ALBUM REVIEW: Kings of Leon's "Come Around Sundown"

I just started consciously liking this bluesy Southern rock band Kings of Leon this year. Consciously? Yes. Like everyone else this September, I was swept up by the amazingly upbeat and spiritually rousing melody of "Radioactive," the first single off their latest album, Come Around Sundown. It's actually their fifth album in seven years, and as I suspected, I've been hearing them and loving them for a while without realizing it, rocking out to their earlier stuff ("Molly Chambers," "King of the Rodeo," "Taper Jean Girl," "Charmer"), which reminds me of Jet.

But as the years passed, they got a little darker and a little more bluesy. That's when they started to attract more attention. So being as oblivious as I am sometimes, the song "Sex on Fire" hit the airwaves in the Fall of '08, and I, like everyone, including the Grammy judges who bestowed them with 3 awards including Record of the Year, loved it. And "Use Somebody," the second single off that album released in December '08, was just as addictive. Even "Revelry," the third single, which was criminally overlooked in the U.S., is worth a listen.

Their latest offering dives deeper into the blues genre, with gut-wrenching vocals and melodic intensity. I love most of the songs because of lead singer Caleb Followill's voice. I get lost in its vibrations and fail to even remember to listen to the lyrics. I swear to you. I have no clue what they're talking about in "The Face" and "Pyro" because I can't concentrate long enough to figure it out—too busy floating on his harmonies.

Below are my favorite tracks off the album, although I recommend all of it. Ironically, however, these youtube clips are all covers, so you can't really hear his voice but you know a song is amazing if it's good no matter who sings it.

"The End"
A beautiful piano-driven ballad


"Radioactive" feels like a religious experience, especially after you watch the video.



"Mary"
With a 50s duw-op big band melody, it has you flashing back to the Sadie Hawkins dance, swaying to the Oldies.



Warning: The song "Mi Amigo" is not about amigos/friends, and is not for the faint of heart. lol

FILM/TV NEWS: Ben Hibon's Peter Pan, New Spider-Man Villain, Lost's Hurley gets stuck on another island, and more

• For those of you who've already seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One, and enjoyed the animated shadow sequence that told the story of three brothers who tried to outsmart Death, you'll be happy to know that the director of said sequence, the Swiss graphic design artist Ben Hibon, has just scored his first live action feature film, Pan. Following the mounting wave of fairytales-turned-cryptic, from Alice in Wonderland to Little Red Riding Hood (like it wasn't scary enough), Hibon will be taking on the challenge of transforming the heroic and nostalgic kiddie tale of Peter Pan into a gritty crime noir where Peter is a child abductor and Hook is the cop on his tail. Considering that the incredibly talented Guillermo del Toro was once attached in 2006, you'v gotta believe that the studios have some serious confidence in the budding ingenue.

• Speaking of mounting trends, Gael Garcia Bernal has been added to Hands of Stone, the biopic of champion lightweight boxer Roberto Duran. The Panamanian athlete is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Al Pacino might add even more cred to the production as the trainer Ray Arecel.

• I'm not even going to address the announcement of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot—the film not the series—because on the one hand, I miss it so much that I'd be happy with any incarnation and I'm intrigued as to who, of this generation's actors, they think could fit into Buffy's skin, but on the other hand, you will never ever ever top the series. Ever. (Side note: Please Chloe Moretz, please don't. You're doing soooo well.)

• I've been ignoring news of the Ghostbusters reboot casting (because I'd rather just hear the full list when it's settled), but I was genuinely excited to see comedian Bill Hader's ("SNL") name as a potential addition to the film. He's just the right amount of goofy that that film needs.

• Of all the actors I thought would benefit from starring in ABC Family's "10 Things I Hate About You," I did not imagine it would be Chris Zylka, who played dopey Joey. This week, he was tapped for the role of Peter Parker's high school bully Eugene "Flash" Thompson in the Spider-Man reboot opposite Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. He's entering the big leagues.

TV NEWS
• Did Jorge Garcia's guest-starring stint on the Thanksgiving episode of "How I Met Your Mother" make you miss "Lost" and Hurley's adorable mug? No worries, you'll get to see the lovable lug in J.J. Abrams's latest FOX drama "Alcatraz." (Abrams must have some free time after "Undercovers" bombed.) Before you freak and wonder if Hurley, I mean Jorge, will be imprisoned on yet another island, fret not fans. He won't be a prisoner. He'll be a geek who is an expert on the infamously imprisoned—you got that right. He'll be helping the FBI track down a group of missing Alcatraz prisoners and guards who have suddenly reappeared after vanishing thirty years ago. So it's like "Prison Break" meets NBC's "Chase." Wait. Doesn't that mean the criminals are in their 50s and up? That doesn't sound that awesome.

• What kind of TV role do you give a man who is famous for saying the words, "Bond. James Bond."? Pierce Brosnan is in talks to star in his own series, which will be about "an international operative and problem-solver-for-hire brought in for situations like kidnappings and business espionage." Hmmm, that sounds exactly like FOX's "Human Target" with a side of USA's "White Collar." Maybe if it lands on AMC, it'll get that extra push that the channel has successfully given to three other male driven shows ("Mad Men," "Breaking Bad," and "The Walking Dead").

ALBUM REVIEW: Shakira's "Sale el Sol"

Shakira is one of the very few Latin artists who manage to ping-pong between Spanish and English albums and still maintain a global fanbase. What's interesting about the Columbian crooner is that she doesn't just settle for bilingual domination. While it's considered that she's already conquered the Spanish market, technically she's only done so from a Columbian standpoint, using instruments and melodies that are native to her people mixed with a little pop and rock. Her latest album Sale el Sol ("The Sun Comes Out"), however, uses merengue, which is a type of Spanish music homegrown in the Dominican Republic. And to bolster her Caribbean theme, she recruited Dominican rapper El Cata, successful Puerto Rican crossover rapper Pitbull, and the Latin Grammy winning rap group Calle 13 to guest-rhyme on four tracks. This is what you would call mainstreaming in the Spanish-sense of the industry term, since a majority of the Spanish people in America are from the Caribbean. Both Mexican popstar Thalia and Puerto Rican popstar J.Lo have tried their hand at this, but it seems Shakira will be the one to pull it off.

Her first single "Loca" feat. Dizze Rascal (and El Cata on the album) was the perfect sultry start. Below you'll find more hot tracks to dance to. You can just picture her moving her snake-like hips to them:

"Addicted to You"
The song is in Spanish, but the chorus is in Spanglish, so technically you can sing along.


"Gordita" feat. Residente of Calle 13


"Rabiosa" feat. El Cata
The song's title means she can't be satisfied. Her desire is endless and that's made evident by the tone of her voice. There's another version with Pitbull that's in Spanglish.

TRAILER: Jason Statham & Ben Foster's "The Mechanic" Remake

PLOT: Follows an elite hit man (Statham) as he teaches his trade to an apprentice (Foster) who has a connection to one of his previous victims.

CAST: Jason Statham (The Transporter and The Expendables), Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma), and Donald Sutherland

VERDICT: First off, it's directed by Simon West, the guy who brought us planes rolling through Vegas (Con Air) and a badass heroine (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider). Just from the trailer, you know it's not going to be your average shoot 'em up action-packed film. Secondly, Ben Foster has a way of stealing the spotlight in every supporting role he does, from Hostage to 3:10 to Yuma. He's the perfect sidekick for Statham. They both have that gritty, untrusting glare, makes you wonder who'll draw first when they inevitably go head-to-head. That said, I didn't see the 1972 original with Charles Bronson, so I look forward to hearing which critics prefer.


Release Date: January 28

TEASER TRAILER: Battle: Los Angeles

PLOT: A Marine platoon faces off against an alien invasion in Los Angeles.

CAST: Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight), Michelle Rodriguez (Avatar), Michael Pena (Crash), and Bridget Moynahan ("Blue Bloods")

VERDICT: It looks like a war movie, but the enemy isn't human. The cinematography reminds me of District 9. It's all very bare and as realistic as it can be, trying to convince you that this could really happen. Considering how cheesy alien action films can be, this looks pretty good. My only worry is that it might be unnecessarily turned into a franchise. If the Los Angelenos lose the battle, will the aliens spread further?


Release Date: March 11

TRAILER: Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, & Saoirse Ronan's "The Way Back"

PLOT: A fact-based story centered on soldiers who escaped from a Siberian gulag in 1940 and have to travel across a desert, snowy mountains, and forest in order to get to India.

CAST: Jim Sturgess (21), Colin Farrell, Ed Harris (A History of Violence), Saoirse Ronan (The Lovely Bones), Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes), Dragoş Bucur, Gustaf Skarsgård

VERDICT: I like that Colin Farrell is taking the gradual journey back to the spotlight, taking ensemble, character-driven roles—and he's in great company. I'd watch this film just to see how much they have to go through. It looks like A LOT.


Release Date: Jan. 21 (limited)

FILM NEWS: Bardem & Franco up for "Clash of the Titans 2," Tatum offered "21 Jump Street," and more

• How do you make the Clash of the Titans sequel awesome? You add Javier Bardem and James Franco. Bardem is being sought after to play the God of War Ares and Franco is up for Agenor, the son of Poseidon.

• Channing Tatum is at the top of the list to star alongside Jonah Hill in the "21 Jump Street" film adaptation. 

• Looks like Ed Westwick ("Gossip Girl") might be getting some legit work. He's been cast in the indie adaptation of Sebastien Japrisot's novel Trap for Cinderella. It's about "a rich woman and a poor woman trapped together inside a beach house in a French resort gutted by fire. Only one of them survives, burnt beyond recognition and with total amnesia, resulting in all sorts of questions about her identity." It's like the Prince and the Pauper…if it were a horror movie. Can you imagine? If it's the poor girl, she's rich, but disfigured, and if it's the rich girl, she could end up poor and disfigured. Brooke Shields, Bill Nighy, Imogen Poots (28 Days Later), and Tamsin Egerton (St. Trinian's) will also star.

• There are plans to adapt Rebecca Serle's novel Rosaline, which will tell the story of Romeo and Juliet from the perspective of the girl he ditched.

ALBUM REVIEW: KT Tunstall's "Tiger Suit"

A majority of the songs on my iPod are singles. Sometimes I listen to an entire album and only find one song I like, and sometimes I just download whatever's hot on Z100 or in the Billboard Top 100. I know. Shameful. I think that's what happened with KT Tunstall's first two albums. I only have one track from each: "Suddenly I See" from Eye to Telescope and "Hold On" from Drastic Fantastic. Both were radio hits.

I thought maybe this time I'd listen to the whole album and really give the Scottish folk rock singer a chance to win me over. After listening to all 11 songs off her new album Tiger Suit, I realized that Ms. Tunstall has got a little more fire in her than she's commercially let on. I'm liking the less bubbly side of KT. There are still plenty of up-tempo tunes on the album, like the first single "Fade Like a Shadow" and the addictive "Come On, Get In" and "Madame Trudeaux," but most of the tracks have a more intense, bluesy, tribal, drum-and-chant driven melody. 

"Uummannaq Song"


"Push That Knot Away"


So tell me, how do you like your KT?

ONE-TO-WATCH: Emily Meade

Name: Emily Meade 
Age: 21
Where you've seen her: As the drug addicted bff of the hottest girl in school in Joel Schumacher's Twelve, as the abusive older sister in the teen horror film My Soul to Take, and as Jimmy's scarred prostitute on HBO's "Boardwalk Empire."
Why she's One-to-Watch: I've only had the pleasure of seeing Meade as a doomed prostitute in Martin Scorsese's gangster drama. But in just two episodes, she managed to win the heart of not only one of the lead protagonists, Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt), but the viewers as well. Despite her character's occupation, she dreamed of a better life, where she'd be a beloved actress, worshiped instead of fondled. We began to wish that life for her too, and once any possibility of that ever happening was taken away, our heart broke with hers. She went from an independent, optimistic runaway to a damaged, needy drug addict. Such a transformation in such a short amount of screen time is impressive for a newbie. And having been approved by Scorsese himself is a coup in and of itself. Her first lead role in the tepidly recieved teen horror My Soul to Take may not have been the right spring-board, but she proved she could be as evil as she is adorable. If word of mouth spreads fast enough, she could easily be the dark alternative to Amanda Seyfried—sweet and sinister. Of course, one wrong move and she could be stuck in the horror movie spin cycle that Emily Browning (Ghost Ship and The Uninvited) was once sucked into.

Where you can see her next: In the indie coming-of-age comedy Sin Bin, where she'll play the center of a love triangle alongside musical comedian Bo Bournham and Disney star Michael Seater ("Life with Derek"), and the drama Silver Tongues, where she'll play a pawn trapped in the dark game of a traveling con artist couple.

TRAILER: Sarah Shahi's New USA Series "Fairly Legal"

PLOT: Upon her father's death, Kate (Sara Shahi from "Life" and "The L Word") leaves her position at her family's San Francisco law firm and becomes a mediator. Thanks to her innate understanding of human nature, thorough legal knowledge, and wry sense of humor, Kate is a natural when it comes to dispute resolution. Except, it seems, when it comes to conflicts in her own life. Since her father's sudden to death, Kate's relationship with her new boss—her "wicked" stepmother Lauren (Virginia Williams)—has grown ever more complicated, and the situation with her soon-to-be-ex-husband Justin (Michael Trucco from "Battlestar Galactica" and "Castle"), a San Francisco ADA, is no less confusing. With help from her resourceful assistant Leonardo (newcomer Baron Vaughn), Kate's doing her best to focus on work and avoid her own problems. But with new personal challenges and tough, unconventional cases suddenly on her docket, this newly-minted mediator's skills are about to be put to the test.



SNAP JUDGEMENT: I love Sarah Shahi. I first saw her as the tough-as-nails recovering addict Dani Reese from NBC's short-lived cop dramedy "Life." I was disappointed that the series was canceled, even though I understood why, and I hoped that Shahi would find another series soon. She took some time off and had a baby, then did a guest spot on "Psych." I was afraid they'd pigeonhole her as this aggressive, tiny sexpot. (I don't know what kind of character she played in "The L Word," but I will soon since her season is available on Instant Watch.) But I'm glad she found a gig where she's just your average woman trying to make it in life.

That said, I don't really like legal dramas. I tolerated "Ally McBeal" and gave ABC's "The Deep End" a shot before it was canceled, but the only ones I can honestly say I love are CBS's "The Good Wife" and LIFETIME's "Drop Dead Diva." They both have the right amount of romantic will-they-or-won't-they storylines and legal sparring. The USA network, however, is notorious for its light and airy TV shows, from "Burn Notice" to "Psych." They don't really do "drama"—that's reserved for TNT apparently. This series will most likely have some intense scenes that can't be diluted by immature jokes or explosions. While I'm confident that Shahi can carry a series on her own, I'm not confident she has the right material or costars to do it. But we'll know for sure in January 2011 when the series premieres.

TV Topic: Will MTV's "Skins" Remake Ever Live Up to the Original British Series?

In theory, it's a great idea to bring "Skins" to MTV. Over the years, the network has become less associated with music and more associated with sex—specifically teen sex, which "Skins" is chocked full of. Just this summer, the network debuted "The Hard Times of RJ Berger," an entire series about a teenage boy and his oversized penis. The concept is completely stolen from HBO's amateur prostitute series "Hung." It seems like original ideas are few and far between at the network, considering that someone then decided it would be a great idea to bring the British teen series "Skins" to the states. Not by purchasing the series and exposing American teenagers to European mayhem, clever dialogue, and genuinely impressive writing for a teen dramedy, but by remaking the series with a brand new cast.

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From the teaser below, you can see that the first episode will be a carbon copy of the British series's first episode. Considering how awesome the episode was that shouldn't sound like a problem. However, it is. First of all, why would I watch a recreation of an episode I 1) have already seen and 2) have already seen done better. Secondly, British humor doesn't translate quite properly in an American market. Thinking that making some of the cast members American is a solution is wrong. Lastly, removing some of the raunchier elements, like Tony's nude bedspread, just butchers the original series' effort to show teenagers in their truest form: hormonally charged and emotionally erratic. What MTV should've done was maintain the spirit of the series, the character types (popular couple, unmotivated loser, gay dancer, musician, Muslim extrovert, suicidal anorexic, and carefree drug addict), and the character arcs. The original series shows how the story would've all played out in England. What they need to do is show how it would've happened in America. In other words, they should follow the business model adopted by "The Office" producers. Here's hoping that Syfy's remake of "Being Human" and Showtime's remake of "Shameless" won't fail to impress, too.



Here's a breakdown of what you can expect in Seasons 1 & 2, if MTV stays true to the series.

BEST TRACK: Maroon 5's "Give a Little More"

I've been in love with Maroon 5's music ever since 2002's Songs About Jane. That album still exists on my iPod even though many of the decade's albums have since been retired. It was definitely musically spiritual awakening of epic proportions. The albums that followed didn't have the same effect, but every now and then I discover a track on one of their new EPs that I can't help but keep on replay.

For their latest release Hands All Over, I tolerated their first single "Misery," because I missed the band, but I really liked their second single, "Get a Little More." The song is about refusing to fall in love first, until there's a little more reciprocation. It has a poppy danceable beat and a Michael Jackson-like climax in the end. What's not to like?

TRAILER: Keira Knightley & Sam Worthington's "Last Night"

PLOT: The story follows a married couple Joanna Reed (Knightley) and Michael Reed (Worthington), apart for a night while the husband takes a business trip with a colleague (Mendes) to whom he's attracted. While he's resisting his temptation, his wife encounters her past love (Canet).

CAST: Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington (Avatar), Eva Mendes, Guillaume Canet (Love Me if You Dare), Daniel Eric Gold ("Ugly Betty").

VERDICT: If we pretend that this movie isn't about the potential for infidelity around every corner, the possibility of having chosen the wrong guy, or the so-called intrinsic nature for men to stray, then there could be a great love story here—maybe even two. There are two options. Either this film will tell us the story of how two people who are in love fall in love with two other people OR it'll tell us the story of two people who, when given the opportunity to stray, chose—once and for all—to be together. Those are the best case scenarios. Worst case scenario, one or both of them get hurt and we all leave the theater wanting to clip Cupid's wings for aiming to strike us with the fickle fate of love.


Release Date: no U.S. release date yet

VIDEO: Katy Perry's "Fireworks" vs. Pink's "Raise Your Glass"

While these songs and videos may not seem connected, they do have a common thread. Both feature hot guys kissing. Why is that relevant? Because of the message that each song has in the chorus. Perry is telling her fans to not be afraid to be who they are and to be optimistic about their future, and Pink is telling her fans to be proud of who they are and celebrate it. I prefer Perry's song, but I like that both have characters that represent the gay community. Considering how far we've come in overcoming homophobia, there should be more videos like this.

Pink's "Raise Your Glass" [0:27]
So raise your glass if you are wrong,
In all the right ways,
All my underdogs,
We will never be never be anything but loud
And nitty gritty dirty little freaks
Won't you come on and come on and raise your glass,
Just come on and come on and raise your glass


Katy Perry's "Fireworks" [2:17]
Cause baby you're a firework
Come on show 'em what your worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby you're a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"
You're gunna leave 'em fallin' down-own-own

TRAILER: Timberlake & Kunis's "Friends with Benefits" vs. Portman & Kutcher's "No Strings Attached"

Every now and then rival studios release two films with a similar premise. Sometimes it's a no-brainer as to which audiences will watch, whether it's the one that comes out first, the one with the better cast, director, and/or writer, or the one with the biggest budget. I like to settle it by deciding which one has the best trailer.

Next year, two films about best friends trying to maintain a fuckbuddy relationship will be released six months apart. Which will be better?

No Strings Attached
PLOT: A guy (Kutcher) and girl (Portman) try to keep their relationship strictly physical, but it's not long before they learn that they want something more.

DIRECTOR: Ivan Reitman (My Super Ex-Girlfriend) [-5 points]

CAST: Ashton Kutcher, Natalie Portman, Jake M. Johnson (Paper Heart) [+2 points], Ludacris [+2 points], Cary Elwes (Princess Bride) [+2 points], Olivia Thirlby [+2 points], Mindy Kaling ("The Office") [+2 points], Lake Bell [+1 points], Adhir Kalyan ("Rules of Engagement" and Youth in Revolt) [+2 points].

VERDICT: I noticed the weirdest thing this morning. Ashton Kutcher and Nick Cannon are living almost the exact same life. Both are married to older women, who are richer than they are. Both are producers of an array of media. And both have dwindling film careers. If it were not for Katherine Heigl's rising star power, The Killers would've totally bombed instead of barely recouping its budget, which is why the casting of an A-lister like Portman is the only reason this film will get noticed. [+2 points] Getting a January release date, however, doesn't bode well for the studio's confidence in how it'll play in theaters. That month is always designated for films that won't make it if they have any real competition. [-2 points] It also doesn't help that the director's last rom-com opened with $8 mil. The pluses though are the genuinely funny people who are in the cast and the opportunity to see if Portman can be mainstream funny again, like she was on "SNL" in 2006. = [+8 points]


Release Date: Jan 21


Friends with Benefits
PLOT: The relationship between two friends (Timberlake and Kunis) gets complicated when they decide to get romantic.

DIRECTOR: Will Gluck (Easy A) [+5 points]

CAST: Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Emma Stone (Easy A) [+2 points], Woody Harrelson [+2 points], Jenna Elfman, Patricia Clarkson (Easy A) [+2 points], Bryan Greenberg (Bride Wars and "How to Make It In America") [+2 points], Andy Samberg ("SNL" and I Love You, Man) [+2 points].

VERDICT: With every sporadic cameo on "SNL," Timberlake gets funnier. [+5 points] And Kunis had funny down by the time she was 15 on "That 70s Show." And with every film she proves to still be funny without the series, whether she's playing a thief (Date Night and Extract) or a sympathetic concierge (Forgetting Sarah Marshall). Plus, Director Gluck is riding on the coattails of his hit teen comedy, and it appears the studio is backing him 100%, giving the film a mid-summer release date. [+2 points] The only negative of the film is that it seems like it wants to out-raunch P&K's film, and it loses the heart that NSA has, which is what will make it a believable romantic story. The last film that went a little overboard to please both genders, Going the Distance, left the critics divided and opened with $7 mil. [-5 points] Then there's the fact that viewers of P&K's film might get sour on the premise in January, and may not sign on for another version. [-5 points] = [+12 points]


Release Date: July 22


WINNER: Friends with Benefits. For the red band trailer alone, people are more likely to skip NSA and go straight for FwB.

more showdowns:

Heigl & Kutcher's Killers vs. Diaz & Cruise's Knight and Day
Jennifer Anniston's The Switch vs. Jennifer Lopez's The Back-up Plan
Anniston & Butler's The Bounty Hunter vs. Cruise & Diaz's Knight & Day

TRAILER: Colin Farrell & Keira Knightley's "London Boulevard"

PLOT: A reclusive movie star (Knightley), who hides out from the world in a Holland Park mansion, hires a London criminal (Farrell) recently released from prison to be her bodyguard and handyman but ends up falling for him.

DIRECTOR: Directorial debut for writer William Monahan (adapted The Departed and Body of Lies, and wrote Kingdom of Heaven and this film)

CAST: Colin Farrell, Keira Knightley, Ben Chaplin (The Truth About Cats and Dogs), Ray Winstone (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), Anna Friel (Land of the Lost and "Pushing Daisies"), Stephen Graham ("Boardwalk Empire"), Jamie Campbell Bower (Sweeney Todd and New Moon).

VERDICT: Wow! Bodyguard and handyman. Aren't we a Renaissance man? It's been a while since I've seen a Knightley film, but she's always enjoyable so I'm sure she'll be great in this. The reason I'll see it though is for the continuing rebirth of Farrell. Ever since he surprised everyone with his performance in 2008's In Bruges, I've been waiting for a meaty lead role to get him back in the Oscar game. While I'm sure this isn't it, it's always great to see him screw around in a British film—especially since he's Irish. And by the several clever one-liners in the trailer, I can tell Monahan has quite the future ahead of him.


Release Date: November 26 (UK)

TRAILER: Zack Snyder's "Sucker Punch"

PLOT:  Set in the 1950s, a young girl (Browning) is institutionalized by her wicked stepfather. Retreating to an alternative reality as a coping strategy, she envisions a plan which will help her escape from the facility with her inmate friends before her lobotomy.

DIRECTOR: Zack Snyder (Watchmen & 300)

CAST: Emily Browning (Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Uninvited), Abbie Cornish (Bright Star), Jena Malone (Saved!) Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical), Jamie Chung (Grown Ups), Carla Gugino (Watchmen), Jon Hamm ("Mad Men" and The Town).

VERDICT: There are two factors that have already screwed this film before it's even premiered. First up is the most obvious, which is that the last comic book adaptation Snyder directed, Watchmen, failed to live up to expectations. That wasn't necessarily his fault. It looked amazing, but the plot was a little too dark and dreary for a superhero tale: "Let's create an enemy and decimate a few cities, so that the world realizes that they need us." Not exactly a bumper sticker. The second negative factor is that two other adaptions of little-known comics, Kick-Ass and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, that came out this year only made between $30-50 mil in the U.S., despite their stellar reviews. It's a crapshoot when it comes to these types of films. Sin City and 300 weren't well-known comics either, but they made between $75-200 mil in the U.S. The only real pattern I see is that both of this year's films focused on teenagers, which this film does as well. Hence, my concern.

However, it looks awesome! And unlike Kick-Ass and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, this film has scantily clad heroines. That should bring in a certain clientele with wads of cash. I look forward to seeing all the amazing graphics and to once again give Hudgens the benefit of the doubt.


Release Date: March 25

TRAILER: Sally Hawkins' "Made in Dagenham"

PLOT: A dramatization of the 1968 Ford sewing machinists strike at the Ford Dagenham assembly plant, where female workers walked out in protest against sexual discrimination and the desire for equal pay. The walkout was instrumental in the Equal Pay Act 1970.

CAST: Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky and An Education), Bob Hoskins (Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and Mona Lisa), Andrea Riseborough (Happy-Go-Lucky), Rosamund Pike (Surrogates and An Education)

VERDICT: It's been two years since Hawkins won a Golden Globe for her performance in the British dramedy Happy-Go-Lucky, where she played a relentlessly cheerful schoolteacher with more optimism than anyone in this present era can muster. After that, I thought for sure she would get pigeonholed as this goofy person in these quirky roles, but I'm glad she shied away from those and went for this. Proving she can carry a dramatic film with hints of humor, should get her larger roles stateside.


Release Date: Nov. 19

TRAILER: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, & Seth Rogen's "Paul"

PLOT: Two British comic geeks (Pegg and Frost) go on a road trip through America. On the way, they discover an alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) at Area 51.

DIRECTOR: Greg Mottola (Adventureland & Superbad)

CAST: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig ("SNL"), Jason Bateman, Sigourney Weaver, Jane Lynch ("Glee"), Bill Hader ("SNL"), Jeffrey Tambor ("Arrested Development"), David Koechner, Jesse Plemons ("Friday Night Lights")

VERDICT: When I originally heard the premise for this, I thought it would be a dud in the states. But after watching the trailer, I truly under-estimated how insane these boys are. I laughed so hard when Pegg said the last line of the trailer: "We're just a couple of regular guys walking down the street with a small cowboy." That, plus the casting of Bateman as an MIB-type agent, and Rogen's made-for-voice-overs voice makes me amped for next Spring.


Release Date: March 18

TRAILER: Liam Neeson's "Unknown"

PLOT: A man (Liam Neeson) awakens in Berlin from a coma, only to discover that someone (Aidan Quinn) has taken on his identity and that no one, not even his wife (January Jones), believes him. With the help of a young woman (Diane Kruger), he sets out to prove who he is.

CAST: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger (Inglorious Basterds), Aidan Quinn (Practical Magic), January Jones ("Mad Men"), Frank Langella.

VERDICT: This film reminds me of Taken, but instead of stealing someone he loves, they steal his identity. Neeson has become the go-to-guy for truth-seeking vigilantes, and it suits him well. I think fans of his previous films will really enjoy watching him fight back, and conspiracy theorists will tune in to find out what the nefarious plot is all about. I want to know if his wife is in on it or if she was brainwashed, because Kruger's character seems to have changed careers as if she knew to pretend that it never happened. I hope Jones is in on it. She has that creepy Stepford wife look down.


Release Date: February 18

TRAILER: Adam Sandler & Jennifer Aniston's "Just Go With It"

PLOT: A plastic surgeon (Adam Sandler), who pretends to be married as a pick up line, finally meets the woman of his dreams (Brooklyn Decker). He doesn't use the pick up line on her but when she finds the wedding band he uses and she believes him to be married, he has to tell her he's getting a divorce. He asks his office manager (Jennifer Aniston) and her children to pose as his family in order to prove his story.

DIRECTOR: Dennis Dugan (Grown Ups) 
WRITERS: Timothy Dowling (Role Models), Tim Herlihy (Mr. Deeds), and Allan Loeb (The Switch)

CAST: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, model Brooklyn Decker, Nicole Kidman, Nick Swardson (I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry), Bailee Madison (Brothers).

VERDICT: You either do or don't find Adam Sandler funny. Rarely will you find someone in the gray area. If you do, you watch every one of his movies, no matter how implausible they may be—from adopting his best friend's kid to being the son of the devil. If you don't, you write off the film before you even get through the trailer. I'm a fan. I've seen them all. Yes, even You Don't Mess with the Zohan. I even watch them if I know they're most likely suck. Yes, I'm a masochist. This film will most likely be yet another self-inflicted punishment of milder, Click-proportions.

I'm cool with the zany romantic plot and his character's misogynistic tactics to bag women. What I'm not cool with is that their attempt of making Jennifer Aniston look like a mom was putting her hair up, giving her glasses, and dressing her in loose-fitting clothing. Seriously? Oh and then magically, she appears in a fitted dress and long beautiful hair, sans glasses, and suddenly he sees her in a new light. I realize romantic comedies are known for "transforming" already-beautiful girls, but I thought Sandler, who assisted in the writing, would be smart enough to curb that cliche.

On the plus side, Aniston actually seemed kind of funny...which is a first, post-"Friends." I think I might enjoy watching her belittle Sandler's character. Maybe I'll know for sure if it's a must-see if they release a trailer that includes Kidman, who is playing a role that they're keeping hush-hush.


Release Date: February 11

TRAILER: Vince Vaughn & Kevin James's "The Dilemma"

PLOT: A man (Vaughn) discovers that his best friend's (James) wife (Ryder) is having an affair.

DIRECTOR: Ron Howard / WRITER: Allan Loeb (The Switch)

CAST: Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly, Channing Tatum, Queen Latifah

VERDICT: I've never enjoyed watching films that have all the ingredients for a romance but isn't actually about one. Vaughn has already starred in one of those, The Break-Up, and this is another one. At first glance, you'd think it was a comedy about marriage, but it's actually a buddy comedy about bro code. What is the protocol for accidentally spotting your bro's wife committing adultery? And what do you do when said wife threatens to ruin your friendship so that your bro never believes you? Cue the humiliating and nerve-wracking scenarios that lead to wily physical comedy. Maybe it's just me, because I hate argumentative confrontation, but I think I'll wait to see it on cable. It's one thing when the biting words dissolve into a romance, like 10 Things I Hate About You and One Fine Day, but I've never been one to enjoy watching two people emotionally destroy each other. However, I do like that Ryder's getting more work and that Tatum is stepping out of his action-dude comfort zone for a little comedic cameo.


Release Date: Jan. 14

TRAILER: Nicole Kidman & Aaron Eckhart's "Rabbit Hole"

PLOT: Life for a happy couple is turned upside down after their young son dies in an accident. (Based on a play by David Lindsay-Abaire.)

CAST: Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest

VERDICT: I'm not a huge fan of Nicole Kidman. I don't even attribute my appreciation for Moulin Rouge to her performance. But this could be the first time she actually impresses me. You can tell just by the trailer that this will be an Oscar-worthy performance.


Release Date: Dec. 17

TRAILER: Scream 4 Teaser

PLOT: Ten years have passed, and Sidney Prescott (Campbell), who has put herself back together thanks in part to her writing, is visited by the Ghostface Killer.

CAST: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Kristen Bell, Emma Roberts, Anna Paquin ("True Blood"), Hayden Panettiere ("Heroes"), Rory Culkin, Adam Brody ("The O.C."), Alison Brie ("Community"), Anthony Anderson ("Law & Order"), Erik Knudsen (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), Aimee Teegarden ("Friday Night Lights"), Shenae Grimes ("90210"), Lucy Hale ("Pretty Little Liars"), Brittany Robertson ("Life Unexpected"), Nico Tortorella ("Make it or Break It"), Marley Shelton (Bubble Boy)

VERDICT: It's never a good sign when tons of well-known actors are added to a cast, unless it's an ensemble cast with a meaty plot that merits it. It usually means they're trying to compensate for something or that they don't have confidence in the saga selling itself, even after a ten-year legacy. It's mainly disconcerting because most of these actors deserve more than 5 minutes of screen time. Roberts is playing Sidney's cousin. Panettiere will be Roberts' best friend and Tortorella is Roberts' love interest. Brie is playing Sidney's personal assistant, and Brody & Shelton are cops.

I'm excited about the plot returning to the original formula of examining horror movies while being in a horror movie, and I'm even more excited that a Culkin gets to take Jamie Kennedy's place in doing so. Of course, he looks so handsomely creepy, that I suspect he's behind it all—him or his equally creepy and horror-movie-obsessed sidekick (Knudsen).


Release Date: April 15

FILM TOPIC: Batman's Leading Ladies

It annoys me that every time they cast a female character in the new Batman franchise, the actress is never as A-list as Christian Bale. Maybe the big names ask for too much, refuse to play second fiddle, or aren't interested, but then we end up with Katie Holmes and Maggie Gyllenhaal. I'm not saying that…at least one of those actresses isn't impressive, but as the franchise grows—or comes to an end actually—the female casting isn't getting any better.

For the next film in the series, The Dark Knight Rises, the two leading lady roles might go to Charlize Theron and Vera Farmiga. Theron has been offered the role of "Detective Sarah Essen, the new love interest for Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman). In the comics, Essen was partnered with Gordon and later had an affair with the married detective and is implied to be the real mother of Barbara Gordon (aka. Batgirl)." Farmiga auditioned to play "Julie Madison who will serve as Bruce Wayne's new love interest. In the comics, the character was a socialite who becomes engaged to Wayne but is unaware of his Batman identity and later becomes associated with the villain Clayface."

Again, both actresses are great and I really appreciate that they're not inappropriately in their early 20s, but the last time Theron was relevant was in '03, and Farmiga is more of a character actress than a glossy action film star—she looks past the age to even pull that off. Plus, Oldman and Theron? Everything that's wrong with that pairing can be found in his last name alone. I'd buy Oldman with Farmiga, and Theron with Bale sooner than I'd buy the reverse pairing, but there are so many other currently popular actresses that they could choose from.

If they want to go indie, why not Rebecca Hall? Granted, she's 28, but she's an old soul and she held her own opposite the 38-year-old Ben Affleck this summer in The Town. If innocent-but-spirited is the goal, then try Rachel McAdams. For the best of both worlds, Emily Blunt is always golden. And if they want hot, low-budget, and relevant, then Evangeline Lilly is free.

There's something to be said about actors of equal fame and prestige being cast as romantic costars—from Robert Downey Jr. & Gwyneth Paltrow to the latest pairing of Andrew Garfield & Emma Stone. The film benefits tremendously when the connection between the lovers is electric. And if there's anything this current Batman franchise lacks it's a solid love story.

Who do you think should be cast in the film?

BEST TRACK: David Archuleta's "Complain"

I don't really follow "American Idol" anymore. I own albums by Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, and Justin Guarini, but my tolerance level for reality show-constructed debut albums lowered as the years went on. However, it's hard to miss the coverage of who's winning and what songs they've released. So although I've been ignoring recent winners and runner-ups, David Archuleta is a little hard to ignore.

He sounds...a lot younger than he looks, which is pretty young as it is. He has the right sweet, poppy voice for a "Relaxing Tunes" playlist. The thing is though, like a majority of "Idol" winners, his music has no actual authenticity. I just don't feel like he feels what he's singing. I think he knows what he's supposed to sound like, but it's just not that believable. When Kelly Clarkson sings about heartbreak, you actually believe her heart was broken. When Robin Thicke sings about taking your clothes off, you actually believe he wants to take your clothes off. When Eminem raps about burning down his love shack, you actually believe he has matches in his hands. They have conviction. There's nothing about the way Archuleta sings that's very aggressive in expressing what the lyrics are saying. You get the feeling that the 19-year-old has less life and love experience than Justin Bieber. He just doesn't sound very confident, which is odd since most shy/demure singers (Beyonce, Sara Bareilles, etc.) shed their fear once they grab the mike.

That said non-Idol-lovers, for his second album of original songs, The Other Side of Down, I'd recommend listening to "Complain":

ALBUM REVIEW: Linkin Park's "A Thousand Suns"

I've loved Linkin Park from the very beginning. I can still remember being 15, changing the channel to MTV and getting totally wigged out by their "Crawling" video. It was probably one of the first times I dared listen to rock music. My musical influences as a kid consisted of my big brother, who was partial to Boys to Men and Method Man, and my mom, who had Marc Anthony and Tina Turner stuck on replay. Sooo because our house didn't exactly have a head-banging, mosh-pit inducing record collection, seeing that video was the equivalent of stumbling upon Shark Week on the Discovery Channel. Shock. Awe. And intrigue.

I think what I liked most about the band, besides the intensity of lead singer Chester Bennington's throat-ripping scream-singing, is how seamlessly their resident rapper Mike Shinoda fits into their songs—like the two genres have always been meant to be fused. My favorite album of theirs was actually their 2004 collaboration with Jay-Z, Collision Course, a mash-up of some of their best songs. Unlike most rock bands, all of their albums don't sound exactly the same: loud and tortured.

On their latest album A Thousand Suns, my favorite songs were the ones that had an inspiring message and stellar production:

The second single of the new album, "Waiting for the End," is a sorrowful song about loss and trying to come to terms with being left behind. I love the simple, but earnest line: "This is not the end / this is not the beginning."


"Wisdom, Justice, and Love" (interlude) & "Iridescent"
While it kind of sounds like 30 Seconds to Mars, I like the intro snippet of Martin Luther King Jr.'s anti-nuclear war speech. The band has never strayed from expressing their feelings about what plagues the nation.


Fret not life-long fans, they haven't become bleeding hearts. "The Catalyst," the first single off their new album is an example of their efforts to give us the best of both worlds: a political message and a throwback to their signature sound.

BEST TRACK: Emily Osment's "Love Sick"

While I'm elated that 18-year-old Emily Osment, Haley Joel's little sister, has a future beyond playing Hannah Montana's sidekick, I still think she has a long ways to go before she makes a dent in the music industry. She gets a pat on the back for doing better than her first EP All the Right Wrongs, for co-writing all the songs on this new album Fight or Flight, and for finding a nice balance between the danceable Disney/kid-friendly beats and mature non-chipmunk vocals. But the only song I could really endure and enjoy (in the same way that I endure and enjoy Hannah/Miley) was "Love Sick." If you love Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue, and/or Ke$ha, you'll love this. It has a similar techno party beat:



That said, I do love her video for her debut single, "Let's Be Friends." It's the right amount of playful bad girl without skanking it up to a pole-dancing degree:

ALBUM REVIEW: Weezer's "Hurley"

I'm not a huge Weezer fan. I only just started liking them after downloading their 2005 single "Beverly Hills," which comes in handy when I'm feeling snarky and opposed to the Hollywood chaos that floods my TV. So I thought I'd give some of their newer work a try, and....they've got some pretty sick (good sick) lyrics! Download these for a good chuckle and a feel-good time:

P.S. Yes, that is Hurley a.k.a. Jorge Garcia from "Lost" on the cover of their album. Lead singer Rivers Cuomo liked the photo so much, he decided to make it the cover. That was either the best marketing scheme ever used or the nerdiest "Lost"-fan act ever recorded.

"Ruling Me"
The best line on this track is "When we first met / in the lunch room / my ocular nerve / went pop! zoom!" Now THAT's a compliment!


"Smart Girls"
It's just fun to scream/chant along to at a concert.


"Trainwrecks"
This one has fun lyrics with pop culture references.


"Unspoken"
I like the vengeful chorus and the mid-way rock-out at 2:05:

BEST TRACK: The Script's "You Won't Feel a Thing"

Ever since The Script's single "Live Like We're Dying" was re-recorded by the American Idol winner Kris Allen, I had high hopes that their sophomore album Science & Faith would officially make them household names. Unfortunately, I could only find one track, "You Won't Feel a Thing," off their new album that's worth taking a listen to, and that's only cause it sounds like Bon Jovi:

ALBUM REVIEW: Sara Bareilles' "Kaleidoscope Heart"

It's been three years since Sara Bareilles's hit single "Love Song" hit the airwaves, adding the perfect romantic pop song to our summer playlists. Her sophomore album Little Voice was chocked full of soul-bearing, well-written songs that really set the tone for the type of artist she intended on being.

Three years later, she's still a lyrical dynamo, as is proven by the two singles ("King of Anything" and "Uncharted") she's released off her new album Kaleidoscope Heart. My favorite of the two, "King," has a funny part where she delivers the final F-U to the egotistical jerk she's singing to by mockingly saying, "Let me hold your crown, babe." Relax, Bareilles' heart hasn't hardened. Her skills at writing hypnotizing romantic songs is still intact. A perfect example of that is "The Light." She has an incredible way of making you feel the anguish and the turmoil within her voice.


Another reason I love her is that she's never been shy about speaking her mind through song. Her last album was filled with messages about the music industry, her ambition, and self-destructive love. What I liked about this album is her effort to try new sounds. Not as to sound like a completely different genre, but to try different ways of creating beats. My favorite example of this is "Let the Rain." There's an entrancing clapping rhythm that starts at 2:40 that really emphasizes the urgency of her desire to be free to tell the truth:


Her best vocals are on "Machine Gun," which isn't as morbid as the title suggests. It's really just a metaphor for the intensity of which someone can attack you emotionally. I love it for the chorus. She really belts it out.


All in all, for a third album, it's not bad. I find that I gobble up a new artist's first commercial album flaws-and-all because I'm eager to get to know them. Then after a few years of replaying their freshman tracks, I consume their second commercial album with a more critical ear. So this album isn't worse than her last, it's just another footnote in her career—a career that, considering how talented she is, will last a long time.

FILM/TV NEWS: New Spider-Man Villain, Vaughn & Wilson Reunite?, Starz's "Spartacus" Recast?, and more

• Tom Hardy has reportedly scored a major role in the upcoming Batman film. Whether or not he'll be a villain has not been revealed.

• It's official. Rhys Ifans (Notting Hill) will play the nefarious Lizard in the upcoming Spider-Man reboot. "In the comics, Dr. Curt Connors is a Florida surgeon who lost an arm during a stint in the army. Returning to civilian life as a research technologist, he tried to re-grow his amputated arm using an experiment in reptilian limb regeneration. The procedure worked but eventually turned him into The Lizard."

• After the awesomeness that was 2005's Wedding Crashers, I didn't think that Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn could ever do better…until I read the plot of their most recent potential joint venture. In 2 Guns, two lawmen who go undercover to rob a bank, unaware that they've both been assigned to the same case by their respective law enforcement agencies and that neither is a criminal. That is...the most bizarre buddy cop film plot I've heard yet. Hopefully, Wilson will officially sign on soon. He's reportedly still considering it. He must be torn between a Marmaduke sequel and playing yet another putz in a romantic comedy?

• Looks like Megan Fox might be transitioning out of "hot girl" roles…sort of. Actress/writer and first-time director Jennifer Westfeldt (Ira & Abby) just cast her in her next film Friends with Kids. It's about two best friends (Westfeldt and Adam Scott from "Party Down") "who observe the toll that having kids has taken on the couples they know and resolve to bypass that stress by having a child and then date other people." Fox is set to play one of the women Scott dates in his dreams. I love Westfeldt and if she can't make Fox funny, then no one can.

• Lea Michele just scored her first major film role, joining the ensemble cast of the Valentine's Day sequel New Year's Eve.

• After playing a meathead who accidentally joins a cult on "True Blood," Ryan Kwanten just scored the role of one of the most notorious cult leaders in American history, Charles Manson. The thriller The Family will chronicle the murders the charismatic leader convinced his followers to commit. Soon we'll see if fans can handle the darker side of Kwanten.

• Just when you think she's down… Vanessa Hudgens was just cast in the Journey to the Center of the Earth sequel as Josh Hutcherson's love interest. When in doubt, play the hot girl.

• Hmm, looks like Seann William Scott might be continuing his return to legitimacy. Post success with 2008's Role Models and this year's Cop Out, Scott will be starring in the indie hockey film Goon, where he'll play a former bouncer who leads a misfit team to minor league glory. The latest addition of Liev Schreiber as the legendary hockey enforcer Ross Reardon guarantees that at least critics will watch, since Schreiber has recently be riding critical acclaim on the Great White Way. Also benefiting from the development of the film is Jay Baruchel (She's Out of My League), who will not only be co-starring, but co-wroting the adaptation with Evan Goldberg (Pineapple Express and Superbad).

• I'm excited by the news that Tarsem Singh will be directing a re-telling/re-imagination of the classic fairy tale Snow White. I didn't particularly enjoy The Cell, but The Fall looked incredible. While I can't imagine there'll be much to work with when it comes to the Snow White characters and scenery, I know without a doubt that he'll make Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland look like amateur hour.

• A German company designed a software called MovieReshape. It allows the director to reshape the body of the actor to make them look stronger or fatter. It could mark the end of actors dropping weight, like Christian Bale, or gaining weight, like Charlize Theron and Renee Zellweger, or gaining muscle, like Taylor Lautner for a role. But I bet actors will just use this as another way to validate themselves and make it seem like they're more devoted to their craft than others because they're method actors. "Oh no, I don't use technology, I really did drop 80lbs to play this crackhead. It was grueling, but I did it for art/my fans/[insert bullshit here]."

TV NEWS
• Jeremy Davies (Daniel Faraday on "Lost") will join the FX series "Justified" to play a new thorn in Raylan Givens' side.

• There's a chance Wentworth Miller ("Prison Break" and Resident Evil: Afterlife) will replace the ill Andy Whitfield in the lead role of Starz's "Spartacus: Blood and Soul."

FILM REVIEW: Let Me In

There are several types of horror movies (teen, psychological, action, comedic, etc.), but not many have heart. That's not to say that they don't attempt to tug on the heartstrings—in a non-violent way. There are plenty of children-related horror films (Godsend, The Forbidden, The Orphan, The Box, etc.) that involve the loss of a child or the attempts of saving one, but those are more like melodramas—horror-themed soap operas. They're horrors that include drama. This film, however, is a drama that includes horror.

Abby (Chloe Moretz from Kick-Ass) is a pretty, young, blonde girl who travels with an older man (Richard Jenkins from Eat Pray Love and The Visitor) everyone believes to be her father. She never goes out in the day and she doesn't wear shoes, even though there's always snow on the ground. In the real world, she'd be considered disturbed, secluded, and, most of all, lonely. Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee from The Road) is a pale, timid, friendless boy who's suffering through his parents' tense divorce, neglected by his alcoholic mother, and bullied by three of his classmates. An outsider is the exact type of friend these two need—someone who understands their solitude, who understands their inability to fit in. Before Owen learns what Abby is, their friendship is as normal as any. He tries to introduce her to new things (Rubik's cube, & Now and Later candy), and she encourages him to stick up for himself and conquer his enemy. But after he learns what she is, their relationship becomes truly interesting and ultimately heartbreaking.

Whereas most viewers are probably sympathetic towards Abby's inability to go to school, enjoy candy, or do anything a normal preteen does, I was more saddened by Owen's fate. When he asked her to be his girlfriend, she told him that she wasn't a girl. She said she was "nothing." At first, I thought that was just her way of distancing herself from the human race, so she wouldn't get attached, but then I realized she's right. After so many decades, she had accepted what she was, and she did what she had to to survive. It wasn't just "avoid sunlight" and "drink blood." Her main source of survival was her guardian. Once I saw the photo booth strip of her with the younger version of her caretaker, my heart broke. This girl is terminally lonely and she must spend the rest of her life continuously replacing her best friend, subjecting them to a life of carnage and denying them any sense of normalcy. She knew that her current caretaker was growing weary of their murder-drain-drink routine, so once he committed suicide, it started to seem like she was auditioning Owen for the role—not intentionally, but instinctively. She kept trying to see if he would accept her, seeing how much she could get away with.

There's this exchange in one scene. After she accidentally showed him her true face, as she hungered for the blood that dripped from his hand, he went to her apartment and refused to enter until she said he could come in. He wanted to be treated the same way she asked him to treat her. He was very emotional and adamant, and it was like, for him, the title represented being "let into her way of life." But I think what it means for her is that she wanted to be let into his heart.

In the end, you don't feel too bad for Owen, because of the good influence she ultimately has on him, and how much he technically gains—as opposed to loses—when he decides to run away with her. But at the same time, you can't get the image of her former caretaker's acid-burned face falling to his snowy death out of your head. Abby's not just a vampire that feeds on the body, but the soul. And it makes you wonder how lonely a child would have to be in the real world to give into a life filled with death.

If you're looking for a good scare, I suggest you look elsewhere, for all you'll get here is sorrow. Abby looks pretty creepy when she bares her teeth or mauls an innocent bystander, but the real terrifying monster in this film is the bullied bully, Kenny (Dylan Minnette from "Lost"). He inflicts the pain he wishes he could inflict on his big brother on Owen, humiliating him and emotionally scarring him by giving him painful wedgies and slashing his face with a blade. It's the perfect film to take a bullied victim to, because in this current pop culture climate, where celebrities are taking a stand against gay-bashing bullies and encouraging closeted and depressed children to stay strong, I think this generation would find Owen's ultimate revenge quite enjoyable.