Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Brokeback Mountain DVD Review
By: Chris Shelton
The controversial film from director Ang Lee has reached store shelves in DVD form. Little needs to be explained of the discussion surrounding the movie and just about everyone has heard of or participated in these discussions already. That being said, the movie has earned its fair share of attention both in terms of recognition and ticket sales at the theaters, however the DVD version of the movie doesn't really contain anything outstanding in terms of bonus features or materials.Brokeback Mountain stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger and takes viewers through an engaging tale of two cowboys who fall in love and the obstacles they must overcome as they try to hide that love and later deal with the fallout of their love for one another. The movie is a journey through the human heart that has left movie-goers with a variety of different opinions and feelings as they watched. Needless to say, there are countless numbers of different meanings that the movie has to different people.The groundbreaking theme and the excellent acting on the part of Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal combined to earn the movie three Academy Awards including Best Director for Ang Lee. Brokeback Mountain's themes can be criticized and debated over, but the quality of the film as a whole has been largely recognized and rewarded by film institutions worldwide.The DVD version of the movie, however, doesn't offer the same quality as the movie itself. Four short and uninspired featurettes accompany the DVD and most viewers probably won't take the time to view them. By themselves, the bonus material does not warrant a purchase for those who have already seen the movie.Despite the lackluster DVD release, Brokeback Mountain is still a DVD that is recommended to those who are interested in seeing the movie for the first time or even for repeat viewers. The extras offered by the DVD aren't enticing by themselves but the DVD still does offer the same meaning and message behind the movie itself that the big screen version contained.
The controversial film from director Ang Lee has reached store shelves in DVD form. Little needs to be explained of the discussion surrounding the movie and just about everyone has heard of or participated in these discussions already. That being said, the movie has earned its fair share of attention both in terms of recognition and ticket sales at the theaters, however the DVD version of the movie doesn't really contain anything outstanding in terms of bonus features or materials.Brokeback Mountain stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger and takes viewers through an engaging tale of two cowboys who fall in love and the obstacles they must overcome as they try to hide that love and later deal with the fallout of their love for one another. The movie is a journey through the human heart that has left movie-goers with a variety of different opinions and feelings as they watched. Needless to say, there are countless numbers of different meanings that the movie has to different people.The groundbreaking theme and the excellent acting on the part of Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal combined to earn the movie three Academy Awards including Best Director for Ang Lee. Brokeback Mountain's themes can be criticized and debated over, but the quality of the film as a whole has been largely recognized and rewarded by film institutions worldwide.The DVD version of the movie, however, doesn't offer the same quality as the movie itself. Four short and uninspired featurettes accompany the DVD and most viewers probably won't take the time to view them. By themselves, the bonus material does not warrant a purchase for those who have already seen the movie.Despite the lackluster DVD release, Brokeback Mountain is still a DVD that is recommended to those who are interested in seeing the movie for the first time or even for repeat viewers. The extras offered by the DVD aren't enticing by themselves but the DVD still does offer the same meaning and message behind the movie itself that the big screen version contained.
Stallone Filming New Boxing Movie
By: Aurel Radulescu
The next biggest boxing film, a new Rocky sequel, is set to be released in December 2006 or early 2007. Written and directed by Sylvester Stallone, Rocky VI, also called Rocky Balboa, has primarily been filmed throughout Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, in December 2005, the production team for the new boxing movie set out to Las Vegas for a series of fight scenes, which were filmed over a four day period. A call for extras was placed on sylvesterstallone.com, as well as at beinamovie.com. Fans traveled far and near for their opportunity to spend several days with the cast and crew, obtain autographs and to have the chance to say "I was there." The film has been closely followed by local news stations based in Philadelphia, which is noted on Stallone's official website. The latest boxing saga for the one-time prize fighter, Rocky Balboa, played by Stallone, is said to parallel the comeback story of boxing legend, George Foreman. According to a statement printed on BeInAMovie.com, Stallone said that he wanted to tell Foreman's comeback story. In the newest boxing release from the Rocky series, Balboa is now a restaurant owner grieving over the loss of his wife, Adrian. After deciding to return to the ring for local fights, Balboa is confronted with the opportunity to fight the reigning heavyweight champion. This act garners major boxing media attention, as does any major bout that Balboa has faced, and so is the story of Rocky VI.While focusing on the story of boxing, the films from the Rocky series are geared more toward not giving up and staying in the fight, whether you win or lose. Fans who have followed the films since their inception will recall Balboa, a struggling boxer, never turned away from a challenge. It is the story of preserverance that has not only kept the boxing career of Balboa going, but also the desire to do what he loves.Rocky VI, also called Rocky Balboa, is currently defined as being in post-production. While it's exact release date is not yet confirmed, industry experts believe it to be in late 2006 or early 2007 as previously noted. Some believe the film is slated for a Christmas Day 2006 release, but only time will tell. After a long hiatus from filming the world of boxing, Rocky makes yet another visit to the big screen with a crowd of eager fans anxiously awaiting the next storyline in one of the most anticipated boxing sequels ever made.
The next biggest boxing film, a new Rocky sequel, is set to be released in December 2006 or early 2007. Written and directed by Sylvester Stallone, Rocky VI, also called Rocky Balboa, has primarily been filmed throughout Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, in December 2005, the production team for the new boxing movie set out to Las Vegas for a series of fight scenes, which were filmed over a four day period. A call for extras was placed on sylvesterstallone.com, as well as at beinamovie.com. Fans traveled far and near for their opportunity to spend several days with the cast and crew, obtain autographs and to have the chance to say "I was there." The film has been closely followed by local news stations based in Philadelphia, which is noted on Stallone's official website. The latest boxing saga for the one-time prize fighter, Rocky Balboa, played by Stallone, is said to parallel the comeback story of boxing legend, George Foreman. According to a statement printed on BeInAMovie.com, Stallone said that he wanted to tell Foreman's comeback story. In the newest boxing release from the Rocky series, Balboa is now a restaurant owner grieving over the loss of his wife, Adrian. After deciding to return to the ring for local fights, Balboa is confronted with the opportunity to fight the reigning heavyweight champion. This act garners major boxing media attention, as does any major bout that Balboa has faced, and so is the story of Rocky VI.While focusing on the story of boxing, the films from the Rocky series are geared more toward not giving up and staying in the fight, whether you win or lose. Fans who have followed the films since their inception will recall Balboa, a struggling boxer, never turned away from a challenge. It is the story of preserverance that has not only kept the boxing career of Balboa going, but also the desire to do what he loves.Rocky VI, also called Rocky Balboa, is currently defined as being in post-production. While it's exact release date is not yet confirmed, industry experts believe it to be in late 2006 or early 2007 as previously noted. Some believe the film is slated for a Christmas Day 2006 release, but only time will tell. After a long hiatus from filming the world of boxing, Rocky makes yet another visit to the big screen with a crowd of eager fans anxiously awaiting the next storyline in one of the most anticipated boxing sequels ever made.
Anime 101
By: Jason Hahn
Simply put, anime is a form of cartoon animation created in Japan, which explains animes formerly-popular moniker, Japanimation. Anime's history began at the start of the 20th century. This was when Japanese filmmakers began trying out new animation techniques that were being used in the Western world. Anime did not reach mainstream status until the 1980s, and since then it has blown up not only in Japan, but around the globe.Part of the draw that anime possesses is the fact that they can target wide ranges of viewers. This is due to the fact that animes are not confined to one category, but run the entire gamut of genres, including action, sci-fi, drama, romance, horror, and yes, even erotica. Many animes do not limit themselves to one particular genre and mix genres together.Animation itself allows anime creators to convey just about any storyline they desire. It is much easier to make a cartoon about large robots featuring huge action and destruction sequences than it is to produce a live-action film including the same things. With recent advances in CGI animators have even more power to transfer their wildest imaginations on to a screen. Storylines, characters, and settings are limited only to what creators can conjure up in their minds.Though animes seem to be simple cartoons on the surface, many of them have deeper storylines and character development. This may be conveyed through the use of character-based flashbacks, which portray part of a character's past to the viewer, allowing them to understand why they act a certain way or say the things they say. Juvenile humor may be thrown in sporadically in drama-based animes, but do not be surprised if you see poignant and profound character development in humor-based animes as well.Needless to say, not all animes are just cartoons for kids. In fact, the majority of animes feature violence, sexual innuendos, and language that may not be suitable for children. This is likely a major reason why anime's popularity has exploded in the past few years across the world. With animes, cartoons are no longer just for kids, and even adults can find themes of romance and drama that they might otherwise find only in real-life television shows. The unique blend of animated characters with more mature themes is undoubtedly an enticing combination for adult-viewers.Most anime series find their foundations in manga, or Japanese comics. These mangas are usually a few episodes ahead of the actual television series and have become popular among international audiences as well.When animes are released in theaters, on television, or on DVDs in countries outside of Japan, distributors must decide whether they want to use subtitles or dubbed voices. There are pros to both sides of the issue, and there are strong proponents of both. Some viewers enjoy watching their anime without having to read words on the bottom of the screen, which they say take away from the visual pleasures of the anime. Others prefer to hear the original voice acting and enjoy reading the more literal translations. DVDs offer both sides a satisfying medium, as they allow for either subtitles or English voice tracks.Now that you know the basics of anime and its history, it is time to find the right animes for you. There are countless resources on the Internet that give recommendations and reviews of numerous anime series, many of which are readily available on DVD and even on television stations. Pick a genre, read up on reviews and summaries of shows that you are interested in, and enjoy.
Simply put, anime is a form of cartoon animation created in Japan, which explains animes formerly-popular moniker, Japanimation. Anime's history began at the start of the 20th century. This was when Japanese filmmakers began trying out new animation techniques that were being used in the Western world. Anime did not reach mainstream status until the 1980s, and since then it has blown up not only in Japan, but around the globe.Part of the draw that anime possesses is the fact that they can target wide ranges of viewers. This is due to the fact that animes are not confined to one category, but run the entire gamut of genres, including action, sci-fi, drama, romance, horror, and yes, even erotica. Many animes do not limit themselves to one particular genre and mix genres together.Animation itself allows anime creators to convey just about any storyline they desire. It is much easier to make a cartoon about large robots featuring huge action and destruction sequences than it is to produce a live-action film including the same things. With recent advances in CGI animators have even more power to transfer their wildest imaginations on to a screen. Storylines, characters, and settings are limited only to what creators can conjure up in their minds.Though animes seem to be simple cartoons on the surface, many of them have deeper storylines and character development. This may be conveyed through the use of character-based flashbacks, which portray part of a character's past to the viewer, allowing them to understand why they act a certain way or say the things they say. Juvenile humor may be thrown in sporadically in drama-based animes, but do not be surprised if you see poignant and profound character development in humor-based animes as well.Needless to say, not all animes are just cartoons for kids. In fact, the majority of animes feature violence, sexual innuendos, and language that may not be suitable for children. This is likely a major reason why anime's popularity has exploded in the past few years across the world. With animes, cartoons are no longer just for kids, and even adults can find themes of romance and drama that they might otherwise find only in real-life television shows. The unique blend of animated characters with more mature themes is undoubtedly an enticing combination for adult-viewers.Most anime series find their foundations in manga, or Japanese comics. These mangas are usually a few episodes ahead of the actual television series and have become popular among international audiences as well.When animes are released in theaters, on television, or on DVDs in countries outside of Japan, distributors must decide whether they want to use subtitles or dubbed voices. There are pros to both sides of the issue, and there are strong proponents of both. Some viewers enjoy watching their anime without having to read words on the bottom of the screen, which they say take away from the visual pleasures of the anime. Others prefer to hear the original voice acting and enjoy reading the more literal translations. DVDs offer both sides a satisfying medium, as they allow for either subtitles or English voice tracks.Now that you know the basics of anime and its history, it is time to find the right animes for you. There are countless resources on the Internet that give recommendations and reviews of numerous anime series, many of which are readily available on DVD and even on television stations. Pick a genre, read up on reviews and summaries of shows that you are interested in, and enjoy.
The Chronicles of Narnia DVD Review
By: Chris Shelton
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The WardrobeC.S. Lewis' imaginative and compelling story of four siblings who take a journey to a magical world by venturing through a wardrobe has finally arrived on DVD. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe had a very successful tenure while in theatres and the DVD has been packed with some pretty nice features and extras to make the purchase worth it whether or not the viewer has seen the movie in the theatres.The movie lacks a little in terms of acting and doesn't contain the big name stars of most big Hollywood movies, but the package comes together extremely well through the work of excellent scriptwriters and set designers. The story stayed right on track with the novel and contained most of the underlying Christian themes that were portrayed in C.S. Lewis' classic book series. The dialogue was superbly done and the interaction of characters and plot development moved extremely smoothly.But the real star of the show was the environments in which the scenes were placed. Great set designers, green screens, and on-sight filming combined to grasp all of the majesty of the vast fantasy world of Narnia. C.S. Lewis' vision of the magical world was brought to life in amazing fashion and kudos goes out to those who put in all the hard work to make everything happen.The movie carries a PG rating and, although it contains a few action scenes and one big climactic battle at the end, the violence was held to a minimal and blood was withheld for the most part in order to hold that PG rating. The younger crowds will be enticed by the fantasy setting and relatable characters and the older crowds who have read the Narnia novels will want to see the world and story portrayed accurately and done proper justice.The bonus features included in the DVD include two commentaries, three featurettes, deleted scenes, and dozens of other features. These extras and bonus features are truly outstanding and make the purchase of the DVD well worth it even for those who took the trip to see the movie while it was in theatres.The DVD version of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is simply an excellent release that all fans of the movie and the book will want to be able to own and enjoy. The bonus materials are well worth it and the quality of the movie itself make revisiting it and watching it again well worth it.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The WardrobeC.S. Lewis' imaginative and compelling story of four siblings who take a journey to a magical world by venturing through a wardrobe has finally arrived on DVD. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe had a very successful tenure while in theatres and the DVD has been packed with some pretty nice features and extras to make the purchase worth it whether or not the viewer has seen the movie in the theatres.The movie lacks a little in terms of acting and doesn't contain the big name stars of most big Hollywood movies, but the package comes together extremely well through the work of excellent scriptwriters and set designers. The story stayed right on track with the novel and contained most of the underlying Christian themes that were portrayed in C.S. Lewis' classic book series. The dialogue was superbly done and the interaction of characters and plot development moved extremely smoothly.But the real star of the show was the environments in which the scenes were placed. Great set designers, green screens, and on-sight filming combined to grasp all of the majesty of the vast fantasy world of Narnia. C.S. Lewis' vision of the magical world was brought to life in amazing fashion and kudos goes out to those who put in all the hard work to make everything happen.The movie carries a PG rating and, although it contains a few action scenes and one big climactic battle at the end, the violence was held to a minimal and blood was withheld for the most part in order to hold that PG rating. The younger crowds will be enticed by the fantasy setting and relatable characters and the older crowds who have read the Narnia novels will want to see the world and story portrayed accurately and done proper justice.The bonus features included in the DVD include two commentaries, three featurettes, deleted scenes, and dozens of other features. These extras and bonus features are truly outstanding and make the purchase of the DVD well worth it even for those who took the trip to see the movie while it was in theatres.The DVD version of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is simply an excellent release that all fans of the movie and the book will want to be able to own and enjoy. The bonus materials are well worth it and the quality of the movie itself make revisiting it and watching it again well worth it.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire DVD Review
By: Chris Shelton
Harry Potter's success worldwide is simply undeniable. The books have all been best-sellers, the movies top the charts, and Harry Potter merchandise is always in hot demand. With such high popularity and such a devout following of Harry Potter fanatics, high expectations result. Thus far, the movies have, for the most part, delivered in their task of bringing the books to life through glamorous special effects, excellent sets and environments, and solid acting.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was, in the eyes of most critics, the most successful movie thus far in the Harry Potter series and the DVD follows through with only some minor problems. Although some of the performances in the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie were a bit lackluster, to say the least, the movie held true to the novel and delivered exactly what fans wanted to see. It took the series on a darker path, similar to its paperbound counterpart, and movie-goers enjoyed the experience. Although the high budget of the films can probably be accredited for the fact that some of the acting is overlooked, the quality of the movie was still spot-on in most regards.
The DVD also delivers in most respects. The audio is delivered beautifully in high quality with plenty of options. The movie transferred well to the small screen in all but one area. The main problem with the DVD lies simply with the night scenes. The scenes are much too dark and the problem should have been noticed and resolved prior to the release of the DVD. This problem isn't major and won't even be noticed by many, but it still does exist and that knocks the DVD down a couple points. The extras offered on the DVD are simply spectacular.
There are quite a few lengthy, interesting features and many intriguing additional scenes that didn't make the final cut for the theatrical release. However, even more fun and engaging are the demos and interactive games that can be played through this DVD. These games are surprisingly fun and fans of the movie who purchase the DVD will definitely want to try them out. The Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire DVD turns out to be a solid offering.
Fans of the series and of the movie will undoubtedly want to pick this one up to add it to their collection and so they can view the movie on demand. The extras are well worth it and aside from the slight problem with the presentation, the movie make a successful transition to DVD form.
Harry Potter's success worldwide is simply undeniable. The books have all been best-sellers, the movies top the charts, and Harry Potter merchandise is always in hot demand. With such high popularity and such a devout following of Harry Potter fanatics, high expectations result. Thus far, the movies have, for the most part, delivered in their task of bringing the books to life through glamorous special effects, excellent sets and environments, and solid acting.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was, in the eyes of most critics, the most successful movie thus far in the Harry Potter series and the DVD follows through with only some minor problems. Although some of the performances in the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie were a bit lackluster, to say the least, the movie held true to the novel and delivered exactly what fans wanted to see. It took the series on a darker path, similar to its paperbound counterpart, and movie-goers enjoyed the experience. Although the high budget of the films can probably be accredited for the fact that some of the acting is overlooked, the quality of the movie was still spot-on in most regards.
The DVD also delivers in most respects. The audio is delivered beautifully in high quality with plenty of options. The movie transferred well to the small screen in all but one area. The main problem with the DVD lies simply with the night scenes. The scenes are much too dark and the problem should have been noticed and resolved prior to the release of the DVD. This problem isn't major and won't even be noticed by many, but it still does exist and that knocks the DVD down a couple points. The extras offered on the DVD are simply spectacular.
There are quite a few lengthy, interesting features and many intriguing additional scenes that didn't make the final cut for the theatrical release. However, even more fun and engaging are the demos and interactive games that can be played through this DVD. These games are surprisingly fun and fans of the movie who purchase the DVD will definitely want to try them out. The Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire DVD turns out to be a solid offering.
Fans of the series and of the movie will undoubtedly want to pick this one up to add it to their collection and so they can view the movie on demand. The extras are well worth it and aside from the slight problem with the presentation, the movie make a successful transition to DVD form.
Funny Cartoons for your Health
By: Michael Brykov
We live in a chaotic world where the power of smiling has been forgotten amidst the cities' traffic, job's pressures, conflictive relationships, and many other issues stressing people at the point that it has become a major health problem in modern society.Funny cartoons are perhaps the easiest way to cope with stress and there is nothing easier to obtain, whether browsing a newspaper or magazine, or surfing the net visiting web sites providing graphic entertainment.Stress is the source of numerous diseases, including chronic fatigue, headache, anxiety attacks, mood swings, peptic ulcers, and in more severe cases, migraines, respiratory problems, high blood pressure, and heart disease.However, medical research has found that humor is helpful therapy that not only reduces our chances to be at risk for these problems, but also can eradicate them. Funny cartoons promote relaxing smiles that enhance anyone's mood with ease.Scientific evidence found that an estimated 40% to 80% of visits to the doctor's office occur due to illness directly linked to stress. When there is no humor to cope with stressful situations, people tend to abuse alcohol and drugs, to escape from stress.Other people may suffer from eating disorders and smoking problems, but as soon as they find a good source of laughter, such as funny cartons, the situation changes, finding prompt recovery and over time suppressing all the stress in no time.Cartoons are graphical depictions that provoke a smile after people look at them, so there is no need to undergo complicated and costly therapies to recover your good spirit by laughing aloud.When you see the funny side of the miracles in life that can happen and you soon will be recovering from stress. Seriously, it is not a joke that you can find emotional support and alleviate most diseases with just a smile."Spend 1 minute - get 1 smile", why not make this simple phrase your motto for a healthy life?Funny cartoons provide you with humor and a positive attitude in your life. Web sites such as GeneralComics.com is one of the greatest places online where people can find the most funny cartoons on the net, categorized by subject.Starting a day with a smile is the best way to rejuvenate the energy of your body. Even though taking a break to smile again is a refreshing opportunity for the spirit to keep your mood high.
We live in a chaotic world where the power of smiling has been forgotten amidst the cities' traffic, job's pressures, conflictive relationships, and many other issues stressing people at the point that it has become a major health problem in modern society.Funny cartoons are perhaps the easiest way to cope with stress and there is nothing easier to obtain, whether browsing a newspaper or magazine, or surfing the net visiting web sites providing graphic entertainment.Stress is the source of numerous diseases, including chronic fatigue, headache, anxiety attacks, mood swings, peptic ulcers, and in more severe cases, migraines, respiratory problems, high blood pressure, and heart disease.However, medical research has found that humor is helpful therapy that not only reduces our chances to be at risk for these problems, but also can eradicate them. Funny cartoons promote relaxing smiles that enhance anyone's mood with ease.Scientific evidence found that an estimated 40% to 80% of visits to the doctor's office occur due to illness directly linked to stress. When there is no humor to cope with stressful situations, people tend to abuse alcohol and drugs, to escape from stress.Other people may suffer from eating disorders and smoking problems, but as soon as they find a good source of laughter, such as funny cartons, the situation changes, finding prompt recovery and over time suppressing all the stress in no time.Cartoons are graphical depictions that provoke a smile after people look at them, so there is no need to undergo complicated and costly therapies to recover your good spirit by laughing aloud.When you see the funny side of the miracles in life that can happen and you soon will be recovering from stress. Seriously, it is not a joke that you can find emotional support and alleviate most diseases with just a smile."Spend 1 minute - get 1 smile", why not make this simple phrase your motto for a healthy life?Funny cartoons provide you with humor and a positive attitude in your life. Web sites such as GeneralComics.com is one of the greatest places online where people can find the most funny cartoons on the net, categorized by subject.Starting a day with a smile is the best way to rejuvenate the energy of your body. Even though taking a break to smile again is a refreshing opportunity for the spirit to keep your mood high.
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