The Other Guys (2010)

Allen Gambel (Will Ferrell) and his partner Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) are the other guys, you know the desk cops that don’t get to arrest anyone or do anything remotely cool instead doing paperwork for the hero types. When supercop heros Danson (Dwayne Johnson) and Highsmith (Samuel L. Jackson) are no longer able to keep the city safe, Terry is ready, unfortunately his partner Allen isn’t so keen preferring to stick with his first love, paper pushing. Will Terry be able to convince Allen to give up the comfort of his desk and calculator? Why did a hottie like Sheila (Eva Mendes) marry a … well Allen? Why do chicks keep hitting on Allen?

So this is superfunny! It plays up all the things you love and hate about cop buddy movies. The supercops are hilarious, I couldn’t stop laughing at the stupidity. The press conference with Danson and Highsmith made me laugh so hard I had tears in my eyes. The supercops are everything a supercop should be, stupid to a fault, testosterone driven, afraid of nothing (even jumping off a 20 story building), and determined to get their man, no matter what the cost… or rather damage caused. They have the pimped out car, the clothes, the ‘tude, the cool lingo.

The other guys drive a Prius… need I say more?

Am starting the think the Prius is the most paid out car in tv and movie history.

My fave inside joke is Allen and Terry sitting in court seats with Brook Sheilds asking Allen to call her, she’s sitting next to Tracey Morgan who starred alongside Bruce Willis in Çop Out which came out 6 mths before The Other Guys.

New Tricks (2010)

Wiki says this:

New Tricks is a BBC television drama series which follows the work of the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad (UCOS). Led by Detective Chief Superintendent Sandra Pullman, it is made up of retired police officers who have been recruited to reinvestigate unsolved crimes. The series title is taken from the popular expression “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. The “old dogs” are successful in adapting their skills and experience to modern policing, with their knowledge of past cases proving especially useful.

Eskimo says:

This is flat out the most boring show on tv, worse than The Bill, worse than Paradox, worse than the most slow boring English show you can imagine. OMG boring, slow, obvious, don’t even think about it unless you’re over 60.

Invisible Target (2007) or Naam Yi Boon Sik

Nicholas Tse (Dragon Tiger Gate, The Promise) is Chan Chun a broken cop, Tse brings an amazing amount of raw emotion to the role. Shawn Yue is Carson Fong Yik-wei (Infernal Affairs, Diary) was really good in this, I think he brought the masculinity to the role that the others lacked? Jaycee Chan is Wai King-ho (Son of Jackie Chan) was fantastic as the cop with the noble heart. Together the three of them go after a ruthless gang who stole $100 Million dollars in an armoured truck heist.

I love that unlike the American cop buddy movie, good cop bad cop pairing this film goes for three good guys, two of which are arguably bad at times facing off against four villains with skills, rather than a smart leader with dumb cannon fodder types to round out their posse.

Wu Jing (“Fatal Contact”) Tien Yeng-yee heads up the gang and people have commented on his acting “whinge whinge, he can’t act”, ‘”he’s responsible for a high acting niveau in the film” etc. I think the guy was great! Did he behave like a ruthless villian with no soul but good clothing style? Yes! Would I wan’t to meet him in a dark alley way? No! Was he believable as a sociopath? Yes! The guy didn’t add a massive amount of character maybe it was direction? Maybe its not how the character was supposed to be portrayed. As a ruthless, highly skilled, sociopath, martial arts, killer he was solid.

Andy On as Ronin Tien Yeng-yee is number two in the gang and I’m still trying to figure out who plays the bad ass chick, my Cantonese is pretty bad I can only read river, bridge and mountain.

The first thing that is immediately obvious is that they’re not using any stunt men, the actors did all their own stunts and it makes the fight scenes and rooftop chases seamless. The chase scenes across the rooves of buildings are awesome to watch and really you just couldn’t film this anywhere else but Hong Kong. There’s no need for blue screen with added CG’d when you have the character of Hong Kong to feature. There are some really cute moments where you get a glimpse of the culture of Hong Kong.

Explosively entertaining. If you want deep serious acting hire something else but if you want adrenaline pumping action with lots of cool well choreographed martial arts fight scenes, wirework and ass kicking action, this is the film for you.

There are grisly moments that hurt, its just too real and you feel like you’re watching your mate get his ass kicked while you sit there and do nothing. The end fight scene is harsh.

Facts:
Nicholas Tse has been around the entertainment block as a singer, songwriter, composer as well as producing and directing.
Chun Yue was a model before moving to singing and acting.
Wu Jing comes from a line of martial artists and competed as a member of the Beijing Wushu Team (just like Jet Li).

White Collar (2009)

White Collar, so if you loved Chuck and Bryce Larkin (Matt Bomer)… this is Larkins new gig.

Neal Caffrey (Bomer) is a handsome, suave, conman and is perfect for the role. Tim DeKay is Special Agent Peter Burk who put Caffrey away in the klink. Three months before he’s due to be released Caffrey breaks outta pris in true style. This aint no ‘prison break’ this is social engineering baby and its smooth, clever and impressive.

Plot twist he winds up working with the Feds, whilst trying to find his girlfriend Kate who’s pulled a ghost act and disappeared.

The show is tagged a comedy – drama, I’m not sure I’ve seen the real comedy side to it and I’m not really sure I want to. I’m loving all the social engineering stuff, the coolest tool of any con artist.

Season One down and into season two. I’m disappointed with the way this went. The pilot and a few eps in it was solid, the pacing was good and it was addictive, I watched the pilot and eps two and three straight and if I hadn’t run out, I could have kept watching. Now its been relegated to ‘warm up tv’. You know the show you watch while you eat dinner before the real entertainment.

When it first started it was clever, sassy, smooth, intriguing and tight, it was a edgy. Now its a reasonable show that I can sit through (though i’m not sure for how much longer) but once again my mum would love it. I think they started out with something edgy and toned it down for the ‘mum’ vote. What a waste!

This was my main gripe at 6 eps in:
Tiffany Thiessen playing Elizabeth Burke. The character seems too young, too pretty, too smart to be with random old fuddy duddy FBI guy. It could just be her acting, she’s a bit flat and not believable. She doesn’t breath life into the character she’s just there.

My main gripe now is:
Aren’t there enough tv shows to appeal to the 35 to 60′s must they ruin this show too?

Top 5 Sci Fi TV Shows

Fringe (2008) – Sci Fi cop crossover – the new X-Files with more plot and better acting.

Firefly (2002)- Created by Joss Whedon, a crew on a run down space ship are running out of universe to be naughty in.

Dollhouse (2009) – Human ‘blanks’ are implanted with information and skills required to complete missions and are then wiped again. Another Joss Whedon creation, which went from meh to freakin A once the network stopped interfering. Check out episode 0 on the dvd – its episode one as Joss originally envisioned it.

The X Files (1993) – The Original – FBI agents Mulder and Scully investigate government conspiracies, paranormal activities and unsolved crimes.

Star Trek – Just kidding!

Witchblade

If the Sarah Conner Chronicle’s had you thinking Lena Headley’s portrayl of Sarah was the worst abomination you’d ever seen, this show is for you!  The main character Sara Pezini (Yancy Butler) or Pez is what Sarah Conner should be in a tv show.  Pezini is a detective, she’s buff, balsy, headstrong!  Did you hear me?  Finally a female cop who is balsy, buff, and headstrong, not angsty over her ex husband, or with perfect manicure and hair, this is about a cop!  Butler is seriously channelling Linda Hamilton with a dash of Angelina Jolie.  Butler chases bad guys, gets dirty, rides a motorbike and is a ball breaker.  While chasing a bad guy in a museum she comes across the Witchblade.  During the rapid exchange of gunfire she finds the Witchblade has attached itself to her, one minute as a hippyish bracelet and in the next full arm armour and eventually full body armour. Then of course theres the cool built in sword!  Handy gadget and I think every woman should have one!  The Witchblade is magical, mystical etc and has chosen Pezini as its new owner, is it a gift or a curse?  This is not a new show but it is solid B-Grade action entertainment.

The supporting cast is excellent with Will Yun Lee as Det. Danny Woo provides a nice familiar face as he partners up with Pez. Eric Etebari is clearly cast more looks then his acting talent which falters a bit here and there. Eric is Ian Nottingham of dubious past and present he really plays a shadow almost, shadowing Sara and the Witchblade. David Chockachi is Det. Jake McCartey who is not all that he seems. John Hensley plays Gabriel Bowman a geek in the know.

This show only saw two seasons as the show was put on hold while Butler was in Rehab due to issues with Alcohol.