New Releases for the week of June 3 - 9
Machine Gun Preacher
In the United States, Sam Childers was a drug-dealing biker who always put himself first. But in Africa, Childers is a hero who helped to bring safety and security to children in the middle of a civil war. When Childers leaves his life in the U.S. to repair the communities that were ravaged by the war, he realizes that the children of East Africa have no shelter and resources. Despite the protests from other workers, Childers faces off against the Lord's Resistance Army and aims to help the children who are so desperate for help. Based on a true story.
Director: Marc Forster. Stars: Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan, Kathy Baker, Madeline Carroll, Michael Shannon, Souleymane Sy Savane. 2011, 129 mins., drama.
Safe House
Matt Weston is bored by his simple military assignment at an inactive post in Cape Town. Eager to prove himself, he jumps on any interesting opportunity that comes up, but nothing prepares him for the next adventure. Tobin Frost is one of the CIA's most dangerous former operatives -- he turned against the government and sold military secrets to North Korea in exchange for money. Frost shows up in the small community Weston is monitoring, and a terrorist attack makes each man suspect the other of betrayal.
Director: Daniel Espinosa. Stars: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard, Ruben Blades, Nora Arnezeder, Robert Patrick. 2011, 115 mins., action/thriller.
John Carter
Former military captain John Carter finds himself on the surface of Mars with no idea how he got there. He meets the local creatures and learns of the impending doom of the planet, and he realizes that he is the key to their survival.
Director: Andrew Stanton. Stars: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Dominic West, Samantha Morton, Thomas Haden Church, Mark Strong, Ciaran Hinds. 2011, 132 mins., fantasy.
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island
Seventeen-year-old Sean receives an odd distress signal from a mysterious island in the South Pacific. He recruits his new stepdad, Hank, to figure out who sent the message and try to help them. When they find the unknown island, they begin a dangerous rescue mission to find the person in distress.
Director: Brad Peyton. Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson, Vanessa Hudgens, Luis Guzman, Kristin Davis. 2011, 94 mins., family.
Q: I know that Lou Ferrigno played the Hulk when he was in monster form in the old TV show, but it was someone else playing him in human form, right?
Professional bodybuilder and former Mr. Universe Lou Ferrigno indeed played just the green-skinned, rage-fuelled alter ego of scientist David Banner in the 1978-82 series "The Incredible Hulk." For the mild-mannered man himself, the producers chose a slightly more seasoned actor: Bill Bixby.
Indeed, Bixby had already starred in two hit series before taking on the superhero role.
Best Friends Forever, on NBC
The gang hits the road and heads for Atlantic City for a gaming convention where Joe is set to debut his new video game in the season finale.
Tattoo School, on TLC
The intensive two-week course is designed to provide the aspiring artists with the knowledge, skills and experience they'll need to break into the tattoo industry.
Dogs in the City, on CBS
Cameras follow dog expert and comedian Silver as he tackles relationship, lifestyle and domestic problems with heart, humor and honesty.
Q: What kind of car did Columbo drive?
It was hard to tell under the dents and the paint job (or lack thereof), but the beaten, sputtering car Columbo drove en route to solving cases was a Peugeot 403 two-door convertible.
Reports differ on whether it was a 1959 or 1960 model, but most agree there was little difference between the two.
Cougar Town, on ABC
Courteney Cox's estranged husband David Arquette guest stars as the cul-de-sac crew wraps things up in the season finale.
Gene Simmons Family Jewels, on A&E
Gene and Shannon are finally married, but their wedded bliss is disrupted when Shannon reveals she wants to adopt a child, throwing the whole family into turmoil.
The new big fish: Ryan Seacrest inks deal with NBC
Ryan Seacrest has signed a new agreement with NBC
THE NEW BIG FISH: It appears that the recent passing of television titan Dick Clark has opened the door to what may in the future be dubbed "The Seacrest Era."
National Memorial Day Concert, on PBS
Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise host as some of the world's biggest stars honor men and women in uniform. Celebrities slated to appear include rock band Daughtry and actor and Vietnam veteran Dennis Franz.
