Monday, June 30, 2014

When Good Shit Comes to an End


After 7 years, 7 seasons and countless episodes both Californication and True Blood both come to an end. Californication has lost it's way a few times, had some random guest stars (Marilyn Manson and Rick Springfield to name a couple) and some awesome season long guests like Kathleen Turner. David Duchovny and gang have served up some dirty humour over the years and Marcy (Pamela Adlon) has dropped some almighty F bombs.

Heather Graham has been a sublime addition to the 7th and final season which really has been a good way to go off.


Now to True Blood, I am only one episode in but I know this season is going to be a massive improvement on the last season. Season 6 really saw True Blood go off the deep end and depart from the books a little too much. This season is Eric dead? Who will live? Who will become a Vampire or a fairy or even a were-something?

So many questions, so much to wrap up in 9 (it's only a 10 episode season) episodes.


So what happens when these shows wrap? What is left to replace them? I know I am super loving Devious Maids (now in season 2), Under the Dome starts again soon, Hit the Floor also has some seriously nice eye candy in it & finally I kind of want to catch up on 24. I am yet to watch season 8 but the revived season intrigues me.

That is all in TV land for now I am sure I will update more TV in coming days and I can't wait to get my eyes around Jersey Boys the movie.

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Thank God it's EOFY


Yes we all love Tax time (well some do if ya get a refund or if you owe the tax man money, maybe it's sad face time) and we all love the sales, the promotions and the fun of saying EOFY!

Yes June 30 it's tomorrow and I am just tickle pink that, that means one month of Winter down, 2 to go. Why the hell does one have zero to minus 5 percentage energy to do anything of good to ones body in Winter and why oh why is it so God damn windy this weekend.

I used to be Winters #1 fan, that changed with hitting my (not so) dirty thirties. I have lost the will to go for a morning run, I dread boot camp mornings and the thought of leaving the bed on the weekend is nothing short of a major task.

Enough complaining about the weather, the season and please oh please can I have a tax refund this year. One like last year would do just fine please.

I do however dwelling on this EOFY love the random excuse for yet another reason to roll out those tired old sale signs in the retail world. Can we just look at some of the sales around dates that now commonly roll out:

New Years Sale
Australia Day Sale
Back to School Sale
Valentines Day Sale
End of Summer Sale
Autumn Sale
Easter Sale
Anzac Day Sale
Back to School Sale x2
End of Autumn Sale
End of Financial Year Sale
Mid Year Clearance
End of Winter Sale
Spring Sale
October Long Weekend Sale
Halloween Sale
Summer Sale
Back to School Sale x3
Pre Christmas Sale
Boxing Day Sale
End of Year Sale

Is that enough sales to pack into one year?

Australian's love a sale? It's a shame you can't make the punter pay full price for anything anymore.

So folks, happy EOFY, enjoy the last day of the 2013/2014 Financial Year.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Film Freak 2014 - Transformers 4 - Transformers Age of Extinction


When a franchise gets up to movie number 4, the time has come for the movie to franchise to really shine or fall flat on it's ass, in the case of Transformers it's the latter, this movie dies a SLOW & LONG painful death.

As much as I am a huge Marky Mark fan this movie is super average, and here is why:

1. It's way to long
2. The story (or lack there of) takes forever to get going
3. Some of the lines in the film could be the worst of the year
4. Even Marky Mark can't save the train wreck second half of the film where it's explosion after explosion and build getting smashed up after Transformer flying into yes you guessed it another building.

Here is the trailer to break up my rant:



It was probably the worst action film I have seen recently and almost 22 Jump Street look like a masterpiece. Shia LaBeof is the real winner here by not being featured in this lengthly and drab Michael Bay wank fest.

Transformers 4, maybe it is time this toys became extinct, 1 Star for Marky Mark's tight t-shirts. He is still one sexy as fuck individual.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Film Freak 2014 - The Rover


It's been an average few years for Australian film (I don't really call The Great Gatsby Australian when the majority of actors are American and it's a greta American tale) business and I don't think the Rover hit the same heights as the wonder Animal Kingdom.

Created by David Michod the man who killed it with Animal Kingdom and starring some big Hollywood names from here and abroad. Guy Pearce and Robert Pattinson lead in this film with Joel Edgerton's bro Nash with a small part too.

Susan Prior from TV's Puberty Blues is also good in this random and apocalyptic Australian feature film.

Will it scoop it up on the AACTA awards? Well I am not sure it's going to have much competition.

Unfortunately with the latest budget and funding being cut I think Australian films will be a dime a dozen. Well, well made and films which actually cut it to get cinema releases. Unfortunately even this film despite big Hollywood names the film still was shoved away at Cinema Paris at Moore Park. Despite having more people in today's session of this small Aussie film than 22 Jump Street in it's opening weekend.

So the film (now I have had a political rant) it's better than 22 Jump Street (actually I think even How to train a Dragon 2 would be better than that average sequel) but it's not as outstanding as Animal Kingdom.

So The Rover rates an average but thought provoking 3 Aussie Made Stars.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Film Freak 2014 - 22 Jump Street


Can I just saw 21 Jump Street pretty much sucked, however I have a weakness for Channing Tatum, why? I have no clue he is so not my type.



And this film like the previous one is all sorts of average. The jokes (for the most part) fall flat, the session I went to had roughly 20 people in it (not a good sign for the first weekend) and the script and scenario is just plain lame and lazy Sony Pictures.

Now Bad Neighbours set a high standard for comedies in 2014 and man does this fall short of where a comedy this year should be at. With Sex Tape, And so it Goes, Inbetweeners 2 and Tammy all on the way, this sequel may end up way, way, way down the list of best comedies in 2014.

I found the whole idea really lazy as above and a bit of an insult to the film. Without Tatum this film is a bit of a miss, when you look at what else is out I can't see this film having a strong July School Holidays.

22 Jump Street, 21 was bad enough and I give it 2 Stars for that electric and banging soundtrack (plus a sneaky appearance by Diplo) and the few and far between Tatum shirtless scenes.

Look out for my review on the Aussie film the Rover tomorrow.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

A Festival of Musical Theatre - This weekend in Sydney


When one weekend you see two musical it instantly becomes a festival of musicals. First up Ruthless! the Musical at the Seymour Centre.

It opened last night and tickets can be found here. It's only play for a wee short time so head along before Sat July 5 or you will miss this hoot of a show!


I really enjoyed myself after a long hard week at this show and thus shows this is what live entertainment should be, good old fashion fan with a few laughs along the way.

Next up today is Strictly Ballroom the Musical, the musical that is making it's way to Melbourne in 2015 and if time is going fast for me, 2015 is just a sniff away.



The cast are great and Rohan Browne is oh so cute as Ken Railings


Nadia who plays the divine Tina Sparkle is also so sweet and really shows off the divine Catherine Martin costume designer off. That Pineapple outfit, damn baby doll, you put it down!


Tickets for Strictly Ballroom the Musical are on sale now up until Sunday 14 September 2014.

I am still coming to terms with how truly wonderful some Australian TV productions have been this week and incoming. Wentworth season 2 is awesome (and I hear Season 3 is already filming in Melbourne) and Thursday night Carlotta was simply mind blowing. A Wonderful television event.

Next Thursday the fantastic The Time of Our Lives is back with this Blog's favourite Ms Claudia Karavan. There is NOTHING and I mean NOTHING that woman can not do.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Tonight - Calotta - THANK FUCK 4 the ABC



* Rack off Abbott, Hockey and that vile, vile Andrew Bolt and Miranda not so Devine. And Miranda lefties may have a different view on life and live in a parallel universe because we have a heart. Great piece in the Sunday Telegraph (AKA the Sunday paid Liberal rag) NOT!

I don't care about the World Cup but #BABE


And how cute is Flume & Margaret, care of At the Movies below:

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Film Freak 2014 - Blended


So there is already a lot of negativity surrounding this the third and latest Sandler/Barrymore rom com does it deserve it? Well here is the trailer.



Looks harmless right? Well it is and really I feel like a total loser but I almost teared up at one moment in this film.

I must be honest straight up, I took some cold & flu medication last night and maybe this had something to do with how much I enjoyed the film but really if you want a mindless couple of hours and some well deserved chill time after a four day working week, this film is perfect for you.

Sandler is fine as the role of a father with three kids and Barrymore the mother of two boys who randomly have a bad date, a couple of encounters and then end up in Africa. Essentially the whole idea of the movie is bat shit crazy but if you just stop thinking for a couple of hours this is a bit of light fun and fluff.

Wendy McLendon-Covey steals her scenes as the Bridesmaids actress continues to impress me. There are a few other decent performances and I am sure a lot of other reviewers are going to rip this movie to shreds, but I am not one of them. It features a lot of lame jokes but a nice message underneath it all, Blended gets a pass of 3 fun rainy Saturday AM stars.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Film Freak 2014 - Maleficent {2D}


What happen's when a Disney film is a little dark and the "villain" in the film, actually isn't so bad? You get Maleficent. A Sunday afternoon and the 2:30pm session is almost sold out so the 2:40pm (close to full also) session it is.

The real winner on the Long weekend is the cinema with X-Men, a new Cruise action film, Maleficent and Bad Neighbours plus the smaller features out there looking for your cash the only winner is the cinemas and there $10 popcorns.

So back to the film, this is really a young adult tale not an under 10 tale as it's largely dark and Jolie is sort of wicked sort of kind and thoughtful.

I have heard mixed things about the film so I expected very little so I was pleasantly surprised by how visually stunning this film as and how much I enjoyed it's 90 minute stay on the screen:



I must be honest I was conscious of the time of the film as there were moments where I could feel myself wishing Disney would just wrap it up, but as soon as the colours and the spectacular array of creatures were back on the screen it was largely enjoyable.

So if you have a young teen to entertain on this the Queen's birthday give Maleficent a shot.

I give this 3 fairy loving over a Queen's Birthday (how camp does that sound) Long Weekend bright shiny stars.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Film Freak 2014 - The Fault in Our Stars


I usually hate films that pull at the heart strings in such an obvious overt way, but after not looking forward to the film after seeing the below trailer, it actually turned out to be, well really enjoyable.



I found myself falling hook, line and sinker for this film. I was so engaged and loved hearing the 12 year olds behind and around me weep like well, little girls.

This film does pull at your heart strings (I did tear up a little wee bit) but it's the great cast, very relevant soundtrack which makes this film work.

Laura Dern is a divine mother and Sam Trammell (shape shifter in True Blood) is a really sweet dad. The young leads (both from the new hit series Divergent) Woodley & Elgort are also as ace as the two young lovers.

For this long weekend I give this a good solid 4 stars, originally I did not buy this film, but after seeing it I am a fan and would definitely recommend this to anyone. But do take your tissues it really is a tear jerker in the last 40 minutes.

Friday, June 6, 2014

RE: A Weekend of US Tele movies {PART TWO}


Another weekend (just gone) another weekend of well wicked Tele-Movies. Got to love a well produced featured, just made for TV.

First up was a poor man's Sharknado it was Jersey Shore Shark Attack. To be honest the trailer speaks volumes of how shit this was, but I love a shark film/feature or just down right animal attacks type story. Check out the trailer but despite it being a long weekend maybe give this 2012 TV made number a miss:



From shit to ACE and a tele movie I featured on the BLOG recently, it's The Normal Heart. Yet another HBO gem showing this much talent off in one go could only be seen on HBO or maybe Showtime.

The New Normal had so much and such terrific performance. Julia Roberts was a wonderful stand out but all and all this is a totally MUST WATCH TV event. Don't miss it or you'll be sorry.

Now over to Lifetime, the channel for older women and gay men, it's always a hoot watching Devious Maids on a weekly basis but I caught a glimpse of something that caught my eye a Heather Graham tele movie event. It was for Petals in the Wind, the sequel to Flowers in the Attic. These classic books had been transferred onto the small screen for Lifetime and they are so trashy that I was in heaven:


The trash, the incest, the whole nine yards, this is just wonderful.

We all love trash and the royal family is plenty trashy so maybe over this Queen's Birthday long weekend dear readers give this a good hard crack.

On that note, enjoy the long weekend, drive safe, don't be a tool and for god's sake spare a thought for Tony Abbot travelling in luxury on our tax payers funds when the ABC will lose funding, pensioners will pay for the doctors, oh Tony you have a hard life and you are doing it tough like the "real" Australia's you apparently appeal to. God I'm Australian and I am yet to found any "sane" people who you appeal to.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Film Freak 2014 - A Million Ways to Die in the West


Australia needs comedy right now, the news is filled with Budget doom & gloom, our PM is a loser and it's heading into Winter. Bad Neighbours and the Other Woman set the bar high for comedy in 2014 so how does A Million Ways to Die in the West fair?

Well OK, it's 12 year old humour which I mainly love, I didn't 100% fall in love with this film, I did however find Seth MacFarlane and Neil Patrick Harris handsome. Amanda Seyfried has been described as annoying and this was the first film I personally found her really annoying.

Sarah Silverman really stole the show as Ruth, she was brilliant. Charlie Theron was brilliant and extremely likeable. Females actually stole this show in a show that will mainly get men along to watch it.



This is not a film that is a must see at the cinema's like the below reviewer states, but for an opening weekend to attend the film and it's me and one other younger couple, I think this will not be at the cinemas for a whole load of time.



I love comedies and I love to laugh but this one's laughs were just few and far between, it's a pass mark but not a super pass mark like Bad Neighbours (already in contention for my film of 2014) 2.5 Western Stars with lot's of really naughty words thrown in.