Lost: "Through the Looking Glass" Review

HOLY. MOLEY. Lost has the tendency to string along the viewer for a couple of acts during an episode and then hit them with some sorta whammy in the final act. The season finale "Through the Looking Glass" used that formula perfectly and daringly. While the final five minutes were breathtaking, the rest of the episode was stellar as well.

As Jack and the survivors treked away from the beach camp, leaving behind Jin, Sayid, and Bernard to fend off the Others, Charlie was tied up and being tortured by the woman manning the Looking Glass station. He was flippant and defiant, knowing that his end is near. He happily told them of his plan to save the survivors and to die in the process. Meanwhile, Desmond came to and swam down to the station after Mikhail started opening fire on him. Mikhail too went down to the station and killed one woman and severely wounded another on Ben's order. Desmond seemingly killed Mikhail with a harpoon gun. Charlie managed to turn off the jamming device, reaching of all people, Penny. Penny said that Naomi was not part of her rescue attempt. Charlie was about to tell Desmond the news but Mikhail was outside the room with a grenade, which exploded and flooded. Charlie was forced to close the door to the room to save Desmond and locking himself in. As Charlie died, he crossed himself. It was a very heoric way to go out.

Ben's leadership position within The Others is starting to crack. After capturing Jin, Sayid, and Bernard, Ben eventually ordered Tom and the rest of the strikeforce to kill the trio to prove to Jack that he meant business. The strikeforce ignored this order, only pretending to do so. Meanwhile, Sawyer and Juliet go back to camp to try to rescue the trio, but they are unarmed. Only when Hurley drives his VW Bus through camp do our heroes can an advantage. Sawyer shoots Tom in cold blood to avenge his kidnapping of Walt.

Talking about Walt, he appears as a vision to the still alive Locke. He tells Locke that he still has work to do. Ben says he is protecting the Island for an outside threat, the one that Naomi is a part of, and when he meets up with the Lostaways (with his daughter in tow) he pleads with Jack to not contact the outside world. Jack doesn't believe a word Ben says, eventually beating him up when he thinks Ben has ordered the killing of the beach trio. In a funny twist, the bleeding Ben introducing Alex to her real mother, Rousseau.

Jack and company finally get to the radio tower and turn off the message. Locke shows up to kill Naomi and to plead with Jack not to contact the outside world, but Jack ignores him and does so. The castaways cheer and rescue is seemingly on its way. Except...

In what we were first to believe were flashbacks, we see a bearded Jack as his life is unraveling. He is addicted to painkillers and is seemingly lost in the world. He almost commits suicide after reading about someone's death. He is stealing drugs from his hospital and is going on about his father. In the final 5 minutes we are shocked: Jack has been trying to call someone the neitre flash and that someone is revealed to be Kate. But how? Then it comes out: Jack is trying to get back to the Island. This wasn't a flashback but a flashforward! This is Jack after rescue, despondent and finally believing Ben/Locke that they shouldn't leave the Island.

This brings up an interesting plot device for next season. Will there still be flashbacks or will we learn about waht happens to the people after they are rescued? How did everyone else turn out? And why do we have to wait till February to find out!

5 The Hells? out of 5.

Lost: "Greatest Hits" Review

The penultimate episode of Lost this season had Charlie running to, not away from, his date with death. Meanwhile, Jack unveiled is plan to dynamite The Others to hell, but a monkeywrench was thrown into that idea when Karl, Alex's boyfriend, came to shore to reveal that The Other's attack was coming sooner rather than later. Ben seems even more out of control and losing his grip on reality after his duel with Locke. A modification to the survivor's plan was needed, Jack was now going to take the survivors to the radio tower that Rousseau once manned and three men, Jin, Sayid, and Bernard volunteered to stay behind to help set off the dynamite.

Charlie's role was to swim out to a previously unknown hatch, The Looking Glass, and flip a switch so that Ben wouldn't be able to jam any outgoing radio signals. Problem is, the station is flooded, being underwater, and Desmond has forseen that Charlie will drown after he accomplishes his task. His death does pay the way to having Claire and Aaron rescued, says Desmond, and Charlie decides to sacrifice himself for that noble end.

As Charlie prepares for his death, he makes a list of his favorite memories. Among the list is his saving Sayid's love Nadia from a mugger, in an interesting crossover. But, at the top of his list, is his first meeting with Claire. The episode definitely pulled on the heartstrings of viewers, with Charlie's motivations and supposed destiny. In the end, Charlie survives getting into the hatch, but is then surrounded by some gun-toting bad mommas.

This was a strong set-up episode that will lead nicely into the season finale. Excuse me, the two hour season finale! It will be interesting to see if the the final episode of this season lives up to the hype!

4 Young Charlies out of 5.

Box Office Bombings: Box Office Breakdown 5/14/07

What could possibly challenge the biggest opening weekend ever? Why nothing, that's what! Still, everyone try not to make fun of the Weekend Box Office for Monday, May 14th, 2007.

1. Spider-Man 3
Last Week Rank: 1
Weekend Gross: $60 million
Total Gross: $240 million
Weeks Out: 2
Musings: What? $60 million is the best you can do this week? Feh, other movies would kill to open to that. You spidey? You could do better. But that's ok, that's what merchandising and the largest opening outside of the US ever is taking care of. Just remember, Bruce Campbell is the real star of the show.

2. 28 Weeks Later
Last Week Rank: N/A
Weekend Gross: $10 million
Total Gross: $10 million
Weeks Out: 1
Musings: The sequel to the successful 28 Days Later, which should never be confused with 28 Days (yikes, Bullock), brings back all the chills and thrills of the last installment. Why is it here? Because it's the summer of sequels, it's the rule. Plus, this is where Michael has been since he left the island, bloody England.

3. Georgia Rule
Last Week Rank: N/A
Weekend Gross: $7 million
Total Gross: $7 million
Weeks Out: 1
Musings: Look, it's the new chick flick of the week. I hear it stars 3 generations of women and they all learn from each other. Gag me if you can read this.

4. Disturbia
Last Week Rank: 2nd
Weekend Gross: $5 million
Total Gross: $66 million
Weeks Out: 5
Musings: Can't stop Shia that easily, even with 2 new movies out he still clings to life. The question is, which classic Hitchcock film will be butchered next? Psycho and Rear Window are taken care of, who wants to tackle The Man Who Knew Too Much? Bill Murray does not count.

5. Delta Farce
Last Week Rank: N/A
Weekend Gross: $3 million
Total Gross: $3 million
Weeks Out: 1
Musings: How did this movie make it to theaters? I hope even Comedy Central would steer clear of this nightmare.

6. Fracture
Last Week Rank: 3rd
Weekend Gross: $3 million
Total Gross: $31 million
Weeks Out: 4
Musings: Yeah not so lucky. Mr. Hopkins is unstoppable. Sure $31 million isn't all that much, but who cares. He's so rich by now, he could buy half the movies on this list.

7. The Invisible
Last Week Rank: 4th
Weekend Gross: $2 million
Total Gross: $16 million
Weeks Out: 3
Musings: The film takes another drop and is failing badly in the face of the summer to come. If this movie was to ever have a shot, it was completely released at the wrong time.

8. Meet The Robinsons
Last Week Rank: 7th
Weekend Gross: $2 million
Total Gross: $94 million
Weeks Out: 7
Musings: Perhaps to break the $100 million mark, Disney might finally learn how to make a CGI film without Pixar's help. Problem is, will they ever live up to the writing? [AE's Note: Actually, Pixar rejiggered this movie when they merged with Disney.]

9. Next
Last Week Rank: 5th
Weekend Gross: $2 million
Total Gross: $15 million
Weeks Out: 3
Musings: Down, down goes Cage. I ain't talking about Johnny either. Maybe he can make a direct to DVD sequel called Next Again: How Nicholas Cage Can't Say No To A Script. I'm pretty sure if it can be printed out, he's all over it.

10. Hot Fuzz
Last Week Rank: 9th
Weekend Gross: $2 million
Total Gross: $19 million
Weeks Out: 4
Musings: It's holding onto to dear life but who cares. The list this week knocked off BOTH Blades of Glory and Are We Done Yet?. So I will misplacingly thank Hot Fuzz for not being responsible for this. Because I refuse to think Delta Farce had anything to do with it.

-Gonch

Lost: "The Man Behind the Curtain" Review

Well, we finally saw Jacob. Kinda, sorta. Not really, but still. In "The Man Behind the Curtain" Ben's backstory gets revealed, and the Island mythos explodes. And the crescendo at the end has everyone at the edge of their seats!

First and foremost, Ben is a liar. He wasn't born on the Island, rather he was born 2 months premature outside of Portland, which caused his mom's death. His father, a resentful fellow, joins up with the Dharma Initiative and brings Ben to the Island. There, Ben sees visions of his dead mother and avoids attacks from the Hostiles, once again the name given to the original inhabitants of the Island. Young Ben soon meets Richard Alpert, who seems to be a native and ageless, as he looked the same in the past, which took place 30 years ago, and the present. Ben eventually joins the Hostiles and helps "purge" the Dharma Initiative and kills his own father face to face.

Back in the present, Locke demands answers from Ben. Ben tells him the only one who can provide the answers is the mysterious Jacob. But Ben isn't too keen on taking Locke there, especially when Mikhail shows up to inform him about Naomi and her mission to find Desmond. However, Locke eliminates any hesitation by beating on Mikhail while The Others stand around and let it happen. Ben takes Locke to Jacob's creepy house, where Ben talks to an empty chair. Ben insists Jacob is there, but Locke sees nothing. He then shines a light around the room, things go all Poltergeisty, a man briefly appears and says to Locke "Help Me". Locke is unconvinced about what he saw and accuses Ben of lying. Ben is miffed that "Jacob" talked to Locke and Locke is usurping his power, so he does what comes naturally to him: he shoots Locke. Locke is left dying on the same grave that Ben put all his former Dharma friends in.

We only got a little snippet of the beach this week, but the camp confronted Jack and Juliet about Juliet's tape. Juliet calmly lets them hear Ben's instructions about kidnapping the women and Jack informs everyone he already knew about it but was trying to think of a plan before telling. The camp is upset, but it seems like they wanna hear what Jack has to say. Needless to point out, but the A plot outshined this plot.

This episode blew me away. It was dark and mysterious and had a (hopefully not really) killer ending. With two episodes remaining, Lost is crazily addictive once again!

4 1/2 Dormant Volcanos out of 5

Box Office Bombings: Box Office Breakdown 5/7/07

Something is swinging in the air, and I'm not so sure it's a good guy. Either way, grab your best black suit for the Weekend Box Office for Monday, May 7th, 2007.

1. Spider-Man 3
Last Week Rank: N/A
Weekend Gross: $150 million
Total Gross: $150 million
Weeks Out: 1
Musings: Eh? What's this now? A movie about a spidery superhero? A threequal you say? It made how much?! Let's just face facts, you cannot hope to stop him, you can only contain him, in a ton of movie theaters at once. It's a record-breaking smash hit that has Topher Grace thinking maybe Peter Parker should stay alive, at least for another 4 to 6 movies.

2. Disturbia
Last Week Rank: 1st
Weekend Gross: $6 million
Total Gross: $60 million
Weeks Out: 4
Musings: Well, that's quite a drop off from first, wouldn't you say? I'd say Shia could care less, he had 3 straight weeks at the top and will likely return on July 4th. For a movie budgeted at about 1/3 of what it's made, I'd say he's done well already.

3. Fracture
Last Week Rank: 4th
Weekend Gross: $4 million
Total Gross: $27 million
Weeks Out: 3
Musings: Good show, Mr. Hopkins, good show indeed. Jumping up in the standings this week, people ran to this film, assuming it was Hannibal Rides Again. Sadly they were mistaken.

4. The Invisible
Last Week Rank: 2nd
Weekend Gross: $3 million
Total Gross: $13 million
Weeks Out: 2
Musings: Sticking around, I seriously couldn't even tell you who stars in this movie. I don't imagine that bodes well for its future.

5. Next
Last Week Rank: 3rd
Weekend Gross: $3 million
Total Gross: $12 million
Weeks Out: 2
Musings: 2 weeks and $12 million? Haha, how pathetic for a Cage flick designed to be an early summer film. Maybe you should stick to lighting your head on fire and attacking women in bear costumes. [AE Note: Oh Nic Cage, how you make us laugh with your unintentional comedies.]

6. Lucky You
Last Week Rank: N/A
Weekend Gross: $3 million
Total Gross: $3 million
Weeks Out: 1
Musings: Yeah not so lucky. Oh look, love in Las Vegas. The kind of love that's only legal in Las Vegas? Hah, you wish.

7. Meet The Robinsons
Last Week Rank: 7th
Weekend Gross: $3 million
Total Gross: $92 million
Weeks Out: 6
Musings: Not bad Disney, holding onto its spot, Robinsons are doing their best to be...well the only movie there exists for the really young kids. Of course, any kid over 8 would likely rather take a trip with emo-Parker.

8. Blades Of Glory
Last Week Rank: 5th
Weekend Gross: $2 million
Total Gross: $112 million
Weeks Out: 6
Musings: Looks like this one is finally starting to die out. Good riddance. Can anyone promise me these two will stop making movies? Yeesh.

9. Hot Fuzz
Last Week Rank: 6th
Weekend Gross: $2 million
Total Gross: $16 millionWeeks Out: 3
Musings: It's too bad this one isn't hitting one out of the park like Shaun did. Still, DVD sales may show another result. The critics sure love it, so where are the cult fans? Not enough zombies I suspect. [AE's note: I think this movie opened up stronger than Shaun did.]

10. Are We Done Yet?
Last Week Rank: 10th
Weekend Gross: $2 million
Total Gross: $46 million
Weeks Out: 5
Musings: Holy crap, how are we not? Spider-Man 3 couldn't knock this piece of crap off the list? You gotta be kidding me. Who the hell is seeing this dreck?! 28 Weeks Later, I swear, kick this movie to the curb!

-Gonch

The Simpsons: "Crook and Ladder" Review

The Simpsons returned to its spotty roots with an episode where the first act was all over the place in terms of plot and only served to set up the final two acts. In the case of "Crook and Ladder" the first act had to go through two plot devices to reach the main one. Maggie gets her pacifier taken away, leading to Homer being unable to sleep, which leads to him taking sleeping pills, which leads to him doing things in his sleep, which leads to Bart manipulating him, which leads to Homer accidentally injuring the firefighters.

So Homer, Skinner, Moe, and Apu become volunteer firefighters. Soon their heroics reap them some rewards, and they become greedy. As they say, greed leads to trouble and pretty soon Homer gets caight by his family. Homer gives up his ways and becomes a true hero.

Surprisingly, the best gags come from the first act. Homer sleepsets up a domino pattern that leads to his portrait and signature by Matt Groening. Upon reading that Maggie's future us uncertain due to her pacifier sucking, Marge sees Maggie setting up some ABC blocks that read "No Future". However, as the episode moves onto the firefighting aspect, the jokes get thin. Homer sees his sad children's faces everywhere he goes is about as funny as it gets in the final 15 minutes.

This episode wasn't that funny or entertaining. I hold out hope that in the final few episodes, The Simpsons regain its touch, leading up to the movie this summer!

2 Firefighting Brochures out of 5.

New Movie Review: "Spider-Man 3"

Critics have seem to be picking the meat off the bones of the latest Spider-Man movie. I can see why. It certainly is not the story-driven film the first sequel, and it isn't as ground breaking as the first film. However, as far as the third movie in a superhero trilogy, it could have done worse.

The movie is pure popcorn fare. While there is a deep rumination on the price of vengeance, it seems the movie is divided into three parts with action: the rise of the Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), Spidey's (Toby Maguire) use of the black symbiote suit, and then the final confrontation between Spidey, Sandman, and Venom (Topher Grace) with a special appearance by a foe of Spider-Man. These three pieces fit loosely together, with subplots seeming to rise and fall in each act. Gwen Stacey is little more than a prop in the movie and is her father, Captain Stacey. JJJ shows up in only two or three scenes, though he does get his usual zingers in. Even Aunt May seems to be pushed to the background, as Mary Jane seems to take and share center stage with Spidey. Kirsten Dunst works better as a supporting memeber of the Spidey family, but S-M 3 seemed to be more about her than Peter Parker.

The plot is a weak link in the movie. It starts off with Spider-Man being the most popular man in NYC. This is a little unbelievable, because in the comics, Spider-Man was rarely the "cool" hero. As a result of this plot point, a few of the characters act strangely and not true to themselves. Also, certain events seem to come out of nowhere in order to advance the plot and then quickly retreat. Again, it was a fun movie, but when these scenes happened, one couldn't help but scratch their head.

Of course, the special effects were astounding. The detail of the Sandman transformation will leave you giddy. When Eddie Brock becomes Venom, the screen drips fear. Spider-Man swinging through NYC seems more real than in the first movie. It was a bit frustrating though at times that the camera would not directly follow the fighting and seem to pan to much left or right and "catch up" to the action later.

For all the complaints and nitpicks, Spider-Man 3 is a very good movie. While the director Sam Raimi and the rest of the cast and crew might love the Spidey franchise, this movie shows they might love it too much. But there is a regard for the subject matter in the movie and genuine feeling and it might be a case of trying to hard. But it still was impressive!

4 Webballs out of 5.

Box Office Bombings: Box Office Breakdown 4/30/07

Whoo boy, is it late? You freakin' bet it is. But I'm back baby, freedom of summer has begun. So let's catch up with the Weekend Box Office for Monday, April 30th, 2007.

1. Disturbia
Last Week Rank: 1st
Weekend Gross: $9 million
Total Gross: $52 million
Weeks Out: 3
Musings: Ah, by that number showing, we can see that everyone isn't bothering to go to the movies last weekend, awaiting a certain webhead's return. But Shia is proving that he can win over the box office, something he'll need if those 80s robots are to do anything at all.

2. The Invisible
Last Week Rank: N/A
Weekend Gross: $8 million
Total Gross: $8 million
Weeks Out: 1
Musings: This one is supposed to be fairly good but I don't buy it. A guy has to solve his own murder, interesting, but the fact that it's pre-loaded with a rock soundtrack in the trailer doesn't bode well.

3. Next
Last Week Rank: N/A
Weekend Gross: $7 million
Total Gross: $7 million
Weeks Out: 1
Musings: In the words of Simon from American Idol (I think, I've never actually seen it), NEXT! Seriously, Cage has gotta stop taking every script that lands in his lap. If he really could see the future, he'd know this movie is gonna be blown out of the water.

4. Fracture
Last Week Rank: 2nd
Weekend Gross: $7 million
Total Gross: $7 million
Weeks Out: 2
Musings: Willie. Ok now that that's out of the way, Anthony Hopkins plays NOT Hannibal Lecter where he has gotten away with killing his wife. Frankly the movie could just end there, he's the kinda guy where we just go, you know what Tony? You go ahead and kill your wife, you've earned it.

5. Blades Of Glory
Last Week Rank: 3rd
Weekend Gross: $5 million
Total Gross: $108 million
Weeks Out: 5
Musings: It's being advertised as the #1 comedy in the country, meaning it is totally not the #1 movie in the country. Seriously, did they put Ferrell and Heder together just so I wouldn't have to avoid two movies instead of one this summer? Cause if so, that's the only reason for this blasphemy to ice sports to exist.

6. Hot Fuzz
Last Week Rank: 6th
Weekend Gross: $5 million
Total Gross: $13 million
Weeks Out: 2
Musings: Here's where the #1 comedy should be, at the Hot Fuzz junction. If it's anywhere near as funny as Shaun of the Dead, then it's bloody brilliant. These two guys alone are worth the price of admission. God bless British comedy.

7. Meet The Robinsons
Last Week Rank: 5th
Weekend Gross: $5 million
Total Gross: $88 million
Weeks Out: 5
Musings: It's still confusing to see computer animation from Disney, but have it not be Pixar, especially since Pixar is still associated with Disney. They do their best though which at least looks more interesting than Chicken Little, yikes.

8. Vacancy
Last Week Rank: 4th
Weekend Gross: $4 million
Total Gross: $14 million
Weeks Out: 2
Musings: Luke Wilson can already get on my nerves, but doing a sad sack Psycho? Please, this has been done before and way better. I know the outcome and it's not satisfactory in the least.

9. The Condemned
Last Week Rank: N/A
Weekend Gross: $4 million
Total Gross: $4 million
Weeks Out: 1
Musings: Debuting at 9th eh? Yeah that bodes well. Stone Cold Steve Austin plays a guy on death row who has to kill everyone else to survive. What a smart plot, and maybe next week, we can watch the Undertaker clean up the streets with his no holds barred attitude.

10. Are We Done Yet?
Last Week Rank: 7th
Weekend Gross: $4 million
Total Gross: $44 million
Weeks Out: 4
Musings: Are you freakin' kidding me? You make a sequel to a horrendously bad movie, you base it off the Money Pit, and then you expect people to see it? I'm pretty sure Dr. Cox would be taking Ice Cube's family's BS for about, oh 1 minute there, Barbie.-Gonch

Classic Movie Review: "The Jerk"

The Jerk (1979) is a classic comedy film. Steve Martin plays a bumbling man who was raised a poor black child. He is naive to the world when he finally sets out, but the world palys along with the naivity. Martin meets some interesting characters along his journey, makes some money, loses some money, but ends up with a happy ending. As in most comedies, the plot isn't what is important. The gags that surround the plot are!

And what gags they are! The movie never goes for the traditional set up-punchline dynamic. Rather the laughs come from Martin's reactions and reading of the dialogue. Martin puts such glee in some of the absurd lines that make it hard to resist laughing. As a sniper tries to kill Martin but only hits some nearby cans, Martin first thinks the cans are defective, then he thinks the sniper is trying to destroy the cans. Martin's panic as he runs around trying to find cover away from the various cans that surround him is played perfectly. As Martin goes through various jobs, always keeping his childlike wonderment at the world, the hilarity only builds.

There are other fine performances in the movie besides Martin's. Jackie Mason plays Martin's first boss with his usual snese of humor. Mason is basically doing his act in the movie, but it doesn't detract from it. Bernadette Peters plays Martin's love interest with the right mix of innocence and world-weariness. She is the perfect foil to Martin's Navin.

It is no surprise that a movie written by Steve Martin in his prime packs so many laughs. Martin is a creative genius and when he is on, he is on. Read his collection of short stories Pure Drivel to see what I mean. The jokes in this movie still stand up more than 25 years later. It is a definite must see for anyone who is a fan of old school comedies.

4 1/2 Opti-Grabs out of 5.

Lost: "The Brig" Review

It's called acting, my dear boy! Terry O'Quinn, Kevin Tighe, and Josh Holloway really nailed their parts in the Lost episode "The Brig". The episode returned to Locke and his father, catching up with Locke's interactions with Ben and The Others through on-Island flashbacks and present Locke's cat and mouse game with Sawyer.

Why was Locke playing games with Sawyer? Well, it seems that Ben wants Locke to kill Locke's father to prove that he is special. Locke, even with all his daddy issues, can't do it. Ben banishes Locke from the Others' temporary camp (which seems to be on the site of some ruins), but not before Richard, the man who recruited Juliet gives Locke a file on someone who can kill his father, Sawyer. Turns out Locke's Daddy is the real Sawyer, the one who drove James Ford's dad to kill his mom and then himself. Ouch. Locke takes his dad to the Black Rock, the slave ship found at the end of Season 1 and puts him in the Brig. Then he sets off to find Sawyer.

Our Sawyer showed that he is a complicated man tonight. He quickly picked up on Locke's manipulations and demanded answers. But when it was finally revealed who Anythony Cooper was, Sawyer snapped. Anthony laughed in Sawyer's face about his revenge scheme, tearing up Sawyer's childhood letter. Sawyer then choked him to death with a chain. Yet, after the death of his lifelong enemy, Sawyer still seems to feel lost. He vomits afterwards, and the look on his face tells the story of a tragic figure.

Locke has one final present for Sawyer before Locke returns to the Others: the audio tape Juliet made for Ben in last week's episode. Ben has told Locke that the Others are going to the beach in three days to take all the women. Meanwhile, back at the beach, the parachutist, Naomi, arrives and the foursome of Desmond et al struggles to find who to trust. The only one they can trust is Sayid, who quickly grills Naomi. Naomi reveals that not only was Flight 815 found, but there were bodies. Naomi hands over her satellite phone to Sayid, who fixes it, but can't boradcast anything. Kate finds out about Naomi, and tattles to Jack. Jack and Juliet remain mysterious, with Juliet wanting to tell Kate about some secret, which Jack refuses to tell. There is a confrontation coming!

The crescendo to the season finale continued with "The Brig". Tension is rising and it feels like we are on the cusp of something big. Will The Others attack the survivors, only to find an ambush waiting? What exactly is the Island in that it would make the Others believe that Locke could be a messiah figure? And where did Rousseau go with that dynamite?

4 Tents out of 5.