Franz Ferdinand

I just wanted to write a quick blog post to let you guys know that I am not in fact dead.

Some bands I am listening to: The White Stripes, Franz Ferdinand, Coldplay.

Listen and tell me what you think!

Bye for now!

127 Hours

I have just watched 127 Hours, directed by Danny Boyle and starring James Franco.

After watching it, I simply sat and struggled to with the emotions welling inside me. What James Franco does so well in his performance as Aron Ralston is that he doesn't play it too dramatically or operatic. Ralston wasn't a Shakespearean actor delivering a death soliloquy; he was a human being who sincerely thought hat he was going to die.

I think that the hardest thing for an actor to do is to be able to act in such a confined space for such a long time. The camera work is astonishing; it pans across the desert and the canyon to show how isolated Ralston was during his entrapment.

Also the makeup done to simulate the amputation is gory and intensely well done.

Overall, 5 out of 5 Stars.

Movies I Have Seen

Cowboys and Aliens revolves around an alien invasion taking place in The Old West. The cast is fantastic, if not slightly mismatched. The characters aren't fully realized. The genres of western and Sci-Fi could have been dealt with more easily, but honestly, the two are like oil and water. They can only mix for so long before they separate. Overall, nicely produced, a good cast, but it just didn't pull through to the end. 2 out of 4 stars.

Zookeeper is a fine summer comedy that is a simple escape. It is not fine filmaking, but you get what you pay for; talking animals and kiddie comedy. 3 out of 5 Stars.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1+2 The final two films pack an emotional punch as we come to the final and stunning conclusion of a decade marked by the series that surpassed all expectations. Amazing and a wonderful performance from the entire cast. 5 out of 5 Stars.

Kung Fu Panda 2 It is rare that a sequel should surpass the original. Here we have the continued story of Po, an unwitting hero in ancient China. With Kung Fu Panda, Dreamworks captured lightning in a bottle; with Kung Fu Panda 2, Dreamworks did it again. 5 out of 5 Stars.

Fright Night (2011)

To some horror fans, news of a Fright Night remake was met with universal dismay. I have not seen the original and cannot make any real judgments.
Fright Night is about a boy named Charley Brewster(Anton Yelchin) who has a new neighbor. This neighbor is Jerry Dandridge played by none other than Colin Farrel.
I have to say that this film has the remarkable ability to stay afloat as both a comedy and a horror film. Much like the Lost Boys, this maintains itself throughout the entire film pulling us into a Las Vegas infested with vampires. The cast itself has great chemistry, and all of the actors work together harmoniously. Colin Farrel in particular exudes charisma, and danger in equal parts. Enough to draw you in and terrify you at the same time.
Set design is phenomenal on this film. It relies on the backdrop of the desert to isolate the struggle. The suburb is so tiny in comparison to the desert. This was more than likely done solely to create an isolated and desperate feel to it all. Overall this film is a scary good time that keeps you glued to your seat. 4 out of 5 Stars.

Alex Eylar

In the world of pop culture you will find some bewildering and intriguing links that lead you to find someone you wished that you had known about years ago.
I was reading an article on different games that they were turning into movies, which lead me to a link on Alex Eylar.
Alex Eylar takes Legos and uses them to build various landscapes and things that I was unaware is possible to do with them.
He also designs posters for movies, which makes for fresh new ways to look at an already beloved movie.
He is a film student,and has a clear understanding on what it takes to set up a good shot.
So check him out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoyvinmayvin/

More or Less, The Orgin of this Blog

My foray into the world of movies started at a rather surprising source...Twilight. Yes, that vampire romance where Kristen Stewart never smiles. I read the book and was overcome with with a brief bout of Twilight obsession. Several months later I began to go over why I liked the series:
1.Good-looking actor
2.Good looking cast
I thought to myself, if you like a movie solely based on how attractive the cast is versus the writing, you will find yourself scraping the grease of the bottom of the metaphorical movie bowl.
And so, I delved deeper searching for any movies that were better than Twilight. My search soon brought me to IMdB.com (Internet Movie Database).
Curious and hungry for more movie knowledge, I proceeded to type in the name of the first movie I had seen that popped into my head.
Within minutes, I began to experience the same elation and wonder that one expieriences when staring at the stars for the first time.
Now is where the story catches up to us in real time.
Overall, I have to say that this has taught me to appreciate films more. But this is the reality, and the story continues...

Quote of the week:

"I'm not going to waste my time arguing with a man who's lining up to be a hot lunch."
-Hooper, Jaws, (1975).

Recent News

Welcome everyone to the blog overhaul, I hope that you all had a good weekend.

So lets begin with news that has come to my attention as of late:

Angelina Jolie considering retirement; Jolie has stated in recent interviews that acting isn't as fun for her as used to be. I think that if she doesn't enjoy it then it is up to her to quit.

Release of The Amazing Spiderman trailer: This looks like it is going to be a welcome change to the franchise after the embarrassing to watch mess of a movie called Spiderman 3. I admire Emma Stone and Andrew Garfields' charisma as actors, and I am confident that they will take the world by storm.

Release of the In Time trailer: I have been intrigued by this project since news of it hit the blogosphere. For those of you who don't know me, I admire Andrew Niccols' talent as a director immensely. Hopefully In Time will turn him into a household name.

New The Hunger Games photos and poster: I have read the first two books in the Hunger Games Series and have loved them. I am looking forward to the first film immensely. I love the cast choices thus far and the anticipation build as I wait for the trailer.

And that's the news. Enjoy!

Blog Overhaul

Starting next week a new schedule will be put in place to keep the blog consistent:

Monday: Random news that interests me from the past week, movie releases.
Tuesday: Quote of the week.
Wednesday:Personal blog post week
Tursday: Artist of the Week
Friday: Review day

See you all next week!

Show Review: H2o: Just Add Water

For whatever reason, this summer has been spectacularly boring and hot. Therefore I have taken the liberty upon myself to stay inside and entertain myself by browsing Netflix. And I rediscovered this wonderful show. I watched it when it first came out and quickly lost interest and have regretted it since.

The show is about three Australian girls, Emma, Cleo, and Rikki. They all turn into mermaids ten seconds after touching water.

The show is deliciously cheesy and the acting is terrible at times. The storytelling and script can get ridiculous at times. But it is very entertaining and exciting to watch.

4 1/2 out of Five stars.

Website Review: Ninjadoodle.com

I enjoy playing silly computer games, and the best place to do that is at http://www.ninjadoodle.com. It is a site where you have a multitude of games to choose from. The creator of the site adds games from other sites as well as creates his own. I can waste several hours on this site. It is very addictive. My favorite game is MaXploder. And I also got a reward for finishing the game! http://www.ninjadoodle.com/maxploder-reward/

So get to it you gamers!

Book Review: The Host

I was introduced to Stephenie Meyer by way of Twilight. The Host is much better in the way of writing and character development. For those of you who hated the Twilight Saga, The Host is for you. It is indeed a hefty read so be prepared to make a commitment.

Movie Review: Cars 2

As many of you are aware, Cars 2 received the worst reviews of Pixar. For those who know me, I enjoy any type of movie reference. The detail put into this film is exquisite and surprisingly realistic. Larry the Cable Guy is an excellent choice for the voice of Mater. The actors seem to have car versions of themselves. The James Bond-ian feel makes the film entertaining and a treat to watch. Sure, the script leaves something to be desired by way of character development. Perhaps Pixar should focus less on the action, and look towards a better focus on script and writing. Hopefully they'll bounce back with Brave. Overall, Three stars out of Five.

Book Review: Pretty Dead

I know what you are all probably thinking. Ugh, not another teen vampire book right? Well, not exactly. Pretty Dead (By Francesca Lia Block) is a dazzling and horrifying look into the life of Charlotte, a vampire who has been witness to the miseries that mankind has experienced (the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 9/11). In the present day after the death of her closest human friend, she begins to notice signs that could mean she is becoming human again.

The book is split into chapters, but they are never numbered. Block provides us a strong character in the character of Charlotte. The language and dialogue gives the book a bold, dreamlike feel that engages you and makes you feel sympathy for our heroine. It raises questions over what it would mean to live through the worst disasters unscathed, slowly losing your human sympathy. Despite the title, Pretty Dead, comes alive and jumps of its pages, giving us a glimpse of what it means to be alive, and what it means to live.

My Reading List

So the other day I found some time to stop by the library and pick up some books and a few music CDS:

Novels: Fledgling By Octavia E. Butler, The Host By Stephenie Meyer, Pretty Dead By Franscesca Lia Block.

CDS: Death By Chocolate, All Over The World: The very best of Electric Light Orchestra, Ocean Eyes By Owl City, The Hazards of love and Picaresque By The Decemberists, The Wall By Pink Floyd, Kiss and Tell By Selena Gomez and The Scene.

I have listened to most of the albums already, and have also read Pretty Dead. Review coming soon (probably).

I am not going to be able to post for a while, so go find your happy place while I am gone (or whatever).

Stay classy, internet.

Super 8

After I saw the trailer for Super 8, I formulated a mathematical equation to help me make sense of it: Cloverfield+E.T.+70's nostalgia= Super 8. At the time I had believed it was clever.

In Super 8, a group of friends are filming a movie at a train station when a horrific train crash occurs. The super 8mm camera they were using captured everything and another thing I can not mention without having a spoiler alert. The acting in this movie is exquisite. The lighting and special effects are simply wonderful. I love watching movies about other movie fans as enthusiastic as these. If you loved E.T., I guarantee that you will LOVE this movie. Highly recommend for everyone. Five out of Five Stars.