JAM Reviews Julianne Hough at the Orange County Fair

Julianne Hough at the OC Fair July 29, 2010, photographed, reviewed, and enjoyed by yours truly. Check out later this week for exclusive JAM photos from the event, but for now enjoy the review and photos on HollywoodTeen'Zine at this link:

http://hollywoodteenzine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1350&Itemid=50

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Barney: Furry Friends from HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate

Barney: Furry Friends: HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate DVD
Review by JAM

Cats, dogs, and dinosaurs, Oh My! Barney, Baby Bop, and BJ spend time sharing fun times with cats and dogs, and sharing fun facts with the audience in the usual Barney way. Sharing about guide dogs and friendly felines, singing B-I-N-G-O with your pals, learning about tigers, and more will leave your child happy, excited, and singing with joy. The music and dancing provided in every Barney DVD keeps my preschooler dancing and learning from that big purple dinosaur as the laughs and giggles fill the room.

Bonus Features include a Furry Friends Hide and Seek game.

Episode List:
Here Kitty, Kitty
Best In Show
Puppy Love

Bonus Features:
Furry Friends Hide and Seek game

Grab a look at some furry friends and a purple dinosaur when Barney: Furry Friends hits shelves on July 27, 2010.

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Music, Music Everywhere from Lionsgate/HIT Entertainment

Music, Music Everywhere: HIT Entertainment/Lionsgate DVD
Review by JAM

It’s time for a little singing, a little dancing, and a whole lot of fun as Barney, Bob, Thomas, Kipper, and Angelina teach us about the beauty and happiness that come from music. Barney shares knowledge and a fun time while working with the piano in Play Piano With Me. In Roley’s Important Job, Roley tries to find ways to help and is stymied on the jobsite, only to find he could help musically. Rusty the diesel learns to toot his own horn in Tuneful Toots, at times annoying Thomas & Friends but eventually coming through. Kipper and Tiger deal with nerve wracking drum riffs until they inspire them to create music alongside Arnold’s Drum. And finally in the bonus Angelina the Ballerina episode Angelina’s Musical Party, CGI animated Angelina teaches her friends what music can truly do.

JAMS Ink on Music, Music Everywhere

Get off your seat and dance, because your kids are going to want to keep moving to the tune based episodes on this DVD. Throw in a bonus CD with 5 songs form their friends, and the fun will never stop. Grab a copy today and let the fun begin.

Episode List:
Barney – Play Piano With Me
Bob the Builder – Roley’s Important Job
Thomas & Friends – Tuneful Toots
Kipper – Arnold’s Drum
Angelina the Ballerina – Angelina’s Musical Day

Bonus CD includes the following songs:
P-I-A-N-O
Good Manners
Roll Call
Narrow Gauge
The Next Steps

Music, Music Everywhere plays its way into stores on July 20, 2010. Grab a copy and sing along!

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Martina McBride at the Orange County Fair

Hey guys and gals, your JAM team was sent out to the Orange County Fair for the always incredible HollywoodTeenZine to see the always amazing Martina McBride at the Pacific Ampitheatre on July 22, 2010. Check out the photos and recap here http://hollywoodteenzine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1342&Itemid=50

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Acceptance from Vivendi Home Entertainment

Acceptance: Vivendi Home Entertainment
Review by JAM

Most teen dramas focus on romantic relationships or adolescent changes, with a small side of not fitting into a high school world. In Acceptance from Vivendi Home Entertainment, the emphasis is laid on the finding of a college that is right for a person rather than the typical teen dramas from years gone by. For those of us who have done the search or are in the middle of searching for our future college, we know the drama that can be involved. Now imagine it Hollywood style!

Taylor Rockefeller (Mae Whitman from Parenthood, or the voice of Tinkerbell for us animation buffs) is a high school former overachiever searching for the next step in life, which for her is going to a college she likes whichever one that may be. On the road to her acceptance, she seems to be searching for acceptance of any kind, even justifying stealing other people’s mail as a way to be accepted into their families. Her mother Nina (Joan Cusack) is looking to push her into a big name school where she learn everything possible, meet a successful husband, and become the success all mothers want for their kids. Only problem is that Nona has blinders on when it comes to success, wanting only a top school for her daughter where she can get an education and find a successful husband, especially since Taylor’s father is a bit of a deadbeat dad. The parental relationship obviously affects Taylor in a myriad of ways, causing more pressure and stress as failures and screw-ups compound.

Throw in a messed up former best friend Maya (Deepti Daryanani) and a messed up former boyfriend AP Harry (Jonathan Keltz) to go with messed up parents, mix them all together and out comes a fun little high school/college drama in which things may end up differently than we expected but might still work out for the best.

JAMS Ink on Acceptance

Acceptance is quite the quirky little drama starring a quirky mix of actors and actresses starting with the marvelous Mae Whitman. She has now become Tinkerbell to me, as whenever I see her I think of that little pixie. Having little girls around this reviewer means Tinkerbell will always be an important part of our lives, so I hope Mae knows it is a compliment to be seen as a little pixie dust toting fairy.

Kiersten Warren also plays a huge role in the movie, best known to this reviewer from Saved By The Bell: The College Years. In watching the movie in which she plays the mother of a graduating senior, I was flabbergasted to see her cast to play that age. Of course, then after consulting IMDB I found she was quite a bit older than me, though I must say she still looks like that cute sassy college student she portrayed alongside Zach Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar).

Joan Cusack is amazing even as a train-wreck of a mother. So many movies, often with her brother John, and she is the type of actress that can control a scene without being the main star and this movie is no different. Her facial expressions have always been top-notch especially as the majority of her characters are just a bit off.

Funny little coincidence… Rob Mayes who plays Justin Smelling, the perfect SAT kid in Acceptance was in what movie that JAM has reviewed this last year??? If you guessed Ice Castles from back in February 2010, you have studied my reviews way too much. LOL

EXTRAS

None

Acceptance from Vivendi Home Entertainment is sent onto shelves on July 27, 2010.

ACCEPTANCE
Street Date: July 27, 2010
U.S. Rating: NR
Total Run Time: 88 minutes

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at http://jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews White Collar: Season One Blu-Ray from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

White Collar Season One – Blu-Ray : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Review by JAM

Take one brazen thief with a sense of style and panache (Matt Bomer), a federal agent who plays things by the book most of the time (Tim DeKay), a supporting cast that includes a bumbling, trustworthy criminal friend to the thief (Willie Garson), an on the run ex-girlfriend that had stolen the thief’s heart and maybe more (Alexandra Daddario), and a former child star playing the smarter half in the agent’s marriage (Tiffani Thiessen), and now you have White Collar, a show that will steal your time and your thoughts as it paints a surreal picture, a Dali if you will, throughout the first season.

Neal Caffrey (played by Matt Bomer) is our thief on the lam, at least until he is caught for the second time by FBI agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay). Peter seems to have a history with Neal, with respect for his talents and the idea that maybe given the right choices, Neal might not make the wrong decisions. So the idea of a partnership is tossed between the two, giving Neal the chance to not have to stay behind the bars that trap him, the chance to live life without having to glance over his shoulder nonstop, and to do the right thing by putting others behind bars who are preying on society. Of course, there are a few catches. An ankle bracelet with GPS locator, a limited range of wandering in the city for a man who has traveled the world, and a hotel room almost as cramped as his cell are all hindrances to Neal’s freedom, but being the opportunistic man he is means the deal is consummated.

Neal is a thief with a heart of gold, but that does not mean he always follows the rules. Spending much of his time on the hunt for his ex Kate (Alexandra Daddario), Neal assists Peter in his cases while looking for his chance to escape and rescue his enigmatic love. The entire first season is about the playful banter and growing friendship between Neal and Peter which culminates in a partnership that is strong in its weaknesses, yet ready to unravel with a single betrayal. Cue the emotional cliffhanger to end the season and you have one of the best new shows on television.

JAMS Ink on White Collar

You know, I really did not want another show to watch. It is a bad excuse for a reviewer to make, but my life is full of things already and the commercials for the show first started appearing last year and looked kind of cool, and I went back and forth…

And I started watching it. And I started DVRing it. And I started loving it.

If you made me choose between my major shows (Burn Notice, Leverage, and White Collar) I really don’t know which way I would go. That’s how much White Collar grabbed my attention and held it. Neal is suave, sophisticated, and the kind of guy that you would love to hate but you can’t because he would be cool to hang out with. Peter is the older brother/father figure that Neal needs, yet rebels from, Kate is that ethereal beauty that appears unannounced and disappears just as suddenly, Mozzie is strange but compelling and useful as heck, and Elizabeth seems to hold everything together. I think that I just realized that the strength of my crazy awesome cable shows are all the same. A strong ensemble cast that holds your attention and each plays a part, even if some are more important in the overall schemes than others. Now the only question is, since all of my favorite shows involve criminals or people that toe the line, does that say something about me?

Keep an eye on FBI Agent Diana Lancing (Marsha Thomason). She came into last season as someone Peter could trust and had his back, but she may be playing sides now that the new season has begun. In my opinion, I am guessing she is protecting Peter from something, but that could foretell the ultimate sacrifice as the season progresses. We shall see…

Favorite Episode of Season One – Episode 8 Hard Sell. Neal and Peter both infiltrate a group of corrupt Wall Street brokers and get pulled into a case that might end their partnership permanently. It was a fun episode overall and had the coolest comic book storage place I have ever seen, and being a comic book junkie I really want a room like that.

JAMS Ink Comments on White Collar Blu-Ray

I am not going to pretend to be an expert on pixels and ratios and all the other Blu-ray centered stuff that many people can share with you. But I am going to be honest with you, if you are able to watch it, GET THE BLU-RAY! I have learned to love the clarity of picture and color that comes with the Blu-rays I have reviewed, so even though I may not know the technical aspects behind it I can still recommend it. White Collar, in my opinion, is enhanced by the Blu-ray as the amazing urban scenery literally pops off the screen. The fact that the series is predicated so much on artwork, mainly stolen or forged, anything that enhances the beauty of the item in question lends to strengthening your experience. So, JAM says go Blu-ray if you can.

EXTRAS

Pro and Con
A Cool Cat in the Hat
Nothing But the Truth
Gag Reel
Deleted Scenes

Episodes:
• Pilot
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Tim DeKay, Tiffani Thiessen and Matt Bomer
• Threads
• Books of Hours
• Flip of the Coin
• The Portrait
• All In
• Free Fall
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Matt Bomer and Willie Garson
• Hard Sell
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay
• Bad Judgment
• Vital Signs
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Tim DeKay, Tiffani Thiessen and Willie Garson
• Home Invasion
• Bottlenecked
• Front Man
• Out of the Box
o Commentary by Jeff Eastin, Tim DeKay and Matt Bomer

White Collar: Season One from Twentieth Century Fox appeared on shelves on DVD and Blu-Ray on July 13, 2010. Grab a copy and make a run for it! (after you pay of course).

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at www.jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.

JAM Reviews Saving Grace: Final Season from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Saving Grace: The Final Season: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Review by JAM

How many people do you know that wish they had a second chance at life, whether the chance to change a moment, a decision, a time frame, or whatever. You know the adage “be careful what you wish for because you might just get it”? Well Grace Hanadarko (Holly Hunter) gets the chance to change her life through divine intervention and the angel Earl (Leon Rippy). With the twists and turns that her life goes through because of it, she may tell you that she doubts it was worth it or she may tell you that in the end it was what she needed. This final season of Saving Grace answers that for us.

The third season starts with Grace recovering from her failure at the end of Season Two and still trying to see God’s plan for her through the work that she has been doing. Grace tries this season to share what she is going through with obvious mixed results. She becomes known as the “Angel Cop” through her actions, but still struggles with everything that is before her. With help from friends, family, and an angel Grace will face whatever she has to, even the ultimate evil.

JAMS Ink on Saving Grace

Grace is definitely a hard character to get a grip on, and some may connect more to such a flawed and gritty character. For me, this was never a show that caught my attention and even with this season set, I have to say she’s not on the top of my list. BUT… (Notice the big but) I do appreciate someone fighting for redemption and trying to do some of the right things even as she may not make all the right choices. Even against the worst of odds, she never backed down. In fact, that seems to be the gist of this series is that Grace never seems to back down, even when she looks to be broken and defeated she picked herself and fought the good fight.

Saving Grace really seemed to be a series that ended too soon, especially as the final episodes seemed to be rushed a bit in order to end it. As much as I was not so intrigued by the show while on air, while watching this season set I found myself thinking about where they may have gone with the show if they were given the time they needed. With a good cast and an interesting premise, it would have been interesting to see if things would have been different if not rushed to complete the series.

Favorite Episode – Episode 17 I’m Gonna Need a Big Night Light. Seeing Grace at her worst, dealing with the ramifications of the accidental death of a child in an accident, fighting against God and looking like she was about to give up, and then coming forth to face whatever is to come, even if she is scared, confused, angry, or whatever other emotion is flowing at the time. As much as the show is about redemption from a higher power, it never seems to be extremely “preachy” but this is what a true believer often faces (maybe not over the top Hollywood style like this). When the chips are down and everything is against you, still you know what has to be done. Faith has power and Grace may not always have believed or understood, but she did what had to be done on faith. And she did it her way with the style that only Grace had.

EXTRAS

None included on this Final Season disc.

Episode List

Disc One
We’re Already Here
She’s a Lump
Watch Siggybaby Burn
What Would You Do?

Disc Two
Mooooo
Am I Going to Lose Her?
That Was No First Kiss
Popcorn

Disc Three
Looks Like a Lesbian Attack to Me
Am I Gonna Die Today?
Let’s Talk
Hear the Birds

Disc Four
You Can’t Save Them All, Grace
I Killed Kristen
So Help You God
Loose Men in Tight Jeans

Disc Five
You Think I’m Gonna Eat My Gun?
I Need You To Call Earl
I’m Gonna Need a Big Night Light

Saving Grace: The Final Season from Twentieth Century Fox appeared on shelves on DVD on July 13, 2010. This set is definitely recommended if you are a fan or if you are searching for something different in your viewing collection.

Remember check out this review and more from JAM at www.hollywoodteenzine.com for teens and tweens, and at www.jammoviereviews.blogspot.com for movies of all genres and ages.