MoviesBAWGAWK!

THE HOLIDAY: Film Review

2006-12-09T11:03:00.000-08:00

By Mitch Emerson

Iris (Kate Winslet) is in love with Jasper (Rufus Sewell) who is about to marry another woman. Across the globe, Amanda (Cameron Diaz) realizes the man she lives with has been unfaithful. Two women who have never met and live 6000 miles apart, find themselves in the exact same place. They meet online at a home exchange website and impulsively switch homes for the holiday. Iris moves into Amanda's L.A. house in sunny California as Amanda arrives in the snow covered English countryside. Shortly after arriving at their destinations, both women find the last thing either wants or expects: a new romance. Amanda is charmed by Iris' handsome brother Graham (Jude Law) and Iris, with inspiration provided by legendary screenwriter Arthur (Eli Wallach), mends her heart when she meets film composer Miles (Jack Black).

The Holiday is your standard chick flick, which I am not saying is a bad thing, it just tries a little too hard to be cute and funny. If you ask your average movie-goer a year from now if they remember this movie, they may answer with "vaguely". I'm not saying that it's a bad film, just one that is easily forgettable. Once the respective break-ups occur and Diaz and Winslet switch homes (more on that later), we go into the standard tourist-out-of-their-element shtick that has been done over and over. I will say that Winslet is endearing and cute as she runs from room to room jumping and giggling upon first entering Diaz's home. There is a nice little sub-plot dealing with aged screenwriter Arthur, who is befriended by Iris, where she talks him into going to a presentation honoring his career that added a few nice moments to the movie. Plus Arthur seemed to have some of the best lines as well.

I'm not a big Cameron Diaz fan so I won't say too much but I will say that her story is kind of lackluster until a certain situation (after their initial situation, that is) makes her and Jude Law's relationship more complicated. Boring enough that the film maker has to resort to making certain aspects of Diaz's life into a movie trailer to get a laugh. I would have rather seen more of Winslet's escapades in Hollywood. Jude Law is just as handsome as ever with an added character building flaw. He is a weeper, he will cry at the drop of a hat whilst Cameron Diaz's character hasn't cried since she was fifteen. Is there a better match? And as funny as Jack Black can be I believe that he should stick to smaller roles like this one. He is actually pretty charming and mostly normal, only showing the obnoxious antics that seem to be his trademark in only one scene, and that scene is actually funny and he reins it in just enough. (Oh, and watch for the funniest cameo of the year during said scene.)

The problems? The Holiday tries a little too hard without paying attention to itself. Example, when Amanda first arrives at Iris's cottage, the driver of the car says he can't take her all the way to the cottage because there is nowhere to turn a car around, so we get a funny little scene of Amanda in high heels lugging her suitcase up a snow covered hill. Then, at the end of the movie the same car and driver picks her up at her front door. What gives? And also, who in their right mind would give the keys to their house and car to a complete stranger? Especially when you have Amanda's house – a ginormous house in L.A. with a pool, a Lexus, and a DVD library with more titles than your local Blockbuster being traded in for Iris's little cottage with a sagging roof and no furnace? Some really unrealistic situations here, not to mention the same old problem of all romantic comedies – namely semi psychotic people who swear off love and then find Mr. Or Ms. Perfect, then agonize over the situation and then bam! Everything works out hunk-dory in the end. Yes, I forgot to take my happy pill this morning.

I would say that I enjoyed 3/4ths of this movie and don't plan on renting it when it comes out on DVD. But guys, if you want to earn some brownie points with the wife or girlfriend, take her to see this. She may enjoy it and it isn't too much torture for us men no matter how bad I have ripped into it. I know that sounds like I am contradicting myself, but I believe you should prepare for the worse and be surprised by the good things. I have purposely left out some of these pleasant turns for those of you who do decide to venture out and see this to discover and enjoy on your own.

So until somebody gives me the keys to Skywalker Ranch,

keep reading

Mitch E

MitchEmerson@hotmail.com

GREEN STREET HOOLIGANS: DVD Review

2006-12-01T10:24:00.000-08:00

By Mitch Emerson

Green Street Hooligans tells the story of Matt Buckner (Elijah Wood), a journalism student at Harvard who gets expelled because his roommate kept his stash of coke in Matt's possessions. Matt takes the fall and goes to stay with his sister Shannon (Claire Forlani). While there he befriends Pete Dunham (Charlie Hunnam) who is the leader of a futbol fan gang (known as Firms across the pond) which spend there time beating the ever-loving shit out of each other. Needless to say they are a bad crowd and are not the best of influences for young Matt.

I heard about this movie way back when Howard Stern was still on terrestrial radio. He had Elijah Wood in the studio still riding on the awesome success of the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy but wanted to get away from that type of movie. What is intriguing about this movie is that the Firms are portrayed in a way that makes them almost honorable, even likeable. I think violence over a game is stupid (unless it's throwing a PS2 controller at the TV), but you almost want to be there to defend their honor with them.

The performances are almost perfect all around. Wood plays this character well but if he wants to break out from the nice boy roles he needs to try a little harder and get more roles like the one in Sin City. The chemistry between Shannon and Steve (Marc Warren) was almost nonexistent but that was the only issue I had.

The only complaints I have are-
1. It was hard to understand a lot of the dialogue due to thick accents, slang and fast talking. I understand that is my fault and not the movie's.
2. The damn shaky cam is back (see my Running Scared review) Do they teach this as mandatory in film school to convey action and adrenaline? It's just plain irritating if you ask me.

Being a DVD I might as well mention the extra features, or the lack thereof. You get a five minute behind the scenes and a music video. That's it. Pretty lame.

All in all a good, intense film that shows the insanity and honor of futbol fans without being overly violent or preachy. If you haven't seen it and want something that isn't your normal popcorn film, give it a shot.

Mitch E

strangef8_633@hotmail.com

JAMES BOND: CASINO ROYALE - Movie Review

2006-11-27T13:17:00.000-08:00

By Mitch Emerson

Daniel Craig takes over, or should I say “kicks off” the Bond series in Casino Royale. James Bond has just received his 00 status when he must stop La Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a banker for terrorists as well as a high stakes poker player. La Chiffre takes his clients money and uses it to gamble on high risk stocks. When Bond foils his attempt to blow up a prototype airliner, La Chiffre must win a poker game in order to save his own skin. Of course Bond is there to stop him. With a kick ass car and a beautiful Treasury Agent (Eva Green) by his side, Bond does what he always does, he saves the day with style, suaveness, and more than a little violence.

Director Martin Campbell takes Bond in a new darker, grittier direction that is obvious from the beginning. Opening with a black and white noir-esque scene of him beating the crap out of some dude in a bathroom, you can tell this ain't your Daddy's Bond. From there we go right to a full on action sequence between Craig and Sebastien Foucan that would give Jackie Chan a run for his money. Is that enough examples? It may not be as cheeky or slick as previous Bond films but as a straight up spy/action flick Casino Royale delivers the goods and puts the “thriller” back in spy thriller. I know, that was kinda lame.

Hardcore fans will probably be disappointed with Danial Craig as Bond because he isn't as distinguished or gentlemanly as previous Bonds, but then again, this is a Bond before the cars, women and “shaken, not stirred” martinis. Personally, I think the only thing Craig doesn't have is the look of Bond. He looks more like a brawler from somewhere in Texas and fights like one. I feel that he could take the Bond franchise in a wonderful direction, if the fans can accept him.

Mads Mikkelsen is a great villain, played as a man who is just trying to recover from his own mistakes. Don't get me wrong, he is a villain yet you may be able to sympathize with him. Well, at least until he goes for the rope.

Surprisingly it's Judy Dench who keeps Bond (and the movie) grounded in reality by actually caring for him and trying to keep on the correct pat while at the same time becoming increasingly exasperated by the methods that Bond chooses to employ.

Eva Green as the newest (or is it the first?) Bond girl has the right amount of sex appeal while not being vapid. She is a smart and witty Treasury Agent who puts England's welfare first and foremost. Giancarlo Giannini has the the closest thing to a supporting role as Mathis, the local cop who is helping Bond. I have always liked him in everything I have seen him in, most notably Hannibal and Darkness.

Now all films have some problems and Casino Royale is no exception. Some of the familiar faces and trademarks we have come to know are missing. No Q, Miss Monneypenny or any of the fancy gadgets are here. Which leads me to the biggest problem of all. Is this a prequel, relaunch or a remake? I ask because it takes place in 2006 and is supposed to be Bond's first appearance. A friend who accompanied me swears that it's a prequel. I argued that how can it be a prequel if it was the first Bond book ever written?

Bottom line, a pretty good spy thriller with just the right amount of tension, action and humor. While not being a Bond fan myself I can say that this is a relaunch of a cultural staple that succeeds in doing what it set out to do. To bring Bond back in more down to earth feel while keeping the basic spirit of Bond. Minus the cheesy, supposedly “witty” banter and megalomaniacal schemes of caricature like super villains that have run rampant in Bond films the last few years. Give Mr. Craig a chance, he just may impress you.

Until ejector seats come as standard equipment,

keep reading

Emerson, Mitch Emerson.

Best line:

Bartender: Shaken or stirred?

James Bond: Does it look like I give a damn?

JAMES BOND - LIVE AND LET DIE: DVD Review

2006-11-22T17:10:00.000-08:00

By Mitch Emerson

In my review of Casino Royale I neglected to mention the fact that I am not a big Bond fan. I am ashamed to admit that I have yet to see Sean Connery as Bond. (Don't worry, I do have one coming soon). I planned on reviewing the first appearance of each actor as Bond in chronological order, but either I or Netflix goofed. So I'll review them in the order I get them.

When James Bond (Roger Moore) investigates the murders of three fellow agents, he soon finds himself a target, evading vicious assassins as he closes in on the powerful Kananga (Yaphet Kotto). Known on the streets as "Mr. Big," Kananga is coordinating a globally threatening scheme using tons of self-produced heroin. As Bond tries to unravel the master mind's plan, he meets Solitaire (Jane Seymour), the beautiful Tarot card reader whose magical gifts are crucial to the crime lord. Bond works his own magic on her, and embarks on a series of adventures, involving voodoo, hungry crocodiles and turbo-charged speedboats. (Taken from Yahoo Movies)

This was a horrible movie. Not bad, just plain horrible. With a slightly ludicrous plot and actors that over dramatize everything, to unexciting speed boat chases that go on for way too long, Live and Let Die takes Blaxploitation films, Bond films and even a healthy dose of Smokey and the Bandit and tosses them into a blender. What comes out is not easily palatable. Almost every black person in this film thinks they are pimp daddy, except for the ones who act whiter than I do, lol. The boat chase is a ridiculous uninspired sequence that uses the same trick over and over again. Interspersed is some extremely unfunny scenes with Clifton James as a Louisiana Sheriff that gets caught up in the chase. I swear, him and Buford T Justice could be brothers. Needless to say it didn't fit in the film. Actually, what didn't fit was Bond himself, lol.

The only good thing in Live and Let Die was Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto and Jane Seymour. I can see why Moore lasted so long as Bond. In his first outing he has the suaveness and charisma it takes to be Bond. Too bad it is wasted on such drivel. Yaphet Kotto plays Mr. Big over the top so it's a good thing that it is revealed that he is really Kananga relatively early in the film,. And, if you are gonna complain about spoilers for a movie that is over 30 years old, just stop, I don't want to hear it. As Kananga he played the super villain almost perfectly, not manic or over zealous. He knows what he wants to do and doesn't need theatrics or insanity to do it. What was a surprise was seeing the credit “introducing Jane Seymour” at the beginning. In LALD she is beautiful and begins to show the acting chops that will make her one of the more successful actresses of the day. Ok, so I'm exaggerating a bit. It can't be that difficult to be a Bond girl right? Wrong. It must take something and whatever it is Gloria Hendry didn't have it. She plays whiny CIA agent Rosie Carver who can't do anything well but look good in a bikini and die.

Bottom line – I believe that this is a Bond film for hardcore fans only. Although I understand that the later Moore Bond films became campy and cheesy, Moore's performance in LALD has peaked my interest in seeing some more of him as Bond. Any recommendations? For the non fans, go see Casino Royale!

This was the Special edition and came with a few extras. Most interesting was a documentary on the making of the movie. They talked about the crocodile farm that inspired the croc scene as well as how the owners name, Kananga was given to the villain. Actually, the documentary was more interesting than the film. Aso included were a few commentaries, and the original trailer.

Note to filmmakers – If you are going to have a guy with a claw for a hand, put a brace on his wrist so it doesn't move around.

Keep reading,

Mitch E
Strangef8_633@yahoo.com

Best Lines:

Cab driver: You know where you're going?
James Bond: Uptown, I believe?
Cab driver: Uptown? You headed into Harlem, man!
James Bond: Well you just stay on the tail of that jukebox and there's an extra twenty in it for you.
Cab driver: Hey man, for twenty bucks I'd take you to a Ku Klux Klan cookout!

Felix Leiter: [on the phone] Yes, Mr. Bleeker... I KNOW you "can't just glue the wings back on." And now, Mr. Bleeker, I'm sure there's no need for name-calling.

DEJA VU: Movie Review

2006-11-22T16:46:00.000-08:00

By Mitch Emerson

Everyone has experienced the unsettling mystery of déjà vu--that flash of memory when you meet someone new you feel you've known all your life or recognize a place even though you've never been there before. But what if the feelings were actually warnings sent from the past or clues to the future?

It is déjà vu that unexpectedly guides ATF agent Doug Carlin (Denzel Washington) through an investigation into a shattering crime. Called in to recover evidence after a bomb sets off a cataclysmic explosion on a New Orleans Ferry, Carlin is about to discover that what most people believe "is only in their heads" is actually something far more powerful--and will lead him on a mind-bending race to save hundreds of innocent people. (Taken from Yahoo Movies)

The synopsis above doesn't tell you much in the way of the sci-fi influence so I will spill the beans, which may be considered a spoiler. Some readers may want to skip to the next section but i won't give away too much. You are warned, lol. See, the government has the technology that enables them to see four days into the past. That's all I'm gonna say as it would ruin it for you. Let's just say that once Carlin learns what this machine can do, he uses it above and beyond the potential that anybody ever expected.

Denzel Washington finally lightens it up a bit after the last few movies I've seen him in. John Q , The Manchurian Candidate, The Bone Collector, and Man On Fire, where he basically plays the same character (himself) thrust into extreme situations. In fact he was starting to fall into the same rut that Harrison Ford has been in for years – only playing himself. Thankfully, he breaks the monotony, not only in his performance, but in his choice of films. I have always enjoyed his science fiction influenced films like Fallen and Virtuosity. Déjà Vu is a slight return to those types of movies. The rest of the team, Val Kilmer, Adam Goldberg, Elden Henson and Erika Alexander serve the film well. Goldberg and Henson add the tech and humor, Kilmer is the straight man and Alexander is the heart/conscience of the group. Rounding out the cast is Jim Caviezel as the patriotic nut case and Paula Patton as the catalyst (and weak romance side plot) for Carlin's continued involvement.

The film has a slight undercurrent of humor. Not as in funny ha-ha, but as these guys are trying to cope with a technology and a situation that they know next to nothing about and have to vent their frustrations some way.. How else would you cope? By getting off a few good one liners. This lends a more realistic touch to the film only made better because of the fact that this is a new technology that they don't really understand. They are trying to figure out the best possible way to use this machine.

Tony Scott is one of the few directors with a recognizable style. I really enjoyed his last film Domino. Its strange visual style fit that movie perfectly. He has toned those effects down quite a bit using that style in only one aspect of the film. I thoroughly enjoyed Déjà Vu and plan on renting it if not outright buying it on DVD. It has everything. Action, suspense, drama, humor, a bit of romance and the sci-fi factor thrown in for good measure. Another all around good movie. While it may not win any awards it sure isn't your normal popcorn fare either.

Keep reading,

Mitch E.

Strangef8_633@yahoo.com

THE SANTA CLAUSE 3, The Escape Clause: Movie Review

2006-11-06T18:03:00.000-08:00

By Mitch Emerson

Tim Allen is back in the big red suit for a third time. In the final installment of The Santa Clause Trilogy Santa is trying to juggle the impending arrival of Christmas, a very pregnant Mrs. Claus (Elizabeth Mitchell), his ex-wife and her family, and the in laws. What a perfect opportunity for Jack Frost (Martin Short) to wreak havoc and take over Christmas. He makes the North Pole into a vacation resort with attractions like “Shave a Reindeer for Five Dollars”. Do I really need to say any more? Will Santa be able to save the day? Is Santa fat and jolly?

Tim Allen basically plays himself, which is all he ever does which was fine ten years ago for Home Improvement. But, this is the new millennium and Mr. Allen really needs to get a new schtick. He even does the classic Tim Taylor grunt. Now I don't mean to bash his acting ability because let's face it, he has made more money than I will ever see, but actors do need to grow a little. Martin Short is perfect as Jack Frost, conniving and mischievous and yet fun at the same time. A master manipulator, he plays Mrs. Claus against Santa in order to make him wish he never had become Santa in the first place, which allows him to take Santa's place. Supporting cast includes Elizabeth Mitchell who you may know as one of the Others on Lost but who will always remain one of the pedophiles in Running Scared to me, Judge Reinhold, Liliana Mumy, Ann-Margret and Alan Arkin. With cameos by Art LaFluer, Aisha Tyler, Kevin Pollack, Peter Boyle and Michael Dorn as the Legendary Figures or something like that.

I guess that there isn't really a whole lot to say about this film. It's a standard Disney sequel that seems to hit all the bases without being extraordinary. A decent amount of humor, some slight tugging at the heartstrings, great sets and costumes, and some hilarious outtakes are really all this film has to offer. I can't compare it to the first two because I haven't seen the second yet(it's actually sitting on the counter along with the first right now) and it has been quite a few years since I have seen the the original Santa Clause.

I will say that I enjoyed it but there are far better movies to spend your money on this month. If you don't have kids, wait for this one on DVD.

Until Tim Allen stars in The Nightmare Before Christmas 2: Jack's Back,

keep reading.

Mitch Emerson

strangef8_633@yahoo.com

A Screenwriter's POV: Plot Asks a Question and Characters Answer It

2006-11-01T10:30:00.000-08:00

By Ugur Akinci

For over ten years I've thought about the fascinating question of the
relationship between a story plot and characters in a screenplay. At
long last I believe I solved the puzzle to my own satisfaction. I'm
sharing my answer here with the hopes that it will help all my fellow
screenwriters struggling with the pseudo problem of whether the
"story" or the "characters" is more important in writing a screenplay.

A plot "limits" but fails to "predetermine" what a character will do
the way a Question limits but does not predetermine what the Answer
will be.

For example, the set of possible answers to the question "What day is
today?" includes all seven days of the week but not "yellow," or "six
hundred twelve," or "eggplants and strawberries."

In that sense the Question limits what answers we can give to it
without, however, reducing it down to a single possible answer.

The same conceptual "limiting" relationship holds true in screenwriting as well.

Imagine this plot point: a guy traveling by plane finds a fat wallet
sitting on the empty seat next to him.

Now what should he do? We know that he probably will not write an
opera about it or perhaps cook it and eat it. In that sense, his
responses can not be infinite and will be limited to a number of
"possible actions" that "make sense."

He can call the stewardess and turn the wallet over to her, for
example, or… he can pocket the wallet and keep it for himself. Or
perhaps, he'll do nothing and continue to read his paper.

Which one of these actions our character will follow depends on the
kind of character he is. Thus a brilliant story plot is not enough to
write a good screenplay because in itself it is not sufficient to tell
us how the people in our story will "answer" the "questions" put to
them by our plot line.

Authentic responses to plot questions require not random but
appropriate answers by characters. Otherwise you'll hear your viewers
complain out loud with that familiar "no way!"

Decide on who your characters are while building up your story line.
Otherwise your "answers" to plot "questions" will be pretty random,
like the case with most "bad movies" out there. If you keep this
Question-Paradigm in mind, it'll be easier for you to weave through
the complex web of Character-Plot interactions.

-------------------------------------------------------
Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced
and award-winning Senior Technical Communicator specializing in
fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases,
movie reviews and hi-tech documentation. He has worked as a Technical
Writer for Fortune 500 corporations since 1999. Visit his copywriting site
http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary
background, writing career, and client testimonials.

HARD CANDY - DVD Review!

2006-10-30T16:55:00.000-08:00

By Mitch Emerson

Starting out with a seemingly innocent meeting between two people who met in an Internet chat room (well, as innocent as a meeting between 14-year-old Hayley and 32-year-old Jeff who met on the Internet can be) this movie turns into an intense session of rough justice for a professional photographer who is also a pedophile. Hayley (Ellen Page) lures Jeff (Patrick Wilson) back to his house and proceeds to seek vengeance for every little girl that has been molested by Jeff.

An extremely psychological drama/thriller directed by David Slade and written by Brian Nelson, Hard Candy had me sitting on the edge of my seat and actually rooting for the pedophile! Patrick Wilson plays the part of Jeff so well that at times you forget that he is the bad guy. It also helps that no graphic evidence of the crimes he has committed is actually shown to the audience. Sure, Hayley finds the evidence but it is never shoved into your face.

Ellen Page was phenomenal in this. Watch out for this girl, she is going to go places. Page is confident and believes that she is doing what’s right and yet there are moments when her youth shows through in a nervous look when Jeff can’t see her. But boy, her convictions are strong. She has planned every little detail out and almost everything goes according to plan.

While not being a very graphic film, Hard Candy can be just as disturbing as scenes from any horror film. To have such a small cast, a total of five people, and still have such an edgy, tense and emotionally draining ride is a testament to the skill of everybody involved. My only complaint is this trend of using the “shaky cam” during action sequences. It seems unnecessary and over used in films lately. Granted, that’s my opinion but it is my review isn’t it?

Watch this film. It may be rough at times, but it portrays a disease of the mind in a way that is slightly more palatable, without candy-coating what a vile and horrible thing pedophilia is.

Hoping that Hayley doesn’t have a reason to find your house,

Mitch Emerson reviews movies for various publications. You can learn more about him on his myspace profile.

Best Lines:

Hayley Stark: Well, 4 out of 5 doctors agree that I am actually insane.

Hayley Stark: I guess they... weren't brass.

Hayley Stark: Jeff, playtime’s over. It’s time to wake up.

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS Review!

2006-10-30T16:33:00.000-08:00

By Mitch Emerson

Running with Scissors is going to be one of those movies that slips quietly under most people’s radar. Even with a star-studded cast such as Annette Bening, Brian Cox, Gwyneth Paltrow and Evan Rachel Wood, it has too much of an indie feel. Or I am completely wrong and this feature film debut for writer/director Ryan Murphy will be closet contender for at least a few awards?

Personally I hope it's the latter. With scenes as out-there as a funeral for a cat, moon baths for cookware, and a miraculous bowel movement you'll have to see it for yourself. A great film that has moments of humor, depression, insanity and revelation, and a great classic rock soundtrack to boot, Running With Scissors is one of the best films I have seen this year.

When Augusten Burroughs's (Joseph Cross) parents Deidre (Annette Bening), an aspiring poet, and Norman (Alec Baldwin), an alcoholic, go their separate ways Augusten is stuck in the middle. All he wants is a normal family, what he gets is something else entirely. Adopted by his mother's psychiatrist Dr. Finch (Brian Cox), Augusten is thrust into a crazy and twisted world made up of Finch's family. While dealing with his mother’s depression and his foster families’ idiosyncrasies, amazingly Augusten finds the time to find his own identity amidst the multiple levels of insanity.

I haven't read the book that this movie is based on but believe, next time I hit the bookstore I'll be picking this one up. I did ask a couple of people in the audience with if it was faithful to the book and was told that it stayed pretty close. This is a great movie, I recommend it and give it 4 ½ out of 5. I will be buying this one on DVD as soon as it comes out.

I think everybody involved in this movie should get an Oscar. To play these characters without going over the top and becoming an all out farce had to be difficult. Bening, Cross and Cox all have wonderful moments that I can picture playing in the “Oscar nomination reel”.

Annette Bening is no stranger to playing out-of-whack mothers, with American Beauty and this film under her belt she has it down pat. Alec Baldwin is the master at taking small, quirky roles and making them his own. The line “I see nothing of myself in you,” delivered as only Alec Baldwin can, is a perfect example. Brian Cox plays Dr. Finch with a zealousness that borders on insanity. What am I saying, everyone’s insane in this movie!

I'm just going to mention Joseph Fiennes, Jill Clayburgh, Evan Rachel Wood and Gwyneth Paltrow in passing. Each of them delivers a great performance, each with their own personal problems that are only explored in order to develop their relationships with the main players. I could go on and on about the performances but don't worry, I won't.

Final thoughts – A movie for all occasions. Dates, parents, teens and friends can all get something out of this flick. Hell, I'd actually pay to see this again and I just might. Lots of laughs, great performances and a few heartfelt moments make this movie worthwhile. If I had to compare it to something, I would say it's like a Cameron Crowe film but on acid.

Until you find kibble in the potato chip aisle…

Keep reading.

Mitch Emerson reviews movies for various publications. You can learn more about him on his myspace profile.

THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS in Disney 3-D: Review!

2006-10-30T15:58:00.000-08:00

By Mitch Emerson

I’m not going to go too deep into a review of the actual movie because it’s 13 years old. If you haven’t seen it by now, you probably won’t. Anyway, for the uninitiated, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is about Jack Skellington’s (voiced by Danny Elfman and Chris Sarandon) plot to steal Christmas and make it his own Holiday. He then kidnaps Santa Claus and enlists the aid of Halloweentown’s residents to help with his plan. Sally (voiced by Catherine O’Hara) has a terrible vision of how Jacks plans will fall apart and tries to convince him to stop.

The movie is just as good as it ever was but the 3-D is lacking. Now to be honest, I arrived late and got stuck on the far left side of the theater so it could’ve just been the angle. If that was the case then that lowers my already low opinion even more because Disney should have made the effort to make it look good from every seat in the house. The backgrounds lacked any real depth. It was like Grover’s bit on Sesame Street. All you had was near and far. Any quick movement such as Jack running or the sleigh flying quickly across the screen seemed to become a jumble of images that my eyes couldn’t quite keep up with. Jacks legs became rubbery and almost looked like the tentacles of an octopus or something. And, some of the wide panning shots actually made my eyes water and want to cross, which is definitely not what I want to happen while trying to enjoy a movie. The only thing that really stood out (pun intended) was the snow at the very end of the film.

In Disney’s defense, I was on the far side of the theater and The Nightmare Before Christmas wasn’t intended to be a 3-D film. But, if this is what Disney has to offer, I’ll stick with the IMAX.

Final thought- Good movie, bad execution. So, unless you are a die-hard fan I would skip this and watch it at home.

On a side note, this may be the last “kid’s” movie I see at the theater. I had a kid sitting behind me that wouldn’t shut up for anything AND he kept kicking the back of my seat. Lady if that was your kid – Control him or get the hell out of the theater! Trust me, that kid’s behavior was utterly unacceptable. He wouldn’t stay in his seat at all. They actually left halfway through the movie.

Well, this turned into more of a rant than a review. Sorry about that.

Until Jack Skellington actually jumps out of the screen,

Keep reading.

Best Lines:

Mayor: Jack, please, I'm only an elected official here, I can't make decisions by myself!

[pushing Sandy down the pipe]
Shock: I think he might be too big.
Lock: No, he's not, if he can go down a chimney, he can fit down here.

Mitch Emerson reviews movies for various publications. You can learn more about him on his myspace profile.

COOL TRAILER! ERAGON The Movie - It's Jeremy Irons and Dragon Boy vs. John Malkovich And His Evil Army!

2006-09-15T19:10:00.000-07:00

By Damian Vonbuel

The latest fantasy sword and sorcery epic ERAGON comes out on December 15th. Looks like it’s going to be a really cool kids movie. Let’s hope it will be great for grownups too just like WILLOW was.

The movie is based on the eponymous book, which is part of a trilogy, by Christopher Paulini.

I haven’t read the books but everyone who has seems to be raving about them.

Besides, only a fool wouldn’t want to see a movie with both John Malkovich and Jeremy Irons in it?

ERAGON is directed by first-time director Stefen Fangmeier, which is kind of a toss since the guy has no track record.

How does one with no directing experience whatsoever get to direct such a big budget movie, I wonder?

Was there an audition of some sort that I didn’t hear about?

The trailer looks pretty engaging, although I have seen many trailers that looked good but turned out to be awful movies, so there is no telling, but one can hope.

SCORSESE, DICAPRIO, NICHOLSON - THE DEPARTED! Plus DiCaprio’s Other Upcoming Movie THE BLOOD DIAMOND

2006-09-15T17:35:00.000-07:00

By Lenny Tamer

It looks like DiCaprio has finally completed his transformation into a mature actor. The buzz about his next two movies, Martin Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED and Ed Zwick’s THE BLOOD DIAMOND is positive all around and word is the performances from DiCaprio are his best ever.

THE DEPARTED, which also stars Jack Nicholson and Matt Damon (check out the trailer here), is coming to theaters on October 6th and THE BLOOD DIAMOND is out December 15th.

THE DEPARTED, based on the Hong Kong movie INFERNAL AFFAIRS and adapted by screenwriter William Monahan (KINGDOM OF HEAVEN), is about a cop who infiltrates the Boston mob world. As you might have guessed, the mob boss is played by none other than Jack Nicholson, who as everyone knows very well can do intimidating characters like no one else.

A FEW GOOD MEN, anyone?

Of course, Nicholson can do anything better than anyone else and that’s a Hollywood fact. His timeless quality as an actor and his selectiveness for roles has helped him outlast the careers of two generations of younger stars.

Word is THE DEPARTED, the third movie Scorsese has made in a roll with Dicaprio, is as gritty and violent as they come. Apparently, Scorsese is back in GOODFELLAS mode, which will certainly make his true fans very happy, as everyone knows when it comes to mob movies, nobody makes them better. You seem to disagree? No? Didn’t think so.

THE BLOOD DIAMOND is set amidst the illegal and violent trade of conflict diamonds in Africa. It is described by the LA Times as a breed between an action-adventure and a political drama, sort of THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA meets HOTEL RWANDA. The movie was shot on location in Mozambique for six months. It also stars Djimon Housou and Jennifer Connelly.

By all indications, both THE DEPARTED and THE BLOOD DIAMOND will announce the beginning of a new stage in Dicaprio’s career, the one of the true leading man.

COOL INTERVIEW! Film Director Kirby Dick Exposes The MPAA Ratings Board

2006-09-14T17:48:00.000-07:00

By Damian Vonbuel

The director of the documentary THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED talks to Wired in an interview about his new movie and its subject - the secretive MPAA, the organization that rates movies in the US.

Find out how the people on the MPAA ratings board operate and why they are so very secretive. Kirby Dick tells Wired about how sex in movies is treated in comparison to violence and why.

The whole thing makes me wonder how the MPAA would rate Kirby Dick’s name. This filmmaker must have the coolest NC-17 rated name in movie-making history.

Damian Vonbuel is a freelance writer. He lives in LA. He can be reached via email: damianvonbuel@gmail.com

CRITICAL MOVIE PULSE! THE BLACK DAHLIA

2006-09-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

By Harry Chaps

OK, let’s take the critics’ pulse and see what their response to THE BLACK DAHLIA is.

Variety’s Todd Mcarthy doesn’t seem like he had a good time with this film and his pulse didn’t get raised much, judging from what he has to say about the film: “undercut by some lackluster performances and late-inning overripe melodrama.” “Overripe melodrama”? Boy, that’s kind of harsh… In fact, no pulse detected here.

Kirk Honeycutt from the Hollywood Reporter seems to be in a much better mood about THE BLACK DAHLIA: “potential greatness reduced to a good movie plagued with problems.” If a movie is “plagued”, then... Pulse is irregular here.

Owen Gleiberman at EW: “an old-fashioned noir made in the gallows-smirk spirit of L.A. Confidential.” I guess he liked it, then. “Gallows-smirk”, I gotta remember that one. I might use it in one of my reviews in the future, you know? I didn’t care that much for the story, but I kind of liked its “gallows-smirk”... Pulse is somewhat regular.

Moving on to Jules Brenner from Cinema Signals: “far from fully satisfying, but a tour de force of style and mood.” I guess, almost satisfied then? Style has been Brian De Palma’s trademark, but his movies have always been strong on the story too. When David Fincher was to direct THE BLACK DAHLIA, before De Palma got signed, he wanted to make a three hour adaptation of the Ellroy’s book. De Palma’s final cut is around two hours, so a lot of stuff from the book probably didn’t make it... Pulse is lackluster.

Dean Faraci from CHUD: “captures exactly what I see in my head when I read James Ellroy's novels. Brian De Palma can do no wrong over at CHUD… The pulse here has risen to the occasion.

“Meticulously mounted with bravura…” OK, enough said… That’s from the review over at EmanuelLevy.com. Brian De Palma is a deity over there, you guessed it. Geek, bow before the master of suspense… This one is palpitating, baby.

Staci Lane Wilson at About.com: “De Palma and Ellroy - for the most part it's a marriage made in noir nirvana.” OK, so it’s a thrilling gay marriage, one that is for the most part a happily ever after affair. Classic, anyone? Palpitations for Swami De Palma here…

Gene Seymour at Newsday didn’t feel nearly as enthusiastic: “the movie takes on a lot of baggage that it can't quite carry.” Dead pulse here…

Similarly, David Edelstein at the New York Magazine writes: “The Black Dahlia is an essay in incoherence.” Flattery can kill, you know? Dead as it gets…

And over at Comingsoon.net the pulse is rather quick: “A gorgeous, glorious tribute to old Hollywood and crime noir that's only marred by a confounding ending.” Pulse is on the rise.

Overall, the general pulse online for this movie seems to be on the positive side. Although, at Rotten Tomatoes the meter is currently pretty low. De Palma has never been a critic’s darling and has a history of dividing critical opinion, so the final consensus is always made by the audience… We shall see.

THE BLACK DAHLIA has got my money.

Until the next critical checkup!

BORAT MOVIE FUELS AN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC CRISIS! Controversy Rises Over Sacha Baron Cohen’s Film

2006-09-13T13:10:00.000-07:00

By Damian Vonbuel

Apparently, the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazerbayev is not amused by the portrayal of his country and people in Sacha Baron Cohen’s movie BORAT, which follows a bumbling Kazakhstani journalist going to America causing much hilarity to ensue.

President Nazerbayev is scheduled to visit the US and meet with President Bush to discuss the BORAT movie and its negative impact on Kazakhstan’s international reputation among other things. The Daily Mail has an article about the controversy that the movie has stirred.

Sacha Baron Cohen is a British comedian previously known as the creator of Ali G. His film is to be released in the US on November 3rd by 20th Century Fox. The Kazakhstan government has threatened to take legal action against Cohen. Well, that’s alright but on what grounds, I wonder? Slander? With Cohen’s right of free speech, that seems like a probable one.

Then again, what happened to the PC culture? Why is it OK for someone like Cohen to make fun of Kazakhstan’s people? Have we run out of things we can make fun of in our own society? Or are we simply too afraid to go there? Try making a movie that pokes fun at some interest group in America and watch what happens to your filmmaking career…

You may check out the trailer (rather hilarious BTW, unless of course you are a Kazakhstani) on the official BORAT website. BORAT has ignited interest on a global scale and gained, perhaps an unparalleled, word-of-mouth momentum on the internet through sites like Myspace. Check out BORAT’s Myspace profile, where you can see snapshots from the movie, trailers and send a message to the filmmaker to express your feelings about the movie.

For more news and daily updates on BORAT visit the Unofficial BORAT website where you can read about the Toronto Film Festival premiere and the escalating international controversy.

Damian Vonbuel is a freelance writer. He lives in LA. He can be reached via email: damianvonbuel@gmail.com

COOL INTERVIEW! BLACK DAHLIA Scribe Spills Beans

2006-09-12T16:54:00.001-07:00

By Damian Vonbuel

The folks at AINC got to interview Josh Friedman, screenwriter of THE BLACK DAHLIA and WAR OF THE WORLDS. Josh Friedman talks about working with Brian De Palma, Steven Spielberg and David Fincher, as well as the unexpected publicity he’s been getting from his blog.

Josh Friedman stirred some internet buzz a while ago about the then upcoming movie SNAKES ON A PLANE on his popular blog “I Find Your Lack Of Faith Disturbing”. With a single post Josh Friedman alerted an army of movie geeks and started an online frenzy surrounding SNAKES ON A PLANE.

Up next for Josh Friedman is the TERMINATOR TV show called THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES, as well as adapting Christian Gossett's THE RED STAR for director Timour Bekmambetov (NIGHT WATCH).

THE BLACK DAHLIA is the latest film from master-of-the-suspense director Brian De Palma (SCARFACE, THE UNTOUCHABLES, CARRIE, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE). It opens this Friday, 15th.

Damian Vonbuel is a freelance writer. He lives in LA. He can be reached via email: damianvonbuel@gmail.com

CASINO ROYALE! First Look at the New Bond Movie

2006-09-11T15:13:00.000-07:00

By Damian Vonbuel

OK, there is a report of the first secret screening of the new Bond movie CASINO ROYALE on AICN.

The news comes from London where the screening was held. The person who saw the movie says it was “fantastic” and that it got a “huge round of applause”.

In short, the reviewer absolutely loved the film.

Except, he has some minor qualms about the current music choices the director Martin Campbell and producer Barbara Broccoli have made, though the soundtrack has not yet been completed.

OK, as for His Blondness, apparently Daniel Craig does an awesome job reinventing the character of Bond. That is, Bond before Bond truly becomes Bond… as we have come to know him.

The writer praises Craig and calls the actor “simply excellent”, he also goes on to describe how “the audience was more than pleased” with his “Bondability”.

Although, the reviewer complains that this reinvention of the Bond character is a bit on the too “realistic” side, as opposed, I suppose, to the stylized portrayal of the famous spy in previous installments of the franchise.

The main villain, played by Mads Mikklesen (from KING ARTHUR), is described as “absolute perfection”.

The Bond girls, according to this reviewer, are as amazing as ever.

Except for one minor thing.

The reviewer has some issues with how clean (or apparently not) the feet of Bond’s romantic interest played by Eva Green (last seen in Ridley Scott’s KINGDOM OF HEAVEN) are.

The reviewer complains about her feet being “pitch black”.

I guess that could be reason enough for some to find fault with Eva Green. Though, it would be safe to assume the majority of men out there will be willing to overlook Eva Green’s minor personal hygiene shortcomings.

I mean have you looked at her?

Oh, there is one more thing. And I can tell there will be lots of Bond fans feeling disappointed about this… So, take a deep breath.

NO Q.

AND…

NO GADGETS.

What? NO Q? NO GADGETS? In a Bond movie?!?! Say that again?

They gotta be kidding! Right?

You heard me right: NO GADGETS. NO Q.

But sulk not, as it seems, there are other aspects to this new edition of the franchise that more than make up for the loss of such Bond staples as Q and gadgets.

Besides, the movie delves into demystifying the origin of the famous “Shaken or stirred?” line, apparently with much humor.

Damian Vonbuel is a freelance writer. He lives in LA. He can be reached via email: damianvonbuel@gmail.com

COOL TRAILER & MORE! THE BLACK DAHLIA

2006-09-10T18:44:00.000-07:00

By PAPA BAWGAWK

True noir film fans like myself can’t wait to see this movie (Coming out this Friday, September 15th). If you are not familiar with the story, THE BLACK DAHLIA is adapted from the James Ellroy novel and based on true events centering around the notorious unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, an aspiring Hollywood actress, in 1948.

The LA Times archives of the case have been opened. Check out this cool site for the full case history, pictures and more. The trailer looks really cool too.

The film is directed by the master of suspense Brian De Palma (SCARFACE, THE UNTOUCHABLES, DRESSED TO KILL, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, FEMME FATALE, among others). It was adapted for the screen by screenwriter Josh Friedman (credited co-writer of WAR OF THE WORLDS). Josh Friedman has a very popular blog called “I Find Your Lack Of Faith Disturbing”… (I wonder whether he had a tough time choosing between that line and “Join Me And We Shall Rule The Galaxy”?)

BAWGAWK OUT

DVD REVIEW! THE UNTOUCHABLES, A Look at Brian De Palma’s Films

2006-09-09T22:51:00.000-07:00

By Mitch Emerson

The second review in my look at Brian De Palma is the 1987 action/drama THE UNTOUCHABLES.

It is the time of Prohibition, the time of Al Capone. Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner), along with Jim Malone (Sean Connery), Agent George Stone (Andy Garcia) and Agent Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith) are going to do whatever it takes to bring Capone (Robert DeNiro) down.

I remember seeing this movie when I was younger on cable, and it left an impression on me. At that age (13) it had everything a kid could ask for, guns, blood, and sharp dressed men. Who wouldn’t want to be a gangster? After viewing it again at the age of 32, it lacks something. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but this film needed some small thing to make it great. I know that as a reviewer I should be able to point out whatever it is, but being a favorite movie from my childhood has skewed my judgment.

The acting was good, Connery’s accent not withstanding. The pacing of the plot was fine. The action was dramatic and not over done. It seems to me that DePalma likes to use slow motion to heighten the tension in his climactic scenes. I have noticed this in this film and FEMME FATALE. Is this a De Palma trademark?

Kevin Costner plays Ness as the most straight-laced Treasury Agent I have ever seen. Even his wife thinks so, at one point she jokes about naming their son J. Edgar. He is almost the personification of the Law. Speaking in complete, carefully enunciated and precise sentences, he does everything by the book. Until he recruits Sean Connery’s slang speaking, butt kicking Irish beat cop. Connery has the right attitude, but his accent keeps switching between the Irish it’s supposed to be and the Scottish that is his real accent. Andy Garcia plays his straight out of the Academy Italian sharpshooter pretty close to the vest. He’s good at shooting and he wants to be a cop. That’s about all there is to him. DeNiro, what can you say about him? He is the man in almost everything he chooses to do. One minute he is a seemingly respectable business man and in the next, he’s bashing a guy’s head in with a baseball bat.

The picture was pretty good but the sound left something to be desired. Not the sound mix but the effects themselves. A lot of the gunshots were poorly edited in and there was quite a bit of bad dubbing. The music was perfect. Swanky with a little feel of 80’s thrown in. If that main title doesn’t get you excited then nothing in this movie will.

Included in the special features is the original featurette “The Men” from 1987. New featurettes included are "The Cast and the Script”, "Production Stories”, "Reinventing the Genre”, and "The Classic".

Even though it’s missing something, I still enjoyed this almost as much as I did as a kid. So far I think De Palma is doing a pretty good job at keeping me entertained. If you like gangster films, give this one a shot. I even heard a rumor that there are plans for a prequel.

There are even more great lines in this movie than what I have picked out. I just picked some of my favorites.

Until Geraldo gets a crack at another safe, keep reading.

Best Lines:

Capone: I want you to get this f@#% where he breathes! I want you to find this nancy-boy Eliot Ness, I want him DEAD! I want his family DEAD! I want his house burned to the GROUND! I wanna go there in the middle of the night and I wanna P!## ON HIS ASHES!

Malone: Stone. George Stone. That's your name? What's your real name?
George Stone: That is my real name.
Malone: Nah. What was it before you changed it?
George Stone: Giuseppe Petri.
Malone: Ah, I knew it. That's all you need, one thieving wop on the team.
George Stone: Hey, what's that you say?
Malone: I said that you're a lying member of a no good race.
George Stone: Much better than you, you stinking Irish pig.
Malone: Oh, I like him.

Ness: How do you do it then?
Malone: You wanna know how you do it? Here's how, they pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital; you send one of his to the morgue. That's the Chicago way, and that's how you get Capone! Now do you want to do that? Are you ready to do that?
Ness: I have sworn to capture this man with all legal powers at my disposal and I will do so.
Malone: Well, the Lord hates a coward. Do you know what a blood oath is, Mr. Ness?
Ness: Yes.
Malone: Good, 'cause you just took one.

Reporter: Word is they're going to repeal Prohibition. What'll you do then?
Ness: I think I'll have a drink.

Frank Nitti: I said your friend died screaming like a stuck Irish pig. Now you think about that when I beat the rap.
[Ness, enraged, grabs Nitti and throws him off the building ledge. Nitti wails as he falls]
Ness: Did it sound anything like THAT?

Ness: I have foresworn myself. I have broken every law I have sworn to uphold, I have become what I beheld and I am content that I have done right!

Mountie: I do not approve of your methods!
Ness: Yeah, well... You're not from Chicago.

Malone: [to Ness] Welcome to Chicago.
Malone: This town stinks like a whorehouse at low tide.

Mitch Emerson reviews movies for various publications. You can learn more about him on his myspace profile.

MOVIE REVIEW! A SCANNER DARKLY, Take This Twisted Sci-Fi Trip

2006-09-08T19:10:00.000-07:00

By Mitch Emerson

First off I want to thank Agent Automatic for inviting me to see this and for the conversation we had afterwards, where some of this review is going to stem from. So I apologize if I steal too much.

Set seven years in the future, Bob Arctor/Fred (Keanu Reeves) is an undercover agent for the Orange County Sheriffs Dept. He is supposed to work his way up the drug dealer food chain and get close to the higher-ups. In the process he gets addicted to Substance D and his mind starts to compete with itself, don't ask me, I'm just repeating what they said in the movie.

Meanwhile, his girlfriend/dealer Donna (Winona Ryder) won't let him get close to her, in more ways than one. His two roommates Bariss (Robert Downey Jr.) and Ernie (Woody Harrelson) are along for the ride. Throw in the super junkie Charles Freck (Rory Cochrane) and the cast of misfits is complete. That's about all I can say without giving a lot away.

This was a very strange movie in many ways. Let's tackle the visual style first. You probably know by now that this is animated using a process called rotoscoping. I don't really know what it is and I am too lazy too look it up. Part of it is they film the scenes like a regular movie then place the animation over it frame by frame. To me it was fascinating and disconcerting at the same time almost to the point of being distracting. There were points in the movie where I found myself watching the animation rather than paying attention to what was going on with the story. And I can't even begin to explain the scramble suits. They are used to hide the identities of undercover agents but beyond that, you have to see them for yourselves. I felt that they were unnecessary to the story. It seems to me that they were used as a way to show off the animation. I mean, there are other ways to hide your identity than a f*#ed up acid trip of a suit. I'll bet if you saw one in real life it would cause an instant migraine.

I believe that the animation adds to the story but takes away from the acting of some of the performers in this, except in Keanu Reeves case. Keanu is Keanu, although he does seem to be improving over time. I didn't recognize Rory Cochrane at all. I actually had to look him up on the IMDB once I got home. You may remember him from “Dazed and Confused” or “Empire Records”. He played the most disturbed character in the film, Charles Freck. He reminded me of a cross between Oliver Platt and Benicio Del Toro, especially Del Toro's Dr. Gonzo in FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS.

I usually find Winona Ryder to be kind of whiny in most of her films but I actually enjoyed her character here. I felt Ryder's and Cochrane's performances are the ones that suffered from the animation. Robert Downey Jr. and Woody Harrelson are the most entertaining of the cast. Harrelson looks like a surfer stoner and acts like one too. Downey plays this as he plays almost everything, paranoid and obsessive and just plain weird.

The story itself was hard enough to follow. Having never read the book I went into this without a clue as to what I would be seeing. It wasn't until the very end that a lot of questions were answered. And some not answered at all. Such as, why was Bariss such a prick and who did Arctor actually sleep with? Why had the images changed not only when he was in bed, but also when he was reviewing the tapes? I have even looked on a few message boards for answers, but none were answered satisfactorily. I guess I will have to see it again and read the book, hopefully I will be able to understand more.

For those who don't know my taste in drug related movies, I lean towards the comedic side as my step mother died from drugs when I was 17. I have recently reviewed movies such as “Killing Zoe” and “Drugstore Cowboy” and really didn't care for those because of my personal experiences. But this film is a good blend of seriousness, comedy, science fiction with a little bit of mind f#@% thrown in for good measure.

I enjoyed this film enough to recommend it to a few different types of moviegoers, the Phillip K. Dick fans, as Automatic told me that Linklater stayed pretty true to the novel. I would recommend it to animation fans who just want to see a cool looking movie. Also, to mystery fans, as well as Sci-Fi fans. It was a decent, if somewhat confusing Sci-Fi/Drama flick that is worth a rent.

So until I can ride my hover board while wearing a scramble suit,
keep reading!

Best Lines:

Barris: There's only one thing we can do to thwart the plot of these albino shape-shifting lizard BITCHES!
Fred: [voiceover] What does a scanner see? Into the head? Down into the heart? Does it see into me? Into us? Clearly or darkly? I hope it sees clearly because I can't any longer see into myself. I see only murk. I hope for everyone's sake the scanners do better, because if the scanner sees only darkly the way I do, then I'm cursed and cursed again.
Barris: I'm gonna squash you like... like a bug.
Luckman: Yeah, what kind?
Barris: A... f#@%ed up, bitch beetle.
Medical Deputy #1: You know, Fred, if you keep your sense of humor like you do, you just might make it.
Fred: Make it? Make what? The team? The chick? Make good? Make do? Make out? Make sense? Make money? Make time? Define your terms. The Latin for 'make' is facere, which always reminds me of f@#%ere, which is Latin for 'to f@#%', and I have been getting jack sh%# in that department as of late.
Medical Deputy #2: Damage has taken place to the normally dominant left hemisphere, and the right hemisphere is attempting to compensate.
Fred: The two hemispheres in my brain... are competing?
Medical Deputy #2, Medical Deputy #1: [in unison] Yes.

Mitch Emerson reviews movies for various publications. You can learn more about him on his myspace profile.

WOW! JAMES BOND IS BACK LIKE NEVER BEFORE! THIS TRAILER BLOWS GEEKS LIKE YOU AWAY

2006-09-08T17:30:00.000-07:00

By PAPA BAWGAWK

If you have not seen the latest trailer for the new James Bond (a.k.a. James Blond) movie CASINO ROYALE, you are in for a ride! Check it out as Bond has not been this exiting in 29 years!

PS. For those who had doubts about Daniel Craig fitting in 007's shoes, you may lay them aside. Craig is the Bond.

CLASSIC DVD REVIEW! THE PHILADELPHIA STORY

2006-09-08T12:49:00.000-07:00

By Ugur Akinci

A romantic comedy classic directed by George Cukor and adapted to the screen by Donald Ogden Stewart from Philip Barry's Broadway hit play.

Although Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart share top billing with Katherine Hepburn, this is clearly Hepburn's movie. The story revolves around her profound transformation from an "ice queen" to a warm human being who discovers what true love is -- which proves to be her ultimate salvation.

The movie opens with a scene of marital disaster -- that legendary scene in which Cary Grant (playing the C. K. Dexter Haven), before leaving his home for good, palms Katherine Hepburn's face and pushes her down to the floor. A total non-PC disaster of a scene by 2006 standards.

But that does not happen before Hepburn (playing Tracy Lord, Dexter's wife), drives him mad by throwing out his pipe set and breaking his golf club as Dexter is trying to get into his car and leave the unhappy marriage behind. It must have been such a sacrilege to break an honorable man's pipes and wooden golf clubs back in the 40s. These days real men neither smoke smelly pipes nor own wooden golf clubs. They don't shove their wives rudely on to the floor either.

Fast forward to two years later.

Tracy is about to marry her new sweetheart George Kittredge (played by John Howard) who is a very proper gentleman crazy for the appearances. Since Tracy comes from a blue-blood upper-crust family, her marriage is exactly the stuff the tabloids thrive on. Back then, the gossip-monger photo tabloid of the day happens to be the "Spy Magazine".

Spy's unscrupulous Editor Sidney Kidd decides to send a cracker jack team of photographer Elizabeth "Liz" Imbrie (played by Ruth Hussey) and the writer from the other side of the tracks with serious literary ambitions, Macaulay "Mike" Connor (James Stewart) to cover this high-society event with as many scandalous details and photographs as possible. It is interesting to note that the "Editor Sidney Kidd" character is very similar to the one Cary Grant himself has played in another film released the same year, HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940).

However, the Editor needs a ruse to slip Liz and Macaulay into the Lord mansion in the northern suburbs of Philadelphia (hence the name of film) on the eve of Tracy's wedding. Enter Dexter, who is itching to get back/even with Tracy.

Tracy's brother Junius is employed by the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires. With Kidd's direction, Dexter introduces himself to Mike and Liz as the Spy Magazine's Buenos Aires Bureau Chief and a friend of Junius. That will be their cover story to slip into the Lord estate.

Questionable plot point: Dexter is actually coerced into this role by Kidd's blackmail. If Dexter refuses to cooperate, Kidd threatens to publish the full story of a potentially damaging illicit affair involving Tracy's father Seth Lord (John Halliday).

So why should a divorced man care about the reputation of his ex father-in-law? Is it because Dexter has not lost faith in his eventual reunion with his ex-wife and thus tries to protect the reputation of a family that he hopes to rejoin in the near future? Could be. Otherwise the blackmail does not really make sense.

Both Tracy and her parents are surprised to see Dexter back in their House, and Mike and Liz's cover is soon debunked. However, due to an unexpected development, Mike is not chased right away from the Lord estate – Tracy and Mike are drawn to one another in a summer romance that does not go further than a few kisses and a midnight dip in the swimming pool. But it is enough to propel the story towards both Dexter's and George's comeback reactions.

The Tracy-George-Mike-Dexter love quadrangle evolves within the larger context of Tracy's personal transformation.

No less than three men (Dexter, her father Seth and Mike) tell Tracy in no uncertain terms what kind of royally spoiled and controlling personality she is. The indictment, issued by different parties but delivered in the same way, forces Tracy to rethink who she is and where she is headed in life. She wants to be happy, but doesn't know quite how. She realizes that her "ice queen" attitude and sense of entitlement might be a part of her misery.

Cary Grant's Dexter is portrayed with much gentle humor (as usual with almost all Grant roles). But this Dexter fellow is nothing if not persistent and self-assured. He is like a farmer waiting for the golden fruit to fall into his lap when it’s ripe. Nothing fazes him – neither Tracy's upcoming marriage with George, nor her brief involvement with Mike. He is a character who mostly listens, observes, and reacts with a know-it-all chuckle that I have not seen in any of his other movies.

When George pulls out of the marriage at the last moment, Tracy proposes to Mike. Dexter still keeps his cool as a guy who has seen the future and it belongs to him. When Mike turns her down because he feels their brief fling (and the immense social gap between the socialite Tracy and the working stiff Mike) is not a good enough reason for marriage, Dexter is the only groom candidate left standing.

At the end of the movie, Tracy's character transformation is complete. She realizes the number of hearts she has broken in the past with her tempestuous temperament, and that what matters most in life is love and living in peace with the one who truly loves her and has never forgotten her – Dexter.

The following scene, in which Tracy makes full peace with her father, pretty much summarizes the gist of her transformation:

Tracy Lord: How do I look?

Seth Lord: Like a queen - like a goddess.

Tracy Lord: And do you know how I feel?

Seth Lord: How?

Tracy Lord: Like a human being.

Seth Lord: Do you know how I feel?

Tracy: How?

Seth Lord: Proud.

Given the reputation of this film as one of the classics in Hollywood history, one wonders why a slightly above average romantic comedy with some smart and funny dialog is accorded such privileged status.

My answer is, yes, there are many films out there shot during the 40s that are equally funny (and equally removed from the daily concerns and background of an average middle class movie fan) but rare indeed is one in which we see such a touching character arc. It is Katherine Hepburn's fantastic performance that speaks to us on an emotional level and makes us root for her "deliverance from herself."

If it weren't for Hepburn, this is a 5-out-of-10 product. But Hepburn's scintillating and convincing performance lifts it to a solid 8.

Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is an award-winning technical writer and creative copywriter who has been working for Fortune 500 corporations. A true movie fan since he was a child, Akinci has just published his first book of movie reviews, FLICKERING DREAMS. He is also the editor of PRIVATE TUTOR FOR SAT MATH SUCCESS. For more information on Ugur visit his website.

DVD REVIEW! FEMME FATALE, A Look at Brian De Palma's Films

2006-09-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

By Mitch Emerson

With THE BLACK DAHLIA hitting theaters on September 15th, I am going to be reviewing a few of Brian De Palma's films including THE UNTOUCHABLES, THE FURY, FEMME FATALE, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE and DRESSSED TO KILL. I am starting with FEMME FATALE for the sole reason that it just happens to be the only De Palma film I own. So, most of these reviews will be a fresh look at the films.

A complicated diamond heist, a double cross by a beautiful jewel thief (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), a photographer (Antonio Banderas), and a case of mistaken identity set the stage in this interesting story of one womans plot to get away with her life. Or is everything not as it seems?

An erotic thriller, written and directed by Brian De Palma, starring Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Antonio Banderas and Peter Coyote in a supporting role, FEMME FATALE lays out a twisting and turning plot that may keep you guessing till the end. De Palma uses such tricks as longer than usual takes, simultaneous panning split-screens, slow motion, and subtle clues that hint to what is actually going on to tell this noir tale of bad girl Laure Ash.

Rebecca Romijn-Stamos performs admirably here. Having only seen her as Mystique in the X-MEN films, I was kind of surprised to see that this model turned actress can actually act. The lesbian make-out scene and strip tease didn't hurt either. Antonio Banderas plays second fiddle to Romijn-Stamos but does very well, his performance as Nicolas grounds the movie in a way that I just can't explain. And he must've learned a thing or two from Hank Azaria's character in THE BIRDCAGE. Trust me it's the best scene in the movie besides the aforementioned strip tease and make-out session. Peter Coyote adds another bit of realism and strength in the small role of Bruce Watts. And don't forget to listen for John Stamos's cameo!

The DVD is kind of lacking in special features. Three featurettes and a short making-of documentary are basically all you get. I would've really liked to see a commentary on this one.

I really can't recommend this as a De Palma fan. Not because it's not as good as his other films, just because I haven't seen many and the ones I have seen, I haven't seen in a while. But, I can recommend this as a film lover who likes movies with twists and turns, and bad, bad girl characters.

Mitch Emerson
Best Lines:

Nicolas Bardo: I'm sorry... You look so familiar. Haven't we met before, somewhere?
Laure Ash: Only in my dreams.
Laure Ash: I'm a bad girl Nicolas. Real bad. Rotten to the heart.
Laure Ash: C'mon, Nicolas. You don't have to lick my a##. Just f@%# me!

Mitch Emerson reviews movies for various publications. You can learn more about him on his myspace profile.

DVD REVIEW! Zombie Camp B-Flick and Likely Future Cult Classic DEAD AND BREAKFAST Delivers the Splatter

2006-09-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

by Mitch Emerson

A group of six friends are traveling cross country for a friends wedding. They get lost and find themselves in the little town of Lovelock. They spend the night in the local bed and breakfast, inadvertently releasing an evil spirit that possesses the townspeople. Now it is up to them and a mysterious drifter (who seems to be the only one who knows what is going on) to stop the chaos that they have released upon the unsuspecting town.

Review: A strange and campy zombie film, DEAD AND BREAKFAST combines horror, humor and camp all into one semi-low budget film that should become a cult classic. With such characters as Mullet Man, Skanky Chick, Randall Keith Randall and The Chick With the Foaming Mouth and the Hammer In Her Head, could it be anything else but?

The cast is comprised of a few famous faces like David Carradine and Portia De Rossi, but most made up of people you know if you think about it for a minute. Ever Carradine, who was Jay's mother in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Erik Palladino, a Doctor on ER for three years, Vincent Ventresca, Fun Bobby from Friends, and Diedrich Bader from the Drew Carrey Show to name a few. Everybody plays their roles with the perfect amount of cheese, especially the more stereotypical redneck characters. When your character is named Mullet Man, do you think it's possible to over do it? I didn't think so.

The music deserves its own mention here. Done in the style of There's Something About Mary, Randall Keith Randall croons the plot of the movie in cutscenes throughout. Starting with straightforward sound country ballads that evolve into rap infused line dancing numbers, really helps to set the tone. Check out this site, and preview “We're Comin' To Kill Ya” for an example.

Image and Sound: To be honest, I was enjoying this move far too much to really notice the picture and sound, although the sound effects were pretty gruesome and the blood was the right color red.

Special Features: A trailer, deleted scenes, a blooper reel, some addional cut music interludes, poster and still gallery and 2 different commentaries round out this disk.

Final Notes: Fun as hell, almost as strange and stylistic as Evil Dead, worth a rent for the music interludes alone. For a B-Horror movie I'll give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Best Lines:

Randall Keith Randall: [chorus of song in closing credits] Well, this used to be such a quiet little town / We never had too much trouble around here / Until that spirit was released / And we were haunted by the deceased / And now there's all this crazy shit that's going down here.

Sara: What are they doing?
David: They're dancing!

The Sheriff: Well! Ain't you about as handy as a pocket on a shirt.

David: Had I known it was going to feel this good to bash your brains in I would have done it a long time ago.

Lisa Belmont: Well, you mind telling me what in the Sam Hill is going on around here?
The Drifter: I don't think you would believe me if I told you.
Lisa Belmont: Friend, after what I've seen tonight you could tell me an evil spirit rose up from the dead and decided to posses the entire town and I would believe you.
[the Drifter and Melody look at each other; Lisa rolls her eyes]
Lisa Belmont: Well, any of you all know how to stop it?

Mitch Emerson reviews movies for various publications. You can learn more about him on his myspace profile.

DISNEY NEWS! PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN 3 Title Confirmed

2006-09-06T16:32:00.000-07:00

by PAPA BAWGAWK

It's official and all speculation has been cleared. Disney has announced the title will be PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: AT WORLD’S END, the movie’s screenwriters Ted Elliot & Terry Rossio’s original choice. Ted Elliot & Terry Rossio wrote the screenplays for SHREK, LEGEND OF ZORRO, ALADDIN, NATIONAL TREASURE. Check out the scribe duo’s screenwriting site WORDPLAYER. Also, Terry Rossio has a cool blog about his experience while on the set of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN.

SPIDEY 3 BEANS SPILLED! Interview with SPIDER-MAN Helmer and Cast Members

2006-09-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

by PAPA BAWGAWK

JoBlo has interviewed SPIDER-MAN 3 director Sam Raimi and cast members Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst at San Diego’s Comic-Con. Get the goods here!

COOL TRAILER! PAN’S LABYRYNTH

2006-09-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

by PAPA BAWGAWK

Check out the trailer for Guillermo Del Torro’s (director of HELL BOY, BLADE 2 & MIMIC) new movie PAN’S LABYRYNTH. Looks like a pretty cool ALICE IN WONDERLAND and WIZARD OF OZ type of story. The guys at CHUD got an exclusive look at the teaser.

INDUSTRY COUP! Tom Cruise, Paramount, Hollywood’s Power Shift, and Now Hedge Funds

2006-09-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

by Richard Stoyeck

Until the 1950’s, Hollywood was controlled by seven major motion picture studios. More importantly it was controlled by moguls, all of whom were men they say of Eastern European descent, who ruled the studios in the same way that the kings of their previous countries ruled the peasants. Creative control belonged to the moguls, while the money was always controlled by the New York bankers, the so-called “Suits”.

This power alignment began with the beginning of Hollywood prior to 1920, and continued for 40 plus years. What held it intact was the caste system, whereby the stars were controlled by individual studios. They were paid on a yearly basis, and had no say whatsoever in the movies they would appear in. In essence they were slaves to the system, not very different from how baseball players were handled until the Supreme Court outlawed career-long captive players.

The Hollywood caste system began to crack in the 1950’s when Kirk Douglas, the father of Michael Douglas, went independent and formed one of the first independent film companies called Bryna (after his mother). They produced the VIKINGS, SPARTACUS and SEVEN DAYS IN MAY. The so called Studio system was now dead. Power shifted to the individual actors, who became BRAND NAMES in their own right.

Two developments began in the 1960’s. The Hollywood studios would be taken over by corporations, and then reacquired by giant multinational corporations seeking world-wide influence. The second development was that the stars began to exercise their power. Giant multinationals like Sony, Newscorp, and Viacom hated the fact that stars had so much power. In the last ten years, A-List actors like Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, and Robert Redford started to receive profit participations, which the studios only gave begrudgingly.

At first it didn’t matter because Hollywood accounting is such that somehow the studios could always show a loss on the movie. The stars got wise to that very quickly, and started taking front end participations, a percentage of the ticket sales grosses.

In my 35 years on Wall Street, I participated in financing many movies, and I have to tell you that nobody ever made money on the backend. No matter how big the movie, somehow the movie always lost money when it came to the backend participations.

We have now reached a point where the giant multinationals that control media on a world-wide basis are fed up with what they are putting up with on behalf of brand name stars.

Mel Gibson as you know has run into trouble on the West Coast with his drinking, and purported anti-Semitic remarks resulting in Disney canceling a Holocaust series with Gibson’s production company.

Now Tom Cruise has had a falling out with Sumner Redstone, and Viacom. Publicly Redstone has stated he doesn’t like some of Cruise’s actions in the last year. This doesn’t make sense. Normally when a studio breaks with a star, there is no public statement. None is required to be given, and they just part ways. This is more personal.

It is rumored that Viacom had offered Cruise a $2 million production deal, down from $4 million in the previous deal, plus a $6 million fund for the development of movie projects. Here’s the real deal. Tom Cruise did MISSION IMPOSSIBLE III for Viacom, the movie grosses near $400 million world-wide. Cruise had negotiated as a fee, 25% of Viacom’s gross revenue on the movie.

This is the way it works. The movie does $400 million. The theaters get half, and Viacom gets half, that’s $200 million apiece. Cruise gets 25% of Viacom’s half, that’s $50 million. In the end Viacom gets $150 million, and Cruise gets $50 million. Sounds great for Viacom doesn’t it? Not really, Viacom must pay for the movie which had to be $150 million plus advertising. Viacom gets zero, and Cruise still gets $50 million. This is why Sumner Redstone of Viacom is annoyed, and Cruise is sitting on top of the world.

In the end Redstone will laugh last. Why, you ask? There’s still Hollywood accounting to deal with. Remember that all the original Hollywood studios were sold off into the hands of multinational corporations (MNC’s). Do you really think the MNC’s bought the studios for the theater gross? Absolutely not! In reality, movie ticket sales represent a third of a movie’s earnings power. Viacom can lose money on a picture, and still make a fortune on DVD sales (a third), and future television and cable rights (a third).

The MNC’s have never shared profits on these other two-thirds of the revenue, and they never will. They refuse to even discuss it, and the numbers are buried deep in the corporation’s financial statements. They are never broken out, and they are kept secret. Viacom has made, and will make hundreds of millions of dollars on Mission Impossible III.

Redstone got fed up and threw Cruise off the lot. There are now statements being made by Cruise’s production partner Paula Wagner. She says that Cruise is raising $200 million from hedge funds to fund Cruise’s future projects. Wait until these Wall Street hedge fund types learn about Hollywood accounting. They are going to lose their shirts funding movies. This is not an industry that Wall Street should want to get involved with. Losing your shirt is one thing, but not even knowing that you have lost it until you are standing naked in the street is quite another.

Goodbye and good luck.

Richard Stoyeck’s background includes being a limited partner at Bear Stearns, Senior VP at Lehman Brothers, Kuhn Loeb, Arthur Andersen, and KPMG. Educated at Pace University, NYU, and Harvard University, today he runs Rockefeller Capital Partners and StocksAtBottom.com

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

ROMCOM ROLLERCOASTER! Can Romcoms Survive the 21st Century?

2006-09-06T15:43:00.001-07:00

By Ugur Akinci

Romantic comedies survived WW2 and the 20th Century with a few nicks and bruises here and there, after initially having become the staple entertainment brand of Hollywood's "Golden Age." Cary Grant alone made enough romantic comedies to last us for a while...THE AWFUL TRUTH, HIS GIRL FRIDAY, HOLIDAY, THE GRASS IS GREENER, OPERATION PETTICOAT, THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, MY FAVORITE WIFE, HOUSEBOAT... the list goes on and on.

The formula was simple… wait until a show goes gangbusters on Broadway and sells out for a year. Then, get Cary Grant and shoot the movie. I'm exaggerating the "Cary Grant" part perhaps, but basically that was the formula used in the 30s, 40s and 50s to create foolproof romcom box office winners.

Starting in the late 50s and continuing through the 60s, we have the "Pillow Talk" genre of romcoms. Who can forget the Doris Day – Rock Hudson magic? It was great while it lasted.

Then romcoms in the 70's fell in love with irony. From Woody Allen’s masterpieces ANNIE HALL and MANHATTAN, to Hal Ashby's poignant SHAMPOO, to Blake Edwards' brilliant 10, romcoms tended to be borderline downers. In the 80’s romcoms came back on a lighter note from Steve Gordon's ARTHUR, to Steve Martin's ROXANNE and to Mike Nichols’ WORKING GIRL.

Zoom ahead to present day – what do we have?

Has anyone watched a good romantic comedy since the achievement of such genre landmarks as WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (1989) and SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE (1993), both written, and the latter also directed by Nora Ephron?

YOU'VE GOT MAIL (1998) was one time too many Ephron tried to recreate the same "Sleepless" magic. As gifted a writer and director as she is, even Nora Ephron could not pull the romcom rabbit out of her hat whenever she wanted. And I'm afraid it's getting harder by the day.

Judging by the recent comeback of the horror genre, I think we are slipping back to the cheap thrills of OH-MY-GOD! THERE-IS-SNAKES-IN-MY-PANTS! with triple-exclamation-points territory.

But the question remains, how can we have true comedy, and especially romantic comedy, when the world seems to be exploding at the seams?

Even Woody Allen seems to be forgetting his comedy roots these days and going back deeper into the Dostoevskian territory where CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS left off. The difference is MATCH POINT (2005) is set in London (and a very handsome gorgeous London at that) and the tone is much more somber this time.

With all the wars, international terrorism, global warming, nuclear proliferation, unheard of pandemics, who has the heart to celebrate the innocence of a romantic comedy?

One alternative is to recombine romcom with other genres, like the romcom/action-thriller experiment MR. AND MRS. SMITH (2005). I give that genre-saddling approach another ten years and then perhaps we may have to do with romcom/horror and romcom/sci-fi anomalies masquerading as the original thing.

Buckle your seatbelts, kids! Romantic comedy could be a rough and scary ride in the years ahead. Let us hope art won’t continue to imitate life!

Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is an award-winning technical writer and creative copywriter who has been working for Fortune 500 corporations. A true movie fan since he was a child, Akinci has just published his first book of movie reviews, FLICKERING DREAMS. He is also the editor of PRIVATE TUTOR FOR SAT MATH SUCCESS website. For more information on Ugur visit his website.

DVD REVIEW! The Squid and the Whale (2005)

2006-09-06T15:28:00.000-07:00

By Ugur Akinci

I've been a Jeff Daniels fan for a long time. Don't let his silly and
pointless DUMB AND DUMBER (1994) fool you into a premature dismissal of his prodigious talents. See the unforgettable THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO (1983) and GODS AND GENERALS (2003), for example, or this film reviewed here.
This is yet another great Jeff Daniels movie based on a very strong script by Noah Baumbach who also directed this family drama.

Bernie Berkman (Daniels) is an English professor married to a writer named Joan (delivered with great texture by Laura Linney). They have two sons Walt (Chicken) (Jesse Eisenberg) and Frank (Pinkie) Berkman (Owen Kline) who go through their own breakdown episodes when they hear that their mom and dad are separating.

The opening tennis scene in which the four are playing a nasty game of doubles (Bernie keeps hitting Joan with stiff volleys) is a good metaphor for where their relationship is headed. On the one side is Bernie and Walt, and on the other, Joan and Frank. To the battle-stations!

Nobody seems to be blameless but Joan has probably contributed more to the breakup than anybody else with her illicit love affair with a neighbor. She is open about it but that does not ease the pain for the whole family.

During their separation she beds her son's tennis coach (a perfectly cast happy-go-lucky Bill Baldwin). Soon we have a seriously malfunctioning family where the little Frank starts drinking beer when he is home alone and displays sex-related anomalies at school and home. Walt, on the other hand, takes a different route to his neurosis and tries plagiarism to score a quick success at his high school's talent contest.

Bernie himself loses his rudder as well and vacillates between his desire to keep away from Joan, on the one hand, and his intense jealousy of her literary success and boyfriends, on the other. He also starts an affair with one of his female students who rents a room at his new house while flirting with his son on the side thank you.

There is no quick and neat solution to this contemporary disaster unfolding in slo-mo and set in the '80s Brooklyn. There is an attempt at reconciliation but no one knows how to get the toothpaste back into the tube again.

Thus it is very appropriate that the film ends with Walt's visit to the museum of natural history where there is an immense replica of a whale battling with a giant squid (and thus the film's title). That looks like a visual representation of Bernie and Joan's stalemate as well as Walt and Frank's no holds barred fight in and out of school to keep their sanity and grow as "normal adults" in a very turbulent world.

The editing is as sharp and fast as the script. I really loved the transitions that kept exposition to a minimum and used the advantages of the cinematic language to the hilt.

For example, in the scene where Joan is trying to talk and "explain things" to her little son who is in the shower, the appearance of his frail small hand on the shower tile, just a small fragile object coming out of the shower curtain as if it were the antenna of a scared alien creature testing the world's atmosphere for presence of poisonous gasses, shows the kind of great talent Noah Baumbach has for telling stories in "motion pictures."

It's a good watch if you like modern R-rated dramas. A heartfelt 8 out of 10.

Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is an award-winning technical writer and creative copywriter who has been working for Fortune 500 corporations. A true movie fan since he was a child, Akinci has just published his first book of movie reviews, FLICKERING DREAMS. He is also the editor of PRIVATE TUTOR FOR SAT MATH SUCCESS website. For more information on Ugur visit his website.

ALMIGHTY SPIDEY! Why Spider-Man is the Number One Movie Superhero

2006-09-06T15:18:00.000-07:00

By Tim Frady

Spider-Man the movie came out in 2002, breaking records with over $114 million in one weekend. It finished with over $400 million in the US alone. The sequel ended its run with just a little less, with a little over $373 million in the US. Compare that to Superman Returns' take at $192 million currently which may squeeze out a few million more before it's done at the box office. Batman Begins made it to $205 million, X-men's last movie X3 made $233 million, and the big green money making machine the Hulk made $132 million. All respectable numbers, but compared to Spidey there just isn't any comparison.

So what's Spider-Man got that the others don't? Spider-Man isn't the strongest superhero; that goes to Superman and the Hulk. He isn't necessarily the smartest; that would have to go to Batman. He's not as bad as Wolverine. So, what makes kids and adults alike flock to see Spider-Man in such great numbers?

Maybe it's Peter Parker, Spider-Man's alter ego. Audiences relate to Parker's struggles. He comes across as a real person, who just happens to end up with incredible powers. Tobey Maguire does a great job portraying Peter Parker's emotions, from his highs to his lows, throughout both Spider-Man movies. When Uncle Ben dies, the audience feels the pain of Peter Parker. Spider-Man isn't portrayed as a overconfident hero who feels he might be somehow above us mere mortals, but behaves as insecure and backward as we all do at times.

The other reason Spider-Man beats out the competition is Sam Raimi, director of Spider-Man, who related well to the material, being a big Spider-Man fan himself. Raimi is also a big fan of the Three Stooges, and he created the fan favorite "Army of Darkness" that relies heavily on good old slapstick comedy. The star of "Army of Darkness," Bruce Campbell, is a longtime friend of Raimi and has made cameo appearances in both Spider-Man movies. Having a real fan who also knows how to make great movies is key to bringing a superhero film to the big screen. No one can hope to completely capture the imagination of not only the core comic book audience, but also your average Joe, if the director doesn't completely get what he's making. Sam Raimi gets it. If someone other than a big Spider-Man comic book fan had gotten the reigns of the movie, another superhero would be at the top of the list. Raimi has been quoted as saying, "I love the Spider-Man character. And that's what's at the heart of it."

Fans, get ready, Spider-Man 3 is coming in summer 2007. Sam Raimi is back directing with actors Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco coming back again. Newcomers to the Spider-Man franchise include Thomas Haden Church, best known for his work on the sitcoms "Wings" and "Ned and Stacey," who will be playing Sandman, one of Spidey's oldest foes. Topher Grace from "That 70's Show" will be portraying Venom, the opposite side of the coin from Spider-Man.

Fans of Spider-Man check out spiderman-web.com for Spidey discussion, news, episode guides, and wallpaper, and if you love Spider-Man merchandise and collectibles. For Movie Posters http://www.movie-poster.ws.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

MAY THE LISTING BEGIN! Top Five Movies Ever

2006-09-06T15:11:00.000-07:00

By Lance Logan

Top 5 Movies Ever (In My Opinion)

1. Citizen Kane

In his mansion house in the middle of his sprawling Florida estate, newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane utters 'Rosebud', his last word before dying. No one has the first clue as to the meaning of the word and so reporter, Jerry Thompson, is assigned the task of finding out the meaning of the word. Thompson interviews Foster's friends, family and work colleagues to discover the truth.

2. The Godfather

Francis Ford Coppola's epic masterpiece features Oscar winner Marlon Brando as the patriarch of the Corleone family. Coppola paints a chilling portrait of a Sicilian family's rise and near fall from power in America, and the passage of rites from father to son. He masterfully balances the story between family life and the ugly business of crime in which they are engaged. Based on Mario Puzo's best-selling novel, this graphic and brilliant film garnered the Oscar for Best Picture in 1972.

3. The Shawshank Redemption

City Banker Andy Dufresne is in Shawshank State Prison after receiving a double life sentence for murder. There he meets Red and also forms friendships with the warden and prison guards. Andy soon finds that you either get on with living or you get on with dying.

4. Schindler's List

The war finds businessman Oskar Schindler joining the Nazi party to make a profit. His dedication to the cause and his generous bribes see him rewarded with an enamelware plant in Krakow, whose employees are unpaid Jews. As time goes by the atrocities overwhelm Schindler, who is determined to protect his workers at all costs. Adapted from the novel by Thomas Keneally. Academy Award: Best Picture 1993.

5. Casablanca

Casablanca: easy to enter, but much harder to leave, especially if your name is on the Nazi's most wanted list. Atop that list is Czech Resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), whose only hope is Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a cynical American who sticks his neck out for no one…especially Victor's wife Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), the ex-lover who broke his heart. So when Ilsa offers herself in exchange for Laszlo's safe transport out of the country, the bitter Rick must decide what's more important - his own happiness or the countless lives that hang in the balance.

Lance Logan runs The DVD and Book Company.