Archive for December, 2008

Valkyrie Movie Review

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008




Henning von Tresckow: We have to show the world that not all of us are like him. Otherwise, this will always be Hitler’s Germany.

I for one was enlightened and impressed to see the dissention within the ranks of Hitler’s Germany. I must not have retained my world history very well because I did not recollect that there had been that many attempts on Hitler’s life during his reign. This movie is an excellent portrayal of one such attempt that was very, very close to being successful. We’re talking about a man that was like a god on Earth who lived and ruled amongst the German people and a pretty good amount of those German people were willing to sacrifice anything and everything to bring this man down. Hitler was powerful having taken major steps towards world domination. He was beyond highly respected and feared and yet he had to constantly look over his shoulder even while surrounded by his own people. From their point of view he was destroying Europe and Germany itself as well. Tom Cruise magnificently played the role of Col. Claus von Stauffenberg, the man in charge of this assassination attempt, and he says it best when he says “I’m a soldier, but in serving my country, I have betrayed my conscience.” But it takes a lot of moxie to go up against the Nazis and the Fuhrer and again he says it best when he says “Only God can judge us now.” Tom does a great job with this role but I wouldn’t call it his best work.

You will be gasping for air as you watch this film. It is tense, nerve raking, loud, startling, and powerful even though you already know the outcome. What takes this movie over the top is the fact that it is based on actual events. I love well made historical movies because all the while you can remind yourself that, hey, this actually happened. It makes it that much more moving. So I enjoyed the story and the way it was laid out was very well paced. The script was just as tense and sharp as the story and meaningful. There was very little to no fluff. The cinematography was masterful with beautiful locations, crisp camera angles, and mood setting shots. Every time Hitler appeared in a scene, the entire mood of that scene changed as well. Everything got quiet and cautious which added to the effect of being in the presence of this larger than life persona. Speaking of personas, what a cast. Hollywood has really gone all out on casting in the last few years and casting directors have answered the call. Along with Mr. Cruise you’ve got Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Thomas Kretschmann, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard, Kevin McNally, and the list goes on and on. (If you don’t recognize some of the names, if you look them up you will know who they are, trust me). The performance of the entire cast was right on for this production. It really was a pleasure to watch. Even Priscilla who has specific interests in the Hitler, Nazi, and Holocaust time period really enjoyed the film. Remember she left quite upset from the Boy in the Striped Pajamas picture. Not that it was a bad movie, just that the ending is disturbing. There is a good amount of Nazi Germany related movies being released lately and they all seem to be of very good quality. This is no exception, also due to the fabulous job by Director/Producer Bryan Singer. Bryan Singer? Eh, I’m not surprised. Remember the Usual Suspects? He can do a lot more than just superhero movies. There are plenty of movies to choose from this Christmas and picking this one is not a bad decision.

Wishing you all very Happy Holidays, Merry CHRISTmas and a great New Year!

Review By Cine Marcos

FULL MOVIE DETAILS

Jonas Brothers The 3D Concert Experience new images

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008

Here are the new images for Walt Disney Pictures film, Jonas Brothers The 3D Concert Experience. The movie will be hitting theaters February 27th 2009.







The JONAS BROTHERS head to the big screen—in Disney Digital 3-D™—in a high-energy Walt Disney Pictures rockumentary feature film event from director Bruce Hendricks (“Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert”). The film blends excerpts from the Brothers’ red-hot “Burning Up” concert tour, including guest performances from Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift, with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, off-the-wall segments, a never-before-heard song (“Love Is On Its Way”), swarming fans and a lot of JB-style humor—giving fans never-before-seen insights into the lives of KEVIN, JOE and NICK.

The Women DVD Review

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008



REVIEW: One of the films released at the beginning of the movie Fall season was “The Women”, a remake of the 1936’s film of the same name. Released by Picture House, the film had an estimated budget of $16 millions dollars and was able to collect $26 millions dollars at the box office in its theatrical run. Probably breaking even in the money department.

There is no doubt that the star power was the driving force with the “The Women”. Meg Ryan, Jada Pinkett Smith, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes and Debra Messing make up for an outstanding cast, similar to the one assemble for the 1936 classic. However not even this powerful cast was able to save this film.

Like the original film “The Women” highlights an all women movie. Not a single man appear in the film, not even as an extra. The main problem with it, is not that absent of men’s present in the film, It is that in an effort to preserve the main idea of the original film. Diane English didn’t changed much of the story of the film. I was expecting to see an updated version of the film, with a contemporary flavor other than an updated dialog. However I found a long and slow movie that fails to engaged the audience in any way.

DVD: The DVD includes both, widescreen and full screen version of the film, as well as 2 additional scenes. It also includes the featurette “The Women : The Legacy”, in which director Diane English talk about the history behind the 1936’s classic and her approach for remaking the film. This is probably the highlight of the DVD. Finally there is a ten minute featurette called “The Women Behind the Women” , in which a Junior journalist talk to the cast about the meaning of real beauty.

Release Date: December 21, 2008

DVD DETAILS
OWN DVD

Death Race DVD Review

Sunday, December 21st, 2008



REVIEW: What’s the name of that particular movie showing on a cable channel, Spike or FX or one of those? Isn’t it called “Movie for Guys That Like Movies”? Well, this one belongs in that category. This of course means that I enjoyed it. Tough guys, hot girls, fast cars, heavy artillery, and good ol’ fashioned fights equals a very fun movie. It is intense, action packed, dark, violent, ragged and rough around the edges. What more would you want? Oh, I’m sorry, you want a good story to go with that . . . well, you don’t quite get all you want with this movie. The action is great, sharply captured and displayed, but the story is typical, predictable, and weak. This flick reminded me a lot of The Running Man with the Governor. The premise is just too far fetched and the setting of the story established in the beginning is really unnecessary. But who cares! It’s all about the action, right?

This film really seemed like a life size video game. That is both good and bad; good for the action, bad for the quality of the movie. The acting was as good as you would expect for this genre highlighted by Jason Statham as Jensen Ames, Tyrese Gibson as Machine Gun Joe, Ian McShane as Coach, and the coldest most ruthless prison warden you can imagine, Hennessey played by Joan Allen. You’ll be surprised on how chillingly intimidating Joan is while playing this role. Hard times call for hard games and hard games have to be run by hard people and Hennessey is perfect for the job. For her, nothing else matters but viewer demand for the race, and I do mean nothing. Even though the characters are generally appealing and as varied as the competitors in the Olympics, their development is almost non-existent. We get two or three sentences of background and they are thrown onto the track. I would have liked a little more background on these people. Luckily the actors gave decent performances because the script didn’t help either. It was simple/borderline childish. But then again, it’s all about the action, right? The soundtrack was pretty good though.

You can understand why this movie was made this way once you establish that Paul W.S. Anderson was the Writer, Director, and Producer. With his involvement in one or all of those capacities in such movies as the Resident Evils, Mortal Kombat, and Alien vs. Predator, it is clear how this one follows suit and how it also looks like a video game. He can successfully add this one to his collection. If you are caught up with all the summer blockbusters and it’s your turn to pick a movie to see and you’re in the mood for some down and dirty action, this is not a bad choice. Oh and ladies, even though I mentioned that this is a man’s movie, you do get some eye candy with Mr. Statham. Don’t worry guys, we’ve got a hot new lady to sweeten our vision as well. Remember the name Natalie Martinez who plays Case. Hey, it’s all about the action, right?

Film Review By Cine Marcos

DVD: The DVD is presented in 2.35:1 aspect ration preserving the theatrical presentation of the film. The picture is complemented with a 5.1 Dolby Digital audio tracks in three different languages, English, Spanish and French.

The DVD includes the theatrical and the unrated versions of the movie. The unrated version is 6 minutes longer that the theatrical version. The special features are very slim in this DVD release. It only contains 2 special features, with a total running time of 26 minutes. The first one is “Start Your Engines: Making A Death Race” A 20 minutes documentary behind the scenes in the making of the film. The last one is “Behind The Wheel: Dissecting The Stunts”, in which the cast and crew talk about some of the driving stunts in the film. “Finally the DVD Feature Commentary With Director Paul W.S Anderson and Producer Jeremy Bolt”, which i found to be the most interesting feature of the DVD.

Release Date: December 21, 2008

DVD DETAILS
OWN DVD

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures’ 2009 Preview

Sunday, December 21st, 2008

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC
RELEASE DATE: February 13, 2009



CAST: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas, Leslie Bibb, Fred Armisen, Julie Hagerty, Krysten Ritter, Robert Stanton, Christine Ebersole, Clea Lewis, Wendie Malick, Stephanie March
DIRECTOR: P.J. Hogan

In the glamorous world of New York City, Rebecca Bloomwood (ISLA FISHER) is a fun-loving girl who is really good at shopping—a little too good, perhaps. She dreams of working for her favorite fashion magazine, but can’t quite get her foot in the door—until ironically, she snags a job as an advice columnist for a financial magazine published by the same company. As her dreams are finally coming true, she goes to ever more hilarious and extreme efforts to keep her past from ruining her future. ISLA FISHER (“Wedding Crashers”) stars in the film from producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director P.J. Hogan (“My Best Friend’s Wedding”). The screenplay by Tracey Jackson and Tim Firth and Kayla Alpert is based on the books “Confessions of a Shopaholic” and “Shopaholic Takes Manhattan” by Sophie Kinsella.

JONAS BROTHERS: THE 3D CONCERT EXPERIENCE
RELEASE DATE: February 27, 2009

CAST: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato, Taylor Swift
DIRECTOR: Bruce Hendricks

The JONAS BROTHERS head to the big screen—in Disney Digital 3-D™—in a high-energy Walt Disney Pictures rockumentary feature film event from director Bruce Hendricks (“Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert”). The film blends excerpts from the Brothers’ red-hot “Burning Up” concert tour, including guest performances from Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift, with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, off-the-wall segments, a never-before-heard song (”Love Is On Its Way”), swarming fans and a lot of JB-style humor—giving fans never-before-seen insights into the lives of KEVIN, JOE and NICK.

RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN
Release date: March 13, 2009



CAST: Dwayne Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, Carla Gugino, Ciaran Hinds, Alexander Ludwig, Tom Everett Scott, Christopher Marquette, Cheech Marin and Garry Marshall
DIRECTOR: Andy Fickman

For years, stories have circulated about a secret place in the middle of the Nevada desert, known for unexplained phenomena and strange sightings. It is called Witch Mountain, and when a Las Vegas cab driver (DWAYNE JOHNSON) finds two teens with supernatural powers in his cab, he suddenly finds himself in the middle of an adventure he can’t explain. When they discover that the only chance to save the world lies in unraveling the secrets of Witch Mountain, the race begins, as the government, mobsters and even extraterrestrials try to stop them. RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN is a fun and thrilling adventure featuring incredible special effects.

HANNAH MONTANA THE MOVIE
Release date: April 10, 2009

CAST: Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Margo Martindale, Jason Earles, Peter Gunn, Melora Hardin, Mitchel Musso, Lucas Till, Barry Bostwick, Moises Arias, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, with Vanessa Williams and Billy Ray Cyrus
DIRECTOR: Peter Chelsom

Walt Disney Pictures takes the Disney Channel phenom to the big screen in a feature film extravaganza. Miley Stewart (MILEY CYRUS) struggles to juggle school, friends and her secret pop-star persona; when Hannah Montana’s soaring popularity threatens to take over her life—she just might let it. So her father (BILLY RAY CYRUS) takes the teen home to Crowley Corners, Tenn., for a dose of reality, kicking off an adventure filled with the kind of fun, laughter and romance even Hannah Montana couldn’t imagine. HANNAH MONTANA THE MOVIE Disney Channel’s phenomenally successful series “Hannah Montana” jumps to the big screen in a fun-filled adventure in which Miley Stewart (MILEY CYRUS) is forced to choose between embracing her small-town roots and her secret pop-star persona, Hannah Montana.

earth
Release date: April 22, 2009



NARRATOR: James Earl Jones
DIRECTORS: Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield

The first film in the Disneynature series, earth, narrated by JAMES EARL JONES, tells the remarkable story of three animal families and their amazing journeys across the planet we all call home. earth combines rare action, unimaginable scale and impossible locations by capturing
the most intimate moments of our planet’s wildest and most elusive creatures. Directors Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, the acclaimed creative team behind the Emmy Award®- winning “Planet Earth,” combine forces again to bring this epic adventure to the big screen, beginning Earth Day, April 22, 2009.

UP
In Disney Digital 3-D™
Release date: May 29, 2009



VOICE TALENT: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Delroy Lindo, Jordan Nagai
DIRECTOR: Pete Docter

From Disney•Pixar comes “Up,” a comedy adventure about 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic 9-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. From the Academy Award®-nominated director Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.”), Disney•Pixar’s “Up” invites you on a hilarious journey into a lost world, with the least likely duo on Earth. “Up” will be presented in Disney Digital 3-D™ in select theaters.

THE PROPOSAL
Release date: June 12, 2009



CAST: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Akerman, Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, Denis O’Hare and Betty White
DIRECTOR: Anne Fletcher

When high-powered book editor Margaret (SANDRA BULLOCK) faces deportation to her native Canada, the quick-thinking exec declares that she’s actually engaged to her unsuspecting put-upon assistant Andrew (RYAN REYNOLDS), who she’s tormented for years. He agrees to participate in the charade, but with a few conditions of his own. The unlikely couple heads to Alaska to meet his quirky family (MARY STEENBURGEN, CRAIG T. NELSON, BETTY WHITE) and the always-in-control city girl finds herself in one comedic fish-out-of-water situation after another. With an impromptu wedding in the works and an immigration official on their tails, Margaret and Andrew reluctantly vow to stick to the plan despite the precarious consequences.

G-FORCE
In Disney Digital 3-D™
Release date: July 24, 2009

CAST: Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, with the voices of Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Penelope Cruz, Steve Buscemi, Tracy Morgan
DIRECTOR: Hoyt Yeatman

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer brings his first 3-D film to the big screen with G-FORCE, a comedy dventure about the latest evolution of a covert government program to train animals to work in espionage. Armed with the latest high-tech spy equipment, these highly trained guinea pigs discover that the fate of the world is in their paws. Tapped for the G-FORCE are guinea pigs Darwin (voice of SAM ROCKWELL), the squad leader determined to succeed at all costs; Blaster voice of TRACY MORGAN), an outrageous weapons expert with tons of attitude and a love for all things extreme; and Juarez (voice of PENELOPE CRUZ), a sexy martial arts pro; plus the literal fly-on-the-wall reconnaissance expert, Mooch, and a starnosed mole, Speckles (voice of NICOLAS CAGE), the computer and information specialist. Directed by two-time Oscar®-winning visual effects master Hoyt Yeatman—G-FORCE takes audiences on a high-octane thrill ride, proving once and for all that size really doesn’t matter.

WHEN IN ROME
Release date: Summer 2009



CAST: Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Will Arnett, Alexis Dziena, Jon Heder, Dax Shepard, Kate Micucci, Bobby Moynihan, with Danny DeVito and Anjelica Huston
DIRECTOR: Mark Steven Johnson

An ambitious young New Yorker (KRISTEN BELL), disillusioned with romance, takes a whirlwind trip to Rome where she defiantly plucks magic coins from a “foolish” fountain of love, inexplicably igniting the passion of an odd group of suitors: a sausage magnate (DANNY DEVITO), a street magician (JON HEDER), an adoring painter (WILL ARNETT) and a self-admiring model (DAX SHEPARD). But when a charming reporter (JOSH DUHAMEL) pursues her with equal zest, how will she know if his love is the real thing?

SURROGATES
Release date: Sept. 25, 2009



CAST: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, James Francis Ginty, Boris Kodjoe and Ving Rhames
DIRECTOR: Jonathan Mostow

FBI agents (BRUCE WILLIS and RADHA MITCHELL) investigate the mysterious murder of a college student linked to the man who helped create a high-tech surrogate phenomenon that allows people to purchase unflawed robotic versions of themselves—fit, good looking remotely controlled machines that ultimately assume their life roles—enabling people to experience life vicariously from the comfort and safety of their own homes. The murder spawns a quest for answers: in a world of masks, who’s real and who can you trust?

TOY STORY
In Disney Digital 3-D™
Release date: Oct. 2, 2009



CAST: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Annie Potts, John Morris, Erik von Detten, Laurie Metcalf, R. Lee Ermey
DIRECTOR: John Lasseter

They’re toys, they talk—at least when people aren’t around—and they’re back…celebrating the return of the “Toy Story” franchise—in Disney Digital 3-D™ this time! TOY STORY, the film that started it all, takes moviegoers back to that fantastic fun-filled journey, viewed mostly through the eyes of two rival toys— Woody (voice of TOM HANKS), the lanky, likable cowboy, and Buzz Lightyear (voice of TIM ALLEN), the fearless space ranger. The comically-mismatched duo eventually learn to put aside their differences when circumstances separate them from their owner Andy and they find themselves on a hilarious adventurefilled mission where the only way they can survive is to form an uneasy alliance.

DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL
In Disney Digital 3-D™
Release date: Nov. 6, 2009

CAST: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn, Cary Elwes, Fionnula Flanagan
DIRECTOR: Robert Zemeckis

DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL, a multi-sensory thrill ride re-envisioned by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, captures the fantastical essence of the classic Dickens tale in a groundbreaking 3-D motion picture event. Ebenezer Scrooge (JIM CARREY) begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk (GARY OLDMAN) and his cheery nephew (COLIN FIRTH). But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it’s too late.

OLD DOGS
Release date: Nov. 25, 2009



CAST: John Travolta, Robin Williams, Kelly Preston, Seth Green, Ella Bleu Travolta, Lori Loughlin and Matt Dillon
DIRECTOR: Walt Becker

Two best friends—one unlucky-in-love divorcee (ROBIN WILLIAMS) and the other a fun-loving bachelor (JOHN TRAVOLTA)—have their lives turned upside down when they’re unexpectedly charged with the care of six-year-old twins while on the verge of the biggest business deal of their lives. The not-so-kidsavvy bachelors stumble in their efforts to take care of the twins
(newcomers ELLA BLEU TRAVOLTA and CONNER RAYBURN), leading to one debacle after another, and perhaps to a new-found understanding of what’s really important in life.

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
Release date: Christmas 2009



VOICE CAST: Anika Noni Rose, John Goodman, Keith David, Jim Cummings, Jenifer Lewis
DIRECTORS: Ron Clements, John Musker

Walt Disney Animation Studios presents the musical THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, an animated comedy set in the great city of New Orleans. From the creators of “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin” comes a modern twist on a classic tale, featuring a beautiful girl named Tiana (ANIKA NONI ROSE), a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again, and a fateful kiss that leads them both on a hilarious adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana.