VH Corner

On Tuesday, there is the Presidential Address and Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Quite a combo! This Friday will have the winter finale of Stargate Universe and White Collar. Those will be back early next year though. This week will also have the series finale of Monk and Robin Hood.

Season Finales: The Hills, The City, Sons of Anarchy, Monk, Robin Hood, Amazing Race

Pick of the Week

Scrubs
Channel: ABC
Time: 9/8c
Starring: Zach Braff, Donald Faison, John C. McGinley, Eliza Coupe, Kerry Bishe, Dave Franco
Premieres: Tuesday, December 1
Trailer

Synopsis: The series ended last season and then it was renewed. It will be back, but different. J.D. is only set to be around for six episodes while he fades out and the show focuses more on Turk and Cox running a teaching hospital.

My Take: I really think they should have changed the name since it seems like it’ll be a different show, but I like the cast and creator Bill Lawrence, so I’ll give it a shot.

Tags: Bill Lawrence, Dave Franco, donald faison, Eliza Coupe, John C. McGinley, Kerry Bishe, scrubs, zach braff

Just in time for the holidays, we have a depressing post-apocalyptic film along with mindless comedy or mindless violence.

Nationwide Releases

The Road
Ninja Assassin
Old Dogs

The Road
Directed: John Hillcoat
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Robert Duvall, Kodi Smith-McPhee, Garret Dillahunt, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce
Trailer

Synopsis: The more realistic version of what could happen after the 2012 stuff.

My Take: It looks grim, but good.

RT Score: 71%
RT Consensus: The Road’s commitment to Cormac McCarthy’s dark vision may prove too unyielding for some, but the film benefits from hauntingly powerful performances from Viggo Mortensen and Kodi McPhee.

Continue reading “Movies Opening November 25″

Tags: * Rain, alan arkin, Ben Chaplin, Ben Miles, Blake Lively, Charlize Theron, Christian McKay, Claire Danes, Eddie Marsan, Ella Bleu Travolta, Garret Dillahunt, Guy Pearce, James McTeigue, John Hillcoat, john travolta, julianne moore, Keanu Reeves, Kelly Preston, Kelly Reilly, Kodi Smith-McPhee, Lori Loughlin, Maria Bello, Matt Dillon, Me and Orson Welles, Mika Coretti, Mike Binder, Monica Bellucci, Naomie Harris, Ninja Assassin, Old Dogs, Rebecca Miller, Richard Linklater, Rick Yune, robert duvall, robin williams, Robin Wright Penn, Seth Green, Sho Kosugi, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, The Road, Viggo Mortensen, Walt Becker, Winona Ryder, Zac Efron, Zoe Kazan

Stacy had November’s movie pick. She picked the highest rated movie in her queue that others did not seem to have seen yet.  It also has a bonus of being an Instant Play movie.

Netflix synopsis: Sensing a God-given mission to cleanse the earth of all evil, twin brothers Conner (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus) set out to rid Boston of crime. But instead of joining the police force, these Irish Americans decide to kick criminal butt their own way. Willem Dafoe co-stars in writer-director Troy Duffy’s crime thriller as the openly gay FBI special agent who’s assigned to investigate the siblings’ activities.

RT Score 16%

Watch it and review it!

Tags: Boondock Saints, Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flanery, Troy Duffy, Willem Dafoe

Top Chef: Las Vegas
Culinary Olympics

Here is a quick run down on the two challenges:

• Quickfire Challenge: Create a version of Gavin’s Bocuse D’Or dish
• Elimination Challenge: Create a regal presentation platter with 1 protein & 2 garnishes

This was the last challenge in Vegas before the finalists go on to Napa Valley!

Continue reading “Top Chef: Platter Perfection”

Tags: Alex Stratta, Bocuse d'Or, daniel boulud, french laundry, Gail Simmons, Gavin Kaysen, las vegas, Padma Lakshmi, thomas keller, top chef, Traci Des Jardins

If anything was going to compete with New Moon this week, I would have thought it would be more guy-oriented films, but I guess not.

Nationwide Releases

The Twilight Saga: New Moon
The Blind Side
Planet 51

New Moon
Directed: Chris Weitz
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Michael Sheen, Dakota Fanning
Trailer

Synopsis: Edward runs away to save Bella from getting hurt by being around vampires, so she turns to good friend Jacob, who happens to be a werewolf, of course.

My Take: While this movie looks more interesting compared to the first one, I still can’t get behind the entire storyline that makes both guys and girls in the story complete saps.

RT Score: 30%
RT Consensus: The Twilight Saga’s second installment may satisfy hardcore fans of the series, but outsiders are likely to be turned off by its slow pace, relentlessly downcast tone, and excessive length.

Continue reading “Movie Opening November 20″

Tags: Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner, Amy Ryan, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, Blanca Portillo, Broken Embraces, Chang Chen, Chris Weitz, Dakota Fanning, Defamation, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, eva mendes, Fairuza Balk, Frank Wood, gael garcia bernal, Gary Oldman, Jae Head, Jennifer Coolidge, jessica biel, John Lee Hancock, John Woo, Jorge Blanco, José Luis Gómez, justin long, kathy bates, Kristen Stewart, Lily Collins, Lluís Homar, Lukas Moodysson, Mammoth, Margaret Colin, Michael Shannon, Michael Sheen, Michelle Williams, nicolas cage, Noah Bushel, Pedro Almodóvar, penelope cruz, Planet 51, Quinton Aaron, Red Cliff, Robert Pattinson, Rubén Ochandiano, Sandra Bullock, seann william scott, Shawn Hatosy, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tamar Novas, Taylor Lautner, The Blind Side, The Missing Person, The Sun, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Tim McGraw, Tony Leung, val kilmer, Werner Herzog, Yoav Shamir, Zhang Fengyi

Top Chef: Las Vegas
Strip Around the World

Here is a quick run down on the two challenges:

• Quickfire Challenge: Breakfast in bed
• Elimination Challenge: Create a dish inspired by a casino

I love when they have breakfast challenges and I never understand the chefs that aren’t fans of breakfast. It is the best meal of the day!

Continue reading “Top Chef: Casino Inspiration”

Tags: las vegas, Nigella Lawson, Padma Lakshmi, Toby Young, Tom Colicchio, top chef

The wide releases are about people rebelling against the establishment with rock music and the world ending in a few years. More of the interesting films are in the limited releases, including the animated Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Messenger, and Dare.

Nationwide Releases

Pirate Radio
2012

Pirate Radio
Directed: Richard Curtis
Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Sturridge, Talulah Riley
Trailer

Synopsis: The British government did not like rock music in the 1960s so they banned it, but an American DJ and some other British folks got onto a boat and broadcast from there where no one could find them.

My Take: It seems like a fun film with some good music.

RT Score: 59%
RT Consensus: It lacks genuine rock & roll raunch, but Richard Curtis’ ode to the offshore radio stations of 1960s Britain has enough laughs and great tunes to stay smoothly afloat.

Continue reading “Movies Opening November 13″

Tags: 2012, Adam Salky, Adrianne Palicki, Alan Cumming, Amanda Peet, Ana Gasteyer, Ashley Springer, Ben Foster, Bill Murray, Bill Nighy, Carla Gugino, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Clyde Bellecourt, connie britton, Dare, David Copperfield, David Siegel, Dennis Banks, Emily Kunstler, Emmy Rossum, Eric Anderson, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Father Daniel Berrigan, george clooney, Harry Belafonte, Herman Badillo, hugh jackman, Jack Thompson, Jason Scwartzman, Jena Malone, john cusack, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, kenneth branagh, Lynn Collins, Marley Shelton, Mary Mazzio, meryl streep, Messenger, michael gambon, Nick Frost, Oh My God, Oliver Platt, Oren Moverman, Peter Rodger, Phil Donahue, philip seymour hoffman, Pirate Radio, Rhys Ifans, Richard Curtis, Ringo Starr, roland emmerich, Samantha Morton, Sandra Bernhard, Sarah Kunstler, Scott McGehee, Seal, Sebastian Gutierrez, Sir Bob Geldof, Talulah Riley, Ten9Eight: Shoot for the Moon, Thandie Newton, Tom Sturridge, Uncertainty, Wally Wolodarsky, wes anderson, William Kunstler, William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe, Women in Trouble, woody harrelson, Zach Gilford

I slacked off last week and didn’t post anything about the V reboot. This week is the mini-series remake of The Prisoner. I’ve been watching the original lately since I’ve heard about it for  years, but finally wanted to check it out before the remake. It’s trippy, goofy and weird.

Season Finales: Lincoln Heights

Pick of the Week

The Prisoner
Channel: AMBC
Time: 8/9c
Starring: Ian McKellen, Jim Caviezel, Ruth Wilson, Hayley Atwell, Lennie James, Jamie Campbell-Bower
Premieres: Sunday, November 15 – it plays over three consecutive nights (Sun/Mon/Tue)
Trailer

Synopsis: A man wakes up in a strange village with no escape. He tries to figure out why he is there and how to get out.

My Take: I am the new number two. You are number six!

Tags: Hayley Atwell, Ian McKellen, Jamie Campbell-Bower, Jim Caviezel, Lennie James, Ruth Wilson, The Prisoner

While the wide releases are not very fresh, I still think Men Who Stare at Goats looks like a good time. I will continue to give Richard Kelly a shot at movies since I loved Donnie Darko so much, even though I hated his last film. A Christmas Carol freaks me out, and not in the good way. Fourth Kind just looks boring and not scary, especially when I first saw the trailer before Paranormal Activity.

Nationwide Releases

Men Who Stare at Goats
The Box
Disney’s A Christmas Carol
Fourth Kind

The Men Who Stare at Goats
Directed: Grant Heslov
Starring: George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey
Trailer

Synopsis: A journalist follows a military man around who is the best of the psychic soldier program.

My Take: It looks hilarious, plus Ewan McGregor being in it is a bonus.

RT Score: 58%
RT Consensus: Though The Men Who Stare at Goats is a mostly entertaining, farcical glimpse of men at war, some may find its satire and dark humor less than edgy.

Continue reading “Movies Opening November 6″

Tags: bob hoskins, Brant Sersen, cameron diaz, Carrie Preston, Cary Elwes, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Christopher McDonald, Colin Firth, Collapse, Dean Winters, Disney's A Christmas Carol, Elias Koteas, Endgame, ewan mcgregor, Fourth Kind, frank langella, Frankie Faison, Gary Oldman, george clooney, Grant Heslov, Hal Holbrook, james marsden, Jason Rogel, jeff bridges, Jim Carrey, Jonny Lee Miller, kevin spacey, Lea Thompson, Lee Daniels, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, Mark Strong, Men Who Stare at Goats, Milla Jovovich, Mo’Nique, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Paula Patton, pete travis, Precious, Rachael Taylor, Ray McKinnon, richard kelly, robert zemeckis, Robin Wright Penn, Scott Teems, Sherri Shepherd, Splinterheads, That Evening Sun, The Box, Thomas Middleditch, Will Patton, William Hurt

Amazing Race
This Is Not My Finest Hour

I just read in TV Guide that the casting for this season of Amazing Race was boring. I know sometimes the interesting casting can make the race more memorable, but I actually enjoy watching it for the challenges and locations. My favorite parts are when people are exhausted and start screwing up by misreading their clues. When someone is annoying, or if a team is Amber and Rob, then I can’t wait for them to leave. They actually make the show less enjoyable for me.

The teams left the pit stop in the following order:

1. Meghan & Cheyne – Tetherball – 1:13 pm
2. Maria & Tiffany – Poker Ladies – 3:09 pm
3. Sam & Dan – Gay Brothers – 3:10 pm
4. Brian & Ericka – IR Couple – 3:25 pm
5. Gary & Matt – Pinky & the Brain – 3:34 pm
6. Flight Time & Big Easy – Harlem Globetrotters – 4:20 pm

Clue: Fly to Amsterdam. Teams had to then drive to a statue to find their next clue.

Airport Fun Times

Tetherball found out at the airport that the earliest flight leaving for Amsterdam was at midnight.  Everyone will get all caught up again! I like it that way or else there is no tension to see who will win. While everyone was at the airport, the gay brothers decided to come out to everyone. They said they usually do it when they feel comfortable with people. When they did it, the Poker Ladies just started laughing. Ericka started hitting them. Brian said that their matching bathing suits now made sense.

Continue reading “Amazing Race: Crossdressing with Clogs”

Tags: amazing race, amsterdam, Groningen, Martinitoren, netherlands, Vierhuizen de Marne, zoutkamp harbor