El Kiosko Magazine

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Announcement Trailer (HD)

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:44:00 +0000

I'm so waiting for this movie!!!

Abduction.

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:47:00 +0000

Review by Lucia Santiago Dantes

Although the first 15 minutes of “Abduction” is a celebration on shirtless Taylor Lautner perfect body extravaganza (to the joy of Team Jacob) the thriller is not as bad as I thought it would be. In this film, Lautner portrays Nathan, a reckless high school boy who has not other job than having fun at school, play sports and interlock eyes with his platonic love and neighbor Karen (Lily Collins) until one day while doing a school assignment at home with Karen, he finds his baby photo on a missing children website. Nathan confused and shocked he tries to find out more about his true identity through the website’s chat but ends up on the run with Karen. For some reason the movie reminds me the plots of Alfred Hitchcock’s movies where he used to play with the idea of the innocence of the guilthy like North by Northwest and To catch a Thief. But also the plot’s points of The Bourne Identity (2002) where an agent with amnesia teams up with a girl also on the run. Same idea, but Abduction seems to be targeted to younger audiences with way too much focus on Lautner, to the point it starts to be annoying. The movie survives thanks to the fast, and snappy chase sequences that keeps the story going and without giving out too much information to the audience too soon.

Directed by John Singleton, written by Shawn Christensen.

Also in this movie: Maria Bello, Sigourney Weaver and Alfred Molina.

Resident Evil: Afterlife surpasses Porky’s » Playback

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:39:00 +0000

Resident Evil: Afterlife surpasses Porky’s » Playback

Brothers

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:23:00 +0000

Reseña por Lucía Santiago Dantés.

El remake o refrito de la película danesa Brødre (2004,dirigida por Susanne Bier) La versión americana está dirigida por Jim Sheridan y ambas películas están inspiradas en “La Odisea” de Homero. La historia analiza la relación de dos hermanos. Sam Cahil (Tobey Maguire, Spiderman) y Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal, Brokeback Mountain). Siendo Sam el mayor y consentido de su padre por ser el mayor y haber seguido los pasos de su padre. Sam está casado con su novia de juventud Grace (Natalie Portman), padre de dos hijas y Marine en la guerra de Afganistán. En su último viaje es dado por muerto mientras que su esposa Grace se hunde en una depresión, Tommy siente que debe velar por Grace y las niñas y comienza a frecuentarlas, primero para checar como están y despues para hacer arreglos a su casa, en un afán de hacerse útil y de hacerles la vida un poco más llevadera. Pronto conectan como famlia y una cosa lleva a la otra hasta que Sam regresa inesperadamente. Los celos, el trauma de lo sucedido los días en que estuvo prisionero en Afganistán y la vida cotidiana lo hacen perder la cabeza por la duda que tiene si Tommy tuvo o tiene un romance con su esposa Grace. Una historia que apela más al psiqué masculino y la duda, los celos y la culpabilidad. Sin duda una película que en su versión original también valdría la pena checar.

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:18:00 +0000

Por Lucía Santiago Dantes

Basada en la novela de Rebecca Miller y Guión Escrito y Dirigido por ella misma.
Pippa (Robin Wright Penn) es una mujer serena, elegante y ama de casa perfecta. Sus amigos más cercanos dicen que a pesar de tantos años nunca terminarán de conocerla. Pippa tiene dos hijos que ya han terminado la universidad y tienen su vida propia. Pippa vive preocupada por su marido Herb (Alan Arkin), quien es mucho mayor que ella, Herb no se ha querido retirar y necesita una oficina para hacer su trabajo en paz. Pippa comienza a contarnos la historia de su vida en flashbacks durante la película, de cómo nacio completamente cubierta de pelo y su madre horrorizada sale corriendo de la sala de parto,Su infancia, juventud y sus logros y fracasos. Una mañana que Pippa se levanta a hacer el desayuno para ella y su esposo (ya en tiempo presente, descubre horrorizada que el pastel que tenia preparado y las flores del jarrón están embarradas sobre pisos y paredes de su blanca cocina. Pippa piensa que fue la servidumbre, aunque tambien cruza por su mente la idea que a su esposo le este comenzando a dar locura senil. El incidente pasa, sin tantos aspavientos pues fue un incidente aislado, al mismo tiempo Chris (Keanu Reeves) el hijo de la vecina, se muda de nuevo con sus padres. Pippa atiende a su “fiesta de bienvenida”. Otra mañana Herb descubre un calcetin dentro del refrigerador. Herb decide poner cámaras de seguridad en toda la casa, el también sospecha de sí mismo y piensa que si “cae en desgracia” al menos lo hará con pruebas feacientes! El video les depara muchas sorpresas. Entre los ires y venires en la memoria de Pippa vemos que su madre es una adicta al speed, Pippa fue tambien adicta a cuanta pildora se le atravesó, por cierto Pippa joven es interpretada nada menos que por la estrella de la serie del momento Gossip Girl Blake Lively. El recuento de los años nos hace comprender que Pippa siempre vivió perdida de sí misma y llega un momento en que no se reencuentra sino que se encuentra consigo misma. Lo interesante de la historia es que lo hace después de haber hecho su vida. Dándole todavia más libertad para conocerse a sí misma.

Una historia muy singular, de cine independiente interesante y con muy bien casting como Keanu Reeves y Winona Ryder entre otros. La producción es de Plan B, compañia productora formada por la expareja Brad Pitt, quien aparece como Productor Ejecutivo y Jennifer Aniston.

Everybody's Fine

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:13:00 +0000

Por Lucia Santiago Dantes

El refrito de la película italiana del mismo nombre dirigida por Giussepe Tornatore mejor conocido por “Cinema Paradiso”(Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, 1989) película con la cual ganó el Oscar en 1990. En ese mismo año estrena Stanno tutti bene, película que ahora es protagonizada por Robert Deniro y dirigida por Kirk Jones con un gran reparto Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale, La historia en esencia permanece similar, aunque con algunos pequeños cambios. Un hombre a quien recientemente se le murió su esposa, espera como cada año a que sus hijos los visiten en Thanksgiving, pero uno a uno llama para excusarse de que no irán. Pensando que “todo está bien” decide darle una sorpresa a sus hijos e irlos a visitar, en el camino va dándose cuenta de muchas cosas de sus hijos que no sabía. Una muy buena historia que seguro no olvidarás. Checa tambien la version original si está a tu alcanc

Heroes (Push)

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:49:00 +0000

Por Lucia Santiago Dantes
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com

Una película que aunque tiene efectos especiales de primera, su trama es un tanto caótica. Héroes o Push, combina la ciencia ficción con el thriller. Me recuerda un poco a la serie de TV setentera inglesa llamada “la gente del mañana” la cual tenía que ver con adolescentes que también tenían habilidades mentales especiales como telequinesis, manipulación de mentes y hasta teletransportación. Héroes o Push, como se le llama en su idioma original, trata sobre seres humanos con habilidades especiales como manipulación de mentes, telequinesis, adivinar el futuro por medio de visiones etc. a los cuales se les llama movers. no sobresale ninguna actuación, y la historia es predecible, aunque tiene una que otra sorpresa.

El tener varios personajes luchando por el protagónico deriva en atención a la historia y el goce de ésta. Al principio la historia comienza a ser contada por Cassie Holmes (Dakota Fanning) una mover con el poder de ver el futuro. Mientras que Nick Gant (Chris Evans, Los 4 Fantásticos) quien aparentemente es el protagonista o hilo conductor de la historia es otro mover que tiene problemas para controlar su telequinesis. Una tercera protagonista es Kira Hudson (Camilla Belle), una muchacha con un nivel superior y más amplio de poderes quien accidentalmente ha perdido la memoria. Irónicamente, el poder de Kira es controlar la mente y memorias de la demás gente. La historia de estos 3 personajes se desarrolla en Hong Kong, donde los 3 personajes se encuentran tras huir por distintas razones de una organización gubernamental llamada “Division” encargada de experimentar y tratar de controlar a estos personajes para su propio beneficio.

Como expliqué anteriormente Kira es el paciente cero o el no. 1 en sobrevivir de una droga experimental que ha sido administrada a muchos movers. Esta droga tiene la capacidad de expandir los poderes de los pushers a un nivel casi super humano. El agente Agent Henry Carver (Djimon Hounsou) es el antagonista y cabecilla de la “División” (como se le traduciría literalmente a “The Division”) quien debe recuperar a toda costa a Kira para seguir la experimentación. En una serie constante de persecusiones, Cassie, Nick y Kira se encuentran y logran evadir la constante búsqueda de la división, ayudados por otros movers quienes les ayuda a escapar. Por supuesto también existen movers “malos” y éstos son los encargados de buscar a Kira y compañía.

Personalmente prefiero a “The Tomorrow People”

Te amo, brother

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Wed, 13 May 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Por Lucia Santiago Dantes

¿Quien dice que encontrar buenos amigos es fácil?

Las relaciones humanas siempre han sido complicadas, pero ¿cuales son más complicadas? Las relaciones de pareja, fraternales o amigos? Casi siempre las primeras son llevadas a la pantalla grande y siempre se reciben con relativo éxito, pero pocas veces hemos visto una película donde la relación de amistad entre 2 hombres sea el tema de una película. Este es el caso de “Te Amo Brother” (I love you man). En esta historia, una pareja se va a casar, pero Zooey (Rashida Jones) está preocupada porque su prometido Peter(Paul Rodd) no tiene un mejor amigo para invitarlo como su padrino. Peter por su parte no estaba tan preocupado hasta que por accidente escucha la conversación de Zoey y sus amigas comentándole que Peter podría convertirse en un esposo meloso y pegajoso debido a esa falta de amigos de su propio sexo. Y así los problemas de Peter se complican. Peter necesita encontrar a un amigo para ganar un poco de dignidad ante su esposa y en cierto modo, ganar confianza en sí mismo, ya que inclusive su familia sabe de su problema para relacionarse con sus congéneres, y aprovecha cualquier oportunidad para echárselo en cara.

Peter en su búsqueda de un mejor amigo se encuentra de todo, hasta que un día en su trabajo como agente de bienes raíces conoce a Sydney Fife (Jason Segel) un desenmarañado, paciente y bastante agradable muchacho aproximadamente de la misma edad de Peter que le cae muy bien y conectan desde el principio. Pronto se hacen buenos amigos pero su amistad se complica cuando Sydney le pide dinero prestado. Para colmo, Sydney coloca anuncios panorámicos de Peter por toda la ciudad, con fotos de muy mal gusto. ¿podrá salvarse esta amistad?

Te amo, Brother es una muy buena película romántica y comedia ligera que gusta tanto a hombres como a mujeres sin caer en el chick flick, o será acaso una guy flick? Vaya al cine (o réntela) y compruébelo por usted mismo.

FOX PICKS UP SECOND SEASON OF “FRINGE”

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Fri, 08 May 2009 16:28:00 +0000

I love this show, and here are some good news!

Read the press release yourself:

FOX PICKS UP SECOND SEASON OF “FRINGE” No. 1 New Series Among Adults 18-49 Renewed for Full Season Season Finale Guest-Starring Leonard Nimoy Airs Tuesday, May 12, on FOX

FOX has renewed FRINGE, the No. 1 new series among Adults 18-49, with a full second season, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President, Entertainment for Fox Broadcasting Company.

“FRINGE proved to be a notable addition to our schedule all season and it really has fans buzzing as it builds to a fantastic season finale,” said Reilly. “J.J. and the whole Bad Robot team have been phenomenal partners, and we look forward to years of making great television with them.”

“FRINGE continues to gain momentum, creatively and with viewers,” said J.J. Abrams, series co-creator and executive producer. “We couldn’t be more thrilled that FRINGE will continue to freak people out for at least another season!”

FRINGE has captivated audiences this season, winning its Tuesday time period weekly among key demographics and ranks as the No. 1 new series in primetime among Adults 18-49.

Questions will be answered when the first season of FRINGE wraps up with two all-new episodes. First, on Tuesday, May 5 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT), Olivia experiences “awake dreams,” Walter divulges key information about the Z.F.T. manifesto and Peter reveals a secret that yields unexpected results in a disturbing case. In the climactic finale airing Tuesday, May 12 (9:04-10:00 PM ET/PT), discoveries are made, loyalties are tested, otherworldly origins are discovered and guest star Leonard Nimoy debuts as a pivotal person of interest.

Tokyo!

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:01:00 +0000

By Lucia Santiago Dantes
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com

What do you get when you mix Gondry, Carax and Joon-Ho? You get Tokyo!.

Although Tokyo! opened at Cannes Film Festival on the section “Un Certain Regard” I saw it at VIFF2008, becoming immideatly one of my personal favorites. Based on the question “Do we shape a city or does the city shapes us?” Tokyo is a tryptic of 3 fantastic, surrealistic and most extraordinary short films I’ve seen lately. It is not the first time this kind of efford it is made, let’s take New York Stories (1989) or Paris Je t’aime (2006) just to mention some, but none of them with quite a premise! 3 of the most avant garde directors reunited are quite a feist for the connoiseur! like surrealistic utopic and dreamer Michael Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (2004), The science of Sleep (2006) Be kind Rewind (2008) ), provoking Leos Carax (Pola X) and monster-horror movie director Bong Joon Ho (The Host,2008).

Tokyo!'s "Interior Design"

Tokyo! opens with Michael Gondry’s short film “Interior Design” it is the epitome of surrealism. Arika, An aspiring filmmaker and Hiroko, his girlfriend moves to Tokyo. We see and live the story through Hiroko’s point of view. She’is the one who scores a place to stay (for the moment) at a friend’s apartment while arriving to pricy Tokyo. But their limited budget is good enough only for trashed apartments and maigre food. Hiroko finds a job wrapping gifts at a department store, soon the stress and pressure of the big city sink into her deep thoughts, questioning her own relationship with Akira. Hiroko realizes she is changing, but her change is not only psychological but also physical: Hiroko is turning little by little into a Chair!.

Merde is the short film directed by Leos Carax.

Tokyo!'s "Merde"

From Tokyo sewers, An humanoid emerges. He doesn’t speak japanese, english, french or any common language. Merde looks like a leaprechaun dressed in green, angry, violent and scaring people where ever he appears. He appears and dissapears unexpectedly. In a way it’s an analogy of the marginal people a highly densed city produce, like drug addicts, bumps, homeless, etc. It is a very whimsical, odd but very interesting story.

Tokyo!'s "Shaking Tokyo"

Director Bong Joon-Ho delivers the last proposal with the short film “Shaking Tokyo” where Joon-Ho leaves behind his monsters to show us a very captivating story about a hikikomori (name for the strange behaviour where a person decides to live in total isolation from the world) played by Teruyuki Kagawa, this man hasn’t been outside his apartment for 10 years. He receives money to support his living from his parents, and the only contact through the outside world is by telephone where he orders all what he needs for his house, food and supplies. One day his way of living is disrupted by a pizza girl and an earthquake. The girl happens to have several buttons in her body representing emotions and some other physical states.

The 3 movies are almost breath taking, dealing with emotions, feelings and thoughts about what is to love in our times, in big but great cities and also subconcious and very concious concerns for those we live in metropolis, as it is proposed by the 3 movies: as human beings living in a strange form of captivity, we live in constant tranformation, anarchy and rebirth.

For more shows and venues please visit the official site:

http://www.tokyothemovie.com

Hannah Montana the movie

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:53:00 +0000

Review by Lucia Santiago Dantes
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com

Miley Steward (Miley Cyrus) returns to her hometown Crowley Corners, courtesy of her father Robby Ray Steward, when he realizes Hanna Montana is taking over Miley’s life.

The story is full of slapstick jokes most of them doesn’t work for an adult point of view, but very amusing for children. Just a few jokes works out for other than fans.

Hannah Montana’s attitude leaves a lot to desire, but reflects very well today’s most kids attitudes, but that was the idea (in part) of the movie, to put her feet on the ground.

Special appereances by Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty) as Hannah’s manager, while Tyra Banks appears as herself on a very a la tabloid shoe fight.

Great movie for kids, absolutely not for grown up audiences.

Slumdog Millionaire (quisiera ser millonario)

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:09:00 +0000

Por Lucía Santiago Dantés
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com
Danny Boyle Does Bollywood!

Una de las historias más estrujantes que he visto, y una de las mejores películas este año. Muy rica en story telling (cómo está contada la historia) con desarrollo de personaje muy dramático y una historia increíble. Los ires y venires en la historia están muy bien entretejidos, sin duda una de las mejores películas del año. Slumdog Millionaire está basada en el libro “Q & A” escrito por Vikas Swarup, y el guión escrito por Simon Beaufoy. Dirigida por Danny Boyle.

Dos historias, pasado y presente son unificadas a través de Jamal, un muchacho muy pobre que para asombro de todos, se atreve a concursar en el famoso programa de TV (versión hindú) de “Who wants to be a Millionaire”. Para sorpresa de todos y el mismo productor, Jamal contesta todas las preguntas correctamente y es detenido porque piensan que ha robado las respuestas a las preguntas. Es aquí donde comienza la verdadera historia pues Jamal comienza a relatar su vida y cómo es que para él fue relativamente fácil saberlas.

La historia de su vida comienza cuando recuerda su infancia y su amistad con Salim y Latika, ésta última el amor de su infancia que nunca olvidará. De niños todos quedan huérfanos y viven en los basureros recogiendo basura para vivir, de hecho viven en el basurero después de que la mamá de Jamal muere en una matanza organizada por la mafia del bajo mundo. Son recogidos por un supuesto horfanatoria que no es otra cosa que una “fábrica de mendigos” muy méndigos valga la redundancia. Sus verdaderas pericias comienzan después de el escape de este sindicato de bajo mundo. La primera en desaparecer de sus vidas es Latika, a quien Jamal jura rescatarla algún día. Es ahí donde las verdaderas aventuras comienzan para los niños, algunas son crudas, otras divertidas y otras muy tristes.

Una excelente película que no debes perderte. Una de las 10 mejores del 2008.

Adventureland trailer (reseña muy pronto)

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:40:00 +0000

Se acuerdan de SUPERBAD? bueno pues esa película fue dirigida por Greg Mottola, quien ahora dirige esta nueva cinta "Adventureland" la cual se estrenará el 3 de abril. En la cita actúa Kristen Stewart, mejor conocida por su papel de Bella en la cinta Twilight.

Lo único que puedo decir es que no es comedia como su anterior película, sino un film un poco más serio.

La reseña está disponible solamente en inglés por el momento:

By Lucia Santiago Dantes
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com

Adventureland is the new movie directed by Greg Mottola, better known for his past hit: Superbad. Although this time Mottola directs a “teen movie”, he got into more serious business when James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg, The Village, The Squid and the Whale) ends up taking a summer job on a Themed park called Adventureland instead of his long awaited trip to Europe. It is a gloomier movie than Superbad, I hate to say, but in order to make a point, Superbad wasn’t written by Mottola, just directed, while Adventureland was written and directed by himself, which makes it a more honest movie, storytelling point of view.

What I liked about Adventureland is the way Mottola manages to recreate the spirit of the eighties like that “Amadeus” song played at Adventureland until it became a torture for everybody working there, art directing is good, and characters consistent to the 80s. For some fans of the twilight trilogy Kristen Stewart has a significant role in the movie as Em Lewin, the object of desire of James Brennan, but Em is in a complicated and secret relationship with Connell.

Didn’t work for me the story as something that’s really meaningful enough to transcend, a little bit dull characters wondering in town with dreams crushed and nothing to stand for, not even for their own sake. And even though it is marketed as a comedy, I didn’t see much to laugh at.

Nightwatching

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 05:18:00 +0000

By Lucia Santiago Dantes
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com

The film focus on Rembrandt and the creation of the painting commonly known as “The Night Watch”, the painter’s most famous work. In the film Greenaway suggests that the militiamen posing for the paint were part of a conspiracy.

As many of Peter Greenaway’s films, the director explores the audience, the actors and how it is perceived this cinematic world. Nightwatching has a lot of influences from “Le bebe de Mâcon” (1993) were Greenaway explores the audience acknowledge or awareness of watching something that’s not real, were like a painting a model is like an actor “pretending not being watched”.

Greenaway fans will be very pleased with Nightwatching. All the elements of his style seen in other movies like “ The Draughtsman’s Contract “, Le Bebe de Mâcon”, The Pillow Book, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, are in this new movie!, elements like the corporal material, the artist as an outsider, love, fear, angst, the semiotic use as an artist, but also the filmmaker’s own semiotics in the film.

Visit the official website: www.nightwatchingthefilm.com

Sunshine Cleaning

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 04:50:00 +0000

By Lucia Santiago Dantes
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com

Sunshine cleaning is about Rose (Amy Adams) a young single mother who once was a popular cheerleader, and girlfriend of the football player at her high school. Now, years after school, she works as a maid to provide for her seven years old son, Oscar.

After receiving a notice she needs to medicate Oscar to control his weird behavior at school, Rose is desperate to increase her income in order to send Oscar to a private school.

Mac (Steve Zahn) is her old high school boyfriend; now a detective, married, with children, but still in a relationship with Rose, at some point we ask ourselves why she is still with him? But at some point she asks herself the same question, another downer in Rose life. Mac tips her into a very lucrative but not so pleasant business: cleaning the mess after a police crime investigation and derivates.

Rose sees the opportunity for a better future and the immediate solution to her problems. So, Rose creates Sunshine Cleaning with the help of her slacker and very irresponsible sister Norah (Emily Blunt).

After some funny and disgusting moments, the sisters realize they’re clueless about the cleaning industry, and that’s when we meet Winston (Cliffton Collins Jr) a one armed guy who helps them to figure out the business.

What I liked about Winston is that he plays the cool dude that somehow helps Rose to see her reality without really saying anything. In a way it’s like in real life, sometimes out of nowhere, someone shows up in our way and helps us clear out our mind.

Although it is a good story, it has its flaws. Having several characters with different situations to deal, can mine a story. Some people will find difficult to understand some characters if they don’t think about the state the character is in. But if you think about it, it is exactly as in real life, how many times we see a nice girl with a good for nothing? Or vice versa? And how many times, even among our friends we see that kind of conformism? Norah’s attitude?… orChild behavior? more often than we would like to admit it. But in our real life, there’s no time to figure out everything, after all we’re only humans, and we’re not born with a psychology certificate under our arms. For me, what other people see as an error, it is indeed just part of real life.

The bright side of Sunshine Cleaning is the performance of Amy Adams and Emily Blunt.

If you crave for a realistic story and good acting, this is your kind of movie!

The Haunting in Conneticut

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 04:18:00 +0000

Review by Lucia Santiago Dantés.
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com

Haunted house, corpses behind the walls, eyelashes kept in a box, ghosts, and ectoplasm coming out form a kid’s mouth. You’ll find all of the above and more in the movie The Haunting in Connecticut since in theaters across Canada and U.S since Friday 27, 2009.

Must say first, I liked this movie because it pays a homage to old school horror movies. It relies on a good story rather than on special effects, although there’s some sound design and sfx enhancing the creepy feeling.

The story is based on a real life incident that took place in Southington, Connecticut back in 1986. There’s even a documentary on the Discovery Channel recounting the incidents. It’s a better experience to watch the movie first, because even thought the movie has a good art directing and cinematography, I find many re-enactment scenes from the documentary too similar to the movie.

The film starts with an interview to woman named Sara Campbell (Virginia Madsen) retelling the story (this made me think that in fact, they took a lot of ideas from the Discovery Channel documentary “A Haunting in Connecticut”): Sara Campbell looked and found an affordable house near the hospital his son Matt (Kyle Gallner) is treated for cancer. The boy’s sickness has drawn more than empty all the family savings and loans, so the old house near by the cemetery it’s not what they had in mind but the price is right. Soon after moving in, Matt begins to see ghosts and paranormal phenomena around the house. Matt is afraid and worried to talk about with the doctors about the strange incidents because for the medical point of view that means the treatment is deteriorating the brain cells, and a stop the treatment on him, so he decides to endure all the visions until all the family is either afraid of him or the house.

The only criticism to the story is why nobody leaves the house? As I said it before, even though ”The haunting…” deals with a lot of paranormal activity, the movie also contemplates the possibility of a psychological explanation when we acknowledge that Matt’s ghosts might be hallucinations caused by the cancer treatment. But the same question remains to me… ok he had a hallucinations because of the medicine, but how about the rest of the family? They all seemed to have this “hallucinations” too. So how could you explain that?

Anyways it is a good horror movie to watch over the weekend.

Monsters vs. Aliens HQ Trailer opens March 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:55:00 +0000

Review by Lucia Santiago Dantes
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com

Loved Monsters vs. Aliens! It has a good mix of fun, adventure, good jokes and cool characters like The Missing Link, B.O.B. or cute but humongous Insectosaurus!

The story follows Susan Murphy(Reese Witherspoon) a “next door” girl who’s got hit by a meteor on her wedding day. She literally becomes a very large version of herself and is locked on a top-secret government facility underground. Over there she meets the most intriguing characters she’d ever seen like “The Missing Link” (v. of Will Arnet), B.O.B (v.o. Seth Rogen) and Dr. Dr. Cockroach (voice of Hugh Laurie, better known for his character Dr. Gregory House) Oh! And don’t forget Insectoraurus!

The movie is about how Susan tries to overcome her new size in order to be back with her family, friends and fiancé weatherman Derek Dietl (Paul Rudd, I love you man). But first she has to defeat alien invader Gallaxhar (Rainn Wilson) who’s trying to destroy humankind.

Will Susan be able to rescue the world and get back her normal life and fiancé?

What’s in it for me?

For grown up audiences, the movie has a lot of references from other sci-fi movies, while kids will be delighted with all the jokes, action and flamboyant characters. I had a lot of fun watching the movie, specialy when Gallaxhar clones himself in mass quantities to repopulate Earth (or so he believes). This kind of movies all about fun, and accepting yourself just how you are.

Knowing (Presagio)

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:10:00 +0000

By Lucia Santiago Dantes
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com

If you like the work of Director Alex Proxas like The Crow (1994), Dark City(1998) I, Robot(2004) you’ll like Knowing, starring Nicolas Cage. The story follows a teacher James Koestler, who discovers a piece of paper with numbers that predicts mayor disasters, some already happened and some of about to happen.

James is a widower with one son who happens to discover this piece of paper buried in a time capsule on his elementary school. I must say the story is very intriguing and captured my attention from beginning till end thanks to all the references to collective paranoia should we say? Nowadays, like: end of the world, prophecies, angels, shadow people, the end of the world and so on. Although the trailers and buzz might suggest the classical and always predictable “save the world hero” kind of movie, I should say in part it is, in part it isn’t.

Technical point of view, Knowing has several interesting scenes like the plane crash in the middle of the high way. As for the use of sound, even though it was intended to create a dramatic response in the audience it backfired, because some people realized it was a little bit too loud and intimidating.

Polytechquine

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:02:00 +0000

Por Lucia Santiago Dantes
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com

Based on the tragedy back in December 6th 1989 at the École Polytechnique in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A gunman later identified as Marc Lepine, 25 years old shot 28 people (Killing 14) before killing himself with the same weapon: a semi-automatic rifle. According with records of the incident Lepine began his attack entering a classroom at the university separating male and female students, he shot all five women in the room, killing 6. Afterwards Marc Lepine wandered around corridors, the cafeteria and classroms targeting only women. Lepine claimed he was “fighting feminism”. He was the child of a french-canadian women and an Algerian father.

The film was directed by Denis Villeneuve (Maelström, 2000) and the screenplay by Jacques Davidts and Denis Villeneuve. Starring Maxim Gaudette(The assassin), Sebastien Huberdeau (Jean François), Karine Vanasse as Valérie.

The story is view from 3 points of views: the assassin, Jean François and Valérie. Watching the movie in Black and white centainly adds more dramatic effect to the audience. The style of the film also follow the school of Gus Van Sant’s style, where everything is set up to give an atmospheric air, contemplative camera and characters. It is a strong and very intriguing film that should be regarded as one of the most interesting Canadian movies for 2009.

For Trailers and info please visit the website: http://www.polytechniquelefilm.com

I love you man

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:39:00 +0000

Por Lucia Santiago Dantes
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com

Who would have thought male bonding was so complicated?

As some people are shy, or too aggressive, have bad timing or plain weird Most of us manage to have a good friend to rely on, Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) is not that Lucky.

Peter is a L.A. based realtor who just proposed his girlfriend Zoeey (Rashida Jones), the good news reach family and friends, until he accidentally eavesdrop a conversation between Zooey and one of her gals warning her about the nature of girlfriend guys and how they become too clingy after marriage Peter realizes he must find a male friend… and pronto! After a series of mishaps, Sydney Fife (Jason Segel) shows up at an Open House hosted by Peter, could this be the perfect friend? “I Love You Man” is a hilarious romantic comedy that explores the topic of male bonding with a refreshing sense of humor. The movie has a great casting Paul Rudd (Clueless, Friends, Knocked up), Jason Segel (Knocked up, Dead Man on Campus), Rashida Jones (Boston Public, The Office) and a cameo by Lou Ferrigno, better know for his character: “Hulk”.

Milk

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:11:00 +0000

Por Lucia Santiago Dantes
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com

“40 years Old, and I haven’t done a thing I’m proud of” This is the triggering though that sets up Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) on a personal journey to become Harvey Milk the activist, politician, and leader of the gay community who fought for their rights to be treated equally in the U. S.

Directed by Gus Van Sant (Last Days, Elephant, My Own Private Idaho) the movie starts with archival images of the Castro District in San Francisco CA, following by Harvey Milk on the subway and meeting for the first time with what it would be his partner for several years Scott Smith (James Franco). The couple moves to San Francisco looking to become part of the counterculture movement alive in the area. They moved to the Castro District, where Milk decides to open a Camera shop. Realizing the district is abused by homophobic policemen and neighbors. Milk decides it’s time to do something about living an openly gay life. As soon as he decides to run for district supervisor, the threats begins…but Milk always believed that ”If a bullet should enter my brain, let the bullet destroy every closet door”

Distributed in Canada by Alliance, the DVD includes subtitles (English, Français and Español), also very interesting Bonus Features like:
Deleted Scenes
Hollywood Comes To San Francisco and Remembering Harvey are bonus features focused on the people who Knew Harvey Milk but are in the movie as part of the extras and giving substantial information about the times and characters.
Marching for Equality is about how some people who lived the time and days of Harvey actually showed up for the recreation of the March and rallies.

Just a few movies have the power inspire people like Milk, the biopic that took 2 Oscars this past february for Best Original Screenplay and Best Male in a leading Performance. Sean Penn becomes Harvey Milk, America’s first openly gay man elected to public office.

Watchmen

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 05:12:00 +0000

Por Lucia Santiago Dantes
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com

Una película basada en el homónimo Cómic escrito por Allan Moore (V for Vendetta), ilustrado por Dabe Gibbons y coloreado por John Higgins. Watchmen consistió en 12 tomos publicados entre Septiembre de 1986 a Octubre de 1987.

La versión cinematográfica corre a cargo del excepcional director Zack Snyder (300. Dawn of the Dead). La película sufrió durante años de una mala fama, ya que en su etapa de desarrollo, paso por varios estudios y varias manos, tanto fue el caos, que alguna vez algún director la declaró como película “infilmable” Hasta que Zack Snyder apareció en escena.

La película dura dos horas y media.

Sinopsis:

La película abre con una breve secuencia donde se nos presenta a cada super héroe. Es octubre de 1985 y Edward Blake, un super héroe retirado otrora conocido como “el comendiante” (the Comedian) , es asesinado y la policía abre una investigación. Otro super héroe llamado Rorschach quien ahora actúa más como vigilante, decide investigar quien y por qué fue asesinado “el comediante”. El primer paso es ir a donde se encuentran los demás super héroes. Así reconecta con Doctor Manhattan, Nite Owl, Ozymandias y Silk Spectre.

La historia es muy buena si se sabe poner atención a todo lo que pasa, pero sin duda los fans del cómic se sentirán más a sus anchas con el seguimiento. Las tomas y efectos visuales son muy buenos y en parte gracias a los trucos que tiene bajo la manga Snyder, que desde 300 se pueden ver los mismos efectos especiales. Para mí, lo que más sobresale son las escenas donde hacen sus “entradas triunfales” donde se ve cómo caen en cámara lenta, el movimiento de capa, la pose de éstos y su “actitud” son visualmente cautivadoras.

Por supuesto la historia esta plagada de mucho subtexto, contexto político y muchos temas que ya son parte de nuestro bagage cultural como fue la guerra fría de loss años ochentas, el famoso “doomsday countdown” etc., sin olvidar todos los enredos amorosos telenovelescos entre los superhéroes. En fín, que tiene un poco de todo. Sin duda una gran película para ver este fin de semana.

Nota: La película fue filmada en Vancouver!

One Week

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:34:00 +0000

Por Lucía Santiago Dantes
El Kiosko Magazine
www.elkioskomgazine.com

&nsbp; One week es una de esas road movies que no sabes si te deprimen por lo mala o por la temática de la historia. La historia es tan simple como esto: Ben (Joshua Jackson) descubre que le queda una semana de vida y decide hacer un viaje en moto a través de canada. El único giro no tan ameno (para colmo) es que su prometida se da cuenta que ni siquiera la queria el tal Ben (vaya estuche de monerias) y solo se estaba casando con ella porque no habia nada mejor que hacer.

&nsbp; Vemos algunas atracciones turísticas, unos cuantos encuentros que no le dejan mucho que aprender y pues ya. Hasta ahí acabó el chiste. Este tipo de películas son las que ni siquiera me molestaría ver en DVD.

Joshua Jackson es mejor conocido por su papel de Pacey Witter en “Dawson’s Creek”

Odio las comparaciones pero… si realmente deseas conocer un poco del bagage cultural candiense vale la pena echarle un vistazo al documental “Souvenir from Canada” del famoso autor Douglas Coupland, sin duda será mucho más ilustrativo y gratificante que One Week.

Pontypool

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:22:00 +0000

Por Lucia Santiago Dantes
El Kioako Magazine
www.elkioskomagazine.com

One of the best “zombie movies” I’ve ever seen in years. Based on the book “Pontypool changes everything” In the small radio station of Pontypool, Canada the team start to receive strange reports of bloody incidents around the area. Grant Mazzy is on the air… At the begining is a strange mob gathering outside Dr. Mendez turning violent y the minute Some reports tells about a strange chant, others about how violent are these people. Later on, they even more violent, canibalizing and running naked in the street, completly “gone”. We never see this scenes but we only Know what Grant Mazzy can get through phone calls, and bulletin reports. Soon they realized the virus is spread by words, and now the mob is outside the little church’s basement right where the radio station is located. Surrronded by this “zombies” the crew lock themselves inside the cabin… A great movie for horror fans!! Almost mandatory!

Vancouver: Opens Friday march 13 at Cinemark 12.

Jay Ho

noreply@blogger.com (Lucia Santiago Dantes) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:07:00 +0000

8 oscares y entre ellos mejor canción, Slumdog Millionaire es una de las películas que se quedaran grabadas en mi mente para siempre.