Movie Rewind: Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Director: Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz)

Cast: Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz, Star Trek), Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz), Kate Ashfield, Lucy Davis, Dylan Moran (Run Fatboy Run)

The Deal: Shaun is having a bad day. He's 29-years-old, his career is going nowhere, his best friend is a slacker, and his girlfriend has dumped him for forgetting their anniversary. But if he thought things couldn't get any worse, they do. London is experiencing a zombie apocalypse and it's up to Shaun to save his romance and his friends or fall prey to the walking dead.

Thoughts: This is the film that started the zombie-comedy genre. It's extremely funny, full of gruesome scenes expected from a zombie film, and just flat out entertaining. I re-watch this film every year around Halloween and it never gets old. In a way, the story plays out the way every average man would imagine a zombie apocalypse panning out. He's down-on-his luck, but in the heat of the moment, he can step it up, kill a slew of zombies, and get the girl. What guy wouldn't want this scenario to work out that way for themselves?

A big boost for the film is the acting. I love Simon Pegg and Nick Frost together. They are just a very funny combo that know how to make a fun film. There are a few more serious moments in the film where the comedians must tone it back, and they handle those scenes well. The supporting cast is solid as well, providing plenty of funny moments themselves.

There are a couple of scenes that I really love in the film. The first is when Shaun and Ed are in the back yard trying to kill their first zombie. The two sit there an bicker over what CDs can be used as a weapon, all the while the zombie is getting closer. The two, after unsuccessfully throwing a slew of objects, settle on blunt objects like a cricket bat to get the job done. The other scene is in the bar towards the end when the group continue to circle around the zombie whacking him with pool cues. The music and the visual is just really funny and memorable.

Verdict: The defining film for the zom-com genre. Shaun of the Dead is very funny, action-packed, and full of ravenous zombies. A yearly must around Halloween. ☆☆☆☆1/2

Movie Rewind: Paranormal Activity (2007)

Director: Oren Peli

Cast: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Fredrichs

The Deal: After moving into a suburban home, Katie (Featherston) and Micah (Sloat) become increasingly disturbed by a series of supernatural occurrences in the night. Hoping to capture evidence of the haunting, they set up a video camera in their room every night, but they are in no way prepared for the series of terrifying events that follow.

Thoughts: This isn't one of those films that tries to jump out and startle you, but rather the type that builds initial suspense and then keeps growing it to heightened levels every few scenes. There will be a crowd of viewers that find the film terrifying and possibly nightmare inducing. The camera work is the same style that was used in The Blair Witch Project, which for these types of films is really the best route to go. It adds a very realistic and believable touch to the story. There will also be a crowd that isn't necessarily frightened by this, but the film will still prove to be eerily satisfying and deliver the chills most seek when they look in towards the horror genre. Sure, it's predictable that the Ouija board would come to life when they left the room in one scene, but who could have seen the board lighting on fire? It's scenes like that that keep the film interesting and the viewer on the edge of their seat.

Paranormal Activity is entirely carried by two actors you've never heard of, and I think that once again, this works to the advantage of this type of film. These aren't Hollywood stars we see everywhere, but rather a couple of average citizens dealing with a set of terrifyingly real paranormal events. This is the aspect that makes the film so scary to some, because they can much more easily place themselves in the characters' shoes and believe this could happen to them. Katie and Micah, who keep their names in the film, both do an excellent job delivering their performances. Their emotions always seem very real, and their actions make logical sense.

I watched the original version from 2007. The version playing in theaters right now is mostly the same. There are a few scenes that are shown in a new order to fit a more theatrical audience, but the only big change occurs with the ending. There are multiple new endings to the film, though I've only really heard much about one. *SPOILERS* The original ending has Kate kill Micah downstairs then retreat upstairs where she rocks back and forth in a ball for days until the police arrive. The ending floating around in most theaters has her killing Micah and then dragging him upstairs and throwing him at the camera. Without seeing this ending, I can't comment on which is better, but I can say that the original ending is good, and the new one doesn't sound like it will ruin the film in any way.

Verdict: Paranormal Activity avoids the startling scares for a more believable and eerie direction that delivers heightened chills with every new scene. ☆☆☆☆

Movie Rewind: Trick 'r Treat (2007)

Director: Michael Dougherty

Cast: Dylan Baker (Kings, Spider-Man), Anna Paquin (X-Men, True Blood), Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica, Dollhouse), Leslie Bibb (Talladega Nights, Iron Man), Brian Cox (The Bourne Identity, X2), Britt McKillip (Dead Like Me), Lauren Lee Smith (CSI, The L Word), Rochelle Aytes, Quinn Lord

The Deal: In a small town on Halloween, five interwoven frightful stories occur on a single block. A couple learns the dangers of blowing out a Jack-o-Lantern before midnight, a group of children take a prank too far and discover the terrifying truth of a local legend, a twisted principal must hide his dark secret, a college "virgin" seeks the right man, and an old hermit is visited by a terrifying trick-or-treater with a few bones to pick.

Thoughts: I wish I had heard of this film sooner, because this is a great Halloween pick. Originally slated to be released in theaters, it ended up going straight to DVD, but that is not due to a lack of quality. Each of the stories is well drawn out and full of fright, suspense, and mystery. The different tales are all woven together nicely into one interconnected story. It is a scary film, but not over the top. It's at that level where it is fun and enjoyable on top of providing some chills. If you're not paying too close of attention, you'll find the film's twists quite surprising.

It's pretty impressive to see so many familiar faces. Few of them are big name stars, with Paquin being one of the few universally recognizable faces, but anyone who watches movies and TV will find people they recognize. With a film like this, the actors don't need to rely on great acting, but that's not to say that they don't do a good job. I think the castings are well chosen and add to the overall feel of the film. Even the children do a good job. Their tale was fun and "believable".

Verdict: If you're looking for a good Halloween film that isn't trying to scare the pants off of you while still delivering some chills, this is the film for you. It has a few good scares, and does a great job capturing the Halloween spirit. ☆☆☆☆

Review: I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)

Director: Chris Columbus (Harry Potter, Home Alone)

Cast: Hayden Panettiere (Heroes, Remember the Titans), Paul Rust, Jack Carpenter (Sydney White), Lauren London, Lauren Storm (Flight 29 Down), Shawn Roberts, Alan Ruck (Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Spin City), Cynthia Stevenson (Men in Trees, Dead Like Me)

The Deal: Class valedictorian Denis Cooverman (Rust) has had a crush on Beth Cooper (Panettiere), the hottest girl in school. During his graduation speech, Denis urges everyone to say the things they will regret if they don't, so he professes his love for Beth. Though embarrassed, instead of humiliating him back, she shows up to his party and shows him the time of his life.

Thoughts: This was a chore to sit through. It was rarely entertaining, mostly in part to the absolute ridiculous and nonsensical plot. All of your typical high school stereotypes are there, and the characters are each given the most extreme quirks you'd never ever see in real life, especially all out of one single high school. The film as a whole is just a bunch of random and unbelievable events thrown together with the hope of being only moderately decent, something it fails at. Yes, there are a few decent moments that'll make you laugh, but they're quickly overshadowed by the rest of the film's failures.

If you have a giant crush on Panettiere, you may like this film. She looks fantastic in every minute of it, but that's the only good thing she does. Her performance is quite weak and makes her work on Heroes look great. As for Rust, he just isn't that great of a lead. Despite the fact that everyone is supposed to be able to relate to the high school nerd who just wants a chance, viewers will be hard pressed to feel that way towards Denis.

Verdict: As good as Panettiere may look, it does little to help the films weak and unbelievable plot. It's just another high school film that leans on all of the usual stereotypes but does little to differentiate itself. ☆1/2

Review: The Ugly Truth (2009)

Director: Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, 21)

Cast: Katherine Heigl (27 Dresses, Grey's Anatomy), Gerard Butler (300, The Phantom of the Opera), Bree Turner, Eric Winter (Days of Our Lives)

The Deal: Abby (Heigl) is a determined TV producer and hopelessly single. With her show garnering low ratings, her employers team her up with Mike (Butler), an opinionated TV celebrity who brutally addresses what makes men and women click. Though they immediately clash, as Abby is disgusted by him, but the show becomes a hit. Confident in his theories, Mike guarantees he can help Abby land the man of her dreams, but if he fails, he has to leave the show.

Thoughts: Formulaic? Check. Predictable? Check. Unoriginal? Check. Funny and entertaining? Check... kinda. Rom-coms seem to be churned out way too fast these days, and it shows. Their quality is quite low, yet because of beautiful male and female leads, people still end up watching them. The scenarios are always incredibly unrealistic, and the films almost always end with the same sappy happy ending. For the most part, The Ugly Truth does nothing to buck this trend. Unlike many of the genre, it's overly raunchy. This can be funny at times, but far too often it just seems unnecessary.

I'm not going to go into a long rant about Heigl, so I'll just say this. I don't like her. It's nothing personal, but I really don't care for anything she stars in. She's not funny, and that's a problem here. Thankfully, Butler is pretty darn funny here, but only if you're a guy. Women will probably be disgusted, but men will find his very raunchy, dirty mind and actions quite hilarious. It's nothing you'll be raving about any time soon, but it's almost enough to save the film. It is enough to give the film a small spark of life, making for a mildly entertaining experience.

Verdict: A sappy and formulaic rom-com that relies on overly raunchy humor to get laughs. Women may hate this, but men will relate to Butler's character, at least enough to get a few laughs. ☆☆

Weekly TV Review: Oct 18 to Oct 24

Dexter- Dex Takes A Holiday: Rita is taking the kids to a wedding, which means Dexter has the weekend to himself to finally please his inner monster. It's great to see Dexter at work doing what he does best. His mark is a shady cop who's fairly clever, but Dexter always gets his mark. We also see Deb and Lundy getting very close while investigating the Trinity Killer. Without trying to spoil too much, Lundy may have ID'd the killer, but after the closing scene, it'll be tough to predict how things will play out for Deb and Lundy with the investigation. ☆☆☆☆

House- Brave Heart: Though far from being a bad episode, it isn't likely to remain too memorable. It is interesting to see House working with Chase, Cameron, and Foreman again like in the early seasons, but it's really just another case. Chase is still trying to cope with his actions, and House is interested in why Wilson talks to Amber at night. It's all interesting, but not a standout episode. ☆☆☆

Heroes- Tabula Rasa: Though not as good as last weeks phenomenal episode, Tabula Rasa continues to keep the good tempo Heroes is surprisingly showing this season. Samuel is trying to help Sylar regain his mind, and he makes some very interesting comments on the matter that add even more to the mystery of what he has planned. With Hiro dying, Peter and Noah try to find a healer, and though this storyline isn'y great, it is relevant, and therefore still pleasing given the disappointments of the past. To my great joy, Hiro is interesting again. He's not obsessing over his destiny as a hero, but rather helping Emma understand her powers while his own power continues to act on its own while he tries to figure out the meaning. ☆☆☆1/2

Glee- Mash Up: This episode has a very high school feel to it, as it focuses on the kids deciding if popularity is worth it. The whole school seems to like the idea of throwing slushies in the groups faces, and as expected, the jocks and cheerleaders struggle the most with this. After Will and Emma continue to exhibit sexual tension, Tanaka decides to force Finn, Puck and crew to decide between football and glee club. It's not as funny as previous episodes, and it doesn't have a dynamite performance like previous episodes, but it maintains the same level of entertainment that has kept us watching all season. I did find the romance between Rachel and Puck not only awkward, but very out of placed and forced, especially since it flamed out so quickly. ☆☆☆1/2

Community- Football, Feminism, and You: Jeff is trying to convince Troy to join the football team so that the dean won't send out flyers with Jeff's face on them, fearing it could hurt his job chances. Annie wants Troy to focus on her and school, but as we've come to know, everyone listens to Jeff. What's nice is that it turns out Troy actually wants to be on the team, allowing for Jeff and Annie to forgive each. We also see Britta struggling to understand female bathroom trips, a story line that isn't as funny as it should be. What was absolutely hysterical, to no surprise, was Pierce's part. He's teamed with the dean to create a new mascot, since the school no longer will be called the Grizzlies, and now be called the Human Beings. Anyone who has watched the show knows that with Pierce, this story line will deliver the laughs. ☆☆☆

The Office- The Lover: Michael is dating Pam's mom, and boy does this not sit well with Pam or Jim. What we get is Pam losing all emotional control, constantly harassing Michael to call it off. In a funny moment, Michael runs to Toby for help, something I never thought I'd see. While this was a more serious part to the episode, the humor falls between Jim and Dwight, not surprisingly. Dwight, still jealous of Jim's promotion, plants an obvious listening devise inside of a wooden mallard. Jim isn't an idiot, and plays around with Dwight, leading to some very funny scenes, but Dwight ends up getting the last laugh in a clever move. ☆☆☆☆

FlashForward- Gimme Some Truth: I'm still waiting for this show to finally kick things into gear and get good. The premise is interesting, but it continues to deliver mediocre results. I will say that this might be the best episode yet though, mainly due to the ending. Though it seems highly unlikely that the guys could all have escaped from the car unscathed, the ensuing shootout was very fun. The music was a good choice, but the real scene stealer was Hawk's portion of the ending. People want Mosaic gone, and those involved are attacked. We leave with Hawk bleeding out in the street while her alarm clock (the type that has wheels and rolls away from you in the morning) continues to drive around her drawing circles of blood on the ground. ☆☆☆1/2

Dollhouse- Belonging: I never thought Dollhouse would ever deliver my favorite episode of the week, but it has. This is not only the best episode of the show, but a very good television episode of any kind. This is saying a lot, but it really was good. The episode focuses on Sierra's background, and every single character in the show has some fresh and very interesting dilemmas. We see Topher finally showing he does have some morals, Boyd quietly watching Echo and Topher, and Echo trying to hide the fact that she's reading and lying (something no doll should be doing). It's a very emotionally charged episode that not only progresses the show's story relevant story line, but delivers entertaining and challenging scenes for almost every minute. My rating of the episode may seem inflated, but considering what the show has delivered in the past, I think it's justified. ☆☆☆☆1/2

*Dollhouse will not be airing during November, as Fox has decided to keep it out of sweeps. The show will return on December 4 with a two-hour episode. Fox still plans on airing the entire season.

Review: The Proposal (2009)

Director: Anne Fletcher (Step Up, 27 Dresses)

Cast: Sandra Bullock (Speed, Miss Congeniality), Ryan Reynolds (Just Friends, Definitely Maybe), Mary Steenburgen (Elf, Joan of Arcadia), Craig T Nelson (Coach, The Incredibles), Betty White (The Golden Girls, Mary Tyler Moore), Malin Akerman (Watchmen, The Heartbreak Kid), Oscar Nunez (The Office)

The Deal: High-powered book editor Margaret Tate (Bullock) blackmails her assistant Andrew (Reynolds) into marrying her so that she will not be deported back to Canada after violating her work visa. With the government questioning the validity of the marriage, she's forced to travel with Andrew to Alaska to meet his family where the two must fake their new engagement in order to learn enough to fool the investigator. As the two are forced to spend so much time together, they both gain a better understanding of the other, but when the family decides to give them a surprise wedding, things are thrown into chaos.

Thoughts: Yes, this is a pretty predictable and formulaic romantic comedy, but in all reality, what film in that genre isn't? Instead of casting it aside for that sole reason, viewers should give it a chance. It is actually fairly funny the whole way through, and though the premise is very unrealistic, it's unique enough to keep things interesting. Andrew is no fool, and despite being blackmailed, he blackmails her back early on such that the arrangement is mutually beneficial. It's when the family gets involved where we see the human side of the two, and despite it's typical happy ending, the film was entertaining.

The biggest reason this film works is that Reynolds and Bullock have great chemistry on screen. We've always associated Reynolds with being a comedian, but Bullock can be pretty funny herself. What makes them stand out is that they know how to be serious. I'm not talking about winning-an-Oscar serious, but the type of serious that's needed to take a crazy rom-com seriously (wow, that was a lot of "serious"). Betty White is also quite funny. Let's face it, if written properly, the funny grandma can be a goldmine for films, and she is just that.

Verdict: Though it's just as generic and predictable as you'd guess a rom-com to be, The Proposal is actually quite funny and Reynolds and Bullock have great chemistry on screen. ☆☆☆1/2

Weekly TV Review: Oct 11 to Oct 17

Dexter- Blinded By the Light: This week we see Dexter growing weary of the neighborhood watch. There's a vandal running loose, and the extra attention is making it hard for him to do his dirty work. Plus, he's annoyed and wants to personally scare the vandal into stopping. We also see the Trinity Killer get his next victim, but there's some dispute at the station over whether it was a suicide or a homicide. Lundy and Deb seem convinced in their thoughts, but they're currently on an island. It's another good episode, and I can't find any noticeable flaws to point out. ☆☆☆☆

Heroes- Hysterical Blindness: Thank goodness. After last week's disappointment, we are given the best episode of the season. Going in, all anyone could talk about was Claire's lesbian kiss, but by the time the episode ends, that's the least interesting part of the episode. Peter and Emma finally start to connect, with Emma realizing she can manipulate sound into a physical attack (finally proving she is a relevant character). Sylar has some memory loss, but when the cops find him full of bullet holes, he's tossed into an interrogation. As the pressure increases, powers start returning, and he has no clue what's going on. In the best move since the first season, we get a huge shocker in the Claire story line. I won't blow it for you, but it ties up some previous open plots, and was a fantastic twist. The episode ends with Samuel picking his new member, and the decision is bound to have great repercussions. ☆☆☆☆1/2

House- Instant Karma: Foreman and Chase are working on getting their stories straight after they get the impression that somebody may know too much about Dibala's death. On top of things, their patient is a dying boy who's father thinks his son's condition is based on karma since his business endeavors are booming. House is called in to make the final calls, but Foreman is still in charge. The episode continues to work the previous story lines, but it's not spectacular. It's still solid, but the boy's case wasn't as interesting as I thought it would be. ☆☆☆1/2

Glee- Throwdown: Now that Sue has equal say over the club, she and Will are clashing hard. Sue wants nothing more than to bring the club to ruins, playing her usual games of sabotage, forcing Will to either get even or lose it all. It's a very very funny episode, capped by the funniest line of all. Sue, wanting to really divide the group, decides to make Will look racist. "Sanatana, Wheels, Gay Kid, Asian, Other Asian, Aretha, and Shaft." She even convinces Puck and Britney that they are being mistreated for being Jewish and Dutch. Her reckless disregard for any emotions is phenomenal, making this possibly the funniest episode yet. It's also now apparent who the real musical talents are. Lea Michele (Rachel), Amber Riley (Mercedes), and Kevin McHale (Artie) can definitely sing well. Dianna Agron (Quinn), who gets a solo this week, and Cory Monteith (Finn) are both ok singers, but they are no where near the level of those other three. ☆☆☆☆

FlashForward- Black Swan: This is a fairly forgettable episode. Having watched it only a few hours ago, I've already forgot much of what went down. Mark and Demetri are debating how to proceed with the new information at hand, and Olivia is trying her hardest to avoid Mr Simcoe. Not a lot happens, but she does have a patient who's quite sick, and Bryce pieces together the solution by mixing symptoms with the man's flashforward. It's interesting, but overall, the episode is frustrating. ☆☆1/2

Community- Advanced Criminal Law: Brita is caught cheating on a Spanish test, forcing Jeff to represent her during a hearing to determine the school's actions. There's very little humor in the story line. Annie needs help writing a school song, and Pierce says he's a great composer... he's not. This was fairly funny, as Pierce's "brilliant" ideas were actually just him changing the words to existing songs, but thinking he came up with it all himself. Troy and Abed are pulling jokes on each other, but Abed really doesn't get it. He makes some weird alien noise that are funny, but that's it. ☆☆1/2

The Office- Mafia: This was a pretty solid episode, not brilliant, but definitely not bad. After being approached by an Italian insurance agent, Michael becomes convinced he's being targeted by the mafia and if he doesn't enroll, they will burn the office down. Much of the office thinks this is absolutely ridiculous, but since Jim and Pam are on their honeymoon, there's no one to keep Michael in check. ☆☆☆1/2

*Dollhouse didn't air this week due to MLB Playoffs

Review: Land of the Lost (2009)

Director: Brad Silberling (A Series of Unfortunate Events)

Cast: Will Farrell (Old School, Talladega Nights), Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies, Timeline), Danny McBride (Hot Rod, Pineapple Express), Jorma Taccone (Saturday Night Live, Hot Rod)

The Deal: Washed-up scientist Rick Marshall (Ferrell) is sucked through a wormhole and thrown into an alternate dimension full of dinosaurs and creatures from beyond our world. Alongside him are Holly (Friel), his research assistant and biggest fan, and Will (McBride), a redneck survivalist. With the device necessary to return home being lost during their trip there, the three must rely on a humanoid-primate named Chaka (Taccone) to help them navigate out of the dimension. Unfortunately, an evil Sleestak (strange reptile people of the dimension) has other plans with Marshall's devise... ruling the world.

Thoughts: For every good thing Land of the Lost does, there are a handful of wrong things that follow. At times, the film can actually be pretty funny, but many of the jokes become overused, and Ferrel's antics just become annoying. The biggest issue with the film is clashing visuals. Some of the CGI looks good and some of it looks terrible (how is it that the t-rex from Jurassic Park, made 16 years earlier, looks 100 times more realistic?). On top of that, we have the intentionally terrible Sleestak costumes that are clearly a throwback to the original material. What we get is a muddled mess of visuals that just don't fit together and make the film tough to sit through.

Will Ferrell is incredibly one dimensional. He knows how to be over-the-top funny, and that's it. It's good because you're guaranteed to have some funny moments, but it always ends up being annoying and never allows the film to be taken seriously. I love Anna Friel. I've thought she was adorable since Pushing Daisies, and she's just as likable in this film. Her performance isn't that great, but since I know she's capable of much more, the fault can be largely blamed on the script. Either way, she's a pleasant presence in the film, shinning as one of the very few bright spots. McBride's style meshes well with Ferrell, but he's not a great actor and he too suffers from growing annoyance.

Verdict: Though it does have a decent amount of funny moments, Land of the Lost is plagued by bad visuals and Ferrell's overacting. Friel is likable, but she can't overcome the annoyances of the film. ☆☆

Review: Transformers Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

Director: Michael Bay (Transformers, Armageddon)

Cast: Shia LaBeouf (Even Stevens, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), Megan Fox (Transformers, Jennifer's Body), Josh Duhamel (Transformers, Las Vegas), Tyrese Gibson (Transformers, Four Brothers), John Turturro (Transformers, Mr. Deeds), Isabel Lucas (Home and Away)

The Deal: Though the battle may have been won, Earth is still not safe. An ancient Deceptacon named The Fallen has returned and Sam (LaBeouf) possesses the information he needs. To make matters worse, the Deceptacons have revived Megatron to join the fray. Optimus and Bumblebee must do their best to protect Sam from falling prey, but the Deceptacons have returned with greater numbers, and the Autobots may finally be outmatched.

Thoughts: After a very successful first film, Revenge of the Fallen is a massive disappointment. All of the elements were there for another solid addition to the franchise, but the film has fallen prey to director Michael Bay. Don't get me wrong, when it comes to explosions and epic battles, Bay is the man. Unfortunately, a relevant plot is cast aside for Bay's CGI, leaving over an hour of this film as unnecessary fluff. It aways looks nice, but there are just far too many rock-bottom plot lines to rescue this film (do we really need robot testicles). Many of the scenes flat out don't make any sense, and some of the new characters are just plain awful and annoying (I'm looking directly at you, Mudflap and Skids). There's also the issue many have pointed out that some of the Deceptacons are appearing in two separate battles at the same time.

I get it, Megan Fox is a slammin' hottie, but that is no excuse for this film. She serves no relevant purpose other than to look good. She's just cast in there to flaunt her sexyness and muddle up the already thin plot. There's just far to much time spent emphasizing her looks and far too little spent on focusing on the actual plot. LaBeouf isn't any worse than he was in the first film, but it still doesn't make his performance very good. I'm going to peg a lot of this on the script, which is just corny and frequently makes little sense.

Verdict: Visually, Revenge of the Fallen looks awesome, but non-stop action and tons of Megan Fox can't change the fact that there was rarely a coherent plot. The film runs over 2.5 hours, and at least half of that time is full of unnecessary plot. ☆☆

Review: Zombieland (2009)

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland), Woody Harrelson (Cheers, The People vs Larry Flint), Emma Stone (Superbad, The House Bunny), Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine, Definitely Maybe), Amber Heard (Never Back Down)

The Deal: The zombie apocalypse has occurred, and a cowardly shut-in called Columbus (Eisenberg) with a long list of survival rules must team up with Tallahassee (Harrelson), a man desperatly searching for a Twinkie with little emotional regard to others, in order to survive. The two eventually cross paths with Wichita (Stone) and Little Rock (Breslin), a couple of girls with a set of unorthodox methods to surviving. Though reluctant to stay together, the group ultimately continues across the country killing as many zombies as possible, but as their different goals become known, the group considers going separate ways.

Thoughts: If you've seen Shaun of the Dead (and enjoyed it), then you'd best be served seeing this as well. The two essentially make up the zombie-comedy genre, and it's absolutely hysterical. Zombieland is chock full of zombies and ridiculously gory ways of killing them and staying alive. When you're surrounded by a horde of zombies, and all that's going through your mind is finding a Twinkie, you know you're messed up, and this is what makes Zombieland so funny. Each character is well developed and has their own quirky attributes that when merged with a zombie attack are just plain funny. The premise is pretty straight forward, and it sticks to its guns, allowing for the film to fully make use of its potential. Lots of zombies + lots of weapons + lots of killing + lots of humor = great entertainment. That's what this film is in a nutshell.

Zombie films can be incredibly cheesy, largely in part due to the acting, but that's not the case here. The actors all have the comedic chops to make the humor work while still maintaining a level of seriousness necessary for a zombie apocalypse. Harrelson and Eisenberg are a riot together, as the two are complete polar opposites about pretty much everything. With Stone and Breslin added to the mix, the group is an odd collection of personalities, and it works so well. As good as they were, the funniest bit comes from the secret guest star (*SPOILER*). Somehow, Bill Murray has survived by disguising himself as a zombie, and before his part is done, he has some amazing scenes with Harrelson, who's character is Murray's biggest fan. Not a soul was left quite during Murray's 5-10 minutes on screen, and it was by far the funniest part of the film, which actually says a lot.

Verdict: An incredibly funny and entertaining zom-com that's bolstered by a great guest appearance. It's just as good as Shaun of the Dead, and I suggest you see it, especially since it's Halloween season. ☆☆☆☆

Review: The Brothers Bloom (2009)

Director: Rian Johnson

Cast: Adrien Brody (The Pianist, The Darjeeling Limited), Mark Ruffalo (Zodiac, 13 Going On 30), Rachel Weisz (The Fountain, The Constant Gardner), Rinko Kikuchi, Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter, Tomorrow Never Dies)

The Deal: Stephen (Ruffalo) and Bloom (Brody) spent their childhood bouncing between foster homes while slowly learning to be top-notch con artists. Bloom craves to live an "unwritten life", one not dreamed up by his brother. Ready to retire, Bloom agrees to pull one last con. The target is a single and bored New Jersey heiress named Penelope (Weisz). As the con moves forward, a genuine romance brews between Bloom and Penelope. They tell her they deal in antiquities, and she eagerly wants to help them swindle millions of dollars, joining them on their adventure. As Stephen's intricate web of deceit grows, Bloom slowly wonders if his brother has devised the most dangerous and life-threatening con yet.

Thoughts: The Brothers Bloom isn't necessarily a film that will leave you breathless. It's likely to fade over time, but while it's here, it does serve as a clever and entertaining film. Stephen really has a knack for extremely clever and successful cons, even at a young age, and the relationship between the two brothers is constantly challenging both on screen and off. The final great con Bloom participates in is full of unexpected turns, so many in fact, that it's hard to know what is true and what isn't, even when you know there's a con going on. The premise is that good, but it tends to develop a little too slowly for its own good.

The biggest strength of the film is its acting. Ruffalo, Brody, and Weisz are all quite good in their roles. Ruffalo and Brody truly feel like exceptionally close brothers who have seen a lot together, and Brody's on-screen romance with Weisz never feels forced, always natural. This level of acting is critical for the film's success, as the plot gets quite complex and the audience constantly needs well developed and acted characters to fall back on.

Verdict: Though it may not leave a long lasting impression, for now, The Brothers Bloom is an entertaining, well acted, and clever con film that's worth watching. ☆☆☆1/2

Weekly TV Review: Oct 4 to Oct 10

Dexter- Remains to be Seen: We get to see how things play out as Dexter recovers from the car crash. His mind is a little fuzzy, and he can't remember where he stowed the body from his kill the night of the crash. All he knows is that the cops haven't found it yet and he needs to keep it that way. The season continues to thrive with the additional pressure Dexter faces, and this episode doesn't disappoint. When we finally learn what Dexter did with the body, you can't help but feel it was a moment of genius, one that only the Dexter we've always loved could come up with. ☆☆☆☆

House- The Tyrant: Following up the weak previous episode, House returns to form with a thought provoking and emotionally charged episode. An African dictator who is under extreme scrutiny over the questionable dealings in his home nation ends up under the care of Foreman, and the crew have very serious ethical issues with how to treat him. This episode is great, and sets up a slew of plot issues for the rest of the season, ones that have the potential to shake the show to its core. ☆☆☆☆

Heroes- Acceptance: Well, this was bound to happen. Heroes delivered an underwhelming episode that is far too reminiscent of the last couple of seasons. It's becoming painfully obvious that the story lines following Nathan, Tracy, and Hiro are the most glarring weaknesses of the show. Really, we don't care much for Nathan or Tracy, and it's time to just dump both. As for Hiro, I wish the writers would give him something relevant to do. He and Ando have been reduced solely to comedic relief, constantly repeating the issues they have every season with their powers (Hiro loses his power and has to find his new destiny or he could die). It's nothing really new, and they need to get serious and change things fast. ☆☆1/2

Glee- Vitamin D: This was another good episode from the best new show on television. The crew is taking things too lightly as sectionals are approaching (they're facing a handicapped school, so they feel it's in the bag), so Will decides to split the group into two teams, boys versus girls, to heat up the competition. Both sides deliver some dynamite mash-up tunes (It's My Life/Confessions Pt II versus Halo/Walking On Sunshine, and it's really impossible to decide with group did a better job. ☆☆☆☆

Community- Social Psychology: There are two main story lines in this episode. Britta has a new guy in her life, forcing Jeff to hang with Shirley, where they discover they both love to gossip. Annie is doing a psych experiment and needs Abed and Troy to participate, with the experiment focusing on breaking points for people forced to wait longer than expected. Neither story line is amazing, but both provide enough laughs to keep the episode entertaining. I don't know how much staying power Community has, but for now, it's a solid viewing option. ☆☆☆

FlashForward- 137 Sekunden: Mark and Janis fly to Germany to investigate an inmate who claims he can explain a part of the blackouts. Most of the episode is a back and forth between the two sides trying to gain leverage and play the other side. Much of this doesn't develop much, but does end up leading Mark onto a possible clue with the crows. The other interesting part of the episode is finally meeting Demetri's fiance. In her blackout, she saw the two of them getting married. This is interesting because up until now, we figured Demetri would be dead, so there's a bit more mystery to show. It's not a flashy episode, but it's decent enough to keep me watching. ☆☆☆1/2

The Office- Niagra: Jim and Pam's wedding day is finally here, and the whole office is heading to Niagra Falls to attend. With a wedding like this, I was hoping for a little more, but that's not to say this wasn't good. Andy injuring himself, Dwight's hookup, and Kevin's feet were all pretty funny events. A questionable decision by the show was to have a wedding entrance dance just like the one on the YouTube hit. It seems outdated and cheesy, but then again, Michael has never been one to be up-to-date with the times. The episode does what it sets out to do, and it's pretty darn entertaining, even if it didn't live up to its best potential. ☆☆☆☆

Dollhouse- Belle Choose: Again, this show fails to deliver an episode that makes much of an impact on the show's overall plot. What we do get is yet another look into how the imprinting technology can be used, and how it can go terribly wrong. Attempting a remote wipe on Victor (who has a serial killer in his body) sort of works, accept instead of erasing the imprint, it gets swapped with Echos, leaving her a crazed killer. Of coarse, since Echo is special, she fights the imprint, with her fading in between herself and the killer. The show really needs to step things up. This season is better than last season, but not by that much. ☆☆☆

Weekly TV Review: Sept 27 to Oct 3

So as much as I'd like to do full reviews for every episode, I just don't have the time. Instead, I'm opting for weekly reviews where I briefly address each episode and give my rating for all shows in one or two big posts. This should make my life easier. Well, here it goes!

The Office- The Promotion: Well we finally got to see Jim and Michael share power in the office, and it's a predicable disaster. Jim wants to make a statement and be taken seriously, and Michael wants to remain the head hancho in the office. When corporate tells them to make a decision on how to distribute the bonuses for the year, both have separate, yet equally bad ideas. The office, led by Dwight, are in an uproar, and Jim finally learns what has made Michael's life as the boss so hard. ☆☆☆1/2

Community- Introduction to Film: The episode isn't overly impressive, but the show continues to entertain. Abed is finally given his chance to chase his movie-making dreams, and he has some incredibly weird methods. There's a fair amount to laugh at, but not as much as previous episodes. Jeff is taking a class where all one needs to do to get an A is seize the day, yet his professor never thinks Jeff is actually seizing the day, much to his frustration. ☆☆☆1/2

FlashForward- White to Play: I'm still not sold on the show, but it's doing just enough to keep me interested. There aren't really that many new developments. I think the biggest problem with the show is that we've seen or heard about their futures, so it's not really surprising when they start meeting their futures. What will keep viewers coming back is the mystery of what caused the blackouts. That half of the show is getting pretty interesting. ☆☆☆

Dollhouse- Vows: Well, this episode is kind of disturbing, but it also doesn't do too much. Topher has found a way to imprint with hormonal changes, hence, we have Echo breastfeeding someone else's baby. It's a really strange episode that could have me worried for the future. The saving grace of the episode is the fact that the imprints are getting incredibly complicated, which should eventually lead to some very interesting consequences. ☆☆1/2

Glee Review: The Rhodes Not Taken

Holy cow, did this episode have a ton of musical numbers or what? Following last week's episode that had really no musical number, we get four big ones this week. The episode makes full use of guest star Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies) who plays April Rhodes, a glee club star when Will (Matthew Morrison) was only a freshman. After learning that another school had a student who kept intentially failing to stay on, Will convinces April, who's three credits short of graduating, to come back and fill the void left by Rachel (Lea Michele). She's washed up and needs a lot of help, but she desperately wants her second chance at stardom. Despite wowing the glee club with her performance of "Maybe This Time," they still don't trust her, so she sets out to get to know the kids better, which has disastrous consequences on their lives, forcing Will to step in and take action.

This is hard for Will, as he always idolized her in high school, and April manipulates him to keep her around. The two have a great performance of "Alone" during karaoke at a bowling alley. Despite giving a dynamite standing-ovation performance at the big show, both Will and April know things can't continue to go on, once again leaving the club without a dominant female lead.

The group knows they need Rachel. As Puck (Mark Salling) put it, "That Rachel chick makes me want to light myself on fire but she can sing." Unfortunately, Rachel is still not content with being only a piece instead of the big star. Finn (Cory Monteith) sets out to bring her back by getting closer to her, a move he knows will be successful, but with word spreading throughout the school regarding Quinn's (Dianna Agron) pregnancy, it's only a matter of time before Rachel will find out.

Verdict: Following a week that relied heavily on humor to make up for its lack of musical numbers, The Rhodes Not Taken delivers a slew of dynamite performances that showcase almost everyone. The plot developments continue to grow, and the show continues to shine. ☆☆☆☆