Thursday, September 16, 2010

Thank You, My Twilight (With English Lyrics)


So the pillows turn twenty-one today and I just thought I'd take the time to share what has come to be my favorite song of theirs (which is saying a lot). Here's to another twenty-one years, guys!


English Lyrics*

Life, life is beautiful
My roulette keeps spinning
She, she is wonderful
I want to see the present in those eyes
Immediately I seized that feeling

It's as if I'm waiting for someone
If you appear, it won't be a mistake
I was waiting for you

Life, life is beautiful
I'll keep singing just as I speak
She, she is wonderful
Those words shine even in the darkness
Brilliant tears overflowed

Sometime they'll ask
"How long, how far does that feeling go?"
Baby, however far you want

Life, life is beautiful
My roulette keeps spinning
She, she is wonderful
I want to see the present in those eyes
Immediately I seized that feeling

Even if there is no miracle, it's enough, you know
Even if today is the last day
Thank you, my twilight
Thank you, my twilight

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Summer 2010 Movie Review Backlog #2: The Karate Kid



**Sorry for the lack of posting over this past month. I have been extremely lazy. August will be different, I promise. >_>

I am hesitant to even call this homage to the film that first used this title, but "The Karate Kid" was fairly entertaining to watch. Everything about the film was fairly standard, the choreography for the fights were decent, as was the general story of the film, but my biggest problem was the acting. I have never really liked Jaden Smith, and I certainly think that he has yet to prove himself as any kind of actor, but even beyond that, the only other actor in the film that gave even a decent performance was Jackie Chan. In fact, I think that it could easily be said that he carried the film. My only other issue with the film was that there was a very loose sense of time, and that made the whole pre-tournament part of the movie hard to watch.

I am awarding "The Karate Kid" two and a half stars out of five for be entertaining to watch (and for casting Jackie Chan) but for having fairly poor acting and a loose concept of time. I would definitely rent/Netflix/whatever this film, but it's certainly not collection worthy.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Let Me In Trailer #1



[Video Link]


I have been fearing this day since I first heard about the American remake of 2008's (yes, 2008's!) "Let the Right One In" a few years ago, and it seems like my fears may have been well deserved. The original trailer for the film didn't rely on any dialogue or voice-overs, and came across as something much more intriguing and mysterious than the trailer for the remake. Don't get me wrong, it could still turn out to be a great film, I just fear that the new director is going to take to many chances with his "re-envisioning" of the story.

I am not going to lie, "Let the Right One In" is not only one of my favorite films, but one of my favorite books as well. This upcoming film has a lot to live up to, and from what I have read and seen so far it looks like it is going to be more of a localization than a remake.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Summer 2010 Movie Review Backlog #1: Iron Man 2 Impressions



I was very disappointed with "Iron Man 2." The first film had a nice balance of action and humor while still making you feel like what you were seeing was important. "Iron Man 2," however, focuses far too much on the "humor" (bad jokes and overly long dialogue) and leaves you pondering the question of whether or not what you are watching is at all significant. Also, what little action there was felt kind of cheap. Not in flashiness, (it is still a big budget Marvel film), but in content. Every one of the three or so "fights" felt too easy and very much anticlimactic.

What "Iron Man 2" did well, though, was tease about three upcoming Marvel films. I won't say anything about them, but I will say that it just felt... wrong. Like my money was just being used for these other films and everything else they are showing me is just filler.
Why can't they just make a solid film with all of the teasers and whatnot at the end?

The only thing I even remotely liked about the film was the acting, and like I said before, the dialogue did not do them any kind of service.

I am awarding "Iron Man 2" a very disappointing two and a half stars out of five for losing the feeling of "significance" that the first film had, having very little action, and for focusing too much on "humor." On a lighter note, however, I am now excited for those three other movies I mentioned. So, no big loss... right?

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 MTV Clip



The closer this movie comes, the more sad I get... but still, I am fairly excited to see it. At least they are giving it the "two part" treatment. Anyway, watch and enjoy!

On a semi-related note, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens in a few weeks! Check out the site if you haven't already!

***Note: I apologize for the "lower" quality. Youtube took down the original upload so I just found a copy for myself.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin: Sleep Is Death



[Video Link]

You never really realize how valuable your time is until someone is paying you for it.

Anyway, here is a "new" HAWP video (and by "new" I mean like a month old). Also, HAWP has a cool "new" site that you should totally check out. Anyway, enjoy your respective Memorial Day weekends (if you're in the states)! I won't be enjoying mine!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Inception Trailer 2



[Video Link]

I can not wait to see this film. Not only does it seem interesting and engaging, but it also plays host to a great cast of actors. Circle July 16th on your calendars!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Jonah Hex Trailer



[Video Link]


I will admit, I was moderately intrigued by this film when I first heard about it, and considerably intrigued when I saw the cast listing. But now that I've seen the first trailer, I honestly don't know what to think. I mean, it just doesn't look especially "cool," you know? Ah well, the film is dated for June 18th so I suppose we will find out soon enough.

Friday, April 30, 2010

This Day in Calvin and Hobbes: April 30, 1993



Spaceman Spiff just can't seem to go anywhere without dangerous aliens popping up. What a life.

Monday, April 26, 2010

The Last Airbender Trailer 3



[Video Link]

The more I see of this film, the more serious it looks. Where are the jokes? Where is the humor? I will admit that the bending looks great, but "Avatar: The Last Airbender" was not all action. I don't think that I have seen the kid playing Aang do so much as crack a smile even once. I am still anxious to see this film, despite the casting choices and the seriousness, but that is mostly because I just want to get it out of the way.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Kick-Ass Impressions



I can't say that I had high hopes going into this film, having not read the comics (though I wasn't expecting the movie to be 100% true to them) and not recognizing any of the actors other than Nicolas Cage and "McLovin," but I can definitely say that I was pleased with what I saw.

My greatest fear, at least after seeing the trailers, was that "Kick-Ass" would be more of a spoof of a "superhero" movie than one in its own right, but there was certainly enough grit and action to keep the audience engaged. The best thing about the film, though, was definitely the fact that it never took itself too seriously. There were buckets of blood and copious amounts of violence, but it all just felt fun. Maybe the zany choice of music did a great deal of helping, but never before (and perhaps never again) has watching a little girl in a mask and a cape take out an entire room of drug dealers with various bladed weaponry been so hilarious.

Anyway, there really isn't too much to say beyond that. My biggest problems with the film were that too many things felt unbelievably convenient and that the acting ranged from fairly mediocre to outright cheesy. Maybe it was simply supposed to be commentary on the "traditional" superhero movie, but I just found it to be annoying.

I am awarding "Kick-Ass" four stars out of five for being gritty and fun to watch, but still lacking a strong cast and for being overly convenient. If you don't mind a great deal of violence and swearing, then "Kick-Ass" is definitely the film for you. Otherwise, you might want to see something else because you will most likely be doing some seat squirming if you choose to see this.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Prince of Persia Trailer #2



[Video Link]

I want to not have mixed feelings about this film, I really do, but I just can't get over some of the scenes and lines in these trailers. It could go either way at this point. I guess we will just have to wait until May 28th to find out whether or not the action can drown out the cheesy dialogue.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Repo Men Impressions



Before I get into my review, I want to put one thing to rest: "Repo Men" is in no way a "rip-off" of "Repo! The Genetic Opera". The former was based off of a novel written by Eric Garcia in 2001 (though it wasn't published until 2009), who got his inspiration from a short story he had written in 1997. In that regard, however, I am not saying that "Repo! The Genetic Opera" took anything from "Repo Men." The two films are very much different from one another and each have their own inspirations.

Now, for my review. I will start by saying that "Repo Men" was not the poorly crafted film the critics said it was going to be. The acting was solid, the cinematography wasn't too overblown, it was in no way unentertaining, and the story wasn't nearly as washed out and political as many current filmmakers would have taken the liberty to make it. To be honest, I really think that critics dropped the ball on this one, though I suppose that could be said of most critics most of the time.

First, what worked best for the film: the straightforward simplicity and the music. As I said before, "Repo Men" was not the heavy political satire it could have been. There were no corrupt politicians or business men or moral high grounds. Just a company that sold synthetic organs, people that wanted them, and individuals hired to repossess said organs if the client couldn't keep up with their payments. Also, the main characters weren't out to "take down the system." They were about 99.9% in it for themselves. That being said, the film was not overly predictable either. There were still plenty of twists and turns all the way through that culminate in an ending that will probably surprise you, though you may have seen it before. As for the music, I have to say that "Repo Men" has one of the most dynamic and well chosen soundtracks I have heard in a long time (in terms of using music not especially recorded for the film). Instead of just having songs that happen to be popular or that "sound" appropriate, the film uses songs that fit on both a rhythmical and lyrical level.

What didn't work for the film: the shallow character introductions (which hurts their development) and the ending. By the end of the film, I didn't really feel like I "knew" many of the characters and some of the people I saw the film with didn't even know most of the character's names. You see the characters do things and get a semblance of what their respective personalities are like, but you don't really get to know who they were before the events of the film or what they might be doing beyond what you see in the story. As for the ending, I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that it is one of those endings that explains a lot of the events you witness prior to it, but at the same time disappoints you for the things that it has "undone." Also, as a hint, I will say that I have seen an ending almost exactly like it in the "non-wholesome edit" of an 80's science fiction film.

I am awarding "Repo Men" three and a half stars out of five for being entertaining, relatively unpredictable, and for having a great soundtrack, but also for having weak character introductions and a fairly disappointing ending. I definitely thought that this film was worth the money I spent to see it, which is more than I can say for most of the films I have recently gone to see.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Wishes + Tied Down



So yeah, a "few" months ago I put my acrostic series on hold so that I could get back to my "usual" style of writing... beginning with this.

And now for why I threw a rant tag on this post. My process for writing, and photography too I suppose, is that I come up with a concept, write a poem, take a picture that I think fits that poem, and then I write another poem that directly applies to the picture. So yeah, two poems, one picture (if you get what I am playing off of with that then I am truly, truly sorry).

Anyway, I thought it was a shame not to share all of the results of my "process" on here so I am going to start including the "picture specific" poem after the "concept specific" one. The picture specific poems are usually shorter and less formal so I didn't think it'd be that big of a deal. Enjoy!


Wishes

Wishes are such
Silly things.

We send them into the sky,
Like colorful little balloons,
Hoping that one or two
Will bump into someone "up there"
And they, in turn,
Will answer our
Requests.

We send them up
By the dozen,
By the tens of hundreds of dozens,
Yet we only dare to hope
For one or two
To be answered.
Why is that?

Do we feel the need for
Modesty?
Wishes are selfish.
Regardless of our
Intentions,
Each one is essentially
Just for us.
What does it matter
If we push
The line
Between "very selfish"
And "mostly selfish?"

Do we not feel that
Every wish
Is worth the answer?
Wishes are invaluable.
Beneath that thin layer of rubber
Someone's hopes and dreams
Bounce back and forth
Like hundreds of hungry
Molecules
Eager for release.
Why dream at all
If any one dream
Is less important
Than the last?

Do we feel that
We are not strong enough
To handle
More than one or two?
Wishes are empowering.
They help us maintain
The belief
That there is something special
Out there
Waiting just for us.
Why burden yourself with
Life, at all,
If something so simple
Is too much
To believe?

Wishes are empowering,
Invaluable,
Selfish,
And silly.

I understand all of this,
Yet I just can not seem
To get my wish
Off the ground.

Could you help me with the knot?

Copyright © 2009 Jarred Lee


Tied Down

We were meant
For the sky.

We were meant
To touch the clouds
High above your heads
Without having to worry
About looking down.

Yet you have found the
"Need"
To tie us to the ground,
To your flightless situation.

You have found it
"Necessary"
To tie us to your cruel fate.

You may think it
Amusing
To watch us suffer,
But we were not meant
For this place,
This life,
And we are running out
Of oxygen.

Set us free.

Copyright © 2009 Jarred Lee

Monday, March 29, 2010

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Trailer 1



[Video Link]

As much as I dislike Michael Cera (I am tired of seeing him play "awkward teenage boy" in every one of his films), I would be a complete and total liar if I said that this movie doesn't look awesome. On a side note, I am really glad to see that more and more non-mainstream comics are getting film adaptations. Hollywood seems to be taking less liberties with their stories (because that makes perfect sense) and has been making them look fairly amazing.

Anyway, enjoy the trailer!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Alice in Wonderland Impressions



In spite of all I have said about Tim Burton in the past, I will admit that "Alice in Wonderland" had the potential to be a great movie. The acting was decent, though Alice felt very bland at times, the voice work was great, and the visuals were amazing.

Pretty much everything else, however, was rather terrible. The story and the dialogue felt forced and awkward, especially a lot of the insertions of lines from Lewis Carroll's work, and far too many convenient solutions revealed themselves in light of the character's problems. You never feel like any of the characters are in danger and all you can really do is sit back and watch things happen. There also seemed to be quite a few pacing with the film issues as all of the events outside of "Underland" felt rushed and shallow (there are barely any formal introductions to the "real"characters) and in Underland events seem sporadic and whimsically arranged.
This especially hurts the ending of the film because it is really difficult to know what to make of things. More than a few of the liberties taken with the original work felt needless and awkward as well.

I am awarding Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" one and a half stars out of five for having potential, but not doing anything with said potential. By the end of the film, you will have no choice but to wonder whether or not the visuals alone can make this film worth the time and money you spent on it. In my case... they just couldn't do it.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Defendor Trailer



[Video Link]

Although this film has technically already released theatrically, I am sure that most of you have never heard of it. I have really been getting to like Woody Harrelson, though, so I thought that I would post the trailer for the film before its DVD release in April. This film reminds me a lot of 2006's "Special" with Michael Rapaport, but the story looks a bit wider in scope and more interesting. Anyway, enjoy!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Drawn Together



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 tenth entry in my Acrostic Adventure series. I wrote it back in August and took a break from this particular series to get back to my usual style. Why is Alice taking him to the very place that she kept him from going earlier? Exactly what is it that she wishes him to do?

**I shrank the text to better preserve the line spacing.

Drawn Together

Presumption foolishly ventures to pluck the most beautiful red
Apple from a tree that is twisted and withered to its core.
Poison has never before tasted so sweet.
Entranced by Alice's palatial promise, he pushes open the
Rusted rear gateway to the Overlooked Palace.

An ancient and decomposing mausoleum lays itself out before them like a
Nocturnal wonderland of death and decay.
Dreary specters silently perform their dismal waltz across the somber scene.

Ghosts of Overlooked Kings and Queens
Long since turned to dust.
Unity is the rose-colored placebo that
Eases the pain of relentless aging.


Copyright © 2009 Jarred Lee

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

New Iron Man 2 Trailer


[Video Link]

I was wondering when they were going to give us a new Iron Man 2 trailer. They showed the old one during the previews before "Shutter Island" and I was kind of disappointed. Ah well. Enjoy! The film is due for release in American theaters on May 7th!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Shutter Island Impressions



I had high hopes for "Shutter Island," it being a Scorsese film and all, and I can happily say that I wasn't completely disappointed. The film was well shot, well acted (Leonardo DiCaprio was especially fantastic), and will keep you intrigued from beginning to end (though I found the ending to be fairly disappointing, personally).

My biggest issue with the film had to be the editing. I can appreciate the fact that "Shutter Island" wants to play with your mind, but changing filters at random times for seemingly no reason and random breaks in shot consistency is far too self-indulgent. Scorsese tries so hard to convey the instability of the film that you are left wondering if what you have seen was purposely done or an if a few inconsistencies slipped past the editors.

I am awarding "Shutter Island" three and a half stars out of five for being well acted and intriguing, but for having distracting (an often annoying) editing work and a somewhat disappointing ending. This film is definitely worth the watch, even if you only want to see how things pan out, but don't feel bad if you want to wait for a rental.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin: Psychonauts


[Video Link]

"Ash dives into your brain!"


Haha, I suppose some minds are just better off unread. But still, that looked kind of painful.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

This Day in Calvin and Hobbes: February 24, 1986



I miss getting points for originality... even if that was just a nice way of saying that you were completely wrong.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Toy Story 3 Trailer #2



[Video link]

Wow, this trailer was far more enjoyable than the first one. It is able to showcase the humor and personality that made the first two films great while still explaining the "Brave Little Toaster"-esque premise (not that the comparison is at all a bad thing). I can't wait to see it in June. Enjoy!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

The Wolfman Impressions



Before I get into the review, I will just say that I was never a fan of "The Wolf Man." Nothing against the original film, or anything, I just never really liked the "man turns into unthinking monster" premise. It just makes it difficult to feel sympathy for the charcter.

Anyway, I thought that "The Wolfman" stayed true to the original film while still managing to add a few new twists that didn't undo everything. That being said, though, I actually would have liked to see a bigger twist regarding the ending... but I won't say more than that. The acting was decent for the most part, but none of the characters felt genuine or engaging so it was kind of difficult to connect with them. Even the "big" characters felt somewhat shallow and at times distant. For instance, I would have loved to learn more about Hugo Weaving's "Francis Aberline" other than the fact that he "worked on the Ripper case a few years back." The film makes you feel like you are just watching stale characters play out their respective parts in between gory slaughter scenes. On that note, the film's strongest point was definitely the visuals, and the decision to use costume and make-up in the fashion of the original film for the wolf (instead of solely relying on CGI) was commendable as well.

I am awarding "The Wolfman" three stars out of five for accomplishing what it set out to do, creating a respectable remake a classic film, and nothing more. If you have seen absolutely everything else on your list, then I would suggest that you give it a shot, but don't expect to be impressed.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The Last Airbender Trailer



[video link]

So, here it is. Your first "The Last Airbender" theatrical trailer. I will admit that the effects look nice, but I am still upset with most of the casting decisions. Ah well, take a look for yourself. Enjoy!

Just as a note, I have decided to start putting the links for the videos under their respective embeds to make it easier for Facebook people.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin: The Most Dangerous Game


"Pokemon is a very dangerous game."


Wow, it has been a long time since I posted one of these. At least this one is funny, though. Enjoy.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Repo Men Trailer



I can't say that I haven't seen this concept before, but the absence of singing and (hopefully) the lack of cheesiness will make this film worth the watch. The cast looks like it should be able to deliver, Jude Law and Forest Whitaker have rarely been known to do a poor job, but the real question is whether or not the script and the story will pan out. Ah well, "Repo Men" seem promising enough and April 2010 release date means that we won't have to wait too long to find out. The link to the official trailer is below. Enjoy.

Repo Men Official Trailer Page

Monday, January 25, 2010

Season of the Witch Trailer



Just how many upcoming films is Nicolas Cage starring in? I know he is in desperate need of work because of his recent financial troubles, but this is just ridiculous. He just seems to be popping up everywhere these days.

Anyway, "Season of the Witch" looks like it could be fairly interesting (regardless of the above), and this trailer sported a glimpse of a significantly deformed Christopher Lee and the always gruff Ron Perlman so I will definitely keep a spot open in my schedule for it. The film is currently due for release on March 19th and the link to the trailer can be found below. Enjoy.

Official Trailer Page

Monday, January 18, 2010

High Up Above



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 ninth entry in my Acrostic Adventure series. The mystery girl reveals herself to be an Overlooked Princess. Will our lonely wanderer regain his senses in time to realize that she is only using him for her own purposes? Or perhaps this is what he wanted all along?


High Up Above

Dangerous thoughts and ideals scatter
Across the palely lit sky like a
Never ending assault on the stars.
Constellations mix and swirl
In rapid succession until
Nothing distinguishable remains.
Grace swallowed by unbridled emotion.

Will he be pulled in by such lofty hopes and
Irrational reasonings?
To think an overlooked princess such as
Her would seek out someone so lost.

The bizarre twilight scene uses this moment's hesitation to
Haunt his vision and arrest his judgment,
Enticing him further into Alice's hold.

Malevolent games played amongst
Overlooked royalty.
Only you can decide how high you go.
Never allow yourself to believe otherwise.


Copyright © 2009 Jarred Lee

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Daybreakers Impressions



There just isn't much to say about "Daybreakers." The acting was good, and the futuristic vampire world was shiny, but everything else was just... stale. There just never seemed to be a real sense of purpose in the film. The protagonists were really just reacting to whatever unfortunate situations they happened upon, conveniently overcoming them, and then getting to ride away into the sunset to a cheesy "we're out there" voice over. The time frame of the film was also completely skewed as I wasn't sure if the events took place within days, weeks, or even months.

I am awarding "Daybreakers" three stars out of five for... well... being a movie. I neither liked nor disliked it and it didn't really try anything out of the ordinary. I had high hopes for this film, but I suppose it will eternally be known as my first disappointment of 2010. Ah well, I hope "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" fairs better... when I can finally track it down.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

The Fading of the Cries Trailer



I am having some very mixed feelings about this trailer. The story looks like it could be fairly interesting (albeit a bit generic) and the art direction is somewhat unique, but there are times when the CGI looks terrible and the acting comes off as stiff. Also, the lead actor is the kid that you may remember from "Rookie of the Year" or "A Kid in King Arthur's Court," and the main villain is the guy who played Wormtongue in the "Lord of the Rings" films. Anyway, I will definitely be keeping a lookout for "The Fading of the Cries," but it will be anyone's guess as to whether or not it will get a full theatrical release.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Matt Smith is Doctor Who...? (Preview Clip)



Why the question mark, you ask? Well, though this is just a short preview (about a minute long), I have already seen Matt Smith punch someone, hit what seems to be a Dalek with what seems to be a sledge hammer, and shoot a gun. Oh, and all while looking roughly 16-18 years old. I am happy to be rid of Russel T Davies, but this younger, overly eager Doctor just doesn't sit well with me. I guess only Spring 2010 will tell whether or not it works. Until then Matt Smith. Until then.