Movie Review: The Wave (Die Welle) at the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2008

July 8th, 2008

The performances are great, the story interesting, and the messages behind it admirable.
It’s refreshing to see a film that has such weighted ideas being employed within it which are put across so honestly and with such conviction. It takes its time getting into its eventual pace but once it gets there it’s an interesting watch indeed.A high school teacher’s attempt to teach his students what it’s like to be…

Rain of Madness – Trailer

July 8th, 2008
  Rain of Madness - Trailer
No synopsis provided by the studio.
Directed by: Jon Jurjen
Starring: Tugg Speedman, Kirk Lazarus, Jeff Portnoy

7. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – $3.8M

July 8th, 2008
In 1957, Indiana Jones is thrust back in action, venturing into the jungles of South America in a race against Soviet agents to find the mystical Crystal Skull.

9. Sex and the City – $2.4M

July 8th, 2008
The continuing adventures of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda as they live their lives in Manhattan four years after the series ended.

10. You Don’t Mess with the Zohan – $2.0M

July 8th, 2008
Dennis Dugan (BIG DADDY, HAPPY GILMORE) directs this comedy co-written by Adam Sandler, Judd Apatow, and Robert Smigel. Disco- and hummus-loving Zohan (Sandler) is the Israeli army\'s best weapon. He can single-handedly take out terrorists and swim like a dolphin, and still find time to charm the ladies. But this lethal weapon is tired of fighting Palestinian terrorists like the Phantom (John Turturro). He has bigger dreams: he wants to cut and style hair. Unfortunately, once Zohan arrives in New York City with a new look straight out of the 1980s and an assumed identity after faking his own death, his lack of experience gets him laughed out of salon after salon. Finally, Dalia (Emmanuelle Chriqui), a Palestinian salon owner, gives him a shot, and the older patrons love him. But just as Zohan is hitting his stride, Salim, a Palestinian New York City cabbie (Rob Schneider) recognizes him, and suddenly the Zohan\'s dream is in jeopardy.<br><br>To confuse matters more, there is a Trump-like developer (Michael Buffer) who is trying to clear out the Manhattan neighborhood where Israelis and Palestinians peacefully coexist in order to build a mall. A bulked-up Sandler is amusing as Zohan, and this is Schneider\'s best performance in years. Despite the extreme stereotyping, there is an underlying message about the futility of war and fact that people really are, after all, just people. The film is peppered with brief appearances from a menagerie of celebrities, including Chris Rock, Dave Matthews, Charlotte Rae, Kevin James, John McEnroe, Mariah Carey, George Takei, and Bruce Vilanch. Lainie Kazan and Nick Swardson also star in this film as a mother and son who befriend the new immigrant.

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July 7th, 2008

Movie Review: Get Smart

July 7th, 2008

A disappointing TV adaptation with too much stock summer action and too little humor.
Strange how Get Smart collects such an ideal cast and misuses it. Also peculiar how the film tries to be an action comedy but never really manages to get the action and the comedy right at the same time. On the surface, from the trailers and ads, the players all certainly seem primed and ready to attempt to capture the spirit of the original 60s…

Blu-ray Review: Batman – The Movie, Special Edition

July 7th, 2008

105 minutes of campy Batman fun!
Though I wasn't born yet when the original Batman series first captivated audiences when it premiered in January of 1966 on ABC, I watched the series in the eighties whenever it showed up in syndication. Always a fan of superheroes, Batman and Superman have always topped my list of favorites. There is something about Batman, a simple human…

TV Review: Supernatural – “Fresh Blood”

July 7th, 2008

The episode when season three kicked into high gear and began to reach levels of season two.
I want to send my thanks to all who read and sent comments regarding my cop-out last week for “Red Sky At Morning”. The feedback was fantastic and many agreed with my choices for the five worst episodes. The best episodes list will be coming in a few weeks, and I’m sure I’ll get far more disagreement on that one. …

PES: Western Spaghetti

July 7th, 2008


NOTE: If you don’t see the video on the PES site, scroll down to the bottom of the page.

At long last, PES’s latest short film is online for the world to behold. “Western Spaghetti” is, in my opinion, PES’ most inventive project to date. Each clever re-purposing of ordinary items feels like a minor epiphany, a burst of childlike imagination.

I remember the audible oohs and ahhs from the audience when PES previewed a couple scenes of Western Spaghetti at the last Inspire. PES has managed to sustain that level of titillation, showing us the world through his eyes for a giddy minute and a half. Thanks to him, I’ll never look at a Rubik’s cube quite the same way again.

Big thanks to Brett for the tip!

   Post from: Motionographer