Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Friday, November 07, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Neo's passport
The Matrix movie was released in 1999. Neo's passport expiration from the interrogation scene: 9/11/2001. WTF? Neo was a terrorist.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Thank You For Smoking
Another movie I saw today. An excellent comedy of the spin-masters who manipulate public opinion.
The Secret of Santa Vittoria
I saw the Secret of Santa Vittoria tonight ... pretty good movie if you can find it. It tells the story of a drunk, turned mayor of a small village, after the fall of Mussolini. When the Nazis come marching in looking for wine, the village pulls off an elaborate ruse, secretly stashing their wine until the Germans leave. It's a comedy, but it doesn't let you forget there was a war going going on -- or that the Nazis were evil.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Son of Rambow
I saw this last week with my daughters. I enjoyed it, although the trailer makes it out to be lot funnier than it is. It is funny, but touching.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Friday, July 04, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 01, 2008
D-War Movie Trailer
I saw this sometime back ... it's currently showing on the big screen in Shanghai. The effects are amazing, but the story is weak.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Enron - The Smartest Guys In The Room
Are people really sheep? Most, disappointingly, are. Some are wolves. And a rare few try to keep the wolves from the sheep. They are haplessly outnumbered however. In the 1970s, Stanley Milgram conducted a series of social psychology experiments, in which he measured the willingness of people to obey an authority figure that instructed them to inflict pain on others. Surprisingly, a great deal of us would obey an authority figure, even if the acts we are asked to perform, goes against our morals, ethics and conscience.
The Milgram Experiment
It is no surprise then to learn of the evil that transpired at Enron during its rise. Enron, for those who don't know, was an energy company founded in 1985, that at its peak, had a claimed revenue stream of $111 billion. Of course, there wasn't much substance to Enron. At its heart, it was a financial company, trading in energy futures. It was also a slave to the market, and from the top down, it practiced a culture of making money and maintaining its stock price, above all else. Even if that meant breaking the law; stealing; committing fraud; and manipulating governments. With friends in high places -- CEO, Kenneth Lay, was very good friends of both Bush senior and junior -- Enron did what it wanted, and its accomplices, which included the largest US investment banks and accounting firm Arthur Andersen, ripped off countless Americans. All of this and more is chronicled in the documentary, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room -- which can be seen in its entirety below.
The Milgram Experiment
It is no surprise then to learn of the evil that transpired at Enron during its rise. Enron, for those who don't know, was an energy company founded in 1985, that at its peak, had a claimed revenue stream of $111 billion. Of course, there wasn't much substance to Enron. At its heart, it was a financial company, trading in energy futures. It was also a slave to the market, and from the top down, it practiced a culture of making money and maintaining its stock price, above all else. Even if that meant breaking the law; stealing; committing fraud; and manipulating governments. With friends in high places -- CEO, Kenneth Lay, was very good friends of both Bush senior and junior -- Enron did what it wanted, and its accomplices, which included the largest US investment banks and accounting firm Arthur Andersen, ripped off countless Americans. All of this and more is chronicled in the documentary, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room -- which can be seen in its entirety below.
Koyaanisqatsi: Life out of Balance
Prepare to experience a truly remarkable filma cinematic masterpiece so extraordinary that it regales the senses, stimulates the mind and actually 'redefines the potential of filmmaking (The Hollywood Reporter). Celebrated director Godfrey Reggio, innovative cinematographer Ron Fricke and Golden Globe-winning* composer Philip Glass have created a 'spellbinding [film] so rich in beauty and detail that with each viewing it becomes a new and different film (Leonard Maltin). Unique profound mesmerizing and thought-provoking (Boxoffice), Koyaanisqatsi contrasts the tranquil beauty of nature with the frenzied hum of contemporary urban society. Uniting breathtaking imagery with a hauntingly evocative, award-winning score, it is original and fascinating (People) one of the greatest films of all time (Uncut).
This is the full movie. 85-minutes. Sit back, turn up the volume and prepare to be blown away.
S. Darko ... coming in 2009
When business and creativity meet, usually creativity gets beaten to a pulp. The latest disaster in the making is a sequel to Donnie Darko, S. Darko, which follows Donnie's younger sister, Samantha, seven years after his death. Richard Kelly is apparently not involved in this disaster in the making.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Trailer
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Trailer
Update: May 19, 2008
Saw the Prince Caspain movie today. It was entertaining. Whole new bunch of characters and the effects and critters were well done. There was something missing however. Maybe there wasn't as much character development -- or the last action sequence didn't live up to the one in the first movie -- or maybe I just needed more magic this time around. Dunno. Still, it was entertaining, and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Update: May 19, 2008
Saw the Prince Caspain movie today. It was entertaining. Whole new bunch of characters and the effects and critters were well done. There was something missing however. Maybe there wasn't as much character development -- or the last action sequence didn't live up to the one in the first movie -- or maybe I just needed more magic this time around. Dunno. Still, it was entertaining, and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo - Trailer
Read more here: The Greatest Silence: Rape in The Congo. This is a crime being committed against half of our species; the world is aware of it; yet the world is unmotivated to do anything. This doesn't make it on the 6 o'clock news. Simply because there isn't enough people who care. Be aware. Make a difference. Speak out. Don't let the silence continue.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
The House Bunny: Trailer
The House Bunny
Hollywood has done it again. They've made another movie to encourage girls to be bimbo-airheads, because that makes you popular -- being smart -- well, what's that good for? This is scary! You've been forewarned.
Hollywood has done it again. They've made another movie to encourage girls to be bimbo-airheads, because that makes you popular -- being smart -- well, what's that good for? This is scary! You've been forewarned.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
War, Inc.
This looks cynical.
Update: May 20, 2008
Saw this a couple of weeks ago. It was a hoot! Totally cynical, totally entertaining, in a very dark, and politically comedic way. This will be a sleeper hit, especially if you're left leaning, liberal, and think the Bush-Cheney business of war-mongering has gone too far.
Outpost Movie Trailer
Another zombie movie ... only this time, the zombies are Nazi soldiers, given legitimacy via some gobbly-gook quantum physics. I guess there needs to be some explanation why some Nazi soldiers are still hanging out at an abandoned Nazi bunker in Eastern Europe, and knocking off present day soldiers who happen by. Fanboys of course, shouldn't miss this one.
Possession (1981)
This is one weird film. Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill star in Andrzej Żuławski's weirdness, about a couple's failing marriage, and a monster. It's part horror, part mystery and whole lot of weirdness. See the gross-out clip on YouTube for more.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Kenny Movie Trailer
The Trailer ...
... and an extended clip from the movie.
I saw this last Friday, and the one-liners from this movie had the audience laughing non-stop. There's even some touching bits ... and probably not what you were expecting.
Kenny Quotes:
... and an extended clip from the movie.
I saw this last Friday, and the one-liners from this movie had the audience laughing non-stop. There's even some touching bits ... and probably not what you were expecting.
Kenny Quotes:
Read an excellent review of Kenny, here.
- Look at that! Eh? What kind of curry has that bloke been eating? Devil's curry. Hell's teeth, I tell you.
- This is the busiest time of year. This is the crazy time. Obviously, when the sun comes out, every bastard has a festival, and we get flogged like crooked dogs in a ... It's a mongrel. It just goes bonkers. It's as silly as a bum full of Smarties.
- Well, I lost my missus. I lost her out of it. That was... Well, I didn't lose her. I know where she is. She just left me, but, uh ... it bit me on the arse pretty hard when she was leaving me. You know, it was one tax l didn't expect to pay in this job, and that was losing me missus. But when you spend more time with other people's poo than you do your own wife, you've gotta pay the penalty.
- A wedding is an "I do" kind of day. That's all your pressure is. Remember that - "I do." Do you want to marry this woman till the rest of your life? "I do." Are you ready to go to the park? Do you want to have photos taken next to her now that you've married her? "I do." Do you want to go on the honeymoon and do the horizontal folk dance? "Yes, love, I do." Just, all you've gotta remember is "I do". There's no pressure, you know? If you think of it like that, then it's not that big a deal ... unless a bloke comes down in the wedding dress, then you'll know your day's gone to shit.
- I once heard a guy say, "Cut out the middle man - find someone you hate and give them a house."
- I often get nervous on days like these at these big beach festivals, you know. They draw a very big crowd and we quite often have to bring in extra crew. You know, with half the kids on the wacky tobaccy and the fruity disco biscuits, you know, they're as mad as a clown's cock.
- No, no, there's no hierarchy, Pat. We're There's no pecking order in poo, mate.
- Summer Student: I thought this would be corporate bathrooms, you know. It says 'corporate bathrooms'.
Kenny: It's only a logo.
Summer Student: I thought it'd be businessmen and stuff.
Kenny: You reckon all the girls on Virgin Airlines are virgins?- Very affectionate woman, my mum. When you were being hugged by her, you knew you were being held because Mum's shape ... from behind, she looked like a fridge with a head, but, you know, you knew you were being cared for, you know, 'cause Dad's emotional bank account had two cents in it.
- Just watch it in there, mate. That machine, once you press that flusher, that thing'll probably suck your guts out through your bum.
- I drink beer like it's about to go out of fashion and I'm the new trendsetter.
- Look at the size of this thing. No wonder there's no longer dinosaurs on the earth. They've killed the last one. Here it is on me plate!
- And sometimes you just want to turn to someone from home and say, "Did you understand what he's talking about?" I mean, has someone rung the Queen and let her know what they're doing with her language?
- It's an old saying. "The chef always ruins his first batch of scones." And there goes my first burnt offering there. He's as useless as tits on a bull.
- You know, I've often wondered how different my life would be if shit didn't stink. You know, if it smelt nice Iike flowers or potpourri, you know? You know, imagine, then you'd be able to go to someone's house and say, "I'd like to use your crapper." And they'd be like, "Oh, fantastic. Last time you were over here, oooh, sensational! What was that smell, Ken?" But it's... it's not gonna happen'cause it doesn't smell like lavender, it smells like shit. That's exactly what it smells like. And I have a feeling it's always gonna smell like that.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
The Mothman Prophecies - Trailer
Saw the Mothman Prophecies last night. Not a bad supernatural, sort of horror, sort of SciFi, sort of mystery, movie. Even Richard Gere was tolerable. The only thing that annoyed me was there wasn't enough time spent on the Mothman -- not much exploration at all of the title character. I suppose Richard Gere's fans would like the movie however.
10,000 BC: Trailer and Review ... of sorts
I just came back from seeing 10,000 BC with my youngest. It was action flick, and like most, it stuck to the formula -- just lacking the moments of humour we've come to expect of late. The violence was kept to at the PG level, and the movie had a good pace. It was enjoyable. Huzzah! ... for the white guy who was living peacefully in his village, minding his own business of hunting mammoths. When his village becomes the victim of pillage, murder and kidnapping ... yes, they took our hero's girl. If the bad Arab guys, who spoke with supernatural alien voices knew who's girl they had ... well ... there wouldn't be a movie, I suppose. Along the way to rescue his girl and defeat the entire Arab army -- who for leisure, encourage slaves in their pyramid building by whipping them -- our hero collects a ragtag army of blacks, who were just waiting for a white guy to come and lead them. It was fun, since I checked my brain at the door.
Friday, March 21, 2008
G.I. Joe: Snake Eyes
Here's a sneak peak of Snake Eyes (Ray Park) from the upcoming 2009 G.I. Joe movie. This better be good!Saturday, March 08, 2008
Friday, March 07, 2008
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
The Visitor - Movie Trailer
What happens when people try to make a difference? This looks like a nice feel-good drama.
The Counterfeiters - Movie Trailer
Wow! This is actually a true story. During the second world war, the Nazis decided to flood the UK with counterfeit money, to destabilize its economy. They recruited Salomon Sorowitsch, a master forger, from the concentration camps to help them.
Taxi To The Dark Side - Movie Trailer
This is a very important documentary. How did the greatest country in the world descend to such darkness? Happens when it's ruled by evil tyrants.
The Band's Visit (Bikur Hatizmoret) Trailer
Not long ago, an Egyptian police band arrived in Israel, to play at the Arab Cultural Center. But they took the wrong bus.
I saw this movie tonight. It was incredible. It was quiet, slow, beautiful -- and out-loud-laughing funny. Knowing the resentment between Arabs and Jews, this film begs for them to just look at each other, and see themselves for who they are -- the same people. It was brilliant. You shouldn't miss it.
Behind the scenes from the movie, with the song, Kol Shee Helo by Reem Talhami.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D Trailer!
Oh ... I don't know ... it's probably a waste of time. You think?
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
I don't care what the critics will say about this one, but on May 22nd (or maybe a couple of days later), I will be in line waiting for Doctor Jones.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Opening this Friday, Feb. 15th!
Update: Feb. 16, 2008
I saw the movie tonight, with my youngest. We had supper at Mucho Burrito, then caught the film on Imax. It was a pretty good movie. The effects weren't too bad, and Freddy Highmore was excellent, playing the two brothers in the movie. This one is worth watching in the theatres.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
The Baron Against the Demons
Read more about The Baron Against the Demons here. This is so much cheese, you'll die laughing ... and probably won't make it to the end!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
The Happening Teaser Trailer
Updated: June 18, 2008
I saw the Happening on June 13th -- opening day -- with the crew from work. The Happening was not happening -- not for me -- and not for most in the theatre. The movie was fine, it had a good pace, and demonstrated that when weird shit happens in America, most of the dumb people come out to play. It is a testament to how not happening this movie was, that M. Night Shyamalan skipped his usual cameo appearance. The movie kept promising that something was going to happen. Not just the weirdness of people going zombie before playing the sacrificial lamb for the audience -- but more. There was supposed to be more. At the end, the truth behind the weirdness was going to be revealed. But it wasn't. That's because we were already told that the trees were making people kill themselves at the very beginning of the movie. That's it. I really went to the movie with high expectations from Shyamalan. I was disappointed. If you haven't seen it, wait for the DVD release.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
The Rape of Europa
See details of the film here. It is playing in January at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto. See review and synopsis below, via Amazon:
Review
Bringing a radically new perspective to World War II and the Holocaust, this fast-paced docu, based on Lynn Nicholas' bestseller about the fate of European art both under the Nazis and afterward, casts the Third Reich in a wholly different light. Curiously, by narrowing focus, filmmakers widen the absurdity and horror of a war waged, at least in part, for a mon-strously inflated private agenda. This mesmerizing morality play, rich in rare archival footage and complete with heroic Allied saviors, merits a full-fledged arthouse run before reaching larger PBS and cable auds. Like Menno Meyjes' semi-conjectural biopic "Max," docu perceives Hitler's failure as an artist as central to the Fuhrer's gestalt. Relying on actual documents rather than fictionalized epiphanies, film-makers Richard Berge, Nicole Newn-ham and Bonni Cohen make a com-pelling case for the theory, reframing WWII in terms of objets d'art "selected" for Nazi acquisi-tion or extinction. Under Hitler's reign, art-collecting measured personal worth. Extensive footage of Hermann Goering's swag-gering aesthetic oneupmanship, culminating in before-and-after shots of the hunting lodge he converted into a palatial art gallery provides a bleakly comic mirror to Hitler's blueprint for a colossal Greco-German Fuhrermuseum. Hitler, it seems, set about conquer-ing the world armed with a cultural wishlist, his obsession with art often dictating his military itinerary. His "final solution" for so-called inferior or degenerate artwork was nearly as far-ranging as his program for human genocide (the shadow of the death camps implicitly looming large throughout the film). In this context, real or projected atrocities that other docus highlight are here enumerated by narrator Joan Allen with a wry matter-of-factness that renders them more shocking. German newsreel clips recount Hitler's confiscation of various masterpieces (including Da Vinci's "Lady With an Ermine") from Kra-kow museums and simultaneous blitzing of "inferior" indigenous art and massive shelling of monuments. His plan to exterminate the entire Polish people and colonize their land, on the other hand, is presented almost parenthetically. Similarly, shots of vast warehouses of Jewish possessions seem a mere extension of the wholesale pillaging -- until men carrying worn mattresses and dented teapots remind viewers that Hitler not only collected the valuables of Jews he slaughtered, but sought to wipe out the slightest vestiges of their existence. To the German campaign of arro-gance, greed and bloodlust, the filmmakers counterpose the Allies' dedicated art preservers. Extraordi-nary footage details the evacuation of the Louvre (a crated Winged Victory descending the great staircase miracu-lously unharmed), the artwork spir-ited away in carts just ahead of exploding bombs. The Hermitage is likewise emptied out, its curators hiding in freezing underground passages below while, above, remain-ing Russian artwork is tossed into the snow in disdain for all things Slavic. Pic pays particular homage to the Allies' Monuments Men (several of whom appear on camera), whose job was to minimize the damage done by advancing armies and track down stolen works of art. Moving seamlessly from past to present, Cohen, Berge and Newnham document the aftershocks some 50 years later, tracing stolen art pieces still in litigation, foremost among them Klimt's gold-flecked portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer. The painting's eventual sale for $135 million adds yet another layer to film's myriad disconnects between the fates of millions and the whims of a few. --Variety Staff, Ronnie Scheib
Product Description
The Rape of Europa is an epic journey through seven countries, into the violent whirlwind of fanaticism, greed, and warfare that threatened to wipe out the artistic heritage of Europe. For twelve long years, the Nazis looted and destroyed art on a scale unprecedented in history. But heroic young art historians and curators from America and across Europe fought back with a miraculous campaign to rescue and return the millions of lost, hidden and stolen treasures.
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