New and Old Movies

Movie Review Thor 2011

2011-08-17T19:14:00.001-07:00

There's a lot of substance to Norse mythology, with its rich layers of gods, their worlds and their feats. There are also a lot of characters and storylines surrounding the Marvel Thor comic books. As if this undertaking wasn't enough, the Thor movie chooses to include two thorough plot lines in vastly different locales, a love story, a redemption arc and a monarchist coup subplot, an army of giant arctic beasts, and a nearly unstoppable alien juggernaut. And that doesn't even count the extensive focus on bridging the connections between the random superheroes that will eventually form the Avengers.
Surprisingly it isn't until about the halfway point that the pacing begins to feel rushed, but from there the two-hour time frame barely contains the ambition of this origin film. Capable actors and special effects-laden action sequences keep the cheesiness mostly at bay, but poorly designed villains and bouts of hokey dialogue work to hinder their noble efforts. If you don't find phrases like "frost giants" and "rainbow bridges" distasteful, you'll likely forgive many of the film's sillier moments and indulge in the excitement of the otherworldly adventure.
Moments before King Odin's (Anthony Hopkins) son Thor (Chris Hemsworth) can be named successor to the throne, the realm of Asgard is infiltrated by their age-old nemeses, the Frost Giants. Infuriated by their presence and intent on exposing those responsible for the breach, Thor disobeys Odin's orders and travels to the icy realm of Jotunheim with his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his band of fearless warriors, including Volstagg (Ray Stevenson), Hogun (Tadanobu Asano), Fandral (Joshua Dallas), and Sif (Jaimie Alexander). Their imprudent actions cause the Frost Giants to declare war against Asgard and Odin banishes Thor to Earth where he is stripped of his god-like powers. Once there, the warrior encounters the fiercely determined astrophysicist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) as well as a new battle to fight - first against government agency S.H.I.E.L.D. and then with a soulless destroyer whose sole mission is to ensure he never returns home.
The creators of Thor are misguidedly under the impression that everyone watching this new superhero movie is a fan not only of the comics, but also the other Marvel entities, as well as the previous Marvel movies. This is one piece of the puzzle that leads to The Avengers theatrical adaptation (stay through the end credits for another tidbit), and plenty of the running time is spent building references and alluding to characters from that universe. As a result, the Thor story is monumentally compacted. A lifeless romance is mustered with little enthusiasm or believability, a villain is created to fulfill a generic role of betrayal and jealousy, a history of feuding with gargantuans, epic battles and heroic warriors is erected, along with hasty explanations of portals, bridges, travelling between realms, and multiple, fantastic worlds. Even customs, rituals, ceremonies and costumes are briefly fleshed out, many of which must be taken for granted. Magic, wormholes, super powers, flight, a mighty hammer, a gatekeeper and more are presented but never detailed, forcing the viewer to simply accept the foreign kingdoms and inhabitants of Asgard and Jotunheim.
It's unique to have a superhero based on mythology, giving Thor a Clash of the Titans feel but with inventive alien influences including the various worlds of Star Wars. The Destroyer oversteps the boundaries of borrowing, however, blatantly stealing Gort from The Day the Earth Stood Still. Humor is blended in acceptably, lightening the mood, even though the tone is never completely serious, and the computer graphics are equally fairish, generally sticking to the idea that if the cuts are rapid and much of the action is shrouded in darkness, no one will scrutinize the quality.
The Stranger in a Strange Land motif is fun, but Thor ultimately suffers from having too many separate ideas, including an Avengers subplot, several villains, a legion of heroes, a love interest, and decades of comic book backstory crammed into a single film. It's as if The Avengers movie is so important and universally anticipated that each comic book member needs to have their own feature-length theatrical flick rushed to theaters before the entire world gathers together for the slated 2012 release - a project that is likely to suffer from a similar problem: too many characters and not enough time.

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So Far Good Movies 2011

2011-08-15T18:05:00.001-07:00

There is a huge craze of English movies all around the world. People are very fond of watching English movies. There are many people who go to cinemas to watch films. Some people watch movies in their homes either with their friends or alone. These are also a source of information. You can also learn or improve your English by watching English films.
There are many good English films which are released in 2011. There are also many good videos which are coming up. Many films have very exciting titles. Some of the good English films of 2011 are listed below:
• The Green Hornet: It is a very good action-comedy film which was released on 14th of January, 2011 in North America. The name of the director of this movie is Michel Gondry. The stars of this movie are Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz and Seth Rogen.
• Just Go with It: This is a romantic-comedy film which was released on 11th of February, 2011. The director of this movie is Dennis Dugan. The stars of this movie are Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler.
• No Strings Attached: It is a romantic-comedy film, released on 21st of January, 2011. The director of this movie is Ivan Reitman. The stars of this movie are Ashton Kutcher, Cary Elwes, Kevin Kline and Natalie Portman.
• The Roommate: It is a thriller film released on 4th February, 2011. The director of this movie is Christian E. Christiansen. The stars of this movie are Aly Michalka, Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly and Cam Gigandet.
• Hall Pass: It is a comedy film released on 14th June, 2011. The directors of this movie are Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly. The stars of this movie are Jason Sudeikis, Jenna Fischer, Christiana Applegate and Owen Wilson.
• The Adjustment Bureau: It is a romantic thriller movie. The director of this movie is George Nolfi. The stars of this movie are Emily Blunt, Phyllis MacBryde, Matt Damon and Florence Kastriner.
• Take Me Home Tonight: It is a good movie released on 4th March, 2011. The director of this movie is Michael Dowse. The stars of this movie are Anna Faris, Teresa Palmer, Dan Fogler and Topher Grace.
• Red Riding Hood: It is a horror film. The director of this movie is Catherine Hardwicke. The stars of this movie are Lukas Haas, Billy Burke, Amanda Seyfried and Gary Oldman.
All of the above movies are very good movies of 2011. You will definitely enjoy while watching these movies.

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The History of The Doctor

2011-08-14T04:55:00.001-07:00

'Doctor Who' is a popular science fiction television programme which started back in 1962. It was actually originally intended to be an educational series, but turned out to be a brilliant series where a time traveller known as 'The Doctor' travels through time and space in the Tardis, a 'police-box'. William Hartnell played the very first Doctor and his first adventure was going back 100,000 years to help cavemen discover fire. This first show was of course in black and white but it was the title sequence and theme tune which made it an instant success. Today the theme tune and title sequences is still based on the original but obviously enhanced with the latest audio and visual technology.
In 1965 some difficulties were arising. Firstly the then producer Verity Lambert was replaced by John Wiles. This became a problem when he didn't get on with William Hartnell. Also William was having trouble remembering his lines because of the early stages of the arteriosclerosis. Discussions led to the actor agreeing it would be best if he left. This gave the writers a headache, how to write him out of the show and replace him with another doctor? This became very significant as the story editor Gerry Davis came up with an ingenious way of writing the actor out. Because the character was an alien being, they decided that he would have the power to change his body when it became worn out or seriously injured, they called this process 'renewal' but it later went on to become known as 'regeneration'. This clever story line gave the show longevity and paved the way for many more actors to play 'The Doctor'.
Patrick Troughton played the second doctor through till the 1970's when Joe Pertwee took over. The role was then given to Tom Baker who went on to become the most popular and best remembered. The 80's saw Peter Davison becoming the doctor number 5 followed by Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy. Other Doctors followed but it wasn't until 2000s when the show came back with a vengeance. Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant were very popular. These actors, with the help of new writers and modern day television special effects, managed grab the attention of many new fans.
The beauty of the show is that it's now become a classic and iconic. It's a simple TV show which has captured the hearts of many fans of all ages. Families watch the show and parents tell their children of when they grew up and who their favourite doctor was. Everyone has their favourite Doctor, mine was Tom Baker as a child, but more recently I liked David Tennant.
There are not many shows that can be enjoyed and shared between the generations, but Doctor Who does this. If you're a fan you can buy like books, research and watch the spins offs, buy toys, DVDs, and they even did a film the odd film. You can get everything from stationary to lamp shade covers. If you really want to get in close on the action you can now even go on a tour of some of the studios and locations of some of the most famous episodes.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies

2011-08-05T01:57:00.000-07:00

When it comes to action heroes there is no one better than Arnie. He fills the screen with his huge stature and perfectly placed one-liners. He has played characters ranging from a Kindergarten teacher to a US Marshall. You cannot mistake his voice when you hear it and more that one comedian or actor has imitated his Austrian accent. He is a movie icon because he never dies in any of his films but he does plenty of killing.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies always have him flexing his muscles because that's his trademark. In The Terminator Arnold plays the cyborg sent back in time to kill Sarah Connor. When the movie was first introduced there was something odd about it because you're not sure how it's going to play out. After a while you get the sense that Sarah Conner is no match for The Terminator. The roll that Arnold plays was spot on because it called for a robotic type person,and Arnie with his huge presence on screen and his famous line "I'll be back," made the movie so memorable that it's been selected by the Library of Congress for preservation. It's his most famous role and the one he best known for.
Movie Reviews for Predator were mixed because the beginning starts out normal but then it weaves into a science fiction/action flick. Arnold plays a former special forces Green Beret and with his huge muscles no one would argue the role wasn't made for him. He leads a band of gun toting friends into the jungle where they get picked off one by one by the unseen Predator. His size is dwarfed to the person who played the Predator but that didn't stop Arnie from trapping the alien and then finding out he's going to be blown up if he doesn't run away fast enough. He spends most of his time hunting the hunter.
Even though he's got an onscreen presence as a guy who has got it all under control Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies can be mazes in which you are finding your way out with him. Total Recall was a science fiction movie that had you guessing all the way down the line. It takes place on Mars and Earth and you're not sure if Arnold's character, Douglas Quaid, is the good guy or the bad one. Actually he's both, so he gets to play Quaid as the good guy and Hauser as the bad guy. He has some great lines such as "My name is not Quaid!," when in fact it really is.
True Lies was one of the most expensive movies ever made for its time, but when you've got the number one action/comedy star of all time it's alright to spend a little bit of money. Harry Tasker is a boring software salesman by day, or so his wife thinks. His action scenes are courtesy of James Cameron who directed him in The Terminator I and II. Arnie gets to be more of an actor when he isn't doing action scenes, but when he is, watch out! He has a famous one liner at the end of his battle with a terrorist, "You're fired".
Overall, you can't go wrong with Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies because he gets to play all the roles we would love to. He has comedic delivery, and when funny lines come from such a huge character you can't help but laugh at him. How often do you get to do that? Movie Reviews might not like every film he puts out but you can always count on a Hollywood studio to deliver with some action and Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies always make you feel bigger than life.

My name is Sean and I own a video store and a movie resource website. I Love movies and believe in providing good quality information to people. That is why I started my website. For people who love movies, my site has movie reviews. You can search movie quotes, browse trivia and so much more. You can even write your won review and share it with others. Please check it out and share it with others.

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Jessica Alba

2011-07-30T22:57:00.000-07:00

Jessica Alba (full name Jessica Marie Alba), an American actress was born on 28th of April, 1981, has become known for her roles in the hit TV series Dark Angel and feature films Sin City, Dark, Into the Blue and Fantastic Four.
Jessica Alba was born in Pomona, California into an Air Force family. She has two siblings, both of whom appeared in an episode of Dark Angel. Up until 17 ypours of age Jessica Alba lived with her grand parents. Being a military family, they about quite a bit: Biloxi, Idaho, the states of Mississippi and Texas.
Jessica Alba had an array of health problems during her childhood. Her lungs collapsed twice, she developed pneumonia several times and a cyst in her nose. As a result of these health issues, she was often isolated from kids her age and her friendships suffered. Upon moving to California Jessica's health improved.
Since a very young age, Jessica Alba had a passion for acting. She took acting lessons, and this is where she was discovered by an agent. Her first role was a small one in a film titled Camp Nowhere. Later on she was featured in a number of commercials and some independent films. She also appeared in a comedy series on Nickelodeon. Some of the feature films she appeared in are Idle Hand (a horror flick) and Sin City.
In 2006, Jessica Alba was featured on the cover of Playboy magazine, and in the same issue she was named one of the 25 Sexiest Celebrities. In the same year, she was named Sex Star of the year by Playboy. Also, Jessica was voted number one of Askmen.com's 99 most desirable women.
As far as her personal life is concerned, she dated actor Michael Weatherly her costar in Dark Angel from 2001 to 2003. Afterwords, she was involved with golfer Sergio Garcia. On the set of Fantastic Four, she met Cash Warren the assistant director of the movie.
An interesting fact about Jessica Alba is that she has a strict "no nudity" clause in her contract. This can be attributed to her conservative upbringing.

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Malcolm in the Middle

2011-07-30T01:35:00.001-07:00

Malcolm in the Middle is an American comedy television series that was telecasted from January 9, 2000 to May 14, 2006. It is created by Linwood Boomer and produced by Satin City and fox Television Studios. The series has proved so popular and syndicated in 57 countries, as in the United States, it has been syndicated in the day time on FX and at night time on Nick at Nite, and also on network ten in Australia. It ended after seven seasons and 151 episodes, and received critical acclaim and won a Peabody Award, Seven Emmy Awards, and one Grammy and was nominated for seven Golden Globes.
The whole series consists of seven characters, parents with their five children, named as Lois and Hal played by Jane Kaczmarek and Bryan Cranston respectively, Frankie Muniz in the role of Malcolm, Francis played by Christopher Masterson, Rees by Justin Berfield, Dewey by Erik Per Sullivan, and Jamie by Lukas Rodriguez. Malcolm plays a lead role in the series as a more or less normal boy who tests at genius level. Malcolm enjoys being smart but hates to take classes for gifted children, the reason of it is that they are teased by other students as Krelboynes. Malcolm's mother, Lois appears so haughty, strict, and a complete embarrassment to her five sons and devoted husband. Although she has a great sense of morality, and has a tendency to impose it on others. Malcolm's father Hal is more relaxed in his parenting than Lois, mainly because he is afraid to make wrong choices. Francis is the oldest of the brothers and the biggest troublemaker. During the first five seasons Francis is a regular character on the show. Francis was exiled to a military academy after he was caught in bed with his girlfriend. Reese is the second oldest of the children, and appears to be the least intelligent and most destructive, although at the same times, he shows even more intelligence than Malcolm when devising fiendish plans, and also has scored high on tests, when he set his mind to it. Dewey is portrayed as being quieter and more inclined to the arts than his brothers. Jamie, the fifth son of Lois, was added to the show in season four. He is the youngest of the family for almost all of the series.
The shows early seasons centered on Malcolm dealing with the rigors of being a teenager and lasting the odd behavior of his life. The characters are gradually explored in more depth in later seasons.

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Torchwood Review

2011-07-16T19:50:00.001-07:00

This is a spin off from Doctor Who. Jack was killed off, resuscitated and abandoned sometime in the future but inexplicably we now find him safely back in the present leading 'Torchwood' an organisation which investigates and deals with inexplicable phenomena (like X-Files).
John Barrowman, whose guest appearances on Doctor Who added a fun and humorous element to the show, seems to only be able to truly shine while in the presence of a Doctor. And while his fake American accent is fine in small doses on Doctor Who, in Torchwood the extended use gets very annoying very quickly. Plus his story is mishandled, his missing two years which played an important motivation for his character in the Empty Child are not addressed at all. And the rest of the characters are unlikable and two dimensional at best.
But personally, the most disappointing aspect of the show is its billing as adult-oriented. The throwing in of some swearing and sex doesn't make it adult when the script is simplistic, juvenile and utterly lacking in any of the intelligence, edge or wit needed to raise it to the level of a genuine adult drama, it simply comes across as a kids show suitable for Saturday mornings than anything else.
Now, shows like Battlestar Galactica (the new one) manage to come across as adult through intelligent, layered scripts, which, if the need arises, include sex, violence and the rest, whereas Torchwood seems to have stapled these excesses on.
The other problem with this show is the overwhelming, dreadful music, which is not only awful in its own right but any kind of atmosphere or tension is more often than not blared out by the terrible, dated, cheesy techno.
The only thing that impresses me about the show are the special effects, which are actually decent but on the whole not worth keeping your eyes open for an hour.

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Watchmen Movie Review

2011-07-14T20:53:00.001-07:00

"Watchmen" (7 out of 10)
Director: Zack Snyder
Screenplay: David Hayter, Alex Tse, based on the Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore graphic novel
Cast: Ensemble, including Jackie Earl Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Goode, Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup
Time: 2 hrs., 43 min.
Rating: R (strong violence, sexuality, nudity, vulgarity)
Grandly eloquent, gruesomely grisly and breathtakingly spectacular in what it wants to say, but clumsy and amateurish in its wrap-up.
The much anticipated "Watchmen" deserves a lot more artistic accolade than the knee-jerk criticisms are allowing it. It is, quite frankly, the most wildly ambitious comic book expression on the big screen ever, superior to "Dark Knight," "Sin City" and other attempts. Measured in terms of sheer creative input and explosive output, it absolutely had me hypnotized by its total audio-visual force all the way up to an ending that you can easily see is sputtering badly, headed for an unstoppable letdown in intelligence and imagination.
Up until then, the film rarely leaves you in peace. Set in continuous off-tones of deep sepia and and icy blues, its whiplash montage of vigorous images are nowhere arbitrary and everywhere pulsating. Every image is pumped up to max. This is pure comic book artistry supercharged into the demanding designs of the motion picture at uncompromising levels of film mastery. If there's a conventional confrontation, say a hand-to-hand fight or a lethal threat between individuals, it ratchets the energy up way beyond the orthodox, power-injecting every small aspect of the scene with hardball augmentation of blood, mutilation and bodily destruction.
And yes, as you might expect, this is the ultimate test of the admonition that in artistic expression, one must give the devil his due.
This is not the first time in film history that hideous violence has had to be painfully conceded as having its own energy to be judged in creative terms. The magnificence of the grotesque.
Yet you start to wonder, after almost an hour of this, if the film actually expects to roll continuously on its boosters and after-burners. Shouldn't we have some serious characters and emotional involvements?
Well, . . . it does seem to want to recognize that, but, let's see what's involved.
Based on the comic book, "Watchmen," often reputed among many critics and Hollywood insiders to be unfilmable, is certainly a grandly offbeat, bizarrely styled fantasy sci-fi adventure set in an alternate universe in a 1985 America. In this, Richard Nixon has been re-elected for a third term and nuclear war with the Soviet Union is imminent. By law, all superheroes have been outlawed. But a group of them calling themselves the Minutemen is inspired back into action when one of their number, "Comedian" (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), is brutally murdered and those remaining realize their own destruction may be imminent. More to the point, they will find that a far more grandiose and villainous plot is afoot, one involving nuclear destruction.
Their talents? Well, for those newcomer audiences to this ongoing saga, there's the masked Rorschach (Jackie Earl Haley), a sociopath with an ever-changing "Rorschach blot" mask who breaks thugs' fingers, dorky Dan Dreiberg (Patrick Wilson) who's a genius with gadgets, the smug Adrian Veidt (Matthew Goode) who has licensed his identity as Ozymandias, "the smartest man in the world," and seductive Laurie Jupiter (Malin Akerman) who unwillingly inherited her mom's superhero status. She loves Jon Osterman (Billy Crudup), a.k.a Dr. Manhattan. A government experiment had both destroyed him and granted him unimaginable superpowers that made him a weapon for the U.S. military.
It is Rorschach who sees a sinister connection between the murder of The Comedian and a coming apocalypse.
The film, with its often sharply observed cultural and political themes in more than a few cannily written dialogue segments, takes its cues from its bleak and barren comic book origins. It attempts to ground extensive violence into strong character and emotional values soundtrack by cleverly cued songs (Bobby Dylan's "The Times They are A-Changin'," Simon & Garfunkle's "The Sound of Silence," plus Richard Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries"). But in that, it fails. Those attempts come off as terribly ordinary.
The cast is ensemble, that is, not centered on any one. Intellectually, the film thrusts almost satirically, and often effectively, at modern examinations of chaos and order in a context of loony fanaticism and will in the way of The Joker and Batman, even as it pokes generously at the denseness of men, in particular military and presidential authority, in their macho- and ego-driven parodies of power. It has conventional murder mystery elements and various judgments on the subject of heroism.
Indeed, "Watchmen" lays doubt on notions of heroes and villains even as the survival of humanity under the protection of the Watchmen is in itself called into question.
The film draws no world calamity into play that it cannot depict with stratospherically spectacular screen dynamics. Watch Manhattan being consumed by nuclear blasts at the street level, or the incineration alive of a couple standing together in a kiss as their skeletons remain Watch the grandose representations of the planet Mars.
How, you may ask, is the film going to resolve all this? The final interactions are embarrassingly trivial. You may find yourself blanching in chuckles as the empty final statements. But hey, I was glad I saw this movie and do regard it as a landmark production. There really is something missing in your life's artistic experience, however ugly it may project itself to you in this film.

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A Game of Thrones

2011-06-16T05:23:00.001-07:00

A Song of Ice and Fire is a high fantasy story written for adults. April 17th, HBO will be launching a TV show based on the series, book 1 - A Game of Thrones - to be more specific. In light of this I thought a book review might be in order. If you are interested in the TV show, you can find out more about it by clicking on the link lower in the article.

This summary does not give the book any justice, but it is meant as a reminder for anyone who has read the book and forgot, so they might prepare for the TV show.

Prologue

The story begins with a prologue, set in a moonlit but cold forest. Three men, brothers of the Night's watch have found a camp of wildlings, seemingly dead. When they look closer, the wildlings are gone, soon to be replaced by unnatural creatures, who soon kill two of the three men.

Chapter 1 - Bran

The book portrays the story in a point-of-view fashion. The title of a chapter means we see the chapter's story as the character in the title sees it.

Bran is a 7-year-old boy who is taken in a company of about 20 men to see his first King's Justice. A man, bound hand and foot is about to be beheaded by Bran's father, Lord Eddard Stark, for desertion. It is the third man from the prologue, half mad from terror. Bran faces this bravely. After they head back to Winterfell, their home, Bran's brother Robb and his bastard brother Jon Snow find a huge dead Direwolf, with 5 wolf pups. Jon convinces their father to let them keep the pups. 5 pups are a sign. He tells theirs father the pups were meant for his 5 trueborn children, 3 boys and 2 girls. He leaves himself out of this count but later finds the sixth pup, driven away from the rest. The sixth pup is an albino and will belong to Jon.

Catelyn

Catelyn is the Lady of Winterfell, wife of Eddard Stark. She find her lord husband in a godswood. She was of a different faith, she prayed indoors. The Starks had older blood. Like the First men, Starks prayed to the nameless old gods. She brings Ned heavy news. Ned used to be a ward of Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, who was like a father to him and Catelyn's sister was married to him. Catelyn brings the news of Jon Arryn's death. In addition. the king of the realm is coming for a visit. The king is a great friend of Ned. Together they usurped the old kind, who was insane.

Daenerys

We find Dany preparing to meet her soon to be husband for the first time. Her brother Visery's has made a deal with certain influential, rich people to basically sell his sister in exchange for an army. Daenerys and Viserys are the last of the Targaryen line, who were dragonkings before Robert Baratheon usurped Aerys. Viserys is a cruel and probably mad with dreams and rage. Dany is a girl of 13.

Eddard

The king arrives to Winterfell, with a host of 300. Robert Baratheon, the king, his wife Cersei Lannister, her brothers, Jaime and Tyrion, the imp and a huge host of followers and guards. We find out the king has changed somewhat since the last time they met, but he still is a great friend of Ned. They visit the tombs so the king can pay his respects to his first love, lady Lyanna, Ned's sister, who would be queen, had she not been murdered before they were married.

Jon

Jon is seated at a separate table from his family. He is a bastard and as such does not belong among his trueborn siblings. He quite enjoys this, since it means he can get drunk for the first time while his siblings have to entertain the queens offspring. He is 14, and looks much more like his father than his trueborn brothers or sisters. His seat also let him feed his wolf, Ghost, while the others had to stay in the kennels. Ghost never made a sound, but dogs always seemed to fear him. Benjen Stark, Ned's brother and a brother of the Night's watch joins him and Jon tells him he would like to join the Night's watch as well. Being a bastard, he had no rights to inherit in Winterfell. Benjen tries to dissuade him and Jon angrily and drunkly stumbles out of the great hall. Outside he meets Tyrion, the queen's dwarf brother. After the initial scare, they come to a good conversation. Tyrion, shorter than Jon, with mismatched eyes, ugly and drunk, gives Jon a lessen about being a bastard and when he opens the doors of the great hall. the light from within makes Tyrion seem as tall as any king.

Catelyn

Catelyn tries to convince her husband to accept the king's offer. The king proposed to Ned that he should become King's hand and to also wed his elder daughter Sansa to prince Joffrey. During this argument, they are interrupted by maester Luwin, who brings a message from Lysa, Catelyn's sister. The message is written in a code language, that only Catelyn knows. The message is a warning, saying Jon Arryn was murdered by the Lannisters, queen Cersei Lannister. In the end they decide Ned should go south to accept the position of King's hand, taking his daughters Sansa and Arya and his son Bran with him. Since Jon would not be welcome in King's Landing or in Winterfell, he would be allowed to take the black and join Night's watch. Robb would stay in Winterfell to learn to be a lord. So would Rickon, who was only 3 years old.

Arya

Arya is a girl of 9 years. the younger sister of Ned Stark. She is not good at the typically womanly deeds. she is much more a tomboy. Of all the Stark children she looks the most like Jon Snow and their lord father. Instead of doing her needlework, she goes to see her wolf, which she named Nymeria, after a hero princess. Sansa, her sister has named her wolf Lady, which seems stupid to Arya. They both meet Jon, who is watching Bran and the princes younger brother Tommen practice their swordplay. On the other side of the field they see prince Joffrey with his guard. After Tommen and Bran are done, Robb is ready to challenge Joffrey, but Joff makes excuses in a way that clearly taunts Robb. He asks to fight with real steel instead of blunt tourney swords. They're not allowed so Joffrey get's to leave, with Robb fuming with fury behind. Arya, having seen the show, reluctantly returns to her hated needlework, where her mother and her septon await her with scolding looks.

Bran

Bran is getting ready to depart for King's Landing. He was very excited to leave, waiting to see the knights from the stories, but now that the day was upon him, he couldn't get himself to say his goodbyes. He hasn't named his wolf yet. He reflects that Rickon's wolf is named Shaggydog, which is stupid and that Robb's is named Gray wind, which was good, because he was very fast. Instead of saying his goodbyes, Bran goes climbing. He was a great climber, much to his mother's dismay. As he climbs on the huge towers, he overhears a discussion about his father. A man and a woman are talking about Ned becoming the Hand. When he tries to go closer, he sees they are both naked. He doesn't really understand it, but a sexual relationship is strongly implied. Hanging above the window he realizes the woman is the queen and at that moment, the woman sees him. The shock of it makes him lose his grip and just at the last moment, the man catches him. It is the queens twin brother Jaime. Bran relaxes for a moment. The man says:"The things I do for love." and let's go. Jon starts falling to the ground, with his wolf howling somewhere deep below.

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5 Movies - Personal Recommendaiton

2011-06-16T05:09:00.001-07:00

If you are a regular moviegoer, you may find yourself a bit fed up with the Hollywood formula after a while. After all, it's not the formula but the departure from the formula which turns an ordinary film into something great. The true masters recognize this fact and make their films accordingly. When you are in your home flipping through your satellite TV channels, you will find a number of opportunities if you want something outside of the typical. Here are five films you ought to check out.
1. Rodger Dodger. The cynical, misogynistic point of view gets its day in the sun with this fascinating film starring Campbell Scott and Isabella Rossellini. What happens when a jerk of this magnitude gets the right to mentor a young nephew in New York City? The state of child development hangs in the balance when Scott's character gets to tutor Jesse Eisenberg on the ways of women. Scott's character doesn't escape criticism in this excellent picture playing on IFC in high definition.
2. Glengarry Glen Ross. One look at this literary title will tell you that serious things went into this film. David Mamet's adaptation of his own hit play captures the essence of greed in the 1980's and is a real Death of a Salesman for our times. You might need to talk yourself down after all the cursing and berating involved, but the performances of Ed Harris, Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey and especially Jack Lemmon (who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar) will renew your faith in the acting craft. This film's electricity is often revived on satellite TV networks like HBO.
3. Oldboy. Korean films have never made it to the U.S. on a large scale, but if pictures ke Oldboy keep getting made, that trend will be reversed. One of the boldest pictures ever made, there are haunting revenge sequences followed by the consumption of live squid and double-crossing that will make a film noir fan check the scorecard. Oldboy is a true revelation and should be seen without edits in HD technology.
4. Touch of Evil. Stepping back nearly half a century in time never felt so good as when checking out this Orson Welles classic on satellite TV network Turner Classic Movies. Welles pulled out all the stops: Charlton Heston plays a Mexican, Marlene Dietrich a Gypsy and Welles himself a 300-pound corrupt border cop. There are scenes in this film that might not get by the censors in 2010, but Welles made his picture nonetheless.
5. 2046. Foreign film lovers gushed over Wong Kar-Wai's devastating tale of unrequited love In the Mood for Love. 2046 takes the same concept and tells a much darker side of the story, with Tony Leung's character losing his chivalrous side and part of the action happening in the future. To be enchanted and stimulated intellectually at once is the filmmaker's ultimate goal, and Wong Kar-Wai succeeded yet again with this film. Check it out on IFC.

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The Tale Of The Blind Samurai Zatoichi

2011-06-02T03:38:00.001-07:00

In the last couple of years I've become interested in a couple of Japanese related subjects. Zatoichi, "The Blind Samurai", which I accidentally clicked into while watching "Samurai Saturday" on the IFCTV channel is number one. In case you are not up on Zatoichi, he's a chubby, blind, Yakuza who is kinda lovable, but is deadly when it comes to cutting up people with his special sword.
The funny thing about that sword is he holds it upside down. I finally figured out that because he was blind, they wouldn't let him go to the regular Samurai school, so he just stumbled along as best he could and ended up teaching himself. I doubt he even knows he holds it upside down.
There was a guy a couple of years ago who went around in the movies claiming to be Zatoichi, but you could tell right off he was a fake, even before the first arm was cut off because he had blond hair. Zatoichi, with his shaved, monk looking hair was ahead of his time and at no time would he have dyed it blond.
My second interest is Japanese woodblock prints. Once I saw the bright colors of these Japanese style woodblock art and the everyday life of the Japanese people subject matter, I was hooked. It also interested me because those Japanese artists used the same technique, at least to me anyhow, that the old comic book printers used.
I began to read about woodblock prints and looked at a bunch of them on the Internet and in a few of those giant coffee table books that never end up on the coffee table. They are usually used by your spouse mixed in with a stack of other coffee table books to provide a steady base for a lamp. Not long after, I discovered that you could buy these prints on eBay.
Soon, I began to try to buy a print. I was most interested in seeing if I could get a Hiroshige for a good price. Hiroshige was what I would say was the Japanese version of Norman Rockwell. eBay is an excellent place to buy things. I bought a laptop, credit card terminal printer, a Sanada Hiroyuki movie, and a few other items that are now used to stack lamps on.
I almost bought an antique Samurai sword, but luck being with me I was out bid by what I eventually found out to be a shill who was bidding for the company selling the sword. He was trying to bid up the price. As a proper reward, they ended up buying their own fake, Chinese made, Japanese sword because I didn't take the bait. Of course, I didn't know all this at the time, I just didn't want to pay the price that they had bid up to.
Buying stuff on eBay takes a certain predisposition for patience, I've got some of the stuff but on the whole I would have to confess to a general shortfall of it. I made the decision and I decided that I would wade in and buy a Hiroshige woodblock that I had found, I would have gotten it too if I hadn't been outbid - in the last 30 seconds.
Now, I'm neither cynical or overly skeptical, but the fact that this person was able to skin me just a few seconds before the bell hit a sour note with me. I repeated this exercise a couple of times with the end result being I still didn't own a print. I decided that there may be some "black ops" software out there that allows one to better advantage oneself in this, the art of eBay battle.
Okay, I got to it and did a little sniffing around and sure enough, I found the software that would put me on equal footing with these 30 second guys. I did a little better than that though, the one I found would let me hold my bid close to my chest, and with only 3 seconds to go, I was able to raise and it was too late for the other guy. I'm sure he is still trying to figure it all out.
The thing that will kill a new hobby faster than anything, at least that I've been able to dig up, is that no matter how much you argue with yourself that this is the last one you are going to buy of this or that for a while, you always seem to run across another one you really can't pass on.
To prove my point in the clearest way I can think of. just go through Jeff's old posts and add up all the camera stuff he has managed to put in inventory. I'm not saying Jeff is addicted, or anything of that nature, but he sure seems to have a tendency to get more than a few fancy gadgets that he "just happened" to run across on his way to the train station.
I'm satisfied with the prints I have now and don't plan on buying any more in the near future, the chief reason being I don't ever travel by train. I have them framed and mounted on the wall of my office here at home. It's satisfying, looking at them and thinking about the Japan I remember. Of course this was after the Meiji period, but before the eBay period so I expect my memories of Japan don't match the reality of Japan.

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Star Wars Video Games

2011-05-27T21:18:00.000-07:00

Star Wars is one of the most successful franchises of all time, and it's no surprise that there are a large amount of video games to choose from. The problem is, how do you know which ones to play? Of course, you could play them all, but that is not really practical considering the fact that there are over 50 different titles spanning various different consoles in the last decade alone. This guide is designed to introduce you to the six best titles from the last ten years. The number six was chosen since it correlates with the six movies in the franchise.
#6: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008) -- Windows, Mac OS, PS3, PS2, Xbox360, Wii
This is a very popular title because of recent marketing campaigns by LucasArts (the creators of the game, and founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas). It is a third-person action game and features the use of state-of-the-art technology. The player assumes the role of Darth Vader's apprentice and must use their Lightsaber and force techniques to defeat enemies throughout the universe.
#5: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader (2001) -- Nintendo GameCube
One of the most highly praised Star Wars games and one of the best overall on the GameCube console. This is a flight action game where the player assumes control of various spacecraft to complete the missions throughout the game. The game covers the original trilogy period which consists of Episodes 4-6 so there will be many familiar locations to those who are fans of the films.
#4: Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (2007) -- Windows, PS3, Xbox360, Wii
This game takes a different approach and depicts the Star Wars universe using Lego created characters and locations. It contains great humor and gameplay and is one of the most entertaining Star Wars experiences you can get on any platform. The Complete Saga will take the player from Episode 1 all the way through Episode 6.
#3: Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2005) -- Windows, PS2, Xbox
Battlefront II builds upon its highly successful predecessor, Star Wars Battlefront, with improved gameplay, campaigns, and graphics. Additionally, Battlefront 2 adds new features such as allowing the player to play as Jedi and to take part in space battles. This is a great single player game, but is even more fun with a friend. Whether you choose to play as the Empire or Republic, you'll have a blast.
#2: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 -- The Sith Lords (2003) - Windows, Xbox
Commonly referred to as KOTOR 2, this is one of the most in-depth Star Wars experiences you will find. With a campaign lasting 40+ hours, there is plenty for you to explore and enjoy in this wonderful game. Classified as a third person RPG (role-playing game), the player assumes the role of an exiled Jedi Knight and must complete various quests and objectives to move along with the story. The choices you make will affect the outcome of the story and whether you represent the light side of the force, or give into the dark side.
#1: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) -- Windows, Xbox, Mac OS
Set 4000 years before the events of A New Hope, this took Star Wars and RPG games into a new direction. Using the same mechanics as its sequel KOTOR 2, Knights of the Old Republic slightly edges it out for the Number 1 game based on the greater storyline and the innovation contained within. It has won many awards including Game of the Year, and acted as the foundation for the future of Star Wars games at the time. If you are to only play one Star Wars game, it is highly recommended that you choose Knights of the Old Republic.
If you enjoy these games, be sure to keep an eye out for Star Wars: The Old Republic which is scheduled for a 2011 release. From the creators of Knights of the Old Republic, this new game is a MMORPG (Massively multiplayer online role-playing game) similar to games such as World of Warcraft, but takes place in the Star Wars universe.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5645271

Heart-Breaking and Sad Japanese Dramas

2011-05-24T19:15:00.001-07:00

When I just got into Japanese dramas, I found them highly entertaining but each series are just so long! Each episode is usually an hour each, consisting of 23 episodes per season. They are so time consuming I wanted to make sure they were good before I got into them. Well the 3 dramas I've listed below will sure to make you crying like a baby and maybe call up an Ex and tell you how much he/she means to you. Resist the urge! Instead, grab another box of tissue and continue down the list. The series all contain star-crossed lovers, gorgeous lead actresses and actors and some tragic problem that the cruel world just had to place upon them to test the strength of their love.
1. Sekai no Chshin de, Ai o Sakebu (Crying out Love, In the Center of the World)
Adapted from Kyoichi Katayama's Novel and later turned into a movie. This drama started off the careers of 2 prominent teen actors: Yamada Takayuki Ayase Haruka
Synopsis: Matsumoto Sakaturo, presently age 34, is unable to move on with his life. He wakes up with tears in his eyes, unable to shake the ghost of his past. For the last 17 years, his heart has been filled with sorrow and guilt from losing his high school love, and perhaps the love of his life - Hirose Aki. Now visiting his old home town and bombarded with the past memories of their relationship as well as being confronted by his current relationship, Sakaturo must find a way to move on from the tragic part of his life. "I thought I might be using a lifetime's happiness in a moment. I was that happy and she was that beautiful."
2. 1 Litre no Namida (1 Liter of Tears)
Adapted from Aya Kito's diary, published shortly after her death.
Synopsis: about a girl who was diagnosed with Spinocerebellar Degeneration an incurable degenerative disease at 15 just as she was coming of age. She discovers love just as she finds out her time is running out, exploring to the question of what happens when you have only a little time left to experience love.
3. Kamisama mou sukoshi dake (Please God, give me more time)
A tragic love story about a girl Kano Masaki played (Fukada Kyoko) who contracted HIV after selling her body to pay for concert tickets to her idol- famous composer Ishikawa Keigo (Kaneshiro Takeshi). After the concert Masaki chased after Keigo in the rain. After seeing her drenched from head to toe, Keigo offers to let her stay the night at his apartment where they developed a unique relationship.
So there you have it, three dramas guaranteed to have your hearts beating and your eyes watering and lumps forming in your throat. I just have one request - please don't email me afterward yelling at me, asking why I was so mean as to suggest such heart breaking tales. Don't fret! I plan to give you top 3 Japanese Comedies! Guaranteed to have happy endings, so you can see the lighter side of the world!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5058161

Star Trek the Next Generation

2011-05-10T01:08:00.000-07:00

Star Trek the next generation Internet TV is just by the name one of the most appealing way to get audiences to the Internet. Star Trek, if not the most popular TV series ever produce, is definitely one of the most successful and its content was so innovative and groundbreaking that attracted the attention of millions of people in different ages and crossing generations. We should also keep in mind the extreme popularity of Star Trek world wide that guaranteed a long success to the series.

Today Star Trek is still extremely popular and the whole concept is a perfect fit for an internet content, as TV introduced the next generation of Star Trek to people that were used up to the moment, to watch the original series and motion pictures on the theater. In the same way, the Internet is now offering the opportunity to watch all of them together, online right in front of your eyes, at the comfort of your computer on star trek the next generation internet TV experience.

This is a simply fantastic thing and anybody can count on interacting with some of their favorite content. Of course Star Trek the next generation Internet can be also a research experience, as people, while they are watching, can actually find more and more information on Star Trek and, on top of that, if they want, they can even buy gadgets and supplies for their collections. This is the beauty of the Internet and Star Trek fits right into it.

The easiest way to watch Star Trek Next-Generation online is with the TVChannels2PC Internet TV software [http://satellitetvoninternet.com/] For a small one time investment you will have access to live sports, full episodes, movies, news, weather and much more. Why pay high monthly fees for satellite or cable?

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Halloween Films - Top 10 Scary Movies of All Time

2011-05-02T01:15:00.000-07:00

The 10 Scariest Films of All Time make for a great Halloween affair. It's not just about the screams - plenty of movies can give a cheap thrill. The 10 scariest films of all time are all about establishing a haunting, terrifying atmosphere that will linger in your dreams for years to come. Not for the weak of heart, here are our 10 scariest films of all time.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - More realist than many of the movies in this list, The Silence of the Lambs delves into the crime genre with more flair than has been seen since. One of the many films on this list that was originally considered a box office failure, but it's popularity grew exponentially from its pure excellence.
The Shining (1980) - If you're a horror fan, and you haven't seen The Shining, see it now. The Shining is better known for the Steven King book, but the movie tackles horror in its own uniquely terrifying way.
Alien (1979) - The movie that spawned an entire franchise. Before the Alien vs Predator prequels, Alien was a landmark horror film that stunned both critics and audiences with its sci-fi undertones and terrifying horror scenes. It was a tremendous success in sales, but its popularity has died off after so many sequels.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) - An all-time horror classic, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre is still embedded in popular consciousness. It's 2003 remake failed to capture the same audience, and this remains a landmark film in many ways.
Paranormal Activity (2007) - Paranormal Activity is one of the most uniquely horrifying films ever released. The fact that it was produced for such a low budget (less than $200,000 USD) just makes the movie even more impressive. Quiet and brilliantly timed horror.
Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - One of the landmark slasher films, Nightmare on Elm Street can be hard to watch. It's scary, yes, but it's also bloody and gory. It has only gained in reputation since it was released.
The Exorcist (1973) - One of the most famous horror movies ever, The Exorcist is based in paranormal activity gone very wrong. Science and modern thought pale in comparison to the paranormal in this movie, and even the exorcist is unable to control the evil.
Poltergeist (1982) - This movie is so cursed, even the people who starred became effected by it. Poltergeist was a great movie that remains edgy and terrifying to this day, and the sudden deaths of many of its cast members only adds to its mystique.
Friday the 13th (1980) - Another classic, the original Friday the 13th was easily the best movie out of its series, and continues to be a landmark movie in pop culture. One of the major reasons why people know better than to go out in the woods by themselves.
Nosferatu (1922) - To be honest, many modern movie watchers will have a tough time being scared during this movie. But while Nosferatu wasn't the first horror movie, it set the standard for horror for an entire era of films.

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Analysis of Akira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai"

2011-04-26T02:32:00.000-07:00

Who is the real hero Akira Kurosawa's film, Seven Samurai? Are the seven samurai the real heroes, or the peasants?
Seeing the samurai as the heroes in the film is instantaneously acceptable: the movie itself was entitled after them; they are the strong ones in the film; and they have affected the plot significantly. Yet after watching the film, why does this fledging critic feel that the samurai, the heroes as they are, did not achieve their goal, their destiny? Was this critic looking at the story in a different perspective instead of the proper one?
A common viewer would simply be amazed with the storyline, the actors, and the unique plot structure that have influenced a number of films. Indeed, Seven Samurai has been influential in the developments of the film industry. We see movies like Ocean's Eleven, Gone in 60 Seconds, Dirty Dozen, and the like. It was even made into a Japanese anime with the same plot structure, only longer, entitled Samurai Seven. Truly, the movie can capture any viewer with its superb production and storyline despite being an old film.
Another look at the film is indeed needed, not for entertainment, but for a deeper understanding of what the story is all about. The story is not about the samurai themselves nor the attacking bandits, but the story of the peasant hero Rikichi. Rikichi is a young farmer who has first voiced out on fighting the bandits. Everyone in the village is in despair, ready to yield to the bandits when they arrive, but Rikichi vows not to surrender anymore. He is different from all the peasant farmers in the village. Later, we see that he lends his house to the samurai, and that his biggest secret is his wife's going with the bandits. It is not clear though whether the wife was forced to go with the bandits or she liked it. The only significant part of knowing the whereabouts of his wife is the death of the first samurai. Indeed, the heroes in the film are not the samurai, but the peasant farmer, especially Rikichi. In the end, even the leader of the samurai, Kambei, said that they did not win the fight but the farmers.
In this light, the critic shall look at the film from the viewpoint of the peasants, i.e. Rikichi. Also, since the movie has been criticized as unique and new during its release, the Proppian analysis shall be applied to prove that there is nothing new with the plot structure.
A Proppian Analysis of Seven Samurai
In analysing the film with a Proppian eye, one must remember that the elements of the dramatis personae may not necessarily follow the exact pattern. Sometimes, the elements are even overlapping one another. The only aim therefore is to prove that there exist elements of the stories that Propp has identified. With this in mind, the Proppian analysis follows:
Initial Situation
A village in the mountains has been ransacked before by a group of 30 bandits. In the beginning of the film, we see the bandits talking about ransacking the village again. But when they realized that they have ransacked it before, they decide to return to the village when the barley has been harvested. A villager happens to overhear the conversation of the bandits and reported that to his people.
Absentation
At this point, no one has gone missing (except the wife of Rikichi, but it is not yet the issue). What seems to be absent at this point is the "normal" day of the villagers; seems like their lives have been devastated further by the news that the bandits would come on harvest time. From this point, the lives of the villagers have been different throughout the film.
Interdiction
Then, while the villagers are whining over what will happen when harvest time comes, Rikichi madly cried that they should fight the bandits. His fellow villagers cowardly withdraw from the idea. Manzo says that it is just crazy talk; i.e. fighting the bandits. All the peasant should do is to endure for when they lose, all of them shall be killed. Rikichi then mentioned something that would be significant later in the film, they have killed weak samurai. He said that they are able to kill weak samurai but they are now scared in killing bandits. His anger may be later on implicitly explained, when we find his wife with the bandits.
Violation of Interdiction
The villagers go to the Elder for a wise suggestion on what should be done. The elder himself suggested that they should fight, which makes Rikichi smile. When asked how they shall fight the bandits without the knowledge of battle, he said that they shall hire samurai. He had seen it before, villages that hired samurai did not burn, and were not burnt by bandits.
Villainy and Lack
Now, the lack is identified: hungry samurai who would accept food as payment for defending the peasants.
Departure
There are four peasants sent to look for these samurai who shall defend them, one of them is Rikichi.
Mediation, Solution, Acquisition & Return
The peasants enter the city to search for samurai, but they are unsuccessful, being turned away by every samurai they requested. Then, they witness a samurai rescue a boy from a thief. And, he did not ask for any payment. When Kambei walks towards another town, a young samurai asks him to be his disciple, Katsushiro. Then, the farmers ask Kambei to help defend their village from the bandits, he accepts. Kambei then helps the farmers to recruit more samurai. They are to recruit Gorobei Katayama, Heihachi, ShichirÅji and Kyuzo. Kambei had initially decided that seven samurai would be necessary, but he plans to leave for the village with only the four because time is running short. A man named Kikuchiyo tails them to the village at a distance; he wants to be accepted as a samurai. Thus, the lack has been discovered-the seven samurai.
Testing & Reaction
However, when they have returned from their journey, nobody has welcomed them. Everyone has been scared at the samurai, like their fear from the bandits. The elder asks for understanding for this behaviour of the villagers. The question why the villagers are scared of the samurai is not yet answered. Yet, they are reminded that they indeed need the samurai when Kikuchiyo sounds the alarm. They have gone out of their houses screaming for help from the samurai. With this, the peasants did not pass the challenge to prove their heroic qualities. None however is expected from these peasants; still, the element of "testing" is present.
Second Lack
When Rikichi is asked about getting a wife, and almost everytime the word wife is mentioned, he gets angry and runs away. This attitude of Rikichi gives a cloud of mystery in his character.
Task
A difficult task is proposed not only to our hero, Rikichi, but to the whole village-the defense of the village. The samurai have to teach the villagers how to handle spears and swords. They also created tall barricades so the bandits on horses would have a hard time looking for an entrance to the village. Evacuation is also suggested which the peasants find difficult to do.
Branding
There is no physical branding whatsoever found in the film, however, there exist a branding on the peasants: when the samurai discovered that these peasants they are trying to help have killed a number of samurai, just like them. They wanted to kill them all after their discovery. Yet, when Kikuchiyo describes to them what drives these peasants to kill, their anger turned to compassion. The peasants have been branded as samurai killers, but still, the samurai help them.
Solution
At this point in the film, the tasks given by the samurai are finished: there are high wooden walls that serve as barricades; the fields have been flooded; and the houses are emptied.
Reconnaissance & Delivery
The bandits have been sighted by the samurai. These bandits also saw that the village has been changed and there are samurai present inside. To be able to use the element of surprise in the forthcoming battle, the samurai needed to kill these scouts. They are successful, and the secret that the village is ready to fight is kept intact.
Second Testing
Another failure of the peasants to show their heroic quality is when the samurai caught a scout of the bandits alive. They kill the caught bandit, with only vengeance in their hearts. This is not a characteristic of the traditional hero; although, they exhibit a natural trait of humans.
Second Departure & Second Mediation
As the captured bandit confessed about their hideout, The samurai think they need to know the place and somehow know their enemy, so Kambei sends three samurai including Rikichi. In this part, we see the wife of Rikichi with the bandits. What is shocking in this revelation is when Rikichi calls for his wife-the wife throws herself into the fire. Is it shame that drove her to kill herself? Or, is she already crazy at that point of her life? It is degrading to think that she has enjoyed the life of the bandits, so she never wants to return to her husband anymore, and that her burning of herself is but an accident. Whatever it is, Heihachi dies from a gunshot while retrieving the maddened Rikichi.
Struggle
The fight between the bandits and the samurai with the villagers begins. The defense has worked well, the bandits are confused and do not know where to attack. At night, the bandits think they can attack the village by climbing up the barricades, only to find out that the peasants are patiently waiting to attack them.
Acquisition
The samurai feel that the bandits are somehow advance than they are for those have muskets. They decide that they should get at least one of the three muskets of the bandits. Kyuzo volunteered and is able to acquire a musket from the base of the enemy.
Complicity
The bandits have helped their enemy unwittingly through attacking the village mindlessly. The villagers, with the help of the samurai, let one bandit on horse to enter the village as they stop the others, then, the villagers inside kills the lone bandit to his surprise. This technique has worked a number of times until the majority of these bandits have been killed.
Claim & Exposure
The arrogance of Kikuchiyo brings a huge setback on the part of the villagers and the samurai. He was jealous of Kyuzo when the latter gets the musket from the enemy's base. So, he abandons his post and retrieves another musket. Though he was successful, Gorobei, one of the samurai, and Yohei, one of the peasants who looked for samurai, are killed. Indeed, Kikuchiyo is not a samurai nor a peasant hero in the film-he is the "false hero" element, as Propp identified.
Victory
Kambei knows that the enemy shall attack with all their might the next day, and he is right. The bandits have attacked fiercely, yet unsuccessful. The samurai are almost done with killing them when the leader of the bandits who escaped and hide in a hut, shoots Kyuzo. Kikuchiyo tries to attack the leader but is also shot by a musket. He was able to kill the bandit leader but with a price of his life.
Transfiguration
The last scene gives away what this fledging critic finds hard to discover-the real hero of the film. The samurai who survived are not given any new appearance, i.e. there is no new clothing, and even their faces are as gloomy as death. However, at the other side of the field, we see the peasants singing happily as they plant the new sprouts in their farm-a very symbolic juxtaposition of exact opposites: the happy peasants and the gloomy samurai; the graves of the dead samurai and the field where new rice and barley shall spring. Even in the last line of Kambei it is revealed, "Victory belongs to those peasants. Not to us."
Conclusion
In conclusion, with this Proppian analysis of Kurosawa's film, the answer is clear-the film is not a unique film as other critics have claimed. The characters, setting, and purpose of the films are new but the plot structure and the functions of the characters are not new, at least in the eyes of a Proppian critic. Also, from the transfiguration element identified by Propp, the heroes indeed are not the samurai but the peasants. From this observation, this fledging Proppian critic recommends that another analysis using the Marxist literary criticism may be done to the analysed film.
References:
Kurosawa, Akira. (1954). Seven Samurai (Film). Sojiro Motoki
Propp, V. (1968). Morphology of the Folktale. (L. Scott, Trans.). Texas: University of Texas Press. (Original work published 1928).

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Naruto 530 Spoilers and Predictions

2011-04-22T05:40:00.000-07:00

After a noticeably long absence, Naruto returns to his titular manga. It's only a brief appearance, but it's nice to be reminded that the main character is still kicking around. This week, we open upon Bee and Naruto as Naruto continues to train. Bee thinks that Naruto is close to figuring out the tailed beast bomb, but Naruto is having trouble concentrating because he can sense a disturbance in the force. What's interesting here is that Naruto and Kinkaku both possess kyuubi chakra acquired at different times in the history of the kyuubi, but Naruto is able to sense that someone else is tapping into the same energy. Whether or not he figures out the source of the disturbance and learns about the war remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Darui is looking a little haggard from using the Seven Star Sword and Crimson Gourd and jokingly tries to apologize to Kyuubinkaku (as he shall be referred to in the rest of this review). Kyuubinkaku will not be appeased and begins to rage against First Division. His particular demon fox cloak forms five miniature tails and one huge tail that can be used to physically attack opponents. First Division makes Kyuubinkaku a priority as various shinobi including Choza step up to bat. Choza grapples the beast barehanded, though, and we know that kyuubi chakra is toxic upon physical contact. At this point, an elderly cloud shinobi gives his allies some information he probably should have divulged earlier. Back before Madara tamed the demon fox, the Hidden Cloud made a play for possession of the bijuu and as a result, the Kin-Gin brothers were swallowed whole by the fox. So it seems that the story we were presented about how the brothers acquired their power contained more truth than myth. This anecdote also reveals that the Hidden Cloud has been an ambitious village from the beginning, and although they would later turn traitor, Kinkaku and Ginkaku once took up extremely dangerous missions on behalf of the village. Could this be a case of power corrupting the brothers? Or perhaps in devouring such evil and unfiltered chakra, they were fundamentally changed. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
As the First Division front line starts to panic, intel is passed onto Shinobi HQ. News of the new developments surprises Tsunade, even though she is the leader of the village most intricately connected to the Kyuubi. It's here that the Raikage reveals that Kinkaku and Ginkaku survived those two weeks in the fox's stomach by feasting upon its meat, eventually forcing it to throw them back up. This legendary feat inspired others to repeat their actions, but no other person has gained bijuu chakra this way, since bijuu chakra is deadly when consumed. The Raikage posits that the reason Kinkaku and Ginkaku accomplished such a feat is that they're probably distantly related to the Sage of the Six Paths himself. At this point, the Raikage believes the best option to contain Kyuubinkaku is to seal him with the fifth shinobi treasure. And it's a good thing they possess a tool capable of sealing this beast, because Kyuubinkaku's cloak has masked the rope needed to make Darui's weapon's work.
Instantly proving wrong my theory from last week, the fifth shinobi treasure is the Amber Purifying Pot that is used by the Hidden Cloud to host the eight-tails. Some readers predicted this, and if you saw it coming, congratulations! The pot works similar to the other treasures, but with fewer requirements. All that's required for sealing is to call out to your target and if he responds, then he becomes sealed within the pot. As a weapon, it is quite a trump card, but that it wasn't brought out until now implies there is a limit to how many individuals can be sealed within it. If it only has a capacity of one entity, then it makes sense to save the pot for a particularly troublesome revived ninja. Otherwise, it would make quick work of Edo Tensei. Furthermore, the Raikage reveals that Kinkaku and Ginkaku stole the treasures when they defected from the village and the pot was the only one the Hidden Cloud was able to recover.
Shikaku points out that First Division needs relief now and can't wait for the item to be delivered. Luckily, the Raikage's secretary is skilled in using transfer techniques so that's not a problem. The problem is that Kinkaku once possessed the five treasures, therefore he should know how to counter them, which is where Shikaku steps in. His plan is to revive the Ino Shika Cho formation and to do so he communicates with Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji through Inoichi's technique.
While Shikaku is prepping his strategy, First Division is having a hard time handling Kyuubinkaku. The battlefield is being demolished and it reminds me of the damage Naruto did to the landscape when he fought Sasuke in Kyuubi form. First Division is being outclassed by a lone shinobi, and Kyuubinkaku knows that Darui is trying to seal him in the pot. He makes the smart decision and tries to take Darui out when he realizes the allied plan. And he would have succeded but not for Darui's fellow general, Kitsuchi, and his earth technique taijutsu. And with Kitsuchi arrives Second Division, ready to support the dwindling First Division. Team Asuma is going to be the lynchpin of Shikaku's plan, but each of the members is nervous going up against the legends that defeated even the Nidaime Hokage. Shikaku let's the kids in on a secret. Legends are often exaggerated after the fact and it's never truly long before someone outdoes the original and a new legend is born, tying in once again to the theme of new generations supplanting older generations.
Comforted by Shikaku's wise words and with their former teacher watching, Team Asuma begins to forge a legend for the new age. Darui starts things off by ordering all available shinobi to barrage Kyuubinkaku with kunai, yet Kyuubinkaku isn't impressed by these third rate or 'copper plated' ninja. After all, he is a Kage level individual who once stood toe to toe with giants. Choji uses the momentary distraction of the barrage to charge at the enemy, though Kyuubinkaku tosses him away easily enough. But this too is reavealed to be a faint, as Shikamaru successfully uses his Shadow Mimic technique. It doesn't hold for long against the force of the kyuubi's chakra, but it holds long enough for Ino to cast Mind-Body Switch. After that, Ino simply responds to Darui, Darui seals Kyuubinkaku, and Ino bails from the body before it is sealed.
And so the battle with Kinkaku and Ginkaku comes to a close. Both brothers were talented shinobi with first rate abilities and chakra, but as Darui points out, copper can be more valuable than a gold coin if you collect enough of it. And Team Asuma demonstrated excellent timing and teamwork in a desperate situation on the battlefield. Surely their legend is growing. Three kids were able to defeat two Akatsuki members with intelligence (and a little help) and a jinchuriki with teamwork. And as promised, Darui has stripped away that gold plating of pride the brothers were so proud of.
Impressions
This chapter was great. There was a lot of plot momentum, a peek at the main character, and good bits of action and strategy. I'll admit the battle with Kin-Gin was shorter than I was expecting it to be, but for such a lean fight, there was little to no filler. Kishimoto did a great job of conveying how quickly First Division became desperate against a jinchuriki. It'll be interesting to see how the allied shinobi handle the remaining former jinchuriki given that there are quite a few left. I also think it's fitting that the battle was won not through brute strength, but with intelligence, which is the key to true victory on the battlefield. In addition, the characterizations continued to be excellent. and Shikaku gave us a nice thematic cap to the last few chapters.
That said, this chapter was fool of information concerning the larger mythology of the series and I'd like to take a moment to talk about how this chapter shapes the history of the ninja world. What we know know is that:

At some point early on in the formation of the Hidden Cloud, the village tried to attain the kyuubi. As a result, Kinkaku and Ginkaku absorbed the chakra of the bijuu through devouring its innards, a feat which remains unrepeated. The Hidden Cloud also collected the five shinobi treasures said to have belonged to the Sage of the Six Paths.
Konoha then took possession of the Kyuubi with Madara Uchiha initially taming the beast, but after a falling out with Konoha, Senju Hashirama's wife served as its vessel.
Kinkaku and Ginkaku defected from the Hidden Cloud, taking with them the five shinobi treasures, of which only the Amber Purifying Pot was recovered.
The Nidaime Hokage attempted to enter into a formal alliance (possibly to help end the First Shinobi World War) with the Nidaime Raikage, but the Kin-Gin brothers staged a coup. In fact, this seems likely, since a country is extremely vulnerable during a time of war making the possibility of a coup easier.
The Nidaime Hokage, Tobirama Senju, died during the First Shinobi World War, allowing his team to flee as he faced a force known as Team Kinkaku. Kinkaku is known to have defeated the Second Hokage, leaving him near death at least. Thus, we can conclude these incidents are the same.

The preceding information actually clarifies a few inquiries from past chapters. From this we know how Kinkaku and Ginkaku came to be summoned with four of the five treasures. If they were hidden by the brothers before they died, then Kabuto would have no trouble learning their whereabouts with Edo Tensei. It also explains why the brothers are so reviled in the Hidden Cloud. It isn't just that the brothers attempted a coup. It's that they did so at the cost of prolonging a war that had devastated the five nations. Also, both brothers could use the demon fox cloak, and Kinkaku was known to have used in battle before, presumably after Ginkaku's defeat (according to Kakazu). In that case, then it becomes clearer why Tobirama Senju might have developed Edo Tensei. His deceased, elder brother Hashirama was one of two individuals able to tame the bijuu at the time, and the Hidden Cloud had two shinobi possessing Kyuubi chakra. If he ever needed to stop either in battle, then his best bet would be to revive his brother and have Hashirama deal with the Kyuubi's chakra. In this context, while the techniques still seems dubious, it also seems like a necessity.
And let's consider Kinkaku and Ginkaku. Naruto hosts the Kyuubi, but only the beast's Yin chakra (or was it Yang). When they devoured the Kyuubi's meat, the brothers are likely to have absorbed completely unfiltered chakra. They survived a situation where death was all but certain and raged for two whole weeks. Two weeks of nothing but thrashing and eating Kyuubi meat. It is easy to see how they would be considered the two bright lights of the Hidden Cloud after this. But afterwords, Konoha took possession of the Kyuubi, trumping their own feat. Furthermore, their own village was prepared to enter into a peace treaty with the very same nation. What had that sacrifice been for? They had thrown themselves into capturing the Kyuubi and almost lost their lives in the process. By all rights, they should have died after eating the meat of the fox. Now, their enemies possessed the Kyuubi, and their own village was ready to simply accept this. From this perspective, it's easy to understand how warriors as vain as Kinkaku and Ginakau might betray their village and Kage. And there is no telling how hosting such unfiltered evil chakra changes a person. Despicable they may be, but they are not beyond the ability to be empathized with. They had their positive qualities. After all, as brothers they cared deeply for each other.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Predictions
Last week I predicted that Kyuubinkaku would rage and that the shinobi army would have to pull out all the stops to contain him, although my prediction for how he would be stopped was wrong. We also didn't see the former jinchuriki, and my theory about the remaining shinobi treasure was incorrect.
What might we see next week? I think that now would be the perfect time to bring Asuma into focus since his team has demonstrated their growth since his death. Though, I doubt his soul would be released as a result of the encounter. From there it could go many directions. Third Division is still fighting the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist and shinobi with kekkai genkai. Notable revived shinobi are still fighting First Division. The revived bijuu have yet to be seen. The former Kage should be converging upon Gaara. And there's Black Zetsu. What I want to see is Dan and maybe have his significance explained. I think what we will see is the beginning of a conflict with the former Kage and/or Black Zetsu.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5996361

Twin Peaks - A Musical Analysis

2011-04-11T02:54:00.000-07:00

Do you remember David Lynch's weird TV series called Twin Peaks? It debuted in 1990 on ABC and I remember it got a lot of buzz in Norway where I saw it. Every Friday evening at 11pm I had my pizza ready and Twin Peaks on the tube. It was different from the other TV shows, and it was helped on by Angelo Badalamenti's weird jazzy score. Anyone remember the red room with the weird dwarf who said things backwards? Remember the weird dance he did? That's one of my favorite moments, and the music is absolutely spot on.
The show was canceled after only a couple of years, rumors had it that David Lynch had a spat with the directors of ABC about the show, and it was canceled abruptly in the second season with a very strange ending. Who here doesn't love the log lady? This show has some of the weirdest characters ever developed, but it suits David Lynch perfectly.
The soundtrack was one of the first soundtracks I bought and it was a great one. I remember one tune on this called "Night Life in Twin Peaks" that scared me, so whenever that came on I quickly fast forwarded to the next song, that's right, forwarded. I didn't have a CD player yet. It may be a strange soundtrack and I think I love it because of a mixture of sentimentality and the music. For whatever reason, Twin Peaks, the music and the show has a place in my heart forever. Bob still freaks me out though.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3490557

Best Movie List 2011

2011-04-02T18:55:00.000-07:00

Each year comes with its own list of movies, some going down the history books as being the best to ever come out of Hollywood. Each person has their own perception of what are some of the best movies of all time. This depends on genres and ranking at the box office. At times, a movie may not have made it to top ten box office but still remains as one of the best of all times. So what is your list of the best movie list? It doesn't matter whether it was released in 2011 or 2010 or 1999 or 2000. Herein, the article tries to capture some of the movies that wowed the audience in 2010.
How to Train Your Dragon
Genre: Animation/ Adventure/ Fantasy
Directors: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders.
Cast: Jay Bruchel, Gerald Butler, Jonah Hill and America Ferrera
If you loved Kung Fu Panda, Shrek and Madagascar, then you will definitely love How To Train Your Dragon. It is a comical movie that is setup in the legendary world of Vikings as well as Dragons. The storyline has been developed from the book by Cressida Cowell. The plot revolves around young Viking lad who goes by the name Hiccup and resides in the Island of Berk. In this island, battling dragons is a norm. Digging in too deep into the plot will spoil the whole reason to have you watch the movie. If you did not catch this movie when 2010 came to a close, then you need to do all you can to buy or rent one.
The Wolf Man
Genre: Thriller/ Horror/ Fantasy
Director: Joe Johnston
Cast: Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving and Geraldine Chaplin
Stories revolving the mythical werewolf never cease to amaze many in America as this movie is another epic of the enigmatic werewolf. After returning to his ancestral home, a man is bitten by a werewolf that happens to be his father and has to accept his fate. If there is a movie that will keep you guessing from the beginning to the end then it has to be The Wolf Man.
Toy Story 3
At the beginning, I thought this is another one of those childish movies. However, upon reviewing it found to be something that can be watched by all. After a toy's owner, other kids treat Andy leaves home for college, the toys are taken to a day care facility where to their shock with no regards.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6037874

You Need to Start Watching Now

2011-03-13T05:20:00.001-07:00

Note: The Shield and The Wire are both highly recommended, but because both shows had ended in 2008, they are not included on this list (among many others).

10. Fringe

(FOX - 2008 - Sci-Fi)

At first this show didn't stick with many of us on the must watch show list, but the unique plots lured us back and now we consider it a must watch. This show is about a government task force tracking down paranormal activity with the help of a research scientist, Walter Bishop (actor John Noble), who has the characteristics of Frankenstein and the brilliance of Albert Einstein rolled into one, his sarcastic son Peter Bishop (actor Joshua Jackson), and FBI Agent Olivia Dunham (Actress Anna Torv). Besides the X-Files element in this show, one of the things viewers will notice is the parent-child conflict specifically between Walter and Peter as they try to resolve cases. Fringe is big on conspiracies and some intense twists on "fringe science". This show just stands out from the rest in its plot developments.

9. Monk

(USA - 2002 - Dramedy)

Background: This is the creator of the website talking, Nick Shin. Call me an idiot or ridiculous and I certainly deserve both, but I personally ignored this incredibly humorous show for about 6 years solely because of the title; not once did I give this show a chance before 2008. I thought the show was literally about a monk and the adventures inside the monastery. I figured how can a show about a monk and a monastery be remotely interesting. Bad assumption (don't judge a show by its title?) On a random weekend in 2008, I was incredibly bored, had no commitments, and had all the time in the world. Thus, my introduction to Monk. Now onto why you need to start watching too.

Monk is one of those shows where every single person in the world can relate to its main character, Adrian Monk (actor Tony Shalhoub). How? 3 words, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Your situation may not be as, to put it lightly, as severe as Monk's, but every person has some sort of OCD whether it be washing your hands in a certain way, putting on your socks/shoes a certain way, morning routine, bedtime routine, and on and on. The title character of this show works as an obsessive compulsive private detective and consultant for the San Francisco Police Department homicide unit. At one point, and (fans) correct us if we're wrong, Monk's nurse/assistant pointed out 120 or so phobias. What's entertaining about this show is not only Monk's brilliance and attention to detail on the field as he solves the cases, but Monk's ability to deal with his numerous phobias throughout the show including the always humorous therapy sessions. It is the subtleties of Monk and the characters around him that becomes a laugh out loud moment. Each episode is a stand alone so start watching this show.

8. In Treatment

(HBO - 2008 - Drama)

Each episode of In Treatment features therapist Dr. Paul Weston (actor Gabriel Byrne) having a session with one of five patients. The casting for this little known show offers an array of characters ranging from teens to middle aged and singles to married couples. In Treatment displays a full range of emotions with superb acting that makes you care about and believe what you are watching. One of the more unique and riveting parts of this show is the portrayal of the therapist (Paul) going to his own therapist. The character development and the artistic storytelling is brilliant. This show might make you uncomfortable at times and it might take a lot out of you, but what we do know is that the combination of incredible acting, storytelling, and character development will get you hooked; don't give up after one episode.

7. Breaking Bad

(AMC- 2008 - Dramedy)

Quite possibly the most entertaining show and most original show to watch right now, Walter White (actor Bryan Cranston - the dad from Malcolm in the Middle) quite simply is a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal lung cancer going entrepreneurial to raise enough money for his family. Well, the entrepreneurial part isn't exactly what one might suspect and this is where the show becomes extremely entertaining. Walt decides to team up with a former student, whom Walt flunked, to get into the crystal-meth business. How's that for unique writing? If you've ever felt you've been way in over your head, you will certainly enjoy watching this show as Walt quickly learns the dangers of competing with rival meth dealers.

6. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (IASIP)

(FX - 2005 - Comedy)

Remember Seinfeld? The show from the 90's that everyone seemed to enjoy immensely due to its random plots and often commercial resolutions. The oft-imitated formula has been mirrored throughout the years, but one show in particular has nailed it on the head. IASIP is possibly the funniest show on television due to the obvious lack of rules or shame. We follow the lives of Mac, Charlie, Dennis, and Dee as they scheme and screw people over on an hourly basis. In the end, everything blows up in their faces in a commercial fashion. If there was ever a show that embodies the basic drives of the human nature within all of us, this is it. Just watch it. Now.

5. Entourage

(HBO - 2004 - Dramedy)

We know, anyone who hasn't been hiding under a rock knows about the show so we'll try to make this one short. Entourage deserves a spot on any "best of" TV shows list. The only reason why the "professional" critics do not include this show is because of its target audience. There are just some out of the target demographic that do not want to watch quirky, douchebag-like, 20 (and 40?) somethings, and their adventures as a group. We know that it is extremely hard to argue that Entourage is the most well-written show or even best performed (although Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold is absolutely brilliant and the reason why you should start watching), but this show just entertains. It is mindlessly distracting and addicting.

4. Dexter

(Showtime - 2006 - Dramedy)

How many of us have a dark side? A special side (mmmm, frites) that lays dormant within our mind and only comes out for special occasions. If you raised your hand, then you need to watch Dexter. Dexter is a forensic blood spatter analyst by day for the Miami-Metro Police Department (MMPD) and a serial killer by night. Before you turn to a different website in disgust, you need to know that Dexter has a conscious. As a youth, Dexter show signs of a sociopath, but his adoptive father, a detective for the MMPD, took those tendencies and taught Dexter to use them for the good of mankind, or in this case, killing people who have escaped their due punishment from the justice system. The show is in no shortage of thrills and suspense. Touching, clever, exciting, and often humorous, Dexter, is one anti-hero that every one can relate to, even if you don't want to admit it.

3. Damages

(FX- 2007 - Drama)

Thought the show was canceled? Actually many of you reading this top 10 list realize it's been awhile due to the writer's strike. Well, it's back and it's wonderful. With the final episode of season 1 airing back in October 2007, the second season is (well, has been) officially back. Due to the hiatus, Damages has fallen off the radar, but this show absolutely deserves a "best of TV shows" nod. Damages is a legal thriller that stars Glenn Close as the brilliant and ruthless litigator Patty Hewes. The show revolves around Patty and her protege, Ellen Parsons (actress Rose Byrne). With so many legal thrillers on the air, it's hard to describe how and why this series stands out head and shoulders above all the others. To put it simply, superb acting, intelligent writing, thought-provoking, an actual story line as opposed to one story per episode, and in true sense of the word, a thriller. The story itself is intriguing, but it's the storytelling and the performances that really make this show a must watch now. We feel like this is still not doing the show justice....let's see, you will never be bored watching this show; it is consistent from beginning to end. The folks at FX is doing something right and everyone needs to take notice.

2. Rescue Me

(FX- 2004 - Dramedy)

We all enjoyed The Sopranos. It made us feel bad and yet, so good. The ultimate anti-hero, Tony Soprano, was someone we hated and loved at the same time. Since it left television, where does one go to root for a likeable bad guy? The answer is Rescue Me. The main character, Tommy Gavin (actor Denis Leary), is a member of the NYFD. He is about as rough as they come and highly respected for his displays of bravery on the field.

Whether he is sleeping around with widows of victims from 9/11 (a large theme during the show), abusing drugs and alcohol, hitting people and being a sleezeball, one can see why Tommy Gavin is not a likeable fellow....on the show. However, we in the real world find ourselves enamored with a guy that is a coin-flip away from being cool or being a turd, just like Tony Soprano.

Here is a list of similarities between The Sopranos and Rescue Me

* Sopranos = New Jersey. Rescue Me = New York. You can connect the two.

* Infidelity

* Drug and alcohol abuse

* Curse like sailors

* Violence towards strangers, friends and family

* Hallucinations

We are sure the list could go on, but it would distract the attention away from this show you need to watch. Feel free to comment if you find additional similarities and we will consider adding it to the list. Anyway, this is a tremendous show that only adds to FX's taste in great shows. Watch it.

1. Mad Men

(AMC- 2007 - Drama)

Okay, you get it, we get it, Mad Men is a great show based on the countless number of critics and wannabe critics like ourselves. By now Mad Men (and AMC for that matter) has received the major props it deserves, but we cannot emphasize it enough. We would never have imagined the slowest possible drama on television topping our list of "must watch TV for 20093. Where's the action, where's the humor, where's the convenient douchebag that we like to talk about, where's the [insert additional analogies]. With all that said and the hype the show has been garnering since its debut, we still think Mad Men is an underrated show.

Definition of Mad Men as explained during the first episode - "In the 1950s and 1960s, the advertising industry was based on Madison Avenue in New York City. In fact, 'Madison Avenue' used to be slang for 'the ad industry'. Madison/ad men was contracted into "mad men" by the mad men themselves."

For those still doubting this top TV show to watch now, perhaps the very reason you are not watching this show is because of the time frame in history in which the story takes place; we admit, it was for us. The 60s was far before any of our times at Everything Topped, and based on the show the 60s was racist, sexist, unhealthy (based on the number of cigarattes the characters smoke every 5 seconds), and most importantly, a transition period. Actor Jon Hamm as the lead character, Don Draper, is brilliant as the creative director at Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency. Don struggles to stay ahead of the changing times and the young executives at the Agency all the whilst making the plays in the boardroom (and bedroom). The intense performances are portrayed not only in Don's personal life, but also through the unique aspect of how people sell themselves in the ad industry. The characters are complex, sophisticated, and well developed. It's a slow moving drama, yes, and many who are impatient and simply close-minded, will not enjoy Mad Men. Getting a truly accurate picture of a time when not many shows or movies are set makes this the top show you need to start watching for 2009.

There you have it, our list of the Top 10 TV Shows of 2009 You Need To Start Watching Now. We would love to hear your thoughts so feel free to comment on the list. Ridicule us, praise us, hate us, love us for our list. Got topics/categories you'd like topped? Give us a shout through the comments or contact us.

Naruto Cosplay Costumes

2011-03-10T05:40:00.001-08:00

Numerous stores contain fun costumes for dressing up either for Halloween or just for fun. Most of these stores are aimed at teenagers and young adults, who are more open to wearing costumes and also enjoy standing out due to their clothes. It is important for many young people to make a statement or tell you about their personality through their costumes.

This is why cosplay has become so popular. If you are considering to do cosplay the most important part is deciding what character to be. Think about what characters you love from all the common cosplay mediums such as video games, manga, anime, or movies. If you can think of a wonderful costume that a character has worn that you absolutely loved that is another great choice for cosplay.

When doing cosplay the best route is to create your own costume, this means just the basic costume. It is important because the costume will fit you better and can be exactly what you want if you create it yourself. However, it is fine to use some bought materials for certain pieces like jewelry a character always wears or maybe a symbol. Naruto cosplay costumes should be exact for example, make sure to get contacts if cosplaying as Sasuke.

Here is some general information about Uzumaki Naruto. He was born October 10th and is now 13 years old. He comes from Leaf and is a Genin. He is a Libra and has numerous teachers who have helped him. His goal is to make the village appreciate him.

About 13 years ago, demon called Kyuubi attacked Leaf. To protect the entire village the 4th hokage sealed Kyuubi inside a baby. The baby, which holds the demon inside him was Uzumaki Naruto.

Naruto was hated by everyone in the village because they viewed him as the demon itself. So Naruto was always alone while growing up and had no friends. He became determined to be the best hokage so that the people in village would accept and appreciate him.

Naruto does gain approval from the 3rd hokage known as Unimo Iruka and Konohamaru. However, the only person Naruto wants to notice him now is Sakura because she is his crush. The only problem is that she has a crush on Sasuke. This is the reason Sasuke is the biggest rival to Naruto.

Naruto is a ninja, but he is also wonderful at connecting with troubled children like himself and has helped out a number of people. Naruto helps out Jiraiya by forcing him to study for the Chuunin exams, so they became extremely close and Naruto thought of him as a father figure. Naruto helped out Tsunade by saving him from Kabuto and making him become the 5th hokage.

Now that you understand the characters in Naruto, it is time to pick what Nauto cosplay costume you will make. Naruto cosplay costumes can be a number of people depending on what character you like the most or which character you look the most like. For example if you have black hair a good Naruto cosplay costume would be Sasuke. But if you have blonde hair it may be better to dress up as Naruto himself.

Review the Latest Movies With a DVD Organizer

2011-02-23T03:48:00.001-08:00

If a career in writing movie reviews is something that you think might be a good fit, it's time to start looking at the movies you have. But the truth is that you probably already have plenty of DVDs and movies to practice with - if only they were organized. With a DVD organizer, you will be able to not only arrange your DVDs in a manner that makes sense for your reviewing goals, but that will also allow you to keep up with the latest trends in movies and in other types of productions. A great reviewer reviews as much as they can, and getting organized is the first step to a great career.

You Have to Watch Movies to Know Movies

It just makes sense that when you want to review movies, you need to watch movies. But if you're like any film buff, chances are high that your DVD collection is getting out of hand. Though DVDs are cheap, they can begin to take up space after a while - and you can begin to forget what you own. With a DVD organizer or DVD organizer software, you will be able to easily sort your DVDs into genres, directors, or other subcategories. In doing so, you will be able to see what movies you have that you love and which ones you have that you do not love. You want to have a good balance between these two types of movies since reviews aren't already written on the movies that are well done.

Polishing Your Writing Style

Once you have your DVD organizer in place and your collection under control, it's time to learn how to write a movie review. This process starts by reading as many movie reviews as you can - New York Times, Washington Post, etc. Read all of the online movie reviews you can as well so that you get a sense of what other authors are doing and how you might be able to write in your own unique way. From this research, you should begin to craft your own reviews, seeing how witty you can be and what you can bring up about each movie as you watch it. Like any movie reviewer, it might be a good idea to practice by writing several movie reviews each and every week, allowing you to begin to create a portfolio of reviews and plenty of practice under your belt.

Getting Published Now

Though there seem to be many a movie reviewer around, you might be able to get those movie reviews you've written published by starting your own website or talking to local publications. Let them know what you are reviewing, and whether you can be available to write reviews on a more regular basis. Send a few samples of your work in, letting the publication know that you haven't been published yet, but you are willing to work hard to become a vital part of their publication. All that said, you might want to look for publications which do not already have a movie reviewer on staff as you can already be guaranteed that you're not going to be competing with anyone for their job, though you will be adding to your DVD organizer as you gain experience.

Jim Carrey's Latest Movie

2011-01-04T00:55:00.000-08:00

Jim Carrey has become quite an accomplished actor ever since he hit the big screen in the early 1980s. Although Carry did some early films but really became a household name on Mad TV. It was here that he showed the world his true talent and quirky physical comedy which would catapult his career. He went on to play some of our favorite roles as Ace Ventura and Llyod Christmas (Dumb & Dumber). If you were wondering what Jim Carrey has been up to lately this article highlights his most recent work.

A Christmas Carol (2009)
Disney's retelling of the Charles Dickens novel stars Jim Carrey, Jim Carrey and well Jim Carrey. The story is about Scrooge and how bitter he became about the wonderful Christmas holiday. Jim Carrey plays a number of characters in this movie thanks to the magic of animation and make-up. He plays; Scrooge, Ghost of Christmas Past, Scrooge as a Young Boy, Scrooge as a Teenage Boy, Scrooge as a Young Man, Scrooge as a Middle-Aged Man, Ghost of Christmas Present, Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. This movie was directed by Robert Zemeckis (Back to The Future, The Polar Express) and contains some truly amazing effects. Great film to watch around the holidays but might be a little scary for small children.

I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)
Jim Carrey plays Steven Jay Russell who is a con-man telling his life story while on his deathbed. Russell began his adult life as a happily married police officer who plays organ at the church and spends most of his free time looking for his biological mother. After Russell gets into a car accident, his life completely changes. He leaves his wife to find his true self as a gay man and moves to Miami to live a lavish lifestyle. Russell soon finds out that it is difficult to keep up with this expensive lifestyle causing him to become a con-man. Russell ends up getting caught and sent to prison where he meets and falls in love with Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor). Realizing his love for Morris, Russell will go to great lengths to be with his true love. This movie might not be Carrey's best work but it has a few laughs.

Yes Man (2008)
Jim Carrey plays Carl Allen who is a down on his luck banker with an extremely ordinary life. Carl attends a motivational seminar in which everyone is encouraged to say "yes" to everything. Although skeptical Carl adopts this mantra and finds that his who world turns upside down. He gets a promotion at work and a beautiful new girlfriend. Although life seems to be looking up, Carl quickly finds that the new lifestyle that he has adopted is impossible to maintain. Carry returns to his happy go lucky comedic acting and performs quite well in this movie. The feel of the movie is very similar to Bruce Almighty which he starred in five years prior. The movie was very predictable but is worth a watch if you have nothing to do on a Friday night.

Drumline

2010-11-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

For fans of America?s show-style marching bands, halftime is game time. A squad of players, some 300 strong and armed with musical instruments, takes over the field, commanding attention with their stirring, spectacular display of choreography and musicianship. The football contest?s controlled mayhem makes way for the blaring sound of trumpets and the heart-thumping rhythm of drums. Into this... See Full Description
Comedy, Drama and Musical/Performing ArtsPG-13 for innuendo and language.Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Melinda Ennis
"...it can't be beat for its dazzling theatrics and foot-stomping fun." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"...entertaining for what it does, and admirable for what it doesn't do." more... Chicago Tribune, Mark Caro
"...vastly entertaining..." more... Cincinnati Enquirer, Margaret A. McGurk
"The final battle of the bands is as kinetic, dramatic and electrifying as a car chase, and a lot more fun to watch."

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

2010-11-05T03:26:00.000-07:00

In mythic pre-historic times, a young hobbit named Frodo Baggins inherits a magic ring from his elderly cousin Bilbo. Wise to the powers that the magic ring holds, the dark Lord Sauron wants it, knowing it will enable him to enslave the people of Middle Earth. In his effort to thwart Sauron, Frodo recruits the fellowship of a wizard, an elf, a dwarf and others, on a mission to destroy the ring by casting... See Full Description
Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy and AdaptationPG 13 for epic battle sequences and some scary images.Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
"One of the best - if not THE best - movies of the year." more... BBC, Jackie Finlay
"...a powerful, intense and beautifully realised movie that interprets the novel...almost to perfection." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"...some may regret that the Hobbits have been pushed out of the foreground and reduced to supporting characters." more... Chicago Tribune, Michael Wilmington
"...everything you might want it to be - and more." more...

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A Walk to Remember

2010-11-04T22:28:00.000-07:00

Each spring in the little port town of Beaufort, North Carolina, when the wind smells of pine and salt and the sea, Landon Carter remembers his senior year at Beaufort High and Jamie Sullivan, the girl who changed his life... Serious and conservative, Jamie is the daughter of the town's Baptist minister and not afraid of letting people know that her faith is the most important part of her life,... See Full Description
Drama, Romance, Adaptation and TeenPG for thematic elements, language and some sensual material.Chicago Tribune, Robert K. Elder
"...scrapes the bottom of the melodramatic barrel." more... E! Online,
"A Walk to Remember? Forget it." more... Hollywood Reporter, Michael Rechtshaffen
"...sickeningly saccharine..." more... Reelviews, James Berardinelli
"...uninspired..."

Fight Club

2010-11-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

The mundane existence of a product liability evaluator and insomniac, who is addicted to self-help groups, is turned upside down when he meets a sado-masochistic anarchist who is secretly plotting to overthrow civilization. As their friendship grows, they become increasingly involved in a secret society of "fight clubs" where men act out their aggressions and violently beat one another to... See Full Description
Action/Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller and AdaptationR for disturbing and graphic depiction of violent anti-social behavior, sexuality and language.Christian Science Monitor, Tom Regan
"Occasionally I see a film that demands a response or an action. 'Fight Club' is such a film." more... culturevulture.net, Tom Block
"David Fincher’s 'Fight Club' (from a novel by Chuck Palahniuk) is about a special kind of male anger." more... Flick Filosopher,
"There is a dissatisfaction that American men are coming to realize afflicts them." more... Harvey's Movie Reviews, Harvey O'Brien
"There are some good moments in David Fincher's bombastic, hyperkinetic adaptation of Jim Uhls' novel."

Meet Joe Black

2010-11-04T14:37:00.000-07:00

The story of a media tycoon William Parrish, whose charmed life and orderly household are suddenly disrupted by the arrival of an enigmatic young man named Joe Black who suddenly insinuates his way into Parrish's life--both in his business and private affairs. Determinedly attached to Parrish's side, Joe attends family dinners, accompanies him to board meetings, and settles comfortably in the... See Full Description
Drama, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy and AdaptationPG-13 for an accident scene, some sexuality and brief strong language.Austin Chronicle, Marc Savlov
"It's an elegiac love story from beyond the grave, as appealingly simple as it is emotionally complex." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"...there's so much that's fine in this movie..." more... Cincinnati Enquirer, Margaret A. McGurk
"...could have been a terrific romance. Instead, it’s just way too much of a good thing." more... E! Online,
"Not even Brad Pitt's hunkiness can save this one from arriving DOA." more...

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Nine Lives

2010-11-04T09:47:00.000-07:00

Nine everyday women meet the travails and disappointments of life with resilience. Sandra is locked-up in prison and wants desperately to connect with her visiting child. Diana confronts the sudden flash of a past relationship, long after she has moved on to a new life. Holly can't seem to move forward until her stepfather acknowledges the pain he has caused her. Sonia reels from her boyfriend's... See Full Description
R for language, brief sexual content, and some disturbing images.Entertainment Weekly, Lisa Schwarzbaum
"...a surprisingly rich sketchbook, boosted by the work of fine actors..." Full Review... filmcritic.com, Chris Barsanti
"A well-cast compilation film suffocating on its own self-importance..." Full Review... New York Times, Stephen Holden
"...extraordinarily rich and satisfying..."

Cheaper by the Dozen 2

2010-11-04T05:07:00.000-07:00

Tom Baker and wife Kate, hoping to bring their family together for a memorable summer vacation, take their 12 offspring to the rustic Lake Winnetka. But their retreat soon becomes cutthroat when they enter into a competition with the over-achieving members of a large family headed by Tom's long-time rival, Jimmy Murtaugh.
Comedy, Kids/Family and SequelPG for some crude humor and mild language.Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bob Longino
"Loud, unamusing, inane, shameless family-style antics. They laugh, they cry; you'll wince." more... Boston Globe, Ty Burr
"It's the sort of movie to send small children and grandparents out of the theater hugging each other and strong men in search of bourbon." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"...as I watched this sequel, a certain good feeling began to make itself known." more... Chicago Tribune, Robert K. Elder
"...a harmless, inoffensive bit of family programming..."

The Notebook

2010-11-04T01:34:00.000-07:00

An epic love story centered around an older man who reads aloud to an older, invalid woman whom he regularly visits. From a faded notebook, the old man's words bring to life the story about a couple who is separated by World War II, and is then passionately reunited, seven years later, after they have taken different paths. Though her memory has faded, his words give her the chance to relive her... See Full Description
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
"As weepies go, this is a perfectly good one." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"...it is a tearjerker, it's just that it's a good one." more... Chicago Tribune, Michael Wilmington
"It's a film about falling in love and looking back on it, and it avoids many of the genre's syrupy dangers." more... Cincinnati Enquirer, Margaret A. McGurk
"(Rachel) McAdams shows great personality, and (Ryan) Gosling - best known for much darker roles - makes a credible romantic hero."

Saving Private Ryan

2010-11-03T22:03:00.000-07:00

James Ryan, who has parachuted into France during the Allied invasion of Europe, has just lost three brothers in combat. Government policy dictates that he should return home lest his family be deprived of all its male offspring. A team of soldiers, led by Captain John Miller and fresh from the beaches of Normandy, is assembled to find and save Private Ryan.
Action/Adventure, Drama and WarR for intense prolonged realistically graphic sequences of war violence, and for language.BBC, Almar Haflidason
"What is abundantly clear is that in the massive body of films that deal with World War II, this is one that pulls no punches." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"Saving Private Ryan is a powerful experience." more... Reel.com, Tor Thorsen
"Hailed as the greatest war movie of all time, Saving Private Ryan is one of those few movies that lives up to its hype." more... Salon, Gary Kamiya
"After Saving Private Ryan, the myth of World War II will never be the same."

Girl With a Pearl Earring

2010-11-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

A speculative account of the life of Griet, a 16-year-old girl who appears in Johannes Vermeer's painting of the same title. Set in 17th century Holland, Griet is employed by Vermeer as a housemaid to care for his six children, his jealous pregnant wife and his uncommunicative mother-in-law. Tensions arise when Vermeer's wife suspects intimacy between her husband and the girl--and then climax,... See Full Description
PG-13 for some sexual content.Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"It is about things not said, opportunities not taken, potentials not realized, lips unkissed." more... E! Online,
"Color us intrigued if not entirely sold." more... filmcritic.com, Christopher Null
"Barely 90 minutes long, the movie’s only real failing is that it never develops a terribly compelling story." more... Hollywood Reporter, Kirk Honeycutt
"A film that beautifully dramatizes how life influences art."

The Aristocats

2010-11-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

The Aristocats was the first Disney Studios animated feature to be produced after Walt Disney's death. A wealthy woman leaves her vast fortune to her four cats: the well-bred Duchess and her kittens Berlioz, Toulouse, and Marie. Jealous butler Edgar, eager to get his mitts on the cats' legacy, abandons the felines in the French countryside. The four lost kitties are aided in their efforts to return... See Full Description
Comedy, Kids/Family, Musical/Performing Arts and Animation

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Braveheart

2010-11-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

In the late 13th century, William Wallace returns to Scotland after living away from his homeland for many years. The king of Scotland has died without an heir and the king of England, a ruthless pagan known as Edward the Longshanks, has seized the throne. Wallace becomes the leader of a ramshackle yet courageous army determined to vanquish the greater English forces. At the historic battle of Stirling,... See Full Description
Action/Adventure, Drama, Romance, Biopic and WarBBC, Ali Barclay
"A simplistic tale of good versus evil with large quantities of heroism thrown in for good measure..." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"...a fullthroated, red-blooded battle epic..." more... filmcritic.com, Christopher Null
"...a vastly entertaining and powerful film." more... Flick Filosopher, MaryAnn Johanson
"...an extraordinary film..."

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Batman Begins

2010-11-03T05:58:00.000-07:00

How does one man change the world? It's a question that haunts Bruce Wayne like the specter of his parents, gunned down before his eyes in the streets of Gotham on a night that changed his life forever. Tormented by guilt and anger, battling the demons that feed his desire for revenge and his need to honor his parents' altruistic legacy, the disillusioned industrial heir vanished from Gotham and secretly... See Full Description
PG 13 for intense action violence, disturbing images and some thematic elements.Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
"This is the story of the Dark Knight, not the Caped Crusader." more... Boston Globe, Ty Burr
"In Batman Begins, Christian Bale gives us the best Bruce Wayne that has ever graced the screen." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"The movie works dramatically in addition to being an entertainment." more... Chicago Tribune, Michael Wilmington
"...one of the artier, more noir-drenched, psychologically tortured and memorable of all the recent big comic-book hero movies."

Coyote Ugly

2010-11-03T01:47:00.000-07:00

Graced with a velvet voice, 21-year-old Violet Sanforn heads to New York to pursue her dream of becoming a songwriter only to find her aspirations sidelined by the accolades and notoriety she receives at her "day" job as a barmaid at Coyote Ugly. A new nightclub with a twist, Coyote Ugly is the hottest spot in town, featuring a team of sexy, enterprising young women. Lil is the savvy and... See Full Description
Comedy, Drama, Musical/Performing Arts, Romance and AdaptationNZone,
(2.5 out of 5 stars) "...a 'Flashdance' redux..." Full Review... Deseret News (Salt Lake City),
(1.5 stars) "...ludicrously entertaining..." Full Review... E! Online,
(grade: C+) "...something called a plot gets in the way..." Full Review... filmcritic.com,
(2 out of 5 stars) "...just plain bad."

Moulin Rouge

2010-11-02T22:41:00.000-07:00

Christian, a young Bohemian poet living in 1899 Paris, defies his father by joining the colorfully diverse clique inhabiting the dark, fantastical underworld of Paris' now legendary Moulin Rouge. In this seedy but glamorous haven of sex, drugs and newly-discovered electricity, the poet-innocent finds himself plunged into a passionate but ultimately tragic love affair with Satine, the club's... See Full Description
Drama, Musical/Performing Arts and RomanceMay 18, 2001 NY/LA; June 1, 2001 WideBBC, Neil Smith
"...a feast for the senses..." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"It's like being trapped on an elevator with the circus." more... Chicago Tribune, Michael Wilmington
"...a rare picture that gets you intoxicated on the possibilities of movies." more... CNN.com, Paul Clinton
"...quite simply, a spectacular reinvention of the movie musical." more...

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Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

2010-11-02T18:09:00.000-07:00

A tale of adventure set during the 17th Century in the Caribbean Sea. For the roguish yet charming Captain Jack Sparrow, the crystalline waters of the Caribbean, like the high seas the world over, present a vast playground where adventure and mystery abound. But Jack's idyllic life capsizes after his nemesis, the wily Captain Barbossa, steals his ship, the Black Pearl, and later attacks the town of... See Full Description
Action/Adventure and Kids/FamilyPG-13 for action/adventure violence.Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bob Longino
"...a consistently rousing, funny and thoroughly entertaining summer action movie." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"...a movie that charms the audience and then outstays its welcome." more... Chicago Tribune, Michael Wilmington
"...Pirates of the Caribbean is fun - but only as long as you don't expect much." more... E! Online,
"...this flick may just be the buried treasure of the summer-blockbuster season."

Mean Girls

2010-11-02T14:06:00.000-07:00

Cady Heron is a cultural blank slate when she first sets foot on the grounds of North Shore High School in a small town outside of Chicago, Illinois. After living in Africa, Cady, now a junior, has no idea how "wild" things can be in civilization until she crosses paths with one of the meanest species of all, the "Queen Bee," who at this particular high school is the cool and calculating... See Full Description
PG-13 for sexual content, language and some teen partying.Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
"Reasonably mean and certainly funny, but eventually wimps out." more... Boston Globe, Wesley Morris
"Mean Girls is a pitcher of Kool-Aid with a drop of acid..." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"In a wasteland of dumb movies about teenagers, Mean Girls is a smart and funny one." more... Chicago Tribune, Robert K. Elder
"Though not a perfect comedy, it manages to be quite often laugh-out-loud funny." more...

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Thirteen

2010-11-02T10:22:00.000-07:00

At the edge of adolescence, Tracy is a smart straight-A student--if not a little naive. When she befriends Evie, the most popular and beautiful girl in school, Evie leads Tracy down a path of sex, drugs and self-mutilation. As Tracy transforms herself and her identity, her world becomes a boiling, emotional cauldron fueled by new tensions between her and her mother--as well as, teachers and old f... See Full Description
R for drug use, self destructive violence, language and sexuality.Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
"...piercingly strong..." more... Boston Globe, Ty Burr
"It's the movie's relentlessness...that will make it a success de scandale at upscale suburban movie theaters." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"That the horrors in this movie are worse than those found in the lives of most 13-year-olds, I believe and hope." more... Chicago Tribune, Michael Wilmington
"It's an excellent, unforgettable film, one of the prize American indies of the year."

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie

2010-11-02T05:28:00.000-07:00

There's trouble brewing in Bikini Bottom. Someone has stolen King Neptune's crown, and it looks like Mr. Krab, SpongeBob's boss, is the culprit. Though he's just been passed over for the promotion of his dreams, SpongeBob stands by his boss, and along with his best pal Patrick, sets out on a treacherous mission to Shell City to reclaim the crown and save Mr. Krab's life.
Comedy, Kids/Family, Animation and AdaptationAtlanta Journal-Constitution, Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
"SpongeBob rules!" more... Boston Globe, Wesley Morris
"...ambles from adventure to adventure, taking nothing seriously, not even itself." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"...so much more entertaining than you are probably imagining." more... Chicago Tribune, Scott L. Powers
"...too much message, not enough nonsense."

Charlie's Angels

2010-11-02T02:22:00.000-07:00

Three beautiful private detectives who work for a suave playboy boss are called in to rescue soon-to-be billionaire software mogul Eric Knox, when he is kidnapped from his office at Knox Technologies. While rough-and-tumble Alex, wild-child Dylan, and nerdy Natalie use an impressive array of high-tech gadgetry and martial arts moves to retrieve Knox from the clutches of rival Roger Corwin and his goons,... See Full Description
Action/Adventure, Comedy, Thriller, Crime/Gangster and AdaptationPG 13 for action violence, innuendo and some sensuality/nudity.Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"...eye candy for the blind." more... culturevulture.net, Scott Von Doviak
"The latest proof that summer in Hollywood now lasts all year round, 'Charlie's Angels' is yet another update of a 70's television artifact, in this case, the crown jewel of ABC's renowned jiggle era." more... Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jeff Vice
"...may be the year's most pleasant surprise." more... E! Online,
"...smart enough not to take itself too seriously."

Gangs of New York

2010-11-01T21:37:00.000-07:00

In 1860's lower Manhattan, the Five Points section is a dark, teeming corner of the city known for vice and chaos. Into this frontier of lawlessness arrives the young Irish American, Amsterdam Vallon. Amsterdam is the orphaned son of the slain Priest Vallon--once chief warrior of the Dead Rabbits gang that rallied the Irish immigrants of the Five Points. After 16 years in a "House of Refuge,"... See Full Description
Action/Adventure, Drama, Crime/Gangster and AdaptationDecember 20th, 2002 (1,500 theaters)R for intense strong violence, sexuality/nudity and language.Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
"...a fever-sprawl of a movie, a melting-pot panorama, brought to full boil." more... BBC, Nev Pierce
"...both astounds and enthrals..." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"It is very good but not great." more... Chicago Tribune, Michael Wilmington
"...definitely the work of a master."

Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour

2010-11-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

Captures 14-year-old singing sensation, Miley Cyrus, in concert at several venues on her 2007 54-city tour. She performs as both a solo artist and as her popular television character, Hannah Montana.
Boston Globe, Joseph P. Kahn
"She sings and dances ably enough, and her tunes (she writes, too, including one song poignantly dedicated to her late grandfather) surpass much of what's heard on Radio Disney." more... Entertainment Weekly, Owen Gleiberman
"As a soundtrack for empowerment, not to mention tween shopping (is there a difference now?), one could do worse." more... New York Post, Lou Lumenick
"Parents of tweens, you've been warned." more... New York Times, Andy Webster
"...it appears that she can sing."

Titanic

2010-11-01T12:56:00.000-07:00

After winning a trip on the RMS Titanic during a dockside card game, American Jack Dawson spots the society girl Rose DeWitt Bukater who is on her way to Philadelphia to marry her rich snob fiance Cal Hockley. Rose feels helplessly trapped by her situation and makes her way to the aft deck and thinks of suicide until she is rescued by Jack. Cal is therefore obliged to invite Jack to dine at their first-class... See Full Description
Action/Adventure, Drama and RomancePG-13 for disaster related peril and violence, nudity, sensuality and brief language.BBC, Almar Haflidason
". . .a truly impressive feat of entertainment achieved by Cameron." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"Like a great iron Sphinx on the ocean floor, the Titanic faces still toward the West, interrupted forever on its only voyage." more... E! Online,
"Who'd have thought that the most expensive film ever made could also be good cinema?" more... Reel.com, Rod Armstrong
"To my mind, Titanic is really two films — a trite romantic drama about young love and a spellbinding disaster flick which spares no expense." more...

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Fantastic Four

2010-11-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

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Investor, astronaut and scientist Dr. Reed Richards' lifelong dream is close to being realized. He is spearheading a trip to outer space, to the center of a cosmic storm. There he hopes to unlock the secrets of the human genetic codes for the benefit of all humanity. Extensive government grant cutbacks nearly dashed the visionary's hopes of the historic flight, until Reed accepted a financing deal... See Full Description
Action/Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Crime/Gangster and AdaptationPG 13 for sequences of intense action, and some suggestive content.Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
"...chances are, you'll be taken in." more... Boston Globe, Wesley Morris
"...you might assume its source was the cartoons of Hanna-Barbera." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"...in short, underwhelming." more... Chicago Tribune, Michael Wilmington
"...missing something vital by the end."

Original Sin

2010-11-01T03:37:00.000-07:00

In turn of the century Cuba, Luis, a wealthy coffee tycoon, arranges to marry an American woman named Julia. When he takes Julia as his wife, he thinks his life is complete. But people aren't always who they seem and Luis's life begins to unravel. When Julia disappears with his money, Luis is forced to look into Julia's past - a past that doesn't seem to exist - and finds that the woman... See Full Description
Drama, Romance, Thriller, Adaptation and RemakeR for strong sexual content and some violence.Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
(grade: C) "...both overheated and tepid." Full Review... Deseret News (Salt Lake City),
(1.5 stars) "...how desperate were Banderas and Jolie to take a project as clearly awful as this one is?" Full Review... E! Online,
(grade: C-) "The real sin here? Paying full price for this flick."

Remember the Titans

2010-10-31T23:47:00.000-07:00

Based on the true story of the explosive events that took place in Alexandria, Virginia in 1971 when African-American football coach Herman Boone was hired to guide an integrated but racially polarized high school team--the T.C. Williams Titans. Angry, stubborn and a rigid taskmaster, Boone faces a cool reception from the team's players as well as an awkward relationship with assistant coach Bill... See Full Description
PG for thematic elements and some language.NZone,
(3 out of 5 stars) "...another 'Denzel against the world' film." Full Review... Cinema Sense,
"Gem" "A wonderfully stitched movie about a community overcoming racial prejudice via the crucible of its high school gridiron." Full Review... Deseret News (Salt Lake City),
(3 out of 4 stars) "...has real heart..."

What a Girl Wants

2010-10-31T20:42:00.000-07:00

Daphne Reynolds has what every girl wants--or so it seems. This spirited young American girl has a unique style all her own, an unconventional but loving relationship with her bohemian mother Libby and a future full of possibilities--but despite her remarkable promise, Daphne feels incomplete. She dreams of one day meeting the father she’s never known, the man Libby shared a whirlwind romance with... See Full Description
Comedy, Drama, Musical/Performing Arts, Romance and RemakeAtlanta Journal-Constitution, Christy Lemire
"The shoe doesn't fit for this charm-free Cinderella tale." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"The movie is clearly intended for girls between the ages of 9 and 15, and for the more civilized of their brothers, and isn't of much use to anyone else." more... Chicago Tribune, Robert K. Elder
"It's all transparent, absurd posturing that makes everyone look culturally ignorant, if not a bit daft." more... Cincinnati Enquirer, Margaret A. McGurk
"Despite its superficial ways, the movie does have charm." more...

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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

2010-10-31T16:04:00.000-07:00

Set in a time of uncertainty in the land of Middle-earth, a tale which charts a heroic quest which centers around an intrepid hobbit. The future of civilization rests in the fate of the One Ring, which has been lost for centuries. Powerful forces are unrelenting in their search for it. But fate has placed it in the hands of a young Hobbit named Frodo Baggins, who inherits the Ring and steps into legend.... See Full Description
Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Adaptation and SequelPG 13 for epic battle sequences and scary images.Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
"...a terrific movie." more... BBC, Nev Pierce
"...surpasses The Fellowship of the Ring in terms of wit, action and narrative drive." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"...stands on its own as a visionary thriller." more... Chicago Tribune, Michael Wilmington
"...a stupendous visual achievement, a great movie fantasy."

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

2010-10-31T13:03:00.000-07:00

Sauron's forces have laid siege to Minas Tirith, the capital of Gondor, in their efforts to eliminate the race of men. The once-great kingdom, watched over by a fading steward, has never been in more desperate need of its king. But can Aragorn answer the call of his heritage and become what he was born to be? In no small measure, the fate of Middle-earth rests on his broad shoulders. With the final... See Full Description
Action/Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Adaptation and SequelPG 13 for intense epic battle sequences and frightening images.Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
"...Peter Jackson brings his epic series to a glorious finish." more... Boston Globe, Ty Burr
"King has pageantry, purpose, but it's not quite the greatest show on Middle-earth." more... Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"That it falls a little shy of greatness is perhaps inevitable." more... Chicago Tribune, Michael Wilmington
"This is a movie that, purely and simply, has visions and excitement to blow us away once again." more...

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The Other Side of Heaven

2010-10-31T08:30:00.000-07:00

John Groberg, a farm kid from Idaho, crosses an ocean to become a missionary in the remote and exotic Kingdom of Tonga during the 1950's, leaving behind a loving family and the true love of his life, Jean Sabin. Through letters and musings across the sky, John shares his adventures with "the girl back home," and her letters buoy up his spirits in difficult times. John must struggle to... See Full Description
Action/Adventure, Drama, Kids/Family, Adaptation, Biopic and Politics/ReligionDecember 14, 2001 (limited), April 12, 2002 (limited)PG for thematic elements and brief disturbing images.Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sheila Norman-Culp
"...wry, gentle comedy." more... Chicago Tribune, Robert K. Elder
"... a breathtaking exotic landscape cluttered only by the smugness of its characters." more... Deseret News, Jeff Vice
"...a disappointment." more... E! Online,
"...takes drama and drains it of friction." more...

American Pie

2010-10-31T04:54:00.000-07:00

Jim is your average healthy re-blooded virgin -- he's desperate to "make it" with a woman. The stakes are raised when his parents catch him with his pants down watching porno films in his bedroom, his one experience with a beautiful exchange student turns into an online disaster and his friends make a pact that by the day of their high school graduation, none of them will be virgins.... See Full Description
R for strong sexuality, crude sexual dialogue, language and drinking, all involving teens.Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"...not inspired, but it's cheerful and hard-working and sometimes funny..." more... filmcritic.com, Christopher Null
"... can’t help but feel drained (from laughter) after leaving this pic." more... Orlando Weekly, Steve Schneider
"...a washout..." more... ReelViews, James Berardinelli
"It takes risks; they don't always work, but, when they do, there's a payoff."

Saving Grace (Fine Line Features)

2010-10-31T01:19:00.000-07:00

Grace Trevethan's idyllic life on the Cornish coast is turning upside down. Faced with her husband's untimely death, a mountain of debt, a former mistress and the prospect of losing her beautiful manor house, Grace decides to put her green fingers to work. Desperate times call for desperate measures and with a little prompting from her now underemployed gardener, Matthew, Grace swaps her prize-winning... See Full Description
R for drug content and language.NZone,
(3.5 out of 5 stars) "Following along on the footsteps of 'The Full Monty,' 'The Big Tease' and 'Waking Ned Devine,' 'Saving Grace' brings us back into the world of yet another quaint little British town." Full Review... culturevulture.net,
"The movie staggers where it should skip lightly, its scenes elastic and unshaped." Full Review... Empire (UK),
(3 out of 5 stars) "For all its niceties, there's nothing new here." Full Review... Film Journal International,
"...blithe, snappily paced..."

Beauty and the Beast

2010-10-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

An arrogant nobleman is turned into a beast and, in order to break the spell, he tries to win the love of a village girl.
Comedy, Kids/Family, Musical/Performing Arts, Romance and AnimationNovember 13th, 1991; January 1st, 2002 (IMAX Re-release)Walt Disney Studios DistributionChicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
"...great entertainment..." more... Chicago Tribune, Michael Wilmington
"...this is a film of astonishments." more... E! Online,
"...this beaut's worth it just to revisit a time when Disney knew how to make good animated films without its Pixar crutch." more... filmcritic.com, Christopher Null
"...on a return viewing ten years later, Beauty and the Beast doesn't seem to be quite the masterpiece we once thought."

100 Girls

2010-10-30T16:44:00.001-07:00

A college freshman has sex with a girl during a power outage and never sees her face. When he goes in search of the mystery girl, he realizes there are about one hundred suspects to consider.

View the original article here

Robin Hood - Movie Review

2010-10-13T16:56:00.000-07:00

Cover via Amazon

"Robin Hood" is an action movie that was released in May of 2010. It is rated PG-13.
I probably read "Robin Hood" for the first time when I was around 10 years old. I then re-read it a number of times over the next few years. The release of "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" was a red letter day for me and I enjoyed that film a lot. The latest version, the "Robin Hood" we are discussing today, has a number of twists that made it even more interesting as I tried to guess what would happen.
Robin Longstride (Russel Crowe) has been fighting for years in the Crusades with King Richard's army. During the last siege before returning to England, King Richard is killed with a crossbow bolt in the neck (first big surprise). His right hand man Robert Locksley is tasked with bringing the crown back to London in order to have it presented to the next king, Richard's brother John. John's boyhood friend and trusted companion Sir Godfrey turns out to be a traitor and is actively helping King Philip of France to take advantage of England's weakness. He and a number of French soldiers ambush Robert Locksley and his escort before they can leave France. He wants to capture the crown but is thwarted by Robin Longstride and his friends who have left the army and are trying to find their own way home ahead of the army. They discover the ambush and in turn surprise the French soldiers, killing most of them and wounding Godfrey who escapes.
Locksley manages to live long enough to give Robin his sword and asks him to return it to his father, the Lord of Nottingham. Robin and his friends pretend to be knights in order to get back to England. He presents the crown in London and then rides off to Nottingham. When he gets there the Lord Locksley asks him to impersonate his returned son in order to protect the inheritance of dead son's wife, the Lady Marian (Cate Blanchett). He agrees and with the reluctant help of Marian he soon proves that he can be of great help to them all.
Godfrey is commissioned by John to go the the northern Baronies to collect back taxes. These areas have already been impoverished by taxes to pay for the Crusades and they don't have the money to pay what is owed. Godfrey leads his English men into another ambush where they are all killed and replaced with French soldiers. They then proceed to attack cities and towns to not only collect money but to rouse the anger of the barons against John in the hope that they will commit to civil war.
Godfrey learns that Robin is in Nottingham and leads his men to attack the town. Godfrey kills the old lord and has his men put many of the townspeople, including Marian into a building and set it on fire. Robin, who had been out of town getting the support of the barons, returns with an army that kills the French invaders and learns that the French fleet will be landing soon. The army of the barons and the king join forces to meet the fleet and repel the invading army. While John actually joins the fighting, when the French surrender the English soldiers cheer for Robin. John becomes jealous and breaks his promise to provide greater freedoms to his people and naming Robin an outlaw. Robin and Marian then make their way into Sherwood Forest.
My Recommendation
I liked the movie and the unexpected twists that were written into the script. Seeing Robin start out as a regular guy and then becoming Robin of Locksley through deception was a neat rewrite from the book and made the entire film more interesting. The action scenes were great with Robin actually using a sword almost as much as he use his bow. The final battle on the beach was not historically correct but who cares? It was well done and we did get to see Robin pull off a spectacular bow shot to finally put an end to Godfrey.
I've admired Cate Blanchett ever since her portrayal of Katherine Hepburn in "The Aviator". She was definitely the best Maid Marian I've seen although technically she was no longer a "Maid" but a married woman. Her character did not mind jumping in to plow a field, shoe a horse, or pull livestock from the mud. I didn't really feel any chemistry between Cate Blanchett and Russel Crowe but then again, it wasn't a romantic comedy so I don't really mind that. In fact, I never mind that as much as my lovely wife does.
Overall I have no problem recommending the movie to the guys or ladies. The ladies get to see Mr. Crowe with his shirt off and the guys get to see him shoot arrows into the bad guys. That's a good trade-off, right?

Howard Ralston is an avid movie-goer and writer. He finally realized that he could combine these two passions and now writes movie reviews on Movie Crasher. Look for more reviews of action movies on his site.

Tips for Picking a Good Movie

2010-10-09T22:39:00.001-07:00

Okay, so maybe it’s not that bad, but essentially you have to choose something that’s going to make everyone happy. So lucky you have this wonderful guide with you.
Your Mood, Your Movie
If you’ve been given the “responsibility” of selecting a movie, then there is a bright side – you’ve got control. Your mood can ultimately dictate what genre of film.
• Happy – Go for a comedy, adventure, action or musical
• Thoughtful – If you’re in the mood to be challenged try a thriller, action, crime & gangster, drama, science fiction, or epic historical feature
• Indifferent – Sometimes you just don’t know what you’re feeling, so the best bet is to go for something that has a bit of everything like a comedy, detective & mystery, fantasy, biopics, animations, or chick flick.
• Sad or Distracted – When you’re feeling blue or have your mind on other things, it’s best to keep things light with a positive movie that offers a few laughs or a feel-good theme.
Movie Choice Etiquette
‘Movie Choice What?’ I hear you say. Well, maybe we just made something up and maybe it’s the way of the future. If people can make a blog about car shotgun rules, who’s to say there’s no room for movie choice etiquette?
Your mood will decide the genre of the movie you watch, so being wary of the rest of the people who have to watch the film is always good “movie choice etiquette”.
Choosing For Kids
Everyone loves being the cool parent, the one that lets the little ones slightly get away with things, so if there are kids in the group, choose films that are appropriate for their age, especially if they belong to someone else. That will just come back and bite you ten-fold when they go home and tell their folks that they’ve seen ‘Aliens Director’s Cut’.
Check the Reviews and Starring Actors
If you’re really concerned about the quality of the film, jump online to check the opinions of others who have seen the movie. While critic reviews are sometimes helpful, it is usually the “real people” ratings that offer a fair appraisal of the film. In some cases, a good movie will often generate a good “buzz” anyway – so if you feel like you’ve heard about the movie and can’t quite remember where it’s from, it’s probably been in the media for all the right reasons...sometimes, though, it could be for all the wrong reasons (remember ‘Waterworld’? Neither do I, but it’s a name etched into the Stone of Bad – another thing I maybe just made up like ‘Movie Choice Etiquette’).
Finally, look at the stars – it's a good way of measuring whether it is going to be a quality film, as the big-league actors are very selective as to which projects they sign onto, except Robert DeNiro, he’s really sold himself out these days. Maybe Samuel L. Jackson, too, but it’s a no-brainer he sold out...why else would you be in a movie with Hayden Christiansen, or Christian Haydensen, I can never remember.
If all else fails and you’re just not confident with selecting a good film, turn to the Disney section. After all, everyone will have seen these classics and undoubtedly enjoy reliving their childhood, if only for a few hours.

How to Watch Blu-Ray DVD on iPad

2010-10-09T22:38:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Blu-ray Disc (also known as BD or Blu-ray) is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the standard DVD format. Its main uses are for storing high-definition video, PlayStation 3 video games, and other data, with up to 25 GB per single layered, and 50 GB per dual layered disc. The disc has the same physical dimensions as standard DVDs and CDs.

The iPad is the first tablet computer developed by Apple Inc. It is part of a device category between a smartphone and a laptop computer. A beautiful 9.7-inch high-resolution display makes iPad perfect for watching any kind of video: from HD movies and TV shows to podcasts and music videos. However, if you want to watch Blu-Ray DVD movies on your iPad, you need to rip Blu-Ray disc to iPad compatible video file and then transfer the output video to iPad with the sync of iTunes. The following tutorial is going to show you how to rip Blu-Ray DVD to iPad compatible video files, helping you watch Blu-Ray movies on the go.

To watch the Blu-Ray movies, what you need to do is simply rip the Blu-Ray DVD into a video format supported by iPad. After you have the files in a compatible format upload them into your iPad through the sync of iTunes Library.

To rip Blu-Ray DVD to iPad video you need to download DVD to iPad Converter Suite.

Step 1. Launch Blu-Ray to iPad Ripper and add Blu-Ray Files

Click the “BD/DVD ROM” button to extract Blu-Ray movie from disc. Or click the “BD/DVD Folder” if you would like to add Blu-Ray files from your PC. The video information of the loaded Blu-Ray movie will be shown in the file list. You can rename the output videos in the file list, select the chapters/titles to convert, choose DVD subtitle and audio track, etc. Double click a selected file, and you will be able to preview it.

Step 2. Choose Output Format

Extend the “Format” drop-down list and choose “iPad” from the category. From the subcategory, you may choose “iPad HD Video (*.mp4)”, “iPad Video H.264 (*.mp4)” or “iPad Video MPEG-4 (*.mp4)” as the output format.

If you want to customize a profile for the output video, you can click the “Settings” button next to the Format field to open the “Profile” window and set video resolution, frame rate, bit rate, encoder, etc. See the figure below:

Step 3. Click “Start” to Rip Blu-Ray DVD to iPad

Check the file list and make sure all the required files are selected. Then click the “Convert” button to start ripping Blu-Ray DVD to iPad.

Step 4. Transfer Output Video to iPad

Connect your iPad to the computer and sync it with iTunes.

To play the movie on your iPad, select Videos then Movies from the iPad Main Menu. You will see an alphabetical list of the available movies. Click on the desired movie to play it.

Note: There are a few tips and tricks you won’t let slip while using this Blu-Ray to iPad Ripper to rip Blu-Ray disc for viewing on iPad, such as trimming DVD length, cropping video edges, adding text/image watermaters, capturing pictures from the movie, applying a video effect, etc.

Ten Best Films of The Past 10 Years

2010-10-09T22:36:00.003-07:00

What makes a good animated movie? While beautiful art is certainly important, it takes an engaging story and memorable characters to help an animated film truly stand out. Here’s our list of the 10 best animated films since 2000. What do you think? Did we leave anyone out?

10. Monsters, Inc (2001)
No animation studio has more consistently produced great movies this decade like Pixar. In their first film of the new millennium, Pixar uses computer animation to create an alternate world where the monsters are scared of children. With jokes and sight gags packed into almost every frame, the team at Pixar makes the monster world seem almost more fun than our own.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaLhEVzlndg

9. Shrek (2001)
DreamWorks Animation used Shrek to poke fun at traditional fairy tales in a way no animated movie had up to that point. Pinocchio, the three little pigs and Prince Charming are all fair game for the big green ogre and his talking donkey sidekick. “Shrek” went on to win the first-ever Academy Award for an Animated Feature, and has spawned two sequels (with another on the way) that have made almost $2.2 billion to date.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxqQPrUomTc

8. Persepolis (2007)
This French film follows a young girl’s struggles through the social culture in Iran. “Persepolis” is based on the graphic novel of the same name and uses flat black-and-white animation to communicate its message more poignantly than a traditionally acted movie could. Its PG-13 rating and serious themes go against the traditional notion that animated films should just be for children. It made many critics’ Top 10 lists in 2007.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PXHeKuBzPY

7. The Incredibles (2004)
Families looking for just another fun superhero movie got more than they bargained for when they went to see “The Incredibles.” This movie deals with serious themes like society’s emphasis on self-esteem and the difficulties that come with middle age. Of course, it also has plenty of fireballs, giant robots and exploding ships to keep even the most hyperactive kid happy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE_-pwRnLh4

6. Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
After their three popular shorts in the 1990s, this clay duo was ready to finally make their feature film debut in 2005. Because the crew at Aardman Studios used claymation to animate the entire movie, they were able to film only three seconds per day and needed five years to finish the full movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrqRv0s5McU

5. Chicken Run (2000)
Another fantastic claymation film from Aardman Studios. This one’s about hundreds of chickens trying to make their escape from a POW-style chicken coop. Through all the action, the filmmakers also manage to sprinkle in references to movies like “Stalag 17,” “The Great Escape” and “Indiana Jones.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOnmZuqN7HE

4. Ratatouille (2007)
This film gives us one of the great animated duos since Buzz and Woody hit the screen when Remy the rat teams up with Linguini, an aspiring chef. “Ratatouille’s” message is that great art can come from anywhere, and its animators seem to have found it in beautiful shots of Paris through a rat’s perspective.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALUmKa_mpik

3. Spirited Away (2001)
This anime movie by famed Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki became the highest-grossing film in Japanese history and is currently the only foreign language film to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Film. This coming of age story follows a young girl who gets trapped in a world of animals and monsters and must find her way out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6az9wGfeSgM

2. Finding Nemo (2004)
While “Finding Nemo” is filled with breathtaking coral reefs, its most memorable moments come from its colorful characters. This film about a clown fish trying to find his son is populated by hippie sea turtles, sharks that don’t eat fish and one very forgetful Blue Tang. “Finding Nemo” became the highest-grossing Pixar movie ever and helped put thousands of clown fish into the fishbowls of children around the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfgeIZyrIM0

1. WALL-E (2008)
Pixar shows once again why they are the masters of animation through the beautiful “WALL-E.” Using little more than a series of beeps and bloops, they are able to communicate a touching love story between two robots. And with almost no dialogue through the first 40 minutes of the movie, “WALL-E” almost has more in common with Charlie Chaplin’s silent comedies of the 1910s than the hyperkinetic computer-animated films of today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alIq_wG9FNk

Black Swan The Movie

2010-10-08T05:42:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Black Swan is the newest movie coming out from Darren Aronofsky. The plot was a closely held secret, and there were a lot of rumors swirling around, especially about what form the relationship between Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, the movies 2 big stars, would take. When the Black Swan movie trailer came out, instead of clearing up any mysteries, it just spawned more and whetted the appetite of the Internet viewers.
Since the Black Swan movie premiere at movie festivals takes place on September first at the Venice Film Festival, it was inevitable that a trailer would come out. This trailer is just a teaser, just enough that everyone sees a little bit and wants more. There is a clip that seems to answer whether or not Natalie Portman's character Nina and Mila Kunis's character Lily have a very personal relationship, but it is just a flash on the screen and only raises more questions.
The Black Swan plot centers around the ballet world. Natalie Portman's character is an experienced, technically brilliant ballerina who is practicing for her lead part in the ballet Swan Lake. Her mother, played by Barbara Hershey, pushes her towards success, and her dance master keeps telling her to put more feeling into her dancing. Mila Kunis's character Lily enters. Lily dances with all the passion and emotion that Nina is missing out on. The movie focuses Nina's fixation on Lily and on their relationship.
Regarded as one of the year's most mysterious films, the less that is said about Black Swan, the more tension and excitement mounts about the movie. Some movie trailers give you a good idea of what the movie is about and what to expect. You have a pretty good idea of what is happening in the movie from what you see in the trailer. The Black Swan movie trailer is not that kind of trailer. Instead, it just helped to draw a further veil of mystery over the movie, leaving everyone confused as to exactly what is going to happen in the movie. There are a lot of people who can't wait to see Black Swan and see if it lives up to the mystery. Watch your favorite movies here.

Best Movies to Watch This Season

2010-10-07T01:27:00.000-07:00

Cover of Bruce Willis

Some of the best movies to watch are none other than the Expendables, Salt, Inception and Nightmare on Elm Street if you prefer action-packed films for the purpose of entertainment. Take the time to read the reviews about these films before attempting to view. Unless you love surprises, then you could jolly well go ahead with the viewing of these films. Check for the earliest show that you can watch so that you are able to catch them as they first hit the shores in your city.
The cast of the best movies to watch are indispensible as they all have their own individual flavors which are added to the flow of the film. For instance, in the Expendables, the line-up of stars is monstrous in terms of popularity. Sylvester Stallone is the main hero of the film, together with the musky team of the Transporter star, Jason Statham. Other than that, funnyman Terry Crews joins in the boisterous crowd as an explosives and weapons expert. The main spoiler alert is the scene in a church where Sly and his former real-life action hero rival, Arnold Schwarzenegger stand side by side, mocking each other in front of another former action star, Bruce Willis.
Freddie Kruger strikes back in Nightmare on Elm Street and this time he kills the grown-ups in their sleep. In the film, the teenagers that were once in the same kindergarten which is haunted by the murder of a gardener are forced to face with the consequences of their actions. Freddie does a wonderful job in making the audience lose sleep with his terrifying appearance in the film; however the plot revolves around the escape plan of the teenagers which is ultimately avoidance of sleep. It is just a matter of time until one of them drifts off and meets Freddie in their nightmares.
Other than the list above, film junkies can look forward to an hour and a half of romantic scenes between Bella and Edward in the Twilight trilogy, Eclipse. This long awaited last piece of the saga can be found in Stephanie Meyer's paperback release but as what film junkies prefer, it is always better to view it on the big screen. Bella who waits for her love, Edward, is now taking a curious second look at her other love interest, Jacob. The chemistry between the stars is felt by the audience as the plot thickens for the last time.

Outland (1981)

2010-09-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

Cover of Outland

Sen Connery. What a man. A man's man. A ladies' man. A Sci-Fi man.

Oh yes, indeed. The bold Sen has made the several forays into the world of Science-Fiction, some good ('The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' for all its faults is still hugely enjoyable), some not so good (1974's 'Zardoz' - Connery is a big red nappy - and it's Irish!).

But one of his better ventures was Peter Hyams' forgotten Sci-Fi actioner, 'Outland', released to critical approval in 1981. Aptly summed up as 'High Noon' in space, it deals with a police officer (Connery) being dispatched to a large mining colony on Io, one of the moons of Jupiter. There he encounters corruption, organized crime, drug smuggling, unscrupulous corporate politics and a shootout finale. All this takes place in a maze of low-light tunnels, futuristic corridors and metal-wrapped rooms that look like they came straight out of Ridley Scott's 'Alien'.

Indeed the marked similarities in layout and design between both movies has often been remarked upon, usually to the disparagement of 'Outland', but in fact both movies merely extrapolate a future based upon the ideas and concepts of the late 1970s and early '80s in a realistic manner and come up unsurprisingly with much the same results. The mining colony of Io looks remarkably lifelike, with a worn, industrial lived-in look. It is a dark, grimy place reflecting its purpose and much of the technology still looks remarkably believable today.

Though liked by critics the audience reaction upon release was mixed and today the movie enjoys a greater reputation than it did then as a primer of what a realistic Science-Fiction movie should look like - and feel. Thirty years on it can still be enjoyed as a western set in space, and any film with Sen Connery is always going to be good.

Biography of James Bond Creator Ian Fleming

2010-09-30T02:43:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Born in Mayfair, London, 1908, Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist, and World War II Navy Commander. Though, in popular culture, Fleming is best known for creating the James Bond character, chronicling his adventures in twelve novels and nine short stories.

Also accredited to Fleming are the children's story, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and two other non-fiction books. Fleming died in 1964, but his timeless character James Bond continues to live on with numerous movies, the more recent movies being throwbacks to the first book, Casino Royale, and its sequel, Quantum of Solace.

Fleming was born to Valentine Fleming, a Member of Parliament, and his wife Evelyn Ste Croix Fleming. He was the younger brother of travel writer Peter Fleming and the older brother of Michael and Richard Fleming. Fleming was educated at Sunningdale School in Berkshire, Eton College, and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

He was honored Victor Ludorum at Eton, two years in a row - something that had been achieved only once before. Fleming would attend school in Austria, attempting to improve his German and prepare for Foreign Office exams. Finally, he ended up at the University of Geneva, where he failed to join the Foreign Office, ultimately working as sub-editor and journalist for the Reuters news service.

In 1939, on the eve of World War II, Fleming was recruited as Rear Admiral John Godfrey's personal assistant. Fleming was eventually promoted to Commander with the codename 17F.

In 1942, Fleming formed an Auxiliary Unit known as 30AU, or 30 Assault Unit that he nicknamed "Red Indians", the unit was specifically trained in lock-picking, safe-cracking, hand-to-hand combat, and other techniques and skills involving collecting intelligence. Fleming's group collected key intelligence for many missions during the war, especially with successful missions such as Operation Overlord.

Fleming's time in the service of the Navy proved to be inspiration for his writing career. The intelligence work provided him with a solid background for spy novels.

In 1953, he published his first novel, Casino Royale. It was with this classic novel that Fleming introduced the world to the character, James Bond, famously known by his code number, 007. Rumors of Fleming's involvement with Camp X, a specialized training program during WWII, supplied Fleming with character details for Bond.

Bond's actual name came from famed ornithologist James Bond, son of the Bond family who befriended Fleming, allowing him to use their Jamaican estate to write. The Bonds were wealthy manufacturers whose estate outside of Philadelphia, Pa. eventually became Gwynedd Mercy College.

The Bond novels realized little to no success with the American audience until then President John F. Kennedy cited From Russia With Love on a list of his favorite books. After that, sales quickly increased. Fleming would go on to write a total of 14 Bond books.

After the financial success of the Bond series, Fleming was able to retire. Along with the Bond series, Fleming has also written a children's novel and two guide books: Thrilling Cities, and a study of The Diamond Smugglers.

John Travolta - A True Icon

2010-09-22T04:44:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

John Travolta is a living legend in Hollywood today. It was in the 70's that he shot to fame with a mesmerizing performance in "Saturday Night Fever", and the fact that he is till around acting speaks volumes about the abilities of the man and his acting talent. He started his career on American Television, and soon graduated to movies. It was the lucky break in Saturday Night Fever that was the turning pointy in his career, and he has never looked back since then.

There have been more than 50 John Travolta pictures till date and many have been major hits at the box office. SNF, which had 17 audio tracks, caught the imagination of the youth and there are people who say that there has not been a better movie in the genre of music till date. Another of John Travolta pictures which was a musical and also proved to be a success was Grease which was released in 1978. It created record of sorts with 5 Golden Globe nominations and is considered to be a great musical hit.

Since then he has worked in many hit movies like Urban Cowboy, Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty and Face off in which he played the role of an FBI agent who disguises as a terrorist to bring another terrorist out of hiding to gun him down. This movie has been critically acclaimed and catapulted Travolta as a serious actor. He followed this up with A Civil Action and The General's daughter. Travolta is a man with a mission. He was seen in From Paris with Love which was a comeback of sorts for this legend. He says that movies and Hollywood run as blood in his body and he will continue forever. There are many more John Travolta 2010 in the pipeline which his fans can see at the theaters soon.

My Top Five Favorite Movies Starring Tommy Lee Jones

2010-09-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

One actor who has been in so many great films, it is hard to keep track, is Tommy Lee Jones. Jones started acting in the early 1970s, and has not slowed down since. He has been in all sorts of films, from action and adventure, to Westerns, and even comedy. He is a truly amazing actor and the accolades he has collected over the years help show that.
But which Tommy Lee Jones movies are the best? Here are some of my favorites.
The first movie that I will mention on this list is The Fugitive. If you have not yet seen The Fugitive, you are depriving yourself of one of the best movies of the 1990s. Tommy Lee Jones won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this film. This movie also stars Harrison Ford as a wrongfully accused doctor who is being charged with the murder of his wife. He must track down the killer while avoiding getting arrested in the process.
Another great film starring Tommy Lee Jones was No Country For Old Men. This movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and with good reason. Jones plays the part of an aging cop in a small desert town to perfection. Joel and Ethan Coen directed this movie and it is one of my favorite films that these brothers have put out.
I would be remiss to make a list of Tommy Lee Jones' best movies without including Under Siege. I have not heard anyone talk about this movie in years, but when it came out, this was easily one of my favorite action movies. This is probably Steven Segal's best movie and he plays the part of a cook to perfection.
While they are not my personal favorite films, I do think you have to give credit to the Men In Black movies. These movies have grossed so much money that it cannot be ignored. A third installment is on the way as well.
One other great movie from Tommy Lee Jones that I will include on this list is Natural Born Killers. This is probably my favorite film directed by Oliver Stone and in addition to Jones, stars Woody Harrelson and Julliette Lewis.
Hopefully there are one or more films from Tommy Lee Jones' catalog that you have not yet seen. If you need a good place to get started, I highly recommend the above mentioned films.

A List Of My Favorite Steven Spielberg Movies To Date

2010-09-18T23:46:00.001-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

According to practically every list of best directors ever written, Steven Spielberg is considered one of the greatest. Sure, this is my opinion, but it is also the opinion of many others. Maybe this is why he has been nominated for so many Academy Awards or why his movies tend to do very well at the box office.
It is tough to comprise a list of Spielberg's top five movies of all time, but I will give it a try.
The first film I would like to discuss is probably the most kid friendly on this list. E.T: The Extraterrestrial came out in 1982 and has been considered a classic ever since. People of all ages tend to love this movie. The ride at Universal Studios is incredibly fun as well.
Another fantastic movie directed by Spielberg was Saving Private Ryan. Few people do World War II films as good as Spielberg does and this film is the perfect depiction. No wonder he managed to snag an Oscar for Best Director.
It's definitely tough to make a list of Spielberg movies and not give praise to The Color Purple. This film picked up a ton of nominations at the 1986 Academy Awards, including a Best Director nod for Spielberg and a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Oprah Winfrey.
One movie that must be included on any list of Steven Spielberg films is Schindler's List. If you have yet to see this movie, do yourself a favor and dedicate four hours (it is very long) on a rainy Saturday to watch it.
When it comes to Spielberg's top rated movies of all time, Raiders Of The Lost Ark chimes in at number 22 on the iMDB.com greatest films of all time. This is my personal favorite Indiana Jones movie and was the predecessor for many action/adventure movies that we see today.
As it stands, this is my Spielberg list. Supposedly he has an Abraham Lincoln biopic in the works, which I have no doubt will be incredible.

Death Note - Foreign Film Review

2010-09-16T04:47:00.000-07:00

Cover of Death Note (Live Action)

Synopsis: Based on the Japanese manga (comic book series) of the same title by Tsugumi Oba and Takeshi Obata, the plot involves a university student named Light Yagami (Tatsuya Fujiwara). Light hopes to become a police detective one day, and studies diligently to achieve his goal.

He hates crime and corruption, and while walking home one night, finds a supernatural notebook owned by Ryuk, the God of Death (voiced by Shido Nakamura). Light learns that the name of any human written in the notebook will die, and soon goes to work trying to rid the world of killers and thieves.

He takes on an alias known as Kira, and soon becomes a controversial underground celebrity. Light wields his power mercilessly, and discovers that the act of writing in the notebook also gives him the God-like ability to control an individual's actions and alter the course of a person's destiny.

With the companionship of Ryuk, Light uses his brilliant intellect to exact his personal form of justice while staying one step ahead of the law.

But the law is trying to track him down, and Light finds himself hunted by a mysterious detective known only as "L" (Kenichi Matsuyama). "L" is every bit as brilliant as Light, and the game of cat-and-mouse escalates as both are tested to the limits of their intellect.

The Good: Death Note is an ingeniously developed story with a very cool plot. The supernatural element is very complex, but is clearly explained and contained within the context of the story. Any possible plot holes are expertly plugged, which is impressive because this movie could have easily fallen apart.

The story twists are very well thought-out, and this is ultimately an unpredictable movie that will keep you engaged until the very end. Light is a fascinating protagonist, and his God-complex reveals a number of jaw-dropping philosophical/ethical points of discussion.

Although I've never read the original comic book series or watched the anime version, Death Note appears to be a highly successful adaptation. Much of the story/character nuances common in comic-book series are preserved, making it an experience that is as enjoyable as it is complicated.

The Bad: Some of the digital effects involving Ryuk are kind of hokey. And because of the ending, the full impact of this movie will only be completely enjoyed upon the first viewing.

Who would like this movie: I'd recommend Death Note mainly for the 18-35 demographic. It's a very smart movie, and not necessarily just for fans of foreign films.

You'll enjoy it if you're a fan of comic books (especially Japanese manga), thrillers, and imaginative storylines. It's a comic-book adaptation that visually opts for elegance and subtlety over colorful garishness.

(3 and 1/2 stars out of 4)

Director: Shusuke Kaneko

Starring: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Shido Nakamura, Takeshi Kaga, Yu Kashii, Asaka Seto, Kenichi Matsuyama

Year: 2006

Review written by: Joe Yang

Movie Review - Jerry and Tom

2010-09-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

A film is such an organic entity. It could have great actors, great script, and a creative director, but yet it still might not click the way it's supposed to.

One important factor is the "background" of similar works that we can't help but compare it with. "Citizen Kane" is fine as a classic but can you watch "Citizen Bob - The Sequel"?

That's the problem with "Jerry and Tom." It watches like a film that Quentin Tarantino wrote with David Mamet from a Coen Brothers idea. "Pulp Fiction" was fresh and electrifying. But "Jerry and Tom," the n-th iteration of a similar concept, feels as tired and old as the used cars that the main characters trade in.

To compensate for that, director Saul Rubinek resorted to some very creative scene transitions which are okay the first few times you experience it. But since EVERY scene segues to the other in the same fashion, you soon come to expect it as if expecting a scene change in a stage play. At that point directing starts to call so much attention to itself that it begins to overpower everything else. And that's the problem with Rubinek's brilliant but in-your-face directing. It make it difficult to suspend our disbelief in the whole enterprise.

J&T are two contract killers who pretend to be used car salesmen during daytime. The film is a collection (not even a "chain") of episodes in which they invariably kill someone, but only after a long and witty give and take a la Tarantino. Throughout the film we have no idea why the victims are killed or who they are since the focus is relentlessly on our narcissistic anti-heros.

In that way, the film raises an ethical question that it does not intend to answer in any form - the morality of homicide (duh!). The director asks us "just to enjoy" one scene of butchery and bloodshed after another for the sake of all that "witty conversation" between two psychopaths who should really be locked up somewhere for good.

The forced ending does not resolve this core problem either. In that sense, this movie, packed with linguistic pyrotechnics and directorial gunpowder, is at its core a vacuous exercise in "entertainment for entertainment's sake" because it lacks a human heart.

Acting by the whole crew, starting with Joe Mantegna (Tom) and Sam Rockwell (Jerry) and including Maury Chaykin (Billy), Ted Danson (The Guy Who Loved Vicki), Charles Durning (Vic), and William H. Macy (Karl) is pretty good. Rockwell in particular is amazing as the slow-witted protege of the old-timer Tom. He is almost as good as he was in the "Matchstick Man." But all that acting cannot help save this sinking project.

5 stars out of 10 for all the smart talk around corpses. But if you've seen "Pulp Fiction" or "Blood Simple" you've seen this one already with one exception - the director tried to make this a "sweeter" picture, if you can imagine that. You like your castor oil with one sugar or two?

A Movie Review on Despicable Me

2010-09-14T02:43:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Are you looking for a summer blockbuster to go see at the theaters? If you are looking for an animated and quirky movie, consider seeing Despicable Me. Many famous actors, such as Steve Carrell and Jason Segal, have lent their voices to the movie.
Despicable Me is an animated film set in a world that only consists of villains. The world's greatest super villain is Gru, played by Steve Carrell. He is a bald, barrel chested, eastern European villain that has lost his greatest super villain status because someone has stolen the great pyramid of Egypt.
To prove his worthiness and get the greatest super villain title back, Gru decides to pull off the ultimate heist. He is going to steal the moon! In order to steal the moon, he must first steal the top secret shrink ray.
One thing stands in the way of Gru's greatness, Vector (Jason Segal). He is a nerdy villain that develops many seemingly useless weapons that are of little use to anyone. Who needs a gun that fires piranhas?
Another thing that stands in Gru's way is the fact that he cannot get financing for the caper from the Bank of Evil. They are only investing money in young, up and coming villains like Vector. The only way that they will reconsider is if he steals the shrink ray.
Gru steals the shrink ray only to have it stolen by Vector. In order to get it back, Gru focuses on Vector's weakness, cookies. The movie finishes up with us thinking that maybe Gru isn't the evil villain after all! This is a great and quirky movie that is enjoyable for the entire family.

The Last Exorcism

2010-09-13T05:24:00.000-07:00

I love a good horror flick. My wife and I went to see The Last Exorcism and found that it was neither a horror flick, or a good flick. Where to begin? How about at the beginning.

We start out learning about the exorcist in this movie, named Reverend Cotton Marcus. He's a former believer who has lost his faith and now makes his living by charging people for fake exorcisms. Sound flimsy? Like an overcooked noodle.

So Cotton gets this letter pleading for him to come and take a demon out of a teenage girl in Louisiana. If you enjoy a Southern like I do, you only get a few despite a large cast- most of the actors sound like they're from Westchester County in New York. Reminds me of calling a Japanese steakhouse for reservations one time and dealing with a woman who sounded like she was from South Jersey. Not very authentic.

Cotton pulls a few parlor tricks to make the father of the girl think the demon has been expelled. He goes on his way with a fist full of cash, and this is where the Exorcism Express goes off the tracks.

The possessed girl winds up in Cotton's hotel room and the story circles the drain for a while before concluding with some sort of ritual sacrifice. It's unclear whether the possession is real or a trick by a demented cult and no explanation is given before the credits roll.

Mine was one of quite a few that expressed a sort of "You gotta be kidding me" at the film's abrupt ending.

If you're still reading, the real icing on the cake is the overdone shaky camera movements, a la Blair Witch Project. Some of the effects were pretty convincing and some were predictable and look like they needed a bit more time in post before being considered "in the can".

I'd name someone from the cast, but I'm not sure there's a recognizable name in the lot. As my wife and I discussed on the way home from the movies, the actors were all people who fit the definition of character actors. Basically, a "Hey, I know that guy from a commercial or something" kind of cast. And it showed in some of the acting, particularly with What's His Name that played the good Reverend Cotton.

A Twilight Movie Review

2010-09-11T06:34:00.000-07:00

Twilight movie is one of the latest movies which have its theme based on the book that was written by Stephanie Meyer who is also featured in the same movie. It was actually released in the Philippines way back in November of 2009 and it stars such movie stars as Robert Pattison as Edward and Kristen steward who is featured as Bella. Since its production it has been doing quite well as its casting is cool enough that one can easily derive the theme and meaning of the movie.
Different from the Edward(main vampire character) presented in the book who appears to be confident, perfect and cool at all the times, Edward in the movie is quite anxious and appears uncomfortable at all times. But as the movie continues, he seems to be moved closer to Bella simply because of her behavior through the film. Based on the fact that Edward is handsome, this gives him the advantage of moving even closer to meeting the woman he has always been dreaming of.
Despite the point that Edward is a vampire, this did not actually stop Bella from falling in love with him, something that most people will be intrigued with when watching the movie. In a normal situation, you will realize that once an individual come to learn about the evil deeds practiced by the person you love, their relationship will come to an abrupt end, but the producer of this film/ tackles this differently. Bella still dreams of Edward every night despite having learned about his impureness and so many other evil deeds.
The producer of the twilight movie also uses the music throughout the movie very well. The provision of lullaby songs for Bella is absolutely amazing as it adds to the uniqueness in the film production from other common movie making. The producer of this great movie uses two very important aspect of styles; suspense and romance which eventually bring out the quality production which makes one great movie that you will never want to miss. Therefore in case you really want to enhance all that you have been reading in the twilight book, then you should actually watch this great movie produced by a renowned producer from the Philippine movie style. Watching the Twilight movie will always make you want to watch more from this great producer as it pushes you to the edge of your seat. New Moon(Twilight 2) has also released and promises to continue where this original film leaves off.

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The West Wing

2010-09-09T04:54:00.000-07:00

Cover of The West Wing (The Official Companion)

It's nigh on two years ago now, but I can still remember those moments with awful clarity. The first was then-Presidential candidate John McCain referring to America's financial situation by claiming "the fundamentals of our economy are strong". My eyebrow raised, and not for the reason you'd think. It wasn't so much what he said that surprised me (I came to expect statements like that from him at that stage) but the very specific phrasing he used.

A couple of weeks later, in an economic debate, he did it again. At one point on the topic of fiscal rectitude he said that he would veto any budget Congress proposed that wasn't balanced, before pulling out the pen he said he'd use to do it. That time, I actually gasped with incredulity. John McCain had shamelessly nicked bits from The West Wing twice in a matter of weeks.

While it showed that somebody in his staff watched the show, it also showed they didn't watch it that carefully. The first line was a verbatim quote of Jed Bartlet from the first series, after which he was admonished by a staffer for answering the question "like an economics professor with a big ol' stick up his butt". The second, even more brazen snatch was from the final series debate for Bartlet's successor, where Republican candidate Arnie Vinick showed us all his vetoing biro. Vinick lost the election. Go figure.

In a way though, I find it hard to blame him: if I were running an election, I'd want it to be like The West Wing too. The show might have ended four years so, but its effect still looms large. Barack Obama was every inch a West Winger's candidate in 2008, a Bartlet/Santos hybrid who'd deliver us from the slack-jawed calamity that was the Bush administration. Even now, half way into his first term, I find myself not judging Obama against Clinton or Carter or Kennedy, but Bartlet. At a time when real-life politics feels to be both tear-inducing and hair-reducing, The West Wing is the Platonic ideal plane to which we can aspire.

It's not just the feel and tone of the show itself that's relentlessly stylized, but its characters are as driven and honourable as they are well-drawn. With most political comedies and dramas the focus is on either the incompetence or brazen amorality of the characters involved, not so in the Bartlet White House. Amongst the very first scenes we see in the whole series are of speechwriter Sam Seaborn having a late working drink with a reporter and leaving a bedfellow at 5am to go into the office. The first episode in no small part revolves around Sam obsessing over gentlemanly impropriety. The hours senior staff work are staggering, their devotion to cause absolute. But the genius of the show is in showing that though their work ethic is superhuman, the effects of that devotion aren't always happily ever after.

One of the most stark moments in the series is Chief of Staff Leo McGarry telling his (soon to be ex) wife with remarkable definition that his job was more important than his marriage right now. All of his colleagues have seen their personal lives similarly pillaged. But in a building that was described by one character as "not very conducive to relationships", the separate and collective bonds between the characters, as well as their own individual capacity to handle their workloads with such wit and grace and sleep deprivation, are truly special.

First among them is the relationship between the President and Leo: close counsel and best friends. Even though Leo only ever addresses the President by his first name twice in 155 episodes, their friendship is both clear to see and pivotal to the smooth working of the administration. Jed Bartlet may be in so many ways the ideal President, but without Leo's help he would never have got there. And for all Leo's cranky world weariness, he invariably gets the most inspiring lines. His vainglorious and abrasive deputy Josh Lyman knows that better than anyone: Leo's handling of Josh's post-traumatic stress could draw tears from a fossil. Beyond the paternal instincts of Jed and Leo towards the rest of their senior staff there's the sibling love and rivalry between them: the often strained relationship between Josh and the mercurial Communications Director Toby Ziegler, every inch a big brother, is balanced by the degree to which Josh and Toby's deputy Sam are on the same page. All three of them treat the press secretary, CJ Cregg, with flirtatious awe. And rightly so. Given the current prevalence at the moment of the Twilight series, where Kristen Stewart's sole purpose seems to be seen, not heard and coloured almost entirely by the manbeast she chooses, it's gratifying to see a woman character with such depth and strength.

The main cast is one thing, but the quality of the secondary characters are a marvellous flourish: the deeply conservative but entirely earnest Ainsley Hayes, the sage soldier Admiral Fitzwallace, the irrepressible Lord John Marbury, the marvellous hell-raiser Amy Gardner and innumerable others besides. It's such a capable satellite cast that makes the world they inhabit so believable.

As does the show's development over time. Some characters move on, others take on more stature than originally planned (the indispensible Donna Moss was, like so many classic TV characters, only originally meant to be a bit-part), the issues change as do the relationship dynamics, but never at the show's expense. A lot is made of the difference of the writing between series 4 and 5, the time at which series creator Aaron Sorkin left the show, and while he was a massive loss as far as I'm concerned the difference was negligible. The whole point of the show is that every staffer employed at the White House is working towards an ideal bigger than themselves, and no matter how talented any of them are, they're not irreplaceable, and the show will keep on going. That goes for Sorkin as much as anyone.

As a general theme in fact The West Wing deals with adversity and contention very well. Whereas in real life American politics where antipathy between political opponents is at boiling point, the Bartlet White House are often frustrated with congressional Republicans, but also very generous. When the Senate Majority Leader has an disastrous interview with a local TV station, the President urges CJ to go easy on him; he's a conscientious man. He treats a renegade General intent on criticising him publicly with similar grace. When Ainsley Hayes comes to work at the White House (hired due to her sense of duty, no less) the initially weary staff rally to her defence when she's ill-treated for her party preference. Even her initial quandary of serving an administration whose policies she couldn't stand was handled with marvellous magnanimity by, as is usually the case, Leo. "The President is asking you to serve. And everything else is crap".

That ultimately is the point of The West Wing. It shows a picture of life that although stylized is close enough to reality to think or hope it attainable. It shows that great things are possible when people use the courage of their convictions and the capacity of their minds. It's both topical and timeless. It is aspirational and inspirational art at its finest. And it serves at your pleasure.

Four Anime Classics Currently Being Adapted As Live Action Movies

2010-09-09T04:46:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Four projects are currently underway to remake classic anime into live action movies. For each movie included here, you'll find a brief plot summary, followed by the latest news on their development.

AKIRA - originally released July 16, 1988 - Written and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo based on his own hit manga.

The story is set thirty-one years after the destruction of Tokyo and World War III, in 2019, in Neo-Tokyo, a huge city built on an artificial island in Tokyo Bay. A secret military project turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychopath with psionic powers and only two kids and a group of other psionics can stop him.

NY Magazine recently announced Warner Brothers is in negotiations with the Hughes Brothers to direct. On June 17, 2010, producer Andrew Lazar said that a new writer had been hired and that the movie is being fast tracked. He also said the first movie would be based on volumes 1-3 with a second movie covering volumes 4-6.

GHOST IN THE SHELL - released in 1995 - Directed by Mamoru Oshii. Adapted from the original manga by Masamune Shirow.

It's 2029 and the world has become interconnected by a network that permeates every aspect of life. Tokyo's Section 9 network security force must catch a hacker known as the Puppet Master who can hack human minds and leaves behind fake memories. Motoko Kusanagi is a cyborg officer leading the investigation and begins to question her own existence. The Puppet Master may have answers to all her questions...and strangely enough, he's been looking for her.

In early March 2010, Screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis said she would be submitting a draft of the script in the coming weeks. She says to "cross your fingers" because getting a movie made with a female lead is a bit hard in Hollywood at the moment. She was also once attached to write a script for James Cameron's adaptation of Battle Angel Alita. This information comes from an article by Son Goshin at LiveActionAnime.org.

NINJA SCROLL - June 5, 1993 - Western release December 6, 1995 - Written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. The film is an homage to the Ninpocho series of ninja novels by Futaro Yamada.

Jubei Kibagami, a wandering sword-for-hire and ninja is led into a plot by the Shogun of the Dark to overthrow the Shogun and conquer Japan. Pursued by demons, Jubei joins forces with a deadly female ninja to fight many super strong inhuman opponents on their way to the truth behind this conspiracy.

In late February 2010, The Hollywood Reporter announced that writer Alex Tse (Watchmen) has written a script for the Warner Brothers live action adaptation. Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way production company has held the live action adaptation rights since 2008.

BATTLE ANGEL - manga written by Yukito Kishiro, called "Battle Angel Alita" - Anime adaptation of the first few books, called "Battle Angel" was released as "original video animation", consisting of 2 episodes, Rusty Angel and Tears Sign. Released in Japan as "Gunnm".

In the 26th century, a floating city, called Tiphares, dumps its trash onto the world below. In this bleak landscape, called the Scrapyard, Doc Ido, a cyborg physician, finds the head and torso of a young cyborg girl. Only Alita's brain is human and she has lost her memory. Doc Ido rebuilds her and later they discover that she has been programmed with an ancient cyborg fighting style. Alita soon finds out that Doc Ido works as a bounty hunter for the Factory, (the support organization for the floating city). Together, they take on many deadly foes as they try to unlock Alita's true power and potential.

On February 19, 2010 Avatar producer Jon Landau hinted on MTV Splash that the film, now being called Alita, may be filmed after Avatar 2, which is currently in development. James Cameron will direct the live-action adaption of the first three volumes of the manga series. More movies would cover the rest of the series if the first was successful. In later news it was reported that the film would focus on Alita's early development as she learns she's a deadly machine. Both Landau and Cameron are drawn to scenes involving Motorball, the gladitor-style racing battle for cyborgs in which Alita participates.

If you're a big fan of anime, or just movies in general, don't miss these four new live action films.

Movie Review - Salt

2010-09-06T05:30:00.001-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Summer is a great time for all of the blockbuster movies to be released. If you are looking to spending a hot summer day indoors, and want a fast, exciting, and suspenseful movie, consider watching Salt.

Salt stars Angelina Jolie and Liev Schreiber. Jolie plays Evelyn Salt, a CIA operative who is sworn to protect and defend her country. She is tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian sleeper spy that has been activated to murder the Russian president who is in New York.

She goes on the run, evading capture and trying to prove her innocence. She heads for New York to foil the assassination plot and clear her own name. During her journey, she also tries to discover the truth behind her identity and has a lot of internal struggles.

Liev Schreiber plays Ted, her best friend and close confidante at the agency. He refuses to believe that she is a double agent and tries to restrain the agent in charge of bring Salt into custody. Thus ensues a cat and mouse chase that is much in line with Jason Bourne.

What could have been a predictable and far fetched plot, is made better by Jolie's incredible performance. So, if you want to step out of your own life and into a suspenseful fictional world, this is the movie for you. However, bear in mind that this is entertainment. If you are looking for a movie that mirrors real life, this is not a movie you are likely to enjoy.

Should District 9 Have Been Banned in Nigeria

2010-09-06T00:46:00.001-07:00

Cover of District 9 [Blu-ray]

District 9 definitely got Nigerians talking because of the way we were portrayed in the movie. As a science fiction enthusiast, I was really looking forward to this movie. The short film it was based on called 'Alive in Jo'burg' was an interesting one if you were in the visual effects field. Then word started to reach me about its portrayal of Nigerians. Some were even saying we should boycott District 9. As usual, the internet forums were blazing the trail. I thought I'd reserve judgement until I saw the film. Wherever possible, I like to form an opinion based on fact rather than just jump on a popular bandwagon for the sake of it.

After watching the film, here are my thoughts. Of course it wasn't nice to see us portrayed in a negative light. But that's stating the obvious. I can see why our Minister for Information decided to step in, demand an apology and ban cinemas from showing it. I didn't agree with the move but I can see why she did it. I my opinion she picked the wrong target. There are several reasons why I hold this view.

1: There are crooks from Nigeria in other countries. It is well within citizens of that country's right to use that fact in anyway they wish. We do the same and have done so in history. At no point did the movie say ALL Nigerians are crooks.

2: Nollywood, our indigenous movie industry, has portrayed us in a much harsher light to both national and international audiences. There was a time where you couldn't get Nollywood movie that didn't include one of the following or a combination of them; fraud, juju/witchcraft, armed robbery, incest, adultery, cannibalism and of course our favourite, corruption. Nollywood has been pumping out thousands of movies with these themes for years with no real opposition from the general public or any Ministry. I must point out not all film makers in Nollywood do this but the majority do and I am yet to be proved wrong on this.

3: Banning films sets the wrong precedent; in fact it can be dangerous. Let us the public debate the issue. We are mature enough to do so. In fact our Minister has succeeded in giving the movie more publicity which I'm sure she didn't intend to do.

4: If you analyse the movie, you'll find that the biggest 'bad guys' are in fact the South African based arms company.

I think a more effective way of protecting or promoting the Nigerian image globally is to have a vibrant, respected, highly trained, creative, effective, well financed and subsidised media production sector. We can then do the rest. We can produce documentaries, films, cartoons, music, and stories telling the modern Nigerian story to us and the global audience. It won't all be good positive but you will definitely get a more balanced view.

We need to look at our media and entertainment sector and honestly ask ourselves are we where we should be to really compete globally? In my opinion the answer is no. However, we are heading in the right direction but that is mainly due to amazing trailblazers who are tirelessly working around the clock. We will need a lot more government help and intervention to really get us there. This is where the Information Ministry can really be of genuine help.

Let the public deal with District 9, Sony PS3's and all the other distractions.

The Karate Kid 2010 Movie - How to Watch it With Your Children

2010-08-29T22:08:00.000-07:00

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There has been a fair bit of controversy surrounding the Karate Kid Movie 2010. Despite the debate as to whether this film is suitable for children to view, many youngsters will see it. As a kids karate sensei, I would like to make suggestions on how to view this movie, and how to discuss it with your child.
First off, violence sells in Hollywood. MMA is so popular because people want to see real fighting action, maybe even someone getting hurt. Sometimes more violence than necessary is shown to make a movie dramatic and sell tickets. The consequences of such violence are not shown either. Missing teeth, broken bones and other serious injuries are not portrayed accurately by Hollywood because it is too gory. The pain and trauma is also not shown because it is too confronting to viewers.
Realize that fighting is not the way to solve our problems. There are many better ways of resolving conflict other than violence, and the first is communication-talking it over. Could the differences between the characters in this movie have been resolved in a better way?
The bullies in this movie, like the original Karate Kid Movie, trained in dojos that taught glorification of violence. This is extremely rare in the martial arts world, but it makes the movie more dramatic, because there has to be a bad guy in this story to make it interesting. The vast majority of martial arts instructors teach respect and avoidance of violence.
The tournament in this movie, just like the first, is not even close to what an actual martial arts tournament is like. Realise there are rules in tournaments and they are designed to prevent injury. There is also mandatory protective equipment worn in tournaments. If tournaments were run like this no one would ever attend them.
Look for good in this movie. Try to find lessons to be learned about life in the story. Try to put yourself in the different actors' positions in this movie and see where they are coming from. Is there peer pressure amongst the bullies? Was the bully brainwashed by his instructor? Was he racist? Who taught him to be racist?
Try to see how another culture lives from day to day. Remember, different is not always better or worse-it is just different, and that differences in language, food, and customs is what makes life interesting. How interesting would the world be if we were all the same? Look for common threads as well, as there are many western influences in China today. Is the western way of life always the best? Look for the beauty in the scenic sense, and also in the people and how they live. Remember, the martial arts originated in this part of the world.
What lessons did you learn from this movie?

Australia's Youth Self Defence Karate was founded in 1994 by Kenpo Freestyle 5th Degree Black Belt, Matt Klein. After arriving from the U.S., Matt noticed a great need for fun and affordable activities for children in Sydney. He opened the first club specializing in martial arts for kids in Australia. The classes became an instant hit, with their high-energy, fun, and non-intimidating atmosphere.

From Cairo With Love

2010-08-18T06:40:00.001-07:00

The romantic mood in "Cairo Time" has a strong presence, but it's missing the tension that films like this thrive on. In fact, this is one of those rare films that fails what's called the Peter Griffin Test: Think back to that episode of "Family Guy" where Peter buys a tank and shows up with it at a drive-in theater. After a few minutes of a bland comedy called "The Even Couple," he yells, "There's no conflict in this movie!" and fires a missile at the screen.

Maybe the reason why films like "Cairo Time" are so rare is because theater owners aren't keen on movies that might put them out of business.

Of course, one might envy its heroine, Juliette (Patricia Clarkson), for getting to hang around in such an exotic place. She's a journalist who's come to Cairo to work on her next story, and to go sightseeing with her husband, a U.N. official named Mark (Tom McCamus). He'd planned on meeting her in Cairo after taking care of some business in Gaza, but when the airline cancels his flight, his old friend Tareq (Alexander Siddig) steps in to keep her company.

You'd think someone who's got a piece to write would want a little time to herself.

Juliette gets so used to having Tareq around that she starts to fall in love with him, which is made all the more surprising by the fact that they don't have much in common. An affair is usually enough to generate some drama, but these characters aren't bold enough to create any sparks - their romance is limited to passionate glances that bespeak of the flames within their loins, and all that other Harlequin crap you find in bargain bins at supermarkets. (Actually, given this film's PG rating, this material seems better suited for the young-adult section at the bookstore.)

Even the parts that don't have anything to do with their relationship come out wrong, all wrong. When Juliette hops on a bus and sits next to a woman named Jameelah (Mona Hala) only to have the Egyptian police pull them over, Juliette's caught off-guard when Jamelah asks her to track her boyfriend down and hand him a love letter. Instead of turning this into a major plot point, the movie allows Juliette and Tareq to take care of the letter as if it were as easy as... well, mailing a letter. It's stuff like this that makes you wonder how a film this dull can last 90 minutes.

Sometimes it's worth waiting through a film's theatrical run for the DVD, but if you must see "Cairo Time," wait until it turns up on television. At least there, you'll get something out of the commercials.

Kick-Ass - A Review

2010-08-18T06:34:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

"Are you one of the people who see something that they're not supposed to and pretend not to see it, instead of doing something about it?" This question is the premise of Kick-Ass, directed by Matthew Vaughn. Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) is your average nerdy high school kid who is into comic books. He and his nerdy friends were occasionally getting mugged by the thugs in their town. One day, he decided he was tired of it and made up his mind that he would be a superhero named Kick-Ass, even though he did not have any training on self-defense or weaponry. During his first venture as a superhero, he sees the two men who mugged him trying to steal a car. The men told him to leave but he did not and he ended up getting stabbed. When the paramedics arrived, he pleaded with them to hide his suit due to embarrassment. He survives the attack but he ended up in the hospital, with frayed nerves and a body full of metal plates. After this unfortunate incident, he was still determined to be a superhero, so he set up a MySpace page where people could contact him to ask for help. While on a mission, he sees a guy getting beaten up by the thugs of the local mobster Frank D'Amico (Mark Strong). Due to his numb condition, Kick-Ass did not feel much pain and in the end he beat up the thugs. People were watching during the incident and somehow the video made it to YouTube, making Kick-Ass an overnight sensation. Meanwhile, a father-daughter team who saw the video wanted to help Kick-Ass because they somehow sensed that he did not know how to defend himself. Damon (Nicolas Cage) and Mindy Macready (Chloë Grace Moretz) were well-trained in weaponry and had mad fighting skills. Damon was an ex-cop holding a grudge against D'Amico. He initially thought it was not necessary to help Kick-Ass, but Mindy changed his mind. In one of Kick-Ass' missions, Damon and Mindy appear to him as Big Daddy and Hit-Girl, their superhero alter egos. They also managed to save his life and offered to help him whenever he needed it. Kick-Ass went home frustrated and wondered, was it really worth it to be a superhero?

The movie is quite refreshing because it breaks a lot of molds. A nerdy superhero with no superpowers? Check. A purple-haired 11-year old sharp shooter who looks like an angel but swears like a sailor? Check. These attributes make watching the movie fun though, because they were so unexpected. The scene where Damon shoots Mindy on the chest was shocking, only to find out she was wearing bulletproof armor and he just wanted her to get used to the impact. Her expertise with the folding knife was also fascinating to watch. I would say the real star of the movie was Chloë Grace Moretz because she was the one who kicked ass, literally and figuratively. This movie certainly would pave the way to good roles and of course, success, because she is exceptionally talented. All in all, the movie was exhilarating and a lot of fun to watch.

Predators Movie Review

2010-08-10T05:00:00.001-07:00

Cover of Predator [Blu-ray]

The year was 1987 and Arnold Schwarzenegger was at the height of his popularity. This was when Predator was unleashed around the world. This film introduced us to one of the most frightening creatures ever put on film. There was great balance of horror, comedy, action and suspense and made this one of Schwarzenegger's best films and gave us a creature that was hoped to be seen in other equally as great movies. Unfortunately this was not the case. We first got Predator 2, then Aliens vs. Predator and lastly Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. All of these films paled in comparison to the original and really made the Predator something much less than it was intended to be. Now, 23 years after the first film, we finally get a film that reminds us why we liked the Predator in the first place.

When the film starts, you almost get a sense of deja vu. The location is a jungle much like the one we see in the original film, but with different actors roaming around and wondering where they are. One person then meets another and both seem lost and unsure of how they ended up where they are. Then another person runs into the steadily growing group. They all begin talking and all realize that they have been brought to the jungle by someone or something, but they don't know who or why. They are all heavily armed and all seem to be elite and trained fighters. They all come to a cliff with a view of more of the jungle and realize they've been brought further than they ever could have realized. We see a vista with multiple moons or planets in the sky. They've been taken from Earth.

This is the big change of this film from the original. The Predators have been collecting species to bring them to a planet to hunt them down. Why would they go and hunt on a different planet, where it could be more difficult because of all the people that are there when they can just pick the ones that they want to hunt and bring them to their own hunting ground. The humans they have picked all have experience, either hunting, fighting or stalking others. They are the Predators of Earth. Who better to challenge than the hunters of Earth?

I personally would have liked to see not only humans, but other species from around the galaxy to join together or at least fight the Predators jointly. We saw glimpses of other races that had been captured, but didn't make it after being dropped from an aircraft. If only some of these had survived so that we could get a better sense of other races that the Predators like to make sport of. Maybe the filmmakers were saving that for a second film should this one do well. Either way, I really like the direction they took with this film and it makes me remember why I loved the first film to begin with.

Sure, this film isn't perfect, but it does what it set out to do which was remind the audience about these fierce creatures and why they were once popular. They also made this film very similar in tone to the original and brought back the action and suspense that was missing from other Predator films. I do hope to see another movie after this one, but hope they take a few more risks, show a lot more creatures and give the Predators a challenge that will make the audience stand up and cheer.

Movie Review - Toy Story 3

2010-08-08T02:05:00.000-07:00

Image by suanie via Flickr

Unarguably the best among the three; Toy Story franchise returns with it's final edition in a 3D avatar for one last time. Directed by Lee Unkrich and produced by Disney Pixar, Toy Story 3 - one of the most loved animated movie - runs for 1 hour 45 minutes, making it a short and sweet adventure tale of lifeless toys, that speak a mind of their own.

Andy the kid, who once had a huge collection of toys in his room, has now grown up into a hand-some teenager, soon he will join college and it is time for him to put his beloved toys away, though they are still in perfect shape. Woody the sheriff is hopeful that Andy will tuck them away safely in the attic so that when he has kids of his own, they'll play with the toys someday, but Wood's and his friends' dreams are short-lived, for, Andy's mother is of the opinion that the toys be discarded as nobody would play with them once Andy leaves home.

As Andy picks up Woody and Buzz Light Year, his heart skips a beat yet again for the two of his favourite toys and he wants to take them to college with him. So he puts the two in a box which he would take away to college and others in a bag that his mom will donate to a nearby kid's day care centre. His mom mistakenly picks up the other bag, thinking it is trash and throws it out of the house. Woody is now in a fix. He has to save his friends. Off he jumps the window, saves his friends form trash van and they all crash land in the box that is to be donated to Sunnyside Day care.

Sunnyside Day care is now altogether new and fascinating home for the toys. An unknown place where they are accorded a warm welcome by other toys. But their grief of being discarded by Andy still looms, until they meet Losto - the Pink Bear. Woods tries to convince his friends to return to Andy, but the toys have now taken a disliking for him and decided to stay back at the day care centre, with different kids each day, playing with them all day long. The unruly kids of the day care get the better of Andy's toys and it is now they have been trapped by Lotso. Someone's arm is missing, while someone else's nose goes for a toss! The toys are in an utter mess and now want to break free.

Then on begins their adventure journey through the day care centre with loads of twists and turns. How they manage to save their life and whether Andy takes all of them to college is a must watch, the plot of the story flows smoothly throughout and does not give way to confusion. Even if you haven't seen the earlier two instalments; it doesn't confuse you a bit. You get the gist of the story the moment it begins to roll on screen. Also the romantic angle of a heart broken Barbie and Ken is well picturised. All toys play their characters well on the screen and same goes for voice over artists behind the scenes.
All in all... Toy Story is a must watch for people of all ages. Go Watch it.

Movie Review - Despicable Me

2010-07-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

Between guys that fly with capes with their underwear outside to British secret agents that drink martini's shaken not stirred to Chuck Norris, being a super villain isn't as glam as it would seem. The problem is the media. We always think super villains live under active volcanoes, or have a secret base on the moon. All they do all day is pet their cat and say cliche lines like "No Mr Bond I expect you to die!" or "and I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for you pesky kids". Watching Despicable Me however has finally opened my eyes to what a true super villain is like.
The super villain in question lives in a normal suburban neighbourhood, he has financial problems and family issues. Despicable me takes an interesting look at the life of Gru. The 2nd best super villain in the world. As if being a super villain wasn't tough enough he now needs to compete with a rookie super villain called Vector who is better at being super villainish than he is.
The plot thickens when Gru adopts three orphans as pawns to help him in one of his sinister plots. As you can guess he starts to get attached to them and that's when all those warm cuddly feelings you get from watching movies like this start to creep in.
This movie has an A list voice cast as Steve Carell is Gru, Jason Segel is Vector, Russell Brand is Dr. Nefario and Julie Andrews is Gru's mother to name a few. Despicable Me is directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud and Co-Directed by Sergio Pablos.
Now Despicable Me was very funny at some parts however I think I might be a little too old and cynical to fully appreciate a film like this. If I thought Toy Story 3 was cute overload I basically OD'd on cuteness and started foaming at the mouth and spasming on the floor by the end of the movie. Maybe I am a heartless robot but this movie had too much cuteness.
The thing is I like cute. Being Asian I can't help it. I always choose the cute girl over the sexy one. It might be because I can't get the sexy one but I'd like to think it's just that I appreciate the cute one. However there are two kinds of cute girls. The ones that are cute naturally and the ones that are trying too hard to be cute. This movie is like the latter.
I would watch it with a child or someone childlike on a day you need some cuteness in your life. Watch out for convulsions though because it's hard to tell when the cute toxicity gets to dangerous levels.

Movie Review of "Snakes on a Plane"

2010-07-31T19:42:00.000-07:00

This is a movie that got much hype basically because of its bad reputation, but after watching it for myself; I realized that the plot really wasn't so bad after all. I know it definitely made me hold on to my frequent flyer credit card for a while.
Here you have a movie about a guy who witnessed a murder and is being escorted by two FBI agents to LA to testify against this man. What they do not know is that men who work for this guy put snakes on their plane to kill off this witness before they reach LAX. The snakes are in a timed crate so that while they are in mid air they will be released. To ensure an attack, they passed out leis that have been sprayed with a snake pheromone.
Samuel L. Jackson being an FBI agent spends most of his time killing snakes off one by one while still trying to save everyone else. One thing that people like about Samuel L. Jackson is that he seems fearless in many roles that he plays. This role is no different. While the movie is hilarious because of the ridiculous quotes in the movie, one does have a bit of fear in them just thinking about the situation if they were ever caught on a plane with snakes everywhere.
As in any survival movie, we learn about what people would actually do if we were caught in an extreme disaster like this one. Strangers would hold on to each other in fear and hope, along with helping one another. It is funny how quickly attitudes change towards others when we fear for our very lives. We get to know some of the characters such as a couple who just got married and are coming back from their honey moon or a little boy who loses his mom. After getting to know our characters a little better we feel bad when they get hurt or killed.
Overall, I would say that this movie is pretty bad, but it does have some good points that make up for it. The plot was solid and there was a legitimate reason for snakes being on a plane. While I can see several different ways to kill a man, I guess we can still account for creative people in the world. Another good point was the quotes of the movie said by Samuel L Jackson. One of the most popular ones being "I'm tired of these mother f****** snakes on this mother f******* plane." Who wouldn't laugh to a ridiculous quote like that? Only Samuel Jackson could pull off this role. Even though the movie was bad, it is a movie that I highly advise for everyone to see for themselves. Sometimes a movie can be so bad, it's good.

Latest Action Movies

2010-07-31T19:16:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

When it comes to the perfect source of entertainment which possesses the capability to capture the majority of attention of an individual then of course the name of movies will come on the front list. A movie is nothing but depiction of a particular story or several stories within a particular time. These are categorised into different genre, including comedy, thriller, action, science fiction (sci-fi) and so on. Here we will discuss about different aspects of the action movies.
One will find the perfect combination of thrill and amusements in such categories of film. Such come with different kinds of action sequels, including marshal art, kung fu, karate, wrestling and so on. These are produced by using advanced technology to show the real thrill of movies. There are plenty of digital tricks and techniques involved into such, most of which are done through computer. Apart from that, there are also complex action techniques involved into such films. For such reasons, the budget of these films are usually stay much higher than other films. Some of the popular films under this category of all the times are Mission Impossible II, X-Man, Matrix and so on.
Along with superb cinematography and mind blowing editing, another remarkable feature which is usually found in most of the popular action movies is the refreshingly vibrant sound effect. It has been noticed that in most of the action movies, the sound effects used are truly awesome which enhance the enthusiasm of viewing the film.
Among all the factors of the action movies, the most noticeable factor is the special effects used in these. To give a real feeling of the action scenes, the directors of these films use technically highly advanced effects. Now, with the advancement of both computer hardware and software technology, these are now made through the computer.
Under the sun-genre of action films, there are three categories fall which include Die Hard Scenario, Heroic bloodshed and Girls with guns. Some of the popular directors of such films are Rideley Scott, The Wachowski Brothers, Hard Boiled and John Woo. Among the action heroes, some of the world-wide famous names include Bruce Willis, Mel Gibson, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Actually the era of such films had started in the early 80's with the introduction of these starts. Within a very short time, they have successfully created a cage in the hearts of millions of people all over the world. Then the movie lovers had seen both romance and action acting of Tom Cruise. His large box office hit Misson Impossible series have won millions of hearts and made him an action hero. The discussion about such films will remain incomplete without talking about the female starts. Among all, the most notifying actress of this genre of film is Angellina Jolie, who has offered several action movies to the film lovers.
So, from the above discussion one thing is quite clear that the action movies are all about the films whose stories are told by action, rather than dialogue. If you are a such film lover and want to spend your weekend with your family then you can go for some of the latest action movies of this era include, John Rammbo, X-Men, Ghost Rider and so on.

The Best Gangster Movies Along The Period

2010-07-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

Cover via Amazon

If you like gangster movies, you will be surely curious about the best gangster movies throughout history. In fact, 'The Godfather' is the most legendary gangster film. It is adapted from a novel by Mario Puzo.

'The Godfather' is a 1972 American gangster film that is directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola, and Robert Towne. The story of the film spans ten years from 1945 to 1955 and chronicles the fictional Italian American Corleone crime family. Two sequels that continue the film are 'The Godfather Part II' in 1974 and 'The Godfather Part III' in 1990.

This film, by the American Film Institute, is ranked as the second greatest film in American cinematic history. Even, you can say that it is the king of gangster movies. It gets award as the best movie and the best actor in Academy Awards. In addition, it is a complete film. In it, you can find action, drama, intrigue, conspiracy, and tension.

Then, in 1980, you could find 'Scarface' as the best-selling gangster film. Starred by Al Pacino, sadistic and full of blood are the right image of this film.

Meanwhile, in 90s era, Quentin Tarantini directs 'Pulp Fiction'. Starred by John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, and Uma Thurman, this film gives priority in violence and ironic humor.

Then, there are still many gangster movies that are categorized as the best. Some of them are 'Mean Streets', 'Goodfellas' by Martin Scorsese, 'Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrel', and 'The Untouchables'

Blu-Ray Review - Lord of the Rings

2010-07-24T00:35:00.000-07:00

Finally, in April 2010, the Lord Of the Rings Trilogy comes to Blu-Ray. You would think that with over nine discs of furry footed glory this set would be a must purchase for anyone who owns a Blu-Ray drive. But unfortunately it isn't. What it is, however, is another attempt by a studio to derive profits out of a faithful and committed audience as they wait until the superior Extended Editions are released in High Resolution format.

Peter Jackson's much lauded adaptation of JRR Tolkien's seminal fantasy novels is one of the greatest achievements in cinema and there have been a number of releases over the last five years. While waiting a year between the release of each film in it's theatrical rounds, movie goers were able to take copies of the last film home on DVD in widescreen or full screen versions.

Then after the last movie was released, came the Extended Editions. Once these were out there was no going back. Jackson added more scenes and more meaning to his already epic movies and what was already a mind-blowingly popular series became a true classic.

The Extended Editions were released in a time when movie goers realised that, with access to greater storage capacity on DVD discs they were able to view films as the creators intended. Documentaries and audio commentaries were added and the films themselves became well- rounded and beautifully paced.

So for the overwhelming majority of fans the Extended Editions are the definitive versions, the only versions. Which begs the question: "Why are they being made to wait the Extended Edition on Blu Ray and instead being placated by something that most people will only buy grudgingly." Surely this is not good for anything but the profit end of the business.

Take a look at the feedback online if you have any hesitations about how fans feel about this move from New Line. It will be interesting to see how many copies are sold of this inferior release. Hopefully fans can rally together and make at least one studio realise that customer feedback is valuable as a business making tool.

Star Wars Books - The 7 Best Books to Read

2010-07-24T00:33:00.000-07:00

Cover via Amazon

While all of the Star Wars books are good, there are a few stand outs.

1. Heir to the Empire Trilogy - Ok I know that this is not a book, however it is hard to separate them. Written by Timothy Zahn, the Empire trilogy re released Star Wars to the general public after an absence of 8 years absence. Set five years after Return of the Jedi, Heir to the Empire tells the story of Grand Admiral Thrawn and how he reinvigorates the empire. The Heir to the Empire also introduces us to Mara Jade, Talon Karde, and Jacen and Jaina Solo.

2. Han Solo at Star's End. This book, written by Brian Daley, was able to capture the feel of Star Wars and Han Solo. From the moment you pick it up you will be captivated. Star's End recounts to tale of Han Solo and Chewbacca and their adventures in the Corporate Sector. The two follow up book, Han Solo's Revenge and Han Solo and the Lost Legacy were just as good as the first and highly recommended.

3. Splinter of the Mind's Eye. This book must be on the list of every fan favourites and for good reason too. Splinter is set just after the first movie and tells of Luke, Leia, C3PO and R2D2's adventures on Mimban. Written by Alan Dean Foster, who ghost wrote the Star Wars novel, Splinter allows the reader to feel like they are watching a new movie.

4. The Correlian Trilogy. Again another trilogy, but it can be hard to separate them when they are all good. In this series, Han Solo and his family return to Correlia when Han's cousin Thraken Sal-Solo makes a bid for power. By Roger MacBride Allen these books head us towards the end of the Empires rein in the galaxy and towards the Yuuzhan Vong invasion.

5. Enemy Lines 1 and 2. This duo-ology set just after Coruscant's fall brings in all the major characters from the entire expanded universe and tells of the epic struggle against the Yuuzhan Vong on the world of Borleias. Written by Aaron Allston this books bring back the feel of Star Wars the rollicking adventure that had been missing is the previous New Jedi Order Books

6. Rogue Squadron. The first book in a series of 9 books about the adventures of Wedge Antilles and the famous X-wing pilots of Rogue Squadron. Set two years after The Return of the Jedi, Rogue Squadron must make an attack and capture the Imperial stronghold of Borleias if they wish to capture Coruscant. The first Star Wars Book not to feature any of the main characters in the lead roles. This book also introduces us to Corran Horn, Mirrax Terrik and Tycho Celchu.

7. The Hand of Thrawn duo-ology. Another set of books by Timothy Zahn. The Hand of Thrawn books, set 19 years after Star Wars, tell about the Empires last push to be a dominate power in the galaxy. This also see's the long awaited reunion of Luke and Mara and how they eventually end up together. This was a great series to bring about the end of the Empire era of Star Wars.

Now I know that these may not be everyone's favourites but they are great books, and I know that a lot of people have pushed to the see the Heir to the Empire novels made into movies. Let me know what you think.

Star Wars Episodes 4 Through 6 - Plot Line Study

2010-07-24T00:32:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Despite being made into movies over 20 years earlier than the prequel trilogy, the events of the original trilogy begin 19 years after the concluding events of the prequel trilogy. The three movies in the original trilogy are Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope, Star Wars Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars Episode 6: The Return of the Jedi.

The first movie in the trilogy begins with Darth Vader having almost completed his massive space station, known as the Death Star. The Death Star has been built in order to allow Vader and Emperor Palpatine (Darth Sidious) to crush the growing rebellion against their evil empire.

Vader catches one of the rebellion's leaders, Princess Leia, who has stolen plans to the Death Star. Luckily, these plans are stored in the droid R2-D2 who, with his partner C-3PO, is able to escape to the planet Tatooine. Here, the droids are found by Luke Skywalker. As Luke is trying to clean up R2-D2 he triggers a message that Leia has left for Obi Wan Kenobi, who happens to live on Tatooine.

Luke and the droids seek out Obi Wan Kenobi. Obi Wan tells Luke of his father's greatness (initially telling Luke that his father died in a battle with Darth Vader) and begins to teach him about the force. Obi Wan and Luke hire Han Solo and his partner Chewbacca the wookie to take them to join the rebels in their fight against Vader.

On the Death Star, Obi Wan gets into a fight with Vader where he allows himself to be killed and absorbed into the force, where he is able to lead Luke in later moments. Luke and Hans rescue Leia and they are able to escape with plans that allow them to destroy the first Death Star.

In the second movie, Vader is still trying to hunt down the rebels. Luke travels to visit Yoda to train to become a Jedi. He leaves half way through his training after having a vision that Vader has captured and is going to hurt his friends. In a confrontation on Cloud City with Vader, Vader reveals to Luke that he is his father. Luke escapes and goes back to Yoda.

Luke comes to learn that he must face his father to complete his Jedi training. He also learns that Princess Leia is his twin sister. In the final confrontation of the movie, Luke again confronts Vader with the Emperor in the room. The Emperor tries to convince Luke to join the Dark Side; however, Luke convinces his father that he still has some good in him. Vader kills the Emperor and the battle is over. The second Death Star is destroyed bringing freedom to the Galaxy.

For at least a little while...

Neo Versus the Architect in "The Matrix - Reloaded"

2010-07-24T00:29:00.000-07:00

Every scene in The Matrix trilogy is breathtaking, but this particular one at the end of the second movie says a lot about us as human beings and the range of emotions we're capable of. Recall that Neo has a rendezvous with The Architect of the Matrix; a seemingly futile interlude, where the hope of the world is about to be destroyed, if we believe the Architect.
Read on as the scene plays itself out in the studio of The Architect:
The Architect: You are here because Zion is about to be destroyed. Its every living inhabitant terminated, its entire existence eradicated.
Neo: Bulls..t. (The monitors [portraying all Neo's possible responses] respond the same.)
The Architect: Denial is the most predictable of all human responses. But, rest assured, this will be the sixth time we have destroyed it, and we have become exceedingly efficient at it. [1]
The thing I found most interesting about this scene (at another juncture) is all the hundred or so monitors showing the momentary flurry of confused emotion in Neo. It recognises that we're all like this at any given moment, and especially when we're under pressure. Who can tell how we'll respond to given situations?
And over our lifetimes we'll have responded in a vast range of ways to an infinitely too-hard-to-grasp amount of circumstances.
How can we begin to attempt to fathom the depth of the human psyche; mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? But, the point is we have to. We have a huge fascination for these things of philosophy, psychology, theology and spirituality in the context of one single human being. Yet, it's a mystery that will never be solved.
And The Architect, in his own clinical anti-human way, hits the nail on the head, finally. One of the commonest responses to the stimuli we face is rampant, unchallenged denial. It's the root cause of many psychological and spiritual ailments.
How many of the myriad of responses we're capable of, I wonder, are hampered by and defaulted to the response of denial? How much would we hence miss out on in the sphere of life, emotion and reason?

[1] Source: http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0000770/quotes