VH Corner

Not Appointment TV

The Secret Life of the American Teenager
Channel: ABC Family
Time: 8/7c
Premieres: Tue, Jul 1
Starring: Molly Ringwald, Shailene Woodley, Francia, Raisa, Kenny Baumann, Daren Kagasoff, Megan Park, Greg Finley, Josie Bissett, John Schneider, Mark Derwin, India Eisley, Jorge Pallo
Trailer

Synopsis: A teenage good girl is pregnant, and has to deal with her parents and everyone at school.

My Take: The reviews I have read have not been good. It seems a little too out of touch with what teenagers are like these days, probably because it is from the 7th Heaven people.

Continue reading “TV: Week of June 29″

Tags: Daren Kagasoff, David Pasquesi, factory, first 48, Francia, Greg Finley, India Eisley, Jay Leggett, Joey Fatone, John Schneider, Jorge Pallo, Josie Bissett, Kenny Baumann, Mark Derwin, Megan Park, Mel B, Michael Coleman, Mitch Rouse, Molly Ringwald, Raisa, secret life of the american teenager, Shailene Woodley, singing office

Nationwide Releases

WALL-E
Directed: Andrew Stanton
Starring: Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin, Ben Burtt, Sigourney Weaver, John Ratzenberger
Trailer

Synopsis: In the future, humans leave Earth and there is one robot that is left to clean up all the garbage left behind. He develops a personality and becomes lonely.

My Take: I love Pixar and I think it looks adorable, like R2D2.

RT Score: 96%
RT Consensus: Charming, audacious, and timely, Wall-E’s lighthearted magic and stellar visuals testify once again to Pixar’s ingenuity.

Continue reading “Movies Opening June 27″

Tags: Adam Yauch, Alan Cumming, Amy Sedaris, andrew stanton, angelina jolie, Asia Argento, att McGrath, Ben Burtt, Blanca Portillo, Brian Dennehy, Brittany Snow, bustin' down the door, Catherine Breillat, China Zorrilla, Claude Sarraute, Common, David Munro, Debbie Harry, elsa & fred, finding amanda, Fred Willard, Fu'ad Ait Aattou, full grown men, Greg Ellis, gunnin' for that #1 spot, Heather Juergensen, james mcavoy, Jeff Garlin, Jeremy Gosch, joan allen, John Ratzenberger, Jose Angel Egid, Judah Friedlander, last mistress, Malcolm McDowell, Manuel Alexandre, Marcos Carnevale, matthew broderick, Maura Tierney, Max Beesley, Michael Douglas, morgan freeman, Nathan Lane, paul giamatti, Peter Askin, Peter Facinelli, Peter Tolan, red roses and petrol, Robert Carnaghl, Roxane Mesquida, Sigourney Weaver, Steve Coogan, Susan Lynch, Tamar Simon Hoffs, Thomas Kretschmann, Timbor Bekmambetov, trumbo, wall-e, wanted, Yolande Moreau

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Directed: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Ray Winstone, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen

The third sequel in the series almost twenty years after the last one where they smartly have Indiana Jones age about twenty years in the process too.

I was a tad spoiled rewatching the old Indiana Jones movies the weekend before watching this movie, but it reminded me how fun the movies were, even when they were being silly. This movie is beyond silly. I believe it started with the monkeys in the jungle, got a little bit goofier with the huge killer ants, and completely lost it with the alien angle. I think the alien angle would have been fine, if it had been suggested, but not verified. I was very ready for the movie to end when it got to that point.

Continue reading “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”

Tags: cate blanchett, harrison ford, indiana jones, Karen Allen, kingdom of the crystal skull, ray winstone, Shia LaBeouf, steven spielberg

Alicia has joined the Movie Watching Group and it is now her turn to pick a movie. When we were dancing at the Fez, they played part of Barbarella on the wall. Marci and I laughed at it, but Alicia became intrigued since she had never seen it. She has now decided that everyone must watch it and post their reviews!

Barbarella

Netflix synopsis: A young Jane Fonda stars as the shapely 41st century space traveler dispatched to apprehend missing scientist Durand Durand (Milo O’Shea), whose latest handiwork threatens to bring evil back to the galaxy. En route, Barbarella discovers the joys of celestial sex and experiences kinky misadventures with a mélange of bizarre characters. Fans of sci-fi kitsch will treasure the camp classic, which heaps on the psychedelic scenery with gaudy aplomb.

Rotten Tomato Score: 72%

Tags: barbarella, jane fonda, milo o'shea

Recommended

Rescue Me
Channel: FX
Time: 10/9c
Premieres: Tue, Jun 24
Starring: Denis Leary, Michael Lombardi, Callie Thorne, Steven Pasquale, Tatum O’Neal, John Scurti, Daniel Sunjata, Andrea Roth, Jack McGee
Trailer: None

Synopsis: The writer’s strike stopped the next season’s production so the show won’t be returning until spring 2009, but it will be a longer 22-episode season when it does return. To tide over the fans, there will be ten five-minute long minisodes that will be shown, featuring all the regular characters of the show.

My Take: I am sad that the show is not back this summer, but I’ll have to make do with these teeny tiny episodes. I do love the mix of drama and comedy in the series, but I think these will be more comedy.

Continue reading “TV: Week of June 22″

Tags: Andrea Roth, baby borrowers, Callie Thorne, corey feldman, corey haim, dance machine, Daniel Sunjata, Denis Leary, i survived a japanese game show, Jack McGee, Jaclyn Smith, John Scurti, Kelly Atterton, Kim Vo, Michael Lombardi, Rene Fris, rescue me, shear genius, Steven Pasquale, Tatum O'Neal, two coreys, wipeout

Nationwide Releases

Get Smart
Directed: Peter Segal
Starring: Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, Terence Stamp
Trailer

Synopsis: Movie adaptation from the old television show where Maxwell Smart becomes a field agent, but is more of a bumbling fool.

My Take: When I heard Steve Carell was going to be Maxwell Smart, I thought it was a perfect fit. I also like Anne Hathaway. It looks like super goofy, not to be taken seriously, and overall fun fluffy summer movie.

RT Score: 51%
RT Consensus: Get Smart rides Steve Carell’s considerable charm for a few laughs, but in the end is a rather ordinary Summer comedy.

Continue reading “Movies Opening June 20″

Tags: alan arkin, Anne Hathaway, brick lane, Cecilia Miniucchi, Christopher Simpson, dwayne johnson, expired, geisha modern, get smart, hannari, Illeana Douglas, Jason Patric, jessica alba, Justin Timberlake, Lana Rahman, love guru, marco schnabel, Meagan Good, Mike Myers, Miyuki Sohara, Naeema Begum, peter segal, Romany Malco, Samantha Morton, Sarah Gavron, Satish Kaushik, steve carell, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Terence Stamp, Teri Garr

Below is a listing of some albums being released this week, links to the band’s website, where to buy it on Amazon.com and a video from YouTube so you can check out if you like it.

Indie Rock/Pop

Artist: Coldplay
Album: Viva La Vida

RIYL: Death Cab for Cutie, My Morning Jacket, Duffy, Weezer,

Continue reading “Music Released June 17″

Tags: coldplay, notwist, tilly and the wall

Top Chef: Chicago
Finale

The finale is all about the chefs being able to cook a full menu of whatever they want. It is their chance to really showcase what they do best at the end of this very long, brutal competition. Going into it, I am still amazed that Lisa is one of the final three. I thought for sure she was out the door as soon as Nikki was finally kicked off. I still would have much rather have Antonia or Dale going up against Richard and Stephanie.

Continue reading “Top Chef: Choke Time”

Tags: chicago, finale, puerto rico, top chef

Recommended

Weeds
Channel: SHO
Time: 10/9c
Premieres: Mon, Jun 16
Starring: Mary-Louise Parker, Elizabeth Perkins, Kevin Nealon, Justin Kirk, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould, Allie Grant
Trailer

Synopsis: After watching Agrestic burn to the ground, the Botwins head to Mexico. This season, they meet up with Nancy’s estranged father-in-law near the border and Julie Bowen joins the cast as a “friend” of Nancy’s oldest son.

My Take: Love the show. I find it hilarious and outrageous.

Continue reading “TV: Week of June 15″

Tags: flipping out, middle man, secret diary of a call girl, weeds

Nationwide Releases

The Incredible Hulk
Directed: Louis Leterrier
Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell
Trailer

Synopsis: Bruce Banner is in hiding trying to find a cure for the radiation that makes him big and green, when he must come out of hiding to fight the Abomination.

My Take: Very wary after the other Hulk movie, but I do like Edward Norton and Tim Roth.

RT Score: 63%
RT Consensus: The Incredible Hulk provides the action and excitement to please comic book fans and re-ignite this fledgling franchise.

Continue reading “Movies Opening June 13″

Tags: , Aimee Mullins, Amy Stewart, Ann Savage, Anthony Cristo, baghead, Betty Buckley, Brendan Cade, Carlos Brooks, chris and don, edward norton, Elise Muller, Greta Gerwig, Guido Santi, Guy Maddin, happening, incredible hulk, Jay Duplass, Jessica Hecht, Jett Garner, John Leguizamo, Leonardo Nam, Liv Tyler, Louis Leterrier, Louis Negin, M. Night Shyamalan, Mark Duplass, mark wahlberg, my winnipeg, nick stahl, quid pro quo, Ross Partridge, Steve Zissis, Tim Blake Nelson, tim roth, Tina Mascara, Ty Burrell, Vera Farmiga, Wesley Cade, zooey deschanel