Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page & Kristin Wiig in 'Whip It'

Drew Barrymore makes her debut behind the camera with a fun and modern tale about a young misfit (Ellen Page) who finds solace from her uptight parents and deplorable schoolmates with an Austin roller derby team … also run by Barrymore. I am ecstatic to see Barrymore taking more control in her career … considering she’s been acting for most of her life, I’d say it’s about time she took the wheel and this is definitely a terrific start for a first-time director …

The basic plot follows Bliss Cavender (Page) in Bodeen, Texas, as she runs away from her mother’s pageantry annoyance by throwing on some skates and knocking other bitches down. While some may whine about Page playing the same character in every film (i.e. Juno and Smart People) with dry humor and wit, I feel she’s amazing at what she does and people should just back off.

The film also features Kristen Wiig (of SNL fame), Eve and Juliette Lewis as members of the roller derby team. While I have seen many great performances from Wiig and Lewis, I have yet to really see Eve act in a movie … Nevertheless, I have high hopes for her playing a bad-ass … considering she’s pretty kick-ass herself. Marcia Gay Harden will play Page’s mother in the film … since she’s amazing in everything she does, I can’t wait to see her play a stuck-up mom denying her daughter happiness.

With an all-star cast and Drew Barrymore at the helm, I have no doubt I will love this film … and possibly see it more than once. The main question here is: What’s better than a couple of strong and ruthluess chicks who do tricks and beat the shit out of each other? I can’t really think of anything right now … can you?

]]> http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/drew-barrymore-directs-roller-derby-flick/feed/ 0 projectryan whip-it_drewbarrymore_ellenpage1-500x333 http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/sytycd-tears-fall-zombies-hip-hop/ http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/sytycd-tears-fall-zombies-hip-hop/#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:13:57 +0000 projectryan http://projectryan.wordpress.com/?p=720 ]]>

'So You Think You Can Dance' logo

This week showcased a very lackluster episode of performances from the Top 8 … which is lame and annoying for a fan like myself. Obviously, as the competition dwindles, I expect the best routines out of the best dancers … and I really haven’t gotten a whole lot of good from the show this week. It’s sad … cause I expected a lot more from the Top 8 this season.

I do feel, however, that each couple produced at least one great performance this episode … Let’s get into it!

Kayla Radomski & Jason Glover were paired up for a hip-hop routine choreographed by Shane Sparks … Honestly, I haven’t been impressed with Shane Sparks this season, but this has got to be one of my favorite hip-hop routines this season. The premise of the routine is that Jason is a zombie and Kayla is his victim … while the bone-breaking stuff seemed a little odd, I felt they both did a great job keeping synchronized and having fun. I especially liked it when Kayla smeared her eyes … tons of fun.

The couple also performed a Broadway routine from Tyce Diorio … It was definitely one of the best Broadway routines of the season and I loved the old Hollywood feel the couple brought to the dance. Nevertheless, I am a little saddened by the fact the show seems to present Broadway in a boring demeanor … maybe next season’s Broadway routines will be better.

Melissa Sandvig & Ade Obayomi came back as a couple this week and performed one of the most emotional routines of the season about breast cancer. A contemporary piece from Tyce Diorio inspired from a friend with cancer … I believe Melissa & Ade were the only couple who could have pulled off the emotion needed for this piece. Not that the other dancers are bad (cause they’re not) … but, Melissa & Ade have the trust needed for the jumps and lifts. Personally, the look and pain in Melissa’s face made the dance beautiful … a very inspirational and heartbreaking piece from one of the best choreographers.

The couple also performed a Cha-Cha which kind of sucked and was probably one of the worst performances for the couple … Enough said.

Brandon Bryant & Jeanine Mason performed a Pop-Jazz routine from famed choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson. Personally, I was a lot more impressed with Jeanine than Brandon, but they both kicked some serious ass with this piece. I loved the section where Jeanine wrapped herself around Brandon and they stammered forward with Jeanine’s hand in the air … While it’s not the most fast-paced or intricate part of the dance, I loved the intensity and emotion they drew from that one moment before Brandon jumped in the air and Jeanine rolled under him. It’s always nice to have a great routine from a new choreographer …

They also performed a Smooth Waltz which was kind of weak … I expected a lot more from this couple, cause they’re both really good, but I doubt they’ll be in trouble … They have such a huge following.

Evan Kasprzak & Janette Manrana performed a Jazz routine from Sonya Tayeh … I love Sonya’s choreography, but I feel they are all quite similar … just tweaked a little each time with a different story. Nevertheless, she’s very distinct. I really enjoyed the attitude both Evan & Janette had with the piece and their lines and strength were beautiful. Janette was a lot stronger than Evan, but I think they both did a magnificent job with an unusual routine.

The couple also performed a Rumba … I thought Evan was going to bring down this routine for Janette, but he did an amazing job. Personally, I think it is because Janette brought out the sexy Latino in him, but this was probably one of the most sensual and sexy dances of the season. I feel this routine truly showcased Janette’s strengths as a dancer … I can’t wait to see what comes of this episode …

** I can’t believe Janette and Jason were eliminated this episode … I really thought Janette was going to win this season … She was amazing! I felt that the two routines Janette & Evan performed were together better than every other couples two routines. Plus, I thought Jason was one of the strongest men on the show and showcased some of the best routines. They both will be missed … but, I can’t wait to see who takes their spots as front-runners.

]]> http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/sytycd-tears-fall-zombies-hip-hop/feed/ 0 projectryan 4904_104273597045_616937045_2587795_5763740_n http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/julie-julia-delightful-summer-film/ http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/julie-julia-delightful-summer-film/#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:20:29 +0000 projectryan http://projectryan.wordpress.com/?p=710 ]]>

Meryl Streep in 'Julie & Julia'

Stepping into the theatre I knew I would enjoy Julie & Julia … simply for the fact that the spectacular Meryl Streep is the star and can do no wrong when it comes to cinema. Nevertheless, I was pleasantly surprised by the supporting cast and the fantastic Amy Adams (star of Enchanted and Junebug) in making this romantic-comedy a stand out.

I don’t think Meryl Streep has ever been seen by Hollywood as a huge box-office draw, but her last few summer films including The Devil Wears Prada and Mamma Mia! made over $100 million dollars each … Hopefully, this means America has lost their boner for skanky and annoying actresses who can’t act for those who can actually carry a film.

I don’t want to say this is the best movie of the summer … because it’s not … but, it’s awfully darn cute and fun to watch. The plot follows the lives of Julia Child and Julie Powell. Both from two different time periods and locations, but brought together by a driving force … Food!!

The screenplay is adapted from two different books … The first being Julia Child’s My Life in France … where Child tells about her life before she co-wrote the two-volume French cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking with Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle and became the face of French cuisine on American television.

The other book from Julie Powell adapted from her 2002 blog titled The Julie/Julia Project where she tracked her attempt to cook 524 recipes from Julia Child’s cookbook in one year. This will be the first major motion picture to be adapted from a blog … Pretty cool, right?

I loved the fact that Jane Lynch (notorious for her dry humor) played Julia’s sister with great class and charm … check her out in Role Models or Glee and you’ll see what I’m talking about … I also believe Stanley Tucci and Chris Messina were magnificent counterparts to the two leading women.

While Streep overpowered practically everyone in the film … because she’s Meryl Streep, no doubt … I had a great time watching the film. It’s great to see how two totally different women could be transformed into two different people because of their love and passion for food. Bon Appetit!

Amy Adams & Chris Messina in 'Julie & Julia'

'So You Think You Can Dance' logo

WTF?!? The Top 10 are only performing one routine this episode … Being the first week the dancers are paired into new couples, wouldn’t the producers want us (the viewers) to have more to judge the new pairings on? Last season, the couples performed two routines every week after the Top 14 … That is lame SYTYCD!

If they were only going to showcase five routines (plus two group routines) … they all should have been spectacular to watch. Nevertheless, this week probably had one of the best routines out of the season …

Jeanine Mason & Jason Glover performed a contemporary routine choreographed by Season 2 runner-up Travis Wall … and it was beautifully danced. Not only did the routine showcase the strengths of the dancers, but also that of the choreographer. I loved the storyline for this routine … Two lovers fighting for each others hearts eventually making up (and making out) in the end is lovely to watch and I especially loved it when Jason held Jeanine’s leg as she extended her other leg into the air … it truly showed how flexible and strong she is as a dancer … I just loved this routine!

Kayla Radomski & Evan Kasprzak performed a Viennese Waltz which was just that … another fucking Waltz. Don’t get me wrong, I think the Viennese Waltz is a beautiful dance and when done properly can be magical to watch, but this routine was like every other Waltz they’ve done on the show … I must say, I’m getting kind of bored … What’s next?

Brandon Bryant & Melissa Sandvig performed a Broadway routine from the musical Hair choreographed by Tyce Diorio … that had a hippie-esque vibe I really enjoyed watching. Most of the Broadway routines this season have been extremely bland and I am pleased to say this dance was refreshing and enjoyable. I loved the way Melissa and Brandon tangled into each other effortlessly and danced the routine beautifully … Finally, a great Broadway routine!

Randi Evans & Kupono Aweau performed a Paso Doble … sadly, it was kind of lackluster. As I have said before, the Paso Doble is a very intense dance … Unfortunately, I do not believe this newly formed couple had a lot of trust in each other to perform an effective Paso Doble. Plus, that disastrous wig and dress they threw on Randi was horrible … not that it was her fault, but it sure didn’t help … I think they’ll be kicked off … Which sucks cause I really like Kupono and I think the both of them are extremely talented …

Janette Manrana & Ade Obayomi performed a hip-hop routine from Tabitha & Napoleon D’umo where Janette is a stuck-up librarian with no ‘funk’ and Ade is a smooth operator with flows tons of ‘funk’ through Janette with a magical hair pick by stripping her down into colorful, fun stripper attire … Yeah, not the best storyline produced from the notorious couple, but it was a fun routine to watch. Not much else to say … the masters of hip-hop choreography strike again!

Like I said, I have a strong feeling Kupono & Randi will be kicked off this week … We’ll see if my votes for Kupono make any difference. Can’t wait for tomorrow to come …

** As I predicted, Kupono & Randi were kicked off this episode … which is kind of sad, I thought Kupono was kind of screwed from the beginning because he kept getting compared to Mark Kanemura from last season … and Mark was a better dancer … but, Kupono was really good and a lot of fun to watch dance … Randi never had the same following as her previous partner Evan, but she was a much better dancer than him, so it’s sad to see her go as well …

However, I thought the group performance choreographed by Wade Robson was spectacular … probably one of his best and it showcased the entire Top 10 beautifully … I loved the Asian influence and the fact that Melissa got to use her skills in Ballet made it even better … Well, I can’t wait for next week, at least they’ll be performing two routines again … I hope …

Saoirse Ronan & Susan Sarandon in 'The Lovely Bones'

I just saw the trailer for Peter Jackson’s new film The Lovely Bones … sticking to his niche of adapting books into films, i.e. Lord of the Rings, this movie takes a drastic turn from science fiction, hobbits and elves. Written by Alice Sebold in 2002, the story follows Susie Salmon in the 1970s … after she is murdered she goes to her personal-heaven where she watches over her family as they deal with the aftermath of her death.

After watching the preview, I don’t believe the film is going in the same depressing direction as the book … Personally, I can see this as a positive. While the story is brilliant, I don’t think viewers want to be crying the entire duration of the movie. Plus, some of the scenes make the film look more fantasy than drama … This could be a good turn for Jackson, but I hope the storyline does not deter because of cheesy or lame animation.

Susie is going to be played by Saoirse Ronan … the Academy-Award nominated actress from Atonement … and I think this is a spectacular casting choice. Ronan has got to be one of the best young actresses to come out of the past couple years. The film also features Academy-Award winners Rachel Weisz and Susan Sarandon and Academy-Award nominee Mark Wahlberg. Yeah, that’s four Academy-Award nominated actors in one movie … It can’t suck too much, right??

Nevertheless, I have really high hopes for this film and I have a feeling it’s going to live up to the hype. I know that it’s going to be sad … any film that deals with the murder of a young woman is not going to be an uplifting story, nor should it be … but, I have a feeling Jackson and the actors will add an endearing touch to the film to where it’s not a tearjerker the entire time and be extremely inspirational … The film will be out in 2009 … Keep an eye out!

'So You Think You Can Dance' logo

This was the first week the couples performed two routines and I was shocked at how well all the couples did with each style thrown at them. Since this is going to be the last week these couples perform together, I’m sure they all worked their asses off to make the Top 10.

I absolutely loved the routine on addiction Mia Michaels choreographed for Kupono Aweau & Kayla Radomski. Even if it was an emotional piece for Kupono (he lost someone to addiction) … I don’t believe he or Kayla let their emotions take over their performance. The sinister smile Kupono had throughout the entire routine was spine-tingling and Kayla was tragically beautiful. Personally, I think Nigel Lythgoe’s assessment on Kayla’s hair was wierd. I thought it added to the routine (the messiness). Nevertheless, they both performed with amazing strength and beauty. This is one of my favorite routines this entire season …

The Broadway routine they performed was not the best I have seen on the show, but it was kind of cute to see them ‘fall in love’ … I haven’t really been too enthralled with the Broadway pieces this season anyway … and that’s all I’ve really got to say on that.

I know I haven’t been the biggest supporter of Brandon Bryant (although I love his partner Janette Manrana). I must give them both props for their killer performances. In particular, I thought the Wade Robson routine was quirky and interesting to watch … with a very Bonnie and Clyde-esque vibe. The two had superb technique and mastered the strange and brilliant mind of Robson.

I’ve never been a big fan of Tango … it’s a very intense dance with a ton of emotion and power (which numerous couples have failed to produce). I think Brandon & Janette were brilliant and made the Tango interesting to watch. I just wish I appreciated Brandon’s talent as much as everyone else …

Melissa Sandvig & Ade Obayomi have been at the top since the beginning of the show. This week, however, they did not impress me … The Disco routine showcased Ade’s strength and the fact Melissa could handle being thrown around like a rag doll, but it did not have the same spark as some of their previous routines.

The Waltz the couple performed was beautiful … Nevertheless, I think it was just a magnificent way to end their relationship as a couple … and that’s it …

Randi Evans & Evan Kasprzak did a hip-hop routine from Tabitha & Napoleon D’umo which was kind of mediocre. The premise seemed interesting enough … Randi is pregnant and Evan is her boyfriend, but I just didn’t believe the two of them as hip-hop dancers …

The couple also performed a Samba choreographed by previous competitors Anya Garnis and Pasha Kovalev … Now, if the two previous competitors had performed it probably would have been spectacular, but they didn’t and it really wasn’t … Oh, well … They are still a good couple … and I think they’ll make it far.

Jason Glover & Caitlin Kinney performed a masterful lyrical Jazz routine from Mandy Moore. They both had beautiful lines, great strength and technique. They were extremely lucky to recieve a style that was their own cause they’ve got a lot to prove based on their past performances. It wasn’t the most entertaining piece … but, then again, Mandy Moore’s routines usually aren’t …

The couple also did a Foxtrot, which was good, but not really superb or exciting to watch. I can understand why the judges thought the routine was good, but not at the same level as some of their other performances … but, it’s a Foxtrot … the routines are usually boring.

Sadly … Jeanine Mason & Phillip Chbeeb performed a Russian folk dance that could probably be counted as one of the worst performances in the history of the show. They both seemed to have fun doing it, but I truly hated it …

On the other hand, they also performed a fun Jive routine. The characters they played were fun and cute, but in no way did this performance cancel out their previous routine … I feel for them, because I think they’re both very talented and should continue in the competition … I guess we’ll have to wait and see …

**  To my surprise Melissa & Ade landed in the bottom … of course they weren’t eliminated. Sadly, Caitlin and Phillip were kicked off today’s episode.

I think with Phillip out of the show we are going to miss out on a lot of spectacular hip-hop. Now, what I don’t understand is why eight of the Top 10 are contemporary dancers … isn’t that wierd? Well, I can’t wait for the Top 10 … I have a feeling it’s going to be great.

Amanda Seyfried in 'Jennifer's Body'

Holy shit! A horror-comedy featuring Megan Fox (of Transformers) and Amanda Seyfried (of Mamma Mia! and Mean Girls) … written by Oscar-winner Diablo Cody (also of The United States of Tara infamy) … Why is it that I’ve never heard of this flick until I saw the trailer during previews for Bruno?

Now, while Bruno dragged on for a never-ending hour and a half … I was stuck obsessing on how incredibly awesome this movie will likely be when it hits the big screen! Sure … it’s not the most ‘fresh’ idea, but then again what in Hollywood is?

Obviously, Megan Fox is going to play the uber-hot, overtly sexual cheerleader … but, she’s a possessed cheerleader on a murderous rampage offing the boys at her school. How cool is that?

I know murdering people isn’t a good thing, but it’s still a horror movie … and in movie terms, I would much rather be killed by Megan Fox than … oh, let’s say Freddy, Jason, Michael,Leatherface or any of the other lame-ass super villains that won’t die or fade away into oblivion. Plus, it’s going to be quirky and smart dialogue … cause that’s the genius of Diablo Cody’s writing.

It’s no big surprise that Megan Fox isn’t following in the footsteps of Julia Roberts or Hilary Swank with dramatic roles … personally, she hasn’t really proven herself as a wide-range actress … but, I can totally overlook this opinion and give her credit for attacking a role that fit her (you know, with the sex appeal) … but, also gave her some range with being a crazed-bitch.

On the other hand, I adore Amanda Seyfried … I think she was hilarious in Mean Girls and superb in Mamma Mia! … and I believe these two actresses can make this movie into a cult classic … Now … from what I’ve read, it’s a lil’ wierd how Megan Fox’s character Jennifer gets possessed (from a rock band?) … but, Amanda Seyfried’s character Needy (who is Jennifer’s best friend) goes on the offensive and attempts to stop her from terrorizing the town they live in.

Just wanted to give a little bit of the plot away (watch the trailer, it’s awesome!) … Some of the men tormented in this movie are Adam Brody, Johnny Simmons and Kyle Gallner. Sure, the movie is all about the girls (and surely directed towards a young-male audience), but we gotta give something to the girls, right?

No doubt … I can’t wait to see this movie! It’s sure to be horrific fun seeing Megan Fox tear unsuspecting boys into shreds … I don’t care what anyone says … nudity is not the only reason to this flick … but, I’m sure it’ll bring in the big bucks for the studio, don’t you think?

Poster for 'New Moon'

Don’t worry Twilight fanatics … Kristen Stewart shall stop her supposed lesbian love scenes as Joan Jett and come back as Bella Swan to reunite with her hunky vampire beau Robert Pattinson (a.k.a. Edward Cullen) for filming of the next movie in just over a month. Excited?!?

According to the studios they will start production on August 17 and end right around Halloween … Obviously, the best way for the companies involved to keep this money train going and get the cast to promote the latest installment New Moon … which is scheduled to come out in November.

If you’ve been unable to read the books … New Moon is almost entirely without Edward (as he flees to Italy) … and the battle for Bella’s affection between Jacob Black (played by Taylor Lautner) and Edward comes into full swing … Now, it would be stupid of the studios to erase Pattinson from the film and according to co-star Michael Welch he’s basically a hallucination throughout the film for Bella … nevertheless, I’m very interested to see how they make this work.

I am extremely excited to see all the cast come back … but, I am elated to see the new members of the Twilight cast make their appearance. The actress I am most pleased to see in the new flick is Dakota Fanning … she plays Jane (a powerful member of the Italian coven) and hopefully she’ll keep turning away from her youthful appearance and continue to grow-up.

Other additions include Noot Seear (a model) who plays Heidi and attracts humans for the Volturi to feast on, Jamie Campbell Bower (who could be recognized from Sweeney Todd) plays Caius and Michael Sheen (of The Queen fame) plays mind reader Aro. Plus, it’s worth noting the newcomers from the Quileute tribe.

Personally, I can’t wait for the love triangle between Bella, Edward and Jacob to materialize. Willingly, this will entail some pretty intense scenes … Plus, both Pattinson and Lautner get half-naked and take their shirts off and that’s enough persuasion for most Twilight aficionados to see the movie … and come on, Robert Pattinson can’t be the only sex symbol to come out of this flick, right?!?

Taylor Lautner in 'New Moon'

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta a.k.a. Lady GaGa

Two thoughts that popped into my mind after I saw Lady GaGa for the first time on So You Think You Can Dance last year was that she looked like a plastic surgery replication of Christina Aguilera … However, I also believed she would burst into the limelight because of her unique style and oddball tendencies … Different is definitely refreshing in today’s music industry.

I recently watched her music video for ‘Love Game’ on VH1 (shockingly I never watch music videos) … and I think it’s pretty fucking cool to see someone who has a crazy sense of style, addicting songs and over-the-top sexuality who was not formerly a member of the Mickey Mouse brat pack.

Lady GaGa on Rolling Stone magazine

Honestly, I absolutely loved ‘Just Dance’ … even if the song got overplayed on the radio … I think it was one of the best songs of last year. Needless to say, I’m super excited to see that dance music is making an uprising in the music biz.

I’m sure there are people who think pop music is just another form of dance music … and pop music idols Britney Spears, Madonna or Rihanna could be pioneers in dance music, but I think they’re albums only submit a few songs to dance … where Lady GaGa’s album The Fame is a complete dance record.

To go off topic for a bit … When I walked into Border’s and saw her on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine a couple months back for their annual ‘Hot Issue’ … I flipped out cause the cover was very provocative and sexy … Personally, I was getting fed up with the safe and bland covers the iconic mag had been shoving into stores, but this was modern, fun and pure GaGa. The photographs bizarre photographer David LaChapelle took of the up-and-coming starlet were some of the best he’s ever taken …

Sure, she may be a former drug-addict (but, honestly, what singer hasn’t been addicted to something nowadays?), be allergic to pants and look tremendously better as a brunette … but, she’s fun, crazy and what the majority of music lovers need … someone to make them smile and DANCE!

Sacha Baron Cohen in 'Bruno'

I have recently read that GLAAD (otherwise known as the Gay, Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) is a little bit ticked off by Sacha Baron Cohen’s new flick Bruno … set in the same style as his mega-hit Borat … but, following the life of an Austrian gay fashionista whom (among other things) adopts a black baby he has named OJ and attempts to create a sex-tape with presidential candidate Ron Paul.

I can understand how people in the GLBT-community could be offended by the movie … Baron Cohen is known for pushing the envelope, however, I’ve always believed he has used his multiple persona’s to show how ridiculous stereotypes can be … Nevertheless, I can see how this could be misconstrued into pushing homophobia into America, rather than helping the cause.

I guess we’ll just have to wait for the film to come out and see what people have a problem with … Baron Cohen has also caused a stir with his recent GQ magazine photo shoot where he posed in a very risque football uniform with a bunch of high schoolers … Even though it was reported that everyone involved had a great time and the team’s parents were forced to sign a consent form … the district is still punishing people.

It just goes to show that there are still people who get pissed off at things that seem too ‘adult’ … We’re always going to be in a society where high school is treated like a PG-rated film, but are we not living in an R-rated reality? I mean, come on …

I think Perez Hilton’s stupidity should be scolded more than Baron Cohen’s movie … Hilton got punched by Black Eyed Peas manager for supposedly calling Will.i.Am a ‘fucking faggot’ … and after GLAAD demanded an apology, Hilton said he deserved one for their lack of support …

I’m sorry Hilton … but, when you use a derogatory word against someone else and justify it, then you’re a fucking idiot … I have no respect for assholes and for a community that is in desperate need of role models, you’ve proven to be a driving force against our fight for equality. Plus, you’re rich and famous for making other people feel like shit … Congrats on being a parasite!

'So You Think You Can Dance' logo

It’s about fucking time every single act of the night amazed and inspired. I’m going to have a hard time narrowing down people for the Bottom 3 this week, which is always a delight. Personally, I think it is more fun when everyone rocked it out and creates a challenge.
I would have to say that it is too hard to pick out just three performances that were my favorite … Nevertheless, I think Kupono Aweau & Kayla Radomski and Jeanine Mason & Phillip Chbeeb had the two best performances of the night and should not even be considered for the bottom.

Kupono & Kayla performed a contemporary routine from Sonya Tayeh … with an obvious inspiration from True Blood, Twilight and Interview with a Vampire … maybe not the vampire part, but the death aspect that is usually associated with vamps. I enjoyed this routine because of the commitment and technique these two dancers brought to the floor. I think the lines and leaps between the two were spectacular to watch. Plus, it is pretty cool to see a dark side to dance …

Phillip & Jeanine did a hip-hop routine from amazing choreographers Tabitha & Napoleon D’umo … both the dancers were chained together and kind of forced to have synchronicity and rhythm together … Since I have been disappointed with the majority of the hip-hop routines this season, I was pleasantly surprised … The part of the dance where they both popped their chest in and out was enough for me … and the key thing at the end was pretty sweet.

The one couple I believe should be in the bottom is Randi Evans & Evan Kasprzak for their deplorable Broadway routine. They may be in my top dancers, but they screwed up this week …

One couple that has really impressed me this week … to my reluctant admission … is Brandon Bryant and Janette Manrana (they did a Cha-Cha). The routine was brilliant and kept me entertained throughout … while Janette was amazing (as usual), I just wished I liked Brandon as much as everyone else does …

Melissa Sandvig and Ade Obayomi performed classical Ballet from Romeo & Juliet … For me, I have always seen Ballet as boring, but the innocence and energy between the two dancers showed me the great strength and commitment it takes to perform a great Ballet performance. Since Melissa is (I believe) the first Ballet dancer to appear on So You Think You Can Dance, I think they both presented a top-notch performance to solidify Ballet on the show.

Caitlin Kinney & Jason Glover did a pop-jazz routine by Brian Friedman … with Caitlin as an alien and Jason as the last-surviving human on Earth who she has to impregnate. It’s a little unusal and the costume designed for Caitlin looked like a spiky condom, but the performance was a lot of fun and really entertaining to watch. I don’t think this was Friedman’s best routine, but I think it was enough for Cailtin & Jason to redeem themselves.

Lastly, newly paired Vitolio Jeune & Karla Garcia did a Quickstep (which has come to be known as the ‘kiss of death’ for dancers). Personally, I think they did an amazing job with a dance that tends to be on the boring side. The dress change Karla did was unexpected and a great way to change the speed of the dance. I still have a feeling they will land in the bottom, I just hope Karla can survive the cut …

I can’t wait to see what happens during the results show cause I think this week was a fantastic surprise and the dancing was some of the best I’ve seen this season …

** I can’t believe the two couples I said were the best this week landed in the bottom. Kupono & Kayla and Phillip & Jeanine had the most exciting routines … I’m not surprised by Vitolio & Karla being sent home … I really liked Karla, but sometimes talent isn’t enough to keep you alive in a competition … Vitolio I can live without, but I’ll miss Karla … I know, I’m a man-hater.

Next week will probably be the best week of dances … I have come to really like all the couples and I’ll probably be shocked by whoever leaves next week … I can’t wait!

Emile Hirsch

I’ve got a feeling I’m not the only one in awe of Emile Hirsch’s raw talent in movies … He’s broken through with amazing performances in two brilliant biopics and has been tons of fun to watch in mainstream and independent flicks alike. Personally, I think his attitude is what makes me like him even more … he just seems to be extremely laid-back and in search of a good time … I like the actors who don’t think they have to save the world, rather enjoy their life instead … Nevertheless, here are some of Hirsch’s best movies to check out!

Emile Hirsch in 'Milk'

Milk -This movie was probably one of the best films of last year … and I believe that Hirsch held his own amongst the star-studded cast which included Academy-Award winner Sean Penn and James Franco. Although the film followed the life of gay-rights activist Harvey Milk … it also showcased the lives of the people who he affected, which included Cleve Jones played by Hirsch. This is probably one of Hirsch’s best performances to date … he turns from a spoiled teen to a radical activist … What’s not to love?

Kristen Stewart & Emile Hirsch in 'Into the Wild'

Into the Wild – I definitely think Hirsch was fucked out of an Oscar nomination for his poignant turn (and 40-pound weight-loss) as real-life rebel Christopher McCandless … who donated his trust fund of $24,000 and set out on a soul-searching journey to Alaska, which ultimately led to his death. During the film, McCandless meets a bunch of crazy, dysfunctional and fun people who help him find what he’s looking for … I can’t help to watch this film and become inspired, but it’s also an incredibly big tearjerker. The moment he realizes he’s gonna die is just heartbreaking … probably one of the best scenes in the last five years … Enjoy!

Sigourney Weaver & Emile Hirsch in 'Imaginary Heroes'

Imaginary Heroes – The story for this flick has been done over and over again … where a superior brother commits suicide and the rest of the family begins to unravel and deteriorate … however, what sets this one apart from the others is the actors … especially Hirsch, who plays the younger, less-popular brother who grew up without love from his parents and begins his journey into drugs and sex. With Sigourney Weaver as his depressed, pot-smoking mom … I don’t know what else people need to at least rent the movie and give it a chance to amaze them.

John Robinson, Victor Rasuk & Emile Hirsch in 'Lords of Dogtown'

Lords of Dogtown – Yeah … it’s a lil’ weird to see Hirsch with a mop of blond hair, but this is the role that led Sean Penn to cast him in Into the Wild. Hirsch plays Jay Adams … one of the original ‘Z-Boys’ in Cali who catapulted skateboarding into a revolutionized sport during the 1970′s. For a biopic about sports … this was a really good flick … but mostly cause Hirsch, Heath Ledger and Nikki Reed did such an amazing job!

Emile Hirsch & Christina Ricci in 'Speed Racer'

Speed Racer -I know this movie was a total letdown for the production company … with poor reviews and being amongst one of the largest recorded losses of all time … I still thought it was a fun and exciting flick to watch with a bunch of amazing actors. This is totally one of those movies where the actors … including Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon and John Goodman … just can’t save the entire film. Nevertheless, Hirsch is fantastic to watch as the live-action Japanese car nerd.

Mia Wasikowska in 'Alice in Wonderland'

I’ve been looking around for news about upcoming flicks and I finally saw some pictures from the new Alice in Wonderland and I’m so freaking excited! Mostly because Tim Burton is directing the film and he’ll probably turn the classic into something truly creepy and supernatural … plus, it’s gonna be partially in CGI … the combination of live-action and animation is gonna be pretty freaking cool. Johnny Depp is teaming up with Burton again to play the Mad Hatter … and he kind of looks like a creepy, fucked-up Carrot Top with terrifying eyes … I can’t wait to see how this plays out on-screen. Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter (Burton’s wife and Depp’s frequent on-screen partner), Alan Rickman, Michael Sheen, Crispin Glover and Stephen Fry will also help portray some of the memorable characters from this vintage Disney tale.

Anne Hathaway will play The White Queen … with her blond hair, pale skin and bright, red lips, she looks like the perfect angelic savior of the film. Helena Bonham Carter (The Red Queen) teams up with Depp again (they’ve been together in Sweeney Todd, Corpse Bride and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) looks pretty up-tight and bitchy … I can’t wait to see her as the torturous bitch who overtakes the magical world.

Virtual newcomer Mia Wasikowska took the lead as Alice Kingsley (and beat out actresses Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Seyfried for the role) with blond hair and blue dress in-tow. I absolutely love it when obvious big-dollar flicks cast new talents in the lead role … It kind of gives America the chance to see new people … you know, instead of casting the same people in every fucking movie!

It sucks that we have to wait until 2010 to see the movie … but, I have a feeling it’s gonna be worth the wait. Burton always gives us movies with an edge and if I ever wanted anyone to do a re-make on one of my favorite Disney films … it would have to be him. Plus, the cast is top-notch … it’s gonna be wicked!

]]> http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/freaky-new-alice-is-gonna-rock/feed/ 0 projectryan 600full-alice-in-wonderland-screenshot http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/transformers-proves-to-be-more-than-just-action/ http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/transformers-proves-to-be-more-than-just-action/#comments Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:13:51 +0000 projectryan http://projectryan.wordpress.com/?p=497 ]]>

Megan Fox & Shia LaBeouf in 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'

Going into this film I totally thought they were going to fuck it up … you know, make it over-the-top and cheesy … but, I loved it! The acting was spectacular, the action was exciting and the storyline was intriguing … I don’t think there’s much else a film needs to succeed in my book … especially when it’s a “Summer Blockbuster” and a fan-boy’s wet dream (I’m not one, but I know plenty of them).

However, the main reason I wanted to see this movie was because I adore Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf … they both did an amazing job in the first flick and I thought I’d enjoy seeing them again (you know, fighting bad-ass robots) … I mean, Shia LaBeouf has really grown up since his Even Stevens days (he’s hot!) … he may play the same goofy character in the majority of his films, but he’s consistently had great performances over the past couple years … and Megan Fox is a fucking tornado (she has a great sex appeal … known to the millions of men in America … and she seems like a kick-ass chick) and I believe she’s got more going for her than just her sensuality … she’s actually a pretty good actress.

Another part of this movie that was exhilarating was the action … which is obviously expected from a comic-book flick, but the explosions were non-stop and probably some of the best fight scenes I’ve seen all year. Sure … they may have thrown in some cheesy lines that probably stemmed from the cartoon, but it made the robots have a sense of humor, which is always a good thing … The film has an even playing field for the whole good vs. evil aspect, since Optimus Prime obtained the help of a whole bunch of Autobots to fight the war against the Decepticons. I mean … there’s a holographic chick robot, a tiger robot, tiny doctor robots and all the tankers, planes, cars and motorcycles that turn into robots … It’s robot galore … try not to enjoy it!

This may just be the sap in me … but, I really enjoyed the love story between Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf … I think it added a human element to the movie (you know, which is dominated by robot aliens) and I fully expect to have another Transformers movie in the future … cause the movie rocked, will rake in millions and that’s just how Hollywood works.

It’s hard for me to pick out just a few scenes that I really enjoyed cause the movie as a whole was just spectacular … but, look out for the pot brownies, Bumblebee’s attack on kitchen appliances and all the military action in Egypt. I loved it … Personally, I believe it’s one of the top movies of the summer.

Megan Fox in 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'

]]> http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/transformers-proves-to-be-more-than-just-action/feed/ 0 projectryan 24tran600 transformers2hero2_806x453 http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/stytycd-ass-play-dreamcatchers-rumba/ http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/stytycd-ass-play-dreamcatchers-rumba/#comments Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:46:16 +0000 projectryan http://projectryan.wordpress.com/?p=487 ]]>

'So You Think You Can Dance' logo

This week counts as a massive improvement from last week. I enjoyed the majority of the performances this week and they really stepped up their game … considering last week was such a bummer.

I’m not going to bullshit around, I loved the routines Randi Evans & Evan Kasprzak, Kayla Radomski & Kupono Aweau and Melissa Sandvig & Ade Obayomi performed during tonight’s show.

Evan & Randi performed a routine from Mia Michaels (she’s crazy and brilliant) which focused on Randi’s ass. The dance reminded me of an old Hollywood movie … in the way Randi was Evan’s main desire. I have to agree with Toni Basil (‘Hey Mickey’ girl!) that Mia’s routines can overpower a dancer if their not up to the challange … Luckily, they were both fantastic …

Kupono & Kayla did a Viennese Waltz that was extremely beautiful to watch. I know these routines can be extremely boring, but these new partners did a fantastic job … They did good enough for Mary Murphy to put them on the ‘Hot Tamale Train’ and I think it was greatly deserved. They both kept the flow of the dance throughout the entire routine and had a great connection. If I remembered my dreams, I would want them to be something like this …

Ade & Melissa did a Rumba and this was probably the best routine these two have done thus far … These two have been in my Top 3 every week and I love Melissa (if she doesn’t make the Top 10 I will be pissed!) and Ade is proving to be a force on the show. There’s not a whole lot I can say about this performance … it was sexy, beautifully danced and extremely intimate … What’s not to love?!?

I don’t know which couples are going to land in the Bottom 3, but I have a feeling Jonathan Platero & Karla Garcia will be down there … With a hip-hop routine from Dave Scott that was really lame, they don’t really stand a chance … It’s not entirely their fault … having a gymnast from HSM pretend to be a gangster is not a smart idea. Last week, they delivered a powerful routine and hopefully they stick around …

Phillip Chbeeb & Jeanine Mason performed a Broadway routine … Personally, I believe Phillip is an extremely talented dancer … in his own genre, however, he has not succeeded in any other style. Jeanine has done brilliantly at every challenge thrown at her … I just hope Phillip steps up his game and doesn’t bring her down. I must admit … the jump over the couch was cool …

Asuka Kondoh & Vitolio Jeune did a Jazz routine that was sub-par compared to their Waltz from last week. It was fun to see the two perform to a fast-paced and eccentric routine, but they didn’t really hit it as hard as I thought they could have. Next week (if they make it) they’ll have to prove themselves … or they’ll probably be sent home.

Jason Glover & Caitlin Kinney did a Paso Doble this week. Now, a Paso Doble is supposed to be a dance that is basically a fight to the death … and I don’t think they were fighting, I just think they were acting. They still haven’t really redeemed themselves from the Bollywood routine, however, I believe it’s a step in the right direction.

Brandon Bryant & Janette Manrana also did a hip-hop routine featuring Brandon as a hip-hop star and Janette as a rocker. The costume for Janette was really exciting (like a cross between Cher and Pat Benatar) and she really pulled off everything that was . I’m sure it’s difficult to do the majority of your choreography in a chair, but they both of them

Brandon Bryant & Janette Manrana also did a hip-hop routine feauting Brandon as a hip-hop star and Janette as a rocker. Janette worked with everything that was given to her and her costume looked amazing (like a cross between Cher and Pat Benatar). I think they both did a decent hip-hop routine … I just wish the hip-hop performances were as good as last year.

Nevertheless, I cannot wait to see who lands in the bottom and who saves themselves from elimination … it’s going to be a fun night!

** It’s no surprise that Jonathan & Karla or Asuka & Vitolio landed in the bottom … However, I did not expect Jason & Caitlin to be in the bottom again.

Sadly, Jonathan & Asuka were kicked off today … and I do not believe these two were the worst in the group. I thought Asuka kind of carried Vitolio in the last couple of weeks … Jonathan is extremely talented, but I don’t think he was at the same level as some of the other dancers. Oh, well … Let’s see what happens next week!!

Haaz Sleiman & Edie Falco in 'Nurse Jackie'

Sure … dick shots, verbal diarrhea and tons of sex command the Showtime network … and, you know, with all those great aspects aside … the channel produces some of the best, thought-provoking and provocative programming on this side of the pond.

About two weeks ago … the Edie Falco drama Nurse Jackie premiered with great success … The drama follows the life of Jackie Peyton … a fucked-up, but genius nurse with back problems who juggles a shit-load of crap at a New York City hospital including incompetent doctors, forging names on organ donor cards, student nurses, flushing an rapist’s ear down the toilet and the mass of other problems that pass through hospital doors on a daily basis.

I don’t think many nurses have the guts to do half the shit Jackie does … but it sure makes for great television. 

Toni Collette & John Colbertt in 'The United States of Tara'

Now … this isn’t the only show on television that should be applauded … The United States of Tara will return in January of 2010. I’m still pissed I have to wait another six months to watch this show again … but, it’s fucking brilliant! … Tara (played by Toni Collette) has dissociative identity disorder, or DID, which is a form of multiple personalities.

Her family, Max (John Corbett), Kate (Brie Larson), Marshall (Keir Gilchrist) and Charmaine (Rosemarie DeWitt) attempt to help Tara understand her disorder. However, undergoing the stresses of a normal life, such as having a sexually active daughter, gay son, overbearing parents and erased past can’t help but bring out the “alters” she needs to help the ones she loves … as well as herself.

Toni Collette is by far one of the most talented actresses of this generation and does not get the recognition she deserves. Being able to pull off one character is hard enough, but add on four different characters into the plot and it’s a fucking orgy. I can’t wait for the show to come back … it’s gonna be awesome!

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers in 'The Tudors'

The Tudors, Weeds and Secret Diary of a Call Girl all deserve credit and kind of round-out the great shows from this channel … although, I believe only Weeds has a new season on at the moment … The Tudors follows the life of English monarch Henry VIII (played by an extremely attractive Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) as he rules over England and kills his wives … you know, before he got fat and mental. The show has a very abstract way of presenting the tyranny of Henry VIII … it’s very entertaining to see the story told in a different light.

Billie Piper in 'Secret Diary of a Call Girl'

Secret Diary of a Call Girl … is about a high-class call girl (obviously) … named Belle (played by Billie Piper) who fucks weird guys, mentors a ditz call girl and doesn’t give a shit what others call or think of her work … I’m pretty sure the series is based off a book from a real woman … Nevertheless, it’s a fantastic show from England that shows even whores have a story to tell … Got to love it!

Mary-Louise Parker in 'Weeds'

Lastly, let’s get on with Weeds … unless you’ve been living under a rock, you should know this show from all the awards and recognition it has gotten … Nancy Botwin (played by Mary-Louise Parker) is a housewife who seels pot in her up-scale neighborhood while raising her two slightly fucked-up sons and dealing with her pshychotic neighbors and family members … It’s an awesome show to watch cause you never really know what’s gonna happen next with any of the characters.

Showtime has a knack with showcasing television shows that deal with odd subjects … I don’t think any other network can compare to the brilliance and originality of the shows that grace this channel.

Amber Tamblyn & Jeremy Renner in 'The Unusuals'

This may be old news for some, but since I watch all my television on DVR … it’s news for me … I just found out that ABC is cancelling one of my favorite new television series The Unusuals. To be frank … this fucking sucks! Without a doubt, anytime I get attached to a series that is dramatic, thought-provoking, entertaining or appealing … it gets thrown off the air.

Sadly … the networks care more about promoting crappy reality shows which feature talentless hacks in search of love and their 15-minutes of fame … rather than supporting television series which showcase great acting talent and stories that have the potential to capture the attention of millions … if they were given a chance.

The Unusuals followed the lives of a bunch of odd-ball cops in New York who dealt with the weird and crazy crimes ‘The Big Apple’ offered them. Casey Schrager (played by the amazingly talented Amber Tamblyn) is a vice-detective posing as a hooker one day … then a part of the homicide squad in Precinct 2 the next. She comes to discover that the detectives in Precinct 2 have a strange sense of humor and may be fairly insane. Her new partner, Det. Jason Walsh (Jeremy Renner), is a former baseball player and has a sexual relationship with Det. Allison Beaumont (Monique Gabriela Curnen), Det. Leo Banks (Harold Perrineau) is afraid of dying at 42 (cause that’s when his father died), Det. Eric Delahoy (Adam Goldberg) has a brain tumor but refuses treatment and Det. Henry Cole (Joshua Close) is a reformed Christian with a shady past.

As it is obvious from the previous paragraph … there’s a lot of shit going on here … and for the people who actually enjoyed the show, it sucks that ABC is leaving us with a whole shit load of questions that will never be answered. This show truly grabbed my attention … plus it entertained my entire family … and personally, I can’t name a whole bunch of television shows that everyone in my family enjoyed.

I’m just really sad they are getting rid of this show … maybe this is a warning for me to ignore the first season of a new series and wait to see if they approve the show for a second season before I get attached. I can always watch the first season and catch up on-line … Or, is it possible I’m just putting way too much thought into my television show intake?!?

Whatever … I’m still pissed … fucking ABC and their production of good shows they d0n’t respect.

Jack Black, Juno Temple & Michael Cera in 'Year One'

I had extremely high expectations for this film … mostly cause Jack Black and Michael Cera are hilarious. Sadly … Year One was kind of a letdown. Honestly, I could have waited until the film came out on DVD and got those few chuckles from the comfort of my own couch.

The story follows Zed (Black) and Oh (Cera) as they are banished from their village of savages after Zed feasts on the forbidden fruit from their forest and journey into the biblical world and make their way to Sodom. Nevertheless, on their way to Sodom, they get into contact with their old tribe (their slaves now) and reunite with their love interests Eema and Maya … played by Juno Temple and June Diane Raphael … There are a few bumps and turns when they meet Cain and Abel or Abraham and Isaac and face death or severed penises from their Jewish brethren … but, for me, they could have cut this shit out and had the exact same movie … it’s kind of lame up to this point.

There were a lot of things going for this movie, but it just feel apart within the first half hour … like it really isn’t funny to watch Jack Black touch and eat bear shit, nor is it humorous to see David Cross repeatedly beat Paul Rudd’s head with a rock. Plus, I don’t like watching Michael Cera piss on himself while chained and upside down …

On a positive note, I did enjoy the actors in this film … Jack Black shall always be a comedic genius and Michael Cera balances out the hilarity with his deadpan delivery in jokes, but all the women in this film … including Olivia Wilde as Princess Inanna … was kind of disappointing. Personally, I don’t think women are used well in comedies (especially of this caliber) and the industry needs to re-think their view on the use of women in their films. Like … it’s ridiculous to think the only way a woman can be funny is if she has a banana in her hand or is talking about being a lesbian … but that’s what films like this seem to project onto audiences.

Overall, the film is good for a chuckle here and there, but I wouldn’t really waste another nine bucks to see this again … all the actors in this film can do a lot better … please, don’t settle for this crap.

Ryan Reynolds & Sandra Bullock in 'The Proposal'

I went to a midnite showing of The Proposal tonight and it was freaking hilarious … I loved it a lot more than I thought I would. Going into the movie … I totally thought that the commercials for the film were going to be the only funny moments … but I laughed the entire way through.

Sandra Bullock plays Margaret Tate (a mega-bitch book editor) from Canada whose Visa gets declined … therefore, she blackmails her slightly pathetic assistant Andrew Paxton (obviously played by Ryan Reynolds) into marrying her. They have to go through immigration, which ends up with the both of them going to Alaska to meet his family.

Alaska is not really the ideal vacation spot for an up-tight New Yorker, but Bullock plays the stuck-up bitch well and I’m thankful the movie didn’t cast some second-rate actress to play a role Bullock mastered. Personally, I believe Sandra Bullock is an under-rated actress … I know she’s done many amazing films, but I don’t think people appreciate or take her seriously as an actress … She was amazing in Crash (a drama) and Miss Congeniality is still one of my favorite comedies. For me, Bullock is in my Top 3 comedic actresses … along with Diane Keaton and Cameron Diaz. I just think she’s great!

Plus, Ryan Reynolds did a fantastic job playing the prodigal son to Craig T. Nelson and Mary Steenburgen … There were a lot of things about this film that worked, however, Betty White truly pulled this film together. The scenes where White and Bullock thank Mother Earth in a tribal dance and Bullock freaks out over a dog and an eagle are spectacularly comical. Oh, and definitely look out for the scene where Bullock and Reynolds run into each other naked … love it!

This is a great chick-flick love story … a film that will make you laugh, but also want to cry at the same time … the acting is phenomenal (for a comedy), the writing is smart and it’s fun to watch in a group full of friends. No doubt, one of the better films of the summer … I haven’t seen Land of the Lost or Year One yet, but this is undoubtedly a match in comedic power for women and (most) men who don’t want to see The Hangover. Go and see it … you won’t be disappointed!

]]> http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/06/20/the-proposal/feed/ 0 projectryan 00020781 http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/sytycd-step-it-up-guys/ http://projectryan.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/sytycd-step-it-up-guys/#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:36:11 +0000 projectryan http://projectryan.wordpress.com/?p=423 ]]>

'So You Think You Can Dance' logo

The Top 18 performances this week were not at the same level (in any form) as last week. It was kind of distressing to see them do such a good job last week and suck this week.

Come on … I’m especially aggravated by the hip-hop routines. The four they have had this season have all blowed … and they usually are some of the most memorable routines out of the entire season. I would blame the dancers, but the routines seem bland and recycled from past shows.
Let’s just get into the best routines … Personally, I thought Melissa Sandvig & Ade Obayomi, Jonathan Platero & Karla Garcia and Max Kapitannikov & Kayla Radomski were the silver lining during this poor episode.

Jonathan & Karla truly redeemed themselves from their not-so-great Cha-Cha last week with a contemporary piece from Canadian choreographer Stacey Tookey. I completely agree with Mary Murphy … Jonathan is much better at contemporary than his own genre. Karla was beautiful and told the story of the routine masterfully. I am excited these two kicked up their competition … neither of them really got the attention they deserved during the auditions and I think they could be front-runners.

Ade & Melissa did a Jazz routine from quirky choreogrpher Sonya Tayeh that was dazzling in chemistry and dance ability. I think Melissa is spectacular and has proved herself in all the dances thrown at her. Sonya’s routines generally favor the men, however, I believe Melissa matched the strength of everything Ade did on that stage. Obviously, I give props to Ade … He has definitely proven to be more than just a prop to Melissa …

Kayla & Max did a routine by Brian Friedman that was really off-beat and fun to watch. I agree with the judges that Kayla has done nothing wrong since the auditions … she will be in the Top 10. Max can carry his own weight and I don’t believe he’s been given the credit he deserves. Both of the dancers really captured the essence of the characters and produced an entertaining routine … What more can you ask??

Jason Glover, Caitlin Kinney, Kupono Aweau & Ashley Valerio were given hip-hop routines and they all kind of sucked … I don’t believe it was all their fault … the choreography was kind of lame, but I hope viewers look at the dancers and realize how great they have been on the show thus far.

Phillip Chbeeb & Jeanine Mason did a Tango which was probably the worst routine of the night. However, Phillip has been such a powerhouse throughout the competition I doubt he’ll even be considered for the bottom.

Brandon Bryant & Janette Manrana did an extremely fast Disco routine, but I’m kind of sick of Brandon. I can’t really pin-point what it is about his personality that I don’t like … I just know that all my attention was focused on Janette.

Randi Evans & Evan Kasprzak performed a Jive routine that was good, but not as fun and enjoyable to watch as their last routine. Personally, I think these two are a great couple and I don’t see them going anywhere.

Vitolio Jeune & Asuka Kondoh were given the Waltz … They both performed it well, however, I feel like Asuka carried Vitolio during the performance. Last week, this couple landed in the bottom … I wouldn’t be surprised if they landed there again.

Honestly, I don’t know who is going in the bottom this week. I think everyone has an equal chance of landing in the bottom, but I don’t know who the judges would send home.

** Jason & Caitlin, Kupono & Ashley and Max & Kayla all landed in the bottom. I don’t know if I completely agree with this conclusion, but what can I do??

Ashley & Max were the unlucky dancers sent home. I figured they would be the dancers sent home because their solos weren’t as upbeat or exciting as the others. Hopefully, it’ll be better next week.