A Sunday Flicks Edition: Reminder there is Persepolis...

Back with another review, this time an animated feature film called Persepolis. Based on an autobiographical graphic novel, it tells the story of the author Marjane Satrapi and her early childhood years living within a intolerant government regime in Iran. Outspoken political beliefs are banned, western culture is looked down upon, and all woman must dress modestly including wearing the black hijab veil.

This is a French language film. But with DVD there is English dubbing. Even though it's an animated film, it's smart and poignant about the politics and war. The animated style is also refreshing. Most of the film is drawn in simple black and white colors, representing the past of the author's childhood and adolescent years. There is nothing Disney about this film, but a very honest look during the Islamic Revolution through the eyes of a person who lived through it.

For the curious...the trailer and images:







Click on the "Sunday Flicks" link for more film reviews on the overlooked and underrated....

A Sunday Flicks Edition: Taking Shakespeare to Another Level

I've been a bad blogger...Last Sunday was particularly hectic for me, but I'm back with another review. I was in a strange mood for some English period movies. Browsing around I picked up the movie called “Stage Beauty” starring Claire Danes and Billy Crudup. After seeing Danes in the movie Romeo and Juliet and Stardust, I adored her ever since. I can see how every teen watched Baz Lurhman’s Romeo and Juliet can get starry eyed with romance. But “Stage Beauty” isn’t exactly a romance theme in the movie that is usually portrayed in 17th Century period films. But many have compared it to Shakespeare in Love. Remember Gwenth Paltrow pretending to be a man so that she can act? Well this is pretty much the opposite and not all lovey dovey as one might think. (A brief relief)

Taking the English stage by storm is Billy Crudup’s character Edward Kynaston a master actor in all feminine roles, in a time when it was illegal for a woman to even stand on stage. He had build his career on female parts but when King Charles decree that women are allowed to perform and men are banned from playing all female roles, he suddenly faces an identity crisis. (I kid you not) His dresser Maria (Clair Danes) who secretly has a passion for acting is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, being one of the first females to act on the English stage. A bitter Kynaston finds himself jobless, soulless, and lost about who his is.

I find it has a unique approach on the ins and outs of acting. It shows the process of acting, just like showing how an artist paints. It also deals with a strange mix of bisexual and homosexual identity during the time period. If a man was trained to play a woman all his life, would he have questions about his sexuality? Well I’m not the best person to explain this, and if you’re scratching your head and this, either intrigued or just weirded out, then I suggest you see this movie. Billy Crudup definitely brought a wonderful complexity to his characters that others could not do. And the best part is in the beginning and end sequence where Shakespeare’s play Othello is brilliantly portrayed in two different ways.

PS: Rupert Everett is the funniest King Charles I’ve ever seen.

Rated R for sexual themes.

For the intrigued Check out IMBD for more Info and trailers.

An Indie Version of "Sunday Flicks"

If your in the mood for some multi-lingual independent films "Clean" is one to recommend, spanning 3 cities in 3 countries in London, Vancouver, and Paris. It stars actress Maggie Cheung, known for her part in the Chinese film "Hero" and Nick Nolte. "Clean" is a film on drugs and rock and roll, following Maggie Cheung's character Emily Wang as a drug junkie trying to redeem herself after her failing rock-star husband dies from a drug over dose. She is determined to change her life to see her young son who is living with his grandparents.

Maggie Cheung proved that she could not only act but act in three different languages, English, French and Chinese. A majority of the film takes place in Paris and London, for which I found some reprieve after seeing too many "American movies" Some french sure gives me a kick after a trip from Paris. A language that was most missed after coming home. But this movie was also Maggie's shinning moment, winning best actress in the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

Rated R for a lot of cussing...

For curious film goers, here the trailer from YOUTUBE

For more info check out IMDB

What??? Another edition of Sunday Flicks...^_^

I was shuffling through the bargin books section in Borders. And bought "The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology" Cause I love myths and legends and fairy tale stories. So for $9.99 I found something worth my time to read. While reading through the Greek and Roman myths (which I always found fascinating) I remembered the HBO television show "ROME" was a fantastic example of Ancient Roman culture, all the while being entertaining to boot.

This Sunday I recommend HBO's "ROME" Where sex, politics, and warefare dominate and you find yourself cringing and gripping at the edge of your seat. We've all seen the history chronciling Julius Ceasar and the Roman Republic. But not HBO style! A shame that the show has been cancelled after 2 years due to its costly production. But that 2 years leaves you satisfied and learning more about Roman history then you ever did in Global Studies.

It depicts ancient rome like no other. It's nitty and gritty, from the perspective of the lower class society of Rome. Which surprisingly I find has not been told by any other kind of movies or television. You get a real feel of what ancient life was really like, and believe me, I'm glad I'm born during the 20th century!

Actors Kevin Mckidd and Ray Stevenson lead the fray as Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, two Roman soliders admist during a pivitol historic time period, while Ciaran Hinds plays the most delicious, coldest, calculating Caesar I've ever seen. Actually the entire cast is as good as it gets in the film industry. Soild acting with gorgous production designs, fabulous music score and an intelligent script. What more do you want?

If you can I recommed watching the DVD set and watching it with the Director's commentaries and "All Roads Lead to Rome" text featurette. It give a lot , and I mean A LOT of insight into Roman culture and lifestyle and the history of the time.

Tho knowning it's HBO be prepared for bloody scenes and explicit sexual exploits. But knowing it's HBO, you know that it's quality television, perfect to spend on a not so busy weekend. (You might want to scoot little ones away, from this one)

For those of you who hasn't experience ROME on HBO, go for it! If you find yourself wanting more after season 1, season 2 gets even more intense then ever.

For more info check: IMDB and Wikipiedia

Check out the trailer of Season 1 from YOUTUBE

Some images for the curious:

A Late Night Edition of Sunday Flicks

Hey all,

It's a late post but I really really really want to keep up with my flick reviews. I just love movies to death! I'm such a film junkie...@_@

For this post I recommend "The Banquet" or (USA Title) "The Legend of the Black Scorpion" Which seems like two different meanings. I really don't know why they changed the International Title. Personally I much prefer "The Banquet" It make more sense when you see the movie.

This is a fantastic Chinese Film starring Zhang Zi Yi (Memoirs of a Geisha). Other chinese actors include You Ge, Daniel Wu, and Xun Zhou, who aren't known in the USA that well, but are fantastic actors.

Set in ancient China, this story is loosely based on Shakespears Hamlet, which reminicse many of the characters and plots, following the Chinese Imperial family. After the Emperor's brother (You Ge) murders him and takes the throne. The crown Prince (Daniel Wu) comes home to seek revenge. While the Empress (Zi Yi Zhang) has her own agenda in the plot for revenge. Full of intrigue, romance, drama, it's beautifully shot with lyrical martial arts, theatrical costumes, and jaw dropping set designs. If you've watch a lot of Chinese films, this kind of film with love, revenge and backstabbing in the Imperial family is pretty common, but I think this movie, for old and new comers is a beautiful sight to see.
I can say for sure it's very artistically filmed. Did I mention the gorgeous costumes????

Rated R for Violent Scenes.

For more info check out IMDB

The International Trailer from YOUTUBE (jaw dropping)

And some images to wet your appetite:

Just mulling around? It's Time For Sunday Flicks!

Mulling around on Sundays after a fun Saturday or if you have an after party hangover? Pop in a movie! I love watching films, especially ones with breathtaking art and cinematography. A lot of the time it inspire me with ideas.

For this Sunday, I highly recommend "THE FALL" starring pushings daisies actor Lee Pace and child actress Catinca Untaru. The story is about a 1920s Hollywood stuntman Roy Walker (Lee Pace) who lands in the hospital after a stunt gone wrong, partially paralyzing him from the waist down. Not only that, he is in distress after losing his girlfriend to the lead actor. He then meets Alexandria (Catinca Untaru), a sweet young girl, who has a broken arm due to falling while picking oranges, hence the title "The Fall". Due to her innocent nature, he befriends her and tells a story about 5 bandits and 1 mystic who all have one common goal, to kill the oppressing and evil Governor Odieous. While gaining her trust and enchanting her with his story, he secretly tricks her to obtaining morphine for him so that he can commit suicide.



Here's the official trailer you can check out on YOUTUBE

My only real beef with this movie was the lack of motivation for Roy to commit suicide, as it is only hinted about his troubles. I would've liked to see some more back story into his character, but the visuals alone makes you forget about all that. The cinematography is aw inspiring with REAL backdrops. Yep, these are real places that you are looking at. There is hardly any Computer Graphics involved. Rate R for some violence, which I really didn't find all that violent. I've seen PG-13 movies more violent then this one.

For more info check out: IMDB

Welp I'm off to Sketch...Tune in to Next Sunday Flicks! ^_^