 | manga review: Shakariki! |
January 31, 2009 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment
The following is a manga review of “Shakariki!” by Daily Yomiuri’s Hiroshi Hirai. The following is an excerpt from his review:
In the world of bicycle road racing, it is a fight against other cyclists–sometimes even against one’s own teammates. But it maybe also a fight against oneself.
It is especially so for Teru Nonomura, the protagonist of Shakariki! This manga (which inspired a live-action movie of the same title that was released on DVD last week) features bicycle road racing at the high school level.
Teru is a “saka-baka” or hill freak.
When his family moves from Tokyo to a town in the Kansai region when he is 8 years old, he has just gotten his first bicycle, an item he had long wanted. But in the hilly town that becomes his family’s new home, no children ride bicycles.
However, Teru is different. He becomes infatuated with climbing the town’s hills. Eventually, he conquers the Ichiban-zaka, or No. 1 Hill, as he grows to senior year of middle school.
 | John Legend performing live in Miami |
January 31, 2009 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
John Legend Performs at the Fillmore in Miami, just days before he is scheduled to headline the pre-game show for the Superbowl in Tampa, FL. Pictured: John Legend Picture by: Raymond Nichols / Splash News. Content © 2009 Splash News . All rights reserved.
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| MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA (a J!-ENT Blu-ray Disc Review) |
January 30, 2009 by Dennis Amith · 2 Comments
“Fantastic! A story about the the U.S. Army’s all-Black 92nd Infantry Division, the Buffalo Soldiers, who fought in World War II with a storyline that is heartwarming, gripping and overall enjoyable. A fictional story with real elements. The Blu-ray pays homage to the Buffalo soldiers of World War II. Overall, an enjoyable and extremely entertaining film worth watching!”
© WDSHE. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA
DURATION: 160 minutes
BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (2:35:1), English 5.1 DTS-HD (48 khz/24-bit), French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English SDH, French and Spanish
COMPANY: Touchstone Home Entertainment
RATED: R
Release Date: February 10, 2009
Directed by Spike Lee
Based on a novel by James McBride
Screenplay by: James McBride
Produced by Roberto Cicutti Luigi Musini and Spike Lee
Executive Producers: Marco Valerio Pigini, Jon Kilk
Director of Photography: Matthew Libatique, ASC
Editor: Barry Alexander Brown
Costume Designer: Carlo Poggioli
Original Music: Terence Blanchard
Casting: Kim Taylor Coleman CSA, Beatrice Kruger ACI
Cast:
Derek Luke as 2nd Staff Sergeant Aubrey Stamps
Michael Ealy – Seargeant Bishop Cummings
Laz Alonso – Corporal Hector Negron (Young/Old)
Omar Benson Miller – Private First Class Sam Train
Matteo Sciabordi – Angelo Torancelli (the boy)
Valentina Cervi – Renata
D.B. Sweeney – Colonel Driscoll
Pierfrancesco Favino – Peppi “The Great Butterfly” Grotta
Kerry Washington – Zana Wilder
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tim Boyle
From Touchstone Pictures comes the powerful and uplifting World War II epic “Miracle at St. Anna”, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee (The Inside Man). Experiencing it on Blu-ray puts you right in the middle of the intense battles.
Stationed in Tuscany, Italy, four members of the U.S. Army’s all-Black 92nd Infantry Division, the Buffalo Soldiers, are trapped behind enemy lines after one of them risks his life to save a traumatized Italian boy. Separated from their unit, they find themselves in a remote Tuscan village where they experience the tragedy and the triumph of war. Based on the highly praised novel by James McBride, its’ filled with exceptional battle scenes and action made even more gripping in Blu-ray High Definition.
From Left to Right: MATTEO SCIABORDI, OMAR BENSON MILLER, MICHAEL EALY, DEREK LUKE and LAZ ALONSO.
Fantastic! I was deeply touched by “MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA” and its fictional story by James McBride and directed by Spike Lee. But moreso for using the Blu-ray as a way to educate people of the African Americans who fought in World War II and many before that time.
For so long in America, there has not been too much said about the 92nd Infantry, the African American regiment in the military also known as the “Buffalo Soldiers” and what we have is the first World War II film about the 92nd Infantry Division which was deemed back then as the “colored” division and a test to utilize African-American soldiers and deploy them to a foreign country.
When you think about the time period, these men fought for our Country during the time the country was segregated. They did not have the same rights as the Caucasian soldiers. Were unable to share the same facilities, nor were they treated with any respect but what McBride and Lee managed to come up with, it’s definitely a fantastic film.
The film starts off in the 1980′s. An older African American man (played by Laz Alonso) is watching an old World War II film featuring John Wayne and saying “We fought for the country too!” You see him working at a bank as a bank teller but once an Italian man walks into his section of the bank, the older man shoots and kills him with what appears to be an old pistol.
The police then search the man’s apartment and learns that he was a soldier in World War II that has a Purple Heart. Has no arrests or anything bad on his record. But in his closet laying in a bag is a sculptured head. It appears the head is of Spring, one of the figures of the 450-year-old Florentine Ponte Santa Trinita that is worth millions and had been lost in Italy and assumed was stolen by the Nazi’s.
Reporter Tim Boyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) visits the older man in prison and asks why an upstanding citizen would kill a man.
We are then taken back to World War II. The 92nd Infantry Division are marching across a river in Italy. You are introduced to some of the soldiers but one big soldier named Private First Class Sam Train (Omar Benson Miller) who carries the statue head believing it has given him good luck. While advancing on the river (which the Nazi’s are waiting for them), the soldiers make it across and as the soldier’s radio back to their headquarters that they made it across, the general in charge of the 92nd Infantry Division doesn’t believe them and thus orders an attack where the 92nd Infantry Division is and essentially the soldiers crossing the river are caught in the fire of the Nazi’s and the US Army.
Train and Sergeant Bishop Cummings (Michael Ealy) seem to be the only two alive. As they move up the hill, they encounter a barn and inside is a little boy who has parts of the roof collapsed on him as Nazi’s continue to fire that direction. Train manages to save the boy but the boy talks as if he’s in a different world and looks at Sam Train as a “Chocolate Giant” there to save him. Train ends up saving the boy’s life.
Meanwhile, two more of the 92nd Infantry Division who were crossing the river appear to be alive. 2nd Staff Sergeant Aubrey Stamps (Derek Luke) and Corporal Hector Negron (Laz Alonso). The four then go on a long trek in the hills of Italy and end up in a village and go to the home that has a light where a woman named Renata (Valentina Cervi) and her family are living.
The soldiers plan to leave the boy Train found with the family but it appears the city is surrounded by Nazi. After radioing back to headquarters, they are told by the General that their job is to capture a Nazi. So, the four know they need to stay with Renata and her family much longer. Throughout the film, we learn more about the four soldiers:
Private First Class Sam Train – The gentle giant. Believes in God and believes that the statue head and the boy has led him to survival. He eventually develops a strong relationship with the boy like father and son.
2nd Staff Sergeant Aubrey Stamps – Leading the four, he dreams that because of his service in the military, Blacks and Whites can co-exist in a better world. He also develops an attraction towards Renata.
Sergeant Bishop Cummings – Cocky and a man who cares nothing but money and women. He stays close to Private First Class Sam Train because Sam owes him $1,400. He’s the total opposite of Stamps. He thinks the White man don’t care about the black people. He also has an attraction to Renata but more of having sex than anything. He and Stamps are always at each other’s throats.
Corporal Hector Negron – The man who is the communications officer and also translator (can speak and understand Italian). He doesn’t get involved in Stamps and Cummings squabbles but he starts to believe Train when the boy seems to help them out when in a bind and starts to believe he is special.
The Boy/Angelo Troancelli – It is not known why he was by himself during the battle but he appears to have received so much trauma that he talks to an imaginary friend (or ghost) named Arturo and looks at Train as a Chocolate Giant (and also the soldiers seem to have a lot of Chocolate on them). He has become attached to Train and goes where the soldiers go.
Meanwhile the Nazi’s are after one of their own. It is not known why but they are after him.
As for the Italian village, they are not in good shape. Especially those in areas that have been ravaged by war. They have no food and they have no one fighting for them. There are those who are anti-Nazi and and some who were Fascists and believed in Mussolini are now angered that he became a puppet of Hitler. But because the four soldiers from America are there, the Italians are rather supportive of them.
The soldiers talk that how being in Italy, unlike America, they can walk around and they are just people. Talk to anyone and they are talked to. The children will play with them and they are treated like equal humans. And they realize how being in a foreign country, they are treated much better than they are at home.
Meanwhile, a group of renegade former Fascists captures the escaped Nazi bringing him to Renata’s home and the Fascists and the four soldiers confront each other with their weapons in attack mode. The boy appears to know who the Nazi is but he is scared of one of the Italian men. Meanwhile, Hector makes a call to their General and are told that must get the Nazi soldier for interrogation and thus the US Army will be there to meet with them.
What the US soldiers and the Italians and even the Fascist group don’t know is that there is a traitor among them. Someone who is working with the Nazi’s.
And you get to learn more about the boy, Antonio’s background and why he had become so traumatized and why he fears the traitor so much.
“MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA” is truly an epic film that definitely is worth watching!
VIDEO & AUDIO:
The film is presented in 1080p high definition (2:35:1). Overall, the picture quality is very good. Most of the scenes are all outdoor shots and the sunlight and the rain showers and the different weather patterns were featured well on video. Shot in a beautiful Italian village with the mountains in the backdrop, lush surroundings. Really good location in terms of where they shot this film.
And of course, the film is full of action. Similar to “Saving Private Ryan”, the film has its share of violent moments and dismemberment. Some scenes such as one part with the Nazi’s talking on top of a mountain, displayed quite a bit of noise in the background, but that scene is fairly short, so nothing to worry about. But all in all, very good picture quality.
The sound is featured in English 5.1 DTS-HD (48khz/24-bit) audio. The sound is incredible. From the battle scenes of hearing the multiple gun shots, missiles starting up from the rear channels of your speakers and then flying towards the sides and then front speaker channels and hearing the blast. And then the subtle moments of hearing the rain all around you. Those were well done and similar to the video, you definitely get very good audio quality as well!
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA” comes with three features and personally, I felt that the two major features are important because they interview African American Veterans who fought in World War II but also showcased the history of the “Buffalo Soldier”. Included in the special features:
- Deeds Not Words – Director Spike Lee, Writer/Screenwriter James McBride and several veterans who served in World War II in Italy in a live roundtable discussion (about 18 min. long) in regards to their experiences in World War II and being in Italy, how they were treated and then how they were treated back home. But to see how far African Americans have come and also talking about Obama being the next President (obviously, shot before he won the election). Very good special feature!
- The Buffalo Soldier Experiences – Learning the history of the Buffalo soldier. A very informative documentary that is about 18 minutes long and went as far back from the Civil War to the present. Also, a woman who talked about how she bonded with one of the men and has always wondered what has happened to the two guys that stayed in her village, not knowing if they lived or died. But will always be grateful for their heroism.
- Deleted Scenes – There were several deleted scenes and extended scenes. Some that were rather important and wish they kept in the film but then again, with the film at 160 minutes already, it’s going a bit long.
From Left to Right: MICHAEL EALY, LAZ ALONSO, DEREK LUKE and OMAR BENSON MILLER
“MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA” is an epic film which I enjoyed a lot. In fact, after the film, I really felt it was fantastic.
But there are a few things that prevent it from being excellent.
Granted, compared to other war films and fictional and a bit far-fetched at times. The death of the Italian man in the beginning of the film by an older Corporal Hector Negron is surprising that he’s had a gun in his possession near the bank check out area where he works and waiting for revenge 40+ years after World World War II is a bit far-fetched.
As for timing, at 160 minutes, it is long and for some, the love triangle focusing on Renata, Stamps and Bishop may have tacked on some additional minutes which some may seem uncalled for. But I actually felt the film needed it. Because the truth is the Italians didn’t have the racial intolerance towards Blacks like how things were in the U.S. This village was the home of poor Italians, they didn’t have TV. They looked at the 92nd Infantry Division as heroes. And thus, the men were treated as equals and some had relationships with the Italian women in the village.
If anything, I think that the storyline of the Italian Fascists who capture the Nazi was difficult because they are thrown into the movie with not much character development. Were we supposed to care about these men? Obviously one is a traitor but would one really go as far to have his countryman killed for revenge?
And then the use of characters such as reporter Tim Boyle (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Enrico (John Leguizamo) or Colonel Driscoll (D.B. Sweeney). Men that would seem to have an important part in the film but they don’t. If anything, they were used as transitional phases for other points in the film.
But I’m sure I can nitpick and find what could be edited or not be edited but personally, I was satisfied with the film. It is a tearjerker. These four characters that have different personalities, you do care for them but the adventure from beginning to end, I was left speechless. Omar Benson Miller as Private First Class Sam Train was indeed the gentle giant and he had a wonderful performance. As did the other three men, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso and Derek Luke. Great performances by these four men!
“MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA” was really a fantastic film. It had a good balance from action, heartwarming moments and scenes that captured your attention. And the fact that you have a Blu-ray that does go into the Buffalo Soldiers and interviewing those who fought in the war and also those who were villagers in Italy in contact with the soldiers validating certain parts of the film and their experiences, it was great to have all that included in conjunction with the very good picture and audio quality in the Blu-ray.
Overall, “MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA” is a fantastic Blu-ray release that I recommend wholeheartedly!
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| Clint Eastwood and Sean Penn at the Modern Master Award at the 24th Santa Barbara International Film Festival |
January 30, 2009 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment
picapp: SANTA BARBARA, CA – JANUARY 29: Actor Clint Eastwood (L) and actor Sean Penn attend the Modern Master Award at the 24th Santa Barbara International Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre on January 29, 2009 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images). Copyright 2009 Getty Images. All rights reserved.
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| KITSUNÉ AND SCION JOIN FORCES TO PRESENT KITSUNÉ PIONEER CD, NORTH AMERICAN TOUR |
January 29, 2009 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment
SCION CD SAMPLER VOL 23: KITSUNÉ PIONEER OUT JANUARY 30
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR FEATURING GUNS ‘N’ BOMBS, HEARTSREVOLUTION, autoKRATZ, AND BENI IN SELECT CITIES MARCH 8-12
The trailblazing French label Kitsuné has partnered with Scion for the automotive brand’s latest A/V project, Scion CD Sampler Volume 23: Kitsuné Pioneer. Featuring new and exclusive remixes from club stalwarts Fischerspooner, Heartsrevolution, and Guns ‘N’ Bombs, this compilation continues Kitsuné’s tradition of breaking new and innovative electronic artists internationally through their series of compilations and singles. The CD will be distributed for free at all Scion events, various dealerships, and retail shops nationwide, and is also currently available for purchase at all major online retailers. 100 percent of the proceeds from online sales will go to Kitsuné and all contributing artists. To listen to Scion CD Sampler Volume 23, visit http://www.scion.com/sav.
In March, Kitsuné DJs Guns ‘N’ Bombs and Beni will storm the U.S. alongside live acts Heartsrevolution and autoKratz for a series of free shows in select cities nationwide. Scion presents this rare chance to catch all four artists free of charge with RSVP beginning February 4 at http://www.scion.com/avrelease.
Tour Dates featuring Guns ‘N’Bombs, Heartsrevolution (live), autoKratz (live), Beni:
3/8/09 MIAMI, FL THE VAGABOND (21+)
3/10/09 NEW YORK, NY THE STUDIO AT WEBSTER HALL (19+)
3/11/09 LOS ANGELES, CA THE ECHO (18+)
3/12/09 AUSTIN, TX BEAUTY BAR (21+)
Scion CD Sampler Volume 23: Kitsuné Pioneer Tracklist:
1. Ted&Francis – Erlend (Ted&Francis remix)
2. Heartsrevolution – Ultraviolence (Dubka remix)
3. Guns ‘n’ Bombs – Riddle Of Steel (Para One remix)
4. Cazals – Somebody, Somewhere (Lifelike dub)
5. You Love Her Coz Shes Dead – Dead End (YLHCSD edit)
6. autoKratz – Stay The Same (Alex Gopher remix)
7. Beni – My Love Sees You (Beni edit)
8. autoKratz – Pardon Garçon (Carbon Footprint mix)
9. Cazals – Poor Innocent Boys (Shinichi Osawa remix)
10. Fischerspooner – Danse en France (Beni remix)
11. AppalOOsa – The Day We Fell In Love (Ted&Francis remix)
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| Faith Hill at a pre-game show and national anthem press conference |
picapp: TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 29: Musician Faith Hill attends the pregame show and national anthem press conference held at the Tampa Convention Center on January 29, 2009 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images). Content © 2009 Getty Images . All rights reserved.
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| Miley Cyrus and Justin Gaston at YogurTree |
January 29, 2009 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment
picapp: Miley Cyrus and her 21 year old model beau Justin Gaston hit up local YogurTree for some frozen yogurt on a hot sunny day in Toluca Lake. Pictured: Miley Cyrus and Justin Gaston Picture by: Ahmad Elatab/SaleemElatab/ Splash News. Content © 2009 Splash News . All rights reserved.
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| DRAGON BALL Z – THE HISTORY OF TRUNKS / BARDOCK THE FATHER OF GOKU (a J!-ENT Blu-ray Disc Review) |
January 28, 2009 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
“The first two Dragon Ball specials get the Blu-ray treatment. Vibrant in colorful, fans of the action-packed ‘Dragon Ball Z’ series are definitely going to want to pick this up, especially for the fan favorite ‘THE HISTORY OF TRUNKS’“
TITLE: DRAGON BALL Z – THE HISTORY OF TRUNKS / BARDOCK THE FATHER OF GOKU
DURATION: 48 minutes (96 minutes for both)
BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High-Definition, 16×9, Dolby TrueHD: English 5.1 with Japanese Music, Dolby TrueHD: English 5.1 with U.S. Music, Original Japanese
CATALOG #: FN-03857
COMPANY: FUNimation Entertainment
RATED: TV PG
DRAGON BALL Z SPECIAL 2: THE HISTORY OF TRUNKS
Director: Daisuke Nishio
Original Author: Akira Toriyama
Screenplay: Takao Koyama
Music: Shunsuke Kikuchi, Chiho Kikuchi (opening), Takeshi Ike
Animation director: Minoru Maeda
DRAGON BALL Z – BARDOCK THE FATHER OF GOKU
Director: Daisuke Nishio
Original Manga by Akira Toriyama
Screenplay: Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Takao Koyama
Music: Shunsuke Kikuchi
Character Design: Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru and Minoru Maeda
Animation Director: Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru
DRAGON BALL Z CAST:
Masako Nozawa/Sean Schemmel as Son Goku
Masako Nozawa/Stephanie Nadolny as Son Gohan
Hiromi Tsuru/Lalainia Lindbjerg as Bulma
Mayumi Tanaka/Sonny Strait as Kuririn
Toshio Furukawa/Christopher R. Sabat as Piccolo
Takeshi Aono/Christopher R. Sabat as Kami-Sama
Akira Kamiya/Chuck Huber as Garlic Jr
Daisuke Gouri as Gyuumaou
Kenji Utsumi as ShenLong
Kôhei Miyauchi as Kame Sennin
Mayumi Shou/Lisa Ann Beley as Chi-Chi
Miki Itou/Meredith McCoy as Android 18
Shigeru Nakahara/Chuck Huber as Android 17
Takeshi Kusao/Eric Vale as Trunks
Masao Nozawa/Sonny Strait as Bardock
Ryusei Nakao/Linda Young as Freeza
THE HISTORY OF TRUNKS
When Goku dies of a deadly virus, it seems like the end of the world. But the powerful Master’s passing proves to be merely a presage of the horrible tragedies that are on the way! When two androids appear and start destroying the great cities of Earth, the planet is plunged into darkness and its inhabitants are living in fear. But there is one last hope! Goku’s song Gohan is now a man and though outnumbered by the demonic Androids, he does have a special young teenager named Trunks on his side! As Gohan trains Trunks, it seems like the world is collapsing around them! Can they put a stop to the horrible progression of evil? This is the story of the future that never was!
BARDOCK, THE FATHER OF GOKU
When a low-class Saiyan soldier named Bardock unexpectedly inherits the ability to see into the future, his life takes a dramatic turn for the worse! Haunted by visions of his own end as well as the destruction of his entire planet, Bardock sets off on a nightmarish race with fate to advert the impending disaster. But Bardock seems to be stumbling along in a maze of hopeless despair until a vision of his baby son, Kakarot, as a grow man inspires him to make a change and confront his destiny head on!… This is the story of Bardock, the father of Goku!
I can remember when “THE HISTORY OF TRUNKS” was shown on TV in Japan back in 1993 the buzz on the anime bulleting boards (BBS) at the time was just message after message of excitement and shock by “DRAGON BALL Z” fans.
That excitement was followed by the large attended screenings at anime fan clubs for “THE HISTORY OF TRUNKS”, the second special of “DRAGON BALL Z”. Fans traveling nearly three hours just to see this special during those old school anime years and I can remember seeing the shocked faces of everyone who watched it. It will always be a lasting memory and many years later, “THE HISTORY OF TRUNKS” special would still become a favorite of mine.
Now nearly two decades later, the first two specials have been released together on Blu-ray Disc courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment.
The Blu-ray starts off with the second special “The HISTORY OF TRUNKS”. As we know from the TV series, future Trunks was able to come from the future to warn the Z Fighters about an impending battle with the androids that will take place a year later. But most of all, to get an antidote to Son Goku who died in Trunks future from a deadly virus.
This special showcases the events leading up to future Trunks before he goes back in time. The special starts off with everyone at Chichi’s home at the death of Goku who succumbed to the deadly virus. Then we learn of the androids arrival and learn that the majority of the Z Fighters have been killed by Androids 17 and 18 and now humanity is being killed off. The only surviving people in the group of friends are Chichi, her father Ox King, Gohan, Bulma, Trunks, Master Rohshi, Oolong and Puar.
Trunks wishes he could fight them off but knows he is no match and his mother Bulma is way to strict to let him get into trouble. One day, as Trunks takes a look at a city that has been devastated by the Androids, Gohan makes his return 13-years after the androids have arrived.
Gohan is now a strong man and donning his father’s original colors and after the begging of Trunks to become his master and to train him, Gohan agrees.
During the first battle against the androids, both Gohan and Trunks try to fight the androids together but because of Trunks inexperience with fighting, he is literally being pummeled to death. Gohan can’t stand for it and rescues Trunks but when the androids set off a deadly blast. You see the aftermath of the blast and Gohan has lost an arm and Trunks doesn’t look like he’s alive. With only one sensu bean, Gohan must make a decision, use it to bring his arm back and get healthy or use it on Trunks. Thinking of what his father would do, Gohan uses the final sensu beans on Trunks.
Meanwhile, while Gohan and Trunks are out for the count and they are in need for more healing and training, the androids continue their killing spree around Earth. With more people dying, Gohan makes the decision to fight them alone.
Definitely an awesome special that Trunks fans and anyone who were captivated by the Android saga will definitely enjoy. This special has been among my favorites for years and to watch this on Blu-ray was fantastic.
The second special featured on the Blu-ray is the first special and was released back in 1990 and takes place when Frieza was in control of many planets and destroying them. Among those planets was the planet Vegita, where the Saiyan Bardock is from.
Bardock is a low-class fighter but his group of low-class fighting Saiyans has been successful in beating a lot of enemies that would be difficult for top tier Saiyan fighters. While on a fight against the Kanassa, Bardock and his group managed to kill off the enemies on that planet but one. Tooro has given Bardock a gift (or more like a curse) which allows him to see the future of his doom. Something that Tooro and his species have seen in their heads and wanted Bardock to have the gift to see how he will die.
Meanwhile, as the group returns to Vegita to rehabilitate, Bardock starts seeing images in his head. Images of his son Kakkarot (Goku) as a child, teenager and adult. Also, he sees an image of his planet of Vegita being destroyed. He shrugs it off as a nightmare and as the images of his son, he can’t believe his son became a soft man and not a warrior.
While Kakkarot was undergoing rehabilitation, his team was sent on a mission but it was a fake mission planned by Frieza. Frieza who is not liking how this group of Saiyan’s are becoming too powerful has his minions murder everyone in Bardock’s team. When Kakkarot discovers it was Frieza who set them up to die, Bardock vows for revenge against Frieza and his men. But meanwhile, these images in his head become much more real and he learns that perhaps they are not dreams or nightmares, it was what the alien Tooro told him, a glimpse to how he will die. Can Bardock change the future? Can he defeat Frieza?
Two action-packed “DRAGON BALL Z” specials on one Blu-ray Disc!
VIDEO:
If there is one thing that is important to remind everyone is that these two animated specials are twenty years old. It’s a general known fact that a lot of older anime films, specials and even TV series have not been preserved well.
There is only so much that can be done with the original master source, so let’s start with the good and the bad. The good is that this is probably the best we are ever going to see “Dragon Ball Z”. It’s on Blu-ray, hi-def and the picture quality was great for that time and the colors are nice and sharp with it’s 1080p transfer. The video was remastered in High Definition and digitally restored and you get a nice wide screen 16×9 transfer. Colors look good for two anime films that are twenty years old.
With that being said, the good news is that the specials fared quite well in its translation to Blu-ray. Because these two were shown on television, you don’t get as much scratches or dust. In fact, I saw very little of any scratches or dust which was great considering how old these two specials were. Also, the colors were quite vibrant and was very pleased with the video transfer.
AUDIO:
Like the treatment they have given to their TV season box sets of “DRAGON BALL Z”, this Blu-ray disc features Dolby TrueHD, English 5.1 with Japanese or U.S. Music and the original 2.0 Japanese track. I love having been given the choice and although I grew up watching “DRAGON BALL Z” with its original Japanese language, I have to say that the English dubbing for the US “DRAGON BALL Z” is terrific and perfectly cast.
The Dolby TrueHD English 5.1 track is where you are going to hear the difference because of the utilization of the rear channels during the battle scenes. So, it’s great to have FUNimation really work the 5.1 track for the Blu-ray release.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Surprisingly there are no special features included on the Blu-ray but there are a good number trailers for a lot of the recent FUNimation DVD and Blu-ray releases.
I may sound a bit biased towards these two specials because I was there to see the excitement by anime fans not long after the special was shown in Japan and to see the anime club viewings in the US so packed with people watching it in Japanese (without understanding what is going on) and to see anime BBS message boards with long threads from “DRAGON BALL Z” fans just discussing their shock after watching the special. It was one of those rare times I can remember so many fans coming together to watch a film that was not subtitled in English (the other was the first “Street Fighter” animated film) and no one really knew what was going on but because the special featured so much action, it was just worth watching.
I’ve purchased many incarnations of “THE HISTORY OF TRUNKS” and to watch it on Blu-ray and to see how vibrant the colors were and how good it looked for an anime 16-years old, was quite nice.
The same can be said in regards to “BARDOCK, THE FATHER OF GOKU”. A special that I watched nearly two decades ago and again, to really enjoy because rarely do the “Dragon Ball Z” storyline go outside of main core of characters and focus on another group.
Not much was known about Bardock but it was great to watch this special again. And again, for something that came out so old, and in this case 19 years ago to look so vibrant in colors and looking so great in Blu-ray is a major plus.
FUNimation Entertainment did another fantastic job on this Blu-ray and it may have a bit of the dust and scratches but it was very minimal. But as a longtime “DRAGON BALL Z” fan, “THE HISTORY OF TRUNKS” is one of those must-own releases. For DBZ fans, these two specials would be a fantastic addition to your anime collection and for a Blu-ray, the price for both one Blu-ray disc is great.
Overall, another action-packed release that is definitely recommended!
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| BLINDNESS (a J!-ENT DVD Review) |
January 28, 2009 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
“Gripping, provocative and startling. A wonderful translation from novel to film!”
Images courtesy of ©WDSHE. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: BLINDNESS
DURATION: 121 minutes
DVD INFORMATION: Color, Anamorphic Widescreen (1:85:1). Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, English and Spanish Subtitles.
RATED: R (for Violence including sexual assaults, language and sexuality/nudity)
COMPANY: Miramax Films
Release Date: February 10, 2009
Directed by Fernando Meirelles
Based on an original novel by Jose Saramago
Screenplay by Don McKellar
Produced by Niv Fichman, Andrea Barata Ribeiro, Sonoko Sakai
Co-Producers: Bel Berlinck, Sari Friedland
Executive Producers: Gail Egan, Simon Channing Williams, Tom Yoda, Akira Ishii Victor Loewy
Casting by Susie Figgs and Deirore Bowen
Original Score by Marco Antonio Gumaraes/Uakti
Editor: Daniel Rezende
Costume Designer: Rene April
Production Designer: Tule Peake
Cinematography: Cesar Charlone, ABC
Starring:
Julianne Moore as Doctor’s Wife
Mark Ruffalo as Doctor
Alice Braga as Woman with the Dark Glasses
Yusuke Iseya – First Blind Man
Yoshino Kimura – First Blind Man’s Wife
Don McKellar – Thief
Jason Bermingham – Driver #1
Maury Chaykin – Accountant
Mitchell Ne – Boy
Eduardo Semerjian – Concerned Pedestrian #1
Danny Glover – Man with Black Eye Patch
Gael Garcia Bernal – Bartender/King of Ward Three
Joe Pingue – Taxi Driver
Susan Coyne – Receptionist
Fabiana Guglielmetti – Mother of the Boy
Sandra Oh – Minister of Health
Imagine that one day you lost your eye sight completely…
Imagine everyone in the world starting to lose their eye sight and all becoming blind.
That is the storyline of the film “BLINDNESS” directed by Fernando Mierelles (known for his work for the 2006 award winning film “The Constant Gardner”). What happens when everyone has gone blind except for one.
The film starts off with a man (first blind man, Yusuke Iseya) driving in a busy city and all of a sudden, he loses his eye sight. He gets the help of a guy (Driver #1, Jason Bermingham) who helps drive him home. His wife (played by Yoshino Kimura) can’t believe what has happened, all that her husband knows is seeing a white blinding light and then losing his eyesight.
She takes him to the doctor (Mark Ruffalo) who is surprised because most cases of blindness, they see darkness and also their eyes have changed to indicate blindness. But yet, the eyes are fine. And it appears that this is happening to other people as well.
In fact, the next day, the doctor and even some of the people waiting at the doctor’s office, including the driver of the first blind man somehow all go blind. These people who gone blind are taken to an old prison area where they are to be quarantined. Accompanying the doctor to the quarantine area is his loving wife (played by Julianne Moore) as being a person who can see but pretends that she is blind in order to stay close to her husband.
At first, it was only a handful of them in the quarantine area but the numbers start to grow incredibly. In the outside world, things are so bad in the world that airplanes start crashing, cars start crashing. The cities become desolate and even the top people in the medical industry can’t figure out what is happening. But what the doctor’s wife sees the quarantine area become is inhospitable and disgusting. People are defecating anywhere they can, no one is cleaning the place. Food is low, trash is everywhere, people are unclean. It’s a disaster.
And with multiple wards continuing in the quarantine area, they are so down on food and there is no medical help and people start dying. They are forced to bury their own dead. But they try to get help from the outside world but they are treated inhumanely. In fact, if anyone tries to venture out of the quarantine area, they will be shot by armed guards.
All of a sudden, the King of Ward III (played by Gael Garcia Bernal) manages to take control of weapons, the food ratios but being as ruthless and cold man and the fact that he is being assisted by actual blind people who have adapted to the world, he has an edge. So, if anyone wants food, wards will have to offer any jewelry or major belongings. To make things worse, Ward III starts to up the ante and say that if anyone wants food, each ward will have to sacrifice their women.
For the doctor, being the collected man as he was, now being defenseless because he is blind starts to send him on to a different path and starts to push his wife away. As for his wife, being the one and only person who can see, she needs to make a decision to either play defenseless or take a stand and protect others in her ward before total chaos breaks out.
VIDEO & AUDIO:
Video is presented in (1:85:1) widescreen and was well done. Fernando Mierelles and Cesar Charlone were able to work together to recreate the disgusting, dark and creepy quarantine area perfectly but most of all, to showcase so many people all blind inside the quarantine area and the real world as they walk the freeways, rummage throughout the city, etc. Well done!
Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. The film is primarily a dialogue-driven film and you can hear everyone clearly.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
There are two special features included on the DVD.
- “A Vision of Blindness” – Making of Blindness Documentary – This one hour featurette actually enhanced my appreciation for the film. A lot of the main talent to the extras had to undergo blindness training. At first using a blindness coach and wearing sleeping eye masks for hours and trying to manage themselves through areas and depending on others to get from one point to another. Also, to make sure that the experience was real during filming, the main characters had to wear special contact lenses which made them blind. Another interesting bit of information was how many countries this film was shot in. Many variety of locations in order to achieve realistic results and they succeeded. But the most difficult task for the crew was getting the OK from Jose Saramago (the original writer of the novel), a man who never gives out the rights to his films. But in this case, because the producers didn’t look like the Hollywood types, he gave them the OK. A very awesome featurette.
- Deleted Scenes – Deleted scenes with a written intro by the director. I can understand why they were cut out. In the film, you were lead to believe that everyone inside were people who were infected by the blindness but in the deleted scenes, a significant scene was that both those who were blind and those who came into contact with those infected were in quarantine. Another was more ruthlessness in the rape scenes and also other scenes which I was happy to see trimmed out of the film.
I enjoyed “BLINDNESS” and definitely was surprised after watching the special featurette of how far the director went to make sure everyone had blindness training and having to wear the special contact lenses. It definitely made the movie much more believable and also their utilization of locations to have a world that has gone astray because everyone has gone blind. At first, I was wondering if they were constructive sets made in the back lot and a lot of CG but they really went all out in trying to find locations where to make this film happen.
“BLINDNESS” is one of those films that incorporated an all-star cast from talent worldwide. Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo and Danny Glover are well known names in the US. Yoshino Kimura and Yusuke Iseya are well-known in Japan. Alice Braga is well known in Brazil (and the US for her role in “I Am Legend”), Gael Garcia Bernal is known for his work in Mexico and Spain (also in the US for “Babel” and “Y Tu Mama Tambien”) but featuring so many talent from all over the world was a good idea.
Performances from each of the cast members were well done and overall, the storyline was gripping, provocative and startling. Of course, watching the film, you kind of think to yourself, how is it that everyone has gone blind except the doctor’s wife (Julianne Moore), at first I was wondering if her being able to see would be a cure but the film doesn’t go that direction. And the direction the storyline went, I was very satisfied with. Overall, the film shows a side of humanity that eventually gets tested and pushed to a very dark side. Everyone become equals, there is no prejudice, there is no difference in who is rich and who is poor. When everyone is blind, everyone can either work as a group or be alone. Eventually by the end of “BLINDNESS”, you see that there is hope.
I enjoyed the film but watching the DVD and watching the featurette “A Vision of Blindness” made me enjoy this film much, much more because you see how much was put into it, how much commitment from the various crews in different countries to the final moment when you see the reaction from Jose Saramago, the writer of the novel as he watched the film with director Fernando Meirelles and his reaction at the end.
“BLINDNESS” is a film worth watching and even moreso, watching it on DVD. Highly recommended!
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| Neil Patrick Harris at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presents an evening with the cast of “How I Met Your Mother” |
January 28, 2009 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment
picapp: 27 January 2009 – North Hollywood, California – Neil Patrick Harris. The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presents an evening with the cast of ‘How I Met Your Mother’ held at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre. Photo Credit: T. Conrad/AdMedia Photo via Newscom Photo via Newscom. Content © 2009 Newscom . All rights reserved.
