Michael Oher was one of these kids that was brought in off the streets into a well Christian based home and given a chance to work hard to make himself great in school and also on the football field.

An American drama comes to life in this movie and really makes you think of how good some of us already have it. Written by John Lee Hancock,and based on the 2006 book ” The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game ” by Michael Lewis. The storyline features Michael Oher, an offensive lineman who now plays for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL.

The film follows Oher from his impoverished upbringing, through his years at Wingate Christian School (a fictional representation of Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, Tennessee), his adoption by Sean and Leigh Ann Tuohy, and on to his position as one of the most highly coveted prospects in college football.

This movie is not just about football but the hard facts of life that a player has to face in such a way. Oher has to work hard in a school where things are much harder than his last school. He is look down own in many ways by all sorts of people. The teachers look down on him at first and then come to see the more they help him the more he learns.

Oher has also been given help by a private in home tutor to help him make the rite grades he needs to play and stay on the grid iron. He has no place on a football field until Leigh Ann ( Sandra Bullock ) says to him ” protect your men on the field as you protect me off the field. Sean ( Tim McGraw ) doesn’t know what to think to start with until he sees that his wife is serious about the education and lifestyle she tries to give Oher.

I will leave you with this little information. When a movie like this comes out it is always a never miss situation. The movie is so good and so down to earth that it places a country slang voice in my words of writing.But this movie will touch your heart and may even make you cry.But the one thing is greatness that it shows us in more ways than none.

Check out the movie trailer for “The Blind Side” on our movie database collection.Hope you enjoy!

It was a heat wave and drought that lasted for nearly four years. Paul W. “Bear” Bryant was hired as head coach, taking over for Ray George, at Texas A&M. Bryant would eventually become named one of the greatest coaches to ever walk the sideline.

People say that he was one of the hardest coaches to play for in college history. Today’s players would not even come close to making it through one of Bryant’s camps. Two of Bryant’s players eventually coached in the NFL and college.

Jack Pardee was one of the boys that went through football camp hell. He would later go on to coach for NFL teams like the Chicago Bears, Houston Oilers, and Washington Redskins. He was placed into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

Another great player to coach was Gene Stallings. Gene followed in the Bear’s footsteps and would take over as head coach at Texas A&M and eventually become coach at Alabama from 1990 – 1996. He would also be the only one of the Junction Boys to ever coach under Bear Bryant at Alabama. Gene would also win the SWC Championship in 1967, the SEC Championship in 1992, and the National Championship in 1992. Other great awards included the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award in 1992 and the Walter Camp Coach of the Year award in 1992.

The The Junction Boys is based on what these boys went through in the Texas heat. There were times when Bear would deny water breaks during camp, pushing these players to complete breakdown, waking them up before daylight and making them run through the morning.

The movie teaches us that the only way to succeed in life is to dig deep and work hard for all we receive. The Junction Boys will help you understand that hard work is rewarded.

Two of my favorite quotes from Bear Bryant are:

Losing doesn’t make me want to quit. It makes me want to fight that much harder.

And:

If wanting to win is a fault, as some of my critics seem to insist, then I plead guilty. I like to win. I know no other way. It’s in my blood.

Hanna Montana: The Movie

Miley/Hannah has the best of both worlds, but her life is headed in a whole new direction.

Hannah Montana: The Movie starts off with her singing her hit song, The Best of both Worlds, in concert, which we’ve all probably heard a thousand times. Well, at least if we have a child with a crush on this little country girl from Tennessee.

The movie is about her struggle with the decision to be Hannah or just plain Miley, which could be the biggest of her life. The movie was a pleasure to watch, I’d watch it again.

Who would have thought that watching Miley revisit her childhood home would be worth watching?

Miley gets a chance to repeat her childhood dream of being able to stand on a stage that she had not set foot on since she was six years old. The movie also provides some great country music from the group Rascal Flatts and even the beautiful Taylor Swift.

Miley’s costar, Emily Osment wants a movie sequel. If you have not seen Hannah Montana: The Movie, I would suggest that you pick you up a copy today from your nearest DVD shop.

I’m hoping you all will share what you pick up from your weekly entertainment shopping sprees as well.

I’m a sucker for all things entertainment. Send me to Wal-Mart, Best Buy, or any bookstore, I’m like a kid that just landed in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory — I can’t get enough. If I see a TV series on DVD that I like, it’s almost a guarantee that I’ll buy it. I’ve never walked out of a bookstore without adding at least one new book to my collection.

My brain is in need of constant entertainment.

Heroes: Season 2

If you don’t know what Heroes is, then you either don’t have a TV or have can’t tune into NBC. I feel a great sadness for anyone that’s not watching this show.

I’m still catching up on many of the series I missed last year on television. However, I did download quite a few of these episodes while in South Korea, but there were some I missed out on.

I’m actually taking a break from watching this season to write this. I just finished episode 6. So far, the season doesn’t disappoint. As soon as I’m finished writing this, I’m watching episode 7.

The Host

I admit it. I’m now a Stephanie Meyer addict. Well, I’m pretty much addicted to anything dealing with vampires. I’m on the third book in her Twilight series and am enjoying them, even if there are a few cheesy parts here and there.

She will long be known for her Twilight series, but I’ve always been more interested in reading The Host, which is a science-fiction book about invisble, alien invaders that take humans as hosts. The story follows Melanie, a human that refuses to allow Wanderer (one of the invaders) possess her mind.

The description alone promises a much better read. I’ve already bumped it up to the top of my must read list.

The Road

The Road is Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece. I don’t know how many times I thought about purchasing this book. I figured that I might as well drop the $5.97 for it. Most of my book collection is still in storage anyway, and I was starting to run out of things to read.

It is a post-apocalyptic novel about a boy and his father on a journey. Civilization has died out, along with pretty much any other species. It is an image of a future with no hope but this father and son.

There is a film adaptation of this book scheduled to be released sometime this year, starring Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee as the father and son.

The Shack

This was the third novel I picked up this week. It was also the third with the word The at the beginning of the title. That’s a bit odd.

I know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but every time I pass by this novel in a store, I’m instantly drawn by the image on the front cover. I finally caved and made the purchase.

The Shack was written by William Paul Young. The story promises to awaken your soul and provide some sort of answer for one of life’s ultimate questions — “Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?” (back cover).

Did you purchase anything interesting this week?

I’m always looking for new fixes for my entertainment addiction. Let me know if you’ve picked up anything good to read or watch this past week.

What about the things I purchased? Any opinions? I’m stoked that I found some great buys and have something to keep my mind occupied for at least a few days.

I just picked up the two-disc special edition of The Dark Knight yesterday and have been trying to find a chance to sit down and watch it.

I’m sure many of you have watched this in the theater, but this is one movie worth purchasing. And, I can say that without having watched the DVD version yet. I can say that even after having watched a cam-recorded version during my stay in South Korea.

If you haven’t watched this movie at all, then you can quit reading at this point, head over to a local shop, and put down a few dollars for this release.

You won’t be disappointed.

Why you should be watching

Director Christopher Nolan has brought Batman back from the depths of the Hollywood Tomb-of-Shame. His first take on Batman Begins was something many of us have waited years to see, but his follow-up is even better.

The Dark Knight is arguably one of the best superhero movies of all time.

What more do you need in a movie than massive amounts of action, a dark hero, a purely evil villain, another villain of circumstance, and a little romance on the side?

I’m sure you’ve all heard this before, but Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker was the best performance of his lifetime.

Any other picks this week?

I honestly wouldn’t care if not another movie came out all week. The Dark Knight is good enough to curb my movie addiction for a while.

I picked up Wanted with James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, and Angelina Jolie yesterday as well. It was released last week, but it’s worth watching. I’d suggest at least picking up the rental.

Dan In Real Life is the tale of a successful parenting advice columnist. This is a tale of his real life (just as the title leads you to believe).

This movie isn’t a formula comedic romance, it’s slow and sweet. The movie begins with the little mundane things it takes to keep life going. Dan is a hard worker who’s just trying to do the best he can in work and at home.

Theatrical trailers for this movie might lead you to believe this is a classic romantic comedy you’ve gotta see. This isn’t the case. While I enjoyed the slower pace, others may prefer a little more whiz-bang action for the buck. This movie is a nice and sweet story of romance at the wrong time. The comedy feels organic and is authentically embarrassing at times.

Fans of the NBC series The Office may enjoy the awkward moments and silent pauses throughout. There are even a few, genuinely painful, Michael Scott moments.

The movie soundtrack also deserves a nod. The music of Dan in Real Life by Sondre Lerche gently moves you through the tough moments and the funny stuff too, taking on a life of it’s own. I liked both the movie and it’s soundtrack.

First things first. You’ve got to check out the Star Wars: The Clone Wars official site. It is jam packed with all things Clone Wars such as videos, games, downloads, characters, screen shots, etc. You could spend days playing around on it. Loads of fun. In fact, I’ve spent more time on that site in the past week than I have on my wife (it’s a married thing – some of you will understand.) Sadly, I wish I could say I was just joking.

The website also gives you the ability grab the following widget for your own site, MySpace, Facebook, or whatever.

Spoiler Alert: Anakin Skywalker turns to the dark side and becomes Darth Vader. But that doesn’t happen in The Clone Wars. I know, that was probably a bit mean to trick you like that.

The Essentials

Title: Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Official Site)
Directed by Dave Filoni
Written by Henry Gilroy, George Lucas, Steven Melching, and Scott Murphy
Running Time: 98 mins
MPAA Rating: Rated PG for sci-fi action violence throughout, brief language and momentary smoking.

The Plot of The Clone Wars

As the Clone Wars sweep through the galaxy, the heroic Jedi Knights struggle to maintain order and restore peace. More and more systems are falling prey to the forces of the dark side as the Galactic Republic slips further and further under the sway of the Separatists and their never-ending droid army.

Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan learner Ahsoka Tano find themselves on a mission with far-reaching consequences, one that brings them face-to-face with crime lord Jabba the Hutt. But Count Dooku and his sinister agents, including the nefarious Asajj Ventress, will stop at nothing to ensure that Anakin and Ahsoka fail at their quest.

Meanwhile, on the front lines of the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda lead the massive clone army in a valiant effort to resist the forces of the dark side. (Taken directly from The Clone Wars Official Site. Hey, work smarter not harder)

The Review of The Clone Wars

Visually and artistically, the movie is stunning. Viewers will quickly recognize several buildings and familiar rooms in this animation. The colors are bright and modern and the vehicle movements are spot on. Since there were a ton of CGI scenes in Episodes 1-3, there are moments when you wonder if they just used the same files. The strong angled beards and hair were tough to get used to on a few of the characters though. I immediately thought of the stylized sculptures of the ancient Greeks like the Dying Warrior. My art background forces me to wonder if this time period inspired the character designs a bit. See below:

The storyline was decent. I mean, we all know that one doesn’t become a Star Wars geek solely based upon the acting and directing. At least with the computer animated backdrop of the movie, there are no real expectations of great acting (not that there would have been anyway) so George Lucas didn’t necessarily get in the way of the story aside from one minor annoyance – but more on that later. The Clone Wars did not really add much to the original storyline, nor did it take anything away from it. There is very little in the movie that seem to attempt to elaborate or further any of the subplots of the original live action movies. That being said, it’s completely acceptable. We know the story. We know what happens at the beginning, in the middle, and of course at the end. All in all, there seems to be just enough connection in The Clone Wars to have it included as part of the Star Wars story but plenty enough different that we are okay with the animation.

The movie doesn’t disappoint in regards to humor. You could always count on that good ol’ George Lucas humor. There are some moments of funny dialogs between droid superiors. R2-D2 celebrates some sharp shooting. And Anakin’s struggle with his young Padawan learner, Ahsoka Tano, is reminiscent of the relationship between Obi-wan and Anakin during his apprenticeship. However, a minor part of the movie that is not very amusing is the appearance of Ziro the Hutt. Feelings reminiscent of the introduction of Jar Jar Binks come to mind. It’s not so much the character or the fact that he is Jabba’s uncle. It’s the voice that’s annoying. There are grumblings that Ziro is the first overtly gay alien. I didn’t initially think of that. I was too busy trying to use jedi mind tricks on myself in order to block out the voice. It’s just the Lucas way I guess. Rumor has it that Lucas explicitly asked for Ziro to sound like Truman Capote. Although, at one point, he (or she) sounded like Adam Sandler to me. Ridiculous. But that’s really the only negative and he has only a small part in the movie unlike Jar Jar.

All in all, the movie is a fun experience for a Star Wars fan like me. I was fortunate enough to be able to load up my two sons on The Clone Wars opening weekend for a little boys only time. Unfortunately, my wife doesn’t understand the power of the Force. She has yet to watch a single Episode of Star Wars all the way through because she can’t, and I quote, “stay awake.” Eh, she doesn’t deserve to be a Star Wars fan anyway. But somehow she manages to stay awake during Mama Mia!, The Notebook, Kate & Leopold, You’ve Got Mail, etc., etc., etc.

Spoilers: This isn’t going to destroy your movie experience by any means. But, one of my favorite scenes involved a confrontation between battle droids and clone army troopers. The clone army commander told a battle droid leader, “Your outnumbered!” In the scene, it was clear that the clone army was actually outnumbered. The droid started to count, “Wait, one, two…” Then boom! Reinforcements arrive in battleships to blow up the sidetracked droids. Trust me, it’s funny. You also find out what a baby huttling is in the form of Jabba the Hutt’s son. Oooo, nasty!

Watch The Clone Wars If…

You enjoy computer animation and are at minimum a casual Star Wars fan. If you even remotely want to see this film, go ahead and buy a matinee ticket to save some money. This movie is worth the big screen experience for any Star Wars fan.

Rating: 5.5/10

ThinkBox gives it two Sith Lords and a droid – which is a few Jedi Knights short of a must-see.

Story

Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) is at it again. In National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets, Gates is faced with the accusation that one of his ancestors actually helped in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. As Gates tries to discover the truth and prove the innocence of his family name, Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris) is trying to use Gates to find the treasure he wants.

Everything Else

The directing of Book of Secrets is very familiar if you have seen the first film. It is still filled with the cheesy dialog and jokes and unbelievable Indiana Jones like action. There is plenty of excitement, but the story and acting do not excel.

The action and comedy actually seem to have the complete opposite effect on the story and acting. With each scene you have to allow yourself to be more and more open to the possibility that any of the things that Gates does are even possible. If you can get beyond this major characteristic of this film then you should be fine with everything else. Book of Secrets delves into conspiracy theory and treasure hunting in an entertaining if not so believable fashion that should keep most viewers entertained throughout.

The Real Deal

I liked Book of Secrets even though it was not the best movie. It was exactly what I had expected it to be so it did not disappoint. If I had gone into the film thinking that it was going to be better than the first film (or more believable) then it could have been more painful watching this one. National Treasure is not supposed to be believable or have great story or acting, but rather it is meant for pure entertainment value and it seems to live up to that.

David’s Score: 6/10

Written by Dave of DavesMovieReviews.com

Let’s get on with all the releases:

Mike Recommends:

Batman: A boatload of goodies

There is a bunch of Batman stuff this week, like the Blu-Ray release of Batman Begins. It also comes in a Limited Edition Blu-Ray Gift Set for those wanting something extra special. You can get that in the regular DVD version as well. We also have the fifth season of the animated series, The Batman, which is produced by the CW Television Network.

But perhaps biggest of all is the direct-to-DVD release of Batman: Gotham Knight, which is supposed to tell six separate stories that take place during the span between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight (which is in theaters July 18th).

There is a Blu-Ray version, a 2-disc Collector’s Edition and also a Single Disc version.

To give you a taste of Gotham Knight, here is a little featurette of the movie involving the writers.

The Ruins

A pretty fun horror flick based on the novel by Scott B. Smith, The Ruins is a decent renter for those looking to have some good scares this weekend.

TV Series Galaore!

Wow, so there are quite a few DVD releases this week in the TV department. First we get the fourth season of Stargate: Atlantis, then the sixth season of Monk, followed by the second season of Psych, and finally the special edition of X-Files: Revelations.

The X-Files DVD collection is actually very, very cool. It contains eight critical episodes hand-picked by series creator Chris Carter, with all new introductions to each episode from Carter and Frank Spotnitz. There is also a trailer for the upcoming X-Files sequel and a Free Movie Cash Ticket. The eight episodes are:

Pilot (from Season 1), Beyond the Sea (from Season 1), The Host (from Season 2), Clyde Bruckmans Final Repose (from Season 3), Memento Mori (from Season 4), Post-Modern Prometheus (from Season 5), Bad Blood (from Season 5) and Milagro (from Season 6)

Moody Blues: Lovely To See You (Blu-Ray)

A high-definition concert from the amazing Moody Blues. I am posting this recommendation mainly for my Dad, who raised us on this music, which accounts for my ability to sing most of their songs word-for-word still to this day.

What You’ll Probably Rent:

Stop-Loss

An Iraq war movie starring Ryan Phillippe…heard decent things about it, nothing too great.

Superhero Movie

It has Pamela Anderson listed as one of the cast members, but you’ll probably rent this anyways. It’s another one of those movies that makes fun of other movies. You know what I mean.

It’s September 23rd, it’s on Blu-Ray and it’s exciting. My only sadness is that I DO NOT OWN a Blu-Ray player and it’s getting harder and harder all the time to ignore that fact.

It’s retailed at an ugly $89.98, but Amazon has Firefly (Blu-Ray) available for pre-order at $63.

I would cry even more if I hadn’t watched the entire series on Universal HD already, but I really am curious what kind of high-def special features this new release will have.