With romantic comedies, I’ve gotten to the point where I can predict what will happen at the end. It’s not some psychic power I have. It’s just that the movies are so predictable. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t enjoyable though. Take The Proposal for example. From the first time I saw the previews I already knew what to expect. But as predictable as it is, it is an entertaining film. Out on DVD, The Proposal stars Sandra Bullock as a bitchy boss in a book publishing company and Ryan Reynolds as her dutiful assistant. When she gets threatened with deportation because of an issue with immigration (she’s Canadian), she quickly thinks up a scheme by stating that she’s engaged to Reynolds. For the rest of the film they need to pretend they’re engaged, even going as far as visiting Reynolds’ family in Alaska! That’s when the film has its funniest moments. There are some pretty funny skits in The Proposal as well as some heartwarming moments, but it’s not unlike anything that’s been done before. However, this is a great “date film” to watch or if you’re in the mood for some quick laughs. Overall, it’s not the most original film, but it’s one that is sure to entertain.
Is there anything more to be said about Ugly Betty that hasn’t already been? This highly addictive show is no doubt one of TV’s best. All you Betty lovers out there, the DVD set for the Third Season is an awesome collection to own. This season is filled with lots of fun and surprises including guest appearances by Bernadette Peters, Ralph Macchio, and Lindsey Lohan. We also get to see lots of changes in Betty’s life as she moves to a Manhattan apartment, earns a slot at YETI (Young Editors Training Institute), and gets involved in some hilarious situations involving her wacky coworkers at Mode. The DVD set runs at about 946 Minutes and features lots of extras such as deleted scenes, bloopers, commentaries, and much more to enjoy. Overall, this set is a big hit.
I never thought I'd enjoy watching Desperate Housewives, but I must confess that after seeing what goes on at Wisteria Lane in the DVD set of Season 5, I can see why this show is a hit. This set is filled with lots of juicy secrets, drama, and some hilarious scenarios that the cast gets involved in. Friendships and relationships are tested as the heat is turned up in this season. With a running time of over 1000 minutes, this DVD set contains every episode of this hit show. Along with the episodes are some bonus features (listed below) that add to the value of this set. Fans definitely will not get let down with this impressive DVD collection of Season 5.
Bonus Features
• Teri & Cherry – A look at Wisteria Lane’s dynamic duo!
• Desperate Housewives: Evolution of a modern classic
• Cherry-Picked: Marc Cherry’s Favorite Moments from Season 5
• Deleted Scenes
• Bloopers
• Audio Commentaries
I had more appreciation for Relient K's music after seeing them live at the RevGen festival in NJ last month. Fans got their money's worth as the band put on a superb show, playing tracks from their first album up until now. After hearing how well they played live, I got interested in digging into some of their latest albums. The two that I wound up checking out were Five Score and Seven Years Ago and The Bird and the Bee Sides.
Starting with Five Score and Seven Years Ago, I must say this album is one that shows a much more mature band compared to their days of chanting "Sadie Hawkins". They still have their "tongue-in-cheek" style, but overall this album definitely shows their progression as a band to be taken seriously. From beginning to end, it's an album that you can play on repeat and be totally satisfied. The ending song Deathbed is an epic track that will bring you to tears, if you pay close attention. That was the song they finished their set with at RevGen and it was a very moving experience.
Next is The Bird and the Bee Sides. Released in 2008, this album is packed with all kinds of goodies for fans to indulge in. The band stretched their style a bit more here as there are songs containing country and ska influences. It's probably more enjoyable to listen to if you've followed the band for a while, especially since there are some rare tracks on here. Overall it’s an album that shows Relient K isn't destined to be a washed-up pop-punk band. These guys actually got skills!
Aint no junk on this album!
For anyone who’s familiar with Soul-Junk, you know that you can never expect what Glen Galaxy and friends will throw at you. For those that aren’t familiar, I suggest you pick up a copy of 1960 right now. Produced by Daniel Smith (yes, THAT one from Danielson), 1960 is Soul-Junk’s eleventh album, and one of the finest pieces of music you’d hear this year. If you don’t find yourself scratching your head sometimes while listening to Soul-Junk, then you’re not listening hard enough. Make no mistake about it, Glen Galaxy sings loud and clear about his faith. However this is not the “Christian music” that you think it would be. Listening to a few of SJ’s albums is enough to convince you that Soul-Junk is all about making true ART. And 1960 is no exception when it comes to great art. Listening to Glen sing his heart out over some really creative instrumentals on this album is a very moving experience. No doubt, this is one of the must-hear albums of the year, whether you’re a believer or not.
I’ve waited too long for this release. For most MuteMath fans, the anticipation for their second album was crazy. Now, we finally have Armistice. When I first got the album, I had to play it a few times to let it sink in. I expected a much more energetic album that was going to blow away the first. I wouldn’t go as far as saying that Armistice blew away their debut, but it is a more mature sound for a band that has a reputation for pushing boundaries. It’s hard to live up to ANY high expectation that is either put on you by others, or by yourself. With Armistice, I think MuteMath knew all eyes were on them leading up to its release. No matter what you think of their debut album, you shouldn’t compare it to Armistice. Why? Well you’ll miss out on a well produced, solid album from one of the industry’s most talented artists. Standout tracks for me were The Nerve, Backfire, Armistice and the amazing closing track Burden.
I can’t believe I missed out on this as a kid. I was into everything from He-Man to Thundercats when I was younger, but for some reason I never got hooked on X-Men. Watching it over 20 years later, I now wish I would have seen it then! DVD Volumes 3 and 4 of this classic series are out now and it is a must see for any true fan out there. These are extremely entertaining and I definitely recommend checking them out! Both are 2-disc sets, with Volume 3 containing 15 episodes and 14 on Volume 4. The episodes on these sets are filled with intriguing stories and loads of action. Anyone familiar with the X-Men movie trilogy will remember Jean Grey becoming Phoenix. Well, on the Volume 3 set, there is a 4-part series titled “The Dark Phoenix” that cannot be missed if you loved that storyline from the film! Overall, if you never saw this animated series that stayed true to its comic book roots, then do yourself a favor and check these out!
Volume 3 Episode Guide
Disc 1
- Savage Land, Strange Heart (Part 1)
- Savage Land, Strange Heart (Part 2)
- Obsession
- The Dark Phoenix (Part 1)
- The Dark Phoenix (Part 2)
- The Dark Phoenix (Part 3)
- The Dark Phoenix (Part 4)
Disc 2
- Cold Comfort
- Orphan’s End
- The Juggernaut Returns
- Nightcrawler
- Weapon X, Lies, and Video Tape
- One Man’s Worth (Part 1)
- One Man’s Worth (Part 2)
- Courage
Volume 4 Episode Guide
Disc 1
- Proteus (Part 1)
- Proteus (Part 2)
- Sanctuary (Part 1)
- Sanctuary (Part 2)
- Beyond Good And Evil (Part 1)
- Beyond Good And Evil (Part 2)
- Beyond Good And Evil (Part 3)
- Beyond Good And Evil (Part 4)
Disc 2
- Have Yourself a Morlock Little X-Mas
- The Lotus and the Steel
- Love in Vain
- Secrets, Not Long Buried
- Xavier Remembers
- Family Ties
