Houston Blogs: Celeb Blog

THE RETURN OF LOST!

Okay, guys, buckle your seatbelt because the ride is not over. Once again the writers have thrown us another curve ball, and set the series in an exciting new direction as we head into the final hours of the best show on TV!
All of the flashbacks and flash-forwards are over … now the world has somehow been split into two separate realities, all courtesy of the tiny-atomic-warhead-that-could. I won’t recap the whole show, because there is so much to tell, but let’s take a look at some of what we have learned, and the new mysteries we have to solve. I will try to keep the new realities separated as OTI (On The Island) and LAX (Oceanic Flight 815 lands safely in Los Angeles).
OTI:
Learned:
The Man In Black is also the Smoke Monster. I actually called this one noting that both MIB and SM were shape shifters. (MIB is now in the shape of Locke) but exactly why or how he can do it is still a question.
We finally got to see the temple that we heard so much about last season. It’s a pretty crowded place, populated with what appear to be the pre-Other-Others. Inside the temple is some kind of healing pool, which probably is the reason why Richard hasn’t aged a day in the past 40 years. There is a problem with the pool however, and it wasn’t able to heal Sayid, who has apparently died. Last year we heard Faraday say ‘dead is dead,’ so that may be it for our wacky Iraqi … until he sits up in the final moments of the show and asks what happened.
New mysteries:
If Juliette did manage to blow up the pocket of energy, why was the Swan Station still built?
Is Sayid really alive, or could Jacob have found a new home?
Why does the line of ash keep the Smoke Monster away?
Why does Locke/MIB say he wants to go home … is he talking about the temple? It appears they don’t want him there.
LAX:
Learned:
Posthumously Juliette told Miles, ‘It worked’, and in this storyline it apparently did. Oceanic flight 815 is still in the air and, in one of the biggest shockers, we see the island is now at the bottom of the ocean. Everyone is still alive, but there are small differences. Jack is the one who gets nervous during the turbulence and is comforted by Rose (instead of the other way around as in the pilot.) Also, Jack is now the optimist, even assuring a wheelchair-bound cynical Locke that he might be able to help him walk again, saying ‘Nothing is irreversible’ (like Sayid’s death perhaps?)
Other differences: Hurley has become a chicken restaurant mogul who brags about his luck and winning the lottery, while Sawyer warns him to watch out for scam artists. Artz is a geeky nerd instead of an arrogant know-it-all science teacher. Boone is back, but he was apparently unable to get his sister out of her bad relationship in Sydney. There are some things that haven’t changed, though. Jin is still domineering over Sun, and Charlie is still addicted to heroine.
New mysteries:
Why was Desmond on the flight, and why did he disappear? What happened with Jack’s father’s body, which also, somehow disappeared? Why was the island now on the ocean floor … and shouldn’t everyone in the alternate universes have goatees? (Star Trek reference.)
What did you think of the show? Any new theories about where this is all headed?

So the Academy Award nominations are finally out and there don’t seem to be too many surprises in the major acting nominations.

 

Click here to see the list!

 

One of the biggest things stirring debate in the newsroom is the expansion of Best Picture nominations from 5 to 10.  The Academy made that decision last year partly because the crowd-pleasing, critically-praised, blockbuster “The Dark Knight” didn’t make the cut in 2008.  More often than not the best picture nominees are smaller, emotional, ‘insight into human nature’ dramas that most moviegoers simply decide to skip over.   That has resulted in the diminished interest in the Oscars as a whole … the biggest viewing audience was 55-million back in 1998 when Titanic took home 11 awards, including Best Picture.

 

So now we have 10 … the biggest surprise? I believe it’s District 9, which was a good movie and got a whopping 90% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes, but I’m not sure if I believe it to be Oscar-caliber.  Honestly, when they announced that they were expanding the field to 10 pictures, I figured the revamped Star Trek, which got a 94% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes would have a tractor beam set on at least one of the spots.

 

So let me hear from you … do you like the nominees? Who do you think got snubbed?

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON …

Hey, Lost Fans!

Can you believe it’s already been nine months since Juliette appeared to have set off an atomic warhead on Lost island? While the producers are being tight-lipped about exactly what happens next, the consensus is that the clock has been reset somehow. All year long we have been hearing that characters who have been killed off will be making a return appearance on the show … but how? No idea.

Personally I haven’t been interested in delving too deep into the predictions and theories … I would rather have the secrets be revealed to me one week at a time (no matter how crazy it makes me.)

Just to whet the appetite, check out this amazing fan-made video from a couple months ago (I just saw it for the first time yesterday.) It shows the crash of Oceanic Flight 815 in real time from the perspective of Desmond, the passengers and those living in The Village. Considering the clips have been collected from several different seasons, I think it shows the creators really did know what they were doing the entire time!

Enjoy!

Thoughts after seeing Avatar

So a lot of people have asked me what I thought about Avatar after my earlier post expressing fears for Cameron’s newest adventure.

Simply put … wow.

Believe the hype, Avatar is a game changer. The film sets the bar for creativity, imagination and special effects. Forget what I said about not getting excited about watching computer generated characters fight in a digital world. Cameron made me care, and even the few times part of my mind pulled out of the movie to remind myself that these characters really don’t exist, a larger part of my mind said, ‘Shut up! These guys are in real danger!’

The reason? All of the characters were real, even the ones that couldn't possibly exist. The first 90 minutes of the film are set up beautifully to connect us with Jake Sully, Pandora, the Na’vi and the scary Colonel Miles Quaritch. The audience bonds with these characters in a way that George Lucas never accomplished in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

The world was also more tangible than any of the planets in a galaxy far, far away. In the dark of the theater, with my 3-D glasses on, I could sense danger everywhere and I felt the urge to reach up and swat at the tiny insects swarming in the foreground. It’s the subtle details like that (including the image of Jake’s atrophied legs) which make Cameron’s vision all the more astonishing.

But I did have a few problems, and they require me to say SPOILER ALERT!

Okay … Congratulations to Cameron for creating such an amazing world as Pandora, but it seems he didn’t look much further than the Native Americans when it comes to the Na’vi culture, complete with their connection with the world around them (literally, in this case.) Space horses, bows and arrows, communing with nature, war paint … no wonder people are comparing it to Dances With Wolves (some are calling it Dances With Smurfs. Heh.)

Also, why create the large bi-pedal mechs that have to carry guns? Why aren’t the weapons just installed in the forearms? Wouldn’t that be more efficient? (I guess it would make them heavier for the more mundane lifting and moving tasks, but still … ) And why equip the mechs with a giant bowie knife, like the one used in the final battle between the Colonel and Jake? At what point during the design phase do you say, ‘This thing needs a really big knife?’

Still, these are minor quibbles and will certainly not keep me from seeing the film again … this time at the IMAX!

What did you think?

Fergie, Duchess of York, speaks on new movie 'The Young Victoria'

ABC13 Anchor Ilona Carson had the opportunity to speak with Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, about the new movie "The Young Victoria."

The film is a labor of love for the Duchess, who says she has been working on bringing the royal love story to the big screen for the past 17 years. Hear what she has to say about the film's authenticity, Emily Blunt and her own thoughts about her life as part of the royal family.

WATCH VIDEO

Film clips courtesy: Apparition

Are you excited about Avatar?

So the first reviews of James Cameron’s “Avatar” are starting to pour in and it’s getting rave reviews.

I’m trying not to let all the hype get me too excited and I think I will have to stop reading anymore about it until I check it out myself. To tell the truth I have mixed expectations about the film. I know that visually it will be spectacular, but Cameron isn’t known for compelling dialogue (do you watch Titanic for any reason other than the sinking anymore?) and the plot seems like a bit of a retread: Soldier is assigned to infiltrate the ‘enemy’ but comes to empathize with them and lead a revolt against his people. I’ve heard that story before … Pocahontas immediately comes to mind, and even Star Trek: Insurrection (Remember? Data rebelled against the Federation to protect the peaceful Ba’ku? Is my geek showing?)
Also, I have trouble getting excited watching animated creatures fight. I found myself bored during what was supposed to be the first big Clone War battle in the second Star Wars film.
What do you think? Are you excited about the film?

'Boondock Saints' star speaks with ABC13

Don Nelson spoke with Sean Patrick Flanery about his new movie "The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day."

Flanery was born in Lake Charles, LA, but grew up in Sugar Land. Don spoke with him about growing up in Houston, the surprise success of the first film, and how a pretty girl got him into acting in the first place.

WATCH VIDEO

Clips courtesy: Apparition Films and Stage 6 Films

Tom Delay lets it all hang out!

Former Congressman Tom Delay told us he would surprise us with his first routine at Dancing with the Stars and he did.   Delay letting his Wild Thing out to the tune of Wild Thing.  His Cha Cha with professional partner Cheyl Burke had its flaws but it was a show stealer.    His scores from the Judges weren't great but he didn't come in last among the men, that honored belonged to former Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin and Actor Ashley Hamilton.     Now Delay watches the women dance tonight and then we'll find out if he survives the first elimination.  Two Stars will be eliminated Wednesday.   I don't think Delay will be one of the them.  By the way, Irvin the NFL Hall of Famer told me he's never been more scared in his life.

Bob Slovak 

Katy's own Renee Zellweger talks to Don!

Renee Zellweger stars in My One And Only. It's based on the life of George Hamilton. Zellweger plays Hamilton's mother who searches for independence after she grows tired of her husband's womanizing ways. Don asks if she is suprised by her success, her thoughts about the film and she names the people from Katy who inspired her.

Enjoy!

Clips courtesy Freestyle Releasing

Texas Director Debuts New Film

Erik Barajas interviewed Michael Meredith, director of the new film "The Open Road," and producer Laurie Foxx.
The film stars Justin Timberlake and Jeff Bridges.
Timberlake plays a minor leaguer who is asked to track down his estranged father, a former Houston Astros player, after his mother gets sick.
Much of the film was shot in and around Houston and Corpus Christi.
Watch Video
Enjoy!

Clips courtesy: Anchor Bay Films

It’s Avatar day!

Today a lucky few film fans who were able to get through online will get to see a 16-minute preview of James Cameron’s highly anticipated 3-D movie Avatar.

For those who didn’t get tickets, a teaser trailer came out yesterday.

The premise? Sam Worthington plays Jake Sully, a wounded Marine is given a chance to run free again when he participates in a program that allows him to use his mind to control the body of an alien-human hybrid on a new world. What he doesn’t realize is that the military is interested in the planet’s resources and Sully soon has to choose sides between duty and this strange world’s peaceful inhabitants.

Looks pretty good, although I have trouble getting excited for cartoon characters running through a cartoon landscape from a cartoon threat … sort of why the beginning of the Clone Wars in the new Star Wars trilogy kind of felt hollow to me.

But I have to ask … hasn’t that storyline been done before? In fact just this year we had the Battle for Terra (also released in 3-D), here’s the summary for that film: A peaceful alien planet faces annihilation, as the homeless remainder of the human race sets its eyes on Terra. Mala, a rebellious Terrian teenager, will do everything she can to stop it.

Cameron is known to be a big perfectionist, sometimes to a fault, and he has been working on this movie off and on for about 12 years.
Did he wait too long? Let me know what you think!

Science fiction is becoming science fact!

According to this article in Variety a special issue of Entertainment Weekly will include a paper thin video screen which will show about 40 minutes of video promoting CBS’s fall programming schedule and an ad for Pepsi.

Movies have featured moving pictures in newspapers for years, like The Daily Prophet in the Harry Potter film series, or that cool constantly updating USA Today in Minority Report.

The only problem … they are only being sent to subscribers in New York City and Los Angeles.

Now for a future prediction of my own … expect to see hundreds for sale on Ebay starting on Monday morning (too easy, I know.)

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs review

Boy am I glad that I'm not a kid anymore. How would I be able to keep the lessons of Earth's history straight when films like 'Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs' mixes them all up?

The first film 'Ice Age' made sense ... we see a bunch of now-extinct mammal species fighting for survival during the coming Ice Age. Then, somehow, these same characters survived long enough for 'The Meltdown', but THEN comes the 'Dawn of the Dinosaurs?' I thought the dinosaurs came first? How can they be dawn-ing?

Granted, we don't go to the movies for history lessons. Sure they can be kind-of accurate when you're dealing with figures like Patton or Forrest Gump, but shouldn't there be some kind of rule?

Nevermind.

The dinosaurs in the film prowl in a world beneath the thick level of ice where our heroes live. Manny the mammoth (voiced by Ray Romano who didn't have to change his voice much to make it sound like he's talking with a long trunk) and his wife Ellie (Queen Latifah) are expecting a baby, and excited about their future. That leaves Sid the Sloth (John Leguizamo) and Diego the Sabretooth cat (Dennis Leary) wondering about how they will fit in this new family. Also, Diego is starting to feel old, domesticated and frustrated that he doesn’t seem to have the energy to catch his prey the way he used to ... will he be able to regain his killer instinct? And after Sid finds three abandoned eggs in an ice cave he adopts them so he can have his own family ... will he be able to prove that he can be a good father?

No points for guessing right on either of those questions. You already know how most of these storylines will end early in the film, but that's okay because along the way we have a lot of fun.

Sid's eggs hatch early and out pops three little Tyrannosaurus babies. When Momma T-Rex comes to reclaim her children, Sid refuses to let them go, and he winds up in the underground dinosaur world. This is a surprise for Manny and the herd because, somehow, even they know that dinosaurs are supposed to be extinct. The group is helped by a one-eyed weasel named ‘Buck’, a master dinosaur hunter who is also a bit crazy since he hasn’t had any other mammals to talk to in this lost world. Which begs the question, “Why don’t the dinosaurs talk?” Also, how can there be plants growing if they are all below a thick layer of ice which would block the sun?

There I go again!

The new setting gives director Carlos Saldanha a chance to breathe new life into this franchise. Even Scrat, the long-toothed squirrel/rat with the acorn obsession has more to do after he runs into Scratte, a female foil who is after the same acorn, and uses her feminine wiles to get her way. Will Scrat forget about the acorn when presented with the possibility of true love?

Once again, no points for guessing right.

The Stoning of Soraya M.

How do you review a movie like The Stoning of Soraya M? Based on the novel written by French-Iranian journalist Freidoune Sahebjam, it tells the true story of Soraya, a woman in rural Iran who was stoned to death after being falsely accused of adultery by her husband. A sense of doom hangs over every frame of the film ... the outcome is spelled out in the title and, therefore, is unavoidable, and it's like watching a train heading directly towards you while you have no way to escape.

The movie gives a disturbing glimpse into life under Sharia law, in which men have all the power and women are treated only slightly better than slaves. It's best spelled out when one character complains, "If a man accuses his wife, she must prove her innocence. If a woman accuses her husband, she must prove his guilt."

The film opens when Sahebjam, played by Jim Caviezel (The Passion Of The Christ), breaks down on a rural road and his car is taken into the nearest town. The mayor and local mullah are anxious to keep him occupied while his car is repaired, but he is suspicious of the men, and chooses to spend the time alone. He is soon approached by Zahra, powerfully portrayed by Shohreh Aghdashloo (24, The House of Sand and Fog) who pulls him aside so she can tell the story of the death of her niece, Soraya, who had been killed just one day before.

Soraya is a young mother whose husband, Ghorban-Ali, works as a prison guard at another nearby town. Ghorban has his sights set on the 14-year old daughter of one of his prisoners, and struggles for an excuse to divorce Soraya. The excuse comes when one of Soraya's friend's dies, and she is recruited into cooking and cleaning for the husband and son. Ghorban accuses her of adultery based solely on an incidental touch of the hand and a brief smile between Soraya and the widower.

Zahra tries to warn Soraya of the growing conspiracy around her, but Soraya is happy about the money she is being paid, hoping that she will soon have enough to leave Ghorban on her own terms. But Ghorban is busy blackmailing another man in the village to become a witness to the alleged adultery, which gives him enough evidence to convict Soraya, and have her killed.

So again I ask ... how do you review a film like this? It is powerfully effective at showing a society that almost seems like horror-fiction for those who live in the Western world. The dominance of men over women is egregious, and is taught at a very young age. When Ghorban talks of leaving Soraya, he only seems concerned about taking his sons along with him, leaving her, and their daughters to fend for themselves. You can see the pain in Soraya's eyes when her sons begin to turn against her. When Soraya's friend dies the village leaders immediately ask who will cook and clean for the husband, never once imagining that he might be able to take care of himself. Soraya's trial takes place behind closed doors, not even Soraya herself is allowed to be present ... and how do you prove innocence when the accusation is based on lies and hyperbole?

And then there is the end ... the actual stoning. The event is much more ritualistic and, in turn, horrific in its execution than you might imagine. The condemned are buried up to their waist, or sometimes to their neck, rendering them incapable of escaping the painful strikes of the stones that are first thrown by family and the accusers, then the rest of the mob. It's watchable only knowing this is just a movie, but terrifying to know it's based on real life.

The Stoning of Soraya M. is not an easy film to watch, but it is a story that demands to be told.

The Proposal review ... should we call it a ComRom?

Is it possible to have a romantic comedy that has almost no romance in it at all? I think "The Proposal" is about as close as you can get.

Sandra Bullock stars as Margaret Tate. She's a queen bee book editor whose drones cower in fear whenever she moves through the office. Think "The Devil Wears Prada" in the publishing world ... perhaps "The Devil Reads Danielle Steel?" ... maybe not.
Her job security is made insecure when her work visa is cancelled after she traveled out-of-country for a book tour and now faces deportation to Canada. Backed into a corner she conspires to take advantage of that age-old loophole; marry an American, stay in America. Her choice? Her assistant, Andrew (Ryan Reynolds.) But before she can seal the deal she has to convince an overly-aggressive immigration investigator that their 'engagement' is real.

But wait, you say ... hasn't this movie already come out ... about 19 years ago and it was titled 'Greeen Card?' Well, yes and no. While the premise is forced, and almost cliche, the execution is surprisingly fresh. Bullock has made a career out of playing women who pine for the one who will really love her, but this time she's all business. In fact, she's actually kind of mean. The smile that made her America's Sweetheart is now filled with shark teeth and a sharp tongue. Her eyes that once lit up the screen are now filtered through dark eyeliner that turns her gaze into a laser that can cut through steel. Her abuse is most often targeted at Reynolds who accepts it with the knowledge that one day he will be able to move up from Executive Assistant to Editor, but only if his boss gives the green light. The two make a deal, she will make him editor if he agrees to marry her for a couple years at which time they can get a quick divorce.

The two travel to his hometown of Sitka, Alaska (pop. 8,896) where she discovers his roots are deep, and his family's name is on nearly every building in town. He hasn't been back in three years, but his grandmother (Betty White) is celebrating her 90th birthday. The family is confused when they hear that the woman who has made his life miserable for so long is now his fiancee.

Not cliche enough for ya? Let's add in a high school sweetheart who still longs for Andrew, a fish-out-of-water story as we see Margaret deal with nature for the first time, a little father-son conflict and a quicky wedding to make Grandma happy.

That's almost enough for four chick-flicks, right? While on paper it may sound like too much, there's something special about the execution. The chemistry between Bullock and Reynolds is sensational, but never cloy, and Betty White steals the spotlight everytime she appears on screen. The Office's Oscar Nunez also has great fun as Ramone, the town’s jack-of-all-trades whose skills include male stripper, and another job which I will leave to audiences to find out.

So, yes, this is a romantic comedy, but the emphasis is on the comedy ... maybe that's the difference.

Pixar hits new heights with Up!

For a movie about a guy who lifts his home with thousands of helium balloons for a high flying adventure, Up is pretty heavy.

Up follows the life of Carl Frederickson, from his days as a young, shy boy who dreams of adventure until he becomes as an old man who finally decides to get off his porch and fulfill that dream. All of that, somehow, happens in about the first 10 minutes of the film. It contains enough humor, heart and tearjerking moments to be its own movie but, amazingly, that's all just background for the story the film actually wants to tell, which begins when 10-thousand multicolored balloons erupt from the chimney of his home, lifting it into the sky and towards South America.

Why South America? As a child Carl absorbed with wide-eyed wonder the newsreels about his favorite adventurer, Charles Muntz, who talks about the amazing things he has found around Paradise Falls. Carl soon meets a young tomboy, Ellie, who has the same dreams and is everything he is not; brave, brash and determined. They grow up and marry and plan to make the trip down south, but life gets in the way, and all too soon it is too late.

And, again, all of this happens in the first 10 minutes .. before the balloons.

Now, Carl is on his way, and even though he had planned to make the trip with only the memories of Ellie for companionship, there is a stowaway. It's Russell, a young, talkative, optimistic Wilderness Explorer scout who inadvertantly got trapped on Carl's porch and is now along for the ride. Soon the home is caught in a massive thunderstorm that somehow transports them to South America, and Carl can see Paradise Falls from his front porch. Once there they are joined by an 8-foot playful bird that Russell decides to name Kevin (for no apparent reason) and a dog named Doug with an electronic collar that translates his thoughts into a human voice.

It goes without saying that you won't find this South America on any map.

This is Pixar's 10th film, and once again they raise the expectations for how good animated films, or pretty much all films in general, should aim to be. It's the perfect family movie. Kids are going to love Russell, Kevin and Doug while adults will likely absorbed into what the movie has to say about love, loss, the failure of childhood idols and the true nature of parenthood. And that house ...a not so subtle metaphor for Carl's memories of Ellie. He thinks he is living by taking the house to the falls, but he doesn't see the house is literally holding him back from the rest of his life. (Was that too pretentious?)

What other summer movie is going to try to tell all those stories? Hopefully all of them ... but I'm not holding out much hope with Transformers 2 right around the bend.

Side note: I want those talking collars for my two dogs, but have a feeling they won't have much more to say beyond "food," "bird," "gotta go outside" and "tell that other dog to stay away from the house."

P.S. Be sure to check out Don Nelson's interview with director Pete Docter and producer Jonas Rivera. Click here!

Disclaimer: Disney is the parent company of this television station.

Terminator: Salvation review. No more Mr. Nice Machines

It seems like going back to the beginning is all the rage these days.

Just two weeks ago we discovered the best way to become reacquainted with the intrepid explorers of the starship Enterprise was to watch Kirk, Spock, Uhuru, Bones and the rest step onto the bridge for the first time. Four years ago we reconnected with Batman by watching a young Bruce Wayne travel around the globe to face his fears and become the Dark Knight.

Now we are getting back on track in the ultimate battle between man and machines with Terminator:Salvation. There's a certain irony to the thought that starting at the beginning requires a trip 35 years into the future. (35 years is relative to the characters, since the first Terminator was set in 1984.)

Let's face it, the Terminator films were only partly about the chase and action and explosions and gunfire. The films were also about the everlasting nature of love (Kyle Reese travels through time to find Sarah Connor in 'The Terminator') and friendship (between the T-800 and a 13-year old John Connor in 'Terminator 2'.) The less said about the third film the better, except that it did serve the function of letting the audience know that the war with Skynet was coming, one way or another.

However, this time there is no 'Hasta la vista, Baby' humor or 'I came across time for you, Sarah' love declarations ... this is war, pure and simple. John Connor (Christian Bale) is a battle-hardened fighter who is leading one of several groups of humans against the machines. Connor has not yet met Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin) who he will eventually befriend and send back to protect his mother from Arnold Schwarzenegger ...er .. the T-800. For now Connor is just trying to stay alive, and take out Skynet.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Terminator: Salvation really focuses on Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a death row inmate who agrees to give his body to science before receiving his lethal injection only to wake up in the year 2018, several years after Skynet launched the preemptive nuclear strike on the humans, known as Judgment Day. We follow Wright as he struggles to figure out why he is still alive and why the world has turned into a nightmare of destruction and desolation where the few humans left behind are forced to hide in abandoned buildings and fight when they can. Wright is saved by Reese and his young, mute, partner Star (Jadagrace Berry.) The trio hear Connor's voice as he gives daily resistance radio updates and begin making their way to the man with the plan.

At this point Connor is not leading the resistance. He’s just leading the southern California wing, taking answers from a committee of humans issuing orders from their submarine headquarters. Command scoffs at how Connor is considered humanity's savior, and have little time to hear his pleas for the lives of civilians or the search for Reese. Skynet, for some reason, has begun collecting humans, not just killing them, and have a large collection of civilians trapped inside their main base in California. When the resistance leaders learn of a way to defeat the machines, they order a full frontal assault, regardless of the collateral damage, or Connor's objections.

In the past three Terminator films we have only been given a glimpse at the war with machines; bleached skulls crushed by metallic feet, all-seeing Hunter Killers floating above the battleground where small groups of humans try to knock them out of the sky with conventional weapons. In T:S the humans are better armed than we thought. They have access to A-10 Warthog fighter jets, Apache helicopters and magnetic mines. Director McG makes good use of the hardware, creating action sequences reminiscent of Top Gun and Saving Private Ryan. He also shows us things we haven't seen before, like a stunning scene near the beginning of the film where Connor climbs onto a helicopter, takes control from the dead pilot, is knocked out of the air, crashes upside down and climbs out where he is attacked by a Terminator torso ... all in one unedited sequence.

Bale is intense and focused as Connor, but you can see the doubts he has about his role as humanity's savior that his mother has been telling him about since before birth. He questions if he can fulfill his destiny, while at the same time uses it as a guide for all his decisions. Worthington is a worthy match as the film's other major character. The less you know about him, the better, and if you haven't seen any clips or trailers which reveal his big secret, that's good. There are also plenty of Easter eggs and moments that fans of the series will instantly recognize, including one major moment that had the theater I was in erupt into applause.

But is it too dark? Is it missing the humor or heart that helped carry the other films? Let me put it this way ... after learning from the past two movies that Terminators can be our friends, it's nice to fear the machines again.

P.S. It's a good year for relative newcomer Anton Yelchin ... he also plays Chekhov in the new Star Trek!

P.P.S. Check out USA Today's fantastic interactive Terminator timeline to keep all the dates straight!

Lost finale recap! A great finish!

So why did it take an hour and 40 minutes for someone to ask if Jack's plan to detonate the hydrogen bomb is the very event that sets everything in motion?

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Season five of Lost has finally come to an end. Here's a not-so brief recap, separated by the time zones:

1977: Sawyer, Juliet and Kate are on the sub, leaving the island, and Kate tells them about Jack's plan to detonate the bomb to destroy the island, and ultimately prevent Oceanic flight 815 from ever crashing. Sawyer is fine with the idea, but Juliet launches an escape attempt, agreeing that Jack needs to be stopped.
After the trio make it back to the island they run into Rose and Bernard, the happiest married couple on earth, who say they have deliberately been avoiding any attempts to find them because they are enjoying their retirement and solitude. They want no part of the 'nonsense' involving any of the Oceanic survivors (it was a great slap of reality, really.) The trio grab their guns and go to find Jack. Meanwhile, Jack and Sayid remove the core from the hydrogen bomb and make their way to the Swan station. They try to sneak through Dharmaville, but are forced to shoot their way out after being spotted. Sayid is shot, but the two are rescued by Hurley, Miles and Jin in a Dharma van. On the road to the Swan station they are stopped by Sawyer, Kate and Juliet. To Be Continued ...

2007: Locke, Ben, Sun and The Others are on their trek to find Jacob. Locke learns that Ben has been ordered (by his dead adopted daughter Alex) to follow Locke's every order, which makes Locke happy since he was going to order Ben to kill Jacob. We also learn that Ben has never seen Jacob and the whole 'talking-to-the-empty-rocking-chair-in-the-moving-cabin' thing was just a ruse. As the group continues walking, we catch up with the other passengers of Ajira 316 (that brought Jack, Hurley, dead-Locke and the others to the island again.) It appears they have taken Lapidus hostage, but insist they are the good guys and are only trying to take their mysterious crate to the statue. Lapidus is freaked out by what he sees inside. They finally make it to the foot of the four-toed statue (literally) shortly after Richard shows Locke and Ben the entrance into Jacob's lair. To Be Continued ...

Random: The episode starts by showing a man in ancient clothing on the island in the distant past, when the statue is still intact. He's watching the arrival of a tall ship on the horizon (the Black Rock?.) He is Jacob, who spends his days making tapestries and catching fish. He has a brief conversation with another island resident who talks about his desire to kill Jacob, and how he realizes he has to find some kind of loophole to make it happen. (There’s a lot of talk about the other man being Esau … get it? Jacob and Esau? From the Bible? You’ll have to Google it, this is getting too long!) We then see an ageless Jacob appearing at key moments in our hero’s lives; he's there when a young Kate tries to shoplift for the first time; he gives Sawyer the pen that he uses to write his vengeance letter after his parents' murder-suicide; he revives Locke after he is thrown out of that 8-story window by his father; he meets Hurley outside prison after his release, gives him the guitar case and tells him about the Ajira flight; he talks with Jack after his first surgery,where his father undermined his authority; he's there to congratulate Jin and Sun on their marriage; and he distracts Sayid just moments before his beloved Nadia is killed by a hit-and-run driver. Who IS this guy?

Now for the big wrap ups:

2007: We discover that Locke's body is inside the big crate, and it appears the Locke that has been leading the others is actually the man who has been trying to find a loophole to kill Jacob (possessed by Esau?)
The loophole apparently involves Ben, who is offended that Jacob never spoke to him directly, and knifes him in the heart. The pseudo-Locke then pushes Jacob into the fire.

1977: Sawyer tries to reason with Jack about why he shouldn't detonate the bomb, but when diplomacy fails, fists fly, and we finally get the big fight between the two leading men that we have been expecting since day one. Juliet stops the fight, telling Sawyer she has changed her mind, and she wants Jack to be able to change things back so she never has to face the day when Sawyer realizes that he actually loves Kate more. A dying Sayid rigs the bomb core to explode on impact, and Jack sneaks his way to the Swan construction site, where they are still drilling despite Dr. Chang's objections. There is another major gunbattle between the Dharma loyalists and Jack and friends. The drill finally punches through the magnetic core of the island. The force begins dragging every piece of metal in the area down into the center of the island. Jack tosses in the bomb core, but nothing happens. Juliet get tangled up in a chain that is being drawn into the hole and, despite Sawyer and Kate's rescue efforts, she falls to the bottom. Severely injured, but alive, Juliet grabs a rock at the bottom of the hole and smashes the bomb core until ...

WHITE FLASH, BLACK 'LOST' LOGO. Wow!

So I go back to my first question. Why did it take an hour and 40 minutes before someone (Miles) pointed out that Jack's plan to detonate the hydrogen bomb is the very event that sets everything in motion? I don't consider myself to be incredibly astute, but I’ve been wondering the same thing for a week.

It's hard to believe that we have to wait 8 more months until the final season starts. So let the speculation begin! Will the explosion reset everything? Will Oceanic 815 really land in Los Angeles as if nothing has happened? Who is Jacob's nemesis, and what, exactly, is the loophole he used to kill Jacob. What will be the impact of Jacob's death ... if he's really dead? Lemme know!

We have a lot to think about until 2010!

Predictions for the Lost season finale!

The big season finale of Lost is just a day away, and the promos look exciting!

Check it out!

I have been talking with a lot of people about Jack’s final plan to detonate the Hydrogen bomb in an effort to prevent the big magnetic explosion which lead to the hatch, and the world-saving computer, and Desmond not hitting the button and Oceanic flight 815 being knocked out of the sky, and …

You get the idea.

But do you like the idea? Do you believe the idea? A fellow fan sent me this theory about how the series will end:

“My prediction? Glad you asked. The bomb works, the last scene is the plane does not crash. It lands in LAX and the cast gets off the plane not knowing anything took place over the past few years… roll the credits.”

Do you like that? Would you be upset if everything over the past few years were to just be wiped out?

Here’s my thought for the season finale. Despite Faraday’s declaration that nothing is safe and things that anything can be changed, every decision made by the castaways has pointed along the same timeline … Faraday’s mother always knew she would kill him, Jack’s decision not to help Ben directly lead to him being taken in by the Others/Hostiles. I anticipate the bomb will actually be a dud, but there will be enough radiation to prevent women from being able to carry children conceived on the island to full term (I bet you almost forgot about that, huh?)

Lemme hear your predictions and thoughts about how this season, or the whole series will end!

Star Trek review!!

Woo Hoo Star Trek is cool again!

Okay, I admit that's a bit of a stretch. Star Trek probably was never really that cool. Many people were never able to think beyond the plywood sets and some of the silly creatures from original series. The public's acceptance peaked during Star Trek: The Next Generation when the Enterprise took on the Borg back in 1990 (nerd alert: That was the first time Star Trek ever ended a season with a cliffhanger), and has been falling away ever since.

The keepers of the franchise Rick Berman (and later Brannon Braga) did all they could to milk their cash cow, flooding the airwaves with three more series (Voyager, Deep Space Nine and Enterprise) and a run of movies that even Trekkers had trouble defending. As Berman left Star Trek behind he admitted that it would take someone not closely involved in Gene Roddenberry's fantastic universe to re-energize it.

Then came JJ Abrams.

Before I go any further I do have to warn that there are probably going to be a few spoilers in this review. I can't help it. Abrams has changed the Trek Universe so completely that it would take too much energy and too many words to explain it all through obscurities, so for those who want to see the film without knowing exactly what happens, here's a brief review: The new Star Trek is a fantastic sci-fi adventure, even for those who don't know the difference between Kirk and a Klingon.

Now on with the show.

Star Trek has never been a 'big action' series. Star Wars always had fantastic space battles patterned after modern-day dogfights, but in the ST universe, the coolest space fight (I always thought) came during The Wrath Of Khan when Spock noted that the 21st century Khan wasn't thinking in three-dimensions, and Kirk was able to hide the Enterprise by maneuvering below the Reliant. (Too geeky?)

This time the bar is set high as the Federation Starship USS Kelvin is attacked by a ship that is much larger, better armed and piloted by Nero, a Romulan from the future with a thirst for vengeance. Serving as First Officer on the Kelvin is George Kirk, father of the legend-to-be James T. Kirk. When the captain is killed, Pappa Kirk takes over, orders the evacuation of everyone on board including his too-pregnant wife who gives birth on an escape shuttle, and drives the Kelvin is driven head first into the mystery ship.

Cue opening credits. Wow.

The new film tells the origins of the Enterprise crew and how they came together. Chris Pine is James Kirk, a brash farm boy from Iowa with a rebellious streak a light-year wide who never really understood his father's sacrifice. After his birth we see him again at age 13, taking his foster parent's ancient convertible for a joyride and crashing it into a canyon while casually asking, 'Is there a problem officer?' A few years later he's picking fights in bars with Starfleet personnel. That's when he runs into Captain Christopher Pike, who challenges him to be a better man than his father.

At the same time we meet Spock. He's a half-human, half-Vulcan boy who struggles to balance his human emotions that threaten to overwhelm his Vulcan training to block feelings and focus only on what is logical. Not easy when you are being picked on by Vulcan bullies (who knew there were such a thing) who, oddly, seem to derive joy out of trying to get the half-breed to get angry. Spock grows up to become a top student at Starfleet Academy, and the creator of the Kobayashi Maru, the infamous training program that tests how potential captains will react when facing a no-win scenario. The two young men butt-heads after Kirk figures a way to beat the simulation.

Along the way we also meet the rest of the intrepid Enterprise crew and, no matter how crowded the film, each person is given a moment that defines their characters better than in the series or in the films. Zoe Saldana fills the mini-skirt and go-go boot of Uhura, an ambitious linguistics student who dreams of taking her talents into space. John Cho is Sulu, the pilot with combat training in fencing who forgets to take off the ship’s parking brake before trying to go to warp. Chekhov, the navigator, is played by Anton Yelchin, using a Russian accent so thick even the computer’s voice recognition system can’t understand him. The two big standouts are Simon Pegg as engineer-extraordinaire Scotty and Karl Urban as the gruff Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy, both of whom bring humor to some very real life-or-death situations..

That leads me to the best thing about this reboot. There are consequences and things don’t always work out in the end. When people die, they stay dead. When planets are destroyed they don’t come back. The entire movie is built on the premise that the appearance of Nero at the start of the film has changed the timeline and, essentially, set up an alternate universe where anything can happen. This is what the series needed. Trekkers have been locked into the history of the future for so long that anything that seemed to go against the canon of the Star Trek universe was immediately rejected by the fan base. Look at the outcry made when the writers of Enterprise tried to suggest that the Borg had been buried in the Antarctic more than 100 years before the ‘first contact’ during ST:TNG! As new pictures and plot lines from the new film were being leaked there were protests over everything from the look of the new bridge (apparently designed by Apple), the new Enterprise (the nacelles are too close to the saucer section … AND IT WASN’T BUILT IN IOWA!) and even the appearances of specific characters (Chekhov doesn’t show up until season 2 of the original series!) But alternate universes have always been a part of Star Trek (think of the evil mirror universe where Spock has a goatee!), so the establishment of a new timeline should not be too difficult for long-time fans to accept, and a great way to recruit new ones. Plus, it allows the actors to make the characters their own. While we could imagine Quinto’s Spock growing into Nemoy’s Spock, it’s a little harder to believe that Pine’s Kirk and Shatner’s Kirk are the same man … but that’s okay.

But fear not, die-hards, knowing the fates of a few characters, like Captain Pike, will deepen your appreciation of what happens to him in the film, and there are enough easter eggs throughout (the fate of red-uniformed crew members and a Tribble cameo, but I won’t tell you where) to warrant second and third viewing … or fourth … or fifth …

And JJ Abrams fans will love the big, red, connection between this film and Alias.

But perhaps I have said too much …