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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The Thing (2011)

Release Date: 14 October 2011 (India) Runtime: USA: 103 min
Genres: Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Taglines: It's not human. Yet.

At an Antarctica research site, the discovery of an alien craft leads to a confrontation between graduate student Kate Lloyd and scientist Dr. Sander Halvorson.

Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Writers:  Eric Heisserer, John W. Campbell Jr. (short story "Who Goes There?")
Cast overview

Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Eric Christian Olsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Paul Braunstein, Trond Espen Seim, Kim Bubbs, Jørgen Langhelle, Lars Jan Gunnar Røise , Stig Henrik Hoff, Kristofer Hivju , Jo Adrian Haavind, Carsten Bjørnlund Jonathan Walker

Produced by J. Miles Dale , David Foster & Gabrielle Neimand
Original Music by Marco Beltrami     
Cinematography by Michel Abramowicz        
Film Editing by  Peter Boyle, Julian Clarke & Jono Griffith
Storyline

At an Antarctica research site, the discovery of an alien craft leads to a confrontation between graduate student Kate Lloyd and scientist Dr. Sander Halvorson. While Dr. Halvorson keeps to his research, Kate partners with Sam Carter, a helicopter pilot, to pursue the alien life form. Written by IMDb Editors 

Filming Locations: British Columbia & Ontario, Canada
Budget:  $35,000,000 (estimated)
Production Co:  Morgan Creek Productions, Strike Entertainment See more »
Sound Mix:  Dolby Digital  | DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound) | SDDS
Review
Truly a film for the fans
Author: gbi09403 from United States

John Carpenter's version of "The Thing" is a classic. The makers of this film clearly recognize that. So instead of doing the typical thing of this generation and "rebooting" a series/film, they did something classy- they expanded on a story. And they pulled it off exceptionally well. Yes, this movie has MUCH more CGI effects, but it wasn't overboard. The tie-ins to Carpenter's version are spot on. Set designs were great. The acting went way beyond my expectations- Winstead was amazing as the lead. The story was tight. As its first week of release showed, I'm certain this film - like Carpenter's - will go under-appreciated. But I would bet the farm this movie will find its place right next to Carpenter's on your movie shelf at home. Give it a chance!!

TRAILER

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Ranger's Apprentice: The Lost Stories by John Flanagan/Review

 

John Flanagan (Author

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Philomel (October 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399256180
ISBN-13: 978-0399256189
Genre : Science Fiction, Fantasy , Horror , Magic, Action & Adventure

Amazon Price    
Kindle Edition     $10.54 / Hardcover     $8.99      

Description

The secret history of the New York Times bestselling Ranger's Apprentice

Unconfirmed accounts of a group of Araluen warriors - tales of adventure, battle, and triumph over evil - have spread for centuries throughout the known world. Most notable is a clan shrouded in mystery, phantom warriors known as the Rangers.

Two names pass the lips of every storyteller: Halt, and his apprentice, Will. They and their comrades in arms are said to have traveled throughout the kingdom and beyond its borders, protecting those who needed it most. If true, these rumors can be only part of the story.

Only now, centuries after these men and women walked the earth, do we have confirmation of their existence. Behold The Lost Stories.

Inspired by questions and letters his loyal readers have sent over the years, John Flanagan offers a gift in response: a collection of "lost" tales that fill in the gaps between Ranger's Apprentice novels. For the first time, readers can learn the truth behind how Will came to be orphaned and what his real relationship to Halt is, or watch Alyss in action as the young Araluen diplomat disguises herself and becomes the perfect spy.

Review

By  Dadinator (Wisconsin)

The story behind this book are that these are stories that have been found while historians are exploring the ruins of Castle Redmont and its nearby village. The book is a collection of short stories that fills in some of the blanks that didn't fit into the original books. eg. Gilan hunting down Foldor who is mentioned as Halt is banished from Araluen).

The ton of the book is different; some parts are more sad/somber and others are just shortened adventure stories. I think some younger readers may be bothered by the thought of a time when Castle Redmont lies in ruins and they realize this world has moved on.

As a stand alone book, I still prefer the full stories to a collection of short stories. Still this is a very fun read and for fans of the series, I think you will love it. If you haven't read the entire series, there will be a name or two you may not recognize, but it won't be a big deal. I, for one, am not ready for this world to move on.

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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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All-electric Tron Lightcycle hits the streets

Practicality tends to take a back seat when you combine sci-fi cult status with custom chopper building - and there's no room for a pillion passenger on the Lightcycle. We first spied Parker Brothers Choppers Lightcycle project last year when it surfaced in gas-powered form, now the company has released video of a fully-electric version of the neon-packing two-wheeler in action. The electric motor may be quieter, but this one's still guaranteed to turn heads.

The Lightcycle is based on the conveyance from 2010's Tron: Legacy and in its latest real-world form it has undergone extensive body reworking as well as getting a 96 volt electric motor and lithium ion battery pack. Parker Brothers quotes an (impressive if true) top speed of in excess of 100 mph for and a range of 100 miles on a single charge with 35 minute recharge times.

There's no word yet on pricing or availability of All Electric Lightcycle, but the Suzuki 4-stroke driven model is still being sold through Hammacher Schlemmer for an the asking price of US$55K.

You might not find yourself lane-splitting or scraping the pegs while astride this beast, but - at least until landspeeders hit the market - you'll be hard pressed to find a more radical 21st century ride.

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Apollo 18 (2011)/Movie Review

Release Date: 2 September 2011 (India)   Runtime: USA:88 min

Genres: Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Taglines: There's a reason we've never gone back to the moon.

Director:  Gonzalo López-Gallego

Writers:   Brian Miller (screenplay), Cory Goodman

Stars:  Warren Christie, Lloyd Owen and Ryan Robbins

Decades-old found footage from NASA's abandoned Apollo 18 mission, where two American astronauts were sent on a secret expedition, reveals the reason the U.S. has never returned to the moon.

Budget: $5,000,000 (estimated)

Production Co:  Apollo 18 Productions, Bekmambetov Projects Ltd. (BPL)

Official Sites: http://apollo18movie.net/

Filming Locations: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

REVIEW

This film is best summed up by my comment to my brother when he got up to go to the toilet and asked me to tell him what happened. 'I don't think you'll miss much' I said, and was correct. To be fair, I would have been correct if he hadn't bothered coming back, or even hadn't come in the first place.

Very poor character development. Practically no suspense developed throughout, and even poorly faked. High def images overlaid with cine-camera 'crackle', anyone?

Compare this with the more traditionally filmed, and more obviously sci fi 'Moon', and I don't think anyone will prefer Apollo 18.

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Cowboys & Aliens (2011)/Movie Review

Release Date:  29 July 2011 (India)   Runtime:  USA:118 min

Genre:    Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller | Western

Plot:A spaceship arrives in Arizona, 1873, to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. A posse of cowboys and natives are all that stand in their way.

The Old West.. where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world. 1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). It's a town that lives in fear. But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known. Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he's been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. With the help of the elusive traveler Ella (Olivia Wilde), he pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents-townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws and Apache warriors-all in danger of annihilation. United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival. Written by Universal Pictures

Director: Jon Favreau

Writers (WGA): Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman

Original Music by  Harry Gregson-Williams

Cinematography by Matthew Libatique

Filming Locations:  Abiquiu, New Mexico, USA

Company:  Universal Pictures

Casts  : Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Abigail Spencer, Buck Taylor, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Matthew Taylor, Cooper Taylor, Clancy Brown, Paul Dano, Chris Browning, Adam Beach

1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger (Daniel Craig), Jake Lonergan, with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford). Its a town that lives in fear.

But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known.

Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. As this gunslinger slowly starts to remember who he is and where he's been, he realizes he holds a secret that could give the town a fighting chance against the alien force. With the help of the elusive traveler Ella (Olivia Wilde), he pulls together a posse comprised of former opponents, townsfolk, Dolarhyde and his boys, outlaws and Apache warriors - all in danger of annihilation. United against a common enemy, they will prepare for an epic showdown for survival.

What happens when you overvalue a movie concept and undervalue the story,

The answer to the obvious question hovering around Jon Favreau's latest action blockbuster is yes, "Cowboys & Aliens" is as ridiculous as the title sounds. Yet blame doesn't quite belong on Favreau's shoulders or that of star Daniel Craig or the rest of the cast; rather, the failure of this alien-infested Western results from the domino effect of the countless studios and producers who put their faith (and money) in a concept rather than a story.

To be fair, I know nothing of the Platinum Studios comic by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, but it couldn't have been all that good if all the hottest screenwriters in Hollywood couldn't whip together a plot worth a damn. The duos behind "Iron Man" and "Star Trek" along with "Lost" writer Damon Lindelof all took cracks at the screenplay and an earlier treatment from another pair of "it" writers who wrote next month's "Conan the Barbarian" was discarded. Frankly, criticism of "Cowboys & Aliens" all stems from a story with lackluster characters equipped with cliché motivations. Despite some cool aliens, the action doesn't offer anything unique enough to counter that we've no reason to care.

Craig stars as Jake Lonergan, a stoic outlaw in Arizona sometime in the late 19th Century who wakes up with no memory and some metal device on his wrist. When he arrives in the town of Absolution, the sheriff discovers he's wanted and attempts to ship him off for a reward. That's when the aliens attack, bombing the town and roping up locals before flying off into the night. Lonergan's bracelet activates as a weapon and suddenly he's the only one capable of defeating these things. He joins a rescue party led by a grumpy Civil War vet named Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford) and they all set off to find out what happened to their loved ones.

The script introduces characters willy-nilly and provides little satisfactory explanation for anything that happens. The story paints Lonergan as a quiet badass, but one who has flashes of some woman he loved. Because his past slowly unravels with nothing revelatory to show for it as the film wears on, it's tough to care much or even see him as capable of romantic feelings. Regardless, a woman named Ella (Olivia Wilde) keeps approaching him with questions he doesn't have the answers to and she evolves into a love interest for nothing but the sake of it. Sam Rockwell has little to no bearing on the film other than serving an example of an otherwise peaceful man who will do whatever it takes to get his wife back. He's a waste in the role. As for Ford, he just gets on screen and acts grumpy and impatient. We've seen everyone on board do so much better

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Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D/Review

Official Site : http://spykidsmovie.net/

 Release Date: 19 August 2011 (India) Runtime: USA: 89 min

Genres: Action | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

Sound Mix:  Dolby Digital  | DTS  | SDDS

A retired spy is called back into action, and to bond with her new step-children, she invites them along for the adventure to stop the evil Timekeeper from taking over the world.

Director:  Robert Rodriguez

Writer:  Robert Rodriguez (screenplay)

Original Music by Robert Rodriguez  &Carl Thiel

Cinematography by Jimmy Lindsey &  Robert Rodriguez

Film Editing by Dan Zimmerman

SUMMARY

On the surface, Marissa Cortez Wilson (Jessica Alba) has it all...married to a famous spy hunting television reporter, a new baby and intelligent twin step kids. But in reality, trying to mother Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook), who clearly dont want her around, is her toughest challenge yet. Also, her husband, Wilbur (Joel McHale), wouldnt know a spy if he lived with one, which is exactly the case - Marissa's a retired secret agent. Marissa's world is turned upside down when the maniacal Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven) threatens to take over the planet and she's called back into action by the head of OSS, home of the greatest spies and where the now-defunct Spy Kids division was created. With Armageddon quickly approaching, Rebecca and Cecil are thrust into action when they learn their boring stepmom was once a top agent... now the worlds most competitive ten year olds are forced to put their bickering aside and rely on their wits. With a little help from a couple of very familiar Spy Kids, Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara), and some mind-blowing gadgets, they just may be able to save the world and possibly bring their family together while they're at it.

Cast

Jessica Alba, Joel McHale, Rowan Blanchard, Mason Cook, Jeremy Piven, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara

Danny Trejo, Belle Solorzano, Genny Solorzano, Ricky Gervais, Elmo, Jett Good,  Chuck Cureau

Box Office

Budget: $27,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $11,644,672 (USA) (21 August 2011) (3295 Screens)

Gross: $31,201,190 (USA) (4 September 2011)
Production Co: Dimension Films, Troublemaker Studios

Filming Locations: Troublemaker Studios - 4900 Old Manor Road, Austin, Texas, USA

REVIEW

The action was very well done and the acting was sound. Loved Alba, thought Piven was great. Re. Joel McHale: so often talk show hosts can't act (they play themselves), but though he wasn't called on for much, he was believable as someone other than Joel McHale. I enjoyed the head-twisting Guillermo Del Toro-esque stuff. Loved the art design. The inside of the machine and all the swirling gears...that was cool.I know the text about family is maybe a tad hackneyed but it was more strident than before in this one, which made me wonder a tad re Rodriguez's own anxiety. In any case, I was entertained and the kids were too (which made me feel good about time with the kids!) I loved it. We even kept the 4-d smell card (which admittedly did not work very well) so we could remember the experience. Summary: We have seen all the Spy Kids movies and I thought this one was the best. I felt like RR finally hit his stride. Honest. Maybe I'm missing something but I loved it.

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Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)/Movie Review

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)

Genres:Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi    Runtime: USA: 157 min

Release Date: 29 June 2011 (India)

Tagline: The battles are over. The war begins.

Director:  Michael Bay

Writer: Ehren Kruger

Executive producers  : Mark Vahradian, Steven Spielberg, Brian Goldner, Michael Bay

Original Music by Steve Jablonsky

Cinematography by Amir M. Mokri

Storyline

Autobots Bummblebee, Rachet, Ironhide and Sideswipe led by Optimus Prime, are back in action taking on the evil Decepticons, who are eager to avenge their recent defeat. The Autobots and Decepticons become involved in a perilous space race between the U.S. and Russia, to reach a hidden Cybertronian spacecraft on the moon and learn its secrets, and once again Sam Witwicky has to come to the aid of his robot friends. New villain, Shockwave, who rules Cybertron, is on the scene while the Autobots and Decepticons continue to battle it out on Earth.

Main Casts

Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Tyrese Gibson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey, Rich Hutchman, Frances McDormand, Kevin Dunn, John Malkovich, Julie White, Alan Tudyk, Ken Jeong, Glenn Morshower, Lester Speight, Buzz Aldrin, Bill O'Reilly, Ravil Isyanov

Budget:  $195,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:  $97,400,000 (USA) (3 July 2011) (4013 Screens)

Gross:  $348,540,006 (USA) (21 August 2011)

Production Co:  Paramount Pictures, Hasbro, Di Bonaventura Pictures

Filming Locations: Cambodia

Review

I liked the first Transformers, and while it did have its problems the second was better than I expected. I came into the cinema not expecting much, but I left feeling very underwhelmed. Other than the amazing effects, authentic sound, quite excellent action and above average cinematography and editing, this Transformers entry was a waste of time in my opinion.

In my opinion Transformers:Dark of the Moon is the dullest and worst of the three. The first half is poorly paced and dull to the point of boredom, and while the second half fares much better due to the action it came too late and wasn't enough to stop the film from becoming a messy bore overall. The dialogue is stupid and formulaic, the film is much too long and the story is choppy and confused complete with a messy ending.

Michael Bay's direction is another low point, it is murky and unfocused throughout, while the characters are either underused(the robots) or annoying(John Tuturro's character). The acting is not great at all, the voice work is decent, however John Malkovich is wasted, Shia LaBoeuf's easy going charm doesn't disguise the fact his performance is uncharismatic and dull, Patrick Dempsey(performance and character) is useless, John Tuturro tries hard but ends up over-compensating and the less said about the lovely but bland replacement for Megan Fox Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, the better.

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Green Lantern (2011)/ Movie Review

Release Date: 17 June 2011 (India)  Runtime: USA: 114 min

Genres: Action | Crime| Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Sound Mix: SDDS  | DTS (Datasat Digital) | Dolby Digital

Filming Locations: Los Angeles, California, USA 

A test pilot is granted a mystical green ring that bestows him with otherworldly powers, as well as membership into an intergalactic squadron tasked with keeping peace within the universe. 

Director:  Martin Campbell

Writers:  Greg Berlanti | Michael Green |Marc Guggenheim|Michael Goldenberg

Taglines: No Evil Shall Escape My Sight.  

Cast

Ryan Reynolds, Melanie Hebert, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard , Mark Strong, Tim Robbins, Jay O. Sanders

Taika Waititi, Angela Bassett , Mike Doyle, Dylan James

Box Office

Budget: $200,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: PHP 72,051,582 (Philippines) (19 June 2011) (231 Screens)

Gross: $115,601,139 (USA) (21 August 2011)

Production Co: Warner Bros. Pictures| De Line Pictures| DC Entertainment

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Super 8 (2011) /Movie Review

Release Date:  10 June 2011 (USA)   Runtime: USA: 112 min

After witnessing a mysterious train crash, a group of friends in the summer of 1979 begin noticing strange happenings going around in their small town, and begin to investigate into the creepy phenomenon.

Director:  J.J. Abrams

Writer:  J.J. Abrams

Casts:

Joel Courtney , Riley Griffiths , Ryan Lee , Gabriel Basso , Zach Mills , Kyle Chandler , Jessica Tuck, Joel McKinnon Miller , Ron Eldard , Amanda Michalka , Andrew Miller , Jade Griffiths, Jakob Miller , Elle Fanning , Britt Flatmo

STORYLINE

In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth - something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined

Box Office

Budget:  $50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:  $35,451,168 (USA) (12 June 2011) (3379 Screens)

Gross:  $125,316,799 (USA) (7 August 2011)

Production Co : Paramount Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Bad Robot

SUMMARY

The film starts in February of 1979, at a steel plant in Lillian, Ohio. Elizabeth Lamb (Caitriona Balfe) has been killed in an accident. Though their family and friends are sad for her husband, Deputy Jackson Lamb (Kyle Chandler), their main concern is Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney), Elizabeth and Jackson's son. Joe was more attached to his Mom than his Dad, who was never really been there for his son.

Later at the Lamb's house, Louis Dainard (Ron Eldard) pays a visit. Jackson blames Louis for his wife's death, and forces him out of the house and puts him in his squad car. As Joe watches his father take Louis away, his gaze shifts to a silver locket in his hand.

Four months later, the local Middle School lets out for the summer. Joe's friend Charles (Riley Griffiths) has been shooting a Super 8 film for a film festival in Cleveland. Charles has rewritten the the story so that the detective now has a wife. Joe is unsure about this last-minute rewrite, but when Charles tells him that he has gotten Alice Dainard for the part (Elle Fanning), he becomes less-concerned. The two then promise to rendezvous later that night to film their scene, with plans for Alice to drive them.

Arriving home, Joe meets up with his Dad who takes him out for dinner. Jackson Lamb wants his son to attend a baseball camp for the summer, but Joe explains that he wants to help Charles finish his film. Both reach a impasse, having little more to say on the matter.

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X-Men: First Class (2011)/Movie Review

Release Date: 10 June 2011 (India)   Runtime: 132 min

Genres: Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline: Their powers would make them different. But destiny would make them allies. 

In 1962, the United States government enlists the help of Mutants with superhuman abilities to stop a malicious dictator who is determined to start world war III.

Director:  Matthew Vaughn

Writers: Ashley Miller , Zack Stentz

Original Music by Henry Jackman

Cinematography by John Mathieson

STORYLINE

Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-MEN.

BOX OFFICE

Budget: $160,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $55,101,604 (USA) (5 June 2011) (3641 Screens)

Gross: $145,939,795 (USA) (21 August 2011)

Filming Locations: Englefield House, Theale, Reading, Berkshire, England, UK

Production Co: Bad Hat Harry Productions, Donners' Company, Marv Films

CASTS: James McAvoy,  Laurence Belcher,  Michael Fassbender,  Bill Milner,  Kevin Bacon,  Rose Byrne,  Jennifer Lawrence,  Beth Goddard,  Morgan Lily,  Oliver Platt,  Álex González,  Jason Flemyng,  Zoë Kravitz,  January Jones,  Nicholas Hoult ,

Teen Choice Awards 2011

Nominated

Movie Chemistry : Jennifer Lawrence , Nicholas Hoult , Zoë Kravitz , Caleb Landry Jones , Lucas Till & Edi Gathegi

Movie Villain : Kevin Bacon

Movie: Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Summer Movie Star: Female Jennifer Lawrence

Summer Movie Star: Female Zoë Kravitz

REVIEW

There are plenty of big action scenes throughout but it's the first half of the film that really impresses. Establishing these characters and the entire universe is done remarkably well and in a remarkably moving manner. This new spin on familiar "bad guys" Magneto and Mystique does give the actions and emotions for the characters a new level of appreciation and helps give them so much more depth and pathos. Both sides of the fence (Xavier's vision and Magneto's contempt) are advanced and the brilliance of the plot is that both sides are understandable and relatable. The viewer can simply sit and watch it unfold but also be emotionally invested in the journey. During the second half, plot threads move towards resolution and action picks up. Xavier is a shining example and his journey throughout the film matches that of Erik.

First Class never undermines the audience nor talks down to them and does all that is expected of it. It delivers great action, humor, effects and a strong connection between heroes, villains and those developing in between. The retro design is suave and making this a period piece gives it a cool and unique flavor. The collaboration between Singer and Vaughn apparently was a perfect blend. Vaughn did a brilliant job and Singer's vision from the first two films stayed in tact and was enhanced. I have to add that the score had a perfect heroic theme but was also moving and very well done. The overall impact of this film leaves you with a great sensation of a job well done. Fast paced yet filled with depth, spellbinding visual effects and a gripping finale. In the end, they succeeded in re-establishing these characters in a superb and interesting manner. There is more to offer and more depth to appreciate. I certainly can't wait for a sequel and inclusion of Scott and Jean from the original trilogy.

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Attack the Block (2011)/Movie Review

Release date: 13 May 2011 (Ireland)   Runtime: 88 min

Genres: Action | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline: Inner City vs. Outer Space

Written & Directed by Joe Cornish

Original Music by  Steven Price

Cinematography by Thomas Townend

Box Office

Budget: $13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: £1,133,859 (UK) (15 May 2011) (352 Screens)

Gross: $454,087 (USA) (14 August 2011)

Production Co:  Studio Canal, Film4, UK Film Council

MAIN CASTS:

Nick Frost , Jodie Whittaker , Luke Treadaway , Terry Notary , John Boyega , Joey Ansah, Alex Esmail , Flaminia Cinque , Chris Wilson , Jumayn Hunter , Leeon Jones , Paige Meade, Lee Nicholas Harris , Franz Drameh , Adam Leese

REVIEW

 It is dark, but in a light hearted way, both visually and in terms of the story line. Some small gems of particularly good humour. The aliens were presented in a non- stereotype and quite interesting/clever way. You really get a feel for the street city scene, which enhanced the experience and made it enjoyable with a few moments of pure humour.

This film was well made, dark, funny, jumpy, and gripping. Overall a fast paced experience that will keep at you at the edge of your seat and fully entertained for the duration. Definitely work seeing - go and see it. Good job cornballs!

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Source Code (2011)/Movie Review

Release Date:1 May 2011 (India)| Runtime: 93 min

Genres: Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Sound Mix: Dolby Digital  | DTS

Tagline: Make every second count

An action thriller centred on a soldier who wakes up in the body of an unknown man and discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.

Director:  Duncan Jones

Writer: Ben Ripley

Cast:

Jake Gyllenhaal | Michelle Monaghan |Vera Farmiga  |Jeffrey Wright| Michael Arden |Cas Anvar |Russell Peters | Brent Skagford| Craig Thomas| Gordon Masten | Susan Bain | Paula Jean Hixson| Lincoln Ward | Kyle Gatehouse| Albert Kwan

Storyline

Colter Stevens, a US Army helicopter pilot whose last memory is flying in Afghanistan, wakes up on a commuter train. However, he discovers that he has assumed the identity of another man. 8 minutes later, the train explodes and Stevens finds himself in some kind of pod. He then talks to someone named Goodwin, who tells him he has to go back and find out who the bomber is. He is sent back to go through the whole thing again and attempts to find who the bomber is but fails. The bomb goes off and Stevens finds himself in the pod again. He is sent back another time, yet still cannot find out anything. When he returns, he asks what is going on. Goodwin and Rutledge, the scientist in charge, tell him that he is part of a project that can put someone in another person's consciousness during the last 8 minutes of their life. Stevens then asks why he cannot just stop the bomb. He is told that...

Box Office

Budget: $32,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend: $14,812,094 (USA) (3 April 2011)

Gross: $54,696,902 (USA) (10 July 2011)

Production Co: Vendome Pictures  | Mark Gordon Company, The

Filming locations

Chicago, Illinois, USA  |Cloud Gate, Millenium Park, Downtown, Chicago, Illinois, USA |Montréal, Québec, Canada

Review

Only those with a degree in quantum physics might understand the science behind it but essentially this whodunit mystery with Jake as our protagonist (Airforce Captain, Colter Stevens) trying to find out who caused a bomb on the train is an attention grabbing ride. Initially Colter confusion about what's happening to him is a bit drawn out at first but important in light of events later on in the film which reveal what the source code is and how he is being sent through time.

There is a twist to the film although cannier viewers than me might summarise this early on however and this is built up gradually. when the real situation is revealed it is a poignant moment and really anchors the predicament of Jake with the viewer.

I'm almost certain that everyone who leaves the film will be pondering the same question and that is whether Duncan Jones' movie would have made a more lasting (albeit darker) impression if ended at a crucial moment in the last act of the movie. Who knows what the original ending was conceived to be but in this case I think it's fair to say its the destination rather than the journey that could have elevated this to something extra. Still I would say 'all board' to those of you meaning to catch this.

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