Jen-illocity

The Wrestler

2010-08-21T21:49:00.000-04:00

View Date: 12/11/09

In this film, Mickey Rourke plays an old professional wrestler past his prime and just trying to eke out a living. He attempts to bond with his estranged daughter and start a relationship with a stripper from his favorite club. But after suffering some major health setbacks, he is advised not to wrestle again or it may kill him, which then removes his only means of income.

I totally understand the hype this movie received, particularly for Mickey Rourke. After his careers as a boxer and actor, he is perfect in this role. You can really feel for his character, even when he is not deserving of sympathy. Marisa Tomei was amazing as a stripper, and looks at least a decade younger than her actual age. Evan Rachel Wood was also very convincing as the estranged teenager pissed off at the dad who essentially abandoned her to travel with his job.

I have watched plenty of professional wrestling in my time, and have even read several memoirs written by wrestlers. This film let me in on some of the secrets used to make the shows exciting. While the performances may be staged, there is a large amount of physical pain involved. It also shows how hard of a living it can be, particularly on the lower tier circuits. So, although this movie was fictional, it was obviously based in fact and provided me with an education.

10 words or less: A must see for both the acting and story.

Smart People

2010-08-21T21:32:00.000-04:00

View Date: 12/11/09

Dennis Quaid plays a widowed professor known for being an exceptionally tough grader and grouchy in general. Ellen Page portrays his daughter who is just like him, while his son wants to have fun at college, not just be a know-it-all. When his adopted brother comes to visit, he bonds with the daughter and tries to get the family to loosen up a bit.

Quaid’s character runs into a former student in the hospital and they begin to date. She gets him to open up a bit, but he still mourns his wife. He is also very self-centered, and does not realize how much the people around him need him.

My description above just doesn’t do this movie justice. While it is not a comedy, it does have several funny moments and others you just have to shake your head at. Quaid played the part of an overweight, middle-aged man impeccably. He altered his walk and developed a bit of a shuffle, and perfectly portrayed the pompous college professor who truly believes the rest of the world is dumber than he is. Overall, the acting was superb throughout.

I wound up really liking this movie, and am glad in the end that I watched it.

10 words or less: Accurate portrayals in a really good film.

I'll Be There

2010-08-21T21:30:00.000-04:00

View Date: 12/10/09

This movie, starring Craig Ferguson and Charlotte Church, is about a former rock star that discovers that he has a daughter. Turns out, the girl can sing beautifully, which makes sense as she is played by the beautiful and talented Church. However, she needs to keep her talents hidden as her mother disapproves and prefers her to focus on her studies. But singing is in the girl’s blood, as both her father and grandfather make their livings that way, and she cannot be held back.

This was a cute comedy with quite a lot of British talent. I have been a big fan of Ferguson for a while now, and think he is one of the best talk show hosts on the air currently. This movie was no exception, and this role suited him well.

I wasn’t too keen on Church’s acting in the movie. Her singing was impeccable as always, but that is her true talent. I hope she continues to pursue her singing, but I can live without her acting any more.

10 words or less: More Ferguson is always better.

Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus

2010-08-09T22:09:00.000-04:00

View Date: 8/9/10

This movie, starring Deborah Gibson and Lorenzo Lamas, is obviously about an ultra-large shark and a giant octopus. After being released from an iceberg, the two giant beasts wreak havoc on various natural and man-made entities. The shark, identified as a previously extinct megalodon, launches itself thousands of feet into the air to take down a passing 747. The scientists finally realize that these two were frozen while battling each other, so the only way to take down either it to restart the fight.

As expected, this was a god-awful movie, but that's exactly why people watch this. The acting was pretty hideous, but not nearly as bad as the special effects. Of course, there is the required romantic interest and the ensuing entanglements, which lead to a scientific cooperation and saving each other. They left it open for a sequel, one which I will not be watching if it ever gets made.

10 words or less: On the level of SyFy Channel original movie bad.

Running the Sahara

2010-07-23T23:54:00.001-04:00

View Date: 12/5/09

Many people think that running a marathon is either commendable or absurd. Some would say, “Why push the human body to those lengths?” Others are of the opinion, “It is amazing what those runners can do, but I can never push my body like that.” This movie takes any reaction one might have and multiplies it by thousands.

This movie is about a group of three runners who decide to undertake the challenge of running across the Sahara desert. It takes the runners over three months to make the trip with pitfalls along the way. There are the physical hardships of running that distance in the heat of the desert, but there are also issues as sandstorms, terrorist activity, and obtaining government permission to even enter certain countries.

The movie mainly focuses on the three runners and thoroughly explores their motivations and emotions towards this run. The viewer is also introduced to the families, crew, and support staff of the athletes. This was really nice to see being an athletic supporter of a distance runner myself.

There were times that I really wanted to hit the main organizer/runner of this trek. I understood that he was doing this for the experience and was of the mindset that it should keep going until the end no matter the costs. But his refusal to understand the need for people to leave before the end of the journey, even after being told that such things would happen if the trip ran long (which it did by about 20 days) really left a sour taste in my mouth. But in the end, things seemed to be smoothed over.

Would I recommend this movie to everyone? No. It was very well made and an amazing story, but I feel that many people would not truly become invested in the story. However, if you are or know a distance runner and understand the struggles they go through to complete a standard-length race, you will appreciate this film. There is some beautiful scenery, but the main focus of the film is the goal

10 words or less: Good movie for distance runners and their loved ones.

The Lincoln Assassination

2010-07-23T23:53:00.000-04:00

View Date: 12/4/09

This history documentary provided an in-depth look into the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It explored the reasoning and planning of the culprits as well as the aftermath and how things may have turned out differently if Lincoln had not died.

I have watched many of these pieces. This one did not particularly stick out to me as either good or bad. It was pretty average in my book, with nothing really making it stick out from any other piece on this specific topic.

10 words or less: Average and forgettable.

Sex, Lies, and Videotape

2010-07-23T23:48:00.002-04:00

View Date: 11/30/09

This movie by Steven Soderbergh is the story of a sexually repressed woman who learns that her husband is having an affair with her sister. When an old friend of her husband comes to town, she is drawn to him and learns his secrets, particularly about a certain sexual fetish he has.

I realize that was a really poor summary for this interesting movie. One of the main things I noticed about it was the lack of background music. I felt that it heightened the acting and dialog, and made the movie a bit more unusual.

I had been told that this was one of James Spader’s creepiest roles before having seen it. I actually feel this was one of his least cruel roles he played early in his career. He was consistently known as a heel or bad guy, and still plays those characters well. But I kind of liked his character, and admired his conviction for telling the truth even when difficult.

Overall, I appreciated this movie. I don’t think I would have as much if I had seen this earlier in my life, but it sat well with me now. I saw the artistic value and recognize now just how different it was from the movies being made in the late 1990s.

10 words or less: Unique movie even now.

Carolina

2010-05-16T22:30:00.000-04:00

View Date: 11/27/09

This movie starring Julia Stiles and Shirley Maclaine is about three girls with an absent father who live with their eccentric grandmother. Stiles’ character has left home and established herself with a job and apartment, trying to have a normal life compared to the one in which she was raised. She is embarrassed when introducing her new boyfriend to her family, and then tries to mold her family to her idea of what a family is supposed to be. This, of course, leads to tension until she comes to realize through tragedy that she has a loving, caring family, no matter how crazy the situation might be.

I had never heard of this movie, but it came recommended to me by my mother so I decided to give it a shot. Of course there are the standard plot elements of family tension, and I could really feel for Carolina’s embarrassment by her relatives. But Shirley Maclaine’s presence and humor took this movie to a different level. She could have you laughing out loud with some of her antics, and even though they were scripted, no one could have pulled it off as perfectly as her. The tragedy I mentioned above really struck me and I had a hard time trying not to sob uncontrollably.

10 words or less: Recommended, even if you’ve never heard of it.

Shorts

2010-05-16T22:29:00.000-04:00

View Date: 11/25/09

Shorts is, as the name implies, a series of short stories wrapped together in one movie. They all center on a rainbow-colored rock that makes wishes come true for whoever is holding it. Things get fun, interesting, and a bit out of control when the kids of the neighborhood use it, but total chaos ensues when the adults get a hold of it.

I received this the day it was released on Netflix because my daughter had been asking to see it again for months. Even she thought it wasn’t that good when she rewatched it. It was really pretty bad, even for a cheesy kids movie. There is so much better out there. The trailer looked so good, but I was left utterly disappointed.

10 words or less: Ranks really low for recent kids releases.

The Shape of Things

2010-05-16T22:28:00.002-04:00

View Date: 11/25/09

This movie, starring Rachel Weisz and Paul Rudd, shows the stars playing college students who meet in an art museum. Weisz plays an art student who sets about cleaning up the loveable schlub presented by Rudd. He winds up losing weight, buying new clothes, and getting more active. His engaged best friend has some issues with the new girlfriend, but Rudd’s character is so blindly in love that he ignores any negative comments, believing that they are made just because of the dislike for her. In the end, he probably should have listened to his friend.

I picked this movie because I am a big fan of Paul Rudd. That being said, I will not likely watch this movie again. It was an OK story, but the characters were more like caricatures. The ending was a huge surprise, and totally threw me for a loop. I wanted to just jump through my screen and strangle pretty much each of the four main characters at least once throughout the course of the movie. I would normally classify that as a good movie, but something just rubbed me wrong about this one. Either way, I can say that I’ve seen it and I don’t have to see it again.

10 words or less: Definitely not my favorite Paul Rudd flick.

Step Up: 2 the Streets

2010-05-16T22:28:00.001-04:00

View Date: 11/23/09

This sequel to the very good Step Up was essentially the reverse of the first movie. Two dancers from different sides of the tracks meet and develop both professional and romantic relationships. This time, however, the dancing is primarily street or hip hop as opposed to more classical forms.

This movie really surprised me with how enjoyable it was. I am a sucker for good dancing, but this was exceptionally well done. I went in thinking that this movie couldn’t live up to the first, but I was pleasantly mistaken. The story was a bit predictable but good nonetheless. And I could watch the dance scenes all day long. I turned this on thinking that it would be something that I could do other things while watching it, but I wound up not being able to tear my eyes away.

10 words or less: Love a surprisingly good movie, especially a sequel.

Vantage Point

2010-05-16T22:25:00.000-04:00

View Date: 11/22/09

This movie shows a single event, specifically a terrorist attack, from the vantage of 9 different people. You get to see it from the likes of a tourist, a child, a security officer, and the terrorist group. All of the stories intertwine in unexpected ways, and more is learned from each part of the story.

I really enjoyed this movie, particularly how the stories wove together. It exemplified how each person has a different viewpoint of the same situation. In other words, for each person observing an event, the tale will be recounted that number of times in different ways. The acting was wonderful, which is good considering it was chock full of renowned actors. The last story seemed a little rushed, but also a little forced, kind of like the writers knew they had to wrap up all of the storylines but only knew how they wanted to end a few of them. This said, the ending felt a little contrived and weak to me. But overall, the movie was very exciting and well-presented.

10 words or less: Exciting with good acting.

Rathkeltair

2010-05-15T17:22:00.009-04:00

View Date: 5/15/10

Rathkeltair is a Celtic rock band from Florida who frequently tour Scottish, Irish, and Celtic festivals. My first time seeing them was at the Fair Hill Scottish Games. They blend Celtic music including traditional bagpiping and the tin whistle with rock and unique piping.

I have known of of the piper Neil Anderson for years as he was originally associated with the great Celtic rock band Seven Nations. I also own several of his solo albums as The Antipyper. He has one of the most incredible and unique voices in music today, so when he sings it sends chills down my spine. But not nearly as much as when he pipes.

He was announced around the fairgrounds as the Jimi Hendricks of bagpiping. He is one of the few people coming up with truly new music for the bagpipes today. I also never knew until today that electric bagpipes even existed. I originally thought he was using them so he could both pipe and sing at the same time. But no, it was something even more amazing...he played both the pipes and the tin whistle at the same time, one in each hand!

The music overall was wonderful. The band had a great chemistry on stage. The songs were really catchy and often quite funny. I was definitely singing along by the end.

You should definitely try to catch these guys if you ever get the chance. They have a website, so go out and support these guys. They are just that good.

10 words or less: Neil Anderson is a piping GOD!

Check them out at www.rathkeltair.com

Tootsie

2010-04-29T21:48:00.001-04:00

View Date: 3/13/10

This movie stars Dustin Hoffman as an unemployable actor in New York who dresses as a woman to win a part on a soap opera. In the process, he winds up falling for his costar while trying to have a relationship with an old friend. Additionally, the people involved with the soap only know him as a woman, so various uncomfortable situations arise when teamed up with his male costars.

This movie was quite enjoyable, but it did follow some very typical patterns of cross-dressing comedies. I had seen pieces of it before, but this was the first time I had seen it in its entirety. Looking at it now, I can't really understand why it was nominated for so many Oscars. I did, however, really enjoy Bill Murray as the straight man. It was nice to see him in a comedy from the early 80's as a relatively subtle character. I did experience some laugh-out-loud moments, particularly when guys were attracted to his not exactly beautiful female persona.

10 words or less: Don't understand all the hype, but fun little movie.

Flash of Genius

2010-04-29T21:46:00.000-04:00

View Date: 11/22/09

This movie is about the man who invented intermittent windshield wipers. He presented his technology to the major auto manufacturers, who jerked him around about licensing the equipment and then wound up stealing it from him. Against all advice, he took the major automakers to court to get recognition for his work and to get them to admit the technology was originally his.

Greg Kinnear did a very job playing an engineer struck with an idea, then collapsed under his determination and with the loss of losing his family. Other than that, I thought the movie was OK. I had seen other Davis vs. Goliath movies that were better, but I understand why this story was chosen to be told as a film.

10 words or less: OK, but not outstanding.

Bride Wars

2010-03-12T22:37:00.000-05:00

View Date: 11/21/09

This romantic comedy stars Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway as two childhood best friends who both become engaged to their respective boyfriends and plan to be each other's maids of honor. And they both want to have their wedding at the place they have been dreaming about since they were little girls. Unfortunately, the locale makes an error in booking their times and has the weddings scheduled concurrently. This turns the friends against each other, as neither want to give up their dream wedding, so they turn to pranks and backstabbing trying to get the other to give up her date.

This was a standard rom-com with a slight twist at the end. Most of the funny parts were seen during the commercials, and really, so was most of the plot. It was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours, but I don't need to watch it again.

10 words or less: Got it all from the previews.

Across the Universe

2010-03-12T22:35:00.002-05:00

View Date: 11/21/09

Picture yourself in a boat on a river, with tangerine trees and marmalade sky, and that's what this movie is. This movie is a modern musical set completely to the music of the Beatles. The story follows several several friends through a series of adventures, including arrests and protests.

The movie itself is rather difficult for me to describe. However, what is easy for me is to say just how much I liked this film. It was really unique, and the music was perfectly fit in with the story. The actors did their own singing, and it really was a marvelous piece. The acting was wonderful, and it was a thoroughly beautiful movie.

10 words or less: Can't sing praises high enough for this film.

Hotel for Dogs

2010-03-12T22:35:00.001-05:00

View Date: 11/22/09

This movie is about a brother and sisten in the foster care system. The only thing they have been able to keep routinely with them through their many recent moves is their dog. They do have to hide it from their foster parents, so they have set up several contraptions to make the dog more self-sufficient.

Their dog gets away from them one day, and they track him to an abandoned hotel that is occupied by two other stray dogs. The three animals really seem to be at home in the hotel, so the kids choose to make the dogs comfortable there. The kids have very kind hearts, and wind up taking in pretty much every stray dog in the city. Along the way, they team up with some other like-minded kids, and really develop the hotel into a “Hotel for Dogs”.

I was really surprised at just how good this movie is. Both my daughter and I really liked it, and wound up watching it several more times later in the week. Yes, it is a family movie, but it was very enjoyable. We still talk about the contraptions made to make the dogs more self-sufficient and entertained.

10 words or less: A wonderful family movie, better than anticipated.

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels

2010-03-12T22:34:00.001-05:00

View Date: 3/12/10

Usually here I try to describe the movie a bit without giving too much away. But with this one, I really don't know where to start. This movie includes gambling, drugs, heists, and gangsters in general, all taking place in England. There are about 4 sets of goons that are all working both with and against each other in one way or another. It all starts with a card game, and ends with a room of corpses.

Sting plays the part of the main character's (and I use that term rather loosely) father who owns a bar. He has a small role, but plays it well.

This movie is utterly ridiculous yet absolutely hilarious. For much of the movie, I sat there with a dumbfounded look on my face. I enjoyed it, but I'm having hind of a hard time making heads or tails of it. I liked the way Guy Ritchie put it together, and found it very appropriate for the story.

10 words or less: Still trying to make heads or tails of it.

History's Mysteries: Lincoln: The Untold Stories

2010-03-12T20:37:00.000-05:00

View Date: 1/23/10

This program, presented by the history channel, is one in a series of shows detailing important events or people in history. This particular one was about Lincoln, as seen in the title. It goes into details that are generally not well known about our nation’s 16th president, from his early years through the Civil War.

I’m a big Civil War buff, so I enjoyed learning other aspects of the president serving during its course. The show was rather dry, and I had a hard time keeping my attention focused at times. But overall, it was very much what I expected.

10 words or less: Interesting facts presented as a history show.

The Village Tavern

2010-03-12T20:34:00.000-05:00

Location: North Wales, PA
Date Visited: 1/22/10

The Village Tavern is a restaurant and bar located in North Wales, PA. Its appearances are deceiving, as it is much bigger inside than it looks from without. It has two bars, and in the summer the outside bar is a very popular place for happy hour. They offer a wide variety of foods, from your standard burger to comfort foods with a twist. They have several uncommon beers on tap to complement the full bar.

This is a family favorite, with us frequenting more often than most of our restaurant choices. The steak is wonderful, but so is pretty much any dish ordered. A particular favorite is the crab macaroni and cheese, with at least one person in the group getting it on most visits.

We have had times when every type of beer we first tried to order was out, and sometimes the second. It has becoming a kind of running joke in the family. Also, during this last visit, the service was very slow. Thankfully, the food was spectacular, but the wait was very long.

10 words or less: Great food for a decent price.

Less Than Zero

2010-03-12T20:32:00.000-05:00

View Date: 3/12/10

This movie, based on a Bret Easton Ellis novel, is about a trio of friends from Los Angeles during their first year after high school graduation. Clay, played by Andrew McCarthy, comes home from college at Thanksgiving to find that his best friend had started a relationship with his girlfriend. At Christmas break, Clay's ex-girlfriend Blair, played by Jamie Gertz, asks Clay's help dealing with their friend Julian, as portrayed by Robert Downey, Jr. Julian had developed a major drug problem, and was in major debt to his drug dealer.

The casting in this movie was perfect, probably more perfect than the casting director knew at the time. Robert Downey, Jr. was completely wasted as he was filming this movie, which is exactly his character. Andrew McCarthy has always played the good guy friend well, and this time is no different. But the most perfect casting was James Spader as the sleazy drug dealer.

I think if I had seen this closer to the time of its release, I probably wouldn't have appreciated it as much. But seeing Robert Downey, Jr. totally out of his head and knowing he was really like that, then seeing him clean now, really helps me see the irony. I thought the movie was very well done, and appropriately showed the dangers of drug use.

10 words or less: A drug addict playing a drug addict- a powerful sight.

Enter the Dragon (Special Edition)

2010-02-07T22:12:00.000-05:00

View Date: 1/29/09

This movie starred Bruce Lee and is now considered a classic. Some of the best fighters from around the world are invited to a private island to compete in a martial arts tournament. Lee's character was also told the story of his sister's meeting with the island owner's men several years before.

This movie seemed remarkably cheesy now, although I'm sure it was fairly unique in its time. Also, I kept thinking that this was the original Mortal Kombat. It surprised me how similar the basic storylines are. I watched it because it was a movie people told me I should see, and I was intrigued due to how Lee died. I probably could have lived without seeing this, but now I can say that I have.

10 words or less: Now I can say I've seen it.

Slackers

2010-02-07T22:09:00.002-05:00

View Date: 11/14/09

This movie is about a group of guys in college who have the system figured out. That is, until one falls for a girl while stealing a test for one of his friends and slips up. He leaves evidence of who he is, and another student finds it, just not the girl he wanted. That student blackmails the guy and his friends, etc. etc. etc.

I had probably seen this movie before, but it wasn't very memorable. I enjoyed it while I was watching it, but I wouldn't say it was a great movie. The cast, however, was fairly surprising. Jason Segal, Laura Prepon, and Jason Schwartzman all joined Devon Sawa and the guy from Pete and Pete (the older Pete). I may watch this again, but I wouldn't purposely seek it out.

10 words or less: The cast is better than the story.

America's Sweethearts

2010-02-07T22:09:00.001-05:00

View Date: 11/13/09

This movie is about two actors who made many movies together while also being a couple. To promote their most recent movie, they need to do a press appearance around one year after their breakup. Agents, secretaries, and general movie-makers are involved to make the press appearance happen, which all lead to their own problems.

Amazingly enough, I had never seen this movie, especially with how much I like John Cusack. It was very much like I expected it to be. It was a nice, light rom-com, which is perfect every now and then.

10 words or less: Working on completing the John Cusack collection.

Mad Money

2010-02-07T22:08:00.000-05:00

View Date: 11/13/09

This movie, starring Katie Holmes, Queen Latifah, and Diane Keaton, is about three women that work at a federal reserve location that disposes of money. The women are hard on their luck, and Keaton's character comes up with a plan to acquire some of the money selected for destruction. It takes all three of them to make the plan work, and of course hilarity ensues.

This may not have been the most intelligent movie, but it was more fun than I expected. There were definitely some laugh-out-loud moments, like the scene with Ted Danson shredding money into the toilet and trying to flush it.

10 words or less: Enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.

Milk

2010-02-07T22:04:00.000-05:00

View Date: 11/13/09

This is a biopic about Harvey Milk, the first out gay man to be elected to public office in the US. This critically acclaimed movie focuses on his rise to and relatively short time in office before being shot by a colleague. Sean Penn not only won critical acclaim for his portrayal of Milk, but also multitudes of awards.

I can totally understand why Penn won so many awards for playing Milk, particularly after seeing some videos of the actual Milk. He was so incredibly dead on when it came to the mannerisms and the vocal inflections. The casting director did an excellent job finding actors who looked remarkably like the actual people they were portraying.

Now, I try to be an open-minded person when it comes to sexual preferences. I have watched countless movies, read all kinds of books, but this movie pushed it to a point I hadn't experienced before. I must admit, he was flamboyant to the point where I was a smidge uncomfortable. The characters were so over the top that the movie almost seemed like a parody. But like I mentioned above, seeing the actual footage of the person helped me understand how dead-on the performances really were.

10 words or less: Totally worthy of the praise it received.

Avatar

2010-02-07T22:03:00.000-05:00

View Date: 1/31/10

This movie is about a group of scientists studying native flora, fauna, and sentient beings on a world this is being mined for the government. The other group of aliens to this planet is military. The scientists use avatars, or artificially generated beings linked with an individual’s DNA, to interact with the native species.

Prior to leaving for the new planet, one of the scientists die, leaving behind an identical twin that is ex-military. He takes his brother’s place on the expedition and first acts as security for the science team. On his first endeavor into the forests, he is attacked by a native beast and becomes separated from his group. No one expects him to make it through the night, as the military fears the native creatures, but he is taken in by the Navi, the native sentient species. He winds up learning more about the Navi than anyone had before, and provides details that can both help and harm both the natives and the visitors.

This was a very long, complex movie filled with many themes. It felt that there was some animosity toward the US government expressed through the portrayal of the military as well as the corporate entities represented on the planet. There was also the dichotomy between using nature in a symbiotic manner versus exploiting nature for selfish gains.

Visually, this film was stunning. I saw it in 3D, and I must say it was the best I have ever seen. There was so much 3D, and it was very noticeable. Even the smallest thing, like a spark or a leaf, would jump out at you or look like it was coming from behind you. Really, truly beautiful.

Overall, I thought the movie was good and visually spectacular. It did get a little too preachy at times for me, and it probably could have been shorter.

10 words or less: Movie OK, but visually stunning.

9 Songs

2010-02-07T22:02:00.000-05:00

View Date: 2/1/10

This movie was listed as a explicit drama on Netflix. Now, normally in this part of my write-ups, I give a brief summary of the movie. But in this case, I’m finding it really hard. The best I can do is say an Englishman has lots of graphic sex with his girlfriend. During the few minutes when they’re not grinding, they’re going to some great concerts. Then there are these pretty random parts about Antarctica thrown in.

So basically, this was porn with a great soundtrack, but it was available on Netflix. You get to see the couple getting it on in all kinds of ways, with some real close-ups. As far as I could tell, nothing was simulated, and they certainly didn’t leave anything to the imagination. There was concert footage of Franz Ferdinand and other similar bands, and songs by these artists that you don’t normally hear.

The parts about Antarctica really didn’t seem to fit in to me. I’m sure it probably had some deep meaning, but I wasn’t really in the mood to try to make sense of it.

Overall, I couldn’t really find a plot to follow, and didn’t really get involved with the characters. I wouldn’t recommend watching this with anyone other than your lover, if you were to even watch it at all.

10 words or less: Art-house porn with a good soundtrack.

Towelhead

2009-12-25T23:45:00.000-05:00

View Date: 11/3/09

This movie is about an American-born teenage girl who is of Middle Eastern descent. After her mother's boyfriend helps address the issue of hair growth during puberty, her mom accuses her of seducing the boyfriend and sends her to live with her strict father.

The girl's father is strict and believes in corporal punishment. He makes it a point to try and show his patriotism everywhere he can. He does not know how to raise a child, let alone a girl. At school, the girl experiences greater prejudice than when she lived with her mother, including being called “towelhead”. She does become close with the next-door neighbor who winds up giving her lessons she did not wish to experience with him. Her father forbids her from seeing her boyfriend because he is black. Luckily, a neighbor and her husband also befriend her, and provide her with a safe place.

This movie received critical buzz, and I can understand why. The story was painful to watch but also brilliantly acted. The background of the female neighbor's husband really helped the story progress and reminded the viewer that not everyone in this country is the typical “stupid American”.

10 words or less: Good movie, but hard to watch at points.

Survivor

2009-12-25T23:44:00.000-05:00

View Date: 12/20/09

Tonight was the season finale, and we were treated with a recap of the entire season as is usually the case. Talk around camp was to still gun for knocking Brett out.

The first immunity challenge of the night consisted of racing across a series of obstacles to retrieve a bag of puzzle pieces. After getting the bag, they then had to run back and make their way up a very steep wall. Once up, there would be a table on which to complete their puzzle. The first person to complete their puzzle would win immunity. Brett won yet again, which means that an original member of Foa Foa would be joining the jury.

Back at camp, Russell decides to keep Natalie and debates between voting off Jaison and Mick. Both have their advantages and disadvantages for staying and leaving. This is probably the toughest decision Russell has had to make yet. Jaison was the one booted during the first tribal council of this episode, leaving Russell, Natalie, Brett, and Mick heading into the final immunity challenge.

The next day, the remaining members went on the walk to remember the members previously voted out of the game, and we got to see people that we really didn't remember because they left so long ago. After paying their respects and burning masks representing their fallen tribe members, the final four made their way to their final immunity challenge.

As the final challenge is almost always an endurance challenge, this time was no different. The team members had to balance a figurine on top of a small platform, then periodically add a 1 foot section of pole on which the platform was resting. Mick and Natalie were both knocked out at six feet of pole, while Russell and Brett successfully made it to seven feet. Russell was able to hold on long enough to win his first individual immunity, and it is almost a given that Brett is going home.

Russell did pull Brett aside and discuss options as to what might be done to keep him in the game, but he was eventually the one to be sent to the jury. That left Mick, Natalie, and Russell vying for the million dollars.

At the final council, the standard opening remarks were made by the final three, then the jury members got their chance. Some very interesting questions were asked and remarks made. Russell was probably his most honest and admitted to his manipulative ways.

Feckless!!!!!?

Natalie wound up winning this season, purely by riding the coattails of Russell.

10 words or less: Russell was robbed.

Running with Scissors

2009-12-25T23:43:00.002-05:00

Author: Augusten Burroughs
Completed: 12/14/09

This book is a memoir by the brother of John Elder Robison, of whom I've already discussed his book Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's. This tells of the time after Robison left home and it was Burroughs and his mother. His mother was mentally unstable and spent the majority of Burroughs' childhood in and out of psych wards. Eventually, he winds up getting intimately involved with the family of his mother's psychiatrist and spends very little time with her.

Not only could I not put this book down, but it was a very quick read. I was flying through this book and able to read several medium-sized chapters during a 30 minute train ride. This book reads like fiction. The circumstances relayed and the provided stories are so out there that you think they can't possibly be true. I guess the saying that “truth can be stranger than fiction” really is true in this case.

Upon completion of this book, I went and looked up the other books by Burroughs and decided I just had to read them. They have now been added to my extensive reading list, and I am looking forward to getting to them.

10 words or less: Truth really is stranger than fiction.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

2009-12-25T23:43:00.001-05:00

Author: Jeff Kinney
Completed: 12/9/09

This children's book is written in the form of a diary our journal in a kid's handwriting and pictures. It covers the span of a school year of a middle-schooler and reviews the various schemes he gets involved in. And he certainly seems to get involved in a lot of trouble.

This was a really cute chapter book for kids. The writing is easy but challenging enough for someone just starting out on chapter books. I can understand why kids enjoy this series, and this was just the first one. This was one of the longer chapter books my second grader has read, and she really enjoyed it as well.

10 words or less: Decent series for kids, and good intro to graphic novels.

Flinx Transcendent

2009-12-25T23:42:00.000-05:00

Author: Alan Dean Foster
Completed: 12/7/09

This book is the 10th in the Pip and Flinx series, and supposedly the last according to the author. We see our protagonists traveling the universe trying to everything in it from mass destruction. Along the way, we see the usual cast of characters that help him along, but also some new friends. Likewise for enemies.

I found that the story during the first 150 pages, while good, really didn't have much to do with the rest of the book. It was a very interesting thriller of a story, but did not fit in to the rest of the book until the last 5 pages or so.

Foster does a very good job incorporating pieces from every book in the series into this volume. In a way, it was a really nice summing-up of the series, and it even brought in parts of the Pip and Flinx universe addressed in other books outside of the series itself. However, Foster admits on his website that he leaves things open at the end. I have a feeling that, with the way it ended, we may see these characters again.

10 words or less: Will this really be the end?

Three Girls and Their Brother

2009-12-25T10:00:00.002-05:00

Author: Theresa Rebeck
Completed: 12/3/09

This book is, obviously, is about three girls and their brother as the girls break into the world of modeling. The girls, after a picture in The New Yorker, become the new “It” girls in the fashion industry in New York. As the girls become sucked into the business more and more, the brother keeps getting pushed out of their lives. Their mother cares only about the girls' success and essentially gives up on mothering.

If this story is even remotely true, it is absolutely appalling. I realize this was a work of fiction, but I believe similar circumstances occur with celebrity parents. I wanted to strangle the mother, and couldn't even imagine a punishment cruel enough for the agent. I listened to this book, and even my 7 year old daughter, and even she was getting mad at how awful the adults were in this book. The brother is very protective of his youngest sister, and the way he gets shut out was crushing to me.

I really liked this book due to the pure emotional response it elicited from me. I find that any book that moves me, whether it is to laugh out loud or cry like a baby, is a good book. I wind up recommending these kinds of books to other people, as I have done with this one.

10 words or less: Families and the fashion industry don't mix.

Survivor

2009-12-25T09:10:00.000-05:00

View Date: 12/17/09

With the finale on Sunday, we should be seeing two more survivors leaving in tonight's episode. We were treated with a bit of talk from Brett, which was nice because he was the only “true Galu” left. We really haven't seen or know much about him. If he makes it to the final, I really hope the audience gets a chance to learn a bit more about him before Sunday.

We quickly learn that Brett is quite religious, and according to Natalie, a real sweetheart. He feels that he is building a trusting relationship with Natalie. Russell seems back to his old snippy ways

The survivors are split into two teams of three. There is a tangle of ropes on which coconuts are suspended. The teams were then to take turns pulling ropes, trying to keep as many coconuts suspended as possible. Each time a coconut drops on one of their rope pulls, it counts against their team. The first team to 100 coconuts loses. The other team goes to a local village to spend the night, with accommodations including mattresses and pillows. Rocks are chosen to decide team captains, and it winds up being Russell and Natalie. Natalie chooses Brett and Mick, while Russell chooses Jaison and Shambo.

While playing the game, Natalie's team says a prayer, while Russell and Shambo discuss Natalie picking Brett first. Russell's team starts off rough, but the coconuts start falling with an amazing prediction by Shambo. Russell then lucks out and doesn't drop any on his next turn, while Brett drops a boatload and loses it for Natalie's team. Russell's team heads off tot he reward with concern in their hearts over Natalie's choices.

Heading out to the reward, Jaison made a point saying that a reward didn't mean anything to him because he had no idea what one was. He had struggled every day of the game, and was floored by the feast. Once sated, they joined the locals in a dance.

Back at camp, Brett suggested making a reward for themselves. He suggested going searching for snails as a group, then taking them to the beach and chilling while spending time together and watching the sunset. Even though Natalie seems to have a thing for Brett, she is also enough of a competitor to realize strategy is also part of the game. She still is in with Russell, and would probably have a good chance to win against him. Russell feels that Natalie is still totally tight with him, but does put a hint of doubt in the minds of his reward team members. Back at camp, Natalie confirmed that her loyalty was still with Russell.

At the elimination challenge, the competitors had to run out and count the items in each of six areas. They then raced back to their table and kept track of their numbers using tiles. Once they had six numbers, they had to use those to solve a combination lock. The code on the lock was different for each person. Once the lock was released, they would use the piece released to break their tile. The first person to break the tile wins immunity. Brett won immunity again after taking his time with his numbers, so it looks like Mick will be Russell's target. Jaison is of the opinion that Shambo should go home tonight, as she is of no help beating Brett in the challenges.

A little surprisingly, Shambo was voted out tonight in a unanimous vote. I understand voting off both her and Mick, but I thought it would be easier to win against Shambo. Tonight was also the last night that the hidden immunity idol could be played, but Russell decided to take it home a souvenir.

10 words or less: Should make for a great finale.

SYTYCD

2009-12-16T22:25:00.000-05:00

View Date: 12/16/09

We started out with a group number with the entire top 19 to start off this, the last show of the season. The number began with everyone except the top 6, who then made a grand entrance in the middle of the song and were the focus for the remainder. Choreographed by Kelly Abbey. We also had 6 judges at the table tonight, and they were all dressed up for the finale. The other choreographers were in the audience and looking quite spiffy as well.

Next, as always, we get to see the choreographers' favorite dances of the season. Up first was Lil' C requesting the hip hop dance from the first episode where we got to meet the top 20. You can really see in these guys just how much they have all grown, but none more so than Legacy. It was great seeing three guys from three different branches of hip hop work together so well, and it was great to see them all go so far this season.

Adam Shankman chose a Sonya routine, namely Ellenore and Jakob from just last week (I believe). Adam loved seeing Sonya come up with a number for Ellenore as they very much have the same quirky style.

Nigel was up next, and chose the tap number from the episode to meet the top 20. Even though these three are all tappers, they each have different styles. Phillip has a classic tapper style, while Peter reminds me more of Savion Glover or someone who would work with him. Bianca, being the only girl, can both compete with the guys, but can also bring a sexiness that the guys couldn't.

Mary wanted to see something new, so she asked to see Ryan and Ashleigh dance together in their own style. They danced a jive that they choreographed, and it was very high energy. I do agree with Nigel that Ashleigh seems to have more dance chemistry, at least on the dance floor, with Jakob.

We were then serenaded by Leona Lewis with the theme song from James Cameron's Avatar. We also got to see a dance performance number by The Groovaloos of some great hip hop.

Nigel was up again, and this time he picked the contemporary number from last night featuring Kathryn and Jakob, and choreographed by Desmond. It was a gorgeous number, and I totally expected to see it here. It got yet another standing ovation from everyone, and it was well deserved.

Next up was Tyce DiOrio, who wanted to see Bollywood, particularly Nakul's number performed by Mollee and Nathan. It was a great routine, and earned a standing ovation tonight.

The top 6 were then invited on stage with some delays from both technical difficulties and Russell hurting his leg. It was announced that Ryan was in 6th place after the vote, and that is exactly where he deserved to be with these dancers. This was then followed by a musical performance by Adam Lambert. After a montage, the top 5 were back on stage with Russell sitting on a stool. Ashleigh was next voted off and finished in 5th place this season. I though this was very fitting, and I totally feel this was the right order.

Adam was next to choose, and he picked the number I've been waiting to see: Travis' table routine with Ellenore and Legacy. That flip over the table is just mind-blowing, then to go into the moves on top of the table right after was unbelievable. Another standing ovation rightly deserved.

Debbie Allen picked a routine featuring Russell and Noelle and presenting a new choreographer for African jazz dance. With Russell being injured tonight, they showed the tape of the original performance. That worked out really well for us at home. That number was so much fun, and it's a shame we couldn't see it live again tonight.

Time for more results, with 4th place going to Ellenore. I expected that one. I love Ellenore and her style, but with the remaining dancers and the internet buzz Ellenore was ranked right where she should be.

Lil' C chose the contemporary routine from the first episode. It really highlighted each of the dancers beautifully, and Tyce did a wonderful job on the choreography. Mary then picked another of her favorites, this time Russell and Kathryn's hip hop from last night. It was great seeing Russell in his own style for a change.

Mary J. Blige gave a wonderful performance of her new single, then it was time for the last judges' pick. Nigel picked the first number from the original show, choreographed by Wade Robson and his wife. Love the music and love the routine. Wade does such a good job choreographing group routines, I wish they would use him more. After, the third place dancer was announced to be Kathryn. I pretty much thought it would be Jakob here, but this makes sense too.

So now it comes down to my favorite guys, the big personality in Russell vs. the huge talent in Jakob. And as a side note, Russell looks sooooo upset that he got hurt tonight. I think part of it may be due to not being able to dance, and another part is that he's probably in pain.

Jennifer Lopez performed her first single off her new album, and the girls from this season as well as some past seasons performed with her.

The time for the final vote was upon us. Jakob helped Russell walk onto the stage for the announcement and helped support him during the last bit of the show. The judges were already standing before the vote was read.

America's favorite dancer for this season was:

RUSSELL!

And he was feeling no pain when his name was read.

10 words or less: Personality can beat out talent on any given day.

Scarpetta

2009-12-16T22:24:00.002-05:00

Author: Patricia Cornwell
Completed: 11/8/09

This book is focused on Kay Scarpetta, a medical examiner who is specifically requested in a case. She is dealing with various personal issues and is faced with several of the people involved. This is one of the most recent books in a series revolving around this character. However, this is the only one I have read.

I was recommended this book by my mother. After I got about 10 pages into the book, I started asking if it was part of a series because it felt like I was missing pieces of the story, particularly in reference to Scarpetta’s past. If I had looked it up earlier and found that it was part of a series, I probably wouldn’t have read it when I did. That being said, I was able to follow pretty well.

The story was well contained in this book. Even though there were references to circumstances from previous books, there was enough background provided in the story that I was able to gather what had happened and how it related to the present tale. This was a long book at 600 pages, but once the investigation really got going it was able to hold my attention pretty well. I’m not sure if I’ll read the others in the series, but this wasn’t a bad book on its own.

10 words or less: May have been better if I’d read the series.

SYTYCD

2009-12-16T22:24:00.001-05:00

View Date: 12/15/09

Tonight was the final performance show, and it was different than usual finale performance shows. The episode was only 1 hour long, and there were 6 dancers involved due to the holidays. Each girl would dance with each guy and vice versa, so each dancer would perform 3 times. However, we wouldn't get to see the girls dance with the girls, guys with guys, nor a group routine.

Kathryn and Ryan: Jason Gilkinson Samba. More Ryan without his shirt, smoking hot Kathryn, and terrific partnering skills. Generally a hot routine, and a good way to start the show.

Ellenore and Jakob: Tyce DiOrio Broadway. Very Fosse-esque for the two best dancers in the competition. Jakob had a lot more to do in this routine than Ellenore did, which is a bit of a switch as usually the girls are the focus. Very strong number that showed these two dancers in their best light.

Ashleigh and Russell: Sonya lyrical jazz. It was kind of nice to see these two finally dance together since we didn't get to last week. This was another routine that seemed to focus on the guy with solos, power moves, and the like. Even in the lifts, it was more about his strength than highlighting her. Beautiful number, but Russell was the star.

Ellenore and Ryan: Gary Stewart Jazz. This routine brought back the robot, but combined it with some ballroom moves. It was a little stiff. It seemed like it might be a good routine for Ellenore as this was reminiscent of her personal style. With the knee pads as part of the costume, I kind of thought more time would be spent on the floor. Not one of my favorite routines of the night, but it was unique.

Ashleigh and Jakob: Jean-Marc Foxtrot. I love the foxtrot, and this was no exception. Seeing these two back together was lovely, and the number was a lot of fun. Very much old Hollywood, and the performance quality was there. This is why Ashleigh was kept around this week without dancing last week.

Ellenore and Russell: Jason Gilkinson Paso Doble. Great entrance! I never mind seeing Russell without his shirt, and Ellenore looked smoking hot. Even if the technique wasn't perfect, the performance was beyond belief. Great number, sexy as hell, and one to remember.

Kathryn and Jakob: Desmond Richmondson contemporary. This number was made for these two. You could definitely see these two are contemporary dancers and the years of training they have. Everyone gave it a standing ovation, from the judges to the choreographers to the audience. These two made it look effortless, and may have changed some opinions, especially with the comments from the judges.

Ashleigh and Ryan: Travis Wall contemporary. This number was made for a married couple, and with some of the looks between these two really showcased their love. It was very pretty, but wasn't the best, and I had a hard time getting past the fact that they were married. I also agree with Nigel that Ashleigh has better chemistry with Jakob than with Ryan, but that may just be on the dance floor.

Kathryn and Russell: Tabitha and Napoleon hip hop. We may have found a number that Kathryn doesn't do as well. She was really good at the dance parts of it, but I felt she didn't hit hard enough when needed. I seem to be in the minority here. I'm not saying she was awful, but for me she was the weaker link. Russell is the man, and did absolutely everything he was supposed to.

The top four should be Ellenore, Kathryn, Jakob, and Russell. Ryan and Ashleigh did well tonight, but just couldn't match the other four. I think it would have been interesting seeing Mollee and Legacy in the mix, and it may have been an even harder decision than it already is.

10 words or less: This season's scheduling sucks. Stick with the summer!

Survivor

2009-12-16T22:23:00.000-05:00

View Date: 12/10/09

Starting off after tribal, Shambo talks to Russell, and seems to actually be OK with the vote, although she would have preferred being told. She says that Dave has to be the next to go and Russell half-heartedly agrees. The next day on the beach, Jaison lets slip that Russell already is a millionaire and doesn't actually need the money, which the former Galu members are looking at as an advantage.

No reward challenge today, but rather straight to the elimination challenge. The challenge today is a Survivor bowling tournament. The contestants are randomly paired up to go against each other, and each gets two shots. Whoever knocks down the most pins after two balls wins. The winner goes on to next round, while the loser is out.

The first round pairs are: Shambo/Natalie, Brett/Russell, Jaison/Monica, and Mick/Dave. Lots of gutter balls but Dave gets the first strike of the tournament. Round 2: Shambo/Russell, Dave/Jaison. Final: Shambo/Jaison. Jaison wins for second time in a row.

After the challenge, Shambo starts talking about the fact that Dave will be out at Tribal tonight. All of the former Foa Foa members are going for Dave, mainly to keep Shambo happy and keep the vote going their way. Monica starts working on Russell to try to keep Dave and get rid of Shambo. Russell actually starts considering Monica's discussions because he views Shambo a greater threat with the jury. Thankfully, Russell didn't follow Monica's advice and they eliminated Dave at tribal that night. With that vote, the original Foa Foa members have the number advantage for the first time in the game.

Honestly, I think Russell's best bet is to take Shambo to the finale. Other than that, I don't think he can win against anyone else. People may give him props for playing a good game, but everyone knows this is a popularity contest. Russell is not loved by the jury, and the only one they hate more is Shambo.

Second immunity challenge of the episode. The tribe members had to race into the water, retrieve 1 of three bags, and race back to shore. They then had to use a plank to toss the bag into a high basket by jumping on one end of the board to make the bag on the other end fly. The first person to get all three bags into the basket wins immunity. Brett won the immunity, which was very lucky for him because the talk around camp that morning was to send him home next.

With Brett winning immunity, the automatic vote seems to be for Monica. Of course, Monica starts talking and tries to sway Mick to vote for Russell. Monica then starts talking in Russell's ear, warning him that he's not making friends and that he's actually putting his game in jeopardy. Russell confronts Jaison for what he told Monica and Brett, and that makes Jaison nervous that Russell will go after him. Russell now wants Monica gone more than before for “running her mouth”.

At tribal, Russell breaks out the hidden immunity idol, and people perceive it as being cocky. But Monica is the one that is really coming across as cocky, and she is proud that she was able to push his buttons. Monica even went so far as to threaten to get the rest of the jury to not give Russell the million dollars if she were to get voted off. Then Russell, even though he was wearing it in plain sight, didn't play the idol. I thought he was a real dumb-ass for not playing it, but it actually worked out OK when the tribe voted off Monica. It was one of the closer votes, 4-3, but it did work out in his favor in the end.

10 words or less: Russell's scary chance actually worked out OK.

Top Chef

2009-12-16T22:22:00.000-05:00

View Date: 12/9/09

Tonight's episode was the finale, and it was set up to be a spectacular show of culinary craftsmanship. Leading up to the episode, the buzz on the web was most people were pulling for Kevin over either Voltaggio brother.

Side note: Those are three very tattooed men cooking tonight.

The final Elimination Challenge: Create a 3 course meal. Course 1: The chefs will receive a box, so each chef has access to the same ingredients. All of the ingredients must be used in this course. Course 2: The chefs could cook anything they wanted using anything they could find in the pantry. Course 3: Dessert. Help arrived in the form of the rest of the season's chefs. The finalists drew knives with the names of the former contestants, and each chef drew two names. One would work with them that day, while the other would work with them the day of the finale.

Note: The finalists combined to win 12 of the 13 elimination challenges.

Michael: Eli (2), Jesse (1)
Bryan: Jennifer (2), Ashley (1)
Kevin: Preeti (1), Ash (2)

The chefs opened their boxes, and seemed rather puzzled as to how to combine the variety of ingredients into a single dish. Also, as the prep day progressed, Kevin grew very frustrated in his sous chef, and was jealous that the other two chefs chose the names of the most recently-eliminated competitors.

The next morning, there was a knock on the door and the chefs were expecting some kind of twist from Padme or Tom. Instead, their mothers walked through the door and provided pep talks and encouragement on the biggest day of the competition.

They get to the restaurant to cook, where they are encountered by Tom. This is where he throws in the twist, that the chefs will now be cooking four dishes. The new first course was to be inspired by their favorite childhood dish. Kevin felt much better than the prep day, particularly because Ash took on a much heavier load than Preeti did the day before. When the chefs come out to the table, they learn that their mothers would also be eating their first course in the company of many world famous restauranteurs. After that, the mothers departed and left the tasting up to the pros.

Listening to the judges' comments, it sounds like each chef took one round a piece, with the “your choice” dish pretty much a toss up. There were only two dishes that I personally didn't hear any negative comments about from the whole meal, and that was Bryan's venison and Kevin's fried chicken skin. All of the other dishes had both positive and negative comments, as was to be expected.

Kevin was eliminated first, and he fully admitted that he just had a bad day. Therefore, it came down to the Voltaggio brothers. My favorite from the very beginning of the season has been Bryan, but in the end it was Michael who won. He received $125000 and the title of Top Chef. They both took it very well, and were proud that it came down to the two of them in the end.

10 words or less: It ended the way it should.

The Amazing Race

2009-12-16T22:21:00.002-05:00

View Date: 12/6/09

This was the season finale, and the top three teams raced across the world to the finish line. The teams started off flying from the Czech Republic to Las Vegas and the final city on their trip. All of the teams wound up on the same flight from Prague, so any time advantage the teams had was eliminated. However, the other teams were surprised when Ericka and Brian showed up at the airport, because they did not know who the third team was.

As soon as the plane hit the ground, the couples bolted for the Graceland Wedding Chapel. They got to listen to an Elvis impersonator sing Amazing Grace, then he gave them their clues. The couples were then off to Mandalay Bay Hotel, where they encountered a roadblock. One person from each couple had to face-first rappel down the outside of the building to get their next clue. Ericka, Cheyne, and Sam were the people who completed this roadblock, and they each did a really good job.

Next up was the Mirage hotel, where the teams had to join Cirque do Soleil's Love show. They had to work as a team to snatch a bouquet hanging from the ceiling. Ericka really started freaking out about not getting it right away, and wasted more time by switching positions back and forth with Brian. The other two teams pulled ahead, but they had trouble interpreting that their clue was directing them to the Monte Carlo, Monaco's famous casino. Luckily, Brian knew right away and were able to get back in the game.

Once at the Monte Carlo, the teams learned that they would have to count out $1 million in poker chips to get their next clue. Even though all three teams submitted their results at the same time to their respective dealers, Meghan and Cheyne were the only ones to get it right on the first try. After arriving there last, they were out the door first on their way to the high roller suite, where they got to meet Wayne Newton. He let them know that the finish line was at his estate, and off they were again.

It was a close race to Mr. Las Vegas' house, with Sam and Dan passing Meghan and Cheyne on their way up to the high roller suite as they were on their way down. But in the end, Meghan and Cheyne carried on their winning ways and reached the finish line first, winning $1 million and this season's competition. Sam and Dan were second, with Brian and Ericka finishing third.

10 words or less: Glad it was them with the Globetrotters out.

The Women

2009-12-16T22:21:00.001-05:00

View Date: 11/2/09

This movie is about a group of women who are each dealing with major life situations. Meg Ryan stars as a woman who's husband cheats on her with Eva Mendes. She loses her job, and loses herself in the process. Annette Benning plays her best friend with no family to speak of who is in serious trouble at work. Next up is Debra Messing who is a housewife who already has 4 young kids and is pregnant again because they keep trying for a boy. Finally, Jada Pinkett-Smith stars as a Lesbian who acts as a kind of conscience when she is on screen.

This movie was totally panned by the critics, but I got some good chuckles. This movie was somewhat predictable, but shortly before the ending I received a bit of a surprise. While this wasn't the best movie I've ever seen, it was a pretty good chick flick. It had some laughs, it made me cry, it made me want to throw things at my TV. I may even watch this again if it's on, but I probably won't go seeking it out.

10 words or less: Not as bad as the critics said.

2 Days

2009-12-16T22:20:00.000-05:00

View Date: 10/20/09

This independent film, stars Paul Rudd as a man who has decided to commit suicide in two days time. He chose to have his last two days filmed as he set his business in order. The film crew followed him as he visited friends, went on an audition, and endured a visit from his parents. The crew is also dealing with issues of their own such as failing relationships and the opinion that the main character should not embracing death.

This was an OK film considering the morose subject matter. The ending was satisfying yet disappointing at the same time. There was even some suspense mixed in where I really didn't expect any. I probably won't watch it again, but I will remember it, even if just for the subject matter.

10 words or less: Never thought I'd find a movie made in this way.

SYTYCD

2009-12-16T22:19:00.000-05:00

View Date: 12/9/09

The final elimination before the finals started off with a group number choreographed by Sonya and featuring a special Samantha Ronson remix. It was obvious from the start that Ashleigh wasn't dancing again tonight. I must say that I am going into this episode wanting Ashleigh and Ryan to go this week.

In a bit of a twist, up first were the guys. Russell was the first guy up, and was immediately sent on to the finale. Legacy was declared the first to be at risk of going home, then it was down to Jakob and Ryan. Thankfully, things actually happened the way they should have, and Jakob was ushered through to the finale, with Ryan being at risk of leaving tonight.

Now on to the girls. Kathryn was on to the finale, while Ellenore was at risk of going home. Somehow, Ashleigh made it through, so Mollee was left in danger. Totally unpredicted, and totally WRONG! Considering Ashleigh didn't even dance last night, America got it wrong!!!

We got serenaded by an Asian female pop group, then it was on to the solos. Legacy and Ellenore had much better solos tonight than yesterday, while the other two were OK too. Chris Allen performed, then it was on to the eliminations.

In another shocker for the girls tonight, Ellenore reached the finale, while Mollee was eliminated. She kind of showed her age with how hard she took it, but it was also totally understandable. America was stupid yet again and sent Legacy home instead of kicking Ryan's butt out. So pissed at the results tonight!

10 words or less: The married couple should have gone home!

Castle

2009-12-16T22:18:00.000-05:00

Airing: Monday, 10pm, ABC

Castle is a show about a big-name mystery writer (Richard Castle) who, while suffering from writer’s block, uses his friendship with the mayor to tag along with the local police department on murder investigations. There is contempt expressed by the main detective he follows for several reasons: she was forced to allow his intrusions, he doesn’t follow any of her directions, and he usually winds up being instrumental in solving the cases.

Castle is now in its second season, with Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic continuing to give excellent performances every week. There is a great sexual chemistry between the two leads, and the tension between them is palpable. The supporting actors round out the cast well, and add to the humor aspect of the show.

I have been a fan of Nathan Fillion for years, back from the Two Guys and a Girl days (also starring another of my favorites, Ryan Reynolds). So I was automatically tuning in to see his new show. But I went in expecting it not to last long, considering many of his series failed early. I have been happily surprised that it has already lasted this long and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. He plays the part of an egocentric and famous writer to perfection, yet shows that his character is also intelligent not matter how silly he is being.

I have seen Ms. Katic in other vehicles, namely the first season of Heroes. Her character, Beckett, is the perfect antithesis to Castle and most other people around her. She is a strong enough woman to stand up to him, yet also listens to suggestions when it comes to her analyses.

The supporting characters add depth and interest to the show. I love seeing Castle at home with his mother and daughter, especially seeing him being a single parent of a teenage girl. The mother has some of the best lines in the show. The daughter has spot-on facial expressions and can put her dad in his place.

Even if you never watch another episode of this show, I highly recommend watching this season's Halloween episode. It was funny and unique, and also a huge blast from the past for Joss Whedon fans.

Obviously, I can go on and on about this show, but I'll stop here. Although there have been many cop shows before this, none have had the humor this one has. It is a dramedy, leaning more toward the comedy than true drama. Watch this, and see how great it is.

10 words or less: I need to get my hands on Castle's book...

Priestblock 25487

2009-12-16T22:01:00.003-05:00

Author: Jean Bernard
Completed: 11/11/09

This book was written by a Catholic priest from Luxemburg who survived WWII in the concentration camp Dachau. At this camp, priests were housed separately from the general population after the initial acclimation period and originally received special privileges. This did not mean, however, that they were exempt from the horrors of the camp.

The book is a memoir specifically of Fr. Bernard’s time in the camp. He was released approximately two years into his stay primarily due to interventions by his brother. He also experienced an unprecedented temporary release from the camp which allowed him time to travel back to his home country.

This was a very short and gripping read. People tend to forget that non-Jewish people were sent to and killed in concentration camps by the Nazis. In this case, there was a section of Dachau set aside just for Catholic priests, who tended to be charged with resistance against the Nazi movement. This was the case for Fr. Bernard. The details are horrifying. It was like a gruesome car crash, where you are bewildered by the destruction and loss of life by cannot rip your eyes away from it. I flew through this book in a matter of days, primarily because I needed to know what horrors came next.

10 words or less: Quick yet horrifying look into concentration camp life.

The Runner's Rulebook

2009-12-16T21:37:00.001-05:00

Author: Marc Remy
Completed: 11/16/09

This book is a humorous list of rules that a runner should live by. Examples include (paraphrased as I couldn’t remember the exact wording): Dogs are harmless, unless they’re not; and Get to know and love the snot rocket. It tries to give a glance at runner’s etiquette and yet also describes the contradictions that any list of rules inherently has.

Let me preface this part by saying that I am not a runner, but for years now I have been an “athletic supporter” for my husband. His life revolves around running, thus so does mine. And because I am a voracious reader, any books on running he reads get passed along to me. Therefore, even though I most certainly am not a runner, I have enough background on the subject to understand the inside jokes and parts specifically geared toward runners.

Now then, this book was hilarious. I could totally see the rules playing out, particularly in the section on races. The list of guidelines at the end of the book were also very helpful, and some can even be applied to non-runners or non-running events. Overall, a good book that can probably be enjoyed by all, even if not involved in running.

10 words or less: You’re not a runner if you don’t untie your shoes.

People of the Book

2009-12-16T21:36:00.001-05:00

Author: Geraldine Brooks
Completed: 11/17/09

This is a story about trying to discover the origins of a very rare book, essentially a Jewish prayer book. What makes it so unusual is that there are gilded pictures from a time when the Jewish people believed that putting an image of a person on paper took a bit of their soul. It looks at both the investigation into the history of the book, and then digs deeper into the people involved with the book throughout its history. We are given snapshots into lives during WWII, the Spanish Inquisition, and war-torn Yugoslavia.

People have compared this book to The Da Vinci Code, but I see them as very different. I loved how this book had a main storyline in the present, but then jumped back chronologically to all the people who handled the book. The Da Vinci Code had a few flashback and looked into the history, but didn't actually take you back to the time and get you involved with the people as this did. It was amazing seeing it from other points of view and other time periods in history. The snapshots in time not only provided us with the history but also gave insight to the investigators.

I actually listened to this book, and couldn't wait to listen to more. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy history, but it would also work well for mystery lovers.

10 words or less: Gripping, and much better than the comparisons.

SYTYCD

2009-12-08T23:02:00.000-05:00

View Date: 12/8/09

Tonight, the top eight dancers performed two dances and a solo, trying to earn America's votes and stay in the competition. The partners were switched up again, and each couple would have one of their tracks specially remixed just for them. Also, Ashleigh separated her shoulder during practice today, and has not been cleared to dance tonight and won't be competing.

Kathryn and Ryan #1: Doriana Sanchez Disco. Samantha Ronson remix of Last Dance. This was OK, but their timing was off at certain points throughout this routine. There was definitely some hesitancy on Kathryn's part whenever they had to do any partnering, most likely due to a lack of confidence in her own ability to do lifts. Somehow, the judges thought very differently from me and really liked the routine., although Nigel did give Ryan some criticisms.

Mollee and Jakob #1: Jason Gilkison Viennese Waltz. I never would have known this was a waltz if I hadn't been told, which in my mind is a good thing. Mollee keeps growing throughout the season, particularly now that she is no longer dancing with Nathan. The lift at the end was beautiful and something I had never seen before.

Ashleigh solo: No dance, but we can still vote for her? Also, why are they saying next week is the finale?

Ellenore and Legacy #1: Travis Wall Contemporary. The theme is basically a Mr. and Mrs. Smith number with lots of acrobatics and flying through the air. This was probably the least Travis-y routine that Travis has done yet. Love it when they use props, and these guys had four to use. The tables are becoming the best props on this show. Loved it, and it couldn't have been done by anyone else on this show. Loved seeing Legacy flip over the table, and the work on top of the table was stunning. There was so much passion in it, so much risk, and so perfect.

Jakob solo: He has beautiful lines and dances with passion. But compared to the other guys dancing this season, will he be able to stand out?

Ashleigh and Russell #1: Shane Sparks Street Hip Hop. With Ashleigh not dancing, Russell performed to a Bobby J special remix with Shane's assistant Rachel. I feel bad for the guy, considering this is the second time this has happened to him this season. Don't know if she was purposely toning it down a bit to let him shine, but it's like he was made for this routine. It is probably the closest to his style that we have seen yet, and still worked OK with a different partner.

Mollee solo: Of the female dancers, she gives some of the best showmanship in her solos. This week was weaker than in the past, but still energetic.

Ryan and Kathryn #2: Jason Gilkison Cha Cha. Interesting end pose, but I'm just not feeling this couple. Decent routine, but I felt nothing between these two. The chemistry just isn't there, but the judges think differently yet again.

Legacy solo: Didn't need the phone, but it was OK as a shtick. Great opening move, and more dancing in his solo than we usually see from him.

Ellenore solo: I love her quirkiness and that it really shows in her solos. However, you also can see just how great a dancer she really is.

Russell solo: A Santa outfit! Props in a solo! And it goes with the song chosen. Maybe not the best routine, but definitely memorable.

Mollee and Jakob #2: Joey Dowling Broadway. Samantha Ronson remix of Easy Street. I can so totally see these two as Rooster and his girlfriend in Annie. They had a bench prop that was used well but not overboard. Strong dancing and great performances.

Kathryn solo: It looks like she learned from last week. The music was still snore-worthy, but the dancing was more energetic.

Ellenore and Legacy #2: Tabitha and Napoleon Hip Hop. District 78 remix of People are Strange. Not really sure what to make of this routine. It was very clever and quirky hip hop, but something was a little off. They were out of sync in parts, but the tricks were interesting. Kinda torn about this number.

Ryan's solo: I know it is hard for ballroom dancers to perform solo, but there were points that he just looked like Steve Martin dancing in My Blue Heaven, or even one of Martin Short's characters. When he lost the form in his arms, it just looked really sloppy. That and his heartfelt encouragement for his wife just rubbed me the wrong way. I don't think I was supposed to laugh at that number, but I did.

Russell and Ashleigh: Nakul Bollywood. Russell got to dance with Nakul's assistant Alicia this time due to Ashleigh's injury. This routine was so fast! Aside from Russell's overly-large smile, this routine was really good. I thought Russell's smile looked a bit stiff at points during the routine, almost like he was in pain. Otherwise, great number. I think he may have lucked out not dancing with Ashleigh on this one.

10 words or less: Send the married couple home!

The Amazing Race

2009-12-08T23:01:00.002-05:00

View Date: 11/29/09

The last four teams were competing their spots in the finale, and they were ready to do anything they had to to get in.

The teams first headed to the Spanish Synagogue to get their next clue. This was where the speed bump was for Brian and Ericka. Next up was heading across town to the Kafka museum where they encountered a roadblock. One team member had to enter the museum and answer phones until they were told five letters. They then had to use those letters to unscramble the word Franz. Once the name was decoded and the proper form completed, the contestants would get the next clue. The racers were not allowed to write the letters down while in the rooms with the phones.

Meghan was able to complete the challenge relatively easily, but Dan and Big Easy really struggled. Dan found the letters first and went into the next room to work, and was closely followed by Big Easy. They agreed to work together, and wound up writing down random letter combinations for a long time. Eventually, Dan was able to work out the correct word, but refused to give the Globetrotter the answer, saying only “All I can tell you is it starts with F”. This rightfully infuriated Big Easy.

Meghan and Cheyne learned that their next clue sent them to the Kryocentrum, where they had to complete a task that Czech athletes had been doing for years. They had to strip down to skimpy bathing suits and stay in a room kept at -180°C for two minutes. After completing this task, they were on their way to a a bridge.

Brian and Ericka went to their speed bump, where they had to go to a pub and follow a complicated process to properly prepare a shot of absinthe. They had to drink the shot, then it was on to the Kafka museum. Brian then completed the Kafka challenge before Big Easy and the pair headed on their way.

Big Easy made a crucial decision with the OK of his partner to take a four hour time penalty because he didn't think he could complete the challenge. They wound up sitting throughout the night on the steps to the Kafka museum.

After their excursions into the cold, the couples encountered a detour: Legend or Lager. In Legend, the couples would prepare a Golem made of straw and clay, which traditionally was thought to protect the Jewish quarters. They then had to pull the large construction across town to another synagogue to receive their next clue. In Lager, teams had to carry 30 beers from a brewery through a crowded town square to a bar.

Meghan/Cheyne and Dan/Sam chose the Golem challenge. Meghan and Cheyne were able to slap the clay onto their straw Golem base, and then realized how heavy the completed piece was. Luckily, the base came with wheels, so they started wheeling it through town. Dan and Sam wound up breaking their Golem's arm at the shoulder, but tried to just patch it up with some extra clay. Both teams struggled with the weight, but Dan and Sam were much more vocal, particularly Dan. After delivering their Golem, the teams got their clue to head to the pit stop and their place in the finale.

Brian and Ericka chose the Lager portion of the detour and proceeded to spend the rest of the night carting beer on small trays back and forth. They broke quite a few along the way, and had to deal with noisy, crazy locals along the route. At the end of the night (actually after daybreak), the team was able to complete the task and make their way to the pit stop.

Big Easy and Flight Time waited out their time penalty and made their way to the Kryocentrum, where they received the clue to proceed directly to the pit stop. The team was out, but they made the best of it and left with their heads held high.

10 words or less: I'm really going to miss the Globetrotters.

Swing Vote

2009-12-08T23:01:00.001-05:00

View Date: 10/27/09

This movie describes what could happen if the election for American president came down to a single vote. Kevin Costner stars as an essentially worthless man who, while he loves his daughter, is not a very good parent. He has drunken tendencies, which caused him to miss events his daughter found important. Abigail Breslin played his put-upon daughter. It is a combination of the two of them that leads him to be the deciding vote in the election. The presidential candidates were portrayed by Dennis Hopper and Kelsey Grammar, who wind up doing anything they have to to gain the needed vote.

I expected this movie to be cute, but this was better than I thought it would be. I really like it when Kevin Costner is not trying to make an epic movie and sticks with comedy. While he played a schlub in this one, I could see some similarities with his characters in Bull Durham and Tin Cup, my two favorite Costner movies. The ending was routine in that a lesson was learned and relationships changed. However, it also left you wanting more because it didn't necessarily answer all of the viewers' questions.

10 words or less: Give this a chance. You might like it.

Mouth to Mouth

2009-12-08T23:00:00.000-05:00

View Date: 10/24/09

This movie, starring Ellen Page, is about a group of teenage punks in Europe. They band together and try to change the world, following the ideals of their leader. But after tragedy strikes their group, some start to question the leader's direction and tactics.

I didn't like this movie at all. I really can't think of anything really good to say about it. The acting was OK but nothing more. The filming was rather gritty and it had a generally gray color. The story was convoluted and I had a really hard time following, therefore it took me several days to make it all the way through. The ending was probably the best, most interesting part of the film, but I found even that lacking.

10 words or less: Didn't enjoy this one bit.

Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's

2009-12-08T22:59:00.003-05:00

Author: John Elder Robeson
Completed: 10/20/09

This book is a memoir of a man who lived the majority of his life not knowing he has Asperger's Syndrome. Most people thought he was “funny”, or a troublemaker, or just plain weird. The author details living with his quirks, which were actually very common traits of Asperger's.

Asperger's Syndrome is on the autism scale of disorders. People with Asperger's tend to have trouble with crowds and do not look at people directly. They are often very mechanically inclined, and have great difficulties making friends and having conversations. Some people have called it “high-functioning autism”, as the two have quite a bit in common, almost like Asperger's is a lesser version of autism.

Despite his childhood of difficulties, the author led quite an amazing life. His interest in mechanics and electronics started when he was young, and later fell into a career using his skills. He toured with some of the biggest music acts of the day creating special lighting effects and customized guitars. He then went to work at a toy company, and used his self-taught knowledge to excel in engineering.

His social life was not quite as smooth as his work, not to say that work was always easy. His home life was difficult to say the least, and he moved out when he was very young. Once out on his own, he did invite his younger brother, memoirist Augusten Burroughs, along on several of his trips. However, the Asperger's interfered as mentioned above in his interactions with others, making for difficult situations.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as well as the note submitted by his brother. While some of the situations seemed absolutely ridiculous, I was also able to relate quite closely with some of his idiosyncrasies. Some parts had me absolutely rolling with laughter, which I must say doesn't happen very often.

While particularly interesting for anyone researching problems of the mind, this book is gripping enough for anyone to enjoy. There is something there for everyone, from gearheads to music lovers to geeks.

10 words or less: Highly recommended. Excellent memoir in a true voice.

Survivor

2009-12-08T22:58:00.000-05:00

View Date: 12/3/09

After a great recap mainly of events since the merge, we jumped right in to life around camp after tribal council. Because of John's switch after the first that sent Laura packing, he was now seen as a threat by his former team members.

The reward challenge started off with the survivors getting money in their tree mail, and headed their way to the reward auction. This year, there was no sharing of either money or food. Shambo got kind of shafted with a mystery item of sea noodles and snails, and Jaison took a chance for his team to snatch a clue for the next elimination challenge. Natalie, in addition to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, bought herself the Survivor shower. Mick immediately spent all of his money on a cheeseburger dinner. There was also a whole roasted chicken and a clue to finding the hidden immunity idol. Finally, John purchased a huge piece of apple pie. Before he was allowed to start eating, he was given the option to forego his piece to let 4 of his tribe members share an entire pie. He chose to keep the piece for himself, which may have set him up for even more trouble, particularly after he stated that he didn't think anyone would vote him out over a piece of pie.

After the challenge, John went out in search of the idol using the clue he purchased at the auction. He was sent to the exact spot Russell found his most recent idol and had no luck. Shambo was found talking to the chickens, telling them that she would think and pray for them when they were slaughtered for lunch that day. While she was cooking them, Shambo and Dave got into it about how to cook. We were then provided with a detailed explanation of her dream where Dave was voted off. This was fine with Russell, who agreed to vote with Shambo to keep her encouraged.

Next up was the immunity challenge. Each contestant was provided with a knotted rope and a very heavy log. The rope was to be held with one hand at a knot. Every three minutes, the contestants would need to switch hands and move down one knot. Jaison's advantage was then revealed that, at any point in the challenge, he could move his hand up two knots. The challenge started, and Jaison used his advantage very early. Once below the last knot, the challengers just had to hold on as long as possible. Jaison, at this point, had a significant upper hand with still having a knot to hold on to. Shambo was the first out, and Natalie was the last female and a real surprise in this challenge. Russell was also a surprise being the first guy and second overall out. It came down to Jaison and Dave. Both were seriously struggling, but Jaison was able to take advantage of his purchase while Dave's rope kept slipping and slipping until his log dropped. Jaison won his first significant challenge, and had immunity for the evening.

Back to camp, and back to strategizing. Dave and Monica think that it will be one of them, and if Shambo gets her way Dave will be going. John and Russell get to talking, and Russell says they are thinking of voting out Mick based on his former agreement with John. But then Russell admits to John that he does have the idol, and Russell decides that John now needs to go. Russell then goes to Dave and says he can save Dave by voting for John. Jaison brings up the point that Shambo may flip on them if they don't vote for Dave because it would remind her of the treatment her former tribe gave her.

At tribal council, Shambo seemed kind of in the dark that people were scrambling to stay in the game. Mick made an interesting comment that no one should be blindsided considering everyone brought their bags to tribal. However, the thoughts were split as to whether the blindsides would continue. Russell play, of course, worked out in the end, and John was sent home to both his and Shambo's surprise. It was really funny watching people's faces as each vote was read. With each vote for John, he and Shambo looked more and more confused, while Russell, Mick, and Dave looked like the cat who ate the canary. They were so pleased with themselves, that it may really get them into trouble soon.

10 words or less: Russell just got rid of a real logicician. What strategery!

A Brother's Journey / A Teenager's Journey

2009-12-08T22:57:00.004-05:00

Author: Richard Pelzer

Completed:
A Brother's Journey: 10/19/09
A Teenager's Journey: 10/23/09

These books are memoirs by a man who, as a child, experienced one of the most horrible cases of child abuse in history. Possibly the only person exposed to worse abuse at the hand of a parent was Mr. Pelzer's older brother, Dave.

Dave, Richard's brother, had previously written about his story in a series of memoirs of his own. When Richard was young, Dave was taken away by child services. Their mother, in both cases, chose to single out an individual sibling and pit all of the others against the one. With Dave gone, Mrs. Pelzer chose Richard as her next victim.

The two books cover his life from prior to his brother leaving to his young adulthood. We got views of his abuse, and also the abuse he inflicted on himself. We got to see his life spiral out of control at the hands of a sadistic and ill mother, then continue at his own hands.

I had read Dave Pelzer's series of memoirs several years ago. So when I heard about these, and the fact that Richard essentially took over Dave's position in the family, I knew I had to read them. These books were good, and fairly quick reads. The story was compelling and shocking, much like that of his brother. The only real down side is that you can't really read these books without having read his brother's. He refers back to them several times, and also mentions throughout the story that he was too young to fully understand what went on while his brother was still living there but knows now from the books.

10 words or less: Read his brother's books, then read these.

Then She Found Me

2009-12-08T22:57:00.001-05:00

View Date: 10/17/09

This is a combination movie that includes romantic comedy, pure comedy, and drama all rolled into one. It stars Bette Midler, Helen Hunt, Colin Firth, and Matthew Broderick. Midler is a TV personality who goes searching for her daughter she had given up for adoption over 30 years ago. Hunt plays said daughter, who is in the middle of a mid-life crisis and this news adds just more strife to her life. Broderick and Firth are both love interests of Hunt.

I really liked this movie at the time I watched it, but it hasn't stuck with me since then. The story was cute and rather unique in today's cinema. It wasn't a rewritten classic, nor was it cookie cutter in plot. And it even had a twist at the end, which I am finding more and more unusual in modern comedy. As I went back to try and remember what this movie was about, I remember it fondly. However, I did have to look it up to try to remember it at all.

10 words or less: Unique yet still forgettable.

Forgiving Dr. Mengele

2009-12-08T22:56:00.001-05:00

View Date: 10/17/09

This documentary is about a woman who was in a concentration camp during WWII. She and her identical twin sister came to the attention of Dr. Mengele, the Nazi doctor obsessed with human experimentation. As she and her sister were twins, they were spared from automatic gassing because he was particularly interested in experimenting on twins. Instead, they were submitted to a different type of torture and almost died at the hands of a man sworn to protect life.

The woman at the core of this movie was very vocal in her opinions, to the point of preaching with how many times it was described throughout the movie. I enjoyed hearing the story of her history, her twin's history, and the basics of how she lived her life after the war. However, it really got into detail about her life after the war and how she came to forgive the doctor for the atrocities he committed. Parts of that were interesting, but too much time was spent watching her repeat the same story incessantly.

10 words or less: Good idea, bad execution.

One Crazy Summer

2009-12-03T19:10:00.002-05:00

View Date: 10/18/09

This movie, starring John Cusack and Demi Moore, is a romantic summer comedy. John Cusack meet Demi's character as he gets to an ocean-side town for the summer. She is an off-beat artist, while he is working with a group of very interesting characters to say the least. He winds up blowing her off after they become friendly for the attractive popular girl who is just using him. In the end, all is right with the world, with hotels saved from the bad developer guys, and he chooses the right girl.

I know that I revealed more than I usually do. However, this film follows such a basic formula for 80s teen romances that I thought it was obvious. It wasn't even that great of a movie. I watched it mainly to continue to try to complete the entire Cusack repertoire. That would probably be one of the few reasons to watch this flick.

10 words or less: No need to watch unless completing a collection.

The Basketball Diaries

2009-12-03T19:10:00.001-05:00

View Date: 10/18/09

This movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Whalberg, is a movie about a group of basketball players who fall into a downward spiral into drugs. There is a group of four friends who just happen to be the best basketball players in the city. They start off using drugs casually as a form of enjoyment, and generally in social situations. However, as mentioned before, things start spiraling out of control after the loss of one of their team to illness. One member of the group resists the temptations and succeeds, but the rest's lives fall apart.

This was a gripping and gritty portrayal of teenagers' descents into addiction. It also shows the pain and hardship experienced by those associated with addicts. It explored the destruction of lives from all angles, and the struggles to try to regain lives after addiction. It was based on a true story of the writer of the book, who also wrote songs based on his past.

10 words or less: Dark, gritty movie featuring young now-huge actors.

New Moon (movie)

2009-12-03T19:09:00.000-05:00

View Date: 12/1/09

This movie is the sequel to Twilight, based on the Twilight series of books by Stephanie Meyer. I don't want to give too much away, so I'll be brief during my descriptive section. It deals with lost love, very close friendships, and local legends. It introduces us to a new side of the local Indian tribe as well as the oldest coven of vampires.

I absolutely loved the books, and just couldn't put them down. Now, to be honest, I didn't really like the first movie. I didn't like Kristen Stewart in Twilight, and I didn't see the chemistry as much as I felt in the books.

This movie, on the other hand, I felt that the actors had really grown into their characters more. Taylor Lautner was excellent as Jacob, and Stewart seemed more at ease in her role. Robert Pattinson was very good at brooding, but was rather awkward at most other times. He did do a nice job when he was allowed to talk without having to be growly. I also really liked the close of the movie, and thought it was a good way to get people back for the next one. Overall, while not one of the best films of the year, I'm glad I saw it in the theaters.

10 words or less: Shirtless wet Wolfpack bodies on the big screen. YUM!

SYTYCD

2009-12-03T19:08:00.000-05:00

View Date: 12/2/09

Russell really does seem to be featured a lot in the group dances, not that I'm complaining. Tonight it was to Billy Joel's It's Still Rock and Roll to Me and choreographed by Tyce DiOrio. The dancers had steel fences to use as props, and had a whole section on them. Also heavily featured was Jakob, who rightfully deserves it. We also got a view of a passionate kiss between husband and wife Ryan and Ashleigh.

We got a nice recap of the dances from last night with some backstage peeks, then it went right into the votes. What was a little off was that they didn't get changed from the group routine before coming on-stage. The two female dancers in danger were Noelle and Kathryn, which left Mollee, Ellenore, and Ashleigh safe for another week. The guys were up next, with Ryan and Nathan were in danger, leaving Legacy, Russell, and Jakob safe until next week.

Legion of Extraordinary Dancers provided us with a sneak peek of a web project they have coming up for 2010. Basically picture amazing hip hop being performed to muzac-versions of popular songs. I'll be looking forward to seeing more of them in the future.

Next up were the solos. Ryan did the same one as last night, which was a really bad move in my opinion. Noelle, on the other hand, should have done that solo yesterday. It was so much better than that standard contemporary dullness she gave us last night. Kathryn is a beautiful dancer in a beautiful dress, but I couldn't tell if her solo was any different because it was the same ole' contemporary schlock. Nathan has probably come the farthest with his solos this season, possibly because he has done so many.

After the solos were complete, Snoop Dogg and Quest performed. It's always great to see former SYTYCD competitors back on the show in various roles, and seeing them dance with this group was even more of a treat. I can understand why Quest won ABDC, and why so many have at least auditioned if not competed in SYTYCD.

Finally, the audience votes determined who would stay and who would leave for the first time this season. Noelle was sent packing, which kept Kathryn safe for another week. Nathan was also sent on his way, with Ryan safe yet again. Actually, I think the right decisions were made this week, as these two would have been the ones I'd have sent home from this group.

10 words or less: It is a competition, and someone had to go.

SYTYCD

2009-12-03T19:07:00.000-05:00

View Date: 12/1/09

Tonight was the first performance show featuring the top ten dancers, who will be going on tour after the end of the season. The pairs were split, and each new couple had to perform two paired routines. Additionally, each of the dancers had to perform solos in their own style.

Note: I did miss the first part of the show and reviewed it on tape. However, the tape ran out prior to me getting home, so I will comment on only the dances I was able to see for myself.

Note 2: I didn't like not getting the peek into the studios during the rehersals. I really missed the background glimpses of the routines, and getting a peek into the choreographers' minds about their inspiration.

Noelle and Ryan #1: Tabitha and Napoleon hip hop routine. This was a take on the office romance theme, or even just a little messing around where you work. There were some great props in use throughout the routine, but some of the best parts didn't use any. There were some very interesting moves, and the dancers had great chemistry.

Ashleigh and Legacy #1: Gary Steward contemporary. I didn't really feel this coupling, and it was also off to see this type of contemporary routine. Usually they are not put to techno music, and it was really rather slow. Good end pose, though.

Mollee's solo: Surprised to learn that Mollee was in all three HSM movies. Mollee seems to always give great solos, and tonight was no different. She is so unlike most female contemporary and jazz dancers seen on this show. She uses upbeat music, and is more than just spins and leg lifts. She may not be the best dancer on the show, but she can put together a solo. You can always tell how much she loves to dance when she's up there by herself.

Russell's solo: Krumping can be really hard to do solo, but he succeeds every time. I love watching him perform, and think he should stay in the competition for a long time. He also seems to be one of the most personable competitors this season.

Kathryn and Nathan #1: Spencer Lith Broadway. She was the spitting image of a classic movie dancer- great costume, great makeup, perfect dancing. My eyes were so focused on her that I barely noticed Nathan on the stage. The few times I made myself look at him, he seemed to be doing very well.

Noelle's solo: Standard female contemporary solo with a really bad aerial cartwheel in the middle. Not much more to say about it.

Ellenore and Jakob #1: Tony and Melanie Quickstep. This was a cute routine, and the steps seemed to be executed pretty well. I did notice some bobbles by Ellenore, but overall I thought it was good. I also liked the slight bit of story involved in that they were performing in a Quickstep contest.

Ryan's solo: Honestly, it was one of his better solos, but I'm not sure how the Scorpions are going to go over with the audience.

Kathryn's solo: Another pretty standard female contemporary solo. Can you tell I'm getting pretty tired of these?

Mollee and Russell #1: Mandy Moore Lyrical Jazz. I love the fact the Mandy Moore uses music I've heard before in her routines. This was a beautiful number and seems to be a great partnership. The choreography was unique for this style, and these two could really pull it off.

Nathan's solo: This time a male contemporary solo with a little more to it. I think Nathan has learned from his previous weeks at the bottom.

Noelle and Ryan #2: JT and Tomas Smooth Waltz. The routine was rather pretty for a waltz, but I am really not a fan of this style. Ryan is an excellent partner due to his training, and Noelle is an elegant dancer in almost everything she does.

Ellenore's solo: I loved this quirky little dance. She really separates herself from the other contemporary and jazz dancers not just by her dance moves but also by her music selections. I really wish she would be able to use it more in her partner routines.

Ashleigh and Legacy #2: Dave Scott hip hop. Not really sure what to think about this routine. It really didn't seem like there was a lot of dancing, and Nigel said as much. This coupling didn't work in this routine for me.

Kathryn and Nathan #2: Tony and Melanie Rhumba. Compared with how much I dislike the waltz, I usually really enjoy the rhumba. Kathryn tried hard to be sexy, but I just didn't buy it at all from Nathan. I also agree with the judges that I didn't feel chemistry from these two.

Legacy's solo: It always amazes me how unique he can be. While we've seen most of the moves before, he puts them together in unique ways. He does perform moves that haven't been seen on this show before. This time, he performed to a song very atypical of his B-boy style, and you could really see a musicality in his performance. You could see just by this one routine just how much he has already grown over the season.

Ellenore and Jakob: Sonya contemporary. So maybe I spoke (or typed) too soon when commenting on Ellenore's solo. It looks like all she needed was to work with Sonya. This was so totally her number, and Jakob is just purely a phenomenal dancer. I could totally believe the roles they were playing, and felt the kind of chemistry I was supposed to from this routine. It is so nice to hear Nigel race as much as he did, and I totally agree. Excellent! It even garnered a standing ovation, a wave, and all sorts of crazy dancing from the judges.

Ashleigh's solo: Not the best solo I've seen, but pretty good for a ballroom dancer. If her fringe could have been shorter, I think it may have been better and showed off her actual moves more.

Mollee and Russell #2: Pasha and Anya Jive. These guys seemed to have fun out there, even if the major lift in the middle of the routine was really awkward. Russell's ballroom skills have drastically improved, and the judges also seemed to like it. I agree with Nigel that these two are really great performers. The partnership worked well, and these guys did show a significant amount of chemistry.

Jakob's solo: Standard slow emo-like music for a male contemporary dancer, and of course beautiful lines. But honestly, with how great a dancer we all know he is at this point, the solo was pretty weak.

10 words or less: First routines generally better than seconds.

Top Chef

2009-12-03T19:06:00.000-05:00

View Date: 12/2/09

Tonight was Part 1 of the finale, and the chefs were no longer in Vegas but had moved to the Napa Valley. In my opinion, this may be the best top 4 in the history of this show, and they definitely deserve to be there. Any of the remaining chefs can win this, so it should be a great competition. The four met up at a train station, but had no idea what was going on until a pregnant Padma got off the train with Michael Chiarello.

Quickfire: For the last quickfire challenge, the chefs had to cook with Napa's main crop, grapes. They were to cook on the train and serve to the judges. This was also a high stakes challenge, the winner of which would receive a Prius. Kevin expressed concern at the beginning due to his tendency toward motion sickness. The train's movement caused problems for all the contestants. They were also concerned because the Napa Valley Wine Train is known for excellent cuisine. The winner of the challenge and the Prius was Michael for using many parts of the grape in his dish.

Elimination: The chefs made their way to Rutherford Hills Winery. They had to cater the winery's annual crush party for 150 people, and each contestant had to prepare two dishes. One had to be vegetarian, while the other had to feature a local protein. Aside from salt and pepper, all ingredients had to be grown locally. The chefs were, as always, crunched on time, and several took some serious risks in their dishes.

The judges were able to find both good and bad in the offerings of each chef, but they still had a decision to make. The winner of the challenge tonight was Bryan, which put him directly through to the finals. Jennifer was sent home, making it an all male finale. Honestly, the decision makes sense. The three guys really stepped it up the second half of the season, while Jen faltered several times.

10 words or less: The three best chefs are definitely moving on.

Summer of Sam

2009-11-27T21:49:00.002-05:00

View Date: 10/17/09

This movie, starring John Leguizano, Mira Sorvino, and Adrian Brody, takes place in the summer of 1997. In New York during that summer, the serial killer Son of Sam terrorized the residents of the city, which was fully immersed in the lavish and extravagant lifestyle of the 1970s. As police try to track down the killer, the residents become more terrified, and some try to flush the killer out on their own.

This was a decent movie, but probably not one I'll watch again. It didn't hold my interest as much as I hoped it would. The acting was better than average, but I had a really hard time keeping my attention focused on it.

10 words or less: Wish it was as worrisome as that actual summer.

Gorillas in the Mist

2009-11-27T21:49:00.001-05:00

View Date: 11/21/09

This is the story of Dian Fossey, who studied and died among mountain gorillas in the mountains of Africa. It shows her first starting off studied the group of animals, and particularly how her interactions with them allowed them to trust her. The way she studied them allowed her to learn more about how they act in social groups than any prior researcher. This is particularly evident as she compares her successes with those of the former preeminent scientist on gorilla studies.

It goes on to show her great work with the silverback gorilla, whom she named Digit. She was able to make herself such a part of their group that the animals started treating her like one of their own, as they copied each others movements to become more acquainted with each other.

The movie also detailed her courageous and sometimes insane fight against poachers. She started off by disabling their traps, but once they killed 5 adults to get a baby gorilla, she started going to more extremes. She employed her own group of rangers to protect against poachers, but money always won out. One day, they were hunting another child and killed the silverback she had grown so fond of. They beheaded him and chopped off his hands to sell as ashtrays. After that, she went quite a bit mad, and made more enemies than was good for her.

Throughout it all, she was accompanied by a tracker and friend, Sembagare. He was her best friend, and was always on her side throughout her struggles. She left a fiance behind in the US before departing for Africa, and had one lover that is known of while on her mountain.

Aside from some really bad 80s music, this movie was great. The cinematography was spectacular, and the scenes with the gorillas brought the viewer closer than seeing them in zoos, even though you're not seeing them in real life. It was like you could reach out and touch the animals, and see the beauty in them the way Ms. Fossey did.

10 words or less: Beautiful feature about beautiful creatures.

The Amazing Race

2009-11-27T21:48:00.001-05:00

View Date: 11/22/09

Starting off in Estonia, the teams flew to Prague and found a man in a vintage convertible. Because this was the last leg before the finals, everyone was racing really hard and were kind of looking to screw the other teams over. They then needed to make their way to an outdoor adventure center to search for their next clue.

The teams found themselves facing a detour, Fast and Furious or Slow and Steady. In Fast and Furious, teams would need to travel down a white water rapids course and grab a ribbon containing their next clue. If the kayak capsizes before grabbing a ribbon, they had to start over again at the beginning. In Slow and Steady, teams had to maneuver along a ropes course to get their next clue. The brothers chose fast, while Meghan/Cheyne and the Globetrotters chose Slow. Both tasks were very difficult for the teams, with the brothers flipping over several times. The first part of the ropes course was fairly easy, but the competitors really struggled pulling themselves up the second part. Big Easy particularly had trouble due to his size and weight. The brothers wound up switching to Slow, and the married couple chose that as well. Then, once the brothers finished the course before the married couple, they tried to steal the taxi the spouses had requested to wait. The taxi driver wound up taking the brothers after they offered him more money, which did nothing but push the beauty queen to work harder.

After the detour, the teams had to interpret that the flags they grabbed during their last task were directing them to a theater. Cheyne started making enemies and was really rude with everyone, even his partner. They began working with the Globetrotters, then Cheyne left them behind at a tram to take a taxi to the theater. Once there, teams encountered a roadblock where one team member had to search the theater for a miniature mandolin. Once they found the mandolin, they had to bring it on-stage to an opera performer to get their next clue.

Meghan and Cheyne were the first team to find their mandolin and get their clue to head to the pit stop at the Prague Castle. Next were the brothers, followed by the Globetrotters. Brian and Ericka were the last team to arrive at the pit stop, and they found out it was a non-elimination leg. So, it also turns out that this was not the last leg before the finals, but that there would be at least one more episode.

10 words or less: Cheyne, Sam, and Dan should pay.

SYTYCD

2009-11-27T21:47:00.000-05:00

View Date: 11/25/09

I did not get to see all of last night's episode, where the top 6 couples each danced twice. I did catch the last 2 ½ dances and saw some amazing work. I did get the basic scoop from my mother, so I generally know who did well and who should be in danger tonight.

Tonight's episode started off with a great routine from Tabitha and Napoleon, which I felt was inspired by Alice in Wonderland. It almost could have been choreographed by Sonya, because it was quite jazzy for a hip hop number.

Karen and Victor started off the night in danger, while Ashleigh and Jakob were declared safe. Nathan and Mollee were declared in danger, while Kathryn and Legacy were safe for the week. The final couple in danger was Ellenore and Ryan, which left Noelle and Russell safe and into the top 10.

The votes were in, and the judges were unanimous for the girls, but not with the guys. Karen was out, and I think that was the right decision tonight. Victor was asked to leave, even though Nigel would have had Nathan out of the top 10.

10 words or less: Not surprised by the votes tonight.

The Bourne Ultimatum

2009-11-27T21:46:00.002-05:00

View Date: 11/27/09

This movie was the third in the Bourne series, with Matt Damon starring as Jason Bourne, a former government operative that had lost his memory and identity. For the past two movies, he has been trying to find out who he is, who he was, and why he knows the things he knows. In this movie, he finally got answers.

Not being the hugest fan of the series, this was a movie that I thought I could either take or leave. It was put together well, and the action sequences were exciting. While still not my favorite action movies, this was a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

10 words or less: Satisfying ending with some answers.

Rent

2009-11-27T21:46:00.001-05:00

View Date: 11/7/09

This was a live production of the student version of this show, performed by a very talented group of teenagers at PCA in Middletown, Delaware. The actors were high school students from across northern Delaware, many of whom were attending high schools for the performing arts. This version was true to the original stage show as far as could be determined, minus one main song.

The talent of the performers was amazing! The kids ranged in age from 14 to 18, and in some cases it was very hard to believe. These kids could really belt out the songs, and their performances were well beyond their years.

PCA itself has been a great find. My daughter and I attended a family night for Halloween where we got to take part in various performing arts sessions. They also have performances throughout the year, such as this show. They will be having many more this year, and I highly recommend trying to attend at least one if you are in the general area. The theater is very small, basically only two rows of chairs with some additional ones brought in if there is room and need. So, if attending a show, get there early and buy the tickets ahead of time if possible.

10 words or less: Go see a show and support the performing arts.

Survivor

2009-11-21T20:17:00.000-05:00

Air Date: 11/12/09
View Date: 11/19/09

We started off seeing the tribes after the first merged tribal council, which showed us another blindside, this time of a former Galu member and a holder of an immunity idol. Russell used his idol as well, and his other tribe members are loving the fact that he no longer has that protection. The majority of the tribe plan to take him out next.

We then got a look at Natalie killing a rat and bringing it back to camp to use as food. She made a big show of how disgusting it was, but also how hungry she was. Russell is bound and determined to find the next immunity idol, and he had already started formulating his plan to retrieve it before leaving for the reward challenge.

At the reward challenge, the tribe members were split into two teams. Then, in groups of two, they had to race out onto the course and retrieve poles with black and white coconuts on them. They then had to arrange the poles as a team so that the white coconuts revealed a four digit number. The crew learned from past challenges and made each team's number different so they couldn't cheat. Then, a blindfolded tribe member had to use their sense of touch to find the same number on a combination lock which would raise a flag. The winning team would be taken to a natural rock slide accompanied by a picnic lunch. One person would have to sit out, which was Natalie. She got to choose one team to support, and would receive whichever outcome they got.

The purple team consisted of Kelly, John, Shambo, and Dave. The yellow team was Brett, Mick, Russell, and Jaison. Purple's number was 4673, which was then passed on to a blindfolded Monica. 7346 was the number Laura needed to find for the yellow team, which was much slower in determining their number. Purple came through in the end and earned their reward. Natalie had backed yellow, so she accompanied them back to camp.

The team that won the reward challenge also received a clue toward finding the immunity idol, which they agreed to share with all of the members of the former Galu. They continued to stragegize while enjoying their day of relaxation, and all but Shambo wanted Russell out next. Back at camp, Russell set right to work looking for the idol and found it yet again without a clue. Russell is so the man! He originally planned to keep this information to himself, but instead chose to tell Shambo about it who responded with shock as expected. She shared the information that Russell's name was on the chopping block, which is exactly what he wanted so that there would be another complete blindside. Their plan was to take out Laura, but if that plan fell through then there could be some support for knocking off Monica.

At the immunity challenge, there was only one immunity necklace up for grabs. The tribe members would have to use grappling hooks to try to retrieve two bags containing puzzle pieces. The first three to retrieve their bags would move on to the next round. In the next round, they would have to try to place one of their puzzle pieces onto a board of shapes, thus toppling down another piece that they would have to place. The person who placed all of their pegs first would win immunity. Mick was the first to retrieve both bags and moved on to the next round. Shambo then got both bags and also moved on. Russell and Laura both snagged their second bag at the same time, but Russell's dropped and Laura proceeded on in the challenge. Once Laura got her first piece, she just blew through her entire board and kicked everyone's butts. With back-to-back immunity wins and just being generally disliked for her dominance around camp, particularly with the girls, she had better watch out. Personally, I think she is really cocky, but almost in a mean way, whereas Russell is cocky with a smile.

Shambo revealed during private interview that Kelly would be going out because Monica wasn't a threat. Jaison was let in on the secret, and he shared it with the other members of Foa Foa. They all agreed to keep the information from the former Galu and play up that Russell was next to go. Dave convinces that the former Galu that they did not need to worry about the idol now, even after some members expressed concern knowing that he found the previous one without a clue. Laura agrees with him, and the deal is done. However, Russell thought he overheard that Natalie would be going home, which leads him into a state of confusion. He shared this member with Jaison, who indicated that they still had a few hours to try to sway them to vote for Russell.

Eric was so pissed off sitting in the jury tonight that he looked absolutely thrilled when Russell pulled out that idol. He was practically jumping out of his seat with each vote for Russell. The first seven votes pulled out were for Russell, none of which counted. Yet all former Galu members' faces dropped as the votes continued to come. Kelly was blindsided, and Laura was pissed. She said something along the lines of “He just stirred up a whole lot of trouble with what he just pulled”. Honestly, he did exactly what he was supposed to with the idol, and it was one of the best uses of the idol in Survivor history.

10 words or less: Russell rocks! He is sooooo the man!

Survivor

2009-11-21T20:16:00.000-05:00

View Date: 11/19/09

We started off this episode with the discussions around the tribe after the major blindside at tribal council. There are now just 6 members of the previous Galu tribe remaining, while all 4 of the Foa Foa tribe to make it to the merge were still in the game. We were also reminded that Shambo, while a part of the original Galu tribe, is conspiring with Russell, which evens out the vote.

The next morning while the rest of his tribe sleeps, Russell starts searching for his next idol. It also turns out that John knows that Shambo has flipped sides, and is trying to decide what to do with that information. When she approaches him, he will not commit to which way he would vote to take out Laura.

At the reward challenge, the tribe members were split into two teams of 5. One member of the team would lie face down on a cradle. The other four members would be manning ropes to pull the cradle around a ring bearing 15 flags. They then had to get the person in the cradle back to a log to place the flag. The first team to get all 15 flags into their correct slots on the log would win reward. They would be whisked away to an island with a waterfall and a picnic lunch. They were also provided with a Palm Pre (talk about advertising) so they could have a handheld device to record a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The purple team consisted of Brett, Russell, Laura, and Dave pulling Natalie in the cradle. Shambo, Jaison, Mick, and Monica pulled John in the cradle on the yellow team.

purple leads from the start, while yellow keeps losing their flags and falls behind. Yellow keeps it pretty close, natalie hangs out of cradle keeping as little as possible in to allow for the most reach. Purple wins with natalie almost falling out during the last two flags.

Back at camp, Jaison approached Monica looking for her vote, and Monica figures out that Shambo is voting with the former Foa Foa. Jaison should have probably left well enough alone, because now they're at a disadvantage in my opinion. After coming back from the reward, everyone goes off to look for the idol. Laura and Dave vow not to let it fall into Russell's hands, so she follows Jaison on his search while Dave follows Russell. Russell figures out what is going on and starts sprinting through the woods. Dave winds up losing him, and Russell heads back to where they were just searching. Flipping over his first rock, he finds the idol yet again!

During the immunity challenge, the tribe members get one chance with one rock to break a series of tiles hanging close together. Each member is assigned a color, and if a tile of their color breaks, they get a spear. The spears are then shot at a target in the next round. The person who lands closest to the center of the target wins immunity. Laura fails to break a tile, so she has no shot at winning this immunity and ends her streak at two. After the first round, Brett earned two spears, while Jaison, Mick, and Monica each had one spear. Monica was only able to get to the last round because Dave broke one of her tiles instead of his. All other members failed to connect with the tiles. Brett hit target, then the only person that came closer was Mick. On Brett's second shot, he lands low, and Mick won immunity.

On to the strategizing, and Shambo states hands down that she is voting Laura at tribal council, and she will not be swayed. Galu talk about voting for Russell yet, and John can't believe that his tribe members have absolutely no analytical skills. Monica tells Foa Foa that she will be voting for John, but will really be voting for Natalie with the other Galu members. Mick, being a pretty smart guy, doesn't trust Monica. However, Galu didn't let John in on the plan. On the other side, Russell decides the only way he can get this to work is to tell John that his team is after him. The talk turns to ties, and John was still trying to decide what his best move was.

At tribal, Russell chooses not to play the idol, and the votes come down to Laura and Natalie, and the first round ends in a tie. The next round, the eight members whose names were not displayed got to vote again, and they could only choose between Laura and Natalie. Meanwhile, Eric is sitting in the jury saying “This is good shit!” After the second vote, one person switched sides, and Laura was voted off. More stunned looks by former Galu members, and incredibly smug looks from both Foa Foa and the jury, at least Eric.

10 words or less: John's right: no strategic skills whatsoever.

Project Runway

2009-11-21T20:15:00.000-05:00

View Date: 11/19/09

The final episode of the season started off with Carol-Hannah feeling miserable due to her illness was and really struggling. She started off the day very upset and overwhelmed, and was getting sympathy and hugs from both Christopher and Logan. The helpers then stayed in the work room continuing with the collections while the final three went to have their hair and makeup consultations. Some of the fittings were rather stressful, but Carol-Hannah really lucked out for once this week and her fittings went fairly well. The fact that this is the first time there were three girls in the finale and it could really be seen in the workroom, in a very stereotypical way. The ladies were feeling very overwhelmed all around, and emotions were running over.

The last day started with Carol-Hannah feeling much better, and the work continued. Their last day of work finishes with a flurry and stress all around. The day of the show, the designers needed to wake up very early in order to have enough time for all of the prep work with the models, etc. They make their way to the tent where they will be showing their collections in the customary Project Runway fashion, then head back to get ready. There is a huge time crunch, and even Tim Gunn flies off the handle quite a bit backstage. Even with two minutes left to go and the audience seated, models were still getting dressed, but everything comes together at the last minute.

Althea was first to present her collection. She explained her inspiration as Sci Fi movies of the 1950's and 1960's, and that she was presenting a take on what the modern woman would wear in a future scenario. I didn't see her inspiration in many of her pieces, and the construction on her final dress, which fit like a glove, was quite poor as it puckered where it wasn't supposed to.

Carol-Hannah was up next, looking fabulous and presenting a beautiful line. So many of her pieces could be worn by women of many shapes and sizes, which was really nice to see. Even the outfit she was wearing fit really well with her collection.

Irina explained how her collection was inspired by New York itself, as home is where the heart is. I likes the way her clothes looked going better than coming down the runway, because the backs were very detailed and flattering. I could have lost the hats, but her collection was very good and very detailed.

Of the three, I liked Althea's collection the least. I really like the wearability of Carol-Hannah's line, but Irina's was stunning. The judges commended how well finished Irina's line was, but disliked that the whole line was black. Carol-Hannah's line was respected for structured draping, but Heidi commented that the collection didn't really flow well. The judges questioned that Althea's inspiration didn't quite come through in several of her pieces, but were very excited by the separates and sportswear.

Carol-Hannah was the first to be declared out, which was a tad disappointing that she was out first. Irina won this season, and rightfully so. She has consistently been the best throughout the season, and put together a very detailed and cohesive collection. Obviously, Althea was then out. The right person won this season, based not only on her collection but on the season as a whole.

10 words or less: Another season in January already?!?

Revolution OS

2009-11-21T20:14:00.003-05:00

View Date: 10/10/09

This documentary provides the story of the development of the computer operating system Linux. There are interviews with the original creators of the operating system, as well as the developers of free software sharing. Specifically, the software developed to counteract the consumerism and profit quest of Microsoft.

I felt that this film was very preachy about the horrible big business methods of other software companies. It was dry and rather boring. I think the only people that would really enjoy this movie were major computer guys and those anti-big business.

10 words or less: Won't be watching this again.

Project Runway

2009-11-21T20:14:00.002-05:00

Air Date: 11/12/09
View Date: 11/13/09

This was the first part of the two-part finale, where we got to see the start of the top three's collections as Tim Gunn went to their homes. Irina did run into a problem with a main part of her collection. She was originally going to use T-shirts with pictures of Coney Island under a more tailored outer design. Unfortunately for her, the pictures were copyrighted and not available for use. This really stressed her out because now she had to rethink her whole line.

Then all of the designers headed back to New York about 7 days before fashion week. While sitting around in their rooms, Althea and Irina find out that Carol-Hannah is very sick and wouldn't be coming in that day. She did come in the next day, but still felt pretty awful. Everyone got down to fitting their models and working on their collections when a surprise was thrown their way: they had to create another look that fit in with the feel of their remaining collection. But they would not be alone. The last three designers eliminated from the competition were brought back and randomly chosen to work with the remaining contestants. The six headed off to mood with $150 and gathered their supplies, and their main models picked the girls for the 13th look. Back to work, then on to home. But once back in their rooms, Carol-Hannah's illness returns with a vengeance and she's not sure if she can go on with Fashion Week. And that is the cliff hanger we were left with leading into the season finale.

One unusual thing that happened was that Michael Kors and Nina Garcia met with the designers to provide them with advice regarding putting on a runway show. Ideas included how best to set up a line presentation, with some basic ideas like start big, end big.

10 words or less: I really hope Carol-Hannah can continue. She's my favorite.

Searching for Schindler

2009-11-21T20:13:00.002-05:00

Author: Thomas Keneally
Completed: 10/14/09

This book, by the author of Schindler's List, about the writing of the book and then the production of the movie. Basically, this is the tale of the author's involvement in the story of Schindler. It starts with Mr. Keneally learning about Schindler from a salesperson and store owner who was saved by him in the war and had been collecting information for years. As the author learned more about the history of the Schindler Jews through interviews, letters, and historical documents, he felt more and more compelled to write the tale.

The book Schindler's List was written and became a critically acclaimed and award winning hit. It got into the hands of Stephen Spielberg, who wanted to make it into a movie but was involved with other projects at the time. He did keep it in the queue. 10-15 years after the book was written, the movie director felt it was finally time to make the film, and that he could do it the justice it deserved. Keneally and the person who started the book's journey were on-site during the construction and filming. They were even able to accompany the filmmakers to awards shows.

This was a very interesting book. Prior to reading this, I had only seen the movie. Since seeing this and learning more of the story behind the film, I have decided that I need to read the book and learn the parts the movie left out or changed. And anything that leads me to want to read and learn more is good in my book.

10 words or less: Made me want to read more of the story.

Y: The Last Man- Unmanned

2009-11-21T20:12:00.000-05:00

Author: Brian K. Vaughn, Pia Guerra, Jose Marzan Jr.
Completed: 10/29/09

This graphic novel is about the world after a virus wipes out all living creatures with a Y chromosome. Or so it appears at first. It then turns out that there are two known males remaining in the world, a man and his monkey. At this point, however, the world, or at least the United States, is in total disarray. The women have split into factions, some who want to take over the formerly male roles held by their significant others, Amazons who follow in their namesake's path, and women who want to change how the world works. It has become very much a fend-for-yourself society where one of the most important possessions is a motorcycle.

The lone guy, on the other hand, wants nothing other than to travel to Australia and find his girlfriend, whom he wants to marry. He and his monkey are threatened by every woman they meet on their way to Washington DC, where he encounters his mother. She and a few others figure that he could be the answer to the future of the species, and they send him on a mission to find a doctor's research in Boston. He must travel in disguise, but they start their trip.

I really liked this book. After I finished reading this, I was so upset because there wasn't more. Unfortunately, I only had the first volume, but I will definitely have to pick up more in the series.

10 words or less: Must read more...

Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in 3D

2009-11-21T20:11:00.002-05:00

View Date: 10/3/09

These two classic Pixar movies were remade in 3D. They were then released for a limited engagement as a double feature, and had an all new intermission video as well. I believe these were re-engineered and re-released as preparation for the release of Toy Story 3 in the next few years.

These stories were always good, but not my favorite Pixar movies. But it was a great way to spend an afternoon with my daughter, and the 3D effect was enjoyable. It was particularly noticeable during the credits, but other parts were also enjoyable.

10 words or less: Looking forward to Toy Story 3.

Edge of Seventeen

2009-11-21T20:11:00.001-05:00

View Date: 10/16/09

This movie is a standard coming of age movie with a twist: the person finding out about themselves is a gay man. He starts to discover who he is while employed at his summer job, and the realization becomes clearer after the school year begins. He starts frequenting a friend's gay bar and engages in several sexual episodes with various people. His best friend, a female, is in love with him, but she doesn't outwardly accept his leaning. Things get especially bad when they attempt to be romantically involved, but of course it doesn't work out.

This movie, supposedly made in the late 1990s, had a distinct feel of the mid 1980s, which was when the story took place. Other than that, I thought it was really cheesy and not as good as the reviews I had read.

10 words or less: Don't understand the hype.

Ballerina

2009-11-21T20:10:00.001-05:00

View Date: 10/17/09

This documentary followed the lives of 5 Russian ballerinas during different stages of their careers. It gives a peek into the most famous Russian dance school. It also looks into several dance troupes, ballerinas striving to become prima ballerinas or at least principals, and dancers at the peak of their careers. Finally, we get to see the struggles encountered by a principal dancer who is trying to come back from injury.

I found this film fascinating. I have loved dance for years, and took lessons a long time ago. The film was really able to get across the struggles of a dancer, and shows that to achieve the ultimate levels in this field, huge sacrifices need to be made. It then updated us on the careers of the five main dancers, which I enjoy in a film.

10 words or less: An interesting look into a grueling lifestyle.

Slaughterhouse Five

2009-11-18T23:06:00.003-05:00

Author: Kurt Vonnegat
Completed: 9/30/09

This classic novel was written from the perspective of a man who gets “unstuck in time”, after is kidnapped by aliens from Tralfamadore. Therefore, we experience his life in a scrambled manner, jumping from one important event to another in no particular order. There is particular attention paid to his time in WWII, where he experienced the firebombing of Dresden and was deeply shaken by it.

Parts of this novel are based on Vonnegat's own experiences. He was an American prisoner in Dresden during the bombing and was, rightfully, deeply shaken by the event.

I enjoyed this book. I did wind up listening to it, but at some point I may go back and read the hard copy. I love books that jump around as this did, and the prose was interesting. The story kept me involved, but I think that by listening to it I was more easily confused.

10 words or less: Need to pick up a hard copy.

SYTYCD

2009-11-18T23:06:00.001-05:00

View Date: 11/17/09

The night started out with a quirky and inventive group dance that looked, aside from the costumes, that it would have come out of one of the main American dance studios or troupes. It reminded me very much of performance art, especially in the odd poses and reveals by removing sheets. Of course, the number was choreographed by Wade and Amanda Robson, who seem to be presenting more and more oddball numbers that are either absolutely loved or dreadfully hated.

Ashleigh and Jakob were the first couple of the night declared safe tonight. Karen and Kevin were in the bottom three couples, and were the first to know that they had to dance their solos. Ellenore and Ryan's contemporary routine left them safe for another week. Noelle and Russell performed the Foxtrot last night, which left them safe. Channing and Victor's jazz routine, inspired by blackbirds, unfortunately left them in the bottom three couples and forced them to perform their solos tonight. Finally, Mollee and Nathan were in danger, which left Kathryn and Legacy safe.

While the competitors prepared for their solos, we got to see NDM Bollywood Dance Productions, which included the choreographer of all the Bollywood numbers seen on SYTYCD. I always enjoy watching the choreographers perform, because it reminds you that they actually are amazing dancers themselves.

After the solos and while thejudges were deliberating, we were treated to a musical performance by Arianthe. A note on the solos, Mollee and Nathan by far had the best performances of the night.

The judges were unanimous in their decisions for both the boys and girls. For the girls, Mollee and Karen were safe while Channing was eliminated, more because her personality has not come out as much as others while on the show. For the guys, Nathan and Victor were allowed to continue, with Kevin sent home. Both of those eliminated are amazing dancers, but I do understand and agree with the judges' decisions tonight.

10 words or less: While sad, the right people were sent home.

American Meth

2009-11-18T23:05:00.001-05:00

View Date: 10/1/09

This documentary explores the methamphetamine problem taking over many areas of the country. We learn about the reasons for the increase in meth use, and “meet” meth users/addicts. The movie looks into why meth is more popular in certain areas than others, and interviews people both in the scene and impacted by the drug's local effects.

This was a rather dry representation, and I have seen better. It was interesting to see some of the towns hardest hit by this particular drug and hear from the local teens of those areas. But I wouldn't recommend it.

10 words or less: I've seen better.

Step Brothers

2009-11-18T23:04:00.002-05:00

View Date: 10/10/09

This movie has Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly playing adults who live at home and are basically drains on society. When their parents get married, they reluctantly, or you could say violently, are forced to become family. They soon discover that they have more in common than just their hatred of each other, and become best friends. Of course, they wind up getting split up by various circumstances, but come back together in the end.

I had hesitated to see this, finally doing so only reluctantly. It was really pretty funny, even if the basic story line is routine. These guys go way over the top and they do make an incredible pair. Unfortunately, all of Will Ferrell's movies are starting to look alike, and I'm kind of getting tired of them. John C. Reilly can pull off the stupid-funny, like in this movie or Walk Hard, but that makes it hard to remember that he has actual talent, as seen in Chicago.

10 words or less: Funny, but enough already.

Help! I'm a Boy

2009-11-18T23:04:00.001-05:00

View Date: 10/10/09

This movie is in the classic “Freaky Friday” style, where two people who believe they have nothing in common, magically switch bodies and live each others' lives. In this case, it is about a boy and a girl who vehemently hate each other in school and while pretending to be on opposing sides of an ancient war. This time, there is actual magic involved in the switch from a book of magic.

OK, I realize that that explanation just doesn't do this movie justice. I have seen many movies with this type of premise, but this was one of the best of the genre. This was a foreign film that was overdubbed, and had a more whimsical quality than most American-made films. I also enjoyed the fact that the switch was between a boy and a girl rather than a parent and child. It added a different dynamic to the common storyline. It also provided some interesting wardrobe issues, and really delved into the aspects of life that are influenced by gender, or at least as much as a kid's movie can. It also looked at how kids are affected by the lack or abundance of attention from their parents.

My daughter and I loved this movie. I would definitely watch it again or recommend it to a friend. The magic aspect was cute, and it really showed how different people could learn to appreciate each other if given the chance.

10 words or less: An excellent representation of this movie genre.

Top Chef

2009-11-18T23:03:00.000-05:00

View Date: 11/17/09

The final five chefs were competing in tonight's episode, which was to be the last challenge in Vegas. The four that make it out of this episode would then move on to the finale in

Quickfire Challenge: Gavin Kaysen was the guest judge for this challenge, who had competed in essentially the “cooking Olympics” per Mike. The challengers had to make their own version of his winning dish, which consisted of a protein in a protein in a protein. The winner, while not receiving immunity, would receive a significant advantage for the Elimination Challenge. The chefs had more time than usual to complete this challenge, with 1 ½ hours. Jennifer won the challenge, and really took a step back in the right direction. The two least successful dishes per the guys judge

Elimination Challenge: It was then announced that the chefs would be participating in the Top Chef version the “Cooking Olympics”. The chefs needed to create a dish as regal presentation platter with one protein and and two garnishes, but the garnishes needed to be very intricate. Lamb or salmon were the only protein choices for this challenge. Jennifer received an additional 30 minutes to cook as her reward. Thomas Keller, the only American chef to have two restaurants to simultaneously have 3 Michelin Stars, was a judge for this challenge. Finally, the contestants would be presenting to 12 tasters, and complete the plating from the platter to the individual servings at the table. After shopping, four of the five chefs watched a DVD that was left of the actual competition. Also, Kevin asked Bryan for advice on a cooking technique, and Bryan helped him because sharing information is the true nature of cooking.

Michael is very confident in his abilities, even more so this time because he has participated in cooking competitions before. Tom came back and announced that the winner of this challenge would win $30000, which just added more pressure than the already pressure-cooker levels involved with this dish. The tasters found Kevin's food delicious but simply constructed. They then criticized Michael for a lack of harmony among his dishes, as well as finding a bone in a serving of his fish. Bryan's plating was complemented, but the execution was not the best. The judges felt that Eli's dish was unpleasant, and the lamb was significantly undercooked. Jennifer was up last, but the judges felt it lacked direction and parts were undercooked.

A final surprise was that one chef would be presented with the opportunity to compete with the next American team for the international competition. At the disclosure of that information, the contestants' jaws essentially hit the floor as they realized the true weight of this challenge.

All of the chefs were requested to stand before the judges together tonight. Michael's direction was questioned, while Bryan had to defend his quite rare lamb. Kevin's complexity was questioned, while Jennifer's salmon cooking was investigated. Eli was criticized for the fattiness as well as the done-ness of his lamb.

The winner of tonight's challenge, including the money and the competition spot, was Kevin. He also received the chef coat and reading material to help him prepare for the international stage. Eli was the chef to go tonight, which surprised me a little based on the judges' comments. But in the end, the best four chefs, those that have been consistently best throughout the season, made their way into the finals.

It was an emotional exit, but Eli knew that the four chefs going on were amazing, and he was proud to have made it as far as he did.

Thus, moving on, we have Michael, Bryan, Jennifer, and Kevin. Any of them would be totally deserving of the title of Top Chef. I am so glad it will come down to these guys as the final four. While we have seen some great dishes and I respect the work put forth by the other contestants this season, these four are truly the best this season has to offer.

10 words or less: This is the way it should be.

Tricks

2009-11-17T22:54:00.001-05:00

Author: Ellen Hopkins
Completed: 9/29/09

This book is another one of Ms. Hopkins wonderful works of poetry, yet told a very striking story. This volume tells the story of a set of very different teenagers who find themselves in remarkably similar situations. Each comes from a different background, and make trips to the same destination based on their circumstances. Yet the stories all become intertwined, more so than originally disclosed.

I was probably disturbed by the story of this book than any other I have yet read by this author. While all of her books focus on teenagers in dangerous or disturbing situations, this one explored what to me is an even darker topic. If a teenager were to read this, they need to understand that it is a story of what not to do and not try to emulate it. Although fiction, it provided a stark view of reality for many teens.

10 words or less: A stark look at a disturbing subject matter.

SYTYCD

2009-11-17T22:53:00.001-05:00

View Date: 11/17/09

Tonight, the top 14 dancers were up, and we got a special treat by seeing pictures of the judges as children. Cat was looking very nice, but the real standout in the looks department tonight was Mary. She was more covered than usual, but her hair was pulled back and she truly looked lovely.

Ashleigh and Jakob: Tabitha and Napoleon choreographed a hip hop piece for this duo about a couple where the man has cheated on his wife. This couple continues to impress me. Even though this was completely out of their style comfort zones, I thought they did a really good job with the number.

Karen and Kevin: Broadway was their randomly-selected dance tonight, and Spencer Liff provided the choreography. This was probably the least exciting number this couple has done this season. The steps were all there, but the performance wasn't quite there. There were brief moments of crispness and flamboyance, but it just didn't gel tonight.

Noelle and Russell: Eddie Simon designed a Foxtrot for this couple, who had actually chosen it the first week when Noelle was injured and Russell performed with Melanie, the choreographer. I don't quite get this song with a Foxtrot, and it was not a very flattering costume design for her. My eyes were definitely drawn to him, and he also looked more comfortable in the number. Their technique was commended by the judges, and huge improvements were noted in Russell's work.

Channing and Victor: This couple had to perform a Tyce DiOrio jazz routine tonight. The story behind this dance was that they are two jazzy night birds out for a little fun. The couple even used a giant birdcage facade as a prop, which just enhanced this number. It was a fun performance, and quirky enough to be remembered.

Kathryn and Legacy: This couple received a Tony Meredith Paso Doble to perform tonight. Legacy is just FINE shirtless. This was a very strong performance, and Legacy was able to keep the powerful persona throughout. The ending was a bit awkward, but I could not keep my eyes off the rest of the performance.

Ellenore and Ryan: This pair danced a Travis Wall contemporary routine tonight. Travis' routines are always memorable, as was this one. It was a very pretty number, but I thought Ryan was rather weak when it came to the dancing itself. It kind of looked like he was just there to lift Ellenore and carry her around the stage. The judges disagreed with me, but I wasn't a Ryan fan tonight.

Mollee and Nathan: Laurieanne Gibson put together a pop jazz routine for this couple, the youngest of the season. The performance was OK, even with Mollee channelling a 1980's Madonna. Nathan received a similar lecture from Nigel that Victor did, in that they now need to grow, no matter how exceptionally gifted they are.

10 words or less: Legacy and Kathryn on top, who's on the bottom?

The Amazing Race

2009-11-17T22:52:00.002-05:00

View Date: 11/15/09

The teams departed Sweden and headed to Estonia, where they had to use a set of provided keys to unlock their next clue. To get to their destination, they had to take a 16 hour ferry ride, and all teams were on the same boat. The next clue was a roadblock, where one member had to join the Brotherhood of the Black Hats to solve a mystery. First the teams had to make their way to the basement, then locate a candelabra with a designated room number. In there, they were to locate an apparently blank scroll which had a hidden message only revealed by heating the parchment.

Prior to the roadblock, the father/son team had their speed bump to complete due to coming in last place in the previous leg. The guys had to make their way to a sauna, strip down, and take a 5 minute sauna with locals prior to proceeding to the road block.

Back at the road block, the teams had some difficulty discovering the invisible message. Flight Time and Big Easy had one of the hardest times and colored their paper prior to holding it up to the light. The son was selected to complete this challenge, and could not figure out what a candelabra was. The son did not read the word “garden” in the clue, and ran around the tower several times prior to finding the clue box.

After finding their next clue based on the invisible message, the teams encountered a detour. Their choices were Serve or Sling. In Serve, the teams had to play volleyball in a bog against a local team, generally sunk in the mud to their knees. They would earn their next clue once they earned 5 points. In Sling, the teams had to wade out into the mud and fire assorted rocks at a moose sign. Hitting the sign would drop a pile of cabbages and their next clue.

Meghan and Cheyne made it through the roadblock and to the pit stop first by completing Serve. Three other teams all arrived at Serve at the same time and had a lot of trouble finding the marked path to the challenge. Since only two teams could play volleyball at the same time, Miss America and her husband chose to default to Sling located very close by. The Globetrotters and the brothers both had a very hard time at volleyball, not just because of the mud but also just trying to hit the ball up in the air. They did eventually get the hang of it. However, the Globetrotters headed the wrong way after the roadblock, and tried to compete in a foot race against the brothers. In the foot race, there was some jostling and falling off the path, putting the brothers in front.

Miss America and her husband did succeed at Sling, but wound up coming in fourth. The father/son team wound up coming in last after completing Sling and were eliminated from the race. It was a tough day for them even by their own accord. They left proud of their performance and proud to have raced with each other.

10 words or less: Definitely sad to see them go.

Fame (2009)

2009-11-17T22:52:00.001-05:00

View Date: 9/26/09

This was a remake of the classic movie, which followed the lives of a group of students from the auditions through graduation. It followed the same basic idea and included the songs and dance scenes as in the original, which I have reviewed previously. It did take a different turn at some points, and changed some storylines significantly.

At over an hour shorter than the original, the movie could not go as in-depth into the lives of the students. Thus, I did not get as invested in their stories, and did not care as much about what happened to them. The actors chosen to play the teachers were phenomenal, and I never knew Meghan Mullaly could sing the way she did in the karaoke scene. The dancing, acting, and singing were of course unbelievable.

But the film did disappoint me. I think, no matter how great it was, I was never going to be overly impressed with it because of how much I love the original. Kherington, who appeared on SYTYCD, was great when she was dancing, but they didn't let her speak much and her part was much too small. I would have enjoyed seeing more of it all, even with the story updated to the current decade. On its own, it was a pretty good movie, but nothing compared to the original.

10 words or less: Not the original.

Fame (1980)

2009-11-17T22:51:00.000-05:00

This classic movie is about a high school in New York for the performing arts. It focuses on a group of students and follows them from their auditions through their graduation from the school. We get involved with actors, dancers, and musicians. The students break out into song and dance in the lunchroom, in the middle of the street, whenever they want. This movie won award for the songs released, and is in the hearts of many people who grew up in the 1980's.

I may not have gone into the performing arts, but I have always had an appreciation for them and other forms of art. I love musicals, and this is no exception. Several of the actors have gone on to prominent careers, while others have gone on to careers in theater and music. This movie brought light to this school, and spawned a TV series that ran for several years. At almost three hours, it is a long movie, but it is well worth watching.

10 words or less: A classic that everyone should see.

This Christmas

2009-11-17T22:50:00.002-05:00

View Date: 9/22/09

This Christmas is a movie about an African American family who gathers together for Christmas. Several members have personal agendas, while others are running from or hiding secrets. Everyone in the family has something to hide, yet all secrets are revealed during the time the family is together.

This was a great movie. It had some fantastic actors and a gripping storyline. I love Loretta Devine, and she played the foundation of the family as the mom. The stories of the children, while separate, all tie together into an interesting tale of family tale of apparent betrayal, strife, and love.

10 words or less: Watch this any time of the year.

The Amazing Race

2009-11-17T22:50:00.001-05:00

Air Date: 11/8/09
View Date: 11/12/09

The teams start off from Holland and start heading to Stockholm to go to an amusement park for their next clue. And Happy Birthday to Flight Time! Once at the airport, three teams are able to get onto an early flight, and the other two have to wait for a flight almost 3 hours later. After arriving in Sweeden, the teams raced to get a train to Stockholm, then had to take a ferry to get to their destination. The Globetrotters missed the train the first teams got on and thus got behind.

After arriving at the amusement park and finding the tallest ride, the teams discovered a road block, where one team member needed to ride the ride and look for an arrow that would direct them to their next clue. The first two teams worked together and spotted the clue on their first attempt, then took the giant plunge on the thrill ride. The teams then made their way to a roaming gnome ring toss. They had to toss rings onto giant gnome hats that hid Travelocity roaming gnomes containing their next clue.

Sweden is best known for two things, the Vikings and Nobel, which set up the detour on this leg of the race. In Nobel Dynamite, the teams had to fill sand bags to create a protective barrier. After the formation was complete, they would then set off dynamite that would blow up a portion of the rock quarry and reveal a box containing their next clue. In Viking Alphabet, teams must decipher a message using an ancient Viking alphabet. Once that is done, they will receive their next clue. All teams wound up choosing the dynamite task. After donning protective gear, the teams made their way to the blasting site. The teams didn't realize how hard it would be to construct a sand bag wall.

The teams then had to drive to a farm used during a former season, the first time Phil ever had to go out and stop a team during the competition. That task involved unrolling hay bales looking for clues, but there was not a clue in every bale. The task was recreated in a switchback, where only 7 flags were available in well over 100 bales. This time, the farm was also the pit stop for the race.

The Globetrotters were successful, which was a great birthday present, and came in first place on this leg, winning a trip from Travelocity. The last two teams showed up while everyone but the basketball players were still in the field. The father/son team finished in last place, but this was a non-elimination leg. So next time, they will have to complete a task no other team will need to do, and time is not on their side.

10 words or less: Happy Birthday Flight Time!

The Amazing Race

2009-11-17T22:47:00.001-05:00

View Date: 11/1/09

First off, the teams departed from the Dubai pit stop and flew to Amsterdam. At the airport, all of the teams caught up with the leaders and were on the same flight out of the country. While sitting around the airport waiting for their flight, the Globetrotters shared stories while the brothers came out to the group.

After arriving in Amsterdam, Brian and Erica had trouble getting their car into gear, and started off the driving portion in last place. After getting their next clue, the teams had to make their way to the tallest building in the city and complete a road block. One team member had to count the bells located on two floors in a tower. Once they found the right number, they would receive their next clue. The father/son team came out ahead after this challenge, and made their way to a large windmill, but they got passed on the road.

At the windmill, the teams found a detour, where they had to either complete a Farmer's Game or a Farmer's Dance. Teams had to wear traditional Dutch costumes for either task, one male and one female, and ride bikes to the next part of the detour. For the game, the team members had to strip down to their costume underwear and swim across a creek, then play a crazy game of golf and complete each hole in 8 strokes or less. In the dance, the competitors had to first hit a strongman bell, then had to participate in a traditional Dutch folk dance and eat salted herring with onions.

The golf presented teams with an additional challenge of very unique clubs and incredibly high winds. Most teams chose golf and eventually figured out some tricks to mastering the technique. The brothers made it to the pit stop first after the detour, and won sand buggies as an added reward. The poker players had a huge problem hitting the strong man bell, so they decided to switch to the golf. However, that didn't work much better, so they switched back. During this time, the Globtrotters had lots of fun dancing, and the married couple even caught up and completed the dancing, after taking a wrong turn by not taking bikes to their detour choice.

In the end, the married couple overcame their time penalty for not using the bikes and beat the poker players. The ladies just weren't having any luck with either detour choice, and chose to give up amid tears.

10 words or less: Sad to see the poker players go.

Top Chef

2009-11-11T23:01:00.001-05:00

View Date: 11/11/09

Quickfire Challenge: The chefs started the day off at a kitchen in the Venetian. Padma then called them and instructed them to prepare room service for herself and Nigella Lawson. Specifically, the chefs were to prepare breakfast in bed for the two ladies, using anything they could find and had 30 minutes to complete the task. Robin and Eli were in the first group to serve. Unfortunately, Michael followed Robin at her workstation and insisted on spending the first 5-10 minutes cleaning up before he started cooking. He then got into a confrontation with Robin during his cooking time, which totally pissed off Robin. Michael and Kevin were in the second round, while Jen and Bryan followed in the third round. The least favorite dishes in this challenge were Bryan and Robin. The favorite dishes included Kevin's and Eli's. The winner of this quickfire was Eli, who would be the only chef from this season whose recipe would be included in the Top Chef Quickfire Cookbook.

Elimination Challenge: The chefs were to create a dish based on a casino, the specific one determined by choosing knives. The chefs were going to be catering to 175 people, and had the day to gain inspiration from their assigned location. Michael chose New York New York, while Jen headed off to Excaliber. Mandalay Bay was to be the source of inspiration for Bryan, and Robin headed off to the Bellaggio. Kevin chose the Mirage and had a great time with the dolphins, which left Eli with Circus Circus.

The favorite dishes of the night belonged to Kevin, Michael, and Bryan, with the winning dish belonging to Michael. For winning, he received a very large bottle of Terlato wine and a trip to the Terlato vineyards in Napa Valley. Obviously, the least favorite dishes of the challenge belonged to Jennifer, Eli, and Robin. In the end, Robin was eliminated, and honestly, it was past time for her to leave.

10 words or less: It's about freakin' time.

JCVD

2009-11-11T23:00:00.000-05:00

View Date: 9/22/09

This critically-acclaimed movie, named after the main actor Jean-Claude Van Damme, is about the actor returning to his Belgian homeland in the midst of financial problems. He goes to a bank to transfer money after taking pictures with fans, and finds himself in the middle of a robbery. The onlookers think, based on what they saw, that Van Damme is actually robbing the bank.

This received huge buzz, and I immediately put it on my list to watch. It was a little hard to watch at times because it kept switching between English and French with subtitles, but that can be the case with many foreign films. It was kind of sad to see the actor in this kind of role, which was so different from the roles he is best known for. But even in the middle of a rather depressing story, he is able to make fun of himself and his situation. I understand that parts of this may be based on his life. If that's the case, I really feel for him. This was a well performed role, and I hope it can act as a comeback for JCVD himself.

10 words or less: Sad story, especially depending on how much is true.

Alpha Dog

2009-11-11T22:59:00.000-05:00

View Date: 9/21/09

This movie is about a young man who becomes a drug lord in his town, supported by several of the adults in his community. After a deal gone wrong, he seeks revenge on the person who screwed him over. The opportunity falls right in his lap when he and his friends find the screw-up's younger brother walking alone while they are driving out of town. They kidnap him, and then realize what they have done is a crime. They shuffle him between different hideouts and some of them befriend him along the way.

Now, this is based on a true story, and true stories focused on drugs usually don't end well. Several great actors were involved in this film, including Emile Hirsch, Anton Yelchin, and Bruce Willis. A very surprising performance was put forth by Justin Timberlake as a punk with a heart. This was a gritty movie with a traumatic ending, and it even caught me off guard at times.

10 words or less: A strong stomach is needed for this true story.

SYTYCD

2009-11-11T20:49:00.002-05:00

View Date: 11/11/09

The top 16 dancers started off the evening performing a group dance choreographed by Dave Scott. The costumes were very tribal, and started with a solo shot of Russell who looked quite a bit like the first slayer. Of course, Ryan was the big strong king character who got to throw a female across the stage, yet he also had the smallest part.

All of the outfits for the judges and Cat, excluding Adam's, were a little off tonight. Cat's makeup was particularly kooky, with both her eyes and her lips too dark. Nigel's outfit made him look very gray. I realize his hair is gray, but the shirt/jacket combo really washed out his color.

Then on to the results. First up, Ellenore and Ryan were pronounced in danger right away based on their hip hop routine. Channing and Victor, based on their contemporary dance, were safe tonight. Kathryn and Legacy's Broadway number left them safe for another week. Ashleigh and Jakob's Mandy Moore jazz routine left them safe from elimination, and it was well deserved. Peter and Pauline's quickstep left them in danger, and I'm not surprised. Russell and Noelle danced an amazing African jazz number that left them rightfully safe for another week. Kevin and Karen's hustle left them in danger, which is a little surprising. Mollee and Nathan performed a very poor salsa number, which somehow kept them safe based on America's voting.

While the bottom 6 dancers prepared for their solos, we were treated with a beautiful performance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. After the solos and a judges conference during a commercial break, the announcements were made. Of the three ladies, Pauline was eliminated. I think this was a good choice overall, as she had been at risk before. From the guys, the judges decided to send Peter packing. As a side note, both of the decisions tonight were unanimous. I think Ryan should have been sent home. I've been really impressed by Peter this season, and it's absolutely horrible to see the last tapper sent home.

10 words or less: Right girl, wrong guy.

SYTYCD

2009-11-11T20:49:00.001-05:00

View Date: 11/10/09

The top 16 dancers competed tonight, and America got its first chance to actually vote for their favorites. We also got a lengthy description of a new Dizzy Feet Foundation dance show being held in LA at the end of the month. On a completely different note, Cat's dress reminds me a lot of the original series V (I haven't seen the new version yet).

Karen and Kevin: This couple took on a Maria Torres hustle. To me, this looked kind of like a slow disco. It was executed well, but didn't really grab me. I'll have to see how this routine compares to the ones to come later. This couple keeps growing on Karen's strength, and Kevin improves every week.

Ashleigh and Jakob: Mandy Moore choreographed a jazz number utilizing a cane for this couple. This reminded me, in a very good way, of Sabra and Neil's table dance from several seasons ago. This was very well done, and the stark black and white appearance went really well with the music. This couple continues to grow and the competition goes on. Nigel nailed his comparison of Jakob to Joel Grey on the head.

Pauline and Peter: This duo got saddled with the quickstep tonight, created by new choreographers JT and Tomas. The story and the dance were both very cute, and Pauline was able to pull off a hula girl well. The performance seemed to make up for any technical issues in the judges' eyes. Peter impresses me more and more each week, while Pauline is still in the middle for me.

Kathryn and Legacy: Andy B choreographed a Broadway number for these two which included both a chair and a hat as props. Legacy followed up his phenomenal performance from last week with another unbelievable number. This couple could be almost unstoppable if allowed to proceed, especially if Legacy continues to improve by the leaps and bounds as he has. The judges and I will just have to disagree about this dance, particularly Kathryn's performance.

Channing and Victor: This new pairing danced a Stacey Tookey contemporary routine. This was a very pretty routine, and I like Stacey Tookey more every time she's on the show. Will I remember this number for years- no. That makes me wonder if I'll remember this by the end of the night.

Ellenore and Ryan: This week, this couple received the task of a Lil' C hip hop number. I found the routine boring, and Ryan didn't get into it as much as was required. Worst routine of the night so far.

Mollee and Nathan: Salsa was the dance picked by this couple, who worked with choreographer Gustavo Vargas, another new choreographer to the show. This was definitely her dance. When she was dancing alone, she was great and looked like almost a different person. He, on the other hand, looked awkward, and didn't partner her well at all. There was a definite lack of trust during this routine.

Noelle and Russell: An African jazz routine was designed for this duo by choreographer Sean Cheesman. This was a nice routine, and a good way to end the night. Both members of the pairing really lived up to this dance, which was lively and interesting to watch. I am a little confused by the judges' take on Russell this season. They say that he is a king and a star of this season, and yet they have been close to eliminating him each of the past two weeks. He is another who surprises every week, and continually improves every time we see him.

10 words or less: Not a great show, but some standouts.

Survivor

2009-11-11T20:48:00.000-05:00

Air Date: 11/5/09
View Date: 11/10/09

With Foa Foa down to four tribe members, they are desperately hoping for a merge to try to save any of their numbers. Lucky for them, the two tribes walk toward each other down the beach and discover the two tribes are merged. Accompanying the news is the typical feast. Foa Foa went right to work trying to save their butts by getting to be buddy-buddy with the members of Galu. The tribe renames themselves Aiga, which means “extended family” in Samoan. Russell starts bargaining with former Galu tribe members by letting them in on the fact that he has the immunity idol. After all of his worming around, he seemed to have the majority of votes going to Laura for the next tribal council.

The elimination challenge consisted of “Survivor T-Ball”. Each person would hit the ball off a tee and score the number of points indicated by the section landed in. The sexes were split, with the guys playing against the guys and same for the girls. Two immunity idols were up for grabs, one for the guys and one for the girls. John took the prize for the guys on the last hit, while Laura snagged the women's. There were several looks of disappointment around the tribe now that their plans were foiled.

Monica and Erik conspire to flush out the idol, and several members of the former Galu tribe want to vote off the Foa Foa members one by one. There are all kinds of discussions and suspicions flying around camp before tribal council. Jaison comes up with the idea of getting rid of Erik in a complete blindside, mostly because of a lack of trust. Then the girls start discussing voting off Erik, brought up originally by Natalie. No one yet knew that Erik has the idol in his pocket on the way to tribal council.

Lots of means and petty words were slung at the former Foa Foa members, shown mainly coming from Erik. Yet even while that was going on, there were lots of rolling eyes from members of both former tribes. Russell plays the idol, for apparently no very good reason. After two votes were shown for Jaison, Jeff kept reading Erik's name, and he started looking really confused. Erik was voted off, and became the first member of the jury. As it was a total blindside, he didn't think he needed to play his idol, so both should be back in play after being rehidden.

10 words or less: Things fell into place for former Foa Foa.