Task 37 - Oz The Great and Powerful

Task 37 - Watch a movie starting with every letter of the alphabet.
I recently went and saw Oz The Great and Powerful 3D at the Imax in Natick and have mixed feelings about if I liked it.

It started in black and white, set in a dusty mid western town and chronicled the life of a traveling circus magician (James Franco) who dreamed of greatness but was nothing more than a womanizing con artist. After wooing one too many girls he find himself being chased by the circus strong man who wants his head. As he narrowly escapes the clutches of that dangerous situation he finds himself in another as he escapes in hot air balloon that is being pulled directly into the vortex of a menacing tornado. 

The black and white fades to color as he returns to consciousness in the world of Oz. While the colors and beauty of the world of Oz were well done this is where the movie lost its appeal . After crash landing he meets Theodora (Mila Kunis) who explains to Oz his destiny as the wizard and would be king who will save the people of Oz defeat the evil witch that she and her sister Evanora (Rachel Weisz) are protecting.

After his grand entrance and introduction he is sent to kill Galinda (Michele Williams) in order to fulfill his destiny in order to be king as he was instructed by Evanora. Along his way to break Galinda’s wand he comes upon the broken china town. With the addition of the China Doll they continue on and find Galinda in a cemetery where he discovers that Galinda is not the evil witch but rather the last glimmer of hope for the people of Oz. Enraged by his fascination with Galinda Theodora is conned by the real evil witch to eat an apple which turns her green. Together they seek to destroy boy Galinda and Oz to finalize their control.

The acting by all 4 main characters seems primitive and hardly believable. Instead the corny commentary distracts from the story and leaves its viewers disappointed. The quirkiness of Oz distracts rather then adds to the appeal of the story. It just felt all too playful but perhaps it was my fault expecting a little more adult storyline. Sure, everything on screen is colorful, and the special effects are often beautiful to look at (especially during the film’s climax). But there’s nothing else about Oz that really hooked me in. Somewhere between that first hot air balloon ride and the film’s decent final moments, I nodded off as I learned about witches, talking monkeys, china dolls, and a quest to free the land of Oz from an evil witch’s curse.

This one for me was a disappointment and a waste of 13$.

MOVIE Review – Hunger Games

Movie: Hunger Games

Rating: 4-Stars

"The Hunger Games" takes place in a postapocalyptic America. All that remains of the United States is Panem, a 12-district federation headed by cautious President Snow (Donald Sutherland). Its capitol, Panem, is home to a wealthy, decadent elite, whose comforts and high-tech toys are supported by the labor of an impoverished majority.

Having crushed a rebellion 74 years ago, the government reasserts its authority over the population by staging an annual fight to the death competition called the Hunger Games. Every year on Reaping Day, a boy and a girl (ages 12 to 18) from each district are chosen by lottery to fight to the death in a televised gladiator event devised by head Games-maker Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley).

The chances of being selected are increased by the amount of government assistance you accept. In this 74th annual Hunger Games a 12 yo girl from District 12, the poorest region of all and a coal-mining area that looks like 1930’s Appalachia, named Prim Everdeen (Willow Shields) is selected. Her sister the ever tough and resourceful Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers to keep her sister safe. Her male friend and romantic interest Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) is also fearful of being selected with his 42 entries in the lottery. However the odds were forever in his favor and Her fellow District 12 male entrant is Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) from whom she immediately recognized as someone who once gave her bread.

After a short and tearful good bye to her family she boards the luxurious train to Panem with Peeta along with and their PR Guru and entrant selector Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) and Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) their mentor and former victor in the games. Effie whose bewigged and powdered face and maliciously sincere personality and Abernathy’s in his perpetual drunkard state are tasked with preparing and molding both Katniss and Peeta into players who have a chance. The train is filled with food and wine and it gives the impression of it being their last meal.

Upon arrival they are prepared by their coach Abernathy, Effie their PR guru and the broadcast stylist Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) and paraded in front of the people of Panem and introduced as tributes by Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) whose brilliant blend of mirth and malice makes him a flamboyant caricature you can’t help but find entertaining.

It is during these introductions that things get complicated for Katniss. She learns that Peeta has pined for her since the day they first met. They get the moniker the star-crossed lovers as a result of the misfortune that they may have to kill each other to survive or die at the hands of another.

With the introduction of all the entrants it is clear that most don’t have a fighting chance against District 1 and 2 entrants who have been trained since childhood to win and who volunteered. The main villain in the games isn’t those running the game but District 2 male tribute Cato. He is seen as the most dangerous threat to all the tributes not just Katniss and Peeta. It is more likely that aside from dehydration or starvation it is Cato that might send them to meet their maker. He is obscene, vulgar, and relentless, and uses his brute strength for almost everything and fights hard to win. He is a Career Tribute and for all of his life, has trained for the Hunger Games and has come to win.

Just before the start of the games Cinna who has built trust with Katniss gives her two things. First the nightingale pin she gave to her sister for protection and the advice to avoid the cornucopia at the beginning of the competition by calling it a bloodbath.

As the tributes ascend to the playing field they discover the cornucopia center stage filled with food and weapons for the game. As expected it is a brutal event where almost ½ of the players are killed. Heeding Cinna’s advice at first she doesn’t approach the cornucopia but then decides to make a go for it. She nearly escapes and begins hiding in the woods. She witnesses some of the less experienced players foolishly lighting fires at night and drawing the attention of the others who kill to win. Determined not to participate or meet the same fate she spends time hiding in the trees while the some of the others are now grouped together hunting for her. Included in that group is Peeta. She begins to reach the end of the playing field and the games-maker Seneca attempts to drive her back into play by fire balling her. 

This act results in her being chased and eventually trapped in a tree while the others below wait for her to descend so they can finish her. Injured by the fire she receives a gift from a sponsor. This medicine helps heal her wound. While in the tree she discovers that Rue from District 11 is there to help and suggests she drop a nearby nest of deadly bees on those sleeping below. As she cuts the nest from the tree she is stung several times by the bees whose venom causes hallucinations and in extreme cases death. According to plan the bees cause the attackers to scatter and the one with the bow is stung to death. Delirious from her stings she collapses after escaping only to wake and find that Rue had helped protect and hide her from the others.

The two devise a plan to destroy the stock pile of food the group has amassed near the cornucopia and level the playing field. Rue will light fires to lure the others away while she destroys their stash. To signal each other they are ok they use the Mocking gales who repeat what they hear. Successful in her plan Katniss returns and doesn’t find Rue at the rendezvous point but instead hears her screams for help. Rue who was caught in a net is dangling in an open area. While Katniss works to free her they are attacked and Rue is killed. Heartbroken at her death she signals the viewers that she lost a friend while preparing a bed of flowers for her fallen fellow tribute.

While walking along the river she finds Peeta hidden in the rock hiding after having been stabbed in the leg by Cato. In terrible shape Katniss and Peeta find shelter in a hidden cave where their budding romance flourishes. With his situation worsening she is forced to leave him to retrieve much needed medicine at the cornucopia. Here she is attached and wounded by Cato’s District 2 companion where she is saved by the Angry District 11 partner of Rue. She returns to the cave and after sharing the medicine the Game-Maker modifies the rules to allow 2 winners if they are from the same District. The two leave the safety of their cave to gather berries and make weapons. Peeta unknowingly collects poisonous berries and when the tell tale bang of a tributes death is heard Katniss races to see if Peeta is alive. It is then she discovers another sneaky player was following Peeta and had eaten the berries he collected.

Wanting to move the game along the Game-maker unleashes a pack of generated animals to hunt the tributes. The other District 11 tribute is mauled to death and they next come for Katniss and Peeta. They race to the safety of the cornucopia only to discover that they are not alone and a battle to the death with Cato ensues. Katniss eventually gains the upper hand and has Cato and Peeta pinned. Cato tells her to shoot him and then both he and Peeta will die and she will win. Unwilling to let her fellow District 12 Tribute die she instead shoots Cato in the hand and in a moment of distraction Peeta pushes him off the Cornucopia where he is mauled by the animals. It is then that you see again how human Katniss is when she puts Cato out of his misery.

Instead of the game ending the games-maker again modifies the game to a single winner and Peeta offers himself to Katniss so she can win. Instead she tells Peeta that they should together eat the berries and die as true star crossed lovers like Romeo and Juliet. He wit and intelligence and the need for a winner allows her plan to fakeout the game-maker prevail and they are crowned co-winners.

Angered by the game-maker’s failure President Snow leaves a bowl of the berries for the game-maker to kill himself. In the end Katniss and Peeta return to District 12 hero’s. In a final twist I’m sure leads to a sequel President Snow witnesses the obvious love Katniss has for Gale and that he was right that the game-maker was deceived with her false love of Peeta designed to allow them both to return.

Task 37 – “Extreamly Loud and Incredibly Close” Movie Review

(37) Watch 26 Movies (18/26)

Movie: Extreamly Loud & Incredibly Close

Rating: 5-Stars

Review Coming Soon

Movie Review - Carjacked

Movie: Carjacked

Rating: 3-Stars

Having recently separated from her abusive ex-husband, Lorraine (Maria Bello) is driving home with her young son Chad (Connor Hill) after a session with her support group. Needing fuel for her beater and dinner for both her and Chad she pulls into a gas station. It is clear that she has little control over anything in her life. That's when Roy (Stephen Dorff) appears in her back seat with a loaded gun, and demands that Lorraine starts driving. Roy is a bank robber who's just pulled off a major heist. He's on his way to pick up his money, but with the cops everywhere he's sure to be caught if he goes it alone.

When he asks her if she knows the way to the highway she indicates that she thinks so. He quickly explains to Lorraine that he doesn’t like ambiguity and she tells him that her therapist thinks she is too ambiguous and that is why her life is a mess.

Their 3 hour journey makes several stops along the way and although Roy assures the terrified mother that he will not harm them if they do what he asks, Lorraine begins to suspect they will both be killed once Roy gets his cash. She tries everything to get away. She offers up a police officer at a road block a picture of her family clearly excluding Roy but the officer doesn’t get the hint. She tries speeding to attract a police officer attention and even mouthwash as a pepper spray alternative. Nothing works and they are both trapped.

While refueling again she sees a chance to save her son and tells him to go to the bathroom, then mix with the crowd of children, and get on the bus. Roy quickly discovers he has been had as the bus drives away and he can see Chad sitting in the window.Angered by Lorraine’s deception and lying he locks her in the trunk. She manages to create a hole in the side of the car so she can see and hear what is happening outside.

Reaching the ranch where Roy planned to meet up with one of his accomplices the whole proves useful and she witnesses that the money isn’t there but at a factory. Roy angered by the revelation loses his temper and murders his accomplice.

He quickly puts his dead accomplice in the trunk with Lorraine and sets the car ablaze leaving her to burn alive. Quick thinking saves her life when finds a gun on the accomplices dead body which she uses to shoot the lock on the trunk.

Relieved that she is finally free she begins the task of tracking down her son. She ends up at a truck stop and with no money or cell phone where she begs the clerk for 50 cents to make a call. While on the phone with the police that have her son she witnesses Roy kidnap a mother and daughter.

Determined not to let another family suffer the same fate she takes the law into her own hands and steals a truck and begins pursuing Roy. In a spectacular chase she temporarily disables Roy’s new transportation long enough for the other family to escape and when her truck is destroyed in a spectacular crash takes the upper hand and insists at gun point that Roy take her to the money.

Roy takes control by disarming her once they get to the factory and she narrowly escapes.  Not out of the woods yet she finds herself back in the car with Roy shooting at her. With nothing to lose she runs Roy down. A police officer now on scene quickly orders her out of the car. Before she can explain what was happening Roy appears from the back of the car and guns down the police officer. 

Roy is now looking for any excuse to kill her and tells her to go for the gun at her feet. He goes so far as to shoot her in the leg to bring her closer. Little does Roy know she still had the accomplice’s gun in her belt and quickly fires a shoot into Roy’s chest.

Next we see Lorraine she recovered from her wounds and in court for a custody hearing. A newly confident Lorraine wins not only custody but child support from her unhappy ex-husband. While walking out she takes Chad out for lunch and explains he can have pizza. When he asks if he can have ice cream too his Grandma shares that she found the duffle bag and thinks he can have both if he wants.

Task 37 – Immortals Movie Review

(37) Watch 26 Movies (17/26)

Movie:    Immortals

Rating:   4-Star

Mad with power and a desire to conquer King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) has amassed a blood thirsty army of disfigured soldiers and has declared war against humanity. He is scouring Greece in search for the legendary Epirus bow. The Epirus bow is so powerful and forged in the heavens by Ares that with it he can’t be stopped even by the Gods. The Epirus bow is the key to unleashing the titans who remain imprisoned and bound deep in the walls of Mount Tartaros.

While searching for the Bow King Hyperions men pillage the Greek country murdering the women and children and enslaving the men. He believes that the Sybelline Oracle (Freida Pinto) can tell him where to find the bow and attacks the monastery where she lives. Before he captures the monastery the oracle and her maidens escape into the desert.

In a small Greek village we meet Theseus (Henry Cavill) a peasant born a fatherless bastard. He is coached by an old man how to fight and he protects those he loves from any and all threats. With King Hyperion’s army not far away the village is evacuated but he the other peasants are forced to stay behind to travel the next day.

The old man is shown to be no other then Zeus and we learn that he has chosen Theseus as hero of mankind. Zeus shares this with his daughter who he discovered hiding in the village.

Before they can leave they are betrayed by a traitorous Greek soldier who tells King Hyperion of the village. In a deadly battle the village is obliterated and his mother is killed at the hands of the King himself. Theseus is captured and enslaved and he vows to avenge his mother’s death.  While being taken to the mines as a slave he meets the now captured Sybelline Oracle who sees that he is the key to saving the Greek people. Secretly chosen by Zeus, Theseus must lead his people to victory. After escaping the Sybelline Oracle insists that Theseus give his mother a proper burial and they return to the village. While in the catacombs Theseus discovers the Epirus Bow is attacked by one Hyperions’ beasts and narrowly defeats the masked giant.

They then race to the monastery to stop King Hyperion they are chased by the Kings men and when it seems unlikely they can survive Poseidon intervenes and saves them. Zeus reminds the other gods that ancient law prohibits the Gods from intervening in the conflict of men and tells them if they get involved again he will kill them. Before continuing on to the Monastery they regroup and rest for the night. Here the love story between the Sybelline Oracle and Theseus begins and we watch as she gives herself to him.

Once at the monastery they discover that the King is not there and has a trap for them. Ensarled again in a deadly battle and with the Epirus Bow taken they are once more assisted by the Gods. Zeus angry the Gods intervened kills one of his own and tells Theseus that they will never again help him and that he must be victorious on his own.

They race to get to Mount Tartaros before King Hyperion and they advise the council that King Hyperion has the bow and to seal the city gate. Ridiculed for believing in such myths the council believes they can reach a diplomatic end to the battle. Before attacking King Hyperion offers Theseus a chance to join him. Theseus rebukes his offer and reminds him he killed his mother and he will settle for nothing less than retribution.

With the city gate now sealed King Hyperion uses the power of the Epirus Bow to penetrate the fortified city. He makes easy entrance and a deadly battle ensues. In the fight King Hyperion sprints to the prison of the titans in the depths of Mount Tartaras and releases the titans. With the titans now released Zeus and the other Gods intervene and begin a deadly battle of Gods and man. Titans vs. the Gods and King Hyperion vs. Theseus.  With the battles nearly ending with the Gods loosing and Theseus being defeated Zeus is forced to destroy Mount Tartaros to entomb the Titans. Just prior to the collapse Theseus’s will gives him the strength to defeat King Hyperion and exacting his revenge for his mother’s death. We watch as the mountain collapses destroying King Hyperion’s men and once again entombing the titans.

When the dust settles we are back in Theseus’s village and watch his son from his night with the Sybelline Oracle gaze proudly at his father’s memorial. The old man who had coached Theseus before is again telling Theseus’s son that he too like his father has been chosen and will be called on to protect mankind.

Movie Review – Thor

Movie: Thor

Rating: êêê

Three scientists, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) and Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) are in a 4WD van in the New Mexico desert studying an aurora borealis type phenomena. Suddenly a large tornado/lightning storm develops and they drive toward it. The van hits a man inside the maelstrom and they stop, it is a well-built blond haired man, semi-conscious.

In a narrative a voice describes a battle in 900 AD between Frost Giants and Asgardians, the Asgards win and take over the power casket and return to their realm. The speaker is King of the Asgardians’ Odin (Anthony Hopkins) talking to his two sons, one an energetic blond, the other a more thoughtful dark haired boy. Odin says both of them are worthy but only one can be king.

Years later Asgard is having an elaborate ceremony, the blond is now the adult Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and he being formalized as the crown prince. His brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) looks on enviously. Before Odin can make the proclamation alarms go off, and there are intruders in the secure weapon’s room that hold the Frost Giant’s power casket. A large Destroyer robot kills the intruders and saves the day. Examining the remains Odin seems unperturbed yet Thor is angry and wants to attack. Odin says no.

Thor gathers Loki and his close friends, Volstagg (Ray Stevenson), Fandral (Josh Dallas), Hogun (T.Asano) and Sif (Jaimie Alexander) and they ride out to the Bifrost Bridge portal. The guardian, Heimdall (Idris Elba), allows them to pass and travel to the land of the Frost Giants. The six are transported to the frost giant planet, Jötunheim, a frozen crumbling wasteland. Suddenly they are confronted by the King Laufrey (Colm Feore) who taunts the Asgardian heroes.

They suddenly find themselves surrounded by Frost Giant’s and they are offered a chance to leave. The King insults Thor and a battle ensues. Loki survives with some magic and has an unusual reaction when he is touched by an Frost Giant. Laufrey releases a huge beast and the Asgards run for their lives. Thor kills the beast but once again the team is surrounded and things look bleak. Odin arrives to save the day; he apologizes to Laufrey for the intrusion and offers continued peace. Laufrey tells him it is too late and that they are now at war. Odin and the 6 Asgardians vanish and reappear at the Bifrost Bridge.

Back at the portal Odin lets the four friends go and confronts Thor and Loki. Odin is furious and tells Thor he is not fit to be King. He strips him of his power, banishes him to earth and sends his hammer Mjollnir after him a few seconds later, saying only the worthy can use it.

Back to the desert scene Thor gets a little aggressive and Darcy tasers him, knocking him out. The three load him in the van and take him to the nearby town hospital. Once again as he revives he starts fighting and is eventually tranquilized. Erik tries to get Jane to leave him be, he is some kind of nut but she is curious and attracted to him. After deliberation they go back to the hospital but Thor has escaped. As they drive off in the van they hit the Asgard prince again and knock him out but this time they take him with them. Jane gives him clothes that once belonged to her ex-boyfriend.

Later while enjoying food from a local restaurant Thor overhears the locals discussing the satellite crash 50 miles due west, Thor decides to go there and once again Erik tries to get Jane to leave him alone. Thor walks about the town and tries to get a horse.

Government officials arrive and take all Jane’s research and Jane decides to help Thor. She appears and gives him a ride, the two head west in the van.

At the satellite crash where locals were partying and trying to lift the hammer from the crater. Government agents have now taken over the site. After dark Jane and Thor arrive on the scene. Now the crater is surrounded by guards and tenting. Thor attacks and Jane huddles in safety. After beating up many agents Thor is finally knocked down after her reaches the hammer but is unable to lift it either.

Back in Asgard the three friends begin to suspect Loki had something to do with Thor's banishment. Loki realizes he is not a pure Asgard but actually a Frost Giant and Odin had admitted he was taken from Jötunheim as an infant and raised as his own. Loki is confused and angry as Odin collapses and slips into a coma. With Odin comatose Loki is becomes acting King.

On earth Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) questions Thor, he leaves him alone briefly and Loki appears in the room. Loki tells Thor Odin is dead and he cannot be unbanished as a result of an agreement with the Frost Giants. Thor is distraught. Erik arrives to tell the SHIELD agents Thor is Jane's ex husband and is wacked out on steroids. Somehow he has faked the drivers license. Coulson lets Erik take Thor, who secretly grabs Jane's notebook on the way out. Back in town Erik takes Thor out for a drink, the two chug boilermakers and bond. Thor brings the drunk Erik to Jane's trailer home. Thor and Jan go to a rooftop to gaze at the stars, Thor explains the nine realms and the Bifrost Bridge to Jane. Jane figures the bridge is the theoretical Einstein-Rosen Bridge wormhole.

Loki freezes Heimdall at the Bifrost Brdige then goes the and meets Laufey. It was Loki that allowed the Frost Giants into Asgard to go for the power casket earlier in an attempt to disrupt his brother’s coronation as crown prince. He makes a deal with Laufey that he will let them into Asgard again to kill Odin and have take their casket, in return they will go home in peace.

Loki commands the Destroyer to go to earth and kill Thor when he realizes that his friends have passed through the Bifrost Bridge after he ordered that no one shall use it. The giant robot arrives in the New Mexico desert and starts blasting everything with a heat ray. Thor and the three scientist attempt to get everyone away safely. Thor confronts the Destroyer and asks Loki to leave the humans alone in return for himself. Loki can see and hear what is going on from Asgard. The Destroyer gives Thor a vicious backhand slap and sends him tumbling, apparently dead or knocked out. Jane runs to him in tears.

We see Odin in his bed as a tear runs down his cheek and suddenly the hammer Mjollnir releases from the crater and arcs thru the sky to Thor. He is transformed to full life and vigor and fitted in his red cape and armour. He easily defeats the Destroyer and tries to return to Asgard, promising Jane he will return.

In Asgard the Frost Giants invade through the portal, walking past the frozen guard. Laufey goes to Odin's bed chamber and as he prepares to kill the norse god Loki kills Laufey to appear to be the hero. Although frozen Heimdall is conscious and manages to break free. He brings Thor back to Asgard not a moment too soon. Thor flies quickly to fight the Frost Giants and confront his brother.

Loki goes to the Bifrost Portal and sets it up to destroy the ice planet realm. Thor tries to have him stop and the two battle. Thor immobilizes Loki by putting the hammer on his chest and starts to destroy the portal to stop the process. As everything crumbles the two brothers nearly fall into space but Odin appears and is there to hold Thor who holds Loki's staff. Loki admits defeat and allows himself to fall into a disappearing Bifrost Bridge.

All seems back to normal on Asgard, Odin is sad how it all turned out, Thor pines for Jane but Heimdall assures him she is looking for him. Back on earth Jane is in a new lab with new equipment.

Movie Review – Water for Elephants

Movie: Water for Elephants

Rating: êêêê

The story is told as a series of memories about the life in the Benzini Circus by Jacob Jankowski, a "ninety or ninety-three year-old" man who lives in a nursing home. With a travelling circus in town and his son forgetting it was his turn to visit he is found standing in the rain in the parking lot hoping to watch the spec. Having missed it he is ushered inside and while the manager Charlie figures out who to call and Jacob begins to tell him about circus life. Curious how he knows so much and if he can recall any details about the famous end of the Benzini brothers he begins telling the story about his life in the circus.

We flash back to him in the prime of his life right before his final veterinary exam at Cornell University. Right before the start of the exam Jacob is called from the room and told that his parents were killed in a car accident. Jankowski finds himself suddenly orphaned and financially broke after his father gambled everything on his future. Alone and adrift with his life in turmoil he jumps onto a passing train belonging to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth and enters a world of freaks, drifters, and misfits.  He immediately finds himself under the wing of Camel one of the old timers aboard.

In the first town he is instantly drawn to the premier act of this traveling side show circus, Marlena who is the wife of the head trainer and guy in charge August. She captures Jacob’s attention with her beauty and prize horse Silver. He sees that the horse is in pain and offers to take a look. Before he can make a diagnosis her act is called to the stage and she is gone.  Told he is out of his league he focuses on getting a job in the curcus and spends the day shoveling animal dung.

That night back on the train he is brought before August to ask for a job. He is told to not mention the Ringling Bros Circus their main competition as it angers August. August suggests he is nothing more than a thief and a stowaway and should be tossed from the train. Jacob tells him he is a veterinarian and that he is sure Ringling Bros. surely has one in their payroll.

This consequently leads Jacob to share quarters with a dwarf named Walter (who is known as Kinko to the circus) and his dog Queenie. August gives Jacob a chance the next day when he is told to diagnose what ails Silver. Marlena suggests it’s nothing more than an abscess and requires hot water and rest but Jacob confides to August that it is more severe and that Silver will not recover and should be put down.

In a moment of weakness for both Silver and Marlena he shoots Silver even after he is told to keep him alive and performing for a few more shows. Angered by Jacob’s disregard for his instructions August nearly fires him.

A few weeks later Jacob is asked to take a look at Camel who, after drinking Jamaican ginger extract for many years, can't move his arms or legs. Fearing Camel will be "red-lighted" (referring to the practice of throwing circus workers off a moving train as either punishment or as severance from the circus to avoid paying wages), he hides him in his room.

In attempt to save the circus with falling revenues August decides to purchase an elephant named Rosie from another circus that didn’t survive the hard times. Jacob is called to August and Marlena’s train car to celebrate and August eventually passes our drunk while Marlena asks Jacob to dance.
The three then enjoy a night on the town in a prohibition bar dancing and drinking. Their night is disrupted by the police and august is separated from the other two in the commotion. While hiding from the police Marlena and Jacob exchange a passionate kiss. They separate and return to the circus to avoid any suspicion.

August can be utterly charming or a brutal man who abuses the animals and the people around him. When Rosie is not cooperative with training and nearly causes Marlena to be hurt he takes his frustrations out on the elephant leaving it hurt. This leaves August and Marlena’s relationship strained.
A few days later after discovering that August has tried to see Marlena, Jacob visits her in her hotel room. Soon after he comforts her however, the couple sleep together and then eventually declare their love for each other. Marlena soon returns to the circus to perform  but refuses to have August near her.

While trying to repair that relationship August grows suspicious of her relationship with Jacob and beats them both up. August would have killed Jacob on the spot if they didn’t have an audience of local patrons passing by.  Jacob now finds himself now unemployed and August’s henchmen Uncle Al looking for him.

Jacob convinces Marlena to leave August and they jump from the train just before being caught by August’s goons and head to a local hotel to decide what to do. They awake in each other’s arms and Marlena pleads that they must run but before they can they are found and Marlena is taken back to the circus and Jacob is left unconscious on the floor.

One night Jacob climbs up and jumps each car, while the train is moving, to August's room, carrying a knife between his teeth intending to kill August. However, Jacob backs out and returns to his car, only to find no one there but Queenie. He then realizes that Walter and Camel were red-lighted and Jacob himself was supposed to be too.

As the story climaxes, several circus workers who were red-lighted off the train come back and release the animals causing a stampede during the performance. Believing that this was all orchestrated by Jacob August sets his sights on him.

In the ensuing panic, Rosie the Elephant takes a stake and drives it into August's head. His body is then trampled. Jacob was the only one who saw what truly happened to August. As a result of this incident, which occurred during a circus performance, the circus is shut down. Soon after, Uncle Al's body is found with a makeshift garrote around his neck. Marlena and Jacob leave, along with several circus animals and begin their life together.

It is revealed that Jacob and Marlena married and had 5 children spending the first seven years at the Ringling Bros. circus before Jacob got a job as a vet for a Chicago zoo. Marlena is revealed to have died a few years before Jacob was put into a nursing home. He begs the manager Charlie to allow him to accompany the circus by selling tickets. Charlie agrees and Jacob believes he has finally come home.

Task 37 – Warrior's Way Movie Review

(37) Watch 26 Movies (15/26)

Movie: Warrior's Way

Rating: 4-Stars

The Warriors Way, a visually-stunning modern martial arts western starring Korean actor Dong-gun Jang who plays an Asian warrior assassin forced to hide in a small town in the American Badlands.

After a lifetime of training in martial arts and swordsmanship, Yang (Jang Dong Gun) has eliminated all but one of his clan's enemies - an infant whose smile instantly melts his heart. Unwilling to kill her and unable to protect her from his own deadly Sad Flutes clan, Yang takes the baby girl and flees, planning to seek refuge with an old friend living in Lode, a frontier town in the American West.

He arrives to find that his friend nicknamed Smiley has died and the once thriving Gold Rush town is in shambles, inhabited only by a few dozen eccentrics including Lynne (Kate Bosworth), a beautiful, spirited knife thrower-in-training and Ron (Geoffrey Rush), a worn-out drunk. In order to make a safe home for the child, far from the reach of his murderous clansman, Yang decides to stay on as the town's new laundryman, sealing his sword for good.

Yang unexpectedly finds a kindred spirit in Lynne. Lynne gives Yang the nickname Skinny and agrees to teach him how to do the laundry. Yang begins to enjoy his life in the town, learning to enjoy pleasures he never knew as a warrior. He becomes friendly with the people, a hard worker, and able gardener, while the baby dubbed April, is adored by all. He even finds an interest in opera, after Lynne shows him on a gramophone. Lynne reveals to Yang that Smiley taught her a little but of the sword, and about the Sad Flute clan. She wants Yang to teach her more, and asks about the Sad Flutes' name. He explains that it describes the sound of blood coming from your victim's slit throat, but he is reluctant to show any of his warrior skill. Back in the East, Yang's former clan is shown to be looking for him. His former master Saddest Flute and his ninja army take a boat to America after finding a clue to where he has gone. The ships crew is shown to be slain as they arrive. Saddest Flute states that to find Yang in such a large country, they would wait and listen.

Orphaned by a horrifying act of brutality, Lynne has spent ten years plotting revenge against her attacker, the Colonel (Danny Huston).Yang one day sees Lynne place flowers on a grave, and asks what happened. He is told by Eightball that years ago, when Lynne was an adolescent girl, the town came under siege by a corrupt Colonel. His preference to rape women with healthy teeth prompts him to choose Lynne as his victim while her father is held to the ground, and mother and baby brother forced to stand by. When Lynne is brought to the Colonel in a kitchen, she manages to evade him by throwing a pan of potatoes frying in grease on his face. She runs outside, and the Colonel shoots her through the chest. Her father struggles free and is shot dead by the Colonel, while her mother holding her brother runs over and both are also killed.

When the townsfolk buried her family, they found Lynne still breathing. Since then, Lynne has made revenge on the Colonel a priority, aching to learn to fight and kill, and practices throwing knives, but that her aim is lacking. Yang surprises Lynne by showing her that her knife throwing was prohibited by her sight, not her arm, and gives her a successful lesson by blindfolding her. Lynne is clearly fond of Yang, and gives him a charm on a necklace that belonged to her mother, as a present.

Yang continues living his life peacefully with April until he experiences his first Christmas. While the townspeople celebrate the holiday dancing, Yang and Lynne go out to the desert to 'dance' in their swordplay, ending in a stalemate where Yang tells Lynne she has not won until her enemy's heart stops. Lynne kisses Yang on the mouth, catching him totally off guard and stopping time. Lynne runs away smiling at him, and Yang sits down shocked, staring at his lips in his swords' reflection.

Back in town the Colonel and his renegade gang return and threaten to destroy the town. Knowing that Lynne will do everything in her power to exact revenge on the Colonel the town tied Lynne up and hides her. She manages to escape however.

The Colonel then inspects a lineup of women for their teeth, and chooses a Hispanic woman whose husband begs for mercy. The Colonel releases the woman to her husband to shoot them simultaneously. The Colonel has the hispanic woman's daughters cleaned to be raped, but Lynne, disguised as a prostitute offers herself instead. She fools the Colonel, thinking she will be able to kill him when he reveals he recognized her after smelling her neck. The Colonel's men rush in to hold Lynne down to the bed.

Yang realizing where Lynne has gone grabs an iron and shatters the seal on his katana to free it. Far away, Saddest Flute jerks up from meditation, sensing the seal break, and is aware of Yang's location.

Yang then leads a fierce and ingenious force of townspeople armed only with improvised weapons and a unique set of skills in an all-out battle. The outlaws are lured to the Ferris wheel, where Yang and the carnies ambush them. Ron slides to safety on a cable, and the Ferris wheel is blown up, killing many of the Colonel's men. Thinking it safe, the carnies come out from cover, only to be attacked by the numerous remaining outlaws. The Colonel's men chase the carnies to the center of town, and as Yang feared, the sound of his sword has brought the ruthless ninjas into the fray, where the Sad Flutes suddenly assemble. Saddest Flute instructs them 'kill.' Yang looks to Lynne holding April and tells her to run. The carnies manage to get away before the bloodshed between the outlaw cowboys and ninja warriors starts.

Lynne hands Eight Ball April while she helps Yang but suddenly hears shots and returns to discover that the Colonel has shot Eightball and kidnapped April. As Eight Ball dies the Colonel is seen carrying April into a building, yelling at his men to make sure no one got in.

The Sad Flutes pursue hotly, and are mostly fended off with a machine gun, but the outlaws are unable to stop Yang, as he brutally slices through them all. He comes in the room to find the Colonel holding a gun to April's head, and leaps up to cut the barrel and bullet in half mid-firing. Catching April from falling, Yang steps aside to let Lynne fight the Colonel. After a tense battle, Lynne manages to finally drive a sword into the Colonel's back exacting her revenge.

Yang and Lynne exit the room to find Saddest Flute sitting across the carnage at the end of the hall. He tells Yang that April is the enemy, and asks if he would ever tell April that Yang killed her parents, her whole clan, and observes that Yang ran away from his old life of killing to kill more. He says Yang does not belong there. Yangs claims he does, or did, and will not kill April. Yang and Saddest flute go to the desert in the sunset, and duel to the death. During the fight, flashbacks show Saddest Flute training Yang as an adult in pouring rain, drilling him through adolescence in the snow, and forcing child Yang to kill the puppy he was given as his pet, declaring Yang's biggest enemy would be his heart, and as an assassin, he must kill what he loves. In the present, Yang wins the duel, cutting Saddest Flute's throat.

Lynne tells Yang she knows she won't be coming with him, and tries to hand him April, but he refuses. He makes the baby laugh once more, and gives Lynne a caring look. Yang turns to the sunset and never stopped walking, to put as much space between him and the little lady he loved as possible. The scene then shifts to a snowy, glacial environment. Opera plays from a small fish shack where a hooded man in a parka sits. Another approaches and asks how much for a fish. The sitting man nimbly kills the other, knives falling out of his hands as he collapses. Yang stands up and goes to his shack, where he takes his pendant from Lynne, his katana disguised as a snowman's broom, and April's pacifier, and sets the hut on fire. Walking out to the snow, a slew of ninja warriors leap out of the snow, and Yang unsheathes his katana as the scene fades.

Movie Review – 127 Hours

Movie: 127 Hours

Rating: 3-Stars

127 Hours is the true story of engineer/mountain climber named Aron Ralston's (James Franco) and his remarkable adventure to save his own life after a fallen boulder traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah.

As an experienced hiker and climber, Ralston is very much in his element when he parks his truck by a mountain near Moab, UT, hops on his mountain bike, and peddles to the middle of nowhere all by himself. Ralston pauses his adventure when he encounters a pair of young female hikers named Kirsti (Kate Mara) and Megan (Amber Tamblyn) who have gotten lost while searching for a local landmark; he jovially shows them a sight that most casual hikers miss before bidding them farewell and continuing on his way.

Drifting through the canyons alone, deep in thought, however, the explorer who presumed he was ready for anything quickly discovers just how fast things can go wrong when a rock gives way as he shimmies down a crevice. He suddenly finds himself pinned to the unforgiving wall of stone. Over the course of the next 127 hours, Ralston tries everything he can think of to free himself unsuccessfully.

He hallucinates and has flash backs to small but memorable events in his life -- as well as forward to the future that he might enjoy should he manage to wiggle free. As his body begins the slow process of shutting down he realizes that the only way out is to leave part of himself behind. Exhausted and delirious the adventurer draws his cheap made-in-China multi-tool, and does what it takes to survive.

After cutting off part of his arm he scales a 65 foot wall and hikes over eight miles before he can be rescued.

Movie Review – Fast Five

Movie: Fast Five

Rating: êêê

Former cop Brian O'Conner partners with ex-con Dom Toretto on the opposite side of the law. Since Brian and Mia Toretto broke Dom out of custody, they've blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in order to gain their freedom. As they assemble their elite team of top racers, the unlikely allies know their only shot of getting out for good means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead. But he's not the only one on their tail. Hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs never misses his target. When he is assigned to track down Dom and Brian, he and his strike team launch an all-out assault to capture them. But as his men tear through Brazil, Hobbs learns he can't separate the good guys from the bad. Now, he must rely on his instincts to corner his prey... before someone else runs them down first

When Dominic "Dom" Toretto (Vin Diesel) is being transported to Lompoc prison by bus, his sister Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster) and friend Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) lead an assault on the bus, causing it to crash, freeing Dom. While authorities search for them, the trio escape separately from Dom to Rio de Janeiro for a better life.

Awaiting Dom's arrival and short on cash, Mia and Brian join their friend Vince (Matt Schulze) and other participants on a job to steal three cars from a train. While aboard the train, Brian and Mia discover the train is carrying DEA agents and that the cars are seized property. When Dom arrives with the rest of the participants, he realizes that one of them, Zizi (Michael Irby), is only interested in stealing one car a Ford GT40. Dom has Mia steal the car herself while Dom and Brian fight Zizi and his henchmen. The DEA agenst realizing they are being robbed rush to the back of the train only to be killed by Zizi. Dom and Brian narrowly escape death on the train and are captured by the local crime lord and owner of the cars and Zizi’s boss Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida). He orders the pair be interrogated to discover the location of the car and again they escape and retreat to their safehouse.

While Brian, Dom, and Mia examine the car by taking it appart to discover its importance, Vince arrives and is caught trying to remove a computer chip from the car. He admits that he was planning to sell it to Reyes on his own and is forced to leave empty handed. Dom and Brian investigate the chip and discover it contains details of Reyes' criminal empire including the locations of $100 million in cash.

Following the murder of the DEA agents aboard the train which was blamed on Dom and his team, U.S. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and his team arrive in Rio to capture Dom and Brian. They travel to Dom's safehouse with assistance from local officer Elena Neves (Elsa Pataky), but find it under assault by Reyes' men. Brian, Dom and Mia escape with Dom suggesting they split up and leave Rio, but Mia announces she is pregnant with Brian's child. Dom agrees to stick together and suggests they steal Reyes' money to start a new life.

The trio organizes a team to perform the heist, recruiting Han Lue (Sung Kang), Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson), Tej Parker (Ludacris), Gisele Yashar (Gal Gadot), Tego Leo (Tego Calderón) and Rico Santos (Don Omar). Vince later joins the team after saving Mia from being captured by Reyes' men, earning Dom's trust once more.

While they plan their attack they inadvertently complicate things. Thinking that scaring Kerman Reyes he would pool all his money in a single place and make it easier to steal they found that he instead uses police headquarters as his personal vault. Back at the safe house they prep their attach practicing and hunting for cars quick enough to evade the cameras.  Hoping to keep Hobbs out of their way they attach a tracking device on his truck to keep tabs on him.

In an elaborate trick Hobbs and his team eventually find and arrest Dom, Mia, Brian and Vince moments before they leave to attack their target.

While transporting them to the airport for extradition to the United States, the convoy is attacked by Reyes' men, killing Hobbs' team and Vince. Hobbs is saved by Dom, Brian and Mia as they fight back against Reyes' men and escape. Wanting revenge for his murdered team, Hobbs and Elena agree to help with the heist. The gang breaks into the police station where Reyes' money is kept and tear the vault from the building using their cars. They drag it through the city with police in pursuit. Believing they cannot outrun the police, Dom makes Brian continue without him while he attacks the police and the pursuing Reyes, using the vault attached to his car to smash their vehicles. Brian returns to kill Zizi, while Reyes is badly injured by Dom's assault. Hobbs arrives on the scene and executes Reyes as revenge.

Hobbs refuses to let the pair go free, but unwilling to arrest them, agrees to give them a 24-hour head start to escape but they have to leave the vault behind.

After the duo leave Hobbs realizes that they has swapped the vault at some point and are no gone with $100 Million dollars. The gang split Reyes' money, with Dom leaving Vince's share to his family, before the members go their separate ways.

In the South Pacific, Brian and Mia, now visibly pregnant, relax on a beach, where they are met by Dom and Elena. Brian challenges Dom to a final, no-stakes race to prove who is the better driver.

In a post-credits scene, Hobbs is given a file by US Customs agent Monica Fuentes (Eva Mendes) concerning the hijack of a military convoy in Berlin. In the file, Hobbs discovers a recent photo of Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), Dom's presumed-deceased girlfriend, implying that she survived the events of Fast & Furious.

Task 37 – “The Priest” Movie Review

(37) Watch 26 Movies (14/26)

Movie: Priest

Rating: 2-Stars

In this Post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller the Church assigns warrior-priests to vanquish the vampires after centuries of war between men and vampires. The vampire survivors are kept in reserves and hives and the humans live in chaotic walled dystopian cities ruled by the Church. The priests become outcast by the Church who are afraid of the power of their fighting skill.

Shannon (Mädchen Amick) and Owen (Stephen Moyer) Pace, who live in an outpost, are slaughtered in a vampires attach and their daughter Lucy (Lily Collins) is abducted. The local sheriff Hicks (Cam Gigandet) seeks out Owen's brother, the Priest (Paul Bettany), to search for Lucy who he is in love with. The Priest asks permission of Monsignor Orelas (Christopher Plummer) who rules the church to hunt the vampires and rescue Lucy but he is denied. He is reminded to go against the church is to go against God. The Priest breaks his vows and travels with Hicks to track down the vampires and rescue his niece Lucy before they turn her into a familiar.

The church angered by the Priest send other Priests to capture and bring him back for punishment. Sooner the warrior Priestess (Maggie Q) joins the Priest and Hicks in their quest. The other two priest’s are killed in another vampire attach on a larger outpost town.  They discover that attack was by train which is shielding them from the sun and allowing them to travel by day. The tracks lead directly to the city and that no one but them is capable of stopping the vampires from killing everyone.

They devise a plan to rescue the girl and stop the vampires. During the battle we learn that Lucy isn’t his niece but his daughter and that she was raised by her aunt and uncle when her father was called to duty as a warrior priest. We also learn that the captor is none other than a past friend and priest captured in battle who now wears a black hat (Karl Urban) given life by the vampire queen.

Movie Review – Limitless

Movie: Limitless               

Rating: êêê

Eddie Morra’s (Bradley Cooper) life is falling apart as everyone around him seems to be moving forward and he finds himself single after his girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) get a promotion. After her rejection he feels its confirmation that he has zero future.  He has a chance encounter with his ex brother-in-law Vernon (Johnny Whitworth) whom he confides his struggles with. Vernon offers him a new experimental designer pharmaceutical called NZT that promises to unlock that 80% of the brain we never use. Initially Morra refuses but relents when assured that it has FDA approval and is coming to the market soon.

As he evolves into the perfect version of himself while on NZT he completes his book and sees the potential locked inside him and must have more. He visits Vernon to get his next fix but finds that he has been beaten up and in reality the drug is very much illegal. Vernon sends him on an errand for breakfast and dry cleaning but when he returns he finds Vernon’s apartment ransacked and Vernon very dead.

He calls the police but as he waits he realizes that maybe they didn’t find what they were looking for and begins searching for the stash of NZT. Exhausting his options of where to look he realizes that Vernon doesn’t and can’t cook so what better place to hide the drugs then in the stove.

He discovers the stash only moments before the police arrive. Narrowly escaping the murder of his friend and questioning by the police he decides this is his chance to get his life on track. He pops the clear tiny pill and begins his journey.

Now on an NZT-fueled odyssey, everything Eddie's read, heard or seen is instantly organized and available to him. With success doubling his money he goes to Gennady (Andrew Howard) a Russian mobster for a loan. To make more money faster.

As the former nobody rises to the top of the financial world, he draws the attention many people including business mogul Carl Van Loon (De Niro), who sees this enhanced version of Eddie as the tool to make billions. He also reunites with Lindy when she sees he has cleaned up his life.

Just before a big meeting with Van Loon he parties hard the night before and enjoys the good life only to forget what happened and awakes to find the socialite he was with the night before is dead and he is suffering from withdrawal.

After a conversation with his ex, Vernon’s sister tells him about the side effects of not taking NZT he begins to try to figure out where NZT comes from and realizes that he is being chased for the stash he stole.

He has an unfortunate encounter with Gennady who roughs him up and takes the one pill he has with him. He is then forced to withdraw the money he owes Gennady.

Suffering from withdrawal he is forced to confide in Lindy that he is on NZT and sends her to her house to retrieve his stash. She is followed and chased by by the same man chasing Morra and she narrowly escapes after taking a pill.

The following morning Lindy awakes sober and leaves Morra wanting nothing to do with him or NZT.

Gennady returns for more pills and threatens Morra if he doesn’t provide them. To avoid trouble he relents and gives him more pills.

He hires a chemist to reverse engineer the NZT pills in 6 months

To keep the drugs safe he has custom suits made with a hidden pocket to keep them with him at all times. For protection from thieves and Gennady he purchases a fortified penthouse and hires two body guards.

He narrowly escapes the grip of the police when he is accused of being seen with the dead socialite and must submit to a line-up. He leaves his custom made jacket with his lawyer only to discover that the pills are missing and had been taken by his lawyer who is really working for the sick business man.

While watching TV in his apartment Morra discovers that the person chasing him is none other than the limo driver of the business man Carl Van Loon is in the middle of a huge deal with but has fallen ill. Morra realizes that the sickness is a result of his lack of NZT.

Gennady returns again looking for more drugs but Morra doesn’t have any and narrowly escapes being killed by the Russian mobster’s who he is forced to kill in the apartment.

Hearing that the business man is dead he realizes that the drugs never made it to him or he would be recovering. He reaches out to the driver for help getting to the lawyer. The driver kills the lawyer and he recovers his stash and begins taking the pills again.

The deal is completed for Van Loon and Morra decides it’s time to work for himself. 12 months go by and we find Morra is now running for Governor and Van Loon visits him in his campaign office. Van Loon tells Morra he knows how he has done it all. Van Loon thinks he has him in his pocket when he shares that he purchased the company that produced NZT and has closed down his chemist supplier. He offers him an unlimited supply in return for some future inside information. Morra reveals that he doesn’t need the drug anymore and wouldn’t be his puppet. He shares that he modified NZT to eliminate the side effects and cause permanent access to his higher brain function. Frustrated Van Loon drives off but not without promising to return.