On Thursday, September 9th at 9PM EST (Supernatural’s old time slot), The CW Network is set to offer up their re-imagining of the 1997 USA Network series Nikita which starred Peta Wilson. That series was in itself an adapting of the 1990 French film, Le Femme Nikta.

While the blue eyed blonde Wilson has been replaced by the darkly exotic beauty of female action star Maggie Q (Mission Impossible 2), the basic plot remains the same. When Nikita was a deeply troubled eighteen year old accused of murder, she was rescued from death row by a secret U.S. agency known only as Division. They trained her as a spy and assassin.  Nikita was their top agent until she broke the cardinal rule of never getting close to someone and fell in love. Because of this, Nikita was betrayed by the only people she thought she could trust and the man she loved was murdered by them.  Now, after three years in hiding, Nikita is seeking retribution and making it clear to her former boss, Percy (Xander Berkeley, “24”) and her former friends Michael (Shane West, “E.R.”) and Birkhoff (Aaron Stanford, “X-Men: The Last Stand) that she will stop at nothing to expose and destroy their covert operation.

The majority of the pilot for Nikita, which was directed by Danny Cannon and written by Craig Silverstein, spends a lot of it’s time giving the audience the exposition on title character’s back story. The exposition is interspersed with action sequences to show the audience what a kick ass, strong woman Nikita is.

While all of this was slickly presented and mildly entertaining, the biggest problem I had was this: Yes, Maggie Q is as deadly graceful and skilled as an action hero should be in all the fight sequences. However, her Nikita comes across as too remote and coldly detached from the angst surrounding her character to create any spark or screen presence to connect to outside of her fighting prowess. I do have to say that this remote detachment does help the character keep a sense of dignity around her during the scenes in which Nikita must run around scantily clad. On the up side, that kind of dignity is a welcome change from the usual “sex it up” mentality that often comes along with a series which revolves around a female spy . It certainly makes Nikita more intimidating. On the downside, the issue I had with this is that, unfortunately, there is no heat of any kind whatsoever in those scenes nor in the action sequences. To me, the action sequences of a series like this is where the character’s passion for her cause should be most revealed. I just didn’t feel Nikita’s passion for her crusade.

The CW’s Nikita has the standard character offerings in this kind of storyline filled with betrayed spies and secret organizations. However the casting of the roles is where Nikita builds it’s uniqueness. Shane West offers up a believable Michael, a man still with Division and believing in it, but with enough feelings for Nikita to cause doubts about where his loyalties should lie. Xander Berkley is perfectly cast as Percy, the head of Division and a man who has declared war on Nikita for being a threat to national security in his estimation. Aaron Stanford’s character of Birkoff is the usual technogeek found in any secret agency yet Stanford manages to give his character more than the same cookie cutter presentation.

Even after Nikita’s escape from them, Division continues to recruit and train other young people with similar histories as Nikita, erasing all evidence of their former lives and turning them into ruthless and efficient killers.  One of these new recruits, Alex (Lyndsy Fonseca, “Kick-Ass”) is a beautiful girl with a violent past.

I found Alex to be one of the more intriguing characters in Nikita. In contrast to the overly remote and distant Maggie Q, Lyndsy Fonseca infuses her character with a balance of emotions and strong reactions to Alex’s situation that brings the implications of what is happening to these troubled young people more to the forefront.

Overall, The CW’s new re-imaging of the Le Femme Nikita storyline is an entertaining hour of television. Maggie Q beautiful and is definitely credible in her action hero role. I’m just hoping they allow her to thaw out a bit so that as an audience member, I will feel more of connection to the character.

Grade: C+

Maggie Q as Nikita in one of the pilot episodes fight scenes:

Catch Nikita on The CW Network, Thursday nights at 9PM EST right after second season episodes of the hit CW series, The Vampire Diaries

In this tough Economy, depressing Election season (American Voters are idiots!) it’s time for a nice, uplifting movie. Ok, maybe not Uplifting, but a barn burner – Ben Affleck’s The Town! The fine folks at Legendary Pictures and Terry Hines have given us a boatload, a boatload I tells ya, of tickets to the Washington, D.C. Advanced Screening!  The screening takes place at our Super Secret DC Location next Tuesday, September 14th at 7:30.

The trailer for this movie looks amazing and I have to say I’m looking forward to this. This is our no hassle screening, so you want to go, just send an email to contests@eclipsemagazine.com with The Town in the subject line. I will send all winners the secret code Friday night after I get back from RE3D. If that’s too taxing for you, I will post the code on the twitter and facebook pages Monday morning – but be quick everyone prints off more passes then they are supposed to. Be sure to subscribe to our twitter feed at twitter.com/eclipsemagazine and our facebook page at facebook.com/eclipsemagazine.  Show some enthusiam for this and I’m sure I can talk the studio into letting us do an advanced look at some other cool fall films. Let me know what films you all really want to see and I’ll work the EM Magic. In the meantime check out this amazing trailer for The Town:

Trailer

After the studios successfully muscled Netflix earlier this year, their next trick is to convince us that we really want to pay $4.99 to watch a movie OnDemand. I’m not opposed to the idea of movies on demand it’s just that I’d rather watch a full featured Blu-ray instead and I can’t get OnDemand through my Tivo anyway. But for those of you that do care. The nation’s major Hollywood studios and cable companies have joined forces for a significant push to expand consumer awareness of the extraordinary value offered by Movies On Demand®, a service that provides a convenient and affordable way to rent top-grossing box office hits on cable.  They are going to spend $30 million clams (can I say shrimp?) to push this message.

The $30 million TV, print and online campaign is themed, “The Video Store Just Moved In™” and illustrates in a fun way how easy it is for digital cable customers to view movies in their homes with a click of the remote. In addition, during the next twelve weeks, the advertising will feature a wide variety of recent release titles, some of which are being offered on Movies On Demand® the same day as the DVD is available in stores (Day-and-Date).

The folks behind the movie Let Me In (Overture) sent over this brand new clip. Let Me In is the retailing of last year’s critically acclaimed Swedish Vamp movie Let The Right One In. It was on my top ten list. I don’t know why the suits in Hollywood think it’s a good idea to remake this movie. Anyhoo, check out this clip.

If you’re an anime´ fan and love HD, you’ll be interested to learn that America’s only all anime´, all the time channel, FUNimation Channel has added a High-Definition feed, as of today.

Details follow the jump.

FUNIMATION CHANNEL GOES HIGH-DEFINITION 

The Nation’s Leading Anime TV Network Launches High-Definition Feed, New Branding and Enhanced Program Line-up 

West Palm Beach, FL – September 7, 2010 –FUNimation Channel, the nation’s only 24/7 Anime TV Network, launched today a high-definition feed broadcast in true HD along with new branding across it’s HD and SD platforms in conjunction with an exclusive, expanded programming line-up of the most popular anime titles available.

Since its launch in September 2005, FUNimation Channel has been on the cutting-edge of anime entertainment.  The transition to HD comes at a time where viewers are demanding the option to watch top-rated anime 24/7 in high-definition on their TV. The transition will continue to solidify FUNimation Channel as a market leader in the Anime space.

“We are thrilled to offer FUNimation Channel HD to this tech savvy, highly educated 18-34 year old core audience” said Bill Saltzgiver, Olympusat’s Senior Vice President of Network Operations. “The transition to HD allows for a more robust and superior qualities that FUNimation Channel fans have come to expect.”

To showcase the FUNimation Channel’s evolution, the network will bolster its programming line-up with many new series and top hits including, "Samurai 7", "Baccano", "Darker than Black", "Slayers Evolution R", "D Gray Man", “Soul Eater”, “Claymore”, “Slayers Revolution” and "Devil May Cry" to meet Anime fans’ never-ending hunger for more content.   

“This wave of new content will be the first of many additions to come as Funimation Channel reacts to customer demand,” adds Saltzgiver.

TNT [We Know Drama] and TBS [Very Funny] have announced their orders for four pilots: Perception, Untitled Allan Loeb Project and Dallas from TNT; Brain Trust from TNS. Perception, Untitled Allan Loeb Project and Brain Trust are being described as procedurals, while Dallas updates the soap opera travails of the Ewing family to the 21^st century.

Details from the press release follow the jump.

TNT and TBS Order Pilots for Four Potential Series

TNT and TBS are going into production on four series pilots, including projects from such successful producers and writers as Dean Devlin (TNT’s Leverage and The Librarian movie trilogy); Marco Schnabel (TNT’s The Librarian movie trilogy); Kenneth Biller and Mike Sussman (Star Trek: Voyager); Allan Loeb (The Switch, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps); and Cynthia Cidre (The Mambo Kings, A Killing in a Small Town). 

TNT has lined up pilots for a pair of unique crime procedural pilots, PERCEPTION (working title) and an untitled Allan Loeb project.  The network is also moving forward on a pilot for DALLAS, an updated version of the classic TV series.  Meanwhile, TBS has a pilot in the works for BRAIN TRUST (working title), a comedic detective series.

“These pilots reflect our enthusiasm for relatable but complex everyman heroes, showcased in exciting storytelling environments,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM).  “They also reflect our reliance on extraordinary talent to deliver on the promise of quality series television.  The writers of these projects bring great intelligence, heart and humor to their work.  We are confident each of these projects would be a terrific addition to our original series line-up.”

The following are the three pilots in the works for TNT:

PERCEPTION (working title) – Executive producer Kenneth Biller (Star Trek: Voyager, Legend of the Seeker) and co-executive producer Mike Sussman (Star Trek: Voyager) penned the pilot for this drama about Dr. Geoffrey Pierce, an eccentric neuroscientist who uses his unique outlook to help the federal government solve complex cases.  With an intimate knowledge of human behavior and a masterful understanding of the mind, this quirky, crime-solving doctor pulls lessons from an odd and imaginative view of the world.  This pilot is being produced by ABC Studios.

Untitled Allan Loeb Project – Executive producer/writer Allan Loeb, whose recent screenplays include The Switch and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, has crafted this drama based on The Rabbit Factory by novelist Marshall Karp.  Recently widowed police Detective Mike Lomax and his newly married partner, Terry Biggs, delve into a world of mystery, intrigue and occasional hijinks.  Lomax, who continues to receive humorous and heartfelt weekly letters from his wife a year after her death, tries to navigate the singles world while also maintaining his pedigree as one of L.A.’s finest.  This pilot comes to TNT from Lionsgate Television.

DALLAS – Executive producer Cynthia Cidre, writer of the acclaimed film The Mambo Kings and creator/executive producer of the TV series Cane, has crafted an update of the long-running series about the Ewings of Southfork, whose betrayals, jealousies and passions have made them famous.  The story focuses on the offspring of bitter rivals and brothers JR and Bobby Ewing, who clash over the future of the Ewing dynasty while the fate of Southfork itself weighs in the balance.  This project, based upon the iconic series created by David Jacobs, comes to TNT from Warner Horizon Television.

TBS is moving forward on the following pilot:

BRAIN TRUST (working title) – Dean Devlin, executive producer of TNT’s hit series Leverage, is teaming up with Marco Schnabel (TNT’s The Librarian movie trilogy) for this pilot about Detective Billy Doyle, whose career and life have hit rock bottom after he accidentally ends his partner’s career.  Doyle’s life gets turned around, however, when a recent murder case gets unexpected and unconventional help from three hyper-smart geniuses from a private think tank.  If Doyle can survive the chaos and keep these new partners in line, they just may be the antidote to resurrect his career and, ultimately, his life.  BRAIN TRUST (working title) is being produced for TBS by Devlin’s Electric Entertainment.

USA’s Psych [Wednesday, 10/9C] has its summer finale tonight and it’s a bit different. One, Maybe Two, Ways Out finds Shawn and Gus drafted to help Nadia, a real, honest-to-goodness spy, find the one man who can erase her existence from all known databases. Of course, there’s a lot more to it than that – especially considering the black ops helicopter full of shooters.

One of Psych’s best tricks is finding ways to balance the goofiness of Shawn’s [James Roday] psychic posturings and generally self-involved meanderings with whatever dramatic elements are introduced through the mystery of week. It helps to have a straight man like Gus [Dule´ Hill], who can add unexpected laughs as well – or Timothy Omundsen’s Detective Lassiter, who can be the butt of the joke while remaining perfectly straight.

In the past, the show has managed its balancing act best when dealing with more serious threats, like Mr. Yin – or with lighter overall episodes – as when John Cena appeared as Junior Detective Juliet O’Hara’s [Maggie Lawson] brother.

In One, Maybe Two, Ways Out, Shawn and Gus are approached by Nadia [Franke Potente, Run, Lola, Run; The Bourne Supremacy] to help her find Stravinsky [Jon Gries, The Pretender, Lost, Elsewhere], a legendary agent who took himself off the grid – erased himself, in effect. She hopes he can do the same for her – but before the three can even do anything, a black ops helicopter appears and shots are fired.

From that moment, the pace is hectic and the challenges intriguing. Is Nadia playing Shawn? Is Juliet really in love with Declan [Nestor Carbonell]? Has Agent Driggs [C. Thomas Howell] framed Nadia? Why does Agent Fong wear two watches?

For the most part, the episode is dramatic – moments between Shawn and Gus aside – which is why, when Shawn pulls his psychic tics out of the bag in the middle of otherwise straightforward scenes, it feels forced. On the plus side, though, the ep is filled with references to spy movies [though the ep title is both the sharpest and most obvious] and that adds a certain level of enjoyment to the proceedings.

Watch, too, for a couple of scenes involving Shawn and Juliet [not necessarily onscreen together] that have a genuine emotional impact – especially in light of her evolving relationship with Declan. And be prepared for a cliffhanger that’s more of a key emotional beat than anything else.

Overall, though, One, Maybe Two, Ways Out is not the best example of the levels that Psych can reach when it’s firing on all cylinders. It’s fun, but not as much as it could have been.

Final Grade: B-

Photo by Alan Zenuk; courtesy of USA Network

Hellcats is described by the CW Network as a coming-of-age story about Marti Perkins (Aly Michalka, “The Roommate,” “Bandslam”), a pre-law scholarship student at Lancer University in Memphis, Tennessee. Marti is a hip, edgy townie with working class roots, whose world flips upside down, literally and figuratively, when her scholarship is canceled and her well-meaning but irresponsible mother, Wanda (Gail O’Grady, “NYPD Blue,” “American Dreams”) neglects to inform her.

Broke and out of options, Marti realizes the only way she can stay in school is by resurrecting  her dormant gymnastic skills to win a place on the Hellcats – Lancer’s legendary cheer squad – and the scholarship that comes with it. Along the way she crosses paths with Savannah Monroe (Ashley Tisdale) the upbeat captain of the cheerleading squad.

Based on the book Cheer: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders by journalist Kate Torgovnick, Hellcats is created by Kevin Murphy who also serves as executive producer along with Tom Welling (star of the long running CW hit series Smallville). The series also stars Heather Hemmens, Matt Barr,Robbie Jones and D. B. Woodside.

Hellcats premieres on the CW Network on Wednesday September 8th at 9PM EST. but a few of us reporter types got an advanced screener to take a look at. I was one of them. Before I had received the screener, I had heard about Hellcats and I have to admit it sounded pretty much like every other generic cheerleading dramas/comedies I had seen before. Plus the CW had already spent some time exploring the lives of high school cheerleaders in their long running teen angst series, One Tree Hill. With this in mind I am not afraid to say I was expecting Hellcats to just be more of the same formula. For it to be a yet another cast of ‘pretty people’ twenty something’s playing roles enmeshed in sex soak angst, betrayals and melodrama  interspersed with scenes of fancy dance moves.  After seeing the screener for the pilot episode of Hellcats, titled A World Full of Strangers, I found out I was right about two things: the cast is full of pretty people and the  episode is definitely interspersed with scenes of fancy dance moves. And while this is a fairly generic cheerleading story filled with your requisite cheerleader type storyline characters, Hellcats is not a One Tree Hill clone set on a college campus. I am pleased to say that Hellcats is a really fun, kind of wholesome series that is all about the spirit of competitive cheerleading without all the sappiness or oversexed raunchiness they could have so easily fallen into.

That’s not to say that their isn’t some drama or angst, but unfortunately it’s pretty cookie cutter generic in it’s presentation. As are most of the main characters, who all except Marti’s mother Wanda have no southern accent despite the fact that the story takes place in Memphis TN and most of the characters are suppose to be Tennessee natives. Yet Hellcats still remains fun to watch and those very same characters manage to draw you in. I think that Hellcats will especially appeal to young girls between the ages of 13-25 and, as long as the series keeps the tone and presentation of the pilot episode, parents of the younger girls should feel pretty comfortable allowing their daughters to make Hellcats a part of their regular TV viewing schedule.

Overall, I liked Hellcats. It’s fun, energetic and with just enough of an adult edge to the characters and their situations to make it something adults can enjoy as well as the teen girls in the household. The cast is attractive and the story, at least for the pilot episode was well written. So I would say go ahead and give Hellcats a try who knows, it might just inspire you to do handsprings in your living room or get up and shake your groove thing!

Over all I give Hellcats a grade of B for enthusiasm, and for so far being family friendly

While you are waiting for the premiere of Hellcats on the CW Network at 9PM EST on Wednesday September 8th, check out this video interview with Ashley Tisdale and take a look at some fun behind the scenes photos HERE. Go to the official site to find out more about

Hellcats.

Spider-man Shattered Dimensions first hit my radar earlier this year when I got an advanced eyes on look at Wonder Con, in August (on my Birthday, ironically enough) I had the chance to attend Activision’s Gamer’s Day event in New York and get some hands on time with it.  Activision, was annoying though because they wouldn’t let us take any video of the event and we had to adhere to so many different embargo dates that I threw my hands up and decided to wait until this week to start posting impressions.  The game is available for all platforms today. Check out this Exclusive Interview with one of the Producers. You can see my quick impressions after the break.

I got a chance to play all four levels of the game and it’s a very intriguing concept of being able to play four different variations of old Web Head.  Each level did have it’s own unique feel to it, I especially loved the Noir level which clearly borrows heavy from Batman Arkham right down to how Spidey’s Spider Sense works and I loved the design of the bit that I played with 2099.  I didn’t like the Venom level that much at all it was too mindless and pointless – but I only played it for a few minutes. The other major concern that I had was how generic the Enemies were from world to world. Each world had it’s own unique look and feel, but the enemies all looked the same.  Activision is sending me a review copy at some point, but I went ahead and purchased on Amazon. Look for the review next week, in the meantime check out this Exclusive Video Interview with one of the producers.

This week, FX is premiering its new private eyes series, Terriers [Wednesdays, 10/9C]. It’s a kind of soft-boiled detective drama that revolves around Hank Dolworth [Donal Logue, The Tai of Steve, Life] and Britt Pollock [Michael Raymond-James, True Blood], a odd couple of P.I.s – Hank’s an ex-cop [not by choice] and Britt’s an ex-thief [by choice].

The golden age of pulps was where the private eye became a staple – hardened sleuths who lived by an often dubious code, and frequently took on cases with repercussions they could not imagine. The best known writers of the hardboiled fiction occasioned by those characters were Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, whose Philip Marlowe and Sam Spade remain popular to this day.

In the seventies, Stephen J. Cannell co-created The Rockford Files – a show where the lead, Jim Rockford, had all the integrity and tenacity of a Spade or a Marlowe, but only resorted to violence when all else had failed. As I watched the first five episodes of FX’s Terriers, the series felt – to me, at least, like it was The Rockford as written by Chandler or Hammett and translated to television by Leigh Brackett [she adapted Chandler’s The Big Sleep – the Humphrey Bogart version – for film].

Like Rockford, Hank and Britt aren’t the most likely guys to be seen using violence as a first resort [and when they do, it ain’t pretty – for them…]. Like Spade and Marlowe [and, again, Rockford], though, they have a certain grimy integrity. When Hank makes a promise, for good or ill, he will see that promise through – no matter the consequences. Although the first five eps of Terriers don’t spell it out as straightforwardly where Britt is concerned, indications are that he is of the same ethical composition. When someone hires Hank and Britt, they will get the job done – even if they are in way over their heads.

Even though Hank and Britt are not the most hardboiled of detectives, there is a noir sensibility to Terriers. Besides the characters’ ethics and morality, there’s a dark flavor to the way the way the series is shot – there are shadows and interesting angles; revelations in corners of the screen, and even as the language evokes California, it has a underlying grit that could have come from Chandler or Hammett.

In the series premiere, the guys take one such case – and Hank makes a promise that bodes ill for someone. The ep leads into the big case by introducing us to Hank and Britt as they steal a dog back for a woman whose ex grabbed him while she was at work. Then, when a friend of Hank’s asks him to find his daughter, and giver her some money [she sounded scared, then disappeared], Hank and Britt meet a real estate developer named Lindus – who hires them to find her and retrieve something of his that is being used to blackmail him. From there, things rapidly go to hell in a handbasket…

Events set in motion in the pilot run throughout the five eps provided for review – along with a number of smaller cases and Hank’s efforts to buy the house he shared with his no ex-wife, Gretchen [Kimberly Quinn, House] – who has just become engaged. We also meet Britt’s girlfriend, Katie [Laura Allen, The 4400], a lovely young lady who is studying to become a veterinarian and the guys’ lawyer and frequent employer, Maggie Lefferts [Jamie Denbo, Reno 911!].

Rockmond Dunbar [Prison Break] rounds out the regular cast as Detective Mark Gustafsen, Hank’s former partner – and now his [mostly unwilling] ally on the San Diego Police. He is as much a thorn in Hank’s side as Hank is in his.

Karina Logue [sister of Donal] has a recurring role as Hank’s sister, Steph, who is both not all there and more than all there – depending on whether she’s taking her meds. She’s also a genius, but not terribly social – and Hank is ferociously protective of her [which she’s not too happy about]. Her introduction is one of those revelations in the corner of the screen I mentioned earlier.

Terriers is extremely well written, which makes sense when you consider that it was created by Ted Griffin [Ocean’s Eleven, Ravenous] and co-executive produced by Shawn Levy [The Shield] and Tim Minear [Angel, Firefly]. The characters feel real right from the opening fade-in and the cast chemistry is spectacular.

For a new series to feel like it belongs on a line-up that features Rescue Me, Louie and Justified [among others] is no small feat – and Terriers manages it with apparent ease.

Final Grade: A

Those, crazy, crazy kids at Sony have release another weird, head scratching game for the PlayStation Network, you have to admire them for thinking outside the box. Their latest experiment, Terrover is a Published by Sony Online Entertainment in collaboration with independent developer Creat Studios, TerRover transports players into a surreal 2-D physics universe where they must use their rover’s wheel rotation, pivot center, gravity system and weapons to overcome obstacles while traversing through 40 levels in five distinct worlds with unique art styles.

TerRover combines stylized visuals and challenging gameplay mechanics to bring players a captivating experience as they maneuver their TerRover buggy in search of a new planetary home. TerRover features:

• 40 stages of puzzling arcade levels
• Five vivid and unique worlds to navigate including icy vistas in Congelata, the all-tech surfaces of Mechanica, strange vegetation in Acor and Aura, and the treacherous volcanoes and lava of Volcanus.
• Three local multiplayer modes for up to four players
• YouTube support for uploading in-game footage
• 16 PlayStation Network Trophies

Baltimore filmmaker Jimmy Traynor launched his latest project on the web – it’s a 11 minute short called “The Reading.” How he manages to produce so many films in a year, I’ll never know. Check it out.

It is not unusual for us here at Eclipse to have opposing opinions on the same topic, and “The American” is no exception, especially since there still seems to be misunderstanding in regards to what moviegoers expect to see.  This movie is the perfect example of what happens when the previews basically trick you. Previews and commercials are designed to increase excitement about an upcoming release and give you just a taste of what to expect. That quick little morsel has done its job if it makes you want to go in for the entire feast.  But moviegoers partaking on this particular feast are being left with a bad aftertaste.

Based on the trailer, you get the feeling that you will see a touch of Bond, maybe a little touch of Bourne, and definitely a touch of Clooney charm. In reality you get a film that is practically the antithesis of that and instead might have been better had it been making the rounds at summer film festivals with its artsy, noir-ish presentation and countless unanswered questions left open for discussion. Or at least advertised itself as such. But this isn’t a summer film festival; it is a feature film starring mega-star, humanitarian, and all-around nice guy George Clooney, and the audience is led to believe it will experience an exciting espionage-type thriller. In that regard, and a number of other reasons, “The American” was disappointing. What one expects to be the last bang of the summer blockbusters, turns out to be a weary fizzle.

The press release describes Clooney’s character, Jack, as an assassin who is constantly on the move and always alone. The problem is that this is never defined since we are not told what Jack really is; we can only make an educated guess. We do not know if he is an assassin, a spy, a CIA operative, some underworld figure, or whatever else he might be. We are not told who he works for nor are we shown what relationship exists between Jack and Pavel, who appears to be Jack’s boss – after all, he is giving him orders. But Pavel seems to have issues of his own, yet we learn nothing about those either. Perhaps these are details that are just not important since the focus seems to be on Jack and his internal struggles and emotions.

The movie opens with a snow-covered landscape in Sweden where Jack is enjoying some female company [Irina Bjorklund]. Quickly, the action escalates and several hit men ambush them. It doesn’t take long for Jack to dispense of the threat and in the process we see that this assassin has some highly honed skills. But this opening sequence is as deceptive as the movie trailer. We see action, skills, mystery! — exactly what we came to see, based on those darn previews. And exactly what we don’’t see much of during the rest of the movie. After this ambush, Jack places a call to Pavel asking about The Swedes, gets no answers, then heads for the Italian countryside. 

While in the quaint town of Abruzzo, Jack accepts an assignment to meet with the mysterious Mathilde [Thekla Reuten], who wants him to construct a specific weapon. There are a total of three meetings with Mathilde, her hair color changing along with her wardrobe each time. And if you do not anticipate Mathilde’s true purpose by the second meeting, then my guess is you probably fell asleep somewhere around Act Two!

If you did fall asleep, then you missed out on some early scenes of Jack showering and working out in his dumpy apartment. The purpose of those scenes was not to showcase a shirtless Clooney, but to stress that this aging assassin still works hard to keep himself in shape, as well as allow the viewer to see two very specific tattoos.  Clearly, there was significance to those tattoos, especially the one on his back whose butterfly theme seems to be recurring, but this is another one of those things that just never develops into something significant.

Jack strikes up a friendship with the local priest, Father Benedetto [Paolo Bonacelli], who offers Jack some food for thought about his life in one very poignant line, and directs him to Fabio, the local mechanic, where Jack picks up some spare parts for the gun he is fashioning for Mathilde. The Father has a secret too, but that is another one of those things you can predict long before you’re supposed to.

Seeking female companionship, Jack visits a house of ill repute. What starts out as sex for hire, develops into a romance with Clara, played by the beautiful Violante Placido.  There are many occasions where Clara’s naked body is featured (back, front, and all angles). Perhaps this is to appease the male audience and offset all the times the camera is allowing the female audience to simply enjoy Mr. Clooney’s fine features. But if the prerequisite sex scene isn’t a bit much (okay, we get it, he’s with a hooker and this is an R-rated film), then the excuse to see Clara naked once again by having her take a dip in the river (but, isn’t it winter or definitely cold out?) certainly gets a little bizarre. At least the film has striking cinematography and beautiful views — of the Italian countryside, of Clara, and of Jack!

Director Anton Corbijn takes the artistic route to too many scenes (lingering on doors opening and closing, the random dog walking across the screen, protracted focus on certain townspeople for no reason, etc). This artistic route also includes watching Jack do simple things — walking around town and through narrow streets, working out, assembling the weapon, and taking note of his surroundings since he is a suspicious, jumpy type. Somehow, this attempt at suspense and mystery falls flat. Especially when there are too many over-the-shoulder camera shots implying someone is following, only to have nothing happen! Perhaps the intent of this was to give the viewer an understanding into Jack’s suspicions and paranoia. In reality, it simply got annoying. There are a couple of times where the suspicious characters finally make their move on Jack but even these are a bit bland with the use of ineffective jump-scares and silly plotting — i.e. if you are following someone through dark narrow streets in order to kill them, should we really be hearing the clicking of your heels on the cobblestones?

And of course my biggest pet peeve, in either film or television series, has to be plot holes! I don’t mind a good mystery or espionage thriller, but by the end of the movie I expect to have certain answers to questions in regards to the character’s job, motivation, who or what they work for, who is after him, and most importantly, why he is a target. Movies are meant to be self-contained stories that establish a course of action, develop characters’ personalities, and take you on a journey in reaching the conclusion. “The American” fails at presenting many answers and by the end of the movie you do not really seem to care any more, other than having a lingering curiosity. Of course, using your own imagination and extrapolating situations and events, you can probably create adequate answers to all the lingering questions. Very much like what is done at the wine and cheese reception at the conclusion of a summer film festival.

“The American” is about 90 minutes in length, but there are so many times where there is very little action and even less dialogue that it seems to drag on. The few times that some action finally takes place, it is anti-climatic in its predictability. Even the ‘surprising/shocking’ ending is really no surprise, and becomes almost cliche. As cliche as smoking a cigarette after sex.

The screenplay by Rowan Joffe, who also wrote “28 Days Later”, was based on the novel ‘A Very Private Gentleman.’  I can only hope that the novel did a better job in defining characters and motivations, as well as answering some questions.

Ultimately, it is not a bad movie when it is taken strictly as a character study of the aging assassin who seems to have lost his edge and is looking for a way out of this dangerous life and possibly finding love in the process. In fact, it is a quiet, subtle, nuanced performance from Clooney where his character internalizes many emotions as Jack the assassin becomes the hunted instead of being the hunter. And the story unfolds in a calm, restrained manner instead of frenetic chase scenes and loud explosions. If anything, this movie suffers from false advertising in making itself seem like something it is not and therefore leaving its audience disappointed, much like expecting a chocolate cake and ice cream for your birthday and getting a fruit platter instead. Not that fruit is bad, it is just not what you were expecting at that particular moment. Or expecting an action-packed summer blockbuster and getting a quiet, subtle, artsy independent-style film instead.  For that reason, I can only give “The American” an average rating.

Final Grade:  C

For those of you that have never heard of the Ron Noyes Band, let me introduce them to you. They’re a soulful roots/soul rock band from Concord, New Hampshire and has been together since 2002. The Ron Noyes band is more known over in Europe and has been slowly gaining popularity in the states. “Dust Bowl Diary” is the fourth album the RNB and was released August 28, 2010 on the Round Cat Records independant label. This album features guest artist John Popper (of Blues Traveler) on the song “Last To Know”.  I’ve been listening to the audio samples and with everything I’ve heard so far, I strongly believe this is one album worth downloading. Keep an eye out for a review from me in the near future. In the meantime, please take the time to download a song or two from “Dust Bowl Diary” which is available now on Itunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dust-bowl-diary/id389603765 For you non-Itunes users, it’s also available here on CDbaby.com: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ronnoyesband1

If you love exploitation flicks, there’s a very good chance you’ll revel in Machete. It’s got an iconic hero, gunfights, fist fights, sword fights, missiles, Gatling guns, some very impressive lo-riders, evil villains, hot women and more blood guts and veins in one’s teeth than any movie in recent memory – at least one that wasn’t a pointless horror/slasher flick with no plot.

From the Machete’s opening moments, in which the incorruptible title character’s refusal to take a less thorough approach to his job resulting in the death of his partner, his wife and daughter [the latter not actually seen onscreen], it’s apparent that Rodriguez has nailed the violence and surprising wit of the best of those old exploitation flicks.

Once he really gets going, we get a movie about the corrupt manipulators of politics who are plotting to put an end to illegals entering country from Mexico – not to actually keep them out, but to drive up the need for their cheap labor, but only through them. The men behind this plot include Mexican drug lord Torrez [Steven Segal], Texas senator McLaughlin [Robert DeNiro] and his executive aide, Booth [Jeff Fahey]. In their quest for profit, they enlist the aide of a “vigilante” named Stillman [Don Johnson] and a hitman named Osiris [Tom Savini].

Booth hires Machete to assassinate McLaughlin, but of that’s just a ruse. While someone else shoots the senator in the leg, Machete is supposed to take the blame. Unfortunately to paraphrase the tag from the original fake Machete trailer, this time they [messed] with the wrong Mexican [don’t worry, Rofriguex finds a way to get the original tag into the movie in a fresh and funny manner].

On the side of the angels, we have Luz [Michelle Rodriguez], Machete’s brother, Padre [Cheech Marin], and a couple of young Latinos named Julio [Daryl Sabara] and Jorge [Gilbert Trejo]. Machete [Danny Trejo] even persuades an ICE [Immigration] Agent [Jessica Alba] to join the cause.

Of course, where you have an over-the-top exploitation flick, there has to be sex to go with the violence. Here, the sex comes as part of Machete’s revenge on Booth and the senator – and involves June and April [Lindsay Lohan], Booth’s wife and daughter. There are other moments of nudity, too, including a moment with Alba in a shower…

If Arizona hadn’t enacted its current immigration law, Machete might have been a grade A blood and sex romp, but instead, the film has become a rather pointed reply to that law. Indeed, there are more than a few moments where Rodriguez allows polemic to take up a bit too much time and that does detract from Machete’s frenetic pacing and slashing wit.

Overall, though, Machete is good, dirty, bloody fun – and the stoic Trejo makes an effective iconic hero. If you don’t walk out of the theater afterward feeling exhilarated, then you just don’t get the spirit of a great exploitation flick.

Final Grade: B+

Available on DVD as of August 31, 2010

When the teen angst drama One Tree Hill , created by Mark Schwahn premiered on September 23, 2003, audiences were introduced to the denizens of the fictional North Carolina town of Tree Hill.

One Tree Hill, which was filmed on location in Wilmington, NC to give a more realistic feel, followed the lives of follows half-brothers, Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray) an aspiring writer, and Nathan Scott (James Lafferty) a high school basketball jock with dreams of a pro career. With heavy focus on the high school years of the Scott brothers and their rocky relationship with their father Dan Scott (Paul Johansson) and their respective romantic entanglements with Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton),  Haley James(Bethany Joy Galeotti) and Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush) One Tree Hill ran on steady course of ratings success for The CW Network (a merger of WB Network with UPN). 

Season Five of One Tree Hill saw pivotal changes for the drama series, as creator Mark Schwahn made the decision to move the characters out of high school by advancing the timeline four years into the future, thrusting the characters into adulthood. Season Six saw the departure of Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton and a new direction was in order for season Seven. Now with that seventh season available on DVD, One Tree Hill continues to explore the journeys of its beloved characters, while seamlessly introducing new favorites. As the series jumps ahead 14 months, these new relationships infuse the history and change the lives of those who live there. Through it all, these friends and family members realize that life always leads you right where you belong.

With the loss of two of it’s popular characters Lucas Scott and Peyton Sawyer-Scott, One Tree Hill season seven was in need of an infusion of new blood and a revitalization of older storylines. To this end, creator Mark Schwahn chose to bring in new-combers Robert Buckley as Nathan’s sport’s agent Clay Evans,  Jana Kramer as sassy conniving actress/model Alex Dupre and Shantel VanSanten as the older more free spirited sister of Haley Scott. One Tree Hill: The Complete Seventh Season contains a fun and entertaining bonus feature, “Return to Camp One Tree Hill” that takes an inside look at the experiences of these  newbies.”

To revitalize some older storylines Schwahn chose to bring back Dan Scott .who was last seen going to prison for killing his brother Keith while still dealing with repercussions of a genetic disease known as  hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Along with Dan Scott, Schwahn brought back popular bad girl, Rachel Gatina (played by Danneel Harris). Rachel Gatina was last seen being helped by her old friend Brooke get her life back on track. Instead of accepting the help, Rachel disappeared taking an envelope full of Brooke’s cash with her. In a shocking turn of events, Dan, whose had a change of heart figuratively and literally via a black market heart transplant in Mexico and Rachel return as the man and scheming wife team behind a motivational television chat show.

Season seven of One Tree Hill also contained the directorial debut of long time series regular, Sophia Bush. Bush took on directing duties for the ninth episode of season seven, titled “Now I lift My Eyes to the Sun”. One Tree Hill: The Complete Season Seven on DVD contains a fascinating behind the scenes feature that documents Sophia Bush’s journey as she makes her first time directorial debut.

One Tree Hill: The Complete Seventh Season also has a very funny gag reel and two other enjoyable special features, “Spring Break with One Tree Hill” where two contest winners get the chance to spend time as production assistants on the series and commentary by creator Mark Schwahn, cast and crew members on two of season seven’s episodes.

If you are long time fan of One Tree Hill or a recent convert to the series, One Tree Hill: The complete Seventh Season on DVD is well worth adding to your DVD collection.

Episode Quality B+

Special Features B-

Overall Grade B

The American is being promoted as a thriller and that is not entirely inappropriate. The film is the story of an aging assassin/specialty weapon maker called Jack – when he isn’t going by Edward – who realizes that he’s losing his edge and wants out. Of course, when you’re a master assassin and weapon maker, it’s not that easy.

The film opens with Jack [George Clooney] in a cozy cabin in Sweden with a beautiful woman – a situation that is warm and tender until the next morning when the two step outside and into a brief but shocking bit of gunplay. After taking care of an ambush, Jack shots his lover in the back! There must be no witnesses. At this moment, we realize that Jack is a professional. A brief phone conversation with someone named Pavel [Johan Leysen] makes it clear that Jack is an assassin.

Following instructions, Jack heads to Italy, seeking a quiet village in which to lie low – but the village he is sent to by Pavel doesn’t work for him, so he improvises and chooses another, slightly less picturesque village. He throws his cell phone away and contacts Pavel only via a pay phone in yet another village. When he goes to ground, he does so thoroughly.

His brief contacts with Pavel result in another job – not killing, this time, but building a custom weapon for another assassin, a lovely young woman named Mathilde [Thekla Reuten]. They meet at a prearranged neutral location and their conversation deals only and very specifically with the specs for the weapon she requires for her next hob [which is never actually mentioned].

In the meantime, Jack/Edward has gotten settled in and in exploring his new home, has encountered a very fatherly priest named Benedetto [Paolo Bonacelli] and taken to satisfying his physical needs with a beautiful prostitute named Clara [Violante Placido] and soon becomes more than just her regular customer.

When not availing himself of Father Benedetto’s cooking, or Clara’s services, he works out – push ups, chin ups, sit ups, the man may be aging, but he’s fighting it with every fibre of his being. You’ve got to stay sharp in his lie of work.

As we know he must, he is tracked down and forced to kill to survive; as we know he will, he develops feelings for Clara – as she does for him. We know where Mathilde’s arc is leading, and may suspect its outcome. We may suspect the movie’s final moments, but we might yet be surprised. The events may be predictable, but their timing – and their meaning – may perhaps be less so.

By taking the tropes of the thriller – the killer who wants out; the one last job; the hooker with a heart of fold; the final duel and its aftermath – and placing them under a microscope, director Anton Corbijn [Control] shows the truth beneath the clichés – and the beauty there is in at least trying for redemption.

Clooney’s Jack is a character who has survived by learning to work within himself. He has always been an island – though he seems to have begun building bridges to the mainland when we first meet him. There’s an economy to his movements that suggests his past has been lived carefully and within a set of self-specified rules. There is a sadness behind his eyes that only flickers to the forefront occasionally – those first moments pf the film, before the ambush; those moments with Clara after she becomes more to him than a provider of a service – and maybe once in one of his conversations with Father Benedetto… Clooney’s performance is so minutely modulated that it is a marvel to watch.

The American is a beautifully shot film. There isn’t a frame that isn’t beautiful, but that beauty only reaches Jack in a very few moments – we can tell that he wishes it happened more often, but he does what he’s good at and that isn’t beautiful, at all. Even the brief moments of violence are terrifyingly beautiful, as if to say that even death is beautiful when seen from the right angle.

This is not a film that makes itself easy to watch, but it does seduce with its very deliberateness. At first Jack is a cipher – tightly bound and withheld – but gradually opening up, opening up just the littlest bit. Maybe it’s his fascination with butterflies – he has a butterfly tattooed between his should blades. Maybe it’s that capacity for transformation that we never quite get to see in him – at least, not beyond a hint…

Whatever the case, The American is a film that rewards attention and patience. It may be one of the last summer releases, but it feels more like that hint of spring in the late February dawn.

Final Grade: A

If you’ve ever wondered about who Peter Pan was, and what he’d gotten up to before he met Wendy, then here’s a bit of news you’ll really enjoy. Syfy and Nick Willing [Alice] are joining forces to produce Neverland, the story of who Peter and his Lost Boys are – and how they came to live in Neverland!

It’s a strange tale – how could it not be – and you can learn more by following the jump to get all the juicy details from the press release.

SYFY JOURNEYS TO NEVERLAND IN PETER PAN PREQUEL FROM WRITER/DIRECTOR NICK WILLING

STARRING RHYS IFANS, ANNA FRIEL, BOB HOSKINS,

RAOUL TRUJILLO AND CHARLIE ROWE

4-HOUR MOVIE EVENT DISTRIBUTED BY

RHI ENTERTAINMENT BEGINS PRODUCTION IN

GENOA, ITALY AND DUBLIN, IRELAND IN SEPTEMBER

NEW YORK, NY – September 1, 2010 – Syfy is re-teaming with writer/director Nick Willing to present Neverland, his original prequel to author J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan, it was announced today by Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Syfy and Co-Head of Content for Universal Cable Productions. Production is set to begin on the 4-hour movie event next week in Genoa, Italy and Dublin, Ireland with a cast including Rhys Ifans (Pirate Radio, Notting Hill) as James Hook, Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) as Captain Elizabeth Bonny, Oscar nominee Bob Hoskins as Smee (who previously played the character in Steven Spielberg’s feature Hook), Raoul Trujillo (Tin Man) and Charlie Rowe (Pirate Radio) as Peter Pan. It is slated to air in 2011.

Neverland will be produced by Dublin-based Parallel Films on behalf of MNG Films in association with Syfy and Sky Movies HD and will be distributed by RHI Entertainment.

“Nick Willing is a master story-teller who has taken a literary Classic and cleverly updated it for a new generation,” said Stern.  “’Neverland’ will captivate viewers with a gripping narrative, great characters, and unprecedented film-making techniques.”

“RHI’s creative partnership with Syfy continues to produce exciting appointment television for audiences worldwide,” said Robert Halmi Sr., RHI Entertainment.  “Viewers are in for a rare treat – and one they won’t soon forget!”

Sweeping in time from the turbulent seas of the pirates of the Caribbean to the back alleys of Dickensian London to a world of pure imagination, Neverland is the inspired origin story of one of the most cherished characters of all time… Peter Pan.

Raised on the streets of turn-of-the century London, orphaned Peter (Rowe) and his pals survive by their fearless wits as cunning young pickpockets. Now, they’ve been rounded up by their mentor Jimmy Hook (Ifans) to snatch a priceless—some believe, magical—treasure which transports them to another world. Neverland is a realm of white jungles and legendary mysteries of eternal youth, where unknown friends and enemies snatched from time welcome the new travelers with both excitement and trepidation. These groups include a band of 18^th century pirates led by the power-mad Elizabeth Bonny (Friel), and the Native American Kaw tribe led by a Holy Man (Trujillo), which has protected the secret of the tree spirits from Bonny and her gang for ages—and that has meant war. But as the fight to save this strange and beautiful world becomes vital, Hook, Peter, and the ragamuffin lost boys consider that growing old somewhere in time could be less important than growing up—right here in their new home called Neverland.

Yes, there’s big news from Shout!Factory about the wild & crazy guys from Mystery Science Theater 3000!

Four never-before-seen episodes of MST3K are being released in a monster boxed set on November 9, 2010. Titles being ripped to shreds by the MST3K crew are: Robot Monster, Bride of the Monster, Devil Doll and Devils [I love these guys!].

And what of the other cool contents of the set? Follow the jump for complete details from the press release!

For Immediate Release

Shout! Factory to release

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XIX

AS A LIMITED-EDITION 4-DVD BOX SET

PACKED WITH GYPSY FIGURINE, MINI-POSTERS,

AND FRESHLY SQUEEZED BONUS CONTENT

Featuring Never-Before-Released MST3K Episodes

Robot Monster, Bride of the Monster, Devil Doll and Devil Fish

IN STORES NATIONWIDE NOVEMBER 9, 2010 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY

You are cordially invited to celebrate the launch of this year’s holiday season with the rambunctious crew from the Satellite of Love, as Joel, Mike and their robot pals Gypsy, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot embark on a painfully joyful (and joyfully painful) voyage through the magnificent madness of  the Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XIX limited-edition 4-DVD box set (featuring the highly collectible Gypsy figurine) from Shout! Factory, in association with Best Brains, Inc. on November 9, 2010.

This side-splitting collection of MST3K features the show’s never-before-released episodes Robot Monster, Bride of the Monster, Devil Doll and Devil Fish.  Those entrees come with a side of extras, including a new introduction by J. Elvis Weinstein, cult filmmaker Larry Blamire’s full-fledged geek-out on Robot Monster, new featurettes on Bride of the Monster and Devil Doll, MST3K: Origins and Beyond from CONvergence 2009, original movie trailers, and four exclusive MST3K mini-posters by artist Steve Vance. There might even be an Easter Egg…we’re just sayin’.  This limited-edition 4-DVD box set also includes a figurine of Gypsy, the perfect companion to the Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo figurines included in previous year-end Mystery Science Theater 3000  DVD box sets, all of which have become collector’s items.  A must-have for loyal fans and collectors, Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XIX 4-DVD box set is priced to own at $69.97.

MST3K: ROBOT MONSTER

The sinister alien Ro-Man has decimated the Earth’s population, leaving only eight survivors, including a professor and the family of young space enthusiast Johnny.

Its status as “one of the worst films ever made” easily makes Robot Monster an instant hit with the crew of the Satellite of Love! Join Joel, Servo and Crow as they explore their own fears of Ro-Man — errr … Ro-Tom – surrealism and, of course, the awful greatness (and the great awfulness) that is Robot Monster!

Also includes the shorts Radar Men From The Moon: Chapters 4 & 5!

Bonus Features

• Brand-new introduction by J. Elvis Weinstein
• Larry Blamire Geeks Out
• Original Robot Monster trailer

MST3K: BRIDE OF THE MONSTER

Horror cinema icons Bela Lugosi and Tor Johnson star in this unforgettable Ed Wood classic as the crazed Dr. Vornoff and his beastly assistant Lobo, who conduct heinous experiments on human victims in an effort to create a race of atomic super-beings that will conquer the world.

The film raises some intriguing questions: Do robots made of scrap parts aboard an orbiting satellite dream of electric sheep? Can Joel and the ’bots carry a tune? Who doesn’t love cold Tater Tots^® and olive loaf? These and other, equally imperative, questions will be answered — and more — in this “very special episode” of Mystery Science Theater 3000 that pays tribute to one of Ed Wood’s best bad movies ever! After all, no Ed Wood film would truly be complete without the biting yet loving riffs of your faithful Satellite of Love crew!

Also includes the short Hired!, Part 1!

Bonus Features

• Citizen Wood: Making ‘The Bride,’ Unmaking ‘The Legend.’
• Inventing the “Invention Exchange”
• Original Bride of The Monster trailer

MST3K: DEVIL DOLL

Well … hello Dolly!

Before a sold-out audience in London, “The Great Vorelli” performs with his ventriloquist dummy, Hugo. The doll walks on his own. It talks on his own. It even threatens the audience on his own. But is Hugo the real villain? Or could it be that his ventriloquist owner has lost his marbles?

While Pearl and Brain Guy show the Romans how to have a good time at the Lesser God Day celebration, Mike, Crow and Servo invite you to their own open-window frat party! Party it up with the S.O.L. crew, complete with special guests, devil dolls and their own British pub!

Bonus Features

• The Puppet Master: Richard Gordon on Devil Doll
• Original Devil Doll trailer

MST3K: DEVIL FISH

When Dr. Stella Dickens concludes the recent string of grisly deaths and demolished boats can’t be the result of any known marine creature, she sets out to capture the beast, a genetically created bio-weapon that must be kept secret . . . at any cost. One thing’s for sure, however: The fish are biting!

Beware the dolphins, after Mike and the crew of the Satellite of Love decide to mock their intelligence! Meanwhile, Pearl is forced to convince unexpected visitors that the castle’s actually a luxurious cruise liner! No one’s safe — least of all, Devil Fish – in this episode from Mystery Science Theater 3000’s ninth hysterical season!

Bonus Features

• MST3K: Origins and Beyond at CONvergence 2009
• Original Devil Fish trailer

In all the hoopla over Apple’s boring, lame, pointless “Music Event” today “Ooh, .99 Cent TV Downloads, iOS Update, OMFG!!!” Don’t forget Netflix’s new deal with Paramount Pictures kicks into gear today, now on Instant Watch you can watch all the Paramount Hits including:  The Godfather Trilogy, G.I. Joe, Star Trek, The Transformers and more coolness. But when are we going to get Paramount TV Shows like Numbers, Ghost Whisperers, NCIS?  I’m still waiting for the day users get the supposed benefits from the Warner Home Video screw job from earlier this year. Remember the line at the time was Netflix signed the deal to delay DVD/Blu-ray releases because it meant more Content from Warner Brothers would be available for Instant Streaming?  I’m waiting……..