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Frozen starring Shawn Ashmore, Kevin Zegers and Emma Bell

Posted on November 29, 2010 Written by ripitup

Frozen starring Kevin Zegers, Shawn Ashmore and Emma Bell. 2010. Written and directed by Adam Green.

Three friends Joe, Dan and Parker (Shawn Ashmore, Kevin Zegers and Emma Bell) are three friends enjoying a weekend ski getaway. Well, it is more like Dan (Kevin Zegers)’s girlfriend Parker (Emma Bell) is trying to blend in to which would typically be a boys’ outing. The boys have been friends since primary school and Joe is not all that happy with the changing dynamics. But as it turns out, the adjustment would be the least of their worries as the trio decides to fit in a one late night ski adventure. Bad luck ends them up in stranded in the air on the airlift. Things couldn’t have been much worse as the power goes off, lights go down and the lounge closes for the week.

From then on, it is a constant struggle with their possible upcoming death from freezing, while trying to decide if they should try out riskier things for the chance of survival.

I really would rather not give any details, as the bigger part of the movie is about how these three people try to handle life-or-death dilemmas, while trying not to completely lose it. There is one minor spoiler though – if you are watching this because Zegers is in the lead, just know Shawn Ashmore has more screen time.

That said, the acting is really decent, the effects are satisfactory and it is a good drama/thriller if you enjoy survival films. Now, I wish I could see it at the theaters. I ended up watching it on small screen and while the drama is effective, I suspect a ground sound system on a huge screen would have a lot to do with a thrilling effect.

Don’t get me wrong though, nature does provide some scary elements. And if you turn on the empathy mode just a tiny bit, there is no reason you shouldn’t enjoy the film.

Yeah, there were moments of boredom on my part- but remember- the film is about three people on a ski-lift in the freezing cold while I was perfectly safe and sound on my bed, while I had my laptop to entertain me. Now, there was this user review that said while Frozen is a decent film, it doesn’t do to skiing what Jaws did for swimmers. Well, I think Frozen is not meant to scare you about skiing. It is meant to freak you out about getting on a ski-lift in the middle of the night while there is practically no one around.

It is not a prize, but it sure as hell not a waste of your time either. Written & directed by Adam Green.

6.4 on IMDB. 7/10 from me – for the overall effort and effect.

Other Movies with Kevin Zegers

The Jane Austen Book Club starring Maria Bello, Hugh Dancy, Emily Blunt & Kevin Zegers

It’s a boy/girl thing starring Kevin Zegers

Tristan + Isolde starring James Franco, Sophia Myles, Rufus Sewell & Henry Cavill

Posted on November 26, 2010 Written by ripitup

Tristan and Isolde starring James Franco, Sophia Myles, Rufus Sewell, Henry Cavill and Mark Strong. A Kevin Reynolds film, 2006. Image via sinemablog.com

Britain, Dark Ages. Britain consists of several tribes, not united. Ireland is a lot stronger, and the Irish King is more than determined to keep it this way.

British young Tristan (Thomas Sangster – The Last Legion, Love Actually) father is for unison, and he wants Marke (Rufus Sewell) to be a king, as Marke is the strongest of the lords. However a meeting in favor of the unison gets interrupted when the Irish attack. Many are killed, including Tristan’s parents. Marke loses his hand, but manages to save Tristan’s life. Despite the losses, Marke orders that they rebuild. He loves and treats Tristan as he does his own son, Melot.

Years later, Tristan (James Franco) and Melot (Henry Cavill) grow up to be good fighters, soldier and friends; although Melot is upset that Marke seems to favor Tristan when it comes to leadership.

After another Irish attack takes place, Tristan manages to help save many lives but ends up poisoned. The poison makes Tristan appear dead and his “body” is sent out to the sea- ending up on the Irish shore. He is found by Princess Isolde (Sophia Myles) and her maid Bragnae (Bronagh Gallagher) find Tristan. Despite Bragnae’s concerns, Isolde hides Tristan and nurses him back to health. Her time with Tristan is the only time Isolde is happy, as her father the king is forcing her to marry one of his obnoxious soldiers. The only mistake Isolde makes with him is that she hides her real name. The two fall madly in love, but she doesn’t leave with Tristan when he goes back.

Back home, Marke is more than happy to see Tristan alive and well. Complications arise when as Marke’s trusted soldier and in favor peace, Tristan goes to Ireland and wins a tournament, so that Marke can marry the princess. But of course the princess turns out to be Isolde, and both their worlds come crashing down. Despite his love for Marke, can Tristan stay away from Isolde?

That wasn’t the entire plot summary, just the first third of the movie. Sorry, I got carried away but I just love Tristan and Isolde. It is a lovely period film with fine actors. I have always been a major Rufus Sewell fan and the movie has an additional bonus that is Mark Strong. I wouldn’t have picked another Tristan or Isolde. Both James Franco and Sophia Myles are pretty, passionate and emotional enough for their roles, although Henry Cavill is fun to have around as well.

The only part I don’t like about this love story is that, well, it turns into a tragedy because how foolishly Tristan and Isolde both act. Isolde should have told him her real name, at least when they parted. Or she could have just gone with him. It is not like her life was happy without him there. Or Tristan could have told Marke in the beginning. Or they could have just run away… Instead, they have to act all stupidly, thinking they are being heroic and self-sacrificing. ..Yes, I am more into happy romance stories but Tristan and Isolde is a good enough story, despite the unnecessary tragedies two of the main characters bring on themselves.

You need to see it, if you like a good period romance with fine acting and a decent story.

Franco is good at portraying different characters. I can’t wait to see his 127 Hours. You might remember Sophia Myles as Beth Turner from Moonlight.

Currently 7 on IMDB. 7 sounds just right. Directed by Kevin Reynolds (Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, The Counte of Monte Cristo.)

Other Posts on Rufus Sewell

The British Actors We Love feat. Rufus Sewell

The Woodlanders: A Gorgeous Rufus Sewell in an Awful Movie

In a Savage Land with Rufus Sewell

Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence: Fun romcom with Monica Potter, Rufus Sewell and Joseph Fiennes

Vinyan starring Rufus Sewell

The Illusionist with Edward Norton, Rufus Sewell and Jessica Biel

And when did you last see your father? starring Colin Firth and Jim Broadbent

Posted on November 18, 2010 Written by ripitup

And When Did You Last See Your starring Colin Firth and Jim Broadbent

It is hard to say that author Blake (Colin Firth) respects or admires his dad Arthur (Jim Boradbent) much. He is even embarassed by him and a little angry. And who can blame him?

Arthur wasn’t exactly a model father. He was cheap, didn’t support his son’s dreams, cheated on his mom with his mother’s sister; all the while his mom was aware of the whole thing???

There is a lot of anger in Blake and there is much confrontation to be made but Blake has to overlook all these feelings when Arthur gets really sick. Blake moves back home for a while to help his mother and sister out and trying to be with his father in his final days. Despite all the negative stuff that has happened, a father-son relationship is just too complicated to be just in black and white…

There is no problem with the acting or the direction. Colin never has trouble playing any character but emotional just suits him even better. The only problem here is that we have seen this story before. Maybe not with all its elements but it has been there. The less than perfect father? Angry son? The resiliant wife who loves her husband despite everything???It is a true story but what would movie-goers lose if this has not been made into film? Sadly, the answer is nothing.

I am not saying this is a bad film. I am just saying it is all too familiar. If you are not an absolute fan of father-son films and are not crazy about Colin Firth, there is not much point in seeing it.

If you do want to see a much more remarkable father-son(s) movie, watch The Boys are Back with Clive Owen. Also a real story, but with much more interesting elements and more likeable characters…

Other Posts on Colin Firth

Colin Firth Trivia

The Last Legion starring Colin Firth

Trauma starring Colin Firth and Mena Suvari

The British Actors We Love feat. Colin Firth, Daniel Day Lewis, Rufus Sewell and Ralph Fiennes

St. Trinian’s starring Colin Firth

Apartment Zero starring Colin Firth

The Accidental Husband starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Uma Thurman &Colin Firth

The English Patient feat. Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Kristin Scott Thomas & Colin Firth

Hollywood’s Tall Actors feat. Colin Firth, Keanu Reeves, Gerard Butler & More

Brideshead Revisited starring Matthew Goode, Hayley Atwell, Ben Whishaw and Emma Thompson

Posted on November 12, 2010 Written by ripitup

Brideshead Revisited starring Emma Thompson, Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw and Haley AtwellBrideshead Revisited starring Emma Thompson, Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw and Haley Atwell — Brideshead Revisited starring Emma Thompson, Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw and Haley Atwell

It was before World War II broke out…

Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) is by no means poor, but he is definitely not rich and he is not coming from a significant family. He has a rather cold and restrained relationship with his father.

His uneventful life however changes forever when he starts his first year at Oxford University and meets the colorful Sebastian (Ben Whishaw). Sebastian is a lot more intriguing than Charles’s own cousin, who calls Sebastian and his gang sodomites. And he is not technically wrong as Sebastian is openly gay and feminine. Charles enjoys his company and falls in love with Sebastian’s extraordinary family mansion and living quarters called Brideshead.

Charles spends a wonderful time with Sebastian although he is not exactly sure why Sebastian wants to keep Charles away from his mother and sister. It has a lot to do with his mother (Emma Thompson) being a strict Catholic who loves to control her children and make them feel guilty. Sebastian likes his sister Julia (Haley Atwell)though. She also seems to be rebellious like him. Things get increasingly complicated when Charles finds himself intensely drawn to the sister and Sebastian notices this. Charles’ growing feelings for her will endanger his relationship with the entire family, especially the mother. She was OK with him hanging around when he seemed like the grounded friend who would keep her son from trouble. Unfortunately, being an atheist artist with no resources, he is not someone she’d ever allow her daughter to be with.

Can Charles salvage his friendship with Sebastian, manage to be with … despite the mother? Or does Charles even know for sure what he is and what he wants? The same can be asked about Julia as well…

Brideshead Revisited is a period drama adapted from the novel of the same name. It starts as beautiful and engaging period drama but as the movie goes on, the story loses a lot of momentum. Ben Whishaw’s Sebstian has just too many clichés, none of the characters seem to know who they are apart from Emma Thompson’s character and unfortunately her character is the most boring and depressing at all. I love the first couple of scenes of the film and how things start but the movie starts to drag, especially after the scenes in Venice. By the time Charles gets to be with Julia, it was already more than 1,5 hours into the money and apart from their “big reunion”, their relationship is just plain boring.

I am not a Catholic, and I am not an atheist. Maybe I have the tendency to be an agnostic and so I rarely ever cared about the guilt trips of the siblings, and their bleak existence. Matthew Goode’s character was alright up to the point, but there is so much you can care about a lead who centers his life around 2 people, who let their lives run by their mom.

Nonetheless, it is an opportunity for Matthew Goode and Ben Whishaw fans as the movie last longer than 2 hours.

The story, though, is just not as magnificent as its cast or the Brideshead house. It is not romantic enough, sexy enough or interesting enough- and this is coming from a girl who likes period dramas and Matthew Goode.

Other Posts on Matthew Goode

Leap Year starring Matthew Goode and Amy Adams

Watchmen starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman and Matthew Goode

The Lookout starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Matthew Goode and Jeff Daniels

Matthew Goode Trivia

Chasing Liberty starring Matthew Goode and Mandy Moore

Watchmen starring Matthew Goode, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman

Copying Beethoven starring Ed Harris, Diane Kruger and Matthew Goode