Year: 2006 (Page 158 of 228)

DVD shuffle: 04/11/06

Out on DVD this week:

1) The Greatest Game Ever Played – RENT: Okay, so Disney may be getting a little out of hand with these true-story sports underdog movies, but I’ll be damned if every single one isn’t entertaining. Plus, it’s always nice to see Shia LeBeouf proving his talents in a creditable role. This kid’s got future Oscar winner written all over him.

2) Fun With Dick & Jane – RENT: Probably the funniest Jim Carrey comedy of the past decade. It’s not perfect, and the DVD doesn’t offer much in the way of special features, but it’s worth seeing atleast once.

3) Mission: Impossible/Mission: Impossible 2 – BUY: I don’t care how much of a loser Tom Cruise may be these days, the “Mission: Impossible” films are good fun, and the upcoming third film will be a nice trilogy topper. With that said, the first film is far superior when compared to John Woo’s follow-up, but both are necessary additions for any DVD enthusiast.

Also out this week is the Aussie horror flick “Wolf Creek,” the little-seen drama “An Unfinished Life,” the Naomi Watts vehicle “Ellie Parker” and the fifth season of “In Living Color.”

“24,” Hour 17: Pigs in Zen.

And just like that, Charles Logan has gone from President Buck Buck Brawwwwk to President Zen. The fraidy cat tendencies? The complete inability to make a decision about anything? Gone. In its place is an eerie calm and newfound assertiveness that inexplicably escapes everyone around him. Perhaps you can understand VP Leland Palmer missing the change in demeanor – but then again, Logan just issued an order for Bauer’s arrest, after reinstating the man mere hours ago, so Palmer may merely be biding his time – but Marty Logan, his wife? I’m not so sure about that one. Maybe that scene existed solely so Logan would have to suffer the guilt of knowing his wife is so proud of him, but would castrate him if she had any idea what he was really up to. Prediction: Marty doesn’t live to see the final seconds. Charles takes her out when she knows too much.

Jack and Wayne kidnap the president of a bank in order to get a recording that Evelyn made, leaving Evelyn and daughter Amy in a hotel (he even said to her, “I’ll be right back,” thus violating one of the rules of surviving a horror movie). Of course, Evelyn passes out from the pain of the gunshot wound in her leg, and Amy calls 911, which immediately tips off Robocop as to her whereabouts. Evelyn gives up Jack and Wayne, but we never find out what became of Evelyn and Amy. My guess is in real life, they’d be dead. Do the producers of “24” have the onions to execute a little girl? Don’t know yet, but in the meantime, another innocent is killed in the line of duty. Sorry, banker dude.

Meanwhile, back at HTU (Homeland Terrorist Unit), even ice queen Karen Hayes is having second thoughts about everything. When Logan gives her the order to bring in Bauer, she doesn’t understand why. Of course, she is, for the moment anyway, bound by duty, and uses Audrey to find Jack. They put a tracer on Audrey’s car when she leaves to “get some sleep,” but Chloe finds the tracer by remote and Audrey stashes it on another car. Sweet. Audrey calls her father, still the Secretary of Defense, and asks if he can land at an airport nearby so she can break the news about Logan’s involvement in the day’s events.

I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.

It’s way too early for the last card to be played yet. This doesn’t end with Logan as the ringleader. He doesn’t have the smarts or the guts. Again, maybe Heller’s the one pulling the strings? They show a clip in the scenes for next week’s episode where Heller tells Logan, “I know what you’re doing. I’m here to put a stop to it.” Maybe the next line is, “You’ve lost control of everything, Logan, you big dope! Now, do I have to flog you again like I did last time, while you say, ‘Thank you, sir, may I have another’?”

All kidding aside, we still don’t know who knew that Jack was alive, and that Tony, Michelle, Chloe and David Palmer conspired to cover it up. And where the heck did Mike Novick go? He’s been gone for almost four hours now. This still one more card, maybe two, that has yet to be played. The Warlock should be waking up soon. Buchanan will factor into things somehow. We still don’t know that Walt actually killed himself. Lastly, I don’t know how Logan could have possibly rationalized assassinating David Palmer as an unfortunate necessity to allowing Russian terrorists to obtain nerve gas. Geez, now that I look at it that way, suddenly nothing makes sense. Logan may be an idiot, but he’s not reckless. The explanation for all this better be a good one.

Is “How I Met Your Mother” the new “Friends”…?

I say “yes.” After watching tonight’s episode…which, if I may make a suggestion to the show’s producers, should be submitted to the Emmy Awards for their consideration…it seems like the show is setting the stage for the best end-of season cliffhanger for a sitcom since Rachel stood at the gate, waiting for Ross to get off the plane at the end of that classic first season of “Friends.”

Neil Patrick Harris is continuing the career renaissance he started when he played an exaggerated version of himself in “Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle,” Jason Segel is proving that his work with Judd Apatow on “Freaks and Geeks” and “Undeclared” was no comedic fluke, and Allyson Hannigan is probably breathing a sigh of relief that she doesn’t have to worry about doing “Date Movie 2” (unless it’s to pick up an easy paycheck). Meanwhile, Josh Radnor (Ted) and Cobie Smulders (Robin) are absolutely the sitcom couple to root for. Plus, the show’s gimmick…that every episode is being related in a “Wonder Years” fashion by Ted (voiced by Bob Saget) to his kids at some point in the future…keeps you guessing, because you’re never 100% sure who the kids’ mother is.

If you’re not in on this show now, you’d better get in while the gettin’ is good. “My Name Is Earl” might get all the hype (and it’s warranted, I grant you), but “How I Met Your Mother” is the best traditional – i.e., filmed in front of a live studio audience – sitcom on TV today.

Jack’s back…for at least three more seasons

Seems Jack Bauer will be tormenting terrorists and disregarding direct orders from his superiors for at least a few more years. Kiefer Sutherland, who was settling for roles in films like “Beat” opposite Courtney Love before falling ass backwards into “24,” has reportedly inked a three-year deal with 20th Century Fox Television, a contract that also includes a two-year development deal for Sutherland’s soon-to-be-launched production company.

Details on the deal were sketchy, but sources pegged the acting portion alone at more than $40 million for the three seasons, which could make Sutherland the highest-paid actor in drama series…. Under the pact, Sutherland also will be elevated from a co-executive producer to executive producer on “24” next season alongside Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran, Howard Gordon and Evan Katz.

Sutherland has been quoted as saying that his five years on “24” have been “one of the most creative and rewarding experiences in my career.” Not to mention “resuscitative”.

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