On The Corner Blog http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/ Blog for Sidewalks TV, the Entertainment TV Series and Website en-us Nucleus CMS v3.22 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://sidewalkstv.com/blog//nucleus/nucleus2.gif On The Corner Blog http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/ Go Speed Racer Go!!! | by Richard R. Lee and J.P. Langston http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=119 EMILE HIRSCH as Speed Racer. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
The iconic Japanese anime classic from the late 60's makes an eyepoping return -- this time on the big screen.SPEED RACER
Warner Bros. Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG for sequences of action, some violence and language
Run Time: 128 Minutes
URL: www.speedracerthemovie.com

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Benno Fürmann, Hirojuki Sanada, Rain, and Richard Roundtree
Directed by: The Wachowski Brothers
Produced by: Joel Silver, Grant Hill, Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski
Executive Produced by: David Lane Seltzer, Michael Lambert and Bruce Berman
Screenplay by: The Wachowski Brothers


Studio Synopsis
From writers/directors/producers Larry and Andy Wachowski, creators of the groundbreaking “The Matrix” trilogy, and producer Joel Silver comes the live-action, high-octane family adventure “Speed Racer.”

Hurtling down the track, careening around, over and through the competition, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized—the legendary Rex Racer, whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill.

Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), the designer of Speed’s thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company’s maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret—some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won’t drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line.

The only way for Speed to save his family’s business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed teams with his one-time rival—the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox)—to win the race that had taken his brother’s life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.

“Speed Racer” marks the Wachowski brothers’ first writing/directing collaboration since “The Matrix” movies. Joel Silver, who previously worked with the Wachowskis on “The Matrix” movies and “V For Vendetta,” is producing the film under his Silver Pictures banner. Grant Hill, Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski are also producing, with David Lane Seltzer, Michael Lambert and Bruce Berman serving as executive producers.

The behind the scenes creative team includes director of photography David Tattersall, production designer Owen Paterson, editors Zach Staenberg and Roger Barton, and costume designer Kym Barrett. The music is by Michael Giacchino.

“Speed Racer” stars Emile Hirsch (“Into the Wild”) in the title role; Christina Ricci (“Black Snake Moan”) as Speed’s girlfriend Trixie; John Goodman (“Evan Almighty”) and Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (“Dead Man Walking”) as Pops Racer and Mom Racer; Matthew Fox (TV’s “Lost”) as the mysteriously masked Racer X; Benno Fürmann as Inspector Detector; Hiroyuki Sanada as Mr. Musha; Asian pop superstar Rain, making his major feature film debut, as a rival driver named Taejo Togokahn; and Richard Roundtree as Ben Burns. Rounding out the main cast are Australian actor Kick Gurry as Sparky; Paulie Litt as Spritle; and Roger Allam as Royalton.

Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action “Speed Racer” will showcase the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowski brothers’ films.

“Speed Racer” is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Silver Pictures Production, in association with Anarchos Productions.




CHRISTINA RICCI as Trixie, SUSAN SARANDON as Mom Racer, JOHN GOODMAN as Pops Racer, EMILE HIRSCH as Speed Racer and KICK GURRY as Sparky in a scene from Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Village Roadshow Pictures’ action adventure “Speed Racer,” distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures




Richard's Take
I’m 41 years old, and I grew up watching the Speed Racer animated series when I was a kid. I loved Speed Racer so much that I made my own toy car with a number 5 stick to the side and made the sound effects when it jumped. Speed Racer was so great that when the local TV station moved the show to Sunday mornings, I missed church service for it. Although I was a bad kid, I couldn’t get enough of Speed and his car.

Flash forward to the film, “Speed Racer” is a big screen adaptation with the latest computerized imagery and a palette of rich full of color that will give a painter a major headache. The film is in the true sense, “a live action cartoon.” I have to give the The Wachowski brothers credit; they did their very best in creating a film that looked like you are watching characters from the old TV show. They even got Speed’s blue shirt and red scarf outfit correct, as well as his moves in the final sequence of the TV series’ opening credits (that was really funny).

Even with all the attention to details, "The Matrix Trilogy" duo and producer Joel Silver did what most recent producers and directors do, they let the special effects take over the film. Now, of course, this was their intention to bring an artsy crafty film to the table; they did succeed on that front.

The parts I hated was actually the racing scenes. Imagine this: stick your face very close to your Hot Wheels race set and watching the five out-of-control cars speed pass you. This is how I felt watching the film with Sidewalks’ J.P. Langston. The race scenes were so quick … with every imaginable scenario (cars jumping, cars with weapons, cars that can flip around without a dent) that you can’t really follow the action. I couldn’t even care what they were doing; the setup was so terrible that you didn’t even know who the other drivers were and why they were racing. It was all non-stop special effects. Don’t get me wrong, the computerized shots were incredible – it would make the Pixar’s “Cars” blushed with envy. I just wished they came up with scenes that would balance the drama with the racing.

On the acting front, great job in using Emile Hirsch as Speed Racer. He looked exactly like Speed from the cartoon series. The casting department, wardrobe and makeup also did a fantastic job with the other actors looking like their TV counterparts, with nods to Christina Ricci as Trixie, Speed's girlfriend, and John Goodman as Pops Racer, Speed's father. I also have to say that Lost’s Matthew Fox looked exactly like the cartoon figure of Racer X, right down to the chin. The biggest scene stealers were the little ones: Paulie Litt as Spritle, Speed's younger brother, and chimpanzee Chim Chim. The duo had the most comedic moments that helped carried the film, although there were at times a number of scenes that could have been left on the cutting room floor, such as Spritle eating too much candy and walking around Royalton Industries in disguised.

After viewing the film, I couldn’t decide if I really liked it or not. As I said the computerized imagery and casting were A+, but I wished the racing scenes had more substance. Something I can root for, instead of disco-inspired, roller coaster race tracks. For the kids, they will love the colors. This generation of teens will like the film’s action. The old fans of the TV show will enjoy the silver screen visit from old friends, but I think we will go back to watching the TV episodes – it had a story with racing and a cool car.




J.P.'s Take
"Speed Racer" is the perfect playground for Andy and Larry Wachowski to once again show off their superb direction and special EFX wizardry. The story that was presented is really just to fill the time allotted to push the movie along. Don't get me wrong there is a story and it's pretty easy to understand. There are so many characters, however, that you may get lost in the shuffle of a handful of subplots. Visually, “SR” is dazzling and full of bright, saturated colors. For a minute there, I thought I was on an acid trip. But that’s what makes the film appealing. The combination of eye-popping EFX and vibrant colors were definitely stunning, and the cars were bouncing around like a giant pinball game, which made the pod races in "Star Wars Episode I" look like a soapbox derby. The Wachowski Brothers had taken a page from the drifter’s handbook while directing the virtual cars as they slipped and slide around the track. The only real problem with this film is that there were too many scenes like that; it made my head spin.

As dizzying and outrageously cool as the EFX were, the characters were pretty cool if a bit campy, which I believe is the quality the Wachowski Brothers were going for.

All the actors looked exactly like their cartoon counterparts, and they all acted like their cartoon twins as well. John Goodman looked and acted like Pops Racer, while Emile Hirsch is the spitting image of Speed Racer, and Matthew Fox as the robotic Racer X. To me, Fox looked a little stiff in his performance, but maybe that is how he was supposed to be portrayed. Christina Ricci was the only one I felt fit the mold for Trixie, Speed’s girlfriend. They even threw in the monkey Chim Chim, and Roger Allam was a real super jerk as Royalton. There is just one word that comes to mind when describing the acting in this film: hammy. All the actors hammed it up with exaggerated lines and caricatured acting.

As for the story, it's typical cartoon mellow drama, which again was the desired result. At just over two hours the story somehow lingered on, because just when you thought it was over, up pops another "fast and furious" race sequence. In the beginning of the film, 15 to 20 minutes was spent telling the story of young Speed Racer through flashbacks of his early childhood and from there the real story begins, and then it ends the same way with flashbacks. The Wachowski Bros. did exactly what they set out to do -- entertain. However with not much story to tell, they should have chopped the film down to at least 90 minutes -- maybe 100 minutes -- instead of the tiring 129 minutes (that's 2 hours and 9 minutes). I say that because there were some scenes they could have been dropped.

Over all not a bad movie, it's visually entertaining and not much else. But unless you are a serious "Speed Racer" fanatic and are willing to sit in the theater for over two hours then "race" to the theaters to see it. For others, wait to rent it at "Netflix"]]> Films http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=119 Fri, 9 May 2008 00:11:00 -0700 Iron Man flies to the big screen | by J.P. Langston http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=117 Photo Credit: Zade Rosenthal. © 2008 MVLFFLLC. ™ & © 2008 Marvel Entertainment. All rights reserved.l
Robert Downey Jr. stars as Iron Man. How will this film hold up against other superhero franchises? “IRON MAN”
Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment Present
A Marvel Studios Production
In Association with Fairview Entertainment

Executive Producers: Louis D’Esposito, Peter Billingsley, Jon Favreau, Ari Arad, Stan Lee, David Maisel
Produced by Avi Arad and Kevin Feige
Screenplay by Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway
Directed by Jon Favreau

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub and Gwyneth Paltrow


STUDIO SYNOPSIS:
Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment’s big screen adaptation of Marvel’s legendary Super Hero Iron Man. Oscar® nominee Robert Downey Jr. stars as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the story of a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man.




Iron Man aloft in his air-worthy Mark III armor in “Iron Man.” Photo Credit: Industrial Light & Magic. © 2008 MVLFFLLC. ™ & © 2008 Marvel Entertainment. All rights reserved.




J.P.'s TAKE
For years Marvel Comics has sparked the imagination of millions of comic book fans around the globe. Comic books characters, such as The Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man and superhero groups like X-Men and Fantastic 4, have now been brought to life on the big screen, with more films on the way. So for Marvel Studios’ newest installment from their superhero franchise, they bring us "IRON MAN."

It's your typical superhero/action flick with plenty of adrenaline pumping action scenes, high octane fights sequences between Tony Stark (a.k.a. Iron Man) and Obadiah Stane (a.k.a. Iron Monger). There were scenes in the film that reminded me of the famous battle between Robocop and E.D. 209 in the movie “Robocop”; I felt like I was watching “Transformers” all over again, which is a good thing.

Even with all the fight scenes, there were some nice touching moments throughout the movie. And like many of Marvel films, “IM” boasts some pretty hilarious comical moments as well. The interesting thing about the movie is that, although it displayed some of the most advanced EFX, they didn’t take over the film. In fact, the hero flick was more character driven and provided a great introduction of Tony Stark, as viewers surfed through his high-powered, flashy and even tragic life along side him. Therefore, you understood his motivation for the actions he’s taken; there weren’t just random acts of violence and other unexplained subject matter.

They've chosen the right person to play Tony Stark. Robert Downey Jr. is the epitome of Tony Stark: he’s an egotistical, billionaire playboy, tech head with a taste for the finer things in life. You can’t help but to like him as the dashing ladies man.

I would love to see Terrence Howard (playing Lt. Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes, a pilot who befriends Stark when Iron Man saves his life after a plane crash left him stranded behind enemy lines), play a superhero as well. There’s a little hint in the film that suggests that maybe, just maybe, there will be a sequel, where he may get the chance to do so as War Machine. Howard is such a natural actor that his role felt effortless.

In other casting choices, I almost didn’t recognize Gwyneth Paltrow, as she blended into her character with ease as Pepper Potts. Paltrow was actually very likeable and even attractive as the stiff but loving character. Jeff Bridges was excellent as Obadiah Stane; he never got out of character. The supporting cast did a great job as well.

Forgive me for using a non-sense word, but it’s the “funniest” superhero movie since “Spider-Man 1” and both “Fantastic 4” movies. Over all, “Iron Man” is Iron Clad. “IRON MAN” ROCKED!]]> Films http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=117 Fri, 2 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Kings Of These Streets | by J.P. Langston http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=114 Fox Searchlight Pictures
Keanu Reeves is king of these streets In "Street Kings." Is the film good?"STREET KINGS"
Fox Searchlight Pictures
MPAA Rating: R for strong violence and pervasive language
Directed by: David Ayer
Written by: James Elroy and David Ayer
Produced by: Erwin Stoff, Alexandra Milchan, Lucas Foster
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Naomie Harris, Jay Mohr, John Corbett, Cedric the Entertainer, Amaury Nolasco, Terry Crews, Common and The Game


STUDIO SYNOPSIS:
For acclaimed novelist James Ellroy, the sunny exterior of Los Angeles will never shed enough light to illuminate the darkest parts of itself. In the City of Angels, moral codes designed to govern are difficult to uphold-especially by those determined to harm and protect us. With STREET KINGS, David Ayer, one of LA’s native sons, wields his camera onto the streets that are not found on picture postcards but on a city of contradictions and often-tragic consequences. Keanu Reeves stars as Tom Ludlow, a veteran LAPD cop who finds life difficult to navigate after the death of his wife. When evidence implicates him in the execution of a fellow officer, he is forced to go up against the cop culture he's been a part of his entire career, ultimately leading him to question the loyalties of everyone around him. Academy Award® Winner Forest Whitaker plays Captain Jack Wander, Ludlow’s mentor and superior. The stellar cast also features Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Jay Mohr, John Corbett, Cedric the Entertainer, Amaury Nolasco, Terry Crews, Naomie Harris, Martha Higareda, Common and The Game.

The screenplay is based on an original story by James Ellroy and written by James Ellroy and Kurt Wimmer and Jamie Moss. Ayer, known for bringing gritty realism to films such as TRAINING DAY and HARSH TIMES, is directing. The film is produced by Lucas Foster, Alexandra Milchan and Erwin Stoff. Arnon Milchan, Michele Weisler and Bob Yari are executive producers.



J.P.'s TAKE
Almost everyone keep secrets, however when you harbor those secrets for too long, they may come back to haunt you. In "Street Kings," officers, who are sworn to uphold the law, now act as if they are above the law. There was a "hail storm" of bullets; an army of bad guys and even badder cops and buckets of blood.

In the middle of it all stands L.A. Detective Tom Ludlow (Keanu Reeves). He finds himself fighting a loosing battle in the mean streets of Los Angeles, Additionally, he also finds himself confronting a scandal within the LAPD, which includes himself along with multiple members of an elite police squad.

The story revolves around the good cop, bad cop dilemma, which reminds me of Denzel Washington in "Training Day," where you weren't really sure if he (Washington) were a bad cop or a just good cop pushed to the edge. Writer David Ayer who wrote “Training Day” returns to direct "Street Kings,” which explains the raucous atmosphere in the movie.

Keanu Reeves is in a pivotal role, playing a first time hard-edged cop. His character is nothing like the outstanding police officer he played in "Speed." Reeves character is bitter, disgruntled, and just plain fed up. I really felt as if he had nothing to loose. Forest Whitaker never disappoints in his performances, however, there is a hunt of over acting as his character Captain Jack Wander. Hugh Laurie steps away from his role as TV’s “House,” to play a sneaky detective hot on the heels of Ludlow. Laurie can’t help but to inject a little bit of “House” into his character, just to spice things up a bit. There is a star-studded cast of supporting members, with some surprising performances from Terry Crews, Jay Mohr, Common, Cedric "The Entertainer," Chris Evans, and Naomie Harris.

“Street Kings” was a bloody, gritty and the action kept the adrenalin pumping. There were plenty of nice twists here and there to keep the story interesting, although at a certain point in the film I started to get a little confused. The ending was somewhat shocking; however, once I’ve placed all the chess pieces on the board, I found that it wasn’t totally surprising.

The classic film “Dirty Harry” was a memorable film and was considered hard-core for its time. I found “Street Kings” just as memorable and hard-core. I enjoyed the ride.]]> Films http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=114 Thu, 1 May 2008 12:32:33 -0700 The Wacky (and Raunchy) Adventures of Harold & Kumar | J.P. Langston http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=116 John Cho (left) and Kal Penn (right) are “Harold” and “Kumar” in New Line Cinema’s release HAROLD AND KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY. Photo Credit: Jaimie Trueblood/New Line Cinema
Yep! They're back on another wacky and raunchy adventure.HAROLD AND KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY
Rated R
Director: Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg
Starring: John Cho, Kal Penn, Rob Corddry, Roger Bart and Neil Patrick Harris

Studio Synopsis
HAROLD AND KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY marks the triumphant return of these two hilarious, slacker anti-heroes. The movie stars John Cho ("Star Trek," "American Pie") as Harold and Kal Penn ("The Namesake," House, "Van Wilder") as Kumar, two stoners who can’t seem to get a break. Their last adventure found them traveling across country to find a White Castle hamburger in order to satisfy a weed-induced case of “the munchies.”

This time, the boys get themselves in trouble trying to sneak a bong onboard a flight to Amsterdam. Now, being suspected of terrorism, they are forced to run from the law and try to find a way to prove their innocence. What follows is an irreverent and epic journey of deep thoughts, deeper inhaling and a wild trip around the world that is as “un-PC” as it gets.



Neil Patrick Harris (left) stars as himself, Kal Penn (center) stars as “Kumar” and John Cho (right) stars as “Harold” in New Line Cinema’s release HAROLD AND KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY. Photo Credit: Jaimie Trueblood/New Line Cinema



J.P.'s Take
If you thought "Harold and Kumar Goes to White Castle" was a crazy trip, then you haven't seen nothing yet. For their next wild adventure "Harold & Kumar: Escape From Guantanamo Bay," those smoked out title characters Harold Lee (John Cho) and Kumar Patel (Kal Penn) set off for Amsterdam, the weed capitol of the world. It 's rated a hard R, which means there’s plenty of crude sexual content, graphic nudity, pervasive language and drugs..... yes drugs! Did I mention that it's also highly offensive to almost every race, using stereotypes galore? Well, if you are super sensitive or easily offended or just can’t take a joke, then viewer beware. It shamelessly pokes fun at racism, racial profiling, and how we can all get caught up in the hype surrounding the post 9/11 world we live in.

"Escape from Guantanamo Bay" pulls out all the stops, it’s mindless, raunchy, sick fun and, if you can stomach the disgusting humor, then this film is right up your alley. It’s not a film set out to fix any moral dilemmas, instead it allows us to make fun of the ridiculous nature of man kind. All in all, I actually enjoyed watching the film; having seen the first movie. I went to see this movie with my friend and producer, Richard R. Lee ,and he says it's Cheech and Chong for today's audience.


Watch our Sidewalks Interview SIDEWALKS host Cindy Rhodes interviews star John Cho and producers - directors Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg about the "Harold & Kumar" franchise. Watch the exclusive interview now]]> Films http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=116 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:48:09 -0700 Gnarls Barkley | by J.P. Langston http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=115 The Odd CoupleGnarls Barkley is a musical partnership between rapper Cee-Lo Green (Thomas Callaway of Atlanta) and producer Danger Mouse (Brian Burton of New York). Their first album, “St. Elsewhere,” featuring the song "Crazy", was a major commercial success and had a large sale of music downloads in 2006.

"The Odd Couple" album smacks of that late 60's sound, where everyone was "turned in and tuned out." Still sounding as trippy as ever, the atmosphere gets under your skin and it works on your brain like acid…almost like waking up from a drug induced coma.

If anyone is confused about what I'm saying, that's actually a good thing, because music to me is like a drug. So when I find an album that won't leave me alone, I consider that a sign of excellent music making. Gnarls Barkley is a one of a kind duo,with a truly unique approach to R&B, Soul, and a mixed bag of styles. Freakishly cool album.]]> Music http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=115 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:16:33 -0700 The Forbidden Kingdom | by J.P. Langston http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=111 Silent Monk (Jet Li, left), Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), Jason Tripitikas (Michael A. Angarano) and Golden Sparrow (Crystal Liu) in THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM. Photo credit: Chan Kam Chuen
What do you get when you combine two super powers of martial arts/action movies? Jackie Chan and Jet Li come together for "The Forbidden Kingdom."FORBIDDEN KINGDOM
Lionsgate
Directed By: Rob Minkoff
Starring: Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Michael Angarano, Collin Chou
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of martial arts action and some violence.


STUDIO SYNOPSIS:
A 21st Century American teenager takes a spellbinding, dangerous journey into martial arts legend in the new action/adventure epic FORBIDDEN KINGDOM.

Shot on location in China, THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM marks the historic first-ever onscreen pairing of martial arts superstars Jackie Chan (RUSH HOUR, DRUNKEN MASTER) and Jet Li (FEARLESS, ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA), and features the awe-inspiring action choreography of Wo Ping (THE MATRIX, CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON).

While hunting down bootleg kung-fu DVDs in a Chinatown pawnshop, Jason (played by Michael Angarano - "24", "Will and Grace," LORDS OF DOGTOWN, SEABISCUIT) makes an extraordinary discovery that sends him hurtling back in time to ancient China. There, Jason is charged with a monumental task: he must free the fabled warrior the Monkey King, who has been imprisoned by the evil Jade War Lord. Jason is joined in his quest by wise kung fu master Lu Yan (Jackie Chan) and a band of misfit warriors including Silent Monk (Jet Li). But only by learning the true precepts of kung fu can Jason hope to succeed - and find a way to get back home.

Directed by Rob Minkoff (STUART LITTLE, THE LION KING), the film marks the first-ever onscreen pairing of martial arts superstars Jackie Chan (RUSH HOUR, DRUNKEN MASTER) and Jet Li (FEARLESS, ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA). The original screenplay by John Fusco (YOUNG GUNS, HIDALGO) is based on the traditional Chinese legend of the Monkey King. The film is produced by Casey Silver (LADDER 49, HIDALGO, the upcoming LEATHERHEADS) of Casey Silver Productions. Renowned action choreographer Wo Ping (THE MATRIX, CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON) is creating the fight sequences, and the director of photography is Peter Pau (CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON).



Silent Monk (Jet Li) and Golden Sparrow (Crystal Liu) in THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM. Photo credit: Chan Kam Chuen


J.P.'S TAKE:
"The Forbidden Kingdom" is like a manga novel come to life. In a way it's your typical Ancient Asian Mythological martial arts film; however, it is a hybrid of many different types of movies such as “Lord Of The Rings,” “Karate Kid,” “Star Wars,” “Big Trouble In Little China” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”

You may ask yourself what on Earth is he talking about? Well, the ingredients for creating “The Forbidden Kingdom” start with this: you take a dash of "The Lord Of The Rings" with it's modern / ancient visuals and mythical beings with un-human powers, then you sprinkle in some "Karate Kid" to add a student/teacher relationship theme. Then you mix in a little philosophy, a la Yoda from "Star Wars," about controlling ones destiny, and a pinch of "Big Trouble In Little China" just for the comedic flavor. And finally, top it all off with "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" for the ancient Asian influenced story telling and characters that seem to float on air…and there you have it!

When you bring in two of the biggest martial stars since Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li, and drop them in one of the most visually stunning films, you get some of the most epic fight sequences and battle scenes. Since Rob Minkoff ("The Lion King," The Haunted Mansion") is the director, expect some visually compelling shots in some pretty exotic locations. I give great props to the entire cast for giving the film its realism. Every actor was dedicated to their characters and did a very nice job of staying in character.

Because I'm a fan of films like this; overall, I really enjoyed the movie. People who love “Harry Potter” and other movies like it will enjoy “Kingdom,” too. It was a nice ride. Go see it!
]]> Films http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=111 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:15:00 -0700 Emancipation Of Mimi, Part Two | by J.P. Langston http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=113 Mariah Carey's follow up to her smash come back album, "The Emancipation Of Mimi". Island


I've been a low key Mariah Carey fan since her debut, and I feel she has really stepped up her game. True, she's had some successful albums in the past; however, what sets "E=MC2" aside from her previous discs is the sentimental aspect. "The Emancipation of Mimi" was a sophisticated sounding album which summed up all of Carey's life experiences both as a musician and a women coming into her own.

Carey is winning hearts once again with songs "I'll be Lovin' You Long Time" where she sings of love that feel so fresh and new, it's like that first kiss. And you can count her to bring on the sexy back with the hot track "Touch My Body." OH Yeah, I would love to touch your body Mariah.

Another stand out track is "Side Effect" tells a tale of being a young naive woman in a marriage and the hard times she faced as a young woman in love.

The only down side to the sequel are the few hip-hop flavored tracks that only serve as filler. They are slightly tacky and intrusive, but there's only a few, and they really don't hurt the CD much as a whole; there are some nice tracks here. E=MC2 gets a C+ from me, although it's not exactly her strongest album, it's none the less enjoyable.]]> Music http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=113 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:07:37 -0700 Previous Sidewalks guests in the news http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=110
According to Variety, Alvin and the Chipmunks on April 1st became the fastest-selling DVD of the year, selling more than 2.6 million discs in its first day in stores (April 6, 2008)

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Billy Campbell will lead the cast of SciFi Channel's two-hour pilot Revolution (April 4, 2008)

Lipstick Jungle, starring Brooke Shields (pictured), has been renewed by NBC for next season

Laila Ali is expecting her first child with husband, retired NFL player Curtis Conway

Jane Seymour will star in The Hallmark Channel TV-movie, "Dear Prudence," a series of potential TV-movies

Amy Smart has the lead role in Meant To Be's, a CBS drama pilot

Jennie Garth is casted in the CBS comedy pilot, My Best Friend's Girl]]> Previous Guest News http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=110 Mon, 7 Apr 2008 19:44:50 -0700 Simon Pegg Doesn't Give Up | by J. P. Langston http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=108 Photo by Ollie Upton. © 2007 Picturehouse
Simon Pegg makes a run for it after getting cold feet on his wedding day, but what he doesn’t realize is that he's also running away from his responsibilities. But all he wanted was to have a since of purpose and self worth. RUN, FATBOY, RUN
Rating: PG-13

Filmakers:
Written by Michael Ian Black
Directed by David Schwimmer

Cast:
Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria


Photos by Ollie Upton. © 2007 Picturehouse
STUDIO SYNOPSIS
DENNIS (Simon Pegg) is an ordinary guy. He’s a little overweight and he smokes, but he’s nice, charming and unassuming. However, five years ago, Dennis did something that wasn’t so nice.

On his wedding day to his pregnant fiancé LIBBY (Thandie Newton), Dennis did a runner. He just couldn’t go through with it. He didn’t think he was good enough for Libby, so instead of ruining her life, he ruined her big day.

Now, five years later, Dennis realizes he made a big mistake. He’s still in love with Libby. He still sees her all the time because of JAKE (Matthew Fenton), their five-year-old son, but all romantic ties have been severed. Libby’s now seeing WHIT (Hank Azaria), a charming professional from the City, and Dennis takes an immediate dislike to him. Whit is casual, easy-going, successful and good with Jake; much to Dennis’s annoyance. How can Dennis compete with him?

In direct contrast to Whit’s sleek lifestyle in the City, Dennis is a mere security guard for a ladies retail store. He doesn’t earn much money and he’s well behind on his rent, something which his landlord, MR GHOSHDASHTIDAR (Harish Patel), doesn’t take lightly. Mr G’s daughter MAYA (India de Beaufort) is particularly intent on evicting Dennis and replacing him with a much more reliable tenant. Compared to Whit’s effortless abilities, everything Dennis attempts seems to end in disaster. Even when he wants to take Jake to see “Lord of the Rings: The Musical,” he finds himself in trouble with the police for trying to buy from a ticket tout. There is no help forthcoming from Dennis’ feckless best friend GORDON (Dylan Moran), whose life is just as much of a mismatch. Gordon’s main sources of interest are the poker games held at the back of a piano store with a bunch of misfits: GROVER, CLAUDINE and MICKEY, overseen by the imperious VINCENT (Simon Day).

Dennis feels demoralized and overwhelmed by Whit’s long list of achievements. In a last-ditch effort to prove to Libby that he’s changed his ways, Dennis impulsively announces at her birthday party that he will run in the same London Marathon that Whit has been training for. But does Dennis have the stuff to trade his cold feet for running shoes? RUN, FAT BOY, RUN is a romantic comedy that affirms that true love isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.


J.P.'s TAKE:
David Schwimmer (Ross from Friends) makes his feature film debut with "Run, Fat Boy, Run," with excellent results. I have to admit I was slightly apprehensive about seeing this film, because I knew absolutely nothing about it. However, it turns out to be quit a surprise. I expected the film to be a sappy, gushy father-and-son-themed movie that ran loose without a leash with the mellow drama. I didn't expect the rip roaring laughs a minute to come at me like a flood. Nor did I expect the characters to be so charming and heartwarming. On top of the laughs a go-go, the message about making the most of a second chance was inspiring, even if it were a bit long winded with the moral of the story.

The word "natural" comes to mind when describing Simon Pegg's performance as Dennis, because he is as natural with his dramatic acting as he is with his comedic acting. I would compare Pegg to fellow British comedian Rowan Atkinson (a.k.a Mr. Bean); by the way he uses his body language and comedic timing. Thandie Newton is a doll and has nice screen presence as Libby, with her sweet smile and charming personality, she can light up the screen. Hank Azaria plays Libby's new boyfriend Whit, an American whose nice guy image gets tarnished by his own jerky, egotistical actions; Azaria doesn’t normally play rolls like this, however. he did a nice job.

Great job by the supporting cast as well. Harish Patel played Mr. Goshdashtidar, provide both comic relief as well as life changing philosophy. Dylan Moran gives a dynamic performance as best friend Gordon, who acted as Dennis's conscience and was the exhibitionist in the film. Even though India De Beaufort (daughter Maya Goshdashtidar) was only in a couple of scenes, she found a way to add just a little sex appeal to the film. Then, there's the cute kid factor: Matthew Fenton plays Dennis's son Jake who practically steals your heart.

My hat goes off to the filmmakers, especially David Schwimmer for his superb direction and also Simon Pegg and Michael Ian Black for the tight and well scripted writing. "Run, Fat Boy, Run" has such a feel good that towards the end I cared about the characters and routed for the underdog of the story all the way. Overall, I was satisfied with results and my previous judgment of the film changed. This is a must see.

Photo by SidewalksTV.com

SIDEWALKS host Cindy Rhodes interviews director David Schwimmer about directing "Run, Fat Boy, Run." Watch the exclusive interview now]]> Films http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=108 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:33:00 -0700 The Other Boleyn Girl | by Jeanne Powell http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=109 In Columbia Pictures'/Focus Features' The Other Boleyn Girl, sisters Anne (Natalie Portman, left) and Mary Boleyn (Scarlett Johansson, right) are rivals for the love of King Henry VIII.
Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana star in "THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL."THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL
Columbia Pictures

Director: Justin Chadwick
Based on the Novel by: Philippa Gregory
Cast: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Kristen Scott Thomas, Mark Rylance, David Morrissey

STUDIO SYNOPSIS:
Based on the best selling novel by Philippa Gregory, "The Other Boleyn Girl" is an engrossing and sensual tale of intrigue, romance, and betrayal set against the backdrop of a defining moment in history. Two sisters, Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson) Boleyn, are driven by their ambitious father and uncle to advance the family’s power and status by courting the affections of the King of England (Eric Bana). Leaving behind the simplicity of country life, the girls are thrust into the dangerous and thrilling world of court life – and what began as a bid to help their family develops into a ruthless rivalry between Anne and Mary for the love of the king. Initially, Mary wins King Henry’s favor and becomes his mistress, bearing him an illegitimate child. But Anne, clever, conniving, and fearless, edges aside both her sister and Henry’s wife, Queen Katherine of Aragon, in her relentless pursuit of the king. Despite Mary’s genuine feelings for Henry, her sister Anne has her sights set on the ultimate prize; Anne will not stop until she is Queen of England. As the Boleyn girls battle for the love of a king – one driven by ambition, the other by true affection – England is torn apart. Despite the dramatic consequences, the Boleyn girls ultimately find strength and loyalty in each other, and they remain forever connected by their bond as sisters.


JEANNE'S TAKE:
In anticipation of revisiting one of my favorite historical periods, I waited in line to see "The Other Boleyn Girl," directed by Justin Chadwick. New perspective, what's not to like, I thought. I even invited one of my best friends to join me at the Metreon cinema south of Market Street. After the preview, Barry and I drowned our cinematic sorrows around the corner at Jillian' restaurant, and that was expensive grieving.

Look, there is a reason poor little Mary is known as the other Boleyn girl, to the extent she is known at all. She simply did not have an impact on history. Despite the best efforts of Scarlett Johansson as Mary Boleyn and Eric Bana as King Henry VIII, this "rice crispy" version of little Mary's soap-opera life does not signify.

King Henry VIII ruled England from 1509 to 1547, I think. He married six times; he divorced two of his wives and executed another two. One died in childbirth and the last one managed to outlive him. He was a ruthless lecher, among other things, but we're still fascinated by him and his times. Mary Boleyn, "the other Boleyn girl," gave in to the predatory king too soon, and she became a footnote in Tudor history. Anne held out for a crown and became the mother of Elizabeth, one of England's great queens. Henry had his wife Anne killed when their daughter was a toddler.

So much rich history, which has been filmed many times, both for the big screen and for television's Masterpiece Theatre over the years. At best this new film is about beautiful costumes and well-groomed horses galloping along tree-lined paths from one medieval house to another. At worst it's filled with trivial dialogue and misleading history.

Natalie Portman is really convincing as Anne Boleyn, the famous "Anne of a Thousand Days," brought to life so beautifully by Genevieve Bujold in the 1969 Charles Jarrot film. However, Portman's best efforts as Anne are sabotaged by second-rate writing. In the earlier Bujold film, a play by Maxwell Anderson was adapted for the screen. In "The Other Boleyn Girl," a novel by Philippa Gregory is the inspiration. Both Gregory and the screenwriter who adapted her work have "credentials," but no amount of acting, editing or explaining could salvage this unfortunate script.

The Tudor period with its cold-blooded kings and unhappy queens remains popular, filled as it was with power struggles, assassinations, religious purges, and graphic exploitation of young female nobility. Kingdoms and empires rose and fell on the basis of whose wife could produce a healthy heir. That's why Anne Boleyn's story continues to fascinate, as does that of her murderous husband, Henry VIII, and her brilliant daughter, the first Queen Elizabeth. Mary Boleyn's story, on the other hand, does not arouse one's interest at all.

Go for the horses, rich costumes, countryside views, well-preserved medieval houses, and good performances by Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman. Ignore the script.
]]> Films http://sidewalkstv.com/blog/index.php?itemid=109 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:58:00 -0700