Saturday, October 15, 2011

MOVIE REVIEW ... THE HUNTER

 

the_hunter_posterThe Hunter is a good example of how scenery can add much to a story’s ambience.  When the locale is the wide expanses of the Tasmanian Wilderness it isn’t difficult to see what attracted its film-makers.  Based on Julia Leigh’s novel it explores the affect being alone in such a place can have on people.  It hits the target in this regard as the fine acting ensemble and direction makes for arresting viewing.

Sent to Tasmania by a mysterious biotech company, Martin (Willem Dafoe) is a man on a mission.  Tasked with capturing the supposedly extinct Tasmanian tiger he believes he can succeed.  Living with a family near the location including Lucy (Frances O’Connor) little does he know of the looming dangerous times ahead.  With hidden agendas and corporate ruthlessness surfacing, the psychological and physical impact they bring spells trouble for those around him in unexpected ways.

Willem Dafoe should be happy with his acting in The Hunter as it solidly adds to his fine resume.  Directed with focussed intensity by Daniel Nettheim he draws out a very humane performance from his lead.  Successfully conveying the loneliness of his character’s profession, Dafoe digs deep to explore how such a regimented person interacts with those he faces.  With the added pressure of ongoing tension between environmental activists and loggers this emotional whirlwind forces him to reassess his actions.

Unlike many recent local movies having so many elements in the script The Hunter juggles these with skill.  Every scene blends into the next with ease allowing for total engagement.  The biggest asset is the amazing cinematography.  The Tasmanian wilds look suitably stunning and all its harshness and beauty are superbly captured.    Whilst certain plot points tend to become muddled towards the end, The Hunter is never less than enthralling and maintains interest throughout.

It’s pleasing seeing an Australian film taking the time to carefully tell its tale.  The Hunter does so very well and can be taken on many levels – a mark of any good story.  Gripping and interesting it deftly conveys how sometimes the hunter can often be searching for something other than its prey.

the_hunter_0091iwu

Movie Review Rating  8 / 10

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review The Hunter

Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia.

Official HomePage click HERE

MOVIE REVIEW … SPY KIDS 4: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD

 

spy-kids-4-all-the-time-in-the-world-movie-poster-2011-1020705949Spy Kids 4 proves returning to the money well is never a good idea.  After having seemingly finished the series in 2003 Director Robert Rodriquez has embarked on another instalment of his mini-secret agent franchise.  Where the others revelled in his creative imagination and espionage inventiveness this new outing doesn’t.  Uninspired with only gimmicks such as 3D and even a ‘scratch and sniff’ card to support it Spy Kids 4 doesn’t need those to tell viewers it’s a stinker.

Marissa (Jessica Alba) is a former secret agent determined to put that life behind her. Now married with children Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook) in tow, she thinks all is well.  She hasn’t counted on the mysterious Time-Keeper (Jeremy Piven) who wants to destroy the world.  When she is put in jeopardy her children step up to the plate to become super-spies.  With wicked henchmen, a talking dog and a magical necklace on the menu, the stage is set for a furious pace towards the countdown to Armageddon.

Never has a movie been so disappointing than Spy Kids 4.  As an addition to the series it’s simply appalling with much of the blame for this malarkey going to writer/director Rodriquez.  He can and has done much better with From Dusk Till Dawn and Sin City excellent examples of his work.  This is just a mess from start to finish with very little creativity gone into crafting something new.  When much of the ‘humour’ comes from bodily function jokes and a robotic dog you know things will end in tears – most likely from paying viewers.

The new characters aren’t very interesting and it eventually resorts to returning some of the previous cast members to enliven proceedings.  There isn’t any story cohesion with its heavy handed moralising becoming a bore – something the other entries avoided.  There aren’t many redeeming features in this outing and is a sad waste of everyone’s talents.

Spy Kids 4 is an awful movie masquerading as an entertaining children’s flick.  The title ‘All the Time in the World’ is misleading as one wishes they could turn back time before seeing this charmless production from a director who should know better.

spy_kids_4_iaus76d

Movie Review Rating  1 / 10

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review Spy Kids 4

Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia.

Official HomePage click HERE

MOVIE REVIEW ... FOOTLOOSE

 

Footloose-movie-poster-(2011)-picture-MOV_49e3a692_bI tried hard to not like this Footloose remake.  As a fan of the original my enthusiasm for seeing it was less than high.  Add the fact many recent remakes have been rather poor spelled for a mediocre time at the cinema.  Much to my surprise Footloose mark 2 was an enjoyable effort.  It showed if something is done with care and respect for what has gone before a remake can add to its forebear’s lustre.

Ren McCormack (Kenny Wormald) is a city slicker loving life.  Moving to the sleepy enclave of Bomont he learns many of its elder citizens frown upon such things as dancing and ‘having a good time’.  Head of this movement is preacher Rev. Shaw (Dennis Quaid) who is alarmed when his daughter Ariel (Julianne Hough) becomes friendly with Ren.  Rebelling against the town’s draconian ways, Ren tries to shake up the place with some hot moves and tenacious energy.

Directed by Craig Brewer Footloose is an energetic nod to the past.  Much of its success is down to its decent cast and a script adding some new elements among what older viewers will recognise.   In terms of expanding character’s backgrounds this is the better version as it allows for their motivations to become clearer.  It’s easier to emphasise with everyone’s plight even if the story walks the usual ‘young rebel against authority’ path.  To Brewer’s credit he strives for a suitably gritty flavour and mostly conjures a quality production.

Ultimately where it fails is in its central concept which doesn’t quite work.  The world has moved on since Footloose came out in 1984 and the idea of youths being prevented from dancing from their parents seems quaint these days.  The film and story was of its era – that plus Quaid’s uneven performance detracts from an otherwise enjoyable movie.  The music and dancing are all well done however and blend seamlessly into the narrative with Wormald showing a raw talent mirroring Kevin Bacon’s star-making role.

Those who adored Footloose probably won’t be won over by this version.  It doesn’t disgrace the original’s memory however and maintains the youthful enthusiasm so capturing viewers minds all those decades ago.

footloose08

Movie Review Rating  6 / 10

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review Footloose

Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia.

Official HomePage click HERE

VINTAGE POSTERS … OCEAN TRAVEL

 

GWRIreland

homelines_to_canada

ItalieVoyages1

pignouf-vintageposter-werra

THIS WORLD … OCEANS

 

tumblr_lbfcokPxCF1qaxf8ko1_500

waves9981yrt

waves0092

tumblr_ld4toxmqXb1qaebspo1_500

tumblr_kyhdaabPBc1qzqvm2o1_500

tumblr_lltj68IAWX1qgsy7go1_500

JUST FOR FUN

 

matticchio cat with mouse

Lcum1L92Wq136hj8shNc56Kzo1_500

tumblr_leh70kyLrx1qa1id2o1_500

YOU KNOW YOU ARE AT UNIVERSITY WHEN ...

 

  • Certain things are now deemed “Facebook worthy.” When friends take pictures of you, you wonder how long it will take them to post them.
  • You’ve seen a hit and run involving a bicyclist/pedestrian.
  • You see people you know you’ve met but can never remember their names or how you know them.
  • You sleep more in class than in your room
  • Your idea of a square meal is a box of Pop-Tarts.
  • You’ve travelled with bags of dirty clothes.
  • You go home to do your laundry because you’re too poor to pay the $2… or too lazy to go to a change machine.
  • You pay $100 for a book you don’t read once, return it four months later, and get $7.
  • More than 20% of your household furnishings are made from milk crates.
  • You recognize the meat in the dorm soup as yesterday’s meatloaf, and thus decide to eat a nice bowl of cereal – a safe bet for any meal

COOL IMAGES

 

cool_iajs7564

mt-hood

tumblr_kq6rbzQyf51qzjnmwo1_500

pYleFrsZDq1nkft11i9oKnTvo1_500

tumblr_l3szy6uB1u1qbnadio1_500

TRIVIA BITS

 

 

  • your right lung takes in more air than your left
  • your skin is the largest organ making up the human body
  • your tongue is the fastest healing part of your body
  • you're more likely to get stung by a bee on a windy day than any other
  • Yugoslavia is bordered by 7 other countries
  • zoophobia is the fear of animals
  • "Aromatherapy" is a term coined by French chemist René Maurice Gattefossé in the 1920's to describe the practice of using essential oils taken from plants, flowers, roots, seeds, etc., in healing.
  • "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson was the first video to air on MTV by a black artist.
  • "Bookkeeper" and "bookkeeping" are the only words in the English language with three consecutive double letters.
  • "Corduroy" comes from the French, "cord du roi" or "cloth of the king."

CUPCAKES IN PINK

 

4011380879_85545bd6df

cupcakes

tumblr_krgvkkycz01qzfz74o1_400

tumblr_l8pkfas5301qzbac9o1_500

cupcakes_in_pink

QUOTABLES

 

6a00d8341ca70953ef01347f94febf970c-500wi

Friday, October 14, 2011

JUST FOR FUN

 

tumblr_kr65s3WWTp1qzado8o1_500

tumblr_lfva57AB3C1qz5q5oo1_500

tumblr_kqq0dmiKY11qzllb7o1_500

NEW “SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS” POSTERS

 

two-character-posters-for-sherlock-holmes-2

In anticipation of its December release, "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" has got two brand new character posters. Being unveiled via Digital Spy, the fresh one sheets take the focus on Robert Downey Jr.'s titular character and his loyal assistant, Jude Law's Dr. Watson.

The Sherlock poster presents Robert in his famous detective attire with some sort of steampunk-looking automatic pistol on one hand. Looming in the background was a smoking Eiffel Tower. The Watson poster, meanwhile, pictures Jude with some sort of weapon while standing before London's Big Ben which has giant clouds of smoke billowing from its base.

MORE SELF ANNIHILATING SENTENCES

 

Are you ever stuck for words or in need of a way out of a tricky conversation? Not any more – ‘Self-Annihilating Sentences‘ are the perfect get-out clause which will instantly put an end to any argumentative or stagnant discourse!

  • You may steal this from me.
  • Henceforth, you will keep your communications to yourself.
  • This bridge must be gapped!
  • Authorized parking is forbidden!
  • Be brief, no matter how long it takes.
  • Get with it! Become alienated!
  • Men, women, and children first.
  • A preposition must not be used to end a sentence with.
  • This exercise demands intense relaxation.
  • Be different, conform!

WORLD’S BRIDGES … JAPAN

 

Akashi-KaikyO Bridge001

AKASHI-KAIKYO BRIDGE

Kobe-Naruto, Japan

The Akashi-Kaikyo bridge is the daddy of all suspension bridges.

The Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge also known as the Pearl Bridge, has the longest central span of any suspension bridge, at 1,991 metres (6,532 ft). It is located in Japan and was completed in 1998. The bridge links the city of Kobe on the mainland of Honshu to Iwaya on Awaji Island by crossing the busy Akashi Strait. It carries part of the Honshu-Shikoku Highway.

The bridge is one of the key links of the Honshū-Shikoku Bridge Project, which created three routes across the Inland Sea.

Total length     3,911 meters (12,831 ft)
Height     282.8 metres (928 ft) (pylons)
Longest span     1,991 meters (6,532 ft)
Clearance below     65.72 metres
Construction begin     1988
Construction end     1998
Opened     April 5, 1998

COOL IMAGES

 

661c92a8b0ed45199d4354ce6a8618f4

675987508750842525

blue034974097-0947

mountains_in_fog_019

tumblr_kprqyu6n7T1qz9yh9o1_500

“DIE HARD 5”

 

bruce-willisFox has picked a release date and a title for the fifth "Die Hard" film. Tom Rothman, co-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment, announced that the next instalment of the Bruce Willis-starring film franchise is called "A Good Day to Die Hard" and will be released on February 14, 2013.

Revealing January 2012 as the start date for the movie, Rothman also confirmed that John Moore will serve behind the lens and the story will be set in Russia. In it, Willis' John McClane heads to Moscow since his son lands in jail for something he did.

In an attempt to get his son out of prison, McClane talks to cops but soon finds out that things surrounding his son's arrest are not as they appear and world-threatening terrorist hijinks ensue. It has not been decided who will take the role of McClane's son.

CHAPEAUX EXTRAORDINAIRES

 

dovima

h3

imgB.asp

tumblr_kvdtkuDKg71qas0k1o1_500

maria-montez-hat-2

TRIVIA BITS

 

  • your foot and your forearm are the same length
  • your foot has 26 bones in it
  • your foot is the most common body part bitten by insects
  • your head contains 22 bones
  • your liver has over 500 functions
  • you’re more likely to be killed by a champagne cork than by a poisonous spider
  • your most active muscles are in your eye
  • your most sensitive finger is your index finger (closest to your thumb)
  • your mouth produces 1 litre of saliva a day
  • your normal body temperature is 37°C (99°F)

QUOTABLES

 

tumblr_lk1v1tUIly1qb1quio1_500

Thursday, October 13, 2011