TV Week – Five Other Shows Netflix Should Resurrect

So by now everyone has been elated and deflated by the return of Arrested Development.  At some point I’m going to jot down my ideas on the whole thing, but that’s going to have to wait until I’ve finished watching. 

But of course, being the positive guy that I am, I’m not going to dwell how Arrested Development misfired.  No, I’m going to turn my attention to other shows that Netflix could possibly bring back from the dead. 

Monday Munchies – Edamame Crunch

I remember when candy bars cost 49¢.*

It’s very true.  When I was cognizant enough to be aware of how much things cost and aware of candy, a Snicker’s bar cost 49¢.  And that’s why I’ve got such a hard time paying for a candy bar today.  Plus you’ve got those fancy exotic candy bars that cost ten times as much as my old school bars. 

It’s ridiculous…or is it?  

Movie Week – End of Watch

Image via Behance

I’m a sucker for a good cartel story and not just because I grew up a stones throw from Mexico.   I dug when they showed up in The Shield.  I dug when they showed up in Breaking Bad.  I enjoyed their inclusion in Southland. 

And since I know I dig cartel stuff, I knew I wanted to watch End of Watch.  Plus it was a pretty buzzed about movie and who isn’t remotely interested in those? 

Movie Week – Savages

Image via Return to Fleet

Welcome to the final day of Movie Week here at Fission Spaghetti.  As much as possible I tried to come up with themes to string double features together.  The last theme of Movie Week was Mexican Cartels. 

The first movie of the night was Savages. 

Monday Munchies – Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Nougat Crunch

You know how they say that every seven years you’re a brand new person because that’s how long it takes for every cell in your body to be replaced?  No?  Well how about the idea that you should try new things because your palette grows?  Well, I believe both. 

There was a time when I wouldn’t have dared to try Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Nougat Crunch.  But those days are far behind me. 

Movie Week – Behind the Candelabra

So earlier in the week, I had a Steven Soderbergh double feature of Contagion and Magic Mike.  But then I remember that Esteban had another movie that I’d really wanted to see; Behind the Candelabra. 

Who doesn’t want to watch a movie about Michael Douglas seducing Matt Damon?  Doesn’t that sound like an awesome Saturday Night? 

And now our feature presentation. 

Movie Week – The Hunger Games

Image via Minimal Movie Posters

I’ll admit to being reluctant to check out The Hunger Games.  On one hand I’m loathe to jump into anything based on a Young Adult series of novels  I got fooled by Harry Potter, but carefully avoided Twilight. 

On the other hand, I’m a fan of Jennifer Lawrence.  She was amazing in Winter’s Bone, which was a star making role.  And of course she killed Silver Linings Playbook.  So, I want to support her work as an actress. 

And that’s what I was thinking about when I saw that The Hunger Games was on Netflix.

Movie Week – Good Night, and Good Luck

So, I’ll admit to floundering a bit to at this point in Movie Week.  There were three movies that I knew I wanted to watch, with two of them being a thematic double feature and the third being a movie I promised I’d watch with someone. 

I’m stuck.  But then I remember that Amazon Instant Video may have some movies that aren’t on Netflix . Might there be a film I wanted to see on that service? 

And that’s how I came up with Good Night, and Good Luck. 

Movie Week – Martha Marcy May Marlene

You know those movies that have buzz but for some reason or another you never get around to watching them?  Maybe it’s because it’s an indie flick and it doesn’t hang around for long.  Maybe your movie buddy hasn’t heard of it and is reluctant to check it out.  Who knows? 

Well Martha Marcy May Marlene is one of those movies. It got a ton of buzz because it introduced Elizabeth Olsen to the world.  And because it was allegedly a good movie. 

I didn’t get a chance to see it, but I’d wanted to check it out.  I finally got the chance. 

Movie Week – The Debt

Doesn’t everyone love a good revenge flick?  I know I do. I enjoy when their fictional like Cape Fear or Kill Bill and when they’re based on historical events, like oh let’s say Munich. 

And because I did actually enjoy Munich (except for that last super on-the-nose last scene) I thought I’d try out The Debt.  I mean it’s The Mossad, hunting enemies of Israel and it’s got Ciaran Hinds starring.  What could possibly go wrong?

Movie Week – In Bruges

Image via Minimal Movie Posters

Since I committed myself to this Movie Week, I found myself with a kind of daunting list of movies to watch.  This meant that some days I’d have to double up on the movies.  On those “double” days I tried to come up with some rhyme or reason to connect the two films. 

The first double feature was Steven Soderbergh films, the second was films with single word titles.  Now it’s titles with two words. 

Hey, I didn’t say the connective tissue was any good. 

Movie Week – Wanderlust

I dig comedy.  I’ve got fond memories of going to a casino and catching a midnight showing of Wedding Crashers or some other raunchy comedy back when I lived in Las Vegas.  Good times. 

But I can’t front; I was skeptical about Wanderlust.  I can’t put my finger on it. 

No wait, I totally can; Jennifer Aniston. 

Movie Week – Prometheus

Image via Minimal Movie Posters

Another day, another double feature.  Yesterday’s theme was Steven Soderbergh films.  Today’s is “one word title.”  First up is Prometheus. 

Prometheus is yet another film that I’d meant to see in the theater, but never found the time to check it out.  However, since it was available On Demand I figured there was no time like the present to make up for that error. 

I’ll admit that I was worried that some of the negative things I’d heard about Prometheus had crept into my head. 

Movie Week – Magic Mike

So the second half of the Soderbergh double feature was Magic Mike.  Being someone who genuinely trusts Steven Soderbergh, I really kind of wanted to see Magic Mike in the theater. 

But I’m a guy who’s cool with going to see a movie dolo.  But considering that certain segments of the population were using Magic Mike for group outings, I felt like I’d be really out of place in that theater alone.  Plus it seemed like the type of flick that elicited audience interaction. 

Fortunately I was able to watch Magic Mike while chilling at home. 

Movie Week – Contagion

Image via Minimal Movie Posters

As movie week progressed I felt that I needed to incorporate some sort of order to the proceedings.  So, whenever possible I tried to come up with themes for the movies that I watched. 

Since there were two Steven Soderbergh films that I’d planned on watching, I figured that I’d have a Soderbergh double feature.  The first film in the double feature was Contagion. 

Monday Munchies – Ben & Jerry’s Limited Batch Piña Colada

Image via One Second Scoop

The summer has finally arrived.  It’s at the very least warm out, if now downright hot.  Which means it’s the perfect time for some ice cream. 

Of course as anyone familiar with Fission Spaghetti already knows; it’s always a perfect time for ice cream.  But there’s something about the summer that makes ice cream even more refreshing than usual. 

In honor of the season Ben & Jerry’s have release their latest Limited Batch flavor, Piña Colada.

Movie Week – Safety Not Guaranteed

So, Sunday night’s movie was originally intended to be Contagion, but things conspired to prevent that viewing from happening.  Because I didn’t want to be up all night long, I opted for the shortest option available; Safety Not Guaranteed. 

I really don’t know what I was thinking. 

Movie Week – Inglourious Basterds

Image via Reelizer

After watching Cabin in the Woods, I decided that I wanted to check out another film that I’d heard a lot of good things about; Inglourious Basterds.  (Incidentally, that’s probably going to be the last time I refer to it by it’s name because the intentional misspelling pushes me towards OCD.)

While I don’t necessarily love his work, I have a great deal of respect for Quentin as a filmmaker and I do love his taste in music.  Combine that with hype around the movie and I had some lofty expectations. 

Movie Week – Cabin in the Woods

Image via Reelizer

Last week, for some unknown reason, I decided that I was going to watch at least a movie a day for seven days.  Wait, I know why; it’s because Letterman and Fallon were repeats all week, which frees up two hours of viewing time for me. 

So I figured that I’d catch up on some movies that I’d wanted to see or heard good things about (though mostly the former.)  So on Saturday I tried out Cabin in the Woods.