Inception Trailer

Christopher Nolan's latest thriller finally has a trailer to go with the unusual poster. I am kind of upset that they used the "From the director of 'The Dark Knight'" tagline as this film looks much closer to something like "Memento" or "Insomnia," but I guess you have to use your biggest success when it counts. Ah well. "Inception" looks like it will be fairly interesting from what I can see, but further explanation will be much appreciated. Also, yes, that is Ellen Page you see there. I will be seeing this opening weekend. The link to the official trailer page is below. You should click it.

Trailer Page

Avatar Impressions

I came into this film as skeptical as anyone else (I even called it "Pocahontas in Space" for a few months prior to its release), but I was very much impressed with what I saw, both during the regular viewing and the digital 3D viewing.

First, I think I will go ahead and get the smaller bits out of the way: the acting was good, the characters were interesting, the music was kind of what you would expect from a movie like this (switching between large orchestrated pieces and more tribal drum beats with "singing"). There.

Now what really stood out in "Avatar" was, of course, the CGI work. Pandora was simply beautiful and all of its creatures were just as impressive. What impressed me the most, however, were the Na'vi (the tribals). They were perfectly crafted down to the smallest details and, unlike the "prawns" in "District 9," they fit well into the environment (they weren't over animated). The voice work and motion capture work for the was exceptional as well.

What seems to be drawing the most attention for "Avatar" is the "familiarity" of the plot (which is understandable). Sure, it isn't particularly deep or unpredictable, but it isn't anything less than what you'd see from any Disney classic. Also, this film is only relatable to all of those other films from the most basic and general viewpoints. Man meets tribal race. Tribal race takes man in for one reason or another and teaches him their ways. Man falls in love with a tribal and ends up saving them from his own people. End. "Avatar" as a whole, however, feels like much more than that. The avatar technology alone is enough to give this film suitable distinction, and that still leaves out a lot of the other factors (like the whole bio-USB thing).

I am awarding "Avatar" four and a half stars out of five for being wonderfully crafted, but still lacking a bit plot-wise. This film reminded me of exactly what I liked about "Pocahontas" and science fiction and I would definitely recommend that you see it (especially in 3D). This is the first movie that I am actually anticipating the Blu-ray release of.

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays everyone! I hope your respective days are filled with good food and tons of presents. Here are this year's Christmas poems, just in time.

Ornaments

The only ornament on my tree
Is a little golden orb for all to see.

No hats, no trains,
No tinkertoys.
No candy canes,
No Christmas joys.

No musical doves,
No musical bears,
No little Christmas gloves
No little wooden chairs.

Just a little golden orb for all to see
That's all I need upon my tree.

Copyright © 2009 Jarred Lee


Like Diamonds From the Sky

Snow like diamonds from the sky
Comes down in gentle torrents,
And everywhere I dare to look
Is a season in full bloom.

Miss Crosby stands behind the same old
Green folding table she has stood behind every year
Pouring hot cocoa like liquid Christmas
For anyone who can spare a dime,
And for anyone who could use one.

Old man Peterson pushes smooth jazz
Out of a rusty, dusty saxophone
On the same corner he seems to find every wintry night.
The only pauses his ancient fingers make
Are to gesture towards the upturned hat at his feet.

The many stores and shops,
Each on the brink of dormancy,
Light the streets so brightly
That you'd have to occasionally look up again
To make sure the sun still remained somewhere past the horizon.
Inside of each you can still see the shuffling and bustling
Of last minute shoppers in an eager panic
To find those last minute gifts,
Or suitable substitutes.

Below my feet lie dozens of shoe prints,
Each pair belonging to men, women, and children
Who are probably at home right now
Dreaming of adventures to come
And adventures that have already begun to fray around the edges.

Stray animals and creatures of the night
Patrol the alleyways and sidewalks in anxious anticipation of the
Leftover meals that are sure to arrive after belts have been loosened
And pants are unbuckled.

Yes, the holiday season is in full bloom with its
Unbuckled pants and anxious animals.
Its dream-scape adventures, last minute shoppers,
And shining lights.
Its ancient fingers, smooth jazz, and rusty, dusty saxophones.
Its folding tables and liquid Christmas.

Oh, and let us not forget those many sparkling diamonds
Falling from the sky.

I enjoy them the most.

Copyright © 2009 Jarred Lee

Iron Man 2 Trailer

Iron Man 1, or "Maybe Next Time" as some refer to it, promised us a few things. From what I have seen of Iron Man 2, including this trailer, I think I can safely say that it is going to start delivering on those promises. More action, greater enemies, that Starkian humor we all know and love, and Warmachine. What more could you want? The film is currently scheduled for release on May 7th, 2010 so be prepared for the advertising storm that is sure to start soon.

Also, as with most of the trailers I embed here, I have no clue how long the "powers that be" at Youtube will let it stay up so be prepared to search for yourself.

New Alice in Wonderland Trailer

So I still won't say that I am much of a Tim Burton fan, not much at all really, but I will admit that this trailer looks much more promising than the first one. This film is currently being billed as an "extension" to both "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass" where we will see Alice visiting Wonderland for a second time, though she doesn't remember anything from her first journey. Like many Disney films these day, "Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland" will be presented in both Disney Digital 3-D and a normal format and is slated to be released on March 5, 2010. Click the link below to go to the official trailer page.

Trailer Page

The Sorcerer's Apprentice Trailer

A film based off of a part of one of my favorite Disney films and starring two of my least favorite actors? I'd like to wake up now, please. This nightmare is starting to get a bit too real. Yet more proof that Jerry Bruckheimer will produce almost anything. Take a look for yourself. Link below.

Trailer Page

Down the Rabbit Hole

Acrostic: "A poem or series of lines in which certain letters, usually the first in each line, form a name, motto, or message when read in sequence."

This is the eighth entry in my Acrostic Adventure series. So the girl has finally shown him the way to her home, her sanctuary. But why? How can he help her? What does she see in him that outshines all of the others in this dreary dystopia?


Down the Rabbit Hole

A pair of twisted gray trees entwined
Like long lost lovers locked
In a deep, tearful embrace.
Cries sent skyward to the multitude of
Ears that no longer care to listen.

Is he a fool for following her into such a foreboding place?
Nothing worth knowing comes without a price.

Wilt and rust enforce their cold
Oppression with little mercy.
Never before has he seen such wanton
Disregard for appearances.
Even so, he can still sense that this is the last bit of
Resistance to be found in this lucid city.
Lights flicker across the cove as
Alice motions him over to an old tire swing.
Never allow your curiosity to be swayed by reason.
Destinations are only as interesting as the journeys preceding them.


Copyright © 2009 Jarred Lee

New Moon Impressions

Yet again I am forced to overcome my desire to be subjective and rate this purely on it's own merits. Sure, I'd like to say that I believe the Twilight series is a prime example of what is wrong with literature today. Sure, I'd like to berate this film for its nearly unbearable cheesiness... but I won't. I am sure you have already done plenty of that yourselves. Anyway, let's get to it.

Overall, New Moon felt kind of pointless. It seemed to be more of a teaser for the rest of the series than a sequel to the first film. The majority of the "interesting" characters were gone within the first half hour and all we were left with was... Bella. Well, the Werewolves too, I suppose, but Bella absorbed the majority of the screen time. I would say that she overacted in most of here scenes, but that would really be too nice. She was just... bad. I also found Jacob to be just as annoying, with his bipolar moodiness and questionable loyalties, but at least he had the Werewolf thing to fall back on. By the hour mark I actually found myself wanting the poorly crafted "vampires" to reappear because I never realized how much of the over-the-top teen angst they were protecting me from.

Still, I just couldn't shake the moderate interest that formed during the first film. You may scoff, but I have to honestly say that New Moon never bored me. Whether I was laughing hysterically or writhing in pain, I still wanted to know how things played out. So yeah, I guess that's the closest to a compliment as I can give this film.

I am awarding New Moon two and a half stars for being... well... bad, but still slightly interesting. I was going to give it half a star less than Twilight... but at least the Volturi were kind of interesting (they came the closest to the image of traditional vampires). There, done. I am now going to watch "Let the Right One In" to get this out of my head. It will be just my luck, though, if the American remake features sparkles though. I may be forced to move if that happens.

Catching Up With HAWP

"The Burches enter the sordid world of DVD board games."




"Ash pitches her movie idea."




"Enough mind-bending similarities to detonate your dome?"



"The ballad of the Boomer."


It has been forever since I poseted one of these... so I thought I'd just catch up in one big HAWP post. Great idea, huh? Enjoy! The L4D2 one was definitely my favorite. Por que?!!!!

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: Lightning Thief Trailer

I don't know much about the series of books this film is based off of, but this trailer is interesting enough. I will have to keep an eye out for it. Oh, and Uma Thurman is going to be playing Medusa. Please feel free to laugh unabatedly.