Ghost Town

Cast
Ricky Gervais
Téa Leoni
Greg Kinnear
Screenwriters
David Koepp
John Kamps
Director
David Koepp
Running Time
102 minutes


Bertram Pincus is a man whose skills leave much to be desired. When Pincus dies unexpectedly, but miraculously revived after seven minutes, he wakes up to discover that he now has the annoying ability to see ghosts. Even worse, they all want something from him, particutarly Frank Herlihy who pesters him into breaking up the impending marriage of his widow Gwen. That puts Pincus squarely in the middle of a triangle with spirited results. (Paramount Pictures/Dreamworks Pictures)

It's good and pretty funny but it falters when the romance element comes in fully. Possibly a hesitancy on the part of the makers or my not buying Gervais' character having those feelings. Also all the ghost stuff is a tired cliche by this point.

TV worth watching

True Blood


Thanks to a Japanese scientist's invention of synthetic blood, vampires have progressed from legendary monsters to fellow citizens overnight. And while humans have been safely removed from the menu, many remain apprehensive about these creatures "coming out of the coffin." Religious leaders and government officials around the world have chosen their sides, but in the small Louisiana town of Bon Temps, the jury is still out.

Local waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), however, knows how it feels to be an outcast. "Cursed" with the ability to listen in on people's thoughts, she's also open-minded about the integration of vampires — particularly when it comes to Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), a handsome 173-year-old living up the road. But as Sookie is drawn into a series of mysteries surrounding Bill's arrival in Bon Temps, that tolerance will be put to the test.

A sexy, scary new drama from 'Six Feet Under' creator Alan Ball, 'True Blood' delves into the meticulously-crafted world of novelist Charlaine Harris. Described by the Emmy®-winning Ball as "popcorn for smart people" and featuring a colorful cast of local misfits, 'True Blood' promises an intense ride. (HBO)


This is the show I most look forward to each week. Only 7 episodes in, of the first seasons twelve but I'm loving it. I haven't read the books but I really hope it goes somewhere. I saw all of Deadwood recently and as great as it was there was a kind of aimlessness to it.


Dexter


DEXTER stars Michael C. Hall (two-time Emmy® and Golden Globe®-nominee) as a complicated and conflicted blood-spatter expert for the Miami police department who moonlights as a serial killer. The show was nominated this year for five Emmy® Awards including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. The series also received a prestigious 2008 Peabody Award and was twice named one of AFI’s top ten television programs. DEXTER is SHOWTIME’s highest rated drama and was the network’s highest rated show in 2007. (Showtime)


Still a terrific show, the amount of storylines the supporting characters get seem to fluctuate from season to season which is a pity and the title sequence as brilliant as it is can be seen too often, I wish they had come up with a different one for each season.


The Sarah Jane Adventures


Saving the world … with a little help from her friends

"I saw amazing things out there in space. But there is strangeness to be found wherever you turn. Life on Earth can be an adventure too … you just need to know where to look!" — Sarah Jane Smith

The Sarah Jane Adventures features Sarah Jane Smith, a companion of the Third and Fouth incarnations of Doctor Who from the Doctor's original series. Elisabeth Sladen reprises her role and is back in action, discovering alien plots to take over the world, or simply helping lost extraterrestrials get home. (Sci-Fi)


Very enjoyable kids sci-fi show. Spin-off of Doctor Who from which they recycle alien costumes. I maybe like this series more.

Burn After Reading

Cast
Brad Pitt
George Clooney
Frances McDormand
John Malkovich
Tilda Swinton
Screenwriters
Joel Coen
Ethan Coen
Directors
Ethan Coen
Joel Coen
Running Time
95m 43s

An ousted CIA official's memoir accidentally falls into the hands of two unwise gym employees intent on exploiting their find. (Focus Features)

A few laughs especially in the final third and a general zany tone. It was fine but not really a success. The message that the brothers were trying to send is revealed by the choice of credit music.

January Comics

Newsarama has the new Marvel and DC solicitations for January.

This is the stuff I'm thinking about in addition to my regular pull list.


BLACK LIGHTNING: YEAR ONE #1-2
Written by Jen Van Meter
Art and cover by Cully Hamner
Jefferson Pierce returns to his old stomping grounds – the infamous Suicide Slum of Metropolis – in order to bring some hope to the residents of his downtrodden former neighborhood. He’ll quickly learn, though, that a lawless place sometimes requires a lawless vigilante to drag it into the light. Acclaimed writer Jen Van Meter (CINNAMON, OUTSIDERS) and kinetic artist Cully Hamner (BLUE BEETLE, RED) combine forces to retell the electrifying origin of DC’s most honorable hero, the bold and brave Justice Leaguer known as Black Lightning!
Issue #1 on sale January 7; issue #2 on sale January 21 • 1 and 2 of 6 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

I seem to be gravitating more to DC of late, the JSA and supporting JLA characters in particular interest me.


THE SPIRIT SPECIAL #1
Written by Will Eisner
Art and cover by Will Eisner
With Frank Miller’s highly anticipated movie adaptation of The Spirit coming in December, DC Comics presents THE SPIRIT SPECIAL, the perfect introduction to Will Eisner’s greatest creation! This low-priced special includes four classic stories: 1947’s “Sign of the Octopus,” 1949’s “Black Alley,” and “Sand Saref” and “Bring in Sand Saref,” both from 1950.
On sale January 7 • 32 pgs, FC, $2.99 US

A good opportunity to check out the original.

How To Lose Friends & Alienate People

Cast
Simon Pegg
Kirsten Dunst
Jeff Bridges
Gillian Anderson
Megan Fox
Danny Huston
Screenwriter
Peter Straughan
Director
Robert B. Weide
Running Time
110 minutes

In this hilariously funny fish-out-of-water tale, How to Lose Friends & Alienate People tracks the outrageous escapades of Sidney Young, a smalltime, bumbling, British celebrity journalist who is hired by an upscale magazine in New York City. In spectacular fashion Sidney enters high society and burns bridges with bosses, peers and superstars. The film is based on Toby Young's memoir of the same name. (MGM)

It was just about OK, I did consider giving it 3 stars but I think a lot that I liked about it was the cast rather than the film itself.

Death Race

Cast
Jason Statham
Ian McShane
Natalie Martinez
Jacob Vargas
Max Ryan
Tyrese Gibson
Joan Allen
Screenwriter
Paul W.S. Anderson
Director
Paul W.S. Anderson
Running Time
104m 41s

Terminal Island: The very near future. The world’s hunger for extreme sports and reality competitions has grown into reality TV bloodlust. Now, the most extreme racing competition has emerged and its contestants are murderous prisoners. Tricked-out cars, caged thugs and smoking-hot navigators combine to create a juggernaut series with bigger rating than the Super Bowl. The rules of the Death Race are simple: win five events, and you’re set free. Lose and you’re road kill splashed across the internet. (Universal Pictures)

I enjoyed it and had a fun time. A few negative things, it wasn't always clear what was happening in the races, it's less bloody than it should be and there were some face slappingly awful music choices.

Jar City

Cast
Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson
Ágústa Eva Erlendsdóttir
Björn Hlynur Haraldsson
Ólafía Hrönn Jónsdóttir
Atli Rafn Sigurðsson
Screenwriter
Baltasar Kormakur
Director
Baltasar Kormakur
Running Time
95 minutes

While a desperate, young father tries to find out what led to the death of his five-year-old girl, Inspector Erlendur investigates the murder of an elderly loner in a run-down basement flat. The inspector and his crew don't have much to go by in the investigation, but a photograph of a young girl's grave gives them a lead. They discover that many years ago, the victim was accused, though not convicted, of horrible crimes. Did the old man's past come back to haunt him? As Erlendur reopens this very cold case, he follows a trail of unusual forensic evidence, uncovering secrets that are much larger than the murder of one old man--with clues knit into the genetic bloodline of an entire country. (Blueeyes Productions)

The investigation was interesting and the lead cop was engaging and charismatic. It was different to see something set in Iceland. There were scary bits, funny bits and exciting bits. Overall I really enjoyed it the only problem I have is the motives of the killer which were convoluted and really unlikely.