I have really been enjoying the new Marvel/ABC show Agents of SHIELD. It seems like just what I wanted to fill the gap left by the end of Fringe and the cancelation of my favorite new show last year, Alcatraz. I won’t pretend that SHIELD is yet as good as Fringe was, but it has the potential to be. And it ties into the large, Marvel Cinematic Universe — what’s not to like about that?

Well, apparently there’s something not to like about this show because you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting someone who’s ragging on the show for some reason or other. I have to wonder why that is and I…

The “back-nine” either refers to the second half in a round of golf, or the nine additional episodes a network TV show gets once it shows staying power. And since this isn’t a golf website, it must mean Marvel Studio’s first TV show, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., just got a full season pickup for nine more episodes. The back-nine, as it were.

After debuting to stellar numbers, the show has dipped in subsequent weeks, but with competition from two of TV’s most popular shows – NCIS and The Voice -  ABC felt confident enough to renew the show for a full season. We’ll be seeing a lot more of Agent…

After going for some time with mediocre films, I don’t quite know what to do with myself having two films in theaters I would very much like to see. I think though that ultimately I’m going to enjoy Captain Phillips more and so I’m seeing that one this weekend. I’ll have to catch The Fifth Estate next weekend.

Of course the other new film I’ll mention this week is Machete Kills, but I only mention in the most derisive tones possible.

New in Theaters

Captain Phillips — PG-13

This looks like a great film to me. It’s based on real life events and has at least one great actor in it. I don’t…

Of the many elements of the film that add to sheer and palpable panic facing astronaut Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) as she floats in space is a stretch of time when she’s utterly alone, unable to make contact with Mission Control (voiced by Ed Harris). But at first, the studio suggested that team in Houston should get more face time. “...there are a lot of ideas. People start suggesting other stuff. ‘You need to cut to Houston, and see how the rescue mission goes,’ ”

...

And that’s not all. Part of the emotional journey of “Gravity” rests on Stone’s backstory, which includes a daughter…

Warner Bros.’ Gravity continues to soar at the box office.

The space drama starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney crossed the $100 million mark at the worldwide box office Tuesday.

The 3D film, which opened in theaters in the U.S. on Oct. 4, has already broken records in North America, debuting to an outstanding $55.8 million in North America, the top October opening of all-time and the best three-day showing for stars Bullock and Clooney. The film is likely to cross the $100 million mark domestically by Friday.

A really good film doing really well at the box office. This pleases…

Hold on to your lunch you guys…

The undertaking, also named Remington Steele, would center on Olivia Holt, daughter of Remington Steele and Laura Holt (played byPierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist in the original version).

In the comedy, Ms. Holt would reopen her parents’ detective agency and soon find herself in the same kind of funny, action-filled situations that provided the background for Remington and Laura’s five-season-long romance.

I know I’ve probably talked about this thing or that being the worse idea ever, but we have a new contender right here. I love Remington Steele.…

For this week’s “grave” (see what we did there?) situation, TJ and Chad discuss how ‘The Hobbit’ Trilogy has already cost $561 Million to date — over twice as much as ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy — and they’re not done spending money yet. It’s a good discussion on film and budget bloat and how Peter Jackson has sort of lost his way and is riding his previous successes too much. Next up is the upcoming film and trailer ‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit’. The trailer was fairly disappointing to both TJ and Chad. Chad is not that interested in the departure from the books, and TJ is both not interested in the departure, or the direction in general. The episode quickly turns to the main review: ‘Gravity’, which is an astonishing and breathtaking cinematic achievement. Neither Chad nor TJ find much wrong with this film and it is a highly recommended watch.

Speaking with New York Magazine (viaThe Playlist), Francis Lawrence addressed his take on the material, noting that he has ditched Ross’ camera style:

No! [Laughs.] No shaky cam. I think a lot of people will be happy to hear that.

He’s not kidding there. Ross’ decision to go with the ultra shaky shake ‘em up cam was absolutely the worst aspect about the first film. Shaky cam is not a replacement for good choreography. Garry Ross, and others, please take note of this fact before making more films. Thank you.

Lawrence also added that he has decided to focus more on the love story…

I’m thinking we have another Oscar contender here. We’ve certainly had a few films lately looking at that dark time in the U.S.‘s past when the institution of slavery was alive and well. Not that I’m complaining because often times these films make for good ones.

This one is looking like it will measure up with the best of them. It will not be rolling out to a wide release all at once though. It will begin in limited fashion on October 18^th and go for wide release on November 1^st. Check out the clipo and trailer below.