Cleopatra [1999]

This is a pretty good television mini-series that tells the story of Cleopatra and her relationships with Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony. I would never have thought a television movie would keep me interested until the end, it was an unexpected treat.

The story begins with the infamous Egyptian Queen Cleopatra’s return to Alexandria, where she has every intention on claiming the throne. Cleopatra knows she needs the power of Rome to make things happen so she seduces Julius Caesar, they quickly start an affair and have a child which ultimately leads to Cesar’s assassination. The only other Roman Cleopatra could trust was Mark Antony so she turns to him. He promises her that her son will be the rightful ruler of Egypt and that the independence of her country would be protected. Unfortunately he is unable to keep his promises as Roman Troops march into Egypt and force him to battle.

I find this movie gives a fair portrayal of Cleopatra. However I must agree with what a fellow reviewer mentioned, I definitely second that Cleopatra was whiny and childish in this movie. Cleopatra was known as a very strong and confident woman, she would never be whiny and childish. Timothy Dalton’s rendition of Caesar is powerful and passionate, just the way you would expect an narcissist like Caesar to be.
Billy Zane (who plays Mark Antony) was torn between Rome and his obsession with Cleopatra, the evidence of his internal conflict is portrayed well in the movie.

The costumes and sets were very well done, and true to the period. The only scenes that were lacking were the battle scenes, sometimes they looked a little fake.

Overall the movie was great, it kept my attention because it was very entertaining.

Swept Away 2002

Usually when a film includes a musician I am quick to make judgment about the quality of it, you know the films I’m talking about that include the likes of Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears. On the other hand this film took me by surprise; the story line is actually pretty interesting with a powerful statement about society, love and relationships.
The film begins with a group of rich friends taking a vacation on a yacht in the Mediterranean. The main character Amber (Madonna) is a rude, demanding socialite that wants everything done her way. Giuseppe (Adriano Giannini), the guests server is a communist sailor who hates her but likes her at the same time.
When the rest of her friends decide to go a shore to see some caves, Amber, left behind sulking in her own misery demands to be taken a shore to meet up with them. Giuseppe warns Amber of the dangers of going to shore, but she insists on going. Nevertheless Giuseppe is right and they become stranded on a deserted island.
Used to having everything done for her, Amber quickly realizes she will not survive without Giuseppe’s help. The tables are turned and Giuseppe wants her to be his slave. The dominant man assumes the roles as the hunter and uses power to control the female character who once tortured him. Amber, whose life has been unsatisfying, becomes dependent on Giuseppe and uncovers the true meaning of existence in the form of animalistic attraction that shapes a passionate relationship.
Now as predictable as this film may seem, the ending on the other hand is not. I read so many horrible reviews about this movie that it took me almost 8 years to finally watch it. The film is by far not a master piece but it’s also not as terrible as everyone made it out to be, with beautiful cinematography and lovely blue/green waters, and a not so bad to look at leading man you can’t go wrong.

Watchmen

Rated: R

Genre: Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Runtime: 162 mins

Released: March 6, 2009

Director: Zach Snyder

Cast: Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino

I finally saw Watchmen this weekend directed by Zach Snyder (300, Dawn on the Dead), which was originally a really graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons. The Movie is set In 1985, Richard Nixon is about to serve his third term as president of the United States and the world stands on the edge of destruction as the world’s two superpowers vie for nuclear supremacy. The only thing stopping the USSR from launching a doomsday attack is America’s Dr. Manhattan (played by Billy Crudup) a being with enough power to destroy planets and much else.

I never read the novel Watchmen nor am I familiar with the characters because I’ve never even heard of Watchmen before, that might be why this movie was “just ok” to me. I think there were too many characters to get familiar with; usually the audience is introduced to 1 or 2 main characters, but when you are trying to get them to care about 5 or 6 characters it starts to get fuzzy and boring. Not to mention the acting was just average.

The movie is also way to long, with flashback after flashback in the first 2 hours, by the time we hit the climax there is only 30 minutes left. With too many subplots (which come from out of nowhere) I think the only people who will enjoy this movie are fans of the novel, people who are already familiar with the characters.

Apt Pupil (1998)

Based on the novella by Stephen King, Directed by Brian Singer Apt Pupil is a disturbing Psychological Thriller about the relationship that forms between a teenage boy (Brad Renfro) and a neighbor (Ian McKellen) he discovers is a Nazi war criminal in hiding. This is one of the few books from Stephen King made into a movie that doesn’t have a lot to do with supernatural, but it’s still very riveting.

Apt Pupil addresses holocaust-related matters. Todd Bowen (Renfro) confronts Kurt Dussander (Ian McKellen) when he does a project for school and becomes fascinated with wartime atrocities. He blackmails the ex-Nazi, promising to keep his secret in exchange for Holocaust horror stories.

In his mission for information, Todd ignores his schoolwork and lets his mid-term grades slip, thus risking exposure of his after-school activities. At this point, Dussander turns the tables by pretending to be Todd’s grandfather and making a deal with his guidance counselor: Todd must get straight A’s in the finals in exchange for his poor mid-term grades being wiped off of his record. Dussander then uses the clever skills he acquired running a Nazi concentration camp and drives Todd to passing with straight A’s, something most would think impossible in just 3 weeks.

The changeover from blackmailer to apt pupil is done brilliantly, very much in the Stephen King style. In the last scene, where Todd is faced to deal with his guidance counselor, he displays why he deserves the title in more ways than one; for not only has Todd learnt the art of torture and discipline, but also how to manipulate people around him to suit his own agenda.

RV (2006)

RV starring Robin William and Cheryl Hines is hilarious. I’m actually not a huge fan of Robin Williams, but he won me over in this family adventure with help from the supporting actors such as Jeff Daniels.

Bob Munro (Williams) is overwhelmed at work and decides to take a trip to Hawaii with his family for some rest and relaxation and of course some family bonding. However his boss demands he cancel the trip for work. Bob ends up taking his unenthusiastic family on a road trip to have some quality family bonding time. Little does his family know he is actually focused on business and secretly tries to squeeze in some work (in bathrooms nonetheless) in between the constant run-ins with a very annoying family they meet?

Over the course of their trip Bob and his unhappy to be there tag-along family learn an important lesson. They realize how important family is and rekindle their forgotten family bond. I’m sure that everyone knew that is how it would end, it was quite predictable. What kind of family movie would end with the family hating each other?

This movie had many negative predictions circulating before the release of the movie in 2006 and I’m still not sure why. I didn’t see the movie until last night and never read any reviews or heard anything negative from friends so I went in without having expectations of any kind. I found it to be funny and a great movie to watch with the family, I would definitely categorize this movie in the family section. This movie actually reminds me of the good old classic Vacation Movies with Chevy Chase. I doubt RV will be a classic, but it’s definitely worth checking out.

Reign Over Me (2007)

Reign over Me is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while and I had never even heard of it before last night, when I noticed iReel had it in their movie library. I also realized that I really like Adam Sandler, more than I thought, he’s a fantastic actor and all of his movies are great and entertaining.

Reign over me is endearing and emotional and it makes you realize that life is short and at any moment life can change and you will never be the same again. That’s what happens in when Charlie (played by Adam Sandler) loses his wife and three daughters in a plane crash. The last 4 years of his life, he spent alone, not wanting to communicate with anyone who knew his family, he didn’t want to think or be reminded of them because it hurt too much. Then his old college roommate Alan (Don Cheadle) see’s him and tries to befriend him, he wants to help him.

What I like about this movie is that they don’t make everything turn out perfect in the end. It seems so real, this could really happen and I’m sure that it does somewhere around the world every day, someone loses someone they love. Unfortunately not everyone can move on with life as easily as others, some people are deeply pained and are never the same.

I must say this was the best performance I’ve seen from Adam Sandler, like I mentioned above he is just fantastic. I already love his movies, some of my favorites being Anger Management, Mr. Deeds, Happy Gilmore, Click and The Longest Yard. I think now he might even be one of my favorite actors.

Twilight New Moon

I found some new Twilight New Moon posters I wanted to share with everyone. I'm sure half the world has already seen them, however if not here they are. Enjoy!

The Ugly Truth

I went to see The Ugly Truth on Friday, guess what… it was hilarious. Everyone in the entire movie theater was laughing, through the whole movie. Like most people I was expecting this movie to be another predictable love tale that ends like every other romantic comedy. And although it is predictable and ends up like every other romantic comedy, it’s different because it’s very entertaining with a good story line and fantastic acting.

Gerard Butler (who plays Mike) and Katherine Heigel (who plays Abby) have an undeniable chemistry, which is obvious from the first time they meet. Abby is a control freak whose love life is non-existent because she is looking for Mr. Perfect and he doesn’t exist. Mike is a hardcore TV personality who promises to spill the ugly truth on what makes men and women tick.

Abby is in for a rude awakening when her boss teams her up with Mike to do his show The Ugly Truth to get higher ratings. When the show proves to be a hit, Abby takes some advice from Mike on her love life, and things finally seem to be going in the right direction for Abby. Until she realizes she’s been pretending to be something she is not to get her “Mr. Perfect”, when she has someone in front of her who loves her for the wacky control freak that she is.

The funniest scene has to be the vibrating panties scene in the restaurant while Abby is meeting some important TV head honchos. Why does she have on vibrating panties in a restaurant? You will have to go check out the movie to see, I won’t spoil the movie for those who haven’t seen it.

All I can say is that I have a huge crush on sexy Scotsman Gerard Butler now, and will be checking out all of his movies, old and new. Katherine Heigel is excellent in these genre movies (romantic comedies). I also really liked 27 Dresses and Knocked up. If you liked those movies too then you will appreciate this movie.

He’s Just Not That Into You

The title speaks for itself, He’s Just Not That in to You based on the best-selling book of the same name, written by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tucillo (Sex and the City). I went to watch this movie with a bunch of my girlfriends (I wasn’t about to drag my boyfriend to such a movie). I was pleasantly surprised after watching this movie; it’s funny, cute and informative (for those ladies who are clueless when it comes to men). I was expecting something more like an after school special or a Dr. Phil show, you know all serious and strictly by the book.

Gigi Haim (Ginnifer Goodwin) just wants a man who says he’ll call and does call. Not much to ask for from a girl’s perspective, however from a guy’s perspective if he’s not calling you he’s just not that in to you. There is no underlying reason why, but it does make sense if you think about it. The movie circulates around a group of interconnected young men and women as they navigate there way though modern day relationships and how men and women often misconstrue the intentions of the opposite sex.

I’ve read a lot of reviews that claim the movie makes women look pathetic and make men look like scumbags. When I was younger I used to obsess about why he’s not calling, it’s called insecurities. I don’t think its pathetic hoping a guy will call. However I do think it’s pathetic to wait around by the phone and constantly make excuses. Men like independent, secure women. How many women out there want a needy, insecure man? Those are not very attractive qualities. You know that old saying play hard to get, well it’s kind of true, at least in the beginning of a new relationship… It keeps things interesting.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

The third film in the Underworld Saga Underworld: Rise of the Lycans goes back hundreds of years to explore the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires known as Death Dealers and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. Rise of the Lycans finally gets to the root of why the vampires and werewolves really can’t stand each other.

Viktor (Bill Nighy) the aristocratic vampire is the ruler. When a Lycan woman has a human baby boy, Viktor resists the urge to kill him. Instead Viktor names him Lucian (played by Michael Sheen) and keeps him as his pet. When Lucian grows up he begins a forbidden romance with Viktors daughter Sonia (Rhona Mitra). When Viktor discovers the truth, he takes drastic steps to ensure that Sonia will never be able to see Lucian again. Lucian retaliates with the Lycan slaves by attacking full force on Viktors kingdom.

Micheal Sheen gives a blazing solid performance as the enslaved hero of Rise of the Lycans. Lucian, you’ll recall from Undeworld the ancient leader of the Lycans. Rise of the Lycans is his origins story.

Without Len Wiseman or Kate Beckinsale attached, I was expecting a straight-to-DVD type knockoff. And, indeed, Rise of the Lycans, from director Patrick Tatopoulos (he did the special effects for the first two flicks) is considerably less stylized that Wiseman’s entries, but that actually works to its advantage. It’s not a particularly memorable film, but for fans of the first two installments of the Underworld trilogy, Rise of the Lycans embodies the same guilty pleasure.

I still enjoyed the first two installments a little more then Rise of the Lycans. Not because it wasn’t entertaining, probably only because I’m a Kate Beckinsale fan and she is not in the third film. Which makes sence, because it goes way back to before the first film.

Interview With The Vampire

Vampires again.. I just can't get enough of those immortals!

Interview With The Vampire starring Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, Tom Cruise, Christian Slater and Kristen Dunst was such a fantastic movie, I can't believe I waited this long to watch it. The movie came out November 11, 1994 and was nominated for 2 Oscars and won other awards.

Vampire Louis De Pointe Du Lac [Brad Pitt] tells his epic life story to writer Daniel Malloy [Christian Slater], how he became a vampire in 1791 at the age of 24 and what it's been like living for 200 years.

So Louis lost his wife and was longing for death himself, and along comes Lestat [Tom Cruise] who can help him with that seeing how he is a vampire. So together Louis and Lestat lived a life of decadence at Louis's plantation. Louis refused to feed off the humans, as Lestat preferred beautiful young women. Eventually Louis grows tired of scaring the slaves and burns down their house and they are left to live among the common folk.

Louis later discovers a sad little girl named Claudia [Kristen Stewart] who's mother just dies from the plague. He tries to heal her pain by drinking her blood and putting her out of her misery. Unexpected, Lestat has Claudia drink his blood and she instantly wants more, becoming a ruthless killer. After about 30 years passed she realizes that she will never grow into a woman's body and becomes angry towards Lestat. She arranged for Lestat to drink the blood from a dead body [something a vampire should never do], slit his throat and threw his body in a swamp. Claudia and Louis then take off for Europe, in the search for other vampires.

Louis is convinced that they are the only vampires until a vampire named Armand [Antonio Banderas] found him. He is the oldest vampire in history, who happens to be 400 years old. Armand wants Louis to be his companion, except for the one problem; Claudia. She had broken the one important rule of the Vampires; you don't kill another vampire. Armand asked Louis to send her away, but Claudia had her own plans. The plans backfire. Later Claudia and Louis are captured and imprisoned. Claudia is to be burned by the sun. Louis is to rot for all eternity.

Armand manages to save Louis, but it's to late for Claudia who Louis finds in her cell burnt to a crisp. Louis took revenge and burned down the theater in which Armand lives and beheaded all the vampire who put Claudia in the cell. Armand and Louis part ways.
Louis roams around Europe, until one day he comes across Lestat, old and sick, confined to his quarters, afraid to venture beyond. Lestat asks Louis to come back to him, but Louis refuses.

That is the Story of Louis the Vampire, as told by himself. When Daniel volunteers to become his new companion, if Louis will but make him a vampire, Louis disappears in anger. Daniel takes off and is driving along, his tape of the interview with the vampire playing, when suddenly he is grabbed from behind by Lestat. Lestat drinks a little blood from Daniel, listens to Louis's tape for a few minutes, and changes it to a rock station where the Rolling Stones' is playing. The end.

I was surprised at the ending.. who knew Lestat [judging by last seen appearance] would still be around and kicking. So I guess since his companion choice with Louis failed, he needed to fill the void and found the perfect candidate. I mean you can feel bad for Daniel but the truth is, is that he was begging Louis to become a vampire anyways!!

I wonder which Vampire movie is next for me.. I've seen Queen of the Damned, Twilight, The Lost Boys. I've also watched True Blood [I'm up to date with this show] and I will soon be watching The Hunger, another Vampire tv series that came out in 1997, it's now available on DVD.

The Hunger TV Series

So I watch the TV Series True Blood on HBO. I just discovered today another vampire TV Series that premiered in 1997 and was on the air for 2 seasons. The series stems from the movie by David Bowie The Hunger. Good news if you don't like illegal downloading, the 2 seasons are now available on DVD. Probably only online for now. I haven't seen any of the episodes yet, but it looks really good, and it was from a 1983 movie, which apparently was really good.
I'm surprised I never heard of the movie or the show. Now that I've gotten into vampires I noticed every show and movie that is vampire related... all thanks to Twilight. Loved Twilight. I've almost finished reading the series.. on the last book more than halfway through. Then I got into True Blood, the TV Series on HBO. Which to me is such a fantastic show. I think about watching the new episodes before it airs.. I get all excited. Then I started watching older vampire movies that never used to interest me.. Dracula, Interview with the Vampire. I even downloaded a Japanese movie about Vampires, which wasn't actually that great.
So get on it people. Google search The Hunger and check it out!

Walrus Penis Excitement

Wow, this is interesting. Like my title says, when I find something interesting I want to share it with everyone. I wish I knew where they discovered this. I actually commented on the site asking where they found it. Not that I would buy it or anything.. What would I do with a 12,000 year old Walrus Penis.. It's just very cool to find something that old still in tact. I love old stuff!!!

True Blood

I think I've found my next book to read, more vampires. The new hit television show True Blood, based on the novels by Charlaine Harris is out of this world. I've never seen such a graphic show like this on TV before. I haven't seen every TV show ever aired, but this is one of the most interesting shows I've seen in a while. Vampires living in society with humans, women wanting vampires to have sex with them and bite them, a Psycho who is out to kill vampire lovers, and a human who can turn into a dog. Oh and did I mention humans drinking vampire blood, it's kinda like a drug and gets them high.
Alan Ball who also directed Six Feet Under wanted to do something original, something fun. I think he has accomplished that with True Blood. I'm absolutely hooked, everyone I suggest it to gets hooked. It's just one of those shows that sucks you in and there is nothing you can do about it. Next thing you know you're watching the latest episode at work while on lunch because you missed it the night before.