Click the link below to see a sneak preview of the upcoming Star Wars Clone Wars animated feature/series:
http://www.starwars.com/video/view/000478.html
Looks like it could be cool...
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
You Need to See This Movie ONCE
The film Once is a love story that's not a love story; a musical that is not a musical. What it is to me is an amazing surprise.
Like many obscure DVDs I watch or books I read, I read about the movie in a magazine (I'm going to guess it was Entertainment Weekly), and it got a good review. So I did what I usually do: I put it on hold at the library and waited until it became available. I'm ahead of the curve because I usually only choose obscure movies to watch if they get great reviews, but even then, I can be blindsided by how good some are.
I knew it was a love story that revolved around music, but I had no idea how moved I would be by the time it ended. Even more bizarre to me is the music isn't what I'd normally listen to, but it was the glue that held the entire movie together. The performances weren't particularly awards-worthy, but there was a genuineness to them that transcended mere acting ability.
The story goes as such: a heart-broken guy, who fixes vacuum cleaners by day and sings in the streets for pocket change at night, meets a girl, who has baggage of her own, and tries to play the piano whenever she gets a chance. They both see the unrealized musical potential in the other, and they spend a week writing, rehearsing, and eventually recording a demo tape of their music.
I'm not going to say any more than that because part of the beauty of the experience of watching it, for me, was to just watch the relationship unfold.
As I said before, this isn't a typical Hollywood love story, no matter what the DVD cover picture and back cover description may lead you to believe-- and that is probably the best thing about it.
Director John Carney enlisted former band mate (from The Frames) Glen Hansard to play the guy (no, he is not given a name) and Hansard suggested his sometimes collaborator Marketa Irglova to play the girl (not named either). So while we didn't have actors in the lead roles, we did get very good musicians, and that, of course, cemented a sense of credibility to the music (most of which Hansard wrote himself).
So, listen, do yourself a favor: rent, borrow, or buy a copy of the movie. Sit in front of the TV for the less than 90 minutes it takes to watch, and just let yourself be taken in by it. You won't be sorry.
I can give no higher recommendation to a movie other than to say I plan on buying this to own at some point in the near future. Not because it fits into my collection or is part of a series I already own, but because it is that good.
A little side note: this is the second movie (the first being Joyeux Noel) I've watched that completely blew me away to the point where I had tears in my eyes by the end because of its beauty. Something that struck me as odd-- even though it probably shouldn't have-- is they are both foreign films (Joyeux Noel is from France and Once is from Ireland). When is Hollywood going to get its crap together and make movies that can elicit a reaction like tears just from the sheer beauty of them? Neither movie was particularly sad-- or happy for that matter. They just told a powerful story in a unique way.
Like many obscure DVDs I watch or books I read, I read about the movie in a magazine (I'm going to guess it was Entertainment Weekly), and it got a good review. So I did what I usually do: I put it on hold at the library and waited until it became available. I'm ahead of the curve because I usually only choose obscure movies to watch if they get great reviews, but even then, I can be blindsided by how good some are.
I knew it was a love story that revolved around music, but I had no idea how moved I would be by the time it ended. Even more bizarre to me is the music isn't what I'd normally listen to, but it was the glue that held the entire movie together. The performances weren't particularly awards-worthy, but there was a genuineness to them that transcended mere acting ability.
The story goes as such: a heart-broken guy, who fixes vacuum cleaners by day and sings in the streets for pocket change at night, meets a girl, who has baggage of her own, and tries to play the piano whenever she gets a chance. They both see the unrealized musical potential in the other, and they spend a week writing, rehearsing, and eventually recording a demo tape of their music.
I'm not going to say any more than that because part of the beauty of the experience of watching it, for me, was to just watch the relationship unfold.
As I said before, this isn't a typical Hollywood love story, no matter what the DVD cover picture and back cover description may lead you to believe-- and that is probably the best thing about it.
Director John Carney enlisted former band mate (from The Frames) Glen Hansard to play the guy (no, he is not given a name) and Hansard suggested his sometimes collaborator Marketa Irglova to play the girl (not named either). So while we didn't have actors in the lead roles, we did get very good musicians, and that, of course, cemented a sense of credibility to the music (most of which Hansard wrote himself).
So, listen, do yourself a favor: rent, borrow, or buy a copy of the movie. Sit in front of the TV for the less than 90 minutes it takes to watch, and just let yourself be taken in by it. You won't be sorry.
I can give no higher recommendation to a movie other than to say I plan on buying this to own at some point in the near future. Not because it fits into my collection or is part of a series I already own, but because it is that good.
A little side note: this is the second movie (the first being Joyeux Noel) I've watched that completely blew me away to the point where I had tears in my eyes by the end because of its beauty. Something that struck me as odd-- even though it probably shouldn't have-- is they are both foreign films (Joyeux Noel is from France and Once is from Ireland). When is Hollywood going to get its crap together and make movies that can elicit a reaction like tears just from the sheer beauty of them? Neither movie was particularly sad-- or happy for that matter. They just told a powerful story in a unique way.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
TV show return dates
Here's a link to tvguide.com's blog post with the expected return dates of some favorite shows (and how many episodes are expected to air). Should be a help through the next three months.
http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Tvguidecoms-Strike-Recovery/2008-Return-Dates/800033845
http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Tvguidecoms-Strike-Recovery/2008-Return-Dates/800033845
Premieres and Notables; March 3-9, 2008
I'm not sure if I mentioned that Everybody Hates Chris and Aliens in America returns with new episodes tonight (CW, 7 & 7:30 pm CST), and I know I didn't mention that Frisky Dingo finally returns ([adult swim]; 11:15).
Life is good...
Monday, 3/3
Little People, Big World; TLC. 7 & 7:30 pm. Season Premiere.
The Secret Life of a Soccer Mom; TLC. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Host Tracey Gold offers stay-at-home moms a chance to work at their dream job.
Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles (FOX, 7 pm) airs its two-hour season finale.
My Name Is Earl begins its syndication run tonight on TBS at 9 and 9:30. This is mandatory viewing-- especially if you missed the beginning.
And How I Met You Mother airs the awesome "Slapsgiving" episode from last November. One of my favorite episodes of one of my favorite shows. Life really is good.
Tuesday, 3/4
New Amsterdam; FOX. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
John Amsterdam saved a Native American girl in the 1600's, and she put a spell on him that made him immortal until he found his true love. Now he's a cop (or PI, I'm kinda hazy on the details), who, nearly 400 years later, may have finally found her.
Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?; Style. 9 pm. Season premiere.
Real Housewives of New York City; Bravo. 10 pm. Series Premiere.
Just what the world was missing: a reality show about five real NYC women. One is a former actress working up the social ladder, another was a runner-up on Apprentice: Martha Stewart, and a third descended from French aristocracy. You know, real housewife types...
Deliver Me; Discovery Health. 9 pm. Series premiere.
Reality series that follows three ob-gyns through their lives.
Wednesday, 3/5
Destination Truth; Sci Fi. 9 pm. 2nd season premiere.
High School Reunion; TV Land. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
The class of 1987 from a Dallas school reconvenes for a two-week vacation where relationships and rivalries are renewed. Seriously? It's been 20 YEARS, people. There are reasons why reunions are a weekend long at most. Two weeks...?
Tyler Perry's House of Payne returns with new episodes (TBS, 9 pm)
Thursday, 3/6
Elephant Diaries; Animal Planet. 6 pm. Series premiere.
A reality show based in an elephant nursery in Kenya that shows the struggles of a herd of orphans as they grow to become the world's biggest land animals.
Crime 360; A&E. 9 pm. Series premiere.
Richmond homicide detectives try to solve crimes.
Saturday, 3/8
The Spectacular Spider-Man; CW. 9 & 9:30 am. Series premiere.
Teenager Peter Parker is bitten by a spider and gains super powers. It's a new take on an old franchise (which has already had five animated series). They're going back to the Stan Lee/ Steve Ditko days and contemporizing the stories.
Adventure Camp; Discovery Kids. 8 pm. season premiere.
Flip that Restaurant; TLC. 7 pm. Series premiere.
What is all this "flipping" bullcrap? Can't someone just buy something and live there/ run it?
Sunday, 3/9
Ax Men; History. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
A reality show looking at lumberjacks in Oregon.
Keeping Up With the Kardashians; E! 9 pm. 2nd season premiere.
And, after five very critically acclaimed seasons, HBO's The Wire ends its run with a 93 minute finale beginning at 8:00 pm. I can't wait to dig into the series. Hey, HBO-- how about lowering the ridiculous prices of the DVD sets?
Life is good...
Monday, 3/3
Little People, Big World; TLC. 7 & 7:30 pm. Season Premiere.
The Secret Life of a Soccer Mom; TLC. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
Host Tracey Gold offers stay-at-home moms a chance to work at their dream job.
Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles (FOX, 7 pm) airs its two-hour season finale.
My Name Is Earl begins its syndication run tonight on TBS at 9 and 9:30. This is mandatory viewing-- especially if you missed the beginning.
And How I Met You Mother airs the awesome "Slapsgiving" episode from last November. One of my favorite episodes of one of my favorite shows. Life really is good.
Tuesday, 3/4
New Amsterdam; FOX. 8 pm. Series Premiere.
John Amsterdam saved a Native American girl in the 1600's, and she put a spell on him that made him immortal until he found his true love. Now he's a cop (or PI, I'm kinda hazy on the details), who, nearly 400 years later, may have finally found her.
Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?; Style. 9 pm. Season premiere.
Real Housewives of New York City; Bravo. 10 pm. Series Premiere.
Just what the world was missing: a reality show about five real NYC women. One is a former actress working up the social ladder, another was a runner-up on Apprentice: Martha Stewart, and a third descended from French aristocracy. You know, real housewife types...
Deliver Me; Discovery Health. 9 pm. Series premiere.
Reality series that follows three ob-gyns through their lives.
Wednesday, 3/5
Destination Truth; Sci Fi. 9 pm. 2nd season premiere.
High School Reunion; TV Land. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
The class of 1987 from a Dallas school reconvenes for a two-week vacation where relationships and rivalries are renewed. Seriously? It's been 20 YEARS, people. There are reasons why reunions are a weekend long at most. Two weeks...?
Tyler Perry's House of Payne returns with new episodes (TBS, 9 pm)
Thursday, 3/6
Elephant Diaries; Animal Planet. 6 pm. Series premiere.
A reality show based in an elephant nursery in Kenya that shows the struggles of a herd of orphans as they grow to become the world's biggest land animals.
Crime 360; A&E. 9 pm. Series premiere.
Richmond homicide detectives try to solve crimes.
Saturday, 3/8
The Spectacular Spider-Man; CW. 9 & 9:30 am. Series premiere.
Teenager Peter Parker is bitten by a spider and gains super powers. It's a new take on an old franchise (which has already had five animated series). They're going back to the Stan Lee/ Steve Ditko days and contemporizing the stories.
Adventure Camp; Discovery Kids. 8 pm. season premiere.
Flip that Restaurant; TLC. 7 pm. Series premiere.
What is all this "flipping" bullcrap? Can't someone just buy something and live there/ run it?
Sunday, 3/9
Ax Men; History. 9 pm. Series Premiere.
A reality show looking at lumberjacks in Oregon.
Keeping Up With the Kardashians; E! 9 pm. 2nd season premiere.
And, after five very critically acclaimed seasons, HBO's The Wire ends its run with a 93 minute finale beginning at 8:00 pm. I can't wait to dig into the series. Hey, HBO-- how about lowering the ridiculous prices of the DVD sets?
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