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Week 15 2009 Fantasy Fortunes Top 50 Fantasy Football Year to extinguish Rankings

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

1 Chris Johnson Titans, RB
The like child of Jar Jar Binks and Whoopi Goldberg keeps racking up points. grand playoff schedule. $43

2 Adrian Peterson
Vikings, RB He has racked up 1519 total yards and 14 tds (tied for rushing TD lead) and apparently can grow lizard skin at will. $38

3 Maurice Jones-Drew
Jaguars, RB What Would Jones Drew? Should bring home some fantasy hardware for teams. $37

4 Ray Rice Ravens, RB
He’s a top 5 guy and we obtain the feeling he’s only scratching the surface of his potential….if only he was featured more in their offense. $35

5 Cedric Benson Bengals, RB
With his hips healthy again he should be dancing relieve to early season perform. Almost hung a hundo on the broad Vikes rush D. $28

6 Ricky Williams Miami, RB
Ever since Crockett got harm, Tubs has taken over. discover for Miami Vice solo act Ricky “Tubs” Williams to affirm the goods championship week, against the Texans. $28

7 Steven Jackson Rams, RB

4 TD’s on the year is hard to forgive. But, with 2 reliable playoff matchups he could redeem himself. $25

8 Larry Fitzgerald Cardinals, WR
If stale man Warner can support it together his playoff matchups view extraordinary….. @DET then home vs STL. Pending results of Monday Night Injury. $25

9 Ryan Grant Packers, RB
Tough 1st playoff game vs PIT. He and Packers are surging though, we are believers. $24

10 DeAngelo Williams Panthers, RB
After last years fantasy playoff speed, you gotta have him in your line up. $23

11 Andre Johnson Texans,WR
He and Schaub are clicking… Rams and Dolphins produce for a great playoff schedule. $22

12 Thomas Jones Jets, RB
If you recognize flashy highlight reel TD replays, go elsewhere, but if you like proper production, you’ve arrive to the just location. $21

13 Aaron Rodgers Packers,QB
Now that he is getting the playground favorite 5 banana count from his O-line, he is looking better than ever. Topping the charts in most scoring formats. $21

14 Drew Brees Saints, QB
If you’re a Brees owner your rooting for one of two options; Saints try to go undefeated or the begin losing…. either scenario keeps him on the field. $20

15 Anquan Boldin Cardinals,WR
This won’t be the last time you hear this at this location, the Cardinals fantasy playoff schedule is as great as it gets. $20

16 Randy Moss Patriots, WR
Giving body language like he’s starting to check out mentally for the season, on the other hand a strong execute would not surprise us. Tough read. $19

17 Rashard Mendenhall Steelers, RB
Despite killing owners with his unique performance against CLE, he remains a strong option going forward. $19

18 DeSean Jackson Eagles, WR
Seems to be distinct of the concussion. He doesn’t procure a ton of receptions, but 18.9 yds/catch is tops in the league (of relevant WR’s) ….and he returns the occasional punt for 6 as well. $19

19 Frank Gore 49ers, RB
What happened to running 3 times and then punting? Obviously, the 49ers are better off with their unusual pass first offense, but that is not sitting well with Gore owners. $17

20 Jamaal Charles Chiefs, RB
He’s been red hot since taking over the starting role. Chiefs are not a high powered an offense, but he is getting it done on his waste. $17

21 Brandon Marshall Broncos, WR
Just position the single game NFL reception represent (21) and looks to be hitting his jog, rewarding owners who stuck with him. $17

22 Joesph Addai Colts, RB
Quietly having a really nice season. He has pressed the stay button on the Donald Brown era for now. $17

23 LaDainian Tomlinson Chargers, RB
He’s been surprisingly consistent since coming befriend from injury early in the year. $16

24 Wes Welker Patriots, WR
The league leader in Receptions (105) and second in yardage (1158) gives you week in week out consistent production, any TD’s are unprejudiced icing on the cake. $16

25 Vincent Jackson Chargers, WR
Is to San Diego WR’s what MadMen is to AMC…..both have made something completely irrelevant worth watching now. $16

26 Kurt Warner Cardinals, QB
The faded man has two broad matchups to bring home fantasy championships; @DET then home vs STL. $15

27 Miles Austin Cowboys,WR
Blind Melon, The Proclaimers, Chumbawumba and Hanson want to know his secret for multiple hit success. $14

28 Sidney Rice Vikings, WR
Having the prototypical wide receiver 3rd year breakout season. Expecting even bigger things next year. $14

29 Chad Ochocinco Bengals,WR
Typical streaky season for Chad OchoTweets. Faces 10th (SD) and 24th (KC) ranked pass defenses weeks 15 & 16. $14

30 Calvin Johnson Lions, WR
Looking more like a ’second tier’ transforming machine to robot action figure of the 80’s……Gobot in disguise! $13

31 Pierre Thomas Saints, RB
He plays Suzanne Summers in the Saints aggravating Three’s Company sitcom. He is the hottest by far, yet Mike Bell in the role of the butch brunette gets far too grand shroud time $12

32 Matt Schaub Texans, QB
He has been a house of fire all season. Faces STL (19th) and MIA (22nd) next two weeks. $12

33 Phillip Rivers Chargers, QB
The main reason the Chargers have won 8 straight. Model of consistency; never scored more than 23 or less than 9. $11

34 Tom Brady Patriots, QB
Everyone in the AFC is rooting for a colicky Brady baby to hamper his production. $11

35 Brandon Jacobs Giants, RB
Like B Jacobs….as worthy as everyone likes the frosty Asian guy with the twirling kicks in Karate Kid, at the All Valley Tourney, maybe it’s honest time to admit he’s not quite as suited as we’d like him to be. $11

36 Steve Smith Giants, WR
Nothing too flashy here, unprejudiced a consistent 75 yds/game and a TD mixed in every few. $10

37 Peyton Manning Colts, QB
Will you bag more than 2 quarters of production out of him? If he’s playing for the perfect season, we judge so. $10

38 Mike Sims-Walker Jaguars, WR
Having a solid year for the Jaguar-Leopards. As long as he’s healthy he could enact very strong. $9

39 Vernon Davis 49ers, TE
A monster who probably deserves to be higher. He’ll be spending his off-season lobbying for equal treatment of Tight Ends. $9

40 Kevin Smith Lions, RB
Fairly consistent for such a awful offense. Hope for 8 points, anything more is gravy. $8

41 Roddy White Falcons, WR
247 yds and 2 scores in the last 4 games, not setting the world ablaze, but a strong #2 WR. $8

42 Michael Turner Falcons, RB
The Burner……if last year he was fueled by petroleum products……this year he’s apparently switched to “easy bake oven” technology. $8

43 Antonio Gates Chargers, TE
Slow open, but coming on strong. He’s delivered fantasy championships before, in Gates we trust. $8

44 Reggie Wayne Colts, WR
Hasn’t gone over 50 yds in the last three weeks, cutting his owners deep……I’m talking like BJ Penn cutting Diego Sanchez’s forehead with a head kick deep. $7

45 Marion Barber Cowboys, RB
716 yds and 4 TD’s on the year….he’s on the list based on potential, not for past performance. $7

46 Marques Colston Saints, WR
Marques, along with posse; Shonne, Toni, Geoff, and Alicks frequent the island of misfit name spellers. $7

47 Quinton Ganther Redskins, RB
Shined in his first open against the Raiders, now let’s leer how he does vs an NFL team. $7

48 Fred Jackson Bills, RB
Every other week drag means, bench next week, cash in on championship game pending your options. $7

49 Beanie Wells Cardinals, RB
Received the bulk of the carries in the Monday night game vs SF. If he continues to gain the lion’s fraction of the work, he has plenty of upside with the aforementioned AZ playoff schedule. $7

50 Greg Jennings Packers, WR
His reversal of fortune this season rivals only that of an amateur competitive eater; one little focused and poised for a Coney Island Championship, the next he’s got semi-digested wet hot dogs & buns all over his shoes. $7Football – The Oakland Raiders

One of the most incandescent franchises in all of professional football is without a doubt the Oakland Raiders. Based out of Oakland, CA, the Raiders are yet another modern AFL member that came into the NFL during the merger in 1970. As a member of the AFC West, the Raiders have been to 5 desirable Bowls, winning 3 of them. Let’s capture a closer ogle at the history of the Oakland Raiders.

Al Davis has owned the Raiders since 1972. Originally founded in Oakland, the team played there until Davis moved them to Los Angeles in 1982. Later, the team moved wait on to Oakland in 1995 and remains there to this day.

The football team has had the colors of silver and dusky since Davis was general manager of the team in 1963. He faded these colors originally because all TV’s were available in shaded and white only and these colors showed up better than others.

John anger became the head coach of the Raiders in 1969. He later guided the team to its first ever trim Bowl gain in 1976. infuriate stayed on as coach of the football team until 1979 when he left the team and the league, to go into TV broadcasting.

In 1982, Davis moved the team to Los Angeles, due in portion to the refusal of the city of Oakland to remodel the football stadium. In their first year in Los Angeles, the team went to the natty Bowl and won. That has been the last time the Raiders have won a clean Bowl. In 1995, the team moved wait on to the city of Oakland.

The fans of the Oakland Raiders are some of the rowdiest fans in all of professional football. They near early for tailgate parties dressed in silver and shadowy paint, masks and costumes. One of the more rowdy spots in the stadium is known as the “dark hole”. This piece of the stadium is definitely not for the feint of heart.

Hall of Fame

The Oakland Raiders have 18 fresh members in the pro football Hall of Fame. They include: Marcus Allen Fred Biletnikoff George Blanda Bob Brown Willie Brown Dave Casper Al Davis Eric Dickerson Mike Haynes Ted Hendricks James Lofton Howie Long Ronnie Lott John infuriate Ron Mix Jim Otto Art Shell Gene Upshaw

There have been many other essential players on the Raiders over the years including: Ray Guy Lyle Alzado Cliff Branch Bo Jackson Carl Weathers (later played Apollo Creed in “Rocky” movies) Jack Tatum Jerry Rice

The Raiders have been known as a franchise that has had more than its allotment of poor football drafts over the years. This, combined with the constant head coaching changes by Al Davis, has made winning sometimes difficult over the years. One of the more memorable draft day mistakes was the selection of afraid QB Todd Marinovich.

The Oakland Raiders have some of the storied rivalries among any NFL football team, with the fiercest being San Diego, Denver and Kansas City. Even when the Raiders are not as competitive, teams do not like playing them. That is one reason why the team will always remain as one of the more celebrated ones in the league.

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Elementary Football Team Routines

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Handoff skills can secure yardage on the field and increase your overall success. Let’s look at a simple hand off between a quarterback and a running back to point out the fundamentals of this skill. The running back starts the hand off running towards the quarterback with his arms open creating a pocket for the quarterback to slide the football right into the running back’s chest. Once the quarterback has placed the ball in the pocket, or opening, the running back immediately clamps down on the ball protecting it and holding on to it. As the running back leaves from the handoff he needs to stay low to react quickly and again to protect the ball.

Catching the ball low

Good receivers and even running backs know how to make the great plays. This means that quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, etc have gone through the motions several times and know how to react to situations on the field. One situation that happens a lot in a game is catching the low passes. Here are some secrets to making this catch. First keep the pinkies together down low to make a shovel. This ensures that the ball will not slip through your fingers. Locking your pinkies prevents the football from falling through your hands. Second, bend your knees and get low. Remember, the cardinal rule of catching is to use your hands and not your body. Always watch the ball through from the first time you see it in the air until it is in a secure ball carrying position. And always see the ball through, meaning that you are watching it into the tuck.

Water on and off the field

Dehydration should never appear on the football field if both the players and coaches have good habits. Every player should have a water bottle close so that they can take quick water breaks or at least a swallow here and there. Water should never be used as a motivational or reward type basis. These safe practices will help keep players energized and healthy.

Building your muscles and endurance through Weightlifting

No practice regime would be complete without lifting weights. The benefits of lifting weights are found in added strength, but more importantly it will increase your maximum power. Maximum power differs in importance to strength due to the fact that it is exertion during play and not just muscle mass. It is the quickness and exertion that will enable a football player to accomplish their plays with skill on the field. As you continue in your weightlifting program, we highly recommend that you get a personal coach to push you in your goals, teach you proper techniques, and ensure that you are doing the right work for your position.

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Taiwan Sports Recreation

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

There was a sudden growth in Taiwan sports recreation and group activities were and are especially common. A spacious number of teams were created to compete against each other, often organised by schools, local companies and government offices. Basketball and softball in particular have become extremely celebrated, though soccer and baseball have only had puny rob up so far. These last two team games are become a well followed sport at international level, although there is a relative lack of engage up in playing at a national level.

Taiwan sports recreation has also seen a ample retract up or racquet and bat sports, with tennis, badminton, and table tennis being especially approved. Water has also played an valuable role in Taiwan sports recreation growth, and are the most common sports activities. Swimming and diving in particular have proved to be favorite in the sea and in swimming pools. Weekends explore the seas and lakes of Taiwan packed as people relax by windsurfing, yachting, canoeing, fishing and paragliding.

Fishing is one of the biggest growing sports activities in Taiwan, although golf is taking over in popularity. World class golf courses are increasingly appearing across the island, and the best clubs have a long waiting list of those wishing to join. Taiwan has invested a lot of money in all of its recreational facilities; this is distinct in the overall quality of the golf courses and golf clubs.

Taiwan sports recreation is also taken up with more strenuous activities as hiking and mountain climbing. It appears that the Taiwanese in their leisure time like nothing more than hiking up the country’s mountains. Taiwan is relatively celebrated for its hills and mountains and thousands leave the cities each weekend to lift in the landscape and try trekking up the slopes.

Taiwan sports recreation is a growing pastime amongst the Taiwanese who accept themselves with more spare time than they ever had before. As a result there has been a growth in the provision of equipment and supplies to feed the activities. This has seen the manufacturing of sports equipment become one of the growth areas within the Taiwanese economy.

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Twelve Angry Men Watch Online

Saturday, November 7th, 2009

Twelve Angry Men Watch Online

Twelve Angry Men Watch Online

Download & Watch Twelve Angry Men at Amazon.com.

Click Here Now to Download & Watch Twelve Angry Men Online Now!

1 incredible script
12 talented actors
lots of emotion
1 very simple set
no special effects

Produce under good direction. Serves millions.

Seriously, this film is a masterpiece. A jury has to decide a seemingly open and shut case of a young man (who, as with most of the jurors, remains nameless throughout the film) who has been accused of murdering his father in a fit of anger. The evidence couldn’t be clearer that this guy did it. Murder weapon, motive, eyewitness testimony all in place.

One juror (Fonda) however, wants to talk the case out. He’s not 100% convinced that the guy is guilty. And so it begins. An emotional roller coaster follows as we learn about the jurors, their reasons for voting as they do and how (or if) they are forced to re-evaluate the evidence.

Part of the charm of this film is it’s starkness. 99% of the film takes place in one room; the jury room, a simple set consisting of little more than a table, 12 chairs, some windows and a fan.

The best part, I believe, is the character development of the jurors. When the movie begins, they are just 12 anonymous characters. Even though none of the jurors are named in the movie (two are in the very last scene, after the case is over) by the time the movie is over, you feel as if you know and understand every one of them.

Truly a remarkable film and well worth repeated viewings.

Having recently had a jury duty experience that was equally as contentious as the one depicted in “Twelve Angry Men,” I found this film fascinating, and one that maintains its interest because of the taut, well written script (by Reginald Rose, based on his play for TV), and some of the finest character actors of mid-20th century cinema, and though Henry Fonda was a big star when this was made in 1957, he blends in to be part of what is essentially an ensemble acting piece.

Practically the entire film is set in the single jury room, on a hot and humid day, with these twelve incredibly diverse men, and shows how their backgrounds color how they arrive at their conclusions. Truth is very elusive in this case, and it’s a matter of questioning if there is “reasonable doubt.”

There are many things that point out how times have changed in 50 years; it has been decades since a jury would be chosen that would only consist of white men, and a few years since a table full of ashtrays with cigarette butts would be allowed, but the basic truths remain the same, and if one places twelve strangers to come to a verdict in a difficult case, tempers are going to flare. The hot head in this film is Juror # 3, Lee J. Cobb, who sees the events through the lens of his relationship with his son, and he gives a fiery performance, but each actor has a lot to contribute to the success of this film.

This was the first feature film in Sidney Lumet’s long career, and he was nominated for a Best Director Oscar; the film was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, but lost in all three categories to David Lean’s “Bridge on the River Kwai.” Lumet was to work with Fonda again in ‘64 with the riveting cold war thriller (and my favorite Lumet film) “Fail-Safe,” which also had in its cast Juror # 6, Ed Binns.

Total running time is 96 minutes.

Where do I start? How many films can you honestly watch three times in a fortnight and know it wont be too long before you feel compelled to view it again? 12 Angry Men, a movie that risks everything on a script, and succeeds triumphantly because that script sets you back on your heels(instead of earth-shatteringly expensive special effects or exotic location work) and draws a uniformly astounding set of performances from a cast most of whom were unfamiliar at the time. Henry Fonda, one of only two “big” names amongst the dozen participants, has the advantage also of being the one who stands against the view of a group of jurors, hell bent on putting a young boy in the electric chair for “obviously” murdering his father. Yet each character is played so well, is so interestingly unique in each case, and is given such telling lines, that you hang on the words of them all equally. The other well known face, (at least in 1957), is Lee J. Cobb, who in any other film would have stolen it completely, but here is “merely” as memorable as all the others. Robert Webbers character is excruciatingly irritating, but hes playing it to perfection none the less. That Fondas viewpoint will win the day is probably never in doubt, but how he,(and infact some of the other characters despite themselves), achieves this is positively gripping and astonishing. Sidney Lumet, in his directorial debut, proved at once what he was capable of, and, in this single set scenario, that classic status does not necessarily depend on an extravagant outlay. One of the Top Five Best Movies of all time. I rest my case!

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Bring It On: Fight to the Finish Stream

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Bring It On: Fight to the Finish Stream

Bring It On: Fight to the Finish Stream

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I know what a lot of people are thinking, OMG, another freakin’ bring it on movie. First of all: The franchise is really a trilogy (1,3,5), 2nd: Give this one a chance, you will be surprised. There were new lines that are repeatable, mostly spoken by the Character Gloria. These movies do present an element of cheese, but let’s face it, that is what makes them fun. You aren’t watching these with the intent in finding a new oscar contender. As soon as it was over, I wanted to watch again, something that I would never say about any of the others, except for the original. The movie finally brought it!!!! The music was good as well. I never heard a Christina Milian song in my life, and now I am looking to buy the soundtrack. It was a mixture of the 1st and 3rd movies brought together with a Step Up feel. I loved it an now i will watch it again!

At First When I started watching it I thought that it was going to be stupid but then after I got into it I really enjoyed it…. I am going to add this to my collection with the rest of them….. But Please No More

I have two girls 4 & 12yrs old, they have watch all the bring it on movies, and this would be the only one that didn’t get them excited. the movie was ok, but nothing to get them up and dancing about. they would rather watch the old bring it on movies over & over again.

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X-Men Origins: Wolverine Watch Online

Friday, November 6th, 2009

X-Men Origins: Wolverine Watch Online

X-Men Origins: Wolverine Watch Online

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I want to get this out first, I love the comics. I think none of these movies are anywhere close to represent the X-men as they are in the comics. That said, I think these movies exist in a different world that has nothing to do with the 616, except for the characters names and most their powers. I have no problems with these movies; X-men 1 and 2 were very entertaining action movies. But even those movies should have been called, “Wolverine ‘N Pals”, because they didn’t focus on the X-men, but on Wolverine’s interaction with the other characters. My expectations of this movie were not based on the comics themselves, but on the previous movie storylines. I knew in my heart that Hollywood would somehow find a way to rape the image of one of my favorite characters in the Marvel Universe, Deadpool. So when “Weapool 11″ popped up at the end I wasn’t even surprised they would do something that silly. I read an interview a long time ago that about X-men 1 that the producers had to fight to have Cyclops wear the visor because the director didn’t like it. So, I am not surprised nor bothered by the fact that these Hollywood interpretations don’t have a clue about how these characters should be handled. I did like the previous movies (except 3), and understand that this is merely a diferent interpretation of these characters.

Wolverine Origins or, “Wolverine ‘N Pals 4; how this mess began”, is a very entertaining movie. But it fails to deliver a comprehensible story line. A lot of the story doesn’t make any sense. The movie,( as you might be have been clued to know), is about Wolverines origins, its shows you where he came from and how his powers manifested, leading to spending a long part of his life with his half brother Sabertooth, whom we were introduced to in the 1st X-men. After many adventures and wars, the pair ends up joining a military group of people with superpowers led by Stryker. On one of the missions, Wolverine angered by Sabertooth’s actions leaves the group to pursue a nicer lifestyle. This is when he falls in love with Silverfox and the pair lives happily for a while. Many years later Sabertooth comes back in a killing rampage taking out some old members of Stryker’s group, and Wolverine’s love is killed during this. To get his revenge, Wolverine agrees to have done on him an experimental procedure that with give him metal plated bones.

Not bad right? Love, family, betrayal and revenge. All the stuff to make a great story. This is where it doesn’t add up. For those of you that don’t want “Spoilers” please don’t read, as I might give away some plot details.

-After wolverine finds Silverfox dead, Wolverine a veteran of many wars, doesn’t check to make sure she is in fact dead? Why did he leave her body there in the field? Couldnt’t his enhanced smell detect the fake blood? Was it her manipulation power that convinced him to just move on instead of taking her to a medic.

-If she can manipulate people by touch, how the hell didn’t she manipulate Stryker in letting her sister or any of the other kids go? She spends 7 years of her life with Wolvie and doesn’t manipulate him, and indestructible man, to kill Stryker? Was she having to much fun maybe?

-After Wolverine has adamantium put on his bones and escapes to visit the “Kents”, why on earth would Stryker send Maverick with a rifle to shoot a man that can’t die with metal bones? Was he going to shoot through an eyeball from a helicopter? He missed pretty badly by the way, twice. Superman gonna be angry when he goes home to visit.

-Its revealed that Silverfox wasn’t killed by Sabertooth yet after Sabertooth saves Wolverine from falling off the cooling tower, Wolverine tells him “this doesn’t change anything”. Why? She’s not dead. She fooled you. He saves you from falling and having your butt kicked but Weapon 11, why the hell are you still mad at him?

-Stryker failed to wipe Wolverine’s memories so the solution is to shoot a guy with metal on his skull on his head? How the hell does that work? How did he know it would work?

-Why did the most powerful telepath (Professor X) not control someone inside the 3 mile island release the kids? Why wait 7 years and then help. Why didn’t he do that stop time thing from the previous movies so he can save the kids? Where was Magneto? Doesnt he care about abused mutant kids? (One of the restrained kids looked like Quicksilver, who is Magnetos son in the comics)

-How come those kids couldn’t get away on their own? What was that chain link fence cage they were in made of? Adamantium?

-Why was Gambit hanging out in a casino, when he knew he was being looked for by Stryker? How was it that Stryker can’t find him in a long time and yet Wolverine finds him in a day? Maybe Stryker didn’t want him anymore. Maybe they couldn’t persuade the Blob to talk?

-Why add the scene in the end where Stryker is going to be arrested for his crimes, when we well know that he was a high ranking military official in X-men 2?

Well these are most of the plot points from the movie that just don’t make any sense. It’s ok for an action movie to be extremely silly and self referential in that way. For example in Transformers when they have the teen kid take the cube and the alien so they can hide in the populated city, one of the characters mentions how dumb that idea is. They make no excuses in this movie, and just because it’s “supposed” to be a dumb action movie, there is no justification for the producers of this movie to assume their viewers are idiots, and won’t care about a story plot that doesn’t make any sense. Which, apparently they are correct because this movie made a boatload of cash. I will not act like there is nothing wrong with this movie just because it’s flashy and has lost of explosions.

In my arrogant opinion, it’s a onetime watcher. This is not a boring movie by far, yes, it’s a lot of fun and tons of action and the movie’s cast was really great. But the story is convoluted and nonsensical, it seems to take the audience for granted. So, if you want to enjoy this mess, just ignore the entire story and watch the shiny stuff happening on screen.

Awesome movie, does most of wolverine’s history justice, only part that kinda stunk was…SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!….what they did with deadpool/ryan reynolds character, he could have been so much more in the movie, but it was a very enjoyable movie, watched it twice allready!!! blue ray is awesome!!!

Over the course of the “X-Men” trilogy there has been one constant story thread that has been touched upon, yet it’s never been fully explored. For those of you that have watched the series, then you most likely know exactly what I’m referring to… the origin of the most popular mutant of all, Logan/Wolverine. Finally, after three highly successful films chronicling the adventures of the X-Men team, 20th Century Fox has chosen to spin-off Wolverine into his own movie and potential franchise by providing his official origin story with “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”.

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” presents many key events in Wolverine’s (Hugh Jackman) life prior to his fateful arrival at the X-Mansion in the original “X-Men” film. Beginning with his initial discovery as a youth that he possessed the ability to unsheathe claws from beneath his skin, to his complicated friendship and eventual hatred of his former best friend Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber), his time spent working for the government as part of an elite team of mutant trackers, and all of this culminating in a senses-shattering showdown that will leave no one unscathed.

The mystery behind Wolverine’s origin has been a long-standing plotline, not just in the film trilogy, but in the various comic books in which the character has appeared. In 2001, Marvel Comics began a six-issue limited series aptly titled “Origin” that would establish the official backstory for the berserker mutant once and for all. Obviously, so long as interest in the onscreen version of the character remained alive, it would only be a matter of time before his origin, or at least some semblance of it, made it to the big screen as well.

Many times with spin-offs, the story tends to be weaker than those utilized for the main franchise; however, this film appears to be one of those very rare exceptions where the quality actually remains intact. Written by David Benioff (”Troy”) and Skip Woods (”Swordfish”), with some elements loosely based upon the mini-series “Origin”, the story focuses upon some of the various influences, circumstances, and powerful outside forces that shaped Logan into becoming one of the most dangerous mutants on the face of the Earth.

The story spends ample time showcasing the extremely visceral nature of the film’s two primary characters, Wolverine and Sabretooth, and how they deal with their inner beasts in drastically different ways. Along with this complicated relationship, the film delves into the almost constant, yet subtle, manipulation that eventually led to Logan’s decision to participate in the excruciatingly painful Weapon X program, which bonded liquid Adamantium to his bones. It’s during these moments of manipulation, mostly at the hands of William Stryker (Danny Huston), that the film’s story really shines.

Another strong aspect of the film is the sharply written, and often times witty, dialogue. The interactions between the characters felt believable and completely natural within the scenes. Some spin-offs suffer from an over-abundance of clichés or merely recycled lines and moments from the original franchise on which they are based; however, “Wolverine” easily side-steps these issues in every respect. In the hands of less capable writers that didn’t feel some responsibility to keep the quality of the franchise intact, the dialogue, and the rest of the story for that matter, could have potentially gone the way of so many other spin-offs and failed miserably, thus hurting the main franchise in the process. As a fan of the series, I am very pleased by the fact that even though this is the fourth film in the franchise, the creative minds behind the series continually try to surpass what has come before.

For all you action fans out there do not worry. This series hasn’t lost sight of one of its key elements. Throughout the film’s story the action scenes never take a backseat to the drama unfolding within the characters’ lives. The fights are much more violent and at times graphic in comparison to the previous three films of the “X-Men” franchise; not to mention, even more up close and personal due to fewer mutants with projectile-like abilities. The decision to make the fights even more brutal worked very well alongside the animalistic overtones of the story; although it may have resulted in some parents not wishing their children to see the film, despite the fact that they may have seen the other three in the series.

Of course, what would a comic book movie be without the use of visual effects? Well, obviously it would be quite boring, but that almost goes without saying. For the most part, the CGI-intensive sequences were well executed; however, there were some surprising scenes in which the effects looked a bit shoddy. Oddly, enough these scenes involved the use of Wolverine’s claws, which by this point should have been mastered and no longer a cause for concern. I’m not sure what caused the problem, if it was a lack of texture on the CGI claws or what, but something was definitely off about them during a couple of scenes. Please note, that these are not pivotal scenes and that the problem was not all that detrimental to the end result of the movie, it’s just something that I found frustrating and thought honestly shouldn’t have occurred within the film. Otherwise, like I said, the visual effects were very good, and at times numerous sequences were truly awesome to watch and easily overshadowed any of the weaker moments in this area.

Lastly, the acting for the film, just as it was in the original three movies, remains consistently high throughout. Despite having played the role of Wolverine three times already, Hugh Jackman is still able to bring a fresh new approach to the character that is crucial to the continued success of the series. No doubt the ability for Jackman to convey such enthusiasm for the role was assisted by the fact that he was so passionate about finally getting to tell the official origin for this beloved comic book icon. Another neat aspect of the character that was explored a little further in this film than in the previous movies was Wolverine’s famed “Berserker Rage” (comic book fans know what I’m talking about). Although, we don’t necessarily get to see an all-out fully realized rage, we are given a much closer look at what he would be like if he succumbed to his unbridled fury, and it was obvious that Hugh enjoyed this new side to the character being explored.

Supporting Hugh are some extremely talented actors beginning with Liev Schreiber (”The Sum of All Fears”). Liev takes a role that was relatively wordless in the original film, and was tasked with creating a character that was dramatically rich, incredibly feral, and ultimately could become the nemesis to Wolverine we saw in the first movie. Not necessarily an easy job, but Liev pulled it off perfectly. He delivered a multi-layered villain that was a prime example of what Wolverine could have become if given a couple of different choices along the way, and Liev is clearly relishing every evil moment he gets onscreen. Next is actor Danny Huston (”30 Days of Night”) taking over the role of William Stryker from Brian Cox (”X2: X-Men United”). Danny played Stryker with the perfect blend of subtle manipulation and malice. At times he would be fatherly, especially towards Logan (albeit only to further his own agenda), but then he would snap and show his true colors by unveiling an obviously twisted, sadistic, and potentially unstable man who wanted nothing more than unlimited power to quell the surging mutant problem.

Rounding out the supporting cast is actor Ryan Reynolds (”The Proposal”) and singer turned actor Will.i.am (”Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa”). I’ve become a fan of Ryan’s work over the last few years, and I enjoy his unfettered sarcasm that he seems to imbue into almost every single character he portrays, but never in a way that feels unnatural or tired within in the role, mind you. In this film, Ryan isn’t given all that much screen time, but what he does get he definitely makes the most of by making his character of Wade Wilson (comic book fans know him as the Merc with the Mouth, Deadpool) an enjoyable addition to the group of rogues that Stryker has assembled. Sadly, his role was intended as an introduction to the character in hopes of getting an eventual spin-off for him as well, a tactic that most likely worked given the film’s success; however, I for one wish there could have been a little more of the character in this story, not to mention fewer major tweaks to the character’s origin that don’t line-up with the comic books. But, I digress. Last, but not least, is Will.i.am as John Wraith, a mutant teleporter. Will shows that he definitely has potential, displaying some good comedic timing in a few scenes, and a natural charisma that makes for a more interesting character than I believe he would have been if played by another actor.

Directed by Gavin Hood (”Rendition”), “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is an incredibly fast-paced action film that delivers on all counts. Granted there are some gripes with the movie, but overall it’s a very solid addition to a terrific franchise. This is a must-see for fans of the original trilogy and a perfect jumping on point for newcomers to the series.

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” is rated PG-13 for violence, language, and brief nudity.

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Streaming From Hell

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Streaming From Hell

Streaming From Hell

Download & Watch From Hell at Amazon.com.

Click Here Now to Download & Watch From Hell Online Now!

Jack the Ripper is perhaps one of the most famous (or should I say infamous) serial killers known. His has indeed become somewhat of a household name that has withstood the test of time. The Whitechapel murders, to this day, remain unsolved, and many people find themselves morbidly drawn to this slew of ghastly occurrences. The Hughes brothers are no different from the countless others who seek to dissect the facts surrounding these heinous crimes, and they approach this fascination with cinematic fervor, creating an excellent movie from the excellent comic book.

There have been countless books, movies, and PBS specials produced that delve into the Jack the Ripper tales and theories. This particular adaptation is the depiction of a detective named Inspector Fred Abberline (Johnny Depp) who is hot on the trail of the murderous monster. Enlisting the hallucinatory effects of absinthe, he can induce visions that aid him in his quests. Throughout his investigation, he gradually begins to fall for one of the Whitechapel prostitutes at risk (Mary Kelly played by Heather Graham), and this serves to up the ante regarding the challenge to find the villain and, furthermore, accelerate his efforts. Sir William Gull (Ian Holm) is a doctor who contributes to Inspector Fred Abberline’s profile of the meandering butcher. Add to this an illegitimate marriage and a royal scandal, and this equates to an enticingly dour, moody thriller that one can’t help but to enjoy.

The sets on this film are incredible, and included in the two disc edition within the extras existing on the DVD is an intriguing explanation of the recreation of the sets from actual photographs and maps from the period. The props and attire were also quite well done. The acting and casting were superb. The dark lighting created a potently thrilling and disturbing atmosphere, and the excellent cinematography only served to strengthen that sinister ambiance, as well as create an almost overwhelming sense of impending danger. The blood and gore effects are incredible as well, yet they never take precedence over the story line, which is very much appreciated. Though fairly predictable, this film is still an exhilarating, if somewhat fictitious, romp through some dreary and obscure pages in history.

This movie is a must for fans of horror, true crime, and dark thrillers. I very highly recommend this film to those with any kind of brooding fascination for the macabre. Not for the easily disturbed.

When I had seen the trailers for the film “From Hell” I’d expected it to be good. Was it good? Yes. As good as I hoped it would be? No. But it is still a damned fine mystery-horror-thriller that incorperates romance and drama into the story as well.

The story follows Inspector Fredrick Abberline as he begins his investigation of the infamous Whitechapel murders, perpetrated by the shadowy, never-caught Jack the Ripper. During the course of the investigation, he has precognitive visions that lead him deeper into the mystery, as he tries to save the beautiful prostitutes who are being viciously murdered, and are somehow linked to a massive conspiracy. He even begins to fall in love with Mary Kelly, who would be the Ripper’s final victim.

The performance of Johhny Depp as Inspector Abberline is overall an excellent performance from an actor who always takes notoriously quirky roles. Heather Graham came off rather well as Mary Kelly–much better than I thought she would be. Robbie Coltrane plays the part of the Inspector’s sidekick, Sgt. Godley, extremely well, and he manages to steal all of his scenes. Another wonderful portrayal is that of Ian Holm as the royal physician Sir William Gull, who assists Inspector Abberline and may have a key to the mystery. Supporting performances are all pulled off very well.

The set design and visual effects are gorgeous and haunting, giving a vivid presentation of 1888 London(the visuals rival even those of Tim Burton). The murders are left more to the imagination rather than being very explicit–but the onscreen gore effects are decidedly gruesome. Even the music by Trevor Jones is haunting in the simple, dark textual feel that it gives off.

The story itself is overall good. The first 3/4ths are quite ingenious, but in the very end of the film is not what I expected and I was a little disappointed in the resolution and conclusion of the tale. The Ripper’s identity and motive were excellent, even when kept faceless in the shadows. But the as the climax builds up, it seems to be running out of steam. My only major gripe is how complicated the story gets as it progresses–adding in the conspiracy and the romance, it just seems unable to hold its own weight, building up to nothing. Although this can be accounted by trying to stick close to the source material and history itself, the conclusion is not wholly satisfying.

But overall this is a good movie that will undoubtedly become a favorite among Ripper fans, as well as fans of “Seven” and “Silence of the Lambs”. If you can tolerate its massive complexity and the rather limp ending, then you will find this an entertaining and enjoyable–and rather nasty–little pleasure.

The most important thing you need to know about “From Hell,” is that the Hughes Brothers really let you off easy with this one. When you go home after seeing this movie late at night and have trouble getting to sleep, just remember that they could have shown you a lot more, which means you might not have gotten to sleep for a week. I have read Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell’s graphic novel “From Hell,” and have also spent some time researching the historical record regarding Jack the Ripper, which includes not only autopsy reports but also photographs of the victims. Consequently, I was surprised that the film verion of “From Hell” actually backed off three times from completely grossing out the audience.

First, when the Ripper killed Annie Chapman he draped some of her intestines over her shoulder. The film does not even suggest this happened, beyond the idea that organs have been removed. Second, the night the Ripper claimed two victims, most Ripperologists have surmised that because he was interrupted when he killed Liz Stride, he was really angry when he killed Catherine Eddowes, since he hacked away the bottom half of her face. But when her face is revealed it is just the same as the other victims. Finally, when the doctor begins to describe the final body–usual the very words of the actual report–he stops after having described the position of the corpse. More to the point, he stops before describing what Jack did with her organs. Believe me, you do not need to see this to freak out because just hearing about it would keep you awake all night. Now, to be fair, the dialogue is the same as that scene in the graphic novel; but then Moore and Campbell had already devoted a entire volume to what Jack the Ripper did that night in graphic detail so it did not have to be articulated. But I was all set to hear the one of the biggest audience moans in cinematic history and was somewhat disappointed the Hughes Brothers let everybody off the hook.

Ironically, the Hughes Brothers could legitimately get away with showing us much more blood and guts. After all, the autopsy reports tell us in excruciating detail what the Ripper did to each of his victims and they could simply claim historical accuracy. But instead they pull up short, giving them even more latitude for getting away with what gore they do offer up. However, during Abberline’s vision of what will happen to Jack the Ripper’s final victim, one of the images that flashes before our eyes is indeed a photograph taken by the police of the mutilated body of Mary Kelly. This only goes to reinforce the great divide that exists between those who have studied the murders of Jack the Ripper and/or read “From Hell” and those who simply know Jack the Ripper killed a bunch of prostitutes in London in the late 19th century and was never caught.

Certainly, the Hughes Brothers do play with us in this film. If you can stomach seeing it a second time, or if you already know who “From Hell” contends is the Ripper, then they are several scenes were Abberline is tantalizingly close to the killer. Of course, they are not alone in such regard; “The Bone Collector” was particularly audacious in offering us a first glimpse of the killer. Moore and Campbell let us know the identity of Jack from before he ever starts his killing spree, but the movie version decides to keep it a mystery and apparently succeeds in surprising those who only know about “From Hell” from the trailer and television commercials.

The Hughes Brothers have described “From Hell” as a “ghetto” film, and certainly the production design stands out in providing a fitting atmosphere for the tale. The events we are watching are not taking place in the London we have come to know from countless Hammer horror films but in what we readily accept as the city’s Whitechapel district in the fall of 1888 (with Prague doubling nicely). This is as stylish a slasher flick as you will ever see, with the time-lapse sequence of the discovery of one of the bodies and the revelation of the Masonic meeting beneath the streets of London particularly memorable. Even the lighting works towards the proper atmosphere for the story.

Johnny Depp’s performance as Inspector Abberline is nicely understated (the character’s psychic visions come from a fake psychic who was in the graphic novel). Unfortunately, Heather Graham is just too darn cute, sticking out from the rest of the totally believable group of prostitutes (Annabelle Apsion, Katrin Cartlidge, Susan Lynch and Lesley Sharp). I had heard that the producers made actually made them shoot a “happy ending” to this film, but fortunately they had the wisdom not to use it. Ripperologists knew going in that this was not going to be the “true” story about Jack, so that additional liberties such as all of the victims hanging out together all the time and the total absence of men in any of their lives, are easily forgivable. What was always impressive about Moore’s tale was how he managed to weave so many different elements together into a comprehensive tale, even if it is ultimately suspect. But the film version strips the story down to its essentials and while it is certainly the best Jack the Ripper film made to date, I cannot shake my head and think how much better it could have been by letting the audience glimpse just a little bit more of the true story.

But, oh, boys and girls, “From Hell” could have upset you a whole lot more than it did. If only you can understand how close to the edge of the cliff you were on this one…

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Watch Gran Torino Online

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Watch Gran Torino Online

Watch Gran Torino Online

Download & Watch Gran Torino at Amazon.com.

Click Here Now to Download & Watch Gran Torino Online Now!

Throughout his illustrious acting career, Clint Eastwood has delivered a series of iconic characters, such as The Man with no name, Dirty Harry, Josie Wales, and Will Munny in Unforgiven.

Throughout his illustrious directing career he has delivered outstanding movies such as Unforgiven, Mystic River, and Million Dollar Baby, for which he has won five Academy Awards, for best Picture, Best Director, and including the Irving Thalberg Life Achievement Award.

The actors who have worked with him have been blessed with Oscar: Gene Hackman for Unforgiven, Tim Robbins and Sean Penn for Mystic River, Morgan Freeman and Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby.

In Gran Torino he both directs and acts, and delivers an acting performance that will be remembered long after the final credits roll, in its unique way, as memorable as any other character he has created.

Gran Torino is the second best movie I have seen this year. Not just for the acting, not just for the directing, but for the storytelling, and the emotional journey on which it takes you, the laughter, the feeling of being gripped, and its more surprising moments.

In the opening scenes, we have the exposition of the character. We get to know Walt Kowalski, by how people act around him, and his seemingly hateful attitude towards people. More is conveyed through a scowl, and a snarl than with words. When the mischievous grandchildren go through his stuff in the basement, we see the Silver Star he won in Korea. There are three other important symbols in the movie, the lighter, the gun, and the car.

We see a hero with a warrior past, a patriot who fought for a cause greater than himself. Clearly, his bigotry stems from those experiences.

He’s not just mean, he’s ‘get of my lawn’ mean. He’s Dirty Harry ‘Go ahead punk, make my day!,’ mean.

His dead wife’s priest bugs him to hear his confession, at her request. The priest in a way is his wife’s conscience.

When he snarls down the barrel of his rifle, at the neighborhood punk: ‘I could blow your head off, and sleep like a baby,’ you get the sense that he means it.

So, with all that happens, we see the change in his decision making, from someone reluctant to be involved in his neighbor’s affairs, and a story can turn on something as random as looking at an empty beer cooler.

For all his faults, Walt has mature masculine character. Even though he is a difficult father, he has taught his children character. So, when he sees the boy next door lacks character, and a strong male role model, he takes him under his wing, and teaches him how to be a man.

The scenes where the boy practises Walt’s high octane ball busting banter, are the funniest in the movie. Through knowing Walt, he makes decisions he never would have made by himself. In so doing, Walt finds meaning and purpose, and a chance for redemption, and the boy becomes a man.

The Academy’s actor awards tend to go to actors in two types of role:

1.Psychopath- No Country for Old Men, The Usual Suspects, There Will Be Blood, Training Day, Silence of the Lambs.

2.Mentally Disabled, Social or Physical Handicap, overcomes great adversity or discrimination- Shine, As Good as It Gets, A Beautiful Mind, Ray, Scent of a Woman, Capote, Philadelphia, The Pianist, A Beautiful Life.

Every rule has an exception. Russell Crowe in Gladiator played a character with thematic similarities to Walt.

For a 78 year old man to direct and be lead actor in a movie of this caliber is an achievement worthy at the very least of being nominated for the highest award for Acting, Directing or both.

I hope you find this review helpful.

People react strongly to “Gran Torino,” either embracing its depiction of a flawed but heroic racist old coot, or deriding the movie simply because its apparent political incorrectness makes them nervous. But even if the Academy does not bestow one award on what is probably Clint Eastwood’s last movie as an actor, remember this: “Gran Torino” is a more intelligent film on the state of race relations today than “Crash” (a multiple Oscar winner) ever pretended to be.

The story is about Walt Kowalski, a grizzled Korean War vet and widower who spends his time drinking, smoking, and polishing his 1972 Ford Gran Torino, a vintage example of Detroit muscle. Because he installed the car’s steering column himself, the car represents not only a classically American fixation on the automobile, but also a blue-collar, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps work ethic, one that Eastwood himself would no doubt agree with. (If for some reason you don’t believe me, read his “What I’ve Learned” interview in the latest issue of Esquire.)

Kowalski mentors an aimless Hmong teenager named Thao, who is being pressured to join his cousin’s gang. This is where the “Karate Kid” comparison comes in, which is inaccurate, partly because the characters of “Gran Torino” exhibit considerably greater depth. The boy who plays Thao (and in fact all of the Hmong characters) is not a professional actor, so although his portrayal is sometimes rather wooden, there really isn’t any substitute for authenticity. Eastwood came of age in an era when Hollywood produced war movies using, say, a Chinese actor to portray a Japanese soldier. It’s clear from the casting of “Gran Torino” (and “Letters from Iwo Jima,” for that matter) that Eastwood prefers to do things his own way.

Kowalski makes fun of Thao (calling him “Toad”), but also teaches the boy how to earn an honest living. In the process, he becomes closer to Thao’s family than he is to any of his own kin, who have degenerated into a distant, crass, materialistic clan of their own, far removed from the values Kowalski attempted to pass on.

The steady stream of racist epithets in “Gran Torino” will cause some people to laugh uncomfortably, others to laugh with delight, and still another group to glare at those who are laughing. Ultimately, however, this unsettling portrayal of one man’s deep prejudices evolves into a different story altogether. It is not possible to show the audience a path away from a racist mentality without showing honestly where that mentality came from–a feat which “Crash,” in spite of its heavy-handed moralizing, never came close to pulling off.

Can Clint Eastwood go wrong? After striking gold a few months ago with the brilliant “Changeling,” he releases “Gran Torino,” another one of the year’s best films. What a masterful storyteller Eastwood is, so focused on creating that perfect balance between story and character. He doesn’t disappoint with “Gran Torino,” a nearly flawless film that gives us characters we believe in and a story so compelling that it’s virtually impossible to not be absorbed by it. What we have here is a cross-generational, cross-cultural story about people who can learn so much from each other despite being different. It’s about regret, sadness, redemption, and growth, which isn’t to say that it’s conventional or archetypal; Eastwood plays a contemporary version of a Wise Old Man, someone who draws on life experience to teach an undeveloped youth. What’s unique is that, regardless of what life has taught him, this Wise Old Man still has a lot to learn.

He has a name, of course: retired Ford factory worker Walt Kowalski. As a veteran of the Korean War, Kowalski has seen and done a lot of things he wishes he hadn’t. He’s bitter, antisocial, and politically incorrect. After his wife’s funeral, we discover that he doesn’t get along too well with his sons, specifically Mitch (Brian Haley) and his wife, Karen (Geraldine Hughes), who seem to believe that his age automatically makes him codependent and eligible for a spot in a retirement home. His grandchildren don’t appreciate him one bit; the granddaughter only wants his stuff, hand-me-downs to take with her to school. They don’t make things easy for him, but then again, he doesn’t make things easy for them, either. It’s a vicious cycle of resentment and miscommunication.

As this is being established, we’re introduced to a teenage boy named Thao (Bee Vang), who lives next door to Kowalski with his large Hmong family. He’s the black sheep of his deeply traditional family, always doing chores that the women are supposed to do. Having no direction in life, he’s pressured by his cousin, nicknamed Spider (Doua Moua), to join his neighborhood gang. As an act of initiation, Thao must sneak into Kowalski’s garage and steal his most prized possession: A 1972 Gran Torino. The attempt backfires. Some time later, Spider arrives with his posse and tries to abduct Thao. The resulting scuffle is broken up when Kowalski points his shotgun at the gang members and demand they get off his lawn.

Within no time at all, Kowalski’s front steps are covered with tokens of appreciation from Thao’s family, none of which go appreciated. But then Kowalski gets to know Thao’s sister, Sue (Ahney Her), a remarkably independent young woman. Quick-witted and outgoing, she takes Kowalski’s racial slurs in stride, believing that a good man lies behind the disgruntled façade. As he spends more time with Sue and her family, he begins to realize that he has more in common with them that with his own family, which, in all likelihood, scares him more than it brings him comfort.

When Thao formally apologizes for trying to steal Kowalski’s Gran Torino, Kowalski puts him to work doing various chores, like repainting a house and fixing gutters. Hardly a scene goes by when he isn’t verbally berating Thao, although it’s obvious from the start that he’s doing it to toughen him up, to make him believe that his life has a purpose and that he should actively be trying to find it. Part of this involves getting Thao to talk like a man. There’s a priceless scene in which Kowalski brings Thao to a barber, who has been sharing insults with Kowalski for a number of years. Afterwards, Kowalski arranges for Thao to work at a construction site; the boss, as it turns out, is the perfect man for Thao to test his new vocabulary on. What Kowalski doesn’t realize is that he’s learning just as much from Thao, especially in matters of caring for other people. Eventually, Kowalski comes to the conclusion that Thao and his family will never be at peace so long as Spider and his gang are around.

The film’s most fascinating character is Father Janovich (Christopher Carley), a twenty-seven year old priest who promised Kowalski’s wife that he’d look after him upon her death and get him to confess. Initially, Kowalski wants nothing to do with Janovich, who gives sermons on matters of life and death yet has no real idea what it means to face your own mortality. Kowalski knows–he served his country in Korea. “What do you know about life?” Janovich calmly asks. “Well,” says Kowalski, “I survived the war. I got married and had a family.” There’s absolutely no joy in his voice when he says this. Gradually, he begins to appreciate Janovich; he many not have all the answers, but at least he’s willing to listen.

The brilliance of this movie comes not from the development of the characters, but from the way the characters interact with one another. Virtually no one is on friendly terms at the start, but by the end, there’s an understated feeling that respect has been earned on all sides. Kowalski refers to Thao as his friend only once, and while it was nice to actually hear it, it still didn’t come as a surprise given everything that had been leading to that moment. At a certain point, you just knew how Kowalski felt. “Gran Torino” is such a wonderful film, so carefully structured, so perfectly cast, so rewarding for the audience. To make just one great film in a year is the mark of real talent. But to make two great films in the same year, now that’s the work of genius.

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The Man From Earth Watch Online

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

The Man From Earth Watch Online

The Man From Earth Watch Online

Download & Watch The Man From Earth at Amazon.com.

Click Here Now to Download & Watch The Man From Earth Online Now!

There is no, well very little, action or romance here. The movie is essentially and intellectual exploration of what it would be like for someone who lived for 14,000 years. Don’t let that read as boring, because it is not at all.

What would it really be like to live for 14,000 years? Would you learn a bunch of languages and forget them after you haven’t used them for a hundred or so years? Would you be able to identify yourself as a Cro-Magnon man after the phrase has been coined?

John is a college professor who has decided to quit his job and gathers up his friends at his cabin for a going away party. Over some nice Scotch he reveals a captivating story of a live that has lasted 140 centuries.

Do they believe him? Is he lying? Is he crazy? Is it some weird thought experiment? Or, is he telling the truth?

What is his take on the Christ and Buddha? On man? The environment?

I really enjoyed watching this thought-provoking movie. It’s got an independent flavor, but is very accessible.

A man at a goodbye party asks his friends what a Cro Magnon man who had lived 14,000 years would be like. His friends, college professors of biology and anthropology and such, agree that such a person would look like a modern man and have the same intelligence.

The conversation turns to whether or not he is such a person. His friends reactions vary from amusement at his game to taking great offense. His story about the one time he lived as an historical figure that we know today really ruffled some feathers.

This movie reminded me a bit of K-Pax, except he claims to be from earth and not space. It was less funny and more thoughtful than K-Pax. It also gets resolved as to whether or not he is telling the truth.

This is a nice movie if you like thoughtful dialogue and getting your mind twisted around. No action or special effects so some people will find it boring.

Overall, worth a few bucks and 90 minutes of your time.

I love the idea of this movie. To imagine that there is a person who has lived for 14,000 years forces the viewer to rethink so many “truths.” However, I was quite disappointed in the acting, which at times felt over done and I felt that some of the reactions of the main character’s friends seemed unlikely.

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Prices For Kyocera Ceramic Fine Mill Black Top At Amazon

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

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Kyocera Ceramic Fine Mill Black Top

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