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Sorority Row is a 2009 horror thriller distributed by Summit Entertainment. It stars Briana Evigan as Cassidy, Leah Pipes as Jessica, Rumer Willis as Ellie, Jamie Chung as Claire, and Margo Harshman as "Chugs". The story is written by Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger. The director is Stewart Hendler.
Megan and her sorority sisters decide to pull a prank on her boyfriend Garrett after it is discovered that he cheated on her. She decides to fake her own death while making out with him. Garrett and the sisters take Megan to a steel mill where they plan to dump her body in the lake. While spreading out to look for sharp rocks to cut apart the body, Garrett, still thinking Megan is already dead for real, stabs her with a tire iron. After contemplating what to do next, they make the decision to dump her body in a mine. Eight months later, they all graduate. While preparing for their final sorority party, each girl involved is sent a picture of the murder weapon in the hands of an unknown character. One by one, the mysterious figure stalks and kills all the girls who know about what happened to Megan until a handful are left to discover the identity of this killer.
If the reader of this review has seen I Know What You Did Last Summer, then the beginning of the story is quite familiar. A group of people accidentally kills another person and decides to cover it up. Some time later, someone else begins to stalk the members of the group about what happened. But it is not exactly what it seems. It follows a somewhat different pattern than the aforementioned film. The killer may not be who many of the clues seem to be indicating. The rest I leave for the reader to discover.
Obviously, if the reader is looking for an original storyline, then this is not to film to see. But some of the death scenes in the film are quite new and elaborate. For example, one of the characters meets her end when a wine bottle is shoved down her throat. Another is the death of Mickey, Claire's boyfriend. As he is stuck in a laundry chute, the killer uses his improvised tire iron weapon to stab him in the throat, despite the fact that it's out of the killer's view.
To wrap, if the reader is looking for a somewhat routine slasher storyline with new kinds of death scenes, then he/she will enjoy Sorority Row.
Kevin T. Dillehay has written nearly a hundred movie reviews from all genres. He provides a unique perspective on the movies you see all the time but may not stop and think about in depth. You are invited to check out his work at http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/kmonk10.
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Step Brothers is a 2008 comedy film distributed by Columbia Pictures. Some of its stars include Will Ferrell as Brennan Huff, John C. Reilly as Dale Doback, Richard Jenkins as Robert Doback, and Mary Steenburgen as Nancy Huff-Doback. The writers are Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, and Adam McKay. The director is Adam McKay.
Dale Doback and Brennan Huff are two roughly 40-year-old men who still live with their single parents. Their parents meet and get married, which means Dale and Brennan are forced to live with each other. Both are unemployed and immature. Although initially hostile towards each other, they come to realize that they share a lot of the same interests.
Step Brothers is, in my opinion, an old-fashioned slapstick comedy with much of what is today considered modern humor, like that involving sexual humor and coarse language. Many critics, including Roger Ebert, an old-time movie critic, claim that this film had a lot of potential except for the crude humor. As much as I don't condone the use of such humor on a large scale such as this, this is what the modern era of comedy has come to. Common decency went "out the window" a long time ago. This is what modern-day movie viewers come to expect from a movie like this one. We've been seeing humor like this for so long, it just seems to fit this type of storyline. This is unfortunate, but true.
This film also shares an eerie similarity to another film released nine years prior starring Adam Sandler, Big Daddy. It is about a hopeless layabout who is constantly being pushed to find a full-time job and take some responsibility in his life. Step Brothers has the same concept, only with two men instead of one. Both films even share the appearance of the song, "Sweet Child O'Mine". I would have to say that Step Brothers was heavily influenced by Big Daddy.
To wrap, if you like a comedy about two grown men who haven't matured yet with some crude humor, then you will love Step Brothers.
Kevin T. Dillehay has written nearly a hundred movie reviews from all genres. He provides a unique perspective on the movies you see all the time but may not stop and think about in depth. You are invited to check out his work at http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/kmonk10.
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The story is a parable commenting on Social Darwinism. We see ultra rich and "proles" -- to borrow a term from the book "1984". We see a bit of prole lifestyle -- people living with days or hours of life left between "paychecks" -- and a bit of ultra-rich -- people with centuries of life displayed on their arms. There is nothing shown of people in between or crossovers -- people with lots of time and no money, or vice versa. So this story is purely parable, it's not exploring a neat new technology. (In fact, the most amazing thing in the movie is watching Amanda Seyfried sprint in contemporary high heels. Yeah, she really manages to do it! Wow!)
That said, here are some Technofiction details that didn't make sense:
* Everyone wears their "bank balance" on their arm. And, there is no security: You can transfer time, and steal time, just by locking arms with another person. This community should have devised a bit of courtesy about this information by now, as well as some security.
* There is no discussion of where this time comes from, as in, how it is made. There is lots of talk and demonstration of how it replaces money, and how there is a hyperinflation going on, and the usurious interest rates for loans made by proles, but none about how the time people are given is created or distributed.
* This future has this wondrous time invention, but only contemporary surveillance ability. These time transactions are treated like credit card transactions, but for some reason, the time movements can't be traced well enough by the police to track down the protagonist quickly even after he "scores" an extra hundred years.
* There's a lot of depiction of reality show style new wealth, but none of old wealth or old competence. These wealthy people are not shown as experts at anything. Likewise, the one shot we see of proles working shows mindless assembly work. This is something robots should be doing.
* No one acts like an old mind in a young body. Everyone acts young... and conventionally enough to keep this story advancing in a very conventional fashion.
* If these bodies are genetically engineered to always be young, they could easily be engineered to always be infertile as well. There's no need for the worry of a Malthusian crisis. (described in the story as the root reason society has this proles/ultra rich split) Plus, there is no opt-out of this program, no one has a choice not to participate.
So, the movie is a disappointment... unless you are excited by parables about the evils of social Darwinism. There's no magic or wonder in the lives of these people living with this wondrous technology. The most wondrous part is Seyfried moving at high speed in her heels.
Roger Bourke White Jr. has been around. He was a soldier in Vietnam in the '60's, an engineering student at MIT in '70's, a computer networking pioneer in the '80's, and a teacher in Korea in the '90's. He loves writing science fiction and has many works posted at White World.
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[*Note: for Fan Sneak Previews on 4/3 at 6:30pm, 3D ticket purchase includes limited edition Titanic Real 3D glasses and a limited edition Titanic lithograph] James Cameron's "Titanic" is an epic, action-packed romance set against the ill-fated maiden voyage of the R.M.S. Titanic; the pride and joy of the White Star Line and, at the time, the largest moving object ever built. She was the most luxurious liner of her era -- the "ship of dreams" -- which ultimately carried over 1,500 people to their death...more
5Titanic 3D by Chentzu
I love this movie!!! I own it in all media!! When it came out the first time I went to the theater 5 times. I had no idea how much this movie was to play a...
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I have seen this movie many times, but it has been a while. I saw it last night in a huge theater ( Regal ) in 3D and it was almost like seeing it for the...
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The epic battle between the Titans and the gods continues in this sequel set ten years after the events in Clash of the Titans, as Perseus (Sam Worthington) descends into the underworld on a mission to rescue Zeus from the clutches of Hades (Ralph Fiennes), Ares (Edgar Ramirez), and Kronos. In the wake of his decisive victory against the Kraken, Perseus has retreated to a remote fishing village to raise his young son, Helius. Meanwhile, humanity has lost faith in the gods. As a result, Zeus, Hades, and...more
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Exceeds low expectations.
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Undercover brothers get it right.
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There are a lot of lawyers and aspiring lawyers that are doing their best to be at the top of their chosen field. In The Firm, Mitch McDeere (Tom Cruise) is one of those people. Right as he's finishing up law school, he becomes a hot commodity for law firms wanting to attract the best young talents out there. He gets the usual offers from the firms in the big cities around the country, but he also gets one from a firm in Memphis, Tennessee. He decides to take the Memphis job after they stunningly offer him more money than anyone else does. He goes on about his business and never questions how such a small firm can pay him like this.
After he and his wife Abby (Jeanne Tripplehorn) get comfortable in their new home that's been furnished by his new employer, he sets off on his first day of work and meets Avery Tolar (Gene Hackman), a lawyer at the firm who takes Mitch under his wing. They get along well and things couldn't be going better for Mitch, but his wife doesn't feel so good about the situation. It's when you add accidental deaths and a couple of FBI agents snooping around that Mitch finally starts to get suspicious himself. It's not long before he realizes that he not only have to worry about a new job, but he may also have to worry about his life.
The plot in The Firm becomes very clear early on and it doesn't usually go off track. After a while, you're only left wondering who is behind everything that's going on. It plays off like a drama at first and begins to pick up once the questions start forming for McDeere. Once you find out who's involved, the intrigue swiftly shifts to how he's going to escape this nightmare that he's trapped in. Throughout the movie, you'll see these kinds of seamless transitions in other areas and they'll be clearly explained if you pay attention.
Despite the plot being spelled out like this, the movie maintains its strength primarily because of its actors. This is particularly true for Tom Cruise and Ed Harris. These two embodied their roles the most and were very believable as they put on quality performances like the rest of the cast. Outside of Cruise, everyone else seems to only have bit parts in a way. It would have been nice to see them use some of the actors (especially Harris) a little more for the simple fact that some of the people they portrayed were really interesting and added to the movie.
When you're talking about The Firm, nothing in the story really jumps out at you, but it has enough twists and turns to keep you interested in the suspense that it wants to deliver. It's a smooth ride that features very few rough edges and that has to be credited to the director. The Firm is a good thriller all the way around that features drama, suspense and quality acting. It's definitely a movie that's worth taking a look at.
Score: 3.5/5
Rating: R
Director: Sydney Pollack
Cast:
Tom Cruise
Jeanne Tripplehorn
Gene Hackman
Ed Harris
Holly Hunter
Hal Holbrook
Terry Kinney
David Strathaim
Gary Busey
Film Length: 154 minutes
Release Date: June 30, 1993
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
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Cheery and bright, but quite a fright.
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Kicking Bass and Taking Names
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The Story Line.
The Whos are preparing for their Christmas celebration. They're obsessed with buying, giving, getting and decorating. Right from the start Cindy Lou, about 8 years old, observes all this activity and asks her father if it's"right." He brushes her off and says that this is how Whoville celebrates Christmas.
During all these busy preparations, the Grinch comes down disguised as one of the Whos. Cindy Lou meets him. When everyone realizes he's been there, they act terrified. Cindy Lou begins to feel sorry for the Grinch; she's determined to learn more about him.
She interviews the two older ladies who adopted him when he was a baby. She interviews the Mayor of Whoville. And, she interviews Martha Mae, the girl he liked in grade school. Cindy Lou comes to realize that the other kids at school mocked him, made fun of him and ridiculed him. And, so the Grinch left. He went up the mountain, outfitted a cave and has been there all these years.
Every year Whoville elects a Cheermeister to lead the Christmas Whobilation. The mayor wants that honor but Cindy Lou nominates the Grinch. Everyone agrees. She goes up the mountain to invite him. He decides to accept the honor and goes down to the celebration. Once there, the Whoville people are so over-excited, they frantically dress him, feed him, pull, push and shove him. He tries to stop them and actually says, "Stop, too much, too soon." They pay no attention; he becomes angry and destroys the whole town's Christmas. Little did he know that they had "spares" of everything, which they quickly brought out and put up.
The Grinch cannot stand the situation. He goes down again secretly on Christmas Eve night and steals everything; he wants to "teach them a lesson." He takes everything back up to his mountain and is going to destroy it when he suddenly hears singing. "What?" he thinks. And, shock of shocks. The Grinch realizes that the people of Whoville now know that Christmas is not about buying, getting, giving or decorating. It's about family and friends gathering together and loving each other. It's about feeling content and grateful for what they each have. It's about peace and true "good will" among all.
When the Grinch realizes what has happened, he decides to return all of the things he stole to the Whoville people. He does that and finds, a real bonus, that Martha Mae is in love with him. They all have a huge Christmas meal and everything ends happily.
Definitely my kind of movie.
Now, A Deeper Look.
There are quite a few deeper ideas in this movie. But here, we'll deal with the three most important ones.
1. The Grinch withdrew from Whoville because his feelings were hurt. Why? His classmates made fun of him. Instead of accepting and including the Grinch even though he was different, the other kids at school mocked and humiliated him. He was so hurt that he shut down his feelings and decided never to feel them again; he thought, forevermore. He withdrew from the town, built his home in a cave on the mountain and he stayed there alone. The Grinch has been angry and bitter ever since.
We see him now as the adult Grinch. He's in such a rage and so distrusts anyone from Whoville that he not only shields himself in his cave, but he also scares anyone from Whoville whenever he can. The Grinch is a master at revenge; he has everything it takes: motivation, energy, help (from his dog) and best of all, he's smart!
Gosh, we see that bullying the weaker or different ones in Whoville was a common thing back then, just like it is today in our schools and businesses. Nothing much has changed because people who are bullied today feel the same way the Grinch did: they hurt, they don't understand why they're treated badly but they're very clear that they're different, don't fit in and are purposely being shut out.
Cindy Lou first meets the Grinch when he comes down to Whoville to cause some trouble. Again, why would he do that, she wonders. He's really disgusted with the Whoville people precisely because they emphasize the craziness of the holiday season: they shop, shop and decorate, decorate. He just wants to wipe out the whole thing.
In fact, he says, "Avarice, the avarice never ends. That's what it's all about. The Christmas season is stupid." He goes absolutely crazy and ruins Christmas all over town.
2. Enter Cindy Lou, a Pleasing personality, is great at caring for others. She has deep feelings, like the Grinch, and also, like him, she's troubled by all the commercialism about Christmas in Whoville. By now she also realizes that long ago the Grinch was treated badly. So, hoping to cheer him up, she nominates him for the Whoville Cheermeister; he's elected. (One of the great moments in the story is when Cindy Lou nominates the Grinch, she is challenged not only by the mayor but also by other Whos in high power. She stands up to them, showing a lot of courage).
Cindy Lou is delighted and hopeful that the Grinch will want to join the community again. She goes up the mountain to ask him to come to the Christmas Whobilation and be the Cheermaster. Even though the Grinch is not kind to her, her caring for him never wavers.
Later, even as the Grinch is stealing all of her family's Christmas, Cindy Lou's Pleasing care-taking continues. She mistakenly thinks the Grinch is Santa Claus and she urges him to remember to leave a gift for her friend, the Grinch.
*** People who have the Pleasing personality always feel sorry for those who are being mistreated and are hurting. People who have the Pleasing personality always take care of those they care about. And, people with the Pleasing personality never want to believe that others are bad. Cindy Lou certainly fits this description.
3. On Christmas morning when the Grinch hears the singing from the town, he says, shocked, "It came; it came! Maybe Christmas means a little bit more." As he says the words, he's realizing that the Whos are having Christmas as they should without all the "stuff." They realize that having each other is more than enough.
Then something truly wonderful happens to the Grinch. His heart, which had shrunk to practically nothing, grew and grew and grew in those moments; it grew three sizes right then. Right then, the Grinch had an attack of "feeling." And, he cried.
It's such a sweet moment when the Grinch says to Max, "I'm all toasty inside and I'm leaking." The Grinch tells Max that he loves him; Max goes nuts and overwhelms the Grinch with kisses. To which the Grinch says, "That's enough, that's enough, one step at a time." He's still not quite ready for intimate expression.
After he realizes that Cindy Lou has come up the mountain to get him, saying, "No one should be alone on Christmas," the Grinch returns everything to Whoville, joins in the celebration. His small heart is not only "not dead," but re-blooms that day.
Yes, the Grinch's outer world changed radically Christmas day; the Whoville people welcomed him and he rejoined them. But, the Grinch's inner world, which is by far the more important, changes radically as well. He understands that hearts can soften and hurts can heal.
If you're looking for a good, light Christmas movie choose The Grinch. If you're looking for a "great" movie, choose The Grinch. Just be sure to take The Deeper Look.
Thanks for stopping by in this busy, busy season, and.... I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season.
Warmest regards until next time,
Joan
Joan Chamberlain is an author, therapist, and life coach with over 30 years of experience helping adults, couples, and teens. She has a Bachelor's degree in Business and Finance, a Bachelor's in education, and a Masters in individuals, couples, and family counseling. Her book, Smart Relationships, has helped many people achieve the self-awareness needed to see themselves honestly. Its wisdom has helped them work toward improving their relationships with themselves, their friends, and their families.
To learn more about the ideas and concepts presented in her articles, please peruse her website:
http://www.joanchamberlain.com/
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Growing up in the inner city, there are two challenges that you have no choice, but to face sooner or later. One will be the dangers that might be around the corners every now and then and the other will be the stereotypes we'll all have to face even if we're model citizens. The most aggravating of the two are the stereotypes that may come from some of the people from various walks of life who have never set foot in the kind of area that I used to live in. It's pretty easy to avoid most of the negative things that go on, but the stereotypes always seem to remain. Attack the Block takes a look at both of those things and more on its way to telling this sci-fi tale.
Attack the Block is a film that follows a gang of tough inner-city thugs whose night turns into a fight for their lives when aliens arrive in their neighborhood. With Moses (John Boyega) as their leader, the gang tries to defend their turf against an invasion of creatures of an unknown species. Throughout the night, they run around the neighborhood biding time and attempting to figure out how to dispose of the aliens while also trying to avoid getting on the bad side of a drug dealer known as Hi Hatz (Jumayn Hunter), the man who runs the block.
I've always believed that a great movie is at its best when there's a good cast involved. Even though most of them don't have a long list of credentials, this is a cast that fits that description and more than holds its own. These actors produce lively characters that are truly engaging. Each one of them seems to have a certain presence that is easy to take notice of and comes off as natural. They own the screen when it's their time and they allow you to become interested in the film and the personalities they present to the audience.
You take the actors and mix them in with a witty script from writer/director Joe Cornish and you get something positive here. They're able to build this world and fill it with several different things. There's continuous action, well-timed comedy, interesting characters and a little social commentary thrown in. This mixture allows the film to be more than an action/adventure with a little comedy. As a result, they're able to focus on making the people human and it asks the viewer to see past the stereotypes and the images that come with them. The way that this is constructed creates a more life-like image of these youngsters and allows them to be positive in their roles as accidental heroes.
With that being said, most of the film is obviously about what happens on a night when aliens touch down on earth and how these kids go on to defend themselves and their territory. When it comes to saving the day, these kids don't have a deep arsenal of weapons to choose from. Because of this, they improvise and use baseball bats, swords, and fireworks as their main source of weaponry. It adds to the charm of a film that already has tons of it due to all of the other aspects that are included.
There are a lot of good things going on in Attack the Block. It's a short movie, but I was surprised at how much stuff they were able to fit into it without it ever feeling mashed together. Everything fits well and nothing is forced. That says quite a bit about the ability that the first time film director has when it comes to his craft. This film was fun from beginning to end with no real drops in entertainment. It's something that needs to get more exposure due to the fact that it's an all around great film.
Score: 4/5
Rating: R
Director: Joe Cornish
Cast:
John Boyega
Jodie Whittaker
Alex Esmail
Franz Drameh
Leeon Jones
Simon Howard
Luke Treadaway
Jumayn Hunter
Danielle Vitalis
Paige Meade
Michael Ajao
Sammy Williams
Nick Frost
Film Length: 88 minutes
Release Date: July 29, 2011
Distributor: Screen Gems
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Cornered! is a 2010 horror film distributed by MAZEfilms. Its stars include Steve Guttenberg as Morty, James Duval as Jimmy, Peter Story as Donny, Elizabeth Nicole as Jess, Eduardo Antonio Garcia as Steve, and Ellia English as Mona. The writers are Darrin Grimwood and Daniel Maze. The director is Daniel Maze.
There is a local serial killer on the loose targeting convenience stores. Just before their nightly poker game, a group of people start to talk about how they would kill this person if met face-to-face. As they play their game, the group's size decreases as they keep going down to the store and not coming back.
This is just a stereotypical slasher film with only one exception: the idea of killing the people exactly the way they said they would kill the convenience store killer. It is a very unique concept that I applaud the writers for putting in, but that appears to be the only element of originality in the film. It does have its moments of suspense and excitement, but not of any kind that hasn't been experienced before by the typical movie-goer. For example, there's talk of a serial killer in the area and, one-by-one, each member of the group turns up missing. If that isn't part of an all-too-familiar routine for a movie of this kind, then I don't know what is. Another instance is the suspense buildup in the beginning. It's halfway through the film before we see the first victim. Many don't mind a little buildup, but if it lasts too long, as it did this time, the viewers begin to lose interest.
The only remarkable acting performance in the whole film was James Duval's portrayal of the drug addict Jimmy. His character was really the only one that demanded some extra effort in terms of acting. It is clear he studied his role well before taking it on. Duval must have studied real drug addicts in order to get an idea on how he must look and act as one of them.
To wrap, Cornered! is a routine slasher film with little originality. If that's what you're into, then you should take a look.
Kevin T. Dillehay has written nearly a hundred movie reviews from all genres. He provides a unique perspective on the movies you see all the time but may not stop and think about in depth. You are invited to check out his work at http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/kmonk10.
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Around 10 years ago, movies based on high school life were pretty popular. They were usually romantic comedies and were usually filled with a good amount of raunchiness. They also used fresh, young and sometimes recognizable faces like Jennifer Love Hewitt to help sell it to the masses. They made a lot of people laugh and made other people good money, but they ended up becoming pretty similar sooner or later and that is probably one of the reasons the genre has lost some of its luster. During that same time span, a film called Better Luck Tomorrow was introduced to the high school movie world. This independent film brought its own style and personality onto the scene and brought a violent and dramatic turn from the usual with it.
Better Luck Tomorrow is a film about a group of Asian-American outcast who embody the typical stereotypes associated with them. Ben (Parry Shen) is the star of the film and is a 16-year-old high school student who's only focused on doing all he can to get accepted into the best universities in America. With all of his time and energy being put into being on the basketball team (he doesn't actually play), doing volunteer work and whatever else will look good on his resume, he doesn't have much time for anything else. That all changes when he meets Daric (Roger Fan), a writer for the school's newspaper.
After Daric writes an article claiming that Ben is a token player and is only on the team to add to its diversity, Ben leaves the team. Once the anger subsides, he eventually becomes friends with Daric and he's introduced to a cheat sheet scheme that would pay him a little money. After a while, Ben gets his friends Virgil (Jason Tobin) and Han (Sung Kang) involved in the scheme. What we witness after this appears to be an evil, careless and irresponsible nature developing within Ben and his inner circle of friends. Due to their success, they push the envelope by going into riskier illegal practices over time. They go from being normal hard-working outcasts, to criminals who fall in love with their own images and reputations. Their new-found popularity eventually alters their way of thinking as everything begins to spiral out of control and takes them to depths they would have never imagined.
These guys struggle finding their own identities in a world where they're destinies and images appear to be already chosen for them. You kind of get a sense that they're lost in the shuffle of society and are just doing what everyone would expect from your average Asian-American kid. These values come off as soulless requirements for these teenagers that have desires and personalities separate from what's expected. You can say that their actions are kind of a release from all of that. Whether it's good or bad, it can be frustrating to a lot people who have to deal with this and that's one of the main points of the film.
Lin is effective at making everything surrounding these characters seem almost empty and superficial. Whether it's the other students, the environment or even the goals that they have, everything just goes on as it should. It really helps exemplify the point that the movie wants to make. It makes the anger of the kids more pronounced and allows them to still be viewed as harmless through the eyes of the rest of the world that they live in.
Better Luck Tomorrow is more than an alternate to the standard high school drama. It's also about the frustrations that people can have when they think they're being reduced to stereotypes and aren't allowed to be human. In this film, this is expressed in the rebellious, illegal and sometimes violent nature of a group of kids who believe they're expected to be somewhat perfect. While this movie does have its flaws, it does its job in more ways than one.
Score: 4/5
Rating: R
Director: Justin Lin
Cast:
Parry Shin
Jason Tobin
Sung Kang
Roger Fan
Karin Anna Cheung
John Cho
Film Length: 101 minutes
Release Date: Apr 11, 2002
Distributor: MTV Films
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Are you trying to find out where you can get "Batman The Animated Series" on sale? I am going to tell you where you can find it at a good price. Classic television programs like "Batman the Animated Series" never seem to lose their luster. This program featuring the Dark Knight was produced by Warner Brothers and was aired in 1992. It was an attempt at throwback programming at a time when high adventure was the norm in television of the late 1950's and early 1960's.
DC Comics Batman character was highly popular and the animated series touched on many of the themes present in the comic book. Although originally designed as a program that would appeal to children the show became highly followed by an adult audience. The lead character Batman was portrayed by actor Kevin Conroy who took the role and made it his own. In fact to this very day it is debated that Mr. Conroy's portrayal of the voice of Batman is the standard by which others are judged.
The show had all the villains of the Dark Knight in force. Batman's arch enemy the Joker was voiced over by Mark Hamill who shows great range in the dynamics of his characters. The Batman saga is the story of a hero born out of tragedy, young Bruce Wayne while out on the town with his parents witnesses their murder. The traumatic experience changes him forever, and as an adult he becomes a masked avenger fighting crime in Gotham City.
Questions arise as to whether or not Batman is a hero or a vigilante. The Batman is a super hero, but is one of the few who does not have super powers. He is a normal man who is aided by the study of the ancient martial arts and equipped with an array of gadgetry that facilitates his crime fighting efforts. Being a multi billionaire allows Bruce Wayne to provide his alter ego with all the advanced technology he needs to equip Batman with everything from the batmobile to batarangs and the various gas grenades and other equipment Batman is famous for having.
Along the way Bruce Wayne takes on a ward, young Dick Grayson who has also been touched by tragedy. Dick and his family are part of a high wire act at the circus. The rigging of the high wire apparatus is tampered with causing his parents to plummet to their deaths, thus setting the stage for Dick to become Batman's partner in crime fighting, Robin. Together they become the dynamic duo protecting Gotham City from an array of costumed criminals with a variety of strange personality traits. You can find Batman the Animated Series at retail outlets such as Best Buy and Walmart.
"Batman The Animated Series" is one of the classic animated series of recent memories. You deserve to have it in your collection of great entertainment. You can purchase this product at a great price if visit: Batman The Animated Series
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By the recent years, several Iranian women have made films about Iran. Although they live in different countries outside Iran, they share similar social characteristics. All of these films also share recurring themes. I have recently seen three films: Circumstance by Maryam Keshavarz, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and My Tehran for Sale by Granaz Mousavi. There are some more similar female directors whom I don't discuss in details here. Let us see first how these directors share same social characteristics and then review recurring themes in their movies emphasizing Circumstance.
Growing up in Bed of Roses. Actually, only a small portion of Iranian society can afford to pay for their children to study and live in a foreign country. Maryam Keshavarz, like Satrapi and Mousavi has grown up in a wealthy family. All of them rose up in educated families. And all of them are beautiful. This seems to be ridiculous to include these factors in an academic review. However, this is the very point. Because of their personal and social characteristics, they have been socialized in a way that they can hardly tolerate to be challenged. Also, not only their families, but also weak men frequently have made them sure that they are always right. These kinds of children are also taught that their needs and desires should immediately be met, no matter how it costs to others. When these children come to adulthood, something bitter starts to happen. There are some people out there who don't have any intention to bend to their wills. Social norms are also disgusting, as they don't know any boundary for their will. Therefore, they start challenging all social norms. And one important foundation of every society, is family.
Misadnry. Because of their socio-economic status, these kinds of women have been in contact with a certain kind of men. These men are mostly selfish, dependent and weak. These are three characteristics that a woman hates most for her man to have. Rather than accepting the responsibility of managing the needs of a woman, these men need a mother to help them pull themselves together. Therefore, every woman who falls in love with such men, will pay a heavy emotional cost. And, if that woman has been raised in bed of roses and has been taught that her desires must be met immediately regardless of what it costs for others, these emotional consequences will be irremediable. Retries with other similar men will only exacerbate the situation. Moreover, men have manhood. Men are in their nature imperious. Our female directors have never tolerated any authoritative treatment. Men and their damn authoritative mood are at the same time tasty and disgusting. However, the latter is more sensible for our female directors. Therefore, these women hate every man in the world. Every man is understood as infidel, selfish, maniac and weak.
Poor Knowledge of the Iranian Culture and Society. All the directors mentioned -and not mentioned- above, have lived in Iran and were in contact with Iranian culture and society. However, they have poor knowledge of the Iranian society and culture. They have been raised up in a very ideal situation. They have been told they were -and are- the bests. Therefore, they have never felt a need to get out of their cave and see how other people live and feel. Moreover, they have been surrounded by other men and women who are from the same socio-economic group. For them, Iran is a small group of former -and present- aristocrats who have enough money to pay for their cultural activities. Unfortunately, this group consists less than one percent of the Iranian society.
Now that we reviewed social characteristics of Maryam Keshavarz and other similar directors, let us move to recurring themes in their movies. Here, we focus on the Circumstance.
Misandry. Misandry is a recurring and loved theme for Maryam Keshavarz, as well as Marjane Satrapi and Granaz Mousavi. Keshavarz portrays men as weak, suppressive, selfish and stupid. Men, in Keshavarz's film are sex maniacs whose sexual intentions define all what they do, even with their siblings and children. The love of a father to her daughter is nothing but a loosely commoditized intention.
Sexual Perversion. Keshavarz's Circumstance directly and obviously mucks a healthy heterosexual relationship. Heterosexual couple's are portrayed as ill, psychotic and disgusting while homosexuality is portrayed as the virtue, true love and the truth that only protagonists search for it.
Anti-Familism. Family, for Maryam Keshavarz, Marjane Satrapi and Granaz Mousavi, is the source of suppression, and has to be eliminated. They are attacking an institution that has produced them as successful women, while they themselves offer nothing but hedonism which in their own cases has not produce even a single top student! In one of the last sequences, Mehran expresses his wishes to have a healthy family and children and everyone is overcome by nausea. If having children is so terrible, how the human race could reach this point of the history.
Insulting Modesty. All of these directors suffer clinical hate to modest women and do their best to besmirch them with every mean. Maryam Keshavarz, like Marjane Satrapi and Granaz Mousavi harshly attack every woman who doesn't want to deliver her body to transient desire of men. Modesty, in their mind is stupidity and the modest is the bastard. They deny the basic right of woman over their body. Do we have right to tell people what they must do with their bodies?
Political Activism is Hedonism. One annoying and recurring theme in these films is to show anti-social corrupt people as political protagonists. For Maryam Keshavarz, sex maniacs are political heroes who jeopardize their lives to free a country. This is essentially untrue. Political activists are mainly strong men and women who have come out of their bodies. They have solved their immediate problems and now it is time for them to give a hand to a body, our many bodies, outside their relieved bodies. Those who are still caught into their lowest desires, and are still grappling with their sexual orientation, cannot be political activists. They are in need of help, and of course an emergency one. Political activism needs self sacrifice. If one only thinks of his or her desires, can he or she do self sacrifice?
And, Maryam Keshavarz's Circumstance has won Sundance Film Festival-Audience Award. This is not wonderful. The horrible picture Maryam Keshavarz present to them, has to be awarded. However, Western film festivals should be more prudent in making judgments. Maybe sometimes people exploit plight of people to get famous. And, the evaluative nature of refereeing process in these festivals also should be considered. Actually, I don't think most of these prizes have any value.
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In the latest Christian film "Courageous" I watched my life story play out. If you're unfamiliar with the film it's about four men with the calling to serve and protect. As law enforcement officers they faced danger every day. Yet when tragedy struck close to home, these fathers were left wrestling with their hopes, fears, and ultimately their faith. From this struggle came a decision that changed all of their lives.
Being a tough Norski I had no problem fighting back the tears; however, I was overwhelmed with the story line and felt at times like I was playing parts of the movie in my mind's eye. The movie is all about family life, difficult relationships, pain and loss. It reminded me of the loss of my sister Deb and the pain still associated with it.
My sister passed away almost two years ago from a painful throat cancer that caused convulsions and zapped her of her strength and energy over several months. Each phone call I received from my brother-in-law and my brother became less and less hopeful. I knew what was coming. The end of a sibling's life is not easy to deal with. As I watched the movie a haunting question played over in my mind, "Was I a good brother?" I knew I was a caring brother but did I listen to my sister? In all honesty, I have to answer the question with a regretful "no". My sister and I were so opposite in our personalities and the way we were raised that over the years we distanced ourselves from each other. How did that happen you may ask?
My sister was always fighting our parents, my older brothers and friends that stopped by the house. She seemed to be on a mission and that mission was to disrupt the peace we had in the house. I never understood why she seemed to enjoy causing general mayhem and pain. Our family was always trying to figure her out!
The main character in "Courageous" had the desire to do the right thing by being the provider, stable and a good man. I have to give him credit - he made a difference in the lives of many people at home and at work. I hope people can say the same thing about me. I know I can't go back and make amends with my sister Deb but I can make sure that I ask those I have wounded to forgive me. I also want to work on repairing any damage I may have caused.
Now as I think about my daughter I know she has hurts that no doubt were caused by me. I plan to ask for her forgiveness and will begin working toward healing the pain I have caused. How do I go about this? I first have to look back and figure out where I caused her the most pain when she was growing up. At times I wasn't there for her when she needed me. I remember her asking me to do some things with her but I declined because I was either too busy or too tired. Poor excuses for sure! I have a feeling the offenses I remember will be ones she never thought of, and the pain that I caused her will be ones that I never gave a thought to. That is what is called discovery. You get that by sitting down and talking face-to-face. It's not always easy but probably the best way to begin the healing process.
"Courageous" challenged to be a better man, a better listener and to hold dear all relationships, big and small. We get one shot while here on earth and we need to make the best of it. When we are asked for help, let's help those in need. When we're asked to spend time with a friend or loved one, let's find the time!
I highly recommend you take time to see the movie "Courageous." It's a great family film that will change the way you think about your parents, children, brothers and sisters.
Applicable Solutions Life Coaching Services is led by founder Michael Brooks N.D., Ph.D., Board Certified BCBC Counselor, LCI Certification and AACC Board Certified BCMCLC Master Life Coach. Mike utilizes his coaching skills of 25 years in the areas of Business, Health Care, Personal and Marriage Relationships, and Health & Fitness.
Mike's background is steeped in all kinds of endeavors: living in Europe as a child, raised in an alcoholic home, and being an Army brat. He was a college athlete, a college football coach, a corporate business owner, a health practitioner(retired 18 years ago), a counselor, a regular guest on radio and television shows, a writer, author and seminar speaker. Mike has been involved with and impacted many lives across the country. Mike's clients will tell you he is the encourager, very compassionate, is goal oriented and he gets lasting results.
Mike has used his coaching skills with professional Athletes, Doctors, lawyers and Health Care Professionals, and men and women of all ages and professions. If you would like to talk to Dr. Mike or have questions for him, you can e-mail him at mike@applicablecoaching.com
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Candyman is a 1992 horror film distributed by TriStar Pictures. It stars Virginia Madsen as Helen Lyle, Tony Todd as Candyman, Xander Berkeley as Trevor Lyle, and Kasi Lemmons as Bernadette. The producers are Clive Barker and Steve Golin. Candyman is directed by Bernard Rose.
The story takes place in Chicago. Graduate student Helen Lyle is doing research for her thesis on urban legends. During her research, she uncovers a local legend known only as Candyman. In order to summon him, someone must say his name five times while looking in a mirror. Helen gives this a try but it seems nothing has happened. But, after investigating an unsolved murder at a local housing project and being attacked by a gang leader calling himself the Candyman, Helen encounters a mysterious man with a hook for a hand who claims to be the real Candyman. He tells her that because of her disbelief in him, he must prove to her that he is real.
Before seeing a film involving Clive Barker, viewers can be rest assured there will be lots of blood. After watching Candyman, I can safely say that it is one of the bloodiest films I have ever seen. In a typical slasher flick, one would typically expect the antagonist to have a knife or some other cutting object as its preferred weapon. But here it is a hook. A hook can be much more painful and cause potentially greater bloodshed. This concept puts a degree of originality to an otherwise routine slasher movie.
Another concept of Candyman I found fascinating was the fact that the legend of the Candyman is based so strongly on another real life legend: Bloody Mary. In order to summon her, one must say her name three times while looking in a mirror in the dark. As stated earlier, the Candyman can be called by saying his name five times while looking at one's own reflection. In a way, this makes the Candyman seem more real and, therefore, much more frightening.
To wrap, if you are looking for a bloody movie loosely based on a popular legend, then Candyman is the film for you!
Kevin T. Dillehay has written more than 100 movie reviews from all genres. He provides a unique perspective on the movies you see all the time but may not stop and think about in depth. You are invited to check out his work at http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/kmonk10.
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Who Are These Guys?
Okay, let's talk about the movie first and then let's talk about our own personal Bucket Lists. For sure, no matter what our ages are; we all should have dreams.
The Story Line.
The movie opens when Carter (Morgan Freeman), a Master mechanic, receives a phone call from his doctor while he's at work, informing him that he has cancer. Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) gets his cancer warning unexpectedly when he coughs up blood in a business meeting. He's rushed to the hospital he just bought (no kidding). When he demands a private room, his assistant reminds him that he's said very publicly many times before: "I run hospitals, not health spas. Two beds to a room; no exceptions." So, Edward has a roommate: Carter.
We learn that Cole is a brilliant, billionaire businessman. But, he doesn't intimidate his roommate. Carter has a mind like a steel trap. He's a PhD. in disguise. (You'll see what I mean if you watch the movie.) The two men start a conversation.
Through their talk Edward learns that Carter has raised three children: a tax attorney, an engineer and a symphony violinist. Think of it: all that education on a car mechanic's salary; talk about a high value.
Carter asks, "Do you have children?" Edward says, "I never stayed married long enough." Carter replies, "Don't worry, I've been married long enough for the both of us." Edward: "How's that goin'?" Carter, straight-faced, "It's goin." Cole says, "I've been married four times 'cause I love being married; only problem is, I love being single, too. Hard to do both at the same time. Only successful marriage I've had is with my work; started making money when I was sixteen."
Carter says, "I always wanted to be a history professor and I made it through two semesters of City College before Virginia, my wife, gave me the news; I was young, black, broke, baby on the way; I took the first decent job that came along. I always meant to go back but 45 years goes by pretty fast." (Yes, it does.)
This conversation is the start of their friendship together. They play cards, they talk; they get to know each other. And, a defining moment: Edward happens upon a list that Carter made originally in his freshman college class 45 years earlier: a Bucket List.
Edward, of course, thinks Carter's list is too tame; Edward is a world-traveled risk-taker. He thinks the list needs more excitement. And, definitely, Edward thinks they should "do" the list NOW; "It beats sitting around waiting to die," says Edward.
So, Edward convinces Carter to go on the trip with him. Carter's wife protests vigorously. But, Carter says he thinks he's earned some time for himself and so off he and Edward go. Carter, who tells this story, says, "And so it began."
They skydive, drive racing cars, and travel in Edward's private aircraft to eat caviar in France. They visit Cairo, drive through packs of wild animals in Africa, see the pyramids, motorcycle on the Great Wall of China, travel part way to the top of "Carter's mountain" (can't reach the top; there's a storm) and finally end up in Hong Kong where they expect to buy silk suits and eat Black Walnut ice cream. But unexpectedly, Carter asks to go home. And, so they do.
Once there, Carter has a short time with his family. But, too soon he collapses and goes to the hospital where he waits to be operated on: without much hope. Carter dies on an operating table. He's dead at 66 but thankfully, not before he had a last joke on Edward. (It's about the coffee that Edward loves, but you really have to see the movie and share the laughs). By the time Carter died, they'd almost completed their shared Bucket List but not quite.
A Deeper Look.
This is a love affair between the two men. But, maybe I see it that way because my feelings were so caught up with the deep friendship. No, not a sexual love affair. But, the kind where two complete strangers bond quickly and become deeply attached to each other. These two became brothers in a very short time.
Some article I read called the movie a "buddy flick." But, I think that diminishes not only the movie's messages but the performances as well. I think she didn't "get it."
So, what were the messages? Actually, quite a few.
First, these two men are both the Superiority personality. Why do I say that?
(1) They're both experts in their work areas.
(2) They both have heavy goals.
(3)They are both intense and thorough thinkers.
But, at the same time, they are very different because they have different values .
Carter is deeper. He's spiritual; he questions the purpose of life. He's a man who values relationships, who values commitments and has principles by which he lives. While he's clearly impressed by Edward's wealth and the mind that makes it possible, he remains steadfast in his own beliefs and values. For sure, so steadfast that he challenges Carter quite a few times on their journey together. Two of the questions Carter asks Edward along the way are:
(1) Have you found joy in your life? And,
(2) Have you given joy to others?
Edward, on the other hand, is harder, lives "on the surface," doesn't trust. He's impatient with feelings, stinging with words and definitely not spiritual. He loves money, status, comfortable living BUT by the end of the movie, he also loves Carter. Edward speaks at Carter's funeral saying, "The last three months of Carter's life were the best three months of mine." During those last few months Edwards opens up; he trusts Carter. Why not? The man is genuine to his core.
If you're a person who looks for a deeper meaning in movies or books or life, I think you'll really enjoy The Bucket List.
Warmest regards until next time,
Joan
Joan Chamberlain is an author, therapist, and life coach with over 30 years of experience helping adults, couples, and teens. She has a Bachelor's degree in Business and Finance, a Bachelor's in education, and a Masters in individuals, couples, and family counseling. Her book, Smart Relationships, has helped many people achieve the self-awareness needed to see themselves honestly. Its wisdom has helped them work toward improving their relationships with themselves, their friends, and their families.
To learn more about the ideas and concepts presented in her articles, please peruse her website:
http://www.joanchamberlain.com/
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Fight Club is a 1999 drama film distributed by 20th Century Fox. It stars Edward Norton as the nameless narrator, Brad Pitt as Tyler Durden, and Helena Bonham Carter as Marla. The writers are Chuck Palahnuik and Jim Uhls. The director is David Fincher.
The narrator is an unhappy insomniac who befriends a soap salesman named Tyler Durden. After his apartment is destroyed by a fire, the narrator calls up Tyler. They meet at a bar. After a drink, they go outside and fight. This becomes a regular occurrance and soon attracts a crowd. The two men start an underground club known as "Fight Club".
Fight Club is one of those movies where the viewers must pay close attention to the events. Otherwise, they will be lost and confused later on. The title itself is quite deceiving. When I first heard about this film, I assumed it was going to be just a movie about fighting, but I later discovered that there was much more to it. It is a film about the freedom of nonconformity. I can't go into greater detail without revealing too much of the plot, but I can say that the "Fight Club" is only the surface of what this movie is really about.
The one thing I found excessive was the buildup to the actual creation of the "Fight Club". Typically in a movie, the main theme is brought to the audience's attention within the first 20 minutes. The first fight doesn't happen until about 30 minutes into the film. The words "Fight Club" aren't even spoken until the film is roughly a third of the way past. The setup of the narrator's situation takes way too long.
To wrap, in spite of the long wait in the beginning and the rather complex storyline, Fight Club is actually a pretty good film overall.
Kevin T. Dillehay has written more than 100 movie reviews from all genres. He provides a unique perspective on the movies you see all the time but may not stop and think about in depth. You are invited to check out his work at http://www.moviefilmreview.com/author/kmonk10.
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If you're reading this article at this very moment, you're definitely looking for a Thor review! You don't need to worry about biases on Thor review because in few minutes you will be reading a fairly made review. In this Thor review, expect reading both the high points and low points of this movie. But I have to admit that Thor the movie is a must watch. Just like any other Marvel released movies namely Spiderman, Iron Man, Fantastic Four and X-Men, this would absolutely give you satisfaction with all its actors and actresses like Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman, to the action and adventure thrill it gives, and of course the heroic scenes and stunts Thor have portrayed. Watch out for this all-in-one Thor review!
Thor Review: The Highlights
An hour would not be enough in making a Thor review containing its high points and the positive angles of the movie. That is to say, Thor is such an amazing movie. If you are not a comic fan and you have not read any Marvel comics, watching this movie would give you the urge to read them. Of course, the movie's story is similar to that of the comics yet, with all its renewed lines that turned seriously funny and silly would not stop you from laughing. Another fact is the line up of casts in this movie. A Thor review would not be complete without mentioning how the actors and actresses brought so much character and more life with the roles they play. Natalie Portman who played the role of Jane Forster showed to be the one delivering the punch lines and added up to the levity of the movie. And definitely, not to forget the main character, Thor played by Chris Hemsworth. Thor the movie wasn't really a full-comedy movie, it gets serious when Thor gets to the scene and delivers his lines. You probably know how similar to that of Shakespeare Thor's words were. The last but not the least highlight for a Thor review is how attractive Chris Hemsworth has gone. More ladies would really do see this movie for Chris Hemsworth may be considered an eye candy for ladies. Thor review, this superhero flick is click!
Thor Review: The Low Points
Every movie would not be considered as perfect as it can be. There will always be something that some people won't be considering. As for this Thor review, you'll get to know some down points of Thor the movie. These are absolutely few for Thor has really been a great movie. Number one low point is some serious dialogues and scenes included in the movie. I have to admit that some would not be able to fully-understand the exchange of dialogues all at the same time and you still have to think and process them in your mind. Thor review, seriousness kills the levity.
Thor the movie is available on 2D and 3D and for this Thor review I recommend you to enjoy watching it in 3D.
Go to Thor Review site to find out more about Thor.
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I loved the first Harold and Kumar movie that was released back in 2004. It was something that blended real life issues to a comedy about having the munchies. Naturally, I couldn't wait for the sequel. The sequel Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay was alright, but it was only an imitation of the original with the volume turned up. It lacked the creativity that was seen in the first one and it was nowhere near as smart. I was excited when I heard that they were coming out with A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas and I was hoping that they would fix the issues that were in the sequel. It's always great to see a good comedy with a strong backbone.
After not seeing each other for a couple of years, Harold and Kumar (John Cho and Kal Penn) eventually grow apart. Harold has become a successful business man that's desperate to impress is father-in-law and Kumar is a bachelor trying to stay busy by getting high. These two eventually reconnect after a package for Harold lands on Kumar's doorstep. By going to Harold's home, Kumar ends up bringing back the mischief that Harold was doing his best to get away from after they are forced to go around town in an attempt to find a new tree for Christmas.
A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas wasn't a bad movie, but it could have been quite a bit better. It's jumbled up and lacks the overall quality of the first film. This movie appeared to be thrown together with no actual direction at times. It was more over the top than the first two in the franchise and they tried too hard to make it vulgar, obscene and offensive. That took away from it a little, because that stuff is supposed to feel far more natural than it does here. To be truly successful at pulling these types of movies off, you need to have substance and intelligence to go along with the crudeness in my opinion. It seems that with each film that they come out with, they lose more and more of what made it special in the first place.
Some of the jokes were funny early on and then they hit a wall for awhile before picking back up again. Some of the more boring parts of the comedy came from me being able to figure out what they were going to do or say before it actually happened. That really shouldn't happen when you're talking about comedies that are supposed to be outlandish. As the jokes ran hot and cold, most everything else felt disjointed or simply plugged into certain spots. One of the few consistent parts of this movie was surprisingly the 3D. There was no need for it, but they actually used it better than most other films that could do good things with it.
Cho and Penn were good and again played their characters well. Harold and Kumar are living in a much more cartoonish world than they used to, but they seem to be the same people that they've always been. Neil Patrick Harris was basically useless and had very little to do in this movie. He was only in it for a scene and it wasn't really funny or necessary. He mentions seeing them in a fourth movie, but I don't know how they can keep this up with Harold, Kumar and many of the other returning characters getting older and moving on with their lives. I'd be all for another one if they can pull it off and make it good, because I do like the characters. They just need more to work with.
Score: 2.5/5
Rating: R
Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson
Cast:
John Cho
Kal Penn
Neil Patrick Harris
Danny Trejo
Paula Garcés
Film Length: 89 minutes
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
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Best/Worst Movie Promos of the Week: ‘Django Unchained’ and ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ Win Big with Unique Imagery
By Perri Nemiroff Apr 13, 2012
In case you haven’t noticed, The Avengers is coming. For the past few weeks we’ve gotten featurette after featurette and TV spot after TV spot, and now we land on two new clips and 20 minutes of B-roll footage, too. Of the clips, I much prefer the one featuring Loki and Iron Man, as it shows off solid performances and some serious non-action-related tension as compared to seeing Nick Fury and Maria Hill discuss the mechanics of the mission. As for the B-roll, sure it may be a little dull, but I actually much prefer it to the featurettes, which all seem to make the same exact points over and over again.
Speaking of featurettes, Battleship adds two to its pile, “Creating Destruction” and “Enemies From Another World,” both of which fail to solidify Battleship as anything other than a Transformers knockoff. We’ve also got some on-set interviews from Skyfall and while hardcore Bond fans may dig it, if you aren’t into the series, it’s just not all that interesting.
Also on the dull side is the teaser poster for The Host. The only selling power this has is Stephenie Meyer’s name and even though the Twilight films bring in truckloads of cash, it’s still a very specific audience and not a proper tool for reeling in newcomers.
Maybe this isn’t the most uplifting opening, but the best is yet to come, so here we go!
The Best Stuff
1. Looper Trailer: It’s not easy cramming all the essential plot points into a trailer. And, if you can pull it off with ease, that’s probably not a good sign. As for Looper, the mechanics of the situation are pretty complex, but this trailer is so well constructed the basics are incredibly digestible. Voiceover was a must here, and, thanks to some stellar imagery, it doesn’t feel overbearingly expository, but rather quite natural. Even better? The material is wildly fascinating, and when you think it couldn’t get more intriguing, right at the mid-point of the trailer comes a complete change of direction. Turns out standard screenplay format works wonders with trailers, too!
2. Django Unchained Teaser Poster: When you’ve got a movie that stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Sacha Baron Cohen, Christoph Waltz, Jamie Foxx and more, you’d think the smart marketing move would be to plaster their faces all over the poster. Sure that might happen when Django Unchained gets an official one-sheet, but for the teaser poster it’s all about minimalism and it’s downright beautiful. In fact, this poster doesn’t even need a title. “The New Film By Quentin Tarantino” is more than enough to support this literal and striking design. If I fall for Django Unchained like I did for Inglourious Basterds, this might be on my wall come Christmas.
3. Moonrise Kingdom Scout Troop Photo: When it comes to a rather odd, but strangely mesmerizing specimen like Moonrise Kingdom that's jam-packed with curious characters, there’s really no better way to make an audience feel engaged than with a piece of promotional material like this group photo. Yes, you could watch the trailer over and over again, and might even want to, but if you just want to see a map of the film’s main players, here it is! Even with the tacky school photo-style shoot, each character’s expression, pose and position is oozing with exposition.
1. The Dictator Clip: I think I might be over Sacha Baron Cohen. Not the actor that actually performs in movies like Hugo, but rather the one that brings characters like Admiral General Aladeen to life. Sure, The Dictator isn’t like Borat and Brüno in that it supposedly follows a more traditional storytelling method and uses conventional camerawork, but otherwise, it’s that same shtick all over again. His little bit at the Academy Awards was a major turn off, leaving the film desperate for something that suggested it was actually funny. This first clip? Definitely not it. Even with Anna Faris’ charm and comedic timing, this moment is spiteful and totally unfunny.
2. LOL Trailer: LOL just got a new trailer and, yet again, it fails to make the whole teen tech angle cool or shake the incredibly tacky feel. Regardless of whether or not this trailer was an improvement, I just can’t take a movie seriously when it stars Miley Cyrus as a character literally named Lol. The Miley-related problems continue with the fact that SNL’s Vanessa Bayer is just too good at replicating her voice, making the LOL trailer’s voiceover laughable. Then there’s the biggest issue: Cyrus seems to have lost her touch. I’m a little old for her Disney show and don’t care much for her other feature films, but she did have some on-screen charm. However, in LOL, Cyrus looks to be drowning in the teenage formula and lame dialogue. Rather than breathe life into the material and give it some original flair, Cyrus is consumed by it and might even be magnifying the clichés.
3. The Broken Tower Trailer: Just because you’re James Franco, that doesn’t mean you can do things like this. It’s admirable when filmmakers have their own style and push the boundaries in attempt to make their productions unique to themselves, but that doesn’t mean you can entirely disregard the audience. If you make a movie, you want people to watch it, right? Well, I don’t know who would ever watch the trailer for Franco’s latest directorial effort, The Broken Tower, and have any desire to see it whatsoever. Harold Hart Crane had a tumultuous and perhaps cinematic life – according to the synopsis. However, this trailer makes no effort whatsoever to hint at any narrative, making the film’s only accessible elements its Oscar nominated stars.
Sound off below and let us know which movie promos were your favorite and least favorite this week.
The way that you furnish the rooms in your home is very important as you need to choose items that you can live with and that go with your own personality. One type of furniture that most people will need for their living room is a TV stand. These stands are essential if you do not have a flat screen TV that you are planning on mounting on the wall. With this in mind you will be anxious to know which TV stands you can choose between.
The first type that most people will be familiar with are the stands that are made from wood and are quite plain and simple. These look good when combined with a large range of different decors, this is due to the fact that you can buy wooden stands in a pine finish, an oak finish, a mahogany finish and many more. So if you have a particular type of wood that you feel would look good in your home you will easily be able to find what you need.
The next type which is fast becoming more and more popular and this type is a modern TV stand. In the majority of case these are made from a mixture of glass, wood and / or metal. These are ideal for people who want space for their TV plus a DVD player, cable box and so on. You can get these in a high gloss finish that will often compliment the TV that you own. So if you are interested in TV stands that match your TV these are what you should be looking towards.
If you have lots of electrical items, DVDs, games, books and so on that you want to contain in your room you might think about entertainment units. These are a type of TV stands that are better suited to larger rooms as they can be quite big. These are also a good choice if you want to keep your TV out of view when it is not in use and store all of your other items in a neat and tidy way.
You might be looking for designer TV stands that will compliment your other designer furniture. These are popular with people who want a quality product that will look really stylish in their home. Thankfully the prices of these TV stands are steadily decreasing as more people are getting interested in them. This means that having an affordable glass top stand or minimalistic stand by a recognized designer can be something that anyone can have in their home.
These are just a few of the main types of TV stands that you can choose from and if you have never bought one before it makes sense to check out each type. If you do this you can be sure that you will not overlook any stand that you would love and you will always know that you have made the best selection possible. For the best choice look online where you can see pictures of all of these stands and more.
Retro Designs is Australia's living room furniture specialist. We have an array of TV stands in many sizes and colours to choose from. We use only top quality materials from stainless steel to tempered glass and high gloss finish. Get a TV stands from Retro Designs and take advantage of our special promotion.
View the original article here
Casting: Dwayne Johnson's Massive Graphic Novel Adaptation, Plus Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman and More
By Alison Nastasi Apr 13, 2012
— Dwayne Johnson will be appearing in the upcoming action film from Warner Bros., Lore. The story is based on a 2004 graphic novel created (and illustrated) by husband and wife duo Ashley Wood and T.P. Louise. The story involves a secret society of "Shepherds" who guard a world full of ancient, mythical creatures. The beasts eventually find their way to earth after the Shepherds' line of succession is broken. A "reluctant hero's" life may be threatened if the creatures cannot be kept at bay. Priest director Cory Goodman wrote the screenplay. You can see Johnson in the upcoming G.I. Joe: Retaliation, which hits theaters this summer. [via Coming Soon]
— Deadline reports that Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman will be joining Liam Hemsworth in Legally Blonde director Robert Luketic's Paranoia. Spread's Jason Hall drafted the most recent version of the script that centers on a world of "dueling telecom giants." Hemsworth leads the corporate espionage thriller, which is an adaptation of the Joseph Finder novel. Paranoia starts shooting this summer. Let's hope Oldman brings his crazy and Ford's grimace will continue to woo us.
— English actress Felicity Jones (Like Crazy) will be appearing in The Chelsea, which is being directed by Nancy Meyers (Father of the Bride). The story was written by Meyer's daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer and is being described as an ensemble dramedy set in the Chelsea Apartments in New York City. The film doesn't have a distributor yet, because Meyers wants to round out her cast before presenting. Jones — who many know from British television, where she got her start —just wrapped up Drake Doremus, and will also be appearing in Hysteria (yep, the vibrator movie) and The Invisible Woman with Ralph Fiennes. Deadline shares that Warrant Beatty is still figuring out his Howard Hughes movie, but Jones may play the young female lead for the actor-director.
It's tough to come up with a new idea in the movie blog business, so I've done the next best thing: I took something old, and I made it slightly more difficult. My initial plan was to post simple screen-shots, but tons of other websites do that (and do it well), so instead I went with segments of movie posters. Snipped out, blown up, and presented here for your entertainment. A few should be easy and hopefully a few be head-scratchers, but I think you'll notice a common theme pretty quickly.
The first person to get all ten answers right (in the comments section below) will earn a few shout-outs on twitter from me and Erik Davis and Peter Hall! Lucky! Also, please let us know on twitter if you actually dig this sort of stuff. (I really want to know how easy this first batch was.) Hopefully we'll be back next week with another quiz.
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Cine Latino: Sofía Vergara Denies Threesome with Sharon Stone in 'Fading Gigolo'; Robert Rodriguez Returns with ‘Sin City 2’ and More
By Elisa Osegueda Apr 13, 2012Cine Latino covers, well, all things relating to Latino culture and the movies, every Friday.
Rumors surfaced last week that Sofía Vergara and Sharon Stone would be playing bisexsual lovers in Fading Gigolo, opposite Woody Allen and John Turturro. Reports said Stone, who plays a dermatologist in the film, gets involved in a threesome with Vergara and Turturro. But the sexy Colombian actress put the rumors to rest.
“There’s no lesbian loving. Somebody thought it was more interesting to write, ‘Oh, Sharon Stone and Sofia Vergara, they have to have, a lesbian scene,’” said Vergara to Extra.
Turturro will direct and play a gigolo in the film, while actor-director Woody Allen will be featured as a pimp.
Here’s how the story goes: a cash-strapped guy decides to become a gigolo as a way of making some money. With his best friend acting as his pimp, the duo causes a commotion in their Hasidic Jewish community.
Since the release of Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s Sin City, fans have been anxiously waiting for a sequel. And the wait has finally paid off, Dimension Films announced earlier this week that Sin City 2, which will be called Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, has officially gone into production. The sequel will be produced by Ar Films and Rodriguez's Quick Draw Productions. The story will be based on Miller's comic book of the same title but according to reports Miller is thought to have created a new story, The Long Bad Night, for the film. Most of the original cast is expected to return.
Elena Anaya, who last year co-starred with Antonio Banderas in Pedro Almodovar’s The Skin I Live In, will return to the big screen in Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego’s Inertia. According to Variety, the screenplay by Lopez-Gallego and regular co-scribe Fernando Navarro, will follow an immigrant (Oscar Isaac) who witnesses a fatal hit-and-run and pursues the mysterious car in a nonstop chase, with Anaya playing his ex-girlfriend who joins him on the run. The mainly Spanish-language film will begin shooting late August in Barcelona, Aragon and Andalusia.
If you’re in Los Angeles this weekend join Rosario Dawson and Wilmer Valderrama at the VotoLatino Power Summit. The two-day event (April 14-15) will be held at the University of Southern California's Davidson Conference Center. The goal is to educate, engage and empower young Latinos from across the country to create positive change in their communities. Dawson is the organization’s chairman and is set to speak both days on the current political landscape as it relates to the Latino population and the power of media.
The event will kick off with a town hall meeting co-sponsored by Telemundo. Moderated by Ana Patricia Candiani, news anchor for KVEA Telemundo Los Angeles, the panelist include Rosario Marin, former US Treasurer, Dolores Huerta, noted American labor leader and civil rights, Wilmer Valderrama and many more.
For information on Voto Latino visit, www.votolatino.org/power-summit
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Mel Gibson to Join 'Machete Kills'? Meanwhile, Watch Joe Eszterhas Attack Gibson on the Today Show
Follow us @elisaosegueda and @moviesdotcomDialogue: ActionFest's "Female Star of the Year" Gina Carano on Kicking Ass On Screen and Off
By Fred Topel Apr 13, 2012
MMA fighter Gina Carano became a movie star this year. Steven Soderbergh developed the movie Haywire as a vehicle for her, because he was so impressed by her in the ring. If the critical raves and box office success weren’t enough, Carano is already winning awards. ActionFest, the film festival entirely for action movies, is giving her the “Chick” Norris Female Star Of the Year Award at their third annual festival running April 12 to 15 in Asheville, NC.
Carano will be appearing in person to accept her award and participate in a panel on fight choreography in movies, “The Art of Fight on Film.” In the lead-up to ActionFest we spoke with Carano by phone to talk about her new Hollywood life, her upcoming film In the Blood and her trip to Asheville.
Movies.com: Are you excited about ActionFest? Seems like it’s just great that something like that exists.
Gina Carano: I know, just a bunch of good people I imagine. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m glad that they have it because you know they don’t give stunt awards out at the Emmys or Oscars. They don’t give the stunt awards out. I’m really surprised because those people are putting their lives on the line to make these films so it’s really nice to have an event for them.
Movies.com: Haywire wasn’t your first film, but your first lead so how does it feel to get Female Action Star of the Year?
GC: I really consider this my first film to be honest. I did a glorified documentary which I didn’t really consider a film acting role, and then I did a fight in Blood and Bone so I really consider Haywire my first acting, so it’s fine to call it a debut. I’m really excited. I’m super honored. I just don’t even know. I don't know how I get so blessed and put in these circumstances.
Movies.com: How did you deal with the reactions to Haywire, both the good and the bad?
GC: It’s a love hate type film and that’s fine with me. It was a beautiful experience. Steven Soderbergh gave me an amazing opportunity. I think he’s a quite interesting talent but people either love or hate his work so I think that the film kind of shows that. I think that’s really neat and I think that’s what it has going positive for it.
Movies.com: Have they mentioned doing a Haywire 2?
GC: No, I think that Steven, if it would have done incredibly well at the box office then he would have probably considered it but I think it just made its money back. So I think he’s looking at retiring in a couple of years and that was kind of like a special project for him to practice some action films. I don't think he’ll be doing it again.
Movies.com: Soderbergh developed Haywire because he saw you fight. How did you land your second film, In the Blood?
GC: It was a story, a script that I was reading. I remember what Ewan McGregor said one time. He said, “It all starts with the script. If you really feel the script, if you really attach yourself to the script and can see yourself in that script.” I didn’t know what he was talking about and then this script came along and I was like wow. So I called my manager and my agent and I was like, “Let’s do this. I like this one. I really like this one.” I think people are going to like it too.
Movies.com: How different is it from Mallory Kane?
GC: I think that Steven was really smart. He gave me a character in Haywire that was just very straightforward, basic, stoic and there wasn’t a ton of emotion. It gave me a very safe role to start off on and that’s a beautiful thing that he gave me the opportunity with that character. But now this role, she’s a lot more like me.
Movies.com: You haven’t announced a return to fighting, but also haven’t committed to retiring. Can you leave it open and fight when you want to, make movies when you want to?
GC: Yeah. If I want to do it I’ll do it and hopefully there’ll be a platform for me to do it on. So that’s why I really haven’t. For me, fighting is something that I do because I want to do it, not because I’m trying to support myself or for any other reason. It would just be nice to not have to do that. It’s been about 10 years and it’s really nice to put my energy into something different right now.
Movies.com: Is Hollywood glamour a new world for you?
GC: No, I mean, I’ve been playing dress up with my Grandmama since I was about eight years old. She lived in Las Vegas when she was younger so she’s been going to Frank Sinatra shows, to everything. I love playing dress up. That’s the way I look at it.
Movies.com: I like that you call her grandmamma.
GC: Grandmama, she’s actually my G-mama.
Movies.com: How much do you train in regular life when it’s not for a movie?
GC: I was doing a lot of stuff that is kind of outdoorsy things. I was going hiking a lot in mountain trails in the Red Rock area. I was doing more things that fed my soul a little bit. Like I was getting outdoors and just really appreciating the beauty of not having everything I do physically have to be about not getting my head ripped off or taken off, or having to look a certain way. That’s actually been a really huge healing. After I got done with Haywire I just started doing a lot of hiking and a lot of a outdoors type stuff. It’s really kind of a healing thing to not always have to work out to have it be selfish, but to actually just do it because it’s something that you want to do.
Movies.com: How much sleep do you need to accommodate all your physical activity?
GC: My sleep patterns are very interesting for some reason. I start waking up around eight o’clock PM at night. I’m very nocturnal.
Movies.com: That’s reassuring. If I go for a run, I sleep all afternoon the next day.
GC: You must be running a long ways. How far are you running?
Movies.com: Only 4-5 miles, a normal amount.
GC: Yeah. I don't know. When I start going and when I start training, my body doesn’t want to stop. I’m a very extreme type person so it’s like when I start going, it’s like everything’s going in that direction. It’s hard for me to turn it off.
Movies.com: I feel bad. It seems there’s no point to working out if I sleep twice as much.
GC: Well, actually a good sleep is better than no sleep. A good sleep is just as important as having a good workout. If you’re sleeping good, then you’re probably doing your body that much more good.
Movies.com: Do you use any protein shakes or supplements?
GC: I’ve been turned onto this new product and I wouldn’t just tell you this product, XM3. What it is, it’s all natural and it's an appetite suppressant at night. It’s like a shot of energy but it’s not chemical, it’s all natural. It’s really been doing wonders for me. It’s a really good natural product that I find has been working for me and I’ve tried a lot of different products. This one makes me feel good. It’s not chemically.
Movies.com: I like PowerBar’s Tripple Threat peanut butter fusion. I eat one a day so I hope they’re good for me.
GC: [Laughs] Well, you sound like you like to run though so you can probably handle that. I don't know if it’d be good for somebody like me.
Movies.com: Was doing American Gladiators a good experience?
GC: It was amazing. It was such a good experience and it was at a good time in my life where I maybe needed not to take myself so seriously. I remember before I got that call, I was just like I really need to get serious and start to hamper down on myself a bit. Then when I got that call, I was like, “No, I can’t do it.” I turned them down about four times and said, “No, I can’t.” Finally my good friend now who was one of the producers on it, he was like, “Just come out here and just try it.” I did and I’m glad I did because I met some beautiful people. At one point I was in El Segundo because that’s where we were staying when we were filming it and I was like, “I can’t believe I’m getting paid to do this.”
Movies.com: Was that like playing a character, Crush, or just being athletic?
GC: Well, one of my prerequisites for doing the show was that I didn’t really have to play a character. I was like, “I’m not going to be this big bodybuilding type looking person. I’m not going to go over the top with my character. I’m just going to relax and if you guys want me to be a part of it then I’m just going to relax and do the athletic part of it.” I wasn’t really focused on character that much. I was almost wanting them to just let me be quiet and just get the job done, like the silent killer, but they wouldn’t let me do that. they wanted me to talk a few times. Unfortunately.
Movies.com: During the press for Haywire you seemed shy to talk about yourself. Are you shy?
GC: Well, I think I’ve been pretty talkative. I think it depends on the person. I enjoy talking to you so I’ve probably been pretty talkative. But I think it always depends on the person. I think I’m good at feeling a person’s energy out so when the interviewer’s nervous then I get nervous. Or when a fan comes up to me and they’re nervous, then it makes me nervous. When somebody’s open and just wants to talk, then it’s okay. It’s a little bit easier. But to be honest, I don’t mind being a little bit shier. I don't know, I might not be that confident cocky type but I can get into that when put in the right circumstance. I’d rather be myself until there’s a character involved that I need to be a certain way and then I need to do that.