TV Review: Dexter (Seasons 1-5)

First off, WOW. This show is awesome. To all the people that told me I needed to watch it, I am sorry I didn't do it sooner. For a show with such a dark subject matter, it really has a lot of depth and heart. The characters are all every-evolving, and the stories always find a way of keeping up momentum, even when it seems they can't build any higher. Sure, like most shows, there's an episode now and again that really doesn't hold it's own, and some characters continue to piss you off (all the while, you just keep hoping they get killed at some point), but even his sister, Debra, has moments when she shines. :)

Season one was a great introduction to the cast and it shows Dexter struggle with his humanity in a way that is both interesting and relate-able (you know, for a serial killer). As he struggles with his "Dark Passenger" you see how desperate he is to find some normalcy in his life, and how much his girlfriend Rita helps him see how things could be if he was just like everyone else. He learns secrets about his past, and he learns just what family really means to him, and uses it to solidify his grasp on his moral code and cherish what he holds close.

In season two, he starts to falter under the pressure and gets sloppy, coming dangerously close to losing everything he's fought so hard to protect. Though he still lives by his code, he sees how others reacting to his special brand of justice, and has to learn to strengthen his own character and in turn become a little more human in the process.

Season three introduces him to a sort of kindred spirit, and he becomes more comfortable living a double life, but at what cost? He realizes that bringing other people into his world can be more dangerous than anything, and that even though others may seem to be like him, he is still alone in the world and has to put his code above all else before he loses all that he's built for himself.

Season four was the most exciting for me. In it, he became the student and began studying another killer, who seemed to have a healthy balance between his family life and the darker side he kept hidden. But, like usual, once he gets too close, he makes himself vulnerable and in the end pays a major price which changes his life forever.

The most recent season (five) sees him being more selfless than ever when he discovers a girl who was almost too badly damaged to be helped after she was tortured and locked up by her captors. Dexter takes her in and helps her bring her captors to justice, but his past mistakes also come back to haunt him when someone else inside Miami Metro starts to take a special interest in him, and nearly uncovers the truth.

The writing on this show is great, and his little inner monologues and talks with the spirit of his father are great devices to see inside his mind and understand how Dexter views the world and other people in it. His relationships are also very important, and even though he keeps people at a distance, you see how he values them, and the lengths he would go to keep them safe. It's already been picked up for another year, and I can't wait to watch this one as it airs. As long as they keep the core values there and be mindful of 'the code' then I see a very bright future for Dexter... eventually.

I give Dexter (Seasons 1-5) a 5 outta 5

Real Life Super Heroes

For years, we've seen Super Heroes come to life in comic books, cartoons, movies, and TV shows, but now, it seems like the inevitable is upon us. Much like the story depicted in Mark Millar's Kick-Ass (which was developed into the film of the same name, directed by Matthew Vaughn) people have started to put on marks and patrol the streets, looking to do some good. I first heard about this a few days ago, reading an article about a group of heroes in the Seattle area calling themselves the Rain City Superhero Movement, and one of their members; Phoenix Jones, who stopped a car theft in progress. After doing a little more research, I have found that not only are these heroes fighting crime, but they are also helping the homeless and doing community service. Some of them wear masks to protect themselves and their identities from those who would exploit them or do them harm, or just to keep their personal life from being scrutinized by the media and/or others. They also come prepared, wearing body armor and carrying nightsticks and stun guns, as well as other "tools of the trade." They are taking great risks dong what they do, and even Jones himself has already been stabbed in the nine months he's been patrolling Seattle's streets. Unlike the Stan Lee reality show; Who Wants To Be A Superhero? that aired on the SyFy channel, these vigilantes are in it for real, and don't reply on made up powers, but on their wits and their good intentions to go out there and make their communities a better place to live.

These heroes are organizing all over the country. One such hero, Nyx, even moved from her hometown of Kansas City, to New Jersey to team up with another hero by the name of Phantom Zero. They are just a few of many, and in the coming months as their popularity grows, these heroes may just be the first step in turning our world into that of the comics they draw their inspiration from.

I find this whole thing fascinating, and will be following along to see how things develop. Stay tuned here for any updates I may come across, or check out these other sites for more information: http://www.reallifesuperheroes.com , http://www.reallifesuperheroes.org/ and https://rlsh-manual.com/-So__what_is_RLSH__.html

Your Friendly Neighborhood Blogger, Tha Deuce... hahaha, don't worry, I'm not going to be putting on spandex any time soon.

It's a New Year!

Happy New Year! I had to wipe the dust off my blog just now... I (sadly) have not been out to the theatre in a good long while, and I have been SUPER poor, but as part of my New Year's resolution, I have promised myself to blog at least once a week. Once I build some steam back up, it will be even more frequent than that, but I am thinking up some cool things to blog about and put out to the web while I'm in the process of having some 'actually' cool stuff to blog about. :) I am also open to suggestions (thought that doesn't mean I have to listen to them, mwahaha!) so let me know what you think, and I will do what I can... maybe. After all, according to the Mayans, we've got less than 24 months to go, so I might as well make them count!

Movie Review: Inception

Christopher Nolan both wrote and directed this film, and coming off the heels of The Dark Knight, he had a lot to live up to. Leonardo DiCaprio heads up a cast that includes names like Michael Caine, Cillian Murphy (both of which have been in the pair of Nolan's Batman films), Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Ken Watanabe. When I first saw the trailers, I figured it would be very centered on DiCaprio, but I was pleased to find out that, even though he was a main focal point, it was very much an ensemble cast. It follows a task force of mercenaries that go into people's dreams and con them into giving up some kind of sensitive information. It's a very complicated process and it involves a lot of training, skill, and patience. As this crew embarks on what could potentially be one of their most difficult and dangerous missions, they also have to face some inner demons that they may not be prepared for. This movie is like The Matrix, but not as big and flashy. It's more espionage, and less balls-out craziness. It runs for two and a half hours, but it's solid from beginning to end. This is THE big summer blockbuster that everyone's been looking forward to, and it does not disappoint! Check it out!

I give Inception a 10 outta 10.

Movie Review: Kick-Ass

Kick-Ass! When I used to work at a comic shop (Treasure Island Comics in Fremont, CA... Check 'em out!) I loved it when people would come in and ask how the book was. The answer was always the same after every issue that came out: Kick-Ass! Punny? Most definitely. Wrong? No. This movie was in the works even before the first story arc was completed, and with the creative team working closely with the production, I had a feeling the movie would be just as Kick-Ass as the book, and I was right. Matthew Vaughn did it again, proving why he is one of my favorite directors right now. I'm not even a big fan of Nick Cage's recent stuff, but I liked him in this movie a lot. There was a lot of controversy about the young character of Hit-Girl (Chloe Moretz) and the "adult content" that the character takes part in, and I understand the concern, but let's be honest... she kicked major ass! The movie was shot really well, the soundtrack was awesome, and the cast was perfect. I loved every second of it. Is that just the fanboy in me geeking out? Maybe, but if you want to see a shit-ton of action and violence, this movie delivers!

I give Kick-Ass a 9 outta 10.

Movie Review: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

When director, Chris Columbus left the Harry Potter franchise, I figured it was to do something different, but I guess I was wrong. The big difference here though is that Columbus traded in his broom for a pair of winged shoes. This story is full of mythology and adventure, and is full of recognizable faces. From Catherine Keener to Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman to Rosario Dawson (who looked INCREDIBLY hot) there were stars around every corner. As a kid, I was really into Greek mythology, so I liked the story a lot (though I have never read the book it was based on). It told of the son of Poseidon, the God of the Sea, and the human woman he fell in love with (Keener). When Zues' lightning bolt is stolen from Olympus, all fingers point to Percy, who is unaware of his Godly heritage. Once he finds out about his past, it's up to him to find out who really took the lightning bolt and return it in order to save his mother and stop a war between the Gods. If you like these kinds of movies, you'll dig this one, but if the Harry Potter or Narnia movies don't do it for you, then steer clear. It's a fun ride though and the I enjoyed it.

I give Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief a 6 outta 10.

Movie Review: Green Zone

Political drama, hidden in an action movie. That pretty much sums up this film. It wasn't bad at all, but after a while, it was pretty evident that you could see where things were headed. Matt Damon plays an officer who is torn between his duty as a soldier and what he knows is the right thing to do. Greg Kinnear plays the douche that spreads lies about WMDs in Iraq, and when the intel doesn't check out, others start to question the validity of his claims. Brenden Gleeson (In Bruges) doesn't buy it and hatches a plan with Damon to get the truth out. When the stakes are this high though, the truth can be a dangerous thing. It's not quite the next 'Bourne' movie I was expecting, but still had plenty going on to keep the war-time action on par with the conspiracy side of the story. It's worth a watch, but just be prepared for the heavy political agenda that comes along with it.

I give Green Zone a 7 outta 10.

TV Review: Entourage (Season 7 Premier)

This is, in my opinion, a show that has a tendency of pulling the audience back in every season with new obstacles and issues right off the bat and getting right back on that roller coaster ride that is Entourage. Last season, we saw Vince on the outs in Hollywood and then reclaim his place when he played the lead in Scorsese's Gatsby. We saw Turtle start to follow his own path. Drama was staring on a hit show and somehow managed to mess that up as usual. E dealt with life without Sloan, and then ended up proposing to her. And last but definitely not last, Ari became the biggest Agent in the world when he bought his old agency from Terrance. The new season starts off with a bit of a jump in time. Vince is working on a new movie and is pressured into doing something that he may regret. Both E and Ari are busy and happy, and even Turtle is running his own business. Drama is already in a panic right away, and things are off to a running start as Season 7 kicks off. Tune in Sunday nights on HBO for the new season or catch the reruns on Spike TV.

I give Entourage (Season 7 Premier) a 5 outta 5.

Movie Review: Grown Ups

If you like Adam Sandler movies, then this is a must-see for you. The big difference between this movie and his other movies is that this one shows a more grown up side (pun actually not intended) that doesn't have him talking in weird voices and screaming at people throughout the film. Then you add Kevin James, and fellow SNL alums: David Spade, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock, Maya Rudolph and even guest spots for Colin Quinn (who I really enjoy) and Tim Meadows. On top of that, Selma Hayek, Steve Buscemi also supply a good deal of humor. With such a large cast, it is fairly easy to follow the story and keep track of all of the relationships while you get to know this diverse and hearty group. The only thing that bugged me was that some of the jokes came across as cheap gags, and were just put in for laughs, but did not add anything to the story. Some of them were just one timers, and others were recurring jokes throughout the film that would have been better off if they did not repeat. All together though, the movie was really enjoyable and a good choice for a summer flick for the whole family to enjoy.

I give Grown Ups a 7 outta 10.