Movies TV

News Channels - Too Many or Not Enough

2010-12-25T00:36:00.006-08:00

Needing to know everything that is going on locally, nationally and internationally is an obsession these days! There are local newscasts on in the morning - generally from 5 to 9 in the morning as well as at Noon. You also have the Evening local news on from 5 to 7 p.m. at night in most places during the week and again at 11 p.m. to wrap things up for the day. Along with this you also have the overnight news around the world on many stations. As if that were not enough for people, there are now 24-hour news channels that provide all the news you could want. The question here is this: are these TV Shows or something else altogether?

The problem is that many people do not consider news broadcasts to be a TV Show. The title question also comes into play here as well. Are there far too many news channels or not nearly enough? Well, I guess that answer would largely depend upon you, the reader, wouldn't it? Are you a person that absolutely must have every single bit of news that you can get your hands on? Or are you someone who is so sick to death of nothing but negativity in the news that you rarely ever watch it any more?

For the most part news channels and TV Shows about news channels and radio stations are popular. The TV Shows that fall into this category are "WKPR in Cincinnati" and "Midnight Caller" to name a couple. There are others as well. Here again, it goes back top the title question in another form: how much of the "news" is too much? Some say that the "news" is not really that at all. It is always good to know what is going on in the world today, it just depends of how much of the same thing you are willing to deal with.

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Name Your Favorite TV Shows

2010-12-25T00:36:00.005-08:00

Let's not have any type of fighting over this one people! This is not a subject that really requires a lot of fighting. When you start thinking about your favorite TV Shows you can go all over the spectrum and back. There are so many different television shows that were and are popular all over the world. With that being said, there really is nothing to fight about. Alright, let's look at some of the categories - or genres - that TV Shows can fall into. Do you have a specific genre that you like more than the others out there?

Are you one that really likes the older TV Shows from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s? Do you like a specific type of show from these decades? Do you like watching "Airwolf" or "The Incredible Hulk" for example for the special effects or for the action? Let's face it, who would not want "The Lady" as String (as in Stringfellow Hawke) and Dominic Santini fondly call Airwolf on their side? Those that like action dramas will like stuff like this.

If courtroom or crime drama TV Shows are more to your liking, you have so many to choose from that it will leave your head spinning. In all fairness, there are many people who can simply sit there and reel off their favorite TV show or shows with relative ease. On the other side of that coin there are others that cannot do this very easily at all. For some, there are simply too many shows that they like a lot; while others simply do not pay it that much attention. Whichever direction you happen to be leaning in, it is just fine by us. The point of this is not to create an argument or fighting of any type, it is just a meant to start a good discussion.

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Making TV Shows That Make a Difference

2010-12-25T00:36:00.003-08:00

What would you be looking to do if you were looking into making TV Shows that really make a difference for you and/or for someone else? What type/types of programming would you come up with? Who would be your target audience? All of these are pretty good questions to think about. When you are looking for TV Shows that seriously make a difference in your life you have a lot of choices. The biggest thing to think about is the total impact of the show that you are making.

Which TV Shows made/make the most impact on you? There are plenty of TV Shows out there that really have no value whatsoever, so people feel anyway, to the general population. There are also programs on over-the-air broadcast and cable/satellite TV that really have made a difference to someone. What about the shows on channels such as National Geographic, The Science Channel and Discovery that inspire a child or young adult to become an archeologist? What about medical shows such as the recent "The Dr. Oz Show" that are making a positive impact on people?

The Host of the show, Dr. Mehmet Oz, is a Cardiac Surgeon at New York Presbyterian Hospital. That show and his down-to-earth yet No-Nonsense way of hosting has made a great deal of difference to viewers. Dr. Oz does one of the few Medical "Talk" TV Shows that really touches a nerve. A recent episode showed Dr. Oz's own Colonoscopy exam and the surprising results that Dr. Oz got from his colleague Dr. Jon LaPook. Dr. LaPook told Dr. Oz that they had found Pre-Cancerous polyp in the biopsy that was done as part of the exam. This took Dr. Oz by surprise as a physician. He has been warning people for decades and did not see this coming for himself.

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Lost - A Brilliant American TV Show

2010-12-25T00:36:00.001-08:00

People are now commenting that Lost is one of the most brilliant American television shows on air today. That is the reason why a number of TV magazines and online websites dedicated to the television world have dubbed 'Lost' as a must watch show. You will absolutely love the idea on which this show is based.

Unless you are already watching some dozens of shows and have no more time to spend on television, you are going to want to add 'Lost' to your list of compulsory entertainment. It's hard to find television shows like 'Lost' that are filled with action, as well as drama. You will hardly find programs that come with a nice blend of action and drama but this show has it all. If you love suspense stories and mysteries, this television show will not disappoint you. This American television show is certainly worth a watch because of some obvious reasons. You will be surprised to know that each and every single scene in this program has some meaning.

You won't see people walking, talking and sleeping for no reason at all! That is the beauty of this television show. The story is about 48 plane crash survivors who are dropped on a mysterious island. The story blows an air of excitement and mystery at all times. Most of the story revolves around fourteen of the 48 survivors. Each one of these persons has their own secrets. Layered emotions and excellent writing techniques make 'Lost' an exception among all other American TV shows. It's an outstanding series and it will keep you wandering about 'what happens next?'

You will never be bored of guessing the outcome of any episode, as you can do in most other TV series. This TV show will keep throwing tons of surprises at you. So entertain yourself and keep guessing!

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Like the Older TV Shows - Look to TV Land or RTV

2010-12-25T00:35:00.001-08:00

There are so many of us out here that absolutely live for older TV Shows that are no longer shown on the usual channels. Are you one of the people who love shows like "Airwolf", "Knight Rider", "Petticoat Junction" and "Green Acres" or perhaps "The A-Team"? Well, there are a few places on your television dial that you can go. One is TV Land on cable or satellite. The other is called RTV, which is the Retro Television Network, which is an over-the-air digital channel.

For many of us it is the older TV Shows that are the tops. Are you looking for the cartoons that are not shown any longer on regular TV or even the cable channel? You can find so many of the older cartoons on RTV pretty easily on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. until 12 noon. Do you remember "Fat Albert" or the "Archies" or "Brave Starr"? Who could ever forget "He-Man" otherwise known as "Master of the Universe" or "She-Ra: Princess of Power"? These two are on RTV Saturday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m. in this writer's local area.

Whether you are a kid currently or just a kid-at-heart, these channels have the TV Shows that you remember and that are not shown regularly anymore. The shows that are on both channels range from the 1950s right up to the 1990s and even a few that have been taken off the air since 2000. There are so many older TV Shows that you could spend all day and night watching them and be in heaven. Let's face it folks, some of the older shows are still in, and well worth watching. These two channels many not carry all of your favorite older TV Shows, yet they do have a pretty good selection that changes periodically.

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Having a Backdrop of Your Own

2010-11-11T23:04:00.001-08:00

It is one thing to be in a movie theater and quite another to enjoy the movie or the play. One thing brings the movie closer to us or rather it brings us closer to the movie making us inseparable.This is achieved by having a well designed backdrop according to the play or movie.

Having a backdrop of your own is a noble idea. However it is good to know that it will require a lot of work as well as money to achieve that. You can however safe yourself the trouble by opting either to buy one or just rent.

Sometimes you may need a backdrop in your occasion. It's a good idea nevertheless, you will have to weigh thee two options available. Either creating your own or going for a rental one which is cheaper than making yours.

Having a backdrop greatly enhances the play while making the people to be glued to the play. In fact one backdrop can be used for different occasions without having to change it. Though they are found in many occasions, they can be found in other occasions too.

You don't have to make your play or occasion boring. Give it the best touch by getting a well done backdrop. People will react differently when they watch a play within a backdrop and watching one without a backdrop. Get an attractive piece done for you so as to keep the people to your occasion.

The better part of going for a rental backdrop is that it saves a lot especially on time storage and maintenance's. The only requirement is that you just need to pack the item as soon as you are through and bring it back to the provider and you are free for other engagements.

With backdrops you are able to create the atmosphere you wish to have in your audience. It will pass a clue to them on what to expect as well as setting the right mood for the production. Backdrops can also be used in place of the traditional decorations to break from routine.

Before finally choosing a backdrop it is wise to consider various factors including the size as well as the material to be used. There are different prices for different kinds of materials hence you need to know your taste well.

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Finding Good Movies to Watch: The Ultimate Checklist

2010-11-11T23:03:00.004-08:00

Movies can get you worked up, they can make you cry and laugh. You surf through as you watch a movie. Movies can be declared as the national pastime of the United States. Each year, millions of people spend dollars amounting to billions to watch movies of their favourite stars. So you are exhausted after a day's work and want to watch a movie, there would be practically hundreds you could watch, but are they good enough for your time's worth. I'd say from experience that it can be quite taxing to find a good movie to watch. Enter, Internet. Why don't you let millions of people vote to tell you which movie to watch? Just go online and see what kind of ratings your movies have. Below you can find a number of sources that can help you do just that:

Newspaper Movie Reviews - This is the oldest way our fathers invented when they wanted movies to watch. Now the medium has changed. It is the e-newspapers now. The opinions expressed about a movie in the newspaper may not always be right because after all, it is a single man's point of view. I suggest you to follow movie critics who have a similar taste to yours and who specifically work in your genre of movies. You also need to stay away from critics who get swayed away with the hype around a big banner movie. You'll need to search a lot to find the perfect people for your taste.

RankAMovie.com: Changing the old paradigm of genre based movie ratings, this site gives a flip by recommending users according the their needs. You might ask for a movie recommendation if you are feeling sleepy. You may even ask for a good soccer film. You've just been ditched! There's a recommendation for you too. Find the category that suits you, and get the movies and their descriptions along with the user ratings that other users like you have awarded. Be sure to go back to the site and rate the movie as good or bad after you've seen it.

Netflix: Netflix took movie rentals to a whole new level. Once you've subscribed to their services, you can browse through their exhaustive collection of movies in a wide variety of genres, select the movies you want and add them to your viewing queue. These movies are then mailed to you regularly as and when you return them. They have different account levels depending on the number of movies you want each day ranging from 2 to unlimited. The Netflix website also sports a user rating system where you can rate movies on a scale of 1 (for poor) to 5 (for excellent). The user rating system helps in giving you recommendations by matching the likings of other users to yours. At an affordable price, this is the best rental service that can be imagined.

In a fast paced life, everyone has but very less time to relax. Therefore, you need to be careful about what you watch. A bad movie can waste a lot of your time if you are stuck with it and have no other option. If you are as picky as I am, you may start keeping a wish-list in which you can list all the good movies you come across, that you intend to watch.

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Ben Stiller - Everything You Need To Know

2010-11-11T23:03:00.003-08:00

Ben Stiller was born to the legendary comedians Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on November 30, 1965 as Benjamin Edward "Ben" Stiller. He is America's well known comedian, actor, writer, film director and producer. He has written several mockumentaries, made several cameo appearances in music videos, television shows and films.

He attended the Cathedral School and later graduated from Calhoun School in New York in 1983. He picked up the interest behind the camera at the age of 10. He used to shoot films with his Super 8 camera, the plots of which were how he got his revenge on people who used to pick up on him. He enrolled as a film student at the University of California, Los Angeles but he quit moving to New York.

Before entering Hollywood he put in lot of effort in the theaters. He performed in the play "The House of Blue Leaves" after dropping from UCLA. It was during this period he came up with a spoof of "The Color of Money" starring his The House of Blue Leaves co-star John Mahoney and himself. It caught the interest of Lorne Michaels, who purchased and aired it on "Saturday Night Live" a late night American sketch comedy and variety show.

Ben made his debut on big screen with Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun" in 1987. He soon was interested to work behind the camera and directed "Back to Brooklyn" for MTV. In 1992 MTV gave Stiller his own show "The Ben Stiller Show" which was later took up by Fox. But the show failed to pick up on the ratings and was eventually canceled. However, the show won the Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program.

Stiller went on to direct and act in "Realty Bites" which turned out to be the highest grossing film in its opening weekend. It is now considered as a cult classic. In 1998 he starred along with Cameron Diaz in "There's Something About Mary" which boosted his acting career. After two years came his next biggest venture "Meet the Parents", which became one of his most recognizable roles. The film grossed over $330 million worldwide. He also lends his voice to the famous animation series Madagascar in 2005.

Stiller's movies have grossed more than $2.1 billion domestically. He was awarded several honors including an Emmy Award, several MTV Movie Awards, and a Teen Choice Award. Stiller is also the member of the comedic acting brotherhood nicknamed "Frat Pack". Frat Pack is a group of male Hollywood comedy actors since the 90s who have appeared together in many of the highest grossing comedy movies.

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Disney's Aladdin Princess Jasmine Costumes Have A Deeper History Than One Might Think

2010-11-11T23:03:00.001-08:00

Aladdin is originally a figure conceived from a bunch of Islamic folk books that had been compiled collectively all through the dark ages within a book named One Thousand and One Nights. It's most often recognized in the states as Arabian Nights, yet Aladdin costumes had in no way been more preferred than they have been due to the fact that the Disney edition of Arabian nights was unveiled in theaters in 1992 as an animated movie tailored toward youngsters. The movie might have been geared for a juvenile crowd, but the Aladdin costumes and Jasmine costumes inspired by the Disney movie have become absolute favorites for all age groups, with lavish versions of the Disney Aladdin costumes actually making a showing in Arabian Night themed wedding receptions. The Disney animation ended up being essentially the most profitable flicks of 1992, grossing $510 million around the world, and was a total runaway smash success for Disney.

Aladdin costumes and Jasmine costumes may well be well-liked, however the actual story of One Thousand And One Nights is highly popular also, with adapted variations of the tales within the novel appearing in Persian, Indian, and Egyptian in addition to Arabic. The real narrative of Arabian Nights bears little or no likeness to the Disney storyline; Disney might have inspired the Jasmine Costumes and Aladdin costumes that people love to wear, but they at the same time made the store less offensive.

The basic narrative of Arabian Nights is centered around a Ruler and his brand new spouse. He discovers her cheating and has her killed, and then decides almost all females can't be trusted and little by little go through a variety of ladies, killing each as his suspicions are aroused. Less than the substance of a excellent story book which would inspire passionate inclinations and dressing up in elaborate Aladdin costumes and Jasmine costumes. Yet, Disney's flick is based on a single tale coming from the publication titled "Aladdin and his magic lamp."

It's the Aladdin persona that served as the impetus for the Disney flick, the Aladdin Costumes and Princess Jasmine costume, and the romantic twitterpation of young ladies everywhere who desire a royal prince to appear and carry them away using a miraculous rug journey. Strangely enough, there's been absolutely no proof that the Aladdin and the Magic Lamp tale ever was a part of the first Arabic edition of One Thousand and One Nights; the first introduction of the story that influenced the Aladdin costumes and Princess Jasmine costumes occurred in the French variation by Antoine Galland.

We need to say thank you to Galland for incorporating some beauty into a dreary storyline and rendering the inspiration whereby virtually all girls, equally young and aged, have undoubtedly dreamed of putting on a Princess Jasmine costume and zooming off on their very own magic carpet. And even right now the Disney adaptation proceeds to be a giant money creator for Disney, mainly because Princess Jasmine has became a member of the Disney Princess lineup, a brand that delivers the majority of Disney's $4 billion in branded merchandise revenues every single calendar year.

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Nicolas Cage - Everything You Need To Know

2010-11-11T23:02:00.000-08:00

Nicolas Cage is a well known American actor. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in "Leaving Los Vegas" and became the youngest actor ever to do so. He also is a producer and director.

Nicolas Cage was born on 7th January 1964 to August Coppola and Joy Vogelsang as Nicolas Kim Coppola. He is the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola, an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter. Nicolas wanted to make a career on his own in Hollywood without his uncle's influence and so he changed his name to Nicolas Cage. The stage name Cage is said to be inspired by a comic book character Luke Cage.

Cage attended Beverly Hills High School and later attended the UCLA School of Theatre, Film, and Television. His first stint in acting was in "Golden Boy" which was a non-cinematic school production. He secured a part in the 1982 movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", but majority of his role was cut short in the film. He later took the job of reading lines with auditioners for Uncle Francis's films that later landed him roles in films "Rumble Fish" and "Valley Girl" in 1983. Valley Girl, which was released first amongst the two, launched his career.

Thereafter he went on to do varied kind of roles in "Moonstruck", "Raising Arizona", "Wild at Heart", "Bringing Out the Dead". He was nominated twice for Academy Awards. Despite these successes his low profile films failed to make big at the box office but his mainstream action and/or adventure movies went on to become box office successes. His movie "8mm" a suspense thriller although failed to make it big at the box office, is regarded as a cult film. "The Ghost Rider" became the top earner, earning more than $45 million in its opening weekend and grossed over $208 million worldwide. Cage's second highest film in terms of earnings was the "National Treasure".

He owns a production company called "Saturn Films" and started his production career with "Shadow of the Vampire" in 2000. He made his directorial debut "Sonny" in 2002 which was a low budget drama but dint do well at the box office. Cage also has a strong interest in comic books. The comic book series Voodoo Child was created by him and his son Wes Cage. He had also auctioned 400 vintage comics through Heritage Auctions for over $1.6 million.

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Tips on Being a Voice Actor For the Cartoons

2010-06-26T02:08:00.006-07:00

When you watch the cartoon films, you may be attracted by the comical actions of the characters as well as the believable voice of them. Voice actor plays an important part in the success of a cartoon film. And it can be very interesting and funny to make voice for cartoons. If you want to be a voice actor, here are some guidelines for you.

Firstly, you may choose some good classes for training. The acting classes will be quite helpful for you because you can not only get professional skills but also good chances for practice and development. There are many kinds of opportunities there. For example, you may take part in the coaches at the theater. These coaches may help you practice what you learn and give you a good chance for presentation and learning.

Secondly, keep a good record of the voices made for different characters. One way is to keep the voice in words. You may give a special name for the sound you make for a character and note it with detailed description of how the sound is made. In this way, you will find the right sound in a quicker way next time. Another way is to keep your sounds in a CD which make a sample for your work as well as saving a lot of time. This method is especially for those who do not be good at writing. It is much more direct and vivid.

Thirdly, make a fine demo CD for yourself and try to find a talent agency to submit it. this is a essential step for you to become a real voice actor. It is much better to make your demo at some professional studios. Then you can choose a local agency that you believe to be easier to accept your demo.

Generally speaking, becoming a voice actor must be very effort-taking and it requires versatility in making different kinds of voices. If you have some talents in it and have the confidence in doing it well, you may start now and your dream will sure come true as long as you stick to it.

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Discover Triumph With Film Schools

2010-06-26T02:08:00.005-07:00

Tucson film schools provide students a unique chance to discover the craft of movie making in a postcard-perfect setting. As a result of its diverse and captivating natural landscapes, exciting metro area, and tax incentives for production companies, Arizona's second-largest city is extremely regarded to Hollywood location scouts. Movie shots in Tucson consist Transformers 2, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and Boys on the Side. Tucson is an ideal city to discover your passion for film, and to acquire the education you need to have a rewarding career in the movie industry.

More than perhaps any other medium, filmmaking is a collaborative art form. Plenty of individuals are credited for working on the greatest Hollywood features. The main players are the director, the screenwriter, the lead actors, the producers, as well as the editor. Believe it or not crucial are artists who perform to take the perspective of the film into reality: the cinematographer, lighting designer, costume and set designers, and make-up artists. Additionally, there are also quite a few skilled technicians who do lights, make sets, equalizes the sound, and consequently assist to come up with the world of the movie. Other important jobs within the film industry include casting directors, location scouts, special effects designers, and countless other professionals. Whatever your passion is--be it sitting in a quiet room writing a screenplay, or jumping off a four story building as a stunt person--Tucson film schools can give you the tools you need to be successful.

There's a dynamic discussion in the world of filmmaking regarding whose role is more important--the screenwriter's or the director's. The screenwriter may at first appear to be the good bet; after all, with no script, there is no movie. The screenplay displays out the setting of the film, the characters, the tone (Darkly humorous? Creepily futuristic?) and not to mention, the dialogue. But many today gives the director the greatest credit for a movie's success (or blame of for its failure.) The director is involved in nearly every aspect of the production, from casting to camerawork, music to editing. Directors may consider "futs" (to place it mildly) along a script they think it requires further enhancement. And it's not unknown for Hollywood starts to make their own demands for script changes. Makers shall always come in with more screenwriters to "correct" the complicated script. (That's why you so often see several writers credited with a movie script--but take into account that not everyone who's part of this rewriting process even gets credit!)

So if you're interested in becoming a screenwriter, bear in mind that your masterpiece may go through numerous revisions first before it actually reaches and hits the big screen. One remedy: make your personal screenplays! Many of the most respected writer/directors today include Spike Lee, the Coen Brothers, Oliver Stone, and Woody Allen. This is certainly just several of numerous film chances you are able to get about in Tucson film schools.

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American Gangster Review

2010-06-26T02:08:00.003-07:00

The movie American Gangster was a classic in itself. It was up there with Goodfellas and Casino. I really enjoyed this movie a lot!

Denzel Washington plays Frank Lucus, who was a gangster in Harlem in the 1960's and 1970's. He grew up learning from another famous gangster in Harlem, Bumpy Johnson. Frank took things to a new height back in his day. The way he made money was to use US military planes that were coming back and forth from Vietnam to transport heroin into the US.

The heroin in Vietnam was 100% pure and he got it at such a cheap cost that he made millions. He had so many people working for him in the city, it was unreal. He had judges, police officers, and all of his people than ran the business. Its hard to say how many exactly, but I would guess easily 500 people combined. He eventually got caught, but not before he made a lot of money and killed a lot of people.

This movie is comparable to the classic mobster movies like Casino and Goodfellas. The Godfather is still my personal favorite of all time, but American Gangster was great. In the end when he got caught, Frank decided that he would help the cop that arrested him, put everyone in jail that was a crooked cop. This led to the arrest of over 60% of the drug law enforcement division in New York City alone. In return for his cooperation, he got a reduced sentence in prison.

I give this movie a 9 out of 10. It was just about as good as you can get. It was a bit long, but these kind of movies I don't mind being long. It just makes them all the better.

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Region Codes For DVD Replication

2010-06-26T02:08:00.001-07:00

We're going to take the opportunity to talk about DVD region codes, how they affect the burning of a master that you may be sending in for replication (manufacturing), and how it can affect the distribution of your project.

Q: What is a region code for, and how does it play into my DVD replication order?

A: Motion picture studios want to control the home release of movies in different countries because cinematic theatrical releases aren't neccessarily simultaneous (a movie may come out on video in the Canada when it's just opening in Asia). A region code is literally a byte of data that is added to a DVD master, and subsequently added to any of the copies through DVD replication. Certain machines will be set up to accept certain region codes in various countries.

There are 7 regions:

1: U.S., Canada, U.S. Territories
2: Japan, Europe, South Africa, and Middle East (including Egypt)
3: Southeast Asia and East Asia (including Hong Kong)
4: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean
5: Eastern Europe (Former Soviet Union), Indian subcontinent, Africa, North Korea, and Mongolia
6: China
7: Reserved
8: Special international venues (airplanes, cruise ships, etc.)

All of North America is region 1. If you want to be able to sell your content all over the world, we recommend leaving it region free (also known as all region or region 0). Most burning and authoring softwares have the region free setting as a default, however, you should make sure of this anyways prior to submitting your master in.

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What About Bob Review

2010-06-26T02:07:00.000-07:00

What About Bob is a great and classic Bill Murray movie. It is one of the best ones that he has done in my opinion. Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfus are two classic individuals in this movie. Most people think it is hilarious that I know.

It all starts with Bill Murray, who plays Bob, being a multi-phobic person that just has a lot of issues. These issues make him seek counseling from different individuals. He comes across Richard Dreyfus, who plays a psychologist named Leo Marvin, who is at the top of his field. Bob makes an appointment to see him and when he does he takes an instant liking to Dr. Marvin.

Dr. Marvin then goes on vacation and Bob finds him and proceeds to travel to where he is on vacation. This is not allowed since Dr. Marvin has obviously told Bob that he will not treat patients on vacation, but Bob is persistent to get some help.

Once he arrives in New Hampshire where Leo is staying, he starts harassing him immediately. When he got off the bus, he started yelling out, Dr. Marvin, Dr. Leo Marvin. He just keeps screaming it until someone finally answers him. As it turned out, it happened to be the doctor himself who was leaving the grocery store to go back home with his family.

Bob then harassed Dr. Marvin on his entire vacation and ended up staying at his house even for a couple of nights. This is a classic movie you will definitely put on your list to watch. I love this movie and laugh every time that I watch it. The two of them together is almost like peas and carrots. They play their roles to the T and do it well.

I rate this movie a 8 out of 10. It is hilarious and I totally recommend it to anyone who likes comedy.

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Based Upon a True Story?

2010-03-01T05:09:00.001-08:00

This is a line that needs to be banned from those films that are truly not based upon reality. The films that want nothing more for the audience to believe that there is some amount of truth to them. I know that many may think that this is a harmless practice, but I argue the contrary. Too often people are duped into believing that a film they just watched was based upon events that truly happened. Granted, no one is foolish to believe that a film is depicting reality as it happened. Even the most dedicated film to the truth takes liberty with reality in favor of entertainment value. Many believe this also to be a somewhat new practice. Starting out with The Blair Witch Project and growing from there. Unfortunately this practice began long before The Blair Witch Project.

No, unfortunately this practice began way back with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Not just the original was guilty of this act. Even the remake tries to dupe the audience into believing that these events actually happened. The majority of the intelligent community would in no way buy that load of crap, but unfortunately there are some who maintain to this day that leather face is still out there. Even when the evidence is presented to them, they point to the films and all of the fake crap written about them that try to convince people of the films basis in true events. To make matters worse, the believers write articles about how those events happened. And other believers use this as evidence to back up their position. Any one familiar with the film may be surprised to find out that the main character, Leather Face, was loosely based upon the well known serial killer Ed Gein.

In the movies Leather Face kills lots of people. In reality Ed Gein only confessed to two murders and was only tried and convicted for one. It was the nature of the case that got Gein his notoriety as a serial killer, even though technically he does not fit the definition. All of the body parts found in his home were attributed to his grave robbing activities and not people he actually killed. He had heads, skulls, organs, and various other body parts. He made skin suits and covered his furniture with skin. All of these gruesome details are what lead to Gein's fame.

Next we have the Amityville Horror. This movie is claimed to be based upon true events, and it may be. I have a sneaking suspicion that this is nothing more than a clever story created to help two people get out of financial troubles. They bought a house they could not afford or had other debts, or they simply created this story; because they wanted to be rich. A good enough story is worth a lot of money. There are still people today who believe that the events depicted in this film are real.

Fast forward to the Blair Witch project. The filming style of this movie is what leads the audience to believe that there is some kind of truth to the film. That there may be a small town out there with a local legend of a witch. Children gone missing with no good explanation as to why. Very few people would buy into any part of this film being based in reality, but there are exceptions to the rule.

Another more recent film claiming to be based upon some kind of reality is Paranormal. When you see the preview, you think to yourself, "wow, that looks scary". Unfortunately you then watch the film and find out that it is nothing more than a long and boring piece of crap. Once again the audience is lead to believe that there is some kind of truth to the film. When in reality it is nothing more than a reality based film. The style of filming is meant to have a real life, home movie feeling. Does stuff like this happen? There is a ton of evidence out there to at least lead someone to believe in the paranormal. This film does that evidence a great disservice. In my mind it is a slap in the face to people who have dealt with real life situations involving the other side.

The most recent film, one that inspired this article is called The Fourth Kind. The movie starts out with Actress Mila Jovovich claiming that the events in the film are real and that it was up to us to decide. The film company, Universal I believe, created a fake web site and articles to help create the illusion that these events happened. The interviews done in a home video style sprinkled throughout the film adds to the films reality. It leads the audience to believe that the footage is real and was taken by a real psychiatrist. This real life footage from the real life story is what inspired this film. This is what we are supposed to believe.

Of course when you do a little digging, you find out that there is no psychiatrist, there were no hypnosis sessions that revealed alien abductions taking place in Nome, Alaska. The FBI was investigating some cases up that way, but they did not find anything out of the ordinary. Now I know that it all could be one big conspiracy. The government is covering things up, to make us think these things did not happen. The fact remains that without evidence i can't buy into it. The best I can do is probability. It may or may not have happened. I did the research for myself and I found the fake web sites, but I did not find anything else about anything in this film that looked believable or real. This was a good movie, I really enjoyed it. I just wish they did not try so hard to sell it as a true story.

What these films should say is Based upon themes that occur in reality, or inspired by events that take place in the world. Too many people buy into these films, which does not really hurt anyone. It just drives me crazy when I am lead to believe one thing only to find out that there is no basis in reality. When I see a film like this, I in no way believe that what I am watching is all truth. I do expect that at least one or two of the characters in the film actually existed.

It would be nice to find some shred of evidence that could support any part of the film. Honestly, the big problem for me is that I want some part of these movies to be true. I'm not talking about films like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I'm talking about films like Amityville, Paranormal, and the Fourth Kind. Amityville and Paranormal, because of the prospect of there being evidence of something beyond this life. The Fourth Kind, because of the possibility of having evidence that we are not alone in the Universe. Fire in the Sky was a good film for that. At least when i looked up those characters i found out they existed and the story they claimed to have happened is what the movie is based upon. I also like the fact that they all passed a lie detector test. So, when I find out these stories are bogus, its a big let down. Based upon a true story or inspired by true events should be left to films like RUDY, WE ARE THE TITANS, MALCOM X, NIXON, ALI, and so forth.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Huff

Need Some New TV Shows? Try These

2010-03-01T05:08:00.004-08:00

There are a growing number of people who think that TV is now a no brainer and all programs are the same, with a lack of taste and morals. OK, there will be some shows that are purely there for entertainment, but valuable life lessons can still be learn from some. We'll look at a few of those now.

The first one is Psych; this is a networked crime drama which I think is great fun. A guy who's memory is photographic and wits are razor sharp passes himself off as a psychic to solve mysteries and crimes.

This show keeps me very entertained and also gets my deductive juices flowing. This is a show that really gets you using your brain.

Jo Frost is the Super Nanny, who goes to different homes in the UK and the US to help parents cope with their kids who are, quite frankly, monsters. It is on weekly on ABC and re run daily on the Style network.

Jo is a British nanny who has had to deal with many horrors in her time and now educates parents how to deal with issues coolly and calmly. No parent is perfect, but she points them in the right direction.

If you like shows that deal with self improvement, you will love How do I look? and What not to wear. These get people who look like they got their clothes out of a dumpster and transform them into fashionable, well dressed individuals, thus raising their opinions of themselves.

I've always prided myself on not judging people by their appearance, but not everyone is like that. Learning to dress properly can improve your life no end.

If I can be entertained and educated at the same time, I'm very happy. I get both of these from all the CSI shows, NCIS and Law and Order. They show behind the scenes of our legal system as well as dealing with moral and ethical dilemmas. No subject is taboo, however disturbing.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Morgans

Home (Maison) Starring Kasey Mottet Klein

2010-03-01T05:08:00.003-08:00

"Home" (Maison) is an intriguing film from France involving a family who has witnessed the growth of a major highway being built just steps away from their front door. The road has set unused and unfinished for years, and the family has over time become acclimated to its presence. They simply cross the road and use the dirt road on the other side leading away from their house to go to school or work. The family's young son (played by Kasey Mottet Klein) uses the highway as a place to play and ride his bicycle.

All seems well until they come home one day and find that the pathway to their house has been blocked by guardrails. Shortly after trucks began to arrive with workers intent on getting the highway completed so that it can be used. Even as the work progresses, no one in the family seems to realize that their lives are about to change.

When the first cars begin to arrive on the newly paved highway the family sees it only as a minor diversion to their daily lives (the children must use the drain pipe under the highway to make their way to school, the car must be parked on the opposite side of the highway from the house, they have to start dealing with the air and noise pollution stirred up by the increasing traffic).

As the days wear on though, the family begins to crumble under the weight of the changes that have been forced upon them. One daughter begins to consistently wear a gas mask to protect herself from the pollution, the parents begin to fight and argue more often than not, and the tension amongst the family members gets more and more unbearable each passing day.

Eventually the whole family moves down into the basement, bricking up the windows in the upstairs rooms. The close quarters and ultimate confinement only tend to make matters worse. Will the situation cause the family to implode, or will they find a solution to stop the breakdown that has already begun.

This is a greatly done film. The slow moving pace, and long delays in switching from one scene to another gives you the feeling of tediousness and dread that you know the family must be experiencing. Kacey Mottet Klein, in his first major role, does an exceptional job as the youngest member of the family, winning the Swiss Film Award for Best Emerging Actor at only 9 years of age.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christian_Jentz

Why Avatar Should Win All It's Been Nominated For And Then Some

2010-03-01T05:08:00.001-08:00

By now you've heard Avatar lived up to its expectations. With nominations in almost every category this year, James Cameron can count on stealing the spotlight again since the ginormous success of Titanic.

Its Cameron, therefore epic, and a blockbuster, surpassing the only other record-breaking highest-grossing movie: his own Titanic. The movie grossed over $2 billion, and had a budget of $237 million, but went over it by a cool $300 million. But enough about its fiscal success:

What I liked the most about the movie was the title. Avatar. Avatar, merely an embodiment, a variable if you will, just a shell of who we are, not the real person inside. Should that restrict us? Our bodies do not necessarily identify us though, its who we are inside, right? The same question was posed in the 2009 Surrogates: Are our bodies inhibitors and genetic oppressors of who we really are inside?

For Jake Sully, the physically impaired ex-Marine, having an avatar reignited the strength and mobility he once had, because now he can move with his mind. Its no surprised he enjoyed his Avatar life better (if you haven't seen DO NOT read on) and decides to fight humanity and stay.

Plot-wise, Avatar did a very good job at making us humans take a look at our relationship with our land. The planet of Pandora led a life much simpler and respectful to their resources and ancestors (think Native Americans and their loyalty to their tribes).

Cinematically, what would a James Cameron movie be without a little kick ass graphics? The only way to see this movie is in 3-D. While I promise you'll get the same mind shake from just the 2D, you will fall in love with the planet Pandora once you see it like you're there.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susie_Medina

That Was It?

2010-03-01T05:07:00.000-08:00

Ask anyone close to me, I like Michael Jackson the way I like ice cream: understanding and appreciating the appeal, but just fanatical crazy over him the way others are. However indifferent I am to his career though, I acknowledge just how pivotal he was to the music world at large.

This Is It gave raw pieces of MJ's never-seen performance. The movie begins with heartfelt accounts by his dancers who are interviewed just after they found out they will be a back up dancer. Then you a lot of footage of fanfare. For the remainder of the film, you meet a few more key people to the anticipated performance, and watch their interaction with the King of Pop, and a lot of amazing dancing, elaborate dance sets, and pyrotechnics.

The footage was obviously not meant to be made into a movie. Edits were limited to maybe a few cuts here and there, with some split screens, and older video montages. In my opinion, the movie was sloppily put together with no great wrap up of the film nor any tie-in back to the dancers we started off with. I was disappointed with the ending. Had it not been for the awe-inspired performances I saw, I would've been really disappointed by the mediocrity of it all.

Even so, for the King of Pop's honor, his legacy should've been a bit more sophisticated than that. That was it! Of course, if you're already a die-hard fan, you won't care about the sloppy-edited movie, you'll just love seeing him just before he left us. I'll rarely say this, but, even though I thought it could be better, you should still go see it because this truly is it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susie_Medina

Did You Hear About the Morgans? Hugh Grant in Wyoming?

2010-02-02T06:47:00.005-08:00

Did You Hear About The Morgans is a fluffy romantic comedy. How can you not love Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker? Actually it's a good story with wit, humor, romance and redemption, what else can you ask for in a movie? Heart warming, it will leave you with a smile.

Did You Hear About The Morgans was written and directed by Marc Lawrence who wrote two other Hugh Grant movies, Music and Lyrics and Two Weeks Notice. This is another fish out of water tale with Hugh Grant's talent at humor on display, along with Sarah Jessica Parker along for the ride.

The story line starts with Paul Morgan, Hugh Grant, a successful lawyer, and Meryl Morgan, Sarah Jessica Parker, a fashionable real estate agent being on the outs. Paul had confessed to an affair and is now living in a hotel. Being miserable about his indiscretion Paul invites Meryl out to dinner for a talk and the ice between them melts somewhat and they go for a walk. Then they hear a scream and look up to see a man being murdered and unfortunately the killer gets a good look at them. Enter the Marshall Service who wants to relocate them which they both oppose. Well Meryl changes her mind after a nearly successful attempt on her life.

The couple have long lived in Manhattan and now are transported to Wyoming and the ensuing culture shock is fun to watch. The town has one stoplight and they feel cut off from the world. U.S. Marshall Clay, Sam Elliot, (Road House) and his wife Emma, Mary Steenburgen, (The Proposal) are their protectors. The fun starts when Clay, a rugged taciturn cowboy and Emma a gun enthusiast take Meryl and Paul out shooting. The pair are hilarious in their attempts to hit cans set on a tree stump. Meryl turns out to be the better shot. The pair also has an amusing scene with a bear with Meryl reading the do's and dont's from a Bear Safety Card to Paul as he is trapped by the bear.

Meryl has slept on the couch since the first night unable to forgive Paul. Over the next few weeks their relationship begin to mend with time spent together. They enjoy horseback riding and running along scenic meadows and mountains. The couple also begins to talk about the past and share insider New York jokes which brings them closer together. Their is also a funny scene with the couple playing bingo which is a rare night out. The pair starts feel more at home when Meryl helps sell a house and Paul draws up a will for a local business owner. You can see Paul and Meryl's new found respect for the rugged no nonsense locals.

Well, Meryl moves into the bedroom with Paul and relationship enters a new phase. Unfortunately hyperactive Meryl make a phone call to check on her business and the killer has tapped her line. The killer sets out for Wyoming. He almost knocks off Meryl when a bear appears to disrupt his plan and Meryl holds him off with a Winchester rifle. The next scene is funny with Paul and Meryl escaping on horseback and the killer following on their heels.

The climax is unexpected with Paul standing up to the killer and about to blown away, when the locals save his hide. Their return to New York is set and the heart warming finale brings unexpected events.

Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker bring the comedic talents forward and do a credible job. Mary Steenburgen and Sam Elliott are great in their quirky roles as the U.S. Marshalls.

Did You Hear About The Morgans? is a light fluffy romantic comedy with endearing moments. The film is perfect for Hugh Grant talents, as he calls himself "a laugh tart". If you want to escape from the world for a couple of hours and smile, this is your movie.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dirk_Bristol

X-Men Characters - Which One is the Favorite For the Mass Public?

2010-02-02T06:47:00.003-08:00

Many people love watching the film X-Men not only because of the special effects in the movie itself, but also because of the wealth of the diverse characters in it. If you just take a closer look at all the characters, rest assured that you will be blown away and impressed with the discovery of just how many super ones there are in the movie. At this point, you might be wondering just which X-Men character is the hot favorite for the mass public.

I am sure questions will be popping up uncontrollably in your mind because I have experienced it myself. One cannot help but marvels at the fact that the movie X-Men has left such a profound impact on anyone that has watched it. Would it be the man of the mystery - Magneto or perhaps the super sexy shape shifter - Mystique that is the hot favorite for fans? Or would it be the piercing coolness of Iceman that stirs your emotions or maybe the terrifying sharp senses of Cyclops?

Well, according to a survey done on the streets of New York and London, the response was pretty much unanimous, with at least 80% of the votes being cast to the famous character of Wolverine. People generally like the awesome power of Wolverine and the striking features of his claws. This could also be due to the fact that Wolverine has been on the screen far longer than any of the other X-Men characters, making it possible for us to tune in to his childhood and the past with greater effects.

Anyway, to be fair to all, there are also plenty of likings as well as supports for all the other X-Men characters. Unsurprisingly, it has been found that there is a lot of adoring female fans for the sexy and attractive Cyclops. On the other hand, a lot of people also like Rogue for she was perceived to be a strong self-assured woman. And it is also very thrilling to discover that Storm can be said as one of the hottest favorites as many commented that she is dead sexy and they love her ability to control the weather.

Now that we have seen which X-Men character that people like, perhaps it is time for you to think about your own choice and see if it is in tune with the others.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_P_Jackson

Naruto Headband - Integral Part of the Naruto Costumes

2010-02-02T06:47:00.001-08:00

The Naruto Headband is an integral part of the costume of Naruto. The Naruto Headband can be defined more precisely as forehead protector. This headband has different kinds of functions but the most important one is to protect the forehead during the time of battle. The main focus of wearing the headband id is to show the allegiance or it is to show pat allegiance to some of the villages in the Naruto anime. Some people thing that there is some kind of special significance of wearing this forehead band on the part of the body but it is not true. Wearing this band on forehead has no significant meaning.

The headband of Naruto consists of a cloth that is wrapped around the forehead and then tied at the back of the forehead. At the front of the forehead protector there is a plate made of metal and is affixed on to the cloth of the headband and is designed is such a manner so as to protect forehead from any kind of damage particularly during war time. This Naruto headband is specially designed for the deflection of the sharp projectiles and other kind of sharp objects.

It is not that all the characters of the Naruto anime series wear this headband but intentionally some of the characters wear this headband and some do not wear it. Generally the female characters of this anime series are not required to wear these headbands. The female characters generally wear the headband as an accessory and not as a necessity. For example the character of Ino wears this headband as a belt and the character of Sakura wears this as a headband. The character of Naruto always wears this headband. In fact you will never see this character without the headband on the forehead. Naruto wears this headband as a symbol of pride and honor. There are some other characters such as Rock Lee and Shikimaru that don't wear this forehead protector as a necessity but just wear it. It is believed in the anime that as long as the headband is visible on any part of the body then every thing is alright.

An important thing about the Naruto Headband in the Naruto costumes is that this headband is meant to show allegiance for the village or allegiance against the village. The plate of the metal that is fount at the front of the headband is inscribed with the sign of some village from where the ninja that is wearing the headband belongs too. In this way this headband also helps in identifying the ninja. It also helps in distinguishing the ninja from a friend village and ninja from enemy village.

This Naruto headband is the most interesting and most talked part of the costume of the Naruto costume and it is in fact the first item that the people purchase when preparing for Naruto cosplay. There are some kind of characters that don't wear this headband and such characters mostly include civilians and rogue ninjas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maison_Rosca

About Naruto Cosplay Costumes

2010-02-02T06:46:00.003-08:00

There are so many kinds of stores that are full with the fun costumes that are meant for the purpose of dressing up for Halloween or for fun. These kinds of fun dresses are mostly aimed for teenagers or for adults of a young age group. These type of people come in that category that enjoys wearing different kinds of costumes and wants to get themselves noticed through their different styling of clothes. In fact young people tend to wear such kind of costumes to tell others about their personality.

All these things have made cosplay very popular. In case you also want to do cosplay then you should first of all decide about the character that you want to be while doing cosplay. You can think about your favorite characters from video games, movies, cartoons, anime or manga. In case you find out some great costume that was worn by your favorite character then it can be a good choice for cosplay.

The first thing for doing cosplay is to make the basic costume of your own. It is very important because in this manner the costume will fit you in a better way and you will make yourself exactly what you wanted to be through cosplay. You can always take some jewelry or other kind of accessories of the character that you want to be through cosplay. It provides great help in providing finishing to the looks of the character that you ought to be. The naruto cosplay costumes should be exactly the same. For example if you want to be Sasuke then you should make sure to get the contacts.

Now we will provide some information about the Uzumaki Naruto. This character was born on 10th of October and he is now 13 years old. This character comes from a leaf and he is Genin. Naruto is a Libra and there are many teachers that have helped this character. The aim of this character is to make the people of the village happy.

It was about 13 years ago when a demon that was called as Kyuubi attacked the leaf and the in order to protect the village the fourth hokage sealed that demon inside a child and that child was Uzumaki Naruto.

In this way all the people of the village began to think Naruto as the demon itself and started to hate Naruto. So this character was always lonely and had no friends at all. In order to get rid of his loneliness he decided to be the best hokage in order to get the love of the people of the village.

Naruto got the approval of the third hokage and now he wants to impress Sakura that is his crush but her crush is Sasuke. And due to this Sasuke is the biggest opponent of Naruto.

Naruto is a ninja and has helped so many children that who are in trouble and has also helped a number of people. The characters that are helped by Naruto are Jiraya, Chunnin, and Tsunade etc.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maison_Rosca

New Technology Will Make Online DVD Rental a Reality

2010-02-02T06:46:00.001-08:00

New technology, as well as increasing demand from consumers, will help to make online film rental services a reality.

Users of services to help customers compare online DVD rental services can now see how DVD rental companies are responding to new products.

For example, users of the UK's biggest movie rental service, LoveFilm, will soon be able to change their rental queue and watch movies through their television sets.

Hardware distributor, Samsung has said that it will support a new streaming service in their new televisions which will allow LoveFilm users to access the entire catalogue of 60,000 movies using just a remote.

The service will be available on Samsung's new platform, Internet at TV, which will support downloaded apps and widgets. The LoveFilm app will be available for download, along with BBC's iPlayer.

Sony has allegedly also cut a deal with LoveFilm to release a streaming service on its new Bravia televisions. The word on the grapevine says the LoveFilm service will be built into the XrossMediaBar (a very swish tool designed by Sony to navigate around their TVs and consoles), which suggests that we could soon see streaming through the PS3.

The ideas are likely to win favour from anyone who has ever suffered poor service from Royal Mail will also rejoice at the news. Consumers who compare online rental find that most companies use the national postal service.

DVDs are notoriously liable to be lost, damaged or stolen in the post and although, so far, the problems haven't deterred online DVD renters the option of an easier service is likely to tempt them.

In addition, the idea of instant access to a large catalogue of over 60,000 movies is likely to appeal to consumers used to a large amount of choice online. If only as a means to have spontaneous Star Wars marathons on a rainy weekend.

Online services will also mean greater value for money as with waiting times between movies are completely abolished.

With these advantages to online DVD streaming services, a rise in the number of services available is predicted. It is expected that the rise in new online DVD rental technologies will eventually make film rental through the post a thing of the past.

On the other side of the Atlantic, meanwhile, online DVD rental through gaming devices has become increasingly common.

PS3, Xbox 360 and even Wii gamers can already stream movies through their consoles using a streaming service by US DVD rental giant, Netflix, but we're yet to see it over here.

Experts are suggesting that we could also see an online DVD streaming service through set-top boxes (for example, Sky plus and Freeview boxes) and even Blu-ray players.

One thing is for sure, as competition in the online DVD rental market grows more fierce ways to watch films online will creep higher up the list for those consumers who compare online DVD rental deals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helen_L_Storey

Movie Polls

2010-01-10T10:39:00.001-08:00

I'm going to let you in on a little-known secret: Movie producers virtually always only put positive reviews into their commercials, posters and other marketing material. I found out the hard way -- simply relying on the reviews in a movie's trailer to tell you whether it is "a breathtaking display of cinematic sleight-of-hand" or "a thriller that grabs you tight by the lapels and doesn't let go" or "funny" isn't a good way to determine whether you should pay to see that movie. This hard-earned wisdom has led me to a more accurate path: movie polls.

Movie polls can help drain the subjectivity and bias out of movie reviews. Rather than a small number of drawn out opinions that contain a lot of information that doesn't answer the central question -- should I go see this movie? -- movie polls allow you to see clearly and objectively how different groups of people feel about different movies.

They can tell you whether other people in your age range liked a film. They can tell you if people in your area liked the film. They can even tell you if other people with similar taste like a particular film: useful information to have before you expend the time and money going to the theater.

Movie polls can capture information that even the best reviewer can't include. While your ability to follow the advice of a reviewer is heavily filtered by your ability to connect with the subjective taste of that reviewer, movie polls don't rely on this sort of nebulous conjecture. There isn't a perfect system for judging whether you'll like a film or not other than, of course, going to see it, but polls can take a good amount of guesswork out of the process.

And if you're as skeptical as I am of the rave reviews that every movie gets from someone, this is good news indeed. With movie prices ever-rising, a quick glance at a movie poll is well worth the time. It can mean the difference between going home happy and going home wondering why you even bothered.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Xavier_Holland

Ginger Rogers Biography

2010-01-10T10:38:00.002-08:00

Ginger Rogers was born July 16, 1911 in Independence, Missouri. Her given name was Virginia Katherine McMath. Shortly after she was born, her parents separated from each other. Her mother and her moved to her grandparents' home in Kansas City, though both parents wanted custody of their child, and Ginger's father kidnapped her twice. Once her parents' divorce was finalized, Roger's mother moved to Hollywood and wrote movie scripts while Ginger stayed with her grandparents for two years.

When she was 9, Ginger's mother married John Logan Rogers, which is how Virgina McMath became Ginger Rogers. They moved to Fort Worth, Texas where her mother became a newspaper theater critic. Hanging around her mother's work, Ginger began to become interested in the theater and began to sing and dance.

She made her performance debut at 14 when a traveling Vaudeville act came to town and needed a last minute stand-in. At 20, she went to Hollywood with her mother, and her breakout performance came in the 1933 film "42nd Street." From 1933-1939, she made nine movie-musicals with her famous dance partner Fred Astaire. She was known as a tremendous dancer, actor, and professional.

In 1941, she won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in "Kitty Foyle." Through the 1950's she starred in only a few films, but in 1965, she had success once again playing the lead role in "Hello, Dolly!" on Broadway. She also had the lead role in "Mame" in London's West End.

On May 18, 1995, at the age of 62, Ginger Rogers died of colon cancer in California.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terrence_Bennett

Understanding About Cartoon Faces

2010-01-10T10:38:00.001-08:00

Do you love cartoons? Do you still remember the cat and mouse twosome, Tom and Jerry? How about Popeye with his puffed-up forearms and craze for Spinach? Does the name 'Homer Simpson' ring a bell? Although it is not popular but did you know that the Jackson Five had their own animated series based on their lives and music called The Jackson 5ive during the 1970's? Yes, these are only some of the most endearing cartoon characters the world has ever seen. I am quite sure that you have your own favourite cartoon character whether from Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, and many others.

Because of technological innovation, cartoons have evolved in history. From the old low budget black-and-white cartoons, people today enjoy colourful and vibrant images on television and in the big screen. Also, cartoons transformed from being dull and heavy-handed to more realistic and vivid representations. The features of those enchanting cartoon faces and cartoon characters have become more defined. Even the sound effects have improved to become more realistic such that even the sound of a sneeze, a bursting balloon or a crying child can be heard clearly. Today, animated cartoons have been given more attention to the point that animation is recognized as one of the youngest, fastest-changing and entertaining industries worldwide. Indeed, cartoon animation has come a long way in the last few decades. Pictures of cartoon present a refreshing point of view in the world. Cartoon faces also have a universal appeal to people because many people like to laugh.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ita_Nurdya

Online DVD Rental - Netflix Or Blockbusters?

2010-01-10T10:37:00.000-08:00

You might think that the online DVD rental market was saturated, and that there a no customers left for the DVD rental companies to fight over, but you would be wrong. The companies are still attracting thousands of new customers every day despite the number of people who have already signed up to use their services. The two biggest players in this market are Netflix and Blockbusters, and they account for the vast majority of DVDs that are rented online - but which one is best, and how do the two services compare?

Both Netflix and Blockbusters run very similar operations in terms of how their business model works. Basically you open an account, choose your movies, receive them by post, watch them, return them and receive your next set of movies - after this the cycle starts again. I have used both services extensively and can report on what's good and bad about both programs.

Netflix is the big daddy in this market, and has way more dvd titles than anyone else - this is a huge advantage if you are interested in watching a wide range of movies, but it also means they have multiple copies of just about every DVD that is ever released, meaning you shouldn't have to wait long even for the latest blockbuster films.

In terms of price, both companies pitch their most popular plan at just under $20 a month (Netflix $19.99 - Blockbuster $17.99 at the time of writing). Netflix seems pretty constant at this price, but I have found Blockbusters to be more aggressive when it comes to pricing, and you can often find an introductory coupon that might give you $3 - $5 off for the first 1 - 3 months or so. I'm not sure how many people would choose one service over another on price alone, because there are so many other factors to take in to account.

One area where I think Blockbusters has gained an edge recently is with improving the lag time between me sending dvds back to them and them sending me out new ones. With both services I've traditionally been getting a 3 day turnaround time from me putting my watched movies back in the mail to me receiving my new ones. Last year Blockbusters allowed me to return movies to my local Blockbusters store where they were marked as 'returned' - this cut down the lag time by a full 24 hours. While this has increased the hassle factor a little (driving to my local Blockbusters), it meant I could get an extra 2 - 3 sets of DVDs each month.

One final area where both companies fail to meet my expectations is when it comes to my rental queue. I have found that the more movies I put in my queue, the less likely I am to get the movies right at the top of my list - one way I have found to beat this, particularly when there is a new release I want to see, is to empty my queue of everything apart from the 5 movies I want next. That way they have no choice but to send me what I want.

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How Did Direct TV End Up as America's Best Satellite TV Provider?

2009-12-24T23:30:00.003-08:00

Direct TV is great for these reasons:

You get over 225 quality channels, plus access to 25 sport networks and 31 premium movie channels, over 50 choices for pay-per-view a day, local channels in most areas, and the best quality picture and sound that satellite television can provide.

Compared the cable TV, Direct TV goes above and beyond any service that your cable service can provide. With Direct TV satellite dish you access programming for more than 225 channels with digital sound and quality. This satellite system consists of 3 basic parts, a small, 18in., round satellite dish, or with the Plus system you get an oval dish, 18in. X 24 in., a digital set top receiver, access card and a remote control.

The Direct TV satellite dish can be mounted outside a home, apartment, business, hospital, private office, fitness complex, RV or even on a corporate jet. Your satellite system will bring you sporting events, all the family channels, Disney channels, CNN, ESPN and others. All you have to do is pick the programming package you want or choose a total choice package.

An added feature of this dish service is the pay-per-view service. This option has up to 55 movies a day and they start as often as every 30 minutes. How valuable would it be to offer hit movies at the most convenient times and pay as little as $3.99 per movie if you order with your remote control.

Professional installation is recommended and is not usually expensive. Check around because prices of your Direct TV system will vary at different retailers, or you may be lucky enough to find one of the free Direct TV satellite system distributors out there. Sound interesting? You'll find that the system and its installation is free, subject to change, with a designated time period contract for your programming.

If you move, you can take the dish with you anywhere in the U.S. If you wish to sell your equipment, the new owner can call and get a new Direct TV access card for a small fee and continue the service. If you want Direct TV satellite system on more than one TV you can purchase a second receiver. With both receivers connected to the same line, you will only pay a small monthly fee of about $4.99 for the second receiver. Please note that your dish must be two receiver compatible and have a dual LBN.

Parents will be happy that they have a lock or limit feature for rating and spending control. With a customized on-screen program guide you have the control in the palm of your hand.

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The Fundamentals of Electronic Programme Guide

2009-12-24T23:30:00.001-08:00

You will commonly hear in this digital age the question what is an EPG? Well, it stands for Electronic Programme Guide and it is a digital guide displaying the schedule for broadcast radio and television programmes. These guides are usually displayed on-screen with a multitude of functions allowing a viewer to navigate through the guide and discover content by genre, start time, title and channel, using a remote control. The on-screen information that is displayed can be delivered to the viewer by a dedicated channel or collected by the receiving equipment (ie. set-top boxes), from certain information sent by each channel. The main benefits of an EPG are that a viewer can have handy access to where and when their favorite shows are scheduled, and can often find out what happens in specific episodes.

The approach of Electronic Programme Guides

The onset of digital set top boxes, mobile tv and IPTV technology, has meant that tv has never before been more accessible and more in demand. A significant increase in the number of channels and the amount of tv programming, presents a vast number of new problems for viewers. Trawling through the huge array of tv channels can be time-consuming and quite often, difficult. However, personalised tv show recommendations and intelligent tv guides is one solution to combat these difficulties. One of the major goals in EPG technology is to create a personalised EPG, which uses a viewers initial viewing preferences to help find additional tv shows that they might want to watch. Having personalised EPG's would mean that the viewer is most likely to receive apt programme information at the correct time. Integrating EPG technology allows a viable solution to the problem of providing viewers with highly relevant tv recommendations. It will also highly personalise tv listings to meet viewing preferences and enhances the guide with relevant information about on demand tv.

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Three of the Best Quentin Tarantino Movies of All Time

2009-12-24T23:29:00.002-08:00

Quentin Tarantino is an American film director and screenwriter who is most known for his nonlinear storylines and aestheticization of violence. He often times uses cultural and popular themes and segments his films by chapters. His influence and style of film making is unlike any other director in the industry today. At age 46, he's still producing award winning work. Here is a list of three of his greatest films ever.

Pulp Fiction, 1994: This movie is an American crime film that is known for its rich, eclectic dialogue, its ironic mix of humor and violence, and Tarantino's stylized storyline which was presented in a nonlinear manner. Each of seven sequences were ordered chronologically and often times overlapped using different points of view. It is described as a circular narrative. This movie stars John Travolta, Samual L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, and Christopher Walken among many. It hosts a number of cinematic allusions and lots of pop culture references. This film won countless awards including the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. James Wood from The Guardian notes this about the film: "Only in this age could a writer as talented as Tarantino produce artworks so vacuous, so entirely stripped of any politics, metaphysics, or moral interest." With that said it id one of the most controversial yet inspiring films of our time.

Kill Bill Part I and II, 2003, 2004: Released as two separate "volumes," this four hour long epic film is one of Tarantino's most celebrated films. Starring Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, and the "Crazy 88," this movie is a revenge drama that pays homage to earlier film genres such as Hong Kong martial arts films, exploitation films, Japanese Chanbara, and Italian spaghetti westerns. Filming took place in California, Texas, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Mexico and it the move heavily uses aestheticization of violence. The Kill Bill epic film is a nonlinear narrative which is common for Tarantino however unlike the film, its synopsis is presented chronologically. Uma Thurman won many awards for her lead role and the films were very popular at the MTV Movie Awards in 2004 and 2005 nominated for best movie, best fight, and best acting and directing roles to name a few.

Inglourious Basterds, 2009: Tarantino actually considers the script for this movie his masterpiece. Starring Brad Pitt, Eli Roth, and Melanie Laurent, this is the director's highest grossing film yet. The film was released in August of 2009 by Universal Pictures and The Weinstein Company. The film is set in German-occupied France and tells the story of two plots to assassinate Nazi political rule during the time of World War II. One story follows a Jewish cinema proprietress who wants revenge and the other is a team of American soldiers who call themselves the "Basterds" and seek justice. This carefully put together film has been nominated for four categories in the 67th Gold Globe Awards which include the Best Director for Tarantino and Best Picture- Drama overall.

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Is a Projector the Best Choice?

2009-12-24T23:29:00.001-08:00

Is a projector the best choice? For size and cost per image there is no question, however there are some conditions such as lighting, room layout and seating, that can seriously reduce the effect and quality of the image.

Lighting - The most important of all these factors is the amount of ambient which is allowed into a room. The more light in the room, the brighter the projected images need to be. Ideally a basement would be the perfect room as you can control the amount of light you allow in. Larger rooms with large windows will be harder to control. You can use any room as long as you can reduce the amount of light allowed in so the room is dimly light will. It would be near impossible to produce descent images in a room allowing in too much daylight. The higher the amount of lumens, a projector can produce, the brighter the room can be.

Room Layout- The room you're using will need to be of ample size and have at least one large wall to project the image toward. The wall needs to be larger than the image. The room also needs to be deep enough to allow for seating. Another important factor is whether to have a ceiling mounted or tabletop projector. This depends of whether you you will be transporting it at all. If using a tabletop projector bear in mind that there musn't be anything blocking the path between projector and screen.

Seating- This tends to depend on personal taste, if you prefer sitting in the back when you go to the cinema then perhaps you would prefer the seating to be a little way back, however if you prefer sitting near the front then maybe you would prefer the seating closer., A general rule of thumb is around 1.5 x the width of the screen.

If you feel you have adequate space and sufficient control for the conditions, then going for a digital projector would be the best choice.

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Short Film Winners - 2009 Academy Awards

2009-12-13T00:50:00.001-08:00

Short but inspiring. I saw twelve movies last weekend. No, I didn't spend twenty-four hours in front of a theatre screen but I did attend two cinema events featuring all the Academy Award nominees in the short film category for 2009. It was four hours of solid entertainment.

A Russian film - simply drawn and animated called Lavatory Love told the story of a washroom attendant who is surprised when flowers appear at her workstation from a secret admirer. The movie made you laugh but it also made you think about what it might be like to have a job in the service industry that is solitary and repetitive. Perhaps the menial workers we tend to ignore and take for granted are actually longing for someone to notice them. Lavatory Love inspired me to smile more often at the women who look after the public washrooms here in Hong Kong.

The popular clay animation characters Wallace and Gromit were featured in a cartoon called Loaf and Death. It's a comedy/ murder mystery showcasing Wallace and Gromit's wild and wacky inventions. I was inspired when I learned that the Wallace and Gromit cartoon makers have worked together with education officials to create a series of innovative design lesson plans for school children in Great Britain. The filmmakers offer prizes to students who come up with the most unique and useful inventions.

Three of the other short films were inspiring and thought provoking. New Boy showed what happened to a young African refugee on his first day at school in Ireland. The Pig was a film from Copenhagen. It documented the conflict between a Muslim man and a Danish woman whose fathers were sharing a hospital room. Toyland told the story of a German woman who daringly saves the life of her Jewish neighbors' son during the Holocaust.

I would be in complete agreement with the Oscar voters who chose the inspiring Smile Pinki as the best short film of the year. It tells the true story of children in India who are given free surgeries to correct cleft palates. The movie focuses in particular on the situation of a little girl named Pinki. We see what her life was like before the surgery and we visit her six months after and realize how a simple operation totally changes her world. Pinki's surgery is only one of thousands performed each year by a charity called Smile Train. It tries to help the 35,000 children who are born annually in India with cleft palates. Most of these children are condemned to lives of ridicule and hardship because of their medical condition. They can't go to school, get a job and can't marry. Smile Train is an American charity that provides free medical equipment, free medical training and on going support to nurses and doctors in 75 different countries. As a result of Smile Train's efforts over 500,000 free corrective surgeries have been performed on children in the last ten years. Cleft surgery takes 45 minutes and usually costs less than $250 US. It is almost always 100% successful. Check this movie out. The story will warm your heart.

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DVD Review - The Hangover (2009)

2009-12-13T00:49:00.004-08:00

FILM REVIEW: "The Hangover" is something of a surprise, a film that sort of fits the 'silly comedy' genre but somehow does it in a very clever, witty and yes, funny way. The film is a boys' fantasy, but there is much to enjoy for everyone in this caper about a group of guys out on a bachelor party in Las Vegas who wake the next morning to find that not only can they not remember what happened, but they have to find out to get themselves out of the trouble they find themselves in that they have no recollection about. Much of what works in "The Hangover" is the zany, but clever script, which is used to great measure by a strong director and the fantastic chemistry he gets from all the actors involved. Despite a slow and uneven start, "The Hangover" is a lot of fun, and unlike many comedies, has replay value thanks to its timeless jokes and setting.

The film opens with a flash-forward to a scene that takes place towards the end of the film. Phil (Bradley Cooper) makes a call to the bride-to-be that they may have lost the groom. We then move back two days where we see the guys get together, ready to go on their trip. This entire set up, although necessary to establish the characters and their relationships, is the weakest part of the film, thanks to the fact that it is long and sluggish, with only a moment or two of comedy which hints at what is to come and seems oddly out of place with what you are watching. During these sequences, you might wonder if this film is actually going to go somewhere or turn in to a disappointing bore. However, thanks to a fantastic time-lapse transition from night to day, the film leaps over the bachelor party to the next morning, where we see the guys hung over; this is where the fun really begins.

Dissolving to a close-up of Stu (Ed Helms) passed out on the floor, a chicken appears behind him, slowly walking across the frame. The immediate impulse is to laugh as you have to wonder, what is a chicken doing in their Vegas suite? The comedy in "The Hangover" follows this pattern of "what the?" jokes, but somehow manages to up the comedy ante when we learn how these things happen, except unfortunately for the explanation as to the appearance of the chicken. Alan's (Zach Galifianakis) discovery of a tiger in the suite's bathroom is hilarious, as is each manic discovery afterward including that Stu somehow pulled out his tooth and got married to a stripper named Jade (Heather Graham), there is a baby in a side room, they stole a police car, they lost the groom Doug (Justin Bartha), and they somehow crossed both Mike Tyson (who hilariously plays himself) and an effeminate Chinese gangster.

Despite the silliness of the idea, director Todd Phillips and his cast make all of the humour real and engaging, and as such, have crafted an hilarious film. Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms are excellent in their roles as Phil and Stu, but the surprise here is Zach Galifiankis as Alan; his character could have easily become the slapstick comedy stereotype, and his first few scenes suggest that he will become a silly character, but over the course of the film, he becomes quite endearing and three dimensional, as all the other characters do. In this respect, the film stands out over many others in the same genre.

"The Hangover" is great fun, and has repeat value. Although the film's first twenty minutes are average, the film hits high gear by the second act, leaving you wanting more.

TECHNICAL REVIEW: The visuals stand out spectacularly in this DVD transfer. Although the film is a comedy, the filmmakers constructed some wonderful vistas of Vegas that are faithfully represented here. The colours are strong and vibrant, and the picture itself is very clean and crisp. The audio is likewise excellent, again making good use of the surround channels despite being a comedy which traditionally does not create strong surround environments.

EXTRAS REVIEW: There are only a couple of extras on this DVD. The main one is the "Map Of Destruction" which at first is a little confusing because it looks like a DVD menu, but when you realise it is actually playing back a series of behind the scenes clips automatically, it works. Unfortunately the clips are quite short and do not provide all that much in behind the scenes material other than a good section on how cooperative Caesars Palace was to the production. There is an hilarious music video of the "Three Best Friends" song, and a gag reel. Not much here to get excited about.

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Why is Simon Cowell Rich? The Cult of the Well-Paid Minor Celebrity

2009-12-13T00:49:00.003-08:00

With an estimated personal fortune of over 120million, Simon Cowell has achieved the sort of financial status previously reserved for Hollywood movie moguls and superstars. Compared to the mega rich Forbes list of billionaires, Cowell may still be regarded as the poor boy next door or at best "up and coming nouveau riche" but it is nonetheless an astounding achievement for someone who has no other discernible talent than a strong charisma and an ability to spot an opportunity and cash it in. Cowell leads a modern upsurge of the cult of the minor celebrity, a group which contains chat show hosts, chefs, models, and sports stars, and others who have discovered the ability to turn a little talent into a money-spinning machine.

Fifty years ago, you had to be a Hollywood star to make the big bucks in entertainment. Top TV stars and footballers, even legends like Charlton and Best, were not in the running for Forbes List fortunes. So what has changed? Why is it that certain people can persuade us to tune in and watch on high paying TV networks, and part with cash for books and videos when they can neither write nor sing and dance?

The answer is that they make it seem real and possible for the rest of us. By being ordinary and rich, they offer hope and encouragement to everyone watching, no matter where they live, that it really is possible to go from rags to riches in the click of a show host's fingers. Mass media and big business combined means mass sponsorship. The Internet has turned the entire globe into a marketplace with the ability to reward anyone who stands out or who offers something novel with mega-deal contracts. And when real talent comes along, as in the case of Susan Boyle, the machine goes crazy.

When people were powerless serfs, tilling the soil, the real heroes were those who fought for freedom and egalitarianism, the military commanders and the politicians. In an age when freedoms are taken for granted, our only concern is how rich we can become, and the Cowell cult of instant fame and fortune is the new Holy Grail. But nothing comes without a price. Not everyone is a Gordon Ramsay or a David Beckham. Even in the fields of successful cookery and brilliant footwork, Ramsay and Beckham are in the stratosphere. Their peers can only look up with respect. The truth is cult celebrities are not ordinary. Just like other heroes in the past, they possess some intangible magic, either in themselves or in the circumstances that surround them. A lucky break, hard work and commitment, the right connexions, are still just as important as they ever were.

But a word of warning. Though Warhol's fifteen minutes of fame is now a reality, fifteen minutes is not always going to be enough. With high ambition comes deep disappointment, and when hopes are dashed lives are left in tatters. The Internet, super sponsorship, and the new exciting world of reality TV talent spotting, may successfully distract people from their real problems for a while, but in the end "real life" must intrude on "reality".

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The Cinema

2009-12-13T00:49:00.001-08:00

From its humble beginnings, cinema has been heralded as a uniquely endowed art form providing an escapist for a socially alienated audience. From a historical point of view, cinema seems to have played the same social role in the 21st century as that of the novel in the 18th century. Filmmaker and writer William Burrough writes, "What has made money will make money." This axiom encourages studios to the tried-and-tested formula rather than experiment with a new twist or a new technique.

Screenwriter Clodualdo Del Mundo Jr., Ph.D (University of Iowa), illustrates the "Filmaking Universe" explaining the inner circle as the mainstream industry, whereas the outer circles reveal for alternative films. "The farther the screenwriter is from the center, the more independent he or she becomes," Del Mundo says.

It is important to know that there are different audiences. The commercial industry already has a niche market but independent filmmakers still have to look for their own audience. Apart from being financed by independent producers and agencies, alternative films can also be sponsored by embassies and screened for festivals (i.e. Cine Europa, Spanish, and Japanese films).

"The idea is not to compete but to make films that the mainstream is not doing. It is important to think of subjects that the industry does not deal with, and look for new and different ways to tell stories," adds Del Mundo. Today's trend also reveals computer-generated films and characters - the Transformer, among others. "It all depends on what one is looking for," he asserts. For the industry, a good film is the one that will make money. The quality of the film is incidental. However entertaining films can also be good."

How successful has the underground art film been as an alternative to the commercial films? Experimental films, which presumably are not concerned with commercial viability, have an entirely different set of criteria. For example, in the commercial films of Anthony Balch, it has been said that the conscious, logical part of the mind is like the tip of the iceberg that appears above the water. What he is trying to do is to jar people into developing an awareness of an area under the water by actually showing them mechanisms of perception that, of course, go on all the time.

"In writing a film, one has to be interested in the project. That is a prerequisite. In my case, I try to write the best I could. I work outside the mainstream so I do not get projects often. However, I have a regular job as professor. In that way, I can choose projects I want to write. My two jobs complement each other."

Certainly, the cinema is privileged for this double adventure of acknowledging and exploring the strangeness of the world. That which takes place in our dreams is infinitely more interesting (because it's richer, less prearranged, more capable of revealing our relations with reality) than the gestures and words, the thoughts and settings, that constitute the fabric of our socialized life. Cinema is an instrument for understanding the contemporary man and shaping the man of the future as well.

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Best Celebrity Weddings

2009-12-13T00:48:00.000-08:00

This year was outstanding with the marriages of the hottest celebrities. Are you enthusiastic about the celebrity marriages, explore a few of the hottest wedding ceremony took place through out the year 2009.

Wahlberg married to Durham

August 2, 2009 was the great day when the couples intimate the ceremony with their friends and family. Mark has dressed him with a dark suit and Durham wore the while strapless dress with the diamond jewelry. The new wedding couples have 3 children together, Ella, Michael, Brendan.

Maggie and Peter Sarsgaard

Three years living engaged together the beautiful couples got married in front of their close friends and family. The beautiful couple made their marriage at convento di Santa Maria, luxurious place in Italy. Maggie and peter respect the coming of their brother Jake with her love. Marriage was all set to make it top notch history and memorable.

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montaq

Both the celebrity was decided to get back their home, Mexico for a huge reception six months before. The wedding place was chosen to church near Pasadena, California. Their arrival with the white rolls and the 200 guests make this marriage a really beautiful one. Bride and groom seem to enjoying each and every moment together.

Andy married to Brooklyn

After two years when the Roddick had his proposal to the beautiful model Brooklyn, they got married in Texas in the romantic event with their family and friends. Brooklyn has had arrangement in the backyard of her home where she has done a marvelous job. This was an outstanding look with the sweet voice of Elton john.

Bruce Willis with Emma Heming

One year of happy dating famous actor Bruce Willis, 54, decided to get marry with beautiful model and actress Emma Heming, 32. There are the vivid sign that they will remain very good friends since his ex-wife was present with her husband at this function. They have 3 children together.

Letterman married to Regina Lasko

It was really amazing and pack of surprises because of the old David letterman, 61 found her love with Regina Lasko, 23. Both have decided to get marry and become husband and wife. The marriage was arranged at Choteau, Montana where they have found the presence of the young child. Harry, 5, was the witness of this complete ceremony and together they have enjoyed a lot. But it was really a very astonishing marriage for the year 2009 and the David's fans.

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The Mother of All Disaster Flicks - 2012

2009-11-24T08:50:00.001-08:00

Apocalypse now... disaster is waiting to happen

In a nutshell the film feeds off the Mayan doomsday prophecy that due to phenomenon seen once in million years where all planets align and the sun's power would lead to catastrophic results. The signs are first discovered by an Indian physicist, Dr. Satnam Tsurutani, who warns off his American friend, Adrian Helmsley. He sounds off his boss who sounds off the Big Boss-the President of USA.

From that point onwards things are set in motion the world has just two years to plan their survival but how do you prepare 6 billion people? You don't. The Americans along with other G8 countries decide to build Arks like old man Noah which would carry some 400,000 humans and animals needed to preserve humanity. So how do you get a ticket on the ride? By paying one billion euros or if that doesn't work then evoking the sense of humanity in otherwise heartless people who went ahead with such a crazy plan in the first place!

The other plotline involves a failed writer, Jackson Curtis, battling all odds to get his family on the ship. The film takes some time in setting up the premise but once that is done slips into heavy duty action. The writing is cheesy but then who is listening when you see earthquakes, volcanoes, tidal waves and just about everything hell bent on destroying humanity.

At two hours and 38 minutes 2012 is a tad too long for how many times can we see the same disaster scenes interspersed with tirade dialogues. We pretty much get the picture when the ground starts cracking up for the first time and to show the same thing every 15 minutes speaks volumes about the lack of a plausible story line. But why would you look for some semblance of a plot in an Emmerich film?

The acting is decent for a nonsensical action flick with a cool John Cusack and a painstakingly politically correct Chiwetel Ejiofor as Adrian Helmsley. Woody Harrelson as the crazy conspiracy theorist Charlie Frost is thoroughly enjoyable.

This film shows the shift that India is enjoying for the film kicks off in India. Now only if they had taken some Indian to play Satnam, we would have been saved from torturing Jimi Mistry's accented Hindi! Sadly Emmerich's India is still a land of missing flying carpets and extinct snake charmers.

This is the ultimate disaster flick from the consummate disaster director! Now that he has finally destroyed the world, some thing that The Day After Tomorrow did only to a certain degree, there is nothing left as far as disaster flicks go. 2012 is enjoyable in parts and some of the effects will surely leave you gasping.

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Movie Review - 2012

2009-11-24T08:49:00.004-08:00

5 out of 10

What can I say about 2012? The special effects are amazing... everything else, not so much. The script is horrible, most of the acting is cheesy and the film is waaaaay too long at two hours and forty minutes. There are so many things to snicker at in this movie, it's difficult to know where to begin. The only reason the movie merits even a 4 out of 10 is because there is about a half hour of pure movie thrills that will leave you gasping for air. So roughly one-fifth of the movie is good. The rest is fairly awful.

2012 is simply about people trying to survive the end of the world. Director Roland Emmerich has plenty of experience with disaster movies. He directed Independence Day (his best film by far), Godzilla and The Day After Tomorrow and clearly has an affinity for destroying the world. Really, how many times can one man include a scene where the White House gets demolished? It's time to move on Roland. Perhaps you should revisit your sci-fi Stargate days. Don't get me wrong. Emmerich blows things up with style, but it's becoming a bit old and predictable.

2012 wouldn't even be all that bad if it weren't for the atrocious script by Emmerich and Harald Kloser. There are so many bad lines and ridiculous moments you'll be stunned. I don't even mean any of the action sequences. I'm always ready to suspend my disbelief when it comes to special effects magic, but it's all the little things that begin to add up throughout the course of the film that takes you out of the fun of it all. A perfect example would be the use of cell phones. After the complete and utter destruction of their home and the state of California, Jack (John Cusack) and his wife are able to talk to each other on their phones. I'm pretty sure that the cell towers would be off line after a disaster of that magnitude.

I can't even get reception when I drive on a certain part of the parkway. Who's their coverage provider, Verizon or Sprint? One character actually makes a call seconds before him and his family are about to be swallowed by a three mile high tidal wave. Is this really the time to reach out and touch someone? I'm surprised they didn't show him updating his Facebook status! Perhaps my favorite ludicrous moment is when Cusack and friends are taking off in a big jet as the airport around them is being destroyed. Again it's not about the fact that they are able to take off amid all the destruction, I'm down with that, it's the awful dialogue that accompanies it. As the plane is taking off, the air traffic controller is screaming at the pilot, telling him to abort.

"You do not have clearance, you must abort!"The airport is being swallowed by the Earth and this guy is telling them it's too dangerous to take off. Would there really still be someone in the tower doing their job? Somehow, I doubt it. I can go on and on with examples, but you get the point.

Although skilled at visual effects, Emmerich has no real skill with actors. Some of the actors are just fine, but by and large, most of the cast turns in wooden, unbelievable performances. In their defense, there wasn't all that much to work with as the characters are of the cookie cutter variety that you've seen countless times before; there's the divorced guy who neglects his kids, his ex-wife and new boyfriend, the heartless politician and the selfless, compassionate president of the U.S. Pretty much the same characters that were in The Day After Tomorrow and every other disaster movie you've ever seen. Thank God for John Cusack who is quite good as the father trying to keep his kids and ex-wife safe. I will admit that I am a big fan of Mr. Cusack and always enjoy watching him. Woody Harrelson is also very funny as a conspiracy nut that isn't quite as crazy as he seems. The rest of the cast doesn't fare as well but again the script is terrifically bad. A special shout out to Oliver Platt as a slimy politician. I wanted to punch him in the face the whole movie so I guess he did his job.

As I said earlier, there are some really entertaining parts; the whole destruction of California sequence being a stand out here. It's truly exhilarating. Unfortunately those moments are far and few between as the film gets bogged down by clichéd speeches about humanity and useless subplots. All in all, there is a good movie lurking inside this mess somewhere and perhaps you'll find it if you can successfully turn your brain off for nearly three hours. If you can't do that, you may find yourself wishing the world would end, just so you can stop watching 2012.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bill_Bonfanti

2012 the Movie - An Experts Review

2009-11-24T08:49:00.003-08:00

Review of 2012 The Movie:

* End of the world - 2012 marks the end of the world as people have known it, not the end of the world literally.
* 2012 is also not literal - however 12.21.2012 is a deadline. This deadline marks a time when old behaviors will finally come to a majority end. The pain will have gone on too long and people will finally be convinced that their old patterns are only hurting them and those around them.
* The massive destruction of cities and lives - marks a total breakdown of the old structures and ways of thinking and doing things.
* John Cusack - portrays a person who is lost in a pre-2012 world and empowered in a post-2012 world. Values will no longer be based on your bank account, but based on your deeds.
* People are still living, acting and thinking in a pre-2012 world - anyone who seems lost or crazy right now, like John Cusack or Woody Harrelson represent people who 'normal people' need to take a second look at. Ask yourself, "what you are missing?"
* There is no place to run - everything and everyone is in this together. It's about paying attention, stopping the self-centeredness, learning to love and help one another and be part of the solution before it becomes urgent.
* The constant cracking of the earth throughout the movie - suggests the breakdown of any stability in people's lives. This has been happening for many years now with the breakdown of the global economy. In addition to finances, this is also showing up in personal relationships, the need for purpose in people's work and what is important in every small and large way.
* Holding on to your past possessions and behaviors is not a choice - if it is a struggle and makes you act out in the old ways then it is not sustainable. Let it go (empty the cup) so you make room for the natural flow of things. Once you willingly do this it will not be long before you see 'the new' flow in. This 'new' will be the result of trusting, a free-fall from the previous pain and suffering of holding on to unsustainable patterns.

Conclusion: These are all symbolic messages describing the urgent need to shift our priorities and values. A need to let go of everything in order to begin to 'get it right'.

Even Mother Nature has had its 'I've had it day' with all the abuse and imbalances. Ultimately it will be Mother Nature that forces these changes. Most of mankind will get pushed through the door, rather than willingly walk though. Getting pushed happens when you have waited too long. Willingly walking through those doors happens long before the urgency and those that willingly walk through are part of the solution when everything falls apart. Those of you that walked though willingly years ago have been ridiculed as being a weirdo, a kook, a freak or even being negative. Maybe this lonely journey has at times made you feel like 'they' the so-called 'normal people' were right all along. But the "movie" hasn't played out yet so who knows?

To some, this '2012 The Movie' will seem a perfect interpretation by the time 12.21.2012 is here. There will be those who never thought that this type of change could happen in their lifetime. To others, this '2012 The Movie' will be a host of symbolic descriptions on how different this world and world behavior will be after 12.21.2012.

For those who have walked through the door willingly, they have already planned for the worst and hope for the best. Those that are waiting to get pushed have not planned at all. They cannot imagine that the worst could ever happen... it is just not an option.

Ray Holley and Linda Deir, Intuitive Medium Team... The Nostradamus of the NEWS. News predictions published in our CR News Reports(c) monthly on 14 topics related to your daily life - Week, Months, Years in advance, so you can prepare for what's going to happen before it actually occurs.

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Who is Miley Cyrus?

2009-11-24T08:49:00.001-08:00

If you've been hearing the name lately especially from young children and teens and you're wondering who this celebrity is, two words: "Hannah Montana". Miley Cyrus is a young teen actress who plays the dual title role on Disney's TV Series "Hannah Montana". She plays Miley Stewart, a normal teenage girl whose alter ego is the flamboyant and extremely famous music pop icon, Hannah Montana. The success of this TV series launched young Miley into instant stardom and her star still shines on.

Miley Cyrus was born Destiny Hope Cyrus, daughter of Billy Ray and Leticia Cyrus. If you're wondering why the name "Billy Ray Cyrus" sounds familiar, maybe it's because you've heard of his most famous song, "Achey Brakey Heart" which came out in the 1990's. Between Billy Ray and Leticia, Miley has 5 other siblings: Trace and Brandi are her maternal siblings (children of Leticia from a previous relationship), Christopher Cody is his father's child from his previous relationship and she also has 2 younger siblings, Braison and Noah to complete the family.

The name Miley as it happens comes from "Smiley" which the family called Miley when she was younger because she smiled often. The nickname got shortened to Miley over time, which is kind of fateful considering that what launched her to stardom was her portrayal of a teenage girl named "Miley Stewart" in Hannah Montana.

Her passion for performing was probably ignited at a young age because when she was 9, she enrolled at the Armstrong Acting Studio in Toronto, Canada where she and her family lived for a while. Her first on-screen appearance was when she appeared on her father's TV series "Doc". After that, she also landed a stint as "Young Ruthie" on Tim Burton's "Big Fish". But, of course, she was determined that she was meant for greater things. She auditioned for the coveted title role of Hannah Montana for Disney's newest TV series. She was even willing to take on a lesser role, like that of the "best friend" character. However, it was initially not meant to be. Disney thought she was too young, too small for the part.

The winds of change blew forth. She was called back for further additions and well, it's no surprise, she got the part. The TV series became very popular with kids between 6 and 14 and parents liked her wholesome, role model image. As she was playing a popular music icon in the series, it is to be expected that she'll also be performing outside of the series. Several concerts and soundtrack CD's came out as part of the franchise. The first CD was essentially a soundtrack while the 2nd CD was both a soundtrack as well as her first musical debut album performing as herself and not as Hannah Montana. There was even a spin-off movie which she also starred in.

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Movie Review - Michael Jackson's This is it

2009-11-18T04:06:00.004-08:00

8 out of 10

Michael Jackson's This Is It is a tough film to review. Culled from rehearsal footage for his planned 50 shows at the 02 Arena in London, This Is It isn't really a concert film nor is it a documentary offering an intimate look into the enigmatic entertainer. It's more like an intimate peep. Nonetheless, watching Jackson prepare for what was sure to be an amazing concert is quite magical.

To call the show he was preparing a concert is almost an insult. It was going to be a spectacle like no one has ever experienced. Jackson was taking every amazing element from his prior tours and planning on topping them. If nothing else, this look in to his creative process shows a man who was supremely talented and ready to conquer the world for a final time.

Since his death, the outpouring of love and support for the singer has been overwhelming. Gone is the cynicism surrounding his eccentric lifestyle and allegations of molestation. People have embraced him for all the good he has created through his music, dancing and showmanship. They are celebrating a truly one of a kind entertainer who has touched the hearts and minds of countless individuals throughout his career. No matter how you stand on whether Michael Jackson was a misunderstood angel or whether he was a monster, it's hard not to be in awe while watching him perform; even at half speed.

This Is It is essentially a documentary detailing the work that Jackson was putting into his final tour. You don't walk away with any real sense of knowing who he truly is. The man behind the performer remains a mystery. The brief bits you do see in between performances of every hit song imaginable, portray a soft spoken, humble man who is also extremely confident in himself as an entertainer. He wants everything the way he wants it, but he gets people to do what he wants through kindness and support. There is not a trace of oversized ego in any of his words and for a man who has been proclaimed as the King of Pop, that is quite inspiring. It is clear that when Jackson performs, his major goal is to spread love, peace and happiness to the entire audience.

Kenny Ortega, the creative director of Jackson's shows and also the creator of the High School Musical series, was hired to pull together all the rehearsal footage and make the movie and he has done a very proficient job. The film is structured like a concert in the sense that each song is performed in its entirety by splicing together various rehearsals. I can't say enough how incredible it is to watch Jackson perform. Even while half heartedly going through the motions he is a powerful force of nature.

Ortega starts the film with brief interviews taken from dancers who were auditioning for the show. They all express their excitement of having the opportunity to audition and possibly work with Michael. Some of them tear up as they are expressing what Jackson means to them and how he helped transform their lives and it a powerful few minutes to say the very least. I dare you not to get goose bumps. The audition process is shown and it is almost like watching a season of So You Think You Can Dance in ten minutes.

My only real complaint about the film is that it is too long. It could've been a half hour shorter and been just as powerful and inspiring. Maybe for diehard fans of Jackson, the film doesn't over stay its welcome, but for a casual fan or someone who is just curious to see the film, it can become slightly boring.

To sum it up, This Is It is an intimate look at what Jackson had planned for his shows and based on what I saw, they were going to be epic; the kind of concert that you remember for the rest of your life. Michael's magic is on full display here and is hard to resist. Whether you are his biggest fan or his biggest detractor, it is impossible to watch this movie and not walk away with a sense of how great he truly was.

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How to Buy Klingon Weapons

2009-11-18T04:06:00.003-08:00

By far the easiest place to find Klingon weapons for sale is the internet. There is no doubt how popular Star Trek is but let's face it, they aren't going to be in stores in every small town across the country. If you are looking for the perfect Klingon Bat'leth, no matter the reason, you will find the most Klingon weapons for sale online. Finding Klingon weapons for sale might be easy, deciding on which one to purchase won't.

Enriched in deep culture and history, these ancient weapons are a very personal item. In Klingon history, these weapons stay within the family for generation after generation so you will want to choose carefully. Once you have found Klingon weapons for sale, you will need to choose whether you want a sword like Bat'leth, a dangerous large blade such as the Mek'leth. If concealing your weapon is on your agenda, you would probably prefer to sport a D'k Tahg instead of a Mek'leth or Bat'leth.

The Bat'leth is by far the most iconic and popular ancient weapon of the Klingon variety. It spans an impressive 48" and weighs in at a little over 10 pounds. A Bat'leth usually has three handgrips. You would have to be quite the warrior to wield this deadly weapon although they are generally used during peaceful ceremonies these days. The Bat'leth is also known as the 'sword of honor'. A Klingon boy must be 'of age' before he can wield his own Bat'leth.

You might be looking for a Klingon weapon to accompany you for a dress up occasion, a wedding event, a Star Trek convention or a ceremony. Some people like to purchase them as collector's items. The Bat'leth is the most popular Klingon weapon. Owning a Bat'leth is just essential for some who want to immerse themselves in the honor and battle culture sanctioned by the Klingon race.

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GI Joe - The Rise of Cobra - Review

2009-11-18T04:06:00.001-08:00

9.5 out of 10

Yo Joe! Stephen Sommers big screen adaption of the popular toy property is exactly what it should be; it is a big, loud, fun, action packed, kick ass summer popcorn movie that perfectly captures the spirit of the cartoons and comic books from the 80's. I can tell you right now that any bad reviews you've read are from critics who clearly don't get the appeal of the Real American Heroes. Fortunately for us, Sommers does. Whether you're a fan of G.I. Joe (I am) or just like big budget, action spectacles, you will enjoy every pulse pounding moment of The Rise of Cobra.

Because of the negativity surrounding G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (check out my box office prediction here), I feel the need to defend it. Let's start with the biggest complaint I've seen so far. The film is mindless and has no plot. This couldn't be farther from the truth. There is plenty of story here and they even go out of their way to flesh out back stories for some of the characters.

Don't get me wrong; it's not the best plot ever, but G.I. Joe was never supposed to be Shakespeare. The basic plot is this; NATO soldiers Duke (Channing Tatum) and Ripcord (Marlon Wayans) are in charge of guarding a suitcase filled with a dangerous new weapon based on nanomite technology that was developed by arms dealer, M.A.R.S. industries. While transporting the case, they are attacked by a mysterious mercenaries led by the Baroness (Sienna Miller) and then rescued by a covert agency called G.I. Joe that is led by General Hawk (Dennis Quaid). Hawk then enlists them to join his team of super soldiers and help keep the world safe from the evil mercenary group known only as Cobra. That's it. From there it is awesome action scene after awesome action scene as the Joes attempt to thwart Cobra in their quest for global domination. More than enough story for what is meant to be a fun filled summer blockbuster.

Rumors have abounded that the film was terrible and that Paramount fired director Stephen Sommers because of this. The rumors have since been debunked and after watching the movie, I know for certain that they weren't true. Sommers has made a film that plays to the strength of the brand while being accessible to new fans. He stages some amazing action sequences in the movie and I have to say it is his best film to date. I know that isn't saying much considering this is the man behind the god awful Van Helsing, but he is also responsible for the first two Mummy films (great popcorn flicks) and the seriously under rated Deep Rising. Much like Michael Bay (Transformers 1 and 2), Sommers will probably never get the respect he deserves from critics (he has this critics respect), but the box office receipts for his movies speak for themselves.

The best thing about Joe is the amazing, visceral action sequences. My biggest complaint about many of the action films today (I'm talking to you Transformers) is that sometimes you can't even tell what is going on. That is not the case here. The characters never get swallowed up in an orgy of bullets and explosions. Because of all of the different Joes involved in each sequence, it is important to highlight every one of them and Sommers does this to brilliant effect. It reminded me of how skillfully the action scenes in the original Star Wars trilogy were done. Cross cutting between the different characters effortlessly and seamlessly. There is one incredible scene that takes place on the streets of Paris and it is a hoot and a half. You can see a making of video here. In fact it may be the best action scene of the year. The sword fights between black clad, silent ninja, Snake-Eyes and his nemesis, Storm Shadow are expertly staged and will leave you gasping. In fact anytime Snake-Eyes took out his sword my heart skipped a beat. Truly awesome stuff.

My only complaint about the movie is that Snake-Eye's costume was a little too sculpted. That's it ladies and gentlemen. That's my only complaint about a movie I've been anxiously waiting for since I was 9 years old.

The actors are all perfect in their roles and any complaints you may have read about Channing Tatum's performance should be ignored for the rubbish that it is. Tatum as soldier for life, Duke, is perfectly suited for the role and brings great strength and resolve to the character. Marlon Wayans as Duke's sidekick Ripcord is there to provide comic relief in between explosions and does a fine job. I was quite relieved by this as the casting of Wayans scared the living hell out of me. Dennis Quaid as leader of the Joes, General Hawk, barks a lot of orders and doesn't have all that much to do beyond that, but as always he is a pleasure to watch. Although he doesn't utter a single line in the movie, Ray Park is fantastic as silent ninja, Snake-Eyes, impressively bringing one of my favorite characters of all time to life. The rest of the Joes are great as well, but there are too many of them to get into here.

Among the villains, Christopher Eccleston is just fine as the villainous Destro and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is appropriately creepy as the Doctor. White clad, evil ninja, Storm Shadow is played by Byung-Hun Lee and he is awesome, both with his physicality and his nefarious line delivery. All of the actors playing the bad guys do a great job, but the film belongs to Sienna Miller as the Baroness. To get the obvious out of the way, Miller is beyond hot in her tight leather outfit accessorized with glasses. She's like a dominatrix librarian. Hotness aside, Miller tears into the role with a gleeful, evil glint in her eyes and gives the best performance in the movie.

To sum it up, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is an energetic, roller coaster ride and is the best live action adaptation of a cartoon ever. Hell, it's one of the best action movies I've ever seen. Yo Joe indeed!

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Hollywood Sex Symbol - Rita Hayworth

2009-11-18T04:05:00.001-08:00

Rita Hayworth trivia starts with her birth in 1918, a regular New York girl that had a unique advantage over many of the other girls that wanted to grow up to become actresses. Her father and grandfather were both extremely well known Spanish dance instructors who wanted her to become a dancer, and her mother was pushing for her to be an actress. This meant that even from a young age, Hayworth was getting the training and the knowledge that she needed in order to become an accomplished and successful performer.

Her birth name was actually Margarita Cansino, and a Rita Hayworth quiz will show that the name change came after she signed a contract with Columbia pictures which started her film career in earnest, although she had appeared in some small pictures prior to that time. She would get to work with stars like Cary Grant and James Cagney in her early years, and quickly began to establish herself as a leading lady.

An interesting piece of Rita Hayworth trivia is that she was the person handpicked by Fred Astaire to co-star with him in "You'll Never get Rich". He needed a dance partner and knew her father and his work, and assumed correctly that his daughter must also be a talented dancer.

The status of Rita Hayworth as a sex symbol was already in place by the mid forties, but there was one picture that she would make with Glenn Ford that would make her the ultimate desirable woman of the time. The film was "Gilda" which sparked controversy and success, and it was the response to this film and her status as a "bombshell" that led to her image being painted on the first nuclear bomb that was ever tested after the war.

A Rita Hayworth quiz will show that she was married five different times, including some which were very high profile marriages. Her second marriage to Orson Welles certainly caused some waves throughout Hollywood, and her third marriage to Prince Aly Khan was also cause for much discussion. The actress struggled with drinking throughout most of her life, and may attribute the problem to both her possibly troubled family life and her extremely volatile and abusive marriages. She quite acting in the early seventies, and in 1981 was placed into the care of her daughter after her health progressed to the point that she could no longer look after herself.

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Media Giants - BBC, CNN, HBO, and MTV

2009-11-11T05:56:00.003-08:00

The media giants since times immemorial are BBC [British Broadcast Corporation], CNN [Cable News Network], M-TV [Music Television], and HBO [Home Box Office].

BBC World is the trusted name that the world looks up to when world news is concerned. This 24/7 network broadcasts news throughout the world from its base in London. BBC serves the biggest continents, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the rest. BBC caters to more than 200 million homes, covering almost 210 nations. It has the world's first all-digital newsroom providing news throughout the day. Apart from latest news developments, sports, weather, documentary style programmes (which is the Nat Geo kind) and lifestyle news are aired.

MTV which is the household name among youths round the globe was launched in 1981. MTV is possibly the biggest network at present in terms of the number of viewers with a tad less than 400 million tuning in to MTV. The channel/network targets the youth (children, teens, young adults, adults). VH1, a MTV product reaches 100 million homes. As the name suggests, it is a music based network, and all possible types/genres of music are put on air, which includes Spanish, R&B, Classics, Soul, Indian, and Bollywood/Hollywood tracks.

Songs from music albums are aired big time on MTV. MTV has almost a score websites. MTV is categorized according to regions, on a large scale. MTV-Asia, MTV-Australia, MTV-Europe, MTV-America, MTV-Russia are the major children of MTV Network. These often were further split to adhere to countries individually. MTV-India for example was given birth to by MTV-Asia. MTV plays music of all kinds, talk shows specially meant for youngsters, reality shows and youth oriented programmes, news, etc.

Cable News Network, commonly referred to as CNN, is the world's most trusted news channel, founded by Ted Turner. CNN is the first channel of its kind, and the first all-news TV network in the States. Its headquarters are at Atlanta and New York city and its studios are located primarily in Los Angeles and Washington DC. CNN reaches 212 countries and few hundred million households. In mid 1995 CNN dedicated a website, cnn.com, which claimed popularity ever since its proclamation. In 2009, cnn.com ranked 3rd in rankings for global news websites in terms of the number of hits to the site. Msnbc.com was a spot ahead of cnn.com. CNN international, the parent channel has over 4000 trained media professionals working round the clock.

HBO, the short form for Home Box Office, broadcasts itself to 150 countries and is almost the most watched channel when it comes to movie entertainment. HBO is widely categorized into HBO Asia, HBO Brazil, HBO Korea, HBO India, HBO Latin America, etc. HBO has aired and airs extremely popular and award winning series. One of such many shows is 'Sex and the City', which has 3 Emmys under the belt. HBO has almost 40 million subscribers in the US. HBO is a part of Time Warner.

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Lost - Season 6 - Did the Crash Happen?

2009-11-11T05:56:00.001-08:00

At the end of season 5, the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 attempted to blow up a Dharma Station from the past in an attempt to stop the crash from ever happening. Were they successful?

Well, one of the Comic-Cons released by ABC shows Hurley advertising his company, and Oceanic Airlines boasting about their 100% safety record. This suggests that Jack's plan worked and that the 'crash' never happened.

However, if you look at one of the posters released by ABC advertising Lost Season 6, you can note that some of the people appear as they did at the end of Season 5. For example, Bernard still has his beard in the poster that he had when he was found at the end of the fifth series. This may suggest that the crash did still happen, or at least, for some people, if that makes sense. However, in the same poster mentioned several characters that are supposed to be dead are in it, for example, Boone, Shannon, Charlotte and more. This suggests that the crash did not happen or there must be some other explanation as to why they are alive once again.

I do not think that they can have just reset the crash completely, otherwise wouldn't ABC just screen the first season again? I think not. Furthermore, we still do not know what has happened to John Locke and why Jacob's brother has taken over his body (Yes, if you did not know that the man in black clothes that talks to Jacob at the end of Season 5 is Jacob's brother).

In my opinion, it looks like the crash was reset, to a certain extent. For example, perhaps the physical effects of the crash may remain, however the characters will remember everything that has happened. I believe that a lot of the story will take place on the island, perhaps similarly to Season 5 where some took place on both the island and in NYC.

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Gold in TV and Film

2009-11-11T05:55:00.000-08:00

Gold is one precious metal whose significance cannot be denied. It is a metal that has its importance in almost all aspects. It is used in jewellery making and in many industries as well. It has many medical uses as well, and is an important part of many electronic items.

When it comes to the use of gold, the television and film industry is no exception. Gold has always been significant in these areas of the media, and even now it has retained its importance. If we look closely and observe, we can see many references that remind us of the importance of gold in television and films.

The Oscars are the most prestigious award in the film industry around the world. This achievement is unparalleled and winning an Oscar is the hallmark of the career of any actor. The interesting fact here is that the Oscar award is made of Gold. From the time it was first created to decades later today, the Oscar is still made of gold. This shows the significance of gold, as the most esteemed award in the film industry is made out of gold.

In the world of television, the most important event is the Golden Globe Awards. These awards are presented to those actors that have shown outstanding performances in both television and films, and are considered an extremely important award. The name of this award is the "golden" globe awards, and they are gold in colour. This shows the significance of gold in television as well, as the most prestigious awards is the golden globe and it too is gold in colour.

Many film references are there that show us the significance of gold in the world of films. Many films would not be the same without gold, and there are many others, which use gold as part of their name. One good example is the movie Goldfinger.

It is one of the most famous James Bond films, and is amongst the most popular, and successful movies of all time. Goldfinger has one of the most eminent uses of gold in all of movie history. The character, Mr. Goldfinger is obsessed with gold, and his ultimate goal is to plunder the greatest known source of gold in the world, Fort Knox.

Indiana Jones is another Hollywood film series that is one of the most popular of all times. It is the movie that made Harrison Ford the star that he is today, and has a huge following. In the movie, the very first adventure of Indiana Jones is to find the one and only Ark of the Covenant, which is an artifact of virtually limitless power. Not surprisingly, the artifact is made of wood covered with the purest of gold. The movie has had numerous sequels, but one thing remains the same; no matter what Indiana Jones does, the artifact saves him always.

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"A Serious Man' Film Review

2009-11-05T04:28:00.003-08:00

"A Serious Man" (my 0-10 rating: 9)
Genre: Subtle Comedy-drama with sophisticated wit and humor undertone
Directors: Ethan & Joel Coen
Writers: Ethan & Joel Coen
Cast: Michael Stuhlbarg, Richard Kind, Fred Melamed, Sari Lennick,
Aaron Wolff
Time: 1 hr., 45 min.
Rating: R (vulgarity, some sexuality/nudity, brief violence)

"Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble." (from the Book of Job: 14:1)
"Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind ..." (from the Book of Job: 38:1).

Inspired by the Book of Job in the Bible comes the Coen Brothers' daringly intelligent 1967-set movie of high-level subtlety and rarefied humor as only they can do it. The broad range of critical ratings of "A Serious Man" was no doubt expected by them. Their major mistake, in terms of audience communication, was in failing to use those quotes as captions at beginning and end.

For the Job quote would have suggested an explanation to the ending, in which God appears as a tornado, implying that in the world of disorder, God has more to do than simply care for the trivial troubles of humanity. Take responsibility for thine own self, appears to be the divine message.

Not for the short attention span, not for the impatient. In fact it's not for any but a limited audience who can readily abide a sense of the tragi-comedy in human travail, and even cruelty. Rating the film for its entertainment value is quite the challenge because, while it's a super-sophisticated movie, its indifference to lowering its abstraction level to a reasonably accessible level sometimes feels like almost a death wish.

Steeped in American-Jewish culture, part old-world, part-new, the tale is told of a plain but intellectual guy who is so bold, or so futile, as to be looking for the meaning of life and, of all things, what God wants of him. But first the film starts with an old Jewish folk tale about a Polish husband and wife who are brought to expel a wise and just old man, who may be a ghost, from their humble abode.

Now it's 1967, when under-30s were in a fury over the failures of those who had raised them, and 30-somethings were just confused. Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg) is a plain, honest man, married with children. He is a physics professor at a tranquil Midwestern University.

Troubles are piling up. First, his wife Judith (Sari Lennick) announces that she's leaving him. Why? Oy, you should only ask. She's fallen for his unctuous, pompous acquaintance, widower Sy Ableman (Fred Melamed). Compared to the ineffective, feebly spirited Larry, Sy, she says, is a more substantial man -- a serious man. She tells Larry to get out and go live in a motel.

More? Sure. There's Larry's unemployable brother Arthur (Richard Kind) sleeping as usual on the couch. Son Danny is a delinquent of sorts at Hebrew school. Daughter Sarah is purloining cash from his wallet -- saving up for a nose job.

And at work? Well, there's an anonymous letter-writer who appears to be out to torpedo Larry's upcoming tenure at the university. Then there's the apparent bribe attempt by a student looking for a higher grade. He says he'll sue Larry for defamation. And Larry has a gun-freak neighbor who can be very menacing. Could there be anything worse? How about the lovely next door neighbor who sunbathes nude? And, of course, some car accidents. Or the man from Columbia Record Club who keeps calling to inquire as to when to expect payment for five monthly records sent to Larry by a send-an-automatic-record contract entered by Larry's son.

So Larry is off to find advice by rabbis. How to become a "mensch" (non-translatable, but, roughly, a serious man). And so many, many more questions.

Larry would desperately like to know what God wants of him. Wandering around in deadpan, he looks for signs. Surely they must be there. But all he finds is absurdity, nonsense and ambiguous rabbis. So is there no God? Meantime, his son's Bar Mitzvah is upcoming. And the X-rays are due from Larry's car accident. The doctor calls and says, "You better come on in."

The appearance of the tornado at the end, which is obviously God, is evidently the answer to Larry's multitude of questions, but one must go to Job for the answers. Perhaps Larry should have been presented with the ancient Zen Buddhist preachment, "There are no questions."

The film is open to complaint that the Coen's are reaching too far beyond most audiences' willingness to interpret what they've seen. I'll hold, however, that if any given level or class of educated and intelligent people are entertained by a product of the arts, then it must be rated for that particular group. With that in mind, "A Serious Man" is an exceptional work, accomplishing every minute encounter between its players with fastidious attention. One is brought to not merely watch an exchange, but to study it. Do that and you'll find an intrinsic tension leading to suspense.

Watch, for instance, when Larry, standing in his physics class before a two-story high blackboard saturated with arcane mathematical equations and formulae, revels in the certainty and preciseness of math, but then explains that sometimes an equation will conclude with a contradiction.

Does one have to be Jewish to appreciate the movie? No, but it sure doesn't hurt. The guilt, the sense of persecution, the distraught pleadings for an answer from God, is pretty basic and ancient stuff. But so is the fierce dedication of the Jewish passion for education, especially in this otherwise unruly Bar Mitzvah boy's discipline to the Torah (the first five books of the Bible).

For the non-Jewish Coen Brothers buff, their weird, beyond-offbeat references and exacting focus upon hidden meanings in ordinary conversation are all there. For us, there is pain, but it's a kind of cringing pain, not just for Larry, but for yourself over why you find this funny. It can be boisterously chuckle-worthy. But unquestionably, the Coens have pressed the envelope beyond its tearing point and laid out their film on a precariously high plateau of intellectual filmmaking.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marty_Meltz

Colin Farrell Movies

2009-11-05T04:28:00.001-08:00

If you are a movie buff, then you must have seen some movies or heard of the Irish actor "Colin Farrell". Though this actor has not done a large number of Hollywood movies, but he has done a brilliant job in all the movies he has done. In this article, we will discuss a few Hollywood movies in which this actor has acted.

"Phone Booth" is an amazing Hollywood movie in which Colin Farrell has acted in the lead role. This movie was released in 2003. Joel Schumacher has directed this movie. The story of this movie is unique in itself. In this movie, from the starting and till the end Colin gets trapped in a phone booth as he has wrongly received a call from that phone booth. Rest of the movie is full of excitement, action and efforts of the actor for getting away with this problem. If you want to see a movie with a really different kind of plot, then go for this movie. You would love this movie.

However, if you wish to watch Colin Farrell playing the role of a villain in a super hero movie, then you should watch "Daredevil". This movie was released in 2003. It is full of relevant action and special effects. Colin Farrell has done a short role in this movie. But he has played the role of a dangerous villain in this movie. If you wish to watch a science fiction movie of Colin Farrell, then you can watch "Minority Report". The lead role in this movie is done by Tom Cruise.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_A_Brown

Surrogates, the Latest Movie of Bruce Willis

2009-11-05T04:27:00.002-08:00

Hollywood movies are famous all around the world and so are Hollywood actors. There are a lot of Hollywood actors which have fans in numerous countries of the world. One such Hollywood actor is Walter Bruce Willis. This actor is popular by the name of Bruce Willis. This actor was born on 19th of March, 1955. He began his career from television in the year of 1980. This actor has played lead roles in a large number of movies. In this article, we will give a short review of one his latest movie which has released with the name of "Surrogates".

The movie "Surrogates" has been released in 2009. This is a science fiction movie. Other stars which have worked in this movie are Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike and Boris Kodjoe. The story of this movie represents a time in the future in which people have become able to carry out their day to day activities through their surrogates. It is shown that science has developed so much that people do not need to go out of their home for anything. Bruce Willis plays the role of a cop who undertakes the responsibility to uncover the mystery behind the murder of some surrogates and their owners.

This movie is full of action, emotion and entertainment. With his awesome performance in this movie, Bruce Willis has proved again that he is still one of the best actors of Hollywood. This movie is a real treat for all those movie buffs who love to watch science fiction movies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_A_Brown

Movie Reviews - The Day After Tomorrow

2009-11-05T04:27:00.001-08:00

Movie reviews this week looks at the ecological suspense thriller The Day After Tomorrow with Dennis Quaid (Inner Space) as a climatologist Jack Hall, who for years has been warning the U.S. government and the world in general that its' reliance on fossil fuels is causing a great deal of harm to the planet (a couple of years before Al Gore's Oscar winning An inconvenient truth).

His estimations of a global disaster from global warming which would usher in another ice age, which he predicts as a best guess estimate certainly not in his lifetime; that polar melting would disrupt the North Atlantic current, suddenly escalates to the present, with an ice age hitting the vast majority of America, and Jack in a desperate rush against time to save his son, Sam Hall played by Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko), who is trapped in New York, which unfortunately is at the epicentre of this ice age.

This is one of the first movies to highlight the environment impact of our reliance on fossil fuels, with several scenes to ponder the potential disaster on our hands, one of these is a helicopter going over Scotland that suddenly just freezes at minus 150 degrees Fahrenheit and there is a great scene, where Jack has been telling the scientific community would happen albeit with some scoffing, that the sun would accelerate the rapid decline in temperature to beyond freezing point, immediately freezing structures, and anything that happens to pass within the rays of the sun at that particular time, unfortunately he gets to witness this phenomenon first hand in a desperate race against time to find shelter while everything around him freezes as the sun comes up.

There is also an unforgettable scene as the Tower of Liberty freezes solid.

Not only does he have to breach the bitter cold, he also has to fend off dogs that have gone insane from hunger, looking for anything warm blooded to eat, ergo any humans they can find.

We find out that Jack feels he has let down his son a little, and this journey to find him is something he has to do to make up for their relationship, there is a brilliant conversation at the beginning, where Jack finds out Sam has failed Calculus, and Sam replies he got every question right, and the only reason the lecturer failed him was because he didn't write out the solutions but did it instead in his head, Jack asks him if he told the lecturer, he told him he did, but the lecturer said if he couldn't do it in his head neither could Sam.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Stevens

A DVD Review of Big Pun the Legacy

2009-10-21T22:45:00.005-07:00

On February 7th 2000, the Hip-Hop community lost one of its legends, a Puerto Rican-American rapper Big Pun at age twenty-eight due to a fatal heart attack. Director Vlad Yudin and his Vladar Company have teamed up with producer Edwin Mejia, Vivendi Universal and Czar Productions to bring us a new documentary on the first ever Latin-American rapper to receive a platinum plaque. By telling the tale of world renown and internationally respected artist Big Pun, director Vlad Yudin brings us the exclusive real-life look at one artist who changed the hip-hop community and rap game forever.

With the release of "Big Pun: The Legacy" on September 15th 2009, Vlad Yudin has brought us a documentary which celebrates the life and times of the-larger-than-life emcee, featuring multiple exclusive interviews with artists, close friends, actors and others who had the opportunity to know him and have had their lives touched by his soul. Also included is exclusive rare performance footage and interviews with Big Punisher himself.

By preparing such a documentary for over two years, director Vlad Yudin has taken the appropriate amount of time to put together what should go down as a Hip-Hop documentary masterpiece. By addressing his issues, from his addiction to food, childhood, his career and to his death, friends and legendary artists are brought together as they voice their opinions and views on Big Pun. This documentary brings everything a hip-hop fan could ask for to the table, and then some.

With all the anticipation for this release, Vlad Yudin and Vivendi Universal have put together a polished documentary on the life of Christopher Rios, the Bronx MC with a machine gun-like flow, Big Punisher. An admitted Big Pun fan himself, Yudin handles the documentary with nothing but class and a goal to bring the truth to the big screen. "Big Pun: The Legacy" finally delivers the media attention and respect that he has been overdue to deserve.

By taking a closer look, Yudin doesn't ignore the often forgotten facts regarding Mr. Rios - how he made his first album, how he received his first record deal, how he got signed in the first place, who were the people closest to him, who helped him to achieve what he did and what he was like after he finally tasted success. By covering so many different aspects, Yudin goes much deeper than the regular media mentions that so often only include his race and size.

By working with Big Pun's widow Liza Rios, "Big Pun: The Legacy" was able to uncover many never-before-seen footage and music that goes to a level which is above and beyond what many and most would expect, or even what audiences are used to seeing today with such documentaries. Large thumbs up goes to Mr. Yudin for such a move, making everything included in this documentary completely authorized by the estate.

The ultimate achievement Yudin has come across was by fully acknowledging the rapper's acceptance in the underground, streets and mainstream avenues - a feat which was reached by interviewing a wide variety of people covering all three of the mentioned aspects. By including footage that goes from before the record deal leading all the way up until his death, "Big Pun: The Legacy" does a fantastic job of covering the entire story of Christopher Rios.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Moon

Love Happens - I'm Waiting

2009-10-21T22:45:00.003-07:00

The recent release of Love Happens does leave a warm and fuzzy feeling. You will want to hug your significant other, if not,at least your dog or cat. Love Happens is a good movie with the usual message "it can happen to you". I'm still waiting.

Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart both give subdued performances as the lovers in waiting. Brandon Camp does a credible job as director and writer, with the help of co-author Mike Thompson.

The plot revives around self help guru Burke (Eckhart) and Eloise (Aniston) a florist. Burke is in Seattle to give a seminar and sees Eloise in the lobby of his hotel. The next day he approaches her and tries to start a conversation, she blows him off pretending not to speak English. Undeterred and slightly irritated he confronts her the next day. Great scene where she follows him into the mens room and they have it out.

The back story, Eloise has no luck with men, losers, and she's sworn off relationships and Burke's wife died in a tragic car accident. More to follow on that...

By now, intrigued by each other they both set out exploring the relationship. More plot twists ensue, and you learn Eloise's fascination with obscure words and Burke's persona as a self help guru.

The interesting part of the plot is that as the relationship develops they both plumb their own past. Eloise has made some poor choices and attachment to musician types hasn't worked out well at all. Burke confronts his own demons and tries to come to terms with the "truth" about his wife's death.

Yes the ending is predictable, but still endearing. Love Happens, when you least expect it, even if your not ready. It will still leave you with a sense of anything is possible.

Aaron Eckhart is good as the tortured soul grieving over the loss of his wife. It's his best performance since, Thank You For Smoking. Jennifer Aniston is good as the woman who has lost faith in men. Her confusion over the relationship and trying to embrace the chance she is being given is well played. Jennifer Aniston's recent film , He's Just Not That Into You , is another favorite about relationships.

Love Happens is another feel good movie that has some interesting twists. I think it's must see movie and I'll probably buy the DVD. The bottom line is Love Happens, you just never know when or how, even if you're not ready. I'm waiting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dirk_Bristol

Bollywood Actresses Who Went Nude

2009-10-21T22:45:00.001-07:00

Bollywood, the biggest film industry in the world, with respect to the number of films released, has been fairly conservative with regards to love-making scenes or nudity. Due to the cultural upbringing and conditioning of India, sex was more or less a taboo and nudity has been something that has been kept off limits. The mindset has slowly and steadily been eroding since the 2000 and the industry has been become more liberal due to the young generation. However complete nudity is still not accepted and can take controversial proportions.

Bollywood actress and models have gone without clothes for magazines, for a movie scene or just for a lark. Sometimes, the clothes have dropped from their body in a classic case of wardrobe malfunction. For instance, Dimple Kapadia's towel slipping act in Saagar, was perhaps the beginning of wardrobe malfunction, long before Janet Jackson's nipple gate happened. So here are some of the controversial and rare instances where Bollywood actresses went nude for the camera:

1. Zeenat Aman was shown topless, draped in a see though flimsy saree which exposed her voluptuous charms in the movie Zeenat Aman. Raj Kapoor, the legendary director who was rumored to have a fetish of big breasts, said, "You will come to watch Zeenat's tits but will forget about them and remember only the movie by the time you leave the theater" This was way back in the 70s when such kind of exposure was looked upon with shock.

2. Mandakini bared her breasts the 1986 film 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili' through a white transparent saree, as she bathed under the water fall. This movie was also a huge hit and people download and watch Mandakini's legendary waterfall scene that created history.

3. Mamta Kulkarni went topless for Stardust in the 90s and this cover page exposure took on the shape of a big controversy. Negative publicity is always good in media and the magazine sold many copies

4. Kashmira Shah: Kashmira Shah was shown nude from behind,and a part of her breasts were shown on camera, much to her chagrin in the movie Revathi.

5. Madhu Sapre: Madhu Sapre, the model faced a lot of controversy and ire when she posed nude along with her then boyfriend Milind Soman for Tuff Shoes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arunraj_V.S.

Great Movie "Amazing Grace"

2009-10-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

If you are one of the movie addicts, you almost spent your time to watching a movie. Lets try to enjoy unusual and challenging movie which give you shocking effects as well. This movie offers you with something difference menu, great plot and good acting which is performed immaculately.

Amazing Grace is focused on the role of the main cast William Wilberforce. He is a member of British House of Commons that sets on 1784 at United Kingdom. As a human fighter he tries to against the slave trade of Britain in 19th century. For him politic is a way to strike for his idealism about humanity. The issues of the slavery grow luster through that times. During the history it becomes the greatest slaving port in human history that delivers the painful journey into a complex past.

Together with his close friends William Pitt which cast by Benedict Cumberbatch arranges some strategy defined to the public and the member of the parliament before the English legislature. Becomes abolitionist activist and social reformer he reveals the ideas and powerful arguments to against the status qua or sought legislative change.

Also cast by Ramola Garai as Barbara Spooner who became Wilberforce wife. She diverted him not to give up on his brilliant goals; with her support, Wilberforce launched a second campaign to carry England lawmakers to end the slave trade. You have to know that the title of this film refers to the "Amazing Grace" hymn and the film also narrates John Newton writing of the hymn.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tristan_O_Hudson

My Screenplay's Fist Fight is Cliche - What Can I Do About it?

2009-10-03T07:03:00.001-07:00

Few events seem as genre-mandatory in an action film as a 'fist fight'. These confrontations provide action, excitement and vicarious danger for the audience. Yet many fist fights quickly become boring and cliche. Part of it is because they are too predictable, both from a fight choreography and story milestone perspective. People hit each other, get hurt, move-countermove. Each take turns seemingly to become the winner. Early in a script, a hero may be defeated in order to provide a sense of danger or a motivation for revenge. Late in the film, the hero generally prevails to give a sense of justice, satisfaction and resolution. Predictable and boring. Unless you are showing off the athletic skills of the actors themselves, like Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon, Jackie Chan in Rush Hour,or using a new filming approach as in The Matrix,to get your fist fight accepted, you need to give your confrontation much more. You need to give your fist fight meaning and use it to advance the story.

One of the best examples (spoiler alert) of a truly meaningful fist fight is the final confrontation between Terry Malloy and Johnny Friendly in On the Waterfront. Here, Screenwriter Schulberg and Director Kazan force Terry to challenge the tyranny of Friendly. Terry must risk everything to gain his self-respect and freedom for his fellow dock workers. But it is not the outcome of the fist fight that is important; it is Terry's response that is the emotional heartbeat of the conflict. Terry is quickly defeated by Friendly's deceitful, cheating brutality. What Terry does though is emerge from the beating to demonstrate to himself, the dockworkers and Friendly that Terry, the person, is not defeated. Defiantly and in just a few memorable moments of screen time, Terry leads the workers into what is rightfully theirs - their jobs, dignity and freedom. This single act renders Friendly impotent and pathetic. The fist fight is beautifully framed by purpose and consequence. Without it, there would not have been a climactic confrontation and Terry's actions would have little meaning. This is perfection in screenwriting.

Some screenwriters enhance the meaning of a fistfight by elevating the stakes to an astronomical degree. Take Neo's climactic confrontation with Agent Smith in the Warchowski brothers' Matrix Revolutions for instance. What is at stake here is the survival of humanity itself. Other strategies can work too. In Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indy fights in his bedroom while Kate ponders whether to admit her attraction to him. This juxtapositioning of violence and affection creates humor in a classic Stephen Spielberg way.

Other fist fights leave a lot to be desired. When Dr. Richard Kimble confronts Dr. Charles Nichols at the climax of The Fugitive, they simply fist fight. There is little meaning to the fight other than an expression of Kimble's anger. Nothing is in jeopardy for Kimble or Nichols that is determined by the outcome. Specifically, U.S. Marshall Samuel Gerard already knows Kimble is innocent and that Nichols is guilty. A better approach may have been to write that Kimble had to fight Nichols in order to prevent Nichols from destroying crucial evidence that would establish Kimble's innocence. Failure would mean Kimble would be returned to jail and Nichols remain free. This would create more emotional involvement for the audience, and isn't that what makes Terry, Indy and Neo's fights so compelling?

So what can you do to prevent your fist fight from becoming flat? If it's just a highly entertaining fist fight you want to create, make sure your fighting actor is the quality of Jackie Chan or to be choreographed by someone like Yuen Wo-Ping of Kill Bill, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix. Your fist fight will be expertly created and performed, and the entertainment will be in the skill, grace and power of the action. Pure entertainment.

But if you don't have such capable people available, focus on the context of the fist fight with the following questions:

* Why is the fist fight occurring? There needs to be a specific reason for the fight and not simply the result of a coincidental or gratuitous meeting between two opposing characters.
* Why are the characters fighting now? It is better to have your protagonist forced into the confrontation, unprepared or already handicapped. It sometimes works to have the protagonist try everything to avoid the fight altogether.
* What are the odds against the protagonist? Make them large, but not just by the antagonist having a weapon or superior physique or skills. That's too unimaginative. Another approach is to give the protagonist an additional problem, such as rescuing someone (Raiders of the Lost Ark) or trying to stop an atomic bomb from exploding Goldfinger).
* What is at stake in the fight? It needs to be important. Watch Cinderella Man, Rocky and Raging Bull for films about fighting where the confrontations take on monumental significance.
* Does the fight advance the story. If you omitted the fist fight and there is no impact - then cut it!

It's worth picking a few movies where you particularly like the fist fight and ask the above questions as you watch. The answers will help you in your own writing. Enjoy!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melvyn_Heyes

"Inglourious Basterds" Tops $100 Million Overseas

2009-10-03T07:02:00.003-07:00

Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" passed the $100 million mark overseas after only a month of the opening. On the foreign front, Tarantino's WWII thriller is still a hit with audiences and shows no sign of slowing.

This week, "Inglourious Basterds" is a sturdy foreign performer becoming the 16th picture this year to pass the $100 million mark in the international box office. Bowing in 36 markets, the Nazi-hunting thriller still has 26 territories in which to open, including Israel, Lebanon, Singapore and Spain this weekend.

Tarantino has been promoting the film all over the world and received a wonderful response after announcing "Basterds" at the Israeli premiere in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, September 15, 2009.

Producer Lawrence Bender and Austrian actor Christopher Waltz, who portrays the film's key villain, attended "Israelis Go Wild for Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds" event.

Interestingly, France, the country that the film takes place in has been the number one foreign territory to date with a total of $18.9 million in box office earnings. This is followed by Germany with $17.3 million, the United Kingdom with $15.7 million, Australia with $9 million and Russia with $5.9 million.

The foreign marketing campaign from Universal Pictures International began in May 2009 with the world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and a focus on the international cast and storyline. The cast includes Waltz, French actress Melanie Laurent and German actor Michael Fassbender and Diane Kruger.

It appears that "Inglourious Basterds" will soon become the highest Tarantino film on the domestic and international fronts. "Pulp Fiction" totaled $107.9 million domestically and $106 million internationally; "Kill Bill Vol. 1" totaled $70.1 million domestically and $110.9 million internationally; while "Kill Bill Vol. 2" grossed $66 million domestically and $86 million internationally.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Averie_Grace

Your Guide to iCarly Episode One

2009-10-03T07:02:00.001-07:00

iCarly is the Nickelodeon show that began in 2007. The show originally aired in the UK but has since become a hit here in the United States. The show is the story a young girl named Carly Shay and her two best friends Sam Puckett and Freddie Benson. The first begins with Carly hosting her school talent show. The video of her hosting the video is then put on the internet. Unknown to Carly the show begins to get a lot of viewers and she becomes an overnight sensation. With her new popularity on the internet Carly begins to create webisodes every week about the adventures she experiences.

It was interesting as me to see how iCarly adapted the story play of many kids on the internet today. They are growing up in a digital age where they can record anything with their cell phones, camcorders and now iPods and post them almost instantly to the web. With Carly's overnight success the story shows what could actually happen to some kids who upload there videos online. Whether or not this is a bad thing is not for me to argue right now, but it was interesting to notice the parallels of this story and how it affects children today.

With those ideas in mind Carly decides that she is going to host a weekly webisodes featuring Carly and her friends. They attempt to uncover stories and update the webisodes on their lives and the happenings of the school. As the season progresses we will learn more about the personal life of Carly and how being on the web really help one's life or not. There are many life lessons that a kid can learn from watching this show. Therefore I will be recommending watching this show for anyone. I believe that this show has a great message and will interest kids.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jaxson_Smith

Famous Movie and Other Misquotes

2009-09-23T23:08:00.001-07:00

Have you ever been misquoted, misrepresented or just plain misunderstood? If so, you are not alone, it happens to the best of us--in fact, you are in some pretty illustrious company.

I want to be alone

Greta Garbo was not so much misquoted in this case as she was taken out of context. She actually did say, "I want to be Alone," but she said it while playing the role of Grusinskaya in the 1932 movie Grand Hotel.

In real life, Garbo once reportedly told a friend, "I never said, 'I want to be alone.' I only said, 'I want to be let alone.' There is all the difference."

I want to suck your blood

Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi) does not utter this line in the 1931 classic movie, Dracula. However, It is used humorously in the 1994 Tim Burton directed film, Ed Wood by Ned Bellamy's character, Dr. Tom Mason, in the context of his doing a Bela Lugosi impersonation; which proves that a misquote can sometimes take on a life of its own and continue to haunt the person who never said it, even after death.

Don't talk to me about naval tradition? It's nothing but rum, sodomy, and the lash

What Winston Churchill actually said was better-turned and more evocative: "Naval tradition? Monstrous. Nothing but rum, sodomy, prayers, and the lash."

There is a theory, prominent on the internet, that Churchill never made this imminently quotable comment, but that, according to his assistant, an Anthony Montague-Brown, he wished he had said it. Interestingly, My 2006 copy of The Oxford Concise Dictionary of Quotations, even though it is put out by Oxford, is in the fifth edition, and has a whole section devoted to misquotes, makes no mention of this theory. I'm going to go with Oxford as the authority on this one and assume that rather than just wishing he had said this, Churchill did in fact say it. One thing that argues in favor of that conclusion is the distinctly Churchillian ring of the phrase.

If they have no bread, let them eat cake.
("S'ils n'ont plus de pain, qu'ils mangent de la brioche.")

O.K., two things: brioche is not cake, it's a kind of fancy bread, and it wasn't Marie Antoinette who said this. It is actually a quote from Jean-Jacques Rousseau's autobiography, Confessions, in which he wrote: "At length I recollected the thoughtless saying of a great princess, who, on being informed that the country people had no bread, replied, "Then let them eat brioche!" Rousseau doesn't name the "princess", and Marie Antoinette didn't arrive at Versailles until 1770, three years after Rousseau had written the above passage. So if there ever actually was a "great princess" who said this, it could not have been Marie Antoinette.

Beam me up, Scotty.

"Beam me up, Scotty" is probably the most overused one-liner on this green earth. Even so, it has never been uttered on any other planet, at least not by Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise. The closest he ever came to that misquote was when he said, "Beam us up, Mr. Scott" in a 1968 episode of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek called The Gamesters of Triskelion.

Why don't you come up and see me sometime?

The actual line is, "Why don't you come up sometime, and see me." Which is only slightly different from the misquote, but what can't be seen in print is the way she says it. Mae West could've read out the phone directory and made it sound absolutely scandalous. In this scene from the 1933 classic, She Done Him Wrong her character hits on Carey Grant with this line: "You know, I...I always did like a man in a uniform. That one fits you grand."

According to The Yale Book of Quotations, Mae West did say, "Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?", but as herself. The line was not in any of her movies, including the one her fans swear it was in, She Done Him Wrong. According to Shapiro, West used it to greet a policeman assigned to her as an escort. As she once said of herself, "I used to be Snow White, but I drifted."

However, the line does make a cameo appearance in her final film Sextette (1978), said to co-star George Hamilton.

Badges, we don't need no stinkin' badges!

Ah, The Treasure of Sierra Madre. In the most famous scene of this truly great film, (It's amazing how many great movies Bogey appeared in: The Treasure of Sierra Madre, Casablanca, African Queen, The Maltese Falcon... My favorite Bogey film is The Maltese Falcon. I love the hard-boiled dialog) what the Bandito says in full is: "Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges!" And then the shooting starts.

Play it again Sam.

After Captain Kirk, the most oft-misquoted character in fiction is probably Rick Blaine, memorably portrayed by Humphrey Bogart in the 1942 Hollywood classic Casablanca, who never once throughout the movie says, "Play it again, Sam." This is what he actually says: "If she can stand it, I can. Play it!" Earlier in the film, Ilsa Lund--Rick's old flame, played by Ingrid Bergman--says, "Play it, once Sam, for old time's sake. Play it Sam, play 'As Time Goes By'."

Elementary, my dear Watson, elementary.

This phrase appears nowhere in Sir Arthur Canon Doyle's writings, though it was used in the screenplay of the 1929 film, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, at the end of which Watson exclaims, "Amazing Holmes" and Sherlock Holmes replies, "Elementary, my dear Watson, elementary."

The closest proximity in which the words "my dear Watson" and "elementary" appear in Sir Doyle's writing is in the following excerpt from the The Crooked Man:

"I have the advantage of knowing your habits, my dear Watson," said he. "When your round is a short one you walk, and when it is a long one you use a hansom. As I perceive that your boots, although used, are by no means dirty, I cannot doubt that you are at present busy enough to justify the hansom." "Excellent!" I cried. "Elementary," said he.

Music has charms to soothe the savage beast.

This is a misquote of the most famous line in William Congreve's 1697 play, The Mourning Bride. What he actually wrote was, "Music has charms to soothe a savage breast." "Breast" in this case refers of course to the human heart, so what he meant to say was that even the most uncouth among us respond to music. Here's the full quote:

"Music has charms to soothe a savage breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak."

Here is a quote you might recognize, also from The Mourning Bride:

"Heav'n has no rage, like love to hatred turn'd, nor hell a fury, like a woman scorn'd."

The beast misquote is an egregious one because it completely misconstrues the authors intention, conjuring up cartoon images of a snarling beast being lulled into passivity by the strains of a romantic air, only to dissolve once more into a ravenous fury when the music stops.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Hilton

The Wire Makes Shipping Gripping

2009-09-23T23:07:00.002-07:00

In a partial move away from the gangland corners, Season 2 of 'the Wire' is concerned with the complex dealings between the stevedores and the smugglers who operate in the shipping yards. In an ailing industry of stacking and unstacking cargo containers, where boats are unloaded and trucks begin the first stage of their haulage work contracts, the unit tracks the smuggled goods which come into the city of Baltimore.

How it begins

The case begins with Beadie Russell, an inexperienced Port Authority officer on her beat on the dockyards, checking the customs labels of the haulage companies' cargo. She finds the dead bodies of thirteen young women in a container. The disgraced Jimmy McNulty soon arrives to nose around 'the box' and they deduce that the girls were being imported for forced prostitution. When it is discovered that the makeshift air supply on the container had been smashed shut, the deaths take on murder status and Beadie Russell is stuck with an unenviable "whodunit."

Meanwhile, the special unit under Lieutenant Daniels are investigating the stevedores' union who are under suspicion of smuggling, and the murders eventually become part of their investigation.

Telephone screens

Unlike most cop shows, The Wire spends a great deal of screen time on the details and drudgery of police work. Lester Freamon and Prez map the paper trail, logistics and delivery work of drug buys and distribution.

In particular, the show features a number of scenes where a computer is used to track the returnloads of ships being unloaded and the haulage companies who provide the lorries for delivery work. We not only see the screens that the dock checkers use to track the cargo but we also see them moving from ship to dock. Somehow 'The Wire' manages to keep the monotony of transport contracts exciting.

And like HBO shows that have gone before it, such as ER and the West Wing, 'The Wire'
doesn't shy away from mystifying details, such as the technical terminology and cop jargon used in every day life. The result is a series of street scenes where people talk a confusing kind of street lingo: the dealers and cops alike.

The Dockers

Frank Sobotka, a union leader, who turns to crime in order to raise funds to save his union, is one of the main protagonists in Series two of 'the Wire'. However, the Wire is one of those rare shows which allow the audience to sympathise with the criminals, and this is true of the position Frank Sobotka finds himself in. Frank is charged with keeping the struggling and underemployed dockers' union alive, and smuggles an occasional illegal returnload for a mysterious criminal called "The Greek". Using the extra money for the benefit of union workers when they get injured or fall on hardship, Frank becomes a middle man moving smuggled goods through the docks. The cargos are being diverted from the scrutiny of customs, but when Frank Sobotka suspects that the cops are onto him he begins intentionally misplacing legal cargo to see if the police will follow the haulage companies.

Following trucks around Baltimore? Somehow The Wire makes transport contracts, delivery work and the dockyards seem like good TV.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lyall_Cresswell

Futurama - Courier Work in the Galaxy

2009-09-23T23:07:00.001-07:00

Futurama depicts the story of Fry, a former pizza delivery boy, who is cryogenically frozen at the start of the year 2000 and thawed out in 2999. Being a pizza delivery boy, Fry already has some experience in carrying out courier work and this equips him for his next job as a cargo delivery boy for Planet Express, a company owned by his only living relative, Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth.

The self-proclaimed intergalactic courier company was started by the Professor in order to fund his research. Although the company scrapes by it is always in fierce competition with Moms Friendly Delivery Company, a cornerstone of MomCorp, which although appears to be owned by a sweet, frail old lady is in actual fact owned by a manipulative director, who will stop at no means to make her company succeed. So ruthless are her business strategies that it's a wonder that the friendly courier workers at Planet Express manage to survive at all, but this they do thanks to their complete disregard for health and safety laws and the minimum wage; the Professor has even be known to accept the occasional bribe. With a company slogan that reads 'Our crew is expendable, your package isn't' you can't help but feel that the crew of Planet Express would be better off working self-employed courier jobs.

The Professor may be the bane of the courier worker's lives, yet despite many changes of owner throughout the series, the business always manages to fall back into his capable hands. Cubert and Dwight inherited the courier work business from the Professor during one fateful episode in which he was declared dead. During their management the company was renamed 'Awesome Express' and grew to be more even more profitable than Planet Express, until it emerged that the two boys were not carrying out any deliveries during their courier work, but rather depositing all the parcels on a crater on the moon.

Although Planet Express carries out courier work in every corner of the galaxy, the headquarters are based in New York City on the corner of West 57th Street and Henry Hudson Parkway. The building is one of Planet Express's only three assets, which also include the famous green delivery ship and a servant robot, known simply as 1-X.

The Planet Express headquarters are built upon a green limestone cavern and contain five separate floors, with rooms consisting of the Professor's laboratory, the main hangar, a kitchen, living room and even a room entitled 'The Accusing Parlour', which in used in one episode to solve a murder; not quite the typical courier office that you are most likely accustomed to then!

But whilst Futurama may provide viewers with an entertaining look at work in a courier company it also raises some questions about courier work in the future. After all how long can it be until we swap our trusted white vans for pea-green spaceships and start taking up self-employed courier jobs on the planet Zorg?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lyall_Cresswell

Closeout and Wrongful Death - And 3 Reasons Why Subtitled Movies Are Tenfold Preferable Over Dubbed

2009-09-17T04:21:00.004-07:00

Some people might think that it is so much better not to have to read subtitles of foreign films, when dubbed versions are readily available, but I definitely am not in their number. If a movie is announced as dubbed, I start running the other way; to me, a subtitled product is preferable to a dubbed one, ten times over. Let me take you through my reasoning and then you may tell me if I am too off the mark on this.

Dubbing vs. subtitling in Europe and Latin America - A short rundown

In the film making industry, dubbing mostly refers to recorded voices that replace the voices of original actors and speak the local language of the target market, with the purpose of making them more widely accessible to the general public. However, geographical preferences on dubbing vs. subtitling differ greatly, while not appearing to have any discernible cause. Just so that you have a rough idea, in Russia, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, the general practice is dubbing, with virtually no chance to watch movies in their original versions. Before the advent of digital pay-TV and multi-language audio track DVDs, subtitled versions were considered in these countries almost an exclusive elite product for the artsy-intellectual circles. In Latin America on the other hand, (excepting Brazil) mostly all foreign-language programs, films, cartoons and documentaries shown in free-aired TV channels are dubbed into Neutral Spanish, whereas cable and satellite TV films may be either dubbed or subtitled, or both.

In my home country, Uruguay, luckily the majority of cable TV shows, films and series are subtitled, as are all foreign motion pictures shown in theaters - maybe with the exception of children's movies and cartoons. As of late, you can also get to see on cable TV the same shows either dubbed or subtitled, depending on the airing time. Whenever my zapping finger hits a dubbed series or movie, I move on, and this is why.

First, it is quite irritating having to listen to actors and actresses who you know how their own true voices sound like - speak with other voices, in Colombian, Mexican or Neutral Spanish accents. It has quite a dissociative effect.

Second, and maybe this is just a professional quirk of mine - being as I am a translator of English and Spanish - I love to listen to and identify the different accents, whether a singsong Irish brogue, a rolling Glasgow burr, a slow Southern drawl or the particular accents of the different American minority groups. When dubbed, these differences disappear, are diluted, or when attempted on the soundtrack, sound like badly spoken Spanish, detracting as a result from the general value of the film.

Third, and here we come to the crux of the matter: how can I be sure that the dubbed version is correct, after witnessing, day in, day out, gross translation "horrors" in subtitles? Let me give you just a couple of examples:

Closeout

"The Mentalist" is, as you probably know, a successful procedural crime TV series airing this year in the U.S. at CBS for the second season, with Simon Baker cast in the role of mentalist Patrick Jane. In one of the first season episodes, a young woman says, when questioned in the course of an investigation, that "when my husband came back [from the war] he closed me out". The subtitle read: "cuando mi esposo volvió [de la guerra] me liquidó". A closeout is indeed a "liquidación", or, as any passably good dictionary will tell you, "the selling of all the merchandise in a store (generally because a store is closing)". Therefore, it can also be translated as "cierre", to signify that a business or firm is closing down, or going out of business. This was, as you will certainly have deduced by now, not the type of closeout referred to by the young woman, who had been shut out, ignored, or excluded by her homecoming spouse. The correct translation should have been, instead, "me excluyó", or "se alejó de mí", or "dejó de hablarme". To further complicate the issue, "liquidar" in Spanish has another connotation; in criminal contexts it can be construed as to kill, wipe out, terminate...you get the general drift. Hence, this was not only a mistranslation, untrue to the intended meaning of the original version, but one that could completely mislead the viewer.

Wrongful death

"Reservation Road". This Focus Features and Random House Films motion picture, starring Marc Ruffalo and Joaquin Phoenix, is a moving drama touching on revenge and redemption. In one of its scenes, a reference is made to "wrongful death". This was translated in the subtitle, no less, as "muerte equivocada" (which in backtranslation would amount to "mistaken (or erroneous) death". My legal background made me laugh out loud. A "wrongful death [action]", as any good legal dictionary will tell you, is "a lawsuit brought on behalf of a decedent's survivors for their damages resulting from a tortious injury that caused the decedent's death". [Black's Law Dictionary, 3rd. Pocket Ed., 2006, p. 788]. Exactly the situation depicted in the movie. And in legal Spanish criminal law terminology, there is a very precise equivalent for "wrongful death": "muerte causada por homicidio culposo". Nothing whatever even closely related to a "mistaken death"......

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nelida_Kreer

Film Review - Inglourious Basterds (2009)

2009-09-17T04:21:00.003-07:00

BOTTOM LINE: Tarantino manages to serve up one of his better films in this rather fun and unique re-imagining of end of World War II, filled with his trademark witty dialogue and violence. The film is however way too long, putting a major dent in an otherwise very clever film.

THE GOOD: Regardless of whether you like his style or not, director Quentin Tarantino manages to create a unique cinematic experience with every one of his films. "Inglourious Basterds" is no exception and is actually one of his best, offering an unusual, multi-layered story that simultaneously contains a clever plot, fantastic characters and Tarantino's trademark style. Although the title refers to a crack team of Nazi hunters led by a perfectly cast Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Raine, the main protagonist appears to be "Shoshanna" (Melanie Laurent), who escapes after her family is slaughtered by a Nazi death squad and finds herself in a position where she can destroy the entire Nazi leadership in one foul swoop. However, there are also at least two other stories going on, with the British and Americans hatching a plan to likewise wipe-out the Nazi leadership at the same opportunity as Shoshanna, and the nasty but engaging Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) who is hot on their heels as the defacto bad guy. The film unspools like a novel, broken up by chapters, and as such, it does not follow a conventional film structure. In the hands of another director this would have gone south but Tarantino shows just how good he is at shaping all of these disparate storylines in to one cohesive narrative that all come together in the climax. The dialogue is fantastic, particularly in its use of building tension in most of the scenes. Rather than have a gory blood-fest of violence, Tarantino uses the dialogue to slowly build the tension until all hell breaks loose (and even then, it is somewhat restrained). Surprisingly for a Hollywood film, Tarantino has actually used an incredible amount of foreign languages with subtitles rather than using English throughout. "Inglourious Basterds" is a fictional take on history that is fun to watch and is a prime example of Tarantino doing what he does best.

THE BAD: The film is way too long. The issue lies in the otherwise spectacular dialogue scenes. Tarantino uses the dialogue to build tension between characters, particularly in the sequences where you do not know whether the good guys will beat the bad guys. However, the dialogue in some instances just keeps going and going and going, where some select editing would have tightened it up, made the tension-build stronger and delivered a much cleaner and fast-paced film. The first sequence with Col. Landa and the Frenchman hiding Jews under his floor boards is an excellent example. The tension is good, but the dialogue manages to include "Hello, how are you? Having a nice day. Well that's nice," etc, etc. In each of these scenes, you know about half way through where it is heading, and you find yourself ahead of the scene rather than in it. If Tarantino had chopped about thirty minutes out of the film, a feat easily accomplished, "Inglourious Basterds" could have been a masterpiece of filmmaking.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Murphy

Martial Arts in GI Joe

2009-09-17T04:21:00.001-07:00

On August 7, 2009, the eagerly-awaited film G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra debuted in cinemas. Most of the roles in this film are martial arts masters. In this article, I will introduce these martial-arts used in G.I.JOE.

G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra was directed by Stephen Sommers. G.I.JOE is an acronym for the Global Integrated Joint operating entity. The G.I.JOE team uses the latest spy and military equipment to battle against the bad gays. It is no stranger to the world of martial-arts. There is a character in this film holds black belts in Taekwondo. Taekwondo is a Korean martial art. Tae in Korean means to strike with foot. Kwon in Korean means to strike with fist. Do in Korean mean method.

There is another character in this film who is the master of southern praying mantis Kung Fu. Kung Fu is one of the most popular fighting skills on this planet. In ancient Asia, people use Kung-Fu fighting skills to protect themselves.

On the other hand, tai chi Sword and Zen sword were used by other G.I.JOE team-members in the film. By the way, Wing-Chun fist was used as one of the most popular powerful fighting skills by the captain.

Snake eyes and storm shadow are the two main enemies in this film. These characters introduced many G.I. Joe fans to the world of ninjas. Storm shadow was trained by the Ninja master, but in the end, he betrayed elite G.I. Joe team. They became opponents.

In this film, Snake Eyes was played by Scottish martial arts actor Ray Park. He is a master of martial arts. He also played as a stunt-man in star wars. Park was trained in Chinese northern Shaolin Kung Fu temple. Various martial arts styles are mastered and he holds a second degree black belt. Screen veteran Gerald Okamura played as hard master in this film. He is the Ninja master who trained two kids. To perform the spirit of the martial arts, Okamura practiced Kendo, aikido in real life.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chuck_Sipson

"Inglourious Basterds" Movie Review

2009-09-10T04:20:00.002-07:00

"Inglourious Basterds" (my 0-10 rating: 9)
Genre: War-adventure-drama (in mostly subtitled German and French but some English)
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Martin Wuttke, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender, Mike Myers, Cloris Leachman, Samuel L. Jackson.
Time: 2 hrs., 33 min.
Rating: R (strong graphic violence, vulgarity and brief sexuality)

This is Quentin Tarantino-plus, then plus again, and boiled over.

He's finally come of age, his "Inglourious Basterds" being a matured grasp of some of the most dramatic of modern devices, strategies and tactics of the cinematic arts. Its European feel in some parts, blessed with a full Hollywood budget and greatly sophisticated Tarantino technique and style expand rapidly and organically, indeed inexorably, into a treatment of spellbinding suspense at many levels. His choice of allowing each character to speak in his and her own language, thus preserving the special emphases and cultural feel, was superb.

This is World War II fairy tale stuff, of course. Nothing of the plot's events regarding the plot to kill the Nazi top figures ever happened.

This is also Tarantino going through his scalping period. The compulsive graphic, detailed depictions of men being scalped are quite startling, surely a great satisfaction for ardent Tarantino fans who love his worship of torture and gore killing.

The European flair mentioned above comes in a remarkably self-sustaining extended sequence in a Parisian cafe basement as Nazi officers, Nazi-posing Britishers and an extraordinarily performed female double-agent play cat-and-mouse games with each other in their ploys and counter-ploys. With little beyond words and inflections, largely subtitled French and German, the verbal encounters create a mega-charged, dry-mouthed suspense of the first magnitude.

Tarantino's triumph explodes on many fronts. His use of grandiose, operatic music themes, steeped in accentuation and irony, is brilliant. His directing of demanding nuances in the constant confrontations between devious personalities in which lethal repercussions will follow a mistaken interpretation between characters, is amazingly precise and flawlessly timed. The acting award goes to Christoph Waltz, a good-looking 43-year-old actor who speaks effortlessly in four languages. Applause also to Diane Kruger whose delivery, second-by-second, is a studied masterpiece. And Martin Wuttke's rendition of the then 55-year-old Adolf Hitler is the best I can recollect in film, down to his finest mannerisms.

For amusing cameo roles, check out Rod Taylor as Winston Churchill.

"Basterds" comes at you in five "chapters," the first being "Once upon a Time in Nazi-Occupied France" (1940). Uglifying the screen is notorious Nazi "Jew Hunter" Col. Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz) who intrudes into a farmhouse looking for a hidden Jewish family. And then and there Shosanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent) watches helplessly as her family is massacred. Shosanna herself narrowly escapes, managing to find her way to Paris. Resourceful, by 1944 in that occupied city she has become the owner and operator of a movie theater.

In another part of Europe, lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish-American soldiers who need little convincing to assault Nazis with lightning, brutal revenge. They become known to the Germans as "the basterds." Raine's squad conspires with German actress and undercover agent Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) on a mission to terminate the leaders of the Third Reich. The main characters will all eventually be drawn together under Shoshanna's cinema marquis, where once again we meet her, now ready to carry her bizarre and spectacular revenge plot.

But Shosanna has, for the moment, had to bear up under the unwelcome advances of Nazi war hero Frederick Zoller (Daniel Bruhl), who calls himself "the German Sgt. York" for his feat in killing dozens of Allied soldiers singlehandedly. Also, shortly, she'll have to manage to be hospitable to the infamous propaganda minister Dr. Josef Goebbels (Sylvester Groth) as well as Col. Landa, who informs her that the Nazis will now take over her theater for purposes of showing the film in which Zoller stars. In attendance will be the Nazi elite including Hitler himself, his long-time confidante Martin Bormann and Luftwaffe chief Hermann Goering.

At last, here's the chance she's been so long awaiting to strike back at the man who slaughtered her family, and now other Nazis as well. The gala premiere is to be held that very evening.

In the next chapter, "Operation Kino," a British commando leader (and former film critic), Lt. Archie Hicox (Michael Fassbender), is advised by a general (Mike Myers) of that same film premiere in the previous chapter. It'll be in three days.

So now, independent of the Shoshanna plot, these Brits, in cooperation with the Basterds, plot to infiltrate the premiere in a set-up by Bridget von Hammersmark, their secret agent. The potential for disaster in major. Key to the plot is Col. Landa, the heinous officer who had supervised the slaughter of Shoshanna's family. Now, four years later with the Nazi regime facing its doom on all combat fronts after D-Day and the crushing Soviet offense on a 600-mile front, Landa schemes, as did many German officers at that time, his own escape across the ocean.

The conspiracy plot is all Tarantino fiction, of course. In reality, Hitler and the Nazi top-four hierarchy of Goebbels, Goering and Heinrich Himmler (the latter not in the film) all committed suicide at the end of the war in the spring of 1945. Hitler took cynanide with his newly wed wife Eva Braunn, then shot himself before it took effect; Goebbels took cyanide with his wife and six beautiful children, Goering was slipped a cyanide pill by his wife while awaiting sentencing at the Nuremberg Trials and Himmler took the pill after being captured by the British, trying to escape dressed as a woman.

I'll call the film at just short of perfect 10 because of Tarantino's unjustifiable overuse of gory scalping scenes and a not entirely credible ending.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marty_Meltz

Do You Need a Set Top Box? Australia is Getting More Free to Air Channels

2009-09-10T04:20:00.001-07:00

As you are aware we already have ABC1, SBS One, Seven, Nine, and Ten which have been broadcasting in digital spectrum since January 1, 2001. When digital television launched on 1 January 2001, the majority of households did not know of or were unable to buy a set top box in order to receive the signal. Households not already using digital televisions will need to purchase a set-top box (stb) in order to continue receiving a television signal. We also have ABC2, SBS Two and the sports channel One. Recently we started to receive Nine's new entertainment channel Go!

If you are purchasing a new digital television or set top box, the Australian government has developed a scheme where labels are attached to digital equipment for sale in retail outlets. People who have not yet invested in a freeview television or set-top box, or signed up to a cable or satellite service, have until 2013 to ensure they can receive digital television signals and new digital channels coming up. Channel Seven has a yet an unnamed extra channel which is due to air later this year and the ABC will follow on December the 4th with ABC3 a channel dedicated to children's TV. This will bring the total to 11 free-to-air channels.

The six free-to-air licensees Seven, Nine, Ten, WIN, Prime, Southern Cross and the two public broadcasters, ABC and SBS, introduced a common marketing platform, Freeview, last November, hoping to drive viewers to digital television before the analog signals are switched off in 2013.

To receive the best possible viewing experience delivered by high definition television programming, you will need either: a high definition set-top-box coupled with a high definition display device such as a television, monitor or projector, or a high definition integrated digital television. Once you purchase either a digital television set top box or integrated digital television there is nothing more to pay. So far, only 45 percent of the population has switched over, either by connecting a digital set top box to the existing television or buying a new TV. Because the new channels are in the digital format, viewers that are not digital ready will not be able to receive them on their analogue TV.

While some of the content on the new digital channels is duplicated from the main channels to which they are tethered, there is a significant amount of new content, including critically acclaimed programs Beautiful People, Boy meets girl and The Wire on ABC2 and Vampire diaries, Curb Your Enthusiasm, New episodes of Survivor and Weeds on Go!

Ten has invested in a portfolio of sport on One, including AFL, swimming's FINA world championships, motor sport, golf, baseball and triathlon, while SBS Two has shown the 2009 Tour de France and Ashes Series and will follow with the 2009-10 season UEFA champions League matches.

The government may give vouchers to television viewers who have not moved to digital television by the time the analogue broadcasting network is switched off in a few years, to help defray the cost of buying a digital set-top box. The switch to digital television has led thousands of people to throw out their tvs, in spite of the fact that older televisions can still receive a digital signal by adding a set-top box.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Spink

Nights on the Sofa

2009-09-10T04:19:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy 10th birthday Big Brother....well Big Brother is 10 years old and it is still a very popular television program. Big Brother has had its fair share of ups and downs over the last 10 years but it is a survivor. One of the most eagerly awaited elements each year when it is being unveiled is the actual house itself. The house is definitely a star and most viewers are keen to see how it will be dressed.

The Big Brother house serves many purposes it is a place of incarceration, but not quite a prison and it is also the scene of many celebrations and joyful occasions. This year the house has a very funky design, the house seems smaller but it is beautiful decorated and furnished.

The Big Brother house does not have very much in terms of soft furnishings and the beds are practical rather than luxurious but the other main living spaces are beautifully designed. The theme in this year's house is very much that of durability, none of the sofas and chairs look uncomfortable but neither do they look like you would want to spend too much time on a particular seat or sofa.

As much effort is expended in designing the garden area and because of the small inside space and the large number of housemates the garden is basically another "living" room. The designated smoking area is very clever, with is bus stop theme. There are numerous seating items outside and many of the housemates, smoking and non-smoking spend quite a large amount of time in the garden when the weather allows. The sofa in the house are brightly colored and beautifully designed, lots of lovely curves and not too many harsh lines, the comfort is in the upholstery rather than in soft furnishings.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirsty_Mcallister

Doctor Who Black Guardian Trilogy DVD With Deleted Scenes

2009-08-26T09:25:00.004-07:00

Honestly, can you ever get too much Doctor Who? Surely not, and if you are a big Dr. Who fan then you are anxiously awaiting the release of the Doctor Who Black Guardian Trilogy DVD next month. August 10th is the big release date, and Who fans have already placed their pre-order for this exciting release.

This three DVD boxed set includes Mawdryn Undead, Terminus, and Enlightenment. In Mawdryn Undead, Turlough is recruited to assassinate the Doctor by the Black Guardian. Although he seems little more than the average student, Turlough is actually an alien who believes that this mission is the way for him to get to return home. While at the same time TARDIS has its instruments malfunction as they are jammed by some type of signal which the Doctor soon discovers is a beam to guide the ships transmat capsule coming from the Earth. After many trials and tribulations, Tegan and Nyssa encounter a badly burned man and are left wondering if it could be the Doctor.

In Terminus, Turlough, still under Black Guardians influence, damages the TARDIS controls forcing it to attach to a space liner. Tegan and Turlough get lost in the infrastructure, while the Doctor and Nyssa meet Kari and Olvir, the space pirates that have come on board.

And in Enlightenment, the Doctor and his companions find themselves in a sailing race against mind-reading Eternals for the ultimate the prize of Enlightenment. These Eternals feed off the minds of their unsuspecting human captives.

Finally some of the best of Doctor Who is now coming out on DVD and it will be so incredible to be able to watch these incredible classics in higher quality and sound than ever before. A must have for Who Fans, this DVD Trilogy will include lots of extras and bonuses, including commentary with the cast and crew, deleted and extended scenes, outtakes, Easter eggs, and the Who Wants to Live Forever? " cast and crew look back at the making of the story.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_A_Daniels

Torchwood Children of Earth DVD-Series 3 - A Tone of Darkness

2009-08-26T09:25:00.003-07:00

If you thought Torchwood one and two were loads of good viewing then this new release will be pleasing to your eyes. To label Torchwood Series 3 DVD as better is possibly an understatement. It is considerably different in quite a few ways. These touches make it more viewable and more likable to many fans.

First there are only 5 episodes instead of 12 as in the other series. This is due to the way the BBC ran it, on every night for a week instead of one day a week for a few months. This mega series event format really worked for this particular show plus in other incarnations of Torchwood, there was a mix of politics, sci-fi, thriller and suspense. It was good and suspenseful, but with a twist of humor that put it on the lighter less intense side.

The way Torchwood Children of Earth on DVD turns and squirms with the psychological depth that it has will grip you. There is a darkness and a fascination in agony within this, going deeper than the ones before. The five days in the life of the gang exposed here will keep you stuck to the screen waiting for the next shock. Its kind of like the "24" series in that day to day sort of telling. These different aspects make it a favorite by far.

When considering the Torchwood series in its entirety number 3 comes out on top. Although it did get it's beginning on Dr. Who, it has grown into its own complete being. It probably has come too far to be even considered a spin off because it has come into its own. With its own fan base separate from the Dr. Who bunch.

Compared to other Science Fiction out this year, this is a winner. It far surpasses both the first and second. The way it has become deeper and darker is an additional attraction. Anyone into it will be left thinking about what could possibly happen to these guys in the next release.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_A_Daniels

Doctor Who Black Guardian Trilogy DVD - Incredible Classics

2009-08-26T09:25:00.001-07:00

To tell the truth, there is no such thing as too much Dr. Who. The wait is on for dedicated fans! The big release of Dr Who Black Guardian Trilogy DVD is coming very soon. For those that made the move to pre-order they will get their prize on August 10th. This is an exciting moment for all the die-hard fans out there.

There are three great DVDs in this box set. Mawdryn Undead, Terminus, and Enlightenment are the names. Mawdryn Undead is all about this student named Turlough, we think he is a student, but actually he is an alien with a serious assignment. The Black Guardian has him convinced that to be allowed to return home he must take out the Doctor. Meanwhile TARDIS is in trouble! There is a beam, finally discovered to be coming from Earth, that is causing equipment malfunction. General life threatening excitement goes on from there to the point where Tegan and Nyssa show up and come upon a man unrecognizably burned. Could it be the Doc?

In Terminus, Turlough, still under Black Guardians influence, damages the TARDIS controls forcing it to attach to a space liner. Tegan and Turlough get lost in the infrastructure, while the Doctor and Nyssa meet Kari and Olvir, the space pirates that have come on board.

The story in Enlightenment brings new adventures. There is a sailing competition between the Doctor,with his band of regulars, and beings called Eternals. The Eternals are not good company to say the least. They are not only mind-readers but also mind feeders. So meanwhile they are all racing and trying to win, of all things, Enlightenment .

At last we can get our Dr. Who fix with these awesome stories going onto DVD. The quality will be greatly improved on these classics too because of new technology. For those that know and adore Doctor Who, you have to have this one. There are also extra goodies that are not to be missed. The cast/crew of who wants to live forever let their hair down and reminisce on the creation process. You also get to see Easter eggs, and scenes that were either deleted or were outtakes.

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Pay it Forward - Character Representations

2009-08-15T00:55:00.003-07:00

Pay it Forward is a movie about society, and what each of us can do to improve it. Each character represents many different life lessons, and here are a few of them. Trevor represents giving, Eugene Simonet represents fear, Arlene represents desperation, Chris Chandler (Reporter) represents curiosity, and the stranger named Mr. Thorsen represents kindness.

Trevor McKinney had a very absorbent mind. He was ready to listen to anyone. Fortunately, the right person came along to guide him. Mr. Simonet gave him an assignment to change the world. Trevor created a unique concept called 'Pay it Forward'. It consists of doing a large favor for 3 different people, and like a pyramid, spreading the word to each of them to do favors for 3 other strangers. Many people can think about doing something like this, but Trevor actually does it. It shows how truly giving he was. Under the toughest of circumstances, Trevor focused on helping others, and that is why he represented giving.

Eugene Simonet, Trevor's Social Studies teacher, had great intentions for the world. He gave his class an assignment that involved changing the world for the better, but perhaps because of fear of doing it himself. In his relationship with Arlene, he showed great fear almost all of the time. This was due to his inability to let go of his past. It took drastic measures for Eugene Simonet to release his fear.

Arlene McKinney represented desperation. Most of her acts were done desperately, hoping for a better future. She worked 2 "informal" jobs, just to support Trevor and herself after her ex husband Ricky left her. When Ricky came back into her life, she took him back, because she was hoping for a return to normalcy. She preferred certainty in a bad relationship over uncertainty in a good relationship. Of course, this would change by the end of the movie.

Chris Chandler was a very inquisitive reporter. He represented curiosity, because he was willing to drive a long distance, just to find out information about a story. A story that will not make him any money. Chris was a very proactive person, only needing his own approval to take a certain action. His curiosity drove him to commit a good deed.

Finally, the stranger named Mr. Thorsen represented kindness. He gave his brand new Jaguar to Chris, just to pay it forward. A bit unrealistic, yes, but a great action to represent kindness. Being kind usually starts a positive chain reaction, and this kind deed by a stranger caused Chris to heighten his sense of curiosity about the 'Pay it Forward' situation.

If you are a fan of truly inspiring movies, then I am sure that "Pay it Forward" has a chance to be on your top movies list. Each character represents so many ideas, making it a very special movie. Although quite sad, "Pay it Forward" is sure to contain great life lessons for everyone.

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A Commentary - A Brilliant Mind Documentary

2009-08-15T00:55:00.001-07:00

The documentary "My Brilliant Mind" is all about the mysteries of being a genius. Upon learning that I had to watch a documentary, I had mixed emotions. I wasn't really enthusiastic about anything concerning science since I wasn't really a fan of science. I thought, "ah boring nanaman to, pero ok na substitute to sa class". Well, even with these thoughts, I was also intrigued at what I will discover about geniuses, since I don't really know much about them beyond IQ scores and certain historical people.

As I started the first of 3 films, I quickly became engrossed at the thought that at 2 years old, a Marc Yu was able to develop perfect pitch. As the film progressed, and I saw more and more of how this child's mind has developed, I became more and more awed at this child. Any thoughts and feelings of boredom quickly vanished and these were replaced by intrigue, interest and more awe. All of the films had this particular effect on me. The film about Susan Polger, George Widener also increased my interest because I was intrigued by how Susan's brain was able to make playing chess second-nature to her and by how George was able to know all those information about dates.

One thing that really struck me was how both Marc Yu and his mom had the drive and the determination to really improve Marc's abilities. I applaud Marc's mom because she was able to positively exploit her son's abilities. After noticing about Marc's difference, she devoted her time to really improving and helping her son grow as a genius, or a child prodigy. I was also struck by Marc Yu because he was always saying that he wanted to play and learn the pieces that were deemed too hard for his age. He took every "No" as a challenge and an addition to his drive. One thing that I learned about Marc's remarkable story was that for someone to become a genius, one shouldn't rely on one's abilities. Hard work and interest was really important for one to develop.

This was the same with Susan Polger. Her father believed that by making children undergo early education, their true potential can be easier achieved. Her father, even though he wasn't a very distinguished chess player, exposed Susan to the many sources of information and experience and this helped Susan's brain develop in a different way. What struck me the most about this story was how her brain was able to memorize and recognize over 10,000 chunks in chess. I was amazed at the true potential of our brain. Through years of experience, her brain was able to store every game and every chunk into her brain. This allowed her to immediately know what she had to do. Because of this she is able to predict the next moves of her opponent. This gave her an edge because she now has the capability of dictating how her opponent will move. This was all thanks to her father's hard work and ideas.

The thought of "use it or lose it" was also emphasized in the movie and this was shown in the story of the 14 year old girl who was kept isolated from the world. I learned that it is really important to develop and exercise our brain so that it won't lose its important functions.

One thing that really struck me about the films was the idea that from physical and mental deficiencies, a genius could be born. This was the case with George Widener. The thought that even when our brain lacks in certain aspects, it makes up by developing the other parts. Also, I was intrigued by how certain events in our lives can trigger a biochemical reaction in our brain and change how we perceive the world around us.

After watching the films, I learned one very important lesson on how we can improve ourselves as individuals. We have to really work hard and be determined in what we do. Even if we aren't born genius, we should keep in mind that by pushing ourselves to hard work and by just keeping at it, we will be able to reach our potential. Also, we shouldn't waste time and energy and that it is important to subject our brain to positive activities so that we won't lose the chance of developing it. The brain is a very complex part of our body and it is up to us to really take the time to nourish and work on developing it.

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Mulan - The Brave Female Warrior

2009-08-15T00:54:00.001-07:00

Mulan is the name of a fictional character from the Chinese poem "Hua Mulan" and was adapted into a film by Disney in 1998. The story takes place during the Huns' invasion of China.

The character of Mulan is different from any other Disney characters. She is brave and takes control of her destiny. She believes in honor and pleasing her family. When the army comes along to enlist, her father is told to go, since they have no son, despite the fact that he is old. This forces her to take her father's place in the army and dresses up as a boy, bringing along her pet dragon, Mushu, and her lucky cricket, Cri-kee.

She goes to the army camp under the name "Ping". The captain, Li Shang wants to send him home, but "Ping" proves that he is strong by climbing a pole and getting an arrow, while having weights on and is allowed to stay.

They go out into war, and are found by the Huns, thanks to Mushu's clumsiness. Mulan cleverly shoots into the icy mountain top, and the Huns are buried. During the battle, she saves Shang but gets injured herself and is found out to be a girl. Shang lets her go with the condition that she cannot fight with the troops.

Later in the story, she finds out that the Huns are back and goes off to warn the army. She goes to the Forbidden City and saves the emperor from the Huns by using her wit and the help of her friends. She goes home and is honored as a hero, for saving all of China.

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New Moon Movie to Make the Cut?

2009-08-15T00:52:00.000-07:00

New Moon Movie, the sequel to Twilight, is going to be big, very big. Raking in over 382 millions dollars gross, there are big expectations for the New Moon Movie. Because the going is hot, Summit has planned to have New Moon out by the 20th of November, 2009, exactly 1 year after Twilight's release. We're in July now and filming has been completed, however post-production is still in the works.

You might say, "yea they've got 4 months to work on it, heaps of time". That's true, but did you know that Eclipse is set to begin filming on August 17 and then be released July next year! In other words, they are going to be working on two films at once, back-to-back and have Eclipse ready within 8 months! This is a very tight schedule, considering we haven't seen the second film yet. New Moon Movie no doubt will be something to watch, but can they make the cut? That is something that everybody would like to know.

Besides the production side of things, the actors themselves are going to be burnt out amongst the Twilight Saga and their other contracted films. There is also talk of doing Breaking Dawn, yet another addition to the Twilight Saga.

Adding to the mix is the fan base of girls after Robert Pattinson. They've caused disruptions in between on-set of his new movie "Remember Me" and his personal life. Poor guy was even hit by a taxi! Hopefully, he wont have those issues when filming Eclipse.

Best thing to do is sit tight, keep up to date with how the production is going and just see what happens. Good luck to the New Moon Movie crew!

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Trailer Park of Terror Movie Review

2009-08-08T09:31:00.003-07:00

I will preface this review by saying that this is a very well made film with top notch blood-spurting, makeup and digital effects, great cinematography, and excellent sound production. The viewer must keep in mind that it is intended to be a fun horror romp, and should not be taken too seriously. it's an anything goes horror flick with many redeeming qualities. A true fan of horror comedy (this film tries hard), one who can check his or her brain at the door, will have a few chuckles, and even maybe a guffaw as the film unfolds.

A few familiar faces in the cast include Priscilla Barnes and veteran character actor Tracey Walter, who serves up a few rather unintriguing lines as a patron of the truck-stop diner, and returns in the end to help out a survivor.

Trailer Park of Terror does have a hot blonde in the beginning...

... which takes place at the trailer park sometime in 1980 or 81, where Norma (Nichole Hiltz), our hot blonde born into the wrong way of life, is bothered, berated and bullied by the trailer trash on her way to meet her ticket out of that hell hole: her boyfriend Aaron. On her way out of the park her story is musically narrated by a side-burned southern-rock guitar-Elvis with bad Billy Ray Cyrus hairdo and a Billy Idol lip (played by Myk Watford).

But alas, her runaway dream is not to be. Aaron is inadvertently off-ed by the trailer trash and as Norma runs away from the hokey pokey she encounters a mysterious southern-rock-devil-went-down-to-Georgia stranger (Trace Adkins) who gives her a new ticket. A ticket for revenge in the form of a gun. But it comes with a hefty price tag.

Returning to the trailer park Norma makes quick business of all those who harassed and humiliated her. Then she sits next to the fat lady she shot through the mouth, where she turns on the propane gas, lights up a smoke and waits for the explosive fire to seal the deal. Singing her "come to me Satan" song.

Jump ahead, through a montage of newspaper clippings and signs posted on bulletin boards flashing across the screen, we're clued in to a trend of missing persons cases. Finally the somewhat nauseating camera pans end and we arrive in 2008, outside a roadside diner where a busload of kids from a church retreat group have stopped for some drinks and snacks before they continue their journey back from a week of finding salvation for their various depraved activities. Apparently the week at camp didn't work. But they learn what they should be repentant of as the film moves on.

We're briefly introduced to the characters that will take us through the rest of the film, but not really enough to care about what happens to them, except for maybe the goth chick played by Jeanette Brox. I'm partial to goth chicks.

After shoplifting porn, attempted sex in the bathroom, and a certain favor in exchange for drugs, the unsaved are back on the bus. The film does have it's share of bad one-liners, evident by the first lame line delivered by the porno-shoplifter kid on the bus when asked to check his cellphone for service. He lamely quips, "looks like a dead zone." Groan. The commercials from a cellphone company that rhymes with horizon are comical, but the line did not work here.

I don't want to give away the whole story. Suffice to say the bus is rendered inoperative, and a thunderstorm dumps buckets of rainwater on them as they seek refuge at... you guessed it, the Trailer Park of Terror. Hey, the real horror has only just begun.

Now we get into some real gruesome gore effects, and finally a decent dose of humor. See, the trailer trash are still there, haunting the place where they died, in the form of crazy, red-neck zombies hell bent on having a good gruesome time.

Perhaps the funniest bit comes after our side-burned southern-rock guitar-Elvis with bad Billy Ray Cyrus hairdo (sans Billy Idol lip, you'll see why) is blown apart when he accidentally steps on his own claymore mine as he chases the goth chick through the woods. One of his cronies attempts to reassemble him with duct tape and a staple gun. This is when we realize the movie is supposed to be a comedy/horror, and it might work there on out after all.

Things get a little inflated as our zombie rocker jams from atop his public address platform narrating the depraved scene unfolding in one of the trailers below. And the intensity elevates right to the crash up ending.

Ultimately the film ends up growing on the viewer. Well it grew on me. Check your brain at the door, it's just entertainment of a sort. It was funny in parts, and well made. I might watch it again.

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"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" Movie Review

2009-08-08T09:31:00.001-07:00

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (My 0-10 rating: 7)
Director: David Yates
Screenplay: Steve Kloves, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham-Carter, Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis
Time: 2 hrs., 35 min.
Rating: PG (scary images, some violence and vulgarity, mild sensuality)

No surprise. "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" needs one rating for the ardent Harry Potter student and follower and an entirely separate one for the casual film goer who just wants to see an entertaining movie. For the former, it's a magnificently detailed and textured, faithful film interpretation from the J.K. Rowling books. For the latter, it's over-indulgence in the above at the expense of a need for a compelling narrative.

Which is all to say that if you're not a Harry Potter devotee, you might find more than a few yawns arising.
Being an aficionado of the motion picture arts at their deepest, I personally found the film astonishing in its ultimately thorough treatment of the details of antiquity and the richness of textures to ever corner of every frame. I saw nothing in particular as to great artistry in the dialogue or performances, everybody and everything adhering unerringly to the books. All the great drama of life and death and morality is there, the dark ambiguities existing between good and evil, all at the loss of fancy and magic of the previous chapters. But there's a distinct lacking in dramatic ups and downs, with long dwellings on unremarkable points.

Be aware, however, all ye uninitiated. You will feel left out on many an occasion when the content depends upon your subtle understandings of all previous material.

As to the now grown-up characters, they're charming, very logically presented and developed.

With ever more elaborate Harry Potter discussion happening worldwide, dissecting its meanings with all the fervor attendant to the Star Wars series, you probably should see this even as a non-follower. True, it cares little for gripping you in the ways of modern mainstream film making of dark suspense thrillers. Its devices are not the obligatory thrusts of the genre. It's far more deliberative. But it's high art.

And now the Death Eaters assault the realms of the Muggles and the wizarding as they spiral down in a mighty attack out of the sky in spooky vapor trails which pass unseen by the Muggles as the demons lay desolation upon the city of London and smash the Millennium Bridge.

Now cut to Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) as he appears at a railway station for the purpose of getting to his prize student, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe). Harry is a bona fide adult at this point, looking much more settled and obviously dealing with his hormones as he looks forward to his impromptu date. Ah, but no, says Dumbledore, you have a demanding, uncompromising mission to accomplish.

So Harry, guided and secured by the professor's arm, surges forth at the now mandatory warp speed. And here, in the dark of night, they arrive in a small, isolated village where they enter what is apparently a totally trashed house. And what better place to meet the new visiting professor of the upcoming school year. He is former potions professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent).

It is Dumbledore's goal to tempt Slughorn back to Hogwarts, there to meet work with Harry in order to probe the professor's mind in finding a primary clue regarding the Dark Lord. And why would Slughorn hook onto the urgent lead? Well, you see, he at one time had a child wizard protege named Tom Riddle. That child wizard grew up to be, of course, Voldemort. But meantime, Harry's student nemesis, Draco Malfoy, is conspiring to a terrible crime the sole purpose of which is to pave the way for a Voldemort's comeback.

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Wizards of Waverly Place, The Movie - The Magic Continues

2009-08-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

Wizards, vampires, werewolves and other supernatural beings are the most popular themes in the movies today. Best selling books and blockbuster movies like Twilight and the Harry Potter series are the few examples of these. Magical characters plus the power of advance technology makes this kind of movies a real treat to younger audiences.

For over several decades Disney has been waving its magic wand, creating fantasy and making it real on the silver screen and on TV. Disney had been known to deliver the best fantasy movie. To add on the long list is the upcoming Wizards of Waverly Place the Movie. This telefilm (movie made for TV) is and adaptation of the Disney Channel hit series Wizards of Waverly Place or just known by its tween and teen audiences as WOWP.

Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie is all about the adventure of the Russo family as they went to a vacation on the Caribbean resort where Mr. and Mrs. Russo met. The adventure (or misadventure) starts when Alex was upset that she must go with family for the Caribbean trip. Alex conjures a spell that reverses her parents' momentous first meeting, the spell had puts the Russo family's very existence in question. The only solution to reverse the spell is to find the all-powerful "Stone of Dreams". To find the Stone of Dreams, Alex and Justin set out to the jungle. Meanwhile, Max remains with the presence of their squabbling parents scrambling to find the way to make their parents fall in love again.

The movie will star the same cast in Wizards of Waverly Place TV series. Alexandra "Alex" Russo (played by Selena Gomez), she is the middle child and the only girl and the family. Alex is characterized by being spunky, sarcastic, a fashion lover, street smart, and quite mischievous. Justin Vincenzo Pepe Russo or Justin (David Henrie), he is the eldest of the Russo siblings.

He is intelligent, mature, and responsible, but is always picked on by his younger sister Alex. He is knows a lot in magic and being predicted to become a powerful wizard. Max Russo (Jake T. Austin), Max is the youngest in the family. He is always found to be doing unpredictable things and occasionally getting in trouble. However, he can be relied on to think of unorthodox solutions to the unusual problems that can confront a young wizard. Jerry Russo (David DeLuise), he is the father of Justin, Alex and Max. He runs the family's sandwich shop and trains the Russo kids in magic. When he was young, he was also a wizard.

Jerry won the right to keep his powers by defeating his brother in the wizards' duel, but when he discovered that wizards cannot marry non-wizards, he relinquished his powers to his brother to marry Theresa. Theresa Russo (Maria Canals Barrera), she is Justin, Alex, and Max's mother. She is not a wizard but she knows about magical world. She helps run the sandwich shop and is very motherly, often treating her children like six-year-olds, much to their disapproval. She also does not like magic, and has expressed that many times. Harper Finkle (Jennifer Stone), she is Alex's best friend. She is hyper and optimistic. She has a big crush on Alex big-brother Justin. Alex and Harper do a lot together.

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Why We Love Films With Pirate Costumes

2009-08-03T07:09:00.001-07:00

Long before 2003 when Captain Jack Sparrow became a household name, there had been many films featuring actors wearing pirate costumes. 'The Curse of The Black Pearl', which was to be the first of the 'Pirates of The Caribbean' series was not a new idea, rather it brought swashbuckling up to date with a huge budget and twenty-first century special effects.

Right from the early days of film there have been many tales of buccaneers, buried treasure and buxom wenches to thrill audiences the world over. Everything about these tales of adventure in the high seas has always proved to be very popular with the public; the treasure maps, the creaking ships, the villains dressed in pirate costumes and the roar of cannons. It is something that appeals to a great many of us.

The child within us all loves the excitement and romance that is such a large part of these great movies. Just as many of us 'enjoy' being frightened by a good creepy film, we also love all of the adventure of a good swashbuckling epic.

Right from being children we are taught that pirate costumes are synonymous with adventure by being told stories such as 'Treasure Island' and 'Peter Pan'.

If you want to see some good movies prior to Johnny Depp becoming Captain Jack Sparrow, then there are some great ones to choose from.

'The Black Swan' was released in 1942. It starred Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara. Errol Flynn donned pirate costumes for several of his roles. Amongst his best films to be made were 'Captain Blood' and 'Sea Hawk'. Then there is 'The Crimson Pirate' from 1952 with Burt Lancaster playing Captain Vallo. Lancaster was a strong influence when writers created the character of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Returning to the theme of Peter Pan there was also the 1991 Steven Speilberg fantasy film, 'Hook' with Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman and Julia Roberts. Indeed, Spielberg had already used the pirates storyline in 1985's 'The Goonies' the great effect.

So, out of the many films (and I have only mentioned a small amount) that have been made around this theme over the years, just who are the public's favourites? Who is more suited to wearing pirate costumes more than their counterparts? It may not be too much of a surprise to learn that Johnny Depp is one of the most popular choices. The other name that is mentioned more than most is Errol Flynn. Even after all of these years his roles are still incredibly popular with film-lovers.

It may be that Disney came up trumps when it dressed Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley in pirate costumes but the story is basically nothing that has not already been done before. 'The Curse of The Black Pearl' is a brilliant and highly enjoyable family film as are its sequels. It is important, however, that we don't forget all of the other great films of its kind that went before it. Many of these are still 'classics' as well.

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The Education of Charlie Banks (2007)

2009-08-03T07:08:00.003-07:00

I was pleasantly surprised at Fred Durst's directorial debut. He seems to have a talent for this movie thing. I'm hoping it wasn't beginners luck. The film was well acted although there were no real huge name actors. Jesse Eienberg plays Charlie, and Jason Ritter plays Mick Leary, the neighborhood sociopath.

At 16, Charlie witnesses Mick issue a vicious beating to two jocks at a high school party. Nobody dares talk to the police, but Charlie's conscious gets the better of him and he decides to talk. At the behest of his best friend Danny, Charlie recants his statement and Mick gets away with the incident.

Three years later Charlie is a freshman and away at college when Mick shows up for a visit. This begins a game of cat and mouse between Mick and Charlie, leaving Charlie wondering if Mick knows he is the one who "ratted" him out to the cops. Mick is nice one moment, and threatening the next. He also woos the girl Charlie is in love with. Mick even goes as far as to sit in on Charlie's classes and begin to wear "preppie" clothes around campus.

The movie keeps you in suspense and you are always on the edge of your seat wondering what Mick is going to do next. You real feel sorry for Charlie especially when he begins to care for Mick. At one point, he says he feels it's his duty to protect Mick. I think Charlie wonders what would have happened had Mick experienced a different and seemingly better childhood.

Overall, the film is extremely thought provoking and is beautifully filmed. A lot of the campus filming takes place at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. I was quite surprised as I knew beforehand that the movie was directed by Durst. I'd recommend picking this one up and get ready to have some remembrances of your childhood and college days!

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Watchmen - Metaphor For Our Economy?

2009-08-03T07:08:00.001-07:00

With the release of Watchmen on DVD and Blu-ray on 07.21.09 (as the studio likes to promote the date), many people will see this "what-if" movie for the first time. For others, it will be a re-visit to the first significant movie of 2009 to address issues relevant to our recessionary lives. It also marked the current low of the stock market, being released on March 6th (03.06.09) when the DOW was at 6626.09. Since then, the market has rallied 40% until falling back in the last few weeks.

Watchmen is a "what if" movie; what if Nixon had a 3rd term in office and what if America won the war in Vietnam? Change an event here or there and we have an alternate reality to consider. Would it be better than our current situation? What if superheroes were on America's side, helping us win wars or prevent wars, discover new technology or change the balance of power?

Investors play "what if" all the time. What if you sold out before Lehman Brothers? What if you had listened to that hot tip about Apple or Google? What if oil goes back over $100/barrel?

The point is, we have choices and we make decisions all the time. But what if, as in Watchmen, we let the smartest person in the world decide for us. Whatever the results, if that person is so smart, it must be good for us. What if millions die? What if individuals closest to us die? What if we don't even know this smart person is making these decisions? Would we let the smartest man decide for us all?

During the Enlightenment, society let benevolent despots do exactly that, decide for us all. Even now, investors abdicate decisions to smart people (experts) who tell us when and what to buy. We may not know the reasons or the logic behind the expert's thinking, but we trust them. We believe they have the answers. Trust is the basis of confidence. Trust is also at an all-time low, with the Madoff-type frauds, the gaps in regulations and oversight and the general market system which seems to be an insider's game.

The audience cheered for Rorschach after he was attacked in the prison cafeteria. He beats the hell out of his assailant and then stares down the prison population with these words: "I'm not locked in here with you, You're locked in here with me!" Rorschach is the movie's symbol of truth and integrity and, even locked away, he is in the power position.

At the end of Watchmen, after all the battles and millions of deaths, even after Rorschach the narrator is splattered into a red ink blot in the snow by Dr. Manhattan, the truth lives on. The story will be told through the crank files of the newspapers, where Rorschach's journal tells all. The story comes full circle again, back to the death of the Comedian and the yellow smiley face.

As the Comedian remarks, "I thought I knew how the world worked - I did bad things, but it was war."

The movie is book-ended by two Dylan songs, The Times They are A'Changin' and Desolation Row. We are somewhere in between these two tunes, like the characters in Watchmen. If I can paraphrase Dylan, "the loser now, will be later to win, for the economy, it is a'changin."

We just don't know exactly when it will all be back to "normal", if ever, but the changes are starting with Watchmen.

You owe it to yourself and your sanity to check out this movie on DVD. We need the truth and a return to the yellow smiley face to our everyday lives.

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World Cinema - Cinema From Around the Globe

2009-08-03T07:07:00.000-07:00

Many of us love to watch foreign language films. What is your favorite film? From which country? You might love to explore good cinema from all over the world, regardless of the native language. Films from the exotic countries of China, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Japan, Sweden and Spain are the only kinds you think of when you think movies. Those subtitles that so many find too excruciating to watch, add to the aura of your watching experience - in fact they become such a part of you that you think you're hearing English (or whatever), and so you don't even notice them! However it is sad that these great films that are often termed as "art house" or "independent" never receive more than a limited release and many are never played in major cinemas.

Going back some years, the only viewers for foreign films were the same who lined up to see the latest Jean Luc Godard, or Michelangelo Antonioni, or Akira Kurosawa. Foreign films became less appealing to audiences as the practices and themes of the French New Wave and other "foreign" schools were taken up by American directors, and several of the foreign filmmakers who made an impact, ended up in Hollywood. But are we saying there are no works of genius to see today? Surely not!

If works by Antonioni, Bergman, Fellini, Godard, Renoir, and Truffaut - are timeless today, masterworks by present day filmmakers such as Wong Kar Wai, Almodovar, Kiarostami, Ki-Duk-Kim, Majidi, and Del Toro, amongst many others, are just as winning and will be just as timeless tomorrow. Their films are not necessarily suffused with the kind of skepticism that formed the crux of the films that were released in the 60's - when people dashed in to see iconic films such as La Dolce Vita, Yojimbo and Shoot the Piano Player. World cinema today is a phenomenon that hardly conforms to the definitions set by the predecessors of the genre. Take movies such as Amelie, In the Mood for Love, Pan's Labyrinth, Y tu Mama Tambien, All About my Mother - all these are artistic and lucid films that are permeated with humane subjects such as life, love, death, identity and solidarity.

Watching these films can be an experience of reflection - you watch these with some thought rather than just taking them in. And of course they're great entertainment (as much as you might like to believe they're serious, uninteresting, mind numbing etc etc). Most of all, it is their artistic value that stands as superior, and the diverse cultures they represent make them a lot more interesting than Hollywood offerings. Even commercial foreign films are a lot more interesting owing to the knowledge they impart to us about the culture and background that made them.

While there is a deficiency in media and critical interest in foreign titles, there are few websites that are dedicated to movie reviews to find a foreign film that you may enjoy. Read reviews, pay attention, look at ratings and watch a preview of the movie before you decide to rent it out from a video store (quite a few of them have a shelf or two dedicated to foreign language films), or download it off the internet after having made your own judgment. Take my word on this - like it or not, you will be amazed by the insight these films will give you into the culture and life of another land.

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America's Favorite Disney Princess Movie

2009-07-26T03:31:00.003-07:00

Disney princesses are so popular among little girls and adults alike. There is something within their goodness and strength that appeals to young and old alike. While Disneyland is one of the most popular destination vacations on earth, Disney movies are items we can take with us when we travel, or simply watch at home making them convenient and a fun way to spend our time.

The most popular Disney movie of all time, according to a recent survey, indicate Snow White is number one. Snow White with her beautiful singing voice and flowing yellow, red, and blue dress has captivated audiences for decades. She is the post popular princess because she is fun, smart, witty, and of course beautiful.

The second most popular Disney movie is Peter pan. While there is no traditional princess in Peter Pan, Tinkerbell is a favorite among fairy lovers. Some even consider her to be a princess in her own right. She is beautiful and smart, just like Snow White, and super smart and kind just like the other princesses you might associate with Disney movies.

Next, is Sleeping Beauty in her signature, flowing pink dress and beautiful long blonde hair. While she sleeps in a deep, magical sleep under a spell, her prince kisses her and brings her back to life, a life worth living with your true love. Sleeping Beauty is one of the most popular princess dress up costumes on the market, so it's no wonder that Sleeping Beauty is a favorite among Disney movie fans,

Third, don't forget Cinderella! Cinderella is the quintessential princess with her flowing blue dress ready for a ball with her glass slipper in toe. Many young girls or adults can identify with her sweet personality and her ability to overcome amid overwhelming circumstances. She is a strong adult and willing to suffer through increasing hardships to eventually see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The fourth most popular Disney movie, is of course, Beauty and the Beast, starring princess Belle, meaning Beauty. Belle is the smartest in her villiage and turns down the most eligible bachelors in town because she is more interested in reading books. The looks beyond the outward appearance of the Beast, and falls in love easily with his gentle nature. Not only does her name reflect her inner beauty, but she is beautiful outwardly as well. What little girl does not love her amazing yellow dress, meant to twirl and turn at the ball.

Last, but not least, is the Little Mermaid, with princess Ariel, daughter of an undersea king who prefers not to let Ariel out of his sight. She collects human artifacts and makes a deal with the sea witch to get legs and meeting the sailor she loves, princes Eric. She is beautiful with her flowing red hair and her fun personality.

Whether your favorite is Cinderella or Tinkerbell, Disney movies are a great way to spend your spare time!

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The Film Adaptation of the Comic Deadworld is Set to Wow Zombie Movie Fans

2009-07-26T03:31:00.001-07:00

The hugely popular series of zombie comics Deadworld is going to be getting the full movie treatment. The comics became popular 25 years ago when the series of graphic novels garnered a loyal and dedicated fan base. Known for their particularly gruesome story lines and even more horrifying illustrations, the comic's fans revelled in the depictions of the undeads emaciated corpses, whose guts and internal organs often hung loose as they graced the covers of the series of graphic novels.

How the production company involved in creating the movie will be able to translate these unspeakable horrors onto the silver screen I just don't know. But what will set this movie apart from all the other zombie movies out there is its premise. As the movies hero will be King Zombie, yes the movies main character is an actual zombie. King Zombie is the leader of the undead and together they are out for revenge, and actively seeking the extinction of the human species.

This will be a very different and unquestionably unique movie experience compared to the standard formula that zombie fans have become accustom to, a formula created and championed by veteran film director and zombie movie maestro George A. Romero. Whose 70s zombie classic Diary of the Dead created what is now a very successful and lucrative movie franchise.

For zombie movie fans around the world Deadworld will be a twist on an old theme, and I think for that reason alone the movie will be exciting and refreshing to watch. However with the production not beginning until next year, it's going to be a while yet before fans can feast on what is set to be a flesh grindingly good movie.

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Top Shows of 2009 - Are You Tuning In?

2009-07-26T03:29:00.000-07:00

There's a whole lot of TV out there. A fair amount is just rehashed old plots, love stories, cheap FX that don't look so great in HD, cheaper reality TV shows that amuse you for all of five seconds, and second rate comedies featuring old stars from the eighties, it's amusing stuff, but it's not stellar TV, nothing to get excited about; but then there are the true screen gems that knock your socks off and you simply cannot get enough of them. These are shows that you love, just love like a second brother. They are shows you go out and get a satellite TV subscription for. Here's a look at some of the best shows of 2009.

In Treatment: This show, starring Gabriel Byrne is now in its second season. Byrne plays a shrink, who is dysfunctional in his own right; he has a thing for one of his patients and seems to totter on the brink of going too far. Each episode features the good Dr. Weston in a session with one of his five patients. You've got a range of characters, played by an extremely adept cast. The show is well executed. It's refreshing, smart and features plain old fashioned good storytelling. As is so often the case, you can only catch this little prime time pearl with a satellite TV subscription, as it airs on HBO.

Breaking Bad: In Breaking Bad (another satellite TV pick, on HBO only) actor Bryan Cranston (the father in Malcom in the Middle) plays Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who is in need of some extra dough for his lung cancer treatment. To spare his family the burden, he decides to take his chemistry skills and put them to real use manufacturing top quality drugs. He teams up with a student whom he flunked and sells the best crystal meth ever, which gets him mixed up with some pretty strange characters. This show is original, it's witty and funny, and it's addicting. You can't not watch once you've started.

Mad Men: This is what happens when you dive way back into the sixties and combine great sartorial sense with the world of advertising. All the critics love this show. It's gotten heaps of praise and affection from all sorts of well meaning smart people. Still it seems that not enough people have caught this AMC gem. Mad Men is an odd creature. There's no action, no black humor, no hijinks, no HD worthy special effects (however, the duds are killer and very worth the HD), and it's set back in the 1960s. It's a sophisticated show with well crafted characters and complex storylines. It's just good TV.

Fringe: Fringe is actually on Fox. It's a show about the paranormal. Weird deaths, a loopy scientist, Pacey from Dawson's Creek and government conspiracies make this show interesting. There's definitely an X-files like vibe here.

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The Top Five War Movies of All Time Now on Satellite TV

2009-07-14T23:24:00.003-07:00

We all know that war is hell. Perhaps that is why we are drawn to the films that dramatize or even lighten the burden wars place on our society. We want to see someone make sense of it all. Here are the five best war movies ever made, now playing on satellite TV.

5. M*A*S*H*. While trying to concoct the perfect martini and pulling off elaborate practical jokes, you'd be surprised the doctors in M*A*S*H* were involved a war at all. Treating the whole thing like an absurd conspiracy pulled off by invisible powers, Robert Altman makes as bold a statement as any "serious" war film. You'll laugh your head off and start thinking, later. This groundbreaking film is a staple on the Independent Film Channel in high definition.

4. From Here to Eternity. The film that launched Frank Sinatra's Hollywood comeback, From Here To Eternity is a tense exercise in army politics set on pre-WWII Pearl Harbor just before the Japanese attack. The viewer is treated to brilliant performances from Montgomery Clift, Burt Lancaster and of course, Sinatra, who won the Oscar for his portrayal of Maggio. For a behind-the-scenes look, find Turner Classic Movies on your satellite TV program guide and watch host Robert Osborne introduce the finest from Hollywood's Golden Age.

3. The Great Escape. Probably the best representation of the word "blockbuster," this film combines an all-star macho cast (Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson) with a script that follows their attempts to escape from a Nazi POW camp during WWII. McQueen's presence is electrifying, especially during his wild escape attempt on a motorcycle. Director John Sturges somehow managed to pull off this behemoth of a war film.

2. Platoon. Director Oliver Stone served in Vietnam and used his experiences to compose the finest script of his accomplished career. Following the tour of infantryman Chris (Charlie Sheen) as he sees the dark side of war, Platoon is a harrowing, brutal look at the way war can turn a soldier into a bloodthirsty animal. Not for the faint of heart, this film is a regular on satellite TV's premium movie channels, viewer discretion advised.

1. Apocalypse Now. The film that announced the arrival of a new type of war film, Coppola's Apocalypse Now has an epic scope while maintaining its tight focus on one man: Willard (Martin Sheen), an army captain sent to find and kill Kurtz (Marlon Brando), a rogue army man himself. We follow Willard in his journey down-river in Vietnam, slowly losing his mind as he proceeds. A gigantic film with some of the best explosions ever, Apocalypse sets a stunning visual and psychological tone and is the best of the war genre. Satellite TV is now featuring the director's cut.

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The Five Best Humphrey Bogart Films Not Named Casablanca on Satellite TV

2009-07-14T23:24:00.001-07:00

To think of Humphrey Bogart is in many ways to think of classic film itself. He is that tough, cynical presence who is noble to the end. His character in Casablanca probably crystallizes that persona more than any other film, but it's just one stop along a tour of Bogart's brilliant career. Here are his five top films other than Casablanca now playing on satellite TV.

5. To Have and Have Not. The film that started the Bogart-Bacall highlight reel (and love affair), you'd be hard-pressed to find a more incendiary screen debut than Bacall's in this film. "You know how to whistle, Steve, don't you? You just put your lips together and blow." Bacall sizzles, but Bogart drives the action, reprising that noble loner persona from Casablanca with aplomb. Any Bogart birthday celebration on satellite TV's Turner Classic Movies is bound to showcase this Howard Hawks film.

4. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Directed by the legendary John Huston, a frequent collaborator of Bogart's, this film features a petty and ruthless Bogart not often seen in his star days. A tribute to Bogart's disdain for celebrity, his performance keys a movie all about desperation and greed. Watch it in HD for the stunning cinematography of the American Southwest.

3. The Maltese Falcon. The film that really got Bogart rolling, Huston's first film is a film noir classic and as crisp a film as you will ever see. Propelled by Bogart's fast-talking, face-slapping detective Sam Spade, the story follows a group of international scoundrels as they scratch and claw in pursuit of an elusive (and priceless) black statuette. Perhaps a little static in its camera movement, Huston nonetheless elicits terrific performances from Bogart and supporting actors Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet (in his debut). The Falcon is the "stuff dreams are made of," based on the Dashiell Hammett novel, and there is a high body count to back up the claim.

2. In A Lonely Place. Perhaps the least-known of Bogart's best movies, In A Lonely Place showcases the intelligence and acting skill of our favorite leading man. Directed by Nicholas Ray (who later made Rebel Without a Cause), the film follows the life of Dix, a troubled Hollywood screenwriter whose violent temper leads him to being suspected of murder. Gloria Grahame, Ray's wife at the time, delivers her best performance as well in this chilling classic, a must-see in HD on TCM.

1. The Big Sleep. Re-uniting Bogart, Bacall and director Hawks, The Big Sleep is the film that features Bogart at his all-around best. Tough as nails, charming, insolent and fearless, Bogart's portrayal of private detective Philip Marlowe is a landmark in film noir as well as an example of Hollywood production at its very best. The epitome of the word classic, this movie is in heavy rotation on satellite TV networks like TCM.

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The 5 Greatest Films of the Nineties Now Playing on Satellite TV

2009-07-14T23:22:00.000-07:00

The 1990s now seem like a simpler time, when presidential affairs were the country's primary concern, no one texted anyone and Anthony Hopkins was a good actor for quaint British dramas. While we live in a totally different era, having turned the page on the twentieth century, the 1990s really weren't that long ago. Here are the five greatest films to come out of the decade, all to be found on satellite TV.

5. Reservoir Dogs. Quentin Tarantino's debut sent tidal waves through the industry, as the arrival of "a new Scorsese" was being heralded. Regardless of the hype, Reservoir Dogs is remarkable for its crisp direction, sparkling script and terrific ensemble cast. Whether you're rooting for Mr. Pink or hoping Mr. Orange will make it out alive, you'll find a wildly entertaining film which owes as much to Hong Kong cinema as to Scorsese and has been a part of pop culture ever since.

4. Unforgiven. Witness the return of the Western in a big way with Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven. Featuring Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman at their best, Eastwood managed to keep the genre relevant and take home a slew of awards in the process. See the way he uses modern technology to shoot night scenes, an impossibility in old Westerns but one of the trademarks of this film in HD.

3. Goodfellas. Talk about leaving your heart on film -- Scorsese seems to exhaust his limitless resources with this piece of virtuoso filmmaking. De Niro is as great as ever, but Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci really seem liberated and drive this thrilling work to its inevitable conclusion. Check your satellite TV program guide and gear up for multiple hours of comedy, violence and social commentary from one of America's finest directors.

2. JFK. For all of his daring and controversial films, Oliver Stone really caused a stir with this one. To say it re-ignited the JFK assassination debate is an absurd understatement, as it put many living public figures back on the hot seat. Besides its claims and explorations, JFK is a work of extraordinary technique and features the best editing you will ever see. Kevin Costner stars, along with Joe Pesci, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Bacon, Sissy Spacek and more, an avalanche of a film featured in HD on the Independent Film Channel.

1. The Silence of the Lambs. Propelled by one of the best performances of the '90s, Silence of the Lambs is a film that sticks in the mind of every viewer that has ever seen it. Taut direction by Jonathan Demme, convincing work by Jodie Foster and an acting clinic by Anthony Hopkins make this one of the best American films of the century and definitely the best of the decade. Check Showtime's HD networks for programming.

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Star Trek Has Arrived

2009-05-22T08:12:00.001-07:00

Star Trek has been popular for decades. It has gained popularity with comic book readers, addicted television watchers, and movie lovers. Star Trek fans can see their favorite characters, such as Captain Kirk, Spock, James, and Uhara, come alive in the new release by Jeffrey Jacobs, "J.J." Abrams. The Star Trek movie features actors Chris Pine, John Cho, Zachary Quinto, and many other amazing actors. J.J. Abrams is an award winning director who was a great choice for directing this movie. Star Trek fans, also known as Trekkies, would be hard to disappoint because he was in the director's chair. He has won both Emmy and Golden Globe awards for his work.

The new release is the eleventh Star Trek movie based on the franchise. The science fiction movie is filled with action and adventure. What's different and unique about this movie is that it previews the history of characters James Tiberius Kirk and Spock. It tells of their journey about how they started their careers on the USS Enterprise. The plot of the movie is an exciting one. The opening scenes of the movie show an attack against the USS Kelvin by a Romulan vessel, Narada. James Kirk's life begins during the attack because he was born during all the fighting. The movie then continues on 22 years after the attack when James is an adult.

At a bar in Iowa, James meets captain Pike and a love interest, Uhara. After a bar brawl, Captain Pike convinces James to straighten up his life, use his intelligence, and join the Starfleet academy. Upon arrival of the academy, James runs into Uhara and the guys he fought at the bar. However, that didn't stop him from doing so well in the academy. He also sits next to Dr. Leonard McCoy, who soon becomes one of his good friends. James excels in the academy and beats an unbeatable test; instincts just like his father. Some of the students from the Starfleet Academy were called to join the USS enterprise because there was an attack in space. James wasn't chosen because he was accused of cheating on a test, but his friend Dr. McCoy sneaks him on the USS Enterprise.

The action and adventure continues with the USS Enterprise fighting off Nero, captain of the Narada. Nero destroyed a Vulcan empire and had plans to destroy Earth. James Kirk is promoted to a first officer and then becomes captain. He and Spock work together to defeat the Narada. The best way to find out if the Narada is defeated is to see the movie and watch the action.

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Scariest Horror Movies

2009-05-22T08:11:00.002-07:00

Everyone loves a good horror movie. The best ones don't often rely on great HD special effects, although a great many have excelled in that area. Here's a list some of the most frightening, hair raising and just plain scary horror movies that have ever been made. Remember that you can catch many of these movies on your satellite TV movies channels.

Arachnophobia: This 1990 movie starring John Goodman features those eight legged creatures so many of us fear. Spiders rule in this movie. They attack humans and wreak general chaos, causing quite a bit of destruction in their wake. This movie will send chills down your spine, because spiders are just plain creepy. Be sure to check your satellite TV guide to watch this movie.

The Innocents: This 1961 movie is based on the Henry James' novella Turn of the Screw. Ghosts real or imaginary, you decide, make this movie quite the scare-fest. Although there are no big special effects nor high definition shots, this movie is pretty scary.

The Wicker Man: The original Wicker Man and not the Nicholas Cage remake is definitely a lot creepier. It's filled with atmospheric nuances that keep you wondering. In the movie a British police officer heads out to a remote island which plays home to an odd cultish group of inhabitants. Although this horror movie isn't packed with once a minute thrills it is well worth the watch.

Rosemary's Baby: This Roman Polanski movie is seriously creepy. Two people, Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse move into an apartment that has a less than great reputation and then bad things start to happen. This classic is a must see. Again flip through your satellite TV guide to find out when you can catch this gem of a horror film.

The Brood: This 1979 film focuses on a husband who has it in for his wife's therapist. He wants to get a look at his techniques that he uses on his mental patient wife. There's a lot of blood and gore in this film a long with a gang of mutant children. This is one of the weirder horror films around.

Eraserhead: David Lynch is known for his odd and surreal works and this one is definitely one of the odder ones from his oeuvre. Eraserhead uses a lot of weird imagery to unsettle you. Eraserhead's misshapen son will definitely make your hairs stand on end.

Amityville Horror: A young family movies into their first home. The home happens to be haunted. Bad things ensue. A ghost screams at a priest to get out and there are glowing red eyes in the walls. It's based on a true story too.

Saw: These movie series is known for its gruesome, gory scenes. Limbs get chopped off. Blood splatters every where. Jigsaw, the serial killer behind all of this gore, is more than happy to play games with his poor victims. Watch this in HD to get the most of the visuals.

The Grudge: This Japanese horror movie definitely made a mark. From the ghost boy to the massive amounts of black ghost hair, this horror flick will leave you quaking in your boots. HD is a must.

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Al Pacino Lights Up Satellite Television

2009-05-22T08:11:00.001-07:00

Live fast, die young and leave a good-looking corpse. It's the mantra of the image-obsessed, hothead rebels of American history. In the case of film history, it found a reality in stars like Jayne Mansfield and James Dean, both of whom met their demise well before their time. For Dean, his meteoric rise to stardom and sudden death meant the ultimate immortal status, as his films have remained a shining example of unfulfilled promise. However, when it comes to the enduring legends of the screen, it is not so easy to grow old.

Take the case of Al Pacino, one of the finest actors in American film history. Pacino came on the scene in the early 1970s with Panic in Needle Park before climbing to the heights of the industry with a breathtaking performance in The Godfather, Parts I and II. You might say there was only one way to go after that (down), but Pacino merely used the mafia classic as a springboard for his remarkable career. Flipping through a satellite tv program guide these days, one can see just how high he went and, at times, how the complicated art of filmmaking can leave some of its greatest actors looking ridiculous.

For what seemed like several decades, Pacino held the title (along with Robert DeNiro) as tops in his trade. Though both appeared in The Godfather, they never appeared in character together until 1995's Heat (though they never appear in the same frame together). In fact, it didn't truly happen until 2008's Righteous Kill, now lighting up premium movie channels on satellite television. Some have laughed at this film as a long-overdue exercise in matching stars together, but Pacino never dials in a performance.

He followed his success with The Godfather by taking on roles that showcased his versatility as an actor. For example, anyone unfamiliar with Serpico has not seen the real Al Pacino. As the bearded, bohemian cop who refused to become a part of the corrupt NYPD culture, Pacino went miles away from Michael Corleone. Another departure was 1973's Scarecrow, an unconventional film co-starring Gene Hackman, shown periodically on Showtime's HD channels. Focusing on the lives of two drifters, it recalls the Beat Generation more than any Hollywood tradition, with Pacino delivering a heartbreaking performance.

Pacino went on to star in Dog Day Afternoon and the gangster epic Scarface, which cemented his position at the top of the acting world. But it wasn't until 1993's Scent of a Woman that Oscar finally came calling. Perhaps one of his flashiest performances, Pacino's character in Scent of a Woman represented for some critics an example of the self-parody which sometimes will occur with actors as they age. Say what you will, it is a stirring movie, and Pacino showed courage in refusing to go gently into that good night. He hasn't allowed the critics to subdue his experimentation. Who knows what would have happened to James Dean? It's not easy to grow old and continue to keep audiences riveted. Watching Al Pacino practice his craft -- especially these days on high definition tv -- you'll see that he created a body of work that's difficult to top.

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Do UK Soaps Subconsciously Promote a Booze Culture?

2009-05-09T08:51:00.001-07:00

There have been many successful TV soaps in the UK including Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and a vast array of others but are UK soaps subconsciously promoting a booze culture amongst the young of the UK?

Eastenders

The vast majority of scenes in Eastenders are centred round the Queen Vic public house which has seen weddings, deaths, scandal and intrigue. It seems as though everybody in Eastenders has at some point entered the pub no matter what age they are.

Coronation Street

The Rovers Return has been central to Coronation Street for over 50 years and, much like the Queen Vic, it has seen its fair share of scandals and intrigue. While youngsters are not often seen in the Rovers Return there is no doubt that it is a very important element of the show.

Emmerdale

Emmerdale is probably the main promoter of the booze culture in the UK, even though it is perhaps the most laid-back and less controversial of the UK soaps. They Woolpack has seen more than its fair share of deaths, fights, intrigue and interesting storylines and as with many other soaps it would appear that everybody has been through those doors at some stage.

These are just three of the main UK soaps which are centred round drinking and public houses and which many people now blame for promotion of the booze culture in the UK. It is easy to forget that while it is illegal to drink in a public house if you are under 18, there are large elements of very young children and young adults who watch UK soaps.

To these young adults and young children, drinking and public houses are accepted as part of everyday life from a very early stage which can have implications in the future. Whether it is correct to centre UK soaps round a public house is very debatable and an argument which has been ongoing for many years.

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Which Character in Eastenders Would You Be?

2009-05-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

Award-winning BBC soap Eastenders has a vast array of characters which many people relate to, despise, love and hate. But if you could choose just one character out of the show to reflect your own personality who would it be?

Dot Cotton

Dot Cotton has been in the show from many years although the vast majority of her storylines have been depressing, slightly alarming and in some cases life-threatening. Her son Nick has returned on numerous occasions to try and "finish her off" and while she has learnt her lesson over the last few months she appears to be the type of person who can see no wrong in anybody.

Max Branning

Max Branning is a very strange and complex character who is difficult to read, difficult to understand and very difficult to relate to. He is the type of person who seems to want more and is often willing to sacrifice happiness and stability in the pursuit of dangerous thrills and spills. However, despite his confident manner he always seems to get caught!

Ronnie and Roxie Mitchell

Ronnie and Roxie Mitchell are two of the most well liked characters in Eastenders as many younger children seem to be able to relate to their look, their style and their way of life. While many older viewers of Eastenders will not necessarily agree with their lifestyle, their social life and their activities they do in many ways reflect society of today.

Bradley Branning

Bradley is your stereotypical downtrodden male who always manages to mess up, be used and often comes across as one of life's "losers". However, there are various characteristics within Bradley Branning which many young people can relate to as they grow up in the world of today. He has a heart of gold but sometimes his heart rule his head and he often ends up with the "rough end of the stick".

Ian Beale

If there is one character in Eastenders who attracts widespread criticism and in many cases widespread hatred it is Ian Beale. He is your stereotypical "mouthpiece" who has a view about everything and given the opportunity would make life difficult for anybody. He is a taker as opposed to a giver, and like many of this type of person, he is very often found out. Brave on the surface but a cowered in reality, that is Ian Beale!

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Is Eastenders As Depressing As Some People May Have You Believe?

2009-05-09T08:49:00.000-07:00

While there is no doubt that the award-winning BBC soap Eastenders is becoming a worldwide phenomenon, why is it so depressing?

The vast majority of successful TV shows have been upbeat, funny and full of life but all we ever hear about with Eastenders is depressing storylines, deaths and bad news. However, when you consider the life of Eastenders we have seen some funny storylines, weddings, good news and some very entertaining plots but it would appear that we only remember the depressing and sad episodes.

For a soap such as Eastenders to have lasted so long is a testament to the ability and skill of the various scriptwriters who have been employed by the show. While the recent storyline regarding Danielle Mitchell and Ronnie Mitchell has seen the show receive significant bad press, in the world of soaps there is no such thing as bad press. Despite the fact that thousands of people have complained and claim they will never watch Eastenders again, viewing figures remain fairly unmoved and the threat of a boycott appears to be waning.

The truth is that while Eastenders probably has more than its fair share of depressing and sad storylines it is fun, there are good characters and the acting is perhaps second to none in the world of soaps (although viewers of Coronation Street may disagree). We only seem to remember the depressing storylines for some strange reason but then again maybe the whole reason for watching a soap is to see others "suffering", which makes our lives seem that little bit better?

When you also consider that Eastenders, despite the thick cockney accents, has been sold to many TV channels and satellite stations around the world, the writers must be doing something right. The show is more popular overseas than ever before and while UK viewing figures may not currently be reaching the highs of years gone by, they are still a very acceptable in what is a cut-throat business.

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The Father-Son Relationship in Psych, the TV Show

2009-04-10T21:28:00.003-07:00

The father-son dynamic is very central to the Psych TV show. Henry Spencer and Shawn Spencer carry the dramatic weight of this whole show. This is the cleaver function of the flashbacks of Shawn's childhood at the beginning of most episodes.

The show is about these two friends, Gus and Shawn. Well, the show is actually mostly about Shawn. Shawn since childhood has had incredible mental abilities to analyze details in order to solve problems. Since he was a child, his father has already been training his mental observation skills thinking that the boy will also grow up to be a great officer of the law just like his old man. Fast forward to the present, Shawn is watching news coverage of a crime. He notices details, puts two and two together like the genius that he is and solves the crime. He calls the police to tip them; the police follow the tip, but then think that Shawn must be in on the crime because they figure that only an insider would have access to such knowledge. As they were about the arrest Shawn, Shawn pretends to be a psychic fooling the police and the crowd present by displaying his mental powers and guessing correctly about personal information just by observing details from those present. Ever since then, he's been forced to ride along the ruse in order to avoid suspicion. He has become a consultant to the Santa Barbara Police Department because of his "talent."

Now, the father son archetypical relationship that is milked by the Psych TV series really yields a lot of juice. Henry Spencer had such high hopes for his son. But Shawn is just a wacky free spirited kind of dude. Which is not really so bad, in fact, his shenanigans are what gives the show such life. It's mostly a fun con romp and silliness.

There is this one episode though, when Shawn, after a long series of convoluted cons was running down the football field in full football gear, with the song We Are the Champions by Queen, blaring in full cheesiness. Then, there is a reaction shot of Henry Spencer and he is doing something very unlike him. He was smiling. He was smiling as his sun was basking in cheesy glory.

That scene was really something else. It was not because of the funny situation or the Queen song. It was the smile on Henry Spencer's face. He was proud of his son. I wish there were a lot more moments like this in Psych TV show episodes. Despite all of Henry's disapproval of Shawn's wild and unorthodox (to say the least) methods and career, he was still happy of the great work his son is doing with his life.

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Beverly Hills 90210 TV Show's Effect on Girls

2009-04-10T21:28:00.001-07:00

Is the effect of Beverly Hills 90210 TV show good or bad?

Almost all little girls grow up and dream of becoming a princess in a castle and find their prince on a white horse. The usually grow up thinking that the prince will take care of everything. It doesn't enter their young minds that they would also have to take care of themselves. And when they grow up, they will look for their prince, this boyfriend who will cater to their needs. Their criteria for men are limited to this. They care less about the kind of job or passions the man has, and more about whether or not the man can support her. It is very self-centered to think that way of course, but a lot of these girls blame the media for this mentality and not take accountability.

A lot of girls I know have grown up with watching Beverly Hills 90210. I talked to them about their poor choice of men and their failing relationships. They all seem to realize later in life that the images of women the 90210 TV show portrayed were what contributed to their present taste in men. This seems logical enough. A lot of people blame the media for their education. Killers, murderers, and rapists can all be quite easily gain access to violence and pornography through the medium of film. But this argument cannot be definitive. Once can't keep on blaming the media. For isn't the media simply a reflection of the advancements in our society and our collective morals and beliefs that are changed by events and advancements? However, though it is a reflection, it is still undeniably a force of change in itself. So which one came first, the chicken or the egg?

Every night when the 90210 TV show was aired, young impressionable little girls would tune in to find out if pretty boy Dylan was dating either Kelly or Brenda. The girls loved the bad ass image Dylan exuded. My friends told me that they found his ability to take care of his girl to be such a turn on. He had a lot of money and that was what he used to "take care" of them.

Now, there is a new cast of characters for the show. I have been watching the show and I see that not much has changed. They have just amplified the sex though. The characters are also so thin. Shenea looks like she has some form of eating disorder. It could be either bulimia or anorexia. Ok, so all of that are just rumors. What is undeniable though is the fact that they are so skinny. And this is the new thing that they are promoting to young girls everywhere.

The television show that best describes my reason behind my mate selection is Beverly Hills, 90210. Every Wednesday night at 8pm, I would tune in to find out who Dylan McKay was dating that week, would it be Brenda or Kelly? I just loved the bad boy image. There was just something about him that was just so attractive, and the best thing about him was that he could support any girl he was with. He had the funds to take care of his girlfriend. So, that Dylan McKay image is what I based my mate search on, having a sexy appearance and stable enough to take care of me. Like I said earlier, I'm not a gold-digger, I just want to be taken care of, and if you have an issue with that...blame it on the media.

Mass media sets the standard in acceptable ways for me to portray my love type. Many people think that I am a director, because I have good leadership skills, but in actuality my leadership is limited due to social acceptance (i.e. harsh demands, screaming and yelling is socially unacceptable). Having a director love type with the mass media all around me, I have found out that society makes me look bad. Strong, straightforward, decision-makers, who are directors, are always portrayed as the rude, bossy, bitch that nobody likes, either male or female. Society gives off the vibe that you have to be a bitch to make good decisions, but that is not the case for me. I know what I want and I go after it, but that doesn't make me a bitch, just ambitious.

The television show that best describes my reason behind my mate selection is Beverly Hills, 90210. Every Wednesday night at 8pm, I would tune in to find out who Dylan McKay was dating that week, would it be Brenda or Kelly? I just loved the bad boy image. There was just something about him that was just so attractive, and the best thing about him was that he could support any girl he was with. He had the funds to take care of his girlfriend. So, that Dylan McKay image is what I based my mate search on, having a sexy appearance and stable enough to take care of me. Like I said earlier, I'm not a gold-digger, I just want to be taken care of, and if you have an issue with that...blame it on the media.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joel_Owens

A Front Row Ticket to the Game

2009-04-10T21:27:00.000-07:00

If there's one reason to invest in good quality television, it's the opportunity to watch some of the world's best sports events live.

Sports channels air interesting events from around the world, and now more than ever sports fans are choosing to stay at home to watch the game. Recent research has found that the emotion of exciting matches is not lost on those who watch from home.

And it's an exciting time to tune in to the world of sports. The RBS Six Nations Championships are currently underway, and more than ever fans are crowding into pubs and staying home to watch the rugby matches on television.

Add to that the excitement that surrounds football, including the English Premier League, and there's more reason to tune in to exceptional coverage of football on HD television. The Premier League season runs each year from August to May, and digital television brings crisp quality and outstanding visuals to fans - helping them enjoy the games even more.

The Champions League also proves to be a big attraction for sports fans alike. The opportunity to see some of the best football teams from Europe play is sure to draw many sports fans to their television screens to cheer on their favourite team.

Digital and satellite television also boasts the ability for sports fans to watch games and tournaments that happen elsewhere in the world. Many channels offer prime coverage of baseball and cricket, and the popularity of sports like Formula One racing are sure to increase when viewers catch the races on high definition television.

Sports fans of all kinds will feel like they're right in the crowd when they tune in to matches and games featuring their favourite teams on high definition television. And sports fans who don't currently receive all the channels they need to watch their favourite sports, will be happy to know that the current plan for digital switchover brings more television channels into the home - meaning more sports to enjoy.

Sports fans will surely see a difference when they choose to watch the game through digital television. Digital TV provides sports fans with unparalleled access to the match through HD television. And you won't have to worry about conflicting game times either if you choose to invest in a digital video recorder. Digital recorders record everything you want to see in order to let you watch it later, so why not tune in and cheer along when you're watching your favourite teams play live again on digital television?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Singleton

Race to Witch Mountain

2009-04-04T00:50:00.002-07:00

"Race to Witch Mountain" (quality rating: 7 out of 10)

Director: Andy Fickman

Screenwriter: Matt Lopez, Mark Bomback, Andy Fickman

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds.

Time: 1 hr., 39 min.

Rating: PG (violence, scary, dangerous situations, disturbing thematic elements)

Good family fun with almost non-stop action. And most of the time it actually works at many levels.

Brazenly starring a 12-year-old boy and girl as space aliens in order to help market the film, "Race to Witch Mountain" has enough time-tested Walt Disney technique and basic content to make it a very manageable family sci-fi flick. Saturated with big-scale EFX and demolition derbies, much of it is almost monotonously repetitive in tone. There is fantasy, magic, telekinesis, molecular manipulation and all the usual inconsistencies of supernatural power manipulation.

And darned if Dwayne Johnson doesn't handle his lines with a serviceable comic value.

Mom and pop can expect titters from more than a fair share of pompous government agents, a smattering of silly mob goons and a few serious sci-fi concepts about the fate of Planet Earth.

In polished technique, of course, Disney has never done anything less than world class. The sci-fi marvels come off seamlessly. The plot values are ingrained with just enough universal appeal to make you appreciate that you could have spent your precious life's moments in more wasteful ways.

The high-octane adventure thriller (right from the start), designed as almost a satire on the genre, contains many a joke upon itself.

So, at the start, a UFO has landed. A Homeland Security agent, Burke (Ciaran Hinds) is bearing down on the site with total military backing.

Meantime, over in Las Vegas. It happens that a certain ex-con cab driver, Jack Bruno (Dwayne Johnson), will enter the picture. The poor guy is really trying to go straight but, in that oft-told story, mob thugs need his services and try to recruit him as a getaway driver. Right now he's just trying to do his job. One fare is Dr. Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino), an astrophysicist who's to give a lecture at a UFO conference.

Next day his fares will be two pre-teens, Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig), who, unbeknownst to him, are actually extraterrestrials who came off that UFO. It had been later seized by Burke's crew and moved off to a top secret U.S. government installation hidden deep within Witch Mountain.

The two kids can read minds, perform magic and do telekenesis. They figure they need Bruno's help to evade the SWAT teams and, of course, getting wiped out by a terminator agent from their own planet.

The government agents and the mob will add considerable spice to the action.

With some medium heavyweight warnings about the fate of Earth and an overall classy film quality, give the film a decent salute for competent entertainment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marty_Meltz

The Last House on the Left

2009-04-04T00:50:00.001-07:00

"The Last House on the Left" (quality rating: 6 out of 10)

Director: Dennis Iliadis

Screenwriter: Carl Ellsworth, re-make based on the 1972 hit

Wes Craven film

Starring: Tony Goldwyn, Monica Potter, Sara Paxton, Garret Dillahunt

Time: 1 hr., 50 min.

Rating: R (violence including a rape and disturbing images, vulgarity, nudity, some drug use)

Yeah, but what's the point?

"The Last House on the Left" is a recollection of horrormeister Wes Craven and Sean Cunningham's 1972 film that launched a grisly genre of fright flicks for the next generation. Actually, that film was a re-work of Ingmar Bergman's controversial 1960 picture, "The Virgin Spring," which got the Oscar for the 1961 Best Foreign Language Film. The Craven film was an ugly theme of kidnapping and sadistic rape which subsequently set off filmmakers' imaginations, giving birth to slashing and bodily mutilation galore in near-future movies.

The current offering is a movie in which each and every conflict, confrontation and motive is projected at you with crystal clarity with crystal clarity and first-rate production values, yet has nothing to tell you except that violent road thugs do exist and by all rights should get mauled and torn to pieces by those decent folks upon whom they prey.

Intricately measured for audience outrage and anger, plus superb suspense in many supercharged moments, very seriously played out by the lead performers with well-nuanced reactions, it gives admirable attention to often spellbinding emotional pauses and cautious delivery.

In particular, Monica Potter's role as the mother is done quite beyond the call of duty and must be grandly appreciated. The actress delivers an ever tense, subtle and expressive display of apprehensive and fearful responses at often stunning levels.

That said, it must be noted -- what a waste!

There's actually nothing here but mean people who obviously must be killed by nice people because of their sadistic, bloodthirsty and unspeakable deeds. Nothing new is added here, no hooks, tricks or quirks of philosophy or other exposition about our degenerated society, the inner, unique decay in the daranged head of the modern sociopath, nothing about twisted violence. The rape scene here is agonizingly detailed lust, given the boundless fury which the film wants to incite. But it says no more than such an act does happen.

In the current, the story portrays the extremes of the revenge by two perfectly "ordinary" parents, that is, a surgeon father, John (Tony Goldwyn), and a very young mother, Emma (Monica Potter), who will seek to exact justice upon the sociopaths who so badly emotionally and physically damaged their 17-year-old daughter Mari (Sara Paxton) who's a champion swimmer.

It had been that night at her parents' remote lakeside home, which, of importance, has a detached guesthouse and dock, that Mari and her friend (Martha MazIsaac) unwittingly began their ordeal. This had been touched off when a scruffy but gentle fellow in town, Justin (Spencer Treat Clark), got them to come to the motel where he's staying -- he doesn't say with whom -- to get them to score on some top-grade weed. But suddenly Justin's father Krug, his woman Sadie (Riki Lindho) and "Uncle" Francis (Aaron Paul), already shown to be homocidal thieves and hunted by the police, return and claim that the girls are a security risk. These scumbags then grab the girls and, in Mari's dad's SUV, take them off. The girls attempt escape, which only makes matters worse.

After some grisly and gruesome happenings in the woods into which the assailants unknowingly have chosen a turn-off right near Mari's parents's place, these including a rape, they run off and hide in, again unbeknownst to them, Mari's parent's cottage.

When her family learns the whole horrifying story, they will be drawn into their counter-attack on the villains which will have blood and gore galore all over the place.

Oh, yes, you will pay attention. But you may well feel guilty about it when it's all over.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marty_Meltz