Entertainment: Movies, TV, Games

.:What I'm Watching:.

Burn Notice. [While on a mission in Nigeria, secret agent Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) inexplicably gets his walking papers. After making his way home to Miami, the former operative turns his talents to private detective work of sorts, all the while trying to get to the bottom of his mysterious fall from grace. Sharon Gless plays Westen's carping mother in this breezy espionage series also starring Gabrielle Anwar and Bruce Campbell. ~netflix] yes, i already reviewed it (i love it! 5 stars!), but see what steve thinks here.

Cassandra's Dream. [When two brothers turn to crime to solve their money troubles, they soon find themselves over their heads and pitted against each other in this thriller from Oscar-winning writer-director Woody Allen. Meanwhile, one brother (Ewan McGregor) becomes smitten with a beautiful young actress (Hayley Atwell), while his sibling (Colin Farrell) struggles with mounting gambling debts. Tom Wilkinson and Sally Hawkins co-star. ~netflix] i really liked it a lot. it had a very similar premise to Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, but i liked this movie more. not a typical woody allen film. and even though you know what's going to happen, it isn't boring at all. 4 stars.

Dinosaur Planet. [Explore the past and relive the sights, sounds and sensations of the dinosaurs' world, as cutting-edge filming techniques and hard science combine to create four unique narratives that illustrate the struggle to survive in the violent Cretaceous period -- all from the dinosaur's point of view. The dinosaurs learn to hunt, dodge natural disasters and simply live to see another day amid predators. Actor Christian Slater narrates each adventure. ~netflix] it's kinda like meerkat manor. hehe. except without the furry, cute meerkats. the CGI is pretty impressive. sometimes they would break out of the show and have some paleontologist talk for a few minutes and then go back to the dinos... i found it to be slightly disruptive, but at least it was very informative. 4 stars.

Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs. [The crew at Planet Express must work overtime to seal a portal between their universe and an alternate universe ruled by the gargantuan alien Yivo (David Cross), whose Earth-conquering plans include making Fry the pope of the alternate realm. Bender, Leela, Amy, Farnsworth and the gang are back in this tentacle-packed feature spinoff of the hit animated series. Other guest voices include Brittany Murphy and Stephen Hawking. ~netflix] i loooove futurama! 5 stars. totally random, random stuff. but so much fun. read steve's review, pleeeeeeease!

Invisible Target. [When the Ronin Gang robs an armored car, three cops -- Chan (Nicholas Tse), Fong (Shawn Yue) and Wai (Jaycee Chan) -- go on the warpath. Each has a personal interest in bringing down Ronin leader Tien (Jacky Wu): he killed Chan's fiancée, humiliated Fong and kidnapped Wai's brother. Outnumbered but determined, the trio launches a deadly war from which only one faction will emerge alive. ~netflix] also one that i've reviewed previously, but read steve's review.

Joy Division. [Director Grant Gee provides a cultural portrait of Manchester, England, during the 1970s as he examines the rise and fall of the punk band Joy Division. The film charts the history of the group, its members and musical inspiration. The anger and despair felt by much of England's youth found its way into the lyrics and violent instrumentation of Joy Division's songs, an artistic expression that was more than just rebellion. ~netflix] i loved this documentary. now, go read steve's review! hehe.

The Last Legion. [In the wake of Rome's fall, 12-year-old Emperor Romulus Augustus (Thomas Sangster) is imprisoned on the island of Capri with only his clever teacher Ambrosinus (Ben Kingsley) for company. But with the help of a heroic legionnaire, Aurelius (Colin Firth), Romulus and his small party journey all the way to Britannia, where their search for the fabled Last Legion -- the Dragon Legion -- will launch the Arthurian legend. ~netflix] i liked it. it wasn't great by any means, but it was watchable. 3 stars.

Persepolis. [Marjane (voiced by Chiara Mastroianni) just wants to be an ordinary kid, but that isn't easy in 1978 Iran. This profound animated film follows Marjane's childhood in a repressive society, her adolescence in France and return to Tehran as an adult. Based on Marjane Satrapi's autobiographical graphic novel, this Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature Film also features the vocal talents of Catherine Deneuve and Simon Abkarian. ~netflix] i loved it. definitely not your typical coming-of-age story. and it was really done well. i haven't read the graphic novel, but i'm assuming that the style of animation matches the book's. 5 stars.

The Restless. [After his beloved fiancée is killed by demons, Yi Gwak (Woo-sung Jung) joins the royal demon-hunting squad and distinguishes himself as a great hero. And though Yi eventually falls in battle, his adventures are just beginning. His spirit is whisked away to Joong-cheon, a place between heaven and earth where souls await reincarnation -- and where the final, epic clash between the forces of good and evil will be played out. ~netflix] another one that i've watched before, but check out steve's review. it's more in-depth.

Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary. [Live! From New York! It's a star-studded celebration of 25 years of Saturday Night Live! Featuring a feast of classic clips, hilarious new comedy (with guests such as Chris Rock, Tom Hanks and Bill Murray) and musical performances by The Eurythmics, Al Green and The Beastie Boys with Elvis Costello, the SNL 25th Anniversary is a hilarious look back at a comedy institution. ~netflix] i hated that beastie boys thing. basically, they were just elvis costello's back up band. and... i like elvis costello a WHOLE LOT LESS than the beastie boys so i was just annoyed. i liked the rest of the DVD, though. 3 stars.

.:What I'm Playing:.

Enchanted Arms. [Xbox 360] i like that i don't have to worry about my HP and EP (basically the same as MP) draining because after each battle, it automatically fills up again. yay! and everything (so far) as been pretty self-explanatory... except the battle field. you can bypass it and just have it automatically fight for you... i'm lazy, but i'm meticulous when i play my RPGs, so i haven't even used that option yet. once you get the hang of the battle field, it's very strangely addicting. and it's a fun game. i'm probably not even 15% of the way through yet... and i think i've logged in more than 5 hours. i'm doomed. the storyline is pretty intriguing and the cut scenes are pretty awesome. also, i like that i can save anywhere i like. this game isn't on par with the Final Fantasy franchise, but it's a really good effort.