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Archives for : June2014

Top 5 “Boy Meets World” Episodes

Girl Meets World debuts tomorrow night on Disney channel.  But before we step into the world of Cory and Topanga’s young daughter, let’s take a look back at some of the most memorable moments of the couple and their friends during the original series.

Here are my top 5 Boy Meets World episodes…Well top 6 (this was a VERY hard list!!!).

6. Cult Fiction

Feeling that something is missing, Shawn joins a cult that promises not to judge him. But when Mr. Turner is in a motorcycle accident, Shawn learns it’s the real relationships with people who care about him that matter.

“I don’t want to be empty inside anymore”- Shawn Hunter

 

Best Moments: After showing him what a “real” hug is from someone who cares about you, Cory forces Shawn to stay with an unconscious Mr. Turner in the hospital room.  There Shawn breaks down and gives a heartfelt monologue, praying that Mr. Turner survives.  We also see just how much the supposed “loner” is loved by the people in his life.

5. Everybody Loves Stuart

Stuart is the cool, young professor that everyone likes. But the tables turn when he makes a move on Topanga in her dorm room, causing a violent reaction from Cory.

“Is it okay if I rip off your head and roll it down the hallway?”- Mr. Feeny

 

Best Moments: A hilarious, dramatic courtroom entrance by Eric Matthews followed by more proof that Mr. Feeny is the best teacher ever.  Though this episode was at times a little awkward, given the sexual harasser was played by Ben Savage’s older brother, Fred Savage; it’s one that pushed the boundaries of a regular Disney family sitcom.

4. Chick Like Me

Shawn dresses up like a girl to experience a girl’s point of view; and it’s not what he expected.

“Why is everybody staring? What are they looking at?”- Shawn Hunter

 

Best Moments: We find out that a female version of Shawn is just as hot as the male version.  And we are treated to multiple laughs from the entire episode as Shawn and Cory feel the insecurities of a woman.

3. Last Tango In Philly

Cory and Shawn don’t want to go dancing, so the girls go with two handsome co-workers. The ensuing jealousy only angers Topanga and Angela, and now the boys have a problem. They just want to make their girlfriends happy, but can’t quite figure out how.

“From the beginning of time, men have been idiots.”- Eric Matthews

 

Best Moments: Meeting Nunzio for the first and last time, “of this I am sure.”  And an unforgettable dance number by all the male characters, who get up on stage and shake their booty to the music of Donna Summer’s Hot Stuff.

2. The Happiest Show On Earth

Cory and Topanga still have feelings for each other, but she’s seen him with so many other girls that she can’t trust him. When Topanga wins a trip to Disney World, he realizes there’s nothing left to do but follow her, and win her back.

“I mean, we did break up for a reason, right?”- Topanga Lawrence
“So we could get back together.”- Cory Matthews

 

Best Moments: It’s hard to pick just one Cory and Topanga central-focused episode. Their first kiss was epic, and as they got older their break ups, make ups, engagement, marriage, and many other mile stones can never be forgotten.  But their first make up in Disney World wasn’t just sweet, it was magical.

1. And Then There Was Shawn

Locked inside the school during detention, the group is terrorized by a shrouded, skeleton-masked figure. In this fun and frenzied horror movie spoof, the teens must discover who the killer is if they want to escape with their lives.

“Oh my God! They killed Feeny!”- Eric Matthews

 

Best Moments: There are countless one-liners, a constantly screaming Angela, and a great homage to the “classic” rules of horror flicks.  Jennifer Love Hewitt makes a notable guest appearance as “Jennifer Love Fefferman,” sparking a sneaky jealous Topanga to lurk behind her as she flirts with Cory.  This episode is better than most of the scary movie spoofs made today.

Movie Review: “Outlaw Prophet: Warren Jeffs” Might be the Most Disturbing Lifetime Film Yet

Parents I seriously advise you to make sure the kiddos are in bed before watching this one.

Get ready to see Tony Goldwyn (Scandal) like you’ve never seen him before.  Goldwyn stars as Warren Jeffs, the infamous Polygamist cult leader who spent more than a year on the FBI’s “10 Most Wanted List” for his unlawful flight on charges related to his arrangement of illegal marriages involving underage girls.

After his father (Martin Landau) passes away leaving behind 56 wives, Warren (Goldwyn) takes on his leadership role as the prophet for Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Basically, the community follows “God’s Law” and believes that women must be obedient wives.  The prophet is the only one who can speak to God and relays the message to the citizens.   A man can have numerous wives and the women have no say in the matter, because apparently God chooses who they are given away to.  If this doesn’t sound gross enough, Jeffs was arranging marriages to girls as young as 12 years-old!

The film itself is grotesque and continuously uncomfortable. Lifetime allows the audience to see some in-depth sex scenes that I wish I hadn’t.  The words spoken to these young girls by Jeffs while having intercourse will haunt me for years to come.  However, the story of Warren Jeffs was conveyed so well that it is worth the watch.

Besides a few small characters, all the leads did a fantastic job in the film.  Goldwyn morphs into his sickening character and Joey King (Fargo) continues her streak as a star on the rise.  This girl is incredible in any role she plays.

I can handle most Lifetime dramas, but Outlaw Prophet: Warren Jeffs was tough to sit through.

Rating: 3/5

Premiering Saturday, June 28, at 8pm ET/PT.  Immediately following the movie’s world premiere, Lifetime will air the hour-long documentary Beyond the Headlines: Warren Jeffs, at 10pm ET/PT.

LET’S BE COPS Cinetransformer Tour Coming to Dallas!

20TH CENTURY FOX’S HOT SUMMER COMEDY LET’S BE COPS WHEELS INTO TOWNS ACROSS AMERICA

AN UNPRECEDENTED NATIONAL FEATURE FILM PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CINETRANSFORMER OFFERS A UNIQUE MOVIEGOING EXPERIENCE

***The Cinetransformer will be at Kaboom Town on Thursday July 3rd and the Independence Day Classic at the Irving Convention Center on Saturday, July 5th.***

Los Angeles, CA (June 24, 2014) – In its first cross-country movie tour, the Cinetransformer is hitting the road with the buddy cop comedy, LET’S BE COPS, starring Damon Wayans Jr., Jake Johnson, Nina Dobrev and Rob Riggle.

The Cinetransformer, a 53-foot double expandable trailer, converts into a complete mobile cinema, providing a unique movie going experience and the perfect partner for a nationwide tour. Never before has the Cinetransformer been used on a road trip this wide ranging, screening a feature film several times per day, and providing audiences with a special sneak peek several months ahead of the picture’s release.

The unique LET’S BE COPS/Cinetransformer tour kicked off with a screening for the Troops at the Spike Guy’s Choice Awards with cast members Jake Johnson, Damon Wayans Jr. and Rob Riggle in attendance. Subsequent Cinetransformer/LET’S BE COPS visits include such summer hot spots as MONTEREY BEER FEST, SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL BEER FESTIVAL, KABOOM TOWN FESTIVAL, THE ATLANTA FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL and more.

Directed by Luke Greenfield, who co-wrote the script with Nicholas Thomas, LET’S BE COPS is the ultimate buddy cop movie except for one thing: they’re not cops. When two struggling pals (played by Damon Wayans, Jr. and Jake Johnson) dress as police officers for a costume party, they become neighborhood sensations. But when these newly-minted “heroes” get tangled in a real life web of mobsters and dirty detectives, they must put their fake badges on the line.

Be sure to follow #LetsBeCops and the official LET’S BE COPS Twitter and Facebook pages for up-to-date information on truck screening locations, special promotions and more by visiting www.letsbecops.com.

LET’S BE COPS opens in theaters everywhere August 13, 2014, is rated R, and runs approximately 1 hour 44 minutes.

TV Review: “True Blood” Season 7 Premiere Begins with a Shocking Death

It’s the beginning of the end as our beloved HBO vampire series draws to a close.

When we last left off, the people of Bon Temps had agreed to the “one vampire to every human” plan, put in motion by the new mayor, Sam Merlotte (Sam Trammell).  The plan provides protection for the humans from the H-Vamps (infected vampires), and in return a steady meal for the vampires.  Citizens gathered at the human-vampire mixer held outside of the Bellefleur’s, and just when it seemed like a trust was made between the two species, a group of rogue H-Vamps crashed the party.

Directed by series star Stephen Moyer, the season 7 premiere picks up right in the middle of a chaotic blood bath.  A slew of humans and vampires are brutally murdered within the first two minutes of the episode.  And be prepared for an unexpected death that sets the tone for the final season.  As we saw last year, our beloved Terry Bellefleur (Todd Lowe) was the first main character who passed.  After the season opener, we’re reminded that anything can happen and anyone can die.

The season starts off with a battle between the Bon Temps and H-Vamps.  New friends and relationships have been made.  Sookie (Anna Paquin) is now with Alcide (Joe Manganiello), a safe choice for the girl that every vampire wants, but it doesn’t look like all of her feelings for Bill (Moyer) have quite faded away.  Jason (Ryan Kwanten) belongs to Violet (Karolina Wydra), a domineering vampire who saved him from being feed on by hundreds of blood thirsty female vamps.  Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) is in a surprisingly healthy relationship with new hottie vampire, James (Nathan Parsons).  If you’re wondering why something seems different about Jess’ brooding beau she met while being captured last season, it’s because he is a totally different actor.  Due to his recent casting in the anticipated 50 Shades of Grey film, Luke Grimes has been “subtly” replaced by Nathan Parsons.

The search for Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) continues.  Did he get burned to a crisp, or is he just hiding out?  All we know is Pamela (Kristin Bauer Van Straten) won’t quit until she knows what happened to her maker.

It is set up to be an exciting final season, and an unpredictable one at that.  Let’s just hope the series finale serves a pleasurable bite that leaves us with a satisfying after taste for the months following.

True Blood returns on June 22.

Movie Review: “Obvious Child” is One of the Best Films of the Year!

Jenny Slate gives a breakthrough performance in an authentic romantic comedy that touches on the daring topic of abortion.

Brilliantly written/directed by Gillian Robespierre and based on her feature short from 2009, Obvious Child tells the story of, Donna (Slate), a twenty-something stand-up comic who seems to be perfectly content with her life.  But after her boyfriend dumps her to be with one of her “good” friends, she learns that when it rains, it pours.  Within a week she has not only lost the man in her life, but also her job. So like any woman who is going through an emotional crisis, she decides to indulge in a careless night of drinking.  That night she meets Max (Jake Lacy), a straight-laced honest to God good guy.  They engage in a one-night stand that was never meant to be anything more.  However, three weeks later Donna discovers she is pregnant and plans to get an abortion.  But she is conflicted when Max reappears in her life and wants nothing more than to take her out on a “proper date.”

Though Obvious Child deals with a sensitive subject that most people have strong opinions on, it is important to understand that there is so much more to this story.  It’s about finally facing the reality of being independent for the first time. Donna must make tough decisions that she would otherwise avoid.  Like the film quote says “creative energy can sometimes come at the lowest point your life.”  Regardless of the circumstances, audiences can relate to this film when remembering a dark time that forced you to start over.

Slate is best known for  SNL, Parks and Rec, and many more comedic roles.  Once audiences watch this film, Jenny Slate will be remembered for this incredible, uplifting performance that will make you laugh and ache.  She shares a refreshing on-screen chemistry with Jake Lacy, as the two portray a awkwardly genuine relationship.

Donna doesn’t go through her troubles alone.  She is supported by loving friends and family that chime in with advice and counsel.  She has her English professor mother (Polly Draper), her puppeteer father (Richard Kind), and her best friend/roommate (Gaby Hoffman).

This story is not meant to offend anyone and it doesn’t try to change your beliefs on the topic at hand.  The film just shows the point of view of a woman who solely handles the decisions of a serious situation in a light manner.  I highly recommend this movie, as it is my favorite of the year so far.  Obvious Child is smart, witty, hilarious, and unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Obvious Child hits select theaters June 20.

Rating: 5/5

Originally posted on RedCarpetCrash.com

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Interview: Shailene Woodley, Nat Wolff, & John Green talk “The Fault in Our Stars”

I got a chance to sit down with Shailene Woodley, Nat Wolff and author John Green for the most talked about love story, “The Fault in our Stars”.  We talked about falling in love, deal breakers when dating, meeting our heroes, and more!  Easily one of my favorite interviews ever.

The interview originally aired on ICTN’s arts and entertainment magazine show, About Towne.

Click here to play Interview

tfios chix

The Alamo Drafthouse’s New Lunch Menu

I continuously tell people that The Alamo Drafthouse has the best food out of any dine-in theater.  I just assumed the food was good because of their tasty, unique dishes.  Plus unlike some theaters, they will modify your meals.  But the secret ingredient behind the Alamo’s delectable creations is Dusty Patek (Bar manager and creator of menu).

For the few of you who have seen Chef,  Dusty is like our local Carl Casper!  He has a strong passion for food and continues to push outside the box with his recipes.  This shows through in his inspiring menu.

Glass Half Full, which is the bar located in The Alamo, has launched a new lunch menu with a variety of quality items that everyone can enjoy.  Here are just a few of the many new choices that stood out.

Soups

A thick, hearty tomato basil soup served in a bread bowl, made from scratch.

Quite possibly the best French onion soup I have ever had. Best of all, both soups are served with a side of pasta salad that is bursting with flavor.  Pasta salads tend to be bland, but the Glass Half Full changes that stereotype with some chopped cucumber, feta cheese, and whatever delicious dressing that has been tossed in.

french onion

French Onion Soup served with side of pasta salad

Salads & Wraps

All salads can be made into a wrap and you can add grilled chicken, steak, or tofu.

Beets & Oranges- Mixed Greens, Pistachios, Goat Cheese, Croutons, Sherry Vinaigrette

MY FAVORITE MENU ITEM!!! Mexican- Mixed Greens, Romaine Hearts, Avocado, Jicama, Cotija, Tortilla Crisps, Red Onion, Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette.  I wish I had a suitable picture to show you but, sadly, this salad was devoured before I could take one.  It is recommended to add chicken, but I would be fine with just a tub as is.

Caesar- Romaine Hearts, Baby Romaine, Herb Parmesan, Cherry Tomatoes, Spiced Pumpkins Seeds.  Those who enjoy a little zing to their food, will particularly love this Caesar dressing’s spicy kick.

cesaer

Caesar Salad

Sandwiches

Meatball- House made Beef/Pork Meatballs served on an Amoroso Roll with Marinara, Provolone, Parmesan, Pecorino, and Fresh Basil

Italian- Capicola, Salami, and Prosciutto served on Amoroso Roll and Provolone, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Black Pepper, Dried Oregano, Oil, Spicy Cherry Pepper Relish.  I mean just look at it!

sandwich

Italian Sub Sandwich

Pizza/ Calzones

All pizzas can be made into Calzones.  You can’t go wrong with either one of these choices.

Brussels Sprouts, Smoked Bacon, & Goat Cheese- Olive Oil, Mozzarella, Black Pepper, Parmesan, Pecorino

Pepperoni- Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Pecorino

Tomato & Basil Pesto- Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Pecorino

Artichoke Spinach Pizza- Olive Oil, Garlic, Spinach, Artichoke Hearts, Cherry Tomatoes, Goat Cheese, Mozzarella

artichoke pizza

Artichoke Spinach Pizza

The lunch menu is served all day and you can view the entire menu at http://drafthouse.com/dfw/richardson/richardson_menu/ 

Concert Review: ‘Iration’ Lights Up The Stage At House Of Blues Dallas

The mood is right, thinking ‘bout those concert nights, those concert nights…

The reggae rock band from Hawaii has made their way back to Dallas (on Friday, June 6, 2014) for another concert full of fresh sound and good vibes.

The House of Blues in Dallas is a particularly great venue for a number of reasons. There is a DART Bus- it will get you about a block away from the building, allowing you to save gas, money on parking, and best of all avoiding traffic to down town! Dine at the venue- “Crossroad at House of Blues” might be a bit pricy, but the food is fantastic and there is a variety of different types of cuisines, including Italian, American, Mexican, and much more. And the biggest perk to this venue is that more often than not you will have a chance to meet artists either before or after their show. If you’re lucky, you can score a picture with them as well.

The Green opened the show warming up the audience for a night of laid back, original beats. As soon as their 45 minute set was over, everyone got a 30 minute break to grab a drink at the bar or purchase the band’s merchandise.

Finally, at nine thirty on the dot, Iration started the show with their classic hit, “Turn Around.” It didn’t take long for this concert to get going. It was a jam-packed set with all of their hits. Iration kept their crowd interaction to a minimal. Instead, they let their music do the talking which pleases the crowd, since more time is left for more of their songs. The audience danced and sang along to every single song, proving Iration has a large fan base even though they aren’t local or mainstream. The band covered all their albums by playing at least two songs from even their earliest releases and not focusing on their newer album. The vocals by Micah Pueschel and new band member Micah Brown were phenomenal. And everyone on instruments rocked it.

It is bitter sweet to watch Iration now that Kai Rediske is no longer with the band (it was a clean break). Watching someone take his place is hard, but Micah Brown subtly adds the right amount of vocals and instrumentals to the band. He naturally fits right in.  Another addition that is much more noticeable is the flashing, swirling lights placed all along the stage. Personally, I loved it. I thought the lights add more stage presence and energy to their show. Every time I watch Iration, they seem to be evolving more musically and technically.

Once their set was over, the crowd predictably chanted “one more song,” knowing very well that Iration was coming back for an encore. I still never got the point of the one minute tease, but I guess it’s nice to hear the fans saying they want more. And more is what Iration gave! The band sang a few more songs and closed the show with one of their most popular tracks, “Falling.”

Overall, Iration put on another amazing concert with rapid lighting, smooth vocals, and an energetic performance.

Originally posted on RedCarpetCrash.com

Musical Review: “Mamma Mia!” will have you Rocking Out like a Dancing Queen

Mamma Mia makes it almost impossible for you not to jump out of your chair and dance along to the music!

The first time I saw this musical was in theaters with Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried as the leading ladies.  I remember how much fun I had while watching that film.  The music, the color, the dancing, it was a blast!  But, that was before I got to experience the live Broadway musical performance in which I was truly able to feel the energy and joy of this story by such a talented cast.

For those who don’t know the story or haven’t seen popular film, let me sum it up.  Three months before Sophie’s (Chelsea Williams) wedding day she decides to send out a letter to three men, one of whom could possibly be her father, in hopes that she will have her dad walk her down the aisle.  Surprisingly enough, all three men agree to come only because they believe Donna (Rebecca Mason-Wygall), Sophie’s mother, sent the invites.  The day before her wedding the three men arrive and they reluctantly agree to not tell Donna what Sophie did and just act like they are in town coincidently.  When Donna finally runs into her past lovers, old feelings return and a possible relationship is rekindled.  As Sophie struggles to figure out which man is her father, she begins to discover a realization in herself.

Talk about a vibrant cast, from the leads to the chorus, everyone involved gave their all while on that stage.  Once you hear t the soft, angelic, voice of Chelsea Williams in the opening number, goose bumps will appear and eyes will be glued to that riveting star.  That is until you meet Rebecca Mason-Wygall.  Her sultry voice will awe you in the hypnotic “Money, Money, Money” number.  The two women make for a fantastic mother/daughter pairing.

Even though these ladies lead the show, each cast member managed to have plenty of “star” moments.  Each of the three men had no problem making a fool of himself for this ridiculously entertaining story.  Mark A. Harmon, who plays Harry Bright, lets loose as the “head banging” British gentleman.  Michael Colavolpe gives a raunchy comedic performance as Bill Austin.  And with a voice that demands to be heard, Jeff Drushal solidifies the fact that Pierce Brosnan should probably leave the singing to the pros.  Expect plenty of laughs anytime Gabrielle Mirabella and Carly Sakolove make an appearance.  The two play Tanya and Rosie, Donna’s long time best friends.  They are immature, outlandish and downright hilarious!  And boys, Tanya’s got a pair of legs that goes on for days.

After an already exciting start, Act II comes back with a bang.  The entire musical flies by, but if you’re sad to watch it end (like me), don’t fret; you will be treated with THREE encore performances.  And this time, everyone is already standing from the deserved ovations, so you can feel free to foolishly dance (like me).

Mamma Mia is running at the Dallas Music Hall at Fair Park through Sunday, June 15.

Rating: 4.5/5

Originally posted on RedCarpetCrash.com

Movie Review: “Trust Me” Starts Strong but Ends in a Sloppy Mess

Clark Gregg swaps superheroes for child stars in his latest dark comedy, Trust Me, in which he wrote, directed, and stars.

What begins as a Hollywood version of Jerry McGuire becomes a depressing and grim look of how far the people involved in this business will go to get what they want.

We begin by seeing, once child star and now Hollywood agent, Howard (Gregg) getting fired by his only notable client for blowing a potentially huge deal.  Sometime during this botched negotiation, he luckily stumbles into Lydia’s (Saxon Sharbino) dramatic audition which turns out to be a positive for the young actress.  When she is offered the starring role for the next vampire teen trilogy, she immediately claims Howard as her agent. Lydia views Howard as the “nice” alternative to dirt bag agents who care only about money and could careless for the best interest of their clients.  Much like Howard’s nemesis, Aldo (Sam Rockwell), a skeezy, douche of an agent who has managed to steal many of Howard’s talents.

Lydia and Howard have a great father-daughter bond and work well together, their only problem is Ray (Paul Sparks), Lydia’s greedy, alcoholic father who tends to cause a scene everywhere he goes.  And just when things seem to looking up for Howard’s career and love life, he witnesses what he thinks might be a sexually abusive encounter between Ray and Lydia.  Now he must decide if wants to continue his path of success with his inevitable profiting starlet or let the “good guy” within him follow his conscience.

From the start you are hooked.  All the aspects of Howard’s life are thoroughly engaging.  He pines over his beautiful neighbor (Amanda Peet), and the two share a surprisingly charming relationship.  He also has great chemistry with Lydia that you feel could lead to a Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr. moment.  “Show me the MONEY!!!”

Needless to say Gregg gives a captivating performance along with his supporting cast.  Saxon Sharbino, who I had never heard of until this movie, shines as the tween actress who is so talented that it’s hard to tell if she’s being herself or playing a part.

In about the last 30 minutes of the film, everything starts to get muggy fast.  What seemed like powerful character development and a path of redemption quickly turns into an unsatisfying and truly unnecessary conclusion.
Trust Me has all the pieces for a fantastic, uplifting and/or solid flick; but maybe in an attempt to stay truly original, it past the mark a little too far.

Trust Me is in theaters June 6 and is  currently available OnDemand and iTunes.

Rating: 3/5

“Trust Me” Official Trailer HD

Originally posted on RedCarpetCrash.com