LISTS

REVIEWS

DISCLAIMER: These are my individual thoughts and opinions and do not represent my employer.
Mon May 28
This show is quickly becoming one of my favourites.  It may be because I have been public servant for almost 3 years now.  Ron Swanson is the perfect anti-government conservative and has many of the show’s laughs.  Not to be outdone, Andy and Tom also deliver some great moments.  And Leslie is quite the awkward, eager over-achiever that propels the show similar to Michael Scott in The Office.  Rating: 8.5/10 

This show is quickly becoming one of my favourites.  It may be because I have been public servant for almost 3 years now.  Ron Swanson is the perfect anti-government conservative and has many of the show’s laughs.  Not to be outdone, Andy and Tom also deliver some great moments.  And Leslie is quite the awkward, eager over-achiever that propels the show similar to Michael Scott in The Office. 

Rating: 8.5/10 


posted by: Clarkey @ 8:55pm                                                                                               Comments (View)
tags: parks and rec tv shows reviews
Sun May 20
I checked out The Dictator yesterday and it was exactly what I expected.  There were a few good laughs in there, but it ultimately played as a very long comedy stretch with the predictable ending.  Sacha Baron Cohen was his usual offensively funny self; this time with a new over the top character.  However, the character got a little boring about halfway through the film.  I would only recommend this flick to fans of Sacha Baron Cohen because everyone else will probably hate it.  Overall, it was an all right satire, but nothing amazing. Rating: 6/10

I checked out The Dictator yesterday and it was exactly what I expected.  There were a few good laughs in there, but it ultimately played as a very long comedy stretch with the predictable ending.  Sacha Baron Cohen was his usual offensively funny self; this time with a new over the top character.  However, the character got a little boring about halfway through the film.  I would only recommend this flick to fans of Sacha Baron Cohen because everyone else will probably hate it.  Overall, it was an all right satire, but nothing amazing.

Rating: 6/10


posted by: Clarkey @ 2:07pm                                                                                               Comments (View)
tags: The Dictator movies reviews
Fri May 11
I finally got the first great summer blockbuster of 2012 a few nights ago at the new VIP theatre, which added to experience.  Despite having extremely high expectations, this film delivered what I wanted: a decent story and ton of action with some of the most interesting comic book superheroes.  Granted, the film’s first act spent a little too long assembling our heroes, but the final act and final action sequence made it all worth while.  It was loaded with great action and a ton of hilarious one liners.  The ensemble cast was near flawless and no character stood out above the rest, which helped the film.  Although, I really enjoyed seeing Canada’s own Robin Scherbatsky supporting Mr. Samuel L. Jackson.  In short, this was the first great summer blockbuster of the year.  Rating: 8.5/10 

I finally got the first great summer blockbuster of 2012 a few nights ago at the new VIP theatre, which added to experience.  Despite having extremely high expectations, this film delivered what I wanted: a decent story and ton of action with some of the most interesting comic book superheroes.  Granted, the film’s first act spent a little too long assembling our heroes, but the final act and final action sequence made it all worth while.  It was loaded with great action and a ton of hilarious one liners.  The ensemble cast was near flawless and no character stood out above the rest, which helped the film.  Although, I really enjoyed seeing Canada’s own Robin Scherbatsky supporting Mr. Samuel L. Jackson.  In short, this was the first great summer blockbuster of the year. 

Rating: 8.5/10 


posted by: Clarkey @ 10:17pm                                                                                               Comments (View)
tags: The Avengers reviews movies
Mon Apr 30
I just finished watching season 2 of this new favourite of mine and enjoyed it thoroughly.  It is absolutely hilarious and there are countless times where I was laughing so hard that I had tears in my eyes.  Mostly thanks to Andy and Doug, who by far the funniest characters.  However, this show also has some great dramatic scenes and is well acted.  Season 2 definitely left me hanging so I can’t wait to start season 3. Rating: 9/10

I just finished watching season 2 of this new favourite of mine and enjoyed it thoroughly.  It is absolutely hilarious and there are countless times where I was laughing so hard that I had tears in my eyes.  Mostly thanks to Andy and Doug, who by far the funniest characters.  However, this show also has some great dramatic scenes and is well acted.  Season 2 definitely left me hanging so I can’t wait to start season 3.

Rating: 9/10


posted by: Clarkey @ 9:50pm                                                                                               Comments (View)
tags: Weeds tv shows reviews
Sun Apr 8
So, I went to see American Reunion yesterday and it was exactly what I thought it would be.  All the good parts save for one at the end have been played over and over in the marketing of this movie.  I am not going to lie, it was nice to see all the characters back, especially Oz who disappeared for the third film.  Sadly, his storyline fell into the same love arch from the first movie.  Jim once again finds himself in unusual positions that were too similar to his previous mishaps.  The saving grace of this movie was Eugene Levy as Jim’s Dad, who got a bigger part this time and utilized his comedic genius in those scenes. His conversations with his son are nothing but comic gold.  Sean William Scott also had some solid laughs as the legendary Stifler.  His final storyline is one for the books. The movie was way too long for a comedy, clocking in at roughly two hours.  They tried to squeeze in every character from the original movie.  It seems like they were scared to cut anything from the final product.  To make matters worse, the third act was completely boring and way too similar to the prom scene from the first movie. And I could have done without the penis shot. Overall, the movie had some decent laughs even though most of them have been overused in the marketing of the movie.  And while it was nice to see the characters back again on the big screen, I could have lived without it.  Hollywood please find some original movies sometime in the near future. Rating: 6/10 

So, I went to see American Reunion yesterday and it was exactly what I thought it would be.  All the good parts save for one at the end have been played over and over in the marketing of this movie.  I am not going to lie, it was nice to see all the characters back, especially Oz who disappeared for the third film.  Sadly, his storyline fell into the same love arch from the first movie.  Jim once again finds himself in unusual positions that were too similar to his previous mishaps.  The saving grace of this movie was Eugene Levy as Jim’s Dad, who got a bigger part this time and utilized his comedic genius in those scenes. His conversations with his son are nothing but comic gold.  Sean William Scott also had some solid laughs as the legendary Stifler.  His final storyline is one for the books.

The movie was way too long for a comedy, clocking in at roughly two hours.  They tried to squeeze in every character from the original movie.  It seems like they were scared to cut anything from the final product.  To make matters worse, the third act was completely boring and way too similar to the prom scene from the first movie. And I could have done without the penis shot.

Overall, the movie had some decent laughs even though most of them have been overused in the marketing of the movie.  And while it was nice to see the characters back again on the big screen, I could have lived without it.  Hollywood please find some original movies sometime in the near future.

Rating: 6/10 


posted by: Clarkey @ 1:44pm                                                                                               Comments (View)
tags: American Reunion reviews movies
Tue Mar 27
After a long two month hiatus, I finally got around to finishing season 2 of Rescue Me and once again enjoyed the second season of this Dennis Leary’s brainchild.  Tommy Gavin is one of the better characters to ever grace a TV  screen.  Leary is at his all time best in this show.  However, he is well supported by two of the dumbest firefighters, a ladies man who falls into love, two grizzled veterans and a lady trying to break into the professional.  Season 2 opens with Tommy dealing with being in a new firehouse, trying to find his ex-wife and kids, dealing with a pregnant girlfriend, all the while trying to sober and recover from his alcoholism.  The show has a fantastic mix of comedy and drama.  The drama this season really hit the soft spots in your hearts with the worst tragedy imaginable.  The show doesn’t shy away from any topic, which makes it so realistic that it’s scary.   I can’t wait to dive into season 3… Rating: 8/10

After a long two month hiatus, I finally got around to finishing season 2 of Rescue Me and once again enjoyed the second season of this Dennis Leary’s brainchild.  Tommy Gavin is one of the better characters to ever grace a TV  screen.  Leary is at his all time best in this show.  However, he is well supported by two of the dumbest firefighters, a ladies man who falls into love, two grizzled veterans and a lady trying to break into the professional.  Season 2 opens with Tommy dealing with being in a new firehouse, trying to find his ex-wife and kids, dealing with a pregnant girlfriend, all the while trying to sober and recover from his alcoholism.  The show has a fantastic mix of comedy and drama.  The drama this season really hit the soft spots in your hearts with the worst tragedy imaginable.  The show doesn’t shy away from any topic, which makes it so realistic that it’s scary.   I can’t wait to dive into season 3…

Rating: 8/10


posted by: Clarkey @ 9:22pm                                                                                               Comments (View)
tags: rescue me tv shows reviews
Thu Mar 22
I read this book for a course in university and had totally forgotten it.  I just finished reading it and enjoyed it.  I don’t normally read fiction that often, but this old school detective novel was filled with some great dialogue and solid action sequences.  The story itself is pretty solid as we get to see what a city that was run by gangster looks like from a newcomer and how easy it is to get too involved with the crime.  I can’t believe that it was originally published back in the 1920s and is still somewhat relevant nowadays, despite the 20s talk.   It is definitely one of the better books I had to read in school and it’s worth checking out it.  Rating: 8/10 

I read this book for a course in university and had totally forgotten it.  I just finished reading it and enjoyed it.  I don’t normally read fiction that often, but this old school detective novel was filled with some great dialogue and solid action sequences.  The story itself is pretty solid as we get to see what a city that was run by gangster looks like from a newcomer and how easy it is to get too involved with the crime.  I can’t believe that it was originally published back in the 1920s and is still somewhat relevant nowadays, despite the 20s talk.   It is definitely one of the better books I had to read in school and it’s worth checking out it. 

Rating: 8/10 


posted by: Clarkey @ 8:54pm                                                                                               Comments (View)
tags: books Red Harvest reviews
Tue Mar 20
Season 2 of The Walking Dead wrapped up on Sunday with the best episode the whole season.  That being said, as a whole, season 2 was slow, boring and fairly uneventful.  They focused on the characters too much and spent way too much in a new location.  The gory action sequences from season 1 were absent and too spaced out.  I am undecided if I will watch season 3 when it comes back in the fall.  I know that I will not be picking up this season on DVD. Rating: 6/10 

Season 2 of The Walking Dead wrapped up on Sunday with the best episode the whole season.  That being said, as a whole, season 2 was slow, boring and fairly uneventful.  They focused on the characters too much and spent way too much in a new location.  The gory action sequences from season 1 were absent and too spaced out.  I am undecided if I will watch season 3 when it comes back in the fall.  I know that I will not be picking up this season on DVD.

Rating: 6/10 


posted by: Clarkey @ 7:30pm                                                                                               Comments (View)
tags: The Walking Dead tv shows reviews
Thu Mar 8
Faithfully readers of this blog of mine know that I love my sports movies, especially hockey movies.  Goon is the latest and one of the funniest hockey movies released since Slap Shot.  In fact, it is almost this generation’s Slap Shot.  It is obvious that it was written by two Canadian boys.  The hockey scenes were believable and fantastic to watch.  Sean Williams Scott played the dumbest person on the Earth, Doug Glatt and delivered his best work since being Stifler in American Pie.  Jay Baruchel not only wrote a solid script, he also provided some of the funniest moments in the movie.  Allison Pill did a good job as the love interest.  Cotton Weary, who sported a beauty stache for the flick, delivered another solid outing as the soon-to-be-retired Ross Rhea who becomes the arch-rival of Glatt’s.  The final fight scene is one to be remembered for its length and gory.  Yes, the movie isn’t perfect and has its flaws, but it is also one of the funniest movies to be released this year.  Canadian hockey fans will love it; sports fans will love it; and most males will love it.  And considering I fit into each category, I loved it! Rating: 8.5/10 

Faithfully readers of this blog of mine know that I love my sports movies, especially hockey movies.  Goon is the latest and one of the funniest hockey movies released since Slap Shot.  In fact, it is almost this generation’s Slap Shot.  It is obvious that it was written by two Canadian boys.  The hockey scenes were believable and fantastic to watch.  Sean Williams Scott played the dumbest person on the Earth, Doug Glatt and delivered his best work since being Stifler in American Pie.  Jay Baruchel not only wrote a solid script, he also provided some of the funniest moments in the movie.  Allison Pill did a good job as the love interest.  Cotton Weary, who sported a beauty stache for the flick, delivered another solid outing as the soon-to-be-retired Ross Rhea who becomes the arch-rival of Glatt’s.  The final fight scene is one to be remembered for its length and gory.  Yes, the movie isn’t perfect and has its flaws, but it is also one of the funniest movies to be released this year.  Canadian hockey fans will love it; sports fans will love it; and most males will love it.  And considering I fit into each category, I loved it!

Rating: 8.5/10 


posted by: Clarkey @ 5:00pm                                                                                               Comments (View)
tags: Goon movies reviews