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.

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.

Random Reviews

Since it has been awhile since we have updated the site, I thought I would give a few quick reviews on some of the TV shows and movies I have seen lately.

• Castle-Mondays on ABC

Castle is your basic cop/forensic/investigative show. The twist here is that a popular crime novelist/single father is working with a female detective of the NYPD. The reason why, we are told in the first episode, is because the mayor is a big fan of Castle (the writer) and allows him to help on a case that resembles a scene from his book. After helping solve the case the experience allows Castle to break his writers block, thus leading him to a full time consultant role in the department. The show is somewhat predictable but there are enough differences from the other cop like shows to keep you interested. Overall not a bad show and the cast makes it a little bit better, especially the smaller characters.

• Better Off Ted-Wednesdays on ABC

This half hour comedy is pretty funny and anyone who has ever worked for a big, heartless corporation can relate. It follows the staff of a big multi-interested corporation and the people who work in its research and development group. There a plenty of laughs to be had and the show moves at a brisk pace and the characters are all likable enough, even the boss lady, who you love to hate but love at the same time. If you need a laugh to break up your week Better Off Ted isn't a bad choice.

• Rachael Getting Married-Now on DVD

I wanted to like this movie because I like Anne Hathaway and was interested to see her in a more grown up role. Sadly the movie takes itself way to seriously and it was just boring and dull. Sure Anne Hathaway does a good job and makes you believe that her character has issues, but in the end the movie takes too long to get its point across. Some of the scenes here just went on and on for what seemed like an eternity and it just felt weird and forced. I found myself checking how much time was left every 10 minutes, which felt more like 30 minutes.

• Twilight-Now on DVD

Okay I didn't watch this last one since it has been out on DVD, but have heard way too many times during the last week that it was now out on video and thought I would provide my opinion once again. Worst vampire movie ever!! Sparkly vampires are not scary nor something to be scarred of. I know that a lot of people enjoyed this movie but I just don't get it. Its not well made or well acted and doesn't have any redeeming quality that I can recall. To those of you who enjoyed the movie, good for you! Just don't ask me to sit through it again...ever!

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...

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

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

Red Eye

This weekend my husband and I rented this movie. I had seen it, he had not. I have to say this a great popcorn muncher. A movie that doesn't require much thinking, has sort of cheesy dialogue, but doesn't disappoint in the entertainment department.

Red Eye stars Cillian Murphy (one of my favorite bad guys) and Rachel McAdams. Directed by Wes Craven (think "Scream") This movie takes place mainly on an airplane. McAdams plays a hotel manager ensnared in an assassination plot by Cillian Murphy (we found out that it's pronounced Killian thanks to Eric) while on a red eye flight to Miami.

This 2005 thriller film will keep you on the edge of your seat. It's pretty intense, but nothing too bad. I think I liked it so much because I like Murphy and McAdams. But if you're like me and don't like the scariest or creepiest of movies, this one should suit you nicely. It's a good movie to rent if you want a little excitement.

- Caitlin

The Core

Okay, I have another confession; I love disaster movies! Armageddon, Deep Impact, Dante's Peak, Volcano, The Day After Tomorrow, well you get the point. So I am sure that it comes as no surprise that I saw The Core when it came out a few years back. It may surprise you that I didn't really like it then. Well a few nights ago it was on TV and since it is summer and my Tivo is oh so lonely I thought I would give The Core another shot.

Was it any better the second time around? Well no. But I did enjoy it much more this time. Why you may ask? Well the plot is just so crazy and cheesy that you can't help but laugh at what it is. I mean come on, the core of the planet is dying causing the electromagnetic field that surrounds the earth, and protects it from cosmic rays, to fail. This also leads to one of the funniest moments in the movie. Since the EM field has failed, birds internal navigation is all askew and this causes said birds to dive bomb people, buses, cars, buildings! Who knew that pigeons would be so destructive! Oh and don't forget the killer lightning, cosmic rays that can melt the Golden Gate bridge but not a Chevy and so on and so forth. Now this all happens relatively early in the movie. Yes it all happens very quickly, because we have to take our next journey into The Core.

The movie tries to make you believe that the technology exists that can allow a ship and its crew to travel safely to the center of the Earth. This is a little bit harder for me to believe then say blowing up an asteroid with a missile, that at least sounds plausible. But since this is a disaster movie, oh and is it a disaster, I will forgive the movie for its lapses here. So onto the center of the earth. Things happen along the way that delay our trusty crew (Hello giant crystal block thingy!) and of course the crew members have to turn on each other, then make up shortly before the bombs that they have placed in the core to restart it go off. We are then left with two crew members that have to out run the bomb blast, after converting the ship to run on thermal power, and make it back to the surface.

Will they make it? Will their story ever be told? Duh! Of course they do and of course it is. Should you watch said story? Only if you are bored or want to watch a really lame movie. Now to be fair if you go in knowing that is going to be bad it is much funnier then any disaster movie should be. Just don't tell the movie that you are laughing at it! Because those pigeons are still out there just waiting...

-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