Saturday, May 26, 2007

28 weeks is easily a great summer sequel


"28 Weeks Later"

Starring: Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Mackintosh Muggleton, Imogen Potts, Harold Perrineau.

3 and a half stars out of 4

Danny Boyle had more than revived the Zombie horror flick in "28 days later", now with a similar plot and wider scop, Spanish director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo not only makes a good sequel, but fills the screen with devastating images that keep the audience involved throughout.


28 weeks after the previous installment, Britain has hopes of maintaining itself in hopes of re-populating itself, and get back to normal living. This film is shown through the eyes of many people, a father (Carlyle) and his 2 kids ,(Muggleton and Potts) the US military mostly portrayed by a sniper and pilot, played by Jeremy Renner from Swat and Harold Perrineau from Lost. The film populates itself with enough scares, and viscious intensity that is hard to turn away from. The editing and camera work may come as annoying for some, but it just adds to the confusion and overall madness of the film. A few plot points lead to a another breakout which causes even more disruption this time around, as a code red is issued and eventually EVERYONE must be killed.

The film takes several views and mixes them exceptionally well, the task of an emotionally struggling family, and the views and scenarios of the highly skeptical US military and there involvement on this issue. Each film, has underlying political tones, which make them even the more smarter and intelligent. While not a lot of dialogue, the audience is always entranced in this violent, and unbelieveable situation that extends beyond danger.

The cast is drenched in blood, and thats all that we know off them, the family has a past that the audience knows about, but other than that, most of the characters are who we are when we meet them, and that is fine. Robert Carlyle is disturning as the caring father, turned uber-zombie hunting down his kids, Jeremy Renner is the sniper with a heart, who acknowledges his task of helping the kids whose blood may be special in creating a vaccine for the rage virus. Most of the situatuons are creative, making way for fresh ideas in a sequel many saw pointless before its release. With excellent pacing, a gripping soundtrack, and many suprises, "28 Weeks Later" proves special, and equal to its predecessor.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

3.21 Greatest Hits

LOST


Lost: Season 3

Episode 21

Flashback: Charlie Pace

Plot:"Greatest Hits" was the 21st episode of Season 3, and was originally broadcast on May 16, 2007. When Desmond has another one of his flashes, Charlie is forced to come to terms with the notion that he may have to die to ensure everyone else's rescue. Meanwhile, Jack formulates a plan to combat the Others when they arrive the next day, but complications arise. This episode is notably unusual as it features a non-centric Others flashback scene (6 hours from the present) unrelated to Charlie.


Flashback: Charlie recalls the events and times of his life that he is most proud of, hence the title, "Greatest Hits." Many of the events are widespread, ranging from his first swimming lesson with his father, saving a girl from being mugged, who turns out to be Sayid's old girlfriend Nadia, receiving a ring from his brother Liam, hearing himself on the radio, and meeting Claire for the first time.
Real Time Events: Charlie learns of a new vision of Desmonds, which requires him to swim down to a new underwater hatch called "The Looking Glass" and turn of a switch will lead to the castaways being saved, and Charlies demise. Also Jack devises a plan for when the others come to raid the beach, dynamite which was secured by Danielle, will be placed in 3 tents, and will be looked upon by 3 shooters, Bernard, Sayid, and Jin.
Rating: Awful, Poor, Okay, Great, Awesome
While not much happens in this episode, we get the feel of season 1 episode, where strong acting and character development take place. Clearly this episode wants to be smooth leading up to the long-awaited finale.

Lost season finale leaked!

A source knows as "lostfan108" has apparently breached abc security, and in the midsts has gotten ahold of the scipts for the last two episodes of season 3. lostfan108 had sent out his story to various website, one being the uber geeky and exciting site "aintitcoolnews.com". That site has taken down there story on the finale which leads me to believe what has been leaked is ultimately true. A blog entitled DarkUFO has also received much of the information, as the blog is dedicated to all LOST info, including episode spoilers, and rumors. There has been much controvery leaked onto a LOST internet community who are eager to call this spoiler as it is , or claim it as a huge hoax, and what some may call it, a "FOLIER" (fake spoiler). I guess time can only tell, writers Damon Lindeloff and Carlton Cuse have spoken all season about the finale will include a massive game-changer that will stun all of the audience that the hit show has produced since 2004.

Most notably, the "game-changer" is included in lostfan108's spoiler of the finale, as he also includes more information about various important topics. I will post them below this, but DO NOT READ IF YOU DO WANT TO SPOILED. At this time, I am 80% certain that these rumors and speculation will turn out correct. I must note that while much of what I am about to post should and probably will happen, lostfan108 wasnt clear on explaining and examining the whole episode, his mission was clearly to spoil all of the very important things. SO DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!









Spoilers.....
-Lost sees visions of Walt!, yes Walt will return to save John Locke from the burial put, and advise him on killing Naomi. We will see if this is true

-5 supposed deaths will occur
1. Naomi
2. Mikael(0ther)
3. Charlie
4. Tom(other)
5. Pryce(other)

-Major confrontation will occur between John Locke and Jack/ Losties will split into 2 groups, each group being led by Locke or Jack .

-Major Spoiler and the "game-changer"
-Since the episode will entail Jack's flashback, we will see a much darker side to him, heavy drinking, suicidal thoughts, medication, a much more depressed Jack to say the least.

-He will be trying to reach someone through his flashbacks, someone very close to him, also he will attend a funeral for someone who has deeply effected his life. Near the end or at the end of the flashback, the person he has been trying to reach turns out to be none other than KATE AUSTIN, he tells her they much go back to the Island, she supposedly drives away, and the flashback we have been shown the whole episode turns out to be a flash-forward!!!!!!!!

-Well there it is folks, lost fans will be bickering back and forth over this supposed game-changer for months after the season is over, is the right move for the show? We will see, as Lindeloff clearly changes gears here with this move. I must say again, that much more stuff happens in the finale, and hopefully, HOPEFULLY, all of this is a giant hoax...... tune in May 23, at 9pm for the finale on ABC!

Weakest part of trilogy fizzles throughout


“Spiderman 3”
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Bryce Dallas Howard, Topher Grace, J.K. Simmons
2.5 stars out of 4


Sam Raimi has crafted two of the best comic book movies in the previous sequels to “Spiderman 3.” With this blockbuster brewing and brewing since the end of part 2, spidey fans and movie-goers have been craving this third part, hoping it would surpass the superb quality and writing of the 2nd installment. This fails on all parts , its weak in writing, also filled with many clichés’ and stuffed with a 20 minutes too long run time, and many characters.

Tobey Maguire has grown as an actor in the past, but looks like he isn’t having the usual fun he portrays with this character, he seems bored, and the audience notices it. Not only that but Kirsten Dunst sung twice in the movie, not a good idea. Along with Parker looking to advance his relationship with MJ, he has more villains, problems, and an underwhelming black suit to deal with.

The character of the Sandman (Church) is a convict on the run before he actually falls into a fusion experiment that turns him into a sand monster. Yes, it’s that unconvincing and goofy, the script throws in the fact that he’s a good guy and he just needs money to save his daughter from sickness. Topher Grace plays the rival photographer of Peter Parker, his character Eddie Brock dates the gorgeous but irrelevant Gwen Stacy (Howard) who was also in the Village. I didn’t mind Brock’s character, but as he soon as he turned into Venom, I didn’t buy his creepiness.

The film has many flaws, one being the copout of Harry Osborne getting amnesia and forgetting his plot to avenge his fathers’ death against Spiderman. James Franco plays him with pure innocence when under amnesia, Osborne is not this nice. We get the routine whiny scenes from MJ after she gets fired from her Broadway acting gig, who seeks support from Peter who is too busy relishing the fact that New York loves Spiderman.

By the end of the movie, I felt tired, un-satisfied, and kind of mad. The story has come so far since the original Spiderman, and we are given this underdeveloped mess that runs over 2 and half hours. The set designs and special effects are all top notch, but they obviously can’t save this movie. Yes the acting is alright, and we get some laughs from J.K Simmons, who plays Peter’s boss, but there isn’t enough substance in this overblown production. Although Raimi throws everything at the audience, that shouldn’t make a movie, I cared less about the characters the third time around, which made the first two installments so enjoyable.

While Maguire has said that he will not return for a 4th, it’s probably a good decision. This movie will make millions and millions, but the fact shouldn’t be hidden that Raimi tried to hard to make this special. O well, I’m already looking forward to Batman next summer.