TV | The Firm | PASS

The surprising backlash over this show shocked us. Seems that folks don't want a sophisticated, serious show that requires a lot of attention and displays complex, positive relationships between the main characters. That's too bad, because this is a knockout show and far, FAR superior to the 1993 film. The morons at the network did what they always do, kill it by moving it to a dead spot on the schedule and then pull it before its time. And, yes, it's been cancelled. It's too bad a cable network doesn't pick it up.

The cast is massively (the modern) Battlestar Galactica old home week. That's a GREAT thing!

Great show. Catch it when it comes out on DVD.

Update: About four episodes from the end, the show wraps up a major plot line. Stop there. It tanks after that and the only thing we were left with was irritation and the feeling that the script changed dramatically and then became nearly unwatchable.

Movie | Training Day | Pass

Interesting fictional exploration of how power corrupts.

Movie | Colin | Fail

An interesting concept didn't make this an interesting zombie movie. Shaky POV camerawork just sealed the deal. And, no, that's not John Bon Jovi in the movie poster. For true zombie fanatics only and be prepared for a downer.

Movie | Species | Fail

What a disaster! Despite a good/great cast, this movie was just tragic. It was so bad, it made the actors look really poor. They made more of these?!?

Movie | Layer Cake | PASS

Any movie that starts out with the song "Hayling" by FC Kahuna is going to catch my attention right quick. This was a superb crime drama thriller and I loved it! While I'm still not the world's biggest Daniel Craig fan, he was really great in this. The only thing I didn't like is that there wasn't much of a role for the stellar Tom Hardy. Same director as the marvelous Kick-Ass and Stardust and featuring a killer soundtrack. A definite keeper!

Movie | The Gate | Pass

Fun, super cheesy 80s ripoff of Poltergeist, with a bit of The Evil Dead thrown in, starring a 12 year old Stephen Dorff in his debut role. He was good and the movie was fun for what it was.

TV | Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt | Pass-ish

They need to stop being so slavish to the patter of the original novels (horrifically annoying and makes you question whether or not the actors can act) and get better writers (confusing, disjointed and not satisfying) or they need to quit making Jesse Stone TV movies. And Stone can't be that depressed and hook up with every hot chick that saunters by. This installment (number eight!?) sure felt like a setup for another, though Selleck says its the last. We'll see. If they do make another, I'm sure we'll watch that one too.

Movie | Closet Cases Of The Nerd Kind | PASS

This is really a short (about 10 minutes in length) and as brilliant as its contemporaries; Hardware Wars, Bambi Meets Godzilla and Porklips Now (all are a definite PASS!). Just fantastic stuff and sadly hard to see. I haven't seen it for years, but I found it again on Youtube. If you move fast, you might be able to also before it gets yanked for copyright reasons. And, yes, that is Darth Vader on a motorcycle pointing at you. He's saying, "See this movie!"

Food | Hokey-pokey Ice Cream | ?

A flavor native to New Zealand and Australia, hokey-pokey is vanilla ice cream with toffee bits in it. While we certainly have similar options here in the States, I wonder if it tastes significantly different? I want to try it!

TV | Outlaw Empires | Pass

Everything Kurt Sutter touches turns to gold, but I'm just not that interested in the subject of this documentary show about gangs and organized crime. Still, very well done and if anyone can make this subject more interesting, he can.

Movie | Edge of Darkness | Pass

I'm going to see any movie with Ray Winstone and Danny Huston, that's for sure. This one, starring Mel Gibson, who is always good, was alright. The mystery was fairly intriguing, but I thought The Killing was far better, more interesting and had tons more ambiance. Still, this is a thriller worth seeing.

People | Donna Summer | RIP

SO much more than Disco, one of the greatest musicians and performers of our time has left us. She will be missed! Time to dig out the old records and pump up her last, Crayons! Viva la Donna!

Movie | The Yards | Fail

I watched the whole thing, but it sure was boring.

TV | Common Law | Fail

Nothing original to see here, move along, move along...they're a couple of loose cannons!!!! Despite the charisma of Michael Ealy and good production values, there's nothing new in this cop/buddy/action television show. The hook is that the two police partners bicker like an old married couple - fun!

Movie | Dreamcatcher | Pass-ish

Slither (which was funnier in a campy sort of way) meets Stand By Me. The repetition of themes that have been a staple of Stephen King's books turned me off a bit. The cast was spectacular (if pretty much wasted), but couldn't really save the thing. It ended up clunking along, never satisfying. Still, Wahlberg's performance was really something rather surprising. And I like Damian Lewis so much, that I actually enjoyed watching him. But, I can see how some folks would find his performance bothersome.

Mystery Movie Contest Rules

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The Rules

1. You must list the title of the movie
2. A description and your opinion of the film is not required, but encouraged
3. You do not need to specify the year of release, unless noted
4. Requesting another picture (to see another angle, scene or character) is perfectly acceptable
5. No movies that were not release in a major way (theater, DVD, etc.)
6. If you are the first person to guess, but are incorrect, you will receive half of a point (.5)
7. Determined by The House, a reasonable amount of time will be allowed for players to make a guess (a good chunk of one day). After that time, The House wins the point
8. You are allowed ONE guess. Well, you can guess as many times as you want, but your first one is the only one that counts
9. NO image search tools are allowed. This is a contest of knowledge. But, if you have an inkling of what it is, you ARE allowed to search for information in any media desired (internet, books, friends and relatives)
10. You ARE allowed to speak of Mystery Movie (this ain't no Fight Club)
11. Don't say, "I knew that one, are you guys impressed?" after the answer has been revealed. You didn't and we aren't.
12. Anybody suspected of cheating will have their guess disqualified and the scorn of the cinemaniac universe
13. Guest Mystery Movies preclude The House. The guest poster assumes that role, so The House cannot score a point
14. The official Mystery Movie theme song is "Cracked Actor" by David Bowie
15. Inactive players may occasionally lose a point to allow other players who are active more of a chance to advance to a higher position on the leader board. This is at the discretion of "The House" and can be contested by said players, who may also regain their position by not being so darn lazy and playing the game
16. The House is not eligible for a Firsty or Efforty half-point, only a Winner full point.
17. Whichever player is at the top of the board is not eligible for a Firsty or Efforty half-point, only a Winner full point. This is so that other players have more of a chance to compete for the top spot.

Movie | Invaders From Mars (1953) | Pass

Actually a tad better than the remake. The plot and direction are tighter, though the very ending is a bit mystifying - was it all a dream or is it Groundhog Day? The effects are hilarious, especially the stuff that runs backwards and the repetition of scenes. Still, this is a very important film from a set production standpoint, which broke new ground.

Movie | 1408 | PASS

Genuinely scary, using kitchen sink tactics. In other words, if one thing doesn't get your goat in this haunted mansion (well, here it's a hotel room) movie, something else will. Cusack is awesome and the supporting cast is fantastic, even though they have tiny roles. Gruesome but not terribly gory.