New trailers for films are revealed all the time online. Before, I posted here,
http://stickyfloorreviews.blogspot.com/2010/06/trailers-to-watch.html, a few trailer of movies that I have been looking forward to. Here are a few more films to look out for.
Red: Last time I posted a trailer for a movie called RED, about retired CIA agents being hunted because of knowing too many secrets. Here is another trailer for it, making it even more action packed and humorous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7tvQZ1RJ2Y
Tron: Legacy: This is the long awaited sequel of the original movie, Tron, from 1982. Starring Garret Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Jeff Bridges, and Michael Sheen, this will be one of the greatest films of 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9szn1QQfas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE7fM18VdrA
The Town: Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Renner, and Chris Cooper. I am not a fan of Ben Affleck, but I am a fan of everyone else in this movie. This trailer makes this film look really good and after I saw it for the first time, I keep seeing the nun outfit in my head. It is so creepy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ7wcayQQLQ
Let Me In: Chloe Moretz is an amazing actress and she is only 12. This is another vampire movie, but it is more than that. This movie is a thriller, horror, and romance in one. But I don’t think that Chloe is even a vampire, just something like a vampire. Check these two trailers out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hDPUlcjmQQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVPoTsYDJV8
No other trailers now. In a few weeks, several big name comic book movies will be releasing trailers for their films such as Thor, Captain America, and Green Lantern. I will post those when they come out. Visit Trailers To Watch Part One for other film trailers.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
INCEPTION: 6 STARS! Ten Thumbs Way Up. 'Nough said.
Inception is an adrenaline high. It is a complex story of dreams and ideas. It is one amazing action scene after another. And it has the greatest ensemble of a cast this year. And it is the greatest film I have ever seen.
No spoilers here. It is best to go in the movie not knowing what to expect except that you need to pay attention. Losing focus in this film could cause large amounts of confusion. But Inception does have the most complex, moving, and emotional scripts that has ever been put to screen.
The acting is superb as well. Leonardo DiCaprio is surprisingly amazing as Dom Cobb, the lead character in the film. He put away all of his terrible performances in the past and he brings forth the most powerful performance in his entire career; better than Body of Lies, better than Blood Diamond, and better than Catch Me If You Can. Now comes the supporting cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock From The Sun) shows himself to those who do not know him that he is one of the greatest young actors at work today. Tom Hardy, a young British actor who hasn’t had much success in America soon to be a hot commodity after this. Ellen Page (Juno) holds her own with every actor in the film. And Marion Cotillard (A Good Year, Public Enemies) is perfect in showing every bit of emotion that is needed. Other cast members include Ken Watanabe (Batman Begins, The Last Samurai) who may be the weakest link (only because he was a little incomprehensible), Cillian Murphy (Red Eye, 28 Days Later, Batman Begins) who acts tremendously well with bigger name actors, and Michael Caine who I wish we could have seen a little more of.
On the technical aspect, the music, the special effect, the graphic effects, and the production design were all perfect. The music drove me nuts (not in a bad way). It added so much tension to the film, making me get closer to the edge of my seat than any other film. After every intense scene, the music added more pressure to my lungs, making me hold my breath longer and longer. The practical effects and the computer effects melded so well that it is hard for us as an audience to tell which were which. The sets were also amazing. Every one of them grabbed my mind and threw me across the room with awe and amazement. The scope of all of the sets and the beauty of them continued to grab me and strangle me.
So see it. No matter how much money you have to spend, it is worth it. Find $5.25 under the couch or in the desk, but see this movie.
P.S.- (I see the top spinning in my head. You’ll know when you see it.)
Next time: Musicals to avoid and a month of Ken Branagh.
No spoilers here. It is best to go in the movie not knowing what to expect except that you need to pay attention. Losing focus in this film could cause large amounts of confusion. But Inception does have the most complex, moving, and emotional scripts that has ever been put to screen.
The acting is superb as well. Leonardo DiCaprio is surprisingly amazing as Dom Cobb, the lead character in the film. He put away all of his terrible performances in the past and he brings forth the most powerful performance in his entire career; better than Body of Lies, better than Blood Diamond, and better than Catch Me If You Can. Now comes the supporting cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock From The Sun) shows himself to those who do not know him that he is one of the greatest young actors at work today. Tom Hardy, a young British actor who hasn’t had much success in America soon to be a hot commodity after this. Ellen Page (Juno) holds her own with every actor in the film. And Marion Cotillard (A Good Year, Public Enemies) is perfect in showing every bit of emotion that is needed. Other cast members include Ken Watanabe (Batman Begins, The Last Samurai) who may be the weakest link (only because he was a little incomprehensible), Cillian Murphy (Red Eye, 28 Days Later, Batman Begins) who acts tremendously well with bigger name actors, and Michael Caine who I wish we could have seen a little more of.
On the technical aspect, the music, the special effect, the graphic effects, and the production design were all perfect. The music drove me nuts (not in a bad way). It added so much tension to the film, making me get closer to the edge of my seat than any other film. After every intense scene, the music added more pressure to my lungs, making me hold my breath longer and longer. The practical effects and the computer effects melded so well that it is hard for us as an audience to tell which were which. The sets were also amazing. Every one of them grabbed my mind and threw me across the room with awe and amazement. The scope of all of the sets and the beauty of them continued to grab me and strangle me.
So see it. No matter how much money you have to spend, it is worth it. Find $5.25 under the couch or in the desk, but see this movie.
P.S.- (I see the top spinning in my head. You’ll know when you see it.)
Next time: Musicals to avoid and a month of Ken Branagh.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Michael Sheen Collection
I love Michael Sheen. Very few people know who this amazing actor is because he hasn’t had his big break in America yet. However, he is very well known across the pond for one major reason: Tony Blair. There are three films where he played the British Prime Minister: The Deal (2003, TV), The Queen (2006), and lately The Special Relationship (2010, TV).
The Deal is about Tony Blair’s relationship with Member of Parliament (MP) Gordon Brown and how the Labour Party grew in the UK to beat the Conservative Party. This film is good in many different aspects, but most importantly the acting. This film is hard to find on DVD but it is on Youtube in its entirety. If you have an hour and a half to two hours to spare, I would recommend looking this up and watching Michael Sheen’s first go around as Blair.
The Queen was well known for Helen Mirren’s portrayal as Queen Elizabeth II. Academies and other award associations gave their awards to Mirren but poor Michael Sheen was left in the dust. This film is about the relationship between the queen and the newly elected Prime Minister, Tony Blair. The whole film takes place during the time of Princess Diana’s death. It is a powerful story with a well written script and extraordinary cast. I would also recommend this film.
The last of what has been called, “The Blair Trilogy” is The Special Relationship, which discusses the relationship of Blair and President Bill Clinton. This just aired on HBO so I did not get a chance to see it, but I hear it is worth seeing Dennis Quaid as Clinton. I also would imagine Sheen would be a great as Blair, again.
All of these films were written by the same screenplay writer, Peter Morgan. After The Queen, and before The Special Relationship, he wrote two other films which also stared Michael Sheen: Frost/Nixon, and The Damned United.
Frost/Nixon, directed by Ron Howard, is about what happened to President Richard Nixon (Frank Langella; The Box, Good Night and Good Luck) after he resigned the presidency and was given a pardon. David Frost (Michael Sheen) is a talk show host from Australia who believes he would be the only person to get a confession out of Richard Nixon. A powerful film that is very informative to someone who did not live during that time. And every single actor in this movie is right for the part.
The Damned United is about Brian Clough (Michael Sheen), a football manager in England who has a professional rivalry with another football manager, Don Revie. This is another well acted film with a great British cast with Jim Broadbent (Nicholas Nickleby, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) and Timothy Spall (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Sweeny Todd and the Demon Barber of Fleet Street).
There are other films of his that I like, such as Underworld. This film is the closest thing Michael Sheen has to a “big break” in America. He plays Lucian, a Lycan (aka werewolf) that is trying to destroy the vampire race. He doesn’t reprise his role in the second film, but in Underworld: Rise of the Lycans he comes back to play Lucian in an origin story. I would recommend seeing the first but not seeing the others.
Michael Sheen was also in a few smaller roles recently. Most memorable for me was in Alice in Wonderland as the voice of the White Rabbit. And also, he was in Twilight Saga: New Moon as the Vampire lord Aro, the leader of the Volturi.
Of all of these films I have presented to you, I would say see them all. But if you could only see one or two, I would say see The Queen and Frost/Nixon.
Next time: Dream Girls and other bad chick flicks
The Deal is about Tony Blair’s relationship with Member of Parliament (MP) Gordon Brown and how the Labour Party grew in the UK to beat the Conservative Party. This film is good in many different aspects, but most importantly the acting. This film is hard to find on DVD but it is on Youtube in its entirety. If you have an hour and a half to two hours to spare, I would recommend looking this up and watching Michael Sheen’s first go around as Blair.
The Queen was well known for Helen Mirren’s portrayal as Queen Elizabeth II. Academies and other award associations gave their awards to Mirren but poor Michael Sheen was left in the dust. This film is about the relationship between the queen and the newly elected Prime Minister, Tony Blair. The whole film takes place during the time of Princess Diana’s death. It is a powerful story with a well written script and extraordinary cast. I would also recommend this film.
The last of what has been called, “The Blair Trilogy” is The Special Relationship, which discusses the relationship of Blair and President Bill Clinton. This just aired on HBO so I did not get a chance to see it, but I hear it is worth seeing Dennis Quaid as Clinton. I also would imagine Sheen would be a great as Blair, again.
All of these films were written by the same screenplay writer, Peter Morgan. After The Queen, and before The Special Relationship, he wrote two other films which also stared Michael Sheen: Frost/Nixon, and The Damned United.
Frost/Nixon, directed by Ron Howard, is about what happened to President Richard Nixon (Frank Langella; The Box, Good Night and Good Luck) after he resigned the presidency and was given a pardon. David Frost (Michael Sheen) is a talk show host from Australia who believes he would be the only person to get a confession out of Richard Nixon. A powerful film that is very informative to someone who did not live during that time. And every single actor in this movie is right for the part.
The Damned United is about Brian Clough (Michael Sheen), a football manager in England who has a professional rivalry with another football manager, Don Revie. This is another well acted film with a great British cast with Jim Broadbent (Nicholas Nickleby, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) and Timothy Spall (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Sweeny Todd and the Demon Barber of Fleet Street).
There are other films of his that I like, such as Underworld. This film is the closest thing Michael Sheen has to a “big break” in America. He plays Lucian, a Lycan (aka werewolf) that is trying to destroy the vampire race. He doesn’t reprise his role in the second film, but in Underworld: Rise of the Lycans he comes back to play Lucian in an origin story. I would recommend seeing the first but not seeing the others.
Michael Sheen was also in a few smaller roles recently. Most memorable for me was in Alice in Wonderland as the voice of the White Rabbit. And also, he was in Twilight Saga: New Moon as the Vampire lord Aro, the leader of the Volturi.
Of all of these films I have presented to you, I would say see them all. But if you could only see one or two, I would say see The Queen and Frost/Nixon.
Next time: Dream Girls and other bad chick flicks
Twilight Saga: Eclipse- 3 stars
These movies continue to improve as they continue throughout the series. But it is impossible for any of these films to be considered great. When Catherine Hardwicke cast these three leads, I don’t know what was going through her head. There are many actors who could have done a better job then them. New Moon and Eclipse could have been two films, and maybe Twilight, if these three actors were never cast.
In this one, there is more action and better plot. They build up the ending better than Stephanie Meyer did in the books by actually showing us the mind process of Riley, Victoria’s new lover and a newborn vampire. It is an interesting concept that we see very little in the book that could have made Eclipse the greatest of the series.
Kristen Stewart still hunches over her body and mumbles incoherently when she gets mad at Jake or Eddie. Her buckteeth is shown less in this movie, but that still doesn’t mean she is improving. RPattz, or whatever he is being called now, still has vacant expressions whenever he talks. When he is relaxed, his eyes are relaxed. When he his mad, his eyes bulge out of his head. That is the only indication when he gets upset. And Taylor Lautner continues to speak the words as if he was just reading the script. The only other bad actor was Dakota Fanning. She was good in New Moon, but that was because they gave her three lines. In this one, Fanning has a larger role as Jane, in which she did not do a good job at all.
With all of these flaws in the leads, you might be surprised to read that I actually liked Eclipse. I liked the acting from the Cullens. It was nice to see more of the Cullens. Outside of the great action sequences, the best scenes were when Rosalie and Jasper (Go Team Jasper!) tell their back stories. I am a huge fan of Jasper and it was nice to see more of him in this film than in the others. And the new Victoria (played amazingly by Bryce Dallas Howard) is one of the greatest actors in this series so far. Howard got to show off some great fighting skills. But the actor that I was really impressed with was Riley. Xavier Samuel did a very good job as the newborn vampire leader. He plays perfectly alongside the beautiful Bryce Howard.
All of the romances in these films are really beautiful, (Jasper and Alice, Emmet and Rosalie, Riley and Victoria, Carlisle and Esme), except for the love triangle that we are supposed to care about. That is the major downfall of the films and ultimately the books: I wouldn't care if Bella or Jake or Edward dies. Their so called passion for each other is a fickle thing and filled with contradictions. If Stephenie Meyer could write a romance like the one of Jasper and Alice for Edward and Bella, or if Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson could act better, I would love these books and films.
Lastly, I would like to mention I enjoyed the technical aspects of the film like I did with New Moon. Most importantly, the music is where this film really shines (Howard Shore, The Lord of the Rings). The greatest part of the score is the theme for Riley and Victoria. I also thought that the theme for the love triangle (not a theme for just Bell and just Edward and just Jacob, but for all of them) was as heartbreaking as the love theme in New Moon. I look forward to what the next composer will do for Breaking Dawn (TBA).
Overall, I say see it if you have seen the other films, but, like I said with New Moon, if you haven’t seen the other films, don’t go out of your way to see them. I would advise waiting until the end of 2012 for when Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part II comes out. Let us have a show of hands for those who will actually listen to me. (I didn’t think so.)
(GO TEAM CHARLIE)
In this one, there is more action and better plot. They build up the ending better than Stephanie Meyer did in the books by actually showing us the mind process of Riley, Victoria’s new lover and a newborn vampire. It is an interesting concept that we see very little in the book that could have made Eclipse the greatest of the series.
Kristen Stewart still hunches over her body and mumbles incoherently when she gets mad at Jake or Eddie. Her buckteeth is shown less in this movie, but that still doesn’t mean she is improving. RPattz, or whatever he is being called now, still has vacant expressions whenever he talks. When he is relaxed, his eyes are relaxed. When he his mad, his eyes bulge out of his head. That is the only indication when he gets upset. And Taylor Lautner continues to speak the words as if he was just reading the script. The only other bad actor was Dakota Fanning. She was good in New Moon, but that was because they gave her three lines. In this one, Fanning has a larger role as Jane, in which she did not do a good job at all.
With all of these flaws in the leads, you might be surprised to read that I actually liked Eclipse. I liked the acting from the Cullens. It was nice to see more of the Cullens. Outside of the great action sequences, the best scenes were when Rosalie and Jasper (Go Team Jasper!) tell their back stories. I am a huge fan of Jasper and it was nice to see more of him in this film than in the others. And the new Victoria (played amazingly by Bryce Dallas Howard) is one of the greatest actors in this series so far. Howard got to show off some great fighting skills. But the actor that I was really impressed with was Riley. Xavier Samuel did a very good job as the newborn vampire leader. He plays perfectly alongside the beautiful Bryce Howard.
All of the romances in these films are really beautiful, (Jasper and Alice, Emmet and Rosalie, Riley and Victoria, Carlisle and Esme), except for the love triangle that we are supposed to care about. That is the major downfall of the films and ultimately the books: I wouldn't care if Bella or Jake or Edward dies. Their so called passion for each other is a fickle thing and filled with contradictions. If Stephenie Meyer could write a romance like the one of Jasper and Alice for Edward and Bella, or if Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson could act better, I would love these books and films.
Lastly, I would like to mention I enjoyed the technical aspects of the film like I did with New Moon. Most importantly, the music is where this film really shines (Howard Shore, The Lord of the Rings). The greatest part of the score is the theme for Riley and Victoria. I also thought that the theme for the love triangle (not a theme for just Bell and just Edward and just Jacob, but for all of them) was as heartbreaking as the love theme in New Moon. I look forward to what the next composer will do for Breaking Dawn (TBA).
Overall, I say see it if you have seen the other films, but, like I said with New Moon, if you haven’t seen the other films, don’t go out of your way to see them. I would advise waiting until the end of 2012 for when Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part II comes out. Let us have a show of hands for those who will actually listen to me. (I didn’t think so.)
(GO TEAM CHARLIE)
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