Film Review - Paranormal Activity

Sitting in a dark room with total strangers just waiting to be scared is a total rush. This movie was made for a measly $11k and has already surpassed that by 7x's in it's two weeks in theaters. It had premiered at Slamdance's 2007 film festival and has been waiting for the right moment to be released. Oren Peli directed, wrote, edited and produced the movie, but with such a small budget we don't see him in the movie. The fact that there wasn't any credits to the movie at all was surprising. I waited through to the blue ratings notice at the very end and there was nothing.

The reaction was amazing at the payoff. There wasn't anyone that left the theaters from where I was sitting. The people I talked to outside afterwards said that their first two times seeing it people walked out in the last 5 minutes. There was a great deal of nervous laughter in the audience when things would happen. I felt that this was what Blair Witch should have been back in 1999. There wasn't as much shaky camera movement as Micah Sloat put the camera on a tripod for most shots. His fiancee Katie Featherston was the "subject" of the movie.

Go check this movie out, but "don't see it alone"

Film Review - Whip it

So, there wasn't a wait in line forWhip It like I thought there would have been only a week after it came out. I got to the theater about 15 minutes early and I was the only one sitting to see what I think was the most heart-warming story I've seen this year, so far. Not ever having played roller-derby, I could still relate to the message in this movie about defying the "normal" way of life. Just like Ellen Page's character, I am paving my own path with the career I've chosen to study. This movie isn't like your typical boy-meets-girl romantic girlie movie. This was about standing up for what you believe in, or what you want to do with your own life instead of letting people choose for you. I nearly cried when character Marcia Gay Harden's character read the note from her daughter.

This was a perfect directorial debut for Drew Barrymore, who also played a character in it who happened to be on the ground more than skating in the movie. She has a knack for being a more physical comedian than people give her credit for. It was also good to see the likes of Daniel Stern, and Juliette Lewis who played Dad and one of the rival skaters respectively. There were so many awesome real life derby girls that were in it as well.

If you haven't seen this movie yet, what are you waiting for? Go see it... And remember, you CAN do anything if you put your mind to it!

Film Review - Jennifer's Body

After getting to the theater already playing the trailers before the movie, I had to deal with the only other group of people talking over the intro of Jennifer's Body. This is the latest by writer Diablo Cody who has such a way with her dialogue that I can understand it, even though I can't necessarily relate to it. There are subjects like girl problems and high school social issues that Megan Fox's character and Amanda Seyfried dealt with that I could relate to on some level being a guy, I felt sympathy for both.

Ultimately in the end I enjoyed the movie for it's story and some of the scenes, but mostly the dialogue. It seems like such a fresh take on how the "youth of today" speaks that it's very believable. Wonderfully directed by Karyn Kusama who has only three movie under her belt, but we should take note for future projects.

Film Trailer - Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day

WOW!!!! All I have to say is WOW. I saw the first movie a decade ago and loved it. I was impressed even more so that the guy that directed it was a first time director. What impressed me even more was that his story was documented and shown as a how not to work in Hollywood for myself and the classmates I go to school with right now. I'm a junior in film school and I was blown away to see the trailer for the sequel when I got home from my "Day job" for the movie of the fall now. I didn't hear anything about it until squeaking onto IMDb, where the trailer below, came from.

Mark your calendars, go see this movie!!! It comes out two days before the actual All Saint's Day this year on October 30th. Pretty clever I might add. I think the only reason it doesn't come out on the true date is that it's a Sunday.

Check this out!!:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi404357657/

DVD/Videos Reviewed - Snakes on the Plane

The title should be "Snakes on the MF'in Plane" Cause even though this was my first time seeing this movie, I knew that was going to be a line in the movie based on who the main character was being played by.

I didn't see this movie in the theaters and I missed out on the audience jumps and screams I'm sure. This is the type of movie I end up watching through my fingers, and there are many reasons for that: First, I didn't know just what the combination of humor/action there was going to be until I saw one of the co-stars. Second, the stereotypes are abound in this movie, almost as bad as in Soul Plane (and I saw THAT in the theaters cause I knew what I was getting into) but I wasn't aware there were going to be the cliches. And lastly, I watched through my fingers because I was one of the people the director was talking about in the behind the scenes documentary of people's biggest fears. I hate snakes!! That's right, me and Indiana Jones are brothers in that hatred of the reptile community.

Check this movie out if you get a chance. It's funny and scary in a good way. The extras are pretty fun too. There's even a music video for the movie that is pretty cool too!

Check out the trailer from IMDb.com :
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi612630809/

Film Projects - Coke Ad filmed for school project

I am a junior in film school and this is my final project for the Cine 1 class I was in last semester. In Cine 1 we get our first exposure to a 16mm camera and we film in black and white. Our final project is a short film or an ad for a project and I chose to film a commercial for Coke. Because my schedule was so tight I couldn't find a full crew to film with, all I had was a few actors (one of which was also a film student), me, and my partner.

What we came up with was pretty cool, considering that this was my first project where I was working on my own. My crew, as it were, was terrific. I made a few mistakes along the way (not turning the adjustable exposure open, a lot), but it turned out alright. Especially when I put it to music. I found a piece of very experimental music from one of my favorite frontman's side projects General Patton V.S. The X-Ecutioners.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

Movie Reviews - Free Family Film Festival

It's the start of summer for my nine year old and we've been to the first FFFF of the summer. Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa. Returning to our theater for a week (3 days in all tuesday through thursday) brings back Ben Stiller and company to cartoon series started in 2005.

In this one, Alex and his friends Marty, Melman and Gloria are still stranded in a lost country and are trying to get back to New York and safe, comfortable home. What's wrong is they are relying on the brains of a group of penguins to get them there. There was a few new gags for this episode and the laughs were abound.

I'm glad they brought this one back for the summer program because I missed it when it was in the theater the first time. And with this movie the children in the theater are part of the "Magic". My son buried his head into my shoulder for a few of the scenes when I would make oh, and ah noises for emotional moments.

For more theaters with this program, check out Regals Free Family Film Fest page at: http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/familyfilmfestivalschedule.aspx

And the Madagascar 2 trailer from IMDb at: http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2831286553/

Thomas Pynchon, American Novelist | Reader's Guides & Information | Inherent Vice

Thomas Pynchon, American Novelist | Reader's Guides & Information | Inherent Vice

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DVD Review - Tropic Thunder (2 Disc Director's Cut) 2008

           The 2008 summer comedy blockbuster that is Tropic Thunder has now become two discs of an amazing movie and great features.  Disc one has the feature with two separate commentary tracks with the director (Ben Stiller) the writer and a few of the lead crew including the editor, production designer, and the director of photography.  On another commentary track there is the actors Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black.  If you missed this movie in the theaters last year, by any means that you can, see this movie on DVD.

            This is an incredibly smart love letter to making movies by actors that really enjoy their craft.  Building the characters as previously acclaimed movie stars in the beginning with faux trailers and advertisements, this sets up the main comedic plotline of actors being stuck in a remote part of Vietnam.  Their movie takes a turn for the worse and the crew including the actors has to fight their way back to the states.   The acting by the cast was amazing and having Ben Stiller as the director was a double pleasure from him.

            On the second disc there are hours of extras that include hilarious outtakes and deleted scenes with introductions by Ben Stiller and the editor for the movie.  There is also a faux documentary for the making of the movie about the failed movie in the film.  This documentary was “directed” by the writer of Tropic Thunder, Justin Theroux.

 For more information, check out the trailer from IMDb and check out their website: 

www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2677539609/

Film Reviews - The Hangover

First off, I never thought I’d like this as much as I did. Secondly, I want to see it again! This isn’t just a d!ck and f@rt movie. It’s mostly a who-done-it-and-how movie. For a great majority of this film, we’re on the adventure of tracking down where one of our lead characters, the bachelor ended up after a night that they’d obviously forgotten. Through bizarre clues (i.e. Mike Tyson, tiger, family heirloom, et al…) they’re finding their way through Las Vegas, where this wild bachelor party has taken place. Meanwhile, back home, the women in these men’s lives are worrying and wondering about how they are and where they are. Lies and misleading conversations are the guy’s only saving grace in order to buy them enough time to find their friend who they’ve misplaced. Obviously, after jumping through amazingly ridiculous hoops, they find their friend in the nick of time; but not without one surprise after another that keeps you laughing and wanting for more once the movie has come to an end. But don’t get up yet…stay for the credits.

DVD/Movie Reviews - Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Sarkin Froode!!  This movie, based on the best selling novels by Douglas Adams, is another in a long history of versions of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.  There have been radio shows, BBC TV series, and now in this 2005 movie we see a great host of the characters in their best realm.  Unfettered by television limitations.  On this scale, the movie was intended to show the very colorful language and ideas that filled the stories written only 30 years ago.

Garth Jennings has directed a wonderful story with fantastically visualized characters portrayed by Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel, Sam Rockwell, Alan Rickman (at least his voice), John Malkovich, and our main character played by Martin Freeman.

But "Don't panic", there's plenty of great story even though our planet is destroyed in the first few moments of the movie, we can still enjoy the additional features on the DVD that include additional scenes that were cut out of the theatrical feature, behind the scenes of the movie, and if that's not enough, there is an improbability drive on the main menu so you will have a surprise every time you use it.

I highly recommend this movie for a great laugh and there are some underlying social commentary that isn't heavy handed.

Check out the trailer from IMDb.com: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2445345049/

And don't forget your towel!!!

DVD/video review – Charlie Bartlett

Most of you may know who Anton Yelchin is by now, being is that his portrayal of Chekhov in the New Star Trek and Reese in Terminator: Salvation, but not many people recognize him as the smart talking, piano playing, entrepreneurial minded Charlie Bartlett.  He is one of many characters in this fantastic story about rebellion from authority that is vastly different than ordinary high school dramas.  They have all been well thought out and every one in the movie plays an important role.  I think this movie was a bit mis-marketed to the teenage crowd even though the R rating.  I’ve seen it a few times and it still makes me laugh a lot. 

The special features include two audio commentaries and a music video for the Spiral Beach song “Voodoo”.  My favorite feature is the Bathroom Confessional featurette where they have the cast sit in the toilet seats from the movie and talk about whatever they want to.  They’re really funny although a little too short.

I'll try and find a trailer for this soon.  So far all the sites I'v looked at don't have one to share here.

Things we're doing - First Video Resume

So my partner Kanya is working on getting herself a part-time job as a Lifestyle Correspondent at a winery and the company she is looking to work for wanted a video resume.  Perfect!! Something she and I wanted to work on with OUR company.  They end up being short movies too.  You have to edit them together, right?  So we spent the weekend (when I wasn't at my part-time gig) filming her resume and taking pictures that would go perfectly with her one minute of glory.

Now's when I get to "Work my magic" and make small production value look and sound BIG!!!  When I am finished, I will be posting a link to the site so she can have us look at her resume and vote her up so she can take on this amazing job in the wine country and help our  company get some recognition!

I'll be publishing the link once we're done editing the resume.  Her video needs us to vote for her before the 1st of June, 2009.

Film Reviews - Star Trek (2009)

For those of you reading this, I am admitting something that I wouldn't say in public:  I am a Star Trek fan.  The William Shatner Star Trek was amazing to me growing up.  True, I only saw them in syndication because I was born in the late 70's so I'm a child of the 80's.  Having said that, I do enjoy the latest incarnation brought to us by Director J.J. Abrams who has many producer and writer credits, but has only directed a few episodes of television and one feature movie (Mission Impossible 3).

With this version of Star Trek we begin at the origins of the crew of the USS Enterprise, which weren't even through Starfleet Academy yet.  I won't spoil anything more, but our first scene with James T. Kirk is when he's a baby.  We end up seeing all of the original crew members (not cast) from their beginnings and how the friendships were forged.  The special effects and character make-up was amazingly accurate with an updated look.  Go check this one out if you haven't already!

The trailer found at www.IMDb.com : 

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi381354521/

Film Review - Drag me to Hell - Trailer

Sam Raimi returns to his roots with this horrific tale of a woman put into her most difficult position at work.  The special efx look great and the cast is perfect.  I enjoy Alison Lohman and Justin Long playing opposite each other as a couple and relative newcomer to the big screen Lorna Raver (she's only been in a few movies, but has done television spots for almost two decades) plays the antagonist for Lohman's character at work.  Check this movie out when it comes out this month. 

Here is the trailer from IMDb.com : http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3899917081/

Also, check out the official website for more tidbits at: http://www.dragmetohell.net/

Film Reviews - X-Men Origins: Wolverine

This will be the first post in a long time about a movie that we've gone and seen.  Our team didn't get the chance to go see it on thursday night like we wanted to.  We'll be going this evening to see it with some friends.  This should be interesting.  There will be a few things to consider when entering the theater tonight:  This isn't a continuation of the first three, it's the stuff that happens BEFORE Logan becomes who he is and how he gets there.  In no way were we sueded by any of the press that this movie got for the leaked version.

More to come...

Check out the trailer on IMDb.com at:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3012297497/

Film Reviews - Taking of Pelham 123 Trailer!

Okay, so this is a movie that looks like a great one already. Two super actors in a head - to - head for control of the major transportation in a major city. John Travolta and Denzel Washington are the headliners of this movie with James Gandolfini as a supporting role. As far as I'm seeing, this could be another resurgence in popularity for the stars.

Check out the trailer I found at www.imdb.com

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1348535065/

So Many Sites, So Little Time - New Button

So, my partner and I have been thinking of ways to have people donate to our company in order to build a budget for our first few films.  Now we have included a new button at the sidebar for people who would like to see an emerging film company put together their first short film.  For your donation, we will be putting together a credit list of people who donated to our project and putting in a huge thank you credit title in the end credits of the movie.  As well, if you include your address, (or an address you want us to send goodies to) we will be putting together a thank you gift.

The button is getting set up in the next few weeks and we will be updating the blog with any news on what we may have for "Thank You" goodies.  Let us know how you would like us to credit you in our film.

Keep independent films alive!

DVD/Videos Reviewed - The Matador

As a fan of the TV show, Remington Steel when I was a kid, I never once thought that Pierce Brosnan could ever play the role of being Broken, Sleazy or Desperate. He plays all of these roles almost a little too well, in a watched-it-through-my-fingers kinda way.

Brosnan plays an assassin who's on the brink of disaster as his cold-hearted nature for his job is coming to an end. He freezes at the moment he’s supposed to take out one of his last marks before his "retirement". Meanwhile, there is a relatable character who Greg Kinnear plays. He is a husband who is worried about his life's future with his wife (Hope Davis), being that he sees his entire career balancing on a business deal where he's not favored.

Brosnan's broken-natured spy & Kinnear's broken-natured business man/husband meet at a bar (no bad jokes inserted here) and their meeting benefits the other in their business and personal lives.In the end, the mild-mannered Kinnear helps empower Brosnan, in an amusing out of character way, with the killing of his final mark. Brosnan helps Kinnear mend his teetering relationship with his wife by assisting in "taking out the competition" of his business dealings.

The two are an unlikely pair who find that their individual business needs bring them together and on accident, they become unlikely friends.I would suggest renting this, especially for the painful moments when Brosnan is either strutting through the hotel lobby in nothing but a speedo and cowboy boots, or him dressed in a cheerleader uniform with pop pops in a slow-mo cheer!

Film Reviews - Confessions of a Shopaholic

*possible spoiler*

Over the weekend I took my partner out to see the movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic", which I must say was a nicely filmed movie. I was not let down to the amount of times I was watching the movie through my fingers because of the idiotic things the main character put herself through to get her next shopping fix. Sadly to say, I am that way with two things: DVDs and CDs. I have a pretty decent collection of both because when I get the chance, I can spend more than I want to on them. But, back to the movie, Isla Fisher is easily convincing as the troubled shopper. But the things she gets away with, even for the movies, is a bit too far fetched.

The other actors/actresses in the movie were very strategically placed to thwart her attempts at shopping until her debt was erased, including her parents (played by two favorite actors of mine: Joan Cusack and John Goodman [He will most likely be in a future DVD review of mine, Big Lebowski]).

*SPOILER* The main character goes through this wonderful transformation and ends up selling her belongings to clear her debt in the end by having a garage sale and auction of her things very much like the sales she was regularly attending in the beginning.

Cute, scary, funny, and then some. Just don't think too deeply about the plots or you'll be disappointed. Enjoy a matinee with a loved one, and save room for some popcorn.