gone baby gone

Gone Baby Gone, esordio alla regia di Ben Affleck, è un altro titolo penalizzato da una distribuzione italiana oscena, questa volta pare in relazione alla scomparsa della piccola Madeleine McCann (Portogallo, inizio 2007). Decisione francamente inconcepibile, perché se è vero che nel film una bambina bionda viene rapita, le somiglianze finiscono qui: il film è stato scritto e diretto prima del fatto, peraltro.

Zona degradata di Boston, una bambina viene rapita; la madre - tossica - sembra più interessata a sé stessa che alle sorti della piccola, ma ovviamente il caso suscita grande clamore e la polizia indaga sulla scomparsa. Gli zii della bambina ingaggiano una giovane coppia di detective privati nella speranza di ritrovarla al più presto.
Inizia una discesa in un mondo di criminali, spacciatori e pedofili, ma la soluzione del caso non sarà né semplice né indolore per nessuno.

Film crudo alla Clint Eastwood, deve probabilmente gran parte dei suoi meriti all'omonimo libro di Dennis Lehane (lo stesso che scrisse Mystic River, per dire...)
Non è però il caso di sminuire il buon lavoro di adattamento fatto da Ben Affleck, che firma anche una regia che magari non riscrive le regole del cinema, ma è più che degna e perfetta per il genere.
Povero Ben, denigrato da tutti: sono il primo ad ammettere che come attore fa quel che può, ma se il co-autore di Good Will Hunting fosse il peggio che c'è ad Hollywood, avremmo 4 capolavori la settimana, invece della merda che ci viene propinata quasi quotidianamente.

Se proprio vogliamo trovare qualche nota stonata, va cercata nella recitazione di Casey Affleck e di Michelle Monaghan; niente da dire su Morgan Freeman e - soprattutto - Ed Harris.
Poi, a ben guardare, soffre anche di qualche dialogo un po' troppo impostato e della complessiva inverosimiglianza della storia in sé (ed anche alcuni passaggi logici sono un tantino azzardati), ma in fondo questo genere di film è bello anche per quello.

Voto: 9- e chapeau a Ben Affleck.
Tags: drammatico, crimine, poliziesco, mistero, Ben Affleck, scomparsa, rapimento, Boston, polizia, degrado, tossicodipendenza, madre, zio, investigatore, spacciatore, poliziotto, agguato, droga, sparatoria, fucile, pistola, irruzione, indagine, pedofilia, corruzione, detective, bar, minaccia, cocaina, televisione, tradimento, funerale, sangue, omicidio, moralità.

Monaghan, Michelle

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Nome di battesimo: Monaghan, Michelle Lynn
Data di nascita: 23 March 1976
Altezza: 5' 7" (1.70 m)
Coniuge: Pete White::(August 2005 - present) 1 child

Ultimi lavori:

• Eagle Eye (2008) .... Rachel Holloman [attrice]
• Made of Honor (2008) .... Hannah [attrice]
• Trucker (2008) .... Diane Ford [attrice]
• Gone Baby Gone (2007) .... Angie Gennaro [attrice]
• The Heartbreak Kid (2007) .... Miranda [attrice]
• Mission: Impossible III (2006) .... Julia [attrice]
• Constantine (2005) .... Ellie (uncredited) [attrice]
• Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) .... Harmony Faith Lane [attrice]
• Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) .... Gwen [attrice]
• North Country (2005) .... Sherry [attrice]

Biografia:
Michelle Lynn Monaghan was born on March 23, 1976, in Winthrop, Iowa. She is the youngest of three children and the only daughter of Sharon and Robert John Monaghan. After graduating from high school in Iowa, she studied journalism for three years at Chicago's Columbia College. In order to pay for college, she took a job as a model. In 1999, she quit college and moved to New York to work full-time as a fashion model. She traveled the world doing stints on the runways in Milan, Singapore, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and also enjoyed appearances in a number magazines and catalogs. In 2000, she made her TV debut in two episodes of "Young Americans" (2000), then appeared in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1999). She made her big screen debut with a small role of Henrietta in Perfume (2001). Monaghan shot to fame in 2002 when she co-starred as Kimberly Woods for one season on the TV series "Boston Public" (2000). After appearances in several supporting roles, she starred opposite Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer in the black comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005). Later in 2005, Monaghan was filming in China, Italy, and the United States on Mission: Impossible III (2006), as the female lead opposite Tom Cruise. In August of 2005, in Sydney, Australia, Michelle Monaghan married her long-time sweetheart, Peter White, a New York based graphic designer, whom she met at a Manhattan party five years earlier.

Trivia random: Has two older brothers.
Citazione random: "You don't grow up in a town of 700 thinking you're going to be an actress. I loved doing [school] plays, but it was just something to keep me busy."

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Lehane, Dennis (II)

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Data di nascita: 4 August 1965
Coniuge: Sheila::(? - ?) (divorced)

Ultimi lavori:

• Shutter Island (2009) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Until Gwen (2009) .... (short story) [scrittore]
• Gone Baby Gone (2007) .... (novel) [scrittore]
• Mystic River (2003) .... (novel) [scrittore]

Trivia random: Teaches advanced fiction writing at Harvard
Citazione random: "I found that I could write two kinds of short stories: I could write very absurd, kind of surrealistic, funny stories; or I could write very dark, realistic -- hyper- realistic -- stories. I was never happy with that, because I couldn't meld the two. And my view of life is that it's both." - August 1999

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Affleck, Casey

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Nome di battesimo: Affleck, Caleb Casey
Data di nascita: 12 August 1975
Altezza: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
Coniuge: Summer Phoenix::(3 June 2006 - present) 2 children

Ultimi lavori:

• The Killer Inside Me (2010) .... Lou Ford [attore]
• The Kind One (2010) .... Danny Landon [attore]
• Untitled Joaquin Phoenix Documentary (2010) .... [regista]
• Gone Baby Gone (2007) .... Patrick Kenzie [attore]
• Ocean's Thirteen (2007) .... Virgil Malloy [attore]
• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) .... Robert Ford [attore]
• The Last Kiss (2006) .... Chris [attore]
• Lonesome Jim (2005) .... Jim [attore]
• Ocean's Twelve (2004) .... Virgil Malloy [attore]
• All Grown Up (2003) (TV) .... (executive producer) [produttore]

Trivia random: Appeared with brother Ben Affleck in the movies Chasing Amy (1997), Good Will Hunting (1997) and 200 Cigarettes (1999).
Citazione random: I believe veganism can be beneficial for the individual and the world, and of course the animal, but belief is like laying in the dark with someone and telling them you love them and hearing nothing back. So I've never had the confidence to get on a soapbox and tell someone else what to do

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Harris, Ed (I)

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Nome di battesimo: Harris, Edward Allen
Data di nascita: 28 November 1950
Altezza: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
Coniuge: Amy Madigan::(21 November 1983 - present) 1 child

Ultimi lavori:

• The Way Back (2010) .... Mr. Smith [attore]
• Once Fallen (2009) .... Liam [attore]
• Appaloosa (2008) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Touching Home (2008) .... Charlie Winston [attore]
• Cleaner (2007) .... Eddie Lorenzo [attore]
• Gone Baby Gone (2007) .... Remy Bressant [attore]
• National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007) .... Mitch Wilkinson [attore]
• Copying Beethoven (2006) .... Ludwig van Beethoven [attore]
• Two Tickets to Paradise (2006) .... Melville [attore]
• A History of Violence (2005) .... Carl Fogarty [attore]

Biografia:
By transforming into his characters and pulling the audience in, Ed Harris has earned the reputation as one of the most talented actors of our time. Born in Tenafly, New Jersey, Harris grew up as the middle child. After graduating high school, he attended New York's Columbia University, where he played football. After viewing local theater productions, Harris took a sudden interest in acting. He left Columbia, headed to Oklahoma, where his parents were living, and enrolled in the University of Oklahoma's theater department. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles to find work. He started acting in theater and television guest spots. Harris landed his first leading role in a film in cult-favorite George A. Romero's Knightriders (1981). Two years later, he got his first taste of critical acclaim, playing astronaut John Glenn in The Right Stuff (1983). Also that year, he made his New York stage debut in Sam Shepard's "Fool for Love", a performance that earned him an Obie for Outstanding Actor. Harris' career gathered momentum after that. In 2000, he made his debut as a director in the Oscar-winning film Pollock (2000).

Trivia random: He has a brother living in Norman, Oklahoma - where Ed attended the University of Oklahoma.
Citazione random: Acting is not a competition to me. One of the first things I learned about acting was, the only person you compete against is yourself.

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Freeman, Morgan (I)

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Nome di battesimo: Jr., Morgan Porterfield Freeman
Data di nascita: 1 June 1937
Altezza: 6' 2½" (1.89 m)
Coniuge: Myrna Colley-Lee::(16 June 1984 - present) (filed for divorce) 2 children, Jeanette Adair Bradshaw::(22 October 1967 - 1979) (divorced) 2 children

Ultimi lavori:

• The Last Full Measure (2010) .... Jimmy Burr (rumored) [attore]
• Invictus (2009) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• The Maiden Heist (2009) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Thick as Thieves (2009/I) .... Keith Ripley [attore]
• A Raisin in the Sun (2008) (TV) .... Narrator (uncredited) [attore]
• The Dark Knight (2008) .... Lucius Fox [attore]
• Wanted (2008) .... Sloan [attore]
• Evan Almighty (2007) .... God [attore]
• Feast of Love (2007) .... Harry Stevenson [attore]
• Gone Baby Gone (2007) .... Jack Doyle [attore]

Biografia:
With an authoritative voice and calm demeanour, this ever popular African American actor has grown into one of the most respected figures in modern US cinema. Born in June 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee, the young Freeman attended Los Angeles Community College before serving several years in the US Air Force as a mechanic between 1955 and 1959. His first dramatic arts exposure was on the stage and he appeared in an off-Broadway production of "The Nigger Lovers" and also in an all-African American production of the exuberant musical Hello, Dolly! (1969). Freeman first appeared on TV screens as several characters including "Easy Reader", "Mel Mounds" and "Count Dracula" on the Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop) show "The Electric Company" (1971). He then moved into feature film with another children's adventure, Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow! (1971). Next, there was a small role in the thriller Blade (1973); then he played "Casca" in Julius Caesar (1979) (V) and the title role in Coriolanus (1979) (V). Regular work was coming in for the talented Freeman and he appeared in the prison dramas Attica (1980) (TV) and Brubaker (1980), the slow-moving Eyewitness (1981), and portrayed the final 24 hours of slain Malcolm X in Death of a Prophet (1981) (TV). For most of the 1980s, Freeman continued to contribute decent enough performances in films that fluctuated in their quality. However, he really stood out, scoring an Oscar nomination as a merciless hoodlum in Street Smart (1987) and, then, he dazzled audiences and pulled a second Oscar nomination as the patient and dignified chauffeur assisting moody pensioner Jessica Tandy in the delightful Driving Miss Daisy (1989). The same year, Freeman teamed up with youthful Matthew Broderick and fiery Denzel Washington in the epic Civil War drama Glory (1989) about freed slaves being recruited to form the first all-African American fighting brigade. His star continued to rise, and the 1990s kicked off strongly with roles in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) and The Power of One (1992). Freeman's next role was as gunman "Ned Logan", wooed out of retirement by friend "William Munny" to avenge several prostitutes in the wild west town of Big Whiskey in Clint Eastwood's de-mythologized western Unforgiven (1992). The film was a critical and box-office smash and scored an acting Oscar for Gene Hackman, a directing Oscar for Eastwood, and the Oscar for best picture. Freeman's work did not go unnoticed, more strong scripts came in, and he was back behind bars depicting a knowledgeable inmate (and obtaining his third Oscar nomination), befriending falsely accused banker Tim Robbins in the uplifting The Shawshank Redemption (1994). He was then back out hunting a religious serial killer in Se7en (1995), starred alongside Keanu Reeves in Chain Reaction (1996), and was pursuing another serial murderer in Kiss the Girls (1997). Further praise followed for his role in the slave tale of Amistad (1997), he was a worried US President facing Armageddon from above in Deep Impact (1998), appeared in the loopy Neil LaBute black comedy Nurse Betty (2000), and reprised his role as "Alex Cross" in Along Came a Spider (2001). Now highly popular, he was much in demand with cinema audiences, and he co-starred in the terrorist drama The Sum of All Fears (2002), was a military officer in the Stephen King-inspired Dreamcatcher (2003), gave divine guidance as "God" to Jim Carrey in the very funny Bruce Almighty (2003), and played a minor role in the uneven comedy The Big Bounce (2004). However, 2005 was finally to be Morgan Freeman's year, when again he teamed up with good friend Clint Eastwood to appear in the heart-wrenching drama, Million Dollar Baby (2004). Freeman's on-screen performance is simply world-class as ex-prize fighter Eddie "Scrap Iron" Dupris, who works in a run-down boxing gym alongside grizzled trainer "Frankie Dunn", as the two work together to hone the skills of never-say-die female boxer Hilary Swank. Freeman received his fourth Oscar nomination and, finally, impressed the Academy's judges enough to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance. In addition to his film work, his commanding yet mellifluous voice has also led Freeman to be cast to narrate or host dozens of first-rate television specials covering topics from the American Civil War, the American Film Institute, blues music, the White House and many commemorative events involving the US film industry, most recently as the narrator of the American version of La marche de l'empereur (2005).

Trivia random: Has recorded a new radio public service announcement about the national parks.
Citazione random: Upon getting work as an off-Broadway actor in 1967: I made $70 a week as an actor and I'd been making $60 in LA. Making more than that as an actor was just unbelievable to me. I never went back to typing but had some real lean times in-between. But I didn't have to go to work for anybody else. I didn't have to wash dishes, I didn't have to wait tables, I didn't have to drive a cab or wash cars. I deliberately left myself nothing to fall back on. If you've got a cushion, where you land, you stay. You can't climb a mountain with a net. If you've got the net, you'll let go.
Salario massimo: $5,000,000, per Kiss the Girls (1997)

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

Gone Baby Gone

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Regista: Ben Affleck
Scrittore: Ben Affleck, Aaron Stockard
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Crime
Valutazione: 7.9/10 (52025 voti)
Durata: 114 min
Paese: USA
Lingua: English

Cast:

• Casey Affleck .... Patrick Kenzie
• Michelle Monaghan .... Angie Gennaro
• Morgan Freeman .... Jack Doyle
• Ed Harris .... Remy Bressant
• John Ashton .... Nick Poole
• Amy Ryan .... Helene McCready
• Amy Madigan .... Bea McCready
• Titus Welliver .... Lionel McCready
• Michael K. Williams .... Devin (as Michael Kenneth Williams)
• Edi Gathegi .... Cheese

Trama:
When 4 year old Amanda McCready disappears from her home and the police make little headway in solving the case, the girl's aunt Beatrice McCready hires two private detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro. The detective freely admit that they have little experience with this type of case, but the family wants them for two reasons - they're not cops and they know the tough neighborhood in which they all live. As the case progresses, Kenzie and Gennaro face drug dealers, gangs and pedophiles. When they finally solve the case, they are faced with a moral dilemma that tears them apart.

Trivia random: Broadway actress Amy Ryan looked and sounded so convincing as a low class Dorchester mom that a security guard mistook her for a fan on the first day of location filming, and wouldn't let her on the set. One of the producers finally noticed her on the other side of one of the barricades, and said she should be let through. The incident made Ryan twenty minutes late, but convinced her the Boston accent she'd prepared was realistic.
Citazione random: Big Dave: Listen, I ain't saying a fucking word. I already talked to the fucking cops.<br />Patrick Kenzie: All right. Dave, right?<br />Big Dave: Big Dave.<br />Patrick Kenzie: Big Dave. All right. I'm Medium Patrick. Nice to meet you.<br />Big Dave: You're a little fucking light in the ass to be talking shit, ain't ya?

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Eastwood, Clint

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Nome di battesimo: Jr., Clinton Eastwood
Data di nascita: 31 May 1930
Altezza: 6' 2" (1.88 m)
Coniuge: Dina Eastwood::(31 March 1996 - present) 1 child, Maggie Johnson::(19 December 1953 - 14 May 1984) (divorced) 2 children

Ultimi lavori:

• Invictus (2009) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Changeling (2008) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Gran Torino (2008) .... (producer) [produttore]
• You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (2008) (V) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends (2007) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Flags of Our Fathers (2006) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That (2005) (TV) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Budd Boetticher: An American Original (2005) (V) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Million Dollar Baby (2004) .... (producer) [produttore]

Biografia:
Like most superstars, Clint Eastwood's success can be attributed to equal parts good fortune, tenacity, and talent. Eastwood may have been too young to fight in World War II, but he managed to miss out on action in Korea too. On leave as a G.I., his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean and steely-eyed Clint swam three miles to shore. He later was made boot camp swimming instructor and missed out on action in Korea (confined to base). Encouraged to try acting by two of his Army buddies, David Janssen and Martin Milner, he landed a contract at Universal Studios in 1954, earning 75 USD a week playing bit parts in B-grade movies like Revenge of the Creature (1955) and Tarantula (1955). He was dropped when some studio execs decided his Adam's apple was too big. The determined Eastwood swallowed his pride and, over the next few years, he dug swimming pools between playing bit parts in movies and on TV. While visiting a friend at CBS, Eastwood was spotted by a network exec who cast him as cattle driver Rowdy Yates in the long-running western series "Rawhide" (1959). That, in turn, led to spaghetti stardom in a string of Sergio Leone westerns, beginning with Per un pugno di dollari (1964) ("A Fistful of Dollars"). Eastwood has seven children from five different women. He is divorced from Maggie Johnson and had a long time relationship with frequent co-star Sondra Locke. He lives in Carmel and has been married to Dina Eastwood since 1996.

Trivia random: Presented the Golden Globe Award for Best Director to Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain (2005).
Citazione random: You have to trust your instincts. There's a moment when an actor has it, and he knows it. Behind the camera you can feel the moment even more clearly. And once you've got it, once you feel it, you can't second-guess yourself. You can find a million reasons why something didn't work. But if it feels right, and it looks right, it works. Without sounding like a pseudointellectual dipshit, it's my responsibility to be true to myself. If it works for me, it's right.
Salario massimo: $12,000,000 (15% of gross), per Every Which Way But Loose (1978)

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Mystic River (2003)

Mystic River

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Regista: Clint Eastwood
Scrittore: Dennis Lehane, Brian Helgeland
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Valutazione: 8.0/10 (99378 voti) [#236 nella top250]
Durata: 137 min
Paese: USA
Lingua: English

Cast:

• Sean Penn .... Jimmy Markum
• Tim Robbins .... Dave Boyle
• Kevin Bacon .... Sean Devine
• Laurence Fishburne .... Sgt. Whitey Powers
• Marcia Gay Harden .... Celeste Boyle
• Laura Linney .... Annabeth Markum
• Kevin Chapman .... Val Savage
• Tom Guiry .... Brendan Harris (as Thomas Guiry)
• Emmy Rossum .... Katie Markum
• Spencer Treat Clark .... Silent Ray Harris

Trama:
Childhood friends Jimmy Markum, Sean Devine and Dave Boyle reunite following the death of Jimmy's oldest daughter, Katie. Sean's a police detective on the case, gathering difficult and disturbing evidence; he's also tasked with handling Jimmy's rage and need for retribution.

Trivia random: The movie was named as one of "The 20 Most Overrated Movies Of All Time" by Premiere.
Citazione random: Whitey Powers: The girl just wants to bed you; she don't wanna wed you. You don't even blink? She wants to worship at the temple of Sean Devine.

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Affleck, Ben

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Nome di battesimo: Affleck-Boldt, Benjamin Geza
Data di nascita: 15 August 1972
Altezza: 6' 3" (1.91 m)
Coniuge: Jennifer Garner::(29 June 2005 - present) 2 children

Ultimi lavori:

• The Company Men (2010) .... Bobby Walker [attore]
• Turning It Over (2010) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Extract (2009) .... Dean [attore]
• He's Just Not That Into You (2009) .... Neil [attore]
• Reporter (2009) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• State of Play (2009) .... Rep. Stephen Collins [attore]
• Gimme Shelter (2008) (V) .... [regista]
• Gone Baby Gone (2007) .... (screenplay) [scrittore]
• Clerks II (2006) .... Gawking Guy [attore]
• Hollywoodland (2006) .... George Reeves [attore]

Biografia:
Benjamin Geza Affleck was born on August 15, 1972 in Berkeley, California, USA but raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. He was born to parents Tim Affleck, a social worker, who is now divorced from Ben's mother Chris Affleck, a school teacher. Ben also has a younger brother, actor Casey Affleck, who was born in 1975. Ben wanted to be an actor ever since he could remember and his first acting experience was for a Burger King commercial, when he was on the PBS mini-series "The Voyage of the Mimi" (1984). It was also at that age when Ben met his lifelong friend and fellow actor, Matt Damon. They played little league together and took drama classes together. Ben's teen years consisted of mainly TV movies and small television appearances including Hands of a Stranger (1987) (TV) and "The Second Voyage of the Mimi" (1988). He made his big introduction into feature films in 1993 when he was cast in Dazed and Confused (1993). After that, he did mostly independent films like Kevin Smith's Mallrats (1995) and Chasing Amy (1997) which were great for Ben's career, receiving renowned appreciation for his works at the Sundance film festival. But the success he was having in independent films didn't last much longer and things got a little shaky for Ben. He was living in an apartment with his brother Casey and friend Matt, getting tired of being turned down for the big roles in films and being given the forgettable supporting ones. Since Matt was having the same trouble, they decided to write their own script, where they could call all the shots. So, after finishing the script for Good Will Hunting (1997), they gave it to their agent Patrick Whitesell, who showed it to a few Hollywood studios, finally being accepted by Castlerock. It was great news for the two but Castlerock wasn't willing to give Ben and Matt the control over the project they were hoping for. It was friend Kevin Smith who took it to the head of Miramax who bought the script giving Ben and Matt the control they wanted and, in December of 1997, Good Will Hunting (1997) was released, making the two unknown actors famous. The film was nominated for 9 Academy Awards and won two, including Best Original Screenplay for Ben and Matt. The film marked Ben's breakthrough role, in which he was given for the first time the chance to choose roles instead of having to go through grueling auditions constantly. He chose such roles in the blockbusters Armageddon (1998/I), Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Pearl Harbor (2001). With these hits to his credit, Hollywood can't seem to get enough of Ben, with directors wanting him in their movies and companies wanting his screenplays. His inspirational story of hard work and amazing climb to the top has brought him what he deserves and Ben Affleck has shown no sign of slowing down.

Trivia random: Majored in Middle Eastern affairs in college.
Citazione random: I've finally learnt how to say, "No comment". To appear in the tabloids is a real learning curve and a steep one at that. You had better learn quick or you get burnt.
Salario massimo: $300,000 (split $600,000 script sale with Matt Damon), per Good Will Hunting (1997)

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Good Will Hunting (1997)

Will Hunting - Genio ribelle

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Regista: Gus Van Sant
Scrittore: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck
Genere: Drama, Drama
Valutazione: 8.0/10 (127639 voti) [#238 nella top250]
Durata: 126 min
Paese: USA
Lingua: English

Cast:

• Robin Williams .... Sean Maguire
• Matt Damon .... Will Hunting
• Ben Affleck .... Chuckie Sullivan
• Stellan Skarsgård .... Prof. Gerald Lambeau
• Minnie Driver .... Skylar
• Casey Affleck .... Morgan O'Mally
• Cole Hauser .... Billy McBride
• John Mighton .... Tom - Lambeau's Teaching Assistant
• Rachel Majorowski .... Krystyn
• Colleen McCauley .... Cathy

Trama:
A janitor at MIT, Will Hunting has a gift for maths that can take him light-years beyond his blue-collar roots, but to achieve his dream he must turn his back on the neighborhood and his best friend. To complicate matters, two strangers enter the equation: a washed-up shrink who starts to coach Will through his transformation, and a med student who shows him that there can be a pretty face along with his life of the mind.

Trivia random: At a WGA seminar in 2003, William Goldman denied the persistent rumor that he was the actual writer of Good Will Hunting: "I would love to say that I wrote it. Here is the truth. In my obit it will say that I wrote it. People don't want to think those two cute guys wrote it. What happened was, they had the script. It was their script. They gave it to Rob [Reiner] to read, and there was a great deal of stuff in the script dealing with the F.B.I. trying to use Matt Damon for spy work because he was so brilliant in math. Rob said, "Get rid of it." They then sent them in to see me for a day - I met with them in New York - and all I said to them was, "Rob's right. Get rid of the F.B.I. stuff. Go with the family, go with Boston, go with all that wonderful stuff." And they did. I think people refuse to admit it because their careers have been so far from writing, and I think it's too bad. I'll tell you who wrote a marvelous script once, Sylvester Stallone. Rocky's a marvelous script. God, read it, it's wonderful. It's just got marvelous stuff. And then he stopped suddenly because it's easier being a movie star and making all that money than going in your pit and writing a script. But I did not write [Good Will Hunting], alas. I would not have written the "It's not your fault" scene. I'm going to assume that 148 percent of the people in this room have seen a therapist. I certainly have, for a long time. Hollywood always has this idea that it's this shrink with only one patient. I mean, that scene with Robin Williams gushing and Matt Damon and they're hugging, "It's not your fault, it's not your fault." I thought, Oh God, Freud is so agonized over this scene. But Hollywood tends to do that with therapists."
Citazione random: Lambeau: Yeah, you were smarter than me then, and you're smarter than me now. So, don't blame me for how your life turned out.<br />Sean: I don't blame you! It's not about you, you mathematical dick! It's about the boy! He's a good kid! And I won't see you fuck him up like you're trying to fuck up me right now! I won't let you make feel like a failure too!

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

elfen lied

Se cercate qualcosa di scandalosamente crudo, Elfen Lied è sicuramente un buon inizio.
No, sul serio: mi dicono che Ken Il Guerriero sia scoppiato in lacrime ed abbia smesso di guardarlo dopo il quinto episodio!

Serie di 13 episodi (più un OAV lungo quanto una puntata) creata da Lynn Okamoto, Elfen Lied è in realtà un misto molto ben riuscito di vari elementi, dalla fantascienza al dramma sentimentale; il tutto condito con quantità di abominevole violenza e spensierato fan-service come mai prima d'ora.

I Diclonius sono una evoluzione del genere umano dotati di corna (e fin qui, direte voi...) e di Vectors: essenzialmente braccia extra, invisibili, velocissime e quasi indistruttibili; vibrano inoltre ad altissima frequenza, consentendo tagli netti nella materia solida.
Hanno inoltre la sgradevole abitudine di uccidere a vista qualunque essere umano faccia loro girare le scatole (e più spesso che no anche gli estranei); i pochi che vengono lasciati in vita risulteranno infettati da un virus che li porterà a concepire figli Diclonius.
Durante la fuga del centro di ricerca ultra-segreto in cui vengono confinati e studiati, una Diclonius (Lucy/Nyu) subirà un trauma che la porterà a sviluppare una seconda personalità infantile, sensibile ed anche un po' porca.
Incontrerà Kohta (che in giapponese credo significhi "Calamita di Fica Ancorché Disfunzionale e/o Mutilata" ), a sua volta vittima di un trauma infantile ora rimosso dalla coscienza.
Non mancheranno ovviamente scontri con altri Diclonius ed esseri umani vari (cfr. "carne da cannone"), oltre ad una buona quantità di risvolti sentimentali.

Come detto, la violenza è veramente enorme: parliamo di un vero e proprio bagno di sangue quasi costante, oltre a numerosi episodi di violenza (fisica, psicologica, sessuale e quant'altro) su minori.
Allo stesso modo il fan-service abbonda (del resto se le Diclonius sono mediamente belle figliole coi capelli rosa, perfettamente depilate, con due tettine sode e l'abitudine di andarsene in giro nude, capite che il tutto è davvero funzionale alla trama! ): la prima puntata mette ben in chiaro che non ci si risparmierà proprio nulla.
Va però detto che tutti questi elementi sono usati molto bene, e soprattutto inseriti in una trama avvincente e ben studiata.

Buone le musiche, sempre graditi i riferimenti alla cultura germanica (titolo, sigla e titoli degli episodi) che fa tanto intellettuale; la regia non brilla anche se qualche buon momento ce l'ha (e di sicuro non fa danni, pur risultando un po' statica).
Il disegno lascia un po' perplessi, ma alla fin fine non stona: buona parte dei protagonisti hanno infatti i classici occhioni giapponesi, con tratti tondeggianti (e vederli commettere cose abominevoli è un bel contrasto).

Insomma, consigliato a chi vuole qualcosa di piuttosto strano (prima magari guardatevi qualche spezzone in rete, per farvi una idea di che morte morirete).

Voto: 8.5. Bello parecchio (e qui il PG-13 non è stato neanche lontamente preso in considerazione ).
Tags: animazione, drammatico, horror, fantascienza, thriller, romantico, amore, doppia personalità, morte, virus, omicidio, smembramento, dissanguamento, amputazione, arma, pistola, fucile, cecchino, centro di ricerca, bambina, figlio, infanticidio, violenza, violenza sessuale, pedofilia, sesso, fan-service, sangue, vendetta, sterminio, decapitazione, tragedia, infanzia, sadismo, massacro, follia, tristezza, nudo, nudo integrale, corna, preversione.

Okamoto, Lynn

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

"Erufen rîto" (2004)

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Genere: Animation, Drama, Horror, Romance, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Animation
Valutazione: 8.7/10 (2817 voti)
Durata: 25 min
Paese: Japan
Lingua: English, Japanese

Cast:

• Sanae Kobayashi .... Lucy / ...
• Chihiro Suzuki .... Kota (13 episodes, 2004)
• Mamiko Noto .... Yuka (13 episodes, 2004)
• Emiko Hagiwara .... Mayu (12 episodes, 2004)
• Yuki Matsuoka .... Nana (12 episodes, 2004)
• Osamu Hosoi .... Kurama (10 episodes, 2004)
• Jôji Nakata .... Bando (7 episodes, 2004)

Citazione random: Lucy: The ones who aren't human... the ones who aren't people... Are you!

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

diary of the dead

Impantanato chissà perché in una distribuzione da terzo mondo, tocca rivolgersi al solito generoso mercato inglese anche per Diary of the Dead.
Le recensioni non erano entusiastiche ed anche il pubblico reagì con freddezza; inevitabile quindi un minimo di sospetto verso l'ennesimo zombie-movie di zio Romero.
Ebbene, per quanto mi riguarda tutte le voci critiche si sono rivelate dead wrong.

Un vero e proprio reboot (concetto che di norma non amo), per aggiornare gli zombie ai giorni nostri: d'improvviso, senza alcuna motivazione, i morti si animano ed iniziano ad attaccare i viventi. Il panico è immediato e devastante: in brevissimo tempo l'intera società si sfalda; niente più sicurezza, né legge, né comunicazioni.
Un piccolo gruppo di studenti di cinema - che ovviamente stavano girando un horror - s'imbarcherà in un viaggio verso casa nella speranza di trovarvi ancora qualcuno vivo.

Concetto non dissimile da quello già esplorato in tutti gli altri della serie, la differenza qui la fa la modalità narrativa: il film è infatti presentato come se fosse il montaggio definitivo di una serie di spezzoni di riprese girate dagli studenti stessi - in particolare uno di loro, ossessivo nella sua mania di documentare quanto sta accadendo.
Come facilmente prevedibile il viaggio sarà tutt'altro che agevole, ed occasione tanto di sgraditi incontri quanto delle immancabili riflessioni romeriane (il già visto "siamo degni d'essere salvati/siamo poi così diversi da loro?" ma anche e soprattutto uno sguardo molto critico ai nuovi media ed ai nuovi modi di diffondere e fruire la comunicazione).

Romero dovrebbe stanare e uccidere tutti coloro che solo per questo hanno paragonato il suo lavoro a Cloverfield e The Blair Witch Project; sono sempre stato un detrattore dell'abuso della telecamera a mano, ma quel che davvero conta è cosa racconti, e Diary of the Dead nei suoi 95 densi minuti racconta molto e soprattutto lo racconta dannatamente bene.
Senza tralasciare il piccolo dettagli che - a differenza dei due titoli citati - questo film fa davvero paura, quando decide di farla.

Aveva tutti gli ingredienti per risultarmi alquanto sgradito (reboot, telecamera a mano, nuovo capitolo di una serie che sembrava aver detto tutto o quasi, l'addentrarsi in un campo non suo come l'utilizzo dei nuovi media, ...), ed invece ho finito con l'adorarlo, anche se la mia pare essere una opinione non così diffusa.

Voto: 9.5. Lo zombie che non ti aspetti!
Tags: horror, fantasy, thriller, zombie, Romero, George A. Romero, viaggio, studenti, reboot, telecamera a mano, metafilm, film nel film, montaggio, Internet, comunicazione, media, nuovi media, blog, filmato, youtube, chat, video, download, fucile, pistola, arco, frecce, parente, madre, padre, fratello, morte, cannibalismo, ospedale, università, facoltà, cinema, fuga, villa, camera di sicurezza, panic room, piscina, professore, suicidio, morti viventi, incidente, ambulanza, telecronista, amish, tomba, guardia nazionale, esercito, milizia, intestino, mummia, critica, mockumentary, bomba, falce.

Romero, George A. (I)

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Nome di battesimo: Romero, George Andrew
Data di nascita: 4 February 1940
Altezza: 6' 5" (1.96 m)
Coniuge: Christine Forrest::(1981 - present), Nancy Romero::(1971 - 1978) (divorced)

Ultimi lavori:

• The Crazies (2010) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• ...of the Dead (2009) .... (written by) [scrittore]
• Deadtime Stories (2009) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Deadtime Stories 2 (2009) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Into the Dark: Exploring the Horror Film (2009) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• The I Scream Man (2009) .... Earl [attore]
• Day of the Dead (2008) .... (motion picture "Day of the Dead") [scrittore]
• One for the Fire: The Legacy of 'Night of the Living Dead' (2008) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Diary of the Dead (2007) .... (written by) [scrittore]
• Il pianto della statua (2007) .... (short story "Passion and Extasy") [scrittore]

Biografia:
George A. Romero never set out to become a Hollywood figure; however, by all indications, he was very successful. The director of the groundbreaking "Dead" pentalogy was born February 4, 1940, in New York City. He grew up there until attending the renowned Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After graduation, he began shooting mostly short films and commercials. He and his friends formed "Image Ten Productions" in the late 1960s and they all chipped in roughly US$10,000 a piece to produce what became one of the most celebrated American horror films of all time: Night of the Living Dead (1968). Shot in black-and-white on a budget of just over US$100,000, Romero's vision, combined with a solid script written by him and his "Image" co-founder John A. Russo (along with what was then considered an excess of gore) enabled the film to earn back far more than what it cost, became a cult classic by the early 1970s and was inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress of the United States in 1999. Romero's next films were a little more low-key and less seen including There's Always Vanilla (1971), The Crazies (1973), Hungry Wives (1972) (where he met his future wife Christine Forrest) and Martin (1977). Though not as acclaimed as Night of the Living Dead (1968), or some of his later work, these films had his signature social commentary while dealing with issues, usually horror-related, at the microscopic level. Like almost all of his films, they were shot in, or around, Romero's favorite city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1978, Romero returned to the zombie genre with the one film of his that would top the success of Night of the Living Dead (1968): Dawn of the Dead (1978). He managed to divorce the franchise from Image Ten, which screwed up the copyright on the original and allowed the film to enter into public domain, with the result that Romero and his original investors were not entitled to any profits from the film's video releases. Shooting in the Monroeville, Pennsylvania, Mall during late-night hours, Romero told the tale of four people who escape a zombie outbreak and lock themselves up inside what they think is paradise before the solitude makes them victims of their own, and a biker gang's, greed. Shot on a budget of just $1.5 million, the film earned over US$40 million worldwide and was named one of the top cult films by Entertainment Weekly magazine in 2003. The film also marked Romero's first work with brilliant make-up and effects artist Tom Savini. After 1978, Romero and Savini teamed up many times. Dawn of the Dead (1978)'s success led to bigger budgets and better casts for the filmmaker. First was Knightriders (1981), where he first worked with an up-and-coming Ed Harris. Then came perhaps his most Hollywood-like film, Creepshow (1982), which marked the first, but not the last, time Romero adapted a work by famed horror novelist Stephen King. With many major stars and big-studio distribution, Creepshow (1982) was a moderate success and spawned a sequel, which was also written by Romero. The decline of Romero's career came in the late 1980s. His last widely-released film was the next "Dead" film, Day of the Dead (1985). Derided by critics, it did not take in much at the box office, either. His latest two efforts were The Dark Half (1993), (another Stephen King adaptation) and Bruiser (2000). Even the Romero-penned, Tom Savini-directed remake of Romero's first film, Night of the Living Dead (1990), was a box-office failure. Pigeon-holed solely as a horror director and his recent films no longer achieving the success of his earlier "Dead" films, Romero has not worked much since, much to the chagrin of his following. In 2005, 19 years after Day of the Dead (1985), with major-studio distribution, he returned to his most famous series and horror sub-genre he created with Land of the Dead (2005), a further exploration of the destruction of modern society by the undead, that received both excellent and indifferent reviews and even topped the United States box-office in its first week of release. He still resides in Pittsburgh.

Trivia random: Was originally attached to write and direct Resident Evil (2002), but left the project in 1999 due to creative differences over the script.
Citazione random: If you have 60 people dress like zombies and you show them something that you like, you get 60 people doing the exact same thing. My opinion of a good zombie walk is to loll your head as if it's a little too heavy and the muscles have begun to atrophy.

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Diary of the Dead (2007)

Le cronache dei morti viventi

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Regista: George A. Romero
Scrittore: George A. Romero
Genere: Fantasy, Horror, Thriller, Fantasy
Valutazione: 6.1/10 (16234 voti)
Durata: 95 min
Paese: USA
Lingua: English

Cast:

• Michelle Morgan .... Debra Moynihan
• Joshua Close .... Jason Creed (as Josh Close)
• Shawn Roberts .... Tony Ravello
• Amy Ciupak Lalonde .... Tracy Thurman (as Amy Lalonde)
• Joe Dinicol .... Eliot Stone
• Scott Wentworth .... Andrew Maxwell
• Philip Riccio .... Ridley Wilmott
• Chris Violette .... Gordo Thorsen
• Tatiana Maslany .... Mary Dexter
• Todd Schroeder .... Brody (as Todd William Schroeder)

Trama:
While filming a horror movie of mummy in a forest, the students and their professor of the University of Pittsburgh hear on the TV the news that the dead are awaking and walking. Ridley and Francine decide to leave the group, while Jason heads to the dormitory of his girlfriend Debra Monahan. She does not succeed in contacting her family and they travel in Mary's van to the house of Debra's parents in Scranton, Pennsylvania. While driving her van, Mary sees a car accident and runs over a highway patrolman and three other zombies trying to escape from them. Later the religious Mary is depressed, questioning whether the victims where really dead, and tries to commit suicide, shooting herself with a pistol. Her friends takeg her to a hospital where they realize that the dead are indeed awaking and walking and they need to fight to survive while traveling to Debra's parents house.

Trivia random: Begins on the same day as Night of the Living Dead (1968), although the setting has been updated to the present day. The concept for the film evolved from an idea that director George A. Romero had earlier for a "Living Dead" TV series, which also would have begun on the same day as "Night of the Living Dead."
Citazione random: Debra: Everyone who dies, unless they get a bullet in the head, is gonna come back and try to kill someone else.

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Blair Witch Project, The (1999)

The Blair Witch project - Il mistero della strega di Blair

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Regista: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez
Scrittore: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez
Genere: Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Horror
Valutazione: 6.2/10 (77240 voti)
Durata: 86 min
Paese: USA
Lingua: English

Cast:

• Heather Donahue .... Heather Donahue
• Joshua Leonard .... Joshua 'Josh' Leonard
• Michael C. Williams .... Michael 'Mike' Williams (as Michael Williams)
• Bob Griffith .... Short Fisherman
• Jim King .... Interviewee
• Sandra Sánchez .... Waitress (as Sandra Sanchez)
• Ed Swanson .... Fisherman With Glasses
• Patricia DeCou .... Mary Brown
• Mark Mason .... Man in Yellow Hat
• Jackie Hallex .... Interviewee with Child

Trama:
Three film students travel to Maryland to make a student film about a local urban legend... The Blair Witch. The three went into the woods on a two day hike to find the Blair Witch, and never came back. One year later, the students film and video was found in the woods. The footage was compiled and made into a movie. The Blair Witch Project.

Trivia random: The working title was "The Black Hills Project."
Citazione random: Michael Williams: [sees dozens of stick-men hanging from trees] No redneck is this creative.

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

transformers: revenge of the fallen

Se questo è il futuro...

Prima di tutto, voglio sapere dove si comprano i jeans bianchi di Megan Fox; magari sul mio culo non faranno la stessa figura, ma diamine: ci fa tutte le guerre puniche e restano immacolati neanche li avesse appena lavati Mister Grey-ottimo-direi.
Detto ciò, a parte i jeans magici ed il contenuto dei suddetti, il resto di questo nuovo entusiasmante capitolo della saga di Michael Bay è imbarazzante a molti livelli: personalmente, mi sono sentito insultato da un film il cui concetto di gag è un cagnolino che cerca di fottene uno più grosso (e credevo che in merito i fratelli Farrelly avessero detto tutto, peraltro).

Non si creda però che nelle due ore e trenta (ma sembra durarne almeno otto) di questo bel Transformers: La Vendetta del Caduto non ci sia stato tempo per inserirci la sua porca trama: veniamo infatti a sapere che i buoni combattono i cattivi e la cosa va avanti da un bel po'. Ed ora continuano a farlo. Verosimilmente continueranno a farlo in futuro.
Grazie alle abilità del regista, la ricca sceneggiatura non soffoca però l'azione, e continueremo a zompettare avanti e indietro per l'universo senza costrutto per tutto il tempo. Elenco incompleto: casa di uno, officina di una, college di uno, Egitto, Giordania-o-giù-di-lì, base Diego Garcia, Pentagono, un satellite di Saturno, la piramide che l'amico di Giacobbo sta devastando a suon di buchi, Pechino-o-Shanghai-che-differenza-fa, qualche altra base segreta, un po' di satelliti artificiali, il tempio di re Salomone-o-facente-funzioni, la Terra ai tempi degli uomini delle caverne-si-stava-meglio-quando-si-stava-peggio, etc. etc. etc.
Per fortuna tutto questo zompare non stranierà lo spettatore, che si sentirà sempre a casa ritrovando ovunque sempre gli stessi cartelloni pubblicitari (a proposito: sono uscito dal cinema con l'impellente necessità di acquistare Qualcosa, Qualunque Cosa^®: dal vero amore ad uno space shuttle) e sempre le stesse rassicuranti giga-ultra-thunder-esplosioni con contorno di mega-iper-smilo-robottoni che si tirano delle gran sportellate.

Seppelliamo le prove attoriali in pieno overacting di tutti i comprimari (povero Turturro), menzione di merito va allo sguardo bovino di Megan Fox ed ai primi piani di Shia LaBeouf. Quando poi quest'ultimo fa le smorfie da possessione robo-demoniaca, è da antologia del trash.
Se questo è il futuro della recitazione, la Pixar ha la strada spianata.

I dialoghi dovrebbero essere somministrati solo sotto stretta sorveglianza medica; banalità sconcertanti che risultano imprevedibili solo per un motivo: nella tua testa inizi a pensare "no dai, non sta per dire QUELLO, dai...". E invece, puntualmente...
E sì che dietro la sceneggiatura c'è pure l'inspiegabilmente osannato Roberto Orci.
Se questo è il futuro della sceneggiatura, tanto vale reclutare un milione di scimmie tabagiste.

Vorrei pure dire qualcosa sugli effetti speciali, ma non saprei da dove cominciare: suppongo che i modelli siano ottimi, ma chi ci capisce qualcosa con la telecamera in mano ad un inetto col Parkinson? Tutto accade mentre l'obiettivo ruota vorticosamente attorno a qualunque altro oggetto (spesso neppure quello in primo piano); se lo scopo era indurre il vomito, pollice su per Michael Bay.

Potrei continuare per ore ad elencarne i difetti, con il PG-13 a farla da padrone ed il mix andato a male tra fine-di-mondo e commediola-cretinotto-romantica già visto e detestato nel primo, ma davvero non me la sento.
Se questo è il futuro del cinema, faccio obiezione di coscienza.

Poi ad un tot di gente è piaciuto (in sala quasi tutti si spanciavano dalle risate, quindi quello strano sono io): buon per loro; per quanto mi riguarda, non riesco proprio ad inquadrare questo genere di film - nonostante sia un grande fan del cinema d'azione da vedere a cervello disattivato. Qui no, siamo troppo sotto qualunque standard di decenza.

Voto: 1.
Tags: azione, avventura, fantascienza, Michael Bay, staniamo ed uccidiamo Michael Bay, robot, giocattoli, product placement, pubblicità, militari, guerra, spazio, Terra, passato, Egitto, college, fidanzata, vacca, esplosione, morte, PG-13 forever, computer grafica, amore, sesso, smorfie, controinformazione.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

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Regista: Michael Bay
Scrittore: Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orci
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Action
Valutazione: 6.8/10 (19108 voti)
Durata: 150 min
Paese: USA
Lingua: English

Cast:

• Shia LaBeouf .... Sam Witwicky
• Megan Fox .... Mikaela Banes
• Josh Duhamel .... Major Lennox
• Tyrese Gibson .... USAF Master Sergeant Epps
• John Turturro .... Agent Simmons
• Ramon Rodriguez .... Leo Spitz
• Kevin Dunn .... Ron Witwicky
• Julie White .... Judy Witwicky
• Isabel Lucas .... Alice
• John Benjamin Hickey .... Galloway

Trama:
Decepticon forces return to Earth on a mission to take Sam Witwicky prisoner, after the young hero learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. Joining the mission to protect humankind is Optimus Prime, who forms an alliance with international armies for a second epic battle.

Trivia random: One ILM animator's computer, while rendering Devastator, reportedly overheated and its internal circuitry melted.
Citazione random: [from trailer]<br />Skids: It's upgrade time!

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Bay, Michael

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Nome di battesimo: Bay, Michael Benjamin
Data di nascita: 17 February 1965
Altezza: 6' 2" (1.88 m)

Ultimi lavori:

• A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) .... (producer) [produttore]
• "Cocaine Cowboys" (2010) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• The Butcherhouse Chronicles (2010) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Fiasco Heights (2009) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Friday the 13th (2009) .... (producer) [produttore]
• The Horsemen (2009) .... (producer) [produttore]
• The Unborn (2009) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• From Script to Sand: The Skorponok Desert Attack (2007) (V) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Our World (2007) (V) .... (executive producer) [produttore]

Biografia:
A graduate of Wesleyan University, Michael Bay spent his 20s working on advertisements and music videos. His first projects after film school were in the music video business. He created music videos for Tina Turner, Meat Loaf, Lionel Richie, Wilson Phillips, Donny Osmond and 'The DiVinyls'. His work won him recognition and a number of MTV award nominations. He also filmed advertisements for Nike, Reebok, Coca-Cola, Budweiser and Miller Lite. He won the Grand Prix Clio for Commercial of the Year for his "Got Milk/Aaron Burr" commercial. At Cannes, he has won the Gold Lion for The Best Beer campaign for Miller Lite, as well as the Silver for "Got Milk". In 1995 Bay was honored by the Directors Guild of America as Commercial Director of the Year. That same year he also directed his first feature film, Bad Boys (1995), starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, which grossed more than $160 million worldwide. His follow-up film, The Rock (1996), starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage, was also hugely successful, making Bay the director du jour.

Trivia random: Was adopted by his parents Jim and Harriet when he was two weeks old.
Citazione random: [About the kissing scene in The Island (2005)]: "I should re-shoot that scene right now. Two characters who have never even heard of sex are now trying it for the first time - you could have actually made it really funny and touching. I kept saying to [Scarlett Johansson and Ewan McGregor], 'I want you to feel like you're kissing for the first time'. I don't know if you heard it, but when they're bouncing lips, they go 'Wow!' . . . "
Salario massimo: $25,000,000 (Director's Gross Earnings), per Pearl Harbor (2001)

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Fox, Megan (I)

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Nome di battesimo: Fox, Megan Denise
Data di nascita: 16 May 1986
Altezza: 5' 5" (1.65 m)

Ultimi lavori:

• The Crossing (2011) .... [attrice]
• Jonah Hex (2010) .... Leila [attrice]
• Passion Plays (2010) .... (rumored) [attrice]
• Ironclad (2009) .... (rumored) [attrice]
• Jennifer's Body (2009) .... Jennifer Check [attrice]
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) (VG) .... Mikaela Banes (voice) [attrice]
• How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008) .... Sophie Maes [attrice]
• Whore (2008/I) .... Lost [attrice]
• Transformers (2007) .... Mikaela Banes [attrice]
• Transformers: The Game (2007) (VG) .... Mikaela Banes (voice) [attrice]

Biografia:
Megan Fox was born May 16, 1986 in Tennessee. She has one older sister. Megan began her training in drama and dance at the age of 5 and, at the age of 10, moved to Florida where she continued her training and finished school. She now lives in Los Angeles. Megan began acting and modeling at the age of 13 after winning several awards at the 1999 American Modeling and Talent Convention in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Megan made her film debut as "Brianna Wallace" in the Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen movie, Holiday in the Sun (2001) (V).

Trivia random: Was ranked #1 on Moviefone's 'The 25 Hottest Actors Under 25'(2008).
Citazione random: People assume that I'm really promiscuous. There's a difference between being very sexual and being promiscuous. I'm not promiscuous. I'm extraordinarily sexual within a monogamous relationship. Nothing's off-limits. But that has nothing to do with experiencing a lot of people. I've only had two boyfriends my whole life.

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Turturro, John

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Nome di battesimo: Turturro, John Michael
Data di nascita: 28 February 1957
Altezza: 6' 0½" (1.84 m)
Coniuge: Katherine Borowitz::(1985 - present) 2 children

Ultimi lavori:

• Nutcracker: The Untold Story (2009) .... The Rat King [attore]
• The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) .... Camonetti [attore]
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) .... Agent Simmons [attore]
• Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies (2008) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Miracle at St. Anna (2008) .... Detective Antonio 'Tony' Ricci [attore]
• What Just Happened (2008) .... Dick Bell [attore]
• You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008) .... The Phantom / Fartoshi [attore]
• Joulutarina (2007) .... Iisakki (voice: English version) [attore]
• Margot at the Wedding (2007) .... Jim [attore]
• Slipstream (2007) .... Harvey Brickman [attore]

Biografia:
Highly talented, lightly built Italian American actor who always looks unsettled and jumpy has become a favourite of cult/arthouse film aficionados with his compelling performances in a broad range of cinematic vehicles. Has become a regular in the thought provoking films of Spike Lee and the off the wall comedies of Joel Coen & Ethan Coen. His wonderful performances include as the highly agitated "Pino" in Do the Right Thing (1989), as an intellectual playwright in Barton Fink (1991), a pedophile tenpin bowler in The Big Lebowski (1998), a confused boyfriend in Jungle Fever (1991) and as the voice of Harvey the dog in Summer of Sam (1999). Turturro has continued to appeal to audiences despite his unconventional looks and the often annoying onscreen mannerisms of his characters which he used to great effect in films such as his blue collar tale of warring brothers in the construction business, Mac (1992), as the irate, dumped game show contestant, Herbie Stempel, in Robert Redford's dynamic Quiz Show (1994). One of modern American cinema's gems of acting, Turturro remains in strong demand for his high calibre thespian talents.

Trivia random: Graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz.
Citazione random: "I mean usually with movies, if you're dark, you're a bad guy. That's it. I turned down a million bad guy things."

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

LaBeouf, Shia

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Nome di battesimo: LaBeouf, Shia Saide
Data di nascita: 11 June 1986
Altezza: 5' 9¼" (1.76 m)

Ultimi lavori:

• Money Never Sleeps (2010) .... [attore]
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) (VG) .... Sam Witwicky (voice) [attore]
• Eagle Eye (2008) .... Jerry Shaw [attore]
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) .... Mutt Williams [attore]
• New York, I Love You (2008) .... Jacob (segment "Shekhar Kapur") [attore]
• The Smallest River in Almirante (2008) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Disturbia (2007) .... Kale [attore]
• Surf's Up (2007) .... Cody Maverick (voice) [attore]
• Transformers (2007) .... Sam Witwicky [attore]
• Transformers: The Game (2007) (VG) .... Sam Witwicky (voice) [attore]

Biografia:
Shia Saide LaBeouf was born June 11, 1986, in Los Angeles, California, to Jeffrey LaBeouf and Shayna Saide, and is an only child. His parents are divorced, and he lives with his mom in Los Angeles. He started his career by doing stand-up comedy around places in his neighborhood, such as coffee clubs. One day, he saw a friend of his acting on "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" (1993), and wanted to become an actor. Shia and his mom talked it over, and the next day he started looking for an agent. He searched in the yellow pages, called one up, and did a stand-up routine in front of him. They liked him and signed him, and then he started auditioning. He's well known for playing Louis Stevens in the popular Disney Channel series "Even Stevens" (2000) and has won a Daytime Emmy for his performance.

Trivia random: As a child, he and his parents would dress up like clowns and sell hot dogs in the park across the street from their apartment.
Citazione random: Sometimes I feel I'm living a meaningless life and I get frightened.
Salario massimo: $500,000, per Transformers (2007)

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Orci, Roberto

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Data di nascita: 20 July 1973
Coniuge: Melissa Blake::(? - present)

Ultimi lavori:

• 2:22 (2012) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Cowboys and Aliens (2011) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Untitled Star Trek Sequel (2011) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Star Trek (2009) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• The Proposal (2009) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) .... (written by) [scrittore]
• Eagle Eye (2008) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Transformers (2007) .... (screenplay) (story) [scrittore]
• Denial (2006) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Mission: Impossible III (2006) .... (written by) [scrittore]

Trivia random: Stepbrother of Courtney Ford.

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus

"HOLY SHIT!" mi pare un commento più che consono.

Mega Shark si fa uno snack.

Il mondo contempla sgomento Giant Octopus. O Lorenzo Lamas? Li confondo sempre.

Trovo che la produzione della Asylum-di-nome-e-di-fatto un tantinello compiaciuta; in fatto di stile la Troma dei bei tempi era tutta un'altra cosa. Non si può però restare indifferenti di fronte alla magnificenza di un Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus, non tanto per l'opera in sé, quanto per il coraggio e l'incoscienza necessarie per produrlo e per parteciparvi.

Mentre se ne va a zonzo per i fondali della sua carriera col suo bel sottomarino, Deborah 'Debbie' Gibson libera inavvertitamente due vecchi amici imprigionati nel ghiaccio: Mega Shark e Giant Octopus.
Devo davvero aggiungere qualcosa alla trama?
Oh sì, ad un certo punto compare anche Lorenzo Lamas.

Se vi accingete a vedere un film del genere e con un titolo simile, sapete già cosa aspettarvi: un ora e mezza di sofferenza, intermezzata da sprazzi di vero genio.
Come testimoniano le immagini, Mega Shark fa la parte del leone, sbranando il Golden Gate ed abbattendo un jumbo in volo (in pieno oceano: quel coso salta dieci fottuti chilometri!)
Dispiace un po' per Giant Octopus, ma le sue gesta non sono altrettanto memorabili: stritolare una piattaforma petrolifera ed un paio di sottomarini è roba quotidiana, dai tempi di 20.000 leghe sotto i mari.
Si difendono egregiamente gli esseri (sub)umani, con militari coi mitragliatori spianati e gli occhiali da sole all'interno di un sottomarino ed ovviamente il tris di scienziati che rimescola brodaglie fosforescenti con entusiasmo giovanile.

Assenti (giustificati, dato il titolo) regia, sceneggiatura e recitazione, indifendibili gli effetti speciali con i mostroni digitali (Lamas incluso) mostrati solo per pochi secondi.
Atroce il sonoro, con il parlato che risulta più spesso che no incomprensibile. Non che ciò sia un male.

Diciamo che è un titolo riservato ai veri cultori del genere.

Voto: 1. Trashometro^® 10/10: Holy shit!
Tags: azione, fantasy, fantascienza, mega shark, shark, giant octopus, octopus, Lorenzo Lamas, Deborah Gibson, Debbie Gibson, Asylum, mare, sottomarino, piattaforma petrolifera, attacco, Golden Gate, aereo, squalo, megalodonte, salvataggio, kit del piccolo chimico, scienziato, biologo, trash, holy shit.

Lamas, Lorenzo

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Nome di battesimo: de Santos, Lorenzo y Lamas
Data di nascita: 20 January 1958
Altezza: 6' 2" (1.88 m)
Coniuge: Shauna Sand::(27 April 1996 - 2002) (divorced) 3 children, Kathleen Kinmont::(20 January 1989 - 1993) (divorced), Michelle Smith::(22 May 1983 - 1985) (divorced) 2 children, Victoria Hilbert::(1981 - 1982) (divorced)

Ultimi lavori:

• Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (2009) (V) .... Allan Baxter [attore]
• Chinaman's Chance (2008) .... Father Smith [attore]
• 30,000 Leagues Under the Sea (2007) (V) .... Lieutenant Aronnaux [attore]
• Mexican Gold (2007) .... Cole [attore]
• Succubus: Hell Bent (2007) .... Flight Instructor [attore]
• 18 Fingers of Death! (2006) (V) .... Antonio Bandana [attore]
• Body of Work (2006) .... James Altman [attore]
• Lethal (2005) .... Anatoly Federov [attore]
• The Nowhere Man (2005) .... [attore]
• Deep Evil (2004) (TV) .... Trainor [attore]

Biografia:
Lorenzo Lamas - the son of Arlene Dahl and Fernando Lamas - was raised in Pacific Palisades, California In 1968 his family moved to New York. he attended private school, graduating from Admiral Farragut Academy in 1975. He then moved back to California. With encouragement from his father, he enrolled in Tony Barr's Film Actors Workshop and began his career with a small role in a television show in 1976. He also began to study karate and tae kwon do in 1979. His first marriage, to Victoria Hilbert, ended in 1983. Abby Dalton, his "Falcon Crest" (1981) colleague, introduced Lorenzo to her then, 17-year-old daughter Kathleen Kinmont. Lamas meanwhile had a short (two-year) marriage to the press spokeswoman for "Falcon Crest", 26-year-old Michelle Smith, which produced a son (one of Lamas' "Falcon Crest" co-stars, Daphne Ashbrook, accused Lamas of fathering her child, also). After their divorce, Lorenzo and Kathleen married on Jan. 25 1985, in Las Vegas. That marriage ended with divorce, too, but they continued together in the TV series "Renegade" (1992). In the middle of season four, Kathleen was cut out because of Lorenzo's interest in Shauna Sand (then known as Shauna Sand). Lamas is an avid Harley-Davidson motorcycle enthusiast, collects them and takes part in charity rides for a transplant fund.

Trivia random: Was the only actor or actress to appear in all 227 episodes of "Falcon Crest" (1981).
Citazione random: A man is measured by his integrity, his body of work and the actions of his children. For this, I strive to humbly succeed.
Salario massimo: $400,000, per Back to Even (1998)

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Gibson, Deborah (I)

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Nome di battesimo: Gibson, Deborah Ann
Data di nascita: 31 August 1970
Altezza: 5' 6" (1.68 m)

Ultimi lavori:

• Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (2009) (V) .... Emma MacNeil [attrice]
• Body/Antibody (2007) .... The Caseworker [attrice]
• 51st Annual Drama Desk Awards (2006) (TV) .... [attrice]
• Coffee Date (2006) .... Melissa [attrice]
• Celeste in the City (2004) (TV) .... Monica [attrice]
• Teen Queens (2001) (TV) .... [attrice]
• "Maggie Bloom" (2000) .... Maggie Bloom [attrice]
• My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (1999) .... Melissa Stevens [attrice]
• My X-Girlfriend's Wedding Reception (1999) .... Lisa Weinstein (bride) [attrice]
• Sweet Liberty (1986) .... (uncredited) [attrice]

Biografia:
For more than 20 years, Deborah Gibson has proven she's an entertainer of immeasurable talent. From singer, songwriter and musician to actor and dancer, she embodies what it truly means to be an entertainer. Gibson exploded on the pop music scene at the tender age of 16. A music prodigy, she quickly became the youngest person ever to write, produce and perform a number one single, ("Foolish Beat"), a record she still holds today in the Guinness Book of World Records. To date, Gibson has sold more than 16 million albums worldwide. After conquering the pop world, she set her sights on the theater. Gibson took a star turn in the Broadway production of "Les Miserables" as Eponine. She broke box office records in the London West End production of "Grease" as Sandy, and then took the stage in the U.S. Broadway tours of "Grease" and "Funny Girl" playing Rizzo and Fanny Brice. Gibson also wowed critics as Belle in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," Gypsy Rose Lee in "Gypsy," The Narrator in the national tour of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," Cinderella in the national production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella," Velma Kelly in "Chicago," and Sally Bowles in the Broadway revival of "Cabaret." Gibson is now the composer and co-lyricist on a new musical in pre-production for Broadway: "The Flunky", written by Jimmy Van Patten. Gibson continues to dazzle with entertainment magic. She has bridged the gap between Pop Music and Broadway with her one-woman show "Pop Goes Broadway." She brings the best of both worlds to the stage singing some of her biggest pop hits and reprising her starring roles on Broadway. The "Original Pop Princess" is ready to pass the torch to the next generation of musical sensations. Her passion to mentor and foster young performers and songwriters has led her to create "Deborah Gibson's Electric Youth," a series of performing arts camps and songwriting/recording intensives. From number one hits and platinum albums to starring roles on Broadway, film and TV, Gibson is a true entertainer with talent and charisma.

Trivia random: Was the youngest person to write, produce, and perform a number one hit, "Foolish Beat". She was 17.
Citazione random: "Kids can see you don't have to have a sexy costume or shave your head or do crazy things to be successful. You just work at it and be normal." (1989, in reference to her success)

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (2009) (V)

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Regista: Jack Perez
Scrittore: Jack Perez
Genere: Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Action
Valutazione: 3.6/10 (783 voti)
Durata: USA:90 min
Paese: USA
Lingua: English

Cast:

• Lorenzo Lamas .... Allan Baxter
• Deborah Gibson .... Emma MacNeil
• Sean Lawlor .... Lamar Sanders
• Vic Chao .... Dr. Seiji Shimada
• Dean Kreyling .... US Sub Captain
• Stephen Blackehart .... US Sub Sonar Chief
• Dustin Harnish .... US Sub Helmsman
• Mark Hengst .... Dick Ritchie
• Michael Teh .... Takeo
• Jonathan Nation .... Vince

Trama:
The California coast is terrorized by two enormous prehistoric sea creatures as they battle each other for supremacy of the sea.

Trivia random: In the scene where Emma, Seiji and Lamar are interrogated, Baxter (Lorenzo Lamas) describes Emma as "a woman whose career is all washed-up." This is a pun on Deborah Gibson's music career, which reached its peak with the album Electric Youth in 1989, but floundered through the 1990s.
Citazione random: Emma MacNeil: Thrilla in Manila.

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

[ninja] ninja reprint/3

È passato molto tempo dall'ultima racconta ninjesca, ma d'altra parte - esaurito il grosso della produzione due-in-uno reperibile di Godfrey Ho - è difficile trovare qualcosa di adeguato.

Prima di iniziare, un pensiero commosso va a David Carradine, che se ne è andato da vero eroe (vedere alla voce "cose che non vorresti essere trovato morto mentre le fai" - il combattere sette segrete ninja, intendo... )

But now... ninja reprint once again!

• Wu Tang vs. Ninja: titolo menzognero per un film imperdibile; risate malvagie, tappeti volanti ed odontoiatria fai-da-te! Recuperatelo.
• Leopard Fist Ninja: un film "singolo" del nostro Godfrey; piuttosto doloroso, ma la presenza di Jack Lam è sempre una garanzia (di film pessimo, intendo).
• Revenge Of The Drunken Master: drunken sul serio, questo film del signor Ho; pungiglioni, maestri morti e colpi segreti all'ombelico. Meritevole.
• Secret Ninja, Roaring Tiger: forse sempre di Godfrey Ho o forse no; nel complesso alquanto doloroso, ma chi sopravviverà verrà premiato con scene imperdibili: autocombustione di giornaletti porno mediavali, tette annulla-poteri e sicuramente molto altro che il mio cervello si è rifiutato di ricordare - e poi ci sono Jack Lam e Dragon Lee! Maneggiare con cautela (il giornaletto porno medievale, intendo).
• City Ninja: probabilmente non si tratta di una Ho-production, ma chi ci capisce qualcosa? Film eccelso, con pugili tisici, asiatici pettinati alla Beatles e sesso in ogni dove. Farà male, ma è da vedere, anche a costo di uccidere l'uomo con la ceralacca in testa pur di procurarselo.
• Ninja Phantom Heroes: ancora un Ho incomprensibile a livelli patologici; il ninja ben vestito merita, ma per il resto è paragonabile solo ad un'esperienza di quasi-morte. Solo per stomaci forti.
• Dragon Lee vs The Five Brothers: un film travolgente; grandi combattimenti, trama delirante, Uomini Morenti^® e Dragon Lee che salta come un grillo. Da vedere.

Fuori dal filone orientale e/o prettamente d'arti marziali, non posso non citare:

• Fist of the North Star: cast stellare per il film definitivo sulla violenza di fine secolo di cui tutti noi vorremmo essere vittime! UATTÀ!
• Turkish Star Wars: no dai, sul serio...
• Quattro Carogne A Malopasso: signore e signori... il film che vi farà diventare dei cowboy. O dei mafiosi. O più probabilmente entrambe le cose. Vera leggenda del trash italiano, non potete sottrarvi a Quattro Carogne A Malopasso (provincia di Trapani).

Ninjoy, my friends!

Jack Lam

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La ricerca ha prodotto più di un risultato.

1. Lam, Jack (I)
2. Lam, Jack (II)
3. Jack, Donald
4. Lambert, Jack (I)
5. Lambert, Jack (II)
6. Lamport, Jack
7. Lamontagne, Ray
8. Lam, Jackie
9. LaMantain, Jack
10. Lamont, Jack O.
11. Lambert, Jack (IV)
12. Lambros, Jack
13. Lamont, Jack (II)
14. Lambert, Jack (III)
15. Lambie, Jack
16. Lamont, Jack (III)
17. Lambert, Jack (V)
18. Lamothe, Jack
19. Lamb, Jack
20. Lambert, Jack (VI)

Carradine, David

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Nome di battesimo: Carradine, John Arthur
Data di nascita: 8 December 1936
Data di morte: 3 June 2009
Altezza: 6' 1" (1.85 m)
Coniuge: Annie Bierman::(26 December 2004 - 3 June 2009) (his death), Marina Anderson::(20 February 1998 - 12 December 2001) (divorced), Gail Jensen::(4 December 1988 - 1997) (divorced), Linda Gilbert::(2 February 1977 - 1983) (divorced) 1 child, Donna Lee Becht::(29 December 1960 - 1968) (divorced) 1 child

Ultimi lavori:

• Absolute Evil (2009) .... Raf McCane [attore]
• Autumn (2009) .... Philip [attore]
• Bad Cop (2009) (V) .... Det. Humes [attore]
• Break (2009/I) .... The Bishop [attore]
• Crank: High Voltage (2009) .... Poon Dong [attore]
• Detention (2009) .... Principle Hoskins [attore]
• Money to Burn (2009) .... [attore]
• Night of the Templar (2009) .... Shopkeeper [attore]
• Road of No Return (2009) .... (producer) [produttore]
• Six Days in Paradise (2009) .... Vernon Billings [attore]

Biografia:
David Carradine was the eldest son of legendary character actor John Carradine and he presided over an acting family that included brothers Keith Carradine, and 'Robert Carradine' as well as his daughters Calista Carradine, Kansas Carradine and nieces Ever Carradine and Martha Plimpton. He was born in Hollywood and educated at San Francisco State College, where he studied music theory and composition. It was while writing music for the Drama Department's annual revues that he discovered his own passion for the stage, joining a Shakespearean repertory company and learning his craft on his feet. After a two-year stint in the army, he found work in New York as a commercial artist and later found fame on Broadway in "The Deputy" and "The Royal Hunt of the Sun" opposite Christopher Plummer. With that experience he returned to Hollywood, landing the short-lived TV series "Shane" (1966) before being tapped to star opposite Barbara Hershey in Martin Scorsese's first Hollywood film, Boxcar Bertha (1972). The iconic "Kung Fu" (1972) followed, catapulting Carradine to superstardom for the next three years, until he left the series to pursue his film career. That career included more than 100 feature films, a couple of dozen television movies, a whole range of theater on and off Broadway, and another hit series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (1992) (TV). Carradine received the Best Actor Award from the National Board of Film Review as well as a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Woody Guthrie in Hal Ashby's Bound for Glory (1976), and won critical acclaim for his work as Cole Younger in The Long Riders (1980). "Kung Fu" also received seven Emmy nominations in its first season, including one for Carradine as Best Actor. In addition he won the People's Prize at the Cannes Film Festival's "Director's Fortnight" for his work on Americana (1983), and a second Golden Globe nomination for his supporting role in "North and South" (1985). Among his other most notable film credits were Gray Lady Down (1978), Mean Streets (1973), Bird on a Wire (1990), The Long Goodbye (1973), The Serpent's Egg (1977) and Circle of Iron (1978). He recently returned to the screen in what could be his greatest performance to date, playing the title role in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) (Miramax), for which he received his fourth Golden Globe nomination. Carradine also continued his devotion to music, and he recorded some 60 tracks from various musical genres and sung in several movies. He made his home in Los Angeles with his fifth wife Annie, her four children and their two dogs. He was found dead in Bangkok, Thailand on 3rd June 2009 aged 72.

Trivia random: Because of his look, his stint on the TV series "Kung Fu" (1972) and his fascination with Eastern philosophies, people often assume that he is at least part Asian. He isn't.
Citazione random: [on his late friend and one-time co-star, Brandon Lee] He was always giving 110%, and it produced a light in the eyes, which is what you look for in movies.

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Lee, Dragon

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Nome di battesimo: Yaksysnyi, Vyachaslev
Data di nascita: 1940

Ultimi lavori:

• Amheugga-ui hwangje (1994) .... Oh-seung [attore]
• Crime Stopper (1990) .... Marco [attore]
• Dragons Never Die (1986) .... [attore]
• Ninja Dragon (1986) .... Dragon (uncredited) [attore]
• Ninja Champion (1985) .... [attore]
• Champ Against Champ (1983) .... [attore]
• Noigwon (1983) .... [attore]
• Solimsa yongpali (1983) .... [attore]
• Injamun salsu (1982) .... [attore]
• Long hu xuan feng (1982) .... Ma Chang [attore]

Trivia random: Has a chain of cinemas in Korea.

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Ho, Godfrey

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Nome di battesimo: Ho, Chi Kueng
Data di nascita: 1948

Ultimi lavori:

• Manhattan Chase (2000) .... (producer) (as Godfrey Hall) [produttore]
• Mr. X (1995) .... Godfather Ho [attore]
• The First Assignment (1995) .... (as Wallace Chan) [regista]
• Hei tai yang 731 si wang lie che (1994) .... [regista]
• Hong tian mi ling (1994) .... [regista]
• Catman in Boxer's Blow (1993) .... (as Alton Cheung) [regista]
• Cui hua kuang mo (1993) .... (producer) (as Godfrey Hall) [produttore]
• Ngam saat bing tyun (1993) .... (as Godfrey Hall) [regista]
• Zong heng tian xia (1993) .... (as Godfrey Hall) [regista]
• Hei tai yang 731 xu ji zhi sha ren gong chang (1992) .... [regista]

Trivia random: He is considered a master of B-movie Hong Kong actioners. However, a number of his movies are Z-grade movies made with a "cut-and-paste" technique. He would shoot footage for one movie, often using Caucasian actors for exportation, then edit the scenes into several other movies, mixing them with footage from old, unfinished or unreleased Asian movies (using Thai as well as Chinese or Filipino footage), then trying to make the story somewhat coherent through dubbing and voice-overs. He would then have four or five movies (of rock-bottom quality, of course) while having spent the budget of one.
Citazione random: "I used to be a movie maker. Now I am teaching people to make movies. It really makes me glad when my students are happily showing me their works. Only if you've been through the whole process, can you understand how satisfactory and delightful it is."

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

terminator salvation

Piuttosto futile, questo Terminator Salvation.
Con questo non voglio dire che non abbia i suoi meriti; ad esempio ha fatto molto in tema di diritti civili: fa infatti molto piacere sapere che non solo se ad uno tira il culo può liberamente decidere di farsi chiamare McG, ma addirittura che - nonostante questo evidente handicap - può pure riuscire a farsi dare 200 e rotti milioni di dollari per dirigere Il Film Che Ha Di Dentro E Che Avrebbe Fatto Meglio A Rimanerci^®.

Interamente (o quasi) ambientato nel futuro, ha il merito di non riproporre l'ennesimo salto temporale con conseguente caccia all'uomo (o donna). Fine dei meriti, temo.

Il giorno del giudizio è passato e le macchine regnano quasi incontrastate in un futuro simile ma diverso da quello prospettato nei primi due film (che, del resto, aprivano una diversa linea temporale).
La resistenza si sta organizzando, e con una serie di colpi ben assestati sveleranno alcuni dei piani più segreti del caro vecchio Skynet - che è mia opinione sia solo vittima di una grave carenza d'affetto.
Seguiamo dunque le spensierate scampagnate di John Connor, che avrà il suo bel daffare per evitare che il giovane Kyle Reese finisca vittima delle macchine; il marasma sul nuovo tizio che compare è puramente accessorio (cioé, nelle intenzioni sarebbe la trama principale, ma sorvoliamo...)

Premesso che ho adorato i primi due e che mi è piaciuto pure il terzo (che rilanciava in maniera brillante il giorno del giudizio), questo nuovo capitolo non aggiunge davvero nulla di significativo alla saga.
Parte anche bene, e la prima mezz'ora è una introduzione degnamente costruita; poi però tutto va in malora: i personaggi non si sviluppano e restano piattissimi e le loro motivazioni spesso inconsistenti. Anche tralasciando i ragionamenti sulle linee del tempo alternative create - che a ben guardare temo facciano saltare buona parte dei presupposti del film, ma facciamo finta di nulla che a ravanare col tempo son sempre guai - quel che proprio manca è il senso di conseguenza tra le azioni.
Una marea di personaggi buttati lì tanto per fare (i capi della resistenza? I bifolchi alla stazione di servizio? La pilota di yet?) non aiutano a farsi coinvolgere dal film; nessuno degli interpreti si discosta poi dalla mediocrità, e viene da chiedersi a che pro chiamare Bryce Dallas Howard ed Helena Bonham Carter.
Scene d'azione non eccelse, ma ci si poteva quasi passare sopra se ci fosse stata una trama degna di questo nome e se fossero state inserite in un contesto semi-credibile. Invece ci si trova con la resistenza che si intrufola con semplicità disarmante in alcune delle basi fondamentali di Skynet (la fabbrica in cui salta fuori un singolo T-800 a combattere grida vendetta).
E poi diciamolo, per quanto sospensione dell'incredulità uno possa avere, è lampante che Christian Bale - dopo madre, sorella e tecnico luci - potrebbe prendere a calci in culo tutti i Terminator di questo mondo!

Spettacolari gli effetti speciali, ma non mi aspettavo di meno.
Nel complesso, occasione sprecata che si inserisce a pieno titolo nel novero dei nuovi filmetti d'azione pseudo-apocalittici alla Transformers, cosa del resto confermata dalla ricerca sfrenata del PG-13 (per ovvi motivi i precedenti capitoli erano R, ma al giorno d'oggi pare essere un marchio d'infamia, per certe produzioni...)

Voto: 5. Si sguardicchia anche, ma poi?
Tags: fantascienza, azione, avventura, futuro, Terminator, T-800, T-600, Skynet, apocalisse, guerra, guerra nucleare, macchine, I.A., esercito, resistenza, arma da fuoco, mitragliatore, elicottero, ricerca e sviluppo, Los Angeles, sangue, fabbrica, 2018, combattimento, morte, prigioniero, fuga, leader, inseguimento.

Bonham Carter, Helena

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Data di nascita: 26 May 1966
Altezza: 5' 3" (1.60 m)

Ultimi lavori:

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II (2011) .... Bellatrix Lestrange [attrice]
• Alice in Wonderland (2010) .... The Red Queen [attrice]
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010) .... Bellatrix Lestrange [attrice]
• Enid Blyton (2009) (TV) .... Enid Blyton [attrice]
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) .... Bellatrix Lestrange [attrice]
• Lorelei (2009) .... Gillian Livingston (rumored) [attrice]
• Terminator Salvation (2009) .... Dr. Serena Kogan [attrice]
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) .... Bellatrix Lestrange [attrice]
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) .... Mrs. Lovett [attrice]
• Sixty Six (2006) .... Esther Reubens [attrice]

Biografia:
Helena Bonham Carter, daughter of Raymond Bonham Carter, a merchant banker, and Elena Bonham Carter (née Propper de Callejón), a psychotherapist, was born in Golders Green, London, England on May 26, 1966 and is the youngest of three children. She is the great-granddaughter of former Prime Minister Herbert H. Asquith and her blue-blooded family tree also contains Barons and Baronesses, diplomats, and a director, Bonham Carter's great-uncle Anthony Asquith, who made Pygmalion (1938) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1952), among others. Cousin Crispin Bonham-Carter is also an actor. After experiencing family dramas that included her father's stroke-which left him wheelchair-bound-and attending South Hampstead High School and Westminster School in London, Bonham Carter devoted herself to an acting career. That trajectory actually began in 1979 when, at age 13, she entered a national poetry writing competition and used her second place winnings to place her photo in the casting directory "Spotlight." She soon had her first agent and her first acting job, in a commercial, at age 16. She then landed a role in the made-for-TV movie A Pattern of Roses (1983) (TV), which subsequently led to her casting in the Merchant Ivory films A Room with a View (1985) and Lady Jane (1986), which was her first leading role. Often referred to as the "corset queen" or "English rose" because of her early work, Bonham Carter has continued to surprise audiences with magnificent performances in a variety of roles from her more traditional corset-clad character in The Wings of the Dove (1997) and Shakespearian damsels to the dark and neurotic anti-heroines of Fight Club (1999) and many of Tim Burton's films. Though consistently a versatile and engaging actress, Bonham Carter has never won a major American film award. However, she has received a number of critical awards and has been nominated for five Golden Globes, an Oscar, a SAG Award, and two Emmys. Bonham Carter was nominated for a Golden Globe for the fifth time for her role in partner Tim Burton's film adaptation of the Steven Sondheim musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), for which Burton and co-star Johnny Depp were also nominated. Since their meeting while filming Planet of the Apes (2001), Bonham Carter and Burton have made four movies together. They live in adjoining residences in London, sharing a connecting hallway, and have two children: Billy Ray Burton, 4, and Nell Burton, who was born December 15, 2007. Ironically, a mutual love of Sweeney Todd was part of the initial attraction for the pair. Despite that, Bonham Carter has said in numerous interviews that her audition process for the role of Mrs. Lovett was the most grueling of her career and that, ultimately, it was Sondheim who she had to convince that she was right for the role.

Trivia random: In May 2006, she launched her own fashion line, "The Pantaloonies," with swimwear designer Samantha Sage. Their first collection, called Bloomin' Bloomers, is a Victoriana style selection of camisoles, mop caps and bloomers. The duo are now working on Pantaloonies customized jeans which Helena describes as "a kind of scrapbook on the bum.".
Citazione random: [On breast-feeding her baby]: People say, "You're still breast-feeding, that's so generous". Generous, no! It gives me boobs and it takes my thighs away! It's sort of like natural liposuction. I'd carry on breast-feeding for the rest of my life if I could.

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Bale, Christian

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Nome di battesimo: Bale, Christian Charles Philip
Data di nascita: 30 January 1974
Altezza: 6' (1.83 m)
Coniuge: Sibi Blazic::(29 January 2000 - present) 1 child

Ultimi lavori:

• Prisoners (2011) .... [attore]
• The Fighter (2011) .... Dicky Eklund [attore]
• Public Enemies (2009) .... Melvin Purvis [attore]
• Terminator Salvation (2009) .... John Connor [attore]
• The Dark Knight (2008) .... Bruce Wayne / Batman [attore]
• 3:10 to Yuma (2007) .... Dan Evans [attore]
• I'm Not There. (2007) .... Jack / Pastor John [attore]
• Rescue Dawn (2006) .... Dieter [attore]
• The Prestige (2006) .... Alfred Borden [attore]
• Batman Begins (2005) (VG) .... Batman / Bruce Wayne (voice) [attore]

Biografia:
The 10th Anniversary issue of "Entertainment Weekly" crowned Christian Bale as one of the "Top 8 Most Powerful Cult Figures" of the past decade, citing his incredible and legendary cult status on the Internet. EW also calls Bale one of the "Most Creative People in Entertainment" after his brilliant turn as the psychopathic yuppie serial killer in American Psycho (2000). And "Premiere" lauded him as one of the "Hottest Leading Men Under 30". Christian Bale has garnered a huge international audience ever since he wowed critics with his devastating performance in Steven Spielberg's WWII epic Empire of the Sun (1987). Bale made his professional debut opposite British comedian Rowan Atkinson on the London West End stage. He auditioned with 4000 other kids for the coveted role of James Graham in Spielberg's Empire of the Sun (1987). Bale received a special citation for Best Performance by a Juvenile Actor from the National Board of Review -- an award specially created for his performance in "Empire". In the following decade, Welsh-born Bale has appeared in Shakespeare, dramas and comedies demonstrating a versatility, depth and range that has made him one of the best reviewed actors today and one of the most popular actors on the Internet. Bale is the youngest in a family of 3 older sisters (Erin, Sharon, and Louise Bale).

Trivia random: His first on-screen role was in 1983 at age 9 in a British commercial for Pac-Man cereal.
Citazione random: [on Heath Ledger's Oscar win for The Dark Knight (2008)] Heath winning Best Supporting Actor was fantastic. I had dinner with his family a couple of nights before the awards and liked very much they were the people who were picking it up for him. Of course I was really delighted that it did go that way.

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Terminator Salvation (2009)

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Regista: McG
Scrittore: John D. Brancato, Michael Ferris
Genere: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Action
Valutazione: 7.2/10 (23077 voti)
Durata: 115 min
Paese: USA, Germany, UK
Lingua: English, Italian

Cast:

• Christian Bale .... John Connor
• Sam Worthington .... Marcus Wright
• Moon Bloodgood .... Blair Williams
• Helena Bonham Carter .... Dr. Serena Kogan
• Anton Yelchin .... Kyle Reese
• Jadagrace .... Star (as Jadagrace Berry)
• Bryce Dallas Howard .... Kate Connor
• Common .... Barnes
• Jane Alexander .... Virginia
• Michael Ironside .... General Ashdown

Trama:
Set in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor is the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright, a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet's operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.

Trivia random: Helena Bonham Carter replaced Tilda Swinton shortly before filming was set to begin. She filmed her role in 10 days.
Citazione random: [from trailer]<br />John Connor: Devil hands have been busy...

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

McG

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Nome di battesimo: Nichol, Joseph McGinty
Data di nascita: 9 August 1968
Altezza: 6' 2" (1.88 m)

Ultimi lavori:

• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo (2011) .... (producer) [produttore]
• "Human Target" (2010) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Terminator Salvation (2009) .... [regista]
• Spaced (2008) (TV) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Skyler's Revolution (2007) (TV) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• "The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll" (2007) .... (producer) (unknown episodes) [produttore]
• Jump (2006) (TV) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• Stay Alive (2006) .... (producer) [produttore]
• The Danny Comden Project (2006) (TV) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
• We Are Marshall (2006) .... [regista]

Trivia random: B.A. (Psychology) University of California-Irvine.
Citazione random: I'm pretty convinced there's a chemical reality to who I am, regarding my brain, that makes me kind of a strange guy. And there's the behavioral component of growing up in a house where my dad would lose his temper a lot and my mother has a little bit of a hypochondriac streak. It doesn't take a genius to see the writing on the wall. I'm fundamentally a pretty neurotic guy, but I've come to terms with that.
Salario massimo: $4,000,000, per Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Howard, Bryce Dallas

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Data di nascita: 2 March 1981
Altezza: 5' 8" (1.73 m)
Coniuge: Seth Gabel::(17 June 2006 - present) 1 child

Ultimi lavori:

• Terminator Salvation (2009) .... Kate Connor [attrice]
• Good Dick (2008) .... Video Store Customer (uncredited) [attrice]
• The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond (2008) .... Fisher Willow [attrice]
• Spider-Man 3 (2007) .... Gwen Stacy [attrice]
• Tangled Web: The Love Triangles of Spider-Man 3 (2007) (V) .... Gwen Stacy [attrice]
• As You Like It (2006) .... Rosalind [attrice]
• Lady in the Water (2006) .... Story [attrice]
• Orchids (2006) .... (writer) [scrittore]
• Manderlay (2005) .... Grace Margaret Mulligan [attrice]
• Book of Love (2004) .... Heather [attrice]

Biografia:
Bryce Dallas Howard was born on March 2, 1981, in Los Angeles, California. She was conceived in Dallas, Texas (the reason for her middle name). Her father, named Ron Howard, is a former actor turned Oscar-winning director. Her mother is actress and writer Cheryl Howard (nee Alley). Her famous relatives include her uncle, actor Clint Howard, and her grandparents, actor Rance Howard and actress Jean Speegle Howard. She also has two younger twin sisters, named Jocelyn and Paige, born in 1985, and a brother, Reed Howard, born in 1987. Howard was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, because her parents decided to raise their four children as far away from the trappings of showbiz milieu as possible. During most of her childhood she really did not have much access to a TV. She attended Greenwich Country Day School, and Byram Hills High School in Armonk, New York. At that time she discovered existentialism and devoured books by Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre. She attended the prestigious Steppenwolf School and Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts camp at Catskills together with her friend Natalie Portman. She applied to drama school as Bryce Dallas, dropping her last name to eschew special treatment because of association with her renown father. From 1999 - 2003 she studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory and at the New York University Tisch School of Arts and graduated with a BFA degree in Drama in 2003. At that time she performed in Broadway productions of classical plays by George Bernard Shaw, William Shakespeare and Anton Chekhov. Young Howard appeared in three of her father's films as an extra, including her appearance as a child together with her mother in Apollo 13 (1995). She made her feature film debut as Heather, a supporting role in Book of Love (2004) by director Alan Brown. Director M. Night Shyamalan was impressed by her performance in a Broadway play and cast her without an audition as a female lead in his two thrillers: The Village (2004) and Lady in the Water (2006). Howard replaced Nicole Kidman in Dogville sequel, Manderlay (2005). She stars as Rosalind in As You Like It (2006), a reprise of her stage role that made such an impression on Shyamalan. She is also billed as Gwen Stacy in the third installment of the Spider-Man franchise, Spider-Man 3 (2007). Howard became a devoted vegan since Joaquin Phoenix showed her Earthlings (2003), a documentary about animal cruelty. After seeing that she has consumed no animal products, not even milk or eggs. Her other activities outside of the acting profession include playing basketball and writing. On June 17, 2006, in Connecticut, she married her long-term boyfriend, actor Seth Gabel, whom she met at New York University and had dated for five years. On February 16, 2007, Bryce and her husband, Seth, became parents of their first child, a boy, named Theodore Norman Howard Gabel.

Trivia random: Dyed her hair blonde for Spider-Man 3 (2007).
Citazione random: I've always had the perspective that roles come into my life when I need them most and sort of teach me lessons. The same can be true of films, films are released into society to aid in a lesson, inspire people, comfort people.
Salario massimo: $1,000,000, per Spider-Man 3 (2007)

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Terminator 3: Le macchine ribelli

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Regista: Jonathan Mostow
Scrittore: James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd
Genere: Action, Sci-Fi, Action
Valutazione: 6.7/10 (89902 voti)
Durata: 109 min
Paese: USA, Germany, UK
Lingua: English

Cast:

• Arnold Schwarzenegger .... Terminator
• Nick Stahl .... John Connor
• Claire Danes .... Kate Brewster
• Kristanna Loken .... T-X
• David Andrews .... Robert Brewster
• Mark Famiglietti .... Scott Petersen
• Earl Boen .... Dr. Peter Silberman
• Moira Harris .... Betsy
• Chopper Bernet .... Chief Engineer
• Christopher Lawford .... Brewster's Aide (as Chris Lawford)

Trama:
More than 10 years after 'Terminator 2', John Connor now exists only as a drifter - living 'off the grid', so no more Terminators from the future can hunt him down. Unfortunately, SkyNet does send another one back - and this one is called the T-X, even more powerful & advanced than the dreaded T-1000. However, another CSM-101 Terminator is also sent back to protect John against the T-X. Now, Skynet is patiently assuming control of civilian computer systems, under the guise of a computer virus. John has also met his future wife, Kate Brewster, whose father - a U.S. Air Force General - is in charge of the military computer systems & is leery of up linking SkyNet. However, when the SkyNet virus infects the U.S military computers & leaves the country open to attack, the machines begin their horrific takeover. Soon a nuclear war will result - and the war against the machines will begin. Can the outdated CSM-101 Terminator eliminate the highly advanced T-X - or will a darker future await man following the nuclear attack?

Trivia random: In all three Terminator films the Terminator's definition of "being back" means entering a building by driving a vehicle through it: In The Terminator (1984) he drives a car into a police station after saying "I'll be back." In Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) he drives a SWAT van into the Cyberdyne Building after saying "I'll be back." In this film he flies a helicopter into an airplane hangar, steps out and proclaims, "I'm back!"
Citazione random: Kate Brewster: How much did you take?<br />John Connor: Enough.<br />Kate Brewster: Well, this is the stuff we use to chemically neuter dogs. Take a look.

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Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.