LOVED IT!!!!!
Darker and more complex than LWW, Prince Caspian will likely appeal to a wider audience range. Relative newcomer Ben Barnes gives a wonderful performance as the orphaned and betrayed Prince. William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Skandar Keynes, and Georgie Henley reprise their roles as the Pevensie siblings. The acting is solid and I personally enjoyed that the script writers made Susan's character stronger than I remember her being in the book. While parts of the film diverge from action in the novel, I feel that the movie remained true to the spirit of the novel.
Definitely recommend - a must see adventure!
May 28, 2008
Indiana Jones: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Indi + Cate Blanchett + Fast Action + Humor = A Satisfying Conclusion to the IJ Series
In the newest IJ film, Dr. Jones and his cohorts head to South America searching for the El Dorado and a crystal skull of mythical power. Cate Blanchett shines as the evil Dr. Spalko, while Harrison Ford and Karen Allen wonderfully reprise roles that made them famous. Shia LaBeof's character, Jones's son, could easily have become the annoying new sidekick, but instead provides entertainment and a touch of youth.
The film starts at a fast pace and roars onward until the unbelievable but very "jonesian" ending. Recommended for fans of the IJ series and those who enjoy a well-constructed action film.
In the newest IJ film, Dr. Jones and his cohorts head to South America searching for the El Dorado and a crystal skull of mythical power. Cate Blanchett shines as the evil Dr. Spalko, while Harrison Ford and Karen Allen wonderfully reprise roles that made them famous. Shia LaBeof's character, Jones's son, could easily have become the annoying new sidekick, but instead provides entertainment and a touch of youth.
The film starts at a fast pace and roars onward until the unbelievable but very "jonesian" ending. Recommended for fans of the IJ series and those who enjoy a well-constructed action film.
March 26, 2008
Thundercats 2010!
Well, I've found enough rumors that I actually believe that Thundercats if FINALLY going to make it to the big screen. YAYAYAYAYAYYAYAYAYAYYAYAYAY!
Can you tell that I am a Thundercats fan?
Anyway, rumor has it that Warner has scrapped the idea of a live action version and is planning a CGI (which in many ways is actually a good thing). Anyway, I'll post more as I find out more.
Can you tell that I am a Thundercats fan?
Anyway, rumor has it that Warner has scrapped the idea of a live action version and is planning a CGI (which in many ways is actually a good thing). Anyway, I'll post more as I find out more.
March 17, 2008
Penelope
Fairytale story + great casting = warm-hearted, fulfilling movie
First off, I don't understand why Penelope has gotten such rotten reviews! The movie set out a plan to make a movie whose plot is a twist of the Beauty and the Beast tale and it is wonderfully executed! (Okay, enough exclamation points now...)
Truly, in this Beauty is the Beast film, I was entertained the entire time. Sure, it is not wholly original (what legend, myth or fairytale is?) but that didn't matter since the film is character, not plot driven. Christina Ricci plays the title character with a wonderful mix of charm, etheral appeal, naivity and cynisism. I highly enjoyed this movie and think it achieved exactly what it set out to do. Also, loved Christina Ricci's wardrobe!
February 28, 2008
In Bruges
Talented actors + twisted morals + fairytale setting = Theater of the Obscene
This movie created several mixed reactions for me. First of all, I liked the dark comedy, particularly to poking of fun at American tourists, but the violence was too much, too sudden, and too cavalier for me. I could suspend my disbelief, but not as far as the script writer wanted. I giggled at many of the jokes, but then I immediately felt bad about it, as many of them were racial and all of them very un-P.C. (I am not sure whether this is a truly negative thing, but I won't expand on our (Lunanshee feels this way too), that political correctness does go too far).
All in all, I would tell anyone who wants to see it that if they can wait until video, I will be fairly certain that they will enjoy it. Lunanshee said that she wasn't at all interested, and I am glad now that I did not make her see it with me.
I think that all of the best parts of the movie were included in the preview. Curiously enough, this is not really a bad thing. I still think that Colin Farrell's line about why Bruges does not impress him is the best in the entire script, given his snarky delivery.
The characters were definitely different, particularly from each other. The one thing that unified them is that they all clung to their ideas of "what is right", despite being in professions that demanded that they kill people. It was a bit surreal watching them cling so fiercely to their 'morals' while being so brutal at other times. The ending is a product of this, as absurd as it felt to watch. I would like to hear from someone else whether they think that the person being put into the ambulance at the end lives or not. I would like to think that he doesn't.
--see Comments for more--
This movie created several mixed reactions for me. First of all, I liked the dark comedy, particularly to poking of fun at American tourists, but the violence was too much, too sudden, and too cavalier for me. I could suspend my disbelief, but not as far as the script writer wanted. I giggled at many of the jokes, but then I immediately felt bad about it, as many of them were racial and all of them very un-P.C. (I am not sure whether this is a truly negative thing, but I won't expand on our (Lunanshee feels this way too), that political correctness does go too far).
All in all, I would tell anyone who wants to see it that if they can wait until video, I will be fairly certain that they will enjoy it. Lunanshee said that she wasn't at all interested, and I am glad now that I did not make her see it with me.
I think that all of the best parts of the movie were included in the preview. Curiously enough, this is not really a bad thing. I still think that Colin Farrell's line about why Bruges does not impress him is the best in the entire script, given his snarky delivery.
The characters were definitely different, particularly from each other. The one thing that unified them is that they all clung to their ideas of "what is right", despite being in professions that demanded that they kill people. It was a bit surreal watching them cling so fiercely to their 'morals' while being so brutal at other times. The ending is a product of this, as absurd as it felt to watch. I would like to hear from someone else whether they think that the person being put into the ambulance at the end lives or not. I would like to think that he doesn't.
--see Comments for more--
February 22, 2008
'Twilight: the Movie
Decent book + talented young actors = likelihood of a bloody good time
...just in time for the Christmas break.
I'm currently in the middle of reading the 3rd (Eclipse) of a projected 4-5 book series written by a vampire-lore neophyte, and it is actually pretty good. The characters wear a bit sometimes, but the movie translation of the first novel (Twilight) should be good. I'm pretty hopeful.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1099212/
The site shows that the movie is already in production, and I am only just now hearing about it (!)
Kristen Stewart will be a decent Bella; a pretty, clever, precociously mature high school student who consistently undervalues herself without really straying from 'simpathetic' to plain 'pathetic' character. I think she is pretty 'right' for the part.
I'm also pretty amused with the casting for Edward, the love-interest. I adored Robert Pattinson's Cedric Diggory in HP: GoF, so I am optimistic that the movie won't come off as childish (the books don't, but we all know how movies don't always maintain the text's original magic). I think that is part of the magic of Meyer's writing, is that her characters are believable teens without being belittled by it.
...just in time for the Christmas break.
I'm currently in the middle of reading the 3rd (Eclipse) of a projected 4-5 book series written by a vampire-lore neophyte, and it is actually pretty good. The characters wear a bit sometimes, but the movie translation of the first novel (Twilight) should be good. I'm pretty hopeful.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1099212/
The site shows that the movie is already in production, and I am only just now hearing about it (!)
Kristen Stewart will be a decent Bella; a pretty, clever, precociously mature high school student who consistently undervalues herself without really straying from 'simpathetic' to plain 'pathetic' character. I think she is pretty 'right' for the part.
I'm also pretty amused with the casting for Edward, the love-interest. I adored Robert Pattinson's Cedric Diggory in HP: GoF, so I am optimistic that the movie won't come off as childish (the books don't, but we all know how movies don't always maintain the text's original magic). I think that is part of the magic of Meyer's writing, is that her characters are believable teens without being belittled by it.
February 21, 2008
I Heart Kristen Bell
There is a long and pretty-detailed rumor-sheet posted on Rotten Tomatoes about "planned" films. Who knows if they will ever materialize? It might be fun to look back in two years and see how many of these 'predictions' (that is how I think of them) will come true.
Here is the article:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/terminator_4/news/1710042/
I will discuss shortly the two comic book and videogame movies promised by the article, but Kristen Bell deserves top-billing. This actually looks cute, if you can believe that someone as adorable and young as the former Ms. Mars can be a 'successful real estate agent'. I would think that this movie would play better with a 40-something lead, but I will look forward to seeing more of Rome any time!
When in Rome
Scheduled Start Date: March 31
Shooting Location: New York, Rome, Italy
Producer: Benny Medina, Jeff Pollack, Gary Foster, Andrew Panay, Rikki Bestall
Writer/Director: Mark Steven Johnson
CAST: Kristen Bell
Bell will play a successful real estate agent in New York who can't find a lasting relationship. When her younger sister impulsively marries in Rome, she flies out for the wedding and, after picking up coins from a reputed "fountain of love," finds an overabundance of suitors waiting for her back home.
Here is the article:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/terminator_4/news/1710042/
I will discuss shortly the two comic book and videogame movies promised by the article, but Kristen Bell deserves top-billing. This actually looks cute, if you can believe that someone as adorable and young as the former Ms. Mars can be a 'successful real estate agent'. I would think that this movie would play better with a 40-something lead, but I will look forward to seeing more of Rome any time!
When in Rome
Scheduled Start Date: March 31
Shooting Location: New York, Rome, Italy
Producer: Benny Medina, Jeff Pollack, Gary Foster, Andrew Panay, Rikki Bestall
Writer/Director: Mark Steven Johnson
CAST: Kristen Bell
Bell will play a successful real estate agent in New York who can't find a lasting relationship. When her younger sister impulsively marries in Rome, she flies out for the wedding and, after picking up coins from a reputed "fountain of love," finds an overabundance of suitors waiting for her back home.
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