Drillbit Taylor

On their first day of high school, Ryan and Wade, are embarrassed by the fact that they happen to wear the same shirt. Wade sticks up for a smaller fellow geek, Emmit (he was the creepy little boy in the Ring), who is being shoved into a locker by bullies. As a result the bullies Filkins and Ronnie terrorizes all three at every chance they get. So they decide to hire a body guard. (Owen Wilson)

My husband and I watched this last night. We both really enjoyed it. That being said, we both really like Owen Wilson, so if you are not a fan, you can probably skip this one. There were some stupid parts, but a lot of really funny ones too.

The kids in this movie crack me up. The main bully Filkens is horrible and you really feel bad for these kids. It is PG13, so be prepared for a little language and some questionable parts. But in a whole it was really pretty funny. Definitely one that is worth the rental fee. If you are looking for a light hearted comedy this could be the one for you.

Caitlin

The Count of Monte Cristo

I am sure this may come as a surprise to some of you but this review is for the book and not the movie. This may be shocking because given the amount of TV shows and movies I have reviewed some of you probably didn't think I knew how to read or what a book was. Well I do and when I worked downtown and took the train each day I used to read a lot more then I do now. But that is off topic, today I want to talk about The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. I am sure many of you have already read this book as it is a classic but it is for that very reason that I was hesitant to read the book to begin with. It was tenth grade and I had one of those great English teachers that thought you could learn a lot more about English by submersing yourself in it (i.e. reading books) then by studying a textbook. Before this time I had never ventured out much from Michael Crichton land and was not very very interested in doing so, especially for some boring old stuffy novel like The Count of Monte Cristo. Did I know anything about the book? No, but I was judging it by its cover. Now I know why you are not supposed to do that and I glad I did because the Count quickly became my favorite book and I have read at least 4 different abridgements at least 6 times.


The last abridgement (the unabridged version) I read was by far the most expansive, checking in at 1,000+ pages and a reference and history guide at the back of the book, complete version I have come across yet. This book has just about everything you can imagine in it. From wrongful imprisonment, murder, betrayal, revenge, redemption, romance, friendship, you just can't want anything more from a book. Each time I read it I discover something that I didn't realize, or pick up, the previous time. I think that is why I keep going back and reading it again and again. Edmond Dantes leads the kind of adventures most of us only dream of but at the same time his life is not easy and is consumed with vengeance. So it is a trade off: adventure with all consuming revenge. Ah who am I kidding I would still take it but that might be because I know how the story ends and no the movie does not end the same way, so don't base your assumptions on that.


I would go into more detail about the plot and characters but I think for you to truly enjoy this you need to go in blind, like I did, and discover it all for yourself. Maybe I should have started with that. Forget everything you just read and go and get yourself a copy of the book and find out for yourself. That is if you already haven't read the book and if you have, try the big unabridged version it is worth the effort. There are so many story lines that where taken out or shorted in the version most of us read in high school. I think I may just start reading it again.

-Eric

Eli Stone

Eli Stone had its second season premiere last night and I can say that this has become one of my favorite shows from last year. If you haven't watched Eli Stone, here is what you need to know.
Eli is your typical ruthless lawyer until one day he starts seeing visions. These visions lead Eli to start thinking that perhaps there is a higher being that is trying to use him to do good. The medical reason that Eli is having visions is chalked up to a brain aneurysm by his brother, who just happens to be a doctor, and it turns out the their Dad also had an aneurysm and visions. But instead of doing good the visions led their father to go crazy. Eli at first thinks that he will meet a fate similar to his father but then starts to pay attention to the visions and starts using them to help people. As you can imagine this does not go over to well at Eli's firm where he was once a top earner and now is doing pro bono work.




The way the producers splice the visions into the show is great and each episode has a lot of heart and character. The cast is filled with top notch performances by Jonny Lee Miller, Victor Garber, Loretta Devine and Natasha Henstridge to mention a few. This show goes from laugh out loud funny at times to inspiring, it truly is a good hour of TV. Here is just a taste of an average day for Eli Stone:





-Eric

NCIS

If you, like me, thought NCIS was just an old persons show then you, like me, are wrong. I started watching NCIS half way through its second season. My parents watched it and one day I started watching it with them. That is all it took I was hooked. NCIS is not your typical CSI show and was a spin off of JAG, which I never watched, so going in I was a bit hesitant. But all that changed after meeting the NCIS team led my Gibbs, played by Mark Harmon. The thing that makes this show different is the chemistry of its cast. You just can't help but like the characters here and they keep you coming back week after week to see what will happen next.


I wouldn't say you need to catch up on the past 5 seasons to start watching and enjoying the show now, but I would definitely recommend it as you learn so much about the NCIS team. Each episode is usually based around some military crime or one involving a member of the military. That is after all what NCIS does. Now would be a good time to explain that NCIS stands for Navel Criminal Investigation Service.


Our team at NCIS is Gibbs (Harmon), Anthony (Michael Weatherly), Ziva (Cote de Pablo), McGee (Sean Murray), Abby (Pauley Perrette), and Ducky (David McCallum). The chemistry between the cast truly makes this one of the best shows on TV today. Lately this show has been doing very well in the ratings but it is still a show that not many are aware of. I am more then happy to say that I was wrong about NCIS and should not have judged it without having ever seen it. It is not just a show for old folks but one that can be enjoyed by anyone who likes good crime dramas. That is not to say that NCIS is as dark as the CSI shows, because it is most definitely not. The show has a sense of humor and is not afraid to use it. I suggest checking this one out if you haven't already done so. NCIS has quietly become one of my favorite TV shows. Find out why Tuesdays on CBS.

-Eric

Pushing Daisies

If you are not watching Pushing Daisies then you are truly missing out. This is one of the most original, fun shows on TV. Pushing Daisies bills itself as a forensic fairytale, think of it has kind of a bright, happy CSI.

The premise of the show is this. As a boy Ned finds out that he has a special gift; he can bring dead things back to life with a single touch. There are only two problems with this gift, if Ned ever touches the thing he brought back to life again they are gone for good and if the thing he touches stays alive for longer then one minute something else must take its place. Young Ned learns this lesson the hard way when accidentally brings his mother back to life only to have is next door neighbor take her place, then later that night Ned's mom gives him a good night kiss leading to her this time final death.

Later in life Ned opens a pie shop using his gift to make everlasting fresh fruit with a single touch. But Ned is drawn back home when he finds out that his next door neighbors daughter and childhood crush, Charlotte (aka Chuck) has been murdered. Ned brings Charlotte back to life but can never act on his crush as another touch will lead to her death, again.

Emerson, a private detective, learns of Ned's gift and uses his skill to solve unsolved murders for the reward money, splitting it with Ned. Also involved in the story are Charlotte's aunts, who think she is dead and Olive who thinks Charlotte faked her own death and has to keep this secret from Charlotte's family to whom she delivers pies. Okay are you still with me? Oh and I forgot to mention Ned's dog, Digby, who he can't touch as he brought him back to life after being hit by a semi.

This may all seem like a lot to take in but it really isn't hard to follow and the show is uniquely different than anything else on TV. It is just bright and fun and crazy, which all add up to a enjoyable watching experience. If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and check it out Wednesdays on ABC.

-Eric

I love this show! It sort of reminds me of Matilda. It's magical, colorful, and super funny. The characters are amazing. Especially cute lil' Olive played by Kristin Chenoweth and lovable Ned, played by Lee Pace. It will draw you in the second you hear the narrator. Watch this show! It's actually one of the shows on t.v. that is family appropriate.

- Caitlin

(Click here to get a little taste of what this show is like.)

CSI:Miami

Dear Reader,

I need your help. I can not stop watching CSI:Miami, or as my family refers to it, CSI:Mondays. Now if any of you have ever seen just a glimpse of CSI:M then you know that it is cheesy, over acted and features over the top plot lines that make James Bond look tame. I have tried to stop watching but I always get pulled back in, darn you Emily Procter and your coy smile!!!

The real reason this show is laugh out loud funny/ so bad that it's good is the presence of one David Caruso. I don't know what it is but anytime he opens his mouth I find myself laughing hysterically. He tries to come off as a tough/caring detective and I just don't buy it for a minute.

Over the years, yes I have watched this show that long, Mr. Caruso's um...talent has spread to the other members of the cast and now I probably laugh more at this show than most of the comedies on TV. And now I can't imagine my week without a good laugh courtesy of my friends from Miami. So, my question for you is this: What shows do you watch for no other reason then to laugh at? Or what shows do you watch that you are ashamed to admit too? If you are looking for a good side busting laugh watch CSI:M, you won't be disappointed, just remember it thinks it's a drama.

-Eric