The Heat

An uptight FBI Special Agent is paired with a foul-mouthed Boston cop to take down a ruthless drug lord. - IMDB

This movie stars Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy with Marlon Wayans. The first time I saw the trailer for this was last Valentine's Day when I went to watch A Good Day to Die Hard. Not sure why I chose to go see that movie on opening day and probably will never do that again. There were couples everywhere. But this isn't about that movie it's about The Heat 

The first time I saw the trailer, the whole theater was laughing so hard. I was doubled over and I could barely breathe it was hilarious. Then every time after that the reaction was the same. Then the movie came out and I waited to see it. I wound up seeing it with my 14 year old niece, my friend Jo Jo and one of her friends. The movie didn't disappoint. It had me laughing from the opening credits.  So here's the run down--Special Agent Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) is one of those agents all the other agents hate. She tries to give the SWAT team direction and they merely ignore her and barged into the bust. She wants to get far in her career so her personal life takes a hit--a major hit.  Then there's Detective Mullins (Melissa McCarthy) who is rough, from the streets, dresses like a hippie-Rambo with a rocket launcher in her fridge. She is the kind of cop who swears up a blue streak, downs tequila like its water and has the temper to match.

This movie was hilarious with heart. There was a serious story line in there that I can't talk about because I don't want to give it away. But this movie was great. Not perfect because there were a few things I could mention that made me wonder why it wasn't edited out. But think, two women carrying a movie isn't all that popular these days so to see this made me nervous going in but there was no need to. It was 6 bucks well spent and I am definitely going to see it again the minute I get a chance.

Marlon Wayans plays an FBI agent from the Boston office who was more of a cameo rather than a real part but it was so worth it to see him and it wasn't waste film--he was good. Along with him was Michael Rappaport (Paul Moretti in The Mob Doctor, Danny Hanson in Boston Public) who played Mullins' brother. Another Cameo that made my blink at the screen going NO WAY! was Joey McKintyre from New Kids on the Block.

This movie is perfect for a girl's night or a date night. Or if you're like me and just want to get away from real life for a an hour and a half and laugh your butt off.

Hugs,

Kato

I Do - Yes please

**This film is LGBT**

I'd just finished watching big Eden for the hundredth time and was looking for something to watch. I couldn't figure out what I wanted so I began trolling the Wolfe Video website hoping to get an idea of what I wanted to see. I found one called Saltwater but when I went to this website that you can get movies VOD - you pay a fee and you can stream the movie for seven days then the link expires- and to my horror this website doesn't take paypal and though I'm a somewhat trusting person, I did not feel comfortable just handing over my credit card to this site. So then I had to find another website to watch my movies on through VOD that accepted paypal! Took me an hour and I found it. I went back to the Wolfe website and found this movie I Do.

I read the blurb for it--and debated whether I wanted to follow up the feel goodness of big Eden with something that seemed as if it would rip my heart out and stomp on it only to run it over with a bulldozer. I mean, sure, I was being a tad dramatic but sometimes when you watch a really sad movie that's how it leaves you feeling, especially with an ending like Shut Up and Kiss Me. Still, I took a breath, paid my VOD fee and hit play.

The story centers around Jack Edwards (played by David W. Ross- former member of Bad Boys, Inc)

David W. Ross - writer and star of I Do

who is a gay British National living in New York. He works with his lesbian best friend with photographers and makes a pretty good living. He's happy with his life until tragedy hit and he finds himself playing father to his niece, on the brink of deportation and being put in the position of having to chose between his family or lying to get his green card and possibly face federal prison. Not only that, he drew his best friend Ali (played by Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Natalie in Ugly Betty and herself in Entourage) in, by marrying her to pretend she's his wife so he can get his papers. To make matters worse, right as they marry, Jack meets the love of his life, Mano Alfaro (played by Maurice Compte, Gaff in Breaking bad and Chatto in Choke.Kick.Girl: The Series). 

I thought well, this is going to be another badly acted gay movie about some guy who can't get his crap together and it's going to wind up having a crappy ending to leave me thinking Well, there's an hour and a half of my life I'll never get back! But boy was I wrong. To top off a very intriguing story that touched on Gay Equality Rights, and the horrible things one can say to another after guilt forces them to be silent for years, I was fanning my face like a moron saying don't cry! Don't cry! I couldn't help it. Jack just kept having one horrible day after another. Think about it. You're finally forced to marry someone and then finds Mr (or Mrs) Right, the very next moment! How sucky would that be?

Maurice Compte

Mano has his own demons that will shock and anger you then make you feel as if you just want to hold him until he feels better and those demons go away.

I Do was brilliantly acted. The music was stunning the scenery perfection and the script, though some parts could use a little tweaking, was amazing. The emotions coming off the screen left me crying and laughing out loud at times. Sometimes I found myself getting so caught up in the movie I wanted to reach through the screen and strangle Ali (Jack's best friend) and then shake Jack's Sister in Law Mya (played by Alicia Witt, Rosalind Harker in The Mentalist).

The secondary characters were all necessary and lend an air of authenticity to the film that was breath-taking. At one point I found myself muttering repeatedly "No no no! Don't do that! Just walk away man! Walk....away!" during one of Jack's interaction with a secondary character.

This movie will pull you in from the first first sound of Jack's voice the moment the movie begins. Though it it will break your heart, it will not leave you disappointed. It will make you want to really look forward to anything else David W Ross may decide to pen in the future. I was pleasantly surprised at this, his first go at it and couldn't stop watching, even for a bathroom break. I Do is one of the BEST LGBT movies I've seen thus far and it gives me a renewed hope that soon, we'll be able to see more.

Oh! And before I forget, Grant Bowler, Chief Lawkeeper Joshua Nolan in Defiance - a hot show here in Canada on SHOWCASE TV, is in it for a brief moment. He plays Jack's brother Peter.

Grant Bowler - plays Jack's brother, Peter.

Hugs,
Kato

PS: please check out Grant Bowler in DEFIANCE on Showcase TV if you're in Canada! All others can watch it on SyFy - The new season doesn't begin until June of 2014 (oh the horror!) so you have time to get caught up on all it's end of world-ie goodness.  Also visit DEFIANCE's official website by clicking HERE.

Shut up and Kiss Me

**this is a LGBT movie**

Ben (Ronnie Kerr) is tired of one night stands and stupid men. He is looking for more, stability, monogamy. He's 35 and is looking for something of substance. This movie follows his trials and tribulations on his search for Mr. Right.

Where do I start with this movie? Okay, lets start with Ronnie Kerr (NYPD Blue, Vampire Boys 2) is a very good looking man, I have to put that out there and while I adored this movie, I have to say he could have given a little extra effort. He doesn't seem to be good at the back and forth dialogue as some of it gets lost in his facial expression but when it comes to sadness, he is spot on--and let me tell you there is a lot of heartbreak in this one.   So the movie startsout with Ben at a dating service advertise himself for a new man. Then his best friends get to sit in and and its a riot hearing their back and forth.  I laughed until I couldn't breathe at the montage of men he found from the dating service - from a pre-op who thought Ben wasn't his type, to a goth decked out in all black with black eyeliner and outfit and lipstick and a 17 year old pretending to be 24. Then he tried online dating which didn't end well either. 

He'd all but given up when he sees Grey, played by Scott Gabelein (The Fallen, Paradox Alice) jogging by him while he's watering his lawn. Let the stalking from the front lawn begins! 


Ronnie Kerr

From there its a lovely, funny tale of lust at first sight and the best friends forcing Ben to step out of his box and actually talk to Grey rather than watching him like a stalker from the front lawn.

The acting after this gets progressively better becauase not only is it funny but they begin getting into some hard topics like infidelity and HIV. Now where the movie takes on a drastic turn--I'm a romance writer myself and after my two character meets each other I try desperately not to let them sleep with anyone else. Grey has this iss with monogamy that Ben can't seem to get over. Which makes sense **spoiler alert** and when Grey cheats not once but twice - it breaks Ben's heart.

What I have an issue with is the ending. They go the whole movie with Ben refusing to settle for some man who can't keep it in his pants even going to therapy for it.  He talks about how he deserves more than a man who cheats on him and sudenly WHAM! All of a sudden, in the last two minutes of the movie, he's cool with it. He accepts Grey and is man-whoring ways and all is right with the world. I'm sorry I cannot accept that ending. There was no explanation leading up to it, no nothing. It was like poof! it never happened.

Scott Gabelien

This movie is okay. It's quaint and cute and funny in some parts. If I had to give it stars I'd give it a three stars and thats because the secondary characters were a hoot to watch--if I was being truly generous I'd stretch it to a three and a half star movie since Ronnie was so yummy but ugh. there were dialogue that was repeated so many times I wanted to scream. The ending just ruined the whole thing for me - UGH.

Hugs,
Kato

The Borgias

Last year, I began watching this television show that comes on the BRAVO channel in Toronto Canada. It was called THE BORGIAS and was being advertised as the world's first mob family. It was about a ficticious pope, Pope Alexander (played by Jeremy Irons), his daughter Lucrezia Borgias, his son Cesare Borgia and a whole slew of other people. The show is set at the turn of the 16th century and holy mother of messed up family!

I'm sure it's on DVD but I was lucky because off season, BRAVO would go back and run it from the beginning so those who fell behind or was just hearing about the show could catch up before they brought the new season. I missed a few episodes here or there but never enough to not know what was happening when I did manage to catch it on TV.

This show had everything. You thought Tony Soprano was mean and horrible? Watch THE BORGIAS then re-evaluate your thoughts and tell me what you think. Pope Alexander was cold, calculating, manipulative, womanizing. He lusted after women he wasn't supposed to. Bedded those he wasn't supposed to. Put to death those he wasn't supposed to.  This show had straight love, gay love, confused love, family love (incest - don't want to give it away but ewww). It had fights, wars, martyrs, explosions, secrets, lies, betrayals. It had the religious, the sluts, the women who wanted to do right by her people but only managed to screw it up in the end--this show had EVERYTHING!

So imagine my surprise, when I was watching one of those made for TV movies and saw and ad for THE BORGIAS that said "SERIES FINALE"

I was disappointed because once again I thought "here we go again! Another show that is going strong with great writing, research and cast and they are flushing it." At first I thought it was a joke--then I kept seeing the commercials and it broke my heart.

So I ensured I stayed up (prepping for my birthday the next day) watching the series finale.

It started out with promise. I have to admit. Soldiers preparing to take down one of the bad guys, the gay loves reuniting, people getting their come-uppances and then WHAM! After about 45 minutes, the series finale took on the same BS ending as all the other series finale of television shows that has been cancelled. The ending was disturbing to me and I know most of the show's fans hasn't watched it yet so I won't give it away. But damn it! Why would they do that? I think, and I say as I've always said, when writers find out their show is about to be cancelled they don't think of the fans who have invested time, season after season, episode after episode to watch their work. They dont think of the fans who pay their salaries. They slap something together, wham bam done and screw everyone else...that has to be the mindset.

Don't get me wrong - I know its hard hearing you will have to find a new job and I know its a heart break when they tell you, you can't do what you love because you're preaching to the choir with that one. And I know you can't wrap up all story lines on such short notice--but holy crap! You could have at least wrapped up the main ones!

Anyways, after the first 45 minutes I was over The Borgias. The show was amazing but the ending was a dud.

hugs.
Kato

Jurassic Park 3D

I know I know! I've seen this movie hundreds of times sure, but come on! It's in 3D!! Now, I didn't exactly pay for it because I won a movie gift certificate at my Christmas job last December and since I couldn't use it before I figure, I'd kidnap-er I mean, invite, my friend out to see a movie and try desperately to finally use the card since I didn't know when it expired.

Anyways, I saw Jurassic Park in 3D because, come on! Its Dinos jumping out of dark corners and noming on things they shouldn't be noming on and noming and people! It was epic!

Seeing it the regular was breath-taking and scaring but when you have giant beasts coming at you through the screen?

*fan girl scream*

The's the same movie but they went in and fixed the colour and made it so that everything that pops out hits you in the face! I was very excited about it and since this franchise brought me through college safely, there is some emotional ties there. Sure, that may sound strange to you but my best friend knows what I mean.

Anyways, bloody good show old chaps!

Love,
Kato

A Good Day to DIE HARD

A Good Day to DIE HARD

Starring: Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch



John McClane travels to Russia to help out his seemingly wayward son, Jack, only to discover that Jack is a CIA operative working to prevent a nuclear-weapons heist, causing the father and son to team up against underworld forces.

When I saw they were making another one of these I didn't get that sickening feeling I get like when I found oout they were remaking Star Trek. It was a feeling of woohooo!! No! F*ing! Way! feeling. So for Valentine's Day while everyone else was smooching and buying over priced chocolate and flowers, a friend of mine (the same person I saw Conan with) decided to go see Mr. Willis blow up some stuff. This movie did not disappoint. I enjoyed it immensely. I was laughing at points until I cried and other times I was cheering.

There were a few scenes that I think they just tossed in because some guy is ging to be cray cray enough to bring his girlie girl --girlfriend with him to see so those parts were put in to make those girls happy but other than that I was very entertained.  There was this one room where they walked into, I had to lean over and whisper to my friend..."Hrm...everything in this room, is about to be messed up!" She looked at the room, looked at me, burst out laughing and said, "yup!"

Let's just say the plant in Chenobyll was left standing after the radiation meltdown happened and after John McClean and his son left it...there was barely anything left.

I can't say much more without giving away spoilers but all I can say is, go in looking for a good time and open your mind. Enjoy Bruce Willis taking out Russia lol.

The official poster for A Good Day to Die Hard

Moveies so far 2013

I have a question. What is up with scary movies on Valentine's Day and in February?

Over the last few years these dark, scary movies began being released in Februrary with quite a few on Valentine's Day. I got me thinking but then my University education popped in and got me seeing it from the advertisers and movie makers Point of View. They are banking on new relationships being started on Valentine's Day and in February and lovers will want movies that cause them to snuggle up close in the dark *wiggles eyebrows*

Anyways this year, there are quite a few fright titles out on or around the big day of red, gushie hearts. From Side Effects with Channing Tatum and Jude Law to Mama about some kids left alone in the woods and some weird-twistie-demon thing followed them home after caring for them for 5 years in the woods.

Also there is a creepy remake on Hansel and Gretel to a not so scary but hilarious spoof of a group of movies especially Paranormal Activity created by the creators of Scary Movies and White Girls. Come now, that is bound to be funny. I haven't had a chance to go take any of these titles in yet (the new stuff) because of work, school, writing, edits all that good stuff but I am going to.

Also out this month is Sylvester Stallone's newest blow-everything-to-hell movie called Bullet to the Head. This cast makes my mouth water.  But forget about Sly for a second. This movie stars Jason Mamoa (Conan [the new one], Stargate Atlantis), Sung Kang (Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift and Fast Five) and Christian Slater (we all know Christian--I mean sure he hasn't done anything much since his TV show went belly up bu come on, the man's an icon!).  These men together in one movie? Oh how can any red blooded male and most women refuse to see this movie? Its full of two of the hottest men on the planet and one of the coolest action stars EVER. You heard me...EVER....

Before February began, Arnold Schwarzeneggar headed back into the movie biz. Sure he didn't leave it completely but he took some time off to run California then come right back. His movie "The Last Stand" had some names in it like Johnny Knoxville, Forest Whittaker and Luis Guzman. The movie came out at a very strange time--right as there was a masscare in Connecticut and the fact the poster had him holding a giant gun in front of a school bus--er rather what looked to be a school bush--a bunch of people didn't think it was in good taste. But as usuall CNN caused a little hysteria probably without seeing the movie. But it wasn't really a school bus--if you watch the trailer you see it's one of those sixties looking hippie bus things. Not sure what the deal was with why it was yellow.

Adding stuff blowing up on Valentine's Day is A Good Day to Die Hard yes you heard right. It's another John McClane movie with Bruce Willis. According to IMBD the story goes like this - John McClane travels to Russia to help out his seemingly wayward son, Jack, only to discover that Jack is a CIA operative working to prevent a nuclear-weapons heist, causing the father and son to team up against underworld forces. It stars Bruce and some guy name Jai Courtney from Australia's Packed to the Rafters and Sebastian Koch. 

 

Oh and there's a movie called Parker with Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez. It came and went without much fanfare which worries me a little because Jason's movies always made more noise than this one did. JLo did nothing to save it. hrm...I wonder what that means.......So so far the movies this year hasn't been comepletely wasteful. I have yet to see any of them but from what I've seen they look okay.

 

Once exams are over, I'm going to spend a couple of days catching up on movies for this year.

 

Happy Viewing,

Kato