Friday Night Lights: Better case for "Everyone Leaves Me"

Those teenage shows where the character says "Everyone leaves me" gets annoying, but this episode ("Leave No One Behind") is actually good and rings true. When I heard the character of Matt Saracen was going to rebel and drink, I thought it would be far-fetched and wouldn't make sense in just one episode. Actually, he has alot of problems to deal with. In this episode, he hangs out with Riggins and drinks and goes to a strip club---when his grandmom is admitted to the hospital emergency place. So, the coach grabs him and pours shower water on him. He has a heart breaking monologue, saying his coach left him for a better team, his coach's daughter left him for another guy, his last girlfriend---his grandmother's caretaker left him for her home country of Guatemala (which my parents are from!) and more importantly, his father left her for Iraq. He then asks what is wrong with him, his coach replies nothing. Simply touching. It made so much sense.

Why oh why resurrect Paradise Hotel?

Why oh why resurrect the train wreck that was Paradise Hotel? Those of you who don't remember the short-lived FOX reality show, it has come back. Season 2 will air on MyNetworkTV and Fox Reality channel. At the end of the first season, they had a preview of season 2 and FOX canceled. The show was about men and women in a hotel and at the end of episode, there would be an elimination round. The men and women could switch their partners and had to sleep in the same room, but that didn't mean they liked each other. And supposedly they had to 'play the game' but there was really no rules to the game.

Lost Season Opener Review

I thought I gave up but surprise surprise, an actual good episode from "Lost." Smartly, they focus on Hurley, the heart of the show. Wonderful wonderful stuff. I still don't have high hopes for the season but let's see.

Funny enough, there was two Terminator-like lines. "Come with me if you want to live."

Latter Days Review

I know the whole gay community know and revere this movie Latter Days, independent movie from 2003. And it is the first movie for both talented actors Steve Sandvoss (Lie to Me) and Wes Ramsey ("Charmed"). This movie also features Amber Benson ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Mysterious Skin), Erik Palladino ("ER"), and Rob McElhenney ("Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia"). The basic plot is Mormon missionary Elder Davis (Sandvoss) moves to L.A. with his group of missionaries, (which is more like a frat) to where a party boy Christian (Ramsey) lives with his singing best friend Julie (Rebekah Johnson). Christian, in a romantic movie manner, makes a bet he can 'turn' a Mormon. But, little do they know Elder Davis is has his own secret of his own. When they almost kiss, Elder Davis stops when Christian says his 'line' that always works: 'It doesn't have to mean anything.' He calls Christian shallow and leaves. The first rule he breaks is by telling Christian his real name: Aaron. Christian decides to better himself and delivers meals to HIV/AIDS patients.

Christian meets Keith (Palladino) the obligatory 'tough friend' that teaches the protagonist a lesson. He even says "I was you." Besides the cliches and formulas, this movie has its charms. It doesn't feel like you are watching an independent movie. According to the commentary, Palladino's mom told him, "Three years on "ER" and now you are doing gay porn?" LOL. Okay, back to the plot... Because of an accident that happens to Ryder (Gordon-Levitt), Aaron feels bad, Christian comforts him and they happen to kiss and the others happen to notice and Aaron is excommunicated. On the way back home to Iowa, Aaron has to wait for his flight in Salt Lake city and Christian runs for his love and confronts him. They kiss and make up and end up in a hotel after a snow storm. There they are completely nude in a lovely sex scene and Christian delivers a monologue about his past, getting deeper into the character.

Jacqueline Bisset ("Nip/Tuck," Mr. and Mrs. Smith) plays Christian's boss, she delivers a powerful performance. Bisset, who I have only seen in "Nip/Tuck" was a crazy villain and went a bit too far, but here she is perfect. As for the main actors, Ramsey calls forth vintage Ryan Reynolds in his comedy phase, but that is not an insult. And the marathon of horrible shirts he wears is mentioned in the commentary. Sandvoss gives a honest and strong performance, very heartbreaking and also sexy. With such enthusiasm, Sandvoss can be both innocent, but also has a devilish, yet knowledgeable smirk. I like how even though the character Aaron never came out of the closet and had his 'secret', he was not like 'whoa is me' or ignorant to the mechanics of things. When he strips off all his clothes to be with Christian, he is taking off all his inhibitions metaphorically.

Mary Kay Place (Pecker, "Big Love") plays his mom and she is always known for passionate moms or crazy ladies, she gives a good performance here too. The movie has plenty of little supernatural hints and connections and clues. The movie is about we are all connected. I think it is all about hope, it gives a strong message. It also gives hope to religious gay people. I understand why people love this movie. It is definitely worth watching. And it is not preachy, it is just adorable. It's just good.

Adult movies as kid cartoons of the past

Now that this potential bomb Rambo is coming out, I remember Rambo from when I was a kid in the 80's and I was like 'Wasn't the first movie called Rambo?' But it was called First Blood. I was four and I remember watching the cartoon of Rambo. I knew it was short-lived, I looked it up and it lasted one year, 65 episodes. Cartoon seasons last 65 episodes. Of course they had to turn it down. It was called "rambo and the Forces of Freedom."

When the animated series of RoboCop came out in 1988, I never saw the movie and never heard of it. I was 6. I loved the cartoon. Later on, my brother-in-law rented the 1987 movie on VHS and begged my dad to watch it. He said no because it was rated R. I begged him, saying I could handle it, and then when I saw it, from those people who have seen the movie, you know I was probably traumatized. But, the funny thing is that I wasn't bothered by Murphy being shot down, reasmbled, but what bugged me more was the psychological stuff about Murphy missing his wife and son. RoboCop only last 12 episodes. Toxic Crusaders, RoboCop, and Rambo are part of a special club, that they are animated series intended for children based on R-Rated movies. (Toxic Crusaders was based on Toxic Avenger). Can you imagine Alien Vs. Predator the animated series these days? Or Cloverfield?

Gay Version of Levi Commercial

Maybe I am behind but this Levis Commercial, there is the straight version and I didn't know there was a gay version. It mostly airs on Logo and I saw it on bravo during the Levi episode of "Project Runway."

Related Topic: Hot guy from Levi Commercial: Geroge Contreras on Caramelitos Baronil