Archive for the ‘Movies’ Category

Earth Cinema Circle Film Collection

Friday, September 19th, 2008

Earth Cinema Circle
Earth Cinema Circle Film Collection is likeNetFlix, but environmentally-charged. I first heard about the company through an article on Lime.com and I think it’s one of the greatest ideas ever. Much like the online video rental company that has caused conventional video stores to go bankrupt or close to it, this company charges a fee to have quality DVDs delivered to your door. In this specific case though, the fee is $17.95 plus $4.95 shipping every other month and for this you receive one DVD which has 4 or 5 feature-length and short films that feature a range of environmentally-themed topics such as global warming, saving the planet’s natural treasures, wildlife, ecosystems, green living, alternative building techniques, sustainable architecture, and solar power from great independent filmmakers.
Ed Begley, Jr.
Each video volume is introduced by Ed Begley, Jr.actor, co-star of HGTV‘s Living With Ed, and longtime environmental activist (in many incredible ways that include using bicycle power around the house!). The company is endorsed by The Conservation Fund. The packaging the DVDs are sent in is 100% recycled and they use carbon-neutral shipping. The film collection is also a Gaiam Company – a social networking company focused on inspiring.
A Gaiam Company
Quoted from the website:
“The filmmakers whose work we feature on Earth Cinema Circle hope their films inspire people to get involved in the topics they have covered. One of our goals is to make it easy for you to do just that.”

A potentially great Christmas gift? I think so.

Cloverfield: A Review by a Fan of J.J. Abrams

Friday, January 18th, 2008

We went to the midnight premiere of Cloverfield last night. Luckily the movie is only about 80 minutes long since midnight showings are hard to stay up for after a full week and before you get up a few hours later for work.The movie itself was amazing. I’m a big J.J. Abrams fan (ie. I’m obsessed with Lost and never ever want it to end) so this review may be a bit biased. I walked in expecting to love the movie and excited to see what the monster really looked like.

My number one recommendation if you see it would be to not sit too far in the front. The shaky camera effects make it a bit disorienting at times. The whole movie is supposed to be a recovered video tape found in Central Park after a monster attacks New York City and Manhattan has to be bombed to get rid of it. It begins with a going away party, but when the attack begins the party scatters. Some try to cross the Brooklyn Bridge in the mass mandatory evacuation, but when one of the guys gets a voicemail from the girl he’s been in love with for years saying she’s in her apartment bleeding badly and doesn’t know what to do, he and several others attempt to make it through the most treacherous part of town to get to her.

One thing I loved was the reality of it. Sort of like Blair Witch, without the obnoxiousness and obscurity of it. You actually see the monster, you see people die without it being too bloody (it is PG-13 afterall), but you are always conscious that the story is being captured by an amateur with a handheld camcorder.

There is no distinct resolution to the movie and if you’re the type of person that hates leaving a film with questions unanswered, this one will probably make you furious. The effects are impeccable as is the acting – by actors no one watching will probably know. I would 100% recommend this movie to anyone even slightly interested, but I can’t guarantee they’ll like it, as I don’t think this style is for everyone.