Hannah's Top 10 From 2010

As a new year quickly approaches I feel that the best way to close out this year is by posting my top 10 movies of 2010.  I know that there are plenty of lists out there compiled by contributors from Entertainment Weekly, Time, and any other source you choose to pick from, but for some reason none of those lists shave satisfied my own preferences by any stretch of the imagination.  Time Magazine's Top 10 list that seemed to lean to the political spectrum, and yet the majority of the films on their list had limited releases so few people had the opportunity to see them.  Entertainment Weekly's critic, Owen Gleiberman published a list that included a several films that I couldn't even finish.  I did find JoBlo.com's Top 10 list to be one of the few that actually included films that truly deserved recognition.  I know that several of the films I have picked might not make most people's lists let alone receive the recognition they deserve from any of the award circuits, however there is something about each one of them that has made them my go to films of the year.   Each has left a last impression on me unlike many of the films that have recently received nominations from Critic's Choice/People's Choice/SAG Awards.  With the award season quickly approaching I feel since many of my picks for the year will not receive proper recognition I must do my part...

So in honor of 2010, here is my pick for the Top 10 Movies of 2010.


1. The Social Network
2. Black Swan
3. The King's Speech
4. Kick-Ass
5. Toy Story 3
6. How to Train Your Dragon
7. Mao's Last Dancer
8. Restrepo
9. The Fighter
10. She's Out of My League



Additional favorites:  Tangled, Book of Eli, Creation, My Name is Khan, Green Zone, Girl with a Dragon Tattoo, Girl Who Played with Fire, Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, A Nightmare on Elm St, Holy Rollers, Despicable Me, Inception, Let Me In

The Tourist -- Review

What would you do if the beautiful Angelina Jolie approached you "randomly" on a train while you are in a foreign country? Probably double check to make sure it wasn't the Octo-Mom trying for another 15 minutes of fame for playing out a scene from Jolie's last flick. The Tourist is one of those films you wish you hadn't seem no matter how many reasons there were telling you to go. Yes it looked like it had potential of being something great. Yes it is a collaboration between some of the hottest stars in Hollywood. Yes you even would have believed that it could have been great. Unfortunately it turned out to be almost as disappointing as Skyline.

The Tourist should have been "the next big thing" and comparable to Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but other than the premise of the film (and a dance shared between our characters) there is very little that even came close. I wanted there to be passion, action and heavy gun fire. I wanted to see Depp give us some serious action. I wanted Jolie to be the action star we all thought she was. But none of that came. I don't know if it is age catching up (however if The Expenibles can pull it off so should Jolie and Depp) or if parenthood has just tripped them up a bit now that both leads are between big flicks. Even the amazing Paul Bettany (Legion and Creation)was a surprising bore.

The Tourist felt almost like a gentle nod to the classic Bond films. You know, the ones that today's film go-ers would fall asleep during (present party included while attempting to watch Goldfinger). Yes they are classics and nothing can touch them, but they are classics for a reason and should be left alone. When we are given something like The Tourist we have certain expectations. We want what could have been the perfect blend of Mr. & Mrs. Smith meets Salt. Instead we were given the grandparent of those films it moved at such a slow pace I almost thought time itself had slowed. Had I not been sitting in the middle of the theater I would have walked out in the hopes that I could use the remained of the night to actually get something (anything) accomplished.

Aside from the tease the film gives us with a quick glimpse of Rufus Sewell (Dark City), who should have been someone to the story but in fact left us confused and unsatisfied, there should have been something left for viewers to walk away from the film feeling.  But it left me with nothing but an empty hole.  The Tourist is a weak attempt at a "spy vs spy" film regardless of the talent and A-list names that have been dragged into leading roles.  For this being the first time (and at this rate - hopefully the only time) we get to see Jolie and Depp together on the big screen it was as big a let down as Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.  I have never before said that a Jolie or Depp film has been bad or lacking, but I will scream it from the top of the Empire State Building if I have to.  You all have let down a great admirer of your work, and I am truly sorry to have wasted my time with you on this journey.  Please spare us the next time you plan to work together as I would much rather watch you kick ass individually than be disappointed like this again.

I give The Tourist a 1.5 out of 5.

Skyline -- Review

There is something about films that just suck the life right out of you.  No I do not mean that because I went to an 11pm screening, I mean it literally sucked the life out of me.  The monster child of Colin and Greg Strause takes all that was great about Independence Day, Cloverfield, and District 9 and gives you a crack baby called Skyline.  I'm sure they will make their money many times over since this film was shot on the "measly" budget of $1m, but that does not mean that it should.

I mean, remember those films you and your friends made back in high school, or even those college projects your significant other made you watch before they submitted it for a grade because they wanted "an honest opinion" on it?  Well now imagine one of "those" projects with a $1m budget... Doesn't make it much better, does it?  Just because you have that kinda dough to play with does not give you the right to make us movie goers suffer through a 92 minute film just because you got bored while in between projects.  Keep to what your good at and leave the story telling to the "professionals". 

Skyline not only has a half-ass story being told by someone who can't tell which end is up, but there is ultimately NO POINT!  It's like a kid who loves Legos was just let loose in Lego World and builds some of the most intricate pieces of abstract sculptures that are amazing to look at, but when placed in a row (which he calls a "series") does nothing but jumble the pictures into an "artful mess".  That is Skyline.  The visual effects are out of this world, but the "art school" cinematography and dramatized slow-motion sequences (along with laughable dialog) take away from what really could have been something.  There were glimpses of moments where the story could have taken a turn, but fell right down the sewer. 

From brain eating aliens, to action that didn't really make sense, to the cheapest actors imaginable as your main characters (most likely friends of Colin and Greg who thought the idea might have been cool for all of 3 seconds), all the way to an ending that only Disney could have dreamed up.  It was one disappointment after another, until the suspense built up so much I jumped at NOTHING which not only sent the poor guy suffering next to men into a fit of giggles but I had to apologize for how lame I felt for that slip of thinking that they finally may have done something right. 

Unfortunately Skyline is a less than desirable flick for this weekend.  I would suggest saving it for when you're home with your gamin' buddies, just finished some serious fragging, and looking for something to watch while killing your "sudden munchie craving".  Maybe then something will be interpreted out of the film.

I give Skyline a 2 out of 5 for effort.  But guys... About that sequel you teased to at the end...How about let's NOT and say we did.  Just a thought.

Amazing Video by David Crowder Band

Yahoo posted this as a top story and I have to say that the video is quite amazing.  I remember playing on the lite-brite, but the amount of work that had to go into creating what you are about it see is unbelievable.  Definitely worth checking out!  This is one music video that shows true creativity.

Morning Glory -- REVIEW

Morning Glory is a love story from the production world dedicated to the city of New York.  It shows all of the things that those of us who eat, breath, and sleep production deal with every time we are on set. The things that make us "production" or the things that tear us down. Set in one of the production capitals, Morning Glory tells story with a girls dream and desire to make it in the morning news world.  New York eventually becomes the main character of Morning Glory and the things that us production workers notice on a daily basis when we are lucky enough to work those odd hours and experience the magic of the final scene of the film for ourselves. 

I became so wrapped up in the cinematography and shot choices that I cared less for what was happening in the story.  The film is truly a love story for the city of New York, made and told by those that know it best.  Those that have walked the streets in the wee hours calling out "we're losing light" as the sun comes up. Those of us who find the magic of what the Brooklyn Bridge really shows us if we can walk along with a camera to catch all of its glory.  Those of us who see the hustle and bustle of the New York workers rushing past a gorgeous building in slow motion. Yes I am getting carried away, but the film speaks for itself.  It is a series of beautiful images placed in-between cheesy dialog and 30 minutes of insults.  But it is not until a kindred spirit takes our cell phones away, closes it in the fridge and forces us to finally take a breath and see the city for what it is do we really understand. 

Morning Glory pulls together a great cast but the city outshines them by leaps and bounds.  I wish I could say that the film is what kept me watching, but it was the heart and soul of the film that kept me glued to my seat.  If you are or have ever worked in production I highly recommend going to see Morning Glory.  If you know or have/are dated/dating someone from the "biz" I say you should go (and take that person with you) because it will make you understand why we do what we do - even though it drives us mad, (and sometimes you as well) since we never put our blackberry away.

I give Morning Glory a 4 out of 5, and hope to one day find a kindred spirit who will stash my phone the fridge but still let me be the mad production member that I am.

Due Date -- REVIEW

Robert Downey Jr how you break my heart. Not even my love for you can save me from the pains in which you inflicted upon me during Due Date.  Not even my love for the obseenly odd Zach Galifianakis spared me a pain that could only rival that of child birth.  OK, that is probably a bit of a stretch, but I think you get what I am trying to say.

In true Todd Phillips (director) style, this film fits right in with Old School and The Hangover.  Although not as good as The Hangover, Due Date has a handful of scenes that are so over the top you aren't sure if you want to run from the theater or laugh. Zach Galifianakis stays true to himself and leaves you just as uncomfortable as ever watching his outragous character torment the poor expecting father (Downey Jr).  Even though I stuck it out throug the entire film, at times seriously wishing I hadn't, I will say that the only thing I wish it had included was a Mr. Chow.  THAT would have keep me wanting more.

Due Date is a poor attempt of keeping The Hangover fans hungry for more as we wait for the follow-up film to be released.  Yes it will force you to laugh, but you will not feel good about yourself for laughing when you walk out.  If given a choice between Due Date and Megamind (which also opens this Friday), sadly I would go with the animated family film, and save the vulger obsenity that is Due Date until it is released on DVD.  I'm sorry Robert, but do us all a favor and keep to your wonderful role as Tony Stark and Sherlock Holmes, I would much rather watch you kick ass than get your ass handed to you on a platter. 

I give Due Date a 2 out of 5.

The Social Network -- Review

The nerds have invaded our world, and things are looking good!  With Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter on television, it was only a matter of time before the nerds made a come back on the big screen, and they are making their come back in a BIG WAY!  The Social Network is the story of how Facebook came to be, and let me tell you it is a nerd's wet dream. 

A few years ago, had you asked any teen/college girl what type of guy she was looking for she'd most likely say the jock or the "bad boy", but if you asked today she would probably say that she loves nerds.  From 'The Big Bang Theory' to The Social Network, there is a group of new desirables making the "What's Hot" list these days.  It is the Sheldon Coopers and the Mark Zuckerbergs of the world that are now getting all of the attention, and this Friday you will see what I mean.

The Social Network hits theaters this weekend, and it is a classic in the making.  Jesse Eisenberg plays the insanely intelligent, all be it slightly socially challenged, creator of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg.  In this unbelievable role Jesse shines like the north star and shows that he is a force to be reckoned with in the acting community.  Yes, there are those of you out there that will confuse him with that kid from Scott Pilgrim and 'Arrested Development', but once you see this film you will surely know the difference between Jesse Eisenberg and Michael Cera.  You will know with absolute certainty that Michael Cera is just that kid that keeps making the same movies over and over again, only difference being the titles, while Jesse Eisenberg has gone from Zombieland to a role that rivals the genius of the amazing James Parsons (2010 Emmy winner for his role as Sheldon Cooper in 'The Big Bang Theory') as he gives the nerds we have grown to love on the home screen, a run for their money.  His portrayal shines a light on the man behind what we spend 18 hours a day on the internet, updating our statuses and poking our friends. 

From the opening scene (which I found to be a mix of genuine awkwardness and comedic genius) throws you into the deep end of the pool with a very special type of person, that most people either love or hate.  But as you watch this character, he grows on you until you realize that you cannot hate anyone like Mark because they simply cannot help themselves.  That sense of linear thinking draws a deep line in the sand and challenges anyone daring to get close enough to cross over to his side.  You will love to hate the man for his pure honesty and lack of bull-shit (if only everyone was that honest... although maybe not as that could turn out quite scary).  It is Jesse's expressions (or lack there of) and his seriousness throughout the entire film that makes you realize just how talented this young actor is.  I believe that there are very few actors today with the discipline to pull off such a complicated role with such perfection, yet Jesse is able to do so and make it believable is jaw dropping.  It is these unusual roles that challenge and set apart the "men from the boys" and I have to give kudos to the amazing actors that take on these roles and bring them to life like they do because it's not an easy task, especially when based on real people, and especially living people.

I'm not sure what the real Mark Zuckerberg is thinking when it comes to watching his college years played out on the silver screen, or if he even thought his life would be one that people would pay to see. The one thing I will tell you is -- The Social Network is sure to give you mixed feelings regarding some of the events that took place between friends and fellow computer geniuses, but I guarantee you, that after seeing this film you will have a new found love and respect for the men behind the life changing website.  You will walk out of the theater feeling intellectually stimulated just having had the ability to keep up with the quick jabs and techy dialogue between the computer nerds, while all the time being thoroughly entertained by the amazing talents of Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield (who portrays Eduardo Saverin), and Justin Timberlake (who portrays Sean Parker - "the other Napster guy").  It is the combination of these three and their dynamic relationship and struggles to maintain their friendships while creating one of the world's most influential websites yet to be developed. 

So regardless of what your relationship status is, update your status and post that you will be going to the theater this weekend to check out The Social Network.  I guarantee that you will be adding it to your favorite films list the minute you get home. 

I give The Social Network a 5 out of 5.    I love Nerds!

 

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps -- Review

Wall Street may be the place where money never sleeps, but the film may put you to sleep.  They say it's a financial thriller, but a thrill it was not.  Maybe I just don't understand anything about the stock market.  Maybe it's just the subject matter that didn't really peak an interest for me, but even after a quick refresher of the 1987 film (which I practically fell asleep watching) I felt that the 2010 story left me with a lack luster feeling just like the original.  Anyone who thinks a financial based thriller seriously needs to be 2 hours in length must get something that I just don't. Please be warned, this review will contain SPOILERS!  If you do not want any thing to be spoiled (if that is even possible since the story is pretty much the same as the first film) than I would recommend not reading further. 


Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps takes place 13 years after our first introduction to Gordon Gekko.  Although Michael Douglas does a great job playing a total ass-hole, there was really no need for this follow up story.  I was frustrated going in knowing that he suddenly had a daughter when the only child we knew of from the first film was a son.  Granted the son was most likely only included in the original film because it was writer and director Oliver Stone's own kid, however was it really needed to get rid of the poor kid just to have a sudden addition to the family?  Not that it couldn't have happened, but I just want to know why the story couldn't have involved a Gekko son.  Only excuse I can think of is that Stone and the studio most likely didn't feel that the story would have worked for some reason or other if it had been a female approaching Gekko or maybe even his own son being a ruthless broker.  I understand that, but I would have loved to have seen what they could have done with a gender reversal. 

I feel that Money Never Sleeps is one of those hit or miss films.  If you loved the first one, you will most likely enjoy this film.  I chose to sit through the 2 hour running time of Wall Street, hoping that it would benefit me in the long run, but as I sat there I only wished I had not made that decision.  Then to sit through another 2 hours and 13 minutes of the same thing was one of the most painful things I have done in quite some time.  I contemplated walking out, but thought that if I did I might just miss the one good thing in the film.  So I continued to sit there, hoping for something to happen.  There is no special effects to help pass the time.  There is no real suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat.  The only thing the film had going for itself was the few cameo appearances of two actors from the original film.  With a quick one-two between Gekko and Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), and a quick hello from Sylvia Miles as the realitor, all that was left was the heavy hitters that carried the film. 

Josh Brolin (Goonies and Jonah Hex) did a decent job portraying the "almost believable" villian that everyone was out to get.  Shia LaBeouf (Transformers) was surprisingly believable in his portrayal of Jake Moore.  There was a little of his past characters that almost carried over from time to time, but I was delightfully surprised by his acting.  It definitely made up for his mistake in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (sorry Spielburg, but that was a huge fail on everyone's part).  Carrey Mulligan (An Education) was fine as Winnie Gekko (no matter how mysterious her entry into the story is).  Even the brief appearances of Susan Sarandon (who plays Jake's mom), Frank Langella (who plays Jake's mentor Louis Zebal), and even Eli Wallach ( who plays Jules Steinhardt) gave it a little push to keep me in my seat, but even with such great talents in the film I still thought the story lacked in a lot of areas.  Maybe if Darly Hannah had a cameo in the film I would feel otherwise as that just might have been enough to void out how painful the rest of the film had been.

Unfortunately Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps is a film I wish I had passed on.  The original was more than enough for me.  I wish I had gotten more out of the film, but I can only say that the film is a 2.5 out of 5.  I wish you best if you take on this challenge.  Just don't shoot the messenger if you lose it all by taking the gamble in this market. 

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps trailer

 Wall Street (1987) trailer

Easy A -- Review

Back in the day I used to love watching teen comedy films.  I loved the cheesey 90s teen comedies with Freddy Prince, Julia Styles and Rachel Lee Cook with their random mid-story group dance routines that had everyone and their mothers dancing.  But my go-to films are still the classic John Hughes brat pack films.  They make you laugh, they make you cry and feel all warm and fuzzy inside.    Then the 21st century came and we lost the soul of the teen comedy as just about everything had become a "modern adaptation" of one of Mr Shakespeare's plays (but don't get me wrong I am a total sucker for them all). 

Easy A brings back all the things that were great about the classic teen comedy films of the 80s, with a mix of the Y2K teen comedy concept.  I feel slightly hypocritical by saying this since some of my favorite teen films include She's the Man (adaptation of 12th Night), Sydney White (adaptation of Snow White), and 10 Things I Hate About You (adaptation of Taming of the Shrew) however with the exclusion of 10 Things I do not feel that the majority of the Y2K teen comedies can touch Easy A with a ten foot pole.  (My apologies Amanda Bynes, I still love you but I think Emma Stone has stolen your spot light on this one). 

The funny thing is last week I attended another "teen comdey" screening that I felt cheated and lied to, and even commented that I wish the John Hughes-esk films would come back, and here it is.  My prayers have been answered.  Writer Bert V. Royal has created a tale that highlights everything that was once great in teen comedies and brought it back with flare, and with the help of director Will Gluck the two have given today's teens what those of us from yester-year look back on and say "wow those were great times."  Yes, it's not quite the same as Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, or Say Anything (not John Hughes but just as amazing) but it has the heart and soul of what those films represent and the truth is I love that Olive (Emma Stone - Zombieland) makes a reference to all of the great 80s films that I'm talking about within the film. 

Easy A is a smart, fun, quick witted story of a girl who takes her suffering from the typical high school rumor mill, and turns the gossip in her favor, for better or worse anyways.  With her life quickly starting to resemble a book she is studying in school (The Scarlet Letter), she takes the gossip and turns in on its head and labels herself with the scarlet A.  But it's not until everything goes completely wrong that she realizes the mistake of her ways.  With a star studded cast within the school walls like Cam Gigandet (Twilight), Penn Badgley (Gossip Girl and The Stepfather),  Dan Byrd (Cougar Town and A Cinderella Story), Amanda Bynes who plays the good catholic girl who tries to save everyone's soul, and Thomas Haden Church (All About Steve) who plays Olive's slightly untraditional yet of course favorite teacher Mr. Griffith it is no wonder things are taken to the extreme like they are.    However it is not just Olive's school life that is so entertaining.  Her home life is just as amazing and it's no wonder since her parents are played by the amazing Stanley Tucci (Devil Wears Prada and Lovely Bones) and Patrica Clarkson (Pheobe in Wonderland and Shutter Island) and it proves why Olive is a little brighter than the rest.  But keep your eyes open for the cameo appearance of one of my favorite actors who will make you laugh just because he's there (sorry I'm not telling who he is, you will just have to go and see for yourself).

Easy A is such a fun film that it will make you want to re-watch all of the classic teen comedies as soon as you get home.  So if your looking to get out of rain this weekend, and are looking for a fun film that will take you back to the "good 'ol days" check out Easy A. 

I give Easy A a 4.5 out of 5.

The Town -- Review

When looking for a good heist film I also try to look for something that will either have me on the edge of my seat or something strong actors that the characters keep me entertained.  The Town is a film that gives you a handful of shining moments with it's characters and just enough suspense and action to keep you from walking out of the theater.

I will admit that the film does achieve it's goal of entertaining an audience, because I truly was entertained.  But the film had some holes that left me feeling a little cheated.  I found The Town to have built so much upon the idea of "suspension of disbelief" that it was almost a fantasy tale for criminals.  The logic, or lack there of, for FBI agents to focus all of their attention on one criminal team even though there is a boss seemed unbelievable to me.  Would the boss really never have been questioned at any point even though every guy they are going after has had some sort of connection back to him?  That wouldn't happen in The Sopranos. 

I love Jeremy Renner, and I would be lying if I said I went to see the film for any other reason (that being the main reason, and the other because I know several people who worked on the film).  I thought he pulled off the role in style, although he could have held back a little on the accent.  I almost felt like a pissing contest as to who could do a better accent when he was on screen with Affleck.  Even Affleck impressed me with his role as Doug MacRay.  He wasn't his usual mass-hole self and I actually found him tolerable which was a nice surprise because it's been quite a long time since I've been a fan of his.

But it wasn't the cast that kept me interested in the film.  Affleck brought the city of Boston to life.  I thought the with this being his second round as a director of a feature length film he did a pretty good job.  I have not seen all of Gone Baby Gone so I cannot compare, but unlike GBG I was actually able to get through all of The Town with minimal struggle.  I thought the story could have been a little cleaner and well developed, but over all I enjoyed the film.  I loves watching the city of Boston up on the big screen, and the chase sequence was probably my favorite part of the film.  It was also nice to see a few familiar faces up on the screen.


I give The Town 2.5 out of 5.  If you are looking for something this weekend I would say that The Town is a film that will at least entertain you.

The Virginity Hit -- Review

The Virginity Hit is a teen comedy that took the tale of four friends on during the two years it took them all to lose their virginity and focused on the one kid who's big head got in the way of his little head. 

As I sat through the 86 minute running time all I could think was "MTV did it better".  Hard Times of RJ Berger is a funnier, better written, and slightly more eye appealing than this knock off.  I know the tale of teen comedies is nothing new. Having lived through the nineties my movie collection is littered with them, but the Y2K stories are lacking something that the 90s, and especially the 80s teen comedies were full of... LIFE. 

The relatively short lived tale of Matt and his "epic journey" to losing his v card felt like a 4 hour film.  The characters were fun for the first 30 minutes but then it turned into one of those "are we there yet" moments when I just wanted it to be done already.  Granted there were no premature ejaculation jokes from his friends which I feel that may have made his journey a little more believable, but then again maybe the high school kids these days don't have the "first time woes" that those that came before had to suffer through.  Maybe it's been a while since I've been in the teen world, granted I've only been an "adult" for 5 years, but I miss the raunchy jokes and heckling that were in the earlier teen comedies and things that still exist in the "adult" comedies.  It even took a note straight out of an earlier release from this year, yet watching two teens take a page out of She's Out of My League was a bit much too handle.  I found it to be a stretch in SOOML but it passed as being so off the wall for 20-something men to be helping out their friends like that, but there is no way two high school teens would give each other a hand like that in the "real world".

Is it wrong of me to ask for a little tradition in my teen comedies?  Is it wrong of me to completely dislike the likes of Super Bad (which according to several of the teens in the audience this film was like)?  Am I just "too old" to get it? 

The only saving grace I found throughout The Virginity Hit was the use of YouTube incorporated from start to finish. Yet some of you whom have seen Kick Ass may think that the transitions from online platform to video image as a copy from the film, I felt that directors Andrew Gurland and Zach Pearlman's choice in transitions was the uniqueness needed to give this little indie project something for us "old folks" to focus on.  The images and transition choices pushed the story forward more smoothly than the story itself. 

I guess that if I was back in high school or even a freshman in college, and going through similar situations I might find it funnier, but for this film being rated R I feel that it's target demographic may not be able to purchase tickets without an adult or older sibling there to sneak them into the theater. I also wish things had been funnier in the sense things didn't work out quite so perfectly for the boys because NO ONE'S first time goes as smooth as these boys.  I'd rather of laughed as their struggle and trials in bed instead of just watching one kid trying to get laid. 

Personally this film is for the high school and college aged boys.  It is for all the frat boys looking to get their kicks and the high school jocks looking to brag about their hookups.  It is not to reflect on a time we once lived as the humor does not quite translate to the older crowds like other teen comedies. 

All I can say is that you may want to give this film a shot and make the decision for yourself, but don't say I didn't warn you.  I give The Virginity Hits a 1.5 our of 5. 

Going the Distance -- Review

Everyone, at one time or another, has been in a long distance relationship.  This may have been for a summer, a year or longer, and may be anything from just a state apart to being seperated by an ocean.  But today is it something that I feel is very common, and everyone deals with it differently.  Sometimes it's caused by a chance encounter while interning or taking on a summer job or during a vacation.  Sometimes it starts in the same state but with the current economy causes a sacrafice be made with one person to take a job in another state.  And of course there are those that are seperated because their significant other is a member of the military of a given flavor and has been stationed over seas.  Some of the couples these couples are in the dating stages and others are married.  Well, this past weekend a romantic comedy about two 30-somethings meet and the struggle of keeping their long distance relationship aflout in today's world.  Going the Distance is a cute look at some of the additional trials the dating world is going through.

Drew Berrymore and her real life "on-again, off-again" beau Justin Long star in one of this summer's funniest romantic comedies.  Their on-screen chemistry and comedic timing make you fall in love with the two stars all over again.  It has been a long time since I've seen a film starring Drew Berrymore that truly shinned as bringht as she does.  Not since Never Been Kissed has she given you a character that you can truly connect with on every level.  Don't get me wrong, He's Just Not That Into You was a fun film as well, but her role was so minor that seeing her back on screen with the adorable Justin Long has kept me grinning since I left the theater. 

With an all-star supporting cast of comedic talents from the likes of Christina Applegate (Samantha Who? and Just Visiting) and Jim Gaffigan (My Boys) playing Erin's sister and brother-in-law, to Charlie Day (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia) and Jason Sudeikis (SNL and 30 Rock) playing Garrett's bestfriends Dan and Box, there is no need to go anywhere else for a funnier film.  This is the new "chick-flick".  It is a film that will not only give the girlfriend what she wants, but it will entertain the boyfriend straight through the credits.  I feel that Going the Distance is a film that matches one of my favorite releases of 2010, She's Out of My League.  Both films give you a comedic look at the world of dating from an honest and heart felt place that makes those of us struggling in that world laugh.  Going the Distance is a cute story that will keep you laughing from beginning to end with the outragous things Garrett's friends try pulling, and will make you feel for the young couple desperately trying everything to keep the passion alike and kicking in their cross-country relationship. 

If you want a fun film to catch with your significant other I highly recommend checking out Going the Distance.  It reminds us of all the reasons why we love Drew Berrymore and Christina Applegate.  The men in the film will make you realize that the romantic comedy is no longer an actress' world, but that the actors can dominate in the genre as well.  You will fall in love with the story as well as the characters.  So give it a chance and close the distance this weekend and check out Going the Distance.

Things I missed at the Comic Con due to the LONG lines

Since there were just soooooooooo many people at this year's comic con, I was not able to get into any of the panels I desperately tried to get into.  So now that I am home, and venting my frustration with the lack of planning and organization on the show's part, I am also google-ing and youtube-ing  as many videos as I can find since I was unable to see anything for myself.  So as I am experiencing these for the first time myself, I though I would share with you. 


 Big Bang Panel Part 1

Big Bang Panel Part 2

Big Bang Panel Part 3


I waited in line for over over 3 hours trying to get into this panel and they almost shut it down.
Kevin Smith @ Comic Con







more is to come... and pictures will be posted next

The American -- Review

It has been a while since I have spent any real quality time in a darkened theater entertained by the moving pictures that a playing out before my eyes, and this however was not the welcome I was expecting. 

The American is a slow moving and depressing story unlike any of Clooney's "traditional" films and expected abilities.  With little to no dialog the passing of time feels as though it takes hours rather than the 105 minutes it actually takes.  The audience is dropped dead smack in the middle of a story with no way to tell which end is up.  I struggled for the first half hour just to try and figure out why I should even care for Clooney's character, and yet the remaining 75 minutes were no better.  With only a handful of minutes throughout the entire film that seemed to have any significance, I neither cared nor wanted to care for any of the "characters" in the story and I use the the term loosely because I still couldn't tell you who any of the characters were or what their point was for the story. 

Yes Clooney is usually able to carry any story easily on his back, but this ones weight was more than even he could bare.  Other than being the only American in the entire film and the name of the story, there appeared to be no other connection and no reason to even try to decipher the significance.  But who was he? Who was he working for? Why was he being hunted? And why should any of us even care?  I wish I had answers or even a hint of an answer, but unfortunately I have none and worse the film offered none.  I wasted the majority of my afternoon trying to convence myself just to stick it out and hope something would happen.  But NOTHING happened. 

The American is pointlessly depressing and drags on FOREVER.  I have never said this before but I am yelling it to the heavens.... This is THE WORST Clooney film EVER!  Do yourself a favor and pass on this film.  It truly isn't even worth your time or money once it's released on DVD.  I'm so disappointed with the film I cannot even rate it as right now I'm just hoping to forget all about it.

I'm sorry Silver Fox but The American was a bad decision on your part. 

2010 San Diego Comic Con

 So the the event has finally arrived and I am sitting in a hotel room waiting for  day 1 of the San Diego Comic Con to begin.  I have spent the last 4 hours going through the program book figuring out which panels I want to attend and what signings I will be standing in line for.  I will post fun pictures and videos at the end of each day, but for now this is what the next few days will look like for me.

Thursday, July 21
10am - Megamind screening
1pm - Spotlight: Charlaine Harris
3:30pm - Psych panel
4:45pm - The Expendables panel
5:30pm - Geek Girls Exist panel
10pm - Lost Boys: The Thirst screening and Q&A

Friday, July 22
12:45pm - Big Bang Theory panel
2pm - Bones Panel
3pm - Bite Me ~ vampire themed panel
5pm - Girls Gone Genre panel
5:15pm - True Blood Panel
7:30pm - 30 Days of Night panel
9:25pm - New Brow Art Doc screening

Saturday, July 23
10am - Chuck panel
11am - Leverage Panel
12pm - Fang Girls and Fang Boys panel
3:15pm - Fringe panel
4:15pm - Vampire Diaries panel
5pm - Dark Shadows panel
6:15pm - Human Target panel
7:15pm - Kevin Smith

Sunday, July 24
10am - Castle panel
12pm - Blood, Sweat and Tears YA panel


For this being such a HUGE event for me I cannot wait for the festivities to begin.  You can be sure that a ton of fun pictures and many exciting costumes will be commented on beginning tomorrow.  If you are here in San Diego I wish you the a very geeky week, and if not I promise I will share all of the excitement as best as I can.

Well I'm off to bed so I'm well rested to geek out tomorrow. 

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

This time last year I remember walking around NYC and seeing bright orange and yellow signs taped to various parking signs and lamp poles notifying drivers that there is no parking on that given street due to a production shooting in the area.  I had seen the signs before, but these were different and I wanted nothing more than to try and find some way to be a part of it.  So after a week of seeing these various signs around I decided that the next time I was available on the date and time listed I would go back and try to find someone to talk to.  It took me about a week to find who I was looking for but the wait and following experience was totally worth it. 

Having my first crew experience on a Disney feature film was unbelievable. The crew was amazing and even though the overnight shoots were a little rough on the sleep routine I would not have traded the experience for anything.  Yes my days felt reversed after a while, and yes I had trouble keeping track of what day it was since everything was blending together, but it was such a high being on set that none of it mattered to me.  I spend 2 days working on 6th Ave where it was shut down from 14th St to 21st St for a part of the car chase, and 4 days at Bowling Green working the last scene of the film.  The week at Bowling Green I was actually working 20 hour days with my regular day job and then running off to catch a train to make it on set just as the call time rolled around.  There were even bets as to when I would go down during that week since few thought I would make it all the way through, but I proved it to myself and the friends I made on set that if you want it bad enough nothing can stop you. 

Now that the film has hit theaters, one can only imagine the excitement of going in and seeing what the final product is.  After seeing what actually goes into a film with a ton stunts and visual effects I was on edge waiting for clips to hit the web so I could see what all of that hard work was for, and for me the final product totally paid off.   

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a family fun film full of movie magic.  It is the apprentice that carries the weight of the film on his back, and Jay Baruchel as Dave Stutler does that and more.  He brings a fresh new face and sense of humor to the film and gives his co-stars a run for their money.  With Nicolas Cage as Balthazar, Monica Bellucci as Victoria, and Alfred Molina as Horvath, the cast was full of great talent that will entertain adults as well as kids.  Director Jon Turteltaub gives us a fun adaptation to the classic fantasia cartoon of Mickey and the brooms.  Even with a bit of a humor on the iconic scene that was of course included, I don't believe anything was left out or needed to have made this film more fun. 

If you are looking for something fun to take your family to this weekend I would recommend checking out The Sorcerer's Apprentice.  It may not quite stand up to the action and suspense of the National Treasure films which were also directed by Jon Turteltaub, but it is a nice addition to the live-action Disney collection along side so many other great Jerry Bruckheimer productions.  So go out this weekend and experience the magic for yourself.  I'm sure you wont be disappointed.

Eclipse -- Review

 Dear Twilight Franchise --

I know that over the past handful of years you have been compared to the Harry Potter phenomina, which there is nothing wrong with since it was and still is wildly sucessful, but you should not have let that go to your head.  Just because HP is splitting the final story into two parts does not mean that you have to as well.  Yes Twilight blew up over night just prior to the first film.  Yes the books are a great YA (young adult) series that got a ton of teens back into reading after the HP books were completed.  Yes you have one of the actors who was in the Goblet of Fire film as the star of your films, but how far are you really going to take this competition?       

Now let me begin by preferencing this with the fact that I have been a fan of both book series for many years and the books are fantastic.  BUT dearest Twilight, you have saddly disappointed me for a second year in a row with your films, and what I am about to do is not only a little sad, and sligtly embarrassing, but I feel as though I need you to understand just how much you broke my heart with the third installment of the Twilight Saga.

"Yo Twilight, I'm really happy for you, I'm going to let you finish but Harry Potter is one of the best franchises of all time...one of the best of all time!"

Twilight did so well with the adaptation of the first book, and even the second film was palatable outside of the fact that you have made a sex symbol out of a 17 year old boy who some 30-something women have a hard time controlling themselves as they watch the film, and who even twilight-moms make complete fools of themselves by embarrassing their daughters by making such odd requests as asking the buff star to sign their Team Jacob panties.  I'm sure it will be a story told anytime Mr. Lautner is asked what is the craziest thing that has ever happened to him, but did you really need to go as far as you did? And with Eclipse I am saddly left speechless. 

 

Eclipse had so much potential but I felt it fell short of what it could have been.  The two-hour film was hard enough to sit through with awkward dialog (which I've yet to figure out if that is just because Kristen Stewart still has not come to terms with her new found fame that the role continues to make her one of the most awkward and uncomfortable actress to watch on screen, or if it was just the dialog chosen for the film) and a third of the film being visual effects that moved so quickly that all I could focus on was the blurry CG playing out before my eyes.  No matter how much I love Stephanie Meyer's writing, this film did not stand up to the reputation and stands of the two films that came before it.  Too much time was spend on visual effects, and not enough was spent on the story itself.  Had a viewer not read the books they would have been left in the dust as they would have had no idea who the characters were or what was happening in the story.  I felt it was the weakest film of any series I have ever seen.

Although I cannot say that the whole film was a bust.  There were a few saving graces during the 2-hour running time.  I commend the writer, Melissa Rosenberg, and director David Slade in their flashback sequences as they were the highlights of the film.  I loved seeing each of the Cullens' back-stories play out on the big screen.  As far as the actors go, it was Billy Burke (Charlie Swan) who saved the film for me.  His quick one-liners were the comic-relief that made the film easier to stomach.  And of course I just have to mention that my favorite line in the film is Edward saying: "Doesn't he own a shirt?"

I am sad to report that I am no longer a Team Edward or Team Jacob advocate.  I will stand beside Jasper any day of the week and turn to Charlie when I need a quick pick-me-up.  However the films just are no longer doing it for me.  I would rather turn back to the black and white pages of the books and re-read the series to get the original excitment and joy I felt when Stephenie Meyer first introduced me to the Twilight series. 

Overall, I give Eclipse a 2.5 out of 5.  Judge as you may, but after seeing the film don't say I didn't try to warn you.

Jonah Hex -- Review

Recently has been a frenzy over adaptations and this summer is one full of a wide variety ranging from comic, graphic novel, video game and children/young adult lit adaptations.  This weekend Jonah Hex opens and I have to say, what should have been a wild ride through the old west came across like a knock-off designer bag you'd buy from a street merchant on the streets of NY.  There were elements that reminded me of the late 90s film Wild Wild West, which was fun but left many feeling disappointed.  I'm not sure if the translation from comic to film was lost in story or just poor casting choices, but I felt this DC comic is one that should have been left on the shelf.  With a running time of only 80 minutes, one would normally wonder why such a short film since most movies these days have running times of at least 100 minutes.  Thankfully Jonah Hex was on the short side because I don't know what I would have done had it been any longer. 

With a handful of interesting visual concepts and several comic elements added into the film there are scenes that give you the impression that things are about to turn around, but seconds later that hope is taken away.  From laughable dialogue to poor acting from the only female star of the film Jonah Hex is a summer blockbuster flop.  The scenes that were manageable to sit through was primarily due to the films only saving grace Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men) with his insane make-up and the costume design team giving you just what's needed to make you feel like you are back in the 1800s.  If you can get past Megan Fox's (Transformers and Jeniffer's Body) lack of acting skills and John Malkovich's (Of Mice and Men and Burn After Reading) laughable make-up, I guess it's an ok movie.  The concept is interesting and I'm now curious enough to pickup a comic, but I will admit that if a sequel is ever planned I will passing. 

Jonah Hex is an 1800s mix that brings a little wild west flavor to some other worldly juju.  If you like Josh Brolin, who plays Hex, I would say wait until this film comes out on DVD.  With Megan Fox as Lilah I wish the role had gone to someone else just so it would have been a little less painful to watch.  John Malkovitch, who plays Quentin Turnbull, is a laughable villain and the only thing that makes Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds) as Burke cool is his tattoo.  I give Jonah Hex a 2 out of 5 and say stay away if you are a fan of the comic. 

2010 Movie Awards -- The Main Event

So after a full week of 12+ hour days and a wild show day it is just about over as I sit at LAX waiting to catch my flight back home to the Big Apple.  It has been one hell of an adventure being on the back-lot at Universal Studios, making runs around the lot as MTV took over the Gibson Amphitheater for the show, and then working the pre-show followed by a much needed drink with the crew at the after party.

I am a little sad that in all of the craziness I completely missed the main show and have been catching up on various performances and clips as I sit here waiting for my flight to board.  In the spirit of the show I wanted to share with you a few of my favorites, just in case you missed the show last night or if you wanted to catch them again.


Les Grossman's Special Presentation

Watch the 2010 MTV Movie Awards at MTV.com!

Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg -- California Girl

Watch the 2010 MTV Movie Awards at MTV.com! 

More videos, pictures and stories to come so check back tomorrow.

Movie Awards Red Carpet Build

So it is now day 4 on the Universal Studios backlot and we are in full swing.  At the moment I cannot go into all of the craziness that will be happening but I am looking forward to sharing some behind-the-scenes stories with you shortly.  But for now I wanted to give you a little of the craziness that is happening out here in Hollywood.  Check out our red carpet build.  The video below is a live stream from outside the Gibson Ampitheater and it will be running for 24 hours a day for the next 2.5 days (as today, Friday, is half over).  We have been feeding the world wide web for the last 24 hours and the build is coming along.  But watch the change over the next 24 hours as we near the start of show and then on sunday you can watch the Red Carpet as it happens.

Just a reminder: East Coasters remember the Red Carpet/Pre-Show starts at 8pm ET and the West Coast will have to check in at 5pm PT as the live feed WILL NOT be re-streaming over the web when the show airs for you at 8pm PT.  You might even catch a sneak peek of the Jersey Shore Blow Out as the Jersey Shore cast will be hosting the Pre-Show.

MTV Shows

Warren the Ape at the Movie Awards... and a Sex Tape...?

Yesterday I happened to be doing a quick walk-thru of the Gibson Theater where the Movie Awards Main Show will be taking place and just happened to catch the end of the Warren the Ape shoot that was taking place. I have to admit it is pretty cool to see these guys at work Warren is not only an adorable, yet trouble-making little ape, but he is absolutely hilarious. Check out the MTV News HIT that was shot while he was in the house on Thursday afternoon. But even better, check out the latest clip teaser posted in preparation for the series premiere of Warren the Ape on MTV on Monday, June 14 at 10:30pm ET/PT.

Warren the Ape gives a preview of the seat cards and where celebrities will be sitting on Sunday's show.

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Warren the Ape: "Sex Tape"

Warren the Ape: Sex Tape from Wired Set on Vimeo.

2010 MTV Movie Awards -- Who do you think will win the Popcorn?

So in preparation for the big event, I recently went through the nominees for this years MTV Movie Awards.  I have to admit, I feel a little surprised by a few of the nominees, and even feel as those some great roles have been forgotten.  However I do not know what the cut off date is set at for while films can be included for the 2010 awards, and which will be included in the 2011 Movie Awards.  After going through the list of nominees is looks like the cut off is April, but if a film was included from the April 2 release weekend, I wonder if next year's Movie Awards will include any  other April 2010 releases, or if Kick-Ass has been left in the dust (which I feel would be one of their greatest mistakes).

Well, aside from my own prejudice towards my hopes of Kick-Ass being a part of the nominee list, here are the lists which you can go a vote for your favorites at the MTV Movie Awards website.

BEST KISS
K-Stew and Dakota Fanning -- The Runaways
K-Stew and Rob Pattinson -- Twilight Saga: New Moon
Sandra Bullock and Ryan  Reynolds -- The Proposal
Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner -- Valentine's Day
Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington -- Avatar

BEST FIGHT
Beyonce vs Ali Larter -- Obsessed
Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber vs Ryan Reynolds -- X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Logan Lerman vs Jake Able -- Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief
Robert Downey Jr vs Mark Strong -- Sherlock Holmes
Sam Worthington vs Stephen Lang -- Avatar

BEST VILLAIN
Christopher Waltz -- Inglorious Basterds
Helena Bonham Carter -- Alice in Wonderland
Ken Jeong -- The Hangover
Stephen Lang -- Avatar
Tom Felton -- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

BEST WTF MOMENT
Betty White -- The Proposal (feeling up Sandra Bullock)
Bill Murray -- Zombieland
Isabel Lucas -- Transformers 2 (robotic tongue)
Ken Jeong -- The Hangover (jumped out of trunk naked into Bradley Cooper's face)
Megan Fox -- Jeniffer's Body (projectile vomit)

BIGGEST BADASS STAR
Angelina Jolie -- Wanted
Channing Tatum -- G.I. Joe
Chris Pine -- Star Trek
Rain -- Ninja Assassin
Sam Worthington -- Clash of the Titans

BEST SCARED-AS-S**T PERFORMANCE
Alison Loman -- Drag me to Hell
Amanda Seyfried -- Jennifer's Body
Jesse  Eisenberg -- Zombieland
Katie Featerston -- Paranormal Activity
Sharlto Copley -- District 9

BEST BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
Anna Kendrick -- Up in the Air
Chris Pine -- Star Trek
Gabourey Sidibe -- Precious
Logan Lermon -- Percey Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightening Thief
Quinton Aaron -- The Blind Side
Zach Galifianakis -- The Hangover

BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE 
Amanda Seyfried -- Dear John
Emma Watson -- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Kristen Stewart -- Twilight Saga: New Moon
Sandra Bullock -- The Blind Side
Zoe Saldana -- Avatar

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE
Channing Tatum -- Dear John
Daniel Radcliffe -- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Robert Pattinson -- Twilight Saga: New Moon
Taylor Lautner -- Twilight Saga: New Moon
Zac Efron -- 17 Again

BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE
Ben Stiller -- Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian
Bradley Cooper -- The Hangover
Ryan Reynolds -- The Proposal
Sandra Bullock -- The Proposal
Zac Galifianakis -- The Hangover

GLOBAL SUPERSTAR
Daniel Radcliffe
Johnny Depp
Kristen Stewart
Robert Pattinson
Taylor Lautner

BEST MOVIE
Alice in Wonderland
Avatar
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Hangover
Twilight Saga: New Moon

Right now it is thought that the main competition is between Twilight and Avatar, but who do you think will take home the Popcorn?  Is there a star you are looking forward to seeing either on the red carpet or during the show?  With all of the MTV talent and other HOT celebrity talent the will be making their way to the Universal Studios backlot this Sunday I have to admit, I'm looking forward to see Shaun White, Adam Sandler, Anna Kendrick and Chris Rock.  As far as winners go, I'm hoping that Twilight shares the wealth a little with some of the other nominees but if they do sweep the show lets just hope Kristen Stewart can hold on to her award this year. 


We only have 3 days before the big event, so tune in to MTV Sunday night at 8pm ET/PT to watch find out who will take home the most Popcorn.And if you have not done so already, go to the Movie Awards home page and Vote for who you'd like to see win.  Voting ends Saturday, June 5 so hurry and click the link below to cast your votes.

http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2010/categories.jhtml

RIP Rue McClanahan

The television world has lost yet another of its stars early this morning.  Rue McClanahan died at the age of 76.  Best known for her role as Blanche Devereaux, Rue McClanahan had a widely successful career in television that spanned 50 years.  Rue McClanahan will be greatly missed by her fans.

In Memory of Gary Coleman and Dennis Hopper

The entertainment world has lost so much great talent over the last year.  This weekend two talents have been lost to the hollywood stars. 

Gary Coleman died on Friday, May 28 after a serious fall at his home in Utah.  He was 42 years old.  In memory of the Diff'rent Strokes star, the Broadway musical Avenue Q dedicated their May 28 performance to the late actor who is parodied in the play.  According to the NY Time, the character will remain in the musical, but the writing will under go some revisions.

On Saturday, May 29 Dennis Hopper died at the age of 74 after a long battle with prostate cancer.  Hopper's career spans a wide range of films and television series, as well as writing and directing credits.  Dennis Hopper was one of those actors that I loved to watch no matter what role he was playing, and it all began when I was introduced to Easy Rider.  

Both talents will be greatly missed.  

Unthinkable -- Review

I find it interesting when filmmakers present the "unthinkable" to an audience and we are asked the question of "How far are you willing to go?"  Some writers choose to present the unthinkable in horror films like the Saw franchise, some choose to ask the question as a psychological thriller like the German film Das Experiment (USA remake scheduled to hit theaters some time this year), and others present the idea as a social commentary like Unthinkable.  But the question still remains -- How far would you go?  And who really is the "bad guy" when things get a little out of control?

Unthinkable is a rehashed storyline with modern relevance.  Using a recognizable plot, writer Peter Woodward and director Gregor Jordan give us an amazing social commentary.  I personally had not thought much about what would happen if a terrorists was truly to hit us at home, and the extent at which our government would go to get the answers needed to keep us safe.  Yet if we really were in danger, I don't know how I would feel if the measures taken in this film came to light.  I don't know if I would feel ok with "doing whatever is needed to get it done" and watching the cast struggle with their choices and actions make me question what I would do if I had to make a decision of that magnitude.  

I will say that I am saddened to see that Unthinkable has not yet, and most likely will never see a large theatrical release as it presents ideas and questions that are relevant for our current time.  As this film will be released on DVD June 15, I would highly recommend that you go out to your local Blockbuster or other video rental shop to see if they carry the film and rent it.  Even check your local Redbox to see if they will be carrying this psychological thriller that will surely leave you with mixed feelings and something to talk about.  

Unthinkable is a film of the time and the cast chosen to portray the characters did an amazing job with such a difficult topic.  Of course we have all seen Samuel L. Jackson play some serious badass characters, but his portrayal of 'H' is like no other character he has played before.  The choices and actions he is forced to make as he aids the FBI and US government to keep the American people safe are choices that are 100% unthinkable.  I do not envy a person who is faced with such choices, and watching his own internal battle to justify his actions makes this character "real".  I believe whole heartedly that 'H' is out there somewhere makes these difficult decisions.  Along side Jackson, Carrie-Ann Moss (The Matrix) plays Agent Helen Brody who becomes H's moral compass.  It is Agent Brody that not only helps H get through the 4 days that the 97 minute film covers, but he looks to her to see how far is too far.  None of this would be possible if we did not have an antagonist.  The suspected terrorist Younger is played by the amazing English actor Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon, New Moon and Underworld).  The ensemble cast is full of talent and gives you a believable tale of events that are unthinkable.

I give Unthinkable a 4.5 out of 5.  Please look for it on June 15 and check it out for yourself.  You will not be sorry.  

** Viewers should have a strong stomach **

2010 MTV Movie Awards

So it may not be the Oscars, but it is one of the funnier nights on cable television.  This year's MTV Movie Awards is quickly approaching and the promos are starting to make their way onto the web.  Check out the Aziz and Justin Bieber Movie Award promo video below and check back for updates, photos and videos as I will be there working in the backlots of Universal Studios at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.

MTV Shows

Tune in on Sunday, June 6 when the show airs with some wild and crazy happenings beginning at 8pm EST for the Red Carpet Pre-show and a 9pm EST LIVE show.  You won't believe what the MTV team has planned.

Sex and the City World Premiere

 

Sunday afternoon I received an email with an invite to the world premiere of Sex and the City 2.  I never thought that I would attend a red carpet event like that.   It's not about walking the carpet, but more a collective appreciation of talent and crew that leaves me fascinated with the idea of a premiere event.  But don't get me wrong, I did walk the line to see if I could see any of the stars were visible from across the street before going in and getting my seat.

Radio City is a beautiful theater and the "red" carpet that lined 51st Street  screamed class and elegance that only SatC is able to do for New York City.  But no number of props or set dressings could stand beside the class shown by SatC writer Michael Patrick King.  It was a privilege to hear him speaking to his peers in the manner he opened the screening.  Introducing and thanking those returning to the "Sex family" and those that were just joining.  It really felt like a family affair.

The hype and energy from the carpet just did not translate to the big screen.  Being an avid fan of the series, catching re-runs at home and re-watching full seasons with my college girlfriends whenever we needed a Big pick-me-up. We were just like every other group of 20-somethings that had become hooked on the series, each trying to figure out who was most like Carrie, Samantha, Miranda or Charlotte.  I even got my mom to come with me when the first movie hit theaters.  Sex and the City 2 lived up to its name in body, but not in soul.

The sexy ladies of the city give us a familiar glimpse into their city, but they also introduce us to a whole new city.  Abu Dhabi is the city they take us in name, but the amazing landscape and vibrant colors belong to Morocco.  I loved watching the film from the opening scene with a hip Liza Minnelli that gives a performance that will force today's generation a reason to remember her name.  Stanford and Antony's wedding is the highlight of the film, I just wish the energy lasted straight through the entire 146 minute running time.  Once the wedding scene is over there is still another two hours remaining that just seem to go from one sex joke to another.  Don't get me wrong, it is one of the things that makes Sex and the City such "good Sex", but I felt it took the classic Samantha-ness of the film and just blew it out of proportion.  I still find Samantha to be my favorite character in the series, but half way through the film I wanted to beg her to stop.  

Sex and the City 2 is a beautiful film to watch in locations and wardrobe.  You could not ask for a more fashionable group of ladies and gents or a better ensemble cast, but it left little else for the original fans to enjoy.  With a running time that was just too long, and sexual innuendos that had no end in sight, I feel this 'Sex' could have used a little work, just like Carrie's relationships.  I still think fans will enjoy the film as these ladies do get better with age, but don't say I didn't warn you about the length.  

I give Sex and the City 2 a 3.25 out of 5.

If you'd like to read more about the World Premiere check out my post on Hollywood Crush.  

The 'Sex And The City 2' Premiere

World Premiere Thank Yous and Introduction


Trailer