Cameron-Pace 3D Camera Rig Review

Game Trailers - E3 2011 - Gadget Pr0n

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'Saw V' Review

Originally published on November 5, 2008

Saw V, the new installment in the successful series, after the terrible Saw III-IV.It was a little better than i expected,but that does not mean that it was good.After Saw II, the series goes steadily downhill.In my opinion, only the first two were good.

Anyway, back to Saw V.Basically, it's more of the same.It's the same concept, with the elaborate traps ,the philosophy of Jigsaw, and with more details about the events of previous movies.An alternate title could be Saw: The Flashback, because a significant part of the plot consists of flashbacks about how Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) recruited Det.Hoffman (Costas Mandylor),etc.In the present, agent Strahm (Scott Patterson) continues to investigate the involvement of Hoffman.Of course,there's a group of people who are put to the test.And there is a semi-twist in the end.

Die-hard fans may like Saw V, but the truth is that we have seen this before and more successfully executed, as far as the first two movies are concerned.The movie will be profitable and consequently Saw VI is already in the works.In a scene between Jigsaw and Hoffman (one of the few interesting scenes,if not the only one), Jigsaw talks about rehabilitation (among other things).That's what the series needs for the next movie to be at least descent. Read more!

3-D In Review-Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Three years after Ice Age: The Meltdown, comes Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.The animation is very good (there are some impressive scenes), and the voice-overs (with the return of the main voice cast, and with the addition of new characters, like the one voiced by Simon Pegg) are good too, and there are hilarious moments, but..

As far as 3-D is concerned, it's obvious that the movie wasn't designed with that in mind or with that as a significant element.There are some 3-D scenes, but they don't really add something essential to the experience.In other words, the 3-D effects are nice, but you won't miss anything if you watch the 2-D version.

Ice Age 3 is an entertaining movie, but it's weaker than the previous installments. Read more!

Star Trek: Box Office and Review Ratings

Box Office

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979): $11,926,421 (opening weekend)/ $82,258,456 (cume)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982): $14,347,221 / $78,737,310
Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (1984): $16,673,229 / $76,389,860
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986): $16,881,888 / $109,713,132
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989): $17,375,648 / $52,210,049
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991): $18,162,837 / $74,888,996
Star Trek: Generations (1994): $23,116,394 / $75,671,125
Star Trek: First Contact (1996): $30,716,131 / $92,027,888
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998): $22,052,836 / $70,187,658
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002): $18,513,305 / $43,126,129

Adjusted for inflation:

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979): $34,668,706 (opening weekend)/ $239,115,674 (cume)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982): $35,038,451 / $192,290,437
Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (1984): $35,629,102 / $163,237,856
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986): $32,671,686 / $212,328,919
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989): $31,267,457 / $93,951,918
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991): $30,976,050 / $127,720,425
Star Trek: Generations (1994): $39,707,107 / $129,980,545
Star Trek: First Contact (1996): $49,896,339 / $149,493,266
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998): $33,761,058 / $107,451,468
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002): $22,918,195 / $53,387,173

Critical Review Ratings (Rotten Tomatoes)

Star Trek: First Contact 91%

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 90%
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home 84%
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country 82%
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock 76%
Star Trek: Insurrection 55%
Star Trek: The Motion Picture 50%
Star Trek: Generations 49%
Star Trek: Nemesis 36%
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier 21%

Source: Box Office.com, The Geek Files

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Transporter 3 Review

Transporter was a really good action movie, with an interesting protagonist and well-filmed sequences.Transporter 2 was, for many fans of the original, kind of disappointing.What about Transporter 3?Well, it’s closer to the original, although there are elements from the first sequel and from Crank.

Jason Statham returns as Frank Martin and he’s pressured into transporting a package, which is a part of a bigger plan.At first, he’s unwilling to accept the offer (“I’m unavailable” he says) and he’s comfortable resting and fishing with Insp.Tarconi.Eventually, he’s forced to accept and throughout the movie he’s also forced to violate his code.As I said, the movie is closer to the original, and that’s evident from the plot, one of the elements of which is the relationship between Martin and Valentina (who is later revealed to be the package, and part of an attempt to extort an Ukranian minister).Francois Berleand (Inspector Tarconi) also returns and Robert Knepper is the villain.First-time actress Natalya Rudakova plays Valentina.

The usual elements of the series are present: the elaborate, well-filmed chases and fighting sequences.There are also flaws.However, Transporter 3 is a decent sequel, an entertaining movie that will satisfy fans and those looking for a good action movie.It’s worth mentioning that’s the most successful (in terms of worldwide box office gross) movie of the trilogy, so a third sequel is certainly possible, although it will probably be produced after 3-5 years.
“A man is as good as his car”

Eve-Set it on fire (Transporter 3 Soundtrack)
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Knowing Review

Knowing is a sci-fi thriller,directed by Alex Proyas,starring Nicolas Cage and Rose Byrne.While the premise isn’t so original,it’s interesting.The movie takes some time to gear up but after some point drops the ball.I can’t say that I’m irritated by the development of the story,but I can’t say that I like it.Maybe I expected something different.Anyway,I think that the main flaw of the movie is obviously the screenplay.

The performances are decent.Alex Proyas is a skilled director,something that’s evident from his previous work and that’s also evident in Knowing.There are some really intense and visually impressive scenes (the visual effects team and the director of photography have done very good work).
Knowing,while it’s a decent movie,it seems that there was potential,which was wasted. Read more!

3D in Review:Journey to the Center of the Earth,My Bloody Valentine

My Bloody Valentine 3D is movie that,in my opinion,would work even without 3D,although it certainly adds to the experience,especially if you see it in a movie theater.The filmmakers were wise not to overuse the 3D effect,which is mainly used in the killing sequences.There are certainly clichés of the genre,but the writing is decent,it’s a well-shot movie,with good music and tense sequences.It could be argued that the plot is predictable or that it’s another teen-oriented horror movie,but in any case it’s an enjoyable one.You could call it a guilty pleasure but you could also say that it’s a good,entertaining movie.

Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D: The main draw of the movie is that it’s shot in 3D.But that's the only one.Some sequences are impressive,3D works well and you could say that the movie is entertaining.However, without the 3D effect,Journey to the Center of the Earth is a passable movie.I can say though that the HD transfer is good. Read more!

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li Review

The Legend of Chun Li,the new Street Fighter movie,15 years after the JCVD one,which was a critical flop but a commercial success (costed $35 million,grossed almost $100 million).So is it a good video game adaptation,is it better than the 1994 movie ?

The most serious flaw of the movie is the script.It could be argued that the source material doesn’t help ,especially in this case,so we shouldn’t expect an Oscar-worthy script,but we should expect a decent one.What we have here is a failed attempt to establish a backstory for the main characters,a really bad plot and really bad lines.It could be said that in a movie like this,the audience shouldn’t expect clever,well-written dialogue and cheesy lines are part of the fun,but there’s a difference between cheesiness and ridiculousness.The performances and the direction don’t help either.I like Kristin Kreuk (from her role as Lana Lang in Smallville) and I can say that she tries but that’s not enough. Robin Shou is decent as Gen but the performances of the rest of the cast are really weak.While there are some good sequences,The Legend of Chun Li is a mediocre,if not bad,movie.It is obvious that the producers have plans for a sequel,but after the bad opening weekend gross at the U.S box office I don’t think that it will be produced.I guess that this is the nail in the coffin for Street Fighter film series (if there was one,because the two movies are separate).I think that even the fans of the game will be dissapointed,although I don’t think that the main problem of this movie is how faithful it is to the source material. Read more!

Boston Legal 5x12/5x13 'Made In China/Last Call' (Series Finale) Review

SPOILER WARNING
Sadly,one month has passed since Boston Legal ended.A little late,but i decided to post my comments on the finale,because i watched it for the first time last week.I delayed that,because i wanted to think that the show was not over,but..Anyway,i watched the episodes again today.While my initial opinion has not changed,i have to say that i liked the finale more after the second viewing.I expected a bittersweet finale.It was good,but it was also a letdown.This may sound strange,but in my opinion it's not.While i did not expect all the loose ends from all these years to be resolved (and you could argue that the loose ends of the last few episodes were resolved ),i expected that the episode would follow the general tone of the season,and i am mainly referring to the development of Alan Shore.

The first part was very good and the second had nice moments.Generally,the finale had many highlights,moving moments,funny moments,clever remarks about how ABC handled the show.The idea of the acquisition by the Chinese was good and the reaction was interesting (with some moving moments-Shirley worried about her life's work,Paul defending Denny and Alan).There was also a happy ending for Jerry and Katie and the return of Paul was welcome (although i hoped that more old cast members would appear).Another major part of the finale was the return to the Supreme Court,with nice and moving arguments(although it could be argued that it could be better,but a counter argument would be that because it was the finale and it was not the Court Supreme,the scenes at the SC served their purpose).

Another part was the marriage of Denny and Alan,which is one of the things that i didn't like.I disagree with the choice of the writers,although i have to admit that there's some logic that justifies that choice and some of the previous comments gave some answers on that subject.I can understand all the arguments that support the marriage,but in my opinion,it did not fit with all the character development throughout the season.Denny wanted to marry again before he died,they have a strong friendship,Alan didn't have any luck in his recent relationships,there's also the subject of the decisions if Denny got worse and the financial benefits but i think that it was a wrong choice,as far the writers are concerned.Alan says in the finale,when Denny mentions this idea,that it's "beyond ridiculous,even for us",Denny justifies his proposal and Alan says that they will win and Denny would get the experimental drug.They should have ended the whole thing there.

There was also the fact that Denny got worse in the episode (disorientation,confusion,etc).Boston Legal was always a bittersweet show,with its successful mix of drama and smart humor,and the finale was bittersweet but after some point it became too over-the-top.In the final balcony scene,Denny mentions the thought of Alan being his son and that has some logic.They are best friends,they have a strong emotional bond and it could be said they are also father and son,because Alan learns from Denny and Denny learns from Alan.It's an exchange of experience,an exchange of wisdom,an exchange of love.

In another scene (one of the best moments of the finale),Alan is alone looking at Denny and Shirley,Carl and the judge dancing.There's a symbolism in that scene,which fits better with development of the character.

The Wire and The Shield also ended in 2008 and you could argue that they are different shows from BL,they were in cable,they ended in different conditions.There's one more difference.After i watched the finale of these shows,i felt really satisfied.I can't say that the finale was bad,it was a decent,good finale,but it could be better.There was potential,which,to some level,was wasted.

It was a good final season (with few not so good episodes)and it would be better if it was a full one or if BL was renewed for a sixth season.I will miss one of my favourite shows...It's sad,especially when you think that there wasn't actually a reason that justifies the decision of ABC.At least,i have to watch the eighth season of the Practice (which i haven't watched yet) and of course the seasons of BL.

Farewell,Boston Legal...
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The first post:My Blueberry Nights Review

Reprinted from December 21,2007.

Synopsis:"A beautiful young woman on the treacherous road to love."

"My Blueberry Nights" is the new film from one of the world's most
sought-after directors, Wong Kar Wai. It's a magnificent love story
starring multi-Grammy award winner Norah Jones in her movie debut
along with a "A-list" cast of Academy Award winners and nominees
including Jude Law, David Strathairn, Rachel Weisz and Natalie Portman.

Norah Jones plays a sensual, alluring young woman who sets out on an
unforgettable journey of discovery in pursuit of true love. In
heartbreakingly beautiful locations and classic Route 66 atmospheric
diners, Wong Kar Wai's captivating heroine encounters a series of
enigmatic characters that help her on her quest.

Set against New York's magical cityscape and the stunning vistas of
America's legendary Route 66, the celebrated director's first English
language picture embraces his signature elegance and originality that
made "Happy Together," "In the Mood for Love" and "2046" must-see
movies all around the world.

Wong Kar Wai's unique talent and dreamy romantic themes, combined with
mythical Americans locations and an awesomely gifted and stylish cast,
guarantee that "My Blueberry Nights" will delight and enchant
moviegoers everywhere."
(http://www.ropeofsi licon.com/ movie/my_ blueberry_ nights)
To be honest,i have not seen any of the previous movies of Wong Kar
Wai.I have heard positive comments about In the mood for
love,2046,especiall y about the music,among other things,but i have not
seen any of these movies.Anyway, when i first read about MBN it
provoked my interest.When i saw the trailer the expectation was even
greater.I finally saw MBN last weekend.

The journey of Elizabeth (Norah Jones) is an existential journey
across America,a journey of redemption.An effort to distance herself
from the sad reality in NY,an effort of thinking things over.She
encounters people who have their own problems.The element that these
stories have in common is:when you have something or it is available
for you to have it,you may ignore it or take it for granted.When you
lose it,you appreciate it,you realize what it meant for you.These
encounters are an important part of the movie,of Elizabeth's
journey.Important is also the relationship between Elizabeth and
Jeremy (Jude Law),the restaurant owner back in NY,with whom she stays
in touch through letters that she sends.Wong Kar Wai describes MBN as
"a story of a woman who takes the long route instead of the short one
to meet up with the man she loves."

Norah Jones in her first role is very good and the rest of the cast
also delivers exceptional perfomances. The music is just stunning (Cat
Power's "the Greatest" is a superb song). The visual perspective of
the movie is also stunning.

My Blueberry Nights is a movie that delivers meaning for the
characters,that delivers meaning for the audience.Definetely worth
watching.
My Blueberry Nights was the opening film for the 2007 Cannes Film
Festival on May 16, 2007.


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Quantum of Solace Review

Quantum of Solace is the first direct Bond sequel,the sequel to the amazing Casino Royale,which set the bar high for the future movies in the series.So,does it meet expectations?Does James Bond find his quantum of solace?

The filmakers said from the start,that they wanted to make a different movie from Casino Royale.And surely that's the case here.And while the spirit of the new series is here,the movie has more in common with previous Bond films than Casino Royale had.There are more action scenes,there is more spectacle.But the action scenes are more stylised and the selection of the locations where they take place is not random.There's a symbolism.There's a symbolism in other scenes of the movie.The artistic influences are evident.For example,the scene at the opera in Austria is memorable.

The influence of the director in the style of the movie is evident and so is the influence of the Bourne Trilogy (something that started in Casino Royale).The second unit director,Dan Bradley,also worked in the Bourne movies.All these elements are part of the reboot of the series.

James Bond claims that he does not care about the death of Vesper Lynd,that she betrayed him,that he does not want revenge.However,that's obviously not true.The impact of her death on him is severe.And the fact that Quantum's men almost killed M,gives him one more motive to search for answers.To some level,he experiences an existential crisis:everyone that has contact with him,dies?Eventually,he goes rogue.M while she's concerned about him,she still trusts him.In his journey to salvation,he's accompanied by Camille Rivera,whose past is haunting her and wants to take revenge.Their goals meet and while there's not the same connection that James Bond and Vesper Lynd had,there's an understanding,there are shared emotions.

Daniel Craig is once again very good as James Bond.Olga Kurylenko gives a solid perfomance,probably her best perfomance,judging from the movies i've seen (Max Payne,Hitman,Le Serpent).The villain or to be exact the perfomance of M.Amalric is relatively weak.

QOS takes some time to gear up and that happens mostly in the second half.Despite its flaws,it's a successful conclusion to the story arc set up in Casino Royale and so the next movie will probably be a stand-alone one.
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Casino Royale Review

November 19,2006

New Bond in town!Four years after Die Another Day,the last movie with Pierce Brosnan as James Bond ,the successfull franchise returns ,but this time to the beginning.To the beginning of Bond as a 00 agent.

This movie may be regarded as a reboot to the series.Daniel Craig takes the lead role,previously portrayed by Sean Connery.Roger Moore,George Lazenby,Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan (maybe the best Bond,judging from the 007 movies I’ve seen).This choice caused a lot of controversy from the first moment it was announced. Some fans were against this choice and some said that they would even boycott the movie.To be honest,I didn’t like Craig as a new Bond.I definitely preferred P.Brosnan.When you see the movie,at first, the impression is mixed.However,as the movie progresses Craig proves that all the skepticism about him was wrong.His portrayal of Bond is actually very good.A Bond certainly different from the previous movies.



The movie takes a more realistic,more “raw” path.Bond is more human than before,more violent and to some point emotional.All this change is justified from the fact that,as said before,we see the early days of Bond.
The actors that stand out in Casino Royale are Daniel Craig and from the women side,Eva Green.One strong point of the movie are its well-written lines.This fact helps the actors,mainly Craig , in their performances.Eva Green is something more than a simple Bond girl,she’s the woman J.Bond falls for.Her performance is also exceptional.
Two other positive things are the directing and the intensity of some scenes(for example the scene of the poker game against Le Chiffre in Casino Royale).

However,there are some flaws.First flaw ,the villain:Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre is not bad but he’s just too bland.C.Murino’s character (Solange ) is understated,”decorative” maybe and some action scenes last too long.

Casino Royale is very good movie and so is Daniel Craig,despite the doubts about him.This time the “formula” worked,but will it work next time?The fact that when you see Craig you may still have second thoughts about him as Bond, is it a drawback?(it seems that it is decided that D.Craig will reprise his role in Bond 22 as ign.com reports).

UPDATE 11/2008:A few days ago,i watched Casino Royale again (i watched the Blu-Ray,great transfer).I have to say that,while my opinion hasn't changed,i liked the movie even more.It's entertaining,action-packed,yet complex and moving.After some point,it's a tragic love story.It's probably the best Bond movie that i've seen.As for the flaws i mentioned in my original review,i think that Mads Mikkelsen is actually very good as the villain and the chase scenes are one of the pros of the movie.I don't have second thoughts for Daniel Craig anymore.He's very good as Bond and the reviews for Quantum of Solace say the same thing for his perfomance in it too.Is he the best Bond?He's certainly different from the previous ones.

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Saw V Review

Saw V,the new installment in the successful series,after the terrible Saw III-IV.It was a little better than i expected,but that does not mean that it was good.After Saw II,the series goes steadily downhill.In my opinion,only the first two were good.

Anyway,back to Saw V.Basically,it's more of the same.It's the same concept,with the elaborate traps,the philosophy of Jigsaw and with more details about the events of previous movies.An alternate title could be Saw:The Flashback,because a significant part of the plot consists of flashbacks about how Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) recruited Det.Hoffman (Costas Mandylor),etc.In the present,agent Straham (Scott Patterson) continues to investigate the involvement of Hoffman.Of course,there's a group of people who are put to the test.And there is a semi-twist in the end.

Die-hard fans may like Saw V,but the truth is that we have seen this before and more successfully executed,as far as the first two movies are concerned.The movie will be once again profitable and consequently Saw VI is already in the works.In a scene between Jigsaw and Hoffman (one of the few interesting scenes,if not the only one),Jigsaw talks about rehabilitation (among other things).That's what the series needs for the next movie to be at least descent. Read more!

The Mummy:Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Review

Seven years after the last Mummy,the series returns with Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.It's not a return with a bang.After a promising start,the movie goes downhill.
The screenplay is bad.It's just not good enough to keep the audience interested.The movie reaches new levels of ridiculousness.I mean,the previous movies had over the top moments or bad CGI,but this...
There are some funny lines and maybe some nice scenes.Some of the cast members try to do the best they can.Maria Bello is miscast and Jet Li is barely present in the movie.After some point,you wonder,when this is going to end?
Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is the worst movie of the Mummy series.It's a rather mediocre sequel. Read more!

Max Payne Review

One word decribes Max Payne (the movie):disappointment.
But let's take things from the beginning.

The movie is based on the video game series.The games provide the material for a dark,gritty,violent movie with an engaging plot.This adaptation basically follows the events of the first game,although with some changes.So what's wrong with this movie?Well,a lot.

First,the cast.The casting choices are far from being successful.Mark Wahlberg's perfomance is at best mediocre.Another wrong choice is Mila Kunis.She's pretty but she's not suitable for the role of Mona Sax.I could say more about the cast but let's continue.

Another serious problem is the screenplay.The screenwriters ruined an interesting story and turned it into a (sometimes) boring movie.The director is also responsible for this failure.Surprisingly,there are not much action scenes and the slow-motion scenes are executed poorly.Only the cinematography is relatively good.

So,the previously mentioned potential is wasted.Many wonder how the movie would be if the cast or/and the director were different.Some mentioned the name of John Woo,from the movies of whom the Max Payne games were influenced.A Max Payne movie directed by John Woo?That would be interesting.

To sum up,this adaptation is disappointing.You may have read that after the end credits there's a scene that hints at a possible sequel.If that happens,a lot of changes should be made.
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Prison Break "Scylla/Breaking and Entering",S04E03 Trailer-Sneak Peek

The first season of Prison Break was great.From season 2,the quality of the series is declining,for a variety of reasons.Anyway,it still is an enjoyable show,but it needs a return to form.The fourth season has just began,with a 2-hour premiere.
For a while we knew that Sarah was not dead and that she will return.Her return in "Scylla" was underwhelming,a bit rushed,but it was still welcome."Scylla" was not a very good episode,but served as a basis for a better one."Breaking and Entering" was a pretty good,entertaining episode,with funny lines:"Did you eat bad mexican ?","I had to slow down not to catch you".To sum up,it was a decent premiere.Let's see how the season will develop.
S04E03 Trailer


S04E03 Sneak Peek

Tags: prison break, lincoln burrows, michael scofield, sarah tancredi, t-bag, fox, season, four, review, trailer, promo, sneak peek, tv, entertaiment

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The Dark Knight Review

The Dark Knight,the sequel to the brilliant Batman Begins.One of the most anticipated films of the year,an anticipation which was increased by the death of Heath Ledger and the rumours about his portrayal of Joker and about the impact of this role on him.As the months went by,TDK became the movie event of 2008.The reviews confirmed the predictions that TDK is one of the best,if not the best,movies of the year.Many box-office records are already broken and some analysts predict that the gross may even be close to the gross of Titanic.

I could not decide whether or not to write a review.There's so much you can write about this movie.Anyway,i will write some of my thoughts .The Dark Knight is a film with many layers.It's pointed out that it's character study.That's true,because one of the aspects is the conflict between the radically different characters of Batman and Joker,along with their struggles and the struggles of the other characters,who have substance and are not just a part of the main story.Batman is more vulvernable than ever.The results of his effort are not what he expected :"I did not have that it mind when i said i wanted to inspired people".The conflict in his soul ,the conflict between Batman and Bruce Wayne becomes more intense.In the face of Harvey Dent he sees the chance for the retirement of Batman.But these hopes,remain just hopes.The adversary is unpredictable and the casualties lead to doubts,despair,emotional pain.In the end,self-sacrifice is the only solution. "Know your limits Mr.Wayne" "Batman has no limits" It seems that even Batman has limits.

The Joker,the menace for Gotham.Harvey Dent,the hope.The darkness.The light.The light that becomes the darkness.
"This city deserves a better class of criminals'' "Madness is like gravity,all it takes is a little push" "Some people want to watch the world burn" Joker quotes or quotes related to him.The two (or three) versions of the story about the scars.Is this man crazy,twisted,a criminal mastermind,someone who enjoys chaos?

Christian Bale is once again great.But the most talked about actor is Heath Ledger.This is a perfomance of a lifetime.His portrayal of Joker is riveting and at times terrifying.And if you've read about how he prepared for the role,his level of dedication is evident.He's the Joker.The very least,he should be nominated for an Oscar.However,we should not ignore another very good perfomance,the perfomance of Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two Face.Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine are also very good.Maggie Gylenhaal who replaces Katie Holmes is good too.As i've written and in my review for Iron Man,rarely the cast selection is so successful and that is proven by the invidual perfomances and by the interaction of the cast.
As i said in the beginning of the review,there's so much you can write about TDK (you can write also about the cinematography,the music,the philosophy,etc).It's a great movie,a sophisticated movie,for which we'll talk about for a long time.I may write soon some more of my thoughts.

Recent casting rumours about the third movie:Angelina Jolie (Catwoman),Johny Depp (Riddler),Philip Seymour-Hoffman (Penguin)

Tags: aaron eckhart, batman, christian bale, christopher nolan, comics, dark knight, dc, entertaiment, film, gary oldman, gotham, heath ledger, joker, michael caine, Morgan Freeman, movies, bruce wayne

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X-Files:I Want To Believe Review UPDATED

Having watched all nine seasons of X-Files the last one and a half year,i have to say that it's one of my favourite tv series.X-Files ended in 2002,although the plan was to continue the show with Robert Patrick and Annabeth Gish as the leads or other actors/actresses in possible future seasons.The sequel to the 1998 movie X-Files:Fight the Future,was supposed to be released shortly after the end of the series,but due to legal matters,it was put on hold.Last year,the project was greenlit,with a screenplay that was ready since 2003(for obvious reasons there were changes to the original screeplay)and with a 35 million $ budget.The title of the sequel:X-Files:I Want to Believe.

This movie is a stand-alone story and not a part of the X-Files mythology.The events take place in real time.Mulder is in hiding and Scully works now in a hospital.The dissappearance of a FBI agent is the cause for the return in the field.We are introduced to two FBI agents,a believer and a skeptic.We are also introduced to Father Joe,a former priest and a convicted pedophile,who claims to have psychic abilities.

In the movie,we see the development of the relationship between Scully and Mulder.Mulder,although hesitant at first,he is willing to return.Scully is reluctant,has reservations,does not to return,she has put the past behind.She has now a responsibility as a doctor and has deal with other matters and she eventually faces a serious dilemma.As the story progresses,the relationship is put to the test,but it is proven how strong it is.

There are several references to the series,which fans will appreciate.And a familiar character also appears.As far as the the plot is concerned,while it's not probably the best X-File,it's engaging and there are nice and interesting elements.The approach here is low-key and not action,effects-driven.The tone is dark but there are funny moments,which mostly come from Mulder.

The chemistry between David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson is still there and their perfomances are good.Amanda Peet and XZibit are adequate and Billy Connolly is pretty good.

The problem with this movie is expectations and lack of interest.Loyal fans,after all these years of waiting,expect a decent movie,dissappointed fans from the last seasons
have low expectations or they don't care and the interest of casual viewers is not high.In my opinion,while the movie at times loses its pace and certainly has other flaws,it's a decent movie,that's worth watching.The fanbase is still strong but is that enough for XF:IWTB to be successful?The answer will be given shortly.Let's hope that X-Files:I Want to Believe is successful enough,so as another movie will be produced,which is planned to be mythology-related and which will give the conclusion to the events set up by the series.
Review written on July 25.
UPDATE (July 30):Sadly,XFIWB grossed only 10 million $ last weekend in the U.S,which is about half of the gross analysts projected (19 million $).
Let's examine some of the reasons for the low opening:
-Lack of interest,decline in popularity:Although the series is still popular (DVD sales and other figures prove it),let's face it,it's not as popular as it was in its prime (when the first movie was released) or even when it ended in 2002.The lack of interest from fans or casual viewers can also be attributed to the wrong marketing of the movie.
-Marketing/Promotion:Considering the fact that for the promotion of Fight the Future Fox spent almost as much money as the budget of the movie(66 million $ budget,60 million $ promotion cost,189 million $ worlwide gross,Fox received 103 million $ (55 %)),it's logical that the studio did not want spent so much money for the promotion of the sequel.However,that does not mean that the promotion should be so quiet.Yes,there were trailers,interviews,tv spots etc.But many people,even fans of series,were not aware of the release of the movie.As it is proven by recent movies,the marketing does not have to be costly but smart and targeted.
-Release date:Releasing XFIWB the second week of release of The Dark Knight was certainly a wrong choice.Add to that,the fact that other movies have the same target audience.
X-Files:I Want To Believe,considering it's low budget (35 million $),will be profitable ( add worldwide box-office and DVD revenue).However,it seems that the odds for a third movie are not much.

Tags: chris carter, david duchovny, entertaiment, film, frank spotnitz, gillian anderson, movies, mulder, review, scully, stand-alone, tv, x-files

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Reviews:The Happening,Forgetting Sarah Marshall

After the disappointment caused by recent M.Night Shyamalan movies,many wondered:what happened to the talent,which was evident in his earlier work (mainly in the Sixth Sense)?The expectations for M.Night's new movie were mixed and some people were not very optimistic.It was evident that after the critical and box-office failure of Lady in the Water,he needed a hit movie.The early reviews for the Happening were negative,and the other that followed were also negative,although there were some who thought that it was a good movie.
In my opinion,TH is not,by any means,a bad or even a mediocre movie.It certainly has its flaws.However,the plot device is interesting,making you wonder what's really happening?M.Night succeeds in creating an uncertain environment,a tense and uneasy atmosphere and there also some scary moments.Sometimes,the movie slows down and some questions are left unanswered.Overall,it's a decent movie,which is worth watching.




Forgetting Sarah Marshall is one more movie from the "Apatow factory" and most of the gang is here.It's a comedy with some dramatic moments.To some level,it's a bittersweet movie,considering the development of the relationships and all the related stuff.There are lot of funny moments but there is also,sometimes,a serious tone.At times,FSM loses its pace,resulting to some weak moments.To sum up,Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a very funny,entertaining but flawed movie.

Tags: entertaiment, film, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, happening, jason segel, judd apatow, kristen bell, m.night shyamalan, mark wahlberg, movies, review, zooey deschanel

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Iron Man review

What can i say about Iron Man?It's a movie that i anticipated,and the anticipation was increased by the very good trailers.
Last Friday,i finally saw Iron Man.
To some level,the approach is similar to the approach of Batman Begins,although there are differences.Jon Favreau has cited Batman Begins as an inspiration.

The movie does not focus on action,but on character development.The story unfolds in a way,which engages the audience.As i said,character development is an intergral part of the plot,and in particular the development of Tony Stark.A complex but yet human character.The director wanted to make a story of an adult man literally reinventing himself, and realizing the world is far more complex than he believes and that is evident throughout the movie.

The cast of Iron Man,certainly is one of the main assets of the movie.Rarely,the selection is so successful.From Robert Downey Jr,to Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges,the perfomances are very good.However,the star of the movie is Robert Downey Jr.His portrayal of Tony Stark is exceptional."The best and worst moments of Robert's life have been in the public eye," the director explained. "He had to find an inner balance to overcome obstacles that went far beyond his career. That's Tony Stark. Robert brings a depth that goes beyond a comic-book character who is having trouble in high school, or can't get the girl." Favreau also felt Downey could make Stark a "likable asshole", but also depict an authentic emotional journey once he won over the audience.

The plot gives the opportunity to make commentary on various subjects,in a way that the movie does not become a political one,but in way that the message is delivered.Despite the fact this is a mainly serious movie,there are funny moments,which are successfully integrated.

The music is very good and the special effects are impressive.Although there are some minor flaws,Iron Man is excellent movie,one of the best movies that i've seen in 2008,one of the best comic book adaptations.It's definetely worth watching.
At the time of writing,Iron Man has already grossed $201,000,000 worldwide ($104,250,000 in the United States and Canada and $96,750,000 in other territories).

Some interesting for the sequel (wikipedia),the release of which is certain
"Jon Favreau planned Iron Man as the first in a trilogy, and has signed on all the original actors.Paramount chief executive officer Brad Grey expects a 2010 release date for the second movie of the series.Favreau believes sequels will allow a latitude in tone,and explore darker story elements such as alcoholism, which he intentionally set aside from the first film.Favreau feels depicting Iron Man's nemesis, the Mandarin, who was created as a metaphor for communism, will be challenging, as he finds the character dated.He also wants to streamline the effort it takes for Stark to put on his armor, considering the "assembly line" effort he makes in the first film.

Downey noted "the next one is about what do you do with the rest of your life once you've completely changed.I think the drinking and all that stuff would be a good way to confront his age, to confront his doubts, to confront the fact that maybe Pepper gets a boyfriend." Downey and Favreau met with Shane Black, who suggested they model Stark on Robert Oppenheimer, who became depressed with being "the destroyer of worlds" after working on the Manhattan Project.

As much of his screentime was cut from the film, Terrence Howard is anticipating becoming War Machine in the sequel. Howard said he would like to follow the slow arc of the comics with Rhodes temporarily becoming Iron Man while Stark succumbs to alcohol, joking "I don't want to introduce War Machine too early for my own monetary benefit."
Downey is reprising his role for a cameo appearance in The Incredible Hulk (2008).Favreau has also expressed interest in directing Downey as the character in an Avengers movie.Marvel has plans to make Iron Man into a Trilogy. The second movie may be released on April 30, 2010".

Nick Fury cameo (after the credits)

Tags: iron man, marvel, comics, robert downey jr, tony stark, jeff bridges, gwyneth paltrow, stan lee, jon favreau, review, film, movies, entertainment

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