Pineapple Express

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  Pineapple Express
Where:  rented from Blockbuster
Why:  We both wanted to see it

I'm a Judd Apatow, gross comedy movie fan.  This movie wasn't his typical lots of swearing, 'maybe this should be rated more than R' type movie.  It was really, really funny, but it wasn't openly funny.  It seemed like all the characters were just winging their dialog.  A lot of random stuff was said under their breath.  I think if I saw this movie a 2nd or 3rd time, it would be even funnier b/c I would hear more stuff.

Dale (Seth Rogan) is a process server.  He drives around and hands out court appointed papers.  It's an easy job that allows him to drive around and do the 2 things he loves:  smoke weed and listen to AM talk radio.  He's been recently buying weed from Saul (James Franco - almost unrecognizable from his Spiderman roll).  Saul was a weird character.  He seemed pretty intelligent, and he loves his grandma, but he's also a drug dealer and kind-of a moron.  Regardless, his Jaws t-shirt from the '80s and his Zumba pants.  (if you're a football fan, you know what I'm talking about!  Actually, they're not really Zumba brand, but they have that Zumba feel to them).

As Dale drives out to a big house to serve some papers, he sees a cop and a guy shoot somebody.  He freaks out, drops his weed (he's smoking 24/7!) and drives away (hitting the cop car in the process).  Unfortunately, the guy who murdered somebody was the head drug dealer in town.  Even more unfortunately, the weed he dropped was the infamous Pineapple Express weed.  Only one dealer in town had it - Saul.  So now Dale and Saul are on the run!  They can't go to the cops, because they are in on it!

The rest of the movie shows them on the run for the next 2 days, until the big showdown in a huge drug warehouse.  Dale and Saul are unlikely heros, but they manage to come out ok.  See this movie for the hilarious banter between Dale and Saul, for Dale's hilarious girlfriend, and even more hilarious father of the girlfriend!

One big bummer - that snazzy song from the previews is nowhere to be found.

John Tucker Must Die

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  John Tucker Must Die
Where:  @ home - recorded off cable
Why:  It looked cute

This movie was a big ball of cheesy fun.

John Tucker is the hottest guy in high school.  He's dating the head cheerleader (duh!).  He's also dating the head of the school paper.  He's also dating another stereotypical teen - the earthy, vegetarian.  The 3 girls find out about each other, and they formulate a plan to get back to John Tucker.

Kate, the new girl in town, has no friends.  I find this IMPOSSIBLE to believe b/c she's incredibly hot (Brittney Snow).  She's also super smart, and hangs out with a nerd-ish boy with curly hair.  He just happens to be John Tucker's younger brother.

The 3 ditched girls convince Kate to 'fake' date John Tucker, then break up with him and break his heart.  She goes along with it, b/c she's happy to finally have some friends.  The girls help her become even hotter, and teach her classic dating techniques.

I'm sure you can see where this is going ...

As teeny bopper as it may sound, it was actually a quality movie.  It has a happy ending, but it doesn't end in your typical teenage fashion.  If you can find it on cable, and you are looking for some giggles, check it out!

CHiPs 99

Who: Bill
What: CHiPs 99
Where: Old tape recorded when it first aired
Why: One of my favorite childhood shows was "CHiPs"

CHiPs--an acronym for California Highway Patrol-- originally aired from 1977 to 1983 on NBC. The show followed the adventures of motorcycle officers Jon Baker (Larry Wilcox) and Frank “Ponch” Poncherello (Erik Estrada) as they patrolled the vast Southern California freeway system and surrounding streets. High-speed chases, spectacular slow-motion car crashes and plenty of light humor along with John Parker’s memorable theme song and a disco soundtrack by film composer Alan Silvestri (starting in the second season) made CHiPs a very popular show with young viewers for most of its six years. In October 1998, 15 years after the last episode, cable network TNT brought back most of the original stars for a reunion movie clearly designed for those who watched the show either in its first-run era or during the years of reruns that followed. The movie was called CHiPs 99, even though it premiered in the fall of 1998.


In the movie, Ponch has returned to the CHP, teaming up with Jon (now a Captain) to investigate the theft of high-end automobiles. The story is reminiscent of the first episode’s main plot back in 1977, right down to a similar opening chase sequence. Helping out Jon and Ponch are their former Sergeant-- now Commissioner-- Joe Getraer (Robert Pine), former Officer and now Detective Grossman (Paul Linke), Officer Baricza (Brodie Greer) and just-promoted Sergeant Bruce Nelson (Bruce Penhall). Along for the ride are newer recruits Officer Roulette (Paul Korver), Office McFall (David Ramsey), helicopter pilot Stormy (Sean Holland) and Jon’s wife Officer Sandy Baker (Stacy Randall). Special cameo appearances are made by Garry Marshall, Stephen J. Cannell, Judge Judy Sheindlin, CHiPs creator Rick Rosner, and infamous celebrity lawyer Johnnie Cochran.

It is great to see Ponch and Jon back together again, albeit a little older, a little wiser and a little heavier… or in Ponch’s case, “paunchier”. It’s actually a testament to the excellent on-screen chemistry of Estrada and Wilcox which makes this movie and the original series fun to watch. Although CHiPs appealed especially to kids and teens, CHiPs 99 acknowledges that audience is now grown-up. That maturity level is reflected in scenes involving serious danger and the use of mild profanity in a few scenes. Additionally, the movie provides appropriate closure that was missed when the series ended.

When Wilcox left CHiPs in 1982, it was thought that Estrada’s higher popularity would be enough to sustain the show. But viewers quickly missed Jon and CHiPs reached the end of the freeway a year later. For that last year, Ponch was given new partners, first Bobby Nelson and then brother Bruce. It is noteworthy that Tom Reilly, who played Bobby, proved to be a difficult person on the set and his arrest for drunk driving and drug possession led to his role being significantly reduced. The well-liked Penhall effectively became the new co-star. For fans of the series, a rescue scene in the movie involving Jon and Bruce takes on added significance as the two never appeared together in the series.


While no further CHiPs reunion movies were produced, a feature film starring Wilmer Valderrama as Ponch is being planned for later in 2009. In the meantime, CHiPs 99 may occasionally air on TNT. It's worth catching if you find it and a definite "thumbs up".

The Messangers

Who:  Amber
What:  The Messangers
Where:  at home - recorded off cable
Why:  My Friday the 13th scary movie marathon!

This movie was more 'thriller' than horror.  It was scary, but it's wasn't a bloody gore fest.

The movie opens with a mother, teenage girl and a young boy running thru their large farm house from spooky Grudge-like apparitions.

Fast forward 5 years, and a family is moving in to the farm house.  The teenager, Jess (the girl from Twilight) is obviously not thrilled about moving from Chicago to middle of nowhere North Dakota.  Bad things start happening to her, and only here, so of course her parents don't believe her.

At first this seemed like a typical super natural thriller.  You know, the house is alive type of movie.  But throw in a little surprise ending, and it was pretty good!

Stay Alive

Who:  Amber
What:  Stay Alive
Where:  @ home off cable
Why:  Part of my Friday the 13th horror movie marathon

I had never heard of this movie before, but I found it on the Chiller network.  It said it stared Frankie Munez, so I figured I'd give it a try.

The plot is some what ridiculous, but this movie really scared me.  Maybe it was because I was watching it on Friday the 13th, it was dark outside, I was all alone, and I found 2 cats on my back porch (I don't have a cat).

Anyway, this movie opens with a guy playing a video game called Stay Alive.  Actually, he's a video game tester, so this game isn't even out yet.  He dies in the game, and it freaks him out a little bit.  1 hour later, he's dead in real life.

Another group of hard core gamers start playing the game, and they are in trouble too.  The game is actually based on a real legend of some freaky lady who liked to kill young girls.

Long story short, a couple of gamers die, while the rest figure out how to face this wacko lady, with a little help from the video game.  The spirit lady was kind-of freaky, and there were a lot of startling scenes (like scary stuff jumping out from nowhere).  If you like scary movies, then you might want to check it out.  Otherwise, you can probably pass.

Gran Torino

Who: Scott & Kerri, with some friends of ours
What: Gran Torino
Where: Showplace 16 Rockford IL
Why: We got a call, 'let's go to the movies' so we went!


I've been wanting to see this movie, but haven't had the chance to get to the theatre. I figured I'd have to wait til the DVD. I am glad we went.

This movie had a lot of funny moments, wrapped in a very serious film. Clint Eastwood plays a widower who does not get along with his neighbors, his kids, his grandkids, his priest.. you get the picture. Old Curmudgeon doesn't even begin to describe him. He's living in the house he raised his family in, and the neighborhood is now mostly Chinese Immigrants, but it's the gangs that are the real problem. He doesn't set out to be a hero, he really just wants to be left alone, and for people to stay off his lawn.

When the older cousin of the teenage neighbor (Tao) insists that Tao join his gang, things go bad. Tao is a quiet kid who doesn't know what he wants to do with his life, except he knows he doesn't want to be in a gang. There are no men in his life, his mom and sister are constantly bossing him around. He is very much in danger to being lost to the gangs, until Walt steps in.

Tao's mother feels Tao owes a debt to Walt (Eastwood), so she makes Tao work for Walt. Slowly Walt starts to warm to Tao, and especially Tao's sister, Su. In the course of events, Walt ends up saving both of them at different times from gang activity. Su and Tao do eventually befriend Walt, even against his will, he cares for them as well.

I do not want to give away the ending, it's very powerful, and in some ways shocking. But you leave that theatre with a "Wow." There was a lot of funny stuff through the entire film, I know when we watch it again on DVD, there's going to be a lot more dialogue we pick up on since there was such laughing in the theatre! But once you get to the end of the film, it was dead quiet in the theatre.

I'd heard this was a great film, although I think it's even better than I'd expected.

Freddy vs. Jason

Who:  Amber
What:  Freddy vs. Jason
Where:  @ home off cable
Why:  The 3rd movie in my horror movie marathon

This movie was cheese ball city - but if you are a fan of either Freddy Krugar (Nightmare on Elm Street) and/or Jason Voorhes (Friday the 13th), then you must see this movie!

The movie starts out with Freddy's back story.  They even show clips from his old movies!  Basically, the kids on Elm Street have forgotten all about him, so he's lost all his power.  His plan is to have Jason start killing people in Elm Street, then everybody will think he's back ... start to remember him, and *wham* his power will be resorted!  Then he can get rid of Jason, and continue killing kids himself.

Of course, the first to go are the slutty teens and the underage drinkers.

There is a quality back story with our main girl (somebody I've never seen before), her doctor father who works in a mental hospital and her boyfriend from 4 years ago who disappeared, who was actually in the mental hospital (although she didn't know that).

The kids and a young cop realize what is going on, and devise a plan to bring Freddy out of their dreams and into real life so Jason can get rid of him.  Let the serial killer showdown begin!

Who will win?!?  I'll never tell ... although the new Friday the 13th movie came out last weekend, so maybe that gives it away a little bit.

The Other Boleyn Girl

Who: Lola
What: The Other Boleyn Girl
Where: 60" of Blu-Ray in my family room
Why: It was cheap on the Blockbuster used shelf



So...my first attempt at Yakking!!!

This movie is the story of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII. It stars Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johannsen and Eric Bana. The movie is based on a book by Phillipa Gregory. A book that Ms. Gregory says to be fact, but is actually a fictionalized account of the rise and fall of Boleyn.

I am not one of those people who read a book, and immediately discount the movie version. I am, however, a person who nitpicks when a movie is incredibly different from the book. There are not enough nits in the world for me to pick to account for the differences from print to screen in this movie, but I digress, I am here to talk about the movie.

This is the story of Anne Boleyn and her sister Mary. The Boleyns are a power hungry bunch, and the daughters are used to gain "favor" with King Henry. They become King H8's Holly and Kendra I guess. Henry wants a son to be his heir, and his wife, Catherine of Aragon cannot give him one. Mary becomes Henry's mistress and mother of a son who will never be king. Anne uses her feminine ways to get Henry to break from the Catholic Church, divorce Catherine and marry her. She really loses her head over this guy...

For the women, this movie does not have enough "romance". For the men, nothing blows up. The movie moves along at a quirky pace. The gay men are neutered. The straight men are neutered.

I'd rent it if you had nothing else to add to your Netflix queue. And didn't want to be bothered with reading the book. And aren't a stickler for historic accuracy.

Some Wierd Trivia though...

• The neckalce that Natalie Portman wears in the movie (a B with pearl teardrops) is the same one Ugly Betty wears on that show.


• At one point in the movie, Natalie Portman's Anne utters the Star Wars Line "you're my only hope" it made me chuckle.

Pineapple Express

Who: Liz and Robert
What: Pineapple Express
Where: home
Why: we wanted to
Well, I have to be in the mood for movies like this and I sort of enjoyed it. The whole premise of this movie is this stoner, is about to serve a asubpoena to this guy and he watches the guy murder someone! This is after he has just picked up some new type of pot from his dealer. Well, it is all about trying to not be found by the guy who murdered the person and what happens to the stoner guy, ( I forget the names of the characters) and his drug dealer and the drug dealer’s drug dealer. It was such a farce because with all the shooting going on, people should actually be dead, but similar to a cartoon, these folks live and actually walk around! Without medical intervention- I mean this doesn’t happen in real life.
The funniest part of the whole movie was dinner with the stoner’s girlfriends’ parents. I really laughed out loud at that part, but the rest of it was just kind of stupid.
If you are in the mood to just laugh and put aside all normal ideas about the way things happen, then this movie is for you.

Final Destination 2

Who:  Amber
What:  Final Destination 2
Where:  I own it on DVD
Why:  It's Friday the 13th

I love horror movies - and the movies in the Final Destination series scare the poop out of me.  I think it's because they are so 'real'.  I mean, there are people dying right and left, which is unrealistic, but they are dying from 'real' things.  There isn't a zombie, or a killer shark, or a maniac with a chainsaw.  They are falling off ladders or getting in car crashes.

This movie starts out with a girl (wow - I already forgot her name.  It's AJ Cook - who plays JJ on Criminal Minds) going on a spring break with 3 friends.  She gets on the highway, and all of a sudden a huge log falls off a logging truck.  The truck screeches to a hault, more logs fall off, and there is a huge pile up.  Her car is flipping over and over.  Many people are killed in the crash.  A burning semi truck is headed right for her upside down car ... then she wakes up.  She's had a crazy vision of what is about to happen.  Sitting at the green light, about to merge on to the highway, she realizes all the cars behind her will all crash with her.  She turns her car so nobody can get by.

Of course, all the cars stuck behind her at the light are totally annoyed ... until they realize she saved their lives ... or did she?

You see, when it's your time to go, it's your time to go.  Death has a plan.  So one by one, each person who was supposed to die in the car crash is killed.  The spooky (and gross!) thing about this movie is the way they die.  Like I said, it's no maniac killer, it's just life.  Every day life is killing these people.

I can't wait to check out the 4th movie in this series.  I think it comes out this year.

Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd

Who:  Amber
What:  Dumb and Dumberer:  When Harry Met Lloyd
Where:  @ home
Why:  Bored

This movie wasn't as lame as I expected.  Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I didn't pay a dime for it, but it wasn't a complete waste of my time.

Also, how much money does Eugene Levey have?  He's in every horrible movie ever made!

So this movie starts with Harry (some unknown actor) and Lloyd (some other unknown actor who looks a lot like Jim Carray) as they run into each other (litterally - *smash*) on their way to high school.  Harry has been home-schooled by a super over protective mother, and Lloyd is just a moron.

The school principal, Eugene Levey and the lunch lady (Sheri O'Terri - what ever happened to her?) are planning to form a bogus special needs class so they can get a huge check from the government.  Of course, Harry and Lloyd are the perfect set of morons to start a class.  They find a bunch of other slackers and foreign exchange kids, and form a special needs class - where absolutely no work get done what so ever.

Mildly amusing things happen.  Of course, on accident, they show the entire town that the principal is a lying jerk.  Overall, it was kind-of a cute movie.  I mean, Harry and Lloyd weren't complete morons.  They really cared about each other.  Also, I must admit, the soundtrack was pretty rockin!

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Who:  Amber & Jonathan
What:  Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Where:  @ home - we own it on DVD
Why:  It recently celebrated an anniversary (20 years maybe?)

This movie is soooooooooooooo good.  If you haven't seen it, you will be amazed.  Especially when you think about the fact that it was made in the late '80s.  The effects are pretty impressive.  I mean, when you watch an 80's movie, you can totally say, "arg - nice '80s effects!", but not this movie.  It's totally seamless between the animated characters and the human characters.

The story revolves around Roger Rabbit (a cartoon rabbit) and Eddie Valient (a human detective).  Eddie used to enjoy working for 'toons', until a toon killed his brother.  Dropped a piano on his head.

Well, Eddie is down on his luck, and gets involved in sleuthing around the death of RK Maroon - one of the main lovers of toons.  If RK's will doesn't show up soon, anybody will be able to buy Toontown!  Will Eddie get over his hatred of toons to help them out (RK Maroon was supposed to will Toontown to the toons!)?  Or will a piano get dropped on his head, just like his brother?

What's fun about this movie is all the cartoon characters.  You'll see Mickey Mouse, Betty Boop,  Dumbo, Yosemite Same and hundreds more!  You could probably watch this movie a zillion times and still not catch all the cool background stuff.

Best line of the movie:

"What's the password?"

"Walt sent me"  

(as in Walt Disney!)

Freaky Friday

Who:  Amber
What:  Freaky Friday
Where:  @ home off cable
Why:  It's a cute movie

Say what you want about Lindsay Lohan, but she was one super cute (and really good) child actor.

And, as usual, I forgot the character's names already.  So it's Lindsay and Jamie (as in Jamie Lee Curtis!).

Lindsay is a typical 17 year old.  She is really smart, but into rock music (not your stereotypical stupid teenager).  She thinks her mom is ruining her life.  Jamie Lee is a widower about to be remarried.  She is a psychologist, and a very calm, collected woman.  Her 17 year old is a little too wild for her tastes.

At their wedding rehearsal dinner (at a Chinese restaurant) they have a huge mother daughter blow out.  Their waitress offers them a fortune cookie to calm down.  Little to they know, the fortune cookie is magical!

When they wake up the next day, they have switched bodies.  They realize this, but they can't tell anybody - people will think they're nuts.  "Suuuuuure mom - you've switched bodies with your daughter.  Riiiiight!"  Lindsay has a huge test at school this day, and Jamie is getting married the next day!  Gross - Lindsay can't pretend to be her mom and get married, b/c you know what happens on your wedding night.

I'm sure you've all heard this story before.  They both struggle thru the day, learn valuable lessons, and live happily ever after.  But how Jamie Lee Curtis takes on Lindsay Lohan's characteristics, and vice versa is really cute!  Even though I'm sure you can predict the ending, I still recommend this movie.  I'm sure you can find it on Disney channel.

New In Town

Who: Rochelle & Bob
What: New In Town
Where: AMC Pleasure Island
Why: It was the only decent looking movie at the time we were there.

Fish out of water saves small town... sound familiar? No originality here other than it was a women instead of a man in the starring role. Harry Connick Jr. was super handsome and acted very well but didn't have enough lines to really show his stuff. Renee Zellweger looked weird in this movie. She had a cute hair cut but all her close-ups made her face look morphed or something. Her character is on a career track in Miami and is sent to Minnesota to make big corporate changes in this small town factory. What do you know it is cold in Minnesota compared to Florida and she learns that these small town people have a big heart and they just can't close the plant! It was a cute story and had a few funny moments but the pace of the movie was so slow and so predictable. This would have made a great Saturday afternoon USA network or Lifetime movie. I can't believe an Oscar winning actress would need to do this kind of movie. Mildly disappointed and entertained.