Review: "Wanted" is Trash Cinema, Thank God!

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 30 (of 2008) by Leroy Douresseaux

Wanted (2008)
Running time: 108 minutes (1 hour, 48 minutes)
MPAA – R for strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language, and some sexuality
DIRECTOR: Timur Bekmambetov
WRITERS: Michael Brandt & Derek Haas and Chris Morgan; from a story by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas (based upon the comic book series, Wanted, by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones)
PRODUCERS: Jim Lemley, Jason Netter, Marc E. Platt, and Iain Smith
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Mitchell Amundsen
EDITOR: David Brenner and Dallas Puett
COMPOSER: Danny Elfman
Academy Awards nominee

ACTION/FANTASY/THRILLER

Starring: James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann, Common, Kristen Hager, Marc Warren, and Chris Pratt

Once upon a time, the summer movie season meant trashy R-rated movies – big budget affairs full of foul-mouthed villains and heroes. Special effects weren’t used to create dinosaurs, talking dragons, or fairy tale lands populated by fairy creatures. Special effects were used to create loud car chases and blood spurting from gunshot wounds. Everything from Lethal Weapon and Die Hard to The Long Kiss Goodnight and Bad Boys II offered hard-R violence.

This sadistic nonsense is just what director Timur Bekmambetov offers in his new movie, Wanted. Anyone who has seen the Russian-Kazakh Bekmambetov’s films, Night Watch and Day Watch, which are hugely popular in Russia, knows that the director loves slow motion camera work and special effects that play with film speed. Just seeing the commercials for any of his films, including Wanted, will give the viewer a good idea of the kind of bracing, heart-stopping thrills Bekmambetov’s flicks offer. He makes junk action movies, but does it with the skill of an artist. Wanted is everything that is politically incorrect about a summer movie: implausible gun fights, explosions, automobile-crunching car chases, bullet-riddled bodies and exploding craniums, with a side of bare ass.

In Wanted, 25-year-old Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) is a disaffected, cube-dwelling drone account, and he’s probably the world’s biggest nobody. His girlfriend cheats on him with his best friend. Wes wiles away the days, dying in his slow, clock-punching rut until he met a gun-toting, action-oriented woman named Fox (Angelina Jolie). Fox recruits Wes into The Fraternity, a centuries-old, secret society of assassins led by the enigmatic Sloan (Morgan Freeman).

The Fraternity shows Wes how to awaken his dormant powers, which grant him heightened senses and super human abilities. As Fox teaches him how to develop lightning-quick reflexes and phenomenal agility, Wes learns that members of The Fraternity live by an ancient, unbreakable code: carry out the death orders given by fate itself – assassinating people who are destined to bring death and chaos to large numbers of human. Wesley learns that his father, who abandoned Wes when he was 7 days old, was a member of The Fraternity. Now, Wes has a chance to kill Cross (Thomas Kretschmann), the man who murdered his father and who betrayed The Fraternity. But who is Cross, and what secrets does he hold for Wesley and The Fraternity?

Wanted is based upon the superhero comic book series, Wanted by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones, although the film version drops much of the comic book, especially the superhero elements. Wanted the movie retains the imaginative, weird fantasy spirit of superhero comics, but makes it trashy and vulgar like the films and fake commercials in Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s Grindhouse. It’s not being unfair to call Wanted trashy and bad because it is. Even in the context of a world where super-powered assassins exist, Wanted is inconsistent in its own mythology and lacks internal logic.

The acting is plain bad, and neither Morgan Freeman nor Angelina Jolie attempt to make any pretense that they’re interested in this movie. Except for a few inspired moments, both of these Oscar-winning actors seem to be phoning in their performances, and the rest of the cast play characters that are poorly developed or have too small a part to make any difference (like Common’s Gunsmith character). I still fail to see why there is such buzz about James McAvoy (Atonement, The Last King of Scotland) being the next big thing. He’s actually horrible miscast in this film – he can play hapless, but can’t pull off the badass type that’s required for most of this film. Still, McAvoy is a good enough actor, and at least he works hard enough to out perform everyone else in Wanted.

Ultimately, what makes Wanted so much fun to watch is the work of director Timur Bekmambetov. His ingenuity in inventing new and myriad ways to attack and defend and ambush and annihilate is simply awesome. Some may find the relentless violence exhausting or be sickened by the glamorization of murder as a fun, sexy pastime. But Wanted is badass and filled with original visual thrills; the elaborate passenger train sequence alone is worth the price of a ticket. I expect summer movies – the good, the bad, and the trash – to thrill me, and Wanted did, plain and simple.

7 of 10
B+

NOTES:
2009 Academy Awards: 2 nominations: “Best Achievement in Sound” (Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño, and Petr Forejt) and “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Wylie Stateman)

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Back to the Future Trilogy on Blu-Ray in October

ONE OF THE BIGGEST MOTION PICTURE TRILOGIES COMES TO BLU-RAY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

BACK TO THE FUTURE - 25TH ANNIVERSARY TRILOGY

NEWLY RESTORED, EXPERIENCE BACK TO THE FUTURE LIKE NEVER BEFORE WITH MORE THAN TWO HOURS OF NEW BONUS FEATURES

AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE ON BLU-RAY & DVD OCTOBER 26, 2010 FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA. At 88 miles per hour, Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd took millions of spellbound viewers on a high-flying voyage across the space-time continuum in a trio of wildly inventive tales that broke box-office records around the world. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Academy Award®-winning cinematic franchise that generated nearly one billion dollars worldwide, the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Trilogy will debut on Blu-rayTM on October 26, 2010 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The 25th Anniversary Trilogy will also be available on DVD.

Now, for the first time ever, the past, present and future collide in eye-popping high definition for a time-traveling celebration featuring new 25th Anniversary restorations for perfect picture and the purest digital sound. More than two hours of all new bonus features have been added, including an all-new, six-part retrospective documentary featuring never-before-seen interviews with the cast, crew and filmmakers, including Michael J. Fox, for the definitive Back to the Future experience.

On October 26, 1985, Marty McFly took the driver‚s seat in Dr. Emmet Brown's DeLorean and introduced audiences to Back to the Future, a journey that launched a new era of moviemaking magic and reinvented the adventure-comedy genre. The film, which spent 11 weeks at #1 at the U.S. box office, boasts a legendary Hollywood pedigree that includes director Robert Zemeckis, executive producers Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy, producer and screenwriter Bob Gale and producer Neil Canton. Accompanying Fox and Lloyd on their warp-speed tour of McFly family history are an array of stars including Lea Thompson ("Caroline in the City"), Crispin Glover (Hot Tub Time Machine), Thomas F. Wilson ("Big Love"), Elisabeth Shue (Leaving Las Vegas), Billy Zane (Titanic), Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Mary Steenburgen (The Proposal) as well as 1980s musical icons Huey Lewis and ZZ Top.

BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVE TO Blu-rayTM: Unleash the power of your HDTV with perfect picture and the purest digital sound available.

U-CONTROL: Universal's exclusive signature feature allows viewers to learn more about their favorite film without ever leaving the movie.

Setups & Payoffs: As you watch each of the three films, each „set up‰ showcases items in the scene that prepare you for a future plot point. When you get to that moment in the film, the „payoff‰ is shown to complete the correlation.

Storyboard Comparison: Compare key scenes in the movie with the original storyboards.

Trivia Track: Get inside trivia and facts while you watch the movies.

BD-LIVETM: Access the BD-LiveTM Center through your Internet-connected player to get even more content, watch the latest trailers and more!

My Scenes: Bookmark your favorite scenes from the movies.

pocket BLU˙: USHE's groundbreaking pocket BLU app uses iPhone®, iPod® touch, iPad®, Blackberry®, Android˙, Windows and Macintosh computers and more to work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-rayTM player and offers advanced features such as:

Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray˙ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live˙ functions with ease.

Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in their favorite episode.

Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray˙ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there‚s a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy exclusive content on the go, anytime, anywhere.

Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU˙-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray˙. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.

Keyboard: Enter data into a Blu-ray˙ player with your device‚s easy and intuitive keyboard.

Archival Featurette Back to the Future Night: Hosted by Leslie Nielson, this original 30-minute special aired on NBC prior to the first television screening of the Back to the Future.

BLU-RAYTM and DVD BONUS FEATURES

Tales from the Future: New six-part retrospective documentary featuring interviews with Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Director Robert Zemeckis, Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton, plus Executive Producer Steven Spielberg.*

In the Beginning . . .: Delve into the genesis of the project, casting, re-casting, the DeLorean, sets and overall pre-production.

Time to Go: Production stories through the release of the first film.

Keeping Time: The score and the songs of the Back to the Future Trilogy.

Time Flies: Learn more about how the sequel came about, the futuristic look, the special and visual effects, recreating 1955 and more.

Third Time's the Charm: Learn about building a western town, Doc Brown‚s love story, the casting of Mary Steenburgen, the train sequence and completing the Trilogy.

The Test of Time: Back to the Future becomes a phenomenon! President Reagan quotes the film, the Back to the Future ride opens at Universal Studios theme park and fans rebuild the iconic DeLorean. The film‚s cast and crew take a look back and discuss why these beloved movies live on.

The Physics of Back To The Future: A discussion with celebrity best-selling author and physicist Dr. Michio Kaku about the overall appreciation of the science in the Back to the Future Trilogy*

Nuclear Test Site Ending Storyboard Sequence: Storyboard sequence of the original proposed ending of the film.*

16 Deleted Scenes
Michael J. Fox Q&A
Q&A Commentaries with Director Robert Zemeckis and Producer Bob Gale
Feature Commentaries with Producers Bob Gale and Neil Canton
Archival Featurettes
Making the Trilogy: Chapters One, Two & Three: Original 2002 DVD documentary that takes a look back in time.
The Making Of Back to the Future Part I, II & III: Provides a vintage and historic first look at the making of all three films.
The Secrets of the Back to the Future Trilogy: a televised special hosted by Kirk Cameron addressing fans unanswered Back to the Future questions.
Behind-the-Scenes
Outtakes
Original Makeup Tests
Production Design
Storyboarding
Designing the DeLorean
Designing Time Travel
Hoverboard Test
Designing Hill Valley
Designing the Campaign
Back to the Future: The Ride

Music Videos:
Huey Lewis and the News "Power of Love"
ZZ Top "DoubleBack"

Photo Galleries, Including Production Art, Additional Storyboards, Photographs, Marketing Materials and Character Portraits

Theatrical Trailers

* Denotes new footage debuting on the 25th Anniversary Trilogy

SYNOPSES:
Back to the Future
From the Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis comes Back to the Future, the original, groundbreaking adventure that sparked one of the most successful trilogies in Hollywood history. When teenager Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is blasted to 1955 in the DeLorean time machine created by the eccentric Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), he finds himself mixed up in a time-shattering chain reaction that could vaporize his future˜and leave him trapped in the past. Powered by innovative special effects, unforgettable songs and non-stop action, Back to the Future is an unrivaled adventure that stands the test of time.

Back to the Future Part II
Getting back was only the beginning as the most spectacular time-travel adventure ever continues in Back to the Future Part II˜the sequel that proves that lightning can strike twice! Picking up precisely where they left off, Marty and Doc (Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd) launch themselves to the year 2015 to fine-tune the future and inadvertently disrupt the space-time continuum. Now, their only chance to fix the present is by going back to 1955 again before it‚s too late. From Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, Back to the Future Part II provides more of the timeless excitement that made Back to the Future an unforgettable adventure.

Back to the Future Part III
They've saved the biggest trip for last as the most popular time-traveling movie trilogy ever comes to a rousing conclusion in Back to the Future Part III. Stranded in 1955 after a freak accident, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) discovers he must travel back to 1885 to rescue Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) before he becomes smitten with schoolteacher Clara Clayton (Mary Steenburgen). Now, it's up to Marty to keep Doc out of trouble, get the DeLorean running, and put the past, present and future on track so they can all get back to where˜and when˜they belong. From the Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, Back to the Future Part III is a spectacular grand finale to the unforgettable blockbuster series.


About Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (http://www.universalstudios.com/). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION BLU-RAY˙:
Street Date: October 26, 2010
Copyright: 2010 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61112394
Layers: BD-50
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen, 1.85:1
Rating: PG
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Spanish DTS Surround 5.1, French DTS Surround 5.1
Run Time: Back To The Future ˆ 1 hour, 56 minutes
Back To The Future II ˆ 1 hour, 48 minutes
Back To The Future III ˆ 1 hour, 58 minutes

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD
Street Date: October 26, 2010
Copyright: 2010 Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Selection Number: 61114696
Layers: Dual
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.85:1
Rating: PG
Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles
Sound: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1
Run Time: Back To The Future ˆ 1 hour, 56 minutes
Back To The Future II ˆ 1 hour, 48 minutes
Back To The Future III ˆ 1 hour, 58 minutes

"Review: The Lightning Thief" a Bad Start for Percy Jackson Films

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 60 (of 2010) by Leroy Douresseaux

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
Running time: 118 minutes (1 hour, 58 minutes)
MPAA – PG for action violence and peril, some scary images and suggestive material, and mild language
DIRECTOR: Chris Columbus
WRITER: Craig Titley (based upon the novel by Rick Riordan)
PRODUCERS: Michael Barnathan, Chris Columbus, Mark Morgan, Guy Oseary, Mark Radcliffe, and Karen Rosenfelt
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Stephen Goldblatt
EDITOR: Peter Honess
COMPOSER: Christophe Beck

FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE

Starring: Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Abel, Sean Bean, Pierce Brosnan, Steve Coogan, Rosario Dawson, Catherine Keener, Kevin McKidd, Joe Pantoliano, and Uma Thurman

Percy Jackson is a fictional character and the star of the book series, Percy Jackson & the Olympians from author Rick Riordan. Percy is a demigod, the child of a god and a human. Perseus “Percy” Jackson’s father is Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, and his mother is Sally Jackson, a mortal. The movie Percy Jackson & and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is based on the first novel in the series, The Lightning Thief (2005)

Seventeen-year-old Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) lives with his mother Sally Jackson (Catherine Keener) and his obnoxious, smelly stepfather, Gabe Ugliano (Joe Pantoliano), but he is clueless about who he really is. That’s about to change, because a war is brewing among the gods of Olympus. The master bolt, the lightning bolt that Zeus (Sean Bean) uses to create other lightning, has been stolen. Zeus believes the lightning thief is the son of his brother, Poseidon (Kevin McKidd), none other than Percy Jackson.

Meanwhile, Percy has the truth about his origins forced upon him. He is a demigod and even his best friend, Grover Underwood (Brandon T. Jackson), is a satyr and his protector. Percy immediately leaves his old life behind to attend Camp Half-Blood, a training camp for demigods. There, he meets other children of the gods, including the furious fighter, Annabeth Chase (Alexandra Daddario), the daughter of the goddess Athena. When Hades (Steve Coogan), the brother of Zeus and Poseidon, kidnaps Sally in order to force Percy to give him the bolt, Percy, Gabe, and Annabeth begin a quest to Underworld to rescue Percy’s mother. But they must also find the lightning thief before a war of the gods destroys the world.

Obviously, Percy Jackson stands in the shadowy of that other star of children’s fantasy literature, Harry Potter. Although Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief is directed by Chris Columbus, the man who directed the first two Harry Potter films and produced the third, this is no Harry Potter movie.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief just doesn’t match the quality of a Harry Potter movie, and it doesn’t even offer a great villain like Potter’s enemy, You-Know-Who. Even if I didn’t compare this Percy Jackson movie to a Harry Potter movie, Percy would still be judged as a mediocre film. The action scenes are quite entertaining, but when the film isn’t offering action, for instance, when the story focuses on character drama, it is a disaster.

The acting is acceptable, but unspectacular, and Brandon T. Jackson as the satyr Grover certainly tries to bring some levity to this stiff special effects-heavy fantasy – with, at best, mixed results. A cool sequence with Uma Thurman, however, is this movie’s best moment and is worth seeing even if you avoid the rest of the movie. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief isn’t bad. It’s just another passable fantasy film aimed at children and their parents.

5 of 10
C+

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

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Vampire Knight Now on DVD in North America

VAMPIRES, SOUL REAPERS AND NINJA HEAT UP THE SUMMER WITH NEW ANIME RELEASES FROM VIZ MEDIA

Catch The Latest DVD Releases For BLEACH, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN And The North American Premiere Of VAMPIRE KNIGHT

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will delight anime fans with several exciting new DVD releases scheduled for the summer. These are scheduled to include the North American debut of VAMPIRE KNIGHT, as well as the latest episodic releases of the popular BLEACH and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN series and a new POKÉMON collection.

VAMPIRE KNIGHT Volume 1 • Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens • MSRP: $19.97 US / $28.99 CAN • Available Now

At the prestigious Cross Academy, there are two sessions of classes, the Day Class and the Night Class. As the school's Disciplinary Committee, Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu keep watch over the Day Class students, who are all infatuated with the beautiful and elite Night Class students. As Guardians, Yuki and Zero must also protect the secret of the Night Class – they are all vampires!

For more information on the VAMPIRE KNIGHT manga and to read free previews online please visit www.shojobeat.com.

POKÉMON ELEMENTS: COLLECTION, Part 1 • Rated 'A' for All Ages • MSRP: $29.92 U.S. / $42.99 CAN • Available August 31st

Following the POKÉMON All Star series, the POKÉMON ELEMENTS: COLLECTION bundles Volumes 1-5 of the most important episodes commemorating the different types of Pokémon. Included are: Volume 1: Grass, Volume 2: Fire, Volume 3: Water, Volume 4: Electric and Volume 5: Ice.


New NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Releases Include:

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN BOX SET 3 Standard Edition • Rated 'T+' for Older Teens • MSRP: $49.95 U.S. / $71.99 CAN • Available August 3rd

After fierce battles with the Akatsuki, Sakura, Granny Chiyo, Kakashi and Naruto have finally retrieved Gaara from Deidara's clutches. But is it too late? Back in the Leaf Village, Kakashi's on bed rest for overusing his Mangekyo Sharingan, and Naruto prepares to recruit some of his friends for Team Kakashi. But the village elders have beat him to it, and their choice of the unfeeling Sai has Naruto spitting mad!

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN BOX SET 3 Special Edition • Rated 'T+' for Older Teens • MSRP: $69.97 U.S. / $99.99 CAN • Available August 3rd

Features same DVDs as the Standard Edition but includes a special limited edition Sasori figurine.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Volume 11 • Rated 'T+' for Older Teens • MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN • Available Now

Naruto is horrified to learn that he's responsible for the destruction caused by his rampage under the influence of the Nine-Tailed Fox, which includes Sakura's injuries. Though the battle takes a severe toll on his body, the team continues on to Orochimaru's lair to find Sasuke. But the mysterious Sai has disappeared along with Orochimaru, and the implications could spell disaster for the Leaf Village.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN Volume 12 • Rated 'T+' for Older Teens • MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN • Available August 10th

The search for Sasuke is nearing its end as Team Kakashi infiltrates Orochimaru's hideout. When Sai witnesses Naruto's strong sense of loyalty for Sasuke, he's reminded of the feelings he once had for his own brother. The moment finally comes when Naruto and Sakura face Sasuke once more, but everything may be spoiled when Sai's true mission is revealed! Features episodes 49-53.

NARUTO UNCUT BOX SET SEASON 3, Volume 2 • Rated 'T+' for Older Teens • MSRP: $49.95 U.S. / $71.99 CAN • Available August 31st

Naruto has an irrepressible spirit, and even though his friend and teammate Sasuke has gone over to the evil Orochimaru, he's determined to carry out his shinobi duties. His missions include searching for Orochimaru's hideout, tracking an escaped prisoner, and saving a gold-mining town from a group of thugs. Then his leadership skills are put to the test when he takes Konohamaru and his pals on a training exercise to Mt. Takurami, where he gets them lost! Does Naruto have the chops to find his way out of a raging storm with a pack of eager young ninja in tow? Features episodes 136-163

For more information on NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, please visit http://www.naruto.com/


New BLEACH Releases Include:

BLEACH Volume 30 • Rated ‘T’ for Teens • MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN • Available Now

Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki is determined to learn how to control his inner Hollow and visits Shinji Hirako at the Visoreds' hideout to find a way. But as much as Ichigo wishes to suppress his inner Hollow, Shinji wants to force him to release it. Ichigo must enter his inner world, where he's greeted by a more powerful version of himself wielding a white Zangetsu, which may be his most formidable opponent yet!

BLEACH Volume 31 • Rated ‘T’ for Teens • MSRP: $24.92 U.S. / $35.99 CAN • Available August 24th

Ichigo and his friends undergo exhaustive training, and Captain Hitsugaya's advance troops prepare for the showdown with Sosuke Aizen. But Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto is more interested in exploring life in the World of the Living, embarking on the shopping spree of a lifetime. Her fun is interrupted by the appearance of a formidable new enemy, Mock Arrancars that are wreaking havoc in Karakura Town. Features episodes 127-131

For more information on BLEACH, please visit http://www.bleach.viz.com/

For more information on other animated titles from VIZ Media please visit http://www.vizanime.com/.

Avatar: Special Edition 8 Minutes Longer and in Theatres August 27th

20th Century Fox and James Cameron Announce AVATAR: SPECIAL EDITION Limited Theatrical Engagement, Begins August 27, Exclusively in Digital 3D and IMAX® 3D

Return to Pandora and Re-Experience Cameron’s History-Making Epic, with More Than Eight Minutes of Never Before Seen Footage

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Twentieth Century Fox and James Cameron today announced that AVATAR: SPECIAL EDITION will be released in theaters August 27, in a limited engagement and exclusively in Digital 3D and IMAX 3D.

This version of Cameron’s history-making and groundbreaking epic will include more than eight minutes of new footage. Since – and largely as of result of -- AVATAR’s release last December, the number of available digital 3D screens has exploded, and moviegoers who missed experiencing the film in 3D will now have that opportunity.

Commented James Cameron: "Audiences repeatedly told me they wanted more of Pandora, and wished they could have stayed there longer. So we’re making that possible. AVATAR: SPECIAL EDITION will be exclusively in 3D, and will have eight minutes of never before seen footage, including new creatures and action scenes. Whether you already love the movie, or you've never seen it, with this Special Edition, you'll be seeing it like never before."

Commented Fox Filmed Entertainment chairmen and CEOs, Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman: “AVATAR: SPECIAL EDITION is especially gratifying, because not only has AVATAR become one of the most beloved films in history, but after its initial theatrical release, we have been inundated with requests to re-release the film in theaters in 3D. Equally important, we’re thrilled that Jim Cameron is able to give audiences even more of what they loved about AVATAR.”

The Oscar® and Golden Globe® winning epic is the highest grossing film of all time, taking in over $2.7 billion in worldwide box office. It is also the top-selling Blu-ray disc of all time. Director James Cameron takes audiences to a spectacular world beyond imagination, where a reluctant hero embarks on a journey of redemption and discovery as he leads a heroic battle to save a civilization. AVATAR delivers a fully immersive cinematic experience of a new kind, where the revolutionary technology invented to make the film disappears into the emotion of the characters and the epic nature of the story.


About Fox Filmed Entertainment
One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Animation and Fox International Productions.

Review: "AVATAR" is the Best Picture of 2009

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 14 (of 2009) by Leroy Douresseaux

Avatar (2009)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA/Germany/France
Running time: 162 minutes (2 hours, 42 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language, and some smoking
WRITER/DIRECTOR: James Cameron
PRODUCERS: James Cameron and Jon Landau
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Mauro Fiore (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: James Cameron, John Refoua, and Stephen Rivkin
Academy Award winner

SCI-FI/FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE/DRAMA/WAR with elements or romance

Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Wes Studi, Laz Alonzo, Dileep Rao, and Matt Gerald

Because he has directed such Oscar-winning films as The Abyss (1989), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), and Titanic (1997), I believe that James Cameron is one of the few directors who, using whatever advances in film technology available, can make any kind of movie and always make it a good movie. [Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson are the other two.] Cameron has even developed advancements in film technology, and that makes me wonder if anyone other than he could have created the new film, Avatar.

Avatar is everything good that you have heard about it and more. Cameron has cast a titanic spell of movie magic that will immerse the viewer in an adventure that pits eco-harmonious blue warriors against a mechanized, imperial war machine. The center of Avatar, however, is a surprisingly simply story about an alien warrior who fights not for his own world, but for the world of the woman he loves.

Avatar takes place in 2154, a time when Earth has run out of oil. A moon called Pandora (one of many moons orbiting a giant gas planet) has a rare mineral called Unobtainium, which is the key to solving Earth’s energy problems. This alien world materializes through the eyes of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paraplegic former Marine. Even with his body broken and being confined to a wheelchair, Jake’s DNA makes him useful.

The RDA corporation recruits Jake to travel light years to the human outpost on Pandora, where it is mining Unobtainium. Because humans cannot breathe Pandora’s atmosphere, a group of scientists and researchers, led by Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), have created the Avatar Program, in which human “drivers” have their consciousness linked to Avatars. An Avatar is a remotely-controlled biological body that can breathe the lethal air. These Avatars are genetically engineered hybrids of human DNA mixed with DNA from the natives of Pandora, a humanoid race called the Na'vi. The Na’vi are 10-feet tall, with tails, bones reinforced with naturally occurring carbon fiber, and bioluminescent blue skin. They live in Hometree, a gigantic tree that sits on top of the largest deposit of Unobtainium on Pandora. RDA Administrator Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi) wants the Na’vi to relocate, but they have fiercely resisted.

Reborn in his Avatar form, Jake can walk again. He is given a mission to infiltrate the Na'vi. A beautiful Na'vi female, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), saves Jake’s life and also witnesses a sign that makes her think that Jake is special. Neytiri convinces her clan to take Jake into the tribe, the Omaticaya. However, the chief charges Neytiri with teaching Jake to become one of them, which involves many tests and adventures. Jake’s relationship with his reluctant teacher deepens, and he learns to respect the Na'vi’s way of life. When Selfridge becomes impatient and moves to force the Na’vi out, Jake must decide whose side he will take.

Watching Avatar, with its world of phantasmagorical creatures and plants, one cannot help but marvel at the technology used to create this film, but the audience shouldn’t be fooled by this panorama of color and movement into focusing solely on the marvels of scientific cinema. Avatar is indeed an extraordinary story, one that recalls Kevin Costner’s Dances with Wolves. In Wolves, a solider wounded in spirit finds healing amongst a Native American Indian tribe, and then sheds his skin (his military uniform), becoming one of the tribe. In Avatar, a marine wounded in body, Sam Worthington’s Jake Sully, sheds his body for a new one, but it is his soul that is transformed.

Like Dances with Wolves, Avatar has a romance that is the heart of the story. Behind the CGI that created so many of the things we see on screen and past the motion-capture and performance capture that created the Na’vi, Jake Sully meets Zoe Saldana’s Neytiri and practically everything that is Avatar hinges on their love story. The narrative offers messages in support of environmental conservation and biodiversity against the cold, insatiable hunger of imperialism. This gives Avatar plenty of dramatic conflict, but as usual, Cameron finds the human center of his own technological, cinematic spectaculars. There was the mother-daughter bond in Aliens and the star-crossed lovers of Titanic. Now, warrior boy meets sexy tribal princess and technical virtuosity has a heart. Cameron makes you feel what his characters feel – the joy, the anger, the sorrow, the chills, and, when the battle begins, all the thrills. Avatar may be a monumental achievement, but it is also a fantastic tale.

10 of 10

Monday, December 28, 2009

NOTES:
2010 Academy Awards: 3 wins: “Best Achievement in Art Direction” (Rick Carter-art director, Robert Stromberg-art director, and Kim Sinclair-set decorator), “Best Achievement in Cinematography” (Mauro Fiore), and “Best Achievement in Visual Effects” (Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, and Richard Baneham, and Andy Jones); 6 nominations: “Best Motion Picture of the Year” (James Cameron and Jon Landau), “Best Achievement in Directing” (James Cameron) “Best Achievement in Editing” (Stephen E. Rivkin, John Refoua, and James Cameron), “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score” (James Horner), “Best Achievement in Sound” (Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson, and Tony Johnson), and “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle)

2010 BAFTA Awards: 2 wins: “Best Production Design” (Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg, and Kim Sinclair) and “Best Special Visual Effects” (Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, and Andy Jones); 6 nominations: “Best Cinematography” (Mauro Fiore), “Best Director” (James Cameron), “Best Editing” (Stephen E. Rivkin, John Refoua, and James Cameron), “Best Film” (James Cameron and Jon Landau), “Best Music” (James Horner), and “Best Sound” (Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson, Tony Johnson, and Addison Teague)

2010 Black Reel Awards: 1 nomination: “Best Supporting Actress: (Zoe Saldana)

2010 Golden Globes: 2 wins: “Best Director - Motion Picture” (James Cameron) and “Best Motion Picture – Drama;” 2 nominations: “Best Original Score - Motion Picture” (James Horner) and “Best Original Song - Motion Picture” (James Horner, Simon Franglen, and Kuk Harrell for the song "I See You")

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Welcome to Negromancer, the rebirth of my former movie review website as a movie review and movie news blog. I’m Leroy Douresseaux, and I also blog at http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/ and write for the Comic Book Bin, which has apps for the iPhone and Palm smart phones.

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