Torchwood

2006-2009             TV-PG            Seasons 1-3

A spinoff from "Doctor Who," this wild sci-fi series recounts the exploits of the Torchwood Institute, which was initially begun by Queen Victoria as a way to investigate alien life forms and trap the Doctor if he ever returned to Earth. Now led by the mysterious Capt. Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), Torchwood leads the fight against hostile aliens with its crew of ex-policewoman Gwen, brash doctor Owen, computer expert Toshiko and aide Ianto.

More info at Netflix.

I remember seeing posters for Torchwood on the side of bus stops when I was living in Philly and thinking it looked cool and that I should check it out.  I really didn't know anything about it, or Dr. Who, but I still gave it a try.  I am super happy that I did.  As soon as I started watching I was hooked.  I had never watched Dr. Who and didn't really know it was a spin off until the end of the 1st season.  If you have watched Dr. Who it adds a bit of background info but it is not a necessity.  

Torchwood follows Gwen ( the main female role) and Captain Jack Harkness (the main male role) and thier alien catching shenanigans.  The characters are all individual and likable.  Gwen is forever optimistic and see the good in people, Jack has the highest charisma.  So high that he would have a +8 Charisma modifier in Dungeons and Dragons.  Toshiko, the tech expert, is quiet and has a hidden past that is very interesting.  Owen, the medic, is a smart ass cute guy who looks like a frog to me.  The last member of the team is Ianto Jones who is a real cutie who is the catch all guy who gets the coffee, takes phone calls, and other miscellaneous jobs.

If I lived in the Dr. Who universe I would run away with the Doctor anytime to see the space, time, and the universe.  I am not so sure I would want to join Torchwood.  They have fun times but it is a very dangerous job.  A little too dangerous for my taste.

I highly recommend this show for anyone.  Boy, girls, straight, gay, young, old, it is all good.

5 Stars.

Practical Magic

 1998                     PG-13                  104 minutes

In director Griffin Dunne's romantic comedy, sisters Sally and Gillian Owens (Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman) are modern-day witches whose love lives are complicated by an unusual curse: Men who fall in love with them meet untimely ends. But against the advice of their eccentric aunts, Frances (Stockard Channing) and Jet (Dianne Wiest) -- and even in the face of a murder investigation -- the sisters continue to try their hands at romance.

More info on Netflix here.

So lat night I was looking for something to watch and I stumbled onto this movie.  I just had to watch it, again.  I used to have this on DVD and watched it many many times.  I thought I would see how it fares after a few years since my last watch.  I remember it being a bit of a girly movie (which I enjoy every once in a while) that made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.  Well, it made me feel the same exact way as it used to.  

It had a lot of elements that I enjoy in my movies, books, tv shows, and other media.  It has obviously magical elements, humor, romance, and warm fuzzy feelings.

I don't know if I can recommend this movie to a lot of guys out there.  My husband likes Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.  Well, what I should say is that thinks they are cute.  I didn't make him watch it and he thanked me.  But ,if you are a girl, watch it.

Monsters

2010        R        93 minutes

Six years after aliens invaded Earth, a security force maintains tenuous control in the Infected Zone straddling the U.S.-Mexican border. Andrew (Scoot McNairy), a photographer, is documenting this war-torn area when he's interrupted by an unexpected rescue mission. Samantha (Whitney Able), daughter of a media mogul who just happens to be his boss, needs an escort home, and Andrew reluctantly takes on the job.

Cast:

Whitney Able as Sam Wynden

Scoot McNairy as Andrew Kaulder

For more info go here.

I remember hearing about this movie a couple of weeks ago and thinking it sounded interesting.  I then forgot about it quickly.  If I don't write something down then I tend to forget it quite fast.  So, when I saw this as a recommened movie to me I started it immediately.  Thank you Netflix.  

  Monsters is a bit like Cloverfield.  Not is the wrecking up shit way but more in the you don't see the monsters that often but I quite enjoy it.  The movie takes place in Mexico 6 years after alien's have landed on earth.  Now we have then quarantined in and kill them when they advance on people.  While Sam and Kaulder make their way through the "Infected Zone" they come across people and creatures who help and hinder their journey.  Since you don't see the creatures very often when you do and right before you do there are very tense moments that had me excited and tense.  I don't get scaredby movies often and this one didn';t sdcare me but it did give me a few moments of tension and suspense.

Netflix gave this movie 4.1 stars and I give it 4.5.  Very good movie!