Toy Story is back!!

Toy Story 3 (2010)
Rated G
Running Time: 103 Minutes
Genre: Adventure, Family, Animation

Short & Sweet is how this review, excuse me, rave, of this friendship-testing, tear-jerking, terrifying (yes!) third installation of a cult family hit is going to be. You'd had to have hidden under a rock NOT to have seen at least one of the Toy Story Sagas as many comrades of mine swear their most prized possessions by this adventurous bunch. Woody & Buzz Lightyear have been the crux of what we know to be fun, funny and touching. You don't need to ask but what is it about these characters, what is it about the story, that keeps bringing us back and keep us talking? We ALL have something from our childhood that is precious and that marks a pivotal period in our lives. Whether is a stuffed bunny (that's me!), a G.I. Joe or a barbie - there is a inanimate object that brings back the summers of freedom, companionship while hiding from crazy family members or friends, a token of the hours and hours spent in another world where you can be whoever you want. Toy Story 3 doesn't fail to touch on a truth that then eventually hits all of us; we have to grow up! This though, doesn't take away from the memories created in your adolescence. In addition, we are just one cycle - there are new generations to behold the wonder of a world with no boundaries (all in your bedroom or backyard).

The story continues off as their beloved owner Andy is getting ready to head off to college and has to clean out! His toys end up at a rough and tumble daycare and thoughts of new, loving hands are quashed. They must work together, despite a surprising toy brigade hoping to keep them from escaping. We meet some new (and some scary) characters such as Big Baby, Ken & a strawberry-scented teddy bear called Lots-o'-Huggin'.

There is nothing that could've been added to make this any more fulfilling and well rounded. I give this a five out of five frames!!



Here's the trailer for your eyes only ;)



Despite the obvious label of being a kid's film, you'd be missing out on some reminiscent excitment if you don't go and see this! Once you've given in to my pursuasive ways, shoot me an email or go to the forum to admit that you did indeed tear up!

Danae signing off!

source: traileraddict.com

How much more upfront do you want me to be?

So last time I gave you a taste of some of the shows coming up that I feel could be promising. That people should give a chance. Well these next shows are ones that you should run and hide from. These are just a few of the shows that when I saw the descriptions for them I raised my eyebrow. Take a gander at these. Form your own opinion but I’m sure you will find that I am correct as usual.

“Outsourced”- NBC Thursdays 9:30pm
The general premise of this show is a white man goes to work for his company’s call center which is located in India. Basically this looks like it’s trying to be kind of like “the Office” but in India. I think they are trying to bank on the supposedly hilarity of the difference in cultures and languages. But from what I have seen it just seems like they are making stereotypical jokes and they are almost slightly insulting. They have jokes about how the Indian people’s names sound funny and being hard to pronounce. I’m sure they feel the same way about our names. There are jokes concerning their culture, the ones being most obvious at the moment dealing with how women are viewed and should act. In the one clip it shows the American guy trying to push his culture on to them. Now I love an inappropriate racial joke just as much as the next person, but a whole show based off of stereotypes and common misconceptions is just too much for me. As it stands now, I’m uninterested in this show.



“Nikita”- CW Thursdays 9pm
Oh for the love of everything holey they are bringing back the whole “Le Femme Nikita” franchise…again. This started as a French film which was adapted into a horrible American remake which was then adapted into a cable television series in the 90’s. Now it is another television series on the CW of all networks. The premise and plot of this franchise has changed over adaptations. If you want Nikita as someone who was plucked out of prison by some government agency and forced to be an assassin. She has now escaped their grasp is being hunted down. While I have no problem with the plot per se, I’m just over remaking this whole franchise. This will never be as good as the first television series. From the promos I have seen this show is poorly acted. I don’t see how even a guy would want to sit here and watch this even though it has the staples of all male driven programming (i.e. action, fighting, & scantily clad women). If they are marketing this at all for females the best part for them is Shane West. But even he cannot sustain me enough to watch a show. I’m passing on this.



“No Ordinary Family”- ABC Tuesdays 8pm
So what if I told you there was a new show about a family who was going on vacation and they survive a plane crash on the way and then they find out that they have these super powers. Wouldn’t you think the next logical sentence would be, and hilarity ensues? Well you’d be wrong. This show is actually a drama. Yes, a drama. You see, the whole point for this family vacation is so that the family can reconnect since they have grown apart. Once they all figure out that they have these powers the show then tries to follow them and show how they deal with this extraordinary change. While there may be a few funny quips and all that the main point is how they deal with these powers and grow as people and blah blah blah. When I posed the question that I started this with to my mother she first guessed a kid’s show. Then she guessed a comedy. When I told her it was a drama she was baffled. She could not for life of her figure why they would make this premise serious. I, too, cannot understand it. It seems to be well acted. Hell, they have Michael Chiklis and Julie Benz. Amazing actors! I don’t know about this. It just seems like they are trying to mix “Heroes” and any family based drama on television. It’s like the movie “RV” without the comedy, the road trip, and they have super powers. Okay so maybe it isn’t like “RV” but it still seems like they are reaching for something unnecessary. Make it a comedy and call it a day.




So head on over to the forum on j1studios.com and discuss these trailers. Let me know if you think I'm wrong. If you think these shows are the best thing around.

Until next time kids, this has been Hava.

Prince of Persia

Prince of Persia (2010)
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: Approximately 116 minutes
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Director: Mike Newell

Based on the popular video game series, the movie, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was highly anticipated. There has certainly been an audience for the video game-turned-feature film genre, (Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li; Max Payne; Resident Evil; Silent Hill) yet with one too many having concluded in disappointment. I have not played any of the games, although appealing, so I had my handy sidekick relate what was consistent within the film and the game. The look of Dastan (Jake Gyllenhal) seems to mesh with the game character yet some people have a bone to pick with the choice of actor (see below). Naturally he had the ability to turn back time which didn't deviate from the game but we shouldn't expect any different. The gist of the story is this: As a child, in a shocking maneuver, Dastan gets adopted by King Sharaman of Persia and grows up as royalty. He is a unique warrior with a penchant for rushing into everything head first. Amidst the celebration of a hasty overthrow of the Holy City of Alamut, he gets framed for his father's death and has both brothers searching for him to make sure he is brought to justice. Having fled with the princess of Alamut, Tamina, he embarks on a journey to reveal the true source of his father's death and to stop the abuse of a powerful weapon, controlling time itself and threatening the past, present and future.

The basics are satisfactory - Dastan is the rogue brother who is more Achilles then Hector. He exchanges words (and dodges attempts at his life) with the princess yet we know that their stubbornness is temporary as we anticipate their destiny with one another. Dastan's tricks and sidesteps, his jumps from rooftop to rooftop, seemingly second nature as he flies over people, as if they simply weren't there, are quite amazing. You can't look away as he pulls a Mario move - hopping/climbing up walls, and then ducking punches, deflecting swords. The sequences are thrilling yet in the day and age of an action movie released 2 to 3 times a month, every sequence is expected to be crazier and more daring - with all this, it's possible that I am marred and numbed - it takes much more to impress me. I was impressed by all that transpired yet I felt the film as a whole compared more to say, The Mummy, more so than say Ironman. The Mummy was a great film with amazing effects yet destined to be a TBS or ABCFamily film premier, to run every holiday yet less dvd-worthy and more watching it on the tube-worthy. Ironman is the film you get on Blu-Ray ;)

In addition, with this having taken place in Persia, with a story about a Persian empire, I can fathom how certain groups are disappointed and confused about the choice of actor for the main character. While Jake Gyllenhaal did a commendable job, (and those in charge of wardrobe), he is clearly NOT Persian. He is a fairly well known actor and this is an influential decision when trying to bring in an audience, for a film that could push someone of Persian-descent (or even bearing more of a resemblance) would've been honorable and speak louder as an encouragement and a break from the norm with regards to our very white-centered film industry.

All in all, this gets a 3 out of 5 frames.



A la trailer:



Tell me if you want to go see this or couldn't care less if it washed away with the sands of time *giggle giggle*. Get on the J1studios.com forum, blog page or shoot me an email!

Danae signing off!

source: traileraddict.com