Author: BRWC

Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) and Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) are back as everybody’s favourite legal duo in the riveting fifth season of Suits, available on Blu-ray and DVD from 6^th June, 2016, courtesy of Universal Pictures (UK). This season sees more twists and turns than ever before, making it a must watch for all fans. To celebrate its release we look back at some of the show’s best ever moments… (Beware: Spoilers!)

Mike gets hired (Pilot – S1, Ep1)

One of the best scenes to date comes all the way back from the pilot. Following a drug deal gone bad Mike Ross accidently stumbles into a job interview with none other than New York’s finest legal closer, Harvey Specter.  Fed up with the typical Harvard Law School grad, Harvey decides to take a risk and hire Mike after witnessing his natural talent, determination, and impeccable memory. This scene marks the birth of one of television’s most beloved duos and sets the standard for all episodes to come.

Mike and Harvey get stoned (High Noon – S2, Ep10)

Following a string of emotionally tense episodes, Suits was in dire need of some comic relief. Mike, still suffering from the death of his grandma, is surprised when Harvey comes knocking at his door. Expecting a stern lecture, Mike instead finds himself with a new smoking buddy. Hilarity ensues as the two get high, eat pretzels, and battle the torment of ‘cotton mouth’.  This provides a rare look at Harvey when he is not working and firmly establishes the strength of the pair’s comradeship.

Harvey vs. Louis (Blood in the Water – S2, Ep12)

After coming to the conclusion that Louis (Rick Hoffman) is helping a competitor firm poach clients Harvey storms into his office, trashes his desk, and unleashes a tirade of verbal punches exclaiming exactly how he feels. Louis denies the accusations but is met with a degrading rebuff, marking what seemed to be the end of their partnership. The scene provides us with insight into just how intimidating and scary Harvey can be when he gets going, confirming for all the doubters that he is not someone you want to be on the wrong side of.

Rachel and Mike hook up (War – S2, Ep16)

The seemingly inevitable hook up between Rachel (Meghan Markle) and Mike finally happens in the closing episode of season two.  Rachel realises that Mike lied to her about her Harvard application and demands a reason why. Following an emotional speech about how he fears losing her, Mike confesses his deepest secret – he never actually went to law school. In typical Hollywood fashion their argument escalates into a full blown office romp that rivals the hottest and steamiest scenes on TV.

Louis has a heart attack (Heartburn – S3, Ep14)

Heartburn is an impossible episode to forget given it’s a completely unexpected run of events. At first we see a new and improved Louis, oozing calmness and swagger – credited to his successful love life. Everything’s coming up smelling of roses for Louis… until he collapses mid trial due to a heart attack. After awaking in hospital, Louis decides life is not to be wasted and takes his relationship to the next level by asking Sheila (Rachael Harris) to marry him.

Mike accepts a new job (No Way Out – S3, Ep16)

The lively season three finale keeps its characters and viewers in a constant state of paranoia as Harvey is targeted by a ruthless US attorney on bribery accusations. Mike is arrested and interrogated over the situation but fails to succumb to the pressure and spill the beans on Harvey, despite the looming threat of a background check. After Louis swoops in to save the day, Mike decides that he no longer wants to live as a fraud and accepts a new job – cue manly reserved goodbye between him and Harvey. Thankfully it isn’t the last time we see the two together!

Louis resigns (Gone – S4, Ep9)

It was a heartbreaking moment for all when Louis packed up his things and parted ways with the firm he adored so much. His decision to resign was not something planned but instead an impulsive attempt to hold onto his remaining dignity after realising he was going to be fired. No one enjoyed hearing the earnest letter Louis penned to mark his departure, but I think it’s safe to say we all knew this wouldn’t be the last we saw of Mr. Litt.

Louis becomes a named partner (Enough is Enough – S4, Ep11)

The transition from Pearson Specter to Pearson Specter Litt was one of mixed feelings. On one hand it was great seeing Louis return and move forward in the company given his unquestionable worth and determination. On the other hand, the way he blackmails Jessica (Gina Torres) into the decision shows the petty side of the character that not everyone is fond of. Regardless of how you look at it, this moment is central in the development of certain relationships and events to come.

Donna chooses Louis (Denial – S5, Ep1)

Season five tackles the shocking decision previously made by Donna to leave Harvey and work for Louis right off the bat. The audience gets to see just how much she means to Harvey as he struggles to come to terms with her departure. Whether you see it as betrayal or a necessary career move, it is warming to see Harvey break down over the loss of his trusted PA.

Mike and Harvey own up to their actions  (25^th Hour – S5, Ep16)

Everything seems to be falling apart for the gang as the enthralling fifth season comes to an end. However, the highlight of the final episode comes right in the heart and centre of the chaos. Mike shares a touching word with Harvey where they both accept blame for what is happening and realise they would most likely do it all again.  This moment reduces the show back to its core – Mike and Harvey’s friendship. It is the perfect way to end a must see season!

Suits Season 5 arrives on Blu-ray and DVD from 6^th June, courtesy of Universal (UK)

A fantastic tale taking place at ground level, Minuscule: Valley Of The Lost Ants is the perfect half term treat for all the family. Minuscule: Valley Of The Lost Ants blends stunning CGI animation with live action backdrops to really transport little ones to the undergrowth where they’ll embark on a huge adventure with this half term’s tiniest heroes.

To celebrate the creepy-crawly filled film, arriving in cinemas on May 27^th courtesy of Lionsgate UK, we take a look at the little bugs that have appeared on the big screen.

Minuscule: Valley Of The Lost Ants 

Based on the popular Ceebies TV series, Minuscule: Valley Of The Lost Ants tells a thrilling story set in the miniature insect world that surrounds us all. In a peaceful little clearing, the remains of an abandoned picnic sparks warfare between two tribes of ants, both captivated by a prized possession; a box of sugar. A brave young ladybug finds himself caught in the middle of the battle. He befriends one of the black ants, ‘Mandible’, and helps him to save the anthill from the assault of the terrible red ant warriors, led by the fearful Butor. The film also manages the tall task of capturing imaginations without using any dialogue between its tiny characters. Good things come in teeny, tiny packages!

Pinocchio

Disney’s classic tale of a marionette built by a carpenter to fill the void of a son, who is turned into a real-life boy by a magical fairy. The puppet, named Pinocchio, is not yet a human boy and must earn the right to be real by proving that he is brave, truthful, and unselfish. To help guide Pinocchio, the fairy assigns Jiminy, an extremely well-dressed Cricket, to be Pinocchio’s conscience, but even with these wise words in his ear, the marionette goes astray and finds himself in a world of trouble. Everybody’s favourite little whisper in their ear, not only does Jiminy teach Pinocchio the ways of the world he is trying to be a part of, he also teaches him how to whistle, which as we all know is essential to keep spirits high!

A Bug’s Life

John Lasseter and Pixar’s follow-up to their movie phenomenon, Toy Story, set new standards in computer animation as another Disney-released children’s epic entitled A Bug’s Life. Using classic Disney storytelling and characters, A Bug’s Life is a retelling of the Aesop fable ‘The Ant and the Grasshopper’, with a colony of ants who seasonally gather food for themselves and a wild gang of rowdy grasshoppers. When bumbling worker ant Flik destroys the food supply, the angry grasshoppers, lead by the maniacally warped Hopper, threaten to kill the ants if they don’t produce a new supply of food by the time they return. Flik leaves the anthill in search of help and discovers a group of down-on-their-luck travelling circus insects in need of a job. Together they rescue the ant colony, and Flik even manages to win the heart of the Princess, happy days!

Antz

In a classic example of Hollywood double-booking a particular type of film, DreamWorks Animation’s Antz was released just one month before Pixar’s A Bug’s Life. In this tale of the world of creepy crawlies, Central Park ant drone Z longs to be an individual of accomplishment, but Z’s colony is a society that puts the value of the colony over personal achievement. Young Z sets his sights on the colony Queen’s daughter Bala- who is uninterested until Z successfully mounts a revolution within the colony for the advancement of individuality. If the plotline doesn’t do it for you, you get to see Woody Allen and Sylvester Stallone as Ant-pals, what’s not to love!

Epic

EPIC appears to be a much more magical and colourful version of Honey I Shrunk The Kids, when a teenage girl finds herself magically transported to a deep forest, into the secret natural world, where there is an ongoing battle between the forces of good, who keep the world alive, and the forces of evil, who wish to destroy it.  Mary Katherine (Amanda Seyfried) has to team up with an elite band of warriors and a crew of comical, larger-than-life figures, to save their world… and ours. Aziz Ansari’s hilarious slug called ‘Mub’ creates much comic relief between the tough-talking warriors played by Collin Farrell and the Queen-Bey herself; Beyonce!

James & The Giant Peach

This film adaptation of the wonderful children’s novel by Roald Dahl follows a lonely young boy called James, who discovers a gigantic peach in the garden of his horrible aunties. This triggers an eventful journey across the Atlantic Ocean to New York City, with a group of talking, oversized insects, including a vampish spider, a sarcastic centipede, and a matronly ladybug. This strikingly designed and surprisingly twisted animated adventure crosses live-action with a combination of stop-motion and digital animation to establish the dark yet fanciful mood one might expect from an adaptation of a Roald Dahl story. This mixture of remarkable visuals paired with oddball characters brings the novel to life perfectly!

A Monster In Paris

The originally titled Un Monstre a Paris was written and directed by Bibo Bergeron, returning to French cinema after directing several successful features in the United States. It follows a Parisian scientist who is determined to create an important new invention with the help of his friend Emile, who attempt an experiment that has an unexpected side effect — a tiny flea has suddenly expanded until it’s seven feet tall. The enormous flea gets loose and it’s not long before word is out that a monstrous bug is haunting Paris. However, a nightclub performer makes a surprising discovery — the big flea is not only gentle and friendly, he’s a gifted guitar player, because of course! The giant flea is decked out in a suit and a hat, he’s soon impressing punters as the new big hit in the city of love.

Honey, I Shrunk The Kids

An absent-minded inventor played by Rick Moranis, leaves his latest creation, a shrinking ray, unattended in his attic, where it is accidentally triggered by his young children. When the newly tiny youngsters are tossed out with the trash, they must survive the long journey across the lawn to make it home in this fantasy-adventure. Whilst trekking through the unusually long grass they come across a variety of bugs that now resemble giant monsters in the jungle of the back yard. They even befriend an ant, who they inspirationally name ‘Antie’, who eventually falls victim to a terrifying Scorpion whilst saving the kids from certain death near the film’s end. A scene that to this day still has the power to bring a tear to the eye. Who knew ants could be so loveable…

MINUSCULE is in cinemas from Friday May 27^th, 2016, courtesy of Lionsgate UK.

By Ben Taylor.

Ask 100 people to name their top five movies, and you’ll get 100 different answers. That’s the beauty of cinema: it’s an art form that impacts each viewer uniquely. One list will be filled with classic Hitchcock horror; the next with modern, independent dramas and Cannes Film Festival darlings.

Combine all those individual opinions into a single list, however, and you’ll likely wind up with a ranking much like the one below. Regardless of whom you ask, the same 50 films tend to emerge time and time again.

At PrettyFamous, an entertainment site from Graphiq, we set out to determine a consensus ranking of best movies. Specifically, we gathered, combined and normalized ratings from four key film authorities across the web*:

1. Rotten Tomatoes‘ Tomatometer Score and Audience Score
2. IMDb’s user rating
3. Metacritic’s Metascore
4. Gracenote’s Proprietary Rating for movies, based on critical scores

*We also included a slight adjustment for inflation-adjusted box office gross.

Using these figures, we calculated a single score out of 100 for every film in our database, normalized such that the top film received a perfect 100/100.

Notes: Films without a Metacritic Metascore were not penalized. While inflation-adjusted box office gross is not displayed below, classic films like “Gone With the Wind” and “Star Wars” benefitted — movies that not only dominated film culture but earned billions in 2016 dollars.

Classics in the Top 10, Modern Films After

Classic, influential films dominate the top 10. “The Godfather” revolutionized the mobster flick, with its meticulous cinematography and timeless characters. “Gone With the Wind” remains one of cinema’s great love stories. “Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope” is among the most important sci-fi fantasy movies ever. “12 Angry Men” stands out for its bold approach to cinematic structure (filmed almost entirely in one room). The only post-1990 films to crack the top 10 are “Schindler’s List” and “Pulp Fiction” — and even these were made more than 20 years ago.

Outside the top 10, however, films from the ’90s and ’00s dominate the list.

Are viewers more likely to praise recent movies, or are films simply getting better? To some extent, both are probably true. On the one hand, our rating sources have better coverage for movies since the ’90s. Now that almost every vote, score and opinion gets logged online, it’s much harder for a great film to slip through the cyber cracks, and much more likely for a modern film to rise on a swell of viral enthusiasm.

On the other hand, there is more talent than ever in the entertainment industry, with an increasing number of aspiring actors, directors and screenwriters. What’s more, new filmmakers have even more resources for getting started. As video recording technology, editing resources and online film distribution channels continue to grow, it’s likely we’ll see even more creativity and experimentation throughout the next decade.

Pixar’s Dominance

Pixar nabs five spots in the top 50 — fairly remarkable for a studio with fewer than 20 films to its name. Most of this is well deserved, but Pixar might also benefit from mass appeal, a characteristic typical of good children’s movies.

Consider that Stanley Kubrick’s iconic “A Clockwork Orange” registers a 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, while “Ratatouille” notches a 96 percent. Both are great movies, but in the aggregate, kids’ movies might stand at a slight advantage. Dark, controversial movies tend to garner more contrarians and critics, even as they impact the industry in important ways.

Scorsese, Jackson, Spielberg

Directors Martin Scorsese, Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg each notch three films in the top 50, more than any other directors.

Scorsese and Spielberg owned the late ‘70s through ‘90s, the former tending toward gritty character studies (“Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull”), the latter toward big-budget epics (“Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Saving Private Ryan”). Remarkably, Jackson ties the two legends, earning a top slot for all three entries of the Lord of the Rings series.

Icons like Francis Ford Coppola and Alfred Hitchcock earn only two slots each, which might speak to the recency bias inherent in modern film websites, and to some extent, our methodology. Along the same lines, directing luminaries Orson Welles (“The Third Man,” 1949) and Stanley Kubrick (“Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb,” 1964) earn only one top film apiece.

Drama, Adventure, Fantasy

Perhaps unsurprisingly, drama is the best-represented genre on the list, while fiction favorites like adventure and fantasy appear the next-most frequently.

Note that our genre definitions are fairly liberal. We tag each film with multiple genres, and, as a result, many films are counted more than once in the visualization below.

Action and comedy films are comparatively less well represented, mirroring a similar tendency in the Academy Awards. Removing children’s movies and dark comedies (“Dr. Strangelove”), you could argue the top 50 list includes just two true comedies: “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and “Modern Times.”

The Future

The explosion of film technology and opportunity may have one downside for filmmakers: It’s likely tougher than ever to produce something that stands out from the talented pack. In order for new films to crack the top 50, we’ll probably have to see a movie really reshape or disrupt the industry. “Mad Max: Fury Road” might be the best recent attempt, a film that shook up the action genre, with its cinematographic experimentation, confidence in set design and strong female protagonist.

Even so, the film barely missed this top 50 list. Such are the stakes — and the inherent challenge — of breaking into such a prestigious group.

More: The 50 Best TV Shows of All Time

Explore Hundreds of Thousands of Movies on PrettyFamous

By Tessa Boyce

To many of us, television is a daily part of our lives. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American watches 2.8 hours of television per day. There’s no denying it, we love to escape to distant worlds, laugh at bizarre cartoons, and hold our breath while our favorite protagonists escape zombies — or just ex-girlfriends with unusually large hands.

Since we choose to spend the majority of our leisure time this way, PrettyFamous, part of the Graphiq network, wanted to find the best television shows out there. We looked at TV shows with over 30,000 votes on IMDb, and then ranked them by our comprehensive Smart Rating. The Smart Rating is a score that takes into account ratings from Metacritic, IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and number of IMDb votes, as well as how many Emmy awards the show has won.

Many of these shows are still going strong, and have been renewed for multiple seasons. Some animated series made the list — one even ranks in the top five. But it’s the intense dramas that rule the television throne.

#10. Frasier

Smart Rating: 91.54

Kelsey Grammar plays Dr. Frasier Crane (the same character he played on “Cheers”), a successful psychiatrist who moves from Boston to Seattle and decides to share his wisdom on a radio show. In its 11 seasons, “Frasier” won a record 37 Emmys.

#9. Friends

Smart Rating: 91.76

Throughout the ’90s, six friends living in Manhattan were there for each other, even when “your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s D.O.A.” Unlike “The Big Bang Theory,” the cast always agreed upon the same salary for everyone. They each began making $22,500 per episode and ended up making $1 million per episode by season 10.

#8. Lost

Smart Rating: 91.96

A plane crashes on a seemingly deserted island, and the survivors struggle to survive. What appears to be a simple plot becomes increasingly complicated throughout six seasons. Creator J.J. Abrams went on to make sci-fi favorites “Star Trek” and most recently “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

#7. The West Wing

Smart Rating: 92.63

“The West Wing” explores the life of fictional staffers in the White House. In 2001, Martin Sheen won a Golden Globe for best actor in a television series (drama) for his portrayal of President Josiah Bartlet and the show won the award for best television series (drama).

#6. Cheers

Smart Rating: 93.24

“Cheers” was about a bar in Boston “where everybody knows your name.” The show was a precursor to other comedies about a group of thirtysomethings like “Seinfeld” and “Friends.”

#5. The Simpsons

Smart Rating: 93.84

Since 1989, Homer and his family have given us valuable words of wisdom. “Let that be a lesson to you sweetie. Never love anything,” or “no matter how good you are, there’s always a million people better” is Homer’s way of thinking. Fox has renewed the show through 2017, making it “the longest running prime-time comedy series as well as the longest-running prime-time animated series in U.S. TV history.”

#4. Modern Family

Smart Rating: 94.37

“Modern Family” is about three unusual families living in Los Angeles and how their unconventional relationships play out. In 2012, the show won the Golden Globe for best television series (comedy or musical) as well as the Primetime Emmy for outstanding comedy series (and also won the award in 2013 and 2014).

#3. The Sopranos

Smart Rating: 94.79

James Gandolfini is Tony Soprano, a New Jersey mob boss who believes “we’re soldiers. Soldiers don’t go to hell. It’s war. Soldiers kill other soldiers. We’re in a situation where everyone involved knows the stakes and if you are going to accept those stakes, you’ve got to do certain things. It’s business.” According to IMDb, HBO was concerned that the title might make people believe the show was about musicians, thus why the gun is in the logo.

#2. Game of Thrones

Smart Rating: 96.82

“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.” Now in its sixth season, “Game of Thrones” shows more dying than winning thus far, and audiences cannot get enough. The successful show is based on the book series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R. R. Martin and recently, PrettyFamous ranked each episode of the first five seasons.

#1. Breaking Bad

Smart Rating: 100.00

Bryan Cranston came a long way from his days as Hal on “Malcolm in the Middle” to Walter White, the chemistry teacher with a unique side job that takes over his life. The show spawned a well-received prequel, “Better Call Saul,” and turned Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston into A-list celebrities.

IMDb Rating versus Number of IMDb Votes

Research Your Favorite TV Shows on PrettyFamous

Over the years, diehard sci-fi fans intuitively knew one of the greatest parts about the Star Trek saga is that there was always a next generation.

From the original television show in the 1960s to the latest film series starring Chris Pine as James T. Kirk, the universe has now been thrilling fans on screen for more than 50 years.

Now, with director/producer J.J. Abrams in the captain’s chair, the franchise has been given a new life in recent years.

The new movies have re-invigorated the Star Trek franchise, and many young fans alike are now getting their first experience aboard the USS Enterprise with Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Leonard “Bones” McCoy, Uhura, Scotty and Sulu.

The newest chapter, Star Trek Beyond, directed by Jeremy Lin, will be released July 22. Now is the time to get your young ones excited about Star Trek. Here are a few ideas to ensure they will be awaiting the new release as much as you before they enter the cinema to boldly go where no man has gone before.

Relive the Past

There’s no better way to get ready for the new movies than to watch the characters from the past. With so many options, there is sure to be a film your kids will love. The only problem might be that some of the oldest versions will seem very dated to young moviegoers.

But unlike another popular movie franchise, Star Trek has always been more about the high-level themes and morality than space chases, fights and lightsabers.

For that reason, classics like The Wrath of Khan and The Final Frontier still hold up, and the messages within each film even make great conversations over dinner. And if you don’t think those films will be exciting enough, there are always the previous two installments from J.J. Abrams.

Star Trek Games

There are many video games and boardgames with a Star Trek theme, and this can be a great way to introduce your kids to the characters, spacecraft and worlds you already know and love.

But with so many different societies, it can be hard to keep track of who’s who — it can even get confusing on the increasingly crowded Enterprise.

Unfortunately, some of these games are old or expensive — and thus hard to get your hands on.

But there are other, easier options that can be even more fun. BusyTeacher.org offers a word puzzle as a free activity that parents can print out and customize to fit a desired Star Trek theme. It’s fun for all ages and will be just the thing to familiarize everyone beforehand.

Hit Up a Sci-Fi Convention

While the shows and films are the forward-facing emblems of Star Trek, its fans are why the franchise has been so popular for so long.

Before ComicCon and anime festivals, there were Trekkies. These passionate fans created the culture that has allowed this franchise to carry on so successfully for over half a century.

To show your kids what it’s really all about, take them to a Star Trek Convention. With such a rapid fan base, there are plenty of sites to choose from in the next few months.

So, buy your set of pointy ears now, head to your nearest con, and never forget to live long and prosper!