The first 4 episodes of the new “V” has aired. How does it stack up to the original? I say, “great”. But why take 3 months off?!?!

Let’s take a beloved classic television event and remake it with popular television actors, and update the story to be more relevant to todays world. Then, just as it’s getting off the ground, let’s take it off the air for 3 months including February Sweeps. Yeah, let’s do that. That’s smart…really smart….not!. This seems more like a Fox move than ABC (re: Firefly, Dollhouse, etc). Most people will forget about “V” by the time it comes back around. Fail.

It started off great and took a few episodes to hit its stride. Yes, it is very annoying that the ‘visitors’ are call “The V’s”. Very stupid. “V is for victory”…remember? The only character I’m not to happy with is Georgie. I don’t know if it’s the actor or the character, but I cringe when he is on the screen. This should be more pivotal, but is merely filling a gap to bring the 3 main resistance fighters together. He’s no Mike Donavan or Ham Tyler.

Speaking of Mike Donavan. Scott Wolf’s character (Chad Decker) needs more development. We expect his journey to be the same as Marc Singer’s in the original, so you have to give us more development pre-rebel. The focus can’t constantly be on Erica.

Elizabeth Mitchell (Erica) is performing terrific as the lead of the series. Her character is very believable and fits well with Ryan and Father Jack. When it comes to Erica, we are seeing way too much of her son. I understand the parallels to the original with the recruitment of Tyler, but there is too much. It doesn’t help that Logan Huffmann (Tyler) and Laura Vandervoort (Lisa) are not the best performers. Laura seems to be playing the same character she played on Smallville without the super powers.

Father Jack (Joel Gretsch) is also a great character. His journey is and will be interesting to watch. The priest in the original was a supporting player, but I like that he was made a main character here. It’s more interesting.

Anna (Morena Baccarin) and the other top Visitors are played well. I like that they are playing them ‘wooden’; it makes it more believable. The ‘just like us’ mannerisms of the original series would have been a little campy.

The 5th Column is handled well. Ryan (Morris Chestnut) is a believable character, and I like how they mixed the themes of 5th column and crossbreeding from the original into this single character. He is played strongly, and I see him as a recruiter for Chad Decker.

In all, “V” started out strong, and is really just hitting the mark to be a great series. Too bad ABC is giving is treating it so badly. I hope it survives.

Based on the classic short children’s story by Maurice Sendak, Where The Wild Things Are takes us into Max’s world and introduces us to a world of magical monsters, and childhood anger.

The film is visually perfect. I couldn’t tell what was puppetry, and what was CG. The world of the wild things is beautiful, and captures the essence of the children’s book illustrations. It is not very colorful, but wonderful to look at for young and old.

The film was both confusing and boring. It was too much like the book. When you adapt any media into another, things must be changed. Especially when you have such a short single-minded book. Yes, they added a backstory, but that was all. The movie was just an expression of childhood anger, much like the book. Once Max got to the land of the wild things the plot ceased to move forward and just became a series of angry expression by Max and the wild things. Too much like the book. The filmmakers appear to use the book theme as an excuse for not having a good story.

The synopsis of the expanded story could’ve been pulled right from H.R. Pufnstuf. Hopefully, Sid and Marty Krofft will see this movie and use it to help determine the direction an Pufnstuf feature film should take. Honestly, the 1970s camp film “Pufnstuf” was a much better movie.

I give “Where The Wild Things Are” a didn’t really need to see it.

Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau and Peter Billingsley. That was all I needed to know to buy a ticket. Topped off with Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis and Faizon Love, it became a must see. Couples Retreat is the latest in the new ‘not-quite-romantic comedies’. It’s a drama that also brings the funny. Many elitist moviegoers and reviewers have no appreciation for this kind of film. I definitely do. It’s not high art, or high comedy. But it is high entertainment.

The real life friendship of Vaughn, Bateman, Favreau and Billingsley (director) really pays off on screen. Their interaction is seamless. Yes, the core of their characters is the same as in previous movies, but it’s so good that your not distracted at all. They are all just so entertaining to watch.

I am very glad to see Kristen Bell playing mature roles. She was somewhat typecast with her excellent portrayal as Veronica Mars, but between Sarah Marshall and Retreat she has now established herself as a ‘adult’. She was the perfect choice to play opposite Bateman. I was pleasantly surprised by Malin Akerman. I’ve never been a huge fan of hers before, but she was great in this movie. She is on her way to becoming another Leslie Mann.

As with The Break-Up, writers Vaughn and Favreau bring real feelings and issues to the screen. Every married couple can find a way to relate to at least one of the couples in this movie. What was missing that The Break-Up had was pulling you in so far that you began to feel uncomfortable watching. Retreat could have accomplished this during the montage of arguments between the couples. They started to, but never went all the way. I’m guessing it ended up on the cutting room floor.

I give Couples Retreat at really glad I seen it.