Just a heads up: ‘Half-Blood Prince’ gets first trailer released tonight!

 

Michael Gambon (a personal favorite of mine) returns as Dumbledore.

 

The teaser trailer for the next Harry Potter film based on the sixth book of the saga (of seven) is going to be released tonight. The film that goes by the same title as the book, ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’, is slated for a November release and was again directed by David Yates, the man behind ‘Order of the Phoenix’s‘ adaptation for the big screen. I’ll be back later to write my detailed feelings on the trailer. : )

Ready to take a peek at Pixar’s ‘09 film?

 

"Unorthodox" is the word you're looking for.

 
Directed by Pete Docter (‘Monster’s Inc.’), ‘Up’ is the next offering from animation powerhouse Pixar and its insanely talented crew of animators and storytellers. I don’t know what they give these people for breakfast, but it must be ridiculously nutritive and delicious. I mean, after nine films ranging from “great” to “amazing”, how can they consistently churn out this kind of quality? Jesus.

Catch the first teaser by clicking on the link after the break. It’s a “blink ‘n you miss it” thing, but when it comes to Pixar, even that is a good thing. And don’t forget to post your feedback below! Thanks for reading. : )

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/up/

 

“Minimalist avant-garde, perhaps?” A few updates on PixelJunk Eden.

Hello guys,

How are you enjoying the blog so far? Hopefully with the past three posts I’ve established the thematic variety I am aiming for: a complete, yet personal take on the A&E’s (arts and entertainment). For my part, I’m enjoying this a lot. : )

 

The first "garden" of 'PixelJunk Eden'.

 

Well, today I’m back with more of that ‘PixelJunk’ goodness I wrote about a few days back. ‘Eden’ is the name of this title, and yesterday a demo version of the final release hit the ‘PlayStation Network’ Store. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the first thing that came out of my mouth when I laid eyes on it, literally, was “It is moving art!“. Honestly, this thing looks so incredible on my 32″, 720p LCD, that I can’t imagine how perfect it should look on a bigger set with a higher resolution (oh, the game displays at 1080p also, in case you were wondering). Not only the visual aesthetics of the piece impress, but also the music! It has over one hundred minutes of original electronic music, with moody, relaxing beats that transport you to that “eden”.

It’s just perfect. The controls take a few minutes to *get*, but once you do, you’re sucked into this ethereal world of beautiful, transforming foliage and pastel colors, jumping and swinging around vines to catch “spectra” to “restore” your garden while tapping your feet rhythmically to the awesome aural compositions. If you own a PlayStation 3, you may want to try out the demo and experience this for yourself. It’s refreshing and beautiful to look at, but most importantly, a blast to play. The full game releases next Thursday on the ‘PlayStation Network’ Store for a price of $9.99 and featuring Trophy support, for all of you “achievement whores” (like myself, heh).

 

Love those shades of red.

 

Interested in ‘PixelJunk Eden’ or any of the previous games in the series (the critically-acclaimed ‘Monsters’ and the quirky ‘Racers’)? Then hit up www.pixeljunk.jp for more. And don’t forget to write your own thoughts on this and/or other topics already discussed here. I’m hungry for some feedback. : )

Thanks for reading.

‘The Dark Knight’ – A film without rules.

 

'The Dark Knight' is possibly the best film I've seen all year.

 

‘The Dark Knight’ is a human epic the likes we rarely see today arriving in theaters…or anywhere else, for that matter. The intricately-developed thematic structure of this “summer” film keeps blowing my mind the more I think of it. And with good reason: this is perhaps the most intelligent blockbuster I’ve seen for quite some time. The Nolans (the famed writer-director, Chris, and his fellow writer and partner, Jonathan) digged deep into the moral ambiguity of the characters, particularly that of Bruce Wayne and The Joker, manipulating both personas’ own emotional worlds and twisting the story masterfully to fit those needs. 

The story basically pits the entire criminal world against “the Bat-man” after years of being oppressed by the caped crusader himself. They’re mad about the recession in delinquent activity (ie. money stealing and laundering) they’re experiencing thanks to Batman’s relentless watch over Gotham City. That’s where the Joker comes in, tauting himself as a “savior” by offering a seemingly straightforward solution to the underworld’s torment: get rid of “the Bat-man” himself. And The Joker is, indeed, the definitive catalyst in this film.

 

Heath Ledger and Maggie Gyllenhaal are both fantastic in their roles.

 

Everything that happens is ultimately his doing, and his presence is intentionally felt during the entire duration of the film. Be it a piece of dialogue that mentions his name or the arresting piece of music composed to evoke his image, the world revolves around him. Which is why Heath Ledger’s interpretation of this iconic villain never ceases to amaze me. His versatile (but consistent) voice, peculiar mannerisms and random behavior, coupled with a fantastically-written role, sharply cuts the screen in two like many of the knives he uses as weapons. Without question, his portrayal of the chaotic character is poised to occupy a place in the annals of cinematographic history.

Having said that, this is still an ensemble piece, and without a group of actors and actresses this good, Chris Nolan wouldn’t have been able to deliver the same raw emotional intensity you see on screen when experiencing this film. Every single one of these people is on point with their characters, delivering subtle but relevant performances that elevate this film to greatness. Special nods go to Aaron Eckhart for his admirable performance as Gotham’s District Attorney (and knight in shining armor) Harvey Dent and the always great Gary Oldman as Lt. James Gordon. Christian Bale’s Wayne/Batman roles were perfected with this film, putting an end to the debate of which is the “definitive” Batman actor. 

 

This is director Christopher Nolan's definitive masterpiece.

 

At two hours and thirty-two minutes, this piece of flamboyant storytelling flies by without a single glimpse back. Tonally, ‘The Dark Knight’ is certainly darker than its great predecessor, but in no way ceases to be as entertaining. It’s perfectly balanced and paced, with never a slow moment on screen. In conclusion, I left my seat fully satisfied of what I had witnessed, and that makes me a very happy film enthusiast. It filled on all my expectations, and in some cases exceeded them. I’m not afraid to say that I think this is director Christopher Nolan’s best work, and to those who know me, yes, I believe this easily surpasses his work on both Memento and The Prestige, huge favorites of mine.

This is the definitive Batman film, and a crime drama for the ages. 

PD. Special thanks to all the people who has delighted me with their feedback and suggestions on the blog (in particular, my best friend). Keep ‘em coming!

Thanks for reading. : )

Get on a plane if you need to: ‘In the Heights’ is a triumph in contemporary theatre.

 

Lin-Manuel Miranda and the cast of 'In the Heights'.

 

The month of June was filled with revelations of the “punch to the head” kind. You know, the ones that make you say “How the hell could I have missed this?!”. Chief between them, this new Broadway musical I began reading about in the local newspaper because its creator was Puertorrican and he, along the production itself, were nominated for thirteen (!) Tony Awards, of which they ended winning four, including the one for Best Musical. I couldn’t believe “El Nuevo Día” knew about this before me. Oh, it must’ve happened before to some of you too, I’m sure. : )

‘In the Heights’ is the title of this production. The show chronicles the lives of a group of individuals (mainly of latin descent) that form a tight-knit community in the area of Washington Heights, in the upper part of Manhattan. Lin-Manuel Miranda is the Puertorrican artist who conceived it, also credited for the music and lyrics. Before I begin throwing flowers to this man, let me clarify: this guy is the real deal. I have never seen anyone feeling so passionate about his or her work, so proud. To top things off, he also stars in the show as one of the story’s most iconic characters.

 

The energetic ensemble is literally the best I've seen.

 

So, I flew to New York and saw this show at the end of June after much debate with my loved one (who didn’t like the idea of spending two hundred and fifty bucks on another musical) and well…I can honestly say I’m obssesed with the piece. It’s the first *original* musical I’ve seen with so much mass appeal since RENT, partly to the fantastic music (which fuses latin rhythms with hip-hop) and the classic themes found within the story (finding where you belong; social discrimination and most of all, love). 

The ensemble is literally the best I’ve seen in my life, exuding passion and energy during the entire duration of the performance, and giving life to characters that are both well-written and downright charming, each in their own unique way. Suffice to say, by the end of the performance, you will want to befriend every single one of these people. The exquisite set design and subtle (but effective) lighting complement the piece like, again, no other I’ve seen. There’s a particular scene in the show which sees a recreation of a “power outtage” that exemplifies the above-mentioned.

I can’t stop raving about it to family and friends alike, and I’m already planning a second trip to New York City to watch it again. Even if you’re not the “musical type”, give this show a chance (my loved one? He ended up loving it as much as I did). It’s modern; it’s fresh; it’s cool. But most importantly, it’s full of passion and heart, and anyone with even just an ounce of sensibility needs to experience it. 

 

Gotta' love that set. Amazing-looking.

 

Don’t forget to comment with your own ideas (and suggestions!) below. Thanks for reading. : )

Brick by brick…

As I said in the “inaugural” post, this place will soon be brimming with posts featuring concise reviews and articles about everything and anything I like in the entertainment industry, from a catchy pop song to a great art film. But for now, I’m still “getting to grips” with the system…WordPress, that is. It’ll take a while, but when I arrive *there*, expect a continuous flow of said written pieces.

For now, I want to direct your attention to the header of this page. Odd ‘Photoshop’ cropping notwithstanding, the image you see there has been feeding my imagination ever since I first saw it a few months ago because of its seemingly organic beauty and sheer creativity behind it. It’s concept art for a new PlayStation 3 game called “PixelJunk Eden“, which is going to be distributed digitally (and exclusively) over Sony’s ‘PlayStation Network’ Store. It looks to innovate in the tried and true formula of platform games (where Nintendo’s “Mario” is still king) with a simple, refreshing and beautiful visual style.

 

'PixelJunk Eden' - Title screen.

 

Projects like this one are what turn around heads and give more credibility to the idea that the videogame industry is indeed capable of creating genuine works of art, entertaining while moving us in different emotional levels. The guys over at Sony’s Santa Monica Studio and “Q Games” are the ones responsible for this promising new piece, and should be commended for such ambition and taste, displayed beautifully in this singular title. I’ll dig deeper into this game when it arrives later this month, and should come here to write my first-hand impressions on this beauty.

Catch the trailer after the break so you can get a taste of this work, and don’t forget to comment with your own ideas (and suggestions!) below. Thanks for reading. : )

 

‘Sensibilize this!’ Begins.

 

 

This post unofficially opens my first blog ever! Soon, you will see this place filled up with previews and reviews for upcoming or already-released films, videogames and other forms of artistic expression (music albums and theatrical productions included). Feel free to comment on each and every one of the posts that you read here, be it with questions or suggestions (I love reading those). 

But most of all, you must be asking why ‘Sensibilize this!’? Well…that’s material for a future post (or the “what?!” section? hmm..)!