AVATAR: Believe the Hype
by Jaden
In my family, it is tradition that on December 25th, my mom takes us all out to the movies and therefore gets to choose which one we see. Without fail, part of that tradition is that she picks the worst movie showing.
“I do not,” she argued during our last movie negotiations. “What about Independence Day? That was good. Or how about that one with Robin Williams in the museum? That was funny.” Agreed. Ok, so not all of them were terrible.
To play it safe, I went to see Avatar last night, as a preventative method, like taking vitamin C to prevent getting sick.
Not having any expectations of Avatar, other than to maybe see some interesting graphics, I and everyone else in the theatre were transported to magical place. In the audience, you could hear the gasps of people as we watched the blue natives walk through a glowing rain forest in the night — and we walked with them in their 3-dimensional world. It was like being on a ride in Disneyland, but way better!
Trailers and bloggers have been hyping the heck out of Avatar, and folks, you better believe it, Avatar is a whirlwind of modern technology that will have you in awe.
3D has never been this good.
You don’t get a headache and the entire movie is full of beauty and extensive use of the 3D medium with flying shots and rapid runs through the forest. It is a movie you absolutely must see in the theatre. No home viewing will do it justice.
The definition of the word “avatar” gives insight to the movie.
avatar |ˈavəˌtär|noun chiefly Hinduism
a manifestation of a deity or released soul in bodily form on earth; an incarnate divine teacher.• an incarnation, embodiment, or manifestation of a person or idea • Computing a movable icon representing a person in cyberspace or virtual reality graphics.
Writer-director James Cameron brings together the ultra violence and high tech worlds of his other movies Terminator and Aliens to the romance of Titanic, seamlessly sewing them together to create Avatar. Cameron is the grand puppet master of pulling your heart strings with his classic romances and hero journey storytelling style, making you feel love and life again.
After the movie I was sitting on a bench waiting for my friend in the bathroom. “That was the best movie I have seen all year!” I said to the man sitting next to me. Looking at everyone’s face who exited the theatre, we were all in a state of shock.
He said, “That is the best movie I have seen this decade.”
I don’t want to tell you too much about Avatar and spoil it, so just GO SEE THIS MOVIE!
WARNING:
Movie is too violent for small children.
MOVIE QUOTE:
Jake Sully: Everything is backwards now, like out there is the true world and in here is the dream.
On IMDB.com, out of 52,704 votes, Avatar received 8.9/10 stars, which is exceptional.
Best Movie Scripts of 2009
What Movies to Watch or Give as a Gift over Your Winter Holiday
by Jaden
There are some years that have so many great movies it is tough to choose which one to see when you are at the theatre; this was not one of those years. For this reason, I have to admit that I have not watched too many new movies this year. Although no film rocked my world this year, the movie storylines that intrigued me enough to fork over ten bucks (and that I enjoyed) are these:
# 1 – Inglourious Basterds
Anything with the word “terds” in it pleases me.
The last thing I wanted to see was another Nazi movie, but since it was written by director Quentin Tarantino, I figured it would be an unusual must-see film and indeed it was. Tarantino’s version of the exhausted topic was a Jewish fantasy pushed out to absurd extremities as an unorthodox United States military team go on a secret terrorist mission during World War II.
With old movie references and a stoic meticulous unfolding, Inglourious Basterds is a visually stunning movie made for and by the love of a film geek. The intertwining complex story and clever interconnected subplots feed the hunger of an appreciating screenwriter.
Tarantino is blessed with an ability to pull out unconventional performances from actors, making them behave unlike any other character they have ever played. Christoph Waltz who plays Nazi Col. Hans Landa gives one of the best ‘bad guy’ performances I have ever seen; he just has you on the edge of your seat wondering what he is going to do next because he is so observant and wickedly intelligent. Tarantino takes his time to build tension. The female performances by Mélanie Laurent and Diane Kruger feel like real women with complex psyches, which is refreshing. Brad Pitt gives a fun anti-hero crazy-guy performance.
#2 – The Men Who Stare at Goats
The Men Who Stare at Goats makes my Best Movie Scripts list for two reasons: title originality and because no one else has it topping their list of best movies this year. The three people with whom I saw this movie were mildly entertained by it. Personally, the story concept and its overall awkward delivery amused me plenty.
A reporter’s woman leaves him. To be a tough guy and impress this woman (who could not care any less about him), he sets off to find a juicy story in the danger zone of the Middle East. Through a series of uncanny coincidences, he stumbles upon a mysterious man on a secret mission from a United States special forces paranormal military unit.
Supposedly based on a true story, I love the goofiness of the performances by George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges, and Kevin Spacey — all great actors of our time — as they pitch a light and funny movie.
# 3 — Public Enemies
A classic Hollywood film beauty, Public Enemies was directed by Michael Mann, the screenplay was written by Ronan Bennett, Michael Mann, and Ann Biderman, adapted from the book by Bryan Burrough (“Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34″).
Public Enemies is very much a “Bonnie & Clyde” type bank-robber film. The storyline does a good job of letting you get to know real people of notoriety and understand their personal motivations. For its costumes, cars, props, sets, and handsome actors (starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Marion Cotillardor), this movie is riveting to watch.
What others have to say about the best movies of 2009:
UK’s TimesOnline 50 Biggest Movies of 2009
This list is nice and long, unfortunately, it is broken up over 11 pages full of advertisements that are slow to upload. I have done the dirty work for you and clicked through them all to find the number one movie and give you that link here.
Best Movies Of 2009 So Far, According To Josh
Josh’s list on CinemaBlend.com is simple and straight to the point, breaks down with a star system a lot of movies in rapid fire order for you without reviews.
The Ten Best Movies of 2009 – That’s Right, 2009
What I like about CoolerKing’s list on movieretriever.com is at the end of each movie selection and review, he has written “Why it Might Suck,” just in case you were wondering; no movie is without its faults, even the good ones.
Best Movies of 2009 (so far)
From discussions and forums, I find this list by Ryan Costantino on Amazon.com to most accurately reflect how most people feel about what are the best movies of 2009, except I have not heard of anyone who agrees that District 9 is the number one movie of the year as Ryan lists it – District 9 does have a solid classic Hollywood script and is a movie worth watching.
What are your top 3 favorite movies of 2009 and why?
Forbidden Zone the Movie
by Jaden
“How have I not seen this movie? How have I never even heard of it? It’s amazing!” This is what I said to my friend as the opening credits of Forbidden Zone (1982) began to roll over the psychedelic cartoon images inspired by the dark ages of the early 1900s.
My friend said, “Not everyone is into movies like this.”
We two, we were mind blown.
It was late at night and I was trying to go home to go to sleep, but I couldn’t tear myself away from the strange happenings unfolding on the screen.
Forbidden Zone (1982) is written and directed by Richard Elfman (original leader of the band Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo and brother to composer Danny Elfman).
Forbidden Zone is a musical animated live action dream drama that resembles a genetic altering of Alice in Wonderland, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), and Looney Tunes televised animations, but naughtier.
My favorite character is Frenchy, played by Marie-Pascale Elfman, who makes her way through her basement to an underworld where rules a jealous wicked queen. Another great character is Squeezit the chicken boy — weird! Adventures ensue with all kinds of strange characters and indecipherable conversations. I don’t know what is going on, but I love it. Click here to read the synopsis.
Originally, Forbidden Zone was in black and white, which is beautiful and how I saw it, but I guess it is offered in color now too.
Forbidden Zone is the type of anti-Hollywood script that I can pretty much guarantee you will not sell in Hollywood and you will have to produce yourself; and by all means, please do!
Movies in Memory of Michael Jackson
Going Down the Yellow Brick Road with Michael Jackson
by Jaden
Born in Gary, Indiana, USA on August 29, 1958, Michael Joseph Jackson departed this world June 25, 2009. Most known for his dance moves, musical accomplishments, plastic surgery, and child-love scandals, what has been neglected are his magical movie moments on screen.
Bringing zombie horror cinema to music and television, the epic music video Thriller (1983), written and directed by The Blues Brothers director John Landis, was something of a scale that no other artist had touched before or ever since.
At the time of its release, MTV played Thriller night and day ad nauseam.
I remember they did a television special about the casting of the girlfriend in the video, Ola Ray, and talked at length about her historic scream. Of course they left out the most interesting detail that she was Playboy Playmate of the Month June 1980.
Below is dialog from the Thriller script:
Michael’s Girl: Can we get out of here?
Michael: No, I’m enjoying this!
Michael’s Girl: Well, I can’t watch!
Michael: It’s only a movie!
Michael’s Girl: It’s not funny.
Michael: You were scared, weren’t you?
Michael’s Girl: I wasn’t that scared.
Michael: Yeah, you were scared.
Michael’s smile in the opening sequence of this video, as he courts the girl, exemplifies the unique charm of Michael that will most be missed.
My favorite image of Michael Jackson is his sweet soft humble role as Scarecrow in The Wiz (1978), which is a Black musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. No one ever talks much about this movie, but it is a vibrant genius piece of film history. With its innocence and purity, it is an excellent movie for the whole family.
Wiz Costar singers are Diana Ross as Dorothy, Nipsey Russel as Tinman, and Ted Ross as Lion. Legend Lena Horne plays Glinda the Good Witch and Richard Pryor plays The Wiz. Directed by Sidney Lumet, the play was written by William F. Brown and the screenplay adaptation was written by Joel Schumacher.
SCARECROW
Do? Why, if I had a brain, I could –
(sings)
I could while away the hours,
Conferrin’ with the flowers,
Consultin’ with the rain.
And my head I’d be scratchin’
While my thoughts were busy hatchin’
If I only had a brain.
I’d unravel every riddle
For any individ’le
In trouble or in pain.
The genuine camaraderie of the performers, of Michael and of Diana, dives out of the screen at you. The Wiz is a great movie for a family fun night. It will probably be hard to rent in the wake of Michael’s death, so you might as well just buy it. Anyway, the kids will enjoy having it to watch over and over again so they can sing along.
Homage to the Parkway Speakeasy Movie Theatre in Oakland California
by Jaden
Sadly, one of my favorite places in Northern California shut its doors: the Parkway Speakeasy Movie Theater on Park Boulevard in Oakland, a culturally diverse lounge style theater full of couches, tables, and chairs where you could drink beer or wine, eat pizza and popcorn, and make new friends. Depending on the night, ticket prices ranged from $2.50 to $5.00!
In honor of the Parkway Theater and Oakland (famed for its rappers like Too $hort and musician Raphael Saadiq), below are two reviews of musical films I saw at the Parkway just before it closed.
You may read the theater’s public statement below.
PURPLE RAIN (1984)
Screenplay by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn
Purple Rain, starring the musician Prince, was the last movie I saw at the Parkway.
The screening was a fundraising event put on by East Bay Innovations to assist adults with developmental disabilities to live in their own homes and to be employed in jobs of their choosing.
Due to the dramatic 1980s styles and bad acting, the audience was laughing throughout the movie, even through some of the dark serious subjects.
Mostly, Purple Rain is a concert on film with some drama weaved into it, like a theatrical musical. Watching this movie, one is reminded of Prince’s phenomenal musical abilities, and for that, the movie is priceless.
Go big when you watch this movie — it’s no small screen event. With a good sound system and a large screen, Purple Rain is an excellent choice to project during a party or for a fundraiser.
CADILLAC RECORDS (2008)
Screenplay by Darnell Martin
Sony Pictures: “In this tale of sex, violence, race, and rock and roll in 1950s Chicago, “Cadillac Records” follows the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America’s musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry.“
Shunned by many critics and the Academy Awards, Cadillac Records was enjoyed and honored in Oakland at the Parkway Theater and by the Black Reel Awards. Being the rare case that the writer / director is a woman, and an attractive one at that, it is no surprise that her cinematic achievements were dismissed.
Like most Hollywood movies, Cadillac Records is highly stylized; no one should expect a fiction film to portray the truth, yet that was the complaint of the critics.
Overlooked were the outstanding musical and acting performances, along with the stunning array of Cadillacs and fashions exhibited from the 1940s through the 1970s.
Cadillac Records is gorgeous and entertaining. When I saw it, I wondered why it went quietly to the wayside with little recognition.
Lovers of music, Cadillacs, and retro styles, put this on your birthday wish list; it is a breathtaking movie starring beauty Beyonce Knowles, Cedric the Entertainer, Mos Def, Jeffrey Wright, Columbus Short, Adrien Brody, and Eamonn Walker who plays Howlin’ Wolf and will absolutely rock your world!
PUBLIC STATEMENT
FAREWELL PARKWAY
After more than twelve years of serving the great cultural crossroad of Oakland, the Parkway Speakeasy Theater will be closing at the end of business day, Sunday March 22, 2009.
From African Diaspora to Thrillville to lesbian fashion shows and educational porn, the Parkway has offered an eclectic array of movies and events. It was the first theater in California to offer food, beer and wine service in a lounge style movie theater. With a nudge or a push from the community, there was little programming the Parkway theater would not try in order to better be a community center and a safe haven for diverse ideas.
The Parkway brought Baby Brigade for the shuttered and abandoned parents of newborns, the first international black gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender film festival and Sunday Salon, a free event for cultural and community enhancement.
We, at the Parkway Speakeasy Theater, are deeply proud of the Parkway and will profoundly miss serving its community. Thank you for your patronage.
(This decision does not affect the Cerrito Speakeasy. Most of the Parkway’s regular and special events will move over there.)
Speakeasy Theaters nurtures and grows local communities by entertaining, challenging and feeding the mind, body and soul through irreverent, respectful and whimsical entertainment and tasty, local, housemade food and drink.
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