British talent is getting some much needed attention at this year’s Cannes Film Festival as three films backed by the British Film Institute (BFI) will be shown in various Cannes-related events.

The three films got BFI backing through a lottery funding conducted by the BFI itself.

The Director’s Fortnight, probably one of the most high profile events during the festival will see the premiere of The Selfish Giant. The film is the second feature from writer/director Clio Barnard. Barnard’s first feature was the well-received The Arbor. The Selfish Arbor revolves around 13 year old Arbor and his friend Swifty, who befriends Kitten, a local scrapdealer. Arbor adores Kitten but the scrapdealer favors Swifty, which creates tension among the two friends. This leads to a tragic event that will eventually change all three characters.

For Those in Peril is the debut film of Scottish writer/director Paul Wright and will be shown during the Canne’s International Critics’ Week. The film centres on Aaron, who was the lone survivor of a fishing accident that killed five people including his brother. Because of local superstition, the village folk blame Aaron for what has happened and he becomes an outcast. But Aaron believes that his brother is not dead so he embarks on a journey to try and recover him and the other men who allegedly died.

The final film is Last Days on Mars, which is directed by Academy Award nominee Ruairi Robinson. The film based on Sydney J. Bounds’ short story. The science fiction movie tells the story of astronauts who went to Mars and discover a bacterial colony living in the permafrost. But prior to their departure back to earth, one of the astronauts gets into an accident and the crew must survive and find a way to contain the infection. Last Days on Mars will also be shown during the Director’s Fortnight.

About The Author

Derek Gallimore is a film buff who and a proud Londoner who operates Boutique London Lets.

At the video store, however, your options suddenly take a turn for the seemingly endless, with rows and rows of films you haven’t seen yet. Your first instinct would be to reach out for the latest film you missed on the big screen, but why not give those straight-to-video flicks a chance? Not everything on the big screen is gold, y’know.  And not everything that goes straight to video is crap. Here are some examples:

DC Animated Films

If you’re a comicbook fan, you already know how awesome Warner/DC’s animated video offerings are. From the Batman titles like Under the Red Hood, Year One, Gotham Knight, and The Dark Knight Returns to the other heroes such as Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and of course Superman, DC’s animated offerings are some of the best direct to video titles around.

The Boondock Saints

An action-packed tale of two brothers who take it to themselves to rid their city of the mafia, The Boondock Saints is without a doubt one of the best straight to video films on the market spawning a cult following, a seque,l and a ton of movie merchandise. The film stars Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Flanery, and Norman Reedus.

Interstate 60

A trippy adventure of self-discovery and much metaphysical existential awareness. With superb casting (James Marsden, Amy Smart, Gary Oldman, Christopher Lloyd, Kurt Russell, Michael J. Fox) and a clever storyline, Interstate 60 is sure to amuse.

As it is, the quality of films that make it to the silver screen and those that go straight to video still remain greatly varied – with hits and misses from both sides. If you’re not going to be watching on the big screen anyway, you might as well give straight-to-video a shot – or even hook up with TV service providers such as GetDirectTV.org.

About the guest author:

Matt is a real homebody who thrives in front of the couch and is an advocate of the equal treatment of film reels and DVDs.

The television market looks nothing like it did 15 years ago. We’ve watched TV units change the basic technology that drives them, and in the process slim down considerably. The energy demands aren’t close to what they used to be, and as the picture itself has widened, it’s also become much, much sharper. In the simplest terms, in-home televisions can now deliver a cinematic quality that was unthinkable in the recent past.

Of the various television types that have made their way onto the market, LCD and plasma TV units stand as the industry leaders in the ongoing battle for consumers. But where you might expect critics and industry experts to have reached a consensus on what TV type is best, you might be surprised to learn that there remains plenty of disagreement. The main reason this debate has proliferated is the widely accepted notion that each TV will have a certain appeal to different consumers, and how the buyer uses a TV will determine which type is best for him.

That’s an accurate assessment, and it underscores the importance of knowing what you’re looking for in a television. Everyone values certain aspects of TV functionality differently, so if you want to make sure you make the right purchase for your personal situation, you’ll need to identify the features that will affect your daily use.

Paying the price for premium picture

Of course, when it comes to gauging picture quality, there’s no debate: Plasma comes out on top. LCD just can’t match the picture clarity and quality of plasma units, and that’s made this TV type popular among gamers and serious cinephiles. And despite past concerns, plasma burn-in and image retention is largely a worry of the past. With these newer models, there’s no risk of such technical failures when you’re properly using your television.

But plasma comes at a much higher cost than LCD, which is its main drawback. Simply put, if you want the best, you’ll have to pay for it.

Find a high-quality middle ground

But if you’re someone who is willing to compromise to save a little money — as many consumers are — then an LCD might be a good alternative to plasma. While not as sharp and stunning as plasma, LCD TV’s provide exceptional, high-definition picture quality that will be a vast improvement over whatever TV you’re currently using. LCD units have closed the visual gap considerably in the past few years, and while keeping prices much lower than plasma.

Considering the TV’s place in your home

One of the big advantages to newer television models is that, with their reduced size, it’s much easier to fit a larger TV into a tighter space. That’s improved the quality of in-home viewing for many individuals and families. But while this slim profile makes TV units much less of a space-related burden, it doesn’t completely nullify their presence.

When it comes to plasma versus LCD, you’ll get the benefit of a lighter unit by going with LCD. That can make your TV easier to transport and mount on a wall. The LCD unit will also consume less electricity than a plasma unit of the same size, so if you’re considering utilities costs or energy efficiency, LCDs may again be the way to go. For the average TV consumer, the benefits of an LCD system may outweigh the benefits of a plasma unit that provides industry-best quality.

Ultimately, though, you’ll have to decide for yourself which option is best. Some consumers won’t be satisfied with an LCD unit when they know a higher-quality picture is out there, and that’s fine. In the end, it’s a piece of entertainment equipment, and you shouldn’t have to compromise on something geared purely toward your personal enjoyment.

Yann Martel’s 2001 novel Life of Pi was one of those works of literature that can be considered unfilmable—not only because of the impossibility of putting a teenager and a Bengal tiger in one small boat, but also because of its profound themes that are difficult to translate into the screen. And yet, renowned filmmaker Ang Lee and screenwriter David Magee have done the impossible: The Life of Pi film is manages to capture the most of the novel’s emotional depth.

Here’s how the narrative is set up: Piscine Molitor Patel, or Pi for short, is an Indian immigrant living in Canada. A novelist visits him to ask about his tale, which is said to “make anyone believe in God”. Pi provides a background about himself, his curiosity in animals because of the zoo his father owned, and his interest in knowing more about God. Some liberties were taken with Pi’s background, but these are deftly handled. In fact, while the early part of Pi’s tale is whimsical, the changes introduced added some gravity to Pi’s reluctance to leave.

Not Noah’s Ark

Pi, his family, and their animals then board a ship to Canada, where the Patel family plans to immigrate. Unfortunately, the ship ended up in the middle of a storm, which eventually sank it. The tragedy sets up the focal point of the film: Pi is marooned on a lifeboat with Richard Parker, an orang-utan named Orange Juice (name not mentioned in the film), a zebra with a broken leg, and a spotted hyena. This setup, however, is no Noah’s Ark—only Pi and Richard Parker survive. The journey towards survival is what makes Life of Pi utterly engaging.

What’s particularly remarkable about the film is that it contains no action scenes used to depict conflict. There is the occasional violence among animals, but this was necessary to illustrate that beasts are different from people. The same goes with Life of Pi’s use of 3D and computer graphics. It’s arguably the greatest use of the medium; there are no explosions, no action scenes. They served to intensify the events and add wonder to the places. The scene where the ship sinks, for example, is completely haunting—it can be seen under the waves with its lights still on. When Pi plunges underwater, the camera is positioned behind him, as if he and the ship are floating in mid-air.

Noteworthy relationship

Despite the difficulties encountered by Pi, he was still able to survive because of his resourcefulness, faith, and relationship with Richard Parker. It wasn’t a Disneyfied bond, mind you; Richard Parker and Pi are linked several ways: the tiger, for instance, represented Pi in his less-fantastic tale for the sunken ship’s insurance investigators. The two also struggled for space within the small boat, but in the end, the tiger learned to respect the boy, despite being a cold-blooded killer. The way the film handled this relationship, while somewhat different from the novel, is noteworthy.

Like the book, Ang Lee’s film is subject to many interpretations—why the tiger didn’t look back, which tale was real, and which story people preferred, among others. Your interpretation may be different from the person beside you, but the film’s isn’t trying to portray the truth—it’s encouraging you to believe what you want, “and so it is with God”. This discussion sparked by the film is testament to its overall quality. There should be more films like Life of Pi; and hopefully, we should watch them as well.

About the Author:

This article was written by Michael. Michael is a huge movie buff and has written hundreds of movie reviews, many of which can be found on movies.com.au.

Image via flickr.

If people have been telling you that you have an interesting and distinctive voice, you may have wondered what it would be like to become a voice actor. Voice acting can be a rewarding and lucrative profession if you are willing to work hard and develop your natural talents.

You may find opportunities to do voice over work for commercials or provide narration. You can also speak for characters in video games or act as a character in an animated movie or TV series. Voice actors sometimes even find jobs providing audio responses for help prompts in voicemail systems, informational kiosks and talking dolls for children.

Voice Acting is Still Acting

Even though you don’t appear on camera, voice acting is still acting, so don’t get into this line of work if you don’t want to be an explore that side of your abilities. In fact, at some voice acting jobs, animators will record video of each voice actor so they can study their facial expressions and body posture as they animate the character.

Images of your performance may very well wind up being recorded after all, either for private use during production or even in the extra features section of a DVD or Blu-ray disc. Fans of a movie might get a big kick out of seeing the person who provided the voice for a cherished cartoon character.

How to Train for Voice Acting

Training is essential for anyone who wants to break into the voice acting business. You need to work with professionals who have a proven track record who can listen to you and help you learn how to use your properly use your voice. Typically you will want to start by using your normal speaking voice, and as you become accustomed to modulating your voice in response to the demands of your director, you can start branching out by working with different accents and adopting different character voices, such as an older or younger version of yourself.

You will need to have some reference materials on hand to study. Begin by going to your local library to look for books about acting in general as well as books specifically geared toward voice actors. If your library doesn’t have sufficient material, consult local bookstores and look for books sold online to build up your reference shelf.

Sign up for local acting classes and try to find a teacher or mentor who has time to train you privately to develop your voice acting skills. Get together with fellow students and consider forming a group where you practice voice acting and record scenes together.

The Importance of Practice

As with any endeavor, the amount of success you can achieve in the field of voice acting is related to how much and how often you practice. If you have other demands on your time, such as work, school or family obligations, you need to make certain that you have carved out sufficient time every day to practice your craft.

This might entail you putting off social engagements or indulging in entertainment so you can improve your voice acting skills. Start by informing the people in your life about your new project and how you might not be as available as you used to be. Mark out time in your calendar, such as an hour in the morning before you go to work or an hour at night when your kids are finally asleep.

The time you put in now toward practicing the art of voice acting may lead to you getting jobs you can only dream of today. Voice actors are sometimes able to do their recording work in home studios, after which they transmit the recording over the Internet to their clients. Being able to set your own hours as a voice actor may be just the incentive you need to remember to practice every day.

True Romance

When it came out in 1993, True Romance bombed, raking in only around $12,281,551, but with a budget of $13 million. And yet, today it’s a cult classic not only because of its bizarre story, but also because of its stellar ensemble cast that included Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Christopher Walken, Gary Oldman, Val Kilmer, Brad Pitt, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Sizemore, James Gandolfini, Chris Penn and Bronson Pinchot.

Inception

Inception was a film that made you think even after its credits roll. Its concept of infiltrating people’s dreams was novel, yes, but its cerebral take on the matter is what sets it apart. Of course, its excellent ensemble cast featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine and Ken Watanabe certainly helped.

Saving Private Ryan

There’s no doubt that Saving Private Ryan’s jarringly realistic depiction of D-Day is an eye-opening experience on the brutality of war. The film went on to win multiple Oscars, BAFTA awards and several other honours including Best Casting. Saving Private Ryan’s topnotch players included Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, Vin Diesel, Matt Damon, Giovanni Ribisi, Ted Danson, Paul Giamatti and Nathan Fillion.

The Avengers

There’s no doubt that The Avengers is currently the ultimate superhero film, not only because of its ensemble cast, but also for its excellent script, which gave everyone equal airtime. Even the actual superheroes are an ensemble squad featuring Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner).

Pulp Fiction

Pulp Fiction’s sharp dialogue and unconventional narrative has made it widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. However, let’s not forget the ensemble cast that brought its offbeat characters to life. This includes John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Ving Rhames and Christopher Walken.

The Lord of the Rings

If there’s one word to describe the three films spanning The Lord of the Rings, it would be epic. Even its cast was phenomenal; it’s not often that you see names like Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Sean Bean, John Rhys-Davies, Orlando Bloom, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Karl Urban, Andy Serkis, Christopher Lee, and Liv Tyler in one film.

Reservoir Dogs

Like Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs was a defining independent film during the 1990s, despite being a heist movie that didn’t show any heist. It was a tale about several intriguing characters portrayed by an impressive ensemble cast featuring Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, Chris Penn, Michael Madson, Quentin Tarantino, and author Eddie Bunker.

The Departed

The awesomeness of The Departed cannot be overstated. Its plot, based on Internal Affairs, is utterly gripping; its director is iconic filmmaker Martin Scorsese; and its all-star cast of Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen and Alec Baldwin crammed together in one film is astonishing. Its only weakness: not more than three of these stars are seen onscreen together.

12 Angry Men

Apart from a few scenes outside a courthouse, 12 Angry Men is almost entirely set inside a jury room filled with a dozen notable actors namely Henry Fonda, Martin Balsam, E.G. Marshall, Jack Klugman, Edward Binns, Jack Warden, Joseph Sweeney, Ed Begley, George Voskovec and Robert Webber. But despite this focus, 12 Angry Men is considered one of the greatest modern films for its brilliant writing and thrilling narrative.

The Magnificent Seven

It’s a wonder why the universe hasn’t exploded when Hollywood stars like Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Charles Bronson, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter and Horst Buchholz converged in one film. Like many classics, The Magnificent Seven wasn’t appreciated during its time but today, it’s held in very high regard.

Zachary Quinto as Spock in the 2009 Star Trek film (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sometimes there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing – just ask Hollywood. When they stumble onto something that seems to whet the audience’s appetite they can’t wait to super-size it. That’s what happens when successful TV shows are brought to the big screen. Each of the films below was inspired by a television series and some hit the mark better than others. While none of these movies could have been made without their small screen inspiration, sometimes bigger really is better.

“Charlie’s Angels”

A trio of svelte beauties who flaunt brains and brawn as well as bodacious bods working for a mysterious disembodied voice to right wrongs and bring justice to the downtrodden – all while looking completely fabulous – what’s not to love? The ’70s TV show was a prototype girl-power vehicle that used sexist stereotypes to the advantage of the hot women being stereotyped. The 2000 reboot of this classic franchise that featured the incomparable Farrah Fawcett and sublime Jaclyn Smith was the perfect campy homage to bring this sexy, silly premise to a whole new generation. Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu brought a smarter, if slightly goofier, vibe to the film that was way more fun than the television show.

“Star Trek”

There have been a slew of movies based on the penultimate sci-fi series “Star Trek,” but the absolute best (I don’t care how hard-core you are) is the most recent adaptation featuring a sexy Mr. Spock played by Zachary Quinto, a dead-on portrayal of the irreverent Bones played by Karl Urban and an unforgettable turn by Simon Pegg as Scotty. This origin story for space-cowboy Captain James T. Kirk does everything right when it comes to paying tribute to the original series (there’s even a sexy green alien for Kirk to get down and dirty with) and adding in the bells and whistles of modern filmmaking technology. While “Star Trek” remains one of the most influential television series of all time, there’s no denying the overwhelming cheese factor in those original episodes. The latest film transforms the series into a bona fide action adventure without losing the quirky genius that die-hard fans fell in love with the first time we joined the U.S.S. Enterprise in going where no man has gone before.

“The Brady Bunch Movie”

The “Brady Bunch Movie” is by no means an amazing film; however, the big-screen adaptation of the sitcom that was the precursor to “Modern Family” is a delightfully ridiculous tromp through the wacky and sugar-coated world the Bradys inhabit. The movie brings the family into the ’90s, but the catch is they’re still living in some 1970s time warp anomaly. All your favorite moments are thrown in, from Marcia breaking her nose to the curse of a Tiki idol found in Hawaii on a family vacation. And a few necessary liberties were taken to spice things up, the most notable being the sexual tension between Marcia and Greg. This is one case where the film version is a great send-up of an already pretty silly show. If you look to the Bradys for wholesome family lessons then stick with the TV show, but if you want to see their world turned upside down while still clinging to their “Sunshine Day” attitudes, then this movie will definitely tickle your funny bone.

“Mission: Impossible”

This is one more case of modern technology finally catching up with the awesome premise of a kick-ass TV show to make a movie that eclipses the show while simultaneously doing the spirit of that show total justice. There’s no doubt that the “Mission: Impossible” film franchise is one of the most successful TV-to-movie leaps of all time, and it doesn’t hurt that mega-star Tom Cruise sits at the helm as the leading man of mystery. The films include all the suspense, secrecy and spy shenanigans one came to expect from the original 1960’s series and carries it off with a sleek, modern edge that continues to satisfy – even after four silver screen outings.

“The Simpsons Movie”

This is one of those things that I suppose just had to happen. “The Simpsons” is an American television institution and hasn’t lost its appeal after 23 years on the air. The irreverent humor, the political statements, the nuclear family values — they all remain fresh and engaging. While it was entertaining and brought us classic moments like Spider Pig, it was really just a regular half-hour episode on steroids – and didn’t bring anything new to the franchise except the chance to pay $8 to see a drawn-out version of something you usually get to enjoy for free while sitting in your underwear with a beer on the couch every Sunday night. While I love “The Simpsons,” their foray into the world of film was unnecessary and slightly disappointing.

What TV-inspired films are your favorite and which could you do without?

About the Author

Lisa has been a TV fanatic since she was little, and continues that obsession writing for http://www.satellitetv.com/.

There is a wealth of really good quality video content that you can find online. No, I’m not talking about videos that you can download on torrent sites but videos on dedicated video sites like Youtube and Vimeo, which are just two of many popular sites that provide streaming videos for users.

These high quality videos are fun to watch – not only are there entertainment content, but also educational videos as well. You may not know this that many documentarians actually upload their full works on these sites. These full-length documentaries run from 30 minutes and longer and are quite fun to watch. Unfortunately, because of the nature of video sites like Youtube and Vimeo, you can only watch it while it is streaming. The problem is that streaming can be unreliable at times because of many factors that affect how the data is streamed to your computer.

The best option is to download these videos so you can watch it without the annoying buffering that takes place when your internet connection is having trouble with the data stream. But downloading videos from Youtube, Vimeo or other video sites is not an option available to users. There is no way you can download videos as a user option. The way to do it is to use third party applications. There are many applications on the internet that claim to be able to download the streamed video and turn it into a file that you can watch anytime. There are standalone applications that you can download – some of them freeware, and others commercial software you need to pay for. There are also browser plug-ins that also perform the same function – allowing you to download streaming videos. But this is a more unreliable method because there are certain plugins that do not work as promised.

Another method you can use is to download third party software that has an online video downloader built in. TorchBrowser, a new browser that has entered the market has this downloader installed. The online youtube video downloader from TorchBrowser is quite easy to use and the cool thing is, it’s already part of the browser itself, so when you see a video you like while you’re browsing, you can easily download it.

Steve Carell’s movie career has produced several commendable works.  The top 4 are:

Little Miss Sunshine

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This movie starred Steve Carell with Greg Kinnear, Toni Collete, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin, and Allan Arkin.  It was a critically-acclaimed movie and was nominated for 4 Academy Awards, one of which was for Best Picture.  The film was first seen at the Sundance Film Festival and had an initial limited release in the US.  On regular international showing, it grossed at $ 100.5 million.  The movie is a comedy-drama that shows a family’s complicated interaction while on their way to a beauty pageant.

Crazy Stupid Love

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Steve Carell is joined in this movie by Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, John Caroll Lynch, Analeigh Lipton, Marisa Tomei, and Kevin Bacon.  It is a romantic comedy drama that garnered positive reviews from critics and the general public alike.  Its total international gross is placed at $ 142.7 million.  The movie is about simple people caught in the confusing realm of infidelity.  Its performers garnered several nominations and won recognition from different award-giving bodies.

Despicable Me

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In the computer-animated 3D comedy film, Steve Carell gives life to the character of a super-villain named Gru through his voice, this time in the company of Miranda Cosgrove and Jason Segal, among many others.  The story centers around Gru’s efforts to defeat his rival in super-villainy named Vector by stealing the moon.  The film grossed over $ 543 million worldwide.  Its sequel is expected to come out next year.

The 40-Year Old Virgin

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This is Steve Carell’s first starring movie.  It grossed a total of $ 177,378,645, ranking 19th in the US for the particular year it was shown.  It was recognized as one of the best movies of the same year and received strong positive reviews from critics.  Co-stars include Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Romany Malco, Elizabeth Banks and Jane Lynch.  As the title suggests, the story is about a 40-year old’s journey to have sex.

Steve Carell is currently filming The Way, Way Back and in the pre-production of Foxcatcher and Anchorman: The Legend Continues.  For movies alone, he is considered the 31st highest paid actor in the US.

About The Author

Peter is a home design enthusiast who likes traveling and watching movies online

One of the most anticipated films this year is the film adaptation of author David Mitchell’s expansive fiction novel Cloud Atlas. The new film is a very ambitious one especially since the source material has a depth and breadth that is a gargantuan challenge to put on screen.

To fully control and steer such an ambitious film project, three directors decided to pull their talents together to make the movie – Tom Tykwer and the Wachowski Brothers. Tykwer is known for his wonderfully kinetic German film Run Lola Run, and the Wachowskis have already indelibly left their mark in fans’ minds with The Matrix trilogy.

But the term “Wachowski Brothers” may have to be officially retired being that one of the “brothers”, Larry Wachowski, is not officially a man anymore. The director has successfully completed his transition to a woman and is now known as Lana Wachowski.

A short clip was released where the three directors animatedly talk about the movie and their challenges in making such a huge project. This is also officially the first video where Lana Wachowski has officially appeared. Truth be told, Lana’s appearance pulling some of the attention intended for the movie towards her because she is the first truly well known Hollywood director and celebrity who has completely transitioned. The media interest is, thus, well justified.

People will surely see the themes of rebirth and transformation that was present in Cloud Atlas and think that these are the same themes that could have attracted the directing siblings, especially Lana.

From 2000 to 2009, Hollywood attempted to remake a number of its classic movies. While some did well at the box office, others simply missed their mark. Movie remakes of classic films have truly become a trend in itself. As the trend continues, the demand for retrospective remakes is at an all time high. In fact, the previous decade was blanketed by movie remakes from a number of genres and styles. This was simply Hollywood’s attempt to recapture nostalgia, while countering the domination of Internet based video and movie sharing sites.

Leading the pack was Dawn of the Dead, a horror remake based on the George Romero classic. With Sarah Polley and Ving Rhames, the action was a lot more intense than the original incarnation. The movie also scored 7/10 stars and was an instant hit. In fact, the film has become a cult classic with zombie film enthusiasts.

Another successful horror remake was The Ring. Released in 2002, this movie was based on the Japanese classic, Ringu. The Ring drew in more than 128 million in sales, and was considered one of the scariest movies of the decade. With Naomi Watts in the lead role, her battle against the young evil spirit was breathtakingly scary. Not only was the movie scary, it also redefined the horror genre as a whole. The franchise was so successful that is spawned another sequel.

For action film fans, Miami Vice was set to recapture the magic of the popular 80s series. The movie, however, tanked at the box office, and simply failed to deliver. While its still considered a top remake, it pales in comparison to others within the decade.

Assault on Precinct 13 was a remake of the John Carpenter classic. Released in 2005, the action packed film starred Ethan Hawke and Laurence Fishburne. The remake truly lived up to the original, which saw a group of cops battle a bloodthirsty street gang from at an isolated police station. The movie is still popular today and you can often see re-runs of it on tv.

Oceans Eleven was another successful remake that spawned two sequels. The comedy antics of the burglars and Julia Roberts dazzling looks really took this film to the top. Other successful remakes included The Amityville Horror, Spider-Man, Casino Royale, and of course, War of the Worlds. All of these remakes drew in countless dollars in revenue and performed really well at the box office.

Perhaps the greatest remake of the decade was King Kong. With a multi-million dollar budget, everyone’s favourite Gorilla brought back sheer excitement to the silver screen. To date, no other remake has been able to top King Kong at the box office.

About the Author:

This article was brought to you by George. George is a huge movie enthusiast and enjoys sharing his thoughts and opinions.

At the time, this contract set records for ways in which it benefitted the actor. Bloom made sure that Schwarzenegger would get $29,250,000 whether the movie was actually made or not. For every week shooting ran over schedule, he would get an additional $1.6 million. To top it off, there was a “perks package” – $1.5 million for things such as private jets, deluxe suites on locations, twenty-four hour limousine service, a fully equipped gym trailer and more. Schwarzenegger also had the right to decide who worked with him. He had his choice of director, principal cast, hairdresser, stand-in, personal chef, and others.

Producers of T3, Mario Kassar and Andrew Vajna, had little choice but to agree to Schwarzenegger’s terms. His image was indelibly linked to the fictional robot because of TV reruns of the Terminator 1 and Terminator 2, not to mention the video games based on the movies. Getting Arnold to star in Terminator 3 was crucial for Kassar and Vajna in order to get the funding they needed to make the film. The three distributors who had agreed to finance the film - Warner Bros., Toho-Towa and Sony Pictures - only agreed to do so on the condition that Schwarzenegger would star as the robot.

Schwarzenegger’s contract insured that he got every possible tax advantage. Oak Productions, Inc., a corporate front owned by  Arnold , was to be paid the money for the making of the film, not  Arnold himself. In return, Oak Productions would lend the services of Schwarzenegger to the production. This helped him manage his exposure to taxes. For example, Oak Productions entered into a tax-reimbursement scheme with the production to avoid tax liabilities that might occur abroad. In return, Schwarzenegger agreed to be additional days of shooting outside of the scheduled shooting time.

After all of Schwarzenegger’s contractual demands were met, the budget of the film reached $187.3 million, making it the most expensive independently produces movie at that time. An additional $90 million was also spent on marketing and advertising. The box office gross of Terminator 3 was $433 million.

Ironically, once the Terminator franchise was on its feet again, Arnold was no longer needed for further sequels. Kassar and Vajna sold the rights to the franchise to Halcyon, a game company, in 2007. Halcyon produced the first of three sequels, Terminator Salvation, in 2009. Even without Schwarzenegger, the film did almost as well as Terminator 3 at the American box office.

Sergeo Kozak heads Marketing and Communications at Edictive and True Hero Studio. He writes on creative project management industry.

By the time Michael Eisner vetoed the distribution of the film, Miramax had already given Michael Moore $6 million. This was to be bridge financing that Miramax would recover when the film’s distribution rights were sold. The $6 million more than covered the costs of making Fahrenheit 9/11. Moore hardly had any expenditure for the film. No one but himself was paid a salary and much of the footage he obtained at little or no cost from film libraries. After seeing a rough cut of the film, Weinstein asked Eisner to reconsider his decision. After getting a report on the content, Eisner declared that Disney would not change its position on distributing the movie.

Moore wanted to get his movie into theaters as soon as possible because the presidential election was in full swing. Moore decided to say that Disney was censoring the movie. This created a stir, including a front page article in the New York Times. At Cannes, Moore won the prestigious Palme d’Or award, not to mention free publicity that would be the envy of any Hollywood movie.

Disney now found itself in a quandary. With Fahrenheit 9/11 standing to make a fortune, Disney, who still owned the rights through its subsidiary Miramax, had to decide who would make the profit. Eisner’s strategy was brilliant. On paper, Weinstein bought back the rights from Miramax, but then transferred those rights to a Disney corporate front. That company then outsourced the documentary’s theatrical and video distribution rights.

Fahrenheit 9/11, now a media sensation, raked in over $228 million in worldwide sales, a documentary record, and over $3 million in DVD sales. An additional $30 million was brought in by royalties. After all expenses were deducted, Disney’s net profit was $78 million. Disney then had to pay Michael Moore. Documentaries usually do not make a profit, but Fahrenheit 9/11 made a stunning $21 million. Disney, after repaying itself $11 million for costs, had a net profit of $46 million, which it split between the Disney Foundation and Miramax.

While it made a profit, the trouble caused by Fahrenheit 9/11 caused Disney to question its relationship with Harvey Weinstein. Disney decided not to renew the Weinsteins’ contract in 2005. Miramax belonged to Disney, but a subsidiary, Dimension Films, belonged to the Weinstein brothers. Eisner wanted to keep Dimension Films at Disney, so he had to negotiate an exit contract with the Weinsteins. Hollywood lawyer Bertram Fields got Harvey and his brother, Bob, a $130 million dollar settlement. The brothers were now able to create a new film company they named The Weinstein Company.

Sergeo Kozak heads Marketing and Communications at Edictive. He writes on creative project management industry.

History

The reason why this museum is so special not only to California, but all of America, is because it is not simply a building where old artifacts have been placed on display. The Essanay Film Company played a significant role in movie production. The train carried in 52 members of the Essanay Film Company into Niles on 1 April 1912, and the area would never be the same again.

Broncho Billy Anderson founded Essanay Studios alongside George Kirke Spoor. He acted in more than 300 films with 148 of them being silent western shorts. Due to the landscape in Alameda County, and the Western Pacific Railroad running through Niles Canyon, this area offered the ideal environment for western movies. Anderson and Spoor began making films in 1907, so by the time the massive film crew arrived in 1912, they had already made more than 200 films, and had created quite a name for them!

Visiting the Museum

The only time you can enjoy this unique experience in Fremont, California is on Saturday and Sunday from noon until 4 pm. Yes, the museum is only open eight short hours a week so venture on over to 37417 Niles Boulevard and indulge in a little history. You get the opportunity to see some of the first movie posters ever made and pick up unique gifts in the museum store, such as books and calendars.

Enjoying the Theater

If you are not so interested in museums, but are deeply intrigued by silent films, you are in luck. The theater that is attached to the museum gives you the opportunity to see some of these original features for yourself, in a venue they were essentially made to be shown in. There is a schedule of Saturday evenings always available either online or in the museum. Alternatively, you may also be interested in stopping by on Sundays for a classic Laurel and Hardy flick!

Become a Member

The Essanay Silent Film Museum is a big deal in Fremont, California. It is a nonprofit organization and operates solely on donations. It also gives visitors the opportunity to become a member of the museum for a donation, which is tax deductible. Members receive a quarterly newsletter and discounts at the museum store as well as special events. You do not need to be a local resident to become a member either; you simply need to have the desire to support a worthy cause of preserving such an important and influential part of American history.

The success of RED obviously means a sequel is in the cards. According to director Dean Parisot, the producers are already on the lookout for actors who are within a certain age group (that is, the age group that would fit within the RED ensemble) and would be a great addition to the cast. Already, they have set their sights on Anthony Hopkins, who has expressed interest in joining the sequel.

Hopkins is currently filming Hitchcock, where he plays the legendary auteur. But Hopkins has expressed that he wants to play the villain in the sequel. But despite Hopkins’ willingness to join Red 2, there might be some problems of a scheduling nature. The filming of Red 2 may happen simultaneously with another project that Hopkins is already committed to, Thor 2.

But if the dates can be sorted out then Hopkins is good to go.

Parisot will be directing the film with the script from Erich and John Hoeber, who also wrote the script for the first movie. If the schedule is followed, shooting for Red 2 will begin this autumn.

For example, one of the movies where men can get great fashion and style insights is the 90s remake of The Thomas Crown Affair. The movie, which starred Pierce Brosnan, was a great insight into men’s formal fashion because Brosnan’s role as a wealthy businessman demanded that he wear the most sophisticated suits and tuxedos. He even wore great designer cufflinks that accentuated his suits.

Another fashionable movie on men are the Oceans movies – Ocean 11, 12 and 13. The three movies starred a great ensemble of actors led by style icons George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The two wear very cool suits and they wear them with casual elegance. A lot of men got pointers on how to wear a casual suit and look polished.

Another remake that men love because of its fashion sensibilities is Alfie. The remake stars Jude Law and his character, Alfie, wore really stylish clothes from head to foot – from scarves to suits to shoes. Even his haircut was very fashionable. Even though the remake was set during the 60s the elegance and style was timeless.

American Gigolo was the movie that made Richard Gere a star and one of the hottest icons. He played the role of the gigolo with great aplomb and he was helped tremendously by his stylish Armani suits.

There are those, on the other hand, who think that piracy should not be a penalized. This has created a lot of debate for and against piracy. If you think that all movies that are downloaded online that do not go through legitimate distribution services like Netflix are considered as acquired illegally, then think again. There are many movies that have entered the public domain and thus you can movies online without fear of breaking the law.

What does it mean if a movie is in the public domain? In this state the film ceases to be owned by an organization, the government or an individual. It becomes common property. A film can enter into public domain if the people behind the work fails to renew its copyright. It is a slightly contentious issue though because a film is made up of various elements and these may have different copyright notices. For example, the film Charade has a missing copyright notice that has resulted in it being in the public domain but the original music used in the movie is still in copyright, along with the original story of the movie.

If you’re a true film geek you can download movies on the internet that are in the public domain – movies that represent different points in cinematic history. Charlie Chaplin, Gary Cooper, James Stewart, and John Wayne are just some of the legendary actors that have films in the public domain. Night of The Living Dead, which is already a horror classic, is also in the public domain.

Tony Jaa is the breakout star of Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior and it was the movie that finally made people notice him. Jaa drew from his long experience as a stunt man (he once doubled for Sammo Hung when the famed Hong Kong action star filmed a commercial in Thailand) and as a practitioner of Muay Boran (an ancient form of Muay Thai) in performing his beautiful and fluid action scenes. Jaa is one of the few action stars that didn’t use any kind of body double. He performed all of his stunts and didn’t rely on wires to perform them. The naturalness of the choreography and the fact that Jaa could move freely sans any support translated well into film and what we have is an action movie everyone loved.

Jaa’s amazing performance has captured the imagination of action fans all over the world, with many of them calling Jaa as the next Asian action superstar and a likely heir to the mantle of Bruce Lee.

Jaa will eventually make two more Ong Bak films and also star in the equally exciting Tom-Yum-Goong. Jaa is set to return to the big screen this year with Tom-Yum-Goong 2.

Craig is a travel write, blogger and journalist. He has been backpacking all over Asia for the last three years. His current base is Thailand where he plans to learn Thai in Bangkok, specifically at the Language Express School.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Terminator 2: Judgment Day is one of the most expensive movies ever made, costing $94 million. That being said, it brought in nearly $520 million at the box office. Nearly 1,000 crew members and 20 different sites were used to create this epic film, and although most was shot in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, the Cyberdyne Systems Corporation building in Fremont, California was used as well! The project team oversaw an abundance of stunts and chase sequences in the area as well.

The entrance that you see to the building was hollow and went back about 20 feet. Then, you see a desk, and halls break off to laboratories. When the movie was filmed, there was nothing else in the area but a pile of dirt across the street. They blocked off the site for at least a mile radius on the night that they blew the building up, and the area was filled with fire trucks on standby.

More American Graffiti

This 1979 sequel actually recruited a lot of their extras right from the California Maritime Academy located in Vallejo because the campus was so close to their filming location at the Fremont Raceway. All of the drag scene races for the film were shot here, a location now known as Baylands Raceway Park.

Bicentennial Man

While it did not make it to the big screen, there was a bit of filming done on Bicentennial Man in Fremont. There was a deleted junkyard scene originally done at Mission Clay Products located on Old Canyon Road. During this scene, Andrew Martin was attacked by a group of punks.

Why Not Film in Fremont?

When you think about it, Fremont is actually the perfect city to film in for a number of reasons:

• Weather – As mentioned, the city sees nearly perfect temperatures for filming all year-round. An average temperature of 69 degrees Fahrenheit, plenty of sunshine, no snow and only 14.85 inches of precipitation annually is ideal for cast and crew.

• Quaint Downtown – The downtown area looks like it came out of a movie already. Buildings fall in a row, edged by wide sidewalks for plenty of foot traffic. You will find trees and large planters bursting with flowers in front of stores and along the street.

• Central Park – Lake Elizabeth is about one of the pretties places you will ever see. This 450-acre park boasts a manmade lake and all the outdoor activities you could ask for. When you add on the mountainous landscape, it is the perfect place for an array of films.

• Mission Peak – Just east to the city is where you will find Mission Peak. Although some believe it is an extinct volcano, others believe it was caused from erosion. Either way, the slopes and landscaping are stunning.

Fremont, California, is by far one of the most perfect locations for filming. The area is breathtaking, and since it is not as populated as other major cities in the state, there is not as much traffic to deal with so road closures for filming won’t seem so monumental either.

This article was contributed by Executive Homes Realty, specializing in luxury real estate in the Fremont, California area.

Just to emphasize how truly revolutionary silicone breast implants are, a movie about how it was discovered was made. Breast Men chronicles the events that eventually led to the creation of this plastic surgery procedure.

Breast Men is not a perfect movie, in fact, it can be quite tedious in some parts. But what it does have going for it is presenting an insight into breast augmentation and women’s views on it. Yes, some may say it is shallow to focus on bra size but there are moments when the movie presents compelling arguments – one of them being that women are forced to conform to stereotypes and will resort to the help of silicone breast implants to feel good about themselves. The docudrama is well acted with notable performances from both David Schwimmer and Chris Cooper. Don’t be fooled by the title. This is not a silly movie about breasts (although they obviously figure prominently in this movie), it’s a well thought out docudrama that you should at least check out.

A warning though, try not to watch this with children around if you don’t want them to see breast exposure, which is understandable for this kind of movie. It is after all a movie about breasts.

Cedar Rapids (2011)

Tim Lippe is sent to represent his insurance company at an annual convention in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Clearly living a sheltered life until now, he checks into his hotel without a clue as to how life operates in a city busier than Brown Valley, Wisconsin where he’s from. He takes a liking to a Norwegian sales agent, sings karaoke, goes skinny dipping and gives a heartfelt speech.

Thin Ice (2012)

A small town insurance salesman sees his opportunity to illegally make a quick buck, but manages to mess it up. His intentions of fraud escalate to theft and then murder, and his plan swirls out of control. It’s not until the last 15 minutes of the film that things start to come together and you figure it all out. This is one employee that should have stuck to answering all those life insurance comparison phone calls.

Saw VI (2009)

While the FBI trails Strahm, who is suspected as being an accomplice of Jigsaw, Hoffman sets a trap for William Easten, an insurance executive. Easten is kidnapped and taken to an abandoned zoo. When he awakens, there is a vise around his torso that tightens every time he breathes. He has to undergo a series of tests to try to survive.

Sicko (2007)

Origins of the move date back to 1973 when HMOs were created after a recorded conversation between Richard Nixon and John Ehrlichman. Sicko is a deeply disturbing, yet darkly funny documentary about pharmaceutical and health insurance industries. Considering 50 million Americans do not have health or life insurance, and some contracts have 37 pages of pre-existing conditions making them unable to secure a contract, it’s a movie that hits close to home. If you have ever tried to get life insurance quotes online, but were turned down, you will relate to this movie.

Groundhog Day (1993)

If you have never seen Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, you are certainly missing out. He ends up experiencing February 2^nd over-and-over again, and teams up with his former nerdy high school friend who has turned into an unshakable insurance agent. This duo puts the movie as 34 on AFI’s 100 Funniest Movies list.

The Incredibles (2004)

When Helen encourages her husband Bob to go out and save the world one policy at a time, it was hard not to pick up the phone and call for a life insurance comparison. This couple was once world-saving crime fighters, but 15 years later, Bob spends his day in a cubicle, helping old ladies find loopholes in their insurance policy.

Sleuth (1972, 2007)

When mystery writer Andrew Wyke uses his skills to fool an insurance company and the police in order to walk away with a $170,000 settlement, you have to expect that things will go wrong. It is a clever game of cat and mouse wrapped around an insurance scandal in hopes that someone has a good life insurance policy.

Double Indemnity (1944)

Here is one of the most well-known movies of all time with an insurance employee. Walter Neff, a Los Angeles agent becomes smitten with the wife of a client. After they fool her husband into signing a significant life insurance policy, they make his death look like an accident. Unfortunately, the claim’s insurance adjuster knows something is just not right. The movie is said to be flawless, and one of the most genius screen plays that has ever been written.

Guest Author: Compare life insurance rates from leading leading companies at www.lifeinsurancequotes.info.

You might be intimidated about the idea of setting up a website but it’s really easy. Here are some things you should need to know so you’ll know how to start a website – your film review site.

Before you even start your film review website, you have to take a very important step – study, study, study. A film review site will rise and fall based on the content more than any other type of website — and that content will come from you as a film reviewer. Make your opinion and views on the films you’ve seen really count by immersing yourself in film history. Enrich your views on film by watching classics and films that are widely considered as cinematic greats. Film appreciation is a continuing education so never stop watching movies.

When you’re ready to start writing your film reviews and articles, you can now take the next step, which is setting up your film review site. Think of a cool domain name that you can use for your site. Make a short list of interesting site names and find out about its availability. You can use a web hosting service like Godaddy that offers different services that you will need when setting up a website. For example, you can search for the availability of your chosen domain names at their website. You can also contact them to host your website for you.

After you’ve set up your website, you should populate it with content. While you’re preparing your site you should already start writing about the films you’ve seen. Set up five to ten articles that you can upload when your site goes live. That way, your visitors can already read more than one article when they visit. Make sure to add to the content with regular articles that you publish preferably on the same day every week. This makes your visitors come back regularly because they know when to expect new content.

Image from pennix.co.uk

So what were the factors that came Kutcher’s way that allowed him to bag such a high profile role in probably the most anticipated biopic in recent history? No one really knows but one thing going for Kutcher is that he actually looks little like Jobs when he was young. So that’s at least one thing going for him – he looks like the person he’s set to play in the movie. I know you guys are worried that Kutcher won’t have the emotional range to tackle a demanding role in a biopic, but he’s not all crazy and wacky roles. Remember, that he has appeared in a number of movies that have a serious theme, among them Bobby, which was directed by Emilio Estevez. I’m hoping he’ll do justice to the role and pull in a decent performance.

The Jobs biopic will be directed by Joshua Michael Stern, whose last project was Swing Vote. Filming for the movie is slated to begin next month, which is when Kutcher will be finished with his Two and Half Men commitments.

Lots of people enjoy movies, and when you are always having people over to watch them in your home, you may want to think of ways to improve the experience, making your home more accessible and accommodating for frequent viewings. There can be many ways to achieve this, but if you are looking to create the ultimate home viewing experience, then you must go a little further, transforming your room into a paradise for movie buffs everywhere.

It starts with an appropriately sized television, or even a projector, ensuring that everyone in the room gets a great view of the action without going overboard. Once you’ve got that figured out, you should move on to your sound system, making sure that you have the right surround sound setup for your area. That will cover the basics for you, but to really impress your guests and give yourself a place to be proud of, you need to go the extra mile and install some custom Elite theater seats for home.

You can fully customize and design the best seating arrangement for your home, making every decision from the color to the type of fabric. You can choose to install recliners, seats with cup holders, or even built in speakers for an even more intimate viewing experience. The options are limitless, and your home theater can be anything you would like it to be, with your imagination being the limit.

As soon as you enter your newly redesigned home theater, you should be filled with excitement as you prepare to sit back and relax, getting ready to watch your favorite films or television programs. You should get the feeling like you’re entering a sanctum of sorts, a place where you are able to kick your feet up and forget about the rest of the world as you immerse yourself in your favorite pastime.

With Elite theater chairs for home, you get to experience cinema quality entertainment in your very own home, and in some cases, your home may actually be a step above the comfort of your local theater. If film is a passion of yours, you should not be afraid to invest in your own personal escape. By bringing your vision of the perfect home theater to life, not only are you giving yourself a place to enjoy and share with others, but you are also creating an experience that you and your loved ones will appreciate, and never forget.

Image by gsloan

According to reports, a dinner that he hosted that was attended by A-listers Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz and Reese Witherspoon, has actually resulted in a pitch idea that has been readily snatched up by Sony.

The movie is tentatively titled One Hit Wonders and will tell the story of three singers – to be played by Paltrow, Diaz and Witherspoon) – who had chart toppers in the 90s. But subsequently their careers fizzled. They decide to make a comeback by creating a supergroup.

Beyonce Knowles is allegedly already signed on as a cast in the movie, as well as Andy Samberg, who will not just be acting but also contributing musically with his Lonely Island group.

This movie looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun. But don’t expect Murphy to work on this movie immediately. Although he has already approached Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan (his Glee co-conspirators) to help him write the script, he has yet to finish working on his project The Normal Heart. He also has another movie in development that will star Julia Roberts.

Talk about busy.