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Sunday, November 28, 2010

Hannibal


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!!!

Friday, November 26, 2010

The Silence of the Lambs


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

Sunday, November 21, 2010

The Pursuit of Happyness


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.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Hitch


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

Thursday, November 11, 2010

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

Monday, November 8, 2010

Saving Private Ryan


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.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

District 9


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.