http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thewrestler
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood
Released: December 17, 2008

This movie was depressing, but I didn’t cry at all! I’ve waited a long time for another movie from Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream), and recently heard an interview with him on Howard Stern.

Did I say that this was depressing? But depressing in a way that I know people live like this every day — washed up, scraping by, doing jobs that don’t make them happy. I really wanted a hollywood ending from this, but I just got another move that doesn’t have closure. (They just don’t make movie with wrapped up endings anymore).

This movie was a bit slow moving, and I din’t care much for the shaky camera (though I know it was meant to make it look more realistic). There aren’t too many change-of-sceneries in this movie, but the characters keep it moving. (In a … slow.. depressing way).

I do like the opening scene, where his face isn’t shown for a while and a electronic hum keeps fading in and out until you realize that it’s Mickey’s (Ram) hearing aid.

Can you believe they tried to cast Nicholas Cage as the main character? That would have been a *very* different movie, if even a movie I would go and watch (Cage bulked up in spandex?). Apparently the budget with Cage was 19 million and with Rourke 9.5 million. I’m glad Aronofsky put his foot down–Rourke delivers!

Back in the late ’80s, Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was a headlining professional wrestler. Now, twenty years later, he ekes out a living performing for handfuls of diehard wrestling fans in high school gyms and community centers around New Jersey.

Estranged from his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) and unable to sustain any real relationships, Randy lives for the thrill of the show and the adoration of his fans. However, a heart attack forces him into retirement. As his sense of identity starts to slip away, he begins to evaluate the state of his life — trying to reconnect with his daughter, and striking up a blossoming romance with an exotic dancer (Marisa Tomei) who is ready to start a new life. Yet all this cannot compare to the allure of the ring and passion for his art, which threatens to pull Randy “The Ram” back into his world of wrestling.

From IMDB

http://incrediblehulk.marvel.com
Director: Louis Leterrier
Starring: Ed Norton, Liv Tyler
Released: June 13, 2008

One of the first things I noticed was the title sequence. The title sequence in this movie actually had purpose (I hate opening credits that are only opening credits, like Spiderman). As the words filled the screen, it was atop a background of scenes re-capping the viewer of the previous hulk movie and also filling in some spatial gaps between the two.

Even though Ed Norton is more endearing and truly makes a difference in this movie, there’s still something it lacks. Maybe its because it’s just the ‘hulk’ and I don’t take well to big green cg things, or maybe its my lack of familiarity with the actual story, but it just didn’t do it for me.

I was also bothered by the small British man (nemesis) (Tim Roth) that turns into the zombie looking Hulk poser. Eh. I did like how it seemed more comic-like because of the Hulk protecting his love interest, and him performing combos like ‘Hulk Smash’, but I still wouldn’t watch it again—ever.

Predictability of the plot and less-than-superhero luster makes this movie better overall than the first one, but still not great. (But props for shooting parts in Virginia, though I don’t know –where-).

Fugitive Dr. Bruce Banner must utilize the genetic accident that transforms him into a giant, rampaging hulk to stop a former soldier that purposely becomes an even more dangerous version.

From Flikster

http://5cm.yahoo.co.jp/
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Starring: Kenji Mizuhashi, Yoshimi Kondou, and Satomi Hanamura
Released: March 3, 2007

This is a film divided into 3 “stories” (it was originally meant to include about 10 different stories but was shortened for movie theater audiences).

The first story, Cherry blossoms, was great, the second story(Cosmonaut) seemed disjointed, and third story was not connected and depressing with a song-montage.

There are three main characters: Takaki Tōno 遠野貴樹(brooding male protagonist), Akari Shinohara 篠原明里(Takaki’s best friend in elementary school), and Kanae Sumida 澄田花苗(his constant follower in high school). If possible, watch this in the original Japanese with subtitles if needed. They went to such pains to cast the voice actors, and the voice actor for Takaki is actually the same from elementary school to adulthood! (Well, there’s not that much dialogue, but still!)

I highly recommend renting this so that you can view the DVD and watch the extras; I love the director’s explanation of the production process and meaning of the title. It also shows the places they actually visited to make the scenes (-extremely- accurate!). The artwork is amazing, and made me feel like I was in Tokyo riding the JR trains with Takaki. This is a very endearing, heart-wrenching movie, but as always with Japanese movies, there is a very closure-lacking ending.

5 Centimeters Per Second (秒速５センチメートル, Byōsoku Go Senchimētoru), subtitled “a chain of short stories about their distance.” is a 2007Japanese animated feature film by Makoto Shinkai. The film was finished on January 22, 2007. The film consists of three segments: Ōkashō (桜花抄), Cosmonaut (コスモナウト), and Byōsoku 5 Senchimētoru (秒速5センチメートル), totaling about an hour of runtime. The DVD was released on 19 July 2007. ,

Makoto’s film gives a realistic view of the struggles many face against: time, space, people, and love. The title 5 Centimeters Per Second comes from the speed at which cherry blossoms petals fall, petals being a metaphorical representation of humans, reminiscent of the slowness of life and how people often start together but slowly drift into their separate ways.

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/wall-e/
Director: Andrew Stanton
Starring: Ben Burtt and Elissa Knight
Released: June 27, 2008

This movie, with its impressively cute lack-of-dialogue robot and timeless (and ageless) messages warning against pollution, global warming, and obesity, was right up my alley. I even cried a little bit because of the sheer cuteness!

This was, by far, my favorite-est Pixar movie ever. They just keep getting better and better! I rushed out to see the midnight showing and even though I was tired, it was a great movie with a happy ending.

I plan to re-watch Wall-E in all of his glory when I’m fully awake and its out on DVD.

I’ve included pictures (from the movie and promotional) in the full entry. Some great retro-artwork here that reminds me of those good ol’ Finding Nemo days.

 What if Mankind had to leave Earth, and somebody forgot to turn the last robot off?

After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, WALL-E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE come to realize the WALL-E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet’s future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home). Meanwhile, WALL-E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most exciting and imaginative comedy adventures ever brought to the big screen.

From Acme Archives Direct

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