Battle of the Network Stars (2017) Rated TV-PG

A summer event that pits new and former TV stars against each other in athletic games. Starring Mike Greenberg, Joe Tessitore, and Ronda Rousey.

These shows are always fun to watch. You get to see both new and former TV stars in a more relaxed entertainment. It’s enjoyable to see them outside of a scripted show. Some of the games are fun to watch, and others are cheesier. The format is also a little unusual. You would think that the celebrities could all be working together in the games, but they only work in twos. Overall, it’s just a fun show to watch with all your favorite celebrities.

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To Catch a Smuggler (NatGeo) Rated NR

 Millions of contraband items come through the US airports. The Department of Homeland Security works hard to stop them from coming through. Starring Tom Mulhall, David C. Schweizer, and Arthur L. Braddy III. 

This show gives us a peek into the work that goes into catching the contraband coming through the airports. While, at times, it does seem they are trying to trap the person, most of the time it is honest police work getting the prohibited items. For those of you that don’t travel much, you may not understand the officer’s lack of knowledge about you prior to questioning. This happens all the time when you travel – in fact, it happens more often in other countries. Americans can be quite annoyed when they feel their liberties are threatened, which in turn makes them more apt to appear guilty. This show should give you more knowledge into the world around you. Thus, it’s worth the watch. 

Posted in 2020, Crime, National Geographic (NatGeo), Rated NR, Reality TV, reviews, Tv Shows | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Agatha Raisin (SkyOne) Rated NR

A PR guru turns into an amateur sleuth who solves murder mysteries. Based on the book series by M.C. Beaton. Starring Ashley Jensen, Matt McCooey, and Lucy Liemann.

This show relies on the comedy and the eccentric characters in a small English town. The brilliant comedic actor, Ashley Jensen, portrays Agatha. It’s a cheesy show, quite like Beaton’s books, but it’s always hard to bring books to life – partly due to the fact we all have our own imagination of what the characters are like. The series doesn’t have a good consistency with characters. I think that is partly due to Beaton and the production trying to bring the story to life. However, the story itself is intriguing and well written. Thus, the series is worth the watch.

Posted in 2014, Based on a Novel, Comedy, Crime, Rated NR, reviews, Sky One, Tv Shows | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New This Week on DVD, September 10, 2024

 

Inside Out 2 (PG)

Teenager Riley’s mind headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone. Starring Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke, Kensington Tallman

 Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (R)

Follow the story of how the Old West was won—and lost—through the blood, sweat and tears of many. Spanning 15 years before, during and following the Civil War from 1859 to 1874, embark on an emotional journey across a country at war with itself, experienced through the lens of families, friends and foes all attempting to discover what it truly means to be the United States of America. Starring Kevin Costner, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Luke Wilson

 Late Night with the Devil (R)

A live broadcast of a late-night talk show in 1977 goes horribly wrong, unleashing evil into the nation’s living rooms. Starring David Dastmalchian, Laura Gordon, Ian Bliss

 All of Us Strangers (R)

One night in his near-empty tower block in contemporary London, Adam has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbor Harry, which punctures the rhythm of his everyday life. Starring Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Carter John Grout, Jamie Bell

 The Fabulous Four (R)

Three lifelong friends travel to Key West, Florida to be bridesmaids in the surprise wedding of their college girlfriend Marilyn. Once there, sisterhoods are rekindled, the past rises up again in all its glory, and there’s enough sparks, drinks and romance to change all their lives in ways they never expected. Starring Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, Megan Mullally

 Kill (R)

When an army commando finds out his true love is engaged against her will, he boards a New Dehli-bound train in a daring quest to derail the arranged marriage. But when a gang of knife-wielding thieves begin to terrorize innocent passengers on his train, the commando takes them on himself in a death-defying kill-spree to save those around him — turning what should have been a typical commute into an adrenaline-fueled thrill ride. Starring Lakshya Lalwani, Raghav Juyal, Tanya Maniktala

 Chicago P.D.: Season Eleven (NR)

Chicago P.D. is a spin-off series from the Chicago Fire television series. The show follows the lives of the officers and the drama that takes place surrounding the cases taken on by District 21. This district of the Chicago Police Department is made up of two different units. Those units are the Intelligence Unit and the uniformed officers. The Intelligence Unit deal with any major offenses that may take place in the city such as high-profile murders and organized crime. The uniform officers deal with the day-to-day street crimes they encounter while on patrol. Starring Jason Beghe, Marina Squerciati, Patrick John Flueger

 Danny. Legend. God. (NR)

A crime documentary project gets hijacked by its subject. Starring Dimo Alexiev, James Babson

 Fire Country: Season 2 (TV-14)

Fire Country is a drama series about a young convict who joins a firefighting program in order to shorten his prison sentence. He and other inmates work alongside elite firefighters to extinguish massive blazes across Northern California. The series explores the themes of redemption, second chances, and the importance of community. It also highlights the dangers of wildfires and the sacrifices that firefighters make to protect their communities. Starring Max Thieriot, Kevin Alejandro, Jordan Calloway

 Knuckles (TV-PG)

Knuckles embarks on a hilarious and action-packed journey of self-discovery as he agrees to train Wade as his protege and teach him the ways of the Echidna warrior. Starring Idris Elba, Adam Pally

 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Season Twenty-Five (TV-14)

Under the leadership of Captain Donald Cragen, the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit has waged a war against many exceptionally repugnant sex offenders who would prey upon innocents in and around New York City. The SVU team focuses tirelessly on securing justice for the victims of various heinous crimes at considerable risk to each member’s individual well-being. Murderers, rapists, exploiters, addicts and abusers are some of the more common targets that Detectives Stabler and Benson track along with their partners. The accused are often individuals who think they are above the law due to their positions of power and trust, but the detectives of the SVU are determined to take down even the best-guarded offenders. Starring Mariska Hargitay

 Ted: Season One (TV-MA)

It’s 1993 and Ted the bear’s moment of fame has passed, leaving him living with his best friend, 16-year-old John Bennett, who lives in a working-class Boston home with his parents and cousin. Ted may not be the best influence on John, but when it comes right down to it, he’s willing to go out on a limb to help his friend and his family. Starring Seth MacFarlane, Max Burkholder, Alanna Ubach

The Nana Project [DVD] The Nana Project (NR)

Follows Helen “Nana” Lewis, a feisty chess master, and her grandsons, as they embark on a road trip to support her rise to state championships. Starring Mercedes Ruehl, Nolan Gould, Will Peltz

 The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live – Season 1 (TV-MA)

The love story of Rick Grimes and Michonne is changed by a changed world. Kept apart by distance. By an unstoppable power. Can they find each other and who they were in a situation unlike any they’ve ever known? Starring Andrew Lincoln, Danai Gurira, Pollyanna McIntosh

 

 

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The Yellow Birds (2017) Rated R

 Two soldiers navigate the horrors of war. When one comes back home, he struggles with the promise he made before leaving on tour. Based on the book by Kevin Powers. Starring Alden Ehrenreich, Daniel Jose Molina, and Mikey Collins. 

While this film shows the struggle that soldiers have coming back to civilian life, it throws the kink in that they did something illegal while deployed. We know that something happened overseas, but I wouldn’t have thought it was something illegal. Although, that put a twist on the story, and I like how they made it seem worse than it really is. It’s like they took moments of realism and drew a fictional problem. Granted, war has moments of ambiguity, but I also know training sets in. I just don’t see how or why they would do this illegal thing. I don’t believe the whole squad would do something so ridiculous and be so put off that they struggle with civilian life. This film is not worth the watch. 

Posted in 2017, Based on a Novel, Drama, films, Movie reviews, movies, Rated R, reviews, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain (2017) Rated PG-13

A snowboarder gets lost in the Sierra Mountains during a snowstorm, and he’s pushed to the brink of survival. Based on a true story. Starring Josh Hartnett, Mira Sorvino, and Sarah Dumont.

This underrated film is one that seems to disappear from the survival genre. One of the reasons for that is it’s based on the remarkable survival of Eric LeMarque with little to no emotional punch. It also struggles with sticking to the real story of LeMarque. Even with the inaccuracies of the story, it doesn’t elevate the emotional impact that the film needs. What I enjoyed the most were the scenes between Hartnett and Sorvino. Those were emotional, even if their age difference wasn’t mother and son. The film also has some faith elements, bringing out the emotional side. You need to see it to believe it. However, with all the positives, the film doesn’t really stay with you. Thus, it’s not worth the watch.

Posted in 2017, Biography, Drama, films, Movie reviews, movies, Rated PG-13, reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Seventh Victim (1943) Rated NR

 A woman goes looking for her sister, who has disappeared, and discovers a satanic cult. Starring Tom Conway, Jean Brooks, and Isabel Jewell. 

This is a very interesting story. As the main character discovers that her sister has disappeared, she also discovers she didn’t know her sister very well. There are scenes that are well filmed and bring the horror to life as she tries to find and save her sister, all the while being herself a target of the cult. She meets a many a character as she works at finding out where her sister has gone. While there are scenes of exorcism, they aren’t the height of horror. In fact, the story isn’t as creepy as it could be. I think it is more of a PG version of a horror film. It’s a good one to watch, making it worth the watch. 

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New This Week in Theaters, September 5, 2024

 

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - Wikipedia Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
Opens on Friday, July 12th
Starring: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega

Thirty-six years after the events of the first film, the Deetz family returns home to Winter River following Charles Deetz’s unexpected death. Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened, releasing Betelgeuse.

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Wuthering Heights (1939) Rated NR

A servant at Wuthering Heights tells the unfortunate love story between Heathcliff and Catherine. Based on the book by Emily Brontë. Starring Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier, and David Niven.

Again, I’m going to state that I’ve not been much of a Brontë fan. The stories are so dark for a romance. I like the warm, lighthearted stories. While I’m not a fan of Wuthering Heights, this version isn’t the worst. It helps that it has two of the best actors of the day, Oberon and Olivier, as the main lovers. The black and white cinemagraphy brings the darkness to life without it being too dark like some of the remakes. You can still see the actors. This film is one of the better versions of the book. It’s worth the watch.

 

Posted in 1939, Based on a Novel, Drama, films, Movie reviews, movies, Rated NR, Romance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sympathizer (HBO) Rated TV-MA

 A spy embedded in South Vietnam during the Vietnam war escapes to America but continues to spy for Viet Cong. Based on the book by Viet Thanh Nguyen. Starring Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr., and Fred Nguyen Khan. 

This series has a lot of flaws that make it difficult to enjoy. While it shows a different side of the Vietnam war, it’s one I’m not sure I like. The main character really isn’t likable. Granted, he is not one we want to cheer on to victory. Downey is one of the best actors, but the makeup was awful on him. You can tell he is the same person for every character. Maybe it’s supposed to be funny, but I didn’t get the dark humor. This series is not worth the watch. 

Posted in 2024, Based on a Novel, Comedy, Drama, HBO, Miniseries, Rated TV-MA, reviews, Tv Shows | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment