Sunday, November 28, 2010

"Furt"

Sorry took me a lot of time to write this cause my downloader was taking ages to download the latest hp7 game. So, here it is;

Another dramatic week, with tons of love, tension and even a little Nazi humor! Kurt’s dad and Finn’s mom tied the knot on last night’s episode of “Glee“, but the drama did not start or end with the wedding. “Furt” delivered some romance, some action, and a few surprises for the students, teachers, and parents at McKinley High. Overall it wasn’t a bad week for the gang…

When Burt Hummel and Carole Hudson announce they are getting married, instead of hiring a band the couple gets New Directions to perform at their wedding. At McKinley, Sue’s mother (guest star Carol Burnett) arrives unexpectedly, and Kurt’s ongoing confrontation with his bully comes to blows.

This episode like a lot of other Glee episodes come a stand again a few problem of the common public. Featuring some family drama that gave excellent insight into the characters’ dispositions and provocations, and showed how far these characters have come throughout the show. Sue’s mom Doris (Carole Burnett) returns to Ohio after her Nazi-hunting duties are finished, but her daughter does not exactly welcome her with open arms. The more we learn about Sue, the more her abrasive and often absurd behavior makes sense. Her “life is tough, get a helmet” attitude is a result of having to basically fend for herself and parent her disabled sister while her parents were off doing something, in their minds, more important.

Also, Finn has long been reluctant to befriend Kurt let alone rise to his new brother’s defense, because he is uncomfortable with Kurt’s homosexuality. When Mike, Artie, and Sam take on Dave Kronofsky in Kurt’s defense, Finn’s absence from the ensuing fight raises more than a few eyebrows in the choir room. This is an ongoing issue on the show that it well addresses and much like real life not easily solved. This weeks episode once again raises the stacks on the issue once again. One wonders how far they will go?

But on a more cheesier note “Love is in the air” Burt and Carole’s wedding prompted examination of the many couples on Glee, and how each are –

Rachel and Finn’s relationship seems almost perfect these days, but may soon be rocked by a revelation about Finn’s (nonexistent) virginity and his one-night stand with Santana. Though Finn dealt with Santana, how long will/can he keep the secret from Rachel?

Sam offers Quinn a promise ring, which, among other things, promises to catapult the adorable golden-haired couple to Brangelina status on the McKinley social structure. What are Sam’s real motivations, though? Early on in the episode, he confesses to Finn that his desire to be popular that made him want to be with Quinn; later on, he tells her he loves her, and sounds convincing.

Sue, on the other hand, has identified the person who she most wants to spend her life with: herself. Though played for laughs, this declaration of proud single-ness was refreshing in the midst of a couple-centric ep. This was another example of the genius of Sue Sylvester- though harsh, she is who she is without apologies and embraces her life for what it is without complaint.

But the major plot maneuver - After suffering extreme emotional and physical distress because of Dave Karofsky’s repeated bullying, Kurt decides its time to make a serious change. He, along with his parents, decide it is best for him transfer to Dalton Academy after Karofsky’s expulsion is overturned by the school board. This signals a major change for Kurt and for the show, and will certainly heighten the stakes at Sectionals, where as Rachel points out, Kurt will compete against New Directions.

Though “Furt” had its sentimental moments, the major character insights and developments, couple with swift plot movement kept the episode from getting too sappy. It was definitely a game-changing hour for “Glee” on a multitude of levels, most prominently Kurt’s decision to leave McKinley High and Finn.

Well moving on next week we have the ninth episode of the season titled “Special Education” - New Directions performs at Sectionals, competing against the Dalton Academy Warblers and the Warren Township Hipsters. While the relationship between guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays) and dentist Carl Howell (John Stamos) develops, those of some of the students meet rough patches. 





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Friday, November 26, 2010

Hp7 part 1: The End Begins

Everything that has a start will also have an end, its conclusion. Likewise, we humans are born we live our lives and then we die. Thus this co-relation between beginning and end not only exists for living creatures but non-living things as well.

As such after spanning for a whole decade the harry potter phenomenon is about to end. Starting November 19th, 2010 the first part of the concluding book of the harry potter series written by J.K. Rowling was released. A divide that could mainly be considered a move to benefit the franchise’s pockets but the original reason being to give a fitting end to the decade spanning series, as all the loose ends throughout the series are finally tied. So, it would not be beneficial for us fan to go see the movie but ultimately not understand it all.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 isn’t the best Harry Potter film so far.  It’s not the funniest or the most action-packed although it has plenty of moments of levity and breath-taking excitement. But it’s the one film most deserving of audience respect and admiration because it’s the first Harry Potter to cast aside the comfort of Hogwarts.  In place of Good Times with Magic, Deathly Hallows – Part 1 is quiet, contemplative, and sorrowful.  What you’ve come to expect from a Harry Potter film is gone and in its place is a more difficult movie but one that is ultimately more rewarding.

 At the end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) vowed that he would not return to Hogwarts for his final year.  Instead, he must now find and destroy five “horcruxes”, items which hold pieces of the soul of Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and provide him with immortality.  If Harry can destroy all the horcruxes, then he’ll be able to defeat Voldemort and save the world.  This task is made slightly more difficult by the fact that the wizarding world is falling to Voldemort’s army of Death Eaters who are not only hunting Harry down, but also infiltrating the government.  Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermoine (Emma Watson) join Harry in his dangerous mission but their search puts the trio’s friendship to the test.

That friendship is the core of Half-Blood Prince.  There’s no more quidditch, magic classes, or supernatural creatures.  Like the book, Deathly Hallows is about the struggle to find your own way when you no longer have the structure that school provides.  While compacting the seventh book into one movie could have shaped the story into a more traditional mold, splitting the novel into two parts—while clearly done in an attempt to make more money from the franchise—also provides the largest challenge.  There’s not a lot of forward momentum in the plot and so director David Yates and screenwriter Steve Kloves place the drama in the hands of the characters. Hats off to David Yates and Steve Kloves.

I’m once again grateful that this series never recast its lead actors.  While it’s possible that new actors could have done these characters justice, watching Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint make Harry, Hermoine, and Ron their own over the past decade pays tremendous dividends.  This film truly belongs to them as we see the trio pushed to the brink.  And yet the film isn’t afraid to stick to the pacing of the book and drop a character for a good chunk of the runtime.  It isn’t afraid to have a quiet scene where two characters just slowly dance (to a Nick Cave song, no less!) in an effort to lift their spirits.  Most remarkable, it isn’t afraid to juggle tones from comic to thrilling to melancholy all within a short time span.  And most remarkably: it all feels completely organic to the story. Yet I really would have loved to see that Harry - Remus confrontation when he states that Tonks was carrying his baby.

It’s to his great credit that Yates can keep these slow-paced scenes captivating and then easily switch to the comfort of a well-timed joke or intense action scene.  Despite an emphasis on these characters being lost, both directionally and spiritually, Deathly Hallows – Part 1 is still a movie that knows how to have fun.  It just always mixes in the thrills with the sorrow.  You can have a high-speed broom chase, but not everyone will make it out unscathed.  You can have a funny and thrilling heist scene, but there will be the undertones of Nazi Germany.  It’s a movie where a scene can begin with someone getting flushed down a toilet and end with a critical injury and yet somehow it all works.

However, Deathly Hallows – Part 1 is such a delicate balancing act that every wobble is a bit more pronounced than it would be in an earlier film that had a tighter structure and a faster pace.  There’s one scene that goes a bit too far in showing a character his deepest fears.  One character’s death is so rushed that it’s difficult to tell if he/she even dies.  Also, Deathly Hallows – Part 1 doesn’t really have a climax as much as it has a good stopping point.

Despite these minor missteps, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 is a triumph.  It eschews the safety the series has brought so far not just in story but in tone.  David Yates and his leading actors have managed to tell a story steeped in uncertainty with the utmost confidence.

Thus, as its tagline “THE END BEGINS” says, Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is a beautifully filmed, emotionally satisfying penultimate installment for the Harry Potter series. Having made it this far, the Potter faithful won't be deterred by "Part 1's" bleak, inconclusive tenor, spelling phenomenal returns and raising expectations for a truly spectacular finish.

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Sunday, November 21, 2010

Harry Potter : A Look To The Past

Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless. Mind is the greatest tool for a human being, if the brain cultivates ideas of great potentials the human being is bound to see it to the end. If man hadn’t wanted to cross the water bodies, he would never have made those ships. If man hadn’t wanted to cross borders, he never would have thought of trains. If he hadn’t wanted to fly like a bird in the sky, airplanes may never have been invented. Imagination is what makes life full of possibilities.

By now I’m sure you all know what I am to trying to convey I these above lines. Also I think the title of the article “Harry Potter: A Look to the Past” is pretty much explanatory. When I say HARRY POTTER only one thing comes to mind “a simple yet effective imagery that captured the whole world in its wake”.

Yes, my dear fellows, I’m sure you all are acquainted with the inception of Harry Potter. In 1990, J. K. Rowling (the wonderful creator of this wonderful world) was on a crowded train from Manchester to London when the idea for Harry suddenly "fell into her head".

So what say Ladies and Gentlemen, shall we go on a journey into the magical world of Harry Potter and gain the knowledge as to how this wonderful world sprang from imagination and enchanted the whole world?

Yes we shall!!!!

Now you all know after Miss Rowling wrote the manuscript of the first book, she had a hard time finding a published, after submitting her scripts at 12 publishing house, she got a green signal  a year later by editor Barry Cunningham from Bloomsbury, a small British publishing house in London, England.

From there started the journey of a life time, after The Philosopher’s Stone, came The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire, The Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince and finally ending the epic saga with The Deathly Hallows. Each book focusing on a particular year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry of the three lead characters, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as they grow up and fight against the Dark Lord Voldemort (snake-face).

Not only does the story evolve with each book with a beautiful pace, but we readers grow as well. I personally feel that the Harry potter series is definitely a right to passage while coming of age, for I grew up and entered the gates of adulthood reading these books (those who still haven’t read it READ, you are missing some of the best moments of your life).

But the series did not only remain as books, the stories were brought to the silver screen as well. In 1997, producer David Heyman searched Hollywood for a children's book that could be adapted into a well-received film. His staff at Heyday Films then suggested Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which Heyman believed was "a cool idea." Heyman pitched the idea to Warner Bros. and the following year, Rowling sold the company the rights to the first four Harry Potter books. A demand Rowling made was that the principal cast be kept strictly British, nonetheless allowing for the inclusion of Irish actors such as Richard Harris as Dumbledore, and for casting of French and Eastern European actors in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire where characters from the book are specified as such. Miss. Rowling was hesitant to sell the rights (a good decision too) because she "didn't want to give them control over the rest of the story" by selling the rights to the characters, which would have enabled Warner Bros. to make non-author-written sequels.

From there on began the journey of a lifetime, as each of the films released they became a world-wide phenomenon, growing in numbers as each of the them released. For me the first movie titled “The Sorcerer’s Stone” was what initiated me into the Harry Potter World, although yes my paternal uncle and a cousin of mine were the ones who suggested me the first as an interesting read, but naturally I dismissed the idea. But after watching the sorcerer’s stone when it was released in 2001, I knew I had to read it and I did but after second film The Chamber of Secrets came out. I started reading with the third novel The Prisoner of Azkaban and it soon became a tradition for me I would demand the next book every year on my birthday as a present.

Each book I’m happy to say was beautifully woven for the silver screen. The actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, the three leads as well as the cast and crew grew and evolved through the 10 years they spent filming the whole series and I dare say they did a marvelous job out of it as well. For they started young, grew up, saw marriages, child births, divorces, and deaths along this bumpy ride of a lifetime.

But the books and movies weren’t the only thing out there regarding this magical world, a whole lot of merchandise were also produced, clothing line, broomstick and wands from the series, a few side along books for comic relief, props used in the films were produced as merchandises, picture books, colouring books, pop-up books, and a very recent book on the whole production of the series of which I am a proud owner “Harry Potter Film Wizardry” and the video games based on every film released. These merchandises not only helped to create a wider fan base for the series but also provided for a whole new level of commitment toward the series of the boy wizard.

From these lines it is clear that the human mind is a powerful store house of ideas. A simple idea or an imagination can prove to be the foreword to a huge phenomenon. But the clocks have started to tick for the end has begun, for the end for this epic saga of the harry potter series that had enchanted the whole world.  

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Friday, November 19, 2010

"The" sexy "Substitute"!!!!

Glee Season 2 Episode 7 “The Substitute” Gwyneth Paltrow made her much hyped guest appearance as substitute teacher Holly Holiday. Holly replaced Will as both Spanish teacher and glee club director, Sue became principal, and Terri returned, speaking in a baby voice that’s going to give me nightmares. It may sound like a recipe for disaster, but for the most part it all worked out.

After Will catches a virulent strain of the monkey flu and hallucinates a choir room full of mini-Gleeks (who all by the way looked totally cute!), Holly arrives as his substitute. She seemed pretty darn perfect at first—she spoke Spanish with a flawless accent, she did an impressive version of Cee-Lo Green’s “Forget You,” bonded with the kids over Taco Bell and with Sue over Animal Hoarders and red wine, and she even cart-wheeled while performing “Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag” from Chicago with Rachel. She seemed like the coolest teacher ever… until she revealed she can’t commit to staying at one school for more than a month.

Let’s Talk about the Good and Bad seen shall we?

As the ultimate substitute, Paltrow’s casual sexy and fresh Holly Holliday brings a fresh perspective to glee club and a new dimension to the show. Holly describes herself as the “cure for the common class.” She is like a super permissive parent; she presents Lindsay Lohan as a topic for class discussion, suggests a trip to Taco Bell and nonchalantly drops a medical marijuana reference. 

Glee functions as an excellent arbitor of pop culture and social commentary, and this episode provided a platform to discuss a multitude of relevant issues. When Schue confronts Holly about her laissez-faire teaching style, she makes a few excellent points about how education needs to adapt to the 21st century in order to reach students. Last week’s commentary on bullying continued this week, as the confrontation between Kurt and his tormentor escalated, resulting in a death threat that will likely be a major issue in coming episodes.”The Substitute” also weighed in the debate about nutrition in schools, via Principal Sue’s ‘war on junk food.’

Kurt embracing his more flamboyant side via his blossoming relationship with Blaine makes Mercedes feel left out. Kurt is not just her best friend; he also he fills the male presence void typically assigned to boyfriends, just with a little more flair. For Mercedes, being unable to connect with Kurt about a new dimension to his life is frustrating and saddening. This is a tale as old as time- straight girls with best gay friends the world over have felt this rejection when, suddenly, their BGF has someone else, who is theoretically better suited as a confidant. Exploring this dynamic will make for excellent conflict in future episodes.


On another note, Mr. Schue was a major presence this week, and mostly redeemed himself for the jealous weirdness and questionable decisions of episodes past. He really does care about his students; it is clear that losing leadership of glee club is more about losing this beautiful relationship with the students and not about a selfish need for control, like Sue. Terri returns, crazy eyes, baby voice and all, to bring out the worst in her ex-husband. She takes advantage of Will while he is sick, though he does bear some responsibility for sleeping with a woman who is clearly unstable; when she comes flying into his apartment in a jealous rage, it is hard to feel sorry for him.

So what did you think of Gwyneth on Glee? I thought she fit in well with the rest of the cast and held her own during the performances, which seemed rather elaborate in this episode. From Holly and Rachel’s Chicago number to Mike Chang and Mr. Schue’s version of “Make ‘Em Laugh” to the Umbrella/Singin’ in the Rain finale with everyone splashing around—I think they upped their budget for this episode. Gwyneth and the rest of the Gleeks seemed to be having a blast, so that made this a fun episode for me.

Now next Tuesday November 23 airs episode 8 of this season titled Furt, as glee club co-captains Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) and Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith) move forward in their relationship, club member Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) faces a key decision in his life and commences preparations for his father Burt's (Mike O'Malley) impending marriage to Finn's mother Carole (Romy Rosemont). Wanting to compete, Sue also decides to be wed, which brings her Nazi hunter mother Doris (Carol Burnett) to Lima, Ohio for a surprise visit.

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Thursday, November 18, 2010

Harry Potter Film Wizardry

Normally I don’t elaborate on products or production based book, but this one is good enough to do just that.

With the end of the Harry Potter film franchise nearing, it seemed the right time to go back and savour the highlights of the ten-year long series. Harry Potter: Film Wizardry does just that: a scrapbook that encompassed the decade-long saga, where everyone from the producers, directors, and production designer explain in details how they conceptualised some of the plot points and settings; and the actors, including the three stars, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, hit memory lane to disclose some of the best, funniest, and sometimes most uncomfortable times they had playing Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the films. 

The book begins with a foreward from Dan, Rupert, and Emma, who gush about how much of an impact the series made in their lives. Dan remarked on the journey both he and Harry endured in the ten years; Rupert took pride in playing brave Ron Weasley, the "ultimate ginger," in his words; and Emma voiced her respect for her young, annoying, brainy Muggle-born fictional counterpart she thought she had nothing in common with early in the series, but who she embraced with all her heart by the end. It then lead into the first of many producer's notes scattered throughout the book, where David Heyman, the man who read the first Harry Potter book, fell in love, and immediately insisted on making the films, explained how he began to piece the movies together well over ten years ago. 

Author Brian Sibley compiled the scrapbook with a combination of production notes, countless cast and crew interviews, set visits, knowledge of the book and film series, and production photos and movie stills to make the quintessential anthology of the Harry Potter film series. The book itself ended with a sneak preview of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, with nothing more than image captions under a dozen or so small photos from Gringotts and Hogwarts. Just enough of a teaser to make the reader wish there were a few more pages at the end, chronicling the end of the saga. 


One of best features of the book, however, was that it focuses on so many of the minor details fans could never have been expected to notice, and the production teams that worked endlessly to make them. Here you have clear shots of Daily Prophetarticles and issues, rooms filled with creatures like Buckbeak and thestrals, various angles of the Room of Requirement both from Order of the Phoenix and Deathly Hallows: Part II, Privet Drive and Diagon Alley, and countless rooms, corridors, and facets from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. (I definitely wished there were more photos than only the sneak-peek of Gringotts). 

"Everybody involved in these eight films knows that we have been part of something very special, and that there will never be another experience like this one," proclaims producer David Heyman in the introduction. He's right, of course, and while the people who made the movies were there for births, marriages, divorces and even deaths, fans have been along for the ride, hoping for a chance to sit in the front seat. This is finally it!

From tidbits like how Helena Bonham Carter perforated Matthew Lewis's eardrum with her magic wand in Order of the Phoenix, to grand designs like how the filmmakers created an entire Hogsmeade miniature village with intricately detailed micro-window displays the size of a £1 note, the book simply doesn't disappoint. It's the perfect mix of fact and -- as McGonagall would say -- "well-mannered frivolity."

On top of all that publisher Harper-Collins inserted over half a dozen prop replicas, like your very own sealed invitation to attend Hogwarts (addressed to Mr H Potter, The Cupboard under the Stairs, naturally), a Quidditch World Cup programme, and even a "real" Maurader's Map. There are also several fold-out pages, one of which contains the Black Family Tree Tapestry.

I highly recommend 'Harry Potter Film Wizardry' for any passionate Harry Potter fan, from one proud owner of this marvelous book to you all.


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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

The Social Network

Facebook is a social media giant that has indisputably changed the world, affecting everything from how people share their lives, to how people market, promote and sell businesses, products and even their own talents. In fact, Facebook is so prevalent in our modern digital age that it even has the power to change the topography of culture, pop-culture, art, politics, and in rare cases, even religion.

Given that Facebook is what it is today, I must admit that it’s somewhat surprising that it has taken this long for a movie to be made about its origins. And while that movie, The Social Network, is an interesting and visually rich exploration of the events that led up to arguably the most influential invention of a generation, a lackluster ending and overall feeling of pointlessness mark it well short of being the film which defines a generation.

To put it bluntly, to make it as succinct as possible, The Social Network is one of the best movies I have seen all year. It is far too early to say it is the best, and I would have to go through every movie released this year before I could even consider labeling it as such, but it is definitely up there, and will likely be in the discussion when people begin to talk “best of” and awards begin to circulate.

David Fincher manages to pull off two amazing feats with The Social Network. The first is that he has made a bio-pic that does not feel like a bio-pic. It is paced so well, and shot with such precision that even if it were not based on a real story, even if everything were entirely fictional, it would have been a great film. It helps that the subject is fresh and interesting, but there are a whole bunch of movies that are based on real events that do not come close to The Social Network. The second thing he does is to create a movie that does not have one specific character that you end up rooting for. He tells the story and leaves the interpretation to the audience of who is right, which is a bold decision. Odds are this movie will cause a dramatic spike in sales on books based on Facebook’s true origins from people that want to know more, and that is high praise for a bio-pic.

There are a few moments where the needs of the film outweigh the truth of the real story, but they are understandable, and there is never a moment that people familiar with the real events will roll their eyes in dismay. From start to finish the movie is shockingly good, and it is in many ways a masterpiece.

As the events depicted in the film are based on true events (even if they are slightly fictionalized), it is difficult to keep this review entirely spoiler free. If you know the real life events, then it won’t matter, and of course I won’t go into detail on the ending. Still, if you are not familiar with the story of how Facebook was founded, and if you wish to remain surprised, then be aware that there are some very minor spoilers below.

Based on the book The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal by Ben Mezerich, The Social Network tells the slightly fictional and mostly factual story of the founding of Facebook. In 2003 Mark Zuckerberg, as portrayed by Zombieland’s Jesse Eisenberg, was a narcissistic, arrogant, and lonely sophomore at Harvard, who was looking to be accepted by the school’s elite in order to have “a better life”. He also happened to be a genius. After a particularly jarring breakup, Zuckerberg pulls off an impressive feat of computer coding, and in the span of a few hours creates Facemash, a website that asked students to choose between two girls and pick the one they thought was better looking. The website lands Zuckerberg in trouble with the school, alienates him with the female student population, but also brings him to the attention of the Winklevoss twins, Cameron and Tyler (both played by Armie Hammer with additional shots using Josh Pence as a stand in), and their partner Divya Narendra (played by Max Minghella).

The trio hire Zuckerberg to help code their website HarvardConnection. The idea was to create a social network that thrived on the idea of exclusivity, and Zuckerberg soon agrees to help. Shortly after, he tells his friend Eduardo Saverin (played by Andrew Garfield) that he has had an idea for a social network of his own, and with Saverin’s money and a promise to make him CFO, Zuckerberg begins work on TheFacebook.

As TheFacebook take off, the movie begins to intertwine with events from the future, notably two separate lawsuits against Zuckerberg, one by the Winklevoss twins and Narendra, and another by Saverin. In the Winklevoss suit, the three claim that Zuckerberg stole their idea, while Saverin’s lawsuit is based on his eventual removal from Facebook.

TheFacebook continues to grow, and within less than a year the site has gained over 150,000 members and is available on several college campuses, including Stanford, where Sean Parker, the founder of Napster (played by Justin Timberlake), discovers the site. Parker arranges a meeting with Zuckerberg, which sets in motion a chain of events that sends Zuckerberg to California, and eventually leads to issues with Saverin.

The simple description of the plot cannot do the movie justice, as the plot drives the movie, but the way it is told is what really stands out. As a guy wrapped deeply in tech, most of the story was already of interest to me, but to people only familiar with the website Facebook but not its history, it is a fascinating- albeit somewhat fictionalized account of events that carry your interest throughout. The lawsuit flashes, while they might sound gimmicky, are handled with such mastery that they do not feel obtrusive at all.

The performances are pretty spectacular – especially those of the two leads, Eisenberg and Garfield. Eisenberg has been tagged in some circles as “the other Michael Cera,” referring to the latter actor’s penchant for playing the loveable nerd in virtually every role he takes on. This is not at all true for Eisenberg, who portrays Mark Zuckerberg as something of a tragically ironic figure: an acerbic genius who is totally clueless when it comes to human interaction; a guy who earns fortune and fame off a website dedicated to social circling, but has very few “real friends” to call his own.

Eisenberg flat-out steals just about every scene he’s in, glaring at people around him like they are nitwits, while delivering scathing insights that could make a person feel that very way. A definite standout performance that is worthy of recognition (provided people don’t find his character too unlikable).

Andrew Garfield is a fast-rising star: he’s already been tapped as the new Spider-Man in Sony’s reboot of that franchise, and he has another prestige picture, Never Let Me Go, due out this fall. Here, Garfield plays a near-perfect straight man foil to Eisenberg’s eccentric genius. Eduardo Saverin is the type of smart kid who (ironically enough) prefers the actual social experience of college to sitting in dim-lit dorm rooms creating an online imitation of it. Garfield successfully builds Saverin into a three-dimensional character with a range of a emotions, a slightly naive kid caught up in a gold rush that is moving way too fast for him (or anyone) to keep ahead of.

The scenes of Saverin and Zuckerberg in their happy days at Harvard juxtapose well to the later days when they’re ultimately sitting across the table from one another, talking through lawyers.  The climatic scene of their falling out actually packs some emotional punch, which is a credit that goes directly to the talents of both young men.

Of course, I’d be an idiot if I didn’t mention Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker, the inventor of Napster who eventually partners with Zuckerberg to transform Facebook into the behemoth it is today. Timberlake manages to shed his celebrity image and slip into his role pretty well, portraying Parker as an extremely savvy businessman who is simultaneously chock full of B.S.. All in all, Timberlake continues to prove that he is not the joke of an actor some people may want to label him as.

Conclusion - The Social Network is a masterpiece on many levels. It is one of those movies that will have the rare appeal to a wide audience, and still be deep enough to satisfy even the most intense film critics. There really are no flaws in the movie. Maybe the subject material will not appeal to you, and maybe you are so familiar with the real events that the slightly bastardized version of events will turn you off, but the movie can very honestly be called art.

Even after watching the events, and even knowing where the movie diverged from truth, it is an interesting story, as well as being well told. As I left the theater, I looked around at the audience who were on their way out. Many immediately turned on their cell phones and went to Facebook to check their pages without a hint of irony. It is one of the great stories of our time, and while not every fact is 100-percent accurate, it is totally enjoyable.

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

The Chronicles of Narnia - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

These are some of the trailers released so far.

#1 Trailer :

#2 Trailer :

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Sunday, November 14, 2010

Katerina - A Recipe for disaster

In the episode titled Katerina we are introduced to a recipe that spells disaster.

But instead of a mixture of ingredients that simply lead to a hangover, the recipe Katherine described to Elena could result in the sacrifice of us of almost every Mystic Falls resident we know and love. Welcome to the latest twist in the most shocking show on television.

Before I delve into my "Katerina" review, let's recognize the work of Nina Dobrev.

Within the course of one hour, this actress portrayed Katherine as a human being in Bulgaria; Katherine as a pretend English woman in Great Britian; Katherine as a weakened vampire in present day; and a couple versions of Elena, one confident, the later one a tear-filled mess. That's gotta be some kind of record for a star of a show.



Overall, "Katerina" was a necessary installment, an essential information dump that left me furiously scrawling notes and trying to keep up.

It certainly wasn't the most action-packed episode in series history, as my one complaint would be that the mythology was mostly revealed in an expository manner. Really, we all just watched as Katherine sat there and spilled everything to Elena. But there was a whole lot to spill, and it left me with a number of points/questions. To wit:



Now we know why Elijah thought the Petrova bloodline stopped with Katherine: because her parents gave her daughter away. There could be any number of flashback episodes that take us through Elena's more immediate family history, as I'm left wondering: did her relatives also resemble Katherine? How many other dopplegangers are out there or have been out there?

The dopplegangers were created as a means to undo the sun and moon spell. But who created them? Because Slater - who I adored... a nerdy vampire, how funny/awesome was that?!? - said the goal is for vampires to break the curse before werewolves do, I'm hoping we receive more background on the feud between these creatures.

In case anyone missed it, the ingredients Katherine returned to Mystic Falls to collect are: a vampire, a werewolf, a witch, a doppleganger and the moonstone. No word yet on whether or not a partridge in a pear tree is also required.

Before the episode concluded, I had this strange vibe that specifically said there's always a last-minute twist. I thought I was proven correct when Elijah was revealed to be compelling Slater... but there was a twist on the twist. Dr. Jonas Martin is working with this Original. Do we also think Luka is in on it? Or being used as a pawn by his apparently evil father? (And what about Elijah breaking the UV-resistant glass with coins…it was quite cool wasn’t it???)

One problem with how Katherine simply listed her history, along with the basis for her return, is that we're left to ponder a major question: is she telling the truth? When she was first locked in the tomb, she wailed about needing to protect Elena - but we have to assume that was a lie now, right?

It will start to feel annoying and manipulative if Katherine's story changes from week-to-week. I have to believe we're getting accurate information this time, especially because it doesn't paint Katherine in a flattering light. Why make up that she wants to help Klaus sacrifice all these people?

As Katherine suggested, this all seems to be leading toward a major decision for Elena. There is one way in which she can save those around her: by taking the same action Katherine took over 500 years ago. By becoming a vampire.

Finally, speaking of Klaus, one final question before I turn this review over to reader responses: considering how greatly they've built him up - Elijah is the "Easter Bunny" compared to this Original, Damon's latest lucky lover said - who will they possibly get to portray this ultimate villain?

Notice: I'm painstakingly adding that the next episode titled The Sacrifice airs on 2nd December. That a long wait guys wonder what i'll do without TVD till then.


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'Vampire Diaries' Star Nina Dobrev Not Ready For Elena To Become Vampire 'Just Yet'

We've heard plenty of buzz about whether Elena (Nina Dobrev) should ever turn into a vampire, but it wasn't until "Vampire Diaries" writer Kevin Williamson told E! Online recently that there was actually a pitch to make it happen, that we really started paying attention.



Kevin's comments totally caught us off guard, and we weren't the only ones. Nina was just as surprised as we were when we sat down with her last week.
"That’s news to me," she said.
Nina went on to say that she wasn't quite ready for Elena to join the ranks of Stefan (Paul Wesley), Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Caroline (Candice Accola), especially since she's already got her hands full playing two characters—including a naughty bloodsucker.
"I have fun playing a human and a vampire so I don’t want her to turn into a vampire just yet," Nina said. "I’ve got my work cut out for me, and its fun to be human."
We can't deny that the possibility of Elena becoming a vamp is intriguing, but we're with Nina on this one; Katherine is enough vampire for us to handle right now. Although, who knows if we'll feel the same a year from now?
What do you think, people? Should Elena become a vampire?




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