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Title: The Book of Eli Distributor: Alcon Entertainment (Warner Bros. Pictures) Director: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes Writer(s): Gary Whitta (written by) Staring: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis MPAA Rating: Rated R for some brutal violence and language. Running Time: 118 min Synopsis: A post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind. What Others Are Saying?
At The Movies: A.O. Scott: Skip It, Michael Phillips: See It Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 45% (Rotten), Top Critics: 50% (Rotten), RT Community: 82% (Fresh) Metacritic: Critics: 53 out of 100, Users: 7.8 out of 10 MRQE Metric: 55: (5.0% A, 40.1% B, 34.9% C, 15.3% D, and 4.4% F) Yahoo Movies: Critics: NA Users: NA
My Review
Source Material: Written by Gary Whitta
Entertaining Value:
Action Elements: This film is fairly action pack with some pretty cool hand-to-hand combat scene with Denzel Washington in a lack of better terms kicking ass.
Comedy Elements: The comedy in this film come primary from the raw brutality of some of the scenes, Schadenfreude, pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others.
Dramatic Elements: There are a few moment between Denzel Washington and Mila Kunis characters but nothing that impacting. The film is mainly action based.
Sci-Fi Elements: There are some sci- fi element only because this film takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. How we live has adapted to our surroundings therefore bring some sci-fi elements.
Cinematic Value:
Acting and Dialogue: B+:Gary Oldman is by far the strongest actor on screen, with Denzel Washington being a close second. Mila Kunisis eye candy with some acting talent. So overall the acting wasn't that bad.
Art Direction: B:The newpost-apocalyptic is believe which is always a good thing which may point more toward the effect team, than the art department, either way it was decent.
Cinematography: B:The one thing that I noticed was this film was one of those few films that knew how to capture action on film without it being to shaky.
Direction: B:It seem co-direction movies have a slightly better advantage and that shows in this film. The pace of the film was good, not to long but maybe a bit short, on the fact they could explained some things better...(read on in screenplay section)
Editing: B: The film was easy to follow, no real unique editing style.
Screenplay: C+:I mention in the direction section about the lack of story to explain some of the mysterious things like the power of the book during this post-apocalyptic time, and what cause the world to turn out the way it is in the film.
Sound and Music: B-:I enjoy the score.
VFX: B+:There were more particle effects that CGI effects which in a film like this it worked better than most VFX movies.
Moral and Ethical Value:
Themes: Religious, Betrayal, Hope
Moral of the Story: Strive for determination, and always finish race even if your last.
Take Home: Diligence will get you far in life.
Overall: B:This seem like is going to be one of those movies you either going to like it, mainly because of the action or you going to hate it because of the holes in the story. Personal I recommend it because I liked I but its hard to tell.
Title:To Save A Life Distributor: New Song Pictures (Samuel Goldwyn Films) Director: Brian Baugh Writer(s): Jim Britts (written by) Staring: Randy Wayne, Deja Kreutzberg, Joshua Weigel, Steven Crowder, Sean Michael, Bubba Lewis, Kim Hidalgo MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements involving teen suicide, teen drinking, some drug content, disturbing images and sexuality. Running Time: Synopsis: After a childhood friend's death, Jake Taylor, an all-star athlete must change his life - and sacrifice his dreams to save the lives of others.
Source Material: Written by Jim Britts Acting and Dialogue:B-: Randy Wayne who portrays the protagonist Jake Taylor in the film is puts up a good performance, probably the best out the entire cast. A close second would have to be the guy who played the youth-pastor, Joshua Weigel. Not only did he reminded me of my youth-pastor but he created a believable charismatic youth leader that young people will be willing to follow and trust. The character that was the most unbelievable was Jake's girlfriend, Amy. The actress who play her, Deja Kreutzberg, but way to much melodramatic acting into her role. Art Direction: C: Shot from a teenagers perspective so alto of hallways and house backdrops, and church since this was a Christian based film. But nothing to get excited about. Cinematography: B-: The cinematography was fairly decent. it had some shot and light that were interesting and cool but over all just like the art direction not to exciting.
Direction: B-: This film does have a "after school special" feel, and that it's main weakness, well besides the fact that the general audience will call it "too preachy" because of it Christian based storyline. Besides these negatives I think the new comer director, Brian Baugh did a decent job, yeah it may have been slow in parts to some people, but that to be expected. Screenplay: C+: The main criticism of this film is the fact that it is a Christian base story. I don't know why people get so offended by Christian movies but don't care about another movie with another religion. If we were to replace the Christian message and undertone in this film with another religion's message and undertones would the story be good? I am going to say yes because this film highlights some pretty heavy stuff that happens in teenage life today. That's the positive things about the story, were as the negative thing shine a way different light. The bad supporting characters, acting wise, and the "after school special" feel overshadowed the positive things in this film. Sound and Music: C+: Hmm, there was some inspirational music from the sound track, but that common for a movie with Christian undertones.
VFX: C: Dramatically driven, little to no visual effects. Overall: C+: If I was a youth-pastor I would take my youth-group because the film brings out some very valid points that teenager need to hear. I challenge all teens to see this film just on the fact that it dose highlight things that are very possible in their life's, especially in today's society. As an over film it going to do horrible cinematically, as I highlight above but do decent at the box office especially in small "Christian" based towns. Film is subjective.
After the BFCA Critic Choice Awards this weekend I here by Update my prediction / contenders. Anything highlighted in red won an award at theBFCA Critic Choice Awards.
Best Picture
Statistically
1. The Hurt Locker 2. Up In The Air 3. Inglourious Basterds
My Picks At This Point
1. The Hurt Locker 2. Inglourious Basterds 3. Avatar Actor in a Leading Role Statistically
1. George Clooney, Up in the Air 2. Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker 3. Colin Firth, A Single Man
My Picks At This Point
1. George Clooney, Up in the Air 2. Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker 3. Daniel Day-Lewis, Nine Actor in a Supporting Role Statistically
1. Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds 2. Woody Harrelson, The Messenger 3. Christian McKay, Me and Orson Welles
My Picks At This Point
1. Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds Actress in a Leading Role Statistically
1. Carey Mulligan, An Education 2. Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia (She Tie with Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side)
My Picks At This Point
1. Carey Mulligan, An Education 2. Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia Actress in a Supporting Role Statistically
1. Mo'Nique, Precious 2. Anna Kendrick, Up In The Air
My Picks At This Point
1. Mo'Nique, Precious
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) Statistically
1. Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up In The Air 2. Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, Fantastic Mr. Fox
My Picks At This Point
1. Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up In The Air 2. Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Writing (Original Screenplay) Statistically
1. Quentin Tarantino, Inglorious Basterds 2. Joel & Ethan Coen, A Serious Man 3. Scott Neustadtler & Michael H. Weber, (500) Days of Summer
My Picks At This Point
1. Quentin Tarantino, Inglorious Basterds 2. Scott Neustadtler & Michael H. Weber, (500) Days of Summer Directing Statistically
1. Ballot: Print or Create a copy of the ballot of nominations for 2010 Academy Awards once they are announced.
2. Ranks: Give a ranking between 1 and "n" with "n" being the number of nomination in a category ... your #1 pick should be the film you think will win in said category.
3. Scoring: The top six categories (Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role, Actor in a Supporting Role, Actress in a Leading Role, Actress in a Supporting Role and Directing) are worth 10 points. Every other category with five nomination or more are worth 5 points and any category with three nominations or less are only worth 1 point.
4. Keeping Score: If your #1 pick wins in a category then full points are received. For example, if in the Best Picture category your #1 pick wins Best Picture then you will receive 10 points. If your # 1 pick doesn't win then your score will change by negative one point per rank your off. For example, if in the Best Picture category your #2 pick wins Best Picture then you will receive 9 points... your #3 pick winning would equal 8 points and so on. Tiebreakers will be determined on who guess the most right.
5. Winnings: Whoever has the highest score at the end of the night get all the money in the pot. You can have any set number of "buy-in" ranging from candy to 20 bucks as long as you have fun. Because when it all said and done were all winners right.
If you read these articles from the above links you will find out that Marvel merged with Disney and they payed a pretty penny (4.3 Billion dollars). So dose this mean a Disneyfied Marve? not necessarily...I am paraphrasing here but Disney said let the good people at Marvel do what they do because if its not broke then don't fix it.
Title: The Book of Eli
