Retro Review #24: Community Season 1

It took me forever to discover the joys of this show. It was only after I heard that the Cougar Town writers decided to put Danny Pudi into the background and the Community writers put Busy Phillips and Dan Byrd as extras. Now that I watch Community, I probably enjoy it more than Cougar Town, although Cougar Town is still fuck off funny.

Captain America: The First Avenger - Critiqued and Shit

All these Marvel movies are pretty fuckin' awesome, some better than others, and this one is great, which was good for me because I expected it to be a piece of shit. I really did, and now I don't know what I was worried about. But I will be worried again when it comes time for The Incredible Hulk sequel. Anyhow, with The Avengers currently shooting and in full swing, this isn't just a movie that tides us over until it gets here and has it's own story to tell, complete with Iron Man's dad.

The Dark Knight Rises in my Pants

When I first heard it, I hated the name. I thought it should follow suit with the other two having different names. But I have to say, it doesn't make me any less excited. As more new details arise, I find myself looking forward to this even more. I'm not sure if it's more or less than I was before The Dark Knight came out, but it is a shit-load more than when Batman Begins graced us. This time I have a permanent boner.

Retro Review #23: The Dark Knight

This be my favourite movie. Closely followed by Inception and Blood Diamond. Because Christopher Nolan is fucking brilliant and Leo is dreamy. But anyway, when I read in about 2006 or something that Heath Ledger would play the Joker I thought, wha? But little did I know, he would win an Oscar for it, posthumously, and it would go on to make over a billion at the box office. It also should have at least been nominated for Best Picture, but fucking wasn't. At least it won a prestigious Scream Award.

Retro Review #22: Batman Begins

We can all thank or blame this awesome piece of cinema for all of the gritty reboots we seem to be getting these days but either way you look at it, Christopher Nolan is a goddamn genius. 

Remembering Las Vegas

Fuck, this show rocked. You had action and romance and no need to take any of it seriously. Except for the ending that was not supposed to be the ending. After almost 5 complete seasons Las Vegas ended with a cliffhanger in the middle of what was to be a two-parter, as a result of that motherfucking writers strike. I like when a show gets to end on its own terms as it may have had the chance had it shot the last four of five eps that were being written. But NBC said 'no thanks' and to this day, we still have no idea what the hell happened.

What Must John Noble Do?

I ask, what the fuck does this man have to do to be nominated for an Emmy? Does he have to be on a cable show and cook meth? Or does he have to be in an unfunny Chuck Lorre CBS series? He obviously does, because he doesn't get any love from the academy in the acclaimed, but underwatched FOX series, Fringe.

Upcoming: The Playboy Club

Never mind the fact that it has to do with that famous bunny for a moment, this upcoming NBC series looks pretty interesting. In the Playboy Club in 1960's Chicago, it seems to have all the ingredients for an entertaining and successful show. A period piece with an attractive cast, what it does have going against it is it's competition in the form of the established ABC hit Castle and CBS's softmore series, the fuck-tastic Hawaii Five-0. I can find room for the three, but can America?

Retro Review #21: Friends Season Two

After the stellar success of their first season, the guys were back for more in the second season of the mega hit sitcom. Ross and Rachel, Chandler and Monica and Joey and Phoebe bounced right back into our lounge rooms for another 24 half hours. Gone was Ross's monkey and along came his son, Ben, born in the second to last episode in season 1. A few other things would happen this season that would reverberate throughout the rest of the series.

Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog and Dr. Horrible Comic Reviewed Together

This is fun. It's a supervillian musical starring Doogie Howser M.D. and Captain Malcolm Reynolds. What could be bad about that? Nothing, that's what. Throw in Felecia Day and a few Whedon's behind the scenes and you have a spectacular nerd-gasm of originality which is fun, sweet and with a little menace thrown in. It turns the normal way of things on it's head with Dr Horrible the villian being the protagonist and Captain Hammer the hero being the antagonist. And, it was all done on a budget of like, 6 bucks or something.

NEW blink-182 Music At Long Freaking Last

I am, listening to the blink-182 Live @ Epicenter concert on youtube and I'm thinking to myself, in a couple of days, the world will finally have some new blink stuff. The oft delayed sixth studio album will soon follow, which itself will be soon followed by the The Blinkumentary. I can't fucking wait.

Remembering My Name Is Earl

Jason Lee brought us a hall of fame mustache in this series which died before it's time. Probably not much before, but before none the less. Either way, this NBC comedy about a scumbag who turns his life around was an original and fucking brilliant show with a great premise and great characters. Greg Garcia, Creator, has now got another show on TV, Raising Hope, which also has a weird premise and some of the actors from Earl have gone on to guest star in that series, currently on hiatus from FOX. We also find out in the pilot for Hope, that Earl has finished his list, but the newscast is cut short, so we don't know everything that happened. I hope someway they eventually decide to at least end the story somehow, they could probably make a film on a reasonably low budget. But lets reminisce shall we?

Hawaii Five-0 Episode 1.03 "Malama Ka Aina"

Loved this episode. Loved it. We got a bit of Chin Ho's back story, and we learn why they call themselves the "5-0". There's more Steve and Danny banter and they dress Kono up hotly again. So lets talk about 'Malama Ka Aina' or 'Respect the Land' in English.

Retro Review #20: Lethal Weapon 2

Personally, this is my favourite flick of the bunch, and it's the film that introduced Joe Pesci's Leo Getz. Anything you need, Leo Getz. Geddit? You should, because it's hilarious. Way back before Mel went spastic, I think I said that in the review of the first one? He was making awesome action movies, this one being Mel, Danny and director Richard Donner's fav film in the series. It also featured a what-was-pretty-awesome-when-I-discovered-self-gratification sex scene between Mel and Patsy Kensit. This is the last one in the series to feature boobs, now lets take a minute to reflect....

The Fourth Season of True Blood

This one will be short and sweet as it's supposed to be a preview but it's already started. I like that poster. Anyway, so far, Season 4 is cruising along nicely and we have found out a couple of things left hanging from the finale' last year.

Musical Spotlight #4: Foo Fighters - Back and Forth

This is a pretty in depth doco about the beginning of one of the greatest bands of the 90's through now. It chronicles the ramifications of the death of Kurt Cobain and how that affected the remaining members of Nirvana, which culminated with the formation of the Foo Fighters. By the way, Dave Grohl is fucking awesome.

Retro Review #19: True Blood Season Three

More violence, nudity and general holy-fuckery than before, Season 3 of the acclaimed HBO series, True Blood brought more supernatural creatures into the mix including werewolves, were-panthers and brujo's, which is a witch. A lot of different shit went down as Bill and Sookie tried to find their way back to one another after Bill was taken at the end of Season 2.

Wilfred in the U.S.

Fuck. I. Laughed. I don't think I've laughed this hard since.... Well I don't know. This is exactly the type of show I've come to expect from FX, and it is even the channel's highest rating debut ever. All based on the Aussie show of the same name. This version is tamer and not quite as dark, but it's better for it I think, and it has a charm that the Aussie one didn't have. Elijah Wood's character Ryan is a less awkward and more interesting character that the guy in the SBS series, played by series Co-Creator, Adam Zwar. Jason Gann as Wilfred is the other Co-Creator and so far seems to be a bit more likeable than the Aust. version, even though he's the exact same character, just in a different country.

Give Titan Maximum Another Season or Twelve

I discovered this after fucking around in a Wikipedia loop one night. I downloaded the Christ out of it and then went straight out and got the DVD. Brought to you by the mental minds of the guys behind Robot Chicken, it's in the same kind of humour bracket but not so rapid fire. Seth Green, Breckin Meyer and Matthew Senreich have something here that even if no more episodes are ever made, is fucktastical fun for the whole family. Except for the younger ones on account of the cursing.

Retro Review #18: Friends Season One

And here started the reign of one of the most successful and best sitcoms of all time. We started with the weird hair and the odd 90's clothes. I don't think it started off as strong as people might think but it soon hit its stride and went for 10 wonderful, emotional, funny and at times, dramatic seasons. It ran from 1994 until 2004 and ended with 236 episodes, inspiring a short lived and in its first season anyway, underappreciated spin-off series, Joey.

Musical Spotlight #3: Give The Drummer Some by Travis Barker

When I heard Travis was bringing out his own solo record I thought, Hmmm, How? Now I know. With a shit tonne of other artists and he drums along with them. It's unmistakable Travis Barker beats comin at ya hard and fast and what I like about it is, I don't like it just because it's Travis Barker from my favourite band, the songs are fucktastic all by themselves. I don't love them all, or even like them all, but that's just it. There's something on this record for most musical tastes.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is Awesome

You may or may not have seen this film starring Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim but I recommend you do as soon as you get the chance. It's a highly visual and original story that also has a rockin' soundtrack. Being based on a band and all, it tells the story of Scott Pilgrim as he tries to win Ramona Flowers affections but for some reason, has to fight her seven evil exes to do so.

Celebrating Origin Two

Well thank fuck for that. My faith would have been permanently shaken, never to give a fuck about Origin again, when NSW put in the performance they have been looking for for five cursing years. All it took was to not change half of the team and build some combinations. There were still more changes than was probably wanted, but needed through injuries. Now, if they stick to that side we are in for another ripper of a game.

FUCK: The Documentary

This film is a doco. Not a particularly effective one. Spitting out bible passages and random quotes from polies, actors, comedy type people, and bible pushers. The problem is that each tends to have their own point and most don't get it across. It's pretty frustrating as somebody who feels that you should be able to do whatever you want as long as it doesn't hurt anybody. I agree that there's stuff that isn't suitable for certain people to see, but it should be up to the parents to control what they see, not every other fucking person in the world. Or the country as it might be, in this case, the United States which has the most retarded censorship laws in the world I think. Except for when my great country banned small tits in porn.

Retro Review #17: True Blood Season 2

Picking up, pretty much exactly where we left of in Season 1, True Blood's second season was pretty much more of the same kind of awesomeness, with a bit more shit thrown in. Maryann, introduced at the end of last season is the main antagonist this year, and she has a connection to one Mr. Sam Merlotte's past. Sam hates the bitch but no-one knows why and he ain't tellin'.

Archer: Piss Funny

This cartoon is fuckin' funny. It's probably my favourite show at the moment. It stars H. Jon Benjamin voicing Sterling Archer, the sex mad, alcoholic, unhealthily attached to his mother, spy. The most dangerous spy in the lands. Aisha Tyler voices Lana Kane, the sexy agent with whom Archer used to date. Chris Parnell plays Cyril Figgis, Judy Greer plays Cheryl or Carol or whatever the fuck she goes by that week. The old duck from Arrested Development plays Malory Archer, Sterling's mother and Amber Nash plays Pam Poovey, who can't keep her fat mouth shut.

Musical Spotlight #2: Wasting Light by Foo Fighters

The newest Foo Fighters effort is I think, a lot stronger than the previous, Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace was. It's a lot heavier too, which is the Fooies strength. They rock the acoustic songs but the rock the fuck out if a good heavy song. And with Pat Smear officially back in the band from this album onwards, there's an extra guitar's worth of rock.

Retro Review #16: Fight Club

David Fincher was directed awesome movies in the 90's. Excluding Alien 3. I don't know what his movies have been like since but I do know that Fight Club deserves all the accolades it gets. I don't know anybody who's favourite movie list it is not on. It wasn't even a box office hit when in the theatre's. It's definitely been a success since then though.

Remembering Dollhouse

Considering the amount of bullshit that went on with this show before it even aired, we are lucky we got 2 short seasons out of it. From Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku's lunch one day, we got an interesting, if not highly ambitious telly series.

Wonder Woman is Dead! The Pilot, Anyway

The David E. Kelley Wonder Woman pilot is dead, fucked, kaput. I for one, wasn't expecting much from the creator of such critical masterpieces as Ally McBeal and Boston Public. But apparently, insider buzz says it wasn't all bad, basically just not the direction NBC wanted to go with it. Fair enough, maybe next year someone else will have a crack at it. I'd pick Bad Robot Productions, it seems to have its web spun all over the networks and box office.

Fright Night Remake Looks Pretty Good

This upcoming remake looks pretty fuckin' cool. Starring Colin Farrell as a vampire who has just moved in next to a teenager and his mum, played by Anton Yelchin and Toni Collette. David Tennant and Christopher Mintz-Plasse also star as some dude and Evil Ed.

The Looney Tunes Show: Another Go Round

After watching more of this cartoon, I quite enjoy it actually. After the first episode's racial and homo stereotypes, I was expecting more of that. But there is little of it and it gets on with telling a nice little story where past favourite's turn up in different places.

Retro Review #15 True Blood Season 1

Watching the first season again, you notice a couple of things you might not have the first time around. Not a whole hell of a lot but there are bits and pieces. You should go back and watch it to see if you notice the same things or even different things. But here we go, True Blood Season 1:

The Nintendo Wii U

The next gen Nintendo was unveiled at E3 in Los Angeles this week and it looks like they have another winner on their hands with the stupidly named Wii-U. Always the gaming innovators, Nintendo seem to be throwing everything at the console, which no doubt, will be copied by Sony and Microsoft at next years E3. They will announce it as cutting edge even though we will have been enjoying the Wii-U by then.

Musical Spotlight #1: Screaming Bloody Murder by Sum 41

Sum 41's 5th and most recent album, Screaming Bloody Murder is stuck in my head most days. It's stuck in there right now. It's heavy, it's fierce and it goes back to a sound more akin to Chuck the other albums. I like the heavier aspects of Sum 41, a kind of punk-metal style which really appeals to me.

The Looney Tunes Show: What the Fuck?

Granted, I've only watched the first episode, but it seems to be a metaphor for homosexuals. I only just heard about this show and I wanted to give it a look. It's probably to early to tell but it's not exactly the cackfest I remember as a kid. They managed to chuck in some clever racist and gay jokes, but I watched Bugs Bunny's 1001 Tales or whatever it's called fairly recently, and there was none of that shit.

Remembering Breaking In

This is another show that FOX murdered unnecessarily. It's also a strike three for Christian Slater on the TV series front and the ratings were better than most comedies getting renewals. Until Fox literally stuck the knife in and moved its last episode in an experiment that wasn't needed yet and completely backfired. But anyhoo, lets look at the good stuff from the only seven episodes.

Retro Review #14 Scarface

Yeah. For a movie considered a classic, fuck I was bored. Starring an Italian Al Pacino as a Cuban drug dealing Scarface, I'll admit that yes, obviously, it was very well acted. There were bits I liked, it just took way too goddamn long for stuff to happen. Maybe its just the version I watched but it seemed like about an hours worth of crap could have been cut just to keep the pace up a bit. I do like long movies just, I don't know, I thought I'd enjoy this more.

L.A. Noire? Fuck Yeah!

Have you played this yet? It's been out a couple of weeks and if you havn't yet, go to your local whoever sells video games and get one. Now. Seriously, this game is one that is quite original, at least for a video game and uses cutting edge technology for some of the gameplay. 30 camera's or something to film the actor's faces so when your interrogating suspects or whoever, they have subtle ways of saying different things and you have to decide whether or not they're lying.

Thor's A Great Ride

After Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 2, I was not sure how the fantastical elements to the story of Marvel's Thor would fit in with the already established believability of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I'm not that sure that it does yet, we'll have to wait for The Avengers, I suppose. In saying that, Thor by itself is better than The Incredible Hulk, not as good as Iron Man and only slightly better than Iron Man 2, meaning it's awesome in it's own right.

Iron Man 2 is the Shit

Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow and Paul Bettany are back in the sequel to the 2008, Iron Man. Also joining him are Don Cheadle, replacing Terrance Howard as James Rhodes, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson in an expanded role as Nick Fury. I know it's been out for a while but I've been meaning to do this for a while anyway and with the Marvel Cinematic Universe in full swing, it might as well be now.

Have Fun With an Alien Named Paul

Have you met Paul yet? He's a funny little fucker. He drinks, smokes, swears and eats birds. All that wholesome stuff and he's voiced by the guy with the best laugh ever, Seth Rogen. He escapes Area 51 in Nevada and meets up with two Brit nerds who have just been to Comic-Con in San Diego. Scares the shit out of 'em to begin with.

Retro Review #13 The Incredible Hulk

In this not sequel to Ang Lee's overlong attempt to bring the green beast to the screen via Eric Bana in Hulk, Louis Leterrier does that with Edward Norton in this, The Incredible Hulk, the second outing in Marvel's Cinematic Universe, following Iron Man earlier in 2008.

Retro Review #12 Iron Man

The giant Marvel project kicked off with this ripper of a movie in 2008. Starring Robert Downey Jr. in his first Blockbuster film and directed by Jon Favreau, this entertaining romp made 585 million worldwide paving the way for more Marvel entries.

WA Reds for NRL 2013

The Reds were part of the ARL in 1995 and 96 and joined the Super League for 97. Even though they weren't a powerhouse, they helped bring Rugby League to a wider audience. Since being declined entry to the inaugurel NRL season in 1998, they have continued to build the club in the lower grades, contesting the SG Ball, with the goal of once again playing at the top level. They now have their own juniors coming through and up into the NRL to play for other clubs, which gives them a base to work on should they gain entry to the National competition. Melbourne Storm have only now started to have their home grown juniors compete for spots in first grade and that's why I think the Reds would be ideal for one of the two licences being considered for 2013.

Smallville's Done and Dusted: 10 Years of Not Quite Superman

Well, it's done. I love when shows finish of their own accord and the CW let Smallville do that after 10 event filled seasons. I don't have the feeling of I-can't-believe-it's-over as I did when LOST finished, but I def felt something after investing 10 seasons and 218 episodes into it.

Clumsy guts.

Settling Down From Origin 1

Fair dinkum, for fuck sake and other words of buffudlement. I'm sick of this shit. QLD annoy the hell out of me for more than one reason but NSW are the most frustrating team to support in recent history as far as I'm concerned. The Roosters at the moment are a very close second but this is not about them.

Are You Watching Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza?

No? Well you fuckin' should be. It is one of the funniest shows on television at the moment and goes back to the days of Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Happy Birthday Mum

Hey Mum. Happy Birthday. I haven't really been doing much. I've been doing some writing, trying to get a job, working on an idea for a business. Not getting very far, but it's called Memphis Rose Comics. I hope you like it. Jay moved in. Jordan got his L's. I know what your thinking, he will probably get his license before I do. You're, right. He probably will. If he stopped talking about his Batman show. I started writing a Terminator story cause the last movie really sucked. Um.... Me and Rhys are gonna start going to this Theatre Games thingy. Well, that's about it for now. I'm gonna have a few beers for you later because I fucking miss you. I love you, See ya round and say hi to Uncle Glenn for everyone.

Round 1: Roosters V Rabbitohs

Holy fuck me dead. I reckon the game went a bit like this...

Anasta: Hey Sam, how about a cock punch?

First 15 minutes went Souths way for the most part until Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Mose Masoe came on. The next 25, the Roosters gave it to the Bunnies, ending the half at.... I can't remember. Whatever it was it looked like the Roosters would shit it in and laugh and point at Inglis after the game.