Legion, Brothers, and The Machinist... Plus a Film I couldn't even Finish

    So the last 24 hours have consisted of 4 films and counting. I guess it could be 5 if you included Jackass 3-D from earlier last night. So the first film I watched was Legion and I have to be honest, I did not hate it. I went in to it expecting to absolutely hate it. The trailer of the demon grandma climbing on the ceiling, a man with wings, and the casting of Dennis Quaid. The plot of the film is St.Michael disobeying orders of an apocalypse by God by protecting the last baby to be born along with some twists of the action. The trailers for the film definitely not show that plot. Dennis Quaid, an actor whom I like, but I think his better suited roles are as a father like in The Parent Trap and The Rookie, did a good job in this film. There were some moments in the film that were cheesy, but I assumed there would be. The camera was nice and accented the narrative, but at times too hypo-Hollywood. Overall I enjoyed the movie and was thoroughly surprised. I would recommend it with lower expectations.
     The next film I watched was Brothers starring Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Natalie Portman. This film I broke down in depth according to acts, dangling and hook causes, and distinction of time. Do not worry though, again DO NOT WORRY, I will not, again I WILL NOT, bore you with that analysis. I really enjoyed this film. The narrative can run slow throughout, so beware. The trailers play tricks on the viewer because the trailer depicts it to run a different direction. The plot is reminiscent of the love story line in Pearl Harbor, with the supposed death of one love and the emergence of another, while the original love "returns from the dead." The acting was solid with the three headliners. Overall, I recommend it, go see it.
     The Machinist was one of Christian Bale's best work as an actor. The role offered a very mental and physical toll on himself, which is very obvious at first glance. The film is a psychological thriller because of the mind trips that make up the narrative. There are many times when the viewer feels very uncomfortable. The plot of the film is Trevor (Bale) has not been able to sleep in a year and is physically distort because of it. He believes he sees this man following him, and throughout he is trying to find this man because he thinks he is being followed. The film consists of many narrative trips and is interesting and disturbing at the same time.  I would recommend this film, but beware, it is disturbing at times and can take toll on the mind.
     So finally... the film I could not finish was Aeon Flux. The only reason I watched this film was because the cover of the film always intrigued me so I decided to take a chance. The film starred Charlize Theron, whom I like as an actress. The plot was just too over the top, crazy, and mind boring. I do not recommend this film. I do I am held liable though since I did not watch the whole film, but thats my half film review. Well I think that is enough to write, so I will move on with my viewing. So long to all, may your dreams come true.

Jackass 3-D

So today was my highly anticipated screening of Jackass 3-D, and let me say one thing, hilarious! The boys of Jackass have come a long way since the show began 10 years ago. The stunts are more dare-devilish and less immature with a little less childish balls kicking and more hardcore balls kicking. The ones seen in the trailer are just the beginning of what is seen and the 3-D screening of the film was a lot of fun. Johnny Knoxville was of course the lead in many stunts and his fascination with bulls and cattle continued in this film.Steve-o made some very laughable moments and there was plenty of vomit throughout the film. I really enjoyed this film and would recommend it for a comic laugh. It was a good send off to the boys who made being a jackass enjoyable. Go out and see, I would recommend the 3-D viewing, but it is personal preference or if you want to save an extra few bucks. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Paranormal Activity 2

So here it finally came, the screening of Paranormal Activity 2. I must admit that I went into it with some decent expectations because the first PA movie was one of the last horror films to actually spook me. With the release of this film, it must be noted that the director changed, which brought many visual changes. The film's plot is a prequel to the first PA. The two original actors from the first one returned as their characters. The film was a fast view, but the build took longer than expected. The setup of the film seemed to last an hour, with a slow acclimating event. The good, thrilling events of the film did not take place until the final half hour of the film. The thrills of this seem to mask the excitement of the original, but the suspense does not last the whole film like in the original.The camera work also seemed to lose the original home movie feeling of the original in wake of a Hollywood-esqe home movie filming. This change came with the new director ultimately. So overall I would recommend this film for a short thrill, the entertaining moments are entertaining which is good to note. It is also good to know the difference between the original and this one. Well that is my take, so so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Tsotsi and a postponement

     The film of the day was Tsotsi. It was a film from South Africa that was directed by Gavin Wood. After first screening I would have to say I really enjoyed it, but very uncomfortable during some of it. The film seems to have a foreign Hollywood feeling because the journey taken my the main character goes in a very positive direction, but unlike the prototypical Hollywood film, it ended with plenty of loose strings. The film involves the journey of a man who takes the life of a thug in the slums of Johannesburg, South Africa. We learn in the journey the struggles he dealt with in childhood, and the film clearly is representative of the motif of childhood. The evolution of a character is prevalent throughout the film, and  many times is nonverbal. The camera work in the film was phenomenal. The use of crane and dolly shots to evoke the emotion from the camera. There is also a phenomenal street shot in last scene of the film that could make someones jaw drop in completely awe. I highly recommend this film to any viewer.
     As for the film I planned to have on my agenda, Paranormal Activity 2, a review will have to be held off another day. Perhaps I will watch the first one before I see the second to have a mini marathon. I would also like to see Jackass 3-D because I have heard great reviews about it, and I think the 50 million dollar opening weekend can speak for itself especially since it set the record for a Jackass premiere among other things. Well that is all I have for the evening, so so long to all, may your dreams come true.

M and The Hangover.... Plus good foreign films

Well today was another successful day in the world of film in my life. I was able to see one of the best German films, M, from 1931 and directed by Fritz Lang. The film was very cleverly done with the onset of sound just a few years early in Germany. The film set the current model to the psychological thriller. If one wanted to see a classic foreign film, I would highly recommend this one. And on the topic of foreign film, the Danish film After the Wedding is one of the best films I have ever seen. The way the camera captures the truth of pain in ones family and the birth of another. Another film would be Amelie. This film is hyper commercial and could simulate a video game on some levels. The film has a clever story with clever visual effects. But anyways, on to one of the funniest movies to date, The Hangover. It is just a classic film to repeat one liners one after another. The cast is a very strong, and some may have been looked over in their other films until the release of this one. An example would be Zach Galifinakis. Before this film I had no idea he was previously in many films. This film led him to be in 3 or so films released within the last 3 months. Today required a little more attentiveness with M, but it was well worth it. I can only imagine what tomorrow's film viewing will entail. I'm planning on seeing Paranormal Activity 2 at midnight. So so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Still need an ending phrase though...

A Return - Film, Vikings, Postseason Baseball, and UFC

So it seems like it has been ages since I wrote a post. I have just been so busy with school and running around watching films and what not.  I have seen many films this last week including Ninja Assassin, The Alphabet Killer, Where the Wild Things Are, Jackass 2, among many other films. Ninja Assassin was done very similar to Quentin Tarantino films because it was ridiculously over the top and bloody, the only difference is that it does not have the large amount of dialog that Tarantino films have. The Alphabet Killer was based on a true story that was kind of similar to A Beautiful Mind, but not nearly on the same level. The story was great, but the acting and lighting of the film marked it down in my opinion. Eliza Dushku starred in that film and it just seems as though she was trying to show her acting abilities, but failed miserably. Where the Wild Things Are was a huge disappointment. Spike Jonze camera work was good, but moved around too much at times. The story however was too dull, it lacked any plot that would indulge the viewer. I thought it was an awesome idea to make that book into a film, but I guess its too much to as to turn a 30-something page children's book into a full length film. Jackass 2 I had seen before and enjoyed for pure dumb pleasure. I watched it in honor of the release of Jackass 3-D which was released this past weekend. Other than that in my life, I figured I would either be Daniel Tosh of Tosh.o or Mr.Rogers, either way I will be representing a cardigan. In the world of sports, the Vikings won, convincing at times, but what seemed like that failure of the Cowboys during the rest. The Rangers went up 2-1 on the Yankees which is awesome. The Giants stunned Halladay and the Phillies in game 1 of the NLCS, but the Phils rebounded in game 2, so the series is currently tied at one apiece. This weekend Brock Lesnar defends his heavyweight belt in the UFC against Cain Velasquez. The fight I can imagine will be fun to watch, but I will say that Lesnar wins by TKO in the first round of the contest. Lesnar showed in his last title defense fight that he can sub-miss an opponent so he has come full circle as a MMA artist. However, I still do predict the fight to end by TKO in the first round. Well it will be interesting to watch, but we will have to wait to see it. Paranormal Activity 2 will be released Thursday night this week. I am looking forward to a cheap scare even though I believe this time around, the production had A LOT more money to deal with unlike the $10,000 budget and one week film period of the original. Well that seems to be a lot to share for the evening so so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Also- looking for a new phase to end with, make suggestions please

Twins, Moss, and a little Dexter...

So let's see hear. A lot has happened in the world of sports since I last wrote. The Twins lost to the Yankees which was terrible. I can't stand the Yankees. All they do is buy their talent while the Twins are considered of homegrown talent. This was such an amazing opportunity for the Twins who made large commitments to this season's run with the signing of Jim Thome and Orlando Hudson and then acquiring Matt Capps and Brian Fuentes mid season. It's a shame to see the season end, however there are a few bright spots. I believe Danny Valencia has solidified third base going into spring training, the starting rotation looks solid with Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn, and Brian Duensing all for sure returners, and hopefully Carl Pavano is re-signed. Two potential downfalls are the probably departure of Jim Thome due to retirement and a likely scenario that Orlando Hudson leaves via free agency and Carl Pavano also likely to get nice offers going elsewhere. Plus the re-addition of Justin Morneau back to lineup pending he makes a full recovery from the post-concussion syndrome he is suffering from. Joe Nathan will also be returning to the closing role. The Twins could also expect to see a payroll around 100 million again. So that is what the Twins are looking like. Tonight was the return of Randy Moss to Minnesota. He was pretty quite during the first half, but that was in part because Brett Favre was off in the first half. The second half was a different story when Favre hooked up with Moss for their first touchdown connection as well as Favre's 500th career touchdown pass. Moss also made some more catches throughout the rest of the game, but ultimately the Vikings lost to missed opportunities in the last drive. That is the Vikings portion. Next is the entertainment. Last night was Dexter. It was another phenomenal episode that showed some more that Dexter truly has human characteristics and that it is through fatherhood that it is being revealed. I don't want to give much away. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

YouTube

YouTube had to be the greatest invention of the internet ever. I know there are probably plenty of men out there who would disagree and I guess I should women also would disagree too. You know what I'm referring to, so no need to actually say it. There are just times in life, when it feels great to watch video after video after video on YouTube. I find myself doing it quite frequently. The funny videos are fun to watch, but I love to see music videos online because after seeing Spike Jonze's work, I could see myself starting in music videos. I also love seeing people's personal videos to songs. The wedding dance song/video has been probably become the unofficial official video of Chris Brown's Forever. It is fun to watch these live, and independent videos. Artists who are not necessarily pop culture icons are also fun to watch. I've been going between Zero 7, Joshua Radin, and The Shins music videos. They're fun to watch and see what the music is trying to convey. These artists all have something to say. Most of their stuff is powerful and a more peaceful level. Its soothing to listen to songs that are mellow, but are full of character. Another band who I enjoy watching music videos for is OK GO because they have basically become YouTube favorites since the treadmill dance video to their song Here we Go Again. They have this fascinating video that goes through this large array of obstacles, and it is fun to see where they edited the video and the creative minds they have. Ok so as my mind wanders and I continue to view videos as I write this I strongly suggest looking into Joshua Radin. He has a very interesting path to stardom thanks in part to Zach Braff and the Cary Brothers. Scrubs launched his career after they inserted his song Winter, which was the first song he ever wrote about an ex-girlfriend, into an episode of the show. I, among many others, may say that this song creates the saddest moment on the show. It is a funny show. Respect it for the fact that it is a single camera comedy. So each shot seen is essentially a different take, sort of. Bill Lawrence did a great job creating the show. It would be so interesting to work with him. Well this plenty long so so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Why, why, why?

Why Twins why? Down 2-0, not good. I have faith in a comeback, much like Boston's 2004 Comeback against them. Good to note about that is the Red Sox went on to win the world series. So that is where the Twins are headed. Have faith! Well besides that disappointment, I watched The Hunt for Red October which was a phenomenal movie. Sean Connery was superb and Alec Baldwin actually acted well in a film. The action and suspense throughout the movie lead to a large built, but great ending. I also watched this years When in Rome starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel. I half heartedly enjoyed that film. It was a romantic comedy that was very much predictable and cliche story but enjoyable if a soft mood. Dax Sheppard also co starred in the film, but it seemed as though his character was only part of the story because in real life he is engaged to Kristen Bell. So here are two good movies, one should be taken seriously while the other, not so much. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

In the Waiting Line

"Everyone's saying different things to me, Different things to me, Everyone's saying different things to me, Different things to me. Do you believe, In what you see, There doesn't seem to be anybody else who agrees with me"- Zero 7. This is a phenomenal song and I can't help but listen to it on repeat. I learned of the song from the Garden State soundtrack. The song has a unique sound in my opinion of the lead singers voice, paralleled with the sound of the piano and guitar. Listen to it. The music video is a very artistic video, so if your someone who appreciates the art side of film, watch it. Does it ever cross any viewers mind that you decide your life as if it were a film? I find it so interesting that there are many times when I see my life played out as a film. There are times when things that are happening seem to relate to a film I've seen so I try to handle it in a similar fashion if it is a decent outcome or completely different for the negative outcomes. This may be unique to me and other film aficionados, but I could imagine this is common to everyone. People dream, and in many cases, dreams come from things seen, heard, or read. I guess this has been on my mind all day and thought it was worth sharing and wondering if other people felt this way too. Well this is what I have for now. So long to all, may your dreams come true. 

Weapon of Choice

Weapon of Choice by Fatboy Slim. I honestly don't listen to the music, I just watch the music video. It is awesome. Christopher Walken stars and does a phenomenally casual, but hilarious job. The video was directed by Spike Jonze, who now suddenly has become one of my favorite music video directors. He just really embraces the concept of what essentially is a musical. He directs Weezer's video for Buddy Holly which also amazing in totally different regard. The use of past and present is a unique touch. Today I have not felt any words of wisdom to pass forth. My day was spent methodically in front of a computer typing paper after paper.Well that is all I can think of for now, I probably won't sleep so I'll come on and critique some films and music. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.

Regardless of perfect someone may seem, everyone has their flaws. Can you embrace that?

Cycle

Two wise men once said, "Not everything means something, but something could be everything, and everything may mean nothing, but if everything meant nothing, it wouldn't be something.... and the cycle continues." This was a conversation I had today with a friend. It probably has been said before, but this is the first time I dealt with it. The beginning of the quote was a realization of mine when I was just watching movies, and thinking about life. I've had this idea that everything meant something, but it is not a good way to live life. It causes someone to think WAY TOO MUCH! Which is not good at all, and ends mind numbing results. It is just interesting. Today I watched two films that were deep and in depth in their own ways. I watched A History of Violence. In that, the two personalities form the one person. One is always present, but the other one is present in blood. That is when he comes to life, which is much like Dexter, because as he always says, he was born in blood. The film overall was great. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone. The next film I watched was Garden State. I love that film because of richness in the story. It is a very strong story on a deep emotional level. Zach Braff wrote, directed, starred in, and chose the music for this film. He won best new director at a film festival as well as won an award for music. The story is of a character coming to life after 18 years of being numb. That sounds odd, but it makes sense when the film is viewed. The camera work is very provocative. It reveals a lot about the story, while adding to the underlying layers. I really enjoy this movie, and would highly recommend it to others. There is one quote from the film that had a gratifying effect. "If you can't laugh at yourself, life's gonna take a whole lot longer than you'd like it." This is true. Quickly something about Dexter... WATCH IT. It is amazing. The new season is unreal and Michael C. Hall definitely win an award for his acting this season. The character is feeling and dealing with many things he is not used to, and it is just amazing to see it on TV. It's just an amazing show. Well I guess tonight's post was strictly critiques of films. Hope you enjoyed it. Well so long to all, may your dreams come true.