Review: The Chronicles of Nariana: Prince Caspian

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

By the time it was over, I liked it. I am a huge fan of the series and I think it is the perfect book to film series. I would like to see it a more refined and concerted effort in the films… where is Peter Jackson when you need him? But over all I thought it pulled through well.

I thought it was slow to start and awkward in the beginning. The set up for Prince Caspian was weak and unsubstantial. I would have liked to see his past and place established much cleaner, mainly the importance of the relationship with his ‘half dwarf’ professor shown firmly.

I also thought the re-introduction of the kids was also weak and sloppy. The set up that brought them to Nariana was cheesy it could have been much more graceful, not so childish. After that I thought there were only a few clunky plot points before I began to enjoy the story.

The film is beautiful. There are a few sequences that I really enjoyed. Tilda Swinton as the White Witch was definitely the highlight of the film for me. There are a few artistic choices I thought were bad, some of the creatures were very poorly done but other parts I really liked. I saw some Lord of the Rings sets mixed in there for sure.

I thought the guy who played Caspian did very good. The evil Uncle did pretty good also, but I thought that the girl who played Lucy was the only one of the kids to give a genuine performance.

The film flowed well once it got going and was over all enjoyable.

Indiana Jones Four

Indiana Jones Four

In a word: Entertaining

In many words, convoluted, disjunct, fun, exciting, overblown, confusing, imaginative…

While I thought it is fun, in the beginning it packs a lot of punch, as it goes on it starts to fizzle out for me. The movie begins seemingly in the middle, I felt like I missed something. Then begins the total suspension of my disbelief. Much of the action is borderline hooky, and too much of it is far to unbelievable for me to connect with or enjoy. I know it’s a sort of fantasy but it goes way too far to many times.

This film lacks the fun and wit of the originals and attempts to substitute CGI and elaborate sets instead. It doesn’t really work. There is very little dialogue and the story is almost impossible to follow. I couldn’t explain it to you if I tried. They try to include too many elements and that don’t really come together or fit together in any discernable way. The ending was far too over the top for me. It leaves far more questions and plot holes than it solves. I felt the movie tries to appeal to kids, but they will be bored by the story and dialogue. But it also tries to appeal to adults who will put off by the gag humor and childish antics. In trying to appeal to both I feel the film does neither very well.

I thought Harrison Fords performance was ‘okay’. Not bad, not great. I would give it a C grade. Passing, but not A game. Cate Blanchet did a good job, she had fun with her character and was consistent, she also hardly spoke. Shia LeBouf did a good job as well, the greaser in him came out nicely. Karen Allen was a little flat for me, but it wasn’t bad. Everyone else did pretty well I thought.

I will admit I was slightly disappointed. They had 19 years and this is the best they came up with? I was a little surprised. I need a good story, good dialogue and it was certainly lacking. It makes me think that Speilberg and Lucas are falling out of touch. Past there peak maybe. With the money and power at there disposal it’s hard to fail, but it’s not as hard as it seems to fall flat.

Iron Man

I liked it.

Quick, witty and thoroughly enjoyable. A little predicable and cheesey, and not always well explained, but it is a superhero movie...

I thought Robert Downey Jr. did a good job. He made the character his own, a la like himself. Gwen Paltro did a good job as well. Her character worked very well.

Very well done. I still rank Spiderman 1 as the best Superhero movie followed now by Iron Man.

Show Biz

Show Biz…

I have found the Entertainment business today to be an exciting and very challenging field of work and study. It is, at once, vibrant and exciting, but can also be cut-throat and brutal. It’s a game with rules, key players and a distinct hierarchy. It can be all fun and games, or pain and suffering… it’s all in how you play; like football. Once you get on a good team and start winning, you start making the big bucks. If you fumble or make a bad play, it’s not over for you, it’s only over if you get to hurt to play.

The rules of the business are written in the sand and change with each new wave. It’s easy to drown, get washed away, or lost at sea in this business. If you want to survive or play you are going to need to find a rock to stand on or a crew to boat with. You need to be skilled, Talented and sharp; with something to bring to the table. Being drop dead gorgeous can also help, but alone is not a guarantee for success. You need to be likeable, passionate and informed at least until you establish yourself. Everybody knows that movies are not made by one person, so learn to put up with massive egos, scummy superstars and needy producers. The movie business brings together quite a cast of characters, so be prepared to deal with all types of people. From polished agents, to dirty crew hands; everyone has a place and a part to play; find yours.

In the postmodern era Hollywood rules the media world. It’s the Hegemonic authority of the visual arts. Hollywood is the place where movie style dreams actually do come true. We know this because we see it on TV! And nobody doubts the authenticity of TV; right?

In Hollywood the sun shines on everyone, and potentially anyone could be the next big thing and hit the big time; i.e. make a sh*t load of money. It's a quasi residential/social/superficial lottery! It’s about 50% who you know, 30% what you can do, and 20% being in the right place at the right time. Always be nice to people too! You never know when you are going to need something from them, or be working under them. The tables turn fast. Don’t get to lofty when you’re and high or too low when down. You should stay level at all times; poker face, bluff how good or bad you are doing and people will always assume the best. It is show business, so naturally it’s all a show, all about image and perception.

If you want to really make it in the film business today however you have to be able to do many things everything. Because of recent transformations, globalization, and general cross promotion you have to be able to do more than just act or sing or write these days. On the flips side you need to be able to do more than answer phones and get coffee, you have to be able to do many things with an effective degree of competence, and still have ability to know how you can do those things and then more things; better. It is a creative business and is always looking for and rewarding creativity on all fronts. After all it is the imaginings of people that is remaking the world as we know it…

The internet and new media has dramatically changed the structure and employment practices of the entertainment world. Competition is now global, decentralized, and has thus has gotten stiff. You are essentially competing with talent from all over the world. These days you will do better if you are able to create jobs not just get them for yourself. If you are not exceptionally talented without training (or after training) they you really need to know somebody. And even knowing somebody is not a guarantee of success. You have to offer something new and something fresh, you have to demonstrate that you can bring a new approach, a new idea, and an ability to tell the difference between the new and old.

If you want to be a Power Player in the biz today you need to be aware of what that takes; a lot. It takes more than just talent, smarts, money or good looks. It takes guts, imagination, intuition and determination. You also need to know the market and trends and how they are changing. You need to understand the business and it’s unconventional operations.

The point is, is that today the media needs artists! People in media today must have the creative ability to express themselves and what they can do. It needs designers with imagination and expression, using computers and market intuition. Being able to artistically express yourself and then sell your creations (stories, scripts, paintings, websites, clothing designs, ect) to people or sell your image to people is the name of the game. Unless of course you work in Administration in which case your job is to spot these people and put them to work for you!

A sign of the times is that big musicians today make much of their money from clothes and products –branding-, not CD's. Actors are following a similar path, getting into fashion design or other arts --or are becoming philanthropists. Postmodern Artists build their empire on their name. They use there name to sell products the have little to do with, or films they were not involved in. They use the aura of there brand to collect tons of money without even doing anything. It’s all about image… reality is irrelevant. Image is all that matters.

How can the used/done be made new and marketable? How is what I bring going to benefit or inspire people? If people like it, if it touches or entertains them, they'll use it. Why would people want to buy what I have? This is what we must begin to ask ourselves in our quest to build an Entertainment. Ask yourself what you want and then listen for the answer; and then go and get it.

Flava flave and Danny Boniduchy...

Disgust me.

Movie: Across the Universe

I liked it.

It didn't quite match the hype I had going in, but I enjoyed it.

Postmodern film making always excites me. I liked the reinvention of songs, the musical, and an over used storyline.

I found the story week but the effects and style redeeming.

I love the music of the Beatles and that's reason enough to watch and listen.

Shows I am liking

Dexter -- Really like it. Great watchable characters, simple and intriguing stories.

The Tudors -- Great casting, historical value, sex, power and the crown... love it. Showtime's coming back!

The Riches -- Really liking it, gonna watch more.

Nip Tuck -- Saw a few of the last season, I liked it. Fun and addictive.

Dirt -- Only seen parts, but I love Cortney Cox

Weeds -- Saw the first two seasons on DVD, really liked it.

60 Minutes -- I like a good news show. Andy Rooney scares me but the journalism in the show is there.

Bill O'Riley -- While I don't always agree with his views or many of his guests I will say he has become more fair and I like the incorporation of obscure words.

The Real Housewives of Orange County -- Got hooked on it, some characters remind me of friends.

20 /20 -- I love the "What would you do" shows and the feel good journalism. Medical mysteries open your eyes to all that can go wrong with the human body and make me scared to have children. It's almost a freak show but they pretty much succeed in giving it a heart and not make it exploitive.

Simpsons -- Always a fan.

American Idol -- This is the first year I have followed it from the beginning and I have grown to understand the players. Before I always just liked the first three episodes.

History Channel -- Always love Modern Marvels, Engineering and Empire, and the shows on Weaponology.

National Geographic Channel -- good shows here and there.

The Adventure of English -- on at 4am, it's the most interesting and informative show on TV. The history of the English language is fascinating to me.

Keeping up with the Kardashians

This is the stupidest show ever.

Alright I have never actually watched it but judging by what I have seen from clips on Talk Soup I can tell it's awful.

Kim Kardashian is disgusting to me. A classic example of a no talent, self obsesses no scruples person who will never understand what life is about.

It used to be that people became famous for doing something good, or something heroic.

These days people become famous for doing something shameful, like making a sex tape with another disgusting self obsessed no brain. Or going to rehab, or something like that...

Kim represents the decline of television and even the decline America...

so sad.

John McCain

I think John McCain is good man; an honorable man and a true patriot.

But he is not the President that we need in this time of great change.

McCain is not knowledgeable on the main issues that this country is facing: Health Care, the Economy, the Environment...

McCain is a war guy. He likes the war, he wants it to go on because like Bush Co, he gets his strength from it. The trouble is, it needs to end. America cannot afford it in it's present state. A base there is inescapable, but a protracted occupation like we have now is not sustainable.

Because McCain is not very knowledgeable on the economy and health care he is not prepared to address the problems with vision, and this is when the corporations provide one for you a la Bush's Prescription drug benefit Plan that cost the tax payers billions needlessly.

McCain is not a bad guy, but not the man America needs right now.

SNL

SNL is coming back slightly I think. It is still a far cry from the Will Ferrell days but I am really likeing Kristin Wig, I like Amy Pohler and a couple of the guys. I don't really like or get Will Forte.

Lasts night's SNL however was bad. Super Bad's Johah Hill was not good at all. I actually can't stand him after watching the episode. My fears that he is just like the characters he plays was realized. He is just like the characters he plays. He is not really an actor he is just playing himself. I find him gross, crude and horribly crass and almost disturbing. Not funny at all, he had no chemistry with the cast. He dominated the scenes in a bad way. One schetch was him talking non stop about how he is six years old, no one else really spoke... it was practically unwatchable.

Movie: Jumper

On a scale of 1 to 10... I give it a 5.

Hayden Christensin (or whatever) is the worst actor. Horrible delivery, totally unbelievable as any character. Rachel Bilson (who I like) is still stuck as 'Summer' from The OC. She had a few good moments but is really not a great actress either. Samuel L. Jackson also always plays an angry black man. All his roles are the same as well, this time they changed his hair color to make him seem different.... didn't work.

The effects were nice, it is the only redeaming element of the film. The plot was full of holes and clunky, the back story was hard, but poorly explained.

The story is sort of fun, it looked like a great movie to work on, great locations, some great shots, but the film was flat, oddly dull.

The Academy Awards: Revival Plan

The Oscars have been in rating free fall since 1998, that 'Titanic' year.
--Entertainment Weekly reports that the show is badly in need of a revival plan--

I would like to take this opportunity to put in my two cents:

In the postmodern times the film industry has gone global.. All the best acting gold this year went to foreigners. Many of the other talent are not Americans either. This has been happening for a while now but it is now really beginning to disconnect the heart of America from the elite Academy members.

It is essencial that Hollywood embrace talent from all over the world. It is important fot Hollywood that it remains the motion picture capital of the world and as such it must constantly acknowledge and find new talent. While this may alienate Americans it pleases foriengers. So while American viewer ship has been slipping global viewership has gone up. Awarding foriegners makes Hollywood global wich is certianly good for business.

American actors and big studio films need to get better. The problem is the average American consumer would see Saw 5 instead of There Will be Blood, and the studio's play to this. Because the average movie goer does not like, or can't follow a well done movie, it makes it hard for commercial success and critical success or academy praise to go hand in hand.

My solution for this is as follows.

Before the Academy announces it's nominations, a seperate group should begin the process of polling and asking regular Americans there choices for best movie of the year, best actor, best actress ect. They could have a website where after January 1st people can regisiter to vote and people can vote for their favorites pics for all the major catagories. The Academy would then make it's own announcements and both would be announced at the awards show. The First 3o minutes of the show would be a compilation of the best moments of the years movies, and the results of Americas votes would be announced.* This would provide insight for the academy (on it's connect or disconnect for the year), interest for the masses, reason for then to tune in, and would seek to promote more movies making the award show about all movies, making the studios and the networks happy as well. The awards would still only be for Academy pics but it would help give praise for the Will Ferrels and other comedic types who do great work but are not recognized.

*It would not be a 'Peoples choice' type thing, it could be done with class.

I would also condiser adding a comedy catagory. it could be for men and women combined, i would love to see comedians acknowledged for there contribution.

1 out of 100???

The New York Times reported today that one out of evcery 100 people is in prison.

This is out of control? Isn't it? America has more people behind bars than even China. Many states spend more on Prisons than they do on higher education!!! Something has to change... this seems completely out of control to me.

We need to figure out a cheaper way to deal with people. We need to get everyone that can work, working for the economy somehow. Working on road, building things or manufacturing something. Whit collar criminals should be punished by forced labor by the governenment. If they do a bad job, or constantly show poor work, the sentence continues. They should pay there debt to society by working for society. This is where I think planeting microchips comes in. --If you commit a felony you have lost the right to privacy-- This way people can be tracked.

For the length of their sentence they must live in governemt housing, and ride a special buss to and from work at there specified state job. If they attempt to go anywhere else, there punishment time gets longer. If they deviate again. They are incarcerated. They would be required to clean and do other chores, much like Army personell. The whole thing would be much like a non-volunteer Army. Because criminals cannot be trusted with weapons we cannot send them to combat. Peace keeping mission abroad would be a possibility for some people. Drugs and alcohol would be strictly forbidden and random testing would be done ontiop of weekly testing.

This would save the government BILLIONS and would not only help rehabilitate people and put them to work for the society they harmed but also teach people who never had a teacher. Education would also be mandatory for all who cannot pass a standardized test. Certian inmates/participants could follow classes over the internet and work towards degrees.

Also to spead the process along, all capital crimes that have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt (unequivical DNA or video proof) should be processed immediatley and the criminals executed within a year.

I know it seems harsh but when you think about how it cost's almost $40,000 to house and watch these people, it is more than obvious that that money should be spend elswhere, like on education and crime prevention!!!

Just my thoughts

Hillary or Obama?

This Democratic Primary is something isn't it? Who would have thought it would drag out this long? Hillary didn't.

But there is nothing like a good fight to gather the crowds and rally the party. This Primary is so important and so viscious because we all know that a democrat is going to win the White House. I think most people are so tired of the Repilican gaurd (including the planet) that it is all but certian. This fight for the Democratic nomination is so huge because it is essentially a fight for the presidency.

** John McCain is just to old and stale for most Americans. Huckabee just likes to campaign, go on TV and collect money from people, he's not a bad guy, but let's be honest he's in it for the fame. He doesn't strike me as Presidential at all.**

So which canidate should be President? Barack or Hillary?

Change is something we will get no matter which of our choices we elect... The question is what kind of change do you want, or to what degree?

I like Barack Obama, he is smart, articulate and a burst of life into a stale and rigid system. I look forward to great things from him. I want to see more of what he stands for, more of what he can do as a leader. But I don't think it is his time to be president.

I personally support Hillary. I think she is more prepared, she has more skills and abilities to get things done. She knows the world leaders, knows the policies, knows what she wants and needs to do to get things back to where they were before the Bush/Rove/Cheney debacle. I want a President who supports and is friendly with California. I think it is time America has a Woman president and I think that Hillary is the most qualified.

Barack has run an awesome campaign, he has vitalized, galvanized and the disenfranchised with his messages. He has great support (Obviosuly the Kennedy's are going to support him because it suits there image as much or more than it suits his, Oprah should stay out of Polotics and just stick to giving stuff away. He also has support from Repulicans who just want to hurt Hillary.) and is no doubt a fine man, and a long needed leader and role model for Black America.

He has become a trend and I am always weary of trends. I feel Barack is un-tested. By comparison he has no credit history and is seeking to buy a mansion. I'm not saying he can't afford it... he very well could, i'm just saying, if I was the Bank I would want a little more credit history before I give out such a loan. America is in a delicate place right now and experience is essential to getting things done, and even more so for undueing things that have already been done. Running America is no easy task and if you don't know what you are doing, or who you can trust, or who can help you or who is out to hurt you... things can go sour. I like that Hillary has been through this all already. She survived the worst smear campaign the Republicans could muster. No easy feat.

I also understand why she voted for the war. She, like most people thought it would be like the first Gulf War, quick and easy. It is not her fault that Billions were wasted and 'dissappeared'. That Halliburton didn't rebuild, or the Rumsfeld allowed the torturing of people. America cannot help but be involved in the Middle East. The Saudi's wanted us to dispose of him, Isreal wanted us to dispose of him, and Exxon wanted the oil. America needed that oil to stabalize it's economy, we needed to bring change to the region, the question was only how?

Bush Co.'s method of maddness f*cked Iraq up royally, wasted billions and dragged it on for as long as it possibly could/can so the checks for Halliburton keep coming, and so we can secure our control over the oil. It has all been done on purpose, there is no mistake about it.

I understand why Barack would vote against the war (remember it was a vote to dispose Sadaam, not a vote to send 140,000 troops over to Iraq for 5 years), but I also know why Hillary would vote for it.

No one wants this to get ugly, but everyone likes a fight. Obviously I am going to support whomever the nominie is but I would love to see a Hillary Obama ticket. I think that would be the best way to unify the party, and that way Barack would be fully prepared for the Presidency 4 or 8 years later.

Change we will have no matter what, and that is something I can't wait for!

TWB Farwell

No one is going to think anything of TWB until someone from TWB sells a script. Or until someone finds a script on TWB and buys it.

And the people whose thoughts matter are never going to even know about TWB unless that film is made AND makes money.

There is no getting around that.

So the question then becomes How is someone at TWB going to sell a script?

If you ask me you should make it a group effort. Write great scripts, with peer reviews et al. Collaborate and share methods and contacts, have four people work on getting one script seen and sold. You stand a much better chance focusing on one script, than four people working on four scripts or eight.

Find a project to rally around, work as a team to write it, promote it, get it buz, get it seen and read. Then if you sell it the credit TWB and the main contridutors. This would make TWB the contact that it so needs. It would make it a place where scripts go to get polished and sold, and it would give it cred that would make Agents or producers more likely to look for material.

What is important to remember is that everyone at TWB is writing 'Spec Scripts'. No one asked for them, they were written on speculation and by definition need to be four quadrant high concept, very marketable stories. Juno is the perfect example. No Country for Old Men would never sell on Spec.

I moved to LA almost two years ago and have worked on TV shows, feature films, Agencies, and management companies. I have leanred so much in this and i am still trying to understand how it all works... when you think you know, it all changes again or the rules you thought existed are all being broken. There is a definitate path to the biz, and Lit agents and producers can smell an outsider from a mile away. If you don't follow the path you will never get anywhere. There are shortcuts and there are hurdles. But if you don't even know the path you will wander aimlessly forever.

So what is the path?

Know someone in the biz who wants to help you.

or

Write a verified excellent Spec script; marketable catchy, relevant, and interesting. Make sure everyone knows about it; agents, producers, managers. Find that one person that wants to make it and buy it. Pray it makes money.

**

I have feel I am getting close and I am building up some contacts of my own, but i am not in a place to get anyone elses material read, especially if it is not amazingly good. I have enough trouble getting my material read! Remember you are competing with thousands of writers who have sold scripts, so it has to be really good or really original to even have a chance.

The issue with TWB is that is doesn't help people like me: young, in LA and work in the biz, and aspiring screewriter. When I first began looking for help in my screenwriting career/mission I found TWB. I was immature and rambuctions; but was overly criticized, even discouraged here. I went elsewhere for help and found it. Today I have a great relationship with a Literary Agent and I make new contacts on every job. I know it's only a matter of time before I write a perfect spec and get it into the right hands. It takes a lot of work, dedication and timing. But I am in for the long haul.

I think there is a definate place for TWB. This thread got me thinking about TWB and how I used it. There were some great discussons from 2005 I am copying before they get deleted. The way I see TWB today is the same way any Agency or Production house is going to see it? What have you done for me lately? No one is this biz is going to stick there neck out for you. It's unwise. It is better to say no on something that seems viable, than to say yes on something, spend millions and be totally wrong.

I know many 'senior members' don't like me as far as I can tell. None have really been helpful to me whe I asked for it; so it is hard for me to want to help them. I am in a position to help people these days but I have found a circle that I trust and that supports me, we support eachother. Helping people is a great way to help yourself. The sucess of your friends is your success right? Choose your friends well.

Once my membership expires I will not be renewing it. Wish me luck! I wish TWB the best of luck. Don't stop beleiving.

Oscars 2008

Not a bad show. Not a great show.

Dark themes, alienation, death, pain, greed, evil...

As Jon Stewart said, "Thank God for team pregnancy!"

I would have like to see more clip shows like the ones Billy Crystal did. I like Jon Stewart I think he is a great host, but I want to see the show more lively and fun. Next year hopefully the movies won't be so dark. It was a dark year for Hollywood and indeed America.

I am actaully really glad that Tilda and the French girl won. I like them both and am going to see 'en Rose' soon.

I have been watching the Academy awards since i was a kid. It is one of my favorite things, my family has always been into it. My Mom was always routing for the underdog foriegn films... it seemt that the international is now winning the prestige war with the Hollywood studios. And the foriegn acots are stealing all the American Academy gold!

Hollywood needs to take a good hard look at itself and try and understand why this is happening. Why are the people who don't live in LA better actors?

I hope the 'Britney Spears' disease is not spreading... mediocraty we cannot have.

Movie: Michael Clayton

Very good movie.

It was very Syriana, highly convoluted, hard to follow, and confusing. This film however comes together perfectly in one swoop. It all makes sense all the sudden. It truly is a great film, I would highly recommend to all intellegent film viewers.

Not Clooney's best performance I thought, he brought the gusto in the final scene, but other than that scene I didn't see a great performance.

I liked No Country for Old Men better, but this film is certianly justified as a best picture nomination.

8.6

It's a sign.

I am currently writing a script called "The Nigerian Letter". On the Tonight show with Jay Leno the term came up. It's a sign. It's gonna be a great movie. This was a sign.

Movie: There Will Be Blood

Very good.

Danielle Day Lewis is amazing. A truly powerful performance. He was the film, and he was rivetting. A great story, with a good cast.

I don't see it as best picture, but DDL should get best actor, hands down.


8.5 out of 10.

Hollywood Types

I feel like I am turning into a 'Hollywood' type.

I am not an actor, but sometimes I act like one.

I am not a director but I direct things.

I have never sold a screenplay --yet but I am close.

I live in Hollywoodland in a dream.

I am always looking for friends and networking contacts, I am going to start to put a production company together in the next year and I am going to add Producer to my resume.

I don't want to be just another Hollywood type, I want to be the guy that went Hollywood but never forgot where he came from.