A Long Awaited Return

After a long hiatus, I'm back in action and ready to write again. Finally having gotten over the initial shock of returning to school, my mind is back on film and with Netflix at my side this time around, I'm prepared to revolutionize the film industry. Well...I might be setting my sights a little bit high, so I'll just settle with keeping what few readers I have left informed of what's going on in film and what I have to say about it.

For right now, I'd just like to say how excited I am about having Netflix for the first time. It's been working out great with the affordable $8.99 plan which allows me to get one movie at a time, but the amount of movies per month is unlimited. Included is 9 hours of instant watching time. The one thing I was worried about was the return policy. Firstly, I wanted to know about late fees...low and behold there are NO LATE FEES whatsoever. You are allowed to hang onto a movie for as long as you want. And Second, I was concerned about how deliveries would work trying to fit a package through a tiny mail slot and how I would package it up in order to return it. Again, Netflix pulls through. The package is as thin as an envelop and will fit in any mail slot no matter the size. And as for sending it back, you just reseal the envelop that the movie arrived in with the unused sticky strip on the edge of the envelop. It's genius and I'm sad I've caught on so late, but if YOU haven't GET ON IT!

http://www.netflix.com/MemberHome

Pirates 3: A Sinking Franchise

Of the three most anticipated, box office smashing sequels to hit theaters this summer, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End was probably the worst of the three failures. I would describe Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third and Pirates: AWE as "entertaining" at best. The Pirates trilogy started with a bang and fizzled out quicker than you can say "Captain Jack Sparrow." There is more than one reason why I disliked Pirates: AWE, but I'd have to say poor writing was what sunk this already badly damaged ship. With too many plot lines and not much character development, I constantly found myself wondering more than once if there was a deleted scene that was supposed to go there. Just way too much material and not enough screen time and continuity, and with all the poor acting going on in this film even Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush couldn't keep it afloat. With no chemistry between Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly, it was impossible to believe much of anything that was going on. Instead of making me swoon, sentimental moments made me cringe and feel embarrassed for the people who took part in this shipwreck of a film. In the last two installments, the comedic element has pretty much vanished entirely, the jokes just weren't funny, but more along the lines of corny. Even the rum was gone.

Grade: C-

Al Pacino to Recieve AFI's Life Achievement Award

Al Pacino has been chosen to receive the 35th AFI Life Achievement Award, one of the highest honors in film. Previous recipients include: Sir Sean Connery, Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood, Alfred Hitchcock, George Lucas, Sidney Poitier, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Meryl Streep.
The award will be presented to Pacino on June 7th, and will be televised on the USA Network on Tuesday, June 19th at 9:00pm and 12:00am and also on Saturday, June 23rd at 9:00am.

More on AFI.

Knocked Up: Teaser Trailer

In Theaters Now!

More on the History Channel

Tomorrow, June 3rd, on The History Channel, there will be a 2-hour encore presentation of "Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed" at 8:00pm.

Through interviews with politicians, academics, journalists and critics, we'll learn about the similarities between the tales of Luke Skywalker and King Arthur and Buddha and Yoda. We'll see how Star Wars' intensely compelling stories - borrowed from diverse traditions, from Greek mythology and American westerns to the Bible and even Vaudeville - force us to explore some of the biggest questions of our time.

Go here to find out more. May the force be with you.

Spider-Man: Genetic Possibility?

Film is definitely my #1 passion, but the history channel definitely comes in at a close second. As I was watching The History Channel this morning, I came across a really interesting program called Spider-Man Tech. This focuses on putting Spider-Man's abilities to the test, using science to determine which of his abilities are fiction and which are possible. Stan Lee and Steve Ditko weigh in along with scientists. Now if you're thinking that Spider-Man's abilities are entirely fictitious, think again because splicing the genetics of a mouse and a luminescent jellyfish have created a new species of glowing mice....yeah, you heard me right.
The next showings of Spider-Man Tech will be Wednesday, June 13th at 10:00am and 4:00pm.
For more info go to The History Channel's site.

Shrek the Last

Shrek the Third is the second big sequel to hit theaters this summer, and the second sequel to disappoint critically. Lacking the comedic genius of the first two Shreks, Shrek the Third just can't top its previous installments. However, I did enjoy the film and found it to be entertaining and it's that kind of film that will put you in a good mood even if it didn't stand up to your expectations.
Justin Timberlake as Artie is a great addition to the cast, as one of the better characters of this film. I only wish we got a little more out of Puss in Boots, my personal favorite. Donkey just seems to be kind of useless in Shrek the Third. I can't seem to recall one funny line from him that wasn't in the trailer. Shrek is a bit duller, but still humorous as always.
Although Shrek the Third might be the last we see of the green ogre, it is still worth that trip to the movies to bid it farewell.

Grade: B-

Emo Spidey?

Spider-Man 3 is probably the movie that everyone is looking forward to this summer. However, it does not deliver the way fans would have wanted it to. Although Spider-Man 3 is entertaining, compared to the franchise's previous installments, it just falls flat on its face.
Spider-Man 3 starts out with Peter preparing to propose to Mary Jane, Harry wanting some revenge, and Sandman escaping from prison. Already the plot is overwhelming with multiple villains. For X-Men, multiple villains works, but when it's one hero verse all, it's better to keep it simple. Eventually the highly anticipated Venom, played by Topher Grace, is brought into the story, probably one of the few great parts of the film which is taken directly from the comic book and copied shot for shot. Grace is one of the few in the film that actually did a great acting job, but besides his performance, Spider-Man 3 comes off as the whiny addition of the Spider-Man franchise. Peter is crying over Mary Jane, Harry over his dead father, Sandman over his sick daughter, Mary Jane over her failure as an actress, and Eddie Brock over his pathetic life....see what I'm getting at? In the words of my generation, "stop being so damn emo!" The audience wants to see action, laughs, love and strong heroes...not some whiny baby who used to save the world. And for a movie that's 2.5 hours, the editor should be shunned because there was about 30 minutes of pure crap in the middle which includes Peter Parker with his new emo haircut and all black outfit, dancing down the street (this scene actually made me embarassed for Maguire), which should have been cut. Go figure.
Despite my overall opinion, the one thing that makes this movie decent is the CGI, which is flawless in its execution. The action scenes are stunning and you actually feel as if you have that slow motion Spidey-sense. So props to the visual effects department.

Grade: C+

It Really Is An Inconvenient Truth

Today, for the first time, I saw An Inconvenient Truth, which is a documentary on Al Gore's campaign to make the world more aware of global warming. It is probably the best documentary I've ever seen. I am not someone who is interested in politics...as a matter of fact I hate politics and politicians and find no need to talk about them...but An Inconvenient Truth was so powerful that it really got me thinking. Not only do I fully support Al Gore and his campaign for global warming awareness, but now I actually want to help out in preventing it. To do my part for the environment.
It is clearly stated that the government wants to convince us that global warming is a theory, but really it is something happening right now that is a serious problem for not only the U.S., but the entire Earth and something needs to be done. The U.S. is the main problem and is doing the least to make up for it. If you care about the world that you live in, or your children will live in, then you should do something. I'm not an activist...just someone who wants to get the word out to others and I recommend that you see this film ASAP so you too can "do your part."

For more information or to see how you can help go to StopGlobalWarming.org

Spidey's Additional Footage

Today, Spider-Man 2.1 was released on DVD by Sony into stores everywhere. Spider-Man 2.1 is an extended version of the original Spider-Man 2. It includes 8 minutes of additional footage, improved audio and video and of course a trailer for Spider-Man 3, which is set to come out May 4th. The DVD is approximately $20.

My Blogging Experience

Keeping a blog for the first time this semester has been an awesome experience that has really helped me improve as a writer and I feel I have finally become passionate about being a journalism major. More than ever, I'm motivated to pursue my dream to become a film critic. At first, I had no clue what a blog even was. Was it a journal? Was it a profession? I didn't quite know, but now I know that you can make it your own and do whatever works for you. When I found out in class that we were able to chose our own topic for our blogs, I immediately thought film, that is totally my niche. I had no clue how to start, but eventually I had so much to write, and so much to say, and even though this was a requirement for my class, I actually looked forward to writing on it every day. When people started commenting it was so exciting to know that people were reading my stuff (thanks to those who commented, your awesome), and it made me want to post even more. I feel that I have mastered the art of blogging. I figured out how to organize, post, edit, and even use youtube on my blog. Friends and family have just been impressed with my work (my mom reads it religiously) and are very supportive, which is awesome, and every time someone says something to me about my blog I'm extremely flattered. I plan on continuing my blog after this semester's classes are over. Yay...a new hobby!

Disturbia

I can tell you right now, that if you are looking to get scared, Disturbia is the movie for you. It is the first movie that has made me scream out loud since The Ring. While I only screamed once, the rest of the girls in the theater were screaming throughout the movie...again, something I haven't seen since the scene in The Ring where Samara freaks us all out by climbing out of the television. Still gives me goosebumps!
Often when I go to see thrillers, the strong point is the shock value and gore, and the weak point is the acting. However, in Disturbia, the acting was fantastic. Shia LaBeouf proves to be a promising newcomer, Aaorn Yoo makes a great addition as the comic relief, and David Morse is creepy as hell as the serial killer next door.
Disturbia has a fast moving plot which keeps your eyes glued to the screen, and at the same time makes you want to close or cover them, or maybe hold hands with the person next to you. Worried that it would be a rip off of Rear Window, the film has quite a different style and tone to it...this isn't a bad thing. Of course nothing can really rival Hitchcock's Rear Window, but that doesn't discredit Disturbia, which proves to be an awesome thriller and one of the better films to come out this year.

Grade: B

Pirates of the Caribbean 3 - At World's End Trailer

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End trailer. Set to come out May 25th.

Northeastern's Springfest 007

This Sunday, April 15th, as an event of this year's Springfest 007, CUP will be hosting a Bond Movie Night at afterHours on Northeastern's campus. This event will begin at 5pm and will feature two Bond films, old and new...Goldfinger and Casino Royale for free.

Where Do They Go From Here...?

After finishing up "Grindhouse," a film that was hot with the critics but cold in the box office and is now in danger of being split into two films by the Weinsteins, what are Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's future plans?
Tarantino's next project is "Inglorious Bastards," which he will write and direct. It is about a band of U.S. soldiers who are facing certain death by firing squad for their misdeeds are given a chance to save themselves by heading into the perilous no-man's lands of Nazi-occupied France on a suicide mission for the Allies. QT had indicated that this may be a follow-up to "Grindhouse." So far Michael Madsen and Tim Roth are signed on and the film is set to be released sometime in 2008.
Rodriguez is starting pre-production soon for his next project, "Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For," where he will again be teaming up with Frank Miller for a second addition. Rodriguez will also be working on "Sin City 3: Hell and Back" (possible title). There is talk that Johnny Depp and Antonio Banderas will probably be signing on for "Sin City 3," with Depp as the main character Wallace, and Banderas possibly playing a hunchback, oddly enough on his request.

For more info on RR.
For more info on QT.


If you don't want "Grindhouse" to be split into two films, get your butt out of bed and over to the theaters to support the double feature.

Darfur Diaries

This Wednesday, April 11th, from 7 - 8pm at Northeastern University, in room 168 Snell Engineering, NUSTAND invites you to a free screening of the groundbreaking documentary "Darfur Diaries: Message From Home."
Three independent filmmakers were outraged that the media turned a blind eye to the genocide in Darfur. So they went with a camera to make the world understand. This is their story.
This event is free and open to the public as well as NU students. There will also be free pizza and refreshments.

Kumar Goes to Northeastern

Kal Penn, best known for his roles in "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" and more recently "The Namesake," will be speaking at Northeastern on Thursday, April 12 at 9pm at the Remis Auditorium at the Museum of Fine Arts.
Tickets are limited to two per person with NU ID. To reserve tickets, send an email to AsianAm@neu.edu. For more information go here.

Another Advanced Screening

Tonight at the Regal Fenway Theatre 13, there will be an advanced screening of Robert Rodriguez's and Quentin Tarantino's "Grindhouse" at 10pm.

For details about the film go here.

Grindhouse Trailer

A Plague of a Film

Corny, cheesy, stinky. When you think of these words, usually food comes to mind, but in this case they are describing The Reaping. With Hilary Swank's career on the rise, I don't know what she was thinking or if she cringed after watching the final cut of this film because it was an absolute disaster. This is definitely one of those films that's going to end up on IMDb's Bottom 100 list because it is just that bad. Even horror film fans who would be satisfied with no plot and just tons of death and gore would be disappointed. It wasn't even scary enough to rake in the mula, like The Grudge, a complete failure of a film, did.
The acting was crap, so was the story and the plagues, which were the lifeline for the film's weak plot, just were unsatisfying and barely scary. The high point of the film was where we see that the entire river has turned to blood, a shocking spectacle, but despite the one cool plague the other nine were given such brief screen time and were not in the least bit scary, I just found myself saying "ew" a few times, and for someone like me who is totally squeamish when it comes to bugs, i wasn't disturbed in the least when the locusts came out. Kind of pathetic for a horror film don't you think?
At the end of the film I was just glad I didn't actually pay to see this movie.

Grade: D

Free Adavanced Screening of "The Reaping"

Tonight, Wednesday, April 4th, there is a free advanced screening of "The Reaping" at the Regal Fenway Theatre 13 for Northeastern students. The film starts at 7pm, but seats are available on a first come first served basis, so showing up early is key. Tickets are free and available on the door of room 234 at the Curry Student Center.
"The Reaping" stars Hilary Swank, who is a former Christian missionary who is all about disproving religious phenomena. However, when she comes upon a town that seems to be suffering from the 10 biblical plagues, she immediately tries to disprove the hoax...but she never thought that maybe it's not a hoax at all?

The Most Anticipated Sequels

10
Terminator 4
Nick Stahl is rumored to be returning for the fourth installment, but all we know now is that the script is ready and production is going to begin sometime this year.
Set Release Date: Sometime in 2008

9
Jurassic Park 4
Yes, there is going to be another addition to Jurassic Park. The script is being developed and the current working title is Jurassic Park 4: The Extinction. No word on who will be a part of the cast or what the story is going to be.
Set Release Date: Sometime in 2008

8
Live Free or Die Hard
A terrorist organization is trying to shut down the US economy via the Internet. John McClane of course signs up to save the day along with a hacker sidekick played by Justin Long, who you might recognize as the spokesman for Apple Mac and for his memorable role in "Dodgeball."
Set Release Date: June 27, 2007

7
Sequel to The Departed
Nothing much to know about this one since "The Departed" came out on DVD not too long ago. However, there is a second one in the works, fans will flock to it and that's all that matters.
Set Release Date: Sometime 2009

6
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
The final chapter to the Pirates trilogy is almost at hand, with Geoffrey Rush back for the final installment as Captain Barbossa, the gang must find a way to save Jack from the Kraken and stop Davey Jones and Lord Cutler Beckett from bringing the world to ruins. Reportedly the cast (especially Depp) is very sad to be hanging up their cutlasses, and hope there's still chapters to be written about Captain Jack Sparrow and his adventures. Official site.
Set Release Date: May 25, 2007

5
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
This film is based on J.K. Rowling's fifth book, and of course the whole cast is back, even "dirty" Harry after his recent controversial nude scenes. Harry and the gang form the Order of the Phoenix in order to learn how to defend themselves against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named aka Lord Voldemort...oops! David Yates directs this installment. Check out the official site.
Set Release Date: July 13, 2007

4
Sin City 2
A new cult classic, bringing in Tarantino and Frank Miller fans from all over, "Sin City 2" will no doubt be a smash at the box office. Nothing is set in stone, but so far the second installment is supposedly about Dwight planning revenge against an old flame, Ava Lord, while Nancy is trying to cope with the recent death of Hartigan. Rachel Weisz is still the front runner for the role of Ava Lord, but no word yet on if she's officially signed on. After "Grindhouse" is released, there should be more developments on "Sin City 2." For updates on the films progress go here.
Set Release Date: Sometime 2008

3
The Dark Knight
The franchise that will never die...Batman! It will outlast us all, and with Christian Bale returning as Bruce Wayne, I look forward to its continuance. Batman and Lt. Gordon team up with the newly appointed DA Harvey Dent (our future two-face), to stop the vicious killer The Joker (played by Heath Ledger). Maggie Gyllenhaal is our new Rachel Dawes (thank god!) and Aaron Eckhart is Harvey Dent. With this new and exciting cast, I can't wait to see what they're going to do with this one. The sky is the limit! Filming begins this month. If your a fanatic you'll want to check this out.
Set Release Date: July 18, 2008

2
Indiana Jones 4
So there is definitely a fourth Indiana Jones in the works with the 65-year-old Ford as Jones, who else. Not too much is known of the story or the cast. Rumors are flying that Sean Connery might be back, or that Shia LaBeouf or Natalie Portman may be playing his kid. No one really knows for sure. Cate Blanchett, however, is reportedly signed on to be Jones' right hand woman and there is talk of Ray Winstone ("The Departed") joining the cast most likely as the villain. To keep up to snuff on the films developments try this site.
Set Release Date: May 22, 2008

1
Spider-Man 3
In this third addition, a dark entity bonds with Spider-Man, creating inner-conflict while having to deal with new villains such as Sandman (played by Thomas Haden Church) and the new Green Goblin (played by James Franco). This may even be Maguire's last act as the superhero before he moves on to other things. Check it all out here.
Set Release Date: May 4, 2007

Killer Thrillers

This year it seems there's an influx of thrillers set to come out, and surprisingly they look good! However, trailers can be deceiving, but here's the low down:


In "28 Weeks Later" (the sequel to "28 Days Later" of course), London seems to be in a state of rebuilding now that the Americans have come over bringing aid and claiming the war against the virus is won. But when everything seems to be looking up, a carrier of the virus manages to sneak behind enemy lines restarting the vicious cycle we saw in the original, except this time it's worse. "28 Weeks Later" is set to be released May 11, 2007. Go here to see the trailer.



Based on the true story of the double initial killings in Rochester, NY, the trailer for "The Alphabet Killer" starts out saying "In the small blue collar city of Rochester, New York...innocent girls are being killed" showing us a panicked young girl named Carla Castillo who we find out was murdered in Churchville, NY. Coincidence with the names? I think not. There's not too much to report on this one, except that Rob Schmidt(director) is collaborating with Eliza Dushku(as Megan, a neurotic detective) again, after their first meeting on the set of "Wrong Turn," a movie that was a well executed horror flick, and even though it had no point, I liked it, so I'm definitely looking forward to this one which is set for release in October 2007.



In room "1408" there's been some weird happenings, and anyone who stays in that room never lasts more than an hour. Samuel L. Jackson plays the suave hotel manager, and John Cusak is the eccentric ghost hunter who lost his daughter when she was only a child, and is now out to find a real ghost. Convinced that there is no afterlife or such things as ghosts, he hears about the legendary 1408 and despite the 57 deaths that have taken place in this room, he believes it's all just a myth or coincidence...until things start happening. With an intense trailer that will grip any thriller junkie, "1408," based on the book by Stephen King, looks to be a promising thriller. It is set to come out on the oh so unlucky date of July 13, 2007.



"Vacancy," with Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale, is about a couple who become stranded and are forced to take shelter at a creepy little motel. Things are alright until they discover the hidden cameras and the tapes that show the countless murders that have taken place in this specific hotel room. They must find a way to escape before they become the next victims of this brutal cycle. "Vacancy" hits theaters soon on April 20, 2007. View trailer here.



Now this I feel could be a hit or a flop, but I just thought it was an interesting concept for a movie with our current reality TV obsession. "The Condemned" is all about reality TV except each contestant was on death row, and now they must fight to the death on a remote island, and the prize for the last one left alive...they are set free. Vicious killers (including Stone Cold Steve Austin), killing each other off in front of the masses for entertainment. Sounds kind of like the Roman coliseum to me, and judging solely from its kick ass trailer, I think it'd make a hell of a movie.


And finally, we have "Disturbia," which will be the most recent thriller to hit theaters this month on April 13, 2007. Some say it's going to be a complete rip off of Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window," but how is this a bad thing I wonder? Stealing from the master of suspense (one of my all-time favorite directors) and remaking it in the now. I have no problems with that. Shia LaBeouf (our own Even Stevens) stars as Kale, the trouble kid next door, who happens to be under a court-ordered house arrest, and is unable to leave his property. While spying on his neighbors, he manages to meet the sexy girl next door, Ashely (played by Sarah Roemer) who is more than willing to join in on the stake out. Of course, when you're looking where you shouldn't be, you're going to witness things you shouldn't have seen. In this case, a potential murderer is living right across the street. But while they're watching him from what seems like a safe distance, he's watching them right back. As an avid thriller lover, this trailer just chills me to the bone. It looks like it has all the jumps and spine tingling moments a thriller needs, while giving us a compelling plot to follow along with...100% thriller.

Have The Turtles Lost Their Moves?

After seeing TMNT tonight, I have to say I'm pretty disappointed. Growing up watching the Turtles and wanting to be Mikey, I had high hopes for this new installment. I guess they were too high since I came out wishing the movie was more like the cartoon or previous movies. The CGI was cool and all, but TMNT was lacking the usual comedic element necessary to make the series work, and TMNT spends more time catching random mutants than focusing on its main characters...the Turtles of course. There was a large part of the plot devoted to the relationship between Leonardo and Raphael, but instead of delving into that a bit more or focusing even a little bit on Donatello and Michelangelo's stories, it was more about the foot clan and Max Winters, an immortal warrior trying to break a curse. Damnit! I wanted to see some Shredder action! The film however does leave off on a good note, hinting that Shredder is in the near future.
Okay, so I bashed TMNT, but there were some positive aspects to the movie. The CGI provided us with some awesome action scenes, and most memorably the battle between brothers Leonardo and Raphael, which was hands down the best scene of the movie. If only the whole movie were like this (sigh). In the pouring rain, the two turtles duke it out, leading us to believe they might fight to the death. The conflict that had been brewing throughout the whole movie finally comes out when Raphael's temper comes to a head and has the desire to fight his older, prodigal brother who has always been the fearless leader, but in lieu of his recent absence, Raphael has taken the lead and is unwilling to bend to Leo's commands. This battle of course ends in disaster, but don't worry, the Turtles always triumph.
Much like the most recent Bond installment, Turtles might not have been what we all wanted, but it leaves us in a good place, waiting for newer and better movies furthering the journey of the Turtles against their arch nemesis Shredder. Can't wait to see what's in store.

Grade: B-

Babson Film Festival

Through the grapevine of emails I receive from the people at the Cinema Studies department, whom I'd like to applaud for being so informative this year to many film students, I found out that Northeastern University is going to be hosting the first annual Babson Film Festival, which will take place on April 12th. Although this date is approaching quickly, they are still looking for submissions from a wider selection of schools. So far they have applicants from only Boston University, Babson and Lexington High School. Films can be no longer than six minutes long, and if you enter and win, the grand prize is a contract with Comcast that says your film will be shown on an upcoming short film network. Pretty cool! So if you are a filmmaker and want to get your work out there, this is your opportunity, go and support!

300...This Years Big Epic?

300 is not for the faint of heart, but for the die hard action fans seeking a blood, guts and glory epic.
Loosely based on the historical battle of Thermopylae, that took place in 480 B.C., 300 is not meant to be historically accurate, but a reflection of Frank Miller's graphic novel. From this Zach Snyder (director of Dawn of the Dead) gives us stunning cinematography, much like that of Miller's other work, Sin City, where film and comic books collide producing a new and revolutionary form of art.
Being a huge fan of Sin City, I wasn't in the least bit disappointed with 300. Yes, some of the lines were corny and the editing could have been better, but overall 300 is the sword and sandal epic we've all been craving. It's a testosterone fest with brutal battle scenes and decapitations reminiscent of Ridley Scott's Gladiator. However, Gladiator took home five Oscars including Best Picture and a Best Actor Oscar for Russell Crowe's performance as Maximus. Now this is where 300 was lacking. The acting and dialog just weren't up to par. Gerard Butler, in the role of Leonidas, I'm sure gave the director exactly what he was looking for, but his intense character often over-delivered corny lines such as the famous trailer line "Spartans! Tonight we dine in HELL!" I did however like the character of Leonidas despite the corniness. I was not so crazy about Queen Gorgo, his wife, who I felt was just a waste of space. I guess because there were no other female main characters, they decided to stick her in. Yes, she was badass like the rest of the cast, but I felt that she was just there for the sex appeal since there's mostly half-naked men running around for the majority of the film, and mostly men are coming to see 300.
As a whole, 300 is awesome if you can deal with all the blood and death. When I left the theater with a bunch of my guy friends, all they wanted to do afterwards was fight someone...like little boys who wanted to be King Leonidas and his brave 300 and take down the mighty army of Xerxes. It was quite funny.
Flashing back to Gladiator, when Maximus is in the collesium after defeating some intense rivals he yells, "Are you not entertained?" and if he was talking about 300, then hell yes I was entertained!!!

Grade: B

300 Trailer

Probably the best trailer of all time!

Who Knew Kumar Could Be So Serious

Last week, I went to the premiere of "The Namesake" at the MFA with my Asian American Literature class. It ended up being sold out, so lucky for me that I had a ticket reserved way before hand. Go me!
"The Namesake" is all about family values and traditions. Gogol Ganguli (Kal Penn) is a typical American boy with a not so typical name. His classmates often make fun of him because he shares his name with an author who was pretty much insane, but also a genius. Of course there is a deeper meaning to his name, which his father gave to him. Eventually he wants to change his name, and does, going by Nick. However, once he finds out the real meaning and how important it is to his father, he wishes he never took it so for granted.
"The Namesake" has a great cast that consists of Kal Penn, Irfan Khan, Tabu and Zuleikha Robinson. Khan and Tabu have amazing chemistry on screen, as do Penn and Robinson. The cinematography and costume design were also very beautiful.
"The Namesake" reminds me a lot of "Bend It Like Beckham," another film about finding the balance between family acceptance and social acceptance. I can't give away too much of the plot for fear of ruining the movie for those who might see it, but it was definitely a great movie and the actors definitely make it. With their touching performances I felt so attached to them, crying when they were sad and laughing when things got culturally awkward. Definitely a movie worth seeing.

Grade: B+

New Spider-man 3 Trailer

This is the first trailer in which Venom appears. Plus additional sneak peeks as well. Looks amazing! Can't wait until May 4th.

Spring Break Report

Last week was my lovely little one week Spring Break. No I did not go to the Bahamas, Florida or anywhere really interesting. I went home to Long Island where I live and brought a friend from school home with me to brighten up my break. He had never been to New York before, so of course I had to give him the grand tour of my hometown and take him into the city. He's from Maine so basically he thought Boston was big city living, but when he came into Port Authority bus station I brought him over to Time Square and he was pretty shocked at how larger than life New York City really is. Another day I brought him back into the city, we attempted to go and see the Statue of Liberty, which I haven't been to since I was about nine years old, but it ended up being closed, so we just looked from afar. We also saw Wall street, the Trinity Church, the WTC site, Times Square again and we even saw the big bull, which you can see in the movie "Hitch." We also saw "Breach," which I've already reviewed on here. Movies are always a fun time for me.
Then after my friend left, I spent a lot of time with my family, going out to dinner and into the city where both of my parents work. Then I saw my cousin, who's a student at NYU, perform in a play, which was "Macbeth." It was done on a small stage and was semi-interactive, so it was a totally new and interesting experience. I really liked it, despite the fact that it was a good 80 degrees in there.
All in all I had a pretty good spring break.

Zodiac Trailer

Zodiac: Your Dead Wrong If You Don't Like It

So I realized that trying to find someone to go to the movies with me on a Monday night is an extreme challenge. However, I did eventually find two girls to go with me to see the eerie crime thriller Zodiac. Of course these are the kind of girls that you don’t want to see a scary movie with. Not because they’re not fun, or cool, but because they start getting freaked out during the previews, which in turn freaks you out. So when the actual film begins, you’re already paranoid that someone in the row behind you is going to attack you during the movie…despite the 25 other people in the theatre with you. But you never know.
Zodiac is about the infamous serial killer, the Zodiac, who terrorized California with his creepy codes and unexpected murders throughout the 60s and 70s. It is a case that has never been closed, so obviously if you know anything about the Zodiac, you know that in this film there’s not going to be that usual pay off at the end where the bad guy gets caught and is made to pay for his crimes. Instead, Zodiac does something better, it stays true to the case, keeping you on edge throughout the film, and it even makes you laugh a good deal. The amount of factual information that Zodiac drudges up is amazing. For someone like me who is often fascinated with unsolved cases and conspiracy theories, I was astonished, because I had read up on the case in the past and halfway through the movie I was learning new stuff. The one draw back of Zodiac is that it is a very slow moving movie, but like All the Presidents Men, if you have the patience the pay off is well worth it in the end.
Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Robert Graysmith, a cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle who becomes obsessed with finding out who the Zodiac really is. Gyllenhaal is brilliant in Zodiac. His character is awkward and his fellow co-workers refer to him as “retard” behind his back. He is the main character as well as the comic relief to this film. One of the girls I went to the movie with was scared to see Zodiac because it would be too terrifying, but of course I convinced her to go. But in this film, I laughed way more than I cringed. Possibly disappointing to big horror film fans, but very valuable to the film because it kept the viewer involved in the slow moving plot. Robert Downey Jr., as Paul Avery, a cocky reporter for the Chronicle, is also another comical character. In my opinion this is probably Downey’s best work yet, which could be because his character becomes a raging alcoholic for a good portion of the film, but he is still wonderful, and paired with Gyllenhaal, they make an amazing duo with which Zodiac could not do without. Mark Ruffalo also does a great job as Inspector David Toschi, who is determined to bring the Zodiac to justice.
Hands down, this is the best picture so far this year. It was everything a good film should be and more. After the film, when you discuss what you thought about the film with your friends (basically when everyone gets a chance to play the film critic), I mentioned how it was a bit slow, but because I’m patient I loved it. My friend said, “I have about a five second attention span and I was able to pay attention to it the whole time.” Zodiac is that good!

Grade: A

Pre-Screening of The Namesake at MFA

Recently, through my Asian-American Literature class, I found out that on Tuesday, March 13th at the MFA, there was going to be a pre-screening of Jhumpa Lahiri's "The Namesake." For those of you who do not know what a pre-screening is, it is when you are able to see a film before it is released for the public. Pretty cool right? The only other pre-screening I've ever been to was "Josie and the Pussycats" because my mom worked for Revlon and they happened to use a lot of their products in the film...so lucky me! I was 13, it was exciting. But back to "The Namesake."
"The Namesake" is about an American-born boy, Gogol (played by Kal Penn, who you know as Kumar from "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle") who tries to reconcile with his parents' traditional lifestyle and expectations while trying to fit in among his fellow New Yorkers as well.
Tickets are available today, Monday, March 12th at the Asian American Center at 109 Hemenway. But if you have not already nabbed a ticket to this by the end of today, the only way to see it would be to go early and wait on stand by. The film starts promptly at 7pm, and five minutes before, open seats will become available to those who come on stand by. Good luck!

Breach

Based on the true story of the greatest security breach in United States history, Ryan Phillippe and Chris Cooper star in Breach. Breach is the kind of film you see rarely now a days...not because it is a fantastic film, or an original story, or even great acting, but because it's just an entertaining film. Breach doesn't overstep its limits, not too outrageous with tons of action (like all the Jack Ryan films) and not too long and drawn out (like Lord of the Rings), it just IS, and being that average spy film works.
Breach is about the true story of Robert Hanssen(Chris Cooper), an FBI agent, who was providing the Soviet Union with U.S. secrets for a period of about 15 years. When the FBI discovers this, they hire Eric O'Neill(Ryan Phillippe), an up-and-coming FBI agent, to be Hanssen's personal assistant, and of course to keep a close watch on everything he does in order to build a case against him. Hanssen is very religious, extremely forward, and paranoid, often testing his peers to prove their loyalty, while O'Neill is an overachiever and more personable. O'Neill uses these traits to get closer to Hanssen, gaining his trust while snooping around his office looking for the incriminating evidence that he needs. Breach is a spy film that examines the relationship between two very different men, instead of giving us another overdone action film. Cooper, who's always on point, is creepier than ever in Breach, with his OCD habits, sexual perversions and paranoia. Phillippe also does his job in a role where he could have easily overacted. I'm not giving out any Oscars here, both men just did a great job.
Overall, Breach was one of the best movies so far this year. It had me cringing every time O'Neill almost got caught and rooting for him every time he got closer to bringing Hanssen down. With all the over the top films that come out today, and all of the directors that are looking to have their own Lord of the Rings-like trilogy, I wish more movies of this kind would take their place. Big isn't always better!

Grade: B+

Better Late Then Never...OSCAR WINNERS

And the winners are...

Best Actor
Forest Whitaker in "The Last King of Scotland"

Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin in "Little Miss Sunshine"

Best Actress
Helen Mirren in "The Queen"

Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Hudson in "Dreamgirls"

Best Animated Film
"Happy Feet"

Best Art Direction
"Pan's Labyrinth"

Best Cinematography
"Pan's Labyrinth"

Best Costume Design
"Marie Antoinette"

Best Director
Martin Scorsese for "The Departed"

Best Documentary
"An Inconvenient Truth"

Best Documentary Short
"The Blood of Yingzhou District"

Best Film Editing
"The Departed"

Best Foreign Language Film
"The Lives of Others"

Best Makeup
"Pan's Labyrinth"

Best Original Score
"Babel"

Best Original Song
Melissa Etheridge's "I Need to Wake Up" for "An Inconvenient Truth"

Best Picture
"The Departed"

Best Animated Short
"The Danish Poet"

Best Live Action Short
"West Bank Story"

Best Sound Editing
"Letters from Iwo Jima"

Best Sound Mixing
"Dreamgirls"

Best Visual Effects
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"

Best Adapted Screenplay
"The Departed"

Best Original Screenplay
"Little Miss Sunshine"

The Shockers of the 2007 Oscars

Usually the Oscars are predicted way in advance, even so before the Golden Globes. Who will win? Who should win? The predictions were in this year, with magazines like Entertainment Weekly and Vanity Fair voicing their opinions, but surprisingly, a lot of major critics were wrong. Probably one of the most surprising wins of the night went to "The Departed" for Best Picture. Everyone chose "Little Miss Sunshine" as the clear front runner because of its great cast and original story, however, "The Departed" pulled it out, giving "The Departed" a total of four Oscars for the night.
Alan Arkin was also a surprise, with many people saying "Dreamgirls" is Eddie Murphy's best work yet, he was brilliant, and the fact that he won at both the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards made him the obvious choice, but nope...another miss...it was Arkin for "Little Miss Sunshine."
"Dreamgirls" was snubbed again when Melissa Etheridge's "I Need to Wake Up" from "An Inconvenient Truth" won for Best Original Song over all three songs from "Dreamgirls." Ouch!
And finally, who would've thought that "Happy Feet" would manage to pick up an Oscar instead of "Cars." I never would've guessed it. Are they sure they counted right?

All Hail the King and Queen of the Oscars

Forest Whitaker and Helen Mirren take home the best actor and actress Oscars, sweeping this years major awards. Whitaker, for his portrayal of Idi Amin, the brutal Ugandan dictator in "The Last King of Scotland," and Mirren for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen." Just a little bit of irony in the titles of these films right? Whitaker also made one of the best speeches of the night, despite his shock and nervousness.

"When I was a kid, the only way that I saw movies was from the backseat of my family's car. At the drive-in. And, it wasn't my reality to think I would be acting in movies, so receiving this honor tonight tells me that it's possible. It is possible for a kid from east Texas, raised in South Central L.A. in Carson, who believes in his dreams, commits himself to them with his heart, to touch them, and to have them happen. Because when I first started acting, it was because of my desire to connect to everyone. To that thing inside each of us. That light that I believe exists in all of us. Because acting for me is about believing in that connection and it's a connection so strong, it's a connection so deep, that we feel it. And through our combined belief, we can create a new reality."

I felt it was the best speech of the night, if not one of the best speeches in the past five years. His speech really showed me that there are actors out there who still appreciate the awards given to them, and I only hope that his career flourishes and we see much more of him in the future at the Academy Awards.

Countdown to the Oscars

Tonight at 8 on ABC, the 79th Academy Awards begins. All of Hollywood's A-list actors will be there, pressed and dressed for the most prestigious film awards of the year. This year, Ellen DeGeneres will be hosting the Oscars for the first time, bringing us lots and lots of laughs I'm sure. But who will the winners be? Helen Mirren, Forest Whitaker, Mark Wahlberg, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, Eddie Murphy, Clint Eastwood, Martin Scoresese...just some of the big names of who are up for an Oscar tonight. Some actors presenting the Oscars are Ben Affleck, Jack Black, Steve Carell, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Will Farell, Jodie Foster, Tom Hanks, John Travolta, and Kate Winslet. And of course, for all of the fashion junkies out there, don't forget to watch the celebs walk down the famous red carpet.

Shrek The Third Trailer

It's Not Easy Being Green...Unless You're King

Yes, Shrek is back, and with the whole crew in "Shrek the Third." In this new installment, Shrek's new father-in-law, King Harold, has become ill. The duties of king and queen of Far, Far Away have now passed to Shrek and Fiona, however, they are perfectly content living in Shrek's swamp, and feel no desire to rule. In order to get out of this predicament they must seek out the heir to the kingdom, Artie(voiced by Justin Timberlake), a young rebellious boy, who they must convince to become king. To do so, Shrek rounds up Donkey and Puss in Boots to help him out, while Fiona and her band of princesses get together to stop Prince Charming from seizing the throne while Shrek is away.
"Shrek the Third" adds new voices such as Justin Timberlake as Artie, Fiona's teenage cousin, who is one of the stars in this addition. New voices also include Eric Idle (Monty Python and "Spamalot") as Merlin, John Krasinski (The Office) as Lancelot, Ian McShane (Deadwood) as Captain Hook, the band of Princesses include Cheri Oteri (SNL) as Sleeping Beauty, Amy Poehler (Mean Girls) as Snow White, Maya Rudolph (SNL) as Rapunzel and Amy Sedaris (Strangers With Candy) as Cinderella. Larry King also reprises his character, Doris, the Ugly Stepsister, and even Regis Philbin is the voice of Mabel, the other Ugly Stepsister.
"Shrek the Third" is set to come out May 18, 2007.

My Picks For The 79th Academy Awards

Performance by an actor in a leading role:

• Leonardo DiCaprio "Blood Diamond"
• Ryan Gosling "Half Nelson"
• Peter O'Toole "Venus"
• Will Smith "The Pursuit of Happyness"
• Forest Whitaker "The Last King of Scotland"

My pick: Forest Whitaker "The Last King of Scotland"

Performance by an actor in a supporting role:

• Alan Arkin "Little Miss Sunshine"
• Jackie Earle Haley "Little Children"
• Djimon Hounsou "Blood Diamond"
• Eddie Murphy "Dreamgirls"
• Mark Wahlberg "The Departed"
  

My pick: Eddie Murphy "Dreamgirls"

Performance by an actress in a leading role:

• Penelope Cruz "Volver"
• Judi Dench "Notes on a Scandal"
• Helen Mirren "The Queen"
• Meryl Streep "The Devil Wears Prada"
• Kate Winslet "Little Children"

My pick: Helen Mirren "The Queen"

Performance by an actress in a supporting role:

• Adriana Barraza "Babel"
• Cate Blanchett "Notes on a Scandal"
• Abigail Breslin "Little Miss Sunshine"
• Jennifer Hudson "Dreamgirls"
• Rinko Kikuchi "Babel"

My pick: Adriana Barraza "Babel"

Best animated feature film of the year:

• "Cars"
• "Happy Feet"
• "Monster House"

My pick: "Cars"

Achievement in art direction:

• "Dreamgirls"
• "The Good Shepherd"
• "Pan's Labyrinth"
• "Pirate's of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"
• "The Prestige"

My pick: "Pan's Labyrinth"

Achievement in cinematography:

• "The Black Dahlia"
• "Children of Men"
• "The Illusionist"
• "Pan's Labyrinth"
• "The Prestige"

My pick: "Children of Men"

Achievement in directing:

• Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu "Babel"
• Martin Scorsese "The Departed"
• Clint Eastwood "Letters from Iwo Jima"
• Stephen Frears "The Queen"
• Paul Greengrass "United 93"

My pick: Martin Scorsese "The Departed"

Best foreign language film of the year:

• "After the Wedding"
• "Days of Glory (Indigenes)"
• "The Lives of Others"
• "Pan's Labyrinth"
• "Water"

My pick: "Pan's Labyrinth"

Best motion picture of the year:

• "Babel"
• "The Departed"
• "Letters from Iwo Jima"
• "Little Miss Sunshine"
• "The Queen"

My pick: "Babel"

Original screenplay:

• "Babel"
• "Letters from Iwo Jima"
• "Little Miss Sunshine"
• "Pan's Labyrinth"
• "The Queen"

My pick: "Pan's Labyrinth"


The Oscars will take place this Sunday, February 25, 2007 at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center. You can watch it at 8et/5pt on ABC.

Top Films of 2006

Now these films aren't necessarily the best, or most critically acclaimed films of 2006, but merely the films that I enjoyed the most.

10. Little Miss Sunshine
Out of all the films of 2006, I felt that this was one of the funniest and most touching films that I saw. "Little Miss Sunshine" is all about a dysfunctional family, who in support of their daughter, Olive, go on a road trip to enter her in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. Steve Carell, who plays Uncle Frank who has just attempted to commit suicide, is hilarious with his subtle humor. His conversations with Dwayne, the son who has taken an oath of silence, which involved Dwayne(Paul Dano) gesturing and writing things down on paper, cracked me up. The two made for great laughs, as did Alan Arkin, who plays Grandpa, who gives the most random advice to his grandchildren, and while being a loving grandfather, he is also a coke addict. Little Miss Sunshine took home the Actor at the SAG Awards this year for Best Cast, while up against other big competitors such as the casts of "The Departed," "Dreamgirls" and "Babel." "Little Miss Sunshine" manages to be sweet, silly and deep at the same time, defining family values and is unlike any other film of the year.



9. The Illusionist
Edward Norton works his magic in this film, along with Paul Giamatti. The film is all about the illusion, as expressed in the title. Norton plays Eisenheim the illusionist, a famous magician, who manages to attract a woman who is way above his social status, and of course problems arise. As a first time viewer, I couldn't even figure out the difference between reality and illusion until the films Hitchcockian conclusion. Being a huge fan of Hitchcock's work usually allows me to predict almost all movie endings, however, not even I caught on to how big the illusion really was in "The Illusionist," which made the movie even more impressive.


8. Casino Royale
Despite that it did not live up to the 007 hype, I was very impressed with Daniel Craig's performance as the new James Bond. The film was lacking in action, but the acting was better than ever, setting up for more James Bond films to come. Pierce Brosnan may have looked the part more than any other Bond, but Craig owns the character, and I can't wait for the next 007 installment, "Bond 22," set to come out in 2008. Get excited!!!




7. Dreamgirls
A great movie that will get anyone rocking in their seat to the catchy numbers. The characters are great, and Jennifer Hudson is a smash in her film debut. Eddie Murphy also hit a grand slam with his portrayal of Jimmy Early, a spunky and hilarious performer. However, this is a different role for Murphy, having a character with a dark side, and depth...and what a voice! You'd figure Beyonce would steal every scene with her phenomenal voice and stunning looks...NO WAY! Jennifer Hudson rocks every scene that she's in and her performance as Effie White is brilliant.



6. The Devil Wears Prada
I expected Princess Diaries, some kind of Disney movie, that would only half satisfy me, but what I got was much more. Tons of laughs and brilliant performances by Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt. This is Streep in one of her best roles, playing a cold bitch, who happens to be the editor in chief for Runway magazine (a.k.a. the equivalent to Vogue), while Hathaway is the smart, but odd girl next door, who is at her beckon call along with Blunt. Blunt, a new face to American cinema, is also a scene stealer alongside Hathaway. Just an all around entertaining movie, definitely not the chick flick I thought it'd be.



5. Cars
Up their with "Finding Nemo," "Cars" is a great Pixar film. A fun-filled family film (love the alliteration?). With a great story and great CGI the film is a smash. Luke Wilson, Bonnie Hunt and Paul Newman provide their voices for the three main characters.




4. Blood Diamond
A great film about the diamond trade, takes place in Africa, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly. "Blood Diamond" has a thrilling plot that doesn't let up for a minute, keeping your eyes glued to the film. Danny Archer is one of DiCaprio's best roles, which got him a Best Actor nod for the upcoming Academy Awards. Hounsou plays Solomon Vandy, a devoted father who is separated from his family and most importantly his son, who was taken from him by the R.U.F. as a recruit. The two join forces in search of a huge diamond and Vandy's son, making for a great and exciting film and becoming one of my all time favorites.






3. Babel
Definitely one of the years top contenders for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. With an extremely complicated plot, "Babel" manages to get its message across quite clearly, without confusion. The cast is phenomenal and so is the directional style of Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. Babel has a whopping seven Oscar nods, and also comes out this week on DVD.




2. Pan's Labyrinth
I felt "Pan's Labyrinth" got shafted this year with its late release. What should have been a big contender for Best Picture was not nominated for that category, although it managed to pick up six other nominations, including Best Foreign Film, which it should win hands down. Guillermo del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth" is stunning visually with amazing costume design, with characters such as Pan the mythical fawn and the Pale Man, both played by Doug Jones. The characters are both beautiful and frightening, which makes us wonder whether or not they should be trusted. "Pan's Labyrinth" also takes place during the Spanish Civil War, bringing us into a very violent time and mixing it with a little girls' fantasy world. It's a fairy tale for the adults and something entirely different from anything else I've ever seen.



1. The Departed
As a Bostonian, I have to say "The Departed" was all around my favorite film of the year. Recently out on DVD, it has been flying off the shelves so quickly in Best Buy and Blockbuster, I have yet to see an available copy in Boston that wasn't a bootleg. "The Departed" also got 5 Oscars nods this year including Best Picture and Best Director for Martin Scorsese, who has earned an Oscar many times over but just hasn't gotten lucky. "The Departed"is a thriller of a movie, and with its all-star cast, attracts anyone and everyone to see it and I haven't met one person who hasn't loved this movie (then again, this is Boston, I don't know if that's allowed). DiCaprio, Nicholson, Damon, Wahlberg, Sheen...it doesn't get much better. "The Departed" is definitely one of my all time favorite movies. It has action, drama, love story, scandal and a bad ass attitude! You can't not love this movie!

TMNT Teaser

All Shell Breaks Loose...The Turtles Are Back

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back with their first addition to the franchise in 14 years! However, unlike the past three films, "TMNT" was created using CGI (computer-generated imagery), allowing us to see our childhood heroes, or current heroes (for those of you who are like me and still walk around wearing the green TMNT t-shirt), in a whole new way.
This time around Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello and Raphael are back and fighting the forces of evil once again (with time for pizza of course), after defeating their arch nemesis, The Shredder. Although, as a family, they have grown apart, and at a most inconvenient time, since strange things are happening in New York City. With the help of their rat sensei, Master Splinter(the late Mako, this being his last film), and old friends, April O'Neil(Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Casey Jones(Chris Evans, most recently in the "Fantastic Four"), the Turtles take on an army of monsters and other ninjas called the Foot Clan, who are terrorizing the city and have it out for the Turtles.
I just need to say this...I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS MOVIE!!! Being a huge fan as a child, of both the cartoon and the movies, I cannot wait for this film to be released. It comes out March 23, 2007.
For more info go to The Official TMNT Web Site!