New Moon – Movie Review

It’s difficult to be disappointed with a movie that gives you exactly what you expect. Going into New Moon (the second in the highly successful book, now movie, franchise known as The Twilight Saga) it was not surprising that half the movie would be spent on looks between attractive teens prone to longing and melodrama….

Where The Wild Things Are – Movie Review

I can’t say that I really understood Where The Wild Things Are when I read it as a kid. Sadly, 30 years later, I can’t say that I understand the new Spike Jonze directed big-screen adaptation of this children’s classic either. While the visuals were great, and the characters (especially the Wild Things themselves, of…

The Tivo Has Spoken – Alvin’s 2009 TV Scorecard

Now that the TV season is over, what did I think of all the series I watched this year? A lot of times it comes down to what I watched first (Medium, Supernatural, Lost, Privileged, Pushing Daisies) and last (Smallville, Cupid) on my Tivo. We hardly knew ye… (New shows cancelled.) Privileged – Definitely one…

Monsters vs. Aliens – Movie Review

After having seen Monsters vs. Aliens in full IMAX 3-D, probably the worst thing I could say about it is that it’s ordinary. Don’t get me wrong, the animation is top-notch. Everything looks very impressive: from the cavernous spacecraft down to the fabric and textures of the main character’s outfit, there is an amazing attention…

Midseason 2009, Part 3: March

Yes, I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m still posting about midseason TV (I promise this is the last one). As the TV season continues on, some shows actually ended in March, but a few others just began. I love how this new rolling TV schedule keeps things interesting all year round. Reaper The…

Midseason 2009, Part 2: February

Dollhouse Not many shows (of interest to me) debuted in February, but my most anticipated new show finally emerged from its cocoon of hype. Buffy and Angel creator Joss Whedon’s new series Dollhouse premiered two Fridays ago and I hadn’t been this excited about a show for a long time (and if you look around…

The International – Movie Review

It’s no big insight that action movies tend to take our societal boogey-men and make them into villains. In times like these, when the downfall of global banks is so acutely felt, it should come as no surprise that The International pits our hero against a corrupt multi-national banking magnate. Clive Owen seems to have…

Oscar, Schmoscar 2009

Last year’s Oscars are pretty dead to me. Even to this day I have not watched any of the big winners (I didn’t even do an “Oscar, Schmoscar” post in ’08). This year is a whole other story. I was excited about many of the movies before they even got nominated. I’ve already reviewed The…

The Day The Earth Stood Still – Movie Review

As I went in to see The Day The Earth Stood Still, a remake of a 1950s sci-fi classic, I was hoping that this was going to be more than a one-note environmental-message-movie with amped up special effects. The movie trailer didn’t give me much expectation of that, but I clung to my own manufactured…