58 posts tagged “reviews”

.: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?!

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.

The Hammer. [An aging boxer (Adam Carolla) turned construction worker dons his gloves again two decades after stepping away from the ring in a bid to win the prize he had been unable to attain before, a berth on the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team. Years past his prime, the onetime up-and-comer struggles in the ring and out as the boxing establishment doubts he can pull off a comeback in this sly comedy from director Charles Herman-Wurmfeld. ~netflix] color me surprised! there were actually some funny parts in there! i didn't think it was going to make me laugh at all... i mean, it's adam carolla... as a carpenter, ex-boxer. doesn't sound like it would work, right? most of the movie, i felt like it was just a vehicle for them to tell every joke they've ever wanted to tell, but it somehow kinda works. don't get me wrong, it's a dumb movie. but it's kinda fun. 3 stars.

Skyland. [The series is set on Earth during the 23rd century, at which time the planet has been shattered into millions of pieces; known individually as Blocks, and collectively as Skyland, which orbit around a central core. At sometime prior to the franchise's on-air time line beginning, a dictatorship known as the Sphere rose to power through the control of Skyland's water supplies. The Sphere maintains its power using enforcers known as Guardians; elite corps who were taken from their families at a young age and specially trained. In response to the actions of the Sphere, groups of pirates emerge whose primary concern is stealing water. Skyland is written from the perspective of the pirates. ~wikipedia] i am not a fan of the dialogue or the voice acting. it actually gets pretty painful... i mean, cringe-inducingly painful. HOWEVER, the story is pretty good... which keeps me coming back. it's not the first thing i choose to watch, but i haven't been avoiding it like i do with some shows (ahem, Desperate Housewives and Terminator, yes, i'm looking at you). they seriously need to hire some good writers and voice actors... then it actually might be something really worth watching. 2.5 stars.

Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? [In his directorial follow-up to the breakthrough hit Super Size Me, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock gamely tries to one-up the U.S. government by finding Osama Bin Laden. The wry documentarian reportedly shot more than 800 hours of footage while scouring every nook and cranny of Afghanistan and the Middle East in pursuit of the infamous leader. The film had its much-anticipated world premiere at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. ~netflix] 2.5 stars. i was really disappointed in it. it didn't feel authentic at all. and you'd think cuz i was a mom, i'd give a crap about how morgan spurlock's girlfriend was about to have a baby, but you know, i REALLY DIDN'T. it was just annoying. well, to be honest, every time morgan's girlfriend shows up in his stuff, i find her to be pretty annoying... but in this particular documentary, HOLY CRAP, she was REALLY annoying. and i didn't think it was necessary for them to even bring up the fact that she was pregnant and had a natural birth at home. WHO THE FUCK CARES, MORGAN?! read steve's review. it's probably a little more neutral. hehe. well, he has a way of being professional in his reviews. hehe.

.: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:.

The Bank Job. [Based on a true 1971 event, this thriller tells the story of Terry (Jason Statham), a car dealer who becomes involved in a London bank heist only to find that the contents of the bank vault will draw him deeply and irrevocably into the city's criminal underbelly. Murder and scandal abound in this tale of corruption populated with a surprising mix of offenders, from low-level thugs to government officials and all the way up to the royal family. ~netflix] finally! jason statham in a good movie! i totally forgot that dude could act because he is usually in some suckfest of a movie. 4 stars.

Baran. [When 17-year-old Latif (Hossein Abedini) loses his job at a Tehran, Iran, construction site to the illegally hired Afghan Rahmat (Zahra Bahrami), he begins playing cruel pranks on Rahmat. Soon, however, Latif discovers that Rahmat is actually a girl, and he begins helping shoulder her burden at the construction site. When officials demand that all illegal workers be fired, Latif must choose between safety and social standing, and his young love. ~netflix] 3 stars. it was all right. it's slow and stuff and if you're not in the mood for this movie, i can see how someone might really dislike it. there's not a whole lot going on in terms of excitement. but i liked it.

Blood Brothers. [Inspired by John Woo's renowned Bullet in the Head, this highly stylized gangster film set in 1930s Shanghai follows three friends from a poor fishing village who travel to the big city in search of their fortune. What they find, however, is a seductive criminal underworld that tests their values and threatens to tear their friendship apart. Daniel Wu, Ye Liu and Tony Yang star. ~netflix] i don't know about this movie... it was... okay, i guess. i was expecting a little more, but some parts were pretty lame-y. okay, make that a lot of parts. the last shootout was okay, i guess... but i wouldn't really recommend it to anyone else. 2.5 stars. i mean, with the starpower behind it, you'd think it would be better. pretty disappointing.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog . [Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is a 43-minute tragicomicmusical in three acts, each released as a separate episode. It was produced exclusively for Internet distribution and tells the story of Dr. Horrible (Billy), an aspiring supervillain, Captain Hammer, his nemesis, and Penny, their mutual love interest. The movie was written by writer/director Joss Whedon, his brothers Zack Whedon (a television writer) and Jed Whedon (a composer), and Jed's fiancée, actress Maurissa Tancharoen. The writing team penned the musical during the WGA writers' strike. The idea was to create something small and inexpensive, yet professionally done, in a way that would circumvent the issues that were being protested during the strike. ~wikipedia] it was awesome, awesome, awesome. 5 stars. if you didn't watch it when it was streaming a couple of weeks ago, either download it off iTunes or you can also watch it here, as well. free streaming is back!

Doctor Who: The Five Doctors. [This 90-minute special of Britain's long-running fantasy TV series first aired in 1983. When four of the current Doctor's incarnations fall prey to a rogue Time Scoop, they end up at the evil Death Zone of Gallifrey and must make it to the tomb of Rassilon to uncover the secret of the first Time Lord President before being sucked into a vortex. But they've got company -- the men are besieged by a Dalek, a Yeti, Cybermen and the Time Lord himself. ~netflix] i love the doctor who theme song. can i say that without sounding too nerdy? i don't know. i love the new doctor more, i think... but i still enjoy the old doctor whos. 3 stars.

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. [ Having satisfied their urge for White Castle, Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) jump on a plane to catch up with Harold's love interest, Maria, who's headed for Amsterdam. But the pair must change their plans when Kumar is accused of being a terrorist. This fun comedy follows the hapless stoners' misadventures as they become fugitives and try to evade being recaptured by the Department of Homeland Security. ~netflix] not great, but there were some funny parts. the first was way better, though. 3 stars.

He-Man, Season 1, Volume 2. [The battle for power continues on the planet Eternia as mighty warrior He-Man guards the secrets of Castle Grayskull from the evil Skeletor and his minions in this collection of episodes from the first season of the animated television series. Whenever danger threatens, Prince Adam and his timid tiger transform into muscular superhero He-Man and fearless Battlecat, saving the day with the help of loyal comrades Orko, Teela and Man-at-Arms. ~netflix] i love he-man. 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] in may, we watched a screener DVD of this movie. it's a pretty awesome movie and he is really amazing... read steve's review for more info. i gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Meerkat Manor, Seasons 2 & 3. [Flower, Shakespeare, Yousarrian, Mozart and the rest of the Whiskers family are back for another season of high drama in the Kalahari Desert in this popular reality series from Animal Planet. This second season sees the group face even tougher challenges, with bitter new rivalries, vicious battles over territory, the disappearance of Shakespeare, two pending pregnancies and a potentially catastrophic love triangle. ~netflix] good lord, those meerkats are effin' cute. 4 stars!

State of Play. [Powerful politico Stephen Collins (David Morrissey) is embroiled in a scandal when his research assistant dies in a freak accident and his former campaign manager Cal McAffrey (John Simm), now a reporter, realizes the incident may be linked to the death of a drug dealer. As McAffrey digs deeper, he uncovers a dangerous connection between government and big business in this exciting conspiracy thriller from the BBC. ~netflix] reeeeally good. i see on netflix that they're making a hollywood remake of this mini-series. i don't think they could do it justice, but helen mirren and jason bateman are in it, so i'll definitely be keeping an eye out for it. 5 stars for this mini-series.

Vexille. [In a futuristic world where Japan has isolated itself with a magnetic field so it can continue the development of robotics and biotechnology, it's up to a U.S. special forces team to find a way inside. Dubbed SWORD, the team is led by a formidable female commander named Vexille, who's tasked with figuring out whether Japan's top secret experiments pose a serious threat to the world at large. ~netflix] pretty awesome. it was really well done, in my opinion. if you liked Appleseed, you will like this one. 4 out of 5 stars.