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  1. Film Student for Life: Star Trek…prepare to be stunned!

    June 17, 2009 by me

    startrekposterIt’s like: Star Trek with a Jerry Bruckheimer’s “blow up stuff” budget

    Stars you’d know: Leonard Nimoy (original Spock), Winona Ryder, Eric Bana (The Other Boleyn Girl), Zachary Quinto (Heroes’ resident serial killer, Sylar)

    Who you’ll soon know: Chris Pine

    Synopsis: You learn how James T. Kirk became the most notorious captain of the USS Enterprise. No annoying Shatner pauses here. You have history revisited, you have a very visual enterprise. You have explosions, a Romulan villain, and very attractive Enterprise crew (I followed Star Trek: TNG, and no one was this ridiculously hot). You have J. J. Abrams (Felicity, Alias, Lost) behind the helm. The man can do no wrong. Ok, some of the plot points (I’m talking to you, Elder Spock) seem too far fetched, even for a sci-fi, abandon all scientific reasoning Trekkie like me. But if you get beyond that, the visual effects, the impressive crew likeness (see below), and the overall awesomeness that is a re-energized Star Trek monopoly makes this Trekkie a very happy cadet. Beam me up to the sequel.

    Verdict: Even if you’re not a Trekkie, you may be surprised at how much you enjoy this film. And if you are a Trekkie and haven’t seen it yet…what are you waiting for?! Shatner to return!?

    Cast Similarities:

    Ok, so Chris Pine will never look like Shatner. And we are thankful for that. And honestly, Quinto already looked like Spock way back in those Heroes episodes. But check out these other ones (I’m looking at you, McCoy!):

    originalseries

    new-trekkie-photo

    Category Film Student for Life. | Tags: , | No Comments

  2. TV OD: True Blood is a tasty treat.

    June 17, 2009 by me

    truebloodIt’s like: Twilight in Louisiana for adults.

    Stars you’d know: Anna Paquin

    Synopsis: In a new world were vampires drink synthetic blood and roam among the mortals, a telepathic Louisianian waitress named Sookie (played brilliantly and cautiously by Paquin) becomes smitten with a vampire patron named Bill (played sexily by an unknown Brit Stephen Moyer) whose thoughts she can’t read. Mix in a smart-mouthed best friend (played entertainingly by an unknown Rutina Wesley an overprotective, sleeps-with-anything-cause-what-else-is-there-to-do-in-redneck-country brother, and Sookie’s bar owner boss who wants her, you have a masterpiece that only Alan Ball can conjure up. (He was the brilliant man behind Six Feet Under, after all…) I’ve only seen the first two episodes of season one, and already I’m looking at how I can afford HBO. The characters are complex and compelling…the storyline, while not unique, is executed in a never-seen-before fashion…the actors, mostly unknown, are quality…and the setting takes me out of my element, which I always look for with TV shows. Of course you could always watch USA’s new Royal Pains, which is like a summer breeze, but if you want fascinating and passion rolled into a hot Louisianian setting, you might just like True Blood. There’s sex, lust, intrigue, southern accents and vampires. What more could you want for the summer?!

    Verdict: Watch season one (out on netflix) immediately if you: A) Like vampires B) Liked Six Feet Under and C) don’t get annoyed by southern hick accents

    Category TV Overdosing. | Tags: , , | No Comments

  3. Film Student for Life: New in Town…nothing new at all.

    June 17, 2009 by me

    new in townIt’s like : every other romantic comedy where complete opposites meet in completely different worlds, only to fall madly in love with one another. It’s trite. Go figure.

    Stars you’d know: Renee Zellweger (looking particularly old), Harry Connick Jr. (looking particularly haggard), and The Closer’s J.K. Simmons (talking particularly un-Chief Pope like)

    Synopsis: If you need to waste time watching a trite romantic comedy, rent Wedding Planner or Maid in Manhattan. Want a good “we’re from two different worlds, how will we ever get along?”, rent While You Were Sleeping or Definitely Maybe. But don’t waste your time with this one. The writings poor, the location (Minnesota, although shot entirely on location in Winnipeg, Canada) makes you cold, and the stars seem bored with the whole process. (Sometimes I feel when people of stature (see Renee’s Oscar nomination) resort to boring romantic comedies, it’s because they lost a bet or something…) And seriously, if you are going to shoot an entire movie on location, at least make the script follow that too. Here, Minnesota is represented, but Canada was its replacement. Really? Did we really need to replace Minnesota with Canada or vice-versa? It’s almost as bad as Chicago being shot in Canada. Almost…

    Verdict: Rent Definitely, Maybe for laughs, or rewatch The Notebook for substance.

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