Tuesday, September 30, 2008

STUDIOS: Walt Disney Pictures

Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group

Location:

The Walt Disney Studios
Burbank, California, USA

Founder:
Walter Elias Disney (Wiki)

Major Film Studio (Parent Division):
Walt Disney Pictures (Wiki)
Major Studio Subsidiary: Touchstone Pictures (Wiki)
Animation Studio: Walt Disney Animation Studios (Wiki), Pixar Animation Studios (Wiki)
Independent Film Companies: NONE
Arthouse/"Indie" Subsidiaries: Miramax Films (Wiki)

History (Wiki)

Filmography

The Filmmakers

GUILLERMO DEL TORO

9 October 1964, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Guillermo del Toro has come out of the wood work and has made a name of him self. I said Tim Burton is the king of fantasy well Guillermo del Toro could take his throne. El Laberinto del fauno (Pan's Labyrinth) is arguably the most beautiful fantasy films to date. I have been a fantasy fan for quite some time and as of late I have been fund of independent films. Well, in 2006 I started appreciating all films including foreign films. One of my first foreign films that I fully appreciated was Pan’s Labyrinth. I said to myself I like this guys work, what else has he done. I soon found out I have seen some of his work already via Hellboy. Now it seems I can’t wait to watch the world of fantasy unfold through the eyes of Guillermo del Toro.

Biography


Filmography

They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They?

Sunday, September 28, 2008

UPDATE: Movies I Recommend To See In 2008

I will continue updating as the season unfolds. If you don’t like my picks and want to know what’s coming out visit these site: http://www.comingsoon.net, http://www.kerasotes.com/Home.aspx, http://www.movieweb.com/, Trailers Brought to You By http://www.themoviebox.net

Number Ones for November:
National: Quantum of Solace, Twilight
Indies: Milk
Comedy: TBA
Family: Bolt
Oscar Buzz:
The Soloist
Australia
The Road

Number Ones for December:
National: Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Will Eisner's The Spirit
Indies: Defiance
Comedy: Yes Man
Family: Tale of Despereaux

Oscar Buzz:
Good
Frost/Nixon
Doubt
Revolutionary Road

THE FUTURE

2009

Inkheart
Watchmen
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Star Trek
Angels and Demons
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Up
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2010

Alice in Wonderland
Iron Man 2
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Thor
M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I

2011

The First Avenger: Captain America
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
The Avengers

The Hobbit

The Best Movies for This Month

For the Month of September:

National: Eagle Eye
Indies: The Duchess
Comedy: Burn After Reading
Family: Igor

Reminder for October: Movies I Recommend To See In 2008

Number Ones for October:
National: Pride and Glory, Max Pyane
Indies: The Changeling
Comedy: Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Family: City of Ember
Halloween: The Haunting of Molly Hartley, Saw V

Oscar Buzz:
Rachel Getting Married
The Brothers Bloom

Body of Lies

Saturday, September 27, 2008

REVIEW: Eagle Eye

The Synopsis

IMDb: Jerry Shaw (LaBeouf) and Rachel Holloman (Monaghan) are two strangers thrown together by a mysterious phone call from a woman they have never met. Threatening their lives and family, she pushes Jerry and Rachel into a series of increasingly dangerous situation, using the technology of everyday life to track and control their every move. As the situation escalates, these two ordinary people become the country's most wanted fugitives, who must work together to discover what is really happening and more importantly, why.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: 2 Stars
Michael Phillips: 1½ Stars (poor-fair)
EW: Lisa Schwarzbaum C
A. O. Scott: NA

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: See It, Ben Lyons: See It
Fandango: 7 Oh No, 8 No, 20 So-So, 41 Go, 60 Must Go
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 26% (Rotten), Top Critics: 23% (Rotten), RT Community: 69% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 43 out of 100, Users: 7.5 out of 10
Yahoo Movies: Critics: NA Users: A-

My Review

Source Material: Original Action Thriller: “Dan McDermott wrote the original script for Eagle Eye based on an original idea by Steven Spielberg”

Action: Amazing: This film dose a great job keep the audience one their toes.

Acting and Dialogue: Brilliant: It was good. I know it is the popular thing to bash Shia LaBeouf but I like him and I think he dose a good job if not a great job. He has charisma and like- ability. I can see him as the next Tom Hanks. I also like the other supporting roles, Billy Bob Thornton and Michael Chiklis They both put up a strong performance even with shorter screen time.

Cinematography: Brilliant: It works for this type of film. In a film like this it is very easy to become sick because the camera is every where and shaky but this film lets the action unfold without a shaky camera, which make a better film.

Direction: Brilliant: It’s not Steven Spielberg but at the same time it is, that might be because he pseudo-wrote the script and was part of the production process via producer, or maybe it just the common bond between D.J. Caruso and Steven Spielberg.

Sound: Brilliant: The sound gave the action more kick. I also liked the score; it brought a different element to the film.

Special and Visual FX: Brilliant: Everything had a scene of realism to it, except for the super computer it came off as far fetched and kind of stupid. The far fetched and stupid thing in the film is the whole concept and design of the super computer; It looked like it could be real but I think there was some flaws with the concept and design of the super computer. The flaws I just describe might not be relevant to the FX department and they probably protean more to the story but nevertheless they are flaws.

Overall: B+, It is a good movie and I recommend it.

REVIEW: Fireproof

The Synopsis

IMDb: A firefighter (Cameron) and his wife (Bethea) begin a 40-day experiment known as "The Love Dare" in an attempt to save their marriage.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: NA
Michael Phillips: NA
EW: NA
A. O. Scott: NA

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: NA Ben Lyons: NA
Fandango: 7 Oh No, 3 No, 12 So-So, 7 Go, 75 Must Go
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: NA (Rotten), Top Critics: NA (Rotten), RT Community: NA (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: NA out of 100, Users: NA out of 10
Yahoo Movies: Critics: NA Users: A

I WILL UPDATE THESE TWO SECTION LATER THIS WEEK

My Review

Source Material: Original Christian Drama

Action: Brilliant: What was there was pretty decent and believable. It wasn’t spectacular but it works

Acting and Dialogue: Common: It seemed a little over the top. The dialogue was not that realistic. Let me preface first I am Christian and I understand the point of the film. I believe you can make a Christian film for the Christian audience and still add realism. Just because you are a Christian and you are trying to convert other to your faith doesn’t mean you have to censor your self. You can still throw in some minor curse word like damn and pissed and still keep the PG rating and the over all theme. The evangelism in the movie was a little over barring, this is come form a Christian. I like Christian films to have a subtle message like the Chronicles of Narnia series.

Cinematography: Common: Most of the camera shot were made to give chills down a Christian back, which was achieve beautifully but don’t give me wrong this isn’t a class act of cinematography.

Direction: Common: It kind of slow especially toward the end. It felt like the movie was at least a half hour longer it’s running time. As for the director himself I like where is heart is but like I said before Christian movies should have a subtle message.

Sound: Common: The sound gave me the same feeling as the cinematography, chills down the back and slightly emotional; filled with the Holy Spirit type stuff.

Special and Visual FX: Common: The fires and explosions looked convening; everything else was dramatically driven by the dialogue.

Overall: C, As a Christian movie it was good but up against the pantheon of films it’s okay at best. I recommend it to people who know Christ and to people who are testing the Christian waters.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The "Greatest" Films in "Classic" Genres

I was inspired buy AFI’s list of America’s 10 Greatest Films in 10 Classic Genres. I have decided to do my own list. AFI's list mostly focus on “Classic Movies” I will try to keep it more in the present but there are some “Classic Movies” that just define a genre. I also will explore other genres and sub-genres that have been made popular today.

Animation: Wall-E (2008)
Biography (Biopic): A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Black Comedy: Fight Club (1999)
Dick Flick: Crank (2006) OR Smokin’ Aces (2006)
Crime: The Boondock Saints (1999) OR American History X (1998)
Courtroom Drama: A Few Good Men (1992)
Cult: Pulp Fiction (1994)

EPIC:

Religious Epic: The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Historic Epic: Schindler's List (1993)
War Epic: Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Fantasy: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) OR Big Fish (2003)
Gangster: The Godfather (1972) AND Gangs of New York (2002)
Graphic Novel: Sin City (2005)
Heist: Snatch (2000)
Horror: El Orfanato (The Orphanage) (2007)
Indies: Memento (2000) OR Donnie Darko (2001)
Musical: The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Mystery: American Psycho (2000)
Parody: Spaceballs (1987)
Period Film: Atonement (2007)
Prison: The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Romantic Comedy: When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Science Fiction: Star War: A New Hope (1977)

SPORTS:

Boxing: Cinderella Man (2005)
Football: Friday Night Lights (2004)
Ice Hockey: The Mighty Ducks (1992)
Racing: Driven (2000)
MMA: Never Back Down(2008)
Track & Field: Prefontaine (1997)

Superhero: The Dark Knight (2008) AND Iron Man (2008)
Swords and Sandals: Gladiator (2000)
Torture Porn: Saw (2004) OR Hostel (2005)
Western: Tombstone (1993)

Monday, September 22, 2008

REVIEW: Igor

The Synopsis

IMDb: "Igor" is a playfully irreverent comedy that brings a new twist to the classic monster genre. In a world filled with Mad Scientists and Evil Inventions, one talented evil scientist's hunch-backed lab assistant has big dreams of becoming a Mad Scientist himself and winning the annual Evil Science Fair.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert
: NA
Michael Phillips: 2 1/2 stars (fair-good)
EW: Adam Markovitz C
A. O. Scott: NA

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: NA Ben Lyons: NA
Fandango: 50 Oh No, 27 No, 59 So-So, 70 Go, 73 Must Go
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 28% (Rotten), Top Critics: 21% (Rotten), RT Community: 75% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 42 out of 100, Users: 8.7 out of 10
Yahoo Movies: Critics: NA Users: B

My Review

Source Material: Simi-Original based on the classic Igor character.

Action: Common: For an animation film it was quite boring.

Acting and Dialogue: Common: All star cast (voice) but no real deliverance. The only characters I like and laugh at the most was Scamper (Steve Buscemi) and Brain (Sean Hayes). Most of the dialogue was one-liner that crickets laugh at, not very well at all.

Cinematography: Common: No Disney magic or DreamWorks inventiveness. It was just another animation film.

Direction: Common: Great idea for a story but the execution was horrible. I wish Disney would head this project up or even DreamWorks.

Sound: Brilliant: I like the score and sound effects. It made it feel like a carton version of a monster movie, Real Industrialism.

Special and Visual FX: Not Applicable

Overall: C, kids may like it more than I did but its no Wall-e or Kung Fu Panda.

The Filmmakers

ETHAN & JOEL COEN

21 September 1957, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

29 November 1954, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

The Coen Brothers are arguably the best directing team. I have seen a lot of movies made by the Coen Brothers and most of them I didn’t even know it. Last year I watched No Country for Old Men knowing it was a Coen Brothers film but then I asked myself what else they have done. At top of the list was Fargo and The Big Lebowski, but those were the only two I couldn’t remember. So I did my homework and found out quickly I have seen most if not all of the Coen Brothers films. Just to name a few: O Brother, Where Art Thou, Intolerable Cruelty, and The Ladykillers. Today I pay more attention, and now I can recognize a Coen Brothers film. Just last week I saw their latest film Burn After Reading. I liked it and also recommend it, unless you hate the Coen Brothers.

Biography

Filmography: Ethan, Joel

They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They?

Friday, September 19, 2008

REVIEW: Lakeview Terrace

The Synopsis

IMDb: A young couple (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington) has just moved into their California dream home when they become the target of their next-door neighbor, who disapproves of their interracial relationship. A stern, single father, this tightly wound LAPD officer (Samuel L. Jackson) has appointed himself the watchdog of the neighborhood. His nightly foot patrols and overly watchful eyes bring comfort to some, but he becomes increasingly harassing to the newlyweds. These persistent intrusions into their lives causes the couple to fight back.

Other Reviews


Critics:

Roger Ebert: 4 Stars
Michael Phillips: 2 Stars
EW: Gregory Kirschling C-
A. O. Scott: NA

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: See It Ben Lyons: Rent It
Fandango: 10 Oh No, 9 No, 17 So-So, 24 Go, 15 Must Go
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 31% (Rotten), Top Critics: 38% (Rotten), RT Community: 60% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 42 out of 100, Users: NA out of 10
Yahoo Movies: Critics: NA Users: A-

My Review

Source Material: Original Thriller by David Loughery and Howard Korder

Action: Brilliant: The movie keeps your attention. It not a high energy, lost of explosions type of attention but a “what’s going to happen next” type of attention.

Acting and Dialogue: Brilliant: Samuel L. Jackson and Patrick Wilson both bring there A-game but there is some faults aka Kerry Washington. She was good but not as good as Samuel L. Jackson and Patrick Wilson.

Cinematography: Common: The cinematography was nothing spectacular.

Direction: Brilliant: It seemed to be put together well and the pace wasn’t bad.

Sound: Common: Sound track was decent, every day sounds to the LA neighborhood.

Special and Visual FX: Common: This movie also wasn’t an FX driven film.

Overall: B, I recommend it.

Monday, September 15, 2008

The Filmmakers

TIM BURTON

25 August 1958, Burbank, California, USA

Tim Burton is a painter; the camera is his paint brush and theater screens are is canvas. Big Fish is still to this day one of my favorite Burton films. This was the film that brought me to the world of Tim Burton. I did see other films by Tim Burton before Big Fish like Edward Scissorhands but Big Fish sealed the deal. The fantasy genre is by far my favorite genre. If I had to pick the king of fantasy I would pick Tim Burton. He knows how to encapsulate fantasy and then relay that information to an audience via a movie. It seems that most people didn’t like Tim Burton’s version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but I disagree. Even though I liked Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I like Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory better. I hope Burton continues down this path of children novels and fantasy of old. I know he has Alice in Wonderland in the works but I would like to see some Grimm fairy tales put on big screen.

Biography

Filmography


They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They?

Friday, September 12, 2008

REVIEW: Burn After Reading

The Synopsis

IMDb: A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it.

Other Reviews

Main Critics:

Roger Ebert: 3 Stars
Richard Roeper: Not Available
Michael Phillips: 2 Stars
EW: Lisa Schwarzbaum C
A. O. Scott: NA

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: See It Ben Lyons: See It
Fandango: 22 Oh No, 18 No, 32 So-So, 33 Go, 42 Must Go
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 77% (Fresh), Top Critics: 54% (Fresh), RT Community: 73% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 62 out of 100, Users: 7.1 out of 10
Yahoo Movies: Critics: B Users: B-

My Review

Source Material: Original Black Comedy by the Cohen Brothers

Action: Brilliant: Comic action at it’s best. Brad Pitt stole the show with is character. I also love how just facial expression from the actors made the audience laugh.

Acting and Dialogue: Brilliant: Can I say best ensemble cast, great line up. It wasn’t quite Oscar worth acting but every one did a great job. One of the only films I can remember that every character made me laugh also stole the show when they were on camera.

Direction: Brilliant: The Cohen Brothers know what they are doing, they defiantly know black comedy. The cinematography was decent and pace was good.

Sound: Common: I don’t remember it but that might because of my laughter.

Special and Visual FX: Brilliant: Beside the decent the cinematography there nothing to comment on. This isn’t an FX driven film, it clearly driven by dialogue.

Overall: B+, I recommend it. But if you don’t like the Cohen style then stay away because you will hate it. It seems this film is hit or miss with the general audience.

Monday, September 8, 2008

The Filmmakers

WES ANDERSON

1 May 1969, Houston, Texas, USA

Wes Anderson is not only one of my favorite filmmakers but he is also one of my favorite indie filmmakers. I started to like Anderson after The Squid and the Whale ever since I try to watch other films from Anderson. Most everyone remembers Rushmore and its brilliance, I to like this film. I am not saying he the greatest filmmaker to ever live, he only has a hand full of films, but out of those film most if not all have been good, arguably great. If I am not mistaking he has a couple of Oscar’s nomination if not wins. If he hasn’t won anything he still pushes for greatness with every movie made.

Biography


Filmography


They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They?

NEW POST: The Filmmakers

The few that read this blog remembers my post called My Favorite Filmmakers. Well, I am going to expand that post by taking each of my favorite filmmakers and expand on my knowledge of them. I will achieve this goal by giving a break down to why I like them and also give reason to why they are so great. After examining the twenty or so of my favorite filmmakers/ director, I will continue the post by examining actors and other people who bring films together. I will use sites such as IMDb, Wikipedia, and They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They? to showcase the information of a filmmaker’s biography or filmography. I will start with filmmakers whose last name start with A (Wes Anderson) and work to Z (Robert Zemeckis). I will try my hardest to update / continue this post on a weekly manner. So know I open this new post and called it The Filmmakers .

Saturday, September 6, 2008

UPDATE: Traitor

The Synopsis

IMDb: Samir Horn (Don Cheadle), a devout American Muslim, and a former U.S. Army Special Forces expert in explosives, has been mysteriously showing up on the FBI's radar for being in the area of terrorist bombings. FBI agent Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce) heads up a task force investigation to link Horn to these bombings. Clayton is able to question Horn after he was arrested in Yemen for attempting to sell explosives to an Islamic terrorist group. The terrorists break out of prison and take Horn with them. With the help of Max Archer (Neal McDonough), Clayton is able to link Horn to a bombing of an American Consulate in Nice, and a failed police raid to capture his top terrorist contact in London. Clayton has been pursuing Horn around the world and has tracked him to the United States. Clayton must capture Horn before he strikes his next target. Douglas Young

Other Reviews

Main Critics:

Roger Ebert: 3 Stars
Richard Roeper: Not Available
Michael Phillips: 3 Stars
EW: Lisa Schwarzbaum C
A. O. Scott: 3/5

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Not Available
Fandango: 19 Oh No, 12 No, 48 So-So, 130 Go, 127 Must Go
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 53% (Rotten), Top Critics: 54% (Rotten), RT Community: 85% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 60 out of 100, Users: 8.5 out of 10
Yahoo Movies: Critics: B- Users: B+

My Review

Source Material: Original idea from Steve Martin.

Action: Common: Let say it was good but it need some improvements. There are a couple key action sequences that were very enticing but for me the action didn’t keep my attention for the duration of the film. What kept my attention was trying to put the clue together before they do.

Acting and Dialogue: Amazing: Very good acting by very good actors. I love Guy Pearce, so far I haven’t scene anything of his that he hasn’t done well at. Don Cheadle also is good at what he dose. Even for the short role of Jeff Daniels was good.

Direction: Brilliant: It was put together nicely and the pace was decent; a new director making it work. Can’t wait to see what he dose in the future.

Sound: Brilliant: It wasn’t spectacular but it worked and parts of the score were good.

Special and Visual FX: Common: Not much to commit on just a hand full of terrorist bombings all of which were convincing.

Overall:
Sold B, I recommend it. It is probably the only decent film playing now that is still fairly new.

Friday, September 5, 2008

UPDATE: Movies I Recommend To See In 2008

I will continue updating as the season unfolds. If you don’t like my picks and want to know what’s coming out visit these site: http://www.comingsoon.net, http://www.kerasotes.com/Home.aspx, http://www.movieweb.com/, Trailers Brought to You By http://www.themoviebox.net

Number Ones for October:
National: Max Pyane
Indies: The Changeling
Comedy: Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Family: City of Ember
Halloween: Saw V

Oscar Buzz:

Rachel Getting Married
The Brothers Bloom
Body of Lies

Number Ones for November:
National: Quantum of Solace, Twilight
Indies: Milk
Comedy: TBA
Family: Bolt
Oscar Buzz:

The Soloist
Australia
The Road

Number Ones for December:
National: Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Will Eisner's The Spirit
Indies: Defiance
Comedy: Yes Man
Family: Tale of Despereaux

Oscar Buzz:

Good
Frost/Nixon
Doubt
Revolutionary Road

THE FUTURE

2009

Inkheart
Watchmen
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Star Trek
Angels and Demons
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince


2010

Alice in Wonderland
Iron Man 2
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Thor
M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I


2011

The First Avenger: Captain America
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
The Avengers

The Hobbit

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

UPDATE: Critic Review

Main Critics:

Roger Ebert: None
Richard Roeper: Not Available
Michael Phillips: Nnne
EW: Owen Gleiberman C+
A. O. Scott: None

Sorry it seems most of the Critics watched Traitor this week.