Well, it’s finally here! There’s been a lot of hype surrounding the official Tribe Called Quest documentary as it circulated the festivals to much critical acclaim, but until now, there was no trailer. Glad to see they finally got it together, as I’m sure fans all over have been greatly anticipating the story of one of the most celebrated and prolific hip hop acts.
The only thing I enjoy watching more than movies, are movie trailers. In many instances, the trailer is much better than the film itself. I sure hope that isn’t the case with these films (although I won’t be surprised if it is):
1. One Day
It’s got chick-flick written all over it, except it probably benefits from better writing and acting. Dramatic, tear-inducing, revelatory with a 20-something vantage point relatable to someone like myself, I expect to watch it alone when it comes out.
2. Crazy Stupid Love
Story itself does not impress me, but the cast makes it a must-see. While I don’t really know if Ryan Gosling fits the role of a self-absorbed womanizer, I do think his presence lends credibility to almost all his movies. Again, I’ll probably watch this alone. Sort of wish I had some friends who were more like me.
Ever wondered what the next stage in human evolution will be? Could it be computers, machines and robots? Science fiction has long fed our imaginations with various outcomes and consequences of a robocentric world – with films like iRobot, A.I. and of course, Terminator, all films which point to a catastrophic dystopian society and doomsday scenarios.
But of course, that’s the stuff of science fiction; Hollywood imaginings designed around dollars signs and mass audience appeal. What about real life? What kind of discourse is currently taking place around technology, science and humankind’s destiny? If curiosity is your compass, then Transcendent Man is a point worth considering.
Ray Kurzweil is a renowned, albeit, polarizing futurist famous for some startling predictions, many of which, according to Wikipedia, have come true. Transcendent Man examines aspects of his life, his beliefs and visions of the future. Some of it sounds pretty preposterous and many will be quick to label him a lunatic who’s completely lost it on the science front. But I’m not too sure what he is. Is he a madman, or merely a genius beyond his time?
Because I wasn’t schooled in the sciences (my bachelors degree was for the Arts), I can’t objectively validate any of his claims or offer further insights into the next stage of human evolution, but Kurzweil believes by 2045, humanity will be altered in ways previously only imaginable to novelists and screenwriters.
Kurzweil envisions a future where humans transcend their biological limits by melding with technology – the creation of “super-humans”. Imagine morphing into souped-up versions of ourselves, with chips embedded into our bodies. Imagine shedding our external selves and living in a complete virtual world. Imagine, as Kurzweil eerily proclaims, defying death altogether. Transcendent Man discusses the direction we may be heading in, and the debate surrounding our outcome if all of it actually happens. Fascinating!
Here’s the trailer for the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced, film adaption of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal in the titular role, alongside a dazzling Gemma Arterton. Whether this will be just another one of those failed video game films remains to be seen, next summer.
(Update: I didn’t watch this, but I don’t think it broke the crappy video-game movie mold.)
“In the city that never sleeps, love is always on the mind. Those passions come to life in a collaboration of storytelling from some of today’s most imaginative filmmakers and featuring an all-star cast. Together they create a kaleidoscope of the spontaneous, surprising, electrifying human connections that pump the city’s heartbeat. Sexy, funny, haunting and revealing encounters unfold beneath the Manhattan skyline. From Tribeca to Central Park to Brooklyn the story weaves a tale of love as diverse as the very fabric of New York itself.”
I know, copy/paste is a complete cop-out, but I just couldn’t think of a better way to describe the movie. Needless to say, I can’t wait, mainly for the impressive cast which features Anton Yelchin, Shia LaBoeuf, current it-boy Bradley Cooper and tons of others, including the unambiguously hot duo Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen. With Zach Braff tacked on as a director, it’s likely to be smothered in syrupy-sweet sentimentality – and that’s a good thing!
I spent the better part of yesterday evening browsing movie trailers on Apple, and I’m quite excited about the fresh line-up of new films.
The first one is The Lovely Bones, based on the best-selling novel by Alice Sebold. Normally, I wouldn’t be too keen to see what unfolds onscreen because the book didn’t move me the way it did everyone else. But two simple words could take me to the ends of Middle Earth… yes, I’m talking Peter Jackson, the man with the magic director’s hand. Is there any doubt this movie will be somewhat extraordinary?
I’ll confess that I’m not the biggest Saoirse Ronan fan (pronounced “Seer-sha” and not “Swa-errs” or anything remotely close to how it’s spelled!) I still can’t get over her character in Atonement, especially for the stupid side-parted haircut (the same one she continued to wear sixty years later). But since she was nominated for an Oscar, I’m sure she’ll do fine here.
And Mark Wahlberg playing the father? That’s a shocker. But a good one! I’m excited.
Overall, the expectations are high. I predict tons of tears, magic, fantasy and life-altering revelations. Good stuffs.
(Update: I never ended up watching this movie. I heard it didn’t do so well. Oh well)
When I’m not watching movies, I can be found watching trailers – both old and new, because sometimes these trailers are so well-done they can stand alone as entire works of art. Below are two of my favorites, featured here for their flawless blend of music and motion.
1. Watchmen
Although the movie itself was a bit of a letdown the trailer promised something extraordinary. The Smashing Pumpkin’s song, coupled with some pivotal movie moments really made it happen.
2. Where the Wild Things Are
I have supremely high hopes for this movie based on the theatrical trailer. Seriously, it was so moving that some tears were shed after I initially saw this. More tears were shed when I saw it the second time. If all goes well, I’ll cry a bucketful at the actual screening.