Movie Review: EDGE OF DARKNESS (2010)

EDGE OF DARKNESS (2010)
Directed by: Martin Campbell
Written by: William Monahan and Andrew Bovell
Based on a teleplay by Troy Kennedy-Martin

This is an excellent film that proves how much story and depth can push a movie and truly make it stand out. It has meaning and it shows how far that can drive a film. The filmmakers had something to say instead of just blowing stuff up. That's important when it comes to making a great film. That's what this is.

I'm not a Mel Gibson fan. In fact, since he decided to make his own films and become a self-righteous anti-Semite, I've somewhat loathed him. I miss Riggs. Having said that, Gibson gives a tremendous performance and shows effort to this role and creates a compelling character. I find myself torn, not liking Gibson but thoroughly enjoying his character, Thomas Craven.

The story is very interesting and dramatic, not being over-convoluted, allowing you to follow while not knowing all that there is; keeping you involved. It's depth and pace really flow and allow the movie to build on itself until the very end, and you're left smiling and thinking.

I'm extremely excited about the director, Martin Campbell. I love CASINO ROYALE. He accomplishes a lot with that film, and he matches it here. And it doesn't have such an iconic character to do it with. The film is based on a 1985 British TV mini-series that he directed. The premise is the same, making it that much more inventive for its time.

Overall, I enjoyed watching it and it left me thinking. I've always thought that that is the mark of a truly great film. Campbell has impressed me and I look forward to his future projects, including GREEN LATERN (in pre-production).

Rating=8.7/10.0 - 1/2 (out of 5)

Movie Review: THE LOVELY BONES (2009)

THE LOVELY BONES
Directed by: Peter Jackson
Written by: Fran Walsh, Pilippa Boyens, and Peter Jackson
Adapted from a novel by Alice Sebold

I was somewhat disappointed by this film. I love Peter Jackson as a genre director in more of the horror and fantasy/sci-fi world. His drama pieces just don't resonate with me. There's no doubt that he's one of the best directors out there and that he's always capable of producing quality work. I don't particularly like this one. As I've said before, the horror genre needs quality filmmakers pushing the genre. Peter Jackson has proven himself there and I'd like to see him push the genre further ahead into the artistry of what filmmaking truly is.

I admire the vision of THE LOVELY BONES. It's clear that Alice Sebold had a vision and Peter Jackson captured it on screen. The story is fairly interesting, but the ending is extremely deflating. I honestly expected more.

Of course the special effects are amazing. However, I felt they lacked meaning on a practical level. That may underscore the premise for them in the context of the film, but I felt their significance was somewhat dubious. With that said, they are unique and at times aw-inspiring.

The acting is truly topflight. Plenty of great performances. I can honestly say that there's not one that you can look at and say that it could have been better. I really think this is a testament to the direction of Peter Jackson.

Overall, I feel the film works better as a love story than it does at a shot of revenge. It's very dramatic and emotional, but doesn't captivate me in the way I would have liked.

Rating = 6.2/10.0 - 1/2

Currently Reading: RIGHT RISK by Bill Treasurer

It's not just about taking risks, but taking the right risks that can help you grow. It's very helpful for people that have a problem taking the next step to getting something they may want or need to fill a gap in their life.

It's got some great life experiences from people who have taken big risks in their lives, sometimes when people pressure them not to. I found the story about Frances Oldham Kelsay particularly inspirational. She was the FDA inspector that refused to authorize thalidomide into the market based on her own research, even though she was pressured by the pharmaceutical company to pass it. Later it was determined that the drug leads to birth defects in infants.

Ahhh, the memories!

Today I was watching CASH CAB on the Discovery Channel, and there was a question to which the answer was LITE-BRITE. I answered it of course. I'm very fond of my youth...and 80s Hasbro toys.

Quick Take: LEGION (2010)

You get pretty much what's promised from the trailer. It's a very straight-forward plot. Mediocre acting (other than Paul Bettany=main character). Special Effects are also nothing too spectacular especially after the bar has been risen so high by recent films. It has a fair amount of action and horror/suspense, which I thought was mixed fairly well. However, overall it's not great and should only been seen by those who find the subject content interesting (i.e. Angels, apocalypse, machine guns, shootouts, freaky possessed people who like rare meat).

Quick Rating = 5.3/10.0


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Movie Review: THE BAD LIEUTENANT: Port of Call - New Orleans (2009)

THE BAD LIEUTENANT: Port of Call - New Orleans (2009)
Directed by: Werner Herzog
Written by: William Finkelstein

First thing you should know going into this film is that it's very much a Werner Herzog film. Those whom are familiar with his work (maybe most notably, the recent RESCUE DAWN staring Christian Bale) will have a much better outing with this film. I forgot that during the viewing and I wish I hadn't. I would have enjoyed it more.

However, it's not a bad film. It's heavy with drug usage; too much for my taste. It's hard to watch at times, but that might be the result of Herzog's vision. Nic Cage really does give a quality performance. Herzog does an excellent job of capturing authenticity throughout the entire film, particularly with the characters. I found it entertaining just watching the characters and not really caring about plot.



Unfortunately, that's where this one does not excel. There's not much of a plot. You mainly follow characters around. It's hard to get a real grasp of what you should and shouldn't care about. All that centers around Terence (Nic Cage). You don't know if he's really good or really bad. That's not to say it's a negative thing. Again, Herzog's vision comes into play. Was that his intention or not? Probably so, but whose to say.

It's most difficult to watch Terence's downward spiral as he struggles to maintain the balance and structure of his life while investigating a homicide, his drug addiction, his relationship with his prostitute girlfriend and his recovering father.

There are a couple of scenes in the film that really standout. The main one being the shootout at Terence's drug-dealing, murder-suspect, partner's house. The whole scene is very interesting, even with it's threat of absurdity. The humor throughout the film is done also in an interesting way.

Overall Rating = 6.1/10.0 ( out of 5)

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Violent Swans (or How I Pissed Off King Swan)

I just got back from the gym and I open my living room blind to see two very large swans outside, in front of my patio.  It was such a surprise, it shocked me a bit.  They were eating pieces of white bread and whole animal crackers that had been thrown from the balcony above.  I just stood there for a moment watching them eat, mesmerize by their elegance as they made their way through their feast, mowing it down like it was their last meal. 

They approached closer to my patio until they were practically at my door.  I had made my way out and I was still watching.  They began digging through the brush searching for more food.  I saw a large dried out leaf next to me.  I said to myself, "What the heck.  They might go for it."  I picked it up and tried to hand it to the larger one that was closest.  He, or at least I think it was a he, immediately knew it wasn't food and shunned it away.  Then,  he began to hiss at me.  "A hiss?", I thought.  I didn't know swans hissed.  Well they do.  And these guys weren't messing around.  They wanted food. 

I decided to watch a while longer as they started eating the very grass itself.  Then, when the larger one had his back turned, I reached out.  I just wanted to feel those beautiful feathers.  But clever this one was.  He was on to me.  He turned quickly to greet me with another, much louder, hiss.  That was enough for me.  I wasn't about to get into a fight with King Swan.  I acquiesced to his majesty, and took the road less traveled (or in this instance, more traveled.  I don't know too many people who have fought swans). 

I retreated to my apartment.  Once safely inside, I watched for a few moments more.  They left shortly thereafter, once they knew their reign was asserted. 

Don't mess with swans when they're hungry. 

1ST Annual "D ZOMBIE" Awards (Best Movies of 2009)

*Each movie in each category is based on the specific genre. For example, Best Action refers to the best true action movie. They are listed best last, preceded by the first runner-up, second runner-up, so on. The winner of the "Dead Head" Award is marked by =


Best Action:
TERMINATOR SALVATION
STAR TREK
DISTRICT 9


Best Animated Feature:
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
ASTRO BOY
UP


Best Comedy:
I LOVE YOU, MAN
LAND OF THE LOST
THE HANGOVER


Best Drama:
EVERYBODY‘S FINE
SUNSHINE CLEANING
[500] DAYS OF SUMMER
THE WRESTLER
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS


Best Horror:
THE COLLECTOR
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
DRAG ME TO HELL


Biggest Surprise:
LAND OF THE LOST
THE HANGOVER
DISTRICT 9


Biggest Let Down (No "Dead Head"):
TAKEN
FUNNY PEOPLE
HALLOWEEN 2
TRANSFORMERS 2


Best Score:
THE WRESTLER
STAR TREK
TERMINATOR SALVATION
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
WATCHMEN
DISTRICT 9


Best Cinematography:
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
STAR TREK
WATCHMEN
AVATAR
TERMINATOR SALVATION
DISTRICT 9


Best Special Effects:
WATCHMEN
STAR TREK
TERMINATOR SALVATION
DISTRICT 9
AVATAR


Best Directing:
J.J. Abrams (STAR TREK)
Darren Aronofsky (THE WRESTLER)
Zach Synder (WATCHMEN)
Quentin Tarantino (INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS)
James Cameron (AVATAR)
Neill Blomkamp (DISTRICT 9)

Best On-Screen Performance:
Sam Worthington (TERMINATOR SALVATION)
Mélanie Laurent (INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS)
Amy Adams (SUNSHINE CLEANING)
Mickey Rourke (THE WRESTLER)
Jackie Earle Haley (WATCHMEN)
Robert De Niro (EVERYBODY’S FINE)
Robert Downey Jr. (THE SOLOIST)
Sharlto Copley (DISTRICT 9)



TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2009:
10. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
9. LAND OF THE LOST
8. DRAG ME TO HELL
7. STAR TREK
6. THE HANGOVER
5. WATCHMEN
4. TERMINATOR SALVATION
3. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
2. AVATAR
1. DISTRICT 9 (Winner of 6 'DEAD HEADS')

Currently Stealing My Time (Video Games): NBA 2K9, NHL 2K6

NBA 2K9 (Xbox 360)


I just had a game where #77 for the Celtics had a RECORD 23 assists in one game. Rookie of the year.



NHL 2K6


Patrice Bergeron may be injured in real life, but in my game he's got 102 points (an even 51 goals and 51 assists) in just over 60 games. He's the top candidate to win 10 NHL Trophies.

Currently Listening To: DISTRICT 9 Original Soundtrack

DISTRICT 9 (Original Soundtrack)
by Clinton Shorter



Best Score of the Year for the Best Movie of the Year. Thank you!

Currently Watching (TV): DEXTER and COMMUNITY

DEXTER (Season 4) - On Showtime




COMMUNITY (Season 1) - On NBC

Current Reading (comics): CAPTAIN AMERICA

Captain America (volume 5)
by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting, Mike Perkins



Although Cap's not my favorite hero, and I did go against him in Marvel's Civil War, there's some excellent writing here with more than adequate art. Action, espionage, and superhero goodness.

Current Reading (novel): SHUTTER ISLAND

SHUTTER ISLAND
by Dennis Lehane



Has been adapted into a film (directed by Martin Scorsese). To be released in February.

Memorable Quote

“God help all us poor wretches who would create and find that we must lose our hearts for it because we cannot afford to spend our time at it.”
--Chris (from “Mad House”, a short story written by Richard Matheson)

Memorable Quote

“Sufficient will can overcome any pain.”
--Aged Genghis from the graphic novel Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment (as written by Roger Stern)

Currently Listening to: LORDI - The Arockalypse (2006

LORDI - The Arockalypse (2006)

Excellent heavy metal, horrorcore. The album is pretty solid all the way through. The top track being “Hardrock Hallelujah” (track 7). Other great songs include: “Bringing Back The Balls To The Rock”, “Who's Your Daddy”, “They Only Come Out At Night”, and my second favorite, and one of my overall favorite Lordi songs, “It Snows In Hell”.

I love Lordi’s appearance. They dress up in the full garb for concerts and are never seen out of it. They take what Slipknot and Mushroomhead gave and make it extreme. Much like Gwar, except not as overly obtrusive.

If you’re a fan of horror films you should check out DARK FLOORS. Lordi is in it. They are the monsters. How cool is that for a rock band. They're so horrifying and grotesque in appearance that they are actually in a horror movie, pretty much playing themselves, sans the whole rock band persona.

Movie Review: G.I. JOE (2009)

G.I. JOE (2009)
directed by: Stephen Summers
written by: Stuart Beattie and David Elliot & Paul Lovett



I was very entertained by this exciting, action-packed adventure. Despite some horrible casting, I found it to be fun while capturing the true G.I. Joe experience.

Synopsis:
A secret special ops, anti-terrorism task force battles an underground terrorist organization headed by a corrupt arms dealer.

Cinematography/Special Effects:
It’s interesting to see how the cinematography plays out in an effects-heavy action/adventure. I imagine it can get pretty complicated shooting on location and setting up shots knowing it will undergo hours of manipulation in post-production. I think Mitchell Amundsen (director of photography) did a good job while offering some nice views of Paris and Washington, and provides fast-paced and exciting action sequences. I particularly like the Paris chase scene.
Rating = B-

Acting:
Can’t expect much from this cast. Channing Tatum as Duke is one of the worst casting decisions I’ve seen in awhile. His acting goes as far as him standing in front of a mirror. Marlon Wayans has been in some acting heavy roles before (REQUIEM FOR A DREAM) but is mostly comedy relief here. Ray Park does what’s expected of him as Snake Eyes, if not more. Dennis Quaid as General Hawk is just bad and almost laughable at times (Grandpa needs a cane). The standout performance is Sienna Miller as The Baroness/Ana. She exudes a sultry seductiveness, coupled with her shockingly good looks, that makes it difficult to take your eyes off at times. More so as the dark, mysterious Baroness rather than the bright and bubbly Ana.



Joseph Gordon-Levitt turning out to be Cobra Commander really makes me scratch my head.
D

Direction:
Stephen Sommers won’t win any oscars, but he makes some fun movies. That’s the case here. He certainly can do special effects heavy productions. Don’t know if he had any say in casting. That would definitely be a blemish. In terms of storytelling, creating mood, and pulling an audience in, I would say he passes.
C

Music/Score/Sound Design:
Quality and effective Alan Silvestri score. Very good sound development and design that meaningfully enhances the visuals.
B+

Script/Story:
Vastly different from the cartoons and comics in terms of characters’ origins. The essence of the original characters as well as thematic elements and atmosphere have been preserved. Not enough back story on Snake Eyes. And I’m not quite sure about how I feel about Baroness flipping and being romantically involved with Duke. Probably could have done without it, but it seems to work well enough.
C+

G.I. Joe is an action-packed, immensely exciting, thrilling adventure with decent special effects and lackluster acting that should otherwise keep you entertained. Probably will be appreciated more by the fans of the cartoons and comics (and kids) than adults looking to be captivated by heartfelt storytelling.



Overall Rating = 8.0/10.0


Let me know what you think. Email responses to dvass77@gmail.com

THE POWER OF FILMMAKING - DISTRICT 9

Movie Review:

DISTRICT 9
Directed by: Neill Blomkamp
Written by: Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell



This film is easily the top movie of the year. There’s not many words that can describe how good it truly is. Amazing, spectacular, astonishing, and phenomenal just don’t quite seem to do it justice. Movies like these make me realize the power of filmmaking and why I want to be involved.

Just to be safe:



Synopsis:
A psuedo-documentary look back on the presence an alien species that came to earth, and whose ship remains dormant above the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. The story follows Wickers Van Den Merwe (an agent for MNU, a government agency that deals with the aliens) and his recently appointed mission to formerly relocate the population of aliens, or “prawns”, currently living in fenced in slums below their ship to new government built camps in order to supposedly better house them.



Cinematography/Special Effects:
Amazing! The documentary style introductions set a reality-based tone to the film. I was blown away by the authenticity of the vintage film and stock-based footage, that only seemed to add to the feeling of this being an actual event. Once the action gets going, you are immediately sucked in. The suspension of disbelief is never in question. Considering the content and subject matter, that’s quite impression. There are plenty of gorgeous skyline shots of Johannesburg and the ship. The creature animations our some of the best I’ve ever seen. Truly amazing how far technology has advanced. I felt the prawns’ movements and actions were super-realistic. Whoever acted as the motion captures for them deserves an Oscar. There are some wicked cool effects with the alien weaponry. Again, making it seem that if they were real, that’s what it would be like.
Rating: A

Acting:
Surprisingly good despite being an all foreign cast. No overacting, showboating American Super-Action stars here to muddle a great script. Sharlto Copley does a superb job representing the main character, Wickers. His performance is as captivating as any role in a multitude of sci-fi pictures. His relation with the CGI based creatures is blatantly convincing, making me feel that there was an actually person acting out the creatures’ parts on set.
B+

Direction:
Never hearing of Neill Blomkamp, I would have to say that this is a good indicator that this is an extremely talented individual. His ability to present this story as if it were an actual event is unprecedented (perhaps the only thing coming close to THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT). The story is executed to perfection. The acting is spot on. There are huge amounts of special effects that don’t get in the way of the action and only seem to augment the story and performances of everyone and everything involved. And at the end of the day, he wasn’t making a film about aliens. He wasn’t making an action film. He wasn’t showing the execs at Microsoft that he could do a HALO film. He is telling a story. And it’s got a lot of heart and a lot of guts. That takes a talented director to pull all that off.
A+

Music/Score/Sound Design:
Another astonishing feat. Beautiful score that accentuates the brilliant emotion of the film. Good selection of music to set the tone of the action and chaos of the film. Excellent sound design. From the alien weapons to the prawn dialect, there are no shortages of creativity and visionary design.
B+

Script/Story:
Unique. Inventive. Intriguing. Dramatic. Emotional. Sensible. Depth. Artful. There’s a lot that can describe this story. I love stories about aliens. And I love thinking about first contact and how we would relate to unknown life forms. This presents an interesting take. It’s not “we come in peace”. It’s not a “hostile takeover”. It’s about a group of living beings (who have, some how, got here and want to go home) versus the greed of humanity.
A+

This has to be a movie everyone goes and sees. I know I’m presenting a lot of positivity here because I’m such a fan of the Sci-Fi genre, and I‘m very excited to get another masterpiece (right up there with ALIENS and T2). However, it’s really a great film with a lot of excitement, drama and masterful special effects. The story has heart. It makes you think. It makes you feel. It makes you wonder. Those are all signs of a great film and this is certainly that.



Overall Rating = 9.6/10.0

Quote

"In loquaciousness lay insanity."
       —Alan Dean Foster (as written in the novelization of ALIEN)

Currently Reading: MONSTROSITY

MONSTROSITY
by Edward Lee



Down on her luck Clare finally gets a break. But in her good fortune she stumbles upon a horror that she’s never imagined.

Very good book so far. I can really get into it. It’s got a lot of cool, classic horror elements with a modern twist. The characters are enjoyable to read. There is some very gruesome descriptions of what the monsters are and do. I love it so far. Lee might not be as skilled as Stephen King, but he can write horror. That is clear. And I dig it.

Movie Review: THE COLLECTOR

THE COLLECTOR
Directed by: Marcus Dunstan
Written by: Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan




Originally intended to be a prequel to SAW, writer-director Marcus Dunstan and writer Patrick Melton (SAW IV, V, VI) present an interesting, stylistic horror film that may lack in originality, but succeed in an enjoyable modern-horror film experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed THE COLLECTOR. The premise is rather simple: A man, trying to support his wife/girlfriend and their child, resorts to breaking in a house to steal a valuable gem. However, on the night of the heist, someone else has other plans for the house and its occupants.

Cinematically, this is a beautiful film. Opting for a more stylistic approach proves to be more effective, using filmic imagery and sensual tones to draw the viewer in. You become more comfortable with what’s going on in front of you and less aware of the horror and gore that will inevitably ensue. The sound design adds to the effect and really makes you question what‘s in store. Good job there. The acting is nothing special. Josh Stewart gives an adequate performance in the lead role. While Juan Fernandez‘s performance as the title character works, but could be better. He’s not as physically imposing as Jason Voorhees or Leatherface, but he does come off as very creepy, mysterious, and disturbed individual. I appreciated the fact that he isn’t all powerful. He gets knocked around almost as much as he dishes out torture and pain. His strength lies in his trickery. The character has a weird fascination with insects that is left for the audience to infer. He creates traps much like a spider lays its webs. I found that aspect to be quite interesting. Overall, the characters might not come off as likable as you’d want, but you certainly don’t want to see them die; and not in such painful fashion. Which is the desired affect for any horror movie protagonists.

Beware, this movie does contain booby traps/torture scenes similarly found in SAW, which is easier to understand once you realize its original intent (prequel). But also, any number of which can be forgiven when you come to understand the character’s motive. It’s not clearly given, but you can make some sense of it if you just use your imagination a bit. Besides, they produce some decent gore and make you cringe frequently.

Overall, THE COLLECTOR delivers plenty of horror and gore, but presents it in a very unique and elegant way that has past most, if not all, modern-horror films of its kind by.

Rating = 8.5/10.0

Acquiescence

Adults quickly learn the tithe of acquiescence when dealing with infants and young children.

Currently Listening To: KILLSWITCH ENGAGE II (2009)

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - Killswitch Engage (2009)

Just released on June 30th, 2009. I’ve been listening to it nonstop. They are my favorite band. If I could only listen to one band for the rest of my life…it would be them.

So far, this sounds like it’s a great release. It’s stacked from the first track to the last. The problem is that’s not much. There’s only 11 total tracks (15 on the special edition- three of which are live songs). The total run time is just over 38 minutes (special edition - 55 minutes). That’s extremely short for an album. However, even with the lack of songs and length, the album certainly makes up with quality.

Top Tracks: “Reckoning”, “Starting Over”, “Light In A Darkened World”

Definitely check it out.

FREE SPIRIT! A Poem by Michelle Torres

I am freed, I am freed
My spirit is Freed
I soar up in the sky, free of the chains
That weighed me down.
Free of the pain and suffering, That
I could not shed.

I am freed, I am freed
My spirit is freed
I am so above the clouds, free of
Traditions that I wore proud
Free of who, they want me to be, versus
Who I am.

I am freed, I am freed
My spirit is freed
I do not hate, I do not judge, I do not
Feel jealousy.
All of those are ugly and I am now
Clean
To be free
Not to be bound
Or dragged down

Ever again!

I am freed, I am freed
My spirit is freed!

© Michelle Torres 2009

I AM LEGEONED

I’ve been reading the graphic novel adaptation of Richard Matheson’s I AM LEGEND. I love post-apocalyptic stories; or even “the last man on earth” idea. I’m on chapter 6 now. Chapter 5 dealt with Neville fighting to get back in his house after forgetting to set his watch, to watch for sunset. I got excited reading it and the events that lead up to it. Neville running his errands out in town where no one is around.

At the start of Chapter 6, Neville talks about all his work in having to repair his house. It says, “He’d almost enjoyed all the work once it was started. It gave him something to lose himself in, something to pour all the energy of his pulsing fury into. It broke the monotony of his daily tasks;”
This makes me think about why I want ZA (Zombie Apocalypse). I’m sick of living life the way we do; having no real purpose; living only to consume and procreate and continue the never-ending bullshit cycle. I’d rather live like Robert Neville: having a purpose and the will to survive. Doing the things needed to be done in order to survive; striving for a life we all currently take advantage of. Life would be more meaningful and enjoyable.

So—I want ZA to break the monotony of life. Not just day-to-day. But forever. So we can strive to have a better life. A life worth living.

Watch A CLOCKWORK ORANGE

If you want to watch a great movie, you should check it out. It deals with crime, ultra-violence and the corruption of youth. It's a film by Stanley Kubrick, a visionary far ahead of his time.

Personally, I love this film and I forgot how great it is. I recently re-watch it and was amazed by the depth of the story (which was orginally presented in the novel that the film is based off of by Anthony Burgess), cinematography, the multitude of brilliant imagery, and how well the film holds up and the significance of the message even for modern times.

So check it out if you haven't seen it.

Inner Self (or How I Learned to Love The Zom)

The other day I listened to an audio book by Paul McKenna about positivity and inner happiness/contentment. He’s mainly know as a hypnotist and a TV personality in the United Kingdom. And although, he presents some hypnotic exercises in the audio book, I was more interested in what he had to say about society and culture of the western world in reference to being less happy with ourselves and seeking happiness through exterior sources. He says that too often we seek fulfillment in the outside world. This has caused us to become overly competitive, selfish, and rapidly consume the Earth’s resources without care for the ecological consequences.

He suggests that we need to find more contentment within. Be more comfortable with ourselves, and instead of trying to change what we have or don’t have, we should change our attitudes and our perspective.

“Life is only as amazing as the ideas you have about it.”

This quote got me thinking about my outlook on life. The truth is I’ve had a very negative outlook on life which has caused my quality of life to be diminished simply because of the way I perceived it. Lately, I’ve been trying to have a more positive outlook on life. It really works.

However, that doesn’t mean I should curb my thoughts and creativity. Much of my ideas come from my particularly cynical outlook on life, society, and where we as a species are heading. After thinking about it, I have realize this is why I love ZOMBIES! I love stories about zombies, the end of the world and the apocalypse. I believe the world is a great place. But it has been overrun. Not by zombies, but by our insatiable appetites for consumer goods, products, and consumption of resources such as fuel. I feel zombies represent this. Like they say in George Romero’s films, “They’re us. We’re them and they’re us.” It’s that simple. Therefore, we must destroy all the zombies (all of our cravings for goods to satisfy us). Then, we can learn to do without and find contentment within. This will bring about a massive, worldwide change. Then, we as a species can grow and start anew.

Look at it like this: the zombies have taken over. They are consuming and infecting all the living. The survivors must stop them. They must destroy them. Once they do, they can start to rebuild the world in a better image. We can start over. But first we have to hit the reset button. It’s time for change. Before it’s to late. Before this will truly be a…..Dead World.

Movie Review: PUBLIC ENEMIES

PUBLIC ENEMIES (2009)
Directed by: Michael Mann
Written by: Ronan Bennett and Michael Mann & Ann Biderman

I’m not a fan of Michael Mann. Of course I like HEAT. With De Niro and Pacino on the top of their game how could you not. THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS is ok. But it has Daniel Day-Lewis, one of the most talented actors ever to be on the big screen. I don’t care for anything else he’s done. So, having said that, I have to say PUBLIC ENEMIES isn’t that bad. I didn’t expect it to be great, despite having two of the best actors around (Depp and Bale).

The story’s not too dynamic. Depp plays John Dillinger, Public Enemy Number 1: the nation’s most wanted man; to be taken, “dead or dead”. Bale plays Melvin Purvis, assigned by J. Edgar Hoover (played by Billy Crudup - recently off his performance as Dr. Manhattan in WATCHMEN) and his Bureau of Investigations to track down and apprehend Dillinger.

A massive manhunt and gun fights a plenty ensue. Hope you like machine guns and Tommy Guns. You get a bunch of them.



Both Depp and Bale’s performances are solid. Now I’m not a huge fan of Depp’s so I can’t attest to how well he did the job because he always plays such strange roles. And he’s not going to stop (look at his picture as the Mad Hatter in next year’s ALICE IN WONDERLAND remake). However, the Dillinger character is interesting, you’ll enjoy what Depp can bring. Bale, on the other hand, plays a more subdued role. Purvis is a judicious, dutiful special agent that wants to bring Dillinger in at all costs. His performance leaves me wanting to know more about the character. There’s not too much depth shown to Purvis. I believe that is the intended effect. We need to believe that his one and only goal is catching Dillinger. And I do. But I want to dig deeper and its just not here. You will find some interesting actors with some small and minor roles. The best being Stephen Dorff’s portrayal of Homer, one of Dillinger’s men. I found him to be the most entertaining character. Plus, his dialogue and accent feels the most realistic of the lot.

Ok. Now to the epic downfall of the film. The cinematography. This film could have been so much better had the cinematography been better. It incorporates the “shaky” cam technique to a sickening level. Its attempt is realism, and to pull you in. It does the exact opposite. It pushes you out immediately, and takes away the suspension of disbelief. It’s noticeable in a bad way. Not good for the DP (Director of Photography). When you have audiences complaining that its too shaky and it’s making them sick--that’s just bad. I love using hand held cameras. But there is no reason to intentionally shake the camera to the point that you can’t tell what you’re looking at. I don’t care how realistic you want to make it appear. That’s just stupid.

Overall, it’s a little long, and if you’re a fan of either Bale or Depp (and you can get over crap-o-vision) you should definitely watch it. Good characters, simple, interesting plot, and dynamic characters should keep you there for the 137 minutes.

Rating = 7.8/10.0

Bad Hollywood

A link to the original article:

http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2009/6/26/darabont-not-giving-up-on-fahrenheit-451yet.html

Basically, Frank Darabont (director of some great Stephen King adapts including THE GREEN MILE, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, and THE MIST, my personal favorite) is trying to make FARENHEIT 451, a classic novel by Ray Bradbury about a dsytopian future. People that have read it (including studio execs and producers) say it's an amazing script and it should be made. However, Darabont can't get anyone to option it. When asked why, they say, "How am I going to get 13-year-olds to show up at the theater." Referring to it being an R-Rated feature, therefore limiting the number of people, limiting the number of ticket sales.

This is Hollywood. This is what we aspiring filmmakers want to be a part of. Someone has a work of art, admittingly so, and cannot get it made because it won't make as much money. This is what it has become. And I AM ASHAMED.

Beautiful Picture

Sunset meets a thunderstorm in California.

Baysplosion! - TRANSFORMERS 2 Review

This isn't my review. In fact I've been hesitant to put a review here because--well because I just didn't want to waste my time. I didn't like it. In fact, I found it to be one of the worse movies I've seen of that caliber, big budget blockbusters. Don't get me wrong. It's not horrible, complete, utter crap. And there are things I like about it (the Decepticons' world; special effects; and simply the Transformers). However, for every one thing I like about it, there are a hundred more I detest. I've found the perfect review for it that reflect my views. I agree with it 100%. Hopefully, this will help more people become aware of this epidemic....called Hollywood.

http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2009/6/26/movie-review-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen.html

The Downfall of Man

I’ve been thinking lately about our society and how it has been negatively affected by pop culture. I feel like we are getting dumber, less sensitive, more promiscuous, less respectful, less caring, more selfish, and altogether a far worse sense of good character. Its cause has had a noticeable effect on youth. People dress differently, speak differently, and have a far worse attitude about life and how to live it. They no longer care about the common good of man and making the world a better place. Instead, they are more concerned with iPhones and getting laid 24/7.

Personally, I can’t help but feel ashamed. I see it happening right in front of me as it hits me in waves. For every solid, decent person I meet, there is ten, twenty, fifty, even a hundred people that I want nothing to do with.

This realization has caused me to grow distance from our society as it further descends into corruption and moral decay.

Quick Overview of: YEAR ONE

More of a Comedy Movie Movie

YEAR ONE
Directed by: Harold Ramis
Written by: Harold Ramis, Gene Stupnitsky, Lee Eisenberg

YEAR ONE is probably the first disappointing movie all year. It plays more like a Wayans’ Brother movie (SCARY MOVIE, DANCE FLICK) than it does a Harold Ramis’ (CADDYSHACK, National Lampoon’s VACATION, ANALYZE THIS) fun comedy. There’s not much laughs to be had unless you’re a big Jack Black fan or you are enamored with Michael Cera’s subtle, dry quips. Personally, I lost a taste for them after seeing the trailer a couple of times. Don’t expect to be blown away by story. Not much here. I’m not a fan of the subject content, nor do I know much of the history behind it.

Unfortunately, THE PROPOSAL is the better movie to come out this week. Pass on YEAR ONE. Ye be warned!

Inspirational Quote

"We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses."
--C. G. Jung