Matt's Musings

There was a time when I watched nothing but "Star Wars" films — and by that, of course, I mean the real "Star Wars" films made in the 1970s and 1980s. As a boy, I would pull out all my G.I. Joe's and Star Wars action figures, put on the movies, and fight galactic wars. While "Star Wars" is no longer my favorite — or only — cinematic choice, the films have always held a special place in my heart. It was with a mix of excitement and fear that I went to the prequels, with the final two somewhat making up for the horror of "Episode I" but never rising to the level of the original films. After the prequels, George Lucas said he was done making "Star Wars" films, and it seemed like the truth. It also seemed right that the series would end with him. But while Lucas might be done making "Star Wars" films, the world isn't done with "Star Wars." That earth-shattering announcement came yesterday, as the Disney company p...

Alfred Hitchcock is having a moment. He's been dead for years, but now he's the subject of two movies. The first, "The Girl," premiered this month on HBO. The second, "Hitchcock," will be released in theaters in November. Without a doubt, Hitchcock made a big impression on the movie business. Even years later, his films are still considered classics and benchmarks in their genre. He was inventive, had a great eye, and understood the importance of story. You can watch "Psycho" today and still be pulled into the story. "The Birds," even minus today's special effects wizardry, still creeps me out. Of course the mark of any truly great filmmaker from the past is that their work stands alone — meaning no one wants to re-make it. That's certainly true of Hitchcock, making him a rare exception in this day and age. Of course, back when Hitchcock was working the press was different too. That's what makes the stories coming out about hi...

We're into November, which means that we're starting to get some of the deeper films that will be competing for Academy Awards, such as the Steven Spielberg biopic "Lincoln." Friday, November 2: Flight — This film marks Robert Zemeckis' return to live-action films. It stars Denzel Washington and looks to have a pretty power house story. In a weekend otherwise filled with kids fare and action eye candy, this is a more serious entry. Man With The Iron Fists — Produced by Quentin Tarantino and written by RZA of the Wu Tang Clan and Eli Roth, you can expect plenty of violence and stylized action with this film. The presence of Russell Crowe and Lucy Liu adds a little gravitas, but this feels like a pretty graphic action film. Wreck It Ralph — This is the big animated feature for the month, and one Disney has been pushing hard. It has an interesting concept, good voice actors, and should be a big family draw this month. Friday, November 9: Skyfall — This is the latest ...

Since the new fall season began I've reviewed pilot and second episodes of most of the new shows this fall season. A couple months into the season, the shows are starting to hit a groove. Today, I wrap up my look at the new shows this fall by offering my three favorite new shows and the three I found the most disappointing. Now, disappointing doesn't mean the worst. It just means the most disappoint... though they could be bad too. The Best: 1. Last Resort, ABC on Thursday nights at 7 p.m. (MST) This was the show I was most excited about prior to the new season, and it has been the best so far. "Last Resort" had an excellent pilot, and it has a great cast led by Andre Braugher and Scott Speedman (pictured above). It's got interesting stories and, to this point, seems to have a lot of possibilities. That is what you're looking for in this kind of show. It's a concern the ratings haven't been better, but so far this is my favorite new show of the 2012-13...

Last week might have been a break through. I went 8-5, getting closer to .500 for the year. Only time will tell, but I'm hoping for another strong week in week eight. As always, the picks are against the spread, not a straight up and down pick. Buccaneers +6.5 Over Vikings Bears -7.5 Over Panthers Chargers -2.5 Over Browns Seahawks +2.5 Over Lions Packers -13.5 Over Jaguars Colts +3.5 Over Titans Patriots -6.5 Over Rams Dolphins +2.5 Over Jets Eagles -2.5 Over Falcons Redskins +5.5 Over Steelers Raiders +1.5 Over Chiefs Dallas +1.5 Over Giants Saints +6.5 Over Broncos 49ers -6.5 Over Cardinals This Week: 1-0 Last Week: 8-5 Overall: 50-54

(Our first snowball!) In early October, the weather dropped and we were warned of snow flurries. Having lived in California all my life, this was about to be a momentous occasion for me. It was coming on Friday night/Saturday morning, so I was set to stay in and watch the snow. It didn't really materialize. So, this week, when there were rumors of snow fall, I didn't know what to think. I fretted, I considered, and I wondered. As the weather slipped from 70 to 60 to 50 to 40 to 30 (real feel 22) yesterday in the afternoon, I knew something was brewing. In the afternoon, I walked across the street to the graphics department to check in. By the time I was set to walk back, the air was full of white buzzing around and turning into puddles when it hit the ground. Flurries again, this time for real. After a quiet few hours once I headed home, I began to think the snow had bypassed our area. Then, as we set to go to be, I checked outside and saw a fine coat of white on the ground. Ex...

Here's a look at the movies I saw this week. There is a lot of violent films out right now.... Alex Cross Starring: Tyler Perry, Edward Burns, Matthew Fox, and Rachel Nichols Synopsis: Tyler Perry has a certain gift set that has helped him carve out a niche in Hollywood. His “Madea” franchise remains relatively popular, and the comedies he produces for the small screen fill a certain void in the entertainment landscape. But in recent years, Perry has sought to branch out. In 2010, he directed an adaptation of the edgier stage play “For Colored Girls,” and his recent films have taken on more dramatic tones. So, in some ways, it seems logical that his next leap would be into an action star role. But the question remains, is that the right kind of path for Perry? Judging by “Alex Cross,” his latest starring vehicle, the answer is no. “Alex Cross” is sort of a prequel film based on the James Patterson novels that feature the famous detective. In the late 1990s and early ...