Jurassic Park to Be Released in 3D

I’ll be the first to admit that 3D is a fun effect, however at the risk of sounding contradicting; the boom with the 3D trend is getting old fairly fast. It is irritating to shell out extra cash in these economic times just to re-watch a movie you had already seen--- however made with effects to make the movie look cooler. Furthermore it continues to show the lack of creativity in Hollywood today. With that being said, as the titled of this blog notes---Jurassic Park is being re-released in 3D.

            Jurassic Park was originally released in 1993, I was nine years old. I did not care for it then and chances are I will not care for it in 3D. I am being honest here, dinosaurs clones on a island theme park is not really my cup of tea. However, I do give Steven Speilberg an A for effort in the imaginative department with the how Jurassic Park series.

            In 1993 when Jurassic Park was released it smashed the box office…literally bringing in 1,902,110,923. But Jurassic Park was born 3 years prior. In 1990 Universal Studios bought the rights of Jurassic Park from its creator Michael Crichton and turned it into the global phenomena it is today, so there is without a doubt the re-release in 3D will do extraordinary well.

            But if you’re anxious to see Jurassic Park in 3D, you have to wait an entire year. Universal Studios had announced that they will be releasing the 3D version in July of 2013.

The Hunger Games: Review

When you see the trailer for The Hunger Games you immediately think---“This story line resembles The Lottery.” In actuality…it does…to a point. The Hunger Games takes place after the destruction of North America by some unknown “apocalyptic” event. North America is now known as Panem. Panem consists of a wealthy Capitol and twelve surrounding, poorer districts.  As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol in which the 13th district was destroyed, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are selected by annual lottery to participate in the Hunger Games.

                        The Hunger Games an event in which the participants or "tributes" must fight in an outdoor arena controlled by the Capitol, until only one remains. The movie follows a 16-year-old girl from District 12 Katniss Everdeen who volunteers for the 74th annual Hunger Games in place of her younger sister, Primrose. Also selected from District 12 is Peeta Mellark, a baker's son whom Katniss knows from school. Needless to say that if you read the book and if you have not…it is already quite obvious that Katniss and Peesta eventually become “star-crossed” lovers.

            First off let me inform you I do not really like movies that involved killing as a sport, which is your basic medieval themed movie of killing regardless of how “into the future” the movie is set. Therefore I am not going to say anything negative about The Hunger Games. However, the movie was thick in plot and the dialogue did support the theme of the movie. For someone who does not like these kind of movies…The Hunger Games does grab your attention from beginning to finish and yes a little part of me is sort of waiting for the second book to be turned into a movie.

            Lastly I do recommend you reading the book at some point if you had not before you see the film. Like so many books that see the ill fate of being turned into a movie…The Hunger Games leave so many things and unanswered questions the movie that was left out that you will find in the book. Unless the screen writers plan on answering some of the things that were left out later in the future films.

The Hunger Games is a young adult novel written by Suzanne Collins. Collins who says got the idea for the story line by simply channel surfing…  On one channel she observed people competing on a reality show and on another she saw footage of the invasion of Iraq. The two "began to blur in this very unsettling way" and the idea for the book was formed. The Greek myth of Theseus served as basis for the story, with Collins describing Katniss as a futuristic Theseus, and that Roman gladiatorial games formed the framework.

The Hunger Games received a number of awards and honors. It was named one of Publishers Weekly's "Best Books of the Year" in 2008  and a The New York Times "Notable Children's Book of 2008". It was the 2009 winner of the Golden Duck Award in the Young Adult Fiction Category The Hunger Games was also a "2008 Cybil Winner" for fantasy and science-fiction books along with The Graveyard Book.  It also one of School Library Journal's "Best Books 2008"^[ and a "Booklist Editors' Choice" in 2008.  In 2011, the book won the California Young Reader Medal. In the 2012 edition of Scholastic's Parent and Child magazine, The Hunger Games was listed as the 33rd best book for children, with the award for "Most Exciting Ending". 

Promotinal Posters for Time Burtons Dark Shadows

Johnny Depp stars in Dark Shadows (Youtube.com Video)

From June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971…a gothic soap opera series called Dark Shadows aired. Directors Tim Burton and Quentin Tarantino, and pop singer Madonna have publicly stated they are fans of the series. As a child, Johnny Depp admitted that he was so obsessed with Barnabas Collins that he wanted to be him. Well now Depp has his opportunity---he and Tim Burton has collaborated together on a theatrical film adaptation which is scheduled to open in sometime this year. The 2012 film also stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Boham Carter, with a cameo appearance by Alice Cooper portraying himself.

Titanic 3D an Experience You Do Not Want To Miss: Titanic 3D Review

If you know me personally, then you know how obsessed I am over Titanic. Not just the movie, but the Titanic itself. I’ve watched every movie about the Titanic, I know so much about the ship, and you’d think I work as a historian for Titanic. The reasoning for the attachment is---my great grandmother held a third class ticket on Titanic. Fortunately, she missed the boat when it left Ireland. Every time I watch any version pertaining to Titanic, I always think to myself what would have happened  had she made that trip. Would she have survived?

            Out of all the movies that have covered Titanic, my most favorite is---well obviously James Cameron’s version. Cameron paid deep attention to every detail from the era, and casted each and every role with an exact look a likes to people they were portraying.  Furthermore, he had portrayed the sinking as it were really happened, from the time it struck the iceberg, to when the band stop playing, and when Titanic finally went down to her ice watery grave. Even according to some of Titanic’s few remaining survivors who were still alive in 1997 had said that Cameron’s version was closes to the exact thing that happened on April 14^th 1912. The 100 year anniversary of Titanic’s sinking is upon, and along with the recent uprising in 3D. Titanic is being re-released on the big screen---Titanic in 3D.

            Titanic in 3D, you experience the movie on a whole other level. The story virtually comes to life right in front of you, and you feel as if you are walking along Titanic’s decks, or taking a walk down her elegant grand staircase. Titanic in 3D becomes most spellbinding when it’s in the moments of the sinking---the 3D puts you in it. Myself, along with several other audience members said they were overwhelmed with great emotion. Everything you know about Titanic---the personal passenger stories of their hopes and dreams---the excitement and anticipation about Titanic---and all the loss---you feel 10 times more. 

If you loved Titanic when it was first releases in 1997, you will fall in love with it again in 3D.  Out of any movie I had seen in 3D prior to Titanic was just merely preparing me for this one. Take the journey and experience The Ship of Dreams one more time on the big screen. You can revisit Titanic April 6^th.

Red Band Trailer - In Theaters March 16

Trailer for Red Band

Remembering the Legendary Whitney Houston

Like everyone else, I was in complete shock of hearing about the passing of iconic singer Whitney Houston. I found out of her untimely passing via twitter, I had just got out from seeing The Vow. I started my car, while it was warming up; I was flipping through my tweets. Honestly, I thought it was just another one of those twitter death hoaxes that seemed to emerge on the site way too many times, but sadly this time it was not a hoax. Whitney’s death is such a tragic lost to the musical word, to her family and friends, as well as to her fans.                                      

I grew up listening to her music; my mom was a huge fan of hers. I always used to sing along to “All at Once,” dancing idiotically around my bedroom to “How Will I Know,” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” and even “So emotional.” However my greatest memory of Whitney’s music come from when I was in high school, I got to perform in a solo performance in choir her 1986 hit “Greatest Love of All”. That particular song has such a powerful meaning in itself.    

Houston also starred in a couple of movies, “The Body Guard,” and my favorite, “Waiting to Exhale.” With the news of her death still streaming the web, everyone is still trying to process it. To us fans it still seems unreal, and I cannot to begin to fathom what her family and friends are going through right not. In this time of sorrow, I offer my most sympathetic thoughts to Whitney’s family and friends, the world has truly lost a legend.