Kazed.

I had heard so much about this “Brit-Asian” film and, apart from the spoiled jokes I had been told again and again, I wasn’t expecting much. There are a rather large pile of ‘watch-and-burn’ films emerging from this genre – they either self-harm Asian society with stereotypes and predictable self-mocking, or they attempt to explore deep seated social friction – and usually do so with the grace of a horny gorilla. This film is none of the above.

Four Lions is off-beat, original, funny, thought provoking, relevant and unmissable – and yet doesn’t take itself too seriously or wallow in melodrama for more than a beat. Where Road to Guantanamo (2006) and Britz (2007) consisted of two dimensional and predictable story constructs, and almost stereotypical characters (even if one was based on a true story), Four Lions lets loose a bright buffet of depth, insight and sheer joy. Yes this is a funny film about home-grown terrorists. Riz Ahmed (Britz, Guantanamo) seems to have been unleashed from “stereotype hell” to refresh us with taste of his real, raw talent. And as for Novak, well, what can I say. His reputation certainly proceed’s him; His immersion into his character is so deep that I was well into the film before I even realised ‘Hey, I know this guy from somewhere’.

This film is funny. The kind of funny that you want to see again and again. But it bars no holds, in any of the languages used. It addresses serious issues without presumption and opinion, and it shouts passionately from the heart of a hurt and torn society.

Don’t delay or ponder on this one; rent it, buy it, borrow it, download it, stream it, whatever – but watch it now.

9/10

Statham too. But we already knew that from his high speed marathon films (see Crank now if you haven’t see it already!!). The expendables story isn’t much deeper than what you get from the trailer. It’s a bunch of Harley riding mercs that get booked for a job that’s dirty and gets them into contrived, cheesy trouble with contrived, cheesy latin amercian soldiers on a contrived and cheesy made up South American island, that is strangely titled after the internet craze of picturing yourself naked with your bum in the air. (Google ‘Vilena’ and you’ll see what I mean.

Yes, granted there’s no depth, no real frills, no surprises, a bag of money, and a reasonably helpless damsel in distress. All ingredients for fairly lame action film. And really it should never have been made – if it was someone else that made it. Fortunately Mr Stallone still knows how to entertain. So to understand this ‘thing’ that he’s made, spare a thought for the evolution of the action film during the eighties:

The poor divorced cop in a vest stuck in the Nakatomi building;

The broke kung fu master stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time, probably in the wrong era;

The big black guy with the big black machine gun that always save the day with by blowing everything up;

The emotionally confused ex-soldier that takes mission after deadly mission in the urban jungles of the world to ‘find himself’;

And the traditionally European backstabbing anti-hero that never dies, no matter how many times you shoot, crash, ram, smack, shoot again and cut him;

Do this and you will start to appreciate what an entertaining and strangely humorous film this is. Don’t ask for more, don’t peel back the layers. Save that for the French Art-house independent experimentalists at Cannes. Just eat your nachos and pop corn, and sit back and watch every explosion, every fight (yes Lundgren vs Li,  Austin Vs Couture, and Sly vs Austin, Statham vs pretty-much-everyone-in-a-uniform…), every car chase, plane ride, and every macho standoff and let ham be ham.

Keep your expectables low and The Expendables will certainly entertain.

7/10

Kushal

“Thor” SDCC
Uploaded by ThePlaylist. – Check out other Film & TV videos.

Looks pretty intense, it’s too early to judge from this little bit of footage, anything can change from now until then, so we’ll see how things develop. Keep it here folks!

EDIT: Well, this links been taken down, but expect more to develop from now until the release date.

Kazed

Avengers movie

Captain America: The First Avenger

Thor

Captain America: The First Avenger is currently set for a release in July of 2011, with Thor in May of 2011. No details for Avengers just yet.

Nevertheless, just seeing those logos is ever so exciting.

Kazed

Let’s see how the Nominees(and myself) did.

Let’s get straight into this. So it’ll go like this:

Award: Winner

My Pick: *Film*

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker (Katheryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier and Greg Shapiro)

My pick: Avatar

Actor in a Leading Role: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)

My pick: George Clooney (Up in the Air)

Actor in a Supporting Role: Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds)

My pick: Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds)

Actress in a Leading Role: Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)

My pick: Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)

Actress in a Supporting Role: Mo-Nique (Precious)

My pick: Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air)

Animated Feature Film: Up (Pete Docter)

My pick: Up

Art Direction: Avatar (James Cameron)

My pick: Avatar

Cinematography: Avatar (James Cameron)

My pick: Avatar

Directing: The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow)

My pick: Up in the Air

Film Editing: The Hurt Locker (Bob Murawski and Chris Innis)

My pick: Inglorious Basterds

Foreign Language film: The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos) – Argentina, Directed by Juan Jose Campanella

My pick: Un Prophète (A Prophet)

Makeup: Star Trek (Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow)

My pick: Star Trek

Music (Original Score): Up (Michael Giacchino)

My pick: Avatar

Music (Original Song): Crazy Heart – “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

My pick: Down in New Orleans

Sound Editing: The Hurt Locker (Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett)

My pick: Up

Sound Mixing: The Hurt Locker (Paul N.J. Ottosson)

My pick: Star Trek

Visual Effects: Avatar (Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones)

My pick: Avatar

Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’, by Sapphire (Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher)

My pick: Up in the Air

Writing (Original Screenplay): The Hurt Locker (Mark Boal)

My pick: Up

So there we have it. Movieville.org’s first Academy Award picks. So it wasn’t THAT bad, I got 6 correct of the 19 listed. Ahem. never mind, to be completely honest though, some of them I felt I should change after I wrote the post, but it wouldn’t have seemed fair. Not so bad. To see the rest of the winners I haven’t listed here, clicky.

The Hurt Locker deservedly took away the Best Picture award, although Avatar had its ‘prime rib’ moments, there were too many elements that were stacked against Cameron & Avatar. Like his past with Bigelow. Zing. Seriously though, whether any of the films won or not, each film has the power to capture an individual’s attention, and these awards are merely an ego booster. I kid.

Until next time,

Kazed

Let’s get this started. I’ll justify the ones I feel need justifying, otherwise it’ll just be the nomination.

Best Picture: Avatar

The first time watching Avatar in 3D, I said it was the best film I had ever seen. In many ways, it was, but there were minor flaws brining this film down. But based solely on the recognition this film has been getting since it’s release, it seems to be a clear pick for best picture.

Actor in a Leading Role: George Clooney (Up in the Air)

After watching Up in the Air, it hadn’t occurred to me that Clooney would be in the running for an Oscar. Watching it a second time, it’s quite clear as to why he was considered to be in the running for an Academy Award. Clooney in Up in the Air was as refreshing as the film itself. Definitely not his best, but definitely Oscar-worthy.

Actor in a Supporting Role: Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds)

His sinister presence was noticed in every scene he was present in, and his performance as an antagonist in Inglorious was as noteworthy as the rest of the cast, if not better. Having already received a number of awards for his supporting role, this one should be in the bag.

Actress in a Leading Role: Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)

I couldn’t see another actress on the list who deserved it more than Sidibe did.

Actress in a Supporting Role: Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air)

Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air was such an excellent addition, after her minor role in the ‘Twilight’ films, it was definitely a step up seeing her in a more ‘involved’ role.

Animated Feature Film: Up

Every time Disney/Pixar release a film, they never cease to impress. Up most definitely wasn’t an exception. Each film is a step up from the last, and Up exhibits this perfectly. Definitely the best animated feature of the year.

Art Direction: Avatar

Nuff’ said.

Cinematography: Avatar

There were too many shots in Avatar to count. But each shot was as beautiful as the last. The shot from the top of Hometree, from the Hallelujah Mountains, the trademark shot of Sully’s feet ‘tasting’ the fresh soil for the first time- All shots which will forever remind me of Avatar.

Directing: Up in the Air

Film Editing: Inglorious Basterds

Foreign Language film: Un Prophète (A Prophet)

Makeup: Star Trek

Music (Original Score): Avatar

I’ve never listen to a movie score more than I’ve listened to Avatar’s. I said this when I reviewed it, how each track equally matches it’s visual counterpart, in both intensity and emotion. Whether Avatar gets the award for this nomination or not, it’ll still be one of the best movie scores I’ve heard.

Music (Original Song): Down in New Orleans

Sound Editing: Up

Sound Mixing: Star Trek

Visual Effects: Avatar

Again, nuff’ said.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Up in the Air

Having already won an award for the same nomination at the BAFTA’s, it won’t surprise me if Up in the Air grabs an Oscar.

Writing (Original Screenplay): Up

There we have it, my picks.

Kazed.

FYI, The reason for me not doing the BAFTA’s was it was too close to the time.

Nuff’ said.

Source: Boxofficemojo.com

Kazed

WARNING: Contains spoilers, watch at your own risk.

It’s a headscratcher as to why they’ve included some of the film’s main pivotal moments, spoiler alert or what?!

Good video though, if you’ve seen it, it’d obviously make more sense and you’d appreciate it more.

Kazed

Currently in 4th place, and having been in theatres for only 17 days in theatres, one has to wonder how much more Avatar can make.

I thought this was interesting. It deserved a place on Movieville. It got it.

Kazed