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Thursday, 2 December 2010

Film: Top 5 Foreign Films you probably have never heard of

1. Låt den rätte komma in (2008)
Directed by: Tomas Alfredson
Running Time : 115 minutes
2. Abel (2010) 
Directed by : Diego Luna
Running Time: 110 minutes
 3. SIN NOMBRE (2009)
Directed by : Cary  Fukanaga
Running time : 96 minutes
 4.Cosas Insignificantes (2008)
Directed by: Andrea Martinez
 Running time: 98 min

5.Innocence (2004)
Directed by: Lucile Hadzihalilovic
Running Time: 122 minutes




Wednesday, 1 December 2010

Film: Machete (2010) Review

        Directed by : Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis
           Running Time: 104 minutes
            IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0985694/

‘Machete’ is Robert Rodriguez’s feature that arose from the fake trailer that accompanied his and Tarantino’s bad ass double feature, Grindhouse. The fake Machete trailer received such an overwhelming response that Rodriguez decided to turn it into a feature.

Machete is a former Federale agent who is hired as a hitman to kill the anti-immigrant US senator (played by De Niro) but when things don’t exactly go according to plan, Machete embarks on a mission for revenge. Machete seeks the help of a beautiful Mexican activist and the unlikely help of a beautiful immigration agent.  

Machete has everything any guy could ever hope for: overblown action sequences, gratuitous violence, trailer worthy dialogue and amazingly hot women. Rodriguez appropriately takes a dig at Arizona’s outrageous immigration law and as Machete  said ‘ You fucked with the wrong Mexican’.

The music in the film perfectly fits the outrageous and over the top tone Machete carries. The effects are good, as are always from Rodriguez especially his title sequences, which never disappoint. The action is great throughout the film, although the last encounter Machete has with Torrez ( played by Steven Seagal) is a bit underwhelming in my opinion, although it is good my expectations for a Rodriguez film were a bit higher.  

The casting choices are excellent, everyone gives an amazing performance, especially Trejo, De Niro and Michelle Rodriguez. Lindsay Lohan gives a believable performance as April, despite the controversy surrounding her now a days.

  Machete is an extremely enjoyable film and is everything it lends itself to be. Rodriguez, as always successfully manages to give his fans exactly what they want.

Let the revenge BEGIN !

Tuesday, 30 November 2010

Creativity: 'Im a rebel like my T2i'

Choosing a DSLR for the frist time is the most exciting and nerve racking decision.
As an amateur photogrpaher there were many things i had to think about and ive put this review together to give you an overall feel of the camera as well as a short guide to buying your first DSLR.

5 Things To Think About
1. Budget
2. Make (Canon/ Nikon/ Olympus)
3. Model
4. Lenses (macro / telelphoto/ zoom /focal length/ appature)
5. casing and SD cards

My first tip is to research!!!

Speak to as many DSLR users as possible. Especially photographers who shoot a similar style to you. Their advice is gold! They can assist you on long-term purchases. Theyve been through the process of buying the body and lenes (a collection that will burn a hole in your pocket overtime) which are a very specfic and personal choice.

Read as many reviews as possible. Some great review websites are:
http://www.dpreview.com/
http://www.cameralabs.com/
http://www.digitalreview.ca/

Blogs are also very useful - because they will be written most likely by people who have used the product. They will upload their own pictures which i find really helpful to judge quality.

Google! Google reviews or comparisions of cameras you are choosing between. They will layout the good and bad points for you, and you can decide whether that affects you or not.

After your so sick of looking at images of the camera you are so desperate to hold, look for a bargin!

Top Tips For Buying
The cheapest deals are online.
HOWEVER make sure the seller is reliable (especially if your buying off eBay)

Its not always best to get a lense kit, it may seem like a cheap deal at the time but saving that money to get a good prime lense in the future can be better off.

Make sure that this is the camera you want. If you are buying online go to a local store and hold the camera. Its important to get a feel of the camera, it can also be a good way to decide between models, instinctively.


'Im a rebel like my T2i'



I picked up my canon 550D T2i + 18-55mm lense kit on pixmania for £605 incl. delivery.
I saved at least up to £50 from other sellers.
The lense isnt great and I could have spent £200 more for a 18-135mm lense kit HOWEVER for my use, im interested in buying some macro lenses rather than zoom.

Apart from having to charge it- anticipation almost killed me!
I literally began shooting anything in my radius.
Every image amazed me. I havent taken it through any tests yet but Im planning a shoot in decemeber which will proove excactly how good the camera is.

Features I was looking for:
1. Frames per second. (at least 4)
2. Auto-focus modes
3. Video capapbilites (To support my interest in filmaking)
4. Portability
5. Amatuer use

For now, I must say im impressed. The feel of the body is comfortable, its light weight and easy to manage. Its not hard on the eyes and shoots instantly in atuo mode. The lense will do for now but I am already searching for a 50mm macro lense and telephoto lense.

Final word: I would recommend the T2i to first time DSLR users, you can pick it up for a price that wont hurt your pocket too much for what you are getting. Keep posted for my first T2i pics!

Film: Top 5 low budget Films

1. El Mariachi
Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
Budget: $7000












2. Requiem for a Dream
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Budget: $4,500,000













3.Paranormal Activity
Directed by: Oren Peli
Budget: $15,000












4. The Blair Witch Project
Directed by: Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez
Budget :$22,000














5. EraserHead
Directed by: David Lynch
Budget: $100,000


Inspiration: Dirty Money

As we move towards Christmas, I thought it would be apt to begin by reviewing something with the theme of partying associated with it. The term party can be defined in a relatively simple manner, but different age groups associate with it different cultural products and it’s usually the youth who make a mess of it all in the end, quite literally. It’s true; the party itself may be as glamorous as can be, but there isn’t much shine or sparkle left at the end of it all. Today, the culture of partying amongst the youth around the world is such that the mess that is made at the end of the whole party determines whether it was just a ‘good’ party or in fact a ‘great’ one.
It’s quite a paradox as to how this mess is considered to be invaluable in delivering the final verdict on the rating of a party and yet be one of the most frustrating and irritating aspects of the day because it needs to be cleaned up.


Enter the ‘Hangover Helpers’. I happened to stumble upon this link on Facebook (special thanks to Anshuk Megharikh for posting it), and was drawn in by the simplicity of this idea. What began in the form of cleaning up party houses (to earn extra cash) for Marc Simons during University, actually inspired him to start up this relatively simple business, targeting a specific niche market. Hangover Helpers take care of cleaning up the mess made at a party and also supply energy drinks and mouth watering Mexican food. Amazing isn’t it; you get fed and energized for letting them clean up your mess.
Once Marc had realized the full potential of what he was actually doing, he teamed up with Alex Verre-Nicol and formed Hangover Helpers. It’s quite a simple theory – The products available in the market today cater to almost everything we need. Hence, what people want most is interaction and a personalized touch, some form of service. And this is exactly what these two friends have done; they are providing invaluable service (what the people want) at a time when people need it the most. Marc claims that he had found a relatively profitable niche in spite of the bad economy. I don’t know whether you sense it or not, but it definitely tells me something – If you cater to people’s wants at a time when they need it the most, in the form of a service, no material, tangible product can be as valuable as the service provided.
Lights, music, cups and alcohol may cater to the temporary desires of entertainment and enjoyment, but at the end of the day it takes a human touch to make you truly happy. So, I say we seek inspiration from the Hangover Helpers and begin to help one another more so that we all may mutually benefit from each other!

The next article I will be doing will be a follow up to this, but it branches off very interestingly into a theme of our social world, so watch out for that!

Here is the link to the short write up about Hangover Helpers: http://www.coloradodaily.com/ci_16719213#axzz16jZr45Er

Monday, 29 November 2010

Food: Pret A Porter, Pret A Laver, Pret A Manger

Those times when you're starving, but you've already had lunch, and it's only a couple of hours away from dinner, those times are the worst. Mc Donalds seems like a viable choice, even tempting, a cheap burger and fries to set you on your way. Oh but the guilt! The cheese, the unnatural ingredients, not to mention the never eroding fries that will keep your stomach gurgling for hours, imagine having to explain that to the person who has cooked you a delicious dinner, oh no. Mc Donalds won't do.

Walk a little further, down the street, turn either to your left or to your right, you're probably wondering where, well, anywhere! In central London that is.
Pret A Manger is on every corner, near every main station, and if you're those in Liverpool street and Victoria, well then you're spoiled for a choice of three Prets!

A chain this big is probably boasting, a rich boring company that does not care for its customers, just for the money. Well maybe, but it does sandwiches better than your mothers, fathers, aunts and uncles. Broad statement I know, but once you dig into one of their caramelised onions and brie sandwich, it would be very hard to disagree. The flavor of the mild brie compliments the poignant sweet onion, and it's all brought together with freshly baked french bread.

If you go specifically to have lunch or breakfast there, the sandwich is simply not enough. The food stations are cleverly sectioned out into drinks, snacks, salads and sandwiches and... dessert, much like shopping in a supermarket or Ikea, for spare parts to that desk you were meaning to build. And once you feel you have your selection of a healthy meal, your subjected to the cashiers treats, "Would you like anything else with that?" the healthy crisps, vegetable snacks, popcorn, and even... Chocolate. Damn my wallet! Why do you always stretch further when in the presence of Pret, I could probably find the same crisps cheaper, the chocolate more enjoyable, and the popcorn freshly made, it's the power of marketing my friends. Never underestimate it. 

There's no real art to making these sandwiches, just fresh ingredients and a taste for what goes well. Some are simple, such as the dolphin friendly tuna, mayo and cucumber. Some are more extravagant, like the hoisin duck wrap.

But one thing is for sure, they are all 'kiss the ground and beam me up' delicious.

If you're having trouble finding one (you shouldn't), but just in case:




Can you say 'Mmmm'?

Sunday, 28 November 2010

Film: Io non ho paura (2003) Review


Directed by : Gabriele Salvatores
            Running Time: 108 minutes
            IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0326977/

Io non ho paura ( I’m not scared) is a beautifully crafted film set in Southern Italy (1978). It follows the discovery that nine year old  Michele has stumbled upon and how he deals with it.

While exploring an old abandoned house, Michele notices a trap door and looks inside. To his surprise he sees a very fragile/malnutritioned child squinting back at him and it gives a Michele a huge scare. It turns out, the child’s name is Filippo  and strangely he thinks he is dead.

Eventually Michele befriends Filippo and brings him food and water daily. Michele does not tell anybody of his discovery at first as he clearly does not understand what the reality of the situation is as he is only nine years old.

As the plot progresses, the film becomes an intense ride as Filippo’s story becomes evident and Michele gets caught up in a web of unfortunate circumstances. 

Salvatores takes his time to get to the climax. He depicts how Michele’s secret grows in his mind. That is to say that for Michele there were also other things to think about, as for when he longs for a toy blue truck that belongs to a friend, he strikes a bargain to get it. Essentially, the urgency of the situation only gradually grows in Filippos mind.

This film is a helpful reminder that in childhood days seemed to last forever. Parents were by far a law that was not to be questioned, as they had demonstrated that they knew best and that we were only children. ‘ Io non ha paura’ is a depiction of true childhood, of it’s fears and doubts, of the way a conversation can be overheard but not understood, of the innocence of a child.

This film works perfectly, the acting is impressive, the cinematography is beautiful and the director’s story telling through the eyes of Michele is captivating.

ENJOY!