Saturday, May 11, 2013

Star Trek Into Darkness blasts into theaters!



Fans in the UK get the opportunity this weekend to view Star Trek Into Darkness, a week before the U.S. 

I know I have my tickets for May 18th. Keep reading for exclusives, a Star Trek Into Darkness Movie Review next Weekend, and other surprises, only on Dan's Movie Report!

For more information point your browsers to the Star Trek Official Site @ http://www.startrekmovie.com/

Action Short Films: Amazing Talent Finds A Home On The Internet!

While writing about independent films over the past few years, I have witnessed the rise of the action short film. Several creative short film makers along with their crew have put together some really great action shorts and have made them available on You Tube. Focusing this column on two: 

Thousand Pounds Action Co. and their fantastic new DC comics short featuring  Green Arrow. Check it out @  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5bZzfGtu64   This five minute blast of insanity was filmed over a year ago, but the team decided to keep it to themselves so as not to confuse or step on any toes. Watch for more on star Amy Johnston soon on Dan's Movie Report! For more on Amy blast your browsers to her official pages: Official Website @ www.amy-johnston.com/
Official Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Johnston/185501081515613?fref=ts


Also Eric Jacobus and The Stunt People team have released their Homage to Star Wars. With a First Person Darth Vader Battle of Lightsabers on Youtube @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j25nl8xGdbo


The Stunt People are starting a Kickstarter campaign to fund a Star Wars: Vader Strikes Back web series @ 

 http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/762172004/star-wars-vader-strikes-back-the-series

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Rhino Season (Fasle Kargadan) Movie Review

Above Photo: IMDB poster of Rhino Season

Above Photo: Mij Film poster of Rhino Season

Hard to believe, but three out of every five readers on my site are not based in the U.S.! I have always enjoyed foreign films, and am going to make a distinct effort to review more films released outside my home, to expand my own mind and enlighten my readers. I put both posters up on Rhino Season, as they represent a contrast in approach to marketing the film.

Rhino Season is an amalgamation story, merging real life facts of an Iranian poet sentenced to prison, interspersed with sparse yet moving dialogue, telling the tragic story of unrequited love. A ubiquitous, unnerving, silently truculent, man hired by Sahel, (a poet from the Shah era in Iran), forces himself on his Sahel's wife Mina. 

Above Pic: (C) 2012 MijFilm Dan's Movie Report Screen.

Rhino Season is told mainly with a series of laconic phrases, the dialogue is so sparse, yet the imagery speaks volumes, with of the severity of the story. Monica Bellucci excels as Mina. Monica portrays the character as a young woman with her husband, as the film progresses the audience is treated to Mrs Bellucci as an older woman, who's character has air of melancholy , throughout the whole film, and especially amplified upon being told her husband is dead.. A particularly poignant scene occurs in the beginning set in 1979; While driving her around, the man screeches the car to a stop and professes his love to  Mina. Throughout the whole movie, he just will not give up, following her, waiting outside her home etc...There are some really disturbing things he does to Mina further on into Rhino Season, which I will not spoil, but they ultimately seal his fate. 

Salacious and audacious, Rhino Season is a triumphant masterpiece of film, seething with imagination. The film has copious amounts of allegorical content, and an original filming style. We witness a shower of turtles, yes I said turtles, a turtle is shown shell side down and manages to struggle to right itself. Much like the characters in the movie who struggle with their own inner demons, the scenery, camerawork, and landscapes all merge to form a singular entity in Rhino Season. 

A particularly interesting side plot involves "ladies of service" who's car breaks down and ask the man to drive them around. At first glance, the sub story, seems irrelevant  however later in the movie, the two ladies are again brought in. I see this plot point as a way to show how little he cares about his own life with his obsession with Mina, the two beautiful young ladies mean virtually nothing to him, even though they end up at his house. Belcim Bilgim, portrays one of the ladies he meets up and is very convincing in her role. Ms Bilgim is very natural on screen, radiant and beautiful, almost as if she is not acting, hope to see more of her in the future. .

Above Pic: (C) 2012 Mij Film. Dan's Movie Report Screen. (Monica Bellucci)

Monica is again, an ageless wonder in film. She has portrayed virtually every type of character imaginable in her career. Bellucci states in recent interviews she likes to challenge herself. From Irreversible to The Matrix, I will go on record as saying she is the most versatile European actress of my generation, not afraid to show raw energy, underlying sadness, seething anger, and aloof irreverence. Rhino Season, sees Monica, in a state of demure sadness, covered including head-scarf, as she portrays the Iranian Woman. 

Rhino Season, is a writer's dream, however, decidedly, I will wrap it up, (or else I will write 1,000 more words), by saying, find a way to see this film.   For sapient film buffs, the imagery and the ending will stick in your mind long after the closing credits. I rate Rhino Season a 9 out of 10, yes, it is that good. For simpletons, minor IQ film folk, and those who hate foreign films, stay the hell away, this film is not for you!

For more info, slide your browsers to the Mij film Official Site @ http://www.mijfilm.com/




Sunday, May 5, 2013

"American Ninja Warrior!" Exclusive Set Coverage!!



The NBC reality show American Ninja Warrior has been around for awhile, this year  the production has decided to take the huge stage show to South Florida and a few other locations in search of a few brave souls who are keen on action. The course is chock full of peril and danger, allowing local contestants to prove their worth and advance to the finals. I found out about the production through. The live show allows audience members an up close look at the action.

Thanks to action stuntwoman/Actress Tamiko Brownlee I found about the taping in the South Florida area at Bayfront Park, and have decided to attend. Professional people like Tamiko are on hand to set up the rigging and test the equipment prior to the contestants taking on the difficult course.

I went to the taping at 10:30 PM at Bayfront park in Miami on Sunday May 5th. The massive set took up most of the park, while the stage lights illuminated the balmy South Florida night. American Ninja Warrior is an obstical course show, in which contestants compete against time, and various station obstructions to advance.

The course in Miami begins with a side to side hop to platforms over a water tank. Afterwards, the contestant has to climb onto a platform jump onto a moving apparatus and swing over another tank of water. The hardest point in my opinion of the course follows with a pull up style ladder climb to a thin wall then three leaps to successive walls each further apart, then there is a hand-bike gear crank across a beam which bends upwards. The final part is a massive 30 ft. wall climb inside a plexi-glass structure, contestants must use their hands and feet to ascend to the apex.

The audience is seated very close to the action, however, the people are not forced to be in a particular place, I followed some of the contestants as they navigated the course, rather than stay seated. Sorry folks I chose not to be on cam, more covering the event.

Overall I had a cool time, watched the hosts do some of their promos for the new season. Host Angela Sun was off in the background, I watched her having a bit of fun with the contestants, filming promos, she has a good attitude about the show and seamed to enjoy herself. 

The competition actually went on till 5am! I figured 10:30pm til 2am was enough for me to take it all in. Looking forward to when the Miami segment airs, incidentally the course varies cite to city to keep things interesting.

The American Ninja Warrior begins airing on NBC July 1st and also airs on G4 TV! Check your local listings and the official site @ http://www.nbc.com/american-ninja-warrior/

Special Thanks to Tamiko for giving me some inside info on the production. I made contact with one of the female contestants Heather Kluch, she said when she gets back home to Illinois, she will send me a message about her experiences.

Above Pic: Tamiko from her IMDB page

To learn more about Tamiko Brownlee, who will be featured in an upcoming interview on Dan's Movie Report, check out her IMDB page @ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2163396/
In addition, view her action reel @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MKrkTTiL_w

For the latest in action and exclusive coverage keep your browsers locked on Dan's Movie Report!!