Showing posts with label Ellen Page. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ellen Page. Show all posts

Thursday, December 27, 2007

MOVIE: Juno

Juno (Ellen Page) is at the local store check a pregnancy test and then out pops the plus sign. Juno;s having a child. And she is still in high school. When she decides that she can't have an abortion, her friend Leah (Olivia Thirlby) suggests looking through the penny savers, that they have couples seeking spawn. When she finally picks the one perfect couple, the couple is played by Jennifer Garner who is Vanessa Loring and Jason Bateman who plays Mark Loring, she decided to give the baby to them. First she has to tell her parents, Mac MacGuff who is played by J.K. Simmons and Bren MacGuff who is played by Allison Janney. The parents are totally shock to find out that their daughter is pregnant they start to try to help her through this process. Juno's father and herself go to meet the family that Juno is going to give the baby too they seem like a perfect happy family.

Over the couple of the trimesters we start to see (of course) Juno getting bigger, but also that that is happy family might not seem so perfect and more. Paulie Bleeker (Michael Cera) tries help out with Juno towards the end. Everything comes down to the delivery of the baby.

For about the first quarter of the movie I was really hating this movie. With the use of trying to be too clever with the dialogue (trying to be too funny, i thought).

Soon after they got all that stuff out of the way and bring in some of the supporting characters is when the movie goes over and gets better. Juno works when it not trying to be clever.

Around there is a lot of buzz about Ellen Page getting nominated but, for me I thought she was just OK while the supporting cast like J.K Simmons, Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner etc. did a great job on screen. Once when we got into the movie it got really better. I was getting more and more interested with the plot and that is why I like this movie. Its funny has good characters, and a great story.

Another part of the movie that really got me was the soundtrack, I thought that the soundtrack for Juno it had great music throughout the movie, it had a sort of the feel like what Wes Anderson puts in his movies, really good stuff. One thing that I was fond of was the opening sequence which is an animation of Juno (Ellen Page) walking to the store, it was really cool. Overall After the first part of the movie I didn't like but after that I really enjoyed this, I Strongly Recommend the movie Juno.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

DVD: X-Men the Last Stand Regular and (CE)

X-men: The Last Stand or in other terms X-men 3. One of the biggest hits ever to open on memorial day weekend with a box office amount of 107 million dollars, one of the largest amount made ever on that weekend.

The X-men series is the most know comic book, ever in the industry as well as one of Marvel, The Comic book company, biggest sells. Which was created by the famed comic writer Stan Lee.

In the beginning of the X-men comic series the main characters were: Professor X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, The Beast, Angel and Iceman. Their one main enemy was Magneto.

The difference between the beginning of the X-men trilogy it started with the main characters as Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm, Professor X, and the newest additions were Wolverine aka Logan, and Rouge and there enemy being Magneto, and his brotherhood of evil mutants: who are Toad, Sabertooth and Mystique.

Most of the character are very true to their comic book background, with a couple of quirks of the directors or writers own stories being put in there. Which are good if you aren't a fan of the comics because you'll won't be wonder why they didn't do this or that. I'm a big fan of the comic so I wanted to see much more of a background showing the hatred between both Sabertooth and Wolverine. Another thing was I would have loved to see the original characters. like Beast who we later get in the films.

On to the Second film, X-men 2, or X2: X-men United. Which is a strong change from the first one of where their comes another faction in to fight this battle against mutants. Human. Coming into the show is a anti-mutant lover called William Stryder who is played by Brain Coxs. The story is were the time as come Were the X-men and the Brotherhood must become United and fight this war against humans and try to save Professor X.

For what is supposedly be the last X-men Story of the Whole team together, they have added some fan favorites to the mix, like Hank McCoy, The Beast, who is played by Kelsey Grammer and Ben Foster who plays Warren Worthington III, aka Angel that are new to part of the X-men. For the Brotherhood we had Vinnie Jones who plays Cain Marko, Aka. the Juggernaut, Dania Ramirez who plays the leader of the underground mutants in the comics Callisto. Also there were also many more new characters like Kitty Pryde, played by Ellen Page, who was in the last two movies who was played by a different person and not have that big of lines in the film.

The basic story for the Last Stand is about. The X-men and the Brotherhood are not allies anymore they have destroyed Stryder and now they follow there own path, The humans on the other hand have now found a way to suppress the X-gene, which is named the 'Cure'. Where mutants can get rid of their power for good.... All this leads to the side being drawn, Those who stand with Magneto and his men want to destroy the cure and have the mutant race be the superior ones, or you can side with the X-men and help the humans defend the cure and help them attack Magneto and his thugs for the Ultimate showdown on Alcatraz.

The basis of the story-line and the 'cure' comes straight from the comic strip. Overall the acting in the Last Stand I thought was quick good, as always Sir Ian McKellen he's been the best Magneto I could ever ask for. Same with Hugh Jackman's character Logan aka Wolverine. The new characters that are add to this trilogy the best one as to be Kelsey Grammer who plays the Beast, Kelsey had hit the character Beast right on the head he is the perfect Beast.

Another big thing that really disappointed some of the fan who love the X-men they/we saw the change of a new directing coming into the film. Brett Ranter come in right after Brian Singer who left off to do Superman Returns, He turned on us Marvel fan... just joking. Brett Ranter was not the first directer that they first had but I can't remember who the first guy was. He on the other hand was the one who got Vinnie Jones signed on to the picture. Overall I thought Brett Ranter did a great job with the time given to shoot.

The Special Effects in this film was great there is this very big land mark of Special Effects that will most likely know will be the moving Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco. Ever the Effects on all the Phoenix's Scenes where amazing all the way down to the fur on Kelsey Gammer.

If there is one film you see this summer this is the one you should see. Its a must see, it as a large all-star cast with great Acton, outstanding visual action, and a great storyline. This one in the Trilogy is the best yet.

DVD

Specs. (DVD Regular)

X-men the Last Stand in presented in both Fullframe and 2.40:1 Widescreen. The audio has 6.1 DTS ES and 5.1 Dolby EX, with Spanish and French 5.1 Surround Sound. The DVD also as Spanish and English Subtitles. X-men The Last Stand is 104 minutes long, and in color. The Special Features include:

  • Full length Audio Commentary by director Brent Ratner and Screenwriters Simon Kinberg & Zak Penn.
  • Producers commentary by Avi Arad, Lauren Shulder Donner and Ralph Winter.
  • 10 Deleted Scenes also 3 Alternate endings with optional Commentary
  • The World of Marvel.
  • Trailers.

Specs. (Collectors Edition)

X-men the Last Stand Collectors Edition in presented in both 2.40:1 Widescreen. The audio has 6.1 DTS ES and 5.1 Dolby EX, with Spanish and French 5.1 Surround Sound. The DVD also as Spanish and English Subtitles. X-men The Last Stand is 104 minutes long, and in color. The Special Features include:
  • A Set of deluxe trading cards X-men Collecting Cards. featuring your favorite X-men villains and heroes.
  • Comic book reprint of the first Giant Size comic from 1975.
  • Full length Audio Commentary by director Brent Ratner and Screenwriters Simon Kinberg & Zak Penn.
  • Producers commentary by Avi Arad, Lauren Shulder Donner and Ralph Winter.
  • 10 Deleted Scenes also 3 Alternate endings with optional Commentary.
  • The World of Marvel.
  • Trailers
The X-men The Last Stand regular and Collectors Edition, the big differences between the two is that the Collectors Edition comes with some collecting cards and a reprint of the 1975 Giant Size comic. That's the difference the Movie comes just like you would buy the regular DVD yourself. On the other hand I do know their is a Target Exclusive where you can get the Collectors Edition in a Tin metal casing for collecting. I loved everything in this DVD, this is everything you could ask for. They do have, which they don't advertise on the back of the DVD is that it includes two sneak peeks at upcoming film, A Night at A Museum, and a very big favorite A scene from the Simpson's movie.

From my opinion I think this film is a buy and a must for any DVD collector or film fan. Though The one thing I hate is that their is a Special version of X-men the Last Stand which Brett Ranter is currently working on, So you could just rent or still buy these DVD and just rent this new version that's coming out later or you can pass on these and just get the special version later when it comes out.

Saturday, September 30, 2006

DVD: Hard Candy

Hard Candy was one of those films most people won't like, mostly because it has such a true story-line(except for the torture). A lot of people will find this one offensive.

I once remembered reading that I heard that there once was a be controversy on the topics and issues that this film shows.

When I first saw Hard Candy I became very irritated at the film mostly because it kept we wonder were to I remember the actress 'Ellen Page' and then after a bout of a couple of hours and I remember, X-men: the Last Stand, she played Kitty Pryde.

Ellen Page did an amazing job in this film, and also Patrick Wilson but the one who really stood out in my opinion was Ellen Page.

This was a kind of film that really made you use you brain while you watch this film then during the film something happens and it will force you to rethink, like 'What the hell just happen' This is really great because it keeps up on the edge of suspense. There was one point in the film where I kept yelling into the screen because I was so into the film. Which made that a great film.

Hard Candy is those kind of films, that will either you love it or hate it. I am a big fan of indie film mostly because to me they have a much more story-line that make you think, instead of most of the Studio production were they care more about the box office and the action in a film.

The Film is a definite watch if this one is still playing in a theater around you go out right now and see it you will not regret it.

DVD

Specs.

Hard Candy is presented in 16x9 Widescreen with 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital Sound. With English and Spanish Subtitles. The Special Features of this DVD include:


  • Commentary with Director David Slade and Writer Brian Nelson.
  • Commentary with the actors Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page.
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes.
  • 'Creating Hard Candy" Making Of-Documentary
  • "Controversial Confection" Minifeaturette
  • DVD-Rom Production Notebook.
  • Theatrical Trailer.

The DVD Special Features of Hard Candy really surprised me, it was a great addition to the film. My favorite part in the Special Features were the 'Making-Of' Feature. Mostly because of the Of it was broken down into to different sections like From the Writing of the Script all the way to the Marketing and Sales of the Script.This is one of those features that I love to watch in a film.

Overall this DVD adds a great addition to the already amazing story and acting so I would have to say that this DVD is a Must Buy for any movie fan and DVD collector.