Every once in a while a film comes along that reminds us about the aesthetics and art of movie making. A good film is made of moments, moments in time that imprint on our soul. A good film projects onto the screen and into our consciousness. The Fall succeeds in doing just that, managing to let us experience the possibilities of this unique art. The Fall is a monumental work in many ways; grand shots, exotic locations, metaphoric grandeur, charming characters, whimsical story, all blending with the most remarkable choice of music that evokes the spirit of the film. An…
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What a refreshing comic experience…you must see Kung Fu Panda. It has been a long time since I have been to an animated feature that was so much fun. The IMAX film experience was gorgeous. If you see the film this is the way to see it. Jack Black is brilliant as Po the overweight not ready for prime time kung fu master. The story is what makes this movie sing. Dustin Hoffman as the voice of Master Shifu was a much unexpected performance. I loved him. Considering he is playing against type, I was very impressed. Angelina Jolie, Lucy…
The city of Paris, which has served as the backdrop for countless romantic films, summons up visions of the Eiffel Tower illuminated against an inky sky and intimate couples in dimly lit cafes murmuring hushed I love you’s. Julie Delpy’s film “2 Days in Paris” brusquely defies this idyllic representation. Ms. Delpy, who wrote, directed, produced, and scored the film, also stars as Marion, a Parisian photographer who has relocated to New York with her American boyfriend of two years Jack (Adam Goldberg). “2 Days in Paris” introduces audiences to the couple fresh from a two week sojourn in Venice.…
Directed by Ozren Miharcic, “Enter the Dragon” is the deliverance of an ideal, a token of remembrance as homage to the great martial artist Bruce Lee in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This unveiling in 2006, marked the erection of the world’s first statue to Bruce Lee, just one day before the China revealed their own monument. However, not only was the bronze monument placed in the war torn town of Mostar a symbol of hope to those who have had ruined childhoods, but a reminder that destruction, ethnic division and conflict is not a permanent path. The radiance of “Little Dragon”…
“Reprise”, the profound and exceptional debut film by Norwegian director Joachim Trier, explores the emotional fluctuations of artistic young men (passion and confusion abound), and in doing so, offers an insightful new perspective on weighty themes—memory, fate, youth, love, and artistic creativity— that have captured the artistic and intellectual imagination of the cinema’s best filmmakers (the film evokes cinema of the French New Wave in particular). “Reprise” begins in Oslo during the summer as we are introduced to two twenty three year old writers, Erik (Espen Klouman Hoiner) and Phillip (Anders Danielsen Lie), who are best friends. The two, looking…
Director Andrzej Jakimowski depicts a wonderfully down to earth drama seen through the eyes of a young precocious six year old boy- Stefek (Damian Ul) . Stefek is without a father and through his unique vision we are taken away into the hardworking lives of his community. The working class village is comprised of very richly developed characters including, teen sister Elka (Ewelina Walendziak) who desires to better herself and is industrious, her mechanic beau named Jerzy (Rafal Guzniczak) who adores Elka but is taken by the not so wholesome and voluptuous, Violka (Joanna Liszowska) and Stefek and Elka’s mother…
Aicha (SEMRA TURAN) is in her last year of high school in Copenhagen. With aspirations of venturing into medicine as her older brother Ali (NIMA NABIPOUR) did, it is also her parents dream. However, much larger than her dream of being a doctor, is her passion for Kung Fu. Aicha lives and breathes the art. Currently, Aicha practices martial arts after school with her teacher and other female students. After a scuffle with an ego-maniacal teammate, she leaves the school. Aicha finds another kung fu school at an elite level and she is desperate to join. Her Turkish parents do…
Mala (Evan Rachel Wood) is a somewhat rebellious teenage Terran girl. Along with her pal Senn (Justin Long), they cruise the skies (and sharing the clouds with revered blue whale creatures) with their birdlike vehicles enjoying the freedom they presently possess. Terra is a planet of tranquility and a civilization which honors nature and celebrates life. On another planet, namely Earth, an all out battle was waged between Earth’s colonized neighboring planets. The result was catastrophic and everything was obliterated. The last known survivors of Earth now embark on a desperate mission to colonize a world which would be suitable…
A truly inspirational and deeply emotional film about music and its inherent power to unite people. What had its humble origin in New York City as an idea of how captivating and entrancing music can be to the masses, the directors embarked on a musically spiritual journey. Starting with a soulful guitar player in Santa Monica, California crooning, “Stand By Me”, which caught the directors attention, what would follow were many others singing the rest of the song. One year later, a musical mosaic was created, with harmony and peace being the links that bound them all together. This empowering…
Regarded as one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, the 14th century semi-fictional historical novel was written by Luo Guanzhong. “Romance of the Three Kingdoms, centered around the Three Kingdom era of 190 – 280 A.D., where regional warlords after the fallen “Han” empire vied for power and fought their way up the ranks to gain honor, prestige and power. Following periods of strife, contention and numerous deciding battles, three warring states emerged and solidified their own kingdoms: The Kingdom of Wei in the north ruled by the callous and malicious Cao Cao (Damian Lau), The Kingdom…