NCIS:LA Season 4 Finale - Loved It!

     I seriously love this show!  Just like last season, the episode left us on a huge cliffhanger and now I have to wait 4 months to see the conclusion.  ARGH!!!  This post will contain SPOILERS so read below at your own risk if you haven't seen the episode....
     Last season's finale left me wondering if they had changed the character of Callen as it appeared that he committed a heinous crime on live television, killing The Chameleon.  Turns out that was all an illusion (a nice trick by the writers that totally hoodwinked me) and Callen's morality was still intact.  Bringing back this nemesis from the season 3 finale and season 4 premiere was a genius move as The Chameleon already had a history on the show and with this team.  Turns out NCIS needs him to broker a nuclear arms deal with some of his contacts so Callen and Kensi retrieve him from Iran.  Meanwhile Sam and Deeks must be partners even though Sam really wants Callen watching his back.  Their conversation while playing chess in a park is hilarious, by the way and we find out that Sam just doesn't trust Deeks like he trusts Callen.  In previous episodes, Kensi and Deeks have been secretly pining for one another but neither one is willing to put their feelings out there in the open.  However, when Kensi and Deeks are covering Sam and Sam's wife Michelle, Deeks kisses Kensi!  It was so unexpected and so worth it.  You could tell from Deek's face that he really cares for Kensi and the tension they have had lately has really bothered him.   Of course, at that moment Kensi has to rush off to follow Michelle who ends up being caught by two operatives and Deeks has to rescue Sam who is drowning in a pool.  Callen, who has been watching the op now realizes that he has been outplayed by The Chameleon and that his ultimate plan was revenge on Callen and the people he loves.  He may loose the nuke as well as his friends if he can't find a solution.  At the end of the episode, Kensi is caught in a crossfire, Michelle is hanging out a window, Sam is strapped to a chair being electrocuted and Deeks is having his teeth drilled without anesthetic.  Fade to black...to be continued........................ in SEPTEMBER!

Iron Man 3 and The Beginning of the Summer Movie Season

     I saw Iron Man 3 last weekend when it opened and I was pleasantly surprised.  I enjoyed Iron Man but hated Iron Man 2 so I wasn't sure what to expect for this third film.  Thankfully Tony Stark was back to his Avengers self with witty one liners and cool gadgets.  I know Robert Downey Jr. is nearing 50, but he sure doesn't look it.  I hope he decides to play his alter ego at least one more time in the Avengers 2 as I'm not sure I can accept another actor as Tony Stark.  I also liked the insertion of the precocious kid, Harley (played by Ty Simpkins), who saves Tony more than once and The Mandarin (played by Ben Kingsley) who was hilarious and almost stole the show.  Pepper even got a chance to wear the suit and become a superhero herself.  Overall, this was a great popcorn flick that is a great start to the summer movie season for 2013.
     Next weekend I will be busy geeking out over Star Trek Into Darkness and Dallas Comic Con so check back in to see my Star Trek review and get the scoop on William Shatner, Richard Dean Anderson and Nathan Fillion.  Can't Wait!!!

Silver Linings vs. Les Mis and The Oscar Race

     I have just recently seen two of the upcoming Oscar nominated films, Silver Linings Playbook and Les Miserables.  While they are both very different films, I am going to give my two cents here as to what I liked and didn't like about both as well as my Oscar predictions for each.
     Lets start with Silver Linings... Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro were all amazing as the acting is what made this film shine.  The quirky story about a released mental patient who is trying to reconcile with his estranged wife and yet falls in love with another woman was a refreshing change.  The edition of a dance contest into the storyline at the same time as the championship football game created a unique and fun climax to this romantic comedy.  I really liked Bradley's character and while Jennifer Lawrence also did an amazing job, Bradley steals the show.
     Les Miserables is a wonderful musical but as a film I felt it was a little slow and at times boring.  The casting and acting were great but the film itself lagged and was hindered by the directors insistance to film all of the sound live instead of dubbing it in later.  This created an issue for the cameras as they had to be in a good position to collect sound as well as the picture and was therefore stuck on characters who were singing for very long periods of time.  Also the audio was still hard to hear in some places which is frustrating when the characters are mostly singing instead of talking.  In terms of singing, most of the actors were pretty good and could hold their own through most of the songs, but there were a few cringe moments with Hugh Jackman and Russell Crow on a couple of notes.  The sets and costumes were wonderful and the little boy who played Gavroche stole my heart, but overall it was a good film not a great one.
     Both Silver Linings Playbook and Les Miserables are up for Best Picture this year but I don't think either one has a chance.  The big prize will either go to Lincoln or Argo (my vote is Argo), but both films have a chance in some other categories.  Anne Hathaway deserves the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Fantine in Les Mis and might very well win it as her only competition is Sally Field from Lincoln.  Bradley Cooper, while amazing, will not win Best Actor and neither will Hugh Jackman as that prize will go to Daniel Day Lewis who was Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln.  He so embodies our former President that you hardly realize it is an actor and not the man himself come back from the dead.  Jennifer Lawrence has a better chance of winning for Best Actress than her co-star although Naomi Watts may pull out a win for her role in The Impossible.  In the Best Supporting Actor category, Robert De Niro is nominated for Silver Linings but I think that Alan Arkin should win for Argo instead.  Even though De Niro was great, Arkin was even better.

Skyfall, The New Bond Standard!

Skyfall is the best Bond movie I have seen in years.  While some are complaining that it is too action packed and strays too far from the original Bond films of the 60's that it pays homage to, I disagree.  Bond has developed and changed over the years based on the changes in society.  This most recent film reflects that with it's combination of traditional Bond characters along with modern technology and Jason Bourne type action.  To me it was thrilling!  The opening sequence of motorcycles on rooftops and then a fight on top of a moving train was exceptionally done.  I was on the edge of my seat.  The opening credits appear after this adrenalin burst with a haunting song by Adele that blew me away.  The song incorporates the traditional Bond theme along with a video sequence that  I could watch for hours by itself.  I won't give away the plot but the villain is quite creepy at times and the non stop action oriented plot kept me riveted throughout the entire film.  Daniel Craig has become my favorite Bond behind Sean Connery and I hope there is another film in the works to keep the thrill alive.

Argo Or Not To Argo

Argo is a GO!  Wow, what an amazing film.  Expertly directed by Ben Affleck, Argo tells the story of the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979 when the American Consulate in Iran was stormed, and a few of the employees escaped to the Canadian Embassy.   Besides directing, Affleck also plays the CIA agent (Tony Mendez) who comes up with a plan to rescue the hostages by creating a fake movie and having them be the production crew.   The casting is stellar with John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston, and Victor Garber in supporting roles that all make a huge impression.   What impressed me the most was the way Affleck directed the film.   It was suspenseful throughout even though I already knew how the film would end.    This is an Oscar contender for sure so see it while you can.