Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows 20:47

Soooooo, No pictures for this post because I saw this in theaters! HAD to catch the big screen for this one.

Now, I'm trying to write about films that kind of unknown, or under appreciated on this blog but I really enjoyed this movie because well... It's Sherlock Holmes!

Director: Guy Ritchie Starring Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law and Noomi Rapace 

(Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Swedish films)

Amazing cast right off the bat! Jude Law and Robert Downey have such on screen chemistry and work so well together. It makes watching them entertaining, almost as if you can see yourself and your best friend in their shoes. A level-headed, sensible guy and uh... how to describe Downey... ? -____-  that guy who's the !#$@ing man

Can't think of a word that does him justice. 

So... Sherlock Holmes.... and Sir Watson... I'm sure everyone and their mother will see this but I loved it so much I had to write about it. The plot is so full of twists and turns and just when you think Sherlocks SOL, he pulls something magical out of that petticoat! haha For those who never read the novels or short stories or comics, there are a few things in the movie that go unexplained but are quite important references. Still, it's not hard to follow along :)

My favorite scene is the running through the woods scene after the train yard. The visuals are FANTASTIC. I was blown away. I felt as I was watching a video game come to life! The slowed scenes are just breathtaking and who doesn't love that time period in England :) 

Cinematography by Philippe Rousselot, James Herbert with the editing and Studios: Village Roadshow Pictures and Silver Pictures. wow. *claps* Bravo. 

The humor and sarcasm were a plus in the 1st movie and even better in this one. 

 I'm not positive how much the film grossed but it's worth the ticket to see it on the big screen. Well, nowadays peoples television sets are bigger than their cars so....

Instead of downloading and streaming (which ultimately leads to higher ticket prices because of all that) pay the tribute to the production companies and the actors and directors and all the people it takes to make a film and buy a ticket or buy the movie. 

A++ !

Timer 20:19

Director: Jac Shaeffer (2009) Starring Emma Caulfield & John Patrick Amedori

As you can see by the opening image, this is a chick flick to the max. A very well done chick flick, must I say. Attractive cast ;) which always sways me to watch a particular film. The concept of finding your true love no longer being a painful waste of time-roller coaster of doubt, heartbreaks and chaos was kind of alluring. Technology has taken over in this film! 

With TIMERS attached at the wrist, it gives precise countdown of when you will meet your "soul mate". IF your soul mate has a Timer themselves. 

Sounds neat.. ok let's go.

So Una is the main character, she's pushing 30 and her Timer hasn't begun a countdown so she's frantic to find the man who might be her "one-and-only"

Unfortunately, she's not having the best of luck. Una = Sweating her future BIG TIME. 

So she meets a "young" but cute store clerk one day named Mikey! 

Curve ball --- Mikey has a Timer. Una doesn't go for "Timer-less Men" Unlike her step-sister (Steph), who ONLY goes for men with Timers but her scenario is a funny one within itself. 

Fast Forward to Una & Mikey ending up getting together and having fun just basking in each others company, and for a small moment, Una begins to forget her Timer 

and just enjoy her life. 

OOOOH there's something I'm dying to share but I want to leave that in the shadows of mystery. Just in case you decide to watch the film for yourself (which I recommend you do)

Things don't go so hot toward the end of the movie, but I want to focus more not on summarizing the film but discussing the relationship of Mikey & Una, it's something very significant. 

Mikey's character is very carefree, youthful and humorous. Una is a character who craves order, guarantees and certainty. Like most women, she's been hurt in the past, so for her the Timer is much more than a countdown. It's a safety net from heartache and loss. She struggles with these issues and tried to process the idea of "going-with-the-flow" that Mikey pushes throughout the whole film. The two opposite personalities is cute match up and I could relate to the storyline a lot. 

Unlike my previous posts, I don't want to give more details of this movie because it's something you just need to see. The message at the end is... You are able to take detours in love. Theres no right way to go about falling in love either, but you love someone because you feel it, not because (in this case) a device tells you so. Taking chances may or may not work out in for favor in the game of love but you're left with a lesson whether you win or lose. 

I got more from this movie, but it's rather hard to formulate into words. I just think you should watch it :) It's a fun movie. 

Origin: Spirits of the Past 21:38

Director: Keiichi Sugiyama (2006) Voices Ryo Katsuji & Aoi Miyazaki 

or Chris Patton and Carrie Savage (English Verson)

Well, well, well... Another movie where I am so tempted to spill every immaculate detail, but... I will control myself. Greaaat storyline. Originally named Gin-iro no kami no Agito when released in Japan (Silver Haired Agito). So humans were conducting experiments on trees on the moon, when the trees grew conscious and out of control. They spread toward Earth where they commenced a genocide of the human race. Some survived, of course :)

Fast forward to a world where the forest runs everything (most importantly, water supply) And a split between the humans that seek peace and equality with the forest and the military that yearns to destroy it and re-create the world that once was. 

Agito stumbles upon a girl (Toola) from the past who was, i guess, cryogenically frozen in a pod underground and he awakens her. She is lost and confused in the new world and desires some kind of answer. Toola's role is very crucial because of some information she has so because of that she is propositioned by a military leader (also from the past) to help him bring the world back to human rule. 

YEAH, the Forest don't play that #$@!

Theres a cute little romance between Toola and Agito. When she decides to go with the Military, Agito goes off to rescue the damsel before she unknowingly brings the world to a disastrous end. 

CUE: FACE OFF. dun dun dun!

Anyway... Really goooood movie. About an hour and half long but I feel that was a good length... Initiated the problem, carried out the sequences, and came to a nice little end. The visuals were pleasing! My favorite thing about Animes, Series or movies, are the colors! The action was pretty satisfying too. Agito pulls some neat stunts further on through the movie. Another reason why I love Animation films, they tease you with these impossible moves that you'll probably never be able to do, 

even though you want to. 

and the ending, your going to have to find out! 

and don't cheat and look up other sites that'll tell you what happened because that's just no fun. WATCH IT, you'll love it :)

Malèna 18:42

google image, i just love it so much haha

Director: Giuseppe Tornatore. (2000) Starring the beautiful Monica Bellucci!

Wow... Well.. where to begin with THIS one. AMAZING FILM.

Sorry, but I might give too much away in this post!

Set in the 1940's in Sicily during WWII. Imagine as religious as Italy & Sicily, combined with the very reserved time era. Monica plays Malèna who moves with her new husband (Nino) back to his town Castelcuto (Along with her deaf father). Shortly after her husband is called to War. The towns' women resent her! The men all desire her, including a young boy named Renato. This Renato follows Malèna through her struggles in the village & suffers along with her... 

She cannot find a job because the people refuse to hire her, The women at the markets give her the worst food out of jealousy and spite, and they all see her beauty as something evil and as breathtaking as she is... They secretly fear her and spread rumors behind her back. These rumors lead up to her own father shunning her. All the while, she has remained faithful to her husband up until learning of his death in the war. 

She resorts to prostitution to earn money to eat and pay off a lawyer fee (Thanks to a hideous woman's uncontrollable husband who stalks Malèna; and the wife takes Malèna to court). Renato prays for Malèna protection from the town but all fails. 

In the beginning you notice an elegance and humbleness to Malèna, as she walks the village with her eyes to the ground. It's almost as if she gets fed up with the rumors and lies and becomes what all the townspeople say her to be, a whore. 

FAST FORWARD A BIT

The War ends and son of a @#$%! ... the women go nuts and brutally drag Malèna out on the streets and beat her publicly, shouting vulgar and derogatory terms. She then leaves the town for Messina. 

Low and behold, Nino ends up returning to the village some odd years later to NOT find his wife or her father. Of course, these townspeople have nothing but negative things to say about Malèna but a note from Renato instructs Nino on a train to Messina to rescue his wife. My favorite scene is when Nino returns to Castelcuto with Malèna and they stroll down the avenue arms entwined. The looks on the townspeople's faces are PRICELESS. 

The ending has a very touching moment between Renato & Malèna but I will leave that to you to see! :) If you still desire to, since I just told you the whole movie, basically haha.

 Now Rotten Tomatoes gave this like a 55% "fresh" rating, whatever the #!$% that is. The concept of a woman getting shunned and harassed for her beauty isn't exactly original but in Giuseppes defense, he did an incredible job! 

This happens all the time and still happens now in the modern day. A women's kindness being taken as romance or affection. A simple date between two people turns into rumors of sex. It's happened to me, and maybe that is where I could relate to this, and feel the main characters turmoil.

You know, I read a review on another site and someone commented this. Now, I'm not too knowledgable in war and politics and history at that matter... The perspective is notable. The person explained the underlying message really well... 

Malena, short for Maddalena, represents Italy. The men represent the lust for power, the rise of Mussolini. The women are the people of Italy. Malena suffers the same struggles Italy faced in WWII. She has no choice but to succumb to prostitution, hence her name, as did Mussolini when he sold himself to Hitler in the war. The scene in the square where Malena is beaten up by the women, symbolizes the Italian government not owning up to their actions after the war, as many officials were still in power. The wives should have gone after their husbands, but instead Malena took the blame. In the end, although Malena has some wrinkles and gains a little weight, she is still beautiful, as was Italy even after the war. Eventually, the women forgive her, as the European countries had to forgive Italy.

from http://www.beyondhollywood.com/malena-2000-movie-review/

I know I summarized a lot but I hope it sparked your interest to find the rest of the juicy details of the movie yourself -- which I recommend you do. All in all, beautiful scenery and Renato and Malèna really steal your heart. Watch it!!!!