Arrested Development - Season One (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT's rocky history is well known. Loved by critics and its fans, it fought to find an audience, and its final season was a short affair. However, the ride from the shows premier (included uncensored and expanded along with the aired version) to its conclusion (and, YES, it has a conclusion) is hilarious and worth many returns. There are so many jokes and resonating gags that multiple viewings are REQUIRED, but your first visit to the world of the spoiled Bluth family will be a reward for unfamiliar viewers.
Here are three seasons of laughs. The series begins with the arrest of the Bluth patriarch and continues as the clan's only responsible member, Michael (portrayed by Jason Bateman), tries to keep the family's business afloat while his mother, siblings, and other family members selfishly grab for every freebie and dollar. His mother, Lucille, is a cold, controlling alcoholic whose loyalty to her family keeps her one step from pure villainy. His siblings include an older brother, Gob, a magician (of little skill), a younger brother, Buster, a mama's boy who eventually loses a body part to a nasty seal, and a sister whose marriage is ... complicated. Throw in a long-suffering son infatuated with his cousin and an uncle who is the twin of his father, and you can see how complicated Michael's life becomes.
Not your average family, not your average TV comedy (this is NOT a sitcom performed live in front of a studio audience but is filmed more like a documentary with the camera floating around like an unseen voyeur -- think the old comedy series SOAP updated a la THE OFFICE). The jokes come fast and furious. It's all absurd and incredibly entertaining.
For the record, the series is presented widescreen, and there are deleted scenes and audio commentaries for selected episodes. To tell you the truth, I haven't even skimmed these extras, but I have watched the series in its entirety far too many times to disclose without embarrassing myself. It's too bad that ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT didn't achieve the ratings necessary to keep it afloat, but it has more laughs than comedies that lasted twice as long.

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Extract (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been waiting or this movie. Loved Office Space, even really enjoyed Idiocracy. I heard some mixed reviews which tempered my expectations, but even so, this was a disappointing and very uneven movie.
Jason Bateman plays his straight-laced, deadpan comedy to the hilt, much as he did in Arrested Development. He is Joel, the owner of a factory employing a real assortment of underachieving, funny characters. With an offer from General Mills to buy the plant and make him rich, Joel looks forward to early retirement. On the home front, he is a sexually frustrated husband with an unreceptive wife and an unrelentingly dull neighbor.
With moments of genius, the movie was also dragged down by some poor realization of comedic potential. Kristin Wiig, a funny and versatile comedienne, is wasted as the housewife, and although she certainly has enough scenes, the writing doesn't allow her to perform.
The various subplots didn't mesh as well as I expected. Instead of a complete tale, this felt like a few sitcom episodes woven together.
That said, there are some great scenes. You will never think about call-waiting again. The personal injury lawyer is fantastic. Ben Affleck does a fine job as the slacker friend.
In retrospect, this is a rental. I wouldn't choose to pay theater prices for this film.

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The creator of Office Space, writer-director Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-head), moves from cubicles to the assembly line with Extract-- his outrageous return to workplace comedy, featuring a hilarious ensemble cast of quirky characters. About to sell his successful flavor extract company, life is almost sweet for Joel (Jason Bateman) until a freak on-the-job accident happens. Add to that his bored wife (Kristen Wiig), his laid-back, stoner best friend (Ben Affleck), a sexy con artist (Mila Kunis) who blows into town with dollar signs in her bedroom eyes, and a dumb gigolo and life as he knows it turns sour. Filled with laugh-out-loud one-liners and raunchy comedy, Extract is 100% pure hilarity.Bonus Features include: Mike Judge's Secret Recipe Featurette The Ingredients For A Classic Mike Judge Film

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Little House on the Prairie - The Complete Season 8 (1974) Review

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(More customer reviews)First, please let me say that MICHAEL LANDON WAS A GENIUS, without him there would not be this series.
"Little House On The Prairie" Season Eight was the final year of the traditional series; Season 9 and the following TV movies revolved around the new(er) cast after Charles and his family moved to the city. As a result, most fans of this beloved program consider this to be the final season and the best of this long running family friendly dramatic program.
Mary and Adam move to New York in season eight and return for a Christmas visit with the entire family in the Ingallses little house. Nellie also moves and Mrs. Oleson adopts a new daughter who is even more warped (believe it or not) than Nellie ever was. Cassandra and James' uncle strikes it big and tries to steal his niece and nephew away from Charles and Caroline on the eve of their legal adoption. Caroline teaches Laura's class a very humanitarian lesson when Almonzo is away. ...These, and many more classic eps are just waiting to be viewed from Season 8!
Here is a detailed list of ever episode from Season 8:
The Reincarnation of Nellie (part 1) (October 5, 1981)
Percival and Nellie move New York so that Percival can run the family business. The Olesons decide adopt a girl named Nancy who is even more spoiled than Nellie ever was. Suffice it to say, Mrs. Oleson falls in love with her new adopted daughter.
The Reincarnation of Nellie (part 2) (October 5, 1981)
Coincidentally (because Nellie moved there in the previous episode), Adam and Mary move to New York at the beginning of the episode. Where Nellie was simply a spoiled brat, Nancy proves to be a demented creature hell-bent on causing trouble. With the help of Albert and Willie, Mrs. Wilder's students devise a plan to teach this monster a lesson.
Growin' Pains (October 12, 1981)
The entire Ingalls home is in disarray with all of the children living under one (small) roof. Albert is especially annoyed, especially with James. Charles takes the time to remind him that Laura and Carrie never made him feel unwelcome when he first came to live with them. James runs away because he feels he won't be missed. Albert goes after him and the brothers learn to get along before they come back home.
Dark Sage (October 26, 1981)
Dr. Baker gets a new associate, Dr. Caleb Ledoux. Dr. Ledoux finds that the town of Walnut Grove could use a lesson in tolerance, especially his new associate Dr. Baker. A women in labor needs immediate medical attention and her bigoted husband refuses to allow Dr. Ledoux to help her because he is African-American. Charles has to punch the ignorant bigot out so that his wife can get proper medical attention. In the end, Dr. Baker sees his mistakes and Dr. Ledoux agrees to stay in town.
A Wiser Heart (November 2, 1981)
Laura meets up with her sister-in-law, Eliza Jane at a literary conference in Arizona. The ladies get in a nasty fight because Eliza Jane thinks that Laura is keeping her from their teacher who Eliza has a crush on. Come to find out, the teacher wants to get closer to Laura who doesn't want to have any part of him. There's also a couple of funny scenes when Laura took a part-time job as a dishwasher (Leslie Landon-Etta Plum in season 9 - Michael Landon's daughter has a cameo as another dishwasher).
Gambini The Great (November 9, 1981)
Charles and Nels worry about the dangers of emulating a traveling circus performer who comes to Walnut Grove.
The Legend of Black Jake (November 16, 1981)
Although not one of my favorites, this episode is sort-of a screwball episode. It was not the usual drama; it was more humorous. Crooks come to town and kidnap Mr. Oleson trying to get Mrs. Oleson to pay ransom. They also kidnap several other people but leave town without hurting anyone.
Chicago (November 23, 1981)
Charles goes to Chicago to be with Mr. Edwards (a longtime Ingalls family friend, since the original pilot movie) because his adopted son John, Jr., died. The cause of John, Jr.'s death was a mystery and Charles and Mr. Edwards enlist the help of the newspaper that John worked for.
For The Love of Nancy (November 30, 1981)
Mean-spirited Nancy is at her most devilish in this episode. Elmer, an overweight schoolmate takes a liking to Nancy and foolishly thinks she befriended him. Elmer learns a priceless lesson in self-respect.
Wave of the Future (December 7, 1981)
Mrs. Oleson buys into a restaurant franchise causing Hester-Sue and Caroline to nearly quit because of all the extra work.
A Christmas They Never Forgot (December 21, 1981)
The entire Ingalls family, including Laura, Almonzo, Adam, Mary and Hester-Sue recall past Christmas memories around the Ingalls table. This is also Mary and Adam's final appearance.
No Beast So Fierce (January 4, 1982)
James makes friends with Gideon Hale, a schoolmate that stutters. There are hurt feelings when Gideon overhears James cruelly making fun of him. A wolf that follows James and Charles on a delivery trip may hold the key for bringing Gideon out of his shell.
Stone Soup (January 18, 1982)
Laura finds that balancing her career and managing Almonzo's orchard, while he and Charles are gone on a delivery trip to Arizona, too much to handle.
The Legacy (January 25, 1982)
The original episode shows a modern scene (from the 1980's) with a flashback to this episode. Charles beings making tables so that he could pass on a legacy. Charles soon realizes that memories of his family is a lot more important.
Uncle Jed (February 1, 1982)
Uncle Jed comes into a lot of money (he struck gold) and comes to claim his estranged niece and nephew. A court battle ensues with Jed telling Charles that he will never win.
Second Chance (February 8, 1982)
Hester-Sue's ex-husband comes to town trying to win her back. She reluctantly agrees to trust him again only to be let down.
Days of Sunshine, Days of Shadow (1) (February 15, 1982)
The Wilders' marriage is put to its first major test when Almonzo, soon after recovering from an illness, is stricken by a stroke. This was a ninety minute episode.
Days of Sunshine, Days of Shadow (2) (February 22, 1982)
Almonzo, bitter at his apparent life-crippling illness, nearly gives up on life, despite the birth of little Rose. His attitude nearly drives Laura to consider leaving her husband. A tornado that destroys the farmstead may hold the key to both of their futures.
A Promise To Keep (March 1, 1982)
Mr. Edwards comes back to Walnut Grove for good because Grace divorces him (he started drinking again and she and Alicia did not want to have anything to do with him). Mr. Edwards' longtime friendship with Charles is put to the test when Mr. Edwards risks Albert's safety while he's drunk.
A Faraway Cry (March 8, 1982)
A longtime friend of Caroline writes to her and asks for help. Her friend is pregnant and lives at a gold prospector's camp where there is an outbreak of influenza. With Dr. Baker's help, Caroline agrees to go because she knows that her dear friend wouldn't ask if she wasn't in need of dire assistance.
He Was Only Twelve (1) (May 3, 1982)
James joins Charles, Albert and Mr. Edwards as they travel to Sleepy Eye for a delivery. James is shot in a store robbery and goes into a coma.
He Was Only Twelve (2) (May 10, 1982)
When everyone has given up on poor James, Charles keeps his faith and hopes for the best. This is the final episode of "Little House On The Prairie" before it was renamed to "Little House: A New Beginning." This is also the last episode with the core cast of Charles and Caroline and their children, because they move away in the next season.

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Best known for its life-affirming lessons and heartwarming adventures, "LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE" made its TV debut in 1974 and significantly altered the landscape of television. Loyal fans will relive these exciting and touching adventures, while new viewers will discover the Ingalls’ unconquerable courage to build a new way of life. The series, nominated for 17 Emmy Awards and 3 Golden Globes, has become a TV milestone. The Complete Eighth Season – 1981-1982 -Nellie and Percival must move to New York and the Oleson’s adopt Nancy - Dr. Ledoux moves to Walnut Grove and proves, beyond a doubt, that he deserves the community’s respect – Charles and Nels become concerned when the children of the town are influenced by a daredevil to attempt dangerous stunts - Mr. Edwards loses his son and enlists the aid of Charles to investigate the real circumstances behind his death – The Ingalls and the Wilders share cherished memories when they are snowed in at Christmas – Charles and Caroline risk losing James and Cassandra when an uncle files for custody of the children – Laura and Almanzo’s budding marriage faces serious difficulties following Almanzo’sterrible stroke -When James is shot and lapses into a coma, Charles turns to his faith in order to save his adopted son- These and many other exciting adventures from the entire eighth season are presented in this Special Collector’s Edition! Special Features:Exclusive interviews with Dean Butler (Almanzo Wilder) and Dabbs Greer (Reverend Alden)Laura’s Long Winters, an exclusive documentary describing the hardship of a prairie winter, Interactive Quiz: Test your knowledge of Season 8, - This Special Collector’s Edition has been restored using state-of-the-art color correction, picture enhancement and noise reduction technologies.

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Teen Wolf & Teen Wolf Too (1987) Review

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(More customer reviews)This DVD is a disgrace to the epic masterpiece that is "Teen Wolf." I grew up watching this movie every other day on a scratchy old VHS we taped off of network TV. My brothers and I memorized nearly every line. It's humorous, eccentric, sentimental; a freakin' great movie.
"Teen Wolf Too," on the other hand, should never have existed. It is shameful that instead of loading this disc with extras from the original movie (it would have been great to see some of those scenes shot for TV, or even some commentary and outtakes), they put the ... retread sequel on here, whose first and greatest sin is that it is without Michael J. Fox.
I love the original "Teen Wolf" and the DVD is worth buying just to get a good version of it, but it deserved better treatment. Much, much better. Whoever is responsible for this should be ashamed of themselves.

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Juno (Single-Disc Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)Teenage pregnancy is frequently a starting point for myriad philosophical arguments: some see it as a major problem, some see it as an argument for the need of early teaching of contraceptive technique and sex education, some see it as a reason for championing abortion, and some see it as a piece of life that confronts families in both positive and negative ways. JUNO is a beautifully written (Diablo Cody) and directed (Jason Reitman) version of unplanned pregnancy offered by a splendid ensemble cast: it is a movie that could modify the sociologic outlook of many people in a very strong fashion.
Juno (Ellen Page) is sixteen and talks her best friend Bleek (Michael Cera) into having sex: the result is a surprise pregnancy that Juno shares with her girlfriend Leah (Olivia Thirley) and the store clerk Rollo (Rainn Wilson) even before informing Bleek, a likable kid who seems fairly flat about the situation. After discarding abortion as a viable solution, Juno informs her father (JK Simmons) and stepmother (Allison Janney) of her status, and tells them she is going to complete the pregnancy and give the baby to some loving and needy barren couple. Her parents are at first flustered by the news, but quickly become supportive in a way that tells us many things about the durability of successful families. With Leah's help, Juno answers an ad for 'wanted: baby' in PennySaver and visits the Lorings (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman) who desperately want a child and embrace Juno's gesture of adoption with eager excitement. The remainder of the film follows Juno as her abdomen increases in girth, finding new respect for her parents and for Bleek, and inadvertently walking in the troubled waters of the Loring's marital discord. Without giving the story away, the ending is so tender and free of cliché that it allows us, the audience, to appreciate all the vigor and sensitivity and humor and warmth of Juno - an example of developing maturity that is a fresh breeze compared to the usual teenage movies.
Ellen Page does indeed deliver a pitch perfect performance, but her co-stars are equally fine: Simmons and Janney break away from their usual type cast roles brilliantly, and the other members of the cast (the entire cast) flesh out this well written story with great skill. The mixture of animated graphics and the imaginative musical score enhance the flavor of the tale. JUNO offers an unbiased look at the topic of teenage pregnancy and wins on every level. Grady Harp, April 08

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Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) is a cool, confident teenager who takes a nine-month detour into adulthood when she's faced with an unplanned pregnancy-and sets out to find the perfect parents for her baby. With the help of her charmingly unassuming boyfriend (Michael Cera), supportive dad (J.K Simmons) and no-nonsense stepmom (Allison Janney), Juno sets her sights on an affluent couple (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman) longing to adopt their first child.

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Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)What speaks volumes about the overall quality of this movie is that it was released in only half a dozen movie theaters nationwide, and grossed less than 20k at the box office.
At best it's an average movie with no quality acting, which reflects the fact that only 5% of voters on Rotten Tomatoes actually enjoyed it. The complications that arise with our main character as the movie progresses are predictable, as is the "twist" that occurs at the film's conclusion.
The biggest mystery of this film is how they were able to land Michael Douglas on the cast. Douglas has virtually no real screen time in this movie, which is a major disappointment for those of us who enjoyed his work in movies like King of California, Wall Street and Basic Instinct. No need to wait for the jury to return to the courtoom; my verdict is that it's not worth even a Redbox rental.

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High profile lawyer, Martin Hunter (Michael Douglas) has an impeccable record putting criminals behind bars and is a shoo-in for governor in the upcoming election. But when ambitious rookie journalist, C.J. Nicholas (Jesse Metcalfe) begins investigating Hunter for tampering with evidence to secure his convictions, the district attorney’s perfect record is up for scrutiny. Commencing a risky game of cat and mouse with Hunter, C.J. frames himself as a murder suspect to catch the corrupt D.A. in the act. Stills from Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (Click for larger image)

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Up in the Air Review

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(More customer reviews)As someone who has both laid off staff and a year later, became the victim of a layoff after twelve years with the same company, I had a personal interest in seeing how director/co-screenwriter Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking, Juno) was going to adapt Walter Kirn's smart, unsettling 2001 novel. Even though eight years have elapsed since the book's publication, the filmmaker - along with co-writer Sheldon Turner - manages to deepen Kirn's themes in this wry, emotionally resonant 2009 dramedy and make them even more relevant with the pervasive downsizing of corporate America. The movie also manages to surprise even when certain plot turns seem evident before they occur. Initially, there is a veneer of cynicism that makes you think the story will be an abject lesson in the impermanence of life, but instead, it evolves into one man's journey into the heart of the emotional turbulence he had been careful to avoid. Toward that end, Reitman seems to be inspired by Alexander Payne's equally perceptive road movies, About Schmidt and Sideways, films that reflect a similar storytelling style.
The plot focuses on laser-sharp corporate layoff consultant Ryan Bingham, a man who regales in the impermanence of life by traveling 322 days on the road, informing targeted employees that they are about to lose their jobs. There is a necessary callousness in his approach, but he knows it's necessary to be present and honest when it comes to conveying the unpleasant news. Bingham is also a motivational speaker who espouses unburdening one's life of possessions and fitting everything essential within the confines of a backpack. Proving his case, he lives in hotels, airplanes, and airport terminals with his one life goal being the seventh person to collect ten million frequent-flier miles. If you can get past the Spartan one-bedroom apartment he keeps in Omaha for the 43 days he is forced to be at home, the hatchet man appears to lead a charmed if rather solitary life. Complications, however, ensue on both personal and professional fronts.
Bingham meets a fellow transient traveler named Alex Goran in an airport lounge and assesses that he may have found his soul-mate, so much so that he invites her to come to his estranged sister's wedding in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Bingham's boss wants to introduce a new strategy proposed by a fresh-faced, post-grad school upstart. New hire Natalie Keener suggests using remote teleconferencing to perform the layoff notifications. Since the new technology is the antithesis of Bingham's one-on-one method, he brings Natalie along on the road to show her how it can't possibly work. In a role that feels custom-tailored to all his strengths, George Clooney plays Bingham with an emotional precision that complements his charismatic persona which pivots between swaggering and self-effacing. On one hand, it's his most definitive movie-star role, and yet Clooney has never revealed as much about himself onscreen.
The always watchable Vera Farmiga (The Departed, Down to the Bone) is sexy and confident as the woman who seems perfect for Bingham, even though their adroit compatibility could not possibly sustain an actual commitment. Their interplay is fun to watch because there is a Cary Grant-Rosalind Russell-level rapport that keeps both on their toes. Anna Kendrick (Twilight) is winning as Natalie even if her character's naiveté feels a bit manufactured at times. Jason Bateman has a field day playing Bingham's smarmy boss, while Amy Morton, Melanie Lynskey, and Danny McBride (Pineapple Express) plays their accustomed types with aplomb as members of Bingham's immediate family. In cameos, J.K. Simmons (Juno) and Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover) sharply play two of the victimized employees, but for the rest, Reitman uses non-actors replaying their recent experiences of getting laid off. As usual with Reitman's films, it boasts an eclectic soundtrack that works really well with the storyline.

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Ryan Bingham (Academy Award® winner* George Clooney) is truly living the high life. Flying all over the world on business, he never stops moving...until he meets Alex, a fellow passenger and learns that life isn’t about the journey, but the connections we make along the way. Acclaimed by critics and audiences everywhere and included in over 200 top 10 lists, "Up in the Air is light and dark, hilarious and tragic, bouncy and brainy, romantic and real."*- Owen Gleiberman, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

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