New Releases for the week of October 06 - October 12
Much Ado About Nothing
In this modern retelling of the Shakespeare classic, Claudio returns from war and instantly falls for the governor's daughter, Hero. After arranging a marriage with the governor, Claudio plots to have his friend and fellow officer, Benedick, fall in love with the governor's niece, Beatrice. The couple's opposing views on love and romance and a villainous plot by the governor's brother to keep the would-be lovers apart stands in the way of Claudio marrying the love of his life.
Director: Joss Whedon. Stars: Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, Fran Kranz, Nathan Fillion, Sean Maher, Reed Diamond. 2012. 109 min. Comedy.
After Earth
Long after humanity was forced to evacuate earth, a father and son team crash lands on the now dangerous and deserted planet. As his father Cypher, a legendary general, lies injured and dying in the cockpit of their spacecraft, 13-year-old Kitai must traverse unfamiliar and hostile terrain to retrieve the ship's rescue beacon and signal for help.
Director: M. Night Shyamalan. Stars: Jaden Smith, Will Smith, David Denman, Sophie Okonedo, Zoë Kravitz. 2013. 100 min. Action.
The Hangover Part III
Following the death of his father, the wolf pack decides to take Alan to the hospital to get treated for his mental issues, but on their way to the hospital, the group is attacked and Doug is kidnapped. In order to save their friend, Phil, Stu and Alan must track down Mr. Chow, who has escaped from prison and is on the lam, and surrender him to the gangsters that took Doug.
Director: Todd Phillips. Stars: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, John Goodman, Melissa McCarthy, Jeffrey Tambor. 2013. 100 min. Comedy.
The Purge
As a solution to overcrowded prisons and high crime rates, the American government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour event, during which all emergency services are suspended and all criminal activity becomes legal. During this night known as "The Purge," James Sandin and his family become targets after they grant refuge to a stranger who has been marked for death by a murderous group of vigilantes. With the murderers at their door, James and his family must survive the night without compromising their own ideals and turning into the monsters that are now hunting them.
Director: James DeMonaco. Stars: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder, Adelaide Kane. 2013. 85 min. Horror.
Losing it: 'The Biggest Loser' sheds weight of its own as Season 15 debuts hour-long episodes
Bob Harper, Jillian Michaels, Dolvett Quince and Alison Sweeney as seen in "The Biggest Loser"
Network television is about to shed a few pounds.
Hell on Wheels, on AMC
A season of backbreaking labour building the railroad wraps up in this season finale. The series stars Anson Mount as Cullen Bohannon, a former Confederate soldier who set out in search of revenge on those who murdered his wife and son at the beginning of Season 1.
Blue Bloods, on CBS
Tom Selleck stars as New York Police Commissioner Frank Regan, who leads both the boys in blue and his own family of cops and lawyers in this new episode. Now in its fourth season, the drama also stars Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan and Will Estes.
Q: Is "Grimm" coming back for another season? We're into the fall now and I'm starting to get worried.
Not to worry, the series is still alive, but NBC is saving its return for a thematically appropriate time.
The series, about a police officer who discovers he's part of an ancient line of monster hunters tasked with protecting regular people from threats they can't even see, returns on Oct. 25.
The network set it up as the Friday night lead-in to "Dracula," its new series about the legendary vampire (played by former "Tudors" star Jonathan Rhys Meyers).
Sean Saves the World, on NBC
Sean Hayes returns to prime time as a single father who desperately wants to prove he can balance work and home life. Just as Sean's (Hayes) 14-year-old daughter Ellie (Samantha Isler) moves in, his boss (Thomas Lennon) decides he should work longer hours.
Super Fun Night, on ABC
After a big promotion at her NYC law firm, attorney Kimmie Boubier (Rebel Wilson) begins to realize that she's been missing out in this series premiere. She attempts to convince her two besties Helen-Alice (Liza Lapira) and Marika (Lauren Ash) that they need to grab life by the horns.
Q: Is the FX drama "The Americans" related to the George Clooney movie of the same name?
Technically they don't have quite the same name -- George Clooney's 2010 movie was called "The American," singular (and fair enough, since his character spends most of his time alone) -- and in fact they are totally unrelated.
Fair mistake, though. Not only are the names similar, to say the least, but both are espionage-themed international thrillers.
Lucky 7, on ABC
The lottery winners continue to deal with both the positive and negative aspects of their recent windfall in this new episode. Seven gas station employees suddenly find their lives turned upside down when their weekly lottery pool hits the jackpot.
How I Met Your Mother, on CBS
Lily (Alyson Hannigan) discovers that Ted (Josh Radnor) has made a list of things he wants to do before leaving New York in this new episode. Meanwhile, with their relatives due to arrive any moment, Robin (Cobie Smulders) and Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) hope for some privacy.
