...i was a stranger, you took me in...

Miracle Drug - U2

Movies!

We'll here I am again, not much to say... I recently saw some movies... which in my opinion are good but some aren't to perky about them... anywho... here's the list and the usual curious facts that I find...

28 days later:

A powerful virus escapes from a British research facility. Transmitted in a drop of blood and devastating within seconds, the virus locks those infected into a permanent state of murderous rage. Within 28 days the country is overwhelmed and a handful of survivors begin their attempts to salvage a future, little realizing that the deadly virus is not the only thing that threatens them.

Horror novelist Stephen King bought out an entire showing of the film in New York City.

Leonardo DiCaprio was offered the role of Jim (thank God he didn't get it).

Ewan McGregor was the original choice to play Jim (aw :( it would have been interesting).

Most of the film was made using digital cameras to give it the really real look (the final scenes in the cottage were shot on 35mm film). An added benefit of the digital filming was that the London shots could be set up and executed much quicker than otherwise possible which helped the filmmakers exploit very tight time windows to complete the scenes of an empty London because they were shot in the early hours of the morning on weekdays.

Danny Boyle (director) also made Trainspotting.

There is a sequel in production (this I did not know) more details go here.

And adding my opinion on this film... I think its a really good movie... I like that it keeps you on the edge of your seat... uses silence to cause tension... and gives the infected a realistic feeling (giving them the agility that a regular human has)...

The Italian Job

Based on a 1969 Michael Caine film of the same name, thieves plan to pull of the heist of their lives by creating Los Angeles largest traffic jam ever.

Lyle (Seth Green) claims he was the creator of Napster, and that Shawn Fanning stole it from him. It shows a flashback of Lyle sleeping, and a person taking a disk out of the PC that has Napster on it. The person is really Shawn Fanning, the creator of Napster. When he steals the disk, the bottom of a Metallica poster can be seen on the wall. Metallica were vocal critics of the original Napster.

Two electric-powered Mini Coopers, and one Mini Cooper S had to be specially built for the film, since gasoline-powered vehicles are not allowed to operate in L.A.'s subway system.

For the first time in cinematic history, the production shut down Hollywood Boulevard and Highland for seven days for the shooting, according to director F. Gary Gray in an interview featured in the DVD.

In the original script, "fine" stood for Fucked-Up, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional.

The NetCom Cable van shows the phone number 1-800-555-0199. This is the same number that Al Pacino in The Insider (1999) and Kevin Spacey in American Beauty (1999) have.

It's a 2 hr mini cooper comercial... but I like it :)

School of Rock

Down and out rock star Dewey Finn (Black) gets fired from his band, and he faces a mountain of debts and depression. He takes a job as a 4th grade substitute teacher at an uptight private school where his attitude and hijinx have a powerful effect on his students. He also meets Zack, a 10-year-old guitar prodigy, who could help Dewey win a "battle of the bands" competition, which would solve his financial problems and put him back in the spotlight.

The idea for the movie came when writer Mike White (writer) moved into an apartment next to Jack Black. White would often find Jack Black running naked through the halls or blasting much of the music featured in the movie at full volume.

The rock band Led Zeppelin are notoriously hesitant to allow their music to be licensed for commercial purposes. Knowing this, Richard Linklater filmed a plea by actor Jack Black in front of 1,000 screaming fans, imploring the band to let the production use the "Immigrant Song" in the movie. The plea worked and the filmed request is included on the DVD.

All the kids really play their instruments, and the backup singers are real vocalists. Jack Black also played a bit of guitar in the movie (for example, when he is teaching "Smoke on the water", "Iron man" and other songs to Zach), but he didn't do the guitar solos. He was mostly taught by Joey Gaydos Jr. on how to play guitar.

If you are a fan of classic rock... you will dig this film... as always Jack Black makes you laugh and the music is definetly worth it...

Oh well... hope you get to see these movies... for now I gotta go now... be well all...

A new year is here...

Hello everyone, by now most of you don't stop by anymore, I don't blame you, I have been neglecting this poor blog for quite some time...

I don't want to make the same old promise that I will stay in touch and not keep it, so let's just keep an open mind that next time that you come around here you might find something new...

I started to take pictures again (this blog wasn't the only abandoned thing in my life) so that's a good sign...

Oh well... happy new year to all... I wish you the best...

by the way... the image is from a Dave McKean sketch