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Women Unscripted

Almost a year ago, Women Unscripted was just a far off idea of a TV reality show. Today, it is leaps closer to becoming reality. Check it out:

Lear more about Women Unscripted at www.womenunscripted.com.

Kingdom

I have not seen an opening so action-packed since Saving Private Ryan. The movie captivates the audience from the start; not only through the action, but by painting a colorful mural of the current affairs in our war against terror.

Jamie Foxx does a great job as the lead role, an FBI agent with a heart of gold that seeks to revenge the death of his friend and partner. Little did her know, he would gain much more than revenge during this journey.

With numerous obstacles before, Jamie’s character takes the mission into in own hands, undermining the government, and brings a team to Saudi Arabia to search and destroy the terrorist cell that destroyed an American base in a stark desert of the Middle East.

While the beginning of the movie will bring you to the front of your seat, the middle is a little slow, but necessary. As you have seen through the ads and trailers, the ending is stellar. Make through the middle, it is worth it.

Suggestion: see this on in the theatre, unless of course you have a top-of-the-line home theatre system; wait until the DVD comes out. The sound and imagery is top-notch.

300

This epic story of 300 Spartans fighting for their freedom against a seemingly indestructible Persian army illustrates the discipline and poise of these ancient soldiers. As well, it created a curiosity in me to learn more about soldiers of Sparta, Greece.

Right from the start, the film defines the essence of a Spartan displaying the process of sacrifice for boys born below the standard of a potential warrior; then leading to the brutal combat training of a boy of only seven years. The cinematography captures the spirit of the warrior through his eyes, as the young boy wipes blood from his mouth and squares up to his formidable opponent, a full fledged Spartan that refused to hold back. This young boy soon became King Leonidas and bared the honor of a Spartan...never retreat.

While the trailer of the movie seemed to attract those looking for violence and gore, in essence it captured a piece of history of a culture that was defined by its integrity, brutality, and passion for freedom. The Spartans were proud people, defined by their ability to fight and their ruthless candor. The film depicts this beautifully, as one scene shows the Spartan soldiers building a wall with bodies as there rocks...sweet!

The continuous message throughout the movie was don’t mess with a Spartan. Before finally falling, the 300 Spartans disposed of thousands of the Persian army’s soldiers. Their unique fighting style, unrelenting butchery, and teamwork proved to be far superior than those of their enemies. If it were not for one jealous traitor, the Spartans would have surely denied their enemy.

Disclaimer: the movie is quite gory, so if you have a weak stomach then perhaps you should read the Frank Miller novel.

Smoking Aces

Seems the most difficult thing to do today is entertain an audience…believability is a non-issue at this point, as the influx of mass media messaging has shaped our brains to value entertainment over truth. Why else do we go to the movies?

Smoking Aces was quite entertaining; great violence, great cinematography, and a unique story…love mob-type movies. The best part of the movie was all of the subplots that pushed the mind to think about the stories behind the stories. This is a very difficult task when developing a storyline, as quite often the audience can get lost…we have all seen David Lynch movies, although is not his goal to keep the audience informed. Joe Carnahan was able to pull this off.

The main reason I gave this 3 stars as opposed to 4 or 5, was the ending. Joe Carnahan tried to hard to pull a grand twist at the end. While he did fill in the blanks, he did not give enough validity to the idea. But, I will see it again when it comes to DVD.

My suggestion, go see it.

Interesting tidbit: the karate kid in the above photo did a phenomenal job! He stole the screen whenever he was on.

Things I’ve learned from Rocky Balboa

I did not learn how to jab, bob, weave, or even throw a hook
I can find those things on the Web or even in a book

I did not learn how jump rope, or drink raw eggs
I did see rocky workout, not by sparring, but by smashing kegs

I learned of desire and the power of the beast within
And, how to unleash him without worries of a win

I learned that man is measured by how he fights back when knocked down
Not by his name and popularity amongst the town

Rocky may seem simple and perhaps even dumb
But, the Rock bares knowledge for humans to come

Rocky, with the twist of a bulb, shed light on dark
And gave hope to a woman, child, provided a spark

But most of all, Rocky taught me to be persistent and to never quit
You never know when…with a little effort you can be the shit!

Rocky 6 truly was a brilliant film. The acting pool may have been less talented than others, but the underlying story was clear…Be good to others, be good to yourself, give back to your community, fight for what you believe in, and family first; a great example of a socially responsible film.

As Paulie said in Rocky III, “You’re all heart Rock.” While on the surface, Rocky is just some punchy street thug from Philly, but not too far below the surface is a man who has a profound effect on all who encounter him. Not many people can claim that.

We need more Rocky’s in the world. More Rocky’s, more naked body surfing, and more cork popping; once that happens, people will be more apt to embrace life as it is, a blessing.

Who would thunk Rocky could inspire such a post?

Pirates of the Caribbean

While I know it is difficult for sequels to surpass their preceding selves, I felt that Pirates of the Caribbean would put out a Terminator-like sequel. Alas, they fell short in their attempt to strike the audience’s “fantasy” cord.

I know they rocked the box office, but Dead Man’s Chest was less than spectacular…if it were not for Johnny Depp’s starring role as Captain Jack Sparrow the movie would have been a total flop. Depp can always be counted on for his abilities as an actor, but his supporting cast failed to sell the audience, hence, I was left with, “It was aight.” Note: that is slang for “alright.”

Not all is lost, however. If you like great graphics, some kick ass stunts, and pirate flicks, go see it, but have no expectations…the trailer oversold the movie.

Perhaps the next Pirates will redeem itself.

Superman Returns...A Smash

Like most Americans, I was curious about how they were going to pull off a new Superman while maintaining the integrity of this epic story. Well folks, they pulled it off…go see Superman Returns.

The movie started, and continued with, some the killer CGI (computer generated imaging), never stepping away from the ever-so-important details that make a DC Comics production work.

So, what about this new Superman? The boy can act…he did a great job, as did Kate Bosworth, as Lois. Brandon Routh was able to inherit the essential personality traits of both Clark Kent and Superman. Kevin Spacey, as he always does, put on a stellar performance as Lex Luther. All in all the cast was great.

Why four stars instead of 5? There were a couple of slow spots…besides, we would not want them getting cocky in Hollywood.

On a side note, as I was leaving the theatre (Loews on N Rush) it was pouring. So, I did like any dry-clothes lover would do, I snuck into a restaurant to grab a quick bite and drink. Heaven on Seven, spicy Cajun delights, more hot sauce than you can imagine, and a great beer selection. Grab a side dish of Rice and Beans, a Belgium beer and before you know it, the rain has quit and you can venture home or to your next stop. Heaven on Seven offers cooking classes as well.