USA Network Summer Shows

It seems this summer I have been hooked by the shows on USA Network. It started last year with Royal Pains which is a fun mix of comedy, drama, strange medical issues, family issues etc. It sounds strange but really it is just a fun way to spend the summer with out resorting to re-runs and reality fare. I will be the first to admit that the first few episodes of Royal Pains second season left me longing for the first season but after a weak start the show is back to its season one ways and just as much fun as ever. Royal Pains airs Thursday nights.


The next show on USA that caught my interest was White Collar. I had intended to watch this show when it premiered last fall but just never got around to it. Lucky for me USA aired a marathon before the second season started so I was able to catch up and I am glad I did. White Collar is easily my favorite show of the summer. It follow a renowned art thief who is caught by the FBI, twice, and given the choice of going back to jail or working with the White Collar crimes division. This show reminds me of those old detective shows but with the added twist of the criminal working to help the bad guys. This show is well written and gives you just enough of a recurring storyline to keep you coming back while at the same time solving each weeks crime without dragging it out. Do yourself a favor and check out White Collar Tuesdays on USA.


The last show that has hooked me on USA this summer is Covert Affairs. It is a cross between Alias and the Bourne movies. Covert Affairs follows a new CIA agent who is thrown into the spy game fresh from the training farm. Just like Alias we get to travel the world via the spy service but unlike Alias there are no sci-fi elements to keep you scratching your head. This is just like a weekly Bourne movie but with a continuing storyline of a lost love who is the reason young Annie is thrown into the spy world with such little training. Not a bad way to wrap up Tuesdays after watching White Collar.

Duplicity

I like Julia Roberts...I like Clive Owen...and you know what...I really liked Duplicity. Due to the nature of the movie I can't go into to much detail other then to say that it is about spies, double crossing, corporate espionage, more double crossing, a complete lack of trust and so on and so forth. You should know that the movie starts out a little slow and it requires that you pay attention to keep track of its timeline that jumps back and forth over a 5 year period. But if you can stick it out you are rewarded with a movie that is funny and will keep you guessing til the very last scene. Duplicity is rated PG-13 and is now out on DVD and well worth a rental.

Quick Reviews: State of Play, 17 Again, Bedtime Stories

It must have been the weekend because I ended up watching 3 movies. Here is a quick recap of each.

• State of Play: I really enjoyed this movie. I am a fan of thrillers that make you use your brain. It has been awhile since I have seen a good old fashioned political thriller. While the movie was a little on the long side I didn't find myself getting bored at any point during the movie. The cast is great and full of many well known stars: Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, and it just keeps going. If you are looking for a lot of action then this movie isn't for you. This is a thinking man's, or women's, movie.
• 17 Again: I admit that I laughed a lot during this movie. Sure it is predictable down to the last scene, but you are laughing down to the last scene. I have never seen Zac Efron in anything before this but thought he did a good job, especially since he was basically carrying this movie. Think of this a Big only in reverse and you pretty much know what you are in for. Some humor in this is not for the under 8 crowd as it leans a little more on the teen/adult side.
• Bedtime Stories: Not your typical Adam Sandler movie but at the same time it is your typical Adam Sandler movie, just aimed for a younger crowd. If you have younger kids they will be sure to enjoy this movie since the Bedtime Stories that are told take a strange twist and come to life the next day. The movie felt a little rushed and seemed like some of the special effects were an afterthought. Overall I did laugh, mostly at the minor characters and the guinea pig, but I am glad that I saw this one on DVD when all was said and done.

He's Just Not That Into You

long.

depressing.

Okay, it wasn't my favorite. I think some people would like it. I'm just not that into this movie. It isn't what you expect going into it. And I am someone who read the book previously so it might be partly that too. The book was funny. I just didn't think the movie was. Did I laugh? Yes, I think a couple times. But overall, it felt long and I felt like they didn't portray women in a good light whatsoever.

They made most of the girl leads look like dumb stalkers. And the men, insensitive jerks. It could have been better, and maybe that's why I am being so harsh. Plus the plot between Scarlett Johanson, Bradley Cooper, and Jennifer Connelly was entirely too depressing. Not to mention a lot of the other plot lines.

I would recommend red boxing this one. Don't waste eight dollars. Also go into it with low expectations and you might be pleasantly surprised. The highlight of the movie to me was seeing Ginnefer Goodwins outfits throughout the show.

LOST

Lost is my favorite show! Season 5 starts on Jan. 21 and here is a little sneak peek to get you in the mood...

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

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

The Sum of All Fears

Based on the novel by Tom Clancy, The Sum of All Fears is the story about two nations having to make life changing choices after an attack and how fear plays into those choices.

I have seen this movie many times and watched it again recently after catching the first half on cable. The movie stars Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman, who both do a great job here. For those of you familiar with the Jack Ryan movies or books; The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, you know that you are in for an action packed, white knuckle ride. The Sum of All Fears is kind of like a reboot of those movies, with Affleck stepping into the part of Jack Ryan last played by Harrison Ford. And all said and done I think he does a convincing job and more than holds his own. Throw in Freemen and a cast of well known actors and the cast is rounded out quite nicely.

The plot finds Jack Ryan working at the Russian Desk at the CIA where he is pulled into the middle of this whole mess and ultimately must do what he thinks is right for the country. I don't want to give away to much to those who have not seen this. But if you are looking for a good thinking man's, or women's, movie then look no further. I was still on edge and I have seen it many times.

-Eric

Lars and the Real Girl

Directed by Craig Gillespie. Screenplay, by Nancy Oliver, focuses on a shy, lonely, socially inept young man who develops a relationship with a life-sized, anatomically-correct doll he orders online. Rated PG13 for some sex related content. But honestly, I can't remember anything offensive.

We watched this with our friends, and I think I was the one who liked it best. I loved the acting, I thought the story had heart, and I loved that it was different. Plus I laughed really hard. This movie was nominated for a bunch of rewards and was a Sundance film.

If you are looking for a different movie, I would recommend this one. The more I think about this film the more I loved it. Plus I really like the soundtrack. And I am always in love with movies that have a bunch of lovable characters. I would rent this one.

Caitlin

I agree with Caity on most of this one. The movie was definitely different and I didn't hate it. But there were parts that I didn't like. (More on that later.) I did enjoy the cast, especially Ryan Gosling and Emily Mortimer and think they did a good job. The thing that makes this movie work is that it has heart, sure that heart happens to be a doll, but heart none the less. I also enjoyed how this doll affected the whole town.

The things I didn't like about this movie were things that the movie had no control over, in other words they were things of my own doing. Ryan Goslings character started to sound like David Arquette to me after awhile and then that was all I could see, or hear, rather. I found myself being distracted by this and kept waiting for the cast of Scream to come out. Also the story is so odd it is a little hard to get into at first and it took a little while to get going only to wrap up things pretty quickly. I would have liked a little more follow up at the end, perhaps a few years down the road. But that is just me and I can accept the way the filmmakers ended the movie and it doesn't leave you hanging, scratching your head.

Overall it wasn't terrible and I laughed at quite a few parts and if I could have gotten David Arquette out of my mind I am sure I would have enjoyed it more. I agree with Caity that it is worth a rental, if only to watch something different.

-Eric

P.S. I Love You

Watch this one with a box of tissues. A FULL BOX! I am so grateful I didn't see this in the theatres, because I would have forgotten tissues, and I would have been a mess! It sounds funny, but I had to take breaks, because it was too much sometimes. And believe me, my husband was making fun of me. He kept saying "Why are you watching it!?" To which I replied, "Because it's good." And it was.

Based on a novel by the same name, and starring Hillary Swank and Gerard Butler, with a supporting cast including Kathy Bates, Harry Connick Jr., and Lisa Kudrow. Holly (Hillary Swank) is married to Gerry (Gerard Butler) who dies within the first ten minutes of the show, and the rest centers around her receiving letters he had written to her before he passed.

I think the reason why this was so hard to watch for me, was because I am married. I am sure it's sad for anyone, but I believe there is something slightly different in watching it when you think of your spouse in the place of Gerry. Plus I am an emotional girly sap. So the tears were a plenty.

If you feel like a good cry, and let's face it.. us girls sometimes do. This is the movie for you. It was very well acted and though some parts were slightly unbelievable, it was still great. Though it's mostly a drama, there are definite funny parts that will have you laughing out loud, through your tears of course.

Rent this one, but be prepared.

Caitlin

Brothers & Sisters

I have a severe problem when it comes to box-sets, once I start I can't stop. This does not bode well for my social life, but who needs a social life when I can pretend I am a Walker. Those of you who have seen this show know what I mean. I was hooked on this show right after the second episode aired.

Brothers & Sisters is the story of the Walker family and like any big family drama, laughter, tears, etc. all come with the package. There are seven people in my family so it makes it very easy to relate to the large Walker clan. No, my family is not as interesting, per say, as the Walkers but coming from a large family really makes me enjoy all the fighting and making up that goes on between the Walkers, it is strangely familiar.

I have watched season 1 twice and am now half way through my third viewing getting ready for the up coming 3rd season (Sun Sept. 28th). If you have not watched this show, I strongly recommend it. It has quickly become one on my favorite shows. I love the cast, even Calista Flockhart who some people don't enjoy shines on this show. The highest compliment I can give this show is to say that I would love to be a Walker or at the very least have them as my neighbors!

If you don't want to go out and catch up on the first two seasons (which you really should to get the full effect) then head on over to abc.com and at least watch the starter kit before the season premiere, which I know you will all now be watching. The Walkers are one family you will be glad to know.

-Eric

Prime

Prime is a comedy set in New York City. Rafi (Uma Thurman) is a recently divorced, 37-year-old career woman from Manhattan. David (Bryan Greenberg), a 23-year-old Jewish painter from the Upper West Side, falls in love with her. Rafi shares all her secrets with her therapist Lisa (Meryl Streep). Unbeknownst to Rafi, Lisa happens to be David's mother. And then the comedy ensues.

I love the feel of this movie. I feel like I am walking around with them, rather than watching it on a screen. This movie and not to mention it's soundtrack is fantastic. While it is only PG13 it has somewhat racy parts, so if that's not your cup of tea, I would skip this one.

Prime forces you to laugh out loud in parts, it also makes you aware of your emotions, and puts religion and dating into perspective and makes you contemplate how it would be.

My favorite part of this movie is the ending. It is simple and real. More movies should be this raw. It leaves you with my favorite song from the soundtrack which is "I Wish You Love": by Rachael Yamagata (listen to it here)

I recommend this movie more for the ladies than the men, but I still think a guy could be entertained by this, since it's not exactly a chick flick. I would also check this soundtrack out on ITUNES. Enjoy!

-Caitlin

21

You will have to forgive me on this one as I saw this movie many months ago when it came out in theaters, but since it came out on DVD this week I thought I would try to give it a proper review.

21 is about just what you think it is, the card game 21. Okay, so maybe there is a little more to it than that. The story here is about a group of college kids who are recruited to count cards and take the casinos for as much as they can. The kids start off by practicing at school then take their show on the road to Vegas for the weekends. All goes well until a firm hired by one of the casinos starts to notice the group and how much they are taking from the casino.

Without giving too much away things start to go downhill from here and the kids think they can drop their trusted tutor and keep more of the money they earn. Well that doesn't sit well with the tutor as you can very well imagine. So now not only do the kids have to worry about the security firm but there jilted tutor as well. This all leads to the climax of the movie, which I am not going to tell you about.

Overall 21 is a good, fun movie that is well worth a rental on these hot summer nights. Or to borrow a phrase from the movie "Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!" Yup that pretty much sums it up.

-Eric

Wanted

I saw Wanted this weekend and I have to say that I really liked it. I should also say that this movie earns it's R rating, so if that is a deterrent to you, consider yourself warned.

The thing I liked most about Wanted was it's dark sense of humor. For those of you who don't know, Wanted is about a fraternity of assassins led my Sloan, played by Morgan Freeman. When one of their top assassins is taken out by a rouge agent, they recruit the assassins son to track down the rouge agent. Wesley the son, played by James McAvoy, is at first hesitant to join the fraternity. But after some training and mentoring by Fox, played by Angelina Jolie, he reconsiders.

The cast really makes this movie, even if you are not a Jolie fan you can't not like her here. She just looks like she is having fun and fits the part of Fox to the letter. McAvoy is believable as an account manager turned assassin and holds his own, not only against Jolie but against Freeman as well, and is the true star of this movie. This may be because his character is so easy to relate too that you just can't help root for him.

Like I stated previously this movies earns its R rating mainly through violence and language, but if that doesn't bother you then you will be sure to enjoy Wanted. Overall Grade: B+

Eric