NOTHING GETS CHOCOLATE OUT!

MY 18 MOST ANCIPATED FILMS OF 2010

2010-02-14T23:28:00.000-08:00

So we are already a month and a bit into 2010, but I’ve been lazy and have let this blog fall into a state of disrepair. So without further a due here is my list of the top 18 theatrical films that I am looking forward to seeing the most in 2010.

18: YOGI BEAR

DIRECTED BY?: Eric Brevig (Journey to the Centre of the Earth)

WHO’S IN IT?: Anna Faris (The Housebunny), Tom Cavanagh (TV’s Ed), Justin Timberlake (Alpha Dog), Dan Aykroyd (Crossroads), Christine Taylor (Zoolander), Nathan Corddry (TV’s Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip)

WHAT IS IT?: The film adaptation of the popular 60’s Hanna Barberra cartoon series. The film will mix live action with CGI Yogi, Cindy and Booboo bears.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: Anna Faris has proven time and time again that she can elevate pretty much anything she is in. Plus I used to love watching Yogi Bear as a kid!

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: Just look at the dreadful Alvin and the Chipmunks films.

17: THE EXPENDABLES

DIRECTED BY?: Sylvester Stallone (Rocky Balboa)

WHO’S IN IT?: Sylvester Stallone (Kambakkht Ishq), Jason Statham (Crank), Jet Li (Unleashed), Dolph Lundgren (Universal Soldier), Eric Roberts (DOA Dead Or Alive), Bruce Willis (North), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Kindergarten Cop), Danny Trejo (Spy Kids), Charisma Carpenter (TV’s Buffy), Mickey Rourke (Domino), Steve Austin (The Longest Yard)

WHAT IS IT?: Sylvester Stallone directs the ultimate men on a mission film, complete with South American locale and an evil dictator villain.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: Just look at the cast list! If Van Damme wasn’t such a dick and agreed to appear it really couldn’t get better than that.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: With such a sprawling cast the threat that no-one will get the screen time that they deserve is very real. Also the recent Rambo proved that Stallone can sometimes forget to put a plot in his films.

16: STEP UP 3D

DIRECTED BY?: Jon Chu (Step Up 2: The Streets)

WHO’S IN IT? Rick Malambri (Surrogates), Harry Shum Jr. (Glee) Adam G. Sevani (Step Up 2), Sharni Vinson (TV’s Home and Away*)
*is it just me, or does it seem that all Hollywood is doing anymore is watching Home and Away and casting all their roles from there? Chris Hemsworth, Naomi Watts, Heath Leger, Melissa George, Simon Baker, Julian McMahon, Isla Fisher and the list goes on!

WHAT IS IT?: The 3rd instalment in the epic Step Up series. There hasn’t been much revealed about the plot. Presumably it will be about two young attractive people from different economic backgrounds who are forced to dance with each other and eventually fall in love….IN 3D!!!

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: The first two Step Up films had fun performances, great music and absolutely spectacular dance numbers. Director Jon Chu proved he had the chops in number two, he just has to replicate it.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: The 3D has the potential of being used in a gimmicky and distracting way. This will be the first major non special effect driven, non horror, non animated 3D film released in theatres. Its success be a good indicator of James Cameron’s future vision of all theatrical films being in 3D.

15: PROVINCES OF NIGHT

DIRECTED BY?: Shane Dax Taylor (The Grey)

WHO’S IN IT?: Hilary Duff (Greta), Kris Kristofferson (Blade), Val Kilmer (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang), Hilarie Burton (TV’s One Tree Hill), Dwight Yoakam (Crank), Reece Thompson (Rocket Science)

WHAT IS IT?: A southern gothic tale about a man returning to his home after forty years of roaming and discovering the ruins of his family that he had left behind.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: Quite simply, because I am a Hilary Duff fanboy, That being said the film is based on a acclaimed novel by William Gay and has been receiving buzz on the festival circuit.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: It will probably follow the fates of Hilary Duff’s last three films (Greta, War Inc and What Goes Up) and not get a theatrical release in Australia.

14: PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME

DIRECTED BY?: Mike Newell

WHO’S IN IT?: Jake Gyllenhaal (Bubble Boy), Ben Kingsley (War Inc), Alfred Molina (Frida), Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace)

WHAT IS IT?: Adaptation of the popular video game series in which a time travelling prince sets out to save the world and get the girl in ancient Persia.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: The trailer looks like a lot of fun. Jerry Bruckheimer is producing and he seems to be in Pirates of the Caribbean mode, which is fine by me. Plus Mike Newell directed my favourite Harry Potter film and in it proved that he is fantastic at blending action, fantasy and humour.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: The film looks gloriously over the top and ridiculous, so if it takes itself too seriously, it could get old very quickly.

13: DEAR JOHN

DIRECTED BY?; Lasse Hallstrom (Chocolat)

WHO’S IN IT?: Channing Tatum (She’s the Man), Amanda Seyfried (TV’s Veronica Mars), Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Henry Thomas (E.T.)

WHAT IS IT?: The new Nicolas Sparks (The Notebook) adaptation about two lovers torn apart by 9/11, who keep their love alive by writing letters to each other

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: Anyone who has seen The Notebook will know the power of Nicolas Sparks (the power to rip your heart out and squeeze until you are in a puddle of your own tears). The trailer of this film feels like The Notebook 2, and that is not a bad thing at all. Plus I have a major soft spot for Amanda Seyfried.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: Despite rocketing to first place in the US box office and dethroning Avatar, the film only received middling reviews, but then again, so did The Notebook, and everyone loves The Notebook.

12: STAY COOL

DIRECTED BY?: Michael Polish (The Astronaut Farmer)

WHO’S IN IT?: Hilary Duff (Raise Your Voice), Sean Astin (Lord Of The Rings), Winona Ryder (The Ten), Josh Holloway (TV’s Lost), Chevy Chase (Orange County), Jon Cryer (Pretty In Pink), Marc Blucas (TV’s Buffy)

WHAT IS IT?: Ensemble comedy about an author returning to his home town and getting mixed up with some old flames and some students at his old school.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: Yep, Hilary Duff again. Despite an atrociously edited trailer the film looks like it will be a fun easy watch. Michael Polish also directed The Astronaut Farmer which looked great and featured some solid performances, so count me interested.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: Another Hilary film that could quite possibly go straight to DVD, but here’s hoping for some sort of Australian theatrical release.

11: RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE 3D

DIRECTED BY?: Paul W.S. Anderson (Mortal Kombat)

WHO’S IN IT?: Milla Jovovich (The Fifth Element), Wentworth Miller (Dinotopia), Ali Larter (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back)

WHAT IS IT?: The forth instalment in the Resident Evil action/zombie films. Set 18 months after Extinction, this film will follow Alice and an army of her clones bringing down the evil Umbrella Corporation.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: Besides the woeful second entry to the franchise, Apocalypse, the Resident Evil films have been pure fun. This series has constantly been inventive with its action and hasn’t held back for a second in the gore department.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: Paul W.S. Anderson, returning to the director’s chair, after sitting out of Apocalypse and Extinction, could go either way. He has directed some fun, if flawed films (Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat, Event Horizon) and some real turkeys (Alien Vs Predator, Soldier). The 3D is also concerning, as again, could turn out to be a distraction and an excuse for a lack of story.

10: IRON MAN 2

DIRECTED BY?: Jon Favreau (Elf)

WHO’S IN IT?: Robert Downey Jr (Charlie Bartlett), Mickey Rourke (Sin City), Scarlett Johansson (The Perfect Score), Sam Rockwell (Moon), Gwyneth Paltrow (Shallow Hal), Don Cheadle (Hotel For Dogs)

WHAT IS IT?: The sequel to superhero blockbuster. This time Tony Stark will be battling against villains Whiplash, Black Widow and his own alcoholism.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: Watch the original Iron Man film, if not completely hyped for it’s sequel after viewing, please consult a doctor because you may not have a pulse.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: Jon Favreau has hinted that this film will be darker than the original. I am personally hoping not too much, what made the original so special was its fun tone.

9: SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD

DIRECTED BY?: Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead)

WHO’S IN IT?: Michael Cera (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist), Chris Evans (Sunshine), Brandon Routh (Zack and Miri Make a Porno), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Live Free or Die Hard), Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore), Anna Kendrick (Up In The Air)

WHAT IS IT?: Based on the cult graphic novels about a geek who must fight and destroy his new girlfriend’s seven exes before he can win her heart.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: Edgar Wright’s last two films were works of comedic genius. The concept seems really inventive and ripe for comedic gold and the cast is amazing.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: Michael Cera has been spewing out the same performances again and again of late. This film will hinge on his ability to bring something new to the table.

8: HOT TUB TIME MACHINE

DIRECTED BY?: Steve Pink (Accepted)

WHO’S IN IT?: John Cusack (War Inc), Rob Corddry (Harold and Kumar 2), Lizzy Caplan (TV’s Party Down), Clark Duke (Sex Drive), Chevy Chase (Stay Cool), Sebastian Stan (The Covenant), Crispin Glover (Like Mike), Craig Robinson (Zack and Miri Make A Porno)

WHAT IS IT?: A comedy about a group of friends that enter a hot tub in the year 2010 and end up in the 80’s, giving them a chance to change their own futures.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: The trailer is hilarious, the cast is hilarious, the concept is hilarious and the best thing is, the film is going to be rated R.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: It could be a case of a film where all the funny bits are in trailer. However with the comedic pedigree behind it, I would be very surprised.

7: COP OUT

DIRECTED BY?: Kevin Smith (Dogma)

WHO’S IN IT?: Bruce Willis (Colour of Night), Tracy Morgan (TV’s 30 Rock), Michelle Trachtenberg (17 Again), Adam Brody (The Ten), Sean William Scott (Role Models)

WHAT IS IT?: A buddy cop comedy about a veteran NYPD cop trying to track down his rare baseball card when it is stolen.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: Its Kevin Smith, and if you’re a Kevin Smith fanatic such as myself you have been reading his tweets and listening to his podcasts, and he would have convinced you that this film will be hilarious already.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: The trailer has a scary Hollywood Homicide vibe which doesn’t bode well. Kevin Smith didn’t write the script on this one, which is a first for him, and frankly no one watches a Kevin Smith film for his amazing directing. Another worrying sign is Kevin Smith’s admission that he has been stoned ever since the release of Zack and Miri, if I can’t drive a car stoned, should have Kevin Smith been allowed to direct a $40 million action comedy film stoned? But, in Kevin Smith we trust, so ill be first in line.

6: TANGLED

DIRECTED BY?: Nathan Greno (Super Rhino*), Byron Howard (Bolt)

*yeah I don’t know either

WHO’S IN IT?: Mandy Moore (Saved!), Zachary Levi (TV’s Chuck), David Schwimmer (The Pallbearer)

WHAT IS IT?: Disney’s first 3D animated theatrically released adaptation of a fairytale. Based on the story of Rapunzel, but with a comedic and action based slant.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: As a lover of animation, you have to stand up and pay attention to Disney’s yearly offerings. Tangled is of particular interest as it is pioneering a new style of animation that is said to blend 3D animation with the style of 2D animation. The artwork released so far, looks beautiful and unique.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: Byron Howard’s last effort Bolt was kind of lame. Hopefully his second time out of the gate will be more successful.

5: HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART ONE

DIRECTED BY?: David Yates (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)

WHO’S IN IT?: Daniel Radcliff (December Boys), Emma Watson (The Tale of Despereaux), Rupert Grint (Thunderpants) and every other working British actor in England.

WHAT IS IT?: The first half of the final chapter in the Harry Potter saga.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: The producers kindly decided to split the final film in two to ensure that they could leave every last detail in from the epic book. I have grown up with these films and it has been fascinating seeing these characters grow up.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: The gap between the two halves of this film will be excruciating. In the end however we will have a superior version of this story sitting on our DVD shelves so that’s a consolation.

4: THE LAST AIRBENDER

DIRECTED BY?: M Night Shyamalan

WHO’S IN IT?: Noah Ringer, Jackson Rathbone (Twilight New Moon), Shaun Toub (Iron Man), Cliff Curtis (Sunshine), Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire)

WHAT IS IT?: The adaptation of the popular Nickelodeon animated series. It is set in a world divided into four tribes, Fire, Water, Air and Earth. The populace of each tribe can control their given element. When the Fire tribe starts on the warpath, the only person that can save the world is a young boy who can control all four elements.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: The animated series was phenomenal, with truly memorable characters and a fantastic story. If the movie can replicate the feel of the series, it could wind up being an adventure classic.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: M Night Shyamalan has been on a terrible directing streak lately, he manages to keep outdoing his own awfulness. His decision to cast white actors in all the lead roles betrays the multicultural feel of the series which isn’t a good start. The trailer was also devoid of humour, which was definitely a strong point of the series. That all said, the trailer still made me a bit giddy, the action and effects are all top notch, so I still have hope.

3: TOY STORY 3

DIRECTED BY?: Lee Unkrich (Monster’s Inc)

WHO’S IN IT?: Tim Allen (The Santa Clause), Tom Hanks (Castaway), Joan Cusack (War Inc), Bonnie Hunt (Cheaper By The Dozen), Michael Keaten (Jack Frost), Timothy Dalton (Looney Tunes: Back In Action)

WHAT IS IT?: The third outing in the Toy Story series, this time centring on the toys as they are donated to a child care centre.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: Ignore Cars and Pixar have a spotless record. The Toy Story films in particular have been standouts at the studio. The film has a lot to look up to, and I have a feeling it will pass with flying colours. Plus it was just revealed that a stuffed toy version of Totoro is a character in the film!

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: Can’t think of much. Maybe Pixar will explode before the films release, other than that, this film will be pretty much untouchable.

2: KARIGURASHI NO ARRIETTY

DIRECTED BY?: Hiromasa Yonebayashi

WHO’S IN IT?: No one confirmed as yet

WHAT IS IT?: Studio Ghibli’s newest animated epic. Based on the story The Borrowers, but with the action being moved to Japan instead of England. The story centres on a village of little people who create their world using objects they borrow from normal size people.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: Apart from Pixar, Studio Ghibli is the only other production company currently in existence that releases nothing but quality films. All that you need to know if that it is one of their films, the sumptuous production art and the fact that Hayao Miyazaki is personally animating the film is just icing on the cake.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: Miyazaki isn’t directing, but it shouldn’t be an issue, if you need a reminder of that watch Whisper of the Heart, Grave of the Fireflies, Pom Poko…

1: KICK ASS

DIRECTED BY?: Matthew Vaughn (Stardust)

WHO’S IN IT?: Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy), Nicholas Cage (Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans), Clark Duke (TV’s Greek), Chloe Moretz ((500) Days of Summer) Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad), Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes)

WHAT IS IT?: Based on the comic book series about a bunch of normal kids, adults and teenagers who decide to put on tights and become superheroes, despite their lack of superpowers.

WHY AM I LOOKING FORWARD TO IT?: The comic book is hilarious, smart, action packed, violent, crass and completely entertaining. The trailer and early buzz from those who have seen it confirm that this is an extremely faithful adaptation. Plus the movie will be out before the first run of comics, so the movie will be the first time the fans will get to see the end of the story.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?: According to everyone lucky enough to have seen the advanced screenings, nothing!

SONGS I AM CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH

2009-10-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

Just a quick list of songs i think you should give a listen to.

KE$HA- TIK TOK

BRITNEY SPEARS- 3

ASHLEY TISDALE- CRANK IT UP

BASEMENT JAXX- RAINDROPS

DIZZEE RASCAL- HOLIDAY

MADONNA- REVOLVER

REVIEW: EVANGELION 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE

2009-10-09T22:31:00.000-07:00

DIRECTED BY?: Kazuya Tsurumaki and Masayuki (Neon Genesis Evangelion Death + Rebirth)

WHO'S IN IT?: Megumi Ogata (Played Sailor Uranus in Sailor Moon), Megumi Hayashibara (Cowboy Bebop), Kotono Mitsuishi (One Piece), Fumihiko Tachiki (Ghost In The Shell 2: Innocence)

WHAT'S IT ABOUT IN TWO SENTENCES?:

In the future the world is under attack but giant mysterious creatures called Angels who ascend from the heavens and wreak havoc on earth. Earths only chance for survival are giant Mecha which can only be piloted by teenagers, namely one damaged boy named Shinji Ikari.

ANYTHING OSCAR WORTHY?:
Evangelion 1.0 is an interesting experiment, a remake of a TV series that aired 12 years ago. The goal was to make the animation more epic and lush, and to re-jig the convoluted story to make it more clear and accessible. The film definitely has achieved its goals in terms of its animation. The backgrounds are incredibly detailed and the character movements are beautiful. The animation has really opened up the scope of the story.
The changes to the story however are less clear at this point. This is the first of four movies and at this point of the original series it was not yet apparent that the series was about to become a confusing mess. The story that is present so far however is quite engaging.
The end credits theme "Beautiful World" by Utada Hikaru is wonderful and quite catchy.

ANYTHING RAZZIE WORTHY?:

Fans of the original show will be disappointed on what has been omitted from the original story, and many character beats have been lost. Hopefully in the future three film instalments, more attention will be given to the characters.
The pacing is also quit quick, and it may be a tad confusing for newcomers to the series, as very little time is given to explaining what is happening.

HOW MANY STARS THEN?:
A must for fans of the series and animation lovers. Newcomers should give it a try, but it probably is best watched with someone who can explain it to you.

3.5 stars out of 5

REVIEW: THE APARTMENT

2009-10-07T07:09:00.001-07:00

DIRECTED BY?: Billy Wilder (The Seven Year Itch, Some Like it Hot, Sabrina)

WHO'S IN IT?: Jack Lemmon (Legend of Bagger Vance), Shirley Maclaine (Rumour Has It...), Fred MacMurray (Son of Flubber), Jack Kruschen (The Million Dollar Duck)

WHAT'S IT ABOUT IN TWO SENTENCES?:

A kind man C C Baxter loans out his apartment to co-workers so that they can carry out extra marital affairs. Things get complicated however when one of these affairs involves the girl that C C has a romantic interest in.

ANYTHING OSCAR WORTHY?:

Well just ask the academy. In 1961 The Apartment was nominated for Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography and Best Sound. It also won for Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Writing, Best Editing, Best Director and Best Picture.
The film really does deserve every award and nomination it received. Standouts in my mind are Shirley Maclaine's performance (which is so complex, likable and tragic all at the same time), the editing (makes you long for the days when the average shot length in a movie was 0.5 seconds), the cinematography (which uses depth of field to stunning effect, and especially the writing which seems sharp and fresh even today (which says a lot seeming the film is 50 years old).

ANYTHING RAZZIE WORTHY?:

Nothing at all

HOW MANY STARS THEN?:
I can not believe it has taken me this long to see this classic. A must see for all.

5 stars out of 5

REVIEW: INTO THE WILD

2009-09-29T22:55:00.000-07:00

DIRECTED BY? Sean Penn (The Pledge)

WHO'S IN IT? Emile Hirsch (Speed Racer), Jena Malone (Saved!), Marcia Gay Harden (The Mist), Vince Vaughn (Dodgeball), William Hurt (Lost In Space), Catherine Keener (Hamlet 2), Hal Holbrook (The Bachelor), Kristen Stewart (Sparkly Vampire Movie)

WHAT'S IT ABOUT IN TWO SENTENCES?

A rich kid with daddy issues decides to leave civilisation behind and live with nature. He soon finds however, that nature is a cruel bitch.

ANYTHING OSCAR WORTHY?

The performances of the star studded cast are uniformly fantastic, even Kristen Stewart seems more awake than usual (she must of laid off the drugs for a couple of weeks). The standout performance however has to be Emile Hirsch who really gives everything he has to the role, losing Christian Bale-sian amounts of weight for it. Emile was truly robbed of an Oscar nomination. Hal Holbrook was nominated however and did deserve it for his small role. The cinematography and directing by Sean Penn are also top notch. One thing I was worried about was the films potential to become a preachy anti-consumerist rant, but I think the film successfully stepped around that and the end moral is something most will agree on.

ANYTHING RAZZIE WORTHY?

The film is maybe 15 minutes too long and could of easily have been trimmed down to a more efficient length. There is also one bizarre shot where Emile Hirsch breaks the forth wall and looks right at the camera which was completely out of place and felt decidedly amateurish.

HOW MANY STARS THEN?

Great direction, fantastic performances and a genuinely interesting true story. Definitely worth a watch

4 stars out of 5

REVIEW: EVITA

2009-09-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

DIRECTED BY?

Alan Parker (Fame, Angela's Ashes)

WHO'S IN IT?

Madonna (Swept Away), Antonio Banderas (Shrek The Third), Jonathon Price (G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra)

WHAT'S IT ABOUT IN TWO SENTENCES?

A peasant girl decides to sleep her way from the slums, to celebrity icon, to one of the most powerful figures in her country. She finds however that mortality is a greater force than she could ever be.

ANYTHING OSCAR WORTHY?

The film actually did quite well at the 1996 Oscars, where it received nominations for cinematography, editing, sound and art direction and won for Best song. All these nominations were well deserved. However the costume design is quite spectacular and deserved some recognition, as did Madonna's performance.

ANYTHING RAZZIE WORTHY?

The whole format of a pop opera, where virtually every line is sung, actually works against the film. What is being said is often hard to understand (especially when being sung through Antonio Banderas' think accent) so important story points are lost. Without a prior knowledge of Eva Peron's life this film could be quite perplexing, the film never makes it clear what long lasting effects Evita actually had on Argentina. The film is never boring and the songs are lively enough, but some spoken word could of helped the viewer connect with the character instead of just viewing them at a distance.

HOW MANY STARS THEN?

Hate musicals? Then look then other way, like them however and you may find enjoyment in this film.

3 stars out of 5

REVIEW: TEKKONKINKREET

2009-09-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

DIRECTED BY?:

Michael Arius (Heaven's Door)

WHO'S IN IT?:

Maurice LeMarche (Futurama), Rick Gomez (What about Brian?)

WHAT'S IT ABOUT, IN TWO SENTENCES?

Two homeless orphans struggle to survive in Treasure Town, Tokyo when they find themselves in the middle of gang warfare. Meanwhile a dark force within one of the orphans threatens to tear their lives apart.

ANYTHING OSCAR WORTHY?

The background work and the general fluidity of the animation is spectacular. The film strives for the look that it was shot by handheld cameras, and it achieves this perfectly. The musical score by Plaid is also quite individual and striking.

ANYTHING RAZZIE WORTHY?

Nothing Razzie worthy in the film though the obscure story holds the film back from being truly great. Also the character designs can be quite jarring and at times quite ugly, which is a real shame considering the high quality of the rest of the animation.

HOW MANY STARS THEN?

Any true lover of animation should give this film a shot, but it could come off as a bit too strange for general audiences.

3.5 stars out of 5

REVIEW: UP 3D

2009-09-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

DIRECTED BY?:

Pete Doctor (Monster's Inc) and Scott Peterson (writer of Finding Nemo)

WHO'S IN IT?:
Ed Asner (Mary Tyler Moore), Christopher Plumber (Dracula 2000), Jordan Nagai, Delroy Lindo (Romeo Must Die)

WHAT IS IT ABOUT, IN TWO SENTENCES?:
An elderly man sets out on an adventure to escape living his remaining years in a retirement home. However he accidently brings along a seemingly annoying boy scout...

ANYTHING OSCAR WORTHY?:
The film is a technical marvel, expect nominations in sound design, sound editing, and editing. The way that the film conveys so much with its visuals especially in its dialogue-free montage towards the beginning of the film expect a best director nomination. The screenplay is also quite strong so expect an original screenplay nomination, especially since Oscar has favoured Pixar in the past.

ANYTHING RAZZIE WORTHY?:Nothing, the film is pretty much perfect. Exciting, emotional and funny, it's everything that we have come to expect from Pixar (ignoring the awful Cars).

SO HOW MANY STARS THEN?:
This comes highly recommended. Just make sure you bring tissues.
5 stars out of 5

MY TOP 10 FILMS OF ALL TIME

2009-09-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

So I thought i would start off with a list of my top 10 films of all time, so you can have an idea of what my general stance is on film. This list isn't meant to be a "greatest films of all time" list, but rather, my personal favourites. I also tried to keep it varied, so that the list wasn't just Kevin Smith or Studio Ghibli films.

10:

Zoolander
Dir. Ben Stiller (2001)

Not many films can make me laugh so consistently on every viewing as Zoolander. The performances are fantastic, especially Will Ferrell as the evil Mugatu. The script is hilariously un-pc with jokes that mine child labour and bulimia among other topics. The film is banned in Malaysia and Roger Ebert gave it quite a grilling in his review, condemning the plot that centres around the assassination attempt on the Malaysian prime minister. Did I mention how insane and absurd the plot is? This film is just genius. The one thing this film doesn't get enough credit for is how good it looks. The cinematography, set and costume design in this film are really phenomenal. Between this film and Tropic Thunder, Ben Stiller really has proven himself a fantastic visual director.

Serenity
Dir. Joss Whedon (2005)

I was lucky enough to be one of the first people in the world to see Serenity, the better part of a year before it was released. I was a huge fan of the show "Firefly" which this movie is a continuation of and seeing the film in a sold session with hundreds of other die hard fans was an electric experience. For newcomers to the Firefly franchise this film will seem like a well written but slightly underwhelming sci-fi actioner. For fans of Firefly however this film manages to be exhilarating, tragic, romantic, uplifting and hilarious. My recommendation is catch up on the 13 episodes of Firefly and then dive into the movie. You won’t regret it.

Wall.E

Dir. Andrew Stanton (2008)

This is Pixar's opus. One of the most romantic films ever made, and it’s about a trash compactor falling in love with an i-pod. The animation is phenomenal, and the sound design and musical score compliments it perfectly. I love the world Pixar created with this film, a future that seems scarily real. The opening scene showing Wall.E moving through the dilapidated city while Hello Dolly echoes through the streets sends chills down my spine every time. A film that shows the true power of animation.

South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut
Dir. Trey Parker (1999)

An epic, Academy Award nominated, musical masterpiece. Matt Stone and Trey Parker have the ability to parody genres while still producing a masterful version of that same genre. Every time a new film with the word “Movie" or "Flick" opens in theatres just ignore and dip into the back catalogue of these guys. This film is flat out hilarious and on top of that features some of the best musical numbers of all time and a truly spectacular musical score. One of the few theatrical counterparts to a television show that has really taken advantage of its new format.

6:

The Lizzie Mcguire Movie
Dir. Jim Fall (2003)

I am going to say this up front; I am a Hilary Duff fanboy. I adore her, her music and her movies. So count this as completely biased, but i love this film. It is just such a good natured and fun experience. The music is great and the Roman location is wonderful. The film also features a really underrated comedic performance by Alex Borstein. It is also unabashedly romantic. This film is not for everyone, but if you consider your self at all a romantic, give it a go.

5:

Howl's Moving Castle
Dir. Hayao Miyazaki (2004)

Studio Ghibli and especially it founder and most prolific director Hayao Miyazaki are some of the most unique creative forces in filmmaking today. Look at their back catalogue and you find some of the most spectacular films of all time. Dig a little deeper and you find some of the best small character studies ever made as well. With such a great group of films to choose from, it is quite hard to choose one. Howl's Moving Castle would have to be my favourite though. It features a perfect blend of grand adventure, in depth and interesting characters and pure originality. Mix that with some of the most beautiful animation ever created and you have a true masterpiece. This film is a must watch for everyone, no matter your age or gender.

4:

Cruel Intentions
Dir. Roger Kumble (1999)

When this film came out on VHS, it was pretty much on constant rotation with myself and my group of friends. It was such a daring film at the time, with it's promisquous and bitchy teen protagonists. The film has a pair of fantastic performances in Sarah Michelle Gellar as the uber-bitch Catherine and Selma Blair as Cecile, the innocent nitwit who experiences her sexual awakening. The costumes, sumptuous New York settings and musical score have all become iconic. The end use of Bitter Sweet Symphony is one of the best uses of opoular music in film. This film manages to be dramatic and also lough at loud hilarious.
Just steer clear of the sequels.

3:

Bring It On
Dir. Peyton Reed (2000)

Pure fun. One of the most quotable teen films ever. This is a hard film to get sick of, due to it's relentlessly upbeat attitude. Eliza Dushku, Kirsten Dunst and the rest of the cast really give their all in this film, giving weight to the purposely silly dialogue. It is a real testament to the film that nine years on, Universal are still pumping out sequels (none that come close to the original). If are ever with a large group of people try saying "I'm sexy, I'm cute" I guarantee someone will respond with "I'm popular to boot!". That is the power of this film.

2:
Jurassic Park

Dir. Steven Spielberg (1993)

I grew up with this film, I have seen it countless times, and it still has the ability to send shivers down my spine. The musical score is transcendent, the effects still hold up to this day(in fact the look better than most modern films, King Kong i'm looking at you), the performances are all top notch. It is really quite hard to fault this film in any way. I watched this film when I was quite young, it scared the hell out of me, but I could still handle it. I think that is a real strength of the film, it is a adventure, thriller that can be enjoyed by all ages.

1:

Dogma
Dir. Kevin Smith (1999)

My favourite film from Kevin Smith. It was his first real step towards growing up as film maker. This film is epic in scope (it deals with a possible apocalypse) and it was his first foray with Cinemascope. Besides all this Kevin Smith still manages to keep his flair for intimate, dialogue based storytelling. The film features some truly memorable and hilarious characters and lines. The cast is top notch and besides Linda Fiorentino they all really deliver. The film has some really interesting things to say about religion and particularly Catholicism, and should be watched by believers and non-believers alike.

I wanted this to be a brief snapshot of the films, I am sure I will talk about these films at greater lengths later on. In the meantime, if you haven't seen any of these films yet, get onto it!

Welcome!

2009-09-15T19:24:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog. I hope to update this blog quite regularly. This will become a home for all my movie and TV reviews. In addition I intend to bring you random lists, and links to anything cool I see on the net! Hope you enjoy!

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