Foreign Film Review: MONGOL

First of all I’d like to point out that trying to remember all the names of all the characters in the new film MONGOL may be a little difficult at first but don’t let those miner glitches on my part distract from the fact that I truly believe that this is one of the best films of 2008.

The story of MONGOL is the rise of Mongol Temudjin (Tadanobu Asano) into the legendary warrior Genghis Khan. It would have been easy for the filmmakers to simply present the clichéd version of a ruthless and unforgiving ruler but here screenwriters Arif Aliyev and Sergei Bodrov (who also directed) decided to present the story all before Temudjin became the Khan of the Mongol people. On the day Temudjin’s father is poisoned by another nomadic race at place of sanctuary, Temudjin’s life is forever changed. He is stripped of his heritage and forced to live a life on the run and in hiding of fear of being killed because of who his was related to. Temudjin’s life is further changed by the fact that before his father died he was fated to be wed to Borte (Khulan Chuluun) a chieftain’s daughter whom his life will forever be linked. While on the run Temudjin becomes blood brother to Jamukha (Honglei Sun) which will become a life long bond until Temudjin is forced to decide between being Jumukha’s second in command or a man destined to bring all Mongols under one rule and one Khan.

Temudjin’s actions are dictated by his undying love for Borte and vice versa which drives the narrative of this tortured love story that must overcome a plethora of obstacles. Temudjin’s is beaten and almost broken because of his beliefs but it is his love of Borte which changes him and turns him into the man he will ultimately become and will be feared.

MONGOL is a sweeping love story amid the backdrop of constant war and tragedy similar to THE ENGLISH PATIENT, TITANIC, or THE BEST OF YOUTH. This love story is what really helps you realize what a truly visionary person Genghis Khan was and the final battle of the film shows you why he was so feared by his enemies. MONGOL is one of those few action films that delivers both the epic romance and the epic battles and is more impressive then anything that has come out of Hollywood this summer.

Foreign Film Review: JELLYFISH

From directing debut Shira Geffen and Etgar Keret comes this poignant film JELLYFISH which concerns the lives of three very different women living in Tel Aviv. The films brings these three women together at the wedding of Keren (Noa Knoller) who unfortunately sprains her ankle on her wedding day ruining her honeymoon plans with her new husband. Batya (Sarah Adler) is a catering waitress whose life is anything but ideal and whose boyfriend left her and she lives in a shitty apartment on the verge of being flooded by bad plumbing. Joy (Ma-nenita De Latorre), is a non-Hebrew speaking domestic worker who feels guilty for having left her son back home in the Philippines in order to support the family from afar; she’s attending the wedding as an employee of one of the wedding attendees. The lives of these three women are forever linked and changed from the day of the wedding.

Keren is distraught over the changes in her Honeymoon plans, which force her and her new husband to endure the presence of a less then standard hotel room as well as the uncomfortable appearance of a single female writer who harbors secrets of her own and whom Keren fears may be after her new husband. After one of Joy’s charges unexpectedly dies on her she is forced to take care of an elderly women that only speaks Hebrew and German, neither language she speaks causing the two women to find other ways in which to communicate with one another. Then there is Batya who encounters a strange little five-year old girl who seems to have just appeared from the sea and to whom will forever change the way in which she looks at life.

Although none of the women’s lives are directly linked they seem to be connected in different ways and that is the connection from which the film derives its greatest charm in a world filled with disappointments and hardships. Each of the women’s lives are affected by an outside entity which forces them to confront their inner demons. Keren’s life is influenced by this beautiful female writer she thinks is after her husband, Joy’s relationship with the elderly woman and the elderly women’s relationship with her daughter greatly impacts Joy’s relationship with her son, and Batya’s life is forever changed by not only the strange five year girl who appears out of the sea but also by a photographer whose kindred spirit matches her own.

JELLYFISH is a beautifully constructed film, which was nominated for 10 Israeli Film Academy Awards and has been accepted in a multitude of high profile film festivals across the world. It’s rare that a film by first time filmmakers achieves the accolades of this film and deserves them. This is one of the few films of 2008 that should not be missed.

"Inspiration Strikes Back!"

I'd like to think I'm a writer first before anything else which is why when I needed a name for this blog-site I called it "Writer's First". Now that I think back on it the site should have been called "Writer First" but what the hell...it's to late now. The point is clear and I wanted everyone who knew and knows me to know that whatever they think of me I am a Writer First above everything else.

I try to write or rewrite or read something everyday to keep my mind always flowing and always coming up with new ideas. It helps me from getting writer's block, but at this time I seem to be experiencing Writer's Overload as I have more ideas in my head then I can get down on paper.

Over the last week a friend of mine Cesar has been trying to get me in as writer on one of the projects he's working on - a television series called Atlanta Homicide: HD which has just finished production on the first season (13 episodes) and is reving up for the second season while they are trying to get the first season played in more territories. Being a huge Homicide: Life on the Streets and Law & Order fan I jumped at the opportunity to possible write for a show in that vein. although I would later learn that the show stems more towards CSI: Crime Scene Investigations (which I don't particularly care for), I was still interested in the show so I went to You Tube and watched what they had available. At first I wasn't impressed as the first couple episodes were very raw to the point of being embassing but as I watched more of the episodes the charcaters that stayed on the show (because they went to a huge casting overhaul) got more interesting and the show actually felt like a crime drama. Now I haven't seen and entire show yet, just bits and pieces of several shows, but it does show which are the stronger episodes both in terms of character and story and the show seems to now be finding its wings.

I emailed one of the producers of the show just as an introduction of myself. I didn't know that I was using an email that never went to my contact so he (the Producer) never got the email. next I called him on Friday but just as my luck would have it the show was having a Writer's Meeting that night to discuss the second season...and I wouldn't make it since It was just starting as I was calling the Producer. My luck was turning to shit.

I had a good conversation with the Producer and said I would re-send him my info (to the right email this time) and hope that I might still be able to help out on the show if I could. Even though I thought my luck had turned to shit my brain kept processing these random ideas that could make really good episodes of the show. My brain processed the ideas as senereos I might see on Homicide: Life on the Streets but with the cast of Atlanta Homicide:HD (now called Atlanta: HD since the Executive Producers seemed to hate having the word "homicide" in the title of the show).

When the possibility of me writing for the show began to dwindle my ideas begain to formulate into a controversal feature idea. Thus INSPIRATION had spoken to me. I don't know about most writer's but when inspiration hits me, I can't stop it. That night I wrote a quick breakdown of the A-Story of the script. I didn't concentrate on the B-Story as yet because that would be thematically linked to the A-Story and that had to be really strong. I went to bed with the ideas still popping in and out of my head.

I began to think that this would be my first action script since I really hadn't written an action film thus far.

TODAY - I've been working on the B-Story and giving all the characters names and working out how they all fit within the theme of the movie. I won't give any of th edetails away as yet only that it has to do with children and teens and their placement in our society of today and how they are treated by their parents and how their parents treat them. It's a very big film, bigger then any I've ever written before. The canvase is huge and this is definitely something I would not be able to make but would sale and/or use as a writing sample.

But I can't stop. I spent most of the first part of the day finishing rewrites on "The Nocturnals" script and then I have to come up with a Shooting Script for "Shiver" before finishing up a first draft of my Amy Wolkis script "The Poet." And somewhere I'll be able to fit this new script about homicide detectives and murder.

If I remember, I'll comment tomorrow on the rewrites of "The Nocturnals" script which I will be sending out to my writer peers for critique and analysis.

M. Night Shyamalan Explores THE HAPPENING

Although M. Night Shyamalan’s new film THE HAPPENING is not his best it is a step above from the abysmal LADY IN THE WATER and one of the better written films of the year. In the tradition of Alfred Hitchcock’s THE BIRDS (1963), an event is happening in New York, which starts off in the parks. It seems that a possible biological weapon has been released by terrorists and is causing people to become disoriented before they kill themselves. Many people start to flee the city where it seems, at first, that it is an isolated incident.

Elliot and Alma Moore (Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel, respectfully) travel with Julian and his daughter Jess (John Leguizamo and Ashlyn Sanchez, respectfully) outside the city where they think that they will be safe but when the train that they are riding is forced to stop in a small town in the middle of no where they soon learn that the terrorist threat has spread to other big cities with no sign of stopping. Now they must find a place where they will be safe of the threat while also hoping that they will find a way in which not to become one of the victims of the tragic happening.

Like all of Shyamalan’s previous film the global tragedy that is the backdrop of the film is only just that – a backdrop, as the strained relationship between Elliot and Alma’s marriage is the true driving force behind the film. Shyamalan does a great job with presenting audiences with real people faced with an extraordinary and seemingly random situation and he goes a long way to comment on the tragedy that was 9-11 as well as the concerns of Global Warming and other natural disasters. Unlike his previous films there is no twist and turns that can get in the way of the story. What Shyamalan uses instead is the brutal and at times graphic nature in which people kill themselves to bring home his point.

This is Shyamalan’s first Rated – R film and he makes great use of it when he needs to. The film could have easily become gratuitous but he knows when to step up the graphic nature of the deaths in the film. In fact, he brings an art to the death scenes not seen since a Hitchcock film and that’s what drives the terror and suspense in the film.

I think audiences wanting a good suspenseful drama will be very satisfied with the film even if it doesn’t have the twists and turns and those audiences looking for a Shyamalan film can trust that this film has superb acting and the spirit of a Shyamalan film without all the storytelling snafus present in his previous film LADY IN THE WATER.

Jet Li & Jackie Chan Travel to THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM

This film has renewed my faith in filmmaking that doesn’t dumb down to audiences. THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM is a modern day THE KARATE KID, which has been desperately missed. There was a time in the ‘80s when family films could be enjoyed not by just the small children and teenagers but adults and older audiences as well. This includes THE KARATE KID trilogy (I dismiss that last film outright), THE MONSTER SQUAD, THE LOST BOYS, SOUNDER, HOMEWARD BOUND, THE BEAR, and a plethora of similar films. Lately this has been replaced by such mediocrity as GARFIELD: THE MOVIE, CATS & DOGS, ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS, HERBIE: FULLY LOADED, among many others, in which only kids seem to be interested in. All that has changed with THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM.

The story concerns a bullied teenager Jason (Michael Angarano) whose love for all things martial arts gets him transported back in time to the Forbidden Kingdom where the Jade Warlord (Collin Chou) holds reign because he has turned his only real nemesis The Monkey King (Jet Li) into stone. Now Jason must travel across great distances in order to free the Monkey King from his prison and defeat the Jade Warlord. To aid Jason on his quest is Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), an Immortal whose martial arts power is derived from being drunk all the time, and The Silent Monk (Jet Li, again) who will not only train him but teach him the ways of the martial arts (ala THE KARATE KID). Jason feels a kindred relationship with his third companion Golden Sparrow (Yifei Liu) who has her own reasons for joining the band of warriors on their quest. They must travel through great distances and learn to become a team in order to defeat the Jade Warlord who seeks the immortality of the Immortals.

THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM could have easily become another derivative film like last year’s D-WAR: DRAGON WARS or SIDEKICKS (went back far for that one) or even the infamous THE NEXT KARATE KID and any of those POWER RANGERS movies. Part of the film’s greatest achievements go to the ensemble cast which does a great job with presenting an epic fantasy in such a realistic way. Jason’s journey from meek kid to martial arts master is hard with many tough lessons learned along the way but the film doesn’t just stop there. All the characters have a journey ahead of them and a destiny that must unfold before the group can raise the Monkey King and defeat the Jade Warlord. Writer John Fusco and director Rob Minkoff never forget that it is not only the action, but the characters which audiences care about and will ultimately identify with and cheer for during the movie.

In a summer filled with derivative action films with no heart and little character THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM is a welcomed change from what has become the Summer season norm.

French Cinema: Le Voyage du ballon rouge (aka FLIGHT OF THE RED BALLOON)

Like most of the dramatic French films that I have seen in the last five years The Le Voyage du ballon rouge is a slow and moving film about a young boy Simon and his new babysitter Song (played by Simon Iteanu and Fang Song, respectfully) who happen to connect through his imaginary world and cinema by the appearance of a red balloon which happens to weave in and out of their lives like a voyeur.

The young boy’s mother Suzanne (Juliette Binoche) is a voice performer for a puppet troop who lives in a crowded flat with a neighbor that hasn’t paid rent in a long while. While trying to evict her tenants she must also prepare her home for the arrival of her daughter whom she thinks will be coming home to go to college and a husband whom she hasn’t seen in a long while because he’s writing the “all-great novel.”

The three try to live a seemingly normal existence in the chaos of life and that is simply the whole of the film. Writer/director Hsiao-hsien Hou does a magnificent job presenting what is in essence a domestic drama in which very little happens but the actions of the film are driven by the relationships of Suzanne and Simon as Song enters and becomes a member of their family.

The red balloon of the film is very playful at times with Simon yet is adrift from his mother (whom never realizes it’s presence) and Song (whom only recognizes the balloon metaphorically in everything around them). At the same time that Simon is enraptured with the red balloon, Song is filming a short film about a boy who comes into contact with a red balloon, which is an homage to Albert Lamorisse’s 1956 film Le Ballon rouge. There are many parallels between Lamorisse’s film and the events depicted in Le Voyage du ballon rouge which enhances the enjoyment of the film (if, of course, you’ve seen Lamorisse’s film that is).

Like many of the more indie French dramas Le Voyage do ballon rouge has no clear cut ending to any of the seemingly major conflicts in the film such as Suzanne’s eviction of her tenants or whether or not her daughter will actually come home for college. The film ends as abruptly as it began. It is simply a small look into a family’s life and like the red balloon it will eventually float away into the sky and move on.

Teenage Horror & PROM NIGHT (2008)

I’ll be the first to admit that the original 1980 PROM NIGHT is not a very good film and time has not been kind to it. In fact, the only reason to watch that film is because it is an early film of former Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis and it has a rare non-comedic Leslie Nelson. That film came out on the heels and success of such slahsers as HALLOWEEN, HELL NIGHT, TERROR TRAIN, and a plethora of others and its just as derivative and forgettable as most of the films mentioned (with the exception of HALLOWEEN).

Unlike many of this year’s other remake offerings (i.e. SHUTTER, ONE MISSED CALL, APRIL FOOL’S DAY, DAY OF THE DEAD, etc.) the new 2008 PROM NIGHT didn’t have anything to live up to. Now I know a lot of hard-core horror enthusiast gag when they hear that there is yet another remake of a “beloved” classic that’s been watered down with a PG-13 rating but lets just take a look at the new PROM NIGHT before outright dismissing it.

First of all, this new PROM NIGHT is PG-13 and its target audience is the female teenager as date movie. This is very apparent from both the trailers and from viewing the film itself. There is no gore and about 95% of the violence is off screen when there is violence. The sound editing is used to great effect to illicit scares and dread. There is a lot of time – “plot wise,” spent on establishing the “female perspective” of the prom experience rather than from the male perspective, in fact, the men characters are all secondary to the female characters as if prom night was more a right of passage for females then it is for men. This idea is reinforced by the conversations between the females when they are discussing their relationships with one another and how they will change when they go off to college as well as the females’ conversations with their boyfriends (whom as cliché would put it all want to have sex with their girlfriends as their right of passage after prom) which focus on the women breaking away from the men in order to actually evolve into adult women out into the new world. J.S. Cardone’s screenplay does an excellent job on elaborating on these themes throughout crafting a film that never has any throw away scenes. Even main character Donna’s (Brittany Snow) conversations with her Aunt and Uncle, whom she lives with, focus on these aspects. These deeper truths elevate this film above the standard slasher film fodder.

There is the requisite slasher film trappings. The ludicrous obsessed stalker-killer in Richard Fenton, who while very well captured by actor Johnathon Schaech, is very one-note and uninteresting. Story wise the character works as a foil for the rest of the characters – Donna and her friends are teenagers who are moving into adulthood while Fenton is obsessed with recapturing his young in the form of Donna, who is a character whose conflict lies in the very heart of whether or not she will be able to evolve from child to adult after the tragic events inflicted upon her by Fenton (who you learn at the beginning of the film has killed Donna’s entire family in order to get to her).

Now, all of this is only relevant if you are a young teenage female who can relate to the turmoil that all teenagers must face as a right of passage into adulthood as embodied by the Donna character. There in lies the challenge of the new PROM NIGHT. It is marketed to a specific age group and gender and if you don’t fit within it then you won’t enjoy the film. The film is very simple in terms of plot and very predictable with exception to the fact that some of the people you think should get killed don’t and vice versa. Hard-core horror enthusiast should stay clear because all you’ll see is a derivative film; to this I say you are too jaded. I happened to screen the film with an audience of teenager couples and groups of teenage women who jumped at every suspenseful moment and screamed when the characters screamed. The film hits all the right marks.

Currently the film is enjoying the top spot of one of the highest grossing horror films in 2008 having grossed over $50 million thus far. Now I have no problem with these types of films that are PG-13 because they are geared to a particular audience. My problem lies with the PG-13 films geared to the adult audience that comes off as watered down teenager flicks (i.e. ONE MISSED CALL, THE EYE, or SHUTTER), which all feature adults in adult situations. When this happens neither adults not teenagers (who do not yet identify with the adult characters) bother with the film.
PROM NIGHT 2008 may not be the best film of 2008 but it’s the best remake that has achieved its desired goals especially in the eyes of teenage audience.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK Film Review!

SPOILER WARNING – Do not read this if you actually think you want to be surprised by some of the events in this film.

Opting to try and do a BATMAN BEGINS or SUPERMAN RETURNS with the HULK franchise the makers of the new film THE INCREDIBLE HULK are not dismissing the previous Ang Lee film HULK by any means they just want too move on and have fun with the character.

Apart from some stylistic flaws and some story elements at the end of the film that I didn’t really care for the original Ang Lee HULK film wasn’t that bad (in my opinion). It tried to take what is otherwise a throwaway genre of film – “the superhero film” and give it more credibility. This didn’t happen due to studio interference and the fact that the film was five years before its time and that audiences weren’t completely prepared for an all CGI green main character.

The new film THE INCREDIBLE HULK is a complete opposite affair as audiences have gotten used to the CGI characters from such films as the X-MEN trilogy, the MATRIX trilogy, and the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, to name a few. Also, the technology of creating a more realistic all green CGI character has advanced enough that the Hulk doesn’t look like a cartoon anymore. This new film also doesn’t have to waste time with an “origin” film and can get on with the business at hand mainly by giving the Hulk a real villain to have fun with in the appearance of The Abomination, which was always one of my favorite villains of the Hulk.

For purists of the Hulk comic the Abomination’s appearance differs but as played by Tim Roth he makes for one of the best comic book to screen villains yet (in a small group that only includes Magneto, Gene Hackman’s Lex Luther, and Jack Nicholson’s The Joker). The film does an excellent job of slowly developing Roth’s Abomination before the huge fight at the end. It’s a slow an logical build up that doesn’t pop out of no where like the Jeff Bridges fiasco at the end of the IRON MAN film (which in my opinion is only watchable because of Robert Downey, Jr.’s brilliant performance)

Another great thing about the new Hulk film is the reliance on the part of screenwriter Zak Penn not to repeat the mistakes of the first film. There are great references to all manner of supporting characters of the Hulk universe throughout similar to that which has been done in the Spider-Man films. For you die hard Hulk fans the rumors are true - the creation of The Leader (as played by Tim Blake Nelson) one of the Hulk’s biggest enemies is in fact in this film.

Needless to say with all these great things to say about the film the worst thing about the film is the two-dimensional Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) and General Ross (William Hurt) don’t exactly help the film. Tyler though has great chemistry with Edward Norton (as Bruce Banner) who plays the character closer to the Bill Bixby character of the television series, which this new film pays homage to at every turn. I enjoyed Norton as Banner but I believe Eric Bana (from the Ang Lee film) was the better choice. Norton seems to have lost a lot of weight to play the role.

The last thing I’ll take into account is the tacked on ending between General Ross and Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) which gives a hint of the impending AVENGERS INITIATIVE film if they do in fact go ahead with the it. I’m all for another big superhero team film ala X-MEN or THE FANTASTIC FOUR but as a former comic book reader The Avengers were never that interesting of a group because so much of character was sacrificed for the “team” stories that they all seemed like two dimensional caricatures. Anyway, regardless, even though I dislike the ending to the film I hope they decide to do a sequel because The Leader would make one hell of a great villain.

"Censorship & Opinions"

Been away for a little while as I've had to do a lot of thinking over the past few weeks. Many unexpected things happened which prompted me to add the "About This Blog:" at the top of the page. Some of the things which I've mentioned throughout this blog as well as the other four blogs I maintain have come into question so a similar warning was added to some of them.

Personally, I love criticism when its creative, in fact, if you've been following me (and my various blogs) over the years you know I'm my own worse enemy. I love to critique myself and look forward to others doing the same to my work. This is one of the reasons why I've started writing short stories on the Story Smash website (www.storysmash.com) which allows a writer to start a story but then allows other writers to continue it in an almost "Choose Your Own Adventure" sort of fashion. The more interesting story ideas have several branches from which have sprung out from the original concept (you'll know what I'm talking about when you view the site). Each chapter is allowed comments and writers continue to add chapters to the story that they think has the most interesting elements.

I've started one story on the website and continued another writer's story and that other writer whose story I continued thought my ideas were very different but in a unique way because they went so far from what she thought up. I got a comment on the first chapter of my story which simply said "Terrible." This is not a comment but a blank statement with no meaning whatsoever and I told the reader this is a Reply comment. I suggested that he either say what he did or did not like about the story or simply continue the story in a way he thought was better. I'm still waiting for him to respond.

I'm a writer and a filmmaker and I comment and critique everything whether I want to or not. After five years of college and a A.B. degree in Film I'm entitled to my opinion. Also, with over twent-five feature and short indie films on my back I believe that I have the knowledge and background to comment on my own productions in any way I see fit regardless of the consequences.

I'm someone who learns from his mistakes and tries to teach others what I know as well as learn from them. It's the nature of the business I'm in. I'm going to learn more by doing rather then from a damn book because a book can only teach you so much in terms of making a film. I don't know everything and I've never claimed that I did. I only know, what I know and everything else I learn on the way and I'm not afraid to fail or be a failure. I've failed at a lot of things in my time and I learn from that failure and move on hoping that with each failure I become a stronger human being as well as a better filmmaker.

Opinions are like assholes because everyone has one. It's in the way in which you present that opinion that matters. In this blog many of my opinions are a little one-sided which is fine since that is the reason for this blog's existence. If you want to read some of my better work I suggest Associated Content (www.associatedcontent.com), Helium (www.helium.com), or one of my three blogs on My Space. In this blog I don't always know what I'm going to say before I say it or write it down so it's a bit more raw and a little more unconventional (like this here entry) and frankly, if you don't like it you can kiss my ass.

No censorship Baby!

I'll continue to say what I want to say when I say it and if you don't like it - Fuck You! No one asked you to read it.

THE STRANGERS - Best American Horror Film of the Year!

Although the new thriller THE STRANGERS (2008) is being released a year after its original release date and just several months after the similarly themed French film Ils (Them) hits DVD shelves, this American styled retelling of a true story is bound to appeal to a broader audience then the French film. Both films tell the story of a couple who are unexpected terrorized by a group of people in masks for no apparent reason other then because they were home.

The incident that inspired both films was such a public outrage of senseless violence by young kids that it was ripe for cinematic adaptation. Like the story of Ed Gein influenced everything from PSYCHO to THE TEXAS CHAN SAW MASSACRE this story is also shocking beyond belief. Another film released this year FUNNY GAMES (a remake of an earlier film) echo the same incident only more in your face.

In THE STRANGERS it is never revealed who the assailants are that terrorize James Hoyt and his girlfriend Kristen McKay (an exceptionally well-casted Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler, respectfully) on a night when they are returning home from a friends wedding. Everything should be fine but no sooner do they reach the house that they find themselves the unwilling participants in a cat and mouse game with three people wearing masks who continue to mock and terrorize them no matter where they try to run or hide.

It’s a very simple premise but it works extremely well due to the terrific casting and the excellent script by writer/director Bryan Bertino who brings suspense and atmosphere to a story that could have easily been a bargain basement straight to DVD film. He also crafts a genuine relationship between James & Kristen which drives their motivations through the whole film and makes the audience really feel for their impossible situation no mater how dire it becomes. Other horror films should take notice of this film.

Although the film is not really graphic or violent the gore and shock of the situation is layered in like that of Alfred Hitchcock’s PSYCHO or Tobe Hooper’s THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE. The audience believes that the film is more violent then it truly is as much is left to the imagination. THE STRANGERS is a superior genre film to anything else that’s been released this year by an American studio.

IRON MAN - Saved By Good Acting!

As much as I’d like to admit it, IRON MAN wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. It’s by no means one of the best super hero comic book films but it’s not as bad as lets say CATWOMAN or BARB WIRE. The story’s nothing new as it is an origin story (what else) of the iconic Marvel Comic hero. If you know anything about super heroes then you know that Iron Man is Marvel’s attempt at a Batman – the so-called rich guy who has a questionable path that leads him to spend his money for the good of all mankind by getting into a suit and dressing up like a bat…or tin can as the case may be here.

In fact, this film is so by the numbers that I could have told you every plot point before actually seeing the film, which is why I was so skeptical about seeing the film in the first place. The one thing that’s memorable in the entire film is Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark (which you have to call him since the appropriately named Iron Man doesn’t really make an appearance until the third act of the film). Downey is one of Hollywood’s few versatile actors who is at home in comedies (TWO GIRLS & A GUY), drama (GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK), horror (GOTHIKA), or action (KISS KISS BANG BANG or U.S. MARSHALS). The guy can do it all without skipping a beat and it shows in this film.

Few actors have been able to embody a super hero character as well as he does in this film. He’s so good that it’s a shame that all the other A-List actors (Terrance Howard, Gwenith Paltrow, or Jeff Bridges) in the film have so little to do other than look good for that impending sequel. The story is not very good, just good enough and the film is ultimately saved by Downey presence and the superb special visual effects on display which never look cartoony (like much of last year’s big summer films).
I’m sure that now that the “origin” story is out of the way the sequel will surpass this film in the same way that X2: X-MEN UNITED was a much better film then the first one.

"Back 2 Basics"

No longer involved with my former girlfriend. It didn’t take long as I had anticipated and if you read my former blog about her then you would have probably thought that “maybe” I had hopes it would be different this time.
Nope. Fate has other plans for me and the rest of my life, so, my former girlfriend and I are no more and now I can get back to basics and continue upon my own life’s direction without all the added baggage that came with that relationship.
But isn’t there baggage that comes with any relationship?
My former girlfriend had lots of “baggage” as in regards to a former marriage that had kids, a “legal” marriage that she couldn’t afford to get out of as of right now, lack of a good job, smart children with an attitude, and a multitude of other “baggage” that she could not simply leave at the baggage claim of the airport.
Let me just say that I never expected her to leave her baggage at the baggage claim and as many people have attested to my personality, I have a knack of turning a bad situation into a good one regardless of the hurtles and problems that may arise.
I’ve just come to the conclusion that this same quality is not present in all other people. So, it’s a good thing that my former girlfriend and I broke up. I just would’ve have liked to have been told this by her.
I’m not bitter mind you. It’s something I’ve come to expect considering that she did the same thing ten years ago when we were first dating. A leopard never changes its spots and neither do some people it seems, which is why I’m still surprised we went as far and as long as we did.
Now I’m back to basics and trying new things and new people.
First off, I’m going to get a lot of work done and caught up as being at the mercy of a relationship has taken its toll on my career. I didn’t mind at first but when you break off a relationship that you think might go some where and then you look back at all the sacrifices that were made in the name of that relationship and realize that they were done in vain then you realize that you have a lot of catching up to do and that’s what I’m doing now – catching up and I’m not going to let another person stand in my way again.
I’m not bitter, mind you, although it might seem that maybe I have a little bit of spite in me but it’s like anything you try and put all your blood and tears in and then you have nothing to show for it at the other end. That is how I feel about my former relationship now that I’ve had time to reflect back upon it. I’ve come out of the relationship the same as when I entered it and now I feel as though it was all a big waste of time.
Maybe it wasn’t a big waste of time. Many events and occurrences in one’s life seem to be meaningless and pointless (as this one seems to me) until long in the future we’ve had time to reflect. I’ve reflected and it’s still just meaningless. Good thing I’m going back to the basics then because the last six months (the length of which the relationship lasted) will have all but been a dream to me.