1175 - Dexter: season three

After last's years mind-blowing great season I just couldn't imagine how this show could stay fresh and exciting. Good thing the writers had to trouble figuring it out. Wow. Great great season. Lots of good stuff here. Smits and Hall were dynamite together and at one point I was wondering if it was possible that Smits could become a staple cast member. Where they'll go in future seasons I don't know, but I feel like I'm in good hands. Won't say too much in fear of spoiling, but it's a show that continues t be great.

1174 - Californication: season two

Oh Californication, how you once blew my mind, made me jealous, wishing I had been a part of you. This show used to have such beautiful moments. There are still some, but they are few and far between. I dare say that this once fantastic show is now limping into the third season. Ashby was a great addition to the cast, but it doesn't look like he'll be around. Runkle, as much as I dig him, is past his welcome (shame, since I was enjoying Daisy), and god, dear god, please end the god-awfulness that is the ongoing Mia story. It wrapped up nicely at the end of the last season and now it feels really dragged on, and for no real good reason. Please, Tom Kapinos, Hank Moody is one of the best characters on television, give him something great to do. Please...

1173 - Dan in Real Life

I was not expecting this film to be as good as it was. It wasn't laugh out loud funny, but I don't think it was trying to be. It was a bit goofy and sweet, and fun in general. Never really tried to probe into anything too deep, which could have made it stellar, but it was a film worth seeing, enough great moments and scenes to make it worth recommending. Especially the scene that the picture above is from. Best scene of the film. Check it out - good weekend afternoon film.

1172 - Shoot 'em Up

While this film is still amazingly fun and inventive, it looses something in repeat viewings. You know what's coming and so the surprise is gone, and it's just... there. I don't think this will be the cult film I thought it would be on my first viewing. Too bad. The cast is wonderful and adds a little something extra to the stereotypes that are the characters (not a bad thing, in fact they made it work very well). I still like it, but can't say it retains it's appeal.

1171 - Rambo

I'll make this brief, because I'm not a big fan of bad ju-ju and me going on and on isn't going to make a difference or help anyone. I really didn't like this at all. I'm not sure what I expected going it, but it failed on every level for me. I loved the shit out of Rocky Balboa, but this just felt like fluff. Maybe there's a message in there somewhere and I missed it. Sorry Sly, can't recommend it. Not even a little.

1170 - The Wire: season four

Look at these four boys above. Take a good look 'cause what's so great about that shot is it's a fantastic moment in time. And from that moment on, none of those boys are the same again. Each and every single one of those kids up there shape and change this show and give it more heart than it's ever had. And what's great is that it's an amazing show to begin with, but adding those kids to it, it elevated it to a whole new level. This season saw some major twists and turns for the characters we've grown to love, and I can't wait to see where they go next. I've always enjoyed this series, but after this season I know why a lot of people consider it one of, if not the best show of our generation. A brilliant season.

1169 - Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

I liked this show for the most part. It has a great cast and while I enjoy the idea of a drama about making a comedy, when it gets heavy handed, it's really heavy handed. A bit too melodramatic. And while I did enjoy this first and only season, I'm not sure how much more they could have gotten out of this idea and these characters, besides they did a pretty good job of arching these characters and putting them where they needed to be at the end (maybe they knew it was being canceled and did that to wrap it up, either way. A fantastic cast with faces new and old. I'll miss these characters, but like I said, they got to where they needed to be and I think this show achieved what it set out to do. I liked it.

1168 - The Brothers Grimm

This is a film that's as ridiculous as it is fun. The cast is just stellar, and despite the problems that always seem to plague Gilliam's films you'd never know that they weren't having the time of their lives. Apparently Ledger and Damon were originally cast in each other's roles and they petitioned Gilliam to swap, would have been interesting to see it the other way. As it is it turned out wonderfully for both of them. There's a lot of fun to be had with messing with these old tales. I actually re-watched this as reference for a project I'm working on. The production design is gorgeous and well thought out. The film itself is okay, not Gilliam's best, but still worth watching, especially if you like fairy tales.