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Here's a look at last week's big theatrical release... as well as a review of new Sunday night cable offerings.

Scream 4
Starring: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Emma Roberts, and Rory Culkin
Synopsis: I've written about my love for "Scream" and a little bit about why I liked this film in early posts, so I won't re-hash that here. This is a movie that follows the familiar formula that kicked off in 1996. The teen characters — really all the characters — are probably a little too pop culture-savvy and talky to exist in real life, but that's part of the charm of the film. I also think the film does a nice job of lampooning some of the things that have made the horror genre difficult to sit through in recent years. In a lot of ways this feels like a blast from the past in a good way. The violence here is a bit stronger than in previous films (with one sequence in particular feeling a little anti-"Scream" in its level of gore), but the film is much more retrained than anything you'd see in the "Saw" franchise. This film has a mix of humor, movie industry lingo, and tense death scenes. After 11 years, I thought the "Scream" franchise bounced back nicely. The story has a few twists and a few endings, which is its major fault. In an effort to be original and creative, it felt like the film tacked on a few too many endings. But, since the ultimate climax featured some of the best lines, I'm inclined to let that slide a little. For fans of the genre, this will be a pleasant treat.
Rating: R for strong bloody violence, language and some teen drinking.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Sunday Night Programming:
It seems that Sunday night offers a lot of options for those with cable. I previously reviewed Showtime's latest series, here is a review of the slate on AMC and HBO.

The Killing
Starring: Mireille Enos, Joel Kinnaman, Billy Campbell, Brent Sexton, and Michelle Forbes
Synopsis: This drama from AMC is a character-driven murder mystery. The whole first season (13 episodes) centers around one case. Each week you get another piece of the mystery of who killed Rosie Larson. The show follows the detectives (Enos and Kinnaman), a politician running for mayor who is caught up in the investigation (Campbell), and the victim's parents (Sexton and Forbes). Set in Seattle, the show has a great moody atmosphere that adds to the intrigue. The characters are being developed slowly and the mystery is really building. For those who are fans of the genre, this is a gem.
Verdict: A-
Where to Watch: AMC, Sunday nights at 10 p.m.

Game of Thrones
Starring: Mark Addy, Sean Bean, Lena Headly, and Peter Dinklage
Synopsis: Based on the dense fantasy series by George R.R. Martin, this show was described by executives as "Lord of the Rings" with a lot of sex. After seeing the pilot, that doesn't seem like a totally fair description since it seemed to lack the heart and warmth of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic works. Having not read the books, it was a little hard to follow the pilot, which also had a lot of exposition. Allegedly the subsequent episodes get more interesting. The production values and special effects are strong (in keeping with the reported $100 million price tag for the first 10 episodes), but it's the material and characters that might be the biggest detraction. Bean brings a good quality to his character, but I didn't really care for any of the others. And with a sprawling cast, there were a lot of characters to get to know. I wasn't impressed with the pilot episode, but fans of the novel or the genre may be more excited for this show. Much like "True Blood," I believe the series is going to continue to ramp up the adult content.
Verdict: C-
Where to Watch: Airs on HBO on Sunday nights at 9 p.m.

Treme
Starring: Melissa Leo, Wendell Pierce, Clarke Peters, Khandi Alexander, and Steve Zahn
Synopsis: HBO's series "Treme" begins its second season on Sunday night. The show — from the creators of "The Wire" — follows the lives of a group of people rebuilding their lives in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The first season — which aired last spring and is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray — began five months after the Hurricane. The first season went through the first Mardi Gras and featured an incredible performance from John Goodman. This season picks up a few months after the first ended. The show is an incredible tribute to the location, culture, and especially the music of New Orleans. Plenty of real-life musicians make appearances throughout the show, and season two promises more of the same. "Treme," which draws its title from a section of New Orleans, was one of my favorite shows in 2010 and I expect more of the same from this second season.
Verdict: A
Where to Watch: Airs on HBO Sunday nights at 10 p.m.

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