Sunday, November 26, 2006

HAPPY FEET

This CGI movie may not be the best film of it's type on the market, but it's certainly not the worst either. I can't say there is TOO much of a plot, but there ARE a lot of singing and dancing penguins on display. It's definitely a feel-good movie, but it's not exactly Masterpiece Theater. B-

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Marcus Allen arrested for Murder

Okay, so real life isn't always pretty. I am not sure if anyone knows or not, but last week gay porn star Marcus Allen was arrested for murdering a gay business owner in Denver. Back in 2003, Marcus Allen shot his first gay adult film: THE HOMECOMING, and I was the first guy he had sex with on film. So it came as a BIG surprise when I read the news that a guy who once had his dick up my ass might have murdered another guy. On the set, Marcus wasn't easy to work with. He and I had no connection, and it was a difficult scene to finish. That same day the Space Shuttle Discovery blew up, so I was already on edge. But I did my job, got paid, and went home. Fast forward to last week and now Marcus will be going to trial for murder. Holy Crap!

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

MY TV TOP 5: Revisited

Okay, the fall season has ended and we are now moving into the holidays (which means lots of repeats and lots of Xmas specials) before the midseason replacements show up in January. I thought I would take a moment and let you know what I am liking and what I am not. But first: MY TOP FIVE SHOWS ON TV: 1. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC). This show reinvented itself this season, leading up to the amazing Hostage Episode in November that claimed Nora. The season-long mystery in year 3 isn't as intriguing as Season 1, but it sure as hell victors over Season 2's Basement Lock-up storyline. If I had to gripe about anything it would be that I am tiring of the Susan/Mike storyline. But Bree is having a GREAT year (again).....2. UGLY BETTY (ABC). America Ferrara is fantastic in the lead. What sets this show apart is it's visual panache. The Mode Magazine people and their clothes aren't just beautiful, but the set pieces themselves offer scrumptious eye candy. And Vanessa Williams is PERFECTLY cast as Wilhemina. One hour comedies are rare, and the fact that my top 2 favorite shows are hour-long comedies is rarer still. 3. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (CBS). I refused to even watch this show last year. I guess the title didn't jump out at me, or whatever. But I was on board with MOTHER since episode 1 of Season 2, and it's so frickin funny. If you loved FRIENDS, this is the best closest thing like it on TV to fill that void. Season 1 is out on DVD today. 4. HEROES (NBC). I grow more addicted to HEROES each and every week. It's a surprisingly mature approach to superheros. Seriously, when you watch HEROES you have to be prepared to see people with their heads carved open and their brains spilling out, people getting their skull impaled by a knife-sharp twig, sternums being pried open, etc. etc.....okay, but dont let that put you off (or, turn you on, in some cases)....the show has amazing visuals. It also keeps the action moving along, unlike..... 5. LOST (ABC). This show USED to be my favorite, but I think I am getting bored with it. I mean, is anyone else tired of the flashbacks? They were used to good effect in the first 2 seasons when we didn't know who these people were. But in season 3 we have a pretty good idea who everyone is. So whereas in the past each flashback fleshed out a character, in season 3 the flashbacks just get in the way of moving the present day story ahead. I mean, SIX EPISODES aired in the fall season. And WHAT really happened exactly? Jack, Sawyer and Kate are STILL locked away on that second OTHERS island, and everyone else gets about 2 minutes of airtime each week. I feel like it's been ages since I've seen Charlie, Claire, Sun, Jin, Hurley....seriously, LOST needs to get back in the game. Or maybe I want the show to lose even more viewers. That way, once ABC loses enough viewers to the point where they cancel it, we will then get all our answers resolved. Okay, maybe I DONT want that to happen, but I don't see why the producers can't do a better job with Bigger Reveals. So WHAT if we they tell us what the Big Mysteries are all about. I'll STILL watch the show. The castaways can STILL be lost on the island even if they know what's going on. Further, NEW mysteries can always turn up , too. Writers are talented people...RESOLVE some things already, people! Then get on with NEW mysteries. Because I'm F*R*U*S*T*R*A*T*E*D!........okayyyyyy...so, what shows disappointed me this year (and, no, I STILL LOVE LOST): THE CLASS (CBS). I had really high hopes for this show. It was cute in the beginning, but after a few viewings I noticed that there were only a few of the 3rd-grade classmates that I really liked. And LIKING your Friends, er, Class, is important, ya know? I think to save this show, some of the mates have to go: namely the gay guy. God, he ANNOYS me with his whiny voice and selfish ways. I could NEVER date a guy like that. And even the blonde newscaster with her daughter Oprah needs to be axed, too. UNFORTUNATELY that would mean the demise of the show's best character: the blondes "so gay he doesnt even know it" husband. Okay, so who DO I like? Easy: Jason Ritter is cute and funny. And his bantering with Lizzy Caplan is growing on me. Lizzy frustrated the HELL out of me in the beginning, but she is starting to become infectious. Her wheelchair-bound sister is also sweet and original, but the red head who she is falling in love with gives me the major creeps. And that leaves the best part of THE CLASS: Andrea ("JOEY") Anders and the carpenter guy. They are sweet and HOT (think Rachel and Joey). But it may be too late: the show is underperforming on the number one network on TV (CBS), and that means it's easy candidate for cancellation........STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP and 30 ROCK (NBC). Neither show lived up to the hype, with STUDIO 60 being the more obvious BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. To be fair, I have tuned into the show since Episode 3. I just grew too tired of it. The head writer takes it ALL too seriously, and the 'funny' skits that we see aren't even funny. They make the SNL skits they are based upon look Shakespearean. Still, if you are one of the STUDIO 60 fans you will be happy to know that NBC picked the show up for a full season. Somehow I don't see the same thing happening to 30 ROCK. It failed when paired with TWENTY GOOD YEARS, but performed even poorer when moved to Thursdays opposite GREYS ANATOMY and CSI. I know NBC is trying to rebuild it's Must See TV Thursday comedy block, but its a little too little and a little too late. NBC's best bet is to create a new 4-comedy block on a different night, because lets face it: NBC just doesnt have the momentum on Thursays anymore. .....JERICHO (CBS). I never really DISLIKED this show. In fact, I may have given up on it too soon. I hear that it has gotten better in recent weeks, and its doing great for CBS in it's timeslot. But I would be lost to tune in now. So I am going to wait until the First Season DVD comes out and watch it then.......VERONICA MARS (The CW). I don't know what's quite not right this year, but my beloved VERONICA MARS is no longer the slick, enjoyable, entertaining crime caper that I had fallen in live with from Years 1 and 2. I went to a public university, so i dont know if Hearst College is representative of a small college, but I just don't feel the vibe of her being in school. And where has Mac (Tina Majorino) been? I still support the show, but it no longer demands my immediate attention. In fact, I have 2 episodes sitting on my TiVo right now that (eventually) I will get to. Good News, though: VERONICA MARS IS up 7 percent from last season, and The CW just picked it up for a full season. .....TOP CHEF (Bravo): I guess food just isn't as exciting as designing dresses. I think I will wait for Season 4 of PROJECT RUNWAY (or Season 1 of TOP DESIGNER) before committing to another Bravo Reality Show.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

TV TOP FIVE: Revisited

Okay, the fall season has ended and we are now moving into the holidays (which means lots of repeats and lots of Xmas specials) before the midseason replacements show up in January. I thought I would take a moment and let you know what I am liking and what I am not. But first: MY TOP FIVE SHOWS ON TV: 1. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC). This show reinvented itself this season, leading up to the amazing Hostage Episode in November that claimed Nora. The season-long mystery in year 3 isn't as intriguing as Season 1, but it sure as hell victors over Season 2's Basement Lock-up storyline. If I had to gripe about anything it would be that I am tiring of the Susan/Mike storyline. But Bree is having a GREAT year (again).....2. UGLY BETTY (ABC). America Ferrara is fantastic in the lead. What sets this show apart is it's visual panache. The Mode Magazine people and their clothes aren't just beautiful, but the set pieces themselves offer scrumptious eye candy. And Vanessa Williams is PERFECTLY cast as Wilhemina. One hour comedies are rare, and the fact that my top 2 favorite shows are hour-long comedies is rarer still. 3. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (CBS). I refused to even watch this show last year. I guess the title didn't jump out at me, or whatever. But I was on board with MOTHER since episode 1 of Season 2, and it's so frickin funny. If you loved FRIENDS, this is the best closest thing like it on TV to fill that void. Season 1 is out on DVD today. 4. HEROES (NBC). I grow more addicted to HEROES each and every week. It's a surprisingly mature approach to superheros. Seriously, when you watch HEROES you have to be prepared to see people with their heads carved open and their brains spilling out, people getting their skull impaled by a knife-sharp twig, sternums being pried open, etc. etc.....okay, but dont let that put you off (or, turn you on, in some cases)....the show has amazing visuals. It also keeps the action moving along, unlike..... 5. LOST (ABC). This show USED to be my favorite, but I think I am getting bored with it. I mean, is anyone else tired of the flashbacks? They were used to good effect in the first 2 seasons when we didn't know who these people were. But in season 3 we have a pretty good idea who everyone is. So whereas in the past each flashback fleshed out a character, in season 3 the flashbacks just get in the way of moving the present day story ahead. I mean, SIX EPISODES aired in the fall season. And WHAT really happened exactly? Jack, Sawyer and Kate are STILL locked away on that second OTHERS island, and everyone else gets about 2 minutes of airtime each week. I feel like it's been ages since I've seen Charlie, Claire, Sun, Jin, Hurley....seriously, LOST needs to get back in the game. Or maybe I want the show to lose even more viewers. That way, once ABC loses enough viewers to the point where they cancel it, we will then get all our answers resolved. Okay, maybe I DONT want that to happen, but I don't see why the producers can't do a better job with Bigger Reveals. So WHAT if we they tell us what the Big Mysteries are all about. I'll STILL watch the show. The castaways can STILL be lost on the island even if they know what's going on. Further, NEW mysteries can always turn up , too. Writers are talented people...RESOLVE some things already, people! Then get on with NEW mysteries. Because I'm F*R*U*S*T*R*A*T*E*D!........okayyyyyy...so, what shows disappointed me this year (and, no, I STILL LOVE LOST): THE CLASS (CBS). I had really high hopes for this show. It was cute in the beginning, but after a few viewings I noticed that there were only a few of the 3rd-grade classmates that I really liked. And LIKING your Friends, er, Class, is important, ya know? I think to save this show, some of the mates have to go: namely the gay guy. God, he ANNOYS me with his whiny voice and selfish ways. I could NEVER date a guy like that. And even the blonde newscaster with her daughter Oprah needs to be axed, too. UNFORTUNATELY that would mean the demise of the show's best character: the blondes "so gay he doesnt even know it" husband. Okay, so who DO I like? Easy: Jason Ritter is cute and funny. And his bantering with Lizzy Caplan is growing on me. Lizzy frustrated the HELL out of me in the beginning, but she is starting to become infectious. Her wheelchair-bound sister is also sweet and original, but the red head who she is falling in love with gives me the major creeps. And that leaves the best part of THE CLASS: Andrea ("JOEY") Anders and the carpenter guy. They are sweet and HOT (think Rachel and Joey). But it may be too late: the show is underperforming on the number one network on TV (CBS), and that means it's easy candidate for cancellation........STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP and 30 ROCK (NBC). Neither show lived up to the hype, with STUDIO 60 being the more obvious BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. To be fair, I have tuned into the show since Episode 3. I just grew too tired of it. The head writer takes it ALL too seriously, and the 'funny' skits that we see aren't even funny. They make the SNL skits they are based upon look Shakespearean. Still, if you are one of the STUDIO 60 fans you will be happy to know that NBC picked the show up for a full season. Somehow I don't see the same thing happening to 30 ROCK. It failed when paired with TWENTY GOOD YEARS, but performed even poorer when moved to Thursdays opposite GREYS ANATOMY and CSI. I know NBC is trying to rebuild it's Must See TV Thursday comedy block, but its a little too little and a little too late. NBC's best bet is to create a new 4-comedy block on a different night, because lets face it: NBC just doesnt have the momentum on Thursays anymore. .....JERICHO (CBS). I never really DISLIKED this show. In fact, I may have given up on it too soon. I hear that it has gotten better in recent weeks, and its doing great for CBS in it's timeslot. But I would be lost to tune in now. So I am going to wait until the First Season DVD comes out and watch it then.......VERONICA MARS (The CW). I don't know what's quite not right this year, but my beloved VERONICA MARS is no longer the slick, enjoyable, entertaining crime caper that I had fallen in live with from Years 1 and 2. I went to a public university, so i dont know if Hearst College is representative of a small college, but I just don't feel the vibe of her being in school. And where has Mac (Tina Majorino) been? I still support the show, but it no longer demands my immediate attention. In fact, I have 2 episodes sitting on my TiVo right now that (eventually) I will get to. Good News, though: VERONICA MARS IS up 7 percent from last season, and The CW just picked it up for a full season. .....TOP CHEF (Bravo): I guess food just isn't as exciting as designing dresses. I think I will wait for Season 4 of PROJECT RUNWAY (or Season 1 of TOP DESIGNER) before committing to another Bravo Reality Show.

Come Out, Come Out, Whoever You Are

It's refreshing to see the number of celebrities who have announced their homosexuality in recent weeks: Lance Bass ('N Sync), T.R. Knight (Grey's Anatomy), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), and now Kristanna Loken (Terminator 3) and her girlfriend Michelle Rodriguez (Lost)

Confused

In recent months, Mel Gibson ranted some anti-semitic remarks while drunk and, just a few days ago, Michael Richards from SEINFELD saw his career take a nose-dive (well, his career was already dried up to begin with) when he shouted 'Nigger' ad nauseum to a couple of black guys at a Laugh Factory concert. BOTH instances are appalling, and I wont see a Mel Gibson movie ever again. As for Kramer, I am broken-hearted at this man's abuse of his platform to shout out this hatred to a live audience. And I am sure that most of you (Indeed, I would hope ALL of you) would agree with me. But now comes the CONFUSION for me: a few weeks ago Isaiah Washington and Patrick Dempsey got into a fight on the set of GREY'S ANATOMY after Isaiah threw out the word 'Faggot' (relating to TR KNIGHT recently coming out of the closet). The altercation got press, Wash apologized, and the producers didn't fire Mr Washington for his actions. Now, hmmmm.... what's wrong with this picture? With Mel and Kramer, the press went wild with "their careers are over...they're done, finished...or in the very least, they will have to do some major PR work to overcome this". And I agree, when you call someone a 'Nigger', you abuse the very being of that person. It's fueled by hatred, pure and simple. But when you call someone a 'Faggot', you are ALSO abusing the very being of a person, and hatred is still at the fore. So I ask: Why did Washington get away with it? Why isnt HIS career over? Is it MORE acceptable to call people a 'faggot' than it is to call them a 'nigger'? In my opinion, they are both equally offensive. Even typing the word 'faggot' and 'nigger' makes me cringe. SO....if Mel Gibson and Michael Richards are going to have to own up to their verbal assaults, then I say Isaiah Washington must, too. Okay, I will get off my soapbox. I apologize if this entry bothered anyone, but I just had to get it off my chest, because it pisses me off for ANYONE to be called names based on their sex, religion, race, body shape, height, etc.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

KANYE WEST: BOO!

Is it just me, or is anyone else amazed at how large Kanye West's ego has become? He joins Mel Gibson on my growing list of artists that I refuse to support (by watching their movies or buying their CD's). I already knew Kanye West had a big ego, but he just knocked out of the park by his recent storming of the stage at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Artist JUSTICE VS. SIMIAN won for Best Video for "We Are Your Friends". As he accepted his award Kanye took the stage and interrupted the winner's moment in the limelight by saying how his "Touch The Sky" video deserved to win. REGARDLESS, DUDE! YOU LOST! GET OVER IT! AND GET OVER YOURSELF! By doing what you did, you look like a fool, you made the WINNER's moment not his own, and YOU end up becoming a bigger LOSER than you were before you opened your mouth. Umm, Kanye WHO???

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

HOLIDAY MOVIE TOP 10

Here are my TOP 10 movies that I want to see this holiday season, with my most anticipated movie at #1. 10. Pan's Labrynth (Dec. 29).......9. Children of Men (Dec 25).....8. Deck The Halls (Nov 22).......7. Turistas (Dec. 1).......6. Charlotte's Web (Dec. 20).....5. The Fountain (Nov. 22)....4. Arthur and The Invisibles (Dec. 15)......3. Eragon (Dec. 15).....2. Night At The Museum (Dec. 22).....AND NUMBER ONE: DREAMGIRLS (December 15th)

SNL comes to DVD

On December 5th, one of my dreams is finally coming true. The entire first season of Saturday Night Live is being released on DVD, shown in their complete 90 minute entireties. The complete second season of SNL is also coming out that same day. For me, i have been a fan of SNL since the early 80s, when I was permitted to stay up late and watch it. I have never seen the original shows in their entirety except for the 1 hour condensed versions seen on Comedy Central and E! So I am indeed very excited for the opportunity to get to see the 'classic years'. Ultimately I am looking forward to the Eddie Murphy years most. To date, SNL has released Best Of compilations of their famous stars and hosts. FINALLY the 'real deal' is coming!

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER: Best Comedy!

Which, I know, isn't saying much when there are so few comedies even currently running on the Big Five anymore. But after watching the "SWARLEY" episode - with it's Crazy Eyes storyline - I laughed my ASS off (and I was in a piss poor mood before watching the episode). The jolts of laughter were well-needed, and I had to reflect: i don't think I have yet to see a BAD episode of this under-appreciated sitcom. Maybe with Neil Patrick Harris coming out of the closet last week there will be a curiousity factor for new audiences to tune in. I can only hope so! I LOVE THIS SHOW, and I hope you will give it a shot, too. It's brilliant! So the best HOUR LONG comedies on TV: UGLY BETTY and DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. And the best HALF HOUR comedies on TV: just one: HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER. (Though THE OFFICE and MY NAME IS EARL are certainly well-done, too: They just arent my favorites)

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

WHITNEY

Just saw some recent photos of Whitney Houston in the current issue of OK! magazine. She is looking amazing, and my prayers go out to her that her recovery from drug addiction is a successful one. But MOST importantly, I hope her co-dependency on Bobby Brown is over. It's hard enough for one addict to recover, but when you are recovering with another addict, it becomes increasingly hard (especially when the other has a relapse and pressures you to join in). Trust me, I know.

3 Reasons to watch DAY BREAK: And 3 Reasons Why Not

ABC has a new show starting November 15 called DAY BREAK. I am on the cuff about committing to it, but there is one very big reason TO watch that overrides everything else: TAYE DIGGS. This man is a GOD in my book. I fell in love with him when he guest starred on WILL & GRACE last year. And I have wanted to carry his babies ever since. The second reason to watch is because there isn't anything else to watch in it's timeslot. LOST is vacating the hour until February, so give it a try. The third reason to watch is because of it's unique GROUNDHOG DAY hook. Taye has to relive the same day over and over. It will run 13 weeks, and if it survives all 13 weeks the day WILL END, promises producers. If DAY BREAK comes back for season 2,, a new day will have dawned. So...in our ever-serialized tv landscape, THIS show will have a resolution at the end of the season, a la FOX's 24. Okay, so that's 3 reasons to watch. And here are 3 reasons not to watch: First, the show has a serialized format, and in a season that has seen KIDNAPPED, RUNAWAY, VANISHED and others like them disappear quicker than Free Bareback Porn, will DAY BREAK's resolution ever see the light of, well, day. Second, actually there IS something else to do during the show's timeslotted hour at 9 PM Eastern Time Wednesday nights: CBS's CRIMINAL MINDS. The uberviolent procedural has been edging out LOST in the ratings this year, and with the flop THE NINE following DAY BREAK, there really isn't a hit show to draw people to the network for the night. Third, can the idea of living the same day OVER and OVER and OVER again keep viewers intrigued without growing stale and boring. So weighing the pros and cons to DAY BREAK, I have to give the show a shot: after all, I want those babies!

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Review: MARIE ANTOINETTE

Now THIS is the kind of period piece type of movie that I can enjoy. What makes Sofia Coppola's film so unique is that it juxtaposes the etiquette of the time period with music from the 80's, and the result is surprisingly effective. For most of the film, MARIE ANTOINETTE is treated as a whimsical comedy, with Kristen Dunst and Jason Schwartzman speaking with their own American accents. One of my favorite moments is when the decandent cookies, pies, pastries and whatnot of the day are presented MTV-style to the tune of Bow Wow Wow's I WANT CANDY. This is an indie art ful (that was booed when screened at Cannes earlier this year), and as such I have to grade it on those merits. Maybe it's not as refined or polished as a big studio commercial film might be, but therein lies more of the charm of this underdog. I guess you either will love it or loathe it. I loved it. A-

TIM BURTON'S A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS - IN 3D

Ready for a new theater-going experience? Then check out the 3D updating of A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS. The 3d is advanced, the glasses are ACTUAL glasses instead of the red and blue cardboard pieces of crap from yesteryear, and the whole event had me giddy in the aisles. Disney is releasing another movie in digital 3d in 2007, and I have to say that, if this all proves successful, the future of 3d movies is here. THE MOVIE: B+; THE 3D EXPERIENCE WITH THE MOVIE: PRICELESS.

Friday, November 03, 2006

JOHN HUGHES movies

My favorite John Hughes teen-angst flicks (in order): 1. BREAKFAST CLUB.....2. PRETTY IN PINK.....3. FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF.....4. SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL.....5. SIXTEEN CANDLES. Blog me back with your rank order of your top 5 (include other John Hughes teen movies, too. I just can't think of any others he did off hand)

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Show Me THE BUNNY!

I just had two items of interest come my way last night. FIRST, one of my favorite socks, Greg The Bunny, is coming back for another round of movie spoofs at the Independent Film Channel starting in mid-November. I first fell in love with Greg when I bought GREG THE BUNNY-THE COMPLETE SERIES on DVD 2 years ago. Then last year IFC delivered a batch of Greg The Bunny movie spoofs (which were just released on DVD last week). The second batch of movie spoofs begins with the spoof of Charlize Theron's MONSTER..............The second bit of awesome news is Bravo just announced that TOP DESIGNER debuts in 2007. This reality show is hosted by Todd Oldham and comes from the same producers who delivered PROJECT RUNWAY and TOP CHEF (how's that, Julie?)