopher

GIVEAWAY: Moonshot on DVD!

2009-11-18T21:22:00.001-05:00

Week in Rewind is pleased to offer a giveaway of Moonshot on DVD!

Own it on DVD Now!

Thanks to our friends at A&E for this opportunity!

Product description: "Relive the breathtaking story of Apollo 11 and the first manned landing on the Moon as History takes viewers aboard the rocket and on its eight-day round trip to outer space for a close-up look at one of the most stunning and courageous personal and technological achievements of man. Interlaced with original NASA footage transferred to high definition, Moonshot covers the crew's earliest days at NASA to the moment when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin step on the Moon. From home life and families, to the argument over who would be the first to walk on the lunar surface, this is the remarkable story of one of the most chronicled events in history.

Using a script based on transcripts from the mission, contemporary documents, books and interviews, Moonshot incorporates news footage from around the world, including that of the iconic CBS anchor Walter Cronkite. Together, the drama and original material present a vivid yet intimate glimpse at one of the defining moments of modern history."

The contest will end on January 12, 2010.

We are giving away FIVE copies.

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Follow us on Twitter. You must remain a follower for the duration of the contest.
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GIVEAWAY: Moonshot on Blu-ray!

2009-11-18T21:15:00.004-05:00

Week in Rewind is pleased to offer a giveaway of Moonshot on Blu-ray!

Own it on Blu-ray Now!

Thanks to our friends at A&E for this opportunity!

Follow us on Twitter. You must remain a follower for the duration of the contest.
Leave a comment on this page that you entered this contest.
Tweet the following message as often as you wish to your readers. Each Tweet counts as one entry.

Just entered the Moonshot Blu-ray Contest! 5 copies! Win by following @WeekinRewind and RT. http://xr.com/ofi He follows back!

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Star Trek: DVD, Blu-ray Movie Review (2009)

2009-11-18T21:04:00.002-05:00

Movie Review

“Star Trek”

Directed by J.J. Abrams, written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, 125 minutes, rated PG-13.

by Christopher Smith

The J.J. Abrams movie, “Star Trek,” is an anomaly.

At first glance, the whole premise behind the film seems illogical and a set-up for failure--rebooting the iconic "Star Trek" franchise with an origins story meant to give depth and a new backstory to characters we’ve come to know intimately over the past 43 years.

Pulling off such a feat meant wedding what we didn't know to what we absolutely knew. If just the right tone wasn't struck and if the story failed to be a perfect match--there was no room for error here, particularly not with the fanbase surrounding this series--all would be lost and this fleet would sink.

This is the same dilemma George Lucas faced when he went back to the cineplex with 1999's “Star Wars: EpiSode 1--The Phantom Menace," which was a critical bust, straining to give new life to Luke and company in a movie that never built a convincing bridge between the new material and the entrenched older material.

That’s precisely how "Star Trek" could have gone down, but in Abrams' capable hands, the film is hugely satisfying. Smart, jaunty and savvy, the movie takes Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman’s script and races with it, boldly opening a new chapter in the series while giving it a fresh shot of life in the process. Expect at least two more spin-offs from this movie, because that’s how Hollywood rolls when it has a hit franchise on its hands.

The film’s main focus is where it should be--on the relationship between James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto), who don’t exactly hit it off when they meet as young adults. When we first see them, each is emerging from difficult childhoods. Kirk lost his father in battle, and it affected him negatively--he’s a brawler with an attitude. Since Spock is half Vulcan and half human, he struggles not only with whether to eschew emotions completely, but also how to find his place in a prejudiced world that refuses to accept him.

It’s later that they come to throes as the wildly unpredictable Kirk manages to land himself aboard the maiden voyage of the U.S.S. Enterprise, from which he’s been banned. Amid the tension that erupts between him and Spock (Pine and Quinto are excellent in this movie), the film reveals its driving force--the evil Romulan, Nero (Eric Bana), is determined to ruin Spock and take out his planet, thus murdering billions of Vulcans. It’s a set up that offers a wealth of Academy Award-worthy special effects, but truth be told, they take a back seat to the realization of the characters themselves.

It’s the cast that sells this movie. Uhura is beautifully realized by Zoe Saldana, who has enough sauce and vinegar to take on the likes of Spock in ways that might surprise plenty. Others are equally good--Karl Urban as Bones, an unlikely but spot-on Simon Pegg as Scotty, John Cho as Sulu, and Anton Yelchin as a 17-year-old version of Chekhov. Amid the action, time and care is given to rounding out each character, coupling such famous lines as “I’m giving her all she’s got, captain!” to new material that gets to the crew’s naivete.

Grounding them and the movie even further is Leonard Nimoy, who returns as a much older version of Spock in a significant role that wasn’t shoehorned into the script simply to please fans. Abrams and his screenwriters were smarter than that, and what they gave Nimoy is a sweet part that’s no throwaway.

While it’s swell to see him back onscreen as Spock, it’s even more gratifying to see that thought and ingenuity went into how he was brought back to the franchise. Just how they did so involves time travel, which plenty will be happy to do themselves since “Star Trek” seamlessly meshes that past to the present, and is exactly why it enjoyed its deservedly long run at the box office.

Grade: A-

View the trailer for "Star Trek" here: