‘Predator’ Download and Reviews

December 19, 2009 by Paul Wall  
Filed under Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

“Predator” Movie Details

Predator tagline: If it bleeds, we can kill it…
Predator - DVD Cover

Predator DVD Cover

Actors:
Arnold Schwarzenegger Major Alan “Dutch” Schaeffer
Carl Weathers Major George Dillon
Elpidia Carrillo Anna
Bill Duke Sergeant “Mac” Eliot
Jesse Ventura Blain
Sonny Landham Billy
Richard Chaves Poncho Ramirez
R.G. Armstrong General Phillips
Shane Black Hawkins
Kevin Peter Hall The Predator/End Helicopter Pilot
Directors: John McTiernan
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10 out of 76,978 votes

“Predator” Movie Review

“Predator” Plot Summary

A team of commandos, on a mission in a Central American jungle, find themselves hunted by an extra-terrestrial warrior.

Really cool action with unforgettable characters

In 1987, Arnold Schwarzenegger was solidifying his position as an action superstar with the releases of the epic Conan, the influential Terminator and the somewhat mediocre Commando that was still fun to watch anyway. However, that position wouldn’t be fully cemented until the arrival of Terminator 2 in 1991 which forever raised the bar for the action genre.

But plain and simple, ‘Predator’ is a staple for Schwarzenegger’s profile. It introduced the ultra cool ‘Predator’ to the world and changed the popular culture’s perspectives on alien movies. But the movie itself isn’t just known for the central character, like the crappy Friday the 13th movies that are only known for the murderous Jason Voorhees and his stupid hockey mask. But ‘Predator’ is known for the movie as a whole, with a great simplistic plot, awesome characters and great action that will make people want to see this again and again.

The movie is a about a former soldier/mercenary named Dutch (Arnie) who has been involved in a lot of conflict and has since decided to settle down and be the leader of a rescue team. He goes to a South American country to participate in a mission that would supposedly rescue a Cabinet Minister and a few other hostages, but later on he finds out that he’s been set up and it was actually a mission to destroy a rebel base that would’ve invaded sooner or later. And Dutch gets ticked off and he and his team try to escape the jungle, but they’re then being pursued by an alien who ‘hunts’ rather than kills. As the situation escalates, Dutch starts to lose his sanity and that’s totally evident in the final showdown with the creature.

Like James Cameron’s ‘Aliens’ that came out the year before, ‘Predator’ is shaped by it’s excellent characters, Dutch is the great, silent leader who is somewhat broken inside from all the combat that he went through in the past and his quote ‘If it bleeds, we can kill it’ is among the greatest. Blain is the totally cool tobacco-chewing, mini-gun-totting guy who spewed out 2 of the movie’s best lines: ‘I ain’t got time to bleed’, and ‘This stuff’ll make you a goddamn sexual tyrannosaurus, just like me’. Mac is pretty much Blain’s best bud and frequently shaves with his razor and without the shaving cream to show his manliness. Hawkins is the super-nerd of the group who reads comic books and occasionally makes some sick jokes about his girlfriend. Billy is the silent, no-nonsense spiritual dude. Dillon is the dirty CIA agent who was best pals with Dutch a few years back and then sets up Dutch and his team, which leads to their demise and his, as well. And finally, Poncho is the sympathetic, yet sarcastic soldier who connects with Anna, their hostage, during the course of the film. And these guys are great characters; and they each have their own personalities, which makes you want to see more out of each guy.

And of course, I can’t forget about the ‘Predator’. The high-tech alien that hunts other creatures for sport was a very creative and original idea. It also held a very intimidating presence and the special effects were very well done, especially the camouflage. And I’m still wondering how that managed to do that in 1987.

And last, but not the least, the action really stands out thanks to the direction of John McTiernan, who directed this right before he made ‘Die Hard’. The scene when the team attacks the rebel camp is, without a doubt one of the best in cinema, since it shows each team member providing something in the attack, and it’s not just one guy who acts like a one-man army and destroys everything in his path all by himself. Also, Dutch’s confrontation with the predator at the end, which displays more prehistoric styles of combat with the setting of the boulder and spike traps. And this movie makes up the modern warfare action and the caveman action so well.

Any action/sci-fi junkie should watch this, and they will be HOOKED. And you will want to see this again and again.

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‘Avatar’ Download and Reviews

December 17, 2009 by Paul Wall  
Filed under Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

“Avatar” Movie Details

Avatar tagline: Enter the World
Avatar - DVD Cover

Avatar DVD Cover

Actors:
Sam Worthington Jake Sully
Sigourney Weaver Dr. Grace Augustine
Michelle Rodriguez Trudy Chacon
Zoe Saldana Neytiri
Giovanni Ribisi Selfridge
Joel Moore Norm Spellman
Laz Alonso Tsu’Tey
Andrew Emilio DeCesare Trooper
Christian Di Salvo Dragon Pilot
Leandro Di Salvo Dragon Pilot
Peter Dillon Shuttle Crew Chief
Kevin Dorman Tractor operator
Matt Gerald Lyle Wainfleet
Luke Hawker Med Tech
Kelson Henderson Dragon Gunship Pilot
Directors: James Cameron
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10 out of 183,267 votes

“Avatar” Movie Review

“Avatar” Plot Summary

A paraplegic marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.

AVATAR has a soul

AVATAR has a soul I saw AVATAR today. It was a boiling 40 degrees Celsius in Australia. I caught a bus and train to get there. I spent months on a forum before that. Incremental stops included a scriptment, stills, a teaser, a foot, AVATAR day and a full trailer. Now released I have had many reviews to read which have been mostly very positive. It is a marvel to watch. The opening scenes are very sci-fi with a glimpse of low gravity aboard a space-craft. Sam Worthington fills us in with a short narration. He is taking over his diseased brother’s role in the AVATAR program. These opening scenes are actually among the most effective 3D in the film, pulling you into this story, tracking shots putting you into the steps of the characters. I jump ahead, like the film, to The world of Pandora which is lush with earthly life as seen through pulp fantasies. The rendering of this world is terrific. The life and activity is in the plants as much as it is the animals. Wonder is generated with this ambitious creation. Cameron has lifted the bar. The CG is the best I have ever seen. Everything you have heard is true. The 3D enhances this with leaves falling and swaying branches life-like in the foreground. The realisation of the Navii is also ambitious. They are CG but there are many moments that make you think they are real and in terms of the story they are more than good enough to propel the narrative with strong emotional content. I went into this film knowing mostly everything within it. Hours of reading, some from the treatment and pages of the recent reviews. It is very much a family film like ‘Nealz’ said in his IMDb review. There is a moment where one of the ferocious animal species that earlier were attacking Jake are seen with a litter, the children in the audience loved the cute pups! The spiritual side of this film is much better than expected. It is in fact a beautiful story. The structure is classical film-making but with amazingly new scope in CGI to express grand images. An epic The journey that Jake takes through Pandora is lovely. He is taken in by the Navii and explores their culture, language and habitat. Natirii, the female Navii he meets while lost, helps him through this journey. This is a love story of both soul mates and with a wider picture. Existential connections with the natural world. Personal destiny. I had tears in this film. I tried to hold them back but by the roll of credits they came. This is a movie that I have anticipated for so long. I think the ingredients of its story and my connection to this films production gave me a very emotional response. I cant imagine this disappointing any of the fans on the board. Keeping in mind that it is a family film but delivered everything I wanted. Expect a special edition. After AVATAR is a hit, a special edition will make its way to the cinema. I can understand why they would cut the earth scenes and it works. The actual film seems pretty brisk and it could also have more padding out. You want more of it and that is a triumph for this type of film running two and a half hours. It is a good balance because at two and a half hours AVATAR is aimed directly at the cinema going audience. Broadly appealing with elements for everyone. My earlier prediction of a billion or more world-wide seems safe. I don’t want to go on about visuals too much but the lovely shots of the natural wonderland of glowing life in still 3D shots is magical. Something to take kids to see. Floating tiny neon life jellyfish their way through the air with grace. The monkey-like extra-limbed creatures with the peeping eyes flock through the forrest quickly. The creature design is done in a clever way with the motion of a living thing. The action is over the top, epic, frenetic and a new take on the battle sequence. James Cameron didn’t stuff this up. He probably pressed the studio way beyond their comfort zone with the time, money and effort that has gone into this. Sam Worthington is excellent casting choice. Sigourney Weaver ads frank reason. Stephen Lang chews the scenery as the ultimate you know what. Zoe Saldana is beautiful as Jakes guide into this world and. I went to the cinema and it was a very hot day. By the time I left the cinema, the streets were wet with rain. A warm humidity was thick in the air. Lightning splashed my walk to the train station with white light. I honestly wondered if It was my time to be struck down with a bolt of electricity from the sky. Watch this film. It is destined to become a childhood classic to many little-ones too young to be on this forum. It will be talked about at high school by male and females as spectacular. It will be watched multiple times by fans. I loved it but beyond my appreciation for the film itself, is the the message of love permeating from this movie that I hope enters the zeitgeist like elements of Cameron’s other stories have. At its heart is a soul. AVATAR is an achievement in many technical departments but I wouldn’t say the story is deficient. It is a beautiful experience and the story is surprisingly what I loved most. Believe the hype.

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‘There Will Be Blood’ Download and Reviews

September 19, 2009 by Paul Wall  
Filed under Drama, Thriller

“There Will Be Blood” Movie Details

There Will Be Blood tagline: When Ambition Meets Faith
There Will Be Blood - DVD Cover

There Will Be Blood DVD Cover

Actors:
Daniel Day-Lewis Plainview
Paul Dano Eli Sunday
Kevin J. O’Connor Henry
CiarГЎn Hinds Fletcher
Dillon Freasier H.W.
Russell Harvard H.W. – Older
Randall Carver Mr. Bankside
Kevin Breznahan Signal Hill Man
Brad Carr Signal hill man
Mark Flanagan
Vince Froio Plainview Servant
Hans Howes Bandy
John Kerry Oilman
Jim Meskimen Signal Hill Married Man
Paul F. Tompkins Prescott
Directors: Paul Thomas Anderson
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10 out of 119,922 votes

“There Will Be Blood” Movie Review

“There Will Be Blood” Plot Summary

A story about family, greed, religion, and oil, centered around a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business.

The best film of the year. Daniel Day-Lewis gives one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen.

There Will Be Blood is a story about greed, religion and vengeance due to the discovery of one of nature’s riches: OIL!Daniel Plainview(Daniel Day-Lewis) is a poor silver miner who is injured and taken in by a few men digging for oil. When one of them dies in a freak accident, Daniel brings up the man’s son as his own and becomes a self-made oil tycoon in the process. After receiving a tip-off that a seemingly impoverished town out west has a whole ocean of oil beneath the surface, Plainview rushes there and stops at nothing to get what he wants. Even if it means losing all the things most important to him, especially his SANITY. It was written for the screen and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who also directed Boogie Nights and Punch-Drunk Love. This is definitely a far better than the two. He should get a Best Director Nod for his work. The music is unlike anything ever I’ve ever heard, and it completely drew me into the haunting mood of the movie. The movie will get a lot of Oscar Nominations, hopefully Best Picture but most importantly:Best Actor. Daniel Day-Lewis is arguably the most talented living actor and his performance here clinches that title in my opinion. At first, you see how Plainview goes from being an extremely charismatic individual to a dark, insane and vicious oilman. Day-Lewis perfects all of these characteristics to a T and no other performance this year is even in the same league as this one. The movie is about 2 hours and 40 minutes long but it certainly didn’t feel like it when I watched it. Actually, I would’ve been happier if the movie was 3 1/2 hours. It was that good. I was simply enthralled by this work of art. It is the best movie of the year with the best performance of the year.

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‘Old Dogs’ Download and Reviews

September 13, 2009 by Paul Wall  
Filed under Comedy, Family

“Old Dogs” Movie Details

Old Dogs tagline: Sit. Stay. Play Dad.
Old Dogs - DVD Cover

Old Dogs DVD Cover

Actors:
Sherman Alpert Airline traveler
William Alva Dock Hand
Chris Astoyan Handsome Party Boy
Kevin Aubin Lunchbox Dancer
Oscar J. Castillo Panda Bear
Chris Cullen Pretzel Man
DeRay Davis Julio
Kent Davis Doctor
Kevin Dean-Hackett Priest
Matt Dillon Yancy Devlin
Connor Douglas Soccer Kid
Michael Enright Mike the waiter
David Gere Scout Parent
Seth Green Ralph White
Jet Harp Airplane passenger
Directors: Walt Becker
IMDB Rating: 5.0/10 out of 2,561 votes

“Old Dogs” Movie Review

“Old Dogs” Plot Summary

Two friends and business partners find their lives turned upside down when strange circumstances lead to them being placed in the care of 7-year-old twins. add synopsis

Very funny

I do not like stupid films at all. This had a little bit of stupidity, but it didn’t stop me from laughing from beginning to end! My friend loved it too. Really good for a comedy and great actors! This is one to watch over and over and share with all

It was fun to watch Travolta’s family in action. His daughter was adorable. Robin Williams was at his best. He handled being a new dad with aplomb. It is always great to see men deal with kids and feel their way through it

Williams was the star – Travolta played second behind him. Williams is of course a natural comedian. Travolta has to work harder.

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‘My One and Only’ Download and Reviews

August 27, 2009 by Paul Wall  
Filed under Comedy, Drama

“My One and Only” Movie Details

My One and Only tagline: An almost perfect portrait of a family comedy
My One and Only - DVD Cover

My One and Only DVD Cover

Actors:
RenГ©e Zellweger Anne Deveraux
Chris Noth Harlan
Kevin Bacon Dan
Matthew Bowerman Drama Teacher
Anthony Addabbo Frank – Hotel detective
Michael Alban Bar Patron
Michael Blumenstock Restaurant Patron
Jean-Paul Chreky Charlie’s Guest
Christian Di Salvo Slave
Liam Ferguson Law Enforcement Agent
Daniel Ferro Bellhop
Troy Garity Becker
Bill Gentry Pedestrian
Maury Ginsberg Mr. Dillon
Directors: Richard Loncraine
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10 out of 1,466 votes

“My One and Only” Movie Review

“My One and Only” Plot Summary

An unusual road trip movie about a mother driving her two sons from New York to Pittsburgh to St. Louis and eventually Hollywood in her quest to find a man to take care of them all.

Wonderful Road Picture

This is truly an engaging, endearing and very funny look into relationships; both romantic and filial, typical of the 1950’s

One member here criticized the movie as hetero-phobic; I wouldn’t go that far, but men in the 1950’s were certainly not metrosexuals! And the classy blond belle which Ms. Zellweger plays with pitch perfect demeanor is just the type of woman that would attract unattractive male attention. The brutes she meets give the film its energy and give her a journey worth making for the audience. And there are two supporting male characters who are good hearted in the film, so the criticism simply doesn’t hold up. Zellweger has never been better!What we have here is a funny and poignant story about the survival of a woman who leaves her husband in the world of the 1950’s. As good as Ms. Zellweger is, the movie is stolen by the two very gifted young actors who portray her sons; Logan Lerman and Mark Rendall. The two of them couldn’t be more different, but they are brothers and understand each other and understand their mother. Lerman plays the more grounded of the two and creates a very real and sympathetic portrait. Rendall plays the flighty older brother; obviously gay and has a good deal of the ‘zinger’ lines which he delivers perfectly. After 20 minutes, you want to be with this family for the rest of the film

This is the kind movie that depends on writing and Charlie Peters has given us a convincing and at times, very witty screenplay. You feel and understand every character. The movie is directed with an understated classiness by Loncraine. It moves from adventure to adventure fluidly with assurance and style. And the production design has perfectly captured the era

Don’t miss this one! Frankly, one of the best films of 2009.

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‘Platoon’ Download and Reviews

August 16, 2009 by Paul Wall  
Filed under Action, Drama, War

“Platoon” Movie Details

Platoon tagline: The first casualty of war is innocence.
Platoon - DVD Cover

Platoon DVD Cover

Actors:
  • Tony Todd
  • Tom Berenger SSgt. Bob Barnes
    Willem Dafoe Sgt. Elias Grodin
    Charlie Sheen Pvt. Chris Taylor
    Forest Whitaker Big Harold
    Francesco Quinn Rhah
    John C. McGinley Sgt. Red O’Neill
    Richard Edson Sal
    Kevin Dillon Bunny
    Reggie Johnson Junior Martin
    Keith David King
    Johnny Depp Pvt. Gator Lerner
    David Neidorf Tex
    Mark Moses Lt. Wolfe
    Chris Pedersen Crawford
    Sgt. Warren
    Directors: Oliver Stone IMDB Rating: 8.2/10 out of 101,301 votes

    “Platoon” Movie Review

    “Platoon” Plot Summary

    A young recruit in Vietnam faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man.

    Best War Movie Ever Made

    PLATOON is the best war movie ever made. It’s dark, harrowing, complex, and thrilling. But because so much attention is paid to Oliver Stone’s real life status as a Vietnam vet, most people assume the story is totally original and totally based on one man’s first-hand experience. I, on the other hand, would like to suggest some of the literary and cultural roots of the classic film

    Norman Mailer’s THE NAKED AND THE DEAD presented a vision of jungle combat in World War II that obviously inspired Oliver Stone in many ways. Both emphasize the fact that the soldiers are drawn from the lowest level of society. Both show the war as being run by selfish elites who take no part in the suffering and dying

    Both are dominated by a cruel villain — Sgt. Barnes in PLATOON is in many ways a perfect replica of Sgt. Croft. Both are Army lifers, both enjoy torturing and killing helpless victims, both talk in terms of authority and control being more important than justice or even logic. Both are perfectly willing to use cold-blooded murder as a way to hold on to authority among their own troops. Both are presented as being Southerners/Westerners, linked to the genocide of the Indians and the lawless violence of the frontier. The name ‘Barnes’ is a play on ‘Croft’ since both link to the farming past and to the rural America big city boys like Mailer and Stone both (fairly or unfairly) detest

    But Oliver Stone goes beyond Mailer in many ways. While in Mailer’s book the attempts by Lieutenant Hearn and Red Valsen to stand up to Croft are almost pathetically ineffective, PLATOON presents both Elias and later, even Chris Taylor as fully capable of defying Barnes and demanding justice. This is what gives the movie a far greater power and resonance than Mailer’s book

    Moreover, Stone is not afraid of mysticism and symbolism, and he is not shackled by the socialist-realist documentary aesthetics of Mailer’s novel. Thus while Red Valsen ‘must’ be a working man and a left-wing stick figure, Elias’ ethnic and economic background is left a mystery. In the same way, Barnes, while clearly linked to the mean rednecks of the platoon and the violence of the Old West, is also linked to more compelling and even sympathetic tragic heroes, such as Captain Ahab and even — dare one say it — Count Dracula

    Tom Berenger is a much better actor than Bela Lugosi, to be sure. But notice the similarities. Just as Dracula is always seen with the whining, submissive Renfield in tow, so Barnes is always being compared to his wheedling, repulsive sidekick O’Neill. Just as Dracula cannot die, so Barnes also seems to be immortal. (One of the good men even says, ‘Barnes ain’t meant to die.’) Barnes all but quotes Dracula in the chilling scene in the bunker when he dares (or begs) the good men of the platoon to kill him. His seemingly offhand remark — ‘death? What do you all know about death?’ — suggests that Barnes cannot die because he is already dead. This is eerily reminiscent of Dracula’s statement that ‘to die — to be really dead — that must be glorious.’ The point here is that PLATOON is indeed a brutal, realistic look at Vietnam, but it is also a classic movie which draws upon a whole host of literary and film classics for its mythic resonance and power

    What a magnificent and yet tragic achievement for Oliver Stone!

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