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?