Mongol

Dual Wielding Genghis Khan

IMDB

Release: (2007)

Runtime: 126 Minutes

Starring: A bunch of Japanese and Mongolian actors

This is what is said to be the first in a trilogy about Genghis Khan.  This first entry told about his childhood and rise to power.  The film was produced by a Russian director and was nominated for the foreign language category in last year’s Oscars.  Although the movie is a bit slower than big blockbusters, the action scenes were awesome.  Combat with big swords and fast horses with lots of blood and impaling.  From what I hear, they avoided using special effects for a lot of the big action scenes and instead used upwards of 1,000 horseback riding warriors.

I can’t vouch for how historically accurate the film is, but it seems like the writers did their research and most of the facts align to what is widely accepted.  A lot of the actors are Chinese and Japanese, but they speak Mongolian throughout the film.  Not to say I would recognize the difference if one of them started speaking Japanese.

The costumes and scenery were what really did it for me.  Lots of big open spaces and people wearing thick fur or skin coats.  There is a lot of traversing terrain throughout the film, and most of the scenes were filmed in the same region, making it that much more realistic.

We are presented with the idea of a Mongol honor code and how it is dying out.  As the clans war with each other they let go of many of their customs.  Genghis, or Temudjin, sees this problem and hopes to restore his people to where they once were culturally, while building their strength politically.  The majority of the two hours is spent finding out about the culture and why it is that Temudjin feels so strongly about them.

Its nice to see a movie that combines and interesting story, a good amount of action and well developed characters.  How come it seems like these are always coming from overseas?…

Accessibility: 6

Technique: 9

Thought Provoking: 6

Originality:5

Entertainment:8

Crank

This Pretty Much Sums Up the Movie

IMDB

Release: (2006)

Runtime: 93 Minutes

Starring: Jason Statham, Amy Smart and Jose Pablo Cantillo

The basic premise of this movie is that Statham is injected with a poison that will kill him in an hour.  If he keeps his adrenaline levels high, it will take longer.  So he spends the movie trying to kill the guy who did this to him.  In order to stay alive he does everything from; speed, steal, kill, hook up with Amy Smart in public, snort street drugs and inject emergency drugs.

There is not too much more to say than that.  There are a couple of tripped out drug sequences, a lot of blood though there are not as many creative fight scenes as his other movies like the Transporter.  Thankfully the fighting is better than we saw from Farmer, (a reference that you would be lucky to not get).

Accessibility: 6

Technique: 8

Thought Provoking: 2

Originality: 7

Entertainment: 7

My Batman Dark Knight Sequel

What do I truly want to see in the next Dark Knight movie?  How can they top the Joker?  Find out by watching this short and highly moderately hopefully entertaining video.  I know this might come to a shock, but all of the voices are me.  I know… right.  So here it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmTT_RmtH7k

Why I Will Happily Pay $20 To Go To the Movies

Its all about the Jacksons Baby!

I’m not so old that I’ve had many chances to tell people about things I remember from my childhood, but I specifically remember being able to go to the theatres for less than $5.  See I remember how awesome I thought having a $5 was and I specifically remember having quarters to use in the arcade afterwards.  Now my G-Ma tells me she used to be able to see movies for like a dime, but I’m talking 10 years ago, not decades.  We all know movie ticket prices are going up.  If you have had the pleasure to see Batman in IMAX you probably paid around $15 bucks.  I read an article here on the Movie Blog about why this is happening.  Its pretty interesting.  So it is no far stretch that in a few years, we’ll be looking at a 20 spot to get in to the theatre.

I’m ok with that and here is why.

1) The screens are so much bigger that anything I could possibly have at home.  I know some people are ok spending three months salary on a large plasma screen and I even looked into a home projector, but the stuff isn’t cheap and at the rate technology is changing, it will be obsolete in a few years.  I went back to one of those $4.50 theatres and saw how small the screen was.  There were people in my way and it only took up about half of my visible range.  The IMAX screen in Irvine is so big that even from decently far back I had to turn my head to see everything.  I don’t know how they can get bigger, but I bet it will be sweet.

2) The sound system.  I have decent speakers, I don’t use them to their full potential though because I’m a nice guy and I’ve got neighbors.  Sometimes I’ll play that game where you turn the volume up for conversations and down for action sequences.  Maybe you’re a jerk that doesn’t care, or maybe you have a ranch where you can do whatever you want, but for me, being in a theater that shakes with bass is one of my favorite experiences.

3) The aura.  When you go to a big movie on opening night, you can feel the excitement in the air.  People will clap and cheer for a movie.  You might think that is annoying, but I think that is what the movies are all about.  We can all get together and for two hours or so we are rooting for the same hero and booing the crazy villain.  I love seeing midnight showings because of this.  I don’t even mind getting there 4-6 hours early and talking with people.  You can have a great conversation in line and have a little bit of fun too.  I’ll be posting a video of me from the Batman premiere in Irvine soon so you can see for yourself.

4) Its something to make a night out of.  Watching a movie can turn into just something to do, but going to the theatres can be the foundation of an awesome adventure.  Start off going out to dinner at a nearby restaurant.  After the movie make your way to the nearest book store and check out the related books and DVDs from the same genre.  Afterwards get desert and hang out in the parking lot.  Now all of these things are inevitably more fun with a group of people or a date, but don’t feel bad eating Cold Stone on top of your car at 12:30 on a Friday night, that’s what the cool kids wish they could do…

5) It ties in with the last one, but there are few places better to go on a date.  Its a neutral public place which is perfect for a first date.  Like I said, you can make a night out of it so things don’t have to end there.  In addition, if you like movies a lot like me, you can use a movie to screen a girl,

EX:

me: wow… Mamma Mia!, what did you think?

her: I loved it, this was one of the best movies I have ever seen, I hope it wins an Oscar

me:                                          (I’m not there, see, I did that thing Batman does where he leaves while people are talking because obviously, as shown by this girls interest in Mamma Mia, she is crazy and it would be best to not get involved)

So that is it, that is why I will pay $20 to see a movie in the theatres.  I don’t see everything in theatres, mostly big action movies with explosions and popular movies that would be fun to see on opening night, which are usually one in the same.  People like explosions, make note of that Hollywood.

I hope you two would enjoy paying $20 a ticket.  Have anything to add to my list?  Leave a comment..

Dig!

IMDB

Release: (2004)

Runtime: 107 Minutes

Starring: The members of The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols

We are presented here with two bands that want to change the industry.  Two bands that are friends and represent a new age of old music.  One gets a chance at the big time and takes it, the other self destructs around there front man.  It is the age old question of art vs. business.  At what point are you a sell out?  At what point do you need business to let you reach more people and where do you cross the line of greed?

The story is told through old footage and new interviews.  Though the presentation is different, it reminded me a lot of 24 hour party people.  Drugs, girls, music and fast living.  These bands had the industry believing they were the future, but they could never really get it to work.  As huge egos get in the way, we see the harm negative influences can have on friendships, careers and the mind.  One of the interviewees phrases it perfectly when she says Anton is like a shark, he needs to keep moving, he needs something to fight against.  This documentary shows us where all of that teen angst can go if you are never willing to let go and what is most disappointing is that someone with so much talent and such pure ideals, let his own character get in the way of truly making a difference.  If you have ever wondered what the music industry is like, this is the perfect film to turn you off from it.

Accessibility: 6

Technique: 5

Thought Provoking: 6

Originality: 5

Entertainment: 8