WHAT'S COMING IN 2011 (Part 2)

We continue with the coming attractions that are coming form abroad, especially from Hollywood, and the list goes on as this:

SINBAD THE FIFTH VOYAGE (USA Release Date: July 15th). Starring: Patrick Stewart. Lorna Raver and Isaac C. Singleton Jr. Dir.: Shahin Sean Solimon. Employing the old fashioned animation techniques and special effects before the arrival of the computers, this homage to the stop motion animation genius Ray Harryhausen will be seen in the United States in July, but I doubt it will arrive to the cinemas in Venezuela. I will wait for the DVD release and I will tell tou about it.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (USA Release Date: July 23th). Starring: Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell and Samuel L. Jackson. Dir.: Joe Johnston. With a 1948 movie serial - not so faithful with the comic book, but considered one of the best ever made; a 1973 film releases in Turkey where he joined forces with our Santo, The Man in the Silver Mask against an evil Spiderman; two TV movies in 1979 - not so well received by the fans - and a direct-to-video version in 1990 starred by Matt Salinger - J.D. Salinger's son, The Catcher in the Rye author -, this character has not received a good treatment that we think it deserves. We hope this version could adapt it to the cinema acceptably. Let's pray for that.

COWBOYS & ALIENS (Release Date: July 29th). Starring: Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde and Harrison Ford. Dir.: Jon Favreau. After his two successful and well reviewed incursions in the comic books adaptions world, the director of the two Iron Man movies, now adapt tjis graphic novel created by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg in 2006. I totally trust in the skillful direction of Favreau, and the participation of Harrinson Ford and Daniel Craig in the main roles is a plus. Another forced visit to the movie theaters at the time of its premiere.

THE SMURFS. (USA Released Date: August 3rd). Starring: Hank Azaria, Neil Patrick Harris and Sofia Vergara. Dir.: Raja Gosnell. Although expectations are very low and the story places the characters out of the original place of the comic book, I will see it as soon it getes to the theaters. Created in 1958, the little blue characters are going to visit New York, chase by their common enemy Gargamel. Beside a unoriginal story, this film will be commanded by the guy who took Scooby Doo twice to the big screen; that's very scary, pretty scary.
CONAN THE BARBARIAN (Previously known as CONAN 3D. USA Release Date: August 19th). Starring: Jason Momoa, Rachel Nichols and Ron Perlman. Dir.: Marcus Nispel. 7 years in the making, several directos attached to the project as well as different produncing companies , the new adventure of Conan will apparently hit the screen at mid year. It will be converted to 3D in order to get more money. I will see it because Ron Perlman is involved, but I won't expect a big deal from this film.

FRIGHT NIGHT. (USA Release Date: August 19th). Starring: David Tennant and Collin Farrell. Dir.: Craig Gillespie. The 1985 cult classic is taken again to the big screen, thanks to the actual lack of creativity in Hollywood nowadays. Its harder fight won't be all that the summertime offers in the cinema area, but the comparisson with the acclaimed and beloved original version. Little hopes, but we'll never know what could happen.

SPY KIDS 4. (USA Release Date: August 19th). Starring: Jessica Alba, Antonio Banderas amd Danny Trejo. Dir.: Robert Rodriguez. Rodríguez always makes one or another film to raise funds and energy for any other big budget production. I guess this is the case to make the Machete. sequel. But who says no to this orchestra man who always work below the budget and makes films that would not become classics, but they always generate profits, even though this simple moviegoer consider this new chapter of the series unnnecessary.

THE THING. (USA Release Date: 14 de Octubre). Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Erich Christian Olsen and Joel Edgetorn. Dir.: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. This prequel to the John Carpenter classic film (remake of the also classic of 1951) has generated good press comments in general. A commentary made by one of the producers of the film says that they decided to make a prequel instead of a remake because do that with the Carpenter film would be like "painting moustache to the Mona Lisa". That is admirable, really admirable.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PT. 1. (USA Release Date: November 18th). Starring: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner. Dir.: Bill Condon. Truly this series of films have became more and more dedicated to the fans and followers of the male stars of the movies. The fact that it is made in 2 parts is due to the extent of the book and, of course, to generate more profits. It is strange the assignment of Bill Condon as a director, dbecause of his background; this gives certain attractiveness to the film, but I am not eager to see it in the cinema. I will wait for the DVD release as I did with Eclipse (not a big deal if you ask me).

CAESAR: RISE OF THE APES. (USA Release Date: November 23th). Starring: James Franco, Tom Felton and Andy Serkis. Dir.: Rupert Wyatt. A under the sleeve surprise that was a real pleasure to know about it. Although the date has been changed. the expectation is huge, after the failed attempt of Tim Burton reimagining the original saga. Andy Serkis is again the actor who would be sustituted by a CGI playing Caesar, the ape who initiates the primates revolt in the original saga. I wish it won't be a dissappointment as my admired Burton's version.

THE MUPPETS. (USA Release Date: November 23th). Starring: Amy Adams, Jason Segel and Zach Galifianakis. Dir.: James Bobin andJason Segel. Finally a Muppets movie which is not a adaption of another story (Treasure Island, A Chritsmas Carol, The Wizard of Oz) - and it doesnt mean that they haven't been amusing, but essencially they were not the Muppets as well. This time we will see the beloved characters of the TV show trying to save the theater where they used to make their show from an evil Texan villain link to the oil industry. With several famous stars cameos, the seventh Muppet movie will be int the top of the list of the films I must see this year.

SHERLOCK HOLMES II (USA Release Date: December 16th). Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and Rachel McAdams. Dir.: Guy Ritchie. With high reserve, I approach the first film and, even Holmes did not look like the image I had of him from the books, Robert Downey Jr. got pretty close to the esence of the character; the most drastic change was Watson, but the chemistry between the two actors made possible the acceptance of this more active Watson than the one form the book and I love Rachel MacAdams - besides she's not the Irene Adler that I thought. Well, finally, nothing in the film looks like the work of Conan Doyle, but it was funny and I think the sequel will follow the same way. Ah, and it is good to know that Moriarty will arrive in the sequel, the great Holmes's nemesis. This time I will go to the movies, because the first one I enjoyed it on DVD.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL (USA Release Date: December 16th). Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and Paula Patton. Dir.: Brad Bird. ¿Will Brad Bird, the same guy who created and directed that great animated film called THE INCREDIBLES, direct a sequel of Mission Impossible with Tom Cruise? Impossible, I said to myself. But IT IS TRUE, Bird approaches to the live action films with a new installment of the serie which has allow Tom Cruise to continue in the big screen.Only because Bird in in charge I will see it, more by curiosity than following the saga steps.

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN. (USA Release Date: December 23). Starring: Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg and Jamie Bell. Dir.: Steven Spielberg. As a matter of fact, I was expecting a live action adaption, but I have to deal with this movie made through the motion capture technique. Based on the comic created by Hergé in 1929, this film - which I predict it is just for fans - will follow the adventure of the same name written by the belgian author in 1943 - which happens to be the only book I own form the Tintin series. It will be a trilogy, this first film will be directed by Spielberg, the second one by Peter Jackson and to conclude bothe directors will work togheter in the third installment. Of course, this film is in the list of the movies I must see in 2011 together with Thor, Captain America and the Muppets movies.
There are plenty of films coming to the movie theaters this 2011, but talking about them would have to be in a third part of this article and, to tell the truth, there were plenty of movies I have mentioned in these two parts, don't you think?

WHAT'S COMING IN 2011 (Part 1)

After the big dissapointment that THE GREEN HORNET was, this year cinema has a great deal of options which can take away the bitter taste that film left us.

RANGO (USA Release Date: March 18th). Starring: Johnny Depp, Alanna Ubach, Abigail Breslin, Isla Fisher and Alfred Molina. Dir.: Gore Verbinski. The Director and Actor duet from the saga of Pirates of the Caribbean get together in this strange and psicodelic CGI adventure. As I read, it is inspired in the journalist Hunter S. Thompson who Depp played in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. It doesn't catch my attention so much, but I consider it a good choice for this year.


SUCKER PUNCH (USA Release Date: March 25th). Starring: Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens and Abbie Cornish. Dir.: Zach Snyder. It would be Snyder first film that is based on an original material and not in the adaption of a comic or a remake. Judging it by its trailer, Snyder mantains his visual style which he used in 300 and Watchmen and the story seems to be interesting. I liked what Zach Snyder have done so far and this one I would see it for sure.

SCREAM 4 (USA Release Date: April 15th). Starring: Courteney Cox, Neve Campbell and David Arquette. Dir.: Wes Craven. The actors and director from the original trilogy are back to write a new chapter in the saga. Just for the lovers and followers of this saga. It's not priority number one and perhaps I would go and see it if I were really bored, or I better wait for its DVD release and some friend of mine would lend it to me.


FAST FIVE. (USA Release Date: April 29th). Starring: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and Paul Walker. Dir.: Justin Lin. As the previous installments, the actors of the previous ones get together and, as we can see, there would be cars, chases, explosions, beautiful girls and Río de Janeiro. Maybe I would see it, or maybe not.

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES. (USA Release Date: May 20th). Starring: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz and Ian McShane. Dir.: Rob Marshall. With a change in the rudder, the saga of Captain Jack Sparrow changes some faces and certainly it would a box office success this year. After the dissapointed third part, there is few enthusiasm to see it although the trailer offers what made the first one a success. We'll wait and see.


THOR (USA Release Date: May 6th - Venezuela Release Date: April 28th - that waht is said on the official site). Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins. Dir.: Kenneth Branagh. ¿Is Kenneth Branagh directing an movie based on a comic book? is the big questions fans and followers of the Marvel famous character. The casting is well done, with Anthony Hopkins as Odin and the beautiful Natalie Portman as the hero's love interest. I trust Branagh, even though he's been out of the public eye for quite a while. I'm anxious to see it and I hope O won't be dissapointed.


KUNG FU PANDA 2 (USA Release Date: May 27th). Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman and Jackie Chan. Dir.: Jennifer Yuh. Without any high expectations, it would be another funny animated film for a family outing, nothing else. An outing with the children.

X MEN: FIRST CLASS (USA Release Date: June 3th). Starring: James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender. Dir.: Matthew Vaughn. The reboot fever got to Marvel; following the example of the DC films, the multimedia company decided to go back with its mutant heores and it starts the story when Professor X and Magneto were friends. The director of Kick Ass is in charge which means a good omen and nice way to correct the mistake of the Wolverine movie (which would have a sequel pretty soon - I don't know why). Another sure visit to the movie theater.


GREEN LANTERN. (USA Release Date: June 17th). Starring: Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. Dir.: Martin Campbell. Martin Campbell is an efficient director who has taken to good port projects such as Zorro and the revitalizing of the James Bond saga. He knows how to handle action and humour and I trust that he makes it again this time. This is one of the films that has generated high expectations and, of course, I will be ready to see it on its release date.


CARS 2 (USA Release Date: June 24th). Starring: Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy. Dir.: John Lasseter and Brad Lewis. The least admired Pixar film, but the most personal from John Lasseter surely has its sequel. This time it goes to the spies films parody area. With or without the kids, I would see it for sure and we'll see how the experiment goes.

TRANSFORMERS: THE DARK OF THE MOON. (USA Release Date: July 1st). Starring: Shia Lebouf, Rosie Huntington – Whiteley and Josh Duhamel. Dir.: Michael Bay. The form changing robots are back to do their stuff on the big screen. Beside the bad reviews, but the huge incomes, Michael is back again and shows us what it is meant to be the final chapter of the saga (although Hasbro said it would continue with the movies without Bay). We hope it would be better that second part, althoug I have no interest to see it, not even with the attraction the 3D gimmick could add (besides the additional cost it means)


HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2. (USA Release Date: July 15th). Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and Ralph Fiennes. Dir.: David Yates. The end of the adventures of the young wizard and his friends will arrive to the screen this summer and, of course, the attendance would be massive. The expectations are high, althougn the book fans are complaining more and more that the movies are far behind the literature source (as I only read the first book, I have no complains at all). The movie promises lots of action - more tthan the first part - and, possibly, records in the box office. A movie that have to be seen without any excuse.
To be continued...

2010 ACADEMY AWARDS NOMINEES (Feb. 2011) and some notes about that.

Here there are the nominees for the OSCAR 2010 (February 27, 2011) and some notes about the possible winners

Best Picture
"Black Swan"
"The Fighter"
"Inception"
"The Kids Are All Right"
"The King's Speech"
"127 Hours"
"The Social Network"
"Toy Story 3"
"True Grit"
"Winter's Bone"
NOTA: It's a great surprise to see TOY STORY 3 in this category, but actually it deserves it. What it is not going to be a surprise is to watch how THE SOCIAL NETWORK takes the statuette, although my favorite is INCEPTION... lately that has changed and the bets are going to THE KING'S SPEECH, so we'd better be careful about it

Best Leading Actor
Javier Bardem, "Biutiful"
Jeff Bridges, "True Grit"
Jesse Eisenberg, "The Social Network"
Colin Firth, "The King's Speech"
James Franco, "127 Hours"
NOTA: No surprises in this category either, I will bet on Colin Firth or Jeff Bridges (who already won it last year); but the award must be taken by Jesse Eisenberg for his work in the "Facebook movie"

Best Leading Actress
Annette Bening, "The Kids Are All Right"
Nicole Kidman, "Rabbit Hole"
Jennifer Lawrence, "Winter's Bone"
Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"
Michelle Williams, "Blue Valentine"
NOTA: Without no surprise and a rightfully it would be for Natalie Portman, no more choice.

Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale, "The Fighter"
John Hawkes "Winter's Bone"
Jeremy Renner, "The Town"
Mark Ruffalo, "The Kids Are All Right"
Geoffrey Rush, "The King's Speech"
NOTA: Few surprises are going to be found on this event and this category is not the exception and the award would go to Christian Bale for his role in The Fighter

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, "The Fighter"
Helena Bonham Carter, "The King's Speech"
Melissa Leo, "The Fighter"
Hailee Steinfeld, "True Grit"
Jacki Weaver, "Animal Kingdom"
NOTA: If we let us lead by the previous awards ceremonies, the statuette will fall in Melissa Leo's hands, although Helena Bonham Carter and Hailee Steinfeld both have a good chance to win

Mejor Director
Darren Aronofsky, "Black Swan"
David O. Russell, "The Fighter"
Tom Hooper, "The King's Speech"
David Fincher, "The Social Network"
Joel and Ethan Coen for "True Grit"
NOTA: Strangely, Christopher Nolan is not on the list (it seems to be something against him, two great movies recently and nothing for the director). Even though he were nominated, this is David Fincher's year who certainly would take his OSCAR home.

Best Original Screenplay
"Another Year" - Screenplay by Mike Leigh
"The Fighter" - Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson; Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson
"Inception" - Written by Christopher Nolan
"The Kids Are All Right" - Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
"The King's Speech" - Screenplay by David Seidler
NOTA: And it won't be a surprise when Nolan takes his satatuette in this category (unless what I said about the Academy against Nolan is true)

Best Adapted Screenplay
"127 Hours" - Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy, based on the book "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" by Aron Ralston
"The Social Network" - Aaron Sorkin, based on the book "The Accidental Billionaires" by Ben Mezrich
"Toy Story 3" - Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich
"True Grit" - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, based on the novel by Charles Portis
"Winter's Bone" - Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini, based on the novel by Daniel Woodrell
NOTA: Needless to say that Aaron Sorkin will win by ten bodies ahead.

Best Animated Picture
"How to Train Your Dragon"
"The Illusionist"
"Toy Story 3"
NOTA: All of them are good movies, but, no surprise again, TOY STORY 3 will grant an award again to the people from Pixar.

Best Foreign Language Picture
"Biutiful" (Mexico)
"Dogtooth" (Greece)
"In a Better World" (Denmarck)
"Incendies" (Canada)
"Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi)" (Algeria)
NOTA: If we watched awards previous to the Oscar, we should said that this category is for Denmark, but we put our money for Mexico.

Best Art Direction
"Alice in Wonderland"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1"
"Inception"
"The King's Speech"
"True Grit"
NOTA: Here we bet favoring Inception, but it's a close fight.

Best Cinematography
"Black Swan"
"Inception"
"The King's Speech"
"The Social Network"
"True Grit"
NOTA: Once again we favor Inception.

Best Sound Mixing
"Inception"
"The King's Speech"
"Salt"
"The Social Network"
"True Grit"
NOTA: Another category that it should be taken by Inception, but The Social Network will fight hard.

Best Sound Editing
"Inception"
"Toy Story 3"
"Tron: Legacy"
"True Grit"
"Unstoppable"
NOTA: Hard to choose, but Inception will go ahead, follow by Tron: Legacy

Best Score
"How to Train Your Dragon," John Powell.
"Inception," Hans Zimmer.
"The King's Speech," Alexandre Desplat.
"127 Hours," A.R. Rahman.
"The Social Network," Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
NOTA: I really liked the music from The Social Network, without second thoughts I would give it this award.

Best Original Song
"Coming Home" from "Country Strong," Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey.
"I See the Light" from "Tangled," Alan Menken and Glenn Slater.
"If I Rise" from "127 Hours," A.R. Rahman, Dido and Rollo Armstrong.
"We Belong Together" from "Toy Story 3," Randy Newman.
NOTA: None of the songs is better than the others, so the winner will be okey. Favorite: I see the light from Tangled.

Best Costume Design
"Alice in Wonderland"
"I Am Love"
"The King's Speech"
"The Tempest"
"True Grit"
NOTA: Knowing the Academy, this categiory will be won by The King's Speech, but Alice has high chances.

Best Film Editing
"Black Swan"
"The Fighter"
"The King's Speech"
"127 Hours"
"The Social Network"
NOTA: Why isn't Inception here? We don't understand, any of them has a chance, but it 's higher for The Social Network.

Best Make-up
"Barney's Version"
"The Way Back"
"The Wolfman"
NOTA: I just saw The Wolfman and it's a pretty good work, but I have the hunch that this statuette is for Barney's Version.

Best Visual Effects
"Alice in Wonderland"
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1"
"Hereafter"
"Inception"
"Iron Man 2"
NOTA: Well, I will say that this one is for Iron Man 2, but the effects are more schocking in Inception, so that should be the result.

No big surprises, the award ceremony will be kind of quite and we certainly watch The Social Network as the great winner of the night. We will wait until February 27th to see what will happen.

A REALLY HAPPY 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

Well, there have been a lot of movies that have visited our screens this year and some of them have been watched by us and we have left our impressions on this blog; we have watche some others too, but our reviews will arrive after this short chritsmas break. But we would not want to leave this year without thanking thos who follow us and wishing you the best for the coming 2011.

A lot of happiness and a good cinema for next year.

From the bottom of the heart,

A CINEPHAGUS.

A DOUBLE FEATURE EVENING

I recalled when I was much younger that I used to go to the movies twice on the same day. I have to say that there were not multiplexes theaters, so we have to run to the other theater to enjoy a differente movie, or on weekends, we could see two or even three different movies in the same place. I did it several times, and then multiplexes came.
But even though we have the advantage of reserving tickets of a particular show of a movie, I have never thought of going to two or even three different movies in the same place. Not until the monday before last, that I made a proposal to my nephews to see the new version of KARATE KID and the adaptation of the well known video game PRINCE OF PERSIA into a motion picture.
I wasn't expecting anything but a normal afternoon of movies with my youngest of nephews with some popcorn and sodas, nothing else was on my mind. And it happened that way with the PRINCE OF PERSIA.

This video game turn into movie happens to be a very nice movie with a story that is attractive and well done stunmanship and special effects which even though are the main attraction of the film, share its attractiveness with the performers. Jake Gyllenhaal is perfect as Dastan, Ben Kingsley is equally perfect as the villain and the story is well written and in a way suitable for the movie. The other performers are as well as the actors mentioned before, but we can highlight the job of Alfred Molina who has the most of the ppunch lines of the humour content in the movie.

It's a great aventure movie with good performances and a good adaptation from the video game, well done and pretty entertaining and enjoyable, a good one for a Sunday afternoon in front of the TV with a bunch of snacks.
But the afternoon (well, it was already evening when we entered into the room) changed a lot when we saw the next flick in the list: THE KARATE KID. I must confess that I didn't have any expectations about this film, even though I heard some good comments about it, and a few bad ones but the first was the common thread about this production. Produced in part by Will Smith and a group of movie producing company of China, this movie has nothing to see with karate (although they are few scenes at the very beginning about this martial art) but kung fu, and the name - we all know - was given just for commercial reasons. My enthusiasm about this movie was the participation of Jackie Chan in the role of the young martial arts student's mentor - a part that made Noriyuki Pat Morita famous.
Jaden Smith is an actor with great charisma, so is Jackie Chan, and when both share the screen is a magical, they have that chemistry of most of the famous comedian couples in cinema, spice with the dramatic situations of each characters. But my surprise is not that Jaden Smith could be as good in the dramatic parts as in the comedic ones, my surprise - I repeat - was to see Jackie Chan performing a dramatic sequence and proving to me that is capable of perform it very well.
The underdog story is well handled here, and the defect it could have is the long shots of the scenery of China - sometimes it seems more like a Travel and Adventure TV special; but the beauty of those places is such that in a few minutes you forget the gratiutious publicity of China and its touristic places. Some critics and people has complained about the length of the film, I went with my nephews and if they could stand the almost two hours and a half of the film so there's nothing wrong with the length, I confess I didn't feel it at all.
So I would recommend that you do not miss the new version of KARATE KID for anything, it's well performed and the story, similar to the original, grabs you from the very beginning. About PRINCE OF PERSIA, well you can take your time, it is not at the same level of the first one, but it would give a piece of escapism that we need to take from time to time.

INCEPTION

It has been a while since the last movie made by Christopher Nolan was in the theaters, and it
has already gone the first impact of this work that had pleased connoisseurs, moviegoers and ocassionally cinema visitors, so it is at this point that I decided to give my opinion about this original and well comented motion picture.
But befroehand I should confess (I have been seriously thinking on changing the name of the blog into CONFESSIONS OF A CINEPHAGUS) that is a well known and notorious defect (or virtue - according to me) that I always go against the common opinion of moviegoers, public in general and, in certain occasions, movie critics about some productions that all these groups of people happen to like. The fact that a movie is well accepted by everyone,it does not mean that I have to kneel in front of it and admit with no reserves the excellency it has. I clearly remembered the cas of BRAVEHEART (which I watched on VHS tape three years after its premiere and I did not like it at all, but it does not mean that it is a bad movie), as well as the case of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT(more advertising than content, althought it certainly renew the way of promoting a film) and, more recently, CLOVERFIELD (too elaborated for my taste). So when I heard all the pariase that INCEPTION was receiving, I told to myself that it woul possibly be something similar to what happened to me with AVATAR; I would possibly admit its visual greatness, but I would end up going against the general feeling.
But I should confess (yes, once again) that this time everyone who commented something positive about this - fourth of fifth - Nolan's movie was not wrong at all; this work impacted me as well as STAR WARS and the first MATRIX (the other two can go into oblivion)did in their times.

INCEPTION has everything that makes a movie unforgettable: to start with, a great story, a fantastic tale that becomes believable thanks to another of the strengths of the film: the performances and to end up special effects at the service of the story - which impact and amaze, but they are part of the tale and do not overwhelmed it and are not the main attractiveness of the picture.
The story written by Nolan himself amazes by its complexity and, at the same time, because it reaches any sort of audience: that which is La historia escrita por el propio Nolan asombra por su complejidad y a su vez por llegar a cualquier tipo de público: that which is pretty intelelctual and look for something more than shootings and persecutions and the other which precisely look for those characteristics in a film. The performances are well done, Di Caprio - although some people said that he is repeating previous characteristics of his last movie - is great as the tormented leading man, complemented by a cast that make its work with greal professionalism tá genial como el atormentado protagonista, complementado por un elenco que realiza su and credibility - I was really surprised to know that on the stars was that young boy from 3rd Rock from the Sun (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).
Beside to be classified as complex and, in some cases, pointed out certain holes in the story - which I did not find, in my opinion the greatness of this story is precisely to make the complexity something attractive to every one in the screening room, no matter how well versed or involved in the subject the audience has to be.
Particularly, I highly recommend this great movie, and thanks to it and his previous one (THE DARK KNIGHT) - without minimizing MEMENTO y his other films - Christopher Nolan is getting a priviliged place in the world of cinema and he would be a part of the list of great movie directors. Definitely he is gainning a place among my favorite directores.
Probably the film is not longer in theaters, but please do not miss it as soon as you have a chance to watch it, you will thank me later.

BOOGIE EL ACEITOSO

When I read the news that BOOGIE EL ACEITOSO (The Oily) was going to have its animated version in the movies, the excitement overpass the expectations; I was deeply excited about this news, but I try to keep my hopes down for the film. I had already seen the work of another argentinian comic book creator translated into the movies, such is the case of the brilliant DANTE QUINTERNO and his creations: PATORUZITO (en dos películas) and ISIDORO; but from the also brilliant ROBERTO FONTANARROSA I just knew - so far - the use of his character design he made for the animated version of MARTIN FIERRO (it was already commented in this blog, and I promised the english version of that comment pretty soon) and the movie version of one of Boogie, one of his most emblamatic characters, makes me really happy.
Although I have to confess that the characters from Quinterno have a access truly familiar and socially adequate and the success of those works gave the resurgence of the animated production in Argentina; but the work of “El Negro” Fontanarrosa is not family oriented at all and this character – born in 1972 – is totally nasty (although Isidoro is not that family oriented characater either, but it is because he is more self involved that anything else), Boogie is racist, homophobic, misogynistic, chain-smoking, violent, inhuman and yet, honestly. So it was pretty hard to translated iinto the movies, but the effort was made and in october 2009 it was released in his natal Argentina.

Likewise the comic book, the movie is the reflection of the modern society (although with a big emphasis in the United States one) promotor of the violence and the war culture as principal values marked by a a totally black humor.
Boogie had its origen inspired in the movies, especially in DIRTY HARRY, but much tougheer and violent thay policeman played by Clint Eastwood; maybe, due to that cinematographic origen, the animated flick draws on various genres of film whose base is - I repeat - explicit violence. Sometimes it is Noir Film, later it becomes a sort of road-movie which leads the film to end up as a jury movie - genres all related to the American cinema; also the aesthetic tha surrounds it is taken form these genres and, in some instances, it borrows from Sin City is shape (which Miller, in turn, took it from the work of Alberto Breccia*). This mixture of genres and aesthetics could have resulted in a real mess, but the heavy,acid and transgessive humor generated in the pages of the squares and almost faithfully taken to the big screen save the movie.
Without being a masterpiece of animation, it perfectly transfers the essence of this character to the movies, making fun of violence as it shows it explicitly. Perhaps at some point it seems to lose the plot and we fade Boogie between the mixture of genres, but it helps the work of voices and the final product is fairly good - of course, personally speaking.

TRAILER DE BOOGIE EL ACEITOSO

*Checking out the work made by ALBERTO BRECCIA in the version of H.G . OESTERHELD's EL ETERNAUTA and specially in his adaption to the comic of THE TELL TALE HEART by Edgar Allan Poe, I noticed the similarities of the uruguayan comic book creator and Frank Miller, so I come to the conclusion that the American illustrator could have been inspired by the work of his southern colleague - once again, personally speaking. (search for it in the Internet and compare, maybe you would end up telling I was right)