Lazy Sunday — My Favorite!
November 16, 2008 by Bob
The weather outside is officially blah! If you’re living in the North-eastern States like Michigan, New York, New Hampshire or Ohio (where I’m currently writing from) it’s probably lightly snowing outside. “What happened to summer?” is probably the first thought you had when you woke up and saw the ground outside! Well, have no fear — snowy weather outside means warm, lazy inside days!
This Sunday, all the TV networks have planned a day of great movies to watch, relax and get cozy with your favorite people (or animals). The only exercise you’ll have to do today is using your thumb to flip between the channels because there are so many fun things to watch!
ABC Family
12:30 You’ve Got Mail
3:00 The Bodyguard
6:00 The Notebook
TBS
1:30 Cheaper by the Dozen
3:30 Matilda
8:00 Wizard of Oz
Comedy Central
1:30 Wayne’s World 2
Hur-ray! Hur-ray! It’s Blu-ray Day: Crime Edition
October 16, 2008 by Danny
Here at Tower.com there is no denying: Blu-ray release day gets more and more exciting now that more and more titles are finally gettin’ the Blu-ray treatment. For those who don’t already know, Blu-ray day comes every Tuesday and every week we’ll recap the biggest and brightest titles of the week. In this Blu-ray review, check out these 3 gangster films:
This classic gangster flick is a must-have in every good collection. Set in Harlem 1968, Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) is a quiet and shy driver for a big New York City crime boss. When his boss is suddenly murdered, Lucas steps in to this role and quickly builds an inner-city drug empire. All is well until NYPD cop Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) suspects Lucas and his crew are starting to mingle with the Mafia and start to take over the underground drug scene. Both cop and gangster are more alike than they might suspect, and watch as this unique American tale unfolds.
Seems to me there’s a bit of a theme with the Blu-ray’s released today. David Cronenberg directs Eastern Promises, a story of London chauffeur for the Russian Mafia. This chauffuer named Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen) works specifically for powerful Mafia man Semyon and his power-hungry son. When Nikolai meets midwife Anna (Naomi Watts) she is trying to solve the mystery a ‘connected’ teenager who died during childbirth. Nikolai and Anna find themselves in grave danger as they learn the truth, and the harsh realities of the underground criminal world are showcased.
What do you get when you mix three of Hollywood’s most talented Italians? If it’s up to Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, get ready for a fantastic film about a Mafiso family living in Las Vegas in the 1970s. Based on a true story, this film follows Sam “Ace” Rothstein (De Niro) a Jewish front man who works with Nicky Santoro (Pesci) in operating a very successful casino operation. Add a slice of femme fatale, played by Sharon Stone, and you’re in for a bumpy ride! This flick has it all — gambling, women and crime!
** UPDATE ** It has come to our attention that in coincidental timing of the film’s release, Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, the real-life Sam “Ace” Rothstein and inspiration for the film, passed away Monday from a heart attack at his home. He was 79. How strange that he died a day before the film inspired by his life was to be released on Blu-ray.
SpongeBob What? Squarepants Who? Bob What? Pants? Who?
October 14, 2008 by towerblog
Oops. Did I just make the new SpongeBob Squarepant’s DVD title even MORE confusing in the title of this blog? Maybe. The real title is Who Bob? What Pants? is being released! If you were lucky enough to catch Nickelodeon tonight, you would have seen the premiere of this DVD featuring the voices of Tom Kenny, Doug Lawrence and Ray Liotta.This DVD includes 6 SpongeBob Squarepant’s shorts: Whatever Happened to SpongeBob?, Goo Goo Gas, The Two Faces of Squidward, SpongeHenge, Banned In Bikini Bottom and finally, Stanley S. Squarepants.
Some SpongeBob fans aren’t overly impressed with the new release, while other suggest that no matter what — this set of SpongeBob shorts will entertain and enlighten younger people (and that certainly includes the young at heart).
A Pirate’s Life for ME!
September 19, 2008 by Bob
Ahoy me gentlemen o’ fortune and beauties,
Today be the 7th year since Dave Barry speak of the ‘International Talk Like a Pirate Day’ celebrated each year in September. Well, shiver me timbers, but TODAY is that day. Take out ye olde Jolly Rogers and booty of pirate things and celebrate this day in style.
First, ye start with the films: Pirates of the Caribbean on Blu-ray, and then there is The Ultimate Pirate Collection. Don’t forget Real Pirates of the Caribbean and Pirate Cinema Classics.
Aye! Maybe ye don’t have a DVD player aboard yer ship. Well me matey, there are plenty of books to entertain. The new book Pirate Life will help you get in touch with yer inner pirate, and The Pirate Primer looks at pirate talk, syntax and all!
Me favorite is Pirate Tattoos - these are temporary pirate designs perfect for yer one day a yaaaaaaar (read: year) that ye can be a pirate. Don’t know what to do? Check out The Great Pirate Activity Book for ideas on how to be a swashbucklin’ pirate.
Re-design yer ship using Stencil Pirates a book including tips and actual stencils on pirate art. And listen to music from the Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy while yer gettin’ in the spirit of ITLAPD (Int’l Talk Like a Pirate Day).
Yo ho ho me mateys, it’s time for me to walk thee plank.
College Days Daze
September 11, 2008 by Romy
Salutations College Chums,
Today I’m reporting live from a college campus. I know that there’s no way of “proving” that I’m actually in a Starbucks in the heart of the action and not writing from a small cubicle somewhere… but just believe me, ok?
I’m here with my glasses and my books thinking back to the days when I was an undergrad and had time to watch tonnes of movies (mom - if you’re reading this they were ALL for school). In honor of this flashback, I’ve decided to make a list of college-film “must-haves.”
College Films 101
1) Old School - Frat pack staple with Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson and Jeremy Piven (not to mention my personal fav Vince Vaughn). Watch as these old-ish dudes try to relive their own college days by starting a new fraternity.
2) Did somebody say fraternity? Check out this awesome Frat Boy Collection (not to be mistaken for the Frat Girl Collection out next year - j/k) that includes my favorite college film PCU about a fictional liberal-arts college.
3) The Graduate - Classic Mike Nichols film about post-traumatic college stress syndrome. Watch it after you finish college: you’ll totally relate. Watch it during college and see what you have to look forward to — tan lines and a job in plastics!
4) Slackers- Arguably the most underrated of college films, but probably the most hilarious. Jason Schwartzman (I “yuv” you) is a crazy dude making hair dolls, while Jason Segel (Freaks and Geeks) and his pals spend more time concocting plans to cheat on tests than actually studying.
5) Speaking of Freaks and Geeks, Judd Apatow’s second short-lived television series Undeclared falls outside of the “films” category, but still deserves a spot on this list. Hilarious cameos and recognizable faces if you’ve been keeping up Apatow’s films since. Why this show got cancelled after one season is as confusing as your Statistics class.
6) Wow! I’m already at #6, but really the Revenge of the Nerds Collection should be a lot higher on this list. There are 4 movies altogether — some are more funny than others, but suffice it to say, nothing puts a smile on your face like watching a nerd make it cool.
7) Saved by the Bell: The College Years - Not exactly an “accurate” portrayal of college (I don’t remember having an old NFL player with a mullet as a resident advisor) but when Zack and Kelly go to college — it’s worth the watch. A.C. Slater pumps more iron, while Screech continues to annoy…
8) Accepted - Revenge of the Nerds meets Old School. One dude wants to go to college but isn’t accepted anywhere, so he does the next logical thing — makes his own university. Funny-ish. Good pointers if you don’t want to study for the SATs and want to start your own college instead.
9) College isn’t ALL fun and games, it is also SCARY fun and games. Take for instance The Skulls - a fictitious ivy league fraternity that does scary things (including accepting Joshua Jackson as a member). There’s also Splatter University which claims you can “Earn a Higher Degree in Terror” and Demolition University where hunky Corey Haim has the most hilarious/terrifying face on the DVD cover:
That’s it for now. Class is over. Watch movies 1-9 and because there might just be a pop quiz next week.
