Movie | Nanny McPhee Returns | Pass

Kids' movies need to be magical and this one is. The plot is a bit messy and the action can drag a bit at times, but the cast is just a knockout and the production as well. Among many special cameos, there's Sinead Matthews from Ideal. Plenty of fun to be had and as good as the first one. Also known as Nanny McPhee and The Big Bang in the UK. A Pass.

Movie | Zoku Sanshiro Sugata | Pass

This sequel to Sanshiro Sugata gets panned by critics and fans alike, but I happened to like it. I loved how the beginning is the same as the original and I like seeing the continuation of the story. I give it a Pass.

Movie | Gone Baby Gone | Pass

Awful and gruesome premise of a child abduction don't remove the fact that this a different and superbly done film noir set in modern Boston. The acting is really marvelous, though Monaghan's character is disappointingly underdeveloped. Amy Ryan steals the show. I'd only seen her in The Office and she's a heck of an actor. A Pass, if you have the stomach for it.

TV | Boardwalk Empire | Fail

Hoowhee...somebody woke up on the grandiose side of the bed! Buscemi is his usual spectacular self, but this drama about the start of Atlantic City and the associated corruption was boring. It never seemed to turning the corner and present any surprises. I suppose if you're fascinated by prohibition, then this one might be for you. But, for me, it was a Fail because it never caught my imagination.

TV | Californication | Fail

Lots of sex don't make things interesting (yeah, I know that's the premise) about a guy with writer's block in LA. Everything is in place for a good show, but things never seem to spark. A Fail.

Movie | The Winning Season | Pass

Another retelling of The Bad News Bears (and similar movies). This one centers on the coach, a down on his luck loser who can't deal with a single aspect of his life with any success. Still, this one was a lot of fun in in a predictable way. Lots of foul language, so not for the younger set. A Pass.

Movie | Sanshiro Sugata | Pass

Also known as The Judo Saga, that's exactly what you're going to get - a movie about the beginning of that marvelous martial art set in Samurai Japan. You don't get better than Kurosawa, so why haven't you seen this yet?!? Yes, it's slow and the overly dramatic acting can seem dated, but it's still fantastic. I've seen this many times and enjoyed seeing it again - a Pass!

Movie | Cyrus | Fail

A good cast and cool indie feel just can't save what is a dreadful plot in the end. Thoroughly unsatisfying and yet strangely compelling to watch. We just ended up staring blankly at the screen when the credits rolled and then turned to each other and said, "Yeah, but why?"

Maybe it would have been a Pass if it had a more satisfying conclusion. Regardless, it was a Fail (but not a strong Fail).

TV | Dead Set | PASS

If you've been shuffling around and groaning a lot because you can't wait for the next season of The Walking Dead...your moans have been answered!

Imagine a show going on concurrently to that show (but in reality predates it - I wonder if The Walking Dead folks watched this?), but set in England. This time, it's a group of people inside and outside a Big Brother TV show set (thus, the name). Don't worry, there isn't a lot of focus on the uber-annoying, genre-defining show itself. Instead, it's all about the people and their struggle with the zombie apocalypse.

Great, great, great and gory, gory, gory! Like I said, if you liked The Walking Dead, you're gonna love this one! By the guy that did Brass Eye (which I didn't love) and Nathan Barley (which was alright).

A keeper (and not a huge time investment) and a Pass! Braaaaaiiinnnnssss.....

TV | Modern Family | Pass

Super fun sitcom that hits a lot of funny bone moments. I originally thought the show was stupid, but that's because I'd only seen bits and pieces of show. Out of context, the show offers nothing. But viewing each episode as a whole makes it all work. The characters are notably nice to each other and support each other no matter what, which is refreshing. A Pass!

Movie | The First Men In The Moon | Pass

Continuing the Moon theme, this is another enjoyable HG Wells adaptation. This one is low-budget and originally made for TV, but still fun and a Pass! A must for all steampunks.

Movie | Despicable Me | PASS

Hugely enjoyable movie about a super-villain that wants to steal the moon. Basically, a more kid-friendly Igor and well worth watching. You'd have to be a super-bore not to have a great time with this flick! A Super PASS!

Helpful Hint: The Unicorn Song, from the soundtrack, is possibly the best song to hit the heavy bag or lift weights to, ever.

Helpful Tip | How To Zombie-proof Your Car | Pass

Movie | The Last King of Scotland | Pass

Epic set in the 70s about a young doctor who becomes entwined with a Uganda dictator...and what did you think would happen? Yep, bad stuff! Still, a superb cast including James McAvoy and Forest Whitaker and superbly shot. If you're up for it, a Pass.

Movie | Special | Pass

Superb indie about a man who lives a dreary life. So, he decides to sign up for a drug testing program. Suddenly, he has superpowers...or does he?

This isn't particularly a feel good movie, but it's very well done given the budget. Excellent cast and great music make this one a definite Pass! See also Defendor, which this movie is sort of a reverse version of.

Movie | The Invasion | Fail

 Joyless remake of The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. None of the roles were good for the actors' careers, but Craig in particular bothered me. It felt as if the air was being sucked out of the room when he was onscreen. I guess I'm just not a big fan of his.

Still, I watched the entire thing. So it wasn't a horrible Fail, juuuuust weak enough not to be a Pass (the final action sequences almost save it).

GREAT movie poster, though!

Movie | Trucker | Pass

Well done character study of a young woman who drives a semi for a living. As usual, life throws her some curve balls, which she has to deal with. The drama is realistic and rather depressing, but the actors really pour a lot of life into each scene.

The acting is notably good. Monaghan, Fillion and (even with minimal screen time) Bratt are so full of onscreen charisma... It was particularly fun to watch Bennett, whom we know from the fun TV show No Ordinary Family.

Well done, but not an upper - Pass.

TV | The Dresden Files | Pass

Magic is goofy. It just comes across as nerdy and dorky onscreen. Rarely can it be truly magical. Still, this was a fun show for lasting only one season. It would have been interesting to see where they went with it. The cast is quite good and they modernized it by making it more gruesome. The plots and dialogue avoid being too ridiculous and stay pretty entertaining.

Had promise, but killed before it could develop. Firefly, anyone? A Pass and worth a DVD rental if the subject doesn't turn you off.

Movie | Finishing The Game | Fail

Unfunny, but mildly (very mildly) entertaining mocumentary about the search for an actor to replace the deceased Bruce Lee in The Game of Death. For aspiring filmmakers, Bruce Lee fans and Kung Fu Theater fans only, this gets a fail because it's a comedy but there are no laughs. Some cool cameos, though, including James Franco.

Movie | Rebel Truce: The History of The Clash | Pass

Required viewing for any punk or rock aficionado. My only complaint is that surely they could have found footage of The Clash performing that synced up to music they actually played in the documentary. Bizarrely, they kept replaying the same footage that wasn't the song. Still great, though.

Movie | You Kill Me | Pass

Weak but passable tale of an alcoholic hitman sent to rehab in SF. Underutilized, good cast slightly marred by Kingsley's horrible fake accent (he's great, though, otherwise). The tag line on the poster (above) is not accurate. You will NOT die laughing...

Movie | Eat Pray Love | Fail

Robert's character is completely unlikable in this (what is basically a) travelogue. Makes you want to visit those places, but you sure don't want to spend any time with her! What a whiner. And she couldn't have been any more self involved. Blech.