4,500 of embeded footage

I came to see this movie without any expectation. I knew about the project and from my editors point of view, I found it fascinating. You imagine that you get hired to edit a movie that contain 4500 hours of video that was shot by people all over the world on 24th of July 2010.

This is A Life in a Day, a Youtube project brought by Ridley and Tony Scott.

Movies like this one don't happen so easily, specially with magnitude like this one. You have to understand that even with a layout in mind for the making of this movie, you can't plan what you about to receive from any Youtube users.

From a experimental and unconventional point of view, the film works, but if you you're thinking to watch a drama, comedy or a political satire, you might find something there.

The Help for a tearjeker

I was already prepare to see a movie like this one. A film that is Lifetime channel style, women struggle during the early 60's where society condemn women to be housewives only and color people be an object to segregation.

The film is about two type of women, white and black, one more privileged sort of speak than others. But with the same ambitions and wishes, be someone special and different and overcome the manipulative manhood that control their destiny.

The strongest performance in this movie are by Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer.
The rest of the cast are very typical and caricaturesque women of the 60's but don't get me wrong Emma Stone is a highlight of the film as a single woman trying to become a writer.

As a tearjerker movie it works perfectly.

Indy films are trying what big studios doesn't, and the is no exception with "Terri"

This movie explores a kid name Terri and his struggle to fit into his school as an oversize student. He is fill with a complex personality, wearing pajamas   as a normal clothing , enjoying the killing of mice by eagles or simply mouse traps.
By definition Terri is a trouble boy, but on the other hand he is living with his tormented uncle that is under medication.

Categorize by the principal of his school, played by John C Reilly as a good hearted kid that need helps, Terri discover more about himself and how battle against his fears. The film is funny, witty and some point cruel, but that what makes it special.

I been a huge fan of Asian films, specially when portrait the history of china from a female point of view. I can mention films such as "The Scent of a Green Papaya", Raise the Red Lantern" or Three Times a beautiful Korean film that is going to be the perfect example to relate to Snow Flower and The Secret Fan.

The movie is about two woman who become friends/sisters in the ancient china, is called "Laotong" . This process takes place in a story inside the story. On the characters is an aspiring writer who suffer an accident, her laotong discover the manuscript of the book with the same film title, and decide to find out the origin of the crisis who leads to this accident.

The inner story are the same actors playing ancient friends/sisters laotong. Unfortunately the films lacks of connection. First of all the film is spoken in English and Cantonese. But You miss that Asian vibe when they don't speak on their native language. You end up thinking that the Chinese is an accessory language. Also the movie feels like an Asian soap opera, there is no power on the story, is very lame and flat.

There is a lack of connection with every aspects of the character. During the film they tried to use all this back and forth, from a historical point of view, from ancient early 20 century to our recent time similar on the film "Three Times" but with the manicurist that one of the characters is reading. It doesn't work and you get lost in details, missing the real idea of the plot.

E.T. on steroids

My attempt to see this movie finally comes to an end, and I have to say it worth the wait. Attack of the Block is a film that I will call: "E.T. on steroids" Why is that?

First to all to create a proper connection we have to say that have similar elements. A first encounter with someone from other space, kids, bicycles and chasing.
On the other hand there is nothing sweet about Attack of the block or the aliens who decide to take this place. Of course we don't know their intention.
What do you discover is powerful characters that have great personality, their own way of talking and behave. The is no rocket science about this movie.

You are not expecting a message or simply get a powerful message. Some critics call this film the District 9 of 2011, I tend not agree on that. Yes is another invasion instead of Los Angeles or NY is a sort of ghetto in London. The film is funny, entertaining and scary.

Divorce vs Cancer

I was pleasantly surprise with this film. I have to admit that I'm not a huge fan of romantic comedies, but since the there is a good assemble cast I deduce to give it a shot. Crazy, Stupid, Love is a film about deception in love or perhaps marriage. 

When Cal (Steve Carrell) discover from his Wife (Julianne Moore) that she cheated on him and wants the divorce his world tremble in so many directions, from jumping from a car in movement to become a total womanizer. The film is well written fill with big twist and also a great assemble cast. The Combination Ryan Gosslin with Steve Carrel is amazing and funny and Gosslin steal the show.

Unfortunately you miss Julianne Moore and Emma Stone, because that guys combination. On the other hand Marisa Tomei is fantastic in her part, like Carl said to her in the pick up line in the movie: "a combination of cute and sexy" I have to say that Emma Stone looks really gorgeous in the movie. 

Overall you will enjoy this picture because of the message, some of the dialogues are funny, honest, witty and real, with twist in the story, music and look.

James Cameron tricked me

After and intense debate and a very persuasive soft campaign from James Cameron about the best allegedly the best 3D on film yet, I decide to give a shot to the movie.

Everything works the way that Hollywood knows best. I'm very disappointing, this film is less than there predecessor and I have to confess that I never watched the 2nd film, why? because doesn't worth it and I knew that will be a waste of time.

Transformers The Dark Side of the Moon is the continuation on the same ridiculous plot from the other two films. With two new additional elements in mind, a new hotie, courtesy by Victoria Secrets and a few small parts from real stars.

So why I'm even mentioned that is a plot? well because there is one. A sketch of an incomplete idea , but for some studios and his arrogant director Michael Bay who thinks that this is a film, and also a blockbuster film. Good for them! they make their money and their really happy with that.

Well this pseudo called movie, have talents such as John Malkovich, Fances McDormand and Jhon Turturro, wasting their capabilities and also making money as it best!

A waste of 3D look that doesn't impress at all.

The only thing that really makes me keep this movie watching is none of other than Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

I thought that the critics were, well I was wrong too, this film is bad.

Pixar the new money-maker whore?

Pixar lost their touch. Cars 2 is the sequel of their famous first part that brought us two charismatics animated characters Lighting McQueen and Matter. This time involved in a worldwide conspiracy with spies and secret agents involved. The film bring really interesting things like having the voice of Michael Caine, Eddie Lizzard, John Tururro and Emily Mortimer as the new addition to the Cars world.

I recall several news articles about the film and tend to agree with them. The film is a pure merchandising piece, that unfortunately turns into money machine whore. I know is harsh to say this but having the character Matter sing the State Farm "jingle" hidden with different words, makes you feel disappointed.

The story is not engaging and is pure action and no foundation on the story like all the Pixar films, so what happen? what's wrong with this film? is Pixar lost the touch or Disney killed the touch?

The trailer of this film attracts me so much, specially the premise and the cast. For some reason I decide to give a shot to this movie, without reading critics review.

In the tradition of films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Adam, Science of Sleep. This movie focus in three main elements of a Dramedy ( Romance-Comedy) The revelation of of a father being gay, the death and the begging of a new life after meet a true and unique love.  Ewan McGregor plays Oliver a sad cartoonist who witness the the death of his father play by Christopher Plummer, also he discover the truth of his father sexual preference and last the discovery of life, after falling in love of Anna play by the french actress M. Laurent.

The film is beautiful and very romantic, magical and fill with outstanding moments of pure emotion and laugh. All the cast is amazing, even Mary Page Keller who plays McGregor's mom when he was young. The connection and chemistry between all the actors is great, but who really steal the show is Arthur the dog owned by Plummer after he dies in the film and then McGregors character has to take care of him, this dog actor is Cosmo. The film gives you a great point of view of life in certain times of the US but using meaningfulness such as stars, the president, a kiss, beautiful.

Great soundtrack compilation.

X Men first Class

I'm not a huge fan of comic books films, but I have faith on X-Men, the reason is that it shows superheroes with a lot of complexity in their life's, being humans, and develop skills and powers that are sort of a curse that haunt them for life, and make them so vulnerable is what really attracts me.

One X Men first class you see new characters and young ones that suffer more than just turn into adults. The origin of this saga is pretty good film, very entertaining  and fun. Fill with great special effects and a well done art direction that the producers of the film admit that helps to give this movie an added value, besides the limited budget.

The film takes places between world war II and the missile crisis USA vs Cuba. This hypothetical plot is the perfect excuse to bring the heroes to save the day.

James McCavoy and Michael Fassbender gives great performance, specially Fassbender that have very difficult shoes to fill (Ian Mackellen as Magneto) like Lost producer Damon Lindelof did mentioned about January Jones is really bad in this film, unfortunately Emma Frost old be played by anyone else and you never see the difference. Kevin Back steal the show as a villain.

A few general comments: why the black mutant die first in this movie, what kind of racism is that?, I know that make the character a martyr but why?. Nicolas Hoult is a miscast he will be perfect as young Cyclops vs been young beast? and lats but not least, Jennifer Lawrence is so gorgeous I can't stop watching her in this movie, lovely.

Great cameos by Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Romijm

Conforming with Premiere and After Effects

I seen attempts to do this, with Automatic Duck, but after seen the demonstration of how the conforming of The Social Network, I'm convinced that this is one the best solutions to fix scenes and retouch final shots.

the cave of the forgotten dreams

When for the first time I read that Werner Herzog was doing a 3D movie, a lot of ideas comes to my mind. But on the second thought this genius cannot deliver something like Avatar, Green Hornet or even close to Clash of the Titans. So what is the real subject of Cave of Forgotten Dreams. Simple, Werner Herzog appeal to a basic principle that after three years we are missing in 3D films. Documentaries, unscripted adventure, a simple class of film making. Besides a very intense and irrelevant subject for movie goers Cave of the Forgotten Dreams is a movie about the discover of oldest pictorial creations of human kind, the Chauvet caves of Southern France. Werner Herzog make this film with style, he is the narrator, director, writer and also one of the main characters of this film. This movie is not going to scare you or use gimmicks to catch you're attention is simply a movie about discovering the unknown. Like I mentioned before the 3D phenomenon, IMAX or 3D films were only 1 hour documentaries that capture things like Space Station, Nascar, or Underwater stories. Werner Herzog and Cave… brings back this essence and also deliver a powerful message.

Mind blowing the experience, is what I called "The Three of Life"

Is hard to talk about this movie and explain the plot, because there is so much ramifications of it. The story of a family from the 50's, the origin of life, from the big bang to dinosaurs and also the story of a disturbed kid that is haunted by the death of his brother. Seems a simple plot. But is not and Terrence Malick didn't do it easy for everyone. This film is a gem, but let me get this straight, is not for every audience, the film is intense, deep and hard to get in to it. The intensity of the creation of the world, from a cosmic point of view to the intimate life's a family in Texas. This film is something that you never seen before. Please don't think that you are going to see a family drama with Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, because you are wrong. I'm not trying to spoil this movie but I think that this movie might not be seen in several countries because of the complexity of the story. The music is beautiful, credit by Alexander Desplat, edited amazingly breaking most of the rules but a team of award winning editors that have a filmography that goes from Beverly Hills Cop, Thin Red Line, Natural Born Killers and City of God, a cinematography so clean and perfect by Emmanuel Lubezki, crisp sound with fantastic details and the VFX supervision of Douglas Trumbull the guy behind the 2001: Space Odyssey Special Effects

Stop recording!

I watched this film on DVD, and I found it really scary. Been in the industry, specially as an editor makes you very insensitive. When you see horror films and not been afraid of the content and the effect. But some reason the way this film was made it really scared the hell out of me.

Remembering Stanley Kubrick

At the age of eight my dad show's me a film that change my view of life forever.
I'm talking about "2011: Space Odyssey". A powerful movie that talks about life, death, evolution, technology and the origin of all.

Stanley Kubrick is the director and I still finds so shocking that he did just a few movies. He take the time to make one, but the films were delivered with such quality and detail.

Today I discovered a very beautiful homage to this director it was made by Marti Wouttiseth and I have to say he delivered a great piece. He seems to have a great eye for design and illustration and most of all, very perfectionist, still the Stanley Kubrick video is a work in progress.

Stanley Kubrick - a filmography - from mwoutisseth on Vimeo.

Francois Truffau revisit Star Wars

I recently saw this Youtube posting about a Star Wars been revisited as a existentialist french film. Overall looks funny, you need to pay attention to the subtitles and what characters are saying. Unfortunately is not accurate.

Nikita vs Leon: The Professional

Last night I saw the film "Hanna" by the director  which became famous for the movie Atonement a few years ago. This time brings a film about a trained assassin, that can be confused with a young "La Femme Nikita" but with a Mathilda flavor from Leon: The Professional. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana.
The movie explore great locations, nice acting, great editing and a perfect soundtrack by The Chemical Brothers. This film worth to see it.