Babylon A.D.

Synopsis
.
Toorop (VinDiesel) is a mercenary with a mission to transport a beautiful virgin Aurora (Melanie Thierry) and her guardian Rebecca (Michelle Yeoh) from a post apocalyptic Russian to New York City, where she'll be met by her mother a high priestess of some weird Scientology like religion. Along the way they are pursued by an army of goons that seem to be in the employ of Aurora's father, a scientist who for some reason thought it would be a good idea to implant artificial intelligence in human babies.
.
With out putting to fine a point on it, this movie is a complete waste of F**kin time. Not that it started out that way, the first half an hour is quite decent, it captured my short attention span almost immediately. The special effects were decent, it properly sets up what appeared to be an interesting story, and introduces the main characters effectively, I thought I was in for a decent ride...I was was wrong. The movie falls apart quickly, it turns into pretty much one big chase sequence, with some dumb half ass explanation as to the origin and significance of Aurora. The end is so abrupt I caught myself reaching for the DVD case looking for that second half, of course there was none, and of course I don't care. If I had to guess I'd say the studio either ran out of money or just plain gave up, either way this movie has absolutely no ending to speak of...stay away from this one, unless you get it for free...

Natasha Richardson

Natasha Jane Richardson (born 11 May 1963) is another one of my early heart throbs, a British actress known for her performances on stage, TV and in many films. The first time I saw this incredibly beautiful actress was in the movie The Handmaid's Tale were she played opposite Robert Duval in the lead roll of Kate Offreda, a concubine to the privileged rich classes in an oppressive futuristic society. Its was a very enjoyable film and a fantastic performance by Natasha, one worth remembering, if you have not yet seen it I recommend it highly.

.... In her personal life she has been married to Liam Neeson since late 1994. Richardson and Neeson have two sons: Michael and Daniel. Richardson has also helped raise millions of dollars in the fight against AIDS since her father, director Tony Richardson, died of AIDS-related causes in 1991. A good person with a good heart who is both talented beautiful.

.....As I write this blog a terrible tragedy has befallen Natasha, after suffering what appeared to be a minor fall during a private skiing lesson Monday on a beginner's trail at Mont Tremblant, Quebec, she later developed a severe headache, she has been flown back to New York were she has since fallen into a coma. Members of Natasha's family are gathered at the Manhattan hospital where she has been taken, she is not expected to survive. I pray, as we all do, that by some miracle she will survive and make a full recovery. 08/18/09, 8:00pm...

...08/19/09... With great sorrow I write that Natasha died yesterday in New York she was only 45... Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman said Thursday the death was ruled an accident, and the cause of death was an "epidural hematoma due to blunt impact to the head," It is a tragic loss. It's always sad when an actress as talented as Natasha dies before her time, we are left wondering what other great roles she may have portrayed if she had lived, rolls that will now never come to pass, roll that we have all been deprived of seeing...one can only speculate, my condolences to her family....

Filmography

1968............. The Charge of the Light Brigade

1986..............Gothic

1987............. A Month in the Country

1988............. Patty Hearst

1989............. Fat Man and Little Boy

1990............. The Handmaid's Tale

..................... The Comfort of Strangers

1991............. The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish

1992............. Past Midnight

1994............. Nell

..................... Widows' Peak

1998............. The Parent Trap

2001............. Blow Dry

..................... Chelsea Walls
2002............. Waking Up In Reno

......................Maid in Manhattan

2005..............The White Countess

......................Asylum

2007............. Evening

2008............. Wild Child

.

Supplimental March 23, 2009

.

LITHGOW, N.Y. – A somber group of friends and family gathered in a small Hudson Valley town Sunday to say a final farewell to Tony Award-winning actress Natasha Richardson. Liam Neeson, in a dark suit and sunglasses, was at the head of the casket as he and five other pallbearers carried his wife's coffin into St. Peter's Episcopal Church, near the home where the two married in 1994. After that a graveside service under a large green tent, the 45-year-old actress was buried in a nearby cemetery, near the grave of her maternal grandmother the actress Rachel Kempson, amid hilly horse farms about 80 miles north of New York City....

Oliver Stone on Wallstreet

.
.....I took this clip from Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood website, the filmmaker visited USC’s Annenberg School for Communication on March 3rd to talk about his Wall Street movie, suddenly all too relevant again.
.....Being involved in the Financial Industry I've see the carnage first hand, alot of people have had their lives destroyed this year. It's interesting how a director with little or no backround in finance was able to see Wallstreet for what it really is...nothing more than smoke and mirrors. This is an excellent interveiw that touches on many subjects, enjoy...
.

The Devil Within Us - Donald Basinger

First Printing , Dobson Books Limited 1963, Great Britain, jacket designed by Donald Green. It's in pretty much perfect condition

Wallpaper of the Week - Terminator 3

Click image to enlarge...
.

.

Midnight Movie

....Low budget does NOT mean Shit....I saw saw this film tonight and it was freakin amazing... It was so damn good I almost crapped my pants. WOW!!!

Synopsis:

.

....At an old run-down movie theater in a sleepy little town, a group of friends buy ticket to the midnight screening of an old horror film. These unsuspecting teenagers are not aware that the star of the movie made a bloody escape from a mental institution five years earlier and may still be on the loose. A bloody massacre ensues...

.

It's great to see a new twist on an old idea, I like slasher flicks, always have but I have to admit I've been getting a little board of Hollywood with their big budget productions cranking out the same old shit. "Midnight Movie" proves you don't need alot of cash to land a winner, all ya need it a good idea and some talented people to see it through. The only negative aspect I could point out in this film would have to be the acting which at times could be a bit forced, if not down right amature. But that said with a limited budget and a short shooting schedule it's likely that most scenes were done in one or two takes so I'll give the cast the benefit of the doubt. Hats off to Jack Messitt (director) and his crew they certainly out did themselves, a fine piece of work. The movie cast is as follows... Rebekah Brandes (Bidget), Daniel Bonjour (Josh), Greg Cirunick (Mario), Mandell Maughan (Samantha) Jon Briddell (Detective Barrons), Michael Swan (Dr. Wayne) and Stan Ellsworth (Harley). If you like horror flicks and slasher flicks in particular this one is definitely worth your time, two thumbs up...

Terminator Salvation Movie Trailer

Looking forward to this one, if the film's half as good as the trailer then I think we're in for a wild ride, I cant wait.
.

Solaris (2002)

...Directed by Steven Soderbergh. With George Clooney, Natascha McElhone, Viola Davis this film is an adaptation of Stanislaw Lem’s novel, which had already been made into a movie in 1972 by Andrei Tarkovsky. The plot revolves around Chris Kelvin (Clooney), a psychologist still grieving for his late wife (Natascha McElhone) who is summoned by an old friend (Ulrich Tukur) to the mysterious planet Solaris, where strange phenomena have been happening soon after he arrives Kelvin finds himself face to face with his dead wife Rheya....

... I loved the film, the chemistry between Cloney and McElhone is fantastic the story unconventional but interesting. For those who like alot of action a word of warning, you won't find to much shit blowing up in this one or even a laser blasters for that matter. This is what I like to refer to as an adult Sci-fi film, a thinking mans film. Soderbergh, acting as writer, director and cinematographer (under the pseudonym Peter Andrews) has made a very brainy, non-commercial movie that much is certain. Some may not like it as the pacing can be a bit slow, but the look, that character development and the story more than make up for it. I have this one in my collection... of course that ain't sayin much, I have everything in my collection, that aside I highly recommend this film, it's nice to see an original idea that doesn't get too artsy, I hate pretentious artsy crap...

.

20th Century Fox

.

Director...............................Steven Soderbergh

Producer.............................James Cameron, Rae Sanchini

Writer.................................Steven Soderbergh

Box Office Take(US) ........$14,970,038