Archives For Moving Media

Inception: Worth More than One View

August 2, 2010 — 1 Comment

I wonder if I’ll have time to catch this for the 2nd time this week.

Anyway, I thought I should post my review for Inception here, so I could participate on the LAMB, because I don’t usually get to participate much. I gotta take any chance at ‘world premieres’ and early… or somewhat early releases. I actually reviewed this in Spanish over at TOMA-UNO.

Inception had been the most anticipated film of this Blockbuster season. I mean, we are talking about Christopher Nolan — whom people are referring to as the new “insert name of any filmmaker” [Hitchcock/Kubrick] — with his stellar cast that includes Oscar nominee Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar nominee Ellen Page, Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe, Oscar Winner Marion Cotillard, Oscar Winner Michael Caine, as well as Golden Globes nominees Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Cillian Murphy. No doubt, Inception has a dream cast and crew.

In it, DiCaprio plays Cobb, a man on the run from the US system who happens to work on what is known as “subconscious exploration” which refers to entering your brain while on a dream-state to obtain information. Cobb is hired by Saito (Watanabe) for an impossible task to secure the disintegration of the competition’s company. For this to happen, Cobb must enter the mind of Robert Fischer Jr. (Murphy) and insert this idea, and make him believe it came from him. This is known as “Inception”.

Cobb will be joined by his team that includes Arthur (Gordon-Levitt), and a young architecture student named Ariadne (Page).

Despite everything said about this movie, I thought it was pretty straight forward. Of course, repeat viewings of the film would be more than useful, but as a regular movie, Inception delivers as much thrill as any action flick released this season. The cinematography is breathtaking at times, combined with special effects that drags you into the story.

The acting is more than solid, it’s DiCaprio’s most interesting role since his snubbed performance on Revolutionary Road, and I could easily see nominations for supporting acting for Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt at all to have an interesting story as the base of this action thriller. Dreams are interesting, and leaves you enough space to mess around with people’s minds without making them feel like you’ve cheated on the story.

I’m not sure, however, if this is deserving of a #3 spot on the current IMDb 250 Top Films yet, but it’s definitely one of the most interesting offerings of the year. Leave it to Nolan to deliver something like this.

4/5

In English, Films, French, Fun, Japanese, Posters/Artwork, Reviews, Sharing, Spanish , , , ,
permalink

Aftershocks: Not a Disaster Film, but a Tear-jerking Drama

August 2, 2010 — 4 Comments

Hi, some American [and Peruvian] distributor, you should totally buy this.

Newsweek has a very interesting article on Xiaogang Feng and his latest IMAX flick, Aftershocks (aka. After Shock, Aftershock), which has just beaten James Cameron’s Avatar in the biggest Chinese opening for a film. Aftershocks is the first ever non-American IMAX film… so of course Aftershocks opened in more than 4 000 screens – which is also a first – and it only made about $5.3M on a day, but it is still a feature. I mean, not everyone pays $15USD to get into the theater.

So when I think of IMAX… I think National Geographic under the sea films, Star Wars, and The Dark Knight. But let me tell you, Aftershocks is playing a complete different game. Aftershocks is a drama… it’s a tear-jerking, heart-tugging drama. It depicts the story of a family that was forever affected by the 1976 7.8 magnitude in the city of Tangshan, which had a reported death toll of 240 000 people.

When I first heard about Aftershocks, not being familiar with Feng’s style, I thought “Oh, China is making their big Hollywood Disaster Film on IMAX” and boy, was I wrong. Sure, the film counts with a luscious (and devastating) sequence that last several long minutes of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake… which felt like a mega-earthquake on screen. However, after that scene, which pretty much starts the film, it aptly turns into a drama telling the struggle of a mother that had to choose between her daughter and her son, and the hurt of a daughter that believes to have been abandoned.

The film lasts about 2hrs, and I was possibly in tears in the first few minutes as the earthquake struck, and the audience immediately feels connected to the mom and her kids. It instantly reminds me of writers telling me “You need something big so your reader believes the connection can happen,” and for the viewers watching Aftershocks, this big event is the devastating earthquake.

When you thought the worse of the crying was done, a brand new wave came over you and you were at it again. I think I was bawling for a good 1.30hr of the film. LOL

A good solid 4/5

Oh how I wish this opened in America so there could be ANY nomination for actress Fan Xu, though the whole cast was remarkable.

In Chinese, English, Films, Posters/Artwork, Reviews, Sharing , , ,
permalink

First Reviews Lima Film Festival 2010

July 31, 2010 — Leave a comment

The first reviews from the Lima Film Fest are up… you can already buy tickets for the shows which start showing on August 6th until August 14th. They aren’t much, but you can get all the Lima Film Fest 2010 tagged items to keep updated throughout this week.

Here are the reviews at the moment:

In English, Films, Reviews, Sharing, Snapshots, Spanish , , ,
permalink

Chloe Moretz’s Hit Girl is my New Hero-ine.

July 31, 2010 — 4 Comments

Just had the chance to catch Kick-Ass, and let me tell you. Forget about Kick-Ass, we need more Big Daddy and Hit Girl~~~ Better yet, we need more girly potty-mouthed super heroes.

In a movie too centered on the insipid Kick-Ass — mind you, the film is title with his name — Hit Girl rocked my world.

Continue Reading…

In Comics, English, Films, Fun, Graphics, Illustrations, Posters/Artwork, Sharing, Stills , , ,
permalink

Ohoku – Ooku Trailer

Based on the manga by Fumi Yoshinaga, Ooku — refering to the quarters of the Shogun’s female companions — tells the story of a fictional Edo era in Japan where women have become the dominant members of society, and males are sought after to reproduce.

Actress Kou Shibasaki will be playing the female shogun.

[iframe width=”560″ height=”349″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kdujx_5jPQw?rel=0″]

This made me think of the comic Y: The Last Man, which was the first ever comic I got into due to my roommate wanting me to read it. If you haven’t read it, do give it a look. You can be blown away.

As for the movie, the trailer kinda game me chills. Kou Shibasaki as the Shogun, such a marvelous idea. What’s Kazunari Ninomiya to do? xD

Posted on July 30, 2010 In Celebrity, Comics, English, Films, Japanese, Manga, Sharing, Trailers
permalink 3 Comments

Lima Film Festival: Entre la Luz y la Sombra

July 30, 2010 — 1 Comment

Entre a Luz e a Sombra (2009)
Genre: Documentary
Directed by:  Luciana Burlamaqui

Between Light and Shadow is a documentary that spans 7 years into the life of a Brazilian actress, who devotes herself to working with the prisoners in Carandiru — which was the largest penitentiary in South America [there’s even  a movie about the 1992 massacre there]– A couple of the prisoners, Rap duo 509-E members Dexter and Afro-X, who were there for different sentences, are encouraged to create music.

The documentary shows that even though the actress [whose name escapes me, and doesn’t show up anywhere] and the guys from 509-E were born in the same city, but where born in different parts of town and in different families, there’s a disconnect. This is why The Actress spends 20 years of her life working with prisoners on theater workshops, dancing, encouraging them to create music, or paint, while also supporting 509-E in their rap careers in and outside prison. The rap duo is granted permission to perform at events outside prison while still doing their sentences because the judge granting these permissions is convinced that this is a good way to give prisoners a second chance.

Of course politicians and police enforcement officers are against prisoners going out and commenting on political issues. And of course the duo, young at that time, was against “The Man” so they didn’t waste any time to speak up.

There are problems in Carandiru, the prisoners take over the prison with hostages — “We have women and kids” read one of the messages they hung — and the situation got out of control. The prison was closed down, the prisoners transfered, and Carandiru was demolished. With terrorist groups running rampant in and out of prison, government officials stopped letting prisoners do public events… even when 509-E was winning big in the Rap festivals and awards.

Finally, as time passed by, Dexter and Afro-X split after Dexter was transfered to another prison, and Afro-X was given probation because he was fathering a child with singer Simony.

In a telling ending, both Dexter and The Actress — who were a couple in the beginning of the documentary — tells us what we’ve known all along. Maybe it’s just better to put your best effort in keeping children out of the prisons. Because once people live “the life” and feel proud of it, there’s never going back.

2.75/5

COMPETENCIA OFICIAL – DOCUMETAL

Screenings:
Tuesday 10 @ 4pm in Centro Cultural Catolica – Sala Azul

In English, Films, Fun, Jobs, Posters/Artwork, Reviews, Sharing , , ,
permalink

Lima Film Festival: La Yuma

July 30, 2010 — 5 Comments

La Yuma (2009)
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Starring: Alma Blanco
Directed by: Florence Jaugey

La Yuma — don’t ask me what Yuma means, but La Yuma is the boxing nickname of the character — tells the story of a girl from the poor neighborhoods of Managua, Nicaragua, who wants to become a professional boxer. One day she sees her brother mugging a young journalist who loses a disc with his work, so she decides to return it to him, and decides that she likes him. As she deals with her possible love life, as well as her family life with her younger siblings, good-for-nothing mother with her good-for-nothing boyfriend, she finally gets the chance to train under renown boxing trainer Polvorita.

La Yuma pretty much reminded everyone of Girlfight — which launched the career of now the familiar Michelle Rodriguez — for their “tough girl who wants to box” theme, but ultimately La Yuma distances itself from boxing, and focuses on what Alma Blanco’s character has to do for her and her siblings to survive.

Since the story starts out as a boxing film, and then distances itself from it… La Yuma seems a bit disjointed, as if you were watching 2 or 3 different films. However, the film’s protagonist is interesting — she’s tough and sassy with a sense of humor — she keeps bringing you back into the story. The acting is a bit uneven, especially from Ernesto (Gabriel Benavides) the “love interest” and you wonder why La Yuma feels attraction towards him, but characters like Doña Scarlett (María Esther López), or La Cubana (Juan Carlos García) are enjoyable and memorable enough.

3/5

COMPETENCIA OFICIAL – FICCION

Screenings:
Monday 9 @ 5.15pm in Cineplanet Alcazar  – Sala 1
Tuesday 10 @ 7.30pm in Centro Cultural Catolica – Sala Azul
Thursday 12 @ 9.45pm in Cineplanet Alcazar – Sala 1

In English, Films, Fun, Jobs, Posters/Artwork, Reviews, Sharing, Spanish , ,
permalink

Hi, Why Isn’t Olivia Williams More Famous?

July 29, 2010 — 8 Comments

Finally watched Polanski’s The Ghost Writer. In short, very well done. Loads of thrills, melodrama, some humor… loads of politics. Having said that, Olivia Williams needs more attention. She was pretty great last season with An Education — and was completely snubbed –, and she’s always been interesting on screen.

Every time I bring up her name, people say “who?”

And you must know her for sure! I mean, she was on Dollhouse~~~ and she had a cameo on X-Men The Last Stand, She was Mrs. Darling on Peter Pan. She was also on The Body with Antonio Banderas, she started out as Bruce Willis’ wife on The Sixth Sense, and was on Wes Anderson’s Rushmore. WTF, she’s been a working actress for almost 20 years~

On The Ghost Writer? She pretty much blew me away. The question is, should she be going for Best Actress, or just go for Best Supporting? Supporting acting always gives good results.

Continue Reading…

In Celebrity, English, Films, Photographs, Sharing, Stills , , , ,
permalink

Laura Linney’s The Big C

I have a feeling I’m gonna love this show. Though, Linney’s character needs a hotter husband. I’m sorry, I’m shallow… I enjoy Oliver Platt’s acting as much as the next fella, but come on. It’s getting surreal to the point where 99% of female leads have average or below average good-looking male co-stars.

[iframe width=”560″ height=”349″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/ey-mE3ji4mU?rel=0″]

Posted on July 26, 2010 In Clips, English, Sharing, Television , , ,
permalink 1 Comment

Rocky Horror for Glee

Oh yeah, sweet baby beegesus.

You know you can picture it already.

Ryan Murphy announced that Glee will have a Rocky Horror Picture Show themed-episode, and Chris Colfer said he’d like to sing Time Warp. Among other news, Brittany [dumb as a rock, but funny as hell] will get her own episode, as well as Mercedes — poor Tina, we need her around.

video deleted

Posted on July 26, 2010 In English, Films, Sharing, Stills, Television , , , , , ,
permalink Leave a comment