Love in the time of Cholera (2007)

8/10

I read the novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez over 10 years ago, and was captured by its brilliance. While the story line is somewhat far fetched in today’s world, I can’t help but wonder if tales like this one took place in the world of the 1800’s. The story aside, it was Marquez’s characterization that really got a hold of me, his characters were real, their was no Romeo & Juliet in his work, but he wrote of a love and a passion that was well on par if not beyond Romeo's & Juliet's.
So when I heard it was finally making its way to film was stoked, and not at all disappointed! The saying goes, “The Film is never as good as the book” and i believe that is true, but as far as a film can take a story like this one, I think they did a great job.

This is a lovers film, it is all about the heart and forbidden love, you wont find any action here and only a touch of comedy. Plenty of nudity and sex, though neither is the focal point of this film.

The Plot:

Florentino, rejected by the beautiful Fermina at a young age by the will of her father, devotes much of his adult life to carnal affairs as a desperate attempt to heal his broken heart, while he waits patiently for the Husband of his Fermina to die

Cast:

Benjamin Bratt...Dr. Juvenal Urbino

Gina Bernard Forbes...Digna Pardo

Giovanna Mezzogiorno...Fermina Urbino

Javier Bardem...Florentino Ariza

Marcela Mar...America Vicuña

Juan Ángel...Marco Aurelio - 40's

Liliana Gonzalez...Marco Aurelio’s Wife (as Liliana Alvarez Gonzalez)

Catalina Botero...Ofelia Urbino - 40's

Miguel Angel Pazos Galindo...Ofelia’s Husband

Maria Cecilia Herrera...Urbino's Sweet Wife

Luis Fernando Hoyos...Urbino Urbino

Carlos Duplat...Mourner #1

Francisco Raul Linero...Mourner #2

Unax Ugalde...Florentino Ariza - Teen

Liev Schreiber...Lotario Thugut

Trailer

Jumper (2008)

7.5/10

Heard this film was pretty average before watching it, so expectations were well low. I must say though after seeing “ Jumper “ I was more than pleasantly surprised. As well as being a great action, with a whole new concept, “ Jumper “ is a real rice love story. I really loved the whole idea of the Jumpers and the Paladins that are hunting them,

Sameul L Jackson was brilliantly cast in this film, as the hunter with an extremist edge.

Hayden Christensen was also great in his lead role in this film, playing the loner with a secret he cant share. He is a good guy, but is still a guy, which was a nice twist to see in a film that is predominately a love story.

If you like action that has more than a healthy dose of heart, then check “ Jumper “ out!

The Plot:

genetic anomaly allows a young man to teleport himself anywhere. He discovers this gift has existed for centuries and finds himself in a war that has been raging for thousands of years between "Jumpers" and those who have sworn to kill them.

Cast:

Hayden Christensen...David Rice

Jamie Bell...Griffin

Samuel L. Jackson...Roland

Rachel Bilson...Millie Harris

Diane Lane...Mary Rice

Michael Rooker..,William Rice

AnnaSophia Robb...Young Millie

Max Thieriot...Young David

Jesse James...Young Mark

Tom Hulce...Mr. Bowker

Kristen Stewart...Sophie

Teddy Dunn...Mark Kobold

Barbara Garrick...Ellen

Michael Winther...Day Bank Manager

Massimiliano Pazzaglia...Italian Desk Cop

Trailer



The Movie:

Across The Universe (2007)

9.5/10

An Incredible musical masterpiece, set in the turmoil that was the 1960’s. Infused through out this film are classic renditions of the beatles, in such a way that the lyrics not only compliment the story line, but seem to take on a whole new meaning. The choreography is phenomenal, unlike so many other films of this vein, the dance moves a completely integrated into the moment, rather than simply becoming the moment. With a great young cast, a brilliantly executed film comes alive on the screen! This is the first musical I have seen that isn’t whimsical, quirky or corny. “ Across the Universe.” is a film lovers musical, full of youth, vitality and true love, in a time of intense confusion and turmoil.

The likeness of the characters Sadie and JoJo to Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix was a great touch, I think it really helped encapsulate that part of the eras culture.

I only docked this amazing film .5points for being a little ambiguous at the start. Stick with it it gets more amazing as it progresses.

Keep an eye out for Joe Cockers cameo, during his awesome rendition of “Come Together”

Also Bono singing "I am the walrus" a very well placed song and a great job by Bono, didn't recognize him till he started singing!

Other Cameos: Eddy Izzard and Salma Hayek



The Plot:

A dock worker Jude travels to America in the 1960s to find his estranged father. There he falls in love with sheltered American teenager Lucy. When her brother Max is drafted to fight in the Vietnam War, they become involved in peace activism. The film title and main characters are named after various songs by The Beatles.

Cast:

Evan Rachel Wood ... Lucy Carrigan

Jim Sturgess...Jude

Joe Anderson... Max Carrigan

Dana Fuchs... Sadie

Martin Luther... JoJo (as Martin Luther McCoy)

T.V. Carpio... Prudence

Spencer Liff... Daniel

Lisa Hogg ... Jude's Liverpool Girlfriend

Nicholas Lumley... Cyril

Michael Ryan... Phil

Angela Mounsey... Martha - Jude's Mother

Dylan Baker... Max's Father

Erin Elliott ... Cheer Coach

Robert Clohessy... ude's Father

Curtis Holbrook ... Dorm Buddy

Trailer

The Movie:

10,000 B.C (2008)

4/10

I had very high hopes for " 10,000 b.c " after watching the trailer, but in the end was less than impressed. Perhaps the graphics could have carried it, but it was such a done before plot that I couldn't get into it. Watch it by all means, but if you are chasing a good movie with basically the same plot then go and rent "The Last of the Mohicans". To sum up, seen it all before with different actors and in a different setting. Boring!

The Plot:

A prehistoric epic that follows a young mammoth hunter's journey through uncharted territory to secure the future of his tribe.

Cast:

Steven Strait...D'Leh

Camilla Belle...Evolet

Cliff Curtis...Tic'Tic

Joel Virgel...Nakudu

Affif Ben Badra...Warlord

Mo Zinal...Ka'Ren

Nathanael Baring...Baku

Mona Hammond...Old Mother

Marco Khan...One-Eye

Reece Ritchie...Moha

Joel Fry...Lu'kibu

Omar Sharif...Narrator

Kristian Beazley...D'Leh's Father

Junior Oliphant...Tudu

Louise Tu'u...Baku's Mother

Trailer: