Oct 4, 2010

Wall Street Money Never Sleeps - Is It Good?

"Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" is the story of a young stock trader looking to cash in big while the stock market prepares to collapse around him. Director Oliver Stone follows up his 1987 film "Wall Street" with this story of greed, love, and the market. Michael Douglas stars as Gordon Gekko in a reprise of the character from the original film. This time, Gekko has just been released from prison and is trying to get his feet wet in the waters of Wall Street once again. Shia LaBeouf stars as Jacob, the fiancé of Gekko's daughter, Winnie. The plot thickens when Jacob's mentor dies; a death that Jacob thinks was caused by foul-play. In exchange for revenge on the alleged murderer, Jacob agrees to help Gekko reconcile differences with his estranged daughter.
This film is set 23 years after the original Wall Street film, and takes place in the tense days before the 2008 crash. Gekko tries to warn others of the imminent collapse of the sub-prime markets, but with no luck. Instead of worrying about the markets, Gekko begins focusing on repairing his relationship with his daughter.
The film will be released today, and is expected to be one of the best movies of the year. A $70 million budget was used for filming, some of which went to training Shia LaBeouf as a trader. LaBeouf enjoyed his role so much that he reportedly studied for and passed his Series 7 exam so that he can now legally trade stocks for others. During the shooting of this film, he was even given $1 million to trade with so that he could more effectively play his role.
This movie was filmed mostly at the Federal Reserve Building, rather than on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, where the majority of the filming of the first movie took place. The Reserve Building was chosen because the majority of meetings regarding the 2008 crash were held there by important financial entities. Director Stone wanted the movie to be as true to real life as possible.

Oct 3, 2010

Pondering Indy 5

After the latest revisit to the original Indiana Jones series for the thousandth time, the recent announcement of Spielberg and Lucas' collaboration on the next film came to mind and what exactly the script details were. There has been some speculation as to the best Indy films as it's been widely believed that 1 and 3 are the best films and possible reasons why came to mind. Raider of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade both centered around a heavy Christian/Hebrew plot. Christianity being the most predominant religion is easy to relate to and the stories are from the most read book in the world, the Bible(even though the Old Testament stories didn't originate there). Spielberg and Lucas struck gold in the first film with the idea to go after a relic of a biblical story centuries old and loved, the ark of the covenant and then again in the third when deciding to search for the Holy Grail. In Temple of Doomand Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the plots are more supernatural fiction
rather than religion based and appeal to a widely different audience. Those films also left out an integral part of what makes Indiana Jones great, and that's Third Reich of Nazi Germany. Having the Nazi's as the enemy works because of the gruesome facts behind their existence and the widespread severe hatred of the organization brings the audience into the film on almost a personal level. But the need to change enemies for a fresh plot is understandable.
Being a huge fan of all of them but will admit that 1 and 3 are in the disc player more often than 2 and 4 there was hope with the next installment that Spielberg and Lucas will return to the biblical relic quest. There are a host of artifacts that could be explored, pieces of Noah's Ark, the spear that pierced Jesus, Solomon's ring, or the favorite of this editor Moses' staff. I was one of the few I believe to take hold of a somewhat recent Wii video game called Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings. The gameplay and execution were not top notch in the game world but what grabbed my attention was the originality of the plot. The staff of Moses that parted the Red Sea on the exodus out of Egypt seemed spot on for Dr. Jones to acquire. It felt as if it belonged on the big screen or already had been at some points.
The latest script rumor centering around the Bermuda Triangle leaves many open ends and most of them point to underwater which doesn't seem like Indiana Jones' style. It also doesn't seem to leave any room for any religious artifact return as there isn't too many religious tales that mention the Bermuda Triangle. But until further details are released fans will have to put their faith in Steven Spielberg and George Lucas that they will undoubtedly come up with something spectacular. Of course, anytime Harrison Ford puts on that Fedora and dawns the whip my interest is peaked.

Jersey Shore Halloween Costumes - Which Jersey Star Are You?

Jersey shore Halloween costumes are a good selection to match the current pop culture trends. Many people like to dress up to look like their favorite characters in the Jersey shore. These costumes are cheap and can make someone look great. Though this costume is not worn by children often, they can be encouraged to have fun with it.
Snooki and Situation costumes are sure crowd pullers when attending a Halloween party. Many people tailor their costume ideas for these Jersey shore characters. You can also choose to apply these ideas to any of your favorite character from the MTV reality show.
- Snooki
Snooki is very tiny and can be easily worn during the Halloween party. It fits well for those who are not taller than five inches tall. The most distinctive character is the Oompa Loompa inspired tan. Since many people don't prefer the tanning beds, you can choose to use the spray tan instead. The spray tan is cheaper and faster and also fades away more quickly if you don't want to keep the Snooki persona for long. A self tanning product might also be good but take great care when applying it so that you avoid the streaks.
As with many Jersey girls, Snooki is most famous for her long and big hair and her eccentric sense of fashion. In case you need to show the true manifestation of the Jersey shore, you should wear a fantastic push-up water bra just to make sure that your breasts hold well. In case you don't have a dark hair color, then you need to invest in a long and black wig. A hair dye might also do well on you. If you are not good in back combing, then you need to visit a specialist in order to create a good Snooki hairstyle. In finality, a dark eye make up will make you look very beautiful and attractive. (About Snooki from Jersey Shore)
- Situation
This is the style for men who intend to adopt the Jersey Halloween costume ideas. The guys obviously want to look like the most visible character,'Mike' the 'Situation'. As a man, dressing up as Situation should be really easy and cheap. If you have the perfect body, air grease, board shorts and a self tanner will greatly increase your appeal. Your appeal will be enhanced further if you wear a gold chain and a cocky grin.
Most guys are however going to really work hard in order to look like the Jersey shore cast members.
In case you have a six pack, you can use a self-tanner to accentuate the muscles. You also need to be very confident so as to look the part when wearing this costume.
It is actually very easy to buy the costumes. Just visit your local store or shop around the internet and you won't miss a very good offer.

Hot Tub Time Machine

Buddy movies have been around for a while, but perhaps Judd Apatow is responsible for their revival. Other writers soon wised up, and a new generation of buddy movies was born. However, there can be too much of a good thing. The latest movie to jump on the buddy bandwagon is Hot Tub Time Machine. Directed by Steve Pink who co-wroteGross Pointe Blank and High Fidelity, it's little wonder John Cusack stars in this comical sci-fi movie.
The story is about three estranged friends who reunite after one of them attempts suicide. Adam (Cusack) is an insurance salesman whose girlfriend just moved out, his underachieving gamer nephew Jacob (Clark Duke) lives in the basement; Nick (Craig Robinson) works in a novelty dog parlour and is married to a controlling wife; and Lou (Rob Corddry), an abrasive divorced alcoholic. The three friends are tired of their adult lives, and decide to go to Kodiak Valley, a ski resort responsible for some of their happiest times. Jacob comes along too. Kodiak Valley is not what is was though; in fact it's a total dump now. There is however a hot tub outside their room, and on their first night the four guys decide to do some male bonding by getting very drunk in the tub. They wake up to discover it's the year 1986, and decide they must be careful not to do anything different for fear they change the course of history. This means Adam must dump his girlfriend of the time and get stabbed with a fork, Nick must have sex and Lou must get beaten up. Jacob, who hadn't yet been born, flickers in and out of real time, suggesting his conception is at risk.
As in all buddy movies, the women are vapid bimbos and/or sluts, and secondary characters to the men. Also in all buddy movies, there's one girl who's different to the stereotype; quirky, fun, clever, sarcastic. The exception in this case is Adam's love interest April (Lizzy Caplan), who pursues Adam and tries to bring him out of his shell.
As per usual, the friends fight with each other, face moral issues regarding their friendships and are stronger than ever by the end.
Hot Tub Time Machine is nothing new in terms of characters and relies on second-hand jokes, vulgarity and general political incorrectness for sources of humour. The plot isn't even original, as it's definitely not the first time we've seen time travel from a comedic angle (Back to the Future, anyone?), so fingers crossed there's no sequel. It uses the same tried and tested formulae of the Apatow movies to deliver a lewd, gross-out film that's mostly devoid of substance. There are a few genuine laughs, but they're not enough to make up for all the nonsense.
Sean Anders is also responsible for the abysmal Sex Drive, so it's no coincidence that HTTM translates an older version of it. I'm quite disappointed in Cusack, but I suppose it's a sign of the times that he's reduced to starring in movies like these to earn his keep. Perhaps I'm not the target audience for this movie, I might even be the antithesis, and I'm sure others really enjoyed it. But I can't shake off how familiar this movie felt, or how many times I've seen similar characters before.
If you want to see a buddy movie that's not full of wasters or teenagers looking to lose their virginity, watch The Hangover, as it's genuinely funny and has a lot of heart. Watch Hot Tub Time Machine if you want, but bear in mind you'll never get that hour and forty minutes back again.
Welcome to PROG464, Ireland's new webzine of news, views and reviews on all things Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror and Cult. We bring you the best in books, comics, graphic novels, movies, TV, radio, games, toys, technology and the web - and From classic novels to the latest games we have it all."

Oct 2, 2010

Tamil Cinema Industry Set to Make a Movie About the Civil War in Sri Lanka

The ethnic struggles in Sri lanka have been going on for three decades. Those years have been littered with bloodshed and heartbreak, leaving thousands homeless, and even more without mothers or fathers. The history of the brutal civil war that has plagued the island nation for thirty years. The problem existed many decades before the riots of the 70's or the 80's. The sinhalese and the Tamil people should realize that before either of their ancestors descended to the island, there were indigenous people already on the island when they got there in 700 BC. Where did these indigenous people come from?
There has been much speculation about the indigenous people and the complete absence of both historical reference and in representation in government today. Most of the natives either married the Tamils or Sinhalese, or more likely, The males got killed off and only the women were left to procreate. This is the premise of the new movie coming out of the Kollywood cinema industry, entitled Thaamirabharani. It is scheduled to start shooting early next year in 2011, and will hit theaters around this time next fall.
The movie is going to be directed by Tarun Gopi. And M. S. Viswanathan contributed to the soundtrack. The movie has a interesting cast with many up and coming stars who are eager to prove themselves as legitamate actors. Priyanka Chopra; is plaing the heorine role while Vijayakanth is going to play the protagonist in the love story adaptation of the civil war in Sri lanka. Among the movies Gopi has directed, this one is no doubt the one with the biggest budget, but it is also the only film that he will have the ability to add a political tone to the film. He is a vocal proponent for Tamil people and equal rights for all, but he hasn't had the platform to do it in a appropriate manner that still fits in with the story line. There not that many avenues to be political when you are making a comedic film.
Jon loves Sri Lanka and Tamil movies. Get more of his thoughts on Kollywood at http://www.tamilfilmsonline.com

Oct 1, 2010

Going 3D With Your Home Cinema

Brand new in June of 2010, there are a huge new range of AV receivers on the market that make it so easy to be getting 3D sound from your home receiver. Some of these entry and mid range level home cinema receivers are labeled with the Apple "works with iPhone" badge, meaning that they seamlessly integrate with your iPod touch or your iPhone. For example, Yamaha have decided that by quipping all models VSX-520-K/5 onwards with 3D HDMI 1.4 technology, all of the new receivers will be able to produce High Definition 3D connectivity for the Blu-ray systems.
We truly are entering an age where technology is superseding our demands and at a much faster pace that ever before. Many companies and economists are predicting that 3D television and 3D home Cinema are the way of the future, with millions of homes expected to be into the new technology within the next 5 years. Therefore is makes sense to be focused on getting 3D sound from your home cinema receiver, because sooner or later, this type of platform will be the standard.
You always know when things are starting to heat up. All you have to do is look at the market and see what the major players are doing. If we research a little of the Home Cinema market we see that Yamaha, Onkyo, Sony, Pioneer, and others are already busy establishing their mark in the 3D sector, making sure that you as a consumer can be getting 3D sound from your home cinema receiver, as and when you decide to incorporate the technology into your home entertainment package. Taking the surround sound affect one step further, 3D sound puts you in a position where you can experience your movie as if you were right there in the scene.
We all know and understand that 3D was first bought to our attention on the big screen, and it had basically stayed there, until recently that is. We now have Sony setting up training camps for movie producers, so they can be versed in all things 3D. This means of course that we will start to see many more movies coming out on DVD and Blu-ray, that are 3D, and some will provide both 2D and 3D formats. Because of this, and the fact that it will eventually become mainstream to be watching 3D DVD's, it makes perfect sense to be learning how getting 3D sound from your home cinema receiver, could be the greatest move you have made when it comes to your in-home entertainment.
It is important to note that no matter what you have heard to date, there is nothing that really compares to a great 3D sound experience in the home. Even understanding that having this technology at our fingertips, encourages us to spend more time indoors, it is a pleasure to be able to unwind after a hard day's work, in intimate surroundings, not watching, but experiencing a fantastic film and amazing 3D soundtrack.
For options in learning more about choosing your high end audio receiver, you should visit this site.
Dwight Anthony is a Home Theater fan and all things electronic. If you would like to learn more about getting the most out of your 3D Home Theater Sound, make sure to pay a visit to this Audio resource online.

Sep 30, 2010

The IT Crowd Season One

Sick of working in a job where you don't get any respect? Tired of the same stupid questions about computers? So are the IT staff at Reynholm Industries. The IT Department is made up of a mere three people, including new recruit Jen, who remain vastly underappreciated for their efforts.
The cast consists of Moss, Roy and Jen, each funny in their own way. Moss is the quintessential nerd; academically gifted, socially unskilled, lives with his mother, terrified of women and interprets everything in the most literal sense. He's also very innocent, moralistic and sweet-natured, all of which contributes to the comic relief he brings to the show. Roy is also nerdy, but not to the same extent. He's more aware of social norms, even if he doesn't fully engage in society, and has more confidence with women, albeit with not much luck.
He's also Irish, with a typical bogger accent (I know 'cause I am one), which is sometimes at the butt of the jokes. Jen is their unlikely relationship manager, clueless about computers, but acts as a bridge between the nerdy and hidden IT Department and the 'normal' staff in nicer parts of the building. She has typical girl issues, which she unsuccessfully tries to explain to the guys, and has a bad habit of lying. Their boss is the director of Reynholm industries, Mr Reynholm himself- an overdramatic, hyper caricature of every employee's worst nightmare, with his nonsensical schemes to improve his staff and self-aggrandizing speeches. The IT Department is out of sight in the grubby, dilapidated basement, while the rest of the building is impressive, bright and clean, with glorious views of London.
In the pilot episode we see how Jen manages to blag her way into management, as she outlines her experience with computers (which includes deleting emails and clicking the mouse). Moss and Roy aren't impressed but discover she has some qualities the IT Department could benefit from. As the series progresses, we see Moss's remarkable ability with computers, but sadly little else, Jen's attempts at flirting with a handsome security man and Roy's stress-inducing behaviour. We eventually meet misunderstood sensitive goth, Richmond, played by Noel Fielding, who's delightful in this role.
The dialogue is rich in witty one-liners, there's quality slapstick moments and quirky characters, all soaked in geeky sentiment for our entertainment. It's sort of an old-school comedy, as it relies on classic comedic methods for humour, as standard for Graham Linehan I suppose, and the actors are well-cast as they have perfect comedic timing.
The IT Crowd parodies common stereotypes, including nerds, as well as corrupt middle management, television advertisements, workplace practices and seminars, and the dating game.
This isn't the first time we've seen Graham Linehan produce a comedy featuring a cranky Irish man, his peculiar misfit friend and quirky self-absorbed woman (see Black Books), but it works in the original setting of a company's IT Department.
The attention to detail is admirable, as it's so absent from most television shows today. You don't have to be a nerd to enjoy this show, but it probably helps. If you look closely at the set, you'll see Linehan's favourite comic books, tributes to retro video games, posters with tech slang on them, and countless other nerd paraphernalia. The detail of the set is lost on me obviously but it's impressive nonetheless.