Crash

Directed by: Paul Haggis
Produced by: Cathy Schulman, Don Cheadle, Bob Yari, Mark R. Harris, Bobby Moresco, and Paul Haggis
Written by: Paul Haggis, and Bobby Moresco

Starring:
Sandra Bullock (Jean), Don Cheadle (Graham), Matt Dillon (Officer Ryan), Jennifer Esposito (Ria), William Fichtner (Flanagan), Brendan Fraser (Rick), Chris "Ludacris" Bridges (Anthony), Terrence Howard (Cameron), Daniel Dae Kim, Thandie Newton (Christine), Michael Peña (Daniel), Ryan Phillippe (Officer Hanson), Larenz Tate, and Shaun Toub

Summary taken from this site:
The film depicts several characters living in Los Angeles, California and brings them together through car accidents, shootings, and carjackings. Most of the characters depicted in the film are racially prejudiced in some way and become involved in conflicts which force them to examine their own prejudices. Through these characters' interactions, the film attempts to depict and examine racial tension and gun hazards in America.

Constantine

Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Produced by: Gilbert Adler and Michael Aguilar
Written by: Jamie Delano & Garth Ennis (comic), Kevin Brodbin (screenplay), Kevin Brodbin & Frank Cappello (screenplay)

Starring:
Keanu Reeves (John Constantine), Rachel Weisz (Angela Dodson / Isabel Dodson), Tilda Swinton (Gabriel), Gavin Rossdale (Balthazar), Djimon Hounsou (Papa Midnite), Shia LaBeouf (Chaz Kramer), Pruitt Taylor Vince (Father Hennessy), and Peter Stormare (Lucifer)

Music by: Klaus Badelt and Brian Tyler
Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Released: February 18, 2005
Running time: 121 min.

Summary taken from this site:
The film opens in a ruin in Mexico, where a young man finds the Spear of Destiny wrapped in a Nazi flag. He seizes the spear and becomes possessed, heading for Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles we see John Constantine perform an exorcism on a young female teenager; although he is successful he is unnerved by the boldness of the demon, who attempted to leave the girl's body to cross over into humankind's realm. After meeting a detective named Angela Dodson, who wants to know if her twin sister committed suicide, he uncovers a plot by Mammon, the son of Satan, to overthrow his father and reign over both Hell and Earth.

There are many worlds, according to Constantine, of which Earth is only one; it is a neutral place between Heaven and Hell, which have wagered on which can win the most souls among humans. Some humans are able to see the demons and angels who walk among them. Having lived with this ability since birth, Constantine was institutionalized as an adolescent and eventually committed suicide to escape the torment of seeing them but not being believed. Though resuscitated by doctors, he was officially dead for two minutes, which he spent in hell. Unfortunately for the young Constantine, time moves at glacial speed in the underworld: "Believe me, two minutes in hell is a lifetime." He has spent the rest of his life trying to win back God's favor by battling the forces of Hell, though his time on earth will be brief; Constantine has smoked 30 cigarettes a day since he was 15, and is now dying of lung cancer.

After incapacitating a room full of demons, Constantine moves on to stop Mammon from being born from Angela. With a taxidriver, Chas Chandler(Shia LaBeouf)'s help, Mammon is supposedly subdued, but soon after Chas is killed by Gabriel the angel after bragging about his talents.

Constantine eventually takes his own life a second time in order to win an audience with Satan, whom he informs of Mammon's plot in exchange for the release of Angela's sister from Hell. Heaven consequently accepts Constantine for his selflessness, and Satan, enraged at having lost Constantine's soul, revives him and removes the cancer from his lungs so that he can live on and prove whether he truly belongs in Heaven or Hell, having been forgiven for his twin-suicides. His fate now belongs to him, and in the end he is seen chewing gum, as opposed to smoking.

At the end of the film's credits you see Constantine visit Chas' grave saying he did a good job. When Constantine is about to leave the graveyard, Chas appears as an angel and is dressed as Gabriel was previously, implying that he is Gabriel's replacement.

Collateral

Directed by: Michael Mann
Produced by: Michael Mann and Julie Richardson
Written by: Stuart Beattie
Starring: Tom Cruise (Vincent), Jamie Foxx (Max), Mark Ruffalo (Fanning), and Jada Pinkett Smith (Annie)
Music by: James Newton Howard
Cinematography: Dion Beebe
Editing by: Jim Miller and Paul Rubell
Distributed by (USA): DreamWorks SKG
Distributed by (not in USA): Paramount Pictures
Released: August 6, 2004
Running time: 119 minutes

Summary from this site:
A nihilistic, erudite hitman, Vincent (Tom Cruise) uses a cab to make his rounds one night in Los Angeles. After Max (Jamie Foxx) learns the truth about the man he's been driving when the first mark falls onto his cab roof from a window after being shot by Vincent, he tries to get out of Vincent's way offering him his cab, but Vincent forces Max to drive him all night.

Eventually Max realizes that the marks are key witnesses for the prosecution in a court case against an organized crime boss. Max must find a way to save himself and the one last victim.

Big Momma’s House 2

Honestly, I was not able to watch the first one. That is why I cannot say what exactly is going on and I could not exactly compare.

On the other hand, it was a hilarious movie. And it surely was fun. And I mean fun. Of course, the media person that I was, I really found the usual storyline embedded in it. It was more of like problem-then-find-a-solution-then-solve-the-problem-then-help-new-found-friends-out-then-come-home-to-his-own-family. Well, something to that effect.

Although it was a hilarious one. Malcolm goes on an investigation himself without the ‘blessings’ from the FBI. He is an FBI agent. And he goes on the investigation posing as Big Momma and becomes hired as a nanny. Oh well, I won’t be going deeper into the whole Big Momma thing. But I tell you, if you are needing a couple of laughs, try this one out.

Ice Age 2: The Meltdown

When I watched Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, at first, I felt like it was just another of those sequels that never make quite a statement to those who view it. However, as the movie progressed, I became engrossed in all the characters and how they lived their lives. I was back at Ice Age (the first one) yet it seemed like there’s many new things. Let’s just say, if I were to compare, that both hold the same kind of funny antics as well as lessons learned.

Sid is always hilarious. Diego has learned to be with his herd, nevermind the fact that he’s still a sabertoothed tiger. More of the story dwells on Manny as his being the last mammoth on earth. The antics of Skrat, though, at keeping his acorn, were quite old so much so that it did not bring quite much laughter to me compared to his attempts during the first movie.

Of course, this new one tells about friendship and helping each other out. It is fun. And it surely would be something that you may want to see. Maybe to relax a little.

Starbucks, the Movie: Revenge of the Latte

I came across this article while I was reading Reader’s Digest. It really was something that made me smile and think and then later on laugh. Of course, I would want to share it with you. I surely would not want to keep all the laughter to myself.

With great apologies to its writer. I have copied it word for word. I just felt that it would not do the article justice if I just retold the whole story.

Make Mine Multimedia, Please

First, Starbucks sold coffee. Next, it moved into music, selling CDs and then launching a satellite radio station. Now, feeding our suspicion that this is a media empire masquerading as an upscale coffee shop, the company has commissioned a series of Starbucks-themed animated shorts by Laika Entertainment (co-producers of Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride), available on its holiday website, theRedcup.com. What’s next – Starbucks, the Movie: Revenge of the Latte?

So, whatcha think?

However, there is a new film ready to be shown. I think it starts Tom Hanks. And it is titled, “How Starbucks Changed My Life” or something to that effect. It is about a man who was laid off his job and yet had a family to feed and it was a good thing that Starbucks hired him as a worker in one of their cafés. Well, just another way to advertise itself, huh?

Cinderella Man

What’s its tagline?
One man's extraordinary fight to save the family he loved.

Who stars in it?
Russell Crowe (Jim Braddock), Renée Zellweger (Mae Braddock), Paul Giamatti (Joe Gould), Craig Bierko (Max Baer), Paddy Considine (Mike Wilson), Bruce McGill (Jimmy Johnston), David Huband (Ford Bond), Connor Price (Jay Braddock), Ariel Waller (Rosemarie Braddock), Patrick Louis (Howard Braddock), Rosemarie DeWitt (Sara Wilson), Linda Kash (Lucille Gould), Nicholas Campbell (Sporty Lewis), Gene Pyrz (Jake), and Chuck Shamata (Father Rorick).

Summary of the movie from this site:
During the Great Depression, a common-man hero, James J. Braddock--a.k.a. the Cinderella Man--was to become one of the most surprising sports legends in history. By the early 1930s, the impoverished ex-prizefighter was seemingly as broken-down, beaten-up and out-of-luck as much of the rest of the American populace who had hit rock bottom. His career appeared to be finished, he was unable to pay the bills, the only thing that mattered to him--his family--was in danger, and he was even forced to go on Public Relief. But deep inside, Jim Braddock never relinquished his determination. Driven by love, honor and an incredible dose of grit, he willed an impossible dream to come true. In a last-chance bid to help his family, Braddock returned to the ring. No one thought he had a shot. However Braddock, fueled by something beyond mere competition, kept winning. Suddenly, the ordinary working man became the mythic athlete. Carrying the hopes and dreams of the disenfranchised on his shoulders, Braddock rocketed through the ranks, until this underdog chose to do the unthinkable: take on the heavyweight champ of the world, the unstoppable Max Baer, renowned for having killed two men in the ring.

Fact-based story of depression era boxing champ James J. Braddock (Russell Crowe). The film opens with Braddock winning a fight in 1928 and becoming a contender for a championship bout. The film then quickly jumps five years into the future. The depression is on and Braddock has had a series of defeats. Fighting injured, including with a broken hand, made him less of a fighter. Braddock, like many others in that era, lost everything in the stock market and scrimping by on the small fights he can get and on dock work. His wife (Renee Zellweger) would prefer he quit boxing, but knows how badly they need the money to get by with their three kids. Watering down milk just to make it do for several more days is a common occurrence. When his trainer (Paul Giamatti) manages to get him one more fight on the spur of the moment against the current #2 contender, Braddock rises to the occasion and knocks him out. His amazing comeback becomes the source of inspiration of many down-on-their-luck Americans. A series of fights later leads to the championship match against the arrogant champ, Max Baer (Craif Bierko). Baer, who had already killed two men in the ring, urges the older Braddock not to fight him. Of course, Braddock feels he has nothing more to lose and very devastating, intense fight ensues. Contains very brutal boxing violence.

Chasing Amy

Who stars in this movie?
Ethan Suplee (Fan), Ben Affleck (Holden McNeil), Scott Mosier (Collector), Jason Lee (Banky Edwards), Casey Affleck (Little Kid), Dwight Ewell (Hooper X), Joey Lauren Adams (Alyssa Jones), Guinevere Turner (Singer), Carmen Llywelyn (Kim [as Carmen Lee]), Brian O'Halloran (Jim Hicks - Executive #1), Matt Damon (Shawn Oran - Executive #2), Alexander Goebel (Train Kid), Tony Torn (Cashier), Rebecca Waxman (Dalia), and Paris Petrick (Tory).

What Is It’s Tagline?
It's not who you love. It's how.

Here’s a couple of summaries from this site:
Holden and Banky are comic book artists. Everything's going good for them until they meet Alyssa, also a comic book artist. Holden falls for her, but his hopes are crushed when he finds out she's a lesbian.

Holden and Banky represent two average guys in this movie, who just need someone to bring out their hidden secrets. Enter Alyssa Jones and Hooper LaMont, two homosexuals who are slightly more experienced than the former two. Together, Hooper and Alyssa show Holden and Banky that being gay isn't as bad as they might think. Meanwhile, Holden develops an 'untainted' love for Alyssa, one which she finally sees in him as well, taking Holden on a journey through the complexities of love in the 90s.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Nielsen Ratings with an average viewership of 16 million a night, the show serves as the backbone of CBS's leading Thursday lineup. The 2004-2005 season finale, directed by Quentin Tarantino, was watched by over 40 million viewers, making it one of the most watched shows in history. The show averages 30 million viewers every week and as of February 2006, CBS reported that over 90 million viewers have tuned into the series this year alone.

The show is produced in partnership with the Canadian media company Alliance Atlantis.

Ice Age 2: The Meltdown

Directed by:
Carlos Saldanha

Screenplay by:
Gerry Swallow and Peter Gaulke

Tagline:
Kiss Your Ice Goodbye

The voices behind:
Ray Romano (Manny), John Leguizamo (Sid), Denis Leary (Diego), Seann William Scott (Crash), Josh Peck (Eddie), Queen Latifah, (Ellie), Will Arnett (Lone Gunslinger Vulture), Jay Leno (Fast Tony), Chris Wedge (Scrat), Peter Ackerman (Dung Beetle Dad), Caitlin Rose Anderson (Glypto Boy Billy/Beaver Girl), Connor Anderson (Rhino Boy/Beaver Boy), Joseph Bologna (Mr. Start), Jack Crocicchia (Elk Boy), and Peter DeSève (Condor Chick).

The summary:
Diego, Manny and Sid return in this sequel to the hit Ice Age. This time around the Ice Age is over and is starting to melt, which will destroy their valley. So they must unite and warn everyone about the situation.

Memoirs Of A Geisha

Directed by Rob Marshall. Memoirs of A Geisha’s writing is credit to Arthur Golden for the book and Robin Swicord for the screenplay.

So who’s starring here?
Ziyi Zhang (Chiyo/Sayuri), Suzuka Ohgo (Young Chiyo), Ken Watanabe (The Chairman), Kôji Yakusho (Nobu), Youki Kudoh (Pumpkin), Li Gong (Hatsumomo), Kaori Momoi (Mother), Tsai Chin (Auntie), Zoe Weizenbaum (Young Pumpkin), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (The Baron), Kenneth Tsang (The General), Randall Duk Kim (Dr. Crab), Ted Levine (Colonel Derricks), Paul Adelstein (Lieutenant Hutchins), and Samantha Futerman (Satsu).

What’s Memoirs Of A Geisha All About? Got this here.
In 1929 an impoverished nine-year-old named Chiyo from a fishing village is sold to a geisha house in Kyoto's Gion district and subjected to cruel treatment from the owners and the head geisha Hatsumomo. Her stunning beauty attracts the vindictive jealousy of Hatsumomo, until she is rescued by and taken under the wing of Hatsumomo's bitter rival, Mameha. Under Mameha's mentorship, Chiyo becomes the geisha named Sayuri, trained in all the artistic and social skills a geisha must master in order to survive in her society. As a renowned geisha she enters a society of wealth, privilege, and political intrigue. As World War II looms Japan and the geisha's world are forever changed by the onslaught of history.

Prince Caspian: A Sequel To “The Chronicles of Narnia”

I was shocked to hear that there’s going to be a sequel. Not that I did not quite really like the first one, “The Chronicles of Narnia”. It’s just that I do love “Prince Caspian” when I read the whole series. Really.

Anyway, the release of the sequel, “Prince Caspian”, has been postponed to the summer of 2008. That is according to a spokesperson of Walt Disney Co. So what made the delay? According to the report, it was actually meant to give Andrew Adamson, the director, to have more time to work on the special effects.

Another one to surely watch out for!

Scary Movie 4

The cast:

Anthony Anderson, Dave Attell, Link Baker, Craig Bierko, Amber Borycki, Beverley Breuer, Conchita Campbell, Dane Cook, DeRay Davis, Kathryn Dobbs, Carmen Electra, Chingy, Chris Elliot, Anna Faris, Michelle Grigor, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Lil' Jon, Fabolous, James Earl Jones, Don King, Joanna Krupa, Cloris Leachman, Crystal Lowe, Michael Madsen, Henry Mah, Garrett Masuda, Dr. Phil McGraw, Jessica McLeod, Beau Mirchoff, Jana Mitsoula, Edward Moss, Angelique Naude, Leslie Nielsen, Patrice O'Neal, Shaquille O'Neal, Bill Pullman, John Reardon, Simon Rex, Molly Shannon, Charlie Sheen, Kimani Ray Smith, Rorelee Tio, Allison Warren, Chris Williams, Debra Wilson, and Dale Wolfe.


This site offered me a quick plot:

This movie officially spoofed Saw, Saw II, The Village, The Grudge, War of the Worlds, Million Dollar Baby, Brokeback Mountain, and a quick reference to Red Eye, The Simple Life, Cursed, Land of the Dead and Hustle & Flow. The opening sequence is a spoof of Saw, which featured Dr. Phil McGraw and Shaquille O'Neal.

Anna Faris and Regina Hall are back as the loveable, dim-witted Cindy Campbell and her self-serving, sex-crazed pal Brenda Meeks respectively. They are joined this time around by Craig Bierko as the cute, but utterly clueless, Tom Ryan. Together, they battle to save the world from a ruthless alien invasion. Cindy moves in next to Tom because she's taking care of an old lady. She finds out the house is haunted by a little boy called Troy Reed and goes on a quest to find out who killed him and why. Also, Alien "tr-iPods" are invading the world and Cindy has to uncover the secret in order to stop them.

The Chronicles Of Narnia

Who stars here? Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Tilda Swinton, James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Kiran Shah, James Cosmo, Judy McIntosh, Elizabeth Hawthorne, Patrick Kake, Shane Rangi, Brandon Cook, and Cassie Cook.

A summary of the movie from this site:

Based on the classic novel by CS Lewis. Four London children are sent to a professors country home in order for protection during World War II. There they find a magic wardrobe which leads to a mystical land called Narnia, which is being ruled by an evil witch. To defeat the Witch, they must join forces with Aslan, the lion God of Narnia, and the great battle between good and evil.

Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are deported from London to the house of an eccentric professor during World War II. They find life in the house extremely dull, until Lucy discovers a wardrobe that leads to a magical world called Narnia, where animals can talk and all are ruled over by the wise and benevolent lion Aslan. The others don't believe her at first, but soon all of them go through the wardrobe and discover all is not well in Narnia. The land is being kept in a perpetual winter by the evil White Witch, Jadis, who turns anyone who doesn't obey her into stone. The children join Aslan and the animals loyal to him in an attempt to vanquish Jadis.

The Hills Have Eyes

So who’s starring in this movie? Maxime Giffard, Michael Bailey Smith, Tom Bower, Ted Levine, Kathleen Quinlan, Dan Byrd, Emilie de Ravin, Aaron Stanford, Vinessa Shaw, Maisie Camilleri Preziosi, Robert Joy, Laura Ortiz, Ezra Buzzington, Billy Drago, and Ivana Turchetto.

Yes, movie buffs. This movie is a remake. It first went onscreen during the 1970s. This time around, Alexandre Aja directs.

From this site, here’s a quick summary:

Wes Craven produces this remake of his 1977 classic of the same name, about the Carters, an idyllic American family travelling through the great American southwest. But their trip takes a detour into an area closed off from the public, but more importantly from society. An area originally used by the U.S. Government for nuclear testing that was intended to be empty...or so they thought? When the Carter's car breaks down at the old site, they're stranded...or are they? As the Carters may soon realize that what seemed like a car casually breaking down, might actually be a trap. This trap might be perpetrated by the inhabitants of the site who aren't pulling a prank, but are out to set up a gruesome massacre.

In the desert of New Mexico, the U.S. Government conducted atomic tests during the 1950s. A small group of people refused to leave their homes despite the urging of the government, and were caught in the nuclear explosions. Their descendants - a horrible, hideous band of mutated sub-humans - has survived to the present day. Just over a half-century later, an all-American family looking for a shortcut to California for a holiday is directed down a back road that is quite literally a dead end. When their vehicle's tires blow, what seems like an unfortunate accident becomes a horrifying nightmare - it was actually a trap! One at a time, these horrible sub-humans emerge from their hiding places to torture & kill the family. However, some of them - and their pets - strike back at their tormentors, and only one group will survive...

Date Movie

Want fun? Then try “Date Movie”. It is all about spoofs. Really.

Alyson Hannigan, Adam Campbell, Tony Cox, Fred Willard, Eddie Griffin, Sophie Monk, Marie Matiko, Judah Friedlander, Carmen Electra, Mauricio Sanchez, Beverly Polcyn, Valery M. Ortiz, Charlie Dell, Tom Lenk, and Dana Seltzer star in this movie.

From this site, I got the plot and the summary:
Julia Jones (Alyson Hannigan) has found the perfect guy, the very-British and very-unfortunately-named Grant Fockyerdoder (Adam Campbell). But before they can have their Big Fat Greek Wedding, they must Meet the Parents, hook up with The Wedding Planner, and contend with Grant's friend Andy (Sophie Monk) who wants to put an end to her Best Friend's Wedding.

Da Vinci Code

World. The long wait would soon be over. The controversial book is now a movie and soon enough, it would be hitting movie theaters around the globe. Here’s a peek at the trailer.

The release and show dates in countries around the globe for the Da Vinci Code have been posted. Read on.

North America
May 19th – Canada, United States

Europe
May 17th – Belgium, France, Switzerland
May 18th – Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Serbia and Montenegro
May 19th – Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Austria, Poland, Romania, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom

Latin America
May 18th – Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru
May 19th – Central America, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela

Asia and the Pacific
May 18th – Australia, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore
May 19th – India, Indonesia
May 20th – Japan

Middle East and Africa
May 17th – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates
May 18th – Israel, Qatar
May 19th – Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa

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