Ever since seeing the much buzzed about and highly acclaimed “Gone Girl,” there were some lingering issues that stood out, negatively affecting the film’s quality, including when compared to other movies. However, in Eclectic Pop’s review , there were limits for how detailed the criticisms could b
Arrow 🏹🎯 As the team attempted to mourn and avenge Sara, the sentiment was difficult to empathize with. For one, she had strolled into Starling City last season acting superior to every member of team Arrow and had especially been a pain in Felicity and Laurel’s derrieres. Interestingly both
What do you get when two unlikable characters are embroiled in a mystery? The answer is a story that boasts hardly any emotional stakes. “Gone Girl” opens on the day that Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) disappears. Her bitter husband, Nick (Ben Affleck), goes to his bar to blow off steam with his sist
Lionsgate A great thing about movies is that sometimes, even if it is not going to win Oscars or be a hit with critics, it can still be an entertaining experience in its own right. These movies are more commonly referred to as guilty pleasures, and for the next two weeks, the box office will have tw
The Bold and the Beautiful | The Ridge/Caroline/Rick/Katie quadrangle has taken flight and the results have been awkward to put it mildly. Ridge is Rick’s half-brother/ex-stepfather and Katie (Ridge’s fiancée) is Rick’s aunt/soon-to-be-sister-in-law so the relationships in this romantic quandary
The Vampire Diaries | While it is understandable that Elena is distraught over Damon’s “death”, the timeline of it only being 4 months later is a rather brief time for her to spend attempting to cope without taking drastic action. Especially when she's faced similar circumstances before an
"Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" (2014) Chris Pine takes on the title role of Jack Ryan in this poorly formulated action-thriller. From one ludicrous action sequence to the next, plausibility is thrown out the window as Jack performs one hard to believe rescue after another. In the minor ro
I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on the War Machine vs. War Horse Podcast, a terrific podcast dedicated to movies. If you’re a fan of funny repartee, comparative insights, and movies in general, this is the show for you. On the show, hosts Mike and Shane discuss a new release and co
Reign | Returning to the airwaves in regal fashion, “Reign” did not miss a beat catching the waves of last season’s momentum. As the plague threatened everyone in the realm, Mary outmaneuvered a devious Catherine, Kenna and Bash lost a loved one, Greer worried over her lost love Leith’s next mov
Brilliant storylines, a strong cast and sleek production were not enough to save TNT’s enthralling Primetime sudser. After three seasons the exceptional “Dallas” reboot has gotten the ax. Yesterday’s announcement comes with an especially bitter taste given the finale left various storylines
20th Century Fox #20 Gone Girl | Ever since the announcement that Gillian Flynn’s best-seller would be getting the adaptation treatment, there have been expectations. When it was announced thriller maestro David Fincher would be taking the helm those expectations were only heightened. “Gone Gi
David Fincher’s adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s best-selling crime novel is quickly becoming one of the early awards season breakouts and a likely box office hit. “Gone Girl” is a moody mystery that centers on the disappearance of 30-something wife Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) and the suspicion t
The Blacklist | Red and company made their return to television in a satisfying season premiere that proved to be a rather eventful affair. There was a stellar Red-centric opening sequence, a fantastic performance by guest star Krysten Ritter, a shocking revelation (Red has a living ex
A social experiment and dystopian adventure rolled into one, “The Maze Runner” takes an understated approach to a story that is more of a character study than anything else. When a young man (Dylan O’Brien) wakes from unconsciousness, he is greeted by a young adult, and all-male community.
"Arrow" (The CW) A new season of television is upon us and with that comes a fresh batch of optimism that some series will get a chance to hit a whole new mark. Starting its junior year is “Arrow” , The CW’s caped crusading drama which avoided a sophomore slump last season, though it
Best New Bet: A Walk Among the Tombstones Liam Neeson returns to theaters in this gritty actioner. An adaptation of Lawrence Block’s novel of the same name, the plot revolves around former cop turned P.I., Matthew Scudder (Neeson). When a drug dealer’s (Dan Stevens) wife is kidnapped he hires Sc
Dancing with the Stars | This past week’s season premiere featured some spectacular opening numbers. “Pretty Little Liars” star Janel Parrish wowed in an electrifying debut that impressively marked her entrance as a force to be reckoned with. Tommy Chong’s highly entertaining number was everythin
Best New Bet: The Drop There are few movies that have peaked as much personal interest since their inception as “The Drop” and it has accomplished this for good reason. Directed by Michael R. Roskam whose feature film debut “Bullhead” was nominated for the Oscar in 2012 for Best Foreign Language
Part 1 | “Some things can hit you in the gut worse than any punch”; a huskily voiced Adrien Brody narrates repeatedly throughout the first half of History Channel’s two part mini-series. Tuning into this supposed biopic it was a sucker punch to realize it was in actuality a highly fictionalized
Gotham | The highly anticipated Batman TV series stars Benjamin McKenzie as James Gordon before he became the commissioner of Gotham. Apparently it will be the hybrid of a crime-of-the-week procedural, while also teasing introductions to the famous mythology. A young Bruce Wayne, Penguin, Catwoma
Dallas | Elena revealed her manipulations to the Ewings and demanded retribution. Why she never felt she could come to Bobby when she first learned of JR’s deed switch is still hazy. What's clear is she crossed a line she will never be able to return from. In all of her indignation she fail
A to Z | Airing after “Bad Judge” is another single camera sitcom, this one stars “Drop Dead Diva” alum Ben Feldman as Andrew, a romantic working at an internet dating site. When he meets Zelda (Cristin Milioti, “The Wolf of Wall Street” ) a no-nonsense attorney, sparks fly. The show’s setup in
Madam Secretary | Tea Leoni returns to television as the Secretary of the State in this political drama. The series will explore both her personal and professional life as she strives to balance both aspects of her life. There is major talent both behind and in front of the camera on this one
Dear Eclectic Pop Readers, I hope this message finds all of you well. Eclectic Pop is proud to announce a new venture. I have begun working as a Selector on #RKC. Starting tomorrow, #RKC [ @RadioKC ] will begin airing “Eclectic Selection” which is a playlist of music that has been personally c
The Flash | After last season’s 2 part backdoor pilot during “Arrow”, “The Flash” was rushed to series and so far the buzz has been encouraging. Grant Gustin (“Glee) stars as Barry Allen, a young scientist who gets the gift of super speed following a lab explosion. The accident which leads to B
How to Get Away with Murder | From Shonda Rhimes, the creator behind ABC mega-hits “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” comes this legal drama and procedural. Oscar nominee Viola Davis stars as a law professor who gets tangled up in a murder plot along with her students. Little else is known about the
Tyrant | A shocking close to the first season, the finale was a game changer that left viewers on the precipice of a grim outcome. Ashraf Barhom’s sensational performance as the despotic Jamal was sensational as was Morian Atias’ turn as Leila, her closing monologue providing a chilling alloca
Wondering what to watch this weekend? Eclectic Pop has a playlist of television series, mini-series and movies that are worth watching. Marathon-able Mini-Series The captivating mini “The White Queen” follows three relentless women’s zealous battle for power as they do whatever it takes to g
Best New Movie Bet: “The November Man” Pierce Brosnan stars as a former CIA operative who must face off against his former protégé (Luke Bracey) during a mission. Seeing Brosnan back in a high octane action thriller should be fun though he’s worth watching in any genre capacity. The studio has a
The Emmys aired on Monday to their biggest audience in 8 years. Below Eclectic Pop makes 8 observations about the night's festivities. Few Surprises | “Breaking Bad” dominated yet again and the only good news is that this will be the last Emmy’s they will qualify for. For the past 5 years
HBO Saying goodbye was sadder than expected. Known for its bawdy camp, out-of-this-world storytelling, and vulgar abandon, “True Blood” signed off in a manner that felt appropriate despite being an about-face from the overall tone of the series. All the while possessing the qualities most finales sh
Dallas | TNT’s sensational reboot kicked off its fresh batch of episodes with a bang, as the aftermath of the blazing inferno and mangled threesome took center stage. Since it premiered, “Dallas” has been one of the best dramas burning up the airwaves and this week’s returning episode proved why.
Best New Bet: “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For" Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller co-direct this adaptation of Miller’s second installment in the “Sin City” series. When the original “Sin City” was released 10 years ago, it was a visual rarity. An ode to the black-and-white noirs of the 40’s
On Monday, Taylor Swift unveiled the title to her new album (1989), released its first single (“Shake It Off”) and a music video to accompany said song. Swift, one of the biggest names in pop culture, has been ensnared in animus ever since. When one thinks of Taylor Swift, the initial notion that
