3 posts tagged “the league of gentlemen”

.:What I'm Watching:.

The Awful Truth. [This captivating screwball comedy stars Cary Grant and Irene Dunne as Jerry and Lucy Warriner, a married couple who mistakenly suspect each other of infidelity and file for divorce -- but then go to ridiculous lengths to make each other jealous. Ralph Bellamy is hilarious as Dunne's new suitor, Grant and Dunne have rarely been better, and a scene-stealing pooch provides some hearty laughs. Leo McCarey won an Oscar for his sprightly direction. ~netflix] cute classic. i really liked it. then again, maybe it's because i really like cary grant. love the chemistry between the two stars. 4 stars.

Cloverfield. [A going-away party in Manhattan is interrupted when a mysterious, giant-sized monster launches an attack on New York City. With camcorder in hand, a small group of friends make their way out into the chaotic streets, scrambling to stay alive. Mike Vogel, Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, Michael Stahl-David, Odet Jasmin and T.J. Miller co-star in this action-thriller produced by J.J. Abrams, creator of the hit television series "Alias" and "Lost." ~netflix] i couldn't even get halfway through it without wanting to barf. all that motion totally made me ill... it's pretty good, but... JEEZ. i just got so sick. and i didn't even watch it on a big screen! i watched it on my computer. in a small window! and i STILL didn't feel well. dude, i don't know how anyone watched it in the theater without puking. i had to stop the movie twice to keep from hurling. turning on the subtitles and focusing JUST on the words helped... of course then i didn't really know what was going on or anything. hehe. i still liked it, though. 3 out of 5. i might've given it a higher rating if i didn't feel all pukey. well, probably not. it wasn't really THAT good.

Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out. [In this absorbing documentary, drummer Stewart Copeland shares his Super-8 footage from his days with the Police -- one of the world's biggest bands in the 1980s -- and muses about what it was like to be rock royalty. Highlights include early performances in London before the group found an international audience, plus vintage studio footage of the moment that Sting came up with the classic baseline for "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da." ~netflix] got me in the mood for the concert the next night. :D so interesting to see the members of the police paying their dues, playing crappy gigs and staying in crappy motel rooms. stewart copeland comes across as so normal and cool... and sting seemed so down-to-earth... i guess superstardom messes a person up. 4 out of 5.

The League of Gentlemen Are Behind You. [The League Of Gentlemen Are Behind You is a pantomime themed stage show by The League of Gentlemen. It was their second major UK tour and premiered in 2006. The show was a departure from the Gents' trademark dark humour, thanks to the whimsical pantomime nature of it. Almost all the material performed was new and original. ~wikipedia] i love these guys. it's amazing how fast they change outfits and characters! they just jump from being one person to the next. it's awesome. and they are funny. awesome live show. 4 stars.

Mr. Brooks. [Kevin Costner stars in this psychological thriller chronicling the downward spiral of a man (Costner) at war with his own alter ego (William Hurt). Demi Moore co-stars as a sharp-witted police detective whose passion for her job attracts the attention -- and respect -- of the very serial killer she's tracking. The film was penned and helmed by talented writer-director team Bruce A. Evans and Raynold Gideon (Stand by Me). ~netflix] better than i thought it would be. i actually liked it a lot. you have to suspend your belief about a lot of stuff, but that's no different than most movies out there, right? and look! demi moore is working again! dane cook's in this, too. he's still kinda spazzy but not as much as usual. really though, this movie is all kevin costner and william hurt. i am not normally a kevin costner fan, but he surprised me in this movie. 4 stars. i'm not sure if i gave it a higher rating because i wasn't expecting ANYTHING and it pleasantly surprised me or what...

The Restless. [In fictional ancient Korea, Yi Gwak is a demon hunter who lost his lover, Yon-hwa, and colleagues of demon hunters in the past. He enters the Midheaven, a transitory place for spirits, only to find the spirit of Yon-hwa who has forgotten about him. His deceased former mentor, Ban-chu, masterminds a demonic rebellion in Midheaven, wishing to invade the living world. ~wikipedia] i enjoyed it! i thought it might really suck, but it wasn't nearly as bad as i thought it was going to be. maybe if you go into it with absolutely no expectations you'll enjoy it... i did want to choke the lead actress though. seriously. she was so annoying and weak and pathetic and i wanted to beat her ass. and the main guy's hairdo was annoying. heh. what? it was. but for the most part, it was engaging and interesting and the special effects and fight scenes are pretty fun. not the best ever or anything, but it's a fully decent flick. 4 stars.

Thundercats, Season 2. [After fleeing the planet Thundera, a small band of survivors dubbed the Thundercats makes its way to Third Earth, only to be met by Mumm-Ra, a centuries-old embodiment of evil! In this collection of episodes from the show's second season, Lion-O anoints three new Thundercats -- Bengali, Pumira and Lynx -- who had been left behind on Thundera. Unfortunately, Mumm-Ra retaliates by unleashing the destructive Luna-taks. ~netflix]  seriously, that first disc was AWESOME. i loved the thundercats as a kid. i'm still waiting to get disc 2 in the mail... 5 stars.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

Bear Snores On... and more stories to celebrate the seasons. [No matter what the season, children will find special things to cherish in these classic stories. In "Bear Snores On," Bear sleeps all winter long in his cozy lair; surprise guests stop by to warm up, brew tea and pop corn, but Bear still snores on. In "Waiting for Wings," butterflies bloom as delicately as flowers. And in "Come On, Rain!" Tess knows that the only thing that can fix the endless summer heat is a good, soaking rainstorm. ~netflix] "Bear Snores On" is a really cute book. but they didn't exactly animate it on this disc. this DVD was really lame. also, the narrator made me want to kill someone. she was awful and annoying. also, the other shorts weren't exactly animated either. the production was TERRIBLE. and have i mentioned that it's pretty lame? in case i haven't made it totally clear, let me put it to you this way: it was a total suckfest. of course my daughter's a couch potato so she sat still for it and watched it. heck, she'd probably even give it 3 stars out of 5. but I'm giving it 1. oh, and not only did the extra stories have poor production, but they were just straight up lame. blah. read your kid the book. don't bother getting the DVD. save yourself.

.:What I'm Listening To:.

Andy C: Nightlife 4. i have a feeling this is gonna be on heavy rotation this summer. especially since mia likes it too. yeah, we have the coolest toddler evah.

Atmosphere: When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint that Shit Gold. pretty good. some songs i didn't really care for, but for the most part, very solid album.

Madonna: Hard Candy. there are some songs that just SCREAM timbaland and timberlake. and others that sound Madonna... there are some songs that are pretty cool and others that are just pretty boring, filler-type material. it's decent.

.:What I'm Watching:.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Book 3, Volume 3. [As the third season of this Emmy-winning animated series unfolds, Aang wakes up to two significant surprises: The first is that he's trapped aboard an enemy ship of the Fire Nation, and the second is that he has a full head of thick, black hair. Meanwhile, as Aang's fellow prisoners Katara, Sokka and Hakoda explain the series of events that brought them to their current circumstances, Prince Zuko journeys home to face his father. ~netflix] seriously one of the best shows ever. it's in its 3rd (and i guess final) season. it is SO awesome. i loooove it. 5 out of 5 stars. also, steve got me a second plushie to go with my appa. it's MOMO!!! :D i love them both. hehe.

Bee Movie. [Comedian Jerry Seinfeld stars in this animated comedy as recent college grad Barry B. Benson, a worker bee stuck in a dead-end job making honey who files a lawsuit against humans when he learns they've been stealing the bees' nectar for centuries. Renée Zellweger, John Goodman, Matthew Broderick and Chris Rock are among the all-star cast members who contribute their vocal talents. ~netflix] cute and some lines made me laugh out loud. i think i liked the movie previews of it more than the actual movie. you know... when the people are dressed up as bugs... no? doesn't ring a bell? anyway, 3 out of 5 stars.

The Hitman. [Fu (Jet Li) is a down-and-out ex-soldier trying to scrape together a living in Hong Kong, all the while supporting his mother in mainland China. When an elderly business tycoon is murdered by "The King of Killers" -- and posthumously offers a sizable reward for anyone who brings his killer to justice -- Fu is recruited by slippery cop Norman Lu (Eric Tsang). Together, they track down the elusive villain using drop-dead martial arts maneuvers. ~netflix] it was all right. nothing special at all. gosh, but jet li looks young! the DVD cover makes it look like it's supposed to be a comedy, but it's not. 3 outta 5.

Iron Man. [After ultrarich inventor and weapons maker Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) escapes from kidnappers using makeshift power armor, he turns his invention to good by using it to fight crime. But when he must face the evil Iron Monger, his skills are stretched to the limit. Based on the Marvel comic, this captivating superhero tale from director Jon Favreau co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard. ~netflix] LOVED it. hey, was terrence howard's speaking voice always that annoying? or was it just for the movie? oh, and jon favreau's a genius! how'd he make gwyneth NOT annoying?! amazing!!! hehe. 5 out of 5 stars. looooved it.

The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse. [Royston Vasey is in danger of being annihilated. The inhabitants must find the creators of the show in the real world in order to save it.] i didn't like it as much as the other League of Gentlemen shows. it was still good, though. 3 out of 5 stars.

Lion King 1 1/2. [Timon and Pumbaa are best pals and the unsung heroes of the African savanna. This prequel takes you back -- way back -- before Simba's adventure began. You'll find out all about Timon and Pumbaa (where they came from, how they met, etc.) and tag along as they search for the perfect home and attempt to raise a rambunctious lion cub. Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick and Ernie Sabella provide the voices in this entrancing musical tale. ~netflix] i guess it was all right. nothing new and original. they make it sound like it's an all new movie, but it's really not. it's like they just used the lion king's stuff and just added pumba and timon into the animation cels or something. kinda lame. but i love me some disney, so i'll give it 3 out of 5 stars, anyway. what? i'm biased.

• Living Goddess. [Filmed in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, Ishbel Whitaker's documentary examines the lives of three girls thought to be reincarnated goddesses whose story unfolds amid the country's political and religious strife. Worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists alike, the three share a common divinity, but while Chanira and Preeti are sheltered from the outside world, Sajani's parents strive to create a normal life for their daughter. ~netflix] this netflix synopsis is totally misleading. first of all, i don't recall there being 3 goddesses. i only remember there being 2. if they did show a 3rd, they sure did her an injustice because i don't know who it's supposed to be. while the subject matter is fascinating, the execution was well... to be honest, not so good... the direction was kinda messed up. screwed with the flow of things. this could've been such an amazing documentary, but instead it just came across as just... ordinary and uninspired. 2 out of 5 stars. mostly for the poor execution.

Made. [In this comedic crime drama -- Jon Favreau's directorial debut -- aspiring pugilist Bobby (Favreau) and pal Ricky (Vince Vaughn) head to New York as representatives of Los Angeles mob boss Max (Peter Falk). Things aren't going well with Bobby's job, his boxing hopes or his girlfriend (Famke Janssen), and he hopes that helping out Max will fix it. But trouble hits when the two meet up with Ruiz (Sean Combs) and the gangsters of New York. ~netflix] it was all right. but vince vaughn's character? i have never wanted to punch a character in the face so many times. i used to like vince vaughn, but the older i get, the more he annoys me.

.:What Mia's Watching:.

Kipper: Kipper Helps Out. [Kipper, that agreeable dog with the sunny smile, learns some valuable life lessons in a series of six animated films in which he helps out various friends, both new and old. Episodes include "The Visitor," "Pig's Present," "The Butterfly," "The Bleepers," "Pig's Cousin" and "The Little Ghost," in which Kipper prevails over a fearsome haunted house. Great stuff for toddlers. ~netflix] it's a really gentle cartoon and very sweet. and mia and i really like it a lot. i would definitely recommend this for toddler viewing. 4 out of 5 stars. :)

The Wonder Pets! Save the Unicorn. [Linny the guinea pig, Ming-Ming Duckling and Turtle Tuck join forces to save a new crop of animals in distress in this family-friendly program that employs the fascinating technique of "photo-puppetry." In this collection of exciting rescue episodes, the Wonder Pets jump into a storybook to help a unicorn whose horn is lodged in a tree. Later, they head to the South Pole to save a baby penguin who's stranded on an ice floe. ~netflix] this has the episode Save the Penguin! yay! hehe. it's cute as usual. and mia loves the wonder pets... if she was rating it, she'd give it 5 stars, i'm sure. but she's not rating it, i am. hehe. and with the exception of the penguin episode, i'm only giving this one 3 stars.

.:What I'm Listening To:.

DJ Icey: Y4K. one of my early mother's day gifts! loved it. mia and i especially enjoyed our "dancey dance" time with it.

Supreme Beings of Leisure: 11i. SBL is music to chill out to. they've still got their trademark sound (which is a little like morcheeba) but this time around, it's a lot less trip-hop and a little slower. there are some tracks that i wasn't that fond of, but overall, it's a pretty good album. better than their second, but not as good as their first.

.:What I'm Watching:.

Death Proof. [Popular cult filmmaker Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed this high-octane thriller that stars Kurt Russell as a serial murderer who uses his revved-up car as a killing machine. After transforming his Dodge Charger into an indestructible weapon, Stuntman Mike climbs behind the wheel to terrorize a group of women on the road. Rose McGowan, Rosario Dawson, Jordan Ladd and Vanessa Ferlito also star in the ultimate road rage film. ~netflix] this has nothing to do with the actual movie, but... i *heart* kurt russell. he's awesome. anyway, as far as the movie goes, i really liked it. but i guess i kind of have a thing for quentin. well, not really a crush, per se. but i love his work. i know just about nothing of grindhouse flicks so i can't really compare his movie to the "real" grindhouse flicks. but i did think that this movie was kind of tame for him. that being said, i still really liked the movie. also, rosario dawson looks like a man. seriously.

Fantastic Planet. [In director Rene Laloux's animated, sci-fi classic, a band of humans -- known as Oms -- are kept as domesticated pets by an alien race of blue humanoid giants called Traags. The story centers on an Om named Terr, who escapes his subjugation with a Traag learning device and eventually uses it to educate other Oms and incite them to revolt. Said to be based on the Soviet occupation of the Czech Republic, the film nabbed the Grand Prix at Cannes. ~netflix] whoa. trippy. it was really good, though. i was surprised at how good it was. fascinating.

The League of Gentlemen: Live at Drury Lane. [This critically acclaimed comedy series from the BBC -- often referred to often as a bizarre, hilarious hybrid of Monty Python and Northern Exposure -- stars three actors in approximately 60 different roles. In the fictitious English hamlet of Royston Vasey, Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith run amok while dealing with everyday issues in, um, "unconventional" ways. ~netflix] okay, that netflix synopsis is actually for the show. not this particular dvd. anyway, they're a bunch of crazy brits, god bless 'em. they did a great job putting the performances on live. the logistics behind the costumes and makeup alone are mind-boggling. i mean, it's just those 3 guys... playing so many characters... yeah. amazing.

The Passenger. [In director Michelangelo Antonioni's gripping drama, correspondent David Locke (Jack Nicholson) -- on assignment to cover an insurrection in North Africa -- stumbles upon the corpse of an acquaintance. Disenchanted with his life, Locke makes a momentous decision: He assumes the dead man's identity, not knowing that he was a gunrunner for the insurgents. But by the time Locke realizes that he's put himself in grave danger, it may be too late. ~netflix] this is from '75 or '71 or something. back when jack nicholson was ... well, kinda hot. hehe. anyway, this movie is slooooow. but pretty good. and at the end, there's this AMAZING camera shot... i couldn't figure out how they made that happen. oh, and i was kind of impressed with the wardrobe people. the way they clothed the actors didn't immediately date the movie.

Ratatouille. [Brad Bird (The Incredibles) co-directs this colorful Pixar offering, following the antics of a passionate rat named Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt) who yearns for a sip of the good life. Growing up beneath a five-star Parisian restaurant owned by a famous chef (Brad Garrett), Remy inherits a taste for fine food. But his culinary ambitions only anger his practical father, who wishes his son could just eat garbage like everyone else. ~netflix] loved it! so cute. thought about letting the bunny in to watch all the rodents on screen (even though rabbits aren't actually rodents, but that's neither here nor there). i mean, i don't know. thought she might want to see a bunch of furry creatures running around. but... then i thought she probably wouldn't even realize what she was watching. hehe.

Talk to Me. [Oscar nominee Don Cheadle stars as real-life radio trailblazer Ralph "Petey" Greene, a high-school dropout and charismatic ex-con who leveraged a prison disc jockey gig into a stint at a Washington, D.C., radio station, a television show and an invitation to the White House. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Sheen, Cedric the Entertainer and Taraji P. Henson also star in this compelling biopic from director Kasi Lemmons. ~netflix] so i put this on my netflix queue because i really like don cheadle and chiwetel ejiofor. anyway, i liked it more than i thought i would. it was really interesting. petey greene is fascinating. and watching the relationship between petey greene and dewey hughes is uber-interesting. the two actors who played them have great on-set chemistry.

Weird Science. [Teen nerds Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) are fed up with being ignored by girls, abused by cool guys and forced to spend their weekend nights watching geeky sci-fi movies. When they use Wyatt's computer to create Lisa (Kelly LeBrock), a stunningly beautiful woman with a genius IQ, the boys become instantly cool. But will their new creation really solve all their problems? A classic '80s teen film from John Hughes. ~netflix] yes, yet another 80s movie i didn't watch in the 80s. i TOLD you. i was totally deprived. i liked it a lot. it was fun.

.:What I'm Listening To:.

Daft Punk: Alive 2007. recorded live in paris. awesome set. but i wouldn't expect anything less than awesomeness from daft punk. album drops 12/4.