Thoughts on Life. The Universe. And Everything Else

SDCC 2010

2009-11-06T22:17:00.000-05:00

Well it looks like I will be attending San Diego Comic-Con next year. I was able to get a four day pass right before they sold out today, so I'm super excited that I'll be attending for my 3rd year in a row. Last year I had an amazing time at the convention, so I can't wait for next years con.

FlashForward

2009-09-24T21:40:00.003-04:00

Tonight was the premiere of the new show FlashForward, starring Joseph Fiennes, John Cho, and Sonya Walger (Penny from Lost). The show centers on a global event that causes everyone in the world to blackout for 2 minutes and 17 seconds. During this time everyone sees their future, what they will be doing 6 months in the future. After the event occurs, the world is left in chaos, people are left wondering what they saw, while others are injured or dead, due to accidents occurring during the blackout.

At first the only blackout the audience sees is that of FBI agent, Mark Benford (Fiennes) but as the show progresses we see the futures of the some of the other characters. By the end of the episode, many of the characters are questioning what they saw, and if they can change their future. There is definitely a lot of mystery to the show, and I personally can't wait for some questions to be answered, especially after how the pilot ended. I look forward to watching this show the rest of the season.

Wrath of Con Party

2009-08-27T23:07:00.007-04:00

Here are a few pictures from the Wrath of Con Party. It was an awesome event, definitely a highlight of the convention for me.

Masi Oka from Heroes and Myself

Zachary Levi from Chuck

The Guys from the Ben 10 Movie

Aita Briem

Sam Huntington

Ed Brubaker, Zoe Bell and Myself

Ryan McPartlin from Chuck

Ryan McPartlin, Mark Christopher Lawrence and Myself

Alison Haislip, Myself and Chris Hardwick

Kevin Sorbo, Myself and Chuck Lorre

Jess, Kunal Nayyar, and Myself

SDCC 09

2009-06-30T18:19:00.004-04:00

In a little less then a month, I will be heading to San Diego Comic-Con. I hope to be able to update this site, with interesting news from the con. I will also be updating twitter a lot during the convention, so if you want to be update on the latest happenings at SDCC make sure you visit my twitter page.

Early press releases from various studios and networks are already appearing online. Some of the shows attending this years convention are: Dexter, Caprica, BSG: The Plan, Eureka, The Big Bang Theory, Dollhouse, Bones, Chuck, Supernatural, Smallville, Heroes, Sanctuary, Lost, Family Guy, True Blood, Fringe, Doctor Who, Torchwood and many others.

The Stargate Contiuum Panel at SDCC 08

A few films have announced SDCC premieres, as well as panels. Peter Jackson will be making his first SDCC appearance whilst promoting the film District 9. There will be a New Moon panel, the sequel to Twilight. Warner Brothers has confirmed some of the films that will have panels, howerver the talent attending the panels has not been confirmed yet. Some of the films are: Sherlock Holmes, The Box, Where the Wild Things Are, Jonah Hex, The Final Destination, and others.

This SDCC marks the 40th anniversary of the convention and with all the announcements it seems like the convention is going to be great.

BEST WEEK EVER

2009-05-08T22:20:00.003-04:00

This past week has been amazing and it's still not over. Although I don't see how it could get any better! So you may be asking yourself right now, well what made this week so phenomenal, well I am going to tell you. But first a long, drawn out story that explains it all. So my story begins on Tuesday, when I went to NYC with my friends Carl and E.J. to see the taping of Jimmy Fallon, and the guest that day was J.J. Abrams. Now if you know me, you may know that I am obsessed with all things J.J. Abrams. If you don't know me, then that translates, as he is one of my favorite directors and creators. I loved Alias and Lost and one of my new obsessions is Fringe. So seeing him in person was surreal. After the taping whilst we were on our way out J.J. happened to be walking on his way out, followed by a mob of course. I got to talk with him for about a second, and I got have my picture taken with him. I was in total fan girl mode. But it was amazing, he was so nice, and when I told him how excited I was about Star Trek, he told me that he hoped I liked it (I did by the way, but more of that later). We actually saw a lot of celebrities during the trip to the city, because we came across a Red Carpet Event, for Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People. There were so many people there that I can't even list them all, but you can see all the photos on facebook and flickr (once I add them). Lastly we met Colin Hanks, which was pretty cool. Right now he is in a play, called 33 Variations, on Broadway with Jane Fonda.

So after that I really didn't think my week could get any better, but then I returned to Northeastern PA, an area that nothing ever happens, only to find out that a movie is being filmed in Carbondale. I heard that a movie was going to film in the area, but honestly I thought something would happen and the plan would fall through, but the cast of crew of Blue Valentine are in the area filming for the next month. The film stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams. So me and my friend Carl decided to head up to Carbondale to see the film being made on Wednesday, and we were able to meet Michelle Williams. So we went back on Thursday, because we heard that both Michelle and Ryan would be filming, and afterwards we were able to meet Ryan Gosling, which was pretty awesome.

So these past three days have been pretty awesome. I can't wait to see what the next few weeks have in store for me.

Chuck vs. the Ring

2009-04-27T00:14:00.001-04:00

Tonight's season (possibly series) finale was a game changing episode of Chuck. If the show gets renewed it will be interesting to see what the writers do next. With the intersect out of Chuck's head, Chuck is ready to go back to being a regular guy. He turns down a job as an analyst working on the new intersect, quits his job at the Buy-More, and now wants to focus on his new life, and hopefully finally get the woman of his dreams. But fate has a different plan for Chuck.

This episode of Chuck was the best episode of the season, possibly the series. So much happened in the episode, I can't believe that it was only an hour long. It felt like so much happened. The ending of the episode was very open and at the end it said "to be continued." Some of the jaw dropping parts of the episode were (Spoiler Alert):

That Chuck's dad has an intersect in his head.
The is another group after the intersect, once that is worse then Fulcrum and that has infiltrated the CIA.
Unknown changes were made to the new intersect.
A dying Bryce asks Chuck to destroy the newly created intersect, however, Chuck decides that he was meant to work with the Government and re-downloads the intersect into his head.
After flashing on bad guys and pictures of Kung Fu, it seems that Chuck is able to do Kung Fu.

So hopefully the show will be renewed so we can see what comes next for our favorite spy. Do your part to help save Chuck. It's a great show, and we need another season.

Dollhouse: Haunted

2009-04-24T23:49:00.005-04:00

Dollhouse has been on a roll lately. The show just seems to be getting better and better. I started watching the show, because it was a Joss Whedon show and one of the stars was Tahmoh Penikett (Helo from Battlestar Galactica), but the show has exceeded my expectations.

This past weeks episode focused on life after death. How the dollhouse could be used to bring a person back to life in the body of another person. In the episode Adelle's friend is killed, and is brought back to life in Echo's body to see what happens to her family and friend after her death. While witnessing her own viewing and seeing how family is behaving, she starts to piece together her own death to figure out who murdered her. Also in the episode, Topher needed an active for a special engagement, however it turned out that he only needed the active for a friend on his birthday. Appearently Adelle allows him once a year, to have an active be an actual friend to him, so that he can have an enjoyable birthday. Lastly, Paul Ballard investigated Mellie's past. He tried to distance himself from Mellie, without letting anyone know that she is a doll. He was able to learn some of Mellie;s secret identities, only to have all the information erased. Paul also had a hard time being with her, he is disgusted with the dollhouse, and therefore disgusted with himself for taking advantage of Mellie by being with her.

The episode was intriguing, it showed us a different sides of many of the characters. The audience saw a different side of Adelle, a side of her resevered for her firends. We also saw a more vulnerable side of her because she had to deal with the death of her friend, and walk a fine line within the company, because she was questioned by Boyd about what she was doing, and she still had to help her friend. Topher was also shown in a different light. He is usually this out going, sarcastic, lab nerd, however the audience now sees him as a loner, who doesn't even have friends to spend his birthday with. This is such a dark and intersting show, and next weeks preview looks amazing. Also a special guest next week will be Alan Tudyk from Firefly and Serenity, and the episode looks to be filled with action and maybe a few answers. Hope fully the show will get a renewal for next season, even if it is a limited run, because this intriguing story deserves an actual ending.

EDIT: This week is watch Dollhouse week, leading up to the finale this Friday. If you haven't been watching the show, now is the perfect time to start. If you are watching the show, now is the time to get your friends and family hooked. This may help us save this show. Head on over to watchdollhouseweek.com and enjoy the episodes.

Chuck: Help Us Save This Show

2009-04-20T18:30:00.004-04:00

It's hard to choose which show to watch Monday nights at 8, there's House MD, The Big Bang Theory, Gossip Girl, and Chuck. Right now Chuck has a 50/50 chance at getting renewed. While I like all the shows, every week I watch Chuck. There is a campaign at Givememyremote.com to try and save Chuck.

Chuck (Zachary Levi) is an average guy and a computer whiz who works as a computer expert for the Nerd Herd at the local Buy More. After downloading a super computer known as the intersect into his brain, he is able to flash on people and weaponry and works with his handlers (Yvonne Strahovski and Adam Baldwin) using the knowledge in his brain to stop the bad guys and protect the US and the World. Chuck also has to deal with his friends and family, whom he often has to protect, and whom often inadvertently interfere with missions.

The show has a great cast and this season has had some amazing recurring guest stars, including: Tony Hale, Jordana Brewster, Scott Bakula, and Chevy Chase. Other guest stars throughout the season included: Michael Clarke Duncan, Melinda Clarke, Nicole Richie, Gary Cole, Dominic Monaghan, and Tricia Helfer.

Everyone should tell there friends about this awesome show, because right now it needs more viewers. NBC has tough decisions to make, because coming the fall Jay Leno will have the 10 o'clock spot every night, so that means that there are less spots for other shows. Chuck deserves another season, and the show needs the help of all the fans to hopefully secure it. On the site there are also postcards to be sent to NBC, as well as different things post on blogs, twitter and facebook. So please join the Nerd Herd and save this awesome show.

NYC Trip

2009-04-13T19:40:00.000-04:00

I went to NYC this past Saturday with my friends. We hung out around SNL and got to meet some of the cast members again. I love going to SNL and hanging out, the cast is so nice and it's always a good time. We also bumped into Nikki Blonsky from Hairspray, who was really nice. Here are some pics from the evening.

NY Comic-Con 2009

2009-02-18T22:38:00.010-05:00

A few weekends ago I went to NY for Comic-con. I have been so busy with work that I just didn't have the time for this huge post. But I figured I better make some time for this.

The convention was amazing. There was a lot of great programming and a lot of big names in attendance. There was so much to do at the convention and there was not enough time to do it all. Before I realized it, the convention was over and the 3 days had gone by so fast. I didn't even have time to attend a panel til Sunday. I was able to attend the Chuck panel, and they showed some exclusive clips from the second half of the season. I also went to the panel for the Wanted video game. The game looks awesome, has some really cool features and ties into both the film and the book. There was a little mention of the film sequel, only confirming that there is a sequel and no details about the cast or the storyline of the film.

A highlight of the convention for me was meeting Brian M. Bendis. It was great meeting him, because I really did enjoy reading Secret Invasion. I also met John Noble from Fringe and he was really nice. Fringe is easily one of the favorite new shows, and Dr. Walter Bishop is the best part of the show, so it was really great meeting him. I was also interviewed for the Fringe Podcast so that was pretty cool as well.

Lastly at the end of the day on Sunday, while walking down Artist Alley, I bumped into Tahmoh Penikett from Battlestar Galactica. It was amazing because I was unable to attend the Dollhouse Panel, and I didn't want to go the convention center at 3 in the morning for tickets to the signing, so it amazing that I just bumped into him. He was so nice, and he even took a picture with me. Being a big fan of BSG I was ecstatic.

So onto the pictures. I posted a bunch of other pictures on my Flickr site, so feel free to look at them there or on facebook. I may post more of the them here if I have the time.

SAG Award Winners

2009-01-25T20:29:00.005-05:00

Here are the Winners from tonight's Screen Actors Guild Awards:

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Tina Fey for 30 Rock

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock

Outstanding Performance by a Ensemble Cast in a Comedy Series: 30 Rock

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Kate Winslet for The Reader

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Hugh Laurie for House

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Sally Field for Brothers and Sisters

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast in a Drama Series: Mad Men

Life Achievement Award: James Earl Jones

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: Laura Linney for John Adams

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: Paul Giamatti for John Adams

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Meryl Streep for Doubt

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Sean Penn for Milk

Outstanding Performance by an Cast in a Motion Picture: Slumdog Millionaire

Golden Globe Winners 2009

2009-01-11T23:50:00.000-05:00

Here are the winners from tonights Golden Globe Awards:

Best Motion Picture - Drama: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy: Vicky Christina Barcelona

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama : Micky Rourke for The Wrestler

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: Kate Winslett for Revolutionary Road

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: Colin Farrell for In Bruges

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Kate Winslett for The Reader

Best Director - Motion Picture: Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Original Song - Motion Picture: The Wrestler

Best Original Score - Motion PIcture: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Animated Film: Wall-E

Best Foreign Language Film: Waltz with Bashir

Best Television Series - Drama: Mad Men

Best Television Series - Musical/Comedy: 30 Rock

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: John Adams

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV: Paul Giamatti for John Adams

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for TV: Laura Linney for John Adams

Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series - Musical/Comedy: Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock

Best Performance by an Acrtress in a TV Series - Musical/Comedy: Tina Fey for 30 Rock

Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series - Drama: Gabriel Byrne for In Treatment

Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series - Drama: Anna Paquin for True Blood

Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a TV Series/Mini-Series/Motion Picture Made for TV: Tom Wilkinson for John Adams

Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a TV Series/Mini-Series/Motion Picture Made for TV: Laura Dern for Recount

New York Comic- Con

2009-01-06T23:43:00.003-05:00

Well NY Comic-con is right around the corner...in fact it's 1 month away today. And this convention is shaping up to be great. The guest list is awesome and some attending artists and writers are: Grant Morrison, Brian Bendis, Jim Lee, Geoff Johns, J.G. Jones, David Finch, Matt Fraction, Ben Templesmith, Leinil Yu, Dave Gibbons, Alex Maleev, Andy Lanning, Dan Abnett, Gabriele Del'Otto. It has also recently been announce that Robot Chicken creators, Seth Green & Matthew Senreich will also be attending, they will be hosting a panel with special guests Breckin Meyer, Geoff Johns and Kevin Shinick, on saturday.

For more information on the convention visit: nycomiccon.com

For the latest news on the convention visit: mediumatlarge.net

NYC for Equus

2008-12-21T23:36:00.002-05:00

I went this past week into NYC with my friend Carl to see Equus staring Daniel Radcliffe. We had a pretty awesome time, apart from a incident with a cup of coffee. We met the stars from a few plays and met Will Smith and of Montreal at Letterman.

Golden Globe Nominations

2008-12-11T21:16:00.008-05:00

The nominees for the 66th annual Golden Globes were announced today. The winners will be announced on January 11.

Here is a list of the nominees:

Best Motion Picture - Drama
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The ReaderRevolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Actor Motion Picture - Drama
Leonardo Dicaprio - Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Best Actress Motion Picture - Drama
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changling
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kristen Scott Thomas - I've Loved You So Long
Kate Winslett - Revolutionary Road

Best Actor Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Javier Bardem - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Colin Farrell - In Bruges
James Franco - Pineapple Express
Brendan Gleeson - In Bruges
Dustin Hoffman - Last Chance Harvey

Best Actress Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Rebecca Hall - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand - Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep - Mamma Mia!
Emma Thompson - Last Chance Harvey

Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture
Tom Cruise - Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Ralph Fiennes - The Duchess
Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture
Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Kate Winslet - The Reader

Best Director - Motion Picture
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry - The Reader
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes - Revolutionary Road

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Original Song
Bolt
Cadillac Records
Gran torino
Wall-E
The Wrestler

Best Original Score
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Frost/Nixon
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Animated Film
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E

Best Television Series - Drama

Dexter
House M.D.
In Treatment
Mad Men
True Blood

Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Californication
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock
Weeds

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Bernard and Doris
Cranford
John Adams
A Raisin in the Sun
Recount

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Ralph Fiennes - Bernard and Doris
Paul Giamatti - John Adams
Kevin Spacey - Recount
Kiefer Sutherland - 24: Redemption
Tom Wilkinson - Recount

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Judi Dench - Cranford
Catherine Keener - An American Crime
Laura Linney - John Adams
Shirley MacLaine - Coco Chanel
Susan Sarandon - Bernard and Doris

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock
Steve Carell - The Office
Kevin Connolly - Entourage
David Duchovny - Californication
Tony Shalhoub - Monk

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Christina Applegate - Samantha Who?
America Ferrera - Ugly Betty
Tina Fey - 30 Rock
Debra Messing - The Starter Wife
Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
Gabriel Byrne - In Treatment
Michael C. Hall - Dexter
Jon Hamm - Mad Med
Hugh Laurie - House M.D.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers - The Tudors

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters
Mariska Hargitay - Law and Order: SVU
January Jones - Mad Men
Anna Paquin - True Blood
Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother
Denis Leary - Recount
Jeremy Piven - Entourage
Blair Underwood - In Treatment
Tom Wilkinson - John Adams

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Eileen Atikins - Cranford
Laura Dern - Recount
Melissa George - In Treatment
Rachel Griffiths - Brothers & Sisters
Dianne Wiest - In Treatment

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Twilight

2008-11-29T13:39:00.000-05:00

Twilight is one of the movies that both fans of the book and newcomers to the series can enjoy. In the film Bella (Kristen Stewart) moves from Phoenix Arizona, to the small town of Forks, Washington. At her local high school, Bella fits right in, making friends and even getting the attention of some of the boys. She immediately notices Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and his family. The entire family is eerily white and all of them are beautiful, with golden eyes that seem to change color. Her first encounter with Edward does not go well, he looks at her as if he hates her. However, that is not the case, instead it is that she is so appealing to him, that he wants to drink her blood, because he is a vampire. Although he fights his temptation, even telling her to stay away from him because he is dangerous, he realizes that he is in love with her and those feelings are mutual. There are however darker forces at work, including bad vampires, who unlike the Cullens, who hunt animals to quench there bloodlust, hunt humans, killing a few of the local townspeople. She not only has to deal with them but, the local Indian tribe as well. The indians are descendants of the wolf, and are enemies of the vampires and while the youngest child Jacob (Tyler Lautner) seems to like Bella his father seems to be keeping a watchful eye on her.

This film was very enjoyable, there were a few laughs, some inside jokes for fans of the books, and some excellent action scenes. The end of the film while resolving the main storyline, hints at what is to come in future installments. I look forward to the sequel to this film, and hopefully film adaptations for the rest of the series.

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Secret Invasion 7

2008-10-23T00:36:00.004-04:00

In Secret Invasion #7 all hell breaks loose in NYC and the battle between the skrulls and heroes is in full swing. This issue had some really standout moments, and one of them involved one of my favorite characters, but I'll get to that later. The action starts out right on the first page of the issue, which is a two-page spread, featuring the beginnings of the battle. Newsarama has a page by page description of entire issue here.

One of the standout moments was the arrival of Marvel Boy, who in the name of Captain Mar-Vell and the Kree Empire declares that this fight is over. This serves as almost a second battle call and the Avengers once again charge the skrulls while Thor yells "have at thee." Another interesting moment is when Jessica Jones realizes that Luke was right all along, and decided to join in the battle as Jewel. She leave the baby with Skrull Jarvis, thinking that Danielle will be safe with him. However at the end of the issue he reverts to his true form and tells that baby that the heroes have to submit to the skrulls will.

Lastly, during the battle, Young Avenger Hawkeye gets hurt and drops her bow and arrow, while the vision, also of the Young Avengers takes her out of the battle. Clint Barton , the former Hawkeye and current Ronin, picks up his old bow and arrows and starts killing skrulls immediately. He hits three in the head immediately. Clint then takes aim at the Skrull Queen and hits her with an arrow right through her face. With this Skrullowjacket realizes that it is time for their end game. Skrullowjacket had given the Wasp a new growth formula which causes her to grow very large and start to glow. At this the major heroes begin to react in pain.

For me the best part of issue was Clint Barton becoming Hawkeye again. There has been a lot of Clint Barton through this series, and he has had to deal with a lot. Prior to this in New Avengers it seemed as though he was starting a relationship with Echo. However while he was in the savage land he ran into Mockingbird and believed her to be his actual wife. However when it was revealed that she was a skrull it broke Clint's heart and he declared that this wouldn't end until every last skrull was dead. Clint has had to deal with a lot these past few years, and with the Fake Mockingbird, he had a lot of built up anger, and he certainly took it out on the skrulls. Clint is one of my favorite characters and it good to see him with his bow and arrows.

Baltimore Comic-con

2008-09-28T13:10:00.000-04:00

Baltimore Comic-con
Originally uploaded by franquiz02

Well this past Saturday I took a trip down to Baltimore, with my friend John for Baltimore Comic-con. I had a really great time at the convention, and I even got to meet Jim Lee while I was there. I started out the day by going to the DC Nation panel. Dan Didio moderated the panel and panelists included Geoff Johns, Jimmy Palmiotti, Sean McKeever, James Robinson, and Sterling Gates. The panel started out by highlighting DC's current lineup and a preview of what's coming up next. There was a lot of talk about Final Crisis and Batman R.I.P. as well as Superman and how October was going to be an important month for the Man of Steel. The panel was interesting and I always enjoy the DC panels because they seem to be very fan friendly. Geoff Johns was probably the best part of the panel, because we got to hear about some of the upcoming things that he has going on, and his answers to questions were very funny. A lot of the questions that people asked were about characters that had been killed off or hadn't been seen in a while and Johns kept saying that they were black lanterns.

After the DC Panel was the Marvel A Cup of B Panel, which was moderated by Brian Bendis and included Dan Slott, Tom Brevoort and C.B. Cebulski. There was some announcements made at the beginning of the panel, including that Dan Slott will be writing Mighty Avengers starting with issue #21 and that he will no longer be writing for Avengers: The Initiative (which will only be written by Chris Gage). Instead of writing Mighty Avengers, Bendis will be writing Dark Avengers. He will also be teaming up with Alex Maleev to write Spider-Woman: Agent of SWORD which will debut in March of 2009 (Maleev and Bendis previously worked on Daredevil together). After the announcements the audience asked questions but there was nothing revealed about upcoming issues of Secret Invasion. A funny part of the panel was that there was a women signing in the front of the room for the hearing impaired and whenever Bendis would curse he would stop the panel to see how she signed the curses and he was paying a lot of attention to the woman signing. Also one of the audience members had made a jacket out of Mighty and New Avengers tie-ins, which he felt were filler issues, so that kept being brought up through out the panel.

After the panel I was finally able to make it to the convention floor. I got some good back issues that I was looking for, and I was able to get some things signed by Geoff Johns, JG Jones, Jim Lee and Dan Slott. I liked how the floor was set up, and how every artist and writer had their own table that they spent most of the day at, it made it a lot easier to get things signed and chat with the writers and artists a bit more.

Secret Invasion 6

2008-09-11T23:41:00.001-04:00

Secret Invasion has been very good so far, but this issue is where things really picked up. The Avengers in the Savage Land, along with Reed Richards (Whom discovered a way to detect skrulls) and Agent Brand finally make it to NYC to battle the Skrulls. They are joined by Nick Fury and his new Howling Commandoes, the Young Avengers, The Initiative, Thunderbolts and The Hood's Syndicate of Criminals. Thor and Captain America also arrive in NYC, and they both have words as to who the other one is, when they meet.

With the group of heroes facing the Skrulls, Spider-Woman aka Queen Veranke tells them that the Skrulls are here to save them and that "He Loves you" Spider-Man asks who "He" is and the Queen replies, "God". Nick Fury then delivers the best line of the issue, "Yeah, well my God has a Hammer" and following this Iron Man yells Avengers Assemble. The comic ends with two back to back double splash pages. Reading this issue makes the wait for the next one seem like a year. This was an excellent comic and with the next issue being the battle, it will be interesting to see what happens to our favorite heroes. Issue #7 the penultimate issue of the series will be available on October 22 at your local comic book shop, or wherever you buy your comics.

RocknRolla

2008-08-28T22:26:00.003-04:00

The trailer to Guy Rithchie's latest film was released last week. The film stars Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Jeremy Piven, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, and Gemma Arterton. The trailer is amazing and if that is any indication of what the film is going to be like, then I am excited.

According to apple the film is about:

“RocknRolla,” a story of sex, thugs and rock ‘n roll. The film takes a dangerous ride into high crime and low life in contemporary London, where real estate has supplanted drugs as the biggest market, and criminals are its most enthusiastic entrepreneurs. With millions up for grabs, all of London’s criminal underworld conspires, colludes and collides with one another in an effort to take their cut. But as high rollers and petty criminals alike jockey for dominance, the true prize of one multi-million-dollar deal will fall into the hands of a junkie rock star, presumed dead but very much alive.

You can see the trailer here and you can find more information about the film here.

San Diego Comic-Con Pictures

2008-07-31T14:24:00.002-04:00

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

2008-07-17T01:27:00.004-04:00

So far I have watched the first two episodes of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and all I can say is that it is amazing. I have been a fan of Joss Whedon for a while, I always watched Buffy and Angel and became a fan of Firefly and Serenity. I also love his comic work, especially Astonishing X-Men.

The web series stars Neil Patrick Harris as Billy aka Doctor Horrible, who is a villain who is like a mad scientist. Nathan Fillion plays Captain Hammer who is a super hero and Doctor Horribles arch-nemesis. Rounding out the cast is Felicia Day who is Doctor Horrible's love interest and a volunteer at a homeless shelter.

The first two episodes of the show are already posted at: http://drhorrible.com/ and the next episode will be available Saturday July 19. Also the episode are available for download from iTunes.

In other Joss Whedon news, he will be on hand at San Diego Comic-con doing panels for Doctor Horrible and Dollhouse. Here are his panels and viewings straight from the Comic-con website:

Friday July 25 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Joss Whedon— Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and the writers and cast of his new short film, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, will show never-before-seen clips while Joss also discusses Buffy Season Eight, the Fray crossover, and the upcoming Serenity comic focusing on Shepherd Book. Ballroom 20
Friday July 25 from 10:45 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog— The story of a low-rent supervillain (Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Horrible), the hero who keeps beating him up (Nathan Fillion as Captain Hammer), and the cute girl from the laundromat he's too shy to talk to (Felicia Day as Penny). This musical in three parts, created for the Internet and written by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, Zack Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen, premieres in its entirety on the big screen at Comic-Con. Room 6B
Saturday July 26 from 1 - 2 p.m.Dollhouse— When news broke that Joss Whedon was returning to television with a vehicle for “Buffy” alum Eliza Dushku, legions of fans around the world rejoiced. Although most will have to wait until January to learn more about the exciting new project, Comic-Con fans will hear it straight from Joss and Eliza in person! Ballroom 20

Comic-Con Schedule

2008-07-16T17:00:00.002-04:00

Well just a quick announcement that the schedule for Comic-Con is up and it is awesome. There are so many amazing panels, ranging from films, to tv to comics, and websites. The convention should be amazing, so if you're going have fun...I know I will.

*Update: The Autograph schedule is now up as well.

**Update: The convention is officially sold out. I hope you have your tickets if you wanted to go.

Wall●E

2008-06-29T14:13:00.001-04:00

Pixar has done it again, Wall●E was everything that I expected it to be and more. The film is about a waste collecting robot, whose only companion on earth is a cockroach. Wall●E does his job of collecting garbage and compacting it, but he often looks for treasures and his favorite is an old romantic/musical film called Hello, Dolly! that teaches Wall●E about love and companionship. Wall●E then meets Eve another robot (albeit a more hi-tech one) who comes to earth looking for samples. After meeting Eve he decides to follow her back into space, and that is where the adventure of his lifetime beings.

The film does not have a lot a dialogue, but it is still heartwarming and funny. The audience can't help but fall in love with the characters and really get into their story. Voice talents in the film, include, Jeff Garlin, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Sigourney Weaver and Fred Willard (who is also shown in the film). This movie is great for children of all ages....including adults.

Wanted

2008-06-28T13:14:00.000-04:00

This summer seems to be the season for films based on Comic books. So far Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk have been released, and now there is Wanted. Wanted is based on the comic by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones. The film is about an average guy named Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) who has a job that he hates, a girlfriend that cheats on him, fake friends and a horrible boss. After being targeted by a mysterious assassin and saved by a beautiful women named Fox (Angelina Jolie), Wesley is introduced into a world of deadly assassins known as the Fraternity, who are led by Sloan, (Morgan Freeman) and Wesley is taught how to become one.

The film was a lot different then the comic book (which I am a fan of) but there were also several plot elements from the book incorporated into the film. Mark and J.G. were even Executive Producers so it seems that they were somewhat involved in the film. At the J.G. Jones panel at Wizard World Philly, he even mentioned that t

hey were treating them very well. Its good to see the creators involved in the film adaptations (Maybe Alan Moore would like the films based on his books better, if he had more say). The film was directed by Timur Bekmambetov and it was a really well made action film. It had a great story, had some amazing scenes and special effects.

Also surprising is how awesome McAvoy is as an action star. He was a great choice for Wesley. The film itself had an awesome cast, other cast members included, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann, Common, David O'Hara, and Chris Pratt.

I would recommend this film to fans of the comic and people who haven't read them. It is definitely worth seeing.

Upcoming Comic Films

2008-06-21T23:35:00.005-04:00

So it seems that every week a new film based on a comic book or a superhero is coming out. The biggest pictures of the summer are based on comics: Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Wanted, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, and The Dark Knight. Also this summer Hancock is coming out, which is about a superhero, or a person with super powers.

After the success of Iron Man, Marvel announced their upcoming film projects, which include: Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, and The Avengers. Marvel seems to be everywhere right now, and consider they are behind my favorite comics, I am very pleased.

MTV got the poster below, with the logo designs for the films.

In order news, there have been some posters released for the upcoming Spirit film (set for release at Christmas 2008). The film is based on the comic by Will Eisner, about a rookie cop who returns from the dead to fight against the evil forces in the city. The film stars Gabriel Macht, Eva Mendes, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jamie King and is directed by Frank Miller (Sin City).

Robert Downey Jr.

2008-06-21T01:40:00.003-04:00

It seems right now Robert Downey Jr. is one of the biggest stars on the planet. He seems to be everywhere. A lot of that has to do with Iron Man being such a hit. But he also has Tropic Thunder coming up in August (which I think has the potential to be hilarious).

So if you decided to go to the cinema and you feel like you need a bit more Robert Downey Jr. or Tony Stark or Iron Man then check out The Incredible Hulk. Here is a teaser where we get a glimpse of Tony. For more Hulk clips and trailers, click here.

Robert has also been attached to some upcoming films, including Sherlock Holmes (By Guy Ritchie) and Cowboys vs. Aliens (a Dreamworks/Universal film).

Also here is a video from youtube. Its the Tropic Thunder Promo from the MTV Movie Awards. Enjoy!

Movie News

2008-06-20T21:05:00.002-04:00

Dreamworks is looking to break away from Paramount and go back to being its own studio. Spielberg wants to have a more streamlined structure, like he had back in the Amblin days. Spielberg is getting help from Indian's Reliance ADA Group.
The Incredible Hulk and Transporter director Louis Leterrier has picked his follow-up film to Hulk, called Strays. He is currently in talks to direct the film according to Empire Online, the film is about about a group of young consultants who, while on a business trip to Russia, mysteriously wake up in an abandoned, radioactive city. They’re then forced to struggle for survival, with a number of deadly obstacles blocking the way to freedom. The film is described as an eco action triller.

Casting news

Sienna Miller is set to play Maid Marion in Nottingham, alongside Russell Crowe. Nottingham will be a new take on the Robin Hood legend and will be directed by Ridley Scott.
Judd Aptows newest film already, Funny People has Adam Sandler, Seth Rogan, Leslie Mann, and Eric Bana. Now Jason Schwartzman and Jonah Hill have joined the cast. Little is known about the film, except for that it is about the world of stand-up comedy and about a comedian that has a near death experience.
Christopher Eccleston has joined the cast of Amelia, a biopic about Amelia Earhart. Also in the cast is Hilary Swank and Ewan McGregor.

New Trailers (click on title name for a link to the trailer)

Death Race starring Jason Statham
Punisher: War Zone starring Ray Stevenson
The Transporter 3 starring Jason Statham

A Stargate Update

2008-06-20T20:51:00.003-04:00

Being a hugh Stargate fan I just wanted to say how much I am looking forward to the upcoming season of Stargate Atlantis. The past season was great, and the finale left me wanting for more. The new season begins July 11 at 10 pm.

Also, Stargate: Continuum comes out on dvd on July 29, so look out for that. Ark of Truth was great, and it was a great way to end the Ori storyline. Continuum will be a stand alone film, and hopefully if it does well there will be more films.

Also there should be some big Stargate things happening at Comic-con. I will post any info I see to keep everyone informed at what will be happening at the con. If you won't be at the con, don't fret, I will be posting updates on here from the convention, since I will be attending.

Doctor Who

2008-06-20T00:39:00.005-04:00

This season of Doctor Who has been one of my favorites. I love the way this series has been written, especially how Donna and the Doctor interact with each other. That said I can't wait for the finale, it's shaping up to be one of the best ever.

(Spoilers for Season 4)

This season started out with a jaw dropping ender to the first episode, with Rose showing up and Donna talking to her. The minute I saw Rose (after I stopped freaking out of course) I knew that this season would be amazing. The episodes have been very good, and I love how in every episode someone mistakes the Doctor and Donna for being a couple. I've liked all of the Doctor's companions. Rose was great and I was really sad when she got trapped in the parallel universe, but I think it added more to the Doctor and the pain that he always carries with him. Martha was a great character because she helped the Doctor get over the loss of Rose, and you couldn't help but feel bad for her, because the Doctor did not see her as a romantic interest (and who could blame her for liking him!) That said, Donna is easily becoming one of my favorite companions, she is just hilarious, and I attribute that to Catherine

Tate. She is so talented and she brings so much to the show, I really hope that she sticks around for next year. Even with all that Donna has seen (Pompeii being destroyed, the pain of the Ood, her granddad nearly being killed by the Sontaran's, etc) she is still cheery and wants to continue traveling with the Doctor and seeing the universe. She is a great companion for him.

I have to mention the wonderful job that David Tennant has been doing this season (He does a great job every season, I know). We have seen a new side to the Doctor. This season had a lot of ups and downs for the Doctor. In Voyage of the Damned he found a new companion in Astrid, only to lose her when she sacrificed herself to save him. He then met up with Donna again, and finally had someone to travel throughout time and space with. Next in order to save the world he had to destroy the city of Pompeii, and in one of his darker moments he refused to save anyone, including the family that he got to know while he was there (until Donna pleaded with him to save one family, and he gave in). Next he freed the Ood from a life of servitude, and could hear their sad song. Later on in the season, he reproduced and had a daughter, only to lose her as well. It has been a hard year for the Doctor and coming up he will once again have to face off against his greatest enemy... the Daleks.

So all of the his brings me to the finale. It appears as those all of the Doctors companions from the past 4 seasons will be involved in the finale, and a few new ones as well. Sarah Jane, Mickey, Jackie, Rose, Martha, Captain Jack, and Donna will all be involved in the finale. Also included in the finale will be Ianto Jones and Gwen Cooper from Torchwood (The Doctor Who spin-off). Also appearing will Harriet Jones Prime Minister or MP for Flydale North (I know, but I couldn't resist doing her title joke). The last time we saw the former PM she was saying that she was fit for office, but we all know that the Master became the new PM. So it will be interesting to see what happened to Harriet Jones.

I am so excited for the finale, I can't wait to see how it all plays out.

Recap - AFI: 10 Top 10

2008-06-19T00:45:00.003-04:00

Well of the 100 films I have seen 54 of them. Of the 10 Number 1 films, I have watched 6 of them. Some of the films that made the list are my favorite films. I really thought that the number of films that I have seen would be higher, but I didn't see a lot of the romantic comedies and I didn't see any of the western films except for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

One of the big omissions on the list would have to be that the Magnificent Seven didn't make the Top 10 Western films. Another one that I was surprised wasn't on the list was How The West Was Won. That could have easily fit into the western category or in the epic one. I thought it was weird that Gone With the Wind was only number 4 on the list. When I think of the that film, I think of an epic production, and I think that should have been either 1 or 2.

The list had a lot of actors and directors with multiple films, some in the same genre and others crossing genres. Alfred Hitchcock had 4 films in the Mystery genre. The animation list was dominated by Disney films, with only one of them not being a Disney production (Shrek was the only non-Disney film; also two of the films were Disney-Pixar productions.)

Steven Speilberg had 3 films make the list, E.T. in the Fantasy genre and Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List in the Epic category. Stanley Kubrick also had 3 films on the list. 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange in the Sci-Fi genre and Spartacus on the Epic list.

Martin Scorsese was also in two categories with Raging Bull in Sports and Goodfellas in the Gangster genre.

James Stewart had films in 4 different genres: It's A Wonderful Life and Harvey in the Fantasy category; in Mystery Rear Window and Vertigo; A Philadelphia Story in Romantic comedy; and Anatomy Of A Murder in Courtroom Drama.

Tom Hanks was also in four different genres: Toy Story in Animation; Big in Fantasy; Saving Private Ryan in Epic; and Sleepless In Seattle in Romantic Comedy.

Two silent films made the list, City Lights in the Romantic Comedy category and The Thief Of Bagdad in the Fantasy category. The only film from the 21st century to make the list, was Finding Nemo.

It was an interesting show, and it certainly brings up a lot of discussion about errors and omissions on the list. Also it made me reminisce about the films, and think about what they mean to me, and how the films impacted me life. A lot of my favorites made the list, and they are films that I can watch over and over again.

AFI: 10 Top 10

2008-06-18T00:17:00.001-04:00

Tonight, CBS aired the AFI's 10 Top 10, The top 10 films in 10 different genres. Here are the 10 best films in each category. The Name next to each section is the host for that particular section.

ANIMATION-Jennifer Love Hewitt

10. Finding Nemo

9. Cinderella

8. Shrek

7. Beauty And The Beast

6. Toy Story

5. Fantasia

4. The Lion King

3. Bambi

2. Pinocchio

1. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

FANTASY-Sean Astin

10. Big

9. The Thief Of Bagdad

8. Groundhog Day

7. Harvey

6. Field Of Dreams

5. Miracle On 34th Street

4. King Kong

3. It's A Wonderful Life

2. Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring

1. The Wizard Of OZ

GANGSTER-Quentin Tarantino

10. Scarface

9. Little Caesar

8. The Public enemy

7. Pulp Fiction

6. Scarface: The Shame Of A Nation

5. Bonnie And Clyde

4. White Heat

3. The Godfather Part II

2. Goodfellas

1. The Godfather

SCIENCE FICTION-Sigourney Weaver

10. Back To The Future

9. Invasion Of The Body Snatchers

8. Terminator 2: Judgement Day

7. Alien

6. Blade Runner

5. The Day The Earth Stood Still

4. A Clockwork Orange

3. E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial

2. Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey

WESTERN-Clint Eastwood

10. Cat Ballou

9. Stagecoach

8. McCabe & Mrs. Miller

7. Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid

6. The Wild Bunch

5. Red River

4. Unforgiven

3. Shane

2. High Noon

1. The Searchers

SPORTS-Cuba Gooding Jr.

10. Jerry Maguire

9. National Velvet

8. Breaking Away

7. Caddyshack

6. The Hustler

5. Bull Durham

4. Hoosiers

3. The Pride Of The Yankees

2. Rocky

1. Raging Bull

MYSTERY-Gabriel Byrne

10. The Usual Suspects

9. Dial M For Murder

8. Blue Velvet

7. North By Northwest

6. The Maltese Falcon

5. The Third Man

4. Laura

3. Rear Window

2. Chinatown

1. Vertigo

ROMANTIC COMEDY-Jessica Alba

10. Sleepless In Seattle

9. Harold And Maude

8. Moonstruck

7. Adam's Rib

6. When Harry Met Sally...

5. The Philadelphia Story

4. Roman Holiday

3. It Happened One Night

2. Annie Hall

1. City Lights

COURTROOM DRAMA-James Woods

10. Judgement At Nuremberg

9. A Cry In The Dark

8. In Cold Blood

7. Anatomy Of A Murder

6. Witness For The Prosecution

5. A Few Good Men

4. The Verdict

3. Kramer Vs. Kramer

2. 12 Angry Men

1. To Kill A Mockingbird

EPIC-Kirk Douglas

10. The Ten Commandments

9. Reds

8. Saving Private Ryan

7. All Quiet On The Western Front

6. Titanic

5. Spartacus

4. Gone With The Wind

3. Schindler's List

2. Ben-Hur

1. Lawrence Of Arabia

Sex and the City

2008-06-09T18:48:00.002-04:00

Well as a fan of the TV show I was really excited when I heard they were making a film about Sex and the City, so I had very high expectations going into the film, and I was not disappointed. The film takes place 4 years after the series finale. Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) is with Big (Chris Noth), and they are moving in together; Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Harry (Evan Handler) have their adopted Daughter Lilly, and are a truly happy family; Samantha (Kim Cattrall) is living in California with Smith (Jason Lewis), and managing his career; and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Steve (David Eigenberg) are still living in Brooklyn with their son Brady, but they are having a rough time. The film follows the four girls, through their ups and downs, over the course of a year.

Rounding out the cast was Willie Garson as Stanford Blanch, Mario Cantone as Anthony Marentino, Candice Bergen as Enid Frick (Carrie's editor at Vogue) and Jennifer Hudson as Louise (a new character who is Carries assistant, who is looking for love in NYC.)

The film was a great movie, and I would recommend it to anyone, both fans of the show and people who just want to see a good movie.

Wizard World Philly

2008-06-02T23:22:00.003-04:00

Well this past weekend I attend Wizard World Philly. It was a really good convention and I had a fantastic time. I went in thinking that it wouldn't be as good as NY Comic-Con but I really enjoyed myself.

I went on Friday and picked up my badge and did a quick walk through of the convention. There were a lot of booths and a got some good pins at the DC booth. I was pretty tired from spending most of Friday at the King of Prussia Mall so I didn't spend that much time at the con.

I spent all day Saturday at the convention. I started out the day by walking through the convention and hitting up the major booths (DC, Marvel, Top Cow, etc). I got some good free comics. Vertigo gave out the first Issue of House of Mystery and it is very good and interesting. I am definitely going to pick up the next issue, because it has my interest.

After walking around the booths, I went to the J.G. Jones career retrospective panel at 11 a.m. J.G. was the Guest of Honor, and his panel was awesome. I was surprised that not that many people turned out to the panel, but I think that was because it was so early and people were still getting into the convention. They started out the panel with a slideshow of some of his work. After the slideshow, J.G. discussed what was going on when he was creating different pieces and some interesting facts about the art. It was great to hear his thoughts on his work. After the panel he was nice enough to sign for the fans that where there and he signed my copy of Wanted (which I can't wait for).

The next panel that I attend was for Marvel's Secret Invasion. Secret Invasion is one of my favorite comic series of the season, and it was great to see what was going to be happening in the series in the next few weeks. The cover for one of the upcoming issues was amazing, it was Captain America, Iron Man and Thor and the caption read Reunited. The crowd went wild at the sight of this, and all I have to say is how excited I am. I hope the real Steve Rogers comes back, its just not the same. Another cover has Nick Fury on it, and it will be good to have him finally back. I believe he is on issue 3, which comes out this week. The panel was awesome, Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada was moderating the panel and along with Tom Brevoort answered most of the question about SEcret Invasion. Also in attendance were Brian Reed, Dan Slott, Fred Van Lente, Greg Pak, C.B. Cebulski, and Arune Singh.

During my lunch break I decided to walk around Philly since it wasn't raining. I walked all the way from the convention center to Independence Hall. I really wanted to see the Liberty Bell, but there were no more tickets available, so I walked back to the convention center to have lunch.

The final panel that I went to was Cup O' Joe with Joe Quesada. In this panel they answered the fans questions about anything in the MU. However most of the answers were to keep reading. Some interesting announcements were that: the next Stephen King comic would be The Stand, Daredevils new enemy would be Lady Bullseye, and finally that Marvel zombies would be crossing over into the MU. It's going to be a good year for Marvel comics and a lot of interesting comics are coming out. After the panel, I was able to get Joe Quesada's autograph on Invincible Iron Man Quesada Sketch variant, so that was awesome.

I went back to the convention floor after the panel, I found some great buys. I was able to get the first three Y: The Last Man TPBs for 20% off which was awesome. I already read the books and they are so good, I can't wait to get the rest in the series. I then stopped by the Marvel booth, since they were giving away a bunch of swag, and I got a free comic which was cool, except it was one that I never heard of or that I was interested in. After that the convention ended and I went back to my hotel to get ready for dinner. I went to eat at the Hard Rock with my Aunt, and that was great. I love the Hard Rock, especially since they have the best pins, which I purchased an awesome teal one.

On Sunday I also spend the whole day at the convention, but I was running a little late and didn't get there til close to 12. I immediately went the Marvel: Prize no prize panel. And one lucky fan walked away with the new issue of Secret Invasion. The questions were super hard, and after getting the final one right, the person deserved the issue. I unfortunately still have to wait til Wednesday for my copy. I walked around the Convention a bit, and I went to a J.G. Jones signing at the Top Cow booth. I was able to get him to sign my copy of Final Crisis, a Flash poster, and my TPB of Y: The Last Man. He was such an awesome guy, and pretty funny. He talked about juggling cats, which was amusing.

I went to 2 more panels, a DC discussion and a Marvel discussion. It was great because the fans were able to talk about what they liked about the comics, characters and reminisce about how comics have affected them. At the end of the DC panel, Batman pins were handed out, and at the end of the Marvel panel, a free issue of X-Men legacy was handed out. I just love free swag. After the final panel, I went back to the convention and got for back issues of Colossus: Bloodline for $1. It was amazing how cheap everything went by the end of the day. After that, I met my Aunt, and we drove home from Philly. It was an awesome weekend and I can't wait for my next convention.

Trailers for Summer Movies

2008-05-27T00:50:00.002-04:00

Here are the trailers for all of the movies. Just click on the film name for the trailer. Enjoy!

May 23: Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
May 30: Sex and the City
June 13: The Incredible Hulk, The Happening
June 20: Get Smart
June 27: Wall*E, Wanted
July 4: Hankcock
July 11: Hellboy II: Golden Army
July 18: The Dark Knight, Mama Mia!
July 25: Step Brothers, The X-Files: I Want to Believe
August 1: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
August 8: Pineapple Express, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
August 15: The International, Tropic Thunder

*There is no trailer for The International, but for information on the film go to IMDB.

Summer Movies 2008

2008-05-19T00:30:00.006-04:00

Well Summer movie season already kicked off a few weeks ago so I'm a bit behind (but technically summer hasn't started yet!) Anyway here is a list of some of the movie that have my interest this summer.

May 23: Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

May 30: Sex and the City

June 13: The Incredible Hulk, The Happening

June 20: Get Smart

June 27: Wall*E, Wanted

July 4: Hankcock

July 11: Hellboy II: Golden Army

July 18: The Dark Knight, Mama Mia!

July 25:Step Brothers, The X-Files: I Want to Believe

August 1: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

August 8: Pineapple Express, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

August 15: The International, Tropic Thunder

So in the next few days I'll provide trailer links, information and opinions (about movies I

haven't seen yet), so stay tuned.

Wanted

2008-05-19T00:14:00.003-04:00

I know that I haven't talked a lot about Wanted, but I think that it deserves a post. I haven't been seeing a lot of advertising on t.v. for the film, but there is certainly a lot of buzz online. The film is based on the comic by Mark Millar and is about a group of super assassins. Having read the comic series, I can't wait for this film and the trailer itself looks amazing. James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman and Angelina Star in the film. The film opens in the states on June 27, so make sure you check it out.

Click here for the trailer

Also Empire Online has posted an amazing feature on turning the comic book into a film. The feature has new footage and interviews with cast and crew, so check it out here.

Help Save Moonlight

2008-05-13T20:16:00.004-04:00

I know I haven't talked a lot about Moonlight on this blog, but it is an amazing show, and CBS announced that they are not giving it a second season. So I recommend that if you are a fan of show you call or write to CBS and tell them that they are making a huge mistake.

Also, while you are at it, if you like the show Shark, I suggest you do the same because that is also getting the ax.

We have to let the network know that they are making a mistake, especially when they renewed other shows, like The Unit. So let you voice be heard....and call or write CBS.

Iron Man

2008-05-10T21:40:00.002-04:00

Iron Man is one of the best films based on a comic book. It may be better than Batman Begins. I have to see it a few more times before I make that decision. Iron Man was directed by Jon Favreau and based on the comics by Marvel. Tony Stark is a weapons manufacturer who sells his weapons to the U.S. military. While he is in Afghanistan testing his new Jericho missile he is attacked by insurgents using his own weapons and is kidnapped. During the attack he is caught in an explosion and shrapnel gets lodged near his heart. By use of an arc reactor he is able to keep the shrapnel from moving closer to his heart. The insurgents want Stark to create weapons for them, but instead he builds the first prototype of the Iron Man suit. After escaping from his captors, he no longer wants his company to create weapons, and instead wants to work on the suit and use it to help people around the world.

Robert Downey Jr. plays the billionaire industrialist Stark. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Starks secretary Pepper Potts, Terrance Howard is Jim Rhodes, Stark's military liaison and friend. Rounding out the cast is Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane aka Iron Monger. I really enjoyed this film, and if you go to see it, stay after the credits for an extra scene. I'll give you a hint, it involves more then one agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

NY Comic-Con

2008-04-21T20:23:00.002-04:00

So I attended NY Comic-Con on Saturday with my friend Carl and what an amazing day it was. I attended a few different panels, met a few celebrities, got introduced to some new comics and had an amazing time. So here are the highlights.

Before even getting into the con the excitement started. While waiting to get in, making our way closer to the entrance Stan Lee walked by. It was amazing to see him (although I only caught a glimpse because I am short) and the crowd went crazy.

The first panel that I went to was the Disney Panel for Wall-E and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. The Wall-E clips were great, and it made me really look forward to the film. The Narnia panel was great. William Moseley, Ben Barnes, Peter Dinklage, and the producer of the film. The cast was great, there were a lot of funny moments and some interesting questions asked to the cast members. However some of the questions lasted forever, and people were basically saying how much they loved the books and hoped that the film didn't ruin the books. But otherwise it was a great panel, and I am looking forward to seeing the film.

The next panel was the Sci-Fi panel for Battlestar Galactica. I had never watched the show before, but after listening to some of the panel I will have to start watching the show.

After then panels we went up to the convention floor. I walked around looking at some of the new comics and seeing who was signing at the different tables. I found out the time for the Milo Ventimiglia autograph session, and I found out about some interesting new comics from Marvel. I have to mention Secret Invasion because it is my new favorite comic series. It is a comic event, and I after receiving the first issue for free at the con, I can not wait for the next issue. Also while walking around I made it to the DC area and saw the new figurines for Watchmen and The Dark Knight. Wow they are amazing except there was no figurine for Doctor Manhattan and that is the one character that I really want to see.

Afterward I went to the Milo Ventimiglia signing for Devil's Due Publishing. He was a really nice guy, and was very friendly with all of his fans. After his signing we went to lunch and after lunch we went to the Devil's Due Publishing panel, where Milo talked about his new comic, Rest. The comic sounds very interesting and I look forward to reading it in August when it drops.

After this panel there was a lot more walking, and I caught a glimpse of Frank Miller who was promoting The Spirit.

The final panel that I went to was for Starship Troopers 3: Marauder. I had really enjoyed the first Starship Troopers film, and I had never seen the second one, so I didn't have the highest expectations for this film. But I was very surprised at how good the film looked. The bugs look amazing and there are some new bugs that are huge. Also some of the sequences look great. Not only does it look like a good action film, but there is also a lot of comedy in it. It could be a cult classic like the original. I hope it gets a nationwide release because I would really like to see the film. The cast afterward did a signing and took pictures with fans. They were all so nice, and really great with their fans.

Well thats all I have to say about the con. Here are some pictures:

Newsies

2008-02-12T22:35:00.002-05:00

Both the Watchmen and The Hobbit have lawsuits filed against, which could delay the films respective releases. Watchmen is in a battle between 20th Century Fox and Warner Brothers, because Fox claims that they still had the rights to the film, when the Warner Brothers production got underway. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is being sued by the Tolkien Trust claiming that the trust is owed at least $150 million in gross profits from the films. In addition to the money, the trust wants film rights for The Hobbit to be taken away from New Line.
The 3+ Month WGA Strike has officially ended. WGA Members voted tonight (2/12) on whether the strike should end or not and 92.5% voted to lift the strike order. Writers will be going to work tomorrow (Wednesday 2/13) and show-runners had already returned to work this past Monday.
Martin Scorsese is going to make a documentary about Bob Marley. Academy Award Winning Director Scorsese has already made documentaries on The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. The Film is set to be released on February 6th, 2010 which would have been Marley's 65th birthday.
An Arrested Development movie may be in the works. Jason Bateman as well as other cast-members have expressed interest in a movie about the dysfunctional Bluth family. The show originally ran on Fox from 2003-2006 and series finally left fans wondering if there would be an AD movie. Here's hopping that the studios are willing to give the cast and crew what they want, so that this movie can become a reality.

Casting News:

Christopher Eccleston has signed on to play the villain in the new G.I. Joe film. Eccleston is well known for playing the Ninth Doctor on Doctor Who.
Hank Azaria has joined Night at the Museum 2: Escape from the Smithsonian and will by playing an Egyptian Pharaoh.
Amy Adams has also joined the cast of Night of the Museum 2.
Kristen Bell has signed on to star in Mark Steven Johnson's new comedy When in Rome. Johnson has mainly been making comic book films such as Daredevil, Elektra and Ghost Rider.
Ellen Page has signed on to be in Sam Raimi's first horror film since Army of Darkness. The film is called Drag Me To Hell and is about a girl who is afflicted with a supernatural curse.
Ben Foster is going to star in The Messenger which is a military drama being helmed by first time director Oren Moverman who wrote the Screenplay for I'm Not There.
The indie film The Open Road, which tells the story of a young man returning home to reconnect with his father and spend time with his ailing mother, has casted its principle players, including Justin Timberlake, Jef Bridges, and Mary Steenburgen.
Casey Affleck has signed to star in The Kind One. The film is about criminals and is a noir thriller. Affleck had a very successful 2007, with his Academy Award Nominated performance as Robert Ford in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and his brilliant performance in Gone Baby Gone. Hopefully his 2008 will turn out even better.

BAFTA Award Winners 2008

2008-02-12T18:57:00.000-05:00

Here are the winners and the nominees from the BAFTA Awards that were held on Sunday February 10th in England.

Best Film

Atonement - Winner

American Gangster

The Lives of Others

No Country for Old Men

There Will Be Blood

Alexander Kora Award for Outstanding British Film of the Year

This Is England - Winner

Atonement

The Bourne Ultimatum

Control

Eastern Promises

Best Actor

Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood - Winner

George Clooney for Michael Clayton

James McAvoy for Atonement

Viggo Mortensen for Eastern Promises

Ulrich Muhe for The Lives of Others

Best Actress

Marion Cotillard for La Vie en Rose - Winner

Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Julie Christie for Away from Her

Keira Knightley for Atonement

Ellen Page for Juno

Best Supporting Actor

Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men - Winner

Paul Dano for There Will Be Blood

Phillip Seymour Hoffman for Charlie Wilson's War

Tommy Lee Jones for No Country for Old Men

Tom Wilkinson for Michael Clayton

Best Supporting Actress

Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton - Winner

Cate Blanchett for I'm Not There.

Kelly Macdonald for No Country for Old Men

Samantha Morton for Control

Saoirse Ronan for Atonement

David Lean Award for Achievement in Direction

Ethan Coen and Joel Coen for No Country for Old Men - Winner

Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood

Paul Greengrass for The Bourne Ultimatum

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck for The Lives of Others

Joe Wright for Atonement

Best Screenplay (Original)

Juno: Diablo Cody - Winner

American Gangster: Steven Zaillian

The Lives of Others: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Michael Clayton: Tony Gilroy

This Is England: Shane Meadows

Best Screenplay (Adapted)

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Ronald Harwood - Winner

Atonement: Christopher Hampton

The Kite Runner: David Benioff

No Country for Old Men: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

There Will Be Blood: Paul Thomas Anderson

Best Cinematography

No Country for Old Men: Roger Deakins - Winner

American Gangster: Harris Savides

Atonement: Seamus McGarvey

The Bourne Ultimatum: Oliver Wood

There Will Be Blood: Robert Elswit

Best Editing

The Bourne Ultimatum: Christopher Rouse - Winner

American Gangster: Pietro Scalia

Atonement: Paul Tothill

Michael Clayton: John Gilroy

No Country for Old Men: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen

Best Animate Feature Film

Ratatouille - Winner

Shrek the Third

The Simpsons Movie

Orange Rising Star Award

Shia LaBeouf - Winner

Sienna Miller

Ellen Page

Sam Riley

Wei Tang

It has been ages

2008-02-12T00:37:00.000-05:00

Well I reallyyy have not been on here in forever. Sorry about that. I have just been so busy with school that I never have time for this. But I have decided that I am going to make time from now on. So expect a lot of posts within the next few days, because thats going to be my way of playying catch-up.

Screen Actors Guild Awards 2008

2008-01-28T15:26:00.000-05:00

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
No Country for Old Men - Winner
3:10 to Yuma
American Gangster
Hairspray
Into the Wild

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood - Winner
George Clooney for Michael Clayton
Ryan Gosling for Lars and the Real Girl
Emile Hirsch for Into the Wild
Viggo Mortensen for Eastern Promises

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Julie Christie for Away from Her - Winner
Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Marion Cotillard for La Vie en Rose
Angelina Jolie for A Mighty Heart
Ellen Page for Juno

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men - Winner
Casey Affleck for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Hal Holbrook for Into the Wild
Tommy Lee Jones for No Country for Old Men
Tom Wilkinson for Michael Clayston

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Ruby Dee for American Gangster - Winner
Cate Blanchett for I'm Not There.
Catherine Keener for Into the Wild
Amy Ryan for Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
The Office - Winner
Desperate Housewives
Entourage
30 Rock
Ugly Betty

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
The Sopranos - Winner
Boston Legal
The Closer
Grey's Anatomy
Mad Men

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock - Winner
Steve Carell for The Office
Ricky Gervais for Extras
Jeremy Piven for Entourage
Tony Shalhoub for Monk

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Tina Fey for 30 Rock - Winner
Christina Applegate for Samanthaa Who?
America Ferrera for Ugly Betty
Mary-Louise Parker for Weeds
Vanessa Williams for Ugly Betty

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
James Gandolfini for The Sopranos - Winner
Michael C. Hall for Dexter
Jon Hamm for Mad Men
Hugh Laurie for House M.D.
James Spader for Boston Legal

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Edie Falco for The Sopranos - Winner
Glenn Close for Damages
Sally Field for Brothers & Sisters
Holly Hunter for Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick for The Closer

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series
Kevin Kline for As You Like It - Winner
Michael Keaton for The Company
Oliver Platt for The Bronx is Burning
Sam Shepard for Ruffian
John Turturro for The Bronx is Burning

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Mini-Series
Queen Latifah for Life Support - Winner
Ellen Burstym for Oprah Winfrey Presents" Mitch Albom's For One More Day
Debra Messing for The Starter Wife
Anna Paquin for Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Vanessa Redgrave for The Fever
Gena Rowlands for What If God Were the Sun?

The Golden Globes 2008

2008-01-14T13:47:00.000-05:00

This years Golden Globes were disappointing because of the on-going writers strike. Anyway, here are the nominees and the winners.

Best Motion picture - Drama
Atonement - Winner
American Gangster
Eastern Promises
The Great Debaters
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Winner
Across the Universe
Charlie Wilson's War
Hairspray
Juno

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Daniel Day Lewis for There Will Be Blood - Winner
George Clooney for Michael Clayton
James McAvoy for Atonement
Viggo Mortenson for Easter Promises
Denzel Washington for American Gangster

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
Julie Christia for Away from Her - Winner
Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Jodie Foster for The Brave One
Angelina Jolie for A Mighty Heart
Keira Knightly for Atonement

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Johnny Depp for Sweeney Todd: The DemonBarber of Fleet Street - Winner
Ryan Gosling for Lars and the Real Girl
Tom Hanks for Charlie Wilson's War
Phillip Seymour Hoffman for The Savages
John C. Reilly for Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Marion Cotillard for La Vie en Rose - Winner
Amy Adams for Enchanted
Nikki Blonsky for Hairspray
Helena bonham Carter for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Streed
Ellen Page for Juno

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men - Winner
Casey Affleck for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Phillip Seymour Hoffman for Charlie Wilson's War
John Travolta for Hairspray
Tom Wilkinson for Michael Clayton

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Cate Blanchett for I'm Not There - Winner
Julia Roberts for Charlie Wilson's War
Saoirse Ronan for Atonement
Amy Ryan for Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton

Best Director - Motion Picture
Julian Schnabel for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - Winner
Tim Burton for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Stree
Ethan Coen and Joel Coen for No Country for Old Men
Ridley Scott for American Gangster
Joe Wright for Atonement

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
No Country for Old Men: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen - Winner
Atonement: Christopher Hampton
Charlie Wilson's War: Aaron Sorkin
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Ronald Harwood
Juno: Diablo Cody

Best Animated Film
Ratatouille - Winner
Bee Movie
The Simpsons Movie

Best Television Series - Drama
Mad Men - Winner
Big Love
Damages
Grey's Anatomy
House M.D.
The Tudors

Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Extras - Winners
Californication
Entourage
Pushing Daisies
30 Rock

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Longford - Winner
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
The Company
Five Days
The State Within

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jim Broadbent for Longford - Winner
Adam Beach for Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Ernest Borgnin for A Grandpa for Christmas
Jason Isaacs for The State Within
James Nesbitt for Jekyll

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Queen Latifah for Life Support - Winner
Bryce Dallas Howard for As You Like It
Debra Messing for The Starter Wife
Sissy Spacek for PIctures of Hollis Woods
Ruth Wilson for Jane Eyre

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
David Duchovny for Californication - Winner
Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock
Steve Carell for The Office
Ricky Gervais for Extras
Lee Pace for Pushing Daisies

Best Performace by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Tina Fey for 30 Rock - Winner
Christina Applegate for Samantha Who?
America Ferrera for Ugly Betty
Anna Friel for Pushing Daisies
Mary-Louise Parker for Weeds

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
Jon Hamm for Mad Men - Winner
Michael C. Hall for Dexter
Hugh Laurie for House M.D.
Bill Paxton for Big Love
Jonathan Rhys Meyers for The Tudors

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
Glenn Close for Damages - Winner
Patricia Arquette for Medium
Minnie Driver for The Riches
Edie Falco for The Sopranos
Sally Field for Brothers & Sisters
Holly Hunter for Saving Grave
Kyra Sedgwick for The Closer

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jeremy Pived for Entourage - Winner
Ted Danson for Damages
Kevin Dillon for Entourage
Andy Serkis for Longford
William Shatner for Boston Legal
Donald Sutherland for Dirty Sexy Money

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Samantha Morton for Longford - Winner
Rose Byrne for Damages
Katherine Heigl for Grey's Anatomy
Rachel Griffiths for Brothers & Sisters
Anna Paquin for Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Jaime Pressly for My Name is Earl

Juno

2008-01-07T22:11:00.003-05:00

What is there to say about Juno that hasn't already been said. Well I'll try to think of something interesting and fresh to say about the film. First off, I think that it is one of the best written films ever, the dialogue is amazing. The film was written by Diablo Cody, and prior to writing this film, she was a stripper. The film was directed by Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking) and boasts an amazing cast list, including Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, J.K. Simmons, and Allison Janney.

The film is about a Juno, a teenage girl, who finds out that she is pregnant, and decides to give her baby to a couple that she finds in the penny saver. The film is hilarious, and deserves to win a few awards this season. I would recommend this film to anyone, and I know that I will buy it once it comes out on dvd.

First NYC Trip of 08

2008-01-03T12:53:00.000-05:00

Well what a way to start the new year, then with a trip to NYC. Being the crazy person that I am, I went on the coldest day that we have had this winter, but it was totally worth it. I went with my friend Carl, and we met Jennifer Garner while we where there. It was an awesome night.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2007-07-11T23:06:00.001-04:00

In the Fifth installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry is back at Hogwarts for another school year. However, this is going to be one of Harry's hardest years because not only does he have to worry about taking his OWLs but he also has to worry about Lord Voldemort who returned in the previous film.

During Harry Potter's fifth year at Hogwarts, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) returns to school with everyone doubting what happened to Cedric Diggory and the return of Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). While at school his has to deal with the new Defense against the Dark Arts Teacher, Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton). While at school he and his friends rebel against the new rules set by Umbridge by creating Dumbledore's Army. In the end it is up to Harry and his friends, with some help from The Order of the Phoenix to take on Lord Voldemort and his death eaters.

This movie was fantastic. I think it was one of the most action packed Harry Potter films yet. The way that they did the battle at the Ministry of Magic was fantastic. I think that all of the actors did a fantastic job in this installment. It has been amazing how all of the kids have grown up while making these films. I think that with each film the actors get better, and the become even more like the characters that they are playing. Also each film gets progressively better. I was a little bit upset that some things got cut from the film, including when Harry destroys Dumbledore's office. However I really did love the film. I really want to see it in 3D, that last 20-30 minutes of the film are in 3D at imax theaters, and I want to see it again, this time at the imax. I can't wait to see this film again, and again, and of course buy it on DVD.

DGA Winners

2007-02-04T13:23:00.000-05:00

Here are the winners of the Directors Guild of America Awards

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN MOTION PICTURES
The Departed-Martin Scorsese

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES FOR TELEVISION
Broken Trail-Walter Hill

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMATIC SERIES-NIGHT
24-John Cassar

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY SERIES
Ugly Betty-Richard Shepard

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSICAL VARIETY
Tony Bennett: An American Classic-Rob Marshall

SAG Winners

2007-01-29T13:09:00.000-05:00

Here are the winners from the 2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE
Little Miss Sunshine

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Forest Whitaker-The Last King of Scotland

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Helen Mirren-The Queen

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Eddie Murphy-Dreamgirls

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Jennifer Hudson-Dreamgirls

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
The Office

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES
Grey's Anatomy

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin-30 Rock

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
America Ferrera-Ugly Betty

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Hugh Laurie-House M.D.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Chandra Wilson-Grey's Anatomy

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Jeremy Irons-Elizabeth I

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Helen Mirren-Elizabeth I

DGA Award Nominees

2007-01-25T00:53:00.000-05:00

Here are the nominees for the Directors Guild of America Awards, being held on Saturday February 3rd.

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN MOTION PICTURES
Babel-Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
The Departed-Martin Scorsese
Dreamgirls-Bill Condon
Little Miss Sunshine-Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
The Queen-Stephen Frears

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN MOVIES FOR TELEVISION
Broken Trail-Walter Hill
Flight 93-Peter Markle
The Ron Clark Story- Rand Haines
Sleeper Cell-Charles S. Dutton
Walkout-Edward James Olmos

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMATIC SERIES-NIGHT
24-John Cassar
Grey's Anatomy-Peter Horton
The Sopranos-David Nutter
The Sopranos-Timothy Van Patten
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip-Thomas Schlamme

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY SERIES
30 Rock-Adam Bernstein
Boston Legal-Arlene Sanford
Entourage-Julian Farino
Grey's Anatomy-Seith Mann
Ugly Betty-Richard Shepard

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSICAL VARIETY
American Idol: The Search for a Superstar-Bruce Gowers
Saturday Night Live-Don Roy King
Tony Bennett: An American Classic-Rob Marshall
The Daily Show-Chuck O'Neil
The 60th Annual Tony Awards-Glenn Weiss

Academy Award Nominations

2007-01-23T17:41:00.000-05:00

Here are the nominees for the 79th Annual Academy Awards. They were announced this morning by previous nominee Salma Hayek and Academy President Sid Ganis.

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
Babel
The Departed
Letters from Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Leonardo DiCaprio-Blood Diamond
Ryan Gosling-Half Nelson
Peter O'Toole-Venus
Will Smith-The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker-The Last King of Scotland

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Penelope Cruz-Volver
Judi Dench-Notes on a Scandal
Helen Mirren-The Queen
Meryl Streep-The Devil
kate Winslet-Little Children

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Alan Arkin-Little Miss Sunshine
Jackie Earle Haley-Little Children
Djimon Hounsou-Blood Diamond
Eddie Murphy-Dreamgirls
Mark Wahlberg-The Departed

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Adriana Barraza-Babel
Cate Blanchett-Notes on a Scandal
Abigail Breslin-Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson-Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi-Babel

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
Clint Eastwood-Letters from Iwo Jima
Stephen Frears-The Queen
Paul Greengrass-United 93

BEST WRITING, SCREENPLAY WRITTEN DIRECTLY FOR THE SCREEN
Babel-Guillermo Arriaga
Letters from Iwo Jima-Iris Yamashita, Paul Haggis
Little Miss Sunshine-Michael Arndt
Pans Labyrinth-Guillermo Del Toro
The Queen-Peter Morgan

BEST WRITING, SCREENPLAY BASED ON MATERIAL PREVIOUSLY PRODUCED OR PUBLISHED
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan-Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Peter Daynham, Dan Mazer, Todd Phillips
Children of Men-Alfonso Cuaron, Timothy J. Sexton, David Arata, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
The Departed-William Monahan
Little Children-Todd Field, Tom Perrotta
Notes on a Scandal-Patrick Marber

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Black Dahlia-Vilmos Zsigmond
Children of Men-Emmanuel Lubezki
The Illusionist-Dick Pope
Pans Labyrinth-Guillermo Navarro
The Prestige-Wally Pfister

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EDITING
Babel-Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione
Blood Diamond-Steven Rosenblum
Children of Men-Alfonso Cuaron, Alex Rodriguez
The Departed-Thelma Schoonmaker
United 93-Clare Douglas, Richard Pearson, Christopher Rouse

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION
Dreamgirls-John Myhre, Nancy Haigh
The Good Shepard-Jeannine Claudia Oppewall, Gretchen Rau, Leslie E. Rollins
Pan's Labyrinth-Eugenio caballero, Pilar Revuelta
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest-Rich Heinrichs, Cheryl Carasik
The Prestige-Nathan Crowley, Julie Ochipinti

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN
The Curse of the Golden Flower-Chung Man Yee
The Devil Wears Prada-Patricia Field
Dreamgirls-Sharen Davis
Marie Antoinette-Milena Canonero
The Queen-Consolata Boyle

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURE, ORIGINAL SCORE
Babel-Gustavo Santaolalla
The Good German-Thomas Newman
Notes on a Scandal-Phillip Glass
Pans Labyrinth-Javier Navarrete
The Queen-Alexandre Desplat

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES, ORIGINAL SONG
An Inconvenient Truth-Melissa Etheridge "I Need To Wake-Up"
Dreamgirls-Henry Krieger, Scott Cutler, Ann Preven "Listen"
Dreamgirls-Henry Krieger, Siedah Garrett "Love You I Do"
Cars-Randy Newman "Our Town"
Dreamgirls-Henry Krieger, Willie Reale "Patience"

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP
Apocalypto-Aldo Signoretti, Vittorio Sodano
Click-Kazuhiro Tsuji, Bill Corso
Pan's Labyrinth-David Marti, Montse Ribe

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND
Apocalypto-Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell, Fernando Camara
Blood Diamond-Andy Nelson, AnnaBehimer, Ivan Sharrock
Dreamgirls-Michael Minkler, Bob Beemer, Willie D. Burton
Flags of Our Fathers-John T. Reitz, David E. Campbell, Gregg Rudloff, Walt Martin
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest-Paul Massey, Christopher Boyes, Lee Orioff

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING
Apocalypto-Sean McCormack, Kami Asgar
Blood Diamond-Lon Bender
Flags of Our Fathers-Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman
Letters from Iwo Jima-Alan Robery Murray
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest-George Watter II, Christopher Boyes

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest-John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, Allen Hall
Poseidon-Boyd Shermis, Kim Libreri, Chas Jarrett, John Frazier
Superman Returns-Mart Statson, Richard r. Hoover, Neil Corbould Jon Thum

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR
Car-John Lasseter
Happy Feet-George Miller
Monster House-Gil Kenan

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
Efter brylluppet (After the Wedding)-Denmark
Indigenes (Days of Glory)-Algeria
El Laberinto Del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth)-Mexico
Das Leben Der Anderen (The Lives of Others)-Germany
Water-Canada

BEST DOCUMENTARY, FEATURES
Deliver Us from Evil-Amy Berg, Frank Donner
An Inconvenient Truth-Davis Guggenheim
Iraq in Fragments-James Longley, Yahya Sinno
Jesus Camp-Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady
My Country My Country-Laura Poitras, Jocelyn Glatzer

BEST DOCUMENTARY, SHORT SUBJECTS
The Blood of Yingzhou District-Ruby Yang, Thoam Lennon
Recycled Life-Leslie Iwerks, Mike Glad
Rehearsing a Dream-Karen Goodman, Kirk Simon
Two Hands-Nathaniel Kahn, Susan Rose Behr

BEST SHORT FILM, ANIMATED
The Danish Poet-Torill Kove
Lifted-Gary Rydstrom
The Little Matchgirl-Roger Allers, Don Hahn
Maestro-Geza M. Toth
No Time for Nuts: Chris Renaud, Mike Thurmeier

BEST SHORT FILM, LIVE ACTION
Binta y la gran idea-Javier Fesser, Luis Manso
Eramos pocos-Borja Cobeaga
Helmer & Son-Soren Pilmark, Kim Magnusson
The Saviour-Peter Templeman, Stuart Parkyn
West Bank Story-Ari Sandel

SAG Nominees

2007-01-21T15:18:00.000-05:00

So the 2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards are right around the corner, and here are the nominees for Sundays (January 28th) show.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE
Babel
Bobby
The Departed
Dreamgirls
Little Miss Sunshine

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Leonardo DiCaprio-Blood Diamond
Ryan Gosling-Half Nelson
Peter O'Toole-Venus
Will Smith-The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker-The Last King of Scotland

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Penelope Cruz-Volver
Judi Dench-Notes on a Scandal
Helen Mirren-The Queen
Meryl Streep-The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Windslet-Little Children

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Alan Arkin-Little Miss Sunshine
Leonardo DiCaprio-The Departed
Jackie Earle Haley-Little Children
Djimon Hounsou-Blood Diamond
Eddie Murphy-Dreamgirls

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Adriana Barraza-Babel
Cate Blanchett-Notes on a Scandal
Abigail Breslin-Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson-Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi-Babel

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
Desperate Housewives
Entourage
The Office
Ugly Betty
Weeds

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES
24
Boston Legal
Deadwood
Grey's Anatomy
The Sopranos

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin-30 Rock
Steve Carell-The Office
Jason Lee-My Name is Earl
Jeremy Piven-Entourage
Tony Shalhoub-Monk

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
America Ferrera-Ugly Betty
Felicity Huffman-Desperate Housewives
Julia Louis-Dreyfus-The New Adventures of Old Christine
Megan Mullally-Will & Grace
Mary-Louise Parker-Weeds
Jaime Pressly-My Name is Earl

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
James Gandolfini-The Sopranos
Michael C. Hall-Dexter
Hugh Laurie-House M.D.
James Spader-Boston Legal
Kiefer Sutherland-24

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Patricia Arquette-Medium
Edie Falco-The Sopranos
Mariska Hargitay-Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Kyra Sedgwick-The Closer
Chandra Wilson-Grey's Anatomy

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Thomas Haden Church-Broken Trail
Robert Duvall-Broken Trail
Jeremy Irons-Elizabeth I
William H. Macy-Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King
Matthew Perry-The Ron Clark Story

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Annette Bening-Mrs. Harris
Shirley Jones-Hidden Places
Cloris Leachman-Mrs. Harris
Helen Mirren-Elizabeth I
Greta Scacchi-Broken Trail

2007 PGA Winners

2007-01-21T13:08:00.000-05:00

Here are the winners (and the nominees) from the 2007 Producers Guild of America Awards that were held on Saturday January 20th, 2007.

FEATURE FILM
Winner: Little Miss Sunshine-Marc Turtletaub, David T. Friendly, Peter Saraf, Albert Berger, Ron Yerxa

Babel-Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Steve Golin, Jon Kilik
The Departed-Graham King
Dreamgirls-Laurence Mark
The Queen-Andy Harries, Christine Langan, Tracey Seaward

ANIMATED FILM
Winner: Cars-Darla K. Anderson

Flushed Away-Cecil Kramer, Peter Lord
Happy Feet-Doug Mitchell, George Miller, Bill Miller
Ice Age: The Meltdown-Lori Forte
Monster House-Steve Starkey, Jack Rapke

LONG-FORM TELEVISION
Winner: Elizabeth I-Suzan Harrison, George Faber, Charles Pattinson, Barney Reisz

Bleak House-Nigel Strafford-Clark
Flight 93-David Gerber, Clara George
High School Musical-Bill Borden, Barry Rosenbush
Mrs. Harris-Elizabeth Karlsen, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon

EPISODIC TELEVISION-COMEDY
Winner: The Office-Greg Daniels, Kent Zbornak

Arrested Development-Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, David Nevins, Mitchell Hurwitz, John Amodeo, Dean Lorey, James Vallely, Richard Day, Tom Saunders
Curb Your Enthusiasm-Larry David, Jeff Garlin, Robert B. Weide, Larry Charles, Tim Gibbons, Eric O'Malley
My Name Is Earl-Gregory Thoams Garcia, Marc Buckland, Henry J. Lange Jr.
Weeds-Jenji Kohan, Roberto Benabib, Mark A. Burley

EPISODIC TELEVISION-DRAMA
Winner: Grey's Anatomy-Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, Mark Gordon, James D. Parriott, Peter Horton, Rob Corn

House M.D.-David Shore, Katie Jacobs
Lost-J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse, Bryan Burk, Jack Bender, Jean Higgins, Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz, Liz Samoff
The Sopranos-David Chase, Brad Grey, Ilene S. Landresss, Terence Winter, Matthew Weiner, Diane Frolov, Andre Schneider, Henry Bronchtein, Gianna Maria Smart
24-Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran, Howard Gordon, Evan Katz, Jon Cassar, Michael Loceff, Michael Klick

NON-FICTION TELEVISION
Winner: 60 Minutes-Jeff Fager

The Amazing Race-Jerry Bruckheimer, Bert Van Munster, Jonathan Littman, Amy Chacon, Hayma Washington, Evan Weinstein, Elise Donanieri, Mark A. Vertullo
American Idol: The Search for a Superstar
Dancing with the Stars
Project Runway

VARIETY TELEVISION
Winner: Real Time with Bill Maher-Bill Maher, Scott Carter, Sheila Griffiths, Dean E. Johnsen

Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show-Ellen DeGeneres, Mary Connelly, Ed Glavin, Andy Lassner, Karen Kilgariff
Late Night with Conan O'Brien-Lorne Michaels, Jeff Ross, Tracy King, Frank Smiley, Daniel Ferguson
Late Show with David Letterman-Maria Pope, Barbara Gaines, Rob Burnett, Jude Brennan
Turin 2006: XX Olympic Winter Games-Dick Ebersol, David Neal, Molly Solomon

Golden Globe Winners

2007-01-17T19:42:00.000-05:00

BEST MOTION PICTURE-DRAMA
Babel

BEST MOTION PICTURE-MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Dreamgirls

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR INA MOTION PICTURE-DRAMA
Forrest Whitaker-The Last King of Scotland

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE-DRAMA
Helen Miren-The Queen

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE-COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Sacha Baron Cohen-Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE-COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Meryl Streep-The Devil Wears Prada

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Eddie Murphy-Dreamgirls

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Jennifer Hudson-Dreamgirls

BEST DIRECTOR-MOTION PICTURE
Martin Scorsese-The Departed

BEST SCREENPLAY-MOTION PICTURE
The Queen-Peter Morgan

BEST ORIGINAL SONG-MOTION PICTURE
Happy Feet-"The Song of the Heart"

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE-MOTION PICTURE
The Painted Veil

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Letters From Iwo Jima

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Cars

BEST TELEVISION SERIES-DRAMA
Grey's Anatomy

BEST TELEVISION SERIES-MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Ugly Betty

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Elizabeth I

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Bill Nighy-Gideon's Daughter

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Helen Mirren-Elizabeth I

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES-MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Alec Baldwin-30 Rock

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES-MUSICAL OR COMEDY
America Ferrera-Ugly Betty

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES-DRAMA
Hugh Laurie-House M.D.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES-DRAMA
Kyra Sedgwick-The Closer

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES, OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jeremy Irons-Elizabeth I

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES, OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Emily Blunt-Gideon's Daughter

Golden Globe Nominees

2007-01-12T19:49:00.000-05:00

The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Being presented on January 15th, 2007

And the nominees are:

BEST MOTION PICTURE-DRAMA
Babel
Bobby
The Departed
Little Children
The Queen

BEST MOTION PICTURE-MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
The Devil Wears Prada
Dreamgirls
Little Miss Sunshine
Thank You For Smoking

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE-DRAMA
Leonardo DiCaprio- Blood Diamond
Leonardo DiCaprio-The Departed
Peter O'Toole-Venus
Will Smith-The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker-The Last King of Scotland

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE-DRAMA
Penelope Cruz-Volver
Judi Dench-Notes on a Scandal
Maggie Gyllenhaal-SherryBaby
Helen Miren-The Queen
Kate Winslet-Little Children

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE-MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Sacha Baron Cohen-Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Johnny Depp- Pirates of the Caribbean:Dead Man's Chest
Aaron Eckhart-Thank You For Smoking
Chiwetel Ejiofor-Kinky Boots
Will Ferrell-Stranger Than Fiction

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE-MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Annette Bening-Running with Scissors
Toni Collette-Little Miss Sunshine
Beyonce Knowles-Dreamgirls
Meryl Streep-The Devil Wears Prada
Renee zellweger-Miss Potter

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Ben Affleck-Hollywoodland
Eddie Murphy-Dreamgirls
Jack Nicholson-The Departed
Brad Pitt-Babel
Mark Wahlberg-The Departed

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Adriana Barraza-Babel
Cate Blanchett-Notes on a Scandal
Emily Blunt-The Devil Wears Prada
Jennifer Hudson-Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi-Babel

BEST DIRECTOR-MOTION PICTURE
Clint Eastwood-Flags of Our Fathers
Clint Eastwood-Letters from Iwo Jima
Stephen Frears-The Queen
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu-Babel
Martin Scorsese-The Departed

BEST SCREENPLAY-MOTION PICTURE
Babel-Guillermo Arriaga
The Departed-William Monahan
Little Children-Todd Field, Tom Perrotta
Notes on a Scandal-Patrick Marber
The Queen-Peter Morgan

BEST ORIGINAL SONG-MOTION PICTURE
Bobby-"Never Gonna Break My Faith"
Dreamgirls-"Listen"
Happy Feet-"The song of the Heart"
Home of the Brave-"Try Not to Remember"
The Pursuit of Happyness-"A Father's Way"

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE-MOTION PICTURE
Babel
The Da Vinci Code
The Fountain
Nomad
The Painted Veil

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Aplcalypto
El Laberinto del Fauno
Das Leben Der Anderen
Letters from Iwo Jima
Volver

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Cars
Happy Feet
Monster House

BEST TELEVISION SERIES-DRAMA
24
Big Love
Grey's Anatomy
Heroes
Lost

BEST TELEVISION SERIES-MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Desperate Housewives
Entourage
The Office
Ugly Betty
Weeds

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Bleak House
Broken Trail
Elizabeth I
Mrs Harris
Prime Suspect: The Final Act

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Andre Braugher-Thief
Robert Duvall-Broken Trail
Michael ealy-Sleeper Cell
Chiwetel Ejiofor-Tsunami: The Aftermath
Ben Kingsley-Mrs. Harris
Bill Nighy-Gideon's Daughter
Matthew Perry-The Ron Clark Story

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Gillian Anderson-Bleak House
Annette Bening-Mrs Harris
Helen Mirren-Elizabeth I
Helen Mirren-Prime Suspect: The Final Act
Sophie Okonedo-Tsunami: The Aftermath

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES-MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Alec Baldwin-30 Rock
Zach Braff-Scrubs
Steve Carell-The Office
Jason Lee-My Name Is Earl
Tony Shalhoub-Monk

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES-MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Marcia Cross-Desperate Housewives
America Ferrera- Ugly Betty
Felicity Huffman-Desperate Housewives
Julia Louis Dreyfus-The New Adventures of Old Christine
Mary-Louise Parker-Weeds

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES-DRAMA
Patrick Dempsey-Grey's Anatomy
Michael C. Hall- Dexter
Hugh Laurie- House M.D.
Bill Paxton-Big Love
Keifer Sutherland-24

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES-DRAMA
Patricia Arquette-Medium
Edie Falco-The Sopranos
Evangeline Lilly-Lost
Ellen Pompeo-Grey's Anatomy
Kyra Sedgwick-The Closer

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES, OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Thomas Haden Church- Broken Trail
Jeremy Irons-Elizabeth I
Justin Kirk-Weeds
Masi Oka-Heroes
Jeremy Piven-Entourage

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES, OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Emily Blunt-Gideon's Daughter
Toni collette-Tsunami: The Aftermath
Katherine Heigl-Grey's Anatomy
Sarah Paulson-Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Elizabeth Perkins-Weeds

Upcoming Awards

2007-01-01T20:50:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.

SO AWARD SEASON IS COMING UPON US, AND HERE IS A SCHEDULE OF THE UPCOMING AWARD CEEREMONIES, LEADING UP TO THE ACADEMY AWARDS ON FEBRUARY 25th, BEING HOSTED BY ELLEN DEGENERES.

THE GOLDEN GLOBES- Monday January 15th, 2007
THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA-Saturday January 20th, 2007
THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD OF AMERICA-Sunday January 28th, 2007
THE DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA-Saturday February 3rd, 2007
THE WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA-Sunday February 11th, 2007
THE BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM AND TELEVISION ARTS-Sunday February 11th, 2007
INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS-Saturday February 24th, 2007

My 10 Greatest Comic Book Films

2006-12-05T09:52:00.000-05:00

Ok so in response to Empires list, here is my own, except I am only going to do my top 10. Enjoy.

10. Dick Tracy
09. A History Of Violence
08. Constantine
07. Road To Perdition
06. X-Men 3
05. Hellboy
04. Spiderman 2
03. Sin City
02. X-Men 2
01. Batman Begins

Upcoming comic book films (dates subject to change):
300- March 9 2007
Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer- June 15 2007
Spiderman 3- May 4 2007
Hellboy 2- June 2008
Ghost Rider- February 16 2007
Wolverine- 2008
The Dark Knight- July 18 2008
Magneto- 2007
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay- 2007

Empires 20 Greatest Comic Book Films

2006-12-04T20:24:00.000-05:00

So when I saw this feature by EMPIRE, I was intrigued. I really enjoy comic book films, so I wanted to see where my favorites made the list.

20. Constantine
19. Ghost World
18. Batman Returns
17. Superman Returns
16. Dick Tracy
15. Hulk
14. Mystery Men
13. Akira
12. Danger Diabolik
11. Hellboy
10. Superman II
09. A History Of Violence
08. Sin City
07. Oldboy
06. Road To Perdition
05. Blade
04. Spider-Man
03. Batman Begins
02. Superman The Movie
01. X-Men 2

Stay tuned, for my own version of this list, coming soon!!!!

2007 Independent Spirit Awards

2006-11-28T14:42:00.000-05:00

The nominees were announced today and here they are:

Best Feature:
"American Gun"
"The Dead Girl"
"Half Nelson"
"Little Miss Sunshine"
"Pan's Labyrinth"

Best Director:
Robert Altman, "A Prairie Home Companion"
Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris, "Little Miss Sunshine"
Ryan Fleck, "Half Nelson"
Karen Moncrieff, "The Dead Girl"
Steven Soderbergh, "Bubble"

Best First Feature:
"Day Night Day Night"
"Man Push Cart"
"The Motel"
"Sweet Land"
"Wristcutters: A Love Story"

Best Documentary:
"A Lion in the House"
"My Country, My Country"
"The Road to Guantanamo"
"The Trials of Darryl Hunt"
"You're Gonna Miss Me"

Best Foreign Film:
"12:08 East of Bucharest"
"The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros"
"Chronicle of an Escape"
"Days of Glory"
"The Lives of Others"

Best Female Lead:
Shareeka Epps, "Half Nelson"
Catherine O'Hara, "For Your Consideration"
Elizabeth Reaser, "Sweet Land"
Michelle Williams, "Land of Plenty"
Robin Wright Penn, "Sorry, Haters"

Best Male Lead:
Aaron Eckhart, "Thank You For Smoking"
Ryan Gosling, "Half Nelson"
Edward Norton, "The Painted Veil"
Ahmad Razvi, "Man Push Cart"
Forest Whitaker, "American Gun"

Best Supporting Female:
Melonie Diaz, "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints"
Marcia Gay Harden, "American Gun"
Mary Beth Hurt, "The Dead Girl"
Frances McDormand, "Friends With Money"
Amber Tamblyn, "Stephanie Daley"

Best Supporting Male:
Alan Arkin, "Little Miss Sunshine"
Raymond J. Barry, "Steel City"
Daniel Craig, "Infamous"
Paul Dano, "Little Miss Sunshine"
Channing Tatum, "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints"

Best Screenplay:
Neil Burger, "The Illusionist"
Nicole Holofcener, "Friends with Money"
Ron Nyswaner, "The Painted Veil"
Jason Reitman, "Thank You For Smoking"
Jeff Stanzler, "Sorry, Haters"

Best First Screenplay:
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, "Half Nelson"
Michael Arndt, "Little Miss Sunshine"
Goran Dukic, "Wristcutters: A Love Story"
Dito Montiel, "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints"
Gabrielle Zevin, "Conversations with Other Women"

Best Cinematography:
Arin Crumley, "Four Eyed Monsters"
Anthony Dod Mantle, "Brothers of the Head"
Guillermo Navarro, "Pan's Labyrinth"
Aaron Platt, "Wild Tigers I Have Known"
Michael Simmonds, "Man Push Cart"

Someone to Watch Award:
So Yong Kim, "In Between Days"
Julia Loktev, "Day Night Day Night"
Richard Wong, "Colma: The Musical"

John Cassavetes Award:
"Chalk"
"Four Eyed Monsters"
"Old Joy"
"Quinceañera"
"Twelve and Holding"

Truer Than Fiction Award:
AJ Schnack, "Kurt Cobain: About a Son"
Adele Horne, "The Tailenders"
Eric Daniel Metzgar, "The Chances of the World Changing"

Producers Award:
Julie Lynn, "Nine Lives," "10 Items or Less"
Alex Orlovsky and Jamie Patricof, "Half Nelson," "Point&Shoot"
Howard Gertler and Tim Perell, "Shortbus," "Pizza"

Special Distinction:
David Lynch, Laura Dern, "Inland Empire"

Summer and Smoke

2006-11-25T16:42:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I went to see the play Summer and Smoke. It was a very good play, and it is a shame that it is closing this weekend. The play starred Rosamund Pike from Pride and Prejudice and Chris Carmack from The O.C.. I really enjoyed the play and thought that all of the actors did an amazing job. It was a great night.

Remembering Robert Altman

2006-11-25T14:41:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, Hollywood lost a legend, Robert Altman. The legendary director who made films such as MASH, Nashville, The Player, A Prairie Home Companion, Short Cuts, and Gosford Park, was 81. He was a five time Academy Award nominee for Best Direcotr, and at this past years awards ceremony he receieved an honory award for being a pioneering filmmaker and an amazing director. He was known for having large ensamble casts, and overlapping dialogue. In 2002 he won the Golden Globe for Best Director, for Gosford Park. Altman will truly be missed by the filmmaking industry, and his last project has already come to hault, because it is doubted that any other filmmaker would be able to make the film, Hands on a Hard Body.

Casino Royale

2006-11-19T14:13:00.000-05:00

James Bond is back, and this time he is better then ever. This is not the Bond that most people are used to. First off when the film starts he is yet to be a "00" and the beginning of the film is him gaining his "00" status. Second off, this Bond does not look like your typical blonde, he isn't a glamorous Bond, he gets bet up, and nearly killed, and even tourtured. Also he is a blonde haired, blue eyed Bond. And while others argue that Bond would never have blonde hair, but I don't think that his hair colour has anything to do with who Bond is. Daniel Craig, was the perfect Bond. I feel that he was the best choice for the role, and he did a smashing job.

The rest of the cast included Eva Green, Judi Dench, Mads Mikkelsen, and Jeffrey Wright. The cast did a fantastic job, and they really rejuvinated the franchise. This film was able to show, how Bond started out, and how he became the man he is. I certainly can not wait for the next installment.

The Magic of The Prestige

2006-11-12T13:47:00.000-05:00

The Prestige is the tale of two turn of the century magicians, Alfred Borden (Hugh Jackman) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman). The two started out as friends, but later became bitter rivals, and each one tries to out do the other oneand when Alfred is able to do the transported man, Robert must beat him, and the games that they are playing have deadly consequences, not only for themselves, but also for their loved ones. The rest of the cast includes, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, Andy Serkis and David Bowie. The film is directed by Chritopher Nolan, who also directed Memento and Batman Begins, and the screenplay was written by Christopher and his borther Jonathon Nolan. The film is made as though it is a magic trick, you can never be certain whether you are seeing something for real, or whether it is some slight of hand by Nolan.

With an amazing cast, and an interesting story, you can't go wrong with this film. Bale is fantastic, and Jackman delivers an emotional and amazing monologue, that showed his range as an actor. This was one of the better films of 2006, it was everything that I expected it to be and more, and it left nothing to e desire, any theater goer will leave completely satisfied.

The Dearly Departed

2006-10-06T12:45:00.003-04:00

So I watched The Departed and wow. Thats all I can say. It is a great film, and I am hoping that it will finally earn Martin Scorsese an Oscar, although I doubt that it will happen. The film is about a police officer infiltrating the mob, and a man involved in the mob, infiltrating the police force. The film takes place in South Boston, and involves the Boston State Police. The film stars Leonardo DciCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, and Alec Baldwin. The movie was very entertaining, and it had a lot of funny moments. Mark Wahlberg did an amazing job, as a supporting actor, stealing all of the scenes that he was in.

I don't know if this film is Oscar worthy, especially so early in the year, and many movies haven't even come yet, but if the movies that come out are the same caliber as previous films this then this film stands a chance. I really want Scorsese to win an award he deserves one, there have been so many film that he has made, that were award worthy that just didn't win. I'm not trying to turn this into a campaign for an Oscar for Scorsese, but that is just the way that I feel.

so if anyone wants a good movie to see, I suggest that you go and see it. Its a good film that is entertaining, and very enjoyable.

Enjoy!

Little Miss Sunshine

2006-08-27T17:19:00.000-04:00

I have wanted to see Little Miss Sunshine, since I read about it during Sundance. I had heard such wonderful things and I really wanted to see it. Was it everything that I expected, no...it was more then I expected. I knew it was going to be funny, but it was a lot funnier than I could have ever imagined. The movie was about a family, traveling to California in their VW van, for their daughter's beauty pagent. The family consists of Toni Collette as the mother Sheryl and Greg Kinnear as her husband Richard. They have a daughter Olive, played by Abigail Breslin and her brother Dwayne played by Paul Dano. Their uncle Frank is Sheryl's brother, he is a suicidal Proust scholar played by Steve Carell. The last member of the clan is Richard's father who is played by Alan Arkin. The Grandpa has been Olive's coach for the beauty pagent, and is funny throughout the film.

The film has a ton of great lines and was truely funny, but it was also in a way heart warming. The family goes through a lot throughout the film, and they have a lot of Roadbumps along the way, but the manage to stay together as a family and get through everything. I was excited by the cast in this film, I have enjoyed, Toni Collette has always been one of my favorite actresses, and Greg Kinnear has always done a fantastical job on screen, I loved The Matador and As Good As It Gets. Steve Carrell is one of my newer favorite actors, mainly because of Anchorman.

Well thats al for this post, coming up on my next edition, will be my Emmy Picks.

Band of Brothers, you should rent it some time.

2006-06-28T01:41:00.000-04:00

I finally had the time to sit down and watch "Band of Brothers", and I’m glad that I did it. It was one of the best mini-series that I had ever seen, and all of the battles were so intense and so well done. I love history, it has always fascinated me, especially the battles and wars, two of my favorite films are Black Hawk Down and Saving Private Ryan. But Band of Brothers tops the list. For not having a lot of super well-known actors, I couldn’t see any one else playing those parts, they all did a phenomenal job. Now don’t get me wrong when I say that aren’t well known actors, but unless you are on imdb.com 24/7 then you might not know who they are. There were many actors who starred in this series, but the one that stood out the most was Damian Lewis who played Major Richard D. Winters aka Maj. Dick Winters.

Lewis went on later to make Dreamcatcher, and Keane (which I have heard wonderful things about, but haven’t been able to see yet). Major Winters was such an interesting character. The series followed Winters’ career, because with each episode it seemed that he got a higher rank.

Ron Livingston whom I enjoyed in both Office Space and Swingers starred as Captain Lewis Nixon, who was an alcoholic and Winter’s best friend. I would say that Livingston was the second star of the series, and at the end he had some really good scenes, that showed how good of an actor he is.

Other people who were in the series were Donnie Wahlberg, Matthew Settle, Scott Grimes , Eion Bailey, James Madio, Kirk Acevedo, Rick Gomez, Neal McDonough, Frank John Hughes, Rick Warden, Michael Cudlitz, and David Schwimmer.

The series covered from Normandy to the End of the war, and the first episode flashbacked to when the main characters went through their training. It covered all of the important aspects of World War II, including the concentration camps, the Battle of the Bulge, and the beginning of Normandy. Their were six DVDs with all 10 parts and a bunch of bonus material, which I just didn’t have time to watch, but once I buy it, I will make sure to watch everything.

There is the book Band of Brothers in which the series was based on and Major Dick Winters wrote a book, Beyond Band of Brothers, which sounds very interesting, and I plan on reading it on my vacation.

Sorry about the lack of updates.

2006-06-28T01:06:00.000-04:00

So I know that I have been horrible at updating this thing, but I have resolved to be better at doing it. In my defense I have been really busy with work and before that with school. Also I have been preparing for big changes this fall, since I am moving to London. But still that is no excuse to not update this blog. The sad news is that I haven’t been able to go to the movies a lot lately, although I have been renting and buying a lot. So instead of talking about what is new in theaters or on DVD, from now on I am going to talk about what ever I watch so within the next few days and hours hopefully there will be quite a few new posts. So enjoy, and try to go out and see some movies.

Failure to Launch...not a failure at all!

2006-03-23T00:44:00.000-05:00

I have to start this out by saying that I loved Failure to Launch. Not because it was an amazing film, thats going to win awards, but because it was funny. The film opened to mix reviews, but the movie made 24 million in its first weekend, taking the number 1 spot. I guess they didn't think about all the women who love Matthew McConaughey.

The film was about Tripp(McConaughey), a thritysomething freeloader, still living with his parents (Kathy Bates and Terry Bradshaw), much to their displeasure. His friends (Bradley Cooper and Justin Bartha) are just like him, and the three of them love being that way. That starts to change, or at least his parents hope that will change when he meets Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker), who is actually hired by his parents to get him to move out. Is this just another job for Paula or could it be something more?

Both Tripp's and Paula's friends really add a lot to the film. Zooey Deschanel really shines as Kit, Paula's psychotic best friend/roommate, who is obsessed with finding the mocking bird that is singing while she tries to sleep. Tripp's friend Ace (Barta, the nerdier friend) of course falls for her, which makes an interesting side-story in the film. Demo (Cooper) is more of a free spirit, one with nature kind of guy, and he is a star in waiting really. After playing Sac in Wedding Crashers, he has certainly started to make a name for himself. He is in the upcoming play, Three Days of Rain, Which is starring Julia Robert, Cooper, and Paul Rudd.(Sidenote, I might be seeing this play in May).

All in all this film isn't just a romantic comedy, I would just call it a comedy with a bit of romance tied in.

Lack of updates...sorry!

2006-03-23T00:39:00.000-05:00

So I know that I haven't posted on this thing for quite some time, but I have been to see a few different movies, and soon V for Vendetta. I know, I am quite pissed at myself for not seeing it the day it came out, but I shall see it soon. I actually haven't been to the cinema since Failure to Launch came out, but I will put up a little something about it very soon.

Now I know that this has nothing to do with movies, but I feel the need to share it. Next semester (read September 2006) I will be studying in London, England. I am super excited and I hopefully will have an amazing experience there. Well until later.

OSCAR

2006-03-08T02:51:00.000-05:00

So overall I was pleased with the Academy Awards. Some recipients I didn't think deserved to win but oh well. So here are my own little awards.

Best Dressed (Female): Keira Knightly, Reese Witherspoon, Salma Hayek

Best Dressed (Male): Jamie Foxx, Heath Ledger, George Clooney

Worst Dressed (Female): Charlize Theron

Best Acceptance Speech: George Clooney

Worst Acceptance Speech: The Three 6 Mafia

Most Justified Award: Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Crash

Least Justified Award: The Three 6 Mafia

Weirdest Seating Arrangment: Keira Knightly next to Jack Nicholson.

And the Oscar goes to...A recap of the Academy Awards.

2006-03-08T02:37:00.000-05:00

8:01 We begin The 78th Annual Academy Awards with a look back at some previous hosts such as Billy Crystal, Chris Rock, Steve Martin, Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, and Mel Gibson and Mr. MoviePhone, all declining to host the awards for various reasons. We then see Jon Stewart, in bed with Halle Berry and Jon says how he had a weird dream and that they asked him to host the Oscars. Halle says what makes you think that you aren’t still dreaming. Jon then wakes up next to George Clooney, and asks him if he is dreaming, Clooney says no and Jon makes some excited gestures.

8:07 Stewart makes his way to the stage. “Thank you all very much. I’m so excited to be here. Good Evening Ladies, Gentlemen and Felicity… Tonight is the night we celebrate excellence in film-with me, the fourth male lead from Death to Smoochy”. "Tonight we are being watched by hundreds of millions of people, nearly half of whom are in the process of being adopted by Angelina Jolie. I'm wait-listed."
"It hasn't been the best year for Hollywood. The box office was a little bit down. And piracy continues to be a problem. So let me just say if there's anyone out there involved in illegal movie piracy, don't do it. Take a good look at these people. These are the people you're stealing from. Look at them! Face what you've done! There are women here who could barely afford enough gown to cover their breasts." “The Oscars is really, I guess, the one night of the year where you could see all your favorite stars without having to donate any money to the Democratic Party. And it's exciting for the stars as well. This is the first time many of you have ever voted for a winner. No, it's good — enjoy. Enjoy your votesThe theme of the award show tonight is a return to glamour. And thank goodness, because for too long Hollywood has done without. Definitely this is an improvement over last year's theme: Night of a Thousand Sweatpants”

8:10 “There are a lot of really big stars here tonight. It's really exciting. We've got the man, Mr. George Clooney, triple nominee. Two of the nominations for Good Night, and Good Luck, which is not just Edward R. Murrow's sign-off, it's also how Mr. Clooney ends all his dates.” "Capote was a groundbreaking film that broke taboos, that showed America not all gay people are virile cowboys. Some are actually effete New York intellectuals." "Capote addressed very similar themes to Good Night, and Good Luck. Both films are about determined journalists, defying obstacles in a relentless pursuit of the truth. Needless to say, both are period pieces." "Steven Spielberg is here. ... A best-director nomination for Munich, a tremendous film, and I congratulate you, sir. From the man who also gave us Schindler's List. Schindler's List and Munich. I think I speak for all Jews when I say I can't wait to see what happens to us next. Trilogy!""One last thing I want to mention — the elephant in the room — the movie everybody was talking about this year. Of course we're talking about Brokeback Mountain. I have no problem with gay themes. There were a lot of them this year. Let's face facts. For God's sakes, the boxing movie was called Cinderella Man." "Charlize Theron is nominated for North Country, a tremendous performance. She plays a woman who is constantly judged on her looks and paid less than her male co-workers. It must be wonderful to be done with that and back in Hollywood."

8:12 “Bjork couldn’t be here tonight, she was trying on her Oscar dress and Dick Cheney shot her.”

8:13 “Raise your hand if you weren’t in Crash,”…“Walk the Line, it’s Ray with white people” and Jamie Foxx has a wide smile on his face, and Joaquin Phoenix doesn’t.

8:15 One last thing I want to mention — the elephant in the room — the movie everybody was talking about this year. Of course we're talking about Brokeback Mountain. I have no problem with gay themes. There were a lot of them this year. Let's face facts. For God's sakes, the boxing movie was called Cinderella Man." Jon says how he can’t get into Brokeback Mountain because its taking away from the old westerns, where they were all heterosexual. Then a montage of Heterosexual clips from Westerns, very funny clips including some of Gregory Peck and John Wayne. After the montage, “Charlton Heston is cut. He looks like he’s been lifting 20 commandments.”

8:17 But I have to say I'm from New York and I've been out here a week and I've had a great time. I mean that. ... A lot of people say this town is too liberal. Out of touch with mainstream America. An atheistic pleasure dome. A modern-day beachfront Sodom and Gomorrah. A moral black hole. Where innocence is obliterated in an endless orgy of sexual gratification and greed. I don't really have a joke here. I just thought you should know a lot of people are saying that. I been to the parties!"

8:20 Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman comes to the stage to present the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

8:21 And The Oscar goes to GEORGE CLOONEY for SYRIANA. “Alright, so I’m not winning director...It’s a funny thing about winning an Academy Award, this will always be sort of synonymous with your name from here on. Oscar-winner George Clooney, sexiest man alive 1997, ‘Batman,’ died today in a freak accident.” He gives a wonderful speech, asking how can these different performance be judged and compared. He also talks about social change, and how in 1939 the Academy was progressive, giving an award to Hattie McDaniel and Clooney claimed that he was “proud to be out of touch”

8:26 Back with Jon Stewart, and Tom Hanks is going to demonstrate how they are going to make sure that winners do not go over their time limits. Hanks give a mock acceptance speech thanking Hooch, and Steven Spielberg among others, and gets smashed by a viola and shot with a dart that was in a trumpet.

8:28 Ben Stiller comes on stage to present the award for excellence for Visual Effects, dressed in a green unitard, and is bobbing around on stage. He says that all that is being seen is a disembodied head and that, “This is blowing Spielberg’s mind”. Stephen shakes his head and lips no.

8:31 King Kong Wins. Jon Stewart comes back and remarks about Ben Stiller showing the world that he is jewish in a green unitard.

8:32 Reese Witherspoon comes out to present the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. The nominees are Howl’s Moving Castle, Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were Rabbit and Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride.

8:34 Wallace and Gromit win, which I was really happy about because they had a good/bad 2005. “Cracking Cheese Gromit”

8:36 Naomi Watts comes out to introduce the first nominee for Best Song, Dolly Parton with Travellin’ Thru from Transamerica.

8:40 The first Best Picture scene comes from Munich. The clip is of Eric Bana racing to stop the bomb from exploding after the little girl comes home and answers the phone, instead of her father.

8:44 “And that’s why I think Scientology is right, not just for this city, but for the country!” Realizing were back Jon Stewart introduced the next presenters, Owen and Luke Wilson. Saying they are, “two talanted brothers, which is also a way to describe the Baldwin brothers.” The Wilson’s are presenting Live Action Short, and the winner is SIX SHOOTER, directed by Martin McDonagh.

8:46 The Wilson brothers introduce the animated characters of Chicken Little and Abby Mallard to present Best Animated Short. The winning short was THE MOON AND THE SUN: AN IMAGINED CONVERSATION.

8:50 Jennifer Aniston, comes to present the Oscar for Best Costume Design. The winner is MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA.

8:53 Russell Crowe comes on stage to present a montage on Biopics.

8:58 The next presenters are Steve Carell and Will Ferrell in heavy makeup to present the award for Best Make Up. Carrell had false eyelashes that seemed to be irritating him since he kept blinking his eyes, and Ferrell face made him look like an Oompa-Loompa. Will asked what Steve was wearing and Steve replied “It’s called pineapple bliss.” The winner is The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.

9:02 “I have to say congratulations to The Chronicles of Narnia. I'm a little surprised Cinderella Man didn't win that category. I just think, you know, imagine the difficulty in making Russell Crowe look like he got into a fight ... I'm going to be pummeled later this evening, aren't I?”

9:04 Rachel McAdams appears via the screen to discusses the Scientific and Technical Awards which they jokingly say are still going on

9:05 Morgan Freeman comes to present the award for Best Supporting Actress.

9:08 RACHEL WEISZ is the winner. I really liked her speech, thanking the real people who do what she did in the film.

9:09 A scene from the second Best Picture nominee, Good Night, And Good Luck.

9:13 Lauren Bacall comes on to the stage to introduce a look back at film noir.

9:17 “Those movies were amazing but you can’t help watching them and think they’d be better in color”.

9:18 A spoof of paid advertisements for the Best Actress nominees. “Judi Dench took my eye out in a bar fight. Mock aristocrat in send-up-the-dame skit.”

9:20 "Our next presenter is nominated for his role in Hustle & Flow, in which he played a pimp. For those of you in the audience, by the way, pimp (is) sort of like an agent with a better hat." Terrence Howard comes to the stage to present the award for Documentary Short. The winner is Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin. Corinne Marrinan says that she is not only grateful for the award, but that, “I’d like to thank the academy for seating me next to george Clooney at the nominees luncheon.”

9:23 A huge bow comes on stage to present the award for Best Documentary Feature...er. um Charlize Theron comes on stage to present the award for Best Documentary Feature. The winner is MARCH OF THE PENGUINS.

9:25 Jennifer Lopez comes to the stage to introduce the second Best Song nominee. In the Deep performed (and written) by Kathleen Bird York, a song from the film Crash. In the background there is a car on fire and people dancing slowly and sort of reenacting scenes from the film.

9:34 Jon Stewart before introducing the next presenters had this to say, "For anybody who was concerned during that last number, the material that they used to make the snow is the type of asbestos that is not harmful, unless of course it touches your skin. And also if you are trying to escape a burning car, my suggestion would be not to move in slow motion." Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves come to the stage to present the award for Best Art Direction.

9:36 The award goes to MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA.

9:38 Samuel L Jackson arrives on stage to present a look back at some films that dealt with issues.

9:42 “And none of those issues were ever a problem again… I’m pleased to announce that during that clip, Susan Sarandon mailed us a check for $50,000…Holy crap, we are out of clips. We are literally out of film clips. If you have film clips, send them please. We have another three hours. I don't care if they're on Beta, just send them."

9:43 Sid Dennis, the President of the Academy comes to the stage to be boring.

9:45 Salma Hayek comes to the stage to present the award for Best Original Score, Itzhak Perlman comes to play a piece of each of the nominated scores.

9:53 The winner is BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, its first award of the night.

9:55 Time for a scene from the third Best Picture nominee, Capote.

9:57 Jake Gyllenhaal comes to the stage to present a look back at epics.

10:01 “I can’t wait til later when we see Oscar’s homage to montages”

10:02 Jessica Alba and Eric Bana arrive on stage to present the award for Sound Mixing.

10:04 The award goes to KING KONG, its second award of the night.

10:05 Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep come to the stage to present the Lifetime Achievement Award for ROBERT ALTMAN. They do a great overlapping dialogue in tribute to Altman.

10:11 Altman gets a standing ovation for the five-times nominated director, mentions his wife and his 30 year old heart that he received during transplant surgery. He says that he is really just making one super long film.

10:19 Stewart introduces the next presenter, saying that, Our next presenter is a very famous musician – you don’t know him. Go upstairs and ask your children to explain.” Chris “Ludacris” Bridges comes to the stage to present the third Best Song nominee, It’s Hard Out Here For A Pimp, from Hustle and Flow. This time the dancers on stage are pretending to be pimps and hookers.

10:24 Queen Latifah comes to the stage to present the award for Best Song, and amazingly, It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp from HUSTLE AND FLOW, wins. There speech is very incomprehensible, and needed to be censored, thanking, We want to thank our choreographer, Jesus, the Academy, know what I’m saying? Ev’ybody man! We love ya. Ludacris, whassup? George Clooney my favourite man! We outta here!”

10:28 Back with Jon Stewart, “You know what? I think it just got a little easier out here for a pimp. I think it did. ... Now I know the Three 6 Mafia is gonna get into it with Itzhak Perlman's posse. I know it. And then they have only one way to solve it: dreidel-off...How come they’re the most excited people here tonight?”
” Jennifer Garner comes out to present the next award for Sound Editing, and right before that we saw another spoof. On her way out Garner slips on her dress and almost falls. As she finally gets to the stage she says, “Thank you, I do my own stunts.”

10:30 King Kong is the winner, getting its third award of the night.

10:32 George Clooney comes out to present the moment of remembrance. Including, Pat Morita, Vincent Schiavelli, Sandra Dee, Chris Penn, John Mills, Shelley Winters, Anne Bancroft, and Richard Pryor, among others, who have died since the last Academy Awards.

10:39 The next award is Best Film in a Foreign Language, being presented by Will Smith. The winner is TSOTSI from South Africa, directed by Gavin Hood.

10:42 “For those of you keeping score at home. Martin Scorsese: zero Oscars, Three 6 Mafia: one”.

10:43 “Oh for God’s sake! They ate the third trombonist! That’s terrible” realizing the orchestra was hungry Stewart offered them a fun size candy bar that they could split 100 ways. Best Editing is next, and being presented by Ziyi Zhang.

10:44 Crash wins its first award of the night.

10:46 Hilary Swank comes to the stage to present the award for Best Actor.

10:49 And the Academy Award goes to PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN for Capote. He gives a really nice speech, thanking his mother, who raised him and his siblings all by herself.

10:52 Brokeback Mountain is the The fourth Best Picture nominee to have their scene shown.

10:56 “ Man we are cruisin’ tonight. We’re going to get home early enough to watch Desperate Housewives.
John Travolta is the next presenter, presenting the award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography. MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA wins, although I don’t know how it beat Good Night and Good Luck or Batman Begins (both would have been more deserving).

10:59 Jamie Foxx is Presenting the award Best Actress. And I just have to say that I love the way he is dressed in a black tuxedo with sort of a robins egg blue shirt and black tie. Nice!

11:02 And the Academy Award goes to, Reese Witherspoon. “People used to ask June how she was doing, and she would say 'I'm just trying to matter.' I know what she means."

11:09 Back with Jon Stewart and the next awards for screenplay, both original and adapted.

11:10 Dustin Hoffman will present the award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and almost opens the envelope before saying the nominees. He says, “this stuff is so much harder than acting.” The award goes to BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and Larry McMurtry. McMurty is wearing jeans as he goes onstage.

11:14 The next award is Best Original Screenplay, being presented by Uma Thurman. Crash wins.

11:17 Crash, the final best picture nominee, has its clip.

11:20 Jon Stewart, again, “You know, as I watched Brokeback Mountain win for best adapted screenplay, I thought... I didn’t know we could wear jeans! If I ever get invited back I’m wearing overalls.”

11:21 To present the award for Achievement in Directing, Tom Hanks. And the Academy Awards goes to Ang Lee, who makes a Brokeback Moutain joke, saying, “I wish I could quit you.”

11:24 Jack Nicholson, is the final presenter, presenting the award for Best Picture. And the Oscar goes to Crash. After a moment of silence since everyone is in shock, Paul Haggis makes his way to the stage. It’s the biggest upset of the night and I couldn’t be happier.

Independent Spirit Award Winners

2006-03-04T20:53:00.000-05:00

So here are the Independent Spirit Award Winners:

Best Feature:Brokeback Mountain (2005) - James Schamus, Diana Ossana

Best Female Lead: Felicity Huffman for Transamerica (2005)

Best Male Lead: Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote (2005)

Best Supporting Female: Amy Adams for Junebug (2005)

Best Supporting Male: Matt Dillon for Crash (2004)

Best Director: Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Best Screenplay: Capote (2005) - Dan Futterman

Best First Screenplay: Transamerica (2005) - Duncan Tucker

Best Cinematography: Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005) - Robert Elswit

Best First Feature: Crash (2004) - Paul Haggis, Cathy Schulman, Don Cheadle, Bob Yari, Mark R. Harris, Robert Moresco

Best Foreign Film: Paradise Now (2005) - Hany Abu-Assad (Palestine/Netherlands/Germany/France)

Best Documentary: Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005) - Alex Gibney

John Cassavetes Award: Conventioneers (2005) - Mora Stephens, Joel Viertel

Truer Than Fiction Award: Occupation: Dreamland (2005) - Garrett Scott, Ian Olds

Hot Fuzz

2006-03-04T00:31:00.000-05:00

Plot details have finally been released on the upcoming Hot Fuzz starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and directed by Edgar Wright, whom all came into the spotlight because of Shaun of the Dead. I, like most, have desperately been awaiting just a tiny bit of information about the upcoming movie, and finally there is some information available, empire online recently reported that: "Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg made their names on the big screen with Shaun of the Dead, and details are finally emerging of their long-awaited follow-up Hot Fuzz, the British action movie we've been nagging them about for ages. Here's what we can expect...

"Police constable Nicholas Angel (Pegg) is good at his job; so good in fact, he makes everyone else look bad. As a result, his superiors at the Met have decided to sweep him under the carpet. So it is that London's top cop finds himself in the sleepy West Country village of Sandford.

"With garden fetes and neighbourhood watch meetings replacing the action of the city, Angel struggles to adapt to his situation and finds himself partnered with Danny Butterman (Frost), an oafish but well meaning young Constable, who dreams of being Mel Gibson. Just as all seems lost, a series of grisly accidents motivates Angel into action. Convinced of foul play, Angel realises that Sandford may not be as idyllic as it seems."

In addition to Frost and Pegg, the cast will also include (deep breath) Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton, Paddy Considine, Steve Coogan, Martin Freeman, Bill Bailey, Olivia Colman, Anne Reid, Rafe Spall, David Bradley, Stewart Wilson, Paul Freeman and Edward Woodward. Wright and Pegg wrote the script, and Wright is once again directing with Nira Park producing.
Shooting is due to start later this month, and we'll keep you up to date as we hear more."

I can't wait for this, I loved Shaun of the Dead, and from the cast and the plot details it sounds like it is going to be good. I am especially excited that Martin Freeman is going to be in it, because its then combining two of my favorite actors, Pegg and Freeman.

New News

2006-02-18T00:47:00.000-05:00

Casino Royale finally has a Vesper Lynd, and Eva Green is playing her. Green was last seen in Kingdom of Heaven, opposite Orlando Bloom. Jeffrey Wright has been added to the cast as well, playing Felix Leiter, a CIA agent. Mads Mikkelsen, a Danish actor, who played Tristan in King Arthur, staring Clive Owen.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman, has revealed his troubled past, in which he dealth with substance abuse problems. The favorite for Best Actor at the Academy Awards, for his portrayal of Truman Capote in Capote has been sober since he was 22 years old. The actor revealed this on 60 Minutes, which will air this Sunday in the US.
The Bourne Ultimatum is set to begin filming in August. The third and final installment of the series of books, written by Robert Ludlum, may not be the last film. Producers would like to make a total of 5 films, but the decision is up to Matt Damon and if he wants to make that many. The third film will have Bourne team up with the KGB, and both Julia Stiles, and Joan Allen's character will have more central roles in the films. The first two films The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy, were hits in America as well as internationally.
As Previously discussed Sin City 2 has been pushed back until next year. The film which was going to be released this summer has been pushed back since Robert Rodriguez is working with Quentin Taratino on Grind. Pushing back the release date is not a surprise, since filming hasn't even begun the film.
Nathan Fillion who played Captain Mal Reynolds in Firefly and Serenity will star in the sequel to White Noise, entitled White Noise 2: The Light. His character (played by Michael Keaton in the first film) "realizes that he has changes and can now identify those about to die, but his powers come with some terrible ramifications." For more information visit empire article: Nathan Fillion Step Into The Light

The Matador

2006-02-16T23:46:00.000-05:00

The Matador was one of the funnier movies that I have seen. The role of Julian was made for Pierce Brosnan, and it really showed that he has a comedic flair. This is not your basic hitman film, first off its funny, and second it has some of the best one liners. The film is about a hitman named Julian Noble, who is on assignment in Mexico, while there he meets Danny Wright a, businessman with rotten luck. The two start to taking and form sort of a bond while in Mexico, until Danny sees who Julian really is. When Julian starts to get fed up with the business he goes to visit Danny in Denver, meets his wife Bean, and asks Danny to help him.

Pierce Brosnan was really good as Julian. He was so funny and he cracked me up with some of the things that he said. Some of them being vulgar and offensive, which made them that much better. He and Greg Kinnear (who played Danny Wright) worked well together, they had good chemistry and they worked well off of each other. Hope Davis played Danny's wife, Bean and she was funny when she was shown. At one point she keeps cursing and Danny looks at her, and she said what "can't I curse, there is a hitman in our house, if not now when" and it was just so funny. The scene with the three of them in Denver was very funny and I could not stop laughing.

Another thing i liked about his film was the music that they used in it, it wasn't music that you think would be used in a film like this, but it worked really well. It reminded me of the music that Quentin Tarantino uses in his films, music that stands out and almost becomes a character itself.

For more information visit: The Matador at imdb.com

Review: Junebug

2006-02-09T01:00:00.000-05:00

Looking at the message boards, I saw that a lot of people were dissapointed with Junebug. I can sorta understand that, but I would have to disagree. This film was different, and it had that going for it. But after all the hype for this film, and its major success at Sundance, it was different then I thought it would be.

The film is about an art dealer named Madeleine who travels with her husband, George, from Chicago to a backwoods town in North Caroline, to sign a deal with a reclusive artist. During the trip, they go to spend some time with his famliy, so that she can meet her new in-laws, including, his parents, Peg and Eugene, his brother Johnny, and Johnny's pregnant wife Ashley. During their trip, old resentments resurface, and new ones appear, and they have to pull together as a family, and be there for one another.

The scene stealer in this movie was Amy Adams who played Ashley. She was very funny and honest, and made me laugh throughout the film. She and Johnny, don't have the best relationship, but you can see that she wants it to work out. She is very impressed by Madeleine, and envys her lifestyle. Amy did a phenomenal job, and I see why she keeps getting nominated for her acting.

Benjamin McKenzie, played Johnny. His character wasn't very different from what he plays on The OC. Johnny was angry throughout the entire film, angry at his family, but mainly at his brother George. It seems as though they had problems in the past and haven't really spoken for a while. He is very quite and brooding throughout the film, saying very little.

George was played by Alessandro Nivola. His character was very focused on family, which was very important to him. George seems like the perfect guy, handsome, sensative, and an all around good person, he even sings church hymns. He is there for his family when they need him, and he has a touching scene with Ashley, near the end of the film, that makes you want to cry and laugh (the scene showed how good both of them were at acting).

Lastly Embeth Davidtz played Madeleine. Her character was basically a fish out of water. She was meeting her new in-laws for the first time, and it was very awkward for her. Also the family issue came back into play, because she was more worried about closing her art deal, then being there when they needed her.

This film had a lot to do with family. About people who are there for you when you need them, when your world is falling apart they are there to help you pick up the pieces. In some cases that person was there and in other cases they weren't. Also it was about admitting that you need your family, which is sometimes hard to do. We want to think that we are independent, and that we don't need anyone, but sometimes we do, and we have to realize that. This film had some really great shots of scenery and at one point when George and Madeleine arrive at the house, they gave the audience a tour of the house, which was pretty neat. Also some of the scenery was shot offcenter and then other objects would come into the frame, which was pretty interesting. I would recommend this film, give it a shot, maybe you'll like it, I did.

For more information on the film visit: Junebug on imdb.com

News, News, News!

2006-02-03T23:04:00.000-05:00

Filming had begun on Casino Royale in Prague, Czech Republic, without a new bond girl or a villain. There have been many actresses linked to the project, including, Angelina Jolie, Rachel McAdams, and Thandie Newton, whom have all been considered to play Vesper Lynd. Hopefully they will find the actors for the open roles, before they have to delay fiming.

Would you like to be the next George Lucas? Want to make your own Star Wars film? Where here is your chance, Hasbro, who make Star Wars action figures (over 500 different ones), have launched a mini movie competition. Entrants can re-enact or spoof a scene from one of the Star Wars films, using Hasbro figures to do it. Entries will be judged and awards will be given to Best Creativity, Best Storyline, and Best Use of Characters. For more information visit: empireonline.com

Just a reminder that the Grammy’s are being aired on Wednesday at 8 p.m. on your local CBS station. Jamie Foxx will be performing with Kanye West, along with a slew of other performances including, Mary J Blige and U2, Paul McCartney, Kelly Clarkson, and more. For more information visit. http://www.grammy.com/

The Oscar statuettes have arrived in Los Angeles, practically a month before the award show, which takes place on March 5th. 50 of the gold statuettes, which are 13.5 inches tall, left New York, where they were being exhibited, on a special flight, with bodyguards, and arrived at Los Angeles Airport. They will be on exhibit from February 10th until March 3rd nearby the Kodak Theater where the 78th annual award show takes place.

With the Super Bowl taking place this Sunday, some celebrities, athletes and politicians have placed their bets on who will win. To see their picks visit: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs05/news/story?id=2316803

Review: The Constant Gardener

2006-02-03T01:02:00.000-05:00

So I have finally seen The Constant Gardner, and I loved it. The film was intriguing and visually appealing. While watching this film you really get caught up in the story. The film is about a widower named Justin Quayle, played by Ralph Fiennes, who must get to the bottom of his wife’s death (Tessa, portrayed by Rachel Weisz). The further he gets to the truth, the more danger his own life, and the lives of people around him are put in danger.

After Justin is sent to Kenya on a mission for the Queen, his pregnant wife who is an activist who sticks with what she believes in. Tessa discovers a very dirty secret about the pharmaceutical companies, and the fact that are benefiting from the AIDS virus as well as other diseases that are ripping through Africa. Justin as he gets deeper to the bottom of the corporate corruption he realizes that he can trust no one, including his coworkers.

I though that this film was just so good. It had beautiful scenery throughout the film, and the characters stories were very interesting, even characters that were only in it for 5 minutes. This film may be a drama, but really it was a love story, about a man who would do anything for love.

The one thing that I find surprising is that Rachel Weisz keeps winning all the Best Supporting Actress awards (at both the SAGS and the Golden Globes), but no one else from the film is being nominated. Fiennes was amazing, I don’t think that he is getting the recognition that he deserves for this role. Even the supporting cast did an excellent job, including, Bill Nighy and Danny Huston. I would recommend this film to any, without reservation.

For more information visit: The Constant Gardener at Imdb.com

I can't wait......

2006-02-03T00:37:00.000-05:00

So production has begun on Grind (changed from Grindhouse....I like the latter better especially since the former is a skateboarding movie) and I Can Not wait for this film, or shall I say films. Grind consists of two 60 minute films, one called Planet Terror (being Directed by Robert Rodriguez), and the other called Death Proof (by Quentin Tarantino). Both films will be released together, with an intermission between the two, and during the fake intermission there will be fake trailers and ads. The films are a 70's exploitation-style project, and both are going to be full of gore. Planet Terror is going to be a zombie movie, while Death Proof is set to be a slasher film.

Some critics have already started to trash the film, calling it a vanity project, and blaming it for the delays on Sin City 2, and Inglorious Bastards. But this project is going to be different, and I think it will be interesting to see how it all plays out on the screen, especially with these two directors doing it. It's not that I can wait for Sin City 2, or Inglorious Bastards, its just that I want Grind a tad more, plus it will give Frank Miller more time to make an awesome script, and work on that new material.

I think Chris Hewitt on empireonline.com said it best, "the geeks will love it (and since I’m a geek, I should too)." I concur.....especially since I am a geek when it comes to things like this.

For more information visit: Grind at Empire Online or

Grind at Imdb.com

DGA Winners

2006-02-01T01:36:00.000-05:00

On January 28, 2006, Carl Reiner hosted the Directors Guild of America awards. Here are the winners:

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs: Edge of America (2003) (TV) - Chris Eyre; Don Schain (unit production manager) (plaque); Matias Alvarez (first assistant director) (plaque); Miriam Footer (second assistant director) (plaque); Christopher Barnes (III) (second second assistant director) (plaque)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series’-Night: "Rome" (2005) - Michael Apted; Stanley Wlodkowski (unit production manager) (plaque); Sergio Ercolessi (first assistant director) (plaque); Julie A. Bloom (first assistant director) (plaque); Tommy Gormley (first assistant director) (plaque); Barbara M. Ravis (second assistant director) (plaque); Kiersten Pilar Miller (second assistant director) (plaque)- For episode "The Stolen Eagle".

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials: "General Hospital" (1963) - Owen Renfroe; Ron Cates (II) (associate director) (plaque); Christine R. Magarian (associate director) (plaque); Penny Pengra (associate director) (plaque); Peter Fillmore (associate director) (plaque); Craig McManus (stage manager) (plaque); Crystal Craft (stage manager) (plaque); Lisa Kaseff (production associate) (plaque); Denise Van Cleave (production associate) (plaque); Christine Cooper (IV) (production associate) (plaque)- For episode #10,914.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series’: "My Name Is Earl" (2005) - Marc Buckland; Henry J. Lange Jr. (unit production manager) (plaque); Joan Cunningham (first assistant director) (plaque); Jeff Bilger (second assistant director) (plaque); Stacy Schrader (second second assistant director) (plaque)- For the pilot episode

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs: "Fear Factor" (2001) - J. Rupert Thompson; John Stewart (IV) (stage manager) (plaque)- For episode "Heist Fear Factor" (Season 6 Premiere), and "Three Wishes" (2005) - Tony Croll- For the pilot episode.

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: Brokeback Mountain (2005) - Ang Lee; Scott Ferguson (III) (unit production manager) (plaque); Tom Benz (unit production manager) (plaque); Michael Hausman (first assistant director) (plaque); Pierre Tremblay (II) (first assistant director) (plaque); Brad Moerke (second assistant director) (plaque)

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary: Grizzly Man (2005) - Werner Herzog

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television: Lackawanna Blues (2005) (TV) - George C. Wolfe; Nellie Nugiel (unit production manager) (plaque); Mary Kane (III) (unit production manager) (plaque); Drew Ann Rosenberg (first assistant director) (plaque); Barbara M. Ravis (second assistant director) (plaque); Maria Mantia (second assistant director) (plaque); Anthony E. Kountz (second second assistant director) (plaque); Robin Jorden (second second assistant director) (plaque) and Warm Springs (2005) (TV) - Joseph Sargent; Carl Clifford (unit production manager) (plaque); Cas Donovan (first assistant director) (plaque); Michael Helfand (second assistant director) (plaque); Rhonda Guthrie (second second assistant director) (plaque); Mark Trapenberg (second second assistant director) (plaque)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Clint Eastwood

Frank Capra Achievement Award: Jerry Ziesmer

Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award: Don Jacob (II)

Academy Award Nominations

2006-02-01T00:27:00.000-05:00

Tuesday Morning, the Oscar Nominations were read, and of course Brokeback Mountain took in the most nominations, with a total of 8, including Best Picture. Crash, Good Night and Good Luck, and Memoirs of a Geisha all had 6 nominations, with both Crash and Good Night and Good Luck being nominated for Best Picture. Other Best Picture nominees were Capote and Munich, each having 5 nominations (Walk the Line also has 5 nominations). In an interesting twist this year for each Best Picture nominee, the director of the film was also nominated for Best Director.

Here is the list in full:

Schedule

2006-01-31T23:55:00.000-05:00

So I have a lot to talk about in upcoming posts and here is a tentative idea on what will be coming up:

Award shows:

Bafta Nominations

Academy Award Nominations

DGA Winners

Reviews:

Junebug

The Constant Gardener

And a review of the big films from last weeks Sundance Film Festival.

And of course there will be news, and even some more interesting things that I come upon.

Latro

SAGs in Review

2006-01-30T18:44:00.000-05:00

So I of coursed watch the SAG Awards last night, and they were pretty interesting. I like the SAGs because they aren’t as structured as the other award shows, or so it seems. Plus I was very excited by some of the winners, especially Crash, the other award shows completely forgot about that movie it seemed, with just a few other nominations for the other award shows. I also liked the fact that Brokeback Mountain didn’t win any awards, because I think the other nominees deserved it more. Philip Seymour Hoffman deserved the award so much, and I think he’s going to get the Oscar also. I was happy to see Paul Giamatti win for Cinderella Man, because he doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves. Although I love Don Cheadle so I wish he could have won also, but at least he got one for Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture. I think most of the winners deserved their awards, including Keifer Sutherland for 24, which is an amazing show in which he is fantastic in, Sandra Oh for Grey Anatomy, Lost for Ensemble television and Sean Hayes for Will & Grace. Sean Hayes’ and S. Epatha Merkerson’s speeches were both very nice and I was glad to see them win, especially Hayes since this in the last season of W&G. The highlight of the night was when Shirley Temple Black received a Lifetime Achievement Award; I didn’t know about half of the amazing things that she did, including being an ambassador. Dakota Fanning talked about Temple-Black’s career, and then Jamie Lee Curtis (who tripped very gracefully on the way out) presented her with the award. I only wish that Arrested Development would have won for Ensemble Cast comedy, because I love that show, and since Fox cancelled it, it would have been good to see them win, over Desperate Housewives. I also enjoyed the memorable moment from last year, when Jamie Foxx was trying to showcase Ray and was having a hard time get through his lines. The one thing that was very interesting was that Brokeback Mountain walked away empty handed, how will this affect the Academy Awards. Its going to see in the upcoming weeks how the other award shows play out, including the Academy Awards, the BAFTA's, and the Independent Spirit Awards.

SAG Winners

2006-01-30T18:30:00.000-05:00

Here are the winners of last nights Screen Actors Guild awards:

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: Crash (2004) - Ludacris, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillippe, Larenz Tate

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote (2005)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line (2005)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Paul Giamatti for Cinderella Man (2005)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener (2005)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: "Desperate Housewives" (2004) - Roger Bart, Andrea Bowen, Mehcad Brooks, Ricardo Chavira, Marcia Cross, Steven Culp, James Denton, Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Brent Kinsman, Shane Kinsman, Eva Longoria, Mark Moses, Doug Savant, Nicollette Sheridan, Brenda Strong, Alfre Woodard

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: "Lost" (2004) - Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Naveen Andrews, Emilie de Ravin, Matthew Fox, Jorge Garcia, Maggie Grace, Josh Holloway, Malcolm David Kelley, Daniel Dae Kim, Yoon-jin Kim, Evangeline Lilly, Dominic Monaghan, Terry O'Quinn, Harold Perrineau, Michelle Rodriguez, Ian Somerhalder, Cynthia Watros

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Sean Hayes for "Will & Grace" (1998)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Felicity Huffman for "Desperate Housewives" (2004)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Kiefer Sutherland for "24" (2001)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Sandra Oh for "Grey's Anatomy" (2005)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: Paul Newman for Empire Falls (2005)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: S. Epatha Merkerson for Lackawanna Blues (2005)