Dopo una invereconda porcata come Avalon (che no, non era "intellettuale": è che proprio non aveva alcun senso ed era pure girato male) Mamoru Oshii ritorna a dirigere un'anime e questa volta non sbaglia.
Ghost in the shell: innocence affonda le proprie radici in quanto era stato narrato nel primo Ghost in the shell, ma utilizza questa base per sviluppare un racconto che non è in tutto e per tutto un sequel.
Batou è un cyborg in forze alla sezione 9, una unità anti-terrorismo giapponese specializzata in cyber-crimine (siamo in un futuro nel quale la quasi totalità delle persone sono connesse in rete). Sulle tracce di una serie di omicidi commessi da robot da compagnia sperimentali, Batou dovrà affrontare criminali che si muovono tra il mondo fisico e quello virtuale, ma soprattutto dovrà confrontarsi con i dubbi posti da una società sempre più complessa e tecnologizzata.
Come distinguere la realtà dalla simulazione, in un'epoca nella quale un hacker può trasmettere un mondo virtuale direttamente al cervello delle vittime? Qual'è la linea di demarcazione tra uomini e macchine, quando ampie porzioni del proprio corpo sono artificiali e di fatto ostaggio di aziende dalle quali si diventa dipendenti per la manutenzione? Cosa sono la vita e l'anima, se il cervello di una persona può essere impressa nei circuiti di un robot?
L'ambientazione è leggermente diversa dal primo film (qualche dettaglio grafico e qualche sfumatura dei personaggi) e come detto non siamo di fronte ad un vero e proprio sequel: non seguiamo più il maggiore Motoko Kusanagi - che pure compare in qualità di angelo custode di Batou (svolgendo anche compiti molto importanti) - ora dissolta nella rete, ma al tempo stesso vediamo Batou in una sorta di quest necessaria per avvicinarlo alla sua vecchia compagna.
A livello tecnico la mascella cade per terra: disegni ed animazioni sono sempre superbe e le musiche ricalcano quelle del primo film.
Lo sviluppo della trama ed i dialoghi (in alcuni momenti forse un po' verbosi, ma visti i temi trattati era inevitabile) sono ottimi e particolarmente curati.
In generale apprezzo molto come è stato sfruttato l'intero brand di "ghost in the shell" (fumetti, film e serie): si poteva benissimo virare sull'azione e sul puro spettacolo - e certamente gli incassi non sarebbero mancati - ma si è preferito mantenere una qualità molto alta prima di tutto nelle trame e nell'approfondimento degli aspetti filosofici di questo stupendo ipotetico futuro.
Ok non è poi tutto oro: checché ne dicano gli esteti il secondo volumetto di Shirow Masamune (manmachine interface) era un insulso esercizio di effettini grafici con ben poca "polpa".
Voto: 9.
Tags: animazione, azione, fantascienza, rete, thriller, ghost in the shell, cyborg, giappone, futuro, computer.
Visualizzazione dei post in ordine di pertinenza per la query mondo virtuale. Ordina per data Mostra tutti i post
Visualizzazione dei post in ordine di pertinenza per la query mondo virtuale. Ordina per data Mostra tutti i post
sabato 19 agosto 2006
mercoledì 7 aprile 2010
Gamer
Se, dopo aver visto i trailer, vi volete ancora così male da andare a vedere Gamer, vi consiglio di portarvi dietro una ampia collezione di aghi da infilare sotto le unghie: ne avrete bisogno.
Gerard Butler di mestiere fa il carcerato nel braccio della morte - carriera breve ma non priva di soddisfazioni (e fa sempre curriculum).
Entra in scena Dexter - qui nel ruolo del genio del compiutter - che ha creato una serie di mondi virtuali nei quali gli utenti possono comandare delle persone in carne ed ossa (a dire il vero più "culi e tette" che altro, da quando viene mostrato
) grazie a solito artifizio narrativo impiantato nel cervello a suon di jibba-jabba hi-tech privo di senso.
Ultimo parto della sua geniale quanto empia testolina, un mondo dove i detenuti combattono a suon di armi fichissime, morendo a carriolate. Premio per chi sopravvive a 30 battaglie: la libertà ed un set di pentole in acciaio inox.
Butler ed il ragazzino che lo controlla sono quasi al traguardo, ma qual losco piano si dipana dinnanzi a loro! Ah, perché non ci è dato vivere in un mondo di oneste regole?! Perché?! Perché?! Boh, chissene....png)
Se avete una vaga sensazione come di "già visto un triliardo di volte", vi state sbagliando: questo non è come i mille film che hanno già sfruttato idee analoghe - è infatti scandalosamente peggio.
Girato dalla solita scimmia col parkinson, ha escogitato un affascinante stratagemma tecnico per nascondere le piccole imperfezioni: coprirle con una colossale esplosione. Il fondale fa schifo? Mettiamoci un'esplosione! Serve un stacco di scena tra due location separate? Esplosione! La trama ha un buco che sembra un cratere? Esplosione!
È bellissimo e molto facile, provateci anche voi: esplosione!.png)
Sorvoliamo sui dialoghi, i concetti triti-e-ritriti, l'overacting costante ed una insultante supponenza che permea tutti i suoi 95 minuti.
Ha però anche alcuni meriti: oltre a settare un nuovo standard negativo per i filmacci d'azione (e non c'è neanche Jason Statham, incredibile), ha procurato una ciotola di cibo a Milo Ventimiglia e John Leguizamo. In tempi di crisi, non è poco.
Voto: 1 - fa intrattenimento quanto un'epidemia di vaiolo.
Trashometro® 7/10:



Tags: azione, fantascienza, thriller, invereconda porcata, esplosione, esplosioni, esplosioni!, ancora esplosioni!, criminale, mondo virtuale, detenuto, fuga, armi, sparatoria, morte, combattimento, auto, resistenza, hacker, intrusione, Gerard Butler, John Leguizamo, moglie, prostituzione, vendetta, trash.
Data di nascita: 12 September 1972
Altezza: 5' 10" (1.78 m)
Ultimi lavori:
Biografia:
Born in 1972, Jason Statham has done quite a lot in a short time. He has been an Olympic Diver on the British National Diving Team and finished 12th in the World Championships in 1992. He has also been a fashion model, black market salesman and finally of course, actor. He got the audition for his debut role as Bacon in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) through French Connection, for whom he was modeling. They became a major investor in the film and introduced Jason to Guy Ritchie, who invited him to audition for a part in the film by challenging him to impersonate an illegal street vendor and convince him to purchase fake jewelery. Jason must have been doing something right because after the success of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) he teamed up again with Guy Ritchie for Snatch. (2000), with co-stars including Brad Pitt, Dennis Farina and Benicio Del Toro. After Snatch. (2000) came Turn It Up (2000) with US music star Ja Rule, followed by a supporting actor role in the Sci-Fi film Ghosts of Mars (2001), Jet Li's The One (2001) and another screen partnership with Vinnie Jones in Mean Machine (2001) under Guy Ritchie's and Matthew Vaughn's SKA Films. Finally in 2002 he was cast as the lead role of Frank Martin in The Transporter (2002). Jason is also in the summer 2003 blockbuster remake of The Italian Job (1969), The Italian Job (2003), playing Handsome Rob.
Trivia random: Offered the role of Agent 47 in Hitman (2007/I) after Vin Diesel was dropped from the project. Timothy Olyphant eventually took the role.
Citazione random: "You ain't ever gonna get an Academy Award for doing Crank (2006) and you certainly won't for doing all the other movies I've done."
Salario massimo: $750,000, per The Transporter (2002)
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Regista: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Scrittore: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Genere: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Valutazione: 5.7/10 (23986 voti)
Durata: 95 min
Paese: USA
Lingua: English
Cast:
Trama:
Set in a future-world where humans can control other humans in mass-scale, multi-player online gaming environments, a star player from a game called "Slayers" looks to regain his independence while taking down the game's mastermind.
Trivia random: The opening montage of time-lapse shots and other scenes of the world where we see ads for Kable and/or graffiti of Ken Castle overlaid on buildings or walls are mostly taken from Ron Fricke's wordless film Baraka (1992), for example, the shots of the Giza Pyramids, India, homeless man sleeping under a bridge among others.
Citazione random: Simon: This is unbelievable. Kable, listen. This is the last game. You're gonna end up dead, and I'm going to look like a total asshole if you don't pull your balls together man!
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Data di nascita: 22 July 1960
Altezza: 5' 8" (1.73 m)
Coniuge: Justine Maurer::(5 July 2003 - present) 2 children, Yelba Osorio::(27 August 1994 - November 1996) (divorced)
Ultimi lavori:
Biografia:
Fast-talking and feisty-looking John Leguizamo has continued to impress movie audiences with his versatility: he can play sensitive and naïve young men, such as Johnny in Hangin' with the Homeboys (1991); cold-blooded killers like Benny Blanco in Carlito's Way (1993); a heroic Navy SEAL, stopping aerial terrorists in Executive Decision (1996); and drag queen Chi-Chi Rodriguez in To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995). Arguably, not since ill-fated actor and comedian Freddie Prinze starred in the smash TV series "Chico and the Man" (1974) has a youthful Latino personality had such a powerful impact on critics and fans alike. Born July 22, 1964, in Bogotá, Colombia, Leguizamo was four when his family emigrated to the United States. He was raised in Queens, New York, attended New York University and studied under legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg for only one day before Strasberg passed away. The extroverted Leguizamo started working the comedy club circuit in New York and first appeared in front of the cameras in an episode of "Miami Vice" (1984). His first film appearance was a small part in Mixed Blood (1985), and he had minor roles in Casualties of War (1989) and Die Hard 2 (1990) before playing a liquor store thief who shoots Harrison Ford in Regarding Henry (1991). His career really started to soar after his first-rate performance in the independent film Hangin' with the Homeboys (1991) as a nervous young teenager from the Bronx out for a night in brightly lit Manhattan with his buddies, facing the career choice of staying in a supermarket or heading off to college and finding out that the girl he loves from afar isn't quite what he thought she was. The year 1991 was also memorable for other reasons, as he hit the stage with his show Mambo Mouth (1991) (TV), in which he portrayed seven different Latino characters. The witty and incisive show was a smash hit and won the Obie and Outer Circle Critics Award, and later was filmed for HBO, where it picked up a CableACE Award. He returned to the stage two years later with another satirical production poking fun at Latino stereotypes titled Spic-O-Rama (1993) (TV). It played in Chicago and New York, and won the Drama Desk Award and four CableACE Awards. In 1995 he created and starred in the short-lived TV series "House of Buggin'" (1995), an all-Latino-cast comedy variety show featuring hilarious sketches and comedic routines. The show scored two Emmy nominations and received positive reviews from critics, but it was canceled after only one season. The gifted Leguizamo was still keeping busy in films, with key appearances in Super Mario Bros. (1993), Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Spawn (1997). In 1998 he made his Broadway debut in Freak (1998) (TV), a "demi-semi-quasi-pseudo-autobiographical" one-man show, which was filmed for HBO by Spike Lee. Utilizing his distinctive vocal talents, he next voiced a pesky rat in Doctor Dolittle (1998) before appearing in the dynamic Spike Lee-directed Summer of Sam (1999) as a guilt-ridden womanizer, as the Genie of The Lamp in the exciting Arabian Nights (2000) (TV) and as Henri de Toulouse Lautrec in the visually spectacular Moulin Rouge! (2001). He also voiced Sid in the animated Ice Age (2002), co-starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in Collateral Damage (2002) and directed and starred in the boxing film Undefeated (2003) (TV). Afterward, Leguizamo starred in the remake of the John Carpenter hit Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) and George A. Romero's long-awaited fourth "Dead" film, Land of the Dead (2005). There can be no doubt that the remarkably talented Leguizamo has been a breakthrough performer for the Latino community in mainstream Hollywood, in much the same way that Sidney Poitier crashed through celluloid barriers for African-Americans in the early 1960s. Among his many strengths lies his ability to not take his ethnic background too seriously but also to take pride in his Latino heritage. He has opened many doors for his countrymen. A masterly and accomplished performer, movie audiences await Leguizamo's next exciting performance.
Trivia random: Was voted "Most Talkative" in high school.
Citazione random: "Marriage is wild. I thought it was this perfect land of happiness and joy. Wrong! After you say you do, you don't for a long time."
Salario massimo: $2,000,000, per Spawn (1997)
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Nome di battesimo: Hall, Michael Carlyle
Data di nascita: 1 February 1971
Altezza: 5' 10½" (1.79 m)
Coniuge: Jennifer Carpenter::(31 December 2008 - present), Amy Spanger::(1 May 2002 - 2006) (divorced)
Ultimi lavori:
Biografia:
Michael C. Hall is a North Carolina native and graduate of NYU's Master of Fine Arts program in acting. His most recent performance was on Broadway as the emcee in "Cabaret." Hall has previously starred in nearly a dozen major off-Broadway plays, including "Macbeth" for the New York Shakespeare Festival, "Cymbeline" for the New York Shakespeare Festival at Central Park's Delacorte Theater, "Timon of Athens" and "Henry V" at the Public, "The English Teachers" for Manhattan Class Company, "Corpus Christi" at the Manhattan Theatre Club, and "Skylight" at the Mark Taper Forum.
Trivia random: Attended Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, North Carolina, the same school attended by actress Emily Procter, actor William Joyner, and editor Hughes Winborne.
Citazione random: I think Dexter is a man who, a part of himself is very much frozen, or arrested in a place that is pre-memory, pre-conscious, pre-verbal. Something very traumatic happened to him, he doesn't know what that is. And I think on some level he wants to know. He denies his humanity, he describes himself as someone who is without feeling, and yet I think that he maybe suspects - in a way that maybe isn't even conscious yet when we first meet him - that he is in fact a human being.
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Nome di battesimo: Butler, Gerard James
Data di nascita: 13 November 1969
Altezza: 6' 2" (1.88 m)
Ultimi lavori:
Biografia:
Born in Paisley, Scotland, to Margaret and Edward Butler, Gerard Butler was raised along with his older brother and sister in his hometown of Paisley, Scotland. He also spent some of his youth in Canada. His parents divorced when he was a child, and he and his siblings were raised primarily by their mother, who later remarried. He had no contact with his father between the ages of two and 16 years old, after which time they became close. His father passed away when Gerard was in his early 20s. Butler went on to attend Glasgow University, where he studied to be a lawyer/solicitor. He was president of the school's law society thanks to his outgoing personality and great social skills. His acting career began when he was approached in a London coffee shop by actor Steven Berkoff, who later appeared alongside Butler in Attila (2001/I) (TV), who gave him a role in a stage production of Coriolanus. After that Butler decided to give up law for acting. He was cast as Ewan McGregor's character Renton in the stage adaptation of [i]Trainspotting[/i]. His film debut was as Billy Connolly's younger brother in _Mrs. Brown (1997)_. While filming the movie in Scotland, he was enjoying a picnic with his mother, near the River Tay, when they heard the shouts of a young boy who had been swimming with a friend who was in some trouble. Butler jumped in and saved the young boy from drowning. He received a Certificate of Bravery from the Royal Humane Society. He felt he only did what anyone in the situation would have done. His film career continued with small roles, first in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and then Russell Mulcahy's Tale of the Mummy (1998). In 2000, Butler was cast in two breakthrough roles, the first being Attila the Hun in the USA film Attila (2001/I) (TV). The film's producers wanted a known actor to play the part but kept coming back to Butler's screen tests and decided he was their man. He had to lose the thick Scottish accent, but managed well. Around the time Attila was being filmed, casting was in progress for Wes Craven's new take on the Dracula legacy. Also wanting a known name, Butler wasn't much of a consideration. His unending tenacity and drive drove him to hounding the producers. Eventually, he sent them a clip of his portrayal of Attila. Evidently they saw something because Dracula 2000 (2000) was cast in the form of Butler. Attila's producers, thinking that his big-screen role might help with their own film's ratings, finished shooting a little early so he could get to work on Dracula 2000 (2000). Attila ended up being the second highest-rated TV movie ever. Following these two roles, Butler developed quite a fan base, an Internet site and began appearing on lists everywhere. Since then he has appeared in Reign of Fire (2002) as Creedy and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003) as Terry Sheridan, alongside Angelina Jolie. The role that garnered him most attention from both moviegoers and movie makers alike was that of Andre Marek in the big-screen adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel Timeline (2003). Butler played an archaeologist who was sent back in time with a team of students to rescue a colleague. Last year he appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Phantom of the Opera (2004), playing the title character in the successful adaptation of the stage musical. It was a role that brought him much international attention. Other projects include Dear Frankie (2004), The Game of Their Lives (2005) and Beowulf & Grendel (2005). In 2007 he starred as Spartan King Leonidas in the Warner Bros. production 300 (2006), based on the Frank Miller graphic novel, and Butterfly on a Wheel (2007) co-starring Pierce Brosnan and Maria Bello, which aired on network TV under the title Shattered. He most recently starred in P.S. I Love You (2007) with Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank . In 2007, he appeared in Nim's Island (2008) and RocknRolla (2008), and recently completed the new Mark Neveldine / Brian Taylor film Gamer (2009). His latest film The Ugly Truth (2009) co-starring Katherine Heigl began filming in April 2008.
Trivia random: Was once rumored to be the next James Bond (after Pierce Brosnan). [April 2001]
Citazione random: Sometimes I finish a movie and I get used to a certain lifestyle and when that stops I get a bit lost for about a week. 'No one is bringing me lunch anymore - I've got to go do that myself?' I lose the main point of my focus. Often all I want to do is travel and just get the hell out of there. But I'm actually boring really.
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Nome di battesimo: Ventimiglia, Milo Anthony
Data di nascita: 8 July 1977
Altezza: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
Ultimi lavori:
Biografia:
Nurturing an impressive body of work that encompasses film and television, Milo Ventimiglia is positioning himself as one of Hollywood's most promising young talents as his career continues to evolve with exciting and challenging projects. Ventimiglia will next be seen starring in Tom Fontana's new WB Series "The Bedford Diaries" (2006), which focuses on a group of college students in a human sexuality class. Ventimiglia quickly garnered attention when he joined the cast of the critically acclaimed television drama "Gilmore Girls" (2000), as the quiet and complicated 'Jess.' Last year Ventimiglia joined the cast of another critically acclaimed show, NBC's "American Dreams" (2002). He portrayed a 60's war radical and helps bring the show into the 70's. He was also a recurring character on David. E. Kelley's drama "Boston Public" (2000). Before joining "Gilmore Girls" audiences became familiar with Ventimiglia when he starred in the Fox series "Opposite Sex" (2000) which secured him a holding deal with Warner Brothers. His other television credits include guest starring roles on prime time series such as "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000), "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" (1996) and "Promised Land" (1996). Segueing effortlessly between the big and small screen, Ventimiglia's passion for the art of acting keeps him drawn to both studio and independent features. Ventimiglia recently starred in the Wes Craven/Kevin Williamson thriller Cursed (2005) and next up is the indie film Dirty Deeds (2005). His other film credits include Winter Break (2003) and Massholes (2000). Additionally he starred in the short films Nice Guys Finish Last (2001) and Must Be the Music (1996), which debuted at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews. Ventimiglia currently resides in Los Angeles and enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding and wake boarding. He also has a passion for restoring vintage muscle cars.
Trivia random: He has a great interest in directing.
Citazione random: On the WB holding deal: ... They said, 'Here's a lot of money and don't work for anybody else. We don't have anything for you, so you're going to be sitting for a while.' That was an interesting thing.
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Gerard Butler di mestiere fa il carcerato nel braccio della morte - carriera breve ma non priva di soddisfazioni (e fa sempre curriculum).
Entra in scena Dexter - qui nel ruolo del genio del compiutter - che ha creato una serie di mondi virtuali nei quali gli utenti possono comandare delle persone in carne ed ossa (a dire il vero più "culi e tette" che altro, da quando viene mostrato
) grazie a solito artifizio narrativo impiantato nel cervello a suon di jibba-jabba hi-tech privo di senso.Ultimo parto della sua geniale quanto empia testolina, un mondo dove i detenuti combattono a suon di armi fichissime, morendo a carriolate. Premio per chi sopravvive a 30 battaglie: la libertà ed un set di pentole in acciaio inox.
Butler ed il ragazzino che lo controlla sono quasi al traguardo, ma qual losco piano si dipana dinnanzi a loro! Ah, perché non ci è dato vivere in un mondo di oneste regole?! Perché?! Perché?! Boh, chissene...
.png)
Se avete una vaga sensazione come di "già visto un triliardo di volte", vi state sbagliando: questo non è come i mille film che hanno già sfruttato idee analoghe - è infatti scandalosamente peggio.
Girato dalla solita scimmia col parkinson, ha escogitato un affascinante stratagemma tecnico per nascondere le piccole imperfezioni: coprirle con una colossale esplosione. Il fondale fa schifo? Mettiamoci un'esplosione! Serve un stacco di scena tra due location separate? Esplosione! La trama ha un buco che sembra un cratere? Esplosione!
È bellissimo e molto facile, provateci anche voi: esplosione!
.png)
Sorvoliamo sui dialoghi, i concetti triti-e-ritriti, l'overacting costante ed una insultante supponenza che permea tutti i suoi 95 minuti.
Ha però anche alcuni meriti: oltre a settare un nuovo standard negativo per i filmacci d'azione (e non c'è neanche Jason Statham, incredibile), ha procurato una ciotola di cibo a Milo Ventimiglia e John Leguizamo. In tempi di crisi, non è poco.
Voto: 1 - fa intrattenimento quanto un'epidemia di vaiolo.
Trashometro® 7/10:




Tags: azione, fantascienza, thriller, invereconda porcata, esplosione, esplosioni, esplosioni!, ancora esplosioni!, criminale, mondo virtuale, detenuto, fuga, armi, sparatoria, morte, combattimento, auto, resistenza, hacker, intrusione, Gerard Butler, John Leguizamo, moglie, prostituzione, vendetta, trash.
Statham, Jason
Data di nascita: 12 September 1972
Altezza: 5' 10" (1.78 m)
Ultimi lavori:
- Gnomeo and Juliet (2011) .... [attore]
- The Brazilian Job (2011) .... Handsome Rob [attore]
- 13 (2010) .... Jasper [attore]
- Blitz (2010) .... [attore]
- The Expendables (2010) .... Lee Christmas [attore]
- The Killer Elite (2010) .... [attore]
- The Mechanic (2010) .... [attore]
- Crank: High Voltage (2009) .... Chev Chelios [attore]
- Transporter 3 Special Delivery: Transporters in the Real World (2009) (V) .... Frank Martin [attore]
- Death Race (2008) .... Jensen Ames [attore]
Biografia:
Born in 1972, Jason Statham has done quite a lot in a short time. He has been an Olympic Diver on the British National Diving Team and finished 12th in the World Championships in 1992. He has also been a fashion model, black market salesman and finally of course, actor. He got the audition for his debut role as Bacon in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) through French Connection, for whom he was modeling. They became a major investor in the film and introduced Jason to Guy Ritchie, who invited him to audition for a part in the film by challenging him to impersonate an illegal street vendor and convince him to purchase fake jewelery. Jason must have been doing something right because after the success of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) he teamed up again with Guy Ritchie for Snatch. (2000), with co-stars including Brad Pitt, Dennis Farina and Benicio Del Toro. After Snatch. (2000) came Turn It Up (2000) with US music star Ja Rule, followed by a supporting actor role in the Sci-Fi film Ghosts of Mars (2001), Jet Li's The One (2001) and another screen partnership with Vinnie Jones in Mean Machine (2001) under Guy Ritchie's and Matthew Vaughn's SKA Films. Finally in 2002 he was cast as the lead role of Frank Martin in The Transporter (2002). Jason is also in the summer 2003 blockbuster remake of The Italian Job (1969), The Italian Job (2003), playing Handsome Rob.
Trivia random: Offered the role of Agent 47 in Hitman (2007/I) after Vin Diesel was dropped from the project. Timothy Olyphant eventually took the role.
Citazione random: "You ain't ever gonna get an Academy Award for doing Crank (2006) and you certainly won't for doing all the other movies I've done."
Salario massimo: $750,000, per The Transporter (2002)
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Gamer (2009)
Regista: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Scrittore: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Genere: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Valutazione: 5.7/10 (23986 voti)
Durata: 95 min
Paese: USA
Lingua: English
Cast:
- Gerard Butler .... Kable / John Tillman
- Amber Valletta .... Angie
- Michael C. Hall .... Ken Castle
- Kyra Sedgwick .... Gina Parker Smith
- Logan Lerman .... Simon Silverton
- Alison Lohman .... Trace
- Terry Crews .... Hackman
- Ramsey Moore .... Gorge
- Ludacris .... Humanz Brother (as Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges)
- Aaron Yoo .... Humanz Dude
Trama:
Set in a future-world where humans can control other humans in mass-scale, multi-player online gaming environments, a star player from a game called "Slayers" looks to regain his independence while taking down the game's mastermind.
Trivia random: The opening montage of time-lapse shots and other scenes of the world where we see ads for Kable and/or graffiti of Ken Castle overlaid on buildings or walls are mostly taken from Ron Fricke's wordless film Baraka (1992), for example, the shots of the Giza Pyramids, India, homeless man sleeping under a bridge among others.
Citazione random: Simon: This is unbelievable. Kable, listen. This is the last game. You're gonna end up dead, and I'm going to look like a total asshole if you don't pull your balls together man!
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Leguizamo, John
Data di nascita: 22 July 1960
Altezza: 5' 8" (1.73 m)
Coniuge: Justine Maurer::(5 July 2003 - present) 2 children, Yelba Osorio::(27 August 1994 - November 1996) (divorced)
Ultimi lavori:
- The Spanish Harlem Project (2011) .... Ray [attore]
- Tlatelolco: Mexico 68 (2011) .... Jesus (rumored) [attore]
- Vanishing on 7th Street (2010) .... Paul [attore]
- Gamer (2009) .... Freek [attore]
- Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) (VG) .... Sid (voice) [attore]
- Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009) .... Sid (voice) [attore]
- Rage (2009/I) .... Jed [attore]
- The Ministers (2009) .... Dante/Perfecto [attore]
- Miracle at St. Anna (2008) .... Enrico [attore]
- Nothing Like the Holidays (2008) .... Mauricio Rodriguez [attore]
Biografia:
Fast-talking and feisty-looking John Leguizamo has continued to impress movie audiences with his versatility: he can play sensitive and naïve young men, such as Johnny in Hangin' with the Homeboys (1991); cold-blooded killers like Benny Blanco in Carlito's Way (1993); a heroic Navy SEAL, stopping aerial terrorists in Executive Decision (1996); and drag queen Chi-Chi Rodriguez in To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar (1995). Arguably, not since ill-fated actor and comedian Freddie Prinze starred in the smash TV series "Chico and the Man" (1974) has a youthful Latino personality had such a powerful impact on critics and fans alike. Born July 22, 1964, in Bogotá, Colombia, Leguizamo was four when his family emigrated to the United States. He was raised in Queens, New York, attended New York University and studied under legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg for only one day before Strasberg passed away. The extroverted Leguizamo started working the comedy club circuit in New York and first appeared in front of the cameras in an episode of "Miami Vice" (1984). His first film appearance was a small part in Mixed Blood (1985), and he had minor roles in Casualties of War (1989) and Die Hard 2 (1990) before playing a liquor store thief who shoots Harrison Ford in Regarding Henry (1991). His career really started to soar after his first-rate performance in the independent film Hangin' with the Homeboys (1991) as a nervous young teenager from the Bronx out for a night in brightly lit Manhattan with his buddies, facing the career choice of staying in a supermarket or heading off to college and finding out that the girl he loves from afar isn't quite what he thought she was. The year 1991 was also memorable for other reasons, as he hit the stage with his show Mambo Mouth (1991) (TV), in which he portrayed seven different Latino characters. The witty and incisive show was a smash hit and won the Obie and Outer Circle Critics Award, and later was filmed for HBO, where it picked up a CableACE Award. He returned to the stage two years later with another satirical production poking fun at Latino stereotypes titled Spic-O-Rama (1993) (TV). It played in Chicago and New York, and won the Drama Desk Award and four CableACE Awards. In 1995 he created and starred in the short-lived TV series "House of Buggin'" (1995), an all-Latino-cast comedy variety show featuring hilarious sketches and comedic routines. The show scored two Emmy nominations and received positive reviews from critics, but it was canceled after only one season. The gifted Leguizamo was still keeping busy in films, with key appearances in Super Mario Bros. (1993), Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Spawn (1997). In 1998 he made his Broadway debut in Freak (1998) (TV), a "demi-semi-quasi-pseudo-autobiographical" one-man show, which was filmed for HBO by Spike Lee. Utilizing his distinctive vocal talents, he next voiced a pesky rat in Doctor Dolittle (1998) before appearing in the dynamic Spike Lee-directed Summer of Sam (1999) as a guilt-ridden womanizer, as the Genie of The Lamp in the exciting Arabian Nights (2000) (TV) and as Henri de Toulouse Lautrec in the visually spectacular Moulin Rouge! (2001). He also voiced Sid in the animated Ice Age (2002), co-starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in Collateral Damage (2002) and directed and starred in the boxing film Undefeated (2003) (TV). Afterward, Leguizamo starred in the remake of the John Carpenter hit Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) and George A. Romero's long-awaited fourth "Dead" film, Land of the Dead (2005). There can be no doubt that the remarkably talented Leguizamo has been a breakthrough performer for the Latino community in mainstream Hollywood, in much the same way that Sidney Poitier crashed through celluloid barriers for African-Americans in the early 1960s. Among his many strengths lies his ability to not take his ethnic background too seriously but also to take pride in his Latino heritage. He has opened many doors for his countrymen. A masterly and accomplished performer, movie audiences await Leguizamo's next exciting performance.
Trivia random: Was voted "Most Talkative" in high school.
Citazione random: "Marriage is wild. I thought it was this perfect land of happiness and joy. Wrong! After you say you do, you don't for a long time."
Salario massimo: $2,000,000, per Spawn (1997)
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Hall, Michael C. (I)
Nome di battesimo: Hall, Michael Carlyle
Data di nascita: 1 February 1971
Altezza: 5' 10½" (1.79 m)
Coniuge: Jennifer Carpenter::(31 December 2008 - present), Amy Spanger::(1 May 2002 - 2006) (divorced)
Ultimi lavori:
- East Fifth Bliss (2010) .... Morris Bliss [attore]
- Peep World (2010) .... Jack [attore]
- Gamer (2009) .... Ken Castle [attore]
- The Edge of Things (2009) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
- Mysteries of the Freemasons (2006) (TV) .... Narrator [attore]
- "Hitler's War" (2005) TV series (narrator) (2005) .... [misc]
- Bereft (2004) (TV) .... Jonathan [attore]
- Paycheck (2003) .... Agent Klein [attore]
Biografia:
Michael C. Hall is a North Carolina native and graduate of NYU's Master of Fine Arts program in acting. His most recent performance was on Broadway as the emcee in "Cabaret." Hall has previously starred in nearly a dozen major off-Broadway plays, including "Macbeth" for the New York Shakespeare Festival, "Cymbeline" for the New York Shakespeare Festival at Central Park's Delacorte Theater, "Timon of Athens" and "Henry V" at the Public, "The English Teachers" for Manhattan Class Company, "Corpus Christi" at the Manhattan Theatre Club, and "Skylight" at the Mark Taper Forum.
Trivia random: Attended Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, North Carolina, the same school attended by actress Emily Procter, actor William Joyner, and editor Hughes Winborne.
Citazione random: I think Dexter is a man who, a part of himself is very much frozen, or arrested in a place that is pre-memory, pre-conscious, pre-verbal. Something very traumatic happened to him, he doesn't know what that is. And I think on some level he wants to know. He denies his humanity, he describes himself as someone who is without feeling, and yet I think that he maybe suspects - in a way that maybe isn't even conscious yet when we first meet him - that he is in fact a human being.
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Butler, Gerard
Nome di battesimo: Butler, Gerard James
Data di nascita: 13 November 1969
Altezza: 6' 2" (1.88 m)
Ultimi lavori:
- Burns (2010) .... Robert Burns [attore]
- Coriolanus (2010) .... Tullus Aufidius [attore]
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010) .... Stoick (voice) [attore]
- The Bounty Hunter (2010) .... Milo Boyd [attore]
- Untitled Comedy (2010) .... Chaun [attore]
- Gamer (2009) .... Kable / John Tillman [attore]
- Law Abiding Citizen (2009) .... (producer) [produttore]
- Tales of the Black Freighter (2009) (V) .... The Sea Captain (voice) [attore]
- The Ugly Truth (2009) .... Mike Chadway [attore]
- Nim's Island (2008) .... Jack Rusoe / Alex Rover [attore]
Biografia:
Born in Paisley, Scotland, to Margaret and Edward Butler, Gerard Butler was raised along with his older brother and sister in his hometown of Paisley, Scotland. He also spent some of his youth in Canada. His parents divorced when he was a child, and he and his siblings were raised primarily by their mother, who later remarried. He had no contact with his father between the ages of two and 16 years old, after which time they became close. His father passed away when Gerard was in his early 20s. Butler went on to attend Glasgow University, where he studied to be a lawyer/solicitor. He was president of the school's law society thanks to his outgoing personality and great social skills. His acting career began when he was approached in a London coffee shop by actor Steven Berkoff, who later appeared alongside Butler in Attila (2001/I) (TV), who gave him a role in a stage production of Coriolanus. After that Butler decided to give up law for acting. He was cast as Ewan McGregor's character Renton in the stage adaptation of [i]Trainspotting[/i]. His film debut was as Billy Connolly's younger brother in _Mrs. Brown (1997)_. While filming the movie in Scotland, he was enjoying a picnic with his mother, near the River Tay, when they heard the shouts of a young boy who had been swimming with a friend who was in some trouble. Butler jumped in and saved the young boy from drowning. He received a Certificate of Bravery from the Royal Humane Society. He felt he only did what anyone in the situation would have done. His film career continued with small roles, first in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and then Russell Mulcahy's Tale of the Mummy (1998). In 2000, Butler was cast in two breakthrough roles, the first being Attila the Hun in the USA film Attila (2001/I) (TV). The film's producers wanted a known actor to play the part but kept coming back to Butler's screen tests and decided he was their man. He had to lose the thick Scottish accent, but managed well. Around the time Attila was being filmed, casting was in progress for Wes Craven's new take on the Dracula legacy. Also wanting a known name, Butler wasn't much of a consideration. His unending tenacity and drive drove him to hounding the producers. Eventually, he sent them a clip of his portrayal of Attila. Evidently they saw something because Dracula 2000 (2000) was cast in the form of Butler. Attila's producers, thinking that his big-screen role might help with their own film's ratings, finished shooting a little early so he could get to work on Dracula 2000 (2000). Attila ended up being the second highest-rated TV movie ever. Following these two roles, Butler developed quite a fan base, an Internet site and began appearing on lists everywhere. Since then he has appeared in Reign of Fire (2002) as Creedy and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003) as Terry Sheridan, alongside Angelina Jolie. The role that garnered him most attention from both moviegoers and movie makers alike was that of Andre Marek in the big-screen adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel Timeline (2003). Butler played an archaeologist who was sent back in time with a team of students to rescue a colleague. Last year he appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Phantom of the Opera (2004), playing the title character in the successful adaptation of the stage musical. It was a role that brought him much international attention. Other projects include Dear Frankie (2004), The Game of Their Lives (2005) and Beowulf & Grendel (2005). In 2007 he starred as Spartan King Leonidas in the Warner Bros. production 300 (2006), based on the Frank Miller graphic novel, and Butterfly on a Wheel (2007) co-starring Pierce Brosnan and Maria Bello, which aired on network TV under the title Shattered. He most recently starred in P.S. I Love You (2007) with Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank . In 2007, he appeared in Nim's Island (2008) and RocknRolla (2008), and recently completed the new Mark Neveldine / Brian Taylor film Gamer (2009). His latest film The Ugly Truth (2009) co-starring Katherine Heigl began filming in April 2008.
Trivia random: Was once rumored to be the next James Bond (after Pierce Brosnan). [April 2001]
Citazione random: Sometimes I finish a movie and I get used to a certain lifestyle and when that stops I get a bit lost for about a week. 'No one is bringing me lunch anymore - I've got to go do that myself?' I lose the main point of my focus. Often all I want to do is travel and just get the hell out of there. But I'm actually boring really.
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Ventimiglia, Milo
Nome di battesimo: Ventimiglia, Milo Anthony
Data di nascita: 8 July 1977
Altezza: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
Ultimi lavori:
- Order of Chaos (2010) .... Rick [attore]
- "Ultradome" (2010) .... (executive producer) (unknown episodes, 2010) [produttore]
- Armored (2009) .... Eckehart [attore]
- Dave Knoll Finds His Soul (2009) (TV) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
- Gamer (2009) .... Rick Rape [attore]
- High-Five Hollywood! (2008) (V) .... [attore]
- Pathology (2008) .... Ted Grey [attore]
- "It's a Mall World" (2007) .... (producer) [produttore]
- "Winter Tales" (2007) .... (producer) [produttore]
- Intelligence (2006/I) .... Colin Mathers [attore]
Biografia:
Nurturing an impressive body of work that encompasses film and television, Milo Ventimiglia is positioning himself as one of Hollywood's most promising young talents as his career continues to evolve with exciting and challenging projects. Ventimiglia will next be seen starring in Tom Fontana's new WB Series "The Bedford Diaries" (2006), which focuses on a group of college students in a human sexuality class. Ventimiglia quickly garnered attention when he joined the cast of the critically acclaimed television drama "Gilmore Girls" (2000), as the quiet and complicated 'Jess.' Last year Ventimiglia joined the cast of another critically acclaimed show, NBC's "American Dreams" (2002). He portrayed a 60's war radical and helps bring the show into the 70's. He was also a recurring character on David. E. Kelley's drama "Boston Public" (2000). Before joining "Gilmore Girls" audiences became familiar with Ventimiglia when he starred in the Fox series "Opposite Sex" (2000) which secured him a holding deal with Warner Brothers. His other television credits include guest starring roles on prime time series such as "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000), "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" (1996) and "Promised Land" (1996). Segueing effortlessly between the big and small screen, Ventimiglia's passion for the art of acting keeps him drawn to both studio and independent features. Ventimiglia recently starred in the Wes Craven/Kevin Williamson thriller Cursed (2005) and next up is the indie film Dirty Deeds (2005). His other film credits include Winter Break (2003) and Massholes (2000). Additionally he starred in the short films Nice Guys Finish Last (2001) and Must Be the Music (1996), which debuted at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews. Ventimiglia currently resides in Los Angeles and enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding and wake boarding. He also has a passion for restoring vintage muscle cars.
Trivia random: He has a great interest in directing.
Citazione random: On the WB holding deal: ... They said, 'Here's a lot of money and don't work for anybody else. We don't have anything for you, so you're going to be sitting for a while.' That was an interesting thing.
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
mercoledì 20 gennaio 2010
Serial Experiments: [PL]ain
O mi è sfuggito qualcosa di lampante, o Serial Experiments: Lain è un prodotto che, dall'alto dei suoi miseri 12 anni, è invecchiato particolarmente male. Non mi spiego altrimenti l'8.7 ricevuto su IMDb.
La trama aveva anche del potenziale: una ragazzina commette suicidio gettandosi dal tetto di un palazzo. Alcune sue compagne di scuola, inclusa l'introversa Lain che la conosceva appena, riceveranno poco dopo delle email dalla defunta.
Lain, che mai era stata attratta dalla tecnologia, inizia a passare sempre più tempo connessa al "Wired", con singolari risultati.
Purtroppo tale potenziale viene sprecato da una realizzazione mediocre e pretenziosa a livelli quasi dolorosi - questo anche fingendo d'ignorare lo scadentissimo reparto tecnico (non dubito che alcune scelte siano state "di stile", ma in molti casi la pochezza tecnica evidenzia una seria carenza di risorse e capacità , temo).
Il vero problema è che, nei suoi 13 episodi, la serie risulta lenta in modo estenuante e del tutto inconcludente: ogni concetto (e parliamo di una manciata di idee in tutto) viene ripetuto allo sfinimento, senza neppure la decenza di cambiare prospettiva.
Il contesto delle relazioni tra i personaggi risulta poi troppo poco dettagliato, e del resto neppure i protagonisti vengono approfonditi granché.
E, ribadisco, è un peccato: perché tenendo a mente che la serie è stata concepita nel 98, va detto che il tema tecnologico viene sviluppato in maniera notevole, molto meglio (e qui mi attirerò degli insulti) che in Matrix, per fare un esempio.
Questo da solo però non basta, e riuscire ad annoiare in appena 13 episodi è una colpa grave.
Cosa resta? Da tecnofilo, non nego una certa soddisfazione nel vedere riferimenti a cose come il protocollo IP, NeXT, BeOS (e questo mi chiedo quanti l'abbiano notato
) e qualche listato C/C++ e LISP.
Menzione d'onore, poi, per essere ufficialmente la serie con la maggior quantità d'arredo urbano della storia: incroci, attraversamenti pedonali, pali del telefono, linee elettriche, semafori e chi più ne ha più ne metta - non ci si fa mancare davvero nulla ed il trono che fu della Gainax (altra grande estimatrice dell'arredo urbano
) è senza dubbio spodestato.
Voto: 4.5 - peccato, ci speravo abbastanza.
Tags: animazione, mistero, fantascienza, thriller, computer, suicidio, Wired, rete, informatica, programmazione, mondo virtuale, ragazza, internet, protocollo IP, cyberpunk, realtà virtuale, e-mail, omicidio, governo, agenti, realtà , religione, droghe, processore, club, sparatoria, professore, sesso, sorella, genitori, compagne di classe, amiche, arredo urbano, dio, pretenzioso.
Genere: Mystery, Animation, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Valutazione: 8.5/10 (1469 voti)
Durata: 24 min
Paese: Japan
Lingua: Japanese
Cast:
Trama:
A week after Chisa committed suicide, her classmates begin to receive emails from her. Hearing rumors fly at school, a quiet withdrawn girl named Lain goes home that day, turns on her dusty Navi computer for the first time and has a conversation with the dead girl. Chisa's message reads that she killed herself because she didn't need her body anymore, and she now exists in The Wired. When Lain asks why someone would do something like that she gets a response: "Because God is here".
Trivia random: The girl in the "Devices" segments is the voice of Lain herself, Kaori Shimizu. Also, Lain's character design was based in part from Ms. Shimizu's physical appearance.
Citazione random: Lain Iwakura: Why? Why did you die?
Navi [Dictating Chisa's response]: God is here.
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
La trama aveva anche del potenziale: una ragazzina commette suicidio gettandosi dal tetto di un palazzo. Alcune sue compagne di scuola, inclusa l'introversa Lain che la conosceva appena, riceveranno poco dopo delle email dalla defunta.
Lain, che mai era stata attratta dalla tecnologia, inizia a passare sempre più tempo connessa al "Wired", con singolari risultati.
Purtroppo tale potenziale viene sprecato da una realizzazione mediocre e pretenziosa a livelli quasi dolorosi - questo anche fingendo d'ignorare lo scadentissimo reparto tecnico (non dubito che alcune scelte siano state "di stile", ma in molti casi la pochezza tecnica evidenzia una seria carenza di risorse e capacità , temo).
Il vero problema è che, nei suoi 13 episodi, la serie risulta lenta in modo estenuante e del tutto inconcludente: ogni concetto (e parliamo di una manciata di idee in tutto) viene ripetuto allo sfinimento, senza neppure la decenza di cambiare prospettiva.
Il contesto delle relazioni tra i personaggi risulta poi troppo poco dettagliato, e del resto neppure i protagonisti vengono approfonditi granché.
E, ribadisco, è un peccato: perché tenendo a mente che la serie è stata concepita nel 98, va detto che il tema tecnologico viene sviluppato in maniera notevole, molto meglio (e qui mi attirerò degli insulti) che in Matrix, per fare un esempio.
Questo da solo però non basta, e riuscire ad annoiare in appena 13 episodi è una colpa grave.
Cosa resta? Da tecnofilo, non nego una certa soddisfazione nel vedere riferimenti a cose come il protocollo IP, NeXT, BeOS (e questo mi chiedo quanti l'abbiano notato
) e qualche listato C/C++ e LISP.Menzione d'onore, poi, per essere ufficialmente la serie con la maggior quantità d'arredo urbano della storia: incroci, attraversamenti pedonali, pali del telefono, linee elettriche, semafori e chi più ne ha più ne metta - non ci si fa mancare davvero nulla ed il trono che fu della Gainax (altra grande estimatrice dell'arredo urbano
) è senza dubbio spodestato.Voto: 4.5 - peccato, ci speravo abbastanza.
Tags: animazione, mistero, fantascienza, thriller, computer, suicidio, Wired, rete, informatica, programmazione, mondo virtuale, ragazza, internet, protocollo IP, cyberpunk, realtà virtuale, e-mail, omicidio, governo, agenti, realtà , religione, droghe, processore, club, sparatoria, professore, sesso, sorella, genitori, compagne di classe, amiche, arredo urbano, dio, pretenzioso.
"Serial Experiments: Lain" (1998)
Genere: Mystery, Animation, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Valutazione: 8.5/10 (1469 voti)
Durata: 24 min
Paese: Japan
Lingua: Japanese
Cast:
- Bridget Hoffman .... Lain Iwakura (13 episodes, 1998)
Trama:
A week after Chisa committed suicide, her classmates begin to receive emails from her. Hearing rumors fly at school, a quiet withdrawn girl named Lain goes home that day, turns on her dusty Navi computer for the first time and has a conversation with the dead girl. Chisa's message reads that she killed herself because she didn't need her body anymore, and she now exists in The Wired. When Lain asks why someone would do something like that she gets a response: "Because God is here".
Trivia random: The girl in the "Devices" segments is the voice of Lain herself, Kaori Shimizu. Also, Lain's character design was based in part from Ms. Shimizu's physical appearance.
Citazione random: Lain Iwakura: Why? Why did you die?
Navi [Dictating Chisa's response]: God is here.
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
sabato 26 marzo 2011
[mezze stagioni] Caprica
Visti i primi 7 episodi della prima - e presumibilmente unica - stagione di Caprica.
Considerato quanto ho adorato la serie di Battlestar Galactica, devo ammettere che mi approcciavo con scetticismo a questo prequel dalle strane caratteristiche: pochissima fantascienza di ambientazione spaziale e molta politica sembravano ingredienti abbastanza fuori luogo, in una serie figlia (o madre?) di uno dei picchi della sci-fi televisiva contemporanea. D'altra parte... frak! È BSG, non potevo davvero perdermela.
Una cinquantina di anni prima degli eventi di BSG (e quindi a pochi decenni dalla prima guerra coi Cylons), troviamo le colonie ancora molto disunite tra loro. La centralità di Caprica è però già evidente: una società evoluta ed edonistica, all'apice di una prosperità che sembra promettere solo ulteriori successi, ma che si rivelerà invece essere il trampolino di lancio verso la tragica caduta.
Da un lato abbiamo la famiglia Graystone, con un geniale capofamiglia che ha rivoluzionato la vita digitale con il mondo virtuale accessibile tramite l'holoband, e che ora sta progettando i primi Cylons.
Dall'altro gli Adama (sì, quegli Adama, con tanto di piccolo William), il cui padre avvocato cura con modi poco ortodossi gli interessi delle famiglie mafiose di Tauron.
I loro destini, e con essi quelli di tutti gli abitanti delle colonie, si incroceranno in seguito ad un atto terroristico in cui è direttamente coinvolta Zoe Graystone, non meno geniale del padre e seguace di una organizzazione religiosa devota al dio monoteista. Con lei moriranno decine di persone, tra cui moglie e figlia di Joseph Adama.
Un sofisticato avatar di Zoe è però ancora attivo nella rete, e finirà con l'essere assorbita in un chip sperimentale di un prototipo di Cylon.
Approfondimento psicologico, temi sociali e riflessioni sulla tecnologia sono i temi principali di questa anomala serie fantascientifica. Intrigante e drammatica, deve il suo fascino ad una cura maniacale dei dettagli: l'intera società in cui si muovono i protagonisti è pervasa di piccoli particolari (religione, abitudini sessuali, usi e costumi) che la caratterizzano come qualcosa di simile e al contempo diversa dalla nostra realtà .
Realizzata con soldi e cura, presenta una regia ed una fotografia sempre eccellenti (più che degni anche gli effetti speciali), e tutti i protagonisti sono perfetti nei rispettivi ruoli. La trama promette benissimo, ed i dialoghi sono sempre all'altezza.
Non vedo l'ora di vedere gli altri episodi, ma fin d'ora la considero come una tappa imprescindibile per gli appassionati dell'universo BSG, che grufoleranno di piacere tutte le volte che scopriranno retroscena e contesti di certi eventi ed abitudini visti in BSG (dalla ovvia genesi dei Cylons ad espressioni come "so say we all").
Voto parziale: 8. Ah, il doppiaggio italiano mi è sembrato degno, ma come sempre sono convinto che certe cose vadano viste in lingua originale.
Considerato quanto ho adorato la serie di Battlestar Galactica, devo ammettere che mi approcciavo con scetticismo a questo prequel dalle strane caratteristiche: pochissima fantascienza di ambientazione spaziale e molta politica sembravano ingredienti abbastanza fuori luogo, in una serie figlia (o madre?) di uno dei picchi della sci-fi televisiva contemporanea. D'altra parte... frak! È BSG, non potevo davvero perdermela.
Una cinquantina di anni prima degli eventi di BSG (e quindi a pochi decenni dalla prima guerra coi Cylons), troviamo le colonie ancora molto disunite tra loro. La centralità di Caprica è però già evidente: una società evoluta ed edonistica, all'apice di una prosperità che sembra promettere solo ulteriori successi, ma che si rivelerà invece essere il trampolino di lancio verso la tragica caduta.
Da un lato abbiamo la famiglia Graystone, con un geniale capofamiglia che ha rivoluzionato la vita digitale con il mondo virtuale accessibile tramite l'holoband, e che ora sta progettando i primi Cylons.
Dall'altro gli Adama (sì, quegli Adama, con tanto di piccolo William), il cui padre avvocato cura con modi poco ortodossi gli interessi delle famiglie mafiose di Tauron.
I loro destini, e con essi quelli di tutti gli abitanti delle colonie, si incroceranno in seguito ad un atto terroristico in cui è direttamente coinvolta Zoe Graystone, non meno geniale del padre e seguace di una organizzazione religiosa devota al dio monoteista. Con lei moriranno decine di persone, tra cui moglie e figlia di Joseph Adama.
Un sofisticato avatar di Zoe è però ancora attivo nella rete, e finirà con l'essere assorbita in un chip sperimentale di un prototipo di Cylon.
Approfondimento psicologico, temi sociali e riflessioni sulla tecnologia sono i temi principali di questa anomala serie fantascientifica. Intrigante e drammatica, deve il suo fascino ad una cura maniacale dei dettagli: l'intera società in cui si muovono i protagonisti è pervasa di piccoli particolari (religione, abitudini sessuali, usi e costumi) che la caratterizzano come qualcosa di simile e al contempo diversa dalla nostra realtà .
Realizzata con soldi e cura, presenta una regia ed una fotografia sempre eccellenti (più che degni anche gli effetti speciali), e tutti i protagonisti sono perfetti nei rispettivi ruoli. La trama promette benissimo, ed i dialoghi sono sempre all'altezza.
Non vedo l'ora di vedere gli altri episodi, ma fin d'ora la considero come una tappa imprescindibile per gli appassionati dell'universo BSG, che grufoleranno di piacere tutte le volte che scopriranno retroscena e contesti di certi eventi ed abitudini visti in BSG (dalla ovvia genesi dei Cylons ad espressioni come "so say we all").
Voto parziale: 8. Ah, il doppiaggio italiano mi è sembrato degno, ma come sempre sono convinto che certe cose vadano viste in lingua originale.
sabato 31 marzo 2007
stay away!
E piantiamo pure un altro chiodino nella cassa dei film tratti da videogiochi, che tanto ormai...
Questa volta però lo facciamo in maniera diversa: invece che comprare i diritti di una qualche serie da violentare sul grande schermo, Stay Alive si ispira in maniera generica ai survival horror tanto di moda negli ultimi anni.
Dei tizi ereditano da un loro amico morto in circostanze misteriose un videogioco indipendente; appena installato sulle loro belle postazioni alienware si accorgono che non si tratta di un semplice videogioco: è in realtà un videogioco brutto (ed il pomparlo a 3200x2400 non sopperisce alle altre carenze tecniche)!
Ma non è questo il punto: il punto è che il gioco narra la strana storia di questa contessa assassina del 17esimo secolo di cui francamente non ce ne potrebbe fregar di meno, non fosse per il fatto che evidentemente la vegliarda si è reinventata programmatrice, dato che chi muore nel videogioco dopo poco segue le orme del suo avatar...
I giovani dovranno quindi combattere per la loro vita, nel mondo reale e in quello virtuale!
Lo spettatore, nel frattempo, vorrebbe essersi tirato dietro un DS o una PSP.
Catastrofico da qualunque parte lo si guardi, nel marasma generale spiccano alcune tra le più esagerate interpretazioni mai portate da attore sullo schermo e, pare, la collaborazione di uno dei game designer peggiori dell'industria videoludica.
Se il gradino più alto è tuttora occupato dal purulento Alone in the Dark, questo si piazza di prepotenza tra i primi 3 film più atroci che siano stati tratti da videogiochi.
Quello che fa veramente accapponare la pelle, è il pensiero che il regista William Brent Bell possa unirsi a Paul W.S. Anderson e ad Uwe Boll al fine di dirigere il Film Tratto Da Videogioco Definitivo®
Voto: 1. Trashometro® 5/10:

(ne uscirete come Pac-Man: gialli, inseguiti da fantasmi e bisognosi di pillole)
Tags: videogioco, horror, survival horror, omicidi, contessa, thriller, contessa, 17esimo secolo, cimitero, casa infestata, rete, morte, trash.
Regista: William Brent Bell
Scrittore: William Brent Bell, Matthew Peterman
Genere: Horror, Thriller
Valutazione: 4.1/10 (5308 voti)
Durata: Argentina:85 min
Paese: USA
Lingua: English
Cast:
Trama:
After the brutal death of a friend, a group of friends find themselves in possession of a video-game called "Stay Alive," a blood-curdling true story of a 17th century noblewoman known as the Blood Countess. After playing the game when they know they shouldn't, however, the friends realize that once they die in the game--they die for real. As their numbers begin dropping and as they begin dying in the ways they died in the game, the remaining friends realize they must defeat the Blood Countess or accept their fates.
Trivia random: Shot in 25 days.
Citazione random: [simultaneously reading]::Swink Sylvania, October Bantum, Phineus Bantum, Hutch O'Neill, Abigail, Miller Banks: Come to me, clouds. May you rise as an evil storm born to rip them open. Let the cover of night bear witness and destroy those who resist so they shall harm me not. Let the blood of many cleanse me, preserving beauty eternal, I pray you.
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Regista: Uwe Boll
Scrittore: Elan Mastai, Michael Roesch (written by)
Genere: Action, Horror, Thriller
Valutazione: 2.2/10 (11590 voti)
Durata: USA:96 min
Paese: Canada, Germany, USA
Lingua: English
Cast:
Trama:
Edward Carnby (Slater), detective of the paranormal, unexplained and supernatural, investigates a mystery (the recent death of a friend) with clues leading to "Shadow Island" that brings him face to face with bizarre horrors that prove both psychologically disturbing and lethal, as he discovers that evil demons worshiped by an ancient culture called the Abskani are planning on coming back to life in the 21st century to once again take over the world... and only he and a young genius anthropologist with an incredible memory (and his ex-girlfriend), Aline Cedrac (Reid), stand in their way, at a gateway to hell. Standing in Carnby's way, however, is the impact that a brief encounter with an evil spirit called the Queen had upon his mind, as he slowly finds himself overpowered by the forces of darkness as they eat away at his very sanity...
Trivia random: The ending was different in the original script, but Uwe Boll felt it should be ambiguous.
Citazione random: Cmdr. Richard Burke: This doesn't make any sense.
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Ultimi lavori:
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Nome di battesimo: Anderson, Paul William Scott
Data di nascita: 4 March 1965
Altezza: 6' 3" (1.91 m)
Ultimi lavori:
Biografia:
Paul W.S. Anderson gained a fair bit of notoriety in his native England when he directed the ultra-violent Shopping (1994) (which he also wrote), starring Jude Law and Sean Pertwee in a story about thieves who steal by ramming a car into storefronts. The film was banned in some cinemas in England, and became a direct-to-video slightly edited release in the United States.Shopping (1994) allowed Anderson to get the chance to direct Mortal Kombat (1995), an adaptation of the hit video game, which showcased his directorial trademarks - visually stunning scenery and quick cut editing. The film did well enough for him to choose his next project, which was _Soldier (1998)_ with Warner Bros., with Kurt Russell in the lead. Unfortunately, Russell decided at the time to go on hiatus, pushing the release date of that film into 1998. In the meantime Anderson directed Event Horizon (1997) from a script by Philip Eisner, which featured Anderson regulars Sean Pertwee and Jason Isaacs. The science fiction/horror film, a gothic horror version of Solyaris (1972), was stylish and scary, but was critically panned and did not do well in the box office, which Anderson blamed on studio-enforced cuts to the story. (Anderson has promised a Director's Cut, though none has been announced as of yet.)_Soldier (1998)_ didn't fare well with critics and box office either, and Anderson's planned 2000 remake of Death Race 2000 (1975) was cancelled. This forced him to think smaller, which led to The Sight (2000) (TV), a supernatural mystery movie that was a minor hit. He then resurfaced to direct another video game adaption, Resident Evil (2002). Long rumored among fans to be a choice comeback vehicle for zombie grandfather George A. Romero, the writing and directing credits eventually transferred to Anderson. He next was given the helm for the long-awaited film adaption of the popular Dark Horse comic book, _AVP: Alien Vs. Predator (2004)_ .
Trivia random: Engaged to actress/model Milla Jovovich.
Citazione random: "_AVP: Alien Vs. Predator (2004)_ is not trying to be Alien (1979) or Aliens (1986), and it's not trying to be Predator (1987). Those are genius movies. The impact that these creatures had on audiences was immense. But 26 years on, and dozens of comic books later, everyone knows what the Alien looks like. You've got to do something different with it, and make a slightly different movie. So in a way we were definitely making an Alien and a Predator movie, but a different one from the one the other directors had made."
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Data di nascita: 22 June 1965
Altezza: 5' 8" (1.73 m)
Ultimi lavori:
Biografia:
As a child, he produced a number of short films on Super 8 and video before beginning his studies as a film director in Munich and Vienna. He also studied literature and economics in Cologne and Siegen. Uwe graduated from university in 1995 with a doctorate in literature. From 1995-2000, he was a producer and director with Taunus Film-Produktions GmbH. Boll is currently Chief Executive Officer of Boll Filmproduction and Distribution GmbH which he founded in 1992. In 2000 he founded Boll KG and continues to direct, write and produce feature films.
Trivia random: Challenged his critics in June 2006 to "put up or shut up". His production company issued a press release stating that Boll would challenge his 5 harshest critics each to a 10 round boxing match. To be eligible, the critic must have written two extremely negative reviews of Boll, in print or on the Web, in 2005. Footage of the fights will be included in his upcoming film Postal.
Citazione random: When asked what he learned from his disastrous experience with Alone in the Dark (2005): "That a script matters."
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Questa volta però lo facciamo in maniera diversa: invece che comprare i diritti di una qualche serie da violentare sul grande schermo, Stay Alive si ispira in maniera generica ai survival horror tanto di moda negli ultimi anni.
Dei tizi ereditano da un loro amico morto in circostanze misteriose un videogioco indipendente; appena installato sulle loro belle postazioni alienware si accorgono che non si tratta di un semplice videogioco: è in realtà un videogioco brutto (ed il pomparlo a 3200x2400 non sopperisce alle altre carenze tecniche)!
Ma non è questo il punto: il punto è che il gioco narra la strana storia di questa contessa assassina del 17esimo secolo di cui francamente non ce ne potrebbe fregar di meno, non fosse per il fatto che evidentemente la vegliarda si è reinventata programmatrice, dato che chi muore nel videogioco dopo poco segue le orme del suo avatar...
I giovani dovranno quindi combattere per la loro vita, nel mondo reale e in quello virtuale!
Lo spettatore, nel frattempo, vorrebbe essersi tirato dietro un DS o una PSP.
Catastrofico da qualunque parte lo si guardi, nel marasma generale spiccano alcune tra le più esagerate interpretazioni mai portate da attore sullo schermo e, pare, la collaborazione di uno dei game designer peggiori dell'industria videoludica.
Se il gradino più alto è tuttora occupato dal purulento Alone in the Dark, questo si piazza di prepotenza tra i primi 3 film più atroci che siano stati tratti da videogiochi.
Quello che fa veramente accapponare la pelle, è il pensiero che il regista William Brent Bell possa unirsi a Paul W.S. Anderson e ad Uwe Boll al fine di dirigere il Film Tratto Da Videogioco Definitivo®
Voto: 1. Trashometro® 5/10:
Tags: videogioco, horror, survival horror, omicidi, contessa, thriller, contessa, 17esimo secolo, cimitero, casa infestata, rete, morte, trash.
Stay Alive (2006)
Regista: William Brent Bell
Scrittore: William Brent Bell, Matthew Peterman
Genere: Horror, Thriller
Valutazione: 4.1/10 (5308 voti)
Durata: Argentina:85 min
Paese: USA
Lingua: English
Cast:
- Jon Foster .... Hutch
- Samaire Armstrong .... Abigail
- Frankie Muniz .... Swink
- Jimmi Simpson .... Phineas
- Wendell Pierce .... Detective Thibodeaux
- Milo Ventimiglia .... Loomis Crowley
- Sophia Bush .... October
- Adam Goldberg .... Miller Banks
- Billy Slaughter .... Rex
- Nicole Oppermann .... Sarah
Trama:
After the brutal death of a friend, a group of friends find themselves in possession of a video-game called "Stay Alive," a blood-curdling true story of a 17th century noblewoman known as the Blood Countess. After playing the game when they know they shouldn't, however, the friends realize that once they die in the game--they die for real. As their numbers begin dropping and as they begin dying in the ways they died in the game, the remaining friends realize they must defeat the Blood Countess or accept their fates.
Trivia random: Shot in 25 days.
Citazione random: [simultaneously reading]::Swink Sylvania, October Bantum, Phineus Bantum, Hutch O'Neill, Abigail, Miller Banks: Come to me, clouds. May you rise as an evil storm born to rip them open. Let the cover of night bear witness and destroy those who resist so they shall harm me not. Let the blood of many cleanse me, preserving beauty eternal, I pray you.
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Alone in the Dark (2005)
Regista: Uwe Boll
Scrittore: Elan Mastai, Michael Roesch (written by)
Genere: Action, Horror, Thriller
Valutazione: 2.2/10 (11590 voti)
Durata: USA:96 min
Paese: Canada, Germany, USA
Lingua: English
Cast:
- Christian Slater .... Edward Carnby
- Tara Reid .... Aline Cedrac
- Stephen Dorff .... Cmdr. Richard Burke
- Frank C. Turner .... Sam Fischer
- Matthew Walker .... Prof. Lionel Hudgens
- Will Sanderson .... Agent Miles
- Mark Acheson .... Captain Chernick (as Mark Atcheson)
- Darren Shahlavi .... John Dillon
- Karin Konoval .... Sister Clara
- Craig Bruhnanski .... 80's Sheriff (as Craig Brunanski)
Trama:
Edward Carnby (Slater), detective of the paranormal, unexplained and supernatural, investigates a mystery (the recent death of a friend) with clues leading to "Shadow Island" that brings him face to face with bizarre horrors that prove both psychologically disturbing and lethal, as he discovers that evil demons worshiped by an ancient culture called the Abskani are planning on coming back to life in the 21st century to once again take over the world... and only he and a young genius anthropologist with an incredible memory (and his ex-girlfriend), Aline Cedrac (Reid), stand in their way, at a gateway to hell. Standing in Carnby's way, however, is the impact that a brief encounter with an evil spirit called the Queen had upon his mind, as he slowly finds himself overpowered by the forces of darkness as they eat away at his very sanity...
Trivia random: The ending was different in the original script, but Uwe Boll felt it should be ambiguous.
Citazione random: Cmdr. Richard Burke: This doesn't make any sense.
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Bell, William Brent
Ultimi lavori:
- Stay Alive (2006) .... (written by) [scrittore]
- Sparkle and Charm (1997) .... (producer) [produttore]
- The Nature of the Beast (1995) .... (key set production assistant) [misc]
- Payback (1995) .... (production assistant) [misc]
- Rave Review (1995) .... (set production assistant) [misc]
- Suspect Device (1995) (TV) .... (production coordinator) [misc]
- Aliens for Breakfast (1994) (TV) .... (assistant production coordinator) [misc]
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Anderson, Paul W.S.
Nome di battesimo: Anderson, Paul William Scott
Data di nascita: 4 March 1965
Altezza: 6' 3" (1.91 m)
Ultimi lavori:
- Driver (2008) .... (producer) [produttore]
- Man with the Football (2008) .... [regista]
- Necropolis (2008) .... (producer) [produttore]
- Resident Evil: Extinction (2007) .... (producer) [produttore]
- DOA: Dead or Alive (2006) .... (producer) [produttore]
- The Dark (2005) .... (producer) [produttore]
- AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004) .... (screen story) (screenplay) [scrittore]
- Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) .... (producer) [produttore]
- Resident Evil (2002) .... (producer) [produttore]
- The Sight (2000) (TV) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
Biografia:
Paul W.S. Anderson gained a fair bit of notoriety in his native England when he directed the ultra-violent Shopping (1994) (which he also wrote), starring Jude Law and Sean Pertwee in a story about thieves who steal by ramming a car into storefronts. The film was banned in some cinemas in England, and became a direct-to-video slightly edited release in the United States.Shopping (1994) allowed Anderson to get the chance to direct Mortal Kombat (1995), an adaptation of the hit video game, which showcased his directorial trademarks - visually stunning scenery and quick cut editing. The film did well enough for him to choose his next project, which was _Soldier (1998)_ with Warner Bros., with Kurt Russell in the lead. Unfortunately, Russell decided at the time to go on hiatus, pushing the release date of that film into 1998. In the meantime Anderson directed Event Horizon (1997) from a script by Philip Eisner, which featured Anderson regulars Sean Pertwee and Jason Isaacs. The science fiction/horror film, a gothic horror version of Solyaris (1972), was stylish and scary, but was critically panned and did not do well in the box office, which Anderson blamed on studio-enforced cuts to the story. (Anderson has promised a Director's Cut, though none has been announced as of yet.)_Soldier (1998)_ didn't fare well with critics and box office either, and Anderson's planned 2000 remake of Death Race 2000 (1975) was cancelled. This forced him to think smaller, which led to The Sight (2000) (TV), a supernatural mystery movie that was a minor hit. He then resurfaced to direct another video game adaption, Resident Evil (2002). Long rumored among fans to be a choice comeback vehicle for zombie grandfather George A. Romero, the writing and directing credits eventually transferred to Anderson. He next was given the helm for the long-awaited film adaption of the popular Dark Horse comic book, _AVP: Alien Vs. Predator (2004)_ .
Trivia random: Engaged to actress/model Milla Jovovich.
Citazione random: "_AVP: Alien Vs. Predator (2004)_ is not trying to be Alien (1979) or Aliens (1986), and it's not trying to be Predator (1987). Those are genius movies. The impact that these creatures had on audiences was immense. But 26 years on, and dozens of comic books later, everyone knows what the Alien looks like. You've got to do something different with it, and make a slightly different movie. So in a way we were definitely making an Alien and a Predator movie, but a different one from the one the other directors had made."
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
Boll, Uwe
Data di nascita: 22 June 1965
Altezza: 5' 8" (1.73 m)
Ultimi lavori:
- Alone in the Dark II (2009) .... (producer) [produttore]
- Far Cry (2008) .... (producer) [produttore]
- Tunnel Rats (2008) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
- BloodRayne II: Deliverance (2007) (V) .... [regista]
- In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2007) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
- Postal (2007) .... (executive producer) (producer) [produttore]
- Seed (2007) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
- Alone in the Dark (2005) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
- BloodRayne (2005) .... (producer) [produttore]
- Heart of America (2003) .... (executive producer) [produttore]
Biografia:
As a child, he produced a number of short films on Super 8 and video before beginning his studies as a film director in Munich and Vienna. He also studied literature and economics in Cologne and Siegen. Uwe graduated from university in 1995 with a doctorate in literature. From 1995-2000, he was a producer and director with Taunus Film-Produktions GmbH. Boll is currently Chief Executive Officer of Boll Filmproduction and Distribution GmbH which he founded in 1992. In 2000 he founded Boll KG and continues to direct, write and produce feature films.
Trivia random: Challenged his critics in June 2006 to "put up or shut up". His production company issued a press release stating that Boll would challenge his 5 harshest critics each to a 10 round boxing match. To be eligible, the critic must have written two extremely negative reviews of Boll, in print or on the Web, in 2005. Footage of the fights will be included in his upcoming film Postal.
Citazione random: When asked what he learned from his disastrous experience with Alone in the Dark (2005): "That a script matters."
Filmography links and data courtesy of IMDb.
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