16 posts tagged “books”

.: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. :)

.: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?!

.:What I'm Watching:.

Baby Mama. [Tina Fey (TV's "30 Rock") stars in this hilarious comedy as Kate Holbrook, an ultra-driven career woman who, upon learning she's infertile, hires Angie (Amy Poehler), a South Philly working girl, to be her live-in surrogate. As the pair struggles to adjust to their unconventional partnership, Kate and Angie soon discover that sometimes family can be found in the unlikeliest of places. Sigourney Weaver and Greg Kinnear co-star. ~netflix] tina and amy have such good chemistry. and i thought the movie was really cute. also, i have a big ol' girl-crush on tina fey. seriously. i'd be her baby mama. hehe. 4 stars.

The Blue Elephant. [Khan is a little blue elephant whose dreams of adventure come true when he's accidentally separated from his family. In his quest to reunite with them, he finds love, a few new friends and bravery he didn't know he had. This whimsical animated tale is brought to life by the creative geniuses at the Jim Henson Company and features the voice talents of Martin Short, Carl Reiner and Miranda Cosgrove ("iCarly"). ~netflix] take a little mulan, a little of the lion king, and dumbo and you get.... not much, apparently. this movie is about 75 minutes of SUCK. the weinstein company and the henson company picked up this thai movie. bad move on their parts, in my opinion. and does anyone know why thai people are obsessed with elephants? 2 stars. see what steve thought HERE.

Da Ali G Show, Season 2. [The genius of British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's mock talk show is that his "guests" don't often know when he's joking and when he's serious (which isn't very often). As Ali G, the hip-hop host who mangles words and ideas left and right, he interviews such heavyweights as legendary Sam Donaldson, conservative pundit Pat Buchanan, U.S. Olympic Committee president John Nabor, and ex-EPA Administrator and New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman. ~netflix] i think i might like the second season even MORE than i liked the first season! and i liked the first season a whole lot. 4.5 stars.

The Fall. [Set in the 1920s, director Tarsem Singh's visually lush drama stars Lee Pace as paralyzed movie stuntman Roy Walker, who bonds with an imaginative 5-year-old named Alexandria (Catinca Untaru) as they convalesce together in a Los Angeles infirmary. To coax the girl into procuring the cache of morphine he wants from the hospital pharmacy, the suicidal Roy regales Alexandria with an elaborate fantasy about larger-than-life heroes. ~netflix] i reeeeeeally liked it. the little girl is so cute and so good. it's directed by Tarsem... who apparently just goes by one name... like Madonna. anyway, this has Lee Pace in it, who is Ned in Pushing Daisies (which is an awesome show and should be watched by everyone. heh.) and he is really good... but the star is the little girl. she is amazing. i think that Tarsem's probably a bitch to work for, but he did a great job getting great performances out of everyone. it's a gorgeous movie filmed on location all over the world. i loved it. 5 stars. OH! and i'm so used to CGI that in some moments during the movie, i just watched it, assuming that it was enhanced, but then we watched the extras and i was shocked to find out that it was real. also, apparently, many of the cast and crew (as well as the little girl) believed Lee Pace to actually be paralyzed from the waist down. for 7.5 weeks Lee kept up the charade... i guess that added to the believability because the little girl gave an awesome performance. i can't say enough good things about this movie. watch it. you won't be disappointed. and if you are, well, then, you have no soul. or no taste. hehe.

Gossip Girl, Season 2. [Expect even more shocking secrets revealed in this hit drama's second season, which continues to trail the privileged life of rich young Manhattan teens. The players, seen through the eyes of a blogger known only as "Gossip Girl" (narrated by Kristen Bell), include Serena (Blake Lively), who left Manhattan for boarding school, her friend Blair (Leighton Meester), who took Serena's place as the "popular girl," and Nate (Chace Crawford), Blair's boyfriend. ~netflix] why do i watch shows when they air?! i should just wait until they come out on DVD so i can just overdose on the show. man, but i LOVE chuck and blair. 4 stars.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Season 2, Volume 1. [Raise your sword to the sky and cry out, "By the power of Grayskull!" as you join He-Man and his faithful friends against the evil Skeletor in this first half of Season 2 episodes from the classic cartoon series. Revisit the 1980s animated adventures with a cast of unforgettable characters, including Orko, Teela, Man-At-Arms Duncan and, of course, Cringer, the cowardly feline who transforms into the ferocious Battlecat. ~netflix] i always wondered why Skeletor never knew that Prince Adam was He-Man. i mean, he's got that thing like a crystal ball and he's always finding about things that way... so, why wouldn't he know about the Prince Adam/He-Man thing? i mean, it's bad enough that Prince Adam and He-Man look EXACTLY the same (how stupid are those Eternians, anyway?!)... but at LEAST Skeletor should know, right??? 5 stars. :D i love he-man.

Kirikou and the Wild Beast. [Based on traditional West African folktales, this beautifully animated film follows the exciting adventures of Senegalese hero Kirikou as he his uses his intelligence and bravery to protect his fellow villagers from poverty, sickness and danger. Up against terrifying enemies such as a black hyena and an evil sorceress, the ever-resourceful Kirikou becomes a gardener, detective, merchant and even a doctor in order to save the day. ~netflix] it was good. i didn't think it was as good as the first. but still good. 3.5 stars.

The Mighty Boosh, Season 2. i love this show. i love Vince Noir, the king of the mods. and Howard Moon, that jazz-loving little bastard. ahhh. this show is the best ever! oh, but in series 2, they're not zookeepers anymore. i guess now they just live together... with naboo the shaman. and bollo, the gorilla. who used to live in the zoo... and is apparently, naboo's Familiar. yeah. it's crazy. i love it. 5 stars.

Princes et Princesses. [After conjuring up six fantastic tales of love and adventure involving princes and princesses, two students and their art teacher are magically transported into the worlds of each story, where they must play out the imagined events themselves. Rescuing a cursed princess from captivity, entering the home of a dangerous sorceress and avoiding a futuristic queen's death ray are just a few of the thrilling adventures they experience. ~netflix] interesting. i rather liked it. by the same director of the Kirikou movies. 4 stars.

Samurai Girl. [When Asian teen Heaven Kogo (Jamie Chung) learns that her adoptive father (Anthony Wong) is actually in charge of the Japanese yazuka -- and might have even ordered her brother's murder -- she resolves to get revenge by running away and training to become a samurai. Brendan Fehr, Saige Thompson, Stacy Keibler, Steven Brand and Kenneth Choi co-star in this ABC Family series based on the novels by the same name. ~netflix] another guilty pleasure of mine, i guess. hehe. nothing's really GOOD about it... acting? dialogue? no bueno... some SERIOUS cheesy moments... and the music kinda sucks. sometimes it's just too overpowering for the moment... even her fake eyelashes are distracting... although, damn. they did a great job on making her skin look flawless. or maybe it IS flawless... it looks almost unnaturally flawless, though. and i think it's in HD, too! uhm... wait. what was i talking about? oh yeah. that nothing's really GOOD about this show, but i kinda like it. despite all of the ridiculousness. hehe. 3 stars.

What Happens in Vegas. [After a night of heavy partying in Vegas, two strangers (Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher) wake up to realize, much to their displeasure, that they've gotten married, and now, each must vie for a $3 million jackpot won since their wedding. They try every trick in the book to get their hands on the cash, but as fate would have it, the more zealous they become about seizing the riches, the more passion they develop for each other. ~netflix] it was actually pretty cute and funny. funnier than i thought it was gonna be, that's for sure. i'm giving this one 4 stars because i actually laughed a lot. yes, it's very predictable, but there is some really funny dialogue.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

Miffy and Friends: Miffy's Surprise. oh my goodness. this is currently mia's FAVORITE dvd. she is constantly asking me to watch miffy... and we have like, 6 miffy dvds, but she either points it out or asks for, "miffy's soopwize." i really like the miffy and friends dvds because they're all so sweet and gentle. and CUTE. 4 stars.

.:What I'm Listening To:.

The Faint: Fasciinatiion. i really loved Danse Macabre, Blank-wave Arcade and Wet From Birth... so this was a little bit of a disappointment. i like it, but i didn't think it was as good as their previous stuff. the first track was kickass and the rest was just all right. it was a really short album, too. 3 stars.

.:What Mia's Reading:.

See How They Grow. i don't usually write down what mia's reading, but these books are so darn cute. and they come with a sheet of stickers!!! everyone wins! there are a few different series with similar names... this series is published by DK publishing. we have the bunny, duck, butterfly and penguin one. SO CUTE. we love these books.

.:What I'm Watching:.

Casablanca. [Of all the "gin joints" in Morocco, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), with husband Victor (Paul Henreid) in tow, had to walk into the one owned by Rick (Humphrey Bogart), a former beau she abandoned in Paris. War looms over them all, and in a much-discussed ending, Rick and Ilsa make heroic but heartbreaking choices. As time goes by, director Michael Curtiz's 1942 classic war noir only gets better. Peter Lorre and Claude Rains also star. ~netflix] yet another classic i've never watched before. and it was soooo good. 5 stars. i love me some classic movies.

The Cleaner. [In this A&E series inspired by actual events, Benjamin Bratt stars as "extreme interventionist" William Banks, a former drug addict who talks to God and now spends his time helping other users turn their lives around. His team of so-called "cleaners" includes a woman he once slept with (Grace Park), a serial complainer (Esteban Powell) and a car salesman (Kevin Michael Richardson) who owes William big for saving his brother's life. ~netflix] it's all right. not great, that's for sure. i like grace park as a maneater, not as a frakkin' cylon. hehe. i never thought i'd say this, but i might actually keep watching the show just to see more of her. i was never a huge grace park fan in Battlestar Galactica, but i really like her in this show. i don't know about the rest of the cast and the writing and stuff, though. i mean, i get that the show's a drama and everything, but does it seriously need to be THAT DRAMATIC? jeez. 3 stars.

Da Ali G Show, Season 1. [Hilarious British comedian and impersonator Sacha Baron Cohen crisscrosses the United States alternating among the three offbeat personalities he plays. Cohen becomes Ali G, the "hip hop journalist" who's really just a white wanna-be rapper; Borat, the gullible newsman from Kazakhstan; and Bruno, the homosexual Austrian fashion plate. Laugh while Ali G, Borat and Bruno discover America and interact with the locals. ~netflix] so funny. i honestly have NO idea how he doesn't just start busting up laughing at these people he's interviewing. 4 stars.

The Dark Knight. [Batman (Christian Bale) teams with Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) to continue dismantling Gotham City's criminal organizations in this sequel to Batman Begins. But a psychotic new villain known as the Joker (Heath Ledger) threatens to undo all their good work. The star-studded cast includes Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman, Anthony Michael Hall, Michael Caine and Eric Roberts. ~netflix] 5 stars. totally awesome. loved every minute of it. saw it at the imax and it was awesome. when we own this on DVD (you know we will buy it!) i wanna have another movie night. :D

Doomsday. [When a deadly viral epidemic breaks out in present-day Britain, killing hundreds of thousands of people, the government quarantines the infected behind a walled city -- only to be confronted with a resurgence of the disease 30 years in the future. In the vein of Mad Max and 28 Days Later, this morality tale veiled as a sci-fi hypothetical features enough action, combat and suspense to keep audiences wondering, "What if?" ~netflix] this movie has everything! viral outbreaks, blood and gore, mohawks, future stuff, medieval stuff, action, chase scenes, fighting, fires, and the poor man's kate beckinsale. heh. what? she is. this is from the same director who brought you The Descent. (which is an awesome movie, btw... and i don't like horror. although it's not typical horror. whatever. anyway, you should rent it.) anyway, back to Doomsday... like LE said, "i'm not sure if this is a good-bad movie or a bad-bad movie." regardless, i liked it. 3.5 stars.

Umrao Jaan. [Ravishing Indian beauty Aishwarya Rai stars in director J.P. Dutta's remake about a poor girl who is sold into a brothel, where she's transformed into the courtesan Umrao Jaan and falls in love with Nawab Sultan (Abhishek Bachchan). Life as a courtesan is filled with hard knocks as Umrao tries everything in her power to control her own destiny. Shabana Azmi, Sunil Shetty, Divya Dutta, Himani Shivpuri and Kulbhushan Kharbanda also star. ~netflix] very sad. end was confusing. and even though it was 3 hours long, i felt like it was totally unresolved. I NEED CLOSURE!!!! i believe it's a remake of another movie by the same name. but the original doesn't have aishwarya in it. the costumes were breathtaking. 4 stars.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

Little Einsteins: The Flight of the Instrument Fairies. [This colorful collection from the popular Playhouse Disney series includes four fairy-tale adventures, including the never-before-seen episode "Flight of the Instrument Fairies," featuring a band of musical sprites who paint the Artic sky. Join Rocket -- who can gleefully transform from a spaceship to a submarine -- as he guides Quincy, Annie, June and Leo on adventures with a team of lost puppets in Prague and at a black-tie ball in Vienna. ~netflix] while i like that this show introduces kids to various composers and artists, i dislike how annoying this show can get. also, there's a little asian girl character and i noticed that the girl who voices her is asian as well. is that a rule? like, if you have  an asian character, it has to be voiced by an asian? because it seems ridiculous. then again, i'm sure asian peeps would be all up in arms that the asian character isn't voiced by an asian if it weren't... ugh. people are so dumb and ridiculous. oh. right. back to the DVD. your kid will probably be totally mesmerized... but you won't be. hehe. i think mia would give this a 3 or 4 star rating. i am giving it 2.

.:What I'm Listening To:.

Beck: Modern Guilt. produced with Danger Mouse. pretty good. i enjoyed it. i am looking forward to a repeat spin. i think i liked it as much as I liked The Information. maybe even more! 4 stars.

DJ Craze: Fabriclive 38. good fun. seriously. i was not expecting much at all, but it was good times. 3.5 stars.

Mark Farina: Fabric 40. this album was good, but i prefer to see mark farina live. 3 stars.

Tricky: Knowle West Boy. i'm really digging this album. a lot. this is my second spin and i think it's going to be in heavy rotation. drops september 9... or you can get the import now. 4 stars.

.:What I'm Reading:.

Altered Carbon - Richard K. Morgan. (click here to read the plot summary on wikipedia) a very interesting, very enjoyable read. i'm not done yet (i'm reading two books at once. i should just commit to one and FINISH it. sheesh.), but hopefully i'll finish this next week... :)

.:What I'm Watching:.

In Bruges. [After accidentally killing an innocent boy in London, Irish hit men Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are sent by their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), to lay low in Bruges. But, uncomfortable in this foreign city, the two professional killers soon get into trouble. Complicating matters further, when the guilt-ridden Ray falls for a girl working on a film shoot, he finds himself confronting the girl's jealous ex-boyfriend. ~netflix] i actually really liked it. also, i'm finding myself NOT hating colin farrell. 4 stars.

Mad Men, Season 1. [It's 1960, and ad executive Don Draper (Jon Hamm) rules the roost at New York's Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency in this sharply written drama. Living a glamorous existence of never-ending cocktail hours, worry-free smoking and ego-stroking power, ladies' man Draper makes numerous conquests both at work and in his personal life. But the world is beginning to change, and Draper will have to use all his smarts to stay one step ahead of the game. ~netflix] this show makes me want to chain smoke. seriously. boy, people smoked a lot in 1960. hehe. it's interesting to watch how they probably treated women back then... but then it pisses me off because, really, not much has changed. watching it just reminded me how it was at work sometimes and it just made me angry. 3 stars.

North by Northwest. [What if everyone around you was suddenly convinced you were a spy? This classic from master director Alfred Hitchcock stars Cary Grant as an advertising executive who looks a little too much like someone else and is forced to go on the lam (helped along by Eva Marie Saint). Hitchcock's sure-handed comic drama pits Grant against a crop duster and lands him in a fight for his life on Mount Rushmore. That's a cliffhanger if ever there was one! ~netflix] i love old movies. they're just so darn cute. and this one is a classic for a reason. 5 stars.

Samurai Jack, Season 1. [A Japanese samurai -- Jack, by name -- is transplanted into a future reality that's controlled by the evil despot Aku. The wayward warrior with a moral code must find a way to survive until he's able to return to his ancient world and rid himself once and for all of Aku. This collection contains all 13 animated episodes from the show's first season, which aired on cable's Cartoon Network. ~netflix] i love the animation style and the story line is super-engaging. not a whole lot of dialogue. definitely more action than anything else. and samurai jack is exactly how i like my men. men who don't talk much but are great with the action. tee hee. 5 stars.

The Spiderwick Chronicles. [When city-raised twins Jared and Simon (both played by Freddie Highmore) move to an old country mansion with their mother (Mary-Louise Parker) and sister (Sarah Bolger), it's quite an adjustment -- especially when they uncover a magical and sometimes dangerous fantasy world. Based on the best-selling children's books, this family adventure populated with all manner of fanciful creatures co-stars Joan Plowright, David Strathairn and Nick Nolte. ~netflix] kinda scary for a kids movie! hell, i was kinda scared! heh. it was pretty good, though. i liked it. 4 out of 5 stars.

Super High Me. [Determined to find out the true effects of marijuana on the human body, stand-up comedian and former Stoner of the Year Doug Benson documents his experience avoiding pot for 30 days and then consuming massive amounts of the drug for 30 days. More than just an amusing story of one man's quest to get superhigh, this documentary also examines the hotly contested debate over medical marijuana use. ~netflix] i was kind of disappointed in this documentary. and i think that for his "testing" they make it seem like oh, he did so much better on his tests when he was high... but i think this guy is kinduva failure and he has so much anxiety that he NEEDS the weed to help him cope. they don't really go into that. kids are gonna watch this movie thinking that it's going to have the same results for everyone and that weed isn't necessarily dangerous. i'm not saying that it IS dangerous. but it just depends on the person. and even though there's a disclaimer in the beginning, i don't know that people will really pay attention to it. also, it wasn't that entertaining either. boo. 3 stars.

Vantage Point. [Moments after he arrives in Spain for a landmark antiterrorism summit, U.S. President Ashton is shot. The 15 minutes leading up to the shooting are rehashed -- Rashomon-style -- from the perspective of various onlookers: two Secret Service agents (Dennis Quaid and Matthew Fox), a TV reporter (Sigourney Weaver) and a tourist (Forest Whitaker). This nail-biting political thriller marks the feature directorial debut of Pete Travis. ~netflix] as long as you don't think about it too much, it's all right. and chases always make movies more exciting, so it does have THAT going for it. 2.5 star movie. nothing great, though. i felt like the director was just trying too hard and kind of ... failing. the best part of the whole movie is when matthew fox is speaking in spanish and it's OBVIOUS that they dubbed it over with some other dude's voice. i couldn't stop laughing because it sounded SO ridiculous! that other dude's voice was like, 2 octaves lower than matthew fox's voice. hehe. you'd think they could find SOMEONE in any of the spanish speaking countries that sounded somewhat like matthew fox. man. it was funny. hehe. 3 stars.

The Wild Blue Yonder. [Werner Herzog crafts a thought-provoking exploration of life beyond Earth by blending authentic NASA images with documentary footage shot beneath the Antarctic Ocean by avid diver and experimental guitarist Henry Kaiser. After human beings suck everything valuable from planet Earth -- including all life-sustaining matter -- aliens move in to try to settle a veritable wasteland. Oscar nominee Brad Dourif (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) stars. ~netflix] pretty boring. i fell asleep. i want my sci-fi movies to be SCI-FI. not the idea of sci-fi with NASA footage. probably only pretentious wannabe "artsy" people will like this movie. hehe. 2 stars.

Without a Paddle. [Three friends (Seth Green, Matthew Lillard and Dax Shepard) leave their home in Philadelphia for a camping trip after their friend Billy's death. Their destination has special meaning, as Billy was fixated on going there to search for a lost treasure. Hoping to find some of the $194,200 of famed airline hijacker D.B. Cooper's money -- rumored to be located somewhere in the wilderness -- the men embark on the adventure of their lives. ~netflix] i thought it was gonna suck, but it was all right. i didn't hate it. 3 stars.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland. ["Sesame Street" veteran Elmo gets his own movie when he dives into Oscar the Grouch's trashcan to retrieve his blanket and wakes up in Grouchland. The Muppets mission: To rescue the blanket from the evil Huxley (Mandy Patinkin) with the help of the Queen of Trash (Vanessa Williams). There are lots of fun and songs along the way (including the all-time kids' fave "I'm a Little Teapot") plus Bert and Ernie as hosts! ~netflix] dude, if this movie was made in 1999, how is it that all of the human characters look EXACTLY the same?! sheesh. anyway, it was cute. they had it free at one of the theaters here so i figured i'd take mia to the movies. it was her first time! she had a pretty good time. :)

.:What I'm Listening To:.

The Fratellis: Here We Stand. man, what a disappointment! i LOVED their first album. but their second one, not so much. it was kinda boring and lame.

.:What I'm Reading:.

Quick Reads! they're the best invention ever! i read 1.5 books in less than 45 minutes. the ones i got were:
Doctor Who: Made of Steel
Doctor Who: Revenge of the Judoon
totally fun and totally short... according to amazon UK, they're 112 pages long. i enjoyed them. :)

.:What I'm Watching:.

I'm Not There. [Six actors portray six personas of music legend Bob Dylan in scenes depicting various stages in the musician's life. Chronicling Dylan's rise from unknown folksinger to international icon, the film reveals how he reinvented himself many times. Todd Haynes directs this stylized portrait, the first biography approved by the singer-songwriter. Marcus Carl Franklin, Ben Whishaw, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Richard Gere and Cate Blanchett (in an Oscar-nominated role) star. ~netflix] i think i would've liked this movie more if i actually gave two craps about bob dylan. what? i'm just being honest here. but it was worth a watch just to see cate blanchett work her magic. she was amazing. 3 outta 5 stars.

A Man Named Pearl. [A Man Named Pearl tells the inspiring story of self-taught topiary artist Pearl Fryar. It is a subtle and intriguing film that is certain to open hearts and minds. It offers an upbeat message that speaks to respect for both self and others, and shows what one person can achieve when he allows himself to share the full expression of his humanity. ~imdb] i saw shrubs in a whole different way. hehe. he truly is amazing. if i ever find myself in bishopville, south carolina (or somewhere thereabouts) i'm definitely making a stop to check out his amazing garden. 4 out of 5 stars.

The True Story of Charlie Wilson. [Charlie Wilson was a Texas congressman who became part of an unbelievable stunt in which he helped funnel more than $300 million into a covert effort to fund Afghanistan's war against the Soviet Union. Going beyond the Hollywood dramatization Charlie Wilson's War, this eye-opening film details the whole shocking story of Wilson's involvement in the scheme, along with CIA agent Gust Avrakotos and socialite Joanne Herring. ~netflix] since i watched Charlie Wilson's War a few weeks ago, i felt like i should watch the documentary. it's still a fascinating story the second time around. i guess it just goes to show you what you can do if you set your mind to it... 4 out of 5 stars.

.:What I'm Reading:.

House of Chains (The Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 4) - Steven Erikson. i am a fantasy dork. i love me some thick ass fantasy books. that continue on and on... through different books that go through the entire history of some fake civilization. hehe. while i'm waiting for george rr martin's new book to come out (supposedly in the fall) i figured i ought to get caught up on steven erikson's books. i'm several behind now. i am about a quarter of the way through with this one... i'm not sure when i'm going to finish it since i'm just reading it while the kids nap... and i'm not reading it straight through their naptime. maybe i should... then i could finish it faster and tackle the next one... ANYWAY, the series is even better than i remember it being (the last time i read one it was a WHILE back) and i thought it was pretty good back then! i'm really enjoying it.

.:What I'm Playing:.

Mah Jong Quest Expeditions. [DS] yay! a new puzzle game for me! i'm really enjoying them. kinda like your old computer mah jong game that you'd play when you were bored at work... oh, was that just me? heh. anyway, it's like it, but they add new twists to keep it fresh and interesting. i'm really digging it.

.:What I'm Watching:.

The Catherine Tate Show: Series 1. [With her vast array of ridiculous characters and her acerbic wit, British comedienne Catherine Tate scored a hit right out of the box with her self-titled sketch comedy show, earning several BAFTA and International Emmy nominations. A catchphrase genius, Tate introduces a variety of popular characters in this first season, including the irrepressible cockney Nan and overly outspoken schoolgirl Lauren. ~netflix] i love her characters... some more than others... unfortunately, the only thing i could think about while watching her show was, "i wish i was watching doctor who!!!" the show's funny... but i love doctor who more. hehe. 3 out of 5 stars.

Confessions of a Superhero. [On Hollywood Boulevard, wannabe stars dress up as superheroes and pose for photos with tourists. Matt Ogens's documentary follows four dreamers who are just killing time until they're discovered. Get to know a Superman who takes the role a bit too seriously, an Incredible Hulk who sold his prized video game system for a bus ticket to Tinseltown, a Midwestern beauty queen turned Wonder Woman and a Batman in need of anger management therapy. ~netflix] it could've been really depressing, but it wasn't. even though you know that they're probably not gonna make it in hollywood... at all... you still feel hope that they might actually make it... probably kinda like they feel. it's bizarre. they did a great job with this documentary. also, makes me wanna visit hollywood boulevard again to see them. 5 out of 5 stars, man!

Death at a Funeral. [The funeral for the patriarch of a wealthy but eccentric British clan is turned topsy-turvy when a stranger appears claiming to be the dead man's gay lover in this dramedy directed by Frank Oz and starring Peter Dinklage, Matthew Macfadyen and Rupert Graves. The dysfunctional family grows wackier as the deceased's sons decide they can't let the rest of the guests get wind of this revelation. But can they get the cat back into the bag? ~netflix] it's pretty funny. also, matthew macfayden and keeley hawes are both in it. and i love them both. oh, also, they're married in real life. hehe. how cute, huh? oooh, and alan tudyk's (firefly) in it. i really liked this movie... 4 out of 5 stars! and here's steve's review. this is probably one of the few times that he and i disagree on a movie.

Enchanted. [Princess Giselle's (Amy Adams) perfect life in the wonderful cartoon kingdom of Andalasia comes to an abrupt end when the evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) exiles her to the cruel, real world of New York City, where the naive girl will have to quickly learn some street smarts. Fortunately, a Prince Charming in the unlikely form of a divorce lawyer (Patrick Dempsey) offers to lend the bewildered Giselle a hand. ~netflix] awww, it was SO cute! i really liked it. :D cute and not too cheesy. :) i'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars in netflix.

• Girls Rock! [This documentary gives new meaning to the phrase "girls rock" by tracking four budding artists on their respective musical journeys at an all-girls rock 'n' roll camp, where they learn how to write songs, play instruments and to just be themselves. Women rock musicians are on hand to teach the girls the practicalities of being a rock chick, lessons they take to heart while working toward their end-of-camp concert. ~netflix] a few weeks ago, i reviewed a documentary about a girls rock camp. i gave it 3 out of 5 stars. read steve's review for more information. :)

• Margot at the Wedding. [When acid-tongued writer Margot (Nicole Kidman) arrives to attend estranged sister Pauline's (Jennifer Jason Leigh) wedding, she quickly takes a disliking to Pauline's artist fiancé (Jack Black). Now, Margot's caustic comments threaten to undo the siblings' relationship as well as the upcoming nuptials. Oscar-nominated writer-director Noah Baumbach helms this wry comedy exploring the often infuriating but enduring connections of family. ~netflix] steve didn't like it. but i kinda did. i mean, it was pretty pointless, but i liked it... i'm not sure why... it's not like i could relate to any of the characters or situations... i gave it 3 out of 5 stars, though.

Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. [When the 243-year-old Mr. Magorium (Dustin Hoffman) discovers his health is failing, he turns over his fantastical toy store to the quiet, depressed manager, Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman). Since the store reflects the energy of those who run it, Molly must work to lift her spirits and help the shop recapture its magic. Screenwriter Zach Helm (Stranger Than Fiction) makes his directorial debut with this charming tale, also starring Jason Bateman. ~netflix] another movie i reviewed a few weeks back. i gave it 3 outta 5. steve's review is better than mine. :)

The Place Promised in Our Early Days. [In this animated film, Japan is under two regimes after the country's loss in World War II. Hokkaido remains under Japanese rule while America holds the rest, a bitter division that's wrenched the nation and left its citizens confused. Curious, Sayuri and her pals decide to build a vessel that would help them investigate a looming tower in Hokkaido, a plan they abandon when Sayuri falls ill. Is there a connection between her coma and the tower? ~netflix] brought to you by the man who did Voices of a Distant Star. (he did the 30 minute Voices by himself. on a mac, i think. yeah. so if anyone deserved to get a feature-length anime, it was THIS GUY.) anyway, i thought it was really good. i enjoyed it. but i like anime, so you may not like it if you're not a fan. 4 out of 5 stars.

Pucca: Ninjas Love Noodles. [Cute-as-a-button Pucca is back with more adventures in this collection of shorts starring the 10-year-old whose Internet fame led to a gig on Toon Disney. The spunky charge of noodle house owners, Pucca is forever chasing her ninja knight, Garu. There's plenty of high-kicking martial arts action, scrumptious noodles and amour in the 13 shorts here, which include "Noodle to the Stars," "Ninjitsu for Dummies," "Sooga Size Me" and many more. ~netflix] it's so silly and cute and funny. oooh, and in the dvd, there's an honest-to-goodness ninja license included. hehe. i thought it was really cute. i gave it 4 out of 5 stars on netflix. check out steve's review. he liked it, too! :)

.:What Mia's Watching:.

DuckTales, Season 2. [When Donald Duck leaves his nephews in the care of millionaire miser Uncle Scrooge McDuck, the ducklings are soon off on a quest for treasure that takes them to the Andes and Antarctica -- and that's just in the pilot! The far-flung adventures continue as Huey, Dewey and Louie follow Scrooge in his pursuit of new wealth while protecting his existing fortune from the villainous Beagle Boys in this animated adventure series from Disney. ~netflix] i have fond memories of duck tales because my sis and bro used to watch it when they were little. steve hates duck tales and hates the theme song. hehe. but i love it. mia likes it, too. :)

My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Friendly Tails. [Join Pooh, Tigger, Darby, Buster and the rest of the gang as they investigate a variety of mysteries in and around the Hundred Acre Wood, from rumors of buried pirate treasure to the disappearance of one of their very own. Included in this compilation is the never-before-aired episode "Darby, Solo Sleuth / Doggone Buster," as well as the play-along game "Darby's Super Sleuth Challenge." ~netflix] it's really cute. pooh and tigger are "super sleuths" and instead of christopher robin, they have a little girl named darby. anyway, it's cute and well-done and mia really enjoys it. she loves that silly ol' bear. :)

.:What I'm Listening To:.

• Global Underground 33 - Rio de Janeiro: Layo & Bushwacka. while i normally really love layo & bushwacka, i wasn't feeling this installment of global underground.

Groove Armada: Late Night Tales. i really liked this album. and i definitely liked it more than Fatboy Slim's edition of Late Night Tales.

• Nine Inch Nails: Ghosts I-IV. i could just tell by the title that it would be all instrumental. and i was right! hehe. some of it is genius. and other parts are just monotonous and i just felt like it went onandonandonandon. drops april 8.

Nine Inch Nails: Still. mellow. but really good.

.:What I'm Reading:.

Fevre Dream - George RR Martin. i love me some george rr martin. it's about vampires. sorta. anyway, it's really good. and i loved it. but i could be biased... his next book in the ice and fire series is coming out in the fall. and i can NOT wait. it can't come out fast enough!

With the Light: Raising An Autistic Child 2 - Keiko Tobe. yes. a manga about raising an autistic child. it's absolutely amazing, though. i loved this one as much as the first.