You could argue that 2007′s BioShock was just another zombie dystopia shoot-’em-up — but that’s kinda like saying The Matrix was just another sci-fi dystopia shoot-’em-up. The sheer ambition and scope of BioShock‘s storytelling and setting remain nothing less than a revelation. “Steeped in the objectivist philosophy of Ayn Rand” are not words most people ever expected to use to describe a videogame, and the final act’s twist was a true mind-frak that caused me to question the very nature of what it means to play a videogame. Like, whoa. READ FULL STORY »
Archive: February 2010 (181-190 of 489)
Feb 17
2010
02:45 PM ET
Johnny Weir wants to write a figure skating tell-all. When can we pre-order?
Like a lot of people today, we’re in a Johnny Weir mood after last night’s men’s short programs. So what’s your greatest hit? We’re assuming you’ve found clips of his Sundance series Be Good Johnny Weir, and of him skating the program we’ll see in Thursday night’s free skate at Nationals, karaoking “Before He Cheats” and “Ain’t No Sunshine,” describing the process of designing a figure skating costume, and, yes it does happen, speaking seriously about why he’s still figure skating (“I think anything that makes someone feel beautiful in their life, they should do it”). All good. But did you watch this Ask the Athlete question on NBCOlympics.com? A fan wanted to know if he planned on writing an autobiography when he’s done with competitive skating. His answer: Absolutely. “I have so many stories. I’ve got so much dirt that I need to get out of me, and so many dealings behind the scenes in this sport, and how cutthroat it really is, and I’m excited to share all of that — while telling my own story and how I’ve intertwined myself through all of it and snaked through relatively unscathed compared to some people…. It’s such a small world that I compete in and that I live in, and sometimes it’s ridiculous, sometimes everyone hates you, sometimes everyone loves you. But in general, we all have one thing in common and it’s figure skating, and we all love it, for the most part, and it makes us some sick, twisted family and I want to tell that story.”
A lot of time people promise dirt and don’t deliver. We’d trust Weir to follow through. You?
More PopWatch on Ice:
Be Good Johnny Weir: ‘I was a taller girl too, once’
Recap: Villains, heroes, and fashion victims in the men’s short programs
Olympic Stud of Day 5: Evan Lysacek
Recap: Shen and Zhao win pairs gold following collective gasp
Recap: Good music, bad costumes, and questionable scoring in the pairs’ short programs
Scott Hamilton: The 5 most memorable Olympic figure skating falls
Scott Hamilton: The 5 times I was a little too excited in the broadcast booth
Scott Hamilton: The 5 programs I would have skated
Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Feb 17
2010
02:43 PM ET
New full 'Glee' teaser: See Sue in Madonna's cone bra!
Is it wrong that I almost got misty-eyed while watching this teaser for the return of Glee? I didn’t think so. After all, it’s been months since we’ve had a new episode of the Fox series and I am in desperate need for some choral music and Sue Sylvester bitchy one-liners! We still have many weeks to go before Glee returns on April 13 but the new teaser (different from this one) at least gave us some music morsels. The Cheerios appear to be tackling “Express Yourself” for the much-hyped Madonna episode. Rachel’s infatuation with Finn looks to be growing although we do get a quick hit of her new, potential boytoy played by Spring Awakening‘s Jonathan Groff. Plus, a big group cover of The Beatles’ “Hello Goodbye” sounds fantastic! And there’s a fabulous sight gag of Sue rocking a cone bra reminiscent of Madonna’s iconic look. Oh I can’t wait. In the meantime, I think I’ll just watch the teaser below 10 or 30 more times.
Does this teaser fill you with Glee, PopWatchers? How much do you miss Glee?
Feb 17
2010
02:30 PM ET
Westminster 2010: Sadie the Scottish Terrier wins, but did Lady Gaga come away inspired?
If you missed it, Sadie the Scottish Terrier was the hottest bitch in the house last night, taking Best in Show at the 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. I love the fact that Sadie loses all decorum and jumps on her handler’s leg to celebrate on the podium. Speaking of being overcome with excitement, Sadie came in second place at Westminster last year, when she seemingly peed on the carpet during the Best in Show judging. I don’t think Miss America could get away with that and still come out a winner. I like this doggy. She was adorable scurrying around the ring on her little legs, and she also understands the words “cookie” and “hotdog” in five languages, which is more than I can say for myself.
Happy with the Scottish Terrier win, or were you also rooting for Bru the French Bulldog or Conrad the Puli (I’m a sucker for a “Puli bounce”)? Also, when will Lady Gaga make a music video surrounded only by ridiculously groomed Toy Poodles?
Feb 17
2010
02:15 PM ET
Roger Ebert: Speechless, but far from silent
Even fans who initially knew Roger Ebert’s work as a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer eventually came to know him best by his voice. Not his literary voice, but his actual recorded voice, heard in the balcony he shared for nearly three decades on the genre-defining television program he pioneered with Gene Siskel. Whether he was passionately arguing the merits of a film he adored or brusquely dismissing his rival’s opinion with unveiled contempt, that voice, motored by an encyclopedic mind of movie history, educated millions of moviegoers. As reporter Chris Jones writes in a must-read profile in Esquire, the sound of that voice has now been silenced by cancer and numerous unsuccessful surgeries to restore his jaw. The picture from Esquire (left) says it all. Except that it doesn’t. Ebert still writes magnificently, on his online blog and for the Chicago Sun-Times. His life is complicated, but not as complicated as you might fear at first glance. He has his movies, his books, and his loved ones, who he communicates with through Twitter-like comments conveyed through machines and hand-written notes. Initially, part of me wished Esquire hadn’t included the unflinching portrait of Ebert. Not because I’m squeamish or some other superficial reason. But because it might have overshadowed the story, the man and his spirit. But Ebert’s own prose, quoted extensively by Jones, immediately puts that concern to rest. His talents with the pen are simply staggering, and he’s contributing to the world of cinema as he always has: as an advocate for film’s great promise with an eloquent voice we can all understand.
Do yourself a favor and read Jones’ Roger Ebert story. Then spend an entire weekend at the multiplex.
Photo Credit: Ethan Hill
Feb 17
2010
02:00 PM ET
'Freaks and Geeks' + Kristen Wiig = Brilliant new movie?
Freaks, geeks, and fans of funny stuff, rejoice! Paul Feig and Judd Apatow, who worked together on the brilliant but short-lived TV show Freaks and Geeks, are teaming with Kristen Wiig for a new feature film. Wiig will star as a woman competing with one of her friends to plan another friend’s wedding party.
I have high hopes for this to be as hilarious as Freaks & Geeks. One good sign is that while Freaks & Geeks was known for its spot-on depiction of the triumphs and tribulations of teenagers, the adult characters were just as fantastic (the Weir parents! Kim’s mom! Mr. Rosso the guidance counselor!). And weddings are just as ripe for dark comedy as high school.
I have one tiny request for Feig and Apatow — can you pretty please make sure James Franco is in this film, too? He could play a florist for the wedding, or the groom, or a naughty groomsman-gone-wild. He already has SNL experience with Wiig so this should be a no-brainer.
Meanwhile, relive the magic of Freaks and Geeks:
Any other thoughts on who should join Wiig in the cast? Who should play her rival party-planner?
Feb 17
2010
01:14 PM ET
'Through the Eyes of the World': My Must List pick might force me to go incognito
I’m thinking a fake nose à la Nicole Kidman in The Hours will do the trick, maybe even a pair of Olsen-style bug shades circa 2008. Regardless, I’ll have to pick something by this weekend. Because while a part of me enjoys the attention a good embarrassing moment produces, I’d be setting myself up for all new levels of humiliation if anyone witnessed me in the theater gushing over Celine Dion’s new concert film, Through the Eyes of the World.
The limited-release movie is touted as a look at the on- and off-stage Dion, but let me be frank: I have no interest in seeing the vocalist sing a capella to foreign children (as shown in the trailer). I’d much rather see the live-show footage. I want to see the chest-pound during ”My Heart Will Go On.” I want to dork-out by mouthing the words to ”Taking Chances.” I may even get a little misty-eyed.
It’s a giant cheese-fest that I’m excited for both as someone who openly questions her own taste level for seeing Titanic too many times and as someone who loves a power ballad. I know at least one of my friends (Thanks Jen!) is on board for my viewing excursion, but who else is in? I say we hit an early-afternoon weekday show so we get the theater to ourselves — sing-a-long anyone?
But if you’re not into Celine (shame!), tell me what’s on your Must List this week? What movie/TV show/website/book are you loving this week? Sound off below!
Feb 17
2010
01:02 PM ET
Olympic Twitter streams from Team USA
Most of us here at PWHQ have Olympic fever, and however you feel about the rest of the coverage, there’s one cool way to follow these games that we’ve never had before: Athletes themselves are tweeting the experience! Indeed our debut stud of the day Chris Plys is one of Vancouver’s most prolific tweeters, but a lot of members of Team USA are active Twitterfolk. Behold: READ FULL STORY »
Feb 17
2010
12:59 PM ET
Poll: Are we finally ready to like Marc Blucas?
Marc Blucas, best known as Riley on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has joined the cast of an ABC cop pilot True Blue. According to Michael Ausiello, it’s about six former friends in the San Francisco Police Department who reunite to solve a murder of one of their own. Blucas will play a detective, a divorced father of two who still pines for his ex (San Francisco’s only female captain, played by Without a Trace‘s Poppy Montgomery, per The Hollywood Reporter). This means he should get to the show the sensitive side that, well, was one of the reasons many of us hated him on Buffy. But here’s the thing: I caught the “Hush” episode recently on Logo, and he didn’t annoy me at all. Granted, that was at the beginning of Riley’s relationship with Buffy and he was silent for most of the episode, but a breakthrough nevertheless. Is it time we forgive Blucas for his role in the isosceles Buffy-Angel-Riley love triangle? POLL!
P.S. Anyone psyched at the possibility of having Montgomery back on TV on a regular basis? If there’s a role (guest or regular) for her real-life partner Adam Kaufman in it, I’ll program my DVR now.
Photo credit: Everett Collection
- Prev
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- Next
Latest News
- 'American Idol': The top 24 are...
- 'Idol': Replay MJ Santilli's top 24 chat
- Abby Elliott eyes Fox comedy pilot
- 'Survivor': Nina talks 'vapid' Kat
- 'Good Deeds' vs. 'Act of Valor' at box office
- 'John Carter': Taylor Kitsch's short hair?!
- Stevie Nicks to guest on 'Up All Night'
- Billy Crystal talks Oscars: See EW cover
Most Commented
- Chris Harrison blogs 'The Bachelor' episode 8 689
- Miranda Lambert tells Chris Brown to 'take notes' during 'Gunpowder and Lead' performance 614
- Father Knows Best? 608
- Amanda Knox signs a massive book deal with HarperCollins 596
- Rihanna and Chris Brown release simultaneous remixes, guest on each others' new tracks 460
