CliqueClack

Gravity will leave you breathless

Humans have always looked up at the stars and wondered what was out there. When space travel was finally a reality, a select few brave souls took that giant leap into the cosmos and gave us some indelible images that only stoked the public consciousness. Through space shuttles and space stations to Hubble telescopes and Explorers and Voyagers, we’ve continued to romanticize what a trip to outer space would be like. (NBC has even just greenlit a TV competition show that will send the winner to space aboard a Virgin Galactic ship.)

Countless movies have shown us the thrills and perils of outer space — it really is an inhospitable place — and now director Alfonso Cuarón and stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney show us how truly dangerous being in outer space can be in Gravity. The story of Gravity is fairly simple: a team of astronauts are on a routine shuttle mission (it’s never clarified if this is taking place during the now defunct shuttle program or if this is some new shuttle program), and astronauts Matt Kowalski (Clooney) and Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) are attempting to fix a non-working piece of equipment that she created. They are notified by ground control that a Russian satellite has been hit with a missile (turns out the Russians blew up their own failed bird) but the debris should pose them no threat. Until it sets off a chain reaction that begins taking out other satellites and sends a huge debris cloud orbiting the earth and knocking out all communication with the people below. The shuttle is ordered to get out of the area, but Stone takes too long to get unharnessed and the shuttle is destroyed, leaving her and Kowalski the lone survivors floating hundreds of miles above earth. Their one hope is getting to the ISS before the debris field comes around again in about 90 minutes, and failure leaves one of two options: try to get to the Chinese space station or be lost in space forever.

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Can Grey’s Anatomy survive without Richard Weber?

The effects of the superstorm in last season’s finale are still being felt all across Grey Sloane Memorial. Richard Weber is still in serious condition, refusing care. Callie and Arizona’s marriage has fractured in a way that it might never recover from. Meredith and Derek are learning about the sleep deprivation that comes from a newborn baby in the house. And the hospital is once again facing financial woes, this time due to storm damage.

Richard and Meredith have always had an interesting relationship; their shared history through Ellis Grey ensured that. Through the years, they have both rather forcefully reminded each other that they are not family. Richard’s revelation about why he picked Meredith to be his medical proxy was just the latest chapter in that story. But the reveal that Richard was upset about the extraordinary measures taken to save his life? That’s new, and it is game changing for the character.

As much as I like James Pickens’ portrayal of the chief, I have long advocated his departure from the show (I thought he was going to meet the end during the shooter’s rampage). While my ongoing concerns that he would always be held in comparison to whomever was the chief have largely gone unfounded, I think his absence – and its effect on the hospital – would be a much greater story than anything they could write for him. Instead, Weber has a long road ahead of him, his desire not to have to live through this recovery will impact everyone, especially those that love him – family or not.

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Host your own Mad Monster Party with vintage monster cereals

The idea was recently tossed to me by a new friend that I might be a cereal nerd. I didn’t even know how to properly respond to the mildly teasing accusation. I’d never before pondered the issue. How does one determine if they’re just a casual appreciator of colorful, sugary-coated splendor in a bowl or if they have crossed that fine line towards becoming a bona fide cereal nerd?

Well, this depends upon how you define it. If counting down for the release of all five General Mills’ monster cereals in their vibrant vintage packaging – including the re-release of two flavors I’d never had the chance to eat within my lifetime – makes me a cereal nerd, well then I’ll proudly be the first to let my geeky banners fly. If you don’t judge me walking past you in the Target aisle with seven cereal boxes plus the free accompanying cereal/Halloween recipe book hoarded into my shopping cart, then I certainly won’t judge you for wearing that ridiculous outfit or having that really bad haircut.

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Experience the third dimension with House of Wax on Blu-ray

It’s Throwback Thursday once again here at CliqueClack, and for the month of October we’ll be looking back at horror films, TV and even cereals of the past. So sit back, dim the lights, grab a bowl of Franken Berry and join us as we stroll down memory lane … while always looking over our shoulders. You never know who … or what … may be lurking in the shadows.

While most of the world is busy celebrating, justly, the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, with its spiffy new IMAX restoration and 3D conversion (and we’ll have a look at that in another column), a small circle of movie fans, particularly in the horror genre, are celebrating the 60th anniversary of another milestone in entertainment, Warner Brothers’ House of Wax starring Vincent Price, Phyllis Kirk, Paul Picerni, Carolyn Jones, Frank Lovejoy, Dabbs Greer and a relative unknown by the name of Charles Buchinsky who would later be known as Charles Bronson.

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Agents of SHIELD – Your frown will be on the record

Agents of SHIELD did pretty damn well in its premiere last week. ABC touted its 12.12 million viewers as the best primetime drama premiere since V’s 2009 bow (However, I seem to remember Elementary doing quite well last year, and so does that show’s Wikipedia page). Regardless, any new pilot’s second episode is going to be a much more accurate picture of what the show is going to be. Tonight’s ratings will be equally important; how many people like what they saw and came back for more?

Update: The Fast Overnights are in: SHIELD 8.4 million viewers, down 30% from last week’s 11.9 (both numbers unadjusted). It also lost 26% of its 4.6 share, falling to 3.4. Last year, the only show ABC picked up for its second season, Nashville, lost 25% of its overall viewership from week one to week two.

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TV on DVD and Blu-ray: HIMYM, Glee, New Girl, Beauty and the Beast

The fall season has started, and some returning shows are finally getting their last seasons out on DVD and Blu-ray including How I Met Your Mother, Glee, New Girl, and Beauty and the Beast. Downton Abbey fans will be happy with an Amazon exclusive gift set of the first three seasons, and kids of all ages will enjoy many of the animated Halloween and Christmas titles available featuring cartoon favorites Scooby-Doo, Beetlejuice, Snoopy, and the gang from Madagascar. Classic TV is represented with season and complete series releases for Magnum, P.I., The Mod Squad, Murder, She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder, and much more. To see this weeks’t TV highlights, have a look at our handy shopper’s guide and click on a link for more information or to make a purchase!

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This Is the End, The Croods, The Wizard of Oz and more come to home video

If you’ve been wondering what the end of the world may be like, or how civilization began, then you can find out with this week’s new home video releases. One of the funniest films of the summer — at least to most people — makes its home video debut as This Is the End arrives on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Download. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the animated film The Croods also comes home in several different formats. Two major films, The Heat and The Internship, get early digital releases, and 3D is represented with the home video release of the newly remastered and converted The Wizard of Oz, as well as the 1950s classic 3D film House of Wax. Reviews for both are coming soon! More classics, near classics and long missing films (The Medusa Touch!) are also coming to home video October 1st. To see the week’s highlights, have a look at our handy shopper’s guide and click on a link to get more information or to make a purchase.

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Win free passes to see Captain Phillips in DC, Baltimore or Virginia Beach

This contest is now closed. Winners will be notified by email. Follow @CliqueClack on Twitter for alerts on contests, news and reviews.

CliqueClack has partnered with Sony Pictures and Allied Integrated Marketing to offer readers in the DC, Baltimore and Norfolk areas a chance to attend an advance screening of the highly anticipated film Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks, which tells the true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years. The film is directed by Oscar® nominee Paul Greengrass.

The screenings will be held on Wednesday, October 9, 7:00 PM at the following locations:

• Regal Majestic, Washington, DC
• Cinemark Egyptian, Hanover, MD
• Regal Columbus 12, Virginia Beach, VA

30 Admit Two passes are available for each location. You MUST read and follow the rules in order to be entered into the random drawing.

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Win free passes to see Romeo and Juliet in DC

This offer has expired. Follow @CliqueClack on Twitter for alerts on contests, news and reviews.

CliqueClack has partnered with Relativity Media and Allied Integrated Marketing to offer readers in the DC area a chance to attend an advance screening of the new take on the classic story, Romeo and Juliet starring Hailee Steinfeld, Douglas Booth, Tomas Arana, Christian Cooke, Damian Lewis, Natascha McElhone, Lesley Manville, Laura Morante, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Leon Vitali, Ed Westwick, Tom Wisdom, with Stellan Skarsgard and Paul Giamatti.

Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare’s epic and searing tale of love, is revitalized on screen by writer Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey) and director Carlos Carlei (The Flight of the Innocent). An ageless story from the world’s most renowned author is reimagined for the 21st Century. This adaptation is told in the lush traditional setting it was written, but gives a new generation the chance to fall in love with the enduring legend. With an all-star cast, it affords those unfamiliar with the tale the chance to put faces to the two names they’ve undoubtedly heard innumerable times: Romeo and Juliet. Every generation deserves to discover this lasting love.

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Hostages’ acting talent can’t overcome a predictable, cliched plot

Of the many shows I’ve watched or plan to watch, one genre is barely on my radar: “thrillers.” Kidnappings, spies, traitors, and plots to kill the president do not catch my attention unless it’s a movie, and even then you’d have to pay for the ticket. The primary reason I decided to use up what little space I have on my DVR for Hostages was because of the cast. I absolutely adore Toni Collette … it’s her eyes. They just pull me in and I am instantly on her side. I want everything to go well for her character in whatever role she plays. Then there’s Dylan McDermott who’s super nice to look at. And lastly, Tate Donovan. He’s a fantastic actor who radiates kindness; no matter how much of a jerk his characters may be, he redeems himself. His acting makes that redemption believable.

The actors, the producer, and the time slot: that’s how I was tricked into watching Hostages. Continue reading 'Hostages’ acting talent can’t overcome a predictable, cliched plot' »