Reviews

G H I

Gabriel Iglesias: Hot and Fluffy (DVD)
One of the the fastest rising comics today and taking Comedy Central's "Comic of the Year." He became an instant favorite on NBC's "Last Comic Standing." This is an one hour set from his sold-out concert performance from Fox Theatre in Bakersfield, California, as shown on Comedy Central. Gabriel takes you and makes you love him and think of him as one of your best friends. His set takes you into his everyday life of drinking and enjoying life to the fullest or better yet the fluffiest. The DVD contains extras such as a Q&A with Gabriel as well as the opening acts sets.( www.gabrieliglesias.com

Gaby Moreno - Still The Unknown
Gaby has great vocals and good music to back it! Gaby is an artist you can compare to Fiona Apple and Joan Jett. She has a big, melodic sound that appeals to the masses and her roots will always make somebody or something affectionately love or greatly like her. Her first full-length CD, “Still The Unknown,” includes songs in both English and Spanish.
www.myspace.com/gabymoreno

Garth Melvin -
A character in your mind. That someone who fore warns you about the out come. The voice you can not avoid. No Matter how much you pray, preach, beg and cry. You are always doomed in the end.
Garth Melvin has done a good job on putting this work out himself.The CD contains 14 tracks but thirteen are stories about one common struggle that never finds an end. To make this CD cutting edge was recorded live on one night. The sound quality is not the best, to those looking for excellent live sound recordings, but it is still doesn't take away the passion, soul, or love Garth Melvin brought together in doing this project. The track titled "Bomb Diddy" is a huge highlight in the project, making one outstanding song. You can take this as a concept record, but in the end it's just a good cool record to listen to, showing that you don't need to have $100,000 to make good music.
( www.garthmelvin.com )

George Lopez: America's Mexican (DVD)
Star, Spanglish, and Banter. George Lopez, has put out a follow up to his other successful stand up "Why are you Crying?" With "Why are you Crying?" George took you into laughing at the way most hispanic families are. Now with "America's Mexican," George stands up for the culture of hispanic communities. Taking shots at Arnold Schwneger, George Bush and many others. Even making his own text message saying with the stand up special. As OMG stands for "Oh! my god" and he adds FTP to the list which he states means "Fuck That Puto." The main problem with the stand up is it is suppose to be a comedy show, but has a real huge political message behind it. Which some people can take as offensive with some of the jokes he says. If you have not seen George Lopez's stand up before start with" Why are you Crying?" as the jokes are less offensive and creates the set up for this stand up DVD. The DVD is not rated but I would say Parental Advisory should be consider with the language that goes on with the stand up.(www.georgelopez.com )

Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd out of Control
OK, you can't really judge this as if it were a real movie. It is more like a TV show. Masi Oka (from Heroes) is Bruce and Nate Torrence is Lloyd. They work in Control's gadget lab and are the kind of nerds you expect them to be. Of course the important thing is what they are working on doesn't really work. They manage to lose it and it falls into the hand of some really bad guys, which (of course) they have to get it back at the risk of life and limb under threat of a deadline. Jayma Mays plays Nina, the good girl nerd who works in the pathology lab with its strain on relationships. Isa belle, played by Marika Dominczyk, plays the bad girl with the heart of gold. Larry Miller plays Bruce and Lloyd's boss and does his usual fine job as an oppressive idiot boss. There are also some cute cameos from the real movie. This movie is just over an hour long and is a decent lightweight silly comedy. Don't take it seriously and don't judge it with high standards.
[ getbruceandlloyd.warnerbros.com ]

Ghost Town - Ghost Town EP
Ghost Town hailing from Atlanta, GA, has put thier self titled EP out independently. Ghost Town, is one of those bands that could keep things going if they stay on track. The EP has four songs on i. The track "My Charming Friend" stands out and almost delivers. The only thing that holds it back is the production. Jeffrey is no American Idol, but does deliever short. With his uniquine voice he has something to bring to the market. This is a band that A&R people would more than likely tell them they just need to be a little stronger to make it in a bigger music market. ( www.myspace.com/GhostTown69 )

Gretchen Witt - Six
You could put a million labels on Gretchen Wit's music but in the end it's great music. Singer songwriter Gretchen has created a name for herself on the independent market and it lives up to the hype. "Six" is filled with outstanding music from start to end. It's a unique blend of catchy lyrics and music. The comprassion to other artists would be unjustified. As Gretchen Wit is an artist that is confident in making music with love and passion. The opening track "Consequence" has a jazzy upbeat feel that should have the listener of her music singing along. The song that really grabbed me was "Sunday Night" as for the opening part she does the song accapella, showing her vocal ability. The downside is that the when the album was over I was enjoying it so much I wanted more. ( For More Information & To Purchase Six Visit CDBaby.com )

Greeley Estates - Go West Young Man
Greeley Estates' Science Records debut emphasizes the band's harder edge, yet combines melodic elements to create a dark album. “Go West Young Man,” will probably come off as a Hot Topic scene record for those who are quick to judge. For everyone else the record is strong in a flooded market. It is worth a definite check out to say the least. [ MySpace.com/GreeleyEstates ]

Grindhouse: Death Proof (DVD)
Deranged stuntman stalks his victims from the safety of his killer car, but when he picks on the wrong group of bad ass babes, all bets are off in an adrenaline-pumping, high speed, white-knuckle automotive duel of epic proportions, where anything can happen. "Death Proof" was Quentin half of the "Grind house" experience. It's a film of stunning originality that switches gears between genres seamlessly and, in true Tarantino fashion, pays tribute to it's influences all the way going so far as to name the films it strives to emulate."Death Proof" pays homage to it while building a more subtle, character-driven masterpiece. Kurt Russell plays an old stunt driver with a car built so that the driver can not be killed no matter how bad he crashes. Well, the guy is a bit of a misogynistic bastard and he gets his jollies by murdering young, beautiful women, possibly as a way of getting back at a world that doesn't share his enthusiasm for - or even a vague awareness of- the genre films that make up his very existence. His weapon of choice? His stunt car, of course. They crash, he lives, they die. There is an amazing scene where a crash with a car full of girls is replayed over-and-over, each repeat focusing on a different girl and her particular gory demise. Unbelievable. The girls are all well fleshed-out as characters with lives and personalities of their own and you just don't know who will live and die. You cheer when they live, you gasp when they die; a win-win situation. Rosario Dawson charms as always and the rest of the cast is beyond solid as well. The last twenty minutes of "Death Proof" are among the greatest of any film I've ever seen. Edge of your seat barely begins to describe the chase sequences and the finale had me literally applauding as I laughed myself silly. You will not see the ending coming unless you've seen or heard about it already. The rest of the film is splattered with homage's and references to classic drive-in fare, humorous and profane dialogue, horror cliches and more QT goodness. This extended cut features the infamous "reel missing" scene featuring a very sexy lap dance and more of the film's awesome music. There is also a black-and-white sequence where Russell and Dawson indulge in Tarantino's creepy foot fetish and a hilarious convenience store scene which stars the almost undrinkable "Big Red" soda in damn near every shot. I laughed harder every time the camera focused on the offending soft drink. The special features are impressive. When you buy this film, there is a $5 off coupon for toward the other half of the Grindhouse experience film "Planet Terror."
( www.grindhousemovie.net )

GrindHouse: Planet Terror
Gross, disturbing, and more disturbing is what I can say. Planet Terror rocks! Director and writer Robert Rodriguez did the first half to the Grind house feature. Planet Terror takes zombie horror and gives a smart and sexy twist to it. A Chemical gas gets let out across a town and then, BOOM, all hell breaks out when people come in contact with the chemical gas. This is one of those horror movies you might not want your little kids watching due to the high density of what people could find disturbing scenes. The second disc takes you in and shows you the behind the scenes cast & crew interviews, as well as a ten minute film school with Robert Rodriguez . If you are a geek you can watch the second disc and hear about the future edition to GrindHouse within one of the extras.
grindhousemovie.net

The Grudge 2 (Unrated)
In Tokyo, a young woman (Tamblyn) is exposed to the same mysterious curse that afflicted her sister (Gellar). The supernatural force, which fills a person with rage before spreading to its next victim, brings together a group of previously unrelated people who attempt to unlock its secret to save their lives. Set within two years after the first film and between two countries, Karen's sister, Audrey, has been affected by the supernatural curse and is trying to find the origin of it in order to find a way to free herself. This movie was ridiculously hard to follow and sort of lost its plot line. The film maker took a Quention Tartino apporach by cutting scenes in order then placing them out of order. Quentin can make it sexy unlike the Grudge 2 can. Typical horror cliches were amplified such as characters enter the dark room, monster comes out.

Halloween (2007) [Unrated] (DVD)
I hate remakes. In my mind it's a lazy way of making a movie, however, in the essence of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, it's not really a remake. It is more of a new spin on a revisit of a classic where there are key elements of the original story but it is a whole new movie. Rob Zombie took the dying franchise of Halloween and gave it a rebirth. After seven movies where Michael Myers comes into play with theme music queued to kill with a Martha Stewart knife in hand, after awhile you become not scared of Myers. You rather think of a person who needs a career change bad. Rob Zombie brought back the fear into Halloween. Unlike the previous movies in the Halloween series, where Myers was an unhuman killing machine, Rob Zombie takes it back a step and looks into the childhood of Michael Myers. You find out that killers are not born, they are made. Halloween [2007] does no harm to the original John Carpenter story, as they are two similar stories. Rob Zombie's Halloween is a more of a drama with it being a portrait of a serial killer. John Carpenter's is a classic horror story based on folklore. The two disc DVD set it packed with extras to fill a movie lover's look into the making and behind the scenes footage. ( www.halloween-themovie.com )

Hannibal Rising (Unrated) (DVD)
Evil is not born, it's created as the fictional character of Hannibal Lecter is shown how he became to be. The most interesting aspect of Hannibal Rising is its connections drawn between Hannibal's childhood traumas and his murderous adult obsessions are also the film's weak point. The links oversimplify Lecter's complex character. For example, though titillating, to see flashbacks of Lecter's sister hacked up and boiled while Lecter visits a Parisian meat market, the reference is too obvious. One learns why he excels in his medical school classes dissecting cadavers and were given explicit explanations for why he slices off and eats his victims' cheeks. The story only complicates when Hannibal interacts with his sexy aunt, Lady Murasaki . When Murasaki educates him in the art of beheading, the viewer sees Hannibal's sword fetish as a manifestation of physical lust. I would say this is a great movie on it's own, and not apart of the Hannibal series. The draw back of it being apart of the Hannibal series is the film crosses the line from psychological thriller to a horror.

Hard Candy (DVD)
There has been a lot of underground hype on this film, which can lead to a huge disappointment. With chat rooms and myspace crazy kids parents are left feeling powerless on who their children are talking to. Let's reverse it now on the predators. Based on the situations over in Japan where young girls were chatting with men online offering them sex only to find out that the actual predators were the young girls. The girls chatted online with these older men to have come to a place where they thought they were going to engage in sex active, then to find themselves beaten and robbed by a squad girls. Hard Candy opens with the innocent meeting of two online daters. Hayley is a shy teenage girl (about 14 years old) and Geoff is a suave, handsome guy in his early thirties. This public meeting seems to be going well and Geoff appears to be a nice enough guy that Hayley decides to accompany him back to his house. The two have drinks, but using her best judgment Hayley does not drink anything that she hasn't mixed herself. Geoff completely understands and to show a little faith in her he agrees to drink one of her concoctions. Hard Candy is an excellent title for this film, but “Bad Move” would've been just as suitable. Geoff passes out and awakens to find himself tied down and at the mercy of this fairly angry young girl who has a razor sharp grudge against Geoff. She has no reservations in letting him know all about it. So begins the feature length physical and mental torture as we're slowly dipped into Geoff's past, leading us to figure out just what exactly this axe is that Hayley has to grind. Hard Candy is a tough sit, but it attracts you more than repels you. It commands your attention. Yeah, this candy is hard to handle but at the same time it's oh so sweet. After watching Hard Candy you'll more than likely sprint to your computer, delete all of your profiles on Matchmaker.com, LonelyHearts.com and AssSearch.com and learn to appreciate the virtues of masturbation. Especially for those we call "pedophiles."

Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay
I enjoyed Harold and Kumar go to White Castle. As most movie goers I was looking forward to the follow up to the hit movie. I wasn't looking for a movie that would change my life when it was done. This film in my eyes was horrible and gives people a right to preach racism about stereotypes. A lot of the jokes I believe were not intend to be mean and hateful, but as the movie progresses it seems that is all the writers could come up with. However the target audience for this movie is not a person with a college degree. The target audience is teenagers that smoke pot. Neil Patrick Harrison was the only good thing that came from this movie. As his role in the movie was to be high on mushrooms.
[ www.HaroldandKumar.com ]

(Hed) P.E. - Back to Base X
If MTV is the light of the music industry, then (Hed) P.E. is easily the dark to the light. From Jive to Koch and now on Suburban Noize Records. (Hed) P.E. released their fifth national CD "Back to Base X." What can old fans of (Hed) P.E. expect with this release? A totally new sound from the days of songs like "Serpent Boy" & "Bartender." The track "Novus Ordos Clitorus" shows the new a political view of (Hed) P.E. While the track " Peer Pressure" gives the old school punk feel as the track is 44 seconds long. Based on a dead genre, rap-core. (Hed) P.E. is looking ahead instead of back. Giving all they have now, even with a lower budget then their days back at Jive with what some people would call a organic sound. For fans of (Hed) P.E. they are back ready to smoke weed and kick your ass with their new music.

(HED) P.E. - The D I Y Guys (CD/DVD)
The CD portion of the DIY guys is filled with a live recording and some new studio tracks. The live recording is 100% punk rock. Normally when you get a live recorded album now it sounds like studio album but this one is raw. (HED) P.E. took a risk and gave their fans a true live recording raw and uncut from the source. The DVD portion is filled with live footage along with pure (HED) PE madness. As serious as (HED) P.E. can be on stage, the DVD manages to capture a side that makes you laugh at their pranks and conversations.
[ www.MySpace.com/hedpe ]

(hed) P.E. - New World Orphans
(hed) P.E. kicked off 2009 with their highly anticipated CD “New World Orphans.” (hed) P.E. can come off as a gimmick band especially with this new release. It was released in three different versions with extra songs making the fan or consumer spend more money to gain legal access to all of (hed) P.E.'s new album. However, the record has sparked a community effort with fans. Each fan is buying one of the records and then they share them listen to them together. Aside from that “New World Orphans” is a hard punk rock record with no apologizes for what might offend certain people. The record makes the listener think and take their own truth from it. Like it or hate it, you have to respect (hed) P.E. for standing up for their beliefs.
[ NewWorldOrphans.com ]

The Heise Bros. - The Continuing Saga Of..
Good old American rock is what The Heise Bros have released with this independent CD titled "The Continuing Saga Of.." At first glance I was expecting a CD with no heart because of the packaging and the simple artwork. The first track didn't win me over and I don't think it is a good mood setter but by the second track "Shallow" the CD finally seemed to kick in. "Shallow is a decent mix, showcasing their talent. The Heise Bros is another group in the world of music without a label behind them, which we can all admire them for that. It's probably safe to say you more than likely won't find them signing to a huge label anytime soon. It's good music but nothing too outstanding to grasp outsider listeners.(MySpace.com/TheHeiseBros) 

Hello Astro - Astronauts Make Better Lovers
Hello Astro is an amazing indie rock band that I believe in. “Astronauts Make Better Lovers” has been in talks since the band came out a couple of years ago. This album will not make you cool or hard but it is a great heart felt record for indie music lovers. You can pick up on influences on this record from artists like Sparta, Hey Mercedes, The Futureheads and many more. They take a lot of real emotions and place them into very catchy tracks. The only real downside for this record is not too many people know it is out. It is worth a listen on the web and a definite buy after that. “Forgive me, if I'm not incredible.” [ HelloAstro.com ]

Hemlock - No Time For Sorrow
“No Time For Sorrow” will be Hemlock’s first national release that has distribution behind it. A lot of metal heads around the world already know of Hemlock my word of mouth and from the internet. Hemlock has been on numerous tours throughout the Untied States as well as various spots around the world. For those that have seen Hemlock live, would have to agree, a CD will never be the same as their intense live shows. I have been a Hemlock fan myself since they were making cassette tapes back in the mid 90’s. “No Time for Sorrow” I found to be a real raw, uncut, and most of all an unapologetic real form of music. As trends come and go some artists find themselves being sucked into them for some reason or another. Hemlock did not set out to make music that will be on the radio. Hemlock has stayed true to their music throughout the years. This CD is filled with more metal than a construction site. Hemlock has gotten a lot tighter and heavier from their previous releases. I can’t wait to see what they will put out next.
HemlockWorld.com

Heroes: Season Two
The Second season of NBC's Heroes was not the most liked by Heroes Season One Fans. One of the reasons being there was no famous quote such as: “Save The Cheerleader, Save The World." Sources say the writers strike in 2007 had an impact on the season, but when Season Two came out on DVD there was no comparison to Season One. Season Two is jam packed with extras. There are so many that I can't even list them all. If you not a huge fan of Heroes Season Two I would suggest renting a disc and checking it out. I feel this is a must have for any comic book lovers DVD collection.
[ NBC.com/HEROES ]

Heroes: Season One (DVD)
" Save the Cheerleader, Save the world." After creating the best hype from Comic Con 2006, from showing the pilot from the series, Heroes took over as one of the best new shows to debut on NBC. Now, after a couple of months after the series ended and is getting ready to embark on the second season and spin off the DVD is now stocked in every fan boys DVD library. The seven disc set captures the Heroes in their epic journey packed with hours of bonus features including audio commentary with the cast, crew, and the show creator Tim King. After viewing this DVD, even I can to find out you can never satisfy a fan boy. I know on fan sites and message board a lot of the hardcore fans wanted more. Everyone involved in putting this DVD package together did an amazing job of doing so. This DVD package fits for all fans of Heroes by not going over board on extras at this time, making the average viewer of the show feel right in place.
( www.NBC.com/Heroes )

Heroes: Volume One [Comic Book]
The Emmy Award-nominated NBC TV series HEROES comes to comics in this spectacular hardcover graphic novel! With art by some of comics greatest illustrators and stories by the writers of the HEROES TV series, this volume features all 34 comic chapters from Season One, previously seen online at NBC.com. This volume also includes an introduction by Emmy Award-nominee Masi Oka (Hiro), an amazing new cover by Alex Ross, and artwork by Tim Sale that first appeared in the TV episodes. The web comic in theory fills in the gaps between episodes and while it does do that, it also does much more. The chapters are each five to seven pages in length, including the covers. A word about the covers...they are designed to look like well-beaten Silver Age comics, complete with tears and creases and carrying a "Helix Comics" label. Readers will recognize many of the Tim Sale covers, which were used in the shows in the form of the paintings of Isaac Mendez. A nice touch is having the covers increase in price from 12 cents to 20 cents along the way. But...is it just me or did the covers look a heckuva lot like old Marvel Comics Silver Age books than DC? The imprint label and even the typeface of "9th Wonders" on the covers was very much in the style of Marvel's old monster and sci-fi comics of the 50's and early 1960's. There's even a Heroes value stamp at the end of the book and any Marvel fan during the 70's certainly recalls those letter column collectibles.
( Heroes Official Site )

Heroes: Saving Charlie: A Novel
“Save the cheerleader, save the world” are the defining words of Heroes, the phenomenal series that has transformed television drama. They are also the cryptic marching orders for the show's cross section of ordinary individuals united by an extraordinary bond. Each possesses a superhuman ability, and together they must prevent the course of history from taking a terrifying turn. Now, in this original novel based on the TV phenomenon, in a thrilling story that will captivate even those who haven't seen the show, one of these unexpected saviors steps center stage on a deeply personal quest that will test the limits of his gift, the depth of his love, and the ultimate strength of his will. Hiro Nakamura possesses the remarkable power to control time. And like his uniquely blessed comrades, he's on a mission for the good of humankind. But another challenge awaits him: saving the love of his life from an unspeakable death. Charlene “Charlie” Andrews is the big-hearted, small-town beauty whose sunny smile and sweet soul knocked the shy Hiro head over heels. But when Charlie's young life is snuffed out by a grisly serial killer, their budding romance is brutally cut short. Or is it? Thanks to his astounding newfound skill, Hiro has the means to do what no tragedy-stricken lover in history ever could-turn back time. And no matter how raw his abilities, or how many twists of circumstance conspire to foil him, he vows to deliver Charlie from the evil poised to claim her. He will be her hero. But what possible consequences might change the past visit upon the future? How could saving one cherished life affect millions of others? And what ultimate choice will Hiro make when the power of fate rests in his hands? A Must for Heroes fans period, if your not pass on this.
[www.nbc.com/Heroes ]

The Higher - Is On Fire
The CD is why I hate labels. Instantly now people judge a bunch of thin kids with shaggy hair in a band and label it emo. The Higher has been labeled emo, dance, funk, and pop. In the end it is just fun music to listen to. It's not the most complex thing every created in music. The CD was intend for the prime market in music, young music buyers. From the last effort put out by The Higher "Histrionics" to "Is On Fire" you can hear a little more mature sound throughout the CD. Which is really implied on the track "Can Anyone Really Love Young" which almost has a boy band feel to it. Some Higher fans might find it to be a little let down that four songs (including a remix of Pace Yourself) from Histrionics made it to another CD. Making it have eight new songs for them to hear. The new cuts of "Rock My Body& Histrionics, " Even with the same lyrics and music structure, have a whole new life brought to them due to the mixing. If you enjoy the other big acts (The Killers & Panic at The Disco) that have come from The Higher's home town of Las Vegas definitely add The Higher for bands to watch in 2007.
( www.MySpace.com/TheHigher )   

H.I.M. Love Metal Archives Vol. 1
So, America is jumping on late to the H.I.M. trend. This DVD was put out over seas a couple of years ago. Now the U.S. gets the DVD put in a region code that will work in NSTC DVD players. The DVD covers H.I.M. from the first first five CD's ( Greatest Love songs Vol. 666, Razorblade Romance, Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights, Love Metal, & Love Said No). The DVD has so much content on it from all the videos from the CD's to live clips to interviews. If you're a H.I.M. fan they did you justice by making it for you. There are some downsides to the DVD view selections, as it doesn't have the lazy way to view everything by one press of a tab.

The Hit & MRS. - Buried In The Backyard of My Heart
The Hit and MRS. record "Buried In The Backyard of My Heart" has such a smooth and clean rock sound to it. Twelve tracks that you can tap your fingers too and enjoy the music. It's fun music that you can look for some deep meaning in but you can also hear the music at face value and still enjoy it. One of the tracks that stood out was "Been a Long Time." It has such a blues feel mix with a rock edge. The Hits & MRS. makes music with no borders to weigh them down. thehitandmrs.com

Hit The Lights- Skip School, Start Fights
With dozens of pop bands to choose from in the music scene, Ohio pop punkers Hit The Lights released their sophomore record “Skip School, Start Fights” July 8 th , on Triple Crown Records. The album is the first without vocalist Colin Ross, who left the band in 2006. “Skip School, Start Fights” was produced by Rob Freeman (Hidden In Plain View) at Pilot Studios in New Jersey, and mixed by Zach Odom and Kenneth Mount (Mayday Parade, All Time Low, Cartel). Old fans of Hit The Lights are writing this CD off quickly. If you're into poppy rock music Hit the Lights “hit” the spot with the track" Stay Out.” “Skip School, Start Fights” is a great pop-rock record. It is definitely worth check out especially if you are a fan of All Time Low or Simple Plan.
[ www.myspace.com/hitthelights ]

Hollywood Undead - Swan Songs
“Swan Songs” has taken the world by storm. This group can seem to come off as a record company gimmick especially since their first national break came out on the Myspace Records Vol. 1. The group spawned a cult following with their self released demo back in 2005. After all their hard work the group has landed a record deal with A&M/Octane Records. “Swan Songs” is a melting pot of the west coast music filled with hip-hop, rock, and scene type references. To sum up Hollywood Undead they are a hard hitting act that simply doesn't give a fuck. “Swan Songs” has numerous versions. I recommend the edited version for the outstanding mixes on it, but other versions include bonus tracks. [ HollywoodUndead.com ]


Hot Fuzz (DVD)
The film concerns a highly decorated London police officer who is so good at his job that he is shunted off to an assignment in the country because he is so good he makes the rest of the force look bad. Sanford would seem to be an impossibly idyllic place, winner several times of the top village in England award. But it is a town that houses mysteries, which our hero Nick Angel gradually uncovers. Most of the film should be predictable, but it is a credit to Wright and Pegg that it isn't. Even the big ending, the week point in most such movies, is a delight. Despite a lot of action and special effects and explosions it is never taken over by them. It remains fresh and surprising to the very end. Although the plot is surprisingly interesting for a comic romp, this would be a fun film without it. The gags are consistently brilliant throughout and every one is executed marvelously. This is a much slicker film than SHAUN OF THE DEAD was, though that wasn't in any way unpolished. The cast is a large one and they manage to bring the village of Sandford to life in convincing fashion. Pegg is paired with Nick Frost, his costar in SHAUN OF THE DEAD. The cast is littered with well-known actors such as Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton, Edward Woodward, Billie Whitelaw, Bill Nighy, Stephen Merchant, and Martin Freeman as well as a rich and varied cast of lesser-known performers. The great thing about this is that the actors really enhance the film. What I mean is that the success of SHAUN OF THE DEAD meant that they could hire a cast of better-known performers. Sometimes this can lead to a decline in the quality of projects, but that absolutely didn't happen here. The film is littered with in jokes and cultural references. There are also a number of references to SHAUN OF THE DEAD, but it isn't important to get any of these to enjoy the movie. There are also, according to Edgar Wright, a couple of nice cameos, though we have to take his word for it since neither is recognizable. The crazed Santa that stabs Angel near the beginning of the film is, says Wright, Peter Jackson, while his ex-girlfriend Jeanine is Cate Blanchett. Again, we have to take his word for it because her entire scene is played with a surgical mask over her face so that all we see are a pair of eyes that do indeed look like they could belong to Cate Blanchett.

The House Bunny (DVD)
Anna Faris proves again she is one of the funniest people alive. After her run in one of the most successful franchises, “The Scary Movie” films, people seem to take her at face value. In 2008's “Smiley Face,” she was able to capture more fans by being able to show how comedic she really is. “The House Bunny” is a simple story that does not seem to offer movie goers a lot for their buck. As played by the utterly fearless and appealing Anna Faris, Shelley becomes an unlikely post-feminist heroine, who finds a great use for her not-too-considerable expertise: being sexy. With nowhere else to live, Shelley finds herself as the house mother for a dying sorority, the Zetas, who are the audience for the rallying cry above. And the slightly misfit sisters, though wary, end up giving Shelley a sisterhood she could never have built back at the Grotto. To help build up the sorority, Shelley gives the young women her own peculiar tutorials in charm school--helping them raise their campus profile and recruit new pledges in the process. "When I'm done, every girl on campus will want to pledge Zeta!" Ignore her at your peril, girls. If the formula is a bit predictable, the pace is lively and the cast, headed by the wide-eyed Faris, is aces. American Idol contestant Katharine McPhee is a natural on camera, as is Rumer Willis, daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis. The supporting cast includes the capable Colin Hanks and Beverly D'Angelo, and a bit too much screen time for the real-life Hugh Hefner, who maybe should have stayed on the set of The Girls Next Door. The House Bunny was co written by Kirsten Smith, who wrote Legally Blonde. If you are a fan of Will Ferwell films give Faris a try. [ SonnyPictures.com ]

Hours Of Shipwreck - The Hours Is Upon Us
Hours Of Shipwreck is completely unique and original with their release of “The Hours Upon Us.” In the same vein as the notable acts Radiohead and Muse, few will understand the vision of the group’s outlook on music. For those that do, they will see the passion that lay forth in the music. The production on the album is pure gold with the mixture of different music elements.
www.houroftheshipwreck.com

The Hunting Party (DVD)
Inspired by true events, The Hunting Party stars Richard Gere and Terrence Howard as vacationing journalists who try to track down a missing war criminal in one of Eastern Europe 's deadliest regions. What begins as an impulsive reporting adventure immediately turns dangerous, as hostile locals, shady underworld figures and a case of mistaken identity puts them squarely in their target's crosshairs. Amid the bullets and bombs, they discover that getting the scoop is one thing, getting out alive is something else entirely. The Hunting Party is funny and also an adventure. There are moments of ridiculous behavior and some very funny dialogue as the characters deal with all of the madness surrounding them. It is a dark comedy, which means there are also moments of seriousness, drama and danger. Combined together, they create a very interesting film. A much better film than the trailer would lead you to believe. www.thehuntingpartymovie.com

I Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
Adam Sandler and Kevin James star as best friends and fellow firefighters Chuck and Larry, the pride of their Brooklyn fire station. Chuck owes Larry for saving his life. Larry calls in that favor big-time by asking Chuck to pose as his "domestic partner" so his kids will get his pension. But when a fact-checking bureaucrat becomes suspicious the two straight guys are forced to improvise as love-struck newlyweds. Jessica Biel, Ving Rhames and Dan Aykroyd co-star in this hilarious comedy. Plus there is a ton of cameos throughout the film. Being this movie was marketed towards a straight male market, I thought the movie would make fun of gay culture in which it does a bit. This movie is not about being gay or straight. It's about friendship and how far you would go for a friend in need.
( I Pronounce you Chuck and Larry )

Ice Nine Kills- The Burning
Watch out and get ready for Ice Nine Kills. Their CD "The Burning" will split you in half with you wanting more. They have intense music with a melodic touch holding it together. Ice Nine Kills has the bandage for your wounds and broken hearts. Not to cure you but to help make you feel alive. Ice Nine Kills is one of those bands that if you like one of their songs the others will follow soon. There is a House on the Edge of the Park and Ice Nine Kills is the band providing the soundtrack.
IceNineKills.com

In Bruges (DVD)
The considerable pleasures of In Bruges begin with its title, which suggests a glumly self-important art film but actually fits a rattling-good tale of two Irish gangsters “keepin' a low profile" after a murder gone messily wrong. Bruges, the best-preserved medieval town in Belgium, is where the bear-like veteran Ken (Brendan Gleeson) and newbie triggerman Ray (Colin Farrell) have been ordered by their London boss to hole up for two weeks. As the sly narrative unfolds like a paper flower in water, “In Bruges” also becomes a state of mind, a suspended moment amid centuries-old towers and bridges and canals when even thuggish lives might experience a change in direction. Throughout, the viewer has ample opportunity to consider whose pronunciation of "Bruges" is more endearing, Gleeson's or Farrell's. The movie marks the feature writing-directing debut of playwright Martin McDonagh, whose droll meditation on sudden mortality, Six Shooter , copped the 2005 Oscar for best live-action short. Although McDonagh clearly relishes the musicality of his boyos' brogue and has written them plenty of entertaining dialogue, In Bruges is no stageplay disguised as a film. The script is deceptively casual, allowing for digressions on the newly united and briskly thriving Europe, and annexing passers-by as characters that have a way of circling back into the story with unanticipated consequences. That includes a film crew--shooting a movie featuring, to Ray's fascination, "a midget" (Jordan Prentice)--and a fetching blonde production assistant (Clémence Poésy) whose job description keeps evolving. There's one other key figure: Harry, the Cockney gang boss whose omnipotence remains unquestioned as long as he remains off-screen, back in England, as if floating in an early Harold Pinter play. Harry has reasons inextricably tender and perverse for selecting Bruges as his hirelings' destination, and eventually he emerges from the aether to express them--first as a garrulous telephone voice and then in the volatile form of Ralph Fiennes. By that point the charmed moment of suspension, already shaken by several irruptions of violence, is pretty well doomed. But “In Bruges” continues to surprise and satisfy right up to the end.

Intrinzik - My Favorite Album (CD/DVD)
For those who don't know about Intrinzik you can best describe him as a hard-working hustler of the underground. Now with his own label and this being his third solo CD on his own label, Intrinzik has made a package for his fans that they have been waiting for years now. The CD portion contains tracks from his solo career as well as his other projects such as Fall Guy and Separated at Birth. The CD features collaborations from Proof of D-12, The Dirtball, Phunk Junkeez and more. Not bad for not having the funds of a major label behind him. Intrinzik has put a total of six unreleased tracks including remixes with his best of collection for this album. The CD brings out the rock side of Intrinzik on the Fall Guy track "Trapped Inside," as well as an old school hip-hop feel such as the remix track for "Game Won't Change." The track "Dead or Alive," that features Proof (D12), has a eerie feeling to it, as it was recorded two weeks before the world laid Proof to rest. The DVD portion contains full sets of his solo stuff as well as Fall Guy. The footage didn't transfer the best but does give fans and people who haven't seen him a glimpse on his live shows, as well as footage with Big B, McNastee, Proof and more. This is a great place to start for people who have not heard of Intrinzik, and are curious about his music and live shows.

Invitro - When I was a Planet
You can call Invitro sound punk or metal, but I will call it straight up rock and roll, coming together with a sound that few bands can pull without losing some creditability to themselves in the rock world. Invitro has what it takes to make good music to intrigue the listener from beginning to end. From the vocals fronted by Jeff Weber to the guitar riffs supplied by Mike Pygmie and Mike Doling to the great rhythm section by Brad Dujmovic (bass) and Benny Cancino(drums). The songs found on their myspace page (Myspace.com/InvitroRules) "Transfer," "New Disease," and "Hollyvision," gives a small look at the telnet this group has and what is to come with their full length "When I was a Planet" due in stores March 2007. Take if from their myspace page on what they sound like " an orgasm of crunching bones and flesh peeling off the faces of these little girly ass emo pussies."

Iron Man (DVD)
Cleverly updated from Marvel Comics' longstanding series, Iron Man puts billionaire industrialist Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in the path of some Middle Eastern terrorists; in a brilliantly paced section, Stark invents an indestructible suit that allows him to escape. If the rest of the movie never quit hits that precise rhythm again, it nevertheless offers plenty of pleasure, as the renewed Stark swears off his past as a weapons manufacturer, develops his new Iron Man suit, and puzzles both his business partner (Jeff Bridges) and executive assistant (Gwyneth Paltrow). Director Jon Favreau geeks out in fun ways with the hardware, but never lets it overpower the movie, and there's always a goofy one-liner or a slapstick around to break the tension. As for Downey, he doesn't get to jitterbug around too much in his improv way, but he brings enough of his unpredictable personality to keep the thing fresh. And listen up, hardcore Marvel mavens: even if you know the Stan Lee cameo is coming, you won't be able to guess it until it's on the screen. It all builds to a splendid final scene, with a concluding line delivery by Downey that just feels absolutely right. Iron Man is an action packed movie that is not just for comic book fans.
[ IronManMovie.Marvel.com ]

Ivoryline - There Came a Lion
Ivoryline has put together a unique record that is candy to the ear. With strong lyrics and a touch of rock, pop, electronics, and ripping guitar through out the CD, “There Came a Lion” is eleven songs that are ready to get you hooked and wanting more. The intensity is set to have you singing along. Ivoryline's “There Came a Lion” is setting the bar high for new music of ‘08.
MySpace.com/Ivoryline