Toy Story 3 Trailer
The boys are back in town for their third adventure! When Woody and the gang are accidentally picked up by a garbage team and sent to a daycare center, they find themselves in toy hell! Together, they must find a way to get back to Andy, who has started his own adventure, college. Now is it just me, or should Andy have grown out of his little toy faze a long time ago before college? Dude, find some new toys... they're called females.
Red Cliff (Review)
Red Cliff
(Scheduled to be released November 18, 2009.)
Directed by: John Woo
Starring: Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi
What’s It About
Cao Cao’s leads a massive army with the intent of wiping out rebel forces and taking over their lands. Knowing that without uniting with other neighboring armies, they are sitting ducks, Zhuge Liang sets off to build an alliance with other forces in order to stand a chance against Cao’s men. Once the stage is set, both sides go to war.
Thoughts
What do you get when you combine a turtle and thousands of soldiers in a field? One of the most spectacular action sequences in recent cinema history! John Woo’s latest film, Red Cliff, is definitely a force to be reckoned with. After a number of changes to its cast, plagued production, injuries on the set, and having to trim down more than half of his film to please western audiences, we finally have the end result… and it’s GOOOOD!
Having used thousands of extras to generate the massive battles that take place, a number of ships that could rival those seen in Troy, and a budget that has allowed this film’s special effects and CGI teams to enhance the visuals splendor, Red Cliff boasts one of the best productions seen on the screen in some time! Watching a labyrinth like attack by the allies on Cao Cao’s men had me lifting up my jaw from the floor! When ships lit on fire were used as battering rams against an enemy fleet, I kept thinking this is why we go to the movies. Even with all the action though, it is Red Cliff’s story about honor, loyalty and friendship that truly drives the film. I was relieved to see that the western cut wasn’t completely butchered in a way that would make Red Cliff seem primarily like an action film (As is the case sometimes when Asian films are brought over to the US.) In addition to everything else, Lu Yue’s cinematography work is just compelling. You will fly by beautiful blue rivers, reach the peaks of China’s mountains and be amazed as you walk through military fortresses all thanks to Yue’s keen eye for detail. Makes one wonder why a film of this caliber could not be made in the US without having to spend over 200 million when this film was made for just 80 million.
The cast was just pitch perfect. Ken Watanabe and Chow Yun-Fat’s last minute departure from the film must have added pressure on the production since their names would have helped to sell the film to a western audience, but thankfully their replacements not only give solid performances, they make their roles memorable. Tony Leung (Hero, Infernal Affairs Trilogy, Lust/ Caution) takes charge as military strategist, Zhou Yu. A traditionalist in fighting techniques, Yu believes that art and war are one and the same. Leung is a ball of talent and I hope this film helps him get attention in the same manner that Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon helped Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh’s career here in America. Zhang Fengyi (Farewell My Concubine) plays warlord Cao Cao as a ruthless man who will stop at nothing to eliminate the allied forces. Fengyi played the character of Cao in such a convincing manner that whenever he showed a lighter side of him, it almost gave me the creeps. Strategist and scholar, Zhuge Liang, was played by Takeshi Kaneshiro (House of Flying Daggers) and was by far my favorite character. One of the best scenes involved Liang tricking the enemy camp into shooting arrows into boats he constructed from straw in order for the allies to gain more arrows. He spends the whole time in one of the straw boats drinking tea while waves of arrows fly right past him!
John Woo has created his magnum opus with Red Cliff. Too few words can describe the sheer beauty that unfolded before my eyes during its two and a half hour running time. I would almost dare to compare this work to one of Akira Kurosawa’s gems because in my humble opinion, it’s just that good. And with that, I think I just gave Mr. Woo’s epic the biggest compliment it could have gotten.
Memorable Moment
When Zhou Yu sends a messenger dove out to Cao Cao’s fort, the camera tracks the bird's flight for 3 minutes, uncut, all the way through. Though the bird and parts of the scenery are CGI, it is still an impressive sight.
FYI
The original uncut version of Red Cliff was split into two separate films and had a total running time of 280 minutes. The western cut of the film which combines both films runs for 148 minutes.
Score
9 out of 10
Where The Wild Things Are (Review)
Where The Wild Things Are
Directed By: Spike Jonzes
Starring: Max Records, Catherine Kenner
Voices By: James Gandolfini, Lauren Ambrose, Forest Whitaker, Chris Cooper, Catherine O’ Hara
What’s It About
The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind, and another, his mother called him “WILD THING!” and Max said “I’LL EAT YOU UP!” He then ran away, got in a boat and sailed off through night and day to where the wild things are. And when he came to where the wild things are they roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws till Max said “BE STILL!” They then declared him the king of the wild things. “And now,” cried Max,”let the EMO rumpus start!”
Thoughts
I never thought I would see Max and his wild things on the big screen. I mean, how do you make a film based on a book which only contains nine to ten sentences? Thankfully Spike Jonzes and company had a bigger imagination when adapting this well received and beloved children’s book into a 101 minute feature. While Where The Wild Things Are comes off more emotionally charged than anyone would have expected, it is an achievement in giving us a real mature, heartfelt story that, given the opportunity, could be enjoyed by adults as well as older children.
Max has issues. His dad is out of the picture, mom can’t give him the attention he needs due to her own problems, older sis ignores him, and he has no friends. Max reacts to all this by being bad… really bad! When sis doesn’t stand up for him after his igloo is destroyed with him in it, he goes into her room and TEARS it apart! Mom is dating again and Max doesn’t like the boyfriend so what does he do? He becomes loud and obnoxious to the point where he ends up biting his mom, runs away into a boat and sails off! Upon reaching an island inhabited by monsters, he witnesses one of them going berserk and immediately has a connection with him. When we are finally introduced to all these creatures, we realize that they each embody one of Max’s emotions. So Carol for example, represents Max’s anger while Bull represents his loneliness. It’s at this point that Where The Wild Things Are may lose some of its audience. I’m talking about the ones who were expecting a lighthearted kid’s fare complete with song and dance numbers and lovable, huggable and colorful monsters. This is a story about a little boy learning to deal with real emotions and issues through these creatures. There are parts in this flic that are going to be really scary and somewhat violent.
The performances were just fantastic! Max Records did a phenomenal job as Max, the boy who needs to see a shrink! I balled up when he came out of his snow fortress crying after it was destroyed with him in it and I was scared for him when one of the wild things wanted to harm him. He really gets to you, especially if you’re a parent. I was very satisfied with some of the wild things voices. James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) was warm and scary as Carol, Max’s confidant. Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) plays KW, a female that doubts whether to stay with her group of wild things due to Carols outbreaks. She’s the window to Max’s mom’s world and she helps Max understand what mom has to deal with. The rest of the cast did a great job and as a side comment, I’m glad the filmmakers decided to go with actual costumes instead of CGI for the wild things. It just helps you believe in their world that much more.
Though I don’t think this film is for everyone, it is definitely for those who want something more than just a typical happy go lucky kid’s film. It’s a great story with some fine performances, especially from Max Records. I took my eight year old son with me to a showing and he absolutely loved it. In fact, he understood the message and we ended up talking about it for hours! Spike Jonzes showed respect to Maurice Sendak’s original story all while adding his own vision which worked great for a film like this. I can honestly say I ate this film up, I loved it so!
Memorable Moment
During the rumpus, the wild things decide to all pile up on Max. Afterwards, instead of getting off of him, they fall asleep.
FYI
Back in the 80’s, Where The Wild Things Are was being adapted into an animated film by Disney. That idea got dropped after unsuccessful screen tests.
Score
8 out of 10
Different Editions for Transformers 2
This years mega blockbuster Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will finally be released on Blu Ray and DVD this Tuesday, October 20th. Here is a quick rundown of the different versions that will hit shelves:
Standard DVD
This is the bare bones version. No
Special Features.
2 Disk Special Edition DVD & Blu Ray
One disk contains the film and the
other has all the special features.
Target Exclusive DVD & Blu Ray
Just like the regular 2 Disk Special
Edition except that it is cased in a
transforming Bumblebee case.
Wal Mart Exclusive IMAX Edition Blu Ray
This is the one that fans will want to hunt
down. The film will include all of the
extended scenes that were shot with IMAX
cameras. This plus all the other special
features contained in the other versions.
Box Office Results
October 16th- 18th
1/ Where The Wild Things Are $32,470,000
2/ Law Abiding Citizen $21,250,000
3/ Paranormal Activity $20,163,000
4/ Couples Retreat $17,949,000
5/ The Stepfather $12,300,000
The Damned United (Review)
.jpg)
The Damned United
Directed by: Tom Hopper
Starring: Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Colm Meany, Jim Broadbent
What’s It About
This is a fictionalized take on a real event that focuses on Brian Clough’s short lived time as United Leed’s manager and his relationship with his assistant Peter Taylor during the early seventies. Your probably trying to figure out who these people are and what or who the United Leeds are. Well, Brian Clough and Peter Taylor are considered in Europe as the best Manager and Manager Assistant Dou to ever to grace the field with a European Soccer League and the United Leeds were Europe’s best soccer team around that time.
Thoughts
If The Damned United was based on fictional characters and situations, it would still be a highly recommended film. I want to say this from the start because some people might be turned off at the thought of not knowing ANYTHING about these people. Trust me, it does not matter. Oh, and it’s not a sports film a la Remember the Titans or Hoosier. It’s more along the lines of Rocky in that it concentrates on the study of characters, not the sport itself. TDU asks, “What happens when you go from managing the worst soccer team in the entire league one day, to managing the absolute best team the next? What can it do to your ego? How would that change your treatment towards those around you? How much of your success can be credited to you?”
Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon) steps into the shoes of Brian Clough, and sharing the screen as his assistant and best friend, Peter Taylor, is Timothy Spall (Enchanted, The Last Samurai, Harry Potter films). Describing their performance together as magnificent is really an understatement. There is an organic chemistry between the two that makes their onscreen bromance real (and not in a Brokeback Mountain kind of way). Also joining them are Colm Meany as Coughs rival, Don Revie, who is such a jerk to Clough without him even saying a word to him. When Revie shows up with his team to play against Cloughs team and you see all the work Clough put into making sure Revie and his boys had a good welcome, just to have Revie completely ignore him upon entering the gates of the stadium, your blood will boil. Stephen Graham (Public Enemies) also shows up in a minor role as the Leeds captain, Billy Bremmer, a character I wish would have had more time to develop since he helps create some of the mess you see.
Along with the great cinematography,which takes advantage of the murky gray scapes of England, one other aspect in TDU that was neat is how it jumps back and forth in its timeline. When Clough talks about how much he hates Don Revie, former manager of the United Leeds, it’s not enough for us to just know that. The screen goes black, a year clock counts down to the year the rivalry started, and then you are thrown into that storyline. It does this A LOT, but it never gets old and in fact, it makes for better storytelling! You won’t be left wondering who was who and why that and this did or did not occur.
Boy, I really enjoyed The Damned United. Peter Morgan, whose works include The Queen, The Last King of Scotland and last year’s Frost/Nixon, has once again turned in a script that is sure to garner some recognition come awards season. It’s a smart drama film with great funny moments and even if you don’t know who the people this movie is based on are, it won’t matter. It’s just a great film, period.
Memorable Moment
During one game, Brian Clough spends the whole time in his office which is lit only by the sunlight that comes in through his window. As he paces back and forth, nervous about what the outcome might be, the light is blocked and a loud noise follows. When he turns his head towards the window, he sees the shadows of fans standing to their feet celebrating.
FYI
This is Michael Sheen's seventh film in which he is portraying a real life character.
Score
9 out of 10
The Damned United Trailer
From famed writer Peter Morgan comes this great film about Europes best soccer league manager, Brian Clough. Starring Michael Sheen, who I just recently had the privilage of meeting at a screening, stars as Clough. I will have a full review ASAP! Almost forgot, in theatres this Friday, October 9th! Don't miss it.
An Education (Review)
An Education
(Scheduled to be released October 16, 2009.)
Directed By: Lone Sherfig
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Dominic Cooper, Emma Thompson
What’s It About
Jenny (Mulligan) is a young girl who has a lot going for her academically until she meets an older man named David (Sarsgaard). They begin a romance that allows Jenny to see the world in a whole new light. She ditches her chance at Oxford to travel, eat at fine restaurants, and dance the night away, all thanks to the clever ways of David. Having the opportunities that neither her parents nor teachers ever had, she begins to question,” What’s an education worth if you’re not living?”
Thoughts
There is no reason why anyone should skip An Education. Like the old saying goes, “They don’t make them like this anymore!” Director Lone Scherfig (Italian for Beginners) has crafted a smart film based in the 60’s that will seduce its audience just as the main character becomes entangled in the lifestyle that many of us could only dream of having. Since we are seeing the world through Jenny’s point of view, we are only allowed to know as much as she knows and to feel only what she feels. This is done through tight story telling that really doesn’t allow for any leaks.
Carey Mulligan is wonderful in this film. She plays Jenny with an innocent ignorance that can easily translate over to any young free spirited girl, who is too eager to grow up when in love. It wouldn’t be farfetched to say that Carey could very well be the Audrey Hepburn of our generation. Just looking at the pics should give you an indication of her strong resemblance to the late great actress. This was a great performance from someone who we will be seeing a lot more of.
Aside from Carey, the rest of the cast does a fantastic job. It is always a treat to see Alfred Molina onscreen. He plays Jenny’s weak minded, high tempered father in a role that will both have you laughing and feeling sorry for the old man. Peter Sarsgaard as David was hypnotizing. He charms his way through every scene he’s in and you’re just as charmed by him as Jenny is. Dominic Cooper and Rosamund Pike are great together as Danny and Helen, David and Jenny’s close friends and there is a performance by Emma Thompson that’s short but descent.
The cinematography for the most part is kept at arm’s length of the characters so you have this sense that you’re hanging out with them as everything is unfolding. That doesn’t mean that there are no beautiful scenes to be seen, there are, but part of what works for a film like this is feeling close to the characters and the camera work helps keep that illusion.
There is a lot I would like to say in respect to the storyline, but a big part of this journey is experiencing everything at the exact same time as our main character. An Education has won awards at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and has been receiving critical acclaim from critics. Do you really need another reason to go see this opening day?
Memorable Moment
Montage of a day in Paris with David and Jenny.
FYI
Carey Mulligan and Rosamund Pike both starred together in the film adaption of Pride and Prejudice. Emma Thompson, Olivia Williams, Sally Hawkins, and Dominic Cooper all played roles in films based on Jane Austen’s literary works.
Score
8 out of 10
