John's Netflix Plus

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) PG-13 • B

2012-01-29T17:42:00.001-05:00

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) PG-13

No surprises really. The digital simians are great but you can tell they are CGI.

This reboot of the Planet of the Apes franchise is a prequel set in modern-day San Francisco, where scientists are conducting genetic research on apes. The evolved primates develop advanced intelligence and revolt against being used as lab rats. 105 minutes
(c) 1997-2012 Netflix, Inc.

Win Win (2011) R • A

2012-01-21T10:55:00.003-05:00

Win Win (2011) R

A feel-good indie with lots of visual/situational metaphors for life as a wrestling match… and it works!

When down-on-his-luck part-time high school wrestling coach Mike agrees to become legal guardian to an elderly man, his ward's troubled grandson turns out to be a star grappler, sparking dreams of a big win -- until the boy's mother retrieves him. 106 minutes
(c) 1997-2012 Netflix, Inc.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) R • A-

2012-01-07T13:13:00.000-05:00

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009) R

A-

The Swedish version is long and a tad complicated (and brutally violent at times) but worth the extra effort. Reminded me a little of The Ghost Writer (2010).

Journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) and rebellious computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) team up to investigate the unsolved disappearance of wealthy Henrik Vanger's (Sven-Bertil Taube) teen niece (Ewa Fröling), only to uncover dark secrets about Vanger's powerful family. Niels Arden Oplev directs this Swedish thriller based on the first novel from Stieg Larsson's best-selling trilogy. 146 minutes
(c) 1997-2012 Netflix, Inc.

Midnight in Paris (2011) PG-13 • B+

2011-12-30T21:04:00.001-05:00

Midnight in Paris (2011) PG-13

B+

A bit of a travel promo for Paris (much like Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) is for Barcelona) but a good smart/twilight zonish comedy.

In this bittersweet dramatic comedy, legendary director Woody Allen focuses his lens on a young engaged couple (Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams) whose experiences traveling together in Paris make them begin to question the kind of life they want to live as a couple. 94 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010) R • B+

2011-12-28T12:19:00.003-05:00

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010) R

B+

It's like a "Laurel & Hardy's Chainsaw Massacre" - well done with lots of gags…

Expecting to enjoy a relaxing vacation at their rundown mountain cabin, backwoods boys Tucker and Dale see their peaceful trip turn into a nightmare when college kids camping nearby accuse the duo of being psychotic killers. 86 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Attack the Block (2011) R • A

2011-12-22T09:26:00.002-05:00

Attack the Block (2011) R

It's a British version of "The Wire" with aliens! It has just the right mix of comedy and horror and gore plus the advantage of learning about the street culture of the projects in London.

When aliens attack a South London neighborhood, a teen gang pulls together to protect their turf by any means necessary. But extraterrestrials prove far more formidable than anyone they ever jumped on the streets. 88 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Rango (2011) PG • B-

2011-12-19T09:23:00.002-05:00

Rango (2011) PG

B-

I like this style of animation a lot but the style of (quote)comedy(unquote) did not work for me.

Johnny Depp lends his voice to the title character, an adventurous family pet who leaves home to learn more about himself in this comic animated tale also featuring the vocal talents of Abigail Breslin, Harry Dean Stanton and Ned Beatty. 107 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Burn Notice: Season 5 (2011) TV-PG • A-

2011-12-17T23:23:00.004-05:00

Burn Notice: Season 5 (2011) TV-PG

A-

They tried to mix things up a little by splitting the team up and handling multiple "ops" per show, but it seems like the writers are running out of ideas.

After inexplicably being blacklisted by his government handlers and having all of his assets frozen, quick-thinking and resourceful spy Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) focuses on finding who burned him and helping ordinary people with big problems. This thrilling Miami-based action series pairs the intrepid hero with several allies, including his ex-IRA ex-girlfriend (Gabrielle Anwar) and covert operative best buddy (Bruce Campbell). 18 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Super 8 (2011) PG-13 • A-

2011-12-04T13:03:00.001-05:00

Super 8 (2011) PG-13

A-

I had heard that this movie was a little disappointing and indeed it did fail to "wow" me, but at the same time there is plenty to like: the Spielbergian shots, Elle Fanning's performance, the depiction of 1979, and the whole super-8 sub-culture (of which I was briefly part!).

With a nod toward producer Steven Spielberg's landmark sci-fi films of the 1970s and '80s, writer-director J.J. Abrams crafts a supernatural tale about six kids who witness something incredible while shooting a movie with their Super 8 camera. 112 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

30 Minutes or Less (2011) R • C-

2011-12-03T11:57:00.001-05:00

30 Minutes or Less (2011) R

C-

Generally I like slacker movies, but this one somehow manages to miss the mark... by a mile. Maybe sporting two pairs of slackers (or three pairs even) is too much of a good thing?

Two small-town criminals (Danny McBride and Nick Swardson) planning a big-time bank heist wind up abducting pizza delivery driver Nick (Jesse Eisenberg) and forcing him to commit the robbery -- giving him a strict time limit to boot. To pull off the caper, Nick enlists the aid of a former buddy (Aziz Ansari). With the law, the crooks and the clock all breathing down their necks, the duo also try to patch up their troubled friendship in this frenetic action comedy. 83 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Green Lantern (2011) PG-13 • B+

2011-11-28T10:27:00.001-05:00

Green Lantern (2011) PG-13

B+

Special effects are fine, Ryan does a good job, and I could watch Blake Lively all day, but haven't we seen this same story over and over and over again?

Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds), a brash, talented test pilot, is chosen by an alien force of warriors to become their representative on Earth and use his new powers as the Green Lantern to promote order and justice before conflict destroys his world. Despite being the first human to wear the ring that bestows his abilities, Hal must combat villain Parallax. Fellow pilot Carol Ferris (Blake Lively) aids Hal in his quest to save the galaxy. 114 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Girl, Interrupted (1999) R • C+

2011-11-20T20:30:00.001-05:00

Girl, Interrupted (1999) R

C+

Well done, good type-casting, just not my kind of movie.

Diagnosed with a disorder, Susanna Kaysen is sent to a mental institution, where she enters the skewed world of people who truly belong on the inside. Angelina Jolie won an Oscar for her portrayal of a seductive patient who befriends Kaysen. 127 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (2011) PG-13 • B-

2011-11-20T20:22:00.001-05:00

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (2011) PG-13

B-

Not-all-that-grande finale (at least not in 2D, maybe the 3D version would have made it seem grander). I am glad it is over.

In the second installment of the two-part conclusion to the überpopular Harry Potter series, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his best friends, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), continue their quest to vanquish the evil Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) once and for all. Just as things begin to look hopeless for the young wizards, Harry discovers a trio of magical objects that endow him with powers to rival Voldemort's formidable skills. 130 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Inception (2010) PG-13 • A-

2011-11-12T12:35:00.000-05:00

Inception (2010) PG-13

A-

I think this was an Oscar contender not because it is a great story but because of its universal appeal: it is a love story, action story, sci-fi story, caper/conman story, special-effects story, just about any category you can think of, it fits.

Oscar-nominated for Best Picture, this unnerving sci-fi thriller stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, who earns a tidy sum infiltrating the dreams of corporate titans to steal their most closely held secrets. Tapped by a rich industrialist (Ken Watanabe) for a job involving a rival's heir, Cobb marshals a team of specialists that includes his right-hand man (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), an architecture student (Ellen Page) and a chemist (Dileep Rao). 148 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Super (2010) R • B-

2011-11-11T17:00:00.002-05:00

Super (2010) R

B-

I was expecting a dark comedy but this is so dark/harsh/blunt/stark that it never gets close to comedic territory. Ellen Page's quirky character (and costume) keeps it from being a total loss though.

When his wife (Liv Tyler) falls in league with a drug dealer, average guy Frank D'Arbo (Rainn Wilson) dons the guise of a superhero, dubs himself the Crimson Bolt and tries to keep a tagalong comic-book store clerk (Ellen Page) from becoming his sidekick. But it's hard to be a superhero when all you've got to work with is a pipe wrench. Kevin Bacon co-stars in this action-driven dramedy from writer-director James Gunn. 96 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) PG-13 • B

2011-11-09T17:43:00.002-05:00

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) PG-13

At heart, this is a WWII melodrama with good acting and believable characters. But even comic-book action sequences need to have a little credibility… Unless this guy's super power is "luck" I just didn't buy it.

Marvel launches another super franchise with this action-packed origin story, which follows Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) as he volunteers for a secret experiment during World War II. Transformed into a superhero named Captain America, Steve goes after the Axis. With his perfect physique and heightened reflexes -- and his sidekick, Bucky (Sebastian Stan) -- Steve battles the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), a super soldier created by Italian fascists. 125 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Red State (2011) R • B-

2011-11-05T20:38:00.000-04:00

Red State (2011) R

B-

About 60 minutes of material here, all good stuff, but between the shaky cam and the expectation they set for this being a Horror movie, it left me unsatisfied.

Three high school boys answer an online ad from a woman seeking wild sex, only to find themselves trapped by a dangerous fundamentalist cult. The encounter causes all hell to break loose in director Kevin Smith's unique spin on the thriller genre. 88 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Warehouse 13 Season 1-3 (2011) TV-14 • B

2011-10-09T10:48:00.000-04:00

Warehouse 13 Season 1-3 (2011) TV-14

This show is bad like a cheesy '60s comic book. Plots/casting/characters are all subpar. But the comic book geek in me won't let me stop watching!

Stored deep within the bowels of a South Dakota warehouse is a treasure trove of supernatural objects collected by the U.S. government. It's the job of Secret Service agents Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly) and Peter Lattimer (Eddie McClintock) to find those that have gone missing. Sharing a common goal but wildly varying work styles, the agents must find a way to work together to diffuse the power of these objects and bring them back to safety. 35 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

X-Men: Fist Class (2011) PG-13 • B+

2011-10-08T10:51:00.000-04:00

X-Men: Fist Class (2011) PG-13

B+

This one has everything right: a good story, Nazi bad guys, real historical events, and special effects that are good but not overdone - they simply advance the story without overshadowing it. Professor X did come across as being gayer than Dumbledore... "not that there is anything wrong with that."

In this exciting prequel to the X-Men series, Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) -- the future Professor X and Magneto -- are best friends dedicated to harnessing their powers and promoting the education of fellow mutants during the turbulent 1960s. The duo works together to stop a powerful adversary that threatens mankind, but their ideological differences drive them apart and turn them into ferocious enemies. 131 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Paul (2011) UR • B

2011-10-01T22:44:00.000-04:00

Paul (2011) UR

If you liked Fanboys (2008) then you might like this -- it is a sort of homage and spoof of the last few generations of sci-fi blockbusters.

Nick Frost and Simon Pegg star as two science-fiction freaks who, while on a quest to discover what lies at the heart of Nevada's infamous Area 51, cross paths with an alien (voice of Seth Rogen) on the run from earthly authorities. The irreverent duo that brought us Shaun of the Dead assembled an impressive cast that includes Jane Lynch, Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig and Blythe Danner for this raucous cross-country romp. 104 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Breaking Bad Season 1 (2008) TV-MA • B+

2011-09-27T09:32:00.000-04:00

Breaking Bad Season 1 (2008) TV-MA

B+

Similar to Dexter (good guy doing bad things) and the Odd Couple, I liked this but thought it was too slow paced (especially for the treadmill). The whole seven-episode season could have been compressed into three or four episodes.

Emmy-winning Bryan Cranston portrays the complex, bedeviled Walter H. White, a high school science teacher whose discovery that he has terminal lung cancer leads him to begin manufacturing and selling methamphetamine to cushion his family's future. With the help of former student Jesse (Emmy-winning Aaron Paul), Walter plunges valiantly into the criminal underworld, doing his best to coexist with a gallery of bewildering and dangerous characters. 7 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Futurama: Season 6A & 6B (2011) • A-

2011-09-25T19:32:00.000-04:00

Futurama: Season 6A & 6B (2011)

A-

I think the writers must have mellowed a little over the years because this season is not quite as edgy as previous ones. (I mean they took on the iPhone - how controversial is that?) At least they had a space whale, Möbius Dick, living in the Bermuda Tetrahedron.

Resurrected by fans (and Comedy Central), creator Matt Groening's animated series continues an encore season. The smart and snarky comedy chronicles the life of Philip J. Fry, a slacker pizza delivery guy catapulted a thousand years into the future. 26 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Hanna (2011) PG-13 • B-

2011-09-20T21:38:00.000-04:00

Hanna (2011) PG-13

B-

This is "Bourne Identity" with a kid in Bourne's role.

Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) is a teenager raised and trained by her father (Eric Bana), an ex-CIA operative, to become a highly skilled assassin. But when she's sent on a deadly mission across Europe, Hanna takes to an English family and starts longing for a normal life. She must first solve the puzzle of her mysterious past, however. Joe Wright (Atonement) directs this tense actioneer; Cate Blanchett also stars. 111 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Thor (2011) PG-13 • B

2011-09-18T09:46:00.000-04:00

Thor (2011) PG-13

The story is pretty much "The Lion King" and the special effects are rather uninspired, but a couple of the supporting characters are pretty good and overall it's not bad.

Kenneth Branagh directs this Marvel Comics-inspired action flick about the thunder god Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful warrior whose father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins) -- the king of Asgard -- forces him to live among humans on Earth and learn humility. Once there, he finds a friend (Natalie Portman), along with unexpected enemies sent from his world. Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård and Rene Russo co-star. 114 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Wilfred Season 1 (2011) TV-MA • A-

2011-09-11T11:46:00.000-04:00

Wilfred Season 1 (2011) TV-MA

A-

This is the adult version of "Calvin and Hobbes." It does a good job on the "dog's perspective."

Adapted from the Australian TV series, this unconventional comedy follows the surreal experiences of Ryan, a deeply depressed man who becomes convinced that his neighbor's dog Wilfred is actually a man wearing a costume. 13 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Archer Seasons 1 & 2 (2010-2011) TV-MA • A

2011-09-11T11:26:00.000-04:00

Archer Seasons 1 & 2 (2010-2011) TV-MA

This is "Get Smart" for a whole new generation.

Sophisticated spy Archer may have the coolest gadgets, but he still has issues when it comes to dealing with his boss -- who also happens to be his mother -- in this wicked animated spoof of spy flicks and the sex-crazed agents who populate them. 20 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Suits Season 1 (2011) TV-14 • B

2011-09-11T11:23:00.000-04:00

Suits Season 1 (2011) TV-14

I like the lessons in negotiation (much like "Fairly Legal") but I think they overdo the drama a bit with the personal situations they put the characters in.

When he impresses corporate lawyer Harvey Specter with his razor-sharp mind, college dropout Mike Ross scores a coveted gig as Specter's summer associate ... despite the fact that he has no legal credentials whatsoever. 12 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Sherlock: Series 1 (2010) TV-14 • B

2011-08-26T14:55:00.000-04:00

Sherlock: Series 1 (2010) TV-14

Sherlock is a less-likable version of Big Bang's Sheldon but Watson is good and it should be more about Watson anyway. Ends with cliffhanger; next series due 2012.

This modern-day refresh of Sherlock Holmes has Arthur Conan Doyle's deductive genius (Benedict Cumberbatch) moving through London as a Web-adept consultant to Inspector Lestrade (Rupert Graves), and Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman) as an Afghan War vet who shares his Baker Street digs. Shedding the Victorian trappings but retaining the dark humor and clever wordplay, the opening season plunges Holmes into "A Study in Pink" and two other cases. 3 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Dexter: Season 5 (2010) NR • A

2011-08-22T13:41:00.000-04:00

Dexter: Season 5 (2010) NR

Solid season, a couple of great bad guys and it wraps up some threads from season 4 nicely.

Police analyst and clandestine serial killer Dexter (Michael C. Hall) struggles with his crumbling personal and family life as he attempts to overcome his guilty conscience and stay a step ahead of suspicious detective Quinn (Desmond Harrington). Season 5 of this thrilling drama series welcomes Julia Stiles as a woman who has a connection to Dexter's secret, and Peter Weller as a troubled Miami cop involved in an internal affairs investigation. 12 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Source Code (2011) PG-13 • A

2011-07-30T10:33:00.002-04:00

Source Code (2011) PG-13

Another great back-to-basics sci-fi from David Bowie's son; reminds me of "Deja Vu (2006)" but even more of a mind-bender.

Jake Gyllenhaal portrays a soldier recruited for a time-bending government investigation that places him in another man's mind and body, reliving the same traumatic event repeatedly in an effort to identify the perpetrators of a terrorist bombing. Vera Farmiga plays a communications specialist who provides the vital link to the soldier's primary reality as he searches for critical clues within a recurring nightmare. 93 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Green Hornet (2011) PG-13 • C+

2011-07-06T18:59:00.000-04:00

Green Hornet (2011) PG-13

C+

This could have worked if they had left out the two-friends-competing-for-the-same-girl part. How tired is that subplot?

Seth Rogen and writing partner Evan Goldberg (Superbad) apply their trademark humor to the superhero genre in this big-screen action-adventure about a newspaper-publishing playboy (Rogen) who dons a disguise to fight crime after hours. As the Green Hornet, Britt Reid's power is no longer limited to the printed page -- and thanks to a nimble martial-arts expert (Jay Chou), he has the skills to expose the city's roughest criminals. 119 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

The Killing (2011) NR • B

2011-06-20T21:57:00.000-04:00

The Killing (2011) NR

This was going great but they promised us a killer, not a to-be-continued-next-season ripoff -- I will have forgotten all the details by then.

The disappearance of a young Seattle girl sets in motion this moody crime series centering on a detective -- Sarah Linden -- who's trying to start a new life in California but is unable to walk away from the mysteries posed by the complex case. 13 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

True Grit (2010) PG-13 • B

2011-06-19T11:08:00.002-04:00

True Grit (2010) PG-13

If you haven't seen the original, see this one! If you have seen the original, this is so close that it hardly seemed worthwhile to remake.

After drifter Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) murders her father, 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) hires alcoholic U.S. Marshal Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) to help her exact revenge. The disreputable lawman still has grit, though, and mounts an epic search. Joining the duo on their quest is a Texas Ranger (Matt Damon) who's also hunting for Chaney in this updated Western that received multiple Oscar nods, including Best Picture. 110 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Leaves of Grass (2009) R • C+

2011-06-12T15:45:00.000-04:00

Leaves of Grass (2009) R

C+

I got this because the writer/director/actor graduated from Brown and because a character is a Philosophy professor at Brown. I found the dialog too pretentious (lots of big words, like "pretentious") and the plot was completely incongruous to the other material in the movie. Roger Ebert loved it, though, so maybe I missed something.

Edward Norton stars in this quirky tale centered on a respected Ivy League professor who's lured back to Oklahoma to help his equally brilliant twin brother -- who grows the world's finest hydroponic marijuana -- best a big-time pot pusher (Richard Dreyfuss). Writer-director Tim Blake Nelson co-stars in this oddball crime comedy alongside Keri Russell, Lucy DeVito, Susan Sarandon, Steve Earle and Ty Burrell. 104 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

The Mechanic (2011) R • B-

2011-05-31T21:55:00.000-04:00

The Mechanic (2011) R

B-

Good treadmilling movie - pretty one-dimensional and predictable but well executed at least.

When his mentor is murdered, lone hit man Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) trains the man's son, Steve McKenna (Ben Foster), in the ways of the professional kill. Together Arthur and his eager apprentice hunt down those responsible for executing Steve's father. But the partnership gives rise to new dangers and deceptions. Simon West directs and Donald Sutherland co-stars in this action-packed remake of the 1972 Charles Bronson thriller. 93 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Get Him to the Greek (2010) UR • C+

2011-05-31T21:44:00.003-04:00

Get Him to the Greek (2010) UR

C+

The first half was pretty funny, then it seemed like they ran out of ideas.

Ambitious young record company intern Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) will let nothing get in the way of his planned rise to the top in the music business -- not even the unruly rock star (Russell Brand) he must escort to Los Angeles for the start of his anniversary concert. Doing whatever it takes to get the rocker from Point A to Point B, Aaron encounters all manners of mishaps in this comedy directed by Nicholas Stoller and produced by Judd Apatow. 94 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

127 Hours (2010) R • B-

2011-05-31T21:40:00.002-04:00

127 Hours (2010) R

B-

Not a lot to this story - it would have been neat if they had gone all Truman Capote and told us more about the people who helped out at the end, the paramedics, the doctors, and so on.

From director Danny Boyle comes this harrowing tale of real-life mountain climber Aron Ralston (James Franco), who literally cuts himself loose from danger -- and lives to tell about it when sliding rock pins his forearm under a boulder during a climb in Utah. To stay alive, Ralston resorts to his basest survival instincts. The film scored Academy Award nominations in the Best Picture and Best Actor (Franco) categories. 94 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

The Office: Season 7 (2010) TV-PG • B

2011-05-25T18:31:00.002-04:00

The Office: Season 7 (2010) TV-PG

Glad they gave Michael a happy ending.

This Emmy-winning sitcom chronicles the daily foibles of office workers at the Dunder Mifflin paper company, where deluded boss Michael (Steve Carrell) attempts to shepherd his disgruntled employees as a documentary film crew captures every wince-worthy moment. Co-starring Jenna Fischer as receptionist Pam, John Krasinski as quick-witted Jim and Rainn Wilson as know-it-all Dwight, this biting satire skewers office life with devious relish. 26 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Glee: Season 2 (2010) TV-PG • C-

2011-05-25T18:30:00.000-04:00

Glee: Season 2 (2010) TV-PG

C-

I tried to like this show but only the Rocky Horror and Christmas episodes did anything for me. The "kids" are all way too old and the "original songs" were obviously only a cost-cutting measure at the expense of their audience.

Amid relationship woes and personal attacks from wonderfully wicked cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Emmy-winning Jane Lynch), idealistic teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) fights to turn underdog members of McKinley High's Glee Club into confident winners. This musical dramedy's standout singers include hunky quarterback Finn (Cory Monteith), self-appointed leader Rachel (Lea Michele) and sassy diva Mercedes (Amber Riley). 22 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

House: Season 7 (2010) TV-14 • C+

2011-05-24T15:20:00.002-04:00

House: Season 7 (2010) TV-14

C+

I think they took this premise as far as they could in seasons 1-4 and have been coming up with nonsensical plot arcs the past three seasons to try to keep it going… but the whole medical-mystery angle has practically vanished.

In the seventh season of this passionately acted hospital drama, irascible Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) comes to terms with the authenticity of his friendship with Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), solving medical mysteries with counter-intuitive methods while he's at it. The story picks up after last season with House, struggling with Hanna's death and in pain, tempted to give in to his Vicodin addiction. 23 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Hereafter (2010) PG-13 • B

2011-05-21T01:16:00.000-04:00

Hereafter (2010) PG-13

We really should send explorers into the afterlife and settle this once and for all… or they could do it like they did in the movie "Brainstorm" (ironically Natalie Wood's last movie).

Clint Eastwood directs this supernatural thriller about three very different people and their responses to death, including a hesitant American psychic named George (Matt Damon) who may be able to help the others find answers and peace. Marie (Cécile De France) is a French journalist caught up in the aftereffects of the devastating 2004 tsunami, while in London, young Marcus (Frankie and George McLaren) seeks to contact his deceased twin brother. 129 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Bones: Season 6 (2010) TV-14 • B

2011-05-20T13:48:00.003-04:00

Bones: Season 6 (2010) TV-14

This season is pretty much what you would expect from Bones, case-wise… the some of the subplots were a little lame, though.

Socially awkward forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperence "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel) teams up with intuitive FBI agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) to investigate crimes that have left scant evidence behind: namely, the bones of the deceased. The scientist -- who moonlights as a best-selling novelist -- and the skeptic eventually forge an unlikely friendship in this darkly comic procedural set at a research institution in Washington, D.C. 23 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Castle: Season 3 (2010) TV-PG • A

2011-05-18T23:05:00.002-04:00

Castle: Season 3 (2010) TV-PG

Delivered commercial-free to my treadmill for 94 cents an episode. It is indeed a brave new world! Re: Season 3 finale, yeah I knew who it was since the Season 2 episode "Sucker Punch."

In the third season of this popular crime series, no-longer-blocked mystery writer Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) continues his uneasy dance with brainy NYPD Det. Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) as they investigate cases -- and their feelings for one another. Alternately annoyed by and attracted to each other, Castle and Beckett make an unlikely but effective crime-solving team in this drama co-starring Molly C. Quinn as Castle's teenage daughter. 24 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Hawaii Five-O: Season 1 (2010) • B

2011-05-17T21:35:00.000-04:00

Hawaii Five-O: Season 1 (2010)

I like most of what they did with the characters, and I understand it must be expensive to produce this in Hawaii, but they take product placement WAY too far. The Steve McGarrett *I* remember was no huckster.

Thirty years later, CBS revives the iconic 1970s police drama set in lush Hawaii with a new crop of actors playing familiar characters from Honolulu's elite criminal investigation unit led by Det. Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin). Supporting McGarrett closely in his bare-knuckle campaign against major crime in the islands are no-nonsense cops Danny "Danno" Williams (Scott Caan) and Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim). (c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

House of D (2004) PG-13 • B+

2011-05-10T17:41:00.003-04:00

House of D (2004) PG-13

B+

Duchovny does a great job telling the story and the actors really make you care about it. Not so sure why he wanted to tell this story; had trouble seeing how the lessons apply in less-extreme contexts.

Set in New York, House of D is the multilayered story of a man (writer-director David Duchovny) coming to terms with his past and present, and resolving his relationships with the people who helped make him the man he's become. Along the way, he recalls the special bond he shared with a mentally disabled janitor (Robin Williams) who worked at the elementary school he attended. Téa Leoni and Anton Yelchin co-star. 96 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Fringe: Season 3 (2010) TV-14 • A-

2011-05-08T21:55:00.000-04:00

Fringe: Season 3 (2010) TV-14

A-

I think they had 17 episodes' worth of great material but had to add some lame filler to make it last 22.

Fox's hit series that delves into the mysteries of science and the supernatural returns for another gripping season. FBI Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), aided by peculiar scientist Dr. Walter Bishop (John Noble), continues her quest to unravel the "pattern." Walter's son, Peter (Joshua Jackson), returns as part of Olivia's team and copes with the trauma of having discovering that he was kidnapped from a parallel universe as a child. 22 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

The Black Swan (2010) R • A

2011-05-08T11:08:00.002-04:00

The Black Swan (2010) R

Any movie that can make ballet seem awesome gets an automatic A. I think this only works, however, because most of us have the preconceived notion that dancers - especially ballerinas - are all a little messed up to begin with.

In director Darren Aronofsky's psychological thriller, ambitious New York City ballet dancer Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) lands the lead in "Swan Lake" but soon thinks her dreams of stardom are threatened by a rival ballerina (Mila Kunis). As opening night nears and the pressure to be perfect builds, Nina's obsession descends into paranoia and delusion. Portman won an Academy Award for the film, which also nabbed an Oscar nod for Best Picture. 108 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

The Last Run (2010) Greg Rucka • A

2011-05-07T15:36:00.000-04:00

The Last Run (2010)
Greg Rucka

Right out of today's headlines, this has the Special Ops plus all of the political machinations behind it.

In the Special Operations Section of the British Secret Intelligence Agency, there are only three ways you leave the job: You’re promoted out, you quit, or you die. Tara Chace has been waiting for the first while avoiding the third. After ten years, though, she’s getting old, and she’s getting slow, and the time has come for her to step aside.
But before she can leave the Section to younger hands, a mysterious message out of the past has Chace embarking on one final run, into the most dangerous field of operations in the world: Iran. Communication from a decades-silent agent brings with it the potential for a devastating blow against a repressive regime. Chace’s instructions are clear: Bring the agent out alive. But nothing in service of Queen and country is ever that simple. With allies and enemies alike all serving their own agendas, Chace finds herself alone, hunted—and racing the clock to complete what is destined to be her last run.
352 pages
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

30 Rock: Season 5 (2011) TV-14 • B

2011-05-07T14:31:00.000-04:00

30 Rock: Season 5 (2011) TV-14

Ran out of steam towards the end of the season but had some great high points including the live episodes, the airplane episode, and the handling of the NBC/Comcast merger. Both Brown and CMU got mentioned this season!

Season 5 continues with Liz in a relationship with Carol (Matt Damon), a man she met in the episode "I Do Do", and Jack practicing to be and then being a father. Jack finally marries the woman he chose in "I Do Do", but an error in the wedding certificate leads to shocking results. Jack meets with Kabletown's boss, Hank Hooper (Ken Howard), who acts rather like Kenneth, and meets his competition in his granddaughter, Kaylee Hooper (Chloë Moretz). Meanwhile, Tracy also becomes a father and finally gets an EGOT (although, the work of art that Tracy could've won in the "E" "G" and "T" part of EGOT is ambiguous). However, the pressure of being an award-winning celebrity leads Tracy to nearly bring TGS to cancellation. With the help of Jenna, Kenneth tries to get back into the NBC Page Program. Tracy's wife, Angie, is given a reality show of her own, "Queen of Jordan", which was aired as an episode of 30 Rock. 24 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010) PG-13 • B-

2011-05-05T11:39:00.000-04:00

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010) PG-13

B-

It felt too much like a Reader's Digest version of the real story by just touching on major sections. Not a lot of humor in this one, but a high body count.

The first installment of the two-part conclusion to the Harry Potter series finds the bespectacled wizard (Daniel Radcliffe) walking away from his last year at Hogwarts to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes, putting an end to Voldemort's bid for immortality. But with Harry's beloved Dumbledore dead and Voldemort's unscrupulous Death Eaters on the loose, the world is more dangerous than ever. 146 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

The Fall of Sam Axe (2011) TV-PG • B-

2011-04-26T11:24:00.000-04:00

Burn Notice: The Fall Of Sam Axe

The Fall of Sam Axe (2011) TV-PG

B-

Prequels are always fun as long as they do not get too cutesy or far-fetched. This came awfully close to both…

Before Sam Axe teamed up with Michael and Fiona, he was Commander Axe, U.S. Navy SEAL. The Fall of Sam Axe tells the story of how Sam went from respected Naval Commander to the man of mystery we've come to know on Burn Notice. On what will turn out to be Sam's last military mission, he is sent to the jungles of Colombia to investigate claims of a vicious terrorist organization known only as the "Espada Ardiente" (Flaming Sword). His mission: to determine whether U.S. military aid is necessary to deal with the threat. But when he arrives, things are more complicated than he'd imagined. He receives word that the rebels have targeted a small civilian clinic deep in the jungle. Sam must now save the clinic's doctors and patients from certain death. However, nothing is as it seems and the Espada Ardiente may not be the biggest threat Sam Axe faces. 88 minutes
(c) 2011 USAnetwork.com

The Downsized (2011) Matt Howarth (Author, Artist) • B-

2011-04-24T21:07:00.000-04:00

The Downsized (2011)
Matt Howarth (Author, Artist)

B-

Matt Howarth is doing a Dan Clowes, it seems.

A parent's 50th wedding anniversary gives old friends a reason to reunite and take stock of their lives. Mix in some porn, weed, unrequited love and a sick kitty cat, and you have THE DOWNSIZED. Think Big Chill for the new millennium. Matt (SAVAGE HENRY, POST BROS.) Howarth's tale of modern life is sad and glorious while ringing with truth.
80 pages
(c) 1996-2011 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

Salt (2010) UR • B

2011-04-24T11:38:00.000-04:00

Salt (2010) UR

Good Bourne-like action (that is to say, not very believable) and good cold-war plot although not very subtle. It might have been better if they had used more likeable stars.

After she's accused of being a Russian sleeper spy, rogue CIA agent Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) goes on the run, using every tactic, accent and disguise she knows to elude her pursuers, clear her name and protect her husband. Her supervisor, Winter (Liev Schreiber), buys her story, while counterintelligence officer Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofor) decidedly does not and will do anything to stop her in this fast-paced, intrigue-filled spy adventure. 104 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Private Wars (2005) Greg Rucka • A

2011-04-21T15:24:00.000-04:00

Private Wars (2005)
Greg Rucka

Very well-thought-out plot with plenty of suspense and emotional conflict; almost three stories for the price of one! I vote for the Australian man-chick Anna Torv to play Tara Chace in the inevitable movie(s).

The torture and execution of Dina Malikov has set off a cutthroat grab for power in strategically crucial Uzbekistan. Tara’s job is to slip into the country and extract Dina’s pro-Western husband and their young son before they are murdered—by his ruthless sister.
But there are a couple of wildcards in the deck, including a missing mobile weapons system that can bring down a commercial airliner, not to mention powerful political careers. Now, as she vanishes into hostile territory with a man who may or may not be what he seems, Tara is about to engage in a battle where betrayal is a conventional weapon, loyalty is a weakness, and anyone—even a child—is a legitimate target: it’s every spy, every woman, for herself.
Private Wars, a suspense novel so explosively realistic, it should be classified.
544 pages
(c) 2011 GregRucka.com

Being Human: Season 1 (2011) TV-14 • B-

2011-04-14T22:45:00.003-04:00

Being Human: Season 1 (2011) TV-14

B-

Pretty much a daytime soap with a supernatural twist. They probably had to "dumb down" the UK version for US audiences.

A re-imagining of the acclaimed UK series following the lives of three paranormal roommates living in Boston.
Being human: nobody ever said it was easy. But for three twenty-something roommates – who happen to be a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost – is it even possible?
By turns frightening, witty, and romantic, Being Human explores what it means to be human through the eyes of these outsiders.
Aidan was a Revolutionary War soldier who sacrificed himself to vampires to spare his men. Now, some 260 years later, he is still struggling to escape the orbit of his powerful mentor, Bishop. Josh was a promising medical student forced to abandon his family and future after a werewolf attack left him cursed. And Sally, happily engaged before her tragic death, must now figure out how to move on as a ghost.
As Aidan, Josh and Sally learn that there are fates worse than death, they also realise that there’s more to life - and the afterlife - than most “normal” humans could ever imagine. 13 episodes
(c) 2011 zodiakrights.com

A Gentleman's Game (2004) Greg Rucka • A

2011-04-09T12:56:00.000-04:00

A Gentleman's Game (2004)
Greg Rucka

An Ian-Flemingesque spy story updated for the war-on-terror and with a female equivalent of 007.

This is a little tricky, so pay attention. This novel is based on Rucka's comic-book series, Queen & Country, which was in turn inspired by (or perhaps directly based on) a 25-year-old British television series called The Sandbaggers. The comic-book series chronicles the adventures of Tara Chace, a Special Intelligence Service agent (otherwise known as a minder or a sandbagger) who takes on dangerous missions for the British government. In the novel, she is tasked with the assassination of the mastermind behind a series of terrorist attacks that took the lives of more than 300 British citizens. The relationships between some of Rucka's characters mirror the relationships between similar characters in the TV series, and there are even scenes in the novel that are very much like scenes in episodes of the series. Also like the series, the novel is as much about the political machinations behind a mission as it is about the mission itself, and Rucka does an excellent job of building the tension and suspense. It's a story about people whose lives are controlled--and often sacrificed--by government officials whose decisions are always politically motivated. There are echoes of le Carre here, to be sure, although the tone is less cerebral. Those who know The Sandbaggers will be intrigued, but the novel will also interest anyone with a taste for classic British espionage. A sequel would be most welcome. David Pitt
528 pages
(c) 1996-2011 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

The American (2010) R • B

2011-04-03T21:51:00.000-04:00

The American (2010) R

Similar to Matz's "The Killer" graphic novels both plot-wise and in the way it uses a minimum of dialog, letting the visuals and the actors' expressions tell the story. That said, the pacing is tad slow.

On the heels of a rough assignment, assassin Jack (George Clooney) declares that his next job will be his last. Dispatched to a small Italian town to await further orders, Jack embarks on a double life that may be more relaxing than is good for him. Although duty will surely call, Jack becomes friends with Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli) and falls for villager Clara (Violante Placido) in this suspense thriller directed by Anton Corbijn. 105 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Megamind (2010) PG • B+

2011-03-28T09:14:00.000-04:00

Megamind (2010) PG

B+

Predictable, but *very* well done; a chick-flick for comic nerds!

When a cunning supervillain (voiced by Will Ferrell) accidently kills his crime-fighting nemesis, the rogue suddenly finds life boring and uninspired. So, he creates a new enemy (Jonah Hill) who seeks to destroy the world, forcing Megamind to play the hero role for once in his life. This hilarious 3D animated feature from director Tom McGrath (Madagascar) also features the voices of Brad Pitt and Tina Fey. 96 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Fairly Legal: Season 1 (2011) NR • B-

2011-03-28T09:05:00.000-04:00

Fairly Legal: Season 1 (2011) NR

B-

I like the unique concept - a legal show focusing on conflict resolution without the courtroom scenes. Yet the plots and subplots especially are dumbed-down, soap-opera stuff. The writers need to respect their audience more!

Lawyer Kate Reed (Sarah Shahi) is becoming fed up with her profession -- especially since her domineering stepmother (Virginia Williams) took control of the family firm after her father's death. So Kate ditches her job to become a conflict mediator in this drama series. Unfortunately, Kate's only good at solving other people's problems, as she courts a lot of drama in her personal life -- mostly involving her ex-husband, Justin (Michael Trucco). 10 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

The Fighter (2010) R • A-

2011-03-20T13:52:00.000-04:00

The Fighter (2010) R

A-

Good but (1)did we really need another boxing movie; (2)I couldn't buy Wahlberg as a 30-year-old; (3)what Chistian Bale did to his body for this role is scary.

After a string of defeats, Mickey Ward rediscovers his fighting will with help from trainer and half-brother Dicky (Oscar winner Christian Bale) -- a once-talented pugilist and small-town hero now battling drug addiction. 115 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

The Town (2010) R • A-

2011-02-19T22:25:00.002-05:00

The Town (2010) R

A-

I see a lot of similarities between this story and "On The Waterfront" except that it takes place in "The Town" which refers to the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston.

Career bank robber Doug (Ben Affleck) and his volatile partner, Jim (Jeremy Renner), hit a roadblock when Doug falls for bank manager Claire (Rebecca Hall), whom he kidnapped during their last heist. Worse, an FBI agent (Jon Hamm) is now trailing the thieves around their Charlestown, Mass., territory. Affleck directs and co-writes this smart, intricate actioner that co-stars Blake Lively as Krista, Jim's sister and Doug's troubled former flame. 125 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Red (2010) PG-13 • B+

2011-02-06T14:11:00.000-05:00

Red (2010) PG-13

B+

Not much like the graphic novel if I remember it correctly, but they made it almost plausible and kept it moving well enough.

After trading in his professional past as a black-ops CIA operative for a new identity, Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) is basking in normality. But he's forced to return to old habits when an assassin puts a target on his back and goes after the woman (Mary-Louise Parker) he loves. Helen Mirren and John Malkovich co-star as former members of Frank's team who reluctantly reassemble to save his life in this Golden Globe-nominated action-comedy. 111 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) PG-13 • A-

2011-02-05T22:09:00.000-05:00

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) PG-13

A-

All and all, I like what they did with it visually, musically, and story-wise, but Michael Cera would not have been my first choice for Scott Pilgrim.

When dreamy delivery girl Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) starts popping up in his life, slacker musician Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) takes notice. But to win the love of this rollerblading goddess, Scott must vanquish all seven of her evil exes in martial arts battles. Based on Bryan Lee O'Malley's graphic novels, director Edgar Wright's action-packed romcom also stars Anna Kendrick, Brandon Routh and Chris Evans. 111 minutes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Psych: Season 4 (2009) TV-PG • A+

2011-01-17T12:37:00.002-05:00

Psych: Season 4 (2009) TV-PG

A+

They cashed in on some gags that were 50+ episodes in the making…rofl!

Trained from childhood to notice the smallest details, Shawn Spencer (James Roday) masquerades as a psychic detective who uses his observational talents to unravel crimes while pretending to receive messages from the great beyond. In the fourth season of this comedy series, Spencer and his best friend, Gus (Dulé Hill), continue to operate their own agency while helping the Santa Barbara Police Department tackle its toughest cases. 16 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Psych: Season 3 (2008) TV-PG • A

2011-01-10T18:16:00.002-05:00

Psych: Season 3 (2008) TV-PG

Burton 'Gus' Guster: I'm still not convinced, Shawn. How can you be absolutely certain that Lassiter didn't shoot Chavez?
Shawn Spencer: It's relatively easy, Gus. I decided to be and therefore I am. Socrates said that.
Burton 'Gus' Guster: No, that was Decartes.
Shawn Spencer: That was the cologne we wore in high school.
Burton 'Gus' Guster: That was Drakkar Noir.
Shawn Spencer: No, that's a wine.
Burton 'Gus' Guster: That's pinot noir.

Shawn Spencer (James Roday) has such a skill for detective work that he's able to pass himself off as a psychic while serving as a police consultant. His partner, Gus (Dulé Hill), knows the truth, but he keeps the secret despite his frustration with Shawn's antics. The third season of this hit USA original series co-stars Kirsten Nelson and Timothy Omundson, with Corbin Bernsen as Shawn's former-detective father. 16 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Psych: Season 2 (2007) TV-PG • A

2011-01-04T18:42:00.002-05:00

Psych: Season 2 (2007) TV-PG

Shawn Spencer: [looks at his father's colorful shirt] Wow Dad. Tell me you're wearing that shirt because someone has to spot you from space.
Barry Saunder: Tracks probably closing down after this meet...
Burton 'Gus' Guster: Why is it closing down?
Barry Saunder: Well no one comes anymore.
Shawn Spencer: [points to Henry] Is it because of his shirt?
Shawn Spencer: Sorry dad, this is like a genocide of color. Somewhere a rainbow is weeping.

Aided by his ice-cool partner, Gus (Dulé Hill), and hounded by his ex-cop father (Corbin Bernsen), fast-talking fake psychic detective Shawn (James Roday) applies his uncanny powers of observation to the trickiest of cases in this hit mystery dramedy. In Season 2, business is booming as the guys investigate threats against an arrogant TV host, a paleontologist's death and more. Special guest stars include Lou Diamond Phillips and Tim Curry. 16 episodes
(c) 1997-2011 Netflix, Inc.

Psych: Season 1 (2006) TV-PG • A

2010-12-31T17:32:00.000-05:00

Psych: Season 1 (2006) TV-PG

Season one is a little rough around the edges overall but the stories are fresh and the actors are young!

They may look like a psychic detective agency, but don't be fooled: Motormouth Shawn (James Roday) is just a super-observant slacker, and his ultra-cool sidekick (Dulé Hill) is just Shawn's old pal Gus. But together, the funny detective duo somehow solves crimes. This quirky comedy-mystery series set in the sun-drenched streets of Santa Barbara, Calif., also stars Corbin Bernsen as Shawn's cranky cop dad and Kirsten Nelson as chief of police. 15 episodes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Psych: Season 5 (2010) TV-PG • A+

2010-12-28T00:31:00.000-05:00

Psych: Season 5 (2010) TV-PG

A+

Great season! The whole Shawn 2.0 arc (with Tears for Fears) was guggin' super and the Twin Peaks tribute was totally cool.

With his uptight father (Corbin Bernsen) in charge of the Santa Barbara Police Department's consultants, incredibly charming and talented phony psychic Shawn (James Roday) must now work extra hard to land new investigation gigs for him and his trusty partner Gus (Dulé Hill). Season 5 of this quirky crime show finds the private detectives searching for a kidnap victim, probing an alien abduction and infiltrating a street-racing gang. 16 episodes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Burn Notice Season 4 (2010) NR • B

2010-12-18T23:02:00.000-05:00

Burn Notice Season 4 (2010) NR

This season is not quite as light-hearted as the previous ones and is more long-form. But the good stuff is still in there, just in smaller portions.

Spook-turned-sleuth Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) continues to explore the dark side of sun-soaked Miami -- now joined by counter-intelligence pro Jesse Garcia (Coby Bell) -- in the fourth season of this popular espionage series. Blacklisted by the same agency that burned Michael, Jesse was also complicit in Michael's ouster -- though Michael is unaware. All of which makes life complicated as they try to get to the source of their betrayals. 18 episodes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Cape Fear (1991) R • B

2010-12-14T09:31:00.000-05:00

Cape Fear (1991) R

It's a 20-year-old movie but seems more like *fifty*: it has a 1960's quality, perhaps intentional as an homage to the original. I watched this because they kept referring to it in an episode of Castle!

Public defender Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte) served as the attorney for brutal rapist Max Cady (Robert De Niro) at his arraignment. Shocked by the violence of Cady's crime, Sam duplicitously withheld information regarding the sexually promiscuous activities of Cady's rape victim -- information that might have won Max's acquittal. After serving a hellish 14-year sentence in a barbaric state penitentiary, Cady's out for revenge. 128 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Moonlight Mile (2010) Dennis Lehane • A

2010-12-09T22:44:00.002-05:00

Moonlight Mile (2010)
Dennis Lehane

I think they were thinking "screenplay" all the way with this one. But it is a good 12-years-later sequel to Gone Baby Gone.

An old case takes on new dimensions in Lehane's sixth crime novel to feature Boston PIs Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro, last seen in 1999's Prayers for Rain. Twelve years earlier, in 1998's Gone, Baby, Gone, Patrick and Angie investigated the kidnapping of four-year-old Amanda McCready. The case drove a temporary wedge between the pair after Patrick returned Amanda to her mother's neglectful care. Now Patrick and Angie are married, the parents of four-year-old Gabriella, and barely making ends meet with Patrick's PI gigs while Angie finishes graduate school. But when Amanda's aunt comes to Patrick and tells him that Amanda, now a 16-year-old honor student, is once again missing, he vows to find the girl, even if it means confronting the consequences of choices he made that have haunted him for years. While Lehane addresses much of the moral ambiguity from Gone, this entry lacks some of the gritty rawness of the early Kenzie and Gennaro books. (Nov.)
(c)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
336 pages
(c) 1996-2010 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

The Expendables (2010) R • B-

2010-12-09T22:41:00.000-05:00

The Expendables (2010) R

B-

They spared no expense on the cast or the action. Great for treading to… but that's probably all.

Barney (Sylvester Stallone) leads a ragtag band of hired guns charged with overthrowing a South American despot, a job no official military unit is willing to touch. But once on the ground, the team learns there's more to the mission than they were told. Their next move determines whether they survive -- or are, indeed, expendable. Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren and Jet Li round out a stellar cast. 103 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Walking Dead: Season 1 (2010) NR • A-

2010-12-07T23:11:00.000-05:00

Walking Dead: Season 1 (2010) NR

A-

It's pretty much 28 Days Later set in Atlanta but very well done with good characters especially the redne….err, Appalachian Americans.

After awakening from a coma, police officer Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) learns that a plague has transformed most of mankind into ravenous zombies. Against all odds, he desperately searches for his family and sets out to deliver them and other survivors to safety. Based on the comic books by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore, the series co-stars Steven Yeun as an expert scavenger and Sarah Wayne Callies as Rick's wife. 6 episodes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Terriers: Season 1 (2010) NR • B-

2010-12-05T19:55:00.000-05:00

Terriers: Season 1 (2010) NR

B-

I am on-the-fence for this series: there's a lot I like but some of the things they had the characters do were too offensive for a "black comedy."

This gritty black comedy from FX stars Donal Logue as Hank Dolworth, an alcoholic ex-cop who's down on his luck and desperate for cash. He opens an unlicensed private eye shop with his criminally inclined pal, Britt Pollack (Michael Raymond-James), and the insanity begins. The pair hopes to make ends meet by pursuing small cases, but every inquiry leads to more than they bargained for as they investigate cheating spouses and corrupt officials. 13 episodes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Cop Out (2010) R • B

2010-12-03T22:49:00.000-05:00

Cop Out (2010) R

As a treadmilling movie, this is pretty good; as a Kevin Smith movie, wtf not even close.

Jimmy Monroe (Bruce Willis) and off-kilter Paul Hodges (Tracy Morgan) are two suspended cops trying to track down a stolen and very valuable 1950s baseball card. Along the way, they encounter a Mexican beauty and countless other characters and get entangled with the mob. Kevin Smith (Clerks) directs this comedic action flick co-starring Adam Brody, Jason Lee, Michelle Trachtenberg, Kevin Pollak and Seann William Scott. 107 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Predators (2010) R • B

2010-11-30T14:26:00.000-05:00

Predators (2010) R

I am back on the treadmill and this the perfect movie for treading to. And it's directed by a guy named Nimrod; how appropriate is that?

Rugged mercenary Royce (Adrien Brody) inherits command of an elite team of human fighters -- including dorky-but-dangerous Edwin (Topher Grace) and tough-but-beautiful Isabelle (Alice Braga) -- as they are hunted by a race of ruthless alien trackers known as Predators. Director Nimród Antal's sci-fi action explosion, which also stars Laurence Fishburne and an uzi-toting Danny Trejo, is a direct sequel to the 1987 blockbuster Predator. 105 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Californication: Season 3 (2009) NR • B

2010-11-20T23:25:00.000-05:00

Californication: Season 3 (2009) NR

Good season but the last few episodes seemed repetitive and somewhat lost. Susan Sarandon's daughter is looking good, though!

Golden Globe winner David Duchovny is back in the throes of addiction as sex- and drug-obsessed novelist Hank Moody, a Los Angeles scribe whose heated battles with personal demons continually threaten his closest relationships. As the third season unfolds, Becca (Madeleine Martin) remains in Hank's care, while her mother -- Hank's on-again, off-again girlfriend, Karen (Natascha McElhone) -- starts a new job in New York City. 12 episodes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Castle: Season 2 (2009) TV-PG • A

2010-11-17T17:12:00.000-05:00

Castle: Season 2 (2009) TV-PG

A great season! Highlights include tie-ins with the book, Alyssa Milano, a two-parter with a serial killer, and the one-cup-of-coffee scene in the finale!

The sparks continue to fly as popular mystery writer Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) and beautiful Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) spar with each other while solving some of New York's toughest murder cases in the second season of this stylish crime drama. As the season opens, Beckett's still angry at Castle for looking into her mother's death. Meanwhile, they investigate the abduction of a dead body from an ambulance. 24 episodes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

The Oxford Murders (2008) R • C

2010-11-08T17:50:00.002-05:00

The Oxford Murders (2008) R

Like a Dan Brown novel, the plot is just an excuse to pontificate about topics in philosphy and math. Which is okay, but Dan Brown already did it (better).

After Oxford logic professor Arthur Seldom (John Hurt) and his new graduate student Martin (Elijah Wood) discover a dead woman, they get involved in trying to solve a string of homicides in which the killer marked each victim's body with cryptic mathematical symbols. As the stakes get higher, Martin's grasp on reality becomes increasingly tenuous in this thriller based on the award-winning novel by writer and mathematician Guillermo Martinez. 109 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

The Losers (2010) PG-13 • C

2010-11-07T11:16:00.002-05:00

The Losers (2010) PG-13

This is all pretty implausible even by comic book standards, but I did like the comic-book look and feel and tone of the movie.

After learning that their handler, Max (Jason Patric), has set them up, a group of disavowed CIA operatives led by Clay -- aka the Colonel (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) -- bands together to bring down their betrayers in this slick action thriller. The film, adapted from the comic book series by Andy Diggle and Jock, co-stars Zoe Saldana, Idris Elba, Chris Evans, Columbus Short and Holt McCallany; Sylvain White directs. 97 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Splice (2009) R • C-

2010-11-07T11:09:00.000-05:00

Splice (2009) R

C-

One of the characters asks, "What's the worst that can happen?" Well, a sequel would be the worst that can happen!

Ignoring instructions from the pharmaceutical company that funds their research, groundbreaking genetic scientists Elsa (Sarah Polley) and Clive (Adrien Brody) continue with an unorthodox experiment to create a human-animal hybrid, a new life form they dub "Dren" (Delphine Chanéac). When they see their fantastical creation, Clive warns that it should be destroyed, but Elsa refuses -- a decision she'll regret when Dren makes deadly plans of her own. 104 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Futurama: Bender's Game (2008) NR • C+

2010-11-06T17:20:00.000-04:00

Futurama: Bender's Game (2008) NR

C+

Must have been a lot of D&D references I did not get.

Matt Groening's Emmy Award-winning sitcom blasts into the realm of feature film in this animated adventure that traps the Planet Express crew in a fantastical world where anything can happen -- and does. Billy West is back as the voice of hapless pizza delivery boy Philip J. Fry, with John DiMaggio and Katey Sagal reprising their roles as Bender the potty-talking robot and Cycloptic captain Turanga Leela. Rich Little and George Takei guest star. 90 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

The Killer Inside Me (2010) R • C-

2010-10-31T12:34:00.000-04:00

The Killer Inside Me (2010) R

C-

This might have made a better graphic novel. On film it was so literal/stark that it became unpleasant to watch at points.

West Texas Deputy Sheriff Lou Ford (Casey Affleck) is harboring a deep dark secret -- while the small town's residents think him a bit dim, Lou is actually affected by a "sickness" that turns the mild-mannered peace officer into a brutal, psychotic killer. Set in the 1950s, Michael Winterbottom's adaptation of Jim Thompson's classic noir novel co-stars Kate Hudson as Lou's innocent girlfriend and Jessica Alba as Joyce, a local prostitute. 109 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

MacGruber (2010) UR • C+

2010-10-30T20:21:00.000-04:00

MacGruber (2010) UR

C+

Reminded me of a Team America: World Police wanna-be… without the puppet sex.

Based on the "Saturday Night Live" sketch, this action-packed comedy stars Will Forte as incompetent former special ops agent MacGruber. When he's called back into action to deactivate archenemy Dieter Von Cunth (Val Kilmer), MacGruber is on the case. Now, he must thwart Von Cunth's plans to destroy Washington, D.C., with a nuclear warhead. Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillippe, Maya Rudolph and Powers Boothe co-star. 95 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

The Guild: Season 4 (2010) NR • B+

2010-10-30T20:17:00.000-04:00

Guild: Season 4

The Guild: Season 4 (2010) NR

B+

Not as "edgy" as it could have been, but pretty much on par with previous seasons.

"The Guild" is an award-winning online sitcom about the lives of gamers who are members of an online guild called "The Knights of Good". It is written for gamers, about gamers, by a gamer. Episodes vary from 3-6 minutes in length, and follow the Guild members’ lives online and offline. 70 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Repo Men (2010) UR • C

2010-10-04T22:48:00.000-04:00

Repo Men (2010) UR

This is more like Minority Report than Repo Man.

n the world of this sci-fi thriller set in the not-too-distant future, artificial organs are readily available to anybody with a credit card. But what happens if a buyer falls delinquent on his payments? Jude Law stars as an organ repo man who's now fleeing his ex-partner after failing to keep up the payments on his own recently installed ticker. Miguel Sapochnik directs; Forest Whitaker and Liev Schreiber co-star. 120 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Iron Man 2 (2010) PG-13 • C+

2010-10-03T14:58:00.000-04:00

Iron Man 2 (2010) PG-13

C+

I liked Mickey Rourke in this, plus Sam Rockwell's and John Slattery's channeling of Tom Cruise and Walt Disney, respectively, but plot was just several arcs strung together without any real underlying story to tell.

Wealthy inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) -- aka Iron Man -- resists calls by the American government to hand over his technology. Meanwhile, Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) has constructed his own miniaturized arc reactor, causing all kinds of problems for our superhero. Sam Rockwell, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle and Samuel L. Jackson co-star in director Jon Favreau's sequel based on Marvel comic book characters. 124 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Good Guys Season 1 (2010) NR • A+

2010-09-26T13:30:00.000-04:00

Good Guys Season 1 (2010) NR

A+

I am thinking this is the best show on TV right now… in the lighthearted category, anyway.

"Burn Notice" creator Matt Nix also dreamed up this buddy-cop dramedy about a pair of Dallas police detectives who couldn't be more mismatched: rule-shirking throwback Dan Stark (Bradley Whitford) and by-the-book newbie Jack Bailey (Colin Hanks). Their boss (Diana Maria Riva) tries to keep them out of trouble by assigning them to small-time crimes, but they've got a knack for finding big trouble in little places. (c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Date Night (2010) PG-13 • B-

2010-09-26T11:57:00.000-04:00

Date Night (2010) PG-13

B-

This is good, yet with such a high-powered comedic cast, I was expecting to be ROFL but it didn't even come close to that. Maybe they lacked a "straight man."

Who knew simple dinner reservations under a different name could turn one New Jersey couple's date night so terribly upside-down? Claire (Tina Fey) and Phil (Steve Carell) Foster leave their kids with the sitter (Leighton Meester) and head out for a night on the town -- as the Tripplehorns. Shawn Levy (Just Married, Night at the Museum) directs this action-comedy; Mark Wahlberg and James Franco co-star. 102 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

The Ghost Writer (2010) PG-13 • B+

2010-09-04T23:20:00.000-04:00

The Ghost Writer (2010) PG-13

B+

I can't say that I like being lectured by Roman Polanski about, well, anything but especially moral accountability.

A writer (Ewan McGregor) stumbles upon a long-hidden secret when he agrees to help former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) complete his memoirs on a remote island after the politician's assistant drowns in a mysterious accident. In director Roman Polanski's tense drama, the author realizes that his discovery threatens some very powerful people who will do anything to ensure that certain episodes from Lang's past remain buried. 128 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

The Crazies (2009) R • B+

2010-09-04T09:24:00.000-04:00

The Crazies (2009) R

B+

Whenever I would watch a movie like this this with my kids, I would point out that the survivors are the ones who keep fighting/never give up. Word.

When a plane crashes in a small town, a secret biological weapon is released. As the toxic substance infiltrates the local water system, some residents become gravely ill, while others descend into homicidal madness. Sheriff David Dutton (Timothy Olyphant) attempts to set things straight, but soon the military becomes involved in containing the killer virus. Breck Eisner directs this chilling remake of George A. Romero's 1973 horror classic. 101 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Kick-Ass (2010) R • A-

2010-08-22T11:07:00.000-04:00

Kick-Ass (2010) R

A-

Glad they defied Hollywood and made this as an indy, but one major special effect has "low budget" written all over it. And Nick Cage? Really?

Inspired by his love of comic books, high school student Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) decides to transform himself into a masked crime fighter -- a decision that eventually thrusts the teenager into Internet stardom. Soon, Dave's antics inspire a wave of would-be heroes to don costumes and live out their superhero fantasies. Nicolas Cage, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Chloe Moretz also star in this comic book adaptation from director Matthew Vaughn. 117 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Green Zone (2009) R • B-

2010-08-08T12:44:00.000-04:00

Green Zone (2009) R

B-

Realistic *looking*, but clearly a fictional oversimplification of the real situation.

U.S. Defense Intelligence Agent Clark Poundstone (Greg Kinnear) doesn't want to hear what Army Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller (Matt Damon) has to say about not finding the weapons of mass destruction -- evidence that could launch a war -- he's been sent to Iraq to unearth. Why the cover-up? Rajiv Chandrasekaran's exposé Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone inspired this frenetic wartime drama. Paul Greengrass directs. 115 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) UR • B+

2010-08-07T17:22:00.000-04:00

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) UR

B+

This captures both that the 80's generally sucked and that Back to the Future was the best movie of the decade.

Fueled by energy drinks, vodka and nostalgia for their younger, wilder days, a group of aging best friends travels back in time to 1987, where they get the chance to relive the best year of their lives. And their time machine? Well, it's a hot tub. John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Crispin Glover and Sebastian Stan co-star in this out-of-the-box comedy that takes time travel to a whole new level. 99 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Mother (2009) R • B-

2010-08-01T13:38:00.000-04:00

Mother (2009) R

B-

This is pretty cool glimpse into another culture and its take on the Hitchcockian thriller but doesn't live up to other Korean imports like The Host and Oldboy.

A murder rocks a South Korean town and suspicion quickly falls on a reclusive, mentally challenged -- and alibi-free -- young man (Bin Won). When an inept public defender botches the boy's case, his mother (Hye-ja Kim) sets out to prove her son's innocence. Acclaimed director Joon-ho Bong (Memories of Murder) explores the lengths a mother will go to protect her child in this atmospheric crime thriller. 129 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Dexter: Season 4 (2009) NR • A+

2010-07-25T12:42:00.000-04:00

Dexter: Season 4 (2009) NR

A+

I was concerned that after three seasons this series might have been bled dry originality-wise, but al contrario, this might be the best season yet!

Miami forensics specialist Dexter Morgan (Golden Globe winner Michael C. Hall) has been so successful at keeping his secret life as a serial killer under wraps that no one -- not even his newly minted wife, Rita (Julie Benz) -- knows about his extracurricular activities. Dexter continues to count on the fact that nobody suspects him of murder. And then he commits it with reckless abandon. John Lithgow joins the fourth season in a Golden Globe-winning role. 12 episodes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

The Book of Eli (2010) R • B

2010-07-18T12:36:00.001-04:00

The Book of Eli (2010) R

In the post-apocalyptic spectrum, this lies somewhere between A Canticle for Leibowitz and Waterworld.

Determined to salvage a sacred text in order to protect humanity, Eli (Denzel Washington) goes on a quest across the country in this action-packed sci-fi adventure. Meanwhile, a blind woman named Claudia (Jennifer Beals) tries to protect her daughter, Solara (Mila Kunis). It seems that tyrannical town bully Carnegie (Gary Oldman) has taken a shine to the girl. Directed by the Hughes brothers, the film co-stars Ray Stevenson. 118 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

From Paris with Love (2009) R • C

2010-07-13T13:26:00.002-04:00

From Paris with Love (2009) R

There is nothing new here for anyone who lived through the Cold War (movie) era.

While working at the American embassy in Paris, low-level intelligence agent James Reece (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) gets involved in espionage when he's pulled into a terrorist plot by high-ranking but uncouth American operative Charlie Wax (John Travolta), who's trying to stop it. Pierre Morel directs this fast-paced international thriller with a script by Luc Besson (The Professional, The Fifth Element) and Adi Hasak. Richard Durden also stars. 93 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Edge of Darkness (2009) R • B

2010-07-11T10:24:00.000-04:00

Edge of Darkness (2009) R

"Everything's illegal in Massachusetts."

As a seasoned homicide detective, Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) has seen the bleakest side of humanity. But nothing prepares him for the toughest investigation of his life: the search for his only daughter Emma's (Bojana Novakovic) killer. Now, he is on a personal mission to uncover the disturbing secrets surrounding her murder, including corporate corruption, government collusion and Emma's own mysterious life. 117 minutes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.

Gravity: Season 1 (2010) TV-MA • A-

2010-07-10T11:23:00.000-04:00

Gravity: Season 1 (2010) TV-MA

A-

Krysten Ritter could be the next Janine Turner.

Krysten Ritter, Ivan Sergei, Rachel Hunter and Ving Rhames head up the ensemble cast of this Starz original series that follows a group of suicide survivors as they gather to discuss their progress in an outpatient therapy program. An affection-starved woman grapples with unresolved childhood issues; an ophthalmologist struggles to cope with his wife's death; a former model obsesses over younger men. 10 episodes
(c) 1997-2010 Netflix, Inc.