What to Watch This Weekend 11/21/13

There's a multitude of fun stuff to watch this weekend!!

What to Watch This Weekend 9/14/13

While my recommendations may seem thin this week, if you haven't seen "Ender's Game" or "Thor: The Dark World", those ought to be at the top of your list. Here are a few other ideas:

On Netflix

If you haven't ever seen the show "Supernatural", now is as good a time as any to give it a look. It's been on TV for many years (I think it's in its 9th season), and I am not currently watching as it airs, but I did go back and watch the first couple of seasons recently. My first impression? It's so scary!! So maybe not for kids. Also now and then there are surprise sex scenes, so also not for kids. Luckily, they are short, not terribly graphic scenes. Actually, in all of seasons 1 and 2, I can't remember more than one, so thankfully that distraction is minimal. (One day I'm going to write a diatribe on the fact that Hollywood is filled with writeres who like to distract from actual STORYTELLING with sex scenes in their movies and TV shows... but this is not that day.) The show follows the Winchester brothers, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) as they travel around the country fighting supernatural evil, including witches, ghosts, spooks, urban legends and demons. Though I didn't find it compelling enough to rush through, it is a show I will go back and watch from time to time, if I'm in the mood. Again, probably not for kids. It's scary, gory and there is adult dialogue, ifyaknowwhatImean.

At Redbox

With the second Hunger Games movie opening next week, it's a good time to rent the original and watch it again. For the uninitiated, this dystopic story is about a future where teens have to fight to the death to entertain the masses, which keeps everyone thoroughly oppressed by the government. It would be a rare treat if the movies were better than the books, but they do stand up pretty well on their own.


Comment below-- tell me what you're plans are!  Then pop the popcorn, make a mug of cocoa and settle in with your remote control or a good book. Have a great weekend, everyone! 

Summer-to-Christmas Movie Season 2013

Can you feel it in the air? The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the blossoms are... blossoming, school is almost out... that can only mean one thing! Time to go to the movies!! Summer movie season seems to start earlier and earlier. And even though there is usually a cinematic lull in the fall, we have some wonderful shows to look forward to at Christmas this year, too!

Movie season 2013 kicked off last weekend with "Iron Man 3" (or, arguably with "Oblivion", back in April) and continues at top speed for a few weeks.There are an inordinate number of superhero sequels and dystopian worlds-end stories, along with a handful of unique, stand-alone features to look forward to. 

Here is just a sampling of what's coming up next:

Next weekend, on May 17th, the much-anticipated sequel to 2009's "Star Trek" opens: "Star Trek Into Darkness". I'm super-duper-geeking-out excited about this, as one of my favorite actors, Benedict Cumberbatch of BBC's Sherlock (which is my favorite TV show), is playing the villain. I really enjoyed the 2009 movie, too, so I'll be getting tickets to see this on opening weekend!

Will Smith's presence in summer seems like a tradition, hearkening all the way back to "Independence Day" from July of 1996, and including the "Men In Black" franchise and "I, Robot" and many others. So it comes as no surprise that he'll have a big sci-fi adventure this year with "After Earth" on May 31st. His son, Jayden, gets second billing, and it's directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Not sure what to think of that... Jayden gave a mediocre performance in 2010's "Karate Kid" re-imagining, and Shyamalan hasn't had a hit in many years, but maybe this will be a pleasant surprise. And I'll see almost anything with Will Smith...

"Now You See Me" is a heist thriller, where a group of illusionists commit heists during performances, giving the money to their audiences. This movie looks so good, I'm actually as excited about it as I am about any of the superhero films coming this year. If nothing else, it's one of the better trailers I've seen this year. And who doesn't love Michael Caine, Mark Ruffalo and Morgan Freeman? Plus Jesse Eisenberg, who is very good at the fast-talking smarter-than-everyone character rounds out a promising cast. This one comes out on May 31st.

On June 14, "Man of Steel" resets the Superman story, with a new version of the caped hero's origin story, starring Henry Cavill. The trailers look enticing-- hopefully this will be one the whole family can enjoy. Superman has always been such a great role model of truth, justice and doing the right thing.

June 21st has two movies opening, one for kids and one for... not kids: "Monsters University", the sequel to the beloved "Monsters, Inc." and the literal zombie-apocalypse horror/thriller "World War Z", starring Brad Pitt. You'll probably find me with the kiddos and not the zombies... Sorry, Brad.

In spite of concerns over racial insensitivity, Johnny Depp as Tonto in the July 5th's "The Lone Ranger" doesn't seem any more over the top than any other Depp character, and Armie Hammer appears to fit the big, white hat and the mask of the title character. I suppose the quality and potential offensiveness will remain to be seen, but it looks like a fun western adventure.


Also on July 5th, the sequel to 2010's "Despicable Me", simple titled "Despicable Me 2" hits theaters, and I'm sure it will be filled with more of Steve Carrel's signature shtick and the goofy minions that we all loved in the first movie.

Hugh Jackman returns as the title character on July 26th as "The Wolverine". Apparently a sequel to the 2009 film, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine", it takes the title character to Japan to encounter an old enemy. So many superheros, so little time...

I wouldn't mention "Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters" except that geek favorite Nathan Fillion surprised me by appearing in the trailer-- he's playing the god Hermes. I will probably see it just for him.

On November 1, I will be right there with all you other geeks, nerds and wanna-be's standing in line to see "Ender's Game". This is one of the most beloved sci-fi books of all time, and if you haven't read it, do so before you see the movie. I don't know whether they will slaughter the story or stay true to it, but the end is one of the best twists ever, and even if you see it coming, it's better to read it yourself than to have it spoiled online or onscreen. Seriously. Read it.

One week later, on November 8th, the hunky Chris Hemsworth returns as the title character in "Thor: Dark World". 'Nuff said.

And on the 22nd of November, Chris' brother, Liam Hemsworth, returns with the great Jennifer Lawrence and the adorable Josh Hutcherson in the second "Hunger Games" movie "Catching Fire". Fans of the books will show up in droves. Others? Maybe not so much. 

Probably THE most anticipated film of the year arrives on December 13th, "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" starring the great Martin Freeman (I also love him-- he plays John Watson on the aforementioned "Sherlock"). You and I both will be in line for this one, right? 

It's looking like one of the best years in superhero and sequel history. Hopefully there will be more great films than duds this year.

What did I miss? This is a VERY condensed list of films I'm excited about, but what would you have included on this list? 

All images used are from IMDB.com.

How It Should Have Ended

Have you come across How it Should Have Ended or HISHE on Youtube yet? I can't remember how we discovered it, but we've really enjoyed some of their cartoons, especially those that include superheros sitting together at a cafe. They've created send-ups of most of the most popular films of our modern time, including the Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Titanic, new releases like The Hunger Games, and all of the latest superhero films. They're creative, and usually quite funny. Here are a couple of samples to whet your appetite. (Yep, I used the word "whet" in a sentence. 5 points for me.) Go check them out!

The Hunger Games

Believe it or not, I actually saw a movie in the theater yesterday! My two teenage sons were going to an afternoon show of "The Hunger Games", so I tagged along. It was a "spur of the moment" decision, which is also rare for me, and I'm so glad I went!


It's been a couple of years since I read the books, so my memory wasn't clear on many details. I think that made the movie more enjoyable because I wasn't comparing the two versions. I do think the movie was very true to the emotions and the heart of the book, and the few changes they made story-wise were necessary for the flow of the film. I also thought it was perfectly cast. I was nervous, as the last YA book-to-film I was excited about was woefully miscast and horribly directed and had some jaw-droppingly stupid moments added in. Yep, you know what I'm talking about. It's inevitable that we fans would draw some comparisons between "The Hunger Games" and "Twilight". After all, both books are YA with a leading heroine; both books feature gore and death, though "Hunger Games" is decidedly deathier; and both books have a heart-tugging love triangle. To compare Kristen Stewart and Jennifer Lawrence is terribly unfair. But I'm going to anyway. Stewart looks like a cardboard cutout onscreen, and Lawrence shines. Stewart's attempts at subtle emotional expressions look like she's sulking or simply deadpan, while Lawrence's subtlety is perfect and her face is so expressive, even when it isn't spelled out for the audience, we can tell what she's feeling.


So bear with me a moment as I repeat what everyone is saying: that Jennifer Lawrence is brilliantly well cast as Katniss- authentic, powerful, strong, but still a teenage girl, whose heart doesn't know what it wants. She's pretty, but not distractingly so-- she looks real. Believeable. And compelling-- you can't take her eyes off her.

Liam and his hunky-Thor brother, Chris and Chris' eyes. Yum.

Both the men in her life are also perfectly cast: Liam Hemsworth as Gale (I wanted to see more of him, especially since I have a bit of a crush on his brother. Hopefully we'll get more Gale in the next two films. I don't remember the books well enough to say... 


I especially loved Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. He absolutely broke my heart in Bridge to Terabithia 5 years ago. I could tell he was one to watch. Good looking, talented, and has that elusive presence all screen actors try to capture. He was so good as Peeta-- emotive, adorable, smiling at the crowd, heart-breaking when he talked to Katniss, just wonderful. Exactly what I pictured as I read the books. I do have to say, though, that his hair color doesn't look natural to me. Most likely that's because I know he's really not a blond... but it looked fakey-bad... and they left it dark in the flashback scene where he throws the bread out to Katniss in the rain. Um... poor editing? Just confusing? Yes. But maybe only to me. My boys didn't even notice, or care.

The casting is the biggest difference between HG and Twilight. The Edward of my imagination was good looking, Adonis-like, beautiful and muscular. The Edward of the film looks like a British misfit, bad teeth, worse hair (in the first film, especially), skinny and sick-looking. Not what was in my head at all... but with the casting of HG, they have managed to cast people who look exactly like their fictional counterparts, and who lo-and-behold are actually rather talented actors! 


For the first time in a long time, I'm excited to see the sequel next year... or whenever they release it. I can't remember the last time I was excited for a sequel. Unless you count the Avengers... don't get me started...


UPDATE 3/29/12: My friend Diane brought to my attention that I neglected to mention Woody Harrelson, who is absolutely spot-on as Haymitch. I wasn't sure I would like him; I haven't seen him in anything in so long, but I can't imagine Haymitch being played by anyone else! She also reminded me that I forgot to comment on what I call the "Bourne School of Camera Work" shooting of the fight scenes-- especially the one set on the large, metallic cornucopia. I despise scenes shot up close and with the cameraman doing the disco as he rolls film. There weren't a lot of them in this movie, thank goodness, but it was distracting when they shot like that. Thanks, Diane, for helping my forgetful-prone brain on this one! :)