Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts

2 Dec 2011

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011) / Review

Release Date: 18 November 2011 (India) Runtime: 117 min
Genres: Adventure | Drama | Fantasy | Romance
Taglines: Forever is only the beginning

The Quileute and the Volturi close in on expecting parents Edward and Bella, whose unborn child poses different threats to the wolf pack and vampire coven.

Director: Bill Condon
Writers: Melissa Rosenberg (screenplay), Stephenie Meyer (novel)
Stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner

Stewart is finally acting, which is one of the biggest reasons why this movie is so much better than the others. She portrays Bella in a way that is so close to the book, and it's wonderful to see her and Pattinson playing lovers that are so, so, so in love. The fact that Bill Condon (director) gave the happy couple so much time to be just that, happy, makes you really believe in their love and it makes you understand why they can't live without each other.
This movie takes you from a beautiful wedding, complete with the most hilarious toasts (Jessica and Charlie) wonderful music, stunning dresses and declarations of love that will touch everyone's hearts, to South America for a sexy, funny and exciting honeymoon where we see heartfelt smiles, kissing, cuddling and teasing along with the epic headboard breaking scene. It then settles back in Forks, where we get to witness the most terrifying pregnancy imaginable.
 The special effects team deserve an Oscar for the work they've done on making Stewart look like she's slowly fading away. The moments leading up to the birth scene are actually scarier than the scene itself. It really is a horror film towards the end, and some scenes should maybe have been rated R. It ends in the perfect place, such a natural and obvious cut. I am so thankful that Breaking Dawn has been split into two parts, because I can't imagine even once scene in this part that could have been skipped.
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Cast
Taylor Lautner , Gil Birmingham, Billy Burke, Sarah Clarke, Ty Olsson, Kristen Stewart, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Peter Facinelli , Elizabeth Reaser, Kellan Lutz , Nikki Reed, Robert Pattinson, Christian Sloan, James Pizzinato

Produced by Wyck Godfrey, Stephenie Meyer, Mark Morgan & Karen Rosenfelt
Original Music by Carter Burwell       
Cinematography by Guillermo Navarro       
Film Editing by Virginia Katz       
Casting by Debra Zane       
Production Design by Richard Sherman         
Costume Design by Michael Wilkinson    
Filming Locations: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
Budget: $127,000,000 (estimated)
Production Co: Summit Entertainment, Sunswept Entertainment, TSBD Canada Productions
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital  | DTS
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MOVIE TRAILER
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27 Nov 2011

J. Edgar (2011)/ Movie Review

Release Date: 11 November 2011 (USA) Runtime: USA: 137 min
Genres: Biography | Drama
Taglines: The Most Powerful Man in the World

Storyline
As the face of law enforcement in America for almost 50 years, J. Edgar Hoover was feared and admired, reviled and revered. But behind closed doors, he held secrets that would have destroyed his image, his career and his life.

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer and Naomi Watts

Directed by Clint Eastwood        
Writing credits  Dustin Lance Black
Produced by Clint Eastwood    , Brian Grazer, Ron Howard & Robert Lorenz   
Original Music by Clint Eastwood        
Cinematography by Tom Stern   
   
Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar Hoover)
Josh Hamilton (Robert Irwin)
Naomi Watts (Helen Gandy)
Geoff Pierson (Mitchell Palmer)
Cheryl Lawson     (Roberta Dixon Palmer)
Kaitlyn Dever (Palmer's Daughter)
Gunner Wright (Dwight Eisenhower)
David A. Cooper, (Franklin Roosevelt)
Ed Westwick (Agent Smith)
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Filming Locations: Los Angeles, California, USA
Budget: $35,000,000 (estimated)
Production Co:
Imagine Entertainment, Malpaso Productions, Wintergreen Productions
Sound Mix: SDDS  | DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound) | Dolby Digital
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23 Nov 2011

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011)/Review



Release Date: 4 November 2011 (USA) Runtime: 90 min
Genre: Comedy
Six years after their Guantanamo Bay adventure, stoner buds Harold Lee and Kumar Patel cause a holiday fracas by inadvertently burning down Harold's father-in-law's prize Christmas tree.

Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson
Writers: Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg

Cast
Patton Oswalt, Isabella Gielniak, Kal Penn , Neil Patrick Harris . Austin Bickel , Inga R. Wilson, John Cho, Bobby Lee Thomas Lennon , Amir Blumenfeld, Paula Garcés, Danny Trejo, Marvin Cruz, Allyson Lengers Shirley Benyas, Esteban Andres Cruz
Storyline
Six years have elapsed since Guantanemo Bay, leaving Harold and Kumar estranged from one another with very different families, friends and lives. But when Kumar arrives on Harold's doorstep during the holiday season with a mysterious package in hand, he inadvertently burns down Harold's father-in-law's beloved Christmas tree. To fix the problem, Harold and Kumar embark on a mission through New York City to find the perfect Christmas tree, once again stumbling into trouble at every single turn. Written by Mandate Pictures
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Filming Locations: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Production Co: Kingsgate Films, Mandate Pictures, New Line Cinema
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital  | DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound) | SDDS
Original Music by William Ross       
Cinematography by Michael Barrett       
Film Editing by Eric Kissack            
Production Design by Rusty Smith       
______________________________________
Review
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas is not going to surprise anyone. It follows the same successful formula and chemistry between John Cho and Kal Penn as the first two. The film also is rude, inappropriate and has questionable taste just like the first two. So while the basic concept is the same, it has been plugged into a Christmas setting making fun of the holiday and managing to shoot Santa Claus in the face in the process. Damn it's funny! I'm not big on buddy comedies but behind closed doors I secretly love Harold & Kumar. White Castle was funny, Guantanamo Bay was even funnier taking on the issue of race and national security, and 3D Christmas is poking fun at religion and holidays. Because many may be afraid of being ridiculed for touching sacred subjects and therefore don't, Harold & Kumar movies repeatedly take on the challenge and find something original to laugh about. Sure making a baby high, John having his penis stuck to a metal frozen pole, and poking fun at the Catholic sex scandals may be inappropriate to some, but everything's fair in comedy and what the filmmakers have done will make you laugh over and over. So while much of the film may be ridiculously over the top, it all works. And while we don't see enough of Bobby Lee in the film who seems to be able to make you laugh without doing much, we do get Neil Patrick Harris playing himself as a closeted heterosexual. That scene is not just really funny throughout, but it steals the show. His scene is nothing short of a "must see" moment that is destined to be classic.
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16 Nov 2011

Immortals (2011)

Release Date: 11 November 2011 (India) Runtime: USA: 110 min
Genre: Action | Drama | Fantasy Tagline: The Gods Need a Hero
Theseus is a mortal man chosen by Zeus to lead the fight against the ruthless King Hyperion, who is on a rampage across Greece to obtain a weapon that can destroy humanity.
Director:  Tarsem Singh
Writers (WGA):  Charley Parlapanides &  Vlas Parlapanides
Cast : 
Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, Stephen Dorff, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans, John Hurt, Joseph Morgan, Anne Day-Jones , Greg Bryk, Alan Van Sprang, Peter Stebbings, Daniel Sharman, Isabel Lucas, Kellan Lutz
Storyline
Eons after the Gods won their mythic struggle against the Titans, a new evil threatens the land. Mad with power, King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) has declared war against humanity. Amassing a bloodthirsty army of soldiers disfigured by his own hand, Hyperion has scorched Greece in search of the legendary Epirus Bow, a weapon of unimaginable power forged in the heavens by Ares. Only he who possesses this bow can unleash the Titans, who have been imprisoned deep within the walls of Mount Tartaros since the dawn of time and thirst for revenge. In the king's hands, the bow would rain destruction upon mankind and annihilate the Gods. But ancient law dictates the Gods must not intervene in man's conflict. They remain powerless to stop Hyperion...until a peasant named Theseus (Henry Cavill) comes forth as their only hope. Secretly chosen by Zeus, Theseus must save his people from Hyperion and his hordes..

Sound Mix: Dolby Digital  | SDDS  | DTS
Original Music by Trevor Morris       
Cinematography by Brendan Galvin
Film Editing by Wyatt Jones & Stuart Levy            
Production Design by Tom Foden       
Filming Locations:  Cité du Cinéma, Montréal, Québec, Canada
Budget: $75,000,000 (estimated)
Production Co:  Relativity Media, Atmosphere Entertainment MM, Hollywood Gang Productions

Review
Let's put the theme at the beginning, the 9000+ reviews that put this movie above a 7, are one of the three: a hired hand who's likely never seen this movie to begin with (otherwise may conscience haunt him/her immortally), someone who's NEVER seen another movie, or a downright blind man. This is another one of those movies for which seeing the trailer more than suffices and any more irrational desire to see the ACTUAL movie is better suppressed. Be warned, go see the actual thing and regret every cent of your money and every minute of the abysmal performance.
Okok, the movie has to be somewhat decent if some rich boss poured 75 mil on it right? Not so quick. I don't know how much cash the high flying movie stars were paid for this simple gig, but CG alone couldn't have costed that much. Seriously, no plot made any sense, no character was developed even superficially. Those who claim this is a 300 equivalent... are just unethically drawing indiscrete and action-seeking movie goers, whom like myself will be sorely disappointed.
However, on the bright side, if you somehow end up seeing this, do me a favour and watch how Theseus rallies his "troops" at the big battle, and tell me if you just wasted 2 hours of your life.
TRAILER
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10 Nov 2011

In Time (2011)

Release Date: 28 October 2011 (USA) Runtime: 109 min
Taglines: Time Is Money Genre: Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

In a future where people stop aging at 25, but are engineered to live only one more year, having the means to buy your way out of the situation is a shot at immortal youth. Here, Will Salas finds himself accused of murder and on the run with a hostage - a connection that becomes an important part of the way against the system.
Directed by  Andrew Niccol       
Writing credits:  Andrew Niccol    
Cast overview: Cillian Murphy, Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried , Shyloh Oostwald, Johnny Galecki , Colin McGurk, Olivia Wilde, Will Harris, Michael William Freeman
Storyline
In the not-too-distant future the aging gene has been switched off. To avoid overpopulation, time has become the currency and the way people pay for luxuries and necessities. The rich can live forever, while the rest try to negotiate for their immortality. A poor young man who comes into a fortune of time, though too late to help his mother from dying. He ends up on the run from a police force known as 'time keepers'.
Review
A great film that sadly many will not be able to follow
Author: Ed Carden from United States
IN TIME is a modern day spin on ROBIN HOOD in Orwells 1984. Director Andrew Niccol shows a future society in which literal time is the commodity of the age, used to pay for anything and everything. Want a cup of coffee, that will be 5 minutes; it was only 4 minutes just a few days ago.
IN TIME shows us just what our world might look like if everyone stopped aging at 25 and was able to live forever so long as they could afford it. For those with great wealth, time is a valued and guarded surplus; something to allow the lessers in society to have in small controllable amounts. For those in the ghetto who live day by day time is life and most would do anything get just a little more time.
While the acting is on par with what you'd expect there are a few let downs but mostly due to the direction of the character and not by any fault on the part of the actor. Cillian Murphy is awesome as a Timekeeper, the 'IN TIME' verse-esque equivalent of the current day detective. His job, to keep track of time and when necessary , re-posses it.
Justim Timberlake, the protagonist of the story does a wonderful job of portraying the "live one day at a time" Will Sallas. A 2 time 25 year old (will make sense when you seethe film) who lives life one day at a time literally. He also represents what we all would like to believe we would be if we were in his shoes, alway6s willing to give others a little more time, even those who would do harm.
In the end IN TIME makes one ask What is wealth? What is living? Do we miss life in the pursuit of wealth? Some will find IN TIME unbearable because its not the Mid-fall, mindless SciFi action flick they were hoping for. Others will find it offensive and preachy since the rich and wealthy are shown to be selfish and uncaring.
What IN TIME does, it does well and thats giving us a glimpse at just how precious time really is because in the real world you don;t know how much time you do have but you do know with certainty that you will not get any more if it so you better spend it wisely.
If your still in doubt about IN TIME then catch an early morning showing or the matinée and save your self a few bucks.
Other Details
Original Music by Craig Armstrong       
Cinematography by Roger Deakins       
Film Editing by Zach Staenberg       
Casting by  Denise Chamian       
Production Design by  Alex McDowell       
Costume Design by Colleen Atwood  
Filming Locations: 1100 S Hope St, Los Angeles, California, USA
Box Office
Opening Weekend: $12,050,368 (USA) (30 October 2011) (3122 Screens)
Gross: $12,050,368 (USA) (30 October 2011)
Production Co: Regency Enterprises, New Regency Pictures, Strike Entertainment
Sound Mix: Dolby
TRAILER WATCH
   


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4 Nov 2011

Puss in Boots (2011)/Movie Review

A story about the events leading up to the sword fighting cat's meeting with Shrek and his friends.

No regrets at all in watching this animated fantasy-Western adventure.
I see Puss' humble origins as a kitten growing up in an orphanage in the Mexican town of San Ricardo. He develops an unlikely friend in one odd egg named Humpty Alexander Dumpty. Circumstances eventually break up the two friends. After several years, Humpty seeks out Puss (with the help of sultry seductress Kitty Softpaws) to convince him to help get Jack's magic beans from Jack and Jill. I know this sounds like a messy mishmash of fairy tale characters, and it was. The artists also take liberties in their visual interpretation of these characters, including the Golden Goose (which I personally found corny).
Thanks to the Shrek films, we already know Puss in Boots and what to expect from him. His Zorro-like swashbuckling exploits, his charm with the ladies and his cute wide-eyed pleading look are all here, and Antonio Banderas too! Selma Hayek voices Kitty delightfully. This new character is quite likable, and you would like to see more adventures of the two cats. As for Humpty (voiced by Zach Galifianakis of "Hangover" fame) though, here lies the prickly problem. You may or may not like him, both his look and his character. Humpty can really be annoying!
There are so many hilarious isolated situations that could make you laugh out loud. I certainly did at several points. My favorite funny moment was that when Humpty changed into his Golden Egg costume. I'm sure you can get an absurd image just by reading that last sentence. Haha! His line when he was running and commented that he needed powder to prevent friction in his pants (he was apparently not wearing underwear) really made me guffaw! You have to hear it to believe that a line like that made it into a children's cartoon flick.
The artwork was of course flawless. The textures are palpable. The action sequences are exciting and funny at the same time. The fight scenes mixed with dance moves were quite interesting to watch as well. The 2D version looked adequate enough to enjoy the adventure. Overall this is a fun movie to watch with the whole family.
 
Genres: Adventure | Animation | Comedy | Fantasy
Release Date: 27 october 2011 (US)
Taglines: Rebel. Lover. Hero.
Cast overview :
Antonio Banderas- Puss in Boots (voice)
Salma Hayek -Kitty Softpaws (voice)
Zach Galifianakis- Humpty Dumpty (voice)
Billy Bob Thornton-  Jack (voice)
Amy Sedaris -Jill (voice)
Constance Marie -Imelda (voice)
Guillermo del Toro- Moustache Man / Comandate (voice)
Rich Dietl -Bounty Hunter (voice)
Ryan Crego - Luis (voice)
Tom Wheeler -    Bartender / Hotel Owner / Mean Boy / Wagon Driver / Rodrigo (voice)

Directed by Chris Miller       
Writing credits:  Charles Perrault, Brian Lynch, David H. Steinberg, Tom Wheeler, Jon Zack  
Original Music by Henry Jackman       
Film Editing by Eric Dapkewicz       
Production Co: DreamWorks Animation
MOVIE TRAILER
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29 Oct 2011

Like Crazy (2011)

Release Date: USA 28 October 2011  Runtime: 90 min
Genres:   Drama | Romance
Storyline
A British college student falls for an American student, only to be separated from him when she's banned from the U.S. after overstaying her visa.

Director: Drake Doremus
Writers: Drake Doremus & Ben York Jones
Cast : Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlie Bewley , Alex Kingston, Oliver Muirhead , Finola Hughes, Chris Messina, Ben York Jones , Jamie Thomas King, Amanda Carlin Keeley Hazell, Kayla Barr

"Like Crazy" starts out strongly. Fresh young love, imbibed with an earthy, quiet spontaneity. The 2 leads actors have a playful, heartfelt energy between them. Yelchin (Jacob) and Jones (Anna) were finely cast, as were Alex Kingston and Oliver Muirhead, as the parents of Anna. Several scenes were familiar territory to me, even offering a few gentle reminders about the fragile nature of romantic dreams.
Kudos to the production design and costuming people, who were willing to let the actors shine. The scenes were rendered with comforting modernity, without trying too hard. It's refreshing to see a creative team who are not compelled to be edgy or trendy.
The push-pull dynamic of long-distance relationships is revealed quite well in this story. Having said that, the core energy and rhythm seemed to dissipate after a while, and I felt like the movie lost its bearings. This film could have benefited from a tighter edit. In a way, the director may have intended for the audience to feel a bit haggard at various points. The romantic part of me wanted some reassuring escapism in the final scene. Instead, we are left to grapple with the evidence of awkwardness, which some of us are all too familiar with.

Production Co:  Andrea Sperling Productions, Indian Paintbrush, Super Crispy Entertainment
Sound Mix:  Dolby Digital  | DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound) | SDDS
Original Music by  Dustin O'Halloran        
Cinematography by  John Guleserian        
Film Editing by  Jonathan Alberts        
Casting by  Eyde Belasco        
Production Design by  Katie Byron        
Art Direction by  Rachael Ferrara        
Costume Design by  Mairi Chisholm        
MOVIE TRAILER
LIKE CRAZY: Movie Trailer. Watch more top selected videos about: LIKE CRAZY, Charlie Bewley
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27 Oct 2011

Trespass (2011)

Review   
Unrealistic to the point of absurdity; a tad melodramatic
Trespass is so unrealistic and outrageous that at times it becomes absurd and outrageously melodramatic. It tries to sweep away with one grand stroke all of the logical flaws in the script by simply claiming that the burglars are psychotic and insane. On the whole it insults the intelligence of the viewer by expecting the viewer to believe things would happen like they did in Trespass. In other movies of this genre there are always twists and somewhat unrealistic scenes that one can overlook if there is a cleverness or a presiding intelligence behind the story, but Trespass lacks this sharpness and edginess. The outrageousness, lack of realism, and madness of the story is simply too much to ask the viewer to believe and look past.
The movie does have its moments and isn't entirely worth ignoring however. The acting of Nicole Kidman is excellent and to see how she and Nicholas Cage are on-screen together is also very intriguing. The house where it is set has a very interesting modern design that comes off as very stylish and aesthetically appealing. A few of the twists and surprises in the movie are clever and there are a handful of good moments in the movie where I was surprised and satisfied with the cleverness of a certain turn of events.

Overall however, the movie turned into not the fascinating, intense, and intelligent thriller I hoped it would be, but a merely average movie that I couldn't possibly believe that got worse and worse as it climaxed to near complete absurdity. If the movie is worth a view at all it is simply to see the chemistry between Cage and Kidman and to appreciate the architectural design of the house where the movie is set. The ideas in the writing aren't wholly absurd, but clearly the writing and ideas aren't the strong point of Trespass.
DETAILS
Release Date: 21 October 2011 (Bulgaria) Runtime: 91 min
Genres: Crime | Drama | Thriller
Taglines: When terror is at your door, you can run, or you can fight.
As they're held for ransom, a husband and wife's predicament grows more dire amid the discovery of betrayal and deception.
Director:Joel Schumacher
Writer:Karl Gajdusek
Cast
Nicolas Cage,  Nicole Kidman,  Ben Mendelsohn, Liana Liberato, Cam Gigandet , Jordana Spiro Dash Mihok , Emily Meade, Nico Tortorella, Terry Milam , Nilo Otero
Music by David Buckley       
Cinematography by Andrzej Bartkowiak       
Film Editing by Bill Pankow       
Casting by Jessica Kelly    & Suzanne Smith  
Filming Locations: Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
Box Office Budget: $35,000,000 (estimated)
Production Co: Millennium Films, Nu Image Films, Winkler Films See
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
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24 Oct 2011

Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)/Movie Review

Release Date:  21 October 2011 (India)  Genre:  Horror
Tagline:  It Runs In The Family

In 1988, young sisters Katie and Kristi befriend an invisible entity who resides in their home.
Directors:  Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
Writers:  Christopher B. Landon, Oren Peli (characters)
Credited cast:
Katie Featherston, Sprague Grayden, Lauren Bittner, Chloe Csengery , Christopher Nicholas Smith, Jessica Tyler Brown, Brian Boland, Dustin Ingram, Mark Fredrichs
Executive Producer : Akiva Goldsman  
Cinematography by Magdalena Gorka Bonacorso       
Film Editing by Gregory Plotkin       
Casting by Terri Taylor       
Production Design by Jennifer Spence       
Art Direction by David Batchelor Wilson          
Costume Design by  Leah Butler    
Production Co: Blumhouse Productions, Paramount Pictures
User Review
Much like its predecessors, "Paranormal Activity 3" is a slow-building, stealthily creepy supernatural thriller that takes a teasingly indirect approach to generating suspense and escalating dread. The threequel is actually a prequel, time-warping back to 1988 to show how siblings Katie (Katie Featherston in the first film) and Kristi (Sprague Grayden in the second) were traumatized at an early age by things that go bump in the night. Slightly slicker and more densely populated than earlier pics in the franchise, the Oct. 21 Paramount release should play well with any fans who haven't already tired of the found-footage gimmick.

Although Featherston and Grayden make token appearances in a portentous prologue, preteen newcomers assume their roles throughout the rest of "Paranormal Activity 3." Pic details how Dennis (Chris Smith), the girls' videographer dad, becomes obsessed with discovering the source of latenight noises that echo throughout their spacious suburban home -- and learning the true nature of an imaginary playmate who may not be so imaginary after all.

Again like its predecessors, the film pivots on the conceit that its elliptical narrative has been culled from videos shot by someone (or a couple of someones) who cannot be called upon to provide any sort of explanatory narration. (It's interesting to consider whether some future sequel will identify just who's been editing together all this spooky stuff.)
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20 Oct 2011

The Three Musketeers (2011)/Review

Release Date: 21 October 2011 (USA) Runtime: Germany: 110 min
Genres: Action | Adventure | Romance

The hot-headed young D'Artagnan along with three former legendary but now down on their luck Musketeers must unite and defeat a beautiful double agent and her villainous employer from seizing the French throne and engulfing Europe in war.

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Writing credits (WGA): Alex Litvak , Andrew Davies & Alexandre Dumas père     (novel "Les Trois Mousquetaires")
Cast overview:
Matthew Macfadyen, Milla Jovovich, Luke Evans, Helen George, Christian Oliver     , Ray Stevenson Til Schweiger, Markus Brandl , Orlando Bloom, Logan Lerman, Dexter Fletcher, Jane Perry Mads Mikkelsen, Andy Gathergood , Ben Moor
Original Music by Paul Haslinger       
Cinematography by Glen MacPherson       
Film Editing by Alexander Berner       
Casting by  Suzanne Smith       
Filming Locations: Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany
Budget: $75,000,000 (estimated)
Production Co: Constantin Film Produktion, Nouvelles Éditions de Films (NEF), New Legacy Show
Sound Mix: Dolby

Review
Leave your sensible head in the foyer
Author: imbigmo from Bristol
I've read other reviews lambasting the historical inaccuracies, the deviation from the original book and the technological impossibilities.....get a grip guys it's a fantasy/adventure movie and I loved it. It's beautifully stylised, the 3D works well and the action sequences are extremely well choreographed. I didn't give a "stuff" that there were a combination of accents that bore no relation to the geography, that the dialogue was campy and that it strayed well away from the original novel, which in fairness has been done to death anyway. It was fun, well made and rattling good entertainment. I read a gazillion reviews telling me how good "Drive" was........that really did bore the pants off me!

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18 Oct 2011

Footloose (2011)/Movie Review

Release Date:  14 October 2011 (USA) Runtime: 113 min
Genres: Musical/Drama
official site: www.footloosemovie.com
City kid Ren MacCormack moves to a small town where rock 'n' roll and dancing have been banned, and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace.
Director: Craig Brewer
Writers: Dean Pitchford & Craig Brewer

Cast overview
Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid , Andie MacDowell, Miles Teller, Ray McKinnon Patrick John Flueger, Kim Dickens, Ziah Colon, Ser'Darius Blain, L. Warren Young, Brett Rice, Maggie Elizabeth Jones, Mary-Charles Jones, Enisha Brewster

Executive Producers : Timothy M. Bourne & Dean Pitchford  
Original Music by Deborah Lurie       
Cinematography by Amy Vincent       
Film Editing by Billy Fox       
Casting by Laray Mayfield & Julie Schubert  
Storyline:    
Ren MacCormack is transplanted from Boston to the small southern town of Bomont where he experiences a heavy dose of culture shock. A few years prior, the community was rocked by a tragic accident that killed five teenagers after a night out and Bomont's local councilmen and the beloved Reverend Shaw Moore responded by implementing ordinances that prohibit loud music and dancing. Not one to bow to the status quo, Ren challenges the ban, revitalizing the town and falling in love with the minister's troubled daughter Ariel in the process.

Filming Location: Georgia, USA
Budget:  $30,000,000 (estimated)
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Dylan Sellers Productions, MTV Films
Sound Mix:  Dolby Digital  | SDDS  | DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound)

Review by Entertainment Weekly
Actor Kenny Wormald arrives in Craig Brewer's thoroughly winning remake of Footloose with a lot to prove, just like his character, Ren MacCormack. Ren's a big-city high school rebel who relocates to a small town, takes up the right to dance to loud, groovin' music as his cause (laws on the books forbid it), and eventually wins over everyone from the town preacher's trouble-making daughter, Ariel (Julianne Hough), to the reverend himself (Dennis Quaid). Wormald, meanwhile, a former backup dancer for Justin Timberlake, is also an outsider choice to play Ren in this energized redo of the beloved 1984 Flashdance-era classic. Yet stepping into sacred shoes once worn by Kevin Bacon, Wormald handily owns the role for a new audience. Same goes for a terrific Miles Teller (Rabbit Hole) in the sidekick role of Willard so memorably originated by the late Chris Penn.

Guardians of the '80s flame will approve of the production's sincere respect for the original; church still matters, and so do Ariel's red cowboy boots. But Brewer, who previously put his high-intensity spin on Hustle & Flow and Black Snake Moan, displays his coolest moves in the way he smartly unties this Footloose from its 1980s moorings. He matter-of-factly integrates the townsfolk. And he establishes a timeless zone in which children of all colors always yearn for freedom, and wise parents learn how to hand over the dance floor to the next generation
TRAILER
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17 Oct 2011

50/50 (2011)/Movie Review

Release Date: 30 September 2011 (USA) Runtime: 100 min
Taglines:  It takes a pair to beat the odds
Genres:  Comedy | Drama
Inspired by a true story, a comedy centered on a 27-year-old guy who learns of his cancer diagnosis, and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.

Director: Jonathan Levine
Writer: Will Reiser
Cast overview,:
Joseph Gordon-Levitt ,Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas , Rachael
Anjelica Huston , Serge Houde , Andrew Airlie, Matt Frewer, Philip Baker Hall , Alan
Donna Yamamoto, Sugar Lyn Beard, Yee Jee Tso     , Sarah Smyth , Peter Kelamis , Jessica Parker Kennedy ,

Original Music by Michael Giacchino       
Cinematography by Terry Stacey       
Film Editing by Zene Baker       
Casting by  Sandra-Ken Freeman & Francine Maisler       
Production Design by Annie Spitz  

Storyline
Inspired by personal experiences, 50/50 is an original story about friendship, love, survival and finding humor in unlikely places. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen star as best friends whose lives are changed by a cancer diagnosis. Rogen also serves as producer, along with Evan Goldberg and Ben Karlin. Jonathan Levine directs from a script by Will Reiser. “We worked with Will on Da Ali G show, and it was shortly after that we learned he was sick.” Rogen recalls. “As shocking, sad, confusing and generally screwed up as it was; we couldn’t ignore that because we were so ill-equipped to deal with the situation, funny things kept happening. Will got better, and when he did, we thought the best way to pull something good out of the situation was to get him to write a screenplay. Ideally we wanted to make a film that would be as funny, sad, and hopefully as honest as the experience we went through. As soon as the script was completed, it quickly became a passion project for all of us. It helped us come to terms with Will’s struggle as well as our own experiences.” 50/50 is the story of a guy’s transformative and, yes, sometimes funny journey to health. 50/50 draws its emotional core from Will Reiser’s own experience with cancer and reminds us that friendship and love, no matter what bizarre turns they take, are the greatest healers.

Filming Locations: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Production Co: Mandate Pictures, Point Gray See more »
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital  | SDDS  | DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound)
Review
The perfect balance between drama and comedy, '50/50' depicts cancer the right way
by Movie_Muse_Reviews (IL, USA)
Most movies don't know how to handle cancer. Heck, most people don't know how to handle cancer — and I'm not talking about the patients. Cancer, or any other terminal illness for that matter, almost always plays some kind x-factor in a film — that is when a film even dares to enter a realm often deemed depressing and "not for the movies." Most often, scripts will position cancer as a tearjerking emotional turning point in a film or as the initial spark of some banal "live life to the fullest" comedy.
"50/50" puts an end to that. Written semi-autobiographically by cancer survivor Will Reiser, it would seem it takes one to write one. Although cancer drives the entire story, the story doesn't fixate on cancer or melodramatize the terrible truths we already know about potentially fatal illness. Perhaps you could tell as much from the trailer thanks to some typical Seth Rogen antics, but the injection of contemporary R-rated humor is neither irreverent, insensitive nor an attempt to simply put a positive spin on a depressing subject. Life — believe it or not — doesn't stop for cancer. People don't sit in the hospital the entire time and then lie at home in bed the rest. Reiser's story provides a mostly unforced and honest depiction of a young man's diagnosis and treatment for potentially fatal spinal cancer, one where cancer isn't the conflict in and of itself, but the way it so dramatically changes the behavior of the people whose lives it enters and positively and negatively alters relationships.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues his spree of playing absolutely lovable main characters as Adam, a play-it-safe 27-year-old who after the initial shock handles his diagnosis in stride, keeping his ups and downs internal other than when the script cues him to let it out a bit. The more external symptoms come from Adam's girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard), best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) and mother (Anjelica Huston).

Other than focusing on these relationships, director Jonathan Levine ("The Wackness") puts particular emphasis on character perspective, which will change instantaneously at points throughout the film. In one terrific sequence, Adam enters the hospital for his first chemo treatment and gets bummed out by all the sick and ailing people in the hallway. After the older men he meets while getting treatment (Philip Baker Hall and Matt Frewer) give him some marijuana-filled pastries, he leaves down the same hallway high as a kite, suddenly elated despite the same negative images lining the hall. Levine understands that so much of how you deal with cancer relates to mood and perspective at any given time.

Levine coaxes brilliant and thoughtful performances out of his actors. Even though Rogen exerted his usual shtick a bit more than needed, he handles his character as written, someone who wants desperately to help his best friend but hides behind shallow self-centered form of support that many men turn to because they can't communicate emotions all that well.

The women of "50/50" also deliver if not more so. Howard's character is an unlikable mess but she gives her performance convincingly. Anjelica Huston perfects the ideal on-screen mother, the best since Melissa Leo's Oscar-winning mother in "The Fighter." Anna Kendrick also continues to blow me away with her talent. She plays a psychiatrist working on her PhD who receives Adam as just her third patient. She gives such lifelike quirks to her characters and Katie plays right to her strengths.

But in a drama/comedy about cancer, the key lies in tone and for that Levine should become an A-list director. "50/50" could have easily turned into a Hollywood hack-job like the various comic-toned cancer films before it, a film that either overplays the dramatic or overcompensates with the humorous, but "50/50" might be one of film's best balancing acts between the two. The shifts feel completely natural between moments of deep sentiment and moments of levity. Those who can't help but fixate on this being a movie about cancer will likely have to remind themselves to feel serious when "50/50" just wants you to simply absorb it as you would any other film.

Other than some predictable moments and plot devices to give the film a nicer Hollywood sheen, "50/50" provides a genuine and heartfelt movie experience, one that neither goes for the emotional sucker punch nor the sugarcoated version. Instead of making us look at cancer in a specific way, it makes us look at the way we look at cancer — or any uncomfortable subject — the way we talk about it or don't talk about it, the way we interact with those who live with it and the way we cope with it ourselves. That way when someone we love has a serious problem, we can ultimately do what's best for that person
Trailer 
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15 Oct 2011

Courageous (2011)/ Movie Review

Release Date: 30 September 2011 (USA) Runtime: USA: 129 min
Genres:  Drama
Taglines:  Four men, one calling: To serve and protect
When a tragedy strikes close to home, four police officers struggle with their faith and their roles as husbands and fathers; together they make a decision that will change all of their lives.
Director: Alex Kendrick
Writers: Stephen Kendrick, Alex Kendrick
Credited cast:
Alex Kendrick, Ben Davies, Ken Bevel, Kevin Downes, T.C. Stallings, Rusty Martin, Dylan Mitchell,
Rusty Martin, Sr. Angelita Nelson, Robert Amaya, Matt Hardwick, Eleanor Brown, Renee Jewell,
Taylor Hutcherson, Ed Litton
Summary
Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, they face danger every day. Yet when tragedy strikes close to home, these fathers are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, and their faith. From this struggle will come a decision that changes all of their lives. With action, drama, and humor, the fourth film from Sherwood Pictures embraces God's promise to "turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers." Souls will be stirred, and hearts will be challenged to be ... courageous!

Filming Locations: Albany, Georgia, USA
Budget:  $2,000,000 (estimated)
Production Co:  Alabama Production Group, Sherwood Pictures
Sound Mix: SDDS  | DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound) | Dolby Digital

Review
Faith, Family, Fatherhood - all in one
 dmhonan (United States)
This is quite simply a superb movie about faith, love, family and what is really important in life. A must for all fathers and would be fathers. The movie weaves real life adventure and problems into a compelling police-based story and delivers solutions to those problems that can be used in our lives. Sure, some of the jokes are a little corny, but they are all in good taste - a rare exception to Hollywood's sex, sex and more sex mentality. The acting is really pretty good - there's no Brad Pitt here, but there is plenty of heart and soul from the entire cast. Hard to believe a movie with this much drama, acting and pathos was created with only a one million dollar budget! It is not only entertaining and funny but didactic as well. Don't miss this one - do it for yourself - do it for God!


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13 Oct 2011

Blackthorn (2011)/Movie Review

Release Date: USA 7 October 2011  Runtime:  98 min 
Genre: Western  

In Bolivia, Butch Cassidy (now calling himself James Blackthorne) pines for one last sight of home, an adventure that aligns him with a young robber and makes the duo a target for gangs and lawmen alike.
Credited cast: Sam Shepard, Eduardo Noriega, Stephen Rea, Magaly Solier, Dominique McElligott , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Padraic Delaney, Daniel Aguirre, Luis Bredow, Fernando Gamarra    
Cristian Mercado    

Director: Mateo Gil
Writer: Miguel Barros
Original Music by Lucio Godoy        
Cinematography by Juan Ruiz Anchía        
Film Editing by David Gallart        
Casting by  Wendy Alcázar & Jina Jay        
Art Direction by  Juan Pedro De Gaspar          
Costume Design by  Clara Bilbao   

Filming Locations: La Paz, Bolivia
Production Co: Arcadia Motion Pictures, Aiete-Ariane Films S.A., Quickfire Films

Review   
An Unusual Western Set in Beautiful Bolivia,
Author: Alison from Montreal, Quebec, Canada
An aging Butch Cassidy (Sam Shepard), now calling himself Blackthorn and living a quiet life in 1920s Bolivia, learns that Etta Place has died in San Francisco, living her young son behind, to whom Butch has long been writing in the guise of "Uncle Butch." He decides to travel back to the States to see his "nephew," and sets off with the blessings of his indigenous girlfriend Yana (Magaly Solier). Early on, however, he comes across Eduardo (Eduardo Noriega), a young Spanish man on the run from a posse after he stole a lot of money from an evil mine-owner. Eduardo's horse is dead and he is lost, and he begs Blackthorn to help him; somewhat against his will, Blackthorn does so, and they set off on a last grand adventure, together. But Eduardo isn't all that he seems, and in addition to the posse, an old broken-down Pinkerton man, Mackinley (Stephen Rea), is also aware that Butch Cassidy didn't die all those years ago....
I'm not big on Westerns usually, but this is an exception. Beautifully filmed on location in Bolivia, and employing numerous indigenous actors, we are also treated to flashback scenes of a younger Butch (played as a young man by Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau, who looks very much like a younger Sam Shepard), his friend the Sundance Kid (Padraic Delaney) and their mutual love Etta Place (Dominique McElligot), which deepen and enrich the larger story. I'm not sure why this screened at FantAsia, as it's not really genre, but perhaps it's because the director, Mateo Gil (making his English-language debut here), is known for earlier Spanish thrillers that were screened in earlier years. In any event, I'm very glad that I saw this unusual Western, which I believe will get a regular release later this year.
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12 Oct 2011

The Ides of March (2011)

Release Date:  7 October 2011 (USA) Runtime: 101 min
Genre:  Drama
An idealistic staffer for a newbie presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail. Based on the play by Beau Willimon.
Cast overview,  Ryan Gosling, George Clooney , Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti     , Evan Rachel Wood, Marisa Tomei, Jeffrey Wright , Max Minghella , Jennifer Ehle, Gregory Itzin Michael Mantell , Yuriy Sardarov   

Directed by George Clooney       
Writing credits  George Clooney     , Grant Heslov    & Beau Willimon       
Original Music by Alexandre Desplat       
Cinematography by Phedon Papamichael       
Film Editing by Stephen Mirrione       
Casting by Ellen Chenoweth       
Production Design by Sharon Seymour
Production Co:  Cross Creek Pictures, Exclusive Media Group, Smoke House
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital  | DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound) | SDDS
Filming locations Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, Covington, Kentucky, USA, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA, Michigan, USA, Newport, Kentucky, USA, Oxford, Ohio, USA (as Miami University), Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Review       
I'd suggest you see Ides, film buffs; although more of a triple than a home run, the cast is superlative and the direction very fine
Author: Amy Adler from Toledo, Ohio
Stephen (Ryan Gosling) is a razor-sharp, rising star political media consultant. Presently, he is working on Pennsylvania Governor Mike Morris' (George Clooney) campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. Steve-o has only one man above him, overall campaign manager Paul (Philip Seymour Hoffman). The two consult each other daily. The governor has a single chief competitor, an Arkansas senator with his own astute adviser, Tom (Paul Giamatti). At the moment, the Ohio primary is looming and the staff is working out of Cincinnati. One of the governor's lower-level workers is beautiful Molly (Evan Rachel Wood), the daughter of the present head of the National Democratic Party. Only 20, she is just learning the ropes. One day, she makes a pass at Stephen and he responds positively. But, he makes it clear to her that politics is his passion and, especially, Mike Morris, his idol. Indeed, Morris is handsome, smart, and appears to speak sincerely and clearly to potential voters. Yet, very soon after their first encounter, Molly drops a bombshell on Stephen. It is a stunning piece of news, one that could knock the earth off its axis. Also, amazingly, Tom has been courting Stephen to "switch sides" while a respected, determined journalist, Ida (Marisa Tomei) is eager for any and all campaign stories. A cauldron of conflicting genuine and perceived realities is brewing. What will be the result? This is a fine film, based on a stage play, and directed by Mr. Clooney. While the story is more predictable in nature, the script has some great lines and Clooney's direction is quite, quite admirable. This is particularly true of the performances he draws from the cast, with Gosling, Hoffman, Giamatti, Tomei, Clooney himself, and especially Wood giving great turns. All the film's amenities, from sets, costumes, and camera work, are also nice. If you are a discriminating film buff, who loves quality flicks with ample discussion points, then I'd suggest you see Ides at your earliest convenience.

The Ides of March ~ Trailer
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7 Oct 2011

Real Steel (2011)/ Movie Review



Release Date:  7 October 2011 (India) Runtime: 127 min
Genres: Action | Drama | Sci-Fi 
Taglines: If you get one shot, make it real.

Set in the near future, where robot boxing is a top sport, a struggling promoter feels he's found a champion in a discarded robot. During his hopeful rise to the top, he discovers he has an 11-year-old son who wants to know his father.

Cast overview Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie, Kevin Durand, Hope Davis, James Rebhorn, Marco Ruggeri, Karl Yune, Olga Fonda, John Gatins     , Sophie Levy Tess Levy, Charlie Levy , Gregory Sims   
Storyline:
A future-set story where robot boxing is a popular sport and centered on a struggling promoter (Jackman) who thinks he's found a champion in a discarded robot. During his hopeful rise to the top, he also discovers he has an 11-year-old son who wants to know his father.

Director: Shawn Levy
Writing credits  John Gatins, Dan Gilroy & Jeremy Leven
Original Music by  Danny Elfman       
Cinematography by  Mauro Fiore       
Film Editing by  Dean Zimmerman       
Casting by  Richard Hicks & David Rubin       
Production Design by Tom Meyer

Filming Locations: 341 N Jefferson St, Mason, Michigan, USA
Budget:  $80,000,000
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, 21 Laps Entertainment
Sound Mix: SDDS  | Dolby Digital  | DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound)

Review from IMDB
'Real Steel' is Real Fun with Rocky Robots
by changmoh (Malaysia)
THE BIG DEAL in this Disney movie set in the 2020s is robot-boxing. The idea is adapted from Richard Matheson's 1956 short story "Steel" previously shown on TV as an episode of "The Twilight Zone." Just think of "Rocky" being played by a robot and you are as close to what Real Steel is about as you can get. Besides the novelty of Robot Rocky, there is only the usual estranged dad-and-son storyline with a little uncanny romance thrown in. Considering that this is a Disney film, you can expect to have your heartstrings tugged - and other predictable stuff.

Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) is a has-been boxer who now travels the country promoting his tin-can fighter robot. He owes a lot of people money and he finds a way out of his predicament when he gets news that his ex-wife has died in an accident, and he must attend the custody hearing of his son Max (Dakota Goyo, who was last seen in "Thor"). Charlie practically "sells" his son off to his ex-wife's sister (Hope Davis) and her filthy-rich hubby (James Rebhorn) for adoption.
For the time being, however, Charlie is stuck with Max who also happens to be a fan of video games and robot boxing. Together, and with the help of Charlie's girlfriend Bailey (Evangeline Lilly), they patch up used robots for tournaments. When they come across an obsolete sparing 'bot named Atom, Max sees potential in it as an underdog droid capable of taking on the top robots in the Real Steel matches.
"Real Steel" holds thrills for boxing fans because the action is as gruelling and crunching as the human matches. Top that up with realistic-looking effects, we even feel for those boxing machines - just as we have felt for droids like R2D2 and C3PO in the "Star Wars" sagas. Among the human cast, Jackman is in top form as the debt-ridden hustler of a dad who finds a match in his own flesh-and-blood. Indeed, Goyo steals the show as the Dr Pepper-guzzling kid who is highly confident in himself and his abilities. Together, Jackman and Goyo exude fantastic screen chemistry.
Lilly (of TV's "Lost") provides the requisite feminine presence as Charlie's long-suffering girlfriend but the relationship poses some disturbing questions for viewers: like, what is a pretty girl like her doing, waiting for a loser like Charlie when she can have any guy she wants? And as can be expected, another winning performance comes from Atom the cute 'junkyard dog' that dances like a butterfly and takes heavy beatings without flinching. Another entertaining family treat from Disney
TRAILER WATCH  'Real Steel' Trailer HD
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6 Oct 2011

Dolphin Tale (2011)/Movie Review

Release Date: 23 September 2011 (USA) Runtime: 113 min
Genres: Drama | Family

A story centered on the friendship between a boy and a dolphin whose tail was lost in a crab trap.

Cast: Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble, Kris Kristofferson, Cozi Zuehlsdorff, Morgan Freeman, Austin Stowell, Frances Sternhagen, Austin Highsmith, Betsy Landin

Director:  Charles Martin Smith
Writers (WGA):  Karen Janszen (written by) and  Noam Dromi (written by)
Original Music by Mark Isham        
Cinematography by Karl Walter Lindenlaub        
Film Editing by Harvey Rosenstock        
Casting by Kerry Barden     & Paul Schnee        

Storyline
A lonely and friendless boy finds and untangles a hurt dolphin that is caught in a crab trap. He becomes very attached to the dolphin when the tail must be taken off to save the dolphin's life. The boy believes the dolphin would be able to swim normally if it was given a prosthetic tail.
Filming locations
Admiral Farragut Academy, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Clearwater, Florida, USA
Satinleaf Avenue Oldsmar, Florida, USA
Production Co: Alcon Entertainment, Paradise F.X. Corp.
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital  | SDDS  | DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound)

User Review
What a treat! This is a movie for "Everyone of All Ages", not just kids. I would dare to suggest that Parents should not drop off the kids to see this film but share this movie with your children. It is a very enjoyable, uplifting and heartwarming film that you will definitely enjoy seeing with your children. Grandparents will also enjoy seeing this film with their grandchildren. It is also a factual and enlightening film based upon a true story and is not "a fantasy film", such a the "Free Willy" type of films. I highly recommend that you put this on your "Must See" list and if you cannot make it to the theatre it will make a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer. Thank you so very much, Warner Bros. Pictures Canada and Empire Theatres!



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1 Oct 2011

Abduction (2011)/Movie Review

 Release Date: 23 September 2011 (India) Runtime: 106 min
Genres: Action | Drama | Mystery | Thriller
Taglines: The fight for the truth will be the fight of his life.

A thriller centered on a young man who sets out to uncover the truth about his life after finding his baby photo on a missing persons website.
Director: John Singleton
Writer: Shawn Christensen
Cast: Lily Collins, Jake Andolin, Oriah Acima Andrews,     Ken Arnold, Maria Bello    , Steve Blass, Derek Burnell, Benjamin J. Cain Jr., Holly Scott Cavanuagh, Radick Cembrzynski, Richard Cetrone, Mike Clark  

Original Music by Ed Shearmur
Cinematography by Peter Menzies Jr.
Film Editing by Bruce Cannon       
Casting by Alan Lee Joseph Middleton       
Production Design by Keith Brian Burns       
Production Companies: Gotham Group  Lionsgate  Quick Six Entertainment  Tailor Made Vertigo Entertainment
Filming locations:  Brownsville, Pennsylvania, USA Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Sutersville, Pennsylvania, USA
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
REVIEW
The premise for this story is that Nathan (Lautner) is living a wonderful life with his two parents. However, one fateful day a group of men kill his parents and destroy his home sending he and his girlfriend Karen (Lily Collins) on an adventure, as they try to avoid the CIA and the Russian Intelligence. This is really all I can say without ruining any major aspects in this tried and true plot.
I'll start this review by saying that trailer was more action packed then the actual movie. Rather than seeing Lautner wield a gun and do some awesome martial arts, a majority of the action involves the teenage couple mainly eluding the henchmen. Various chase scenes, both car and on foot, are shown throughout the movie, and are interspersed with repetitive dialog and occasional, albeit brief combat scenes. As a result, action lovers or even semi action lovers will be disappointed with what this movie has to offer.
So you may be asking, "Robbie if the story was bad and the action was not very good, what was good about it?" Well the two biggest strengths of this movie were the soundtrack and the suggestion of a plot twist. The soundtrack for the most part provided more of an adrenaline rush than anything interlacing fast paced techno tones with hard core guitar. The combination of the two styles gave half of the chase scenes their character. Perhaps the biggest reason I stayed though was that the film kept suggesting there was going to be some plot twist, or underlying motif to the reason Nathan was being chased. Although they told you the reason he was being hunted, the acting and plethora of shady moves kept hinting there was something more. I'm here to tell you that there is a very minor twist that really wasn't worth the long wait.
The only other things I can say about this movie are the following. First Taylor Lautner fans are going to go gaga over watching their favorite werewolf smolder and pout throughout the whole movie. He still delivers the same monotone dialog that he made famous in his teenybopper career, but this time keeps his shirt on to actually act. Regardless teenage girls and other big fans will not mind as they scream in delight, while those who don't will enjoy watching him get owned in a few scenes. Guys will be happy to see the cute Lilly Collins throughout the movie, and may even enjoy her acting as much as I did. I have to applaud the camera work as well as they do a nice job of capturing what little detail was in this movie. Finally fans may have seen Sigourney Weaver in the trailer, but like so many cameos these days, her star appearance is few and far in between.
Lautner may have finally escaped his werewolf days of Twilight, but he hasn't really traveled that far outside of the role. The promise Abduction had shown in the trailers was grossly overrated. A shallow plot, overabundance of chase scenes, and lack of twist really disappointed me.
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