Harold and Kumar are back

After an all night search for burgers and then an extended stay in Cuba, our loveable stoners are back and this time we're in 3D! The 3D element is there solely to have the characters either take the mickey out of it by breaking the "fourth wall" or use it in the same way as 80s horror films did.

John Cho and Kal Penn reprise their title roles in “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas,” which picks up six years after their last adventure.

Following years of growing apart, Harold Lee (Cho) and Kumar Patel (Penn) have replaced each other with new friends and are preparing for their respective Yuletide celebrations. But when a mysterious package mistakenly arrives at Kumar’s door on Christmas Eve, his attempt to redirect it to Harold’s house ends with the “high grade” contents—and Harold’s father-in-law’s prize Christmas tree—going up in smoke. With his in-laws out of the house for the day, Harold decides to cover his tracks, rather than come clean. Reluctantly embarking on another ill-advised journey with Kumar, through New York City, their search for the perfect replacement tree takes them through party heaven—and almost blows Christmas Eve sky high.

Hitting UK cinemas December 9, 2011

Where is Santa?

In 1955 Sears Roebuck & Co. put an advertisement out for children to call Santa and unfortunately they misprinted the telephone number. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone number put kids through to the CONAD Commander-in-Chief’s operations "hotline." The Director of Operations at the time, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born.

Below is the current location of Santa on his epic Christmas Eve journey around the world.

Find out more at the NORAD Tracks Santa website

Comedy Christmas - some thoughts

After being sent some of the DVDs that I mentioned in a previous post Its about time that I got around to giving my thoughts about the ones that I have watched

Bill Bailey’s Dandelion Mind
Released: November 22

A wonderful mix of music and comedy as you would expect from this great comic mind. What is even better are the extras that take you on a strange and magical journey around the country from as far north as you can get (with getting your feet wet) and winding your way down the country stopping off at both venues small and large. Sometimes touring doesn't go exactly as planned as you will find out.

Sean Lock’s Lockipedia
Released: November 22


Ross Noble’s Things
Released: November 29

Defiantly the best one I watched. You can't tell with Ross where the script stops and the improv begins as he winds his way from intolerant pineapples to how not to emamer yourself with the wife whilst shopping and the perils of being a comedian and having a major motorcycling accident that ended up with Ross having a large plate in his arm! Possibly the best bits are when a pair of Scousers turn up late and what appears on stage after the interval!

Dara O Briain: This Is The Show
Released: November 22

This was one that I was looking forward to as I love Dara on Mock The Week but I just didn't like his stand-up and the way he heckled his audience. There are some interesting extras on the disk such as a drinking game

Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Jean Claude Van Damme? It can only be Kung Fu Christmas

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jackie Chan kicking at your nose ...

There won’t be many silent nights this December as Syfy turn the season of goodwill to all men – except those pesky bad guys – into a Kung Fu Christmas with a host of awesome martial arts movies. So, get writing to Santa to ask for a karate suit and a pair of nunchucks as they prepare to judo chop and high-kick their way into 2011.

If you’re dreaming of a fight Christmas, Santa’s got a real treat for you in the shape of a sack full of JACKIE CHAN movies. The great man is on a tour of Europe, looking for mysterious treasure that’s been protected by an order of monks in ARMOUR OF GOD (Dec 21). In POLICE STORY (Dec 20), he’s a cop who finds himself framed for murder after he gets on the wrong side of a drug lord. Does he clear his name? Well, here’s a bit of a clue – Syfy are also showing the action-packed sequel POLICE STORY 2 straight after!

It appears the Christmas Day festive spirit may be getting to Chan in THE DRUNKEN MASTER (Dec 25), and he even dabbles in period drama for PROJECT A (Dec 17), which sees him battling 19th century pirates, but don’t worry, he’s still more action than Austen.

Chan isn’t the only martial arts star of wonder this festive season. You also get to see JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME in action in KICKBOXER (Dec 21), in which he stars as – wait for it – a kickboxer(!) out to avenge his injured brother. If you can’t get enough of the Muscles from Brussels, he plays identical twins in DOUBLE IMPACT (Dec 24). One brother is a petty crook, the other stays on the right side of the law, but they’re both experts at delivering a high kick.

Of course, no martial arts season would be complete without Bruce Lee, and Syfy have found room to squeeze him under the tree too. His seasonal highlights include GAME OF DEATH (Dec 18), which centres on a movie star who fakes his own demise. Conspiracy theorists might like to know that Lee died before he could finish the movie, while film buffs might also spot the intentional similarity between the actor’s yellow jumpsuit, and the one worn by Uma Thurman in Kill Bill.

There’s more Lee action in FIST OF FURY (Dec 19), in which he plays a martial arts student investigating the death of his teacher. You can also find out how he compares with another legend as he squares up to CHUCK NORRIS in WAY OF THE DRAGON (Dec 19).

Find out more at www.syfy.co.uk

All the action can be seen on Syfy (Sky channel 129, Virgin Media channel 135, Talk Talk channel 22) from Dec 17th at 10pm

Make It A Comedy Christmas

There’s no better way to bring the family together over the festive season than with a good dose of belly laughter, and with this handy round-up of the best stand-up comedy titles due for release in the coming weeks, you’re guaranteed to find something to fill everyone’s stocking.

Bill Bailey’s Dandelion Mind
Released: November 22

The irrepressible Bill Bailey is back with his brand new DVD, which follows him being trapped by the ash cloud, hilarious rants on everything from celebrity to creationism, all brought to life by his trademark musical interludes. He sings an internet love song, a lament about punk heroes, Iranian hip-hop and plays a mean folk-bouzouki – is there nothing this grizzly bear can’t do?
Recommended for: anyone who enjoys laughing, ranting and rock and roll…

Simon Amstell’s Do Nothing – Live!
Released: November 22

Following his successful six part BBC sitcom ‘Grandma’s House’, Simon Amstell’s razor sharp wit is back in his debut stand-up DVD, Do Nothing Live. The show reveals an awkward, honest and hilariously candid side to this rising star of comedy, plus the bonus features include a rare interview with Simon by fellow comedian Tim Key…
Recommended for: cool young things, philosophical musers and those that like a bit of thought to go with their laughter

Kevin Bridges – The Story So Far…Live In Glasgow
Released: November 22

At just 24 years old this guy is already becoming a star of the “pee in your pants” comedy scene and you’re simply going to love his unique brand of social commentary, astute observations and sharp one-liners. You’ll know him from BBC One’s ‘Live at the Apollo’ and ‘Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’ because Bridges has had an extraordinary 12 months, but now it’s time to get better acquainted with the man himself.
Recommended for: wanting to be first on the scene with perhaps comedies hottest talent

Sean Lock’s Lockipedia
Released: November 22

Not content with being team captain of Channel 4’s ‘8 Out Of 10 Cats’ and one of the UK’s most highly acclaimed and original comedians, Sean also wanted to show off his encyclopaedic knowledge of ‘stuff’, so he took his giant Lockipedia brain on a tour of the UK. The result is this laugh-a-minute DVD, which was filmed at the height of Sean’s 100-date, total sell-out 2010 tour.
Recommended for: the perfect treat for a mate who wants to expand their mind with stuff that they never needed to know

Aim Low: The Best Of Dylan Moran
Released: November 29

This grumpy chap has been delighting audiences for years with his razor-sharp wit, cantankerous Irish charm and grumblings about life, religion, children and getting old, so if Christmas starts to feel a little too cheery and sickly sweet, you can just stick on this compilation of all the brilliant highlights from his previous three acclaimed DVDs and have a good old grumble. Simples…
Recommended for: the grumpy old man of the manor

Michael McIntyre’s ‘The Stand Up Collection’
Released: November 15

With two record-breaking DVDs under his belt, from two incredible sell-out tours, Michael McIntyre’s brand of hilarious, astute (and mostly clean) stand-up is essential viewing this Christmas, so it’s nice and handy that they’ve been combined in a boxset with bonus ‘Comedy Roadshow’ material.
Recommended for: Dads with a man drawer, brothers who pee in the sea, pregnant wives (trust us, you’ll soon understand…)

Ross Noble’s Things
Released: November 29

The improviser extraordinaire has kept it nice and general with his new DVD, choosing to discuss the topic of things - big things, little things and entirely irrelevant things, it’s all here. So if you’re a fan of things you’ll probably enjoy this extraordinarily talented comedian at his brilliant best and remember a Ross Noble live show is like no other, so don’t miss your chance to find out why.
Recommended for: err, people who like all kinds of things?

The Mighty Boosh On Tour – Journey Of The Childmen
Released: November 15

Here’s your chance to get up close and personal with the Boosh boys as this on the road documentary takes you deep into the weird and wonderful world of Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding, with a backstage pass to their huge 2009 Future Sailors tour. Be warned though – spending an hour and a half with these guys may well mess with your mind…
Recommended for: the kooky quirky person in your life

Dara O Briain: This Is The Show
Released: November 22

On his way to TV domination as the host of ‘Mock the Week’ and ‘The Apprentice You’re Fired!’, Dara O Briain found time to take his special brand of stand-up on a sell-out tour of the UK this year. This is your chance to see this brilliant comedic thinker sharing hilarious anecdotes and topical story-telling, but hopefully not spilling the beans on who is Lord Sugar’s new recruit…
Recommended for: this is a master at the top of his game – anyone who loves comedy!

Thanks to our friends over at grapevine for supplying the majority of the above post. I will be adding my thoughts about some of the DVDs over the next couple of days.