NEW MOVIES AND ELECTRONICS YOU NEED

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

PARTY OF FIVE SEASON 3 NOW AVAILABLE

PARTY OF FIVE SEASON 3 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR THE SHOW PARTY OF FIVE SEASON 3 FROM IMDB

Five siblings are left to fend their own way in the world when their parents are killed by a drunk driver. The series revolves around the struggles of raising each other and the struggles of life in general. Written by {arei@ccs.neu.edu}

HERE IS A REVIEW OF PARTY OF FIVE SEASON 3 FROM DVDTALK

Party of Five: The Complete Third Season:

Dorky, annoying, entertaining and addictive: it was sometime during the second season, I think, when my future wife happened upon Party of Five, a show that exemplifies all the above adjectives like no other. It's the lesser of Beverly Hills 90210, I thought then, usually shutting down mentally or leaving the room when it came on. Then, in Season Three, Bailey got drunk.

It was during the youngest Salinger's birthday party, and Bailey was blasted, dressed as a clown, punching people out - possibly one of the ten best moments in TV history. Now that classic scene and many others are all back for fans and faithful to relive - no more advertisement riddled reruns on the CW, just Char, Bay, O, Jule, Griffin and the rest. At first I thought it would seem funny and quaint looking back on the Salingers a decade later, and it is; it's so much more, too. But even before the joy of experiencing their glorious messes all over again, the old questions immediately popped back up; why can't they ever say each other's full names? And more importantly, why do they talk like that?

For those who never watched, the Party in question is the five Salinger kids, the orphaned San Francisco brood that lose their restaurateur parents to a car accident. Eldest son Charlie (Matthew Fox) is just old enough to keep the restaurant going while shepherding his siblings through life and avoiding protective custody battles. Lucky thing too, because all of them, including Charlie, are the most narcissistic, oblivious and self-centered kids you've ever met, constantly creating problems for themselves because they refuse to budge one inch from their own little needs, or to stop yammering for a second in order to hear what their friends or relatives are saying. Of course in that sense it's all very realistic, as most kids are like that - even ones of junior college age like second-oldest son Bailey (Scott Wolf).

Despite the unreal nature of their circumstance, the Party of Five kids' problems are very real. A few tent-pole dramatic arcs prop up the series (Bailey's alcoholism, Kirsten's PHD depression debacle, and in later seasons a cancer scare) but mostly the concerns are: who has a boyfriend, who has been dumped, who hates school, who has a worthless but beguiling boyfriend (Neve Campbell's screen-love Jeremy London) who can barely talk (Owen) and the like. It's all just a step above (or below depending on your opinion) daytime Soap Opera fare, but writ large and in earnest for the teenybopper set. Which is not to say the PO5 appeal isn't more broadly based. From Bailey's Bozo-boozing to when the Moby song Porcelain began tolling the series' death-knell, PO5 was an Event on my couch, with the clarion guitar-jangle of the theme song giving reason - for another week - to jump up and cheer (usually with beer in hand - it's that kind of show).

At times intensely annoying, and then endearing, each character's pull is still strong, though now on DVD you can plow through three episodes a night or more, it doesn't mean you won't be just as compelled to hasten through each messy melodrama, relishing the absurd levels of self-absorption that seem so silly from the couch, but on a primitive, teenage level, ring absolutely true. If only they ... didn't have to TALK ... like that. You know? But ... really ... you don't know! That's the best I can do in typeface to mimic the inappropriately halting, gasping/grasping speech-patterns, full of inexplicable updrafts and odd emphases that each and every actor managed to perfect, for what purpose we may never know, other than to add another maddening level of push-pull compulsion to the show.

Looking at the Season 3 box, it's easy to intuit the PO5 target audience - two nominally dreamy guys (plus London, not on box) and four teenage girls stare out at you. Teenage girls are meant to identify with girly struggles while dreamingly gazing at Wolf and Fox. Viewing boyfriends fare much better with Campbell, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Paula Devicq, (and a manly plotline here and there) but ultimately PO5 is a girl's show with strong guilty-pleasure-appeal for the gents. Often silly, with a huge 'talk back at the screen' component, PO5 in intimate scale runs circles around 90210. If you like your teeny bathos frothy, irritating, lunatic and lovable, Party of Five is absolutely for you. By Season Three Party of Five is running on full steam, confident and crazy, so rent or grab this set (depending on your fandom level) and start popping the PO5 pill. You'll be glad - and feel guilty - that you did.

The DVD

Video:
All 25(!) episodes from Season 3 are presented in fullscreen, 1.33:1 ratio. Packaging indicates the episodes were mastered in high definition, though their appearance does not measure up to TV releases of more recent vintage. One would think source material from 1996 could stand up, but I found the images to be a bit grainy, and sub-par as far as compression goes, with hints of wateriness (not all parts of the image tracking equally) that is disappointing. I'm sure some of it can be accounted for by my less than state-of-the-art setup, (1080p LCD and standard DVD player with S-Video cable) but the look of these episodes doesn't compare with plenty of other DVDs from older sources.

Sound:
No complaints in the audio department, with English Dolby Digital Stereo Audio delivering each strangled soliloquy with delightful clarity.

Extras:
In much the same way the continued absence of The Night Gallery: Season Two makes TV on DVD fans wonder, PO5 fans will ask, what up wit' da extras? What we get are two Minisodes, that is, four-minute long excerpts from an episode of Silver Spoons and The Facts of Life, respectively, and three other standard TV on DVD Previews. That's it. Also curious to me are the menus. Episode Selections are available, as are chapter stops for each episode, but menus for those chapter stops are not available. And why present navigation menus in widescreen format when the show is in fullscreen? It's the details that separate a quality product from a money-grubbing rush-job.

Final Thoughts:
Party of Five: The Complete Third Season slaps ya with almost 20 solid hours of Salinger clan drama (that's 25 complete episodes - ahh the good old days). From teenage angst to serious adult problems, it's all there in uber-irritating, but oh-so-delicious fashion. If you enjoy your drama on the 'melo' side, with lots of broken and re-broken hearts and young beautiful kids acting in tragically fun, self-centered ways, then Party of Five is for you. A substandard mastering job, lack of extras, and a few other minor complaints make this a troubling package, save for the divinity that is the show itself, so collectors; proceed with caution. On the other hand, reliving the PO5 experience for me is every bit as entertaining as it was the first time - and no commercials! Recommended.

SCORPION KING 2 NOW AVAILABLE

SCORPION KING 2 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

SO FAR THERE IS NO INFO ON THIS MOVIE EXCEPT IT COMES OUT LATER THIS MONTH HERE IT IS THOUGH. IT IS THE SEQUEL TO SCORPION KING WITH THE ROCK.

HERE IS A REVIEW FOR THE MOVIE THE SCORPION KING 2

The Product:
Back when MTV was a media maverick, not a purposeful pop culture shill, the fledgling format was turning out supposed soon to be auteurs. From Bob Giraldi ("Beat It") to Steve Baron ("Billy Jean"), Mary Lambert ("Like a Virgin") to Jean Baptiste Mondino ("The Boys of Summer"), these newfound visionaries were prophesized to electrify the dying art of filmmaking with their outsized visual acumen. Perhaps the most celebrated of all was early pioneer Russell Mulcahy. The Australian director, known for his eye popping work with such artists as Elton John, Duran Duran, The Buggles, and Billy Idol came to define the music video format, and was pegged for instant filmmaking stardom. But after Highlander, and the Denzel Washington vehicle Ricochet, Mulcahy's fortunes faded. Now, twenty five years after he first hit the big time, he's been reduced to making prequels of prequels - in this case, the unnecessary backstory for already overwrought The Scorpion King. While competently helmed, it's indicative of the entire Mummy franchise - fast, unfocused, and mythologically lazy - and how far the once mighty have indeed fallen.

The Plot:
As a young man, future leader Mathayus looses his warrior father to the ruthless plotting of corrupt General Sargon. Vowing revenge, he discovers that the powerful leader is under the influence of the black arts. As a result, he must seek the fabled Sword of Damocles from the Underworld in order to defeat him. Joined by his lifelong friend (and wannabe fighter) Layla, as well as a Greek poet and guide named Baldo, they head off to find the Labyrinth, defeat the Minotaur, and enter the domain from which no man has returned alive. Aided by a band of rogues, they confront the evil Queen, whose been working with Sargon all along. It will take more than a magic weapon to defeat this kind of wickedness. Mathayus will have to use every bit of his Black Scorpion training to take on this formidable foe.

The DVD:
In the lingo of the business known as show, prequels are the place where once viable franchises go to die. And since that's almost always the case, what are we to make of a movie that prologues an already established preamble? When The Mummy Returns was released in theaters back in 2001, series founder Stephen Sommers was already plotting a split off sequel, the story of how Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's man-arthropod "Scorpion King" came to be. While a moderate hit, 2002's similarly titled film failed to ignite much permanent passion. Now, six years later, we are treated to a well timed tie-in to the third (and most unwelcome) Mummy update, and all one can ask is "Why?" It's not as if audiences have been clamoring for more trips into our bumbling b-movie past - especially one which offers no recognizable stars and a scattered approach to legend. Now, the last thing anyone expects from these movies is true mythos, but the blending of Greek and Middle Eastern heritage here is sketchy and stupid at best.

So is the hiring of human muscle drone Randy Couture as a lead. The former UFC fighter, built like a fleshy fireplug and about as animate, offers nothing in the way of menace or meaning as our diabolical general turned killer king. Taking a page out of the flex before finesse school of acting, our star seems to stumble when required to do anything except battle. Not that his young co-star Michael Copon is much better. Clearly learning his craft from the 'head down and glower' school of emotion, our hero is hindered by little onscreen magnetism and even less likeability. Mathayus - at least at this stage in his life - is a whiny little cuss, complaining about everything before finally getting around to raising his sword. One imagines he was more effective as the Blue Time Force Ranger during the Power Rangers phenomenon. In fact, the overall level of performance here is pretty pathetic. No one really stands out, and attempted sequences of shared feelings fall flatter than Couture's nose. From a talent level alone, The Scorpion King 2 barely rises above the level of a bad Sci-Fi Channel schlocker - and you know how hard those movies suck.

That just leaves Mulcahy to save the day, right? After all, he breathed some manner of life into the otherwise forgettable Shadow, and recently righted a somewhat slipshod Resident Evil series (he helmed Extinction). Sadly, our former MTV luminary has dulled over the decades. The look here is all flat and made of medium shots, perfectly suited for the old fashioned notion of home theater viewing. Scope is scuttled in favor of fake sets (the Underworld looks like leftovers from another '80s goof, Krull) and the limited F/X runs the gamut from bad stop motion (the Minotaur is laughable) to some even lamer CGI (how to avoid showing a massive monster attack? Turn the beast invisible!). You can sense Mulcahy trying, hoping to avoid the stench of pure "will work for food" folly. It doesn't work. For most involved, this was clearly a proposed paycheck, not some attempt at art. And since there was an equally unsatisfying Mummy movie in theaters to share the backlash, everyone goes away happy - everyone except the audience, that is. The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior is not awful, just below average - and within the framework of this uneven franchise, that's bad news indeed.

The Video:
Offered in what can best be described as a "pseudo big screen" transfer, the 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen image is decent, if not definitive. The range of color stays firmly in the sun and sand drenched dynamic, and details are well defined - that is, when the F/X aren't required to shine. Overall, the picture quality here is good, if not great. One thing's for sure - you certainly won't be pulling this DVD out of the collection to show off your high end system.

The Audio:
Backed by a solid Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, the sonic situation here is fine. The dialogue is easily discernible, and the pompous score settles solidly between the speakers. While you won't actually call the presentation 'immersive', the aural aspects of The Scorpion King 2 are very good indeed.

The Extras: The less said about these overinflated EPKs, the better. "Making of The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior" provides the typical backstage material, positioned to sell this slop as something that it's not (i.e. good!). Elsewhere, "Fight Like an Akkadian: Black Scorpion Training Camp", "Becoming Sargon: One on One with Randy Couture", "On Set with the Beautiful Leading Ladies", "Creating a New World", and "Visual Effects" (now there's an unnecessary bit of production pimping) are all contractually obligated offerings, minor documents of a production that has 'half-assed' written all over it.

Final Thoughts:
While the best advice for any film in this series sans the first would be Skip It, The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior is going to be given the benefit of the marketing doubt. Many won't find the film the least bit involving, but some may still see Sommers (and his excessive offspring) as viable entertainment. Therefore, a rating of Rent It seems to be in order. This way, the curious as well as the confirmed can experience this uneven mess without spending too much of their hard earned cash. But be warned - as with most movies founded on previously successful (or semi-successful) elements, the law of diminishing cinematic returns definitely applies here. Besides, Russell Mulcahy deserves better. Sadly, his present can't account for his formidable, formative past. Here's hoping he refuses the phone call when The Scorpion King 3: Birth of a Fighting Fetus is proposed.

HERE IS THE DIRECT DOWNLOAD FOR THE MOVIE SCORPION KING 2.

Monday, September 01, 2008

HOUSE SEASON 1 NOW AVAILABLE

HOUSE SEASON 1 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

HERE IS THE SUMMARY FOR SEASON 1 OF HOUSE ON DVD FROM IMDB

The series follows the life of anti-social, pain killer addict, witty and arrogant medical doctor Gregory House with only half a muscle in his right leg. He and his team of medical doctors try to cure very ill ordinary people in the United States of America. Written by Samtroy

HERE IS A REVIEW FOR THE SHOW HOUSE SEASON 1 FROM DVDTALK

The Show
As a massive fan of "C.S.I.," I eagerly ate up each new variation of the show. While "C.S.I.:NY" didn't quite do it for me the way Las Vegas did, the newest version, "C.S.I.:ER" is fantastic. The concept of having the CSIs solve the crimes before the victim is even dead is a great twist on the series' premise. I just wonder why they keep calling it "House, M.D." instead of "C.S.I." Have to get Sara Sidle working on that mystery...

All kidding aside, "House" is a brilliant mystery show that, after one season, is already ahead of where "C.S.I." was when it started. But whereas Gil Grissom's group works something of a revenge/avenge angle in solving the mystery on behalf of the victim (or their loved ones), doctor Gregory House (Hugh Laurie, "Blackadder") and his staff of diagnosticians are striving to prevent a death by solving the mysteries behind an assortment of rare illnesses. Because of that, the drama of "House" is much higher than that of "C.S.I." No one's going to save a victim's life, but a patient lies in the balance in every case.

Brought to life by Bryan Singer (X-Men) and David Shore ("Law & Order"), House can be described as something like Grissom without the heart, but with more humor and a love of "General Hospital." He has no bedside manner, would rather not ever talk to a patient (or anyone else for that matter) and has a severe problem with authority. He's also got a few flaws. First, and most obvious is a permanent limp thanks to a blood clot in his leg, an injury that's left him addicted to pain killers. It's rare that your hero is a pill-popper, but House more than makes up for his weaknesses with a brilliant mind that rarely views problems from the traditional point of view.

His team, made up of an Aussie hunk, a street-smart doctor with a criminal record and elite test scores and a beautiful woman who desires to be taken seriously, takes on the obscure medical cases other doctors can't solve, from a young lacrosse player suffering from night terrors to a guy who loses consciousness after rough sex. The cures often follow a formula, as one cure leads to a worse problem, which leads to another diagnosis, more trouble and then a miraculous solution that comes out of nowhere. These machina ex deus plot solutions make for good TV, but kind of kill the realism of the show. But no one complains about it when it comes to "C.S.I.", so why start now?

Outside of the cases, there's plenty of drama in the hospital, as House's abrasive nature rubs many the wrong way including his team. But Dr. Lisa Cuddy, the hospital's chief administrator, is his main nemesis. She just wants him to play by the rules, and he finds ways to bend them. She helps bring the show's main comedy relief, as she forces him to "serve time" in the hospital clinic, where he deals with much less serious cases, but with the same attitude. Frequently, these scenes steal the show, but never subtract from the main storyline.

Of course, if every episode followed the same storyline of House versus Cuddy and House's team versus disease, with House's wit coming through as invulnerable, it would get boring. So House was given a formidable opponent in Edward Vogler (Chi McBride, "Boston Public"), a billionaire donor who takes over as the hospital's chairman of the board. He doesn't exactly get along with House, and is the only person with the power to go head to head with him. In his time on the show, McBride changed the dynamic of the series, and kept the momentum of the series flowing.

While the storylines and writing are top-notch, Laurie is what makes the show special. As House, he makes the grumpy doctor character into an anti-hero that viewers can side with. Though he isn't exactly warm and fuzzy, there's definitely a good soul inside him, one that hides beneath the verbal barbs, and Laurie is able to show that kind of complexity with ease that makes his Emmy nomination more than well-deserved.

Just as Grissom says "The evidence tells the truth," House feels everyone lies, especially patients and doctors, and only the diseases tell the truth. Because of that, this show is one of the more honest depictions of medicine on TV, despite the melodrama.

The DVDs
The 22 40-minute first-season episodes of "House, M.D." are spread across six sides of three flipper DVDs, with the sixth side also holding the extras. The discs come wrapped-up in a somewhat blah slipcovered digipack package that's embossed and spot-coated. The main menu is a static, anamorphic widescreen (more on that later) effort, with options to play all the episodes, view an episode index, check out the bonus features (which is actually just a tease to tell you to see Disc Three, Side B) and adjust the languages.

The episode index allows you to select from the listed episodes (with still previews) before taking you to a summary (complete with air date.) The summary screen offers the choice of scene selections (with still previews and titles for each) and language options. There are no language options or closed captioning, but the discs do have English captions and Spanish subtitles.

A little note... there's been some concern about the music on the show being replaced. As far as I can tell, it all seems to be in place (i.e. the big The Who music moment in House's office is there). If I find any problems as I rewatch, I will not them here. - updated 8/17/05

The Quality
Now's when I'd like to have a needle. Universal takes a perfectly beautiful widescreen show like "House, M.D.", a show with episodes shot by Bryan Singer himself, and they present it in letterbox widescreen. Thanks for nothing. The menus, static promo shots with options slapped on them, get anamorphic treatment, but the show? The show gets to take up a bunch of my screen with black bars and stretched out images. Glad I spent the money on the good TV, so Universal could hand me crap. Their biggest sin is in promoting the release as anamorphic, getting fans' hopes up for nothing.

If you're one of those lucky folks with a square TV, you'll love the widescreen images, as the picture is crystal clear and colorful. The special effects shots are outstanding, without any evidence of digital artifacts, while the show as a whole has a wonderful look to it, without a speck of trouble in terms of dirt, damage or pixilization. The level of detail achieved on this DVD is great. Too bad you can't watch it in true widescreen.

The sound, done in Dolby Digital 5.1, is good, but hardly a dynamic mix thanks to the source materials. There's nothing about the audio that stands out as worthy of the 5.1 tracks, but they are appreciated, especially during musical moments. Thankfully, the dialogue, a key to the series, is just about perfect, with every word coming across perfectly.

The Extras
The extras are kept in quarantine on the B-side of the third disc, where they won't hurt anyone. Found there are six featurettes that go behind the camera or focus on themes in the series. "The Concept" (4:49) looks at the idea behind the show, with interviews with creator David Shore and executive producer Bryan Singer and some of the cast, along with on-set footage, while "Medical Cases" talks about where story ideas come from and how much the cast has learned about medicine during their time on the show.

Following "Casting Sessions with Hugh Laurie," 1:25 of Laurie's audition tape, is "Set Tour," a 5:38 trip around the set with Jennifer Morrison and Lisa Edelstein. It's one of the better extras, as it shows the truth about the impressive-looking set. It's challenged by "House-isms," a retrospective of House's attitude and witticisms that shows just how good the writing is on this show.

The extras wrap up with "Dr. House." This six-minute look at the character of Gregory House and the man who plays him, features interviews with the main cast and crew and generally talks up the man at the center of it all. That makes for just over 26 minutes in extras. A commentary or two would have been nice.

The Bottom Line
Fans of "E.R." and "C.S.I." might find that "House" is the perfect intersection of their interests. A drama with a sense of humor, this show is a wonderful mix of all that makes up life, and with Laurie in the lead role, its well-acted to boot. The DVDs have to be labeled as disappointing, thanks to the non-anamorphic transfers and minor extras, even if the show itself is great and it looks and sounds very good. If you're a fan, you'll want to own these episodes, and if you've never seen "House," you'll want to give it a look, as it's one of the best shows out there.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

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.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

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.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

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.

Monday, August 25, 2008

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.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

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.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

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.

Friday, August 15, 2008

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.