Movie Preview

The Must See Upcoming Blockbusters of 2007

2012-01-19T18:00:00.001-08:00

It's January, and that meets a few different things. New Year's Resolutions haven't quite been forgotten yet, all that stuff you got for Christmas is still sitting outside of the box in the closet it'll be in by March, and the major studios are offering absolute junk for the movie going public's consumption. January and February historically get the bottom end of the crap that studios realized at the last minute they shouldn't have made - 22 horror films, cheap children's flicks, hairbrained Scary Movie producer created comedies. Of course for those of you with any kind of taste at all, please don't forget all the last minute Oscar drops, those movies put into limited release on Decemeber 29th to get Oscar consideration. Pan's Labyrinth, Children of Men - extremely good films that you shouldn't miss.

But as for the rest of us that don't get the benefit of the few small screens these films show up on, it's a
long wait for the spring time and the promise of Summer's Blockbusters. Here's a quick rundown of the films to look forward to in the coming months:

Upcoming Movie

January 26 - Saraphim Falls. Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan as cowboys in this action thriller set in the time of the civil war. Sounds like a blast to me.

February 16 - Ghost Rider. I know, it's February and it's a comic book movie, that's never a good sign. They tend to dump the dredge bottom ends of comic book movies in February, Daredevil, Electra, The
Punisher, need I say more. But it is Ghost Rider, and it's got Nicholas Cage. I'll still hold out hope for a half way decent film

March 2 - Zodiac. Yeah, it's another serial killer thriller, but it's from the man who brought us Se7en and Fight Club, so it's looking mighty strong as another twisted psychological throwdown. We'll see in march

March 9 - 300. If you haven't seen the trailer yet for this film go see it now. The latest adaptation of a Frank Miller comic into film, it retells the Battle of Thermopylae in which 300 Spartan warriors fought to the death against the Persian army inspiring all of Greece to rise up and fight. Highly stylized and incredibly cool looking, I'm hoping for something cool here.

March 16 - Sunshine. The newest film from 28 Days Later director Danny Boyle, this time around in space. Science Fiction fare along the lines of Solaris or 2001. The sun is dying and a ship is sent with the last remaining hope for mankind to find a solution. Looks interesting and Boyle hasn't let me down yet.

March 23 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I'm a child of the 80s, so I remember the Turtles as fond as anything from youth. The return of the Turtles to the big screen, this time without the clunky suits and with CGI. It looks slick, action packed, and darker than the previous ones. And no Vanilla Ice.

March 30 - Blades of Glory. Will Ferrell and Jon Heder as ice skaters at each other's throats forced to compete together in doubles to return to the sport from which they were banned. Come on. How does that not sound funny

April 13 - Hot Fuzz. It's in limited release, but will probably expand a week or two later. I'm excited not because it's a police farce, but because it's from Simon Pegg the guy behind and starring in Shaun of the Dead, one of my favorite Romantic Zombie Comedies of all time. These guys are comedic geniuses and therefore this will be a great movie.

May 4 - Spiderman 3. And the summer movie season begins. The most anticipated movie of the year hits it all off big in May with Spiderman 3. Tobey Maguire returns to battle Venom and Sandman and his own awkward balance between himself and his superhero identity. Repeat viewings will ensue

May 18 - Shrek the Third. Another trilogy completed two weeks later, Shrek 3 is a long time in coming and promises more of the gross out, fairy tale humor of its predecessors. Mike Meyers touches comedy and its gold. I can't wait.

May 24 - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. And another trilogy completed. The second film was long winded and a bit campy, but ended on a cliffhanger and the promise of triplicate action and adventure in the finale.

June 8 - Ocean's Thirteen. To be truthful I'm not a huge fan of the Ocean's movie (hey is this another third film in a series...huh), but they're always good popcorn fun to watch. I'm sure this will be no different.

June 22 - Stardust. One of my favorite author's most endearing books hits the big screen in Stardust. Neil Gaiman is so ripe for film adaptation I can't believe this is his first (Neverwhere was on BBC, not the big screen). Starring Robert Deniro and Claire Danes. A brilliant book, and hopefully a brilliant movie.

June 27 - Evan Almighty. The much hyped, much over budget, long awaited sequel to Bruce Almighty starring Steve Carrell as Evan, the jerk who took Bruce's job in the first film. With Carrell's trademark dry comedy and the promise of the film's premise this could easily be one hell of a comedy.

June 29 - Ratatouille. Pixar kind of slipped a little with Cars, and now they've taken to producing new films ever 12 months which if I remember correctly preceded Disney's decline in the 90s, but it's a Brad Bird film, and for now I have to give Pixar the benefit of the doubt. Here's hoping for more Pixar gold.

July 4 - Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. The sequel to the mediocre half focused original film. Cool trailer, superheroes, and the ever slick Silver Surfer. We'll see how it turns out, but for now it looks enticing.

July 4 - Transformers. Two very big movies going at it the weekend of the fourth. This one looks mighty cool indeed. It's a live action Transformers for the first time ever and its directed by Michael Bay, which normally would put me off of any film, but his eye for blowing the hell out of everything in sight might actually work for the epic battle between Decepticons and Autobots.

July 13 - Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. Film number 5, probably coinciding with the release of the seventh book as well. It's a getting to the end and the films are getting darker. I haven't read the books at all, but the films have always been entertaining.

July 27 - The Simpsons Movie. It's been 18 years since the Simpsons first debuted and they're finally getting their big screen debut. I can only imagine what Groening has in store for us in this one. I actually can't imagine what the Simpson family could possibly do that they haven't already done in over 400 episodes

August 3 - The Bourne Ultimatum. The first two Bourne films were fun, frenetic, gritty spy movies, and here's hoping for the same in the third. Matt Damon pulls of the spy part surprisingly well.

August 10 - Rush Hour 3. The combination of comedy and high flying action made the first two Rush Hour films amazing successes and after a few years of Chris Tucker asking for way too much money the third film is finally ready for release. I don't imagine the action can be too overwhelming anymore. Jackie Chan's starting to get up there, but I expect the same comedic pairing to between the two to carry the film.

The Must See Upcoming Blockbusters of 2007

Upcoming Bollywood Movies to Be Released

2012-01-16T20:54:00.001-08:00

According to latest Bollywood movie news, this year has been very good for Bollywood because of the release of some outstanding blockbusters. The latest movie news is Slumdog Millionaire that has received multiple Oscar awards this year. This film is a story about Jamal Malik, a penniless eighteen year old boy from the slum area of Mumbai, who is one question away to win a big amount of money of 20 million rupees from a game show called " who wants to be millionaire". When the show ends for the night, this child is arrested on the pretext of suspicion of cheating. People fall into suspicion that how could an uneducated street child have so much knowledge. Finally, the jaded police conducts a probe on this child and finds incredible tales about him that shocks them further. To understand the full story, watch this film and find out whether Jamal answers to the last question of the game show or not.

Another latest movie news is that according to recent report, the Bollywood films are becoming very popular at various film festivals. They are consistently winning prestigious awards in different countries. The new buzz is that the movie "ZOR LAGAA KE... HAIYA" has been selected as an official finalist at the 2009 Las Vegas International Film Festival. It is said that this film was among the best of nearly 2000 films which were submitted from over 50 countries. This is one of the best films that feature some popular stars like Mithun Chakraborty, Riya Sen, Mahesh Majrekar, Gulshan Grover and some others. It has been produced by Kartikeya Talreja and Basant Talreja under the banner of Gemini Motion Pictures.

Upcoming Movie

Another Bollywood movie news is the film called "Dilli 6". This film stars Abhishek Bachan, Sonam Kapoor and Om Puri in the lead roles. The music in this upcoming bollywood movie has been given by the music maestro 'A.R. Rahman' to add melodic and rhythmic treatment to it. The sound tracks in this film have been penned by Prasoon Joshi. It is based on Hindu Muslim relations of the people who live in Purani (Old) Delhi. It is a love story of a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl who fall in love with each other and manage to get married after facing lot of objections from their families.

So, it can be said that the Indian cinema has progressed a lot and the demand for Indian movies is escalating worldwide. Popular actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Amitatbh Bachan, AR Rahman and many others have taken Bollywood to a new level. To know more about latest movie news, one can visit the internet and surf some websites.

Upcoming Bollywood Movies to Be Released

Where to Buy Twilight Merchandise

2012-01-14T00:18:00.001-08:00

If you are a fan of the Twilight books by Stephenie Meyer, you are probably looking for Twilight merchandise in conjunction with the Twilight books and the upcoming Twilight movie. Where can you find it?

Books: If you are in search of any of the books (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, or Breaking Dawn), you can find them at any bookstore. However, be advised that they are selling out in many stores. Your best bet is to find them online at a store like Borders, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble. They consistently have them in stock. In addition, you can pre-order the Twilight Saga: Official Guide for delivery at the end of December.

Upcoming Movie

Shirts: Official Twilight shirts can be purchased at stores like Hot Topic and Torrid. These shirts are the shirts featuring characters from the movie. Unofficial shirts (and more creative) can be purchased at CafePress, Customized Girl, and Zazzle. They have everything from the "Team Edward" shirts to quotes from the books. You can buy them in different colors and styles including long-sleeved shirts, short-sleeved shirts, and even hoodies.

Collectibles and Other Twilight Merchandise: eBay is a great source for assorted Twilight items, including the Bella Bracelet. Amazon has trading cards as well as the pre-order of the soundtrack.

Music: The pre-order for the Twilight Soundtrack is currently available at Amazon. If you do not want to by the entire soundtrack, you may want to check out Amazon or iTunes for individual tracks. The tracks from Stephenie Meyer's Twilight playlist are almost all availabe on iTunes.

As the movie gets closer, there will certainly be more and more licensed merchandise as well unauthorized merchandise. Visit BuyTwilightStuff.com to see what is new in Twilight merchandise.

Where to Buy Twilight Merchandise

Are Paid to Drive Ad Programs Legit?

2012-01-11T03:36:00.001-08:00

Most likely you've seen ads that claim to pay you to drive your car or offer to provide you with a car at no cost to you. Are these companies legitimate or are they a scam? Actually, there is some truth to it but it is a bit more complicated than just joining a program and driving away in a car.

Consider the following before you agree to a car ad program or car wrapping for cash because you should know how the program works first.

Upcoming Movie

Sponsor advertisers express a desire to promote their service or product using the car ad method. The advertisers often don't have the time or employee resources to implement this marketing method themselves, so they enlist companies to handle it for them.

These companies match advertisers to drivers for a particular area. The ads are in the form of magnetic signs placed on the sides of the car or as "car wrap" ads. The types of autos used are trucks, autos, or SUVs and the ads are usually very eye catching and colorful and made of vinyl paint-safe film. Typical ads might be the promotion of a newly released cell phone, a current arts exhibit, or release of an upcoming movie.

The ads are most often designed professionally and appealing visually so drivers don't mind driving the ad car. Also, the driver does have a say on what type of ad goes on their auto. So how does the driver benefit from this type of promotional advertising?

Well, the monthly pay can range from 0 up to 0, the amount depending on things such as mileage you travel per day or month, the age of your car, and how much ad exposure your auto gets daily. Depending on the product being promoted, some companies are prepared to pay handsomely for the service, such as for promoting a new movie release. So even claim you can get paid more during Holiday seasons such as Christmas.

The concept is not a new one, as it has been around for over a decade. The idea went public when a mom decided to link up with a local business to earn funds for her daughter's Girl Scout troop. It really isn't any different than a taxi or bus running mini-billboard advertisements or the promotional ads placed on sponsored racing vehicles.

The magnetic sign ads are easy to place on your auto yourself, while the car "wraps" require a professional to install. The number of drivers wanting to participate in the ads program continues to increase as more people are looking for ways to supplement their income to help pay their monthly bills.

You stand to make more ad revenue if you live in a very populated area or one that gets good ad exposure for specific target markets, such as a university town. Because there are multiple sponsors in the program, there are often many people in one large city participating in the same type of ad program, just showing ads for different companies.

It's hard to imagine but you can get paid for sitting in traffic, which is why the paid to drive concept has continued to grow worldwide giving many people the chance to get paid to drive without having to make any substantial investment other than what they already have; their car and their time.

Are Paid to Drive Ad Programs Legit?

Ryan Reynolds Workout For Wolverine X-Men's Origins

2012-01-08T06:36:00.001-08:00

Ryan Reynolds has been chosen to play the role of Deadpool in the latest Marvel X-Men film called... X-Men Origins Wolverine. Along with Hugh Jackman, Reynolds has done an incredible job of getting in shape for this movie. In this article, I will discuss the... "Ryan Reynolds Workout Wolverine," as it is now being referred to.

Most fans of Marvel comics agree that the choice of Ryan Reynolds for the sarcastic and smart Alec... Deadpool character, was right on the money. Reynolds, who did not disappoint any of his fans with the physical conditioning he showed in the Wesley Snipes movie... Blade Trinity. Ryan displayed incredible muscularity and amazing 6 pack abs, for an actor who has made his money from acting silly. After all, he is just a goofy comic!

Upcoming Movie

Comic or not, Reynolds has been getting some interesting roles lately. (In fact, he is on the shortlist for the DC comic character -- Flash.) Whether that film is made or not, one thing is for certain, he definitely paid the price in the training room.

Ryan Reynolds Workout for Blade

For Blade Trinity, Reynolds supposedly gained 20 pounds of muscle and lost 33% of his body fat. According to some sources, his body fat was as low as 3%. (Although, for most men anything below 8% body fat and your six pack abs will start showing ) Jessica Biel and Reynolds personal trainer during that film was Buddy Strom.

Who was Ryan Reynolds Trainer?

Ryan Reynolds selected Strom again, as his celebrity trainer. Strom, is not new to the celebrity training business, having trained... Jennifer love Hewitt, Jessica Biel, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Lopez, and even Britney Spears for her VMA appearance. He is currently training Scarlett Johansson for her upcoming movie role of Black Widow in Ironman 2. However, let us get back to the Ryan Reynolds Wolverine Workout.

Ryan Reynolds Workout Secrets

Strom is a big believer in "functional fitness" which combines traditional weight training with core and stability exercises. Again, for this workout program he had Ryan Reynolds train one body part per day over a six-day period. Reynolds who appears to be an Ectomorph probably has a hard time putting on muscle size.

That is why Strom went to a one body part per day workout. The rep range was kept low, 6 to 8 reps per set. Reynolds was pushed on each and every workout to use as much weight as possible. Lifting heavy weights became his mantra!

Here is Ryan Reynolds Diet

Here is a sample the diet that Ryan Reynolds was on during the filming of X-Men Origins Wolverine.

* Breakfast: 2 eggs a slice of avocado and 1 cup of oatmeal
* Snacks: a protein Bar
* Lunch: tuna wrap or chicken salad
* Snacks: a whey protein shake, protein bar and an apple
* Dinner: broiled fish or chicken, brown rice and vegetables
* Snacks: protein shake

In order for Ryan to put on some muscle size, he had to train heavy and eat 5 to 6 times per day. The diet he followed was probably like this... 40% protein... 40% carbohydrates... 20% fats. Strom would probably had him taking flaxseed oil in order to get the proper type of fats in his body. Looking at some of the still shots of Reynolds as Deadpool it is obvious that this... "Ryan Reynolds Wolverine Workout" got the job done!

Ryan Reynolds Workout For Wolverine X-Men's Origins

Fun Movies

2012-01-05T09:54:00.001-08:00

If you enjoy having fun (and who doesn't?), you'll want to take a peek at my list of fun movies. Offering both chuckles and belly laughs, these comedies range from clever black and white bits of slapstick to modern-day buffets of gross-out humor and sex jokes. So no matter what type of comedy floats your boat, readers are bound to find something to amuse them.

The Seven Year Itch (1955) - Billy Wilder directed this iconic film for the sultry Marilyn Monroe in which she plays a sexy new neighbor who provides temptation for a married man (Tom Ewell). The film's most famous scene comes when Monroe (her character is only known as "The Girl") stands on a subway grate and has her dress blown up above her knees. It's still one of the most enduring images in the history of cinema.

Upcoming Movie

Topper (1937) - Cary Grant stars in this highly successful comedy about a ghostly married couple who haunt an uptight bank president who also happens to be their friend. Two sequels would follow, as well as a TV series that ran for two seasons. Grant and co-star Constance Bennett have great chemistry as the mischievous dead couple.

There's Something About Mary (1998) - Fourteen years after blowing it with his prom date, neurotic Ted Stroehmann (Ben Stiller) hires a sleazy private detective (Matt Dillon) to track her down. Turns out that Mary (Cameron Diaz) is a successful orthopedic surgeon with stunning looks, and the private eye quickly falls for her himself. But Ted isn't about to lose out on the love of his life, so he initiates a series of outrageous schemes to win her for his own. A modern-day classic, co-starring Chris Elliott, Lee Evans, Sarah Silverman, and Brett Favre.

Airplane! (1980) - When the food on an airplane makes the crew and many of the passengers deathly ill, it's up to a traumatized former combat pilot (Robert Hayes) to land them safely. A parody of the many successful airline disaster films of the time, Airplane! is packed with an assortment of bizarre characters such as an air traffic controller (Lloyd Bridges) who's addicted to everything, a co-pilot who looks suspiciously like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (played by, you guessed it, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), and a doctor (Leslie Nielsen) who doesn't like to be called Shirley. Also starring Robert Stack, Julie Hagerty, Peter Graves, Stephen Stucker, and Barbara Billingsley (as a white woman who's skilled at talking "jive").

Big (1988) - Tom Hanks added to his star power by playing the end result of a wish granted to a young boy who wanted to be "big." Now trapped in the body of a man, he begins to learn what it means to be an adult, work his way up the corporate ladder, and navigate the tricky waters of relationships with (yuck) the female gender. My favorite scene--and I'm not alone--comes when Hanks steps onto a giant keyboard and performs an energetic musical number with the assistance of the always-wonderful Robert Loggia.

Horse Feathers (1932) - The fourth film from the Marx Brothers, this classic motion picture stars Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo in a tale of an upcoming college football game between two rival schools. The climactic scene on the gridiron has been called the greatest football scene ever filmed, and the sly commentary about the double standards for college athletes remains remarkably accurate. Fans of musicals will also be in for a treat, as the film features seven such numbers.

That does it for my selection of fun movies. Hopefully, the thought of seeing one of these films for the first time (or memories from a previously viewed favorite) will already have a big smile on your face. If not, maybe you need to lighten up a little.

Fun Movies

Justice League Costumes in Upcoming Superhero Movie

2012-01-02T12:54:00.001-08:00

Superheroes, they're everywhere - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! With Marvel's "The Avengers" scheduled for release in 2011, it brings back rumors of the "is-it or isn't it" happening of a Justice League movie. Not too long back, DC Comics was into the production of their superhero movie, "Justice League: Mortal." Rumor has it that the movie, to have been directed by George Miller, was already over 0 million in expenses before the axe on the project dropped while filming in Australia. Ouch. Surfing around on the internet, it seems like it may be gearing back up for 2013.

Regardless of when a Justice League movie will be made, fans will be lining up to see the world's most famous group of good guys (and girl). Featured in comic books, cartoons and movies, this team of crime-fighters has evolved over time, with new characters coming and going. But, for the most part, the main members of the Justice League (and the ones most likely to be in the upcoming flick) are Superman, Batman, The Flash Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and the Martian Manhunter.

Upcoming Movie

Halloween and children's birthday parties are sure to be infused with plenty of superhero costumes, party merchandise and toys thanks to the renewed interest in superheroes of both Marvel and DC Comic persuasion. Dress up as the "Man of Steel" in a Superman or as the "Caped Cruisader" in a Batman costume and head out to save the day - or, better yet, head of the casting agent's office and see if you can land one of the roles!

Really, you can't go wrong wearing a superhero costume. Head-to-toe Spandex is sure to get you noticed wherever you go and may even gain you the nod into that exclusive club you've wanted to hang out at! Other great places for superhero costumes is to meet up with all the other fanboys and fangirls at the nearest comic convention - or host your own superhero shindig and make wearing a Justice League costume part of the deal! Bam - Pow - Shazamm!

Justice League Costumes in Upcoming Superhero Movie

Trisha Krishnan

2011-12-30T15:36:00.001-08:00

Trisha Krishnan was born on the 4th of May 1983 in Pallakad, Kerala, India. She speaks English, Hindi, Tamil and French. She studied at Church Park, India and Ethiraj College, India. She is an only child and she lives with her parents and her grandmother. She was introduced into the film industry through director Ameer Sultan's film, Mounam Pesiyadhey where she acted in opposite Surya.

Her nick name is honey She has two Raakhi-Brothers Manoj Talagadadeevi and Srujan Baddam who stay in US. She is a Tamil/Malayalee Brahmin She wanted to debut in the film industry with the name Suhasini.

Upcoming Movie

She was crowned Miss Chennai in the year 2000 and won Miss Salem in the year 1999 and won Miss India Beautiful Smile in 2001

Trisha started her Movie career with "Leysa Leysa" which is directed by Priyadarshan.. Trisha well suited her role with Surya in Mounam Pesiyadhe and her upcoming movie is 'Abhiyum Naanum' with Prakash Raj which is directed by Radha Mohan. When starting her successful career in Tamil films she is moved to Telugu films.

Her first telugu movie is "Varsham" in 2004. After a big success in the Varsham film, she won Best Actress awards from filmfair and she got best actress award tn Santosham.

Trisha's Second movie is "Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana" directed by Prabhudeva in 2005. In this year she also did "Athadu" with Maheshbabu and she won Nandi award from Government of Andra Pradesh.

In 2007 she did one more family entertainement movie "Adavari matalaku ardhalu verule" opposite popular hero in telugu film industry 'Venkatesh' which was a full of comedy and entertainement..

She also acted along with South Indian film stars like Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, Surya, Prabhas, Mahesh babu, Srikanth and Siddhartha.

Trisha's latest movie 'Bujjigadu' opposite young star in tollywood Prabhas.

Her hobbies are listening to music, reading and swimming.

Filmography:

o Buggigadu -Made in china (2008) .... Chitti
o Kuruvi (2008)
o Bheema (2008)
o Krishna(2008) .... Sandhya
o Aadavari Matalaku Ardhalu Verule (2007) .... Keerthi
... aka AMAV (India: Telugu title: promotional abbreviation)
o Sainikudu (2006) .... Varalakshmi
o Stalin(2006) .... Chitra
... aka Stalin: Man for the Society (UK)
o Paurnami

(2006)
o Something something (2006)
o Aaru (2005)
o Athadu (2005) .... Puri
o Nuvvustanante Nenoddantana (2005) .... Siri
o Allari Bullodu (2005)
o Ji (2005) (as Trisha)
o Thirupaachi (2005) .... Subha
o Ayitha Ezhuthu (2004) .... Mira
o Varsham (2004) .... Sailaja
o Ennaku 20 unakku 18 (2004)
o Gillie (2004) .... Dhanlakshmi
o Saamy (2003) .... Bhuvana
o Manasellaam (2003) .... Malar
o Nee manasu naaku telusu (2003)
o Mounam Pesiyadhe (2002)
o Laysa laysa (2002)

She is a prominent actress in the tamil and telugu film industry Trisha recently replaced Rani mukarjee as the Brand Ambassador of Fanta India. She is the brand ambassador of Scooty Pep+, for which she has replaced Preity Zinta. She endorses Perk chocolate, for which also she has replaced Preity Zinta. She is also the brand ambassador for Fiama Di Wills, a product by ITC

She is glamorous and talented actress. Her immense potential made her a successful actress.

Trisha Krishnan

Four Facts Why 3D Movie Glasses Give Higher Quality 3D Enjoyment

2011-12-27T18:54:00.001-08:00

3D movies are gaining more popularity than ever. The Clash of the Titans, Alice in Wonderland, Cloudy with a Chance of meatballs, Toy Story 3 and a dozen more are now reigning the movie industry. Since 2009, we have been bombarded with great visual effect movies that got movie-goers raving about. After finally getting that ticket, you will receive a pair of odd-looking 3D movie glasses. What does it do anyway? Read on.

3D movies are best viewed using 3D movie glasses. These specialized glasses improve the clarity and vibrancy of the movie. There are several glasses to choose from ranging from traditional red and blue glasses to sophisticated polarized ones.

Upcoming Movie

The older types of 3D glasses made images clearer. Basically, they would filter red lights in one eye and blue on the other. In viewing a 3D movie, red and blue colors from these images are then removed respectively for each eye. Your brain then creates an image that projects these special effects better. However, the drawback is that it takes away the brightness of the movie. There are some viewers that find this odd and would not use them throughout the movie.

The evolution of 3D movies also involved 3D movie glasses. From red and blue lenses to clear or grayish lenses, these sleek and highly functional movie glasses are slowly adapting to High Definition settings. The shapes and sizes also evolved from thin cardboard-like glasses to ultra-cool and 'geeky' glasses. A high-end movie lens costs more. Sony and Samsung are major producers of these sophisticated devices offering high-end movie lenses that are rechargeable. On the other hand, LG produced cheaper, more passive polarized glasses that you usually use in the cinemas.

Today, we favor these polarized lenses better than the standard red and blue glasses. Polarized lenses are more equipped in filtering several lights that dramatically improves the visual effects.

You will also appreciate these 3D glasses with your 3D DVDs. Playing a three dimensional movie using High Definition resolution should improve its special effects. If you do not own a HDTV, a 3D TV converter should help you get an almost similar effect with 3D-ready televisions.

These 3D glasses are essential to keeping these images 'real'. These come in a variety of shapes, sizes and lens colors. Some 3D DVD packages these glasses along with the DVD. It specifically caters to the visuals for that movie. So, if you ever find yourself across 'weird' looking glasses, wear them and enjoy the film!

Four Facts Why 3D Movie Glasses Give Higher Quality 3D Enjoyment

Upcoming Movie - The Lovely Bones

2011-12-24T22:18:00.001-08:00

The Lovely Bones is an upcoming fantasy movie based on the book of the same name by Alice Sebold, set for release by Paramount Pictures on December 11, 2009.

Susie Salmon is the oldest of three children living in a suburban Pennsylvania community. Somewhat of a loner, before her death, Susie dreams that high school will change her life measurably. Susie is bright beyond her years and exhibits a unique curiosity and great wit even while relating incidents about her family from heaven. Walking home from school one day, Susie is lured away by someone she knows and then meets her violent death. From this point on till the end of the story, Susie relates the effect her death has on her parents, siblings and grandmother. She watches as her parents cope with the preliminary news and then ensuing investigation while Susie's body is never found. We watch along with Susie as their lonely neighbor, Mr. Harvey is scrutinized and questioned although never arrested or charged. We observe Susie's friends, Paul the shy Indian student initially accused of the murder and Ruth who is able to communicate with Susie. And our hearts ache as Susie's younger sister Lindsey finds friendship and ultimately love during the years after this event, their brother Buckley grows up never really knowing Susie and their grandmother becomes a vital part of a family she hardly knew. But most of all we cry as Susie's father never gives up trying to find out what happened to Susie and her mother who most leave the family in order to rejoin them at a later time.

Upcoming Movie

The book was truly amazing, once you pick it up, you will find it hard to put down.

Upcoming Movie - The Lovely Bones

Korean Movies

2011-12-22T01:18:00.001-08:00

North Korea doesn't have much of a film industry, so this look at Korean movies is strictly limited to those works produced in South Korea. The film industry experienced a major boom in the late 1990s, and this success has carried over into the new millennium. With projects boasting high production values, original and challenging storylines, and plenty of talented and attractive actors, Korean movies have garnered international acclaim with no sign of slowing down.

The following list is intended to be an introduction to the cinema of South Korea. You'll notice that the oldest film on the list was released in 1998, but that was an intentional choice on my part. I want to get viewers who are unaccustomed to foreign films interested, and I'm guessing that including Korean movies from the '60s and '70s isn't the best way to go about this.

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Oldboy (2003) - The second film in director Park Chan-wook's Vengeance Trilogy, Oldboy tells the story of businessman Oh Dae-Su (Choi Min-sik). Captured and imprisoned in a hotel room for unknown reasons, he's released after 15 years and tasked with finding the identity of his captor. What follows is a wickedly beautiful tale of revenge and forbidden love. Voters on CNN named it one of the 10 best Asian films ever made, and it's drawn rave reviews from Quentin Tarantino.

Attack the Gas Station (1999) - A gang of likable thugs rob a gas station at the beginning of the movie, and then they turn right around and rob it again the next night. But this time the manager has stashed the cash, and so the quartet of hooligans kidnap the employees, pump the gas themselves, and keep the money. As they fend off bullies, cops, and deadbeat customers, they become more sympathetic and learn a few things about themselves.

Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000) - The directorial debut of Bong Joon-ho (The Host), this film revolves around an out-of-work college professor who's driven up the wall by the barking dogs in his apartment complex. Resorting to abuse and kidnapping to silence them, he's soon pursued by a plucky young employee at the building (Bae Doona). In case you're wondering, it's a dark comedy.

Thirst (2009) - Park Chan-wook helms this tale of a priest who gets turned into a vampire due to a failed medical experiment. As he tries to cope with his condition, he falls for the abused wife of an old friend--with rather bloody results.

The Quiet Family (1998) - Combining horror and dark comedy, this Korean film centers around a family who opens a lodge for hikers, but their clients always end up dying. Korean stars Song Kang-ho and Choi Min-sik co-star.

Joint Security Area (2002) - When two soldiers are killed in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, a special investigative unit is dispatched to get to the truth. Quentin Tarantino named it one of his 20 favorite films since 1992.

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005) - The final film in Park Chan-wook's Vengeance Trilogy, the motion picture follows a mild-mannered woman just released from prison for the murder of a schoolboy. It turns out that she's innocent, and every day spent in prison was a day she was plotting revenge against the man who was actually guilty of the crime. A delicious tale of revenge and high-heel pumps.

The Host (2006) - An average Korean family is nearly torn apart when their youngest member is captured and drug into the sewers by a mutated amphibious monster. Pooling their talents together, they seek to rescue the girl and destroy the loathsome creature. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, it's the highest-grossing South Korean film of all time.

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) - The first film in Park Chan-wook's excellent Vengeance Trilogy, Sympathy takes a look at a deaf-mute man trying to get a kidney transplant for his sister. When things don't work out, he resorts to kidnapping the young daughter of an executive--with tragic consequences.

Shiri (1999) - The South Korean version of a Hollywood action film, Shiri is about a team of North Korean agents intent on wreaking havoc against their southern neighbors. Their most successful member is a female sniper who's been active in South Korea as a sleeper agent for years, picking off a number of government officials during that time. An honest cop and his partner must try to unravel the plot and root out the enemy agent, although her true identity may prove troublesome for very different reasons. You'll recognize Yunjin Kim, better known as Sun from the television series Lost.

If you're the type of person who avoids subtitles, I'm hoping this brief look at Korean movies may tempt you to give at least one film on the list a try. You'll find Korean cinema to be a rich blend of foreign culture and modern filmmaking techniques, and they're currently turning out some of the most entertaining motion pictures on any continent. This is just the tip of the iceberg, however, and a search of online rental sites such as Netflix and Blockbuster will turn up hundreds of other films from the country.

Korean Movies

Must See Movies of 2011

2011-12-19T04:36:00.001-08:00

One of the first things that people look into at the beginning of the year is what movies are going to come out within the next twelve months. This builds up excitement for the next blockbuster. So, this 2011, what are the movies that we should look forward to?

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Upcoming Movie

This is the third installment of the Michael Bay directed franchise based on the 1980s toy line, comic book series and animated television series. Starring Shia LaBeouf, this movie picks up on a new power found on the moon. It rewrites our modern history to deepen the relationship of humans with transformers.

For geeks and casual fans alike, this should be a thrilling movie. However, considering that the last movie, although a box office hit, for a lack of better term, sucked, it's a bitter-sweet feeling to learn about the next one. Bitter since it could again disappoint fans of the franchise especially considering the fact that Meagan Fox, the breakout female lead actress since the original movie, won't be returning for this film.

On a positive note, Shia LaBeouf himself admitted that he didn't like the last movie. Hopefully this would fuel a better sequel. Plus, Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee, Iron Hide, Starscream are all returning along with the other transformers plus new ones. And that should be sweet.

Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides

They couldn't resist. And the fans are happy about it. The famous Captain Jack Sparrow, arguably the reason why the original Pirates of the Caribbean movie became such a hit, returns to the big screen. Johnny Depp returns for this role along with Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbossa. We will see new faces in Ian McShane as the notorious pirate Blackbeard and Penelope Cruz as his daughter and Jack Sparrow's love interest. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley won't be reprising their roles as Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan-Turner respectively stating that their character's storyline has gone as far as it could.

In the fourth installment of the Pirates franchise, Sparrow and Barbossa are on a quest for the infamous Fountain of Youth. Filming was done in the United Kingdom and Hawaii instead of the actual Caribbean like the previous films.

Thor

Next is the upcoming Marvel movie Thor. Again this film is tied up with previous films such as Iron Man and the Hulk. Here, the Mighty Thor is banished from Asgard by his father Odin due to his reckless actions which results in the re-ignition of an ancient war. He is cast down to Earth as punishment. When the dark forces of Asgard invades, he then learns what it takes to be a hero.

Being one of the original Avengers, this movie, much like Hulk and Iron Man and the upcoming Captain America film, sets the tone for an Avengers movie to the delight of comic book fans all over the globe. Thor is played by actor Chris Hemsworth. The main protagonist of the movie, Thor's brother Loki, is played by Tom Hiddleston. Thor's love interest, Dr. Jane Foster is played by Natalie Portman.

Must See Movies of 2011

Get Up, Get Going, Do Something

2011-12-16T08:00:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I was splitting some wood with a few friends to help out someone else. It hit me that here I was a 48 year old Home Inspector taking my time on a Sunday afternoon to split more than three cords of wood with friends to help out another person. Could I make this an article to get another person motivated to do something?

Hey I know the economy is bad, housing market is down, unemployment is high how could anyone possibly keep motivated to do something as strenuous as splitting wood for someone else. Never mind how full the glass of water is, you need to be self motivated. The key word in self-motivated is "self".

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I do the following everyday to get my but out of bed, feet on the floor and my day started.

•Thank God for this day and all his blessings, good & bad. You're luckier than most already, you have a roof over your head, you're not hungry, and there is more than likely someone who cares about you sleeping just a few inches away.

•Say something positive to everyone in your life at least once every day, if you cannot think of something, make something up. Remember you have the positive attitude.

•Find a charity that you can get involved in. Everyone needs to help another human out for no reason at all sometimes.

•Turn off that Boob-Tube in your house, read a book, take a trip to the museum, or just take a walk at a local park.

•Pray for someone that you really do not like. Praying for an enemy just might make you think twice about carrying around that resentment.

•Find something in your day or week to look forward too. It could be an upcoming movie, dinner with friends or just a nice meal by yourself.

•Get outside; there's a whole world out there waiting for you to see. Take a look at the sunset tonight, the stars that follow or the sunrise that starts your day. If you had problems praying before I am sure you won't after one of these that you take your time to actually see.

•Exercise for just a few minutes, a quick walk around the block or a short jog to the park to relax will do wonders and make you feel years younger.

•Learn something new or creative, sign up on Twitter and make a few post.

•Some of us have problems talking to family members, try posting some old photos of you or them on Facebook and wait for their replies. Someone has to make the first move, why not let it be you.

•Ever tried meditating? Google "meditation techniques" and explore the wonderful mysteries that are in your own mind.

Just remember; You will only get back what you give out. -Aho Mitakuye Oyasin

Get Up, Get Going, Do Something

Summer Blockbuster Movies 2008

2011-12-13T10:54:00.001-08:00

Every summer Hollywood lets loose with all the good stuff they've been holding back all year long. For months they have been teasing you with sneak peeks and trailers building up a level of excitement and anticipation the like of which have not been since last summer.

I kinda looked forward to this summer, as the promise of getting to see Speed Racer or my childhood hero, Indiana Jones on the silver screen is about one of three things that can actually lure me out of my house (fire and the next Dresden Files book are the others). Unfortunately, I blinked and missed Speed Racer, and it's too hot outside to leave my climate controlled home to see Indy. That's what HBO is for. And trust me, the way they loop a movie and play it to death, there will be more than ample opportunity to see them both. Twice.

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But this year, Hollywood thinks I was in a severe car crash and now have to eat blended mashed potatoes through a straw while watching the high drama and suspense of the Wonder Pets on Nick Jr.

Wasn't there a Hulk movie out not but just a couple of years ago? I remember the gigantic Hulk statue inside Madam Tussaud's and taking a picture of my husband next to it. And correct me if I am wrong or out of line here, but didn't it also suck so bad that we all left the theater with a severe case of wind burn?

I can't seem to recall who the big villain was in that movie, who the writers and producers thought we wanted to see the Hulk smash-oh, wait a minute, I do remember. It was a dog. That's right, they injected not one, or two, but three dogs with green juice and set them after the Hulk. They were large breed dogs and fairly mean, they did bark a lot prior to being juiced up by Nick Nolte. Hahaha! OMG that movie was awful. No, really, it was. If I want to see a guy smack a dog around, and I DON'T, I can watch one of Animal Planet's dog rescue shows.

And, not for nothing, the Hulk as a character was totally unbelievable. I don't mean the acting, cause, lets face it, Lou Ferrigno will always own that role. I'm, talking about that dreadful animation. It was like a bunch of guys who dropped out of DeVry did it on a lap top they stole from some high school out in the mid west. How hard can decent animation be? A long time ago when Jurassic Park came out the whole world thought they were looking at dinosaurs, and that was with what we would now consider old, aka "cheap," special effects.

There was this one part of the movie, I think it was about an hour and a half long, where the Hulk was in a secret army base in Utah and then just started running and jumping and smashing. He destroyed tanks and planes and bombs and managed to skip right over school buses and flower beds. Then he saw the love interest, Betty, and calmed down and the movie ended. It was right before the part where he beat up three dogs. Before that were the opening credits.

So now this new Hulk movie is out, and everyone is going on about how great it's gonna be. Hello! The Hulk movie is not really about the Hulk. It's just a really cheap way to prep movie goers for the Avengers movie that is scheduled to come out in a few years.

And who else is sick and tired of people saying "Oh, don't you just love Ed Norton?" Ummm, the guy from the Honeymooners? That was my first reaction. I had no idea who he was. As it turns out, he was that guy opposite Brad Pitt in Fight Club. Ironic that the movie poster for Fight Club was a bar of soap and Brad Pitt looked like he needed to be hit with a pressure washer. I know that's not what the soap "represented" but Brad did look really dirty. mmmmm.

Ed Norton. Indeed. Why would you take that name if you had the choice of all of the names that ever were or could be. At least use some sexy or talented guy's name! Or even take a page out of Marilynn Manson's book for Pete's sake, combine two perfectly good celebrity names into one neat original one. If I ever grow up to be a Hollywood movie star you can bet I'm not gonna call myself Rosie O'Donnel or Godzilla. But Rosie Rodan, that has promise.

I also really wanted to see the new Batman movie too, Dark Knight, but then poor Heath Ledger had to go and die. I cried when I heard. I'll miss him, but not for nothing, this movie was so totally gonna rock. It was gonna be Justin Bale's big break, no more would he be "that guy from American Psycho," but rather, the Batman! Sadly, between the early reviews and news articles, and months of sneak peaks and on-line flamers, the talk of a posthumous Oscar, the latest reviews and newest commercials... I'm board of it already, and the movie is still like a month away from being released. Makes me want to see that Dragonball movie coming out next year. James Marsters is gonna play the role of Piccolo. Did anyone else just feel that breeze?

But here's the worst insult of all. Someone let M. Night Shyamalan make another movie. Bad people, BAD! When are they gonna learn? All his movies, all, ever single last one - ALL have a twist ending that Stevie Wonder can see coming. The stories are at best "alright," at least three characters have to whisper everything they say, and not a single film he's ever made is worth the gas it would take to drive to the theater. Don't believe me, here's what critics have to say about his new movie - it has a "R" rating. Oooooo. That's the best thing so far. An "R" rating. So what. Wanna impress me? How about this movie make a lick of sense! Keep me in my seat, at the very least keep me awake.

I can't control myself any longer, spoiler alert - and I use the word "spoiler" very, very loosely.

Here's the thing, if trees were ever going to develop some sort of chemical warfare that singled out and killed humans:

1. NY City would be about the safest place you could be and not where the movie takes place. The Sahara desert would be the second safest place. The Amazon River Basin and Yellowstone National Park would be killing fields, not Manhattan. 2. Maybe one plant, or even hell let's go crazy, one entire species of plant could develop such a power, but all plants everywhere all at once, no, not gonna happen. The animation in the Hulk is more believable.

So, what have we learned about Hollywood's summer blockbuster movies? With the price of gas and the heat, I'm advising that everyone get Netflicks and let the downloading begin. You can do it from the safety of you're own climate controlled environment, pause the movie, use your own toilet, and enjoy a snack you didn't have sell a kidney on E-Bay to be able to afford. That's what I plan on doing. Provided of course no one sets my house on fire while I'm reading the next Dresden Files book. Can't wait for book 11 to hit the shelves!

Summer Blockbuster Movies 2008

Angelina Jolie To Star In New Werewolf Movie "Bitten"

2011-12-10T13:36:00.001-08:00

We've learned that A-List actress Angelina Jolie will be starring in a new upcoming werewolf movie for Warner Brothers called "Bitten". Jolie will be playing a woman who's bitten by a werewolf, and leaves her pack for a normal human life where she begins a career, and falls in love. She is soon drawn back into the pack however when a rogue band of werewolves threaten the world she now loves. No word yet on a helmer for the pic, but I'm sure they're going to get someone if not top notch atleast very well known to helm this one. "Bitten" should hit theaters in 07' or 08'. In the mean time..we'll be sure to keep you guys posted on this one!

This film will make Angelina Jolie's horror film debut. The actress has taken on many roles ranging from action star (Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider 2:The Cradle Of Life, Mr. and Mrs. Smith),
to drama star (Alexander), to thriller star (Taking Lives). It'll be interesting to see how well she does in her first horror film role. Since she is taking on the starring role in "Bitten", this might put a serious cramp in those rumors that surfaced a few months back which had the 30 year old actress returning to play Lara Croft once again in another "Tomb Raider" film, which would've been the third movie in the video game adaptation film series which kicked off back in 2000 with "Lara Croft:Tomb Raider."

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Angelina Jolie To Star In New Werewolf Movie "Bitten"

How to Get Kerasotes Theaters Discount Movie Tickets

2011-12-07T16:36:00.001-08:00

Do you want to go to the theaters more often to see the upcoming movies that you have long been waiting for? Probably see a number of movie sequels that you have waited for years to come out? While it's easy enough to say that you are going to the movies, it's not as affordable as before. If you are planning to see a movie in Kerasotes Theater, remember a few of these things to make sure that you save on the next movie you watch.

If you just would like to watch a movie and you can do it any time of the day, choose to see the matinee screening because the price is way cheaper. If you are going out on a date, arrange for the movie to be earlier so you get the discount movie tickets instead of the regular-priced ones.

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You can also opt to get the student discounts if you are one. All you have to present is a valid ID proving that you are still a student. If you are going with a big group, you can also get discounts because Kerasotes and other theaters give discounts if you purchase movie tickets in bulk. Some require you to buy at least 50 tickets, while some require you to get just 20.

Check different websites, starting with the main website of Kerasotes. If you can't find a deal that you like from their website, there are hundreds more you can check out offering different discount codes to different movie theaters. Your search for discounts will be easier this way.

You can also check out local retail stores if you are living near one. Costco is one example of a store where you can get discounts on movie tickets. If you are in luck, you can even get multiple discounts for one movie.

Do you want to see a movie for free? If you know someone who is working at Kerasotes, you can ask him for a free pass. But that's just if you're really good friends with him.

How to Get Kerasotes Theaters Discount Movie Tickets

Hot and Gentle Jennifer Garner

2011-12-04T20:00:00.001-08:00

You know her as the tough ass-kicking chick, CIA Agent Sydney Bristow, on the hit television series Alias. But do you know that in real life, hot and sexy actress Jennifer Garner is such a soft and gentle lady at heart? When she is not fighting criminals on-screen, Garner would rather stay at home and do some chores. She enjoys cooking and gardening a lot.

Born in Houston, Texas, Garner was raised in Charleston, West Virginia. There she spent nine years of her adolescence studying ballet. After taking up a drama major in college, she immediately went to New York where she worked as a hostess while pursuing a career both in film and television.

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The hot and sexy Garner got her break in 1998 when she landed a part on the tv show Felicity. In 2001, she catapulted into stardom with her lead role on Alias. For her work, she has received four consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. In addition, she also received four Golden Globe nominations and won once, as well as received two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations and won once.

Garner appeared in several films which include Juno (2007), Elektra (2005), 13 Going on 30 (2004), Daredevil (2003), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Pearl Harbor (2001) and Dude, Where's My Car? (2000). Her upcoming movie projects are Christmas in Connecticut, Be With You, and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.

On June 29, 2005, Garner married her Daredevil co-star, hot and sexy actor Ben Affleck. She gave birth to their daughter, Violet Anne, on December 1, 2005.

Hot and Gentle Jennifer Garner

2012, the Movie

2011-12-01T22:36:00.001-08:00

Based on predictions surrounding the end of the Mayan calendar, Emmerich directs box office stars John Cusack, Thandie Newton, Amanda Peet, Danny Glover, and Oliver Platt. While Emmerich admits that he is a 2012 skeptic, he acknowledges that the concept is excellent for a movie, especially a movie with the epic special effects expected in an Emmerich movie.

From the trailer, it is clear that Emmerich chose the prediction that a geomagnetic reversal was the cause of an abrupt global catastrophe that caused Earth's tectonic plates to start shifting more than usual - proponents of an end of the world scenario in conjunction with the December 21, 2012, date anticipate that this will cause widespread earthquakes that devastate cities not ready for earthquakes, volcanic activity, and tsunamis that wipe out coastal cities. Emmerich is a master when it comes to apocalyptic effects, with a great eye for grand detail, and you can expect more than one iconic landmark to be destroyed during the course of the film. Just from the trailer, the landmark count includes the Christ of the Ozarks, the Sistine Chapel, the Washington Monument, and many others.

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In the past, Emmerich concentrated his efforts on the effect of the end of the world on the United States, but it seems like he is expanding his horizons in an attempt to encompass the global nature of the 2012 prediction.

Based on the trailer, he will also follow his trend of focusing on the efforts of several families in the midst of the crisis in order to bring the action closer to home on an emotional level. The focus will vary from an average family to the President of the United States. There are rumors that there is more mysticism - such as Mayan magic and alternate dimensions - and speculative fiction aspects in the 2012 movie than in his other apocalypse movies, but Emmerich is no stranger to that aspect of movies either (i.e. Stargate), although disaster fans might find it unexpected. At the very least, fans of Emmerich and proponents of the 2012 apocalypse may find it an interesting movie and visually stunning.

The movie was originally going to come to theaters in July, but it has since been postponed to allow other movies more attention as well as to give Emmerich time to perfect the special effects. 2012 is now coming to theaters on November 13, 2009. It will give people time to see the movie, incite some research on the subject, and maybe inspire as much preparedness as possible for the upcoming 2012 mystery.

2012, the Movie

Was Scarlett Johansson the Right Choice to Play the Black Widow?

2011-11-29T01:54:00.001-08:00

Iron Man 2 had some fundamental flaws. It was crammed full of different story lines, plot drifts and references to the upcoming Avengers movie in 2012. One of its biggest flaws was that apart from the main character Tony Stark, the rest of the cast fell a bit flat. The worst case was Scarlett Johansson's character the Black Widow.

In the comics the Black Widow (Natalia Romanova) is a former Soviet spy who was sent to spy on Tony Starks company, but after meeting Hawkeye (played by Jeremy Renner in the Avengers) she defects to the US and becomes an agent of SHIELD. Her abilities include unmatched athleticism, expert fighting skills, and mastery over various gadgets.

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Apart from one brief scene in Iron Man 2 where the Widow attacks some guards from Hammer Industries, the character has been a real disappointment. Despite the character having one of the best back stories in Marvel comics, Scarlett's portrayal made me wish fellow actor Emily Blunt had taken the role instead. Sure Johansson looks the role of Natalia Romanova, but her acting came off flat and too similar to her performances in her other movies. I call it Jenifer Aniston syndrome. The Widow is also well known for having a Russian accent, but the guys behind Iron Man 2 seemed to think it would be a good idea to leave it out even though it's an essential part of the character. Despite fan boy speculation, I doubt we'll actually see Johansson pull of a Russian accent in the Avengers movie. We'll just have to get past the butchering of the character. Also the Widow is famous for being a spy, yet her antics in Iron Man 2 seemed like she joined Tony Stark's company just to do a profile on him for Nick Fury. It's hardly corporate espionage is it?

Critics and fans have criticised how the Black Widow came off as a constant sex symbol in Iron Man 2 (car undressing scene), but that's a more of a flaw with the character itself. The Black Widow is known for doing anything that gets the job done, even if it means sleeping or flirting with the enemy.

Another reason why the Widow may be a thorn in the Avengers side is that she's not actually a full on member of the Avengers in the comics. She's primarily a SHIELD agent or an Avenger fringe member, yet Marvel have decided the Widow should be a main member of the roster come 2012. Why is this a big deal? It's because iconic Avengers members such as Ant Man (Hank Pym) and the Wasp (Janet Pym) have been left out to avoiding over crowding the roster on screen. Ant Man and the Wasp are two founding Avengers members in the comics, therefore their exclusion is likely to irritate long term fans of the comics come 2012.

I hope Scarlett Johansson pulls a surprise incredible performance in the Avengers movie. For too long women characters have suffered in superhero movies. After all, we need a character to finally wash the bad taste of Elektra and Catwoman out of our mouths.

Was Scarlett Johansson the Right Choice to Play the Black Widow?

Places to Shoot a Movie in Michigan

2011-11-26T05:18:00.001-08:00

When someone says "Michigan," what comes to mind-besides cars, snow and college football? How about "regional filmmaking capital"?

That idea may be new to some movie fans and movie makers, but it shouldn't be. After all, the Wolverine State has long attracted filmmakers as a shooting location, thanks to its excellent cities, historically strong economy, and-above all-its great geographical diversity. The state's great strength, for movie directors, is that it offers many kinds of backdrop, and can stand in for nearly any location in the country. Where else can you find rolling plains (perfect for that epic of nineteenth-century Midwestern life), the rugged Porcupine Mountains (ready for that adventure film you're planning), the forested beauty of the Upper Peninsula (the right place for the heroes of your romance film to fall in love), diverse cityscapes (a backdrop for your courtroom drama, crime film, corporate saga, or office comedy), and more-and still never be more than eighty-five miles from the beach? No wonder that movies like Grosse Pointe Blank, Anatomy of a Murder, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, RoboCop, Somewhere In Time and The Evil Dead were all partly or wholly shot in Michigan. More recently, 8 Mile, Jumper and the upcoming Youth In Revolt feature Michigan locations.

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And that importance just increased in 2008, as the Michigan legislature passed a bill designed to make Michigan one of the most-incentivized filming locations in the country. From now on, the state that gave the film world Francis Ford Coppola (born in Detroit) will also give it a forty-percent across-the-board refundable tax credit, a loan program, and other incentives. (A complete list and application are available from the Michigan Film Office.) The package couples with the state's inherent attractions to make Michigan a perfect shooting location for any project. Here are a few of the unique locational possibilities that the state affords:

Countryside. Michigan gets all four seasons-warm summers, vibrant falls, snowy (but rarely extreme) winters, and lively springs. Any story set in the woods would benefit from being shot in the Upper Peninsula, or lower-half towns such as Frankfort and Beulah. Midland offers excellent fall and summer possibilities, as do many places located along the gorgeous Chippewa River.

Lighthouses. The Lake Michigan coast is famous for its lighthouses, which make for a gorgeous, gloomy, romantic backdrop.

College campuses. Need a Victorian-looking college campus for a university drama? Try parts of Wayne State University in Detroit, which also has modernized sections. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor offers many possibilities, as do the numerous smaller private universities throughout the state.

Snow. Michigan gets plenty of snow-but not, generally, too much. That's why it's a frequent winter vacation spot for skiers-and a great possibility for any location shoot that needs acres of picturesque snow everywhere, whether urban or rural.

Unique Places. Michigan's got plenty of these-from the no-cars-allowed, nineteenth-century village charm of Mackinac Island to a fully functioning '50s diner (near Rockford) to the harbor terminals of Detroit; from the stone stairs of Castle Rock (leading to a gorgeous limestone tower) to the modest Porcupine Mountains to the enormous Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes.

Period charm. Making a historical epic? Michigan offers old-fashioned train stations, ghost towns, model nineteenth-century villages and farms, and one entire town devoted to imitating a German village. Old forts, the Mackinac Island Grand Hotel, and a Frank Lloyd Wright house are among the other oddities available to the state's visitors.

Urban skylines. Every kind of city location can be found in Detroit, one of America's most important cities. From skyline shots to warehouses, from unique indoor malls to splendorous downtown buildings, from abandoned urban No Man's Land to one of America's wealthiest suburbs, Metro Detroit's got you covered.

Of course, that's a lot of traveling. For filmmakers and their personnel visiting any of the above locations, transportation is always needed. Thankfully, at least one Detroit-based company has experience with this kind of thing. Checker Sedan most recently drew praise for its handling transportation needs related to SuperBowl XL. In a letter posted on the company's website, a celebrity lauds their competence and friendliness, saying, "You didn't have to welcome us with open arms ... but you did."

Places to Shoot a Movie in Michigan

What Harry Potter Can Teach You About Creating A Speech Introduction

2011-11-23T08:36:00.001-08:00

When you go to see a movie, what's the first thing that you always see? The answer is, of course, trailers! I must confess that there have been movies that I've gone to in the past in which the trailers were the best part of the whole movie viewing experience! What's interesting about these trailers is that they have been designed with one thing in mind: to get you to come back and see the movie that they are advertising. Maybe we can learn something from trailers that we can use in our next speech.

Why The Opening Of Your Speech Is So Very Important

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Let's spend a moment thinking about what runs through your mind when you go to see a movie. You sit down in your seat, you've got your tub of popcorn, your gigantic cup of soda and you're in the mood to be entertained.

All of the ads and trailers get over and then the main feature starts. How long does it take you to figure out if you are going to enjoy watching this movie? How long is it before you might start thinking that the US that you've spent to be sitting in this seat at this time was a big mistake? I'm willing to bet that this evaluation happens in less than a minute. Maybe even in less than 30 seconds.

Clearly, how a movie starts is a critical part of determining whether or not we're going to end up enjoying it. Sure, sure - sometimes a movie can start out badly and pull out a save in the end. However, these are rare occurrences - the opening pretty much determines what we're going to think about the whole movie.

Although you and I are not in the movie making business, we do spend our time making and delivering speeches. If you're willing to come a long with me for just a moment or two, then I'd like to propose that a speech is very much like a movie. We know about the importance of public speaking and it's up to us to show our audience how important what we have to say is. We've got an audience and we'd like to capture their attention (no matter how good their listening skills are) and hold it throughout our entire speech. Hmm, I wonder just how we can go about doing this...

How To Build A Speech Opening That's Like A Movie Trailer

Maybe we should take an easier route here. Instead of trying to worry about building our entire speech like a movie, let's just focus for now on building our speech's opening like a movie trailer.

What is the purpose of a movie trailer? It's a quick 1-2 minute video presentation that is designed to get us interested enough in an upcoming movie that we'll come back to the movie theater and pay to see it. Hmm, this attention grabbing thing sounds exactly like what we try to do when we are starting our speech.

How does a movie trailer work its magic on us? It's actually pretty simple. A movie trailer has to immediately grab our attention. No matter if it's an explosion, a gunshot, or a face slap, it has very little time so it has to move quickly.

The next thing that has to happen in a movie trailer is that we need to be introduced to the characters. This needs to happen fast and we need to understand who they are and what they are trying to do. They may be an archeologist, a superhero, a wizard, it doesn't matter - the background is being set up. This also needs to be done quickly.

A movie trailer only has time to accomplish one more thing. The people that we've just been introduced to now have to be put into some sort of challenging situation that there appears to be no way for them to get out of. This is the "hook" that will make us come back to the movie theater in order to find out how things turn out.

When you are creating the opening for your next speech, you are going to want to do the same set of steps. You have very little time in which to capture your audience's attention and so you're going to have move quickly. The first words out of your mouth are going to have to grab their attention. You're going to have to follow this up with a description of the situation that you'll be talking about and the people who will be involved. Finally, you'll need to create challenging situation to end your introduction. This challenge is what's going to cause your audience to remain sitting in their seats and listening to your entire speech.

What All Of This Means For You

The first few words that tumble out of your mouth during your next speech set the stage for the rest of the speech that is to follow. One of the benefits of public speaking is that you control what you say and so you can create a powerful introduction for your next speech. Your speech's introduction is a critical part of making the entire speech effective.

In order to design a speech opening that will both grab and hold your audience's attention, take a look at how movie trailers do it. They always open with a bang - they grab your attention. Next, they introduce the characters and provide some background info, and finally they place them in some sort of situation that appears to be difficult / impossible to get out of. This is exactly what you need to do in your speech's opening in order to hook your audience. Forget all of those presentation tips - the opening of your speech is where it's at.

The opening of your speech is only one part of the total speech. However, if you get this part correct, then the rest of the speech will be much easier to do correctly. Take the time to craft a great "trailer" for your next speech and your audience will end up giving you a great review!

What Harry Potter Can Teach You About Creating A Speech Introduction

Movie Review: Hugo

2011-11-20T11:18:00.001-08:00

This movie review or comment is about Hugo. Among the movies I am looking forward to seeing the most this fall is Hugo, Martin Scorsese's latest work. Derived from the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the movie, features Asa Butterfield in the starring role as Hugo Cabret, an boy who is orphaned and living a life of secret in the walls of a train station in Paris, in the 1930s. When he comes across a machine that is broken, (Chloe Moretz), a peculiar girl and (Ben Kingsley), the reserved, heartless man who operates the toy shop, he found himself a part of a mysterious, magical adventure that has the potential of putting every one of his secrets in danger of exposure. The film also features Sacha Baron Cohen in the role of the awkward train station inspector.

This movie is the very first attempt of the Oscar-winning, iconic Martin Scorsese as he ventures into family films. It is also the first time that he is trying his hands at 3D film making. Therefore, expect the film to equally appeal to children, older elementary students who may have read the novel and film buffs who take their movies seriously. This adventure is supposed to be an exceptional family pick for the upcoming holiday season; especially with its supporting cast of A-list stars, young stars Chloe Moretz and Asa Butterfield, and the legendary director, Martin Scorsese. Look forward to some tense scenes and peril as the adventure unfurls.

Upcoming Movie

The latest trailer of the Hugo adventure was released on October 26, 2011 and it comes with a tone that is a great deal more serious than the trailer which was previously released in July. This most recent trailer features "Breath and Life" by Audiomachine, which is incidentally the very same music that was used in the previews of both The Fighter and The Adjustment Bureau. This is in sharp contrast to the first trailer which was released in July and featured cheerful and upbeat music. The first trailer came with "King and Queens," the song done by 30 seconds to Mars and it offers more on the playful chase of Hugo with the lumbering inspector of the station (Sacha Baron Cohen). This recently released trailer depicts Ben Kingsley more as Georges Méliès, the ground-breaking French filmmaker.

The film rights of the book were bought in 2007 by Martin Scorsese and he began filming in London at the Shepperton Studios since June 2010. This adventure film also stars Johnny Depp, Richard Griffiths, Emily Mortimer, Marco Aponte, France Dela Tour, Ray Winstone, Helen McCrory and Christopher Lee.

Movie Review: Hugo

Do You Need a 3D DVD Player to Enjoy the Full Cinematic Effects of a 3D Movie?

2011-11-17T14:36:00.001-08:00

If you are into cinematic-enhanced movies, you might be wondering if you will need a 3D DVD player to enjoy a 3D movie. Since most of the movies now are turning 3D, movie-goers are encouraged to watch them in the theaters! But, you might not need a DVD player just to watch 3D movies. How is this possible? You just needed the right gadgets to help you enjoy the movie at home.

How does 3D work?

Upcoming Movie

Traditionally it works by emitting light from the screen. This is best appreciated using red and blue glasses to maximize the effects. Conventional 3D movies work by using SD or Standard Definition methods.

Fast forward to the present, 3D movies now uses stereoscopic filming. Movies like Avatar and My Bloody Valentine use Digital 3D that is more detailed than conventional three dimensional movies.

You will appreciate a Digital 3D movie through High Definition TV due to its clarity.

Is it required to watch 3D movies using a 3D DVD player?

The answer is no. You can still watch 3D movies using your standard TV at home. Just get a pair of red and blue glasses and you are all set!

If you own a HDTV or a 3D DVD player, you get to enjoy a movie in 3D better. Instead of wearing colored glasses, 3D movies in HDTV is best watched using clear glasses to make the scenes 'pop-out'. It gives better results and the satisfaction might be closer to that in a cinema!

Here are some tricks to maximize your viewing pleasure:

* Heighten the brightness in your TV. If you are using standard television to watch a 3D animation, wearing those colored glasses might make the images dim. To avoid this, increase the brightness to compensate the dark shades from your glasses. This might improve the quality a bit.

* Switch off the lights: You get to experience the full cinematic effects by dimming the room. This enhances the images and projects other bright-colored scenery from the screen. It also lessens the double-vision, halo effects and improves the brightness of the effects.

* Sit closer to the television: You will get a better view and focus if you sit in front -- not on the sides. If you must, you can sit a little closer to appreciate the visuals.

So grab a good pair of red and blue glasses, pop-corn, some soda and company and enjoy a three dimensional movie today!

Do You Need a 3D DVD Player to Enjoy the Full Cinematic Effects of a 3D Movie?

Great Movie Theater Foods

2011-11-14T17:36:00.001-08:00

I love going to the movies, and one of my favorite things about a trip to the theater involves the food I end up eating while I'm there. I know that it's not exactly healthy and it's overpriced, but it's fine to splurge once in a while and it makes the entire experience more enjoyable to me.

Here are a few of the best movie theater foods, in no particular order. Let's see if your favorite made the list.

Upcoming Movie

Nachos are a mainstay at movie theaters now. There's something extremely satisfying about the salty chips and the hot cheese, along with the way they go with a soda. Just make sure not to crunch too loudly during the movie!

A related food and alternative to nachos are pretzel bites, which also found their way into theaters during the 90s and haven't left ever since. These small, hot bits of pretzels are great, especially when dipped in cheese. They're a lower fat option than nachos for anyone looking to limit their intake of fatty foods.

In the candy department, Sour Patch Kids are one of the most popular sellers at movie theaters. People love the contrast between sweet and sour, and these chewy little candies are truly addicting.

Another top candy is Sno-Caps, which are far more popular in movie theaters than they are in stores. The same can be said for Goobers and Junior Mints, as all of these candies are rarely ones that you'd think about buying outside the movie theater.

As far as fountain sodas go, there are many, and they depend on preferences. More recently, flavored slushed ice drinks have gained ground, and it seems like just about every movie theater offers these lately.

Then, of course, there's the food that started it all. Popcorn is as popular as it's ever been, with flavored varieties offering moviegoers the optional change of pace from the classic kind.

Great Movie Theater Foods

A Twilight Movie Review

2011-11-11T20:54:00.001-08:00

Twilight movie is one of the latest movies which have its theme based on the book that was written by Stephanie Meyer who is also featured in the same movie. It was actually released in the Philippines way back in November of 2009 and it stars such movie stars as Robert Pattison as Edward and Kristen steward who is featured as Bella. Since its production it has been doing quite well as its casting is cool enough that one can easily derive the theme and meaning of the movie.

Different from the Edward(main vampire character) presented in the book who appears to be confident, perfect and cool at all the times, Edward in the movie is quite anxious and appears uncomfortable at all times. But as the movie continues, he seems to be moved closer to Bella simply because of her behavior through the film. Based on the fact that Edward is handsome, this gives him the advantage of moving even closer to meeting the woman he has always been dreaming of.

Upcoming Movie

Despite the point that Edward is a vampire, this did not actually stop Bella from falling in love with him, something that most people will be intrigued with when watching the movie. In a normal situation, you will realize that once an individual come to learn about the evil deeds practiced by the person you love, their relationship will come to an abrupt end, but the producer of this film/ tackles this differently. Bella still dreams of Edward every night despite having learned about his impureness and so many other evil deeds.

The producer of the twilight movie also uses the music throughout the movie very well. The provision of lullaby songs for Bella is absolutely amazing as it adds to the uniqueness in the film production from other common movie making. The producer of this great movie uses two very important aspect of styles; suspense and romance which eventually bring out the quality production which makes one great movie that you will never want to miss. Therefore in case you really want to enhance all that you have been reading in the twilight book, then you should actually watch this great movie produced by a renowned producer from the Philippine movie style. Watching the Twilight movie will always make you want to watch more from this great producer as it pushes you to the edge of your seat. New Moon(Twilight 2) has also released and promises to continue where this original film leaves off.

A Twilight Movie Review

Upcoming Bollywood Actors

2011-11-09T00:18:00.001-08:00

The Hindi film industry is seeing a rising number of promising actors. Many upcoming Bollywood movies feature young talent over established actors since their films often do well at the box office. Also, movies with youthful themes require youthful actors. There is now a breed of 'gen next' actors who have made the cut in mainstream Hindi cinema.

Bollywood's much loved chocolate boy, Shahid Kapoor initially looked like a one hit wonder with Ishq Vishk Pyaar Vyaar in 2003. There followed a string of flops until he struck gold with Jab We Met, in which he starred along side Kareena Kapoor. The promising young actor showed he could hold his own in the critically acclaimed hit Kaminey. He is starring in lead roles in upcoming Hindi movies Milenge Milenge (with Kareena Kapoor)and in his father's directorial debut Mausam (with Sonam Kapoor).

Upcoming Movie

Debonair and charismatic, Ranbir Kapoor, the son of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh scored zero with his first outing Saawariya in 2007. However, he did manage to pick up the Filmfare Best Male Debut Award for his role in the movie. His next offering Bachna Ae Haseeno did fairly well at the box office and found favor among film critics. Wake Up Sid and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani were commercially successful although both films met with mixed responses. His 2010 projects include the recently released Rajneeti and Anjaana Anjaani with Priyanka Chopra.

Although he is mostly in the news for his unusual pick of films, Abhay Deol is certainly a promising Bollywood actor. Not quite the typical Bollywood hero, his chosen debut vehicle was Socha Na Tha in 2005. The film did not garner much enthusiasm with the public. The 2008 film Oye Lucky Lucky Oye was a smash hit and fetched rave reviews for his offbeat performance. Anurag Kashyap's Dev D further established that Abhay Deol was an upcoming Bollywood actor to look out for. He will be seen in upcoming Bollywood movies Rajshri Ojha's Aisha and Zoya Akhtar's Running with the Bulls.

Upcoming Bollywood Actors

Watch Latest Movie Trailers

2011-11-06T03:36:00.001-08:00

Before you spend your hard earned money purchasing a movie ticket, it's always best to ensure that movie will be worth your time. One of the best ways of getting a fair idea whether or not you will like a particular movie is to watch movie trailers.

Convenient Websites

Upcoming Movie

The internet has made it very convenient for movie lovers to get the latest movie news and watch movie trailers of upcoming movies, from the comfort of your home. If you have a passion for films isn't it convenient if you can find all the information you need from the star cast to the plot line in one comprehensive website? This will make it so much easier to select the movies you wish to see based on various movies review.

If you are a fan of films and love a particular actor or actress you can download movie posters from the special websites, get the latest Hollywood news about your favorite celebrity. If there's a particular film that about to be released, you can get all the updates about it. This will truly enrich your experience as you will be aware of everything that went into making that movie. While you read interviews given by the star cast and watch interesting movie trailers and previews, you will be able to make an informed decision and chose a film that will give you the biggest bang for your buck.

Benefits Of Movie Websites

Websites which carry extensive information about the latest movies being made, get a lot of visitors who like you are crazy about films. This generates a lot of interesting conversation between the viewers thus making such websites a virtual melting pot of movie buff. Given below are some of the benefits of websites which carry movie reviews and trailers:

* You can get the latest celebrity news about your favorite stars and their lives and activities.
* Get the latest box office reports of the films you wish to see. The movie box office gives you accurate judgments about the status of films, so that you can decide to watch or give it a miss.
* You can find out about the release dates of the latest films so that you can plan to watch it at your nearby theatre.
* You get interesting tidbits of information and gossip about movies coming soon.
* The websites provide movie and TV news which avid fans of films and television are interested in. TV news includes information about the latest shows, schedules, reviews and all about the TV stars.
* The website reviews movies and shows movie trailers of the latest films and you get news in advance about any film you are keen to watch. Movie reviews are indications about upcoming films and can be deciding factors that attract you to watching a film.

The besting about movie and TV related websites are that they are very attractively designed. You can join forums and discussion groups and participate actively with other movie lovers, on the website. Watching movie trailers is just one among the interesting activities that are provided on this information filled websites. You can register and become a member and immerse yourself in your favorite pastime, easily and effortlessly, on these online websites.

Watch Latest Movie Trailers

Movies Coming in April 2011

2011-11-03T07:59:00.001-07:00

The summer movie season is almost upon us, so it's time to take a look at some of the upcoming movies for 2011. The following selection details some of the hottest films opening in April, so you won't have to wait very long after reading this article.

Source Code - Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this techno-thriller as Captain Colter Stevens, a decorated soldier who's desperately trying to find a bomber aboard a passenger train bound for Chicago. Able to jump into another man's body for the last eight minutes of his life, Stevens must piece together clues while experiencing his host's explosive death over and over. With a larger bombing looming in downtown Chicago and a romance blossoming with a now-dead woman (Michelle Monaghan) he meets on the train, Stevens is under increasing pressure to solve the mystery and undo the events of the recent past. Also starring Vera Farmiga and Jeffrey Wright, the Duncan Jones film opens on April 1st, 2011.

Upcoming Movie

Your Highness - Danny McBride and James Franco team up once again, this time as brothers in a medieval setting. McBride is Thadeous, a prince who's more than a little lazy and full of himself. Franco, meanwhile, is the heroic Fabious, a prince charged with undertaking a perilous quest to save the kingdom. Natalie Portman and Zooey Deschanel are the love interests, Michael Clarke Duncan is a troll, and Justin Theroux is the villainous wizard. A rambunctious mixture of fantasy and comedy that opens on April 8th, 2011.

Scream 4 - Intended as the first film in a new horror trilogy, this Wes Craven sequel finds Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) returning home to promote a book on the anniversary of the town's first brutal murder. But a new killer is on the loose, and soon Sidney and her family (including Emily Roberts) are targets. Series veterans Courteney Cox and David Arquette co-star alongside Hayden Panettiere, Anthony Anderson, Adam Brody, Mary McDonnell, and Marley Shelton. Opens on April 15th, 2011.

Madea's Big Happy Family - The eleventh film in the Tyler Perry franchise once again finds the sassy Madea in action, this time helping out a niece who's received bad news about her health. Since the woman's children are too involved with their own problems to lend a sympathetic ear, it's up to Madea to whip them into shape. Co-starring Loretta Devine, Bow Wow, Isaiah Mustafa, and Lauren London. Written, directed, and starring Tyler Perry, the film opens on April 22nd, 2011.

Fast Five - The fifth film in the franchise, it brings together many of the characters from the previous films for an action-packed ride. Trapped between a federal agent (Dwayne Johnson) and a deadly South American businessman (Joaquim de Almeida), the group is in for the most dangerous race of their lives. Vin Diesel is back as Dominic Toretto, and he's joined by Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Sung Kang, and Matt Schulze. Opens on April 29th, 2011.

The upcoming movies listed above should play in all major theatres, so you'll have little trouble tracking them down. Be sure to check your local newspaper or theatrical website, as you may also be able to save a few bucks utilizing cost-cutting measures such as Cinemark coupons.

Movies Coming in April 2011

Nonfiction best-seller 'Freakonomics' turned into film

2010-03-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

Film based on the nonfiction best seller closing 'Freakonomics' at Tribeca

NEW YORK - "Freakonomics", a documentary based on the best nonfiction book sales, will close the Tribeca Film Festival.

The film is based on the 2005 book by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. It is led by five directors, including Alex Gibney and Morgan Spurlock.

Spurlock directed the Oscar-nominated documentary "Super Size Me."

Gibney film "Taxi to the Dark Side," was the Academy Award for best documentary in 2008. He has three films in the Tribeca festival. Also screen his "My Trip to Al-Qaeda" and an unfinished version of a documentary on former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

The ninth edition of the Tribeca Film Festival runs April 21 to May 2. The festival previously announced the rest of their lineup.

Guide to Hollywood sex symbols

2009-05-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

Every year, people look at billions and billions of celebrity pictures on MSN Entertainment. Billions and billions. It's like Carl Sagan's "billions and billions of stars" thing, only with earthbound... more stars instead of cosmic ones. Not surprisingly, the constellation of popular star images doesn't include the likes of poor Steve Buscemi.

Sure, he's a good actor. But he's missing that certain something that makes our mortal jaws drop. Say it with us: sex appeal.

What's That Noise? Oh Yes ... the Screen Siren

Like the ancient Greeks who put their shapely goddesses on the Parthenon, or the Italians who had their Renaissance nudes, we love our Hollywood women for the way they combine beauty with sex appeal and raise it to the level of the divine.

Hollywood's sexiest women are more than just beautiful. They're also confident, strong and knowing, which is a thousand times more alluring than mere beauty. If the Greeks and Italians could have memorialized their goddesses on film, they would have. Lucky us; ours are already there.

See photos at http://movies.msn.com/sex-symbols-guide/photo-gallery/feature/?photoidx=1

Why women (secretly) love action flicks - continued

2009-04-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

from previous entry

They Provide an Escape
Will the hero make the leap from one building to another? Will the bad guy get away with his devious plan? Can the predator ever really be stopped? While we can probably safely assume the outcome, it's fun to let your mind play along.

Typically, women spend a lot of time thinking. For some mysterious reason, men compartmentalize their thoughts much better than women do, as illustrated by their stress levels.

Action movies give us a sense of escapism from complex thought and from everyday living. Is this a gender-specific sentiment? No. But although men might see action movies as shoot-'em-up fun, for a thought-driven communicative woman, these films are like stepping into another world ... one filled with martinis instead of cosmos, guns instead of gossip, and the best way to communicate is often without words at all. Physical raw aggression or risk-free violence (except for the bad guy) will suffice for words.

For women, actions movies are the rare find that let them put their brains in standby mode. (When in real life, for example, might one discover an interstellar teleportation device that results in a fight against alien beings attempting to take over Earth, as is the case in "Stargate")? You'd think women could decompress with an old-fashioned rom-com, but the truth is, those often make us stress about different things (our romantic status, our looming age, etc.).

Many women fall prey to life's routine, becoming more akin to humdrum Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis) in "True Lies" than her secret superhero husband, Harry (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Thus, action movies might be like Simon (Bill Paxton), the used-car salesman in the film who piques Helen's interest by posing as a spy leading a life of thrills. We know it's not the classiest way to use our time, but it sure is fun to step outside our own life sometimes and shake things up.

Action movies allow for vicarious living through attractive people with exciting lives. Over-the-top attire, exotic locales and exciting adventures are the raison d'etre of an action movie. They give the illusion of ease in doing incredible things .... without having to do much of anything.

Power Is Sexy
In movie math, attractiveness equates power. Let's face it: Villains are usually sexy (Lucy Liu in "Kill Bill" or Robert Patrick in "Terminator 2"). So are the good guys (Casper Van Dien in "Starship Troopers," or the ubiquitous Bond, James Bond). And, usually, they're fighting for the power to shift a situation's outcome in his or her direction.

Whether it is a reanimated supersoldier helping foil a terrorist attack (Jean-Claude Van Damme in "Universal Soldier"), a maniacal anarchist hell-bent on destruction (Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight"), or an FBI agent taking on the assassin who killed his family (Jason Statham and Jet Li in "War"), recklessness and heroics combined with charming faces and intense butt-kicking make for engaging cinema. Women like bad boys; they also like pretty boys. In an action movie, they get both. The muscles don't hurt, either.

Bonding Over Stallone
Most guys think it's hot when women appreciate an action movie, especially if it's one they also enjoy. That feeling of a shared connection lends itself to an increased sense of intimacy. And that's what women think is hot.

In the end, women like to be a part of the boys' club -- at least, temporarily. We know we like the men in our lives, and we know the men in our lives like action movies. Like any good social anthropologist (which is, by nature, most women), we want to be up-close-and-personal with our subject of interest. Action movies allow us to bond with the male species in their natural environment. It's our way of taking an interest in the men we care about. Plus, it gives us a great bargaining chip to get our man to come along the next time we want to see a chick flick.

Why women (secretly) love action flicks

2009-04-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

I'll let you in on a secret. I tell people my favorite movie is "When Harry Met Sally." Actually, it's "Cliffhanger." Really. I've seen it countless times, but when it airs on basic cable, I can't do anything but watch. It's the first film that comes to mind for rainy day viewing -- and the last one I'll admit to having in my cinematic collection.

Don't get me wrong -- I adore cinematic masterpieces and I appreciate a chick flick as much as the next gal, but I know I'm not alone in saying that many women love action movies -- and it no longer needs to be a secret.

Ladies and gentlemen, whether you thought you or your partner was alone in this fetish, or if the whole notion is new to you, let me break it down. Here are five reasons why the chicas dig the action.

Yippee-ki-yay indeed!

Action Movies Are Like Exercise ... Without the Sweat
For the most part, men seem to like physical activity. Women, for the most part, don't. What we like are the results. And the adrenaline kick!

However, whereas most men invite moments of sporty testosterone expulsions, only the toned females out there prefer a good heart palpitation over a well-mixed cocktail. Yet, we still crave the endorphin rush (even if our thighs do touch while walking). So, although exercise can be a big pain in the backside -- sometimes, literally -- action movies are our way of getting the same intensely racing pulse, only we can scarf popcorn at the same time.

Action movies get our hearts pumping -- or, at least the good ones do. Much like any physical activity, the commotion in an action sequence keeps us engaged in the present, letting our minds take a much-needed rest. When Sarah Conner fought with the menacing metallic skeleton at the end of "Terminator," my focus was so invested in the moment, I forgot to breathe. Usually, the plot points are relatively simple, the happy ending is guaranteed and the scenes take you from a warm-up to great intensity, giving you an outcome that's a rush of adrenaline. (Much like ... well ... another physical activity that both sexes enjoy).

GI Jane Is a Better Role Model Than Barbie Dolls
As the saying goes, girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice. Meanwhile, boys are apparently made of some icky random stuff (including puppy dog tails and mollusks). In a fight to the death, who do you think would come out on top? (The tails of puppies, anyone? That's hard core.)

Ever since Ripley took on the out-of-this-world namesake in "Alien," women have been kicking butt in movies. The truth is, women like being thought of as strong and like seeing that represented on the big screen. We know we can't be Arnold, but we take pride that we're not the vexingly sissyish Kate Capshaw character in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom", either.

Whether playing brawn (Jodie Foster in "The Brave One"), brains (Diane Kruger in the "National Treasure" series) or both (Carrie-Anne Moss in "The Matrix"), in a cinematic world that mostly portrays women as straight love interests and ingénues, action heroines prove that women can be a powerful presence. And as Angelina Jolie so amply demonstrated in "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," women don't have to deny their feminine virtues to break a sweat. We value our femininity, but we also respect someone who respects herself.

Why 'Star Wars' still fascinates many boys - continued

2009-04-10T02:19:00.000-07:00

What I Episode 3 of our family saga: the second view. After three years of lobbying, Paul and I decided that Simon can manage to watch the first movie "Star Wars" again. (My kids say Lucas and call 1977 original fourth in the series.) Simon twice the age he was in this ill-fated first meeting, and he, as he has already stated many times, they are currently the only known children who have not yet seen at least the previous trilogy. We promised we would get from Netflix Simon after 6 th birthday. Last week, the magic disc arrived. Paul and I decided Saturday morning show. Thus, Simon would be a day to unpack.

The boy swallowed their breakfast at the hunks and wrapped in a blanket on the living room orange sofa. Paul popped in the movie. I went ahead. When I returned, Eli friend Dylan arrived. We came only to trash-compactor scene. Eli Max nodded to Dylan. Simon sat rapt, his eyes fixed to the screen. I checked to see if he blinks. Although Luke dove into a basket, a small creature popped periscopelike and looked around.

"Hey, this is the eyes," said Paul commended.
"This is one dianoga", said Dylan.
"What?"
"A dianoga. It turned out that the color of his eats."

Eli, Dylan, and Simon, which must be equitable, as well as concern about the film a deeper theme. Bear with me for some of the review here: At the climax the movie, Obi-Wan duels with Darth Vader, to gain time for Luke to go, and Han Solo that he had to flee their ship. Obi-Wan said Vader, that dear Alec Guinness British accent: "If you strike me down, I became more powerful than you can imagine, is possible." * He sees Luke, read, and Khan apparently, and then holds his light sabers to his forehead, namaste type. Vader strikes. Obi-Wan disappears, leaving his ratty old raincoat. Luke calls in horror as he and his friends make it to the deck of his ship, which is actually very close to the fight.

Simon, in the heat of the moment: "Why does Obi-Wan dies?"
Elijah: "He could be on the battlefield. It could have been over."
Dylan: "He could not have received the death star."
Simon: "But he could have killed Darth Vader!"
Dylan: "Then, Palpatine would have killed him. Palpatine and Vader with a more powerful".

The boys had to explain to me who Palpatine (and ally of Vader). In those days, because we often returned to the issue of Obi-Wan sacrifices. Paul suggested that the meta interpretation: the myths, the old wise to make way for his young protégé. Gandalf leaves Bilbo for a while, I said. Dumbledore leaves Harry. (Bad Simon: He knows the whole story of Harry Potter before he became a one-page or seen in movies. But that is another issue for another day.)

Simon did not totally agree with this explanation. He wanted Obi-Wan is dead because he had no choice. But he definitely got the idea that Luke is training to be an apprentice Jedi Knight: He taught me to Luke in the interim period between the corner: padawan. "As a landlord," Simon put it. I think maybe he is too padawan. He spoke of the "Star Wars" more than ever this week, but he does not lose his sleep. So what do you think, if we are brave Empire strikes back?

Why 'Star Wars' still fascinates many boys

2009-04-08T04:15:00.000-07:00

Years ago, in a galaxy far, far away, about 2006, at our old house in DC-my husband and I let our little boy to watch "Star Wars." Eli was almost 6, and only a broken leg. We were at home, antsy, and despair. At the moment of weakness, we turned to the "Star Wars." We understand, like most indulgences, that the film will be feeling, and then pass.

Wrong. Our youngest son, Simon, who was not quite 3, could not sleep that night or for many days during the months that followed. He was obsessed. He talked about the movie on any relative, friend, babysitter or a child who will listen and many shops that will not be. He released trash-compactor scene. It is concerned with Obi-Wan Kenobi Jedi sternness in and Darth Vader in the glittering malevolence. He sniffed out the plot twists in the rest of the endless saga of six films (who knows how), and desperately tried to work, why can Darth Vader Anakin Skywalker and Luke's father and could also cut off the hand of Luke. That little girl is sweet outcome Star Wars plot. Simon was not sweet. He feverishly. It is short-circuiting. Thanks to two hours of silly indulgence, Paul and I came to the conclusion of its neurons were melting.

In the annals of religious mother, the ante is upped ever that a real deviation in the upbringing of children. Perhaps, at nearly 3-year-old single viewing in 1977 fantasy film just came out. But it was a classic fairy tale of our family a second child, committed a sin, has expressed regret, and we hope to recover from. In the first of three episodes (unlike George Lucas, I know, to stop a trilogy), our youngest son falls from grace, then exposed to it should not be seen, since his older brother or sister. Secondly, the brain takes hold poison. And thirdly, the child will grow enough to win the experience, or at least, the meaning of it.

In Episode 1, in the agony of Simon's original fixation, I was interviewing child psychologist Edward Zigler. In mid-conversation on the topic, not really, I veered Off in my family "Star Wars ills. I was recognized as Dr. Zigler, but in that sad way, that is a bet on the remission of sins. Rather, on the other end of the line, I I heard only silence. And then he quietly said that I really made a mistake and that Simon, who probably should not watch more movies with violence or even questionable, because, well, years. That 2007 study conducted by the Seattle Children's Hospital, which binds violence on the screen images of aggressive behavior among boys (not girls) ages 2 to 5.

My husband, Paul, had already settled on Zigler in medicine. We drove Luke and Obi-Wan on Dora and Bob the Builder. But we can not steal Star Wars characters from our children's lives. Even long after the actual memory of the film was lost, and Eli Simon said, and played in George Lucas' world. When we refused to buy them a toy light sabers, their nurse rolled up newspapers in solid cones. Children crayoned them green, purple and yellow and bashed each other over the head, not quite Jedi type. With my friends, they dissected the business in the Hutt and Jabba furriness of the Ewoks, never mind that they appear in the later movies that my children have never seen. Office carpool a couple of months ago I was listening to, and someone else held a 6-year-old says about the details of the prequel films in more detail than he could describe his home. My children keep silent out of awe. Then our current Nanny took pity and gave them their "Star Wars" Fandex. Eli read all of this, card, cards, and Simon is absorbed by osmosis the facts, such as Emperor Palpatine another name (Darth Sidious).

As Lukas world this kind of control? My children and other loyalties. They swear to various superheroes will listen again and again the Greek myths, can tell you the history of David and Goliath, and love the Hobbit. But nothing, nothing, has irresistible pull of the galaxy in Star Wars. " Perhaps a combination of simplicity and multi-layer depth, good versus evil in the world more interdependent creatures opponent. Maybe all this boils down to Darth Vader, with his helmet and the terrible voice of James Earl Jones. Or, maybe, the magical element is a void space in the background.

My theory is composed of two components of a more mundane: the vast length and co-branding. However, hauling, and this is tiring for me, an adult, recently added to the prequels epic in Allure by creating more layers of the permutation. I'm not sure that the internal logic of Lucas' universe is, but he sure has a lot of moving parts. And many of them, for example, is excluded and Anakin turns into Vader, are artfully purpose lodge in the heads of small boys. Simon has recently banned the teacher say "Star Wars", with the exception of holidays, because the debate over the plot points were too loud. Outside of school, children are surrounded by movies' relentless marketing: birthday plates, cups, candles, Lego ships recent cartoon series. Our children of strangers "Related in part because they are friends of flaunting it.

to be continued..

Horror film draws unwanted visitors to Conn. house

2009-03-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Southington, Conn. - A Hollywood horror film that portrays the alleged haunting funeral of an old hall in the center of Connecticut is turning into a nightmare for the current owners of the house and its neighbors.

The film, "The Haunting in Connecticut," do not open until Friday, but curious fans are already making a beeline for the house that inspired the movie Southington.

"It's just been very, very stressful," said Susan Trotta-Smith, who bought the house 10 years ago with her husband. "It's been a total change of a house in a very quiet neighborhood very peaceful to look out the window and see cars stopping all the time. It has been very, very stressful, and sometimes disturbing."

The family never saw anything unusual in its five bedrooms, two-family wood frame white house and do not believe that the property was haunted.

"She has beautiful wood, and there is a nice warm feeling to the house," Trotta-Smith said. "Because it was a funeral home, the apartment upstairs is more spacious. It's like two boxes full, and has a beautiful garden, too."

The film, starring Virginia Madsen and Kyle Gallner and released by Lionsgate, is loosely based on stories that revolved around the house in the 1980s.

Residents currently the Snedeker family, claimed that his son would hear strange noises in his basement bedroom, since it displays coffin and was arrested near the former Embalming room. He also claimed to see shadows on the wall of people who were not there. A niece visited the house said she felt hands on her body as she tried to sleep, and she levitated copper.

The family brought in Ed and Lorraine Warren, a self-described paranormal investigators, who became famous for documenting the alleged "Amityville Horror" haunts a house in Long Island.

Lorraine Warren says he felt an evil presence in Southington home and experienced the haunting her, when she spent a night there.

"In the main room, there was a trap where the coffins were brought," she said. "And at night you would hear that chain hoist, as if a coffin were being raised. But when Ed went to check, there was no one down there."

Warren, whose husband died in 2006, has nothing to do with the movie. She said the house was "cleared" of the evil presence after a seance in 1988. A book and a television documentary followed.

The current owners, who rent the house to another family, had removed the street number from the home and posted "no trespassing" signs. Trotta-Smith says they are concerned about the four children who live there.

"Most people are respectful. They are on the road. They could take a picture," Trotta-Smith said. "But we had some problems with those kind of rough next to the door and scare our children, telling them the house is haunted."

Police have added extra patrols to the neighborhood.

"There is looming creatures of the night, but not inside the house," Southington police Sgt. Lowell DePalma said. "They happen to people who are being illegally on the property, looking in windows and that sort of thing. People will be disappointed. There are no ghosts."

Alison Taylor, 37, led from his home in East Hartford with his camera after seeing a show on the Discovery Channel and in the haunts of hearing about the new movie.

"I'm very intrigued," she said. "I thought since it was close, I could enter. Many people are so skeptical, but I am not. I'm sure that some things are done to make the film look better, but I think it's great."

Katherine Altemus, who lives across the street, shoos away curious viewers. She believes the ghost stories were a hoax.

"It's a shame," she said. "None of the haunting occurred, and now it is ruining the lives of young people wonderful family that lives there."

Requests the Snedeker family were returned by the film production, it said it would try to arrange an interview.

Film producer Andrew Trapani said he believed the mother, Carmen Snedeker was very credible, and believes that the film does a good job showing what his family went. The film was shot in Teulon, Manitoba.

He said the names of family and city were fictionalized in the movie, in part, to try to keep unwanted attention away from real home. The Southington Snedekers site and are identified in the movie.

"We certainly did not set out to upset someone or have someone appear on his house," he said. "I think in this case, the haunting supernatural particular had a much larger following than I had even expected."

Trotta-Smith said he is working with the police, but has no plans to put a fence. She said she just wants a normal life at home, but she is not sure it will be possible if the film becomes a success.

"I am a little worried about this Halloween because I imagine that is when they will release the DVD and it all worked again."

Are Paris Hilton and Robert Pattinson hooking up?

2009-02-26T06:54:00.000-08:00

Paris Hilton snared Robert Pattinson at a party.

The blonde heiress stunned hotel guests in a luxury Oscar bash by dragging the "Twilight" star out of time alone after asking for her sister Nicky to help him on the track.

Friends of 28 years old Socialite - including her ex-boyfriend Benji Madden and sister Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen - were stunned by her aggressive flirting with the handsome British actor.

After the scan Patrick Whitesell's Hollywood crush on his part, Robert and Paris were seen "laughing and in a deep conversation" for an hour before she reportedly took him to the garden outside the gaze of onlookers.

Paris recently dropped from 22 years of age, after seeing the piece of his latest film, which plays a vampire.

She said: "I saw 'Twilight' and I must say that I think Robert is a beautiful man and an amazing actor. It's fabulous!"

The film caused a sensation among teenage girls, but last year, Paris admits that took a while to appreciate the film.

He added: "Now I understand all the hype. I just did not get before, but now it all makes sense. I liked the movie and loved seeing Robert in it."

The Biggest upsets in Oscar history

2009-02-25T01:46:00.000-08:00

Set to write the Academy Award in breach and immediately begins to shift the ground under your feet. Yes, some neck-snappers we all remember - such as Jack Nicholson is to present the prize for Best Picture in 2005, opened an envelope and said: "Wow" - a time when the name of the movie knew all to win all of a sudden no one reading aloud.

But this I-hadda-be-there moments. Looking Oscar history, you find that we could call violates the opposite - cases in which a film or play that has long been a part of racial unconscious is not a day, won due recognition. Then you get into a kind of "What do they know, and when they know?" situation. How would they have been so blind? We have collected some of this kind, and upset.

Violate come in all valences, triumphant and horrifying. Truly the way Oscar passes understanding. But this does not spoil the party.

1939
It was Hollywood's golden year. "Stagecoach" ... "Mr. Smith Goes Washington" ... "Ninotchka" ... "The Wizard of Oz" ... "Is it the wings of angels ... "Mr. Young Lincoln" ... "Wuthering Heights" ... "Of mice and men ... "Gunga Din" ... "Drums Along Mohawk" ... "Roman" ... "Four Feathers" (OK, made in England, but still). Nevertheless, it was producing a film that obsessed fans throughout the year, and when it was at that time record 13 Oscar nominations, no one doubts that David O. Selznick 'S almost four-hour Technicolor megaproduction "gone with the wind will take the brass ring. Lots of bronze rings, including for best director Victor Fleming, despite the fact that some half-dozen directors (George Cukor and Sam Wood) worked on the film. Most major players have been appointed (including Thomas Mitchell, although to "Stagecoach", not "GWTW"): a newcomer in Hollywood Vivien Li won Best Actress, as Scarlett O'Hara, and Hattie McDaniel edged out Olivia de Havilland for Best Supporting Actress. However, what was wrong with this picture? While writer Margaret Mitchell had written a book of visualization Clark gable as Rhett Butler, the fronton had to settle for a nomination (best actor went to Robert Donat for "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" -- but in reality, we would give it to Frank Capra in Mr. Smith, Jimmy Stewart). The king took him as a man, of course. But the clock "GWTW" today, and try telling us all that nonsense will be tolerated without Selznickean gable movie stars standing in the middle of it.

highlight 2009 Academy Award winners

2009-02-24T01:29:00.000-08:00

Below, we highlight 2009 Academy Award winners in the top categories.

Best Picture

'The Curious Case of Benjamin ...'

'Frost/Nixon'

'Milk'

'The Reader'

'Slumdog Millionaire'

Best Actor

Richard Jenkins
'The Visitor'

Frank Langella

'Frost/Nixon'

Sean Penn

'Milk'

Brad Pitt

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Mickey Rourke
'The Wrestler'

Best Actress

Anne Hathaway
'Rachel Getting Married'

Angelina Jolie

'Changeling'

Melissa Leo

'Frozen River'

Meryl Streep

'Doubt'

Kate Winslet

'The Reader'

Best Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin

'Milk'

Robert Downey Jr.

'Tropic Thunder'

Heath Ledger

'The Dark Knight'

Philip Seymour Hoffman
'Doubt'

Michael Shannon
'Revolutionary Road'

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams

'Doubt'

Penélope Cruz
'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'

Viola Davis
'Doubt'

Taraji P. Henson
'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Marisa Tomei

'The Wrestler'

Best Director

Danny Boyle

'Slumdog Millionaire'

Stephen Daldry

'The Reader'

David Fincher

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Ron Howard
'Frost/Nixon'

Gus Van Sant

'Milk'

Result of 81th Oscar acadeny award

2009-02-23T05:26:00.000-08:00

You can see here...

Picture: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Actor: Sean Penn, "Milk"

Actress: Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

Director: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Foreign-Language Film: "Departures," Japan

Original Song: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Original Score: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Jerry Lewis

Film Editing: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Sound Mixing: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Sound Editing: "The Dark Knight"

Visual Effects: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Documentary, Short Subject: "Smile Pinki"

Documentary Feature: "Man on Wire"

Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"

Short Film: "Spielzeugland"

Makeup: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Costume: "The Duchess"

Art Direction: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Animated Short Film: "La Maison en Petits Cubes"

Animated Feature: "WALL-E"

Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"

Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Scientific & Technical Awards presented Feb. 7, 2009, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.:

Gordon E. Sawyer Award: Ed Catmull

John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation: Mark Kimball

Top 10 Worst Movie Sequels - continued

2009-02-21T01:15:00.000-08:00

"Clerks II" (2006)

Why a sequel? After the critical and commercial drubbing of his laboured labour of love "Jersey Girl," Kevin Smith needed a hit, and figured that going back to the low-rent, minimum-wage workers of his breakout hit "Clerks" would be a good place to return to his roots.
Plot: Following up "Clerks," "Clerks II" brings back motor-mouthed Randal (Jeff Anderson) and sad sack Dante (Brian O'Halloran) after a 12-year hiatus. Now working at a fast-food place, Randal and Dante try to find real work and true love.
Why it sucks: Smith should have known that the potty-mouthed bravado of his debut was the kind of lightning in a bottle that can't be reproduced, and that making a career out of screeching, swearing sex talk isn't the wisest choice. Also, taking Dante and Randal out of their grubby, real convenience store and video shop and plopping them into a gleaming, overdesigned fast-food place just highlighted O'Halloran and Anderson's limited acting skills. "Clerks II" was about people on dead-end, humiliating career paths; it might be one of the most autobiographical things Smith has ever done.

"Caddyshack II" (1988)

Why a sequel? With a startling profit-to-cost ratio, 1980's "Caddyshack" was an instant cult classic. Eight years later, star Chevy Chase returned alongside a group of B-list replacement players to try to make a box office hole-in-one again.
Plot: Once again, a blue-collar snob (Jackie Mason, subbing in for Rodney Dangerfield) tries to get into Bushwood country club, with a snooty club leader (Robert Stack, subbing in for Ted Knight) blocking the attempt while a demented goon (Dan Aykroyd, subbing in for Bill Murray) tries to stop a gopher and Chase makes bad jokes in the background.
Why it sucks: Because Mason is no Dangerfield, Stack is no Knight, and Aykroyd is no Murray. And Chase wasn't Chase. Director Allan Arkush sucks the life from every laugh, and the eight-year wait between instalments only made the original grow all the more beloved in hindsight.

"Weekend at Bernie's II" (1993)

Why a sequel? Because America had already laughed at the sight of two underachieving leading men (Jonathan Silverman and Andrew McCarthy) contorting a corpse into various positions and dragging a dead man from Point A to Point B in 1989's "Weekend at Bernie's." Add in surprising profitability on home video, and a sequel became a -- ahem -- dead certainty.
Plot: Silverman and McCarthy, just as in the first film, have to drag their dead boss (played, surprisingly well, by Terry Kiser) around in the pursuit of safety and riches.
Why it sucks: The first film kind-of-sort-of got every possible joke out of the dead-man bit, while the second film adds a vaguely insulting voodoo subplot. Add in the fact that "Weekend at Bernie's II" picks up the action the day after the first film while McCarthy and Silverman both look four years older and terribly, terribly tired, and the entire movie feels like, uh, beating a dead horse.

"Grease 2" (1982)

Why a sequel? "Grease" turned a little-known musical into a cult-favourite sing-along smash; why wouldn't you want to try to recapture that? Add in a $394 million take at the box office, and going back to Rydell High is a no-brainer.
Plot: "No-brainer" might, in fact, describe the plot, as "Grease 2" simply inverts the first film's romance between bad boy John Travolta and virtuous transfer student Olivia Newton-John, as English exchange student Maxwell Caulfield embarks on a risky romance with bad girl Michelle Pfeiffer. This isn't a sequel; it's the same movie in drag.
Why it sucks: Directed by "Grease" choreographer Patricia Birch, "Grease 2" even has lame songs, like a rousing anthem to the pleasure of bowling ("Let's Score") and another number set in a sex-ed class ("Reproduction"). Pfeiffer has a certain scrappy appeal, but Caulfield might as well not even be there; he's blond, bland and disposable. Plus, "Grease" was an exercise in nostalgia; "Grease 2" feels like it's asking us to get nostalgic over nostalgia, and that's the most depressing thing imaginable.

"Speed 2: Cruise Control" (1997)

Why a sequel? "Speed," with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, became the little action movie that could, with a bus rigged to blow if it dipped below 55 mph thanks to mad bomber Dennis Hopper. Who wouldn't want to bring that team back?
Plot: Apparently not Fox, who subbed Jason Patric when Reeves refused to come aboard, and plopped Patric and Bullock into a danger-at-sea plot as Willem Dafoe hijacks a cruise ship. (Rumour has it that the original script was intended as a possible "Die Hard" installment.)
Why it sucks: Patric isn't Reeves, and the decision to move ahead with a sequel without Reeves made the film feel like even more of an empty exercise in money-mad marketing over storytelling. The plot also lacked the original's pure pitch -- if the bus slows down, the bus goes BOOM! -- offering fairly generic action stunts instead.

Top 10 Worst Movie Sequels

2009-02-19T03:12:00.000-08:00

"Staying Alive" (1983)

Why a sequel? "Saturday Night Fever" made $237 million worldwide at the box office, never mind the multiplatinum soundtrack album (to this date, the "Saturday Night Fever" album has sold 15 million copies). Travolta was still a young star, and hot talent Sylvester Stallone was attached to direct. What could go wrong?
Plot: Travolta's Tony Manero has left Brooklyn for Manhattan and left the nightclub world of disco for Broadway's modern dance productions. As Tony tries to make it on Broadway in a show called -- and I wish I was kidding -- "Satan's Alley," can he keep his love of dance alive?
Why it sucks: Because you don't have to be a genius to observe that the gritty, glam world of 1970s disco is very, very different than the gleaming, phony Broadway that Tony is plunged into. "Saturday Night Fever" had a dark, urban moodiness to it; "Staying Alive" gleams and glimmers like the oil smeared on Travolta's conspicuously displayed six-pack. "Staying Alive" made money; it just didn't make any sense.

"Blues Brothers 2000" (1998)

Why a sequel? "The Blues Brothers," released in 1980, was a transcendent comedy hit, fusing great musical numbers with crazed slapstick as Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) Blues reunited their band to save the orphanage where they grew up. Eighteen years later, Belushi was dead, but director John Landis and Aykroyd needed a hit.
Plot: Elwood gets the band back together. And mentors an orphan boy. And hires a new singer (John Goodman). And ropes an Illinois cop (Joe Morton) into the group for a "Battle of the Bands." And there's a lot of singing and some great musical performances surrounded by a few jokes and some overdone crashes.
Why it sucks: Never mind the fact that, technically, with Belushi dead, any follow-up film is by definition "Blues Brother"; "Blues Brothers 2000" is an overstuffed cash grab full of extraneous characters (like the plucky orphan and Morton's cop) that bloat the movie until it bursts in a great demonstration that more isn't always better. Also, with an 18-year gap between original and sequel, the audience that roared for "Blues Brothers" had grown up and moved on, while their kids had no idea what the fuss was about.

"The Sting II" (1983)

Why a sequel? "The Sting" earned 10 Oscar nominations in 1973, won seven Academy Awards (including Best Picture), gave Robert Redford and Paul Newman terrific roles, and featured Robert Shaw as a classic bad guy. Ten years later, "The Sting II" gives us the substitute con team of Mac Davis and Jackie Gleason against Oliver Reed. Uh, what?
Plot: Gleason and Davis try to take down nightclub owner Karl Malden for murdering a friend, without knowing that the first film's nemesis, Doyle Lonnegan (Reed), is behind the dastardly doings. With Davis posing as an up-and-coming boxer and Gleason pulling the strings, the con is on.
Why it sucks: You can find reviews of "The Sting II" claiming it's not that bad, or, rather, it wouldn't feel so shabby if it weren't following in the footsteps of Redford and Newman. But it did follow in those big footsteps, and followed along 10 years after the first film's success. It stumbled: "The Sting" made $156 million at the box office, while "The Sting II" made $6 million. Ouch.

"Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde" (2003)

Why a sequel? After "Legally Blonde" made $141 million at the box office, a sequel seemed inevitable. Reese Witherspoon's transformation into a Hollywood star also meant the actress was looking for a cash cow.
Plot: Witherspoon, as the freshly graduated lawyer Elle Woods, goes to Washington, where she learns about democracy, makes jokes about consumerism, and sponsors a "Million Dog March" to stop animal testing, demonstrating once again her brilliant instincts under her glossy exterior.
Why it sucks: Not only is "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde" impossibly lazy -- yes, Witherspoon's Elle is smarter than she looks, we get it -- but it also offered the weird sight of millions of fictional people marching against animal testing, and succeeding, at a moment in American history when, on the news, millions of real people were marching against the just-begun invasion of Iraq, and being ignored. It's hard to imagine worse timing for a fluffy, funny political comedy than the ain't-politics-funny, mistimed, misshapen "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde."

"Highlander II: The Quickening" (1991)

Why a sequel? Look, regardless of merit, "Highlander" has a certain style, a certain charm, and a certain dimwit joie de vivre as immortals clash with broadswords in modern Manhattan, Queen roars on the soundtrack, and Sean Connery plays a Spaniard. Did it make sense? No. Was it fun? Yes.
Plot: In "Highlander II: The Quickening," we learn that Christopher Lambert and Connery's mystical immortals are actually space aliens. And that Connery, who died -- not-coming-back-even-though-he's-a-mystic-immortal, we-mean-it-for-keeps, he's snuffed it -- in the first film, apparently got better. Connery and Lambert then run around the future trying to stop the bad corporation that controls the big, man-made shield that replaces the ozone layer.
Why it sucks: Plenty of sequels forget what made their predecessor good. "Highlander II: The Quickening" actively reverses and refutes almost everything in the first film while larding on unnecessary backstory and completely changing the tone of the saga. The DVD "Renegade Version" (wisely) excises all the space alien stuff. But listen to the commentary track; it's a celebration of rationalization as the producers defensively apologize for goofing up the franchise.

Movie Release Date in February 2009

2009-02-12T07:53:00.000-08:00

February 6
Chocolate
Coraline
Fanboys
He's Just Not That Into You
The Pink Panther 2
Push

THIS WEEK
February 13
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Friday the 13th
The International
Two Lovers
Under the Sea 3D

February 20
Fired Up
Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail

February 27
Crossing Over
Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience
Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li

weekend box office income - january 2009

2009-01-17T22:25:00.000-08:00

Final Numbers for the Weekend of Jan. 9th - Jan. 11th

1. Gran Torino ($29.4 million)
2. Bride Wars ($21.0 million)
3. The Unborn ($19.8 million)
4. Marley and Me ($11.3 million)
5. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ($9.2 million)
6. Bedtime Stories ($8.8 million)
7. Valkyrie ($6.6 million)
8. Yes Man ($6.0 million)
9. Not Easily Broken ($5.3 million)
10. Seven Pounds ($3.8 million)

Box-Office Prediction: January 16-18, 2009

2009-01-17T12:28:00.000-08:00

1. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
For the record these are three day projections. It’s a very tough call at the top spot with three potential winners. I’m taking Blart because it’s rated PG and looks dumb. That should be enough to get it the top slot.
Estimate: $19.5 million

2. Notorious
Here’s the movie I hope wins as I’ve seen it and liked it. They aren’t screening My Bloody Valentine so I have no clue there. I put Notorious down for a number in between Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and 8 Mile. My only concern is that it doesn’t have enough awareness to hit this amount.
Estimate: $18.4 million

3. Gran Torino
It will regress 44.5%. But I still give everyone involved credit for taking even one weekend at the box office.
Estimate: $16.4 million

4. My Bloody Valentine 3-D
It could very well win the weekend, but I think Unborn might have stole a little steam. I’ve got it making $6200 per theater, if it had 3,000 theaters it would definitely trouble me more.
Estimate: $14.3 million

5. Hotel for Dogs
I put this at half of Chihuahua because it doesn’t have enough marketing dollars. That and Blart’s PG rating make it less likely to open large.
Estimate: $11.4 million

6. Bride Wars
I’m only dinging it 51.5%, mostly because the new releases are all in different genres. Unless you count My Bloody Valentine 3-D as competition… which isn’t completely crazy I guess.
Estimate: $10.2 million

7. The Unborn
The first rule of box office they teach you is that horror opens strong and fades swiftly. Thus, The Unborn will drop 54% at the very least this weekend.
Estimate: $9.1 million

8. Defiance
What an odd release schedule this one has had. They opened early in NYC/LA to try and get awards buzz. Then, whiffing on that, they are expanding to 1500 theaters this weekend. Clever!
Estimate: $5.7 million

9. Marley and Me
Two dog movies in the the top ten. That really sums up the movie-going experience these days, doesn’t it?
Estimate: $5.5 million

10. Slumdog Millionaire
The million dollar question is this: Will Last Chance Harvey’s new theaters help it grab this spot? Or will Slumdog’s Globes carry the day? My only concern is that the people who watch The Golden Globes have already seen Slumdog Millionaire. So it’s quite the social experiment at the bottom of the top ten this weekend.
Estimate: $5.1 million

Seven movies that should have worked, but didn't

2008-12-21T07:13:00.000-08:00

When “The Spirit” and “Valkyrie” open this weekend, they have a lot of pushing back to do. “The Spirit” has been dogged by toxic word-of-mouth ever since Frank Miller’s trailer drew laughs at Comic-Con, and “Valkyrie” has been plagued with production problems, release-date switches and the image of Tom Cruise as a one-eyed German plotting to kill Hitler.

Still, who knows? Plenty of movies transcend their bad buzz or their packaging to deliver cracking entertainment. And for every one of those, there’s a movie that seems to have everything in place, but fails to seal the deal and actually be enjoyable. We thought it might be fun to take a look at some of those.

See it now at http://entertainment.sympatico.msn.ca/movies/galleries/MovieGallery.aspx?cp-documentid=15960475&imageindex=1

Most Popular Movies - at Dec 2, 2008

2008-12-02T22:59:00.000-08:00

1.High School Musical 3: Senior Year
(2008, Kenny Ortega, G)
How lovely the American high school experience might be if it offered even a smidgen of the euphoria in “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.”

2.Zack and Miri Make a Porno
(2008, Kevin Smith, R)
“Zack and Miri Make a Porno,” in spite of its lewdness, follows a gee-whiz romantic-comedy formula that would not be out of place on the Disney Channel.

3.Stages
(2007, Mijke DeJong, NR)
The phrase “divorced couple” sounds like an oxymoron, but there’s really no other way to describe the Dutch ex-spouses whose table talk dominates “Stages.”

4.Changeling
(2008, Clint Eastwood, R)
When it works best, “Changeling” is a feverish and bluntly effective parable of wronged innocence.

5.Synecdoche, New York
(2008, Charlie Kaufman, R)
To say that Charlie Kaufman’s “Synecdoche, New York” is one of the best films of the year is such a pathetic response to its soaring ambition that I might as well pack it in right now.

6.The Haunting of Molly Hartley
(2008, Mickey Liddell, PG-13)
God and Satan duke it out for the soul of a young girl in “The Haunting of Molly Hartley,” an unexpectedly cynical addition to the teen-scream genre.

7.Saw V
(2008, David Hackl, R)
The latest and least of the “Saw” films is just plain boring and even a little tame — albeit by the standards of a genre that helped bring the phrase “torture porn” into the lexicon.

8.I've Loved You So Long
(2007, Philippe Claudel, PG-13)
In the drama “I’ve Loved You So Long,” Kristin Scott Thomas’s furious honesty rules out easy, unearned redemption.

9.Quantum of Solace
(2008, Marc Forster, PG-13)
10.Let the Right One In
(2008, Tomas Alfredson, R)
“Let the Right One In” takes the morbid unhappiness of its young characters seriously.

Chinese top movies

2008-07-07T04:45:00.000-07:00

HONG KONG — Hollywood's fighting cartoon panda is a hit in the furry animal's home country. The American animated movie Kung Fu Panda has made nearly $16 million at the Chinese box office as of Wednesday, according to its distributors.
Russian film named best at Shanghai fest
BEIJING, June 23 -- Russian director Vladimir Kott's "Mukha" received the Best Film award at the 11th Shanghai International Film Festival, which wrapped up on Sunday night. Chinese director Gao Qunshu's "Nick of Time" scored two awards - the jury award and Best Actor award for Ma Guowei's performance.
Romance in the bottle of horror
The Chinese movie market is running a bit light ahead of summer vocation. Hong Kong director Tsui Hark's new flick stands out. Famous for his action movies,Tsui is getting into horror movies for the first time. He took his inspiration from a sunken city that thrived over ten thousand years ago. Tsui learned about the city from a documentary. So let's see what it's about.
International film finance: China
BEIJING -- For people from outside looking to get in, China is not big on production incentives, but it is a dynamic market not without charm, and a lot of the country's most talented filmmakers are starting to come out from underground into the mainstream.
China's new screen master: Jia Zhangke
Cannes - Chinese director Jia Zhangke's haunting and unsettling portrayals of life in modern China would not appear to be the type of movies that the Beijing authorities like to see representing their country at the world's leading film festivals. But Jia's latest film 24 City, which recounts the lives of workers in a factory earmarked for demolition to make for a skyscraper, has been selected for the race to win the prestigious Palme d'Or award at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

2008 Interesting

2008-06-06T04:44:00.000-07:00

Cloverfield

A surreptitiously subversive, stylistically clever little gem of an entertainment disguised, under its deadpan-neutral title, as a dumb Gen-YouTube monster movie, makes the convincingly chilling argument that the world will end — or, at least, Manhattan will crumble — with a bang and a whimper. The bang part, as millions who have seen the trailer already know, is supplied by the...thing...that arises on an otherwise peaceful May night to wreak destruction on New York City: He (She? It?) swats at skyscrapers and smashes NYC landmarks, abetted by tentacled mini-monsters that lunge directly at humans like voracious paparazzi. And when the military arrives to fight back, let's just say the troops opt for the all-out surge approach.
The ineffectual whimper of a handful of nobodies caught in the melee, though, is what's new in the old Godzilla formula — and also what's blackly funny. The doomed Gotham created by producer J.J. Abrams — he with the golden Felicity, Alias, and Lost touch — and his team is almost entirely populated by vapid, twenty-something nincompoops. Oops, I mean attractive, indistinguishable young people who handle cell phones, DV cameras, etc., with ease; call one another ''dude''; don't have anything interesting to say; and, perhaps as a result, don't listen to one another, even in an emergency. (The first 20 minutes is a great swath of character-establishing partying, nothing more — a masterstroke of lovingly staged banality.) The acting, by a cast of unknown dudes and dudettes, is appropriately unmemorable. There is, however, a nice simulation of panic as the gang sees the Statue of Liberty's head roll down the street.

Review Cannes 2008: Review: The Exchange

2008-05-21T02:01:00.000-07:00

In recent times, prospective Oscar candidates releasing their wares in the same year as a good Clint Eastwood movie might as well abandon hopes of nabbing the statuette. After seeing the grizzled helmer's latest - The Exchange - (or Changeling as it's been known up until a few days ago) -- we're inclined to believe this year may well be no exception. Indeed, Eastwood cheekily even includes a moment of reverence for the ceremony within. Set in Los Angeles in the late twenties, Angelina Jolie is Christine Collins, mother to a nine year-old lad Walter who goes missing from his home one weekend. Distraught, she naturally turns to the LAPD. Five months later they call and tell her that they've found her son. But when she goes to collect him, she claims she's never met the boy before and his doctors and teachers confirm that the child she's been given is not Walter. With a corrupt police force refusing to reopen the case she turns to church minister Reverend Briegleb (John Malkovich) and resolves to keep looking. Based on a true story, the film follows the case to its bitter end and Eastwood -- true to form - has no qualms about spending two and a half hours doing so. Yet a masterfully crafted narrative pace, and a simply revaltory stunning central performance from Jolie's guarantees total investment in the material.

As one of the world's most celebrated beauties, Jolie brings baggage to the screen by virtue of her celebrity that initially threatens to intrude on her portrayal of a suburban single mother. But she very quickly shrugs it off with confidence and questions about her believability in the role soon dissipate. It's no wonder; Christine is just the sort of strong, independent woman the actress loves playing, whether she's tackling independent drama or blockbusting action. Eastwood projects a luscious-looking and fully realized version of LA in the twenties that's in turns glamorous and grim, but the film's greatest success is in its attempt to capture the climate of the period. The complex politics of the corruption rife within the LAPD in the period are very quickly established and woven into the story with no overwrought attempt to impose modern judgements on the characters actions. Critics in Cannes will likely get straight to work questioning the director's politics, and there's no doubt that Eastwood chooses subject matter that engages him on more than just a superficial level. Whatever you think of the man's political views however, there'll be no question of Eastwood's talents as a master storyteller. Eastwood's recent run of form continues with The Exchange, which seems certain to be - at the very least - amongst the favourites come Oscar season.

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2008-04-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

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