By AJ Grillo

I'm not really the target audience for a movie like Teen Spirit, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the fine acting talents of two up and coming stars, Cassie Scerbo and Lindsey Shaw. However, that is why I watched with my daughter to get insight from someone who is within the target audience.

The story has been told time and again: unpopular kid that not many people are aware exists turns into the popular person at school. This time though, it was done with a twist. Amber (Cassie Scerbo) is dead and now must find a way to turn a wall flower (Lisa; Lindsey Shaw) into a rose by becoming prom queen so that she can get to Heaven.

 

This weekend marked the end of an era for a lot of fans. The Harry Potter film series, based on J.K. Rowling's novels, came to an end with the last installment - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - last Friday, July 15. The movie was sold out across the country Thursday night, most places weeks in advance as many fans waited to see the conclusion.

The midnight opening of the film broke records as it did for largest opening day. On Friday alone, which was the biggest Friday opening in the history of Hollywood, the movie grossed an estimated $92.1 million, beating out the current opening day record of The Twilight Saga: New Moon with $72.7 million. The midnight screenings accounted for close to half of the revenues at $43.5 million! This also beat out The Twilight Saga: Eclipse midnight record of $30 million. As a bigger record still, the film broke weekend grossing records by bringing in $169.2 million, beating out The Dark Knight which previously held the record at $158.4 million.

By Jamie Ruby

For comic book and science fiction fans everywhere, this weekend will be about Thor, the Norse god of thunder. But not everyone is talking about the Marvel movie being released this weekend, for some, like myself, it's about the Syfy Saturday movie Almighty Thor.

Almighty Thor, an Asylum film, written by Eric Forsberg, directed by Chris Ray, and starring Cody Deal, will be premiering Saturday night on Syfy.

For those not familiar with the story, according to the official Marvel Universe Wiki, Thor is "one of several powerful ancient beings who dwell in a magical realm called Asgard." Thor is also the son of Odin, who gave him his famous hammer. In the original Marvel universe, to teach him a lession in humility, Odin sends his son to Earth in a crippled mortal body as well as takes away his hammer, powers, and memory of who he is. Subsequently Donald Blake uses his secret identity as Thor to fight crime.

The Syfy movie follows quite a different storyline, making it unique and enabling it to stand on its own. The movie begins in Asgard with the character of Loki, played by Richard Grieco, who with the help of the Norns, the Weavers of Fate, trying to convince Odin (Kevin Nash) to give him the hammer of invincibility, with which he will cause havok in Asgard and on Earth.

To stop Loki and to get to the hammer before him, where his father has hidden it, Thor must travel to Earth, where he is joined by his guardian Jarnsaxa played by Patricia Velasquez. Thor trades in his hammer for a uzi as he learns to fight and hopefully defeat his enemy.

By AJ Grillo

I haven't consistently watched wrestling for quite a few years, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten who the Rattlesnake is. Six-time WWE Champion, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is hosting the latest installment of USA Network's WWE Tough Enough, the first since 2004. In this reality series, contestants will compete to become the new WWE superstar. I for one think Austin is a perfect choice, because when talking about being tough enough, Austin is one of the toughest S.O.B.s you'll ever meet. Just ask him, he'll tell you.

We start by meeting our fourteen contestants: Martin Casaus, Matt Capiccioni, Christina Crawford, Michelle Deighton, Rima Fakih, Andy Leavine, Eric Watts, Mickael Zaki, Ariane Andrew, Ryan Howe, AJ Kirsch, Jeremiah Riggs, Luke Robinson, and Ivelisse Velez. There is an interesting mixture of experience and celebrity among the contestants. Some, like Capiccioni and Velez, have wrestled in the independent circuit, while Fakih has no experience and is the reigning Miss USA.

By Karen Moul

As The Walking Dead approached the halfway point of the season, the writers took a step back and gave us some character development and group dynamics.  Episodes like this are needed to sustain the major themes through the rest of this season and into next.  While it seemed as if not a lot happened, we had a huge advance in the Rick-Lori-Shane storyline.  Add in some compelling action among the supporting cast and overall this was another excellent episode. 

The Grimes family reunion was handled beautifully.  I actually had a knot in my stomach waiting for Shane and Lori to see Rick. I can't remember the last time a TV show made me feel that much tension and anticipation, probably not since Lost.  Sarah Wayne Callies was excellent in this scene, in just a few moments you could see the disorientation on Lori's face, then the recognition, and perhaps a split second of joy before her expression turned to horror.   Andrew Lincoln's reactions as Rick saw his son were also moving.  Nice work all around.

Part one of the seventh story in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, opened Friday worldwide. The craze for the young boy wizard first started over thirteen years ago when Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was first published in London and continued to grow when the first movie was released in 2001. Nine years later, the fanbase still continues to expand as theaters around the world were sold out for opening night. The movie brought in $125.1 million domestically for the opening weekend, with the worldwide total coming in at $330.1 million.