And now I begin the journey of slobbering and raving all over The Matrix series. You know those experiences in movies when, after it’s all over, you want to believe what you saw is real? I had that. And the insane desire to practice martial arts moves. I can say with pure conviction that this movie was the exact point where I defined
That’s a stunner right there.
myself as a person. My love for action/martial arts films started here. My love for metal also started here. With how I’m saying this was such a definitive movie in my life, how can it not be considered amazing and a game changer?
For those who don’t know what The Matrix as a movie/concept is, I’m not gonna reveal too much, but I’m going to talk about this movie at great length. So sit back, relax, and be ready to jump into that rabbit hole.
Mr Anderson…
The Matrix is the story of Neo (Keanu Reeves), a computer hacker by night and a computer programmer by day. The duality between his life is cleverly dictated by colors and clothing as well as surroundings. On a constant search for Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), Neo must steer two lives as Mr. Anderson and Neo in order to bring some semblance to his life. But he discovers something he may not have expected. In a chance encounter with Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), Neo realizes the truth about the turn of the century world we live in even as we speak.
In a world so heavily controlled by technology and computers, it isn’t any wonder that a film with complete computer
Black is back.
dependence would be created. It adds an element of mystery to it when the creators of the film, the Wachowski Brothers, are really not well known at all. Wanting to keep their own privacy, it seems as if these brothers know something about the world they’re not supposed to tell…
He is the one. (How many times have you seen this homaged in movies?
I truly love all the influences that the Wachowski Brothers drew on in order to make this movie. Anime style world and immersion, sci-fi concepts and futuristic ideas of control and advancement, Kung Fu fight scenes, even turn of the century CG effects and camera techniques. This movie, in 1999, was the true game changer when it came to creating a whole new era of cinematography and special effects through computer graphics. This movie was well thought out in all aspects and stands as one of the last true bastions of original thought in cinema. Stand aside Inception, you took your “original” ideas from The Matrix. (The whole time I was sitting in the theater at Inception, I thought hmmm, this seems familiar… A dream within a dream? More like, are we within the Matrix?)
She wrecks pretty hard in this one.
Some people criticize the first film for creating this amazing start to a story with original story and unconventional means of explanation. Then the second half of the film deals with guns and fighting, turning into a traditional action film. That is EXACTLY what I wanted from this film. I am a sucker for great fight scenes and lots of blood and carnage. This movie made me think at the same time that it delivered in a visually stunning way. When you can cross genres like this film did, you know you created something unique.
Add to wonderful things about this film: acting. You got a great cast that each person has done a handful of works, but not that well known. You got Laurence Fishburne, a man who will always been seen as
The greatest fight scene of all time.
Morpheus. His ability to act as sensei and grandmaster of knowledge and leadership shines in this film. Joe Pantoliano as Cypher. He did some work before this, but I felt this was a springboard for a lot of actors to get bigger and better work heading into the 2000’s. His “cheesy action lines” felt well delivered, as did every line in this film. This is one of those movies in which every line feels original, as if Neo is awaking to a world where everything is new and fresh. That’s excellent. Carrie-Anne Moss is the sexy, badass, femme-fatale chick who rocks the short haircut and kicks in bullet time. I had no idea who she was, but this movie made me aware a woman can be just as cold and calculated in a film like this. Cue every other female hero in a movie after this one.
A world gone wrong.
And then we come to Keanu Reeves as Neo. People complain he didn’t do well. People make fun of Keanu Reeves in general as always playing that dumbass Ted from the Bill & Ted movies. I would say he lost the surfer accent in this movie and really took the reins. His character dictates the film and discovers himself throughout the series, regardless if anyone thinks Keanu is a good actor. Here’s the thing though. Could you imagine anyone else in the role of Neo? Will Smith turned it down because he felt he wasn’t mature enough of an actor to do the role. And Nic Cage was offered the role. As amazing of a movie as that would’ve been, it wouldn’t have been as good. I think the Wachowski Brothers made the best choice possible. Of anyone.
So you got the great acting, the amazing cinematography and effects, and an amazing storyline. What more could you need? ENTER THE AMAZING SOUNDTRACK. Don Davis absolutely
Mind bending with Aang. (Am I right?)
created the best score possible to set the tone for this movie. An amazing brass section to create revelation moments throughout the film, making the jumps and feats seem that much more badass. Quick trills and a pounding bassline when needed just to make you wish you were onscreen, in the Matrix, doing what Neo is doing. When a soundtrack, not even the songs used, can pump you up that much, that is an award winning musical score.
And then there’s the songs from the film. Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Deftones, Rage Against the Machine… Talk about all the 1990’s greats that have exploded into the 2000’s. This movie made “Calm like a Bomb” at the end feel like the only song anyone could ever
I’m calm like a bomb.
end a film with. So kick ass. When I heard those ending credits roll, I knew what kind of music would define my life for the rest of it. Superb.
So combine all these outrageously amazing aspects into one film and create a series out of it? You have me hooked for life. I would consider this in the top three movie trilogies of all time, probably #1 of all time. Nothing gets better than this if you love movies. No question. 10 out of 10. Check it out to see just how deep the rabbit hole goes (I also love Alice in Wonderland. Go figure.)
In a turn of events of Park Chan-wook’s series, it’s the lady’s turn to be the one seeking vengeance. In this straightforward, lunge at the throat revenge story, Park Chan-wook ends his series. This one is a bit more delicate and see-through than the other movies, but it leaves the series with a bit of a twist and bang.
Lee Geum-ja (Lee Young Ae) is a recently released child murderer who smothered a kidnap victim with a pillow to stifle his cries. After confessing, she went to jail for 13 years, performing good deeds and being seen as a saint in jail. She helped out her
Stone. Cold. Fox.
fellow cellmate and seems to have done a complete 180 on being released from jail. She’s cold. She’s calculated. And she’s going after the real killer who framed her. Classic revenge story? You got it.
I was a bit surprised this one was a bit more straightforward with who was seeking revenge against who. Lee Geum-ja is going after Mr. Baek (Choi Min-sik), that classical actor and wonderful dramatic presence.
I loved this tatoo.
He has less of a role in this movie, but Lee Young Ae makes up for that with a femme fatale performance that would make any man shiver his timbers. What I really liked in this movie is the way that Park Chan-wook wanted the revenge scene (as Lee Geum-ja wanted it) was to be poetic and beautiful at the same time it would be cathartic and an aggressional release.
The cinematography and locations are once again stunning. Snow scenes, an abandoned school and the ironical revenge point, and a few strangely surreal daydreams and flashbacks that occur that I quite liked. I liked the initial setup on Lee Geum-ja in jail. She’s meeting all
Really stunning color scheme right there.
these hardened women criminals and they always label them by name and years served. Then somehow there’s someone who Lee Geum-ja saves them and uses that later on in the film. I enjoyed the whole “Ocean’s 11 feel” for the small part of the film.
The end scene is why you watch this film. You feel for the whole situation and you know that it’s very real human response that is dished out there (no spoilers!). It’s harsh and brutal and it comes from a place most of us dream about but are never given the chance to. You’ll just have to see for yourself…
This is that weird thing I was talking about…
What more is there to say about this? Lee Young Ae is a cold beauty and really sells the part. The movie has this whole quirky, otherwordly feel to it where street justice is dealt out in a modern day world. I just think those South Koreans really know how to make a spectacular set of films. And a cameo by Song Kang-ho and Yu Ji-tae! Get some of this Lady Vengeance. 8.3 out of 10.
We know that everyone who watches this series misses Nathan. It’s true, Robert Sheehan was the standout star of this show, really bringing down the house with his no holds barred comedy and wise cracking. Hell, I miss him more than anything. So much so, that I didn’t watch the third series until now. My grieving was great, but it was time to figure out who gets what new powers in this series.
Amazingly enough, this series doesn’t ease old viewers in with the typical start you’d think of the old characters reuniting. This series hits you off kilter at first with Joseph Gilgun who plays Rudy, the psychologically ripped apart sociopath with two personalities. So what do you think his power is? Who would’ve guessed?
Now, Joseph Gilgun is kinda meant to replace Nathan. His character Rudy is, for lack of a better word, rude, and insensitive. He never
Look! They’re all friends!
apologizes and is always looking for the next shag. Often confused and slow, this hides his sensitive side that never wants to be hurt. He is a good replacement. I have to say it. I enjoyed Gilgun just as much as I enjoyed Sheehan’s wisecracking. They’re both sexually ignorant and rude, and they both have this immaculate sense of timing. I was impressed, so give him a chance, you lot of Nathan lovers out there.
Some serious stuff going down this series…
From there we hit the ground running. Everyone has their new powers all lined up in a row, Alisha can do this, and Curtis can do that, and Simon has his own thing going on. Kelly, well, she’s just Kelly. (And she has become a Hell of a lot funnier.) Out of community service, it just so happens that Rudy stumbles upon them, befriends them, and steals a car, getting them all back into community service as accessories to the crime.
From here, the show features 8 episodes, most focusing around Simon’s destiny with the past and Alisha. Some focus around Rudy and his new spice he brings to the group, and, in a surprise twist, some focuses around Seth (Matthew McNulty) the drug dealer turned power swapper. There’s some juicy gossip there I can’t get into, but you’ll see soon enough. I also have to mention this before I forget, but, if while watching this show, you feel Rudy talks and acts like a comic version of Christian Bale (skinny of course, and lanky…) then let me know via comment.
A bigger part this series?
As with every season of Misfits, I am more and more impressed with the show. It has such great characters that you grow with and hope for the best for. The comedy is spot on and there’s even more geeky references to movies and pop culture in this season! The sex is toned down and the relationships between the characters have improved. Nobody hates each other as much as they used to, and you can see the friendships growing. There’s not even that much gripe about Rudy joining the group. The ending is bittersweet and I have no idea what they’re gonna do next season.
Here’s why. Kelly (Lauren Socha) is leaving for personal reasons. Her character wasn’t properly sent off or anything so I have no idea what’s happening there. Simon (Iwan Rheon) and Alisha (Antonia Thomas) were properly sent off, and each of them made the appropriately professional and separate choice to leave the show. They had a great run and this is what you come to expect from British T.V. Curtis (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) is staying on, which I found a surprise. This leave Rudy (Gilgun) and Curtis on the show currently. They are only seeking out another female, and two male roles. Looks like the makings of a sausage fest.
They have made strides in who they have picked for the new series though. It has been confirmed that three new
You’ll be sorely missed Lauren. I will always adore you.
characters named Jess, Finn and Alex. Jess will be played by Karla Crome will play Jess. From the pictures I’ve just looked up on Google (she hasn’t done anything I’ve seen) she should be a good, darker character addition to the show (and I don’t mean skin color, the pics online show her to be a femme fatale). Finn was confirmed as Nathan McMullen, the goofy and nice kid. They have one pic of this kid online over and over, and he looks like a sweet, curly headed kid. Guess he fits the part. These kids are so young these days…
So I hope everyone is ready for a hell of a good time with Series 3, and looking forward to Series 4. I know I am, and I’m gonna give Series 3 a good rating that it deserves. Not the same as Series 1 or 2, but something different and good all the same. 9 out of 10.
What is there to say about Mnemosyne? This short 6 episode, 45 minutes per is one of those anime you watch without really being able to explain it. Set in 4 different time periods (1990’s, 2011, 2025, and 2055) these episodes display a pattern that is constantly broken. Rin, a private investigator and femme fatale, takes the ordinary and mundane in her cases and uncovers the surreal and supernatural. And this isn’t unfounded. Rin herself is an immortal. How did she get to become an immortal? Well you’ll just have to watch to find out.
There’s not a lot to say about this show, so this’ll probably be a short review. The plot becomes intricate as it
Too sexy Rin.
develops, so it’s not too hard to follow despite the changes in time. There are some consistent characters though. Besides Rin (Colleen Clinkenbeard), there’s her assistant Mimi (Jamie Marchi) the other immortal computer wiz of the ever changing duo. And, as the show progresses, Koki Maeno (Robert McCollum) and his descendants become integral parts of the plot.
See what I mean?
This anime is quite graphic as well. Known as a grotesque and erotic anime, there’s some pretty gruesome and pornographic scenes. I mean this thing borders on straight up Hentai. (Not for the kids, mind.) These elements mix to make a suspenseful thriller mystery unlike most anime I’ve ever seen of any of these anime by themselves. I mean there are scenes of sodomy, scenes of overwhelming erotic passion, and bondage with torture. Who doesn’t love that?
I initially wanted to watch this anime because of a really cool AMV I saw (I’ll post it at the end) and I had no idea what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. I had originally planned to watch this subbed and found a respectable english voice class. Todd Haberkorn did a great job as Apos, the slightly devious and strangely evil… well… angel. (Now you have to watch it.) I’ve not seen Haberkorn
Rin. A different experience.
ever voice act for a villain, but it was slightly chilling. Christopher Bevins gave a respectable performance as Tamotsu Yanagihara, the hardened investigator who’s career develops over the course of the anime. And I give all the credit to Colleen Clinkenbeard for her performance as Rin, the amazingly sexy protagonist of the series.
So, all in all, this is a little anime that gives the creeps. Tastefully sexual and quite intricate, it’s worth more than one watch. Check out Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne, straight out of The Abyss. 7.2 out of 10.
And now I begin the journey of slobbering and raving all over The Matrix series. You know those experiences in movies when, after it’s all over, you want to believe what you saw is real? I had that. And the insane desire to practice martial arts moves. I can say with pure conviction that this movie was the exact point where I defined
