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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%

Nothing Like the Holidays: The Fruitcake of the Holiday Movie Season

BuzzSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:30:52 -0800

The Christmas dramedy Nothing Like the Holidays really is like a fruitcake: Seasonal, obligatory and cliche. It's unoriginal in its presentation, but then again, it is the holidays and someone put in the effort to make it, so a part of you appreciates it a little. You just don't want to taste it ever again. And maybe another part of you is the teeniest bit resentful that you were given something so forgettable.

Having said all that, there are some refreshing aspects to this particular sweet-sour overbaked good. The plot relies heavily on that tiresome declaration of "look how totally wacky and loud we are but we are also so loving!" But at least this time it's a Puerto Rican-American family, an ethnic group that's pretty severely underrepresented in mainstream film. The adult children in the Rodriguez family are gathering together at their parents' Chicago home for Christmas, including big-time New York City lawyer Mauricio (John Leguizamo) and his Jewish fish-out-of-water wife Sarah (Debra Messing), aspiring Hollywood actress Roxanna (Vanessa Ferlito), and soldier Jesse (Freddy Rodriguez) who is just now returning from Iraq. A circle of extra players surrounds the group: cousin Johnny (Luis Guzmán), family friend with a history of gangster life Ozzy (Jay Hernandez), and Jesse's old flame (the one that got away) Marissa (Melonie Diaz) - along with her son and new boyfriend. For more on why there's just nothing like the holidays, read more.

The familial relationships are equal parts tension and love, anger and sweetness, cruelty and warmth. Emotions run high all the time and everyone's got some kind of drama going on. Sarah feels unfairly pressured to have kids, Roxanna fears her fledgling career in TV and film will never take off, and Ozzy is filled with rage toward the recently-sprung-from-prison guy who killed his brother. Jesse's storyline is the most intriguing, largely due to Freddy Rodriguez's wonderful onscreen charisma: Trying to adapt to civilian life again, he wonders what his purpose is and desperately wants to be with Marissa. Finally, there's the ridiculously lame plotline of the parents: Edy (the magnificent teddy-bear-dad Alfred Molina) is hiding something, Anna (Elizabeth Peña) thinks he's cheating on her and thus wants a divorce, leading the kids to think this is their last Christmas together.

All these storylines get knitted together in one big tangly ball of mess, which doesn't give any one character the space to grow beyond the one-dimensional stereotype he or she is given. The actors try mightily to counter this, however, and at times they succeed. These are heavyweight actors who are way above this material, and if there's a reason to see this movie at all, it's them. Their determination to be a part of this story is admirable, and in certain scenes they even manage to add some flavor to an otherwise bland Christmas offering. Overall, though, I'd say you can pass on this dessert - at least until it's re-gifted on TV during next year's holiday season.

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Movie Preview: Nothing Like the Holidays

BuzzSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 05:30:24 -0700

Sure, when I first saw the poster and description for Nothing Like the Holidays, I kinda groaned inside. Nothing like another reheated family holiday flick! And yet, now that I've watched the trailer, I'm charmed by this new take on an old genre.

For one thing, the film focuses on a Latino family, which is unusual (embarrassingly so) in both film and television. For another thing, the cast is fantastic. John Leguizamo has already won me over (being one of my favorite actors ever helps), as has another favorite of mine, Alfred Molina. In addition there's the lovable Debra Messing and (ready, Getty Girls?) the winsome Freddy Rodriguez.

The movie's description goes like this: "A Puerto Rican family living in the area of Humboldt Park in west Chicago face what may be their last Christmas together." It starts out seeming tamely cute/funny, and then moves into some more poignant territory. Nothing Like the Holidays opens Nov. 21, and to watch the trailer, read more.

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Is It Rude to Regift?

SavvySugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:45:10 -0800

Have you stashed away disappointing holiday gifts from last year only to disguise them as new presents for others this year? If so, you're not alone. According to Time, a recent Consumer Report survey suggests that 36 percent of holiday gifters will be regifters this season, passing along unwanted or unneeded items from season's past.

Sure, the idea's a guaranteed money and time saver. It also ensures that nothing unwanted goes to waste - or does it? If you didn't like the gift in the first place, what makes you so sure someone else is going to? Unless of course he or she is dying for whatever item you've previously rejected and are wrapping up this year. And of course, there's always the risk that the original gift-giver pays you a visit this year, and looks for the special present she gave you last year to ensure that it's being used and loved.

Well, obviously there's a certain art form and etiquette to the whole regifting process, and if you're smart about how you regift, you'll probably get away with it, no questions asked. So tell me, is regifting something you do? Or is it rude to give hand-me-down presents from past holidays?

GeekSugar's Gift Guide For Kid Sisters

GeekSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:33:50 -0800

Nothing puts me in the holiday spirit quite like shopping for presents for my family! I have mom and dad covered (whew!), but still have to shop for plenty of family and friends. Next up in this year's Holiday Gift Guide: my best suggestions for little sisters. In my experience, she's generally impressed and excited by anything I get her, but some thoughtful shopping certainly can't hurt. Here are a few picks for some of the coolest goodies for my favorite geekette-in-training.

8 Steps to Financially Prepare For the Holidays

SavvySugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:30:15 -0800

The season of giving can influence our preferences for excess, whether it's a second helping of dessert or spending money we don't necessarily have. There's nothing Scrooge-like about staying financially smart throughout the holidays - consider it a gift to yourself. And when it comes to gifts like these, the more, the merrier, so follow these eight steps and feel the love.

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Have You Ever Done a Cleanse?

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:47:09 -0700

I was asked recently if I've ever detoxed like Gwyneth Paltrow does. Personally, I've never committed myself to a rigid master cleanse or detox diet for a prescribed amount of time, but I've definitely made adjustments to my diet.

After an unusually indulgent holiday season spent away from home, I cut out alcohol and sugar for a month and ate nothing but brown rice and steamed veggies for two days. And though I do think putting limits on sugar and alcohol are helpful, you won't see me on a restrictive meal plan like that again. It's important for me to have a balanced diet that also consists of dairy, fruit, and lean protein, and most cleanses don't allow for that.

I have a few friends that cleanse at least four times a year and they swear it does wonders for them. What about you - have you ever cleansed?

Wal-Mart Builds Their Own Geek Squad

GeekSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:33:46 -0700

Need some tech support? Normally I like to troubleshoot my computer and technology woes myself (there's nothing like reading the instruction manual to learn how to operate something while in distress), but on rare occasions, I do have to call a company's tech support hotline to get some help with an issue. However, out of all of the gadgets I've purchased from Best Buy, I've never called upon the Geek Squad's services when I'm in need. Why? Well mostly it's the fee that it costs to utilize their 24-hour support. But that's not to say they aren't used - how many of those little Geek VW Beetles have you seen driving around your town? Exactly.

Someone else has been taking notice of the fleet, and is preparing to take on the blue and yellow big box. Find out about Wal-Mart's plans to compete when you read more.

Wal-Mart is enlisting the help of a third-party company called N.E.W. Customer Service to provide similar 24-hour tech support for their electronics customers. Instead of requiring a subscription fee to utilize tech support expertise like Best Buy, Wal-Mart will be offering up a prepaid card for purchase for any over the phone or in-home installation service. Buy one for yourself, or give one as a gift to your less-than-tech-savvy friends or family to use year round. The service should be ready to go nationwide by the upcoming holiday shopping season.

Katie and Alex Return Home as New Rumours Do the Rounds

PopSugarUK — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:00:00 -0700

Katie Price and her boyfriend Alex Reid flew back from Malaga Airport to Gatwick Airport yesterday, after their holiday in Spain. Rumours about the couple continue, with reports that they plan to marry in November and move to Los Angeles, but Kate’s spokesman has already denied that story and Kate herself tweeted yesterday morning: "im not getting engaged nothing of the sort just seeing someone i like spending time with!". It has also been revealed one of the reasons Peter broke up with Kate was because he discovered she allegedly propositioned Duncan James in a nightclub two years ago (which Kate's spokesman also denied). A source claims It was a "huge factor in their break-up", and also said there is a major reason for the split that has yet to emerge. These rumours don't show any sign of stopping, do they?

To see more pictures of Kate and Alex, just read more.

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Enfoque/Mark Miilan/BigPicturesPhoto.com

Peter Reveals All While Katie and Alex Fly Away

PopSugarUK — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 02:14:16 -0700

While Katie Price and her "sex mad" boyfriend Alex Reid arrived at Heathrow yesterday, Peter Andre visited Radio One as his interview with Fabulous Magazine in the News of the World hit newsstands. He revealed he still has Katie's name tattooed on his wedding finger, but said: "I will get it removed soon, but it hasn't been on my list of top priorities". He added: "I know we could never get back together. But I'd like to think we can be friends for the sake of the children." Before jetting off to Puerto Banus near Marbella, Kate moved Alex into her home and had to cancel a book-signing on Saturday because of flu and toothache, and her spokeswoman confirmed: "She does not have swine flu, but she has been a little under the weather this week". It sounds like Kate won't be repeating her wild ways in Ibiza, which is just one of the topics Peter discussed during his interview. Here are the highlights:

On Kate in Ibiza: "I did phone her and tell her she was a disgrace. I said that because that was what I thought. Of course it gets to me, and if any other man was in my position, I'm sure he would feel pretty bad. It makes me question whether I ever meant anything to her, if any of it was real. But I'm stronger since then - how could I not be?"
On the TV show: "Having cameras following us around maybe wasn't always a good decision. But I never had a problem with it. I found it easy and it wasn't all the time. I love TV. I am what I am, on or off screen. I take my kids out to the park just like any other parent, whether I'm filming or not. There was a point where I wanted to walk away from it, for a split second. I just wanted out. But I can't do that. I have my kids and I have to think about my future. I feel I've got nothing to hide and that people should see what happens next. The public have always supported me, but I've never felt so loved by them as I do now. They've helped me so much and I never take that for granted."

To find out what Peter said about the children and what he's looking for in a woman, read more.

On the children: "The kids don't actually know we've split up. When I leave them with Katie, I just say that Daddy has to go to work so I can buy them toys. And when Katie hands them over to me, I just tell them Mummy is working. I know I have to tell them the truth at some point, but it feels a bit like I want them to believe in Father Christmas that little bit longer. I want to protect them."
On his ideal woman: "I want someone who's happy to sit in and watch movies, go out for dinners, have family holidays together - a girl for whom family is enough. I don't care what job she has, I just want someone who's satisfied with the love I have to give and the family that comes with me. You want to be with someone who wants to be with you. There were times when we were all watching a movie and you knew Katie wanted to be somewhere else. That's not a comfortable feeling."

You were fairly evenly split on whether or not you were interested in what Peter had to say, so how do you feel now his interview has been released?

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Rob Morrison/Nick Banks/BigPicturesPhoto.com and WENN.com