Tuesday, July 9, 2013

New DVD Releases This Week: The Gatekeepers, Admission

DVD icon

There are at least a few new releases of interest this week. The Gatekeepers looks good, I don't know much about the Israeli internal security service. Admission has Tina Fey in it so it has my attention.

These are some of the new DVDs released this week, the ones I find interesting or of note.

 

Tuesday July 9, 2013

The Gatekeepers, PG-13      Amazon
The Gatekeepers (Hebrew: שומרי הסף) is a 2012 documentary film by director Dror Moreh that tells the story of the Israeli Shin Bet from the perspective of six former heads of Israel’s secretive internal security service. The film combines in-depth interviews with archival footage and computer animation to recount the role that the group played in Israel’s security from the Six-Day War to the present. The film was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 85th Academy Awards.

 

Dead Man Down, R      Amazon
Dead Man Down is a 2013 American neo-noir thriller crime film written by J.H. Wyman and directed by Danish director Niels Arden Oplev. The film stars Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Dominic Cooper, and Terrence Howard.

 

Spring Breakers, R      Amazon
Spring Breakers is a 2012 American comedy-drama exploitation film film written and directed by Harmony Korine. The film stars Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine and James Franco. The film follows four college-aged girls on their spring break.

 

Admission, PG-13      Amazon
Admission is a 2013 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Paul Weitz and starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd. Straight-laced Princeton University admissions officer Portia Nathan is caught off-guard when she makes a recruiting visit to an alternative high school overseen by her former college classmate, the free-wheeling John Pressman.

 

 

 

Note: this blog post contains affiliate links.

Graphic Credit: DVD Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Sunday, July 7, 2013

TV This Week: Ray Donovan, Camp Pilot

TV This Week icon

Ray Donovan looks good so far. OK, it's been just one episode but I'll keep watching - for now. I've heard absolutely nothing about Camp but I'll try to watch.

These are the TV shows I plan on watching this week. Most of them I will watch by DVR or OnDemand. All times ET.

 

Sunday

Ray Donovan, A Mouth is a Mouth. Showtime, 10:00pm.
Ray develops a scheme to get Mickey back behind bars; Abby decides to ignore Ray and hang out with Mickey; Ray must assist an actor who has received threats and a star whose livelihood is being jeopardized by a sex tape.

 

Monday

Gasland Part 2, movie, 2½ hrs. HBO, 9:00pm.
An eye-opening look is taken at the environmental dangers being caused by the hydraulic fracturing process used to find and attain fossil fuels buried deep within the Earth, and the impact that the industry is having on the world is examined.

Under the Dome, Manhunt. CBS, 10:00pm.
The residents of Chester's Mill manage to gather at Joe McClatchey's house, where they plan a "recharge" party with the generator that he has with him; Big Jim Rennie and Dale Barbara take time to search for the missing Paul Randolph.

 

Tuesday

Frontline, Two American Families. PBS, 10:00pm.
Cameras follow a black family and a white family in Milwaukee as they struggle to stay above the poverty line, and the intimate portrait also explores the changing nature of America's economy and the uncertain future of the middle class. 1½ hrs.

 

Wednesday

Secrets of the Dead, Ultimate Tut. PBS, 9:00pm.
A team of archaeologists, geologists and anatomists uses 3D graphics, stylized reconstruction and forensic investigative techniques to explore the real story behind Tutankhamen and build a definitive picture of the young pharaoh. Narrator: Liev Schreiber. 2 hrs.

Camp, Pilot. NBC, 10:00pm.
Mackenzie Granger, Director for Little Otter Family Camp, begins dealing with her divorce while facing the challenges of keeping her summer camp afloat after a tempting buyout offer from Roger Shepard, owner of an upscale resort across the lake.

 

Thursday

 

 

 

Friday

 

 

 

Saturday

666 Park Avenue, Lazarus, Part 1. ABC, 9:00pm.
Jane is still reeling from the discovery of what happened to her mother when her father shows up to get her out of The Drake at gunpoint; Henry is given a cryptic warning by Sullivan; Louise and Brian find out the consequences of Alexis' fury.

 

Sunday

Ray Donovan, Twerk. Showtime, 10:00pm.
Mickey reconnects with Bunchy and Terry; Ray purchases a hip-hop musician; Ray's mentor decides to host a fundraiser for his wife; Mickey encounters an FBI agent who has a strange preoccupation for all things Hollywood-related.

 

Graphic Credit: TVTW Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

New DVD Releases This Week: Last Resort: The Complete Series and Venus and Serena

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Fourth of July is this week so I didn't expect many new releases. Last Resort: The Complete Series was a good TV show that I wish had gotten another season or two. Venus and Serena sounds interesting and I'm not much of a tennis fan anymore.

These are some of the new DVDs released this week, the ones I find interesting or of note.

 

Tuesday July 2, 2013

Last Resort: The Complete Series, Not Rated      Amazon
When the crew of the fictional U.S. Navy Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, the USS Colorado (SSBN-753) pick up a U.S. Navy SEAL team off Pakistan's coast, the Colorado receives an order to launch nuclear ballistic missiles at Pakistan. The Colorado's Commanding Officer, Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) refuses the order and he and his crew take over an island.

 

Venus and Serena, PG-13      Amazon
Venus and Serena is a documentary film that takes and inside look at Venus Williams and Serena Williams lives and careers. Venus and Serena was directed by Maiken Baird and Michelle Major. It was the official selection at the 2013 Miami International Film Festival, 2012 Toronto Film Festival, 2012 Tribeca Film Festival and 2012 Bermuda Docs Film Festival.

 

 

 

Note: this blog post contains affiliate links.

Graphic Credit: DVD Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Sunday, June 30, 2013

TV This Week: Ray Donovan, Under the Dome

TV This Week icon

It's Fourth of July week and the TV pickings are slim. Under the Dome got good ratings for its first episode, can it hold on to viewers? I liked it so I'll tune in again. Ray Donovan has gotten good reviews so I'll check it out.

These are the TV shows I plan on watching this week. Most of them I will watch by DVR or OnDemand. All times ET.

 

Sunday

Under the Dome, Pilot. CBS, 9:00pm.
The residents of Chester's Mill suddenly find themselves sealed off from the rest of the world when an inexplicable transparent dome encompasses the entire city, leaving the people to struggle for resources as everyone begins to panic. Repeat, in case you missed it. It got good ratings.

The Killing, Eminent Domain. AMC, 9:00pm.
Detective Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder manage to get a hold of the victim that has been on the run; after enduring a difficult scenario, Seward suddenly confronts the demons from his past; Bullet tries to cope with the truth.

Ray Donovan, The Bag or the Bat. Showtime, 10:00pm.
In Los Angeles, when a man is released from prison early, he seeks revenge on his son who set him up; Ray must assist a celebrity who is experiencing concerns about a transsexual; Ray helps out a singer who is being pursued.

 

Monday

Under the Dome, The Fire. CBS, 9:00pm.
While the residents of Chester's Mill try to come to terms with the uncertainty of life in the dome, their panic is yet again heightened when a house is engulfed in flames and the fire department is located outside of the dome.

 

Tuesday

 

 

 

Wednesday

 

 

 

Thursday - Fourth of July

 

 

 

Friday

 

 

 

Saturday

Zero Hour, Winding. ABC, 8:00pm.
Hank and Laila continue the race against the Pyrates in search of the True Cross; "Molars" and White Vincent are captives on the same ship and share intelligence; Beck, Paige, Arron and Rachel meet Hank and Laila in Strasourg and discover the mole.

666 Park Avenue, Elysian Fields. ABC, 9:00pm.
As Jane tries to figure out what the "conspiratti" is, Detective Cooper reveals his part in the group; Henry tries to track down Jane's estranged father to surprise her at the engagement party Olivia is throwing them; Alexis and Louise face-off.

 

Sunday

The Killing, Hope Kills. AMC, 9:00pm.
After not being able to make any head way in the case, Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder get closer to solving the case; Seward struggles to come to terms with his inevitable end; the young Bullet decides to step up and be the protector.

Ray Donovan, A Mouth is a Mouth. Showtime, 10:00pm.
Ray develops a scheme to get Mickey back behind bars; Abby decides to ignore Ray and hang out with Mickey; Ray must assist an actor who has received threats and a star whose livelihood is being jeopardized by a sex tape.

 

Graphic Credit: TVTW Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Internet Archive Pick of the Week: Welsh Fairy Tales and Other Stories

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This weeks selection is Welsh Fairy Tales and Other Stories, an audio book. Twenty four tales are included, none over ten minutes long. It was recently added to the Archive and is also from LibriVox.org. I haven't listened to them yet but I plan to soon.

 

Here's how the Internet Archive is described at Wikipedia:

The Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge." It provides permanent storage of and free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly three million public-domain books. As of October 2012, its collection topped 10 petabytes. In addition to its archiving function, the Archive is an activist organization, advocating for a free and open Internet.

 

 

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

New DVD Releases This Week: A Place at the Table, The Call and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

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No real big releases this week, I don't think I remember these being in the theaters. Anyway The Call and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone look like they may be decent and I do want to see A Place at the Table.

These are some of the new DVDs released this week, the ones I find interesting or of note.

 

Tuesday June 25, 2013

The Call, R      Amazon
Jordan Turner (Halle Berry) is a LAPD 9-1-1 operator. One night, she receives a call from Leah Templeton (Evie Thompson), a teenage girl fearing for her life as a man breaks into her home. Jordan's clever instructions allow Leah to evade the intruder, but when the call is disconnected Jordan calls Leah back which gives away Leah's hiding spot to the intruder. Jordan attempts to stop him over the phone to which he says "It's already done", and hangs up. A few days later, Jordan sees a report on TV that shows that Leah had been murdered.

 

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, PG-13      Amazon
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is a 2013 comedy film directed by Don Scardino. The film follows Las Vegas magician Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) as he attempts to reunite with his former partner Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) to take on dangerous street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey).

 

Help!, G      Amazon
Help!, now on Blu-ray, is a 1965 film directed by Richard Lester, starring The Beatles – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — and featuring Leo McKern, Eleanor Bron, Victor Spinetti, John Bluthal, Roy Kinnear and Patrick Cargill. Help! was the second feature film made by the Beatles and is a comedy adventure which sees the group come up against an evil cult.

 

A Place at the Table, PG      Amazon
A Place at the Table is a 2012 documentary film directed by Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush, with appearances by Jeff Bridges, Raj Patel, and chef Tom Colicchio. The film is about hunger in the United States.

 

 

 

Note: this blog post contains affiliate links.

Graphic Credit: DVD Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Sunday, June 23, 2013

TV This Week: Mad Men finale, Doctor Who Revisited, Big Brother, Zero Hour, 666 Park Avenue

TV This Week icon

Tonight is the season finale of Mad Men. Next Sunday night is the pilot of Under the Dome. Doctor Who Revisited is up the the Sixth Doctor. Big Brother 15 begins this week and ABC burns off remaining episodes of Zero Hour and 666 Park Avenue.

These are the TV shows I plan on watching this week. Most of them I will watch by DVR or OnDemand. All times ET.

 

Sunday

Crossing Borders, Pilot. NBC, 9:00pm.
Former NYPD detective Carl Hickman became a recluse until he receives an offer from his friend Detective Major Louis Daniel to join a team of unique specialists to help track down a serial killer crossing various international borders undetected. 2 hrs.

The Killing, Scared and Running. AMC, 9:00pm.
Sarah and Holder do everything they can in order to find a victim on the run in order to ensure that no one else finds them first; Ray Seward begrudgingly takes in an unexpected visitor and he does very little to be a warm and welcoming host.

Mad Men, In Care Of. AMC, 10:00pm.
* * * Season Finale * * * With all the troubles that Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce has had to overcome, Don begins to feel overwhelmed while dealing with a very serious problem of his own which leads to the agency partner desperately searching for a solution.

 

Monday

 

 

 

Tuesday

Frontline, Rape in the Fields. PBS, 10:00pm.
Along with two investigative reporting programs, correspondent Lowell Bergman spent 12 months looking into the secret price of sexual assault that many migrant women pay in order to continue working in America's food packing plants and fields.

 

Wednesday

Big Brother 15, Premiere. CBS, 8:00pm.
Julie Chen returns to host the 15th installment packed with new twists, never-before-seen games and a record number of willing participants eager to compete; the cast members are introduced as they prepare for the isolation period to begin.

 

Thursday

 

 

 

Friday

 

 

 

Saturday

Zero Hour, Sync. ABC, 8:00pm.
Hank hears out Laila for her side of the story, but he isn't sure if he can forgive her, teaming up with her to get closer to the True Cross; White Vincent discovers another clue while working for "Mother" that brings him closer to the end.

Doctor Who Revisited, The Sixth Doctor. BBC America, 8:30pm.
A detailed look is taken at earlier seasons of the iconic television show Doctor Who, a phenomenon that is still popular after 50 years, featuring The Sixth Doctor, played by Colin Baker, and his adventures and his foes, including Sil. 2½ hrs.

666 Park Avenue, Sins of the Fathers. ABC, 9:00pm.
Sasha reveals her plan to get Henry elected; Sasha offers Father Douglas an arrangement to rid himself of the demons that have tormented him since trying to open the red box; a new tenant moves into the Drake; Alexis plots revenge against Louise.

 

Sunday

Under the Dome, Pilot. CBS, 9:00pm.
The residents of Chester's Mill suddenly find themselves sealed off from the rest of the world when an inexplicable transparent dome encompasses the entire city, leaving the people to struggle for resources as everyone begins to panic.

The Killing, Eminent Domain. AMC, 9:00pm.
Detective Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder manage to get a hold of the victim that has been on the run; after enduring a difficult scenario, Seward suddenly confronts the demons from his past; Bullet tries to cope with the truth.

 

Graphic Credit: TVTW Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Internet Archive Pick of the Week: Grateful Dead 1989 Summer Solstice Concert

Internet Archive logo

More people should know about and use the Internet Archive so every Saturday I will feature something from it. Today's selection seems appropriate since yesterday was the summer solstice, it's the Grateful Dead Live - "Summer Solstice" show - Shoreline Amphitheater - Mountainview, CA - 1989-06-21 (June 21, 1989).

Song highlights include Touch of Grey, Box of Rain, Truckin', and Brokedown Palace. The 242 MB zipped file of this concert can be directly downloaded from the Internet Archive or there is a BitTorrent link that you can use as well.

Here's how the Internet Archive is described at Wikipedia:

The Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge." It provides permanent storage of and free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly three million public-domain books. As of October 2012, its collection topped 10 petabytes. In addition to its archiving function, the Archive is an activist organization, advocating for a free and open Internet.

 

 

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

New DVD Releases This Week: Jack the Giant Slayer; Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut

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It's a slow week for DVDs but the kids might like Jack the Giant Slayer and older Anglophiles may like Quartet, it's Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut.

These are some of the new DVDs released this week, the ones I find interesting or of note.

 

Tuesday June 18, 2013

Jack the Giant Slayer, PG-13      Amazon
Jack the Giant Slayer is a 2013 American fantasy adventure film based on the fairy tales "Jack the Giant Killer" and "Jack and the Beanstalk". The film is directed by Bryan Singer with a screenplay written by Darren Lemke, Christopher McQuarrie and Dan Studney and stars Nicholas Hoult, Eleanor Tomlinson, Stanley Tucci, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy and Ewan McGregor. The film tells the story of Jack, a young farmhand who must rescue a princess from a race of giants after inadvertently opening a gateway to their world.

 

Quartet, PG-13      Amazon
Quartet is a 2012 British comedy-drama film based on the play of the same title by Ronald Harwood, which ran in London's West End from September 1999 until January 2000. It was filmed late in 2011 at Hedsor House, Buckinghamshire. The film is actor Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut.

 

Stoker, R      Amazon
During her 18th birthday, India Stoker's (Mia Wasikowska) life is turned upside down after her loving father Richard (Dermot Mulroney) dies in a horrific car accident. India is then left with her estranged unstable mother Evelyn (Nicole Kidman). At Richard's funeral, Evelyn and India are introduced to Richard's charming and charismatic brother Charlie (Matthew Goode), who has spent his life traveling the world. He then announces that he is staying indefinitely to help support India and Evelyn, much to Evelyn's delight and India's chagrin.

 

 

Note: this blog post contains affiliate links.

Graphic Credit: DVD Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Sunday, June 16, 2013

TV This Week: Miss USA, Crossing Borders Pilot

TV This Week icon

The summer TV doldrums are in full swing already for broadcast TV. On just two nights this week, there are shows that I'm kind of interested in. The Miss USA competition is tonight and next Sunday night is the Pilot of Crossing Borders. Not much else worth noting besides the usual Mad Men. I saw the first two hours of The Killing and I wasn't that impressed. So . . . I'm looking for shows to binge on via DVD or streaming.

These are the TV shows I plan on watching this week. Most of them I will watch by DVR or OnDemand. All times ET.

 

Sunday

The 2013 Miss USA Competition. NBC, 9:00pm.
One representative from each of the 50 states, including the District of Columbia, head to Las Vegas for an opportunity to be crowned as the successor of 2012 Miss USA; contestants are judged in swimsuit, evening gown and interview. 2 hrs.

The Killing, Head Shots. AMC, 9:00pm.
As the task force goes to extreme lengths in order to further an investigation, Detective Linden and Holder are brought back together during their search for "the voice"; Seward is offered incentive to follow the established rules.

Mad Men, The Quality of Mercy. AMC, 10:00pm.
Tensions quickly mount at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce as the partners of the agency debate about a new campaign being developed for an important client; Don decides to get away from the chaos of the agency by taking a day off.

 

Monday

Warehouse 13, What Matters Most. Syfy, 10:00pm.
United States Secret Service Agents Myka Bering and Pete Lattimer must figure out what's going on at a high-class and swanky gated community where residents are being affected by a mysterious and versatile supernatural artifact.

Mistresses, Breaking and Entering. ABC, 10:00pm.
Savi and Dominic are struggling as their professional and personal lives continue to clash; Joss' has a new boss and he has decided that she needs a seemingly impossible assignment; Karen continues to deal with the Grey family and their disfunctions.

 

Tuesday

 

 

 

Wednesday

 

 

 

Thursday

 

 

 

Friday

 

 

 

Saturday

 

 

 

Sunday

Crossing Borders, Pilot. NBC, 9:00pm.
Former NYPD detective Carl Hickman became a recluse until he receives an offer from his friend Detective Major Louis Daniel to join a team of unique specialists to help track down a serial killer crossing various international borders undetected. 2 hrs.

The Killing, Scared and Running. AMC, 9:00pm.
Sarah and Holder do everything they can in order to find a victim on the run in order to ensure that no one else finds them first; Ray Seward begrudgingly takes in an unexpected visitor and he does very little to be a warm and welcoming host.

Mad Men, In Care Of. AMC, 10:00pm.
With all the troubles that Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce has had to overcome, Don begins to feel overwhelmed while dealing with a very serious problem of his own which leads to the agency partner desperately searching for a solution.

 

Graphic Credit: TVTW Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

New DVD Releases This Week: House of Cards, The Newsroom, Oz: The Great and Powerful, more!

DVD icon

Have you got the Summer TV Blues? If so then there's plenty to watch with this week's DVD releases, including two TV shows. The first seasons of House of Cards and The Newsroom re out this week, both got good reviews if I remember correctly. The most recent season of Burn Notice also is available this week. The big movie release is Oz: The Great and Powerful.

These are some of the new DVDs released this week, the ones I find interesting or of note.

 

Tuesday June 11, 2013

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, R      Amazon
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is a 2013 American-German action-horror dark fantasy film with black comedy elements, co-written and directed by Norwegian filmmaker Tommy Wirkola and filmed in 3D. It is a continuation to the German folk fairy tale Hänsel and Gretel, which was recorded by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812. The film stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton in the title roles of a brother-and-sister duo of professional witch hunters. Famke Janssen stars as the deadly leader of a coven of evil witches that they seek out to destroy.

 

House of Cards: The Complete First Season, Not Rated      Amazon
House of Cards is an American political drama series developed and produced by Beau Willimon. It is an adaptation of a previous BBC miniseries of the same name which is based on the novel by Michael Dobbs. The entire first season premiered on February 1, 2013, on the streaming service Netflix. A second season of 13 episodes is currently in production. Set in present day Washington, D.C., House of Cards is the story of Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), a Democrat from South Carolina's 5th congressional district and the House Majority Whip, who after getting passed over for appointment to Secretary of State, decides to exact his revenge on those who betrayed him. The series also stars Robin Wright, Kate Mara, and Corey Stoll in lead roles.

 

Killing Lincoln, Not Rated      Amazon
Killing Lincoln is an American television film inspired by the 2011 novel of the same title by Bill O'Reilly. The two-hour political docudrama was originally broadcast on National Geographic Channel on February 17, 2013. Narrated and hosted by American actor Tom Hanks, the film stars Billy Campbell as United States President Abraham Lincoln and Jesse Johnson as John Wilkes Booth. It was written and executive produced by Erik Jendresen (Band of Brothers), directed by Adrian Moat (Gettysburg), produced by Chris Cowen, Mark Herzog, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Mary Lisio, David Zucker, and Terri Weinberg.

 

The Newsroom: The Complete First Season, Not Rated      Amazon
The Newsroom is an American television political drama series created and principally written by Aaron Sorkin that premiered on HBO on June 24, 2012. The series chronicles the behind-the-scenes events at the fictional Atlantis Cable News (ACN) channel. It features an ensemble cast including Jeff Daniels as anchor Will McAvoy, who, together with his staff set out to put on a news show "in the face of corporate and commercial obstacles and their own personal entanglements." Other cast members include Emily Mortimer, John Gallagher, Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Dev Patel, Olivia Munn, and Sam Waterston.

 

Oz: The Great and Powerful, PG      Amazon
Oz the Great and Powerful is a 2013 American fantasy adventure film directed by Sam Raimi, produced by Joe Roth, and written by David Lindsay-Abaire and Mitchell Kapner. The film stars James Franco as Oscar Diggs, Mila Kunis as Theodora, Rachel Weisz as Evanora, and Michelle Williams as Glinda. The film is based on L. Frank Baum's Oz novels, and also pays homage to the 1939 MGM film, The Wizard of Oz. Set 20 years before the events of the books, Oz the Great and Powerful focuses on Oscar Diggs, who arrives in the Land of Oz and encounters three witches: Theodora, Evanora and Glinda. Oscar is then enlisted to restore order in Oz, while struggling to resolve conflicts with the witches and himself.

 

Snitch, PG-13      Amazon
John Matthews (Dwayne Johnson), owner of a construction company, receives a call from his ex-wife Sylvie Collins. His estranged son Jason (Rafi Gavron) is being charged for distribution of narcotics; while Jason is not actually a dealer, his friend set him up in a sting operation to reduce his own sentence after being caught. Jason's charges carry a minimum of 10 years in prison. John feels responsible because he was not there for his son, and he becomes desperate as he realizes that Jason may be killed before he finishes his prison sentence.

 

Burn Notice: Season Six, PG-13      Amazon
There's trouble in paradise for former CIA operative Michael Westen and his cohorts, and the streets of Miami are hotter - and deadlier - than ever before in the action-packed, adrenaline-charged sixth season of Burn Notice! In hot pursuit of his old nemesis, Michael must take down Anson Fullerton and find a way to free Fiona from prison, where she is being targeted by a murderous foe. Michael goes full force to save Fiona as he takes on cold-blooded assassins, diabolical drug cartels, uneasy alliances, and explosive danger at every turn, until an unthinkable tragedy leaves him reeling and rocks his team to the very core.

 

 

Note: this blog post contains affiliate links.

Graphic Credit: DVD Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Sunday, June 9, 2013

TV This Week: Tonys, Warehouse 13

TV This Week icon

The Tony Awards are tonight and next Sunday night is the Miss USA pageant. Also it looks like Warehouse 13 is back with new episodes. The Killing and Mad Men continue with new episodes.

These are the TV shows I plan on watching this week. Most of them I will watch by DVR or OnDemand. All times ET.

 

Sunday

The 67th Annual Tony Awards. CBS, 8:00pm.
Broadway's biggest stars gather at Radio City Music Hall in New York City as the American Theatre Wing takes time to honor the best performances and productions of the year with awards for acting, musical score, dance choreography and more. The Host is Neil Patrick Harris. 3 hrs.

The Killing, Seventeen. AMC, 9:00pm.
Sarah decides to join the task force in order to carry out her own plans; Holder manages to form an acquaintance with a street informant in the Jungle; the hatred between two long-time rivals is fueled as Seward willingly raises the tension.

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, Congo. CNN, 9:00pm.
Anthony Bourdain is excited about going to Congo because it is the setting for one of his favorite books, Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, which became the basis for one of his favorite films, Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now.

Mad Men, Favors. AMC, 10:00pm.
Betty begins to prepare for her daughter's future which means looking into Sally's various options; Peggy finds that her home life is beginning to be more troublesome than her hectic career, so she does what she can to address her issues at home.

 

Monday

Warehouse 13, Runaway. Syfy, 10:00pm.
Agents Pete Lattimer, Myka Bering, along with Steve Jinks, must partner with a United States Marshal in order to track down two fugitives that escaped from an Arkansas State Prison as the result of a strange volcanic event.

Mistresses, The Morning After. ABC, 10:00pm.
Savi is looking for advice about her night with Dominic and while Karen tells her to wait before telling Harry, April seems to have a completely different reaction; April investigates claims that her husband led another life; Joss finds a new friend.

 

Tuesday

 

 

 

Wednesday

 

 

 

Thursday

 

 

 

Friday

 

 

 

Saturday

 

 

 

Sunday

The 2013 Miss USA Competition. NBC, 9:00pm.
One representative from each of the 50 states, including the District of Columbia, head to Las Vegas for an opportunity to be crowned as the successor of 2012 Miss USA; contestants are judged in swimsuit, evening gown and interview. 2 hrs.

The Killing, Head Shots. AMC, 9:00pm.
As the task force goes to extreme lengths in order to further an investigation, Detective Linden and Holder are brought back together during their search for "the voice"; Seward is offered incentive to follow the established rules.

Mad Men, The Quality of Mercy. AMC, 10:00pm.
Tensions quickly mount at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce as the partners of the agency debate about a new campaign being developed for an important client; Don decides to get away from the chaos of the agency by taking a day off.

 

Graphic Credit: TVTW Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

New DVD Releases This Week: A Good Day to Die Hard, Identity Thief, more!

DVD icon

Of this week's new releases, I kind of want to see A Good Day to Die Hard and Identity Thief.

These are some of the new DVDs released this week, the ones I find interesting or of note.

 

Tuesday June 4, 2013

A Good Day to Die Hard, R      Amazon
Bruce Willis reprises the lead role of John McClane, who travels to Russia to help his estranged son, Jack (Jai Courtney), out of prison, but is soon caught in the crossfire of a terrorist plot.

Identity Thief, R      Amazon
Sandy Patterson (Jason Bateman) gets a call from a woman saying someone attempted to steal his identity. She tells him about an identity protection service and asks him for his name, date of birth, and social security number. Little does he know that his identity is actually about to be stolen. We meet Diana (Melissa McCarthy), printing out credit cards with Sandy's money and going out to a bar, buying drinks for everybody.

Escape from Planet Earth, PG      Amazon
Escape from Planet Earth is a 2013 Canadian 3D computer animated family film produced by Rainmaker Entertainment, and directed by Cal Brunker. It stars the voices of Brendan Fraser, Rob Corddry, Jessica Alba, Sarah Jessica Parker, William Shatner, Kaitlin Olson, and James Gandolfini.

Warm Bodies, PG-13      Amazon
Warm Bodies is a 2013 American paranormal romantic zombie comedy film based on Isaac Marion's novel of the same name. Directed and written by Jonathan Levine, the film stars Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer and Analeigh Tipton. The film focuses on the development of the relationship between Julie, a young woman, and "R", a zombie, and how their eventual romance develops throughout. The film is noted for displaying human characteristics in zombie characters, and for being told from a zombie's perspective.

 

 

Note: this blog post contains affiliate links.

Graphic Credit: DVD Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Sunday, June 2, 2013

TV This Week: The Killing, Mad Men, Mistresses, Revolution

TV This Week icon

By the calendar it may not be quite summer yet but it is in full swing on television, most shows are into repeats already. The Killing is a summer show that is starting a new season tonight and I've heard good things about it. The Pilot of Mistresses premieres this week, it sounds cheesy but maybe it's a fine cheese. Also Mad Men still has some new episodes for us. Finally this week Revolution airs its season finale.

These are the TV shows I plan on watching this week. Most of them I will watch by DVR or OnDemand. All times ET.

 

Sunday

The Killing, The Jungle; That You Fear the Most. AMC, 8:00pm.
Detective Sarah Linden desperately tries to keep her past mistakes from tormenting her life; Holder finds himself struggling with a new assignment given to him; a prisoner manages to show his true colors while in prison. 2 hrs.

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, Peru. CNN, 9:00pm.
Anthony and fellow chef Eric Ripert go looking for a particular variety of wild cocoa that is only found in a remote part of the Andes, experiencing the pre-Colombian lifestyles of the rural areas as well as the modernity of Lima, the capital city.

Mad Men, A Tale of Two Cities. AMC, 10:00pm.
In order to ensure that Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce continues to grow, everyone at the agency comes together to hold on to a client that is questioning their ties with the company; Joan tries to compose herself after being caught off guard.

 

Monday

Revolution, The Dark Tower. NBC, 10:00pm.
* * * Season Finale * * * Miles' leadership ability and character are put to the ultimate test as his feelings for Rachel and Nora are brought in to play while the Rebels begin their invasion of the Tower, putting everybody involved in to life-threatening danger.

Mistresses, Pilot. ABC, 10:00pm.
Troubled by the frustrations of trying to get pregnant with Harry, Savi finds herself attracted to Dominic; April has been getting prank calls ever since her husband's life insurance check came in; Karen is in an affair with a married patient.

 

Tuesday

 

 

 

Wednesday

 

 

 

Thursday

 

 

 

Friday

 

 

 

Saturday

Jason and the Argonauts, 1963 moviie, 2 hrs. Antenna TV, 8:00pm.
A legendary hero from ancient Greece enlists a band of warriors to sail to the ends of the Earth on a quest for the sacred Golden Fleece, and along the way, they battle monsters, greed, a bronze giant and a treacherous army of skeletons.
Stars: Todd Armstrong, Honor Blackman, Gary Raymond, Laurence Naismith, Niall McGinnis, and Nancy Kovack.

 

Sunday

The 67th Annual Tony Awards. CBS, 8:00pm.
Broadway's biggest stars gather at Radio City Music Hall in New York City as the American Theatre Wing takes time to honor the best performances and productions of the year with awards for acting, musical score, dance choreography and more. The Host is Neil Patrick Harris. 3 hrs.

The Killing, Seventeen. AMC, 9:00pm.
Sarah decides to join the task force in order to carry out her own plans; Holder manages to form an acquaintance with a street informant in the Jungle; the hatred between two long-time rivals is fueled as Seward willingly raises the tension.

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, Congo. CNN, 9:00pm.
Anthony Bourdain is excited about going to Congo because it is the setting for one of his favorite books, Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, which became the basis for one of his favorite films, Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now.

Mad Men, Favors. AMC, 10:00pm.
Betty begins to prepare for her daughter's future which means looking into Sally's various options; Peggy finds that her home life is beginning to be more troublesome than her hectic career, so she does what she can to address her issues at home.

 

Graphic Credit: TVTW Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

New DVD Releas This Week: The Numbers Station

DVD icon

As I expected, there aren't many good DVD releases this week. I'm not even sure that The Numbers Station was ever released in movie theaters.

These are some of the new DVDs released this week, the ones I find interesting or of note.

 

Tuesday May 28, 2013

The Numbers Station, R      Amazon
British-American action thriller film, starring John Cusack and Malin Åkerman, about a disgraced CIA black ops agent assigned to protect the code operator at a secret American numbers station somewhere in the British countryside.

 

 

Note: this blog post contains affiliate links.

Graphic Credit: DVD Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Monday, May 27, 2013

Memorial Day Weekend Cook-Out Vines

My friend Myles (@MylesGRyan) hosted a little get together yesterday. He also has a new iPhone and is getting into Vine so here are a few short videos he took.

This one shows the usual suspects. Look fast, I'm in the yellow shirt.

 

 

What's a cook-out without some grillin'?

 

 

The gang again, Steve is still a little camera shy and I'm a bit cold.

 

 

Speaking of cold, it got a lot colder after the sun went down so we started a fire.

 

 

Sunday, May 26, 2013

TV This Week: Doctor Who Revisited; Body of Proof series finale

TV This Week icon

After your day at the beach or cook-out Sunday night Memorial Day weekend watch Doctor Who Revisited. Later in the week PBS has a few interesting shows, one is about the Boston Bombing.

These are the TV shows I plan on watching this week. Most of them I will watch by DVR or OnDemand. All times ET.

 

Sunday

Doctor Who Revisited, The Fifth Doctor. BBC America, 8:00pm.
A detailed look is taken at earlier seasons of the iconic television show Doctor Who, a phenomenon that is still popular after 50 years, featuring The Fifth Doctor, played by Peter Davison, and his foes, the Cybermen and Master. 3 hrs.

Mad Men, The Better Half. AMC, 10:00pm.
Roger continues to have the same dream every night and becomes concerned about the repetition; Joan takes some time off from the agency in order to enjoy the beach, which results in an interesting outing for the beautiful Ms. Harris.

 

Monday

Revolution, City of Men. NBC, 10:00pm.
Miles, Charlie, Nora and Aaron finally discover a way to enter the Tower, which pits Miles against Monroe once again in a battle that proves to be deadlier than their first encounter; Tom and Jason Neville find themselves shut out of the Tower.

 

Tuesday

Constitution USA with Peter Sagal, Built to last. PBS, 9:00pm.
Host Peter Sagal visits Iceland to examine the country's decision to create a new constitution that was inspired by the Constitution of the United States, and later, he looks into why the U.S. Constitution has lasted over 225 years.

FrontLine, Outlawed in Pakistan. PBS, 10:00pm.
A young female rape victim's five-year struggle through Pakistan's broken justice system is chronicled, examining her courage to come forward, the alleged rapists' attempts to clear their names, and society's beliefs about victims of rape.

Body of Proof, Daddy Issues. ABC, 10:00pm.
* * * Series Finale * * * Megan brings Tommy along for her father's exhumation, but instead of answering questions about his suicide, it seems to just make more; Megan's mother suggests looking into her husband's patient files that may hold connections to his death.

 

Wednesday

Nova, Manhunt - Boston Bombers. ABC, 9:00pm.
The investigation and manhunt following the deadly Boston Marathon bombings on April 15 are chronicled, examining the roles of various innovative technologies, including bomb chemistry analysis and traditional detective work.

 

Thursday

 

 

 

Friday

 

 

 

Saturday

 

 

 

Sunday

The Killing. AMC, 8:00pm.
Detective Sarah Linden desperately tries to keep her past mistakes from tormenting her life; Holder finds himself struggling with a new assignment given to him; a prisoner manages to show his true colors while in prison. 2 hrs.

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, Peru. CNN, 9:00pm.
Anthony and fellow chef Eric Ripert go looking for a particular variety of wild cocoa that is only found in a remote part of the Andes, experiencing the pre-Colombian lifestyles of the rural areas as well as the modernity of Lima, the capital city.

 

Graphic Credit: TVTW Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

I thought Zebra made good pens

Zebra pen photo

I used to think Zebra made nice, high quality pens. I used several different models of them for a number of years, but have been using a Parker most recently. I carry a small tablet around to catch ideas and such so a few months ago I purchased an Zebra compact telescoping pen.

I'm sorry I bought the pen. For one thing it's disposable, you cannot replace the ink. And second the thing broke less then three months after I started using it!

So it's back to my stainless steel Parker Jotter for daily carry.

 

 

Photo: Zebra pen broken in pieces.

 

 

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

New DVD Releases This Week: The Last Stand, Side Effects

DVD icon

There are few movies released this week, probably because next week is Memorial Day. So expect few movies again next week. Side Effects sounds interesting, I may try and watch it. I'm not as interested in The Last Stand.

These are some of the new DVDs released this week, the ones I find interesting or of note.

 

Tuesday May 21, 2013

The Last Stand, R      Amazon
The Last Stand is a 2013 action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, written by Andrew Knauer and directed by Kim Ji-woon. The film is Schwarzenegger's first lead role since 2003's Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, as well as the first American production for the South Korean director Kim Ji-woon, cinematographer Kim Ji-yong and composer Mowg. The film focuses on a small town sheriff and his deputies who must stop a dangerous drug lord from escaping to Mexico in a modified sports car.

Side Effects, R      Amazon
Side Effects is a 2013 American psychological thriller film directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay written by Scott Z. Burns. The film stars Jude Law, Rooney Mara, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Channing Tatum. The film concerns the ramifications of an event following a young woman being prescribed antidepressant drugs.

 

 

Note: this blog post contains affiliate links.

Graphic Credit: DVD Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Sunday, May 19, 2013

TV This Week: Doctor Who Revisited, Mel Brooks

TV This Week icon

The TV sweeps period ends this week; by the looks of things I would say that it's Wednesday. Next Sunday night Doctor Who Revisited is up to the Fifth Doctor. Lastly fans of Mel Brooks will want to watch American Masters Monday night.

These are the TV shows I plan on watching this week. Most of them I will watch by DVR or OnDemand. All times ET.

 

Sunday

The Simpsons, The Saga of Carl Carlson; Dangers on a Train. Fox, 8:00pm.
When Homer, Moe, Lenny, and Carl win $200,000 in the lottery, Carl takes the money and runs back to his homeland in Iceland; Marge meets a man after accidentally visiting a website for married people to arrange affairs on instead of a baking site.

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, Libya. CNN, 9:00pm.
Anthony Bourdain explores the aftermath of the civil war that toppled Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, looking at cultural surprises such as Italian restaurants and Arabic-speaking rappers who returned home to fight the powers that be.

Mad Men, The Crash. AMC, 10:00pm.
Don is unable to conduct his regular business due to an unexpected visitor that manages to disrupt his life; while struggling to come up with a worthy idea for a campaign, Peggy attempts to find something to inspire her.

 

Monday

American Masters, Mel Brooks. PBS, 9:00pm.
The life and career of American entertainer and filmmaker Mel Brooks are explored as never-before-told stories are shared and actor Matthew Broderick, actor Nathan Lane, actress Joan Rivers, and other friends and colleagues are interviewed. 1½ hrs.

Revolution, Clue. NBC, 10:00pm.
While Nora is held captive and savagely tortured within inches of her life, Monroe learns about Rachel's plan to infiltrate the Tower, though he is unaware of how far her scheme truly goes; Miles is determined to find a murder in among the team.

Bates Motel, Midnight. A&E, 10:00pm.
Sheriff Romero decides that it is finally time for him to take action; Norman anticipates his date with Emma when he asks to take her to the school dance; Miss Watson assists Norman by giving him a ride back to the motel.

 

Tuesday

Constitution USA with Peter Sagal, Created Equal. PBS, 9:00pm.
As the 14th Amendment is examined, a look is taken at the Declaration of Independence's inclusion of the idea that all men were equal and the 75 years and bloody war it took before the right of equality was included in the Constitution.

 

Wednesday

Modern Family, Goodnight Gracie. ABC, 9:00pm.
Claire helps Phil with Grace's last wish for Frank and the kids reflect on the presents left to them; Gloria faces an outstanding arrest warrant; Cam fits right in with an elderly women's group; Jay runs into an important person from his past.

 

Thursday

 

 

 

Friday

 

 

 

Saturday

 

 

 

Sunday

Doctor Who Revisited, The Fifth Doctor. BBC America, 8:00pm.
A detailed look is taken at earlier seasons of the iconic television show Doctor Who, a phenomenon that is still popular after 50 years, featuring The Fifth Doctor, played by Peter Davison, and his foes, the Cybermen and Master. 3 hrs.

Mad Men, The Better Half. AMC, 10:00pm.
Roger continues to have the same dream every night and becomes concerned about the repetition; Joan takes some time off from the agency in order to enjoy the beach, which results in an interesting outing for the beautiful Ms. Harris.

 

Graphic Credit: TVTW Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

New DVD Releases This Week: Cloud Atlas, Liz and Dick, Texas Chainsaw

DVD icon

Cloud Atlas interests me a bit, the others not so much.

These are some of the new DVDs released this week, the ones I find interesting or of note.

 

Tuesday May 14, 2013

Cloud Atlas, R      Amazon
Cloud Atlas is a 2012 German drama and science fiction film written, produced and directed by Lana and Andy Wachowski and Tom Tykwer. Adapted from the 2004 novel by David Mitchell, the film features multiple plotlines set across six different eras. The official synopsis for Cloud Atlas describes the film as: "An exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution.

Liz and Dick, Not Rated      Amazon
Liz and Dick is a 2012 biographical television film chronicling the relationship of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. It was directed by Lloyd Kramer, written by Christopher Monger, produced by Larry A. Thompson and stars Lindsay Lohan as Taylor and Grant Bowler as Burton. It premiered on Lifetime on November 25, 2012.

Texas Chainsaw, R      Amazon
Texas Chainsaw is a 2013 American slasher film directed by John Luessenhop and written by Debra Sullivan and Adam Marcus. It is the seventh film in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, and was presented in 3-D. The film stars Alexandra Daddario, Dan Yeager, Tremaine Neverson, Tania Raymonde, Thom Barry, Paul Rae, and Bill Moseley. The story centers on Heather, who discovers that she was adopted after learning of an inheritance from a long-lost grandmother. She subsequently takes a road trip with her friends to collect the inheritance, unaware that it includes her cousin, Leatherface, as well.

 

 

Note: this blog post contains affiliate links.

Graphic Credit: DVD Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Sunday, May 12, 2013

TV This Week: Finales for Survivor, Doctor Who, Body of Proof

TV This Week icon

Season finales this week for Survivor and Doctor Who. Sadly Body of Proof ends its series Tuesday night.

These are the TV shows I plan on watching this week. Most of them I will watch by DVR or OnDemand. All times ET.

 

Sunday

60 Minutes. CBS, 7:00pm.
Scheduled: American aid worker Jessica Buchanan recalls her dramatic Navy SEALs rescue in the Somali desert; a course that teaches disabled vets to start their own businesses; Charlie Rose visits Microsoft founder Bill Gates in his private office.

Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites, Season Finale. CBS, 8:00pm.
After a harrowing season of surviving in the Philippines, the remaining castaways still competing for the $1 million grand prize end their journey and prepare to face a jury of their peers who will ultimately decide the sole survivor of season 26. 2 hrs. Note: Reunion Show at 10pm.

The Simpsons, Fabulous Faker Boy. Fox, 8:00pm.
When Bart begins to explore his creative type at Marge's encouragement, she hires Slava's daughter as his piano instructor; when the last two hairs on Homer's head fall out, he begins to try a variety of headgear to hide it from Marge.

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, Morocco (Tangier). CNN, 9:00pm.
Anthony Bourdain visits the former International Zone, the part of Morocco where artists such as Paul Bowles, William Burroughs, Tennessee Williams and the Rolling Stones went to escape moral prohibitions and rekindle their inspiration.

Mad Men, Man with a Plan. AMC, 10:00pm.
Everyone at the agency diligently works to try and satisfy the wants and needs of competing clients in order to solidify their commitment to the company; Pete Campbell is caught off guard when he gets an unexpected visit.

 

Monday

Revolution, The Longest Day. NBC, 10:00pm.
Romantic connections begin to heat up among the rebels as an onslaught of drone attacks from the militia threaten everyone involved; an assassination attempt made on Monroe's life heightens his paranoia while Foster contemplates surrendering.

Bates Motel, Underwater. A&E, 10:00pm.
While Abernathy continues to put pressure on Norman, Norman is still unsure what he wants from him; the friendship between Dylan and Bradley grows; Miss Watson notices Norman's active imagination, and encourages it; Emma takes a trip.

Independent Lens, Invisible War. PBS, 10:00pm.
The issues of rape and sexual assault in the United States military are examined, revealing the culture and conditions that led to few prosecutions, the various struggles female victims and male victims are facing, and more.

 

Tuesday

Constitution USA with Peter Sagal, It's A Free Country. PBS, 9:00pm.
Peter examines the section of the Constitution that many believe to be its most important feature, the Bill of Rights, and several headline-making stories that involve freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the right to privacy.

Body of Proof, Breakout. ABC, 10:00pm.
* * * Series Finale * * * After an inmate escapes a prison transport van and quickly becomes a wanted fugitive in Philadelphia, a witness from his murder trial mysteriously ends up dead, forcing the man to seek out Megan in hopes that she will hear his pleas of innocence.

 

Wednesday

Modern Family, Games People Play. ABC, 9:00pm.
Phil gets a brand new RV for the family in hopes going on a fun road trip, leaving Claire to let him learn the hard way as to why this is a terrible idea; Jay and Gloria help Manny look for his backpack; Mitch & Cam get competitive at Lily's meet.

Secrets of the Dead, Cavemen Cold Case. PBS, 10:00pm.
Scientists examine 49,000-year-old Neanderthal bones found in a remote region of Spain in order to determine how they died and what their deaths may mean for the Neanderthal extinction, but the discovery of possible cannibalism raises more questions.

 

Thursday

 

 

 

Friday

 

 

 

Saturday

Doctor Who, The Name of the Doctor. BBC America, 8:00pm.
* * * Season Finale * * * The Doctor keeps a secret that he plans to tell no one as long as he remains among the living, but though he plans to take the secret with him to his very grave, the truth is discovered sooner than anyone could have expected.

Saturday Night Live. NBC, 11:30pm.
Host actor Ben Affleck, musical guest Kanye West.

 

Sunday

The Simpsons, The Saga of Carl Carlson; Dangers on a Train. Fox, 8:00pm.
Two episodes of The Simpsons.

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, Libya. CNN, 9:00pm.
Anthony Bourdain explores the aftermath of the civil war that toppled Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, looking at cultural surprises such as Italian restaurants and Arabic-speaking rappers who returned home to fight the powers that be.

Mad Men, The Crash. AMC, 10:00pm.
Don is unable to conduct his regular business due to an unexpected visitor that manages to disrupt his life; while struggling to come up with a worthy idea for a campaign, Peggy attempts to find something to inspire her.

 

Graphic Credit: TVTW Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.

 

 

Friday, May 10, 2013

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

New DVD Releases This Week: Jack Reacher, Mama, and Safe Haven

DVD icon

The big releases this week are Jack Reacher and Safe Haven. I'm kind of interested in Jack Reacher but will pass on Safe Haven.

These are some of the new DVDs released this week, the ones I find interesting or of note.

 

Tuesday May 7, 2013

Jack Reacher, PG-13      Amazon
Jack Reacher is a 2012 American thriller film. It is an adaptation of Lee Child's 2005 novel One Shot. In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a man drives a van into a parking garage across the Allegheny River from PNC Park and, after paying for parking, readies a sniper rifle. He takes aim and appears to randomly kill five people around the stadium and on the river’s North Shore Trail before fleeing in the van. The police soon arrive, headed by Detective Emerson, and they discover a shell casing as well as the coin used to pay for parking. A fingerprint taken from the coin points to James Barr, a former U.S. Army sniper. When the police raid his house, they find the van, equipment for making bullets, the rifle in question, and Barr, whom they arrest.

Mama, PG-13      Amazon
A horror movie, the film deals with the story of two young girls abandoned in a forest cabin, fostered by an unknown entity that they fondly call Mama, which eventually follows them to their new suburban home after their uncle retrieves them.

Safe Haven, PG-13      Amazon
American romance film starring Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel and Cobie Smulders. Erin Tierney (Julianne Hough) leaves her abusive, alcoholic husband, Boston police detective Kevin Tierney (David Lyons), under disguise with the assistance of an elderly neighbor, Mrs. Feldman. She eventually flees to the small town of Southport, North Carolina, where she befriends her neighbor, Jo (Cobie Smulders), and adopts the identity of "Katie". She also meets Alex Wheatley (Josh Duhamel), the manager of a local convenience store, and his children, Lexie and Josh. Alex's wife died of cancer, and he keeps letters written by her to be given to their children at important moments of their lives.

 

 

Note: this blog post contains affiliate links.

Graphic Credit: DVD Icon made from WikiMedia.org free software, you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation.