The Couch Potato Report – January 9th, 2010
This week The Couch Potato Report peels six new releases and ten things I hate about you.
Up first this week is the Box Set for THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON of the made-in-Indian Head, Saskatchewan CBC Series LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE.
In this third season, Amaar finally discovers whether Rayyan accepted JJís marriage proposal and the season primarily follows that answer, in addition to offering stories featuring the fictional town of Mercy, Saskatchewanís unique cast of characters.
I have always thought that LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE works best when it is educational and informative, as well as entertaining and in SEASON THREE it continues to do allows viewers to learn more about Muslims and their beliefs and faith.
This season of LITTLE MOSQUE also has figs, dates, double dates, blind dates, blind men and in-lawsÖso, if you are a fan, donít miss this three disc set!
As you may know, I have been spending some time over the past few weeks, and will continue to spend some time over the new few weeks, doing the weather on CBC Televisionís Supper Hour News Show ñ CBC News: Saskatchewan at 5 pm, 5:30 pm, and 6 pm.
Since I started, I have been dying to give a forecast that includes the name of this next filmÖbut havenít been able to work it inÖnot yet anyway.
So, this morning, I hope you donít mind if I pretend that I am doing the weather, as I talk about this next filmÖhere goes.
Temperatures have been well below seasonal averages here in Western Canada over the past few days, but things are looking up! This morningís forecast is CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS!
🙂
That was funÖokay, back to the movie reviewÖ CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS is a fun animated film for the whole family that is loosely based on the children’s book of the same name by Judi Barrett and Ron Barrett.
It is about an inventor in a small town in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean who creates a machine that makes food fall from the sky like rain.
The great voice cast in the film stars Bill Hader from SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and Anna Faris from the made-in-Saskatchewan film JUST FRIENDS, along with the great James Caan, Mr. Bruce Campbell, Neil Patrick Harris and the one and only Mr. T.
CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS has a ton of great pop culture references hidden in it, and many great and quite obvious jokes as well.
I really like this movie, and I highly recommend it!!
And trust meÖsomeday, I will, use the name of this film and book in a weather report. You have my word on that!!
When CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS was released in theatres, it was available in 3D, and the extra dimension added to the fun of food falling from the sky. It hasnít been released with the added dimension for home viewing, but it is such an entertaining film, it doesnít need it.
THE FINAL DESTINATIONÖon the other handÖdoes need that third oneÖbecause this film uses it as a gimmick, and not just to enhance a well-written script.
ButÖthat saidÖit does use the gimmick quite effectively!
THE FINAL DESTINATION is the fourth ñ and many believe final – installment in the Final Destination film seriesÖa series that is centered around predestination, and precognition, in relation to deathÖspecifically, how you can foresee, and possibly avoid it.
Each one of these movies has elaborate, often gory death scenarios, and they have had moderate success, primarily to people who like this kind of movie.
THE FINAL DESTINATION doesnít steer that far from the formula. In this one a teenager has a premonition of a deadly race-car crash and helps save the lives of his friends, and some other people in the stands.
BUTÖdeath then sets out to collect those who evaded their end.
As I said, the film was released to theatres in 3D, and so when the characters die, they do so with everything flying toward the audience, in order to take advantage of the added dimension.
Some will think that cool, primarily the people who have seen the other three films in the series.
I neither loved or loathed THE FINAL DESTINATION. It is what it is, a horror film in 3D with lots of gore.
If that appeals to you, check it out!! In the home versions, you can choose to watch it in either 3D, or the regular 2D.
The next release that I have for you is one that I thought would be a very entertaining and uplifting documentary about some young adults using music to try and help give them a better life.
Unfortunately we donít necessarily get that from THE HIP HOP PROJECT.
Sure, the folks we meet in the film are living tough lives, and the words they write, sing and rap are true and insightfulÖbut the songs they are creating arenít very good. I like rap music, but the end result here is simply a film that is interesting at timesÖbut not really that good.
THE HIP HOP PROJECT introduces us to a group of New York City teens who write music about the tough issues affecting their lives in hopes of having their song included on a compilation CD that is being produced.
And if the movie was just about their struggles and lives, it could have been what I expected it to be. Unfortunately, too often, it strays away from the teenagers and focuses too much on the man who is heading up The Hip Hop Project, a former homeless man named Kazi who has pulled his life together.
Donít misunderstand me, his story is interesting, but he isnít creating musicÖthe kids areÖand so in this documentary about music, I wanted musicÖ.and when it focused on Kazi, I just lost interest.
THE HIP HOP PROJECT is not a horrible documentary, but in the end, I didnít care for it, and I donít like the music that was produced through the project, so I wouldnít buy the CD either.
I love the idea of trying to give kids a better life through music, just not this film made about them.
From a new documentary about Hip Hop music, letís go back in time now to a Saturday morning television show that ran from 1973 to 1986.
A show about THE SUPER FRIENDS!!
SUPER FRIENDS first aired on September 8th, 1973 and features Superman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman, along with Wendy, Marvin, Wonderdog and the language of the day.
I loved this show when I was a kid, and I really enjoyed watching the 2 DVD Set SUPER FRIENDS ñ SEASON ONE, VOLUME ONE this week!!
I especially enjoyed hearing Ted Knight and Casey Kasem voices amongst the cast!!
If you used to watch it as well, donít miss this chance to bring your SUPER FRIENDS home once again!!
Finally this week, the BLU RAY BEACON shines on a movie that is now a decade old. It was the film that introduced many of us to a talented young actor named Heath Ledger called 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU.
In addition to the late Mr. Ledger, the film also stars Julia Stiles and Joseph Gordon-Levitt and it is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew set in a modern high school.
10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU wasnít a film I loved when it came out, but as I sat and watched the new 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, I have to admit that I do like it.
I like this movie a lot, and if it is one of your favourites, you need to check it out!
If you have never seen it, donít miss the chance to see the great talent of Heath ledger at work. This movie was the start of a great career that ended all too soon.
The 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION of 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, THE FINAL DESTINATION and CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS are available on Blu-ray and DVD.
THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON of the made-in-Saskatchewan show LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE HIP HOP PROJECT and SEASON ONE, VOLUME ONE of THE SUPER FRIENDS are all available now only on DVD.
Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report
BABY FORMULA and BIO DAD, two very Canadian different films about Mothers and Fathers; the potential multiple Academy Award nominee THE HURT LOCKER.
Also next week, THE SCARY MOVIE FRANCHISE and THE ELECTION OF BARACK OBAMA.
I’m Dan Reynish. I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.
For now, that’s this week’s COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here again next time on The Couch!
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