Archives for June 2011

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 starring Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner & Kristen Stewart

Posted on June 18, 2011 Written by ripitup

Image from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1. Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart — The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1. Robert Pattinson & Kristen StewartImage via 4.bp.blogspot.com.

The 4th movie of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part – 1 is hitting the theaters in November. Since the teaser trailer is on the web, let’s talk about where we left off the characters, what happens in the trailer and how we feel about the series in general.

Eclipse made the rivalry between Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) even clearer. The werewolves and the vampires fought side by side to get rid of Seattle’s evil vampire gang lead by Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard), but this didn’t really make vampire Edward and shapeshifter Jacob bond.

Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward’s relationship saw a hard, yet romantic bargain: Our old-fashioned vampire wanted to get married – and he wouldn’t have sex with Bella until they did. Bella wanted to become a vampire to be able to spend eternity with him, and she wanted him to turn her. Edward’s family also agreed that it was the smarter thing to turn Bella. So Edward accepted to turn her as soon as they were married.

The 4th movie will obviously see Bella’s father Chief Swan (Billy Burke) go mad. He doesn’t know anything about vampires and werewolves, but he just trusts Jacob more. Plus, many sane fathers don’t look forward to their high school graduate daughters getting hitched right away. Obviously Jacob will do everything in its power to stop the wedding. But if the trailer is any indication, the wedding (and the much expected first-time sex) will take place. I haven’t read the 4th book, but from what I know (from the readers and the trailer), Bella will get pregnant against all odds…

You can watch the trailer here.

I really enjoyed the Twilight saga. Well, admittedly I enjoyed Twilight and Eclipse a lot more than New Moon because depression is not my thing. But I enjoy this fantasy world with eternal beauty, health, youth and love. I enjoyed the jealousy between a gorgeous vampire, and a soon to be gorgeous (come on, he is only 19!) werewolf, not to mention a vampire family led by the highly talented (and also pretty) Peter Facinelli.

Yes, the effects with the wolves should have been much better. The stories could have more thrills and surprises. But all in all this is a fun, harmless romance movie for people who like the supernatural stuff, with the emphasis on romance. If you want all action and gore, see Blade. If you want more literature where vampires don’t shine, watch Interview with the Vampire. For pop-corn romance and good alternative rock, Twilight is pretty good.

I’ll see this film in November. How about you?

Previous Articles on the Twilight Movies and Cast

The Ultimate Twilight Saga Test – Read to Decide If You Will Enjoy The Twilight Movies

Twilight Saga 101: 33 Things You Should Know About Twilight Before Seeing New Moon

Twilight Saga 102: 24 Things You Should Know About New Moon Before Seeing Eclipse

Twilight Mania: Twilight Movie Review

New Moon Movie Review: New Moon Dissected

Eclipse Movie Review

Twilight Saga Cast Trivia 101: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner

Twilight Saga Cast Trivia 102: Peter Facinelli, Nikki Reed, Jackson Rathbone, Elizabeth Reeser, Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz

Twilight Saga and The Rest of The Cullen Family

Robert Pattinson vs. Edward Cullen: The Cute Robert Pattinson, The Beautiful Edward Cullen

Pattinson vs.. Lautner

Other Movies and Articles featuring Robert Pattinson

Remember Me starring Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Pierce Brosnan, Lena Olin and Chris Cooper

Golden Globes 2011- The Best of Host Ricky Gervais

Also on Taylor Lautner

Valentine’s Day starring Julia Roberts, Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner, Bradley Cooper, Ashton Kutcher, Taylor Lautner & more

My Own Worst Enemy, starring Christian Slater feat. Taylor Lautner

Red Riding Hood starring Amanda Seyfried, Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons, Gary Oldman & Billy Burke

Posted on June 13, 2011 Written by ripitup

Red Riding Hood starring Amanda Seyfried, Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons, Gary Oldman & Billy Burke

Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) is a beautiful young woman living in a medieval village by a forrest. The most common fear among the people is the wolf that keeps attacking the village. While they managed to keep the wolf from attacking the humans by presenting it with animals, the wolf starts killing with Valerie’s sister. This infuriates them all,and the town priest (Lukas Haas) calls for the expert werewolf-hunter priest, Father Solomon (Gary Oldman). However many of the villagers don’t want to wait and kill the wolf themselves. Among these brave men are Henry and Peter, the two men who make Valerie’s lives highly complicated:

Peter (Shiloh Fernandez) is Valerie’s childhood friend and the love of her life. He is a loner without much money. Henry (Max Irons), on the other hand, is well-off, and Valerie’s mother (Virginia Madsen) is adamant? that her daughter marries Henry to get a better life.

As the villagers come back with the head of the wolf, and minus Henry’s father, they are certain they don’t need Father Solomon. However Solomon arrives with bad news. He informs the villagers that what they hunted is a simple wolf, whereas they are being hunted by a werewolf. He closes the village doors and tells everyone to be suspicious of each other, as the werewolf has a human form and could be any one of them. When the werewolf attacks, he doesn’t harm Valerie. Instead he talks to her, and apparently only she can hear it. It asks Valerie to come with it, and if she doesn’t, it just won’t leave the villagers alone. This sends the villagers into suspecting that she is a witch, and she starts suspecting everyone. Can the werewolf be Henry or Peter? Or her own grandmother (Julie Christie). And whoever it is, why does it want Valerie?

Red Riding Hood takes the basic elements from the fair tale, plays around a little, puts in a werewolf instead of wolf, puts in a love triangle and serves it with a good cast. We get a mystery thriller, which is more of a gothic romance than a thriller.

While it is not a bad experience overall, I just had one big annoyance: the werewolf. Directed by Twilight’s director Catherine Hardwicke, the werewolf- very much like the wolves in Twilight– big and very badly structured on the computer. When you have a laughable villain, It really takes a lot from the movie, a movie that is supposed to be a thriller.
But the ridiculousness of the villain aside, it is a fun film. You get to guess who the wolf might be, who Valerie will end up with and when she just might have sex with one of them…
I did mention good cast, right? You have Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Billy Burke, Virginia Madsen & Julie Christie.
It is not great, but it is not bad (apart from the wolf’s appearance). It also has a decent soundtrack. It is watchable if you are in the mood for a romance with supernatural elements lurking around.

Fun notes:

– Many watchers inevitably compared this to Twilight, where there the series are based on the love triangle. Here, the love triangle consists from 3 humans- although we suspect there is a werewolf among them.

– Twilight’s Chief Swan (Billy Burke), a.k.a. Bella’s father again gets to play the female protagonist’s father. Although Valerie’s dad could learn a thing or two from Swan when it comes to parenting.

– You might be bothered that a medieval village is dominated by modern English and American accents. But if I can accept a werewolf exists (for a movie), I can accept the accents.

Currently Rated 4.9 on IMDB. I suspect it could have earned higher votes, had the wolf looked menacing and not fake.

Also on Amanda Seyfried:

Chloe starring Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson and Amanda Seyfried

Veronica Mars starring Kristen Bell, Teddy Dunn, Jason Dohring & Enrico Colantoni

Also on Gary Oldman:

GARY OLDMAN: Talk about diversity!

Air Force One starring Harrison Ford, Glenn Close and Gary Oldman

When adultery is okay, part 3: The Scarlet Letter

Lestat, Dracula and Other Vampires featuring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Gerard Butler, Stuart Townsend and More

Boston Legal starring James Spader, William Shatner & Candice Bergen

Posted on June 11, 2011 Written by ripitup

Boston Legal starring James Spader, William Shatner & Candice Bergen. Feat. Mark Valley & Julie Bowen. Image via telechimp.com

Introduction to Boston Legal’s Characters in The Practice

The best way to start watching the legal drama/comedy Boston Legal is to watch the 8th (=last) season of the legal drama The Practice. Both shows were created by David E. Kelley. The Practice’s main character Bobby Donnell (Dylan McDermott) left the show after the end of season 7, though he did guest-star in the final two episodes. Along with Bobby, several other main characters left and the show was introduced to a kind of lawyer we haven’t quite seen the like of. This new lawyer was Alan Shore (James Spader), an old friend of Eleanor’s. Alan was very creative, “ethically challenged”, fun-loving and most of all a kick-ass lawyer. The fact that he was ethically challenged worked very well for his clients who were being screwed over by giant corporations, or the government. He was in nature a very decent man, and he didn’t really let his legal obligations get in the way of helping his clients. But this nature wasn’t welcomed by Eugene (Steve Harris) or Jimmy (Michael Badalucco) and finally they fired Alan. But they didn’t fire Alan before accepting the millions of dollars he brought to the firm. So Alan went to the law firm Crane, Poole and Schmidt (the very firm Boston Legal takes place at) and hired two attorneys from the firm, one of them being the legendary yet aging Denny Crane (William Shatner).

While Denny strikes Alan odd at first, he slowly gets used to his theatrics and Alan wins the trial after giving Eugene’s firm hell, in his very own fun way. Denny loves Alan and decides to hire him, preparing us for Boston Legal’s first season.

Boston Legal Characters, Plot and Attitude

Our highly interesting, entertaining, sexual and intrinsically decent Alan Shore starts working for Crane, Poole and Schmidt. While much of his behavior is frowned upon, some of his more “creative” approaches are welcome. The firm also welcomes his friendship with Denny. After all despite all his quirks, Alan seems more normal next to the aging Denny who claims that he has mad cow (as opposed to accepting he is becoming senile or developing Alzheimer’s), hits on every woman (despite being in his 70s), goes around saying his full name – “Denny Crane”- every two minutes and tries to take important cases, to the horror of the other partner/Denny’s ex-girlfriend Shirley Schmidt (Candice Bergen).

Then there is the younger attorney Brad (Mark Valley)– who, in theory, should be getting along with Denny. After all they are both pro-war, pro-government and they are both ex-soldiers. But Brad is, according to Alan, is more like a Ken doll, and the partners want him to keep an eye on Denny. And Brad is jealous of Alan, because despite being younger and fitter than him, women seem to be more interested in Alan.

Enter the British Tara (Rhona Mitra), who had joined The Practice for the last season and when the firm fired her because she helped Alan. Alan helped her get a job at Crane, Poole and Schmidt. The sexual tension and attraction between them keeps growing. Things get further complicated when the young associate Sally (Lake Bell) also becomes interested in Alan. Oh, and she used to sleep with Brad…

The show focuses on the quirks of each character, as well as their interaction with each other. Alan and Denny become best friends very quickly and almost each episode ends with them sitting on the balcony, sharing a drink, smoking a cigar and discussing the events of the day.

How Entertaining Is It?

Boston Legal is a very fun show. On many levels, its oddball attitude is a lot closer to Ally McBeal (which was also created by David E. Kelly). However it is often funnier than Ally McBeal and a lot lighter than The Practice. The funny thing is that many actors enter and quit the show after staying for one season or less. Of course James Spader, Candice Bergen and William Shatner are regulars. The show also welcomes many familiar guest stars (including Freddie Prinze Jr., Michael J. Fox and more.)

The trials aren’t always funny. Some episodes are emotional, intense and controversial – but the comedy is never ignored. Boston Legal is a wonderful gift to James Spader fans. After all, he gets tons of screen time while playing a very original character. But to be honest, my favorite season starring Alan Shore is the last season of The Practice. It just worked better when Alan was the quirkiest chap around. A much as Denny Crane is usually funny, he sometimes gets too annoying.

Still, I watch the reruns. It is entertaining, and the only piece of work where you got to watch James in a starring role for 5 years in a row.

Fun notes:

Modern Family’s Julie Bowen had a starring role in the series for 2 seasons.
Fringe’s Mark Valley had a starring role for 3 seasons.
Ally McBeal’s Biscuit John (Peter MacNicol) guest-appeared on the show, playing a totally different character.
Boston Legal is actor Christian Slater’s one of favorite shows.

Some Favorite lines: (quotes via imdb.com)

Guantanamo Marine General: (mutters under breath about Alan) Snide-ass.
Alan Shore: Your Honor, I move to strike. He’s never seen my ass.

Denny Crane: Now, Alan, if all else fails and you think you’ve lost… pretend you’ve won! Works for our president.

Alan Shore: Let me tell me two things about myself. I too am a lawyer, I can be painfully vindictive, and I do not play fair.
Lester Tremont: That’s three things.
Alan Shore: See? Not playing fair already. And I’m just getting started.

Denny Crane: You’re one of those environmental lawyers?
Peter Barrett: Is there something wrong with that?
Denny Crane: They’re evildoers. Yesterday it’s a tree, today it’s a salmon, tomorrow it’s, “Let’s not dig up Alaska for oil because it’s too pretty.” Let me tell you something, I came out here to enjoy nature, don’t talk to me about the environment.
Alan Shore: All reality, none of it scripted.

Alan Shore: What’s your specialty?
Dr. Konigsberg: Couples’ counseling. I first saw the client and his wife together. Since the divorce I’ve been working with him alone.
Alan Shore: So they came to you to improve their relationship, and now one wants to kill the other. Not your best work, was it, doctor?

Alan Shore: You know I’m not about to go to Texas and not ride the mechanical bull, Chelina. That would be like going to Los Angeles and not sleeping with Paris Hilton.

Denny Crane: You left me, Shirley. Women don’t leave Denny Crane. And for a secretary!
Shirley Schmidt: It was the Secretary of Defense.

Alan Shore: Objection, your Honor. You can’t preface your second point with “first of all.”

Also on James Spader

James Spader Trivia: 13 Facts About the 3-Times Emmy Winner James Spader

The Watcher starring Keanu Reeves, James Spader and Marisa Tomei

WHITE PALACE: SEXY ROMANCE with Susan Sarandon and James Spader

Wolf starring Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer & James Spader

The Awesome X-Men: First Class with James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon & Rose Byrne

Posted on June 7, 2011 Written by ripitup

X-Men: First Class starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Kevin Bacon & Nicholas Holt. Image via morfingen.com.

Warning! This review has been written for the people who have seen the X-Men movies (If you haven’t seen X-Men movies, there might be spoilers)

X-Men: First Class is the prequel to the X-Men series. We go a couple of decades back, to a time when Magneto was Erik (Michael Fassbender), and Professor X was Charles (James McAvoy), and he could walk… We get to see how the mutants were recruited by Charles to help save the humans from the common enemy Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), a man with a couple of mutants in his charge. Shaw is trying to destroy as many humans as he can because this makes him stronger, and Erik cares more about taking his revenge than helping others.

Here is how the story starts:

1940s

– The smart and telepathic Charles is born to rich but absent parents. He is living in a mansion when he meets Raven (Jennifer Lawrence), the girl who would later become Mystique. Raven had occasionally planned to hide her true (blue) colors, but Charles reveals his secret, as well as hers, befriends her and keeps treating her like a sister as they grow up.

– Erik loses both parents to concentration camps, and is kept alive by Shaw for his ability to control and move metal, an ability that surfaces when he feels extremely upset and angry. When Shaw kills Erik’s mother to guarantee the necessary amount of rage, he gains a very powerful enemy.

– Fast forward over a decade. Charles becomes a professor whose specialty is mutation, a specialty he uses to pick up girls. However, he becomes aware of the common enemy, and the existence of not-so-friendly mutants when CIA agent Moira MacTaggert (Rose Byrne) pays him a visit, demanding an explanation about mutants. While most of the CIA isn’t that cooperative and understanding, an agent played by Oliver Platt takes Charles to the special unit he has built, where Charles and Raven get to meet the mutant Hank (Nicholas Hoult) and start recruiting other mutants to help America, and Russia against Shaw. Will they be able to prevent a nuclear war and stop Shaw? What will break Charles and Erik’s bond? And how will each of the mutants feel about conformity or individuality and uniqueness?

X-Men First Class is indeed a first-class prequel. It carries the right amount of emotion and character development (for the main characters), the glorious kind of action and terrific acting on all parties. To be honest, I wasn’t really excited to see it after seeing the trailer. But I am so glad that I did. The movie works so well on so many levels that the trailer just doesn’t do it justice. The movie also has fun references to the X-men movies, as well as 2 great cameos* (read below to spoil the surprise a little) from the X-Men cast.

*Hugh Jackman, who plays Wolverine/Logan, is sitting in a bar when Erik and Charles show up, trying to introduce themselves. The other mutants have been interested, whereas Logan replies “Fuck Off! “ And orders another drink.

*Erik is drawn to Raven, but he finds her too young. When he sees her in his bed, he says “Maybe in a few years…” That is when Raven turns herself to Rebecca Romjin- who has played Mystique in the series.

The bottom line is: See this movie! It has a great cast, a great story and great effects. The cameos, and the other fun references to the X-Men movies are just bonuses!

Currently rated at 8.3 on IMDB.com. A heartfelt 9 from me. Can’t wait to see it again. It also made me want to re-watch the X-men movies.

Fun Notes:

– X-Men first class was directed by Matthew Vaughn, who also directed Stardust, Layer Cake and Kick-Ass.

– One of the co-writers & co-producers is Bryan who directed the first two X-Men films.

<br />
**

Also on James McAvoy

James Franco, James McAvoy & James Marsters: Collective Trivia for 3 Namesake Actors

Also on Rose Byrne

Damages Season 2 Review: Starring Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, Timothy Olyphant, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt and Ted Danson

Wicker Park starring Josh Hartnett, Diane Kruger, Rose Byrne & Matthew Lillard

Adam starring Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne

Also on Oliver Platt