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Marley & Me, a review by Rich

Marley & Me



From the director of The Devil Wears Prada comes a hilarious and heartwarming comedy based on the #1 New York Times best seller Marley & Me.
Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson unleash huge laughs as John and Jenny Grogan, a young couple contemplating the decision to start a family. Then came Marley... an adorable Labrador pup who flunks obedience school and quickly turns his new home into a disaster area. But with a heart as big as his appetite for trouble, Marley sees the Grogans through the ups and downs of life and love, and they ultimately realize that "the world's worst dog" truly brings out the best in them.

Cute loveable dog, and a labrador too. 
Seriously though, this has all the ingredients of a feel-good film, funny cute dog, gorgeous warm wife (Aniston), endearing jokey husband (Wilson), superbly behaved kids, and a tender storyline that forces even the biggest cynic to smile.
Ok, its banal, hollow, dramaless, over-sentimental etc etc as per the critics slamming, you could write an essay on all the holes you can spot and all the negatives around the movie.
But take this at face value, its easy family orientated viewing, its funny in parts, the cast is good, and the storyline adequate and of a sensible length, in other words it hits it's target audience perfectly.
The book is apparently a thousand times better, but for a simple pleasant viewing with family this one will hit the mark
 


(From Riches Random Reviews on March 31st, 2009)

The Specials, a review by Tom

Title: The Specials
Year: 2000
Director: Craig Mazin
Rating: R
Length: 82 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1 , English: Dolby Digital Stereo , Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo , Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles:

Stars:
Jordan Ladd
Rob Lowe
Jamie Kennedy
Mike Schwartz
Thomas Haden Church
Judy Greer

Plot:
They are the sixth (okay, maybe the seventh) greatest superhero team in the entire world. At their modest suburban headquarters, The Strobe ('Sideway's' Thomas Haden Church), The Weevil(Rob Lowe), foul-mouthed Amok ('Son of the Mask's' Jamie Kennedy), Ms. Indestructible (Huff's Paget Brewster), Deadly Girl ('13 Going On 30's' Judy Greer), new member Nightbird ('Cabin Fever's' Jordan Ladd) and the rest all spend their time bickering, having extramarital affairs, and preparing for the grand unveiling of their own action figure line. But when a furious Strobe suddenly disbands the group, who will be there for the oddballs, rebels, outcasts and geeks? Before they save the world, can they save themselves? Meet THE SPECIALS!

Kelly Coffield, Michael Weatherly('Dark Angel'), Chase Masterson ('Deep Space Nine') and Melissa Joan Hart ('Sabrina') co-star in this hilarious cult hit from Craig Mazin (writer of SCARY MOVIE 3) and screenwriter James Gunn (writer of SCOOBY DOO and DAWN OF THE DEAD), now loaded with special edition extras that truly put the 'special' in THE SPECIALS!

Extras:
Closed Captioned
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Photo Gallery
Trailers


A fun movie. Don't expect an action movie laden with special effects or you will be disappointed. You won't see any action in this movie and no special effects (until a little at the end of the movie). This movie is a take on the private life of some washed-up third-rate super heroes, some of them with ego problems.

Some dialog quotes:
The Weevil: I've had superpowers longer than anyone in the Specials,
  I think - which explains why I'm the only one with a Pez dispenser
  with a little me on it.

Ms. Indestructible: Every morning I look down and I'm wearing boots
  with lightning bolts on them and I think...where did I make the
  wrong turn?

The Strobe: I'm not saying the Great Strobe is better than other
  humans. I am, but that's beside the point. I can shoot laser beams
  out of my arms, that's what sets me apart. Can other humans do
  that? Can they? Can they?


Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on March 19th, 2008)

Smallville Marathon #2, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: A FotW who should be in Belle Reve reappears in Smallville and claims to be healed. Unfortunately she can't remember anything since the time she became infected. Chloe doesn't see that as a story but as a means to "cure" her, too. But the doctor isn't who he appears to be.

My Opinion: Great appearance of Dean Cain who was Clark Kent/Superman in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, a show that I also watched until it was cancelled.
What I didn't like was the fact that the Martian Manhunter has become Clark's "waste disposal". The writers have found an easy way out of any kind of plot without needing to think about it.

Synopsis: The "Warrior Angel" movie is being made in Smallville. But someone seems to have a grudge against the lead actress and tries to kill her. Why? Because "if you're destined to save the world, you're destined to be alone". But when Clark saves her (again) he's being watched and now Lana becomes the target for that very reason.

My Opinion: I really liked the talk about the world of Hollywood and the world of comics and how they differ regarding happy ends. But Smallville and other shows like Buffy have shown that happy ends are no automatism anymore. And sometimes I wished for more happy ends again.

Synopsis: Kara is looking for the crystal that was in her spaceship and she nearly crashes with a plane over Washington. But she gets caught by a government agent who knows her weakness because he analyzed the ship prior to its self-destruction. Now she's forced to relive some forgotten memories about her father and her aunt Lara - Kal-El's biological mother.

My Opinion: Now it gets soap-y. Zor-El (Kal-El's uncle and father of Kara) loves Lara and makes his daughter forget about it... And how fast she's learned to break into high security government computers. Impressive. Not.

Synopsis: A "lightning accident" gives Lana Clark's powers without taking his. Now she can experience what he is able to do. And she uses it to "procure" incriminating evidence against Lex and she brings it directly to the "Daily Planet". When they deny to print the story, she tries to finish Lex off once and for all but - surprise! - is stopped by Clark.

My Opinion: Lana is slipping over to the dark side of the force. But I really don't think that Clark is the one to blame. Sure, he lied to her over a long time, but he never betrayed her and he never did anything to hurt her (although sometimes he managed to do it anyway). These dark traits have either been there forever or she has picked them up during her time with Lex. But I liked to see that Chloe is watching out for him and that she gave Lana an upfront warning about it.

(From Smallville Marathon #2 on June 22nd, 2008)