It looks like this weekend will belong to us gals as there are plenty tearjerkers lined up (so keep that box of Kleenex on your lap and don’t part with it)– but don’t fret boys, they didn’t forget you and threw in a few action packed movies in between all the female targeted ones.
Then ,if that’s not enough testosterone – it’s the semi-finals of the Super 14 and I’m fervently hoping that the Orlando stadium will bade good luck for the Bulls!!!
My absolutely have-to-see movie of the week: Fast and Furious.
FRIDAY, 21 MAY 2010
Ch 101 M-Net 21:30 Sex Drive
Starring: Josh Zuckerman, Amanda Crew, James Marsden, Charlie McDermott, Seth Green
Director: Sean Anders
A high school senior drives cross-country with his best friends to hook up with a babe he met online.
Ch 103 MM1 19:00 Dragonball Evolution
Starring: Justin Chatwin, Joon Park, James Marsters, Eriko Tamura , Ernie Hudson Jr
Director: James Wong
The young warrior Son Goku sets out on a quest, racing against time and the vengeful King Piccolo, to collect a set of seven magical orbs that will grant their wielder unlimited power.
Ch 103 MM1 20:45 The Spirit
Starring: Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes, Sarah Paulson, Jaime King, Paz Vega
Director: Frank Miller
The Spirit tracks the coldhearted killer The Octopus while facing a bevy of beautiful women all trying to seduce, love or kill the masked crusader.
Ch 104 MM2 20:00 Chocolate (****)
Starring: Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Lena Olin, Judi Dench, Alfred Molina
Director: Lasse Hallström
This is a beautifully shot drama. The cinematography, script, acting are just plain excellent. Mr Depp is an absolute dream and to top it off he plays the guitar in three scenes (sigh). It’s defs worth a watch if you haven’t seen it yet.
Synopsis
A woman and her daughter open a chocolate shop in a small French village that shakes up the rigid morality of the community.
Ch 104 MM2 22:05 Election
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein, Jessica Campbell, Mark Harelik
Directors: Alexander Payne, George Parra
A high school teacher's personal life becomes complicated as he works with students during the school elections.
Ch 105 M-Net Stars 19:30 Legend of Bagger Vance
Starring: Will Smith, Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Bruce McGill, Joel Gretsch
Director: Robert Redford
A down-and-out golfer attempts to recover his game and his life with help from a mystical caddy.
Ch 105 M-Net Stars 21:40 White Fang (***½)
Starring: Klaus Maria Brandauer, Ethan Hawke, Seymour Cassel, Susan Hogan, James Remar
Directors: Randal Kleiser, Gary Capo
This is a nice family movie/drama which is defs worth the watch. I love any animal based movies and this one is no different. It has some gorgeous scenery, a good storyline and some good actors. It’s defs worth a watch if you haven’t seen it yet.
Synopsis
Set in the Yukon Territory in 1897, the story of a young man and a wolf.
Ch 106 M-Net Action 20:00 The Package
Starring: Gene Hackman, Joanna Cassidy, Tommy Lee Jones, John Heard, Dennis Franz
Director: Andrew Davis
Political thriller revolving around a conspiracy, a nuclear disarmament treaty between the USA and USSR, and a court-martialed soldier who escapes from custody.
Ch 109 TCM 19:40 Bad Day at Black Rock
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Robert Ryan, Anne Francis, Dean Jagger, Walter Brennan
Director: John Sturges
A one handed stranger comes to a tiny town possessing a terrible past they want to keep secret, by violent means if necessary.
Ch 109 TCM 21:00 Cannery Row
Starring: Nick Nolte, Debra Winger, Audra Lindley, Frank McRae, M. Emmet Walsh
Director: David S. Ward
Two wanderers meet each other and become romantically involved in Moneterey's Cannery Row. When Marine biologist Doc moves to the area, he finds the only entertainment to be the brothel, and that is where he meets Suzy. The two of them fall in love, but before long split up, and everyone in Cannery
Ch 113 Sony 20:30 The Devil’s Own (***)
Starring: Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt, Margaret Colin, Ruben Blades, Treat Williams
Directors: Alan J. Pakula, John Rusk
Even though Mr Pitt thought that this movie was the worst movie to ever be associated with, I disagree with him. I thought it was quite good – it had a decent storyline, enough action and suspense to keep you interested and off course gorgeoulicious Mr Pitt himself (that’s before he became an overgrown cave man).
Synopsis
A police officer uncovers the real identity of his houseguest, an IRA terrorist in hiding.
My Picks for Today: The Devil’s Own, Chocolat, White Fang
Movies that Might be Worth Watching: Cannery Row, Bad Day at Black Rock
SATURDAY, 22 MAY 2010
Ch 101 M-Net 20:30 Superhero Movie
Starring: Drake Bell, Sara Paxton, Christopher McDonald, Pamela Anderson, Tracy Morgan
Director: Craig Mazin
Orphaned high school student Rick Riker is bitten by a radioactive dragonfly, develops super powers (except for the ability to fly), and becomes a hero.
Ch 103 MM1 19:00 Fast and the Furious (****)
Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, John Ortiz, Gal Gadot, Liza LaPira, and Laz Alonso
Director: Justin Lin
I firmly believe that this movie should have been the sequel instead of 2F2F. It reunites the original cast, is almost better than the original and the story ties in nicely with the original. There are some amazing car chases that will have your heart stop in chest and then how can I not mention the opening truck sequence - it’s thrilling stuff. There’s also an exciting foot chase on rooftops by Brian (PW) who has been reinstated as an FBI agent. Stunning cars and beautiful woman are still there, but it’s as if this movie has a bit more substance than the original. For the gals who'll be watching this with their partners it would be best keep the Kleenex near as there are some scenes that you’re defs gonna need it.
Synopsis
Brian O'Conner, now working for the FBI in LA, teams up with Dominic Toretto to bring down a heroin importer by infiltrating his operation.
Ch 103 MM1 21:05 Notorious
Starring: Jamal Woolard, Angela Bassett, Derek Luke, Anthony Mackie, Antonique Smith
Director: George Tillman Jr
The true life story of Notorious B.I.G. (a.k.a. Christopher Wallace), who came straight out of Brooklyn to take the world of rap music by storm.
Ch 104 MM2 20:00 Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (***)
Starring: Mira Sorvino, Lisa Kudrow, Janeane Garofalo, Alan Cumming, Julia Campbell
Director: David Mirkin
I’m not mad about RMHSR as I thought that the (so called) comedy was forced and not naturally flowing – there are some funny scenes, but it’s defs not hilarious. I have to say that some of my best friends love this movie to bits, so it’s just a matter of taste and I’m sorry to say, but this ain’t mine.
Synopsis
Two women get into a lot of trouble when they go to their high school reunion and lie about their lives after twelfth grade.
Ch 104 MM2 21:35 Good Luck Chuck
Starring: Jessica Alba, Dane Cook, Dan Fogler, Michelle Harrison, Ellia English
Director: Mark Helfrich
In order to keep the woman of his dreams from falling for another guy, Charlie Logan has to break the curse that has made him wildly popular with single women: Sleep with Charlie once, and the next man you meet will be your true love.
Ch 105 M-Net Stars 19:30 Phenomenon (***)
Starring: John Travolta, Kyra Sedgwick, Forest Whitaker, Robert Duvall, David Gallagher
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Ooooeee! I loved this movie. It’s a real snot en trane chick flick – sorry guys, your role would be to pass on the tissues. It’s just a nice, beautiful movie which boasts of a stellar cast, an amazing script and is just beautifully shot. It’s defs worth a watch if you haven’t seen it yet.
Synopsis
An ordinary man who got struck by bright light from the sky, discovers he now has super-intelligence and telekinesis.
Ch 105 M-Net Stars 21:40 Two if by Sea aka Stolen Hearts
Starring: Denis Leary, Sandra Bullock, Stephen Dillane, Yaphet Kotto, Mike Starr
Director: Bill Bennett
Part-time plasterer and sometime petty thief Frank O'Brien has been commissioned by his dimwit cousin to pull a simple job: just steal a valuable painting and deliver it to a buyer on an upscale New England island, but not all goes according to plan….
Ch 106 M-Net Action 20:00 Hard Target (***)
Starring: Jean-Claude van Damme, Lance Henriksen, Yancy Butler, Wilford Brimley, Kasi Lemmons, Arnold Vosloo
Director: John Woo
A real skop, skiet and donner movie. Look out for our own Mr Vosloo as the baddy (which he plays sooo good). It’s not a bad action and would satisfy any guy’s action appetite. It has at least a storyline – well sort of.
Synopsis
A woman hires a drifter as her guide through New Orleans in search of her father, who has gone missing. They discover a deadly game of cat and mouse behind his disappearance in the process.
Ch 109 TCM 19:00 Lust for Life
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, James Donald, Pamela Brown, Everett Sloane
Director: Vincente Minnelli
The life of Vincent Van Gogh, the impressionist painter who was tormented by madness towards the end of his life.
Ch 109 TCM 21:00 Bicentennial Man (***)
Starring: Robin Williams, Embeth Davidtz, Sam Neill, Oliver Platt, Kiersten Warren
Director: Chris Columbus
I truly miss Mr Williams’ more funny side in movies. He was one of my favourite comedians until (like most of them or should I say all) he decided to go the serious acting route. Don’t get me a wrong, he’s a good actor but I believe if you have God given talent such as his you shouldn’t waste it. But enough said of that, This is a touching, heartwarming sort of love story/dramady which the whole family could watch. It has its funny moments, but it shouldn’t be mistaken for a comedy as its anything but – best keep those Kleenex near.
Synopsis
An android quest to become human as he gradually acquires emotions.
Ch 113 Sony 20:30 The Three Stooges
Starring: Paul Ben-Victor, Evan Handler, John Kassir, Michael Chiklis, Rachael Blake, Anna Lise Phillips
Director: James Frawley
A biography of the Three Stooges, in which their careers and rise to fame is shown throughout the eyes of their leader, Moe.
My Picks for Today: Fast and the Furious, Phenomenon, Bicentennial Man
Movies that Might be Worth Watching: The Three Stooges, Two if by Sea
SUNDAY, 23 MAY 2010
Ch 101 M-Net 20:00 Pride and Glory
Starring: Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Ehle, Noah Emmerich, Lake Bell
Director: Gavin O Connor
This is one movie I’m truly looking forward to as I haven’t seen it yet.
Synopsis
Four New York City cops are dead, killed in an ambush that has the entire police department on alert and on edge. With a cop killer on the loose and so much riding on the case, Chief of Manhattan Detectives Francis Tierney, Sr. asks his son, Detective Ray Tierney, to lead the investigation. Reluctantly Ray takes over the case knowing the cops who were lost had served under his brother, Francis Tierney.
Ch 103 MM1 19:15 Great Buck Howard
Starring: Colin Hanks, Tom Hanks, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Debra Monk
Director: Sean McGinly
A young man, much to the chagrin of his father, becomes the new assistant to an illusionist in decline.
Ch 104 MM2 20:00 Keeping up with the Steins
Starring: Daryl Sabara, Jeremy Piven, Garry Marshall, Jami Gertz, Doris Roberts
Director: Scott Marshall
A 13-year-old boy uses his upcoming bar mitzvah to reconcile the strained relationship between his father and grandfather.
Ch 105 M-Net Stars 19:30 Homeward Bound: The Incredible Story
Starring: Don Alder, Ed Bernard, Kevin Chevalia, Anne Christianson, Ted D'Arms (II)
Director: Duwayne Dunham
Three domestic pets try to return to the security of home after being separated from their human family.
Ch 106 M-Net Action 20:00 Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Gerard Butler, Chris Barrie (II), Djimon Hounsou, Ciaran Hinds
Director: Jan De Bont
Lara Croft is on a quest to save Pandora’s box.
Ch 109 TCM 19:35 The Honeymoon Machine
Starring: Steve McQueen, Brigid Bazlen, Jim Hutton, Paula Prentiss, Dean Jagger
Director: Richard Thorpe
Using their ship's computer, two navy men plot a scheme to win big by figuring out the Lido casino roulette wheel. Lots of mayhem ensues when their admiral intercepts the signals and misinterprets them as attack warnings.
Ch 113 Sony 20:30 The Godfather II (****)
Starring: Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, John Cazale
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
This movie is the first sequel to win an Academy Award for Best Picture – that should be reason enough to watch the sequel to the original. It’s a good drama with some top notch actors (most of them were unknowns until the Godfather put them firmly on the map – one of them was and is the brilliant Mr Pacino.
Synopsis
The early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York is portrayed while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on his crime syndicate stretching from Lake Tahoe, Nevada to pre-revolution 1958 Cuba.
My Picks for Today: The Godfather II
Movies that Might be Worth Watching: Pride and Glory, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Story