Directed and Written by:Guillermo Del Torro

Starring : Ron Perlaman, as Hellboy, and Selma Blair as Liz Sherman.

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH

Directed by: Eric Brevig, director of the “Xena;Warrior Princess” TV Series

Written by :Michael Weiss, producer of the TV Series “Nip/Tuck” and “The Closer”

Starring: Brendan Fraser

AUGUST

Directed by: Austin Chick( produced “Before the Devil Knows You Are Dead”)

Written by: Howard A Rodman

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Naomi Harris, Adam Scott.

GARDEN PARTY

Directed and written by: Jason Freeland

Starring: Richard Gunn (from “The Astronaut Farmer”), Erik Smith.

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HELLBOY II

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JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH

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AUGUST

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GARDEN PARTY

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Pixar, once again Joins forces with Disney, and out do themselves with this excellent Robot Love Story that saves planet Earth. Already nominated for the 2008 Oscars, Walle is climbing the charts for a winning number.

Writer/Director Andrew Stanton, provides you with a whole 97minutes length of almost no dialog at all.

The story is captivating, followed by the romance of two robots. The protagonist, Wall-e, is simply irresistible and quite enjoyable from the very start. The underlying theme of the film follows the human destruction of planet Earth. However, the humanized humble robot Wall-e saves Planet Earth by following his heart/hardrive, and chasing Eve-a fancy sophistication of a flying robot.

Booming at the box offices just within the first week of its release Hancock is the anti-hero, whiskey drinking Will Smith with super powers.
Ever since “Independence Day” coming out in 1996 for the 4th of July holiday, Will Smith has successfully started his “Big Willie’s Holiday Weekend” followed by box office boom of “Men in Black I” in 1997 and “Wild Wild West” in 1999.
This Holiday Weekend, opening on July 2nd, “Hancock, drowns the box office with just the first couple of days for $66million. Within the first week, grosses up to $107.3million.
It is a blockbuster movie, filled with many close ups, powerful action shots, dressed in a cute story tasseled with light humor.

You either love it or hate it!

Full Review

Costume Design: Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Animated Feature: Ratatouille
Makeup: La Vie En Rose
Visual Effects: The Golden Compass
Art Direction: Sweeney Todd
Live Action Short: Le Mozart Des Pickpockets
Animated Short: Peter and the Wolf
Sound Editing: The Bourne Ultimatum
Sound Mixing: The Bourne Ultimatum
Film Editing: The Bourne Ultimatum
Original Song: “Falling Slowly” from Once
Original Score: Atonement
Documentary Short: Freeheld
Documentary Feature:Taxi to the Dark Side
Cinematography: There Will Be Blood
Foreign Language: The Counterfeiters
Adapted Screenplay: Joel and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody, Juno
Supporting Actress: Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Actress: Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose
Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Director: The Coen Brothers, No Country for Old Men
Best Picture: No Country for Old Men

And commentary goes as follows;

For visual effects, I am surprised Golden Compass beat Transformers, I mean come on! Its TRANSFORMERS!

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Other comments….??

Bob Marley, a world recognized reggae singer, will become alive once again, as his life story will be revealed in a documentary style film making composed by a teaming effort of Martin Scorsese, Steve Bling’s Shangri-LA Entertainment and international sales agent Fortissimo Films.

The Marley family is excited to gather input and travel back in time to capture the ying and yang of this famous reggae star Bob Marley.

And the nominations for best picture are a bit surprising …

IF you’d like to view the rest of the nominees, go here.

His contributions further beyond his recognition as a politician. According to Time magazine, he was “the first openly gay man elected to any substantial political office in the history of the planet”. He was a man, a mayor of Castro Street, and active during major changes in San Francisco. Milk was assassinated in 1978 by Dan White, whose mild conviction led to the White Night Riots in  San Francisco.

Currently filming in San Francisco, Ca, is a film based on the true story of this great politician and activist’s life in the 70’s, played by Sean Penn.

Directed by Gus Van Sunt, and written by Dustin Lance Black, “Milk” is expected to reach the box office towards the end of the summer of 2008.

Supporting cast involves: Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, James Franco, etc

The Australian actor, age 28  Heath Ledger, was found dead this morning in his Manhattan apartment, New York, naked in his bed with a bottle of sleeping pills next to him, police said.

Born on April 4th, 1979 in Perth, Western Australia, Heath Ledger was an amazing actor part of many best picture films. One of his latest appearences on screen was in the film “Im not There”, as he played a figment of Bob Dylan’s life.

 It wasn’t immediately clear if Ledger had committed suicide. He had an appointment for a massage at a residence in the tony neighbourhood of SoHo, NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said. A housekeeper who went to let him know the massage therapist had arrived found him dead at 3:26 p.m. The medical examiner’s office planned an autopsy Wednesday, spokeswoman Ellen Borakove said.- variety.com

Indepth Story 

For all of you film lovers… when it comes down to judgment day for the real judger’s of movies, this year, it appears as though, we are going to be experiencing a shortage in the pleasure of a show for best films, directors, crew and actors from 2007. I am sure you are aware by now of the continuing Writers’ strike in Hollywood, and it looks like they might be making a great point. Hollywood cannot survive without them, as it is a crucial part of running a show down there. Golden Globes has been cancelled due to the strike, obviously you already know , since it was suppose to air yesterday.

Do you think is safe to say that we could still be looking forward to the Oscars of ‘08?

hmmmm…..

So what happened last Sunday?

For Golden Globe vets, the short evening was dreamlike, both familiar and unfamiliar. As usual, it took place in the hotel’s International Ballroom, with the usual pre-event shmoozing. But there was no red carpet, no screaming crowds (just a handful of well-behaved gawkers) and no limo gridlock in the hotel’s driveway. And, crucially, there were no stars. -Variety.com

It sounds to me, as tho Hollywood is nearing for a plunge. So goes, our further interests to desire to step out of our own realities and watch a movie. What happens when there is no movies to watch, or our favorite TV shows be constantly canceled?

I BEG OF YOU WRITERS! GET BACK TO YOUR JOBS! WE GET IT! We are helpless without you:)

There, I said it.

And, besides, this strike is not only affecting the regular Joe and Mary, TV viewers, but rather is leaving other film crew peeps without a job!

“We’re not choosing sides. We just want the public to know that we’re the ones who are affected by this strike,” said Karen Kovacic, a nurse and Local 767 member. “We’re the crew people who operate the cameras, we do the hair and makeup, we are the nurses on set. And we’re sitting around not working. It was a really rough Christmas at my house.”

To Hollywood; Any future plans in adjusting the sails of this boat or what?

And… the winners of the Golden Globes this year, would look something like this, if they were on, of course!

The Critics choice awards were last night Monday 7th of January, 2008.

And here are the results:

Winners at Monday’s 13th annual Critics’ Choice Awards:

_ Picture: “No Country for Old Men”

_ Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, “There Will Be Blood”

_ Actress: Julie Christie, “Away From Her”

_ Supporting actor: Javier Bardem, “No Country for Old Men”

_ Supporting actress: Amy Ryan, “Gone Baby Gone”

_ Acting ensemble: “Hairspray”

_ Director: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, “No Country for Old Men”

_ Writer: Diablo Cody, “Juno”

_ Animated feature: “Ratatouille”

_ Young actor: Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada, “The Kite Runner”

_ Young actress: Nikki Blonsky, “Hairspray”

_ Comedy movie: “Juno”

_ Family film (live action): “Enchanted”

_ Picture made for television: “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee”

_ Foreign language film: “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”

_ Song: “Falling Slowly,” Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, “Once”

_ Composer: Jonny Greenwood, “There Will Be Blood”

_ Documentary feature: “Sicko”

_ Joel Siegel award: Don Cheadle

Looking forward to the Actors Guild Awards on TNT January 27th!

However, due to the on going Writers’ Strike its looking like we will not be experincing the Golden Globes or The Oscars of 2008!

So what now, another drug problem, another drunken pose caught on public TV???!

Sure Britney is fighting over her custody rights with her children, but did she have to do it publicly while on illicit drugs.??

Here She is being sent to  Cedar-Sinai Medical Center where she was held for two days for further psychiatric tests.

Further details in Britney Spears condition are updated at the following links:

Britney’s Mental Health

The beginning

Abandons Car in Street

For all of you wondering folk, of why your favorite TV Show has been discontinued, here is an idea.

Starting in late October, writers marched down the streets of Hollywood with demands for more money, of course, for their hard working days to make you, the regular TV viewer, consequently satisfied.

It is nearing toward the end of December now, and Writers are still on strike.

Last time this happened in 1988, the strike cost the film industry about $500 million.

With the present pace of the strike, the economical loss of the industry grows to about $20 million a day, and somehow, no one is doing anything to prevent this Hollywood crisis.

For your further interest in this mess in Los Angeles, I have researched a few articles that you might want to look at.

Writers’ Strike News -Latest Coverage

Writers Face Faceless Enemy - the Up to Date story on the Strike

Writers Strike Could Cost $21.3 million a Day - Last months issue

What a Writers’ Strike Means for Us - back in Oct. the beginning!

“I am Legend” by Francis Lawrence, starring Will Smith

“Revolver“- a Guy Ritchie film, Starring Jason Statham.

Francis Ford Coppola’s first film in a decade, “Youth Without Youth“, starring Tim Roth, Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara.

“Juno” by Jason Raitman,

A few independent films releasing are:

“War Dance” directed by Sean Andrea Nix Fine a documentary about the lives of three children in Northern Uganda, and their joy and passion for music.

Jessica Lu with “Protagonist” a documentary that explores the relationship of human life and Euripedian dramatic structure…

“Starting out in the evening” by Andrew Wagner, starring, LiLI Taylor, Frank Langella.

Mike Nichols, film “Charlie Wilson’s War” starring Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Philip Seymor Hoffman.

Even actors are not satisfied in just being in one holiday movie per year I guess.

Stuck at the San Francisco Airport, on stand by for Los Angeles, the other day, I came across the filming of “Four Christmases”, a film by Seth Gordon starring Vince Vaughn And Reese Witherspoon in the holiday comedy of a married couple with divorced parents, paying their respectable family visits during the Christmas holidays.

Vince Vaughn must be a fan of this season having to be “Fred Clause”, Santa’s sloppy brother, and now the husband of Reese Witherspoon.

The expected premiere of this film comes close to the end of this month, if of course, all goes as planned.

The supposed supporting roles for this film are: Robert Duvall, Kathy Bates, Glenn Close and Stephanie Venditto.

Well, for all of you Vince Vaughn lovers out there: Look forward for another couple of hours of holiday spirit laughs with this rather talkative comedic actor.

directed by: Seth Gordon

screenplay by: Matt Allen, Caleb Wilson

executive producer: Derek Evans, Guy Riedel

distributer: Sony Pictures

So I checked out this film the other day, merely to see what was all the fuss about. And of course I was disappointed. New Line Cinema and director Chris Weitz present this film with a splash of magical fairy-like tale, thrown into a line of action and mystery, however, truly this film is trying too hard to accomplish the grandiose attitude of Harry Potter, and adventure filled labyrinth of Lord of the Rings, as well as borrowed visuals and talking animals from The Chronicles of Narnia trilogies. Cute plot; an orphan girl lives in a parallel world, where one’s soul takes the shape of an animal. She is the chosen one, the one who can read the Golden Compass, fancy clockwork that reveals the truth. This Fantastical tale based on the novel by Philip Pullman, managed to skyrocket the box office at its release with first place of $26million. And I must agree, the amount of advertisements this film got, no wonder people will go see it…
It is a remarkable idea, to base fantasy tales from trilogies of books, however make sure to entice the viewer with character development or at least a bit of a plot expansion, just to clearly understand what is going on in there. For me, the ending was just too raw, and did not immerse me in the hopes for the upcoming sequel. I did not find it intriguing enough, to seek out continuation or encore for that matter. The storyline was not powerful or better yet, was not catchy. And character flaw, separated the viewer from its heroes or enemies. As the villain of the film, we got Nicole Kidman as Marisa Coulter, devilishly smiley resemblance of Darth Vadar, decked out in gold. Coulter peruses her way through the heart of Lyra Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards) in order to reach for the Golden Compass. But of course fails, since the villain never wins in tales like these. Then we have Daniel Craig as Azriel, a man/teacher that appears at the very beginning of the movie and seems to hold higher importance to the plot, however disappears throughout and his character never quite develops further on. What saves you from stepping out of the theatre is a spunky white polar bear, Iorek Byrnison (voice of Ian McKellen). A warrior, and a drunk, Iorek is the most developed character as it’s the simplest. Drastic close ups of wildering roars overtake the scene as the bear fights, and that is probably the highlight worth seeing in this film.

You know what music is? Harmonic connection between all living beings.- The Wizard, August Rush.

Ok, I know what you’re thinking.. Another chick flick love story, sappy drama… a tear jerker. This is a film that seems to be a waste of time to spend the few bucks to see. Especially, if you judge your movie selections from rottentomatoes.com. Its reviews seem to be horrible. But here is a good review, from a different point of view.
Brief synopsis: In Brooklyn, NY, guy meets girl, they get it on, next day they are separated. This film uses an old technique such as parallel story lines that are bound to cross together. Within the storylines, we meet the guy, an Englishman, a musician in a rock band, and we meet the girl, comes from a rich sophisticated family, plays the viola, musician as well. Then we meet the kid, an orphan, bound to one day meet his parents. Yes, it is boring, ordinary love story Oliver Twist-like, fairytale presentation of a drama. However, what saves this film, is the idea behind music, melody and rhythm. It is touchy; it is powerful and all together synchronized in a soft balance between excellent editing, cinematography and melody.
Now if you saw “Ray”, the story about Ray Charles. His music, his confidence made you believe in him, A blind man that found solace in music, and made it his life, it was powerful, it was brilliant.
This story is about a kid who is driven by everything that he hears. Who finds harmony and peace in everyday sounds, such as footsteps and cars, leafs dropping on the ground, and basketball shoots. In order to respect this film, one must have an appreciation for music.

Flawed, yet, does what I, as a musician, find difficult to do. It conveys in words and pictures that wonderful feeling of being caught in a much grander current of rhythm and melody. = quoted from Rottentomatoes.Com

I think the world today has forgotten, what it really means to listen. Our eardrums have been drowned in everyday bullshit of wars, laws, money, politics and their backstabbing, cunning existence, that has made us deaf.
August Rush is a movie that shows music veering through the only innocence that still dwells within our worlds, a child with an uncorrupt soul, and damn strong heart for the passion of music. This child represents a prodigy, a musical genius such as Mozart. His bravery and desire to show to the world what he hears gets him to what he ultimately wants in this film, to reunite with his family, but in the greater design of schemes, is to remind us to step away from our desperate dullness from the corrupt world we live in and just listen.

The music is all around us, all you have to do is listen… -Evan Taylor, August Rush.

To the filmmakers of this film, Mark Mencina, (original music), John Mathieson (cinematography), and William Steinkamp (editing), I appreciate the high dosage of music infusion between classical and rock, modern rock and modern symphonic music, excellently presented with strong close-ups drastic cuts and all together dancing frames. Such fine blend makes this film be worth seeing, and worth a while.
Directed by, Kirsten Sheridan, and starring Keri Russell(Felicity, TVShow, 1998) as Lyla Novachek , Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Luis Conelly, Evan Taylor-August Rush played by Freddie HighMoore, and Robin Williams as Maxwell “Wizard” Wallace.

A curious question, to understand the power of the subconscious better, could be the idea of complete conscious during surgery, under a high dosage of anesthesia. A body fully paralyzed, yet a mind fully functioning and aware, as if awake.
The film, “Awake” attempts to answer the possibilities to this question in a series of events with a plain plot that triggers simply a further confusion behind this puzzling idea. If a subconscious state that’s so strong can enter one’s consciousness and awareness during a state of complete paralysis, is one capable to feel?
Is it true that one in 700 people going under anesthesia during surgery, is actually awake!? Such state is called anesthetic awareness.
A british man named Joby Harlold, not recognized in the film industry, writes and directs this story of a very successful man in Manhattan NY, who has a weak heart and gets into a heart transplant surgery. However, he learns that such surgery sometimes is not meant to take place in a way that he ends up experiencing it.
Starring Jessica Alba(as Sam in the film), the object of desire, and probably the hope and entertainment in the film, who tries to seduce Hayden Christiansen (Clay) in order to get full access to his money, by conducting an experiment through a surgery that goes wrong.
Awake, keeps you entertained and questioning throughout the end, however, its resolution is easily predicted.
It is a good idea in theory, but poorly presented in this film.

“Flight of the Conchords” is funny in such an understated way that it is almost dangerous to make too much of it — it could collapse like a soufflé when the door slams. It’s much slighter than HBO’s big production comedies like “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Entourage.” It’s also a little sweeter, less a satire of show business than wry self-parody.- Pronounces the New York Times.

 Just a little taste of the show:

“Revolver” is a flashy crime drama that unlike other Guy Ritchie films, shows a more philosophical and a serious side.

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Out in theaters for this stuffy Gobble Gobble holiday we’ve got:

“Enchanted” directed by Kevin Lima, a Disney story of a fairytale that comes to life in New York City. Starring Patrick Dempsey, (the man behind Mc. Dreamy, in the most watched TV show “Grey’s Anatomy“), Amy Adams, James Marsden and Timothy Spall.

Followed by an overflow at the box office from “Beowulf” the three D 8th Century action of warriors and battles, magic and medieval, directed by Robert Zemeckis ; starring: Ray Winston, Robert Wright Penn, and Anthony Hopkins. And the childish magic fun with Dustin Hoffman starring in “Mr. Magorioum’s Wonder Emporium” with Natalie Portman.

And if you want to stay away from the fantastical stories , try and check out the newest Coen Brothers film, “No Country for Old Men” , starring: tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brollin, and Woody Harrelson.

Or, another favorite with the box office is the “American Gangster” the story of a high end drug dealer in the Seventies, starring : Densel Washington, Russel Crow, Chiwetel Ejiofer, and Josh Brollin.

Craving a mystery suspense action film? Check Out “Hitman”, directed by Xavier Gens, starring Timothy Oliphand, Dugrey Scott etc.

Political mystery with Tom Cruise, Meryl Strip and Robert Redford, in the magnificant story of director Robert Redford, “Lions for Lambs”

In case you are looking for mindless laughs with Santa Clause and his brother… check out “Fred Clause” starring : Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, John Michael Higgins, etc.

Hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday, and would celebrated with one of these excellent film choices.

This film is based on true events, invigorating a truth that perhaps fellow Americans are blinded to see. Just by its title definition “to redact-meaning to prepare for publishing or revise the truth; to frame”, De Palma discusses the backbone of what is going on behind the curtains of our government and the actuality of a war in Iraq, as the dirty hands of our oh so present president Bush. Is it simply his strange frustration of failing to accomplish his true goal in the Vietnam film he made in ‘89 “Causalties of War”, that “Redacted” is ready to expose a history that would mark the waking of fellow Americans? Or, his goal will be once again demolished over the simple fact, that one is bound to repeat history’s mistakes?

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Coming this summer of 2008.

starring: Tom Cruise

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Imagine you wake up one morning alone in the world. The city you lived in all your life is dead. Your friends, your family, you coworkers, even those strangers you see every day, are gone. Not a soul, not a single breath, but your own.

Will Smith Starring in a film called “I am Legend” directed by Francis Lawrence.

I read some info about this project that JJ Abrams has been tackling, and it really sounded like a box of horse shit, until I saw the trailer.
Now, the trailer is not too appealing if you are looking for a Hollywood blow out film, rather, it is subtle and releases barely any information for this screening. Which makes this all too questionable.
Some of the research I’ve done suggests that this film is not far away of being another giant monster movie coming out of Hollywood. And what makes this different than any other giant monster movie? To my understanding this film is being shot using home video cameras to portray a point of view of real people experiencing an attack over New York.

It’s designed as a fairly small picture, all things considered, and right now, they’re working to make sure the script is going to deliver some wild thrills (like an earthquake that levels Manhattan or an oil tanker flipping over by the Statue of Liberty), but that it’s not suddenly going to turn into a giant $150 million movie. It’s a tricky balance, and if they pull off everything they’re trying to do, CLOVERFIELD could be something really groovy. Not a man in suit in sight. –from an article at aintitcool.com

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His Fame as a drug lord began after he was released from jail the first time around. While in prison, in 1965 he meets Colombo Crime family member Joe “Crazy Joe” Gallo, the man that unleashed his knowledge about drug trafficking and helped Barnes become the “Mr.Untouchable”.

American Gangster is a Story about the most notorious dealer in the history of America, Frank Lucas. According to Sterling Johnson, the federal judge of Lucas’s prosecution, Frank is:

One of the most outrageous international dope-smuggling gangs ever, an innovator who got his own connections outside of US and then sold the narcotics himself in the street.

Frank Lucas, played by Densel Washington in “American Gangster” is born in 1930, in North Carolina, but was born as a heroin dealer in Harlem, NY in the late sixties. Frank Lucas was known for cutting off the middlemen, hence he handled everything on his own. He transported kilos of heroin from Southeast Asia in the coffins of dead servicemen from Vietnam, and brought them down to the streets of NY. Particularly, 116W street.

Some might say, American Gangster is preparing for an Oscar. I say, its just another movie, just another story, about a man’s rise and fall as a drug lord. We’ve seen it before, its been done. What is it about this film that is different from the others?

Brian Grazer, the producer of this film, is definitely engrossed about Frank Lucas’s life story. He believes in this film, as well as he sees Frank Lucas as a being, and according to Grazer; “that being is defining a culture or a world.” Grazer and the director Ridley Scott have their visions of this man’s life, and are tempted to capture the most out of Lucas’s world, using wide and long camera shots, that depict the remarkable aspect of this man, and of creating his world in the dark streets of NY in the seventies.

Frank Lucas worked for Harlem’s most famous gangster Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson. He’d drive downtown to the 57th St Diner; waiting by the car while his boss ate breakfast with Frank Costello. “I stayed outside”, Frank remembers, “just another guy with a bulge in my pocket”

Russell Crowe is the act of Richie Roberts, the detective who was determined to stop Frank Lucas, and had brought the wonderful game of cat and mouse being played into this film as the two main characters develop their true characteristics throughout the film. Mr. Roberts is fighting with himself as well as trying to better his important relationships with his immediate family, but instead Frank Lucas eludes him to believe that his most important relationship is between them two.

Ridley Scott, the director of all time favorites “Bladerunner”, follows this story well. He depicts his locations to best capture time frames in the seventies, by creating a world through the usage of wide shots to express the depth of the drug business in NY.
Even so, does American Gangster come close to a film such as “Goodfellas”?

The story is based around a disillusioned writer in Hollywood named Hank (Duchovny.) After writing a successful novel entitled, “God Hates Us All”, Hollywood comes knocking. To quote the show;

Once-upon a-time, I wrote a novel. Then I wrote another. People seemed to dig it so I wrote another. That’s when Hollywood came knocking at my back door. As soon as I cashed that check I wrapped my lips around the mighty erection that is the Film Industry and sucked hard just like a good whore should.”

Hollywood turns Hank’s Nihilistic novel into a whimsical movie entitled; ”A Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” Understandably, Hank is fucking pissed. To throw another log on the fire, he’s trying to stop Karen (his former lover) from marrying another man. His downward spiral into egregious indulgence coupled with a clever whit and an arsenal of rhetoric provides for a hilarious and at times moving television watching experience. Hank’s perspective is cynical, jaded, but piercingly accurate.

Karen, (Natascha McElhone) is not only hot as a pistol, but a perfect fit for this role as well. There is an intoxicating way about her that I happily (ahem) inhaled. Her subtle elegance and sharp wit rekindled my hopes that there might be women out there that are worth the sacrifice.

From start to finish the humor is consistent. The writing is sharp, progressive and refreshingly honest. With lines like, “Ever feel like a tired old whore whose Uterus is about to fall out?” how could you not like the show?

The bottom line is this; Ladies, If you watch it and stop after 5 minutes and shriek to your boyfriend, -“Oh my God, this show is so stupid! “- Then you’re either too young, or just flat out aren’t ready for it. All you guys out there who mindlessly nod your head in agreement with your girlfriend just to stop her from Screeching, Tivo it and watch it when she’s not home. To those same guys who have let your girlfriend brainwash you into regiments of Sex and the City, keep your chin up. One day those balls might drop back down. If you’re lucky they might even hit the sack. When they do; watch Californication and keep a paper and pen handy. To all the rest of you normal people it’s the fucking shiznizzal.

As you all have heard , Radiohead is coming out with their newest, seventh, album named “In Rainbows” on October 10th of this year. Starting the tenth of this month, Radiohead will make the album available for purchase digitally.

If you are interested in the digital version, Radiohead is giving the customer a choice to put a price for the album! In other words, there is no fixed price. The website allows you to enter a price that fits your standard.
A special edition box-set will be released in December, that will include bonus material, exclusive photos of the band and the making of the album, together with vinyl versions of the record and lyrics. This set will cost the full $82.

The Band is discussing a regular CD release as well, sometime in 2008.
This is the track listing:

15 STEP
BODYSNATCHERS
NUDE
WEIRD FISHES/ARPEGGI
ALL I NEED
FAUST ARP
RECKONER
HOUSE OF CARDS
JIGSAW FALLING INTO PLACE
VIDEOTAPE

And this is the bonus material:

MK1
DOWN IS THE NEW UP
GO SLOWLY
MK2
LAST FLOWERS
UP ON THE LADDER
BANGERS AND MASH
4 MINUTE WARNING

In preparation for the release of “Across the Universe” I decided to do some research on like movies of the past: Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” and The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine.”

And I know what you’re thinking- I’m on drugs. While this assumption is probably pretty accurate for anyone watching those films, I am going to go ahead and plead the fifth.

“Across the Universe” is said to have some “drug content,” which is really what “The Wall” and “Yellow Submarine” operate on.

The marrying of the music and the visuals rips you right out of your seat and begs you to float away into the mixed up world of their own creation. And that’s the whole point. Both films throw caution to the wind and just wanted to make something beautiful and entertaining. They were not concerned about how much money the films would bring in at the box office. The aim was to create for the sake of creation, not to make a boatload of money.

As a whole, both films have a beautiful artistic vision, though holes in plot make it a little unintelligible if you are trying to watch either film, well, sober.

Hopefully “Across the Universe” will bridge the gap between the two opposing forces: films made for purely artistic purposes and films made purely for love of the dollar

Albert Broccoli, the original producer of the Bond films since Dr. No, died in 1996, which was right at the beginning of the Pierce Brosnan reign. Barbara Broccoli, Albert’s daughter, took over the franchise with her half-brother, Michael G. Wilson, after his death. It is no coincidence that it was right here when the James Bond we knew and loved so much began to go south.

All of the male fantasy elements that were firmly entrenched and a part of 007 began to disappear, one by one, as a combination of political correctness; ultra-feminism and rampant homosexuality destroyed our beloved British superhero.

First went the character of M. The idea of a spy network run by an older white man was considered too outdated. Never mind that Bond was mainly a male fantasy character molded after Fleming’s own persona. It’s macho, sexist garbage that was insulting to the politically correct world of the 21st Century that was dawning on us. Women don’t want to see an alpha male in charge anymore. Instead, Judi Dench was hired to replace him as the new head of MI6. No surprise there; it’s a woman’s world now, didn’t you know? Then went Q, with all of his clever live-saving gadgets.

Didn’t you know that women get bored when they’re forced to listen to how machinery works and what good it will do for you in the spy field?

Then of course went the entire SPECTRE organization, a terrorist group run entirely by men. As if that had no relevance to terrorism today, right? Osama bin Laden and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed are probably laughing somewhere right now.

And what happened to Bond’s entire persona?

No more casual flings with beautiful, young woman half his age. No, the real Bond now has to be sensitive and respect women and treat them all like princesses. In every Bond film after, he has only one steady girlfriend throughout the entire movie and if there was an occasional fling, it would be with some mindless bimbo who didn’t know any better and usually ended up dead rather quickly, which happened here in Casino Royale. Judi Dench also reprimanded Bond for his outdated, manly ways. “I think you’re a sexist, misogynist dinosaur. A relic of the Cold War.” In effect, that is the scene where she almost literally chops his balls off in front of the whole world. That scene always made me cringe because I knew what it meant down the road. What I hated even more about having to witness her wreck his manhood was Bond’s subservient “point taken” reply. His submission to being emasculated was worse than the actual emasculation itself. The real Bond would have resigned in an instant if a female M were to reprimand him for being a man. Remember how he tried to resign in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service because M did not allow him more time to track down Bloefeld? Would he really react no differently in this case?
Furthermore, now that it’s the 21st century where everything is about youth and looks, the new Bond isn’t even allowed to be middle-aged anymore. Casino Royale did away with the likes of Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan. Now that Barbara Broccoli is in charge, it’s all about the big, blonde beefcake. Daniel Craig is under 40, he looks like he’s spends every waking hour at the gym(which makes me wonder where he gets the time to chase villains around the world for Queen and Country), and he is the ultimate dumb jock. The new Bond has no sense of class and style. It is up to his female assistant, Vesper Lind, to teach him. She has to show him how to wear a tuxedo, what dinner to order, what drink to get, etc.(Gee, a woman has to teach the dumb male jock how to behave. How utterly unoriginal and Femme-Nazi is that?) Even worse, the roles are completely reversed and Vesper Lynd ogles Bond, rather than the traditional vice-versa. “I’ll keep my eyes on our government’s money and off your perfectly formed ass.” If Bond were to say that to her in today’s political climate, he’d have his balls removed. (Just the fact that Miss Moneypenny threatens Bond with sexual harassment in Goldeneye for his usual flirting with her, is more than evidence enough of Bond’s demise.)

Last, but not least, the film is peppered with rampant homoeroticism. There are virtually no beautiful girls in bikinis or even cleavage and legs. Instead, we have Daniel Craig emerging from the sea in a speedo, showing off his pumped body in all its glory. I know that it was intended to be a clever homage to Ursula Andress in her famous bikini scene in Dr. No, but come on. And that’s not all. There’s a scene after the card game where the villain who weeps blood, Le Chiffre, captures Bond and strips him naked to a bottomless chair. He then proceeds to ogle him with the line “Wow. You’ve taken good care of your body. Such a waste.” Then he takes a whip with a large knot at the end and beats Bond’s testicles! Barbara Broccoli, please note one thing:

The majority of us viewers who are heterosexual men that grew up and loved your father’s Bond films do not, I repeat, do not want to see James Bond naked in a chair getting his testicles beaten! That is a major turn-off!

Casino Royale fails to live up to the glory that is James Bond. In my opinion, whenever somebody tries to take a time-tested classic formula and update it for the 21st Century, it ultimately fails. This is because the elements that went into the formula back then came from hands that did not worry about politics, target audiences, gender discrimination, the bottom line, etc. They simply created something that appealed to our basic instincts and the fantasy lives we wish we all could have. Now if only we could heed that lesson and return to the past, there would be better products. Mr. Bond, Resquiat in Pacem, wherever you are.

From Steven Soderberg here comes another Ocean, the 13th. The usual crew joins in once again, led by George Clooney as Danny Ocean and Brad Pitt as Rusty Ryan. The plan of action this time, is similar yet more dangerous elaborate and almost impossible. Bringing down another casino, however this time, the motive has its diversities.

It is not all about the money, it is about revenge, proving the winners from the losers, and all together, bringing down an egoistical bastard Willie Bank, played by Al Pacino, who is opening a casino using money and land from Reubin Tiskoff played by Eliott Barkin.

Do they succeed? Of course they do! That’s not the suspense. How they do it is what matters and that is what makes Ocean’s 13 stand out from the other two. Planed out to tee with no room for errors Ocean’s 13 is just another eye numbing joy of interesting twists comedic action and just in general the joy of the guys being together again, playing off of each other’s one liners.

starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle
director: Steven Soderbergh
studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
rating: PG-13
release date: June 8, 2007

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth movie from J.K. Rowling’s book series arrives in theaters as the seventh and final book is released this month. All the familiar faces return in this one, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint return as Harry and his two best friends. Filling the adults roles is a who’s who list of top British actors, including Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Brendan Gleeson and Potter newcomer Imelda Stauton among others.
Before Harry gets back to school he is attached by dementers at a playground and must use his magic, in front of a moggle no less, to ward them off. This act gets Harry in trouble and leads to the wizard community doubting Harry and his claims that “You Know Who” is recruiting soldiers and coming back to take over like he tried before when Harry was a baby.

Harry must fight new dark moods and feelings within his mind (I’d call it puberty) leading to the favorite cliche of calling it a darker movie.

Also thrown in is a possible revolution within the wizard community, a forced love interest for Harry and a too strict new headmaster at Hogwarts.

The film, directed by British television veteran David Yates, takes this darker tone than previous adaptations and includes a few more story lines for adults. Unfortunately, as the books get longer the movies get shorter. The book Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is 870 pages long, but the movies come in at only a little bit over 2 hours. I rarely say this, especially when summer blockbusters are concerned, but this needed to be a half hour longer. Character development is missing almost entirely and subplots do not get their full due on screen, leading to moments of puzzlement if not a reader of the books.
Harry’s dealings with “You Know Who” is the main focus, naturally, but other characters are given little to add depth to them. Harry’s two best friends, Hermione and Ron, are only on screen when they are asking Harry questions and helping progress the plot. Hermione and Ron seem to only be in scenes together and never just one of them and Harry, eliminating any character traits built through the first four movies. The story of these three having to deal with puberty was used in the past movie and done much better than this one. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire we at least got the female view with Hermione’s crush on Vikto Krum. Another shallow story-line and character is Cho, Harry’s love interest first seen in the Goblet of Fire. Within this movie Harry and Cho have their first kiss, yet before that they literally only speak one line to each other, which Harry asked while in passing and share a glance, not what I would call a passionate affair or even awkward adolescents. The love subplot, like others within the movie, are forced on us and are not given the proper amount of time to develop properly.

Too often Yates hopes that the viewer has read the book and understands the conflict or story he is trying to develop. A viewer should be able to fully understand the stories within the movie completely without having to read the book, unfortunately for this one anyone that has not read the book will feel lost at times.

I know that if you have read the books or seen the previous four movies then you will most likely see this film no matter what my review says. Before you go just make sure you have freshened up on the book as you will have to think back to it, to fully understand this movie. Here’s hoping that Yates, who is directing Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, makes a shorter bad movie next time around.

Film has the power to transcend beyond mere entertainment and escapism and take us into the dark world of persuasion and propaganda.

When war and politics invade the cinema, we know that anything can happen and does happen. Adolf Hitler and the Nazis used film-makers such as Leni Riefenstahl and Fritz Hippler to play up public fears of Communism and the Jews to glorify the ideas of fascism and military might. It helped plunge us into the abominable abyss that was World War II. Other film-makers, like Frank Capra, used it to persuade America and the Allies into going to war against them. Today, film is still being used politically and socially to sway the opinion of the masses and open their eyes to injustice. Movies like “Hotel Rwanda” and “The Last King of Scotland” alert us to civil war and strife in Africa while others like “Fahrenheit 9/11″, “Bowling for Columbine” and “Sicko” warn us of the dangers of terrorism, government greed and corruption, school violence and the incompetence of the health care system.
Next time you go to the move theater or rent a DVD, whether it’s a romantic comedy, an action flick, or a straight up war film, be on the lookout for the social statement or message behind the production. I can guarantee you that whether it’s easy to spot or not, it will be there. Someone is always trying to sell you something. And you know what? Most of the time we are either too moved or too distracted not to accept it. That, folks, is the power of film.

The Director of Photography is requested by Film Directors, and works closely with the Director, Production Designers, Costume Designer, and Hair and Make-up Department to give a film its visual look. The role of the Director of Photography, also known as Cinematographer, is to provide a unique visual look and continuity to the film with the use of lighting, still photography, camera movement, and framing.

After reading a script, the DP will meet with the Director to discuss camera angles and film continuity that will visually best portray the story. The DP will later do research on possible locations to determine what film, lighting, camera, filters, and more will be needed to get a precise look the Director wants. A DP is also one of the first people on the location to help set up equipment and run through rehearsals to determine where light should fall on the actors as they rehearse the scene. During this process, crucial communication is made to the Camera Operators, Grips, and Gaffers if any changes are needed. Once filming for the day is over, the DP prepares the work for the following day. DP’s have technical knowledge of camera equipment, lighting techniques for film and moving images, industry experience, photography, painting, and creativity.

Such recent notable DP’s have been nominated and/or won an Oscar:

2006-Guillermo Navarro, El laberinto del fauno (Pan’s Labyrinth)
2004-Robert Richardson, The Aviator
2002-Dion Beebe, Chicago
2001-Andrew Lesnie, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
2000-John Mathieson (BSC), Gladiator

Transformers is an up-grade from the other summer blockbusters in store, however Bay does fall short on the visuals a little.

Bay does not like a static camera and he keeps it moving throughout. He does create some nice sights with his camera movement, adding feeling to his (sometimes overly) dramatic soundtrack. Bay does however have trouble with his framing, mostly when it comes to the Transformers. Too often the camera is zoomed in on the machines as they transform into robots and we are not granted the visual of seeing the entire process unfold before our eyes. Instead we only see most of the Transformer and miss out on an amazing visual.
While I could have used the visuals a little further away, Bay does
create visually impressive footage throughout the movie and you feel like the
money spent on it was used efficiently. The movie is filled with some humor
throughout, surprisingly from the Autobots many times, and has an
understandable storyline wrapped in a visual effects laden movie. And at 2
hours and 9 minutes, the movie packs its punch in enough time to get you out
and in the sunshine for the rest of your Fourth of July holiday

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