Category: Moving Media

  • Golden Compass hits Lima!

    Northern Lights - Golden Compass - PosterOh, yeah! And Amy was there for the 4.20pm show~~ Amy needed her fix of Northern Lights. There weren’t many people then, and even though it was a subtitled version, there were a few kids… one of them was annoying! Talking all throughout the film… kinda cute (bordering on ‘I want to kill that kid’), but really bad-looking on the parent there who couldn’t shut him up.

    Quick facts about Amy and His Dark Materials Trilogy:

    • Northern Lights (aka Golden Compass) was suggested by a friend who knew I liked Harry Potter.
    • After a while, I finally got the books at the beginning of the year.
    • Couldn’t control myself, and had to read one after the other.
    • Amy’s not a die-hard fan of HDM Trilogy, but it’s become her favorite series overall.
    • Amy liked the series so much, she gave her friend the trilogy as a gift. She liked it too.

    Overall, the film was pretty good, except for the Flash pace. It is not as much as an editing fault because the film is not jumping, but many of the scenes don’t really flow… as, let say – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban artistically flows… or how Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is so choppy it makes you feel there’s a whole scene missing in between.

    Now, onto the good stuff. Effects are pretty good. Iorek is great, though I think Ragnar (aka in the book as Iofur) looked better. The bear fight had me gasping, even though there was no blood… if there had been blood, I would’ve been even more so. I loved Eva Green as Serafina Pekkala… and oh! the Witches are so cool!! They flew and fought with such elegance, it left me in awe. I also loved Nicole Kidman as Mrs. Coulter… evil or not, you have to love her. Dakota Blue Richards did pretty great as Lyra, there were times I thought it was not as good, but scenes like the one in Bolsvangar were very dramatic.

    I enjoyed the confrontation at Bolsvangar, even though it’s not quite epic… it was quite thrilling. The kids running, about to be attacked then Iorek shows up and BAM! SNAP! The Witches show up, arrows begin flying… golden sparkles, SWOOSH! And the Gypsies SNAP SNAP!

    Would love to watch that again… or wouldn’t mind some blood on the bears, uncensored version, non? x’D How about a Director’s Cut?? Because I would’ve love to have 30min more of it… especially since the film didn’t include the OH SO OMG ending chapter (or chapters…) but I guess it would’ve been unfair to have movie-goers wait for The Subtle Knife to hit theaters in 2009… or maybe even forever if GC bombs at the Box Office. Better leave this with no cliff-hanger…

    Grade: 3.5/5 – (docked a whole point for fast-pacing)

  • Not Much Love for the JT HBO Concert

    Justin Timberlake - HBO - Future/Sex Love/ShowIt’s 1hr. into the Justin Timberlake, FutureSex/LoveShow Concert on HBO Latin America. You can guess by me writing. Not enjoying it too much. Rock Your Body just began… looks promising, more on that later.

    The concert began slow with FutureSex, and shortly interrupted by a black screen, and Like I Love You/My Love – that one number was good. Exciting,but then the show went down the drain for me. Can’t really say I enjoy much JT’s ballads… the whole playing instruments part is kinda nifty, but let’s just say I’m not paying to see him play any instruments… well, I’m not paying. But I wouldn’t go to his show to see him sit on his squeaky-bum… I wanna see some jumping around, and sweat… loads of breathless chorus with some playback on.

    So, Amy’s not big on the whole slow jamming Timberlake does, and Rock Your Body begins, but doesn’t deliver. The next guitar-driven JT ballads are kinda alrite to listen to, snorted a bit on the whole Nsync back-in-time Gone performance, and I still think Justified is a better album than FS/LS.

    If you enjoyed the whole FutureSex/LoveSound album, there’s a chance u might like this show. However, I’m one of those who just enjoyed about 5 songs of it, I’ll just stick with the downloads… not worth my DVD $$. I can live without having this in my collection, and can probably live without being in one of his concerts. Besides, JT’s got enough $$, so he won’t mind me I bet…

    Anyway… loads of “ohhs,” “ooh!,” “ahhh,” “moan moan,” lick a finger over here… have a drink there, have a thrust “whoa…” how about a little rub ooh! I’m freaky, ask Julyssa if you want xD I need me some innocent sounding pop music…

    Image of the concert, totally cool. Dig the giant screens where you can see JT’s giant face and the giant spirits of gospel chorus. The band was good, JT’s voice… hmm, not on the plus side. Dancing wasn’t too cool either… random shots on random bimbos not knowing lyrics to the songs, totally snort-worth. Backstage camera? I dunno…

    Visuals: 4/5
    Voice: 3/5
    Dancing: 3/5
    Music: 4/5

    Overall: 14/20

  • Imagine Me & You

    I watched Imagine Me & You about a week ago, and they are re-broadcasting it at the moment. It was quite cute, anyway… my friend thinks the last kiss was so awwwwwwwwwwwww so romantic.

    I think there are about three instances… one where they’re about~~~~ to kiss. One where they finally kiss, but get all “there’s a thorn in my bum”, and the final moment in the middle of the street and the “you’re a wanker #9!!” kiss, which my friend loves~~~

    I give my vote to the “there’s a thorn in my bum” kiss, but here’s a couple of graphics:
    (more…)

  • Sarah Polley – Away from Her

    Satellite Awards nominations are in… Sarah Polley and Away from Her are kicking in~~

    ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
    Julie Christie, “Away From Her” (Lionsgate)

    MOTION PICTURE, DRAMA
    “Away From Her” (Lionsgate)

    DIRECTOR
    Sarah Polley, “Away From Her” (Lionsgate)

    SCREENPLAY, ADAPTED
    Sarah Polley,”Away From Her” (Lionsgate)

    But not as much as La Vie en Rose, which has 7 nods~~ (more here)

  • For Your Consideration: Marion Cotillard for Best Actress

    Oh, yeah. Amy first saw La Môme, aka La Vie en Rose, back in her trip to Sweden with dear Julyssa. Movie was in French, with Swedish subtitles… Amy speaks neither. LOL’ – so you can imagine. Anyway, that was a sweet little anecdote with the film, but I just got my DVD today, and re-watched it with proper subtitling that I could understood. ^^ xD

    Ever since I saw Cotillard in this role, I’ve felt that she’s got Academy Award written all over her face… I mean, come on! She became Piaf!! She, at least! deserves a nomination for Best Actress. Coming award season, she will need a strong campaign so people don’t push her performance to the back of their heads coming the time of nominations… so Amy decides to campaign for her.

    The film came out in the first half of the year, and just recently became available on DVD… usually, studios will release heavy awarded films during November and December to stay fresh in the mind of the ones nominating… this is not the case. Most importantly, the film is in French… it’s a powerful performance yes, but apparently languages are a pretty quite no-no for Academy Awards, lol.

    I also found this blog with how the race to the Oscar is going… good read. This person mentions Cotillard, and also another fave of mine, Julie Christie for Away from Her.

    But to stay on topic, Amy is campaigning for Marion Cotillard. I first saw her,briefly, on the Tim Burton film Big Fish back in early 2000s – Then, I got the amazing chance to see Jeux d’Enfants (aka. Love Me If You Dare) at the cinemas in Vancouver… which is now one of my favorite films, and then she was on The Good Year, starring Russel Crowe. Marion Cotillard does great in this film, she becomes Piaf and gives her audience a powerful wonderful performance.

    For Your Consideration: Marion Cotillard for Best Actress

    For Your Consideration: Marion Cotillard for Best Actress

    You can find, use, and help campaigning by posting and using this banners I made. For Your Consideration: Marion Cotillard for Best Actress.

  • Garbo and Crawford? Why my fascination…

    So… people knowing me would know a while back I saw The Greta Garbo Collection, which I loved! Especially watching Queen Christina and Camille! Though my surprise came when I saw Grand Hotel, and was taken away from Garbo’s famous line of “I want to be alone” by the sharply-delivered-lines of Joan Crawford. Now, I’m done watching my Joan Crawford Collection.

    I loved watching it, especially The Women and Mildred Pierce… and Possessed… and yeah, most of it, really! On the side, I also saw Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? – Man! That film is freaky~~~ All recommended!

    So, yeah~ back on the topic. Why am I fascinated by these two seemingly different actresses? One gave up almost everything in her life for her much wanted privacy… and never really got it because paparazzi still followed her around. The other lived to be a star, and took it as it came… even the bad publicity, and still held her head high!

    My respect to both of them. Nowadays, it is so hard to find stars like them. Most of them just complain about the paparazzi, and talk about their wanting privacy… but never really truly wanting it. Nights of wild partying, drugs and fights… and don’t forget the crotch shots! You’ve never seen Hollywood so unglamorous… such a shame.

    I am of the opinion that we should get rid of Hollywood Ebola soon before it’s too late.

  • A Warner Bros’ B.O. Theory

    This post has nothing to do with Body Odor. HAHA.

    I just recently found out Guillermo del Toro was interested in directing HP7 (a.k.a Deathly Hallows) – which would be nice… and a smart move by The WB. I mean, Yates… bah. Buhumbug! HP5 was one of my favorite books on the series, but the film was just annoying. Watch it as clips, it’s great… watch it as a whole, it’s utter trash. Why they hired him for HP6, which is also a crappy book, it’s because HP5 made more money $$ for The WB than HP4 and HP3, but the master of money-making has been HP1, so this is my theory.

    Everyone wanted to see Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone (HP1) because it’s a novelty… all fans go, all curious go… that equals a lot of cash into WB’s pockets, they think they have a success thanks to Chris Columbus. But let’s face it, HP1 wasn’t so good looking back, so people kinda lost some interest in it, people lost the novelty… there’s no curiosity factor anymore, so Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (HP2) comes out, and surprise! It doesn’t do better than HP1, probably something The WB didn’t expect. Critics and the public are not very surprised, and Chris Columbus is gone! Ciao!

    By this time, people have lost interest… and critics are not attracted… yet here comes Alfonso Cuaron, a decision that sparks a bit of interests in movie buffs and critics, but not your average movie goers. People have already lost interest over HP1, and the horrible HP2… so they are not expecting to see HP3. Results? Only hard-core fans and movie fans go see it. Results again? Hard-core HATE it, movie fans LOVE it! Critics praise the film, yet Hard-core fans are the one who go to the film over and over to watch it, but since Hard-core HATES HP3, it makes even less money. Cuaron is dropped! Ciao!

    Mike Newell comes on board for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (HP4)… critics want more Potter now, but fans are skeptical. Hard-core fans think it can’t be worse than Cuaron… HP4 results in a summer flick full of action, but no meat. Results? Critics are divided over the fact that it was entertaining, yet lacked growth… but the average movie maker finds it fun, and the hard-core fans are in peace. In the end, HP4 is more successful commercially than HP3, but not even close to HP1. Oh, well… Newell! Ciao!

    So The WB goes and picks David Yates… most people go WTF – but this decision sparks interests from movie buffs and critics. People enjoyed HP4, it was fun! Such a great summer flick… yeah, yeah. We should so totally see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (HP5) – then the keywords here were, Clips & Trailers. Everyone wanted to see, oh! the trailer looks amazing, the clips are so good! A rebellion you say? Voldemort’s back? Results? Everyone flocks to the theater to catch HP5. Results? Critics aren’t so sure, new fans from HP3 hated the choppiness of HP5, and they would’ve preferred watching separate clips, than watching all as a whole. But hard-core fans don’t care… they have their precious book… it’s the last book, oh yeah~ we should all go see the movie, because it’s the last book. Results again? Best commercial success, but still not as good to push HP1 of the #1 spot. Meaning, Yates is back for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (HP6).

    M y B.O predictions are, people who didn’t like HP5 will not go watch HP6… they will probably catch it on TV, or find a digital copy. Book 6 is a bad book, meaning there’s a slim chance it will make more money $$ than HP5, meaning… Yates! Ciao! What will happen with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (HP7)? That will depend on how HP6 does in Box Office, how the critics treat HP6, and who they will choose for directing HP7.

    If HP6 does as crappy as I think it will do, and critics aren’t as excited about it, as they were with HP5… The WB will need to choose some high-profile director… be it Peter Jackson, or Guillermo del Toro or someone critic-friendly to create a new buzz for the last film… because HP7 was a pretty crappy book, and The WB will only cash in more money $$ because of the director.

  • My Reasons Why the 90’s Ruled or Not – Part II

    Last time we talked about various Japanese shows that became part of Peruvian’s 90s. If you were a kid in Peru, you would’ve known 95% of my references, if not all of them~~ So we’re gonna be talking about more of those.

    Afternoons with the Small Wonder show (1985) was a show I remember… even now, I can get some re-runs of it. And, oh yeah~ I pity the fool! Hahaha, I used to own a Mr. T piggy-bank hahaha. What else? Full House, or as people call it here… Tres por Tres (3×3) – Step by Step (Paso a Paso)… and the seldom episode of Baywatch, back when Erika Eleniak was there. Aw, man… those were the days… before anything was sexed up. Erika Eleniak was pretty cool, so for those who wanna know, just google her. She’s got a website, not a cool website per se… but she’s got one. She’s married (I think), she’s got a baby, living in Calgary, and she’s happy. Good for her. =D

    Alf was also part of my growing up, as well as Bewitched and I Dream of Jeanie. A lot of re-runs in my life… like Perfect Strangers and The Munsters! I still get to watch those re-runs thanks to Nick @ Nite xD.

    Okay, enough with the TV people say…

    Did anyone get to catch El Show de Julie? LOL’ I was a big fan… I still got those little sock monsters, and I found her tapes. Does anyone know what happened to her? Some day, I might be in the mood to transfer my tapes to mp3… but until that day, I will have to depend on some other fan that is willing to do that and share online~~~

    Something that I’ve already been working on is… Capitanes de Lata, a play about kids that live in the streets of Lima, with Gloria Maria Solari. My transfer sounds like crap though, that’s why I’m wondering who else knows about it, and who else is willing to share their digital transfers. Los Cuervos was a fun gang, LOL’ the whole tape brings so many memories… and I totally sing along to it. I’ve totally no idea if they had the rights (probably not) to use the Frank Sinatra song Love and the Marriage (a.k.a Married with Children theme) or the Star Wars theme… so I might be getting them into trouble now hahaha. Or maybe they made it similar, but not enough? Capitanes de Lata, a triunfar! Al ataque, que la Fuerza los acompane! Todos con sus armas, naves en sus puestos! Alerta, vamos marchando sin descansar. LOL’

    I also remember being really into the tape I got of some play of the Wizard of Oz. Can’t find that tape though… so it will fade into my memory, until it blurs into just my imagination…

    So now, let’s talk some music. My father was a big fan of music, so I grew up with loads of oldies. Los Doltons were a big milestone on my life with the song El Ultimo Beso, a cover of Last Kiss. The English lyrics are pretty crappy though, hahaha. Or Puerto Mont by Los Iracundos… and some Rock & Rolling with El Rock de la Carcel (Jailhouse Rock), La Mantequilla, Popotitos, Rebelde sin Causa… I also recently found out that I know many of the songs Miguel Bose sings. But what about me?

    I was a kiddo, so no making fun of it. I was a big fan of Nubeluz (apparently… yeah, Almendra Gomelsky and Monica Santa Maria), as well as El Show de Julie, and man, my cousin and I were big Jordi fans hahahaha. Jordi, the little French boy… with his song about how hard it was to be a baby. Oh yeah – I’ve probably got my tape still, though there are loads of digital transfers on the net already!

    I was also a biggie on Locomia, lol… I know, I know… shame on me. Some of the members of my family will deny ever fancying them. hahaha… And since my English wasn’t top notch, I would hear “Locomia chuchuparin” HAHAHHAHA – instead of “Locomia get your body rockin’” xD Funny.

    I was also a big Pandora fan… me gusta como llevas el ritmo, oh~~~ me gustaria bailar como tu! ^^ Vamos al noa, noa, noa, noa… LOL’

    Well, I think that’s all I got for today.

    Links to other Parts:
    Part I
    Part III

  • November’s Begun

    Wow, hard to imagine the year is almost over, eh? What a waste it was… mostly, really. I feel like I’ve achieved very little to nothing, and such small pleasures in my meaningless life have been stripped from me maliciously in a year.

    I’m still looking forward to seeing Bjork in Lima, though still my hopes are not up. Anything can happen in 11 days… – I went to see The Invasion, much to my displeasure. I was supposed to watch The Brave One for free, but like I said… anything can happen – and we got a change of plans the same day of the show. The film wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, I truly enjoy watching Nicole Kidman on screen. Though I can’t help compare her face in the film, which was flawless to the one she’s got on red carpet events.

    The Invasion was predictable, and wasn’t really suspenseful… kinda gross when all those people/aliens were spitting and puking that stuff in the coffees and teas… yuck! And I guess I must be sick or something, since I was the only one laughing when Nicole grabbed her on-screen son’s friend and shoved him inside to trap him. If you’re expecting a night of goof around with the friends, watch it for the few laughs. 2/5

    Another Nicole/Daniel Craig film I’m anxiously awaiting is The Golden Compass (real title: Northern Lights) – though the boards seem to be bombarded by reports of New Line Cinema butchering the books… which if they are doing due to religious/marketable reasons – well, they would suck. I really dislike Christians who complain about fictional books that touch religious subjects, and more so when such people attack verbally to people that work in a project. I mean, what does Nicole Kidman have to do with promoting atheism? If you are only too stupid and lack the gray matter to compensate for the white in your brain to do something because a fictional character does it, then too bad.

    Instead of this people bitching about why Nicole Kidman chooses to make a movie that touches on religious themes and maybe makes you question the world we live in, why not complain over the fact that the Paris Hiltons, Lindsay Lohans, Britney Spears are the role models of today… because oh yeah, that’s like hot. Totally.

    Like I said a few hours ago, I blame it all on Disney… All Disney new stars are doomed to get their crotch shots, or nudie pictures in their late teens or early twenties. Britney, Lohan… that girl from High School Musical that I don’t even know her name.

    Look at me, starting from a simple review to end with a rant. LOL’ – Amazing.

    On other news, kinda… have you guys heard Britney Spears’ new album? I was decided not to download, but reports of it being #1 this week, as well as rumored ‘good reviews’ made me curious. I just think it’s funny how Gimme More it’s on like #1 or something, yet when I ask anyone on my MSN list their thoughts on it, they tell me they hate the freaking song. LOL’ – Me thinks there’s too many closeted Britney fans out there. So, I downloaded the thing to listen to it and judge myself… which makes me think all of you out there are freaking retarded. I hated it. It’s not even danceable, I couldn’t find a single catchy tune… Britney sounds more robotic than ever, and every freaking song sounded the same. Oh, I also thought the song Piece of Me reminded me of the bomb that was Madonna doing her rap song in whichever year she did that.

    Who’s new album was enjoyable? Juanes’ new album – La Vida Es un Ratico – was pretty enjoyable as was the newest Backstreet Boys album, Unbreakable. Though I bet neither will show on charts…

    Britney Spears is like weed, she’s not as dangerous as cocaine… but you can get curious and it gets you hooked to other more dangerous stuff.

  • Celtic Woman DVD Reviews

    First, before anyone complains about my opinion, I’m writing this reviews not only as a person who listens to Celtic Woman, but also as someone who’s bought tons of DVDs, and even has made some in her short career.

    I’ve got my complete Celtic Woman DVD collection, of sorts…
    – Celtic Woman
    – Celtic Woman: Live at Slane Castle
    – Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration

    First, some facts on Amy relating to Celtic Woman:
    – Saw them on a PBS (Public Broadcasting SOMETHING SOMETHING hahaha) in Canada
    – Were in Vancouver, but missed them coz I had classes.
    – Fiddling is cool, Amy thinks.
    – Saw clips of the Slane Castle show, and bought the DVD.
    – The 2nd DVD was the first in my collection.

    Reviews (more…)