BooksandacupOfCoffee

Director Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist..." starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo...Which Pays Homage To [Silent] Films Of the 20s and 30s

2012-02-01T22:31:00.000-08:00

One of the surprise breakouts of this year's Cannes Film Festival, The Artist is an endlessly charming, immaculately crafted ode to the silent film era. It's 1927 and George Valentin (Jean Dujardin, recipient of the best actor prize at Cannes) is a silent movie Hollywood movie star. The talkies are coming, though, and his future is in question. Meanwhile, the young extra Pepper Miller seems destined for super-stardom. The Artist-has been picking up audience awards and critical acclaim on the film festival circuit; it's an early favorite for the Academy Awards. Oh yeah, did we mention that it's black-and-white and silent?

"The fizziest, most endearing film in ages. The Artist is not just for geriatric cinephiles — geezers pleased that someone besides Mel Brooks has made a Silent Movie — but for anyone of any age who wonders what happened to the cinema's old gift for creating pure joy." (Mary Corliss, Time)

For More Information about "The Artist" Just Follow The Link...To RagTag Film Cinema... and Their Official [Beautiful] Website...ALLI ANCE HOLIDAY MOVIES..."THE ARTIST..."

The Artist is a 2011 French comedy-drama film directed by Michel Hazanavicius, starring Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo. The story takes place in Hollywood between 1927 and 1932 and focuses on a declining film star and a rising actress, as silent cinema falls out of fashion and is replaced by the talkies. Most of the film itself is silent; it was produced in black-and-white, and has received wide praise from critics and many accolades. Dujardin won the Best Actor Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, where the film premiered.

The film was nominated for six Golden Globes, the most of any film from 2011, and won three; Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Original Score, and Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Dujardin). In January 2012 the film was nominated for twelve BAFTAs[1] and ten Academy Awards,[2] including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Hazanavicius, Best Actor in a Leading Role for Dujardin, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Bejo. In France, it has been nominated for ten César Awards,[3] including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay.

Coming To A Theatre Near You...Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven..." [2011] Starring John Cusack: Here Goes: The Synopsis, Poster, and The HD Trailer...

2012-01-08T17:04:00.000-08:00

In this gritty thriller, Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack, Being John Malkovich) joins forces with a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans, Immortals) to hunt down a mad serial killer who's using Poe's own works as the basis in a string of brutal murders.

Directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta, Ninja Assassin), the film also stars Alice Eve (Sex and the City 2), Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges) and Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Faster).

When a mother and daughter are found brutally murdered in 19th century Baltimore, Detective Emmett Fields (Luke Evans) makes a startling discovery: the crime resembles a fictional murder described in gory detail in the local newspaper--part of a collection of stories penned by struggling writer and social pariah Edgar Allan Poe.

But even as Poe is questioned by police, another grisly murder occurs, also inspired by a popular Poe story. Realizing a serial killer is on the loose using Poe's writings as the backdrop for his bloody rampage, Fields enlists the author's help in stopping the attacks.

But when it appears someone close to Poe may become the murderer's next victim, the stakes become even higher and the inventor of the detective story calls on his own powers of deduction to try to solve the case before it's too late.

Genre: Thriller
Official Site:The Raven Movie
Director: James McTeigue
Cast: John Cusack, Luke Evans, Alice Eve, Brendan Gleeson, Oliver Jackson-Cohen
Writers: Ben Livingston, Hannah Shakespeare...Below Is a link to Edgar Allan Poe Museum...

The Poe Museum

Is [Martin] Scorsese's "Hugo..." a Hit Or Is It a Miss?

2011-12-28T20:55:00.000-08:00

As part of a major festive dates - like the Thanksgiving Day in America - Martin Scorsese presents his new film, something different from his extensive filmography. Hugo symbolizes a handful of firsts for the director of Taxi Driver and Goodfellas. This is his first family film and his first year with the "so trendy" 3-D.

Precisely these factors cause expectation. Scorsese wanted to venture into 3-D and more than that, join this group of directors who try to evolve the language of film - beyond technology development, as does James Cameron -. Under the words of Marty:

"It is natural to go to that address. It will be something we have to wait, but must be used in interesting ways."

Interesting. That's what we're looking for gimmicky 3D In the meantime...Now, that Martin Scorsese has managed to give the nail?, Will we have, finally, a movie that uses the 3-D happy in one more film?, Will we see that next step or be in another movie with fashion gimmick ?

"Hugo"

Martin Scorsese

Based on the children's novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret, written by Brian Selznick, Hugo tells the story of an orphaned boy (Asa Butterfield, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas) who lives in a secret life within the walls of a train station in Paris, in the early thirties. Hugo meets Isabelle (Chloë Grace Moretz), an eccentric girl, who helps you find a family. Suddenly, both are in a fantastic adventure, a mystery involving the death of his father, left him broken machine, a heart-shaped lock and the owner of a toy store.

In addition to the child cast, Hugo features performances from Ben Kingsley as Georges Méliès, the owner of the shop, Sacha Baron Cohen, as the station inspector, Christopher Lee, as Monsieur Labisse, Jude Law, as the father of Hugo, among others.

Dans l'ordonnance Pour lire l'article dans son intégralité suffit de suivre ce lien...

In Order To Read The Article In It's Entirety Just Follow This Link...

Counting Down To Halloween...31 Days in October...Day 5...I'm Taking The Time To Wish Actor Bela Lugosi a very Happy [Belated] Birthday...He Was Born

2011-10-21T01:33:00.000-07:00

On October 20, 1882...
Happy [Belated] Birthday! To actor Bela Lugosi too...His Birthday was yesterday. 10/20/1882...Here goes a nice blogsite Bela Lugosi Is Still Dead Over There at Psycho Babble... discussing Lugosi and here goes an interview with Lugosi and the ending is...too funny!

Coming Up: 31 Days Of Halloween Countdown: As I Take An UpClose and Personal Look at Horror Films Memorabilia...Such as: Posters, Lobby Cards & More.

2011-10-16T03:50:00.000-07:00

Oops!...I have been missing in action...Unfortunately, real-life beckons [and when I hear the clarion call I must go and heed its sound...Now, here where we stand:

October 1-5...Is When I last posted...
October 6-15...I have been Missing In action...10 days in November
October 16...I'm linking back to friends that I have visited over the week-end...
[I also plan to recruit a writer to assist me "catch-up" and complete the 31 Days Of Halloween Countdown.]

In November My Countdown will Officially end [Just like last year]...I hope to have a better plan next year! lol
As The 31 Days Of Halloween Countdown Begin I also plan to link back to horror websites that I visit daily too! [Or rather alternate day...]

Well, as promised again here goes Chasing not a Mummy's head, but the links...Therefore, without further adieu...
#1.
You Can Sign-Up For The Fuzzy Skeletonian Giveaway Sign-up Sheet...http://vins-hand-made-art.blogspot.com/?zx=2eca8f837dc4e6b4
Adult Content Over There a Vincent's Place...Therefore, proceed with caution...

#2.Autumn Dusk Is...

Over There at Autumn Dusk...

#3.Dr. Blood Video Vault Is..

#4. Exodus 8 Is
Fellow Blogger Jaime Grijalba isn't part Of the Halloween Countdown, but he is taking a look at 31 Films in the Month Of October too here at his blogspot...

[He Kicked Things Off By Looking at a film entitled "The Phantom Carriage..." Today Jaime Takes at look at another horror film that feature Frankenstein's monster called Frankenstein Ghost and Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman
He live in Chile...Therefore, you have to use his translator in order to read his post [If you don't know how to speak spanish...
Thanks,]

#5.
Caffeinated Joe...
Takes a look at Micheal Myer's Art

#6.
bookman187 Takes a look a (No pun Intended) at a film called "Looker"...Here: Looker

#9.Melissa Veleriote Is...
One Of my favorite haunts to visit: Please Take Time To Check-Out...
Halloween Folk Art By Melissa Veleriote's Fantastical World Of Holiday

Non-Halloween Blogsites...
Over There at Mrs.U place she discuss politics...Poverty in the U.S.A.
Non-Halloween Haunts That I Checked Out...This Week-end...
Brian...
Provocative Poem: Poetics Real or Fake...
Dhemz...
Takes A Look at Cherry Tomatoes
My Good Friends Over There at WitD Sam Juliano and Allan Fish's
Musical Countdown Continue With "The King and I

and Once again...I'm sending
Out a Special Well-Wish to Camille and my thoughts and a Good-Luck! Wish always... To my friend "The Silver Fox..." respectively,
Nobody's Perfect Comical Wednesday

Once again, Thanks, to John Rozum, Shawn Robare, and Jon K...Over There at Count Down To Halloween and to iZombie Over There at "The HBA"...too!
Thanks,
deedee

Coming Up: 31 Days Of Halloween Countdown: As I Take An UpClose and Personal Look at Horror Films Memorabilia...Such as: Posters, Lobby Cards & More.

2011-10-05T23:27:00.000-07:00

As The 31 Days Of Halloween Countdown Begin I also plan to link back to horror websites that I visit daily too! [Or rather alternate day...]

Well, as promised here goes Chasing not a Mummy's head, but the links...Therefore, without further adieu...
#1.
Cyberschizold Is...
Having a great Horror Give-away...A lot Of Great Stuff!
Please Be Sure To Stop By and Sign The Petition Too!
Cyberschizold's Give-away

#2.Autumn Dusk Is...
Mmmmmmm...Looky What Mrs. Rogue Evolent Found While Shopping with "The Rogue."
Over There at Autumn Dusk...

#3. Vincent Place Is...
I just checked-out Vincent's art "Wild Hand" and all I can say is...Omg! Now, he Is Taking a Look at Sharpie Drawings...Check-It Out!Vincent's Drawing "Wild Hand..."
Adult Content Over There a Vincent's Place...Therefore, proceed with caution...

#4.Dr. Blood Video Vault Is..
Dr.Blood Over There at Video Vault Discuss The Series American Horror Story

#5. Exodus 8 Is
Fellow Blogger Jaime Grijalba isn't part Of the Halloween Countdown, but he is taking a look at 31 Films in the Month Of October too here at his blogspot...Exodus8

[He Kicked Things Off By Looking at a film entitled "The Phantom Carriage..." Today Jaime Takes at look at another horror film that feature Frankenstein's monster called Frankenstein Ghost and Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman
He live in Chile...Therefore, you have to use his translator in order to read his post [If you don't know how to speak spanish...
Thanks,]

#7.
Caffeinated Joe Is...
Caffeinated Joe Takes a look at a Halloween Round-up

#8.
bookman187 Takes a look a (No pun Intended) at a film called "Looker"...Here: Looker

#9.Melissa Veleriote Is...
One Of my favorite haunts to visit: Please Take Time To Check-Out...
Halloween Folk Art By Melissa Veleriote's Fantastical World Of Holiday

#10. For What's Worth...Is
Halloween Character interview and Giveaway ...

Non-Halloween Blogsites...

Over There at Mrs.U place she discuss politics...Poverty in the U.S.A.

and Once again...I'm sending
Out a Special Well-Wish to Camille and my thoughts and a Good-Luck! Wish always... To my friend "The Silver Fox..." respectively,
Nobody's Perfect Comical Wednesday

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Once again, Thanks, to John Rozum, Shawn Robare, and Jon K...Over There at Count Down To Halloween and to iZombie Over There at "The HBA"...too!
Thanks,
deedee

Non-Halloween Haunts That I Checked Out...This Week Too: Nathalie from over there at Avignon...Share The Sounds Of Music

Taking a look at the 1939 Horror Classic Film "Son Of Frankenstein" Starring B.Karloff,B.Lugosi, and Basil Rathbone as the son Of...Memorabilia...

2011-10-04T12:08:00.000-07:00

[editor's note: A Change in the program...From Now On I Will Be Looking at Memorabilia Every Other Day...and then shift gears and post links to Horror and [some non-horror] websites that I visit every other day. Therefore, Today is memorabilia day, tomorrow is link day, and then Thursday is...Well, you get the picture...Thanks,]

Follow The Link Below To Memorabilia Over There On My Film Noir Ning...Below Is The Trailer For The 1939 Film "Son Of Frankenstein..."
Taking a look at "The Son Of Frankenstein"
If you would like to read a review Of the film just follow this link to my friend Jaime Grijabal's very interesting website Exodus 8...
Fellow Blogger Jaime Grijalba isn't part Of the Halloween Countdown, but he is taking a look at 31 Films in the Month Of October too here at his blogspot...Exodus8

[He Kicked Things Off By Looking at a film entitled "The Phantom Carriage," "Hunchback Of Notre Dame," and Now,"Son Of Frankenstein" ...
He live in Chile...Therefore, you have to use his translator in order to read his post [If you don't know how to speak spanish...Thanks,]

[editor's note: a commenter over there on you-tube said,"The only known color home movie footage of Karloff prowling around the set of Son of Frankenstein. If only the whole movie had been made in color."]

Coming Up: 31 Days Of Halloween Countdown: As I Take An UpClose and Personal Look at Horror Films Memorabilia...Such as: Posters, Lobby Cards & More.

2011-10-01T00:48:00.000-07:00

As The 31 Days Of Halloween Countdown Begin I Plan To Take a Look at actor Vincent Price "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" Memorabilia Over There on my Ning too...I also plan to link back to horror websites that I visit daily too!

#1.
Cyberschizold Is Having a great Horror Give-away...A lot Of Great Stuff!
Please Be Sure To Stop By and Sign The Petition Too!
Cyberschizold's Give-away

#2.
I just checked-out Vincent...Skellie Lamp and yesterday his Fuzzy Skellie at
Vins Hand Made Art and all I can say is Omg and...lol
Adult Content Over There a Vincent's Place...Therefore, proceed with caution...

#3.
My friend R.E. Celebrate his 700th post and look forward to the 31 days Of Halloween Countdown over there at...The Road Of Autumn Dusk

#4.
Here Goes R.E. Second Entry This October 02,2011...Halloween Memory and What a wonderful Halloween memory indeed...Check it Out!

#5.
The very humourous(Sp) Dr. Blood From Over There at Dr. Blood Video Vault is taking a look at a Double feature that he purchased for $1.oo both films feature actor Bela Lugosi...Check-it out here:I Bought That For A Dollar...

#6.
Fellow Blogger Jaime Grijalba isn't part Of the Halloween Countdown, but he is taking a look at 31 Films in the Month Of October too here at his blogspot...Exodus8
[He Kicked Things Off By Looking at a film entitled "The Phantom Carriage"
He live in Chile...Therefore, you have to use his translator in order to read his post [If you don't know how to speak spanish...Thanks,]

#7.
Caffeinated Joe Takes a look at...
Spooky Games To Play Online

#8.
bookman187 Takes a look a Rod Serling's Night Gallery...Here:Rod Serling's Night Gallery

#9.
One Of my favorite haunts to visit: Please Take Time To Check-Out...
Halloween Folk Art By Melissa Veleriote's Fantastical World Of Holiday

Non- Halloween Haunts That I Checked Out...This Week Too:
#10.
Wonders in the Dark...Where My Friends Sam Juliano and Allan Fish are Counting down Musicals...Today It's "South Pacific..."

#11.
I stopped by Brian' s Place as he looked at...Pop-Art

#12.
I also stopped by Claudia's Place as she looked at Pop-Art too!

#13.
I stopped by Dhemz's Place as she focused on...Pizza Hawaiian Style

#14.
I also stopped by Coffee Messiah's Place:As C.M. Looked at Coffee Day

#15.
I stopped by California Girl's Place as she took a look at... idolatry Among Sport Fans

#14.
Over There at Mrs.U place she discuss politics...Poverty in the U.S.A.

#16.
and
Here Sending Out a Special Well-Wish and Good-Luck! Wish always... To my friend(s) Camille and "The Silver Fox..." respectively,
Nobody's Perfect Comical Wednesday

____________________________________________
Once again, Thanks, to John Rozum, Shawn Robare, and Jon K...Over There at Count Down To Halloween and to iZombie Over There at "The HBA"...too!
Thanks,
deedee

Coming To a Theatre Near You..."The Pirates! Bands Of Misfits..." Will Open In Theatres 03/12/2012...The Cast: David Tennant, and Salma Hayek...

2011-09-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

From The Makers Of Wallace & Gromit and Chicken Run Comes...The pirates! band of misfits
Directed by Peter Lord...Written by Gideon Defoe and Starring...
The Cast: David Tennant, Martin Freeman, Salma Hayek, Jeremy Piven, Brendan Gleeson
and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje...aargh! [editor's note: Please Be Sure To Use The Word aargh! when or if you leave a comment...Just kidding! lol]

For Additional Information Visit The Pirates-Movie Official Website
Create Your Own Pirate Poster

Special Guest Writer Dylan Duarte, Takes a look at H.P. Lovecraft's Films...When he's not reviewing movies, he also writes about Halloween costumes...

2011-08-29T21:47:00.000-07:00

H.P. Lovecraft was truly ahead of his time when it came to creating twisted, deep horror that reached into the darkest parts of our minds and pulled forth things we could barely comprehend. And that which we don't understand, we fear. Lovecraft played up on fear of the unknown that nobody ever had and his works are influencing the genre more than ever right now. August 20th, 2011 marked the 121st anniversary of Lovecraft's birth.
Editor's Note: In Order To Learn More About H.P. Lovecraft: Just Follow These Link...To
H.P.Lovecraft Archives
H.P. Lovecraft's Life Photo Gallery

Here are five films that do his memory justice.

Re-Animator

Re-Animator is something of a cult horror flick and it's based on the Lovecraft story Herbert West-Reanimator. The film stars Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West, a med school student who takes a serious interest in re-animating dead tissue. Funny and gory, Re-Animator still holds a 92% at Rotten Tomatoes and is considered the best adaptation of Lovecraft's work.

In the Mouth of Madness

While not a direct adaptation of anything Lovecraft did, this John Carpenter horror pays tribute to the famous author, with countless references to his works and an overall similar theme to everything Lovecraft wrote, with insanity playing a big part of the narrative. Even the title of the film is a reference, a mish mash of Lovecraft titles The Shadow Over Innsmouth and At the Mountains of Madness.

From Beyond

Another adaptation of a Lovecraft story, again from director Stuart Gordon, who also helmed Re-Animator (and will show up once more on this list). The film also features Jeffrey Combs from Re-Animator, as well as Ken Foree from George Romero's Dawn of the Dead. The film revolves around a pair of scientists attempting to stimulate the pineal gland in the brain with a device called The Resonator. The scientists soon find themselves in another dimension and when they return, they return as shape changing monsters who prey on their co-workers.

The Call of Cthulhu

The only film adaptation of what is possibly the most iconic Lovecraft story, The Call of Cthulhu is a 2005 silent film made with Mythoscope, a blend of vintage and modern film techniques designed to give the film an older look. The film only runs 47 minutes but was met with praise and accepted into numerous film festivals. Paul di Filippo of Science Fiction Weekly called it the best Lovecraft adaptation to date and said the decision to make it a silent film was "a brilliant conceit."

Dagon

Stuart Gordon is back with another Lovecraft adaptation. Confusingly enough, Dagon is actually based on the short story The Shadow Over Innsmou and not the Lovecraft short story Dagon! Where the logic is in that, I don't know, but what I do know is that while Dagon was not as well-received as the other films on this list, it is considered to be part of that exclusive certain of quality Lovecraft adaptations. And I'm sure credit is due in no small part to the work of Stuart Gordon.

My Guest author is Dylan Duarte...He is a movie buff and professional writer. When he's not reviewing movies, he also writes about Halloween costumes. He can be reached at dylnduarte@gmail.com

Coming in November...and Starring Antonio Banderas, Selma Hayak, and Billy Bob Thornton...In Dreamswork's "Puss N' Boots..."

2011-08-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

Plot:
“Puss in Boots – one of the most beloved characters of the Shrek universe – tells the hilarious and courageous (daring, bold, brave) tale of Puss’s (Antonio Banderas) early adventures as he teams with mastermind Humty Dumpty (Zach Galifiaanakis) and the street-savvy Kitty (Salma Hayek) to steal the famed goose that lays the Golden Eggs.”
Is Kitty going to be Puss in Boots’s love interest?

Coming To A Theater Near You In November...Director Martin Scorsese's "Hugo..." Just In Time For Thanksgiving Day...With A Great Supporting Cast ...

2011-07-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

Trailer for Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” has a Shorter Title, Remains Full of Charm
by Dana Harris (July 15, 2011)

...And Is Based on Brain Selznick‘s acclaimed children’s book, the film stars Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz, Jude Law, Richard Griffiths, Ben Kingsley, Christopher Lee, Sacha Baron Cohen, Emily Mortimer, Ray Winstone, and Michael Stuhlbarg.
In Order To Read The Entire article Just Follow The Link and Brian Can You Spot The Typo Too?

Paramount Pictures has released the trailer for Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” (aka “Hugo Cabret”) and it has a lot to recommend it beyond the source material of Brian Selznick’s bestselling novel about the orphan Hugo who lives in the walls of a Paris train station.
For starters: For starters:

* Kudos for a trailer that is able communicate some sense of 3D while sacrificing none of the pleasure of watching it in 2D.

* Not giving away the full story while communicating a sense of excitement.

* Finding a good home for the overwrought music of Jared Leto’s 30 Seconds to Mars, which has an impressive but annoying tendency to make your heart swell until you realize it isn’t about anything other than doing just that. In the scope of this story, however, it seems appropriate.

* The lead, Asa Butterfield, is charming, as is Jude Law (though Sacha Baron Cohen’s shtick looks as if it could get tiresome).

IN ORDER TO READ THE ARTICLE IN IT'S ENTIRETY JUST FOLLOW THE LINK(S) TO...INDIE WIRE THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY DANA HARRIS AND IS @COPYRIGHTED BY INDIEWIRE.
SCREENRANT TAKES A LOOK AT SCORSESE'S "HUGO" and Images Of the film poster...Slash Film

The Trailer for Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” has a Shorter Title, but Remains Full of Charm...

Update: Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes...Trailer Has Been Released...Oops! The Owner Removed Tin-tin's Trailer...I hope to replace Tin's trailer soon.

2011-07-11T12:03:00.001-07:00

MOVIE: SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS POSTER ART

Advance poster art revealed for the upcoming Robert Downey Jr SHERLOCK HOLMES sequel SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS.
Striking artwork, but the perspective on the background characters in each seems a bit off.
[Editor's Note: This information is courtesy Of Sherlock Holmes News...]

Sherlock Holmes News
[Editor's Note: I think that the perspective is Off in each poster because these posters maybe "teaser" posters. However, I'm not quite sure?!?]

SHERLOCK HOLMES...OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR HOLMES:A GAME OF SHADOWS...WHICH OPENS IN THEATERS IN DECEMBER Of 2011...

From Book To Film...Snow Flower and The Secret Fan...Coming This August From The "Director Of The Joy Luck Club" and a couple Of interesting links...

2011-07-07T23:49:00.000-07:00

By Lisa See - Random House Publishing Group (2005) - Ebook - 258 pages - ISBN 1588364747
Trade books-Hard Cover...

Lily is haunted by memories–of who she once was, and of a person, long gone, who defined her existence. She has nothing but time now, as she recounts the tale of Snow Flower, and asks the gods for forgiveness.
In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu (“women’s writing”). Some girls were paired with laotongs, “old sames,” in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.
With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become “old sames” at the tender age of seven. As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect upon their arranged marriages, loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood.
The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their lifelong friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful. With the period detail and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most mysterious of human relationships: female friendship...

This Information Is Copyrighted@ and Is Available Over There On Random House...and all Of the Images are Copyrighted @ by FoxSearchlight.
Some Very Interesting Asian-Inspired Website To Visit...
LisaSee Website
LisaSee's Snow Flower Website
On My FYI Page I'm Taking A Look at Director Akira Kurosawa's 1949 Film Noir "Stray Dog..."
This Is a very beautiful Asian-inspired Website That Lori designed for a blogger called "Asian Cocoas"
The Very Interesting Film Blog...Japan Cinema

To Visit Snow Flower and The Secret Fan Official Website

"A Perfect Murder..." Not A Sequel, but a Remake Of Hitchcock's Film That Was Based On A Stage Play...This Film Stars M.Douglas and G.Paltrow...

2011-06-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

In A Film With A Few...Twist and Turns and a few surprises...

Wall Street titan Steven Taylor [Micheal Douglas,] seems like a devoted husband...He isn't

Beautiful Emily [Gwyneth Paltrow] seems like a faithful wife...She isn't
When Steven hires Emily's lover [Viggo Mortenson] to kill her, it seem like... "A Perfect Murder." It isn't in fact, little is what it seems in this sleek thriller.
Micheal Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow and Viggo Mortenson star in inspired by the play "A Perfect Murder."
"Dial M for Murder,"

Filmed by Alfred Hitchcock In 1954...Fans Of that classic will be in for a lot Of surprises. So will Steven. At each unexpected twist in his "perfect" plot, he improvises brilliantly, but can he "always" stay ahead Of the next jolt?

[editor's note: this synopsis is from the back cover Of the DVD a "Perfect Murder."]

There Is No Spoken Words...Just Spanish Music...

Directors Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson's New Adventures Of Herge's Tin-Tin and Snowy...Tin Tin's Teaser Poster and Teaser Trailer...This Film...

2011-05-23T04:30:00.000-07:00

Is Scheduled To Be Released in December Of 2011...The Adventures of Tintin (Les Aventures de Tintin) is a series of comic strips created by the Belgian artist Georges Rémi (1907–1983), who wrote under the pen name of Hergé. The series first appeared in French in Le Petit Vingtième, a children's supplement to the Belgian newspaper Le XXe Siècle on 10 January 1929.

A Screen-Shot From The Film Tin-Tin...[The Teaser Poster and Trailer Is Below...]

The success of the series saw the serialised strips collected into a series of twenty-four albums, spun into a successful magazine and adapted for film, radio, television and theatre. The series is one of the most popular European comics of the 20th century, with translations published in more than 80 languages and more than 350 million copies of the books sold to date.[1] Its popularity around the world has been attributed to its "universal appeal" and its ability to transcend "time, language and culture."[2][3]
The Current Tin Tin Film...[Teaser Trailers]

Set during a largely realistic 20th century, the hero of the series is Tintin, a young Belgian reporter. He is aided in his adventures from the beginning by his faithful fox terrier dog Snowy (Milou in French). Later, popular additions to the cast included the brash, cynical and grumpy Captain Haddock, the highly intelligent but hearing-impaired Professor Calculus (Professeur Tournesol) and other supporting characters such as the incompetent detectives Thomson and Thompson (Dupont et Dupond). Hergé himself features in several of the comics as a background character, as do his assistants in some instances.

The comic strip series has long been admired for its clean, expressive drawings in Hergé's signature ligne claire style.[4][5][6][7] Its "engaging",[8] well-researched[8][9][10] plots straddle a variety of genres: swashbuckling adventures with elements of fantasy, mysteries, political thrillers, and science fiction. The stories within the Tintin series always feature slapstick humour, accompanied in later albums by satire, and political and cultural commentary.
[This Information Is Courtesy Of Wikipedia...Therefore, in order to read the entire article Just Follow The Link...

The Adventures Of TinTin

The Original Tin-Tin...

_______________________________________________________

The Pirate Of The Carribean: On Stranger Tides...Starring Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane and Geoffrey Rush...Coming This Summer To a Theater

2011-03-27T05:02:00.000-07:00

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is an upcoming 2011 3D fantasy-adventure film. It is the fourth film in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and stars Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Ian McShane, Geoffrey Rush, Kevin McNally, Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey, Sam Claflin, Stephen Graham, Gemma Ward and Richard Griffiths.

Disney's Pirates Official Website...

The film was first announced in September 2008 and principal photography started in June 2010. Unlike the previous films, which were shot primarily on location in the Caribbean, On Stranger Tides had most of its production in Hawaii.in Hawaii.

The plot draws inspiration from the novel On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers, which also inspired the Lucas Arts game The Secret of Monkey Island. The plot features Captain Jack Sparrow, again played by Johnny Depp, searching for the Fountain of Youth and confronting the infamous, real-life, legendary pirate Blackbeard.

It is also first in the series to be directed by Rob Marshall and not Gore Verbinski. The film is set to be released on May 20, 2011 in Disney Digital 3-D and IMAX 3D, as well as in traditional two-dimensional and IMAX formats. It is also the first film in the series which features fictional versions of historical characters such as Blackbeard, George II of Great Britain, Henry Pelham, John Carteret and Ferdinand VI of Spain.

It will be the first Pirates of the Caribbean film to be released in 3D and Jerry Bruckheimer's second 3D film, following the 2009 film G-Force.

Disney's press release reads:[3]

“ Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed adventure. Crossing paths with the enigmatic Angelica, he's not sure if it's love—or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard, Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past. ”

In Order To Read More Just Follow The Link To Wikipedia...Pirates Of The Caribbean:On Stranger Tides...

From Books To Films...Taking A Look At Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the CrystaI...Starring Harrison Ford, Karen Allan and Paul Freeman...

2011-02-23T01:13:00.000-08:00

"There are four films, the first three of which are set before WWII:
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - the US government hires Indiana to stop Nazi agents from locating and getting (in Egypt) the Ark of the Covenant. (The Nazis are willing to ignore its Jewish origins because they think it will provide supernatural powers.) An experimental project at first, this movie popularized what Roger Ebert calls the "bruised forearm" movie where your date has injured your arm from grabbing it so often from the periling stunts and cliffhanger moments. Such classic scenes include outrunning the rolling boulder and the truck chase where Indy fights Nazis on, around, in and beneath the truck. Indiana Jones himself was a revolutionary hero, one who performs superhuman feats of strength, snarks along the way, is afraid of snakes and looks like hell once the adventure is over. This is widely considered the best of the series and one of the greatest adventure films of all time.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)- Darker And Edgier prequel set one year before the first film. In this movie, the Thuggees resurface in India. Indiana crosses their path when trying to track down sacred stones, which they stole in order to take bloody revenge on the British and Take Over The World. Doom has the reputation of being the weakest of the original films, albeit still really good at 85% on the Tomatometer.
ndiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)- Lighter And Softer sequel to the first film, beginning with a flashback to Indiana's youth, which explains his customary attire, usage of whip as a chosen weapon, the scar on his chin (Henry Jones Jr.'s chin, since it's also on Harrison Ford's chin) and his trademark fear of snakes. Alongside his previously estranged father (Sean Connery), Indiana races the Nazis to locate and get the Holy Grail, which was traced in Hatay State (a then-independent province in Turkey). The Nazis want it as they believe it grants eternal life to those who drink from it. Notable for being more moral than the previous two films.

The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)- set about 20 years after the others in The Fifties with Dirty Communists standing in for the Nazis. The accompanying film also adapts character types and general worldview changes that happened in that era. Aside from the change in time period and thus the lead character's age, this one is most notable for having a Gainax Ending involving science fiction elements. It garnered the worst critical reception of the series (77% on Rotten Tomatoes), but still has its fans. The film also introduced Shia LaBeouf as Mutt Williams.
Lucas and Spielberg are known to be working on a fifth film, which would fit with their original deal with Paramount."

The Information Is Courtesy Of TVTropes

Indiana Jones

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About author James Rollin's book...
“The name is Jones. Indiana Jones.”
He’s back. Everyone’s favorite globe-trotting, tomb-raiding, wisecracking archaeologist is finally at it again.
Now it’s 1957, the atomic age is in full swing, and McCarthy-era paranoia has the nation on edge. But for Indiana Jones, the Cold War really heats up when his latest expedition is crashed by a ruthless squad of Russian soldiers.

Commanded by a sword- wielding colonel who’s as sinister as she is stunning, the menacing Reds drag an unwilling Indy along as they brazenly invade American soil, massacre U.S. soldiers, and plunder a top-secret government warehouse. Their objective: a relic even more precious–and powerful–than the mythic Ark, capable of unlocking secrets beyond human comprehension.

Fast thinking and some high-speed maneuvers help Jones turn the tables, and a one-in-a-million escape narrowly saves him from certain death. But when he’s tarred as a suspected spy and fired by his university, Indy thinks it may be time to hang up his hat.Fate, however, has other plans.

Suddenly the road to retirement takes a sharp detour when a colleague’s kidnapping leads Jones into the depths of the Amazon jungle on a desperate rescue mission. With a hot-headed teenage biker as his unlikely wing man and his vengeful new Russian nemesis waiting for a rematch, Indy’s back in the game–playing for a prize all the wonders of the world could never rival.

Writer Andrew Katsis, Takes A Look A (Jean) Renoir 1954 Film (French Cancan) aka (The French Can) Starring Jean Gabin and Françoise Arnoul, María...

2011-02-05T03:55:00.000-08:00

They Shoot Pictures Don't They? placing: #426
Directed by: Jean Renoir
Written by: André-Paul Antoine (idea), Jean Renoir (adaptation)
Starring: Jean Gabin, Françoise Arnoul, María Félix, Anna Amendola, Jean-Roger Caussimon, Dora Doll, Giani Esposito

A NOTE TO THE READER: This post is to rectify a previous omission. I (Andrew, not me) originally watched French Cancan on January 14, 2009, but was unaware that it was on the TSPDT list. Thus, my statement that "I haven't yet been completely blown away by a Jean Renoir film" neglects my later review of The Grand Illusion (1937).

I haven't yet been completely blown away by a Jean Renoir film. The closest candidate so far was the wonderful A Day in the Country (1936), which unfortunately suffered the handicap of being unfinished. Even so, I find the director's films to be extraordinarily pleasant viewing, and I'd much sooner sit down for a Renoir than I would for, say, a Godard or Fellini film. French Cancan (1954) is a completely pleasant, and entirely unpretentious, musical comedy that goes by so breezily that you're apt to forget that you're watching the work of France's most respected filmmaker. Less concerned with cultural satire than The Rules of the Game (1939), the film is instead similar in tone to Elena and Her Men (1956), a completely inconsequential piece of cinema that is nonetheless a lot of fun to watch. Both of these films were shot in exquisite Technicolor, of which Renoir takes full advantage, filling the frame with glorious costumes, colours and people.

Henri Danglard (Jean Gabin) is a respected theatre producer who lives the high life, despite relying upon financial backers to sustain his extravagant lifestyle. A charming chap, and convincingly debonair given his age, Danglard shares the company of the beautiful but temperamental Lola de Castro (María Félix), into whose bed many have attempted to climb (and probably with little resistance).

When Danglard woos a pretty young laundry-worker, Nini (Françoise Arnoul), into dancing the cancan for him, Lola is overrun with jealousy, and all sorts of anarchy takes place amidst this romantic rivalry.
Meanwhile, a handsome European prince (Giani Esposito) offers Nini his hand in marriage, but she's not willing to make such a dishonest commitment, more inclined to stay with Danglard, who inevitably plots to discard her as soon as his next promising starlet comes along.

Jean Gabin, who had previously worked with Renoir in the 1930s, is terrific in the main role, overcoming his mature age to succeed as a potential lover.

It's interesting to compare Hollywood films of the 1950s with their European counterparts. Thanks to the Production Code, most American romantic comedies kept the romance almost entirely platonic, whereas here Renoir's characters speak of sex and adultery as though it is a perfectly acceptable practice.
Even the adorable Françoise Arnoul, who occasionally reminded me of Shirley MacLaine, is treated as an openly sexual women, and not just because her character specialises in a dance designed purely to display as much leg as possible.

Like many of Renoir's films, the characters themselves aren't clearly defined, and so it's difficult to form an emotional attachment. Indeed, only in the final act does Danglard come clean with the extent to which he romantically exploits his dance recruits, though even this moment is overshadowed by the premiere show of the Moulin Rouge.

Perhaps it is through his caricatures that Renoir is making a quip about bourgeois French society – that they're all hiding behind fallacious identities and intentions. Or am I looking too far into this quaint musical comedy?
Allan Fish's From Over There at Wonders in the Dark...Review "The French Cancan" (aka The French Can)...If you, like Check-out Allan's review too!

Question: Is Renoir 1954 Film French Cancan available On DVD?
Answer: Yes, please read what Gary Tooze, had to say about both DVDs...
Gary Tooze From Over There at DVD Beaver Compare The Criterion DVD With Gaumont Region Free Blu-Ray DVD...

6/10
The Film "The French Cancan" Is Currently, Andrew's #8 film of 1954:
1) Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock)
2) Animal Farm (Joy Batchelor, John Halas)
3) Dial M for Murder (Alfred Hitchcock)
4) Viaggio in Italia {Voyage in Italy} (Roberto Rossellini)
5) Sabrina (Billy Wilder)
6) The Glenn Miller Story (Anthony Mann)
7) The Maggie (Alexander Mackendrick)
8) French Cancan (Jean Renoir)
9) The Caine Mutiny (Edward Dmytryk)

Nick Parks' Wallace & Gromit: A Matter Of Loaf and Death...Which Was Preceded by Nick Parks "The Curse Of the Were-Rabbit" Which Was A Feature Film...

2010-09-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

Directed byNick ParkProduced bySteve Pegram
Peter Lord (Executive Producer)
David Sproxton(Executive Producer)
Nick Park (Executive Producer)Written byNick Park
Bob BakerStarringPeter Sallis (Wallace)
Sally Lindsay (Piella)Music byJulian NottDistributed byBBC
Aardman Animations
HIT EntertainmentRelease date(s)^AU3 December 2008^[1]
^UK25 December 2008^[2]
^US22 September 2009Running time29 minutesCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglishBudget£100,000Preceded byThe Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Wallace and Gromit have opened a new bakery – Top Bun – and business is booming, not least because a deadly Cereal Killer has murdered all the other bakers in town. Gromit is worried that they may be the next victims, but Wallace couldn’t care – he’s fallen head over heels in love with Piella Bakewell, former star of the Bake-O-Lite bread commercials. So Gromit is left to run things on his own, when he’d much rather be getting better acquainted with Piella’s lovely pet poodle Fluffles. But then Gromit makes a shocking discovery which points to the killer's true identity. Can he save his master from becoming the next baker to be butchered? And does Fluffles know more than she is saying? It’s a classic 'who-doughnut' mystery, as four-time Academy Award winning director Nick Park creates a hilarious new masterpiece in the tradition of 'master of suspense' Alfred Hitchcock.

Wallace and Gromit have opened a new bakery – Top Bun – and business is booming, not least because a deadly Cereal Killer has murdered all the other bakers in town. Gromit is worried that they may be the next victims, but Wallace couldn’t care – he’s fallen head over heels in love with Piella Bakewell, former star of the Bake-O-Lite bread commercials.

But danger loom when local bakers begin disappearing without a trace in this tongue-in-cheek mystery.

Convinced that Wallace's new lady friend, Piella Bakewell--a former model for the Bake-O-Lite bread company--is behind the crimes...Therefore, What Is Gromit to do to save his Wallace...

he enlist the help of Piella's own dog Fluffles, to save his beloved master.
This animation is NR
Was Released in 2008
and the running time is 30min...

[Editor's Note: The Synopsis Is Courtesy Of The DVD Wallace and Gromit:A Matter Of Loaf and Death...]
The Trailer For Wallace and Gromit

This Review Was Written By Writer Andrew Katsis' and Originated From Over There at "Short Cuts"...Nick Parks' Wallace and Gromit "The Wrong Trousers"

2010-07-09T01:23:00.000-07:00

"The Wrong Trousers..." (1963)
This Review Was Written By Writer Andrew Katsis Originally On Thursday, February 26, 2009

Claymation: Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers (1993, Nick Park)

Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers (1993) UK, 30 min
Directed by: Nick ParkWritten by: Nick Park (writer), Bob Baker (writer), Brian Sibley (additional screenplay)Starring: Peter Sallis

There's no use prevaricating about the bush, Wallace & Gromit in The Wrong Trousers (1993) is a whole heap of fun! Having not seen the film in years, I'd almost forgotten that it was so uproariously entertaining.

It was Creature Comforts (1989) that took home the Oscar in 1991, but Nick Park instead planned a sequel to A Grand Day Out with Wallace and Gromit (1989), a short film that, in my estimation, showed far more promise.

This next effort sees the pair with their feet firmly on terra firma, but in an adventure that is no less wacky than the last. Despite economic woes, Wallace has built a impressive contraption for Gromit's birthday – a pair of mechanical trousers. To offset his financial losses, Wallace opens up his home to lodgers, attracting the business of a creepy and silent penguin named Feathers McGraw. The sinister flightless avian soon sets about systematically severing the immortal bond between master and pet, in preparation for a devilishly cunning heist scheme.

Nick Park's films are held in reverence by the animation community, and with good cause. Rarely before had the claymation medium been utilised to create such rich animated characters; even previous successes like Closed Mondays (1974) couldn't evade the fact that they were produced using shifting masses of clay.

The Wrong Trousers boasts but three characters – only one of whom can speak – and yet the relationship between the three is superbly authentic. Maybe it's the personal touch of recognising the animators' thumb-prints on every character, but somehow Park manages to capture every nuance of their behaviour, every tiny inflection of emotion. In half an hour, Gromit doesn't utter a single word, and yet he communicates his sadness, anger and excitement through an affectionate glance or downcast eye.

Likewise, the sinister Feathers McGraw attains creepiness precisely through his silence. That he doesn't speak keeps his motives veiled in secrecy, and those beady, ominous eyes are probably enough to give young children nightmares.
Of course, most people love The Wrong Trousers for its humour, and there's plenty of it. That sparkling British humour is truly allowed to shine, and the gentle voice-acting of Peter Sallis has the sheer sincerity to carry the frequently-offbeat jokes.

Whereas A Grand Day Out was a homage of sorts to the science-fiction genre, probably more in line with Georges Méliès than anyone else, this effort is an affectionate satire of the British crime films of the 1950s and 1960s. The evil penguin has the eccentric malevolence of Alec Guinness in The Ladykillers (1955), though without the fondness for articulate speech. The object of the villainous heist scheme resembles the titular jewel in The Pink Panther (1964). With mock seriousness, amateur sleuth Gromit paces his way through the clichés of the genre, culminating in a hilarious madcap locomotive chase along miniature train-tracks, which our hero must lay down as he goes. This sort of impeccable entertainment deserves to run for far longer than thirty minutes.9/10

The Trailer For Nick Park's "Wallace and Gromit in...The Wrong Trousers" (1963)

Posted by ackatsis at 9:20 PM
Labels: 1990s, 1993, 21-30 min, 9/10, animation, claymation, Nick Park, UK, Wallace and Gromit