MOVIE REVIEW - THE GRUDGE

The Grudge is the curse of one who dies in the grip of a powerful rage. Those who encounter this murderous supernatural curse die and a new one is born, passed from victim to victim in an endless, growing chain of horror.

I finally saw this movie over the weekend and was very disappointed. I must admit there were some scenes that had me jump, but the movie was predictable with stupid people doing stupid things to get killed (like going back into the house even after you learn about the curse).

I’m really glad that I only paid $1.50 to see this movie, however I think this movie will do well in rentals - especially around Halloween.

And the Nominees are...

On January 25, 2005, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for the 77th Annual Academy Awards. And the nominees are...

BEST PICTURE
THE AVIATOR (Miramax)
FINDING NEVERLAND (Miramax)
MILLION DOLLAR BABY (Warner Bros.)
RAY (Universal Pictures)
SIDEWAYS (Fox Searchlight)

The only surprise here is that Passion of the Christ was not nominated for Best Picture. Until the Golden Globe Awards I never heard of the movie Sideways.

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
Martin Scorsese for THE AVIATOR (Miramax)
Clint Eastwood for MILLION DOLLAR BABY (Warner Bros.)
Taylor Hackford for RAY (Universal Pictures)
Alexander Payne for SIDEWAYS (Fox Searchlight)
Mike Leigh for VERA DRAKE (Fine Line Features)

I’m very disappointed that Mel Gibson was not included in the category. It would be nice to see Clint Eastwood win another one for directing.

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Don Cheadle for HOTEL RWANDA (United Artists)
Johnny Depp for FINDING NEVERLAND (Miramax)
Leonardo DiCaprio for THE AVIATOR (Miramax)
Clint Eastwood for MILLION DOLLAR BABY (Warner Bros.)
Jamie Foxx for RAY (Universal Pictures)

I would like to see Johnny Depp get the Oscar but I have a strong feeling that it will be Jamie Foxx for RAY.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Alan Alda for THE AVIATOR (Miramax)
Thomas Haden Church for SIDEWAYS (Fox Searchlight)
Jamie Foxx for COLLATERAL (Dreamworks SKG)
Morgan Freeman for MILLION DOLLAR BABY (Warner Bros.)
Clive Owen for CLOSER (Columbia Pictures)

I would like to see Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) win an Oscar.

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Annette Bening - BEING JULIA (Sony Pictures Classics)
Catalina Sandino Moreno - MARIA FULL OF GRACE (Fine Line Features)
Imelda Staunton - VERA DRAKE (Fine Line Features)
Hilary Swank for MILLION DOLLAR BABY (Warner Bros.)
Kate Winslet for ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (Focus Features)

Annette Bening, in my opinion, should walk away with the Oscar this year.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett for THE AVIATOR (Miramax)
Laura Linney - KINSEY (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Virginia Madsen for SIDEWAYS (Fox Searchlight)
Sophie Okonedo - HOTEL RWANDA (United Artists)
Natalie Portman for CLOSER (Columbia Pictures)

I would really like to see Natalie Portman win, but I have feeling that this is Cate Blanchett’s year to win.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
THE INCREDIBLES (Disney/Pixar)
SHARK TALE (Dreamworks SKG)
SHREK 2 (Dreamworks SKG)

Since Polar Express was not nominated in this category I hope that Shark Tale wins, this one really made me giggle.

When it gets closer to Oscar Night I’ll post who I think (or hope) will go home with the Oscar.

Remembering Johnny...

"All of us who came after are pretenders. We will not see the likes of him again ... He was the best, a star and a gentleman." ~ David Letterman, comic and friend

"This is the end of an era. With Carson you went on once. You had his blessing, and the world knew you were funny." ~ Comic Joan Rivers

"Our 34 years of working together, plus the 12 years since then, created a friendship which was professional, family-like and one of respect and great admiration. ... Whenever a big career decision needed to be made, I always got the OK from 'the boss.'" ~ Ed McMahon, TV sidekick

"Johnny was responsible for the beginning and the rise of success for more performers than anybody. I doubt if those numbers will ever be surpassed." ~ Comedian Bill Cosby

TWO BROTHERS

From Jean-Jacques Annaud, the acclaimed director of The Bear, comes a motion picture event for the whole family. Set not so long ago in a distant land, Two Brothers is the story of twin tiger cubs - one shy and gentle, the other, bold and fierce - who are born among the temple ruins of an exotic jungle, but are one day separated by fate. The bold brother is sold off to a circus, where homesickness and living in a cage rob him of his spirit. The shy cub becomes the beloved companion for the governor's lonely young son, until an accident forces the family to give him away to a man who resolves to break his gentle nature and turn him into a fighter for sport. When they are fully grown, the brothers find themselves reunited - but as forced enemies pitted against each other. An epic adventure story about the power of friendship, the bond between brothers and the spirit that connects us all, Two Brothers stars Guy Pearce (Memento, L.A. Confidential) as the adventurer whose tragic intervention into the idyllic lives of the twin cubs forever intertwines their fates. Two Brothers was filmed on location in Cambodia and Thailand. The screenplay was written by Jean-Jacques Annaud and Alain Godard (The Name of the Rose, Enemy at the Gates) from an original story by Annaud. Rated PG for mild violence.

HERE'S WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT THE MOVIE...

This is the story of magnificent creatures gorgeously photographed in a story that is quietly told and touching. The images are beautiful, with breathtaking close-ups of the twin tigers, who are expressive both as frisky cubs and as adults. The story is told from their point of view and some of the best moments are ones with no dialogue. The human characters are vivid enough to give the story more depth but not so much that they interfere with the journey of the heroes of the movie, Sangha and Kumal.

There have been a lot complaints that this movie is too harsh. My eleven year old daughter handled the harsh scenes far better than I did (you have to understand that I can barely make it through Lassie Come Home without breaking into in tears). Parents should know that the movie has some very sad and tear jerking moments and some violence, mostly off-screen. The tiger cubs' father is killed and their mother is shot and wounded. Sangha mauls a dog (we only hear about it) and Kunal is beaten by a cruel circus animal trainer (off camera).

This is a very heart-warming movie! This movie will move your heart in both the good moments and the harsh moments. Don't complain about the cruel treatment you see in this movie because that's the way it is in real life, that is why these beautiful creatures are endangered. If anything, this movie should motivate people to do something about it and learn to appreciate nature a little more before it’s too late.

Troy

This is a fairly good movie, but a poor adaption of the Illiad. If you are looking for historical accuracy or a closely followed adaptation of the Illiad, then you've come to the wrong place. For viewers who have never read the Illiad this film will be enjoyable (not as enjoyable as the Lord of the Rings Trilogy where the adaptation was faithful to the original story), a typical action epic and if you enjoy such movies then you will be entertained.

The story is familiar: In 1193 B.C., Prince Paris of Troy stole the beautiful Greek woman, Helen, away from her husband, Menelaus, the king of Sparta, setting the two nations at war with each other, as the Greeks began a bloody siege of Troy using their entire armada, led by Achilles, that lasted over a decade.

The visuals were some of the most convincing I have ever seen. Though most of the actual sets were built, it was hard to see if they were the real ones or CGI. The scenery and the city looked great. The amount of detail was incredible.

Brad Pitt played a convincing warrior, he handles the fight scenes well. Eric Bana plays a memorable character, Prince Hector, who cares passionately about his country and his family. Sean Bean is very good as Odysseus (I like Sean Bean, I have enjoyed watching him ever since Patriot Games.). Even though I have enjoyed watching Orlando Bloom in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Pirates of the Caribbean I didn’t particularly care for his performance as Prince Paris.

Here are some things I enjoyed about the film...
King Priam's conversation with Achilles was very touching, risking his own life to plead for the return of his son’s body;
Eric Bana’s Hector is the most memorable character;
Archilles’ relationship with his faithful soldiers, the Myrmidons, and his beloved cousin Patroclus;
The love story between Archilles and Hector’s cousin, Briseis, was believable;
The fight scene between Hector and Achilles;

The one thing I didn't like...
Paris and Helen's love story was not that believable; no chemistry between the actors.

It is not easy to make a film of this magnitude, but Troy succeeds in presenting its own vision of grandeur. Overall, I recommend this movie, it has a lot of great action.