This week it is all about zombies. AMC made the excellent decision to starts its new show on Halloween. Before we move onto that though, last week, PBS started showing a BBC miniseries called Sherlock, but it’s part of Masterpiece Mystery for the next couple weeks. It is a modern-day take of Sherlock Holmes that has received great reviews. If you miss it, you can check it out on Netflix when it becomes available.
Pick of the Week
The Walking Dead
Channel: AMC Time: 10/9c
Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Sarah Wayne Callies, Jon Bernthal, Laurie Holden, Emma Bell, Jeffrey DeMunn, Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs, Lennie James, Premieres: Sunday, October 31 Trailer
Synopsis: Based on a graphic novel series, a cop wakes up in a hospital where he finds the world has been overtaken by zombies.
My Take: How can you not watch a show on AMC about zombies?
Amazing Race We Should have Brought Gloves and Butt Pads
This was a pretty exciting leg that looked like all the parts of it were fun. No one did anything overly stupid, but it was still entertaining enough to watch. Maybe because I wanted to do everything on the leg.
Conviction is another limited released that was bumped up to a wide release this week. Way down in the limited releases, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest came out so now all three of the Swedish films have been released. We can all watch them before the American versions come out in the next year or so.
Nationwide Releases
Saw 3D Conviction
Saw 3D Directed: Kevin Greutert Starring: Tobin Bell, Cary Elwes, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell, Sean Patrick Flanery, Gina Holden, Chad Donella, Laurence Anthony, Dean Armstrong, Naomi Snieckus, James Van Patten Trailer
Synopsis: More puzzles that kill people if they don’t figure them out.
My Take: I hope it lives up its threat of being the last film of the series.
RT Score: 11% RT Consensus: Sloppily filmed, poorly acted, and illogically plotted, Saw 3D leaves viewers trapped in the most lackluster installment of the series.
Hereafter was in limited release last week, but moved into wide release this week. I am not sure why they made a sequel to Paranormal Activity 2, but it seems to be getting decent reviews.
Nationwide Releases
Paranormal Activity 2 Hereafter
Paranormal Activity 2 Directed: Tod Williams Starring: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Brian Boland, Molly Ephraim, Sprague Grayden, Seth Ginsberg Trailer
Synopsis: It is a sequel that is really a prequel about a family that thinks it has been robbed so they set up surveillance, but find out something else is going on instead.
My Take: The premise sounds intriguing and it seems to be the same spooky movie that would make me jump all over the place like an idiot.
RT Score: 61% RT Consensus: Paranormal Activity 2 doesn’t cover any new ground, but its premise is still scary — and in some respects, it’s a better film than the original.
Tonight is the season finale of Mad Men and Rubicon. I’m still trying to get through Rubicon to see if it pays off, but it might be a while before I finish it. I can’t wait for the season finale of Mad Men and to see what happens, since it could really be anything.
Pick of the Week
Luther
Channel: BBCA Time: 10/9c
Starring: Idris Elba, Ruth Wilson, Steve Mackintosh, Warren Brown, Indira Varma, Paul McGann, Saskia Reeves Premieres: Sunday, October 17 Trailer
Synopsis: A British detective that is about as messed up as some of the criminals he is chasing.
My Take: It got great raves from TV Guide’s Matt Roush and I do love the twisted television shows.
First, let’s talk about the freaking poster up above. “I Hate to Loose”? Really? Those that know me, know how much the confusion between “lose” and “loose” drives me crazy. I have no idea how people think that two oo’s should be in the word lose. Ugg!
But, the race was saved from the bad grammar on posters by the failure of reading comprehension in general. I’ve said it before, but my favorite part of Amazing Race is when they do the challenges that really depend on reading comprehension. I figure, if I was in the same situation, I’d read things too quickly and make the same mistakes a lot of other teams make, but it is sure is fun to watch them being dumb. It is especially fun when they walk right by something they are looking for, while wondering where it could be!
I think I’ve seen more marketing for Jackass than I have for the movie Red. I think that would be a movie that would appeal to the baby boomer generation that might still like to go to the movies.
Nationwide Releases
Red Jackass 3-D
Red Directed: Robert Schwentke Starring: Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Karl Urban, Mary-Louise Parker Trailer
Synopsis: Retired CIA agents find it very difficult to stay retired, and get called back into action when they think their former bosses are trying to kill them.
My Take: Looks like a good time with a good cast.
RT Score: 70% RT Consensus: It may not be the killer thrill ride you’d expect from an action movie with a cast of this caliber, but Red still thoroughly outshines most of its big-budget counterparts with its wit and style.
Sadly, there was no watermelon to the face this leg. Also, no one did anything extremely stupid. That makes me sad. I will hope for more stupidness in the next leg since that makes me happy.
Nothing that is coming out this week is very interesting. There is a feel-good Disney movie about a horse, a boring romantic comedy with Katherine Heigl who becomes more unlikeable as time goes on, and a stupid horror movie that doesn’t look ssary.
Nationwide Releases
Secretariat Life as We Know It My Soul to Take
Secretariat Directed: Randall Wallace Starring: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh, Scott Glenn, Dylan Baker, Margo Martindale, Nelsan Ellis Trailer
Synopsis: Diane Lane plays a housewife that gets into horse racing while John Malkovich wears wacky outfits.
My Take: I don’t think anything can make horse racing interesting.
RT Score: 63% RT Consensus: Rousing, heartwarming, and squarely traditional, Secretariat offers exactly what you’d expect from an inspirational Disney drama — no more, and no less.
Sadly, Lone Star has been canceled so Lie to Me is back sooner than expected in its old time slot. Caprica also returns this week. No word on whether it has been picked up for a second season, so hopefully more people start watching it. If you saw the first few episodes and gave up, give it another shot. It got better.
Pick of the Week
Caprica
Channel: SYFY Time: 10/9c
Starring: Eric Stoltz, Joseph Adama, Zoe Graystone, Magda Apanowicz, Polly Walker, Sash Roiz Premieres: Tuesday, October 5 Trailer
Synopsis: Caprica comes back for the second half of its first season with tons more action and craziness.
My Take: It started off slow, but it really got good before it went on hiatus. I also recommend watching the recap on the SYFY page, which I couldn’t find a version to embed. It’s excellent.
