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    Elge's Movie Recommendations

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    Post by Elge Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:51 pm

    James Cameron Week

    For a man whose fame was solidified in platinum following the record-breaking success of Titanic, James Cameron's roots were set firmly in the sci-fi genre. With his earlier critically acclaimed films like Aliens and The Terminator, Cameron was considered the go-to director for all-things action and science-fiction. In honor of this man's lauded filmography, and in anticipation for his upcoming return to the genre that made him famous with Avatar, I will be highlighting some of his most praised work, and with respect to the genre, some of the greatest science-fiction films in history.

    We start off this week with a special double feature!

    The Terminator (1984)
    Rated R for language, violence and gore, and brief nudity
    Affiliation: Writer and Director

    Elge's Movie Recommendations - Page 3 43746067
    "Your future is in his hands."

    The Plot
    An advanced cyborg assassin is sent back in time to eliminate a young Sarah Connor, who would later give birth to the leader of the human resistance in the fight between man and machine initiated by the SkyNet corporation, in hopes of altering the events that have transpired.

    Starring
    Arnold Schwarzenegger
    Michael Biehn
    Linda Hamilton

    Why You Should See This Movie
    In Cameron's first mainstream foray into the sci-fi genre, he gave us one of the most iconic characters of all time: The Terminator. Designate T-model 101, The Terminator was originally conceived as a threat to the future - and more imminently - the life of Sarah Connor, who would give birth to the savior of the human resistance following "Judgment Day" unleashed by SkyNet. Arnold's on-screen presence exudes intimidation and fear; quite simply, there was no one else who could have pulled off this role more perfectly. It's thanks to the success of this groundbreaking sci-fi film that we were blessed with its sequel.

    Fun Fact: O.J. Simpson was considered for the role of the Terminator, but the producers feared he was "too nice" to be taken seriously as a cold-blooded killer. In 1990, (years, ironically, before Simpson's first trial) Dark Horse Comics printed issues using his likeness.



    Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
    Rated R for strong sci-fi action and violence, and for language.
    Affiliation: Producer, Writer, and Director

    Elge's Movie Recommendations - Page 3 40678_3
    "It's nothing personal."

    The Plot
    A reprogrammed T-101 is sent back in time by the future John Connor to protect his young, past self as another, more advanced T-1000 model - made of liquid metal - is bent on killing the child before he has a chance to become the resistance leader. Meanwhile, remnants of the previous T-101 Terminator were picked up by Cyberdyne Systems and are being studied by Miles Dyson, the man who will become the creator of SkyNet.

    Starring
    Arnold Schwarzenegger
    Linda Hamilton
    Edward Furlong
    Robert Patrick

    Why You Should See This Movie
    Reprising his role as a T-101 model Terminator is Arnold, this time playing the hero as he protects both John Connor and the returning heroine, Sarah Connor, from a more deadly T-1000 series. What the first movie did right, T2 did perfectly. Combining a far more harmonized symbiosis of action, science-fiction, and drama, T2 is perhaps one of the greatest sequel films ever made.

    Fun Fact: Arnold Schwarzenegger said during the making of this film that he would never play another evil character again, but he later played the villain Mr. Freeze in Batman & Robin (1997).
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    Post by Elge Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:51 am


    Solaris (2002)
    Rated PG-13 on appeal for sexuality/nudity, brief language and thematic elements
    Affiliation: Producer

    Elge's Movie Recommendations - Page 3 Solarispubk
    "How far will you go for a second chance?"

    The Plot
    Crew members of a space station in close proximity to the bizarre planet known as Solaris begin experiencing fully-realistic, tangible hallucinations that start to effect their work and their lives. When a murder/suicide occurs on board, Chris Kelvin, a psychiatrist on Earth, is asked to join the crew and evaluate the members. But soon, the visions begin to haunt his reality, thinning the line between sanity and paranoia.

    Starring
    George Clooney
    Natascha McElhone
    Viola Davis
    Jeremy Davies
    Ulrich Tukur

    Why You Should See This Movie
    Based on the short novel by Polish writer Stanisław Lem, and adapted from the 1972 Russian film version by famed director Andrei Tarkovsky, Steven Soderbergh's collaboration with James Cameron on this version results in an artistic feat that would seem only appropriate to describe as a journey that is superior than its ending. In fact, one could argue that the ending of this movie is not important at all, but rather getting to that point is what matters. This is an incredibly slow paced, very quiet piece about second chances and dealing with our past mistakes. Brilliant performances all around and gorgeous visuals make this more than worth a single viewing, but an intricate and powerful story may have you coming back for a second or third time.

    Fun Fact: George Clooney said that Steven Soderbergh was originally considering another actor for the lead so Clooney wrote him a letter asking to be considered as he thought a letter would be "less personal" if Soderbergh wanted to turn him down. Clooney said, "thank God the other actor turned it down." The other actor was Daniel Day-Lewis.

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    Post by Elge Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:38 am


    Aliens (1986)
    Rated R for monster violence, and for language.
    Affiliation: Writer and Director

    Elge's Movie Recommendations - Page 3 Aliens_poster
    "This time it's war."

    The Plot
    Awoken from hypersleep by a salvage ship more than 50 years following the disaster on the Nostromo, the sole survivor, Ellen Ripley, once more finds herself thrust into the mouth of hell as all contact has been lost with the now-colonized planet LV-426, home world to the aliens. Joining a crew of colonial marines, Ripley is sent back to where the disaster started, and where her nightmare first began.

    Starring
    Sigourney Weaver
    Carrie Henn
    Michael Biehn
    Lance Henriksen
    William Hope
    Paul Reiser

    Why You Should See This Movie
    Ridley Scott's original Alien is, simply put, a classic. It is a benchmark in sci-fi horror and a milestone for all aspiring horror directors to strive for. It combined a masterful blend of dramatic suspension, intelligent writing, brilliant atmosphere, and terrifying monsters to become arguably the greatest horror movie ever made. Enter James Cameron with Aliens, the direct sequel to Scott's masterpiece, and by many accounts, the superior movie. Whereas Scott used a slow-build of suspense and tension to paralyze the audience, Cameron and his knack for sci-fi action kicks it into high-gear and never lets go. Aliens is the pinnacle of action in a horror movie, two genres that rarely mesh well. But somehow - like always - Cameron manages to make a thrilling, horrifying, exciting, adrenaline-fueled epic the likes of which so few movies have ever matched.

    Fun Fact: Sigourney Weaver had initially been very hesitant to reprise her role as Ripley, and had rejected numerous offers from Fox Studios to do any sequels, fearing that her character would be poorly written, and a sub-par sequel could hurt the legacy of the original film. However, she was so impressed by the high quality of James Cameron's script - specifically, the strong focus on Ripley, the mother-daughter bond between her character and Newt, and the incredible precision with which Cameron wrote her character, that she finally agreed to do the film.
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    Post by Elge Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:34 am


    The Abyss (1989)
    Rated PG-13 for language and some scenes of action.
    Affiliation: Writer and director

    Elge's Movie Recommendations - Page 3 TheAbyss
    "A place on earth more awesome than anywhere in space."

    The Plot
    In the midst of the Cold War, an American Nuclear sub is downed in the middle of the ocean and all contact with the mainland is severed. Fearing a Soviet retrieval, the US Military enlists the crew of a nearby underwater oil rig to investigate the possible location of the sub and locate any survivors. Aided by the accompaniment of a number of navy SEALs, the crew sets out to the last known location of the vessel; but what they soon discover at the very depths of the ocean floor is a world inhabited by an unknown aquatic alien species.

    Starring
    Ed Harris
    Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
    Michael Biehn
    J.C. Quinn
    Kimberly Scott

    Why You Should See This Movie
    Without a doubt one of the most brilliantly directed and atmospheric movies ever conceived, The Abyss combines a tense, claustrophobic, and dangerous setting with brilliant, A+ acting across the board and a fantastic script to create what I believe to be the paramount of Cameron's career. This is, without any doubts, my favorite film by James Cameron, and as they say to save the best for last, it is the film I hereby close out James Cameron week with. If there is but only one thing that can be said about The Abyss, it is simply - flawless.

    Fun Fact: During the rigorous and problematic shoot, the cast and crew began calling the film by various derogatory names such as "Son Of Abyss", "The Abuse" and "Life's Abyss And Then You Dive". Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio reportedly suffered a physical and emotional breakdown because she was pushed so hard on the set, and Ed Harris had to pull over his car at one time while driving home, because he burst into spontaneous crying.

    As a special bonus, here's a second bit of trivia:

    Fun Fact #2: The crew frequently spent enough time underwater to force them to undergo decompression before surfacing. James Cameron would often watch dailies through a glass window, while decompressing and hanging upside down to relieve the stress on his shoulders from the weight of the helmet.

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    Post by Elge Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:46 pm


    The Host (2006)
    Rated R for creature violence and language.

    Elge's Movie Recommendations - Page 3 The+Host
    "It is lurking behind you."

    The Plot
    A toxic spill into the Han River in Seoul, South Korea, gives birth to a new breed of predatory creature. When disaster strikes the largely populated city, one family is torn asunder after the monster takes the young daughter of Park Gang-du. Convinced she is still alive, Gang-gu, his two siblings, and their father seek out the young girl while the monster continues its violent rampage.

    Starring
    Song Kang-ho
    Byeon Hee-bong
    Park Hae-il
    Bae Doona
    Ko Ah-seong

    Why You Should See This Movie
    The Host is bar-none one of the finest monster movies ever made. It rightfully has its place amongst the original King Kong and perhaps even, in all its infamy, Godzilla. It is a rare breed of film that manages to combine dark comedy with a deeply heartfelt story, a complete cast of fully developed, realized, and believable characters, and some impressive action shots. The show is simply stolen by the talents of Song Kang-ho, who plays the disparaged and initially-buffoonish father in his desperate search to find his daughter, dead or alive. There are moments where you will rightfully not know whether to laugh or feel sorry, but if there is one single feeling you are left with at the end of this film, it is total and utter satisfaction.

    Fun Fact: The event described in the beginning of the film is based on an actual event. In February 2000 at a US military facility located in the center of Seoul, a US military civilian employee named Mr. McFarland was ordered to dispose of formaldehyde by dumping it into the sewer system that led to the Han River, despite the objection of a South Korean subordinate. The government attempted to prosecute Mr. McFarland in court, but the US military refused to hand over the custody of Mr. McFarland to the South Korean legal system. Later, a South Korean judge convicted Mr. McFarland in absentia. The Public was enraged at the government's inability to enforce its law on its own soil. In 2005, nearly five years after the original incident, Mr. McFarland was finally found guilty in a court in his presence. However, he never served the actual prison sentence, and there have been no sightings of a mutant creature in the Han River - yet.
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    Post by Elge Tue Aug 25, 2009 6:45 pm


    The Wicker Man (1973)
    Rated R for language, frightening imagery, alcohol use, and scenes of prolonged nudity

    Elge's Movie Recommendations - Page 3 Picture
    "Flesh to touch...Flesh to burn! Don't keep the Wicker Man waiting!"

    The Plot
    The reported disappearance of a little girl on a small, reclusive island brings a police sergeant from the mainland in search of her whereabouts. When the inhabitants of Summerisle begin to act strangely and outright deny the existence of the girl, sergeant Howie's investigation becomes more about the odd rituals that take place on the island and how they link to the missing girl.

    Starring
    Edward Woodward
    Christopher Lee
    Diane Cilento
    Ingrid Pitt
    Britt Ekland

    Why You Should See This Movie
    The Wicker Man is a powerful tale of debauchery, paganism, secrecy, and sacrifice. Sergeant Howie's downward spiral from the moment he steps foot on Summerisle to the film's terrifying conclusion is fascinating to watch; what makes the film even more poignant is that the island upon which Summerisle was based exists, as do these similar rituals all across the world in secluded, cut-off locations. Even 30 years after the film's initial release, it still manages to get under your skin because of its effective storytelling, enchanting atmosphere, and its magnificent - but frightening - finale. The film was remade in 2006 starring Nicholas Cage. A friendly tip: avoid that version.

    Fun Fact: Although the film is set in Scottish territory and all the characters are meant to be of Scottish nationality, all five of of the leading cast are not Scottish: Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward are English, Diane Cilento is Australian, Ingrid Pitt is Eastern European and Britt Ekland is Swedish.
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    Post by Elge Wed Aug 26, 2009 8:38 pm


    A History of Violence (2005)
    Rated R for strong brutal violence, graphic sexuality, nudity, language and some drug use.

    Elge's Movie Recommendations - Page 3 History_of_violence
    "Everyone has something to hide."

    The Plot
    Tom Stall, a small-town family man and owner of Stall's Diner, becomes the local hero through an act of violence when he kills two thugs threatening to rob his establishment. As the exposure of this incident spreads across the nation, suspicious and dangerous men come to visit Stall and begin to taunt his family, claiming Tom is not exactly the man he is pretending to be.

    Starring
    Viggo Mortensen
    Maria Bello
    Ed Harris
    William Hurt

    Why You Should See This Movie
    In a slight departure from Cronenberg's usual sci-fi and horror-themed films, A History of Violence is by no means a turn for the worse. In fact, this film is arguably one of the Canadian-born filmmaker's finest achievements, blending outstanding production value, a cast of fully-developed and intricate characters (as well as actors capable enough of exploring those intricacies), and a powerful theme on the nature of violence and what guilt can do to one's life. Cronenberg has a way of capturing whatever he is putting on film in such a light that it manages to speak to us as an audience, whether it's because we can relate to the situations or to the characters, or even because we sympathize with those suffering. Whatever the case may be, A History of Violence is without a doubt a work of art.

    Fun Fact: This film has the distinction of being the last major Hollywood movie to be released in the VHS format.
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    Post by Elge Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:17 pm


    Joint Security Area (2000)
    Rated R for scenes of graphic brutality

    Elge's Movie Recommendations - Page 3 3fb3db30a2bc67ef
    "He crossed the bridge of no return."

    The Plot
    In the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea lies a bridge aptly named the "bridge of no return;" when a brutal killing occurs in the northern border house, a South Korean soldier is put on trial by the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission for his involvement in the incident. In an effort to unravel the truth surrounding this illegal shooting, the young soldier's allegiance to his country is questioned when the clues start to fall into place, and the man's relationship with the North Korean soldiers is revealed.

    Starring
    Lee Young Ae
    Lee Byung-Hun
    Song Kang-ho

    Why You Should See This Movie
    Joint Security Area is a powerful saga about the strength of friendship even against all logic, law, and beliefs. It tells its tale through a method of forced flashback, wherein the movie begins in the present with the investigation by the NNSC; the entire second act, and much of the film itself, is then told through the implicated soldier's flashbacks, as the true events are shown to the viewer. The film returns to the present near the end at the climax of the trial and conclusion of the investigation. Though the beginning may start out slow, the moment the flashback begins, the film is a powerhouse of emotion and heart. It makes a bold statement, one that isn't clouded by superficial prosperity or fluff. These characters are real, they are three-dimensional, and they are inspiring.

    Fun Fact: Since filming at the real JSA is impossible, an exact replica was built at the studio, which still stands.
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    Post by Elge Sat Aug 29, 2009 11:34 am


    Total Recall (1990)
    Rated R for nudity, language, and extremely graphic brutality

    Elge's Movie Recommendations - Page 3 10980~Total-Recall-Posters
    "They stole his mind, now he wants it back."

    The Plot
    In the near future, in a time when Mars has been colonized, a company known as Rekall has developed a program to implant virtual memories into anyone, allowing them to take vacations anywhere they wish without physically leaving the confines of an office building. When Douglas Quaid opts to take the trip one day as a secret agent on vacation to Mars, something during the procedure goes wrong, waking him up during the process and perhaps uploading some confidential and deadly secrets into his mind. Now Quaid must run to survive as he is hunted down by a powerful conglomerate responsible for the Mars colonization, all the while questioning whether this is real or just the results of his lucid dreaming.

    Starring
    Arnold Schwarzenegger
    Sharon Stone
    Ronny Cox
    Michael Ironside
    Rachel Ticotin

    Why You Should See This Movie
    Total Recall is widely considered the grandfather of a modern genre of thriller, a specific form casually referred to as a mind f**k. In fact, the movie itself even uses that phrase as a specific line of dialogue to self-reference its own twisting and non-linear plot. Arnold is by no means an Oscar-worthy actor, but he plays the role of paranoid and confused Quaid well. You will be questioning the reality of the entire movie up until the very last minute, and, like Quaid himself, will be constantly asking the question "Is this real, or part of the program?"

    Fun Fact: Originally to be directed by David Cronenberg, who turned down the chance to direct The Fly (1986) in order to work on this film. Cronenberg was replaced on The Fly by Robert Bierman, but Bierman later pulled out of that project due to the death of his daughter. Around the same time, Cronenberg left Total Recall when it was placed into turnaround, which left him free to return to direct The Fly.


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