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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 09:15:24 -0700

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I'll sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue.

Casino Royale
Picking up where many Bond movies left off - including a 1967 spoof of the same name - Daniel Craig reinvents Bond as we know him, creating a sort of everyman hero. Sure, he's still smart and handsome, but he's also got a temper, is often klutzy, and at times makes poor decisions. Yet this only makes you root more for the gruff British spy with a "license to kill." Eva Green makes for a refreshingly unlikely Bond girl, while Judi Dench plays the tough, witty M. It's dark, funny and thrilling all at once. For a more in-depth view, check out my full review of Casino Royale.

Two more must-sees, so read more

The Holiday
Admittedly, this movie didn't break any cinematic ground, but as cheesy romantic comedies go, The Holiday (check out my review here) stands out for its stellar performances, if not its slightly absurd premise. Kate Winslet is a joy to watch as Iris, who swaps houses with Amanda (Cameron Diaz) so they can escape their love woes. What we get are very sweet and well-written scenes between Iris and her octogenarian screenwriter neighbor, plus plenty of adorable moments with a very hot Jude Law.

"Bosom Buddies" - Season 1
Just when you thought this New DVD Tuesday couldn't get any better, I toss you some Tom Hanks in drag. In this TV series from the early '80s, two enthusiastic young men are just kicking off their advertising careers when their building is condemned. A female friend offers to let them stay in her building, but there's a catch: The building only allows female residents! Oh, the awkward hilarity that ensues when the men adopt identities as Hildegard and Buffy in order to rent a room. Man, this show takes me back.

Which Upcoming Movie Are You Most Excited to See?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 13:36:11 -0800

Just as the best TV shows are going on hiatus for the winter break, plenty of new movies are coming out to fill the void-many of them likely Oscar contenders. Which of this season's new releases are you most psyched to see?

Source

The Holiday: Frothy and Fun As a Cup of Cocoa

BuzzSugar — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 07:38:44 -0800

Holiday romantic comedies are bound to be a bit cheesy. When the movie is actually called The Holiday, cheesiness is almost guaranteed. But this latest romp from director Nancy Meyers, which hits theaters tomorrow, rises to the top of its frothy, feel-good genre. The self-aware storyline centers on two women-movie-trailer producer Amanda (Cameron Diaz) and British weddings columnist Iris (Kate Winslet)-who swap houses for the holidays to get away from their less-than-satisfactory love lives. Amanda, who sleeps with her Blackberry and has just ruined another relationship with her workaholism, goes to live in Iris's quaint Surrey cottage, while Iris takes up residence at Amanda's palatial LA haunt to forget her three-year unrequited love.

In the beginning, that scenario lends itself to too many scenes of lonely women talking to themselves; the ones featuring Diaz's high-strung Amanda are nearly intolerable. But when a trio of men enter the picture-including Iris's sexy, suntanned brother Graham (Jude Law)-things get a lot more interesting, so read more

Shortly after arriving in LA, Iris meets two very different men: a witty film-score composer named Miles (played with rare and refreshing subtlety by Jack Black) and Arthur (Eli Wallach), her octogenarian neighbor who also happens to be a legendary screenwriter. Back in England, Amanda makes the acquaintance of the hunky Graham when he shows up drunk at his sister's cottage, not knowing that she's gone on holiday.

To add drama to many of Amanda's scenes, the director employs a clever device: voice-over narration by that ubiquitous movie-trailer guy. Iris and Arthur, meanwhile, spend lots of time discussing the common conventions of script writing. That film-centric subplot on both continents gives the movie a sort of cheeky self-awareness about its own filmic-ness. That way, when the inevitable romantic-comedy cliches and convenient plot twists sneak in, it's more amusing than annoying.

I don't know what's gotten into me: maybe it's the holiday spirit or that my viewing of "The Holiday" comes on the heels of watching one of the worst romantic comedies I've even seen, Trust the Man, on a recent plane ride. (It wasn't even mentioned in the in-flight magazine, which makes me suspect that we were being subjected to a bizarre social experiment.) But implausibly neat and tidy plot aside, the way the characters interact in this movie rings very true to life. Particularly in the Iris/Los Angeles subplot, The Holiday addresses some very universal relationship truths in a clever way. I can't really say the same for the somewhat silly Amanda/Graham romance back in England, but at least there I had the Jude Law eye candy to keep me interested.

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Buzz Gift Guide: Your Cool Adult Sister

BuzzSugar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:20:45 -0800

Black Friday is just around the corner, so I hope you're keeping up with my gift guides for a holiday shopping head start.

Today we're tackling your adult sis - sometimes the sister you're closest to in age and interests can somehow be the hardest to shop for. She's hip and a total pop culture junkie like you, so you don't want to let her down. Gift her this Journey Tee to appeal to her appreciation of irony - plus, you can always borrow it from her later.

Buzz Gift Guide: The Party Hostess

BuzzSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:30:00 -0800

Got a friend who always loves to entertain? Don't forget to repay her for all those awesome nights with a little something special. I'm digging Alice in Wonderland tumblers which feel very Tim Burton-esque, a cute and functional Joan Holloway apron, and Cash Cab Trivia, which should create a heated game among her party guests. Or if she's like me and dreams of spinning on the turntables for everyone, DJ Hero is guaranteed good times.

Check out my picks, and then take a peek through all of my gift guides plus holiday coverage across the PopSugar Network!

Buzz Gift Guide: The Girly Girl

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:56 -0800

We've all got one: that best friend, sister, cousin, or co-worker who just can't enough pink. She's the one who's hosting the Sex and the City marathons and insisting that everyone drink cosmos. Luckily, the girly girls of the world are among my favorites to shop for!

Confessions of a Shopaholic is the perfect chick flick to watch with friends, while Madonna's Celebrations anthem is a must for great pre-party tunes. Be sure to check out all of my gift guides plus holiday coverage across the PopSugar Network as the most wonderful time of the year steadily approaches!

Buzz Gift Guide: Kid-Friendly Knickknacks

BuzzSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:30:27 -0800

I've been rolling out my gift ideas for the upcoming holiday season, but let's face it: this time of year is all about the kids. I've got a few pretty amazing young'uns in my life (don't we all) and they're really the most fun to shop for.

I'm all about the hands-on creative stuff, which is why I included an awesome Indiana Jones LEGO set and a Project Runway-themed kit for kids to decorate their own clothes. But at the end of the day, who doesn't enjoy a little snuggle time with a good children's book or Pixar movie?

If you still need more inspiration, check out all of the gift guides across the Sugar sites - we've got something for everyone!

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:30:00 -0700

It's Tuesday, which means new DVDs hit shelves to fatten up your entertainment library! Trying to decide which to add to your Netflix queue? Check out these three releases.

Orphan

All right, so it's not the best horror film ever - for that, take a peek at my scary movie bracket - but who doesn't love a good spook just in time for Halloween? In Orphan, Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard star as parents who adopt a destructive little girl with a huge secret. The movie borders on ridiculous, but if you like to laugh during your fright flicks, it's got a bit of dark humor and over-the-top slasher scenes. Bonus features include deleted scenes and an alternate ending - which should be good for keeping things fresh, seeing as how the big twist has already been spoiled by pretty much anyone who's seen it.

55%

See two more new releases when you read more.

Nothing Like the Holidays

If you're feeling anti-Orphan, then perhaps a Christmas-themed ensemble film is more your speed. Nothing Like the Holidays follows a large, boisterous Puerto Rican-American family as they gather at their parents' home, and the obligatory love-hate relationships ensue. The storyline is a little stale, so I wasn't a fan when the movie first came out - but it may be a solid rental to get into the pre-holiday spirit and for the actors. (Alfred Molina and Freddy Rodriguez are particularly good as father and son.) There's also a bonus blooper real.

49%

Whatever Works

Curb Your Enthusiasm's Larry David stars in Woody Allen's story of a crabby New Yorker who takes in a young Southern runaway named Melodie (Evan Rachel Wood). Putting aside the somewhat unsettling older man and much younger woman relationship, the real joy to be had is from the bit character parts. Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley Jr. turn in hilarious performances as Melodie's parents, and dreamy Henry Cavill of The Tudors plays a love interest. If you can get beyond David doing his tiring, whiny Allen schtick, they make the film worth checking out.

48%

TV Holiday Episode Sneak Peek!

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:30:19 -0800

I always looked forward to the annual Friends Thanksgiving episode, and though it's off the air now, I can still rely on some of my current favorites to celebrate the holidays. I can't wait to see what the gang on HIMYM and Gossip Girl will be up to from behind their servings of turkey, before Christmas comes early to Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives. If you can't wait either, check out my slideshow of sneak peeks from upcoming holiday-themed episodes!

View Slideshow ›

Buzz-Worthy Video: Comedian Christmas Carol

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:30:48 -0800

Is it too early for a holiday music video? Not when it's one starring a host of comedians like Patton Oswalt, Paul F. Tompkins, Weird Al Yankovic, and Rob Huebel, plus many more. Even Mary Lynn Rajskub pops up for a verse or two!

The song, "Do They Know It's Christmas?", was originally written in the '80s for a group of celeb musicians, but this one is very different, and very tongue-in-cheek. Just take the, um, "special appearance" by Thomas Lennon and Ed Helms.

For a holiday chuckle, watch the video when you read more.