Recommendations of the Week [January 8]

(Image courtesy of 20th Century FOX)

Well, I've gotten through the first week of this new blog. I hope you have enjoyed all of the flashback writing pieces that I featured over the past several days, from my Harry Potter essay and X Factor On The Scene Report to my interviews with Kaleb Nation and Mahsa, and everything else.

What I would like to do on Sundays is to provide my Recommendations of the Week. These recommendations could be something that happened in the past week that I read, watched, participated in, etc. or something coming up in the following week. And feel free to leave your recommendations in the comments section below; I would love to read what you have to say.

Jeff Dodge's Recommendations of the Week [January 8]:

Movies:
Super 8
Rise of the Planet of the Apes

I watched these two films recently. I loved the vintage 70's feel to Super 8, and paying homage to Steven Spielberg (reminiscent of E.T.). The chemistry between the kids was perfect; it didn't feel forced or out of place. The train crash was one of the best disaster moments in a movie I've ever seen.

And with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, this is one of the best movies I've seen in a long while. The motion capture animation was beautifully rendered. I'm very picky on what movies I'd be willing to shell out money to buy, but I could see myself buying this movie. And I hope Andy Serkis gets the attention he deserves at the Oscars. And it wouldn't surprise me one bit if this film wins for Best Visual Effects (though I would also want Harry Potter to win as well).

TV Shows:
Once Upon a Time (Sundays, 8-9pm, ABC)
Fear Factor (Mondays, 9-10pm, NBC)
Mobbed (Wednesdays, 9-10pm, FOX)

I've been watching Once Upon a Time; it is one of my favorite new shows on TV right now during this 2011-2012 season (along with American Horror Story). I was a fan of Fear Factor when it originally was on the air way back when. And I've been watching every episodes of its return; the gross moments are so gross that it's hard to turn my head away from it.

I'm a fan of Howie Mandel, so I've been watching every episode of Mobbed. I don't know how it's been doing in the ratings, but this is one of the best shows on TV right now. There's so much suspense near the end when we don't know how the invited person is going to react. One recent episode had a guy who has been in an online relationship with a girl for about five years confront her in person about starting a face-to-face relationship. If you're a fan of Howie Mandel, music, dance, drama, reality TV, this is the show for you.

TV/Politics:
New Hampshire Primary

If you're a political news junkie like I am, then it's a great time to be following all the latest political news. After the extremely close results in the Iowa caucus, it's time to focus on New Hampshire, when this state's primary will be held on Tuesday.

Websites:
TV Watch Online (@TVWatchOnline)
Bieber Guy (@Bieber_Guy)
BuddyTV

Jeff Dodge Blog:
Welcome to my BLOG!
2012: What I'm Looking Forward to This Year
Interview with Author Kaleb Nation
Interview with The Apprentice's Mahsa
Jennifer Lawrence - From Winter's Bone to The Hunger Games
The X Factor Seattle Auditions - On The Scene Report
Why I Refuse to Say Goodbye to Harry Potter

BuddyTV (Articles I've Written):
'Necessary Roughness' Season 2 Preview Guide: After the Boom
'Grey's Anatomy': Never Can Say Goodbye
'Grey's Anatomy': With or Without You, Mer-Der
'Grey's Anatomy': Will Pompeo and Dempsey Be Movin' On Up?

#1 Recommendation: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Tomorrow (Monday, January 9), my next Bieber Guy review will be up over at my Bieber Guy Blog. This week, I will be reviewing Justin Bieber's book, First Step 2 Forever.

Follow me on Twitter @TheJeffDodge. I tweet various thoughts and opinions there. And anything I post on this blog will be tweeted there as well (so that's the best way to find out when the blog's updated). And if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, either tweet me, e-mail me or leave a comment below.