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The Sorcerer's Apprentice, a review by dfmorgan

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Year: 2010
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina
Overview: A job so great...it's magic

Magic is everywhere in Disney's The Sorcerer's Apprentice - the fun family adventure from the creators of National Treasure. Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) is a modern-day sorcerer with his hands full defending Manhattan against dark forces. When a seemingly average kid shows hidden potential, Balthazar takes his reluctant recruit on a crash course in the art and science of magic to become the ultimate sorcerer's apprentice. Experience more extraordinary thrills, heart-stopping action and spectacular special effects than you can imagine as these unlikely partners show us the real world is far more magical than we ever knew!

Watched: 19th. Dec 2010
My Thoughts: An enjoyable park-your-brain actioner. Everyone came over well and I thought Nicolas Cage's acting style suited the character of Balthazar. One squence in the film was a nice little homage to "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" sequence in Fantasia. Pre and post credits sequences point to a possible sequel.

My Rating: A very enjoyable 3

Dave

(From Dave's DVD/Blu-ray Reviews on December 19th, 2010)

Memento, a review by Tom

Title: Memento
Year: 2000
Director: Christopher Nolan
Rating: FSK-16
Length: 109 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: German: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: DTS 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English, German

Stars:
Guy Pearce
Carrie-Anne Moss
Joe Pantoliano
Mark Boone Junior
Russ Fega

Plot:
From director Christopher Nolan, a unique and intriguing thriller that begins with the ultimate act of revenge and back tracks through time to reveal the shocking and provocative reasons behind it.

Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) remembers everything up to the night his wife was brutally raped and murdered. But since that tragedy, he has suffered from short-term memory loss and cannot recall any event, the places he has visited or anyone he has met just minutes before.

Determined to find out why his wife was killed, the only way he can store evidence is on scraps of paper, by taking Polaroid photos and tattooing vital clues on his body.

Throughout his investigation, he apperas to have the help of both bartender Natalie (Carrie-Ann Moss), who may have her own secret agenda and police officer Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) whose friendship is always suspect.

As Shelby's fractured memory tries to piece together a chilling jigsaw of deceit and betrayal in reverse, breathtaking twists and susprising turns rapidly occur in the most challenging, original and critically acclaimed thriller in years.

Awards:

Academy Award	2001	Nominated	Best Film Editing	Dody Dorn
Academy Award	2001	Nominated	Best Writing, Original Screenplay	Christopher Nolan (Screenplay); Jonathan Nolan (Story)
American Film Institute Awards	2001	Won	Editor of the Year - Movies	Dody Dorn
American Film Institute Awards	2001	Won	Movie of the Year
American Film Institute Awards	2001	Won	Screenwriter of the Year - Movies	Christopher Nolan
British Independent Film Awards	2001	Won	Best Foreign Independent Film - English Language
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	2002	Won	Best Screenplay	Christopher Nolan
Golden Globe	2001	Nominated	Screenplay	Christopher Nolan
Independent Spirit Awards	2002	Nominated	Best Cinematography	Wally Pfister
Independent Spirit Awards	2002	Won	Best Director	Christopher Nolan
Independent Spirit Awards	2002	Won	Best Feature	Jennifer Todd; Suzanne Todd
Independent Spirit Awards	2002	Won	Best Screenplay	Christopher Nolan
Independent Spirit Awards	2002	Won	Best Supporting Female	Carrie-Anne Moss
Online Film Critics Society Awards	2002	Nominated	Best Actor	Guy Pearce
Online Film Critics Society Awards	2002	Won	Best Breakthrough Filmmaker	Christopher Nolan
Online Film Critics Society Awards	2002	Won	Best Picture
Online Film Critics Society Awards	2002	Won	Best Screenplay, Adapted	Christopher Nolan
Saturn	2001	Won	Best Action / Adventure / Thriller Film
Saturn	2001	Nominated	Best Actor	Guy Pearce
Saturn	2002	Nominated	Best DVD Speical Edition Release

Extras:
"Memento Mori"
Chronological Cut
Commentary
Featurettes
Interviews
Photo Gallery
Production Notes
Scene Access
Trailers

After watching Ghajini I thought it was time to watch Memento again. Its unique way of storytelling was just something really fun when I first watched it. It is still a great movie to rewatch.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on August 1st, 2009)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon, a review by DJ Doena

Synopsis: Quark learns that he has a fatal illness and will die within the next week. As it is custom he tries to auction his vacuum-desiccated remains on the Ferengi Futures Exchange. And there's actually a buyer who wants to pay a lot. It's only after that Quark learns he isn't ill at all. But Brunt - who was the buyer - insists on the deal (Rule of Acquisition #17: "A contract is a contract is a contract... but only between Ferengi") and now Quark tries to find a way to not to break the contract, even if that means that Garak must kill him. Meanwhile the Runabout "Volga" has an accident in which the pregnant Keiko O'Brien is injured. Dr. Bashir has no choice but to transfer the baby into Major Kira, the only other woman aboard.

My Opinion: Both storylines were very interesting. The latter one was necessary due to Nana Visitor's real pregnancy. But it was nice to see how the O'Brien's invited her to live with them until the birth and so on. But Quark's storyline was really great. How he tried to remain true to the Ferengi ways even if that would result in his death. But also how he saw that the price would be ultimately to high even though Brunt subsequently stripped him of everything he owned. And it was nice to see how all the people on the station helped him to re-equip the bar with drinks, glasses and furniture. They are like a big family with many different members, but a family nonetheless and that's what I like about the show.

Synopsis: Odo has suddenly become ill and Dr. Bashir has no way of helping him. Sisko decides to bring him to the Founders, maybe they can help him. But it was the Founders who made him ill, to force him to come home, to judge him. Never before has a changeling harmed another until Odo killed one last year.

My Opinion: Minbari do not kill Minbari. Never has a changeling harmed another. It's highly unlikely that species who wage wars and kill other species would actually have such a strict view regarding their own kind. It doesn't really add up. But be that as it may I thought it to be an interesting judgement, to make him "solid". I also thought that Garak's actions were also fitting for his character, that he would actually try to do something like this.

The Season - My Opinion: I thought the season had a lot of interesting episodes, especially the growing conflict with the Klingons and Worf's role in it, but also Dukat's developement. He remains an interesting character. The conflict with the Dominion is growing but it's not yet the main focus of the show - but that will change next year. I think it was a good idea that they didn't start the war yet, even the Dominion needs time to prepare (= to infiltrate the AQ) and it gave the Federation the time to get paranoid.
After the winter break it was a bit hard to restart this marathon, I wanted to watch other stuff like House M.D., but now I am totally hooked again - but I still will watch it only on weekends. So I see you coming friday in this topic!

(From Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Marathon on January 11th, 2009)