Glee

This is a review of “Glee” (the first series to avoid spoilers) for Civic Warwick.

Rating: PG

Starring: Lea Michele, Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Cory Monteith, Heather Morris, Matthew Morrison, Mike O’Malley, Amber Riley, Naya Rivera, Mark Salling, Harry Shum, Jr., Jenna Ushkowitz.

Spanish teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) has extremely fond memories of his own high school glee club. He takes over McKinley High School’s glee club, hoping to restore it to its former glory, and to evoke the same appreciation for the club in the students of today.

However, the only students that sign up for the Glee Club are a bunch of social misfits and outcasts. There’s the extremely fame-hungry Rachel Berry (Lea Michele), the big-voiced and outspoken Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley), the feminine and bullied Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer), the painfully shy Tina Cohen-Chang (Jenna Ushkowitz), and the wheelchair-bound Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale).

Will must shape these teens into a team of singers that can work together and create performance magic. Will needs to recruit more members to turn his dream into a reality. But how to entice the “cooler” kids to join? And is he making the right decision? His wife Terri (Jessalyn Gilsig) is not very supportive of his chosen career…

And then there’s Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch). Words cannot suffice.

I will be honest. It took me a long time to begin this series. I saw the ads on TV years ago and every time one came on I would cringe. The show seemed so … Lame. But I am so glad I gave it a chance. It is very well written, and much more humorous then I had expected. It also deals with a number of serious issues faced by both teenagers and adults, and in a way that doesn’t make you feel like you’re watching an after school special or Degrassi (not that I didn’t love Degrassi as a teen). I also love the different spins they put on the songs they sing, and the mashups are great fun. All of the characters are different and multi-dimensional, even if they may at first glance seem like walking, talking stereotypes, each character has a depth to them.

Even if you think it might not be your thing, why not watch the first ep and see? You may be surprised like I was.

At Civic Warwick you can find “Glee” in our TV Series Section.

Sherlock

This is a review of “Sherlock” (the first series to avoid spoilers) for Civic Warwick.

Rating: M

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Una Stubbs, Rupert Graves, Louise Brealey, Mark Gatniss, Andrew Scott, Jonathan Aris, Vinette Robinson.

Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman) is an ex soldier and medical doctor suffering from PTSD. He is struggling to reintegrate back in normal everyday London life. He finds that nothing ever happens to him, and he’s even finding it hard to make ends meet financially. He meets up with an old friend who informs him that he knows of another man who is in need of a flat mate. He takes him to meet Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch). Holmes refers to himself as a consulting detective. Certain members of the police force refer to him as a “freak”.

John finds himself becoming Sherlock’s flatmate and also his colleague, helping him to solve mysteries. (Though mostly this involves Sherlock talking at John, insulting his intelligence and using him as a sounding board for his various ideas and theories.

I really, really liked this series. It is quite short, but it is expertly written and acted and it makes for excellent viewing. I loved the wit and intelligence, not only with the dialogue and script, but with the clever storylines (based on the original Sherlock works written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyke) and characters.

I also enjoyed finding these online:
the blog of John Watson and the blog of Sherlock Holmes. Give them a look after you’ve watched the series, I promise you’ll find them entertaining.

At Civic Warwick you can find “Sherlock” on DVD in our TV Series Section.

Despicable Me 2

This is a review of “Despicable Me 2” for Civic Warwick.

Rating: PG

Starring: (voice talents) Steve Carrell, Russell Brand, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Benjamin Bratt, Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher, Ken Jeong, Steve Coogan, Nasim Pedrad, Moisés Arias, Kristen Schaal, Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud

Gru (Steve Carrell) is happily taking care of his three daughters, and he’s given up his life of villainy to experiment as a legitimate businessman who specializes in jellies and jam. Edith (Dana Gaier) is a budding little villainous protege. Margo (Miranda Cosgrove) is growing up, and becoming interested in boys, much to Gru’s dismay. Sweet little Agnes (Elsie Fisher) is still as cute as ever, but she’s starting to feel the keen ache for a mother.

Gru is kidnapped one day by the fun-loving and slightly loopy Agent Lucy Wilde (Kristin Wiig) of the AVL (Anti-Villain League). They’re after Gru’s help with an unsolvable case they’ve been working on which is investigating the theft of PX-41, a transmutation serum. If the serum is unleashed on the world, it could spell disaster. The serum has been traced to a shopping mall. It’s up to Lucy and Gru to go undercover as shop owners, and deduce who is responsible for the theft of the serum.

I loved this movie. There’s more than a few hilarious moments, and a couple of really touching ones too. I liked the character of Lucy, and the dynamic she shared with Gru. After being addicted to the iPhone/iPad game “Minion Rush” it was nice to finally put a story to the game. I missed seeing this film at the cinema, as my partner went with our 3 year old, so it was fun to finally watch it.

World War Z

This is a review of the film “World War Z” for Civic Warwick.

Rating: M

Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Fana Mokoena, Daniella Kertesz, James Badge Dale, David Morse, Ludi Boeken, Matthew Fox, Abigail Hargrove, Sterling Jerins

The world is forced to respond to a planet-wide threat. It’s not a natural disaster, and it’s not a war in the traditional sense.

It’s much, much worse. It’s a pandemic, and nowhere is very safe. A virus has turned people into zombies. But these aren’t your everyday shuffling, slavering zombies, oh no. These are fast, swarming, creatures that are turned 12 seconds after the first bite.

Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) is a valued ex-member of the UN. He is approached for re-recruitment to find the cause of the zombie pandemic. He agrees on the condition that his wife Karin (Mireille Enos) and children Rachel (Abigail Hargrove) and Constance (Sterling Jerins) be given protection and made a priority. Can he find patient zero, and the cause of the zombie spread and help find a cure before it’s too late?

I loved this film. When I first saw a preview for this movie at the cinema, I thought it looked uber lame. It wasn’t clear that it was a zombie movie, and I thought how dumb to have a movie about (presumably) the last world war, because for some reason we’d begun labelling them with letters. This is most probably one of the best zombie films that I have seen. I loved it. It had a believability and it had a lot of suspense. I liked the fast paced feel, it really pumped the adrenaline. I really enjoyed it.

“World War Z” is available to rent on DVD and Blu Ray at Civic Warwick.

Epic

This is a review of the film “Epic” for Civic Warwick.

Rating: PG

Starring: (voice talents) Beyonce Knowles, Colin Farrell, Amanda Seyfried, Christoph Waltz, Josh Hutcherson, Aziz Ansari, Chris O’Dowd, Pitbull, Jason Sudeikis, Steven Tyler, Blake Anderson

Professor Bomba (Jason Sudeikis) is an eccentric scientist who has spent his life searching for tiny humanoid beings. His search has not been fruitful, and his bullheadedness and extreme focus had led to a breakdown in many areas of his life, including his personal relationships and his career. His seventeen year old daughter Mary Katherine aka M.K. (Amanda Seyfried) has had to move in with him. She’s dismayed by his persistent and relentless study of something so ridiculous and seemingly crazy.

But as M.K. is soon to find out, they are real. The tiny Queen Tara (Beyoncé Knowles) is ruler of the forest and she’s due to choose an heir to the throne. Protected by Leafmen (soldiers) and in particular their leader Ronin (Colin Farrell), she heads to a field of leaf pods, protected by slug Mub (Aziz Ansari) and snail Grub (Chris O’Dowd), to find a pod for the Royal heir ritual. Here she is attacked by the evil Boggans, small creatures that cause rot and death, who are led by the vicious Mandrake (Christoph Waltz). It is during the aftermath of this attack, that Queen Tara and Mary Katherine’s paths cross, and M.K.’s life will be changed forever.

“Epic” was, well … Epic. I loved it. It had a touching storyline that was both powerful and humorous. I adored Ozzy, Professor Bomba’s three legged pet Pug, and I really enjoyed the clever dialogue for all of the characters. It was a great family film to watch, as it was entertaining for both children and adults. Our three year old loved it!

“Epic” is available to rent on DVD and Blu Ray at Civic Warwick.

The Killing Season

This is a review of the film “The Killing Season” for Civic Warwick.

Rating: MA 15+

Starring: John Travolta, Robert De Niro, Milo Ventimiglia, Elizabeth Olin

Emil Kovač (John Travolta) and Benjamin Ford (Robert De Niro) were both in the Bosnian War. But they weren’t on the same side. Ford was part of the American force sent in by the UN to end the war, and Kovač was a Bosnian soldier, and member of the elite Scorpion Soldiers, who were responsible for terrible and unimaginable atrocities . Ford meant to kill Kovač in the war, but unfortunately his shot allowed Kovač to live.

Ford has isolated himself from society and his own family, and lives in a hunting cabin somewhere in the Appalachian Mountains. He’s not been the same since the war. Kovač burns for revenge, and he’s been waiting a long time. When these two men come face to face you know that it’s going to be messy to say the least.

I liked this movie. The suspense was maintained throughout, and the injuries they inflicted upon one another were most definitely horrid, believable and cringe-inducing. My only gripe (and it’s probably my own issue to get past) is that Travolta’s accent sounded off. Whether it actually was bad or I just couldn’t take hearing him speak like that when I know he has an American accent in real life, I don’t know. Definitely worth a watch if you like a mano a mano movies.

“The Killing Season” is available to rent on DVD and Blu Ray at Civic Warwick.

Game of Thrones

This is a review of “Game of Thrones” (the first season to avoid spoilers) for Civic Warwick.

Rating: R 18+

Starring: Sean Bean, Michelle Fairley, Richard Madden, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Art Parkinson, Alfie Allen, Kit Harington, John Bradley, James Cosmo, Mark Addy, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Peter Dinklage, Jerome Flynn, Charles Dance, Jack Gleeson, Rory McCann, Aidan Gillen, Conleth Hill, Harry Lloyd, Emilia Clarke, Jason Momoa, Iain Glen.

Strange happenings have been occurring north of The Wall, a towering barricade that protects the people from, well, from things that come from the North. White walkers (fanciful stories, or something much more sinister?), direwolves, wildlings… The north is dangerous ok? And the Brothers in Black, the Men of The Knight’s Watch need more men. They are thinly scattered across the vast expanse of The Wall and they know they cannot possibly take on a serious threat if one does emerge from the wilderness of the north…

Eddard Stark rules Winterfell. His territory lies in the far north (well as far north as you can get south of The Wall). At Winterfell it is always cold. And that’s in summer. But as every Stark knows, winter is coming. Lord Stark (Ned to his buddies) is quite comfortable where is. He has his family, he has his duty and he has Winterfell. But when his old friend King Robert Baratheon pays him a visit, he knows he’s not going to like what’s coming. King Robert needs Ned to come back with him to court at King’s Landing to be the Hand of the King. Ned really would rather not, but cannot think of an honorable way to say no. So off Ned goes with his two daughters in tow to King’s Landing.

Tyrion Lannister is known as the imp. He is a dwarf (not the mining kind, just the short kind). He is brother to the Queen, Cersei, and her twin brother Jaime, Knight of the Kingsguard. He will always put his family first, even if he doesn’t like them very much. But Tyrion has a knack of always being present at the wrong time.

Daenerys Targaryen is a Princess. Living in hiding with her older brother Viserys, they are the last known heirs to the lost throne. Their father King Aerys (The Mad King and last of the Dragon Kings) was murdered by The Kingslayer: Ser Jaime Lannister. His throne was taken up by Robert Baratheon. The rest of their family was slaughtered, including the heir to the throne, their elder brother Rhaegor. Viserys will stop at nothing to get “his throne” back. He will even trade his sister to the savage Dothraki for an army…

This is probably my most favourite TV Series of all time. It’s sexy, it’s brutal, it’s crazy; it truly is like no other TV show. The effects are awesome, and the story is like nothing else. It’s truly shocking in some parts. You love the characters, or you hate them.

Give it a watch. Even if you think a medieval or fantasy TV Series isn’t your thing, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

At Civic Warwick we have Seasons 1 and 2 of “Game of Thrones” on DVD and Blu-Ray. You will find it in our TV Series section.

The Internship

This is a review of the film “The Internship” for Civic Warwick.

Rating: M

Starring: Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Rose Byrne, Josh Brener, Max Minghella, Joanna Garcia, John Goodman, Jessica Szohr, Tiya Sircar, Dylan O’Brien, Tobit Raphael, Bruno Amato, Aasif Mandvi, Josh Gad, Rob Riggle, Eric Andre, Will Ferrell

Nick (Owen Wilson) and Billy (Vince Vaughn) are salesmen who find themselves out of work when the company they work for goes bust. They’re finding it hard to get back into the job market as they’ve worked primarily in sales their entire working lives. It’s affected their personal lives, and they’re both feeling deflated and defeated.

Billy finds an advertisement for a internship at Google and convinces Nick to give it a shot with him. They sit for an interview via Skype (“on the line”) hoping that they will be considered. The people at Google are worried that they’re severely “behind the times” technologically speaking, but after much thought they are allowed into the internship program.

They are placed in a team with other interns and must compete against more teams in a variety of challenges. The team who performs the best overall at the end of the internship wins the ultimate prize: a job at Google.

This movie was entertaining, I enjoyed all of the geeky references and the somewhat hyperbolic characteristics of each of the characters. At times Vince Vaughn’s “speed rambling” got to me (it usually does), and it felt a little slow in parts, but I mostly enjoyed it. I liked the positive vibe and I especially liked the “Sports Challenge” scene.

“The Internship” is available to rent on DVD and Blu Ray at Civic Warwick.

Deadfall

This is a review of the film “Deadfall” for Civic Warwick.

Rating: MA 15+

Starring: Eric Bana, Olivia Wilde, Charlie Hunnam, Sissy Spacek, Kate Mara, Treat Williams, Kris Kristofferson

Addison (Eric Bana) and Liza (Olivia Wilde) are siblings on the run from the law. An automobile accident leaves them without a vehicle, foiling their plans of getting across the Canadian border as quickly as they can. Unfortunately, they’re now both stuck in disastrous weather. They decide to split up, to decrease the chances of being recognized and detained.

Meanwhile Jay (Charlie Hunnam) is released from prison. His parents Chet (Kris Kristofferson) and June (Sissy Spacek) want him home for Thanksgiving, but he’s gotten himself into more trouble directly after his release and he’s full of more self-loathing than ever. He doesn’t know if he can face them.

Hannah (Kate Mara) is an officer in the local sheriff’s department. She’s always having to prove herself to her father Sheriff Marshall T. Becker (Treat Williams) but he’s never happy with her. The other officers also treat her with disdain and she’s more than over it.

Soon, they will cross paths with one another, and the result can only be interesting…

I didn’t mind this movie. Some parts felt a little stilted or predictable, but Eric Bana was sufficiently creepy and badass enough. I’m not a fan of put on accents, but he did an okay job. I enjoyed the characters played by Sissy Spacek and Kris Kristofferson, I thought both actors gave good performances. I felt the characters were a little gender stereotyped, but I did feel that family dysfunction and family issues were portrayed well. I also enjoyed the tense scene at the end.

“Deadfall” is available for rent on DVD and Blu-Ray at Civic Warwick.

Trueblood

This is a review of the TV Series “Trueblood” (the first season to avoid spoilers) for Civic Warwick.

Rating: R 18+

Starring: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley, Nelsan Ellis, Chris Bauer, Alexander Skarsgård, Kristin Bauer van Straten, Carrie Preston, Michael Raymond-James, William Sanderson, Lynn Collins, Lois Smith, Todd Lowe

Sookie (Anna Paquin) is a waitress in the small Southern town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, USA. But Sookie is different. Sookie can hear other people’s thoughts, and it’s not something she would ever wish upon anyone else. She’s never met a vampire, but she’s been longing to ever since “they came out of the coffin” a couple of years back.

Her wish soon comes true, as the handsome and mysterious Vampire Bill (Stephen Moyer) pays a visit to Merlotte’s Bar & Grill (her workplace) late one evening. Sookie and Bill hit it off, and pretty soon Sookie is drawn deeper into the world of vampires.

But girls in Bon Temps are showing up dead; strangled, naked and with fang marks. When tragedy strikes close to home for Sookie, she decides to take matters into her own hands (or brain) and uses her ability to try and solve this murder mystery.

I am a massive “Trueblood” fan. I adore the book series and this is one of my most favourite TV shows of all time. “Trueblood” is clever, suspenseful and surprisingly funny. It’s passionate and raw. It is acted really well and the script is quite tight. The characters are well developed and diverse. I enjoy the Southern flavour and the different life issues that are dealt with within the story, along with all the supernatural happenings.

I will be honest though, Seasons 5 and 6 were massive let-downs for me. I think this is because they strayed so drastically from the books, and this disappointed me very much. I found the scripts in these two Seasons to be a bit lacking, I believe the dialogue didn’t flow as well as it did in previous seasons, and the storylines felt a little disconnected. Regardless, I really loved Seasons 1-4.

At Civic Warwick you can find Seasons 1-5 of “Trueblood” in our TV Series Section.