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Buzz In: What Acclaimed TV Classic Do You Just Not Get?

BuzzSugar — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:30:01 -0700

30 Rock made a M*A*S*H joke this week, and my friend practically threw a fit telling me all about her hatred for that show. She said every time her parents turned it on and she heard that famous theme song, she wanted to cry from boredom. I actually know quite a few people who feel that way, even though M*A*S*H is considered one of the best shows of all time.

Maybe it's an age thing - do teenagers love Mad Men as much as I do? Then again, I know plenty of people my own age who think Mad Men looks boring despite all its critical acclaim. And even though I'm a huge fan of The Wire, I know there are lots of folks out there who don't get it and don't care to.

I'm wondering: What critically acclaimed show - whether now or in the past - do you just not think deserves all the fuss?

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Buzz In: Which Series Have You Hated to See End?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:30:00 -0800

HBO's The Wire - many a critic's pick for the best show ever on television - will end its series on Sunday after five gut-wrenching and unabashedly bleak seasons. I sped through all the early seasons on DVD so I could be caught up in time for the finale, but now that it's here, I'm looking at Sunday with equal amounts of excitement and dread. While the show's only been part of my life for a short while, I have a hard time with the fact that it will just end.

I remember feeling the same thing when another great HBO series, Six Feet Under, ended its run in 2005; I believe its ending was utterly perfect, but even thinking about it can make me cry. There's just a special, can't-miss quality to a series finale: The BBC version of The Office needed a couple of specials to wrap up its story, and the 1983 series finale of M*A*S*H is still the most-watched US TV program of all-time.

So tell me, Buzz readers: Which favorite series have you hated to see go? Which could have wrapped up better than they did? Which got the endings they deserved?

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Movie Night: War Satires

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 May 2007 14:53:30 -0700

Memorial Day is not a time for cracking jokes, but wartime itself often requires humor as a matter of survival. So in honor of this weekend's holiday, I've put together a Movie Night featuring some thought-provoking but entertaining war satires. These three films utilize dark humor while also recognizing and respecting the horrors of war.

Dr. Strangelove

It's remarkable to think that Stanley Kubrick's classic satire of nuclear holocaust was made back in 1964, because not a year has passed since when Dr. Strangelove wasn't eerily relevant. To me, this is not only one of the greatest war satires of all time but also one of the most expertly crafted satirical films overall. That's because it manages to put forth a subtle yet clear critique of deadly serious issues while also delivering laugh-out loud laughs that make you just uncomfortable enough. George C. Scott and Peter Sellers handle their one-liners ("precious bodily fluids," anyone?) with the care one would afford a nuclear warhead, making them infinitely quotable even now.

For two more war satires, read more

MASH

Amid the martinis, intramural football games, and madcap practical jokes, it's sometimes easy to forget while watching Robert Altman's brilliant satire that the colorful characters are in the middle of a war. But when the horrors of combat surface, it's a sinister reminder that the dark comedy is merely a coping mechanism. The arrestingly odd pace of MASH only enhances the stellar performances by Donald Sutherland, Sally Kellerman, and the rest of the cast, who will make you think as much as they make you laugh.

Good Morning Vietnam
Based on a true story, Robin Williams plays Adrian Cronauer, an American radio deejay who takes to the air waves in Vietnam in 1965, entertaining the troops with his racy commentary. Recent Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker also stars. Williams is his usual clever, funny and raunchy self, breathing fresh air into a dismal situation. The movie highlights the human need for connection during times of difficulty and also asks the question: Is it better to be just entertained and in the dark, or to hear the truth?

What to Netflix: Robert Altman Retrospective

BuzzSugar — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 11:53:33 -0800

Today, the Sundance Channel is hosting a tribute to Robert Altman, the groundbreaking director who died this November. So next time you're reordering your Netflix queue, why not plan your own Altman tribute? It's hard to pick from so many masterpiece films-from Nashville to The Player-but here are three to get you started.

Short Cuts
I've never seen a movie quite like Short Cuts, which follows dozens of quirky and tragic characters in Los Angeles. Based on Raymond Carver's short stories, the movie deviates from Altman's usual interconnected ensemble formula by offering about a dozen very distinct plots, each of which could be a movie in itself. Nearly everyone in the enormous cast-including Tim Robbins, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Waits, Matthew Modine, and many more-gives a stellar performance.

To see the rest, read more

A Prairie Home Companion

Though not classic Altman, this entertaining and well-executed tribute to the longtime Minnesota radio show is a fitting last movie for the director. Kevin Kline is a riot as a throwback detective named Guy Noir, while Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly take the stage as singing cowboys. But most impressive are the scenes between Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin, which contain possibly some of the best dialogue Altman ever filmed.

MASH
This comedy set in a surgical ward during the Korean War is not only one of Altman's best but also one of the most impressive movies to come out of the 1970s. With quiet but uproarious performances by Donald Sutherland and Robert Duvall, the movie is groundbreaking in the way it presents a series of slice-of-life sketches, rather than one unified narrative. If your only contact with MASH was through the subsequent TV show, this movie is a must-see.

Movie Preview: Amanda Seyfried in Letters to Juliet

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:30:33 -0800

Amanda Seyfried's latest film Letters to Juliet looks like a mash up of her other work. First off, her character's name is Sophie, which brings Mamma Mia to mind, as does the romantic foreign locale. But even the title itself made me do a double-take - wait, isn't she already doing a book-turned-film about letters called Dear John?! Still, I'm not writing it off just yet. (No pun intended). I can be a sucker for a love story, even if it's a bit sappy.

The film follows Seyfried as an American tourist who discovers an unanswered "letter to Juliet" while on a trip in Verona, Italy. (The notes are left by visitors asking for help from Shakespeare's famous heroine.) She responds to the plea, and then sets off to find its author (Vanessa Redgrave) and reunite her with the man she left decades before. Of course, there's a triangle in there too, as Sophie begins to question her own relationship with her fiance (Gael Garcia Bernal) and falls for the woman's grandson (Christopher Egan).

The trailer pretty much gives away the whole movie, but this sort of storyline is usually predictable so I'll forgive the studio for it. Bonus for Taylor Swift fans: her "Love Story" is the theme song. The film doesn't arrive in theaters until May, but check it out and tell me what you think when you read more.

Glee-ful Highlights and Video From Episode "Ballad"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:45:00 -0800

Maybe it's because Glee set the bar so high last week, or maybe it's the lack of Sue, but this week's episode just didn't do it for me. There are plenty of catchy tunes, but Rachel's all-of-a-sudden crush on Mr. Schue seems a bit forced, and it seems ridiculous that Will and Emma are best buddies again with no mention of their dramatic encounters from a few weeks ago.

It does have some touching moments (along with some sad ones) for Finn and Quinn, so to get into it just read more.

Mr Schue has the glee kids draw names out of a hat and assigns each pair a ballad to help them profess their feelings. He shoots himself in the foot when he throws his own name into the ring and Rachel draws it. One spot-on duet of "Endless Love" later, Rachel's found herself a brand new crush to distract her from her feelings for Finn. I liked this plot line, but something about it felt a bit too forced, like the writers just squeezed it in to have Mr. Schue sing his mash-up. I did kind of love when Terri has Rachel clean the bathroom, though, and when Emma and Rachel are equally goo-goo eyed over Mr. Schue's mini-performance. Speaking of Emma, aren't she and Will supposed to be trying to stay away from each other?

Watch Rachel and Mr. Schue gaze into each other's eyes here:

Quinn and Finn's situation comes to a head this week, and both end up breaking the news to their parents. Well, actually, Finn breaks the news to Quinn's parents via a dinner table performance of Paul Anka's "(You're) Having My Baby." While Quinn's parents are heartbreakingly unsupportive, Finn's mom takes the kids in when Quinn has nowhere else to go. The rest of the gleeks profess their own love for the couple with a rendition of "Lean on Me" which is super cheesy, but necessary after the harsh scene with Quinn's parents.
Puck finally breaks down and admits to Mercedes that he's the father of Quinn's baby. Mercedes doesn't even ask questions - just tells Puck that he's already done enough and to back off. Though Puck is staying away for now, it seems like the cat's out of the bag. Plus, did you catch the smirk he makes at Quinn at the end of the episode?

How'd you feel about this week's episode? Do you like the newfound bond between Finn and Kurt? Is Finn's dedication to a sonogram a little over the top? Sound off in the comments below, or create your own posts, recaps, polls and more in the Glee Club community group!

Photos courtesy of Fox

Best Thing Ever: New Moon's Werewolf Bar Mitzvah

BuzzSugar — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:30:12 -0700

If the words "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" mean nothing to you, then I am about to rock your world in the best way possible. Here at Sugar HQ, the term has been tossed around one more than once as New Moon approaches, referencing the "novelty party song" that earned Tracy Jordan a gold record on 30 Rock. Quite literally, New Moon is Jacob Black's werewolf bar mitzvah (translation: boys becoming men, men becoming wolves!) - and my dear friend Molly found the perfect way to set Jacob's moment in time to music in this amazing mash up.

Check it out when you read more.

What to Download: New Music Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:38:24 -0800

T.G.I. Tuesday! I've already sorted through the big DVD releases of the day, but now I have new songs to revive your iPod, Just take a look at these three albums. (And if you want to see your own music reviews featured on Buzz, submit them in the Music Review Group in the community!)

Music mash-up: Seems like everyone is releasing a holiday album lately - remember Bob Dylan's? Now, Tori Amos is trying her hand at the genre with Midwinter Graces. It's a big risk for Amos, who puts her own spin on classic carols. Traditionalists might cry foul when she mashes up "What Child Is This" and "The First Nowell" for "What Child, Nowell" or re-purposes "Silent Night" into a love song, but at least Amos is thinking outside of the box. The quieter songs work best, thanks to Amos's ethereal voice. I recommend "Emmanuel" or "Winter's Carol."

All over the place: Wale references Kanye West in the first track on his big studio debut Attention: Deficit, and the mention is fitting. Wale seems like a Kanye in the making, mixing in sparkly, bragadocious tracks with songs that raise controversial social issues (like "Shades," which tackles racism). He also brings in a long list of collaborators, including Lady Gaga (on the already-released "Chillin'") and Mark Ronson. As a result, the album jumps around like, as the title hints, a kid with ADD. You may recognize Wale from this year's VMAs, and he's undoubtedly one to watch. For now, download "Pretty Girls" and "Diary," which samples from one of my favorite films, Amelie.

See one more release when you read more.

A classic formula: Bon Jovi fans really love Bon Jovi, and on the band's newest release, The Circle, the rockers aren't afraid to deliver exactly what their followers want - even if it feels recycled. "Working For the Man" should appeal to those who enjoy pumping their fists along to songs like "Living on a Prayer," and "When We Were Beautiful" almost feels like a U2 copycat. The guys cover the regular themes there - love, leadership, the highway of life, etc. - so there are no big surprises. Still, as far as guilty pleasure Bon Jovi goes, it doesn't disappoint.

Link Time! Watch George Clooney Voicing Fantastic Mr. Fox

BuzzSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:30:25 -0800

So cool - see how the voice acting was done on The Fantastic Mr. Fox - Cinematical
Comedy Central is teaming up with The Onion for a TV show - The Hollywood Reporter
No Doubt is suing Activision for using their likenesses inappropriately in Band Hero - GeekSugar
2012 already has a TV series sequel, 2013 - MTV Movies Blog
Fox Searchlight has halted the national release of Gentlemen Broncos - Vulture
Sufjan Stevens admits his 50 states album concept was a joke - Stereogum
Amazing video mash-up of scenes with characters saying the movie's title - Videogum
Anthony Hopkins and Annette Bening will play Ernest Hemingway and wife in Hemingway and Fuentes - Variety
The Decemberists' Colin Meloy and wife Carson Ellis are writing a children's book - Pitchfork
10 scary Christmas movies to bridge Halloween and Christmas - Rotten Tomatoes

Glee-ful Highlights and Video From Episode "Mash-Up"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:30:00 -0700

The Glee train is chugging right along, and I don't just mean the new episodes. This week we learned that Madonna has given the green light for the show to use her music and the first 13 episodes will be available on DVD in December. Now, on to the good stuff.

This week the tables turned on the glee club's king and queen, as Finn and Quinn learn that they're no longer safe from getting the slushie treatment. Ken tries to make the football guys choose between the team and the club as a retaliation for Will's relationship with Emma, and Sue finds love! For a minute. Oh, and Puck and Rachel team up and Mr. Schue has his own dance dance revolution, so read more.

I was happy that this week's episode is Terri-free but has tons of Emma. Emma singing! Emma dancing! Emma in a wedding dress! I still can't forgive her for agreeing to marry Ken, but she's pret-ty adorable all dolled up staring into Will's eyes. Speaking of which, the tension between them is more palpable than ever. They're almost like the new Jim and Pam.
So, Rachel and Puck? I guess it was only a matter of time, but their little love affair still feels totally random. On the other hand, I guess that's what high school is all about. When Rachel shows a bit of maturity and asks Puck to be friends, Puck pulls a typical jerk move and gives her the cold shoulder. So the real question is - how long before Puck gets Quinn and Rachel gets Finn? Between Emma/Schue and the gleeks, there's just unrequited crushing up the wazoo.
Let's talk about the performances. I know that Mr. Schue is a talented singer and dancer, but I have to admit that I was cringing during "Bust a Move" and almost couldn't watch the "Thong Song." Can't they use those pipes and moves on something a little less embarrassing? Puck's rendition of "Sweet Caroline" is, for lack of a better word, sweet, and I loved Emma's surprise performance of "I Could've Danced All Night."

Need to watch Schue's "Thong Song" serenade again? Check it out!

Emma isn't the only one getting dance lessons, though. Sue swing dancing with Schue is genius. It's by far my favorite moment of the episode, particularly that Sue plays the guy, literally sweeping Will off his feet in the end. Sue finally shows that she's got a mushy side when she falls for the news anchor, but obviously it doesn't last long. However, her lovestruck episode does deliver some memorable moments, like that zoot suit.

Check out a cute behind-the-scenes video of Matthew Morrison and Jane Lynch practicing their dance number:

The episode isn't without a few cheesy after-school special moments, too. Poor Kurt shows Finn the true meaning of friendship, taking a slushie to the face "for the team." Then Finn answers back when he returns to glee with high hopes to pave the way for all the singing, dancing, football players of the future. The week's winning mushy moment goes to the kids happily giving Mr. Schue a slushie facial of his very own.

What'd you think? Should Finn and Quinn just break up already? Will Sue get another shot at love? Did you miss crazy Terri? Don't forget to join the Glee Club in the Buzz Community to keep the conversation going!

Photos courtesy of Fox