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hope you like the new look

March 14th 2010 08:50


Okay, I have been a bit slack, BUT, I don't 'do' computer techy thangs! However, I find my new heading, for the screen trek film review blog rather fetching and fun, and it moooooooves!!!!



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THE BOX

March 10th 2010 16:23
copyrighted see below


What would you do, if your doorbell rang in the early hours of the morning, and you find just a brown paper wrapped box sitting on your door step? Open it? Call the cops? Maybe a bomb sniffer would be more appropriate in this paranoid age?


Well, our protagonists Norma and Arthur Lewis (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) have no qualms about opening it. Inside, a box with a big red button on top, just daring them to push it. So, just a prank they think, until the visit from the box’s delivery man, Mr. Arlington Steward, (Frank Langella). Besides identifying himself as the deliverer of the box, Steward has one other intriguing aspect, he is missing a big chunk of his face, you can even see his teeth through the side of his head.

Does this bother our heroine? Well no, she just lets him right in, and then, after he explains the bizarre offer, she still goes along with it, well, she agrees to take 24 hours to consider the situation; take the offer, or not.

Based on the original 1970 short story "Button, Button" by author Richard Matheson, director/writer Richard Kelly stated he had wanted to make a film from Matheson’s story ever since he first read it, in Playboy Magazine, as a curious youth...he was just reading Playboy for the interesting stories, I am sure.

While the basic premise is interesting, as it investigates the core morality of individuals and how their hard held tenets are tempered by temptation, made all the easier by the fact that it is a remote, non-confrontational event they must choose to have enacted, in order to get rewarded, the film however, overall does not build suspense enough for my liking. The reason being, right at the start, when the story is set up, it defies incredulity that anyone would have anything to do with this freakish man and his murderous box.

Still, a million bucks is a million bucks. The offer; you get to keep the million if you push the button, the catch; someone will be killed when you push it. I think it would have been more interesting to be able to choose a specific person, who was also a right bastard, like Osama Bin Laden, or Cheney for that matter.

While the plot has various complexities, not the least of which is ‘the box’ being used as a morality test, designed to discover whether the human race deserves to continue to exist or not, it just seems a ludicrous way to find that out, especially considering that ‘they’ (the anonymous box creators) actually carry out the killings.

The box creator's attitude to testing strikes me a bit like the Japanese needing to kill whales for ‘research’, and is about as psychopathic. It is an absurdity that an advanced civilisation, that presumes the moral high ground, would devise a morality test that actually kills innocent people, in order to see if an entire race of beings should survive.

What is actually far more fascinating (than the film) is the script writer and director Richard Kelly’s inspiration for the two main characters, and to a lesser degree their child. Kelly based them on his parents, and the child loosely on himself; his father was a NASA scientist who worked on the camera system for the Viking Explorer which is, last I heard, still trundling around the surface of Mars.

Kelly's mother had a terrible accident, as a 16 year old, when an incompetent radiologist left her foot to bake under X-Ray for five minutes, causing irreparable damage and resulting in partial amputation. Some years later, her hubby decided to make her a prosthetic insert for her foot so she could walk without a limp, using the same gel substance they used for the astronauts' seating.

These facts were incorporated into the storyline, but, I felt not enough background was given to Norma and Arthur Lewis' relationship, or their individual psychology, for the viewer to develop a strong simpatico. And one became even less sympathetic after they stupidly became more involved with Arlington Steward, instead of sending him packing.

Arlington tempts Roma


So, they agree to consider pushing the button, then, after the husband Arthur decided he finally believed there maybe something to this bizarre button, Norma suddenly pushes the button in a spur of the moment demonstration, saying she had decided not to believe the whole scenario. The sudden change of stance for both was odd, however, she pushed the button and nothing happens, not to them, at least.

When the husband tried to have the deal stopped, he was told it was too late, and then came the twist; for trying to interfere by speaking to a cop he knew, a new scenario is introduced, involving their son Walter (Sam Oz Stone) being made deaf and blind, permanently so, unless another tough moral choice and sacrifice, is made.

In general; I would have thought any self respecting school teacher and her NASA scientist husband, being intelligent and humane people, would not have let any financial pressure persuade them to have someone murdered for money, even for a million dollars.

The special effects were well produced, as one would expect in this day of digital design, but nothing spectacular. I do not think this film is a notch on Kelly’s Donnie Darko, although, to be fair to the actors, they all give credible performances, in particular, Frank Langella, as the creepy Arlington Steward, who creates a subtly crafted character.

I am a lover of science fiction, and horror, but my expectations are high. The main hurdle for any film, no matter its scenario, is it being believable; the circumstances, motivations and reactions of the protagonists, and support roles, must all seem natural and feasible, only then will the extraordinary, the supernatural, be accepted through the audience’s suspension of disbelief, only then will an audience experience the pleasure of total immersion in the story unfolding before them.

The Box is possibly a good enough film for the less critical viewer; a film for those who prefer mild suspense, rather than full throttle horror.

AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION BY
ICON FILM DISTRIBUTORS

RELEASE DATE BLU-RAY AND DVD MARCH 10 2010

Directed by Richard Kelly
Produced by Richard Kelly
Dan Lin
Sean McKittrick

Based on short story by Richard Matheson

screenplay by Richard Kelly

Starring
Cameron Diaz
James Marsden
Frank Langella
Music by Win Butler
Régine Chassagne
Owen Pallett

Cinematography Steven Poster
Editing by Sam Bauer

Studio Radar Pictures
Media Rights Capital

Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date(s) October 29, 2009 (2009-10-29)
(Australia)
November 6, 2009

Running time 119 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $25–30 million
Gross revenue $26,000,000


IMAGE CREDITS: Copyright presumed that of the production hoise, Warner Bros. and/or that of the distributors, all rights reserved, not for copying or re-distribution. image.net source of production shot.
FAIR USE RATIONALE: For illustration of product being reviewed, for review purposes only, low res. reproduction and not for copying.
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CARRIER: (USS NIMITZ)

February 14th 2010 06:54
Carrier is an Emmy Award winning television documentary series, (DVD release date 14th March, 2010). It comprises four discs, covering many episodes. Yes, it is about the leviathans of the sea, a USA naval aircraft carrier, but, for those who do not love seeing the nuts and bolts of the biggest war machine ever created, this series still has a lot to interest you if you like to delve into other people’s lives.

USS NIMITZ: 103.000 tons of hell!


The aircraft carrier we are introduced to is the USS Nimitz, which is a super-carrier, (“Nimitz class”) which, apart from being the most lethal, largest and formidable weapons platform in the world, is also a floating city for over five thousand souls.

With the accent on the series being mainly on the human element, we get to know some of the characters working aboard while living under an airport runway that never, ever, sleeps!

The conditions for some of the crew, in their sleeping quarters and working posts, leave a lot to be desired. The bottom of the rung crew sleep in a cabin that has six bunks, three aside, with a thin aisle to stand in between them. The bunks look less roomy than your averaged sized coffin! The crew have to organize themselves so they get out of bed at different times and shower and dress accordingly.

For those dreaming of being buddied up to so many males, or females, (quite a few of them are gay too), this is not your ideal honeymoon cruise lifestyle. Sexual fraternization between the sexes is against policy, and the rule of “don’t ask, don’t tell”, applies to gays. Even holding hands is considered an offence which carries punishment. However, a married couple are on the crew, but a blind eye is turned towards that, as long as they do not enact physical affection for each other.

Many sleep right under the deck and when jets land, you hear it and you feel it. No one sleeps through it, but they become accustomed to the background noise and roll over, or do they just slide sideways a little?

I must admit, before I saw Carrier, I thought navies were being kinder to their crew these days, but, in the US Navy at least, you even have to pay for your meals, that rather staggered me. The Australian Navy, as far as I know, do not make their people pay for meals.

I just had a cunning thought; since Australia is having trouble getting enough people to enlist, in the submariners particularly and other disciplines, maybe if they advertised the Aussie military working conditions in America, they would get all the recruits they needed?

Anyway, back to the 101,000 (long ton) monster; we get to meet and know a little about each area of work, from the wheel house to the garbage detail which, incidentally, prides itself on being non-polluting; they remove most of the plastic from garbage that gets dumped overboard each day, but bundle cans into hessian bags and slop out the food stuff. This is hardly cutting edge environmentalism…

However, what amazed me about this series is, the crew often speak their minds, they are critical of conditions, they openly state they know many gays onboard, and do not look forward to heading into arenas of conflict. Mind you, there is also a fair share of archetypal buzz-cut grunts overburdened with testosterone and under-burdened with compassion, no surprise there.

I actually liked this introduction to the series and intend to review the rest of it, when I get my hands on the DVDs. You get a more balanced and realistic view of Americans working in the military; they are not all flag waving, pro-American foreign policy, military blockheads, we see people who are working in it just to survive financially, not that the unskilled get paid much. We meet people who really want to live in a world that is safe and peaceful for all, and you see the apprehension in some crew when, after leaving Hong Kong, they are told they are heading north, to Korea.

Of course, at the pointy end of all that grey metal, is the top brass, who serve their political masters to the letter, even if that would mean annihilating a country.

The only people who gain from war are those politicians who enjoy protection from the electorate, while a war is waged and the vast industrial-military complex, that occult cabal of bomb makers, who need to sell arms, to make a profit.

In closing, Australia needs aircraft carriers. We have none, yet we are an island continent. Aircraft carriers would also allow us to do more good in the world, by serving as a movable platform from which vital aid can be quickly dispensed.
Haiti is benefiting from a US carrier as I write.

Aircraft carriers would also allow us to better protect our borders and also allow us to monitor and protect endangered species, such as the whales. By the way, last I heard, Japan is starting to build carriers again…

ICON FILM DISTRIBUTION: Australian DVD release date: 14th March 2010.

CREDITS
Genre: Documentary
Developed by Mitchell Block
Directed by Maro Chermayeff
Country of origin: United States
Language: English
Episodes: 10

Production
Executive Producers:
Mel Gibson, Bruce Davey, Nancy Cotton, Mitchell Block, Maro Chermayeff
Producers:
Deborah Dickson and Jeff Dupre

Running time:
10 hours, 1 hour each episode
Broadcast
Original channel PBS
Picture format 480i (SDTV letterboxed),
1080i (HDTV)
Original run April 27, 2008 – May 1, 2008

IMAGE CREDIT: This image is a work of a sailor or employee of the U.S. Navy, taken or made during the course of the person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.

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LOOKING FOR ERIC

February 4th 2010 07:33
Promotional Banner (copyright see below)


Before watching, I was not at all sure I was going to like this film, but I was pleasantly surprised. It has a slightly bizarre beginning; as we watch, without explanation, a man we later find out is Eric, drive his car around barely evading oncoming cars, until he crashes. From the blackout, we then see him in hospital complaining that he mustn’t be late for work, he is a postie, (postal worker


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FAME (the remake) review

February 1st 2010 06:56
FAME official poster (copyright protected: see below)


This film, (USA cinematic release in 2009), is a remake of the original film of the same title, first released in 1980. I cannot compare the two, as I did not see the first film, as I was already ensconced in our own national theatre school (N.I.D.A.) which left me no time outside of studies and production work


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Up in the Air REVIEW

January 7th 2010 01:26
Jason Reitman’s latest work, Up in the Air, is a dramody, (drama/comedy). Directed by Reitman (of Juno fame) and co-written by Reitman and Sheldon Turner, this engrossing film takes a dry and wry look at an even drier existence. Based on the novel Up In The Air by Walter Kirn, Reitman, has woven another great work of cinematic art. But it takes time to settle into your psyche.

Clooney with Anna Kendrick as Natalie Keener

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DISTRICT 9 REVIEW

January 3rd 2010 04:49
Official Poster copyrighted (see below)


Director and co-writer (District 9) Neill Blomkamp is one to watch out for! This film is a ripper! The effects never appear contrived, the action is realistic and the pace of the story builds up to a rush blooded with the anguish and fate of its main protagonist. However, at first, I felt it was going to be a little lame, with the 'in house' corny promotional doco approach, which introduces the main character to the audience, but do not let the droll beginning fool you, for the way the introduction sets up the rest of the film is very clever


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CALLING ALL FILM REVIEWERS!!

December 22nd 2009 05:56
Paramount has just confirmed ALL clips taken from BLIPTV are no longer usable.

The man with the "key" to the problem is uncontactable, so it will be some time after the Christmas holidays before Paramount can get the problem worked out with BlipTV


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NEWS FLASH: BlipTV dumps Paramount!

December 22nd 2009 05:23
I have just been advised by Paramount Pictures that their access to BlipTV, where a lot of us get our clips for the latest and upcoming Paramount films, has been dropped from the site.

Paramount is unable to explain why this has happened, but I am led to believe they are (understandably) extremely angry about it.
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THE LOVELY BONES Two Trailers Released

December 17th 2009 11:34
The trailer for The Lovely Bones, is now available for viewing. See the sneak peek here.

official poster copyright see below

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