Modern Family returns on Jan. 5! The first episode features a great guest spot from James Marsden ("X-Men") as Cam and Mitchell's new neighbor Barry. While he's a sketchy neighbor, his ability to look good in a swimsuit more than makes up for him stealing time in their hot tub.
[Zap2it]
Monday, January 3, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year!!
Happy 2011!!
In case you celebrated too much and fell asleep before the big moment, here's a compilation of a bunch of NYE festivities from around the world.
A few 2011 resolutions for this blog:
Write more TV posts.
Write more commentary on the random viral videos I post.
More reader/social media interaction! (You can follow me on twitter!)
Let me know if there's something you want to see more of here, too!
Thanks for reading throughout 2010, and I hope you keep coming back in 2011 :)
Friday, December 31, 2010
Netflix Watch Instant: IMDB's Top 250 Movies
The website 100 Things I Learned has compiled a list of IMDB's Top 250 films available on Netflix. Here are the great films that are available on Netflix Watch Instantly:
#1 The Shawshank Redemption
#9 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
#13 Seven Samurai
#19 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
#33 Forrest Gump
#37 Apocalypse Now
#42 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
#45 Amelie
#50 The Shining
#54 The Pianist
#59 M
#61 Aliens
#62 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
#65 The Third Man
#81 Rashomon
#82 All About Eve
#83 Amadeus
#86 Full Metal Jacket
#89 Bicycle Thieves
#93 Up
#98 The Sting
#101 The Elephant Man
#104 Oldboy
#105 On the Waterfront
#109 Die Hard
#114 Jaws
#120 The General
#121 Heat
#125 Yojimbo
#128 Wild Strawberries
#130 The Sixth Sense
#131 District 9
#134 Donnie Darko
#136 Cool Hand Luke
#139 The Big Lebowski
#140 It Happened One Night
#151 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
#161 The Big Sleep
#162 Groundhog Day
#172 Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
#175 Ikiru
#176 Casino
#179 The Wages of Fear
#183 Diabolique
#185 Star Trek
#186 8 ½
#193 The Killing
#194 Good Will Hunting
#195 La Strada
#197 The 400 Blows
#200 A Streetcar Named Desire
#201 The Battle of Algiers
#204 The Exorcist
#205 Persona
#206 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
#208 The Passion of Joan of Arc
#212 Fanny and Alexander
#213 Let the Right One In
#215 Rocky
#218 Mary and Max
#219 Manhattan
#221 Barry Lyndon
#224 Rosemary's Baby
#227 Duck Soup
#229 His Girl Friday
#234 In the Mood for Love
#238 Harvey
There are quite a few on this list that I still need to see! Maybe I'll start going through this list in order? Next movie night: The Shining.
[Thanks for the tip KT!]
Thursday, December 30, 2010
MIdseason Preview: Mr. Sunshine
Here's the official plot synopsis from ABC:
Matthew Perry stars as Ben Donovan, the self-involved manager of a second-rate San Diego sports arena who begins to re-evaluate his life on his 40th birthday. Working alongside him is his boss and arena owner, Crystal—attractive, powerful and highly erratic; Alice—the cute, tomboyish marketing director and Ben's friend with benefits; Alonzo—a former basketball player, handsome and unbelievably happy; Ben's assistant, Heather—pretty, sweet, but terrifying because she once lit a boyfriend on fire; Crystal's son, Roman—sweet-faced, clueless and Ben's newest employee; and a hapless operations crew whom Ben refers to collectively as the "Steves."I'm hoping that this show will end up better than Matthew Perry's last show, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. I'm also glad to see Allison Janney (The West Wing) and James Lesure (Las Vegas) back on TV!
Mr. Sunshine premieres on ABC Wednesday, February 9 at 9:30pm, after Modern Family. It's bumping Cougar Town off the schedule, but it will be back on April 13.
My Top 15 Movies of 2010
This list was tough to narrow down. There may be a few surprises and some that might have made the cut if I could have seen them, but I hope you enjoy. Here are my Top 15 Movies of 2010, descending order to build the suspense! For more, you can check out what my fellow Gordon and the Whale news writers included in their Top 10 lists.
15. THE GHOST WRITER
While many films this year, like SHUTTER ISLAND, were called “Hitchcockian” this is the only one that truly lived up the term.
14. THE LOTTERY
A sharp look into the failing public school system in NYC, it’s just so heartbreaking. While I haven’t seen WAITING FOR SUPERMAN, which made more money and had more buzz than this similarly themed doc, I hear this is a more even handed look at the system.
13. JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK
As most of my generation, I only know of Joan Rivers as the plastic surgery joke and red carpet staple. This was eye opening as to why she’s a star and what she’s done for the female comedy world.
12. KICK-ASS
If you followed my blog leading up to the release, you know how excited I was for this movie. It did not disappoint! Fun, action packed, and filled with violence it was just what I hoped it would be and more. Nicolas Cage finally got to play a superhero and he did his best Adam West/Batman impression for a pitch perfect performance that didn’t sound like it would work on paper. Chloe Moretz is going to be a star, her Hit Girl stood out above the rest and not just for the profanity that came out her 11 year old mouth.
11. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
This may be my favorite DreamWorks animated film yet. The animation was beautiful, plus Toothless was so adorable! A great coming of age story about believing in yourself and going your own way, filled with laughs. I saw it in 3D, and while it was a great experience, watching it on Blu-Ray was just as fun to watch. The animation is beautiful no matter what dimension you watch it in.
10. STEP UP 3D
This is honestly the best use of 3D I’ve seen since Avatar. Shot on the same type of cameras, it made the show stopping dance routines come alive. While the story and acting aren’t exactly high caliber, this was one of the most entertaining movies I watched this year.
9. THE SECRET OF THE KELLS
It has layers and history that I am not at all familiar with, but I enjoyed it regardless. You can enjoy its simple, concise story with beautiful imagery and animation without knowing the Irish symbolism and history that this movie is steeped in. A mark of a good film is how long it stays with you, and I was researching celtic mythology and folklore long after viewing.
8. BURIED
This tightly written, claustrophobic piece rests solely on Ryan Reynolds shoulders and he does a fantastic job. My heart was racing, I was laughing, I was crying – I was completely invested in this character’s plight in his small coffin. I wish this film had been distributed wider, I feel like it went completely under the radar.
7. INCEPTION
Starkly original, it was a fantastic blend of a big idea and big budget. While some have knocked it for clunky exposition, I feel the unique idea needed that extra bit of explanation. Christopher Nolan has become a brand name director, with his previous critically acclaimed hits like MEMENTO, THE DARK KNIGHT, and INCEPTION just further solidified him as the director of the 21st century.
6. TANGLED
Disney movies will always have a special place in my heart, and this was the best non-Pixar Disney film in years. Last year’s THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG was a return to form, but this was them at the top of their game since the golden age of the early 90s. Lovable characters on a quest filled with heart, laugher, and good songs. It brought me right back to my childhood.
5. EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP
It was a strong year for documentaries, but it was easy for me to pick which one would land on this list. As a fan of Banksy’s street art, I’d been looking forward to this for a while and it did not disappoint. It gave us a look into the fascinating world of street art and then flipped in the middle to focus on a different beast entirely. Thoroughly entertaining, I recommend everyone add this to their Netflix Instant Queues now if you haven’t seen it.
4. BLACK SWAN
As the most recently seen film on my list, I’m still trying to properly put my feelings on it into words. An entirely visceral film, it had my heart racing while I was tensed in my seat. Blending high art like ballet with the more low brow genre of horror/suspense makes for an art house flick that should make some big money.
3. THE SOCIAL NETWORK
It's sharp writing, giving us an excellent look at Facebook and the internet start up age, with fascinating characters and top notch acting from Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake move this to near the top of my list. It’s currently sweeping all the critics awards leading up the Oscars, deservedly so, and I hope it can keep it up throughout the award season.
2. TOY STORY 3
I've loved these characters for 10 years and to see them in a new adventure - with suspense, laughs, and heart - was amazing. Further proving that animation isn’t only for children, Pixar may just have crafted their masterpiece with this one. Could this be the year an animated feature takes home Best Picture at the Oscars?
1. SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD
I loved this movie the first time I saw it, and my love has only grown with every repeat viewing. Edgar Wright seamlessly blends film and video game tropes to create a thoroughly modern romantic comedy. Michael Cera has experienced some backlash recently, but this seems like the role he was born to play. I have no doubt that this will just become more popular on Blu-Ray/DVD, because there’s no where to go but up from its disappointing box office performance.
This list isn’t quite complete since I didn’t get a chance to see THE KING’S SPEECH, THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, I LOVE YOU, PHILIP MORRIS and BLUE VALENTINE.
While many films this year, like SHUTTER ISLAND, were called “Hitchcockian” this is the only one that truly lived up the term.
14. THE LOTTERY
A sharp look into the failing public school system in NYC, it’s just so heartbreaking. While I haven’t seen WAITING FOR SUPERMAN, which made more money and had more buzz than this similarly themed doc, I hear this is a more even handed look at the system.
13. JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK
As most of my generation, I only know of Joan Rivers as the plastic surgery joke and red carpet staple. This was eye opening as to why she’s a star and what she’s done for the female comedy world.
12. KICK-ASS
If you followed my blog leading up to the release, you know how excited I was for this movie. It did not disappoint! Fun, action packed, and filled with violence it was just what I hoped it would be and more. Nicolas Cage finally got to play a superhero and he did his best Adam West/Batman impression for a pitch perfect performance that didn’t sound like it would work on paper. Chloe Moretz is going to be a star, her Hit Girl stood out above the rest and not just for the profanity that came out her 11 year old mouth.
This may be my favorite DreamWorks animated film yet. The animation was beautiful, plus Toothless was so adorable! A great coming of age story about believing in yourself and going your own way, filled with laughs. I saw it in 3D, and while it was a great experience, watching it on Blu-Ray was just as fun to watch. The animation is beautiful no matter what dimension you watch it in.
10. STEP UP 3D
This is honestly the best use of 3D I’ve seen since Avatar. Shot on the same type of cameras, it made the show stopping dance routines come alive. While the story and acting aren’t exactly high caliber, this was one of the most entertaining movies I watched this year.
9. THE SECRET OF THE KELLS
It has layers and history that I am not at all familiar with, but I enjoyed it regardless. You can enjoy its simple, concise story with beautiful imagery and animation without knowing the Irish symbolism and history that this movie is steeped in. A mark of a good film is how long it stays with you, and I was researching celtic mythology and folklore long after viewing.
This tightly written, claustrophobic piece rests solely on Ryan Reynolds shoulders and he does a fantastic job. My heart was racing, I was laughing, I was crying – I was completely invested in this character’s plight in his small coffin. I wish this film had been distributed wider, I feel like it went completely under the radar.
7. INCEPTION
Starkly original, it was a fantastic blend of a big idea and big budget. While some have knocked it for clunky exposition, I feel the unique idea needed that extra bit of explanation. Christopher Nolan has become a brand name director, with his previous critically acclaimed hits like MEMENTO, THE DARK KNIGHT, and INCEPTION just further solidified him as the director of the 21st century.
6. TANGLED
Disney movies will always have a special place in my heart, and this was the best non-Pixar Disney film in years. Last year’s THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG was a return to form, but this was them at the top of their game since the golden age of the early 90s. Lovable characters on a quest filled with heart, laugher, and good songs. It brought me right back to my childhood.
It was a strong year for documentaries, but it was easy for me to pick which one would land on this list. As a fan of Banksy’s street art, I’d been looking forward to this for a while and it did not disappoint. It gave us a look into the fascinating world of street art and then flipped in the middle to focus on a different beast entirely. Thoroughly entertaining, I recommend everyone add this to their Netflix Instant Queues now if you haven’t seen it.
4. BLACK SWAN
As the most recently seen film on my list, I’m still trying to properly put my feelings on it into words. An entirely visceral film, it had my heart racing while I was tensed in my seat. Blending high art like ballet with the more low brow genre of horror/suspense makes for an art house flick that should make some big money.
3. THE SOCIAL NETWORK
It's sharp writing, giving us an excellent look at Facebook and the internet start up age, with fascinating characters and top notch acting from Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake move this to near the top of my list. It’s currently sweeping all the critics awards leading up the Oscars, deservedly so, and I hope it can keep it up throughout the award season.
I've loved these characters for 10 years and to see them in a new adventure - with suspense, laughs, and heart - was amazing. Further proving that animation isn’t only for children, Pixar may just have crafted their masterpiece with this one. Could this be the year an animated feature takes home Best Picture at the Oscars?
1. SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD
I loved this movie the first time I saw it, and my love has only grown with every repeat viewing. Edgar Wright seamlessly blends film and video game tropes to create a thoroughly modern romantic comedy. Michael Cera has experienced some backlash recently, but this seems like the role he was born to play. I have no doubt that this will just become more popular on Blu-Ray/DVD, because there’s no where to go but up from its disappointing box office performance.
This list isn’t quite complete since I didn’t get a chance to see THE KING’S SPEECH, THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, I LOVE YOU, PHILIP MORRIS and BLUE VALENTINE.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)