tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-385702272024-03-06T10:13:22.719+08:00Andy and the DreamSeeker (Movie & Dreams)andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-16506565588762663552010-05-03T01:44:00.000+08:002010-05-03T01:49:21.240+08:00Coming soonAfter a long hiatus, this blog may be making a comeback so stay tune to see if it's coming soon.andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-44605271224092372352009-02-23T16:10:00.005+08:002009-02-23T17:07:58.354+08:00Slumdog Millionaire bags 8 Oscars!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdRqzZ-9OAVA26x-r0kD6QdGXu_mtulatyzvjP5OBxLddxMagmWsj6b91pBXtQFuZ1lhIC_0UGRhJmxC4aDEdiZZceGOCvL4UT5x4IKKpIwYTgPuk5Lk73rytpipWFkAsDa9G/s1600-h/slumdogmillionaire1_large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdRqzZ-9OAVA26x-r0kD6QdGXu_mtulatyzvjP5OBxLddxMagmWsj6b91pBXtQFuZ1lhIC_0UGRhJmxC4aDEdiZZceGOCvL4UT5x4IKKpIwYTgPuk5Lk73rytpipWFkAsDa9G/s400/slumdogmillionaire1_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305908144363765314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"What the hell can a slumdog possibly know?"</span><br /><br />Could he have known that he would be the winner of 8 Oscars?<br />It would probably have been written... somewhere in the book of destiny.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Best Picture<br />Best Directing<br />Best Music (Song)<br />Best Music (Score)<br />Best Film Editing<br />Best Sound Mixing<br />Best Cinematography<br />Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)</span><br /><br />Director Danny Boyle jumped up and down like Tigger of Winnie the Pooh.<br />He says this is his promise to his kids who are now too old to remember it.<br /><br />"My kids are too old to remember this now, but when they were much younger, I swore to them that if this miracle ever happened that I would receive it in the spirit of Tigger from "Winnie-the-Pooh" and that's what that was. You've been so generous to us this evening and I wanted to thank you for that and also for an extraordinary, what a beautiful show you've done. I don't know what it looks like on television, everybody, but in the room, it's bloody wonderful, really. So, well done, everyone."<br /><br />- Danny Boyle (Best Directing)<br /><br /><br />A R Rahman performed his two nominated songs just before he went on stage to pick up his trophy.<br />It is a deserved win for his song 'Jai Ho' which stirred the emotions of its audience.<br /><br />"I just want to thank again the whole crew of Slumdog Millionaire, especially Danny Boyle for giving such a great opportunity. And the whole, all the people from Mumbai. The essence of the film which is about optimism and the power of hope in the lives, and all my life I had a choice of hate and love. I chose love and I'm here. God bless."<br /><br />- A R Rahman (Best Music: Song & Score)<br /><br /><br />"Hi gang. Thank you very much indeed. There are certain places in the universe you never imagine standing. For me, it's the moon, the South Pole, the Miss World podium and here. It's a tremendous honor, so thank you to the Academy. I certainly wouldn't be standing here tonight without Vikas Swarup, who wrote the book, without which none of Slumdog would ever have happened. So thank you, Vikas."<br /><br />- Simon Beaufoy (Best Writing: Adapted Screenplay)<br /><br /><br />The time came for the Best Picture before the curtain falls on the 81st Academy Awards, and of course as it has to be, Slumdog Millionaire, and everyone who has a part gathered on stage with the world listening as producer Christian Colson sums it up nicely.<br /><br />"Thank you so much to the Academy. As you can see, our film was a collaboration between hundreds of people. I'm so happy that so many of them could be with us here tonight to share this moment. Together, we've been on an extraordinary, an extraordinary journey. When we started out, we had no stars, we had no power or muscle. We didn't have enough money, really, to do what we wanted to do. But what we had was a script that inspired mad love in everyone who read it. We had a genius for a director. We had a cast and a crew who were unwavering in their commitment and whose talents are up on the screen for all of you to see."<br /><br />- Christian Colson<br /><br />Here's all the <a href="http://oscar.com/oscarnight/winners/">OSCARS WINNERS</a>.andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-43229126243443426732009-02-19T13:09:00.005+08:002009-02-19T14:41:58.687+08:00Destiny in Love - A Quick Review of Slumdog Millionaire<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlx1PtmLI7hq_qRd6fff6hpgjxPHyroYq50jseb8WxJ-WONsrcgVimB_92_sSFm-msUTyVRSeiNcUl4fn7Ycxhrn6JQ96dHxnxY_f5_KO51HAjbDrn1q1YU_HvoNLuayBKsYQ/s1600-h/Slumdog_Wallpaper.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlx1PtmLI7hq_qRd6fff6hpgjxPHyroYq50jseb8WxJ-WONsrcgVimB_92_sSFm-msUTyVRSeiNcUl4fn7Ycxhrn6JQ96dHxnxY_f5_KO51HAjbDrn1q1YU_HvoNLuayBKsYQ/s400/Slumdog_Wallpaper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304381870788796082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What's it about?</span><br />Slightly over-hyped, but a good film nonetheless.<br /><br />Slumdog Millionaire tells the tale of how a youth (Jamal) made it through the slums of India, and why he got on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' where every answer to every question has a story to tell.<br /><br />Destiny here is livened in the name of love.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why the hype?</span><br />Tagged as the Feel-Good Film of the Decade, Slumdog Millionaire has bagged four Golden Globes in Motion Picture, Director, Screenplay and Music.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who stars?</span><br />Dev Patel as Jamal<br />Anil Kapoor as Prem<br />Frieda Pinto as Latika<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who directed?</span><br />Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Notable crew</span><br />Simon Beaufoy, the writer behind Slumdog Millionaire who adapted the story from Vikas Swarup's novel, Q & A.<br />Christopher Dickens, the editor who stylishly brought the story to live by linking every scene brilliantly.<br />A R Rahman, the composer of the film's sound tracks, for without him the emotions of the film cannot be felt passionately.<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" id="slumdogmillionaire" align="top" width="400" height="300"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="false"><param name="movie" value="http://www.slumdogmillionairemovie.co.uk/widget/index.swf"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <embed src="http://www.slumdogmillionairemovie.co.uk/widget/index.swf" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="slumdogmillionaire" allowscriptaccess="sameDomain" allowfullscreen="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" flashvars="gig_lt=1235025563859&gig_pt=1235025569031&gig_g=2" align="top" width="400" height="300"></embed><param name="FlashVars" value="gig_lt=1235025563859&gig_pt=1235025569031&gig_g=2"></object><img style="visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.11NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyMzUwMjU1NjM4NTkmcHQ9MTIzNTAyNTU2OTAzMSZwPTE1MjExMSZkPSZnPTImdD*=.gif" border="0" width="0" height="0" />andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-2504255783612874752009-02-06T13:24:00.011+08:002009-02-11T18:22:40.617+08:00Return to Innocence - A Review of Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQdzUcMdyR_zwh4FfArrY4VL1D3yHMjjjTcdrb_YAX8aNiMk8n_uGMojM5Rwtqdv2YoeVZE68qzalN4nK-8-KF4MKqg4fGq0hnsmu3VWH5fLP-XQFt2MUWftI59G-3gxa9nqW/s1600-h/ponyo_wallpaper.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQdzUcMdyR_zwh4FfArrY4VL1D3yHMjjjTcdrb_YAX8aNiMk8n_uGMojM5Rwtqdv2YoeVZE68qzalN4nK-8-KF4MKqg4fGq0hnsmu3VWH5fLP-XQFt2MUWftI59G-3gxa9nqW/s400/ponyo_wallpaper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299559062411221746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Said to be inspired from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea is Japanese animation master, Hayao Miyazaki’s next big work after the well-received Spirited Away in 2001 and Howl’s Moving Castle in 2004.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">, his signature style of animating fantasy realms and children characters are on display once again.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sosuke (Hiroki Doi), the boy lead in the film discovers a ‘goldfish’ trapped in a glass jar while playing by the seaside below the cliff.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">He stays with his mum, Lisa (Tomoko Yamaguchi) above and atop it.<br />Sosuke shakes the jar forcefully to try and get the ‘goldfish’ out but the little ‘goldfish’ is stuck.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">He then tries to pull it out but it just cannot come loose.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sosuke then place the jar on the ground before smashing a small rock onto it, breaking it into pieces instantly while suffering a small cut on the finger.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">He then checks inquisitively to see if the ‘goldfish’ is still alive.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">As he observes it, the ‘goldfish’ reacts by licking the blood off his finger suddenly.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Excited, Sosuke quickly rushes back to the house and put the ‘goldfish’ in a small bucket of water in hope that it will survive.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It did and he named it ‘Ponyo’(Yuria Nara).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The above scene would signify what is to come for the remainder of the film.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It is of the interactions between Sosuke and Ponyo.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">And it is one that Hayao Miyazaki did meticulously well in portraying.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">He must have a keen sense of observation and understanding of how children behave before he depicts this chemistry of communication between the two main characters.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The behavior of the children would also extend into the rest of the film in their further encounters.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The affection between Sosuke and Ponyo grew as the film progresses from the moment Sosuke brought Ponyo to school in Lisa’s car.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The best moment came when the two were reunited after a brief separation when Ponyo’s father, Fujimoto (George Tokoro), a magical sea dweller recaptures the errant Ponyo before encapsulating her in a magic bubble with kind intention.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Fujimoto who was once human has grown to refer humans with disgust for polluting the sea and stealing its life.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">But all Ponyo wants is to be human and be with Sosuke so for a second time she escapes, accidentally emptying his father’s precious store of magical elixir into the sea, creating a storm of tidal waves and engulfing the small town in the process.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">What follows are the adventures of Sosuke and Ponyo in the flooded town.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Is there a happily ever after in this one?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Would true love prevail?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">You find out.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Looking at the art in Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, there appears to be a deviation from Miyazaki’s past works in terms of rendering.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It looks unfamiliar because the environment apart from the characters at play in every scene is not colored in the usual fashion as in Spirited Away (2001) and Howl’s Moving Castle (2004).</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The aesthetical appeal is discounted from what appears to be color penciled drawings.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The objects and characters are also not as detailed as before.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This is peculiar if taken on face value but from the way the story is written and told, the possible explanation is that Miyazaki is allowing the audience to view the film with a child’s tint, yet allowing the adults to reminisce on a Japan when they were younger.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This move could have prevented prospective moviegoers, new to Miyazaki’s work to see it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The trailer did nothing to promote </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> as well.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Taking the case to Japan however would be a different story as Miyazaki’s credential far than exceed any marketing technique.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In summary though, the whole did not equal to its parts.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Aside from Miyazaki’s ability to cast vivacious and animated characters, the film lacks elements of thrill and wonder when measured against previous works, resulting in a deficit of big screen presence.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The sparks of Ponyo and Sosuke failed to light up the film in a big way but moments of warmth, kindness, and love can still be found in recognizing the film as one that is not made for the kids, but of the kids who everyone is or once was.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRqNykQLW3DWPvKZcXmyRM1J2G_izsF6nOTzvvM5TV872NiZA3IOVVo5XypEET8Bfy075k9i5BMl2Wh03XyljZm8wU57XjwsfXX-3Fi3Nx8oAapz0lRSzaNL25S4lE_svRer9/s1600-h/ponyo_wallpaper2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRqNykQLW3DWPvKZcXmyRM1J2G_izsF6nOTzvvM5TV872NiZA3IOVVo5XypEET8Bfy075k9i5BMl2Wh03XyljZm8wU57XjwsfXX-3Fi3Nx8oAapz0lRSzaNL25S4lE_svRer9/s400/ponyo_wallpaper2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299558798156532978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Official sites:</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.ghibli.jp/ponyo/">Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea</a> (Japanese)<br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.encorefilms.com/ponyo/index.htm">Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea</a> (English)<br /></span>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-47293239370866671362009-01-22T18:00:00.022+08:002009-02-01T11:15:10.322+08:00The Point of War - A Review of Red Cliff II<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPt9QHSaYi8D0-cySKWUAjFIatNYueyWI5-cGGvx8AzV7SxY0kFmVj-gTDaEsz_EGE0GTZgE53giAKhZRhkYq1r1eod01Sb6UW_agCMe2eBZg7M8nLuZngFa1NHU5Cxj3jVUx9/s1600-h/Red%2520Cliff%25202.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294076465740664610" style="width: 280px; height: 400px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPt9QHSaYi8D0-cySKWUAjFIatNYueyWI5-cGGvx8AzV7SxY0kFmVj-gTDaEsz_EGE0GTZgE53giAKhZRhkYq1r1eod01Sb6UW_agCMe2eBZg7M8nLuZngFa1NHU5Cxj3jVUx9/s400/Red%2520Cliff%25202.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Red Cliff, the film by John Woo based on the epic battle of Romance of the Three Kingdoms is divided into two parts.<br />While the first was engaging in its depiction of such historical characters in Cao Cao, Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu, the second is all about war itself, which can be a little daunting to some.<br />But that is just how war is.<br /><br />You see, war is not about a spontaneous fight between two opposing parties.<br />It has nothing to do with sword wielding ‘cling clang’ or battle cries and fistfights.<br />The distinction has to be made since war is by far a larger context than a battle, although war itself consists many.<br />In Red Cliff II we will see what is at play when war is raged.<br />It cannot be pretty can it?<br />But it can as this is the romanticized version of history and on screen John Woo made it even prettier.<br /><br />The cast is strong with Tony Leung Chiu-wai as viceroy Zhou Yu, Takeshi Kaneshiro as advisor Zhuge Liang and Zhang Fengyi as Cao Cao, to name just a few. The list is long.<br />A good cast will more often than not up the aesthetical appeal to a movie.<br />For the female audience, Tony Leung charms with his manly portrayal of Zhou Yu, and Takeshi Kaneshiro is always a pleasure to watch as he liven every scene with wit and humour.<br />For the male audience, it is the childlike yet seriousness of Zhao Wei as Sun Shangxiang, and Lin Chi-ling’s poise and compassion as Xiao Qiao that allures.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS1CF6UIhiRRcCJGlios3v1U1cC_K1uQxgoLOlfGd_Pl0obbc08le28q5bJV5pPdnGUf7WyQcTsYLL_fgm8VPRQErO6reZwKWmX72uMLaRNuMvDih7bykCrOp7KQ_bxq-JF4n/s1600-h/caocao.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294073199789196034" style="width: 200px; height: 114px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS1CF6UIhiRRcCJGlios3v1U1cC_K1uQxgoLOlfGd_Pl0obbc08le28q5bJV5pPdnGUf7WyQcTsYLL_fgm8VPRQErO6reZwKWmX72uMLaRNuMvDih7bykCrOp7KQ_bxq-JF4n/s200/caocao.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />But can war really be pretty?<br />If you think that killing each other is a good way to express beauty then perhaps you can be on the same page as the tyranny Cao Cao.<br />In part 1, where the emphasis of battle was on land with a very elaborate tactic devised by Zhuge Liang, here in part 2 we witness the battle at sea, physically and psychologically.<br /><br />Back to the main topic of war, it is crucial that victory must be sorted as numerous lives are heavily at stake, whether or not these lives are valued or not, be they as added numbers or as friends.<br />In war the emphasis is on strategies and tactics to win.<br />And on strategies and tactics, I guess we no doubt have to consult Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and also take reference to The 36 Stratagems.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzC4ifeguqHbJzwQjepBUiGTP67Ofzl2geGsN0SlDCc6a9KE7DDut3kFOcsAuRCPPBGppoc8ssgkOofN-06hbHwNBZa6WVbJ-zhJla_Dw1GdKQQhhyphenhyphen4EnU6GcSMWL-sQQvyeZ/s1600-h/zhugeliang2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294074604834458354" style="width: 200px; height: 114px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzC4ifeguqHbJzwQjepBUiGTP67Ofzl2geGsN0SlDCc6a9KE7DDut3kFOcsAuRCPPBGppoc8ssgkOofN-06hbHwNBZa6WVbJ-zhJla_Dw1GdKQQhhyphenhyphen4EnU6GcSMWL-sQQvyeZ/s200/zhugeliang2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I can refer that the epic battle of Red Cliff has two points that stood out when referenced to The Art of War and that is The Attack By Fire and The Use Of Spies.<br />The Art of War states that in every army, the five developments connected with fire must be known, the movements of the stars calculated, and a watch kept for the proper days.<br />In the movie, we see the wise advisor Zhuge Liang demonstrate this knowledge flawlessly.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHMLM-IgEnIp2ebTWLeqLnkxAIorVHihjL3hFhP7S23azJgecXeGXivuctr64rzHZolGrgW3T6_qDgqfJdoxwumFApb84K-i7xLn79RTx5DMDrVzTRKYFrh4pMMY4nmy8iOpj/s1600-h/sunsangxiang.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294074735756446802" style="width: 200px; height: 114px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHMLM-IgEnIp2ebTWLeqLnkxAIorVHihjL3hFhP7S23azJgecXeGXivuctr64rzHZolGrgW3T6_qDgqfJdoxwumFApb84K-i7xLn79RTx5DMDrVzTRKYFrh4pMMY4nmy8iOpj/s200/sunsangxiang.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Another decisive strategy in war is also the use of spies.<br />The reason is simple. In war neither of each side knows what the other is thinking, the numbers of men, and the formation of the army, exactly, so to gain intelligence to these knowledge gives those who have them the upper hand. Sun Shangxiang did so with the most risky and yet tricky tactic by infiltrating Cao Cao’s camp.<br />She did more than gathered military intelligence.<br />She also uncovered what is precious to humanity.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNxte-MqSgYvObAUoV9hyphenhyphenHniyRNzSzd0nNsfu18urT40uq54uB0bP5zHkrsuTOjwNgCf2yCv9uSGxT7olCQeE6QozOv7QWTHoM8lVxChpgpBgX6qAOrZwQ-iODJ6HXuyw6a2f/s1600-h/zhouyu.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294074040312066306" style="width: 200px; height: 114px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNxte-MqSgYvObAUoV9hyphenhyphenHniyRNzSzd0nNsfu18urT40uq54uB0bP5zHkrsuTOjwNgCf2yCv9uSGxT7olCQeE6QozOv7QWTHoM8lVxChpgpBgX6qAOrZwQ-iODJ6HXuyw6a2f/s200/zhouyu.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Recorded in the 36 stratagems is the use of the enemy’s own spy to sow discord in the enemy’s camp by Zhou Yu.<br />This famous move is of correlation to The Art of War where it is stated as having converted spies, getting hold of the enemy’s spies and using them for our own purposes.<br />In war all can be done, there can be no holds barred because any weakness can be exploited by the enemy.<br />Zhou Yu can be said to have brilliantly disposed off of Cao Cao’s main strategic threat because Cao Cao slain both his most dependable generals who are most versed in sea battles.<br /><br />When 50,000 has to fight 200,000, who could blame Zhou Yu for such tactics, especially when Cao Cao first provoked by sending dead soldiers across to Zhou Yu’s side on wooden rafts, knowing that disease spread through this mean can greatly weaken his enemy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5xNI4V_1QsySqyXBAkt2omVlhuX47sca3uwhbSHuFQJXLYwJLCzM92JZI3mNhJfT_4UtNHg0KuTA-5w0lmml6TMxMOIC7hUXBJ1vEONFVAJE-30Makyb5LSnNZGyiJf8JI13/s1600-h/xiaoqiao.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294074387196009714" style="width: 200px; height: 114px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5xNI4V_1QsySqyXBAkt2omVlhuX47sca3uwhbSHuFQJXLYwJLCzM92JZI3mNhJfT_4UtNHg0KuTA-5w0lmml6TMxMOIC7hUXBJ1vEONFVAJE-30Makyb5LSnNZGyiJf8JI13/s200/xiaoqiao.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The other account decisive of the battle of Red Cliff is the Chain Strategem, although modified by John Woo in its depiction, with the key in Lin Chi-ling’s character, Xiao Qiao.<br /><br />It is interesting to sit through 141 minutes witnessing a romanticized version of John Woo’s Red Cliff.<br />Personally I didn’t feel that it was long, however to some who wanted to see a Lord of the Ring’s type battle on screen could be disappointed.<br /><br />Sun Tzu’s The Art of War states that the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the war is fought.<br />The general who loses a battle makes but a few calculations before hand.<br />Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all!<br />It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.<br /><br />The point of war however is that in war everybody loses.<br />This should be what John Woo’s Red Cliff is trying to tell us.<br />I agree wholeheartedly with water in my eyes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MKCk0e-3knvd-jQH2djdNAgJqt6i-f5IxIE9o2s_5w4Yfi6qjMWisgixHT6k6Emo3f6KPi3sSkHLD6t_WjFLZjMTs_COlUIAXA1114LumboFqtzzMku_JTZHjOnaNLOV1pnk/s1600-h/redcliff.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294072440005852738" style="width: 400px; height: 228px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MKCk0e-3knvd-jQH2djdNAgJqt6i-f5IxIE9o2s_5w4Yfi6qjMWisgixHT6k6Emo3f6KPi3sSkHLD6t_WjFLZjMTs_COlUIAXA1114LumboFqtzzMku_JTZHjOnaNLOV1pnk/s400/redcliff.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Official website:<br /><a href="http://yule.sohu.com/s2007/chibi_22/">http://yule.sohu.com/s2007/chibi_22/</a>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-6468637467555640752009-01-02T04:34:00.013+08:002009-02-07T13:33:21.295+08:00The Martial of Virtuosity - A Review of Ip Man<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ilpGTnLrkNT6MtXBAl0acImy6fNx-o4Yu2WmDWy2ujy-gp2YDNRqt_Sn503iW_dVFO0iVntuVVu1KaqxPtoHoGpboPpCC9axCFU12yKymnqaizvR5NYcAX5tZ4tOWbeOzI4S/s1600-h/Ipmanposter02.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ilpGTnLrkNT6MtXBAl0acImy6fNx-o4Yu2WmDWy2ujy-gp2YDNRqt_Sn503iW_dVFO0iVntuVVu1KaqxPtoHoGpboPpCC9axCFU12yKymnqaizvR5NYcAX5tZ4tOWbeOzI4S/s400/Ipmanposter02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290255839253556034" border="0" /></a><br />Foshan of Guangdong province, China, is famous for its martial arts, thanks in part to martial artist, Wong Fei Hung (1847-1924).<br />There are many movies made in the name of Wong Fei Hung, but on the mention of Ip Man (pronounced Eep Mun), our mind would no doubt draw a blank.<br />Who then is Ip Man and why would it be of interest for a movie to be made in his name then?<br /><br />For a start, Ip Man (1893-1972) is the expert in the Wushu fighting style of Wing Chun, and is the master of the famous Bruce Lee.<br />As there has never been any previous film record of Ip Man, this film produced by Raymond Wong and directed by Wilson Yip will be the very first.<br /><br />The movie opens and dates back to 1935 Foshan, with the city bustling with activities and various schools of martial arts are seen busy with the practice of their craft.<br />In the people’s mind however there would be only one martial artist who is the best.<br />He however would have no interest in opening a school to teach his art.<br />He is Ip Man, played by Hong Kong action star Donnie Yen.<br /><br />Our introduction to Ip Man began on the day when Master Liu (Chen Zhi-Hui) visits Ip Man at his residence when the latter is having dinner with his wife and son.<br />Being the typical martial arts enthusiast that Master Liu is, he declined to leave when advised by Ip Man to come back at another time, choosing instead to stay and wait until Ip Man have finished his dinner.<br />He is eager to test his skills against Master Ip Man.<br />The mood here is not of hostility but of a light hearted and humorous fashion.<br />Ip Man even invited Master Liu to sit and have dinner with his family when he spots him restlessly waiting by the living room.<br />We see here the humble and modest character of the protagonist.<br /><br />When the sparring finally got underway, it ended as swiftly as Ip Man’s strokes suggest.<br />Because in three strokes and a set of quick fists, he had Master Liu at his peril, well defeated yet without injury, as this was all but a friendly exchange in the spirit of martial arts.<br />The essence of Ip Man’s fighting style, Wing Chun, is characterized by its tall narrow stance with effectiveness demonstrated through speed and power.<br />It reminds of the time when Bruce Lee had to slow his punches down during filming, as they were just too fast for the cameras back then to capture.<br /><br />In the world of martial arts, with all its attractiveness, it also brings with it the competitive nature of those who practice them.<br />With competitiveness taken the wrong way, things can go awfully wrong when all one wants to achieve is to have the other beaten so as to prove who the superior fighter is.<br />A thug in Kam Shan-chau (Fan Sui-Wong) later arrives and challenges the various schools, defeating their masters ruthlessly, until he came face to face with Ip Man.<br />Kam lost to Ip Man with a lesson he ought to have learn, only that he did not and left Foshan with only disgrace in his mind.<br />The people celebrate as they hail Ip Man the savior who brought glory to Foshan by sending the thug away.<br /><br />The fight ends but the story have only just began, and with it a change of mood from lightness to heavy because war has broken.<br />The Japanese have seized Foshan.<br /><br />What follows will be Ip Man’s struggles and challenges as he has to make ends meet for his family in the dreadful time of adversity.<br />It is here we see the true character of Ip Man, who has captured the hearts of the people of Foshan and their respect.<br />This is most notable among his friends in Chow Ching-chuen (Simon Yam), his son Chow Kong-yiu (Calvin Cheng), and Crazy Lam (Xing Yu).<br /><br />To mistake this film, as one of just good versus evil is easy because in a movie that has a hero, there must be a villain.<br />There are a few characters here befitting of the role.<br />We have the Japanese general, Miura (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi).<br />We have the aforementioned thug, Kam Shan-chau.<br />We also have police officer turned interpreter, Li Chiu (Lam Ka-tung) who appears to be a traitor.<br />The film here however should not to be seen as a fight against evil but rather of the depiction of humanistic values that Ip Man himself would possess.<br /><br />There are many meaningful messages encrypted in the various plots and subplots in this wonderful film that really is about virtues more than anything else.<br />As producer Raymond Wong would suggest on why the production team had chosen to make this film, it is that of really making a kung fu movie that is authentic and real, moving away from past attempts at glorifying and stylizing violence on screen.<br />The intention is to make a film that would reflect the spirit of Chinese kung fu, and what better than to portray it through the virtuous character of Master Ip Man.<br /><br />I would have like to compare this film to Fearless aka Huo Yuan Jia (2006), starring Jet Li, which strings from a similar root, but at the very core, the approach is different.<br />While Fearless is written in a more dramatic nature, with a more compelling story and edited with a creative dimension, Ip Man is honest and direct because that is who our protagonist is.<br /><br />What stood out for me in Ip Man is when he ponders in introspection about what use his training and expertise in Wing Chun all his years would come to.<br />It would appear that there is destiny waiting to be fulfilled.<br />And he would also influence those around him with what he has and even lead those who have been wrong to do right despite the pressure of circumstances, because to the very basis, it is the right thing to do in humanity.<br /><br />History means nothing if its lessons are not learned.<br /><br />The film also stars the stunning Xiong Dai Lin as Cheung Wing-sing, Ip Man’s wife, and I must also not forget to mention that the acclaimed Sammo Hung directs the action.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMLfqYSFLnnhuVkfumuikyGe6RI2DmFghaxqCh8b3P3Tv78-mv2ixWBhGuJh0T5ck_Zv1iS78bRVSWfoUSj_BHHGZA8D_8GjC6cid17HScG4LoXa6uVY11P6fqUThWzhV6MaN/s1600-h/ipman_1280x1024a.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMLfqYSFLnnhuVkfumuikyGe6RI2DmFghaxqCh8b3P3Tv78-mv2ixWBhGuJh0T5ck_Zv1iS78bRVSWfoUSj_BHHGZA8D_8GjC6cid17HScG4LoXa6uVY11P6fqUThWzhV6MaN/s400/ipman_1280x1024a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286430407402987954" border="0" /></a><br />Official website:<br /><a href="http://www.ipman-movie.com/">www.ipman-movie.com</a>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-85632803731391733522008-12-05T03:10:00.014+08:002009-02-01T11:28:52.161+08:00Heaven is a place on EarthI didn't watch a lot of films lately and even when I do, I do not feel compelled enough to write a review.<br />The last three I remembered watching were <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0467197/">Max Payne</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830515/">Quantum of Solace</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sky_Crawlers">The Sky Crawlers</a>. Max Payne was a movie that I knew wasn't going to be good from all the previews and reviews that were already going around.<br />But somehow I just wanted to see how it would turn out since a Dark Angel of some sort appeared in the film and the protagonist is a cop seeking revenge from the death of his family.<br /><br />I was further interested in seeing it when a reviewer was honest with his opinions about how poor the story was and that the theme actually involved some sort of substance abuse that resulted in hallucination, which was rather fascinating because that was how the Dark Angels eventually came about in the film.<br />He also highlighted a few scenes that was worth taking a look at in the manner of which the director shot them.<br />As it turns out, Max Payne is exactly as he said, just another video game flick brought onto the big screen.<br />It is plain and directed without real emotions.<br /><br />Mark Wahlberg is just not the guy who can up the ante to any film, as yet, when the focus of the story is based solely on his character.<br />This is evident in films like Invincible (2006) and Shooter (2007).<br />He does fairly well though as the charismatic leader in The Italian Job (2003) when he was supported well by other interesting characters.<br />Perhaps someone should be honest about this fact to him so he can improve on his acting.<br />But I tend to think that it would be difficult for him to escape the stereotype of an action character - not action hero.<br />He just doesn't have something written for him that can bring out his true expressive self.<br /><br />In contrast was Quantum of Solace, which had Daniel Craig as 007, after the successful reboot in the previous Casino Royale (2006).<br />It just seems like the role was made for him although not in typical stylish and charming fashion of his predecessor Pierce Brosnan.<br />The common between the two however was that both of them are great actors who can appear in films of different genre to that of the action hero - not action character.<br />Maybe it was because they knew how to play it to their strengths when the script calls for it, such is Will Smith as another fine example.<br /><br />Quantum of Solace though as many said was not as good as Casino Royale, it is in my opinion that it is a film that I thoroughly enjoyed because you could really feel the emotions of the characters and the kind of situation they were put into; the things that they had to keep inside of them until they find a point of release.<br />This is helped by the vision of talented directors in Marc Forster and Martin Campbell of course.<br />What impressed me was how danger was so intimately portrayed as each fight and car chase scenes had me absorbed in the fragility of life when one error can mean death, yet the characters go about it with full knowledge of the possibility of dying but engaged in fighting to stay fully alive.<br />When you look into the title of Quantum of Solace, it made perfect sense as that was ultimately what was intended. It is the purpose of making peace with what is fighting within oneself.<br />It is the struggle to find meaning in living when all else about you seem to be dying.<br /><br />That would bring me to the most recent movie in the form of Japanese Animation.<br />Directed by the acclaimed <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0651900/">Mamoru Oshii</a> of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347246/">Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence</a> fame.<br />Mamoru Oshii has his own unique directory style in the manner of philosophy where you'll need to derive meaning from the scenes rather than having it explode right into your face.<br />It is a good experience away from Hollywood scripted entertainment.<br />One quote in The Sky Crawlers that really had me thinking was "Why do those that may die tomorrow has the need to grow up?".<br />You see, the protagonists in The Sky Crawlers are fighter pilots known as Kildren, who are forever in the state of adolescence and can never grow up.<br />They seem to be reliving their days over and over again in silent suffering with the occasional thoughts of death to end it all.<br />It would be reminded though in the end that even if life was torturous, when things appeared meaningless, but when one can succeed in fulfilling the role that really made you feel alive, then life can be seen in a totally different perspective that becomes meaningful.<br />Things you see become beautiful and... I hope you get what I mean.<br />I'm really at a loss for words just as when I left at the credits and missed the epilogue.<br /><br />Let me end here with this article from ROPEOFSILICON:<br /><a href="http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/would-someone-finally-destroy-mankind-please">Would Someone Finally Destroy Mankind Please?!?!</a><br />What? Of all this talk about life and now this? The destruction of life?<br />Not to worry... it is not cynical.<br />It is just that sometimes I feel we need a different perspective to maintain balance and keep life interesting even if it is liven up on the big screens where dreams are reality to some.andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-21466821764698496822008-10-14T03:11:00.007+08:002009-02-01T11:34:05.461+08:00Wall-E and me<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfZY-iFUlrw6Oss7OXoqDeLy4-71TiyZd6JF2_3HcWoFGFvqSEXDwD0HndPvUtb_9fyoExhi9VFi-4k8Tphv2HsfmtpdCTH-hyhTUgioNOfpsUjJ3E2_3IfVQUvQtobtVsDQj/s1600-h/WallE_07_small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256718586930655346" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfZY-iFUlrw6Oss7OXoqDeLy4-71TiyZd6JF2_3HcWoFGFvqSEXDwD0HndPvUtb_9fyoExhi9VFi-4k8Tphv2HsfmtpdCTH-hyhTUgioNOfpsUjJ3E2_3IfVQUvQtobtVsDQj/s400/WallE_07_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It took me awhile but I finally got to see Wall-E.<br />This cute robot character created by Pixar and Disney who exuded a sense of charismatic innocence has been conscientiously cleaning up Earth left by the humans in the movie, and building up an interesting landscape in the barren land of animation, and in my mind.<br /><div><br />It is admirable how real Pixar made Wall-E out to be.<br />His movements, behavior and curiosity, combined with the best technology in 3D rendering brought this nifty little robot to life.<br />He was so real that one couldn’t help but feel for him, his emotions, and his beliefs.<br /><br />Believe it or not, this animated robot has beliefs.<br />He believed in protecting Earth, he believed in EVE, and he believed that his little existence is nothing as compared to the larger world he’s in.<br />He does his best in every situation, putting his best foot (or track) forward, showing his warmth towards others without even realizing that he has made others feel good about themselves.<br />He brought others into consciousness, especially the humans who were unaware of each other and even themselves.<br /><br />Wall-E the movie has the right feel right from the start, introducing Wall-E and his life.<br />If only the plot was thicker, and not shallow down towards having the pathetic humans going back to a place they call home, Earth.<br />How undeserving of the humans I felt.<br />If only they had seen it coming.<br />If only they have much more respect for Earth.<br />If only they treasure it more, just like how Wall-E treasures the things he found, the friends he made and the tasks he do.<br /><br />To cater to cheap laughs, the depiction of foolish humans has to be added.<br />I wonder if it would be better to make humans more like brain dead humanoids.<br />The contrast would have been provoking.<br />Imagine a world where robots are humane and humans are robotic.<br /><br />In a robotic environment, everything is structured, this has its advantages.<br />Why? Because everything goes according to plan, effortless and flawless.<br />When humans meddle, we screw up.<br />Believe it or not, even Earth and nature itself is structured.<br />There is always a way to maintain balance even when it is inhabited with the biggest virus of all, us.<br />Would the world without us be a place much more pleasant and green?<br />I would think so.<br />But we have not the ship now that would take us far into space to let Earth recuperate.<br />What can we do then?<br /><br />I have a suggestion. Be like Wall-E.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwrvs68VB7v_nGkOlRs0jWyp15e_Gg3Fp5www6GLov3XRFNmBj3bHCvNNNoe_0vvDiTawf3100Qg001qA010LaYhshy3lSzU6_atnGi4kaNZxYzaT1tracTuEFxMfxZmP4XoC/s1600-h/WallE_04_small.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOzFPxKJ0T8c579im03xH-dyA9kE5NHqk2hXR9W6UfcIglf4wrTnjwXi1DSzHktk067pVXF1OB4Ql7KtiBBnKNeQRjaKHHl1z9PkZ66c3FnXLMRBBp0h1VBM1qVq8ylt8Gxr8/s1600-h/WallE_04_small.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256719258137399714" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOzFPxKJ0T8c579im03xH-dyA9kE5NHqk2hXR9W6UfcIglf4wrTnjwXi1DSzHktk067pVXF1OB4Ql7KtiBBnKNeQRjaKHHl1z9PkZ66c3FnXLMRBBp0h1VBM1qVq8ylt8Gxr8/s400/WallE_04_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwrvs68VB7v_nGkOlRs0jWyp15e_Gg3Fp5www6GLov3XRFNmBj3bHCvNNNoe_0vvDiTawf3100Qg001qA010LaYhshy3lSzU6_atnGi4kaNZxYzaT1tracTuEFxMfxZmP4XoC/s1600-h/WallE_04_small.jpg"></a></div></div>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-53473725786852032682008-09-05T10:45:00.004+08:002009-01-08T08:28:07.690+08:00Summer SensationI watched Transformers (2007) a second time. I wanted to watch The Dark Knight (2008) again. Why? They are the blockbusters of last summer and this summer. But as history would repeat itself, they sucked, as far as I’m concerned.<br /><br />The majority of the people liked them and some even loved them. They say that Transformers is what you go to the movies for. They want to see impacting visuals and they want to sense the loudness of theatrical bass. They want sights of fights, gunfire and explosions. They saw The Dark Knight and fell in love with the villain. Batman became a hero once likeable but now avoidable. The cape crusader is no longer an inspiration. He became an icon of brutality and vengeance, one rightfully dismissed from society never to return. The Dark Knight is forgettable, only to be remembered for by a dead actor who gave such a performance that it became the focal point of a largely chaotic plot so disjointed as if the script came right from The Joker’s brain. It’s a joke amidst a black one. It is The Dark Joke because the Knight has lost his might. As his silhouette was seen running towards light. I am thankful it was finally over.<br /><br />So did a second viewing of Transformers convert my initial perspective? Were there the other three dimensions of a dice I couldn’t see with my eyes on this side? I tried but no matter how it looked, it is just a two-sided coin with similar faces on both sides, disfigured and insane, just like Harvey “Two-Face” Dent. What is enlightening though is that the open 15 minutes of Transformers had already given a clue to what this movie is all about. I quote from Sam Witwicky’s conversation with his teacher after his abysmal class presentation:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I wanna tell you about a dream, a boy’s dream, and a man’s promise to that boy. He looked me in the eye. He said, “Son, I’m going to buy you a car but I want you to bring me $2000 and three As. I got the $2000 and I got the two As okay? Here’s the dream. Here’s your B-. Dream gone. Kaput.”</span><br /><br /><br />Sam gave a lousy presentation only intending to sell his grandfather’s junk. His teacher was kind enough to give him a B-. His speech later coaxed an A-. But it is still crap. Nothing can replace substance. A good sales pitch only goes as far as well… perhaps a second look.<br /><br />Isn’t it ironic then that a rat (Ratatouille) became the savior of last summer and a robot (Wall-E) this summer?<br /><br />Modern scientists have recently created a rat brain powered miniature robot to study how the brain works in hope that one day we can decipher the mystery of how we humans learn and think.<br /><br />There is hope yet for good dreams not bad ones.andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-25613867246938494952008-08-29T07:51:00.004+08:002009-01-08T08:28:51.787+08:00Miedy likes Wall-E<span style="font-style: italic;">*I'm very happy to have </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.miedy.com/">Miedy</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> writing the very first guest review here. We've been fighting to see who gets to watch Wall-E first and she won. LOL*</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3BigZI8pgQoIOdt7s5139hwWFGWtkLslFZ2id2AjvUHjsYXyFBqQS-p830ubkY6CV8qZWO-gQy3aEBH0yJhkKJlKvfLqBm2f_EvWOh-0J8_VbfBwzldCFzqzMjW5vOmNJ2Ae/s1600-h/walle13_large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3BigZI8pgQoIOdt7s5139hwWFGWtkLslFZ2id2AjvUHjsYXyFBqQS-p830ubkY6CV8qZWO-gQy3aEBH0yJhkKJlKvfLqBm2f_EvWOh-0J8_VbfBwzldCFzqzMjW5vOmNJ2Ae/s400/walle13_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239722291950572866" border="0" /></a><br />Whenever Pixar released a great movie, I always wonder whether the next one will be a disappointment. I've been asking the question since Finding Nemo (2003), but I found myself enjoying The Incredibles(2004) so much that I've been watching it over and over for God knows how many times. Perhaps Cars (2006) was not as entertaining but you got to admit that it is beautiful to watch so I will not consider it a disappointment as well.<br /><br />Ratatouille (2007) however, brought back the Pixar we know. It is funny, adorable, smart and original so this time I decided to stop asking the same old question about whether the next film would fail. I don't want them to fail but I'm afraid now that I am so attached to their works that I would not be able to handle it if they do.<br /><br />That is then when I first saw the trailer of their upcoming movie, Wall-E and felt a sense of excitement about it. It looked so promising. The trailer featured a robot that reminded me a little of ET (maybe it was because of its size and voice). The narrator said that Wall-E is the only one left on Earth. His duty is to clean up the Earth and I could imagine how lonely he must have felt. I felt sympathy and maybe a little sad towards him right away and from that day on I just couldn’t wait to see Wall-E in the theater. I even prayed that it would not be a disappointment. It has to be great.<br /><br />When it finally hit the theaters I didn't get the chance to see it right away but I kept hearing people say positive things about it. Some of them mentioned that it is a movie that kids will find hard to follow and that had me a little worried because Pixar movies are usually kids friendly. Why is it different now?<br /><br />But there I was sitting in front of the big screen, feeling excited, nervous and anxiously waiting to see the little robot that had captured my heart for months. I finally got to see Wall-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class). He looks even smaller now as compared to the big abandoned city. Wall-E wakes up everyday to do his regular job without complaining. He cleans the garbage that the humans leave behind after they departed from Earth, with his own unique way. He appears like a kid at heart beaming with curiosity with the things around him. Later we learned that he was not actually alone as there was a little bug that kept following him.<br />The bug however appears more like a pet to him. It is something like the relationship between a man and his dog. But what Wall-E really wanted was a real friend.<br /><br />At night, he would watch the video of the 1969 musical film Hello, Dolly! The video probably belongs to some of the garbage that he is supposed to "recycle" but had kept it as one of his personal collection among some of the other “valuable” things. We become aware that these are the activities he do everyday and every night for a very long time and to have a real friend is just like a fantasy that probably would never come true.<br /><br />That was probably what life is to Wall-E until the day he discovered a seedling plant. He didn't know what it was but he decided not to destroy it. In fact, it even became part of his valuable collection.<br /><br />But how was Wall-E to know that something would happen later that would change everything he ever knew…<br /><br />A huge spaceship arrived and surprised Wall-E when it landed on Earth one day. Wall-E was terrified but being the curious little robot he is, he couldn't help but want to find out what was going on.<br />Then he saw EVE (Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator), a female (there was no mention about EVE’s gender but judging from the voice and the way she moves we could tell right away) robot.<br /><br />As compared to the old and rusty Wall-E, EVE looks so modern and high tech. Instead of walking, she flies around and even shoot laser. How cool is that?<br /><br />Wall-E felt afraid and admiration towards her at the same time. Maybe it was too cheesy to imagine a love story between robots but the Pixar team knew how to do it the right way. Yes, they are robots but somehow you know you just want them to be together.<br /><br />When Wall-E presented EVE with the plant he found, EVE took it and stores it inside her. But something went terribly wrong and she stopped moving. Wall-E got into a state of panic so when the spaceship came back to pick EVE up, he followed.<br /><br />The ship brought them to Axiom, the place where the humans are living after abandoning Earth. Here is a place where the humans need not go to work because robots are doing everything for them. It was like as if the humans are vacationing on a cruise of eternity.<br />The humans here are extremely fat but why? Was it because all they ever do is eat and sleep all day long?<br /><br />That is not the only mystery because you would also want to know why EVE went to Earth. What else will Wall-E discover from his trip?<br /><br />This movie is directed by Andrew Stanton who also brought us Finding Nemo, and just like Nemo, Wall-E is charming and adorable. The difference is the lack of real dialogue in Wall-E. It makes sense because the story is created in a robot’s point of view. Having a robot that talks too much would ruin what I felt gave Wall-E its character. To me it is good enough knowing that they (the robots) can feel and have emotions. I wouldn’t have like it if Pixar characterized them too humanly. It would be like seeing a dog acting like a dog only that they can be portrayed as smart, but once dogs start to make coffee for their owner then that would be too much. I am glad Wall-E, EVE and all the robots are still robots.<br /><br />After watching the movie I now understand why young kids (under 5 years old) may not enjoy Wall-E. This is because there is a lack of really funny jokes and slapstick scenes. The movie is better suited for older kids, teenagers and even adults. I didn’t mind the lack of dialogue. In fact it made me realize that a great story do not need well-written dialogue. Wall-E may only voice things like "Wow" or whistles when he sees something amazing, but Pixar did a wonderful job in having the audience understand his language. He's only a robot but Pixar was able to express emotions into his eyes. I could almost feel how he felt.<br /><br />Wall-E is a movie that is great in every way. The characters, the scenes and the animation are perfect to me. I am 100% confident that the Oscar for best-animated picture will be going to Pixar. And to be honest I lost the interest to watch Kung Fu Panda or Space Chimps and maybe any other animation movies that are not by Pixar after watching Wall-E.<br /><br />People kept saying that The Dark Knight should be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Award but I felt that Wall-E deserves it more. I think this is the one time where the highest acclaim should go to an animated movie.<br />I mean, who other than Pixar deserves better? This is a company that brought us Toy Story (1995), Finding Nemo (2003), Monsters, Inc. (2001) and The Incredibles (2004).<br /><br />You be your own judge.andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-25656749660349572522008-08-26T15:01:00.004+08:002009-01-08T08:29:49.320+08:00New Model, Original PartsWhen it comes to car movies... it gotta be Fast and Furious!!!<br /><embed src="http://cdn.springboard.gorillanation.com/storage/xplayer/ro001.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swliveconnect="true" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="file=http://cms.springboard.gorillanation.com/xml_feeds_advanced/index/37/3/177/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/&width=510&height=550&autostart=false&allowscriptaccess=always&usefullscreen=true&autoscroll=true&thumbsinplaylist=true" height="550" width="510"></embed>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-80862416351248749782008-08-10T11:45:00.007+08:002009-01-08T08:31:07.676+08:00Peace to Bernie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkxpL0XkR37I_HLXlSTU84jv_DKKz66T_ic77yiZcG-jBdUQla_9HrE06XqVvR0tsRwfOcCnVyRjQcmFygKRUr9V2A3ZmUrhW4Txrgdy3pEDFyD14KKp6HOGryUlhcq2A6zjM/s1600-h/45.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkxpL0XkR37I_HLXlSTU84jv_DKKz66T_ic77yiZcG-jBdUQla_9HrE06XqVvR0tsRwfOcCnVyRjQcmFygKRUr9V2A3ZmUrhW4Txrgdy3pEDFyD14KKp6HOGryUlhcq2A6zjM/s400/45.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232731281785366818" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bernie Mac dies at 50 from pneumonia on 9th August 2008.<br />Source: <a href="http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/comedian_bernie_mac_dies_at_50">http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/comedian_bernie_mac_dies_at_50</a><br /><br />Last seen in Transformers (2007) as the salesman who sold Bumblebee, and as part of the charismatic team in Ocean's Thirteen (2007), I've always been entertained by Bernie Mac's comedic performance. He has such a style and look that is unique of an actor. 50 is a young age to be called home but time is not one that us human can tell well.<br /><br />Be in peace <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005170/">Bernie Mac</a>. God bless.andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-2985862080804081322008-06-16T16:01:00.008+08:002009-02-01T10:55:00.588+08:00Movie Review: The Incredible Hulk<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2u_pyEvzrU8DBMWfEweiOpT507zuncHQkVftquInVpRtlFxxUbHHKxh-v7EbXwBoXD9UtGjUzHc82PPbgaOlH1OvtHOhaAzHRmn63HyaPS9r1cnMRvKjJCyDHlIrggFDRYlq/s1600-h/theincrediblehulk3_large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2u_pyEvzrU8DBMWfEweiOpT507zuncHQkVftquInVpRtlFxxUbHHKxh-v7EbXwBoXD9UtGjUzHc82PPbgaOlH1OvtHOhaAzHRmn63HyaPS9r1cnMRvKjJCyDHlIrggFDRYlq/s400/theincrediblehulk3_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212387444919145042" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Which is worse, turning into a monster in a state of anger or being separated with the love of your life?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">When it comes to the Superheroes of the Marvel world, there really isn’t a choice.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In the case of The Incredible Hulk, his nightmare doesn’t stop with an altered physique or a broken heart, and it doesn’t end with finding that ideal pair of pants either.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Edward Norton plays Bruce Banner, a doctor working with the U.S Army researching gamma technology when things went terribly wrong in an experiment performed on himself.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">After an over-exposure to the gamma rays, he turns into a destructive green monster with superhuman strength.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Destroying everything in an uncontrollable rage, he left his girlfriend Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) injured and fled to Brazil.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Now a fugitive, Banner is escaping the capture from General Ross (William Hurt) who wants him back under the pretence to avenge his daughter.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">What the General really wants is to manifest Banner’s newfound powers into creating the ultimate weapon, the Super Soldier.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Following the hugely successful Iron Man played by the charismatic Robert Downey Jr, and the flop of Ang Lee’s 2003 version of Hulk, all eyes are on this film to revive the franchise.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Was it credible? This is The Incredible Hulk and it is indeed incredible.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It is two hours of continuous intense story telling right from the opening credits, which is well done with a sequence of flashbacks that leads us straight into the story.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I used the word “intense” because unlike the witty and humorous Iron Man, this is a film dealing with emotions of anger, despair and violence, hence the PG-13 (MPAA) rating.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It is a darker story compared to Iron Man or Spiderman, which feature a lot more light-hearted humour and fun.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">If you’re familiar to the Batman franchise or the more recent Batman Begins (2005) and the up-coming July release of The Dark Knight (2008) then you will know what to expect.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Incredible Hulk is brilliant in four parts with all of them distributed nicely in every quarter of total screen time.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In the first part we are re-introduced to Dr. Banner and the Hulk, and we see him seeking refuge in Brazil practicing meditative breathing to control his emotions that causes the undesirable monstrous transformation.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">To keep alive, he works at a drink bottling plant doing the odd jobs while at the same time trying to find a cure to his gamma poisoned fate.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">He was doing so with some help from a mysterious online friend.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">To stay anonymous they use the names Mr Green and Mr Blue (guess who is which).</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">For a good period of about 6 months he had kept to his routine until he accidentally cut his fingers when fixing a switch at the bottling plant.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Unknowing to him, his blood dripped into one of the bottles that were later shipped into the United States.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">That was how General Ross got the clue to his whereabouts and all hell breaks lose once again.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The next three parts will see Banner back in the states continuing his search for a cure, his encounters with his love and his enemies, and of course the finale battle with another equally strong but uglier monster known as The Abomination.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Hulk’s nemesis in this film is Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth), a veteran soldier with an unquenchable thirst for a good fight.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Like an arcade fighting game, Hulk will pitch himself against Blonsky in three rounds with the latter getting angrier and stronger with each fight.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">What captivates in The Incredible Hulk is the way it is filmed.<br />Director Louis Leterrier from The Transporter (2002 & 2005) franchise and Unleashed (2005) did a fantastic job with the pacing of the film.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">He kept the intensity of the film in check with emotional and fast paced action sequences that are certain to raise your heart rate and give you an adrenaline rush.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Luckily none of us are gamma poisoned.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The exchanges between Banner and Betty Ross are also equally heart felt.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The film also depicted the bad personalities of society.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">General Ross is a classic example of those who make bad judgments and decisions in life one after the other and in the process hurting the one he loves the most.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Emil Blonsky is another who is just spoiling for a good fight for no good reason at all.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">On a last note, the good thing is our green hero is someone who understands the fact that we cannot get rid of our temper by losing it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">That is my kind of hero, someone guided by conscience and good moral.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Maybe that is destiny for Dr. Banner who is given the power to turn into the Incredible Hulk who is described by the Dr. Stern (Tim Blake Nelson) in the film as perfect and god-like.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">“Maybe you can control it,” says Betty Ross.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">“But I don’t want to control it. I want to get rid of it,” says Banner.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">But he cannot get rid of it and there can be no running from destiny.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">A part of me says there is a Hulk in each of us.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Movie link: </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://incrediblehulk.marvel.com/">incrediblehulk.marvel.com</a></span>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-13917447447851270902008-06-12T21:22:00.007+08:002009-01-08T08:33:59.716+08:00Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfFIN664hD-UZCcO-D13-7M4kGmEi4zlwbIZdQk_YxQKynDKUTe6sUrn8J6B5FKxIJ5g_-6afzIixcY5t3BcDSk4rbGw3j9H01iLjMLu762wKhsXFIcSOUKbGKNY8rPr1DaNb/s1600-h/kfp1-1024.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfFIN664hD-UZCcO-D13-7M4kGmEi4zlwbIZdQk_YxQKynDKUTe6sUrn8J6B5FKxIJ5g_-6afzIixcY5t3BcDSk4rbGw3j9H01iLjMLu762wKhsXFIcSOUKbGKNY8rPr1DaNb/s400/kfp1-1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210985091597297394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >What do you get when you mix a panda with Chinese kung fu and animate it?</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br />An animated panda that kicks butt you say?<br />Only that you wouldn’t expect it to be awesome! And that is what Dreamworks Animation SKG produced this summer of 2008, a movie so awesome you’ll be kicking yourself if you miss it.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Voiced by Jack Black from The School of Rock (2004) and Nacho Libre (2006) fame, Po the panda is the son of a noodle selling duck that loves nothing more than kung fu, but is stuck in a moment of pre-conceived reality.<br />It doesn’t make sense does it?<br />A panda and a duck are selling noodles?<br />The panda is the son of a what? Yes, son of a duck. Let’s put it this way, a panda is just a panda right?<br />Wrong. It is just like you are not you in a world governed by standards of what is to be and not to be.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Po loves kung fu and idolizes the Furious Five, Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Crane (David Cross).<br />These five are the most well trained students of Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) and time came that a Dragon Warrior is to be chosen among them. To Shifu’s biggest disappointment, Oogway (Randall Duk Kim) did not choose any of the five and elected instead to believe in “accident”.<br />Po fell into the path of Oogway’s pointed finger, as he was about to pick the Dragon Warrior.<br />“There is no accident”, he tries to convince Shifu that it is destiny that Po shall be the Dragon Warrior.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >No one believes that a fat, sloppy panda is going to be the one who will save the Valley of Peace from the evil Tai Lung (Ian McShane) of course, not even Po himself.<br />We’ll see how that changes when events unfold but not first without difficulty.<br />Shifu would discover that all is not what it seems and if it is not working, it probably is because he is not looking in the right direction.<br />This is just one of the messages that can be found in this wonderful film.<br />The filmmakers really want both the kids and the adults to take something meaningful from Kung Fu Panda.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >As serious as they are in this aspect, the great thing they were able to create is really not to be too serious.<br />That’s how life is and the essence of a good life lies in happiness and to be happy is laughter.<br />There will be plenty and in all an hour and a half of screen time, I can safely say that you’ll laugh at least ninety times which is once every minute if not more.<br />Credit must go to Jack Black and the screenwriters for pulling this off.<br />You can just sense how much thought and effort they put in to make sure Kung Fu Panda turns out the way they want it to be in one simple word: AWESOME.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Toward the end of the film, there is one big important message for all of us.<br />The answer lies in the forbidden scroll that Tai Lung wants so much that he is willing to destroy everything in his way to get it.<br />It is also something that Shifu fought so hard to protect even without realizing what it is, and it will eventually lead to how Po becomes the real Dragon Warrior.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >No idea what I’m talking about?<br />Fear not for you can go to </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.kungfupanda.com/">www.kungfupanda.com</a></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >, look in the Production section and under HEROIC LAST WORDS to understand it.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Don’t everybody just love kung fu fighting?</span><br /></span>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-35422614255521256242008-06-06T13:50:00.007+08:002009-02-01T11:05:20.269+08:00Movie Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsTNgv6Os04FGQncrGRQVJ4zcNhXlRv6YTkHR65enn4k-Hn7Qu4AtaCGRPCHkxTrtR74JS_oGpVxR71rHDU79Z-NxSMEELNqSDm9Qvl5UVoSIQe4_RDcxO4_wDIV9GNrRiMNE/s1600-h/thechroniclesofnarniaprincecaspian2_large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsTNgv6Os04FGQncrGRQVJ4zcNhXlRv6YTkHR65enn4k-Hn7Qu4AtaCGRPCHkxTrtR74JS_oGpVxR71rHDU79Z-NxSMEELNqSDm9Qvl5UVoSIQe4_RDcxO4_wDIV9GNrRiMNE/s400/thechroniclesofnarniaprincecaspian2_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208642341007629122" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is the sequel to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.<br />The four children who discovered the magical world of Narnia in the first film find themselves magically transported back to the world they had left behind a year ago.<br />All has changed however as 1300 years in Narnia has passed.<br />What used to be a magical land is now a ruin.<br />Narnians are thought to be extinct and the land is ruled by a human race known as the Telmarines.<br />What purpose has Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy (Georgie Henley) then?</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >The movie began with the telling of Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes) escaping death from a murder attempt from his uncle, Miraz (Sergio Castellitto) who wants only the throne for his newly born son.<br />Fleeing into the woods with the possession of a magical horn in hand, Prince Caspian was forced to blow the horn in desperation as his perpetrators closed down on him.<br />It is this summoning by the horn that brought the four children back to Narnia, the land where they were Kings and Queens.<br />Their adventure this time would be to help Prince Caspian regain his rightful throne from Miraz and to return the Narnians their land.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >Not having watched the first film and without any knowledge of the characters, it was a little confusing at the start to piece out what was happening.<br />Prior to stepping into the cinema I had also lowered my expectation of what I was going to see.<br />This is because the trailer did not leave much to be desired from it and it didn’t prove me wrong.<br />The story itself has moved away from magic and wonder.<br />The Narnians were forced away by the Telmarines.<br />Talking animals and dancing trees are no longer found in a Telmarine ruled land.<br />And this is what the film is about, to bring back the magic of Narnia.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >Going at almost two and a half hours long, the first half of the film was quite slow in pace.<br />There wasn’t any screen magic and much action to liven things up as the characters was literally just warming up to each other.<br />Prince Caspian discovered the Narnians, the Narnians were reuniting and the four children acquaint with Prince Caspian and the Narnians.<br />It was not until the battle scenes that things looked up and time flew quickly by.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >Despite some tolerable blandness in the film, there were two characters that really stood out.<br />The sword wielding mouse knight, Reepicheep (voiced by Eddie Izzard) is all so cute as Lucy the other outstanding one so enthusiastically pointed out.<br />Reepicheep is as charming as he is adorable with his skillful swordsmanship and bravery stealing every scene he appears in.<br />He is proof that greatness can come in small packages.<br />Lucy on the other hand wins hearts with her innocence and belief.<br />Her faith in finding Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson) is an inspiration to all who has lost hope.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >Towards the end of the film, Peter and Susan would also learn their lessons of ego and love as Aslan puts it.<br />But it is an aspect that you’ll need to observe closely to see the underlying message.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >All in all The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian is a watchable film both for the younger audience as well as the adults.<br />I’ll be looking forward to see more of Reepicheep and Lucy when I get summoned back to Narnia in 2010 for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyager of the Dawn Treader.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Movie Link: </span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/narnia/">http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/narnia/</a></span>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-32989817510530748662008-06-04T10:55:00.005+08:002009-01-08T08:35:19.901+08:00Batman Gotham Knight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmQ2PuXanuSLKqq8opr3M6D6E9XgXcf3U-HP8mgy28gBjcg91bwkeG7-fFHxBKshLZcAXTrrnOEHSMhoSpXP0wc-ir9VDL1lYSr6fLYA7G79NefsgvVNmblvuGJS9-0DCPomW/s1600-h/wp2_1024x768.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmQ2PuXanuSLKqq8opr3M6D6E9XgXcf3U-HP8mgy28gBjcg91bwkeG7-fFHxBKshLZcAXTrrnOEHSMhoSpXP0wc-ir9VDL1lYSr6fLYA7G79NefsgvVNmblvuGJS9-0DCPomW/s400/wp2_1024x768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207854876308682706" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">There's The Dark Knight and there's Batman Gotham Knight.</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: bold;" href="http://warnervideo.com/batmangothamknight/?page=videos">Click here</a>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-18708024869903997502008-05-27T06:41:00.011+08:002009-01-08T08:36:25.367+08:00Summer of Destiny<span style="font-weight: bold;">des-ti-ny</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">-noun<br /></span>The inevitable or necessary fate to which a particular person or thing is destined; one's lot.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Is destiny good or bad? Who knows?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What does it mean to fulfill one's destiny?</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">And do we really want it?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Or do we have a choice?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Some movies coming up this June could help answer those questions.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeTIph3GMCzJiv2ULsGF8jAwKjXTV4VvD3Y6TpG0oBnwN8xogWspwxhXWzvO20OR9SPWy4yuk7NCc2l8qp9oLwFRjyRVOrIufIY7xpc9FJ2ePCrPE1QhdHmPFJgkJIXavh2X2/s1600-h/kungfupanda3_large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeTIph3GMCzJiv2ULsGF8jAwKjXTV4VvD3Y6TpG0oBnwN8xogWspwxhXWzvO20OR9SPWy4yuk7NCc2l8qp9oLwFRjyRVOrIufIY7xpc9FJ2ePCrPE1QhdHmPFJgkJIXavh2X2/s320/kungfupanda3_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204833979050329010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">First up we have Po the Panda (voiced by Jack Black) in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kung Fu Panda</span> who's the laziest animal at The Valley of Peace, but when adversity strikes, he found himself the unlikely hero to fulfill an ancient prophecy.</span><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.apple.com/trailers/dreamworks/kungfupanda/">Kung Fu Panda trailer</a></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMIQI_zUleVrhjT4qQT0qo2HE4VgTaAK7HJ-sTXKKMk0zeBdHam4YL1IuwlvTOcjDNqye_QU5n1ij3n0kZB5F3GoPOZMeFU8dN9BsiohudVSmVSz2IATyiqks6RCaCLc7WA7K/s1600-h/theincrediblehulk3_large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMIQI_zUleVrhjT4qQT0qo2HE4VgTaAK7HJ-sTXKKMk0zeBdHam4YL1IuwlvTOcjDNqye_QU5n1ij3n0kZB5F3GoPOZMeFU8dN9BsiohudVSmVSz2IATyiqks6RCaCLc7WA7K/s320/theincrediblehulk3_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204836263972930498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Next there is <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Incredible Hulk</span>.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />He's Bruce Banner (Edward Norton), a brilliant doctor who's exposed to radiation that turns him into an uncontrollable dangerous green beast of massive destruction.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />With New York City in danger can he come to terms with the very destiny he's running from and become the city's savior?</span><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/theincrediblehulk/">The Incredible Hulk trailer</a></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakZFPK-xwLU29WQaZByMveH7axQN9mvG3v5X1s2QwDxorwRho07Ays_SJ4zAkFW9Of8SV_LJGHOMInhdvQ88k6Gx-lXPGO14G4FMuIFMRldJH90aPR1hbnFsMRTiOMcdARg94/s1600-h/getsmart5_large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakZFPK-xwLU29WQaZByMveH7axQN9mvG3v5X1s2QwDxorwRho07Ays_SJ4zAkFW9Of8SV_LJGHOMInhdvQ88k6Gx-lXPGO14G4FMuIFMRldJH90aPR1hbnFsMRTiOMcdARg94/s320/getsmart5_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204841611207214034" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Based on 1960's popular spy comedy <span style="font-weight: bold;">Get Smart</span>, Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) is an analyst for U.S. spy agency CONTROL, whose dream came true when he gets promoted to Agent status but only because CONTROL has no other choice when all other agents had been killed.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />Is he destined to be an agent or is it just a bad mistake?</span><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/getsmart/">Get Smart trailer</a></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Xow_o6usNHdF9Uz4R8pLNXO1hGZ2XAt06x6JJnprwU-qRh_-43mKJpnkrBILgyTZEEVOb_48_ynTFMJS1zpErljO3OVfPukgp6irOiDaSoAtt8ajQ689oJXDmUeNBoFq24I2/s1600-h/wanted3_large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Xow_o6usNHdF9Uz4R8pLNXO1hGZ2XAt06x6JJnprwU-qRh_-43mKJpnkrBILgyTZEEVOb_48_ynTFMJS1zpErljO3OVfPukgp6irOiDaSoAtt8ajQ689oJXDmUeNBoFq24I2/s320/wanted3_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204844548964844514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wanted</span> is a story about Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), an unhappy young man whose life changed after his long lost assassin father is murdered.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />After being approached by a mysterious woman named Fox (Angelina Jolie), he discovers that he possesses special powers that enable him to become a deadly assassin.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />But is killing his destiny of choice?</span><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.apple.com/trailers/universal/wanted/">Wanted trailer</a></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8DjwEb8NbBgptLlIx9iY0_cKQE5DFaa_bT2ih5Ce5P0EG3cQjyfihdjfiMZAmWhlf5fbdpniPjZIb3szfrGtXDmGw1wHFSL3_wEo4xvxTZPQUzrtLgr4v9HqEKCGZc8gqMCF/s1600-h/walle6_large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8DjwEb8NbBgptLlIx9iY0_cKQE5DFaa_bT2ih5Ce5P0EG3cQjyfihdjfiMZAmWhlf5fbdpniPjZIb3szfrGtXDmGw1wHFSL3_wEo4xvxTZPQUzrtLgr4v9HqEKCGZc8gqMCF/s320/walle6_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204853130309501938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Lastly and possibly the best of all we have WALL-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth Class), a rubbish clearing robot left behind on earth by the humans.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />After 700 years of doing the same thing he discovers a new purpose when Eve, an advanced robot sent by the humans appears.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />Will this new purpose lead him to his very destiny?</span><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.apple.com/trailers/disney/walle/">WALL-E trailer</a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Destiny</span> may find you.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Destiny</span> may elude you.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />You may try to search for it.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />You may try to hide from it.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />And in the end <span style="font-weight: bold;">Destiny</span> will reveal itself in time...</span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />"A man does whatever he can until his destiny is revealed to him."<br />- <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Last Samurai</span><br /><br /></span>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-13931478148996811822008-03-31T13:10:00.006+08:002009-01-08T08:38:14.627+08:00I Am Legend's Original Ending<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfgGx64iE51W3LpkQEIPdxb8z-JbUE9azyCYmmlX8hhtFO6VcJXuZC95LPDYyuXXfkM0HzY1syGpcu90a5EiMAWDhs6E52OweY6IbLiC2qX7vtC5Yr36O_6rfKLPxiONNLFZQ/s1600-h/iamlegend1_large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfgGx64iE51W3LpkQEIPdxb8z-JbUE9azyCYmmlX8hhtFO6VcJXuZC95LPDYyuXXfkM0HzY1syGpcu90a5EiMAWDhs6E52OweY6IbLiC2qX7vtC5Yr36O_6rfKLPxiONNLFZQ/s400/iamlegend1_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183771712072792338" border="0" /><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />Found this while visiting </span><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" href="http://www.firstshowing.net/">www.firstshowing.net</a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">:<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a style="font-family: lucida grande; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/03/05/must-watch-i-am-legends-original-ending-this-is-amazing/">Must Watch: I Am Legend's Original Ending - This is Amazing</a>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-88230993142642458842007-09-03T00:35:00.001+08:002009-01-08T08:45:09.080+08:00Awesomely August<span style="font-style: italic;">*Been exactly a month since Andy last wrote.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">As I've said a month earlier that "my freedom is important to me, but at the same time it doesn't always comes free," I've had to make changes to ensure of my freedom.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It has been an interesting past two and a half years for me filled with plenty of ups and downs.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Going to the movies is one way that kept me sane, inspired and motivated, to carry on my path in search of dreams.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Over the entire August of 2007, I've taken a bold move to take on an opportunity that would put me in an unfamiliar yet challenging work environment.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It is something I could never imagine myself doing but then is now where I am, and happy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Some things are no longer working, the sails on my ship are tattered and torn and the Captain needs a rest from drifting through the waves of a rough sea.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The compass is not broken.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The journey is not over.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Andy shall sail again once mend are his sails.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">There is one movie that meant a lot to me this year:</span><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://andydreamseeker.blogspot.com/2007/04/movie-review-freedom-writers.html">Freedom Writers</a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Very inspiring and very real it was.<br />One that reminded me to continue writing.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And the best picture this year by far that reflects what is happening in our society.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If only we try... we can make a difference, even when we all are different.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Andy will update again real soon.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">There's a Starbucks near where I'm working now, next to the cool sea in view of a new land in progress.</span>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-36862151123426046262007-09-02T23:57:00.001+08:002009-01-08T08:39:48.886+08:00THE BIG STUDENT PACK<a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrydBapsMgfSs1HG3UBeFxbu4qq16h3DE6s0t1CdMDKp3VfZpJwVuX5Pe_dIyYW0pTXcc_aV-a3XpG8rQvsv-hgZk5nM0I-GJESdSTaoI2R4BQ3qRn1U2qRaBZ_JNdQmywcSqF/s1600-h/promo_image.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrydBapsMgfSs1HG3UBeFxbu4qq16h3DE6s0t1CdMDKp3VfZpJwVuX5Pe_dIyYW0pTXcc_aV-a3XpG8rQvsv-hgZk5nM0I-GJESdSTaoI2R4BQ3qRn1U2qRaBZ_JNdQmywcSqF/s400/promo_image.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105637297501966322" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />How I wish I was a student again...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So I could carry this great JANSPORT bag around the campus!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Summer vacations should be over and I have some young friends over at <a href="http://www.flixster.com/">www.flixster.com</a> going back to school.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It made me sound so old.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The days of freedom without the burden of adulthood on one's shoulders...</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />No wait... but there is...</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">the burden of a heavy bag on one's shoulders.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It's heavy but it doesn't need to be ugly does it?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I'm talking about the cool <span style="font-weight: bold;">JANSPORT BIG STUDENT PACK</span>.<br /><br />Available in 14 colors and patterns, here's one that I like:<br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QcN85UEzpkt-2tURcKYJ7d3l6PAavJICsAGfTO9dbuNVP5YyNS22CwEyry7hcr8HUNcaUjtUHQvdTWEQ9Cc4fn2CiS6_L_9yj6by7DdFXEuvYJ35xzUN7_S6VpgwWLV4QgcK/s1600-h/camoL.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QcN85UEzpkt-2tURcKYJ7d3l6PAavJICsAGfTO9dbuNVP5YyNS22CwEyry7hcr8HUNcaUjtUHQvdTWEQ9Cc4fn2CiS6_L_9yj6by7DdFXEuvYJ35xzUN7_S6VpgwWLV4QgcK/s400/camoL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105642533067100178" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br />Want one?</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-size:180%;">GET ONE!!!</span><br /><br /></span><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qL4kLp3ZTVGUhsXv-38OLSFXiMEDJxwvbBY7qklKXX6muaawWt1TwLT74SdaQ97trc2FwRKYgslSGqBK2-Ffq0tSqGIp8x-HOxUW26mn2Oc4akqrMX_GXGRojmMzEQX9fuoE/s1600-h/sweepstakes2_01.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qL4kLp3ZTVGUhsXv-38OLSFXiMEDJxwvbBY7qklKXX6muaawWt1TwLT74SdaQ97trc2FwRKYgslSGqBK2-Ffq0tSqGIp8x-HOxUW26mn2Oc4akqrMX_GXGRojmMzEQX9fuoE/s400/sweepstakes2_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105639092798296066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />What, Where and How?</span><br /></span><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >Meet the Big Student: A pack designed to fit your style and all your stuff, with more colors, more patterns and more capacity. What more could your backpack ask for?<br /><br />The JanSport ® Big Student is available in 14 different colors and patterns as individual as you and wins technical points for its two large main compartments for versatile storage, front utility pocket with audio electronics organizer and a quick -find cell phone pocket.</span> <p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">JanSport is giving everyone a chance to win this pack and a much needed Fall Break trip with their <b>Big Student Fall Break Sweepstakes </b>.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Grand prize is a trip for 4 to the Grand Canyon , including flight, lodging, entrance fees, ground transportation and meal costs. Runners up can bag a prize too with JanSport's <b>Big Student Pack Giveaway </b>—giving away one Big Student pack a day through September 19th.</span></p> <p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Now, how to enter: JanSport has partnered with Facebook.com to launch their Big Student Pack.</span></p><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">To find out more about this awesome pack and enter to win the Big Student Fall Break Sweepstakes, log onto <a href="http://www.jansport.com/bigstudent">www.jansport.com/ bigstudent </a>, then click the Facebook logo and log in or sign up for Facebook and join the JanSport: Go Big group —it's that simple!</span></p>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-34954677024206636542007-08-02T04:54:00.001+08:002009-01-08T08:40:50.416+08:00Movie Review: Disturbia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDxTHkzx0xvHtl1LX2KbCTtc1b8RZHov7volXUndsjX_ZGq24MuVsgqwM_N7nvAShm8tmEAAzSo6QexgH5m6f6kfCEKobkuDH4R1okLd4sMFgrzSXTtUeBkdOkbSAm5uyju8I/s1600-h/disturbia1_large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDxTHkzx0xvHtl1LX2KbCTtc1b8RZHov7volXUndsjX_ZGq24MuVsgqwM_N7nvAShm8tmEAAzSo6QexgH5m6f6kfCEKobkuDH4R1okLd4sMFgrzSXTtUeBkdOkbSAm5uyju8I/s400/disturbia1_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093838666561807218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*Andy got free Coke, free popcorns and free Twisties at a free viewing.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">You know... the best things in life are free.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My freedom is very important to me, but at the same time it doesn't always comes free.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The irony of life.</span><br /><br />For a movie titled “Disturbia”, it is not really disturbing, or should I say it is disturbingly undisturbed.<br />When the tagline reads, “Every killer lives next door to someone”, I am thinking toward a film that is suspenseful and thrilling.<br /><br />So is Disturbia the movie starring Shia Labeouf a movie of such?<br />It is disturbingly not, at least for the most part.<br /><br />Kale (Shia Labeouf) is a typical teenager in a growing up phase.<br />He is carefree, fun loving and shows a keen interest in the opposite sex, but all that is about to change.<br />That change came when he loses his father in a car accident one vacation.<br /><br />All that enthusiastic energy is depleted and things got worse when he lands himself 3 months of house arrest for punching his Spanish teacher.<br /><br />What can a teenager do when he cannot even leave his house?<br />He spends all his time playing video games and watching loads of entertainment on television of course.<br />Great you’ll think but only until his mum (Carrie-Anne Moss) decides that enough is enough because Kale is neglecting everything else.<br />She cancels his Xbox, iTune and best of all cut off the wire to the television when Kale snaps at her sensitivity.<br /><br />The boy will have to look for other things for entertainment and so he invents his own reality channel; he spies on his neighbours.<br />One of whom is a hot and sexy girl, Ashley (Sarah Roemer), who has just moved in next door while the other is boring Robert Turner (David Morse) who mows his lawn twice a day.<br />The focus of the movie will revolve around Kale’s interest in the two, one with sexual curiosity and the other with suspicious animosity.<br /><br />Kale suspects Mr. Turner to be a serial killer when a report hits the news that the suspect drives a blue Ford Mustang similar to that of his neighbour.<br />With the help of best friend Ronnie (Aaron Yoo) and along with love interest Ashley, the trio will attempt to uncover the mystery behind Robert Turner.<br /><br />The pace of the film is rather slow to begin with.<br />I find myself questioning what kind of a movie am I really watching.<br />Is this a comedy or a thriller?<br />Director D. J. Caruso probably wanted it to be both.<br />It felt like a swing most of the time, teasing with the possibility of suspense and thrill then suddenly shifting the momentum to comedic exposition.<br />Disturbing, very disturbing.<br /><br />The thing behind the suspicious Mr. Turner lacked depth.<br />Many questions were left unanswered.<br />It appears that the storywriters, Carl Ellsworth and Christopher B. Landon are more interested in making the romance work between Kale and Ashley rather than having the “who really is Mr. Turner?” work out.<br />At least there was a climatic scene at the end to save it even if I thought it as being too convenient a plot to drop the curtains with.<br />The murderer just messed up.<br /><br />So “Every killer lives next door to someone”?<br /><br />Try “Every hot girl lives next door to someone”.<br />That sounds more like it.<br /><br />Movie Link:<br /><a href="http://www.disturbia.com/">http://www.disturbia.com/</a>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-23521715303724237272007-07-31T04:37:00.001+08:002009-01-08T08:41:05.345+08:00Captivity: What director Roland Joffé wanted it to be<embed src="http://www.terrorfeed.com/flvplayer.swf" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="&file=captivity-rolandjoffe-int.flv&height=360&width=400&autostart=false" height="360" width="400"></embed><br />Get More Terror at <a href="http://www.terrorfeed.com/index.php?id=captivity-rolandjoffe-int">TerrorFeed.com</a>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-58203084647969326802007-07-31T02:10:00.001+08:002009-01-08T08:41:49.778+08:00Movie Review: Captivity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1SvwMIeOsCojB1Gk2S0M1v8ZXV9DdSuP2VnoD_jIAw9moTUROR5I_TMUHIsFtoLIWPBxEbyYG35vVbDbfb6RgkidukLAIH44cOjHb1aIwEnU6DVYSclqnFf8CH2mJ0D45EKz/s1600-h/captivity1_large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1SvwMIeOsCojB1Gk2S0M1v8ZXV9DdSuP2VnoD_jIAw9moTUROR5I_TMUHIsFtoLIWPBxEbyYG35vVbDbfb6RgkidukLAIH44cOjHb1aIwEnU6DVYSclqnFf8CH2mJ0D45EKz/s400/captivity1_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093054555857412898" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*Andy thought Captivity was going to be like House of Wax that also stars the beautiful Elisha Cuthbert.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">You know the type of movie that has good looking people running away from some weird psychos.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">I was so so wrong.</span><br /><br />It baffles me.<br />Captivity, the movie starring Elisha Cuthbert, directed by two times Oscar nominee, Roland Joffé and written by Larry Cohen of Cellular (2004) and Phone Booth (2002) really baffles me.<br /><br />First up, the marketing really killed it.<br />I learned a new term for the sub-genre of horror films known as “torture porn”.<br />Torture porn refers to movies that feature nudity, torture, mutilation and sadism.<br />Although Hostel (2005) was the first film to be given this label, the classification is also relevant to the Saw franchise and movie like the more recent Turista (2006).<br />You’ll be surprised that even The Passion of Christ (2004) falls under this category.<br />The selling point of such films is the gore factor.<br />Most of the time the story is lame and poor thus the term porn.<br />Porn is sex without a story.<br /><br />That is where the marketing for Captivity went awfully wrong.<br />The controversy that surrounds it in the United States before its release on July Friday the 13th is over hyped.<br />No doubt its bad publicity that drew complaints for its “horrific” billboard posters was considered a success, but to market Captivity as a “torture porn” movie is still a big mistake.<br /><br />I found out that Captivity was actually completed two years ago.<br />Director Roland Joffé had envisioned it as a psychological thriller type movie that is about the public’s obsession on celebrities.<br />It was even said that Paris Hilton was part of the inspiration.<br />It will only make sense if viewed upon from this angle.<br />An Oscar quality director and a rated film writer stooping low to make a “torture porn” movie would be a great story for a horror movie by itself.<br /><br />There wasn’t meant to be plenty of gore in Captivity.<br />It was meant to be a story about the abduction of a celebrity model, Jennifer Tree (Elisha Cuthbert), how she had to suffer the mental tortures of her captor and how she ended up in the end.<br /><br />It asks the questions about who her captor was, what are his intentions and why another man, Gary (Daniel Gillies), was also held confined.<br /><br />Since 2004 with the introduction of Saw, a movie produced at just $1.2m that grossed over $100m worldwide, there suddenly grew a huge interest for such films.<br />It was highly profitable and the public loved it.<br /><br />So Roland Joffé’s Captivity was re-edited.<br />In comes the gore, Jennifer Tree was made to drink a horrible concoction of body parts, made to choose the fate of her beloved pet dog and strapped to a dentist chair for further physical torture.<br />Almost a third of the film was re-shot and edited by the production company’s CEO, Courtney Solomon.<br />It was also rumoured that another writer, Joseph Tura roped in for the re-write.<br /><br />So there you go, a film that does not know what it wanted to be.<br />A psychological thriller remade as a “torture porn” wannabe.<br /><br />It may appear that I am defending this film.<br />I certainly am not.<br />I just felt it should be given a much fairer justification.<br />I do not even think Elisha Cuthbert did a good job in the role but she sure is a looker.<br />The poster of her behind a fence with a mascara-smeared teardrop rolling down the cheek is a very good piece of graphic design imagery.<br />That attracted much of my attention to this movie.<br /><br />I can say the same for the cinematography in Captivity but when it comes to the full product, it is nowhere near greatness.<br />Not that it was intended to be but a movie that is lost in its true essence is a nuisance.<br />This is one film I thought was poor on first sight but afterthoughts and background research made it clearer that it was a film that did not lived up to its potential.<br /><br />The idea was a good one but in the wrong hands…<br />You know the rest.<br />The wrong expectation played up by marketing can ruin a moviegoer’s experience.<br /><br />It really is just <a href="http://andydreamseeker.blogspot.com/2007/07/cs-for-captivity-controversy-cuthbert.html">Cs for Captivity; Controversy, Cuthbert and Courtney Solomon</a>.<br /><br />Movie Link:<br /><a href="http://captivitythemovie.com/">http://captivitythemovie.com/</a><br /><br />Related Article:<br /><a href="http://andydreamseeker.blogspot.com/2007/07/captivity-what-director-roland-joff.html">Captivity: What director Roland Joffé wanted it to be</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trailer of Captivity</span><br /><embed src="http://www.terrorfeed.com/flvplayer.swf" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="&file=captivity-trailer.flv&amp;amp;amp;height=360&width=400&autostart=false" height="360" width="400"></embed><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Get More Terror at <a href="http://www.terrorfeed.com/index.php?id=captivity-trailer">TerrorFeed.com</a>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-80694279292721116352007-07-30T17:18:00.001+08:002009-01-08T08:42:06.916+08:00Cs for Captivity; Controversy, Cuthbert, Courtney Solomon<span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Controversy, Cuthbert and Courtney Solomon.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >C for Controversy</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">:</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">A billboard started it all.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUmJpHP4lJvnsht56z4T4hYno2it4h3LzT_8jTbC5GEoBu6vrfZ-Xvl4m49o0vm_nIxkHsGnhDe8YJ9N9__9oT67cynfx07q8H84VmUGcZuN6buvnflJigdMbQfSRvXe35rsu/s1600-h/captivity-billboard2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUmJpHP4lJvnsht56z4T4hYno2it4h3LzT_8jTbC5GEoBu6vrfZ-Xvl4m49o0vm_nIxkHsGnhDe8YJ9N9__9oT67cynfx07q8H84VmUGcZuN6buvnflJigdMbQfSRvXe35rsu/s400/captivity-billboard2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093085539751486274" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >ABDUCTION, CONFINEMENT, TORTURE and TERMINATION were the terms used to describe Captivity the movie.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The offensive billboards were seen in prominent locations in LA.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This is the article from /film:</span> <a style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/03/20/captivity-billboard-banned/">http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/03/20/captivity-billboard-banned/ </a> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />After Dark Films, the production company responsible for Captivity received a $500,000 fine as a result of putting up the unapproved billboards.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The actual release date set for 18th May was also pushed back because the MPAA refused to rate the film.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Co-owner of After Dark, Courtney Solomon said it was a mistake on their part about the billboards.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">There was even a campaign by the public against the said advertisements, started by Jill Soloway:</span> <a style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jill-soloway/remove-the-rating-for-em_b_44404.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jill-soloway/remove-the-rating-for-em_b_44404.html</a> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />No publicity is bad publicity?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The billboards were replaced by white banners with the words,"Captivity was here", after they were taken down.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It appears that After Dark Films certainly has a thing for bad publicity.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Ropeofsilicon has the report:</span> <a style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/news.php?id=5643">http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/news.php?id=5643 </a> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Personally I do not find the billboards offensive by the looks of it but I do not live in the area where they were present so I wouldn't know the conditions.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The argument was that they were disturbing to members of the public and especially unhealthy to the children.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">There were worse materials I'm sure and it does seem harsh that Captivity received the punishment.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">On the other hand, After Dark had it coming don't they?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It takes two hands to clap.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >C for Cuthbert:</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The beautiful and innocent actress just wanted to star in a movie about a woman who fights for her life.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9b6mYSNOV-6Fr58JJjSJe3IET0dDOpuJqdlN9Wpbs6qxOz08ATVi6ntdXR09njgiEkZRDIikDjLUQmMLO-sHIxp0VGpRg352oDj5lAy1x7dLPSwkAT0egzo0ibZeRb3LfMk1/s1600-h/2007_captivity_003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq9b6mYSNOV-6Fr58JJjSJe3IET0dDOpuJqdlN9Wpbs6qxOz08ATVi6ntdXR09njgiEkZRDIikDjLUQmMLO-sHIxp0VGpRg352oDj5lAy1x7dLPSwkAT0egzo0ibZeRb3LfMk1/s400/2007_captivity_003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093088726617219922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >"...a lot of it baffles me, and a lot of it is intriguing at the same time, because I had no idea that, in the world of the </span><em style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;">Saw</em><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >s and the </span><em style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;">Hostel</em><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >s ... somehow our film has sort of stuck out. I'm grateful for that, but at the same time, I'm a little confused.<br /><br />I know that we had some controversy with the womens' groups, and I just feel like I wanted them to see the film before making any judgments on it.<br /><br />I set out to make a film about a woman who fights for her life and comes out in the end sort of strong and learns something from her experience.<br /><br />But 30 million people chatting about it online? I couldn't ask for anything more!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Read her interview on Cinematical here:</span> <a style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.cinematical.com/2007/06/29/interview-elisha-cuthbert-talks-to-cinematical-about-the-capti/">http://www.cinematical.com/2007/06/29/interview-elisha-cuthbert-talks-to-cinematical-about-the-capti/</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />C for Courtney Solomon:<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">What has the man behind Captivity got to say?</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >"They were offended by the words and the images that went along with those words, and it sort of created a storyboard for them. But at the end of the day, </span><em style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;">Captivity</em><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" > -- as Roland intended it to be in the first place -- is about female empowerment.<br /><br />It's a more realistic take on these types of things happening.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span><em style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;">Saw</em><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" > is </span><em style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;">Saw</em><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" > and </span><em style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;">Hostel</em><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" > is </span><em style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;">Hostel</em><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >, but </span><em style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;">Captivity</em><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" > is a realistic take on something that unfortunately happens in this country an awful lot.<br /><br />That's what Roland set out to do; he wanted to make a statement about something that happens and is quite terrifying in this country.<br />So when we started out to do the marketing campaign, that's what we wanted to get across. Not just for the core audience, but also to broaden the audience.<br /><br />It comes from an acclaimed filmmaker and it's not just some cheesy little film. They spent money on this film; it's not a $2 million film as people have quoted it to be. It's got high production values, the story plays out and it's got a great twist at the end.<br /><br />At the end of the day, it scares you because it feels real."<br /></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Read Courtney Solomon's interview on Cinematical:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><a href="http://www.cinematical.com/2007/06/12/interview-after-dark-films-courtney-solomon-talks-to-cinematic/">http://www.cinematical.com/2007/06/12/interview-after-dark-films-courtney-solomon-talks-to-cinematic/</a><br /><br />Andy says, "At the end of the day, it's Cs for Captivity."<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yjZkYTmB47g8X8WrpGQJg4_MdZK2bEMxG4ft5GopCpWbMxwERTjoXkgzq8G2XWYDbVs0FHhoXkO7CJ7h2HX2EJYZHOK7wn4qXpRWfw5GwSVLWWUPVTBwHs6ZfHqPbSdtfTcg/s1600-h/wp1_1024.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yjZkYTmB47g8X8WrpGQJg4_MdZK2bEMxG4ft5GopCpWbMxwERTjoXkgzq8G2XWYDbVs0FHhoXkO7CJ7h2HX2EJYZHOK7wn4qXpRWfw5GwSVLWWUPVTBwHs6ZfHqPbSdtfTcg/s400/wp1_1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093090345819890530" border="0" /></a>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38570227.post-44615420835143237592007-07-26T12:25:00.001+08:002009-01-08T08:43:13.238+08:00Movie Review: Vacancy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMgEptzsPty66DGsiYYSYAr6rpnZbZpDwZD3GGfpL4hl7p2ti40QR70IIgRZdTvYKGuLrjLaBdL7F3NFI6P5i-JCPUGhVv0MJpb_oi-VVSwxvCvOn5PRxAxFB6mKtnEPZQ7b-/s1600-h/vacancy1_large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMgEptzsPty66DGsiYYSYAr6rpnZbZpDwZD3GGfpL4hl7p2ti40QR70IIgRZdTvYKGuLrjLaBdL7F3NFI6P5i-JCPUGhVv0MJpb_oi-VVSwxvCvOn5PRxAxFB6mKtnEPZQ7b-/s400/vacancy1_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091360440367244050" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*Andy enjoyed this flick in good company.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Perhaps that's why I'm laughing instead of being scared.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Neh... I don't think so.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Vacancy works by being unbelievably entertaining rather than entertaining by being believably real.</span><br /><br />I think it bogs down to your level of threshold for “thrill”, “scare” and “experience” for this one.<br />Vacancy, the film starring Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson is very much textbook stuff when we talk about the genre of horror and thriller.<br /><br />Although nothing really new, the idea remains interesting.<br />David (Luke Wilson) and Amy (Kate Beckinsale) are driving home one night when the car breaks down in the middle of nowhere.<br /><br />Almost conveniently there is a gas station and motel nearby where help can be found.<br />It'll be futile to think the two of them are going elsewhere.<br />That is not going to happen.<br />They will stay at the motel and they will be trapped.<br />If not then where is the story?<br /><br />So then the two quarrelsome duos will discover in their creepy “Honeymoon Suite” that a collection of videos featuring gruesome images of violent murder are filmed exactly where they are.<br />Imagine yourself in their shoes.<br />I bet you’ll be freaked out too.<br /><br />The thrill in Vacancy is how David and Amy tries their best to outsmart their captors who are watching from every possible hidden camera if to escape the fate of those seen in the videos.<br /><br />The scare in Vacancy is how director Nimród Antal uses the textbook stuff of leaving spaces in between scenes for your imagination to enter.<br /><br />Literally that is what the word “Vacancy” means, a vacant spot for you to fill in.<br />It is also no wonder that the three psychos, led by motel manager Mason (Frank Whaley) are obsessed about their game.<br />This out of place motel in the middle of nowhere is awfully lonely.<br /><br />The scene where the mechanic played by Ethan Embry saying to the couple, “I should pay you for giving me something to do,” tells it best.<br />The idle mind really is the devil’s workshop.<br /><br />Vacancy the movie however cannot be described as believable.<br />Again here is one those films that can be enjoyable only if we take logic away from it.<br />As I’ve mentioned earlier, how much this movie works is largely dependant on your threshold for “thrill”, “scare” and “experience”.<br />To me Vacancy is not very scary or thrilling.<br />Due to it being unbelievable, and based on my experience with the thriller and horror genre, the plot is pretty much laid out for me.<br />I knew what was going to happen, but it did not stop me from having fun watching the film.<br /><br />Ever wondered why some people could laugh at the sight of horror on screen?<br />I found the answer in Vacancy.<br />It being unreal and sometimes silly is laughable.<br />I wanted to question its authenticity but gave up because it is not documentary or comparable to the Saw or Hostel franchise.<br />There’s nothing gruesome in Vacancy, just a simple game of cat and mouse played within an isolated vicinity of a creepy motel.<br />It is at the very least an entertaining getaway into the darkroom with a big screen.<br /><br />Those with a higher threshold might beg to differ but I sure had fun watching Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale playing the victims.<br /><br />Vacancy is not the best of its kind but definitely not the worst.<br />Have you got time to kill?<br />Why not fill your vacancy with Vacancy?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8K6FTOgp4IAwjE5fXDyAM9l9bMwkdaUwqcCMXyYwe75QGXHK1bo29XJ0pGLeRn-jH6M-6bBcVDPRx2Ts5nOP44ec8Vze7vdSMH-i6qwuSAa_988f-W3f5nMZQY_1qEceh3ymK/s1600-h/luke_kate_2_1024.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8K6FTOgp4IAwjE5fXDyAM9l9bMwkdaUwqcCMXyYwe75QGXHK1bo29XJ0pGLeRn-jH6M-6bBcVDPRx2Ts5nOP44ec8Vze7vdSMH-i6qwuSAa_988f-W3f5nMZQY_1qEceh3ymK/s400/luke_kate_2_1024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091359216301564674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Movie Link:<br /><a href="http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/vacancy/index.html">http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/vacancy/index.html</a>andydreamseekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10418901294704634116noreply@blogger.com