Saturday, August 29, 2009

The Greats of 2009 Summer by Genre

ACTION:
Dick Flick (Guy Films): Inglourious Basterds

ANIMATION: Up

COMEDY: Funny People
Black / Dark Comedy: Inglourious Basterds
Drunk / Frat / Stoner Comedy: The Hangover
Romantic Comedy (Romcom): (500) Days of Summer

DRAMA:

Biography (Biopic): Public Enemes

EPIC & HISTORICAL:
War: The Hurt Locker

FANTASY: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

INDIES: Moon, The Hurt Locker, (500) Days of Summer

SCIENCE FICTION (Sci-Fi): Star Trek, Moon, District 9

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Genre: ANIMATION

Genre: Animation isn’t necessarily a genre because it is more or less a medium of filmmaking. Most films are either live action (real) or animated (drawn/ “fake”). But animation can be a genre because most film in that style of filmmaking is targeted towards family audiences. Animation can be broken down into three types: Computer Animation, Stop-Motion Animation, and Traditional Animation (Wikipedia)

Like: Animation can bring a different depth to filmmaking because if you can think it than you can make it.

Dislike: That fact that most animated features are targeted at kids.

Websites Top's:

AFI
IGN
Filmsite
IMDb
Maxim
Oscars (Wikipedia's List)
Rotten Tomatoes
Wikipedia: Films Considered the Greatest Ever

My Top Films In This Genre (alphabetical order):


Alice in Wonderland
Finding Nemo
Incredibles, The
Monsters, Inc.
Nightmare Before Christmas, The
Ratatouille
Robin Hood
Toy Story
Up
WALL·E


The Future of Animation:

9
Astro Boy
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
The Princess and the Frog
Toy Story 3
The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn
Newt

Directors:

John Lasseter
Brad Bird
Pete Docter
Tex Avery
Chuck Jones
Walt Disney

Review: Inglourious Basterds

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Title: Inglourious Basterds
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer(s): Quentin Tarantino (written by)
Staring: Brad Pitt, Mélanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender, Diane Kruger, Daniel Brühl, Til Schweiger, Gedeon Burkhard
MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong graphic violence, language and brief sexuality.
Running Time: 153 min (2 hr and 33 min)
Synopsis: In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: 4 Stars
Michael Phillips: NA
EW: Lisa Schwarzbaum: B

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: See It, Ben Lyons: See It
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 87% (Fresh), Top Critics: 74% (
Fresh), RT Community: 86% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 69 out of 100, Users: 8.5 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 73: (37.3% A, 39.5% B, 15.0% C, 5.4% D, and 0.0% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: A- Users: B+

My Review

Source Material: Inspired by Italian director Enzo Castellari's 1978 movie The Inglorious Bastards, but it is not a remake of that film, written by Quentin Tarantino.

Acting and Dialogue:
A: Let me first off say Christoph Waltz play an awesomely menacing antagonist and should be nominated for his role as Col. Hans Landa. But the buck doesn't stop there the acting in the film was great all around except for maybe Eli Roth, who in my opinion is a better witter/ director. I also have to comment on how great dialouge was. There were a lot of great one-liner spoken by Brad Pitt's character. I laughed almost every time he was one screen.

Art Direction: A: The art in this film is beautiful in a different way.

Cinematography: A: Supurb work the man behind the camera,Robert Richardson, might very well be one of the top cinematographers.

Direction: A-: When looking at Quentin Tarantino's career most people will agree with me that his early films where awesome, cult classics, and his recent films have ranged from decent to "I have seen better." So with that being said Inglourious Basterds is by far a redeeming film for Quentin Tarantino's career.

Screenplay: A: I already mention the great dailoge but this film also has great choreographed scenes. Visually these scene turn out beautiful and that comes from the genus mind of Quentin Tarantino.

Sound and Music: A: The score was very fitting...almost had a Stanley Kubrick feel to it with the music

VFX: B: This film is mainly dramatically driven but there was a lot of scene that used Special Effects and make-up, which was great.

Overall: A-: It's not only a great guy film but it's also a great cinematic adventure. This great film has some negative aspects to it. The first of which is how long the film is, it rings in at two and half hours...and you know it is that long. I have seen films just as long and not felt like there could have been been at least 45 minutes cut out. But through and through I do recommend it.

Review: Shorts

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Title: Shorts
Distributor: Troublemaker Studios (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Writer(s): Robert Rodriguez (written by)
Staring: Jimmy Bennett, Jake Short, Trevor Gagnon, Devon Gearhart, Jolie Vanier, Rebel Rodriguez, Leo Howard
MPAA Rating: Rated PG for mild action and some rude humor.
Running Time: 89 min (1 hr and 29 min)
Synopsis: A young boy's discovery of a colorful, wish-granting rock causes chaos in the suburban town of Black Falls when jealous kids and scheming adults alike set out to get their hands on it.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: NA Stars
Michael Phillips: NA Stars
EW: Lisa Schwarzbaum: C+

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: NA, Ben Lyons: NA
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 44% (Rotten), Top Critics: 56% (
Rotten), RT Community: 29% (Rotten)
Metacritic: Critics: 53 out of 100, Users: NA out of 10
MRQE Metric: 52: (5.9% A, 27.7% B, 39.2% C, 26.2% D, and 0.0% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: C+ Users: B-

My Review

Source Material: An Original written by Robert Rodriguez.

Acting and Dialogue: B: By far the best actors were the adult actor like William H. Macy and Leslie Mann.

Art Direction: B-: It had decent art direction.

Cinematography: B: It was good, Robert Rodriguez is a decent cinematographer.

Direction: A: Robert Rodriguez does everything hence the nickname "the wizard" but out all his jobs he best work come as a director.

Screenplay: B-: The story was whimsical for kids but same time undertone themes for adults. Event thought it didn't pull the perfect family film like Pixar it still did a good job in my opinion.

Sound and Music: B: I liked the music

VFX: B-: Good but pretty much on the average level

Overall: B-: Today kids films try to have elements that will please both adults and kids. Most movies that try this fail except for the all so favorite movie studio Pixar. Until this film, I believe it succeed in finding a good balance between kid friendly and adult humor. So I am going to recommend it for a family film night .

Monday, August 17, 2009

My DVD's by Genre (8-17-09)

Action, Adventure, Epic:

Bourne Trilogy, Da Vinci Code, Gladiator, Indiana Jones Saga, Jurassic Park Trilogy, King Arthur, Troy

Comic Book:
300, Batman Begins, Dark Knight, Constantine, Daredevil, Elektra, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Hellboy, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, V for Vendetta, X-Men Trilogy.

Comedy & Musicals:

Across the Universe, Airplane, Chicago, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Moulin Rouge, Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Drama & Indies:

(500) Days of Summer, A Beautiful Mind, Boondock Saints, Donnie Darko, Elephant, Fight Club, Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, Memento, Mexico Trilogy, Se7en, Slumdog Millionaire, Snatch

M. Night Shyamalan:

Lady in the Water, Happening, Signs, Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Village

Sci-Fi & Fantasy:

Back to the Future Trilogy, Big Fish, Brothers Grimm, Eragon, Finding Neverland, Harry Potter Series, Illusionist, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Narnia Series, Pan's Labyrinth, Prestige, Star Wars Saga, Sunshine, Transformers, THX 1138

Genre: ADVENTURE

Genre: Typically applied to works in which the protagonist or other major characters are consistently placed in dangerous situations, and a fictional character who lives by their wits and their skills is often called an adventurer. (Wikipedia)

Like: Adventures usually goes hand and hand with my favorite genre fantasy

Dislike: A lot times movies that are adventures have this never-ending quality to them that sometimes turns people off.

Websites Top's:

AFI
EW
Filmsite
IMDb
Maxim
Wikipedia: Films Considered the Greatest Ever

My Top Films In This Genre (alphabetical order):

Goonies, The
Indiana Jones
Jurassic Park
Lord of the Rings,The
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Mummy, The
Pirates of the Caribbean
Princess Bride, The
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Three Musketeers, The

The Future of Adventures:

The Power of the Dark Crystal
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I and Part II
The Hobbit
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Directors:


Michael Curtiz
John Huston
George Lucas
Steven Spielberg
Raoul Walsh
Robert Zemeckis

Update #5: Indies I Want To See 2009

The Brothers Bloom --- Summit Entertainment --- May 15
Away We Go ---
Focus Features --- June 5
Moon ---
Sony Pictures Classics --- June 12 --- Review
The Hurt Locker ---
Summit Entertainment --- June 26 --- Review
500 Days of Summer ---
Fox Searchlight Pictures --- July 17 --- Revew
Adam
--- Fox Searchlight Pictures --- July 29
Paper Heart ---
Overture Films --- August 7
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard ---
Paramount Vantage --- August 14 --- Review
Extract
--- Miramax Films --- September 4
9
--- Focus Features --- September 4
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus --- Lions Gate --- September 25
An Education ---Sony Pictures Classics --- October 9
The Road ---
The Weinstein Company --- October 16
Youth in Revolt
---The Weinstein Company --- October 30
Brothers ---
Lions Gate --- December 4


TBA

Creation (TBA)

Review: The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

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Title: The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
Distributor: Gary Sanchez Productions (Paramount Vantage )
Director: Neal Brennan
Writer(s): Andy Stock (written by) & Rick Stempson (written by)
Staring: Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, David Koechner, Kathryn Hahn, Ed Helms, Jordana Spiro
MPAA Rating: Rated R for sexual content, nudity, pervasive language and some drug material.
Running Time: 90 min (1 hr and 30 min)
Synopsis: Used-car liquidator Don Ready is hired by a flailing auto dealership to turn their Fourth of July sale into a majorly profitable event.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: 3 Stars
Michael Phillips: 2 ½ Stars
EW: Lisa Schwarzbaum: C+

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: NA, Ben Lyons: NA
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 22% (Rotten), Top Critics: 28% (
Rotten), RT Community: 54% (Rotten)
Metacritic: Critics: 41 out of 100, Users: 7.5 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 46: (4.5% A, 18.1% B, 35.4% C, 41.8% D, and 0.0% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: C+ Users: B

My Review

Source Material: An Original written by Andy Stock (written by) & Rick Stempson (written by)

Acting and Dialogue: C: Alright I guess when come form a comedian stand point. As far as the jokes every other was funny. The Will Ferrell role was horrible like usual, and not funny.

Art Direction: C: What?

Cinematography: C: What can I say it was a second rate comedy?

Direction: C: Neal Brennan may know comedy because of his stand-up and his work on the Chappelle's Show but his directing career may crumble.

Screenplay: D: The jokes were vulgar and hardly funny. As for the story it didn't go really any where excting.

Sound and Music: C+: The song choice matched the film and the D.J. jokes failed but the playing of the wrong music was funny.

VFX: C: None to commit on

Overall: C-: A mediocre comedy, that wasn't that funny... rent it at best but you might just want to skip it all together.

Review: The Time Traveler's Wife

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Title: The Time Traveler's Wife
Distributor: Industry Entertainment (Warner Bros.)
Director: Robert Schwentke
Writer(s): Bruce Joel Rubin (screenplay), Audrey Niffenegger (novel)
Staring: Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, brief disturbing images, nudity and sexuality.
Running Time: 107 min (1 hr and 47 min)
Synopsis:
A romantic drama about a Chicago librarian with a gene that causes him to involuntarily time travel, and the complications it creates for his marriage.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: 2 ½ Stars
Michael Phillips: 2 Stars
EW: Owen Gleiberman: B-

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: NA, Ben Lyons: NA
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 36% (Rotten), Top Critics: 29% (Rotten), RT Community: 73% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 45 out of 100, Users: 7.5 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 51: (0.0% A, 27.7% B, 44.5% C, 22.5% D, and 4.0% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: C+ Users: B+

My Review

Source Material: Based on a book with same title written by Audrey Niffenegger.

Acting and Dialogue: B+: I did like both leads. Eric Bana puts out a good performances for most of his roles, like wise for Rachel McAdams.

Art Direction: B: I like the garden scenes the most or any scene that highlighted nature.

Cinematography: B: I felt like the film did alright overall.

Direction: B: Robert Schwentke is still kind of new at filmmaking. The only film of his besides this one I have scene/ heard of is Flightplan...so his newness shows.

Screenplay: C: I am going to bet the book is way better because I didn't get a emotional connection toward the characters and or the story.

Sound and Music: C: not very noticable, in my opinion.

VFX: B: I liked the disappearing acted but it got to repetitive.

Overall: B-: The best way to enjoy this film will most likely be on a date because of the romantic fell of the film. But I don't think I could recommended it as a stand alone film.

Review: District 9

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Title: District 9
Distributor: Key Creatives (Sony)
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Writer(s): Neill Blomkamp (screenplay) & Terri Tatchell (screenplay)
Staring: Sharlto Copley
MPAA Rating: Rated R for bloody violence and pervasive language.
Running Time: 112 min (1 hr and 51 min)
Synopsis: An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth suddenly find a kindred spirit in a government agent that is exposed to their biotechnology.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: 3 Stars
Michael Phillips: 3 Stars
EW: Lisa Schwarzbaum: A

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: NA, Ben Lyons: NA
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 88% (Fresh), Top Critics: 87% (Fresh), RT Community: 91% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 81 out of 100, Users: 8.6 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 77: (38.2% A, 48.6% B, 10.8% C, 0.0% D, and 8.7% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: A- Users: B+

My Review

Source Material: Based on Alive in Joburg, a short film directed by Neill Blomkamp, and stars Sharlto Copley, Simon Hansen and Shanon Worley.

Acting and Dialogue: A: Good acting all around and know real noticeable cheesy lines. If I have one negative thing to say, it would be you have to pay attention or you will miss something therefore creating plot holes.

Art Direction: B: Aesthetically pleasing.

Cinematography: A: I like how it goes from documentary to dramatic but keeps that Cinéma Vérité feel through out the entire film

Direction: A: Neill Blomkamp as a new filmmaker was good. I think he capture a good thought provoking film, that also had good pace and timing. I say Neill Blomkamp has proven himself worthy to direct a Halo movie.

Screenplay: B+: The story was good but like I said before I think I missed somethings, therefore plot holes.

Sound and Music: A: I like the score, it gave the film a mysterious feel.

VFX: A: Everything that was fake seem real and that is the goal when it comes to VFX.

Overall: A: This film is a good Sci-Fi but on top of that it also thought provoking. This film is one of the better films I have seen recently that gives a good social commentary. I been telling my friends that this film has brought me hope that a decent Halo movie could be made. Most people know that this film was going to be the Halo movie with the same Jackson/Blomkamp team but because of the disagreements between Fox, Universal, and Microsoft it didn't get made...but now with this movie out they might change their mind.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Update #4: Indies I Want To See 2009

The Brothers Bloom --- Summit Entertainment --- May 15
Away We Go ---
Focus Features --- June 5
Moon ---
Sony Pictures Classics --- June 12 --- Review
The Hurt Locker ---
Summit Entertainment --- June 26 --- Review
500 Days of Summer ---
Fox Searchlight Pictures --- July 17 --- Revew
Adam
--- Fox Searchlight Pictures --- July 29
Paper Heart ---
Overture Films --- August 7
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard ---
Paramount Vantage --- August 14
Extract
--- Miramax Films --- September 4
9
--- Focus Features --- September 4
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus --- Lions Gate --- September 25
An Education ---Sony Pictures Classics --- October 9
The Road ---
The Weinstein Company --- October 16
Youth in Revolt
---The Weinstein Company --- October 30
Brothers ---
Lions Gate --- December 4


TBA

Creation (TBA)

Review: (500) Days of Summer

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Title: (500) Days of Summer
Distributor: Watermark(Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Director: Marc Webb
Writer(s): Scott Neustadter (written by) & Michael H. Weber (written by)
Staring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for sexual material and language.
Running Time: 95 min (1 hr and 35 min)
Synopsis: An offbeat romantic comedy about a woman (Deschanel) who doesn't believe true love exists, and the young man (Gordon-Levitt) who falls for her.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: 4 Stars
Michael Phillips: 3 Stars
EW: Owen Gleiberman: A

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: See It, Ben Lyons: See It
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 89% (Fresh), Top Critics: 88% (Fresh), RT Community: 92% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 76 out of 100, Users: 7.7 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 76: (31.8% A, 50.8% B, 16.6% C, 0.0% D, and 0.0% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: B+ Users: A-

My Review

Source Material: Original
Scott Neustadter and Michael H

Acting and Dialogue: A-:Great performance, not Oscar worthy but never the less good.


Art Direction: B: I like how the art mainly the costume design play right into this whimsical romantic comedy.

Cinematography: A-:
It dose have a very indie feel to the entire film, with the split screens and such

Direction: A:For being a relatively new filmmaker,
Marc Webb, impressed me with a very good romcom

Screenplay: A-: I very mush so the non-linear storytelling., it give a deeper a more thought proving film, but with his film it was more or less a
whimsical version of the traditional non-linear story. I like how the film intermittently jumps back and froth from day to day (Day 1 to Day 234 to Day 5 to Day 112). I hope to see this at the Oscars as a Original screenplay nomination.

Sound and Music: A: Manly Indie rock like most independent filmmaking but it play right into that same
whimsical fell the movie has.

VFX: A-: Mainly dramatic driven film but the animated bird was cute.

Overall: A: As far as romcoms go its a great new twist. The opening line "this is not a love story" sums up the entire new spin of romcom that I am talking about. The word
whimsical repeats a lot through out my review and that is because it has a playful edge through out the entire film. There is one scene in the movie that is stylization of a classic musical without the musical number, that sum the whimsical atmosphere of the film. So this is one of those films that I say that s not only a good date movie but good movie all around.

Review: A Perfect Getaway

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Title: A Perfect Getaway
Distributor: Davis Entertainment(Universal Pictures)
Director: David Twohy
Writer(s): David Twohy (written by)
Staring: Chris Hemsworth, Milla Jovovich, Kiele Sanchez, Timothy Olyphant, Steve Zahn, Marley Shelton
MPAA Rating: Rated R for graphic violence, language including sexual references and some drug use.
Running Time: 98 min (1 hr and 38 min)
Synopsis: Two pairs of lovers (Zahn & Jovovich, Olyphant & Sanchez) on a Hawaiian vacation discover that psychopaths are stalking and murdering tourists on the islands.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: 3 Stars
Michael Phillips: 2 ½ Stars
EW: Lisa Schwarzbaum: B-

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: Skip It, Ben Lyons: Skip It
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 54% (Rotten), Top Critics: 71% (Fresh), RT Community: 72% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 63 out of 100, Users: 7.1 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 56: (4.5% A, 39.6% B, 37.7% C, 17.4% D, and 0.0% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: C+ Users: B

My Review

Source Material: Original
David Twohy

Acting and Dialogue: B-: It was alright...great cast with decent performance, the best of which was
Timothy Olyphant.

Art Direction: B-: Most of the art direction comes from the cinematography because of the fact it was shot in Puerto Rico and Hawaii, .

Cinematography: B:
Beautiful place on earth always make good cinematography.

Direction: B: I like most of this directors work. He know for The Chronicles of Riddick and Pitch Black. This film also has that same type of direction, so I guess he is consistent.

Screenplay: B-: Can you say plot twist? The whole movie was working up to this big plot twist, which worked but since the movie focus was the plot twist it made the rest of the film rather boring.

Sound and Music: C: Nothing that rememberable.

VFX: B-: Mainly dramatic driven film but there were some particle FX that deals more in the make-up department, so looking at that angle it was believable.

Overall: B-: If it wasn't for the decent plot twist and beautiful locations this movie would have been a ten time worst movie. as far as a recommendation goes I say rent it once it comes out on DVD.

Review: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

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Title: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Director: Stephen Sommers
Writer(s): Stuart Beattie (screenplay), David Elliot (screenplay)
Staring: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Karolina Kurkova, Byung-hun Lee, Sienna Miller, Rachel Nichols, Gerald Okamura, Ray Park, Dennis Quaid, Saïd Taghmaoui, Channing Tatum, Arnold Vosloo, Marlon Wayans
MPAA Rating: NA
Running Time: 118 min (1 hr and 57 min)
Synopsis: An elite military unit comprised of special operatives known as G.I. Joe, operating out of The Pit, takes on an evil organization led by a notorious arms dealer.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: 1 ½ Stars
Michael Phillips: 2 Stars
EW: Chris Nashawaty: D

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: NA, Ben Lyons: NA
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 41% (Rotten), Top Critics: 30% (Rotten), RT Community: 61% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 34 out of 100, Users: 5.5 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 47: (7.7% A, 15.4% B, 44.5% C, 23.5% D, and 8.7% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: C- Users: B

My Review

Source Material: Based on Hasbro toy line and cartoons with the same name.

Acting and Dialogue: D: Flat out horrible, let’s say the best performance comes from a guy who doesn’t speak and that would be Ray Park as Snake Eyes

Art Direction: C: I not going to lie even thought it wasn’t awesome art direction at times it could be somewhat beautiful.

Cinematography: C: I want to note that unlike most action “blockbuster” this film didn’t have the shaky cam as much in the film. The filmmakers allow the action to unfold on screen unsaid of running with the action aka shaky cam

Direction: D: This is the same guy known for the Mummy movies and Van Helsing, so going into this movie the directing credibility expectation was very low. Guess what it stay the same.

Screenplay: C-: Well the best part of the story is the back-story of Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes and how that played out as a rivalry later on n life. They tried many back-stories via flashbacks but most of them failed and didn’t help move the story forward

Sound and Music: C: No rockn’ beat for a “rockn” movie.

VFX: B-: Just like Transformers the VFX shots worked but at the same time I keep on saying “fake” at the screen. Did anyone else think the Joes-Super-Suit looked a lot like Iron Man.

Overall: C-: G.I. Joe is what it is…A flash summer blockbuster that sucks from a cinematic stand point.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Genre: ACTION: Martial Arts Films

Genre: A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films are characterized by extensive fighting scenes featuring specific martial arts, often following the training and progress of the protagonist in training a specific style or school of martial arts. (Wikipedia)

Like: I like that you get to see fighting as an art from.

Dislike: It lacks story like every sub-genre of the action.

Websites Top's:

AFI
Ask Men
Filmsite
IMDb
Maxim
Wikipedia: Films Considered the Greatest Ever

My Top Films In This Genre (alphabetical order):

3 Nijias
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Kill Bill vol. 1
Never Back Down
The Karate Kid

The Future of Martial Arts Films

Onimusha
Kung Fu Hustle 2
Arrow


Directors:

Akira Kurosawa
Quentin Tarantino
Yuen Woo Ping
Ang Lee

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Indie Spotlight

With my NEW Indie label I am going to redirect you to a post over at Cinematical that deals with indies. This post is called Indie Spotlight ... so enjoy.

Friday, August 7, 2009

The Filmmaker's: Producer List

J. J. Abrams
Judd Apatow
Avi Arad
Lawrence Bender
Mel Brooks
Jerry Bruckheimer
Tim Burton
Richard N. Gladstein
Brian Grazer
Paul Haggis
Tom Hanks
David Heyman
Peter Jackson
Kathleen Kennedy
George Lucas
Branko Lustig
Frank Marshall
Rick McCallum
Tyler Perry
Robert Rodriguez
Joel Silver
Steven Spielberg
Quentin Tarantino
Fran Walsh
Ralph Winter

The Filmmaker's

ROBERT ZEMECKIS

14 May 1951, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Robert Zemeckis is a good director to finish of the directors category of this filmmakers post. Robert Zemeckis is mostly know and remembered for Back to the Future. Back to the Future is by far in my top ten all time favorite movies. It is a great Sci-Fi Comedy. Robert Zemeckis has ventured into the world of CGI creating movies with motion capture technology. His three latest films are “live action” motion capture movies: The Polar Express, Beowulf, and A Christmas Carol. Robert Zemeckis likes to work with leading man Tom Hanks, beside the already mentioned Polar Express, the two of them also worked together on the films Forrest Gump and Cast Away. If I were to sum up Robert Zemeckis in one sentence I would have to say, “He is versatile filmmaker who can make great films in any genre.”

Biography

Filmography

They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They?

The Filmmaker's

ANDY & LARRY WACHOWSKI

29 December 1967 & 21 June 1965 Chicago, Illinois, USA

Most of us got hook to the Wachowski Brothers via a little Sci-Fi Film called The Matrix. This is the pinnacle of their work, they will be forever known as the guys who did the Matrix movies. They have done some other films the produced and wrote V for Vendetta. Many of us still remember the box office flop Speed Racer, in my opinion on of the most colorfully and beautiful films. The Wachowski Brothers don’t really have much on their plate right now the only film they have is Ninja Assassin, which they are producing.

Biography

Filmography: Andy and Larry Wachowski

They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They?

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Exclusive Review: THX 1138 (Director's Cut)

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Title: THX 1138 (Director's Cut)
Distributor: American Zoetrope (Warner Bros.)
Director: George Lucas
Writer(s): George Lucas (story, earlier screenplay, screenplay), and Walter Murch (screenplay)
Staring: Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasence, Don Pedro Colley, Maggie McOmie
MPAA Rating: Rated R for some sexuality/nudity.

Running Time: 86 min | USA:88 min (director's cut)
(1 hr and 20 min)
Synopsis: Set in the 25th century, the story centers around a man and a woman who rebel against their rigidly controlled society.


Other Reviews

Other Sites:

Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 97% (Fresh), Top Critics: 100% (Fresh), RT Community: 97% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 75 out of 100, Users: 6.3 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 70: (22.9% A, 55.5% B, 8.8% C, 7.4% D, and 5.1% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: NA Users: B

My Review

Source Material:
Based on George Lucas' student film Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB

Acting and Dialogue: A: The Acting was very well done.
The principle characters all did a great job portraying someone who was virtually emotionless, while at the same time encapsulating the since of being trapped and wanting the need of escape.

Art Direction: A: Sometimes simple is better and when I say simple I mean simple...lets say a blanket of white covered this film. I also like how Lucas has made it a point in his films that the future is now. Therefore this film, among others,
the future is portray as being lived-in , unlike modern futures of today that are usually portray with a shiny finish.

Cinematography: A: The cinematography on a technical leave is awesome. It coincides with the art direction's blanket of white...no shadows or outlines on the performers.

Direction: B+:
This is George Lucas we are talking about, he is better at marketing and producing films as of late, but back then...his first film, he's not half bad. The paces was good but that maybe due to fact that it has a short running time, maxing out at 88 minutes.

Screenplay:
B+: George Lucas has great stories, not so good screenplays, hence why the dialogue in Star Wars has come out cheesy. The good thing about this film is Lucas focused more on the cinematic elements of film making rather than dialogue.

Sound and Music:
B: The score worked, I like the menacing feel of film...I guess this is why THX sound
exist today.

VFX: A: I am sure for that kind of budget it was top notch. I also like the use of camera trickery plus the enhancement form today's technology. The added VFX
made a better film in my opinion.

Overall: A-: As my first time watching THX 1138 I saw the Director's Cut: a
remastered cut that had better quality sound and color. Also in this cut there were some additives and changes made to the original theatrical cut, the most noticeable were in the CGI and VFX departments. To see an artist best version of their art work is a treat. I think Lucas see a future where he can change and improve his art when he does these director cuts and remasters of his films. I can't help and comparing Lucas other remastered film, Star Wars. With Star Wars I have seen the original theatrical cut many times so I can compare and contrast the differences, which usually by the end of the day I swing toward liking the special edition better. Comparing that experience to THX 1138, I would have to say I saw the best version of the film and I would like to see the original theatrical cut mainly out of curiosity. To rap things up I do recommend THX 1138 as a good thought provoking Sci-Fi.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

UPDATE: Top 20 Movies I Want To See This Year

  • The Soloist --- REVIEW
  • X-Men Origins: Wolverine --- REVIEW
  • Star Trek --- REVIEW
  • Angels & Demons --- REVIEW
  • Terminator Salvation
  • Up --- REVIEW
  • Moon --- REVIEW
  • Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen --- REVIEW
  • Public Enemies --- REVIEW
  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince --- REVIEW
  • (500) Days of Summer
  • Funny People --- REVIEW
  • District 9
  • Inglorious Bastards
  • 9
  • Toy Story (re-release in 3D)
  • Where the Wild Things Are
  • The Lovely Bones
  • Avatar
  • Sherlock Holmes
  • Update #3: Indies I Want To See 2009

    The Brothers Bloom --- Summit Entertainment --- May 15
    Away We Go ---
    Focus Features --- June 5
    Moon ---
    Sony Pictures Classics --- June 12 --- Review
    The Hurt Locker ---
    Summit Entertainment --- June 26 --- Review
    500 Days of Summer ---
    Fox Searchlight Pictures --- July 17
    Adam
    --- Fox Searchlight Pictures --- July 29
    Paper Heart ---
    Overture Films --- August 7
    The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard ---
    Paramount Vantage --- August 14
    Extract
    --- Miramax Films --- September 4
    9
    --- Focus Features --- September 4
    An Education ---Sony Pictures Classics --- October 9
    The Road ---
    The Weinstein Company --- October 16
    Youth in Revolt
    ---The Weinstein Company --- October 30
    Brothers ---
    Lions Gate --- December 4
    The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus --- Lions Gate --- December 25

    TBA

    Creation (TBA)

    Review: The Hurt Locker

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    Title: The Hurt Locker
    Distributor: Summit Entertainment
    Director: Kathryn Bigelow
    Writer(s): Mark Boal (written by)
    Staring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes
    MPAA Rating: Rated R for war violence and language.
    Running Time: 131 min (2 hr and 10 min)
    Synopsis: Iraq. Forced to play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse in the chaos of war, an elite Army bomb squad unit must come together in a city where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be a deadly bomb

    Other Reviews

    Critics:

    Roger Ebert:
    3
    ½ Stars
    Michael Phillips: 3 ½ Stars
    EW: Lisa Schwarzbaum: B


    Other Sites:

    At The Movies:
    Ben Mankiewicz: Skip It, Ben Lyons: See It
    Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 98% (Fresh), Top Critics: 94% (Fresh), RT Community: 91% (Fresh)
    Metacritic: Critics: 93 out of 100, Users: 7.6 out of 10
    MRQE Metric: 83: (55.5% A, 32.1% B, 10.3% C, 0.0% D, and 0.0% F)
    Yahoo Movies: Critics: A- Users: A-

    My Review

    Source Material: The Hurt Locker is written by Mark Boal, a freelance writer who was embedded with a bomb squad

    Acting and Dialogue: B: The acting was good and there was no
    real noticeable cheesy lines but over all there was very little character development.

    Art Direction: A:
    It top notch war movie art.

    Cinematography: A-: I felt like I was in Iraq...I also like the cinéma vérité style of film making. There was one negative aspect that friend point out to me and that was for every explosion they would zoom out.

    Direction: C:
    Very slow in my opinion, I am not going to lie I checked my watch couple of times. There was little to no story development. But even with the bad development the film had great suspense. I was somewhat on edge the whole duration of the film because I was waiting for the next type of explosion, and how it would unfold on screen.

    Sound and Music: C:
    Explosions that's it, well that's what I remember.

    VFX: B: The special effect in the film were great, including make-up, especially on a small budget like this one.

    Overall: B-: I am sure it will a least get a nomination for a Oscar because it just one those type of movies, that and now there is ten spots to fill for best picture.
    I thought it was going to be way more epic than what it was. I saw the trailer and the guy pulls up a string with 6-8 bombs attached. At that point I thought that scene would be near the end, I was wrong it is near the beginning. With that scene being in that particular part of the film it killed the excitement of this film being awesomely epic.