Live Life With No Regrets!

It isn't so much an action movie, nor a comedy but tries to be more of a dramatic movie. It tries to pack so much within such a small time (barely 1 1/2 hours) that there is hardly time for many jokes. (You can count them on one hand.)

If you don't know, the movie had to go through additional shooting due to concerns about certain scenes. Therefore the story didn't seem to gel together and it comes out like a patchwork of many things combined together.

I still feel that the concept is good enough for a sequel, but hopefully they will fine tune the direction and editing.

My verdict: 3 stars out of 5 (I expected better from Will Smith after his performance in I Am Legend)

Posted by Nico at 3:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

However, the movie unravels like teenage juvenile fantasy writing. Starting with the opening, it opens like an Israeli tourism ad, showing bikini babes on the beaches of Israel. Following it, the theatrics of how skillful Zohan is is over the top with a heavy sprinkling of special effects.

The plot is predictable and tries to be politically correct, to spread a message of peace between Israelis and Palestinians. In the wake of Mel Gibson's drunken anti-semitic outburst, it snipes him and his movies a couple of times, which I didn't appreciate since I do like his movies.

There's really nothing new here in this movie. I wasted my money watching this. Rent this movie only if you really have nothing to do except to watch Adam Sandler in his newly buffed body.

One and a half stars out of five.

Posted by Nico at 1:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Instead of writing a movie review this time, I decided to dissect the movie into standard template motifs.

Joseph Campbell's Hero of a thousand faces. The hero role is supported by two characters, with Remy being the main hero.

Mystical Birth: Remy is born with a special sensitive nose that can even sniff out poison.
Call To Adventure: Remy is called to adventure when he is swept off into the sewer system.
Refusal of the Call: Remy wants to remain in the sewer.
Crossing the first Threshold: Remy takes the first step to go out of the sewers.
Supernatural Aid: Remy has the spirit of "Gusteau" advising him.
Rebirth/Transformation: The meeting of Remy and Linguini transforms each of them. Remy from just a rat and Linguini from a garbage boy.
Training Sequence/Road of Trials: Remy and Linguini train to work with one another to cook.
Woman As Temptress: Linguini is sidetracked with Collette that he forgets about Remy.
Atonement with Father: Remy sets things straight with his father, Django, later in Act III, Linguini learns of his heritage as Gusteau's son.
The Ultimate Boon: Linguini inherits the restaurant.
Refusal of the Return: Linguini basks in the limelight of fame and forsakes Remy.
The Magic Flight: Earlier in Act II when Remy steals the will and letter from Skinner's office.
Rescue from Without: The whole horde of rats come and help Remy cook.

Posted by Nico at 5:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Mad Hot Ballroom" is a documentary that follows a few group of public school students (in their teens) that learn 5 dances (Tango, Rumba, Foxtrot, Merengue, Waltz) within 10 weeks.

There was a interview with a teacher in the movie where she broke down because she saw her kids growing up into ladies and gentleman. Very touching.

Dance teaches kids to learn to grow up. It teaches you to walk and grow.

I definitely would want my kids to learn to dance, to teach them not just a skill but to become mature.

Posted by Nico at 2:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The thing is, what kind of story are you living, what do you believe your story is like?

If you believe your life is a tragedy, you will script the events and the actions that you take to be a tragedy, you subconscious mind will look for people to audition to be villains in your life story. You will choose events, activities, and actions that will fulfill your story.

On the other hand, if you believe that life is one of success, then you will begin associating yourself with successful people and put yourself in situations where you will be succesful. You will cast people in your life that will support your role as a success story.

But what if your life has events that would be a tragedy?

The movie "Life is Beautiful" shows how you can turn it around. The protagonist, made his life into a romantic comedy even in the darkest times, even in the valley of the shadow of death he could turn it into comic relief.

So, no matter what, make life beautiful.

Posted by Nico at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)