WHO IS READY FOR THE NEW SEASON OF THE HIT CW SHOWS STARTING TOMORROW

THIS WEEK STARTS THE NEW SEASON OF GREAT HIT SHOWS

THIS MONDAY WE GET A NEW SEASON OF ONE TREE HILL WHERE WE WILL FIND OUT WHO LUCAS PICKS AND IF THE PERSON WHO HE PICKS WILL SAY YES OR NO TO THE PROPOSAL THAT HE HAS GIVEN. I THINK AND MOST OF THE FANS OF THE SHOW WHO ARE LEYTON FANS THINK IT WILL BE PEYTON WHICH SOURCES HAVE TOLD ME THAT HE WILL PICK PEYTON. I MEAN IT JUST MAKES SENSE FOR HIM TO ASK ONE OF THE GIRLS HE ASKED ALREADY TO MARRY HIM MEANING EITHER PEYTON OR LINDSAY AND DEFINITELY NOT BROOKE THAT WAS SO STUPID OF MARK THE MAKER OF THE SHOW TO PUT BROOKE IN THE STORYLINE IN THE FIRST PLACE SHE HAS NO RIGHT TO BE IN THE TRIANGLE ANY MORE THEY GAVE UP ON THAT IN SEASON 4.

WE ALSO HAVE A NEW SHOW OF AN OLD SHOW IN THE PREMIERE OF 90210 ON TUESDAY THAT IS LOOKING LIKE IT SHOULD BE AN OK SHOW. I JUST DON'T LIKE REMAKE OF OLDER SHOWS. THEY HAD A HIT WITH THE OLD BEVERLY HILLS 90210 AND NO THEY WANT TO TAINT THE NAME OF THE SHOW BY MAKING IT A REMAKE OF THE SHOW BUT WITH NEW CHARACTERS AND SOME OLDER CHARACTERS RETURNING. LETS HOPE THEY CAN MAKE IT AS POPULAR AS BEVERLY HILLS WAS. BE SURE TO WATCH ONE TREE HILL THIS MONDAY NIGHT AT 9:00 PM RIGHT AFTER GOSSIP GIRL.

HERE IS MY REVIEW OF THE DARK KNIGHT

HERE IS MY REVIEW OF THE DARK KNIGHT BY KEVIN ZALLA

The Dark Knight is supposed to take place right where the last movie left off except with a new actress to take Katie Holmes place. I think that Katie Holmes did a good job in the last film but the woman to replace her Maggie Gyllenhaal was one of the best female actress to play in a Batman movie. I think that the performance by the Joker who is played by the actor known to most as Heath Ledger who died a few months ago was one of the best performance for a villian in a long time and his performance not only got you into the character but scared the crap out of you in the process. I think he was a better joker then Jack Nicholson was in the original batman movie. I believe that this film deserves to get a best picture nomination and a best picture win. It was 3 hours of pure action and pure excitment. I loved how they made the character of Batman struggle with stupping to the jokers level of killing or being the hero he wants others to be. The second villian of the story was played by a hero in the beginning of the movie only to be turned evil by some actions that took place during the movie. The second villian became Two Face and he was played by the actor Aaron Eckhart and his performance was almost as great as the Jokers. To me this movie was a highly recommended movie and I believe that everyone should see it at least two times. I saw this movie twice in the same week when I never go and pay for a movie twice unless it is a movie that I love and this movie is that for me. I loved it. You guys need to see it. Thanks for reading my review and remember this movie gets 2 thumbs way up.

PET SEMENTARY NOW AVAILABLE

PET SEMENTARY NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR THE MOVIE PET SEMENTARY FROM IMDB

The Creeds have just moved to a new house in the countryside. Their house is perfect, except for two things: the semi-trailers that roar past on the narrow road, and the mysterious cemetary in the woods behind the house. The Creed's neighbours are reluctant to talk about the cemetary, and for good reason too. Written by Murray Chapman {muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au}

The Creed family has moved to a nice little community, but shortly after the move, their son is killed. Grief-stricken, the father fins out that there is a cemetery where you can bury your loved ones, and they can come back to life. He takes his son to this place, and he is brought back. It seems all is well again, until the son kills a person. That is where the father learns , "Not everything that comes back is the same." Now, he has to find a way to stop his son before he kills the whole town. Written by Brenleyman

Pet Sematary (PS) is a 1989 horror flick based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. After moving into their new home the Creed family's cat is killed after wondering onto the highway. Jud an elderly neighbor shows Louis, the father, to an isolated hill behind the local Pet Cemetery and instructs him to bury the deceased feline there. Not long after the cat reappears at the Creed home, only he is not the same. The docile cat is now vicious and destructive. When their youngest son meets with a fatal accident, the distraught Louis buries him in the same location hoping to revive him. Unfortunately he unleashes far more than he had bargained for. Written by Chris Dale

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE PET SEMENTARY.

STAR WARS CLONE WARS NOW AVAILABLE

STAR WARS CLONE WARS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR THE MOVIE STAR WARS CLONE WARS FROM IMDB

As the Clone Wars sweep through the galaxy, the heroic Jedi Knights struggle to maintain order and restore peace. More and more systems are falling prey to the forces of the dark side as the Galactic Republic slips further and further under the sway of the Separatists and their never-ending droid army. Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan learner Ahsoka Tano find themselves on a mission with far-reaching consequences, one that brings them face-to-face with crime lord Jabba the Hutt. But Count Dooku and his sinister agents, including the nefarious Asajj Ventress, will stop at nothing to ensure that Anakin and Ahsoka fail at their quest. Meanwhile, on the front lines of the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda lead the massive clone army in a valiant effort to resist the forces of the dark side ... Written by Warner Bros. Pictures

HERE IS A REVIEW FOR THE MOVIE STAR WARS CLONE WARS FROM DVDTALK

Out of all the astonishing sights and sounds plastered to the big screen by the George Lucas franchise juggernaut "Star Wars," I think the last item on the average fan's wish list of things to see was "Teen Girl Jedi." Not that the inclusion of more female warriors is something to be shamed, but this puberty-bound knight is indicative of the infantilized experience put forth by "The Clone Wars."

With the Clone Wars raging on, spreading out across the galaxy, a new predicament has appeared to challenge the Galactic Republic: the kidnapping of Jabba the Hutt's infant son, Rotta. Dispatching Anakin Skywalker (voiced by Matt Lanter) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor) to return the baby to Jabba so critical space routes can be freed up, the Jedi are accompanied by young Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein), who is given to Anakin as is Padawan Learner. With Obi-Wan off to thwart Count Dooku's evil schemes, Anakin and Ashoka are left in charge of the smelly little slug, eager to return the child to Tatooine safely before Jabba sides with the Separatists and the war plunges further into chaos.

Essentially a pilot episode for the upcoming "Clone Wars" televisions series due this autumn, this CG-animated effort is making a pit stop on the big screen to goose some excitement for this unique detour in the "Star Wars" universe. Directed by Dave Filoni, "Clone Wars" attempts to drum up a few fistfuls of conflict within a plotline that runs between "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith." The audience already knows how the whole Skywalker saga concludes, but there's a horde of other action tangents and unanswered question to pursue here, such as: did Jabba have a gay uncle named Ziro?

Turns out he does! "Clone Wars" isn't shy reminding the audience that it's solely a cartoon and more or less meant for kids, not nitpicky, thirtysomething message-board vultures who hold all things canon dear to their plastic-lightsaber hearts. Instead, the film is a romp; a burst of wall-to-wall action and high-energy duels that plays merrily in the "Star Wars" sandbox without the burden of narrative connection. It's slight, but effective, only requiring a crash helmet for a few of the script's more outrageous and ill-conceived characterizations.

Rooted firmly in prequel iconography, "Clone Wars" takes what Lucas started with his controversial live-action efforts and embellishes the fantastical fringes further. While limited by stiff, budget, exaggerated CG animation (the lip-sync is distractingly terrible), the film works past the monetary limitations with a strong emphasis on adventure and smash mouth military campaigns. Filoni concentrates on the explosions and epic grandeur of intergalactic warfare, embedding the camera with the expendable clone troopers as they battle against clueless robot infantry. The action comes fast and furious, utilizing famous "Star Wars" vistas and sound cues while ratcheting up the velocity of the combat in a manner that live-action could never match. This extends to the lightsaber and spaceship skirmishes, which now ring with a cartoon polish that's immensely satisfying and often positively electric.

While "Clone Wars" remains a kick both in animated bravado and Skywalker nostalgia, the reality of the screenplay is a matter that pins the film down from true matinee greatness. While the traditionally-animated "Clone Wars" series of shorts released years back relied on silence to hook the viewer into Jedi precision, the new picture is a verbose affair, with each character breathlessly informing the audience of their every thought. And we're not talking Algonquin round table bon mots, but juvenile dialogue aimed directly at the nosepickers. It fits accordingly with the overall intent of the upcoming series, but remains extremely off-putting with these characters, who nickname the infant Rotta as "Stinky," and offer withered comedic retorts with every step they take.

Because the action is so forceful and imaginatively animated, it's easy to ignore the relentless chatter. However, it's hard to turn a blind eye toward a character like Ziro. A cocktail-hour Hutt stationed in a jazz bar on Coruscant, Ziro has painted himself purple, wears feathers around his head, and speaks with a lispy Cajun drawl. What this character means to the overall "Star Wars" universe is not for me to answer, but it's a strange, self-aware moment in a rather stoic picture. It's already a house of horrors thinking about how Jabba even conceived a child, I don't think introducing his party boy uncle was an artistically necessary detour. Well, at least Jar-Jar Binks can take a breather as the most loathed character to emerge from the Lucas magic wand.

With appearances by Jawas, sail barges, and familiar voices (Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Daniels, and Christopher Lee contribute); a few impressive lightsaber and blaster duels; the rise of a formidable Sith apprentice threat in Asajj Ventress; and a delightful new elasticity to all things "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away," "Clone Wars" can be a complete gas to more open-minded fans, and assured catnip to children. The occasional sexually-ambiguous Hutt or sassmouthed, premenstrual Jedi aside, it's an exciting picture and a tempting commencement for the television series.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE STAR WARS CLONE WARS.

SOUTH PARK FULL SEASON 2 NOW AVAILABLE

SOUTH PARK THE FULL SEASON 2 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 1 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB

Terrance and Phillip must go to Iran to rescue Terrance's kidnapped daughter. Meanwhile Saddam Hussein takes over Canada.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 1 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 2 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB

This is the second part of a cliffhanger episode, in which Cartman is trying to find the identity of his father. Dr Mephisto has the results of his DNA test, but is shot before he can reveal the news. As Mephisto clings to life, a raging blizzard in threatening to shut down power to the hospital, cutting off his life-support. Only Kenny can restore the power by reconnecting the backup generators. If he fails, the answer his friend has been looking for will be lost forever.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 2 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2. HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 3 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB
A heinous crime has been committed in South Park: the chickens at a local farm have been molested by a pervert. The criminal leaves a note behind as a clue, forcing Officer Barbrady to admit his shameful secret: he's illiterate. The Mayor sends Barbrady back to elementary school to learn how to read before he can return to work. Desperate to stop the Chicken Lover before he strikes again, Barbrady enlists the help of the boys in piecing together the mystery.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 3 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 4 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB

Mr. Mackey is fired from school after losing a marijuana sample in class and winds up becoming a druggie, and Kyle tries to keep his brother Ike from having his bris after he finds out what will take place during the ceremony.
HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 4 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2. HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 5 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB
The boys discover that the school nurse has a dead fetus attached to the side of her head. Though they make fun of her at first, Kyle's mother decides to take the opportunity to raise public awareness about the woman's condition. Meanwhile, the school dodge ball team, coached by Chef, wins the national competition and is on its way to the world championship. Unfortunately, they face the Chinese team, which has a reputation for being deadly opponents.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 5 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2. HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 6 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB
The kids get revenge on Jimbo and Ned after they fail their report on Vietnam. However, their practical joke sparks a fierce ratings war between "Jesus and Pals" and Jimbo and Ned's hunting program.
HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 6 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 7 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB

When the kids' school bus crashes and ends up hanging off the edge of a cliff, Miss Crabtree tells everyone to stay in the bus while she goes to get help. While they wait, the kids tell stories about their past adventures, although their versions don't quite match up with what actually happened. Meanwhile, Miss Crabtree has little success trying to get anyone to listen to her demands for help.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 7 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 8 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB

It's summer vacation, and now that the Colorado legislature has banned fireworks, the boys are left with nothing to do. Jimbo and Ned decide to head south and buy fireworks in Mexico, while the Mayor decides to exploit a loophole in the law (which still allows "snakes") by building the world's largest snake for the town's July 4 celebration. When the resulting snake becomes so large that it threatens to destroy everything, only a miracle can save the town.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 8 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 9 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB

Hollywood big-shots try to turn South Park into another Sundance. However, they wreak havoc on the town's eco-system, which could cause Mr. Hankey to die.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 9 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 10 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB

The boys get angry and seek revenge when they discover that their parents orchestrated a sleepover at Kenny's house so that they could all get Chickenpox.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 10 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 11 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB

The class takes a field trip to the planetarium, but Cartman sneaks off to try out for a Cheesy Poofs commercial. Though the kids are bored at first, they come back from the trip eager to go again. The reason for this sudden change is explained when Mr. Mackey mind-melds with a frightened little boy who stowed away in the school bus. As the planetarium's secret is being revealed, Cartman is overjoyed to learn that he has been selected to be a Cheesy Poof.


HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 11 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 12 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB

Egged on by Wendy, Stan and Kyle start building a tree-house in Stan's backyard with the goal of eventually being able to play Truth or Dare with Wendy and Bebe (who has developed a crush on Kyle). Jealous of Stan's tree-house, Cartman enlists Kenny's help in building an even bigger one of their own. Meanwhile, Stan's parents make a surprise announcement that they're getting a divorce, and Stan soon meets his new step-father, who immediately begins cracking the whip.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 12 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 13 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB
All of South Park's cows become mesmerized by the town's new Wooden Cow Memorial. Meanwhile, the kids' plan to win a Terence and Philip doll from a carney at the Cow Days festival becomes complicated and dangerous.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 13 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 14 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB

When Cartman comes into school singing the new hit song, "Stinky Britches," Chef realizes that the song he wrote 20 years earlier has been stolen. When he goes to the record company to show the song is his and ask for attribution, the record executive instead hires Johnny Cochrane to sue Chef for millions of dollars. Facing prison if he can't pay the fine, the kids look up all Chef's old music buddies to raise the money. They all arrive in South Park to hold a huge charity concert, allowing Chef to hire Cochrane for himself and counter-sue the record executive.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 14 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 15 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB

Kyle thinks his new pet fish is evil after it kills two people in his bedroom. Also, the parallel-universe version of Cartman shows up in South Park, and everyone likes him more than the real Cartman.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 15 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 16 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB

Stan, Kyle and Kenny go to Nebraska to spend Christmas with Eric's family. Meanwhile, Charlie Manson escapes from prison with Eric's uncle, and the boys help teach him the true meaning of Christmas.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 16 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 17 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB

Facing termination for not teaching anything, Mr. Garrison tells the students they have to give a current events presentation before the school board to demonstrate what they've learned in his class. The boys get partnered with Tweek, the jumpy son of a local coffee shop owner, and go to his house to put together their report. Mr. Tweek suggests they present a report on how big chain coffee shops are pushing smaller shops out of business, and gives them a report he's already written for them. The town committee is won over by their impassioned plea to fight the coffee chains, and the boys soon find themselves in over their heads when they are called upon to give another speech in a debate with the CEO of Harbuck's coffee.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 17 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 18 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2 FROM IMDB

While hunting through the woods, Kyle falls down a hole and discovers a man frozen in ice. They take the ice man, whom they name Steve, to Dr. Mephisto to study. Mephisto thaws the man out, only to discover that he is still alive, having been kept perfectly preserved since the distant past of 1996. Steve is kept at Mephisto's lab in an environment recreating his native surroundings, but the boys think he should be free. Even so, can a man from 1996 ever comprehend the world of 1999?

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 18 OF SOUTH PARK SEASON 2.

DECEPTION NOW AVAILABLE

DECEPTION NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR THE MOVIE DECEPTION FROM IMDB

An accountant is introduced to a mysterious sex club known as The List by his lawyer friend. But in this new world, he soon becomes the prime suspect in a woman's disappearance and a multi-million dollar heist.

HERE IS A REVIEW FOR THE MOVIE DECEPTION FROM DVDTALK

I'm having troubling figuring out what's worse here: that 20th Century Fox would go out of their way to make sure I didn't see "Deception" before opening day, or that 20th Century Fox would actually bestow something as tepid as "Deception" with a wide theatrical release. Ah, such mystery!

When meek accountant Jonathan (Ewan McGregor) meets slick attorney Wyatt (Hugh Jackman), he's immediately smitten with Wyatt's style, wit, and sophistication. The two quickly become friends, with Wyatt introducing Jonathan to the world of an anonymous sex club and assorted debauchery. In this haze of pleasure, Jonathan meets the mysterious S (Michelle Williams) and immediately becomes consumed with her every move. Overwhelmed and now trapped in a net of suspicion from the local police once dead bodies start piling up, Jonathan must fight for his life when Wyatt turns out to be far more dangerous than he ever expected.

"Deception" had me for exactly 40 minutes. Playing in a lurid sandbox once manipulated to memorable results by such filmmakers as Adrian Lyne, the picture sets itself up as a sexual odyssey, where Jonathan quickly gets in over his head trying to play by Wyatt's hazardous standards. The performances comply to the overall slither, and both Jackman and McGregor appear to enjoy their time basking in the glow of the red light district. It isn't a grip-the-armrest, cross-the-legs-slowly type of escapism, but "Deception" was achieving small goals in the first act, toying with the audience with flashes of lust and corporate stooge male bonding. After that? Poof. The film turns to dust.

I don't know where the production found director Marcel Langenegger, but they can put him right back. A lackluster visual stylist and even worse storyteller, Langenegger simply gives up midway through the film, relying on the charms of the actors to see "Deception" to its puzzling conclusion. Perhaps the director isn't fully to blame here, since the feature has obviously been edited to bits, with basic comprehension and clumps of logic booted out of the proceedings once the heavy breathing is tempered.

Again, once the sexual twitch of the film has been relieved, "Deception" grows increasingly tiresome as the plot switches from braless mystery to violent manipulation. It all becomes a familiar checklist of twists and turns, with nothing left in the film to care about. In short, "Deception" becomes impossibly dull, and no amount of Ewan McGregor hilariously trotting around with a ghastly American accent can save the film from sinking into sleepy routine.

We've been here before, most pointedly in 1990's "Bad Influence." "Deception" has nothing innovative to offer the screen, so the experience of watching wonderful actors slum through dreadful material and nonexistent direction is disheartening, and frankly there's nothing sadder in the world than to watch a sex-laden film unable to climax properly.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE DECEPTION.

ELEGY NOW AVAILABLE

ELEGY NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR THE MOVIE ELEGY FROM IMDB

Driven by Isabel Coixets visually assured and deeply observant direction, "Elegy" charts the passionate relationship between a celebrated college professor and a young woman whose beauty both ravishes and destabilizes him. As their intimate connection transforms them more than either could imagine, a charged sexual contest evolves into an indelible love story. With humanistic warmth, wry wit and erotic intensity, "Elegy" explores the power of beauty to blind, to reveal and to transform. Starring Academy Award®-winner Ben Kingsley and Oscar®-nominee Penelope Cruz, with extraordinary supporting performances from Dennis Hopper, Patricia Clarkson and Peter Sarsgaard, Elegy is based on Pulitzer Prize-winner Philip Roths short novel "The Dying Animal".

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE ELEGY.

RECOUNT NOW AVAILABLE

RECOUNT NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE


HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR THE MOVIE RECOUNT FROM IMDB

This movie will chronicle five weeks between the Nov. 7, 2000, presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore and the December Supreme Court ruling that upheld Florida's count and gave Bush the White House.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE RECOUNT.

GET SMART NOW AVAILABLE

GET SMART NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR THE MOVIE GET SMART FROM IMDB

Bungling secret agent Maxwell Smart, also known as Agent 86 for CONTROL, is on a mission to battle the forces of their evil crime nemesis known as KAOS with his more-competent partner Agent 99, (whose real name is never revealed) at his side. When the headquarters of U.S. spy agency Control is attacked and the identities of its agents compromised, the Chief has no choice but to promote his ever-eager analyst Maxwell Smart, who has always dreams of working in the field alongside stalwart superstar Agent 23. Smart will do whatever it takes to thwart the latest plot for world domination by KAOS. Written by Anthony Pereyra {hypersonic91@yahoo.com}

HERE IS A REVIEW FOR THE MOVIE GET SMART FROM DVDTALK

"Missed it by that much!" is the classic line from the "Get Smart" television series and could easily describe the latest big screen incarnation. A woefully uneven motion picture, "Smart" is a misfire, but not entirely ineffective.

When Siegfried (Terence Stamp), the leader of KAOS, engineers a massive plan to sell nuclear weapons to all of America's enemies, it's up to the agents of CONTROL to stop him. However, almost all of those agents have been assassinated, forcing The Chief (Alan Arkin) to promote analyst Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) to spy duty as Agent 86. Paired with Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), the duo partake in a little globetrotting to sniff out KAOS's plans, while a peculiar competitive/romantic chemistry forms between them. When matters go from bad to worse, it's up to 86 and 99 to thwart KAOS's evil scheme and save the world from certain doom.

Based on the marvelous 1960's Bond satire show, the big screen "Get Smart" voyage has a devil of a time trying to decide what sort of film it wants to be. The television series was a slapstick creation, though frosted with black humor and now quaint cold war undertones. "Get Smart" the movie is trying to play by more predictable multiplex rules, and the result is a schizophrenic affair that reaches for belly laughs, shovels in famous references, and stages blow-em-up action choreography all at the same time.

Director Peter Segal is trying to pull off too much with "Smart." It's a complex take on a simplistic series, attempting to find some action heat beneath all the silliness. Segal certainly has great ideas for bullet-dodging set-pieces, but the picture indulges mayhem much too often, inadvertently handicapping Carell and the cast, who have the unfortunate task of keeping things light in a film that doesn't allow much time for such luxuries.

A "Get Smart" movie without laughs? A strange concept, but one this feature almost achieves. Don't get me wrong, Carell makes for a fine Smart, picking up nicely where Don Adams left off, though a resuscitation of Adams's more famous catchphrases feels a little superfluous. Carell finds new verve inside of the character, removing his dim-wittedness and replacing the void with an intriguing confidence. The actor is home with Smart, sharing pleasing chemistry with Hathaway and Arkin (who nearly steals the movie) and, aside from the painful series references, makes the character his own. Granted, it's a carb-panicky, anal analyst take on Smart, but it's not a methodical piece of Adams mimicry, and that's a blessing.

There are fragments of satisfying absurdity that poke through the smoke Segal leaves behind, but it's not enough to make for a rewarding sit. "Smart" is chasing too many differing tones and nothing clicks, leaving the film a pile of unfinished moves. It's a distracting aesthetic, lessening the impact of the comedy and action by trying to please every member of the audience.

Perhaps the television "Get Smart" wasn't a diamond of quality, but there was a certain indefatigable silliness about it the film doesn't know how to recreate. It forces the production to employ standard summer fare moves, and it robs this eager film of delight. "Get Smart" isn't bad, just underwhelming, trying on too many tones without seeing any of them to satisfying conclusions.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE GET SMART

THE PROMOTION NOW AVAILABLE

THE PROMOTION NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR THE MOVIE THE PROMOTION FROM IMDB

Two assistant managers of a corporate grocery store vie for a coveted promotion.

HERE IS A REVIEW FOR THE MOVIE THE PROMOTION FROM DVDTALK

I really like comedies where two stubborn individuals battle it out for one coveted prize, ignoring all common sense and social grace. Think War of the Roses or Grumpy Old Men. The Promotion really wants to be that kind of film, but sadly, it is not.

For his directorial debut, writer Steve Conrad (The Pursuit of Happyness, The Weather Man) takes two regular guys and pits them against one another to see who can get the manager's job at a new location for the grocery chain they both work for. Will it be mild and meek Doug (Seann William Scott, still looking like he's trying to make sense of Southland Tales), who has lived in the same Chicago suburbs and worked at the nearest store for many years? Or will it be new guy Richard (John C. Reilly), freshly arrived from Quebec with his family, carrying a bunch of odd personal baggage with him? Which is sufficiently lacking in conscience to screw over the other man? Which one is enough of a buffoon to screw it up for himself?

Well, neither as it turns out, and that is the problem. The Promotion comes across like an eager nerd that wants to be everybody's pal, when it should be the kind of movie where we're rooting for the characters to get ruder and cruder and as mean-spirited as can be. Either that, or there has to be a clear hero and a clear villain so that we can take somebody's side. By default, the hero role seems to fall to Doug, who is our point-of-view character and the one who is having his territory invaded. Conrad takes great pains to make us think he's a decent guy who just needs to stand up for himself, even going so far as to let us into Doug's head via painfully redundant voiceover narration. Doug wants to move up in the world so he can buy his girlfriend (wife?) a house, getting them out of their rinky-dink apartment with its walls that are so thin they can communicate with their banjo-playing neighbor just by speaking in conversational tones.

At first, it looks like Richard is going to be a manipulative bad guy, smiling to your face and telling you a big story while he's secretly reaching around and stabbing you in the back. Except, he's not just telling stories, he's telling the truth, and so it seems like we're supposed to like him at least as much as we're supposed to like Doug. Even when the two of them do bad things, they quickly come around and try to make up for them. It's the worst case of mixed signals I've seen in quite some time, and it totally backfires. I'd rather these two dorks were easy to hate, because as sympathetic characters, they aren't very bright and are both such losers, it's hard to believe anyone would give either of them a job.

One thing I hate about reviewing a comedy like The Promotion is that even though it's kind of sucky, the cast is very good and very committed to trying to make the movie good, and I really want it to be better for them. John C. Reilly is terrific, as always, and SNL's Fred Armisen gets several laughs as Doug and Richard's vacant boss. The female roles are underwritten, meaning Lily Taylor is wasted as Richard's wife (and saddled with a ridiculous Scottish accent to boot), and Jenna Fischer once again gets short changed. It would have been nice had she had more to do, rather than the director skating by on having us believe Doug would fight for her solely on the basis of her being Jenna Fischer. As usually happens with a movie featuring Fischer, most guys will watch The Promotion and wish she was their girlfriend.

Even Seann William Scott, who can't really pull off being the underdog, tries his best. But it says something about a movie when the whole ninety-minute show is stolen by a five-minute cameo. As a motivational speaker, Jason Bateman performs at several levels above the material, momentarily elevating The Promotion to a comedy that gets repeated laughs rather than intermittent ones. His scene even has the best Fred Armisen moment.

Once that scene is over, however, it's back to business as usual. The Seann William Scott narration returns, stamping down on any momentum the movie manages to build like a giant foot landing on a parade of determined ants. I think it's the voiceover that bugged me the most about The Promotion, actually. The way it is written and performed, I can feel Steve Conrad straining behind it to make the audience accept that this is a quirky, quaint comedy about quirky, quaint people. As I was watching the movie, I started analyzing scenes where the narration appeared, and every time, what I was being told was unnecessary to my understanding of the film and undercut what was actually happening. Beneath the wimpy monologue was not the mean-spirited comedy I might have been hoping for, but an awkward comedy along the lines of something Ricky Gervais or Christopher Guest might make. The two best scenes in the movie--John C. Reilly before the board of directors explaining a fart joke for way longer than required, and the paper-bag moment at the motivational outing--elicit laughs by making us squirm in our seats. The genial tone of the narration smashes against those uncomfortable pauses and makes it so either we're jerks for chuckling at the awkwardness or chumps for putting up with the rest of this dull charade.

Which is a shame, because I went to this movie to laugh, not make a mealy mouthed new best friend. (Well, unless it was Jenna Fischer, of course.)

Jamie S. Rich is a novelist and comic book writer. His current novel is entitled Have You Seen the Horizon Lately? and was released by Oni Press in the summer of 2007. It follows up on both of his successful books from 2006, the pop-culture hit The Everlasting, and his original graphic novel with Joëlle Jones, 12 Reasons Why I Love Her. Rich is currently writing the ongoing independent comic book series Love the Way You Love.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE THE PROMOTION.

BIGGER STRONGER AND FASTER NOW AVAILABLE

BIGGER STRONGER AND FASTER NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR THE MOVIE BIGGER STRONGER AND FASTER FROM IMDB

In America, we define ourselves in the superlative: we are the biggest, strongest, fastest country in the world. Is it any wonder that so many of our heroes are on performance enhancing drugs? Director Christopher Bell explores America's win-at-all-cost culture by examining how his two brothers became members of the steroid-subculture in an effort to realize their American dream. Written by BSF Film

HERE IS A REVIEW FOR THE MOVIE BIGGER STRONGER AND FASTER FROM DVDTALK

Like many impressionable kids of the 1980s, Chris Bell wanted to emulate his wrestling idols, including the outrageous tearaway-shirted one, Hulk Hogan. Unlike many kids of the 1980s, Bell and his two brothers took the extra step and embarked on a bodybuilding career to toughen themselves up and reach goals previously thought unattainable. It didn't take long for Bell to learn the ugly truth behind dominating physical achievement.

"Bigger, Stronger, Faster" documents Bell's journey of discovery as he struggles to understand why so many popular and aspiring athletes turn to anabolic steroids and other performance enhancers to "cheat" their way to the top. To Bell, the recipe for success was simple: eat your vitamins and say your prayers. However, after years of toiling away on the weightlifting circuit trying to achieve the perfect body, Bell discovered that it takes more than a couple of Flintstones chewables to position himself as a competition brute.

"Bigger" is a convincing argument for sporting disgrace. The way Bell sees it, the taint of enhancement is everywhere these days; professionals are routinely coming under fire for usage of steroids, only to deny what is patently obvious. The juice is loose, and the past 20 years has seen a surge of opportunists trying to sneak in and exploit the largely American-bent need to dominate at all costs.

The unfortunate kink in the legitimacy hose of "Bigger" is Bell, who places himself in the Michael Moore role, taking the camera with him to investigate the bitter 'roid-world. Bell isn't much of a camera presence, and he's an even worse journalist, but his ambitions for this documentary are commendable and, at times, incredibly eye-opening.

The puffed finger of blame extends beyond professional wrestlers (the Chris Benoit story is rightfully covered) to investigate Ben Johnson, Lyle Alzado, the failure of the U.S. government to properly deal with steroids (not to mention the wild west atmosphere of the performance enhancer industry), the death of the classic Gold's Gym era, and the modern-day juicing nightmare known as professional baseball. What, you didn't really believe that endless shattering of home run records was a result of actual talent? Bell has his doubts too and it makes for a fascinating portrait of fractured fandom and underhanded glory. However, Bell reserves his largest wellspring of disappointment for Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Before he was crowned the King of California, Schwarzenegger was a body builder, and, at one point, was refreshingly honest about his steroid abuse. For Bell, this was a crushing blow; a reveal of deception from an idol, turning a hero into a hypocrite as the political machine swooped up The Arnold and molded him into a role model for physical fitness and celebrated his jewel-encrusted achievement of the American Dream. Does this mean that steroids should ultimately be tolerated? It's an interesting questing Bell deals with meticulously.

Eventually, "Bigger" narrows its spotlight to Bell and his emotionally damaged weightlifting brothers, who admit they've used steroids and show little shame, even promising further abuse to manipulate results. Obviously, this is Bell working out some of his personal demons, but the intimacy is welcome, showing Bell's family as a loving group who can't seem to shuffle past their addictions. In many regards, steroids are the death of honesty to Bell, who shapes the movie as a dirge for organic sporting achievement. It's impossible to disagree with the sentiment after watching his take on the relentless enhancement of America and the blurring lines of true achievement.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE BIGGER STRONGER AND FASTER.

TERMINATOR THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES SEASON 1 NOW AVAILABLE

TERMINATOR THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES SEASON 1 NOW AVAILABLE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 1 OF THE TERMINATOR FROM IMDB

A modern-day warrior and single mom hides from a government out to get her and her teenage son.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 1 OF TERMINATOR.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 2 OF THE TERMINATOR FROM IMDB

John goes stir crazy when he's confined to the house, Sarah looks up an old friend for some help, but she may face betrayal, and Cromartie begins reassembling himself.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 2 OF TERMINATOR

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 3 OF THE TERMINATOR FROM IMDB

John and Cameron start their new school, Sarah befriends a man who may be important to Sky Net and then struggles with what she must do. Meanwhile, Cromartie has tracked down a scientist to assist him in his regeneration.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 3 OF TERMINATOR

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 4 OF THE TERMINATOR FROM IMDB

John becomes separated from Sarah and Cameron while they're searching for some stolen cargo. Meanwhile, the murder Agent Ellison is investigating leads him to a surprising suspect.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 4 OF TERMINATOR.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 5 OF THE TERMINATOR FROM IMDB

Sarah reevaluates the capabilities of her friend Andy's computer after he enters it in a chess competition. During the competition, Sarah meets a stranger with a history similar to hers. Meanwhile, Agent Ellison finds remnants from a past terminator confrontation leading him closer to both Sarah, and the terminator Cromartie, now in the form of George Laszlo.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 5 OF TERMINATOR.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 6 OF THE TERMINATOR FROM IMDB

With Derek Reese severely injured, Sarah calls on her former fiancé Charlie Dixon, an EMT, to provide medical assistance. She also finds herself having to explain where she has been for the last 8 years and just who Derek is and where he is from. In flashbacks (of a sort) we learn of Derek's life in the future as a resistance fighter, his relationship with John Connor and of his travel back in time with a team sent to protect Sarah and John. He doesn't realize however that his brother Kyle is John's father.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 6 OF TERMINATOR.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 7 OF THE TERMINATOR FROM IMDB

Sarah breaks into Agent Ellison's apartment to investigate, and discovers a file on her from her time at the mental hospital, leading her to Dr. Silverman, a doomsday convert. Meanwhile Cameron signs up for a ballet class and John finds out how his mother escaped the mental hospital before they arrived in 2007.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPSIODE 7 OF TERMINATOR.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 8 OF THE TERMINATOR FROM IMDB

Derek catches Cameron in a lie that puts them inside Vick's head, Sarah continues to track the Turk, and Cromartie comes closer to finding John.
HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 8 OF TERMINATOR.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 9 OF THE TERMINATOR FROM IMDB

Sarah finds herself in a business transaction with a mysterious business man, named Sarkissian, who claims to be in possession of the stolen Turk computer system and wants an exuberant amount of money for it's return. Meanwhile, Cromartie closes in on John at his school, while Cameron thinks of a way to throw him off John's trail. Derek recalls his childhood days before the so-called Judgement Day in 2011, four years from now which a nuclear war triggered by Skynet will destroy the world. Elsewhere, Agent Ellison discovers a nemesis at the agency when he finally learns about the terminator Cromartie impersonating an FBI agent.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 9 OF TERMINATOR.

21 NOW AVAILABLE

21 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR THE MOVIE 21 FROM IMDB

"21" is the fact-based story about six MIT students who were trained to become experts in card counting and subsequently took Vegas casinos for millions in winnings.

HERE IS A REVIEW FOR THE MOVIE 21 FROM DVDTALK

Adapted from the best-selling novel "Bringing Down the House," "21" is a slick piece of amusement, cashing in on common fantasies of beating the odds, bedding the blonde, and dodging certain doom with only a few inches to spare. It's a lively gambling drama that's far better than it had any right to be, but is kept from greatness by some rotten dramatic choices.

Ben (Jim Sturgess, "Across the Universe") is an MIT student struggling to find the money for Harvard Medical School. An opportunity is placed in his hands by Micky (Kevin Spacey), a professor who runs a card-counting Blackjack scheme during the weekends. Reluctantly, Ben joins this small group of students (including Kate Bosworth, Jacob Pitts, Liza Lapira, and Aaron Yoo), and together they fly to Las Vegas to clean out the casinos. Thrilled at first with the money raked in, Ben quickly learns there's a price to pay for his greed, leaving him caught between Micky's growing threats and the financial demands of his once-promising future.

Directed by Robert Luketic ("Legally Blonde"), "21" is incredibly glossy, hip filmmaking calculated to capture the butterflies of boisterous casino-floor victory and the slow, liquid release of personal problems when cash starts to flow. To that end, the picture is extraordinarily vivid; the director blasts blazing colors, the amps soundtrack selections, and stages rollicking Vegas nightlife, spraying big-screen candy everywhere. Luketic aims to put the viewer in the passenger seat of Ben's odyssey into unremitting greed and moral confusion, and the film locates tremendous success in these areas of the screenplay. "21" can be an overwhelming sensory experience, but the point of this is to feel the pull of Ben's temptations, to better appreciate his mistakes.

Played well by Sturgess, Ben is not a likable character; in fact, nobody in the picture has any perceivable sympathy, especially Ben's spurned nerd best friend, played with greased-maw obnoxiousness by Josh Gad, who can stop acting right now if he's elected to travel down the Dan Fogler route of loathsome fat-guy/quip-guy performances. To find an edgy rhythm to "21," Luketic sacrifices the human element of the story. This creates problems throughout the picture, especially once the film asks the audience to root for the MIT students when, in fact, they come off just as underhanded and insatiable as Micky or the fatigued, obsolete Vegas video surveillance security forces (led by Laurence Fishburne) out to nail the counters.

Ben and his students aren't Robin Hoods, and the screenplay clears room to address their downfall. However, there just isn't enough substance to this ethics subplot to make it feel like "21" is really trying to understand these characters and their monetary paranoia. The film barely pays attention to the consequences of Vegas manipulation outside of hokey back alley beat-downs, and it's not long before the film looks to pay itself off with a chase finale, resembling something out of 1970's cop show. Luketic appears fearful of letting the audience leave the theater with any sort of realistic interpretation of right and wrong, so he slathers on the questionable heroics, effectively turning Ben into a saint.

The fun of "21" is getting lost in the details of the counting along with the characters. The picture does make the strategy architecture thrilling through use of detail-oriented photography and special effects, and the pizzazz of beating the casino at its own game is rendered triumphantly. It's easy to get caught up in the hunt for Blackjack angles that "21" presents with significant charm. However, much like Las Vegas itself, it's only fun in fits, and the next morning you might find yourself regretting spending time with something comprised entirely of surface delights.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE 21.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA IS NOW AVAILABLE

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADDEN IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR THE MOVIE WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADDEN FROM IMDB.

If Morgan Spurlock has learned anything from over 30 years of movie-watching, its that if the world needs saving, its best done by one lone man willing to face danger head on to take it down, action hero style. So, with no military experience, knowledge or expertise, he sets off to do what the CIA, FBI and countless bounty hunters have failed to do: find the worlds most wanted man. Why take on such a seemingly impossible mission? Simple-he wants to make the world safe for his soon to be born child. But before he finds Osama bin Laden, he first needs to learn where he came from, what makes him tick, and most importantly, what exactly created bin Laden to begin with.



HERE IS A REVIEW FOR THE MOVIE WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADDEN FROM DVDTALK

It's impossible to take Morgan Spurlock seriously as a big-screen documentarian. Clearly he comes from the Michael Moore school of "infotainment," only without the sharp wit or, frankly, compelling subject matters. If you thought nailing McDonalds for unhealthy eating standards in the 2004 film "Super Size Me" was an easy target, wait till you see Spurlock going after global terrorism.

The crux of "Where in the World" is the hunt for Osama Bin Laden and the reach of the deadly terrorist organization al-Qaeda. Spurlock, with his pregnant girlfriend in tow, wonders how his beloved world could've gone so far astray; he questions how 9/11 emboldened radical Islam into declaring war against the world and how it is that American technical might has failed to find Bin Laden after all these years. So Spurlock does what any responsible man does when faced with a pregnant loved one: he ditches her to spend months traveling around the Middle East documenting an already dog-eared subject.

"Where in the World" is an incredibly uneven film, revealing the limitations of Spurlock as a film director. In front of the camera, Spurlock is calm and assured, well-versed in milking an unexpected moment for a laugh or dramatic punctuation point. It's behind the camera where the director finds the most trouble, trying to shape "Where in the World" into a comedy about terrorism (at least for lengthy sequences of the picture). With help from crude animation and inspiration culled from video game imagery, Spurlock goes hog-wild during the first reel of the film. Perhaps fearful audiences will find the subject of international slaughter too discouraging, the director drinks a gallon of wacky juice and lets the film tear off, including, among other wild visuals, a cartoon video of Osama dancing to "U Can't Touch This." The groans are quick to follow.

Once "Where in the World" sobers up and Spurlock actually manages to form a cognizant thesis on the headspace of the Middle East populace, the picture finally saddles up some interesting ideas on America's tarnished reputation. Wondering around the streets of Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Afghanistan, Spurlock interviews the common man, jokingly looking for clues to Bin Laden's whereabouts (most interviewees nervously blow the question off); however, he quickly cuts out the cute to expose how these citizens endure under religious oppression, political corruption, and questionable media saturation. Not surprisingly, Spurlock doesn't reach very far, and the finest sequence of the film features the production crew slowly being surrounded and violently harassed on the streets of Tel Aviv, to a point where the police are called in. It's the only spontaneous moment in the picture.

Discussing the birth of modern terrorism and the hypocrisy of the American government, there's little new information to be found in "Where in the World." The film hinges on Spurlock's personality, but he's such an obnoxious guy, and the whole sympathy ploy with the unborn baby (gushy phone calls are exchanged between the couple) is somewhat deplorable, since, ostensibly, Spurlock is putting himself in harm's way just to walk in already established journalistic footprints.

Does Spurlock find Osama Bin Laden? Well, that's a spoiler, but I will say that "Where in the World" tries to find an alternate note of hope to summarize with, extolling the wonders of the global community and the common desire for peace. Spurlock's intent is pure, but his filmmaking needs to artistically mature before anything he says can be taken seriously.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADDEN.

STARSHIP TROOPERS 3 NOW AVAILABLE

STARSHIP TROOPERS 3 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE


HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR THE MOVIE STARSHIP TROOPERS 3 FROM IMDB


The war against the Bugs continues! A Federation Starship crash-lands on the distant Alien planet OM-1, stranding beloved leader Sky Marshal Anoke and several others, including comely but tough pilot Lola Beck. It's up to Colonel/General Johnny Rico, reluctant hero of the original Bug Invasion on Planet P, to lead a team of Troopers on a daring rescue mission. Written by Anonymous


HERE IS A REVIEW FOR THE MOVIE STARSHIP TROOPERS 3 FROM DVDTALK

Background: Direct to video sequels heavily populate the market and if you believe the popular press, almost all of them are truly bad in many ways, merely cashing in on franchises without the effort and expense of their originals. Such was the case with Starship Troopers, the second volume in the series dispensing with the popular cast for a host of no-names in what amounted to one of the worst such examples of sucky sequels on record. The original source material penned by author Robert Heinlein, one of the most influential science fiction writers of a foregone generation, influential in politics, and an early adopter of racial equality, was tossed aside for a straightforward action movie made on a shoestring budget. Having served in the military and written extensively about his belief in a meritocracy, Heinlein suggested a balance between the "rights" everyone was given with the responsibilities of citizenship, all in stark contrast to his peers given the age when he wrote a controversial novel called Starship Troopers back in 1959. The novel focused on a rich Filipino named Johnny Rico, a high school athlete and pretty boy who defies his family to join the military as a ground pounding mobile infantry grunt. The Earth Federation is involved in a conflict with an alien race of super destructive and huge bugs, their high tech weaponry serving to balance their survivability against the physically superior race. The idea that one must earn the ability to vote or run for office via military service was not new, even years later it is often a selling point for candidates running for office to expound upon their military records. The novel was considered to promote military interests, right wing thinking, and anti-intellectual ideas, the critics forgetting that it also starred a minority who rose through the ranks in a system far from any that were popularly supported at the time (this was pre-Civil Rights marches folks!). While some people were upset at how director Verhoeven butchered Heinlein's work, others eventually came around to appreciate the parody nature of the release, a loyal following allowing for the release of yet another sequel in the form of Starship Troopers: Marauder.

Movie: Starship Troopers: Marauder picks up years later after the "feel good" conclusion of Starship Troopers has apparently diminished. Rather than discard the parody nature of the original as the second volume of the series did, this time it was played up even more at times, the biggest selling point being that Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) was back as a full fledged colonel. Still known more for his exploits as a hero years ago more than anything he had done recently, Johnny is now in charge of an outpost base protected by an electric shield; the bugs testing it regularly (ala the Jurassic Park dynamic of the critters being smarter than the humans give them credit for). Still a Roughneck, Johnny leads by example as he expects his subordinates to tote the line and fight until they die, the immediate thing I noticed was how his previous hard core attitude had softened slightly. The initial story develops along the line that a popular Sky Marshall is paying the base a surprise visit, Johnny tipped off by an old friend that has now been promoted to General.

Sky Marshall Anoke (Stephen Hogan) being patterned after a Bush cabinet member, sings glorious patriotism songs that the general populace finds lame while the indoctrinated military personnel swoon and tap their toes to his rousing lyrics (a full length music video is included as an extra). The Federation is now engaged in protecting outlying farming settlements and the surprise inspection seems questionable given the active bug population of the planet, Johnny and General Dix Hauser (Boris Kodjoe) following orders as the SM moves freely about the base. Accompanying the Federations top man and Dix (his Chief of Staff), is a pilot known well by Johnny, Captain Lola Beck (Jolene Blalock of Enterprise fame), her familiarity with Johnny rubbing fiancee Dix the wrong way. Some romantic tension aside, the three seem hard pressed to fill in for the original trio of the first movie (Johnny, Carl, and Carmen) but this being a low budget sequel means making due.

As the story unfolds, Dix and Johnny get into an argument over some of the local population upset at Federation policies, leading to a brawl in a local tavern where Dix gets beaten by some farmers that aren't keen on the military. Johnny stands up for them and is ordered arrested, soon afterward a breach in the perimeter fence allowing an overwhelming force of bugs to break into the compound and tear apart the soldiers assigned to it. Johnny makes it clear that he isn't going to be arrested when he is needed to protect his people so he fends off the general and starts the counter offensive, the end result being heavy casualties that are pinned on him. His sham trial is like all the others the government puts on, his guilt automatic and his sentence to be carried out later that day. In the mean time, Lola and Anoke are stranded on a desolate planet inside the bug quarantine zone, having survived the attack but knocked out of hyperspace and marooned. Evidence of a larger cover up is presented to Dix and he is thwarted when trying to discover what has happened to his fiancee and mentor, the plot thickening when Admiral Enolo Phid (Amanda Donohoe) has Dix's sources killed.

With nowhere left to turn, Dix recruits the now-discredited Johnny for a suicide mission, the movie bouncing between his preparations to invade bug territory with a single squad of fellow infantry and Lola's small band of misfits trying to cross the desolate planet of OM-1 to secure supplies. Lola notices the Sky Marshall as a flaky wacko but the rest of the group seems oblivious, especially a religious flight attendant who openly prays to her god in defiance of regulations (cute Marnette Patterson as Holly Little). The group is being herded to a destination by the bugs but Lola is the only one cognizant of the fact, leading to some interesting developments that broadcast the rest of the story well in advance of the continued exposition pieces. Rico has his own troubles with the new Marauder attack gear serving as his squad's only hope of survival, the rescue attempt relying heavily on the attack gear that is so under used in the final battle sequence that you'll know why it wasn't deployed in the earlier volumes of the franchise.

Okay, the acting was every bit as bad as the previous volumes but without any of the tongue in cheek appeal of the original. The directing job by Ed Neumeier, the guy who wrote all three movies, was lacking and you will wonder why the CGI effects were so poorly handled here. Yeah, there were some new bugs to deal with, new abilities of the aliens, and even a few ideas that weren't skewered enough in the original movie but the inconsistencies of the characters and the way the Federation was portrayed this time was such that any hopes of salvaging the thematic aspects of the show were dashed early on into the movie. I'd go so far as to say that anyone watching the movie and all the extras will have earned their citizenship since it was so horribly lame. If this is the best that Ed could come up with over the years he has had to think about it, perhaps Verhoeven need be back in the director's seat with a team of better writer's to end the series on a high note, or perhaps allow someone to come in ala The Dark Knight and go back to the roots of the book for real. Suffice it to say that I rated this one as a Skip It but don't make the mistake to think it was in the "so bad, it's good" category because frankly, it showed the difference between the kind of director Verhoeven is versus one of the creative staff all too readily (the bulk of Neumeier's works are in derivative projects of Verhoeven's including Starship Troopers and Robocop spinoffs).

Picture: Starship Troopers: Marauder was presented in widescreen color using an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with a 1080p picture as shot by Director Ed Neumeier. Looking more like a made for cable extravaganza (look for it on the Sci-Fi Channel soon) on a tiny budget, the movie showed some really weak special effects, the CGI rating about as low on the scale as most ten year old computer games would these days, the aliens and space ship effects far inferior to the original movie. I'm used to shows like this being shot in Canada but this one went an extra step out of the ordinary to be shot in South Africa, perhaps given tax credits to boost the working capital of the release further than the first sequel had to work with. The flesh tones were generally accurate but there was more grain than expected and some moiré was noticed on a couple of occasions. The AVC codec allowed for the enhanced Blu-Ray resolution expected but the down side is that on such a low budget stinker as this one, it only amplifies the low end look of the show, the bitrate hovering in the mid to upper 25 Mbps area. I believe that the more "high end" your set up is, the worse this one will look so even if the story weren't so poorly written, the technical considerations would prohibit serious consideration for picking up a copy of the movie.

Sound: The primary audio track was the 5.1 Dolby TrueHD track in English, with secondary tracks in 5.1 Dolby Digital in French, Spanish, Thai, and Portuguese; subtitles in all those languages as well as a couple of Chinese tracks, Korean, and even Indonesian. The primary track used the standardized sampling rate of 48 kHz and had a wildly variable range moving from under 1 Mbps to over 2 Mbps, typically hovering around 1.7 for those of you into the numbers. There was a decent amount of separation between the channels with the surrounds and bass kicking in mostly during the action sequences; the vocals almost always sounding canned in a studio during post production than a natural part of the events unfolding. While the audio effects lacked some of the subtlety the original had, this was one area of the movie that wasn't a complete waste of time.

Extras: While not as plentiful as Starship Troopers, there were still some decent extras included this time, the Director commentary by director/writer Ed Neumeier, producer David Lancaster, and special effects supervisor Robert Skotak. The commentary was a huge cheerleader effort but in defense of it, they admitted openly to some of the faults it had (including mentioning making it "on budget", alluding to how cheaply it was made very early on), and provided some insight into how the flick was made. A second commentary included Ed Neumeier, Casper Van Dien, and Jolene Blalock, this one focusing more on the experiences of the cast but still largely positive, despite the evidence confronting the world on the screen (the movie itself). There was an extended music video for "It's A Good Day To Die", a short feature called Evolution: The Bugs of Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, detailing some of the newer alien life forms used in the movie, and a feature called Enlist: Marauder's Mobile Infantry, spending most of the time talking about the characters. There was once again the ability to import your own picture into the movie and some trailers but my favorite extra was the ability to watch the movie in Marauder Mode; some interviews, clips, and background information popping up on the screen as the movie played. It was less engaging than the first release in the series but still added value as it was more interesting than the movie to me. There was also a BD-Live feature that allows internet hooked up players to see more trailers and bonus footage, my preference being to include anything on the disc rather than be stuck "renting it" as this set up allows (Sony could discontinue, charge, or change content for their online material while the disc will always be available to those that own it).

Final Thoughts: Starship Troopers: Marauder probably could have been worse though it would have taken a whole lot of effort to do so. The desire of the director to focus more on current events (thinly disguised at that) than long term themes such as Verhoeven did will limit the appeal of the show even more, the post 911 world being the primary topic of the weak humor. The parody aspects were present to a smaller degree too but handled much more loosely and suffering as a result, making the movie serve as something akin to Heinlein's revenge for how his books were bastardized by the franchise as far as I'm concerned. The technical considerations were all showing the low budget of direct to video release, the extras the best part of the disc, and the weakest elements of the first movie kept while a whole lot of new weaknesses were tossed in to make it a questionable outing at best. I know the book was geared towards young readers but as dumbed down as this one was, it made the original movie shine far greater by comparison (and it was heavily flawed outside of the thematic considerations). Maybe it would be best to apply one of the movie slogans to sequels like this in general and say "The only good sequel is a dead sequel!" (though well made sequels are not completely foreign these days, such as The Dark Knight, Hellboy 2, and a number of exceptions to the rule.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE STARSHIP TROOPERS 3.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 1 NOW AVAILABLE

BUFFY SEASON 1 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 2 OF BUFFY FROM IMDB

At night in the cemetery, Buffy saves Xander and Willow from vampires, later Giles explains their race descends from primeval demons. Meanwhile the vampires bring Jesse as offering to their master as the hell-mouth, before his ascension and 'harvest', but hearing about a slayer he rather keeps Jesse alive as chained bait for her. Buffy realizes the mausoleum must be the entry, and meets Angel again there; she enters alone- but Xander catches up, determined to help his mate. Giles reads up on the harvest. Jesse turns out to be a vampire already, but the heroes escape into safe sunlight. The master anoints vampire Luke as his killing, soul-devouring vessel. Xander guesses right Jesse will still go to the Bronze, the town's single cool club, like normal school-kids, and so does the whole vampire gang before Buffy's... Written by KGF Vissers


HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 2 OF BUFFY SEASON 1.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 3 OF BUFFY FROM IMDB

Against her Watcher Giles' wise advice, Buffy decides to get a normal life, trying out for cheerleader, more competitive then she imagined; there Amber spontaneously catches fire at both hands, soon various other girls have disabling accidents. Xander feels frustrated when even giving her a cool bracelet doesn't seem to catch Buffy's romantic attention. After some study, the gang concludes it's a case of witchcraft, suspecting Amy, a girl who trains heavily, coached by her ma, former champion and home coming queen Catherine Madison, of using it to eliminate competitors and find a test- Amy is positive but seems ignorant, yet lords her mother Catherine Madison. Next Buffy looses her self-control and blurts out to like Xander, but only because he is not like other boys, rather 'one of the girls'. Giles researches how to break the spell, then Buffy guesses how Amy and mother switched roles and more... Written by KGF Vissers

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISODE 3 OF BUFFY SEASON 1.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 4 OF BUFFY FROM IMDB

Xander dreams of greatness- in biology class; the teacher, Dr. Gregory, is eaten afterward and declared missing. Angel gives Buffy another cryptic warning and his jacket but no personal info. Substitute Natalie French continues the lesson on insects, her good looks guarantee volunteers after class, Cordelia Chase finds Gregory decapitated. To Buffy's surprise vampires flee for miss French, who wants hormones-impressed Xander to see her after class, and Blayne didn't return from his previous appointment. Xander refuses to believe his 'hot date' is a shape-shifting bug but is drugged and locked up after she resumes her mantis-form and caged with Blayne. Giles finds out it's a virgin-killer, Buffy the real miss French's identity... Written by KGF Vissers

Xander falls head over heels when gorgeous substitute teacher Ms. French replaces the deceased biology teacher. Buffy and Willow begin to think there's something abnormal about Ms. French, especially when she sets a date with Xander. When Buffy discovers Ms. French's true identity, she must rush to stop her before Xander falls prey to her true nature. Written by Anonymous

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISDOE 4 OF BUFFY SEASON 1.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 5 OF BUFFY FROM IMDB

Yearning for a normal life, Buffy agrees to a date with Owen. Giles discovers a prophecy of coming danger, but she chooses Owen over battling evil. When Giles goes out on his own and is trapped by a group of vampires, Buffy must figure out a way to balance dating and Slaying. Written by Alex

A ring on a vanquished vampire's finger alerts Giles of the presence of the Order of Aurelius, a secret sect of vampire brethren prophesied in the 12th century to send the 'anointed one', who will reach the master after rise from the ashes of five, can approach unnoticed to kill the slayer and drag her to hell; he researches the time of the prophecy is now. Buffy's mind is rather occupied by poetic, hunky loner student Owen, who suddenly asks her, refusing popular Cordelia, to The Bronze, only cemetery vampire patrol makes her arrive too late, while a vampire causes a bus to crash with five incinerated mortal victims, including Andrew Borba, a wanted man who raved about the righteous and the end. To Buffy's delight and Xander's envy, Owen asks Buffy again the next day. Giles figures the fivefold accident fulfills Aurelius' prophecy and is trapped in the morgue by two brethren, so Xander and Willow get Buffy, Owen follows on his own. The evil anointed is hard to find, then things get sorted out, except for a crucial one... Written by KGF Vissers

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISDOE 5 OF BUFFY SEASON 1.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 6 OF BUFFY FROM IMDB

On a school field trip to the zoo, Kyle DuFours's gang of bullies taunt good boy Lance, till Xander stops them balancing the nerd over the fence of still quarantined hyena's- suddenly they are all eerily effected by the evil beasts' magical stare. Willow is completely smitten with Xander, but he chucks in her maths tutoring when the hyena spell progresses, as sensed by the piglet Herbert principal Bob Flutie introduces as mascot for the Sunnydale Highschool's 'Razorbacks' football team. Next Xander dumps Wilow, fully joining Kyle's 'hyena pack' of bullies. When the four known bullies are called in Flutie's office for devouring mascot Herbert, they eat him too. Luckily Xander was enforcing himself upon Buffy, so she knocked him down and locked him up. Giles, who first thought Xander was just suffering from pubertal hormones, now realizes it's a Massai 'primary' cult soul transfer, and Buffy tells him about what zoo keeper Dr. Weirick told them about the nasty hyenas, so they go talk to him while Willow stays with Xander, and learn hyenas retrieve a missing pack member for the next hunt, but not his secret... Written by KGF Vissers

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISDOE 6 OF BUFFY SEASON 1.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 7 OF BUFFY FROM IMDB

The Master in the hell-mouth feels Buffy has slain too many of his 'family', so he sends the Three, strong vampire worriers, to kill her, but Angel intervenes, they both get away. Buffy takes him home to dress his wound, sees his tattoo and learns vampires killed his parents. Even knowing the Three will be killed -as punishment and as a lesson for the master's young son Colin- guardian Giles steps up Buffy's weapons training. When Angel kisses Buffy, he turns into a vampire, but jumps out of the window. However Darla, Colin's older sister, pretends to be a school friend so Buffy's ma invites her in, then bites her and arranges for Buffy to see only Angel holding her ma. Giles researched Angelus is an age old terrible European vampire, who mysteriously stopped feeding since emigrating to America. Buffy sets out to hunt Angel with a crossbow, but asks first why he spared her life, hence learns how Romany gypsies punished his cruelties by giving him a soul, and thus the pain of a conscience crushed by countless sins. Darla appears too.. Written by KGF Vissers

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISDOE 7 OF BUFFY SEASON 1.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 8 OF BUFFY FROM IMDB

In the twelfth century, the Italian friar Thelonious used the circle of Kayless ritual to capture the demon Moloch the Corruptor into a book, hoping it would never be read. However it arrives in Sunnydale High Library; before Giles could examine it properly it's scanned into the school computer by Willow, and possesses it. Virtual evil is now able to spread trough the school network, starting with schoolboy Malcolm, Willow's brand new chat pall, for whom she even gives Xander's Bronze invitation a miss. Soon Buffy notices other normally nice students, like Dave and Fritz in her computer class, behave strangely, and start up the abandoned computer services firm CRD again. By the time Giles realizes about Moloch, the demon is very deep, powerful enough to make his minions kill Dave and abduct Willow, his unknowing deliverer to whom he declares his love. Computer-illiterate erudite Giles turns for help to his cultural rival, computer science teacher Jenny Calendar, who reveals herself as a techno-heathen... Written by KGF Vissers

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISDOE 8 OF BUFFY SEASON 1.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 9 OF BUFFY FROM IMDB

Mr. Snyder, Sunnydale High's new principal after the devouring of fatherly Mr. Robert Flutie, believes in order and discipline to instill school spirit, so he orders Giles to produce a talent show and punishes the absentee trio by forcibly enrolling them as candidates. Then dancer Emily is found with her heart cut out, but demons don't usually use a knife, yet one was found next to her, so the human student contestants are screened. The weirdest suspect proves to be gifted ventriloquist Morgan Shay, who treats his inseparable wooden dummy Sid as real, in fact takes orders from it in private, and if it is as Giles suspects one of seven demon who take possession of human bodies, anybody may be turned bad by it... Written by KGF Vissers

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISDOE 9 OF BUFFY SEASON 1.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 10 OF BUFFY FROM IMDB

At the hell-mouth, the Master of evil explains to his boy heir Collin that fear rules people better then love or hate. He manages to use the young schoolboy Billy Palmer to make every student of Sunnydale High's terrifying nightmares come true, ranging from Xander appearing in class wearing only boxer-shorts to being chased by murderers, losing one's favorite abilities or poisonous spiders coming out of one's schoolbooks... Written by KGF Vissers

Xander walks into class naked except his boxers-shorts, Willow is in concert but she can't sing, and Giles suddenly finds himself unable to form coherent sentences - the residents of Sunnydale are living out their worst nightmares, and Buffy's nightmares are worse than most. Written by Anonymous

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISDOE 10 OF BUFFY SEASON 1.

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 11 OF BUFFY FROM IMDB

Cordelia's date for the may queen election, hunky jock Mitch, is beaten black and blue in the locker-room by a 'floating' baseball bat. Angel tells Giles he can get the Pargamon Codex, the best of the missing prophecy books concerning the vampire Master. The next victim of the invisible batterer is Harmony, a close friend of Cordelia; while the gang looks into missing teenagers, presuming one has turned into a spitefully aggressive ghost as the words 'look' and 'listen' are written near the victims, English teacher Miller is nearly asphyxiated. The gang finds the 'ghostified' girl is Marcie Ross, who became invisible because she felt nobody ever noticed her, and is after vengeance on pupils who ignored her... Written by KGF Vissers

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISDOE 11 OF BUFFY SEASON 1

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR EPISODE 12 OF BUFFY FROM IMDB

In the first-season finale, Giles discovers an ancient prophecy which states that Buffy will face the Master and she will die. Upon hearing this, Buffy first denies her slayer roots, but when a small tragedy occurs at school, Buffy realizes she can't run from destiny, and decides to take on The Master. Written by Alex

Xander feels his love-life is hopeless: he will never get trough to Buffy, Willow refuses to be a mere substitute. Giles is now assisted in his occult research by computer teacher Jenny Calendar; Buffy overhears Giles insist to Angel she must face the Master tomorrow to prevent the hell-mouth from opening and probably die herself in a decisive battle, which makes her desperately opt out slaying. On prom evening Buffy changes her mind, even knocks out Giles when he intends to go instead, but her crossbow has no effect on the Master, who eagerly expected her: this time she's the hunted party. Xander gets Angel to take him on a desperate rescue mission; they find her dead after the Master's bite, but find a way. Willow guessed right all vampires are gathering at the Bronze... Written by KGF Vissers

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR EPISDOE 12 OF BUFFY SEASON 1.