A Fantastic Fear of Everything (2012)

While researching a book on Victorian-era murderers, author Jack Nife comes to fear they're really stalking him and grows agoraphobic.

Jack Nife is a writer who, while researching serial killers for an upcoming book. He got so deep into his research that he begins to suspect that he's being stalked and anticipates his own murder. To that end, he's become something of a shut in and rarely goes outside, because he feels safest at home. After a lunch date with his literary agent, he learns that she's set up a meeting with a producer who could decide the fate of his work. The catch, he's out of clean clothes and the only thing he fears more than being murdered is washing clothes at the Laundrette. (That's Laundromat for all of the American readers). But he soon discovers that the night has just begun.

Honestly, A Fantastic Fear of Everything started out real slow and definitely became a different film by the end, yet everything played into itself and made a good cohesive story. No bullshit, it feels longer than it is, but it is a good story. Simon Pegg is awesome and you can tell that he's given his all to this performance as a man who begins a slow descent into paranoia. To his credit though, he plays it equally convincing as a man who's trying to conquer his fears and bring himself back to sanity, while dealing with a nearly impossible situation. 

 I'm not a fan of seeing Simon Pegg w/o Nick Frost (and Vice Versa) but they are each capable actors and don't need to be joined at the hip. The other thing that bothered me was his character's name. Jack Nife? really? Lazy fucks. 

Violence? No

Explosions? No

Nudity? No

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Red Mist (2008)

A young doctor decides to test an experimental drug on a man who's been languishing in a coma, and the procedure has unexpected consequences: Although the man's body remains rooted to his hospital bed, his spirit can move around at will.

After an acquaintance has a seizure during A night out, a team of young medical interns drop his body at a hospital and work to keep their stories straight. They decided they can't risk their lives and careers admitting the truth so they all pretend it didn't happen. Feeling bad, one of the ladies decides to research a drug that may help the man to recover. The problem is that it is highly experimental and has never been tested on humans. After giving him steady shots of the drug, she finds that he is responsible for the murderers of her friends as he can now control people mentally while seeking revenge for the events of that night.

Red Mist is both bad and pointless. It feels like a lot was cut out, but I'm sure even the omitted parts couldn't salvage this dreck. Skip it. Burn it. And definitely stay away if you or anyone you know suffers from epilepsy. The last scene is unbearable.

Fun Fact: If she had let the guy die in the first place, like her friends wanted, everyone would have lived. That makes her a selfish do-gooder asshole.

Violence? No
Explosions? No
Nudity? No

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Orphan Black (2013)

Imagine if you were walking down a street and saw your exact duplicate as they killed themselves. What would you do? If you were looking for a way out, you'd assume their identity and use the opportunity as a means to escape. What you may find however is that there is no real escape; You've just jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Thus goes the story of Sarah Manning a.k.a. Orphan Black.
Sarah was a street urchin, a con woman in an abusive relationship who was just looking for a way to gain custody of her daughter and escape that life. She assumes the identity of Beth Childs, and gets more than she bargained for when she learns that Beth was a cop who may or may not be dirty, but definitely has some secrets. As Beth, she learns that there are 9 other women who are her but with completely different lives.

Orphan Black is crazy. I really didn't think this show would be that good. Shit is crazy. How do you watch yourself die twice in a week, pretend to be you as a cop, chase down and nearly kill an assassin that is you and imitate a suburban clean cut version of yourself all within the span of a month?

It seems like a lot, but everything is actually well thought out and more importantly, it's presented in a way that's intriguing, clear, concise and gripping. Orphan Black will not be the best Sci-fi show you'll see, but it's damned good. Plus there's a sassy gay guy, a former military contractor and a shadow org that intends to "clean things."

I think the girl that plays Sarah does all her clones (otherwise that is simply incredible casting) and she does an amazing job. Each character is completely different, from their speech patterns to their body movements to how they interact with other people. Even when she pretends to be one of the others it seems as if she's trying to be something she isn't. I'm blown away by her performance and dare I say it, I think she's earned a fan.

Enough gushing, here's are some videos


The Trailer:

Bad girls do it well:

Who are you really?:

Behind the Scenes:

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Kitchen Nightmares

Kitchen Nightmares has become my official guilty pleasure show. I still think reality shows are stupid, but there's something about this one that draws me in.

In case you were wondering, there is not much of a difference between the British and US versions. The US version puts on that reality show sheen while the British version is more of a regular TV show and in line with what Gordon preaches: "Simple is Better."

Speaking of simple, The narrative is just that and stays the same across the pond:

[Somewhere, there is a restaurant that is failing, Gordon Ramsey answers their call for help, butts heads with the chef/owner, says "Fuck," a lot, changes the decor and eventually everyone triumphs. (At least for a night.) and all of this happens within a week.]

They never stray from the formula and after he leaves, it's up to the restaurants themselves to keep up their successes. I find myself surprisingly interested in the fate of these places.

People love to hate him because no one wants to cheer for assholes and I'm favorably biased towards competent assholes so I like him. Here's the thing you need to accept about Gordon Ramsay, he is the way he is because:

1. He has to be. These people have been coddled and are living in their own world. They've never heard any criticism or taken it well and sometimes tough love is the only way to get through to someone and tell them to stop being so goddamn stubborn.


2. He knows his shit. Anyone would be hard pressed to argue with his track record/body of work. So why don't they deserve to be called out when they do?


3. He could just go away and sleep on a bed of money. He payed his dues and he owes no one anything yet takes time from his own schedule to legitimately help falling business get back on track. He genuinely cares. (or he's the greatest actor ever)


4. He's effective. Obviously he knows what he's talking about so why give him shit for helping (So what if it is in a non PC way)?

He's an asshole with a heart of gold (at least that's how he presents himself) but the fact of the matter is: Your personality/actions will almost always be excused if you know what the fuck you're talking about. Would you take shit from the people you've decided to help? Especially if you're paying them to let you help?

Anyway here are some goodies:

Bonus: A clip from the recently aired Amys Restaurant, the only place he's ever walked out on.

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Wilderness (2006)

The tough teen inmates of a juvenile institution are dropped in a dense forest in a small British island, where they're expected to learn how to work as a team after a fellow prisoners death. But their backwoods rehabilitation hits a snag when they realize they are being hunted and they have to fight for survival.

In a male youth detention center, two kids are relentlessly bullied. After one takes their life, the boys are sent to a remote location known as "the island" to be taught a lesson in team building and compassion. Once on the island, they see signs that they may not be alone and soon find another youth group, this time female.

After a dead hobo is found, the two groups work together to contact the authorities, but when the kids start to disappear and the male leader takes a few arrows to the torso, leaving the island doesn't seem possible. With the adults out of the way, the kids are being hunted and are left in the woods to fend for themselves.

What The Fuck??!!!

Wilderness is long and gets kinda boring fairly quickly. It is surprisingly gory, but that's about all it has going for it. As The kids are picked off one by one, there's no need to look for the who and why, because they've been telling you all along.

Out of Ten? 4.5

Violence? Yes
Explosions? No
Nudity? No

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Neverland (2010)

A man known as Jimmy, uses a group of young pickpockets to do his bidding. A heist goes wrong at an antiquities store when Jimmy finds and drops an orb and the entire crew suddenly vanishes. Captured and led aboard a pirate ship, (helmed by the smoking hot Anna Friel) Jimmy bests the crew and he reveals himself to them as James Hook. He is soon seduced by power when Captain Bonnie shows him her magic fairy dust (wink wink) and promises that they can rule this world by capturing the mineral dust from the tree fairies that inhabit the land. Once Hook is involved, he desires to get the dust, return home, and rule London.

Peter, meanwhile, is taken in by a group of Indians who have also fell into the doorway over 200 years ago. They have become protectors of the tree spirits since the pirates arrived. While in their company, he discovers that one of the natives also has similar dreams about an island somewhere in the realm. When the chiefs daughter points out that the island is real, Peter goes with her to see if they can find a way out. Eventually, he finds more info on Neverland among a forest utopia, and not too long after, Peter meets the tree fairies and is given the task of retrieving the orb and saving the realm from the pirates. To aid him, the fairies have given him the power to fly and have also sent one of their own, Tinkerbell, to assist him. Peter accepts the task and sets out on his mission. He will eventually engage the Pirates in a battle that would change Neverland forever.

Neverland is a SyFy Mini series featuring a retelling of the story of Peter Pan. For the sake of clarity, Neverland is a dimension at both the corner and the center of the universe and anyone inside of it never ages. Hence the name. This version starts in the real world of 17th century London. There, it attempts to establish a quick exposition of the characters before life in the fantasy realm fleshes them out further. James Hook isn't flat out evil, just shamed by his peers and blinded by his lust for revenge. He's also a surrogate father to Peter and his crew. Peter has an innocent heart and is willing to do anything for his adopted father.

I thought it was a decent series overall, but nothing that would make me want to watch a series religiously. If the film stayed in London or even if Hook was female, that would have scored it some major points as far as remakes go. But overall, it was okay. Standard faire brought to life with stunning visuals and computer generated graphics.

 

When I first saw her, I thought Anna Friel would be captain hook. A change in genders would have definitely made the story fresher, but that didn't hurt it overall.

Out of Five? 3.5

Violence? Yes
Explosions? Yes
Nudity? No

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Sherlock Holmes (TV Series) - 2011

In this modernized version of the Conan Doyle characters, using his detective plots, Sherlock Holmes lives in early 21st century London and acts more cocky towards Scotland Yard's detective inspector Lestrade because he's actually less confident. Doctor Watson is now a fairly young veteran of the Afghan war, less adoring and more active.

Basically this show brings Holmes, Watson and his mythology into modern times. Cell phones, internet, and all of our modern amenities are all features.

 Benedict Cumberbatch. Yes, that's his real name and no he could not be anymore English.

Holmes describes himself as a high functioning sociopath and he only takes the cases that are interesting to him. Everyone else describes him as a psychopath, and they fear the day that he stops solving crimes and starts causing them.

Within the first series, we're introduced to Moriarty, a man who's intelligence is directly on par with Holmes and we have a standoff between these two giants of intelligence.

Another fantastic series from the BBC. If you're a fan of mystery, you're a fan of sherlock holmes. Why not give this version a chance?



Violence? Yes
Explosions? Yes
Nudity? Maybe, but no.

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Being human (2008 TV Series)

 So, another day, another BBC series. 

Being Human is the tale of 3 supernatural beings who live together and help each other deal with the reality of their situations. George is a werewolf, Mitchell is a vampire, and Annie is a ghost. The show itself, is a Sci-Fi/Drama hybrid, but it has enough action and plot to keep you interested and watching. I like it, and I think you should give it a shot. If you don't like it, your girl will, and if you watch it with her, you'll get the goods. Which makes it all worthwile.

Series Premiere Trailer:

Out of 5? 4.

Violence? Yes. Vampires are ruthless killers
Explosions? Yes.
Nudity? Teased, but you might catch a nipple if you're lucky.

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Luther - 2010 (TV Series)

In this BBC series. Idris Elba wrecks shop as Luther, a self destructive cop who sits firmly in the gray as it relates to his job. The show follows the case of the week format for a few episodes, then it jumps into a cat and mouse style battle of wits as the brilliant but flawed DCI (Detective Chief Inspector) Luther matches wits with the equally as brilliant but obviously flawed psychopaths of the city. As unorthodox and or unethical as it seems, he gets shit done.

Make no mistake, Luther is a cerebral show. But the twists and turns it takes to resolve its cases will draw you in and help you appreciate quality shows such as this. So far, there are 2 seasons or series as they are called across the pond, and I look forward to another two. Maybe it is because the quality of our TV has really gone down, but I'm realizing that the BBC has really stepped up their game lately. Between this show, Sherlock (2010),  Jekyll (2007), and Dead Set (2008), I am 100% impressed and open to viewing nearly anything they have to offer.

Luther definitely cracks my top 10 series list (top 5 in british shows).
It is currently on instant watch. Why not give it a shot?

                                                                      

Violence? Yes. Psychopaths abound. People die.
Explosions? Rarely. There may be one or two
Nudity? There may be a titty or two. The british aren't as uptight about showing boobs as we are.

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Pulling - 2006(TV Series)

On the Day before her wedding, Donna decides her life is boring and she wants to be single. She then calls off the wedding moves in with her two single best friends. Thus begins a series I'd describe as a raunchy romantic dramedy. Don't let that description turn you off. It is definitely comedy first, using their drama and romantic failures as the setup to it's punchlines.

The show is funny and actually pretty well written. To me, the mark of a good show is when I find myself invested in the characters, and to it's credit, I got sucked in. Each of the ladies are equally comical and they support each other while getting the chance to shine individually.

Canceled after 2 seasons, they were allowed an hr long special to wrap up outstanding plot lines. But that was clearly disjointed. They jumped forward in time about 6 months and You could tell that the series was being rushed to it's conclusion. Plot lines, new loves, and bad situations, just to name a few things that were left hanging or unanswered by the series finale. The hr special was supposed to help alleviate, but it only highlighted the burden of the show's sudden departure.

A clip. Just because I can:

Out of Five? Four. Another good production unfortunately hurt by it's untimely cancellation. 

Bonus: Sharon Horgan(Donna) wrote and starred in this raunchy female led BBC series. You can see her currently as the love interest in The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret.


Violence? Comedic
Explosions? No
Nudity? Surprisingly, none.

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The BBC

BBC programs have been some of the better produced and higher quality shows in existence. Foreign entertainment in general, may be an acquired taste for some, but believe me when I tell you that there is some really good stuff overseas.

American Television has a way of stealing the works from other countries. Knowing that, I figure maybe you'll like the originals better. To that end, I've put together a small list of a few BBC shows that I've really enjoyed. Idk whether or not you're interested in things made outside of the States, but you should give these shows a chance.

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The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (2010) [TV Series]

The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, follows the American bloke Todd Margaret (Cross), a compulsive liar lacking any sense of good judgment who finds himself in London heading up the sales office of a new energy drink, Thunder Muscle.

Arrested Development alum David Cross, stars as Todd Margaret, a man who means well yet is in way over his head as a fish out of water American in England. I've been hearing good things about this show, but I've blatantly dismissed it, partially based on it's ridiculously long title. However, after watching the first season, I can say that this fucking show is hilarious and I've been caught out there sleeping.

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Dead Set (2008) [TV Series]

 (via)

Dead Set is a BBC produced 6 episode tv series which takes place during and on the set of Britain's Big Brother Reality TV series.

IMDB provides the plot: 

During a fictional series of Big Brother, a zombie outbreak occurs, but the house-mates are unaware of the impending doom outside of the Big Brother House.

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Jekyll (BBC Series)

Quite possibly one of the best miniseries to come over from "across the pond." Jekyll, is a retelling of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson story of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde.

From the 1st 5 minutes of the very first episode, the series grabs you and you'll instantly want to know, who is Hyde and is he as bad as they say? (Yes. The answer to both is yes.)

Of course, there is a shadowy organization who knows about Hyde and (as part of the secret Gov't organization contract) they must capture, dissect and figure out a way to use him as a weapon for the "good of all mankind." Blah blah blah, all standard stuff, and while their appearance does drag the show a bit, their scenes with Hyde allows us to get more much needed face time with the monster.

Violence? Lots. Hyde is a one-man wrecking crew
Explosions? Nope. But you won't even notice.
Nudity? Nope. But you won't even notice.

If you have never seen it, and you're open to the programs of the BBC, I recommend you take a look.

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