tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82422644525067053152024-03-05T05:29:04.278-05:00One Movie, Five Views ArchiveOne Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.comBlogger523125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-51715471230061522492010-03-24T00:00:00.010-04:002010-03-24T00:22:56.254-04:00FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: One Movie, Five Views Expands Onto an Exciting New Platform<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5XGVPkYfCeGcgU0OTIksacKMV_sAz57J9bzoLhE9IuUMDSs7GPTmnXQsvWDIktuyIgptcZLu7RsV1oj0wOxseRGJLWdMEjwfkAZCIG9MN45KNEYfqIf1V3GtwMpG83ptiJZxAjdABDFML/s200/One+Movie,+Five+Views.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452049013486316242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 139px; height: 138px; " /><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><b>Toronto, ON (March 24, 2010)</b> – After nearly two years on Blogger and incredible success, One Movie, Five Views has taken the next step forward and opened up into a full website. The content and writers will be the same, but the look and capabilities of the site will be much more advanced. For easier navigation, there will now be a menu bar to sort through all of the interesting and exciting content, including sections for Movies, DVDs, Books, Music, Articles and Interviews.</p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">One Movie, Five Views has also added an updated "about us" page, and it now includes a brief history and description of the website, as well as short bios for each of the writers. There is also now easier access to all of the general contact info, Twitter page, contests, and a more detailed look at the 4-star rating system. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The new home of One Movie, Five Views can be found at <b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.onemoviefiveviews.com">www.onemoviefiveviews.com</a></b>. Please take the time to check out the new website, and do not hesitate to give your feedback. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com">www.onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com</a></b> will still be accessible, but will not be updated and just remain there for archival and nostalgic purposes. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>"One Movie, Five Views hopes for many more years of success in offering opinions and criticism on all things movies. We hope that our new platform will be just as popular with all of our pre-existing fans."</i> - One Movie, Five Views staff</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>About One Movie, Five Views</b></span></p> <p color="#151515" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span>One Movie, Five Views was originally launched on June 20th, 2008, with a review of <i>Get Smart</i>. </span>What makes the website unique, and stand out from other websites, is that five people will each watch the same movie, and each write a review. The idea behind the website is five different opinions about the same movie. One Movie, Five Views is based in Toronto.</p><p color="#151515" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">-30-</p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-6455096905048308112010-03-23T14:03:00.005-04:002010-03-23T15:43:16.994-04:00The Blind Side Now on DVD/BluRay<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN00c8wi3N9JY-pJ5LVlGqdaeWQb_CtM1wh0qKfyuvwKRjnfvpXSzHHVNnyz7DIq1cWG3HIP63B-k3JpEH5ekJQVXbttTUXEYyudj1LLkJ7kqbSSVp2DczYr-XeuiqPb82lSVcBPcXaAiC/s1600-h/The+Blind+Side+BluRay+Image.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 157px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN00c8wi3N9JY-pJ5LVlGqdaeWQb_CtM1wh0qKfyuvwKRjnfvpXSzHHVNnyz7DIq1cWG3HIP63B-k3JpEH5ekJQVXbttTUXEYyudj1LLkJ7kqbSSVp2DczYr-XeuiqPb82lSVcBPcXaAiC/s200/The+Blind+Side+BluRay+Image.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451916880026822002" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Today, Warner Home Video released the Oscar nominated film <i>The Blind Side</i> on Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Worthy of it’s surprise coveted Best Picture nom, this is a truly inspiring tale brought effectively to the big screen. It is definitely one worth owning. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">When we reviewed the film when it opened in theatres on October 16th, our consensus was:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>“The Blind Side</i> is a really good movie. Based on a true story, it is not overly dramatized and is carried well, thanks to an excellent cast. </b><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia"><b>***1/2 </b></span><b>(Out of 4)”</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="text-decoration: underline">About the disc:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The BluRay Combo Pack contains the following special features (exclusive to the Blu-Ray disc: </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Michael Oher Exclusive Interview<span style="font: 11.0px Georgia"> - Rare Interview with the Pro </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Footballer Whose Life the Movie Depicts</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Sidelines: Conversations on <i>The Blind Side</i><span style="font: 11.0px Georgia"> - Sandra Bullock and Leigh </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Anne Tuohy Go One-on-One</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• Acting Coaches: Behind <i>The Blind Side</i><span style="font: 11.0px Georgia"> - When Six Legendary SEC </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>College Football Coaches Come Together, Competition Steps Up Both On </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>and Off the Screen</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• The story of Big Quinton</span> - Neophyte Actor Quinton Aaron’s Moving Life </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Story Has Much in Common with the Football Star He Portrays</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 11.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>• </span>Plus, Additional Scenes</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>The Blind Side</i> is 128 minutes and is rated PG. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Link to our original reviews <a href="http://onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/blind-side.html">here</a>. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">- Erin V.</p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-49377450672482775752010-03-23T00:00:00.020-04:002010-03-23T09:19:28.615-04:00DVD Review: Brothers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpnslnBKPawzNC3mpZnMqPLkpvs9AWrec8JcVjZLvLoJo11sUDLOH6DGWaqSV-TSBN3FpUJn1C-FdgP1j75xXamgp3ZVivejrjEQVtomjcCPK5wkei7-txB-7un9PDen_o6JhNp-yF4MK/s1600-h/Brothers+DVD+Image.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 138px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpnslnBKPawzNC3mpZnMqPLkpvs9AWrec8JcVjZLvLoJo11sUDLOH6DGWaqSV-TSBN3FpUJn1C-FdgP1j75xXamgp3ZVivejrjEQVtomjcCPK5wkei7-txB-7un9PDen_o6JhNp-yF4MK/s200/Brothers+DVD+Image.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451689722225718450" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Brothers - An Alliance Films Release</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><a href="http://www.brothersfilm.com/">http://www.brothersfilm.com/</a></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>DVD Release Date: March 23rd, 2010</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Rated 14A</b> for coarse language, violence, and disturbing content.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Running time: 105 minutes</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Jim Sheridan (dir.)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">David Benioff (screenplay)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Susanne Bier (motion picture “Brødre”)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Anders Thomas Jensen (motion picture “Brødre”)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Thomas Newman (music)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">“Winter” performed by U2</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Tobey Maguire as Capt. Sam Cahill</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Jake Gyllenhaal as Tommy Cahill</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Natalie Portman as Grace Cahill</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Sam Shepard as Hank Cahill</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Clifton Collins, Jr. as Major Cavazos</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Mare Winningham as Elsie Cahill</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Bailee Madison as Isabelle Cahill</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Taylor Geare as Maggie Cahill</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Patrick Flueger as Private Joe Willis</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Carey Mulligan as Cassie Willis</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Program Content and Package Artwork: © 2009 Brothers Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Package Design and Summary: © MMX Lions Gate Films Inc. All Rights Reserved. Distributed Exclusively by Alliance Films. All Rights Reserved. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Our reviews below:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">___________________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Brothers DVD Review By John C.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***1/2</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">If <i>The Hurt Locker</i> was the story of war as a drug, than <i>Brothers</i> is the story of war as murder. It’s about, even if we come out of a battle physically alive, the scars that remain with us for life. The death of our previous selves.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Tobye Maguire plays Sam, a soldier enlisting for another stint in Afghanistan, leaving behind his wife, (Natalie Portman), his two daughters, and his brother, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal), who has recently been released from jail. When Sam is presumed dead, Tommy starts to take care of his wife and kids.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The film is centred on three excellent performances, and a brilliant supporting cast. Tobey Maguire is amazing in his portrayal of someone with PTSD. This is a family drama, as well as a war movie, and it succeeds as both - an excellent film.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The film’s major flaw comes not from the movie itself, but from the advertising. Way too much of the plot was given away in the trailers, so it doesn’t quite have the same emotionally draining effect, if you’ve previously seen the trailer.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The DVD includes audio commentary with director Jim Sheridan, a featurette on Brothers and the Danish film on which it was based, and a featurette on Sheridan.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">___________________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Brothers DVD Review By Erin V.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***3/4</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Based on the 2004 Danish film <i>Brødres</i><i>, Brothers</i>, tells the story of two brothers. One, Capt. Sam Cahill, is a marine embarking on his fourth tour of Afghanistan, and the other, Tommy, is an ex-convict just out of jail. Tommy is slightly estranged from the family, except for with Sam, and when Sam is presumed dead after a chopper crash, Tommy steps up to help his wife and two kids he left behind. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The alternating scenes between the US and Afghanistan really create a balance here that keeps the film moving forward quite well. This film is both a drama and a war film, and really succeeds in showing how the war overseas doesn't stay there, as the people at home and those who come back from it, are haunted by both the memories and realities of war. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">I don't want to reveal too much, since I found that the one thing that made this film less enjoyable for me, was the fact that I had seen the trailer. The trailer tells far more than it should. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The strongest part of this film is definitely the acting. Tobey Maguire is excellent as Sam, his performance real and intense, and Jake Gylenhaal is also very believable as Tommy. Sam's wife Grace is played very well by Natalie Portman, and their two daughters are played very realistically by Bailee Madison, and Taylor Geare. The rest of the supporting cast as well, all do a great job. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Thomas Newman's score also fits well, since his style of music can play quite nicely to this kind of film. The song over the closing credits, <i>Winter</i>, performed by U2, is also very fitting. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">___________________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Brothers DVD Review By Nicole</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">****</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Brothers</i> is a low key, believable drama about the hardships of a military family. Tobey Maguire is excellent as Sam, a military dad of two young daughters. His brother, Tommy, has just been released from prison, and is trying to get his life back on track. When Sam is deployed to Afghanistan, he finds himself in a terrible situation, and is forced to do something unthinkable. Meanwhile, back home, he is presumed dead. His wife, Grace, and Tommy help care for the kids, who are grieving this apparent loss of their father. When Sam eventually does come back, however, he has completely changed. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">While a hard film to watch at times, <i>Brothers</i> is very compelling. I really liked how the film is edited, to show the contrast between human brutality and childhood innocence. The violence in this film is shown in an honest, but restrained and bloodless way. All of the actors in this film did an amazing performance. I am actually surprised that <i>Brothers</i> wasn’t up for any Oscars. <i>Brothers</i> is a thought provoking film that is worth owning on DVD. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">___________________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Brothers DVD Review By Maureen</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***1/2 </span>(out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Brothers</i> is a powerfully delivered story of two brothers each dealing with the after effects of the war in Afghanistan on their family. Capt. Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire) goes missing in Afghanistan leaving his wife and two daughters at home in the U.S. presuming him dead. Sam’s brother Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal) has just gotten out of prison in the U.S. and is around to help Sam’s wife, Grace (Natalie Portman) and her two young daughters pick up the pieces of their lives. When Sam does return home he has trouble adjusting to the changed dynamics at home. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The strength of <i>brothers</i> is in the emotionally charged performances by the three lead actors. Tobey Maguire is particularly strong as the emotionally fragile Capt. Sam Cahill. The transformation from the pre-duty Cahill to the damaged man that returns home is entirely believable and powerful to watch. Jake Gyllenhaal as Tommy and Natalie Portman as Grace also give superb performances. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Brothers</i> is a really strong movie that while difficult to watch at certain scenes is worth watching for the solid performances, especially Tobey Maguire. Buy it or rent it. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">___________________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Brothers DVD Review By Tony</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">****</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Brothers</i> is an American adaptation of the 2004 Danish film <i>Brødre</i>. As the film opens, marine captain Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire), on leave from Afghanistan, is bringing his brother Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal) out of prison after serving time for robbing a bank. Sam’s wife Grace (Natalie Portman), two young daughters and stepmother welcome Tommy, but their father, ex-marine ‘Nam veteran Hank (Sam Shepard) makes his disappointment in Tommy as clear as his pride in Sam. Back in Afghanistan, Sam is shot down and presumed dead, but he has been captured and brutally treated. Meanwhile back home Tommy does what he can to keep out of trouble and support his brother’s family, renovating their kitchen and spending time with Grace and the girls. Just as feelings between Tommy and Grace start to develop further, Sam is rescued and brought home with severe PTSD and survivor guilt, leading to alienation of his kids and an obsessive suspicion about Grace and Tommy that could end tragically.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Despite some brutal moments, the sensitive script and excellent performances make <i>Brothers</i> a very satisfying life-affirming film. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">___________________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Consensus: <i>Brothers</i> is a powerfully acted film about the relationship between two brothers. </b><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia"><b>***3/4 </b></span><b>(Out of 4)</b></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-21247196285794599622010-03-23T00:00:00.017-04:002010-03-23T03:40:25.256-04:00DVD Review: Astro Boy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCa0yIM6qzkb0PNuqBSThI3CCxufZiHoDBDdxPQXqPu839N-g_gOAwU7LE_SUlnCOlpiyUfwa09AztYEHUgp9Ca6-tD5yrgdMCD_OQBin50g9hGz7mHeNSGmE2H8w2wV5PZaaJm-2bPGZ/s1600-h/Astro+Boy+DVD+Cover.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 137px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCa0yIM6qzkb0PNuqBSThI3CCxufZiHoDBDdxPQXqPu839N-g_gOAwU7LE_SUlnCOlpiyUfwa09AztYEHUgp9Ca6-tD5yrgdMCD_OQBin50g9hGz7mHeNSGmE2H8w2wV5PZaaJm-2bPGZ/s200/Astro+Boy+DVD+Cover.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451675514565602114" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>Astro Boy – An E1 Films’ Release</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #4b78a8; min-height: 12.0px"><a href="http://www.astroboy-themovie.com/">http://www.astroboy-themovie.com/</a></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>DVD Release Date: March 16th, 2010</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>Rated PG</b> for some action and peril, and brief mild language. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>Running time: 94 minutes</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">David Bowers (dir.)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Osamu Tezuka (comic series)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Timothy Harris (screenplay)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">David Bowers (screenplay)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">John Ottman (music)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Nicolas Cage as Dr. Tenma (voice)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Kristen Bell as Cora (voice)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Samuel L. Jackson as Zog (voice)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Bill Nighy as Dr. Elefun (voice)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Freddie Highmore as Astro Boy (voice)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Donald Sutherland as President Stone (voice)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Nathan Lane as Ham Egg (voice)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Eugene Levy as Orrin (voice)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">Our reviews below:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">___________________________________________________</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Astro Boy DVD Review By John C.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Astro Boy</i> is based on a popular Japanese anime series. It is the story of a scientist whose son is killed, and he deals with the guilt by building a robotic copy of his son, Toby. Astro Boy must deal with his father’s resentment, as he fights crime and comes to terms with being a robot. If you can get past the slightly strange subject matter, it’s actually pretty good. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">Though it’s nowhere near as good as <i>Robots</i> or <i>Meet the Robinsons</i>, and isn’t even mentionable in the same sentence as Pixar’s masterpiece <i>WALL•E</i>, three films that it takes more than a little inspiration from, it is still inventive in its own way. It has enough good parts, especially the stuff with the robots, to make it worth watching, especially for kids. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">The DVD includes several featurettes, and some bonus animation. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">___________________________________________________</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>Astro Boy</b></span><b> DVD Review By Erin V.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px">The story of <i>Astro Boy</i> begins in Metro City, a floating city above the trash-covered earth. The whole city is full of robots that help run the town, under the command of humans. After losing his genius son, Toby, in a freak accident, Dr. Tenma, the scientist that designed most of the technology for the whole city, uses Toby's DNA to make a robot version of him. His new 'son' is Astro Boy. The first part of the movie seemed kind of mediocre to me, but I started to really like the film more, once Astro ends up accidentally crash landing back down on ground-level Earth. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px">Once on the surface, he meets a group of 'street kids', and for the first time realizes that there are those who live outside the 'perfect' world of Metro City. He also meets a rag-tag group of robots that are part of what they call the RRF, or Robot Revolutionary Front. They are trying to up rise against the injustices of robot slavery, and the fact that when they break down, they are just discarded by being thrown down to the surface. He also finds himself in the middle of robot gladiatorial games that take place in this 'new world' he's found. Eventually though, he has to return to Metro City to save it from 'The Peacekeeper', which is a robot controlled by a corrupt president seeking reelection, as it is now destroying the town. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px">By the end of the movie, the film has turned out to be actually quite an enjoyable ride, and while not really as enjoyable outside the 6-12 market as other films, both that group, and fans of the original <i>Astro Boy</i> comics and shows, will want to see this one. Depending on where you fall in the target groups, either rent or buy this one. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">___________________________________________________</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>Astro Boy</b></span><b> DVD Review By Nicole</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">Based on the Japanese cartoon of the same name, <i>Astro</i><i> Boy</i> is a fun kid’s film that is inventive and funny enough for adults. Reminiscent of WALL•E, the story begins in Metro City, a floating community that sits above a trash filled Earth. Dr Tenma, a brilliant scientist, is proud of his genius son, Toby. When Toby is killed in a terrible accident, Dr. Tenma creates a robotic clone of him out of Toby’s memories, and a positive energy known as “blue energy.” The robotic child ends up on the land below, and meets up with a group of street kids, various robots, a robot repair guy, and a hilarious trio of Monty Pythonesque robots known as the RRF. The boy becomes known as Astro Boy, spreading a message of peace. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Astro</i><i> Boy</i> is a good film for families. The voice cast is good, and the storyline, while similar to other films such as Robots, is still very original. The underlying messages in this film are good too. <i>Astro</i><i> Boy</i> is worth owning on DVD, especially if you have children in the 6-12 range. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">___________________________________________________</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="color:#000000;"><b>Astro Boy</b></span><b> DVD Review By Maureen</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">*** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Astro</i><i> Boy</i> is a fun and exciting animated adventure about a Pinocchio kind of hero. Toby/Astro Boy (voiced by Freddie Highmore) has to discover his strengths and weaknesses and figure out what’s right and wrong to save both people and robots on futuristic Earth’s Metro City. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">While the story starts out rather slowly the pace and fun picks up when Astro Boy heads back to Earth. There he meets up with a group of street kids and an interesting assortment of robots. The robots in this movie are what make it appealing. I especially liked Eugene Levy’s submissive servant robot and the RRF (Robot Revolutionary Front) robots. They are all quirky and fun to watch they reminded me of both <i>WALL•E</i> and <i>Robots</i>. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">The animation in <i>Astro</i><i> Boy</i> is well done and the voice acting features an all-star cast. The adventurous story along with the appealing robots make this a very watchable movie. Though <i>Astro</i><i> Boy</i> will appeal more to the six to ten year old demographic adults and older kids will also find this fun. If you have kids who like to watch a movie more than once, than <i>Astro</i><i> Boy</i> is worth the purchase price. Otherwise this would make a good weekend rental for the family. </p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">___________________________________________________</span></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"></span></b></p><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="color:#000000;"><b>Astro Boy</b></span><b> DVD Review By Tony</b></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Astro Boy</i> is based on an amime series that I was unfamiliar with. From accounts of fans of the series, it is a faithful rendering of the original, including the rather dark back story of how Astro, fitted out with all the powers of an Iron Man, was a robot copy of the scientist Dr. Tenma’s genius son, killed by a super robot commissioned by the corrupt president Stone.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Produced in Hong Kong by Imaji Animation Studios, <i>Astro Boy</i> is not in the same league as Pixar or Dreamworks, but I enjoyed it more than some other recent features such as <i>Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs</i> and way more than <i>Planet 51</i>. Its rather conventional plot is enriched by inspired casting, notably the title character (Freddie Highmore). Dr. Tenma (Nicholas Cage), the “tricky Dick” president (Donald Sutherland), the grovelling robot servant (Eugene Levy), the rogue robot repairman (an amimated version of Nathan Lane), and the pythonesque schtick from a trio of cockney junkyard robot protesters. </p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">___________________________________________________</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>Consensus: Though not in the same league as some other animated films, <i>Astro Boy</i> is a surprisingly fun and inventive animated film, especially for kids. </b><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia"><b>*** </b></span><b>(Out of 4)</b></p></span></b><p></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-46892896014963410192010-03-19T19:30:00.009-04:002010-03-20T00:46:49.821-04:00DVD Review: The Twilight Saga: New Moon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhjxKpkXAs_CHUHZjpOKBxJYueKSU3xdsJJLzDk3XN2te1FO7pvxRd8VKHZTwJ2muEm2yQU4Eiy67bqNeyHXRgPf_HIqpKVYcq8O-beE5I_SS7vcHpKOXKLoPJ0K7ESq_zkoEH0mlpVL-/s1600-h/New+Moon+DVD+Cover.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhjxKpkXAs_CHUHZjpOKBxJYueKSU3xdsJJLzDk3XN2te1FO7pvxRd8VKHZTwJ2muEm2yQU4Eiy67bqNeyHXRgPf_HIqpKVYcq8O-beE5I_SS7vcHpKOXKLoPJ0K7ESq_zkoEH0mlpVL-/s200/New+Moon+DVD+Cover.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450492471370230946" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>The Twilight Saga: New Moon – An E1 Films’ Release</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><a href="http://www.newmoonthemovie.com/">http://www.newmoonthemovie.com/</a></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>DVD Release Date: March 20th, 2010</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Rated PG</b> for violence and frightening scenes</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Running time: 130 minutes</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Chris Weitz (dir.)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Melissa Rosenberg (screenplay)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Stephenie Meyer (novel)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Marcus Miller (music)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Anna Kendrick as Jessica</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Michael Sheen as Aro</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Dakota Fanning as Jane</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">*Read our thoughts on <i>Twilight</i> <a href="http://onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com/2009/03/twilight-dvd-review-twilight-httpwww.html">here</a>!*</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Our reviews below:</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">_____________________________________________</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; ">New Moon Review By John C.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**1/2</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">In <i>The Twilight Saga: New Moon</i>, Bella (played by the usual one-note Kristen Stewart) has a tough choice to make. She has to choose between suicidal vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson - still not sure he's much of an actor, but he gets points for trying), and wolfman Jacob (Taylor Lautner - who is topless in the majority of his scenes). Jacob is the obvious better choice, but I think we all know where Bella's "priorities" lie.<i> </i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><i></i><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>New Moon</i> is arguably a bit better than the first <i>Twilight</i> in terms of better special effects, but it is arguably worse in terms of pacing. Neither one is a bad movie, but they aren't exactly great either. They're both just kind of average, though in my opinion, <i>Twilight</i> was a better film. Either way, I still don't quite get the mass appeal. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The film's major flaw, besides soliciting some unintentional laughs, is that it is about 30 minutes too long. It clocks in at a grandiose 130 minutes. Not much actually happens, and the scenes that should be “tense” just look silly. Ultimately, <i>New Moon</i> is worth renting if you're curious, but worth buying if you're a "Twihard."</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The DVD includes audio commentary with Director Chris Weitz and Editor Peter Lambert, a 6-part behind the scenes documentary, and a few music videos. The approximate running time of the bonus features is 78 minutes.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">_____________________________________________</span></p></span> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>New Moon DVD Review By Erin V.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**1/2</span> (out of 4)</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Well, the wolf's out of the bag - in <i>New Moon</i>, Bella's officially crazy, and not just crazy in love with Edward. Why does she stick with him? </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">In this sequel to Twilight, Bella Swan is still swooning over, and then becoming more depressed over vampire Edward Cullen. But why is Bella so crazy? Well, she does a lot of crazy things, since the Cullen’s leave Forks at the beginning of the movie because people are starting to notice that they never age... So, the only way to see Edward, (in a vision), is to do reckless things that cause near death experiences. She's too fixated on Edward in my opinion. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">This movie though, also shows more of her relationship with her childhood friend in Forks, Jacob Black. Jacob just happens to turn into a wolf when becoming angry or protective. But, even as a wolf, he seems more appealing than Edward. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">You see, she could just be with Jacob, and try to get past the whole Edward fiasco. But, I guess she has trouble picking between the two opposite guys she loves. Edward as a vampire has ice-cold skin, while Jacob as a half-wolf is warmer than usual for example. Wow, when picking a boyfriend that must be a hard choice. Why snuggle up with a wolf, when you could be with a vampire... I don't know, safety maybe? The wolf option seems far safer to me. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The real question though, is why on Earth would Bella put herself through all of this craziness? Because it writes a good story. If the character was a reality, she would certainly be in therapy (you'd hope) - not crashing motorcycles or jumping off cliffs to see visions of her undead boyfriend. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">If you ask me, I don't see why Edward would appeal more than Jacob. It's not a believable choice. As for comparing this movie to the first movie, <i>Twilight</i>, it's pretty close for me. The action scenes at the end of the first one had slightly more of a danger feel, while at the end of this one were just a lot of laughable whooshing special effects. Although, the technical elements of the special effects were way better in this one - especially with the CGI wolves - the tenseness wasn't really there. I liked some parts of the middle of this one better, since Taylor Lautner's definitely a better actor than Robert Pattinson, but in neither is Kristen Stewart a standout - she seems to always have the same expression on her face. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">Both films could have had shorter running lengths. Looking over my review, I think this movie both bored and annoyed me enough to cause a bit of a character analysis rant... <i>Eclipse</i>, the next one in the series, comes out in June. Will the series ever get any better? One could only hope.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">_____________________________________________</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; ">New Moon DVD Review By Nicole</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**1/2</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px">Following where <i>Twilight</i> left off, <i>New Moon</i> further develops the characters from <i>Twilight</i>. Now, it is Bella's 18th birthday, and she is becoming aware that while she ages, Edward doesn't. The fact that the Cullens don't age means that they must move often. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px">After a near disaster at Bella's birthday party that is like the shark scene in <i>Finding Nemo</i>, Edward, now depresses at the prospect of having to leave Bella, goes on a suicidal trip to the Volturi, a secret group of vampires in Italy, who will destroy any vampire who reveals himself to the world. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"> Meanwhile, back in Forks, Jacob develops feelings for Bella. He also realizes that he, like a few others in his tribe, has the ability to transform into a wolf the size of a Shetland Pony. The pack of young, horse-size wolves, exists to protect humans from man-eating vampires. (As an wildlife artist with a fondness for wolves, I was pleased that the wolves, while ridiculously larger than life, look and move accurately.) </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px">Jacob saves Bella from some of the dangerous hobbies that she engages in (Edward appears to Bella if her life is in danger.) Jacob feels, that as a living creature, Bella would be better with someone big, warm, and fuzzy, as opposed to someone cold and undead. But Bella's heart is with Edward, and she will do anything to get him back.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px">The special effects in this movie are better than in the first film. The acting is decent enough, and the score by Alexandre Desplat is hauntingly beautiful. At 130 minutes, however, it is a little long. <i>The T</i><i>wilight Saga</i> is also not without controversy. Some Christian groups have expressed concern about the prospect of losing one's soul to become a vampire, as well as this film's romantic portrayal of reckless behaviour. However, if viewed as a fantasy, fans of the saga will be entertained by this film. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">_____________________________________________</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>New Moon DVD Review By Maureen</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**1/2 </span>(out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px">Some people might say that <i>New Moon</i>, the second instalment in Stephanie Meyer's <i>Twilight</i> series, has gone to the dogs. In fact the first half of the movie focuses on Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) and his deepening friendship with Bella and his emerging protector werewolf side. With Edward gone in his attempt to keep Bella safe, Bella comes to rely on Jacob. Bella in her anguished attempts to have glimpses of Edward engages in reckless activities that keep her in peril and call Edward and Jacob to the rescue. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px">It is only in the second half of the movie that we see much in the way of vampire activity with most of the activity taking place in Italy with the Volturi clan. Unfortunately the vampire scenes lack the energy and intensity of the first <i>Twilight</i> movie. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px">The real shining light in <i>New Moon</i> is Taylor Lautner. His role as Jacob is believable and strong. The same can't be said for Kristan Stewart's Bella and Robert Pattinson's Edward. The score by Alexandre Desplat is absolutely beautiful and one of the few highlights in the film. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px">I really preferred the first half of <i>New Moon</i> and found the first <i>Twilight</i> to be a way more entertaining movie. However true <i>Twilight</i> fans will want to add <i>New Moon</i> to their DVD collection for continuity purposes and for the extras. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px">Those who are merely curious about New Moon can rent the DVD. Despite <i>New Moon</i>'s disappointing efforts compared to <i>Twilight</i>, I am looking forward to the next installment, <i>Eclipse</i>, in theatres this June. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">_____________________________________________</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>New Moon DVD Review By Tony</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**1/2</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Twilight New Moon</i> is the second feature of the saga. It will surely please the fans while providing the rest of us with moderate entertainment value and a few unintentional laughs along the way. Just as Edward the vampire attempts to simplify Bella’s life by leaving town, things become more complicated when Victoria comes back hungry and Jacob and his werewolf clan come to her defense. When Edward thinks Bella has died, he tries to get himself executed in Italy by the vampire enforcers known as Volturi.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Now directed by Chris Weitz with a much bigger budget, <i>New Moon</i> is technically better than the first installment but it still is too long with the same brooding atmosphere and gratuitous slow motion whenever Edward walks or Laurent’s dreads are waving. The corny dialogue within the triangle that shapes up between Bella, Edward and Jacob is at least commensurate with their performances. Despite enough action to keep us mildly interested I didn’t experience the same suspense as in the first film. At least there were a few amusing cameos from Anna Kendrick as Bella’s valspeaking shopping companion, Michael Sheen as the Volturi capo and Dakota Fanning as one of his red- eyed minions, and a decent score by Alexandre Desplat.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">_____________________________________________</span></p></span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><b>Consensus: Though the special effects are technically stronger, in terms of pacing, <i>New Moon</i> is not as good as <i>Twilight</i>. It is simply too long at 130 minutes. Still, it is worth a rental if you're curious, although "Twihards" will want to buy this one. </b><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia"><b>**1/2 </b></span><b>(Out of 4)</b></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-59360860238606991592010-03-17T12:45:00.001-04:002010-03-17T12:55:50.935-04:00Bandslam Now Available on DVD<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXtv0-TVqDFob1zOxAfQUzqadlbp50TxAeDIJqHQfigG5CeWKjr9LvIJtpTP3U3jEs78FTndjpkP-LauZFhkl078BZqmtxABxR_yIH4m27tfNkWG7qKUqzkBUIdPC9rej46Nvs5sK99WL/s1600-h/Bandslam+DVD+Cover.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 137px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXtv0-TVqDFob1zOxAfQUzqadlbp50TxAeDIJqHQfigG5CeWKjr9LvIJtpTP3U3jEs78FTndjpkP-LauZFhkl078BZqmtxABxR_yIH4m27tfNkWG7qKUqzkBUIdPC9rej46Nvs5sK99WL/s200/Bandslam+DVD+Cover.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449647501523973394" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">After an unprecedented 7 months, E1 Films is finally releasing one of the nicest surprises of last summer, <i>Bandslam</i>, on DVD today. I remember going into the theatre not expecting much, and leaving very pleasantly surprised. This is a very good, smart little film. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">We <a href="http://onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/bandslam.html">reviewed</a> the film when it opened on August 14th, we all highly recommended it. Our consensus was:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>“A surprisingly good movie, with great music, humour, and heart. <i>Bandslam</i> is one that you really should check out this Summer. It's a lot of fun. </b><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia"><b>***1/2 </b></span><b>(Out of 4)”</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">With that said, it still plays just as well on DVD. The DVD includes audio commentary with the director and cast, deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, and 2 music videos. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">-John C.</p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-82459919552327346242010-03-17T00:00:00.002-04:002010-03-17T16:17:20.932-04:00Happy St. Patrick’s Day!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Od8P2foOISyor3qyUp6PZRX3t29nqdRsAUHnUga6nz_WkD1O1ACfG3SnajXRD35Jvc2rwYf03migYVmNWtqudQ2RwvyEB6ji43c_j7z6qHYHUOU-1-jzCPK8CoEQjJyZIRzawmcQTo3g/s1600-h/Shamrock.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 90px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Od8P2foOISyor3qyUp6PZRX3t29nqdRsAUHnUga6nz_WkD1O1ACfG3SnajXRD35Jvc2rwYf03migYVmNWtqudQ2RwvyEB6ji43c_j7z6qHYHUOU-1-jzCPK8CoEQjJyZIRzawmcQTo3g/s200/Shamrock.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449699453764111378" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">One Movie, Five Views would like to wish all our readers a very Happy St. Patrick’s Day!</p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-53885126443134938382010-03-16T23:00:00.001-04:002010-03-17T10:31:37.314-04:00The Princess and the Frog on DVD Today<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirogw4PNg7h1tWNM1N0yu_SA4z5TAG2H-vAhZ2iXpsIPrmGsKW3YhIvXH25dS2sWQLIJwgGC9ob4UqiH_-7t9CPvONCdt5woeKSdPQteng9MqyY-P__ORqcXxTF7Cgz8_Idd-6y8CLWhR5/s1600-h/The+Princess+and+the+Frog+DVD+Cover.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 159px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirogw4PNg7h1tWNM1N0yu_SA4z5TAG2H-vAhZ2iXpsIPrmGsKW3YhIvXH25dS2sWQLIJwgGC9ob4UqiH_-7t9CPvONCdt5woeKSdPQteng9MqyY-P__ORqcXxTF7Cgz8_Idd-6y8CLWhR5/s200/The+Princess+and+the+Frog+DVD+Cover.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449433945039026754" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Walt Disney Pictures return to hand-drawn animation is available on DVD today. I fondly remember seeing this film in theatres - I had a huge smile on my face for the entire running time, except for the few moments when I had to wipe a tear from my eye. This is a great film, an instant classic, one of the very best of last year. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">We <a href="http://onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com/2009/12/princess-and-frog.html">reviewed</a> it when it opened in theatres on December 11th. We all loved it, our consensus was:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>“<i>The Princess and the Frog</i> is an instant Disney classic, filled with lovable characters and a great soundtrack. With exquisite animation, this is one to bring the whole family to see on the big screen. </b><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia"><b>**** </b></span><b>(Out of 4)”</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><b></b><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">It is available as a Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo-pack. This is one film to add to your collection. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><b></b><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">-John C.</p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-88478162411334744842010-03-16T00:26:00.006-04:002010-03-16T02:05:26.444-04:00Clash of The Titans (1981) Now Available on Blu•Ray<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6N6kV8-u59uuyON0QJWuJokTvYWTM36bxGROjzDilVwRv5G1BS7oYb7g7T20WRjShG4BOpOCHaw03KPlUZgYVF60mJ69tZFezeaabR1eu5o2SwqADeDcgOwuvwiCLsWFAjsW-LA3ecjNw/s1600-h/Clash+Of+The+Titans+Blu%E2%80%A2Ray+Disc+Image.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6N6kV8-u59uuyON0QJWuJokTvYWTM36bxGROjzDilVwRv5G1BS7oYb7g7T20WRjShG4BOpOCHaw03KPlUZgYVF60mJ69tZFezeaabR1eu5o2SwqADeDcgOwuvwiCLsWFAjsW-LA3ecjNw/s200/Clash+Of+The+Titans+Blu%E2%80%A2Ray+Disc+Image.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449089356266315538" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">On April 2nd, Warner Bros. is releasing a new <i>Clash of The Titans</i> re-make theatrically. To coincide, Warner Home Video is releasing the original 1981 film as a Blu•Ray/book. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The case itself is a little Blu•Ray sized hardcover book with the disc at the back. The book includes a bit of history of the film, bios for the cast and characters, as well as some info about the special effects, trivia, and an image of the original theatrical poster. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Also included in the package is a little advertising booklet about the new, (judging by the trailers, considerably amped-up), version of <i>Titans</i> coming out next month. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">For fans of the original film, this will be a fun disc/book to get. Also, it’s worth checking out if you’ve never seen the film, but are curious about the original the new one is based on. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">- Erin V. </p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-49121324117881281582010-03-16T00:00:00.015-04:002010-03-18T08:59:13.602-04:00DVD Review: Good Hair<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjRq4K5R7uRVp_eNme7pl0KYIAML-P20OsCkJBCBArTC8o6WbrWmsG3H_7vpPD2XcEqZUFaZAgFlrTSlWQ5-BnumgJDYOyaD91uX5yO8ksbRq6JvugJO4EwK4wxgp_FzxmgO2-a54B8mK/s1600-h/Good+Hair+DVD+Image.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 139px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjRq4K5R7uRVp_eNme7pl0KYIAML-P20OsCkJBCBArTC8o6WbrWmsG3H_7vpPD2XcEqZUFaZAgFlrTSlWQ5-BnumgJDYOyaD91uX5yO8ksbRq6JvugJO4EwK4wxgp_FzxmgO2-a54B8mK/s200/Good+Hair+DVD+Image.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449113767414824178" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Good Hair - An Alliance Films’ Release</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><a href="http://www.goodhairdvd.com/">http://www.goodhairdvd.com/</a></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>DVD Release Date: March 9th, 2010</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Rated PG</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Running time: 94 minutes</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Jeff Stilson (dir.)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Chris Rock, Jeff Stilson, </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Lance Crouther, and Chuck Sklar (writers)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Marcus Miller (music)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Special Features: </b>Audio Commentary with Co-Writer and Executive Producer, Chris Rock and Executive Producer Nelson George; Featurette: “Afro to Jheri Curl”, Deleted Scenes, “Andre Harrell’s Greatest Hits”, “Civil Rights Barber”</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Georgia; min-height: 10.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Georgia">Program Content and Package Artwork: © 2009 Home Box Office, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Package Design and Summary: © MMX Lions Gate Films Inc. All Rights Reserved. Key Art Design: © MMIX Roadside Attractions LLC. All Rights Reserved. Distributed exclusively in Canada by Alliance Films. All Rights Reserved.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Georgia; min-height: 10.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Our reviews below:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Good Hair Review By John C.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Hosted by Chris Rock, <i>Good Hair</i> is a funny and entertaining documentary, that tackles deeper issues, like self-esteem among African-American’s, particularly over not having “good” hair. This makes for some interesting interviews and set pieces, like a trip to India showing where the add on hair pieces, “weaves”, actually come from.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">My only real complaint is that the film is a little long, and could have been edited by about 15 minutes. But this isn’t as much a complaint about this film, as it’s rare to see a documentary that isn’t a little long. <i>Good Hair</i> is an engaging, funny, and well made documentary, that’s worth seeing on DVD.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The DVD includes audio commentary with Chris Rock, and producer Nelson George.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Good Hair DVD Review By Erin V.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***1/4</span> (out of four)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">For those that aren’t familiar with the whole industry of trying to achieve ‘good hair’ among some African Americans, this documentary is a real window into that world. Formed around the question ‘Why don’t <i>I</i> have good hair,’ put forth to writer Chris Rock, by his young daughter, this film really looks at some of societies views on beauty today. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The interesting thing is about this whole branch of the hair industry is that while the upkeep of the expensive hairpieces and such is often done by African Americans themselves, the real benefitors of the industry financially, are Asians, for it is their straight/wavy black hair that is sold for most of the weaves. A visit by Chris Rock to India poses some interesting questions in itself. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">So, what makes supposedly “Good Hair<i>”</i>? For some, it is putting harsh chemicals on their heads in order to make their hair straighter, or wearing a ‘weave’, which is hair pieces woven over your own netted hair, in order to wear a more stable kind of wig. The question is, why in our society are there only certain types of hair that’s ‘good’? I think, what you’re born with is what matches you best, and learning how to embrace it will bring out more beauty than covering it up ever will. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">This is definitely a worth watching documentary, at least once. I’d say rent it or buy it. It’s quite interesting, and made in an entertaining way too. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Good Hair DVD Review By Nicole</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***1/2</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">When Chris Rock’s three year old daughter came up and asked him “Why don‘t I have good hair?”, he was inspired to create a documentary about hair and self esteem in the African-American community. Chris Rock interviews various celebrities, asking them what they do about their hair. Rock visits a hair salon, and finds out that some women (and some men) are not pleased with their African-American crinkly hair, and will go to great lengths to get rid of their “black” hair. Several straighten out their hair with sodium hydroxide, a chemical hair relaxer which can melt soda cans, burn skin, and cause lung damage. Some of the women interviewed also wear weaves, natural hair extensions that are tied onto the individuals own hair. The hair for weaves comes from Hindus in India who shave their heads for religious rituals. People pay thousands of dollars on weaves, just so they can have bouncy hair.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Rock also visits a hair styling show for African-Americans, where the main stylist is white. Here, only a few of the participants wear their hair natural. Most want hair that is smooth and shiny. What Chris Rock realizes, in our body image obsessed society, is that few people are happy with who they really are. This funny documentary takes a critical look at self esteem, fashion, and cultural identity.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">While some of the language and sexual content makes this documentary unsuitable for elementary schools, this documentary has a good message and would be a good choice for a high school class. Chris Rock is hilarious throughout the entire film, keeping a fun, fast-pace for 95 minutes. This DVD is worth checking out.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Good Hair DVD Review By Maureen</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">*** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Good Hair</i> is a highly entertaining and informative documentary about the culture and history of hair care for black people. narrated and written by Chris Rock, he was inspired to create this film when his young daughter asked him “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?”</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Through visits to beauty salons, hair care shows, laboratories, and Indian Temples he uncovers the secrets, expense, and great lengths many African-American woman, and some men, will go to for smooth, shiny hair opposite of its natural texture.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Chris Rock uses his talent as a comic to keep viewers interested in the technical side of hair relaxers (a rather scary chemical called sodium hydroxide), and the ins and outs of hair weaves. He certainly manages to get his point across that in our image obsessed world, people will risk their health and finances to achieve a different look rather than embrace and be proud of their own natural beauty.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">I learned a lot about the culture of African-American hair care in <i>Good Hair</i> and laughed out loud throughout. Chris Rock fans will want to check this one out as well as will those interested in fashion and beauty. <i>Good Hair</i> is a real eye-opener or should I say hair-raiser.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Good Hair DVD Review By Tony</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***1/2</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Good Hair </i>refers to the hair of African Americans, mainly women, that has been “relaxed” to take out the kinks, or hidden by “weaves” of expensive hairpieces imported from south or east Asia. As the proud father of two little girls, Chris Rock has produced and hosted this documentary in an attempt to counter the overwhelming public pressure on African Americans to reject the beauty they were born with and buy into the hype. The film focuses on the huge Atlanta trade show for African American hair care with its flashy competition for four salon superstars. Between trade show segments the film travels extensively. A factory for relaxing cream reveals the active ingredient as sodium hydroxide (aka lye or caustic soda), used among other things as a drain cleaner, whose application must be strictly controlled to avoid hair loss or worse. In a visit to India, the best hair is collected from pilgrims having their hair “tonsured” or ritually shaved as a show of penance or gratitude to the gods. For me the best part of the film is the interviews, ranging from girls as young as four, through high school, to young women and the older generation of Maya Angelou and Al Sharpton.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">With few exceptions, the women and some men are resigned to a life of very painful chemical treatments or unaffordable weaves. Ironically, men interviewed in a barber shop are not that supportive, admitting they are often intimidated by good hair women whose weaves portend a life of high maintenance and untouchability from the forehead up. As expected, there is always humour. For example, weaves that escape salon doors are shown blowing around black neighbourhoods like tumbleweed. Finally, Chris Rock trying to sell a bag of African hair to Asian American dealers is met with predictable incredulity.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">I can only hope that <i>Good Hair</i> has the desired effect of getting black women off the treadmill of pain or penury that the hair care industry has them in. I share the opinion of the barber shop guys that it is really not worth it, but then I have always preferred natural beauty, such as the “before” pictures in eye makeup ads.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Consensus: <i>Good Hair</i> is an interesting look at the ideas of beauty and an industry that is booming because of it. Chris Rock makes it funny and entertaining to watch, and although it’s still a bit long, this one is definitely worth a rental. </b><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia"><b>***1/4 </b></span><b>(Out of 4)</b></p><p></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-53903463035936003802010-03-16T00:00:00.014-04:002010-03-18T08:59:11.903-04:00DVD Review: Wonderful World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQY_NsTPOmUZuYJOBnV4uESo6TXmmfxnnDWB0-b0dupO7UBmXnBSXjhf9b1ogT4WhDugM5yEl1XQpSbkx10hIDnppvyxqBBt6BJp_S4AM-P4-v4tQSVfDge3zcTpKazN3C_0vm1SfB6U3G/s1600-h/Wonderful+World+DVD+Cover.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQY_NsTPOmUZuYJOBnV4uESo6TXmmfxnnDWB0-b0dupO7UBmXnBSXjhf9b1ogT4WhDugM5yEl1XQpSbkx10hIDnppvyxqBBt6BJp_S4AM-P4-v4tQSVfDge3zcTpKazN3C_0vm1SfB6U3G/s200/Wonderful+World+DVD+Cover.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449074851370491634" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Wonderful World - A Mongrel Media Release</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><a href="http://www.wonderfulworldfilm.com/">http://www.wonderfulworldfilm.com/</a></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>DVD Release Date: March 16th, 2010</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Rated 14A</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Running time: 95 minutes</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Joshua Goldin (dir.)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Joshua Goldin (writer)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Craig Richey (music)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Matthew Broderick as Ben Singer</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Sanaa Lathan as Khadi</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Michael Kenneth Williams as Ibu</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Philip Baker Hall as The Man</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Our reviews below:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Wonderful World Review By John C.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) is a close-minded cynic. But then again, his life isn’t exactly exciting. He lives in a small apartment with his roommate, Ibu (Michael Kenneth Williams), he only sees his daughter on weekends, and his job security may not be as secure as he thought. Then the unthinkable happens. Ibu ends up in a diabetic coma. The chemistry between Matthew Broderick and Sanaa Lathan is undeniable and believable, and the scenes with Ibu are very nice. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The film draws obvious comparisons to such great films as <i>The Visitor</i> and <i>Goodbye Solo</i>. Though it is not in the same league as those great films, it is still worth seeing. Despite a few moments that don’t quite gel with the rest of the movie, overall <i>Wonderful World</i> is a good film, with a few moments of near-greatness. If the film had ended a few scenes earlier, though, with a scene vaguely reminiscent of <i>Magnolia</i>, then perhaps it would have had more of a profound, lasting effect. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The DVD includes a couple of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">featurettes</span> on the characters and making-of the movie. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Wonderful World DVD Review By Erin V.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">*** </span>(out of four)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><i>Wonderful World</i> tells the story of Ben, a cynical man who seems to have lost the ability to see the beauty in the world around him. He used to play music, but has all but abandoned this, and being divorced, barely sees his 11 year old daughter who finds some of his remarks too depressing. His roommate, Ibu, from Senegal is the opposite of him in many ways though, always trying to get him to see the lighter side of things. But when Ibu becomes sick, Ben has to figure some things out for himself. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><i>Wonderful World</i> is a good movie that's worth a rental, but there were parts of it that kept it from becoming something more. There is a scene near the end, that could have been the last scene in the film, leaving a more emotional effect, but then the film continues on for a good five minutes more. That scene was one of my favourite scenes in the film, and if you want to know what scene I mean (perhaps after seeing the film), you can get a clue by looking up the word 'gleb' in this <a href="http://onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-review-alice-in-wonderland-visual.html">book</a>. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Wonderful World DVD Review By Nicole</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Wonderful World</i> is a sweet, low key film about friendship. Ben, (believably played by Matthew Broderick), is a depressed man, who lives with his Senegalese roommate, Ibu. Ben, who used to be a children’s folk singer, is now a cynical, divorced individual who only sees his daughter on weekends. Ibu is Ben’s only friend, who tries to help Ben see a positive view of the world. But when Ben finds Ibu in a diabetic coma, Ibu’s sister, Khadi, comes over from Senegal to take care of both of them. Ben begins to fall in love with Khadi. She brings Ben to a new perspective on what is really important in life. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">While the DVD package describes <i>Wonderful World</i> as a dark comedy, it is more of a drama along the lines of <i>Goodbye Solo</i> or <i>The Visitor</i>. With good acting, an interesting, quiet score, and a good storyline, <i>Wonderful World</i> is worth checking out. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Wonderful World DVD Review By Maureen</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">*** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Ben’s (Matthew Broderick) life would be described as anything but wonderful. His job is uninspiring, his relationship with his daughter is strained, he is a weekends-only Dad, he lives in a small place with a Senegalese roommate, Ibu, and his parking lot neighbour is a jerk. Ben is not a happy guy. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">When Ibu (Michael Kenneth Williams) has a medical emergency, Ibu’s sister Khadi (Sanaa Lathan) arrives to lend a hand. The unexpected turn of events turn out to be a turning point for Ben. Maybe Ben does’t have to remain pessimistic.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Wonderful World</i> is optimistically low-key. Matthew Broderick is completely believable as the pessimistic, stick it to the man, Ben. The rest of the performances by the other actors are also believable and heartwarming. The music score by Craig Richey is really nice and matches the movie’s mood nicely. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">I enjoyed <i>Wonderful World</i>. It has a nice even pace and comes to a nicely, believable conclusion without being sentimental. <i>Wonderful World</i> is worth checking out. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Wonderful World DVD Review By Tony</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**1/2</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) is going through a cynical and depressed midlife, seen through a haze of pot smoke in a flat shared with Senegalese immigrant Ibu (Michael K. Williams), an entry level proofreading job he has held for eight years, and weekend visits to his preteen daughter. Having been stung once, he doesn’t see a way out without giving in to “The Man” (personified by actor Philip Baker Hall, appearing to him several times like a ghost). When Ibu is hospitalized in a diabetic coma, his very attractive sister Khadi (Sanaa Lathan) comes to help out, sharing the flat with predicable and not so predictable consequences. Despite setbacks, the film ends on a hopeful note once Ben realizes what is really important.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Not as good as <i>The Visitor</i> and <i>Goodbye Solo</i>, <i>Wonderful World</i> deals like those films with an uptight American enriched by contact with a third world roommate. Unlike their previous counterparts, the immigrants here are played by American born actors. Though the film is somewhat brooding and confused at times, Matthew Broderick has enough residual charm to carry us through it. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Consensus: <i>Wonderful World</i> is a fine film, though there are a few scenes that could have been cut. Although it is not in the same league as <i>The Visitor</i> or <i>Goodbye Solo</i>, it is still <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><b>a well-acted, worth checking out drama. </b><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia"><b>*** </b></span><b>(Out of 4)</b></span></b></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-88521036577106801582010-03-16T00:00:00.013-04:002010-03-18T08:59:09.259-04:00DVD Review: The Brothers Warner<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhsaHw0n2QNnI1vEROYiOKC177hRa9Lt0qijnvQc0HzWp0y_58X3msAULYQfcv-iHyP4pxKzCJCE_G2Rv3wvME8ZJ8pR20E8UaV6Izkss1_cjnF9QLbf6jOjLvMg-CRmMclTTURZ2Vag8/s1600-h/The+Brothers+Warner+DVD+Image.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 172px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhsaHw0n2QNnI1vEROYiOKC177hRa9Lt0qijnvQc0HzWp0y_58X3msAULYQfcv-iHyP4pxKzCJCE_G2Rv3wvME8ZJ8pR20E8UaV6Izkss1_cjnF9QLbf6jOjLvMg-CRmMclTTURZ2Vag8/s200/The+Brothers+Warner+DVD+Image.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449098990177140290" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>The Brother Warner - A Warner Home Video Release</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>A Warner Sisters Production</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><a href="http://www.thebrotherswarner.com/">http://www.thebrotherswarner.com/</a></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><a href="http://www.warnersisters.com/">http://www.warnersisters.com/</a></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>DVD Release Date: March 9th, 2010</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Rated PG</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Running time: 94 minutes</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Cass Warner Sperling (dir./writer)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Kate Amend A.C.E (editor)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Stephen Malik (co-editior)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Arlene Donnelly Johnson (dir. of photography)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">David Campbell (music)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Our reviews below:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>The Brothers Warner Review By John C.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>The Brothers Warner</i> is the untold story of the bond and betrayal between the four brothers that started Warner Bros. Pictures. Though interesting, this film more has the feel of an added bonus on a DVD collection, rather than a standalone feature.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">It will draw some comparisons to <i>The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story</i>, but as a movie, is nowhere near as good as that excellent documentary. With <i>The Boys</i>, something truly special was brought to the screen, here, with <i>The Brothers Warner</i>, the feel is pretty cut-and-dry documentary.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The DVD includes no bonus features.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>The Brothers Warner DVD Review By Erin V.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***1/4</span> (out of four)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">As illustrated by director Cass Warner Sperling at the beginning of this film, when you ask people about who the actual Warner brothers are, most can’t tell you, and some aren’t even sure there really was a group of brothers. This documentary clears that up, telling the interesting story of the making of a company and the rivalries between siblings that came with it. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Unlike <i>The Boys</i>, about the Sherman brothers, <i>The Brothers Warner</i> doesn’t pack the same emotion, due in part to the fact that it is slightly further removed. <i>The Boys</i> was made by one son from each brother, and the brothers were featured themselves in the film, while <i>The Brothers Warner</i> was made by the granddaughter of one of the brothers, and only can feature the brothers in old footage. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Still, this is an interesting documentary that for those looking to know the history, and social roots of Warner Bros. Studios, is a really well made documentary. Feeling like something you’d see on TV, a shorter 60 minute cut of the film has aired on PBS. It’s definitely worth checking this one out. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>The Brothers Warner DVD Review By Nicole</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>The Brothers Warner</i> is an interesting family portrait of one famous family. This documentary tells the rags to riches story of the Warner Broters, Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack. Cass Warner Sperling, Harry's granddaughter, retells how the brothers revolutionized film, by mainstreaming "talkies" (films with sound), and creating social commentary films. While not as personal a documentary as <i>The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story</i>, <i>The Brothers Warner</i> is a decent film that is worth checking out. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>The Brothers Warner DVD Review By Maureen</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">*** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The Warner Brothers label is familiar to many people. What most people don't know is the story behind the Warner Brothers studio. <i>The Brothers Warner</i> is an interesting documentary by Cass Warner Sperling. As the granddaughter of one of the founders, Harry Warner, Sperling provides an inside look at the origins of the Warner Brothers studio. Told through black and white archival photos and footage and many interviews the documentary reveals the evolution of the relationship between the four brothers. Those interested in film history will want to check this one out. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>The Brothers Warner DVD Review By Tony</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>The Brothers Warner</i> is a fine documentary on the four sons of Polish Jewish immigrants who went from a storefront theatre with a used projector, a screen made from a hanging sheet and chairs borrowed from an undertaker to build one of the greatest Hollywood studios. As in all families, they each had different strengths, which they used to their advantage. The eldest Harry was the strong head, “gentle giant” Albert was a loyal executive mediating between Harry and the gregarious but volatile Jack. It was Sam’s technical expertise which helped them build out the studio and theatre chain to support it, and produce the first sound film <i>The Jazz Singer</i> at considerable risk, before he died tragically young in 1931.</span></i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Produced by Cass Warner Sperling, the maternal granddaughter of Harry, with extensive interviews from her mother and other family members as well as various industry personalities, it puts Harry in a particularly good light, largely to counteract the revisionist memoirs of the last surviving brother Jack who never lost an opportunity to take credit for everything. From extensive archival footage going back over a century we are given an excellent overview of the history of American film and the impact the Warners had on it. For example, besides bringing in sound, which met fierce resistance from rival studios, they were the first studio to boycott the lucrative German market in the 1930s as Hitler rose to power, and were known for films of social conscience and many of the best film noir titles. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Consensus: <i>The Brothers Warner</i> is an interesting documentary for those wanting to know more about the beginning of the famous studio. </b><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia"><b>*** </b></span><b>(Out of 4)</b></p><p></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-24310839274182483302010-03-15T14:31:00.012-04:002010-03-16T00:25:26.609-04:00Bindi Irwin, star of 'Free Willy 4: Escape from Pirate's Cove' talks to Students at Toronto Zoo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5svOH8JB1ZWcanjUpANaQFrkBOjFb0YpLPFTC2Q-84KEeUsh3LfIAt_pN0TkWwJtmiAvQDnn0DFZf4kAmdypA7-h28lpoag2u691YvuZBN3gDg067WGfBNH0_pPyzIItxJEXpI6GTmtWN/s1600-h/Bindi+Irwin+-+Toronto+Zoo.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 126px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5svOH8JB1ZWcanjUpANaQFrkBOjFb0YpLPFTC2Q-84KEeUsh3LfIAt_pN0TkWwJtmiAvQDnn0DFZf4kAmdypA7-h28lpoag2u691YvuZBN3gDg067WGfBNH0_pPyzIItxJEXpI6GTmtWN/s200/Bindi+Irwin+-+Toronto+Zoo.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448967601484034546" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">This week, March break events are in full swing at the Toronto Zoo, although for a group of Bendale PS students, the real excitement was last Tuesday, when they were treated to a special screening of the straight-to-DVD sequel <i>Free Willy 4: Escape from Pirate’s Cove</i>, and a Q & A with star Bindi Irwin. At the event, all of the kids were given little plush orca whales, and 10 kids were selected to ask her questions. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">“It was so different making a feature movie,” Bindi told the class in answer to their first question. “Usually, I just have done documentaries, where there is a crew of only about 3 people - this time there were over 100!” Talking about her favourite part of making the film she mentioned doing a scene where she gets really angry. “That was so unlike me,” she said laughing “my mom said she’d never seen me that angry - and neither had I.” </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">She said that it was really great as a young first time movie actor to work with someone as experienced as Beau Bridges, who plays her grandfather in the film. And she talked about what an experience it was to be filming on location. “The whole thing took 7 weeks to film, which was fun, since we got to stay in Africa” she said. “There, along with the penguins on set, I also got to meet wild penguins on a beach while collecting shells. It was really funny, since we went to play in the water, and when we turned around, the penguins had taken our shells. One of them was sitting on them! Eventually he lost interest though, and we got them back.” </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Then, asked about her favourite animal, she named one that the students may not have heard about before. The echidna. “I love crocs and snakes,” she said, “but the echidna is my favourite.” Along with the platypus, the echidna is one of only two egg-laying mammals, she went on to explain to the kids in the room. “It’s called a monotreme.” </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">When asked how she related to the character Kirra in the movie, Bindi replied, “I think I relate to her, because she cares about animals like me. She was trying so hard to save the orca. In real life, I am trying to save the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve.” Asking the students for their help she said, “As kids, we’re the next decision makers of the future. We should be speaking out for what we believe in.” She explained that it’s good to write to governments about things like this. “And, there’s a petition you can sign at <a href="http://www.australiazoo.com.au/">www.australianzoo.com.au</a>”</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Her favourite place in the world she said next, is Bali. “I used to go there with my dad when he would film documentaries there. The people and places are so nice there, and it brings back a lot of memories for me.” </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The last two questions asked her about who she depends on the most and who’s her hero. “The two people I depend on the most,” she said, “are my mom and my brother, I love them, and they’re like my best friends. And my hero would have to be my dad. He taught me so much about conservation and I love him so much. Actually, when I found out that I would be doing this movie, one of the reasons I was really looking forward to it, is because he made a movie as well, called <i>The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course</i>, so I really liked the idea that I was making one as well.” </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">At the end of the Q & A, Bindi was given a huge round of applause from the kids. She is a great thoughtful young speaker and assured this event will be a field trip the students there will never forget. Before she left, the students also got a group picture with her. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The DVD of <i>Free Willy: Escape from Pirate’s Cove</i> will be available in stores on April 20th from Warner Home Video. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">- Erin V. </p><p></p><p></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-6175890798694006202010-03-12T17:13:00.004-05:002010-03-12T17:15:17.437-05:00Trailer Watch: Shrek Forever After<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GlcmigJhhhKs-Dolv328ATqK5z8Dab18-Uptx55q6v02lU3sj0p9MVbDmy_G-ajsDQspdNR8yWvhLh60E5y3A8rbH4AFwvLXR8AgBfEHxe_79IdXm6Hbe_hcfwxz6-oz9m70fqgIwk80/s1600-h/Shrek+Forever+After+Poster.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GlcmigJhhhKs-Dolv328ATqK5z8Dab18-Uptx55q6v02lU3sj0p9MVbDmy_G-ajsDQspdNR8yWvhLh60E5y3A8rbH4AFwvLXR8AgBfEHxe_79IdXm6Hbe_hcfwxz6-oz9m70fqgIwk80/s200/Shrek+Forever+After+Poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447874127816902338" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Yahoo! Movies now features a <a href="http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810004595/video/18575925">second trailer</a> for the fourth installment in Dreamworks Animation’s <i>Shrek</i> series. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">I quite enjoyed the first three films, but I’m not entirely sold on this one yet. Although I’m going to reserve judgment until I’ve actually seen the film. One thing’s for sure, the side characters, Donkey, Puss in Boots, and Gingy, will all steal the show. It opens in theatres on May 14th. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">-John C.</p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-29192229974250657942010-03-10T15:39:00.004-05:002010-03-10T21:02:50.399-05:00Trailer Watch: Iron Man 2 + Tron Legacy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsB2X-4q6qz9HUo_8YtUhyVPTsQS1-M8Ekj40Uox8PeP3rrBHUThUyiaybM_n2Vm5B4qbtmMpa3v9iELV0ofZWNuF2GKdPmLu6hya-ui6pUVvbl28zoRiH8_cOE3DYPniA9SOMDZz9ODt8/s1600-h/Iron+Man+2:Tron+Legacy+Posters.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsB2X-4q6qz9HUo_8YtUhyVPTsQS1-M8Ekj40Uox8PeP3rrBHUThUyiaybM_n2Vm5B4qbtmMpa3v9iELV0ofZWNuF2GKdPmLu6hya-ui6pUVvbl28zoRiH8_cOE3DYPniA9SOMDZz9ODt8/s200/Iron+Man+2:Tron+Legacy+Posters.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447107843142050418" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Apple now has new trailers for both <i><a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/paramount/ironman/">Iron Man 2</a></i> and<i> <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/disney/tronlegacy/">Tron Legacy</a></i>. <i>Iron Man 2</i> is Jon Favreau’s much anticipated follow-up to his 2008 smash-hit, <i>Iron Man</i>. The new film looks to be another visually-arresting, incredibly entertaining superhero film. It opens on May 7th.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Tron Legacy</i> is the much anticipated follow-up to the 1982 Disney cult-classic. The first <i>Tron</i>, though dated, is still cool and was groundbreaking at the time. The new film is a much updated version. I remember speaking to the producer of the film, <a href="http://onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/report-from-tron-legacy-panel-at-fan.html">Justin Springer</a>, at last year’s Fan Expo - he seemed like a very cool guy. <i>Tron Legacy</i> opens on December 17th. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Both films look incredibly awesome. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">-John C.</p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-58516467121094147652010-03-09T00:00:00.016-05:002010-03-09T16:21:55.296-05:00DVD Review: Capitalism: A Love Story<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwnIhl_nMtu9TGO0M0iBqRj380UNVQuvy9Hw_-6GDMTg0vUNnrt2HHRJWBQk8zACMsekfz0mhTNQTY368hv1x4p5eq90M_txVdrumF2VaHqRfECRfT3o5n1o3vskGU00EP4zuO2NMZxKn/s1600-h/Capitalism-A+Love+Story+DVD.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 141px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOwnIhl_nMtu9TGO0M0iBqRj380UNVQuvy9Hw_-6GDMTg0vUNnrt2HHRJWBQk8zACMsekfz0mhTNQTY368hv1x4p5eq90M_txVdrumF2VaHqRfECRfT3o5n1o3vskGU00EP4zuO2NMZxKn/s200/Capitalism-A+Love+Story+DVD.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446506761975995330" /></a><b><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Capitalism: A Love Story - An Alliance Films Release</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><a href="http://www.capitalismalovestory.com/">http://www.capitalismalovestory.com/</a></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>DVD Release Date: March 6th, 2010</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Rated PG</b> for coarse language, and a mature theme. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Running time: 127 minutes</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Michael Moore (dir.)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Michael Moore (writer)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Jeff Gibbs (music)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">© 2009 Overture Films, LLC and Paramount Vantage, a division of Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved.Distributed exclusively in Canada by Alliance Films. All Rights Reserved.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Our reviews below:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b></b></p><b><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Capitalism: A Love Story Review By John C.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***1/2</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Michael Moore documentaries are always thought provoking and entertaining. His latest, <i>Capitalism: A Love Story</i>, his fifth feature documentary, is no exception.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Capitalism</i> may jokingly be called a love story, but it is one filled heartbreak. It’s thought-provoking, terrifying, and strictly as a movie, if a little too long, actually entertaining. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Moore’s distinctive style shines through, and this is one of his finest achievements. It could perhaps even make Gordon Gekko rethink his motto. An excellent, powerful documentary, that is a must see. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The DVD includes a bunch of bonus features, all written and directed by Michael Moore. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p></b> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Capitalism: A Love Story DVD Review By Erin V.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***1/2</span> (out of four)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Michael Moore makes the subject of foreclosure and capitalism actually watchable, as he goes about his shtick of trying to get the money back from the banks in an armoured truck, arrest their board members, and close their buildings off like a crime scene. The documentary is also full of little videos that talk about the subject in a humorous way, while actually getting you to listen to the point he’s making. He also speaks to people who have been closely affected by the banks and about the large gap between rich and poor. He shows how the people who are sidelined, when standing together, can make change. It’s his balance in the film between humour and reality that make it keep holding your attention. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">It’s a good film and my only real complaint is that at 2 hours and 7 minutes, it is a little bit long. Cut by 15-20, it would have held my interest that much more, but still this one is worth watching. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Capitalism: A Love Story DVD Review By Nicole</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">****</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Once again, Michael Moore has created a thought provoking, funny, and informative documentary. This time, Michael Moore takes on capitalism. We are introduced to several people who have been hurt by financial greed. They include families who have been kicked out of their foreclosed homes, children who have been locked up in a shady private prison for trivial offences, airline pilots who are paid less than minimum wage, and shady companies that care more for money than people. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Michael Moore also interviews two Catholic priests and a bishop, asking the question "What would Jesus do?" </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Told through interviews, spliced with arresting images of people losing everything they've got, as well as news clips, and clips of old films, <i>Capitalism: A Love Story</i> is fast moving and seldom drags. This documentary doesn't just depict the negative, but offers hope for the future. Moore shows us some of the brave individuals who have stood up against oppression and won. <i>Capitalism: A Love Story</i> calls everyone to create a world where everyone is treated equally fair. In our "me" society, this is an incredibly important film to see. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Capitalism: A Love Story DVD Review By Maureen</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***1/2 </span>(out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Only Michael Moore could take topics like foreclosures, evictions, and layoffs and turn them into a highly entertaining and though provoking, hold nothing back documentary. <i>Capitalism: A Love Story</i> is brilliant. Narrated by Michael Moore, he uses interviews, footage of families being evicted, old film footage from the 1950's and humour to get his message across about the downfalls of capitalism. Essentially the film exposes how as big corporations and financial institutions get richer, the middle class disappears and the gap between rich and poor widens. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">I like how Michael Moore explores the issue of capitalism from a religious point of view asking the philosophical question 'Is capitalism evil?' It's not often in this politically correct world that a film-maker dares to bring God into the equation. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Overall there is a sense of hope in <i>Capitalism: A Love Story</i>. Michael Moore's goal is to increase awareness and incite people towards a change in attitude. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Change comes from Knowledge. This would be a good choice for secondary and post-secondary students. Watching <i>Capitalism: A Love Story</i> is a great way to learn and be entertained for two hours. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Capitalism: A Love Story DVD Review By Tony</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***1/2</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Capitalism: a Love Story</i> is the latest documentary by Michael Moore. Rather than focusing on a specific issue such as guns or health care, it ambitiously challenges the very basis on which the American economy has been increasingly based over the last 40 years or so. The postwar prosperity due to American industrial dominance free from the competition of war-ravaged Europe and Japan supported a strong middle class of unionized workers producing goods for a comfortable lifestyle. As industries started to decline in the 1970s, the brightest young adults were attracted away from industry and into the financial sector where corporate greed led ultimately to such egregious practices as derivatives (sheltering executive bonuses on the backs of small investors), condo vultures (flipping foreclosed homes at enormous profit), “dead peasant” insurance policies (leaving the families of dead employees with massive medical bills while their employers collect on their life insurance), and subprime mortgages (luring high-risk borrowers into mortgages with temporarily low interest rates). The overall result has been an increasing gulf between rich and poor, gutting the middle class. A proposed worker’s bill of rights by FDR died with him and when Jimmy Carter preached against the consequences of corporate greed he was met with the same public indifference as the biblical prophets, replaced by the eager embrace of the glib optimism of Reagan and later Clinton, who doesn’t fare much better in Moore’s view. The systematic deregulation of financial institutions by successive financial cabinet secretaries taken from the executive ranks of the biggest banks helped inflate the bubble which finally burst within weeks of the 2008 election when, all facing the polls, the congress was railroaded into passing the huge bailout. There is some guarded optimism at the end of the film where some little people begin to fight back, with token encouragement from the new president.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Capitalism: a Love Story</i> is an effective look at how capitalism has trumped democracy in recent years. Interspersed with the usual hard luck cases of foreclosed families and laid off workers is footage from vintage educational films on the values of capitalism and the decline of the Roman empire, as well as Moore home movies from happier times. In an amusing sequence taken from a cheesy biblical epic, the doctrine of capitalism overdubs the voice of Jesus. Though a bit long at just over two hours, the film doesn’t drag, though we could have done without the typical Moore stunt at the end where he drives up to corporate offices in an armoured truck to take back the money and make a citizen’s arrest of the executives, to be met as usual only by bemused security guards. However, the final shot where he surrounds the big Wall Street buildings with yellow police tape leaves a memorable image.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Consensus: <i>Capitalism: A Love Story</i>, though perhaps a bit too long, is another interesting and entertaining documentary from Michael Moore. </b><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia"><b>***1/2 </b></span><b>(Out of 4)</b></p></b><p></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-57423654133915387952010-03-09T00:00:00.009-05:002010-03-09T01:54:58.715-05:00DVD Review: Planet 51<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Planet 51 - An Alliance Films Release</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><a href="http://www.sonypictures.com/sonywonder/planet51/">http://www.sonypictures.com/sonywonder/planet51/</a></p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9onInhVGgq49vKcZ0Fz90BTy9M9Hm4pd94vV3e_ps0DHLSJy89j_JCJJqVdyanvsdTbPaFxzFYDSP2aUM294Oh3rbm0cjq7EcG5KmPy7cRvhENjQGysUcqGY7XOiV_86mMOE-50h9ahR/s200/Planet+51+DVD.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446506925698288914" /> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>DVD Release Date: March 6th, 2010</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Rated G</b> for violence, and frightening scenes. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Running time: 97 minutes</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Jorge Blanco (dir.)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Javier Abad (co-dir.)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Marcos Martinez (co-dir.)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Joe Stillman (writer)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">James Seymore Brett (music)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Dwayne Johnson as Captain Charles T. Baker</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Seann William Scott as Skiff</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Jessica Biel as Neera</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Justin Long as Lem</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">Gary Oldman as General Grawl</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">John Cleese as Professor Kipple</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia">© 2010 Remstar. All Rights Reserved. Distributed exclusively in Canada by Alliance Films. All Rights Reserved.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Our reviews below:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Planet 51 DVD Review By John C.</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"> </span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">*1/2</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Planet 51</i> is a new animated comedy. No wait, it’s animated, that’s for sure. Is it a comedy? Yes, in the sense that it <i>tries</i> to make us laugh. But I can’t call it a comedy, because I didn’t <i>actually</i> laugh. Will kids like it? Sure. But for older kids and adults, it’s pretty lame. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">It’s the story of a dumb human astronaut who lands on a planet that is inhabited by strange green aliens, who inexplicably speak English. But to them, he’s the alien! Brilliant premise, huh? Oh yeah, and the aliens spend their time listening to records from the 1950’s and ‘60’s. This is a fact that I actually didn’t mind, because if you close your eyes as they blare on the soundtrack, you can just pretend that you’re actually watching a good period piece. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The jokes are lazy and crude, and the timing is pretty sloppy. There is ample discussion of, I kid you not, plugging a certain orifice with a cork. I’m sure I’m not the only one that duly noted every time the aliens had their backs to the screen that they indeed have nowhere to stick the said cork. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Am I the only one that thought the weird grey alien dog with the strange tongue, no eyes and acid urine, was just plain creepy? Rover the robot, who does nothing more than just rip-off WALL•E, is kinda cute, but really nowhere near as adorable as WALL•E. When the film tries its hand at pondering deep thoughts, it just seems sort of cynical. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The voice acting is average at best, and a talent like John Cleese is completely wasted. Though I must say that Jessica Biel’s wooden voice acting <i>is</i> marginally better than in her shrill performance in the schlocky <i>Valentine’s Day</i>. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">In an age of CGI masterpieces like <i>Up</i>, and even the not great, but good <i>Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs</i>, <i>Planet 51</i> really falls flat. Despite good intentions and some nice animation, the film ultimately plays like a pile of rocks that Rover would hoard into his compartment, and the script is like a pile of litter that WALL•E would recycle in his compactor. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The DVD includes games, exteneded scenes, and a bunch of featurettes. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p></span> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Planet 51 DVD Review By Erin V.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**</span> (out of four)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">In terms of films that are animated these days, such a high bar has been set by the major studios that - especially last year, a film like <i>Planet 51</i> couldn’t even come close. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The story is an ok premise that could have gone somewhere, but was not executed into anything special. Teenager Lem, who lives on ‘Planet 51’, has his world turned upside down when an ‘alien’ spaceship lands to plant the American flag. It’s Astronaut Chuck Baker, who to the audience looks like a weird cross between some sort of guy for an animated toothpaste ad and Mr. Clean, but to the aliens is a big scary monster that has a laser in his helmet and will turn them all to zombies. Oh yeah, and he’s voiced by Dwayne Johnson. Kind of strange really. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Anyway, the best parts of this movie actually come from the WALL•E copy robot who shovels rocks (not trash - you see? It’s different!), into his little chest compartment. This is mostly due to the fact that he doesn’t have the capacity to say any badly written dialogue, and is the most visually appealing character. Actually, he’s the only thing in this movie that’s kind of cute. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">I guess kids are going to have fun with this film, but there are so many better films to watch that they’d also probably really enjoy. Still, if you have a 7 or 8 year old having a birthday party, this is worth renting for a bunch of hyper kids. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Planet 51 DVD Review By Nicole</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**1/2</span> ([<span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">***</span> for it’s intended audience of 4-12] out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Parodying the idea of alien invasion, <i>Planet 51</i> tells a story of what happens when a human visits another inhabited planet. When dimwitted astronaut Charles T. Baker visits Planet 51, a world that is still in our late 1950’s-early 1960’s era, the locals think Baker is a menace that will turn them into zombies. But one of the residents, a teenager named Lem, who works at the local planetarium, befriends Baker. So when military dictator General Grawl and Professor Kipple try to destroy Baker, it is up to Lem and his friends to get the astronaut back home safely. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">This movie could have been really clever and original. Instead, it simply recycles plots and characters from other films For example, Baker’s pet robot Rover, while incredibly appealing, is nothing more than a blatant ripoff of WALL•E. And the humour, which often contains anal probe jokes, is absurd when the aliens don’t even need pants. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">However, I am not the target audience for this film. When I saw it in theatres, young viewers in the 6-10 range seemed to love the movie. Personally, I found it entertaining enough for adults, and great for young children. If you are a parent or grandparent with young children, then Planet 51 is worth adding to your collection. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Planet 51 DVD Review By Maureen</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The odd plastic looking green creatures that live on Planet 51 are living a happy 1950's America meets the Jetsons existence until an unexpected visitor turns their world upside down. Dwayne Johnson voices the arrogant blond astronaut who lands on Planet 51 hoping to quickly plant a flag and return to earth. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The nod to 1950's America in a futuristic kind of way is mildly amusing and the 50's type of music fun to listen to. However the dialogue and action in the movie are geared mainly to the 6 to 9 year boy demographic. For the rest of us, the jokes fall flat and the storyline predictable. There are a few cute moments in <i>Planet 51</i> thanks to a WALL•E type robot called Rover. The similarities to other movies is none too subtle. Unfortunately there's not a lot of originality or cute appeal to <i>Planet 51</i>. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Planet 51</i> is the kind of DVD you can put on for kids in the 6 to 9 age range and it will keep them entertained for an hour and a half. If that's what you are looking for, than go ahead and rent it. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Planet 51 DVD Review By Tony</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">*1/2</span> (out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">No doubt Ilion Studio is the pride of Spain. With an in-house crew of hundreds they are clearly competent in the production of animation that can look good. Too bad that their first international feature <i>Planet 51</i> is so uninspired that its appeal should be limited to the single-digit age group. It is interesting how trailers can sometimes be misleading. Another film we recently saw, <i>Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs</i>, was also not so good, but turned out to be somewhat better than the trailer suggested, redeemed by its clever spoof of disaster films in the last act. Compared to its trailer however, Planet 51 was disappointing from beginning to end, totally derivative and predictable at best and at worst just dumb. What might have been a decent premise of a human astronaut striking fear among the somewhat humanoid inhabitants of a 1950s suburban style planet is largely wasted. For example, the astronaut is a vain moron, and his robotic rover is an obvious Wall-E derivative, though it admittedly has a bit of canine charm with its wagging antenna. I haven’t seen so many lame gags since <i>Old Dogs</i>. Save this one for grade-school parties if you insist, but there is so much better to choose from. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Consensus: <i>Planet 51</i> will entertain younger kids, but not many others. It is certainly not on par with most of the animated films released theatrically last year. Still, for 6 - 9 year olds, it's worth a rental. </b><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia"><b>** </b></span><b>(Out of 4)</b></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-64728922637131565022010-03-08T00:21:00.014-05:002010-03-08T14:55:24.252-05:00Thoughts on the Oscars<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRm5rougEN2ydlnFHyQ6QFUZIipZDBMULeg8kIaaQ5fusyHwBnQaa2BrY8ic1k8fKNiNHslddrBXZqLWtfTizO_ViRnrR-62VBouPpxYsjY7yI3ew7IXnp54lmxM_hrpzfcKU1dD59vO-c/s1600-h/The+Hurt+Locker+Poster.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRm5rougEN2ydlnFHyQ6QFUZIipZDBMULeg8kIaaQ5fusyHwBnQaa2BrY8ic1k8fKNiNHslddrBXZqLWtfTizO_ViRnrR-62VBouPpxYsjY7yI3ew7IXnp54lmxM_hrpzfcKU1dD59vO-c/s200/The+Hurt+Locker+Poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446302613897229810" /></a><i><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>The Hurt Locker</i> wins Best Picture. James Cameron never got a chance to get up on stage, the King has been replaced with a Queen. There were ten very deserving nominees for Best Picture, any one of them could have taken home the gold. <i>The Hurt Locker</i> is a great movie, and fits in perfectly with the 81 other films that have won Best Picture.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">I predicted 17 out of 24 categories correctly, same as last year. Some great speeches, some surprises. I’m very disappointed that <i>Up in the Air</i> went home empty handed.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were both very funny, but the best joke of the night has to go to Tyler Perry, who said, “People keep coming up to me saying ‘I loved you in <i>The Blind Side</i>’, uh, no, that wasn’t me.” There were the predicted dance numbers, and they were all pretty good, except for the moment when they started robot dancing to the beautiful score of <i>Up</i>...</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px">Very happy for both of <i>Up</i>’s wins, score and Best Animated. Pete Docter and Michael Giacchino were both wearing Grape Soda bottle caps - I wore mine as well.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">There was a good tribute to horror films - some good, some otherwise. Wait, is <i>New Moon</i> a horror film? Was I the only one that saw that brief clip? </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">I loved the tribute to John Hughes, and the In Memoriam segment. James Taylor was amazing. Touching. moving and beautiful. So many great talents lost - may they rest in peace.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Overall, it’s been a great night. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners. You can see my full thoughts on all the winners <span style="text-decoration: underline ; color:#440078;">here</span>.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">-John C.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Oddly, the same as last year, I again predicted 16 out of 24 correctly - 2/3 of the categories. That is the same percentage, approx. 67%, as wins-to-noms for the winner <i>The Hurt Locker</i> tonight. I guess I'll try to hit 20, or approx 83% <i>next</i> year...</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Overall, I am happy with most of the awards, although was kind of surprised to see <i>Avatar</i> win Cinematography. I am really happy with both of the music winners, <i>The Weary Kind</i> for Best Song, and <i>Up</i> for Best Score. Both categories had great contenders in them, although out of the Best Score, I think <i>Avatar</i> was my least favourite - it just wasn't memorable to me. It was interesting to see <i>Avatar</i> go home with only 3 awards, speaking of which, I have tallied the percentages of awards won by each film that picked Oscars up tonight below:</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>In the main categories where most films garner more than one nomination, the winner percentages are as follows (their percentage rankings are to the left of the winners name):</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Tied for 1. The Hurt Locker - 6/9 - 67%</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Tied for 5. Avatar - 3/9 - 33%</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Tied for 5. Precious - 2/6 - 33%</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">4. Up - 2/5 - 40%</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Tied for 1. Crazy Heart - 2/3 - 67%</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">9. Inglourious Basterds - 1/8 - 12.5%</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">8. Star Trek - 1/4 - 25%</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Tied for 5. The Young Victoria - 1/3 - 33%</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">3. The Blind Side - 1/2 - 50%</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px">Percentage wise, they are ranked quite differently as you can see. Congratulations to <i>Crazy Heart</i> for winning the same percentage of nominations as <i>The Hurt Locker</i>. ;) </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><i>The Hurt Locker</i> was clearly the winner of the night, and <i>Avatar</i> has to share 5th place, for percentage of noms won, with two other films... And I suppose my over-catergorizeation is getting rather obsessive right now, so I shall save you the rest of my different ways of ordering the films... Interesting line-up though. And to think in all 43 films were nominated... Wow. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>And in the categories that usually have films only nominated once, so they win 1/1…</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Tied for 1. Foreign Language - El Sevreto de Sus Ojos - 1/1 - 100%</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Tied for 1. Documentary Feature - The Cove - 1/1 - 100%</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Tied for 1. Documentary Short - Music by Prudence - 1/1 - 100%</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Tied for 1. Short Film Live Action - The New Tenants - 1/1 - 100%</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Tied for 1. Short Film Animated - Logorama - 1/1 - 100%</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">There's really no fun ordering the percentages there... They all tied out at 1. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">And that just about wraps up the season for another year. Hope you all enjoyed it, and I'll probably update this post in the morning with a few more thoughts, since it's kind of late now. Good night! </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">- Erin V. </p></i><p></p><p></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-21828647063148685142010-03-07T18:40:00.025-05:002010-03-08T02:20:02.023-05:00Live Coverage of The 82nd Annual Academy Awards!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfQfycZd6QoqsYPx-zA9XZpgaf881HVzajwNd0nTO8VIU1rVCd7JvxG9WyIjeiD3Orz3kMqNgVYMtOeb4GxIZx5Te6p8vrCD7BvsUYMUszvoI8I2GMt-uWdsz1nu8ihyphenhyphen4Os7nZIN1uVM_/s1600-h/Oscars+Poster.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 138px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfQfycZd6QoqsYPx-zA9XZpgaf881HVzajwNd0nTO8VIU1rVCd7JvxG9WyIjeiD3Orz3kMqNgVYMtOeb4GxIZx5Te6p8vrCD7BvsUYMUszvoI8I2GMt-uWdsz1nu8ihyphenhyphen4Os7nZIN1uVM_/s200/Oscars+Poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445948907737680114" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The 82nd Annual Academy Awards are on tonight. It’s been a great Oscar-season, and it is hard to believe it’s almost over. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The telecast starts at 8:00 PM EST, on CTV and ABC, the actual awards ceremony starts at 8:30. We will be having live updates during the telecast, so keep it tuned to One Movie, Five Views. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Get a full list of nominees <a href="http://onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com/2010/02/nominations-for-82nd-annual-academy.html">here</a>. We will be updating this post with the nominees as they are announced, winners will be in bold. I will also be including my commentary on the wins and losses. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">I hope you’ll all be watching the Oscars. After all, the only thing more exciting than watching the Oscars on TV is actually being in attendance. The only thing more exciting than that is being called up on stage!</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;font-size:14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">-John C.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Nominees and winners for The 82nd Annual Academy Awards!</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b></b></p><b><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>1 - Actor in a Supporting Role:</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">Matt Damon-<i>Invictus</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">Woody Harrelson-<i>The Messenger</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">Christopher Plummer-<i>The Last Station</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">Stanley Tucci-<i>The Lovely Bones</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><b>Christoph Waltz-</b><i><b>Inglourious Basterds</b></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">-It's a bingo!</span></b></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i></i></p><i><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>2 - Animated Feature Film:</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Coraline</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Fantastic Mr. Fox</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>The Princess and the Frog</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>The Secret of Kells</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i><b>Up</b></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>-Great win. Gonna be hard to top Pete Docter's acceptance speech. Loved the video of all the nominees.</i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i></i></p><i><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>3 - Music (Original Song):</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Almost There-The Princess and the Frog</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Down in New Orleans-The Princess and the Frog</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Loin de Paname-Paris 36</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Take It All-Nine</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i><b>The Weary Kind-Crazy Heart</b></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>-Great movie, great song.</i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i></i></p><i><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>4 - Writing (Original Screenplay):</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i><b>The Hurt Locker</b></i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Inglourious Basterds</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>The Messenger</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>A Serious Man</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Up</i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>-First win for The Hurt Locker, en route to probable Best Picture. </i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i></i></p><i><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>5 - Short Film (Animated):</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>French Roast</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i><b>Logorama</b></i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>A Matter of Loaf and Death</i></p><div><br /></div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>6 - Documentary Short:</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Teaars of Sichuan Province</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i><b>Music by Prudence</b></i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Rabbit à la Berlin</i></p></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>7 - Short Film (Live Action):</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>The Door</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Instead of Abracadabra</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Kavi</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Miracle Fish</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i><b>The New Tenants</b></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><b><i></i></b></p><b><i><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>8 - Makeup</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Il Divo</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i><b>Star Trek</b></i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>The Young Victoria</i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>-Star Trek had great make-up - but presenter Ben Stiller's Na'Vi costume was amazing.</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><br /></i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i></i></p><i><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>9 - Writing (Adapted Screenplay):</b></span></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>District 9</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>An Education</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>In the Loop</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><b>Precious</b></i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Up in the Air</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>-First surprise of the night. Hopefully Up in the Air doesn't go home empty handed.</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><br /></i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i></i></p><i><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>10 - Actress in a Supporting Role:</b></span></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">Penélope Cruz-<i>Nine</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">Vera Fermiga-<i>Up in the Air</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">Maggie Gyllenhaal-<i>Crazy Heart</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">Anna Kendrick-<i>Up in the Air</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><b>Mo’Nique-</b><i><b>Precious</b></i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>-Five very deserving contenders, but alas, Mo'Nique was destined to win. Great acceptance speech. </i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><br /></i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i></i></p><i><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>11 - Art Direction:</b></span></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><b>Avatar</b></i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Nine</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Sherlock Holmes</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>The Young Victoria</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>-Avatar's first win - of the night.</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><br /></i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i></i></p><i><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>12 - Costume Design:</b></span></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Bright Star</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Coco Before Chanel</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Nine</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><b>The Young Victoria</b></i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>-Another period piece wins in this category - loved the acceptance speech.</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><br /></i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i></i></p><i><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>13 - Sound Editing:</b></span></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Avatar</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><b>The Hurt Locker</b></i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Inglourious Basterds</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Star Trek</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Up</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><i>-Very deserving - The Hurt Locker's 2nd win. Love the description of both sound categories.</i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>14 - Sound Mixing:</b></span></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Avatar</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><b>The Hurt Locker</b></i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Inglourious Basterds</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Star Trek</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>-Very deserving - The Hurt Locker's 3rd win.</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><br /></i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i></i></p><i><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>15 - Cinematography:</b></span></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><b>Avatar</b></i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>The Hurt Locker</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Inglourious Basterds</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>The White Ribbon</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>-Avatar's 2nd win. Touching acceptance speech.</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><br /></i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i></i></p><i><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>16 - Music (Original Score):</b></span></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">James Horner-<i>Avatar</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">Alexandre Desplat-<i>Fantastic Mr. Fox</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders-<i>The Hurt Locker</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">Hans Zimmer-<i>Sherlock Holmes</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><b>Michael Giacchino-</b><i><b>Up</b></i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>-Michael Giacchino - one of the best composers working today - has finally been recognized with a much deserved Oscar. Both Michael and Pete were both wearing Grape Soda bottle caps - so am I.</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><br /></i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i></i></p><i><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>17 - Visual Effects:</b></span></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><b>Avatar</b></i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>District 9</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Star Trek</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>-Avatar wins. Three very deserving nominees, but best on a budget has to go to District 9.</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><br /></i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i></i></p><i><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>18 - Documentary Feature:</b></span></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Burma VJ</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><b>The Cove</b></i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Food, Inc.</i></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Which Way Home</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>-A powerful, important film. Maybe now everyone will hear what the filmmakers had to say.</i></p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i></i></p><i><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>19 - Film Editing:</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>Avatar</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>District 9</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i><b>The Hurt Locker</b></i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>Inglourious Basterds</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>Precious</i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>-The masterful editing made for a powerful experience. </i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><span style=""><b style="text-decoration: underline;">20 - Foriegn Language Film:</b></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i> </i></p><i><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>Ajami</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i><b>El Sevreto de Sus Ojos</b></i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>The Milk of Sorrow</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>Un Prophète</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>The White Ribbon</i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>-El Sevreto de Sus Ojos pulls an upset over Un Prophète and The White Ribbon.</i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 800; font-size:16px;"></span></i></p><i><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); "><span style="text-decoration: underline; "><b>21 - Actor in a Leading role:</b></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); "><b>Jeff Bridges-</b><i><b>Crazy Heart</b></i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); ">George Clooney-<i>Up in the Air</i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); ">Colin Firth-<i>A Single Man</i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); ">Morgan Freeman-<i>Invictus</i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); ">Jeremy Renner-<i>The Hurt Locker</i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); "><i>-The Dude abides! - Jeff Bridges wins Best Actor. Very deserved - great acceptance speech. So glad he didn't get cut off. </i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); "><i><br /></i></p></i><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i></i></p><i><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>22 - Actress in a Leading Role:</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>Sandra Bullock-</b><i><b>The Blind Side</b></i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Helen Mirren-<i>The Last Station</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Carey Mulligan-<i>An Education</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Gabourey Sidebe-<i>Precious</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Meryl Streep-<i>Julie & Julia</i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>-The first person ever to win an Oscar and Razzie on the same weekend. She's very deserving of both awards. She gave an amazing speech. </i></p><i><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i></i></p><i><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>23 - Best Director:</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>James Cameron-Avatar</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i><b>Kathryn Bigelow-The Hurt Locker</b></i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>Quentin Tarantino-Inglourious Basterds</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>Lee Daniels-Precious</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>Jason Reitman-Up in the Air</i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>-The first woman ever to win a Best Director Oscar. </i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i><br /></i></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i></i></p><i><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><b>24 - Best Picture:</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Avatar</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">The Blind Side</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">District 9</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">An Education</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>The Hurt Locker</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Inglourious Basterds</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">A Serious Man</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Up</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Up in the Air</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>-Ten very good films - one very deserving winner.</i></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i></b><p></p></div></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></i><p></p></b><p></p><p></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-52975202830195393402010-03-06T19:00:00.007-05:002010-03-07T01:43:00.695-05:00Predictions for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Below are two of our writers predictions for what will win at the Oscars on March 7th. Come back tomorrow night for live coverage of the telecast. </i> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Last year I correctly predicted 17 of the 24 categories at the 81st Academy Awards. Below are my predictions for what will win tomorrow night at the 82nd Academy Awards. Some are educated guesses, and some are just that, guesses. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">The Best Picture race is between <i>Avatar</i> and <i>The Hurt Locker</i>, and I think <i>The Hurt Locker</i> will end up winning. It is definitely the stronger of the two, and a downright excellent movie, but I still think it would be great if <i>Up in the Air</i> won. Kathryn Bigelow should and will win Best Director, becoming the first woman ever to do so. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">-John C.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #ea1717; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Best Picture - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><i>The Hurt Locker</i></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Actor in a Leading role - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Jeff Bridges-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Crazy Heart</span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Actor in a Supporting Role - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Christoph Waltz-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Inglourious Basterds</span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Actress in a Leading Role - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Sandra Bullock-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">The Blind Side</span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Actress in a Supporting Role - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Mo’Nique-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Precious</span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Animated Feature Film - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Up</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Art Direction - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Avatar</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Cinematography - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Avatar</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Costume Design - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Bright Star</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Directing - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Kathryn Bigelow-The Hurt Locker</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Documentary Feature - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">The Cove</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Documentary Short - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Film Editing - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">The Hurt Locker</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Foreign Language Film - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">The White Ribbon</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Makeup - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Star Trek</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Music (Original Score) - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Michael Giacchino-</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Up</span></i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Music (Original Song) - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">The Weary King-Crazy Heart</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Short Film (Animated) - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">A Matter of Loaf and Death</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Short Film (Live Action) - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Miracle Fish</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Sound Editing - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Star Trek</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Sound Mixing - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">The Hurt Locker</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Visual Effects - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Avatar</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Up in the Air</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#ea1717;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Writing (Original Screenplay) - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Inglourious Basterds</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><b><i></i></b><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><b><i>Here is my ranking of the Best Picture nominees:</i></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">I have organized the 10 Best Picture nominees into order of my personal preference. Though I must add that these are ten very deserving films. Any one of them could be the winner - and I’d be okay with it. My top 3 are all practically on the same level, but my number one is elevated just above the top, because of one particular sequence...</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><b><i></i></b><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">-John C.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><b><i></i></b><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">10 - <b><i>Precious</i></b> - ***1/2 - Excellent, with some great performances, but overrated. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">9 - <b><i>Inglourious Basterds</i></b> - ***1/2 - Another very good film from Quentin Tarantino. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">8 - <b><i>The Blind Side</i></b> - ***1/2 - An uplifting sports movie, with some very good performances. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="color:#000000;">7 - <b><i>Avatar</i></b> - ***3/4 - </span>Though far from perfect, and not the best movie of last year, as a piece of entertainment, I loved it.<span style="color:#000000;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="color:#000000;">6 - <b><i>District 9</i></b> - **** - </span>A thought-provoking piece of contemporary sci-fi.<span style="color:#000000;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">5 - <b><i>An Education</i></b> - **** - A wonderful film. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">4 - <b><i>A Serious Man</i></b> - **** <span style="color:#2d2d2d;">- A serious masterpiece.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">3 - <b><i>The Hurt Locker</i></b> - **** - This comes in a <i>very close</i> third. <span style="color:#2d2d2d;">An amazingly tense and powerful achievement.</span> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">2 - <b><i>Up in the Air</i></b> - **** - This comes in a <i>very close</i> second. The acting, writing, and performances are all impeccable. Jason Reitman’s third-great film. </p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="color:#000000;">1 - <b><i>Up</i></b> - **** - </span>Pixar’s latest masterpiece. Not only was it my favourite movie going memory of ‘09, but nothing in any of the Best Picture nominees was quite as emotionally powerful as that opening montage.</p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">_____________________________________________</p><p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">Last year I guessed 16 out of 24 correctly. I am hoping for 20 this year. Below are my guesses for each of the categories. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size:16px;"></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Best Picture - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><i>The Hurt Locker</i></span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Actor in a Leading role - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Jeff Bridges - </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Crazy Heart</span></i></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Actor in a Supporting Role - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Christoph Waltz - </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Inglourious Basterds</span></i></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Actress in a Leading Role - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Sandra Bullock - </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">The Blind Side</span></i></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Actress in a Supporting Role - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Mo’Nique - </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Precious</span></i></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Animated Feature Film - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Up</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Art Direction - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Avatar</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Cinematography - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Inglourious Basterds</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Costume Design - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">The Young Victoria</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Directing - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Documentary Feature - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">The Cove</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Documentary Short - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Film Editing - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">The Hurt Locker</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Foreign Language Film - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">The White Ribbon</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Makeup - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Star Trek</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Music (Original Score) - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Michael Giacchino - </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Up</span></i></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Music (Original Song) - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">The Weary King - Crazy Heart</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Short Film (Animated) - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">A Matter of Loaf and Death</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Short Film (Live Action) - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Miracle Fish</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Sound Editing - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Up</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Sound Mixing - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">The Hurt Locker</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Visual Effects - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Avatar</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Up in the Air</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Writing (Original Screenplay) - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;">Up</span></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">And next are my ranking of the 10 films nominated for Best Picture. </p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p color="#ea1717" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size:16px;"></span></i></b></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#3333FF;"><b><i><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); ">10. <b>Precious</b> - ***3/4 - The more I think back on this film, I think of it as closer to 3 1/2 stars now. I guess it deserves it's spot on the list, but it's not one of my top ten of the year. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); ">9. <b>An Education</b> - ***3/4 - A nice quiet film, although I didn't like it quite as much as I had hoped. The acting by was what carried this film. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); ">8. <b>Inglourious Basterds</b> - ***1/2 - More of a set piece than a historical film, but it was made with a love of cinema and has it's moments that make it worth checking out. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); ">7. <b>Avatar</b> - ***2/3 - Slightly over hyped, and compared to Cameron's last film, <i>Titanic</i>, this film is not even close. As a blockbuster though, loads of fun. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); ">6. <b>District 9</b> - **** - Not one you'd watch over and over again, but one I am glad to have seen at least once. It really made me feel for it's characters. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); ">5. <b>The Blind Sid</b>e - ***3/4 - A feel-good film that tells an inspiring true story. I put it <i>just</i> above <i>District 9</i> as it is one that I would be more likely to want to sit through again. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); ">/3. <b>The Hurt Locker</b> - **** - A brilliantly suspenseful film. A truly emotional look at war. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); ">\3. <b>A Serious Man</b> - **** - A darkly funny look at a man trying to live a serious life. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); ">2. <b>Up in the Air</b> - **** - An important film for a time of recession. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); ">1. <b>Up</b> - **** - One of Pixar's masterpieces. And one of the most well-rounded and emotional films of the year. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(45, 45, 45); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">- Erin V. </span></p></i></b></span><p></p><p></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-74590429103987922282010-03-06T11:45:00.011-05:002010-03-23T13:17:45.142-04:00The Best Movies I Saw in 2009<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">By John C.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">There were many great movies released last year. 2 Months ago, I published my <a href="http://onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com/2010/01/top-11-worst-movies-i-saw-in-2009.html">list</a> of the top 11 worst movies I saw in 2009, and it came to my attention that I still haven’t formally published what I thought the best movies of last year were. I saw many great ones, animated and live-action, and I know what my favourites were. But why is it always so much easier to assemble a formal list of bad movies? I could rethink this list, or wait until I see another small gem of last year on DVD, but as of now - Oscar weekend, these are the films that have stuck with me throughout the 2009 movie-going season. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">It breaks my heart to leave off such fine films as <i>Brothers</i>, <i>Crazy Heart</i>, <i>Everybody’s Fine</i>, <i>Goodbye Solo</i>, <i>The Hangover</i>, <i>Victoria Day</i>, and <i>9</i>, not to mention Best Picture nominees <i>The Blind Side</i>, <i>Inglourious Basterds</i> and <i>P</i><i>recious</i>, to name but only a few of the other movies I quite enjoyed. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">But alas, the making of a list is always heartbreaking. These 20 films I have picked are perhaps the ones that I am most looking forward to watching again, or perhaps the ones that have left the longest lasting impression after only one viewing.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">Tomorrow, the Academy will announce their pick for the best movie of ‘09, so without further adieu, here are the top 20 movies I saw last year + an honourable mention for best achievement from a new director. But still, this is only scratching the surface of the so many great films released last year. They are organized in alphabetical order. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>(500) Days of Summer</i></b> - One of the best rom-com’s in recent memory. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>Avatar</i> - </b>Though far from perfect, and not the best movie of last year, as a piece of entertainment, I loved it. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>The Boys: The Sherman Brother’s Story</i></b> - A heartfelt, moving look at the famed Disney songwriters. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>The Brothers Bloom</i></b> - Quite simply a masterpiece. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>Coraline</i></b> - An incredibly well-crafted stop motion film. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>A Christmas Carol</i></b> - A great adaptation of a classic story - an animated masterpiece. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>Departures</i></b> - An emotional masterwork.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>An Education</i></b> - A wonderful film.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>Fantastic Mr. Fox</i></b> - A lovingly-crafted stop motion film from director Wes Anderson. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</i></b> - A stunning achievement, a near masterpiece.<b> </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>The Hurt Locker</i></b> - An amazingly tense and powerful achievement.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>The Informant!</i></b> - A brilliantly written and acted film from director Steven Soderbergh.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>Is Anybody There?</i></b> - A touching film, with an excellent performance from Michael Caine.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>One Week</i></b> - A Canadian masterpiece.<b> </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>The Princess and the Frog</i></b> - An instant classic, with an awesome soundtrack. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>A Serious Man</i></b> - A serious masterpiece.<b> </b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>Star Trek</i></b> - Tons of fun.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>Up in the Air</i></b> - Jason Reitman’s third, great film. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>Up</i></b> - Pixar’s latest masterpiece. Not only was it my favourite movie going memory of ‘09, but nothing beat that opening montage. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>Where the Wild Things Are</i></b> - Great movie. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Honourable mention for best achievement from a new director:</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b><i>District 9</i></b> - A thought-provoking piece of contemporary sci-fi. It <i>just</i> doesn’t make my list, perhaps because of the graphic-grossness, but it was one of the finer achievements of last year. It’s hard to believe it was only director Neil Blomkamp’s first feature film, and it was a stunning debut. </p><p></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-63122825554535531222010-03-05T03:05:00.004-05:002010-03-05T03:23:38.356-05:00Book Review: Alice In Wonderland - The Visual Guide<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj523lxLsRtEEdmBUNcRYTE6aR1u396ZCGRdrPDAlJRXhVQZdHQzPGkIAfc9Qt5XtB44PAn5NX4bFDSVme2K3gkywGaC9qXUtgxk_arFhIeLQ9nlyHtvo6FkEK7bY1idH8eVIH_-IWeFa5q/s1600-h/9780756659820H.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 166px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj523lxLsRtEEdmBUNcRYTE6aR1u396ZCGRdrPDAlJRXhVQZdHQzPGkIAfc9Qt5XtB44PAn5NX4bFDSVme2K3gkywGaC9qXUtgxk_arFhIeLQ9nlyHtvo6FkEK7bY1idH8eVIH_-IWeFa5q/s200/9780756659820H.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445062029749571938" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>Released January 26th, 2010</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>Page count: 72 pages</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>Size: 9.25” x 6.25”</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>Disney’s Alice In Wonderland - The Visual Guide</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Written By Jo Casey & Laura Gilbert</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Published By Dorling Kindersley</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 12.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><a href="http://www.dk.com/">http://www.dk.com/</a></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>Alice In Wonderland Visual Guide Book Review By Erin V.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">As they do so often for family oriented movies, Dorling Kindersley has released another wonderful visual guide - this one for Disney’s new <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">As a visual guide, each page is filled with pristine pictures and information on the various characters, locations, and world of the film. This is a great accompaniment to this film in particular, as the strange world needs a bit of explanation at times. Of particular note, this book contains a glossary at the back for some of the commonly used words in Outlandish that are used in the film, such as ‘gallymoggers --> crazy’, or ‘klotchyn --> pay attention’. I did use many of these words in my review of the film [<a href="http://onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/movie-review-alice-in-wonderland_05.html">link</a>], so if you have this book you may even come to understand <i>that</i> better. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">If you love the new <i>Alice In Wonderland</i> film, you will definitely want to get this tie-in book. It is a great fun read. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>To find out more about the Alice In Wonderland, or other books, visit DK's website <a href="http://cn.dk.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780756659820,00.html#">here</a>. </i></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-92153120245938139852010-03-05T00:00:00.021-05:002010-03-05T12:01:54.949-05:00Movie Review: Alice in Wonderland<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><b><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Georgia"><b>Alice in Wonderland - A Walt Disney Pictures’ Release</b></p></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 20px; font-size:13px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; min-height: 12px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><a href="http://adisney.go.com/disneypictures/aliceinwonderland/">http://adisney.go.com/disneypictures/aliceinwonderland/</a></span></span></p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9Dad7-x5vudJ7a1TdHYH0ZgtRL-E3HWvZlrtH3CEAz8CV6oMrzRUTA0EnIslwBQ3ccwkWSh-wZCrJHORp73R0AOq816zNZPkq7iTdr1VE7aY75N8Mu35ciUM9cRt-W6_7Xet0JGeTqqi/s200/Alice+in+Wonderland+Poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444960481493081106" /><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; "><b>Release Date: March 5th</b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; "><b>Rated PG </b>for fantasy action/violence involving scary images and situations, and a smoking caterpillar</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; "><b>Running time: 108 minutes</b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; min-height: 12px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">Tim Burton (dir.)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; min-height: 12px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">Linda Voolverton (writer)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">Lewis Carroll (books)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; min-height: 12px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">Danny Elfman (music)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; min-height: 12px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">Johnny Depp as Mad Hatter</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">Mia Wasikowska as Alice</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">Helena Bonham Carter as Red Queen</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">Anne Hathaway as White Queen</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">Crispin Glover as Stayne – Knave of Hearts</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">Matt Lucas as Tweedledee / Tweedledum</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">Stephen Fry as Cheshire Cat</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">Michael Sheen as White Rabbit</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">Alan Rickman as Blue Caterpillar</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; min-height: 12px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYn5aPVcICqq0mS_ajfnAJ-XKWMpn7nrDgJLojb8bYqTJvZr5NoZBkKubbuLDHsl6H4a4-S-ZqoI0dWqQPyZ9bQ5iNMulVken2bfx394jg78v3ZnLuhdGVQueXtdEvSj0Ad5yQm-ArbRB/s1600-h/(L-R)+Johnny+Depp,+Mia+Wasikowska,+Anne+Hathaway+%C2%A9Disney+Enterprises,+Inc.+All+Rights+Reserved.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYn5aPVcICqq0mS_ajfnAJ-XKWMpn7nrDgJLojb8bYqTJvZr5NoZBkKubbuLDHsl6H4a4-S-ZqoI0dWqQPyZ9bQ5iNMulVken2bfx394jg78v3ZnLuhdGVQueXtdEvSj0Ad5yQm-ArbRB/s400/(L-R)+Johnny+Depp,+Mia+Wasikowska,+Anne+Hathaway+%C2%A9Disney+Enterprises,+Inc.+All+Rights+Reserved.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444960043202302722" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></a></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">(L-R) Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway ©Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; min-height: 12px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">Our reviews below:</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">_____________________________________________</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><b>Alice in Wonderland Review By John C.</b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Georgia; ">***1/2 </span>(out of 4)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><i>I am sitting at my raven as I write this, with my feet firmly resting on a warm pig belly.</i></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><i></i><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">Tim Burton’s <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> is a deliriously twisted and bizarre take on Lewis Carroll’s deliriously twisted and bizarre piece of literature. And Burton has found the story’s muchness. This is a sequel of sorts to the original books, with a now-19 Alice, (played wonderfully by Mia Wasikowska), escaping a forced engagement and following the White Rabbit down the rabbit hole.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">In Underland, which could be misinterpreted as Wonderland, she meets a strange, yet strangely endearing cast of characters. Including the Mad Hatter, who is truly mad and played wonderfully by Johnny Depp, the Mad March Hare, also truly mad, The Red Queen, (Helena Bonham Carter, with an enlarged, bulbous head), and her sister The White Queen (Anne Hathaway). She is chased by a Bandersnatch, and has to battle the evil Jabberwocky. But my favourite character has to be the Chesire Cat.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">Not your cup of tea poured through a smashed tea cup? Well then you obviously aren’t familiar with the source material. Though being a sequel, it draws much inspiration from the pages of the books.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">Despite having both names on the poster, this is more Tim Burton than Disney, and parents should see this as a warning. While it will be immensely enjoyed by older kids and adults, this is not a film for young kids. Some scenes are quite creepy. But they’re also scenes that are just off the wall, like when an obviously CGI Mad Hatter dances the Futterwacken.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">The look of Underland is a cross between darkly beautiful, beautifully dark and wonderfully bizarre, as every scene grows curiouser and curiouser. Although there are a few arguably uninspired moments, like a CGI battle that could have perhaps used a touch more wonder, the visuals of the film are spectacular.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">My biggest complaint is that, while adding a nice sense of depth to the entire movie, the 3D in the opening sequence really dulls the picture. Despite this technical flaw, <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> is another great collaboration between Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. One of the very best movies of the year so far, this is definitely one worth going out to see.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">_____________________________________________</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><b>Alice in Wonderland Review By Erin V.</b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Georgia; ">***3/4 </span>(out of 4)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; ">As you read the following, klotchyn, some words may not make much sense... </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; ">As the story begins, we meet Alice once again who has grown into a young lady of 19. She is to have an arranged proposal (that everyone but her knows about) with the uppity Lord Ascot, who has absolutely <span style="text-decoration: underline">no</span> imagination. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; ">Needing a moment to think once this is presented to her, she runs off and falls back into 'Underland' on Gribling Day after following the familiar white rabbit, McTwisp. Turns out they have been waiting for her, as she is destined to slay the slurvish Red Queen's Jabberwocky in the Tulgey Wood on Frabjous Day, in order to restore power to the White Queen for the first time since it was taken from her on Horunvendush Day. Once that has been done, the Hatter may finally be able to futterwacken once again... Downal wyth Bluddy Behg Hid! </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; ">And I do understand how that last paragraph must have sounded absolutely gallymoggers to you, and for that I apologize, but nunz - I have more to say. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; ">I absolutely loved the artistic style of this film, which is very close to the original drawings. The colours are stunning, and the cinematography beautiful. I found <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> to be paced well, and the characters appealing. A few of my favourites are the Cheshire Cat and the Mad March Hare. The costume design was also very good, as was the editing, and musical score. I also really liked the messages in this film about trusting yourself. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; ">This film is <i>very</i> close to a four star film for me, but not in 3D. It worked very well and I enjoyed the sense of depth it gave, if only it weren't so dark. I hope they find a way soon to make the glasses not dim the picture by approx. 30%. This was particularly apparent in some of the opening scenes, parts of which I watched with my glasses off. I'd be interested to see this one in 2D to get a better feel for it. Judging from the pictures from the film, I would love to see it in it's full colourful glory. And I don't even know why I would add this, but I would have loved to have seen Underland on Gleb, the day when the sky rained fish for no apparent reason. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; ">Fairfarren. Thanks for reading all of this <i>slightly</i> nonsensical review, which made spellcheck go gallymoggers... Oh, and for explanations of all of those Outlandish words, you might want to seek out this book... Review <a href="http://onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-review-alice-in-wonderland-visual.html">here</a>. </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">_____________________________________________</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><b>Alice in Wonderland Review By Nicole</b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Georgia; ">****</span> (out of four)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">“Twas brillig, and the slithy toves.” So goes the first line of <i>The Jabberwocky</i>, a poem that appeared in <i>Through the Looking Glass</i>, and which has become the basis of Tim Burton’s latest masterpiece. Combining characters from both of Lewis Carroll’s <i>Alice</i> books, and drawing inspiration from John Tenniel’s illustrations, Tim Burton’s <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> takes off where the two original books left off. In the film, Alice is now 19, and is expected to marry stuck up Hamish Ascot. She doesn’t want to be stuck with him. So when Alice spots a familiar white rabbit, she follows him, falling once again into a large hole. Back in “Underland,” (Alice thought it was called “Wonderland”), Alice finds things out of sorts. The cruel Red Queen has taken control of Underland away from the gentle White Queen. The only way to defeat the Red Queen is to slay her guard dragon, known as a “Jabberwocky,” on “Frabjous Day.” According to the Oraculam, a prophetic scroll that catalogs every day in the past, present and future, Alice is the one who is to slay the Jabberwocky with a Vorpal sword. Alice, being a gentle individual, is not sure if she is right for the task.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">Tim Burton has proven himself to be the right one to adapt Lewis Carroll’s classic Jabberwocky poem into a film. Many of Carroll’s famous characters and inventions are here, including the White Rabbit, Dormouse, Mad hatter, (brilliantly played by Johnny Depp), the Dodo, Cheshire Cat, Caterpillar, and Queen of Hearts (Red Queen - from <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>), and Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the talking flowers, the Looking Glass Insects, the White Queen, the Bandersnatch, and the Jungle Bird from <i>Through the Looking Glass</i>.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">This is the darkest, and one of the most imaginative adaptations of the original books. Although quite different from the original, this film captures the feel of the original perfectly. The visuals are incredible, dark, but with a magic that rivals the Harry Potter films. The acting is amazing, and the score by Danny Elfman has a magical, haunting quality to it. Alice is a likable and strong, inspiring female character. As a fan of the original books, I was pleased with this film. Just leave young children at home.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">_____________________________________________</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><b>Alice in Wonderland Review By Maureen</b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Georgia; ">***3/4 </span>(out of 4)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">Tm Burton’s adaptation of <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> is a deliciously dark visual treat. This story is a sequel with Alice, now 19, falling down the rabbit hole as she runs off to avoid becoming engaged to the dreadfully boring Lord Hamish Ascot. It turns out that the inhabitants of Underland (the proper name) have been waiting for Alice to return and save them from the heartless Red Queen of Hearts.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">Back in Underland Alice meets up again with White Rabbit, March Hare, Dormouse, Tweedledum, Tweedledee, Cheshire Cat, and of course Mad Hatter played with brilliant madness by Johnny Depp. The crazy cast of characters must convince Alice that it is her destiny to slay the Red Queen’s Jabberwocky and restore control to the much nicer White Queen, played beautifully by a very pale Anne Hathaway.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">The cast of characters stay close to the original books. The spectacular visuals and special effects that bring the characters to life are uniquely Tim Burton. This is a stunning movie to watch. The fight scenes between the Red Queen’s and White Queen’s armies have a medieval and gothic feel to them. There are a lot of dark images and scary scenes throughout the movie. This is not a little kids’ <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">This <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> has an excellent acting cast, (especially newcomer Mia Wasikowska as Alice), beautifully original visuals, and a perfect Danny Elfman score to match the overall mood. The closing credits include an original song by Avril Lavigne.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">My only complaint would be about the 3D. While it was amazing in most scenes, particularly with my favourite, the Cheshire Cat, the 3D dulled the colour in the opening segments before Alice fell down the rabbit hole. It will be interesting to see it again in 2D.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><i>Alice in Wonderland</i> is a must-see for older kids, teens and adults. This one’s a real treat and is destined to be a classic.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">_____________________________________________</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><b>Alice in Wonderland Review By Tony</b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Georgia; ">**** </span>(out of 4)</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><i>Alice in Wonderland,</i> Tim Burton and 3D–it’s all we can expect and more. It is actually a sequel with the 19 year old Alice revisiting the Wonderland largely forgotten since her last visit 12 years prior. She discovers her destiny as the champion of the White Queen is to battle the jabberwocky, the dragon champion of the tyrannical Red Queen. Those coming to her aid will include the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, Caterpillar, Bandersnatch (a sort of terrible snow leopard) and Bayard the faithful dog. I don’t want to spoil the fun by providing too much detail, but be warned that <i>Alice in Wonderland </i>has<i> </i>disturbing images that may not be for small children, such as the Red Queen’s castle moat filled with severed heads.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; min-height: 15px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">The 3D and special effects work perfectly as human and non-human characters interact seamlessly together–a tribute to the director and actors that often worked to a blank screen with minimal cues. As expected, the cast is brilliant, with Australian Mia Wasikowska in the title role, Johnny Depp (inevitably) as the Mad Hatter, Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway as the Red & White queens, Crispin Glover as the Knave of Hearts, and classic British talent voicing the various creatures. The score by Burton’s house composer Danny Elfman is brilliant as always. Perhaps Tim Burton has some clout with the Disney Studio since the good closing song was not sung by someone named Cyrus or Jonas, but by Avril Lavigne.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">_____________________________________________</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; min-height: 12px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuZrbrim3MM7D0EyUQI8pv8K3uIugeseiYD1i-0wDO_vSDGKh9-n9HGdaKTH6Ya2fHi3uSwrD56SMaouGkIxst3nVnVlkZDeFGqe_nMhs_PmVPDxwloteGsARKxNDKZ10BVY4GemLiq7F/s1600-h/Alice+in+Wonderland"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuZrbrim3MM7D0EyUQI8pv8K3uIugeseiYD1i-0wDO_vSDGKh9-n9HGdaKTH6Ya2fHi3uSwrD56SMaouGkIxst3nVnVlkZDeFGqe_nMhs_PmVPDxwloteGsARKxNDKZ10BVY4GemLiq7F/s400/Alice+in+Wonderland" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444960069325165106" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></a></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; "><i>Alice in Wonderland</i> Film Frame Johnny Depp ©Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">_____________________________________________</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; "><b>Consensus: <i>Alice in Wonderland</i> is a visually stunning achievement from Tim Burton. Though it will be too dark for young kids, this is a dark delight for teens and adults. Hugely enjoyable and tons of fun from beginning to end. </b><span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Georgia; "><b>***7/8 </b></span><b>(Out of 4) [Sorry for the Gallymoggers 7/8 stars, we must really be bonkers - all the best people are]</b></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; ">_____________________________________________</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; min-height: 12px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5ILIpzQePoPzLcs9jnhXSt-Vs0I4TfVfNypuMXO1Wm0v8xUEqEnY1RfInp6KCJIGqyCsbRTE_eUfH8TH496PYC9IAZ5GEyq1baaUx6TfXjIsnigiQOfLVRACNVirHpDAhUS7rXFIoxFA/s1600-h/(L-R)+The+White+Rabbit,+The+Dodo,+Helena+Bonham+Carter+%C2%A9Disney+Enterprises,+Inc.+All+Rights+Reserved.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5ILIpzQePoPzLcs9jnhXSt-Vs0I4TfVfNypuMXO1Wm0v8xUEqEnY1RfInp6KCJIGqyCsbRTE_eUfH8TH496PYC9IAZ5GEyq1baaUx6TfXjIsnigiQOfLVRACNVirHpDAhUS7rXFIoxFA/s400/(L-R)+The+White+Rabbit,+The+Dodo,+Helena+Bonham+Carter+%C2%A9Disney+Enterprises,+Inc.+All+Rights+Reserved.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444960056302867810" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></a></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal Georgia; ">(L-R) The White Rabbit, The Dodo, Helena Bonham Carter ©Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved</p></span>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-30631578015140965692010-03-05T00:00:00.011-05:002010-03-05T01:26:18.092-05:00Movie Review: Best Picture Nominee Up in the Air (10 of 10)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTMZsXRARR4Cc23nWOiMLvWsYZaW5XTg6zNcfMDqdx-NP9V1AwaPwp9VjcARgo8sPej9vmRDqNf1N57hNPwxhixq9RQLI7Xl6JU7jkDYbpcqa81HCIR2oOqbKFX13MM_-3lu8M-Ut-du-/s1600-h/Up+in+the+Air+Poster.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTMZsXRARR4Cc23nWOiMLvWsYZaW5XTg6zNcfMDqdx-NP9V1AwaPwp9VjcARgo8sPej9vmRDqNf1N57hNPwxhixq9RQLI7Xl6JU7jkDYbpcqa81HCIR2oOqbKFX13MM_-3lu8M-Ut-du-/s200/Up+in+the+Air+Poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444962578326592290" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Up in the Air </i>was released in theatres on December 4th, and is coming to DVD on March 9th. You can read our full reviews <a href="http://onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com/2009/12/up-in-air.html">here</a>, below are excerpts of our reviews.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><b>Up in the Air Review By John C.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">On the surface, audiences might see this film is an enjoyable romantic-comedy. The truth is, it is funny. On the flip side, though, it’s a thought provoking, powerful and moving meditation on our times.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">Real people lose their jobs, and what may be harder to remember is that the people firing them are also human. They do what they do for a living, and shelter themselves from the real world perhaps because they aren’t proud of being the bearers of bad news. Ryan takes comfort in the world of loyalty programs and one night stands, almost afraid to connect, because he knows best of all that with one surprise trip to the office it can all be over. The false loyalty of the airports won’t go away, as long as he continues to fly. He’s constantly connecting with people, but never actually making connections.</p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">_____________________________________________</p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><b>Up in the Air Review By Erin V.</b></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">I loved the movie <i>Up In The Air</i>. It is a very powerful film that gives you something real and important to think about. It was nice to see that some of the people in the movie playing those who've lost their job are people that actually have gone through downsizing. All of the acting in the film is great, and the music fits well, as do the songs, (which are unfortunately not eligible for Best Song at the Oscars). All three of Jason Reitman's directed films thus far, (<i>Thank You For Smoking</i>, <i>Juno</i>, and <i>Up In The Air</i>), I have really liked. They all are shot in a quiet, subtle, and touching way.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Up In The Air</i> is high up on my top 10 list of this year, and I hope to see it pick up some awards at the Oscars. Everything about this movie makes it worth seeing. </p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">_____________________________________________</p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><b>Up in the Air Review By Nicole</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>Up in the Air</i> is a funny and touching movie with a good message about relationships. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">I really liked <i>Up in the Air</i>. Everything about this movie worked for me. The acting, the score, the screenwriting, and the cinematography all fit together perfectly. The story is timely, in a world of recession, where greed and personal gain is rampant.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>Up in the Air Review By Maureen</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>Up in the Air</i> is an intelligent and funny movie with a heart. The scenes where clients are being layed off are touching and believable. Director Jason Reitman has taken a difficult and timely topic and brought it to our attention in a light-hearted yet serious manner. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Having gone through a corporate downsizing many years ago, <i>Up in the Air</i> had meaning for me. What makes this film so likable is the witty dialogue and the excellent cast.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>Up in the Air Review By Tony</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>Up In The Air</i> is Jason Reitman’s third and best film to date. Like his other movies, it handles a dark subject with great wit and charm, exemplified by George Clooney and the rest of the cast. So many brilliant elements make it a strong contender for the year’s best film.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">The inspired decision in the firing scenes to enrich the scripted professional cast with a number of really fired people improvising their actual responses provided some of the most moving moments in the film.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Consensus: From the acting, directing and writing, <i>Up in the Air</i> is an impeccable film. Though it is sadly no longer the front runner for Best Picture, it will likely win a very deserved Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. </b><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia"><b>**** </b></span><b>(Out of 4)</b></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242264452506705315.post-66234369615520071692010-03-05T00:00:00.010-05:002010-03-05T01:26:14.687-05:00Movie Review: Best Picture Nominee Up (9 of 10)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmQ4gKK_sWcF7axf_oz1WMt2mGvurj9-QVUw5n9BfOxtAIObf9J2C1PNWdjZYDxvNWZZ9XqMZ0oPLP96oeQUqNvHBtRiC3lGwZJt-5UcUt8ADFU-oEu4n72F2LNrFoS3cSv5DJkVX4Uvy/s1600-h/Up+Poster.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 122px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmQ4gKK_sWcF7axf_oz1WMt2mGvurj9-QVUw5n9BfOxtAIObf9J2C1PNWdjZYDxvNWZZ9XqMZ0oPLP96oeQUqNvHBtRiC3lGwZJt-5UcUt8ADFU-oEu4n72F2LNrFoS3cSv5DJkVX4Uvy/s200/Up+Poster.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444961551218201298" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><i>Up</i> was released in theatres on May 29th, and is came to DVD on November 10th. You can read our full reviews <a href="http://onemoviefiveviews.blogspot.com/2009/05/up-review.html">here</a>, below are excerpts of our reviews.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><b>Up Review By John C.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">One of the main themes in <i>Up</i> is, sometimes you have to let go of your past, in order to make new memories. In one of the films most touching scenes, Carl reads the scrapbook that Ellie had made when she was a kid. The scene is emotional and heartbreaking, yet full of love and hope. One of my favorite images in the film is a shot of two chairs standing up beside each other. It's an animated film, but it moved me to tears, and will likely be the most touching film to come out this year.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;"><i>Up</i> is perhaps Pixar’s most affecting work to date, both emotionally and comically. There is never a false note in this film. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color:#2d2d2d;">_____________________________________________</p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><b>Up Review By Erin V.</b></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">I absolutely loved this movie. At it’s core, this movie has emotional heart, and that is the true beauty of Pixar.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">Pixar does not let us down with this latest effort. Everything about this movie works. The voice acting is all spot on, with great performances from Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, newcomer Jordan Nagai, and Bob Peterson in the main roles. Michael Giacchino's score is also absolutely beautiful to listen to, and the animation, as always from Pixar, is breathtakingly gorgeous to look at. A beautiful movie about love, loss, knowing when to letting go, and the adventure of our everyday lives. <span style="text-decoration: underline">One</span> of Pixar’s most emotional and mature outings to date, <i>Up</i> is destined to become a classic.</p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; ">_____________________________________________</p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><b>Up Review By Nicole</b></p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p color="#2d2d2d" style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; "><i>Up</i> is an exciting , and very touching film about two unlikely friends on an adventure. <i>Up</i> is a great action-adventure film with a lot of heart. Despite how the film is being advertised, <i>Up</i> is not just a kids movie about cute talking dogs. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">The story is both whimsical and sweet, the animation is great, and the score by Michael Giacchino fits every emotion in this film perfectly. <i>Up</i> is one movie that the whole family, especially grandparents, will enjoy.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>Up Review By Maureen</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><i>Up</i> is an absolute gem from Pixar. This movie is heartwarming, touching, exciting and funny from start to finish. The movie wraps up with a satisfying and touching ending. I had tears in my eyes when Carl realizes that sometimes you have to let go to move on.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">The animation is excellent in <i>Up</i>. The voice acting is great and I especially enjoyed Michael Giacchino’s score throughout the movie. <i>Up</i> is a must see for the young and old alike. </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><b>Up Review By Tony</b></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d"><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia">**** </span>(out of 4)</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">Pitched merely as a comedy, <i>Up</i> is really a sweet story that will leave much of the audience in joyful tears. Like all their others, Pixar’s 10th feature is much more than a vehicle for lucrative tie-ins with Disney toys and collectibles.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia; color: #2d2d2d">My greatest joy came in the Michael Giacchino musical score. In action sequences it reminded me of Mussorgsky, while its main motto theme, reminiscent of the best Nino Rota scores for Fellini films, was a waltz tune that underwent numerous transformations, such as a lightening of texture down to a single slow piano line as Ellie’s last days are remembered.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia">_____________________________________________</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Georgia"><b>Consensus: <i>Up</i> is Pixar’s latest masterpiece, and an incredibly moving and entertaining film. Only the second animated film to be nominated for Best Picture, <i>Up</i> is not going to win, but its nomination is very deserved. </b><span style="font: 18.0px Georgia"><b>**** </b></span><b>(Out of 4)</b></p>One Movie, Five Viewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468452009395058500noreply@blogger.com0