Tekken: Blood Vengeance tells a story set between Tekkens 5 and 6 that
is "parallel" to the canonical Tekken fiction. Both English and
Japanese-voiced versions of the film will be available, and the game's
voice actors will be used for some characters. The movie is being
produced by Digital Frontier (the outfit that created Resident Evil:
Degeneration, Death Note, and Appleseed) and scripted by Dai Sato,
writer for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Cowboy Bebop. The
director is Youichi Mouri, who directed the opening cinematics for both
Tekken 5 and Tekken 6.
REVIEW:
I can't describe my happiness right now! I know i'm supposed to review other things first, but only yesterday i watched this and i'm too excited to leave it behind. Tekken was always one my favorite games on the PS consoles and when i learned for an CG ANIMATION movie from game people and Digital Frontier i was obviously "hell yeah!".
So anyway, as the summary say it's a story between Tekken 5 and Tekken 6 games. The characters who are part of the movie are the ones from the poster above, plus 2-3 more with 2 of them Shin and Alice to be two of the newest characters on the game but the main heroes in the movie along with Xiaoyu.
Where should i start though...hmm...as a movie it was quite enjoyable, except the last 10 mins or so which became a bit "nah" with the final battle and the very philosophical ending. The rest was exciting and quite funny actually. I was also watching the dubbed version and i have to say i really like the voices. They felt okay with the characters. And there was even character development for Alice! Maybe i was expecting more battles or even the Tekken tournament, but i can't say i'm entirely disappointed that it was more story based.
I really can't say much on the animation. I was like "O_O". I can not explain how magnificent it was! The best CG animation movie i've seen from the special effects aspect. And i was cursing all the time for not being able to watch it in 3D as well. It would have been awesome! Everything was so detailed and real! Even the background people were so well made.
Take a look at Nina jumping epically from a bike
As for the characters they picked? Xiaoyu was always my favorite so i didn't mind having the movie playing around her. I just wish they had used more old characters like Hwoarang, Eddie, Christie, Paul, etc.
The atmosphere of the movie in general is great. I think any person who watched the Final Fantasy movies or played the Tekken games would like it. It's not the super wow movie, but it's good and a lot better than the live action version which was released earlier this year. Plus, the graphics...O_O . I'm currently trying to convince my friends come over at my house so will have one more reason to re-watch it.
Watch for the signs!
What signs these shall be, I say unto you: first the earth will flow
with the blood of Aen Seidhe, the Blood of Elves...
For over a
century, humans, dwarves, gnomes, and elves have lived together in
relative peace. But times have changed, the uneasy peace is over, and
now the races are fighting once again. The only good elf, it seems, is a
dead elf.
Geralt of Rivia, the cunning assassin known as The
Witcher, has been waiting for the birth of a prophesied child. This
child has the power to change the world - for good, or for evil.
As
the threat of war hangs over the land and the child is hunted for her
extraordinary powers, it will become Geralt's responsibility to protect
them all - and the Witcher never accepts defeat.
Following The
Last Wish, BLOOD OF ELVES is the new novel starring Geralt of Rivia, the
inspiration for the critically-acclaimed videogame The Witcher.
REVIEW: I got the book in a trade and well i will admit...i just got it because of the title. I didn't even read the summary. Actually i still haven't. It just seemed to cool to not try it. And hey! It was amazing!
It is one of the best epic fantasy books i've read. My favorite part is that instead of following the prophecy child, you follow everyone else around her and the events concerns her. It barely has 10 pages from the girl's POV. And it was one really good break to read, from the people on the background and see how they think and why they act they way they act. I don't say i didn't want to read more from her, because she quite an interesting heroine but i don't really mind that i didn't either. I mean i'm a little tired of small kids training and being heroes. And it's one of those times i happen to know the people of the books well, and create feelings for the characters except a simple like or dislike but instead trusting them, sympathize with them, etc.
The book starts with a battle which is actually really intriguing and one of the most alive battles i've ever read. With small sentences and direct, you feel the character to the bone. And then it goes into the main story with an introduction of a the world and the story, through a small festival and conversation on a song of a bard between people of all classes. I have to admit that it was one of the most interesting ways to read about the world of a book and it wasn't tiring or with had too many details that you forgot lately. Everything you need to know is there, so the author can go on without having in mind to create scenes where he has to explain things that were said.
Another thing i would like to mention is that the first chapter of the book was like 40 pages! I've never seen something like that before. It usually is around 20 pages each chapter but here i was reading and reading and reading :P
In conclusion, i think the every epic fantasy fan should give it a chance. It is a great and quite different book and at the same time has a really original story.
There is a way into
Faerie, beyond the fields we know, and it lies in a village called
Wall, somewhere in the early Victorian era. Every nine years there is a
fair on the other side of the wall, where Faerie sells its wares to
the mundane. Farmer Duncan Thorne had his moment of mad love with a
witch's bondservant; Tristan, his son, turned up in a basket nine
months later. Now Tristan is old enough to fall in love, and promises
Victoria a falling star... This is a fairy story in the tradition of
George MacDonald and Hope Mirlees; a book of passion and terror and wit
which reminds us that Faerie is not a safe place, or a fair one.
REVIEW: Stardust movie is one my favorite fairy tales of all time, so when i learned it was based on a book i just have to buy it and read it because we all know that 95% of the times, the book is way better than the movie!
If you have watch the movie, you need to forget everything. The only thing that the book and the movie have in common is the main idea "Tristan finds star, goes to the Wall, falls in love with the star". The adventure, even the personalities of the characters is entirely different. In general, the story itself is more adulty and even have a slightly different ending.
Gaiman's writing is fantastic. Written like you hear someone tell you a fairytale, but at times commenting on other parallel things like we do when we talk, it makes the book real and close to the reader. The fact that is also small and you can read it in one sit, creates an exciting read which takes your mind out of our world.
I can say that i would totally love the Faerie World. It's full of magic and creatures out of myths. But at the same time, i like how dangerous the adventure can be. Where it's different from a usual kid's story (and the movie) is how there are some explicit content or some more mature ( as a way of thinking) scenes.
As for the characters, Tristan and Yvainne easily steal the scene, with Yvainne my personal favorite! I totally loved how strong and how she did not afraid to speak her mind was. And the usual disagreements with Tristan, were just so funny! Both had the most enjoyable scenes from start to end. One more comment though, is that their romance it's not exactly in depth as in most fairytales is as well. It's more based on the journey than the connection between the characters.
Overall i can say i enjoyed it. It was not what i expected after watching movie and it's unfair for anyone to compare them anyway. They are like two different stories. But it was indeed a good story, for a day's read.
As you can obviously see our new template is on. I didn't make the whole thing but i did some serious coding for sure ^^
I'm currently fixing some small things around, so if you see something that doesn't work please let me know.
As i noticed through various computers though, the new template:
-fit all screens
-loading faster
-is simpler yet cleaner
AND
-has more categories under the reviews tab in the navigation
-has an index with meme posts
-has a slider with some of the latest interesting posts
-an avatar for the ones who put it in their blog will be available soon enough
-sharing links will be available at the end of the posts as well
PLEASE for any problem, let me know. Any comment is appreciated.
In April 2009, a group of University of MichiganTeam StarKid[94][95]) performed "Harry Potter: The Musical", a two act musical parody that featured major elements from all seven books and an original score. They posted the entire musical on their YouTube channel but removed it in late June, to edit some more mature elements from the videos. The musical, retitled students (A Very Potter Musical, was reposted on 5 July 2009. The plot followed Voldemort's attempts to return to his body using Professor Quirrell and the House Cup Tournament. A sequel was premiered at the 2010 HPEF Harry Potter Conference Infinitus. The sequel was later released on YouTube on July 22 at 8pm EST, called A Very Potter Sequel, and featured the Death Eaters using the Time-Turner to go back in time to Harry's first year in Hogwarts.
REVIEW:
THE EPICNESS IS HERE! YES YES!
A Very Potter Musical & Sequel were 5 hours awesomely spent on Youtube! Harry Potter fan or not, i think you should watch it. Maybe you will not get all the jokes but this thing is just amazing! Just have in mind some basics from Harry Potter and you are okay. They are mixing up the stories anyway. The play was created for fun. It's full of jokes, songs and while it's a parody they do get some Harry Potter things better than the movies.
....we gotta get back to hogwarts
we gotta get back to school
we gotta get back to hogwarts
where everything is magic-cooooool
back to witches and wizards, and magical beasts
to goblins and ghosts and to magical feasts
it's all that I love, and it's all that I need at
HOGWARTS, HOGWARTS...
The actors are not famous people, except Darren Criss who plays Harry (he is known from Glee), who he actually wasn't famous at the time they did it either. But hell! Those guys are talented! They are better than many professional actors we see out there, with great acting and musical skills!
Almost all of the known characters from HP appear (except some of the adults) without afraid putting girls into boys roles and the opposite and make something extraordinary.
I have already learn full lines from the play and i repeat them to my friends again and again. And i actually made Johnny and Filios, to watch some parts and i'm planning to make them watch the whole thing at some point. Until then, they will just have to keep listening to me XD
Team Starkid also has other plays on Youtube (if i didn't mention it already you can watch everything on Youtube and there are versions with subs too) and they actually touring for concerts with their songs. How perfect is to sing songs about Hogwarts!? Too bad i will never get to see them up close.
I really don't know what to say. I just loved it so much! I'm out of words really...and i'm thinking to fill the post with gifs so you will get a glimpse!...sigh...i was trying to find some cool gifs and i started watching it again...i'm obsessed...
Needless to say that Filios spit out his water at this part and couldn't stop laughing.
Red Vines Appreciation Pic
Red Vines Appreciation Gif..because a photo is not enough
And hey! EVEN Tom Felton approves!
And here is the first part for the people who are too bored to Youtube it by themselves! (you can also search with "English subtitles" if you want)
When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the tiny blue Smurfs out of their village, they tumble from their magical world into New York City.
REVIEW: The reason I decided to watch this movie is because of the Smurfs. I remember watching the cartoon when I was little and being fascinating by those little blue creatures. But despite that it never occured me to search more about them when I got older. Anyway, the movie made me bring back memories from when I was little and I used to wake up early in the weekend mornings so I can catch up the cartoons on TV and the time I was a kid in general.
Back to the movie: The movie itself is really good. It has graphics and effects that make the magic places and the Smurfs look real and cute. I liked the way they show New York City, it's not much, since Smurfs are small and they don't travel in long distances, but what they show you is enough. The actors were really good, I mean most of them had to talk to the air while they were shouting the movie and for that I respect them. The only problem I had was the choice of the Smurfs. Some of them weren't that famous and my guess is that they choose those because they were easy to distinguish from long distance. There were many funny moments and most of them were Gargamel's and Azrael's. They all have to adjust to a new way of living and find a solution to accomplish their goals and they all do it with funny, for us, logical, for them, reactions.
Bottom line, I reccomend the movie to the kids and those who want to feel like kids again. I, personally, had a nice time watching it and I spent a funny afternoon.
P.S.: The review above is NOT for the 3D version. Sorry guys, but I'm sure the 3D was more spectacular.
Jenny is a shy,
small-town South Carolina girl whose touch spreads a deadly supernatural
plague. She can't touch anyone for long without killing them. Her life
is painfully lonely until she meets a boy named Seth with the opposite
power, a healing touch. Jenny's love for Seth brings the wrath of Seth's
beautiful, popular and devious girlfriend, Ashleigh, who secretly
wields the most dangerous power of all--the power to inspire love.
REVIEW: When i saw how many good reviews Jenny Pox had, i thought it would be a good idea to try it as well. Unfortunately, it was not what i was expecting.
The writing style us simple but still alive, and every scene you read is close to you and you can feel the scenes and the atmosphere like you are other. The main story idea with the girl who couldn't touch anyone and the various secrets powers that exist while it's ordinary, it flows in different and really original way which make the story really different than others of the same style.
But I did find more things that i wasn't fan of, and at the end they were the ones that stayed. >The characters. To start with Jenny, while at the first chapters i really liked her as a person and i could connect with her, later she became shallow. She lost everything she was before when she started touching people, and she became a person i did not like. Yes at some point, i could see why she acted the way she acted but she was now mean, harsh, one dimensional with nothing to keep you interested in her. Then we have Seth, who i found a bit stupid. He was so like those dump guys they use in the movies for the popular guys and while he had his moments as a person, he was boring. He was also one the boys, who cheat and might take advantage of other girls so that did not help either. And as for Ashleigh, i never hated a character more in my life. Well, she is the bad guy of the story but i did not even respect her. Her parts, created a discomfort to me. She was mean out of the limits and really selfish. I don't feel that the "evil" character of the book has to be so disgusting and mean to do his evil tricks. Her role was just so out of place...so wrong. It didn't make sense as a person.
>I really liked how the powers thing was something in the city, so when at the end became something different and more, entirely i was kinda disappointed. I just don't feel that all the books in the world have to be with big and "holy shit" events than stay more close to reality, when they don't have to be.
>After some point the story didn't feel real. I know that nothing of those fantasy worlds etc is fake (or not? :P) but when the writer can explain and describe the world and don't lose control, you are into it and it feels like you belong to it. Here, after half the books the events are just not believable. I understand that Ashleigh, can manipulate people. Okay. But the fact the an entire room of people in a party, who happened to have sex at the same time and at least half of those girls (and other girls) were pregnant then at the same time and of course exactly when Ashleigh wanted, just can't get into my mind. It's just too much. And that is an example of something that happened.
>Another thing is how they boys were portrayed so stupid and how the girls controlled them with sex. It was like the key to everything. I don't say that can't happen, but hey! Not everyone is like that. And there are other things, like how Asleigh uses her Christianity to do what she wants, that many may find it offensive.
>And lastly, there are some sex scenes and almost sex scenes in. As you may know by now, i'm not fan of that kind of thing in books. Yet, i have admit in other books, that the scenes did not bother me. Here...i found it disgusting. I just stopped reading for the day after i read the scenes because it was like i was watching porn in a way.
For me the book, just did not work out. I for once, don't find it YA. At Goodreads it's full of 4-5 star reviews but only review (1 star) actually mentions the same things with me. I really don't know what to say...when a friend asked me about it, i said to him not to read it and forget it. I can not say that to you, but just keep in mind some of the things above when you decide if you want to read or not.
While protecting his village from a rampaging boar-god, the warrior
Ashitaka (Billy Crudup) is cursed with a rapidly spreading scar that
threatens to end his life. Seeking a cure and a reason for the
animal-god's attack, he journeys into the sacred depths of the Great
Forest Spirit's realm. On the edge of this once serene forest, however,
the Tatara clan have begun to destroy the surrounding land to produce
iron. In retaliation, San (Claire Danes), the adopted daughter of the
wolf-god Moro (Gillian Anderson), has begun raiding the Tatara fortress
to stop their encroachment. Soon Ashitaka is caught in the middle and
must stop the war between the humans and the forest dwellers before they
destroy each other.
REVIEW:
I got Princess Mononoke as gift, when a friend heard that i have watch only the latest two movies of Hayao Miyazaki ( Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away).
In case you are not familiar with Miyazaki's work, you need to know that he was a different style of thinking and showing things. Most of his movies, have weird creatures, spirits, monsters and sometime you even need time to make sense of the movies. His work is different but definitely good. Of course it always depends on much you are into anime movies and ideas. Do not expect a Disney story (funny though, that the dubbed version of the movie are from Disney if i'm not mistaken).
Princess Mononoke became instantly my favorite piece of his work. I like the story way better, with the nature and the humans who don't respect it and instead of learning to live together, they destroy it and cause war. It's a movie of nature vs humans with main protagonists, a human boy and a human girl who grow up in the forest with the wolves. So together they try to show them, that even though they are really different and have different ideas they can still work together.
Princess Mononoke is for both kids and adults. It's not a fairy tale but something deeper with messages and i believe everyone can enjoy it. I would also recommend to watch the original version with the Asian voices. They are way more expressive than the dubbed version.
Mia Wasikowska ('Alice in Wonderland') and Michael Fassbender
('Inglourious Basterds') star in the romantic drama based on Charlotte
Bronte's classic novel, from acclaimed director Cary Fukunaga ('Sin
Nombre'). In the story, Jane Eyre flees Thornfield House, where she
works as a governess for wealthy Edward Rochester. As she reflects upon
the people and emotions that have defined her, it is clear that the
isolated and imposing residence - and Mr. Rochester's coldness - have
sorely tested the young woman's resilience, forged years earlier when
she was orphaned.
REVIEW:
For starters, i need to mention i have not read the book so i do not know how close the movie is. Also, in case you do not like period movies, i don't think there is a reason really to read the review.
I would describe Jane Eyre as a really slow, moody and weird movie. In general i like watching old movies and but i didn't not expect the movie to be so dark and sad. The fact that Jane never smiles and she is not happy in general, and Edward had a harsh character gives the whole movie a heavy atmosphere.
I found the 1st half of the movie far more interesting than the 2nd half. Maybe it was because the characters were still new to me, or because you still did not know Edward secrets and it has a creepiness in, with the strange noises and accidents. But after you get used to them and learn pretty much everything, the romance i can't say it really made want to go on with watching. It's was like half and half for me.
On the acting i can't say it was something wow but it was not bad. The main actors manage to pass you their feeling and ideas and that's a good thing. What really tired me, was how dark and sad was the whole place. The house, the sky...everything. And also i could not stand the hairstyle trend of this period. It's just yuck for me, and i was really thinking how much more beautiful Mia Wasikowska was in Alice in Wonderland.
To close the review, i don't think people who don't like that kind of films will manage to watch it. And as for the others, just don't expect something like Jane Austen.
Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro star in Limitless, an action-thriller
about a writer who takes an experimental drug that allows him to use
100 percent of his mind. As one man evolves into the perfect version of
himself, forces more corrupt than he can imagine mark him for
assassination. Out-of-work writer Eddie Morra's (Cooper) rejection by
girlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) confirms his belief that he has zero
future. That all vanishes the day an old friend introduces Eddie to MDT,
a designer pharmaceutical that makes him laser focused and more
confident than any man alive.
REVIEW:
The main reason i watched the movie? 1. Bradley Cooper 2. The trailer seems exciting.
The story i have to admit is quite interesting. It starts slowly, with Cooper being a lost who don't really care of his life until he get those pills. Those pills are perfect. When you take them you are in your 100% potential. You remember everything you learned, experienced, understand things fast, watching through various situations. You are not a superhero, you just use your 100%. And even though, when you stop take them you might die...still when you watch what you can do at the movie, you will wish to at least try them once just so you can learn what you can actually do. And that exactly what happens to Cooper, though he doesn't stop and tries to get rich and stuff and at some he just lose control.
Now it's not much of an action movie, though it's a really exciting one. My favorite part was when Cooper was taking the pill, and you were in his mind and you could see everything differently exactly how he was seeing them. In general it is a movie carefully created and with both slow and fast scenes.
Limitless is one of the best movies of Bradley Cooper. He managed to give one of his best performances, and for me totally shadowed Robert De Niro. It was his movie.
But i have to admit everyone did a great job, with an acting above the average for all the actors. It's just that even after you see, Bradley Cooper just stays in your mind above everyone else.
A good thriller if you want to spent your night with something different and original than the usual kidnaps, time travel, etc films.
WIN this hilarious deck of flashcards, and you'll have fun learning
how to sling some lingo.
About: Get a line on this racket: flashcards feature famous one-liners and slang from 1930s gangster classics. Dish out some gangster speak and your pals and enemies will think you were made for the silver screen. 30 movie flashcards, boxed.
Preview: Check out the dec
GIVEAWAY #2
WIN this great multi-title DVD, which includes four of the best gangster movies that were ever made. Host your own 1930s mobster movie
marathon!
About: There are four vintage films included on this DVD.
The Public Enemy (1931) - A taut, realistic time capsule of the Prohibition Era, showcasing James Cagney's powerhouse breakthrough as a streetwise tough guy who rises high in the bootleg racket. The Roaring Twenties (1939) - Screen legends Humphrey Bogart and Ida Lupino star in this soulful study of a gangster whose hard-boiled persona finds itself at war with his compassionate side - a side that will ultimately be his downfall. Little Caesar (1930) - Loosely based on the life of real-life Prohibition-era mobster, the infamous Al Capone. Edward G. Robinson rocketed to stardom as a pugnacious hoodlum who murderously rises to
the top ranks of the underworld. Smart Money (1931) - In their only screen teaming, Little Caesar's Edward G. Robinson leads the way and The Public Enemy's James Cagney rides shotgun in this brisk tale of barbers who go from cutting hair to cutting in on the gambling racket. (Source: Amazon product description)
RULES
1. Leave a comment on this post, giving your take on this question:
"Read the guest post on the Top 15 Mobster movies, and tell us if you have watch any of them. You can also recommend any other movie, which you think is deserved to be watched."
2. Feel the Rafflecopter and gain extra entries by commenting in other posts of the tour as well!
Notes: Please remember to include email address in entry form so you can be contacted if you win.
Additional info: International. DVD is region 1/NTSC but should play on multi-region player. Winner will be selected at random using random.org. Ends December 15, 2011, midnight, EST.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL POST ALONG WITH RAFFLECOPTER
(for some reason it doesn't appear at the home page)
There' ve been mob movies in every decade of filmmaking, from 1920s silent films like Underworld (1927), through 1970s classics like The Godfather (1972), starring a quietly menacing Marlon Brando as the titular character, and films releasing in the 2000s which looked back to earlier gangland times in history, like The
Gangs of New York (2002) or Road to Perdition (2002). The 1930s, however, were the golden age for mob films. Why? Because most movies tend to reflect their times, and the 1930s were a time of upheaval in the U.S., in particular - home to the movie studios of Hollywood, California.
The preceding decade, the period of the Roaring Twenties, was marked by economic prosperity - it was the age of jazz, flappers, Art Deco, bold couture and jewelry, the introduction of the mass production of automobiles, and nightly diversions like movies and clubs and dancing - and jazz, which is why the 1920s were also called, in retrospect, the Jazz Age .
Shown above: Cover of Life magazine, 1922. Artwork is The
Flapper by F. A. Leyendecker.
People spent lavishly, and all life was a party. This could be directly attributed to the influence of the Lost Generation , a group that came of age during the horrors of World War I. Now that the war was over, they lived like every day would be their last. Writers F. Scott Fitzgerald, T. S. Eliot, John Dos Passos and Erich Maria Remarque were all artists of this particular generation, and their works all contain subtle threads of the same freewheeling love of life and recognition of the futility of war.
The bright young things of the Jazz Age - on both sides of the Atlantic - ate, drank and were merry , for tomorrow they might die. Many of their friends and family had, in fact died in the years just prior; World War I, also called the Great War, lasted from 1914-1918 and the death toll was in the millions. According to H.P. Willmott in World War I (2003, Dorling Kindersley), the Great War was the sixth deadliest conflict in world history.
Shown above: Fashion plate illustrating dancer and silent film actress Paulette Duval . Dress by Georges Doeuillet. February 1920.
Peace arrived in 1918, and the 1920s became a round of celebrations. Prohibition in the U.S. took effect in 1919, making alcohol illegal, but the revelers just went underground, enjoying cocktails, jazz music and parties at speakeasies from New York to San Francisco.
This widespread cultural joie de vivre came to a brutal and sudden halt with the Wall Street Crash of 1929 (Oct. 29, 1929, or Black Tuesday). Former millionaires were left penniless overnight, as the market lost over $30 billion in just 48 hours. Consumer spending plummeted, and bread lines became a regular sight during the worldwide Great Depression that followed. One of the cheaper luxuries still available was a movie theater ticket, and attendance at picture houses swelled to record heights.
Amid grim economic realities , mobsters and outlaws - bold men or women who came from nothing and took what they wanted - rose to become near folk heroes to a struggling
public, who were fascinated by the lives of the lawless.
Mobster Al Capone even opened a soup kitchen at the start of the Great Depression, which won him gratitude from the public if not from law enforcement. Elsewhere, outlaws like John Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde were real-life anti-heroes and news of their doings appeared continually in newsreels that played before motion pictures in theaters nationwide - so it was only a matter of time before their colorful exploits in real life found their way to the screen.
And that's just what happened. Three mob movies, destined later to become classic films, were released in quick succession.
Shown above: Movie poster for Little Caesar
There was Little Caesar in 1931, featuring Edward G. Robinson -he went on to play a series of mobster characters throughout the 1930s. There was The Public Enemy, starring James Cagney, and Scarface, featuring Paul Muni as crime boss Tony Comante.
These were brutal and violent films, but at least mildly sympathetic to their anti-hero leads - many of whom were based on real-life mobsters. The Public Enemy, for example, is at least partly based on the life ofgangster Dean O'Banion
, who died in a hail of bullets in 1924. Scarface is partly based on the life of Al Capone, and even incorporates some biographical details from Al Capone into the storyline, and Little Caesar was inspired by the life of Al Capone.
As noted, gangster films can be found in nearly every decade, but the 1930s generated nearly all of the best mob movies ever made. Not only that, but mobster films dominated the cultural landscape for 1930s moviegoers, as well - there were nine gangster films released in 1930, 15 in 1933, and 26 and 28 apiece in 1931 and 1932.
So, yes, it can definitely be agreed upon that the 1930s were really the golden age for mob films. We've collected 15 video clips for you here, featuring the top films from that decade, so that you can enjoy
sampling some of them.
Note: Do keep in mind that these films were made in the 1930s, hence, in some aspects they're dated and cultural mores might not be identical to those you might be more used to or comfortable with in
the 21st century. Rather than excluding any particular clip, there is one included for each title mentioned, in the interest of creating the most comprehensive list of classic mob films.
Shown above: Clip from Little Caesar
Little Caesar (1930)
About: Small-time criminal Caesar Enrico 'Rico' Bandello and his friend, Joe Massara, move to Chicago to seek their fortunes. Together, they join the gang of Sam Vettori, but Joe's more interested in fame
and women. He eventually meets Olga and drifts away from the gang and its activities. Rico, meanwhile, relishes mobster life and seizes control of Sam's organization and muscles his way to the top of Chicago's crime syndicate. Movie based on the novel, Little Caesar, by W.R. Burnett. (Brief summary via Wikipedia)
Shown above: Clip from The Doorway to Hell
The Doorway to Hell (1930)
About: The Doorway to Hell is a 1930 Pre-Code crime film starring Lew Ayres, and James Cagney in his second film role. James Cagney went on to play several gangster characters in later films. The film's title was typical of the sensationalistic titles of many Pre-Code films, and marketed with the tagline, 'The picture that gangland defied Hollywood to make!' Ayres plays a young Chicago man who attempts to go straight, but is continually pulled into the gangster lifestyle.
(Brief summary via Wikipedia)
Shown above: Clip from Smart Money
Smart Money (1931) About: A barber who goes to the big city to become a gambler but finds himself rooked by a blonde and a gang of thugs - whereupon he vows to take revenge, with the help of his own henchman. Smart Money was the only time Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney made a movie together, despite being the two leading gangster actors at Warner Brothers studios all through the 1930s. (Brief summary via Wikipedia)
Shown above: Clip from The Public Enemy
The Public Enemy (1931) About: One of the earliest and best of gangster films from the 1930s. The film's screenplay was based on the novel Beer and Blood by John Bright and Kubec Glasmon. The lead character is portrayed as a sexually magnetic, cocky, completely amoral, emotionally brutal, ruthless, and terribly lethal individual.However, the protagonist (a cold-blooded, tough-as-nails racketeer and 'public enemy') begins his life, not as a hardened criminal, but as a young mischievous boy in pre-Prohibition city streets, whose early environment clearly contributes to the evolving development of his life of adult crime and his inevitable gruesome death. Unlike other films, this one examined the social forces and roots of crime in a serious way. Cagney's character was based on real-life Chicago gangster Earl 'Hymie' Weiss (who also survived a machine-gun ambush) and
bootlegging mobster Charles Dion 'Deanie' O'Banion (an arch-rival to Al Capone). (Brief summary courtesy FilmSite)
Shown above: Trailer for Scarface
Scarface (1932) About: Scarface: The Shame of the Nation (1932) is one of the boldest, most potent, raw and brutal mobster films ever made. The sensational production chronicles the predictable but tragic rise and
fall of a notorious gangster figure. (Brief summary courtesy Filmsite)
Shown above: Clip from 'G' Men
'G' Men (1935) About: A year after graduation, lawyer Brick Davis has no clients. His friend Eddie Buchanan tries to recruit him as a federal agent or 'G' man (government man), but Brick isn't interested. However, when Eddie is killed by a gangster, Brick changes his mind, determined to bring the killer to justice. He bids farewell to his mentor, 'Mac' MacKay, a gang boss who financed his education to keep Brick on the right side of the law, and Jean Morgan, the star of MacKay's nightclub who has feelings for Brick, and sets out to avenge the death of his friend. (Brief summary via Wikipedia)
Shown above: Clip from The Petrified Forest (SPOILERS)
The Petrified Forest (1936) About: Alan Squier, a British intellectual and writer, wanders into a roadside diner in the Petrified Forest area in northern Arizona. The diner is run by Jason Maple, his daughter Gabrielle, and her grandfather. Gabrielle dreams of moving to Bourges to become an artist and shows Alan her paintings. Alan arranges a ride from wealthy tourists Mr. and Mrs. Chisholm, but before they can leave, Duke Mantee, a famous gangster fleeing a massive police pursuit, invades the diner with his gang and takes the entire group hostage. Everyone is of course terrified, except Alan, who has little to live for. Indifferent to the danger, he engages Duke in lively conversation, eventually proposing an unusual deal. (Brief summary via Wikipedia) (DVD including featurette and radio adaptation available here.)
Shown above: Trailer for Bullets of Ballots
Bullets or Ballots (1936) About: A detective infiltrates a crime syndicate.
Shown above: Clip from Dead End (SPOILERS)
Dead End (1937) About: Just blocks from some of the worst slums of New York is a particular street where wealthy people own luxury apartments with a picturesque of the East River. At the end of the street is a dock on the East River; to the left are the luxury apartments and to the right are the slums. The Dead End Kids, led by Tommy Gordon, are a petty gang of street urchins already well on the path to a life of crime. Tommy's sister, Drina, dreams of marrying some dashing, rich stranger who will save her and Tommy from this miserable life of poverty and help prevent Tommy from growing up to be a mobster like Baby Face Martin. Martin has returned to the neighborhood to visit his mother and old girlfriend, but finds that his current wealth can't solve anything and he's already lost everything he ever cared about. Meanwhile, the kids roughup a rich kid who lives in the apartments. When the boy's father tries to intervene, Tommy stabs him in the hand. He escapes the police and goes into hiding. The young Tommy's fate is foreshadowed in Martin's fate by the end of the day. An adaptation of the Sidney Kingsley 1935 Broadway play of the same name. (Brief summary via Wikipedia) (A subtitled and closed-captioned DVD of this film is available here.)
Shown above: Clip from King of the Underworld
King of the Underworld (1938) About: Dr. Niles Nelson is lured by the promise of easy money into becoming doctor to crime boss Joe Gurney and his gang. When Niles is killed by police while attending to one of Gurney's men, his wife, Dr. Carol Nelson, falls under suspicion of also being in league with the gangsters. (Brief summary courtesy TCM)
Shown above: Trailer for Angels with Dirty Faces
Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) About: Rocky Sullivan and Jerry Connolly are childhood friends who robbed a railroad car as kids. Rocky saved Jerry's life during the chase by pulling him out of the way of a steam train while running
from the guards that saw them. Rocky was then caught by the police, but Jerry - who could run faster - escaped. Rocky, after being sent to reform school, grows up to become a notorious gangster, while Jerry has become a priest.Rocky returns to his old neighborhood, where Jerry is the parish priest and intends to keep young boys away from a life of crime. Six of those boys idolize Rocky, and Jerry attempts to keep his former friend from influencing them to follow him into mobster life. (Brief summary via Wikipedia)
Shown above: Clip from The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1938) About: Dr. Clitterhouse is a wealthy society doctor in New York City who decides to research the medical aspects of the behavior of criminals directly - by becoming one. He begins a series of daring
jewel robberies, measuring his own blood pressure, temperature and pulse before, during and afterwards, but yearns for a larger sample for his study. From one of his patients, Police Inspector Lewis Lane, he learns the name of the biggest fence in the city, Joe Keller. He goes to meet Keller to sell what he's stolen, only to find out that 'Joe' is actually 'Jo' (Claire Trevor). The doctor impresses Jo and a gang of thieves headed by 'Rocks' Valentine with his exploits, so Jo invites him to join them, and he accepts. Afterwards, Clitterhouse announces he is quitting - his 'vacation' time is up. He returns the gang to Rocks' control. However, Rocks learns Dr. Clitterhouse's real identity and shows up at his Park Avenue office with a proposition. (Brief summary via Wikipedia)
Shown above: Clip from The Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties (1939) About: A classic crime thriller, based on the short story 'The World Moves On,' by Mark Hellinger, a columnist who'd been hired by a studio head to write screenplays. The film follows three men who meet in a foxhole during the waning days of World War I: Eddie Bartlett, George Hally and Lloyd Hart, and depicts their trials and tribulations throughout the Prohibition era of the early 1920s through the early 1930s.(Brief summary via Wikipedia)
Shown above: Clip from Brother Orchid
Brother Orchid (1940) About: Crime boss Little John Sarto retires suddenly, giving leadership of his gang to Jack Buck. Sarto decides to return home and take back his gang after five years, but Buck has him thrown out of his office. The only ones who remain loyal to Sarto are his girlfriend Flo Addams and Willie 'The Knife' Corson. Sarto raises a new gang and starts encroaching on Buck's territory, until Buck tries to have him assassinated. Sarto escapes, but is shot several times. He manages to make his way to a monastery, run by Brother Superior. Finding it a good place to hide out, Sarto signs up as a novice, naming himself 'Brother Orchid.' At first, he treats it as a joke, calling the monks the 'biggest chumps in the world,' but the kindness and simple life of the brothers begins to change his opinion. (Brief summary via Wikipedia)
Shown above: Clip from It All Came True
It All Came True (1940)
About: Comedy film starring Humphrey Bogart as a gangster who hides from the police in a boarding house. (Brief summary via Wikipedia)
This is a guest post for Guys and Molls by Sasha Soren (Random Magic). Here's one last trailer. It's not for a gangster movie, it's just fun to look at!:
Shown above: Trailer for Random Magic
More about Random Magic can be found below, feel free to browse. Find Random Magic: Print | Kindle Explore Random Magic: YouTube | Tumblr | Twitter
The series comprises eight episodes, running from the Battle of the Somme in 1916 to the Armistice in 1918, and covering other historical events such as the Battle of Verdun, the Russian Revolution and the British capture of Jerusalem; on the domestic front there is a serious shortage of able-bodied men for home front jobs. There is also the appointment of David Lloyd George (whom the Dowager Countess despises) as Prime Minister and his creation of the wartime coalition. Matthew Crawley, Thomas, and William Mason are off fighting in the war; Tom Branson, an Irishman, is unsure that he wants to fight for the British; and Lord Grantham cannot serve due to his age. Lady Sybil Crawley defies her aristocratic position and joins the Voluntary Aid Detachment. Filming began in March 2011.
REVIEW:
Downton Abbey is seriously one of the best series on TV right now. Even though Season 2 was not as good as Season 1, still i've totally enjoyed it. For a period series they are quite entertaining. I tried before to watch other period series but they were boring. Downton Abbey is not. With 1 hours episodes each time, it manages to keep you interested until the end and still make you want more.
I was watching the new episodes each Monday, along with Lost Girl, Once Upon A Time and Wizards of Waverly Place and not even once, the series had an episode better than DA.
I don't really need to discuss the acting, the cinematography or the music. They are all flawless. They could not have picked a better cast. Everyone is just perfect. And the whole environment is just magical. When it needs to be moody, its moody but when it need to be more happy or spectacular it is. An amazing job really.
For those followed Sn.1, Sn.2 starts some years after the war started and ends some years after the war ends. And while usually we had only scenes at Downton Abbey and the village, we now get some war scenes as well.
What to expect from this season?
-Many new characters. Especially maids and footman. You get to see new people, since some of the old ones either leaved or they fight in the war. And even though, some of them don't say the whole season, they still have their storylines. I have to admit, at some point i was tired we all the new people.
-The story is more romance based. There is a romance story for almost all the characters. It was acceptable though, since war makes the people think differently. What annoyed it one that aspect was Bates story. I mean, all the bad things have to happened to that guy? Come on! He is like cursed!
-Expect deaths
-Maggie Smith as lady Violet once again appears once in a while and steals every scene
There was no much to say. It was mostly a sad season with all that was happening (not only the war) but it definitely keeps you in, especially if you are a big fan of the series.
8 episodes/55mins each
Season 3 was announced for next September.
Cast: Hugh Boneville (From Time To Time), Maggie Smith (Harry Potter Series), Brenan Coyle (007), Michelle Dockery (Hanna), Joanne Forggatt (See No Evil), Elizabeth McGovern (Clash Of The Titans, Kick Ass), Allen Leech (From Time To Time), Jim Carter (The Golden Compass, Alice in Wonderland), Maria Doyle Kennedy (The Tudors, Dexter), Zoe Boyle (Sons of Anarchy), Iain Glen ( Resident Evil, Tomb Raider), Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean )
In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness
catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect
that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and
inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy
tries to uncover the truth - something more terrifying than any of them
could have imagined.
REVIEW:
Super 8 is the aggressive E.T movie. You see exactly what happens if the alien is not friendly. As was in E.T, the story is mostly from a group of kids point of view, where when they try to shoot a movie next to the train station, there is an accident and an alien comes out.
Even though, all the kids were new actors they did a pretty good job with their roles. You totally become one of them, and connect with them. Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning are two little kiddohs with lots of talent inside them.
As for the movie from all the aspects?... it was totally awesome. You always had something to think about and keep you in, with secret and surprises everytime the movie had slow down a little. The special effects and the sound were terrific! Totally a cinema/blu-ray movie! Worth every cent of the ticket.
And while it is quite a dark movie (and maybe scary for kids), it's interesting and nice to see the positive side or how they kids fell about the whole situation instead of the grown ups who as usual just try to find a way to kill the alien.
Another great thing, is that you do not get to see the alien until the end. And i think that's what makes the movie scary for kids. Plus, the alien is not as cute as E.T.
For me it was 2 hours well spent and i can easily watch it again! Spielberg brought the feeling from the old movies back. And the fact the whole thing is in the past, makes it even better.
Many theories have been heard about that particular day, and many people believe them. There is even a movie about it ( that I haven't watched yet ). In this review I will give you a short list about the most popular theories about 11/11/11.
The number one most popular theory is based on the belief that there is a buried memory hidden inside all humans in a cellural level that is activated when we see the number 11:11 on a clock or electronic device. It happens to many people around the world to see this number every day but they also see countless other numbers every day, so the question this theory tries to answer is why do they remember it so vivid and not discard it like all the rest numbers. More information about who planted those numbers in our cells and why are, sadly, not given in this theory.
There are others of course who believe that this number is not in fact encoded in our cells but it is bound in our soul on a spiritual level and it is connected with some spiritual entities called lightworkers. Their sole purpose is to ensure that our world is always on the "light side" and never let darkness claim humankind. Now what light and darkness in this means is a little vague but aren't all theories like that ? Most common belief are that either light is good and dark is evil or light is knowledge and free will and darkness is the illusion of knowledge and slavery.
Now for what would actually happen on 11/11/11 there is the theory that the lightworkers started working in secret with some selected humans to change the world, but not just the world, to change the way people think, feel and act. That sounds to me like reprogramming but what can a computer programmer say XD So their plan supposedly started on 11 January 1991 by oppening the first of 11 gates of enlightment. This plan was to conclude in 11/11/2011 by opening the final gate. The supporters of this theory say that the lightworkers never actually said what would happen if the 11th gate was opened so they say it is still possible that the gate was opened but we can't feel the results yet. Others say that the lightworkers somehow failed in their quest.
So after reading all those theories I want to ask you how was your 11/11/11 yesterday ? Did something "special" happen or was it just another day in the calendar ? Also do you believe in any of those theories or even the posibility that there may be truth somewhere under the layers of mythology ?
Personaly I didn't like that day, my PC screen died of old age, today I will hold her funeral in the local church :'(
If you are an old follower, you might remember my previous Snow White VS Snow White post. For the new ones: There are two Snow White movies coming out this year, both different than the original tale of Snow White. One fairytailish and the other with epic battles and stuff. You will find even more info either at the links below, or at my old post i linked above.
So now that new info, is out. I'm asking you once again.
Which Snow White movie you can not wait for?
Personally, i don't even care about "Mirror, Mirror". I mean look at how epic is the other one? And no, it's not because of Chris Hemsworth, though he is a reason to watch. It's more adulty, and a more exciting fairytail with action in. Something like a LOTR version of Snow White. And how evil the queens seems eh? Nothing like Julia Roberts, who is kinda funny in her huge red dress. So i'm definetely a Team "Snow White & The Huntsman" person!
Snow White #1: "Mirror, Mirror"
Staring: Lily Collins, Julia Roberts, Sean Bean, etc
New Photos:
Snow White #2: "Snow White & The Huntsman"
Staring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Ian McShane, etc
New Photos+Trailer:
Costume Quest is an adventurerole-playing video game developed by Double Fine Productions and published by THQ. In the game, the player controls a child that is trick-or-treating with their twin on Halloween night when they encounter a monster that kidnaps the sibling. The player must travel around the local neighborhood collecting items for their costume, candy and fellow children as companions in order to face the monster and rescue the sibling. The costume aspects are used in battle segments, where the player character and companions are transformed into the monsters and creatures they are dressed as to fight other monsters. The game is a downloadable title and was released on October 20, 2010 on the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network services.[1] A port to Microsoft Windows through the Steam platform was released about a year later.
Review:
I know, I know, Halloween is out of theme, but I dont really care. So, as Yiota already mentioned we are kinda tired and slow on our posts. But this I decided to do because its just amazing! And didnt want to be totally out of mood.
Now, the game itself is a kids game, so be prepared for some heavy repetition, simple and easy gameplay, and off course virtually no challenge at all. The game itself however is just plain fantastic. You follow the story of a brother and sister on Halloween, when as they go out trick or treating one of them gets kidnapped by some creatures that are stealing all the candy (which one gets kidnapped depends on who you choose.) Now your character has to rescue its sibling so you wont get grounded. In the process you will unlock more costumes to help you fight the monsters, as well as meet new friends.
The game to me is freaking hilarious because the whole idea is that you will have to run around an area, trick or treating houses and either getting candy or fighting the monsters that are there to steal the candy. Now, I cant really explain how you end up turning in a huge badass robot from the future if you are dressed as one on Halloween but from my guess that is based on how kids view themselves when wearing a costume. The battles themselves are simple, based on repeatedly tapping a key, or typing a correct sequence, or just plain timing the press of a button. The battles are in a final fantasy fashion, where each player takes his turn, attacks and then has to defend from the attack to receive less damage. However that for someone used to videogames and with a certain amount of years behind him will find it both extremely easy, and boring. However the visuals and graphics are just amazing.
The graphics of the game are extremely nice, giving a cartoony feel to the entire world as well as a bit of realism (fire glows and shimmers etc etc). Also the battles and "special moves" are visually pleasant and keep the players interest. Overall despite the fact that, well they are not perfect since they come from a possibly low budget corporation, they meet the standards of today's video game graphics and maybe even put a smile on your face.
Finally, the game offers a few easy tasks for the player to do and adds to keep interest and not just abandon the game in the middle. And that is some minor quests, but most importantly. costumes. yes, costumes. In every level you are there is at least one new costume for you to collect, so that just kept me going to be honest. The sheer curiosity to see how each costume looks in battle, the animations and the "special" attack were the reason why i pushed the game to the end. Personal favorite, the pumpkin off course!!! The pumpkin king is like my top favority spooky heroes of all time!!!
To end with, this game offers few to a hardcore gamer, but so much in terms of a fun and relaxing way to pass the time. It also put a smile on my face as in every battle i remembered that when I was a kid, that is EXACTLY how I pictured myself look like when dressed with a costume. So all you Halloween fans out there, open your closet, dust your costumes and get ready to hunt candy-thieving monsters, because this is costume quest, and NO ONE will ruin your Halloween by getting you grounded. NO ONE!
Amazing how a blog, with 6 people writing, is slow on posts going up. I think November is always one of the worst months of the year. The thing is, we are tired.
I know for sure that 4 of us are tired with lessons and trying to keep up with our lives (that's me, Anonymous Minion F, Athanasia and Johnny). Suppose that Silvestro could have the same problems but for some reason it's like nothing changed for him XD
Right now even my imagination is dead, which is something that doesn't happen a lot to me. I guess after hours of programming your mind just becomes one with the computer. And i didn't even spend the same amount on programming like others of my team. There are other stuff happening as well, and the thing is when i get back home even if i know what to write in my reviews, i'm just so bored with thinking (and yes it's thinking since English is not my native language and i need to translate in my mind) that i just want to do something completely useless.
There are currently over 30 reviews waiting to be written. Most of those are mine. I feel really bad for staying behind that much but i will catch up at some point. We are not going to stop blogging, we just blog a little less. But even right now, i'm trying to concentrate on scheduling some posts for next week.
So yeah...just wanted to let you know why the blog is so quite lately.
Stay tuned because i think Johnny might be posting a review in about an hour. Game or Movie, i believe.
-xoxo, Yiota
P.S: I think there are 2-3 people that i haven't sent their giveaway prizes yet. I haven't forget guys. I will try sending them next week.
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