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I, Robot DVD Review 2004

Are you decommissioned?

Grab your popcorn, sit back and enjoy this action packed sci-fi thriller.“I, Robot” delivers big budget special effects with strategic product placement and Will Smith’s backside. Those are true, time-tested marketing ploys to get some free press. Yes they worked.

“I, Robot” begins with an apparent suicide of an engineer pioneer for U.S. Robotics. Detective Spooner (Will Smith) is sent to investigate. Spooner has a reason to be suspicious of labor robots. Is that why he was chosen as the lead investigator? Someone is trying to leave him clues to a classic robot mystery. (Who operates the robots?)

The NS4 robots are about to replaced with the newer updated model NS5s. Everyone wants and gets one. Hold your flux capacitor, those pesky NS5 models have a secret. One NS5 model (Sonny) is the prime suspect. What. A robot.

The NS4 robots have three rules: Rule #1,Obey humans, Rule #2, Protect humans from harm! Rule #3, everything else not covered by Rule #1 and 2.
Of course human nature must tend its ugly hand. Detective Spooner and Director of Robot Relations Susan (Bridget Moynahan) join forces to destroy (Not kill) the NS5s.

Is this film a premonition of the future of our society? The labor robots do everything from cooking, cleaning and pleasure dealing for humans. Who cares! Can I get one now!

This film utilized mostly green screen acting. Not even noticeable with the actors. The “Making of” is interesting and divulges the green men. The bonus features include upcoming movie trailers of “Electra” and “Robots.”

"The Bourne Supremacy" DVD review 2004

Suspense thriller that delivers!

I enjoyed the first Jason Bourne movie “The Bourne Identity“. The sequel “The Bourne Supremacy” continues on the same premise and follows Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) five years later. Someone is trying to assassinate him at his secluded beach area of India. Now he must find out who is trying to eliminate him. And find out why!

Jason Bourne is still uncertain of who he is and where he came from. He is a government trained assassin and slowly regaining his memory. He must get answers from his boss and the top secret government program that put a hit on him. (Trenchmark) Jason Bourne is very intelligent and resourceful of his surroundings. Corruption is rampant. Who is going to clean up these loose ends?
"Supremacy" is action packed and filmed with the viewer in mind. This movie is filmed with close up action and cameras everywhere. This movie is a pure suspense thriller that fulfills the bill. Joan Allen (Pamela Landy), Julia Styles (Nicky), Karl Urban (Kirill) and Franka Potente (Marie) are outstanding in their supporting roles.

I found out that the Director Paul Greengrass (Bloody Sunday, 2002) deliberately tries to get the viewer in each action scene. Handheld cameras where used a lot and Matt Damon did all of his stunts which makes this film entertaining.
I recommend purchasing this DVD because of the behind the scenes commentary.

What I liked the most of the bonus features were the ten minute featurettes of each subject matter. Topics like action fight scenes, Go-mobile (car chases), Explosives and what is it like filming in each country. All of these subjects were commented on by director, actors and producers. Kudos to the producers for filming in the actual city and country of location: Germany, India, Russia, Italy and United States.

Most bonus features on DVDs contain one long “Making of” feature. And you have to weed through some long commentary to find something of interest. Not on this DVD, that’s why I recommend purchasing this DVD.

Anchorman DVD Review 2004 Will Ferrell

Outlandish laughs.

Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) is a 1970’s chauvinist anchorman. The old boy newsroom antics are on full display. Crude jokes and sexual overtones are the norm.

When Ron Burgundy misses his anchor time slot Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) is thrust into action. She is the first female anchor to see the airway. Ratings go through the roof. Ron is let go. What will he do?

This uncut DVD is sometimes over the top excessive language. This movie is vintage Will Ferrell. The script could be more polished. The writing tries to squeeze to many jokes into conversations. The movie does not flow well. Will Ferrell can improvise with the best of them (SNL), but sometimes restraint works too. He is an enormous talent and will squeeze his way into the comedic hearts of America.

Old School and Elf are destined to be Will Ferrell classics.

Have you noticed! In Hollywood circles, if you are the lead, hot actor, bring in your actor friends for some cameos. If you follow Adam Sandler’s movies you know what I mean. Ride the pony!

"The United States of Leland" DVD 2004 Review Don Cheadle

"Why" is open to everyone! "The United States of Leland" is about Leland P. Fitzgerald; a teenager who just killed his girlfriend’s mentally challenged younger brother. How does this affect everyone around Leland? This movie explores those different points of view.

The United States of Leland is written and directed by Matthew Ryan Hoge. Don Cheadle (Pearl) and Ryan Gosling (Leland) are the major actors. Pearl is a writer/teacher with aspirations of writing another novel that is actually read by someone this time. He meets Leland in a youth detention center. Pearl befriends Leland hoping to get what no other person could get a "Why!"

Ryan Gosling does an outstanding portrayal of Leland. Leland leaves you thinking about your own father. And leaves unanswered questions in your own head: How can a seemingly "good" kid be a cold-blooded killer? How come he can’t remember the murder?

Kevin Spacey plays Leland’s fatherless father (Albert T. Fitzgerald) and bestselling author. Mr. Spacey also is part of the production company for this movie. (Tigger Street Productions) Albert cares little about his son Leland, but is trying to get his next bestseller out of him.

Do I dare to categorize this as an artsy movie! I guess it depends on what the definition of an artsy movie is. Does it make you think after seeing it? Does it answer life’s questions?

Can a movie do that? All I know is that it got me thinking.

What is replaying in my head from this movie; "To be a writer someone has to actually read your sh$t!" Pearl says.

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"How to Make Money Writing Your Favorite Celebrities"

By Jordan McAuley for Contact Any Celebrity
http://www.Contact Any Celebrity.com

How would you like to receive autographs, photos, and personal
letters from your favorite celebrities? How would you also like to
make money doing this? The good news is: you can!

I've been collecting celebrity autographs for years. I started out
doing it just as a hobby, but quickly realized that my hobby could
turn a profit as well. Celebrities like to receive mail from their
fans. After all, you are needed to make them and keep them famous.

Just look what Martha Stewart wrote in her new book, "The Martha
Rules: 10 Essentials for Achieving Success As You Start, Build, or
Manage A Business" right after she was released from prison:

"All through the grueling months of my trial and later, during my
stay at the Alderson Federal Prison Camp, I received hundreds of
thousands of touching letters and e-mails full of support,
encouragement, and goodwill. These messages warmed my heart. Just
knowing that the many customers of my magazines, books, products,
and television shows cared about me and had faith in me gave me
strength and fortitude. These customers were not overly influenced
by the negative press coverage I had received. I can't even begin
to express how uplifting all that fabulous support was for me and
the hundreds of people who work at Martha Stewart Living."

If her fans stopped believing in her, Martha Stewart would have
probably been over. Instead, she came back more popular than ever.
I have no doubt she kept all the letters she received in prison to
show her various business partners as soon as she was released!

The amount of fan mail a celebrity receives is one way their agent
or manager knows how successful they are at a given time. I know
this because I worked at a couple of talent agencies. One time
the head of the agency I worked at came into the room and said:
"[name withheld] hasn't received any mail for a long time --
drop her." To show their gratitude for writing, most celebrities
will reply with an autograph, which is usually a signed headshot
or still photo.

When the movie "Misery" came out, I loved it so much that I wrote
the film's star Kathy Bates. She sent back an autographed photo from
the movie, along with a note written on her personal stationary. The
letter was even shaped like a pig, which must have been inspired by
the potbelly pig her character owned in the movie!

Later, when "Fried Green Tomatoes" came out, I received an
autographed poster of the movie in the mail -- and I hadn't even
asked for it! Stars like Kathy Bates understand that importance of
keeping in touch with their fans, who will in-turn talk positively
about them and their work to friends, family and co-workers.

So, how exactly can you make money writing celebrities? I probably
don't even have to mention that you can put the autographed photos
and other memorabilia you receive (posters, CDs, etc.) up for auction
on eBay. But if you hold on to an autograph and the celebrity later
passes away, that autograph's value will go up immediately. Take the
sudden deaths of people like Princess Diana, Gianni Versace, athletes
and rap stars (which seem to be happening a lot lately). Those who
own these autographs were very lucky.

Autograph values also vary depending on who you receive them from.
Those from celebrities who sign for everyone aren't as valuable as
those signed only for charity or in vary rare circumstances. Rosie
O'Donnell only signs for children. Oprah Winfrey has said on her talk
show that she used to sign for everyone, but it became so draining
that now she only signs when she really feels like it. Paul Newman
doesn't sign at all (though he must have sometime in his life!), and
Madonna only signs for charity.

It's easiest to get autographs like these before the star becomes hugely
famous. Imagine if you had written Ashton Kutcher when he was just
starting out on "That 70s Show" -- it was probably a lot easier to get
his autograph then than it is now. And that was just a few years ago!
Of course he's still young, so in the future it will probably be worth
even more, especially if he becomes as big as Brad Pitt (which many are
saying he will!). If you happen to get autographs like these, they can
be worth hundreds of dollars, and many more once the star passes away.