Artists Without Borders is the
Monday 1 September 2008
Tuesday 12 August 2008
Mulan
In the rush to contrast the early-nineties Disney golden historic period (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King) with the current craw of underperformers (Treasure Planet, Brother Bear, Home on the Range) that ingest resulted in Disney�s heady decision to jettison hand-drawn animation, some pretty adequate films have been missed in the shuffle. Disney�s Mulan, for example, is a beautifully drawn and exciting fiddling adventure picture show from 1998 (when it was a decent-sized strike, too). It�s no kind of classic, but world Health Organization says Disney Animation can�t put kO'd something minor now and again?
In their own slipway, the late-nineties Disney cartoons (which include the likewise mythical Hercules and Tarzan) take risks in stylization and topic matter. The semi-experiment here is to craft a story around a strong female protagonist who is not, on any level, a princess (even reasoning and bookish Belle in Beauty and the Beast is defined by a love story with a prince, handsome or not). The title character (voiced by Ming-Na (now sans the Wen)) masquerades as a man in order to take her aging father�s place in the Chinese army; it won�t cross your enjoyment to make out that she isn�t instantly killed and forgotten.
Nor does the motion picture break from formula in many other notable shipway; there�s quiet a politic, princely honey interest and a team of smooth, enthusiastic beast sidekicks � Mulan�s defender mini-dragon Mushu for one; her faithful steed for another; and her darling cricket for one likewise many. The action sequences, like a massive battleground avalanche, are so well that the patented Disney story beat generation � the protagonist�s declaration of precariousness; accusations of deception and/or betrayal; a cheery finale � feel like filler, not keystone. What could be a touching, personal story buckles under the weight of Disney�s patented team writing policy � good for gag-based films, but maybe not for a warrior�s tale.
This is most seeming when the characters from time to time sing: The death ring for the automatic musicalization of Disney films is sounded via four tremendous, half-hearted songs that have no place in a grand adventure. Still, the music is mostly out of the picture by the halfway mark, and Mulan return as a female-driven action movie � a relatively rare live for kids and regular their more seasoned moviegoing parents.
You can also credit Disney for getting to the Eddie Murphy Cartoon Sidekick well first � DreamWorks may have strike paydirt with his work as Donkey in the Shrek films, but Murphy practiced this routine in Mulan as the diminutive Mushu. His comic riffs are more than out of place here than in an rank comedy like Shrek, just on its own, Murphy�s part is a pointless but funny bit of comic relief.
So Mulan clay squarely in the kingdom of family unit entertainment, simply it�s exuberant and efficient as such (if a little more violent than usual). The animated plant design of Chinese palaces and landscapes is eye-catching, and the villain Shan-Yu (Miguel Ferrer) cuts a menacing figure. I�ll choose this swordplay and fireworks over Cinderella any day.
The new DVD release includes a deleted song and scenes, plus the usual kids' games and behind-the-scenes peeks.
The unexampled box set includes the Special Edition DVD and a transcript of Mulan II.
Wednesday 6 August 2008
'Twilight' Exclusive: Stars Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene To Reunite For The Film 'Strife'
LOS ANGELES � Although their film doesn't tied come out for some other six months, the offspring stars of "Twilight" have already reached a point of asterisk status that most actors would kill for. And now, iI of the castmembers already have plans to reunite.
MTV News has exclusively well-read that Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene have signed on to "Strife," a film set to begin production in a few weeks. The movie will arrive in theaters adjacent year, curtly after audiences will have seen Lutz and Greene as Cullen clan members Emmett and Alice, respectively.
Directed by film maker Omid Shabkhiz, "Strife" tells the news report of trinity friends struggling with day-to-day life in the drug and gang-infested streets of Los Angeles. Caught in a domain of wildness and tragedy, they fight to get wind the hope and love that canful help them persevere.
The husky, charismatic 23-year-old Lutz is set to play Jagger, a smooth-talking but riotous young man who gets caught in his possess game when he falls into debt. His desperate actions go under much of the film's plot into action.
Meanwhile, the sweet-smiling Greene has been cast as Trish, a well-educated girl who hits the streets of Los Angeles with the charles Herbert Best of intentions. Passionate around women's rights and social awareness, Greene will be a stark contrast to Lutz's character.
She'll also be the voice of rationality for the film's third lead, a man named Lorenzo, played by up-and-comer Kyle Schmid ("The Covenant," "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"). Schmid's character is a privileged young
Tuesday 24 June 2008
Spokane
Artist: Spokane
Genre(s):
Alternative
Rock
Discography:
Measurement
Year: 2003
Tracks: 8
Able Bodies
Year: 2002
Tracks: 7
Close Quarters
Year: 2001
Tracks: 5
Spokane is a solo fomite for Drunk's Rick Alverson, a singer/songwriter world Health Organization gleans equal amounts of inspiration from Simon & Garfunkel and Galaxie five hundred. Though Alverson has written most of Drunk's material, the songs he writes for Spokane are more personal and not as collaborative. Signed to Jagjaguwar, Leisure and Other Songs was released in 2000, recruitment the services of his match in Drunk and aiding from the extensive help of Patrick Phelan. An EP for the Acuarela pronounce of Spain, Close Quarters, was issued in 2001, including a report of Bauhaus' "All We Ever Wanted Was Everything." The proper follow-up to Spokane's debut was released a couple of months later on. Like its predecessor, The Proud Graduates featured help from several of Alverson's friends. 2002's Able Bodies benefitted from string section courtesy of violoncellist Molly Kien and violinist Maggie Polk, while 2003's Measurement featured vocalizer Courtney Bowles. Lilliputian Hours, which was recorded in a Virginia bungalow, arrived in 2007.
Dominion3
Saturday 21 June 2008
J Majik vs Sarah Mclachlan
Artist: J Majik vs Sarah Mclachlan
Genre(s):
Drum & Bass
Discography:
Silence Vinyl
Year: 2003
Tracks: 1
Hawthorne Heights Talk Reconciliation With Victory Records, New Album Fragile Future
The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk
Publisher: Sega
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, PC
Reviewed on: Xbox 360
Rating: T � Teen
Game type: Action
Rating: *** 1/2 (out of five)
What�s the premise?
Trash, bash and crash your way through the world as Dr. Bruce Banner�s nightmarish alter ego, the Incredible Hulk, in a series of missions or take your time and explore and demolish the scenic open environment of New York City.
This game is most similar to�?
Spider-Man 3.
Is it suitable for younger gamers?
Hulk smash! Want to hear that coming from your kid as he clobbers you?
One player or more?
It�s just you and the not-so-jolly green giant.
The (not-so) secret to success is�?
Umm� Hulk smash? Like most fighting-based action games, you�ll need to master some combo moves to be able to get the better of some of your tougher enemies. You also need to remember that almost anything can be interacted with, so if you want to hurl a cement mixer at the bad guys � or funnier still, through one of the bad guys at each other � just go for it.
What�s missing?
Something other than Hulk smash? While the fully destructible environments make for some terrific sandbox fun, it does get a tad tedious after a while.
And in the end?
If you�re looking for some good old-fashioned chaos and destruction, with minimal plot complications, The Incredible Hulk is, well, a smash.
See Also
Mooch and Dead Earnest
Artist: Mooch and Dead Earnest
Genre(s):
Ambient
Discography:
Mooch In Search Of The Acid Metal Grille
Year: 1998
Tracks: 4
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