What's new on DVD and CD this week - 10/28/08

My picks for DVD:

• Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series (special "Yearbook" edition)
• Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition
• The L Word: Season 5
• The Polar Express: 3D
• Jesus Christ: Vampire Hunter (on Blu-ray)

Also released on DVD:

Tinker Bell

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

Baraka

Christmas on Mars: Fantastical Film Freakout Featuring the Flaming Lips

The Little Rascals: The Complete Collection

Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead

Dead Space: Downfall

The Flintstones: The Complete Series

Hell Ride

Zombie Strippers

Death Defying Acts

Death Note: Volume 7

National Lampoon’s Animal House: 30th Anniversary Edition

The 4400: The Complete Series

Newsradio: The Complete Series

Body of War - The True Story of an Anti-War Hero

Witchblade Box Set

Carlos Mencia: Performance Enhanced

Red

7 Virgins

Billy the Kid

My picks for CD:

• Pink - "Funhouse"
• The Cure - "4:13 Dream"
• Cradle of Filth - "Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder"
• Snow Patrol - "A Hundred Million Suns"
• School of Seven Bells - "Alpinisms"
• Rodrigo y Gabriela - "Live in Japan"
• Katie Melua - "The Katie Melua Collection" (import)

Also released on CD:

John Legend - “Evolver”

Hunter S. Thompson - “The Gonzo Tapes”

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - “Cardinology”

Kaiser Chiefs - “Off With Their Heads”

Bloc Party - “Intimacy”

Cynic - “Traced In Air”

Queen & Paul Rodgers - “The Cosmos Rocks”

Straight No Chaser - “Holiday Spirits”

Eagles of Death Metal - “Heart On”

Lady Gaga - “The Fame”

Exodus - “Let There Be Blood”

Bloodbath - “The Fathomless Mastery”

Deerhunter - “Microcastle”

Lordi - “Deadache”

The Rasmus - “Black Roses”

Enslaved - “Vertebrae”

Kottonmouth Kings - “The Green Album”

Mushroomhead - “Volume 2”

Darkthrone - “Dark Thrones & Black Flags”

Beneath the Massacre - “Dystopia”

The 88 - “Not Only... But Also”

What's new in theaters this week - 10/24/08

You know the deal; here are this week's new movie releases:

Opening in Wide release:

• High School Musical 3: Senior Year - Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and the rest of the Wildcat gang leap to the big screen to produce one last musical before graduation.  Look, you already know whether or not you're going to see this movie; you don't need my info on this one... although I'm guessing that those who want to see it won't be disappointed.  Rated G.
• Pride and Glory - Edward Norton and Colin Farrell are cops whose moral codes are tested when a corruption investigation implicates their own family.  Looks like a solid if unspectacular police-drama movie.  But haven't we seen, like, a ton of these kind of movies already?  Rated R.
• Saw V - With everyone else now dead and rotting, it's up to Hoffman to carry on with serial killer Jigsaw's murderous twisted traditions.  In a way, this film is exactly like "High School Music 3": you already know whether or not you're going to see this movie (and, like HSM3, it will certainly be torture to sit through for anyone who doesn't want to see it).  I'll be seeing this movie eventually, but I can't say I'm super-excited; the last two Saws were pretty disappointing.  Rated R.

Opening in Limited release:

• Changeling - Angelina Jolie prays for the return of her kidnapped son, only to suspect that the boy who does come back is not her son.  Directed by Clint Eastwood and based on a true story, which is what makes it look fascinating.  But the early reviews haven't been very kind so far, so it's questionable.  Rated R.
• Fear(s) of the Dark - Six of the world's most renowned comic and graphic artists present a wildly inventive animated collection of fearful tales.  This looks very strange and creepy, although not in the give-you-nightmares kind of way.  Probably a better film to wait for on DVD, but looks to be worth watching if you like animation for older audiences.  Not rated, but probably a little too scary for very young kids.
• I've Loved You So Long - Estranged from her family for years, a woman with a dark past reconnects with her younger sister, who takes her into her home.  Looks interesting; seems kind of similar to "Rachel Getting Married."  I might look for it on DVD if I remember it.  Rated PG-13.
• Let the Right One In - A lonely boy, regularly bullied by his classmates, is befriended by the strange new girl next door... who turns out to be a vampire.  That may make it sound like this is a film for kids, but no; this looks like an adult fairy tale.  Think "Pan's Labyrinth" with vampires.  Which means, in other words, that I am hell-bent on seeing it!  Rated R.
• Passengers - Anne Hathaway is determined to uncover the truth when the survivors of a plane crash mysteriously begin to disappear.  Looks like "Final Destination" crossed with a very mediocre ghost story.  I'm not really sure why Anne Hathaway would want to star in a movie like this.  Might be decent, but I'm guessing not so much (I feel like it probably would have gotten a wider release if it was better).  Rated PG-13.
• Synecdoche, New York - Philip Seymour Hoffman is a theater director who creates a life-size replica of New York inside a warehouse for his new play.  Looks incredibly strange and confusing, which isn't too surprising; this is the directorial debut from Charlie Kaufman, the writer of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Adaptation" and "Being John Malkovich."  Those movies were strange but still kind of made sense; this one... I'm just not sure about.  I'll see it eventually, but I'm really not sure if I'll probably like it.  Rated R.

My reviews of "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" and "Quarantine"

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

"Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" isn't a great film, but it is a lot of fun, especially if you are a part of the lifestyle the movie showcases.  The film does an excellent job of recreating the feeling of hanging out in the city and going to/playing shows with your buddies.  Michael Cera (Nick) and Kat Dennings (Norah) make a nice, likable couple of misfits who are very easy to root for, and newcomer Ari Graynor is hilarious as Caroline, Norah's perpetually drunk best friend... I predict she's gonna be a big star in the future.  It's also really refreshing to see a movie that portrays gay characters in a mostly non-stereotypical way.  Sometimes the movie gets bogged down in rom-com cliches, but mostly it's an excellent film about music and love that can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of personal musical taste.  "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist" gets a 4 out of 5.

Quarantine

"Quarantine," a film in which a small group of people are trapped in an urban apartment building while the residents are inexplicably going crazy, plays like "28 Days Later" done by the makers of "The Blair Witch Project" and "Cloverfield."  Like the latter two pictures, "Quarantine" is told through the viewpoint of a TV news camera, although the whole idea is a little more believable than it was in "Cloverfield."  The film opens with a local TV news reporter shooting a story about spending a night trailing members of the local fire department.  She is played by Jennifer Carpenter, who is becoming a regular "scream queen" with previous roles as the title character in "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" and in the TV serial killer show "Dexter " (she also starred in "White Chicks" by the Wayans Brothers, which may be the scariest thing of all).  Though short at 89 minutes, the filmmakers take time to build up to the horror.  A good portion of the film is set at the fire station, where we get to know the characters as they explore and wait around for something to happen.  I always appreciate it when films like these actually allow for suspense to build up (and thankfully the characters here are much more realistic and less annoying than they were in "Cloverfield").  When the horror finally starts, it's fast-paced and relentlessly scary.  If you hate POV movies like the ones I've mentioned then you probably won't like this one either, but the truth is that "Quarantine" is a truly terrifying film that will leave you rattled... the perfect kind of movie for this time of the year.  "Quarantine" gets a 5 out of 5.

What's on DVD and CD this week - 10/21/08

Here are today's new DVD and CD releases.

My picks for DVD:

• The Strangers - Looking for a really scary movie to watch this Halloween?  Well, this movie might be what you're looking for.  A couple spends a night at a cabin in the woods, where they are terrorized by three masked teens.  Harkens back to the old-school horror classics like "Halloween" and "Black Christmas."
• Sold Out: A Threevening With Kevin Smith - This is the third "Evening With Kevin Smith" DVD, in which the well-known director of movies like "Clerks," "Dogma," and the upcoming "Zach and Miri Make a Porno" goes out to various colleges and public forums and talks to the fans.  These DVDs are hilarious; Kevin Smith ranks with the best stand-up comedians in terms of humor and storytelling.
• The Incredible Hulk - Okay, I wasn't the biggest fan of this movie (sorry, but I just don't think the Hulk makes a very good hero... he's much better as a villain), but it definitely has some pretty great moments.  Edward Norton is always great whenever he's onscreen.  Plus, if you're already a big Hulk fan then you'll probably dig the film a lot more than me.  No "Iron Man" or "Dark Knight," but still worth seeing.
• L.A. Ink: Season 1, Part 2 - Why am I recommending this?  Come on, you know why... it's because Kat Von D is super-hot; that's why.

Other releases on DVD:

Casino Royale (3-Disc Edition)

Casino Royale (the original Woody Allen version; it’s a spoof of Bond movies; kind of like Austin Powers)

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

Looney Tunes: Golden Collection 6

Family Guy: Volume 6

Eclipse Series Kenji Mizoguchi’s Fallen Women (Osaka Elegy/Sisters of the Gion/Women of the Night/Street of Shame)

The Lazarus Project

Missing

Flight of the Red Balloon

The Stone Angel

South of Nowhere: Season 1

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Season 2, Part 2

Knight Rider: The Complete Series

My Picks on CD:

• Skillet - "Comatose Comes Alive" (CD/DVD) - These guys and girls rank alongside Anberlin as the best "Christian" rock band currently out there.  This is a live album, and it's chock full of some of their best songs.  If you've never heard of them, pick up their most recent album "Comatose" and be blown away, and then go pick this album up and get blown again.
• Gang Gang Dance - "Saint Dymphna" - I heard a cut from this album on a Pop Candy podcast and thought it sounded intriguing, so I checked out more stuff from this album and I'm impressed.  It's very different; kind of a techno/alternative/dance/world music mix.  But it's also a lot of fun.  Definitely check this album out for yourself, but I think a lot you will really like it.

Other releases on CD:

Escape the Fate - The War is Ours

Disciple - Southern Hospitality

The Dears - Missiles

The Sea and Cake - Car Alarm

Electric Six - Flashy

Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping

OhGr - Devils in My Details

Lou Reed - Berlin: Live at St. Ann’s Warehouse

Hank Williams III - Damn Right, Rebel Proud

Whoops!

Yeah... so I know I kind of said that I was going to post my reviews of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Quarantine today.  Well, I forgot.  But I promise that I will post them at some point tomorrow... so be prepared!!!

... unless of course I forget again and/or am just too lazy.  ;)  

Later!

-Matty G

What's new in theaters this week - 10/17/08

Hey guys; before I get started with this post I want to comment about the scattershot posting I've been engaging in for the last couple of weeks.  I don't know if any of you really care that much or have even noticed it, but just in case you did I'll explain myself.  Lately I've been really busy with both finding a job and working on my fiction writing, and this blog, while still something I enjoy doing, is not a higher priority for me.  So, while I'll keep posting every week, it probably won't be as regular as it was before.  I will, however, continue to post the newest DVD/CD and movie releases every week... including this week, so let's get to it.

Here are the new movie releases for this week.

Opening in Wide release:

• Max Payne - Mark Wahlberg stars in this video game adaptation as an undercover DEA agent framed for murder and out for revenge.  The story also revolves around a new drug people are taking that gives them crazy delusions (like the freaky angels and demons you've seen in the trailer).  I was kind of excited about this movie when I first heard about it, but the more I've seen the less interested I've become.  And the fact that it's not rated R is really lame.  But it does boast an appearance by Brea Grant, aka my favorite new "Heroes" cast member (she plays Daphne, the speedy chick), so maybe I'll rent it.  But unless that interests any of you, you'll probably want to stay away from what looks to be another bad video game-to-movie adaptation.  Rated PG-13.
• Sex Drive - A teen embarks on a crazy road trip in his brother's 1969 GTO to lose his virginity with a woman he knows only through the internet.  I'm always up for a good teen-sex comedy, but it needs to be funny (see "Superbad").  This movie does not look funny to me; it looks gross and stupid.  Sorry, but even Seth Green playing an Amish guy isn't enough to get me to see this movie.  Skip it.  Rated R.
• The Secret Life of Bees - Dakota Fanning flees her hometown and is taken in by an eccentric trio of beekeeping sisters in 1960s South Carolina.  There's not much I can really say; it doesn't really interest me, but I'm pretty sure that if you liked the book and/or the trailer makes you want to see this movie, then you probably won't end up being disappointed.  Rated PG-13.
• W. - Josh Brolin ("No Country For Old Men") stars as George W. Bush in Oliver Stone's biopic about the eventful life of the 43rd President of the United States.  Otherwise known as the most controversial movie of the year.  Most people (me included) assumed that the openly leftist Stone would do a hatchet job on Bush, but that doesn't seem to be the case; rather, he seems to have made a film than is both critical and sympathetic to the President.  That being said, it doesn't look interesting enough to make me see it in the theater... but I'll definitely rent it on DVD.  Rated PG-13.

Opening in Limited release:

• Filth and Wisdom - Three very different London flat-mates - A.K., Juliette and Holly - dream big and live desperately in Madonna's directorial debut.  Yes, it's that Madonna.  This is a very strange-looking movie; I'm not sure exactly what to make of it.  On the plus side, it stars Eugene Hutz, who is the frontman for the crazy Gypsy-punk troupe Gogol Bordello, and who also starred in a great film called "Everything is Illuminated" (if you've never seen it, go out and buy/rent it immediately).  But, on the other hand, it's directed by Madonna, and sometimes her love of weird and off-the-wall stuff doesn't really work very well.  Intriguing enough for a DVD rental.  Rated R.
• Morning Light - Fifteen inexperienced young sailors train to compete in the Transpac, the most revered of open-ocean sailing competitions.  This looks to be an excellent and really enjoyable documentary.  What's crazy is that the trailer makes it look more like a scripted Hollywood film than a regular documentary (which is a compliment in regards to the amazing story).  Definitely worth seeing; my top pick of the week.  Rated PG.
• What Just Happened - Robert De Niro is a desperate movie producer trying to survive the treachery of Hollywood and the hell of getting his movie made.  This looks to be a very funny movie about the inner workings of Hollywood; it also kind of reminds me of movies like "Best in Show" and "This Is Spinal Tap" if you took away their documentary-esque nature.  I'll see pretty much anything Robert De Niro is in, and Bruce Willis and Sean Penn, both playing ego-heavy versions of themselves, look to be hilarious.  Worth checking out.  Rated R.

My review of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"

I watched "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" yesterday for the first time.  I didn't see it in theaters because I've never been a big Indy fan; I've only seen the original three films once and just mildly like them.  So I wasn't super-pumped about IJATKOTCS (how's that for an anachronism?).  Then I heard all the bad buzz from critics and friends who saw it, and I decided to wait to see on DVD.

So, is it as bad as a lot of people made it out to be?  Not really, but it's not particularly good either; it's a chronically mediocre experience.  Still, I can see the reasons why hardcore Indy fans hated this film.  While the originals were ridiculous-yet-fun, this film is ridiculous-and-stupid.  Pretty much everything you've already heard critiqued by others is what you'll hear me complain about.  The fridge (I can accept him possibly surviving the blast, but not the flying through the air and repeatedly slamming into the ground).  The ants (kind of cool until the start climbing on top of each other to get to Cate Blanchett).  The monkeys (yeah... sigh).  The aliens (and what the heck is going on with Cate Blanchett and the alien at the end?).

But the film does have some good stuff.  The chase through the jungle was pretty sweet; I especially enjoyed Shia LeBouf and Blanchett's sword fight on moving cars.  The film also has a great look to it; the cinematography does an excellent job of creating the feeling of being in the 1950s.  Blanchett is a sexy and sinister villain (though the rest of her Russian posse aren't nearly as interesting).  And the series of events leading up to nuking the fridge are well-staged too.

But overall the movie just doesn't connect.  I didn't care about any of the characters or about what happened to them.  In the end, it just felt like kind of a silly, forgettable experience.

I give "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" a 2 out of 5.

What's new on DVD and CD this week - 10/14/08

Here are this week's new releases.

My picks for DVD:

• Mongol
• War, Inc.
• 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
• Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection (Lifeboat/Spellbound/Notorious/The Paradine Case/Sabotage/Young and Innocent/Rebecca/The Lodger)
• Ghost House Underground Collection (Dance of the Dead/No Man's Land: Rise of Reeker/The Substitute/Dark Floors/Trackman/Room 205/Last House in the Woods/Brotherhood of Blood)

Also released on DVD:

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Chaplin

Still Life

The Edge of Heaven

Stuck

CSI - Season 8

The Partridge Family - Season 3

Standard Operating Procedure

Long Way Down

Icons of Horror - Hammer Films

The Universe - Season 2

Naruto Uncut Box Set - Volume 10

The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything: A Veggie Tales Movie

My picks on CD:

• Dimmu Borgir - "Invaluable Darkness" (note: turns out this is actually just a music DVD; sorry about that)
• Static X - "Cannibal Killers Live" (DVD/CD set)
• Sonic Syndicate - "Love and other Disasters"

Also released on CD:

Monica Naranjo - Tarantula

Lucinda Williams - Little Honey

Nikka Costa - Pebble to a Pearl

Kate Ryan - Free

Keane - Perfect Symmetry

Ingrid Michaelson - Be OK

The Music - Strength in Numbers

Gojira - The Way of All Flesh

The Foreign Exchange - Leave It All Behind

Unearth - The March

Copeland - You Are My Sunshine

Nox Arcana - Phantoms of the High Seas

Secret Machines - Secret Machines

The Haunted - Versus

Sixpence None the Richer - The Dawn of Grace

Torchwood - The Soundtrack

Various Artists - We Wish You a Metal X-Mas, and a Headbanging New Year

What's new in theaters this week - 10/10/08

Here are this week's new movie releases.

Opening in Wide Release:

Body of Lies - Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a CIA operative who enters uneasy alliances to uncover a major terrorist leader operating in Jordan.  Russell Crowe also stars.  The reviews for this film have been mixed so far, but watching DiCaprio and Crowe interact with each other looks to be very enjoyable.  The fact that the film is directed by Ridley Scott, who is my favorite director, also definitely makes me interested in seeing it.  Rated R.

City of Ember - Two teens race against time, searching for clues to unlock the ancient mystery that could save the people of the City of Ember, an underground city where humanity has lived for the past 200 years.  Stars Tim Robbins ("Mystic River"), Bill Murray ("Ghostbusters," "Lost in Translation") and Saoirse Ronan ("Atonement").  I tend to like movies like this; looks to be a solid, family-friendly fantasy in the vein of "Narnia" and "Bridge to Terabithia."  And it's directed by Gil Keenan, who made the excellent animated movie "Monster House," so if he brings the same subversive humor to "Ember" that he brought in "House" this should be a very good film.  Rated PG.

The Express - The true story of Ernie Davis, two-time All-American running back for Syracuse University who led his team to the national championship in 1960.  In 1961, he became the first black man to win the Heisman Trophy.  Later that year, he was the first pick in the NFL draft.  But Davis never got the chance to play professional football, he was diagnosed with leukemia during the summer of 1962 and died nearly a year later.  Looks like a solid sports film in the vein of "Remember the Titans."  But the story it's telling is pretty unforgettable.  Rated PG.

Quarantine - A television news crew is trapped in a quarantined apartment building where something mysterious has infected residents.  Stars Jennifer Carpenter ("Dexter," "The Exorcism of Emily Rose").  Seems to be a mix of fly-on-wall horror films like "Cloverfield" and "The Blair Witch Project" and modern-day zombie movies like "28 Days Later" and "The Signal."  I'm not sure about this one; the trailer makes it looks like it could go either way.  But I do love horror movies, so I'll probably see it eventually.  Rated R.

Opening in Selected Release:

Ashes of Time Redux - Director Wong Kar-Wai ("In The Mood For Love," "Chungking Express,") revisits his swordplay epic about a broken-hearted hitman who hires swordsmen to carry out contract killings.  When the original version of this film was released in 1994 it was met with mixed reviews and middling success.  But it went on to influence modern-day Asian epics like "Hero" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," so this new, fixed up release should help the film finally get the attention and respect it deserves.  Rated R.

Happy Go Lucky - A cheery, colorful north London schoolteacher confronts the harsh realities of life, exasperating and enchanting everyone around her.  Like the recent release "Rachel Getting Married," the first time I saw the trailer I didn't really think this film looked that interesting (actually I thought it looked kind of annoying), but since then it's been getting a lot of good reviews and Oscar buzz for relatively unknown star Sally Hawkins.  So, like RGM, I'll give this film the benefit of the doubt and check it out.  It's not like I haven't been wrong before.  Rated R.

Cinematic robbery

Have any of you guys seen the latest episode of "South Park," where all the kids see the most recent Indiana Jones movie and then attempt to file a lawsuit against Steven Spielberg and George Lucas for "raping" Indiana Jones?  Well, that's how I am feeling right now.  This is because I just watched the trailer for "The Uninvited," a horror film coming out this January.  The movie looks terrible, even though I do like some of the stars in it.

But that's not why I'm angry.  I'm angry because this film was originally going to be called "A Tale of Two Sisters," and was supposed to be an American remake of a Korean horror film of the same name.  That original film is one of the creepiest, most well-made horror films I've ever seen.  In fact, it just might be my favorite horror film of all time.  Normally I'm all for remakes (I really liked "The Ring," "Dark Water" and the "Grudge" remakes), but based on the trailer I just watched, it looks like the filmmakers took the best parts of "Sisters" and shoehorned them into a completely different story... which is incredibly stupid, as "Sisters" has an amazing (abeit sometimes confusing) story.

While I sit here contemplating legal action, how about you guys watch the trailers for each of them below.  After that, go out and rent/buy "A Tale of Two Sisters" and see it for yourself.  It'll make a great Halloween film, and you definitely will want to see this version before the craptastic remake comes out.

"A Tale of Two Sisters" trailer

"The Uninvited" trailer

What's new on DVD and CD this week - 10/7/08

Here are the new releases on DVD and CD this week.

My picks for DVD:

"The Visitor" - Richard Jenkins ("Six Feet Under," "Burn After Reading") stars in this film about a recently widowed college professor who discovers a couple of illegal aliens living in his New York apartment.  This film was a sleeper hit earlier this year, and there has been talk of an Oscar nomination for Jenkins.  Worth seeing.

"Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty" - It's another classic Walt Disney movie finally being released on DVD.  And you better buy it now, because eventually Disney will throw it back into the "vault."

"30 Rock: Season 2" - Admit it, you've loved watching Tina Fey portraying Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live" recently.  Now it's time to see just how funny she is when starring in this beloved yet ratings-challenged series.  The new season starts October 30th, so now is a great time to get caught up?

"Robot Chicken: Season 3" - This strange, weird and brilliant series from Seth Green ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Family Guy") is some of the funniest stuff you'll see on TV now.  Check this out and then, if you haven't already, check out their awesome "Star Wars" spoof.

Also available on DVD:

The Simpsons: Season 11

The Happening

You Don’t Mess With the Zohan

How I Met Your Mother: Season 3

Doctor Who: Trial of a Time Lord

Doctor Who: Brain of Morbius

The Munsters: The Complete Series

My picks for CD:

Rise Against: "Appeal to Reason" - If I were to compile a list of my favorite musicians, this Chicago-based punk band would easily make the top ten.  They do punchy, energetic, melodic punk with a message better than anybody else.  This may be their best album yet, so you owe it to yourself to pick it up.

The Streets: "Everything is Borrowed" - The Streets is a white, British rapper named Mike Skinner, but in saying that I've told you nothing about his music.  This is because British hip-hop is different from American; it's actually more of a melting pot of rap, punk, techno, R&B, and most other musical genres.  Skinner's rhymes detail hard-living working class daily life and everything goes along with it.  This is music worth checking out whether you consider yourself a hip-hop fan or not.

Also available on CD:

Various Artists - Nightmare Revisited (another collection of bands covering songs from "The Nightmare Before Christmas")

Sarah McLachlan - Closer: The Best of Sarah McLachlan

Bob Dylan - The Bootleg Series Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs: Rare & Unreleased 1989-2006

Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul

The Pretenders - Break Up the Concrete

Rachael Yamagata - Elephants

The Clash - Live at Shea Stadium

You Should Really Be Watching: "Total Drama Island"

If any of you are like me, then you probably watch a lot of Cartoon Network.  Not just the extremely brilliant/offensive stuff on Adult Swim; I'm talking about regular, seemingly kid-friendly stuff like "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends" and "The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy."  If you've been watching the network recently, then you may have heard of a newer series called "Total Drama Island."  Well, I've seen it and I think it's the best show currently airing on the channel (once again, not counting Adult Swim material).

If you haven't seen it, "Total Drama Island" is an animated spoof of reality TV shows like "Survivor" and "Fear Factor."  In the series, 22 teenage competitors are sent to live and compete at Camp Wawanakwa, a fictional crappy campground based somewhere in the real-life Muskoka, Ontario Canada (the series is actually a Canadian import).  Over the first season they compete in various challenges inspired by real life reality TV (like eating disgusting food and performing dangerous stunts) in order to win the grand prize; $100,000 and "cheesy tabloid fame."  Each week the campers vote off a different cast member, "Survivor"-style.

I really enjoy this show because the makers of the series do an excellent job of making "Total Drama Island" feel like you actually are watching a real reality TV show.  Along with the challenges, the show also contains the friendships, hook-ups, backstabbing, and whatnot that drive people to watch RTV.  You also get a good feel for the characters; despite the large cast of characters (22 contestants, along with the host and the camp chef), each one is fleshed out with a real personality.  Each character is based off of a particular stereotype; the antisocial goth girl, the party-loving guy, the evil backstabber, etc.  One of the best aspects of the series is that, like real RTV, it's easy for each viewer to end up picking their own favorite character to root for (anybody who knows me should be able to watch the series and figure out who my favorite is pretty easily).

The first season is currently airing on Cartoon Network, but, like I said before, it's actually a Canadian series that originally aired in 2007.  Which means that, if you don't want to spend the time following it on TV, you can find and watch the whole series online in all its original Canadian glory (which I did, but I won't spoil who won the series... although I will tell you that there is indeed a winner).  But if you want to check it out on the small screen, "new" episodes air on Thursdays at 9:00pm.

As for the future of the series, I've heard unconfirmed rumors that a DVD release of season one is planned for sometime in December.  The second season, which is going to be called "Total Drama Action," is currently in development (bringing back 15 of the contestants from season one), and a third season called "Total Drama: The Musical" is planned as well.

Whatever way you choose to watch, you owe it to yourself to check out "Total Drama Island."  It's an excellent, very funny, well-made series that should appeal to just about everyone.  You should really be watching this.

What's new in theaters this week - 10/3/08

There are a lot of new releases in theaters this week.  But how many of them are actually worth seeing?  That's where I come in!

Opening in Wide Release:

• An American Carol - A filmmaker who's out to abolish the 4th of July holiday is visited by three ghosts who try to show him the good sides of the U.S.A.  This is essentially a "Disaster/Epic/Scary/Superhero/Date/etc. Movie"-type movie that attempts to make fun of Michael Moore (the main character's name is Michael Malone).  It was made by and stars many politically conservative actors... hell, even Bill O'Reilly pops up in the film! Look, I'm all for taking the piss out of Moore and annoying people like him (and I am a liberal, by the way), but I have no interest in seeing yet another crap-tastic parody movie.  If you really want to see someone make fun of Moore in a way that's actually funny, see "Team America: World Police."  Avoid this no matter where you politically stand.  Rated PG-13.
• Beverly Hills Chihuahua - A pampered Beverly Hills Chihuahua finds herself lost in the mean streets of Mexico without a boutique or day-spa anywhere in sight.  Looks to be the most annoying, mind-numbingly stupid film that's come out in a long time (and, regarding the state of modern day movies, that's saying something).  I actually suffered a slight mental breakdown just watching the trailer.  So, unless you want to end up like Winona Ryder in "Girl, Interrupted," do not see this movie.  Rated PG.
• Blindness - When a plague of blindness devastates a city, the afflicted band together to overcome the horrific conditions of their quarantine.  Julianne Moore ("Magnolia," and no relation to Michael) stars as the one person in the city who can still see.  This has been very controversial and gotten a lot of mixed reviews ever since it started playing in film festivals earlier this year.  Personally, I think it looks very intriguing, and I want to see it.  But it does look to be a very dark and unhappy film.  Rated R.
• Flash of Genius - Greg Kinnear ("Little Miss Sunshine") stars in the true story of an inventor's long battle with the automobile industry after they stole the design for his creation: the intermittent windshield wiper.  Yeah, it's kind of a strange story to make into a film, but honestly it looks like it could be pretty good, especially if you like movies about underdogs going against the big evil corporations.  And it is a pretty interesting story too.  Rated PG-13.
• How to Lose Friends and Alienate People - A small-time British celebrity journalist is hired by an upscale New York magazine and enters high society with disastrous results.  This definitely makes my must-see list because it stars the great Simon Pegg ("Hot Fuzz"), and it looks to be a very funny movie (you know, in that kind of uncomfortable, squirm-inducing way).  And the fact that it's based on a true story makes me want to see it even more.  Rated R.
• Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist - Two teens, with nothing in common but their taste in music, go on an all-night quest to find their favorite band's secret show.  Sure, it looks like it's trying to mine off the success of "Juno", but you can cut it some slack - the movie is actually based on a book that's been out for quite a while.  Plus, "Juno" writer Diablo Cody has even given the movie her enthusiastic support, and if she says it's worth seeing then that's good enough for me (I kind of worship her, just a little bit).  Rated PG-13.

Opening in Selected Release:

• Rachel Getting Married - Anne Hathaway ("Brokeback Mountain") plays a fresh-out-of-rehab woman who returns home for her sister's wedding, bringing a long history of personal crisis and family conflict along with her.  When I first saw the trailer for this film, it looked like just a bunch people, mostly women, yelling at each other.  Yeah, that sounds like fun.  But since then the buzz for this film from people who have actually seen it has been universally strong, with many people saying it's a surefire Oscar nomination for Hathaway.  So I'll give it another chance.  Rated R.
• Religulous - Comedian/TV host Bill Maher examines the state of world religion, from Muslim riots over cartoons to The 10 Commandments in front of courthouses.  As a Christian who has a lot of issues with modern-day organized religion, I am always up for someone openly questioning and exploring those issues (see last year's "Jesus Camp").  But, based on what I've seen, Maher doesn't seem like he's really interested in exploring anything... he seems more interested in just criticizing and making fun of religion, which doesn't sit well with me.  Still, I might see this on DVD someday just to see what he has to say.  Rated R.
• RocknRolla - In director Guy Ritchie's ("Snatch") latest, a Russian mobster orchestrates a crooked land deal that attracts all of London's criminal underworld.  Stars Gerard Butler ("300") and a bunch of other cool actors.  This is my top pick of the week; just watch the trailer and tell me it doesn't look awesome!  You can't do it!  Definitely see this movie.  Rated R.

What's on TV: new and returning TV shows for October

Today is October 1st, which means a whole new month has begun.  And, for us TV addicts, it means that a number of new and returning series are coming back this month.  So, like I did for September, I've made a list of what's premiering this month.  Enjoy your TV watching!

Wednesday, October 1st

Pushing Daisies: 8pm, ABC

Friday Night Lights: 8pm, DirecTV 101 (will air on NBC in 2009)

Private Practice: 9pm, ABC

Dirty Sexy Money, 10pm, ABC

Friday, October 3rd

Wife Swap: 8pm, ABC

Ghost Whisperer: 8pm, CBS

Everybody Hates Chris: 8pm, The CW

The Game: 8:30pm, The CW

Supernanny: 9pm, ABC

The Ex List: 9pm, CBS

Numb3rs: 10pm, CBS

Monday, October 6th

Samantha Who?: 9:30pm, ABC

Thursday, October 9th

Kath & Kim: 8:30pm, NBC

CSI: 9pm, CBS

SNL on Thursday Night: 9:30pm, NBC

Life on Mars: 10pm, ABC

Eleventh Hour: 10pm, CBS

Monday, October 13th

My Own Worst Enemy: 10pm, NBC

Tuesday, October 14th

Eli Stone: 10pm, ABC

Friday, October 17th

Crusoe: 9pm, NBC

Wednesday, October 29th

Stylista: 9pm, The CW

Thursday, October 30th

30 ROCK: 9:30pm, NBC