Tuesday, July 26, 2011
More appologies for the limited posts.
It's been a crazy month between work and moving and haven't actually had time to watch anything new but some of 30 rock. It's good. A better review will come up once I have more time though. Keep checking back, I'll be writing more soon.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Top Gear (2002-Present)
I've been trying to avoid doing this one, but I can't help it. Partly because I can't find time to watch anything new still and partly because I love this show more than anything that has ever come from England aside from the Aston Martin DBS. Top Gear is a talk show. Top Gear is car show. But more importantly, Top Gear is a show that anyone can sit down and enjoy. You don't have to like talk shows or cars to really find it interesting or funny, and you will sit down and watch every episode just to see what trouble the three host can get themselves into.
Speaking of which, let's talk about the hosts. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May (as of season 2) along with their faceless tamed racing driver the Stig make up the cast of Top Gear. Clarkson (aka Jezza) is loud, annoying, rude, and a writing genius. Hammond (aka Hamster) is sort of the runt of the group, but he has a lot of heart, and finally James May (aka Captain Slow) really pulls the group together with is sense of right and wrong, and is quite anal attention to detail. The Stig is a man who never speaks, never acts, but is there for one reason, and one reason only, to drive cars around their test track.
The show generally follows a solid format (aside from some specials) where they do a few car reviews, speak to a guest of the week, and they usually do some sort of special tribute or challenge. Challenges are the best part of the show usually. They do things like "Who can by the best super car for under £10,000" or "Who would win between a Bugatti Veyron and a Plane in a race across Europe". The stunts they pull, and the things they are allowed to get away with is astounding. They do not use stunt men in these either, it's all the hosts. All the driving, the insane races, the challenges, all complete by the hosts. A great example is in the preview I plan on posting, so I won't go into too much detail, but I think you will be impressed at their stupidity.
You might wonder where the talk show part really comes in. Every week there is a guest as I've said. This guest comes and promotes movies, albums, plays and what not, and Jeremy talks to them and they joke and it's usually pretty entertaining. Then, every star goes through a segment called "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car". During this segment, the star runs the Top Gear reasonably priced car around their test track as fast as they can. At the end, their fastest time goes up on a board with all the other guests who have been on the show. The show features a wide range of guests, from comedian Jimmy Carr to singer Tom Jones, to Actors Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz (same episode). In the earlier seasons, some of the people are a bit less recognizable if you don't see a lot of British TV, but bigger and bigger stars end up on the show.
So, I've been ranting and ranting and so on about the show. The fact is, is that it's a show you should not miss. It's not just one of the best shows in England, it's one of the best shows in the world. It is not rated on Netflix, but I would say it's between PG and PG-13. You may not want some of your younger children to hear the bit of foul language and some of the references, but honestly, kids will love the fast cars, and enough of the jokes to be entertained. The best thing is, you don't have to be a fan of cars to like it. It's filmed, written and presented is such a manner that you won't even know you're learning about cars. It's may as well be a show about three middle aged men bickering back and fourth with one another. Unfortunately, Netflix only offers series 2-15 on instant queue, and series 16 is on DVD. Series 17 is currently being aired in England, so if you like it, you can download it if you're good with the internet. Otherwise it will probably be available by Christmas. Sit back and enjoy Top Gear.
I leave you with Jeremy Clarkson doing a tribute to the Reliant Robin.
Speaking of which, let's talk about the hosts. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May (as of season 2) along with their faceless tamed racing driver the Stig make up the cast of Top Gear. Clarkson (aka Jezza) is loud, annoying, rude, and a writing genius. Hammond (aka Hamster) is sort of the runt of the group, but he has a lot of heart, and finally James May (aka Captain Slow) really pulls the group together with is sense of right and wrong, and is quite anal attention to detail. The Stig is a man who never speaks, never acts, but is there for one reason, and one reason only, to drive cars around their test track.
The show generally follows a solid format (aside from some specials) where they do a few car reviews, speak to a guest of the week, and they usually do some sort of special tribute or challenge. Challenges are the best part of the show usually. They do things like "Who can by the best super car for under £10,000" or "Who would win between a Bugatti Veyron and a Plane in a race across Europe". The stunts they pull, and the things they are allowed to get away with is astounding. They do not use stunt men in these either, it's all the hosts. All the driving, the insane races, the challenges, all complete by the hosts. A great example is in the preview I plan on posting, so I won't go into too much detail, but I think you will be impressed at their stupidity.
You might wonder where the talk show part really comes in. Every week there is a guest as I've said. This guest comes and promotes movies, albums, plays and what not, and Jeremy talks to them and they joke and it's usually pretty entertaining. Then, every star goes through a segment called "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car". During this segment, the star runs the Top Gear reasonably priced car around their test track as fast as they can. At the end, their fastest time goes up on a board with all the other guests who have been on the show. The show features a wide range of guests, from comedian Jimmy Carr to singer Tom Jones, to Actors Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz (same episode). In the earlier seasons, some of the people are a bit less recognizable if you don't see a lot of British TV, but bigger and bigger stars end up on the show.
So, I've been ranting and ranting and so on about the show. The fact is, is that it's a show you should not miss. It's not just one of the best shows in England, it's one of the best shows in the world. It is not rated on Netflix, but I would say it's between PG and PG-13. You may not want some of your younger children to hear the bit of foul language and some of the references, but honestly, kids will love the fast cars, and enough of the jokes to be entertained. The best thing is, you don't have to be a fan of cars to like it. It's filmed, written and presented is such a manner that you won't even know you're learning about cars. It's may as well be a show about three middle aged men bickering back and fourth with one another. Unfortunately, Netflix only offers series 2-15 on instant queue, and series 16 is on DVD. Series 17 is currently being aired in England, so if you like it, you can download it if you're good with the internet. Otherwise it will probably be available by Christmas. Sit back and enjoy Top Gear.
I leave you with Jeremy Clarkson doing a tribute to the Reliant Robin.
Christopher Titus: Love is Evol
What is there really to say about this special other than it's hilarious. One of the best comedy specials out there. Some may remember Titus from his short running show by the same name, and you may remember that he was funny back then, almost 10 years later he's still funny.
The documentary even has a bit of a timeline to it. It starts with a discussion of his evil ex-wife who abused, used, humiliated, and terrified him. He talks about their time together, their divorce, and how it effected his psyche. Sounds a bit depressing I know, but the stories, the movement and the facial expression make it into about an hour of laughs on the subject. He eventually switches over to talk about his current girlfriend at the time, who he claims is his perfect women. He spends about another 30 minutes telling stories of their time together and how he continuously embarrasses himself in front of his new girl.
The entire special is really about love. Titus talks about how it makes people do insanely stupid things and regales us with stories from his life experiences. It's both hilarious and educational so pay attention. It's really pretty impressive for a comedian to stick to a single broad topic for so long and keep the jokes coming. It really makes this a must see special, especially for you couples out there. You'll either love it together, or hate each other afterwards, but either way you'll have a good time while you're watching.
Netflix does not have this video rated currently, but if anything it would probably be at least PG-13. There is strong sexual content and and some bad language throughout the special. It's still appropriate for young teenagers, some people may still want to view it before allow there teens or younger to watch it. I can almost guarantee that you will love it though. Now go watch and enjoy Love is Evol.
The documentary even has a bit of a timeline to it. It starts with a discussion of his evil ex-wife who abused, used, humiliated, and terrified him. He talks about their time together, their divorce, and how it effected his psyche. Sounds a bit depressing I know, but the stories, the movement and the facial expression make it into about an hour of laughs on the subject. He eventually switches over to talk about his current girlfriend at the time, who he claims is his perfect women. He spends about another 30 minutes telling stories of their time together and how he continuously embarrasses himself in front of his new girl.
The entire special is really about love. Titus talks about how it makes people do insanely stupid things and regales us with stories from his life experiences. It's both hilarious and educational so pay attention. It's really pretty impressive for a comedian to stick to a single broad topic for so long and keep the jokes coming. It really makes this a must see special, especially for you couples out there. You'll either love it together, or hate each other afterwards, but either way you'll have a good time while you're watching.
Netflix does not have this video rated currently, but if anything it would probably be at least PG-13. There is strong sexual content and and some bad language throughout the special. It's still appropriate for young teenagers, some people may still want to view it before allow there teens or younger to watch it. I can almost guarantee that you will love it though. Now go watch and enjoy Love is Evol.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Apologies for the Limited Posts
Sorry for not posting much over the last week. I've been busy moving. You can expect updates on movies and shows as soon as tomorrow night.
Thanks for reading
Thanks for reading
Friday, July 8, 2011
The Producers (1968)
I swear, this is the last Gene Wilder or Mel Brooks movie I will talk about for a while (probably). So, let's get this show on the road. The Producers, it's old, it's funny, it's crazy, and there have been a musical, and a remake since it's original release. The movie stars Zero Mostel as Max Bialystock, a washed up Broadway producer who now makes bad plays and swindles old women out of money to fund them. One day, Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder), an accountant, shows up at Bialystock's office to check his books. While looking over them, he notices Bialystock's last play only cost $58,000 and he raised $60,000. This left Max profiting with $2000 on a play that only lasted 1 day on Broadway. Using this information, Bloom discovers a way for Bialystock to make a million dollars off of one bad play by producing it cheaply, and profiting off it not doing well.
Though not enthused with the idea, Bloom is talked into taking part with some encouragement from Bialystock. The two then plan to make the worst play ever imagined, based on the "softer" side of Hitler, written by an ex-Nazi. The two pick the worst script, the worst director, and the worst actors they could find, all in the pursuit of cash. The plot twists when the play does surprisingly well despite it's main focus, and the two producers fret for their freedom as they face jail time for fraud.
The movie is fairly dated, but the characters are still well written and fun to watch. Mostel is a bit crazy and an excellent con man. On the other hand, Wilder plays a neurotic, twitchy man, who was easily conned and has plenty of odd quirks about him. Mel Brooks really puts together a winner in this film that goes back over 40 years. It's a movie that predates Wilder's appearance as Willy Wonka (1971), and look at how well that movie has aged. The Producers certainly is in no way as timeless of a classic as Wonka, but Wilder's acting is on par with his role as Willy Wonka.
The Producers is rated PG and Netflix suggests it should be investigated by parents before they let their younger children attend. It's doubtful a lot of younger children will really be interested, but the zany characters may capture their attention long enough for them to finish the film.The older you are, the more likely you are to enjoy this film. If you like Mel Brooks, you will catch some of his trademark movie making with this one, and you will not be disappointed. Enjoy the film!
Though not enthused with the idea, Bloom is talked into taking part with some encouragement from Bialystock. The two then plan to make the worst play ever imagined, based on the "softer" side of Hitler, written by an ex-Nazi. The two pick the worst script, the worst director, and the worst actors they could find, all in the pursuit of cash. The plot twists when the play does surprisingly well despite it's main focus, and the two producers fret for their freedom as they face jail time for fraud.
The movie is fairly dated, but the characters are still well written and fun to watch. Mostel is a bit crazy and an excellent con man. On the other hand, Wilder plays a neurotic, twitchy man, who was easily conned and has plenty of odd quirks about him. Mel Brooks really puts together a winner in this film that goes back over 40 years. It's a movie that predates Wilder's appearance as Willy Wonka (1971), and look at how well that movie has aged. The Producers certainly is in no way as timeless of a classic as Wonka, but Wilder's acting is on par with his role as Willy Wonka.
The Producers is rated PG and Netflix suggests it should be investigated by parents before they let their younger children attend. It's doubtful a lot of younger children will really be interested, but the zany characters may capture their attention long enough for them to finish the film.The older you are, the more likely you are to enjoy this film. If you like Mel Brooks, you will catch some of his trademark movie making with this one, and you will not be disappointed. Enjoy the film!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989)
If you read my review of Blazing Saddles (1974), then you'll remember that I think Gene Wilder is awesome. I think the only way to improve his acting is to partner him with an equally amazing comedian, and Richard Pryor fills those shoes perfectly in See No Evil, Hear No Evil. This is a hilarious team up I would have loved to see more often, and this film really takes full advantage of both of these legends.
See No Evil, Hear No Evil is about Wally (Richard Pryor) who is a blind man down on his luck, and Dave (Gene Wilder), a former actor who runs a small shop in the lobby of a building. Wally makes due with the help of his sister Adele (Kirsten Childs), and Dave has the ability to read lips, helping him function in society. The two meet when Wally comes in for a job interview. After being hired, the two witness a murder while working in the shop. Wally hears the gunshot from outside the building while waiting for an aquaintance, and Dave see's the murderer as she's leaving (having not heard the gunshot). The police quickly arrive and arrest the two for murder. They soon escape from the police and spend the rest of the movie hunting down the real killer so they can clear their names.
The two get into about as many crazy adventures as you could put a blind and a deaf man. The two steal cars, run from the police, fist fight, steal guns, break into a home, and all without being able to hear/see what's going on. Most of this is pretty frightening for at least one of the men. The two really do meld well comedicly as well. It's a shame their weren't more movies featuring these two together. Both characters are very outspoken and confident, despite their disabilities, making for a large amount of hilarious situations.
See No Evil, Hear No Evil is rated R because it may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements Biggest thing I would hit it for, if it really bothers you, is language. Richard Pryor spends a lot of the movie cursing and Gene Wilder doesn't avoid it, but instead joins in on the action. Like I said though, That part is really the worst thing about the movie. It really is a hilarious film though. One you'd probably catch on Comedy Central on a lazy Saturday afternoon, but luckily it's available on Netflix instantly, so you can check it out whenever you get a chance. See No Evil, Hear No Evil is definitely a must see, especially for any fans of the late Richard Pryor and the great Gene Wilder. Check it out tonight!
See No Evil, Hear No Evil is about Wally (Richard Pryor) who is a blind man down on his luck, and Dave (Gene Wilder), a former actor who runs a small shop in the lobby of a building. Wally makes due with the help of his sister Adele (Kirsten Childs), and Dave has the ability to read lips, helping him function in society. The two meet when Wally comes in for a job interview. After being hired, the two witness a murder while working in the shop. Wally hears the gunshot from outside the building while waiting for an aquaintance, and Dave see's the murderer as she's leaving (having not heard the gunshot). The police quickly arrive and arrest the two for murder. They soon escape from the police and spend the rest of the movie hunting down the real killer so they can clear their names.
The two get into about as many crazy adventures as you could put a blind and a deaf man. The two steal cars, run from the police, fist fight, steal guns, break into a home, and all without being able to hear/see what's going on. Most of this is pretty frightening for at least one of the men. The two really do meld well comedicly as well. It's a shame their weren't more movies featuring these two together. Both characters are very outspoken and confident, despite their disabilities, making for a large amount of hilarious situations.
See No Evil, Hear No Evil is rated R because it may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements Biggest thing I would hit it for, if it really bothers you, is language. Richard Pryor spends a lot of the movie cursing and Gene Wilder doesn't avoid it, but instead joins in on the action. Like I said though, That part is really the worst thing about the movie. It really is a hilarious film though. One you'd probably catch on Comedy Central on a lazy Saturday afternoon, but luckily it's available on Netflix instantly, so you can check it out whenever you get a chance. See No Evil, Hear No Evil is definitely a must see, especially for any fans of the late Richard Pryor and the great Gene Wilder. Check it out tonight!
The trailer has Spanish subtitles, but was the best one I could find. More power to the bi-lingual readers!
Spider-Man (1994-1997)
Talk about a great show you can enjoy with your kids (or on your own if you like Spider-Man). Watching Spider-Man now on Netflix makes me wish I would have payed it more attention when I was a kid. The show picks up after Spidey has been already received his powers, but before he knows he really has any enemies besides his boss J. Jonah Jameson. From what I've watched so far the show slowly but surely introduces many of Spider-Man's foes in great adventures, sometimes spanning more than one 21 minute segment.
The thing I hate about writing about shows is that there really isn't much to say about the plot, and that's especially apparent in this review. Spider-Man spends the show dealing with his villains as well as his own life as a college student who lives with his aunt. It pretty much follows the comic in that sense, or even the feature films.
What I can say about this cartoon, is that it's pure entertainment. The show portrays Spider-Man's sense of humor very well. He spends probably 75 percent or more of the show making jokes about what's going on. Since he jokes on what's going on in the show, it keeps the humor from being too dated as well. A big plus to this is that's it's appropriate for kids; it better be since it's a kids show originally aired on Fox Kidz. This means you have something you may remember from your past to share with your children, or you may be like me and might have not watched the show when it first came on. This is great opportunity to check it out and share it. You won't be disappointed.
Spider-Man is rated TV-Y7-FV, probably because of the animated violence, and some adult situations. I'd say their are probably worse cartoons out there for children to watch though, with more violence. The show has a very lighthearted feel to it, even in more serious situations, and is nowhere near as cold as similar cartoons like X-Men (1992)or Batman: The Animated Series.
I sadly could not find a good trailer for the show. I'll leave you with the intro so you can at least see some scenes from the show. Happy watchings!
The thing I hate about writing about shows is that there really isn't much to say about the plot, and that's especially apparent in this review. Spider-Man spends the show dealing with his villains as well as his own life as a college student who lives with his aunt. It pretty much follows the comic in that sense, or even the feature films.
What I can say about this cartoon, is that it's pure entertainment. The show portrays Spider-Man's sense of humor very well. He spends probably 75 percent or more of the show making jokes about what's going on. Since he jokes on what's going on in the show, it keeps the humor from being too dated as well. A big plus to this is that's it's appropriate for kids; it better be since it's a kids show originally aired on Fox Kidz. This means you have something you may remember from your past to share with your children, or you may be like me and might have not watched the show when it first came on. This is great opportunity to check it out and share it. You won't be disappointed.
Spider-Man is rated TV-Y7-FV, probably because of the animated violence, and some adult situations. I'd say their are probably worse cartoons out there for children to watch though, with more violence. The show has a very lighthearted feel to it, even in more serious situations, and is nowhere near as cold as similar cartoons like X-Men (1992)or Batman: The Animated Series.
I sadly could not find a good trailer for the show. I'll leave you with the intro so you can at least see some scenes from the show. Happy watchings!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The IT Crowd (2006-Present)
I've reviewed a few shows that are off the air now, but let's talk about one that you may get hooked on (not that you can watch it in America, or possibly other countries). The IT Crowd is a British sitcom featuring Roy (Chris O'Dowd), and Moss (Richard Ayoade) and their frustrations at work as the two IT employees, as well as their struggle to function outside of their own small basement office world. The series kicks off with them getting a new manager, Jen (Katherine Parkinson), who they quickly discover knows nothing about computers. They end the episode with Moss and Roy having to accept Jen as more of a gateway to the outside world, than a manager, and decide to continue working with her.
The first season really only focus's on Roy, Moss, and Jen, and their lives at work. In seasons 2-4 however, they get more involved in life outside of work. This makes for much better episodes, such as accidentally getting mixed in with footballers (soccer players) who happen to be bank robbers, or Moss becoming friends with a cannibal after misunderstanding a personal add. The plots of each episode are fairly outlandish, but they are filled with humor from beginning to end.
The show is unfortunately only 24 episodes total at this time (6 episodes a season). This makes a for a great show for the person who doesn't have a lot of time though. I worked my way through all 24 episodes while I was sick one week, the only problem is that it's a show that will keep you wanting more. I can't honestly think of a character or episode that I didn't like. For some people, a few of the reference will be somewhat hard to follow. And for those who don't know a lot about British culture and customs, some of the dialog can be a bit confusing. Many times things are explained fairly well though, so it's not hard to catch on. A good example of this is when Jen starts dating a man named Peter File. It's not a funny name in America really, but in England, they pronounce pedophile, peedophile, with a long e sound, making it quite possibly the worst name to have. And of course, they spend a good portion of time poking fun at this man's name.
The show also helps less computer savvy people enjoy it by using Jen as sort of their way into the realm of IT. Jen know what most people know, how to check the internet, how to check e-mails, and generally how to do some smaller things on the computer. Jen functions well however out of the office, which Moss and Roy greatly lack. And on the upside to that, they all work for a company ran by someone who should never be in charge of anything, especially a company. I think a dumb boss is something almost every can relate to at least at one point in their life.
IT Crowd is rated NR, but if I were to rate it I would probably give it at least a TV-PG, if not higher in the states. It contains quite a bit of adult content and foul language, and some violence you may not find suitable for you're children. Other than that, I honestly think it's a show you can watch with friends and family and all enjoy. The IT Crowd is finally available on Netflix with all four seasons available for streaming. Check it out, and look forward to season 5 sometime later in 2011 or 2012.
The first season really only focus's on Roy, Moss, and Jen, and their lives at work. In seasons 2-4 however, they get more involved in life outside of work. This makes for much better episodes, such as accidentally getting mixed in with footballers (soccer players) who happen to be bank robbers, or Moss becoming friends with a cannibal after misunderstanding a personal add. The plots of each episode are fairly outlandish, but they are filled with humor from beginning to end.
The show is unfortunately only 24 episodes total at this time (6 episodes a season). This makes a for a great show for the person who doesn't have a lot of time though. I worked my way through all 24 episodes while I was sick one week, the only problem is that it's a show that will keep you wanting more. I can't honestly think of a character or episode that I didn't like. For some people, a few of the reference will be somewhat hard to follow. And for those who don't know a lot about British culture and customs, some of the dialog can be a bit confusing. Many times things are explained fairly well though, so it's not hard to catch on. A good example of this is when Jen starts dating a man named Peter File. It's not a funny name in America really, but in England, they pronounce pedophile, peedophile, with a long e sound, making it quite possibly the worst name to have. And of course, they spend a good portion of time poking fun at this man's name.
The show also helps less computer savvy people enjoy it by using Jen as sort of their way into the realm of IT. Jen know what most people know, how to check the internet, how to check e-mails, and generally how to do some smaller things on the computer. Jen functions well however out of the office, which Moss and Roy greatly lack. And on the upside to that, they all work for a company ran by someone who should never be in charge of anything, especially a company. I think a dumb boss is something almost every can relate to at least at one point in their life.
IT Crowd is rated NR, but if I were to rate it I would probably give it at least a TV-PG, if not higher in the states. It contains quite a bit of adult content and foul language, and some violence you may not find suitable for you're children. Other than that, I honestly think it's a show you can watch with friends and family and all enjoy. The IT Crowd is finally available on Netflix with all four seasons available for streaming. Check it out, and look forward to season 5 sometime later in 2011 or 2012.
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