Friday, October 22, 2010

Taxi Driver - 1976 Drama Thriller Movie

1976 American drama movie Taxi Driver is about Travis Bickle (played by Robert De Niro), an ex-Marine and Vietnam War veteran living in New York City. As he suffers from insomnia, he spends his time working as a cabbie at night, watching porn movies at seedy cinemas during the day, or thinking about how the world, New York in particular, has deteriorated into a cesspool. He's a loner who has strong opinions about what is right and wrong with mankind. Directed by Martin Scorsese and screenwritten Paul Schrader, the film was considered gritty, disturbing, nightmarish modern film classic, that examines alienation in urban society. Scorsese's fourth film, combining elements of film noir, the western, horror and urban melodrama film genres. Historically, the film appeared after a decade of war in Vietnam, and after the disgraceful Watergate crisis and President Nixon's resignation.

It explores the psychological madness within an obsessed, twisted, inarticulate, lonely, anti-hero cab driver and war vet (De Niro), who misdirectedly lashes out with frustrated anger and power like an exploding time
bomb at the world that has alienated him. His assaultive unhinging is first paired with a longing to connect with a blonde goddess office worker (Shepherd), and then with an attempt to rescue/liberate a young 12-year old prostitute named Iris (Foster) from her predatory pimp "Sport" (Keitel) and her tawdry, streetwalking life. Taxi Driver constantly, almost obsessively, reflects on the ugly corruption of life around him, and becomes increasingly disturbed over his own loneliness and alienation. In nearly every phase of his life, Bickle remains a complete outsider, failing to make emotional contact with anyone. Unable to sleep night after night, Travis haunts the local pornography emporiums to find diversion, and begins desperately thinking about an escape from his depressing existence.

The film is set in New York City, soon after the Vietnam War. The film stars Robert De Niro and features Albert Brooks, Harvey Keitel, Leonard Harris, Peter Boyle, Cybill Shepherd, and a young Jodie Foster. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won the Palme d'Or at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival. Although the film was nominated for four Academy Awards nominations (without recognition for director Scorsese, screenwriter Paul Schrader, or cinematographer Michael Chapman): Best Picture, Best Actor (Robert De Niro), Best Supporting Actress (Jodie Foster), and Best Original Score (Bernard Herrmann, nominated posthumously -- Herrmann passed away shortly after completing his work in this film) - all were unrewarded. The film gained further notoriety when John Hinckley, Jr. claimed that it was his obsession with Foster's role that made him attempt to assassinate Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Taxi Driver has been acknowledged as consciously influenced by John Ford's The Searchers (1956) - the story of another angry war veteran and social outcast who becomes obsessed during a search and rescue of his young niece from a long-haired Comanche chief named Scar. In many ways, the film has become prophetic and mirrors the violence of contemporary news headlines. Notoriously, the film is linked to and may have triggered the political assassination (copy-cat) attempt by inconspicuous John Hinckley on President Ronald Reagan in 1981, illuminating his dangerous fixation on actress Jodie Foster, and resulting in the assassin's infamous media-hero status.


Directed by Martin Scorsese
Produced by Julia Phillips and Michael Phillips
Written by Paul Schrader
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date(s) February 8, 1976
Language English
Budget $1.3 million
Gross revenue $28,262,574

Casts:
  • Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle
  • Jodie Foster as Iris "Easy" Steensman
  • Cybill Shepherd as Betsy
  • Harvey Keitel as Matthew "Sport" Higgins
  • Peter Boyle as "Wizard"
  • Albert Brooks as Tom
  • Norman Matlock as "Charlie T"
  • Leonard Harris as Senator Charles Palantine
  • Harry Northup as Doughboy
  • Martin Scorsese as a passenger in Travis' taxi
  • Victor Argo as a grocery store owner
  • Nat Grant as stickup man
  • Steven Prince as "Easy Andy", an illegal gun salesman
  • Joe Spinell as Travis' personnel officer at the taxi depot

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Top (Gross) Movies of 1990

Home Alone ($285,761,243)
It is Christmas Time and the McAllister family is preparing for a vacation in Paris, France. In this film, Kevin McAllister is an eight year old boy left at home by his parents, when they leave with the rest of the family for Christmas holidays to Paris. Kevin McAllister is accidentally left behind when his family takes off for a vacation in France over the holiday season. Once he realizes they've left him home by himself, Kevin learns to fend for himself, and eventually has to protect his house against bumbling burglars Harry and Marv, who are planning to rob every house in Kevin's suburban Chicago neighborhood. Kevin's mother Kate is frantic when she realizes that she and the family have unintentionally left Kevin behind in Chicago.

Being home alone was fun for Kevin, having a pizza all to himself, jumping on his parents' bed and making a mess. Then, Kevin discovers about 2 burglars, Harry and Marv about to rob his house on Christmas eve. Kevin acts quickly by wiring his own house with makeshift booby traps to stop the burglars and to bring them to justice. Kevin's mother Kate is frantic when she realizes that she and the family have unintentionally left Kevin behind in Chicago, and she tries to make it back to Chicago as fast as she can, getting help from a polka band leader named Gus Polinski.


Ghost ($217,631,306)
Sam and Molly are a very happy couple and deeply in love, living in Manhattan. Sam has a high powered job at a local bank, and Molly works on ceramic art. Sam's friend Carl Bruner also works at the bank. Sam holds the passwords to some of the bank's major accounts. While returning home from a movie theater, Sam and Molly are attacked by a mugger named Willie Lopez. As Sam and Willie struggle over Willie's gun, a shot rings out, and Willie runs off. Sam chases Willie, but Willie escapes. Sam then runs back to Molly to see if she's alright -- but Sam finds himself dead in a devastated Molly's arms, and Sam realizes that he is now a ghost. Sam then meets a supposed spiritualist, Oda Mae Brown, who is so obviously a huckster but who doesn't know that she can hear the dead. so when Sam speaks he hears her. He convinces her to tell Molly about the guy who broke into the apartment.

Sam follows Carl to Willie's apartment, thinking that Carl is about to confront Willie, but instead, Sam watches in shock as Carl chews Willie out for killing Sam. Willie was not supposed to kill Sam -- Willie was supposed to steal the account passwords from Sam's wallet for Carl, so Carl could carry out a drug money laundering operation. Now Sam and Ona May must protect Molly from both Willie and Carl, who thinks the account passwords are in Molly's home.


Dances with Wolves ($184,208,848)
Having been sent to a remote outpost in the wilderness of the Dakota territory during the American Civil War, Lieutenant John Dunbar encounters, and is eventually accepted into, the local Sioux tribe. Lt. John Dunbar is dubbed a hero after he accidentally leads Union troops to a victory during the Civil War. He requests a position on the western frontier, but finds it deserted. He is known as "Dances with Wolves" to them and as time passes he becomes enamoured by the beautiful "Stands With a Fist". Not soon after, the frontier becomes the frontier no more, and as the army advances on the plains, John must make a decision that will not only affect him, but also the lives of the natives he now calls his people.

Pretty Woman ($178,406,268)
Edward is a rich, ruthless businessman who specializes in taking over companies and then selling them off piece by piece. Vivian Ward has found a way of living by working as a prostitute on Hollywood Boulevard. He travels to Los Angeles for a business trip and decides to hire a prostitute. When she runs into the prince of her dreams, who comes along on his wild horse, she first does not recognize him as her saviour. The prince, a ruthless and wealthy businessman by the name of Edward Lewis, does not know that she could be more than just a girl from the sidewalk, but he changes his decision after the first night with the beautiful stranger. They take a liking to each other and he offers her money if she'll stay with him for an entire week while he makes the "rich and famous" scene (since it doesn't do for a man of his stature to be alone at society parties and polo matches). Romantic comedy (and complications) ensue.

Her being the first person in a long time who could surprise him, Edward can slowly feel the light at the end of the tunnel. He is on his way to become a better person, whereas Vivian has got a new chance to start over again.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Four turtles and a rat are transformed into a humanized state by a mutagenetic gel in a sewer. The rat becomes their mentor, and teaches them all he knows regarding Jinjitsu. The turtles use their newfound skills to combat the crime in New York City. Through contact with a mysterious substance, called Ooze, 4 little turtles in the canalization of New York mutate to giant turtles. They can speak, walk upright and love pizza. The wise rat Splinter becomes their mentor and educates them to Ninja fighters. Their arch-enemy is the bad, bad guy Shredder, who struggles to gain power over the world. Of course the ninja turtles will do everything to stop him.
The turtles use their newfound skills to combat the crime in New York City. But when their mentor is captured by an enemy from the past, can they hold true to what they've learned, and stay together as a brotherhood?

The Hunt for Red October ($120,709,868)
This film tells the story of Captain Marko Ramius, the skipper of the Soviet Union's newest nuclear submarine. Red October is a new Soviet Submarine. When the Americans are given photographs of it, they are extremely curious as to why is it so special. Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst, consults with a friend, who deduces that it's equipped with a new engine that can make it run virtually silent and with such a device, they can position themselves on the outskirts of any coastal city and launch their missles and not give their target any warning. Marko Ramius the sub's captain kills their political officer after they open their orders which basically has them conducting routine maneuvers but he kills him and burns their orders and replaces it. He then tells the crew that they are going to test their new engine by positioning themselves by New York and run missile drills. Ryan is then called by his boss to attend a briefing that concerns Red October. It is at this briefing that they discover that Ramius sent a letter to high ranking Soviet official, who after reading the letter went to meet with the Soviet Premier and it was shortly after that meeting that the Soviet navy was deployed to find Red October and sink it. Everyone assumes that Ramius has turned rogue but Ryan who once did research on Ramius assumes that he might be trying to defect. While everyone dismisses him, the National Security Adviser tells Ryan to go out there and find out for sure if he is right cause once Ramius is in position to fire his missiles they have take him out. Ryan reluctantly goes and is not use to fieldwork, is having a hard time coping with the sea. At the same time someone in the Red October crew knows that Ramius has deviated from his assignment and is doing what he can to stop him.

Total Recall ($119,394,840)
The year is 2084. Douglas Quaid is a construction worker, every night Doug has been having horrible nightmares about the planet Mars and it has become very obsessive for Doug. Doug goes to "Rekall INC" a company that sales false memories of ideal holidays. It is the future. Technology has flourished, and humans have successfully colonized on the planet Mars. Douglas Quaid, a mild-mannered construction worker with a gorgeous wife and a nice apartment is very happy. But when Doug wanted to go to a place called "Rekall" a place where doctors provide artificial memories on vacations, his life becomes another that he knows nothing about, before he knows it, his wife turns on him and agents from an Martian organization led by the colony leader, Vilos Cohaagen are bent on his death. When Doug has a false memory of a holiday on Mars implanted, it all goes terribly wrong. Doug has lost his memory and he is being chased by a group of assassins and his beautiful wife Lori is a agent who claims his whole life is a fake and he isn't who he is. After discovering he is Hauser, a former Mars Intelligence agent, Quaid goes to the colony on Mars, in hoping of finding answers. Where he meets a woman named Melina who is working for rebels and the assassins are working for Vilos Cohaggen, the colony's corrupt administrator. As Doug sets out to discover who he is and why Cohaagen is after him, Doug not only is finding answers, he also begins to question reality. Is the events of Rekall INC, being chased by assassins and going to Mars really happening? Or Is it all a dream?
Doug will also have to unlock the details of his former life with the help of a mutant rebel leader named Kuato to defeat Cohaagen and save the colonies on mars.

Die Hard 2 ($115,288,665)
Once again, New York cop John McClane is in the wrong place at the wrong time - this time he's waiting for his wife's plane to arrive at Washington's Dulles Airport when he uncovers a plot to sabotage the airport's landing system. John McClain is again trapped in a difficult situation. With his wife on an airplane circling Dulles Airport in Washington, terrorists take over the landing system and black out the airport. Also scheduled for this evening is a flight from South America which should bring a drug dealer back to the United States. A team of high tech gangsters manage to take over the Airport's radar facility.

The man's name was Oswald Cochrane, and he had been officially dead for two years. John then realizes that someone is about to screw around with the airport, and he's correct. Colonel Stuart, a man who got "canned by congress", as McClane says it, and his team of ex-commandos have taken control of the airport, shutting down the Instrument Landing System and the runways. He then threatens to cause plane crashes unless the plane carrying Ramon Esperanza from Valverde (the fictitious country used in Commando (1985)) lands at a runway of his designation. The Chief Engineer and the airport's S.W.A.T. team unsuccessfully try to restore communications with the planes above. Because of this, Stuart crashes a plane. McClane must now try to defeat the terrorists and save his wife before her plane, and all the other planes, run out of fuel.

Dick Tracy ($103,738,726)
The comic strip detective finds his life vastly complicated when Breathless Mahoney makes advances towards him while he is trying to battle Big Boy Caprice's united mob. Legendary police detective Dick Tracy is the only man tough enough to take on gangster boss Big Boy Caprice and his band of menacing mobsters. Dedicated to his work but at the same time devoted to his loyal girlfriend, Tess Trueheart, Tracy find himself torn between love and duty. His relentless crusade against crime becomes even more difficult when he gets saddled with an engaging orphan and meets seductive and sultry Breathless Mahoney, a torch singer determined to get the best of Tracy. A faceless character, known as the Blank, threatens both Tracy and Big Boy, and it takes all of Tracy's skills to save the city.

Kindergarten Cop ($91,457,688)
A tough cop is given his most difficult assignment: masquerade as a a kindergarten teacher in order to find a drug dealer. Los Angeles narcotics detective John Kimble has long been after drug kingpin Cullen Crisp, who is a psychopath.
He finally tracks Crisp down but it seems the only person that can testify against him is his ex-wife. The problem is she's disappeared and all Kimble knows is the name of the school in Oregon where her son attends. When things don't quite go to plan, Kimble finds he has to go undercover on his toughest assignment yet - Kindergarten teacher!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Tootsie – 1982 Romantic Comedy Movie

Director: Sydney Pollack
Producers: Sydney Pollack and Dick Richards
Writers: Larry Gelbart, Barry Levinson, Elaine May and Murray Schisgal
Music: Dave Grusin
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Release Date: December 17, 1982
Tootsie is a 1982 comedy film that tells the story of a talented but volatile actor whose reputation for being difficult makes it hard for him to find work. In desperation, he goes to extraordinary lengths to land a job.

Michael Dorsey is a respected but perfectionist actor on the verge of turning forty. Nobody in New York wants to hire him anymore because he is so difficult to work with. Not having worked in four months, he eventually hears of an opening in a soap opera set in "Southwest General Hospital" from his friend Sandy Lester, who initially tries out for the role but doesn't get it. In desperation, he cross-dresses, auditions as 'Dorothy Michaels' and eventually wins the part.

Michael thinks it is just a temporary job to pay the bills, but he proves to be so popular as a feisty hospital administrator that, to his dismay, the producers sign him to a long-term contract. Dorothy is such a hit that she is even featured on the covers of a number of well-known magazines.

Complicating things even further, he is strongly attracted to one of his co-stars, Julie Nichols. She is already in an unhealthy relationship with the amoral, sexist director, Ron Carlisle. When Michael approaches Julie with a line that she had previously told Dorothy she'd be receptive to, she instead throws a drink in his face. Yet when he makes tentative advances (as Dorothy), Julie is shocked to think Dorothy might be a lesbian and later tells "her" that she likes her, but not in a romantic way.

Meanwhile, Dorothy has her own admirers to contend with, an older male cast member, John Van Horn and Julie's widowed father, Les. Michael's roommate, writer Jeff Slater, and his agent, George Fields, are in on the masquerade and watch in amazement as the situation barrels out of control.

Michael finds a clever way to extricate himself. When the cast is forced to perform a scene live, he improvises and reveals that he is actually the character's twin brother who took her place to avenge her, just the sort of weird plot twist for which soaps are. This gives everybody a more-or-less graceful way out. Julie is so shocked and outraged, she slugs him in the stomach.

Some weeks later, Michael waits for her outside the studio and touchingly confesses that "... I was a better man with you as a woman than I ever was with a woman as a man." and she forgives him.


Tootsie Casts:

  • Dustin Hoffman as Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels
  • Jessica Lange as Julie Nichols
  • Teri Garr as Sandy Lester
  • Dabney Coleman as Ron Carlisle
  • Charles Durning as Leslie 'Les' Nichols
  • Bill Murray as Jeff Slater
  • Sydney Pollack as George Fields
  • George Gaynes as John Van Horn
  • Geena Davis as April Page
  • Doris Belack as Rita Marshall
  • Ellen Foley as Jacqui
  • Peter Gatto as Rick
  • Lynne Thigpen as Jo
  • Ronald L. Schwary as Phil Weintraub
  • Debra Mooney as Mrs. Mallory

Tootsie Original SoundTracks:

  • It Might Be You by Stephen Bishop
  • An Actor's Life (Main Title)
  • Metamorphosis Blues (It Might Be You) - Instrumental
  • Don't Let It Get You Down
  • Montage Pastorale (It Might Be You) by Stephen Bishop
  • Tootsie by Stephen Bishop
  • Working Girl March
  • Sandy's Song
  • Out of the Rain
  • Media Zap by Stephen Bishop

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Waterworld - 1995

Directors: Kevin Reynolds & Kevin Costner
Producers: Kevin Costner, John Davis, Charles Gordon, Lawrence Gordon &, Andrew Licht
Writers: Peter Rader & David Twohy
Music by: James Newton Howard & Artie Kane
Cinematographers: Scott Fuller & Dean Semler
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi Thriller
Release Date: July 28, 1995

Some time in the future, the polar ice caps have melted, due to a shift in the Earth's axis, and the Earth is almost entirely covered with water. Surviving humans have forgotten the past; their creation belief is that the world was created in a deluge. So entrenched is this view that any other is regarded as blasphemy. There is, however, a common folk-belief amongst the various peoples that Dryland exists, though opinions on its physical properties vary greatly.


The surviving peoples can be classified into four groups:

  • Drifters, individualistic loners who ply the water in small boats, collecting things and trading with one another as well as with atolls;
  • Atoll Dwellers, who live in large floating constructs called atolls . These are not to be confused with the natural coral formations of the same name.
  • Smokers are pirates who inhabit abandoned oil tankers. They are called such because of the smoke they make by using oil-powered equipment, such as jetskis; they all smoke tobacco, and consider cigarettes one of the most valuable treasures to be stolen.
  • Slavers were mentioned by the drifter the Mariner meets early in the movie but not shown.


In the future, the Earth is engulfed with water when the polar ice caps melts, leaving the lands and civilization beneath the sea. The antihero is a drifter (Kevin Costner), who arrives at an Atoll to trade his dirt — a highly prized rarity. For most of the film, he has no name, though some refer to him as "the Mariner." He is a genetic mutant, with webbed feet and gills. He also appears to have amplified reflexes and hand-eye coordination, along with a "sixth sense", and natural mechanical ability.

The Atollers propose a deal with the Mariner: if he agrees to stay a short time — just long enough to impregnate one of their women — they will let him go with all the supplies he needs. However, the Mariner refuses their offer: he is clearly uncomfortable among the many people and claustrophobic surroundings of the Atoll. Angered, the Atoll's leaders have him arrested, using the excuse that he may be a spy for the Smokers. During the struggle that ensues, they are horrified to discover his mutant features; fearing him, they condemn him to be "recycled" in the Atoll's septic midden.

As they prepare to "recycle" the Mariner, however, the Smokers arrive in a raid, bringing with them a M45 Quadmount to destroy the Atoll. Their leader is the Deacon, who is the "captain" of a derelict oil tanker, the Exxon Valdez (nicknamed "the 'Deez"). They are in search of a young girl living on the atoll named Enola, who appears to have a map to Dryland tattooed on her back; one of their spies, a man who was spurned by the Mariner at the atoll, had advised them of her presence there. An outcast in the society of the Atoll, Enola lives with her caretaker, Helen, a woman in her twenties or thirties. Helen and Enola plan to escape with Gregor in search of Dryland because, like the Mariner, they don't fit in.

Unfortunately, Gregor's escape balloon is accidentally released too early (with him on it), leaving Helen and Enola stranded on the Atoll as the Smokers overrun it. They release the Mariner, after they force him to agree to take them with him, and escape on his large trimaran. To create a diversion, they turn the Quadmount on the Deacon's boat, destroying the craft and causing the Deacon to lose an eye. Despite being rescued from certain death, the Mariner is displeased to have companions on his vessel, even after Helen offers to have sex with him in exchange for protection. The Deacon, looking now for both revenge and Dryland, has a number of skirmishes with the Mariner in his attempts to get Enola back. A mad drifter is also taken aboard the Mariner's ship for trading. The drifter wants to trade paper for Helen (presumably for sexual reasons) and also asks for Enola, with the excuse of wanting somebody to talk to (also presumably for sexual reasons, saying "Twenty-five minutes with the wee one; I like to do the talkin' if you know what I mean."). The Mariner temporarily agrees only to trade Helen, and the drifter goes below deck with Helen and tries to encourage her to have sex with him. However, the Mariner intervenes and the drifter draws a knife, telling Helen 'this won't take a minute.' The fight is not shown onscreen, but banging and frequent swearing are heard after which the drifter appears with blood on his knife. It is soon revealed that the Mariner has used a blade to slice down the drifter's spine, which results in his death. The Mariner disposes of his body in the ocean.

Helen, meanwhile, having reasoned that the Mariner must know where Dryland is, demands to see it. The Mariner, who can breathe underwater (due to his gills), puts her in a diving bell made out of plastic and swims down to a sunken city to show her. As they are inspecting the sunken city, the Smokers locate and board the Mariner's vessel; when the Mariner and Helen return to the surface, the Smokers capture them. The Deacon grills the Mariner and Helen regarding the whereabouts of Enola, who is obviously still somewhere aboard the ship, but the pair refuse to provide the Deacon with any assistance; this momentarily stuns the Deacon, who has never been refused information before. The Deacon pretends to have killed the Mariner and Helen by firing a gun into the sky, which scares Enola out of hiding so that she is captured by the Smokers. The Deacon has his crew burn the Mariner's vessel and shoot at the pair, but they escape by diving deeper than the bullets can reach. Since Helen cannot breathe underwater, the Mariner offers to "breathe for the both of us," which results in a prolonged kiss of life while bullets rain down around them.

Helen and the Mariner grow hopeless, just as Gregor appears in his flying machine, telling them it was "good thinking" to burn the boat. Gregor then takes the pair to the beginnings of a new Atoll where several other survivors of the Smoker attack at the film's beginning have begun to rebuild. Here, the Mariner announces his intention to rescue Enola, as Helen tries and fails to convince anyone to help him.

The Mariner chases down the Exxon Valdez on a stolen jetski and boards it. Celebrating the find of "the map to Dryland", the Deacon rewards his crew by tossing them handfuls of cigarettes from his car, which is driven up and down the deck of the ship, and later cans of "Smeat" from the ship's sterncastle. Unfortunately, neither the Deacon nor his crew has any idea how to read the map; based largely on the shape of the area of Dryland, the Deacon believes that the area indicated must be Japan. The arguments that ensue illustrate that the Deacon's hold on power is precarious and that he needs the promise of Dryland to keep himself in power. Further conversations indicate that the supply of oil in the 'Deez is running low, threatening the Deacon's hold on power. After a stirring speech — in which the Deacon manages to persuade the crew that he knows what he's doing — the crew begins to row the immense ship with huge oars, in the style of a Viking longship.

After cutting a murderous swath through the bowels of the ship, the Mariner walks out onto the now-empty deck and threatens to throw a flare down into the oil holds unless the Deacon returns Enola. The Deacon ignores Enola's warning that the Mariner never bluffs, and refuses, telling the Mariner that he would be crazy to blow up the ship. The Mariner responds by dropping the flare into the oil hold. The flare ignites the remaining oil, consuming the 'Deez in a massive explosion.

As the crew of the 'Deez run for their lives, the Mariner manages to recapture Enola and escape the ship. They float at sea for a while and then engage in one last battle with the Deacon before being rescued by Gregor, who has joined with several other castaways and drifters in search of a place to start anew. En route to finding Enola and the Mariner, they found Helen, who has joined their quest. Gregor finally figures out the map — after the Mariner comments that the Earth's magnetic poles have reversed — and steers his balloon off in the direction of what does, in fact, turn out to be Dryland: Mount Everest. Gregor, Enola, Helen and the others start civilization anew on the island. The Mariner, uncomfortable on dry land, builds a boat and sails away, back to his old life — but before he leaves, Helen gives him a proper name "from an ancient myth": Ulysses. A warrior who journeys away but eventually returns home.


Major Casts:

  • Kevin Costner – Mariner/Trader/Ulysses
  • Jeanne Tripplehorn – Helen
  • Tina Majorino – Enola
  • Dennis Hopper – Deacon
  • Robert LaSardo – Smitty
  • Michael Jeter – Old Gregor
  • Jack Black – Floatplane pilot
  • Jonathan Higley – Old Quicksilver

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Director: Irvin Kershner
Writer: George Lucas
Producers: Gary Kurtz & George Lucas
Music: John Williams Cinematography: Peter Suschitzky Release date: May 21, 1980 Genre: Sci-fi, Fantasy, Action, Adventure

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 space opera film was considered the best film in the original Star Wars trilogy. It has all the great qualities that the original Star Wars has: great effects (at the time of its release), appealing characters, and lots of spellbinding action. It also has eliminated some of the problems that plagued the first: the storyline is tighter, and goes much deeper into character development. The performances are terrific, especially by Harrison Ford as Han Solo, and Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian. George Lucas has also remembered to include a spellbinding battle sequence with the snow speeder sequence near the beginning of the film. The conclusion, with a light saber duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, is truly one of the most suspenseful and dramatic scenes in the entire series. This is a truly wondrous film, and serves as a constant reminder that just because a movie is expensive and a blockbuster doesn't mean that it has to be shallow and two dimensional. This film will undoubtedly entertain viewers of all ages from start to finish. An excellent sequel to Star Wars, this is easily the darkest and most serious out of all the Star Wars films, at least until Revenge of the Sith comes out.

The story of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia and the others didn't end with the destruction of the Death Star - it continues in The Empire Strikes Back. The opening crawl reveals that, despite the Rebel success in destroying the Death Star, the Galactic Empire has pursued the Rebel Alliance across the galaxy, forcing them to establish a secret base on the remote ice planet Hoth. The Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader sends robotic probes in search of Luke Skywalker, who has been promoted to the rank of Commander. While Luke is patrolling near the base, he is knocked unconscious by an indigenous predator, the Wampa. Back at the base, the smuggler-pilot Han Solo announces his intention to leave the Rebels and pay the debt he owes to the gangster Jabba the Hutt, much to the displeasure of Princess Leia Organa. After Han discovers that Luke has not returned from patrol, he delays his departure and leaves the base to search for him. After escaping the creature's lair, Luke is overcome by the cold and has a vision of his late mentor, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, who instructs him to receive training from Jedi Master Yoda on the planet Dagobah. Han finds Luke, and provides him shelter until they are rescued the following morning. Before being discovered and destroyed, an Imperial Probe Droid transmits the location of the base to the Imperial fleet. Darth Vader orders an attack while the Rebels set up infantry trenches and an energy shield to protect them from the Empire's orbital bombardment.

The Imperial forces land their ground assault walkers beyond the energy shield and Luke leads his squadron of flying speeders into battle. However, the Imperial forces eventually overpower the Rebels and destroy the generator powering the energy shield, capturing the Rebel base. Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and their droid C-3PO flee on board the Millennium Falcon. However, the Falcon hyperdrive is damaged and it cannot escape the Imperial blockade in space. To evade pursuit, Han Solo deliberately enters an asteroid field, eventually landing inside an asteroid crater. Furious at the loss of his prey, Darth Vader turns to several notorious bounty hunters to assist the Empire in finding the Millennium Falcon.

Meanwhile, Luke and his astro-droid R2-D2 escape Hoth in Luke's X-wing fighter. After a crash landing on Dagobah, Luke meets a wizened, green little creature who reveals himself to be Yoda. Meanwhile, inside the asteroid cave, Han Solo and Princess Leia argue while repairing the ship, eventually leading to a tender kiss. However, they are forced to escape what they thought was a "cave," which is actually the belly of a gigantic space slug. Forced to escape the beast and reveal themselves to the imperial armada, Solo makes a mock attack-run and attaches the Millennium Falcon to the superstructure of a Star Destroyer, hiding from detection until they are able to mingle with its space-dumped garbage. Solo sets course for Cloud City, a mining colony in the Bespin system run by Han's former friend, Lando Calrissian, but the Falcon is followed stealthily by bounty-hunter Boba Fett, who has anticipated their escape strategy.

On Dagobah, Luke undergoes Yoda's rigorous lessons about the metaphysical nature of the Force. Luke has a vision of Han and Leia in danger and agony. Luke wants to rescue them, but Yoda and the vision of Obi-Wan warn of the dangers of leaving rashly, because Luke is still susceptible to the powerful temptation of the Dark Side. Nevertheless, Luke departs from Dagobah and promises Yoda he will return to complete his training. Upon arrival at Cloud City, Han's party is welcomed by Lando Calrissian. After agreeing to help Han repair his ship, Lando invites him and the others to a meal. When they enter the dining room, they are captured by Darth Vader. Lando insists he was forced to conspire with the Empire to prevent them from invading and occupying the city.

Luke Skywalker duels with Darth Vader

In captivity, Luke's friends are used as bait to lure Luke to the city. Vader orders a carbon-freezing chamber prepared to freeze Luke, which will hold him in suspended animation for transport to the Emperor. The process is tested on Han Solo. As Han is lowered into the machine, Leia declares her love for him. He is frozen in carbonite and handed over to bounty hunter Boba Fett, who intends to return his quarry to Jabba the Hutt for a large reward. Meanwhile, Luke lands at Cloud City and is herded into the carbon-freezing chamber. Luke meets Vader and engages him in combat. While escorting their prisoners, Vader's Imperial troopers are captured by Lando's private security force, who set Leia and the others free. Lando, despite nearly being killed by a furious Chewbacca, insists that there is still a chance to save Han, and along the way they find R2-D2. The group pursues Boba Fett and Han's frozen form through Cloud City, but arrive just as the bounty hunter's ship flies away. After a desperate chase, Leia, Chewbacca, Lando, and the two droids make their escape on the Millennium Falcon. Meanwhile, Vader and Luke's fierce lightsaber duel brings them to a narrow platform above the city's central air shaft. After gaining the advantage, Vader cuts off Luke's dueling hand along with his lightsaber. With Luke cornered and defenseless, Vader informs Luke that he does not yet know the truth about his father. Luke claims that Vader killed him. Vader answers: “ No. I am your father.

Luke screams in denial. Vader tries to persuade Luke to join him, embrace the Dark Side of the Force, and overthrow the Emperor with him. Luke refuses, lets go, and falls off the platform into the abyss, signifying that he would rather die than join him. In freefall, Luke is sucked into an air vent, shoots out of the underbelly of the floating city, and lands on an antenna hanging beneath. In desperation, Luke calls out to Leia, who mysteriously senses Luke's distress aboard the Millennium Falcon and orders Lando to pilot them back to Cloud City. After saving Luke and leaving the planet, they are pursued by Darth Vader's flagship. R2-D2, who discovered that the hyperdrive was merely de-activated while searching the city's central computer, reactivates it and the Falcon escapes into hyperspace. Aboard a Rebel medical frigate, Luke is fitted with an artificial hand as Lando and Chewbacca set out in the Falcon to locate Han Solo.


Casts:

  • Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. Luke, a commander in the Rebel Alliance Army, leader of Rogue Squadron, and Jedi-in-training, is a young farmboy turned hero stationed at the Echo Base on Hoth. After having a vision of his old master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke, along with his droid, R2-D2, set out to find Yoda on Dagobah.
  • Harrison Ford as Han Solo. A smuggler who aided the Rebellion in exchange for money, Han is in debt to Jabba the Hutt, due to his dumping of illegal spice to avoid detection by Imperial authorities. Intending to pay off Jabba, Han is trapped on Hoth by the Imperial blockade.
  • Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa. Leia, the adopted daughter of the late Bail Organa, is a high ranking official in the Rebellion chain of command.
  • David Prowse as Darth Vader. Vader, a Sith Lord and apprentice to Emperor Palpatine, is obsessed with finding Luke Skywalker, the young rebel who destroyed the Death Star. His search brings him to Hoth, where he orders his Death Squadron to blockade the ice planet. James Earl Jones provided the voice.
  • Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian. Lando Calrissian is the Baron Administrator of Bespin's Cloud City. He is a long-time friend of Han Solo and former Captain of the Millennium Falcon.
  • Anthony Daniels as C-3PO. C-3PO is Princess Leia Organa's protocol droid.
  • Kenny Baker as R2-D2. R2-D2 is Luke Skywalker's astromech droid.
  • Frank Oz as Yoda. Yoda is a self-exiled Jedi Master, who lives on Dagobah. Yoda had previously been believed dead after his encounter with Darth Sidious 23 years earlier. Frank Oz was the puppeteer and the voice of Yoda.
  • Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca. Chewbacca is Han Solo's Wookiee co-pilot and close friend.
  • Jeremy Bulloch as Boba Fett. Son of the legendary bounty hunter Jango Fett, Boba Fett has gained infamy throughout the galaxy, and is considered to be the greatest bounty hunter alive. Fett is hired by Darth Vader to hunt down the Millennium Falcon. Jason Wingreen provided Fett's voice in the original theatrical cut and the 1997 Special Edition of the film. Bulloch also makes a cameo appearance as the Imperial officer who grabs Leia when she tells Luke to avoid Vader's trap. In the 2004 special edition, Temuera Morrison, who played Jango Fett in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones replaced Wingreen as fett's voice to create better continuty between the original and prequel trilogy.
  • Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi. Kenobi was slain by Darth Vader on the Death Star in A New Hope. However, moments before his death, he released himself into the nether world of the Force, giving him the ability to appear as a spirit, and allowing him to give guidance to his former student, Luke Skywalker.
  • Denis Lawson as Wedge Antilles. Antilles is a pilot in the Rebel Alliance, who flew with Luke Skywalker at the Battle of Yavin. In the end credits, as with A New Hope, Denis Lawson's name is misspelled "Dennis."
  • Clive Revill (later changed to Ian McDiarmid) as the voice of Emperor Palpatine. Palpatine, the ruler of the Galactic Empire, was displeased with the loss of the Death Star; consequently, he listed the Rebel Alliance as a top priority for his military forces.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

The Godfather - 1970s Crime Thriller Drama Film

The Godfather was 1972 crime film based on the novel written by Mario Puzo published in 1969. The film was under the direction of Francis Ford Coppola, with screenplay by Puzo and Coppola, and produced by Albert S. Ruddy. The film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton and James Caan. The story spans ten years from late 1945 to 1955 and chronicles the life of the Corleone crime family.

The Godfather was initially ranked as the third greatest film in American cinematic history (behind Citizen Kane and Casablanca) on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies list by the American Film Institute. It has now been re-ranked number two under Citizen Kane, with number three being Casablanca. It is also the top movie on Internet Movie Database's Top 250 list, as well as Metacritic's top 100 list and Rotten Tomatoes' all-time best list.

The film begins at the wedding of Don Vito Corleone's daughter Connie to Carlo Rizzi in New York City in late summer of 1945. Don" Vito Corleone was, the head of a New York Mafia "family", because "no Sicilian can refuse a request on his daughter's wedding day", Corleone, known to his friends and associates as "Godfather", and Tom Hagen (the Corleone family consigliere, or counselor) are preoccupied with hearing requests from friends and associates. Meanwhile, the Don's youngest son Michael, who has returned from World War II service as a highly decorated war hero, tells his girlfriend Kay Adams anecdotes about his father's criminal life, reassuring her that he is not like his family.

With superb acting by especially Al Pacino as Mike Corleone and Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone this movie shows how one of the head mafia families in New York works, it gives a detailed picture of how their business runs and what kinda chances they got to take on their business, for example their denial to step inside the narcotic business brings on alot of troubles, but also it shows what kinda sacrifices they make, every day could be their last day..

Al Pacino shines above all in this movie, as the smart boy of the family he returns after fighting a war for his country, at that time not involved in the family business, but it doesn't take long before the war breaks lose and he see no other ways than to step in and fight for his family.

This movie is strong, good script, great casting, excellent acting, and over the top directing. It is hard to fine a movie done this well, it is 29 years old and has aged well. Even if the viewer does not like mafia type of movies, he or she will watch the entire film, the audiences is glued to what will happen next as the film progresses. Its about, family, loyalty, greed, relationships, and real life. This is a great mix, and the artistic style make the film memorable.


The Godfather Casts:

  • Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone — the head (the "Don") of the Corleone family, Formerly known as Vito Andolini. He is the father of Sonny, Fredo, Michael and Connie and surrogate father to Tom Hagen. Husband of Carmella Corleone. A native of Sicily.
  • Al Pacino as Michael Corleone — the Don's and Carmella's youngest son, recently returned from military service following the end of World War II. He initially wants nothing to do with the Corleone family business. He is the main character of the movie.
  • James Caan as Santino "Sonny" Corleone — Vito and Carmella's hot-headed eldest son; he is being groomed to succeed his father as head of the Corleone family. He is the family's underboss.
  • Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen — an informally adopted son of Vito and Carmella Corleone, he is also the family lawyer and the new consigliere (counselor).
  • Diane Keaton as Kay Adams — Michael's White Anglo-Saxon Protestant-ish girlfriend and, ultimately, his wife and mother to his children.
  • John Cazale as Fredo Corleone — the middle son of Vito and Carmella Corleone. Fredo is not very bright and appears to be the weakest of the Corleone brothers.
  • Talia Shire as Connie Corleone — Vito and Carmella's only daughter. She marries Carlo Rizzi.
  • Richard S. Castellano as Pete Clemenza — a caporegime for the Corleone family.
  • Abe Vigoda as Sal Tessio — a caporegime for the Corleone Family.
  • Al Lettieri as Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo — a heroin dealer associated with the Tattaglia family.
  • Gianni Russo as Carlo Rizzi — Connie's husband. Becomes an associate of the Corleone family.
  • Sterling Hayden as Captain McCluskey — a corrupt police captain on Sollozzo's payroll.
  • Lenny Montana as Luca Brasi — an enforcer utilized by Vito Corleone.
  • Richard Conte as Emilio Barzini— Don of the Barzini family.
  • Al Martino as Johnny Fontane — a world-famous popular singer and godson of Vito.
  • John Marley as Jack Woltz — a powerful Hollywood producer.
  • Alex Rocco as Moe Greene — longtime associate of the Corleone family who owns a Las Vegas hotel.
  • Morgana King as Carmella Corleone — Vito's wife and mother of Sonny, Fredo, Michael and Connie, and surrogate mother to Tom Hagen.
  • John Martino as Paulie Gatto — A "button man" (soldier/hit man) under Capo Pete Clemenza and Vito's driver.
  • Victor Rendina as Philip Tattaglia— Don of the Tattaglia family.
  • Simonetta Stefanelli as Apollonia Vitelli-Corleone — A stunningly beautiful young girl Michael meets while in Sicily.
  • Sofia Coppola as Michael Francis Rizzi — Connie and Carlo's infant son.
  • Louis Guss as Don Zaluchi — Don of the Zaluchi family of Detroit.
  • Tom Rosqui as Rocco Lampone — a caporegime in the Corleone family.
  • Joe Spinell as Willi Cicci — Soldier in the Corleone family.
  • Richard Bright as Al Neri — Michael Corleone's bodyguard. He eventually becomes a caporegime.