Movies & TV

For some, the presence of constant green screen use and digital imaging may deter them from seeing “Speed Racer," but do not be fooled. The world that is created in this movie is purely magical.

Morgan Spurlock is best known for his pointed and hilarious documentary “Super Size Me." His new film, “Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?,” is neither as insightful nor as funny as “Super Size Me”– and it shows.

When it comes to television, I’m kind of a snob. I have high programming standards, and anyone who disagrees with my opinions is usually subject to eye rolling and attitude. But fans of “The Hills” take note: I watch bad TV, too.

Mothers play a number of different roles in our lives. They can be supportive and caring, giving out love as well as advice whenever necessary. Judging by our previous Mom’s Weekend, they can also be the key to every child’s vice. 

There is really only one reason to see “Iron Man," the newest and potentially the most entertaining comic book film to be released in a long while, and it has a name: Robert Downey Jr.

The laughter far outweighs the mushiness in the raunchy, yet romantic film “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”

The documentary film is a metaphorical double-edged sword. It can be emotionally compelling and at the same time leave viewers wanting more. "Chicago 10" is a fine film while still falling victim to the common hazards of the genre.

Amidst the tumultuous violence in Lebanon comes a true-to-life film about love. 'Caramel,' a Lebanese romantic-comedy starring, directed and co-written by newcomer Nadine Labaki, explores a side of Beirut we have yet to see on the evening news.

"Youth Without Youth," infamous "Godfather" director Francis Ford Coppola's first film in almost a decade, is hypnotically dense and confusing, like a philosophy lecture given by a drunken mute.

Athens Film Fest documentary “How to Cook Your Life” examines everything from Zen, to cooking, to the wasteful nature of our culture. Unfortunately, the film takes on too many topics to focus successfully on any of them.

"Pete Seeger: The Power of Song" combines music and politics in a documentary about American singer/songwriter Pete Seeger that will please folk fans but might bore the average viewer.

Telling the story of The Clash’s front man Joe Strummer, “Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten” is not a mere recollection of the punk rock glory days that earned Strummer and his band mates their fame.

Alex Gibney’s film “Taxi to the Dark Side” examines the use of torture on detainees in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay.

Since the 1978 Islamic Revolution in Iran, the country-- and life for its people-- has never been the same. Academy Award-nominated film “Persepolis” is the autobiographic, coming-of-age tale from writer-director Marjane Satrapi, who was 9 years old when revolution rocked her homeland.

During the fourth century, the Roman emperor Constantine was the first, but certainly not the last, to combine the cross and the sword and fight under the banner of Christianity. Oren Jacoby’s documentary “Constantine’s Sword” tells the history of religion and violence.

Despite its stellar first half, “Snow Angels,” a promising flick about a small-town group of individuals and its drastic loss of innocence, collapses under its own weight with overwrought melodrama and unnecessary storytelling clichés.

In politics today there are few issues more controversial than immigration, and regardless of a person’s stance on this debate, the new film “Under the Same Moon” provides worthwhile insight on immigration.

As it turns out, smart people can be pretty dumb sometimes. The characters in Noam Murro’s directorial debut, ”Smart People,” are certainly intelligent, not to mention arrogant, pompous and rather dull.

MTV’s newest reality show, "The Paper,” should fit right in with the rest of the network's lineup. In other words, it revolves around self-centered people with a flair for the dramatic.

After months of comedic deprivation, the NBC Thursday night line-up is back in its entirety. "My Name is Earl" was the first to return on April 3, and this past Thursday its brothers, "30 Rock," "The Office" and "Scrubs" all trekked back onto the airwaves for a night of fresh comedy. All is finally right with the world on Thursday nights.

“The Bank Job” plays out very well on the whole, but its simple title relays a kind of message throughout the film, one that reads like a five-dollar hooker: I’m a good deal, but deep down, something is just missing.

Cinematheque, the Arts for Ohio sponsored event that brings unique films to students for free, is back for its first run of spring quarter.

When three high school freshmen live under the reign of terror of one of the worst bullies since Fidel Castro was in school, Drillbit Taylor comes to the rescue. Well, sort of.

From classrooms to dorm rooms, YouTube has been a great source of both education as well as entertainment. Yet like any other modern phenomenon, it certainly has its high, low and just plain awkward moments when it comes to content.

TV's “Top Chef” is back and bringing the heat with plenty of the expected mouth-watering dishes, over-the-top personalities and, of course, drama in and out of the kitchen.

St. Patrick’s Day is not known in Hollywood. It is located in that dead zone between Valentine’s Day and Easter, where people get drunk not out of joy or sadness, but due to necessity and at the very least, boredom.

“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” did not prove to be the box office smash that many expected. With its recent DVD release, however, the film could make as big of a splash as the title itself.

The first music video that aired on MTV in 1981 was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. Currently it appears that MTV has killed the video star.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve given recommendations of my favorite TV shows on DVD, from the brilliant-but-cancelled “Arrested Development” to the verbose and inspiring “The West Wing.”  For my last installment, there is only one left to plug: “Lost.”

Arts for Ohio’s Cinematheque always seems to come around when students are in most need of an entertaining break. This month, to relieve students of their pre-finals woes, Cinematheque is presenting five free foreign films to provide an escape from studies and inspire some post-screening debate.

"Semi-Pro" may be the perfect lesson for what not to do in a comedy. Despite its seemingly golden premise, the amount of wasted talent and tedious jokes turn this champ into an abject failure for Will Ferrell and his crew.

Based on the best-selling novel by Philippa Gregory, "The Other Boleyn Girl" is a story of desire and betrayal during a pivotal time in history when power and passion destroyed a beloved kingdom.

Ah, my latest, greatest reality television indulgence: “Project Runway.”  As the first of a two-part finale wrapped up this past Wednesday, I could not help but to form my own opinions and predictions about this innovative season thus far.

Who else can say they took a bath with Britney Spears?

Dressed to the nines in mock preparatory-school uniforms, the newest beauty clan of “America’s Next Top Model” strutted its stuff and did its best to impress the judges as “ANTM” Cycle 10 began.

Some people collect comic books or spend their days playing football. Others party every night. Still others enjoy the thrill of knitting sweaters. I watch movies. I even spend my days watching movie trailers to find out what is coming soon.

“Vantage Point” adds multiple perspectives to the standard suspense/action film, resulting in tremendous excitement, but the film offers only a cursory look at the points of view of the individual characters.

For some, being the star of a popular movie is a dream. For the characters of “Be Kind Rewind,” however, it is a low-budget reality. This creative comedy about friendship, community and blockbuster remakes is as humorous as it is heartfelt.

The unconventional romantic comedy “Definitely, Maybe” provides viewers with a unique flashback structure and the ideal mixture of poignancy and laughter.

This week I did the unthinkable: I refused to read Us Weekly. I haven’t flipped through the pictures or pondered the “Who Wore it Best” section. I haven’t even read about how Heidi Montag cried over her terrible music video.

At the peak of the school year, it is pretty safe to say that gear-heads and car junkies are missing their beloved vehicles. Here is a list of movies that is sure to get engines revving from the comfort of dorm rooms.

Not everyone has it: the perfect pace, improvisation ability and a faultless delivery method. These attributes comprise an elite group of quick-witted talents.

Madly emotional, darkly comic and -- gasp -- heartwarming, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” is an experience of a film: a portrait of human imagination and splendor amid the confines of the human brain.

With more new ladies and 13 episodes in store, infamous rapper Flavor Flav is on a reality-style quest for love...again.

While a show generally can be classified as either “good” or “bad,” it can also transcend expectations and reviews. For the fourth of my five-part series, here are three shows that capitalized on their promises, however briefly.

Based on the bestselling novel by Khaled Hosseini, "The Kite Runner" soars through theaters. It warms hearts and makes viewers appreciate the everlasting bonds of friendship. And possibly fosters the urge to fly a kite.

So you’ve got your chocolate candies, a fist full of roses, a candle-lit dinner, that oh-so-special mix tape and the love of your life on-hand for an extra special Valentine’s Day.

It seems like just yesterday Nicole Richie was driving the wrong way down a California highway. Now she has a baby! Hollywood’s collection of pregnant celebrities is beginning to give birth to a new round of adorable celebrity babies.

It is a show packed with fashion and sex in a big city, and an overwhelming feeling of déjà vu. NBC’s “Lipstick Jungle" treads in the well-worn footsteps of New York TV dramas but fails to make its own mark.

It is the second week of the month and the middle of a dreary winter quarter. No better time exists for Arts for Ohio’s Cinematheque event to come to the Athena for some free film fun.

They say money can’t buy happiness, but it can pay for Patti Stanger. Stanger stars in Bravo’s newest reality show, "Millionaire Matchmaker," which promises to bring true love right to the doorstep of a millionaire’s mansion.

The Athena and its mainstream counterpart, the Athena Grand, offer many movie choices for the local enthusiast. However, Baker Center’s International Film Fest boasts movies from every corner of the world to enlighten the culturally curious student.

There’s not a whole lot going on in this TV dry spell, so if you’re like me and want to avoid watching “American Gladiators,” check out some more of my picks of the best TV on DVD.

Welcome to the second of five installments of “The Best TV on DVD” – that is, my recommendations for worthwhile television shows on which to spend your Barnes & Noble gift card leftover from the holiday season. On today’s menu, a comedy, a drama and a little bit of both.

The popularity of comedy ensembles has continued to grow throughout the years and has left viewers with hilarious collections of films perfect for a long winter at Ohio University.

At close to three hours, "There Will Be Blood," Paul Thomas Anderson's intimate epic of greed, faith and ambition, is a powerful, extraordinary piece of cinema. It also tells a parable of fortune and the darkness that often follows close behind.

"The Savages" is a film of rare breed. It addresses an ultimately depressing subject while being witty and offbeat. It is an unexpected film that succeeds in tugging at the audience's heartstrings while keeping things simple.

In the age of MySpace, Facebook and YouTube, the Internet allows people to say or see just about anything while remaining relatively anonymous. “Untraceable” is a thriller that sets out to explore our perhaps unhealthy Web obsession.

I like TV shows on DVD…kind of a lot. It’s an interest that began with the purchase of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” back in my middle school days.

Depending on who you talk to, J.J. Abrams, producer and creator of “Alias” and “Lost” and director of “Mission: Impossible 3,” is either a mad genius or Satan incarnate, and “Cloverfield” will undoubtedly divide viewers in much the same way.

Despite what previews have led viewers to believe, director Joe Wright’s “Atonement” is far from being “The Notebook 2.” In this Golden Globe-winning flick, “Atonement” is better described as a coming-of-age story with complex plot twists and romantic undertones.

The new film “The Golden Compass,” based on the first book in the “His Dark Materials” trilogy by Philip Pullman, has Christians everywhere outraged because God, also known as The Authority in the books and movie, is portrayed as power-hungry and controlling.

Your favorite shows on the small screen and the stage may soon be on hiatus (or might be already) due to strikes by writers and stagehands.

Sparse, dark and brooding, "No Country for Old Men" brings the Coen brothers back to the top with a searing thriller about a man, a killer and a suitcase full of money in a pitch-perfect adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel.

“Project Runway" is back for season four with a diverse set of new designers who are going to have to learn how to “make it work.”

The art of transferring works of literature onto the silver screen is tricky. Failure can lead to serious disappointment. This is unfortunately the case for “Into the Wild,” which is based on a bestseller that was obviously lost in adaptation.

If the words “Daredevil,” “Jersey Girl” and “Gigli” sound familiar, the name Ben Affleck probably does not elicit a pleasant response. In his directorial debut Affleck steps behind the camera and out of his slump with this character-driven thriller.

The scintillating, stimulating, torrid drama "Nip/Tuck" is back for its fifth season. Doctors Sean McNamara and Christian Troy return, scalpels in hand, to slice into another season that catalogues the indecent on-goings of their plastic surgery firm, McNamara-Troy.

Those in search of a mindless, 92-minute maze of blood, gore and miscalculated time sequences will find what they're looking for in “Saw IV.”

At the risk of offending advertising majors everywhere, I’ll be the first to step up and admit my immense dislike for commercials. Thankfully, there are a few that stave off my natural channel-changing instincts.

We’re all guilty of sitting in front of the TV set, aimlessly flipping channels, whining because “there’s nothing good on!” Get excited, because this is a season chock full of awesome television.

Wes Anderson fans, rejoice! After a three-year hiatus, the famed director has released his newest film, “The Darjeeling Limited,” a predictably stylish and humorous picture that leaves little disappointment, despite its inevitability.

Sex sells, and what sells ends up in the media. So when the TV reveals Diddy seducing a scantily clad woman supposedly to sell perfume, it’s accepted and expected by viewers. But is the purpose frequently lost among the promiscuity?

She’s back and more "ghetto fabulous" than ever. Armed with a new weave, newly enhanced breasts and a firmer bod, New York is again conquering her new male victims one ferocious step at time.

Watching someone play video games usually doesn’t rank among the more exciting ways to pass an adult’s time; however, given current reality TV ratings, watching people conspire to crush each other does. The new documentary ‘King of Kong’ combines both.

The quirky, coming-of-age story has been an indie staple for so long that it’s practically a genre of its own. “Rocket Science,” with strong direction and performances from its unknown leads, admirably tries to break the mold, mostly with success.

Thanks to Arts for Ohio, every second weekend of the month there will be film screenings at the Athena that showcase pictures from around the world and initiate discussion. Cinematheque, which began this month, will certainly become a student tradition.

"Across the Universe" combines the most beloved songs in the world with an important period in our country’s history. "Universe," like the reinvented Beatles tunes it features, showcases familiar and unexpected ways love and music touch us all.

It’s hard to describe exactly what’s at the core of “Eastern Promises” after only one viewing, but it’s clearly a sign of excellent craftsmanship on director David Cronenberg’s part as he continues to flirt with mainstream audiences with great success.

From the boardroom to the bedroom, ABC's "Big Shots" is an inside look at the secret lives of four incredibly good-looking businessmen and the women who love, or make love to, them.

The creator of “The O.C.” is making his way back to television superstardom with “Gossip Girl,” a new series on the CW.

In a world full of chaos, anger and tragedy, it is rare to find a film as charming as “My Best Friend,” a quaint French film about turning superficiality into sociability.

In an attempt to bring in a male audience, ABC has taken the GEICO cavemen commercials and made them into a show titled “Cavemen,” a series that may not be as stupid as it looks. The series premieres at 8 p.m. tonight.

British comedy is well known for its dry, sharp-as-a-lance humor -- the kind that could blow right past if you aren’t paying attention. Unfortunately, “Death at a Funeral” is not that kind of British movie.

The second season of “Heroes” has returned and promises a much meatier (and more climactic) story arc than last year, introducing new heroes, new twists and the same terrible dialogue we’ve all grown to love.

Worry no more about gossip topics at the water cooler. "The Office" begins again this Thursday with an hour-long premiere. After a cliff-hanger third season finale, the fourth time may be the charm for everyone’s favorite TV couple, Pam and Jim.

Picture it: Bonanza City, N.M., The year is 1885, and the mining city is in full swing. But the charming little city can't quite make the cut and is left abandoned. Now, more than 100 years later, 40 children are taking over with CBS' "Kid Nation."

"The 11th Hour" is yet another documentary explaining the reality of global warming. While it does participate in the norm of detailing the horrors of this world issue, it also offers ways to change and, more importantly, explains the gifts that can come from activism.

A film about the Ten Commandments, the rules of the Christian faith, requires serious attention, deep thought and profound sensitivity. “The Ten,” a comedy showcase of stories about the Ten Commandments, is one that lacks all three.

After a short hiatus, "America's Next Top Model" is back with 13 new models waiting in the wings to become the next cover girl. Cycle nine, which premieres at 8 p.m. Sept. 19 on the CW, promises to be a season filled with more catwalks and catfights.

Not long ago, questioning the Bush administration’s policies would have been considered unpatriotic. Now, everyone seems to be critical of the war. Answering how and why things went wrong is essential to avoiding repeating those mistakes, and that’s where “No End in Sight” comes in.

It’s so satisfying to see the western genre quietly creep back into Hollywood after such a long and sporadic absence, and “3:10 To Yuma” proves that the cowboy is far from dead (and still not totally homoerotic).

"Shoot ‘Em Up" lives up to its title in this decadently violent picture.

Michael Bay, the director of “Bad Boys” and “Pearl Harbor,” is not about to let plot line, dialogue or the laws of physics get in his way on what some are calling his best effort yet, “Transformers.”

"Pirate Master" is another, tedious reality show with only some potential for greatness. Even those obsessed with pirates will find themselves wanting this silly show to walk the plank.

The third installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, “At World’s End,” has finally hit theaters, complete with a hallucinating Sparrow, a full-blown British-pirate war and, of course, Will’s and Elizabeth’s complicated union.

"We all came out of Gogol's overcoat," Gogol Ganguli's father repeatedly tells him growing up. Gogol never fully understood his namesake nor the meaning of his father's words until he took his own journey.

Too often, filmmakers stray from the essential factors of a good movie to appear innovative. Conversely, “Disturbia” may not break the mold of the thriller genre, but it does include a solid plot, good direction and a convincing, likeable cast.

Courtroom dramas are often exciting, tense and provocative. If filmmakers had managed to install some of these characteristics into "Bamako,” then it probably wouldn’t have been such a bore.

"Berbagi Suami” tells the story of three different Indonesian women who must learn to cope with polygamy. Instead of feeling cliché or disjointed, though, the film tells the unique story in a way that flows well from one to the next.

Teachers and parents may have told you never to talk sex or politics with strangers, but “The Lives of Others” does both to create a compelling political thriller.

Learning about other cultures is a good thing, except when you learn about them in a slow film that lacks a cohesive plot. While "The Journals of Knud Rasmussen" might be interesting to read, they make for boring movie.

Most of us see only the events that happen during a television show, but it is the things that occur behind the scenes of the making of a television pilot that make "The TV Set" so much fun to watch.

“In the Land of Women” is a humor-filled chick flick with a mostly female cast, one incredibly good-looking lead man, plenty of tears and several dramatic situations.

Advertising is something that we encounter every day. It's also something that we don't really think about. "Czech Dream," the documentary by two film majors in the Czech Republic, will force audiences to start.

Impressive cinematography, character chemistry and an ironic, yet gripping plot line distinguish “Border Post” from the rest of the sardonic, dark-comedy war flicks.

"Puccini for Beginners" is a brilliantly written and performed film. It’s inventive, smart and a bright spot in the Athens Film Fest, taking the trite idea of the love triangle and romantic comedy and breathing new life into it.

"Our Daily Bread" offers a disturbing look at the world of high-tech food production. However, only those who are willing to look deeper and think about the message of each image will understand the film.

It is not often that a feature film is more of a work of art than a storytelling machine. "Inland Empire" is an example of the former, and is bound to be one of the most intriguing, though utterly confusing, films of the Athens Film Festival

"Copying Beethoven" is a fictional take on the last year of Ludwig Van Beethoven’s life. What begins as a bleak, monochromatic film with frantic camera work soon becomes a beautiful and witty take on Beethoven’s genius and difficult nature.

The true story told in "Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple" becomes more than an incident from history through the disturbing recollections of those who knew Jim Jones and experienced the People's Temple.

This year’s Athens Film Festival is sure to be an entertaining and thought-provoking fest, especially if the other films can follow "Old Joy," a simple yet emotionally intense film about two old friends reuniting after years of separation.

"Manufactured Landscapes" is a film with an important message about the effect of globalization and industrialization on the world. Unfortunately, this message is lost because it feels more like a PowerPoint slide show than a documentary.

The problem with most psychological thrillers is that they rely more on clichés than creativity. How can such ridiculous plot twists not have audiences on the edge of their seats? Because they’ve seen it all before.

"Notes From the Underbelly," the new comedy from ABC, is no “A Baby Story.” While it doesn't mock pregnancy, the show takes a humorous look at the horrors it can bring.

It was a peaceful day in New Jersey suburbia until a piece of exercise equipment decided to terrorize the town. Luckily, Aqua Teen Hunger Force arrives to save the day in "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters."

An homage to the B-movie houses of a time past, "Grindhouse" is an epic double feature filled to the brim with A-list cameos, gore and, of course, lots of sleaze.

“Blades of Glory” is a completely ridiculous comedy that resembles “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” in its completely unapologetic insanity… and that’s not a bad thing.

“To be Irish is to know that, in the end, the world will break your heart.” This was quoted years ago by Daniel Patrick Moynihan and was recently a quote that appeared before the new NBC mob drama, “The Black Donnellys.” The show airs Monday nights at 10 p.m. on NBC.

Bravo’s reality series “Work Out,” appropriately termed a “docudrama,” brings several everyday issues (friendship, relationships, business, fun, homosexuality and more) together into a not-so-common situation.

"Factory Girl," a film centered on Andy Warhol’s famous muse Edie Sedgwick, was bound to be a slight disaster. After all, it is difficult to make a biopic about someone who didn’t exactly achieve anything except being famous for little reason.

From the opening sequence in “Al Franken: God Spoke,” it’s clear the film reflects the political divide in America. True, the divide he tackles in the film is based in the media, but the documentary touches on more issues facing the country.

Lonesome Jim follows the life of Jim (Casey Affleck) as he comes home from a failed attempt to "make it" as a dog-walker in New York City. Casey makes Jim come alive on screen, portraying the luckless man as
embarrassed and slightly resentful. Jim isn't over the top, and he could be someone we all know.

"The Squid and The Whale," loosely based on writer-director Noah Baumbach’s life, creatively explores how divorce can leave a family filled with tension and uncertainty.

MTV combines the “old faithful’’ (reality shows featuring stock characters and unnecessary drama) with what they should be doing (music-related programming) in "I’m From Rolling Stone." However, the show’s contestants disappoint "Rolling Stone" readers and most people with any intellect.

"This is war! Are you part of it or not?" yells Pastor Becky Fischer into her headset. Her words reverberate off the back walls of the packed room, and hundreds of little voices begin chanting with her, "This is war!"

A new romantic comedy from Nancy Meyers ("Father of the Bride," "Something's Gotta Give") overflows with star power and happy endings.

Zach Helm’s screenwriting debut celebrates beauty in the mundane and features a versatile, phenomenal cast.

The premiere episode of “The Class” that aired Monday on CBS at 8 p.m. slightly dug its own grave as its perpetual decline seems, sadly, imminent.

If “Artie, the Strongest Man in the World” were listed in the dictionary (for some bizarre reason), the entry would read: the greatest television persona of all-time; please consult a child of the ‘90s for further details.

Aaron Sorkin’s much buzzed about show “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” premiered Monday night on NBC at 10 p.m. And with Sorkin’s tongue sharpened, he unleashes his scathing repartee on the masses once again.

“The Last Kiss” thrives on realism, yet some may think it shows romantic relationships in an unrealistic light.

TV junkies wait no longer. The fall television schedule is ready to go, and it feels good.

“Temporada de Patos” (“Duck Season”), released in Mexico in 2004, has joined the “V” formation of Mexican cinema migrating north.

The question we should have asked of “United 93” wasn’t whether or not America was ready to relive the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but whether or not Hollywood was ready to portray it tastefully. The answer is “yes.”

With the season finale of the sixth season of the “Gilmore Girls,” it seems like the audience is back at the beginning of the season when Lorelai and Rory were separated by their awful fight.

CBS has found the perfect recipe for a brand new dramedy with cameos from artists like Ben Folds and LeAnn Rimes, on-location filming in NYC and the story of a mid-30’s guy making his way in the music industry.

So you’ve heard rumors about “the stain” on The Ridges’ third floor, but do you ever wonder what other stories lie within the architectural marvel that watches over Ohio University, just beyond the Hocking River?

Director Tim Burton, who brought us “Beetle Juice,” “Edward Scissorhands” and, most recently, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” has established himself as a director who makes films that many call “quirky.”