"One Day"

July 15, 1988.  After a meet cute on the night of their college graduation, Emma and Dexter begin a lifelong friendship, spanning over two decades and different countries.

Emma (Anne Hathaway) is a middle-class bookish with a more realistic and at times pessimistic outlook on life.  Dexter (Jim Sturgess) is a charmer from a wealthy family who could be anything he wants to be.  Every July 15 we're shown snapshots of their lives - aspiration, career, love, loss, divorce, death - together and apart.

Hathaway fits the role of Emma, although it takes getting used to her British accent.  While we get to see Dexter's side with his family, we do not get the same benefit with Emma.  With booze and drugs and women, the character of Dexter isn't likeable; it is to Sturgess' fine performance and boyish charm that he's very much tolerable.  While Emma's fashion sense and inner confidence blossom, it's actually Dexter that we see the evolution the most. The weary, older Dexter in the later part of 2000s is a world apart from the fresh-faced, eager Dex when he first appears.

There are adorable and tear-jerker moments for sure.  The first July 15 carries great promise of what's to come.  Although when part of the ending reveals the last half of their first day together, it's hard to believe that they would decide to remain just friends.  The flirtatious French jaunt earlier in the years is fun and the later reunion an emotional one. 

Based on a novel written by David Nicholls, the story does not translate well onto the screen.  As the years progress, we see changes in Emma and Dexter and their surroundings, but it feels like the scenes are merely events moving along through the motion. In attempt to fit in as many years as possible, the result is almost like being read narratives about what they do.  Instead of delving deeper into certain segments of their lives, investing in the characters and connecting more with their relationships in the process, the film inexplicably leaves pivotal milestones offscreen. 

The execution makes it nearly devoid of what makes a story interesting; the build-up, character and relationship development, and payoff.  The last third act leading to the ending is very anti-climatic.  And the ending appears to be out of nowhere, aiming for a shock value.  It's a shame for a story that has so much potentials to be a classic like "The Notebook."

"One Day" has a unique twist in telling an epic love story.  Unfortunately, the intrigue stops short with the concept. 

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/one-day-movie-review/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/3qw5ve8
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/3cx4ld2

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Note: "One Day"

"One Day" review is now up on http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/one-day-movie-review/  It will be posted on the blog at a later time.

 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/the_moviemaven/

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"Another Earth"

What if there were another ‘you?’  Wouldn’t you wonder whether this other you made the same choices as you did?  What would you learn and say if you could stand outside of yourself and meet you?  This is “Another Earth,” which made a splash at Sundance.

In “Another Earth,” not only that another planet is discovered from behind the sun, but literally another Earth, a mirror of ours.  And the inhabitants are not simply living and breathing things, but they are us.

Rhoda Williams (Brit Marling) is a promising astrophysics student who has just been accepted by MIT.  In the evening of celebration, she parties and drinks too much.  On the road, while looking out the window and staring up to the identical Earth in the sky, she crashes her car into a minivan.  The crash leaves John Burroughs (William Mapother),  a Yale music professor, in a coma and kills his wife and toddler son.

Four years later, instead of graduating from college, Rhoda is released from behind bars.  She punishes herself and withdraws from the world.  She takes a job as a high school janitor.  That sole survivor, John, is now a shell of his former self.  After finding out that this gifted composer spends his days sleeping in, drinking and on medication, and lives in an unkempt home, Rhoda commits in doing the unimaginable.  The attempted suicide in the snow is a striking scene. 

Rhoda weaves herself into John’s life in a desperate bid to help him.  Her attempts to apologize fall through.  Through her cleaning service and companionship, she and John eventually bond – without John knowing about her true identity.  Her record is sealed since she’s a minor at the time of her conviction. 

When a company offers a writing contest for a space travel to ‘Earth 2′ (as it’s called b by our Earth), Rhoda sends her essay and wins a ticket.  She’s willing to venture out to the unknown universe for another chance, even though it’s not clear what kind of chance that is – perhaps changing the past, making a different decision, or a new beginning.  There’s a theory that when each Earth is aware of the existence of another, the synchronicity would be broken and a new reality is formed.

“Another Earth” is a character-centered drama about anguish, guilt, grief, repetance and redemption – with  science fiction as a backdrop.  Throughout there’s a dreaded sense as the story moves along toward Rhoda’s eventual reveal to John.  Marling is a darling here.  She’s a natural with her soulful expressions.  Somehow she succeeds in making you symphatize with her character.

“Another Earth” is quietly moody and haunting, with pensive looks, singular sounds and long walks.  The photography is uneven between amateurish and arresting.  I had to do a double take on the ending, as it could be interpreted in different ways.  It’s a letdown initially, but it grows on me.  Still, my curiosity nature would have liked to learn more about Earth 2. 

The premise is incredibly intriguing that it’s hard to live up to its potentials. There are so many ways to craft and execute a story out of it.  Personally, I hope that another filmmaker would run with the concept and do another take. 

If you’re looking for a pure science fiction or action, you won’t find it here.  But if you’re looking to ponder about possibilities, this is one of those films that will make you think. 

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/another-earth-movie-review/
DVD: http://tinyurl.com/3wlvz86

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"Rise of the Planet of the Apes"

[Note: "Another Earth" review is up next]

Initially I had no intention of seeing it, but I became a believer during the Comic-Con panel presentation of the ape flick.  To say that Caesar (the lead CGI ape) is a real character is an understatement.  Amazingly human.  Hair-raising good.  HOLY APESOME!

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/3fqndbs
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/3ks7uo7

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Just For Fun: 100 Movie Lines in 200 Seconds

Check out a cool clip from YouTube - 100 movie lines in 200 seconds (all kinds of genres):

 

 

 

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Upcoming Movies: August 2011

August 5

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (http://www.apeswillrise.com/) - In present day San Francisco, a scientist looks for a cure for Alzheimer's disease by experimenting on a chimpanzee named Caesar. The development of animal intelligence brings about a war for supremacy between humans and apes.

August 12

"Final Destination 5" (http://finaldestinationmovie.warnerbros.com/index.html) - Teen survivors of a suspension-bridge collapse soon begin to fear that there's no way you can cheat Death.

August 19

"One Day" (http://focusfeatures.com/one_day) - Emma meets Dexter on their night of their college graduation: July 15th, 1989. And for the next two decades, every July 15th reveals how the two are faring in life and love.

"Fright Night" (http://www.welcometofrightnight.com/) - A teenager guesses that his new neighbor is a vampire responsible for a string of recent deaths. When no one he knows believes him, he enlists the opportunistic host of his favorite TV show, to help him take down his neighbor and his guardian.

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"Cowboys & Aliens"

A lot better than I thought it would be.  I had my doubt before deciding to go for it.  Honestly, the concept is just too hokey on paper.  Westerns and aliens don't mix.  But I remembered the enthused reception at the 2010 Comic-Con.  Although how could it not be?  "James Bond" and "Indiana Jones" sharing the same stage?  And with Jon Favreau (director of "Iron Man") at the helm, how bad could it be? 

Favreau did it right by making it straight-laced.  Any funny bits come out naturally without the goofiness. However, it lacks characters that we could care about.  It has pacing and cohesion issues.  And some things are either not explained or contradict the previous explanation.  If you're in an 'unsure' camp, it would just depend on your expectations. The flick is flat overall, but even with the weird mashup of the wild west, Indians and aliens, and such issues, this sci-fi western does offer some action, suspense, adventure and humor of a summer blockbuster.

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/3lk26jg
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/3wyrsgc

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"Captain America: The First Avenger"

Red, white and blue.  Marvel makes its patriotic entry as the last superhero flick this summer.

There is nothing more that scrawny, sickly Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) would like to do than serving his country on the front lines in WWII.  Time and time again he applied to join the army and was rejected every time.  A chance encounter with a German scientist, Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) at a recruitment center, affords him the opportunity.  Dr. Erskine witnesses a glimpse of Steve's goodness in his interaction with his good buddy, 'Bucky' Barnes (Sebastian Stan), who's readying for deployment. 

Upon acceptance, Steve experiences the rigors of bootcamp. As expected, he falls behind due the physical nature of the exercises. However, he surprisingly excels in a couple of tests involving a flag and a grenade.  These are the shining examples that showcase his smarts, brave and noble nature. 

Dr. Erskine could see that Steve needs a purpose in his life.  Having been a weakling, he would value strength and has compassion if transformed into something greater.  Steve agrees to participate in a top secret government program where he's injected by an experimental serum, turning him into a super soldier.

While the new Steve doesn't have a unique superhero power, because he's inherently good, he turns into the very best version of a human can naturally be.  While the government had hoped for an army of superhumans, Dr. Erskine was shot and Steve Rogers is all they have.  Steve's pursuit of the shooter on the streets displays the wonders of the strength, speed, agility, durability and healing capacity of a superhuman.

On the other side, if the same super serum were to be given to the wrong character, it would end disastrously.  Earlier Dr. Erskine was forced to give the serum to Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving), who runs the deep science division of the Nazi.  With evil, world domination intentions, it deforms Johann's face and turns him into Red Skull.  Red Skull is aided by an inventor, Arnim Zola (Toby Jones).  Arnim develops advanced weapons for Hydra.  When Red Skull discovers and harnesses the power of cosmic cube, its blue energy source allows Hydra's weapons to disintegrate targets instantly. 

We're also introduced to Peggy Carter, an American agent with military training (Hayley Atwell), and Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper).  Both are instrumental characters in Steve's life.  It's refreshing to see a love interest who's an equal partner and strong in her own rights.  If the name Howard Stark sounds familiar, it's because he's the father of Tony Stark (a.k.a. Iron Man) and founder of Stark Industries.  It's easy to see how Tony Stark gets his brilliance and charm. 

The army colonel, Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones), doesn't initially allow Steve to be in a soldiering capacity.  Steve ends up being a stage performer.  Along with singers and dancers, he performs on stage to inspire the patriotic spirit all across the country.  "Captain America," complete with its costume, was born.  I liked that they explain how the Cap's costume comes about. 

Discouraging news about his buddy on the warfront propels Steve to embark on a rescue mission.  It is then he becomes Captain America for real.  After a successful rescue, he leads the next mission to storm Hydra's base and abolish his armed forces.  Cap is equipped with an indestructible shield made out of "vibranium," weighing a third less than steel, and can absorb vibration and energy.  There's a very cool scene where  soldiers zip-line to a speeding locomotive in a snowy mountain range.  With Red Skull escaping to the air, Steve latches on and struggles for control of the stealth-winged plane.  In the end, Steve makes an honorable choice and becomes the ultimate patriot. 

"Captain America: The First Avenger" has a retro-futuristic look.  WWII  and flag-waving public keep the story squarely rooted in reality, but the fantasy element keeps it interesting.  Unfortunately, Evans is frankly as bland as he was in "Fantastic Four" and Weaving is just not as chilling as he should be.  Overall, it's a pretty solid effort for a straightforward story.  I'd rank this third - considerably below "X-Men: First Class,"  underneath "Thor," but above "Green Lantern."

"Captain America: The First Avenger" is the last flick leading into next summer's "The Avengers."  I found the last scene, set in modern Manhattan, most curious.  Once again, sit through the credit and catch a sneak peek of the most ambitious superhero movie ever made.  "The Avengers" premiers on May 4, 2012.

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/movie-review-captain-america-the-first-avenger/ 

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/3bgaj3p
DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/423cyt4

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Comic-Con 2011: Feature Film Highlights

Preview night: http://sdmoviemaven.blogspot.com/2011/07/comic-con-2011-as-seen-on-exhibition.html

Last year I had a blast watching previews and panels attended by stars such as Angelina Jolie, Bruce Willis, Sylverster Stallone, Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Jeff Bridges, Brandon Routh, Milla Jovovich, Robert Downey Jr., Samuel Jackson, Natalie Portman, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, and many more.

This year, with Marvel, Warner Bros and Disney pulling out, there was still plenty to see.  On the movies side, Sony, Paramount, Universal, Fox – just to name a few – came in with big panels, big crews and big stars.  I spared a little bit of time watching the more intriguing this fall season’s TV pilots, “Alcatraz” (Jeffrey Pierce, Sarah Jones) and “Person of Interest” (James Caviezel, Michael Emerson), existing show “Nikita” (Maggie Q, Shane West, Lyndsy Fonseca), and roamed the exhibition floors for authentic props and goodies.  But for the most part I remained faithful to Hall H (Hall “Hysteria,” as I’d dub it) at the expense of other press events.  First and foremost, I’m an avid movie fan.

***

There’s nothing like being there in person and being a part of the pandemonium.  While it’s not feasible to include every panel and every detail and nuance, here are the highlights of some of the feature film panels: (grouped by the order of the appearance and studio)

DAY 1

“Don’t be Afraid of the Dark” and “Drive” -  Jointly attended by Guillermo del Toro, Nicolas Winding Refn, Guy Pearce, Carey Mulligan, Ron Perlman.  Both footages were freaky, in different ways.  Mulligan spoke of her admiration for Ryan Gosling (co-star, “Drive”), who learned everything about cars and built one himself for to be in the role of a troubled stunt driver.  A standout was a single scene where Gosling’s character goes from being lovey-dopey with Mulligan’s on screen to brutally crushes someone’s skull in an elevator in an instant.

“Prometheus,” In Time,” “The Rise of the Planet of the Apes:”

“Prometheus” – Charlize Theron flew in from Iceland for the Q&A.  She made a striking entrance and said in jest that the director, Ridley Scott, should have been there in person; after all, it only took seven flights and one chopper.  Scott, who was still filming, later connected via satellite and addressed inquiries about the space alien thriller and 3D technology.

“In Time” – A futuristic thriller and the one I’m most intrigued about.  In the late 21st century, time has replaced money for currency.  Aging stops at the age of 25 and you would only have one year to live.  If you don’t replace your clock, you die. After a Q&A with its director-writer, Andrew Niccol,  Justin Timberlake took on the questions most times, with Amanda Seyfried standing by his side. Timberlake admitted that he still carried idiosyncracies from the film.  Olivia Wilde, Alex Pettyfer, Cillian Murphy also star in the movie.

“The Rise of the Planet of the Apes” – The lengthy trailer of hair-raising sequences of chaos was broken up into three acts.  The trailer also showed Andy Serkins (“Lord of the Rings”), shooting scenes with the performance-capture technology, translating his every movement and expression into the ape.  Serkins was on hand for the Q&A.

***

DAY 2

“The Adventures of Tin-Tin: The Secret of the Unicorn” – Legendary director Steven Spielberg, arguably the most recognizable filmmaker in the world, made the long-awaited trek to Comic-Con and greeted with a standing ovation.  The panel opened with montages of the most beloved classics; “Jaws,” “Indiana Jones,” E.T.,” “Jurassic Park.”  Another visionary director and his collaborator, Peter Jackson (“Lord of the Rings,” “King Kong,” “The Hobbit”), made a surprised appearance, to the delight of fans.

Spielberg described “Tin-Tin” as a dense detective, murder mystery story.  If Tin-Tin’s early footage was any indicator, we’d be in for an awesome adventure at the high seas.  The animators working on the movie are the same ones who did “Avatar.”   Spielberg divulged that his most favorite movie to direct was “E.T,” and produced, “Back to the Future.”  He provided  a scoop that “Jurassic 4″ already had a script, and it should come to fruition in 2-3 years.  One lucky fan, wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words of hoping to meet and handshake with Spielberg, was brought on to the stage.  Jackson hilariously embraced the role of photographer and took the fan’s picture with Spielberg.

“Haywire” – Attended by director Steven Soderbergh, Gina Carano, Channing Tatum.  It looked like a very cool, double-crossed black ops solider, spy movie.  The sneak preview showed Carano in a close-up, continuous scene of an incredible hand-to-hand combat with Michael Fassbender.  Soderberg wanted to cast an actress who could do real fights.  Michael Douglas and Ewan McGregor also star in the movie.

“Underworld 4″ – Director Len Wiseman was accompanied Kate Beckinsale and Michael Ealy.  The sleek trailer, featuring leather-clad Beckinsale in slashing action, looked more modern than the previous installments.  The stunning Beckinsale elicited adoring comments from fans.  Wiseman was open to make more sequels of the popular vampire-werewolf flick.

“Fright Night” – Attended by director Craig Gillespie, screenwriter Marti Noxon, Collin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, Christopher-Mint Passe.  The panel opened with a humorous caution that this was a bloody-gory vampire tale, not your average teenage vampire (a.k.a. “Twilight”).  The freaky footage had the combination of horror and humor.  It had the it’s-so-bad-is-good feel.  Gillespie made a comment that it’s Collin Farrell being Collin Farrell (i.e., “bad boy” facade).  Farrell generated the most number of questions and laughter.  He did a nice gesture by giving away and signing his nametag when requested by a fan.

“Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” - Showed the daredevil filmmaking by its directors, Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor.  They were filming in moving speed, riding a roller blade and chained to a speeding motorcycle.  Both directors were present, along with Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba, Johnny Whitworth.  While the first installment was more of the “Grimm’s Fairy Tale,” the second one was said to showcase the nightmarish aspect of the hellish tale.

“Total Recall” – Attended by director Len Wiseman, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, John Cho, Kate Beckinsale, Collin Farrell.  An intriguing futuristic footage and a dynamic panel discussing the premise; brain vacation and reality versus fantasy.  Predictably, there’s a comment about the fight scene between the gorgeous stars, Biel and Beckinsale.

“The Amazing Spider Man” -  Amazing indeed.  Instead of  strolling onto the stage like a star, Andrew Garfield (Spider Man) first appeared in disguised as a fan in a Spider Man costume, lining up for to ask a question.  He insisted to ask a question even though Q&A is typically set toward the end.  The hall erupted in surprised cheers when this “fan” unmasked himself and out Garfield.  Garfield was joined by director Marc Webb, Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy), Rhys Ifans (the Lizard as villain).  And the extended trailer was amazing.  The Lizard came to full view in a dramatic way.  Like Tobey Maguire, Garfield embodies that down-to-earth, ‘average Joe’ persona with natural humility and awkwardness.

***

DAY 3

“Immortals” -  Attended by director Tarsem Singh, Frida Pinto, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz, Henry Cavill.  The breathtaking trailer, in “300″ style, gleamed in gold and featured stylish sword-fighting among ancient Gods and Greek warriors, and epic level of destruction.  It’s a swooning panel for fans with the handsome stars of “Clash of the Titans” (Evans), “Twilight” (Lutz) and the next Superman (Cavill) together on stage.  The moderator, knowing that fans would be interested in Cavill’s upcoming “Superman: Man of Steel” was asked to limit all inquiries to “Immortals” only.  Cavill mentioned that the hardest thing while filming the movie was to stay in shape due to the physicality of the role.  He playfully added that he had to work to maintain his form, unlike Lutz, who’s always in shape.  The latter comment, of course, drew out chuckles.  At the end of the panel, Lutz made an exception of signing an autograph for a fan.

“Snow White and the Huntsmen” – Attended by director Rupert Sanders, Sam Claflin, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Kiersten Stewart.  While they didn’t have an official trailer for the dark fairy tale, they managed to show a two-minute clip.  This high-quality clip, created on a very small budget, was exclusively created as a special treat for Comic-Con fans.  Photographs of the dwarfs and the actors in their medieval costumes also were also shown – Claflin as the prince, Hemsworth as the huntsman, Theron as the evil queen, Stewart as Snow White.  Theron was attracted to the role because she thought it would be interesting to play a character who’s so well known and turn it upside down.  Stewart was drawn to the character because she’s completely without vanity and doesn’t let fear affect her ability to do things she feels strongly about, not to mention having the chance to use cool weapons. Theron made it a lively panel with her fun banter and mockingly acted “evil” with Stewart.  Hemsworth joked about him being picked last after other actors turned down the role.

***

Other movie panels attended were animations “The Pirates! Bands of Misfits” and “Arthur Christmas” with director-producer Peter Lord, Q&A with director-producer Robert Rodriguez, gothic horror “Raven” with John Cusack and Alice Eve, comedic action “30 Minutes or Less” with Azis Anzari and Michael Pena, ghost story “Twixt” with director Francis Ford Coppola and Val Kilmer, musical animation “Dorothy of Oz” with Lea Michele and Sir Patrick Stewart.

***

There’s nothing like the largest pop culture event in the world.  Approximately 130,000 were in attendance for movie-marveling, TV-trailing, comic-channeling, star-sighting, geek-costume gawking.  The energy, the passion, the mania.  A sheer sensory overload, it’s a must-do experience at least once in a lifetime.

And that’s a wrap. Bring on 2012!

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/events/comic-con-2011-highlights-san-diego/

[left click to enlarge pictures]

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Comic-Con 2011: Feature Film Highlights

Comic-Con 2011 feature film highlights article is now up on http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/events/comic-con-2011-highlights-san-diego/ It will be posted on the blog at a later time, including additional photos.

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Comic-Con 2011: As Seen on the Exhibition Floors...

The best things about Comic-Con's exhibition floors (aside from free goodies)... PROPS - as used in the movies.  This year, take a look at the Avengers logo, Captain America suit and shield, Batman suit, the Joker, Two-Faced, Green Lantern, MIB, Total Recall Hovercar, etc. Happy viewing! :-)

An article will be up in the next few days.

[left click to enlarge pictures]

 

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Comic Con 2011 Preview

It's the most wonderful time of the year...  No, not December.  For most of us movie/tv/anime/comic fans, it's July!  COMIC CON starts this Wednesday, July 20 and will last through Sunday, July 23. 

With Marvel, Warner Bros and Disney pulling out, there's still plenty to see.  On the movies side, Sony, Paramount, Universal, Fox - just to name a few - are coming in with big panels, big crews and big stars.  Last year I had a blast watching previews and panels attended by stars such as Angelina Jolie, Bruce Willis, Sylverster Stallone, Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Brandon Routh, Milla Jovovich, Robert Downey Jr., Samuel Jackson, Natalie Portman, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, and many more.  I'll do a "blast from the past" post, adding to the "Avengers" special highlight, if I have the time (just need to find the recap in my personal files and edit).  

 

This year I'll be there for the feature film panels as well (and a few TV pilot shows, and of course, roaming the exhibition floors) and coming back with highlights.  Of particular interests are 20th Century Fox (unknown panels), "The Adventure of Tin-Tin," "Haywire," "Total Recall," "The Amazing Spider-Man," "Immortals," "Snow White and the Huntsmen." 

For complete schedules, check out: http://comic-con.org/cci/cci_prog.php

Stay tuned!

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"Cars 2"

Spies, mistaken identity, car racing showcasing Bond-worthy gadgets and speed.  Did I mention gadgets and speed?!  This is an action-packed, grand prix adventure with lifelike architectural and scenery backgrounds of Tokyo, Paris, Porta Rosa and London. A car version of "James Bond" and "Fast Five," animation style.  No, it's not a typical Pixar movie; this one is built for speed!

*Due to the amount of violent actions and language, it may not be suitable for very young children. 

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/3pwg5k9

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"Transformers: Dark of the Moon"

Michael Bay is back with his beloved Transformers' robots.  This time he uncovers the 1960s lunar-landing cover-up and destroys Chicago in present time.  The space mission was initially launched to investigate the crash-landing of an alien spaceship on the moon.  Unfortunately, unlike the recent "X-Men: First Class," the promising retro start feels like a gimmick.  Things happen and jump around without logical explanations.  But Bay comes through with the CGIs and stunts.  Epic big and loud and chaotic.  A cool Inception-style building, tilting and collapsing into another, making up a bridge in the air.  Winged-suit soldiers diving and flying.  Chicago transformed into a robotic battlefield.  Although it's a numbing mess at 2.5 hours (2 hours would have worked just as well).  See it for what it is; a brainless Bay's Bots summer blockbuster. 

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/3ektnae

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/42ja455

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Upcoming Movies: July 2011

July 1

"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (http://www.transformersmovie.com/) - Against the backdrop of the space race between the U.S.S.R. and the USA, the alliance between Sam Witwicky and Optimus Prime is put to the test against a common enemy: Shockwave.

 

"Larry Crowne" (http://www.larrycrowne.com/)-  Unclear of his next steps after losing his job at a big-box retailer, Larry Crowne enrolls at his local college, where he finds a niche among the school's community of outcasts, and a connection with a teacher who has lost her passion for life.

 

July 8

"Horrible Bosses" (http://horriblebossesmovie.warnerbros.com/index.html) - Three friends conspire to murder their awful bosses when they realize they are standing in the way of their happiness.

 

July 15

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2" - The end begins as Harry, Ron, and Hermione return to Hogwarts to find and destroy the final horcruxes. But when Voldemort finds out about their mission, the battle of Harry vs. Voldemort looms large. 

 

"Winnie the Pooh" (http://disney.go.com/pooh/) - Hand-drawn Disney treatment in the studio's return to Hundred Acre Wood, bringing back Winnie, Eeyore, et al. back into theaters in a classical fashion.

 

July 22

"Captain America: The First Avenger" (http://captainamerica.marvel.com/) - After being deemed unfit for military service during WWII, a soldier volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America, the Sentinel of Liberty, a superhero dedicated to defending America's ideals.  His first mission is to combat the Nazi propaganda effort headed by Red Skull.

 

July 29

"Cowboys & Aliens" (http://www.platinumstudios.com/cowboysandaliens) - Apache Indians and Western settlers must lay their differences aside when an alien spaceship crash lands in their city.

 

"The Smurfs" (http://www.smurfhappens.com/) - The little blue creatures of Smurf village move to New York City after an evil wizard chases them out of their mushroom-like homes in the forest.

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"Super 8"

The "E.T." of the 21st century.

Growing up overseas, I never saw the original "E.T."  But I had the pleasure of seeing the 2002's remake.  "Super 8" is a reminiscence of that, with a homage to "Jurassic Park."  I saw it a couple of weeks ago, but due to a variety of factors, I wasn't able to write a review around that time.  It may not be an instant classic, but "Super 8" has a magical quality.  It stays fresh in my mind as one of the best movies of the year. 

If you're not a fan of "Cloverfield," fear not, "Super 8" is nothing like the shaky docu-style film.  While both share the director, J.J. Abrams, that's where the similarity stops.  It's also worlds beyond Steven Spielberg's own "War of the Worlds" (starring Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning).  Inspired by Spielberg (acting as producer here), "Super 8" has all the footprints of an old-fashioned kids' adventure, family movie. 

Set in 1979 Ohio, the story opens with several kids (Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee, Zach Mills, Gabriel Basso), filming an amateur movie with a Super 8 camera in front of an old train station.  They witness and survive the impact of a horrifically breathtaking freight train crash, which is derailed by a pick-up truck driven by a familiar face.  Almost immediately the U.S. Air Force (led by Noah Emmerich) swarm in and sweep around the area, recovering tons of small white-cubed materials from the train.  They continually roam around  and even set up makeshift camps in town.  

Not long after the town begins to experience strange occurrences.  Pets running and found many miles away, people mysteriously disappearing, pools of blood streaming through, random power outage, electrical interference, neighborhood posts destroyed, loud scary noises in the dark.  And during the Cold War era, suspicion gravitates toward the Soviet Union. Little did they know that something far sinister lurks in the background, threatening the lives of everyone.  A pandora box has been opened. 

The filmmakers did a super job in keeping "Super 8" under wrap and thus raises the "shock and awe" value.  "Super 8" is a throwback to a nostalgic era - rotary telephone, walkman, camera film - filled with memories of childhood friendships and the wonders of exploration and discovery about the world.   The kids are the true stars here.  Relatively unknown, they're a talented bunch.  Ellen Fanning is especially stunning.  The natural interconnectedness yet underscored by distinct personalities create an authentic innocence and camaraderie. 

The strength of "Super 8" lies in the execution.  It's executed exceptionally well that every moment is precious. The ambiance is just right that you could literally feel the chill in the air.  With spectacular cinematography, special effects, sound editing, it's tense and thrilling. 

And the story is the draw.  It's purely poignant, sweet and funny.  It's a story about a boy's grief, coping with the loss of his mother, and dealing with his overprotective father and the town's sheriff (Kyle Chandler).  It's also a coming-of-age story, interlinked with genuine interactions among friends. 

Perfectly paced, the suspense builds gradually and keeps its momentum until its heartwarming ending.  Stay through the closing credits roll for a special treat.  "Super 8" is spellbindingly super. 

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/super-8-movie-review/

DVD: http://tinyurl.com/3pwg5k9

DVD (blu-ray): http://tinyurl.com/3pwg5k9

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