Posts

.:What I'm Watching:.

Encounters at the End of the World. [Celebrated documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog takes you on a wild and woolly journey to the South Pole, from the National Science Foundation's headquarters on Ross Island to some of Antarctica's most remote and dangerous terrain. With a keen eye for the wonders and sometimes hilarious peculiarities of this icy land's animal and human inhabitants, Herzog offers an astounding look at the world's most inhospitable landscape. ~netflix] interesting. the underwater stuff is really fascinating. it feels like it's a different world... and the people are fascinating in that, oh-my-god-what-a-bunch-of-freaks sorta way. 4 stars. read steve's review for more info.

Futurama: Bender's Game. [Matt Groening's Emmy Award-winning sitcom blasts into the realm of feature film in this animated adventure that traps the Planet Express crew in a fantastical world where anything can happen -- and does. Billy West is back as the voice of hapless pizza delivery boy Philip J. Fry, with John DiMaggio and Katey Sagal reprising their roles as Bender the potty-talking robot and Cycloptic captain Turanga Leela. Rich Little and George Takei guest star. ~netflix] shit gets even crazier than usual in this one and i love it. the extras are funny, too. especially when they're talking about D&D. i never played, but i can definitely relate. hehe. 5 stars.

Hancock. [Will Smith stars as Hancock, a down-and-out superhero forced to employ a PR expert, Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), to help repair his image when the public grows weary of all the damage he has inflicted during his life-saving heroics. Ray's idea of imprisoning the antihero to make the world miss him proves successful, but will Hancock stick to his new sense of purpose or slip back into old habits? Charlize Theron co-stars in Peter Berg's action comedy. ~netflix] it was better than i thought it would be. i was expecting absolutely nothing, so i guess that's not really saying much. heh. i love jason bateman. anytime i get to see him on screen, it makes me happy. 3 stars.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army. [The identities of Hellboy (Ron Perlman), Liz Sherman (Selma Blair) and Abe Sapien (Doug Jones) are exposed as they face a new threat: The Golden Army, assembled of long-hidden mythological creatures, is prepared to attack. As fantastic monsters and paranormal phenomena begin to take over, the trio races to destroy the army's leader, the vengeful Prince Nuada (Luke Goss). John Alexander co-stars in Guillermo del Toro's spellbinding sequel. ~netflix] i really liked it. apparently, a lot of nerds didn't like it. but i did. 4 stars.

His Girl Friday. [Cary Grant is an ultrasophisticated alpha male: Swaggering, cocky and ready for anything, he's alternately irresistible and infuriating to women. As a fast-talking newspaper publisher determined to win back his ex-wife (Rosalind Russell) from her new fiancé, Grant's comedic gifts are allowed free rein -- and Russell matches every bon mot. The dialogue crackles like thin ice on a frozen lake. ~netflix] it was all right. not one of my favorite classics, but not bad. and dude, where DOES she get those fabulous hats? hehe. 3 stars.

Planet B-Boy. [This Tribeca Film Festival selection affords viewers exclusive access to the underground world of break dancing, charting the highs and lows of five B-boy teams practicing for the all-important "Battle of the Year." Combining stunning dance footage from Japan, Germany, South Korea, France and the United States, documentarian Benson Lee sets out to show that break dancing didn't fade into history -- it merely evolved into a remarkable art form. ~netflix] not only is the subject matter fascinating, but the documentary itself is very well done. even though i could've looked up the winner, i didn't so i could really get into it. and i totally did. i was so tense by the end of the documentary. heh. so awesome. 5 stars.

Reno 911, Season 2. [Picking up where they left off, Thomas Lennon, Kerri Kenney, Ben Garant and the rest of the comic cast return for more tomfoolery as ham-fisted cops trying to safeguard the town. The sophomore season, which includes 16 hysterical installments, features guest appearances by Danny DeVito and singer Kenny Rogers. Among the bonus material are an Aspen Comedy Festival featurette and a host of deleted scenes and outtakes. ~netflix] this show cracks me up. i don't know what it is about this show, but it ALWAYS makes me laugh. 4 stars.

Step Brothers. [Brennan Huff (Will Ferrell) and Dale Doback (John C. Reilly) -- two grown men still living at home -- turn into jealous, competitive stepbrothers when their single parents marry in this Judd Apatow-produced comedy. Brennan's constant competition with Dale strains his mom's (Mary Steenburgen) marriage to Dale's dad (Richard Jenkins). Will the reluctant stepsiblings ever see eye to eye? And more importantly, will they ever leave the nest? ~netflix] there are some funny ass lines in there. way funnier than talladega nights. but it's totally bottom of the barrel humor, so you have to be in the mood for it. 3 stars.

Transsiberian. [An American couple (Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer) seeking to smooth out their rough marriage buys a ticket on the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway. But a chance meeting with two other passengers ends in an accidental murder and high intrigue. Ben Kingsley and Thomas Kretschmann co-star as two Russian police officers trying to solve the baffling case in Brad Anderson's taut and gritty thriller. ~netflix] pretty exciting thriller. i was surprised at how tense i was throughout the movie. also, i'm never going to that part of the world. ever. hehe. 4 stars.

Tropic Thunder. [Drawing inspiration from films like Apocalypse Now and Platoon, this war movie send-up from director and star Ben Stiller follows a group of dimwitted actors forced to become real-life soldiers when they're abandoned in the jungles of Southeast Asia. Stiller leads an all-star cast that includes Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey and Nick Nolte, with Tom Cruise in an unforgettable role as a rude, crude movie mogul. ~netflix] i don't know why everyone hated this movie. it was kinda funny. the "trailers" were effin' HILARIOUS. and robert downey jr was awesome, as well. i dug it. 3 stars.

Wall-E. [In a futuristic world, human beings have destroyed Earth and evacuated the planet, leaving the cleanup to an army of robots they've programmed to do their dirty work. Due to a mishap, the dutiful WALL-E is the only one left. But with the arrival of a female probe named EVE, the monotony of WALL-E's existence is broken -- and he experiences love for the first time. Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo) directs this Pixar tale with a sci-fi twist. ~netflix] so cute! i really enjoyed it. just goes to show you that even robots need love. hehe. charming and sweet, yet this movie has so many different elements... robots, sci-fi, post-apocalpyse schtuff, and it's even a love story. but somehow they just really made it work on so many levels. 4.5 stars.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

The Year Without Santa Claus. [This Christmas, visions of sitting by the fireside dance in Santa's head. Tired of a world where children have lost the Christmas spirit, Santa decides to sit out the Yuletide. Can Mrs. Claus and the elves convince Santa to load up his sleigh? Produced and directed by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr. (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer), The Year Without Santa Claus is fun for the whole family. ~netflix] i love the Snow Miser and the Heat Miser. hehe. and mia really enjoyed it. she's really getting into the stop motion animation. my daughter's the coolest. :D hehe. 4 stars.

.:What I'm Listening To:.

Violence Recordings: Salvation. calyx, teebee, and hive. some of the tracks i loved, some were just all right. but it's a pretty solid album. 3.5 stars.

Q-Tip: The Renaissance. i thought it was really good. i'm not a hip-hop guru or anything, but i do like good music. 4 stars.

Rockabye Baby: Radiohead. it's pretty awesome. it's quite relaxing. and it's never too early to expose your child to Radiohead. hehe. 4.5 stars.

Stanton Warriors: Stanton Sessions, Vol. 3. i love me some stanton warriors. this album is thoroughly enjoyable with just a couple of moments that didn't quite work... as a whole, though, great album. 4 stars.

.:What I'm Reading:.

Burma Chronicles - Guy DeLisle. i love reading Guy's travelogues. (you like how i'm on a first name basis with him? heh.) i thought Pyongyang was a little better, but this was still a very interesting read. 4 stars.

.:What I'm Playing:.

Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures. [Xbox 360] i love these lego games. they're SO much fun! steve and i play co-op on them and we kick ass. hehe. i would recommend these games to ANYONE. can't wait to get Lego Batman. when we played Lego Star Wars, we played on the Playstation... and let me tell you, it looks WAY better on the xbox. there was one glitch with the co-op mode, but it wasn't so bad.

.:What I'm Watching:.

Kung Fu Panda. [When China's Valley of Peace is threatened, lazy Po the panda (voiced by Jack Black) discovers his destiny as the "chosen one" and trains to become a kung fu hero. Master Monkey (Jackie Chan) and Master Viper (Lucy Liu) impart their knowledge to Po, but transforming this slacker into a brave warrior isn't going to be easy. Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane and Michael Clarke Duncan also provide voices. ~netflix] it was so cute. :) i let them watch it when i couldn't talk at all and the kids loved it. the animation was amazing. i was making the kids lunch when it was playing, but i was kinda watching it along with them. and i thought it was really good. 4.5 stars. steve liked it, too.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars. [On the battlefield of the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi and his friend Anakin Skywalker -- the future Darth Vader -- fight to keep the republic together in this feature-length animated addition to the Star Wars franchise. Joined by Padmé Amidala and Anakin's new apprentice, Ahsoka, our Jedi heroes do battle against a formidable range of opponents led by Palpatine, Count Dooku and General Grievous. ~netflix] okay, you bitter old men (and you know who you are), listen up. the clone wars didn't SUCK. i understand, you're purists, blah, blah, blah. you only like the ORIGINAL star wars... (that's episodes IV, V, VI, NOT I, II, III.) but you know what? it was a fun movie. it looked fantastic and it was just a good time. like indy 4. you haters. i'm starting to watch the tv series now and i also really like that one, too. 4 stars.

Stranded: I Have Come from a Plane That Crashed on the Mountains. [In 1972, a plane carrying players, coaches and friends of a Uruguayan rugby team crashed in the Andes. Using dramatic reenactments and interviews with the remaining survivors, this documentary recounts the riveting story of their horrific ordeal. The harrowing tale of human survival became even more dramatic when it was discovered the men ate the dead bodies of their friends to go on living. ~netflix] it was really good. i had a really hard time watching it without wanting to bawl like a baby. made from the survivors' accounts. read steve's review to get a better synopsis and review. hehe. 4.5 stars.

Sukiyaki Western Django. [In a strange land where East meets West, two rival gangs, the Heike Reds and the Genji Whites, are locked in a deadly feud over a fortune in gold. A lone hero (Hideaki Ito) comes to town, meets the gangs' various victims and tries to restore order to the chaos. Director Quentin Tarantino guest stars as a gunslinger in this visually stunning Japanese spaghetti Western from cult film director Takashi Miike.  ~netflix] hrm... well, it was all right. i didn't think it was particularly great, nor did i hate it. i wish they didn't make all the actors speak in english. i don't know what the point of that was. 3 stars.

.:What Mia's Reading:.

Little Mouse, Biddle Mouse - David Kirk. every night, she wants to read this book before she goes to sleep. david kirk is probably best known for his Miss Spider series. also, he makes a bunch of kids gardening stuff for target. i really love his art style. it's simple, yet lush. there are other Little/Biddle books... pig, bunny and bird. we have them all, but mia's fave is the mouse story.

.:What I'm Watching:.

Frida. [Julie Taymor directs this Oscar-winning biopic of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (Salma Hayek), focusing on her often rocky relationship with husband Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina). Also known for her controversial political and sexual reputation (she was a communist and a bisexual), Frida struggled with a life of wracking pain following an accident, the amputation of a leg, and finally, drug and alcohol abuse that killed her at age 47. ~netflix] it was pretty good. 3.5 stars. btw, when they say "oscar-winning" they're talking about makeup and original score. it was nominated in some other categories, though. also, i don't know why they won for makeup. was it because they gave salma hayek a unibrow during filming? i don't get it. or maybe they just did something so subtle that i just didn't notice it. meh, whatever. anyway, it won.

Get Smart. [When the identities of secret agents from Control are compromised, the Chief (Alan Arkin) promotes hapless but eager analyst Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) and teams him with stylish, capable Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), the only spy whose cover remains intact. Now, they must work together to thwart the evil plans of KAOS and its crafty operative Siegfried (Terence Stamp). Based on the classic television show, this comedy caper co-stars The Rock. ~netflix] i liked it. thought it was all right. there were a few scenes that could've been cut out, but it had its good moments. i never watched the tv show, so i don't really know how the movie measures up against it... the source material is probably better as it tends to be, but, i thought the casting was well done. 3 stars.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Season 2, Volume 2. [Prince Adam may seem like nothing more than a pampered royal, but when danger threatens, he morphs into powerful superhero He-Man, ready to protect Castle Grayskull from his malevolent nemesis, Skeletor. Join He-Man and his pals Teela (the beautiful captain of the guards), Duncan, Orko and timorous tiger Cringer (who becomes the mighty steed Battlecat when danger lurks), for the final installments of this cartoon classic. ~netflix] finally. the last volume before i get to watch the NEW(er) he-man show. i hope the new one doesn't mess things up. i love the old he-man. 5 stars.

Jodhaa Akbar. [What begins as a strategic alliance between two cultures becomes a genuine opportunity for true love in this epic romance set amid the opulence and glamour of the 16th century and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker. Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar agrees to marry the Raja Bharmal's daughter, Jodhaa. But he never expected her stunning beauty, fierce intelligence and considerable charms to inspire him to win her heart. ~netflix] damn. it's an epic, indeed. that's a loooooong ass movie. just the first disc is 2 hours long. the second disc is 1.5 hours long. rai is not nearly as pretty without her green eyes. don't get me wrong, she's still hot. but she's WAY hotter with her green eyes. they're just more striking. the first half is really good and if i were to base my star ratings on the merits of the movie on the first disc, i would've given it 4 stars. the second disc felt rushed. if you're going to make an epic, you should just go for it. don't make it feel like it's being cut short. unrelated: the main character is one of two good looking male actors in india. yeah, i said it.  3 stars.

Love Story 2050. [Karan's (Harman Baweja) mad scientist Uncle Ya (Boman Irani) sends him and his girlfriend, Sana (Priyanka Chopra), to a futuristic Mumbai, complete with flying cars and talking robots, but their love may not survive the trip in this sci-fi Bollywood blockbuster. When the two lovers are separated, Karan must track down Sana and bring her back to the present -- but he's becoming involved with a mysterious woman from the future. ~netflix] it could've been SO AWESOME... i mean, READ THAT SYNOPSIS! LOOK AT THAT MOVIE POSTER!!! total awesomeness, right? ... WRONG. it was not good. 2 stars. btw, this movie stars the other good looking male actor in india. heh.

Mad Hot Ballroom. [Ballroom dancing goes from lame to cool for a group of New York City public school kids in this insightful documentary. The film follows a group of 11-year-olds as they learn to dance old-school styles including the merengue, rumba, tango, foxtrot and swing. Candid interviews capture the kids' initial reluctance at learning ballroom dance and their transformation into serious competitors determined to win a citywide competition. ~netflix] it was mad cute, yo. seriously. those kids ... they're so bright, so smart, so insightful... i honestly wish the best for them. 10 and 11 year olds are smarter than we give them credit for, i think... and DUDE, they can dance! hehe. i wish i knew how to ballroom dance. but not enough to take a class. mostly because i don't think anyone would take one with me. and i'm too chicken to go by myself. 5 stars.

Wonderfalls, The Complete Season. [In a small gift shop adjacent to the magnificent Niagara Falls toils Jaye Tyler (Caroline Dhavernas), a highly intelligent Ivy League grad whose parents have invested all their hopes and dreams in her. Much to their chagrin, all Jaye wants is to work as a clerk at the store, until unexplainable events -- such as lifeless objects speaking to her in secret -- remind her that she may actually be destined for an offbeat kind of greatness. ~netflix] have you heard of this series? is it as little known as i think it is? anyway, we've only watched a couple of eps, but so far, i really like it... i guess i'll reserve final judgement until we've finished all the discs. it only lasted one season, but it's cute. and quirky. also, lee pace is in it. in the first two eps, he's in it for all of 5 minutes. i'm hoping to see more of him. :D hehe. so far, 4 stars.

.:What I'm Listening To:.

TC: Watch the Ride. the first time i listened to his Essential Mix i thought to myself, "hey... this DJ's pretty good." the second time i listened to it, i wasn't so enamored with it. i thought, "hey... this is... just all right." well, after listening to the album, i'm thinking, "hey... this guy's pretty average." 3 stars. he plays something hard and fast and then slows it down with some girly ass shit... like steve said (and i'm paraphrasing), this guy doesn't know what he kind of DJ he wants to be.

Chicane: The Best of Chicane 1996 - 2008. my favorite song is probably Stoned in Love... but mostly because it's got tom jones on the vocals. heh. there's a whooooole lotta cheesy trance on there, but every once in a while, there's a track i like. 3 stars.

.:What I'm Reading:.

Doctor Who: I am a Dalek - Gareth Roberts. [Equipped with space suits, golf clubs and a flag, the Doctor and Rose are planning to live it up, Apollo mission-style, on the Moon. But the TARDIS has other plans, landing them instead in a village on the south coast of England; a picture-postcard sort of place where nothing much happens. Until now... An archaeological dig has turned up a Roman mosaic, circa 70 A.D., depicting mythical scenes, grapes—and a Dalek. A few days later a young woman, rushing for work, is knocked over and killed by a bus, then comes back to life. It's not long before all hell breaks loose, and the Doctor and Rose must use all their courage and cunning against an alien enemy—and a not-quite-alien accomplice—who are intent on destroying humanity. ~barnesandnoble.com] this one features the doctor and rose. it's one of those "quick reads" books... when they say "quick read" they mean it. it's about 100 pages or so in kinduva big font. it takes no longer than 30 minutes to read. good for when you've got a few minutes to kill. i didn't like this one as much as i liked the other quick reads that i've read so far... it's just all right. i do love the doctor, though, so i am probably skewing my rating higher than it needs to be. 4 stars.

.:What Mia's Reading:.

Gray Rabbit's 1, 2, 3 - Alan Baker. [Gray Rabbit finds some clay and makes different kinds of animals, from one wiggly worm to ten scurrying mice. ~barnesandnoble.com] this week mia is obsessed with this book. i am not sure how many times i've read it to her. if it's not this particular book, it's that Percy the Park Keeper book from last week. uffff. WHY DO KIDS LOVE REPETITION?! anyway, alan baker has a bunch of these Little Rabbit books and i think we have quite a few of them. mia really enjoys them. and the art's really cute. mia gives it 5 stars. hehe.

The Octonauts & the Frown Fish - Meomi. [THE OCTONAUTS are a team of undersea explorers in search of adventure and fun! From their base "the Octopod", these eight animals are always ready to embark on new exciting voyages. In their third storybook, the crew meets a fish with a giant frown on his face. He looks so glum, he's causing everyone around him to feel down also. Our heroes need to find a way to cheer him up! The Octonauts try music making, field trips, miniature golf, and even a baking marathon but can they make their new friend smile? ~octonauts.com] i loooove meomi's art. this book is so cute. look for doctor who in this book. :D also, collect the other octonauts books. you won't regret it. :D mia likes it, too! mia gives it 4 stars for now... but i think as she gets older, she'll like it more.

.:What I'm Watching:.

30 Rock, Season 3. [Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin), Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) and the rest of the "TGS" crew return for a third season of this Emmy-winning series inspired by Fey's stint as head writer on "Saturday Night Live." With Jack taking a new job at Homeland Security, Liz's decision to have a baby and Tracy's high jinks continuing nonstop, there's no telling what's in store for the gang at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. ~netflix] 30 rock is SUCH a good show. if you're not watching it, well, you really should be. i love it. i love tina fey. also, you can watch the premiere online, if you haven't already. but really, you should just watch the other seasons first. season 2 is awesome, btw. 5 stars.

Ali G Indahouse. [Ali G (Sacha Baron Cohen), the white gangsta-rapper wanna-be from the U.K., makes his big-screen debut in this wacky comedy. This time around, Ali G takes a stand against the demolition of his beloved John Nike Leisure Centre and soon finds himself elected to government. But it's not long before he's unwittingly embroiled in a political scandal led by Deputy Prime Minister David Carlton (Charles Dance), who plots to unseat the current P.M. ~netflix] i thought it was going to totally blow, but i ended up laughing way more than i thought i would. 3.5 stars.

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. [Hosted by Ben Stein, this controversial documentary examines how pro-intelligent design scholars and scientists are often chastised, fired or denied tenured positions by those who believe in Darwin's theory of evolution. Nathan Frankowski's film explores how scientists who believe in God are oppressed and how the acceptance of evolution may have played a role in the formation of organizations such as the Nazi regime and Planned Parenthood. ~netflix] if you know my tastes in movies, you'll know that i love documentaries. even not so good ones. i don't know. something about the 'real-life' aspect of it just gets me. this one was mediocre to begin with, but then the last interview with dawkins kinda ruined the documentary for me. i think ben stein was just so set on cornering dawkins that he didn't do a good interview. and i'll be honest, the whole movie was very difficult to watch. very skewed by emotion... i think in the title where it says "no intelligence allowed" i think they're referring to their own movie. it could've been a really good movie, but they kinda messed it up. i'd like to see a better documentary on this same subject. 2.5 stars.

Hotel Babylon, Season 2. [This British dramedy exposes the outrageous goings-on at a five-star London hotel. Manager Rebecca Mitchell (Tamzin Outhwaite) has her hands full this season, as a cult leader plots Armageddon from his suite and a tycoon tries to take over the hotel. Also, the wife of a philandering politician seeks refuge, and a businessman threatens to jump from the roof. The series was inspired by the same-titled book and real events recounted by an insider. ~netflix] i really like this series. it's fun and you totally get emotionally invested in the characters. 4 stars.

Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. [Hollywood icon Harrison Ford returns to the role of the adventurous archaeologist Indiana Jones nearly 20 years after he last donned the famous fedora and bullwhip to save the world from imminent peril. Joining Ford for this latest installment of the Steven Spielberg-George Lucas collaboration are Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett, Ray Winstone, Jim Broadbent, Karen Allen, John Hurt and Shia LaBeouf as Jones's headstrong young sidekick.  ~netflix] i don't know why people hated it so much. i thought it was fun. heh. i guess i'm just not an Indy purist or something. sure there were retarded moments, but it was a fun popcorn flick. 4 stars.

The Inglorious Bastards. [In this 1978 cult classic, five escaped military prisoners -- killers, deserters and thieves among them -- set out across World War II France in search of freedom, led by two rebellious tough guys (Bo Svenson and Fred Williamson). After their prison convoy is ambushed, the men head for the Swiss border, but they wind up forced to undertake a suicide mission to infiltrate a Nazi train and steal a top secret missile warhead. ~netflix] it was really good. i wasn't sure if i even wanted to watch it, but then i thought, aww, what the hell. why not? hehe. i'm glad i did. i really liked it. 4 stars. (i hope quentin's remake doesn't blow.)

Mongol. [In the 12th century, an orphaned young slave named Temudjin (Tadanobu Asano) escapes from his captors and begins the journey that will lead him to become one of the greatest conquerors the world has ever known. Honglei Sun and Ying Bai co-star in this Oscar-nominated epic adventure from writer-director Sergei Bodrov, the first in a trilogy that spans the life story of Genghis Khan.  ~netflix] i thought it was really good... except how they would skip over decades. i was like, how the hell did he live out there alone for 10 years without getting caught?! jeez! 4 stars.

The Sarah Jane Adventures, Season 1. [Elisabeth Sladen reprises the role she inhabited on the popular BBC series "Dr. Who" with this action-packed series, which revolves around the alien-fighting adventures of investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith. Aided by her genetically engineered son, Luke (Tommy Knight), and her young friend, Maria (Yasmin Paige), Sarah Jane takes on the task of defending the world from the plots of malevolent aliens angling to take over the world.  ~netflix] okay. i'm actually on season 2. BUT, if you're a Doctor Who fan and you have kids, you should totally watch season 1. okay, and in season 2? OMG. there's a clown episode. i was SO freaked out!!! GAH! 4 stars.

The Sarah Silverman Program, Season 2, Vol. 1. [The reigning queen of political incorrectness and inappropriate humor, comedienne and actress Sarah Silverman, returns with a second season of her irreverent, critically acclaimed Comedy Central series. Highlights from the second season include a mix-up leading to Sarah joining a radical anti-abortion group, a cultural debate that finds Sarah donning blackface and Sarah finding herself in a sexual relationship with God. ~netflix] okay. fine. i'm on the next season, but i can use the amazon DVD cover for this. so yeah. whatever. leave me alone. anyway, i'm pretty sure that sarah silverman is insane. she's at least beyond quirky. i still love her, though. 3.5 stars.

The Simpsons, Season 20. 20? really? jeez. anyway, who DOESN'T know about the simpsons??? i'll be honest, the only reason why i put this in here was so i could direct you to steve's review on the simpsons' 11th season DVD box set.

Starship Troopers 3: Marauder. [When a Federation starship crash-lands on the far-flung alien planet OM-1, its passengers, including Starship leader Sky Marshal Anoke (Stephen Hogan) and pilot Lola Beck (Jolene Blalock), find themselves stranded, and their only hope for salvation lies with Col. Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien). Now, Rico -- the hero of Planet P's Bug Invasion -- must mobilize a team of Troopers for a death-defying rescue mission. ~netflix] i didn't watch starship troopers 2 because i heard that it totally sucked balls. but i heard that this one was all right. i didn't love it like i loved the first starship troopers. but it was entertaining enough. 3 stars. oh, and if you haven't watched the Roughnecks television series, you totally should. it's WAY more awesome than the movies.

The Women. [George Cukor directs an all-female cast in this catty tale about battling and bonding that was edgy for its time -- and is considered the ultimate women's movie of the 1930s. Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell and other Hollywood leading ladies are among the array of husband-snatchers, snitches and lovelorn ladies who argue and gossip about each other at astonishing breakneck speed throughout the film. ~netflix] this is the original. and it was ... really good. better than i expected it to be. you also have to take into account what year this movie was made. it makes it even better. all of the women in the movie are wonderful. even the small bit parts. oh, and i don't know if this counts as a spoiler, but smack dab in the middle of the movie, there's a fashion show. IN COLOR! it caught me by surprise. hehe. 4 stars.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

The Land Before Time: Through the Eyes of a Spiketail. [The playground set's favorite dinosaurs embark on more fun-filled adventures in this collection of episodes from the delightful Cartoon Network series. In "Stranger from the Mysterious Above," the gang runs into trouble while trying to rescue Spike; the youngsters can't play together after the adults have a dustup in "The Forbidden Friendship"; and the junior reptiles go on a quest for a special treat in "Through the Eyes of a Spiketail." ~netflix] i knew there were a ton of these Land Before Time movies, but i didn't know there was a tv series. i don't really like it and i hate how they substitute words (crab = sand creeper, things like that) because mia picks that up so fast. but she seems to like the show. animated dinos? what's not to like? i'll give it 3 stars because she loves it (Mama! I need to watch the Dino Show!) but if it was just me, i would probably only give it 2 at most.

Percy the Park Keeper: One Snowy Night. check what Mia's reading below...

.:What I'm Reading:.

The Ice Dragon - George R.R. Martin. a very short read. a kid's book. but still good. he's so descriptive. this book might be a good intro to fantasy book for a kid... or even an adult. i'd guess that it's aimed toward elementary school aged children, though. but, even though it's written for a younger audience, if you're not comfortable with death, or if your child isn't familiar with death at all, you may want to be around when the book's being read for the first time. click here to read summaries and reviews.

With the Light 3: Raising an Autistic Child - Keiko Tobe. [A little effort goes a long way-that's what Sachiko, Honda-san, and Gunji-sensei learn as they struggle to work together to make life easier for the Special Education children. With the help of gadgets and the support of more people in their environment than meets the eye, Hikaru and Miyu become able to communicate better with the world around them. But when Hikaru's teen idol classmate sends some mothers into a flashbulb frenzy that causes Hikaru to panic, other parents begin to question his presence alongside "normal" students in the classroom. Hikaru's first school trip also ends in disaster, when he gets separated from the group, and Sachiko begins to worry that Hikaru is losing his hard-fought place in society. ~barnesandnoble.com] this is the third installment. it's SO good. the first book was a total tearjerker, but as the books progress, they don't tug at the heartstrings as much. probably because you don't see how much they suffer since he's learning to live as a normal boy, even though he's autistic... and he's got such a good support system. and YES, i realize it's not based on a true story, it sure feels like it. those japanese sure do their research when they write a manga. you know, whether your child is autistic or not, i honestly think that this series is so worth reading. the link to the author's name up there links to a pretty informative site about the author. click it. hehe.

.:What Mia's Reading:.

Percy the Park Keeper: One Snowy Night - Nick Butterworth. [Percy the park keeper always feeds the animals in the park where he lives. But one cold winter’s night Percy discovers that his little friends need more than food, and he must think of a way to help them find a warm place to sleep for the night. Percy’s hut is nice and warm, but he discovers that if you invite one animal in you’ll have to invite them all in. With Percy's small hut—they are certainly going to be squashed!  ~barnesandnoble.com] this particular edition is the hardcover that comes with a DVD of the story. it's a full-length 40 minute show. okay, so this book. it's really cute. really. and omg. mia loves it. i seriously read this book to her about 93 times a day. she also loves to watch the DVD (i think you need a region free DVD player to watch it, though) and boy... does she love the heck out of the DVD. i mean, she gets downright angry when i turn it off. i believe that you can get a paperback version of this book on amazon. i really love Nick Butterworth. the cartoons are gentle and cute. i just read on wikipedia that One Snowy Night is the first Percy book, so it might be a good introduction for your little one. :)

http://mag.di.fm/music/monster-massive-2008-review/

check out the piece LE wrote.

i can't believe that waters were $5 a pop. apparently, i owe lisa some more money. yikes.

if you've never been to a rave, you should read it. or if you've been and you wanna relive it, read it.

ooh, or if you've never been and you WANT to go... or even if you don't... hehe.

just click the link. jeez.

.:What I'm Watching:.

How I Met Your Mother, Season 3. [In this popular sitcom told from the perspective of 25 years in the future, the story of how Ted (Josh Radnor) met the mother of his children is revealed. In this season's antics, viewers meet the woman who "stole" Barney's (Neil Patrick Harris) virginity; Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel) go apartment hunting; Marshall has a career crisis; Ted and Barney come up with a ploy to pick up women; and more. ~netflix] love it. love it. love it. i love this show more and more with each passing season. i think i love it most because of NPH. he steals the show. whenever there's an episode without much of NPH, i don't like the episode as much. hehe.

Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger - London, New York, Johannesburg. i got all distracted because they cut in the three different shows so every few minutes, he'd be in a different outfit, telling the same jokes... i don't know. i just thought it was all right. his funniest bits were the political ones... the line that made me laugh the hardest was what he said about john mccain, "how you gonna make decisions about the future when you ain't gonna be here?" mr. mccain, chris rock makes a good point. hehe.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

A Bug's Life. [On behalf of "oppressed bugs everywhere," an inventive ant named Flik (voiced by Dave Foley) hires a troupe of warrior bugs to defend his colony from a horde of freeloading grasshoppers led by the evil Hopper (Kevin Spacey). Little does Flik know that his tough "warriors" are really circus performers... Pixar takes you inside the miniature world of insects for this bigger-than-life adventure. ~netflix] she didn't love it! we only watched half of it (i'm sure she would've watched the whole thing if i left her in the high chair) but the next day when i asked her if she wanted to finish it, she didn't want to. guess it wasn't interesting enough for her. i thought she'd love it because of all the bugs (she loves ants and fat caterpillars, etc.) but she didn't. guess i need to wait a while before we try it again.

.:What I'm Reading:.

Harlots' Sauce: A Memoir of Food, Family, Love, Loss and Greece - Patricia Volonakis Davis. my only complaint, really, is that the end felt rushed. i could've read more about ... well, everything. and the country of greece is just fascinating, i could've read about that endlessly. the book is filled with hope, love and plain old hard work. i really enjoyed this book and i honestly will recommend it to anyone. read my full review on amazon here. (you'll need to scroll down to read it.)

The Hedge Knight II: Sworn Sword - George RR Martin (and others. who i don't care about. cuz i am mean. heh.) so awesome. i love george rr martin, so maybe i'm biased, but i loved this. i guess it's going to need to hold me over until his next book comes out... WHEN WILL IT COME OUT, GEORGE?! WHEN?!

The Love Guru. [Mike Myers is Pitka, an American raised by gurus on an Indian ashram who returns to his native soil to make a name for himself as a spiritual guide, where he's promptly challenged to settle a rivalry between two pro hockey players (Justin Timberlake and Romany Malco). With one of the player's marriages -- as well as the Stanley Cup -- at stake, Pitka must call upon his healing skills to mend the rift before time runs out. ~netflix] i really didn't like it. i gave it two stars. here's steve's review. he didn't like it either.

You Don't Mess with the Zohan. [Adam Sandler also stars as the titular Zohan, an Israeli counterterrorism soldier with a secretly fabulous ambition to become a Manhattan hairstylist, in this comedy he co-wrote with Judd Apatow (Knocked Up) and Robert Smigel. Zohan's desire runs so deep that he'll do anything -- including faking his own death and going head to head with an Arab cab driver (Rob Schneider) -- to make his dreams come true. ~netflix] okay, seriously? that was... bad. i can't believe that judd apatow and robert smigel helped write it. i won't give it just one star since i actually finished watching it... i guess i'll give it two. man, having to watch 2 SNL alums effe things up (see: The Love Guru) was just SO painful. sometimes they get things right, but when they don't? it's just REALLY, REALLY bad. save yourself. don't watch this movie.

.:What I'm Watching:.

21. [Struggling to come up with tuition for medical school, Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) turns to one of his professors (Kevin Spacey), who trains him and five fellow students to become card-counting experts, with the intent of swindling millions of dollars out of Vegas casinos. The film is based on the nonfiction best-seller Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions. ~netflix] i think i forgot to mention i watched this a few weeks back. oops. i liked it. i gave it 3 stars... but i can't seem to find it on my blog anywhere. weird. i can't really remember any specifics of it now. do you see why i write all my movies and crap down? CUZ I CAN'T REMEMBER SHIT.

The Caterine Tate Show, Series 2. [One-woman laugh machine Catherine Tate takes on all variety of eccentric personalities in this British comedy series. Spewing catchphrases left and right, Tate depicts such colorful characters as argumentative teen Lauren and foulmouthed granny Nan. Other oddballs in Tate's repertoire include xenophobes Janice and Ray and the ambiguously gay Derek Faye. Guest appearances by comedy stars Peter Kay and Jill Halfpenny contribute to the hilarity. ~netflix] i liked this season better than the first. maybe because i was familiar with most of the characters already. it's funny. sometimes i can't even tell that it's her at all. 4 stars.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall. [After his TV star girlfriend, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), breaks his heart, Peter (Jason Segel) wants nothing more than to enjoy his vacation in Hawaii. One problem: Sarah's vacationing at the same resort he is, and even worse, she's bringing her new beau. Produced by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, Superbad), this hilarious comedy also stars Mila Kunis, Paul Rudd and Bill Hader. ~neflix] mila kunis was really cute. i always liked her in That 70's Show. but, did they seriously need to color her SO orange? i mean, okay, i get it. she lives in hawaii and she's "tan." but damn. there are a lot of scenes where she's just really, really, really... ORANGE. anyway, i really liked this movie. there were moments where i actually laughed out loud. yes, the main plotline's totally predictable, but it was really funny and cute. jason segel looks like such an OAF next to his two tiny, twee co-stars. which i guess is part of the charm. 4 stars. PS - there's male frontal nudity. and not the good kind. heh.

Leatherheads. [Hard-nosed sports reporter Lexie Littleton (Oscar winner Renée Zellweger) finds herself at the center of an acute 1920s love triangle when an aging football hero (Oscar winner George Clooney) and a rising college star (John Krasinski of "The Office") go head to head to compete for her affections. Clooney also writes and directs this romantic comedy with vintage flair, set at the dawn of professional football history. ~netflix] i love john kraskinski more than i hate renee zellweger, so i had to rent it. i liked it... but i think i would've liked it more if the female lead was someone OTHER than renee. she just annoys me. she had absolutely NO chemistry with either male lead. either beautiful, beautiful male lead... hehe... anyway, the point is, renee sucks. blech. i ended up liking the movie more than i thought i would. 3 stars.

Mad Men, Season 2. [As changes mount within New York advertising agency Sterling Cooper, brilliant executive Don Draper (Jon Hamm) finds that he must work harder at staying ahead of the competition -- which includes the young execs within his own firm who are eyeing his job. Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser and January Jones also star in this Golden Globe-winning drama, which centers on Draper's dealings both inside and outside the agency. ~netflix] i still like it. and it's getting really interesting... 4 stars... i added a star to its first season rating. very worth a watch, but start from the first season.

Merlin, Season 1. [magic is banned in Camelot and Merlin comes to the king's court to work for the King's Physician. Merlin's talents are a secret and somehow he ends up becoming the Prince Arthur's servant. i could explain it more, but i'll probably just make it sound worse than it really is. heh.] it's pretty family-oriented... meaning you could watch this with your parents or kids and not be embarrassed cuz of sex scenes and things like that (what? i'm the only one who gets embarrassed by that? hehe.) you DO have to suspend your belief, though. like, for instance, merlin is approximately the same age as arthur. which is an interesting premise, i suppose. kinda like how Smallville was about a young Superman, this is supposed to be about the young Merlin. i can't really compare the two shows, though, since I've never watched a single episode of Smallville. and i'm really no expert on Merlin... i've only watched the first episode, but i actually like it. also, eve myles makes an appearance. i have a girl-crush on her. 3 stars.

.:What I'm Watching:.

Chuck, Season 1. [Chuck (Zachary Levi) was a computer nerd working at an electronics store. Then he opened the wrong email and downloaded subliminal government information into his mind. Now, this ordinary guy is running from assassins, spies and terrorists out to pick his brain. With the help of crack CIA operative Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) and a protector from the National Security Agency (Adam Baldwin), Chuck dodges bullets and international intrigue. ~netflix] kinda fun! it's not a smart show, but it's fun. i do have a soft spot for spy shows, though, so that could skew my rating a little... 4 stars. even if McG *is* the executive producer. oh, and also, i LOVE adam baldwin. :)

The Foot Fist Way. [A pompous control freak, small-town tae kwon do instructor Mr. Simmons (Danny McBride) finally loses his cool when he gets wind of his wife's infidelities. Facing meltdown, he sets out on a pilgrimage to see his hero, martial arts master Chuck "The Truck" Wallace (Ben Best), in action. But is the world ready for a meeting between these two black-belt egos? Expertly drawn characters and furious action make this a comedy that really packs a punch. ~netflix] oh, what a funny movie. 4 stars. i really, really enjoyed it. the characters were just awesome. and the acting was terrific. i realize though, that this movie may not be for everyone... so while *i* enjoyed it, i wouldn't necessarily recommend it to people.

The Forbidden Kingdom. [Kung fu legends Jackie Chan and Jet Li star in this exciting adventure about a martial arts movie fanatic named Jason (Michael Angarano) who discovers a mystical Chinese staff in a local pawnshop that transports him to war-torn ancient China. When he learns that the staff belongs to the mighty Monkey King, who's been unjustly imprisoned by an evil warlord, Jason joins a group of skilled warriors to free the captive king and return the weapon. ~netflix] well... the fight scenes were lots of fun (yuen woo-ping, the guy behind the martial arts in movies such as Hero, The Matrix, uhm, pretty much any modern movie with good martial arts in it. heh.) but dang... that dialogue was BAD. and the girl was SO annoying with her stupid talking in 3rd person bit. ugh. but, i will give it 4 stars... mostly because it was a gorgeous movie and it WAS fun. it wasn't great, though. not by any means. it's a teenaged boy coming of age story and i think it'll probably appeal to that demographic. as an aside, we saw Michael Angarano in another movie (Snow Angels) and i've decided that he is the poor man's shia labeouf. when i told steve that he said, "the VERY poor man's shia labeouf." hehe.

Heroes, Season 3. [The dark forces rise up and gather with even more strength as a rejuvenated Sylar (Zachary Quinto) joins them in their attempt to destroy the Earth once and for all in the third season of the riveting smash hit sci-fi series. Meanwhile, Nathan (Adrian Pasdar) and Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) try to pull their mother back from the dark side. Hayden Panettiere, Kristen Bell, Masi Oka, Greg Grunberg and Jack Coleman star. ~netflix] Dear Heroes Writers: we watched the first half of it at comic-con so we KNEW that the first half of the season premiere would be awesome... but, DUDE. did you HAVE to ruin the second half by putting in that line about "should've gone with Sprint" in there? really? i understand that you need corporate sponsorship... and don't get me wrong, i'm glad you're back with a vengeance in season 3, but that line totally made me roll my eyes and say, "ugh..." out loud. also, i hate maya. can you let her just DIE already? she's annoying and whiny. although, i guess without her, there wouldn't have been those hot scenes with mohinder. that was awesome. he is a beautiful, beautiful man. but now that we've seen mohinder in all his hotness, we can kill maya off. i thought it was interesting that you put her in form-fitting clothing this time around... perhaps to make everyone NOT hate her??? i dunno. just a hypothesis. oh, also, please stop introducing new characters. i'm getting confused. thanks. xo, g

The Love Guru. [Mike Myers is Pitka, an American raised by gurus on an Indian ashram who returns to his native soil to make a name for himself as a spiritual guide, where he's promptly challenged to settle a rivalry between two pro hockey players (Justin Timberlake and Romany Malco). With one of the player's marriages -- as well as the Stanley Cup -- at stake, Pitka must call upon his healing skills to mend the rift before time runs out. ~netflix] well, i expected nothing and got... well, nothing. stephen colbert stole every single scene he was in. and in case you do rent the movie, watch the special features. they were funnier than the movie. 2 stars.

Sex and the City: The Movie. ["Sex and the City" fans rejoice! Carrie Bradshaw and her girls Charlotte, Samantha and Miranda are back, and this time, they're coming to the big screen with this highly anticipated adaptation of the HBO comedy series. Golden Globe winner Sarah Jessica Parker returns as everyone's favorite columnist who, with her three BFFs (Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall and Cynthia Nixon), braves the roiling romantic waters of the city that never sleeps. ~netflix] while i really enjoyed the series, i don't know... the movie just seemed like it was allll about carrie and honestly, i like the other characters better. sure they're all caricatures, but toward the end of the series, they had more heart and soul than carrie. oh, and damn. the movie was long. i guess they were just trying to wrap things up so everyone could have a "happily ever after" but sheesh. i didn't think it needed to be THAT long. 3 stars.

Snow Angels. [Based on Stewart O'Nan's novel, this indie drama starring Kate Beckinsale intertwines parallel stories about teenager Arthur Parkinson (Michael Angarano) and his former babysitter, Annie Marchand (Beckinsale). Once the object of Arthur's boyhood infatuation, small-town waitress Annie heads down a fateful path after enduring a stormy relationship with her estranged spouse (Sam Rockwell). The supporting cast includes Amy Sedaris and Nicky Katt. ~netflix] okay. i'll confess. i TOTALLY cried. i think steve secretly thinks it's funny when i cry in a movie. i think he thinks i'm silly. i'll show you silly, steve! *shakes fist furiously* heh. anyway, i thought that it was really good... in fact, read steve's review. i share pretty much the same point of view with him. 4 stars.

Son of Rambow. [Forbidden to watch TV or go to the movies by his ultrareligious parents, young Will (Bill Milner) gets a hold of a camera, and his mind blossoms in this nostalgic comedy from the team behind The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Set in 1980s Britain, the film tells the tale of the friendship that blossoms between Will and class bully Lee (Will Poulter) when the latter recruits Will to help him make a home movie inspired by Rambo: First Blood. ~netflix] really cute. also, i guess i just never thought about it, but i never realized that other countries had the crazy religious people. for some reason, i thought kookiness was just in the US. hehe. ps - jessica hynes (used to be stevenson) is the mom in this movie. she's an awesome actress. ooh, and so is ed westwick. you know, Chuck on Gossip Girl? ooh, i love him on Gossip Girl. seriously. i do. uhm... i lost my train of thought... oh yeah. Son of Rambow... it was really good... blah, blah, blah... 4 stars. hehe.

The Sound of Music. [The hills are alive with the sound of singing siblings and nuns! In Rodgers and Hammerstein's greatest collaboration, a feisty postulant named Maria (Julie Andrews) is sent to care for the unruly, motherless Von Trapp children. She soon tames them -- and finds herself falling for their stern father (Christopher Plummer). Oscar-winning director Robert Wise used stunning Austrian locations to transform the stage musical into a cinema classic. ~netflix] since i couldn't make it to the Sing-Along at the Hollywood Bowl this year, i made the kids watch it. and i will make mia watch it every year until she likes it, damn it! hehe. i still have fond memories of watching it with my parents and my older sister. we'd pull the couch out so it was a bed and we'd all squish on there with our Jiffy Pop popcorn and watch it. i loved it so much i had the tape and i wore that thing out... *sigh* i love the movie so much. 4 stars. btw, if you purchase the 40th anniversary version, it's got the Sing-Along version on there... which basically means that the movie is the same, but for every song, it's got the words along the bottom like karaoke. :D fun! 5 stars... of course. hehe.

Speed Racer. [Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild) stars as Speed in this big-screen adaptation of the popular 1960s-era Japanese animated series from directors Larry and Andy Wachowski, the minds behind the blockbuster Matrix trilogy. With the support of his parents (Susan Sarandon and John Goodman), his girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), and his onetime rival Racer X (Matthew Fox), Speed sets out to conquer a cross-country race known as the Crucible. ~netflix] i liked it. i thought it was fun and i liked the effects. it probably would've been awesome on acid! haha! 3 stars. matthew fox is yummy, but i think i like him better with buzzed hair. you know... the haircut he sports on LOST. mmm... matthew fox.... oh, and i think i would've liked it more if emile hirsch didn't talk. i'm pretty certain that the boy can't act. i just kinda tune him out at this point. oh, and did john goodman lose a ton of weight? he looked much thinner than i remember him looking....

.:What Mia's Watching:.

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! A Tale of Tails. [Come join yellow-hued Wubbzy (voiced by Grey DeLisle) and his pals -- the pinkish Widget (Lara Jill Miller) and the purplish Walden (Carlos Alazraqui) -- for some delightful animated adventures in this collection from the popular Nick Jr. series. Tag along as his friends try to help Wubbzy iron out his kinky tail, win the Wuzzleburg Derby road race and steer clear of the soon-to-erupt Mount Fizzy-Pop. ~netflix] could there be any more exclamation points?! hehe. anyway, it's just cute and sweet! it's bright and colorful and slightly frenetic, but it's really entertaining for the kiddies. 4 stars. read steve's review: here. he's also got an informative episode recap.