VH Corner

In the last week of the year, there are no nationwide releases, but just a couple of limited releases. They both have to do with Nazi Germany though. Craziness!

Limited Releases

Defiance
Good

Defiance
Directed: Edward Zwick
Starring: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, Alexa Davalos
Trailer

Synopsis: During WWII in Russia, a group of Jews hide in a forest and fight off the Germans during the war.

My Take: I think it looks pretty good, but I guess it isn’t exciting enough to sustain interest.

RT Score: 39%
RT Consensus: Professionally made but artistically uninspired, Ed Zwick’s story of Jews surviving WWII in the Belarus Forrest lacks the emotional punch of the actual history.

Continue reading “Movies Opening December 31″

Tags: Alexa Davalos, daniel craig, Defiance, Edward Zwick, Good, jamie bell, Jason Isaacs, Jodie Whittaker, Liev Schreiber, Steven Mackintosh, Vicente Amorim, Viggo Mortensen

It is about time! A lot of interesting movies have finally come out in the same week in both wide and limited releases. For those that love epic stories, there is Brad Pitt growing younger while following Cate Blanchett around in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. For those that love wacky Tom Cruise and/or action flicks, he stars as the potential assassin to Hitler in Valkyrie. Comic fanboys can get their Frank Miller fix with The Spirit. Total saps can get their cute doggie fix along with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson with Marley & Me. For those that need to take the kiddies to something, there is the latest Adam Sandler flick Bedtime Stories. Finally, in the limited releases, the best bet is Kate Winslet and Leo DiCaprio starring together again in Revolutionary Road.

Nationwide Releases

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Valkyrie
The Spirit
Marley & Me
Bedtime Stories

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Directed: David Fincher
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Tilda Swinton
Trailer

Synopsis: A man is born as an old-looking baby and as he ages, he looks younger.

My Take: I love David Fincher, Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. I have to see it!

RT Score: 73%
RT Consensus: Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an epic fantasy tale with rich storytelling backed by fantastic performances.

Continue reading “Movies Opening December 25″

Tags: Adam Sandler, Adam Shankman, alan arkin, Bedtime Stories, Bill Nighy, brad pitt, Bryan Singer, Carice Van Houten, cate blanchett, Courtney Cox, Curious Case of Benjamin Button, david fincher, David Frankel, David Harbour, dustin hoffman, Emma Thompson, Eric Dane, eva mendes, Frank Miller, Gabriel Macht, Guy Pearce, James Brolin, jennifer aniston, Joel Hopkins, kate winslet, Kathryn Hahn, Kathy Baker, kathy bates, kenneth branagh, keri russell, Last Chance Harvey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lucy Lawless, Marley & Me, owen wilson, Revolutionary Road, Richard Griffiths, Russell Brand, Sam Mendes, samuel l. jackson, scarlett johansson, Spirit, Taraji P. Henson, tilda swinton, tom cruise, tom wilkinson, Valkyrie

Top Chef: New York
12 Days of Christmas: Martha Stewart

Here is a quick run down on the two challenges:

• Quickfire Challenge: Create a Holiday One-Pot Wonder
• Elimination Challenge: Create a Dish Inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas

I know the shows are filmed in advance before we ever get to see them. The first episode showed all the contestants in New York in shorts so it was spring or summer, not the beginning of fall weather. They all talked about it being a hot day on the first challenge.  Later on, Jamie talked about getting ingredients that were fresh and in season, like corn, which is in season around July I think. I wonder how trippy it is for them to make Thanksgiving dinner a few episodes ago and then to make Christmas food for this episode when it is the middle of summer for them. I’m sure the last thing they want to do is to make comfort food for fall and winter when they could be making cool, light summer dishes.

Continue reading “Top Chef: Christmas Spirit”

Tags: AMFAR, Harlem Gospel Choir, martha stewart, michelle bernstein, Natasha Richardson, New York, top chef

The wide releases did not get very good reviews, but they seem harmless enough for anyone that picks them. The limited releases might not be harder to watch, but look a hell of a lot better.

Nationwide Releases

Yes Man
Seven Pounds
Tale of Despereaux

Yes Man
Directed: Peyton Reed
Starring: Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, Rhys Darby, John Michael
Trailer

Synopsis: A man who is missing out on life takes a seminar that tells him that he must say yes to every opportunity that presents itself to him.

My Take: Too much of Jim Carrey can be overwhelming, but it does seem like a lightweight comedy that’s good for passing the time.

RT Score: 43%
RT Consensus: Jim Carrey’s comic convulsions are the only bright spots in this otherwise dim and predictable comedy.

Continue reading “Movies Opening December 19″

Tags: Alan Alda, amy adams, Angela Basset, Barry Pepper, Bradley Cooper, Cherif Bounaidja Rachedi, Ciaran Hinds, Class, Darren Aronofsky, David Schwimmer, Doubt, evan rachel wood, Frances Conroy, Francois Begaudeau, Gabriele Muccino, Jim Carrey, John Michael, John Patrick Shanley, Kate Beckinsale, Laura Baquela, Laurent Cantet, Marisa Tomei, Matt Dillon, matthew broderick, meryl streep, Mickey Rourke, Nassim Amrabt, Nothing But the Truth, Peyton Reed, philip seymour hoffman, Rhys Darby, Robbie Coltrane, Rod Lurie, rosario dawson, Sam Fell, Seven Pounds, Tale of Despereaux, The Wrestler, Tony Hale, Vera Farmiga, Viola Davis, will smith, woody harrelson, Yes Man, zooey deschanel

Top Chef: New York
Gail’s Bridal Shower

Here is a quick run down on the two challenges:

• Quickfire Challenge: Identify the Most Ingredients In a Sauce, 15 Seconds to Taste
• Elimination Challenge: Prepare Gail’s Bridal Shower Lunch for 40 Guests

This season has briefly touched on Hosea and Leah having a major crush on each other. I have read that they are still dating after the show. The beginning of this episode showed Stefan having a crush on Jamie. He keeps making presents for her and doesn’t seem to care that she’s a lesbian. I don’t watch the show for anyone hooking up with anyone else though. That’s Big Brother. I watch the show for food, so let’s get on with it!

Continue reading “Top Chef: Here Comes the Bride”

Tags: Gail Simmons, New York, top chef

If the only new show is a scary reality show that would have fit in better when The Bachelor dating shows were new and not fizzling out like they are now, then there is no Pick of the Week in TV land for debuting shows.

Season Finales: Survivor, Dexter, Californication, My Own Worst Enemy, Biggest Loser: Families, Stylista

Why?

Momma’s Boys
Channel: NBC
Time: 10/9c
Premieres: Tuesday, December 16
Trailer

Synopsis: Three protective mothers try to find the right women for their complacent single sons. Ryan Seacrest is the executive producer.

John Leguizamo is in two movies being released this week! He shows up in the wide release holiday movie about families and then he’s in the limited release about his family being on hard times around the holidays. Do you want him funny or serious? You get your pick this week.

Nationwide Releases

Day the Earth Stood Still
Nothing Like the Holidays
Delgo

The Day the Earth Stood Still
Directed: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Keanu Reeves Jennifer Connelly, Jaden Smith, John Cleese
Trailer

Synopsis: A remake of a sci-fi classic where Keanu Reeves plays an alien who comes to Earth.

My Take: I didn’t think anyone was really clamoring for a remake of this movie.

RT Score: 20%
RT Consensus: Heavy on special effects, but without a coherent story at its base, The Day the Earth Stood Still is subpar re-imagining of the 1951 science-fiction classic.

Continue reading “Movies Opening December 12″

Tags: Adriane Lenox, Ahney Her, Alfred Molina, Alfredo de Villa, Amanda Peet, Anne Bancroft, Barbara Goenaga, Bee Vang, Brian Goodman, Candela Fernandez, Chris Kattan, Christopher Carley, Clint Eastwood, Craig Sheffer, Day the Earth Stood Still, debra messing, Delgo, Donnie Wahlberg, Ethan Hawk, Freddie Prinze, Freddy Rodriguez, Gran Torino, Jaden Smith, Jason Maurer, Jay Hernandez, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jerry Ferrara, John Cleese, John Leguizamo, Jr., Karra Elejalde, Keanu Reeves Jennifer Connelly, Kim Basinger, Luke Haas, Marc F. Adler, mark ruffalo, Nacho Vigalondo, Nothing Like the Holidays, Salvatore Stabile, Sarah Montford, Scott Derrickson, Timecrimes, val kilmer, What Doesn't Kill You, Where God Left His Shoes, While She Was Out, Will Lyman

Amazing Race
You Look Like Peter Pan

Going into this final leg, I have no idea how the frat boys made it this far. I’ve been upset at some of the teams that have won in the past, since I found them to be horrible people (Flo from season 3), I wouldn’t be thrilled if the frat boys won. I don’t feel they deserve it. They made tons of mistakes on their own and only got by when other teams made worse mistakes that were out of character for them. The frat boys make mistakes constantly. Team S&M actually play decently as a team when Tina isn’t screeching at Ken. They even got along just dandy for a while. I really wanted Toni & Dallas to win, but they were gone after last week’s goof with the passport being left in the cab. I was given a link last week that told the entire story that Dallas had to get his mike changed and the production guys had unclipped his belt, which he didn’t realize at the time. It sounds like it was the production team’s fault for doing that to him. He also switched cabs and it wasn’t until he got out of the second cab that he realized that he didn’t have his passport. He had left it in the first one. It wasn’t a case of not running after the cab, but actually not being anywhere near the one that he left it in. That really sucks! Someone did turn their passports into the American embassy so they weren’t stranded in Russia. With my favorite team gone, I’m rooting for the siblings. They were annoying at times, but they were entertaining to watch and played decently. Let’s see what happens!

The order in which teams left the pit stop:

• Nick & Starr (siblings) – 10:56 pm
• Andrew & Dan (frat guys) – 2:28 am
• Ken & Tina (Team S&M) – 3:30am

Clue: Teams had to fly to their final destination city of Portland. Once there, they had to drive to an adventure camp called Tilikum to find their next clue.

That’s where I live! I had no idea they were here. When did this happen? How did I miss this? Now I can provied inside scoop on the places they visited.

Continue reading “TAR: City of Roses”

Tags: amazing race

HBO has the miniseries House of Saddam premiering tonight.

Season Finales: Amazing Race, Storm Chasers, Scream Queens, Ghost Hunters, Sarah Silverman Program, Starter Wife

Pick of the Week

Leverage
Channel: TNT
Time: 10/9c
Premieres: Sunday, December 7
Starring: Timothy Hutton, Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf, Aldis Hodge
Trailer

Synopsis: A team of modern-day Robin Hood-type crooks are after super rich corporations.

Tags: Aldis Hodge, amazing race, Beth Riesgraf, Christian Kane, Ghost Hunters, Gina Bellman, house of Saddam, leverage, Sarah Silverman Program, Scream Queens, starter wife, Storm Chasers, Timothy Hutton

Top Chef: New York
Today Show: Rocco DiSpirito

Here is a quick run down on the two challenges:

• Quickfire Challenge: Create a Breakfast Amuse-Bouche
• Elimination Challenge: Create a Dish For a 2 1/2 minute Live Television Presentation

In one of the challenges, the chefs had to make an amuse-bouche. I had never heard of that term before I started watching this show. It is just one bite of food that is supposed to whet your appetite for the meal you are about to eat. The best ones have a lot of flavor in just one bite. Yum! I actually had one once when Jer and I were eating a chef’s menu at a restaurant in San Diego. I got excited when I got one since I knew what it was. It was a  little spoonful of lobster bisque in one of those fancy spoons that also acts like a little bowl.

Continue reading “Top Chef: All About Presentation”

Tags: New York, rocco dispirito, today show, top chef