Good afternoon Readers,
The last few weeks have been our busiest. We have interviewed numerous people and what they say will be posted in the upcoming days. We have covered the Harlem Globetrotters, Jordan Knight, Van Halen tomorrow, and many artists to come. Suddenly, we are a hot ticket and nobody to thank but our readers out there. Today, we officially welcome to two new people to the family: Urrikka (Concert Reviewer) and Mark (Photographer). Today, we have the Chipmunks, a renowned Spanish chef, Roger Corman, & America’s Sweetheart Betty White rounding out the last March…..
MOVIES OF THE WEEK
Chipwrecked as a pleasant, lighthearted getaway with a lot of laughs for the little ones. Jason Lee reprises his role as Dave, the manager of the worldwide musical stars the Chipmunks, Simon (voiced by Matthew Gray Gubler), Theodore (Jesse McCartney), and the eternally mischievous Alvin (Justin Long). The boyz are joined by their girl-group counterparts, the Chippettes: Eleanor (Amy Poehler), Jeanette (Anna Faris), and Brittany (Christina Applegate). The grownup viewer might wish that some of the personality of the actors playing the chipmunks were allowed some room to run, but since the voices are put through the “chipmunk synthesizer,” they all pretty much end up sounding the same. Nonetheless, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked moves along at a brisk pace, with easy chuckles for toddlers and their older siblings, and some in-jokes to keep the parents amused. The plot involves the gang going on a cruise (the first half of the film, in fact, seems like a commercial for Carnival Cruises), but when Alvin is involved, something inevitably goes awry. Soon everyone is marooned on a deserted island and there are adventures and misadventures as they try to be rescued. Along the way, there are references to the Indiana Jones movies, Castaway, Gilligan’s Island, and even Lost (“There are ‘Others‘?”). And of course, it has plenty of chipmunk-singing pop songs–lots of Lady Gaga, for those of you keeping track.
In the deserts of the Middle East, a platoon of soldiers is terrorized by a gang of large, fast and deadly arachnids called Camel Spiders. The soldiers escape the deadly attack but accidently transport several of the evil beasts with them to the American southwest. An Army Captain (Brian Krause of ”Charmed”), a small-town Sheriff (C. Thomas Howell of ”Southland” and The Amazing Spider-Man), and a desperate group of locals and tourists must survive a frightening infestation of crawling carnage. Diana Terranova (Get Him to the Greek), GiGi Erneta (Raptor) and Jon Mack (Mongolian Death Worm) co-star in this cult classic from director Jay Andrews (Dinocroc vs. Supergator). Based on the actual creatures that have tormented the Armed Forces for decades, get ready for all the leaping, screeching, face-ripping horror of CAMEL SPIDERS!
The story of Danijel (Goran Kostić) and Ajla (Zana Marjanović), two people from different sides of a brutal ethnic conflict. Danijel, a soldier fighting for the Serbs, and Ajla, a Bosnian held captive in the camp he oversees, knew each other before the war, and could have found love with each other. But as the armed conflict takes hold of their lives, their relationship grows darker, their motives and connection to one another ambiguous, their allegiances uncertain. “In the Land of Blood and Honey” portrays the incredible emotional, moral and physical toll that the war exerts both on individuals and people as a whole, and the terrible consequences that stem from the lack of political will to intervene in a society stricken with conflict.
DOCUMENTARIES OF THE WEEK
National treasure Betty White, multi-Emmy-winner and beloved entertainer ranked as “the most liked and trusted celebrity in the world” (Reuters), shares her tireless devotion to the animal world. This fascinating and heartwarming program transports you coast to coast and across the continents for unforgettable encounters with the amazing creatures with whom we share our planet and the people behind the scenes charged with their care, protection and maintenance. You’ll visit America’s precious national parks, world-class zoos, and aquariums to witness amazing sights tourists never get to see. You’ll meet a penguin who got his feathers and his groove back, witness the heroics of the military’s canine corps, and accompany members of the Humane Society as they work to put a stop to heartbreaking animal mistreatment. Along the way, Betty shares personal stories about her own cherished pets and unforgettable experiences with organizations that make the wonderful world of animals available to all.
CORMAN’S WORLD: EXPLOITS OF A HOLLYWOOD REBEL is a tantalizing and star-studded tribute to Roger Corman, Hollywood’s most prolific writer-director producer, and seminal influencing force in modern moviemaking over the last 60 years. Featuring interviews with Hollywood icons and cinematic luminaries, some who launched their careers within Corman’s unforgettable world of filmmaking, including, Paul W.S. Anderson, Peter Bogdanovich, Robert DeNiro, Peter Fonda, Pam Grier, Ron Howard, Eli Roth, Martin Scorcese, William Shatner and many others, this documentary chronicles how Corman created his cult film empire, one low-budget success at a time, capitalizing on undiscovered talent, and pushing the boundaries of independent filmmaking.
Director Alex Stapleton weaves archival footage following Roger’s illustrious career: From his early days of genre-defining classics including the original Fast and Furious, the original Little Shop of Horrors, The Crybaby Killer, The Intruder, House of Usher, and The Wild Angels (which at that point in 1966 was his 100th film) — with present day video of him and his wife Julie on location still at work as they continue to produce and distribute films outside the studio system: fast, cheap and out-of-this-world!
For six months of the year, renowned Spanish chef Ferran Adria closes his restaurant El Bulli and works with his culinary team to prepare the menu for the next season. An elegant, detailed study of food as avant-garde art, EL BULLI: COOKING IN PROGRESS is a tasty peek at some of the world’s most innovative and exciting cooking; as Adrià himself puts it, ”the more bewilderment, the better!”
TV SHOWS OF THE WEEK
When has it ever been simple in Eureka? Our heroes continue to adjust to the cataclysmic changes in their personal lives following their trip through time back to 1947 when the resident geniuses are presented with a new challenge: mounting a multi-billion dollar space mission to Titan. As scientists vie to be chosen for the 20-member crew, Carter (Colin Ferguson) has his hands full with security breaches, super acid and gravity issues, Allison (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) can’t get someone-or something-out of her head, and Zane and Jo (Niall Matter and Erica Cerra) come to terms with their fractured relationship. Sci-fi fan favorites Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton guest star in this three-disc set that includes a special extended version of the episode “Of Mites and Men,” the holiday episode “O Little Town,” as well as the Warehouse 13 crossover episode “Don’t Hate the Player.” Relationship audits, force fields run amok, and floating banks… it’s just another day in Eureka.
Much like the country that spawned it, Mystery Science Theater 3000 is a melting pot. In every imaginable genre, Joel, Mike and their robot pals Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot have seen the promise of cinema mutilated by mediocrity. Nowhere is this highfalutin concept more hilariously exemplified than in this 23rd collection of episodes from the beloved cult comedy television series. You want a Western? It’s here. Space adventure? Look no further. We’ll even throw in a failed TV pilot and a barely coherent science fiction-horror-thriller. All genres are treated with equal disrespect by the luckless crew of the Satellite of Love. They pledge allegiance only to funny, with justice (SoL style) for all.
Titles Include:
King Dinosaur
The Castle Of Fu Manchu
Code Name: Diamond Head
Last Of The Wild Horses
All fourteen uncensored episodes from South Park’s landmark 15th season are loaded into this exclusive three-disc set. Join Kyle, Stan, Kenny and Cartman as they bro down on Broadway, become one with the HumancentiPad, and take on the evil, email-hacking WikiLeaks. Serve that with a side of royal pudding and some never-before-seen deleted scenes, and you’ve got a collection that will leave your wormhole tingling. AWKWAAARRDD!
Until next month, April Showers, We wish you Happy Movie, TV and Documentary Vueing!
