When you can live forever what do you live for? When Bella Swan moves with her father to Forks, Washington, she wasn't expecting out of the ordinary to happen until she meets the mysterious Edward Cullen at her new high school. As they both fall passionately in love, Bella discovers that Edward is hiding the secret that he is an immortal vampire, but his blood-thirsty needs could bite her momentarily even though he and his family only drink blood from animals. Meanwhile, a coven of vampires catch the couple's scent when they search for Bella and hunt her for sport.
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, Twilight features great acting performances from the following cast: 1.) Kristen Stewart (Bella Swan) 2.) Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen) 3.) Peter Facinelli (Carlisle Cullen) 4.) Elizabeth Reaser (Esme Cullen) 5.) Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen) 6.) Nikki Reed (Rosalie Hale) 7.) Jackson Rathbone (Jasper Hale) 8.) Kellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen) 9.) Taylor Lautner (Jacob Black)
Not since Titanic that I ever watched a chick flick that drew huge crowds of fan-girls going crazy for the romantic moments and the stars who did them; here it's KStew and RPatz who proved audiences that their mature acting helped their character roles well. While I'm not part of the film's main demographic - I'm a guy - I can say that I liked Twilight for action, drama, and yes, the forbidden romance that moved me. (Oh my gosh, Edward can fly like a superhero!) And although I never read Stephenie Meyer's series of books, I know this is the latest literary phenomenon to be adapted into film, and with its vampire theme, the biggest trend in popular culture nowadays, so I'd like to see more of that. HBO's True Blood would be great, but an Interview With The Vampire sounds fine for me, too. It's a good thing that Twilight looks to be a healthy alternative to rich snotty, gossipy girls when it comes to the teen film genre.
In World War II there were heroes and miracles in Tuscan, Italy. In December 1983, as the elder Hector Negron is interviewed by a reporter after shooting a man at the post office and when his wardrobe revealed the long-lost head of the statue Primavera, he recalls his role in the African-American 92nd Division "Buffalo Soldiers" that took safety in a small Italian village while they were caught behind enemy lines and surrounded by German troops. With him and three other soldiers is the eight-year-old Angelo Torancelli, a lone survivor of the St. Anna massacre.
Directed by Spike Lee, Miracle At St. Anna features superior acting performances from the following cast: 1.) Derek Luke (2nd Staff Sgt. Aubrey Stamps) 2.) Michael Ealy (Sgt. Bishop Cummings) 3.) Laz Alonso (Corp. Hector Negron) 4.) Omar Benson Miller (Pvt. First Class Sam Train) 5.) Matteo Sciabordi (Angelo Torancelli)
It was a clue to a mystery that began 39 years earlier.
As a movie fan I would like to talk about a favorite film title from my childhood, and I still enjoy it today as a grown-up. The film is called Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope - or better known simply as just Star Wars. I think of it as THE BEST FILM EVER...in the sub-genres of science fiction, fantasy, action/adventure, and the box office hit as well as a geek's favorite.
It is a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Darth Vader and his Galactic Empire rule with an iron fist in the galaxy, the Jedi Knights are all but extinct, and the Rebel Alliance is fighting in a struggle to overthrow the space tyranny and restore peace and freedom for its people. The galaxy's new hope, Tatooine farmboy Luke Skywalker, leads space rogue Han Solo, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, and two droids - R2-D2 and C-3PO - to rescue Princess Leia in the Death Star, the space weapon with enough power to destroy an planet entirely. The Rebel Alliance, meanwhile, is concentrating on destroying the weapon.
Star Wars was directed, produced, and written by George Lucas, who previously made THX 1138 and American Graffiti. Its good, talented acting cast includes the following:
1.) Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker)
2.) Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia)
3.) Harrison Ford (Han Solo)
4.) Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi)
5.) Anthony Daniels (C-3PO)
6.) Kenny Baker (R2-D2)
7.) David Prowse (Darth Vader)
8.) James Earl Jones (Voice of Darth Vader)
9.) Peter Cushing (Grand Moff Tarkin)
10.) Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca)
11.) Denis Lawson (Wedge Antilles)
Many of the film's best memorable quotes will keep me awake at night, including:
1.) "Don't you dare call me a mindless philosopher, you overweight glob of grease." (C-3PO)
2.) "If there's a bright center in the universe, you're on the planet that is farthest from." (Luke Skywalker)
3.) "I find your lack of faith disturbing." (Darth Vader)
4.) "Watch your mouth kid, or you'll find yourself floating home." (Han Solo)
5.) "The force will be with you...always." (Obi-Wan Kenobi)
6.) "Would somebody get this big walking carpet out of my way?" (Princess Leia)
7.) "Evacuate? In our moment of triumph? I think you overestimate our chances. (Grand Moff Tarkin)
When I first watched it on TV at age 11, I had no idea that Star Wars was some sort of a modern-day fairy tale, given with elements such as knights, sword fights, and the rescue of a princess added along with a good text opening. It also has the best instrumental music soundtrack composed by John Williams, which is very dramatic and moving to fit in with the perfect sequences. Already raised by superhero-dominated Saturday morning cartoons, I feel like that the film changed my life as I now see Luke Skywalker as the greatest hero in galactic mythology; this is an element that I want to include in my own space fantasy story that I'd like to write someday. Besides the space opera setting, Star Wars radically changed special effects (SFX) through THX, Skywalker Sound, and Industrial Light & Magic, which made the action here excellent. Not only its blockbuster success lead to five sequels, similar sci-fi/fantasy knock-offs also followed; without Star Wars movie fans probably won't have later film titles like The Lord Of The Rings or Harry Potter. For those who haven't seen Star Wars yet, you should check it out what I call a highly recommended classic that no one should miss. You'll remember how one sci-fi film from the 1970s influenced modern-day cinema and pop culture forever.
Luke Skywalker and Han Solo saved Princess Leia and destroyed the Death Star, but the battle isn't over yet. The forces of the Rebel Alliance are scattered across the galaxy and faced a crushing defeat on the frozen ice planet of Hoth by the Galactic Empire. Luke Skywalker seeks out in the swamps of Dagobah, where the mysterious Jedi Master Yoda trains him to become a Jedi Knight. Meanwhile, Han Solo and Princess Leia outrun the Imperial Fleet to the beautiful Cloud City on Bespin. While plotting to turn Luke to the dark side in a trap Darth Vader and the young Skywalker engage in a fierce fights with him in a lightsaber duel; it was where Luke faces a terrible revealing truth of the Skywalker family legacy.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back is directed by Irvin Kershner, produced by Gary Kurtz, written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, and executive-produced by George Lucas. All of its good acting performances comes from the returning characters as well as the newcomers:
1.) Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker)
2.) Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia)
3.) Harrison Ford (Han Solo)
4.)Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett)
5.) David Prowse (Darth Vader)
6.) James Earl Jones (Darth Vader's voice)
7.) Kenny Baker (R2-D2)
8.) Anthony Daniels (C-3PO)
9.) Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca)
10.) Denis Lawson (Wedge Antilles)
11.) Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian)
12.) Frank Oz (Yoda)
Many of the film's best memorable quotes will keep me awake at night, including the following eight:
1.) "Laugh it up, fuzzball! (Han Solo)
2.) "Wars not make one great." (Yoda)
3.) "Mudhole? Slimy? My home this is!" (Yoda)
4.) "I have a bad feeling about this." (Princess Leia)
5.) "Anger. Fear. Aggression. The dark side of the Force are they." (Yoda)
6.) "Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try." (Yoda)
7.) "The Force is with you, young Skywalker. But you are not a Jedi yet." (Darth Vader)
8.) "May the force be with you" (Luke Skywalker)
One of my favorite film titles from my childhood, The Empire Strikes Back is a fan favorite due to its emotional plot plus some memorable moments, and it's a usual case that the first sequel either improves or does as good as its predecessor. And like the previous Star Wars movie, I know that this is another modern-day fairy tale, but it's also a tale of revenge. The Imperials may have been defeated with their Death Star destruction, but all Vader wants is to lure Luke into the seductive dark side. Already raised by superhero-dominated Saturday morning cartoons, I see Luke Skywalker as a great hero in galactic mythology. The special effects (SFX) here are excellent - I find the scenery of Hoth and Bespin very real-looking to me. It's always good to have the instrumental music soundtrack composed by John Williams to fit with the dramatic sequences. With all such elements, I think of this Star Wars episode as THE BEST FILM EVER...in the sub-genres of science fiction, fantasy, action/adventure, and the box office hit as well as a geek's favorite. And it's also a highly recommended classic that you don't want to miss.
Twilight
PG-13
Miracle at St. Anna
R
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
PG
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
PG
