Predators

Predators (2010)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Running Time: Approximately 107 minutes
Rated: R
Director: Nimrod Antal

We meet Royce (Adrian Brody) abruptly, as he is awoken, mid air, dropping quickly through the atmosphere towards land as he struggles to pull his chute. Once on solid ground, he discovers he is not the only one who was revived by this method. He meets, among others, Nikolai (Oleg Taktarov), a Russian soldier, Cuchillo (Danny Trejo), a member of the Mexican drug cartel, Isabelle (Alice Braga), an Israeli black ops sniper and Edwin (Topher Grace), a surgeon who seemingly doesn't fit in with the crowd of killers. Amongst the scuffle, they determine that they are not there to hunt each other, but to defend themselves from being hunted.

They determine that they were placed, though not known by who, on a planet being used as a game reserve. And they are the game. They conclude that they were chosen because of who they were - predators themselves. What better opponent, or challenge, then other creatures that hunt for a living? Wikipedia notes (either I missed this or they guessed) that the Predators themselves brought them there so they could hone their skills - this would make the most sense as the only other entity that would drop them there would be fellow human beings and although certainly capable, harder on the conscious.

The director, Nimrod Antal, stuck with the action movie basics: characters with drive and personality, a formidable enemy, a reason to fight and of course - lots of explosions, violence, blood and death. There were parallels with the original film. Each Predator can sense body heat, making it difficult to hide and, as Arnold S. did in the first film, we see some mud-covering to prevent discovery. In the 1987 movie, a highly spiritual Navajo warrior, Billy, stays behind as an honorable fighter, to face the creature in hand to hand combat and allowing more time for others to get away - there is a similar scene in this sequel.

The neat new surprises was that of a type of hunting hound yet seeing as it was the Predator's pet - they were much bigger and much tougher! In addition, we learn the classes between Predators and how they hunt.

Thank goodness there was no ridiculous and miraculous dodging-bullets-in-a-clearing or even needless love-making. Why there always seems to be a romance/kissing scene amidst a pressing need to escape is besides me. Somehow, despite being surrounded by enemies, many films portray the protagonist, while having only minutes to escape, finding time to look longingly into the eyes of the one whom, although they've butted heads previously, they are destined to be with. They then must lean in for a kiss that absolutely could not wait until after death wasn't knocking at the door (not a peeve of mine, no not at ALL!).

Note: Although Adrian Brody may be a surprise as the lead for this genre of film, he fits the mold for Royce the mercenary. He does a great job as an action hero (cue the strong and decisive action hero phrases where needed :))

My prediction allowed for a moderate "wow factor", respectable action scenes, a semi-believable story and lots and lots of violence. Expectations exceeded? No. Disappointed? Not at all. Job well done, Arnold would be proud.

This receives a solid three out of five frames.



Here is the trailer!!



Will you go to see this or wait for something else to come? Let me know via email or the forum at: www.j1studios.com.

Danae signing off!

So you think you can do what now?

So You Think You Can Dance
Channel: FOX
Date & Time: Wed. at 8pm, Thurs. at 9pm
Rating: Everybody

So I would like to complain about the latest season of So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD). It pains me to do this since I love this show so much. My biggest issue this season doesn’t necessarily lie with the people chosen to be on the show (oh I have issues with that but that will be discussed later) or with the fact that Mary Murphy is no longer a constant presence (I actually kind of love that). My biggest problem has to do with the structure of the competition. Too many things have changed.

Let me take you back, if you will, to past seasons. In the past 6 seasons, after the auditions, the judges will choose 20 dancers to make the show, 10 boys and 10 girls. Each boy would be matched up with a girl and they would dance as partners for a certain amount of weeks and then they would switch up partners to make things more interesting. Each week one boy and one girl would be voted off. Seems like an easy enough formula. One that has been working for six seasons. One that has proved to yield favorable results. Well this season they threw a big part of that formula out the window. Instead of 20 dancers, they only chose 11. Yeah 11 folks. Seems they couldn’t quite make the tough decision to cut one more person. So we are left with six guys and five girls. Now I’m sure you all are wondering how they can pair up this uneven number. Well there is the other part of the change. Now the dancers aren’t paired up with other contestants. They are now dancing with “all-stars” (past contestants of the show). What in the world is this about? I don’t understand. I don’t like it either. I think I know where they are going with this whole thing. I guess next to these great and wonderful all-stars we can really judge how well the contestant danced. A good dancer can’t be dragged down along with a bad dancer if their partner doesn’t get it. But this messes with the whole fabric of the show. The threads that hold the show together. Just this past episode they had the dancers dance once with the all-stars and then again with another contestant. So they are kind of leading it back to the original premise.

What is with the smaller amount of contestants this season? Is it because FOX only allotted SYTYCD a certain number of weeks and they decided they couldn’t fit all of it in considering the time constraints? If there are going to be fewer contestants why can’t they be paired up with each other from the beginning? Why the all-stars? There wasn’t really any kind of an explanation as to why this is happening. I love seeing those past contestants. They dance beautifully and bring a level of professionalism to the performance. But why are they there?!?! Why can’t these contestants have the same experience as the all-stars? There are just too many questions and very few answers.

The contestants this season I don’t completely agree with. They aren’t bad dancers or overwhelmingly annoying. They just aren’t people I think should be there instead of others. Now if they had 20 dancers this season these 11 probably wouldn’t bother me as much because some of the other dancers that I think were better would be there too. I must say that these dancers have held their own so far alongside the all-stars.

The one thing I do love about the changes though is that I don’t have to hear that annoying Mary Murphy scream and act like an ass all the time. Matter of fact, I have hardly seen her this season. I don’t know if they explained why she hasn’t been there every episode. I don’t need an explanation though. I need the address of Nigel so I can send him a fruit basket or something as a thank you. Mary always got on my nerves. It was so bad that I would mute the television every time she would speak just so I wouldn’t have to hear her voice and her screaming and the stupid stuff that she would say to the dancers. Now I’m not wishing harm on her or bad times. I’m sure she’s a perfectly lovely woman off the show. But on the show, man, I wanted to make it so she no longer had a voice box so we wouldn’t have to hear her anymore. I wanted a permanent mute option.

Well, hopefully with the new change of them dancing one dance with fellow contestants will come more dances in that vein. I want less all-stars and more season 7 contestants. I want more dancing and less Mary Murphy. Let’s see where the rest of the season takes us. At this last show they were doing the top 8 so we have many more shows to go.

I'm giving this season 3 1/2 stars so far. They have changed too much. But they can still redeem themselves.


Sorry I don't have an updated video from this last episode, but since it just aired last night no clips were available. This is the recap from last week's episode. Enjoy!
Top 9 - FOX Broadcasting Company - So You Think You Can Dance - Videos


Well, until next time kids, this has been Hava!

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

Must you be so upfront with me?

Yes I must. What is an upfront you ask? Well they are previews of what networks will be giving us in the season to come. They combed through thousands of shows and these are the ones they thought were worth our time. So I sat through a good number of what all of the major networks has to offer. There was some good and there was some bad. This installment I'm giving you some of the good. The next go round are the ones that weren't so lucky.

Hawaii Five-O(CBS) Mondays 10pm
Does anyone remember the original Hawaii Five-O? Cause I don’t. It was before my time. If you know nothing about this show it is about this elite team of cops that answers only to the Governor. They are like all of the Law & Order franchises rolled into one. They get to work on all the sensational crimes. Well CBS has decided they want to bring it back! I know you may not think this is all big and important. It’s just another cop show. This show though has nostalgia appeal and it has some very strong actors in there to help carry the show. You have Scott Caan, Alex O’Loughlin, and Daniel Dae Kim. From what I have seen it looks like it will be Hawaii Five-O on speed. There is more action and you get to know the characters a little bit more. All I have to say about this reboot is, “Book ‘em Dano!” That means you should give it a looksey when it starts up this fall.



Lonestar(FOX) Mondays 9pm
Remember the show, or more aptly described as an evening soap, Dallas? Did you ever want to see Jon Voight in Dallas? Well now you kind of can. This show is set in Texas and about a con man who is leading two lives. One is boyfriend to a sweet, down home girl. The second is married to a big oil man’s daughter. Con man and his partner are trying to steal money from the rich family. This con man’s heart grows three sizes at some point though and he wants out. It’s not fully explained but he starts stealing money from the rich family to pay off old scams. That, I’m sure, will be fleshed out in the actual show. I can’t really get into any more of it except that con man starts to really love one of the women and that may be the catalyst for his change of heart. I can’t get into more because not all of it is explained. I’m anticipating many soap opera like twists and turns in this show. And I have been begging for an evening soap for some time now. So you know I will be watching and hoping that I’m not disappointed.



The Event(NBC) Mondays 9pm
What is the event you ask? That is the question of the hour. Rather, the question of the season, or series. Who knows? From what I gather this show has a whole “what is going on?” vibe to it. There are apparently prisoners that a section of the CIA has been hiding for years and years now and presidents have had no clue they existed. Well the new president, in what I think is a nod to President Obama, played by sexy Blair Underwood somehow finds out about this prison and demands to be in on it. On the other end of this show we have Jason Ritter looking for his new fiancée who suspiciously disappears. I guess it is somehow connected to these prisoners. The gist of the show is that there is some hush-hush, sneaky, off the grid stuff happening run by the government and it is all in an attempt to stop this “event” from happening. I’m intrigued. I will be giving this new show a look.




Looks like my Mondays will be pretty busy. Now I'm reserving my picture frames for the fall season. I want to see the whole thing and not just the trailer. I wouldn't want to prejudge a show based off of three minutes of spliced together scenes. Oh wait, that's what I do all the time. That was the whole basis of this post. Anywho, stay tuned for some of the shows I thought should have been prejudged and never chosen for the light of day.

Until next time kids, this has been Hava.

Ironman 2!!!!!

Ironman 2 (2010)
Rated: PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Running Time: 124 minutes
Director: Jon Favreau

With the first Ironman movie's success (aka power) comes great responsibility (your welcome Peter Parkers all over the world). It is, as it should be, the second installation's responsibility to a) not suck and b) if possible, be as good as, if not better than, the first. The latter is not an easy feat yet is what we hope for; even a smidget of a Dark Knight-esque achievement - the continuation of a good story with the heart of what we enjoyed in the first film. Did Ironman 2 live up to its oh-so-high expectations? The knowledge that we will be seeing War Machine and Black Widow brings much excitement and we all wanted to confirm that this was going to be the movie of 2010. The things we loved in Ironman did roll over into the second; Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) cleverly narcissistic quips and maneuvers, Pepper's (Gwyneth Paltrow) firmness all the while still remaining compromising in her relationship with Tony Stark, the beauty in all of Ironman's advanced technology and James Rhodes' (now played by Don Cheadle) firm beliefs and bravery are just plain ol' cool. We have too the addition of Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) (even I will admit she's hot in this), Whiplash (Mickey Rourke) and Hammer, the weapon's company whose goal is to take Ironman's technology and use it for military use (what's new).

Jon Favreau (who starred in the first and second Ironman as Happy Hogan) did a great job directing the movie;. I don't need to tell you back story or even this film's basis, as most of you have seen the first one yet even if not, the basics are straight forward and very easy to google ;). In reality, your not really going to see this on the basis of this being a life-changing epic. Ironman is a Marvel superhero and we to be wow'ed, pumped up, thrilled, laugh, see lots and lots of action and for those who have read the comic book, want to see the pages come to life. The action was great - when you FINALLY get to see War Machine and Ironman fight together, you are amped and yearn for complete destruction. Yet their combined combat is too short-lived; it was quality but not quantity - I wanted to see more! This is an action movie and although I do indeed think that the story is quite important, there had to be a way to have at least 20 more minutes of action. Another bothersome note: a few parts were a bit slow: some interactions between Tony Stark and Pepper, while true to the story, didn't seem necessary or even the need to be longer than a minute or two. Some of the scene transitions were a bit rough around the edges. Yet there were some quite satisfying features: Mickey Rourke as Whiplash was convincing and I personally think he is an amazing actor. (Unfortunately the way the story was written though left me a bit dissatisfied as I believe we should've seen more of him and his past). Overall I have more positive thoughts coming from this film than not and the positives far outweigh the negatives. Tony Stark is a character I would LOVE to see again soon and done up in the same sort of manner: strong, powerful, crazy and ready to take on anyone!

All in all, this is worth getting off your couch and paying, yes I said paying, to see it. Not quite the same impact as the first but a definitive yes for your dvd/Blu-Ray collection.

I give this a 3.5 out of 5 frames!



See the trailer here:



Tell me if you agree with my conclusion or not via the J1studios.com forum, blog page or email.

Danae signing off!

source: youtube.com