Shrek Forever After Movie Review: Happily Ogre After?
For its long-time followers, Shrek Forever After is passable entertainment. It’s for those who have grown with the franchise’s predecessors and not the type that can add any new toddler fans.
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Top 10 Biggest Malls in the World: A List Conquered by Asian Shopping Super-Structures
This is the list of the Top 10 Biggest Malls in the World, according to Forbes, along with significant information and statistics for each mall.
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Lee DeWyze Tops Crystal Bowersox in American Idol 9
The new American Idol Lee DeWyze deserves the feat for the total package that he is.
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The Banquet Movie Review: A Banquet of Desire
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May 25th, 2010 Posted by Rianne | Film Review | no commentsThe Shining Movie Review: Stanley Kubrick’s Horror Masterpiece Shines for Many Generations
The Shining is a masterpiece of modern horror. With its remarkable visual panache and a keen sense of irony, it is a rare, chilling, majestic piece of cinematic fright benefiting repeated viewings.
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Jennifer’s Body Movie Review: Capitalizing on a High School Scare Flick
In Jennifer’s Body, Megan Fox looks high school foxy as a scarily hot horror queen in the usual teen scare flick set-up. And it could probably work best for midnight screenings and slumber parties.
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The Time Traveler’s Wife Movie Review: “Time Warping” Love and Destiny
The Time Traveler’s Wife takes the story of a couple who is led into the grandeur and sadness of life and the mystery of time. With its own mix of drama, romance, and science-fiction, is it really worth your time?
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Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood is a sweeping epic complete with spectacle and pageantry; yet, it collapses into an epic cliché. With its elaborate plotting unable to live up to the roaring fires and engaging fights, it merely lingers around like a topnotch archer drinking buckets of mead, then expectedly fails to hit the crucial mark. At the least, it hits the edge of the target through its noteworthy performances and production values.
It could have been a tighter cinematic offer instead of being a two and a half-hour story of a few hits and lots of misses. The action part is considerably fine, but the drama part fails. While there are a few intelligent and bull’s eye moments between the talented Russell Crowe as Robin Longstride/Robin Hood and her equally talented partner Cate Blanchett as Marion Loxley that work, the very essence of this Robin Hood story has a lot of dead spaces and pointless name-checking. Its salvation is how it manages to keep the action up and running within its well-mounted set pieces; thus, making it a “beautiful bore” to some, a “just fine” compromise to casual moviegoers and Robin Hood aficionados, or a “just another hollow adaptation” to the rest who felt they got robbed money from movie tickets.
Scott’s spin on the classic Robin Hood yarn turns the familiar old English legend into a serious gritty and grubby lesson in 13th century British history. This time, he and his usual Oscar-winning crewmates turn the familiar swashbuckling bandit of Sherwood Forest into a serious story focusing on the man behind the legend. It works like a sort of a prequel on how the legend came to be. It attempts to explain the earlier life of Robin Hood by stripping away the fantasy from the myth and making his story more like a societal lesson and a historical exposition. It seems to aim higher than all these, but it lacks the needed depth to transcend the intended character study into a more valuable piece of cinematic work.
Robin Hood is filtered through all the trademark requirements of a summer blockbuster. It has good cuts, camera movements and engaging sound. Scott is at his best with the action sequences; yet, he is unable to put enough dimensionality to the characters, amidst the solid acting performances. The robust script from Brian Helgeland has a sense of struggle in it. The climactic battle sequence is another technical saving grace amidst some overstuffed and ill-conceived moments.
On the positive side, the sense of epic sweep and detailed grounding of the film’s intentions make the uneven pacing work on a basic entertainment level. John Mathieson’s cinematography effectively relives the medieval setting and English countryside feel. The wealth of well-researched period details from production designer Arthur Max keeps the movie appealing.
The film has a strong ensemble that lodges well within the Middle Age setting. The cast of veteran actors and actresses including the supporting cast Max von Sydow as Sir Walter Loxley, William Hurt as William Marshal and Mark Strong as Godfrey maintain the serious mood befitting the director’s treatment. However, some scenes tend to inappropriately have accents wandering all over England.
For its specific merits, Robin Hood is one entertaining material. This story about the English philanthropic outlaw is still a watchable fare to the non-demanding viewers. It is technically a handsomely made movie that reworks the traditional characters of the legend into the world of real people. Its production reins over the story, though. And if not for the “too much of this and not enough of that” issue, the solid performances, rousing action sequences and impressive style could have made it a much interesting piece of cinematic wonder.
Robin Hood Movie Review: Bull’s Eye Action but Miles of Missed Storytelling
Robin Hood is a sweeping epic complete with spectacle and pageantry; yet, it collapses into an epic cliché.
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Traveling to Busan, Korea: A Guide to Tourists
Busan, Korea is the fifth largest port city in the world. It is famous for its beach attractions, temples, cultural and historical sites, restaurants, shopping districts and nightlife spots.
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How to Convert VHS Tapes to DVD Discs
Old VHS tape collections don’t have to be buried in the stockroom. To keep up with the times, you can make digital copies to suit your DVD player at home.
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How to Spend Money as a VIP in Las Vegas
Make a short list of what you want to do and finalize it depending on how long you will stay in Las Vegas. It’s best to decide ahead of time so you can get the best from your stay.
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Las Vegas Hotels Outside the Strip and the Non-Tourist Areas
The more famous ones may be along the Strip, but there are many others that can provide you with interesting accommodation packages, entertainment and dining spaces, nightlife spots, and of course, Vegas-style gambling sites.
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Best Flight Schools in the Philippines
The Philippines offers a low cost of living, high literacy rate and quality education as determined by the success of Filipino professionals within the country and all over the world.
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Top Home Remedies List for Stomach Cramps, Heartburn, Diarrhea and Other Stomach Problems
Usually, an upset stomach is caused by improper food habits like quitting breakfast, eating spicy or fast food while rushing to work, overeating and eating food or drinking refreshments with milk or dairy products.
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How to Develop Your Own 35mm Film Negative
Developing your own 35mm film requires technical skills and film developing equipment. Your parents or even grandparents may have used them decades ago. And you might be interested to know how to actually develop a film by yourself.
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Iron Man 2 Movie Review: The Iron Man Element Still Works
Clearly and wittily exuding a screwball vibe filled with action and techno treats, “Iron Man 2″ lives up to the idea of slam-bang entertainment. It is undoubtedly a solid blockbuster sequel with a few faults that people won’t mind overlooking.
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Using Trademarks in Movies
A trademark is a distinctive indicator used by an individual, a company or any other legal entity which identifies specific consumer products and services to be coming from a unique and identifiable source.
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How to Build a Home Movie Theater
Designing a room as a home movie theater requires knowledge on the basics of audio-video systems, lighting, soundproofing and electrical connections.
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Spark AVP by Tuldok Animation Studios
All audio-visual elements used in this video are cleared with copyrights. All people credited are members of Tuldok Animation Studios.
Spark AVP
Director: Rianne Hill Soriano
Producers: Ayeen Pineda and Benedict Carandang
Writers: Che Bello, Benedict Carandang, Ayeen Pineda, Pats Santiago and Rianne Hill Soriano
Director of Photography: Wowie Hao
Editor: Marco Dan Solas
Musical Scorer: Philip Arvin Jarilla
Graphics Artist: Princess Fernandez
Libingan (animated short film)
Director: Ramon del Prado
Producers: Ayeen Pineda and Benedict Carandang
Editor: Frank Aldana
Musical Scorer: Pepe Manikan
Sound Engineer: Philip Arvin Jarilla
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The Iron Man Element Still Works
By Rianne Hill Soriano
“Iron Man 2” keeps its visual and polished appeal. It is entertaining enough but falls a little short of delivering anything new, other than rediscovering its “new element.” Yet, it doesn’t really oblige itself to, anyway. It packs itself with a cool “Iron Man” air and it blasts things in awesome ways.
More than just being a popcorn spectacle with a typically mainstream plot, the shots are impressively well thought off, the acting performances are engaging, the sound elements and music deliver well, and the special effects are visual grabbers.
Robert Downey Jr. and the rest of the cast fill this superhero flick with solid performances fitting its action-techno-fantasy package. His style for witty dialogue with deadpan delivery continues to own and entertain the part. His portrayal of billionaire industrialist Tony Stark and his superhero alter ego Iron Man continues to be the movie’s most compelling component and the franchise’s strongest asset. People can keep such satisfied popcorn smiles while watching the movie.
“Iron Man 2” soars high amidst the heavy metal it wears. There are fewer surprises and exhilarating scenes than its smarter predecessor and there are a few moments of contrivances, but this sequel is still a thrilling and charming offer.
Other than its heavy reliance on CGI, action sets, and stunts, both its production team and cast members live up to the task of making the film a worthwhile action-packed film. It has an aptly fast-paced and glossy look that overwhelms its not so engaging plot. It remains mindlessly entertaining from the technophile’s haven scenes to the fight and chase scenes. The industrialist clunks sometimes get slightly annoying, but it remains mindlessly entertaining with all the big guns, high tech gadgets, cool cars, flashy metal suits and machinery plot.
The filmmakers seem conscious of both the advantages and disadvantages of fight scenes involving faceless actors in big titanium battle suits. The insert shots of their faces from inside their metal gears work. But interestingly, Tony Stark’s scenes are more point blank solid if compared to the showy Iron Man fight scenes. As usual, Downey’s performance as the man outside the suit works best whenever he is hanging out and having fun.
The verbose parts, mostly from the bantering moments and tireless arguments between the main tandems (Tony and Pepper; Hammer and Ivan), are fun and charming. Snappy one-liners also help the movie build up well.
More than his own charismatic personality transcending on screen, Downey’s character really blends well with his colleagues in the acting department. Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts provides wit, energy, and chemistry with the leading man as she offers a beating heart to the story without resulting to cheesiness. Scarlett Johannson as Natalie Rushman/Natasha Romanoff effectively steals the show with her fight scene. Her cyborg-ish looks also add to the film’s visual commercial flavor.
Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer and Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko are great additions to the movie. Their characters are well developed; thus, making the typical plot and characterization work to the movie’s advantage. Rockwell’s smarmy acting is effectively irritating. He really measures up to the need of the story for such a selfish corporate freak character. Rourke is awesome with his very convincing performance as a Russian techno genius with a streak of both serious and comic personalities. He promotes a wide range of emotion than makes him such a driving force on the other end of the Iron Man’s superhero spectrum.
Don Cheadle as Lt. Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes/War Machine doesn’t really transcend to the investment already made by Terrence Howard’s charismatic performance for the first “Iron Man.” It’s such a disappointing change that really affects this significant part of the franchise. Personally, Howard’s Rhodey is a bull’s eye in the same way as Downey’s Stark. Unfortunately, Cheadle doesn’t live up well as a needed replacement.
Garry Shandling as Senator Stern delivers greatly as the typical politician modeling in front of the public’s eye. Leslie Bibb as the journalist Christine Everheart is a recognizable face from the first “Iron Man” and she keeps her short but significant appearance in this sequel. Samuel Jackson as Nick Fury also has a short screen time; and yet, how he handles his role quite peaks the interest for his character. Favreau again appears more than just the director as he plays the part as the funny Happy Hogan for the second time around. Stan Lee makes another fun cameo in the movie.
This movie is another treat for those who pay respect to the credits. After the long scroll filled with endless names and production credits of people who really worked hard to make this cinematic project how it is, people staying get a glimpse of what’s in store for the next “Iron Man” sequel.
Clearly and wittily exuding a screwball vibe filled with action and techno treats, “Iron Man 2” lives up to the idea of slam-bang entertainment. Indeed, this franchise isn’t rusty yet. It is undoubtedly a solid blockbuster sequel with a few faults that people don’t mind overlooking.
May 14th, 2010 Posted by Rianne | Action, Adaptation and Films with Related Inspirations from Lit, Film Review, Films, Films I Like, Flicks, Heroes/Superheroes, Hollywood Films, Love Story, Sci Fi/Cyberspace | no commentsShooting in 35mm Film or in HD: What’s the Difference?
The regular shooting format for most Hollywood films is in 35mm film. A 35mm negative is exposed to come up with moving images through 35mm film cameras. After the shoot, the exposed films are brought to the film laboratory for developing.
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New Moon Movie Review: A Swoon Movie for the Fans
This second bite to the hugely popular Twilight saga can’t exactly do the same for the outsiders. It may not be good enough to seduce new fans, but it’s not bad enough to break off relentless infatuations from its very much anticipating target market.
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The Legend of Zorro Movie Review: The Dela Vega Heroes
The Legend of Zorro tones down a bit by fronting the more human issues about family relationships as compared to the visually purist, action-filled premise driving the storyline on such an action genre.
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Crossing Over Movie Review: Interlocking Stories, Illegal Struggles, and Immigration
Forced, heavy-handed and overdone, Crossing Over gets so wrapped up in its quest for topical resonance that it forgets some of the basics of telling a good narrative,
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In Her Shoes Movie Review: More Than Just a Chick Flick
In Her Shoes actually has enough depth. This chick flick is a richly textured story about the reconnecting of two estranged sisters who have nothing in common but their shoe sizes.
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Top Makeup Schools in Hollywood
As a makeup artist, the basic skills you need to develop is having a good eye for color, knowing the differences between skin types and being able to determine fitting makeup according to actors’ roles.
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Top Home Remedies List for Stomach Cramps, Heartburn, Diarrhea and Other Stomach Problems
Usually, an upset stomach is caused by improper food habits like quitting breakfast, eating spicy or fast food while rushing to work, overeating and eating food or drinking refreshments with milk or dairy products.
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