Sunday, August 22, 2010

Check Out Tetsuo Ironman

By Karyn Rojas

Tetsuo Ironman was the debut film by the legendary Japanese film director Shinya Tsukamoto. The film is of course in another language, but you should consider putting it on your downloads queue next time you sign into your movie download service because it's not THAT kind of foreign movie. It's a horror action film, so there's always something happening on screen. The dialog isn't what's important. You can follow the story with the subtitles off and still understand it about as well as anyone else... Which isn't saying much, considering how strange the film is.

The movie focuses on a Japanese salary man who suddenly starts sprouting pieces of scrap metal from his body one day. It's very much in the same category as Japanese surrealist authors like Kobo Abe, where weird things just suddenly start happening for no real reason in particular. It kind of drives home the point that... Life is weird and unpredictable, and there's really no inherent meaning to it all so... Just enjoy the long strange trip for what it is.

The movie was based on the idea of making a monster movie like Godzilla, but with a human sized beast. So the Salary Man, as he transforms more and more into a heaping hunk of metal, has to do battle with Tetsuo, who, also, has grown into a heap of metal. They have a showdown in a junkyard where both have developed the ability to absorb all of the metal around them through... Magnetism, or chemistry or something. Your guess is as good as anyone else's.

This is the movie people point to when they talk about Japanese cyberpunk, which has always been more focused on the imagery of industrial machinery, steam, sparks and electricity than on the relations between man and computers. If you want to see more of this genre, you should also check out Electric Dragon 80000v and Burst City, which are considered two classics in this genre.

The movie is incredibly fast paced, and it's even a little confusing, but that's sort of the point. The movie also has a great look to it, with stark, high contrast black and white really driving home the nightmarish atmosphere of the film's setting. It really results in a strange look and a strange feel. The movie feels much more like a bad dream than it does like events happening in real life.

The film draws a lot of influence from two sources: Eraserhead, and David Cronenberg's Videodrome. Both of these films greatly contributed to its look, with Shinya Tsukamoto being a particularly big fan of Cronenberg's entire library of work. A warning, though, if those movies made you squeamish, this one will make you twice as squeamish. As surreal as the imagery is, it still might gross you out just a bit.

Tsukamoto has since created some of the greatest films to come out of Japan in the last few decades. In particular, Tokyo Fist is a real classic, and one of the greatest films ever made on the subject of the male ego and what can happen when a conflict is allowed to snowball with neither side backing down. It's really a great, deep look at what it means to be a man.

He's also gone on to have a career as an actor (he plays a major character in this film), starring as a major character in Ichi the Killer. His career is certainly one to watch. Twenty years after his debut, it's clear that he's just warming up.

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Saturday, August 21, 2010

The Movie Paths Of Glory Reviewed

By Karla Whitley

Paths of Glory was originally written as a novel by Humphrey Cobb, a story which would turn into one of the greatest war movie classics made in the 50's. Considered to be one among the most potent movies directed by Stanley Kubrick, this black and white close up at the politics of war has had audiences cringing for nearly half a century. Based on the French army's efforts against the Germans during World War I, the movie takes a different turn then most war stories, examining the enemy from within, rather than those outside.

The plot begins with a proposed addition of another star to a general's rank, and a suicidal plan for attack against the Germans to attempt to please the public. Without regard to practicality, the French General Staff orders an attack on a highly fortified area to boost public morale after a long stalemate with the enemy. Their brash decision puts a weakened and worn-torn regiment at risk with no back up, and no time to prepare. And so begins a recipe for disaster.

The film takes a subtle, and realistic by today's standards, approach to the telling of a war story. The characters drive the plot forward without prompt from the external enemy, but rather from the inhumane judgments and justifications of their own seats of power. A depth exists in every private, general, and rank in between, along with the interactions between them. This is why the movie is a popular choice for teachers to assign their students to analyze and write about it for critical thinking.

The plight of Colonel Dax to defend the lives, honor, and rights of his troops is among the most heroic ventures a character can take. When the attack fails, as the Colonel and every soldier involved predicts, the General points to the troops themselves as the cause for their acts of cowardice. With the random assignment of three soldiers to take the fall for the entire regiment, the main hook of the story begins, and a court hearing begins to decide their fate.

Though black and white footage may simply appear to be a technical limitation of the past to many who see an older film, it is still a respected medium for its drama and contrasting power. The emotional pull of the scenes in Paths of Glory are masterfully integrated with the lighting, darkness playing into the emotion of fear and anger, patchy light mixed with dark to portray doubt and suspense, and bright white to reveal the overly clean and opulent.

What may stand out to today's audiences that may not have captured so much attention at the time is the physical motion and gesticulation the characters perform throughout the film. To create diversity in the way scenes were shot without a large budget, a single camera would often track the pacing of a character during thought or speech about the set. This pacing punctuates the mental process the actor is portraying, and keeps the audience moving with them, although the camera is set from a single point.

By following the story of three soldiers doomed to death by their superiors for unjust causes, the French and many other European countries banned the movie for many years before cultural policies on such material loosened. Film critics acclaim it as the first challenger to the idea that war is completely honorable and glorious. The ironic and emotional journey the plot takes leave audiences with both warnings and questions about those in power, and the motives behind making enemies out of those who should be allies.

Though Paths of Glory did not become a wild success in the box office, film critics claim its inclusion with the great classics of storytelling history. The message behind the film remains potent, even today, as the conflict with death and the value of a life still burden us today. Though the director himself believed it was impossible to create an anti-war movie directly, he did manage to create a fantastically deep gaze into the judgment of how wars are run, and what sacrifices should be justly made.

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Mississauga Corporate Apartments

By Azwar Khalid

For many, business travel to different cities or countries is far from an occasional benefit, but rather a lifestyle. Staying in a new hotel every night can grow tiring, even with great amenities and service. Hotel life need not be the only option, however, as a growing trend favors corporate apartments. Mississauga is no exception to this rule, featuring corporate apartments suited to even the most demanding of business travelers with services rivaling those offered by even the greatest hotels. If you're curious as to the advantages corporate apartments offer beyond that of the competition, read on.

Staying in a good corporate apartment can provide huge savings when compared to staying in a hotel. Typically this can be around 30% cheaper, which when considered over a 7 night stay can really add up. Anyone who regularly needs to use corporate apartments will know this and will typically use them based on these prices, amongst other things.

Corporate apartments can benefit greatly from nurturing client relationships and encouraging repeat business. As such, many will maintain open channels of communication with their residents, determining what works well and what does not, as to provide the best and most satisfactory experience. The best corporate apartments know that maintaining good client relationships is crucial, and will always strive to meet and excede them.

Quality must also be consistent and remain constant. As such, corporate apartments must strive to be as comfortable and home-like as possible. One means to accomplish this is by providing apartments that are furnished. Mississauga offers a variety of corporate apartments meeting this criteria, providing luxurious furnishings and fixtures that add an extra touch to a corporate traveler's experience.

Clients shouldn't always have to travel out or wait for quality. As such, the best corporate apartments provide amenities beyond those found in even the best hotels. Places to cook meals, larger beds, flatscreen televisions and on-site laundry facilities are considered extras at many hotels, costing above and beyond the price for a normal night's stay. In contrast, these are typically standard offerings in many corporate apartments.

Evaluate the competition when considering corporate apartments. Often, insights into what are offered can help to determine what might make service better or, in some instances, which factors may make it worse.

The best corporate apartments follow through, fulfilling their promises and delivering on everything that they advertise. Only by doing this can a corporate apartment be assured of repeat business and a happy, loyal client el.

Understanding and exceding client needs is the most crucial feature of any corporate apartment. Mississauga offerings deliver in this regard, helping anyone who stays in them to feel as if they are in a home away from home, providing all the quality and amenities they have come to expect. Any quality corporate apartment should provide this level of comfort and service if it wishes to be a compelling choice for today's business traveler.

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A Sample Of The Best Movie Downloads Services Online

By Paul Rivers

Going to the video store to rent the latest movie was slowly being phased out once pay per view was brought into the home. Now, video store conglomerates are struggling to extend their product base against a rising technological tide of new entertainment media stores. The internet has made it so that you can buy any album, book, or movie when you want and how you want.

The largest and most popular movie service is NetFlix which allows customers to subscribe, for little money, to a service that will deliver movies either to your door or through your computer. It is the quintessential model for on demand service. As more and more families have transformed their living rooms into entertainment oasis', the internet has come up and met the demand to stay home and have your fun on your own terms.

Video on demand (VOD) can come to you either from a live stream through your cable box, recorded onto your digital video recorder (DVR) for later viewing, or your computer. There is no difference between your DVD and VOD as the controls are the same in terms of skipping forward, backward, slow motion, pausing, etc.

However, as with music file sharing, there are peer to peer network systems that can send large movie files through a bit torrent, basically offering any movie ever made for free. The dangers of this illegal file sharing is the risk of having adware or spyware downloading into your computer, putting your personal information at risk and slowing down the performance of your computer. Finding a legitimate movie downloads site is not difficult and should be used instead of the free sites because of the protection that they offer from viruses.

Apple's iTunes, Starz's Vongo, Amazon's Unbox, CinemaNow and MovieLink are five movie downloading sites that offer an alternative to the behemoth that is NetFlix. If you're going to watch movies on your video iPod, there is only one choice and that is going through iTunes. The price per download is one of the more expensive services at 12.99 for the first week, 14.99 for new releases, and 9.99 for older titles.

Because you are only able to watch your downloads on an iPod or your computer, the price is exorbitant for the limited number of venues to watch your movie. Also, iTunes does not offer free movie selections and, for families, it has weak parental controls and no subscription or rental options. It's a hard pill to swallow to be forced to purchase a movie rather than just spending a little to watch one.

If you know the Starz network than you know that it does not show new releases and it's download site Vongo is no exception. However, there is a good collection of movies, all available for rental for under $10 a month.

Amazon's Unbox has no subscription fee and has the ability to work across multiple platforms, PCs, and devices. The image quality is one of the best among movie downloading sites and includes all recent movies and TV shows for prices comparable to the neighborhood video store.

CinemaNow is one of the best, if not the best, downloading service on the web for the ability to get over 4,000 movies in five different ways including: renting, buying, a subscription service, free, and most impressively the ability to burn the movies you watch onto a DVD. The ability to burn movies makes CinemaNow a cut about the rest.

One of the cheapest and best used as a quick fix for boredom is MovieFlix which, for 7.99 a month gives you access to large database of movies excluding new releases. The image quality is better than free, but not as good as NetFlix, Amazon, or CinemaNow. Depending on your devices, your needs, and really you wants, there is a movie downloading site to quench your thirst for entertainment.

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Friday, August 20, 2010

Baseball Tournaments In The Summer Months Mean Opportunity

By Christopher D. Hearn

Summer baseball tournaments give a great opportunity for children between the ages of 13 to 16 who love the game of baseball. While these baseball tournament leagues are very popular, you should have further information before signing up your child for any team or organization.

Everyone is aware that summer baseball tournaments are all about playing the game. Nevertheless, there are some competitive teams out there. Local games are easier because your son will be able to play their game and go home after.

When the teams travel, though, you will have to think about other components such as lodging and making sure you bring all his necessities that will be needed at practice and in games. If you want your child to develop baseball abilities and learn how to function as a member of a team, baseball tournaments in the summer provide these benefits and more.

A great number of advantages exist to allowing your child to play in baseball tournaments during the summer. He won't be lounging around on the couch without anything to do if you encourage him to build up his activity level by playing baseball. He will also learn what he does well and what he needs to work on in addition to keeping in shape.

Some of the benefits your child will gain if he plays in baseball tournaments over the summer are: how to be a good sport, how to work as a member of a team, and the advantage of giving a lot of effort. Moreover, he will also be able to travel, make new friends, and learn about people in other parts of the United States.

The majority of the time, moms and dads join their kids when their team goes out of town. During this time, you can build your relationship with your kid. You can also take advantage of the local tourist spots whenever your child isn't playing, especially in places you have never been to before.

Just remember that your son's coach may not put him on the players roster for all of the games. The coach is responsible for making all of the decisions about players, including who will play in which games, and the kids have to learn to accept these decisions. The coach is responsible for choosing the best players for various situations, which may mean that your son doesn't get to play in a game. If that happens, you have to shrug it off, and your son will learn one of the essential rules of good sportsmanship.

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Downloading Movies Is Legitimate And Convenient

By Lavonne Vasquez

Movie prices have been ever on the rise due to their increased popularity. Also, so has the use of technology for every aspect of life. The two have been combined in an easy to use way that allow for movie downloads to be possible. This has been a significant advantage in cutting back on the costs of going to the movies.

One great advantage of using one of these websites is that you are able to watch as many movies as you one for the same flat rate. This is a huge money saver as the typical price of one movie in the theatres cost about ten dollars.

Another plus to using a movie download website is that you are able to watch them in the convenience of your own home. This is a significant feature because you do not even have to get out of bed to watch the latest films. Also, you can watch them at any hour of the day you please and not have to work around the movie times.

Another added benefit of these websites are in how user-friendly they have become. There are specific buttons in which you can select your favorite genres to watch. This helps to eliminate the movies you do not wish to see and to view all of the movies that would be of interest to you.

Renting movies in a movie rental store can be cheaper than seeing the movie in a theatre, but also have many drawbacks. The biggest drawback associated with movie rentals is in the hassle of returning it. This is an incredible feature because for some reason the movie always seems to be returned late and then a late fee is due. These fees are a large hassle because the fees can increase over time.

Movie downloads allow for the viewing of TV shows on their website. This is a great feature because its allows for people to view their favorite shows that they may have missed. Also, complete serious are usually available on the website.

Most websites allow for the viewing of videos, consecutive times, and typically any movie that you desire. However, a few websites also offer an added feature. This feature allows you to be able to burn the video directly to your computer. This can be a dangerous feature and therefore not all websites allow it. Nevertheless it is a possibility. This way you are able to record the downloaded video directly to a DVD and view it onto your regular TV screen or be able to take it anywhere with you.

Movie downloads provide you with several advantages. They are more convenient than ever before and can save the regular movie goer a large sum of money. This is once again because, movie downloads are able to provide their users with unlimited viewing as well as at their convenience.

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Film Downloads Are It Is The Easiest Way To Get Movies

By Roy Benjamin

Ever wondered why many film buffs download internet movies these days? That's because there are many benefits that come with it. So whether you like watching films from time to time or all the time, read on. And see for yourself why downloading can be a more convenient option.

If you're itching to watch something, before you have to go to a local movie rental store. So you skip from aisle to aisle, only to find out the store doesn't carry the title yet. Or sometimes, even if they do, somebody else has rented it already. So you end up either renting something you don't like, or simply go back home empty handed.

Movie websites carry a lot of titles for you to choose from. The selections can range from rare-finds, indie flicks, to popular blockbusters. These websites usually have a search bar where you key in the title you are looking for. Or you may also click on each category, leading you to the page where the titles are.

When it comes to pricing, you got packages or plans to choose from. There are movie websites which charge you for every title you download. Then there are also others which offer a fixed monthly rate, enabling you to download a limited number of titles. Which payment set up you choose depends on how much time you can devote to watching flicks.

Sometimes what's on the TV can be quite boring. Sure it's a drag to get out of the house again to go to a cinema after arriving from the workplace. It's tiring to look for interesting titles available at a nearby movie rental shop, reading DVD cases. But when earlier you've downloaded titles on the net, entertainment is just a switching on of your computer away.

Not only downloading titles on the net is money-saving, but it's also time-saving as well. You don't have to be stuck in traffic, fall in line for the ticket, and wait for the movie to start in the cinema. You don't have to drive to a local movie rental store, move from aisle to aisle, and pay for it in the check-out line.

So you might ask: how can you save precious time if it takes hours for your downloads to finish? The answer: by doing other tasks you need to carry out while waiting for the downloads to finish. You can help the kids out with their assignments, you can whip up a tasty dish, or clean the house. For quicker downloads, it's necessary for you to have a reliable and speedy internet hookup.

It's not only time and money you save when you go for downloading movies on the net. You also save on space. If you frequently buy your own DVDs, in time you will have to purchase a shelf to store all of them. But when you download your movies on the net, everything is neatly stored in your computer's hard drive.

Before you finally download internet movies, web pages offering such also got some user reviews and ratings. And you can be assured that what you'll be reading are opinions of real people. More than that, you are allowed access to sneak previews. Such features enable you to purchase only what you know you'll surely like.

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