tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63893823507051133682024-03-19T22:05:33.822+02:00Babbling about moviesFor the love of films and stars that sparkle in the screenHelinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-68276539542618658882009-09-12T16:18:00.006+03:002009-12-05T00:59:04.454+02:00The girl who played with fire (Flickan som lekte med elden) (2009)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBR9xHUgN0wNnkI_e9Baw1EWDNhJSFljynCeG8Km429wQFPyjwaWqSQnRbmYTFY0WtCb46mbEbV48NdezYb9hkFNEgvQ_hglA2eSFdOXIMhLDUdboMCqfa8gCj95aAnKWPkgIdb1Fonk/s220/TyttoJokaLeikki_pressi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBR9xHUgN0wNnkI_e9Baw1EWDNhJSFljynCeG8Km429wQFPyjwaWqSQnRbmYTFY0WtCb46mbEbV48NdezYb9hkFNEgvQ_hglA2eSFdOXIMhLDUdboMCqfa8gCj95aAnKWPkgIdb1Fonk/s220/TyttoJokaLeikki_pressi.jpg" width="141" /></a><b>Stieg Larsson's </b>bestselling <i>Millenium</i> -trilogy is being transformed into movies. <i>The girl who played with fire</i> is the second part in the series, and continues the story that started in<i> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1132620/">The girl with the dragon tattoo</a></i>, the story of the hacker Lisbeth Salander and the Millenium -magazine's editor in chief Mikael Blomkvist.<br />
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Lisbeth (<b>Noomi Rapace</b>) returns to Sweden after about a year's "exile" and immediately gets the "men who hate women" on her tail. Mikael (<b>Michael Nyqvist</b>) has not heard a single word from Lisbeth since she disappeared after the events in <i>The girl with the dragon tattoo</i>. Mikael starts working with a freelance-journalist Dag, who has with his girlfriend (who is doing her doctoral thesis of the subject) done research of the buying and selling of women. In their research they have found interesting things about some high ranking state officials participating in the trade, and want to get their names in public.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiLtV6PKhzX10Rjh6PT2Z2uC_NdYpgfs31NIOxzDnJpKmMiZwkRDSeilMq2415PDX5vcwq3MA-QJQ_ugLPEgFJ9xki4ENGR4J4hmnbW12tdY7-A1IDdVfnmjxWZbl8wCECVfCyIch_io/s1600-h/FSLME4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiLtV6PKhzX10Rjh6PT2Z2uC_NdYpgfs31NIOxzDnJpKmMiZwkRDSeilMq2415PDX5vcwq3MA-QJQ_ugLPEgFJ9xki4ENGR4J4hmnbW12tdY7-A1IDdVfnmjxWZbl8wCECVfCyIch_io/s400/FSLME4.jpg" /></a></span><br />
</div>When Dag and his girlfriend are murdered and in the gun the fingerprints of Lisbeth are found, everyone in the police as well as among the criminals in question start chasing the gothic, tattooed young woman. More horrifying details are revealed of Lisbeth's past and finally she gets to meet her past, face to face. And this is the most I can tell you without spoiling the story :)<br />
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<i>The girl who played with fire </i>does not quite reach the quality of its predecessor. <i>The girl with the dragon tattoo</i> was a masterpiece among thrillers in every detail with such an intensity that can only be admired. Thematically it was unique because of the feministic and anti-racist plot. Part two continues the same style, but as a whole is more fragmented and difficult to follow.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCc4r1SQmCGP2ke5fb8qCn9u18W1nU2rP-z_FVTpCxoAOSyGuSqmDuJh9sMye0AyFVa5OTZtEFhxfpphALopY4QboGpHnwVJjnGwM7mwc8QSYqNkzISRP2swkoRxeuAcF2M2Vtr5O0zSM/s1600-h/FSLME6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCc4r1SQmCGP2ke5fb8qCn9u18W1nU2rP-z_FVTpCxoAOSyGuSqmDuJh9sMye0AyFVa5OTZtEFhxfpphALopY4QboGpHnwVJjnGwM7mwc8QSYqNkzISRP2swkoRxeuAcF2M2Vtr5O0zSM/s400/FSLME6.jpg" /></a></span><br />
</div>Following the complex story leaning only to subtitles is a bit difficult. My knowledge of Swedish is not very good and I found myself having some difficulties in understanding everything that was happening, as the story moves forward in such a fast speed and it does not waste too much time in explaining things. Also you may get more out of the story if you have read the original novels... I had not.<br />
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However, <i>The girl who played with fire</i> is filled with the same feminist energy as its predecessor and Rapace pulls her amazing and complex role again with such a skill that must be applauded. This movie focuses even more to Lisbeth's character and makes it definitely Rapace's film. Lisbeth is a female character with an attitude that is seldom seen in movies these days, and this along with her strange and horrifying past makes her one of the most interesting movie female characters in a long time!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_4CrafTp69qfEN1etNH8W09oVxX09Ktsux-LkmDAOxZp3jvxNIdmKXRVVU36T0f6evruF5lHPUbMjy-FNKLIyBRQvjGwl1kaAUZ58A2O0JHmq2DOJyDvS6VRySfhaTSxKlxQSHbiDDU/s1600-h/FSLME10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_4CrafTp69qfEN1etNH8W09oVxX09Ktsux-LkmDAOxZp3jvxNIdmKXRVVU36T0f6evruF5lHPUbMjy-FNKLIyBRQvjGwl1kaAUZ58A2O0JHmq2DOJyDvS6VRySfhaTSxKlxQSHbiDDU/s400/FSLME10.jpg" /></a></span><br />
</div><b>Final verdict:</b> Does not quite match its predecessor, but is still a very good thriller with interesting characters and focus on important issues of human trade and women's rights as well as the state of the psychiatric health care. Lisbeth Salander is one of the most interesting female characters in a long time, and Noomi Rapace does a marvellous job in personating her. Recommended to people who enjoy quality thrillers and who are not afraid of watching a Swedish film.<br />
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<b>Directed by</b> Daniel Alfredson<br />
<b>Written by</b> Jonas Frykberg, based on Stieg Larsson's novel<br />
<b>Cast</b> Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist, Georgi Staykov, Sofia Ledarp<br />
<b>IMDb</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1216487/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1216487/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #e06666;">****</span>*</span> <b>by</b> PaiviHelinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-62828373038079956602009-08-29T08:00:00.001+03:002009-08-29T08:00:02.829+03:00Happy Birthday to us!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Movie Babblings</span> is<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);font-size:180%;" > one year old</span> today =) Happy birthday to us!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeMxQTsrGItyWOifx58aaKSLBu9cSVGqaN3gb_vVliFDxqfKQKfwKss5NNayBz9xguO4ioZ9NqYv-G-HOJHKeLBX3VTllC134hC5DuXQsffqn7wHyI7Vc72Pj-L3Xk4feflL2RrRkIU8/s1600-h/birthday_sw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 375px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeMxQTsrGItyWOifx58aaKSLBu9cSVGqaN3gb_vVliFDxqfKQKfwKss5NNayBz9xguO4ioZ9NqYv-G-HOJHKeLBX3VTllC134hC5DuXQsffqn7wHyI7Vc72Pj-L3Xk4feflL2RrRkIU8/s400/birthday_sw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374967805661327826" border="0" /></a><br />My movie friends had suggested me to start an own movie blog and finally I did last August. It took me a while to get into the world of blogging, but once I did, it seems there's no turning back. After a while having a blog in English, I felt the urge to write also in Finnish - as you can see from my other blog <a href="http://thehangmansjoke.blogspot.com/">The Hangman's Joke</a>.<br /><br />Although I started Movie Babblings in August, it was not until in spring 2009 that the blog started getting more content when I joined forces with a long time friend and movie geek Sari. It has been quiet here during the summer because of holidays and everything, but things should change :)<br /><br />Thank you to all our readers!<br />PaiviHelinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-14234504578575829412009-07-09T21:08:00.012+03:002009-12-05T01:03:30.885+02:00Brüno (2009)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTNGb0uHsK9MHiFrh9FdgBaWfgRWO2g3E7gP2i34SiQA-g8jSdO9oqAKovldWcZNzuqQ4nxRVa8VLIfJAbBDyjL1EI0XrDehAYSFESHlH581qFzOQtlTC-kPA1l8vCzPZeFJhTFvcq0Q/s1600-h/bruno-poster.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356524222766747810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTNGb0uHsK9MHiFrh9FdgBaWfgRWO2g3E7gP2i34SiQA-g8jSdO9oqAKovldWcZNzuqQ4nxRVa8VLIfJAbBDyjL1EI0XrDehAYSFESHlH581qFzOQtlTC-kPA1l8vCzPZeFJhTFvcq0Q/s200/bruno-poster.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a>In 2006 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sacha Baron Cohen</span> introduced the world to Borat, a reporter from Kazakhstan who shocked the USA when traveling around and looking for Pamela to make her his wife. The "semi-documentary" style movie gained Cohen an Oscar-nomination for Adapted Screenplay and many considered <span style="font-style: italic;">Borat</span> the best comedy of the year.<br />
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This year Cohen brings his third character, a gay Austrian fashionista named Brüno, to the big screen. This time however it is not as easy to make the movie as documentary in style because Cohen's face is so well known all over that it's hard to fool people.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDNThypK1UDeuxRHq3TZjfJmSkLCMam9ATLkmIZ_6eiVqrZg0WXbmzROs0YMe6P3TDoEb-e7OZO0OLnBMNacVwd5pPsuCJqUZkNX7y2-UYNXS99nkCajRDVZVrSc3V5JpzxI_F-RFo5c/s1600-h/Sacha-Baron-Cohen-as-Brun-001.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356525528639049186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDNThypK1UDeuxRHq3TZjfJmSkLCMam9ATLkmIZ_6eiVqrZg0WXbmzROs0YMe6P3TDoEb-e7OZO0OLnBMNacVwd5pPsuCJqUZkNX7y2-UYNXS99nkCajRDVZVrSc3V5JpzxI_F-RFo5c/s400/Sacha-Baron-Cohen-as-Brun-001.jpg" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
In Austria Brüno runs his own tv-show called Funkyzeit, but when he creates a disaster in the Milan fashion week, he gets fired and even his boyfriend dumps him. Deeply hurt Brüno decides to move to L.A. and become a celebrity there. His assistant Lutz (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Gustaf Hammarsten</span>) is the only one who has faith in him, and comes along.<br />
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In L.A. Brüno finds out it is not easy to become a celebrity, especially with his style - stereotypic gay guy who is not afraid to show a talking penis in his tv-show. Lessons are learned though, and as people become famous for their charity work, Brüno decides to bring peace to Middle-East. When even that does not work, he adopts a baby from Africa. And when even *that* does not work, he decides that to become a celebrity, one must turn heterosexual, like "Tom Cruise did".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEzjHr_V1UvgYtOpg5P53dDoumWz-cxIz9RxGl8NlBH55tnRVKHwArGfzmG9b28id6Vb2YYPhuSmulIvvAvHRKTcyeE9ID3wChcBkLtpBVCU2C1kmcUCwObo90SAgyFXLygZVmOotNx8/s1600-h/sashabaroncohen_560x375.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356525612258049874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEzjHr_V1UvgYtOpg5P53dDoumWz-cxIz9RxGl8NlBH55tnRVKHwArGfzmG9b28id6Vb2YYPhuSmulIvvAvHRKTcyeE9ID3wChcBkLtpBVCU2C1kmcUCwObo90SAgyFXLygZVmOotNx8/s400/sashabaroncohen_560x375.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Brüno</span> is one of the funniest comedies this year. It is one of those that really make you laugh out loud. But it is not a movie to everyone as it's goal is clearly to shock conservative people. The story flows in a similar manner as does the story of Borat - Brüno travels around, meets real people and makes his moves to shock, irritate and question people, their openness and morals. This includes meeting a preacher who turns homosexuals to heterosexuals, a couple of PR-blondes, a bunch of hunters and a talk show audience.<br />
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Some parts are clearly staged but most of the movie is still hilarious, and especially the final scene in the wrestling ring made me cry out of laughter. And it is not just Cohen who makes the audience laugh, it is also the counter shame that one feels for the people who meet Brüno, who has totally no limits.<br />
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But despite its controversial theme, is Brüno himself homophobic? The stereotypic gay and the extreme sex scenes may be translated as homophobic as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PArrhAAqpO93wcyLttW1Snloo6dlaRVEAWCMRzqJ9AFieZzSx_SaZZqSCCXT63RsTY6IQCab0oY8u6GCzhcR01i_5kDscbPogU2cS-qujbqKQO1in5j6V1Wm_UdZRUSIg-o35kc9vMg/s1600-h/bruno.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356525448421898930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PArrhAAqpO93wcyLttW1Snloo6dlaRVEAWCMRzqJ9AFieZzSx_SaZZqSCCXT63RsTY6IQCab0oY8u6GCzhcR01i_5kDscbPogU2cS-qujbqKQO1in5j6V1Wm_UdZRUSIg-o35kc9vMg/s400/bruno.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 287px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Final verdict: </span>Extremely funny and controversial comedy of a gay Austrian fashionista by Sacha Baron Cohen. Brings up the prejudices many people have against gay people and shocks with the open sexuality.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>Directed by</b> Larry Charles</span><br />
<div><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>Written by</b> Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>Cast</b> </span><span style="font-size: 85%;">Sacha Baron Cohen, Gustaf Hammarsten</span><br />
</div><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>IMDb</b>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0889583/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0889583/</span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQeANkiwuKTgVT15JN2houL751Zywece1OlqUpOlonnbdJtQpUvrujSLu4xPa4Ox8s5V-uBp10TFimkorNEA7klN8Q8KmoAYNA34ibA7r-LSMHRZ-xfdbMZBHa3BEF3_APXXWHWV4hKkH/s1600-h/4stars.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340265605803612978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQeANkiwuKTgVT15JN2houL751Zywece1OlqUpOlonnbdJtQpUvrujSLu4xPa4Ox8s5V-uBp10TFimkorNEA7klN8Q8KmoAYNA34ibA7r-LSMHRZ-xfdbMZBHa3BEF3_APXXWHWV4hKkH/s320/4stars.jpg" style="float: left; height: 19px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 103px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b> by</b> Paivi</span>Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-62845782109306430042009-07-08T20:36:00.011+03:002009-07-08T21:57:22.598+03:00Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tHWMJlVeie8-wiKqOKoKTa0mHQoSVvkTgbDKq3ZN9_Uwd9GacgJbjMFKCjyUU5_47maa8BcNMpDLTgyGvZL_x6PNCxXDJtOrPwHIacGuaUt7fLA962tS9ui-7PnwnsNMlhf-797qG4c/s1600-h/harry-potter-poster-61.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tHWMJlVeie8-wiKqOKoKTa0mHQoSVvkTgbDKq3ZN9_Uwd9GacgJbjMFKCjyUU5_47maa8BcNMpDLTgyGvZL_x6PNCxXDJtOrPwHIacGuaUt7fLA962tS9ui-7PnwnsNMlhf-797qG4c/s200/harry-potter-poster-61.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356145664551985026" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" ><strong>Directed by</strong> David Yates<br /><strong>Written by</strong> Steve Kloves, based on J.K. Rowling's novel<br /><strong>Cast</strong> Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Jim Broadbent, Bonnie Wright, Helena Bonham Carter</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" ><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417741/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0417741/</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYVUwgGUMJSt317KKSEBo1UIFiNEAACRhNppwS18a_TFblbxigvX7Et29oDzONaNpCm84fTpKM5DDlMa2aC6EgfIzYZlh6QS6gEzoHyC-w995Z4gu0URQcLcIYoKJJW-RpGMm4B5cfReG/s1600-h/3stars.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 103px; float: left; height: 19px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342194365003951810" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYVUwgGUMJSt317KKSEBo1UIFiNEAACRhNppwS18a_TFblbxigvX7Et29oDzONaNpCm84fTpKM5DDlMa2aC6EgfIzYZlh6QS6gEzoHyC-w995Z4gu0URQcLcIYoKJJW-RpGMm4B5cfReG/s320/3stars.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" ><strong>Reviewed by</strong> Paivi</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">___________________________________________________________________</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</span>, the sixth installation of the Potter -series is a story of Harry's (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Daniel Radcliffe</span>) sixth Hogwarts wizard school year. The evil lord Voldemort has gained more and more strength and his impact has reached even the muggle world - bridges are collapsing and people are dying because of the work done by his Death Eaters. This affects also the wizarding school and the school is covered by extra protective spells to prevent the evil from coming inside the school grounds. However, even the best is not always enough, the evil has its ways, and this leads to events that make Harry once again lose someone important to him.<br /><br />Voldemort and his Death Eaters are not the only pain the students in Hogwarts face. They are growing up and it is no less than sex that causes them trouble and heartache.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqd5IjO0FCfPZSQBmjRLPXhtP2TFwG394PtN4yIzeKrhpvksDmCR1UHgUY1_ZUrTowQqayiZThDg02DwB8mBRtwx2_uLwPcM2zWPO4xFXtyJkVt_PogIsX0cVLuzJE2kJ59m3m2HZ-MiM/s1600-h/hp6_bellatrix.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqd5IjO0FCfPZSQBmjRLPXhtP2TFwG394PtN4yIzeKrhpvksDmCR1UHgUY1_ZUrTowQqayiZThDg02DwB8mBRtwx2_uLwPcM2zWPO4xFXtyJkVt_PogIsX0cVLuzJE2kJ59m3m2HZ-MiM/s400/hp6_bellatrix.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356154912069242402" border="0" /></a>Hogwarts school gets a new Potions teacher, professor Slughorn (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Jim Broadbent</span>) and former Potions master, professor Snape (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Alan Rickman</span>) gets to teach the Defence against the Dark Arts (it's a pity all of the actual classes have been cut of the movie). Slughorn is not asked to Hogwarts by professor Dumbledore (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Michael Gambon</span>) without a reason, but he holds a secret Harry must find out, as this secret may help in destroying lord Voldemort.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXW9l9xyUsRWIGksq4Vgn0NWQU71OA33x5vP-aacsKXuIWJjyY1TLNFM3ndDqngL44HB4f-LNf62zd-2xVm5B2Moe8IZVywCZGiOQUbQ1M0svlxisd8Gt3FZjmaDi_iTOqa7Mre7phDt4/s1600-h/hp_slughorn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXW9l9xyUsRWIGksq4Vgn0NWQU71OA33x5vP-aacsKXuIWJjyY1TLNFM3ndDqngL44HB4f-LNf62zd-2xVm5B2Moe8IZVywCZGiOQUbQ1M0svlxisd8Gt3FZjmaDi_iTOqa7Mre7phDt4/s400/hp_slughorn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356154811834087058" border="0" /></a>Finally - professor Dumbledore takes Harry along with him in the action. The headmaster gives Harry a lot of new information on Voldemort and together they continue discovering the Evil Lords secrets in their attempt of destroying him once and for all. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6t-SJHCfkC14Y1ABL3fGSF-ohb7JOBLjxuh4BfhG1fb7spx7COJLJzs1vrFM1mUhJkzDtitDWpQt0OryitEWqIRABq-qd0nA6Sexo4OhGrpFzo-KeY_jgwsHscm_4QHq8wGf6aVc3AY/s1600-h/hp6_h&d.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6t-SJHCfkC14Y1ABL3fGSF-ohb7JOBLjxuh4BfhG1fb7spx7COJLJzs1vrFM1mUhJkzDtitDWpQt0OryitEWqIRABq-qd0nA6Sexo4OhGrpFzo-KeY_jgwsHscm_4QHq8wGf6aVc3AY/s1600-h/hp6_h&d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6t-SJHCfkC14Y1ABL3fGSF-ohb7JOBLjxuh4BfhG1fb7spx7COJLJzs1vrFM1mUhJkzDtitDWpQt0OryitEWqIRABq-qd0nA6Sexo4OhGrpFzo-KeY_jgwsHscm_4QHq8wGf6aVc3AY/s400/hp6_h&d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356154722631714770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Half-Blood Princ</span>e continues the Potter-saga in a very similar fashion as the couple of previous movies have done - it leaves most of the book's complex plotlines out. This is good in a way that it is impossible to squeeze everything from those enormous novels into a bit over 2-hour-movie. But even though something has been gained, something is also lost in this process, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Half-Blood Prince</span> feels a bit hollow, as if it was made without a heart totally involved. The biggest flaw is probably the fact that even though the name of the movie is <span style="font-style: italic;">Half-Blood Prince</span>, the mystery around the Prince is totally left out and the discovery of the Prince in the final scene seems almost corny.<br /><br />The pains and sorrows of growing up are very prominent in the movie, so much it made me ask were they really<span style="font-style: italic;"> that</span> important? That so many scenes were included in the movie in the expense of the actual Harry-Voldemort -story? I would have preferred a deeper digging into the storyline that really matters, and leave the love life of the young ones less visible - after all it is not that much visible in the original story either.<br /><br />The main trio of the saga have really grown up, but they still fit into their roles as before. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Emma Watson</span> (Hermione Granger) has grown up to be a total stunner and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rupert Grint</span>'s (Ron Weasley) talent as a comedian has strengthened on. Radcliffe has always had a bit stiff style of acting, and he continues the same way. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tom Felton</span> (Harry's arch enemy Draco Malfoy) however looks perfectly like his father's son in his suit. Rickman as Snape and Gambon as Dumbledore are brilliant as always. It is wonderful to see these classic actors work so well in a movie targeted to young audiences.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Half-Blood Prince</span> offers the fans of the saga a nice and working piece of magic and action, but don't expect to see a masterpiece.Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-72501455405155475602009-06-24T20:45:00.000+03:002009-06-24T20:58:31.719+03:00Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky (2009)<a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeY6Z5VjB6QllHRTqbzxLV9LWwVmHBIC4CdGMqY23u_0kDUB-u5fRIo7rq9ENe8TSWskg-7TvtD0uISy7CRwET5gIu2HA9ttXJujb0I0yBC8VbwuaJ6C1R6QftT6lwJKmUYxsZf0KEWpw/s1600-h/Coco_Chanel_Stravinsky_(2009).jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeY6Z5VjB6QllHRTqbzxLV9LWwVmHBIC4CdGMqY23u_0kDUB-u5fRIo7rq9ENe8TSWskg-7TvtD0uISy7CRwET5gIu2HA9ttXJujb0I0yBC8VbwuaJ6C1R6QftT6lwJKmUYxsZf0KEWpw/s200/Coco_Chanel_Stravinsky_(2009).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346127834234202914" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" ><strong>Directed by</strong> Jan Kounen<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Written by</span> Carlo de Boutiny and Jan Kounen<br /><strong></strong><strong>Cast</strong> Mads Mikkelsen, Anna Mouglalis, Yelena Morozova</span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" >, Anatole Taubman<br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" ><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023441/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023441/</a></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" ><strong><br /><br /><br /></strong></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYVUwgGUMJSt317KKSEBo1UIFiNEAACRhNppwS18a_TFblbxigvX7Et29oDzONaNpCm84fTpKM5DDlMa2aC6EgfIzYZlh6QS6gEzoHyC-w995Z4gu0URQcLcIYoKJJW-RpGMm4B5cfReG/s1600-h/3stars.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 103px; float: left; height: 19px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342194365003951810" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYVUwgGUMJSt317KKSEBo1UIFiNEAACRhNppwS18a_TFblbxigvX7Et29oDzONaNpCm84fTpKM5DDlMa2aC6EgfIzYZlh6QS6gEzoHyC-w995Z4gu0URQcLcIYoKJJW-RpGMm4B5cfReG/s320/3stars.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" ><strong>Reviewed by</strong> Paivi</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">__________________________________________________________________</span><span style="font-size:85%;">_</span><br /><br /><em></em>There are two Coco Chanel biographies released this year. <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1035736/">Coco avant Chanel</a> stars <span style="font-weight: bold;">Audrey Tautou</span> (Amelie) as the leading lady and the movie is released later this year. <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023441/">Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky</a> (starring <span style="font-weight: bold;">Anna Mouglasis</span> as Coco and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mads Mikkelsen</span> as Igor) shows only a small part of Coco's life and focuses on her relationship with the Russian composer.<br /><br />Coco Chanel was a very independent woman for her time. After her lover called Boy (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Anatole Taubman</span>) was killed in a car accident, she decided to live alone in her huge mansion, interiors designed by herself. The actual Chanel mansion is used in filming the scenes. Coco is a fan of music and an admirer of everything brave. When she witnesses the almost riot that follows the "scandalous" premiere of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, she wants to get to know the composer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Xj-_q8U2O9VSe-EYdZCnFUVnSkTs3q4mSsSBIshmSuppnoRB8O7VETEsuvb1IrGSICQNfMZgRL67QhdOkJdVxYkG76dMDPcx4fijef9_heinhF930dFRZo4PVe5veCgRihMtUoLR87s/s1600-h/CocoChanelAndIgorStravinsky_scene_04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Xj-_q8U2O9VSe-EYdZCnFUVnSkTs3q4mSsSBIshmSuppnoRB8O7VETEsuvb1IrGSICQNfMZgRL67QhdOkJdVxYkG76dMDPcx4fijef9_heinhF930dFRZo4PVe5veCgRihMtUoLR87s/s400/CocoChanelAndIgorStravinsky_scene_04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348585762593137634" border="0" /></a>Stravinsky lives with his wife (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Yelena Morozova</span>) who is sufferfing of tuberculosis and children in a small flat and Coco invites them all to live in her mansion - allowing Igor a possibility to more space for his musical creativity. Coco and Igor are drawn to each other and finally end up having an affair.<br /><br />Brilliantly filmed movie uses beautiful visuals. Every single frame is like a work of art. However, the story itself is missing the passion that should be present between the two artists. Coco even though very well presented as an independent woman feels calculating and cold without any emotions.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKOYSLPf5ecbX87YyfO_KQJyW1Vqr48qVd147QF0xsECjnfeMx7AZj9XhLmJDu9w3WQzLHMVuH6WaSL6xURBE5XK1QqM7od1w3jgq5lVpEXX43D0EOGYjdJg9meKWkP83yA4ECH96csw/s1600-h/coco-chanel-and-igor-stravinsky.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKOYSLPf5ecbX87YyfO_KQJyW1Vqr48qVd147QF0xsECjnfeMx7AZj9XhLmJDu9w3WQzLHMVuH6WaSL6xURBE5XK1QqM7od1w3jgq5lVpEXX43D0EOGYjdJg9meKWkP83yA4ECH96csw/s400/coco-chanel-and-igor-stravinsky.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348585140339668418" border="0" /></a>The Danish actor Mikkelsen makes Igor a vulnerable man, a man drawn to two directions - the wealth and love of Coco and on the other hand his loyalty to his wife and children. Also for a man and an artist it is difficult to accept the fact that the woman is also an artist and with her own will and self esteem.Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-56083173825726876282009-06-17T18:45:00.005+03:002009-06-17T21:24:24.743+03:00Chéri (2009)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrkYHzgOkazFi4vosxMlkLo4EDuQRxuVe_KVNE7Q0I_EMZlq4B_FOjzk_39YbvfKbXk2K03awwSC_bv9Zma2VON7iXTp2nJ71w85j6bPk8lsoZ3EMfeBtQajzjXdIpCS9e-Qo3QYruAA/s1600-h/cheri_michellepfeiffer_poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 147px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrkYHzgOkazFi4vosxMlkLo4EDuQRxuVe_KVNE7Q0I_EMZlq4B_FOjzk_39YbvfKbXk2K03awwSC_bv9Zma2VON7iXTp2nJ71w85j6bPk8lsoZ3EMfeBtQajzjXdIpCS9e-Qo3QYruAA/s200/cheri_michellepfeiffer_poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348323338412144802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Directed by</strong> Stephen Frears</span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Written by</strong> Christopher Hampton, based on Colette's novels<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Cast</strong> Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Friend, Kathy Bates<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179258/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179258/</span></a><br /><br /></span><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQeANkiwuKTgVT15JN2houL751Zywece1OlqUpOlonnbdJtQpUvrujSLu4xPa4Ox8s5V-uBp10TFimkorNEA7klN8Q8KmoAYNA34ibA7r-LSMHRZ-xfdbMZBHa3BEF3_APXXWHWV4hKkH/s1600-h/4stars.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 103px; float: left; height: 19px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340265605803612978" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQeANkiwuKTgVT15JN2houL751Zywece1OlqUpOlonnbdJtQpUvrujSLu4xPa4Ox8s5V-uBp10TFimkorNEA7klN8Q8KmoAYNA34ibA7r-LSMHRZ-xfdbMZBHa3BEF3_APXXWHWV4hKkH/s320/4stars.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><br /><br />Reviewed by</strong> Paivi<br /></span></div><br /><div><hr /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Michelle Pfeiffer</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Stephen Frears</span> worked together in 1988, doing the romantic 3-Oscar-winning drama <span style="font-style: italic;">Dangerous Liaisons</span>, which gained the first nomination also to Pfeiffer<span style="font-style: italic;">. </span>Three years ago Frears made <span style="font-style: italic;">The Queen</span> that gathered success around and brought its leading lady <span style="font-weight: bold;">Helen Mirren</span> an Oscar.<br /><br />With <span style="font-style: italic;">Chéri</span> Frears and Pfeiffer travel back to France and to the time before the World Wars, the time known as Belle Epoque, when courtisans were a visible part of the society. The most successful courtisans lived luxurious lives in beautiful houses, surrounded by beautiful dresses, jewelry and their own staff. The story is based on novels by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Colette</span>.<br /><br />Pfeiffer is Lea, a luxury courtisan who is aging and planning on retiring. She has experienced all kinds of love, except the true love. One day when visiting her old colleague Madame Peloux, played by brilliant <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kathy Bates</span>, she is tempted to kiss Madame's 19-year-old son Fred, nick named Chéri (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Rupert Friend</span>). Unexpectedly the kiss turns their lives upside down and they find themselves living together for many years.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLalbSyhgSzeDd48aL8wk_fkpBRQw8qQYPi0kJyYbXE50v-DwW5b-kLCVquiOqVI9sSEaoD9m6-iOR4PXsoySPWjq9K4FhUjy43lCYf3GGw-LX5obbEetmE4ftgghPyLRA2yw7JMbqOI/s1600-h/film-cheri-pfeiffer-stephen-frears.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLalbSyhgSzeDd48aL8wk_fkpBRQw8qQYPi0kJyYbXE50v-DwW5b-kLCVquiOqVI9sSEaoD9m6-iOR4PXsoySPWjq9K4FhUjy43lCYf3GGw-LX5obbEetmE4ftgghPyLRA2yw7JMbqOI/s400/film-cheri-pfeiffer-stephen-frears.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348327281165269138" border="0" /></a>When Madame Peloux informs that she has arranged a good marriage with a wealthy young girl Edmee (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Felicity Jones</span>) for her son, both Lea's and Chéri's dreams come tumbling down and they realise their affection is something deeper than just lust and friendship.<br /><br />Wonderful Pfeiffer is the heart of this movie. As an aging beauty, insecure and troubled at the inevitable fate of her body slowly losing its youth and glamour, Pfeiffer does a convincing job. Also as a woman so involved in all sort of love affairs in her life, finally finding true love and losing it to a younger woman she is a fragile work of art.<br /><br />Rupert Friend as the young courtisan's son is at ease in a role many others might have been afraid of performing. He is a good looking angel face with a gorgerous body when naked, and considering he's working with such a big name as Pfeiffer, he pulls his role as her lover professionally.<br /><br />Visually stunning surroundings, beautifully framed pictures give the drama an extra essense. Frears is at best in directing movies of interesting personas - <span style="font-style: italic;">Chéri</span> shows this the similar way as <span style="font-style: italic;">The Queen</span> did.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ri10HABVUIP7S-geCYvoYqlIK5cshA__0l6RVpUu1sTOW2J968WHKVGhh7SVv7nBQjZL-H-voPNFoIEo_sLRlOJv_s871klYhuobYp46SmVjcEHt_9HWdhNhCplFAs7wVBxDeRIC6Yw/s1600-h/cheri1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Ri10HABVUIP7S-geCYvoYqlIK5cshA__0l6RVpUu1sTOW2J968WHKVGhh7SVv7nBQjZL-H-voPNFoIEo_sLRlOJv_s871klYhuobYp46SmVjcEHt_9HWdhNhCplFAs7wVBxDeRIC6Yw/s400/cheri1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348327088227680962" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final verdict: </span><span>Beautifully shot Belle Epoque drama of the love affair of an older woman and a younger man. Strong and convincing characters played by brilliant actors, especially the lovely Michelle Pfeiffer. Watch for next year's Oscar nomination</span>s and especially costume design category.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-47804815920175379072009-06-01T06:21:00.018+03:002009-06-01T08:43:33.998+03:00UP 3D (2009)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMlVrehtl_hH1yn2N160K5GrYtqq7KIyP3Q1yMlR6dOeUFiP7eUiEQpf0ELQaE2ERJaMIEJMo0bvTZaj5y3FbDzjw9bGjJFExk68dPAJdxAgMG1O2e5lSBaNe_XREmb0qi9MpBC6nEew5/s1600-h/UP.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 144px; float: left; height: 215px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342194649534209362" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMlVrehtl_hH1yn2N160K5GrYtqq7KIyP3Q1yMlR6dOeUFiP7eUiEQpf0ELQaE2ERJaMIEJMo0bvTZaj5y3FbDzjw9bGjJFExk68dPAJdxAgMG1O2e5lSBaNe_XREmb0qi9MpBC6nEew5/s320/UP.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Directed by</strong> Pete Docter, Bob Peterson (co-director)<br /><strong>Written by</strong> Bob Peterson (screenplay)<br /><strong>Cast</strong> Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo, Jerome Ranft, Elie Docter, Jeremy Leary</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049413/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049413/</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYVUwgGUMJSt317KKSEBo1UIFiNEAACRhNppwS18a_TFblbxigvX7Et29oDzONaNpCm84fTpKM5DDlMa2aC6EgfIzYZlh6QS6gEzoHyC-w995Z4gu0URQcLcIYoKJJW-RpGMm4B5cfReG/s1600-h/3stars.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 103px; float: left; height: 19px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342194365003951810" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYVUwgGUMJSt317KKSEBo1UIFiNEAACRhNppwS18a_TFblbxigvX7Et29oDzONaNpCm84fTpKM5DDlMa2aC6EgfIzYZlh6QS6gEzoHyC-w995Z4gu0URQcLcIYoKJJW-RpGMm4B5cfReG/s320/3stars.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Reviewed by</strong> Sari </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">___________________________________________________________________</span><br /><br /><em>UP 3D</em> is yet another 3D-animated film on the theaters and it's also the latest Disney-Pixar production from the makers of <em>Toy Story, Finding Nemo</em> and <em>Cars.</em> This colorful story starts from the early childhood of an old man, Carl Fredricksen (voices, young Carl by <strong>Jeremy Leary</strong>, old Carl by <strong>Edward Asner</strong>), who is the leading character in this animated film.<br /><br /><p><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 174px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342197867003436242" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiDpUSz2-oqvh-owMZaX5qsZnm7tS2E0IHXUU9toqrqplt-Sk5w1jZ-F08UNsV8iFS-iMqQopO8VkuoLLUx-nYDLxQgNAkgZxUiPVi5kZ5o3B-C2uxD8D6eZmO_7orsfVCyzAqTowDXME/s320/UP+IV.jpg" border="0" />He once was a quiet little boy, who meets a rascal girl called Ellie (voice by <strong>Elie Docter</strong>), falls in love with her and finally marries her. So it's the classic love story, so to speak. Carl and Ellie are one extremely happy couple, and they share the same dream of going on an adventure to South America one day. They even dream about having their house at the edge of The Paradise Falls. But their life passes by and the adventure seems always to be postponed further. Until the day Ellie gets seriously ill and passes away.<br /><br />Carl is now alone, being an 78-year old man and is facing the fact that the adventure they so wanted to experience never took a place in their life. But things start to change for him and one day he decides to literally "take off" and is soon flying high on the sky in his house, thousands of balloons carrying him to his destination, South America.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 226px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342196892348988626" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xvwKgj01oMHLkwalVrPZ7_e9ZO5xE74PUdelUANoasf4NrO0RiwrwzpAP72vp5lWJDJqagTRgPPA4dwyY3tSl_MaQRiAhrCAdwheuVi7S5URN3SVB51PGrV7uXhYze6B6CMYR91J_McO/s320/UP+V.jpg" border="0" />For his suprise a young wilderness explorer Russell (voice by <strong>Jordan Nagai</strong>) is going to share this experience with him and these two soon find they way to South America and face the most interesting situations and characters while trying to move Carl's house to the right spot, next to The Paradise Falls, that Ellie so dearly loved.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 178px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342197371693593298" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VBLDoodfCSgMFmzUSBnCayUFyv8Ye_TylPo7ATZN3stscP_050KJiSfyLqnk6L0dUeh5oc_98PrfxfHQGY1iDWeX40R9etef03OSdcooWWR4s9A5EYjPWWlc2RSGIH2ISu4zMMd3S4S8/s320/UP+VI.jpg" border="0" /></span></span>On their way to the falls they run into a rare bird species, a pack of talking dogs and end up inside a large cave, where Carl's childhood hero, the ultimate explorer Charles Muntz (voice by <strong>Christopher Plummer</strong>) lives and has trained all these obedient dogs. Carl is excited to meet him, but it's soon quite obvious that Charles is not a good man, but he is actually after something they possess and this leads into an exciting and intense chaise.<br /><br />The story starts quite smoothly and takes you to the early years of Carl's life, giving you a nostalgic feel of his past. It's also quite funny to see him and Russell battling their way to South America flying on a house carried by colorful balloons, trying to find the perfect spot to that beautiful, old house. At some point the story gets a bit chaotic though, especially from the point where they run into a talking dog called Dug, and then into a whole pack of talking dogs, leading their way to an old explorer behind them, Charles Muntz. I wasn't sure if I understood the funniness behind the talking dog theme, but then again, I really loved that old man Carl and his little companion Russell and felt that those two were meant to be together on this adventure.<br /><br /><em>UP</em> being and animated film is of course a film made for the whole family and especially children, so perhaps the storyline and all the peculiar characters will open up better for the younger age groups than us grown-ups. Visually the 3D-film is just stunning and I especially enjoyed all the vivid colors, the high-quality animation and all the 3D-effects, which we could all expect to be excellent after seeing all those previous Disney-Pixar films. </p><p><em>UP</em> is an entertaining animation which you want to take your kids to see and let them enjoy all the craziness and chaos of this everyway colorful, animated film. And don't be suprised if you enjoy it yourself, too.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-38606484015911394392009-05-27T18:25:00.007+03:002009-05-27T21:00:43.463+03:00Terminator Salvation (2009)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ou5KDRN-bSWeeZ2ErreaLcBj2OAHuizQn0aQWfA4xlG2qEhFhdHHnKluyAsAXoovhCoF8mRHd6oWjwkDu7WmFj-QfbVA-AG47O8ju4ybdJ_JIDqfkLD6TaNnXhJqdFemhVd3JYI8NvQ/s1600-h/terminator_salvation-poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ou5KDRN-bSWeeZ2ErreaLcBj2OAHuizQn0aQWfA4xlG2qEhFhdHHnKluyAsAXoovhCoF8mRHd6oWjwkDu7WmFj-QfbVA-AG47O8ju4ybdJ_JIDqfkLD6TaNnXhJqdFemhVd3JYI8NvQ/s200/terminator_salvation-poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340525378827052706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Directed by</strong> McG</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Written by</strong> John D. Brancato, Michael Ferris<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Cast</strong> Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Moon Bloodgood, Helena Bonham Carter, Bryce Dallas Howard</span><br /><div><div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438488/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438488/</a></span></div><div><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjgY616ly7cxCZUFcMFUA6k8d9yu9bpcOHXMAI1MBSqy8Dqz8j38v-prtll8b5cC6Mx5CRTtQIirl-CLYlMdVhkTj2BnOTqAv0p3H7OQBXI1LSTeI27kPmeG-aw3YEwFwYVXSNNVjHHg/s1600-h/2stars.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 103px; height: 19px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjgY616ly7cxCZUFcMFUA6k8d9yu9bpcOHXMAI1MBSqy8Dqz8j38v-prtll8b5cC6Mx5CRTtQIirl-CLYlMdVhkTj2BnOTqAv0p3H7OQBXI1LSTeI27kPmeG-aw3YEwFwYVXSNNVjHHg/s320/2stars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337849399526700722" border="0" /></a><div><div><div><div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Reviewed by</strong> Paivi</span></div><div><hr /></div><div><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>The legendary leader John Connor, the son of even more legendary Sarah Connor, has been previously played (in movies) by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Edward Furlong</span> (young and rebellous one who played Guns N' Roses loud in his cassette player in T2) and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nick Stahl </span>(a young adult in T3). This time it is <span style="font-weight: bold;">Christian Bale's</span> turn and the year is 2018 (and he's still playing Guns N' Roses when driving on a "motorbike") and John Connor has become the warrior legend we have heard so much about, the leader of the resistance against the machines of Skynet.<br /><br />Not many years have passed but the Skynet has conquered the whole world with its machines and Terminators, cities and all working infrastructures are gone and no food is visible anywhere. Humans are living in small groups, some are battling against the machines along with the resistance, some are just trying to survive.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzvfrN1xUmAu54uwFHEO3X0sIerunjN3v87LSw83VI-7fOTZaJwzLlyDwccdUP_HA4f8GjAOKF8Lxq4ETovnQBFdTMNnZEdURwZGxvm9FcufyGRZ5zYvh66HdAzt7IegpvxNsMO3nXXM/s1600-h/terminator-salvation_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzvfrN1xUmAu54uwFHEO3X0sIerunjN3v87LSw83VI-7fOTZaJwzLlyDwccdUP_HA4f8GjAOKF8Lxq4ETovnQBFdTMNnZEdURwZGxvm9FcufyGRZ5zYvh66HdAzt7IegpvxNsMO3nXXM/s320/terminator-salvation_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340526701683636914" border="0" /></a><br />Skynet is developing better and better Terminators all the time and time is running out of the humans. They need to figure out a way to hit strong into the Skynet's system or they will go extinct.<br /><br />The Resistance gets help from a very strange source when Marcus Wright (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sam Worthington</span>), a convicted murderer from 2003 whose last memory is his execution, is found from the desert. Marcus had earlier befriended with teenager Kyle Reese (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Anton Yelchin</span>, last seen in <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span> as Chekov) (the future dad of John Connor) and when Kyle is kidnapped by the machines, Marcus helps John in getting to his rescue.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczpa03dMhkwF9gaXhx562AcTNK-W9AyZexjd6DggyGkbmyn-i6WKpogx1Cfg-Z58IUSmfCe2vkUZ52hRC6zNmT94s4j6eOpWBQpXDc7o5FzRqU3_nHppiae_JvrR-T1UIIBoNOq8EW9k/s1600-h/2a7a78p.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczpa03dMhkwF9gaXhx562AcTNK-W9AyZexjd6DggyGkbmyn-i6WKpogx1Cfg-Z58IUSmfCe2vkUZ52hRC6zNmT94s4j6eOpWBQpXDc7o5FzRqU3_nHppiae_JvrR-T1UIIBoNOq8EW9k/s320/2a7a78p.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340526575756488290" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><span style="font-style: italic;">Terminator Salvation</span> is all action war movie and only a little bit of drama. Which is a pity because almost two hours of shooting of Terminators and other machines does not exactly carry the whole movie. It amazed me how on earth had the Skynet with its machines managed in destroying the entire planet in just a few years and in developing such a fancy and sophisticated system for itself. Also the production of a certain well-developed infiltrator-Terminator is not believable because all the other Terminators are so different, so simple machines. And I don't even start talking about making successful heart transplants in field conditions and without any knowledge of the matching blood types...<br /><br />We do hear the famous quote "I'll be back" and we see a digitally produced <span style="font-weight: bold;">Arnold Schwarzenegger</span>, but those feel fake. All humour that can be seen in previous <span style="font-style: italic;">Terminator</span> -movies is gone, <span style="font-style: italic;">Terminator Salvation</span> is very serious, laughless piece of action. Most of the action scenes are however well done and the scene when the special-Terminator is revealed is the best scene in the whole movie.<br /><br />Just wait for new <span style="font-style: italic;">Terminator</span> -movies in the future: John Connor's wife Kate (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Claire Danes</span> from T3 replaced by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bryce Dallas Howard</span>) is pregnant (this is no spoiler because she is already pregnant in her first scene) so probably Connors' child will continue the father's work in making the world free again?<br /></div></div>Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-53012272412716050692009-05-27T00:55:00.010+03:002009-05-27T02:13:06.650+03:00The Soloist (2009)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiukdSh7R76NTeklZCpWiaroCtYxhaO09GGXQMdM5jXtKUTSJUenFy2pOO4GZ6PE5BYeCu8KckEe2l9DvRIUEuEzS_1YV-x9xDXfSHG1RGnr12HRBP2u9kWh_i8FVZs7eUX9Upm6pUbrvZ/s1600-h/The+soloist.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 126px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 190px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340264024334220946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiukdSh7R76NTeklZCpWiaroCtYxhaO09GGXQMdM5jXtKUTSJUenFy2pOO4GZ6PE5BYeCu8KckEe2l9DvRIUEuEzS_1YV-x9xDXfSHG1RGnr12HRBP2u9kWh_i8FVZs7eUX9Upm6pUbrvZ/s320/The+soloist.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Directed by</strong> Joe Wright<br /><strong>Written by</strong> Susannah Grant (screenplay), Steve Lopez (book) </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Cast</strong> Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Justin Martin, Nelsan Ellis, Lisa Gay Hamilton</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihW9stXQYZGz-7LrqdBwIBuYMWK7YHYdcc-J1sJSKkvw8SwdrmVs-O2K6OP6h69Hg6qiKdem3py6AKOb8y_VxFAx2s6a00DkLPnJkZ-klVB3fEPLCdwwIzP3g51VsbNJL7DlLEaRQt6b9r/s1600-h/5stars.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 103px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 19px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340255129171218946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihW9stXQYZGz-7LrqdBwIBuYMWK7YHYdcc-J1sJSKkvw8SwdrmVs-O2K6OP6h69Hg6qiKdem3py6AKOb8y_VxFAx2s6a00DkLPnJkZ-klVB3fEPLCdwwIzP3g51VsbNJL7DlLEaRQt6b9r/s320/5stars.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>IMDb</strong>: </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0821642/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0821642/</span></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Reviewed by</strong>: Sari</span><br /><em>______________________________________________</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>The Soloist</em> is a true story inspired by a book written by journalist <strong>Steve Lopez</strong>.<br /><br />The movie starts with a violin, a homeless guy and a journalist, who is in need to find a new subject for his column and ends up meeting a homeless guy called Nathaniel Ayers (<strong>Jamie Foxx</strong>). The journalist happens to be Steve Lopez (<strong>Robert Downey Jr</strong>.), Los Angeles Times columnist who immediately sees something special in Nathaniel and starts to investigate his past. He discovers that Nathaniel was once a very talented cellist, who also studied in Juilliard School for gifted, but who dropped out after the second year due to mental health problems.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 216px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340255984231846402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPvfKNnJPKR8v9yMqK3aJMzFuz68BsVTm936BrpiUxyUO2syO4s6V6mo-0mvKGyPfakFfwne2wHyu_aT3xxhF_AoO5-OPJH6cV2lOgF03XvRR_TuWvaw5AX593w3tDu-G8YBypwPaB7Jo/s320/The+Soloist+I.jpg" />Steve is intriqued by Nathaniel and these two get closer. Steve finds himself wondering among homeless people in the streets of Los Angeles and gets a whole new picture of their situation. Steve now has a mission. He wants to get Nathaniel's life back on it's track and uses his contacts to try and help him out. Eventually he realizes that big concert halls and public events are not meant for Nathaniel but he is still there to help him and even gets him an apartment of his own. Eventually Nathaniel shows his darker side and Steve gets frightened and stays out of his life for a while, but at the end these two people from two different worlds are still able to remain friends.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 205px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340255921967254722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpc5xXSEgdAc5m4M_d79E1bmG_oLnAHK4gZ-jAV-f9JOetR8w7zvd4ODbnbWWN6ZXWT1bgJN-4OksllK2CjMO524INe8qa3K6T1l3tY5zSyBY2FG9OpynW0pwFontNrpi-ZdmwlGunuDeE/s320/The+Soloist+II.jpg" /> This was yet again an unbeliavably strong performance by Jamie Foxx, which was not a big suprise after seeing him in the legendary role of <strong>Ray Charles</strong> in the movie <em>Ray</em>. Here the role is still so much more challenging. Playing a mentally unstable, musically gifted genius is not a role for everyone, but Jamie Foxx nailed it. Robert Downey Jr. as Steve Lopez was no less performance, and he once again proved to be one talented and strong actor, even though the main focus of this film is on Nathaniel.<br /><br />This movie is an eye-opening experience and really gets you to think about the less fortunate homeless people who live among us. There are so many untold stories behind those faces and tired-looking eyes. So many chances, so many lost talents, like Nathaniel.<br /><br />Considering this The Soloist was not just a story of Nathaniel. It also represented the situation of homeless people here in U.S. In a way it was a little reflection of our society and the sad fact that so much more should be done to help these people. In our society we have learned to turn our heads away from all the misery and sadness, concentrating on our own success and material needs. Hopefully this movie gets people to talk and even creates some kind of action to help all these people in need.<br /><br />I was deeply touched by this story and the message it delivered. Beautiful, soulful story, that will for sure linger inside my mind for quite some time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-10225082220039527172009-05-21T18:40:00.003+03:002009-05-21T18:44:09.106+03:002009 movies summarised<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://moviebabblings.blogspot.com/search/label/chart%202009"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 98px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCfAIniu8skPscyomX2or-lmIwuMk3jtyPzQmacRWAj5r-sHbIbXOpQJ04al7u0zkL_VvBzJGFTajJ3ky5b27gZXF8L6z49G7YigeLMhoHjQmEN5HOldDlD3Rd13LElm2ak7jHZsoaCM/s400/chart2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338303142823701586" border="0" /></a><br />The movies released this year and which we have either reviewed or seen will from now on be summarised in a chart that you can find in the right hand side image link :) <a href="http://moviebabblings.blogspot.com/search/label/chart%202009">Check in there</a> if you don't immediately find the movie you are looking for!Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-38599122127011043842009-05-20T13:18:00.007+03:002009-05-20T13:58:54.662+03:00Observe and Report (2009)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVR4AS25CvjoY9cGj9OZde8odrLnA6GgY6vhw6QMepBgTyZ9a1hftWvMaeVjjFEFZZn_qeMP40hYDC7qyLOvLcDmHtqQ3MGUPjvMtfCRoqRUV0ugUI1-efNg9MJzJ__0MSU5BcSY8F2Tg/s1600-h/observeandreport_5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 137px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVR4AS25CvjoY9cGj9OZde8odrLnA6GgY6vhw6QMepBgTyZ9a1hftWvMaeVjjFEFZZn_qeMP40hYDC7qyLOvLcDmHtqQ3MGUPjvMtfCRoqRUV0ugUI1-efNg9MJzJ__0MSU5BcSY8F2Tg/s200/observeandreport_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337848796962976002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Directed by</strong> Jody Hill</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Written by</strong> Jody Hill<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Cast</strong> Seth Rogen, Ray Liotta, Anna Faris, Michael Peña, Collette Wolfe</span><br /><div><div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1197628/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1197628/</a></span></div><div><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjgY616ly7cxCZUFcMFUA6k8d9yu9bpcOHXMAI1MBSqy8Dqz8j38v-prtll8b5cC6Mx5CRTtQIirl-CLYlMdVhkTj2BnOTqAv0p3H7OQBXI1LSTeI27kPmeG-aw3YEwFwYVXSNNVjHHg/s1600-h/2stars.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 103px; height: 19px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjgY616ly7cxCZUFcMFUA6k8d9yu9bpcOHXMAI1MBSqy8Dqz8j38v-prtll8b5cC6Mx5CRTtQIirl-CLYlMdVhkTj2BnOTqAv0p3H7OQBXI1LSTeI27kPmeG-aw3YEwFwYVXSNNVjHHg/s320/2stars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337849399526700722" border="0" /></a><div><div><div><div><div><br /><strong></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Reviewed by</strong> Paivi</span></div><div><hr /></div><div><span style="font-style: italic;">Observe and report</span> is a strange comedy of a mall security guard Ronnie, played by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Seth Rogen</span>, who would like to be something more than just someone observing and reporting to the real police - he would himself love be allowed to carry a gun like a proper police officer. His prayers are answered in the form of a flasher who starts harassing the female customers and employees of the mall. Ronnie takes the "flasher case" as his own, and plans to solve it before the real police led by agent Harrison (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Ray Liotta</span>).</div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />Apart from being the head of the mall security, Ronnie is in love with the beautiful Brandi (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Anna Faris</span>) from the cosmetics section, lives with his alcoholic mother (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Celia Weston</span>), has a bi-polar disorder for which he is taking medication and becomes friends with cute and friendly Nell (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Collette Wolfe</span>) from a coffee shop.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSdiUhxkfqKwnXTQERMjjB82-UQEANr_P1zfRShT68Z7t1Ey92_tOBrBJd9-W5ilZJRKV0XIhhnUzh8GMPrr93VW6427Hg5_tShOOEuyxMFDFpjAgN6qrRsJuhj7bIVrcYCsR4vH7soE/s1600-h/observeandreport_806x453.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSdiUhxkfqKwnXTQERMjjB82-UQEANr_P1zfRShT68Z7t1Ey92_tOBrBJd9-W5ilZJRKV0XIhhnUzh8GMPrr93VW6427Hg5_tShOOEuyxMFDFpjAgN6qrRsJuhj7bIVrcYCsR4vH7soE/s320/observeandreport_806x453.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337853014381021058" border="0" /></a>When Ronnie's dream of a career in the police force is wrecked because of his mental disorder and delusions, hell breaks loose in the mall.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Observe and report</span> is a strange comedy, because it is not really a comedy at all and this is what makes it very difficult to review. The characters are not funny, but mostly sad and pathetic, and it is extremely difficult to actually like them in any level. None of them, except maybe Nell.<br /><br />Security guard taking anti-depressants during lunch and with delusions of killing all the bad guys is just plain sad and not funny. Cosmetics sales girl allowing pretty much anyone to screw her and lying in her own puke is just plain sad and not funny. Alcoholic mother who blames her son for the fact that the father left the family is sad and not funny.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhBNgueAyy7pSvLgKl_bOc7SXumuPRe1oiTopNFVE7lwSlyq5JfbDeGCoUnzfaKsqLNjM3WG236hNyFeEQRw2HXL42hYhx_n9VTwdLtBMkCBWVXGIzU-9gexI5gtbMUelGZcBiZ1UyU0/s1600-h/observe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhBNgueAyy7pSvLgKl_bOc7SXumuPRe1oiTopNFVE7lwSlyq5JfbDeGCoUnzfaKsqLNjM3WG236hNyFeEQRw2HXL42hYhx_n9VTwdLtBMkCBWVXGIzU-9gexI5gtbMUelGZcBiZ1UyU0/s320/observe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337853130159897522" border="0" /></a><br />We are used to seeing the funnyman Rogen in roles that make you like his teddybear appearance, laughter and witty dialogue - like for example in <span style="font-style: italic;">Knocked up</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Pineapple Express</span>. This role brings us a different Rogen, dark Rogen who is ready to fire a gun and is not sympathetic at all. I personally prefer the other type of Rogen.<br /></div></div>Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-2027733962422969862009-05-16T23:05:00.025+03:002009-05-27T01:49:37.220+03:00Taken (2009)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJ4vBNl7EFMFALgbconL5FjIKMTPP_UgrMbaJcQY8zfUZmDBdUCOH1TN7IxOF78vItJ-FhCpjkSxoyaUa0bZkz9nREKwvWunkYbvbg3I_ToQPmpyEYG7h2-dgxH3_3NmG0jroEqzZjWgi/s1600-h/Taken.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 199px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340267548014568258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJ4vBNl7EFMFALgbconL5FjIKMTPP_UgrMbaJcQY8zfUZmDBdUCOH1TN7IxOF78vItJ-FhCpjkSxoyaUa0bZkz9nREKwvWunkYbvbg3I_ToQPmpyEYG7h2-dgxH3_3NmG0jroEqzZjWgi/s320/Taken.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Directed by</strong> Pierre Morel</span><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Written by</strong> Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Cast</strong> Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Leland Orser, Xander Berkeley, Katie Cassidy</span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQeANkiwuKTgVT15JN2houL751Zywece1OlqUpOlonnbdJtQpUvrujSLu4xPa4Ox8s5V-uBp10TFimkorNEA7klN8Q8KmoAYNA34ibA7r-LSMHRZ-xfdbMZBHa3BEF3_APXXWHWV4hKkH/s1600-h/4stars.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 103px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 19px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340265605803612978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQeANkiwuKTgVT15JN2houL751Zywece1OlqUpOlonnbdJtQpUvrujSLu4xPa4Ox8s5V-uBp10TFimkorNEA7klN8Q8KmoAYNA34ibA7r-LSMHRZ-xfdbMZBHa3BEF3_APXXWHWV4hKkH/s320/4stars.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936501/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936501/</a></span></div><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Reviewed by</strong> Sari</span></div><br /><div><hr /><br />What if you are a retired CIA spy, a loving father and ready to help your child whenever possible? What if your child happens to be an adventurous 17-year old girl, ready to explore the world, all by herself? Well, it means that perhaps your help is needed sooner or later, especially Liam Neeson being in the leading role in this fast paced movie.<br /><br />In <em>Taken </em>Bryan (<strong>Liam Neeson</strong>) is this ex-spy, living modest life close to his 17-year old daughter Kim (<strong>Maggie Grace</strong>), who herself lives with her mom Lenore (<strong>Famke Janssen</strong>) and stepdad Stuart (<strong>Xander Berkeley</strong>), getting everything she wants and having a very luxurious lifestyle. Bryan doesn't necesserily agree on her daughter's lavish lifestyle and all the freedom her daughter has, but tries to adjust as well as he can. As for him the most important thing is just to be close to his daughter, after all those years serving the country and not being able to spend a lot of time with his family.</div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 140px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340266899130158178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNy4MJW8hhLTIxcEkznkFBQW_AtDZG1aMRfoxflUjocqtqUVb9n-jxoO3kgiU1LF3XZPS5QpqBNMUXy9qwHDwN5n322h4s3BMaHC3Tx9R9H-1bcsvb3fLJZ-uxupneatKh09728SFRpXPM/s320/TakenI.jpg" />Suddenly Kim decides to travel to Paris with her friend Amanda (<strong>Katie Cassidy</strong>) and Bryan gets very frustrated and even a little paranoid about this idea. He is afraid that she ends up getting in trouble travelling with no adult supervision, but reluctantly sings the papers that free her to go abroad, being under aged. He gives Kim a cell phone and asks her to keep in contact with him all the times, fearing for her safety. Girls have just arrived to Paris and Bryan is on the cell phone with Kim when the inevitable happens. Both girls are being kidnapped by Albanian human smugglers and Bryan is witnessing all this by the phone.<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 142px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340266835050513122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKGBsXbwP240j57B9KJ_DSzOC58L0RGWe2gsd5jT9qJnvpkGdUrdwFe7gE3cRTBbo9QwOWVn0U9kDuHt3Ye_MriEhXvoaD-m35EU2EPvZ1XBtDtAXQ3m5B-amFv_1S8hYz9JPN-aokP0j/s320/TakenII.jpg" /></div><div>He contacts his friend Sam (<strong>Leland Orser</strong>) and finds out about the Albanian connection and is immediately on a a plane, on his way to Paris. This leads to a hunt where desperate father is after the criminals trying to figure out their next steps to find her daughter and he doesn't hesitate to use all his power and all the possible ways to rescue Kim. </div><div><br />This movie has all the parameters needed to work like a good action movie should. There is a lot of exciting moments, some pretty intense chasing scenes and the person who makes this film even more interesting is of course Liam Neeson and his character Bryan. Neeson is just wonderful to watch on screen. There is a man who is always so humble, yet extremely talented and can play any role, any time, making it his own thing.<br /><br />The storyline is not perhaps the strongest possible and at some point it gets pretty obvious what is going to happen next and how the story is going to end. But Neeson keeps the audience in excitement and it is quite obvious to see, that the main responsibility for this movie to succeed lays on Neeson's hands.</div><br /><div>Reminds me of those good, old 90s action films with a lot of chasing, excitement and a strong, charismatic person in a leading role. Sometimes that is all it takes to have a good movie experience. So enjoy! I sure did!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-42762967886188137602009-05-13T15:00:00.008+03:002009-05-13T15:47:42.240+03:00Angels and Demons (2009)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IYbfyEIbDVt7990UFWy7-annbQZxgRLlGR_I4qz4FUXOHp1YpH3Yui7iE4-W1-gjXq2zkOS1gmqrpdI2IR7sc4fatFfLE8Vme8l1YL-RySmDYK3BdJv6Mr-B0SXMx4XQKuWhnfRT2JM/s1600-h/angels-demons-tsr-poster-is-full.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IYbfyEIbDVt7990UFWy7-annbQZxgRLlGR_I4qz4FUXOHp1YpH3Yui7iE4-W1-gjXq2zkOS1gmqrpdI2IR7sc4fatFfLE8Vme8l1YL-RySmDYK3BdJv6Mr-B0SXMx4XQKuWhnfRT2JM/s320/angels-demons-tsr-poster-is-full.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335278960203880642" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Directed by</strong> Ron Howard<br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Written by</strong> David Koepp, Akiva Goldsman, based on Dan Brown's novel<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Cast</strong> Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgård, Armin Mueller-Stahl</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808151/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808151/</a></span></div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tCXlFRAp3KqjNZJORErdEUDToq_SFCHGXFaS3O6G1uC3EuOUjYeLiBCXHPN0zK2-zRm6-OZcRbHxlO7D0KWwDDs_y9kvS_RI3n66ALn1OUBOIXHHROwk8l3BJn7RBChPET8o36Rf3tQ/s1600-h/3stars.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 103px; height: 19px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tCXlFRAp3KqjNZJORErdEUDToq_SFCHGXFaS3O6G1uC3EuOUjYeLiBCXHPN0zK2-zRm6-OZcRbHxlO7D0KWwDDs_y9kvS_RI3n66ALn1OUBOIXHHROwk8l3BJn7RBChPET8o36Rf3tQ/s320/3stars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335278755538135314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Reviewed by</strong></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Päivi</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><hr />Like so many others, I started my friendship with the author <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dan Brown</span> with his novel <span style="font-style: italic;">Da Vinci Code</span>. Few years ago when I was traveling in New Zealand and had already almost two months behind me, I needed something to read and rest my head. I found <span style="font-style: italic;">Angels and Demons</span> from a bookstore and after that the next few days I spent sightseeing the amazing New Zealand by day and adventuring in Vatican by night. After that experience I thought, wow, this would be great to see as a movie!<br /><br />Now my wish has come true - <span style="font-style: italic;">Angels and Demons</span> is released as a movie version. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tom Hanks</span> continues as the professor Robert Langdon specialised in symbolism as he did in the movie version of <span style="font-style: italic;">Da Vinci Code</span>. (I have always had problems with Hanks as Langdon because he is not at all that convincing, handsome professor I pictured him in my mind...) Langdon is invited to Vatican City after the Pope has died and four cardinals - preferiti, the most popular choices to become a new Pope - have been kidnapped by an ancient secret society called <span style="font-style: italic;">Illuminati</span>. A cryptic message is left behind and the Vatican wants the world famous symbolist to help them in saving the lives of the cardinals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aQLFAR2-4JookjLkE0KjTS8A9Atgdz_Pp1OYYFvwD3ArldoSjSplIRFuAhZhAJpbGNNa0DsPoUzTs7aCZiNXrqgHieEVYn2pBN_oV4XRgXe0v2ZjcQBG-1Wyq1mKmHuhwj6q7XRNRFM/s1600-h/Enkeli2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aQLFAR2-4JookjLkE0KjTS8A9Atgdz_Pp1OYYFvwD3ArldoSjSplIRFuAhZhAJpbGNNa0DsPoUzTs7aCZiNXrqgHieEVYn2pBN_oV4XRgXe0v2ZjcQBG-1Wyq1mKmHuhwj6q7XRNRFM/s320/Enkeli2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335287550534166386" border="0" /></a>At the same time a container of antimatter is stolen from the LHC lab (Large Hadron Collider) in CERN Switzerland. A physicist studying the antimatter, Vittoria Vetra (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Ayelet Zurer</span>), has traveled to Vatican as well because not only have the cardinals been kidnapped, also the whole Vatican is in danger of exploding because the antimatter may work as a bomb.<br /><br />While the Pope's camerlengo (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Ewan McGregor</span>) heads the papal office and leads the cardinals into a conclave to try to elect a new pope. Langdon and Vetra run around the Vatican and Rome in search of the ancient Path of Illumination, the kidnapped cardinals and the antimatter container.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-LHiCEvrYTgcPqLSI2RjBXr8d3BZpQkNM83HD-awJR9yGqIOhlUoXuznfK9uJNkFKg5Bm3Mda1xynUbI-yUwHYnVSt7xTn5qDyiMUfOm9e6Izm4TpDsgapAmuegqXmYK_m3bWSjm5Bs/s1600-h/Enkeli4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-LHiCEvrYTgcPqLSI2RjBXr8d3BZpQkNM83HD-awJR9yGqIOhlUoXuznfK9uJNkFKg5Bm3Mda1xynUbI-yUwHYnVSt7xTn5qDyiMUfOm9e6Izm4TpDsgapAmuegqXmYK_m3bWSjm5Bs/s320/Enkeli4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335287816189479106" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Angels and Demons</span> the movie is filled with action. Everything happens within five hour timeframe and as the pretty complicated story is squeezed into two and a half hours, the action is at times breathtaking. The screenplay is written well, it sticks together and does not fall apart despite the various possibilities. The focus of the story is mainly in the riddle of the Path of Illumination, the four elements of science and how they are combined with the four missing cardinals and pretty much everything else from the book is left out.<br /><br />For someone not familiar with the novel, this is one hell of an action ride with interesting twists and turns and a very different angle for a mystery thriller. It is fascinating to see how the Vatican works and see a glimpse of the secrets vaults of Vatican (which are of course not real because director <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ron Howard </span>was not allowed to film in Vatican but he had to recreate Vatican elsewhere). But for those who know the story. the thrill gets lost at times, and it is often difficult to really stay interested in what happens to who.<br /><br />Overall, <span style="font-style: italic;">Angels and Demons</span> is pretty loyal to the original story, is well acted, has good action sequences, interesting twists, introduces us to the art and history of Vatican and Rome, but is a bit soulless. It runs it's course in a decent way, but instead of being either black or white, it leaves a somewhat grey feeling.<br /></div></div></div></div>Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-70695617437406257242009-05-10T20:49:00.007+03:002009-05-10T21:31:06.734+03:00Star Trek (2009)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41dWao7GZS6ehJFfI1HUIZ37mg0mj5818erNB4CPkZxf4VRJrkQHJ4fq4Q8YqWFM5A9N074nvh_UWqsDXv_LC4Pevc8hCUw2v7mvVsDxSsFI7CQWwG8MValJsnTWYglaYenZ_7mJt77Y/s1600-h/star_trek_spock_poster2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 117px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41dWao7GZS6ehJFfI1HUIZ37mg0mj5818erNB4CPkZxf4VRJrkQHJ4fq4Q8YqWFM5A9N074nvh_UWqsDXv_LC4Pevc8hCUw2v7mvVsDxSsFI7CQWwG8MValJsnTWYglaYenZ_7mJt77Y/s320/star_trek_spock_poster2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334255010048722834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Directed by</strong> J.J. Abrams<br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Written by</strong> Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman based on Gene Roddenberry's tv-series<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Cast</strong> Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Eric Bana, Leonard Nimoy, Zoe Saldana, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366/</a></span></div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESTSDqAnxtktR7xu4S1deKUh25LwOnaLpbZRtWaDkKQNJ_w2PfkuP4tdz_10dG_HZUNTCQ8Go2xztuM0yk0oeCHZJMSp71hPfzljmzfG9NRuOy5GkP7Bl3oIzHBhrk7XIBQKxN6-fIwo/s1600-h/4stars.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 103px; height: 19px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESTSDqAnxtktR7xu4S1deKUh25LwOnaLpbZRtWaDkKQNJ_w2PfkuP4tdz_10dG_HZUNTCQ8Go2xztuM0yk0oeCHZJMSp71hPfzljmzfG9NRuOy5GkP7Bl3oIzHBhrk7XIBQKxN6-fIwo/s320/4stars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332690664142505730" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><br />Reviewed by</strong></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Päivi</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><hr />First, let me clarify one thing: I am a <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars</span> fan and I have never really seen any <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Treks</span>. So I saw the <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span> directed by <span style="font-style: italic;">Lost</span> creator <span style="font-weight: bold;">J.J. Abrams</span> open minded, without any expectations and no original story to compare it to. Trust me, all I knew was that there were characters named Kirk and Spock, and a spacecraft named Enterprise. And I have to say I was very pleased indeed in what I saw on the big screen: a fascinating space adventure, interesting characters, story well written and visually worth sitting in the theatre for a bit over two hours.<br /><br />This version of <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span> is like <span style="font-style: italic;">Batman Begins</span> - it tells the origins of how James T. Kirk became the famous Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise and how Kirk and Spock became friends. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chris Pine</span> is the young and restless - and fatherless - James Kirk, who tries to pick up girls in a bar when he meets a certain Captain Pike (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Bruce Greenwood</span>) who questions his future and tells him to join the space fleet if he wants to honor his father.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvSBoOEoIoMkW3i5xgYX8ZifGfxFEy3iG9xyUgHLfUOu-5LaSOkre6Llh95_uJZuR216FdLBS61fN45zmqxmd0fNt6tws9Lnph7WHS1oPbwR-HD-mfmgTokMJFjXl4yoeaMQOl5eGxhk/s1600-h/Star-Trek-Trailer-Image-28.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvSBoOEoIoMkW3i5xgYX8ZifGfxFEy3iG9xyUgHLfUOu-5LaSOkre6Llh95_uJZuR216FdLBS61fN45zmqxmd0fNt6tws9Lnph7WHS1oPbwR-HD-mfmgTokMJFjXl4yoeaMQOl5eGxhk/s320/Star-Trek-Trailer-Image-28.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334260670434628386" border="0" /></a><br />Kirk is sceptic but eventually turns out in the recruitment center next morning. Arrogant young man does not please everyone, especially one guy from the planet Vulcan with pointed ears (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Zachary Quinto</span>) but he becomes friends with the doctor McCoy (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Karl Urban</span>). With the help of McCoy Kirk gets through things he would not otherwise get, fights against a group led by (almost unrecognisable in his mask) <span style="font-weight: bold;">Eric Bana</span>'s Captain Nero, and eventually turns from an arrogant, selfish youngster to a reliable guy worth of Captain's status.<br /><br />J.J. Abrams' <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span> is something you would wish for a good space adventure: cool gadgets and technologies, interesting, brave characters and action that is still not happening on the expense of the story. The growth story of Kirk was very basic, but it worked in a reliable way. Some overacting from Pine especially in the beginning bugged me a bit, as did some extremely cheesy moments, but they did not spoil the overall experience, which was purely entertaining.<br /><br />A nice addition is the original (from the tv-series in the 60's) Mr. Spock <span style="font-weight: bold;">Leonard Nimoy</span>'s appearance, and based on the comments of friends' who have seen also the original shows, all characters are very loyal to the originals and all names, personalities and nationalities have been stored unchanged. The diversity of the Enterprise crew was something that I took notice, and I found them all fascinating, well done and well played characters.<br /></div></div></div></div>Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-48109861360196017732009-05-07T19:55:00.009+03:002009-05-07T21:16:51.905+03:00Star Warsy stuff, Episode I<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRym-PyGLXyimBeh2usJgA1tPcLjRkz2KZQv-0iub2SuaCdmo3nOORcq4ot5CfZXxlKhaQHiBZnapcZiyYbu0VFxRFRSC66KD-GUHjzc_Vff8oRKPolKhqbBnSOiPkshHNjkxT65VNe3U/s1600-h/leia_r2d2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRym-PyGLXyimBeh2usJgA1tPcLjRkz2KZQv-0iub2SuaCdmo3nOORcq4ot5CfZXxlKhaQHiBZnapcZiyYbu0VFxRFRSC66KD-GUHjzc_Vff8oRKPolKhqbBnSOiPkshHNjkxT65VNe3U/s320/leia_r2d2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333144520617469522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars</span> is an institute in movies. Not only has the Maker <span style="font-weight: bold;">George Lucas</span> made a fortune with the movie saga and the spin-off tv-series, but also with all the merchandise around the movies, Extended Universe of novels and comic books, action figures, toys, collectibles... you name it, uncle George has it.<br /><br />Since the release of the first ever <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars</span> in 1977 have many movie makers used the theme in their creations and included references to the space fantasy in their work. I, as a <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars</span> fan, find it extremely entertaining when I notice the beloved adventure featured in other movies.<br /><br />Last weekend I saw <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Men Origins: Wolverine</span> and the ending scene (can't explain in detail so that I won't spoil the story) reminded me very much of a certain scene in <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace</span>, the one when the evil Darth Maul is defeated by young jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi. The scene in <span style="font-style: italic;">Episode I</span> is haunting and the same atmosphere has been captured in <span style="font-style: italic;">Wolverine</span> as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDpyWXmDci1BX9FXhWGxCdl8TZDx6IEUlgCB27xxuj7WEEvEC6GoeVgFxPlPecJxVPSoiKuAt0IDRDyFvLw6T1nRJJjWsI7MlqUmP7jBHhwr7AF7WsfsQNZ3iHUzbO1r4oznwU92R5jk/s1600-h/darthmaul.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDpyWXmDci1BX9FXhWGxCdl8TZDx6IEUlgCB27xxuj7WEEvEC6GoeVgFxPlPecJxVPSoiKuAt0IDRDyFvLw6T1nRJJjWsI7MlqUmP7jBHhwr7AF7WsfsQNZ3iHUzbO1r4oznwU92R5jk/s320/darthmaul.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333144625201330786" border="0" /></a><br />A much lighter reference was seen in the recent hit-comedy <span style="font-style: italic;">17 Again</span> starring <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zac Efron</span>. Efron's character's best friend is an adult "fanboy" who has decorated his home with all kinds of fancy merchandise from <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Lord of the Rings</span> and the type. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivu-tpeRqhUr8FVyyUA9DKYqIDXLGidsxOkMxyt01buHAGK5ntercVi7xSDLx59GD9BxyhTMhC2Mb0RvjsVa8JLxxLG_8jksj7C4r_VCQr_zx28qjSaL1mnLWTQp7cYCMg-Pp6KSEfaiE/s1600-h/luke-vader.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivu-tpeRqhUr8FVyyUA9DKYqIDXLGidsxOkMxyt01buHAGK5ntercVi7xSDLx59GD9BxyhTMhC2Mb0RvjsVa8JLxxLG_8jksj7C4r_VCQr_zx28qjSaL1mnLWTQp7cYCMg-Pp6KSEfaiE/s320/luke-vader.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333146523445399218" border="0" /></a>Even his bed is the shape of Luke Skywalker's landspeeder from <span style="font-style: italic;">A New Hope</span>.<br /><br />When Efron's character and his friend have a fight, they settle it with one blue and one red Force FX lightsaber (even though the box of the lightsaber says it is a collectible item and not a toy - I know I have two of those myself) - Darth Vader vs Luke Skywalker -style. The scene is so very cute.<br /><br />References to <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars</span> can be seen literally everywhere. These movies that came out this spring are just two most recent examples. The story continues...Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-60931670913763788172009-05-06T15:42:00.011+03:002009-05-06T16:56:28.780+03:00Duplicity (2009)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwVH3KQ0I6HDssMBviX5Ip5iXeZYDjfNr0VooiDo5MVibgiwBnMVvSpE5RrHz3GBcYrczrezd3c6qD6MuoAL5xZJbBOGMIF1El6o5fA02W2YdcNDOJJvUGuYl5Vm80__xWBCxKFXlGz0/s1600-h/duplicityposter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwVH3KQ0I6HDssMBviX5Ip5iXeZYDjfNr0VooiDo5MVibgiwBnMVvSpE5RrHz3GBcYrczrezd3c6qD6MuoAL5xZJbBOGMIF1El6o5fA02W2YdcNDOJJvUGuYl5Vm80__xWBCxKFXlGz0/s320/duplicityposter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332691028570217170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Directed by</strong> Tony Gilroy<br /></span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Written by</strong> Tony Gilroy</span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Cast</strong> Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Tom Wilkinson</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135487/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135487/</a></span></div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESTSDqAnxtktR7xu4S1deKUh25LwOnaLpbZRtWaDkKQNJ_w2PfkuP4tdz_10dG_HZUNTCQ8Go2xztuM0yk0oeCHZJMSp71hPfzljmzfG9NRuOy5GkP7Bl3oIzHBhrk7XIBQKxN6-fIwo/s1600-h/4stars.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 103px; height: 19px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESTSDqAnxtktR7xu4S1deKUh25LwOnaLpbZRtWaDkKQNJ_w2PfkuP4tdz_10dG_HZUNTCQ8Go2xztuM0yk0oeCHZJMSp71hPfzljmzfG9NRuOy5GkP7Bl3oIzHBhrk7XIBQKxN6-fIwo/s320/4stars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332690664142505730" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><br />Reviewed by</strong></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Päivi</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><hr /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tony Gilroy</span>, the man behind many engaging cinematic stories such as <span style="font-style: italic;">Michael Clayton</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Jason Bourne</span> -series, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Devil's Advocate</span>, an Oscar-nominated director of <span style="font-style: italic;">Michael Clayton</span> and also a man behind another new thriller <span style="font-style: italic;">State of Play</span> (reviewed in <a href="http://moviebabblings.blogspot.com/2009/04/state-of-play-2009.html">here</a>) has written and directed <span style="font-style: italic;">Duplicity</span>, a story of two spies who end up falling in love.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Clive Owen</span> is Ray Koval, a MI-6 agent on a mission in Dubai when he meets Claire Stenwick (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Julia Roberts</span>), a CIA agent. There's something about Claire, thinks Ray, and ends up in bed with the lady... only to find himself next morning, drugged, and all his secret papers stolen by the other agent.<br /><br />Time passes, the agents' paths meet again and it seems they can't stay away from each other. Because they know so many of the agent tricks, they start planning together a gig that would lead them to big money. But they have a problem: how to be able to trust each other? They are a perfect match in a way that they understand each other, but they are both so deep in their jobs that betrayal and mistrust is always in their minds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KXrVRNPYW9_w3pICrJFQa-Tla8lx9xtVQR3lp63No1YnE8yXwg1G8Kpwc4QGucvQXoS6mxs0sBGtMLeO54OrPXVWXB_x08bhVKx5A19IsiyiNZXy6fBW3fMU8uWi2mcPEH3qKEt6JX4/s1600-h/duplicity.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KXrVRNPYW9_w3pICrJFQa-Tla8lx9xtVQR3lp63No1YnE8yXwg1G8Kpwc4QGucvQXoS6mxs0sBGtMLeO54OrPXVWXB_x08bhVKx5A19IsiyiNZXy6fBW3fMU8uWi2mcPEH3qKEt6JX4/s320/duplicity.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332695513090775522" border="0" /></a><br />Their plan involves two soap industry bosses, played brilliantly by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tom Wilkinson</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Paul Giamatti</span> (check especially the opening of the movie, when the two middle aged bosses have a fight in slow motion - just hilarious). A lot of spying, counter spying and a very very complicated plot follows, and I'm not going to explain that to you because it would spoil the surprises, and eventually everything pretty much turns upside down and everyone is confused on who betrayed who.<br /><br />The complex story is very well written and the actors play their parts nicely. Especially Giamatti and Wilkinson are awesome as those soap moguls who try everything to find the magic product and especially launch it first (no matter who originally invented it). It is interesting to see all the complexities in industry secrets, how those big companies are well organised like countries who hold national secrets and they even have their own agents in house. In case of a big invention that might bring the company billions of dollars, this is understandable.<br /><br />Roberts and Owen are cute as professional spies who are very efficient and self confident in what they do, but who are so vulnerable and insecure when it comes to questions about love. Owen is showing his usual charm and he fits into the role beautifully. Roberts is a bit missing her charisma as an ice-cold spy, and it is easy to understand why Ray questions her love.<br /><br />There are a lot of twists and turns in the story, and still the ending brought a little surprise with it, which is pretty rare nowadays. And I totally loved the end scene with the champagne and all. <span style="font-style: italic;">Duplicity</span> is recommended to all who enjoy crime/thriller stories with some comedy inside.<br /></div></div></div></div>Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-71885999673765105582009-05-02T19:20:00.016+03:002009-05-02T21:54:00.887+03:00X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-uW_Ho-x5qgvySbSm6QmjxqZsvKQTA61hzzP_LkU7y4f_oURht0Qtf9YbnVzmamDILMN-cRyfgEe49IHp3h33KSJY6S1jr_pcpIpOkKpU7mL5eg9kSAVxPxFh86rS70nnzqVP168H_M/s1600-h/wolvie1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-uW_Ho-x5qgvySbSm6QmjxqZsvKQTA61hzzP_LkU7y4f_oURht0Qtf9YbnVzmamDILMN-cRyfgEe49IHp3h33KSJY6S1jr_pcpIpOkKpU7mL5eg9kSAVxPxFh86rS70nnzqVP168H_M/s320/wolvie1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331263741208983554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Directed by</strong> Gavin Hood</span><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Written by</strong> David Be</span><span style="font-size:85%;">njoff, Skip Woods<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Cast</strong> Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Ryan Reynolds, Lynn Collins. Taylor Kitsch, Daniel Henney, Dominic Monaghan, Kevin Durand, Will i Am</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458525/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458525/</a></span></div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM8qiUlKBlVLt0lE6B8315Eq1s2Wbb1n7o7nc_VNFMUzGwieUgQUL9-VNlt-zPSpczjZmbV5zoWFirm28WBSo3ZNNWaJ5B-a6JnFYMz9EBC0VQglYtSwKt3018p5oX6ePb4x6OUoNXjI/s1600-h/3stars.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 103px; height: 19px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOM8qiUlKBlVLt0lE6B8315Eq1s2Wbb1n7o7nc_VNFMUzGwieUgQUL9-VNlt-zPSpczjZmbV5zoWFirm28WBSo3ZNNWaJ5B-a6JnFYMz9EBC0VQglYtSwKt3018p5oX6ePb4x6OUoNXjI/s320/3stars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331295239891361010" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Reviewed by</strong></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Päivi</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><hr />When I was a teenage girl, I loved reading X-Men comics (and other Marvel-comics as well). My two favourite characters were Wolverine and Storm - Storm for being so beautiful (especially when her hair was cut and she was wearing it as a mohican) and so powerful with her talent on controlling the weather, and then Wolverine - for being the tough guy with those magnificent claws and a skeleton made of some fancy sounding adamantium. Also, what combines these two characters was that their past is interesting: it holds secrets only few people know.<br /><br />When they made movies of X-Men, I was happy to find my other favourite character performed by an actor that suits the character perfectly. Yeah well, Hugh Jackman is a lot taller than Wolverine in the comics, but that did not matter. He did a brilliant job.<br /><br />A movie of this character's origins that so many I've heard thinks as their favourite character, was more than justified. <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Men Origins: Wolverine</span> is exactly what the name tells: how Logan became the adamantium-skeletoned Wolverine.<br /><br />The story begins with events that lead to young James (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Troye Sivan</span>) first witnessing the claws coming out of his hands and killing a man. Terrified of what happened, James and his older brother Victor escape from home. Both of the boys have the skill of healing fast and eventually they end up fighting back to back in many wars. It is not until in Vietnam war when the then grown up brothers (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Hugh Jackman</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Liev Schreiber</span>) are spotted by a certain William Stryker (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Danny Huston</span>) who recruits the brothers to his secret group of overly skilled soldiers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlPv7KUQ8w548IJC6CNxqBgKFbUu5A0anPIyvkpPV_spcR104SHBmoFym2sb5NS-b34uWW2w_QOlLgqPjHjKMqS1_wmbx6Hu3cox8Wgy8ZowijIihUlPqrBr6VZ2T-esApzq5XGLh5fM/s1600-h/wolvie2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlPv7KUQ8w548IJC6CNxqBgKFbUu5A0anPIyvkpPV_spcR104SHBmoFym2sb5NS-b34uWW2w_QOlLgqPjHjKMqS1_wmbx6Hu3cox8Wgy8ZowijIihUlPqrBr6VZ2T-esApzq5XGLh5fM/s320/wolvie2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331265205622508434" border="0" /></a><br />The many wars have made their mark on the brothers: when James (now known as Logan) has grown to hate all the killing, Victor has learned to love his power. When Stryker takes them on a mission that is morally questionable in nature, James leaves the group and for many years lives a harmonic and peaceful life in the Canadian Rockies with beautiful Kayla (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Lynn Collins</span>). But Logan is not meant to live in peace, and after six peaceful years his brother finds him which leads to events that give birth to the Wolverine we all know.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV3hxjyGw7Rbq14J70GJViYWncJ1k9H152eoy6fH21QwDoW85KjNWE80LC9Y1kc8xuB3IgGM3wRhaIHz5gyXZh_DY5AKMH2_Qrh8uikB16al2Irzcr6nkJumrqeNNoWVMF0RfzK3V1ss/s1600-h/wolvie3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV3hxjyGw7Rbq14J70GJViYWncJ1k9H152eoy6fH21QwDoW85KjNWE80LC9Y1kc8xuB3IgGM3wRhaIHz5gyXZh_DY5AKMH2_Qrh8uikB16al2Irzcr6nkJumrqeNNoWVMF0RfzK3V1ss/s320/wolvie3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331265296788471458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">X-Men Origins: Wolverine</span> is a dark story with a lot of emotions. It is a very well made action flick with all the compounds an action fan would enjoy. But it has also flaws that made me drop off one star from the review.<br /><br />South-African born and awarded director <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gavin Hood</span> has all the tools to make a great film of one of the most-loved comic characters ever, but sometimes he relies too much on the old action cliches where the hero walks out of a scene of an exploding helicopter just a few meters behind without looking back for example.<br /><br />Also the visual effects are often not at the level they should be. For example the scene when Wolverine admires his new adamantium claws for the first time, they look fake, and with all the technology available today, this kind of essential thing from the story's point of view should be pretty basic to make look real. In some scenes I was really wondering how the effects could be so poorly made in a movie of this big budget.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsCVlqBam8TToAsMPJOFhpwL2wW1A3vSU-qT-C71X40DlF-4OlefojtyxZ1PPg0EwclHgk1fImHt8m5BK4UiA9JVHxlb37j1iofAwcYpOIgPx7p9Zy9v0NrsGKWMw68N02Al6TSQD8fI/s1600-h/wolvie4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsCVlqBam8TToAsMPJOFhpwL2wW1A3vSU-qT-C71X40DlF-4OlefojtyxZ1PPg0EwclHgk1fImHt8m5BK4UiA9JVHxlb37j1iofAwcYpOIgPx7p9Zy9v0NrsGKWMw68N02Al6TSQD8fI/s320/wolvie4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331265382376306690" border="0" /></a>But overall, <span style="font-style: italic;">Wolverine</span> is a decent piece of entertainment. The story rests on Jackman's charisma pretty strongly, which is understandable because of the awesome charisma of last year's sexiest man on Earth. Jackman makes Wolverine the character we know from Marvel's comics, and even though he still brings some new life to the character, he does it in such a subtle way that the audience is totally bought.<br /><br />Of the other mutants seen on the flick, we can see among others <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ryan Reynolds</span>' swordman Wade, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kevin Durand</span> as Blob, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dominic Monaghan</span> as Bolt, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Will i Am</span> as John Wraith, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Daniel Henney</span> as Agent Zero and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tim Pocock</span> as young Scott Summers (future leader of the X-Men, Cyclops). Also <span style="font-weight: bold;">Taylor Kitch</span>'s Gambit does some cool stuff with his cards.<br /></div></div></div></div>Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-1235746513268315512009-04-29T20:19:00.002+03:002009-06-02T09:09:45.769+03:00Bolt 3D (2008)Animations made in 3D seem to be getting more and more common, and no wonder because the technology allows the makers do so many wonderful things these days. However, the fancy technology is not the only thing that makes a good movie. It is also the old-fashioned story that needs to be good to engage audiences with full force. No matter how shiny the picture is, if the viewers don't feel satisfied with the characters and the story, the makers have lost the magic touch of movie making.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bolt</span> is one proof that the magic still exists. It is a story of a super dog Bolt (English voice by J<span style="font-weight: bold;">ohn Travolta</span>) who battles against the bad green eyed villain Dr. Calisco (voice by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Malcolm McDowell</span>) with his human girl Penny (voice by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Miley Cyrus</span>) - in TV. Bolt does not know he is just an actor and that his super powers are not real.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmPnzCunmUdU4QhAXcLpDcRXZ8DdbRYb1f1VTrAlhA-5yRz4bafInx1riFNCM3Mfb5_RF2vPROf7hm90KAyv78xitymuaQK6Dn4H2hH80obX5dCZBHKEzJRgQBghpN8Zyc88ifqCxNTg/s1600-h/small_bolt_mb1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmPnzCunmUdU4QhAXcLpDcRXZ8DdbRYb1f1VTrAlhA-5yRz4bafInx1riFNCM3Mfb5_RF2vPROf7hm90KAyv78xitymuaQK6Dn4H2hH80obX5dCZBHKEzJRgQBghpN8Zyc88ifqCxNTg/s320/small_bolt_mb1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330165230110438130" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div>When an evil cat comes laughing at the ignorant dog, he suddenly makes a mistake escape from the movie studio, and ends up accidentally in the other side of the continent in New York. In New York he meets Mittens the cat (voice by Susie Essman) and gets tied up with her in his plans on returning to Hollywood to save Penny from Dr. Calisco. However, why his super powers don't work, he can not understand.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFBWyufePLauLPv0wL86V-6iEwiz2hejBZRtq3VSDfQIdqne9UuXdt3OmIzgw6g2wikVAJTAcczV6RssKs6jsz6Z0vqWp_Qsj60YUX6BZokhllJ0V_jQJ7tmyGTQd8NNYiO7vRqJjdSk/s1600-h/small_bolt_mb2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFBWyufePLauLPv0wL86V-6iEwiz2hejBZRtq3VSDfQIdqne9UuXdt3OmIzgw6g2wikVAJTAcczV6RssKs6jsz6Z0vqWp_Qsj60YUX6BZokhllJ0V_jQJ7tmyGTQd8NNYiO7vRqJjdSk/s320/small_bolt_mb2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330165295390701778" border="0" /></a><br />Bolt and Mittens start their long journey accross the country and in one trailer park bump into Rhino the hamster (voice by Mark Walton) who is Bolt's number one fan and likes living inside a transparent ball. Rhino wants to join Bolt and Mittens, and the journey continues all the way to Hollywood.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLulFI9cSxgPNmOgiNfzmHX1iKjtKjVxZQANa1r8Zs_o7foHIH1-jBaef7tOW2LezAOUJ3znNTIkxBpGh-N8D2zawuOGiMs-dAXY9QyksyU3Ghaz6gd-Pmf6d3KT4veh7nJLVdN_Vf6CA/s1600-h/small_bolt_mb3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLulFI9cSxgPNmOgiNfzmHX1iKjtKjVxZQANa1r8Zs_o7foHIH1-jBaef7tOW2LezAOUJ3znNTIkxBpGh-N8D2zawuOGiMs-dAXY9QyksyU3Ghaz6gd-Pmf6d3KT4veh7nJLVdN_Vf6CA/s320/small_bolt_mb3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330165363175667538" border="0" /></a><br />As a dog loving person I knew that I would like this at least in some level, but was pleasantly surprised with the quality of both the story and the technology. The animation just looks plain awesome in 3D - all those animals hairs look so real and the 3D really works beautifully by making the movie an enjoyment to watch.<br /><br />The animal characters are incredibly cute, but they still have their own personalities and some edge. The dialogue is witty and charming. The version I saw was dubbed in Finnish so I can not comment on the original voice actors. However the Finnish version worked incredibly well with all those nice dialects some of the supporting cast was using.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bolt</span> is highly recommended entertainment for the whole family - a story and characters that engage both children and adults served on such a beautiful plate.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYfN_8e9Jw6_pN3pAKBFePJWMI5fS135l6BVYYgS5APE_F6S7Z0TWRxf99d9JP3zkLpAx6C_avQ0ch6b-vVWWdvY3O_bBxkI0tL7lkgRVZcxQ2SQV86uJYL2gyZ5uLxWhl-F8_F8VOIuS/s1600-h/4stars.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329461232681608466" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left; width: 103px; height: 19px;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYfN_8e9Jw6_pN3pAKBFePJWMI5fS135l6BVYYgS5APE_F6S7Z0TWRxf99d9JP3zkLpAx6C_avQ0ch6b-vVWWdvY3O_bBxkI0tL7lkgRVZcxQ2SQV86uJYL2gyZ5uLxWhl-F8_F8VOIuS/s320/4stars.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong></strong></div><div><strong>Directed by</strong> Byron Howard, Chris Williams<br /></div><div><strong>Written by</strong> Dan Fogelman, Chris Williams<br /></div><div><strong>Cast</strong> <span style="font-weight: bold;">(English voices)</span> John Travolta (Bolt), Miley Cyrus (Penny), Susie Essman (Mittens), Mark Walton (Rhino), Malcolm McDowell (Dr. Calico)<br /></div><div><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397892/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397892/</a></div></div></div></div></div>Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-41961954848937117652009-04-27T22:41:00.000+03:002009-04-28T00:36:27.146+03:00State of Play (2009)<em>State of Play</em> is a movie based on a British television drama serial, broadcasted on BBC One in 2003. It captures a balanced combination of crime, drama and thriller ingredients. The story begins with an intense chase, where a young criminal runs for his life late in the evening, eventually finding a hiding place from a dark alley, but unfortunately meets his final destiny and gets shot by a mysterious briefcase man, along with a witness, who just happened to be at a wrong place at a wrong time.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div>The next day an investigative newspaper reporter Cal McAffrey (<strong>Russell Crowe</strong>) from Washington Globe comes to the crime scene and is curious to know what has happened. He is a well-known reporter among all the cops and detectives and is always there where something's going on. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329464634203746962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYskwlomAoA22sESeEz_BgWIJiBzAn6zZuH1zvJS2i6K4GBpmEjotar4NCwx47LP86hMrR2hr1ZN68Lv0lP1gwzLJY5nHOdlw6mL2PGyk-y0Vl4MvzgS6mjWJ_5zSU5yVEw0qO4KVgBnJx/s320/State+of+Play+XX.jpg" border="0" />Later that morning there is a news flash on television about yet another death, this time the victim is a young woman called Sonia Baker (<strong>Maria Thayer</strong>), who also happens to be Congressman Stephen Collins' (<strong>Ben Affleck</strong>) assistant and even more, as speculated, his secret lover. Cal happens to see the news and seems to be in awe with all this. And there is also a good reason for his reaction. Stephen Collins happens to be his former college roommate and a close friend of his, but Cal didn't have any idea of his secret affair with this young woman. He now finds himself in a challenging position trying to solve the case and on the other hand trying to help his friend.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329461702114032866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgn3gYW5XxdQZ4ygLIHOgzbNMAQNdOjkNgq5F39GDjHIUmZjm6poZWbjh7qNWe875uepUDxPmy8_JNbrolFIm-mU5mpx8mVBMlSKBPQsm9O7_1PGPgrgyAK9YIq6x7fJxBYDmDTEgIZ5G/s320/State+of+Play+II.jpg" border="0" />He starts to investigate these two crimes with a young reporter, Della Frye (<strong>Rachel McAdams</strong>), even though at first he is not that interested to work with a young college grad who is still a bit green and concentrates mainly on her political blog in the newspaper. They end up doing the story together after all and as they get deeper to the story, they find out that there is much more going on than just these random deaths. All the incidents are linked together and they soon discover that Congressman Collins is also much deeper into all this than they first thought.</div><br />State of Play is well implemented movie, the storyline is strong and keeps you alert till the very end. The cast is phenomenal, Russell Crowe once again showing the audience what an incredibly talented actor he is. Watching his acting as Cal, this old-style reporter was such a strong performance and he was so comfortable with this character it felt like he truly has been a reporter in his former life. His brown corduroy jacket, the long, curly hair and rough, unshaved beard were like the finishing touches to his spectacular role.</div><div><br /><div>Ben Affleck as the congressman Collins was also solid and believable, as well as Rachel McAdams in the role of Della Frye. McAdams added some fresh female energy to this film, along with <strong>Helen Mirren</strong> in a role of Editor-in-Chief Cameron Lynne. Together these two ladies made a nice balance with the strong smell of testosterone in this reporter-detective story. </div><br /><div>Probably one of the strongest movies of its kind this year making you want to see more films like this. Enjoyable movie, with not so much action or violence, but with more investigative and crime-solving perspective.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYfN_8e9Jw6_pN3pAKBFePJWMI5fS135l6BVYYgS5APE_F6S7Z0TWRxf99d9JP3zkLpAx6C_avQ0ch6b-vVWWdvY3O_bBxkI0tL7lkgRVZcxQ2SQV86uJYL2gyZ5uLxWhl-F8_F8VOIuS/s1600-h/4stars.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329461232681608466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 103px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 19px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYfN_8e9Jw6_pN3pAKBFePJWMI5fS135l6BVYYgS5APE_F6S7Z0TWRxf99d9JP3zkLpAx6C_avQ0ch6b-vVWWdvY3O_bBxkI0tL7lkgRVZcxQ2SQV86uJYL2gyZ5uLxWhl-F8_F8VOIuS/s320/4stars.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong></strong></div><div><strong>Directed by</strong> Kevin Macdonald</div><div><strong>Written by</strong> Matthew Michael Carnahan, Tony Gilroy & Billy Ray (screenplay), Paul Abbott (television series)</div><div><strong>Cast</strong> Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Viola Davis, Maria Thayer</div><div><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473705/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473705/</a></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-83796249238717933522009-04-23T21:02:00.000+03:002009-04-23T21:46:57.136+03:0017 Again (2009)In 1985 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Michael J. Fox</span> went back in time to find himself coping with his then-teenage parents; in 1988 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tom Hanks</span> grew <span style="font-style: italic;">Big</span> overnight, from 12-year-old to adult; in 2004 13-year-old <span style="font-weight: bold;">Christa B. Allen</span> made a wish to be an adult and woke up as 30-year-old <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jennifer Garner</span>. This spring 37-year-old <span style="font-weight: bold;">Matthew Perry</span> wishes he was young again - and to his surprise (with the help of an elf disguised as an old janitor of his school) turns into 17-year-old <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zac Efron</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbY0mu1tzR-4ZT4A2wAq1miTyGRkfujuZ6Vc3OPfQI7haL84QFSCjRyJfaWulX4vTb1IjJIGiRXXcXtSfaRYAyW0UzUdeBdDmlHBVCbSCJF6EK_at5hwsk432DF85KSdJUBfNrXgMAnuc/s1600-h/17_again1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbY0mu1tzR-4ZT4A2wAq1miTyGRkfujuZ6Vc3OPfQI7haL84QFSCjRyJfaWulX4vTb1IjJIGiRXXcXtSfaRYAyW0UzUdeBdDmlHBVCbSCJF6EK_at5hwsk432DF85KSdJUBfNrXgMAnuc/s320/17_again1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327949457514346626" border="0" /></a><br />Mike O'Donnell (Perry/Efron) was a brilliant basket ball player in high school, who had a wonderful career in front of him as a professional player. But as destiny has a habit of messing with things, his girlfriend Scarlett (young <span style="font-weight: bold;">Allison Miller</span> / adult <span style="font-weight: bold;">Leslie Mann</span>) informs him they have fooled around with unsafe sex and that she's pregnant. Mike gives up his own dreams and marries the girl and raises a family.<br /><br />At the age of 37 Mike is frustrated, depressed man whose family life is getting ruined because of his constant self pity. Scarlett wants a divorce and Mike is forced to move to live with his best friend Ned (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thomas Lennon</span>) - a software developer, rich guy and a grown up fanboy living in a house full of memorabilia from <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Lord of the Rings</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sI9YA0srpijkoV5eL3cPU4eTchbKcfki_aLFIgE5Q59tPorj95YO7fC4QE8peBsomFNMwUyaFsOC5lOkUR7oYyHWhB_ssvEYaSiwYLUHifJ5kfrWuoG_M0QhMY8psk723DC6PWkRpIY/s1600-h/17_again2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sI9YA0srpijkoV5eL3cPU4eTchbKcfki_aLFIgE5Q59tPorj95YO7fC4QE8peBsomFNMwUyaFsOC5lOkUR7oYyHWhB_ssvEYaSiwYLUHifJ5kfrWuoG_M0QhMY8psk723DC6PWkRpIY/s320/17_again2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327953485383691474" border="0" /></a><br />When Mike does not get the promotion at work that he was so waiting for, he thinks everything is over. He goes to his old school (where his own kids now go to school) and sees his glory in the 20 years old photograph. Suddenly an old janitor (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Brian Doyle-Murray</span>) asks him if he would want to be young again. Mike says yes, of course, and suddenly he's turned into his 17-year-old self - but current time, not by going back in time.<br /><br />A lightsaber duel is needed for his friend Ned to believe who he really is, and agrees to pretend to be his father when he goes attending the school again. In school Mike becomes friends with his own son and discovers the lives of his children are not as good as one might think, and starts helping them out.<br /><br />Adult Scarlett is amazed by how his son's new friend looks so much like her old husband, and feels strangely attracted to the young boy. As does the boy towards Scarlett.<br /><br />Does Mike manage to fix his children's lives? Does he stay 17 forever? Does he become a big basket ball hero? Does Scarlett get her divorce? - See for yourself!<br /><br />Much of the movie's appeal rests on Efron's young shoulders: without his charisma and very unique "presence" the movie would be much duller. But he makes the movie an enjoyment. <span style="font-style: italic;">17 again</span> is very harmless Hollywood comedy that does not really bring anything new to the genre, but it is very well done, the story works and the actors are really good. Well, imagining cute Efron becoming a boring looking Perry is not that fun, and I don't understand why on earth Perry was cast as adult Mike.<br /><br />The supporting cast, especially Lennon as Mike's weird friend Ned and his love interest, the school's principal Jane Masterson (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Melora Hardin</span>) make some extremely fun scenes, for example during their first dinner together. Recommended to fanboys and -girls ;-)<br /><br />If you want to see a well made, but totally harmless feel good movie, <span style="font-style: italic;">17 again</span> is a good option. It gives a few laughs, but performs it's humour in a thoughtful manner. Some overacting is of course visible, but not so much it would ruin the entertainment. And the story has a warm heart.<br /><em></em><div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327748010976279954" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 103px; height: 19px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTws7CJ_yt7XSytwTpFyWdQj1iD9MWGZRpiU4QrEoxTRI8pIKszlRnDVGTNA7f7PdUkHn4CUaMBoFBPb8JGhdvw56IkGWf6lOr8CbjFuJFqGS4ImFQTJcco8DvxlvBhkBtfrNDykU_LP_/s320/3stars.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><strong>Directed by</strong> Burr Steers<br /><strong>Written by</strong> Jason Filardi<br /></div><div><strong>Cast</strong> Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Matthew Perry, Michelle Trachtenberg, Sterling Knight, Melora Hardin<br /></div><div><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0974661/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0974661/</a></div></div></div>Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-71063337697483831282009-04-23T17:57:00.001+03:002009-04-23T19:39:46.065+03:00Yes Man (2008)<em>Yes Man</em> is a story about a guy called Carl (<strong>Jim Carrey</strong>), who lives a pretty boring life as a junior loan officer at a local bank, has some friends, but prefers staying home watching movies rather than hanging out with them and is still saddened about the fact that he and his wife Stephanie (<strong>Molly Sims</strong>) divorced three years earlier. His friends are furious at him and especially his best buddy Peter (<strong>Bradley Cooper</strong>) is quite frustrated with his way to neglet his friends and always making excuses not to meet with him.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327901705123596994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 176px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VxNAqr6-9fONgGwULwWffKFXJzxeC29UdemJFFppUVG2d8ZxQRa7w3MlYlP_7UPxW3YIe6WOHu4ig3XiAuCzlssBenlOlx0Y3uVSKF7zfwGOFfYHo7Im58S-CSwqNovgQoQhmTqmvly5/s320/Yes+Man+III.jpg" border="0" />Then one day a guy from his past (<strong>John Michael Higgins</strong>) shows up and gives his a leaflet about a special personal development program and invites him to join them to their next meeting. Carl hesitates and is about to say no, but somehow finds himself at the meeting and suddenly for his own suprise becomes a new covenant for the program that emphasizes the power of saying yes to every opportunity that comes to your way. He soon finds himself being the typical Yes man, saying yes to flying lessons, saying yes to learn korean and even saying yes to the most unexpected loan applications he would never had approved before all this.<br /><div><div><br /></div><div>But no matter how ridiculous this all may sound, he actually realizes that his life is on its way to a new direction. His career starts to blossom, he has a new, fresh lovelife with a young woman called Allison (<strong>Zooey Deshanel</strong>) and things seem to be just great. But of course there is a downside to all this craziness and he eventually understands that his life is not only about saying yes, but there is a limit to everything and maybe saying yes to all the opportunities is not the answer to his problems.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327901890104478546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 234px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZ7OIp7ApT8cew3RNjczMXESydxBEHxMxWhHjKFcIONVswlbS1isPz9nK-QNqOa5azJC50UxBvcEXcA0DUA7AusPUVSdDwcR4m5jwW_7KwS90KVByijHBuNeMdEFsyFFgGSYWizEDUy_z/s320/Yes+Man+II.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>This movie really is one crazy comedy and at some point you may face the fact that you either love it or hate it. Jim Carrey sure hasn't changed a bit as an actor and literally flies through the movie with his passionately entertaining and colorful wings giving some pretty darn good scenes to watch. But he surely can be a bit annoying at times and may divide the audience with his overactive character. He has a very strong presence and his charisma is just something else, but is it sometimes too much to handle? He is usually all over the place making faces, overacting and may get the audience to hyperventilate at times.<br /><br />At first I really didn't know if I liked or hated this movie. But as the movie progressed I had to admit that Carrey is such a goof-ball that I cannot resist but like him, at least a little bit. At times I just laughed tears in my eyes, since some of the scenes were just so over the line. Entertaining comedy to cheer you up on a rainy, grey day.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327901279999227218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 103px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 19px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXOasmmnm6Z2BsTRpfklwo5_Fb565kzVSe-1ufy2KavUl0Bn-qlDMLa2BAEoqSOZXCquDPoELZeruXlN61KU3zd8RAJxwQJtiUO0Nn4Fhv-IFifcDpZG6v-SPTBfPe6WBTlysyrYD3i9Q/s320/2stars.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><br /><br /><strong></strong></div><div><strong>Directed by</strong> Peyton Reed</div><div><strong>Written by</strong> Danny Wallace (book), Nicholas Stoller, Jarrad Paul and </div><div>Andrew Mogel (screenplay)</div><div><strong>Cast </strong>Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, John Michael Higgins, Molly Sims</div><div><strong>IMDb:</strong> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068680/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1068680/</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-23323449249175070482009-04-23T08:01:00.000+03:002009-04-23T08:25:22.095+03:00Sunshine Cleaning (2008)<em>Sunshine Cleaning</em> is a movie about a young mom Rose Lorkowski (<strong>Amy Adams</strong>), who raises her son Oscar (<strong>Jason Spevack</strong>) by herself and is living in a small town, close to her father Joe (<strong>Alan Arkin</strong>) and her younger sister Norah (<strong>Emily Blunt</strong>), who still lives with their dad.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327751382408459346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 199px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqonY06fWFJ9Wjw58iqGweL6wchZnwHdQD60R0O5QKxdfirhK-xiKJru0G2BVBR-Sso-HuHiAhtMJXtuJWCafLozZbaEzA6XRMqqx4G59JD0V6GcB5Z2DSYipkB6lZiRADNyiDAk4MopEV/s320/Sunshine+X.jpg" border="0" />Rose was once the head cheerleader and got all the attention of the boys back then. But now she is facing the fact that she is a single mom, still having affair with former football player Mac (<strong>Steve Zahn</strong>), now a husband to another woman. If this already makes her feel bad about herself, what about the fact that all the other girls from high school have families and careers and she is simply a maid in a small cleaning company, going from house to house and cleaning other people's (also her former school friends) homes.<br /><div></div><div><div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327748942558108994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQXguPOxSuT-mTy0-rxRznRIGl7h_HBCsURePkm6LGFnGIk9zWXaNRtZ5c1BJeMafrll5fEk9o0sxopexm3Xx4NqBBCiYGO6tu7PC40i6xW8LE5LlIJsozZv5AVTAxGfnQt5Bnrva1W3V/s320/SunshineIII.jpg" border="0" /> Then suddenly she hears from Mac that there is a need for crime-scene cleaners and decides to try this thing out with her sister Norah. Norah is a bit rebellious young lady and first laughs out loud at the whole idea, but soon they both find themselves at the crime scenes, cleaning up after all those deadly crimes. Things start to get better for Rose and the business is growing, until Norah messes things up and Rose is facing a new challenge and tries to figure out how to sort things out again and how to forgive her sister.<br /><br />Sunshine Cleaning is a comedy all right, but I would say that this film is a mixture of both comedy and drama. Okay, it sort of plays around the peculiar lifestyle Rose and her family has and gives you a grin every now and then, but there is also some deeper aspects into this film. It's also a story about sisterhood and motherhood, the family ties and the freedom and acceptance to be yourself amongst your family members. It's also a story about new opportunities and the fact that it really doesn't matter what you do for a living, as long as you enjoy it.<br /><br /><div>Cast is well-selected and believable. I myself especially enjoyed Emily Blunt as Rose's sister Norah. She really caught my attention and I'm very curious to see more roles from this young lady. </div><br /><div>The storyline is bubbly and colorful, but does also have its melancholy moments. It keeps your interest alive till the very end. This is a good choice for a movie to see if you want to experience a mixture of comedy and drama combined with everyday humour and some very interesting career choices.</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327748010976279954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 103px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 19px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTws7CJ_yt7XSytwTpFyWdQj1iD9MWGZRpiU4QrEoxTRI8pIKszlRnDVGTNA7f7PdUkHn4CUaMBoFBPb8JGhdvw56IkGWf6lOr8CbjFuJFqGS4ImFQTJcco8DvxlvBhkBtfrNDykU_LP_/s320/3stars.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><strong>Directed by</strong> Christine Jeffs<br /><strong>Written by</strong> Megan Holley</div><div><strong>Cast</strong> Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Steve Zahn, Mary Lynn Rajskub</div><div><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0862846/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0862846/</a></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-56448065717303813062009-04-17T21:18:00.000+03:002009-04-19T13:53:49.760+03:00Vin Diesel - the mysterious muscle guy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixItWjLb8yoOwNM7IJSUTLtNJQE72ebSpSDApc1i39mhN3114h7kjMvQgmZKdkJN2TOxqTYYnxLH7XkJf61Oeits4hnNmaIctnn0kOpqKKM0UnXAP6eO7N5nplp-lwjbCcNAW7hTObFWg/s1600-h/VinDiesel1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixItWjLb8yoOwNM7IJSUTLtNJQE72ebSpSDApc1i39mhN3114h7kjMvQgmZKdkJN2TOxqTYYnxLH7XkJf61Oeits4hnNmaIctnn0kOpqKKM0UnXAP6eO7N5nplp-lwjbCcNAW7hTObFWg/s320/VinDiesel1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325727136999271410" border="0" /></a>The recent box office hit <span style="font-style: italic;">Fast & Furious</span> stars <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vin Diesel</span>, the muscular tough guy whose work as an actor is dividing opinions among critics and audiences. He is often considered as a man with just one face and role - the role of the ultimate tough guy who smashes everyone in his way, who does not smile or show any emotions. Some consider his acting skills limited because of this.<br /><br />Not all think like this - when the director <span style="font-weight: bold;">Steven Spielberg</span> saw Diesel's self directed and acted short film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0226168/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Multi-Facial</span></a> (1994), he wanted the man to work in his war epic <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Saving Private Ryan</span></a> (1998) where Spielberg is told to have a role written especially for Diesel.<br /><br />The New York born Diesel was born <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mark Vincent</span> in July 18, 1967 to an artistic family of a astrologer mother and a step father working in the theatre. His acting career started by accident when he as a schoolboy broke into a theatre, got caught and instead of a punishment was offered a script and a chance to come to practise every day after school.<br /><br />At 17 athletic Diesel ended up working as a bouncer to get extra money. After a few years he dropped out of school and flew to Hollywood to make his acting dream come true. Despite his experience in theatre he did not get through, and returned to New York to produce, direct and act in his own film, <span style="font-style: italic;">Multi-Facial</span>, a short film about a struggling actor. The film made its way to Cannes film festival and launched Diesel's acting career going slowly upward. Encouraged by <span style="font-style: italic;">Multi-Facial</span>, Diesel collected money to fund his second film, a full lenght feature called <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0149171/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Strays</span></a> that was accepted to the Sundance Film Festival in 1997.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMpw5Py6OtLHWHT_7VzWiuNflDWzIOBtZJf8wDfZ5mwriYhbR91stMAs5D5o7WlmQi8LEP95rkSQ2IFSchL1qqV-ZtqHdQiJAZeDHXLodh3A4tvc0GZwDnGNASRohSfkEK0DyGl8e0Og/s1600-h/VinDiesel2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZMpw5Py6OtLHWHT_7VzWiuNflDWzIOBtZJf8wDfZ5mwriYhbR91stMAs5D5o7WlmQi8LEP95rkSQ2IFSchL1qqV-ZtqHdQiJAZeDHXLodh3A4tvc0GZwDnGNASRohSfkEK0DyGl8e0Og/s320/VinDiesel2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325727197855799714" border="0" /></a>Diesel's deep voice gained him a title voice over role in the 1999 animation<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129167/"><span style="font-style: italic;"> the Iron Giant</span></a>. This along with the previous year's success in <span style="font-style: italic;">Saving Private Ryan</span> landed him a role of the anti-hero Riddick in a sci-fi story <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134847/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pitch Black</span></a> in 2000. Riddick is a mercenary and a convicted criminal who has eyes that can see in the dark. The role was so interesting that a sequel was made four years later, with Riddick's name on the title, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296572/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Chronicles of Riddick</span></a>. The sequel was not as critically appreciated as <span style="font-style: italic;">Pitch Black</span>, but it spawned a video game as well as an animation <span style="font-style: italic;">The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury</span>. In all of these Riddick's voice is provided by Diesel.<br /><br />In 2001 Diesel starred beside Paul Walker in the first <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0232500/"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Fast and The Furious</span></a>. Fast cars, illegal car racing, tough guys and sexy girls - and the franchise was ready. However, Diesel valued the role of Riddick over the F&F franchise and declined to work on the sequels. Also he took the bad ass role of Xander Cage in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0295701/"><span style="font-style: italic;">xXx</span></a> in 2002 which almost gained him a Razzie nomination.<br /><br />After solidifying his career in Hollywood Diesel started experimenting. He tested his comedy skills in a family comedy <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395699/"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Pacifier</span></a> (2005) and in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419749/">Find me guilty</a> (2006) - a movie based on a true story of a crime trial of Jackie DiNorscio, who ended up defending himself and prolonging the trial for unbelievable time. Diesel's performance in both showed he has potential on diverse roles, even though because of his physicality, he is best as an athletic tough guy.<br /><br />2009 brought Diesel back to Fast & Furious with Walker. Read the review of the movie in <a href="http://moviebabblings.blogspot.com/2009/04/fast-furious-2009.html">here</a>.<br /><br />In Diesel's future looms his long time dream of making a movie of <span style="font-style: italic;">Hannibal the Conqueror</span>, which he would both direct and star in. Hannibal has been announced for years but the production has never started. Hopefully we will see this some day because Diesel based on for example <span style="font-style: italic;">Multi-Facial</span> clearly has potential as a director and the theme itself sounds like something suitable for Diesel.<br /><br />In his personal life Diesel is a mysterious man who does not much reveal anything of his life. He is a father of a daughter (Hania Riley) born in April 2008 with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Paloma Jimenez</span>. He has a twin brother Paul who works as a film editor. Racially he is half African American and half Italian American. He likes dogs and owns an Italian Mastiff named Roman. This is the most we know about the personal life of the former bouncer, now a moviestar Vin Diesel.Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-66550934598960314552009-04-17T11:00:00.000+03:002009-04-17T21:08:16.277+03:00Fast & Furious (2009)<span style="font-style: italic;">Fast & Furious</span> is the fourth installment <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9Zxs3d7TFadV4N84cP8OJfnLkBMV0k447wZac-AVGEJxcFT1epsfiNS1-HBVxpxEG9ggcx7CPd5VZdCZaKDdYEhf7Y3g01pACMVU3EQtiwRR8UFEWAMfnc4u_0hfffiAakL0su2r_3A/s1600-h/f&f2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9Zxs3d7TFadV4N84cP8OJfnLkBMV0k447wZac-AVGEJxcFT1epsfiNS1-HBVxpxEG9ggcx7CPd5VZdCZaKDdYEhf7Y3g01pACMVU3EQtiwRR8UFEWAMfnc4u_0hfffiAakL0su2r_3A/s320/f&f2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325568027318817026" border="0" /></a>of the Fast & the Furious franchise that introduced us to the action couple <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vin Diesel</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Paul Walker</span> in 2001. After the first movie, Diesel decided to move on and the second movie <span style="font-style: italic;">2 Fast 2 Furious</span> was made without his involvement. The third, movie named <span style="font-style: italic;">Tokyo Drift</span> was missing both of its original leads.<br /><br />The fourth movie feels like a direct continuation to the first as it reunites Diesel and Walker, the odd pair of a strangely warm-hearted even though tough crimimal Dom Toretto (Diesel) and a cop with a soft spot to fast cars Brian O'Conner (Walker). Also the girls from the first movie are there: Dom's sister Mia (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Jordana Brewster</span>) and his love Letty (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Michelle Rodriguez</span>).<br /><br />After five years Toretto and O'Conner meet again. This time they end up fighting against a common enemy and have to bury their hatred (if there ever really was any) against each other. Along the way to the punishment a lot of cars are <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DstJBOBoFxpBPSKhasGTby672Vh0OYLbRlAYjVrxSBQB29KBIhJvyYhWQIOYxUYNt-s6_nSHwtS2RwIi-O_saDXusk5Ey8E5ACexjegBd0RW0rrI-xSw5thZzbS5jYYpMW2AUtbwnMA/s1600-h/f&f1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5DstJBOBoFxpBPSKhasGTby672Vh0OYLbRlAYjVrxSBQB29KBIhJvyYhWQIOYxUYNt-s6_nSHwtS2RwIi-O_saDXusk5Ey8E5ACexjegBd0RW0rrI-xSw5thZzbS5jYYpMW2AUtbwnMA/s320/f&f1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325568098982502978" border="0" /></a>smashed, and a lot of fast driving is seen, both on the streets of a big city and the empty, sandy Mexican desert.<em></em><br /><p><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Fast & Furious</span> is not even trying to be a masterpiece but a decent piece of action. Filled with cool guys, sexy girls and fast cars, it must be young boys' wet daydream. Recommended to people who don't want anything too serious but purely entertaining action. Check out especially the gasoline robbery in the very beginning of the movie - and that looks very cool indeed.<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319558107026134306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 103px; height: 19px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TOlMioIDwxIISiAGfd995JvhZ23DklFXiiYNg59g5S-kqR85YiXv_vERUcHexeKSp96eEmAwZRUasu5bJpEk8hg59pfVxvud7D5GpeGoP0w1VGnRXBrlwZkoWW7YonaC-ISp0hFzHqWi/s320/3stars.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><br /><br /><strong></strong><strong>Directed by</strong> Justin Lin<br /><strong>Written by</strong> Chris Morgan, based on Gary Scott Thompson's characters<br /><strong></strong><strong>Cast</strong> Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, John Ortiz<br />IMDb: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013752/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1013752/</a>Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389382350705113368.post-30232007961387135072009-04-16T21:50:00.000+03:002009-04-17T09:11:30.906+03:0012 Rounds (2009)<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001317/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Renny Harlin</span></a> is one of the most well known Finnish movie directors outside Finland. There is of course the more critically acclaimed <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0442454/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aki Kaurismäki</span></a> who has got credit with many of his films in especially European film festivals, but Harlin is the one who is making bigger budget movies for larger audiences. And as a fellow Finn I respect Harlin's hard work, and I have liked a lot his action packed <span style="font-style: italic;">Long kiss goodnight</span> starring <span style="font-weight: bold;">Geena Davis</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Samuel L. Jackson</span> as well as<span style="font-style: italic;"> Die Hard 2</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmtoqFeHIsCNtEShurQD0qoVRl9vzQoX0rGcJ5kQli8_P4EtoSyBDQPNQQs67HfQZKYgCce8_gU9_N_GRp6PsmTP09QKWgI_x65B-e0xT-B5V27cCELamBS3cgYnAKdbwB978vxGdXjI/s1600-h/12rounds2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmtoqFeHIsCNtEShurQD0qoVRl9vzQoX0rGcJ5kQli8_P4EtoSyBDQPNQQs67HfQZKYgCce8_gU9_N_GRp6PsmTP09QKWgI_x65B-e0xT-B5V27cCELamBS3cgYnAKdbwB978vxGdXjI/s320/12rounds2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325364642084275794" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">12 Rounds</span> feels as if it was Harlin's <span style="font-style: italic;">Die Hard 3</span>. The story is almost the same as in John McTiernan's action sequel: detective Danny Fisher (WWE Champion <span style="font-weight: bold;">John Cena</span>) makes a crime lord Miles Jackson (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Aidan Gillen</span>) angry and he creates Danny a 12-step-game he must solve in a given time frame. If he does not manage, Miles will kill his kidnapped girlfriend Molly (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Ashley Scott</span>).<br /><br />Danny is not given much time to think and he must act constantly. If <span style="font-style: italic;">21 Rounds</span> does not give much time for the lead actor to breathe, it does not do that even to the viewer. The action is very fast, and it keeps the adrenaline levels high up. Sometimes this works, but in this case not.<br /><br />I personally was burdened with the <span style="font-style: italic;">Die Hard 3</span>-load - addidentally seen it on blu-ray the night before seeing <span style="font-style: italic;">12 Rounds</span> in theatre. I did not know the synopsis of <span style="font-style: italic;">12 Rounds</span> beforehand, and it stroke me by surprise how similar these two stories were. And how different in the way they were composed: <span style="font-style: italic;">Die Hard 3</span> has a lot of breathtaking action but the action is compensated with the witty, dark humour <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bruce Willis</span> is so capable of, and that makes it such a great entertainment for action lovers. In <span style="font-style: italic;">12 Rounds</span> the humour is all gone and the action and the story overall are trying to be so very serious that it gets boring in the end.<em></em><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0P8xXBKdxlMSyTXTmyd3Ej2Fds3L84niZAjVh8gs6IYgl9dQEduBu-aNVP0gB7g7ItQ2Qifg_3UEduaQihewOpedEv6oRBiGlVqYY0kCPEEwJCL7o8NqAZmIKDoAS9iqj2045WVpQa4c/s1600-h/12rounds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0P8xXBKdxlMSyTXTmyd3Ej2Fds3L84niZAjVh8gs6IYgl9dQEduBu-aNVP0gB7g7ItQ2Qifg_3UEduaQihewOpedEv6oRBiGlVqYY0kCPEEwJCL7o8NqAZmIKDoAS9iqj2045WVpQa4c/s320/12rounds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325364751276747330" border="0" /></a>Harlin is using a lot what seems like a hand held camera and really fast cuts. Normally the shaking camera does not bother me (I had no problems in watching <span style="font-style: italic;">Cloverfield</span> for example), but in this case I was having serious trouble in being able to actually watch the movie because of the fast movement.<br /><p>No matter how much I wanted to like this movie, no matter that Harlin was again using his trademark of showing something Finnish in his movies, no matter how much I love action movies... I did not like <span style="font-style: italic;">12 Rounds</span> and unfortunately it made it's way to the worst movie experience of this year in my list so far. I'm sorry fellow Finn Harlin.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309551208572322194" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 103px; height: 19px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7r3uJsBaHbWwbJI7KHocx8RAf6etCE-jP2frl-f2-2ZkZoWh2D_DvwwbwsyglQD0h-7BRhuZ92ntk-B2FAC8qHHKBSV3LkUkrdZsmqkXo5O4AlBbpyKLyxZOORCv8btAMC98qKAb6fSgV/s320/1star.jpg" align="left" border="0" /><br /><br /><strong>Directed by</strong> Renny Harlin<br /><strong>Written by</strong> Daniel Kunka<br /><strong>Cast</strong> John Cena, Aidan Gillen, Ashley Scott, Steve Harris<br /><strong>IMDb</strong>: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1160368/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1160368/</a> </p>Helinä Laajalahtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10885578272049845353noreply@blogger.com3