Amazonas Film Festival Earning Recognition

While the Cannes and Sundance Film festivals may both be well known, they are certainly not the only festivals dedicated to the screening of new flicks. The Amazonas Film Festival, now in its ninth year, is rapidly gaining attention. The festival is held in Manaus, Brazil, each year in early November and features award-winning movies from around the world. Screenings for the festival take place at the spectacular Teatro Amazonas. This Belle-Époque opera house served as the inspiration for the epic film by Werner Herzog, "Fitzcarraldo."

The opening night of the festival featured "Colegas," a Brazilian film. The film was penned and directed by Marcelo Galvao and illustrates a poetic view of life from the viewpoint of three people with Down syndrome. In total, more than thirty films will compete in the festival. Each of the movies will be competing for the prestigious Flight Over the Jungle award and will compete in several different sections. Those sections include a competition for short films produced in the Amazonas, an international feature competition, a Brazilian short film competition, and a screenwriting competition. The film that garners top honors at the 2012 festival will receive a cash prize.

Eight films were submitted to compete in the International Feature Competition category. The films hail from a diverse array of countries. The American feature "Compliance" is one of the films submitted for this category. Another submission is the Danish movie "Teddy Bear."

Much like the movies submitted to compete in the festival, the list of jurors chosen is also quite diverse and includes Romanian film producer and director Tudor Giurgiu, Brazilian screenwriter and director Sergio Machado, Argentinian actress Eva Bianco, and Brazilian actor Leonardo Medeiros. The President of Honor for the 2012 Amazonas Film Festival is Zelito Vianna. In addition to screening Vianna's film "Villa-Lobos: A Life of Passion," the festival also pays tribute to the bi-centennial anniversary of the Palme d'Or that was won by the Brazilian film "The Prayer of Promises." In 1962, the film became the first and only film to date to win the award. The film was also the first film from South America to receive a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

The weeklong film festival serves as a gathering for movie industry insiders, filmmakers, journalists, and cinema enthusiasts from Brazil and from the rest of the world. The spectacular Amazonian rainforest serves as the backdrop for the festival. A number of initiatives have been instituted by the festival to educate local audiences about the film industry. Such initiatives have included screenings at hospitals, bus stops, community centers, and even remote villages situated along the Rio Negro River.

Films that score top awards in the festival can ultimately mean significant amounts of money for filmmakers and the opportunity to succeed in the Brazilian film industry as well as on an international level.

One of those films vying for a top prize is "Jonathas' Forest." The film is directed by Sergio Andrade, a native of Manaus, and is set apart by a divergence from the magical realism that is typically a centerpiece of many Latin American films. At the same time, the film still manages to invoke a transformative atmosphere that affects outsiders as well as Amazonas natives.

Director Craig Zobel's film "Compliance" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Since that time, the film has managed to create no small amount of controversy in the theatrical and festival worlds. It was released in the United States by Magnolia. Another film to appear at the Amazonas Film Festival is "The Zebra." Fernando Javier Leon Rodriguez scored an award for the Best First Feature film for his work in this movie. Another contender includes "The Angels' Share" by Ken Loach. The film focuses on a band of Scottish loners who make the decision to work together in order to accomplish a whiskey heist. Following the premiere of the film at Cannes, rights to the movie were procured by Sundance Selects.

While "The Other Son" is certainly not a blockbuster film, it has received plenty of positive reviews. This film by Lorraine Levy tells the story of an Israeli boy and a Palestinian boy who are swapped at birth. The Danish film "Teddy Bear" by Mads Matthiesen centers around the tale of a bodybuilder. It has already received plenty of acclaim, including the World Cinema Directing award at Sundance.

The Amazonas Film Festival has become the premiere centerpiece for South American films. Providing useful articles, reviews and writings on movies and films online.

The Man With The Iron Fists

Are you in the mood for checking out an old school King-Fu flick? How about one with an update that includes hip-hop music and stylish visuals? I was, as I went to check out the latest movie release at the local cinema The Man With The Iron Fists. Was this movie a trip down memory lane to the martial arts movies that I loved to watch as a kid over the weekend, or should I have left well enough alone? Here are my thoughts.

With an international cast that features iconic actors and actresses featuring Lucy Liu, Russell Crowe, Gordon Liu and introducing Hip Hop Producer extraordinaire, the RZA who also wrote and directed. The Man With The Iron Fists is a return to the epic Kung-Fu stories of back in the day that features an action packed struggle between warriors, assassins and the lone hero that's caught in the middle.

Set in China during the nineteenth century in a small community called Jungle Village, an african american blacksmith makes his living providing weapons of death to the various clans that inhabit the village often under threat of violence.

Unrest soon develops after a routine delivery of a gold shipment is seized by one of the clans during a pit stop in Jungle Village, therefore bringing out all of the other clans who want a piece of the action. As you can expect all hell breaks loose culminating in some wild Kung-Fu action and drama. The battles that ensue threaten to destroy the village and the blacksmith must now help to defend his adopted home.

If you happen to look unfavorably at these types of movies as silly exploitation mess with extreme levels of violence and tongue in cheek dialogue that often makes no sense, this movie won't change your opinion at all. However, myself and fans all over used to get a kick out of these movies and so did all the talent that's involved including the director as you can tell that the RZA is a strong fan of this genre and it shows all throughout the film.

The direction is fast paced with very good martial arts sequences with a running tine of about an hour and a half that's over fairly quickly. Don't expect any real story as most of what happens is just a setup for the fast action and campy dialogue with a little sexuality thrown in for good measure.

While it may not win over serious movie goers, this is a treat for hardcore martial arts fans and I enjoyed it so much all the while noticing its flaws especially in the story and acting department. However Lucy Liu and Russell Crowe bring in some good acting gravitas in their scenes with Crowe stealing the show as an intelligence officer with a sharp knife to go along with his sharp personality.

In Summary: The Man With The Iron Fists is a nice little martial arts movie throwback with a little hip-hop thrown in and while it won't appeal to everyone, it seems to be OK with that.

The Man With The Iron Fists B. Rated R for strong violence, nudity and some offensive language. Providing useful articles, reviews and writings on movies and films online.

At World's End Review

Jack Sparrow's back! Along with his nemesis Hector barbossa, and the love couple Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner. These characters provide both plenty of humor that is worth sitting back in your recliner and crack up the pop corn.

At World's End does not really have a complicated plot. Thanks to James Norrington's treachery in Dead Man's Chest, the world of piracy finds itself in danger due to Lord Cutler Beckett's possession of Davy Jones's heart. With Jones and the Flying Dutchman under his control, Beckett has the power to rid the seas of pirates and ensure that the British Crown, the East India Trading Company and himself will have control of the world's seas.

The recently resurrected Barbossa seemed to feel that the only way to stop Beckett is to summon the nine pirate lords of the Brethren Court. Both he and the recently deceased Jack Sparrow happened to be part of the Brethren Court. Because Jack had failed to name a successor, Barbossa needs Jack alive to take part in the meeting of the pirate lords.

Will, who had witnessed a kiss between Elizabeth and Jack in Dead Man's Chest, wants Jack alive for two reasons: he believes that Elizabeth is in love with Jack and he needs the Black Pearl to catch up with the Flying Dutchman. Elizabeth wants to bring Jack back to ease her guilt for luring the him to his death in the last film.

Tia Dalma, the Vodoun priestess who had resurrected Barbossa needs both the latter and Jack for the "pieces of nine" that represent their positions as pirate lords. Those same pieces of nine could free Dalma from her bodily prison, enabling to become her true identity, the goddess Calypso.

There is a lot of double-crossing and backstabbing in this sequel, due to the needs of the main characters, especially by Jack, Will and Barbossa. Another pirate lord, Sao Feng gets into the act because he wants revenge against Jack for sleeping with his female steam pullers, and to ensure his survival against Beckett's purge.

The cast was exceptional as always. What can one say about Johnny Depp? His performance in this movie seemed even better than in the second film. I especially enjoyed three moments by Jonny Depp, his multifaceted performance of the many aspects of Jack's personality in the Locker and his look of horror when Jones managed to fatally stab Will. I had no idea that dear old Jack truly cared about Will.

I feel that the movie truly belonged to the lovers Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley (Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann). The pair's characters and performances really amazed me. Instead of the naïve and sweet lovers they had portrayed in the first film, the pair had become more complex. It seemed interesting to watch these two deals with each other's insecurities and mistaken beliefs. They actually seemed like a real couple.. Most of the movie critics have praised Knightley for her performance. I do believe that Bloom deserved some of that praise, as well. But because he is a major teen idol, the critics have seemed fit to either ignore him or make insulting comments about his acting.

The movie has its flaws, specially the handling of the Flying Dutchman curse and James Norrington's character. But I must admit that I was surprised that I managed to enjoy it a lot. Providing useful articles, reviews and writings on movies and films online.

JJ Abrams' Lost Revolution

There may not have been a more compelling pilot on television than the initial episode of JJ Abrams' Lost. The first scenes of the airline disaster, played over and over from the points of view of the different characters, demonstrated the incredible tapestry of interwoven lives and connections at that single moment in time, and foreshadowed the way in which, throughout the series, the larger island story would be told.

Lost was simply made for DVR and internet technology as fans searched for and found connections left behind for them by the writers and directors. You did not just watch the show. You participated in it by scanning the background for information or comparing dialogue. Every episode was a source of clues in a world-wide puzzle contest.

I fear that Abram's newest offering, Revolution, created by Eric Kripke and currently on Monday nights on NBC, may suffer a similar activity for just the opposite reason. Revolution presents us with an alternate reality. The initial moments of the pilot episode jerk us immediately from the world in which we live, into a pre-Thomas Edison existence in which items using electricity have been rendered useless. Cars, planes, lights, televisions, computers - all of it fades to darkness. Then, after a pause to sell us car insurance or whatever, the story advances 15 years into the future. The United States government has fallen. Strong arm militia groups vie for control of their little piece of the country side. What population that has not killed itself trying to stay alive has huddled together in little xenophobic groups spattered about the countryside.

On the island in Lost, everything about the story could be controlled by the writers. Want a smoke monster? No problem. Want time travel? No problem. Move the entire island? Again no problem, because the framework of the laws associated with the island were entirely in the minds of the writers to be revealed, as needed, to the audience. We accepted the premise that we did not have complete information about the island so we allowed the story to take us where normally we would refuse to go.

Great pains have been taken in the first episodes of Revolution to inform the audience that the setting of the story begins, near our own time, in the United States of America - mostly in and around Chicago, Illinois. We see shots of a rundown Wrigley Field and Michigan Avenue as our heroes trek from an equally dismal and overgrown O'Hare airport.

And therein lies the problem. We know things about this world that the writers apparently do not. We see a small stockade in a suburban cul-de-sac with a few gardens of corn surrounded by countryside gone wild and we think, "What are these people eating?" I don't care if there is no electricity, 15 years implies that they might just have learned a little something about survival.

If they are resorting to being hunter-gatherers, then the little group would not be in permanent dwellings. Permanent dwellings imply food production and we do see some little gardens planted with corn. Now corn may indeed currently be the most significant crop in the country but, as Scientific American blogger Melissa C. Lott points out in this post from October 2011, only 20 percent of all the corn produced in the US is for human consumption, a quarter of which is for highly processed syrup. The other 80 percent is split between livestock feed and ethanol production. Besides, according to the USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory, as a staple, corn is a poorer cousin to wheat, containing less protein and fewer minerals. And considering we see no livestock, why do we see so much corn in the food supply?

Or should I say so little. In 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act, giving an individual 160 acres of land as long as he lived on, and improved the property for five years. Much of the middle portion of our nation between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains was placed under cultivation, to varying degrees of success, by men and animals plowing up these 160 acre tracts, all done without electricity. By all rights then, the little outpost we see at the end of the cul-de-sac should have been surrounded by 800-1000 acres of wheat, corn and livestock.

Then, just as in 1862, trains, with steam engines, using no electricity, could collect those crops and bring them to feed hungry people in the cities. And finally, between 1861 and 1865, the United States government transported hundreds of thousands of soldiers along rail lines, using steam locomotives to wage war and defeat a civil uprising, mostly without the use of the emerging electric telegraph. And let's take a close look at some of the equipment used to defeat that uprising. The catalyst for the action in Revolution is the death of Ben Matheson, the father of "Charlie" who is the heroine of the story. Ben is shot by a muzzle-loading rifle in an encounter with a local warlord's militia. The muzzle- loader appears to be standard issue amongst the soldiers. Assuming that the equipment of the militia represents the highest average available technology, it represents yet another serious failure of the eye-test of plausibility.

The modern muzzle-loader looks nothing like the guns Fess Parker carried playing Daniel Boone and Davy Crocket on television. But on Revolution, Monroe the warlord's soldiers appear to be carrying a weapon that looks very much like a Model 1842 Springfield caplock musket.

Why? What prevents the militia from all carrying a modern firearm? The caplock has all the component parts of a modern rifle. Earlier flintlock muskets used a flint and steel combination to ignite a small portion of powder which, in turn, ignited the gunpowder within the chamber forcing the bullet down the barrel and on to the target. But the caplock improved on that design, replacing the awkward flint and steel combination with a nipple that held a small cap containing fulminate of mercury. Yes, the caplock was a cap gun. The hammer struck the cap and the cap ignited the powder and shot the bullet. The process of firing this weapon uses up bullets, gunpowder and caps. A flintlock would use up bullets, powder and eventually, flints, which being rocks, are pretty readily available.

Creating caps, or primers, requires a chemical process involving the metals mercury or silver, combined with nitric acid, and in a technically reduced society it might make sense that they become scarce enough to force the flintlock's return as the typical firearm. However, the appearance of caplocks, not flintlocks, on the show, implies that there exist adequate supplies of gunpowder, bullets and caps.

So what is missing from a caplock that is contained in a modern firearm? Oddly enough, the only difference of consequence is the cartridge. Every muzzle loader takes the three individual component pieces - bullet, propellant (gunpowder), and ignition (cap or flint and steel) and places them together within the weapon. The brass cartridge brings the bullet, the propellant and the ignition primer together and holds them in readiness, separate from the weapon itself. When the cartridge is placed in the chamber and the gun is fired, the action which occurs at that time is essentially identical to the caplock, destroying the component pieces and leaving the empty casing.

But ironically, this is what the writers of Revolution have missed. The key item that has brought technology backward to the caplock in the story is in fact, the one item that is actually recyclable. Clean it up, replace the primer, pour in powder, press on a new bullet and you are ready to fire again. Technology has made the process easier certainly, but the lack of technology does not make it impossible, or even difficult.

And these are only a couple of problematic background points. What is being used for currency at the bar the group visits in Chicago? Where does the sugar come from for the bar's whiskey making operation? The list just keeps growing.

There are many good, alternate history stories where the authors seem to have actually done a little research. And when we read Harry Turtledove, or Orson Scott Card, we are swept along for the ride, amazed at the small moments in time that result in major swings of history's pendulum. Abrams and Kripke have failed to sweep us along with Revolution. Their blatant disregard for reality is overwhelming any possible chance for their story to become compelling.

My prime reason to watch, after the first ten minutes, was simply to find fault with it. What might have been another Lost is just lost. Providing useful articles, reviews and writings on movies and films online.

Relaxing With a Classic On Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving table is filled with excitement each year. Good food, family, and friends all take center stage during the celebration. After dinner is over, many choose to turn their attention to the numerous college and professional football games that flood the television, choosing a side and sticking with the cheering section assigned to their favorite team. This year, if football is not on the agenda for the gathering, watching a few warm Thanksgiving movies instead will help the family maintain a relaxed holiday atmosphere. Plenty of holiday movies address the Thanksgiving theme in various ways. Whether the preferred movie genre is animation, comedy, or action, one of the following movie selections is sure to please the family at this year's gathering.

"Pocahontas" is an Oscar-winning animated favorite that was released in 1995 by Disney. The movie explores the love affair that sparks between a Native American chief's daughter, Pocahontas (Irene Bedhard), and an English soldier, Captain John Smith (Mel Gibson). The two are on the opposite side of an invasion by the English settlers. In the 1600s, the English land in Virginia, the homeland of Pocahontas. She stumbles upon their camp and a romance begins with Smith. The fairy tale love is disrupted by the greed of Governor Ratcliff; it is believed that Pocahontas's tribe is literally sitting on a gold mine.

As friction builds between the two groups, it is up to the two lovers to try and keep the peace. This animated film is engaging for older adults and filled with action to keep the attention of any teens who may be watching. This is a movie that captures the Native American-settler encounter in a way that is not too violent for young eyes, but accurate enough for the adults to refresh their American history. The soft song selections are enough to lull even the tiniest baby to sleep so that the rest of the crowd can enjoy the movie without interruption.

Every Thanksgiving, there is a channel that features the comedy "Dutch." A single mother (JoBeth Williams) tries to give a little love to her son, Doyle Standish (Ethan Embry), at Thanksgiving after her selfish ex-husband (Christopher McDonald) leaves her holding the bag again by cancelling his holiday time with his son. Her knight in shining armor, her new boyfriend Dutch (Ed O'Neill), volunteers to go to the boarding school her son attends and retrieve him for the holidays. They do not make it out of the dormitory before the bubble bursts. The two end up at each other's throats all along the road trip.

This film is a precursor to the "Are We There Yet?" series produced by Ice Cube; the good guy gets stuck on a bad road trip with his new love's kids. When the news of the new guy reaches her ex-husband, he mysteriously finds time in his busy schedule to try and further destroy her reputation with her son. This film is a roller coaster ride filled with some very funny interactions, but may be suited for a more mature audience. The film is rated PG-13, but if there is someone in the crowd who does not understand about the birds and the bees, he or she may be better off in the football room.

An all-time classic Thanksgiving movie must be included on this list of Thanksgiving favorites. "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" was released in 1973, but is still relevant to the families of today. Any adaptation of the comic strip series always brings laughter and cheer to viewers. This animated gem is the story of the Peanuts gang's celebration of Thanksgiving. Peppermint Patty (Christopher DeFaria) plans a dinner for her family and friends. As is the tradition of the series, Charlie Brown (Todd Barbee) always gets the short end of the stick, but remains as good as gold throughout the story. There is even a scene with a football, just in case viewers think they are missing out on something in the other room. One of the best scenes in the movie is the Thanksgiving prayer given by Linus. In his prayer, Linus relays the importance of the holiday by giving a bit of history surrounding the celebration.

The holiday season can be very stressful with the anticipation of guests, family interactions, and all of the preparation that goes into the festivities. To set the tone for the celebration, try a cool music selection, good food, and a good movie. Providing useful articles, reviews and writings on movies and films online.

Movie Stars' Continuous Migration to TV

In 1988, when Dustin Hoffman won his second Oscar for his brilliant portrayal of an autistic savant in "Rain Man," few would have predicted that he would be starring in a television show later in his career. Big-name actors would never consider playing TV roles-ever. Yet, the list of top movie stars making their way to the small screen continues to grow each year. So what has caused this migratory pattern?

With the help of performers like Hoffman, television is no longer the stepchild for actors. It is attracting top talent because it has caught up with silver-screen movies in three broad categories-jobs, spending, and creativity. From all indications, TV intends to step up its competition for the stars.

The Unemployment Rate

Like all industries, filmmaking continues to seek more return on investment. Nowadays, there is less incentive for producers to undertake a film that showcases acting aptitude. The list of top box-office hits is filled with movies that rely on computer-generated effects to draw large audiences. In fact, we often lose sight of a movie star against a backdrop of alien invasions or catastrophic explosions. These movies are expensive to make and frequently divert money from other projects. In the end, the availability of big-screen acting jobs has diminished.

Movie blockbusters like "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" have deemphasized the need for top-drawer talent. The movie received three Oscar nominations for visual effects and sound, but none for acting. Although Shia LaBeouf did a credible job as lead character in the film, it's difficult to envision any actor winning an Academy Award playing that part. No matter how well it could have been written, the role would never supersede the action. For an accomplished actor like Hoffman, it's not a part that would demonstrate his far-reaching ability.

Television, on the other hand, has grown from three channels in the 1950s to hundreds of channels that need new shows to entice viewers. The cable and satellite TV concept has made it possible for commercial-supported and subscription channels to offer increased opportunities. It's true that reality TV has reduced the demand for actors. Nonetheless, premium content providers like HBO and Showtime have led the pack by developing challenging roles that appeal to the stars.

The Expenditures

Large movie-studio films used to command the roster of A-list actors. Making a fortune from one film was possible if you had name recognition. Television actors, by comparison, made paltry sums and probably had to work harder for their money.

But as television grew, so did its spending on film actors. Some felt it was just an experiment that would fail. Nevertheless, Charlie Sheen, who transitioned from Hollywood movies to the TV series "Two and a Half Men," earned millions of dollars per episode. Few movie stars made as much during the same time period.

Salaries, however, aren't the only issue. Television spending on all aspects of production has increased, which has pushed the quality of what it now offers. TV wasn't known for its lavish spending in 1988. Situation comedies like "The Cosby Show" and "Roseanne" were shot on limited sets, and many dramas like "L.A. Law" and "Matlock" didn't feature an abundance of outdoor scenes. The argument that TV was too small for pricey visuals could be made then. Large-screen TVs forced changes in that thinking, however. Viewers wanted better visual effects than what the original "Battlestar Galactica" series could provide in 1978. The updated version, which drew Academy Award nominee Edward James Olmos to the series lead in 2004, filled the bill.

The Freedom

Hollywood studios once had a corner on edgy material. In 1972, comedian George Carlin had a list of the seven words you can't say on television. That inventory remained intact two years later when Hoffman starred in "Lenny," the autobiography of another off-color comedian, Lenny Bruce.

Such a movie could have never shown to a TV audience in those days. Rewriting it to meet FCC standards would have been a disservice. But now Carlin's list is a memory of how things used to be on TV. Television pursues content without strict censorship. In addition, TV has strayed from its traditional good-and-evil characters. For example, the lead in the Showtime series "Dexter" is a serial killer. He is good in the eyes of viewers because he eliminates violent criminals who have slipped through the cracks of the legal system. It's a far cry from what television used to be, and many high-profile performers relish the change.

Conclusion

The theater box office no longer represents the only option for actors in search of profound or high-paying roles. The law of supply and demand applies. Because of that, the resettlement of big-time film stars to television is sure to continue. Providing useful articles, reviews and writings on movies and films online.

What Makes a Good Sci-Fi Movie?

Each year, a handful of movies are released bearing the sci-fi label in the hope that they will find their place among the best sci-fi films of all time. The problem that many of these films share, however, is their deep misunderstanding of what sci-fi really is and how it works to create a great movie. Although most movies that reach the distinction of being the best are older, classic films, several modern movies have made the leap as well. A closer look at these films can help to illustrate the criteria for a good sci-fi movie.

Easily Explained Technology

Despite the elaborate machines, ships or robots used in sci-fi films, an important element for a good sci-fi movie is how easily the technology can be explained. "Avatar" (2009), for example, took a ship full of people to a new planet and placed those people into alien bodies. Sounds complex, doesn't it? The greatness and popularity of the film "Avatar" lies in the ease with which the technology can be explained. By the time the ship lands on Pandora and the main character (Jake Sully, played by Sam Worthington) is thrust into the alien land in the body of an alien, the audience has fully understood how all of this technology works. In fact, the explanation comes so easily that it is fitted seamlessly into Jake's training. The audience never has to face an information overload. Therefore, a good sci-fi movie must let the audience in on how the technology used works, no matter how complex it may be.

Characters to Care About

Technology, however, is not the sole focus of a movie. A good sci-fi flick still has to worry about character development and likeability. Having characters that the audience can care about is another way that filmmakers can help dole out the explanation of the technology. However, the characters and their part in the plot should always stand on their own merits.

A good example of a sci-fi movie with very likeable characters is "Independence Day" (1996). The film is full of stars, including Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman. From the drunken pilot who dries out long enough to protect the nation, to the President of the United States who straps into a jet to help save his country, there are several characters to love. By the time that the President, played by Pullman, gave his rallying speech to the public, audiences in theaters were thoroughly riveted and rooting for this world fighting against alien invaders.

A Compelling Story

The story is often the reason that audiences are drawn to the movie initially. The film may have cool graphics, slick technology and great actors, but if a sci-fi flick lacks a compelling story, it will surely fail. A good modern example of a film with a compelling story is "District 9" (2009). This film is built on the premise that aliens have landed on earth, but that instead of taking over, they have become a second class of citizen. This was a new concept that audiences flocked to the theaters to see. What was initially billed as an alien colonization story quickly became a tale of discrimination, set in the future of what is supposed to be a discrimination-free world.

Keeping with the Rules of Science

Keeping with scientific rules is also important. In some cases it is acceptable to break the rules of science, but the film must have an explanation for doing so, and must also share that explanation with the audience. Otherwise, breaking an essential rule could break the film before it is widely released. A film that went against this was "Red Planet" (2000), a film that had actors roaming around the planet Mars for much of the film before they realized that their own technology allowed for breathing the Martian air. The scientists in the film also botch basic DNA strand sequences. In addition, they often use the wrong scientific terms to describe basic scientific items. For example, the scientist in the film calls the beetle-like creatures nematodes, which is a term to describe worm-like creatures.

In order to make a film that sci-fi audiences will enjoy watching, filmmakers must keep in mind these basic tenets of the genre. Sci-fi is fraught with opportunities for fantasy, but there are also limitations. Several successful movies have been built within these limits without sacrificing cinematic quality. There are definitely several sci-fi contenders in the works for next year. Providing useful articles, reviews and writings on movies and films online.

Movie Review: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

An unending, melancholy tone permeates the entire film, once again demonstrating Steve Carell's knack for that typical, sad, lonely character he always assumes (when he's not the cocky, ignorant, inconsiderate "Michael Scott" persona). But unlike Dan in Real Life or Little Miss Sunshine, there are few ups and downs - the role isn't nearly dynamic enough for audiences to invest in the somber development that keeps his plight from being emotionally involving. Similarly, Keira Knightley goes through the motions of being an unlikely companion without a convincing connection that could warrant their cross-country pilgrimage to find meaning in a world coming undone.

Dodge Petersen (Steve Carell) still goes to work each day at Metropolitan Consolidated Life Insurance, even though a 70-mile-wide asteroid named "Matilda" has just annihilated space shuttle Deliverance, the last remaining hope for saving Earth from certain doom. The countdown has begun: 21 days before the world ends. Many resort to abandoning hope, participating in carefree orgies of food and sex, or spending their final hours with family and friends. Penny (Keira Knightley) has missed her last opportunity to fly home and so laments outside Dodge's window. The two strike up a friendship and decide to embark on an odyssey to reunite Dodge with his high school sweetheart - a reconciliation botched by Penny retaining a misdelivered letter for Dodge. They're also accompanied by a randomly deserted dog dubbed "Sorry" - a witty moniker never fully utilized.

It's sometimes touching and undeniably soothing to see the obvious counterparts come to a romantic fruition, even if the casting choices don't appear completely compatible. Perhaps it's the age difference, or the contrasting personalities, or witnessing brief, unfulfilling assemblies of Penny's past admirers that seem probable yet discordant. Or maybe it's Dodge's admirable yet clashing sacrifices for love that suggest contrivance and an expected resolution. Regardless, a deeper association with the lead duo is elusive, what with the pervasive reminiscing, brooding, and irrational behaviors that are never delirious enough to be funny. Serenity arises, but not as repeatedly as bewilderment from the scenario.

This setting, with citizens either rioting, killing, offing themselves, contradictorily mowing the lawn as if to forget, or stocking bomb shelters for apocalyptic survival, is both the most unique element and the film's undoing. Ceding appeasement for an eye-opening twist essentially ruins the normal romantic comedy hiding beneath the frantic premise. And it's toned down to a degree, materializing less anarchy and chaos than might be expected (infidelity, rape and theft become a casual joke) if the situation were real - yet the shock of suicide and death still work their way into the picture. Enlightenment, a day at the beach, and reconnecting with loved ones can't mask the nerve-wracking, spontaneous nature of encountering bizarre strangers and frequenting eerily abandoned houses. At times it's more disturbing than humorous or romantic. Why should this bleak device interfere so tragically with a simple tale of recognizing the importance of truly worthwhile relationships?

- The Massie Twins (GoneWithTheTwins.com) Providing articles, reviews and writings on movies online.

Movie Review: Rock of Ages (2012)

Rock god Stacee Jaxx vents that he's a slave to rock 'n' roll. His lament parallels the problems at the core of Rock of Ages; the story and characters are swallowed whole by the music - and when the pounding beat ebbs, there's little left to attract us to what's underneath. This won't be a problem for many as the creative use of classic rock songs as a form of narration has its own substantial appeal. The clever juxtaposition of recognizable tunes and the extravagantly choreographed dance sequences are also entertaining, but they don't provide the stability of a stronger plot and more intricately developed characters. When the guitars roar and the singing starts though, it can be easy to forgive the faults and submerse yourself in the pulsing music and fervent performances.

With high hopes of becoming a singer, young Oklahoma girl Sherrie Christian (Julianne Hough) heads to Hollywood. Once there, a chance encounter lands her a job at the Bourbon Room, a famous nightclub run by Dennis Dupree (Alec Baldwin) that has played host to countless rock icons, including the wildly unhinged Stacee Jaxx (Tom Cruise). Falling in love with the Bourbon's busboy Drew (Diego Boneta), Sherrie thinks she's found happiness, but a grave misunderstanding finds the lovers parting ways; as each one drifts further away from their dreams, tragedy also strikes the Bourbon in the form of a bitter mayor's wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones), intent on shutting them down. But with a little luck and a lot of love, the power of rock 'n' roll might just save them all.

Fleeting cleverness works its way into a story of shattered dreams, lost and found love, personal redemption, and all that is '80s rock (including oodles of sweat, skin, pyrotechnics, girls, booze, and mischievous pet monkeys). With laughs from sexually deviant setups, suggestive comedic arrangements, and lascivious routines, and awkwardness from the stereotypical insanities of out-of-control musicians, the lack of a plot is intermittently forgotten. The infectious, nonstop soundtrack is also, fortunately, so intoxicating that it hides the deficiency in scripting. Generic characters and expected revelations messily fill in the gaps for a thrillingly assembled composition of catchy tunes and innovative duets, further augmented by an impressive cast (considering the success of the stage play, notable actors were probably easily attracted to the theatrical adaptation).

An abundance of energy similarly makes up for the unconvincing lip-syncing and spontaneous song-and-dance that isn't as smoothly integrated into character actions as other modern musicals. The flow and transitions are somewhat abrasive at the start, but after a few montages that seem to exist in their own indeterminate time frame, it's difficult not to get caught up in Cruise's silliness (embellished with an unwarranted sense of entitlement and extreme decadence), Giamatti's go-to sleazy linguist role, and Baldwin's uncharacteristic visual styling. Russell Brand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bryan Cranston, and Malin Akerman conflictingly add nothing but recognizable names and missed potential. Despite the foibles and faults, however, the music really makes it work.

- The Massie Twins (GoneWithTheTwins.com) Providing articles, reviews and writings on movies online.

The Blueberry Hunt: Huge entertainment with secrets

Directed and written by Anup Kurian, 'The Blueberry Hunt', is also being made into a graphic novel, slated to release with the film. With The Blueberry Hunt movie, Shah (61) has again shown his partiality towards young directors who have a new story to tell. Blueberry Hunt has not so many well known faces except Naseeruddin Shah, but it's a huge entertaining movie. Naseeruddin Shah is always been well known for his depth of acting and playing the character as alive. In this movie, Naseeruddin Shah has proved his image as the movie, being a low budget movie, has done an outstanding work. No doubt, Naseeruddin Shah has the capability to carry all responsibility on his own shoulder and he has shown it in this movie as well.

The movie has been shooted in the lush green environment in an estate in Vagamon, Kerala. The estimated budget of the movie is INR 12,500,000. The movie is produced by a team of Arun Kurian, Sachein Shah and Mathewkutty Mattam, stunts and thrills are given by B Thyagarajan. The other main star casts of the movie are Vipin Sharma, PJ Unnikrishnan, Aahana Kumra and Vinay Forrt.

For this movie, sound is designed by Gissy Michael to give a perfect touch as far as the audio effects are concerned. Sarah Eapen has designed the costume for this movie so that it can touch the heart of the youth. Music of the song for this movie has been given by D Dheena Dayalan and the lyrics are by Murali Bandaru. The movie has the top class cast from the Hindi Cinema as well as from the South Film Industry. Dennis Robert, Jojo Mathew and Merliyn Joseph are the executive producers of the movie. The Blueberry Hunt Movie rating was not too good and not too bad but had a different concept.

You will love it or hate it, but you cannot ignore it. In this movie, Naseeruddin Shah is playing the role of a recluse who grows marijuana for a living and is completely disillusioned with the social system. The story of the Bluberry Hunt movie focuses on the final five days when Colonel's plantation of a high potency variant of marijuana - Blueberry Skunk - gets ready for harvest. The movie is filled with the excitement with a touch of forest and some horror scenes giving a thrill to the audience to entertain. The movie is shooted in a very lush green location of Kerala. This movie released on 17 September 2011, has done a successful business on the box office. The movie has fulfilled all the expectations of the audience as Naseeruddin Shah never disappoints his fans. The Blueberry Hunt Movie Review is good as expected.

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Dating With Perfect Women with milf

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Ralph Fiennes mystery role in Skyfall

With millions of fans around the world, the James Bond films always create tremendous anticipation and Skyfall, which is currently in production, is no exception. When the producers of the James Bond films held a press conference at the beginning of November to reveal the name of the 23rd film in the series and introduce some of the cast and crew to the world's journalists, one of the big names to be confirmed was Ralph Fiennes. 

While the announcement was not unexpected, since the tabloid press had been discussing it for several months, and Daniel Craig himself had admitted that there was a possibility that Fiennes would have a role, it was not revealed who he would play in the film, which will be called Skyfall.

Fiennes will appear alongside Daniel Craig as James Bond, Dame Judi Dench as his boss M, Naomie Harris as Eve, Berenice Marlohe as Severine, Spaniard Javier Bardem and another heavyweight actor in an unknown role, Albert Finney. While much was made of the press conference, little of substance was actually revealed beyond confirmation of the film's title and the actors. Intriguingly Daniel Craig wore a beard, which he was still sporting when spotted shooting some early scenes, although more recently he has been clean-shaven.

Fiennes was born in Suffolk in 1962 and moved with his family to Ireland at the age of 11 for several years. While in Ireland he was educated in West Cork before returning to Salisbury in England to finish his schooling. He then enrolled at the Chelsea College of Art & Design followed by RADA, after which he joined the National Theatre, where he first met Sam Mendes, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

His early work includes TV movie A Dangerous Man: Lawrence after Arabia as well as an appearance in the popular UK television show, Prime Suspect.  On the big screen he first appeared in a well-received version of Wuthering Heights; he played Heathcliff opposite Juliette Binoche.

His breakthrough role came soon after, earning him an Oscar nomination and winning a BAFTA. You can read more about Ralph Fiennes on my website to learn what that role was as well as his other work since.

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What role does Albert Finney play in "Skyfall"?

Albert Finney was recently confirmed as one of the big hitting stars signed up to appear in "Skyfall", the next James Bond adventure staring Daniel Craig and directed by Sam Mendes. Alongside him are Javier Bardem, the highly regarded Spanish actor married to Penelope Cruz, and Ralph Fiennes as well as Bond regular Dame Judi Dench as M.

What is currently intriguing for many Bond fans is the lack of information regarding the characters these actors will be playing. Bardem is in a villain's role, as is Fiennes; however, the speculation that Fiennes will be resurrecting the character of Blofeld for the movie have been neither confirmed nor denied. There is also a strong rumour that Finney will be playing M's boss, although it is impossible to verify this claim as no reputable sources have been quoted for the information.

Director Sam Mendes is the man responsible for bringing onboard such heavyweight talent and while it is certainly an interesting approach to a James Bond film it leaves many people wondering what direction the new film will take and whether these actors will overshadow 007 himself, although Daniel Craig was a highly regarded actor before he took on the role of Bond.

Albert Finney graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1958 and began his acting career on the stage and among his early roles was a part in "Coriolanus" alongside Sir Laurence Olivier and Vanessa Redgrave.

He received a BAFTA for "Saturday Night and Morning", his second film after The Entertainer, followed up by a Golden Globe and New York Film Critics Circle Award for his work in "Tom Jones". He won a second Golden Globe in 1970 for his portrayal of Scrooge in the musical version of "A Christmas Carol".

In the period that followed Finney decided to concentrate his theatre work, although he achieved some critical acclaim in "Murder on the Orient Express" (1974), "Wolfen"(1981) and "Shoot the Moon" (1982).

You can read my article on Albert Finney to learn about his award from the Berlin International Film Festival and his other work since then, up to "Skyfall" which is currently in production.

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Download CARNAGE Movie online free DIVX 2011 Stream

Carnage is transformed from the play God of Carnage which is about 2 couple meet together after their children have a fight together. This comedy film is received a lot of applause in the premiere by excellent perform of stars. Result of an survey of film critic have shown that Carnage have many prospects in the competition to gain Golden Lion statueTwo sets of parents meet after their sons are involved in a schoolyard fight. The meeting goes disastrously wrong when each pair attacks the other's parenting skills before turning on each other about problems in their own marriages.Tells the story of two sets of parents who decide to have a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a schoolyard brawl.After two boys duke it out on a playground, the parents of the "victim" invite the parents of the "bully" over to work out their issues.

A polite discussion of child rearing soon escalates into verbal warfare, with all four parents revealing their true colors. None of them will escape the carnage.

Winslet is the standout performance, her Nancy liquid courage writ large, going off on her husband and the Longstreets in a verbal assault accentuated by her increasingly drunken state. Waltz finds mannerisms in Alan that serve to infuriate even his wife and his smartphone is a vital prop that Waltz treasures as one would a small child, perhaps more.

The newest work of director Roman Polanski attract a lot of concern because of gathering such bright stars as Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, Christoph Waltz, John C. Reilly. Besides, the time Roman Polanski made this film is also the time he is hunted for raping a little girl in 1977.

Penelope challenges Foster, who scrunches her face and howls, looking awfully unpleasant - Penelope is hard to like, since she instigates the key argument and shields herself with faux idealism and a striving for an intellectual appearance while nursing a mean temper. Reilly's Michael feels like a supporting performance and while Michael's scenes one-on-one with Penelope reveal a shared history, Reilly comedy chops undercut his eventual descent into a foul-mouthed fit - there is a kindness that characterizes the actor and prevents Michael from truly making a mark.

First, the accolades - outside of the first and final scenes, the film is set entirely in a single space, and the Longstreet middle class haven is a testament to how good production design (by Dean Tavoularis) can elevate a positively small set to an extension of the characters. There is a wealth of tiny fixtures that serve to underline the precision that drives Penelope, who shepherds the seemingly good-spirited mediator Michael under the auspices of making peace. Clothes tell a tale of class distinction, Michael at one point complaining, "My wife dressed me up as a liberal!," Watch Full Movie while stifling business attire immediately characterizes the Cowans. Polanski directs Carnage with a heady real-time pace that sees the four leads mark their territory (in Winslet's case, via spontaneous vomiting) and stake their ground as discussions give way to bickering, finger-pointing and finally raw, awesome vitriol.

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Future of Indian Movies

Today, India has probably one of the most liberal investment regimes amongst the emerging economies with a conducive foreign direct investment (FDI) environment. FDI in all film-related activities such as film financing, production, distribution, exhibition, marketing etc. is permitted up to 100% for all companies under the automatic route. This provision of 100% foreign direct investment has made the Indian film market attractive for foreign enterprises such as 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Disney and Warner Bros. During the last few years, the trend of foreign private investment in Bollywood has also been seen on the rising side due to low loss risk and opportunities of huge profits to be made because of the global presence of Indian audience.

Propelled by innovation across its value chain and a series of enabling regulatory actions, the Indian film industry is expected to grow annually at almost 18 percent to reach around INR 600 billion (approximately US $ 13 billion) by end 2011.

In the 20th century, Indian cinema became a global enterprise, along with the American and Chinese film industries. The Indian entertainment and media (E&M) industry has out-performed the Indian economy and is one of the fastest growing sectors in India. The Indian economy has been growing at a fast clip over the last few years, and the income levels too have been experiencing a high growth rate. Above that, consumer spending is also on the rise, due to a sustained increase in disposable incomes, brought about by reduction in personal income tax over the last decade. All these factors have given an impetus to the E&M industry and are likely to contribute to the growth of this industry in the future.

In the film production business, India is the world's largest producer of films. In 2009, India produced a total of 2,961 films on celluloid that include a staggering figure of 1,288 feature films. By the end of 2010, it was reported that in terms of annual film output, India ranked first, followed by America (Hollywood) and China.

Given that fourteen (14) million Indians go to the movies on a daily basis to see any of the over 800 films churned out by Bollywood each year (that's more than double the number of feature films produced annually in the United States), the Indian film industry is expected to grow annually at almost 18 percent to reach around INR 600 billion (approximately US $ 13 billion) by 2011-2012.

Now a days, Indian films have become somewhat of an international obsession. Bollywood films are being shown in American and British theaters on a more and more frequent basis. These theaters have become community focus for the South Asian communities around the world. Though separated by a vast distance from home, South Asians have found Bollywood films to be a great way of staying in touch with their culture and their fellow South Asians.

Once a noted film star was seen commenting that people abroad mocking the Indian Film Industry are going to have their boots in their mouth in the decades to come. Indeed his prophesy is coming true and with the current scenario prevailing, it is but obvious that a movie buff is in for a treat.

Providing three to four hours of escapism is the primary objective of Bollywood and it's a recipe done well. Indian movies are becoming more and more popular around the world.

What is Bollywood Movie?

It's a popular nickname for the most popular cinema on the planet: the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai (Bombay), India.

Role of Bollywood films in world market:

Bollywood has experienced a marked growth in revenue in North American and European markets, and is particularly popular amongst the South Asian communities in large international cities as New York City, London, Zurich, San-Francisco, Los-Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dallas and Toronto. Films from India do more business in the United States than films from any other non-English speaking country. Numerous films in the mid-1990s and onwards have been largely, or entirely, shot in New York, Los Angeles, London, Zurich, Vancouver and Toronto.

Globally, Indian cinema found markets in over 90 Countries, wherein Indian films are screened. The Indian government extended film delegations to foreign Countries such as the USA and Japan, while the Country's Film Producers Guild sent similar missions throughout Europe.

The Indian diaspora consists of millions of Indians overseas for whom films are made. These films are available through mediums such as DVDs and screening of films in their Country of residence wherever commercially feasible.

Propelled by innovation across its value chain and a series of enabling regulatory actions, the Indian film industry is expected to grow annually at almost 18 percent to reach around INR 600 billion (approximately US $ 13 billion) by end 2011.

Though films contribute just 27 percent to the entertainment revenues, they form the heart of this industry. Indian films, especially the mainstream Hindi film industry (Bollywood) dominate segments like music and live entertainment as well as television, where popular films and film-based programs attract the Highest viewership.

With the average Indian getting younger, and hence more likely to spend on non- essentials, the entertainment industry has the potential to grow explosively in the future.

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Power: When the Unity Stands Against the Evils

Rajkumar Santoshi is always seen experimenting with the budget of his every single project. Here is an upcoming movie named Power which is full of stars. The Power movie is going to be the costliest Hindi motion picture in Indian movie industry. A most important portion of talented actors are going to perform in this film. Stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Kangna Ranaut and Ameesha Patel are there in the movie. This movie is a Hindi action film which has an excellent thrilling appeal in its story line.

The concept is the brain child of director Rajkumar Santoshi. Feroz Nadiawala is in charge of its production part under the banner of Base Industries Group.The lead role is supposed to be played by Ajay Devgan in the beginning. But then, he signed out of the venture and later on, he again joined the project. Amitabh Bachchan will be seen in a poles apart Avatar in this movie. The movie wraps up his character with full of actions. After the action mode of his character in Santoshi's Khakee and Bbuddha Hoga Tera Baap, Amitabh Bachchan will again perform a similar type of role on big screen. The attires and makeup of the entire casting team is complementary to the storyline of the movie.

As per Power Movie Review, the characterization of the actors is noticeable through their get ups. Big B is reportedly playing a brand new look in the movie with a subtle beard and neck covered with a scarf. Hopefully, he will appear better than the previous ones. Anil Kapoor is assigned to play the role of a character named Balraj. He will also come into the frame with a fresh look. He will be all bald in the film. The whole movie is based on action drama. The edgy appeal of the film will touch the heart of the action lovers for sure. The actions are also well nurtured and well shot under management of experts of Bollywood. So the movie can be expected not to leave any flaw in the action part of the film. That is the only reason behind taking big stars in this movie.

Lead roles are supposed to be a complete package. Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor and Ajay Devgan are in the lead roles in the movie. The Power movie rating totally depends on the star cast of the movie. This movie is yet to come on the screen nevertheless; it is a due film from 2010 to 2011. More over a power packed performance is expected to be seen in Power movie. Just wait for the movie and then experience the fun of Power.

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