Monday, March 28, 2011

SALT - 2010


Category: Movie

Genre: Spy / Action

Director: Philip Noyce

Writer: Kurt Wimmer

Producer: Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media, Di Bonaventura Pictures

Tagline: Who is SALT?

Cast: Angelina Jolie, Liev Shcreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Daniel Olbrychski, August Diehl, Daniel Pearce, Hunt Block, Andre Braugher and more


Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie) is a CIA agent who is highly respected by all. Out of the blue, a Russian spy walks into their offices and gives them an important information: the President of Russia will be assassinated during his forthcoming visit to New York City. And the Russian spy gave the name of the assassin: Evelyn Salt.


it's kind of uh... i don't know... there's something lacking in the movie. That was my expression when it ended. The plot was so twistedly predictable but still gives me the feeling of "huh?". Salt here gives me the idea that she has no understandable aim or something. Or maybe i just don't get it. Although if you are just into action... this could be a pretty good movie for you.:)


Sunday, March 27, 2011

The Expendables - 2010


Category: Movie

Genre: Action

Director: Sylvester Stallone

Writer:
Dave Callaham, Sylvester Stallone.

Producer:
Millenium Films, Nu Image Films, Rogue Marble,

Tagline: Every movie has a hero. This one has them all

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, David Zayas, Giselle Itie, Charisma Carpenter, Gary Daniels, Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke, Hank Amos, Amin Joseph and more.


Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) leads the highly skilled mercenary group called "Expendables", which involves knife enthusiast Lee Christmas(Jason Statham), Asian martial arts expert Yin Yang (Jet Li), heavy weapons specialist Hale Caesar (Terry Crews), demolitionist Toll Road (Randy Couture) and a loose-cannon sniper Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren). The group was commissioned by a mysterious Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) to assassinate the merciless dictator of a small South American island.


For action? Yes.. I can recommend it. For storyline? I don't think so. I had fun with the cameo of Bruce Willis. I pretty don't much like Jet Li's role here. I think there is something lacking from the storyline or some of their dialogues. Like it could use some revamp and make it a little bit cool. But, props for Stallone for being in the scene even though he is already 64. ;) The movie could have been better, though... if they placed a little depth. But, well if you just want testosterone filled movie.... watch this. and reminisce over the come back of fave popular cast brought into one film.


Friday, March 25, 2011

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - 2003


Category: Movie

Genre: Fantasy / Heroes

Director: Stephen Norrington

Producer:
Angry Films, International Production Company, JD Productions

Writer:
Alan Moore, Kevin O'Neil

Tagline:
A vampire... A killer with a kiss. This summer, the bad will fight for the good.


Cast:
Sean Connery, Naseeruddin Shah, Peta Wilson, Tony Curran, Stuart Townsend, Shane West, Jason Flemyng, Richard Roxburgh, Max Ryan, Tom Goodman-Hill, and more.


What a genius this movie is! For those who enjoys them classic heroes, this would be a fun movie to watch. Set in a Victorian age world, Allan Quatermain (Sean Connery) a renowed adventurer living in Africa leads a team of extraordinary gentlemen to fight off the madman known as "The Fantom". They formed a League that is made up of the seafarer and inventor Captain Nemo, Mina Harker the vampire, an invisible man named Rodney Skinner, an American secret service agent Tom Sawyer, the ageless and invincible Dorian Gray, and the dangerous split personality of Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde.

Even though it was made year 2003, it did not fade from being a modern film. I love how those classic characters have come to life in this modern day epic. Love love the cinematography. I love the imagination that comes along with this. I have not read the graphic novel but I know of the characters from the books I read from Stevenson, Twain, Verne and more. :)

It's a 4.5 because I think something's missing. Some additional greatness perhaps that could make it a 5?


Love Happens - 2009


Category: Movie

Genre: Romance /

Director: Brandon Camp

Writer: Brandon Camp, Mike Thompson

Producer: Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Stuber Productions

Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Aniston, Dan Fogler, John Carroll Lynch, Martin Sheen, Judy Greer, Frances Conroy, Joe Anderson, Sasha Alexander, Clyde Kusatso

Tagline: Sometimes when you least expect it..


Burke (Aaron Eckhart), a widower whose book about coping with loss turns him into a best-selling self-help guru and motivational speaker, and then he falls for Eloise (Jennifer Aniston) the hotel florist where his week-long workshop about healing is given, only to realize that he hasn't yet truly confronted his wife's passing.


I was excited when I watched the trailer but I found the movie quite uhmmm predictable. Although the plot about having some self-help guru was involved which reminds me of the funny flick movie called "The Love Guru" sounds enticing for me. Maybe its the chemistry between Eckhart and Aniston that I can't put my finger on. There were great emotional insights and one moment with romance (the one watching the concert without having to spend much).

It's not really that bad... just predictable... if you are into just entertainment with a teensy weensy different character.. then this could be just for you.

Quotes:

Burke: Funerals are important rituals. They're not only recognition that a person has died; they're recognition that a person has lived.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

X-Men Origins: Wolverine - 2009


Category: Movie

Genre: Sci-Fi / Action / Fantasy

Director:
Gavin Hood

Producer:
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Marvel Enterprises, Donner's Company.

Writer: David Benioff, Skip Woods Tagline: Cast: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Houston, Will I Am, Lynn Collins, Kevin Durand, Dominic Monaghan, Taylor Kitsch and more.

This movie is about the Origins of Wolverine. Born 200 years ago, two mutant brothers, Logan and Victor have suffered a childhood trauma and realized they only have each other to depend on. They fought together as soldiers war after war throughout U.S. History. During the modern times, a U.S. Colonel Stryker recruits them and other mutants as commandos.

It's action packed, so it's quite entertaining. Although, I heard fans of the Comics wasn't thrilled about this. I think they couldv'e done something to the script to make it better... say, more development of characters and a much clearer plot.

But, all in all I enjoyed the film because of Hugh Jackman...

Monday, March 21, 2011

X-Men: The Last Stand - 2006


Category: Movie

Genre: Sci-Fi / Action

Director: Brett Ratner

Writer: Simon Kinberg, Zak Penn

Producer: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Marvel Enterprises, Donners Company and more.

Tagline: Evolution will make a last stand.

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijin, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Stanford, Ellen Page and more.

Overview and Review of the movie X-Men: The Last Stand.

The years have been good with the mutants and humans so far. They have institutionalized some laws about Mutants having a separate department for them in the government. The scientists found a cure for Mutants for them to be normal. A line was drawn amongst two camps of Mutants, the X-Men, which was led by Professor Charles Xavier, and the Brotherhood, a band of powerful mutants organized under Xavier's former ally, Magneto.


As usual I enjoyed the fight scenes. Although I enjoyed that different characters were introduced but the swiftness of the film made it difficult to establish the different characters. Too bad NightCrawler wasn't around on the film. I was deeply sad that most of the major characters died on this film. *sigh* Great thing Ellen Page is here! :)

Sunday, March 20, 2011

X-Men 2: X-Men United - 2003


Category: Movie

Genre: Action / Sci-Fi

Director: Bryan Singer

Writer: Zak Penn, David Hayter

Producer: Marvel Enterprises, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, Rebecca Romijin, Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Bruce Davison, Aaron Stanford, Shawn Ashmore.

Tagline: In this world wide conspiracy the only thing you can count on... Is the X factor.


It has been months when the X-Men helped to have Magneto imprisoned in a plastic chamber from the previous movie X-Men. Now another danger is looming as a mutant who goes by the name "Nightcrawler" got into the White House and tried to assassinate The President. So, once again the mutants band together by looking for Nightcrawler.


Once again this movie never failed to amaze me. It is really living up to par with it's first film that went out and is about to satisfy the die-hard fan of the said comics. The actors really did a great job. I like this part because the X-Men are finally getting united to fight one battle. :) I like nightcrawler's views. :)

Although Magneto and Professor X has different views they still kept their love for each other. It's really kind of wonderful how they cannot kill one another. They'd fight for their own causes but never losing what they had in the past - friendship. :)


QUOTES I LIKE:

Professor X: Mutants. Since the discovery of their existence they have been regarded with fear, suspicion, often hatred. Across the planet, debate rages. Are mutants the next link in the evolutionary chain or simply a new species of humanity fighting for their share of the world? Either way it is a historical fact: Sharing the world has never been humanity's defining attribute.


Nightcrawler: You know, outside the circus, most people were afraid of me. But I didn't hate them. I pitied them. Do you know why? Because most people will never know anything beyond what they see with their own two eyes.
Storm: Well, I gave up on pity a long time ago.
Nightcrawler: Someone so beautiful should not be so angry.
Storm: Sometimes anger can help you survive.
Nightcrawler: So can faith.


Storm: [about Nightcrawler's markings] So... What are they?
Nightcrawler: They're angelic symbols, passed on to mankind by the archangel Gabriel.
Storm: They're beautiful. How many do you have?
Nightcrawler: One for every sin. So quite a few.

Wolverine: I need you to read my mind again.
Professor X: Logan, the mind isn't just a box that can be unlocked and opened, it's a beehive with many...
Wolverine: Spare me the lecture.


FUNNY

Policeman: Put the knives down!
Wolverine: I can't.


Professor X: Logan, my tolerance for your smoking in the mansion notwithstanding, continue smoking that in here, and you'll spend the rest of your days under the belief that you're a six-year-old girl.
Wolverine: You'd do that?
Professor X: I'd have Jean braid your hair.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

X-Men - 2000


Category: Movie

Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi

Director: Bryan Singer

Writer: Tom DeSanto, Bryan Singer,

Producer: Twentieth Century Fox, Marvel Enterprises

Cast: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Tyler Mane, Ray Park, Rebecca Romijin, Bruce Davison, Matthew Sharp, Rhona Shekter, Shawn Roberts and more.

Tagline: The future is here. Trust a few. Fear the rest.


Mutants and Humans are living together but at the same time they fear each other. Most mutants are being bullied by humans and sometimes makes the young mutant fearing he/she isn't normal. Charles Xavier or Professor X, who has a heart for mutants (and is a mutant himself) runs a private academy for young mutants. Two mutants were added to their group Rogue and Logan a.k.a. Wolverine.

One of the comic adaptations that I really enjoy!! Even though this was just done during 2000. It can still be at par with the movies of 2010. It's a wonderful cinematic experience. Great effects and all that.

The actors played the character pretty well and I am very enthused Hugh Jackman is playing Wolverine. :)

The movie makes me wish I am a mutant myself. Haha.

Prof. Charles Francis Xavier: Mutation: it is the key to our evolution. It has enabled us to evolve from a single-celled organism into the dominant species on the planet. This process is slow, and normally taking thousands and thousands of years. But every few hundred millennia, evolution leaps forward.

Magneto: Does it ever wake you in the middle of the night? The feeling that one day they will pass that foolish law or one just like it, and come for you? And your children?
Prof. Charles: It does, indeed.
Magneto: What do you do, when you wake up to that?
Prof. Charles: I feel a great swell of pity for the poor fool who comes to that school... looking for trouble.
Magneto: [halts the game, sighs] Why do you come here, Charles?
Prof. Charles: Why do you ask questions to which you already know the answer?
Magneto: Ah, yes. Your continuing search for hope.
[motions to the guard to take Xavier away]
Magneto: You know this plastic prison of theirs won't hold me forever. The war is still coming, Charles. And I intend to fight it, by any means necessary.
Prof. Charles: And I will always be there, old friend.


Friday, March 18, 2011

Red - 2010


Category: Movie

Genre: Action / Comedy

Director: Robert Schwentke

Writer: Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber

Producer: Summit Entertainment, Di Bonaventura Pictures, DC Entertainment.

Cast: Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Mary Louise-Parker, Karl Urban, Rebecca Pidgeon, Morgan Freeman, Chris Owens, Jaqueline Fleming, and more.

Tagline: Still Armed. Still Dangeroous. Still Got it.

RED stands for Retired Extremely Dangerous. Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) is one, a retired CIA operative. He is a lonely man living alone in a suburb. But then his peaceful life is threatened by a high-tech assassin, and he begins to reassemble his old team in a last ditch effort to survive and uncover his assailants all of them are RED.


This movie came as a pleasant surprise because I never thought I'd have a ball watching this. It wasn't hyped and all. Do not mind the story because this movie wouldn't make that much of a "sense". Most of things were really pretty much unbelievable but the comic part was enough to make you laugh out loud. The action scenes were pretty good that you would almost forget that it's a "comedy". This movie sure mixes comedy and action really good.

Must-see.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Up - 2009


Category: Movie

Genre: Animation / Comedy / Adventure

Director: Pete Docter / Bob Peterson

Producer:Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animations

Writer: Pete Docter / Bob Peterson

Cast/Voices: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, John Ratzenberger, Delroy Lindo, Jerome Ranft, David Kaye and more.


To fulfill a dream Carl Fredrickson made with his recently deceased wife named Ellie whom he shares an affinity for adventure and dreams, he tied up thousands of balloons to his home one day to go to the Lost Land in South America. Little did he know that a boy scout who is a wilderness explorer named Russell who is missing an elderly badge managed to come along with him - accidentally.

I actually had fun with the movie.... the thought of having your home flown by thousands of balloons was an adventure-filled idea. It's heart-warming, hilarious, and quite a bit sad in some moment but overall a great movie to watch with your kids and family and specially your grandma and grandpa. =) Russell is just sooo cute. Hehe. Innocent and adorable. :)

Fun Quotes

Carl Fredricksen
: Hey, let's play a game. It's called "see who can be quiet the longest."
Russell: Cool! My mom loves that game!

Carl Fredricksen: You'd better get up, Russell. Or else, the tigers will come and eat you.
Russell: Tigers don't live in South America. Zoology.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Realms of the Earth Angels - Doreen Virtue


Category: Book

Genre: Spirituality / Angels

Author: Doreen Virtue


Remember when Jesus said: "In my Father's House are many mansions?" I think he was referring to the different realms and dimensions of the Universe. And this book actually explains the different realms where we might have come from.

She talks about the different characteristics of each beings, Incarnated Angels, Elementals, Star People, Wise Ones and more.

I really enjoyed this book. (Anything by Doreen Virtue I really enjoy!!). It's actually just a small book which is an updated version of her previous book entitled: " Earth Angels: A Pocket Guide for Incarnated Angels, Elementals, Starpeople, Walk-Ins, and Wizards".

I love reading about elementals and "mythical", mystical beings. :)



Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The King's Speech - 2010


Category: Movie

Genre: Biography, Drama, History

Producer:
See-Saw Films, Bedlam Productions

Writer:
David Seidler

Director:
Tom Hooper

Tagline:
It takes leadership to confront a nation's fear. It takes friendship to conquer your own.

Cast:
Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Jennifer Ehle, Michael Gambon, Derek Jacobi and more.

A review and overview of the movie The King's Speech.


This is a biopic of England's King George VI(Colin Firth), the father of Queen Elizabeth II year 1925. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a stammer and the inability to speak in a crowd with low self-confidence he considers himself unfit to be king and was reluctant.

King George engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist from Australia named Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through war.

It's a slow movie but mainly because it is that. But, despite it's rather "simple" cinematography, the values that you get from this wonderful film is a winner. It is simple but very moving... and I think movies ought to be something like this. It's a wonderful testament that you don't need super special effects and other out-of-this world elements to make a great movie.

It is warm and inspiring... often humorous... and the tagline says it all: It takes leadership to confront a nation's fear. It takes friendship to conquer your own.

How amazing trust and friendship can take you to conquer your fear. :)

Lionel: [as George "Berty" is lighting up a cigarette] Please don't do that.
King George VI: I'm sorry?
Lionel: I believe sucking smoke into your lungs will kill you.
King George VI: My physicians say it relaxes the throat.
Lionel: They're idiots.
King George VI: They've all been knighted.
Lionel: Makes it official then.