A little while ago I was bored and looking for something interesting to watch on demand when I came across a movie who's title was simple the haunting. Sounds plausible enough and simple enough to be good, I thought, so I picked it out and read the small description. Liam Neeson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Owen Wilson are all in this picture, so I figured how bad could it be with not one, but three large name actors. And the description also left me more interesting, people brought to a house for a psychological study on insomnia later learn that the house is haunted. Again, simplistic enough that it sounded like a decent plot for some good horror thrills. So I loaded it up and watched the whole movie in one run, and here are my thoughts on a movie I suspect no one has heard of before.
I know that a lot of men out there try and dodge "chick flicks" whenever they hear about them, but to me it is less about the fact that this is a "chick flick" film and more about that this is a comedy. So when I first heard about it and saw a few clips of it, I knew that I was going to end up watching this movie to see what was going on. So I found a copy of the movie I could rent for a few hours and while the puppy was taking a nap I started watching it. I do not want to say that I was completely impressed, but actually I liked this movie for the feel-good moments that I knew were coming and that I knew would have to happen. Anyway, here is my review for Think Like a Man.
Tonight began much like any other night, I was bored and browsing through a long list of movies that did not seem very interesting when I came upon one that caught my eye. So I opened it and read the description about what this strangely titled movie I had never heard. Then, when all of the details satisfied my tastes in some manner or another, I decided to start watching it.
What I learned from the description was this movie is about three female high schoolers that are apparently on some sort of list to have sex and they discover the list. So then these girls decide to seek revenge against the main character's boyfriend, because he should not be doing something so sinister as helping the main character get laid. Oh yeah, and Rob Schneider is in this movie as the dad. But what that description forgot to tell me was that the movie I was about to watch was one of those very awkward ones, a film that puts even the viewers into their own little place as they wonder what they are watching and why they cannot turn away. If that alone does not give any idea to what Wild Cherry is about, here is my full review!
So it was another night, another movie I was not sure I wanted to watch, and another couple of hours of my life I wish I could get back. I'll have to admit that when I first watched the theatrical trailer for this movie, I was pretty sure I would not like it, because I could already tell that Zach Galigianakis was going to play the exact same character role he did in the Hangover while Robert Downey Jr played the same character role he is known for. Add on top of that some jokes that just are not really that funny nor interesting, and I figured that was the movie. Still, I had nothing to do that night and I needed to pass the time, so I turned on Due Date with no care towards what might actually be seen and now I wish I could get my time back. If you are curious and want to know why I do not recommend this movie, then please continue reading my full review of Due Date.
I am not going to lie and say that I love every drama out there, I do not and I do not think that is possible. Instead, I try and find the dramatic movies that make me feel like I have learned something by the end that I would not have known otherwise. And to say I have learned something by the end of the movie is not the same as saying that I felt like I knew exactly what I had learned, but there was some sort of educational evolution that happened in my head, a connecting of understandings that made me feel happy. In the past this has happened with such great films as Almost Famous (which I recently just re-watched) or Forest Gump (which was so good I went and read the book). I call these the good-feeling movies, as that is what they leave you with even if the ending is sad.
So taking a stab into the dark, I decided to watch a movie that was both recommended by a friend as good, a fact I learned after starting the film, and from the advice of an online review website. I think I have a lot more words to say about this movie then just that, as I do think this movie covers a lot of complicated topics and neither my friend nor the review I read really mentioned any of them. Here's my review of The Kids are All Right.
For the past few years I have been sitting on the line of being entertained and being dragged along when it came to the television show Weeds. I got into the show back when it was first starting, loved the first three seasons right away, and I actually was out recommending it to friends. Then the series hit an all-time low for me where I was not satisfied with the series for the next three seasons. And it was not until season seven that I started to feel that this show was starting to rise-up and get better again. Now, in its final season I am once again telling people that if they have not watched this all the way through that they should. Here's my review of everything currently available for Weeds.
I will openly admit that this movie was not actually on my list of films I wanted to see, but that is because I consider the first film a classic story that should not be messed with. And being completely honest with myself, I know that if a director wants to remake a film, then they usually also want to change something in the plot. I do not think I have ever seen a film that was remade and simply just updated, new actors and maybe better actors, new technology to make the background, and perfection of an already outstanding script. Nope, they never want to do that because why did you make a whole new film then.
Still, my friends decided it was time to see a movie and they persuaded me to go and watch this film last night. I will say that I am happy I did go and see it with them (I love seeing movies with my friends), but with that in mind I will also say that the original movie is still better. And do not worry, I'll explain why I think the original is better in this as well, because that was the crux of my decision. Anyway, here is my review of the movie Total Recall (2012).
Total Recall [2012]
So for those that do not know, which seems to be a lot of folks in the younger generation, this is actually a remake of a movie by the same name, Total Recall (1990). That's right, a movie made just twenty-two years ago they have decided to remake with better graphics and a script that they think will hit home with the new generation. Except, to anyone that has seen the old movie this one is not even in the same playing field, let alone should carry the same name.
I know a lot of folks don't have the ability to watch British television series here in the United States, but if you own Netflix then you should be able to look up the following one. In fact, that is one of the main reasons I recommend Netflix as a service, not because it hogs your internet and kills your ability to use other devices, but because it gives you access to several top British television series that you probably want to watch. So check to see if you get this one, I promise it is not a let-down.
Sherlock [2010]
To describe this show in the most basic form, it is the re-imagination of what Sherlock Holmes would be in modern day. It is a clever, witty show where the young crime-solving genius goes about Great Britain solving crimes that the police cannot put together. So if you are into crime television shows, then look this one up right away!
If I had to describe what I like about this series versus all of the other crime series that are out there, it is like the television show House was turned into a cop drama. He has the same sorts of characteristics that you see in the original House character. Witty, extremely intelligent and not afraid to flaunt it, and overall for some reason like-able when everyone else in the world seems to hate him.
But where this show really shines right now is in the mysteries. They are well crafted into an hour and a half show where the characters seem to have major issues that need to be solved and they have truly super-vilianous characters with a reason to act the way they do. This is no petite crime show, he's going after the series killers and super-crooks that no-one else can catch. All-the-while they try and keep the character true to the original story-told version, where the evidence is key and technology sits more on the back-burner for this one.
Anyway, if you have about the same amount of time as a short movie, then pick up a copy of the first episode and watch it!
The Spotted Canvas uses the Sherlock®television promotional media but is not endorsed or certified by Hartswood Films and BBC Wales. All of the Sherlock®logos and trademarks displayed on this website are the property of Hartswood Films and BBC Wales.
Truth be told, I did not find this series and I will not claim that I did. Instead, it was my great friend Vicki that showed me it while I was visiting San Francisco. I remember it all clearly, I was tired after walking around the city all day and she said she thought this show would be right-up-my-alley of comedy. Now, I'm always a bit skeptical when people tell me that, but I'm always up for trying a new television show (especially when a friend recommends it to me). Let's put it this way, I got two more friends hooked because I wanted them to see how awesome it was!
Shameless [2011]
First thing I have to say is that this is the United States remake of the British television series by the same name. Now, according to my friend the first seasons are identical say for a few differences. And according to the same friend, after the first season they both tend to split into two different directions. So this recommendation is for the United States first two seasons (and third one coming out soon) and not the British series which is on number nine. And yes, what we call a season here in the United States they call a series there (just to clarify).
Anyway, I started watching this with a friend and was instantaneously hooked. It is about a bunch of people that have no class, no color of collar, and are poor beyond reason. The cast is amazing, the episodes are unbelievable, and what you watch is, well, shameless people doing what they have to do. I know, it sounds really weird based off of that line, but it was in the ingenious way that they will do anything and you are never quite sure where things are going that hooked me instantly. I owe Vicki a huge thank-you for this one.
But why I want to recommend this is because while the first season is really a comedy with a bit of drama, the second season is more of a drama with a bit of comedy. So why is that a good thing? Well because I got hooked with trying to understand the characters and what they were doing with the first season, laughing out loud at the actions they did and really trying to understand them. Not to mention because you never know what their limit to what they will do is, and it seems to always be dropping, it just gets better and better. That is what I call a perfect beginning. But then you get to the second season, which has a lot of the same sort of comedy, and suddenly the writers really turned up the drama a notch. They take the characters to the next level and make you fall in love with even the ones you hate. It is in that sophisticated and yet hilariously perfected writing that I honestly want to recommend this television show.
And from what I learned about the difference between the Great Britain version and the United States version, it sounds like you really need to watch the United States version to see how amazing the writers really are. They've changed some things so that it will fit our comedy, they've worked out the kinks that we would not understand because they were British saying, and in the end recreated an amazing product. But then to diverge from the original plot and have an even more incredible show, now that's impressive.
So if you have time to spare, go watch the American version of the television show Shameless.
The Spotted Canvas uses the Shameless®television promotional media but is not endorsed or certified by Showtime Networks, Inc. All of the Shameless®logos and trademarks displayed on this website are the property of Showtime Networks, Inc.
