April Movie Reviews - Part III: Boys Will Be Boys

17 Again

A very familiar story of a down-on-his-luck, middle-aged man (Matthew Perry) who magically reverts back to his high school self (Zac Efron) to right some wrongs. Efron is appealing enough -- but it's the supporting cast of Melora Hardin (The Office), Thomas Lennon and Leslie Mann who give the movie the extra humor needed to avert a re-telling disaster. Time for Efron to move out of the high school (weren't three editions of High School Musical enough?).

Grade: B-


Fighting

Channing Tatum plays a southern stud living in New York City with no money and no direction. He runs into a hustler (Terrence Howard) who lures him into the underground world of no-rules fighting. The story is very predictable, but Tatum is charming enough. It's no Fight Club, but kudos to the sound crew -- for the realistic and wince-inducing fight sounds.

Grade: C


Lymelife

Two dysfunctional families are entwined in this coming of age story set on Long Island in 1979 -- at the height of the Lyme Disease hysteria. Rory Culkin is excellent as the teenager coming to grips with his family falling apart -- at the same time he is falling deeply in love with a long-time friend (Emma Roberts). Funny and moving, yet not entirely satisfying. A great cast includes Alec Baldwin, Timothy Hutton and Cynthia Nixon.

Grade: B


Note: If you haven't seen my movie reviews from earlier this month or last month, click on the archives on the left. Most films showcased there are still in theaters.

TV Update: Two Hit Shows Returning This Summer

Things will be heating up this August as two hit contestant shows return to the air. Here are the details:

Philbin to Return with New Episodes of ABC's "Millionaire"

ABC is reviving "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" this summer, with original host Regis Philbin. A decade after "Millionaire" became a smash hit, it will return to prime time as a special event. Eleven episodes will air August 9-23. The quiz show burst on the U.S. scene in August 1999. Ratings slid when ABC aired the show too often, and it was canceled as a series back in 2002. But renewed interest has been signaled by "Slumdog Millionaire," this year's Oscar-winning drama about a young contestant on a version of the show in India.


"Project Runway" Returns August 20 on Lifetime

One of the better reality programs, previously on Bravo, will be back this summer on Lifetime. The legal battle over airing "Project Runway" is finally over, and the season six premiere date is set for Thursday, August 20. Lifetime announced the season premiere of the designer-competition series along with a new companion series, "Models of the Runway." Lifetime says "Models of the Runway," which looks at the reality competition from the models' viewpoint, will follow "Project Runway."

April Movie Reviews - Part II: Foreign Films

Every once in a while, you see a film that makes you stop and think, "wow...and I thought I had it rough." This week, I saw two such films. Both had a similar theme: people dealing with harsh realities in their part of the world. Do they have an option to leave? Or is there really no escape? Both of these foreign movies focus on their youngest characters. Their stories made me appreciate my life more.

Gommorah

Director Matteo Garrone's epic film about Italy's infamous Camorra was a critical sensation at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Grand Prize. The Camorra is a mafia-like criminal organization that finances itself through drug trafficking, extortion, protection and racketeering. It is the oldest organized criminal organization in Italy. In the impoverish region in and around Naples, everyone's life seems to be entangled by the Camorra to some degree. The movie's bleak look fits the plot perfectly. But the story-telling is purposefully slow, making it feel longer than its 2hr and 15min run time. (In Italian, with English subtitles)

Grade: B


Sin Nombre

A Honduran teenager reunites with her father in a dangerous trip through the Latin America countryside in hopes of crossing the border into the United States. Along the way she meets up with a teenaged Mexican gang member who is trying to outrun his violent past and elude his unforgiving former associates. You can't help but get absorbed in their plight -- and hope for a happy outcome. Winner of the dramatic Directing Award and Excellence in Cinematography Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. (In Spanish, with English subtitles)

Grade: B+


Note: If you haven't seen my movie reviews from earlier this month or last month, click on the archives on the left. All films showcased there are still in theaters.

Eddie Vedder Back Out on Solo Tour

Curious to know something specific about Entertainment Blogger's musical taste? Well wonder no longer. My favorite band for as long as I can remember is Pearl Jam. And now Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder is heading back out on another solo tour which will kick off on June 8 in Albany, NY and end on July 2 in Honolulu, HI. New Zealand singer-songwriter Liam Finn will open these shows.

Ticket sale information is forthcoming. TENTATIVE tour dates (some still unconfirmed) are as follows:

• Jun 8 - Albany, NY - Palace Theatre
• Jun 9 - Albany, NY - Palace Theatre
• Jun 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
• Jun 12 - Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
• Jun 14 - Baltimore, MD - Lyric Opera House
• Jun 15 - Baltimore, MD - Lyric Opera House
• Jun 18 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
• Jun 20 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum
• Jun 21 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum
• Jun 23 - Atlanta, GA - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Ctr
• Jun 24 - Atlanta, GA - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Ctr
• Jun 29 - Maui, HI - Arts & Cultural Ctr/Castle Theatre
• July 1 - Honolulu, HI - Hawaii Theatre Ctr
• July 2 - Honolulu, HI - Hawaii Theatre Ctr
  

If you are unfamiliar with Eddie Vedder's solo work, may I suggest listening to the soundtrack of the 2007 film, Into the Wild. While you're at it, rent the movie -- it's a great story. And you will see/hear why Eddie won a Golden Globe Award for his efforts.

PETA is Out of Control

As if we needed further proof that the People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA) is going too far. Now the animal rights group has asked the British electro-pop duo, the Pet Shop Boys, to change its name. PETA sent a letter to Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe requesting they rename their band, the Rescue Shelter Boys. The duo, which has performed under its current name for more than 20 years, turned PETA down.

ABC to Burn Off Final Eps of Cancelled Series

ABC is burning off the final episodes of Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone and Dirty Sexy Money. They will be aired on consecutive Saturday nights at 10 EST beginning May 30 and ending August 8. Keep in mind, unlike how the network handled another cancelled series, Life on Mars, these three shows did NOT film wrap-up series finales. Here's the schedule:

• Pushing Daisies: final three episodes will air May 30 to June 13
• Eli Stone: final four episodes will air June 20 to July 11
• Dirty Sexy Money: final four episodes will air July 18 to Aug 8

Today's Music News

Save the Date: 09/09/09 Will Mark New Beatles Invasion

Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music have announced that the entire original Beatles catalogue, digitally re-mastered, will be released on September 9. The release will include all 12 Beatles albums in stereo, with track listings and artwork. The release marks the first time that the first four Beatles albums are being made available in their entirety on compact disc.

This news comes on the heels of the two surviving Beatles members, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, performing together at the "Change Begins Within Concert" last Saturday in New York.

Question: Are there any Beatles fans under the age of 40 out there?


iTunes Pricing Change

In today's other music news, Apple's practice of selling all songs for 99 cents each has ended. Starting today, Apple's iTunes Store officially began offering three-tiered pricing: 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29. Record companies can pick the prices.

Question: Will you pay $1.29 for new tunes?