Wednesday, July 26, 2006
♥ Movies going to watch
The Lake House (PG)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Running time: 100 minutes
Feeling that it's time for a change in her life, Dr. Kate Forster (SANDRA BULLOCK) leaves the suburban Illinois locale where she completed her residency and takes a job at a busy Chicago hospital. One thing she is reluctant to leave behind is the uniquely beautiful house she's been renting - a spacious and artfully designed refuge with large windows that overlook a placid lake. It's a place in which she felt her true self.
It is a winter morning in 2006.
On her way to the city, Kate leaves a note in the mailbox for house's next tenant, asking him to forward her mail and noting that the inexplicable painted paw prints he might notice by the front door were there when she moved in.
But when the next tenant arrives, he sees a much different picture. Alex Wyler (KEANU REEVES), a talented but frustrated architect working at a nearby construction site, finds the lake house badly neglected: dusty, dirty and overgrown with weeds. And no sign of paw prints anywhere.
The house has special meaning for Alex. In a happier time it was built by his estranged father (CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER), a renowned architect who allowed his professional acclaim to grow at the expense of his family life. Alex feels a sense of peace here now and commits to restoring the property to its original beauty. He disregards Kate's note until, days later, while painting the weather-beaten jetty he sees a stray dog run across the fresh paint and then towards the entrance of the house, leaving paw prints exactly where she said they'd be.
Baffled, Alex writes back, saying that the house had no occupant before him and wondering how she could have known about the dog; while Kate, who just left it a week ago, imagines he is playing some kind of joke on her and fires back a reply.
Just for argument's sake, what day is it there?
April 14, 2004.
No, she says. It's April 14, 2006.
The same day, two years apart. Can this be happening?
As Kate and Alex continue to correspond through the lake house's mailbox they confirm that they are, incredibly, impossibly, living two years apart, and each at a time in their lives when they are struggling with past disappointments and trying to make a new start. Sharing this unusual bond, they reveal more of themselves to one another with each passing week - their secrets, their doubts and dreams, until they find themselves falling in love.
Determined to bridge the distance between them at last and unravel the mystery behind their extraordinary connection, they tempt fate by arranging to meet. But, by trying to join their two separate worlds, they could risk losing each other forever.
Lady In The Water (PG)
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Running time: 110 minutes
More about the story:
A modest building manager named Cleveland Heep rescues a mysterious young woman from danger and discovers she is actually a narf, a character from a bedtime story who is trying to make the treacherous journey from our world back to hers. Cleveland and his fellow tenants start to realize that they are also characters in this bedtime story. As Cleveland falls deeper and deeper in love with the woman, he works together with the tenants to protect his new fragile friend from the deadly creatures that reside in this fable and are determined to prevent her from returning home.
Dragon Tiger Gate (PG)
Genre: Action
Running time: 98 minutes
More about the story:
Tiger Wong is a highly skilled martial artist with a strong sense of justice. At the yearly bun festival, Tiger realizes that a group of triad gangsters are bullying innocent people. Tiger, unable to stand by and just watch, defeats the gangsters using his special move – Dragon Slaying Leg Eighteen, and accidentally grabs the garland from the top of the bun mountain winning the applause and admiration of the audience. Hidden in the garland is a gold medal.
It turns out that this gold medal is the Lousha token decreed by the leader of the Lousha Gate, Shibumi. ‘Gate’ is a word describing martial arts sect or organization and Lousha Gate is a criminal organization in Asia and whoever owns the gold medal has the right to demand the full cooperation of Lousha Gate. Tiger, unaware of the medal’s powers, is ambushed by the gang during his celebrations. As fate has it, he is saved by Dragon Wong, the bodyguard of one of the gangsters, who is sent to retrieve the medal. A blonde youth using nunchakus, Turbo Shek, also joins in to help them. Dragon retrieves the medal from Tiger. Tiger is shocked when he notices a jade pendant and realizes that Dragon is his step-brother.
Although Dragon is part of Jiang Hu - the complicated society of the martial arts world involving different Gates of evil and good, and working for a criminal gang, he has never been involved in any criminal activities. After Dragon’s gangster boss Ma Kun returns the plaque he announces his retirement from the Jiang Hu. Shibumi is angry upon hearing this news and sends his adopted daughter Lousha to get rid of Ma.
In the mean time, Dragon has asked Ma Kun’s daughter Ma Xiaoling, who has already taken a liking to Tiger during the bun festival, to help him tell Tiger that they are brothers. Tiger is shocked by the news and unwilling to accept Dragon as family. Lousha kills Ma Kun and massacres everyone. Dragon fights his way out and manages to escape to Dragon Tiger Gate with Ma Xiaoling. Tiger and Shek are incensed when they hear of the Ma family massacre and the three heroes join force for the first time forming the Dragon Tiger Gate Trio, they pledge to avenge Xiaoling’s lost. The Dragon Tiger trio burn down the warehouse of Lousha Gate and destroy their drug supply, thus officially confirming Dragon Tiger Trio’s status as arch-enemy of Lousha Gate.
Although Shibumi is extremely angry when he is told of the fire, the anger is tinged with inexplicable joy when hearing of the presence of martial arts experts from Dragon Tiger Gate. One night Shibumi turns up at Dragon Tiger Gate and kills the master Wong Jianglong. He then defeats the Dragon Tiger Trio with his supreme martial arts skills and persuades them to join Lousha Gate. His efforts are in vain as the trio refuse all his offers. Shibumi is about to kill them, when there is a sudden huge thunder and flash of lightening. In that split second of distraction, the trio mysteriously disappeared.
Overnight Dragon Tiger Gate is demolished. Xiaoling escapes with the badly wounded trio to Bai Yun Mountain in China for help. There resides a recluse, Master Qi. Qi is famed for his expert skills in martial arts and healing, but also know for his eccentricity and unpredictable character. Xiaoling uses everything she can think of to persuade him to help and finally wins him over with her sincerity and Master Qi brings the trio back from the gates of death. The trio beg Master Qi to teach them his skills, they vow to revenge the death of their master Wong Jianglong.
Back at Lousha Gate, Shibumi is unafraid of the trio’s attack. He has set the trap and waits at the scene of their final showdown…
HOODWINKED
Rating: G
Language: English
Genre: Animation / Comedy / Family / Mystery
Director:Cory Edwards, Tony Leech, Todd Edwards
Cast (voice): Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close, James Belushi, Patrick Warburton, Anthony Anderson, David Ogden Stiers
More about the story:
Everyone knows the story of Little Red Riding Hood...or so they think. That's all about to change because no one has ever seen their favorite fairy tale quite like this -- turned upside-down, inside-out and reinvented as a computer-animated caper comedy that at last reveals the shocking true-crime investigation behind the legend.
The Mistress of Spices
Rating: PG
Language: English
Genre: Romance / Drama
Director: Paul Mayeda Berges
Cast: Aishwarya Rai, Dylan McDermott
More about the story:
In the magical spirit of Chocolat and Like Water for Chocolate comes THE MISTRESS OF SPICES, a romantic tale of tradition and desire from the team that brought you Bend it Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice.
The Mistress of Spices is an enchanting and sensual fable about the romantic and personal conflicts that face TILO, a beautiful young woman, trained in the ancient and magical art of spices. Ordained with special powers to help those that come to her, Tilo can sense people’s problems with a startling ability to see into their past and future.
Tilo works in a small San Francisco store called the ‘SPICE BAZAAR’, where, with the guidance of her spices, she finds the perfect remedy for anyone who walks through her door. When DOUG, a handsome, enigmatic architect crashes his Harley Davison outside her San Francisco store, she has to tend to his wounds and her life is changed forever.
The Road To Guantanamo (NC16)
Genre: Docudrama
Running time: 95 minutes
More about the story:
Shafiq Rasul, Asif Iqbal and Ruhel Ahmed grew up in a typical British suburb. In August 2001, Asif traveled with his friends to Pakistan to get married. They took a side trip to Afghanistan to give aid with other volunteers, but got drawn into the US war on terror. The men were eventually taken into US custody at Guantnamo Bay in Cuba. During their incarceration, all three are interrogated, tortured, and accused of countless offences. After over two years at Guantnamo, the Tipton Three are taken back to England, and interrogated in London by the Anti-Terrorist squad at Paddington Green station. The next day they are released without charge.
Thank You For Smoking (M18)
Genre: Comedy
Running time: 92 minutes
More about the story:
Based on the wry novel by Christopher Buckley, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING is set in the fascinating world of Washington spin, where, more often than not, money trumps politics and morals.
Aaron Eckhart is outstanding as Nick Naylor, the public spokesman for Big Tobacco. The blond pretty boy has no problem whatsoever going on television and telling people that smoking can actually be good for them. He meets regularly with the M.O.D. Squad -- fellow Merchants of Death Polly Bailey (Maria Bello), who represents the alcohol business, and Bobby Jay Bliss (David Koechner), who defends firearms -- where they fight over who has the more difficult job based on the number of deaths their respective industries are responsible for.
The smooth-talking Naylor's next big adversary is Vermont senator Ortolan Finistirre (William H. Macy), who is calling for the government to place a skull and crossbones and the word "Poison" on all cigarette boxes. At the same time, Naylor is sent out to Hollywood to make a deal with high-powered agent Jeff Megall (Rob Lowe) to get more stars to smoke in movies, like in the good old days. All the while, Naylor is trying to establish a better relationship with his young son, Joey (Cameron Bright), without playing down his highly questionable job.
HAVOC
Rating: M-18 Consumer Advice: Sexual Content
More about the story:
A group of Beverly Hills high school students who are heavily influenced
by the hip-hop culture of kids from South Central are taught a lesson by
one of their teachers when tragedy strikes the affluent teens.
WAITING
Rating: M18
Consumer Advice: Coarse Language Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, Kaitlin Doubleday, Chi McBride, Luis Guzman
More about the story:
A waiter for four years since high school, Dean has never questioned his job at ShenaniganZ. But when he learns that Chett, a high school classmate, now has a lucrative career in electrical engineering, he’s thrown into turmoil about his dead-end life. Dean’s friend Monty is in exactly the same boat, but he couldn’t care less. More concerned with partying and getting laid, Monty is put in charge of training Mitch, a shy new employee. Over the course of one chaotic shift, Mitch gets to know the rest of Shenanigan’s quirky staff: Monty’s tough-talking ex-girlfriend, Serena, ShenaniganZ over-zealous manager, Dan, and head cook Raddimus, who’s obsessed with a senseless staff-wide competition known only as “The Game”.
Genre: Drama, Romance
Running time: 100 minutes
Feeling that it's time for a change in her life, Dr. Kate Forster (SANDRA BULLOCK) leaves the suburban Illinois locale where she completed her residency and takes a job at a busy Chicago hospital. One thing she is reluctant to leave behind is the uniquely beautiful house she's been renting - a spacious and artfully designed refuge with large windows that overlook a placid lake. It's a place in which she felt her true self.
It is a winter morning in 2006.
On her way to the city, Kate leaves a note in the mailbox for house's next tenant, asking him to forward her mail and noting that the inexplicable painted paw prints he might notice by the front door were there when she moved in.
But when the next tenant arrives, he sees a much different picture. Alex Wyler (KEANU REEVES), a talented but frustrated architect working at a nearby construction site, finds the lake house badly neglected: dusty, dirty and overgrown with weeds. And no sign of paw prints anywhere.
The house has special meaning for Alex. In a happier time it was built by his estranged father (CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER), a renowned architect who allowed his professional acclaim to grow at the expense of his family life. Alex feels a sense of peace here now and commits to restoring the property to its original beauty. He disregards Kate's note until, days later, while painting the weather-beaten jetty he sees a stray dog run across the fresh paint and then towards the entrance of the house, leaving paw prints exactly where she said they'd be.
Baffled, Alex writes back, saying that the house had no occupant before him and wondering how she could have known about the dog; while Kate, who just left it a week ago, imagines he is playing some kind of joke on her and fires back a reply.
Just for argument's sake, what day is it there?
April 14, 2004.
No, she says. It's April 14, 2006.
The same day, two years apart. Can this be happening?
As Kate and Alex continue to correspond through the lake house's mailbox they confirm that they are, incredibly, impossibly, living two years apart, and each at a time in their lives when they are struggling with past disappointments and trying to make a new start. Sharing this unusual bond, they reveal more of themselves to one another with each passing week - their secrets, their doubts and dreams, until they find themselves falling in love.
Determined to bridge the distance between them at last and unravel the mystery behind their extraordinary connection, they tempt fate by arranging to meet. But, by trying to join their two separate worlds, they could risk losing each other forever.
Lady In The Water (PG)
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Running time: 110 minutes
More about the story:
A modest building manager named Cleveland Heep rescues a mysterious young woman from danger and discovers she is actually a narf, a character from a bedtime story who is trying to make the treacherous journey from our world back to hers. Cleveland and his fellow tenants start to realize that they are also characters in this bedtime story. As Cleveland falls deeper and deeper in love with the woman, he works together with the tenants to protect his new fragile friend from the deadly creatures that reside in this fable and are determined to prevent her from returning home.
Dragon Tiger Gate (PG)
Genre: Action
Running time: 98 minutes
More about the story:
Tiger Wong is a highly skilled martial artist with a strong sense of justice. At the yearly bun festival, Tiger realizes that a group of triad gangsters are bullying innocent people. Tiger, unable to stand by and just watch, defeats the gangsters using his special move – Dragon Slaying Leg Eighteen, and accidentally grabs the garland from the top of the bun mountain winning the applause and admiration of the audience. Hidden in the garland is a gold medal.
It turns out that this gold medal is the Lousha token decreed by the leader of the Lousha Gate, Shibumi. ‘Gate’ is a word describing martial arts sect or organization and Lousha Gate is a criminal organization in Asia and whoever owns the gold medal has the right to demand the full cooperation of Lousha Gate. Tiger, unaware of the medal’s powers, is ambushed by the gang during his celebrations. As fate has it, he is saved by Dragon Wong, the bodyguard of one of the gangsters, who is sent to retrieve the medal. A blonde youth using nunchakus, Turbo Shek, also joins in to help them. Dragon retrieves the medal from Tiger. Tiger is shocked when he notices a jade pendant and realizes that Dragon is his step-brother.
Although Dragon is part of Jiang Hu - the complicated society of the martial arts world involving different Gates of evil and good, and working for a criminal gang, he has never been involved in any criminal activities. After Dragon’s gangster boss Ma Kun returns the plaque he announces his retirement from the Jiang Hu. Shibumi is angry upon hearing this news and sends his adopted daughter Lousha to get rid of Ma.
In the mean time, Dragon has asked Ma Kun’s daughter Ma Xiaoling, who has already taken a liking to Tiger during the bun festival, to help him tell Tiger that they are brothers. Tiger is shocked by the news and unwilling to accept Dragon as family. Lousha kills Ma Kun and massacres everyone. Dragon fights his way out and manages to escape to Dragon Tiger Gate with Ma Xiaoling. Tiger and Shek are incensed when they hear of the Ma family massacre and the three heroes join force for the first time forming the Dragon Tiger Gate Trio, they pledge to avenge Xiaoling’s lost. The Dragon Tiger trio burn down the warehouse of Lousha Gate and destroy their drug supply, thus officially confirming Dragon Tiger Trio’s status as arch-enemy of Lousha Gate.
Although Shibumi is extremely angry when he is told of the fire, the anger is tinged with inexplicable joy when hearing of the presence of martial arts experts from Dragon Tiger Gate. One night Shibumi turns up at Dragon Tiger Gate and kills the master Wong Jianglong. He then defeats the Dragon Tiger Trio with his supreme martial arts skills and persuades them to join Lousha Gate. His efforts are in vain as the trio refuse all his offers. Shibumi is about to kill them, when there is a sudden huge thunder and flash of lightening. In that split second of distraction, the trio mysteriously disappeared.
Overnight Dragon Tiger Gate is demolished. Xiaoling escapes with the badly wounded trio to Bai Yun Mountain in China for help. There resides a recluse, Master Qi. Qi is famed for his expert skills in martial arts and healing, but also know for his eccentricity and unpredictable character. Xiaoling uses everything she can think of to persuade him to help and finally wins him over with her sincerity and Master Qi brings the trio back from the gates of death. The trio beg Master Qi to teach them his skills, they vow to revenge the death of their master Wong Jianglong.
Back at Lousha Gate, Shibumi is unafraid of the trio’s attack. He has set the trap and waits at the scene of their final showdown…
HOODWINKED
Rating: G
Language: English
Genre: Animation / Comedy / Family / Mystery
Director:Cory Edwards, Tony Leech, Todd Edwards
Cast (voice): Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close, James Belushi, Patrick Warburton, Anthony Anderson, David Ogden Stiers
More about the story:
Everyone knows the story of Little Red Riding Hood...or so they think. That's all about to change because no one has ever seen their favorite fairy tale quite like this -- turned upside-down, inside-out and reinvented as a computer-animated caper comedy that at last reveals the shocking true-crime investigation behind the legend.
The Mistress of Spices
Rating: PG
Language: English
Genre: Romance / Drama
Director: Paul Mayeda Berges
Cast: Aishwarya Rai, Dylan McDermott
More about the story:
In the magical spirit of Chocolat and Like Water for Chocolate comes THE MISTRESS OF SPICES, a romantic tale of tradition and desire from the team that brought you Bend it Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice.
The Mistress of Spices is an enchanting and sensual fable about the romantic and personal conflicts that face TILO, a beautiful young woman, trained in the ancient and magical art of spices. Ordained with special powers to help those that come to her, Tilo can sense people’s problems with a startling ability to see into their past and future.
Tilo works in a small San Francisco store called the ‘SPICE BAZAAR’, where, with the guidance of her spices, she finds the perfect remedy for anyone who walks through her door. When DOUG, a handsome, enigmatic architect crashes his Harley Davison outside her San Francisco store, she has to tend to his wounds and her life is changed forever.
The Road To Guantanamo (NC16)
Genre: Docudrama
Running time: 95 minutes
More about the story:
Shafiq Rasul, Asif Iqbal and Ruhel Ahmed grew up in a typical British suburb. In August 2001, Asif traveled with his friends to Pakistan to get married. They took a side trip to Afghanistan to give aid with other volunteers, but got drawn into the US war on terror. The men were eventually taken into US custody at Guantnamo Bay in Cuba. During their incarceration, all three are interrogated, tortured, and accused of countless offences. After over two years at Guantnamo, the Tipton Three are taken back to England, and interrogated in London by the Anti-Terrorist squad at Paddington Green station. The next day they are released without charge.
Thank You For Smoking (M18)
Genre: Comedy
Running time: 92 minutes
More about the story:
Based on the wry novel by Christopher Buckley, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING is set in the fascinating world of Washington spin, where, more often than not, money trumps politics and morals.
Aaron Eckhart is outstanding as Nick Naylor, the public spokesman for Big Tobacco. The blond pretty boy has no problem whatsoever going on television and telling people that smoking can actually be good for them. He meets regularly with the M.O.D. Squad -- fellow Merchants of Death Polly Bailey (Maria Bello), who represents the alcohol business, and Bobby Jay Bliss (David Koechner), who defends firearms -- where they fight over who has the more difficult job based on the number of deaths their respective industries are responsible for.
The smooth-talking Naylor's next big adversary is Vermont senator Ortolan Finistirre (William H. Macy), who is calling for the government to place a skull and crossbones and the word "Poison" on all cigarette boxes. At the same time, Naylor is sent out to Hollywood to make a deal with high-powered agent Jeff Megall (Rob Lowe) to get more stars to smoke in movies, like in the good old days. All the while, Naylor is trying to establish a better relationship with his young son, Joey (Cameron Bright), without playing down his highly questionable job.
HAVOC
Rating: M-18 Consumer Advice: Sexual Content
More about the story:
A group of Beverly Hills high school students who are heavily influenced
by the hip-hop culture of kids from South Central are taught a lesson by
one of their teachers when tragedy strikes the affluent teens.
WAITING
Rating: M18
Consumer Advice: Coarse Language Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, Kaitlin Doubleday, Chi McBride, Luis Guzman
More about the story:
A waiter for four years since high school, Dean has never questioned his job at ShenaniganZ. But when he learns that Chett, a high school classmate, now has a lucrative career in electrical engineering, he’s thrown into turmoil about his dead-end life. Dean’s friend Monty is in exactly the same boat, but he couldn’t care less. More concerned with partying and getting laid, Monty is put in charge of training Mitch, a shy new employee. Over the course of one chaotic shift, Mitch gets to know the rest of Shenanigan’s quirky staff: Monty’s tough-talking ex-girlfriend, Serena, ShenaniganZ over-zealous manager, Dan, and head cook Raddimus, who’s obsessed with a senseless staff-wide competition known only as “The Game”.
7/26/2006 02:16:00 PM
