Follow the link above to access the new website recently launched for the upcoming "Wolfman" film set for release around Valentine's Day in 2009. While the story synopsis says its "inspired" by the original Universal film that starred Lon Chaney Jr as Lawerence Talbot, most people will see this as a remake. However, as the plot synopsis shows, this film will be moving in a different direction from the original at least in terms of the plot.

The only other thing on the website right now is an images page...with only one image, that of Benecio Del Toro (the star of the film) in his Wolfman garb.

While I've been skeptical from the start...I mean just look at what Van Helsing did to these immortal horror film characters...I am seeing better and better signs. First, they aren't going with a CGI Wolfman, which immediately is a great bonus. Second...the cast is really top notch. Joining Del Toro are Emily Blunt, Anthony Hopkins, and Hugo Weaving. Blunt plays the fiancee of Talbot's brother, Hopkins as been cast as Talbot's father and Weaving will play an investigator who arrives in Talbot's hometown. No word on if the gypsy woman who appeared in many of the Wolfman films will make an appearance. Not much more you can ask for than that. Additionally, they are taking the story in a slightly different direction, so as far as the remake thing goes...at least we aren't getting another shot for shot remake that will beg the question of "WHY!!!!!?"

Finally, for hardcore fans of the original like me, you'll be happy to know that they have the "old gypsy poem" correct and its currently on the front page of the site:

"Even a man who is pure at heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfsbane blooms and the Autumn moon is bright."

Van Helsing (again) changed it to be "when the moon is full and bright"...for no apparant reason. So at the very least, they are honoring the source material here. Whether or not this film ends up being good or not, well that remains to be seen. But at the very least the filmmakers are NOT setting themselves up for failure, which is nice.

More on this film as we get closer. I would guess a trailer will be coming out sometime soon....perhaps with The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor? (Its a Universal film after all).

set in a futuristic society of control by fear, the rebel V moves to start a worthy revolution, & Evey joins his side

Omsider er den første traileren for Watchmen klar for å sikles over. Filmen basert på tegneserien fra 80-tallet med samme navn blir regissert av Zack Snyder, mannen bak det visuelle eposet '300'. Ta en titt på traileren på Dagbladet.no.

Det er snakk om at filmen kanskje vil vare i opp til tre timer for å få med det meste av den komplekse historien. Det er en mørk og dyster saga, som høyst sannsynlig holder seg tro mot tegneserien, inkludert mangelen på en 'happy ending'.

Tegneseriens skaper, Alan Moore, har også forfattet tegneseriene 'From Hell', som ble filmatisert med Johnny Depp i hovedrollen, og den litt mer kjente tegneserien 'V for Vendetta', som også ble film, med Hugo Weaving og Natalie Portman i hovedrollene.

O site MovieFone pergunta o que seria do cara bonzinho sem um brigão que ameace a virtude, incomode os inocentes e frustre os melhores planos, não é mesmo, minha gente? Por isso eles fizeram uma lista dos 25 homens e mulheres que amamos odiar no cinema. O Coringa de Ledger nem estreou ainda e já está lá.

1. Lorde Voldemort da série Harry Potter, 2005-2007 [Ralph Fiennes]
2. Darth Vader da série Guerra nas Estrelas, 1977-2005 [James Earl Jones, Hayden Christensen]
3. A Bruxa Malvada do Oeste de O mágico de Oz, 1939 [Margaret Hamilton]
4. Hannibal Lecter de O silêncio dos inocentes, 1991 [Anthony Hopkins]
5. Coringa de Batman - O cavaleiro das trevas, 2008 [Heath Ledger]
6. Goldfinger de 007 contra Goldfinger, 1964 [Gert Frobe]
7. Chigurgh de Onde os fracos não têm vez, 2007 [Javier Barden]
8. Hans Gruber de Duro de matar, 1988 [Alan Rickman]
9. Max Cady de Cabo do medo, 1991 [Robert De Niro]
10. A Rainha de Branca de neve e os sete anões, 1937 [voz de Lucille la Verne]
11. Harry Powell de O mensageiro do diabo, 1955 [Robert Mitchum]
12. Michael Myers de Halloween - A noite do terror, 1978 [Tony Moran]
13. Freddy Krueger de A hora do pesadelo, 1984 [Robert Englund]
14. Mrs Iselin de Sob o domínio do mal, 1962 [Angela Lansbury]
15. Tom Powers de Inimigo Público, 1931 [James Cagney]
16. Anne Wilkes de Louca obsessão, 1990 [ Kathy Bates]
17. Dr Christian Szell de Maratona da morte, 1976 [Laurence Olivier]
18. T-1000 de O exterminador do futuro 2 - O julgamento final [Robert Patrick]
19. Joan Crawford de Mamãezinha querida, 1981 [Faye Dunaway]
20. Lex Luthor de Superman, 1978 [Gene Hackman]
21. Alonzo Harris de Dia de treinamento, 2001 [Denzel Washington]
22. Cruella De Vil de Os 101 dálmatas, 1961 [voz de Betty Lou Gerson]
23. Frank Booth de Veludo Azul, 1986 [Dennis Hopper]
24. Khan Noonie Singh de Jornada nas estrelas: A ira de Khan, 1982 [Ricardo Montalban]
25. Agente Smith de Matrix, 1999 [Hugo Weaving]

Leia também: "O Melhor dos Vilões".

I was just checking through some of my favorite films, looking for others to add to my must watch list. One of the directors I found was Joe Johnston. I didn't realize this before, but I've seen all of his films. Here's a quick ranking:

1. October Sky (1999)
2. The Rocketeer (1991)
3. Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989)
4. The Pagemaster (1994)
5. Jurassic Park III (2001)
6. Hidalgo (2004)
7. Jumanji (1995)

It turns out that Joe Johnston is directing The Wolf Man, which will be released next year. Benicio Del Toro stars in the titular role. Anthony Hopkins, Hugo Weaving, and rising actress Emily Blunt are in this as well.

Aprovecho de inaugurar el banner que acompañará este blog hasta el estreno de The Dark Knight con una noticia de su secuela. Resuta que Gary Oldman se fue de lengua y habló sobre Batman 3, la cual según la rumorología sería titulada Shadow of the Bat. En una entrevista Oldman habló sobre la posibilidad de reemplazar a The Joker (Heath Ledger) en la tercera parte de la saga creada por Christopher Nolan indicando que "No veo por qué no [elegir un nuevo actor para el rol de El Guasón]. Osea, se hizo con el personaje de Katie Holmes. Entiendo que son distintas las circunstancias, pero creo que otro actor podría tomar el trabajo. Creo que a Heath le gustaría eso... pero tal vez, no necesitemos al Joker, porque tendremos a The Riddler (El Acertijo)". ¿Será cierto? Luego Oldman indicó que no sabe si Nolan volverá a la dirección del film, aunque lo mas probable es que regrese al igual que él mismo a interpretar nuevamente a Gordon, cosa que no esperaba hacer luego de Batman Begins. El Acertijo ha sonado bastante el último tiempo como el nuevo gran villano que aparecerá en la tercera película de Batman de la era Nolan-Bale, y aunque en un principio se nombró a Anthony Michael Hall como candidato, su aparición en The Dark Knight como reportero lo hace imposible. Según la rumorología, el encargado de dar vida al doctor Edward Nygma y a su criminal alter ego sería ... [redoble de tambores] ... Hugo Weaving. Pero nos estamos adelantando algunos años aún, habrá que tener paciencia y esperar.

2006.  Rated R.  Directed by James McTeigue.  Written by the Wachowski Brothers.  Based on the comic by Alan Moore.  Starring Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry and John Hurt.

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Previously: Jarhead

When V for Vendetta was announced, it had huge hit written all over it -- it was the Wachowski brothers' first post-Matrix production, based on a popular cult comic book, with a big budget and a well-known lead.  However, the movie was largely overlooked, continuing the dimming of the Wachowski's star.  The anti-government theme did not play well with everyone and even more damaging was bad timing -- the subway attacks in London prompted the release to be delayed by 6 months to the dead-period of March and ruined the perfect tie-in the release had in November.

Actually, checking on the box office numbers, it did a lot better than I thought (but still not nearly as well as it could have), the Guy Fawkes mask has become pretty ubiqitous on Halloween and it has kind of become a cult classic, but whatever, I still want to write about it.  Next time I'll pick something more obscure.

The film takes place in a future London, where a totalitarian regime has come to power playing on the fear of the people (caused by disease outbreaks and terrorist attacks), slowly taking away individual rights.  On Guy Fawkes night (remember, remember the 5th of November), a masked man named V (Weaving) saves Evey Hammond (Portman) from crooked cops and then proceeds to blow up a landmark London building.  Evey, as the straight-laced daughter of former revolutionaries, is immediately suspected to be a co-conspirator, and the movie essentially focuses on her relationship with V, and the effect of V's actions on society.

The plot, not coincidentally, is designed to make you draw parallels to what's happened in our own country over the past 8 years.  Some people were upset that the movie seems to glorify terrorism, but of course, one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.  It's unfortunate, but one reason why terrorism is so scary and powerful is because it does affect change, and while clearly V is a sympathetic character, it's not as black-and-white as it could have been.  In any case, that element of the movie did not bother me at all.

Portman is cast very well and does a solid job as the lead but is overshadowed, naturally, by V.  Weaving does a excellent job despite being hidden, and the character is so memorable and iconic that it is still surprising the movie is not more popular.  Stephen Rea plays the lead detective tracking V and is ideal for the world-weary character.  John Hurt has a good look for the Big Brother-type leader of the rulng party and delivers in his short amount of screen time.

Really where the film shines though is in the production --- though they did not direct and tapped their former assistant director McTeigue to do it, the Wachowski's stamp is all over it.  It looks great, the effects look great and the atmosphere is perfect for the narrative.  It is a tightly crafted, very well-made film and this drowns out the few weak points, V's silly introduction monologue, for example.

For me, though, what really mades the movie is one sequence, that may seem extraneous to the plot, but is absolutely what elevates the movie to one of my favorites.  It's a heartbreaking, emotional sequence -- I've seen the movie twice and both times it got a little dusty in the room.

V for Vendetta might not really fit the overlooked and underrated label perfectly, but if you haven't seen it, it's definitely worth checking out.  Be aware that it is a very visceral film that begs to be watched on a big screen with the sound up.  Let's hope the Wachowskis can get back to making movies like this or the original Matrix and not movies like Speed Racer, which looked like a piece of crap.

Grade: A-

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Steven Spielberg é o realizador do dia, com dois filmes em destaque neste Daily Hotvnews: A Guerra dos Mundos e E.T. - O Extraterrestre.

Sala 1

Aeon Flux de Karyn Kusama

A vencedora de um Óscar da Academia Charlize Theron é Aeon Flux, uma agente secreta que combate um regime totalitário no século XXV, na derradeira cidade do planeta Terra, e a única esperança dos rebeldes para derrubarem a estéril sociedade “perfeita”. Contudo, durante uma missão para abater o líder do governo, Aeon revela uma teia de aterradores segredos que podem alterar de forma radical o futuro do mundo, neste thriller de ficção científica baseado na inovadora série animada da MTV.

escrito por Pedro Pacheco

Às 18h24 na TVI

Sala 2

Guerra dos Mundos

Com: Tom Cruise, Tim Robbins, Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, Justin Chatwin

A versão contemporânea do clássico de H.G. Wells, é um thriller de ficção científica que revela a extraordinária batalha pelo futuro da Humanidade, através dos olhos de uma família americana.

Fugindo de um exército extra-terrestre de Tripods assassinos que destroem tudo à sua passagem, Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) luta para manter a sua família sã e salva.

Uma esmagadora aventura, que reúne novamente Tom Cruise e o realizador Steven Spielberg, numa das experiências cinematográficas mais impressionantes dos últimos tempos.

escrito por Márcio Pereira

Às 17h40 na SIC

Sala 3

Jerry Maguire

Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) é um dos melhores elementos da SIM, uma prestigiada agência de promoção desportiva, com uma carreira brilhante até ao dia em que ousa desafiar o modo de operar da empresa… e é despedido. Decidido a provar as suas teorias monta o seu próprio negócio com dois aliados que lhe restam; um cliente - Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr. - Óscar de Melhor Actor Secundário), futebolista de segunda, e uma assistente - Dorothy Boyd (Renée Zellweger), uma mãe solteira jovem e sonhadora. Juntos lutarão pelo triunfo num mundo de competição feroz onde os mais fracos não sobrevivem.

por Tiago Jacinto

Às 21h30 no Hollywood

Sala 4

V De Vingança ( V For Vendetta, no original)

Os londrinos, num futuro próximo, vivem sob um totalitarismo onde a liberdade e a justiça não têm espaço. Evey (Natalie Portman) é uma simples jovem simpática que quando se encontra numa situação de perigo de vida é salva por um homem mascarado conhecido por “V” (Hugo Weaving). Este homem enigmático tem um objectivo: lutar contra a crueldade e corrupção que existe na sociedade. Para isso faz explodir dois monumentos históricos de Londres e toma contolo das rádios e redes televisivas para poder chamar atenção aos cidadãos do estado cidade e incentiva-los a agir. As verdades sobre “V” vão começar a ser descobertas por Evey e simultaneamente ela conhece-se melhor. Um filme de James McTeigue (The Invasion).

por Micaela Vieira

Às 22h00 no TVC3

Sala 5

E.T. - O Extraterrestre - O Extra-Terrestre de Steven Spielberg é o mais célebre filme de ficção científica jamais feito, que é também um belíssimo “conto de fadas”, materializado pela magia de Steven Spielberg. Num cenário de história de fadas Spielberg conta a história de um pequeno “alien” esquecido na Terra e que se refugia numa casa onde as crianças o escondem e o ajudam na sua odisseia para regressar a casa.

escrito por Márcio Pereira

Às 22h10 no Disney Channel

Outras Salas:

AXN

18:50 Jet Li, A Vingança
22:30 O Homem Transparente

Disney

15:00 Piratas das Caraíbas, Nos Confins do Mundo
20:30 A Escuteira De Beverly Hills

FOX

23:01 American Pie, O Ano Seguinte

FOXlife

23:30 Instinto Fatal

Hollywood

19:30 Beethoven 3
21:07 As Raparigas, O Burro E Os Bois
23:47 Comprador Nocturno

MOV

14:50 O Último Destino

RTP 1

15:35 Batman Para Sempre

TVI

13:48 Sarilhos Com As Gémeas
15:50 Os Quebra-Ossos

TVC1

14:50 Impacto Profundo
16:50 A Ameaça De Andrómeda
19:00 Efeito Borboleta 2
21:00 A Mexicana
23:05 A Nona Porta

TVC2

14:20 Uma Verdade Inconveniente
16:00 O Álibi
17:35 Entre A Justiça E A Lei
19:05 Hello, Dolly!
21:30 Sabrina
23:45 À Procura De Sucesso

TVC3

14:20 A Mexicana
16:25 Um Rapper Na Máfia
18:05 Jindabyne
20:10 Brick

TVC4

15:35 Deuses E Monstros
17:20 Morre Pinga Amor!
18:50 Lições De Condução
20:30 Os Divinos Segredos Da Irmandade Ya-Ya
22:30 A Queda De Um Jogador

The Wachowski brothers have a history of working with themes of rebels working against a system of control. The Matrix trilogy worked with that theme by using rebels holding out against a planetary system of control, using consciousness and philosophy to press home its points. With V for Vendetta, the Wachowski brothers have the same chance to work with similar material and have constructed a screenplay out of Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s graphic novel that works fluidly and smartly.

V for Vendetta was directed by James McTeigue in his directorial debut. McTeigue served as an assistant director on the Matrix films, so he was acquainted with the Wachowski style and translated the material to the screen with efficiency and attention to detail. The results exist in the realm of graphic novel adaptation, political thriller, action movie, and dystopic drama. The film is more literary and less dominated by special effects, making it significantly different from most comic book/graphic novel movies.

There are extensive notes of interpretations when it comes to both the graphic novels and the film. The subject matter of V for Vendetta prompted many discussions about the state of the world, totalitarianism, anarchism, and various other political philosophies. People discussed the merits or lack of merits of the actions of the characters and debated the allegories of religious groups and governmental philosophies as relate to our current global climate. The graphic novels originated in 1982 and covered a dystopian future imagined in the U.K. from the 1980s and 1990s. As is readily apparent, the subject matter described by Moore and Lloyd is applicable in today’s world.

Hugo Weaving “stars” as V, the movie’s central character. Wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, V is a revolutionary trying to overthrow the government. That government, an extreme fascist political party called Norsefire in the graphic novel, runs Britain with an iron fist and visions of Orwell’s 1984 are instantly recalled by the curfews and pervasive single-channel media present. Evey (Natalie Portman) is a young woman whom V rescues from policemen who are about to rape her. V becomes enchanted with Evey and their relationship takes some twists and turns as V moves towards his goal and Evey struggles with her reactions to V’s violent revolution.

Instant comparisons can be made with The Phantom of the Opera and the character of V, especially as pertains to his relationship with Evey. Is V hiding something behind the mask? Is the mask symbolic or something? Does the mask hamper or harm V’s relationship with Evey? Both characters move through cavernous spaces, both control others through the use of thoughts and power, and both have a heart filled with a desire for revenge for past wrongs. The exploration of V’s political motives and how they relate to his heart of vengeance is compelling.

V for Vendetta works well because it is filled with a bevy of solid character actors. John Hurt plays the High Chancellor, Stephen Rea is the detective in pursuit of V, Stephen Fry is one of Evey’s colleagues, and Tim Pigott-Smith is an instrument of the dictator. The cast works well off of the presence of Weaving’s V, who is limited by his mask to one facial expression and uses one tone of voice throughout the film. It is the character of V, in fact, that is the least interesting from a cinematic standpoint.

Unlike most graphic novel compositions, V for Vendetta works in that it gives the viewer something else to do beyond watch the special effects and the fight sequences. There are ideas hard at work here and many questions to be asked. People will discuss the political motives of V long after the credits have rolled and the influences of our society on the plot and actions of such “terrorists” will be explored by intelligent audience members. Others will still have enough to marvel at, as the fight sequences and special effects that are in the film are dazzling.

V for Vendetta is a thought-provoking graphic novel adaptation that, like Sin City, is at its best when it creates a world all its own. The despair and hopelessness of Britain under fascist dictatorship is explored and the power of the people gives rise to action. Lovers of London architecture may be disappointed or oddly excited by the film’s brave finale and the build towards the “big moment” permeates the movie with a rising sense of duty and responsibility for the film’s characters. Everyone’s jobs become more important with the passing hours.

While Alan Moore has disowned the film, V for Vendetta is still a worthy adaptation of some very brave material. It is a visually pleasing film and the ideas presented within venture beyond normative comic book fare and into a realm inhabited by the free flow of thoughts and an open discussion about how free we really are.

8.5/10

Trailer:

Em uma Inglaterra do futuro, onde está em vigor um regime totalitário, vive Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman). Ela é salva de uma situação de vida ou morte por um homem mascarado, conhecido apenas pelo codinome V (Hugo Weaving), que é extremamente carismático e habilidoso na arte do combate e da destruição. Ao convocar seus compatriotas a se rebelar contra a tirania e a opressão do governo inglês, V provoca uma verdadeira revolução. Enquanto Evey tenta saber mais sobre o passado de V, ela termina por descobrir quem é e seu papel no plano de seu salvador para trazer liberdade e justiça ao país.

O filme é uma grande crítica aos sistemas pseudo-democráticos que vivemos hoje. O herói V é um grande libertador, que após ser vítima do sistema que hoje tende ao totalitarismo, recorre a lendas do passado inglês para mobilizar e insuflar o povo contra os governantes. A narrativa é estonteante, e as cenas de ação são apenas superadas pelos diálogos bem tramados e a inteligência do roteiro. Como se não bastasse V, recorre a um dos maiores clássicos do cinema, "O Conde De Monte Cristo" para balizar sua vingança. As atuações de Natalie Portman e Hugo Weaving impressionam pela intensidade e personalidade. Natalie, inclusive teve de raspar sua cabeça para interpretar uma das seqüências mais perturbadoras do longa.

“V de Vingança” é inteligente e empolgante, uma grande pedida para todos que gostam de filmes que instigam e ao mesmo tempo o provocam a escolher um lado, seja o bem ou o mal e no caso, a democracia ou o totalitarismo.

Fiquem com a introdução de V à Evey, já demonstra um humor soturno e os toques de inteligência e sarcasmo que permeiam o filme:

201 min / 251 min (extended edition)

Is there any hope, Gandalf, for Frodo and Sam? -Pippin

Synopsis

Frodo and Sam have escaped Osgiliath with Gollum as their guide, but their road is a most perilous one.  Gollum has lead them directly into the darkness and to steep staircase that will lead them through the tunnel and finally into Mordor.  Sam is still un-trusting of Gollum and suspects he will betray both himself and Frodo.  With Frodo’s growing weakness his judgement becomes clouded and he begins to look to Gollum for advice.  Unfortunately, that advice may lead him to his death.

Aragorn, Gandalf and the riders of Rohan are relieved from the victory at Helms Deep, but weary.  When talk of aiding Gondor in an attack from the Orc’s of Mordor approaches it is quickly shunned by Theoden who feels slighted they weren’t supported by their allies sooner.  Gandalf decides to ride to Minas Tirith and try and persuade Denethor to set up defenses.  He takes Pippin with him, and for the first time he and Merry are separated in our story.

With Gandalf away Aragorn and Theoden begin preparations to aid Gondor, and begins recruitting all the solider’s he can.  Aragorn sees they are not enough.  Even 10,000 of them is not enough, and he begins to ask himself where else he could recruit soldiers.  It becomes clear, if he is to return to his city as King, then he must walk the path of the dead force them to fulfill their oath and aid him in battle.

Success looks impossible for everyone, and when the final battle is upon them mere survival doesn’t seem possible.  The End is hopelessly near.

Review

This final installment of the trilogy is incredibly powerful, and really evokes a compass of emotions.  There is fear, hope, love, and desperation.  Almost seven hours of story telling has brought the viewer to this point and Return Of The King does not let you down.  It has all of the elements of both The Fellowship and The Two Towers.  There is amazing character development and plot twists, but there is also one of the most overwhelming battles scenes ever onscreen. 

Weta not only needed to construct a massive attack with tens of thousands of Orc’s attacking Minas Tirith, but they also had to make the White City itself, which was an enormous undergoing.  With special effects including giant Olyphants, a towering city, the giant spider Shelob, Barad-Dur, Mount Doom, The Witch King, 10,000 Rohirrim, and a ghost army, Return Of The King was a special effects dynasty.

The friendship of Frodo and Sam is really challenged in this addition, and the realistic horror of each feeling betrayed by the other is heart wrenching.  The fear behind the deception Gollum has created really escalates, leaving the two Hobbit’s seemingly vulnerable. 

The emptiness of hopelessness is grasped so clearly in this film that it evokes real emotions.  The battle of Minas Tirith is painful and awful to watch.  It has amazing action sequences, but there are so many cuts to the actual demise of the city, and it’s people, despair is a greater emotion conveyed than the excitement of a great battle scene.  When the Rohirrim show up and the light of the sun is behind them, facing overwhelming odds, yet giving that brief feel of hope, I choke up each time I watch it.  It is one of the most powerful moments in cinema history.  That one moment captures the entire essence of the entire story and brings it to a crashing pause of reflection, fear, and hope.

Howard Shore’s score is elegant and powerful.  It really emotes the tone of the film, and makes it’s symmetry even more supreme.  It’s beauty is just as important as each of our character’s and tells it’s own story without words being said.

Cast

Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee
Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn Son Of Arathorn
Ian McKellen as Gandalf/Mithrandir
Sean Bean as Borimir
Orlando Bloom as Legolas
Ian Holm as Bilbo Baggins
Christopher Lee as Saruman
Billy Boyd as Pippin
Dominic Monaghan as Merry
Bernard Hill as King Theoden
Miranda Otts as Eowyn
Brad Dourif as Grima Wormtongue
Bruce Hopkins as Gamling 
Craig Parker as Haldir
Cate Blanchett as Galadriel
John Rhys-Davies as Gimili/Treebeard
Andy Serkis as Gollum/Smeagal
Karl Urban as Eomer
David Wenham as Faramir
John Noble as Denethor 
Liv Tyler as Arwen 
Hugo Weaving as Elrond
Marton Csokas as Celeborn

The cast was phenomenal once again.  In this addition it was really the interaction between Frodo and Sam that stood out.  Both actors really sold their special relationship and the torment of the task before them.  Jokes are made about the closeness of the two, but in honesty it was perfection in chemistry and really owning their character’s.  Ian McKellan as Gandalf was just amazing.  In each film Gandalf seems to get even grumpier, but his true evolvement is very subtle, but the change there.  Only at the Grey Haven’s do you see the light and soft eyes of Gandalf the Grey that we saw in his first scene in the Shire.  It was a fantastic character adaptation, and he was very much the Gandalf I had always pictured as a child.

Ratings and Suggestions

This trilogy is some of the most amazing film making ever in the history of cinema.  A frequent question is what the best of the three is, but in truth there really isn’t one.  Each are unique to the part of the story they told, and each are portions of the journey.  The Beginning, the Middle, and the End.   Return of the King was perfect closure to the Epic tale it began nearly ten hours before, and paid Tolkien the greatest respect by making this film the way it was interpreted by Jackson, Boyens, and Walsh.  They were not just writers, they were the greatest of fans visually realizing one of the greatest stories ever told.  As Gandalf said, 

 So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide.  All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. 

Return of the King is perfection.  Four out of Four Stars.  FRODO LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated PG-13 for epic battle sequences and scary images.

179 min Theatrical / 223 min Extended Edition

He wants the precious. Always he is looking for it. And the precious is wanting to go back to him… But we mustn’t let him have it. -Gollum

Synopsis

The Two Towers picks up right where The Fellowship left off; Gandalf and Boromir having died, Merry and Pippin taken by the Urk-hai with Aragorn, Gimili, and Legolas in pursuit, and with Frodo and Sam making their way to the darkness of Mordor together.  Where the previous film had a continuity that followed Frodo and the Ring, this film splits into three tales with some new additions to the cast.  Frodo and Sam are being pursued by a vile creature that is known only as Gollum.  He was once the keeper of the Ring until Bilbo won it from him years ago.  Though Gollum had lost the Ring he still had a connection to it and had been following the Fellowship since they entered Moria.  Now, with the two Hobbits alone, he has his chance to take it back. 

Merry and Pippin escape when a bounty of Rohirrim riders attack their captors, the Urk-hai and Orcs. In a desperate attempt to flee, they slip into Fangorn forrest, only to meet a strange creature that goes by the name of Treebeard.  He is an Ent, a tree that thinks, breathes, and speaks.  He vows to take care of Merry and Pippin who are attempting to pursuade Treebeard and the other Ents to join the war and help save their friends, but Treebeard’s timeline is a little less pressing than the two Hobbits.

In pursuit of the two other Hobbits, the trio of Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimili run into their own adventure.  Gandalf is alive and resurrected into an even greater yet colder Wizard.  He is now Gandalf the White.  He leads the trio to the Gap of Rohan and the great city of Edoras, where King Theoden has been under the spell and influence of Saruman and the traitor Grima Wormtongue.  Gandalf knows Saruman is ready to launch an attack on Edoras and all the people of Rohan.  Gandalf releases King Theoden from his spell and the people of Rohan flee to Helms Deep to face a battle that is overwhelming in the favor of the enemy.  It may be the end for mankind.

Review

The Two Towers has a very different feel to it than the Fellowship which focused around developing character’s, relationships, and plotlines.  The Two Towers was essentially the action climax that never fully happened in the Fellowship.  With new character’s entering our already complicated story and with the plot diverting into three different directions it seems like a lot to digest, but it moves so quickly the viewer moves on to the next event without having time to reflect on what happened.  When the film ends it feels like half the length of it’s predecessor, yet it is the same length.  This middle portion of the epic tale is more entertainment based than story or plot building which felt necessary after the Fellowship.

This film is just as extraordinary to look at as the first, but on a much larger scale.  Enormous landscapes and battle sequences take this movie to the next level of special effects and visuals.  While the art is still inspired by Alan Lee’s work, there is an added vastness to this films physical boundries.  With the character’s spred all across Middle Earth this film feels much larger and much more hopeless.

The battle of Helm’s Deep is one of the most intense and technically challenging battle scenes ever on film.  The degree of emotoinal points countered with some of the most hardcore action sequences to date makes this forty-five minute battle go by quickly, but at the same time tortuously slow.  The time it takes for Dawn to come and the circumstances it takes to get there is entirely authentic.  By the time this film is over a feeling of complete mental exhaustion will sesttle over you.

Cast

• Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
• Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee
• Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn Son Of Arathorn
• Ian McKellen as Gandalf/Mithrandir
• Sean Bean as Borimir
• Orlando Bloom as Legolas
• Ian Holm as Bilbo Baggins
• Christopher Lee as Saruman
• Billy Boyd as Pippin
• Dominic Monaghan as Merry
• Bernard Hill as King Theoden
• Miranda Otts as Eowyn
• Brad Dourif as Grima Wormtongue
• Bruce Hopkins as Gamling 
• Craig Parker as Haldir
• Cate Blanchett as Galadriel
• John Rhys-Davies as Gimili/Treebeard
• Andy Serkis as Gollum/Smeagal
• Karl Urban as Eomer
• David Wenham as Faramir
• John Noble as Denethor 
• Liv Tyler as Arwen 
• Hugo Weaving as Elrond
• Marton Csokas as Celeborn

The additional character’s in this story really shook things up.  Miranda Otts as Eowyn creating the conflict of interest with Aragorn and Arwen was a beautiful personal conflict.  It really makes her interact with the rest of the cast, and while you may be screaming “homewrecker” at her, who could deny her affection for Aragorn?  Any woman in their right mind would, and that makes her role even more realistic besides the fact that she played it brilliantly.  Bernard Hill as King Theoden is one of my favorite fictional character’s ever.  The tortured and conflicted, yet strong man was interpreted so well by Hill.  He was not just a pawn in the story, but one of the most astounding performances ever.  His subtle way of exploiting his own self doubt and inner conflict without detracting from the story is pure genuis in the acting category.  Also along for the ride was the most amazing CGI character ever evolved: Gollum/Smeagal.  Never before has a computer generated character come across the screen as so three dimensional.  There is never a moment where you ask yourself if Gollum is CGI because he is so realistic.  Played by Andy Serkis, this interpretation of a character that is so twisted and demented would be difficult to pull off by your most talented actor, and yet combined with technology and the amazing voice over and physicality of Andy Serkis; Gollum becomes one of the greatest good/evil character’s of all time.

Ratings and Suggestions

By the end of this film you are either completely hooked and enthralled by this trilogy or you plain and simply can’t stand it.  It’s also rated PG-13 though is a bit more violent and even it’s implications more absolute than the Fellowship.  In each Lord Of The Rings movie you will get at least one hardcore decapitation from Aragorn.  Peter Jackson must have just liked the idea of Viggo offing with peoples heads.  By this time these character’s are no longer just entertaining vessels telling a story onscreen, they are in your heart and mind and you really care about what happens to all of them, which is what makes Return Of The King so powerful.  Our heroes have in one way or another touched us in some very real or profound way, and that is the essence of an amazing story.  The Two Towers was the deciding factor and the result was my heart stolen by one of the greatest stories ever told.  Four out of Four stars.

Rated PG-13 for epic battle sequences and some scary images.

Regular Edition 178 Minutes/ 208 Minutes for Special Edition

In the common tongue it reads “One Ring to Rule Them All. One Ring to Find Them. One Ring to Bring Them All and In The Darkness Bind Them.”  -Gandalf

Synopsis

In the large world of Middle Earth where Man, Elf, and many other races all walk together, exists a small quiet place called, ‘The Shire”.  In the Shire lives a race of halflings called, “Hobbits”.  Hobbits are a simple race that has gone unnoticed in the vastness of Middle Earth.  They spend their days eating, drinking ale, smoking pipe weed, but mostly enjoying the pleasures of growing things from the earth.  Frodo Baggins, the nephew of Bilbo Baggins has been waiting for the arrival of his Uncles friend Gandalf, a Wizard.  Most hobbits like things to be quiet and outsiders to stay out, and over the years Bilbo’s curiosity of the outside world along with his stories of battling dragons and trolls have been deemed as quite the nuisance.  Upon Gandalf’s arrival to celebrate Bilbo’s 111th birthday they discuss the plans of him leaving “The Shire” and his home Bag End to Frodo.  When Bilbo sees everyone off he disappears and Gandalf discovers from the magic power of a Ring.  Knowing the implications of what it may or may not be, he implores Bilbo to leave it for Frodo, who accepts the Ring, Bag End, and all that was Bilbo’s.  It becomes apparent it is not a Ring of any simple devilry, it is the One Ring.  Years and years before there was a dark war between good and evil.  Good prevailed destroying the dark lord Sauron, but the Ring remained in the hands of a man.  The Ring is treacherous and dark and taints all it touches, and until it’s destroyed Sauron’s spirit can return and try to destroy Middle Earth and the race of Man once again.  It is left to Frodo to leave the Shire and take the Ring to the only place that it can be destroyed: Mount Doom.  The path is treacherous but he won’t be going alone.  His is joined by eight others and together they become the Fellowship and take on a journey of darkness and constant impending doom.

Review

I must preface this portion by mentioning that I have not viewed the theatrical versions of any of the trilogy’s since essentially they were released in theatre.  The extended versions of The Fellowship and Return of the King are superior to their original cuts, and while The Two Towers is more suspenseful with the theatrical cut, the extras added in for the Extended Addition are too enjoyable to view cut out. 

At first viewing of the Fellowship I had not read J.R.R. Tolkiens acclaimed novel, The Lord Of The Rings.  In fact I had such disdain for Viggo Mortensen and Liv Tyler that I refused to watch the film.  My then boyfriend, now husband, insisted we do a theatre showing of it and he won.  Words have little description and do little justice for the shock I was in leaving the theatre.  Not only did I fall madly in love with Viggo and adore Liv Tyler as Arwen, but I was shocked by how amazing the film and the story itself were.

It’s length is considerable but it doesn’t seem that way when you are viewing it.  In fact, the time flies.  Each portion of the story is developed so fully to appeal to the visual enhancement, to let the actors speak the tongue of Tolkien himself, to enjoy the score of Howard Shore playing in the back round, and gives each of them time to construct the relationships around them naturally.  It’s done in a way that entertains on so many fronts, you can’t help but be swept away by the tale.

The CGI done by The Weta team is absolutely astounding.  Various miniatures and even life size sets were created for a real authentic feel for the sets, but the work done by the computer graphics were simply magnificent. The visuals based on the art of Alan Lee made the feel of Middle Earth magnanimous in it’s scale.  It’s difficult not to just watch and appreciate how amazing it all actually is.

Cast

• Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
• Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee
• Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn Son Of Arathorn
• Ian McKellen as Gandalf/Mithrandir
• Sean Bean as Borimir
• Orlando Bloom as Legolas
• Ian Holm as Bilbo Baggins
• Christopher Lee as Saruman
• Billy Boyd as Pippin
• Dominic Monaghan as Merry
• Craig Parker as Haldir
• Cate Blanchett as Galadriel
• John Rhys-Davies as Gimili
• Liv Tyler as Arwen 
• Hugo Weaving as Elrond
• Marton Csokas as Celeborn

The Fellowship Of The Ring is the very definition of an ensemble cast.  The supporting cast were just as important as the main cast and each worked to together to tell the story.  No special heroes were singled out and no performance really out-shined another.  Everyone played their roles as authentically as they were written, and that made this movie that much more special.  Viggo Mortensen in particular won me over with his reluctant bravado and obvious underscoring of his prowess.  He undoubtedly was strong as Aragorn, but humble as well, and his excellence in playing that contrast made me truly appreciate his acting ability enough for me to even become a “fan” of his.

Ratings and Suggestions

This review is nearly the length of the film but it would be doing a great injustice to ignore all the acknowledgements I’ve made.  The screenplay adapted by Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson himself, was done with such care for the original work of Tolkien and such great lengths were met to keep the integrity of the character’s and their journeys that this is without a doubt some of the best literature translated to the big screen ever.  Every aspect of this story was done with the admiration of a true fan and the brilliance of an amazing filmmaker.  The Fellowship of the Ring is what going to the movies is all about.  It’s rated PG-13 because of violence, but it’s all fantasy violence, though graphic nonetheless.  This is a movie everyone should see, and the best part is it’s only the beginning of the journey.  Four out of Four Stars.

La cinta está dirigida por Joe Johnston, director de películas como 'Océanos de Fuego', 'Parque Jurásico III' u 'October Sky'. En el reparto del film además de Benicio del Toro y Hugo Weaving podemos encontrar a Anthony Hopkins y Emily Blunt.

Su estreno se espera para abril del 2009... ha esperar se ha dicho.

Fdo: Kitano

The Nashville Film Festival is coming up pretty soon. It will take place April 17-24. I'm planning on attending it for a few days during the weekend. I wish I could be there for more, but my class schedule doesn't agree with this train of thought. Online tickets go on sale this Tuesday, so I've been perusing the offerings the many offerings this year.

The opening film, The Deal, sounds like it could be really good. It stars William H. Macy, Meg Ryan, and Elliott Gould. I'm also interested in the "State of the Critic" panel on Friday, which addresses the influence of (ahem) bloggers and what it means to be a film critic today.

Also on Friday is an intriguing film called American Teen, which apparently is a documentary that follows four senior students at a high school in Indiana.

We've also got Werner Herzog's latest documentary entitled Encounters at the End of the World, which is centered on Antarctica. It's Herzog; count me in.

Depending on when I leave the festival, Sunday has an interesting bag to choose from

Alexandria, directed by Aleksandr Sokurov (Russian Ark)
In the City of Sylvia, which sounds more like a short film than a feature-length one
In the Company of Actors; a behind the scenes look at theater and acting. Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving star; can you get better people to listen to?

Is anyone else going to be there?

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1/Part 2, and The Hobbit. ( NOTE: The Chronicles of Narnia, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Stardust and The Golden Compass are also "special" to me they just are not on the same level)

I have been patiently awaiting these movies even before they were EVER set to be made. As soon as I saw the first LOTR movie I said "They better make the Hobbit". As soon as I saw the first Harry Potter movie I was hooked and have been following it ever since.

I have so much hope and excitement stored for these movies. I cannot believe I still have until November for HP Yr 6, Until the end of 2010 for The Hobbit and HP yr 7 part 1, and then the beginning of 2011 for HP Yr 7 part 2..... OMG so much can happen in that amount of time. I HATE being left to sit and wonder and wait. I really hope some trailers come out soon. I would even be fine with a teaser trailer right about now. I am so worked up about seeing these movies that I even went to youtube and watched the Fan made trailers...UGH!

I do not know about any of the rest of you but sometimes movies take over my heart and soul and I find no peace until I get closure (by getting to watch the movie). It ends up starting all over again though after I watch the movie in the theater until I get to buy it on DVD. Speaking of DVDs, they better release my "special" ones on Blu-ray!

The Wolf Man del director Joe Johnston nos muestra por primera vez los dientes. Esta cinta, a estrenarse en Estados Unidos el 13 de Febrero de 2009, cuenta la historia de Lawrence Talbot (Benicio Del Toro) quien al regresar a su tierra natal es mordido por un lobo, sucumibiendo a la terrible maldición ancestral que lo convertirá en un hombre lobo. Escrita originalmente por Andrew Kevin Walker y revisada por David Self, The Wolf Man cuenta con un reducido, pero impresionante repertorio de actores entre los que destacan Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt y Hugo Weaving. Las dos fotos de The Wolf Man las pueden ver a continuación.

And yes it's time for one of my personal favourites of the queer cinema. Stephan Elliot’s The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert appeared in cinemas and caught anyone by surprise. Probably nobody expected it…

Anthony/Mitzi and Adam/Felicia, two drag-queens, along with the transsexual Bernadette contract to perform a drag show at a resort in Alice Springs, a resort town in the remote Australian desert. They board on their shiny lavender bus, Priscilla, and they head at the other side of the country. En route, it is discovered that the woman they've contracted with is Anthony's wife, and among their stops they meet Bob, who fixes their broken and joins them…

Priscilla was a big surprise, collected awards (even an Oscar for Costume Design) and was an international box office hit, something that rarely happens with Australian movies lately. First shock has to be the cast. The hard mucho Terence Stamp (probably the younger ones would not know him, but he has been the nightmarish The Collector, up to Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Teorem, and todays Superman’s alien Father in Tv’s Smallville) portraying so tenderly the ageing Bernadette, was probably the ace under Elliot’s sleeve. Then you have Hugo Weaving as Anthony/Mimzy some years before personifying two cinema characters Matrix’s Mr.Smith beating endlessly Keanu Reeves and Lord of The Rings' elf king Elrond. And of course you have the cute Guy Pearce a little time before you discover him in L.A. Confidential and Memento, playing at the edge Adam/Felicia the gayest of three.

And I have to admit that Guy here proves how sexy he can be, dancing have naked and so eleganlty. I do believe he is one of the most intresting actors, I have to post something on him...

All three of them managed to go through their demanding roles, avoiding sterotypes, never giving you the feeling that they were making fun of their characters. On the contrary thanx to Elliot’s great screenplay they manage to offer three of the most amazing and well built gay characters of cinema. You can always see The Wong Foo Thanks For Everything Julie Newmar the Americanized version of the film, and see how stereotypes can ruin a great idea, and when actors are actually afraid of their roles so they head towards slapstick.

I loved the movie because of its courage to show the kitschiness of a drag show, the colours, the costumes, the songs, the attitude. At no point tries to calm things down in order to be accepted by the audience. The three actors really dive into the shows, the dance routines, the lip-synch and present us with one of the greatest drug shows you will ever see (though the speed of the costume change can only be succeed through editing).

Watch this scene to find out where some eurovision songs get presantation ideas, Sylvia Night for example

Cece Penston - Finally (7" Choice Mix)

But even when the lights go out, the costumes are packed and the three of them are left to talk, true emotions rise, themes of love, dreams, inner fears are revealed and you can clearly follow the characters. Yes the plot is in the usual idea of a self discovering road-movie, but rarely do you see such a lively, colourful and musical road trip. True till the end rises up beyond what you would expect from a road trip with three drug queens. A film that succeed in every part, great cinematography with the desert landscape offering great photo stills, costumes, make-up, performances, originality in screenplay, a soundtrack full of disco tunes and gay anthems, that no matter how much you may hate them, here are presented in a great way.

Unmissable, you have to see it and you can always catch it up with friends. One of the stand out’s of queer cinema that even your straight friends or parents will appreciate. They discovered themselves and you 'll have a great time. i am not goin gto add anymore clips because it will just ruin the movie for anyone who hasn't seen it. Unfortunatelly the writer/director after this movie has been destroyed by the Hollywood system and according to his saying:

"Priscilla was the only time I've ever had final cut on a film and I wanted that again. This project was really important to me. When I took the project through the studio system, I could tell that I'd lose control if I went down that road"

Consider the 2007 blockbuster Transformers. Stephen King isn't friends with anybody who worked on it, and for good reason. That stinker was so bad he walked out on it!

Well, Transformers did have some cool Decepticons. The helicopter, Blackout, was creepy! The scorpion, Scorponok, was awesome! The police car named Barricade was way scary! And Bonecrusher was wicked cool, chasing the Autobots on the freeway like that!

Also, the Autobots themselves had loads of personality. Bumblebee was amusing, playing matchmaker for the boy and girl characters. And Ironhide was funny, how he got annoyed with the boy's parents and wanted permission to destroy them.

There's also some heavy drama. Poor Jazz! I won't say what happened to him, except that he will be missed.

Even after they saved the world, the Transformers leave us many hints of a possible sequel. According to the Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots--

Wait, wasn't I talking about Jumper? I suppose there is so much to love about Jumper that Stephen King and I simply don't know where to begin. There's Samuel L. Jackson. And then there's the teleportation power that prevents him from getting his hands on Hayden Christensen, who does an excellent job of playing hard-to-get.

Other than that, Steve and I are speechless.

Want more science fiction? Check out Sean Connery in:

Outland
Sean Connery in space!