Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act -- PSA

Below is a PSA for the Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act.  Please watch and act.  Email the senate.  Email your local politicians.  Let them know we care, and that we want them to act now. Watch and pass along. 

www.thisisourmoment.org

Edge of Darkness -- Review

How far are you willing to go to keep a secret?  How about the truth?  Depending on the circumstances and those involved, would you be willing to kill for either? Edge of Darkness is just that.  It borders the line between sanity and insanity, it tempts madness, and challenges one man's morals and limits after he witnesses the horrifyingly graphic death of his young daughter.  This conspiracy thriller film is a roller coaster ride through a haunted house that with quite literally blow your mind.

Edge of Darkness was a surprising film after the past Mel Gibson mighty fails.  The story is gripping and holds your attention from start to finish.  It reminded me of classic Gibson via 1987 when he played one of my favorite characters, Sergeant Riggs.  Minus the horrible attempt at a Boston accent, Gibson's portrayal of Detective Craven is a memorable role.  Having him play along side Ray Winstone, who eventually took on the role of Jedburgh once Robert De Niro dropped out of the role after only a few short days on set for what was said to have been "creative differences".  Although I loved watching the English bad man I would have loved to have see what De Niro would have done with the role.  Aside from the accent Gibson was playing around with which felt like nails on a chalkboard, the only other issue I had with the film was the whimpering Jack Bennette.  Played by Danny Huston, who terrified me as Marlow in 30 Days of Nights, I almost expected him to be a little more ruthless.  Even in the final scenes of the film I expected his "badassness" level to rise, but it never met the level I have become accustomed to for his unique look. I just did not buy the 'corporate bad guy' as much as I would have liked to.

The acting ensemble was amazingly casted and the rough and tumble shooting style left nothing to the imagination.  Director Martin Campbell gave us a nitty-gritty view of Boston with some of the most brutal deaths I have seen on screen.  A close friend of mine worked on second unit, and with each passing scene all I could think was how jealous I was that she had been involved in a project that I'm sure was a roller coaster ride all of its own.  It was fun to watch the city on the big screen and recognizing a number of the location when it is normally LA, NYC or some other large city where these style of action films are shot.

If you are looking for an action packed film this weekend, and you have a decently strong stomach to be able to handle several graphic murders that will seriously make you squirm in your seat.  Even though I have fallen out of the Mel Gibson fan club, this film sends you back to the glory days and the craziness of the Lethal Weapon films.  I give this film a 4 out of 5 on the suspense and action scale.

Shutter Island -- Review

How far are you willing to fall down the rabbit hole?  What would you do if you started hearing voices that weren't really there? How would you react if you saw something standing before you that you knew all too well could not and/or does not exist?  Psychological thrills toy with your senses and allow your mind to fall down some of the deepest, darkest holes that exist without any real affect.  Some times they are wildly successful, and other times they become a joke all on their own.  When done properly I find that they are quite possibly the most terrifying genre in filmmaking.

The skills and talents of Martin Scorsese did not shine as bright as I had hoped with a film whose release date has repeatedly been pushed over the past few months.  Shutter Island felt like a story that had been pulled over and forced to take a sobriety test and could not manage to walk a straight line with one foot in front of the other.  It couldn't figure out what it wanted to do.  Without giving away too much of the story it is very hard for me to say much about the film, but having not read the book the film is based off I can only say that I feel as though the wonderful Marty has let us down.

Shutter Island is a short cry from the majority of psychological thrillers made today.  Telling stories that toy with our minds, making us see and believe things that are not there or just plain do not exist.  By the time they story evolved into something interesting I had a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach that I had seen this film once before.  Once the voice in my head started speaking to me I could not get them to shut up and I quickly became distracted by the familiar voices in the film and trying to identify them rather than just watching the story unforl.  After watching Mark Ruffalo play characters in so many romantic comedies, I felt like it was a bit of a stretch of the imagination to watch him play Chuck Aule.  Ben Kingsley pulled off his role as believable as any other previous role.  Leo was good, but with an opening scene where he's on a ship in the "open sea" I felt like I was watching a a visit to the glory days of Titanic, however once his face is revealed we know "that" Leo is long gone.  This mature Leo is fun to watch on the screen, but after his last film with Scorsese I had much higher hopes for the film.

Shutter Island is an entertaining ride through the mind.  There were some tricks that played out extremely well and others that fell short of their intended goal.  I felt a bit like a cat who was given a catnip toy on a string, but once I pulled the toy free and figured out what was happening I lost interest.  My main complaint with the film was the ending that left me disappointed due to how predictable and obvious it became almost at the halfway point.  I give the film a 3 out of 5.  For the amount of time spent waiting for the final release I feel the hype was more than the film delivered.  But be your own judge.  Maybe the suspense and thrill is just perfect.  For me, I wanted a little more.  

Creation -- Review

Life. Evolution.  A topic that has been debated over for hundreds of years.  I remember a time while sitting in a junior high school science class and I first read about Darwin and his theory on evolution.  Granted I have never been, nor do I ever intend to be a scholar.  I was never a fan of classes that required actual work.  I chose instead to take easier class that only focused on a small portion of topics so it was less that I needed to memorize.  I opted to take environmental studies over physics and chemistry.  I opted to take English and history courses that would not require a large research paper due at the end of the course, nor would it require a lot of papers during any portion of the course.  Even in college I chose to take 101 courses that allowed for a quick escape if it was not something required for my major.  I will admit that I know of Darwinism and of Charles Darwin, however I would not be able to rattle off information as though it was something that I retained from school.  In a wide range of areas I would not consider myself the most intellectual, nor I would consider myself to have the most physical strength.  However in my experiences I have witnessed and experienced many things that I would consider myself quite adaptable.  I may not be the most promising, but according to Darwin's option of “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change” I think I fit in quite well.


Creation is an amazing story of a man I only know of by name and from a page or two from a science course and a psychology book I opened once or twice.  I knew nothing, nor had I ever considered the hardship and toll that his research and writings had on him or his family.  I know of the impact it has had on life and society because schools are now debating as to whether or not it is ok to teach evolution in the classroom.  I went to a private catholic school when I was younger and to be honest with you I remember very little on the subject of science.  Granted I was transferred to the public school system by grade 5, so maybe it is just that the earlier grades do not spend much time in the sciences.  But when I finally reached the 9th grade and spent a little time with things that caused small explosions in the class room, and we read about the big bang theory, I made a slightly larger attempt to stay awake in class.  At least long enough to say I remember hearing of Darwin and Jenny. 



Creation is a powerful and moving film about life, love, family and science.  It opens your eyes to one man that changed science and the world.  It's touching and speaks volumes.  No matter what your beliefs are, if you struggle with his science or not, Creation introduces you to the man behind the book.  It opens your eyes to the love he had for his family, and the love they had for him in return as he went  through his journey and his struggle to pen a book that would change things forever. 

Paul Bettany's performance as Charles Darwin is unbelievable.  I have always been a fan of his acting abilities, and found this particular role to be one of his finest pieces of work.  Playing along side his real list wife, Jennifer Connelly, the two embody the Victorian era with remarkable grace.  I could not take my eyes off the screen for a second.   Creation takes you through every human emotion possible and Paul Bettany pulls you right there next to him as he spends time with Jenny, as he sits and laughs with his children, as he struggles to cope with the loss of his eldest daughter Anne,  and his undying love for his wife even though they may not see eye to eye on the subject of his writings.  If I had any voting power I would say that this film would be included in the Academy Awards I would nominate this film for Best Writing - Adapted Screenplay, and both Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly would be nominated for best actor/actress.  Even the young and very talented new comer Martha West, who plays Darwin's eldest daughter Annie, I would recommend her for a best supporting actress nomination.   Jon Amiel's directorial skills on this film are remarkable.  I believe that the author of the biography of which this film is adapted from, who also happens to be the great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin, could not be happier from the final outcome of this piece.  It was beautifully shot, and the story will touch everyone to their deepest core.  I give this film a 5 out of 5. 

Russian Ice Dancers "Controversial" Routine

Recently a Russian ice dancing couple  got "in trouble" over a routine they performed at the European figuring skating championship competition.  Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin performed a number to music that was offered as an option by their coach, which they then did a little research into.  Being a former figure skating I find it hard to believe that over the past decade the figure skating organization has become so uptight.  I remember a time when one of Rudy Galindo's figure skating routines was not allowed to air due being "too suggestive", however I think it was because at that time it was still rare to have skaters that were openly gay.  Those that were, and some probably still are, making the rules took out their personal opinions on skaters of all levels.  I personally feel that this is just another incident that should be filed under the "stupid things that the figure skating organization has done".

Personally I do not see what could be taken as offensive in their routine.  I have read several articles where aboriginal elders are angered because the dance was stolen, and they found it offensive because they were not asked if it was ok that this couple perform something from their culture.  Granted I do not know very much about aboriginal customs or traditions, but I do not see how someone who may have been inspired enough by their music, do the work to research actual dances from the culture, and put together a creative routine is offensive.  It just sounds like a cross cultural misunderstanding.  This routine does not give the impression that Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin were making fun of or disrespecting the aboriginals dance.  It does not give the appearance that they were making a joke of the aboriginals appearance.  I found it to be an interesting take on a sport I usually find quite boring to watch.  Ice dancing is the least exciting of the figure skating styles, and this approach gave me something I found interesting to watching.

I wish the figure skating world would get off their high horse, remove the stick that's been shoved so far up their bums, that they felt it was necessary to reprimand this ice dancing pair.   Again this is strictly from a spectator's point of view, I do not mean to offend a culture that I do not know much about.  But if they are so hurt that world champions "stole" (I would much prefer to say BORROW) their dance steps they should not feel angered or hurt by that.  This is a way for others to become educated and informed about their customs and traditional dance steps.  It brought to light someone that the majority of people would never have known had they not chosen to perform to that particular piece of music.  Don't feel as though it has never happened anywhere else.  All of their greats get things "stolen" from them and incorperated into other things.  That is how the arts progress and evolve.

To me some of the music sounded as though it come have come from anywhere.  The way figure skaters cut their music I wouldn't be surprised if the piece they used had a little bit of everything in it.  It sounded as though it could have come from aboriginal origin (my reference would be from Australian filmmaking and films that revolved around the aboriginals).  Some sounded like a song my dad used to listen to by an artist name Sheila Chandra (who I know is of East Indian descent, and is not the same thing), but it has been over a decade since I have listened to any of her music and that was just what came to mind for me since I used to listen to her CDs a lot when I was younger.  But whatever it is, wherever the misunderstanding came from, I personally see it as a miss.  Things that intrigue and inspire us as artists should not be limited so long as they are done in the proper spirit.

Check out the routine below for yourself. 

Legion -- Review

Over the years I have watched more horror films than I can keep track of.  Within my circle of friends I have acquired a reputation for watching just about anything, no matter how good or bad the film may be.  I would even admit to owning some films that have shocked quite a number of people.  I thoroughly enjoy the sexploitation films the feature Pam Grier, I seek out b-rated horror films and sometimes find a charm like The Trilogy of Terror, and I even brave those films that have been hidden behind other DVDs long enough to collect dust.  Yes, I watch just about anything.  However, over the past few years I have come to expect certain things out of specific films or directors of said films.  Sometimes those expectations are met and others leave me sitting at a buffet table spattered in human remains feeling starved because what I though out be the beginning appetizer ended up being the entire feast.

I went out tonight expecting to be given an all you can eat horror feast from the new release Legion.  What I was given was a few decent appetizers, an entree that looked delicious but had not flavor, and a desert that included freezer burnt ice cream.  The film's marketing/PR team did one hell of a job getting the word out, but for the articles that I read regarding the film I did not get what I was being sold.  I was pumped up and ready to go on the wild ride in the tiny dinner in the hopes to save mankind, but as I sat in the dark theater I had a hard time focusing on the action.

With this film being Scott Stewart's directorial debut, I felt slightly overwhelmed by some of his shooting choices.  I looked forward to seeing what he would have in store for us, but the final product left me with a slightly empty feeling.  It reminded me of what it felt like to watch Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds where I expected the film to be similar to his previous projects but was not given the blood and violence I have come to associate with Tarantino films.  I expected to see certain things as they were described in detail in horror magazines, but the images they painted for me were none existant.  Granted they may have just ended up on the cutting room floor, but for whatever reason I was not given what appeared to be a promising film.  The only other thing I can think is that maybe it was his choice in shooting style and cast that limited things.  Not only will you not think of angels in quite the same way, but you will never be able to hear an ice cream truck and feel that warm, joyous feeling knowing that the ice cream man is coming.  Then again the ice cream man has never really been one of the friendliest people in my personal experience. 

With a surprise in cast, you are left wondering why some of the actors were cast in their respective roles.  Some should never be let into the horror genre again, as they were just not believable outside of their track record in ABC drama series.  And even though I did love the 'darkness' of the film, I hoped for a little bit of light so that I could at least see some of the blood and violence that was taking place.  With a large portion of the film taking place during the night or in a boarded up diner, the shadows hide the aspects of the film that made it so appealing.  I wanted to be able to see what was going on, and not just witness a split second because it was mixed with the shadows and curtains.  I know film is all about the power of illusion and the magic that happens behind the wizard's curtain, but this film's curtain was larger than was necessary.  We were also teased with the promise of mass carnage, and then left hanging as the film quickly moved right from one thought to another. 

Paul Bettany was by far the best part of the film.  Michael was not only the most interesting character in the entire film, the most believable, but even as a "mortal" he kicked more ass than could have been expected.  His introduction is where i felt a bit of a lack-luster.  I wanted to witness his change from angel to mortal that Fangoria had promised us but it was nothing but shadows and dark clouds in the form of silhouettes.  If only Bettany's influence had empowered the rest of the film.  It wasn't until the battle between angles did we get another surge of hope for the film to turn around.  The fight was fun, like any good fight should be.  But the dialog was so painful the there was little that could be done for the film before it ended. 

Legion showed a young director on his way of beginning his career.  The writing was lacking, but the idea and concept was a nice take on a story that has been played in several different notes.  The film is not horrible, but do not go in expecting more than what it is.  If you take the film as just that you may get enough to enjoy it, otherwise it can just be written off as first film and we can look forward to hoping for a slightly better take during round two in Scott Stewart's next film Priest which is due to hit theaters later this year.  I give this film a 2.5 out 5. 

The Young Victoria -- Review

I have always struggled with history, feeling the majority of events I had read about drag like a text book, no matter how well written they may have been. That was until I came across one particular story in history that had so much juice to it that it became the one period in time that I found I could read and not get bored. That time period was the Elizabethan period, when Queen Elizabeth I ruled. I do not know for sure if it is just the ruthlessness of those that lived in that time or just the overly juicy affairs and murders that took place among the royals. Unfortunately I slowly lost interest in following up with English history after that period. That is of course, until I saw this historical documentary drama film, The Young Victoria. I still do not know too much about Queen Victoria and her rule, but this film has truly piqued my interest so much that the next book I am looking into reading will be about the queen responsible for the Victorian age.

The Young Victoria tells the story of the young princess, just before she is crowned, and into the early years of her reign. I found the story to be beautifully told. Maybe it is just because it tells of the strength of one woman who had so much stacked against her due to the period and her birth rights, but just like Elizabeth I, I found young Victoria to be awe inspiring. She stood up against the men that surrounded her, and proved that women have strength. It was with the help of her husband, Prince Albert, whose love and ideas inspired them to change the ways in which things had been run before she had claimed the thrown. I found the journey of their love had a strength of its own that inspired the young queen in ways that I can not even begin to imagine. Her personal strength, with the love and admiration of a man that truly loved her for her and not just because of what it would offer or even the ability to rule over the young woman in the way that some other women of the time period may have been, it is because of all of those variables that allowed her to be who she was.

Again I am only going by the information of her early years, and because of that I actually ended in an argument with my father, but I found the film to be brilliant. Prior to this film the only reference I had for the Victorian age was text books of gorgeous clothes, the introduction of hypnosis and other new and/or improved forms of entertainment within the arts, theater and music. Technology and engineering also greatly improved, as well as the revival of Gothic architecture. It is those things that form my reference point for the Victorian Era, and from that basis I find The Young Victoria a great representation for a time that consisted of so many great things. However, I also know that somewhere during her reign, Jack the Ripper was born, and that there are many other dark and dirty things that lurk in cobble stone alley ways far away from Buckingham Palace.

Directed by Canadian Jean-Marc Vallee, this film tells an amazing historical story. With Emily Blunt cast to play Victoria, who in interviews shared that she was able to read the actual diaries of Queen Victoria, she portrayed the young queen beautifully. With class and elegance that I was delightfully surprised to see after watching her play more comedic roles in films like The Devil Wears Prada, Sunshine Cleaning, Dan in Real Life, and others. Co-staring with Rupert Friend as Prince Albert, the wonderful Paul Bettany as Lord Melbourne, Miranda Richardson (Rita Skeeter in Harry Potter) as the Duchess of Kent and Victoria's mother, Jim Broadbent (Professor Slughorn in Harry Potter) as King William and so many other talented actors. On top of a great cast, amazing sets and locations to work with as well as brilliant costume design this film is a must see for any film and/or history lover. So take a trip back in time with this period piece and enjoy the vision Jean-Marc has laid out in order to tell this interesting story.  The Young Victoria is a story that tells of strength in self and in love, as well as power to reign the country she was destined to rule. I give this film a 4.5 out of 5 and highly recommend this film to anyone interested in a little dirty history.

Interviews:

Chance Pe Dance -- Review

Over the past few years trends have changed and some of the "old ways" have begun to make a come back.  Beginning in the 1930s with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers with RKO and the 1940s where Gene Kelly graced the Silver Screen through MGM films, dance and musicals were an escape from what was day to day life.  Today the musicals and dance are making a huge comeback with shows like 'So You Think You Can Dance?', 'Dancing with the Stars', and even 'Dance Your Ass Off'.  As a former dancer I always enjoy watching anything that involves dancing of all kinds.  During the past decade I have increased the number Bollywood films, be it of the American Chai and The Guru style, Bride and Prejudice style, Monsoon Wedding style, or in the more traditional sense of Bollywood in Lagaan. This weekend a new Bollywood filme Chance Pe Dance opened with a limited release around the US, and this Hindi film is a spectacle all of its own. 

With a running time of over 2 hours, this film includes a full soundtrack of completed songs and performances that would easily rival an MTV music video.  Directed by Ken Ghosh, this film follows an aspiring actor who moved from Delhi to Mumbi and is given one chance to finally achieve his dream.  Shahid Kapur stars as the hero, and I believe that it is of great thanks to his father (actor Pankaj Kapoor) and mother (actress/dancer Neelima Azim) for why his talents were such a great highlight for his film.  He is a talented dancer, and it was featured throughout the entire film and especially during the routines.  It did not hurt that he was extremely easy on the eyes, and that he was given a beautiful co-star to share the screen with.  Genelia D'Souza  plays the love interest for Shahid's character Sameer Behl, and is the choreographer who stands up for her beliefs in what the industry should be rather than it is when things begin to go downhill for Sameer.  It is through his journey and with Tina's (D'Souza) encouragement that that dream becomes a clear possibility.  The story has heart and soul that is so full that it spills over the edge. 

It was fun to watch the film, even though I had to take my eyes off the action to be able to read the subtitles, but it was all worth it.  The routines were brilliantly choreographed and the cinematography brought out the best in the actors as well as the visual side of film.  It felt like watching a marathon of music videos with the climax of the final routine being the biggest and brightest.  The only thing I missed with the bright and vibrant colored costumes that I am used to seeing in other Bollywood films.  I guess the concert style lighting made up for the shortage of colors as they were just as exciting as watching an actual concert on stage. 

If you enjoy a little culture, some singing and dancing, and an interesting storyline that brings out the soul of what a Bollywood film is, than this is a film for you.  Even if you are not used to this genre of film, it never hurts to try something new, so just go give it a shot.  After watching Chance Pe Dance in its entirety, I give this film a 3.5 out of 5.  It is a fun film, maybe a little long, but definitely fun film to go watch.

The Book of Eli -- Review

How would you picture the world in say 15-20 years?  Would we be surviving in a world that had turned a new leaf and was now flourishing? Would we be on the verge of war?   Would we be trying to survive a viral outbreak that has turned half the world into the walking dead?   Or would we be trying to do whatever was need to survive a post apocalyptic world?  More importantly what would be your path in that world?  

The Book of Eli is the story of one man's path as seen through the minds eye of directors the Hughes Brothers.  In what is said to be a post war world, after an apocalyptic event, we follow a "walker" as he stays on his path.  Eli takes a path less traveled that takes us on one insane journey.   I remember hearing that it only takes the decision of one man to change the world, well if that man if Eli watch out. Denzel Washington brings a whole new level to the term "badass" in his role as a walker on a mission. 

I was a little surprised with the casting choices of Mila Kunis as Solara, Jennifer Beal as Solara's blind mother Claudia, and even a surprise cameo appearance of another well known actor towards the end of the film.  Casting Gary Oldman as the evil Carnegie was fantastic, however I was not used to seeing his without his beard.  It did add to the overall roughness of his character, but I kept wanting to see the friendly Commissioner James Gordon to appear on screen.  The contrast between Oldman and Washington added to the contract between the characters.

It may take a little to get into the film, especially since it takes almost 10 minutes before the first line of the film, but once the film gets rolling you will be "oooo"ing and "aahhhhh"ing straight to the end.  With the fight sequences choreographed by Dan Inosanto and Jeff Imada its no wonder Eli has become such a badass.  The cinematic choices to use "long takes" during the fights made for an original and unusual twist of things.  It made it hard for me to take my eyes off the screen because I wanted to see what bandit would dare challenge this stranger.  The only problem I found with the film was that it felt like a cross between a post-apocalyptic film meets the wild west.  Shooting the film primarily in New Mexico is probably the cause for why it reminded me of some western film, and more specifically the set used during the scene shot in Carrizozo, NM looked as though they took the old Deadwood set and redressed it to fit this film's time period.  I half expected the old sherrif to come running out of the jail to greet the new comer, pistol in hand, just to make sure that he was passing through town and not looking to cause any trouble.  In a way that is almost exactly what happened, however I would rather leave any spoilers out and let you judge the film for yourself.

The cinematic choices made for this film will leave you with your mouth hanging open, and you will want to talk over the details with whomever you happened to go see the film with.  It is definitely one of those type of films.  It is almost an unbelievable tale of one man's strangth, will power, beliefs and faith that will push you to the edge of your seat.  The skills and talents of this mysterious man will make you fear coming face to face with him, and if you ever catch a glimpse of his modified machete you will want to turn and run in the opposite direction as quickly as your feet will carry you.  The violence in the film is shot with an eligance and smoothness that heightens the appearance of just how deadly Denzel's character truly is.

If you are a fan of Denzel Washington, or just a fan of action films, than I would say this would be a film for you.  The subtext of the story and the depth in which it goes rides a fine line between believable and good, and a little on the boring side just because of the style of story.  The full cast may surprise you, but in the end I bet you will walk out with a conversation starter.  I give The Book of Eli a 3.5 out of 5 for story, but if you are a looking for a beautifully shot film, than this almost makes it a 5.  At least in my books.  The Hughes Brothers have once again impressed me with their directing skills and given yet another amazing picture to look at.  I only wish they would be involved with a few more projects, however having From Hell being their most recent project prior to The Book of Eli, I say it is all about quality and not quantity, so two great films in the past decade is not bad for the two young directors in what could very well be a highly successful career.

Trailer


SPOILER -- The Book of Eli Featurette

One eskimO

For the past two months I have been stuck in the thick of a maddening process. If any of you have ever written or attempted to write a novel, screenplay, etc you will know exactly what I mean. It's one of those things that you get so wrapped up in that it takes over your life, and not just your waking life but also your dreaming life as well. For me, midway through this years NaNoWriMo competition I just lost it. I sat staring at a blank word document unable to find any words. I was stuck between two points and had no idea which direction I needed or even wanted to go. I had hit a wall.

Two weeks into NaNoWriMo I quickly fell behind in my word count and tried desperately to find something that would get the creative juices flowing again, but nothing helped. I tried my usual movie marathons. I tried watching television series that would pull me so far away from where I needed to be, hoping that sooner or later something would push me back. I dived back into research. I looked at artists for concept art and sketch pieces that might inspire me. And then when I had run out my own music to listen to I turned to a search for something online. A new artist, or music video. I needed something. I did random searches on myspace/music, aol radio, etc. But one night at about 3am I stumbled across a song that just stuck with me. I heard it in my dreams that night, playing over and over again and when I woke up the next morning I was able to work again. Now that I have a completed manuscript, thanks partially to a band from London, I now have time to look into finding their albums here in the states. So my first stop was youtube.

Being a lover of film, and if any of my friends are reading this... penguins... they would know why my heart goes out to One eskimO. Not only does their music touch me, and inspire me to come up with a rather insane literary tale, but their music videos as a collection is unbelievable. So, in true form... I feel the need to share with the cyberworld. Keep in mind, the order in which these videos have been put together to tell a story do not follow their order on their album. Instead let the originality and creativity of this indie band from the UK take you on an adventure with a little eskimo that you will never forget.

The Adventures of One eskimO --
Chapter 1: Lost Love (Astronaut)

Chapter 2: A Dream Revealed (Kandi)

Chapter 3: Heartbroken (Slip)

Chapter 4: A Little Help (Balloons)

Chapter 5: Army of Darkness (Chocolate)

Chapter 6: Star Journey (Hometime)

Chapter 7: Paradise Lost (Sample Day)

Chapter 8: An Ocean Tale (Chosen One)

Chapter 9: The Dead Island (UFO)

Chapter 10: Leap of Faith (Amazing)

She's Out of My League -- Review

We've all have that conversation. You know the one. It's usually over dinner or drinks with your good friend. More likely than not, it's a conversation you'd have at a bar while the person that you're talking about is just on the other side of the room. The one that usually sounds a little something like this...:

"You know that guy/girl... you know, that one that was just so OMG. Yeah that one... He/She's so hot, but he/she'd never go for someone like me. He/She's just so out of my league."

Yeah... that one. Well, now we get a wild romantic comedy that takes things to the extreme. And it's with "that guy". The new up and coming Canadian hottie, well if you like the sort of geeky type, Jay Baruchel. You will remember him from Tropic Thunder when he played the young guy that could read maps. Yes, Kevin Sandusky is making his rounds and quickly becoming one of the faces to watch. This year alone Jay Baruchel will have 3 films hit theaters, beginning with the off the wall romantic comedy She's Out of My League on March 12, quickly followed by How to Train Your Dragon when he offers his voice talents to character Hiccup on March 26, and then we have to wait until July 16 to see his apprenticing skills in The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Even sitting here watching the short 2 minute trailers I feel like a little kid on Halloween being offered my favorite sweets, and each one getting a little better and a little sweeter.

I remember sitting in an early screening back in November for She's Out of My League and laughing so hard my sides hurt. Maybe it's just me and my life, but Kirk and his friends are SOOO my friends. Their idiotic comments and reasons why you should or should not date someone and the insane way in which we "rate" someone we're interested in and then compare to how we "rate" our own standing in the dating world. Granted we all have a slightly different grading system, and some may be partial to things that others aren't which of course tips the scales a little in one direction or another. But it is what we do. This film is for the... dare I say... dating impaired and their friends. We have all been there at one point or another for some reason or other (and if you say you haven't... I call your bluff). But watching Jay Baruchel's performance in this film just adds to his adorableness and I would include it in the "great date movie" category.

In the mix we have the wonderfully talented Debra Jo Rupp from That 70's Show's who plays Kirk's mother Mrs. Kettner, Breaking Bad's Krysten Ritter as Molly's friend Patty (who causes a little trouble of her own), Alice Eve as Kirk's love interest Molly, Cloverfield's Mike Vogel as Kirk's best friend Jack, 7th Heaven's Geoff Stults as Molly's jealous ex-boyfriend Cam, Worst Week's Kyle Bornheimer as Kirk's older brother Dylan, and Get Smart's one and only Nate Torrence (Lloyd) as Kirk's married friend Devon. The comedic timing and chemistry between all of these characters adds to the hilarity of datings "best moments".

So take a chance with this film and see if you can catch a "hard 10".

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel -- Film Review

During the summer when I have access to my car I love driving around with my music blaring. It has been several months since I have been back home where my car has been sitting and waiting for me to come back and use. And driving is what I did over the Christmas weekend. But before I got too far, I made a quick stop at a music store and picked up a soundtrack. Now most people would think I was a little nuts, but I have to admit the more I listened to the Chipmunks 2 soundtrack the more excited I became for the film. I was a huge chipmunk fan when I was younger, always watching the cartoon and listening to their CDs when the urge hit me, and even dragging my mom to the theater a year ago to watch the new kids film. Unfortunately this year my mom was not around so instead I dragged along a friend of mine that works in the VFX field. It was one of those films and you cannot help but to smile because it takes you back to those "good ol' days" and childhood memories.

In the squeakquel Dave Seville cannot seem to catch a break. Jason Lee spends the majority of his time on screen hooked up to hospital beds with every bandage imaginable because of something that Alvin has done. In a way I wish he had a larger part in the film, but I know it was because of the ladies. Christina Applegate, Anna Ferris, and Amy Polher give their voice and comedic talents for the wonderfully cute Chippetts Brittany, Eleanor, and Jeanette. I never thought I'd say this, but those girls seriously have some sweet movies. In addition to the Chipettes, we also get the geekalicious Zachary Levi as Cousin Toby who cares for the chipmunks in this film. It doesn't get much better than having "Chuck" thrown into the mix with these boys and girls.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel is a serious family film. With the requirements of including at least 1 fart joke, 1 burp and a hit to the groin, you are sure to hear any kid laugh their way through the film. The song selection for the soundtrack is fantastic bringing in covers to The Kinks, Beyonce, and many others. The addition of the Chipettes adds to the films ability to use a wider range of songs and even include 'We Are Family'. The minute I heard that particular song on the soundtrack I immediately became so excited that I decided on the spot to go see the film because I wanted to see what the routine the chips and chipettes would be performing. And by the end of the film when we finally get to see their full performance together, I was dancing in my chair and singing along with the munks.
We Are Family song -- NOT THE SCENE FROM MOVIE!





As an adult the film may drag a little in some places, but if you grew up with the cartoon and classic characters, then none of that will matter because the trouble the chips get themselves into meets your expectations. And just like the boys say, no one does it better then Dave... "ALVIN!!"

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel Trailer

Christina Teaches Conan O'Brian how to speak like a 'munk'



Classic Chipmunks and Chipettes cartoon clip:

The A-Team

Since word came out that they are planning to release a new A-Team film we have been anticipating the release of any footage. Although there may have been difficulty locking in cast during the early stages of production, we now have a cast and an official trailer now available for us to enjoy. I am excited to see what director Joe Carnahan will finally bring to the big screen.

Don't be surprised when you see cameo appearances of John Schultz and Dirk Benedict who played H.M. Murdock and Templeton 'Faceman' Peck. I look forward to see how they are incorperated into the films, as well as look forward to see what these original players think of the new actors in their original roles. Casting Liam Neeson as Col. John "Hannibal" Smith, Bradley Cooper as Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck, UFC fighter Quinton "Rampage" Jackson as Sgt. B.A. "Bad Attitude" Baracus, and Sharlto Copley as Capt. H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock will be an interesting mix to see how it plays out. My concerns are with casting Jessica Biel as Lt. Carissa Sosa since I'm not sure how that role will play out for her. It may work out better than some of her past work, but I guess only time will tell.

The A-Team will hit theaters this summer with a scheduled release date of June 11, 2010. So keep your eyes out for The A-Team.

1983 -- A-Team Intro


Family Guy A-Team Parody

Alice in Wonderland -- Tracklist for Soundtrack Released

The tracklist for the upcoming Alice in Wonderland soundtrack have been released. The soundtrack will be titled "Almost Alice" and it is scheduled to hit shelves on Tuesday, March 2, 2010. Below is a look at the songs featured for the soundtrack. By the looks of things, it looks like it could be a great soundtrack.

1. “Alice (Underground)” performed by Avril Lavigne
2. “The Poison” performed by The All-American Rejects
3. “The Technicolor Phase” performed by Owl City
4. “Her Name Is Alice” performed by Shinedown
5. “Painting Flowers” performed by All Time Low
6. “Where’s My Angel” performed by Metro Station
7. “Strange” performed by Tokio Hotel and Kerli
8. “Follow Me Down” performed by 3OH!3 featuring Neon Hitch
9. “Very Good Advice” performed by Robert Smith
10. “In Transit” performed by Mark Hoppus with Pete Wentz

11. “Welcome to Mystery” performed by Plain White T’s

12. “Tea Party” performed by Kerli

13. “The Lobster Quadrille” performed by Franz Ferdinand

14. “Running Out of Time” performed by Motion City Soundtrack
15. “Fell Down a Hole” performed by Wolfmother
16. “White Rabbit” performed by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Additionally, the first music video to be released will be "Alice (Underground)" by Avril Lavigne and that will be released in February.

Daybreakers -- Review

For the past month I have been anticipating the release of Daybreakers. I was not sure what to expect, however the trailer caught my attention in a way that left me always wanting to search for more footage and featurettes online. Two hours after entering the theater I exited both happy with the final film and disgusted by the simple fact that anyone could come up with such a film. It was a pornography of blood, guts and gore with such graphic cinematography that not only could I not take my eyes off the screen, but I could not help begging for more.

Although the back-story of how the world came to be over populated by vampires is a little hard to weed out through newscasts and newspaper clippings that appear at various points during the film, it did not take away from the overall storyline. The power hungry Charles Bromley, played by Sam Neill, is a minor character with a large role for the current state of their world. The film felt like a nod to the original horror that is a classic vampire story. Rather than emphasizing the romanticism created for vampires like Dracula, Lestat, Louis, and Edward, we are given a story where all of the cards are laid out on the table and we are taken back to the brutality of these night creatures. We are given vampires that are a mash-up of the collective folklore and legends that are combined into one particular race. It is the concept of what happens to them physically as their bodies become starved of blood that I found so interesting. The digression of vampires from what would have been their human counter part to a creature that resembles a nosferatu with wings. But as the story progressed a thought came to me.

Over the past several years we have been introduced to several different styles of vampires. We originally had reformed vampires, we were then given the rebellious vampires and sexual deviants, we were given a morally conscious vampire with the Cullen’s who also gave us a “righteous vampire” who followed the "no sex before marriage", and now we are given a sort of “born again” vampire. It was interesting to watch William Dafoe and Ethan Hawk in their respective roles as Lionel 'Elvis' Cormac and Dr. Edward Dalton. With Dafoe as a former vampire who hypothetically "saw the light" in a blazing glory and was given his mortality again, and with the extinction of the human race becoming a growing threat he goes in search of a vampire he can trust to perfect and then share a solution for the world’s growing problems. It is Dr. Dalton who in the end "saves" the race.

The overall cheese of the film, with its quick one liners and over the top story concept is an entertaining film for any horror and gorror fan. The eminence amount of blood and brutality of the creatures is unbelievable. Sometimes taken so far that it becomes laughable as you sit there saying "are you serious?" and "he didn't really just do that did he?". Daybreakers takes the suspension of disbelief to the furthest extent possible, crosses the line, and then comes right back. But if you have a stomach for it, and can get through the majority of the film, you will eventually just laugh at the extreme gore and carnage that directors Michael and Peter Spierig give us in this film.

If you are a fan of horror, true horror and not just the psychological thrillers that sometimes slip into the genre and you have a strong stomach, then I would recommend this film. It takes a trip back to the horror that is what makes the creatures of the night so scary. For me it was a hit. It would run a close race with Zombieland as far as the believability level goes, but none the less, a fun and bloody film. Take it for what it is, cheese factor included, and I give this film a 4.5 out of 5.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus -- Review

If given the opportunity to walk into your own wildest dreams, would you take it? Would you walk through a mirror, into the unknown, unaware of the actions or consequences of what that journey might be, and just hoping to come out the other side as close to the same as you went in? What if there was an incredibly attractive person sweet talking you into the idea? Terry Gilliam's film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is an interesting twist to the story of deals made with the devil. It is a little hard to watch at times, and at others the visual content over powers the story itself leaving you feeling almost dizzy. The film feels like a bit of a mash-up of the visual styles of Tim Burton and Guillermo del Toro, with a clear sense of madness present within each of his characters.

Heath Ledger plays Tony, who it seems all on his own embodies a collective of characters previously played by Johnny Depp. It was odd to watch him speaking like Jack Sparrow, and yet having Willy Wonka and even the Mad Hatter coming through. It was almost as though he modeled his character primarily off the works of the other actor, or rather that director Terry Gilliam had modeled this particular character after friend and actor Johnny Depp. I feel puzzled as to where the choice came from or if it was just something that might become apparent to only some, and yet I also question if it may have been caused by the extreme measures that had to be taken to complete the film after the unfortunate passing of Heath Ledger during production.

Ever since news was released regarding how Mr. Gilliam planned to complete the film I was a little hesitant as to how he would be able to pull off having one character played by 4 different actors. In a weird way Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell all have similarities that could make it a little easier for them to play the same character, but I questioned whether or not it would be effective or if it would hurt the film. If you have read any news on Mr. Gilliam's choice to use these particular actors you will know that it was done because these men were friends of the late actor, and the choice to keep it "in the family" was made out of respect for Ledger with the film being dedicated to him upon its release. It is touching to know that so many people offered to step up to the plate and help the production when the tragic news haulted the film, and even more so to know that Ledger had touched so many people's hearts and particularly that a director would turn down so many people and only choose someone that knew and could honor the memory of such an amazingly talented actor in the way that he should be remembered. Depp, Law and Farrell channeled Ledger in every sense, with hair and make-up added into the mix to help with the visual aspect. I just wonder what it meant to these actors to have such a weight placed on their shoulders to pull off this particular type of role. It was not just the role of a character, but also the role of upholding the memory of a fallen actor in his final role.

The world of the imaginarium, or rather what we see from inside Doctor Parnassus' head, is truly a fantasy world fit for any child's wildest imagination. This is the world in which we find Depp, Law and Farrell. Each time Tony walks through the mirror and enters the imaginarium, we are given a different glimpse of who he is and his face is never the same. The first Imaginarium Tony is played by Johnny Depp and in this world it is an upper east side class of woman that he entertains with his charm and good looks. The second imaginarium Tony is played by Jude Law, and in this we see the scheming, sly character in which we begin to see the true colors of who Tony really is. The third imaginarium Tony is played by Colin Farrell and it is at this point when Doctor Parnassus' daughter has fallen for the sweet talker and it is only through the help of another member of the traveling circus, Anton, do we finally see just who Tony is.

The sometimes overwhelming visuals highlight the traveling show and the magic of the imagination. I found that I sometimes needed to dig through the images to find the cast, even though I knew that on their own they would stand strong. The traveling show's crew was graciously made of up such talent as Christopher Plummer as Doctor Parnassus, supermodel Lily Cole as his young daughter Valentina, Andrew Garfield as Anton, and Verne Troyer as Percy. They are later joined by the collective cast of Tony's, and even Tom Waits who plays Mr. Nick whom Doctor Parnassus places bets with the devil for life, love and even his daughter's freedom. It is the ever betting man and his wagers with the devil that lead the story through Terry Gilliam's wild imaginarium.

As a whole the film is worth watching just to see what wild things Terry Gilliam can come up with. The actor's performances are great when you can see them, but the ever changing visuals sometimes become too much and you have to look away if only for a second. I would give this film a 3 out of 5 for story, but a 4 out of 5 for originality and imagery. As dedicated to Heath Ledger, the actors help up their part of the bargain and gave you a deep character that makes you think about life. Thank you Heath for such a great performance. You are surely missed as a shinning star and great talent.

Leap Year -- Review

As Valentine's Day begins to make it's quick approach the number of upcoming releases in the romantic comedy category will of course increase. We will have remakes of old classes (When in Rome - modern update to Roman Holiday), we will have the romantic comedy with Taylor squared and a collaborative with other great actors (Valentine's Day) which I expect will of course live up to it's title. But in order to kick off the year right we have to have at least one romantic comedy opening the first weekend of the new year.

Granted if this was me, I would have waited a little and most likely I would have chosen to release this particular film on an actual leap year. The gimmick is there of course, but for me I need a little extra something. Maybe it is the cynical single girl within lashing out after sitting through yet another romantic comedy on my own, unable to prevent that horrible little thought that creeps into every single girls mind of "I wish I was here with someone". But this is where I draw the line and apply one of my new years resolutions... (to not let the sight of happy couples make me feel bad about being single)... So I put my single feelings behind me and move on.

Leap Year is a cute story with a little bit of Irish luck. From time to time the story did begin to drag, but it helped that there were a few good actors to keep the film afloat. Amy Adams is a triple threat with in her ever growing career, shining on screen as an actress, singer and dancer. Her comedic timing made her adorable to watch, and even with several weak lines throughout the film she shinned with the Irish look and strawberry blond hair. I guess I'm just a sucker for the Irish, but the pairing of Amy Adams and Matthew Goode was a cute on-screen couple. Matthew Goode may not be a "McDreamy" or "McSteamy", or even a Bradly Cooper, but his charm, gorgeous green eyes and to-die-for accent makes up for all the rest. It was refreshing to see a film where the leading lady realizes she has a thing for "the guy she's not supposed to like" when he has ALL of his clothes on. The chemistry was fun to watch unfold throughout the film. At times it reminded me of Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in It Happened One Night, when all you wanted was the "fall of the wall of Gibraltar".

Aside from the story, the beautiful Irish country side is a sight to see. Aside from the single girl cynicism of the "I wish I had that...", I could not contain the awe feeling of watching this traveling film. By the end of the film you will want to rush out and purchase a ticket on the next flight to Dublin, jump in a car, and just drive around Ireland just to see the lush greens and history of these shires and villages. It's true that it is all about location, location, location...

Leap Year may not be your choice for top theater going films, but I would highly recommend it for a little cuddle time with your special someone on a snowy or rainy day.