All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2009) Full Movie HD

I attended the world premiere of "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane" at the Toronto Film Festival. From that night on, I couldn't stop talking about it. This film is a gem in so many ways. Young first time director Jonathan Levine has crafted a brilliant twist on the "old school" teen slasher flick. With a script by Jacob Forman, who clearly has a passion for the genre, Levine assembled a frighteningly talented cast of young actors who made these characters so real that it seemed improvised. As it turned out, much of it was, as pointed out in the Q&A which followed the screening. When they partied, they partied. And it results in a natural, carefree ensemble performance that makes this film what it is – pure fun. The production values belie the film's meager budget (500K?). For example, the effective use of neutral film stock, under-processed at times, gives segments of the film a home movie look a la "Blair Witch." The selective use of slow-mo and freeze-frame add to the "big movie" feel of this little indie. As with all good horror films, Levine infuses the film with an appropriately foreboding score. And as an added bonus, the soundtrack features 80's classics which enhance the "old school" feel, especially if you're "old" enough to have been "in school" then. There's plenty of blood and gore here, of course, but tongue is also firmly planted in cheek.

File these names under "people to watch": Michael Welch, Aaron Himelstein, Luke Grimes, Edwin Hodge, and Whitney Able. Amber Heard is Mandy Lane (she also shines in "Alpha Dog"). Anson Mount rounds out the cast and is a familiar face to many. Many of the cast were present at the screening, also seeing it for the first time along with the audience. Those I chatted up afterward were humble and gracious, and worthy of all the attention this film deserves. I don't consider myself a horror fan, but of the 30 plus films I saw, this is among the cream of the crop. Or should I say cream of the chop. Put "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane" at the top of your list.

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(500) Days of Summer (2009) Full Movie Divx

This is the story of boy meets girl, but it is not a love story that will unfurl. Instead a story about loves reactions, caused by two peoples juvenile actions

A little rhyme I wrote in honor of this years funniest and most delightful film. In January 2009 I was able to attend the Sundance Film Festival where I viewed a number of superb movies but none so genius as this one. Unable to buy or book any tickets for the original showings I sadly set my thoughts on other films, till the last day. I had changed plans and went to the ticket office to exchange one movie ticket for another. It was then that I discovered they planned to screen another showing of 500 Days of Summer, due to such immense popularity. Immediately getting a ticket I found myself in the theater a few hours after awaiting with batted breath. I looked around me and watched as Joseph Gorden Levitt took a seat in the row behind, smiling and shaking hands with a number of fans. Although I too was a great fan I couldn't bring myself to go over there, instead I stayed in my seat and the movie was started.

An hour and a half later, I was standing up and applauding for all I was worth. In fact the whole cinema was, with every single audience member whistling, clapping and laughing at the brilliance of it all. Then Joseph Gorden Levitt, (the only cast member of the film who showed) got up on stage and started answering questions. Bubbling with enthusiasm he jumped around, laughing and yelling and keeping the lot of us entertained. He answered the straight questions with straight answers and the silly questions with straight out of hell silly answers. And at the end ran up and down the stage filming us all with a camcorder, saying he'd remember the day forever, I sure do.

Then he went back to his seat and as everyone exited the cinema I swallowed my pride, walked up and shook his hand saying, "Amazing performance, you're an inspiration." Then it was over, I found myself being shuffled with the crowd out of the theater and into the cold outside. But even though I was in a sweatshirt, I couldn't feel a thing, being instead caught up in the entertainment and thoughts of a vibrant funny film.

A film that scores high in all the boxes and one I will certainly see again.

100 out of 100.

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The Hurt Locker (2009) Full Movie HD

Kathryn Bigelow is one of the few woman directors in Hollywood who can make a good action movies for the boys. With Heat Locker, this protégé of James Cameron turns up the heat in a movie clearly for the testosterone audience. Set in Iraq, the movie looks at a bunch of Bomb Disposal experts who are stationed in Baghdad for a count of days. As these men go through bomb after bomb losing fellow-soldiers along the way, the movie impresses upon the hopeless state to which the war-zone has fallen, and the mostly thankless high-risk job of the soldiers that risk their lives there. Yet the movie is not about the war, or its politics, but a zoned in look at one team's existence in it. While one soldier counts his days until they're relieved from duty, another lives at the thrill that the risk of their job brings them. Some great bomb sequences, a supremely-confidant lead performance by Jeremy Renner and a few awesome great cameos make this a great time at the movies. At least for the boys.

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Dead Snow (2009) Full Movie HQ

Wirkola surely spent time studying the genre of zombie movies thoroughly before setting to work on "Død Snø", paying endless tributes to the great classics of the genre throughout the movie, before grabbing it and tossing it over the top and into a strange land beyond.
The movie has so many things speaking in favor of it. It has a well thought-out plot, it has all the wonderful stereotypes of a horror movie in place, and more than anything, it follows the rules of the genre to the note.
From the barely glimpse horror in the early phases, to the ominous messenger who lays the groundwork for the story, to the stalking danger in the dark, and all the way to the outright shotgun-and-chainsaw last stand, Wirkola hardly hits a single note wrong.
If the region of Finnmark should have one national-romantic epic to its name, it should be this movie.
This movie is simply a must-see for the zombie affectionate!

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Moon (2009) Full Movie HD

I attended a screening of "Moon" at the 2009 SXSW Film Festival in the legendary Paramount Theatre. There wasn't an empty seat in the 1300-capacity palace. Directed by Duncan Jones, "Moon" stars Sam Rockwell, one of our generation's most powerful actors.

The notion of a film being unique seems unlikely in 2009. Not here. While "Moon" is a modern-day science fiction film set in the future, it pays homage to recent classics like "Blade Runner" and "Alien." Viewers will be dazzled -- fans of the genre will nod in approval.

Science has developed a way to mine the rocks of the moon for clean energy here on earth. Private enterprise, in the form of a corporation from Japan, sends astronauts on a three-year work stint to carry out this ongoing mission. Sam Bell (Rockwell) is the latest to undertake this task, with the trusted robot GERTY by his side watching over the base's operations -- think HAL with a heart. Of course, things are not what they seem, and the viewer is mesmerized as puzzling and surprising events unfold.

Cinematographer Gary Shaw contributes to the impression of the eerie stillness of life on the moon with the copious use of still camera and slow tracking shots, only using hand-held when necessary. Nicolas Gaster's editing is sure and steady, emphasizing the slow pace of Sam Bell's multi-year work assignment. Remember those pre-CGI days when special effects meant miniature land rovers on a bumpy table? It can still be done -- and be believable. "Moon" is evocative of the sci-fi greats whose visuals were done in-camera, i.e., on set as opposed to being created by computers in post-production. Sam Bell's unearthly home is comfortable yet aging like the patina of an old cottage.

Nathan Parker's screenplay (Jones wrote the story but handed over screen writing duties to Parker) makes the most of Sam Rockwell's considerable talents. This was quite a physically demanding role, as well, and rarely has the actor been better (watch "Snow Angels," though). He doesn't just carry the film -- "Moon" is almost a one-man show and Rockwell conducts a master class.

"Moon" is a classic, down and dirty (literally) science fiction film with a baffling mystery that challenges the viewer to live in the shoes of the protagonist. It's hard to imagine a better one than Sam Rockwell or a more effective, entertaining, and satisfying cinematic experience.

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My Life in Ruins (2009) Full Movie HQ

I was invited to the Greek premiere of "My life In Ruins" held in advance here in Athens 2 days ago. Nia Vardalos was present along with the director & the producer of this film and they were honored for "advertising" my country abroad. Unfortunately, the wonderful Richard Dreyfuss was not present. Anyway,about the movie.This is a very predictable,cliché & mediocre "travelling comedy" that a few people may find amusing. Vardalos is using again her Greek roots to perform a part which is practically the only thing she has proved to us she can deliver as an actress: Neurotic Greek American woman,unhappy with her job,life etc in a bus trip through the Greek land which changes her life.All of these feelings superficially felt & depicted. The supporting cast is enjoyable though (all types of travelers i have seen visiting my country in a somewhat overreacting depiction,the creepy bus driver who falls for Vardalos) and of course Richard Dreyfuss is the lead of them all delivering a hilarious performance & the best lines of the film while doing some Greek sightseeing at the same time. The beautiful Greek surroundings will definitely be a good reason for the viewer to watch the film & even if he has no plans to visit my country he might change his mind soon. There is some great shooting including locations of important ancient Greek history like Delphi & The Parthenon (in his first real movie appearance for over 30 years!). The magic of these places is there indeed for the viewer to feel but is this enough really to pay for the movie ticket? apart from that the humor is weak,fat & folklore (stemming from extremely childish situations)and so is the entire point of view of the director. As a Greek i never liked this type of folklore approach Ms.Vardalos is so keen on giving us every time... simply because things here are so different from the Greek American perception & if the Greek American people involved in this production actually knew it,they would probably reconsider. Synopsis: Watch the film if you enjoyed your travel in Greece or if you plan on visiting soon. But apart from that, the movie is weak & not so smart,easily forgotten in the long run of the bus in the distance between Delphi & Acropol...

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Management (2009) Full Movie Divx

MANAGEMENT is complimentary delight. A sweet dramedy about love and insecurities. Let yourself be taken by Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn and their imperfect yet harmonious chemistry. Woody Harrelson is a comic genius. It's an endearing story about… taking chance on love no matter how scary the uncertainties can be. Spontaneous and heartwarming, enjoy the hospitality courtesy of MANAGEMENT.

I love the story that writer/director Stephen Belber has crafted. I like how he takes his time in developing the characters, getting us to familiarize ourselves and connect with and understand the motivation behind their decisions. You notice the changes that happen within the span of time from the first meeting, to the conflict in the basement all the way to butt-grabbing conclusion. The characters don't stay the same throughout the entire thing, they go through interesting life changing journeys, one after another.. nothing far-fetched.. a bit silly maybe but still within our reason. Yes it's a comedy but it also has some very touching and sad dramatic elements and not in a way that would you put to sleep or plain tear jerkers. It's well thought out with the intention of making us re-think why anybody would wanna get in a relationship in the first place anyway, is it for love or for security?! What a great blend of comedy and drama I might add. It's the type of humor that would break you and get you to chuckle or at least smile even when you try not to. It's a cute little movie.

Jennifer Aniston gives the best performance of her career as Sue, a successful corporate type woman who, during one of her business trips, encounters Mike, played by Steve Zahn who's still stuck doing family business, living a life that's going nowhere but once he catches a glimpse at Sue, he knows that he would have to risk everything to be with her. Steve Zahn is the type of actor who may not be an Oscar caliber yet, possibly because of his goofy presence, he does have the talent and the heart to get the job done. He'll challenge himself and give his all for the story that he strongly believes in.

Sue, despite occasional interest in taking risks and having fun a little, is the kind of woman who likes to play it safe. She goes out to feed the homeless and do all kinds of charity work while juggling a successful career at the same time…but she figures she wouldn't be able to do all that if there's no financial backup to support that certain lifestyle. The themes get even more relevant in this day and age where economy is in the craphole. Is it wise to just take a leap into unconditional love with your eyes closed?!

I think what Belber's trying to emphasize that it can be a struggle being with somebody that you love that loves you back but at least you're truly happy instead of pretending to be. It's also some sort of a stereotypical study on woman and man. Some women tend to mature faster and is very selective when choosing a life partner. Some men still like being a kid, just like Mike who doesn't have much vocabulary in his head, resulting in hasty behavior such as flying thousands of miles away, willing to go broke, just to see if she feels the same way. But what's interesting is Sue's other option is a rich man but also an immature kid. An ex punk rocker named Jango, brilliant played by Woody Harrelson who has the most perfect comedic timing, one of the best actors of our time. Being with Jango proves that Sue has a type after all, she keeps finding herself with the same type of guy. She's scared to give in to love that doesn't have money on the side while Mike isn't sacred to chase after love but he first needs to get out of the life that's been holding him back all these years. They're both taking a chance on each other. What comes after is an adventure they're going to have to figure out together.

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Crank: High Voltage (2009) Full Movie Divx

Chev Chelios was dead, but he got better.

Jason Statham returns as the lead in "Crank: High Voltage", and in every way this sequel breaks the rules and pushes the bar to insane new levels, sometimes even a bit too far.

Three months after his "helicopter incident", Chelios awakens to see that Chinese black-market surgeons are slicing his famed "Chelios Heart" out (made famous by the fact that it kept beating after the events of the first film), and replacing it with a surrogate artificial heart, so they can keep him alive while they farm more of his organs.

Chelios escapes and discovers he has a whole new set of problems- his heart is connected to an external battery pack. When this battery pack runs out of juice, he only has one hour before his artificial heart stops and he dies. And of course one of the first things that happens is that his battery pack is smashed! Now Chelios has to keep his artificial heart beating with regular volts of electricity to recharge it, using anything he can- car power outlets, jumper cables, power stations, stun-guns- whatever he can get his hands on.

His goal- track down psychotic criminal Johnny Vang, who is seemingly parading around Chelios's heart in a miniature cooler, and get it back, so old friend and medical expert Doc Miles (Dwight Yoakam in a returning role as the man who lets the audience know exactly what's going on) can put it back in.

Chelios is also being tracked by sadistic criminals sent by "El Huron", a crime lord who has some devious connections to Chelios and his past actions.

This film has a very convoluted plot, but like the first one, it works out rather well. One particular thing I enjoyed is that we spend a little more time with subsequent and secondary characters, like Chev's girlfriend Eve (the sexy Amy Smart), Venus (Efron Ramirez portraying the brother to his slain character Laylo from the first film), and other characters that come up. It just adds to the plot, and gives it more reality, in contrast to the literal circus of Mayhem that Mr. Chev Chelios is stirring up.

Speaking of returning characters, this film certainly has a lot of cameos from characters from movie number one, which was a delight for me as a fan. Fans of the first "Crank", you'll definitely get a kick out of some of the cameos in this entry.

Now, onto the psychotic weirdness of the film. If you've seen the first film, you'll know it used strange tactics, like subtitles, graphics, and nightmarish imagery to put you inside of the heads of the characters. This film expands on that, by using and abusing subtitles, insane graphics, medical films, and more on a fairly regular basis. We even get a hilarious pseudo-flashback of sorts, and it is one of the most abrupt and brilliant segues I've ever seen to bridge two scenes.

And on that note, I should mention that this film does play for laughs a lot more than the first film. In fact, there are scenes specifically written to play for laughs more than for actions. As a fan, that may sound disheartening (sorry, had to make a heart pun), but trust me, it works. The film definitely teeters on self-satire at times (including a uproariously funny line of dialog where Eve swipes at fans who would call Chev surviving the first film "impossible"), but it keeps it's balance and lets us know that its not taking itself too seriously, so the comedy fits right in.

Writers/Directors Neveldine / Taylor also step the visuals up a notch. While not as haggard visually as the first film, this follow-up does have some pretty visuals, and is better-directed in terms of camera placement and editing in my opinion, and it fits right in with the first one. Their script is also to be commended for being so bold, with bizarre characters (I didn't even mention David Carradine going all "Charlie Chan"!), insane story lines, and one of the most over-the-top and unexpected finales I've seen in a long time. This isn't just an action movie, it's Looney Toons for grown-ups! It's the action equivalent of what "Evil Dead II" was to horror! It's brilliant in it's execution and definitely a step in the right direction for a sequel to "Crank"- not too serious.

This film literally left me in awe with its lunacy and action. If you loved the first film, then there's almost no way you won't love this entry.

I give "Crank: High Voltage" an 8 out of 10, because like the first film, it's the ultimate rush, and now it's even the ultimate source for laughs! Give this one a shot, you'll love it!
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Fast and Furious (2009)Full Movie Divx

Fast and Furious, or 4 Fast 4 Furious if you're keeping count, is a movie you can basically sum up in one sentence. Muscle guys, muscle cars, hot chicks, and incredible action sequences. Not much has changed in the four films other than who the muscle guys wind up being played by but nonetheless, if you're going to the movies strictly to continually watch these things, then not only will this series run forever, but you should have no problem sitting through this fourth flick. Of course the other thing to look at here is the resurrection of Vin Diesel's action star persona, and considering he's been doing movies like "Babylon AD" and "The Pacifier" for the past couple years, you can basically say this is one of his better performances in a real long time.

The plot is pretty thin but I'm sure for fans of the first movie it will be nice to see the two leads back playing their roles. Diesel reprises wanted felon Dom Toretto, who after escaping at the end of the first movie seems to have started a new life in the Dominican Republic knocking over trucks. What brings him back to Los Angeles is revenge for the death of his girlfriend (Michelle Rodriguez) at the hands of brutal drug dealers led by Braga. This brings him face to face with the man who infiltrated his gang in the first flick, Brian O'Connor (Paul Walker), now an FBI agent going after the same drug dealers. And wouldn't you know that driving plays a big part in Braga's whole smuggling operation so both Brian and Dom team up, amidst some trust issues, to bring down the drug cartel.

Hopefully director Justin Lin ("Tokyo Drift") gets the credit he deserves this time around. He's fantastic with these action sequences, not only making them pulse-pounding thrill rides but also letting you feel like you're in the car with these characters. The movie starts out brilliantly with a propane truck hi-jacking that turns life or death when things get out of control and the truck barrels down on the hi-jackers, and then just continues to go full throttle, staging a race on a crowded Los Angeles street and then chases in an underground tunnel shaft. Once these characters get in their cars you won't be bored for a moment.

Outside the car is a different matter though. Both actors do what they can. Diesel is adrenaline personified. With his gravelly voice, bulging biceps, and cool, playful way around a line of dialogue, he's a lot of fun to watch. And while still pretty wooden, I admit that Walker has a pretty-boy face and an athletic physicality that makes him a good hero. This pairing worked well in the first movie, sort of like an amateur, yet entertaining, version of the adrenaline-seeking- cop and criminal formula a la "Point Break." Just after four movies it's all gotten stale and it's easy to see that the cars are the real stars here. The Dom-Brian conflict and Dom's vendetta against the cartel is mostly overshadowed and there isn't much for either character to do when away from their vehicles. Diesel and Walker try but they always seem to be a couple wheels short of competing with the four-wheel drive.

"Fast and Furious" deserves credit for doing the key things well. If your expecting much from anything other than the cars then it's a disappointment, but thanks to Justin Lin this has all the makings of a really thrilling action movie, making this fourth flick in the series a little bit better than its predecessors and a lot of fun.
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Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009) Full Movie HQ

First off, Miley has risen the bar for child actors everywhere. The way she reads her lines off like a dyslexic 4th grader, while amplifying them as loud as possible is phenomenal. Especially when she stretches her mouth into weird positions like when she says "very LA" and swings her arm before fetching eggs to convince her dad she's changed. Miley, don't let anyone ever convince you that whenever you say phrases like "say what" or "sweet nibblets" that they're cheap desperate attempts at becoming the next "Wha'chu talking 'bout, Willis". Wait...oops! But the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Its astounding to watch her father, Billy Ray, deliver his performance with a semi paralyzed facial expression and absolutely no sign of emotion whatsoever. Trying is overrated anyway. Instead of doing that, he cleverly chooses to replace said emotions with G-Rated stereotypical hick puns. I swear it gets me every time I hear him say "eggs-actly". My dad is already predicting he'll be the dead lock-in winner for the Supporting Actor category come February 2010. Speaking of which, what's a razzie?

While the school bullies were throwing me in the dumpster, I overheard them making fun of the movie, saying how the plot is plagiarizing off Spider-Man 2. Can you believe that? Why? It couldn't have anything to with the premise of a person who's an average teenager by day and disguised as a famous celebrity by night and them starting to have doubts living two lives and when exposing their true identity to a crowd of people is promised that none of them will tell anybody, could it? Naw. Those idiots don't realize that we never went into why she wanted to live two lives in the first place (why waste our time on character development?). That, and Spider-Man saves lives...really, the world doesn't need Hanna...uh, I mean...what I meant to say was, uh, moving on. Of course, if Hannah Montana was ripping off any movie that would be Flicka. Think about it, girl who goes back to her country located home, rides horses, bonds with her dad and tries to find herself. Thankfully, Hannah Montana wouldn't dare steal off someone else's work. Sorry Mr. Scoresese but Shutter Island won't be winning Best Screenplay this year.

One more thing I wanted to do was to thank Disney for revisiting slapstick again. This motion picture very well may be their apology for last year's Wall-E, as well as a godsend for Melora Hardin's career (why's she wasting her time on that stupid 'The Office'?). Don't you hate comedies that tell jokes you've never heard before and plot twists you can't see coming? I sure do. My mom calls it "original". Whatever that means, I don't like it. Its intimidating not being able to predict what's going to happen next...like m-o saving Eve and Wall-E's lives. Totally unfair! Another hideous family film that comes to mind is Enchanted. That Amy Adams was way too dedicated and authentic to her role as the real-life turned princess. Her lack of flaws and level of likability weren't realistic. Shame...on...her! Miley however goes to the beat of a different drum. How genius is it of her to heavily borrow dialogue and personality traits from numerous characters in other movies? That way, there's something for everybody in the audience. Those scenes of Miley falling off a chicken coop, Lily falling off a skateboard ramp and Jackson falling out a car window were hilarious! That's totally classic material! That's how a family film should be made. I believe with a successful enough box office performance and the right amount of positive reviews for this film could go on and encourage more Ice Cube projects and dare I say, a BRATZ sequel (such an underrated gem, don't you think?) P.S. I'm sad to report the laugh track wasn't used anytime during the movie, which is a shame because I had trouble knowing when I was supposed to force giggles.
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State of Play (2009) Full Movie DvDrip

Cal (Russell Crowe) and Stephen (Ben Affleck) have been buds since their college days. They still stay in touch, but their lives have taken two different paths. Stephen is an up-and-coming politico who has acquired the beautiful wife, Anne (Robin Wright Penn), the spiffy mansion, wealth and prestige. On the flip side, Cal works as a respected but hardly rich reporter for the Washington Globe, where publisher Cameron (Helen Mirren) reigns supreme. One day, as Stephen, who has been investigating the possibly nefarious doings of a Blackwater-type marines-for-hire group, is about to give a press conference, the gallery informs him that one of his committee members, Sonia, has been found dead near the DC subway. Beginning to cry, Stephen stumbles out of the press talk in a daze. That's because, it seems, red-haired, pretty Sonia was having an extra-marital thing with Stevie. Cal and fellow reporter, Della (Rachel McAdams) begin to investigate the case and also the death of two other gentlemen in the region whose demises may be connected. But, will the personal relationship and past that Cal has with both Stephen and Anne get in the way of the search for truth, especially when it comes to the billions of funds made by the "hired guns" Stephen was trying to explore? This is a top-notch thriller which may put fans of the genre into a state of euphoria. The script is flat-out terrific, based on a British miniseries, especially in its uncanny skill in blending a great deal of humor amid the chills and thrills. Likewise, the cast is most wonderful, with Crowe, McAdams, Affleck, Mirren, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, Penn, and many others delivering strong, strong performances. Special words of praise should go to Crowe, for his head-turning but carefully nuanced role as a man caught in the middle. As for the movie's production, the sets, costumes, camera work and direction are nearly flawless, except for a ruffled blouse that some fashion diva thought would enhance McAdams' look but which hits 100 on the hideous meter. But, that's small peanuts, as they say. All in all, if you love thrillers, especially ones that include the juicy realms of politics and secret government operatives, you would be wise to head to the nearest theater and fork over some cash for this one. It is a definitely one fertile "playground" for the cinematic enthusiast.
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Monsters vs Aliens (2009) Full Movie Divx

Monsters Vs. Aliens has some really funny moments, but by the time you get to see them on the big screen you've already seen them plenty of times on the small one. So there's not too much left to offer by buying a ticket. I thought the 3D was OK. They have a couple of moments specifically designed around flexing the 3d capabilities, but again nothing mind-blowing.

The story revolves around the gigantic Susan (Reese Witherspoon) while pushing all the more interesting characters out of the spotlight. Susan is someone we've all seen in movies before. The victim of an unfortunate mishap leading her down a path she would rather not go down. So the plot follows the same course from there, feels pretty routine. Focusing more on the three other monsters would have made this a better movie. They're much more interesting and only get a small handful of moments to shine throughout the picture.

That was probably the biggest letdown. Having some great comedic potential in the characters voiced by Hugh Laurie, and Will Arnett take a back seat ride. No complaints about Seth Rogen's B.O.B. though, he was great. Kiefer Sutherland was surprisingly good as the General. I underestimated his vocal range.

Finally they made a big deal about Stephen Colbert playing the President, and there wasn't enough of him. All of his funny moments, except for the scene after some of the credits, saturated the coming attractions and commercials. I would have liked to see more of his character.

Overall, its enjoyable. I like to see elements of classic old genres (like the classic monster movies of the 50's and 60's) brought to life in modern day CGI. I just thought this movie had more up its sleeve than it was showing me.
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Earth (2009) Full Movie HQ

I was really looking forward too seeing this movie as it has been advertised as a must-see movie for people that love movies about nature. The movie shows different climates and the animals associated with them by starting at the North Pole and going down south as the movie progresses. The footage from this movie is often breathtakingly beautiful and I many times wondered how on Earth they could have taken some of the shots under water or in the sky. However beautiful, a large part of the footage I had already seen in the TV series 'Planet Earth', narrated by David Attenborough. I found Attenborough's narration of Planet Earth to be much better than the narration of Earth. 'Earth' is an easier movie. It skips much of the scientific detail that Attenborough covers in his 'Planet Earth' series. For instance, Earth will tell you that a tropical sea is an ideal nursery for a young humpback whale, because there are few predators. Planet Earth will tell you that a tropical sea is a good nursery, because the water is low in oxygen and doesn't contain enough nutrients to support very large animals, like large sharks, etc. To me, that's an important difference. That, together with Attanborough's far superior voice make Planet Earth a far better documentary than Earth. Still, however, I think Earth is worth watching for the beautiful footage and the fact that it's easier to understand makes it interesting for children too.
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The Soloist (2009) Full Movie DvDrip

First off, I should say that I am personally familiar with this story, having worked in downtown L.A. for the last 19 years and seeing Mr Ayers and his cello many a time around 3rd and Hill Sts. I've also read Lopez's columns in the Times for years and followed this one with interest and satisfaction. Making a film about a tale like this restores my belief in Hollywood beyond the mindless bunk it churns out year after year.

Downey Jr and Foxx play a newspaper columnist and homeless man who come together in a most unusual way. Downey is a newspaper columnist looking for something original and interesting to write about it. He finds it when he sees Foxx beautifully playing battered stringed instruments along 3rd street in downtown L.A. Foxx has been there for years but on this day grabs the eye of the columnist because the columnist himself is experiencing hardship and doubt related to his own position. He begins to write about this talented but troubled man who fills the stinky air around him with harmony. They become friends but keep in mind this is not fiction. The friendship hits many bumps that continue to this day. Nathaniel Ayers (Foxx's character) may be a brilliant, educated musician, but he suffers from bouts of schizophrenia that manifest at any time. Downey's character accepts this as it adds more intrigue to his columns. Then he accepts it on a personal level. Their friendship ultimately becomes real and meaningful. You sense that Downey's character needs the friendship even more than Foxx's homeless man does. In the end, Downey's Lopez can see the positive effect his work has brought to the plight of the homeless, yet he wonders personally how much better he has made Nathaniel...? His reflections make us think also.

Downey Jr and Foxx play their characters to near perfection and the film masterfully takes its time in developing the relationship between the two. Great to see director Joe Wright telling a contemporary tale just as effectively as he has in previous works. The film makes us wonder how many other Nathaniel Ayers are lurking out there on the streets? Life being what it is, of course we will never know. The beauty of the film is that is shows what can happen when just one Nathaniel Ayers is found after being lost for so many years. There's no sugarcoating; Ayers doesn't magically get better and rejoin mainstream society. Instead, the mainstream accepts him for what he is and what he offers and begins integrating him as best it can. This film will certainly pop up at award time next year.
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Fighting (2009) Full Movie Divx

The running joke about most movies made in New York City is that penny-pinching producers usually shoot spectacular aerial long vistas of the Big Apple and then lens everything else either in Canada or Hollywood. If you're ever visited N.Y.C., you can spot the difference between the actual locale, usually unkempt and teeming with humanity, and the comparative tidiness of Toronto or an immaculate Hollywood soundstage. Award winning Sundance film director Dito Montiel of "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints," shot his new movie "Fighting" with Channing Tatum on the mean streets of 'the city that never sleeps' where Montiel grew up. The terrific authenticity of Gotham, however, cannot compensate for "Fighting's" punch-drunk plot about illegal street fighting.

If you've seen "Hard Times" (1975) with Charles Bronson," "Every Which Way But Loose" (1978) with Clint Eastwood, "Lionheart" (1990) with Jean Claude Van Damme," "Fight Club" (1999) with Edward Norton or "Snatch" with Brad Pit, about underground bare knuckles boxing, you've caught the cream of the crop. Generic from the get-go, "Fighting" amounts to little more than a sluggish knuckle-sandwich saga that telegraphs its every surprise far in advance.

Shawn MacArthur (Cullman, Alabama, native Channing Tatum of "Step Up") hasn't been in the Big Apple long. He earns his keep selling books on the sidewalk. The first time Shawn tries to pedal his product with other vendors on Broadway, several street hoods attack him and steal his money. He swaps blows with one of them and puts the guy down for the count. Watching this fracas from the periphery, eagle-eyed Harvey Boarden (Terence Howard of "Iron Man") admires Shawn's pugilistic skills. Not surprisingly, Shawn's assailants work for Harvey who earns his money as a street hustler/fight promoter.

Eventually, Shawn and Harvey have a close encounter. Initially, Shawn just wants the dough back that Harvey's henchmen stole. Harvey convinces Shawn that he can earn $5-thousand and more in illegal street fights. Gradually, Shawn and Harvey grow to trust each other, but beneath the surface unresolved tension simmers between them. Basically, Harvey sees Shawn as his ticket to prosperity. Harvey hails from Chicago. He came to N.Y.C. with the dream of opening an IHOP, while Shawn is fresh out of Birmingham, Alabama. Shawn parted company with his wrestling coach father after a family dispute. Shawn's past catches up with him in the character of arrogant Evan Hailey (Brian J. White of "12 Rounds") who was a member of Shawn's father's wrestling team. When Shawn and Evan tangled in a fight, Shawn's father intervened, and Shawn put the smack down on dad. Indeed, trouble with fathers is a theme that Montiel explored in depth in his first feature "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints." Montiel choreographs each of Shawn's brawls with a sloppy, improvised realism. Unfortunately, these slugfests lack the ferocity of last year's bare knuckled high school drama "Never Back Down." Instead, Tatum and his opponents engage in free-for-all bouts that resemble the fisticuffs from the second-rate survivalist saga "The Condemned" (2007) where the combatants pounded on each other, but we never saw fists smash flesh. What stands out about these fights is the locales. Montiel stages this fights in Gotham's ethnic neighborhoods, such as the Russian enclaves in Brooklyn and the Hispanic hang0uts in the Bronx.

The villains are anemic. Martinez (Luis Guzman of "Carlito's Way") and Jack Dancing (Roger Guenveur Smith of "American Gangster") are Harvey's old friends, but they show him no respect. They want to eliminate Harvey and take on Shawn as their own boxer. Meanwhile, Shawn and Evan talk tough about old times in Dixie. Evan openly antagonizes Shawn. Nevertheless, these villains prove too lightweight to be intimidating.

Good fight movies make you want to shadow box, but "Fighting" lacks muster. Sadly, too, we are deprived of the inevitable training sequence that is part and parcel of any good Palookaville potboiler. Here, Shawn engages in a quick workout on a subway before a bout.

Montiel penned the script with Robert Munic of TV's "The Cleaner." "Fighting" qualifies as little more than an anthology of cauliflowered clichés and stereotypes from boxing movies. Harvey and Shawn's relationship grows complicated when Harvey arranges a $100-thousand winner take-all-purse and tries to persuade Shawn to throw the fight. This is one of those boxing plots as old as either "Golden Boy" (1939) with William Holden and "The Set-Up" (1949) with Robert Ryan or more recently Bruce Willis in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" (1994). Naturally, Montiel and Munic provide our hero with some time out for romance. He meets cute, sexy Zulay Valdez (Zulay Heano of "Grizzly Park") who makes ends meet as an underpaid, overworked, single-mom waitress at a private club with a young daughter and a stern, drill sergeant of a mother.

Tatum channels Marlon Brando, mumbling his dialogue and behaving so casually that he doesn't appear to be acting. Clearly, Tatum is an up and coming cinematic contender, a handsome but hard-bitten hero in the Vin Diesel mode. Terence Howard, who is usually very good, looks miscast. He doesn't look as desperate for success as his character complains about being. Zulay Henao doesn't garner enough screen time to make much of an impression despite her high wattage smile.

"Fighting" spends too much time pulling its punches to carry any clout.
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17 Again (2009) Full Movie HD

've just returned from the cinema after watching this film and I have to say, my friends and I laughed like a bunch of hyenas (probably to the annoyance of anyone behind us) all the way through it. The story of course is nothing original, but you knew that going in, and yes, there are some seemingly ridiculous or stereotypical character setups, again acknowledged beforehand, but the direction and the acting, more than makes up for this. Most of the actors, especially Efron, who proves he's definitely not just a wanna-be pretty boy and actually stores away some talent, play their parts well. Matthew Perry seemed slightly misplaced, even if he was the reason I went to see the film in the first place. Not to mention the director being Burr Steers who directed one of my favourite films. I could kind of tell how in the wrong hands this movie could have been embarrassingly bad, but Steers manages to balance the right amount of comedy with drama and turn it into something really worth seeing. Efron blew me away. I have to say, I didn't see it coming, and I never thought I'd say such a sentence, but this boy can do better than TV Disney movies. I'm kind of glad he has turned down re-make, Footloose, not only because it's a 're-make of footloose'.

On the negative side of things the writing lacked in terms of Mark's relationship with his daughter. The daughter didn't really seem to have a personality, now I'm not totally sure if this is down to Trachtenbergs terrible acting (one of very little who deliver poor performances actually) or poor character development but something was wrong there.

I don't really rate the cinematography, but I don't think it's something to be taken quite seriously in teen films. It's all about the characters and the comedy - but what was up with that image of Zac right before 'Mark' falls into the water? Some interesting choices of music. One of the funniest movies I've seen in a while. Quite moving and Mark is a much more 3 dimensional, well developed character than most PG-13 rated movies you see. I genuinely cared about him, where as, even in Mean Girls, (which is particularly hilarious and legendary as far as contemporary teen films go) I didn't care too much for any of the characters. It's probably because this film went that little bit further than most and took itself seriously, if only for parts of the movie. It makes a big difference.

So, yeah, '17 Again', fairly well written, hilarious, well and sometimes greatly acted and awesome direction for the most part, and a genuinely good, enjoyable and moving film. Take a look and you'll probably be surprised... but don't go in hoping for anything Oscar worthy. I get the impression there is only so much a director can do with a film like '17 Again' and he did it alright.

Trustworthy director and impressive lead, I'd say. Can make all the difference.

p.s. I'd also watch out for that Sterling Knight actor - he plays Marks awkward son. He gave a genuinely good performance also.
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Obsessed (2009) Full Movie Divx

Look at the title. Look at the trailers. Look at the TV spots. Obsessed didn't really look like a great movie in fact it looked kinda terrible but that it may be good in a trashy fun kinda way. And than you see that PG-13 rating yikes how erotic or violent could it possibly be. looks like the kiss of death for this type of film. So with extremely low expectations I entered this film. And you know what it blew me away. Got my adrenaline pumping. It was generic and by the numbers but there's a reason why they keep making this film over and over again from Fatal Attraction to the Crush to Poison Ivy to Fear and etc. is because if done right it really works. And I loved every trashy moment of it. The people involved with this picture knew exactly what kind of movie they wanted to make and you should know what your entering and you will love it. The setup is simple a evil young woman played impressively by Ali Larter tries to seduce a flirty office manager at her new job. When she's rejected she becomes obsessed (no pun intended) and starts to pretend they are actually together setting him up for a number of predictable plot twists all leading up so his wife played fantastically by Beyonce Knowles can kick her skinny ass. As for the film here's the bad it's not very clever and the cinematography is very TVmoviesh, the soundtrack is pretty terrible and unfitting and of course you know the plot just isn't very new or surprising which actually doesn't make it any less shocking when things happen. Now heres the good. the performances are really good for this type of film Ali Larter gives her psycho real three dimensional roots you never doubt her insanity and you see how it slowly grows. It's definitely a progression of tension between the slight flirting, sordid comments leading up to an aggressive sexual assualt and etc. The one thing that is compelling in that plotting is how developed it all is and how detailed. That being said the star performance her is Beyonce although she is uneven at some points when she becomes the strong character in the film. She's absolutely captivating and she has some real melodramatic, tear inducing emotional sequences energized by wife power and feminism. There are moments that although ridiculously cheesy wanna make you stand up and clap. She's a real powerhouse. And the film really should'nt be picked apart its just extremely entertaining from the overly melodramatic plot twists to the fantastically choreographed girl fight finale that rivals and exceeds Single White Females. Obsessed may not bring anything new to the table but there's absolutely nothing wrong with visiting simplistic material if executed properly and trust me Obsessed is packed with bitch one liners, hair flips and head ups and if thats your thing, because its definitely mine. WATCH FULL MOVIE

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) Full Movie HQ

All of the X-Men movies were great. And I mean all of them, including the long hated X-Men 3. They had solid characters (Magneto and Xavier were the best ones, in my opinion), and a good story arch.

I was all excited when I heard this movie was on production, and my expectations grew bigger and bigger until I saw the movie. I was so disappointed.

Hugh Jackman is not a bad actor (his best movie is The Fountain, although you won't hear about this movie when they talk about the actor), and his acting is not what screws the movie up.

The whole film is plagued with lots of meaningless characters that add nothing to the plot (like Blob or Gambit), which were tossed there to make fans believe that the film makers had read the original comics.

I am a fan of XMen, I have read many, many of their stories and this movie respected none of them. None. Not even the continuity. It doesn't respect Weapon X project, or the relationship between Wolverine and Sabretooth, or Emma Frost, the motivations for wolverine are plain stupid and seen in millions of movies: Revenge for the death of a loved one.

Oh. What I was expecting the whole darn movie was a Berseker moment for Wolverine similar to the one he has in X2 in the school when Stryker men come in and he alone decimates the enemy forces, but hey, this is Fox, this a family flick and you will not see explicit violence from the most violent and gruesome Marvel hero.

Besides, I had a feeling of constant dejá vù with this movie because Wolverine's Origins are already explained in X2, we already know how he got his adamantium skeleton so it kind of does not make sense to make a movie of something we already know.

I personally believe that wolverine is one of those few characters that does not need a solid back-story because mystery is the nature of the character. Do we really want to know how the Joker got his scars?
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Battle for Terra (2009) Full Movie HD

I was at the gala premiere of Terra in Toronto and was absolutely blown away by this film- I'm not a big festival goer- but I was in Toronto on vacation and saw something about Terra on the local news. It's hard to believe that 'kickmekenneth' and I were at the same screening. I've never commented on these types of websites but came across this review when I was looking for info about this film. The film was incredible- the world Tsirbas created is gorgeous and totally unique. I felt as though I was watching a painting come to life. It was so refreshing to experience an animated story whose characters had depth and conflict like those in a dramatic live action film. The environmental and anti-war themes were expertly woven into the plot and clearly Danny Glover, Brian Cox and Justin Long felt strongly enough about this film to present the premiere and Danny Glover was gracious enough to talk with us afterward. Terra's only flaw may be that it is ahead of its time in the US – where we are are used to our animated characters being simplistic, forgettable talking animals. TERRA is the future of CGI. I took a group of children who have not stopped talking about this film since the screening- we go to all the animated films, and I've never seen this kind of reaction from them. I also noticed a few adult audience members sniffling tears at the dramatic conclusion. BRAVO Mr. Tsirbas! This is a film worth seeing... Does anyone know who Mr. Tsirbas is or where I can learn more?
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