Have you ever had that déjà vu feeling of "I've seen that before," while watching your favorite television show? That's because you probably have seen that before. Most sitcoms (a.k.a. situation comedies) are all variations of 10 basic plots.

1. The Misunderstanding

In classic "Three's Company" fashion, while eavesdropping, a misunderstood earful of conversation blossoms into a catastrophe.

2. Bad House Guest

A relative, co-worker or friend comes to dinner or to spend the night and rudely wreaks havoc.

3. A Case of Mistaken Identity

A strange coincidence or twins acts as the catalyst for zany mass confusion.

4. The Big Bet

Who can lose the most weight? Who is the bigger player? Take your pick. The characters will bet on and compete in anything imaginable.

5. Risky Business

Although expressly forbidden to, a character borrows the car or throws a big house party, which results in all hell breaking loose.

6. Two Dates on the same Night

A character has already said yes to one date for the night, when an even better opportunity comes along and the character says yes to another date on the same night.

7. Forgotten Event

A dysfunctional significant other suffers a memory lapse when the big day arrives.

8. Jealousy

Friends and/or siblings fight over the perfect car, apartment, date or anything possible.

9. The White Lie

A harmless fib snowballs into a larger than life lie.

10. The Guest Star

Barack Obama, Scarlett Johansson or Tom Hanks plays himself or herself. "Prince, I'm your biggest fan."

And when all else fails, simply put a man in a dress.

Jackie Chan and Jet Li join forces to release a masterpiece with a few flaws, but nothing to discourage anyone from seeing this movie. These two friends that have been waiting to make a movie together have dual starring roles in this epic adventure of action and mythical chemistries. Jackie Chan plays an elderly Bostonian shopkeeper and a "drunken master" for who wine is an elixir of strength. But he demonstrates more than just the drunken fist. Li plays a monk well-versed in the martial arts and, even more magnificently, appears as the wiry, mischievous Monkey King, a mythical Chinese figure with the ability to transform himself into 72 different animals or objects. The Monkey King is part of the immortals in this movie. He is invincible after fighter all takers and never losing. It is only after another immortal tricks him that he is cast stone but before being cast into stone he casts his famous fighting pole away as the key to release himself from his stone prison. And their starts the story.

I was a little disappointed with all the wire work in the beginning of this story. I remember thinking not another fake martial arts story with people being able to walk walls and jump onto 10 story building with one leap, but after the first scene there wasn't much more of this. Most of the fight scenes looked very authentic and took a lot of skill to perform. Jackie and Jet Li skills are flawless with skills that are extraordinary to say the least. Even if the fight scenes were scripted it would still take a lot of skill to make every scene look like the individual has been doing the art for all their lives.

As for blood and gore, this movie did not have a lot of this. Not to say there wasn't any but it was minimum and well placed. Personally I loved this movie. Not because I am a martial arts fan, but mainly because it had a very good story line that made some sense. I would truly recommend this movie for rental or watching it while it is in the movie theaters. It is extraordinary on the big screen.

The love of films becomes a celebration in London for two weeks during 'The Times BFI 51st London Film Festival'. The capital city is buzzing with people who love films and filmmakers from all over the world. This festival gives a chance to view films, documentaries and provide opportunity to meet filmmakers and celebrity artists. It also promotes world films that may not be available for screening in the cinemas across the nation. The festival is an important venue for development and promotion of films from UK and abroad and it showed around 184 feature films and 133 short films from 43 countries, at various venues in London. The Festival Started on 17 October with the opening night gala showing David Cronenberg's 'Eastern Promises' and finished on 1 November with the closing night gala showing Wes Anderson's 'The Darjeeling Limited', a train voyage across India. Few films from the festival are reviewed below.

Closing The Ring: Richard Attenborough/ UK-Canada

Richard Attenborough has done it again. 'Closing the ring' is one of the most beautiful films I have seen in a long time. This film is about the value of love and the loss of it, inability to grieve, loyalty among friends and above all, the heartache and suffering brought on by war. Shirley MacLain and Christopher Plummer have excelled in their performance. Christopher Plummer showed his adoring fans that he could still win hearts, just as he did all those years ago as the handsome captain in 'Sound of Music'! 'Jimmy' (Martin Mac Cann) was a delight to watch along with Pete Postlethwaite. Richard Attenborough shows us that there is no shame in falling love and keep it live, no matter what your age is. 'A film that touches your heart and tells you something', that's what 'Closing the Ring' does and therefore, an example of good cinema truly at its best. Question & Answer time with Lord Attenborough after the screening was sheer delight.

The Darjeeling Limited: Wes Anderson/USA

A light hearted film that tells the story of three brothers who haven't seen each other for a year going on a train journey through the deserts of India. They are trying to bond with each other and with the beautiful but unknown conditions in India. Wes Anderson's film brings comedy, conflict among siblings and some hilarious moments. These brothers who love each other don't like each other very much and their odd behaviour comes as no surprise once you meet their mother (Angelica Houston), who gives a great performance along with Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson. A good laugh and a film you don't want to miss.

I'm Not There: Todd Haynes/USA

'I'm not There' means just that! It's a biographical journey into Bob Dylan's life, portrayed by six actors, but Bob Dylan, as the title says, is not there! If you think an 11 year old black boy, Marcus Carl Franklin, who is splendid as Bob Dylan is odd, the worse is yet to come; but that's surely the best, Dylan played by a woman! Cate Blanchett in black and white turns up as Bob Dylan and you don't for a moment suspect that it's a woman. She is just magnificent and puts the other 'Bobs' in the shade. It's confusing and chaotic if you are not a Dylan fan, but entertaining till the closing credits. The music however is real stuff and as the closing credits roll in, songs like the original 'Knock knock knock'n on heaven's door' keeps you on your seat.

The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford: Andrew Domonik /USA

Definitely 'a Brad Pitt film' and everyone else fades away in the background. The film is based on the legend of Jesse James, 'the gentleman outlaw' who became an American icon. Brad Pitt has shown his acting ability yet again, only more so this time. He has graduated in the 'Jack Nicholson School of acting'! A film worth watching and the cinematography is at its best. Perhaps the film would have been even better, if it did not stretch that long after the assassination of Jesse James; great film, in spite of this and not to be missed.

In Memory of Me: Saverio Costanzo/ Italy

As the film is set in Venice one expects to see at least a bit of this beautiful city; but that was not to be. The camera has eyes for the outside world only when a large ship slips by the window of the seminary. 'In Memory of me' is a very intense film that goes into the inner depth of spirituality and the conflicts encountered. The story is about Andrea who is accepted into a Jesuit seminary, isolated in an island. The recruits undergo very strict training to prepare them for the disciplined work that awaits these soldiers of Christ. The rituals are repeated in a methodical fashion everyday and that includes cleaning of the corridors of that magnificent monastic building. The inmates' personality is analyzed to such an extent that they start to doubt their own spirituality and whether such mental cruelty is justified.

The silence that lingers in the magnificent corridors is mesmerizing, to say the least! We have heard of severe Mother Superiors, but the Father Superior in this film is frightening. Some find this fearsome training unbearable and decide to leave. Andrea too reaches his turning point, but finally realizes that he is made for better things and God has a purpose for him and decides to follow Him. This film is a lesson in itself in how one gives himself to God, then loose that faith and ultimately regaining the love of God and the faith. An intense film that makes one think.

Things We Lost in the Fire: Susanne Bier/USA

It tells the story of Audrey (Halle Berry), her loss and how she tries to rebuild her life after loosing the love of her life in a tragic accident. Her envious life with her husband 'Brian' and the two beautiful children are shown as flashback. Audrey decides to seek help from her husband's childhood friend, Jerry (Benicio Del Toro), who is a drug addict and quite dangerous at times. Though she did not like him to be her husband's friend in the past, she felt drawn to him now as they both had one thing in common- the love they both shared for Brian. She asks Jerry to move into the converted garage that was refurnished following a fire at the house and Audrey and the children form a bond with him. Anyone would wish to have somebody like Jerry in a situation like this, but not a drug addict though! Complications set in and the emotional turmoil in dealing with the sense of loss, drug addiction, rehabilitation and the society's role in all this are portrayed very well. Halle Berry has given a magnificent performance. Benicio Del Toro was dazzling and he has given his best ever. It was a delight to see Halle Berry at the screening, looking gorgeous in a brilliant blue backless gown! Susanne Bier (Director) and Halle Berry answered questions from the audience after the film: a beautiful film not to be missed.

Richard Attenborough, Wes Anderson, Susanne Bier, Saverio Constanzo, Andrew Dominik, Shivajee Chandrabhushan, Shamim Sarif, Amitab Bachan, Robert Redford, Tom Cruise, Halle Berry and Adrien Brody were among the celebrities who attended the screening of their films. It was truly a festival of films, films that touched the audience and made them think. The two weeks of the festival was a stage for meeting the best filmmakers from all over the world, listen to them and see films of extreme diversity.

Politics....everyone has been and always will be up in arms about them, obsessed by them if you will, especially with the primary elections coming up. Admit it, you can't walk in any door without hearing about it and before you know it you have a whole new verbal opinion on the matter. Get your frustrations out and see a good movie. "Vantage Point" will get you all ready again. While it is not about politics primarily, it does feature a president that we all wish we could have and, therefore; it gives us hope.

"Vantage Point" is about the shooting of the President of the United States and about the attempts to catch the shooters. Here's the catch, the movie tells its story featuring different viewpoints of several different characters that were there that day. Switching from an average to the President, it reaches a wide spectrum of emotions.

William Hurt plays the President of the United States and he does a very good job at it. When watching the movie you will wonder why we don't have a man like that as our president. Strong and with a sense of morale, you really feel for him and wish for his welfare.

Forest Whitaker, you can't contest, is a great actor (if you've seen "King of Scotland" than you know what I am talking about). In this movie he plays Howard Lewis, an average everyday man who catches the footage of the president being shot (along with some of the killers) with his home video camera. As in all his performances Whitaker brings such emotion and truth to his role that you really believe him and as a result you feel his emotions. In other words, his part was subtle and very well played.

Cinematography was one of the highlights of this movie. When the smoke from that bomb comes rolling towards the camera, you really feel like it could come right into the theater and smother you. It partly has to do with the special effects and all the amazing work they put into the bomb blasts. Also, the way the cameras took in the shots was very well chosen. While steady and clear shots would have been a safe choice, the hand held shots make you feel like you are in the action and involved with all the characters.

There also is a car chase with Dennis Quaid and Matthew Fox that deserves a mention. It was so much fun. You will actually find yourself flinching a few times even if you find it highly unlikely that you would ever flinch during a car chase on screen (not that I have any personal experience or anything). There were a lot of twists and turns, plus it has to be said that the cinematography definitely had a huge hand in the car chase. They were down there in the action, so it makes you feel like you were there.

If there is a central theme for this movie it would be that everyone counts. All the actions that we choose to make on a daily basis can affect other people. So, in other words, if you drop a banana peel on the street it could affect other people....in good ways or bad ways. Whitaker's action saved the little girl who in turn (without even knowing it) saves the President, and so on and so on. It's pretty amazing to think about.

While the counting down of the day (after the viewpoints switch) started to get pretty annoying towards the end, it was nonetheless a very good movie. It's not necessarily an Academy Award winning picture, take mind, but an enjoyable movie. It mostly showcases its great actors, which is fine with me. Even Sigourney Weaver had a nice couple of scenes in it. Frustrating as the political season may be, take a big breath and watch "Vantage Point." Then come back one refreshed and thoughtful human being, ready to take on the presidential ballot.

Flashes of a Past Life of Sagar & Vidiya:

Amar often feels and gets flashes of a past life which he is unable to understand. He feels a strange attraction to the old mansion of Sagar. He often goes there and just gages at the mansion. He has glimpse of people specially of a young man and a woman over there. He is drawn by a pair of beautiful eyes which seem to have many messages for him but he is unable read them .But unfortunately Diviya has no such feeling may be because she grew up in different culture where superstition has no value . Amar takes Diviya on tour of the old mansion and strangely enough finds the shawl which Sagar had thrown from the balcony on Vidiya.On an impossible as if guided by some unknown hand Amar throws the shawl in a similar way on Diviya. This is a bit too much to swallow . They are not still aware of it. They think that it is only friendship but Bindia who loves Amar is jelous of this closeness. She hints of the fact in a conservation with Amar's mother. She wants Diviya out of Amar's life.

A TASTE OF SINDOORA'S POISONOUS FANGS:

Sindoora proves that she can achieve what she aims for . She has the key to the destiny of all the people around her.She stops Samrat from going out of town to get Diviya by black mailing him with an warrant for killing an endangered deer. Then she let the mad dogs on Aniket to tear him up into pieces if he tries to escape and reach the media. Anket is imprisoned in her farm house and is warned of dire consequences if he tries to escape again. She also wants to control Diviya's life because of her strong resemblance to Vidiya .Anything which is beyond her knowledge frightens her. So she hires a hitman to follow her and find out everything about her and the tourist guide - Amar . She can never escape from the fear of the of prediction-the birth of a child who will bring her end. This fear and the need to assert her supremacy leads her to silence the nosy journalist. The journalist had recorded all the events at the farmhouse when Anikeet is imprisoned.

If you're a Speed Racer fan you'll want to read this article to learn these 3 surprising facts. As you probably know the Speed Racer characters and story originated from the manga and anime series "Mach GoGoGo" developed by the Japanese anime studio of Tasunoko Productions. What may surprise you is the carefully crafted symbolism, storyline and characterization of the original series. The series is far from a mindless cartoon so typical today. After reading this article you'll have the inside scoop on Speed Racer.

Anime Pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida created Mach GoGoGo as a manga series in the 1960s and it went on to become an anime series in 1967. While Speed Racer fans assume the M on the hood of the Mach 5 stands for Mach 5, it's actually an emblem of the Mifune Motors Company, the family business of the central character of the original manga and anime named Go Mifune. This same emblem is found on Go's helmet. The name Mifune was a tribute to the Japanese film star Toshiro Mifune. Additionally his given name, Go, is a homophone for "5", the same number found on his race car. The final piece of this wordplay is that Go in Mach GoGoGo also obviously means "go" in English. Thus the name of the series is a triple entendre that can be translated as Mach 5, Go Mifune, Go!

The origin of the storyline in Mach GoGoGo is surprising. The storyline of Mach GoGoGo has it's roots in the western culture of Elvis Presley and James Bond. Young Go sports a black pompadour and neckerchief like Elvis Presley's debonair race car driving image in Viva Las Vegas. The Mach 5 car was inspired by James Bond's gadget-laden Aston Martin in the movie Goldfinger. While traditional Japanese anime typically involves a teenager overcoming trials, the roots of Speed Racer have a more decidedly western influence.

More than the storyline of Speed Racer was influenced by Western culture. The appearance of the characters is surprisingly Western as well. The characters have fair complexions and wear western clothing. While this Westernization of the characters in Speed Racer wasn't uncommon in anime of the time, Tatsuo Yoshida used the concept of mukokuseki (being nationless) a little differently than other producers. This surprisingly complexity is what differentiates Speed Racer from other cartoons of it's period.

Now that you've learned the 3 surprising facts about Speed Racer and Mach GoGoGo you're ready to watch the new Speed Racer movie with a different perspective. While you may be dazzled by the high-definition green screen effects you'll be cognizant of the movie's roots in Japanese manga and anime, and the thought-provoking symbolism of Tatsuo Yoshida. Speed Racer, GoGoGo!

Directors : Rob Minkoff (Stuart Little, Lion King)

Casting : Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Micheal Angarano, Crystal Liu, Collin Chou

Action/Fantasy

Review :

After many years of waiting, the two best Hong Kong Martial-Arts superstars, Jackie Chan and Jet Li, which eventually turned into Hollywood, finally came together head to head in a movie -- The Forbidden Kingdom.

Despite the seemingly silly storyline, The Forbidden Kingdom reverts to a story of a bullied American kid from Boston, Jason (Micheal Angarano) that's deeply in love with martial arts, he found a legendary staff of The Monkey King and eventually travelled back to Ancient China on a mission to return the staff to its long lost owner, the whole movie has been brought alive with the butt-kicking action fights by Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

Just as Jason sets upon his sacred mission, he encounters 3 companions whom supported him during his journey, Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), a martial-arts drunkard, The Priest (Jet Li), and also The Golden Sparrow (Collin Chou), a beautiful musician specialized in martial-arts. With all these difficulties along the journey, will Jason be able to accomplish his mission..?

This movie is very entertaining to watch with family members as the story is built in such a way that even a small kid can understand, and most importantly to note is its fantasy-like storyline that makes up the whole value of this movie. However, The Forbidden Kingdom is levitated to another level whereby the thrilling fighting scenes starred by the Jackie Chan and Jet Li duel delivered through the audiences, and eventually got some good applauds from them.

It's been a couple of days since I saw Rattle Basket, the new drama/comedy from Thomas L. Phillips that played at On Location: Memphis International Film festival, and I can't stop thinking about it. Well, to be honest, I can't stop thinking about one of the main characters, probably because I have a crush on him, fictional character that he is.

Stuart Clemons, played by the adorable Alex Walters, is that guy friend every girl tends to have in her life. The one that is probably perfect for you but you are so close to on so many levels that you remain friends. He is the one that because you can't feel what you should for him; you are always fixing him up with everyone else. Stuart Clemons is that friend that will put up with your crap when no one else will but will also put you in your place when you need it. In short, he is the perfect guy.

Friends of Clemons are Cerina (Amanda MacDonald) and Tabitha Strickland (Gia Franzia), sophomoric sisters that revolve their entire world around themselves. Clemons is pretty remarkable (did I mention I am crushing on him already?) and it makes you wonder why he puts up with their crap because no one else does. Yet, they finally push him to the breaking point after devastating a burgeoning relationship with his new interest Bridgett.

Meanwhile, Cerina and Tabitha must learn to handle their own sticky situations forcing them to realize the consequences of their actions and helping to transform them into slightly better people. Although much like real life, they don't improve remarkably, just become a little remorseful over their past actions.

Rattle Basket is well made and has some quirky writing. The film constantly undercut all of my expectations, which is rare these days for any movie. Any formulaic expectations for a buddy film, a romantic comedy, a sibling drama, a story of relationships and coming of age, were eradicated by writer Jared Tweedie.

And this is why the movie worked so well for me, because the strong characterizations helped me to believe the story from the very beginning. The actors were refreshingly honest. Furthermore Phillips, the director, has a way of lingering on a shot just long enough to make it seem real. A perfect example is when Cerina has an awkward conversation with her professor in his car after she had seduced him to get a B+. Because Phillips stays in the scene and doesn't cut, we are able to feel for both characters who seem stiff and uncomfortable dealing with this newfound intimacy.

As the story progresses, Cerina introduces Bridgett to Stuart. Bridgett, who meets Stuart by being locked into his bathroom with him as he is showering and she is peeing, (I mean, come on...that is just hysterical writing) ends up agreeing to a date on his rooftop. In one of the funniest and yet most tender scenes, of which there are plenty, is their awkward first date (if you don't count the bathroom) on the rooftop. As romantic music plays, the camera pans in on a cardboard cutout of William Shatner. Bridgett later asks Stuart, "Is that TJ Hooker?"

In a lovely parallel, Cerina destroys their new connection on the same rooftop by doing something irreparable to her friendship with either of them. Oddly, up until this point, I had really connected with Cerina but her actions angered me so much that I actually shifted allegiance to Tabitha at this point in the film. It had taken me awhile to appreciate Tabitha as I found her to be somewhat uncomfortable in her own skin, primarily with the ex-cop/boyfriend that so violently accosts her. I had trouble connecting with her because she is so afraid to step up and fight and I was surprised when she didn't immediately go to her sister to fight for her. Yet their reliance on Clemons for those sorts of things is the catalyst to help them mature when he stops helping.

Rattle Basket proves that it is possible to make a movie about immature screwed up characters and if made well, then you find a way to care about them. You are drawn in by good direction, good writing, good acting. Phillips is able to handle difficult characters but put them in a context of situations that anyone can relate. As much as I liked the writing, I did find myself occasionally wondering if some of the self examination was a bit forced onto the sisters at times though.

With another brutal summer looming here in the South, we all have another reason to stay inside and watch TV. As the average household's viewing time hovers around 16 to 18 hours a day, the question is: Can we ever get enough TV?

Let me turn down the sound on my set and attempt to give a well thought-out answer to that.

The answer is: Of course not. We are all, as typical Americans, empty vessels that require filling constantly, with ideas and emotions and images - all the things that TV gives us. We all know the world outside our windows is confusing and annoying, what with its wars and famines and natural disasters and whatnot, and that human relationships can be a regular labyrinth of unresolved conflicts. So why get involved?

TV lets us experience the world without getting caught up in it.

Believe it or not, there was a time when all any TV viewer could get were two or three channels, and none of these were on for 24 hours! In those Dark Ages the only succor for the world-weary traveler through the long, lonely night was a test pattern. Life expectancy then was very short, and the vast general boredom led to such mischief as World War II and the Atomic Bomb.

In the 1950s and '60s television still crept upon its hands and knees, as Americans persisted in such activities as reading and going outdoors. But during and after the Vietnam War, as the world seemed to become a more dangerous place, TV watching took the place of action. Our eyes grew accustomed to the dark and a new generation evolved with built-in glassy-eyed stares and smaller brains, suited for the video environment in which they would spend two-thirds of their lives.

TV is the one constant in many lives. If our jobs are dumb or demeaning, our relationships tenuous, the myriad transactions of everyday commerce humbling or unutterably inane, we can find solace in TV, where ordinary occupations are invested with glamor (or at least comedy), where the grind of daily life becomes the stuff of high drama, and where every problem will work itself out in the space of 30 minutes or an hour, at most.

Any number of (self-appointed) experts will say that we watch too much TV. They urge us to turn off our sets and talk (Sure, so we can hear about someone else's problems!), read (Naturally, since most of them are writers), or get outside into the fresh (Ha!) air. Do anything but enjoy ourselves, in other words. These guardians of our health and happiness are growing more numerous and louder every day. If they keep up, there'll be only one thing to do:

Turn up the volume and drown them out.

I'm a writer living near Nashville, and maybe the only one within a 50-mile radius who's never written a song. Writing fiction is my preference, but journalism provides my daily bread. I'm from the Clark Kent school of journalism -- I never carry a pad to take notes, but rely on my super-memory. Actually, in my stories I make up quotes, making people sound more interesting and well-spoken than they are, so they never object. You know how Truman Capote ("In Cold Blood") gave birth to the "non-fiction novel?" I'm working on popularizing the "fictional news" story.

If you earn the title, you are entitled to use it all year round. Have you ever wondered what it takes to be termed or labeled, the dumbest guy of the year? True that the title only exists in television, film and cartoons, but when you watch these guys, do you think about someone that you know and think that, wow, that could be him? There are so many ways that all of us could qualify for this title, but some of the ways are worse than others.

How did I come to think of this title? I was watching an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. And the Raymond guy in this comedy does things that are beyond belief. He acts in ways and says things that you think only someone with half a brain could or would do. And the best and silliest part of it all is that this guy does not even realize how dumb the things are, and does not even realize how dumb he sounds and has no clue that his mentality or personality goes to the point of having the I.Q. of a slow garden slug.

I remember the episode where he was upset, claiming that his wife would not let him make any decisions in the house. Of course, the wife agreed that he really should begin making more decisions. And the outcome of his newly-acquired decision-making process was that he stood in the kitchen and was on the phone and while he talked on the phone, half of his kitchen was on fire, yes on fire, without him even noticing it. And I guess it was actions and abilities like that that made his wife think that he was not the decision-making kind of person. This episode was hysterical, especially the part where he discovered the fire that he caused himself, all the while, while having the power to make decisions. At the end of the show, they show this guy all tangled up, yes, all tangled up in a mosquito netting, unable to get himself out of the netting. Haha, all the while his wife, who is not looking at him, begins agreeing that he should make more decisions. Raymond, Raymond, everybody loves Raymond. And I guess the reason why we all love Raymond is because this guy, dumb as he is, silly as he is, and dumb, dumb, dumb as he is, he makes us smile, and he makes us laugh, sometimes to the point of hysteria.

There are a few on television who take the title of the dumbest guys on earth and I am wondering who you would choose for that title if you had to choose someone? Send me your ideas, thoughts and responses about your dumbest guys who take the title, and win the prize.