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The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Jack Rico
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2010/06/30 at 12:00am

Reviews

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

06.30.2010 | By |

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,’ directed by David Slade (30 Days of Nights), is the best film of the series and it is indisputably the most entertaining of the three movies. It has depth, a gripping and sexual tension to it, a surfeit of action, visually appealing special effects and entertaining drama. ‘Twilighters’ are going to love this second sequel and newcomers will be hooked on the tension filled decision Bella’s love life has to make.

The first sequel left us on a cliffhanger with Jacob telling Edward to watch out, he’s coming after Bella. Eclipse continues the churning novela with Bella (Kristin Stewart) once again finding herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard), a malicious vampire who is out for revenge. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward (Robert Pattinson) and her friendship with Jacob (Taylor Lautner) — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the struggle between vampires and werewolves. What’s it going to be Bella – Edward or Jacob? That’s been the question pop culture media has been toying with for a year now.

The film’s predecessor, New Moon, was a test of endurance in tediousness. My criticism of the aforementioned was that it lacked entertainment value. If it only had an ounce of divertissement. Subsequently, Eclipse repaired the damage done and threw me a biscuit in the process. The improvements are rooted in the insertion of several battle sequences, which provided a much-needed injection of energy to the saga, accompanied by quality-eye-candy computer generated effects. Add to that a much more interesting plot and of course, the main event, the confrontation between the films two male leads. The acting is modest, and let’s be honest, it is not exemplary. It does though behoove the genre and the style of the film.

Amazingly enough, Eclipse possesses two Oscar nominated actresses in its cast: Anna Kendrick (Jessica Stanley) and Catalina Sandino Moreno. Kendrick, coming off her ‘Up in the Air’ nomination, seemed to be fulfilling contractual obligations or spoofing herself in the pic. Moreno on her part, the Colombian Oscar nominated actress for Maria Full of Grace, made a pleasant and surprising cameo. Her appearance, along with Christian Serratos (who plays Angela Weber), represented Hispanics in the film. Some of Catalina’s dialogue was in Spanish, which I must confess was a bit off brand, but welcome nevertheless. She whispered the word “chupar” in a Colombian accent and I automatically thought it was strange, yet cool to listen to within one of the most successful franchises in modern cinema. Regrettably, she went uncredited as Summit Entertainment decided not to include her in their 113 page long production notes, a document usually reserved for press to ascertain microscopic details on cast members, set designs, etc. The reasons for her exclusion in the notes is baffling since she could have served as a great Latino marketing angle for their promotional strategies. I’m glad a site like ShowBizCafe.com exists to give Ms. Moreno and Latino actors their props.

‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ is a step in the right direction and it exemplifies what the film adaptations should have been like from the beginning. The intense, heavy teen romance is still there but layered with a much more entertaining ambiance of thrills and chills to it. I saw the film in standard 2D and was pleased with it. The IMAX version must be even better. I’m just glad it is not in 3D because with all sincerity, it does not need it. The fans of the books will be fanatical with it, newcomers will be entertained and drag-ons will at least be gratified with the notion that they saw the best of the series.  I hope the fourth chapter Breaking Dawn, which will be split into two parts next year, is just as good as this one.

The Crazies
Ted Faraone
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2010/06/29 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

The Crazies

06.29.2010 | By |

Rating: 1.5

Rated: R for bloody violence and language.
Release Date: 2010-02-26
Starring: Scott Kosar, Ray Wright
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.thecrazies-movie.com/

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In the 37 years since helmer George A. Romero foisted on us the $275,000 sci-fi/horror flick, “Crazies,” not much has changed except the value of the Dollar.  The remake, billed as “The Crazies,” by helmer Breck Eisner, cost an estimated $12 million to make.  It’s still pretty cheesy.  And Romero gets executive producer credit.
 
Pic climaxes with an atomic bomb blast leveling an Iowa town.  Too bad that its negative was not at ground zero.  “The Crazies” is that awful.  It gets half a star for some unintentionally funny scenes.  It loses stars for telegraphing plot moves in advance, failing to build compelling characterizations, totally expected “Deus Ex Machina” resolutions when writers Scott Kosar and Ray Wright painted themselves into corners, crummy continuity, stilted dialogue, and blurry lensing.  “The Crazies” uses every cheap trick to create suspense… and fails miserably.
 
Plot adheres fairly closely to the Romero original.  Folks in a small town start going crazy, becoming homicidal maniacs.  Source of the problem is quickly traced by Sherriff David Dutton (Timothy Olyphant, whom we last saw in the atrocious “Perfect Getaway”) to a downed jet in the town’s watershed.  How a jet goes down in a small town without apparent damage and without an immediate response is beyond even the suspension of disbelief.  This jet went down a week before pic’s action takes place.  And no one save the town blowhard noticed.

We must mention pic’s funniest scene:  The local undertaker has been infected.  He goes after Sherriff Dutton with a high speed bone saw.  Dutton subdues the mad mortuarian but the saw is still running.  Propelled across the mortuary floor by its own motor, It heads straight for Dutton’s crotch until his deputy (Joe Anderson VI) steps on the power cord in one of those Deus Ex Machina moments.  One wonders why the Army didn’t also cut off the electricity.

The purpose of a pic such as “The Crazies” is to create suspense, instill fear in audiences, and have them hanging on the edge of their seats for the ending.  Fernando Meirelles did a far better job with similar subject matter in the 2008 “Blindness.”

Pic’s ending has sequel written all over it.  Ultimately it will depend on the box office that this piece of trash does.  “The Crazies,” which feels a good deal longer than its 101 minute run time, is rated “R” thanks to violence and repeated use of a four letter word for intercourse.

Hot Tub Time Machine
Jack Rico
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2010/06/29 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Hot Tub Time Machine

06.29.2010 | By |

Rating: 2.5

Rated: R for strong crude and sexual content, nudity, drug use and pervasive language.
Release Date: 2010-03-26
Starring: Josh Heald, Sean Anders
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://hottubtimemachinemovie.com/

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The R rated comedy ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ is a disappointment that could have been prevented if the writers would have delivered better jokes, more frequently. Besides a few laughs, this comedy isn’t worth the ticket price or your time at the theater, but perhaps at home on DVD on a lazy Saturday night.

The story is simple. Four guy friends (John Cusack, Clark Duke, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry), all of them bored with their adult lives, travel back to their respective 80s heydays thanks to a time-traveling hot tub. What ensues is nostalgic moments for most of the protagonists and a predictable twist for the finale.

For many men, there is nothing better than calling friends on a Friday night and catching a riotous R rated comedy. The attraction is the raunchy sexual humor and dialogue, ape-like rationale and an inane plotline that is already inherently funny. Many comedies in the decade of the 80’s embodied that sort of unrefined and unpretentious hilarity such as ‘Airplane’, ‘The Naked Gun’ and ‘I’m Gonna Git You Sucka‘. They were made for men and boy did we love them. 2008 saw one of my personal favorites – Role Models starring Paul Rudd and and Sean William Scott. They created a gem with scenes that pushed the envelope of comedy to its limits by having little kids curse like old curmudgeon truckers. ‘The Hangover’ reached perfection in the last decade. It received a Golden Globe nomination and even speculation that it would be nominated for an Oscar in the best picture category.

So what went wrong with ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’?

The jokes began strong and then they lagged. Those lagging moments cost the film everything. The writers, Josh Heald and Sean Anders needed to create rapid-fire jokes to avoid the sour comedic bits from affecting the strong, quick pacing of the beginning. As a result, the audience is left in limbo awaiting on hilarity that is saved for seldom occasions, as if there were rations of jokes left for us to laugh at. The acting overall was fine, some secondary 80’s cast selections were great such as Crispin Glover (Marty MacFly from Back to the Future) and Chevy Case.

The protagonists were a nice mix of actors that provided their fair skill of comedy. The highlight was Craig Robinson, who seems to be at home in this genre. If you ever saw him in ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno’, he carried that movie on his back! John Cusack was a nostalgic touch that director Steven Pink I’m sure had as his secret weapon. John Cusack is the 80’s and it was great to see how he behaved under the ambiance of the period that made him a star.

Nevertheless, I was expecting so much more from this film. Whenever you see “rated R” next to a comedy, you feel like we’re in for something different (e.g. The Hangover). It’s a movie that filmmakers can sink their creative juices into without restraint. That mere idea is obviously much more difficult than it looks.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Namreta Kumar
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2010/06/29 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

06.29.2010 | By |

Rating: 3.0

Rated: PG for action violence and peril, some scary images and suggestive material, and mild language.
Release Date: 2010-02-12
Starring: Craig Titley
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.percyjacksonthemovie.com/

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For anyone who loves the movie going experience this a perfect match. Chris Columbus has brought yet another beloved children’s book to life in his adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The Lightening Thief is a charming lighthearted fare; that has smartly been adapted for the screen.
Percy Jackson’s (Logan Lerman) world changes when he discovers that he is a demigod. Soon he finds that his inadequacies serve him well; and that the Greek myths, the ones we all forget in grade school, are more than just ancient history.

 

Chris Columbus does a great job of making Greek mythology feel like home in the Western world. In fact the juxtaposition of our modern realities to Greek mythology are what make the film charming to all ages. The CGI is all tailored to fit in well with the needs of the script and doesn’t over power it. Whereas other films of it’s nature have spent much more time working on some of the more flamboyant points of the novel Chris Columbus’ The Lightning Thief seamlessly blends all the elements together. While films like Harry Potter fail to capture the essence of the book, Percy Jackson and The Olympians does a remarkably better job.

 

That being said some alterations have been made. For those of you that have read the book, sorry to say, as dictated by Zeus, the Kronos topic is closed for discussion. The “family” relationship that the book focuses on is the crux of this film. But don’t get too excited, if you hoped to see the jerk cousin from the book’s prophecy he doesn’t make the cut either. Although major arcs have been dismissed from this adaptation, it does a great job of keeping the heart of the book in the forefront.

 

The cast also shares the credit for blending the two worlds seamlessly. They do an excellent job adapting the characters from the myths to the modern world. Brandon T. Jackson exceptionally modernizes the Greek satyr, Grover, by cleverly adapting modern style to the flirtatious and quirky nature of his character. Jake Abel carries Luke’s altered character off well, but due to some editing of the books for screen, it doesn’t all seem to add up on screen. Logan Lerman is the heart of the film. He not only ties together the film’s other cast and characters, but also reels in the audience. Percy Jackson feels like an accidental hero (to himself) in the book, and Lerman plays those insecurities and his perseverance well.

 

When I left the theatre I remember feeling as light as my own childhood memories of going to the theatre. The best part about the film is that as an adult you get to re-live the wonderment of grade school mythology; and as a child you can almost believe that the old hero stories aren’t all lost. Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief is an old fashioned good time at the movies.

 

Also just a tip (especially for those that enjoyed the books): Don’t miss the end of the credits, I promise you will get your just reward.

Alex Florez
0

By

2010/06/27 at 3:24pm

Movies

Russian to italian

06.27.2010 | By |

translation service

Professional translators needs to be professionals with regards to providing excellent translations for those who need them. Nonetheless, it doesn’t indicate that the translating firm need not be all mechanical, as this is something which a lot of people out there don’t like or appreciate in simple terms. If anything, people would like to get a normal provider for his or her text, documents, and projects who is not just state of the art. russian translation agencies The Current machine translation software frequently permits customization by domain or profession. It really helps with improving output by limiting the suitability of allowable substitutions. This unique technique is effective in domains where formal or formulaic language is used. It follows then that machine translation of government and legal documents more readily produces usable output than conversation or less standardized text.

English russian translation

If you are fluent in multiple languages, consider putting that highly valuable skill to great use by starting a Translation Service business. The Internet book with the last 15 years has had a tremendous relation to marketing, the very first time ever small business owner can reach a global audience with just a couple of clicks with the mouse. The unfortunate thing is many usually are not capitalizing on this excellent advantage due to fears of language and cultural barriers. If a Translation Service appears like a company that you would be thinking about keep these things in mind:

Meet your deadlines
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Translating could be a daunting prospect, especially when you will find the level of studying involved to consider. This service narrows the gap among languages making communication accessible to everyone who can use the Internet. These services are fast, accurate, user-friendly and convenient. Once language was a barrier to be demolished, these days it is just a stepping-stone to some larger platform for businesses, students and people. The need for interpretation is among the most norm.

Knight and Day
Jack Rico
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By

2010/06/25 at 12:00am

Reviews

Knight and Day

06.25.2010 | By |

Knight and Day

Tom Cruise is back and I’m loving it. I’ve been a supporter of the actor ever since I can remember, mainly because, I strongly believe he is a very good actor who knows how to pick stories that entertain a mass audience. Many still don’t regard in the same light (he’s never won an Academy Award). His latest effort is the action comedy ‘Knight and Day,’ one I believe to be the second most entertaining film of 2010 after ‘Kick-Ass.’

The plot is centered on a spy (Cruise) who bumps into a normal woman (Diaz) at an airport and involves her into his dangerous mission around the world.

So you have an idea of what you are up against, ‘Knight and Day’ is the comedy version of the Mission Impossible series. I found those films enthralling and to see Cruise in this loosely based adaptation, mixed with appealing jokes in between, gave this critic mad moments of hilarity. The pacing was intense and exciting, the jokes and gags were amusing and enjoyable and the acting was chemically divine! The film isn’t perfect, but the flaws are invisible, masked by pure summer fun action.

Both Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz seem re-vivified here. Evident and nostalgically so are Cruise’s magical nuances that made him into the biggest box office star of the late ’80s and early ’90s. Both stars seemed to really have fun making this movie and it looks genuine on screen.

‘Knight and Day’ is what summer Hollywood movies are all about – pure high wattage entertainment with likable superstars. This one qualifies as a must see in my book.

Grown Ups Movie Review
Jack Rico
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By

2010/06/25 at 12:00am

MoviesReviews

Grown Ups Movie Review

06.25.2010 | By |

Grown Ups

In the 1980’s, successful comedies seemed like a dime a dozen. Now a days, we have to settle for ‘Grown Ups,’ where the laughs are few, but the apathy is plentiful.

After their high school basketball coach (Blake Clark) passes away, five good friends (Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider) and former teammates reunite with their families for a Fourth of July holiday weekend.

There are a couple of problems that set ‘Grown Ups’ up as a disappointment for me. One of the issues I had with it was the marketing. The reputation some of the actors have are that of R rated comedians. The mere sight of Chris Rock is worth a hard R from a mile away (“tired of this sh*t, tired, tired, tired of this sh•t,” as his foul mouthed stand up routine goes). It’s easy to be misled as to why this movie looks like ‘Old School’ with Will Ferrell. Just look at the trailers, TV spots, and posters. Whenever the public is misguided to thinking they’re going to see one thing and it doesn’t deliver, there is an automatic sense of rejection. That happened to me here. I got duped.

Secondly, I had issues with the tame dialogue of the script. The stars, mostly known for their profanities and uncouth behavior in films, seemed out of their element. They show a benign side to them that is unfamiliar to me. Aside from Sandler’s ‘Bedtime Stories,’ amongst other family movies he’s starred in, the film is really a let down. I was expecting so much more from it. Such a talented cast, but no creativity in the script.

The female cast composed of Salma Hayek, Maria Bello and Maya Rudolph complemented the male leads very well. Salma didn’t necessarily showcase her Oscar nominee skills, but her ‘accented’ charm is more than ‘voluptiously’ appealing.

Overall, I thought ‘Grown Ups’ would possess grown up R humor, but instead it delivers a family movie for adults with infantile jocularity. Not what I was expecting.

[youtube id=”e01NVCveGkg”]

La Nana
Alex Florez
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By

2010/06/22 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

La Nana

06.22.2010 | By |

Rating: 3.0

Rated: Not available.
Release Date: 2009-10-16
Starring: Sebastián Silva
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:Chile
Official Website: http://www.themaidmovie.com/

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She’s Out of My League
Namreta Kumar
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2010/06/22 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

She’s Out of My League

06.22.2010 | By |

Rating: 3.5

Rated: R for language and sexual content.
Release Date: 2010-03-12
Starring: Sean Anders & John Morris
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.getyourrating.com/

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She’s Out of My League is quite possibly the best romantic-comedy out, thus far, this year. The best part about this bromance is that it is equally a chick-flick.

In a nutshell she (Alice Eve) is a 10 and he (Jay Baruchel) is desperately trying to hold onto the status of 5. Essentially his family, friends, and lack of any real aspirations fail him; but she tiers of “perfection” and finds it all refreshing. The multitude of characters is what makes the film so much fun. From Kirk’s friends down to Molly’s parents everyone lends great talent and character to the film.

Kirk is more than just a five and Jay Baruchel makes this a reality. I must equally commend Jim Field Smith for this as well, because his direction gives each actor/character their shining moment.  And at the end of it all, what makes this film work are those shinning moments. Smith’s direction has created a comedic piece that every guy can enjoy, and every girl will adore.

What makes the comedy here fun and unique is that all the characters are just that, characters. All of Kirk’s friends remind you of those same guys from high school down to your office and the advice they honesty dole out to Kirk make them all the more real. On the other hand Molly’s best friend and sister make this equally a chick flick, with their own frankness about her imperfections.

She’s Out of My League is not as good as Wedding Crashers but it does equal I Love You Man. It has a lot of little laughs and plenty of charm to finally leave you satisfied with a romantic comedy this year.

Remember Me
Karen Posada
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By

2010/06/22 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Remember Me

06.22.2010 | By |

Rating: 3.5

Rated: PG-13 for violence, sexual content, language and smoking.
Release Date: 2010-03-12
Starring: Will Fetters & Jenny Lumet
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.rememberme-movie.com/

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‘Remember Me’ does a fine job at making you part of it without you realizing it. If you are into romantic dramas you are going to love it, it is more than just romance though, the importance of family is felt strongly as well. The plot is made up of love and loss and the sense that we have to ‘live in the moments’ because we don’t know when our last day on Earth will be. It is your typical boy-meets-girl story but with a sense of reality in it and a twist of faith.

Our main character Tyler Hawkins (Robert Pattinson) is a troubled soul, who feels completely helpless, he wants to be a hero or a voice to those that need it, like his younger sister Caroline (Ruby Jerins). He had a privileged life growing up, but now wants to make it on his own, away from his workaholic father (Pierce Brosnan); who doesn’t expect anything good out of him. With his poetic boy looks and the sadness he has about him, he has a way with the ladies. His roommate Aidan (Tate Ellington) convinces Tyler to date the daughter of a police officer (Chris Cooper), to spite him for arresting them one night. Tyler has no problem sweeping Ally Craig (Emilie de Ravin) off her feet. Tyler gets lost in his own game and ends up falling for Ally’s quirky personality. She has the ability to show him through their connection by their troubled pasts, that he can live again despite of all the pain he’s felt. She brings out the best in him.

The love connection here is strong; Pattinson and de Ravin make the romance as well as their life stories very real to the audience. It’s hard not to fall in love with Pattinson in this film; he is the typical artsy passionate guy every girl would want. The quarrels among characters, especially “the big fight” between the couple is a bit ridiculous. The script tries to create drama where there really isn’t.  Admittedly the ending is the strongest part of the movie, the filmmakers took a cheap shot at the audience, but it is the reason for the ½ star. It is a cheap shot that works, without it the movie wouldn’t have an impact and it would be easy to forget. We are given subtle hints about the ending throughout the whole movie but we only connect the dots when we arrive to it, it is what will make the audience feel a stronger connection to the story.

I definitely recommend it to the hopeless romantics; it will touch your hearts and leave you a little depressed. You are left with the sense that we do need to cherish every moment and live as if today was our last day.

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