My Video Resume

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZd-25BA-kU

The Godfather Part II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xae6OzYcoE

The film is both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather, chronicling the story of the Corleone family following the events of the first film while also depicting the rise to power of the young Vito Corleone before the events of the first film. Robert De Niro stars in this film as the young Vito Corleone (Michael’s father).

The Godfather Part II was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won six, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Robert De Niro, and has been selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry.

This film focused heavily on the earlier life of Vito Corleone, including the suffering in his childhood in Sicily and his struggle in America. In the film, the interlude between the past and present definitely gives more “flavor” to it. This technique of film shooting was considered a whole new way of film making during the mid 70s; the results were very successful.

Near the end of this movie, Al Neri shoots Fredo in the head (from the back) while they are fishing on Lake Tahoe, as Fredo (Michael’s little brother) is saying a Hail Mary to help catch a fish. Michael watches from his den. I think this is an icon that signifies Michael Corleone has fully turned into a cold hearted mafia boss.

There is some very interesting that I found out about the Godfather and the Godfather Part II. Many scenes that were shot have been cut from the films. There has not been a single release that contains all of this footage together in one collection. 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Godfather_Part_II

The Godfather

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAfWMr26KQk

This film is a 1972 American gangster-drama film based on the novel of the same name by Mario Puzo.  The movie was directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola, and Robert Towne.
Many of the best of the best American actors and actresses are in this movie, such as Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte and Diane Keaton, and features John Cazale, Talia Shire, Al Martino, and Abe Vigoda. 

The Godfather, what can I say, this film is a truly American Classic. It is ranked third, behind Citizen Kane and Casablanca, on the AFI's (American Film Institute) Top 100 Movies list. It was moved up to second place when the list was published again in 2008.

The story spans ten years from 1945 to 1955 and chronicles the fictional Italian American Corleone crime family. There are two sequels followed: The Godfather Part II in 1974, and The Godfather Part III in 1990.
The Godfather received Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay, and has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

This film is Al Pacino's third film in his acting career. I personally believe that this film is the one that "made" him, along with his acting career. Although he had many films, such as Scar Face, The Scent of a Woman, Glengarry Glen Ross, and so on, but I think that the Godfather film series are his best movies. 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Godfather

Red Dragon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtcZEPEblUQ

The film was directed by Brett Ratner and written by Ted Tally, who also wrote the screenplay for The Silence of the Lambs. Edward Norton plays a FBI agent Will Graham in this movie. Anthony Hopkins plays the same old character - Hannibal Lecter - a role he played twice before in The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. Ralph Fiennes plays the Francis Dolarhyde character in the movie, also know as the "Tooth Fairy".

This film is the second film of "the Silence of the Lambs" movie series. It starts with the arrest of Hannibal Lector by Will Graham. Years later, when the FBI begins to solve the "Tooth Fairy" case, Will Graham turns to seek help from Hannibal Lector, who has been in a maximum security prison for a long time. 

I think this movie is more of a case-solving thriller; it is a bit different from other films of "the Silence of the Lambs" series. Yes, there is lots of blood; yes there is Hannibal Lector; and yes, it is pretty scary. But the whole movie is more on Will Graham'a speculative thinking of solving the case. 

Ralph Fiennes is such an outstanding actor; he is definitely on the my Top-10 most skillful actor list. The thing about him is that he seldom plays the main character of movies, well, besides the English Patient. I just wish to see him more often in more movies as the main character.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dragon_%28film%29

Hannibal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHQSViS4uBs

Hannibal is a 2001 psychological thriller directed by Ridley Scott. This film belongs to the Silence of the Lambs series; it is the sequel of this film series. Actor Anthony Hopkins still plays the same role as the man-eater Hannibal Lecter. Julianne Moore co-stars, taking over for Jodie Foster in the role of FBI Agent Clarice Starling.

Set ten years after The Silence of the Lambs, the premise is that Dr. Lecter's only surviving victim, the extremely wealthy Mason Verger (portrayed by Gary Oldman), is determined to capture, torture, and kill him. The film's locations alternate between Italy and the U.S.

To me, this is an another great horror-thriller movie. I think that Hannibal Lecter is probably the most difficult role to play for any actor in the movie history. Anthony Hopkins is such a brilliant, talented and outstanding actor. His acting skills are insanely good that makes people believe that he actually is insane, not really just an actor. I just truly love Anthony Hopkins acting! 

P.S.: The ending of this movie is directly related to cutting people's head open and eating the brain, so if anyone who is sensitive to blood or flesh, be aware!!!

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal_%28film%29

The Silence of the Lambs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMVqIISyp60

In my opinion, this movie, "The Silence of the Lambs" is definitely the Top-Five Crime-Thriller film of all time. It is also on the list of my 10 favorite movies. It was directed by Jonathan Demme and stars Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, and Ted Levine. This film won the top five Academy Awards, which are Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
In this film, Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), a young FBI trainee, seeks the advice of Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a genius imprisoned people-eating criminal, for help in apprehending a serial killer known only as "Buffalo Bill." All the victims of this "Buffalo Bill" were found skinned and dumped in the river.

Here are some personal advices:

1. If you are under age of 18, Do NOT watch this movie, because it might give you nightmares;

2. If you are Crime-Thriller or Mystery film lover, you MUST watch this movie;

3. If you are seeking best acting in the history of film making, you MUST watch this movie.

There are actually four films in the "The Silence of the Lambs" movie series. The other three are: "Hannibal", "Red Dragon", and "Hannibal Rising". I will be talking more about these three films later.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silence_of_the_Lambs_%28film%29

The Pursuit of Happyness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQlzz6jGCfI

In 1981, in San Francisco, Chris Gardner (Will Smith) invests his family's savings in Osteo National bone-density scanners. The investment proves to be a white elephant which financially breaks the family and as a result, his wife Linda (Thandie Newton) leaves him and their son Christopher (Jaden Smith). 

One day in downtown he meets a manager for Dean Witter and impresses him by solving a Rubiks Cube. This new relationship earns him the chance to become a stockbroker. 

Chris is setback when his bank account is garnished by the IRS for back taxes. As a result of unpaid taxes he becomes homeless. 

After fighting with countless difficulties, his struggle has paid off and he is offered the position. Fighting back tears he rushes to his son's daycare, hugging him.  The epilogue reveals that Chris went on to form his own multi-million dollar brokerage firm.

This movie could be a classic example of "Anything is Possible" or "Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration".

When I see homeless people standing at the entrance of a super market, or the front door of a gas station asking for changes, I always wonder why wouldn't these people get a job? I personally believe that it really isn't too difficult to have a decent life in America. First of all, American public education is totally free, you don't even have to pay for text books. Second, there are public libraries everywhere in America; if you can't afford to go to college, you can still learn tons of knowledge just by reading in a public library. 

I just simply think that if there are more people like Chris Gardner in the world, our society and environment would be much better.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pursuit_of_Happyness

Hitch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb1VRyPV9uM

In this movie, Alex "Hitch" Hitchens is a professional "date doctor", who coaches the men who really love women, to be with the women they truly love. This is a 2005 romantic comedy film, directed by Andy Tennant and starring Will Smith. The film, which was written by Kevin Bisch, co-stars Eva Mendes, Kevin James, and Amber Valletta. Smith plays a professional matchmaker, who makes a living teaching men how to woo women.

Personal advice: 

1) If you are above age of 21, watch this movie; 

2) If you truly love men or women, watch this movie;

3) If you are in a relationship, watch this movie; 

4) If you are seeking or about to be in a relationship, watch this movie;

5) If you have problem with your lover, watch this movie;

6) If you just left a relationship, watch this movie.

And keep in mind that just be yourself, maybe you can improve the way you communicate with men or women, but the key is still about yourself.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitch_%28film%29

The Pianist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxnplib2uG4

This movie won the Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay and being nominated for Best Film, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design and Film Editing, the film won Palme d'Or at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, BAFTA Award for Best Film and BAFTA Award for Best Direction in 2003.

I can hardly think of any word to describe this movie; it is one of my favorite movies. You really have to just watch this movie, and while you are watching it, you should try to feel what Władysław Szpilman feels, think what Szpilman thinks. I believe it is the only way to truly understand the expression of this film. It is a moive of survival.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pianist_%282002_film%29

Saving Private Ryan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfh3ne88fPY 

Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 American war film set during the invasion of Normandy in World War II. It was directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Robert Rodat. The film is notable for the intensity of its opening 27 minutes, which depict the Omaha beachhead assault of June 6, 1944. Afterwards, it follows Tom Hanks as Captain John H. Miller and several men as they search for paratrooper Private James Francis Ryan, who is the last surviving brother of three fallen servicemen.

Rodat first came up with the film's story in 1994 when he saw a monument dedicated to four sons of Agnes Allison of Port Carbon, Pennsylvania. The brothers were killed in the American Civil War. Rodat decided to write a similar story set during World War II. The script was submitted to producer Mark Gordon, who then handed it to Hanks. It was finally given to Spielberg, who decided to direct.

Tom Hanks has always been one of my favorite actors. It seems to me that as long as he is involved in a movie, doesn't matter if it is a character of the movie, the producer of the movie, or the director of the movie, it certainly will turn out great. It has always been this way since the role he played - Andrew Beckett - in the film Philadelphia to producer of Band of Brothers.

Is it worth to risk the lives of eight men to save just one? To me, definitely not. But when a man has lost all of his brothers and that he is the only one left in his family, then I believe that it is his duty to go back and take care of his family. Furthermore, when the Army head quarter gave the order to find Ryan and bring him home, it seems to me that it is just a way to appease some of the sorrow that Ryan's family has experienced during the World War II.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving_Private_Ryan

District 9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyLUwOcR5pk

District 9 is a 2009 science fiction thriller film directed by Neill Blomkamp. It was written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. The film stars Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope and David James. Copley plays the role of Wikus van de Merwe, an Afrikaner bureaucrat assigned to relocate a race of extraterrestrial creatures unexpectedly stranded on Earth, referred to as "prawns", from District 9, a military-guarded slum in Johannesburg, South Africa, to an internment camp outside the city. 

Unsurprisingly, the movie was nominated for four Academy Awards in 2010, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, and Best Editing.

I think the District 9 is one of the best Si-Fi movies ever produced in the 21st century. It is certainly not another "alien taking over earth" movie. As we know that, whether a movie will become unforgotten or not, denepdns on its story and plot. The great movies like E.T., Independence Day, Predator all have brilliant and unforgettable stories.

The story of the movie, along with its story line, plot, connections between scenes, acting, filming techniques are just outstanding. It is definitely one of the best Si-Fi movies ever made. 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_9 

Blood Diamond

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62h0mZ7m8zw

The scene showing here is probably the best acting throughout the whole movie. Most of us might have seen the Titanic. Leonardo DiCaprio was recognized by people as an idol-ish actor. As time moved on, I believe that DiCaprio has successfully transferred himself from an idol-ish actor to become a fully mature skilled actor.

Background:

Angola, a colony of Portugal, gained independence on November 11, 1975. Although independent, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), and the National Liberation Front of Angola (FNLA) fought in a civil war from 1974 to 2001. Between 1992 and 1998, in violation of the 1991 Bicesse Accords, UNITA sold diamonds, in the value of US$3.72 billion, to finance its war with the government. The UN recognized the role that diamonds played in funding the UNITA rebels and in 1998 passed United Nations Security Council Resolution 1173 and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1176, banning the purchase of conflict diamonds from Angola. Resolution 1173 was the first resolution of the UN which specifically mentioned diamonds in the context of funding a war. Reports estimated that as much as 20% of the total production in the 1980s were being sold for illegal purposes, and 19% were specifically conflict in nature. By 1999, the illegal diamond trade was estimated by the World Diamond Council to have been reduced to 3.06% of the world's diamond production. The World Diamond Council reported that by 2004 this percentage had fallen to approximately 1%.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_diamond_film