'The Hunger Games' Rating: Did the MPAA Get it Right?

March, 22, 2012 3:31 pm | Comments On #Movies

On the eve of the wide release of "The Hunger Games," the debate on whether the Motion Picture Association of America appropriately gave the film a PG-13 rating is heating up.

Some argue that rating of the fictional, post-apocalyptic teen-genocide film makes no sense given the 'R' rating the MPAA slapped on the Weinstein Company-distributed "Bully," a documentary about bullying among children -- a very real problem facing kids today. 

The word lawsuit has already been thrown around. Attorneys David Boies and Ted Olson of Proposition 8 fame had a stern warning for the MPAA.

"You can kill kids, you can maim them, you can torture them and still get a PG-13 rating, but if they say a couple of bad words, you blame them. I hope, for heaven’s sake, that they find some rational basis before we have to sue them...

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'Spartacus' Creator Defends the Show's Sex Addiction -- Both Straight and Gay

January, 26, 2012 12:09 pm | Comments On #Andy Whitfield, Spartacus, Television

 

Heard about the television show "Spartacus" and wonder what all the fuss is about? Let me warn you there will be plenty of mayhem in the upcoming third season of this show to talk about -- the primal sort of bedlam that was commonplace in ancient Rome.

In advance of Friday night's Starz season premiere of "Spartacus: Vengeance," creator and head writer Steven S. DeKnight ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Angel," "Smallville, "Viva Laughlin" and "Dollhouse") took part in a special conference call to discuss the increasingly popular franchise.

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When 'Jersey Shore' Goes Ivy League

November, 11, 2011 11:30 am | Comments On #Television

 

The chorus of disapproval against Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi's appearance as guest speaker at Rutgers University earlier this year was evidently not loud enough in the world of academia.

Another reality-TV personality one-upped the petite party girl by addressing scholars at a glorified Ivy League University.

It wasn't Kim Kardashian, thought I imagine she isn't far behind.

Last week, Vinny Guadagnino of "Jersey Shore" infamy, showed up at Professor Diane Vaughn’s class titled “Mistake, Misconduct, and Disaster” at Columbia University to discuss anti-bullying and the importance of being a polite citizen.

It was first reported by TMZ...

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Who Said Reality TV Is All Bad?

September, 12, 2011 5:51 pm | Comments On #Movies

 

The Modern Gypsies, the San Diego team who won it all in the first season of ABC's "Expedition Impossible," are living proof that reality TV can have an encouraging outcome for the greater good. 

After filming wrapped up on Mark Burnett’s new reality TV show, The Gypsies got right back in the saddle (minus the crazy camels) traveling to raise money and awareness about their newest mission as "compassionate adventurers." 

In Mark Burnett's latest reality-TV show, 13 teams of three competed across the Sahara Desert in a 10-leg race.

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Thinking ... It's Never Good to Do That at a Vampire Movie

August, 20, 2011 12:02 pm | Comments On #Colin Farrell, Craig Gillespie, Fright Night, Marti Noxon, Movies

After his film re-debut in the comedy “Horrible Bosses” (which I enjoyed very much), Colin Farrell comes back with a vengeance in “Fright Night” in 3D, a remake of the 1985 horror film.

This version is rewritten by Marti Noxon and directed by Craig Gillespie with a lighter attitude to fit in with today’s generation.

If you haven’t seen the 1985 original film don’t fret; at 15 years old back then I...

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Colin Farrell, Backwards and Forwards, at Comic-Con

July, 23, 2011 12:44 pm | Comments On #Colin Farrell, comic con, Comic-Con, Fright Night 3D, Movies, Total Recall

Comic-Con first-timer Colin Farrell did double takes and rewinds during multiple presentations for his films “Fright Night 3D” and “Total Recall” at the annual geek convention.

The “Horrible Bosses” actor debuted twice in Hall H after film director Craig Gillespie prematurely announced him, but then directed him to return back stage – Farrell did so by walking backwards -- and  then re-appeared looking genuinely pleased to be in front of adoring fans.   

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A Badge-Free Comic-Con: May the Force Be With Us!

July, 20, 2011 6:04 pm | Comments On #comic con, Comic-Con 2011, comic-con international, Media, San Diego

You don't need no stinking badges to be part of the buzz of this year's epic Comic-Con, touching down in San Diego July 20-25.

There's plenty of stuff going on outside of the Convention Center's walls that showcases the largest collection of film-makers, network execs, celebs, geeks, storm troopers and super heroes descending at the this year's popular arts extravaganza to entertain you over the five days.

Comic-Con, or "Cannes for Blockbusters," as it's been referred to due to Hollywood's overwhelming presence, isn't just for the 130,000 attendees who braved the multiple online ticketing failures and scored a badge. Marketing efforts by movie and television studios spill out onto the streets around the downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter in an effort to reach out to as many fans as possible.

For the badge-...

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'Judy Moody': Deliberately Annoying and Definitely Heartwarming

June, 13, 2011 5:47 pm | Comments On #film, judy moody, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, kids, Movies, summer movie

Going to the movies with the little ones is risky business. Lately, it's all too common to be taken by surprise by some of the high tech gimmicks, swaggering violence, or other age-inappropriate scenes and language that sometimes pop out of left field in a supposedly PG rated family film.

In this regard, Hollywood just can't help itself when making films intended for children.

This isn't the case with Relativity's release of John Schultz's "Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer" movie. This film is based on the beloved Judy Moody children's book series by Megan McDonald, who also wrote the screenplay.  

Unlike the one-size-fits all family films of today, "Not Bummer Summer" is a safe movie for children of any...

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Whoever Was Stupid Enough to Pick Up This Botox-Mom Story Should Pay

May, 25, 2011 6:46 pm | Comments On #botox mom, hollyblog, Suzette Valle, Television

This latest Balloon Boy-type hoax involving the 8-year-old girl getting pricked by her own mother’s Botox-laden hand might turn out to be a disgusting ploy used to tug at our heartstrings to sell us papers, magazines and television gossip shows.

I’m also sorry to say this Botox-Mom media scandal is looking like another amateur episode of Reality TV gone wrong, and there should be consequences for all parties involved in publishing this rubbish.

This piece of Reality TV-inspired journalism was first reported in the British tabloid The Sun, after they (allegedly) paid Kelly Campbell to reveal her minor daughter’s unconventional beauty routine.

When photos surfaced of Campbell (a.k.a. Sheena Upton) giving her 8-year-old daughter Botox injections to keep her in tip-top beauty-pageant shape, it was like watching a bad re-run of the...

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Keep Questions About Reality TV Out of the SAT Exam

March, 24, 2011 5:57 pm | Comments On #hollyblog, reality TV, sat, Suzette Valle, Television

I am not a fan of reality TV, or "junk reality" as I referred to it in this earlier post. 

However, over at the College Board, the organization in charge of administering the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) -- used as the measurement of intelligence to determine college suitability -- someone must be.  

During the last SAT session, the essay portion required test-takers to answer this question: “Reality television programs, which feature real people engaged in real activities rather than professional actors performing scripted scenes, are increasingly popular. These shows depict ordinary people competing in everything from singing and dancing to losing weight, or just living their everyday lives. Most people believe that the reality these...

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Suzette Valle was recognized by Time Warner Cable as one of San Diego's 50 Best Moms. Living in San Diego with her husband and two teenagers, she is a"golf and softball mom" who blogs  about parenting and Hollywood's influence on children's daily lives and family values at www.MamarazziKnowsBest.com. Follow her on Twitter: @MamarazziKnows.

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