How to Train your Dragon Movie Review

How to Train your Dragon Movie Review

Author edokun | 28.03.2010 | Category Movies

Dreamworks has a solid product with How to Train Your Dragon. Loosely based on the novel of the same name by Cressida Cowell, this movie version makes for a refreshing take in dragon folklore.

With allusions to the tales of yore, the cartoony caricature driven CGI world created here does more than stir the imagination. It harkens to a potential saga in the making. With more books in this series, there is potential to adapt the later novels. And the altered storyline is something that writer Chris Sanders is not too worried about.

This veteran in the animation scene is better known for his work in the Lilo & Stitch series, and he repeats his winning formula for Dreamworks. If one looks carefully, Toothless the dragon looks a bit like the alien Stitch.

And instead of a girl meeting an extraterrestrial, the tale takes a spin in a world of fantasy where a young boy, Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) encounters a dragon. His Viking village is at war with the entire dragon race and in order to train the next generation to fight against them, Hiccup goes to school.

Little do his classmates know, he is rehabilitating a serpentine beast behind everyone’s back. But it’s a question of who is training who, and those moments are particularly engaging. Just like Lilo and Stitch, there are a few adorable moments as the two bond.

When they take to the air, the aerial aerobatics they undertake are more breathtaking than what Avatar can do. James Cameron can learn from this film.

Photo-realism can only go so far, and the cartoony flavour helps to make this movie particularly enjoyable for the one important message it delivers—it’s possible to make alliances.

And no battle can come out scar-free. This touch of realism is important and this helps make for a solid film.

***** out of 5

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iMovie update reveals new Apple video format

Author cobster | 13.10.2009 | Category Mac/Apple, Movies

Like most companies, Apple periodically releases software updates for its applications, fixing minor issues. However, an iMovie update released on Tuesday revealed a brand new video format the company has been developing.

(Credit: Apple Dubbed iFrame, the new video format is based on industry standard technologies like H.264 video and AAC audio. As expected with H.264, iFrame produces much smaller file sizes than traditional video formats, while maintaining its high-quality video. Of course, the smaller file size increases import speed and helps with editing video files.

iMovie 8.0.5 released on Tuesday adds compatibility with camcorders using the iFrame video format. Currently there are two cameras that support iFrame: the Sanyo VPC-HD2000A and the Sanyo VPC-FH1A.

The two cameras were introduced earlier Tuesday and default to shooting video in the new format. iFrame shoots at 960×540. The cameras can also record in high-definition 1080p (1920×1080), as well as high-speed video formats for slow-motion playback, according to Sanyo.

Apple hasn’t said how long it has been working on iFrame or if other video camera manufacturers would adopt the format. The company also didn’t say when support for the iFrame format would be added to its Final Cut Pro video-editing suite.

The iMovie update can be downloaded from Apple’s Web site or from the software update mechanism in Mac OS X.

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Brüno

Author edokun | 19.07.2009 | Category Movies

Undeniably, Sacha Baron Cohen is a gifted comedian. He pushes the satirical envelope in the characters he becomes.

In the movie of the same name, as Brüno, an Austrian fashion reporter, he hopes to make it big despite being outcasted in his home country’s fashion scene. Taking his act to America, this mockumentary challenges the mainstream, traditionalists and conventionalists. He’s flamboyantly homosexual and the things he does are no-holds-barred. The acts he commits are designed to shock.

By using a reality TV style of film-making, not everyone in the film is in on the gag. This leads to some great camera moments as people in the airport and in the hotel genuinely react to Brüno’s antics. The surprise here is that authorities do not intercede. Obviously some people were in on the act.

To take half the film deep into the Bible Belt of America is also wrought with dangers, disgust and hilarity; it dives deep into showing what general attitudes are like towards Brüno. What happens behind closed doors is not always closed.

Instead of shut, they are blatantly open.

And this film tests the comfort level of everyone involved. From the people in the film to the talk show audience (and even the theater-goer), this amount of involvement will get some folks laughing and others asking, “What the–?”

This movie looks at stereotypical prejudices toward orientation and culture. It is funny because of the sheer lunacy that goes on as Baron Cohen makes a biting commentary about the human condition—just how will people react when another person behaves beyond decency and morality? Is it a prejudicial challenge?

While this film is a brilliant satire, unless audiences get the joke, it is not for everyone. Baron Cohen’s characters walk a fine line in terms of what is in good taste. There are times where his performance is outright offensive. But if he was to stay safe he would not become the comedic genius that he is now.

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Toystory 3 preview

Author JoeDigital | 15.06.2009 | Category Movies

watch?v=UpSORSGoFuU

Finally the long awaited Toy story 3 will be released on June 18th 2010. In this new story the main character Woody voiced by Tom Hanks, Buzz Light year (Tim Allen), and the rest of their toy box friends are given to a children’s day-care center when Andy their owner (now a young adult) departs for college.

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Happy Star Wars day

Author JoeDigital | 04.05.2009 | Category Movies

May 04 is officially star wars day! Despite the great efforts to start the “Jedi Church” it is unfortunately not recognized as a national or global holiday so you cannot take the day off. You can still participate in starwars day by dressing up like your favorite Starwars character, talking all day about the force and the rebellion and how the man is bringing you down or simply saying “May the 4th be with you”.

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