Film: The Avengers Teaser

Released today, this is a short teaser for The Avengers. I love these films..! I mean I'm not going to lie some of them are pretty shallow/weak but I just love the idea of them... doesn't everyone. Iron Man, the Hulk, Captain America... all bosses. Found this clip when reading Entertainment Weekly. Check. It. Out.

Film: Young British Acting Talent

We've all heard of YBA's (right?! - Young British Artists if you haven't), well this is the new form. It is an article on Young British Actors. Definitely have a skim of some of the interviews as they're kind of interesting. And have a great Sunday.

Here is a link to the article.

Cinemacuteo Film School

For anyone interested in film this is a channel you should be following on Vimeo. It is a channel that offers videos from all over the web that will help in filmmaking. Essentially it is "published videos tutorials to make your film projects, from the special effects, to the steadycam, lights, cranes. Filmmaking demystifies."

Another site I look on a lot is Oliviatech which offers really great hands-on reviews of filmmaking equipment and other stuff.

Film: The Woman in Black

I just watched the trailer for this (below). Did anyone else spot Dobby's grave?!

Short Film: Aqui Jaz a Minha Casa - Here Rests My Home

Definitely watch this in HD and fullscreen. Randomly found this on a digital camera blog and gave it a watch (it was only uploaded to Vimeo a few hours ago though). Some of the shots are really nice and well thought out. The thing that impressed me most was the color correction - turning an amateur short film into something that appears very professional. The storyline is pretty quirky too!

Film: Entourage

Music: SBTRKT

I'm really enjoying these two at the moment...and I think you guys will too.

Film: January's Must-See Movies

Have a look at this link. It gives you 7 films from a broad spectrum of genres and budgets and tells you a little about each. Definitely worth trying to watch a couple of these if you can.

Thanks Alexandra Thornton, VES 70 buddy

Stop SOPA and PIPA

End Piracy. Not Liberty.

https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

Film : Mission Impossible, Ghost Protocol

The fourth installment in the series of 'impossible missions' which all turn out be possible (big surprise there) has received rave reviews. The reality, however, is that Ghost Protocol simply churns out more of the same. Tom cruise must once again race against time in order to save a damsel in distress, this time the stunts are even bigger, the car chases even longer and the locations more numerous.

Interestingly all the stunts are actually performed by Tom Cruise. So when you see the action hero leaping from the tallest building in the world and running across it.... that's actually Tom Cruise performing those stunts! For me that was the most surprising aspect of the entire movie. Ghost Protocol is a cash churner. The basic plot is exactly the same as all the other mission impossibles. You'll get your fix of Tom Cruise and the added bonus of a few more jokes in this installment, but you won't walk out of the theater feeling as though you've gotten you're money's worth. I like to compare watching Ghost Protocol to a trip to McDonald's. Fun to do, but you feel as though it wasn't really worth it afterwards.

Overrated, but just like McDonald's, definitely worth giving it a try if you're in the mood. 6.5/10

Film / Music: Pulp Fiction Soundtrack

The Pulp Fiction Sountrack is an awesome one. There are many momentous occasions in this strange, multi-genred film... many of which are due to the music. For example, the opening credits, the over-dose scene and the closing scene. So I decided to put together a video on Final Cut Pro to show how this sound changes our perception of either what is happening or what is going to happen next. It is really interesting to watch (well I think it is!), especially because some of the music I used was from films like Requiem for a Dream and Trainspotting - also films related to drugs/violence but with a very different feel. Have a look what you think.

Music: Adventure Club

John Randolph Thornton, the Jopfared Roommate, has talked about Adventure Club quite a bit. Being a writer for Dancing Astronaut, he knows his stuff, especially when it comes to chilled dubstep like this. I am a huge fan of these guys and have them mixed in with the likes of M83, Coco Rosie and Gramatik on an iTunes playlist. See what you think.

Metric - Collect Call (Adventure Club Dubstep Remix) by Adventure Club Dubstep

LIPS - Everything To Me (Adventure Club Dubstep Remix) by Adventure Club Dubstep

Brand New - Daisy (Adventure Club Dubstep Remix) by Adventure Club Dubstep

Music: Flight Facilities - Crave You REMIXES

So I just saw Max's post and thought I'd add a couple remixes I've had on my iTunes for a while. Enjoy.

Music: Flight Facilities - Crave You

I cannot get enough of this song, very chillout, yet makes you feel like a boss at the same time. Well worth listening to.

Film: The Artist

The Artist tells the tale of George Valentin, one of the biggest stars of the silent movie era, and his difficulties adapting to sound movies. French director Michel Hazanavicius' experiment is a masterpiece. He breaks new ground and thus follows in the footsteps of prestigious french directors such as Goddard. By revisiting the silent movie genre he oddly creates a refreshing film that many viewers will enjoy.

It's useful to know a bit of film history before watching this movie. Up until the late 1920s, films were all silent. Live orchestras would have been present in theaters to provide the soundtrack. Silent film stars were hugely influential as audiences wanted to see their favorites on the silver screen. It was one said that MGM 'had more stars than there were in the sky.' That's a bold claim! Eventually technology advanced and sound could be added to film. Many of these stars failed to adapt to sound cinema, because of their accents or because they had to remain static due to how the technology worked (they would have to stand close enough to a microphone which would be hidden on set). George Valentin was one of the biggest stars who failed to smoothly transition to talking pictures.

The acting in The Artist is terrific. The expressions are as over the top and hilarious as one would expect from a silent movie. The chemistry between George Valentin and Peppy Miller dazzles. Valentin's little dog always amuses with his cute tricks. The soundtrack really adds to the tone which the movie tries to convey at any given time. The cinematography is generally standard issue, but there are a few amazing set pieces when the environment is used to convey a blatant meaning. For example, in one scene George Valentin walks by a theatre which states 'The Lonely Star' is showing.

The Artist really moves the audience. I was worried at the beginning when Valentin was introduced as an arrogant braggart, however, by the end of the movie I truly sympathized with his predicament. I've only seen a few movies able to produce this effect...and they both won a host of academy awards.

Honestly, I can say that this is the best film I have ever watched. I don't think I can recommend The Artist more highly...go watch it! 10/10

Music: Miles Fisher - Don't Let Go w/ Phoebe Tonkin

So I don't want to be that guy who just raves about how great any song or music video is - but this is exceptional. Both the song and the video are great, but the video is almost too good for the song... and I'm not saying this in a bad way. I don't mean this song doesn't deserve such an awesome video because I am a huge huge, huge fan of the song, but this video almost draws away too much of the audience's attention. Most videos that I watch, I sit there thinking "oh that's cool but I would have done that part differently," but with this one I was never thinking "oh now they're going to kiss" or "oh now she's going to punch him in the face." The surprise factor (I didn't know she was going to pull out a gun?!), the amazingly beautiful Phoebe Tonkin, and the soft lighting used in the very scenic mountain setting (and then garage and apartment) all combine to create this awesome film directed by Michael Ashton. I just watched his demo reel - this guy is seriously talented. Anyway, I'm waffling now... Check the video out, support Miles Fisher (Harvard Grad and great singer/actor), support Phoebe Tonkin (how could you not?) and support Michael Ashton (Seriously talented director and in Visual Effects).

Buy his music here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/miles-fisher-single/id451766622

Film/Music: More GoPro with a Great Song

William Kenworthy, one of Jopfared's biggest fan's, sent me in this video today. Although not strictly a piece of Jopfared material, the video below is very cool indeed. It is one of the more visually pleasing wingsuit videos I have seen and it is accompanied by one of my favourite songs: Awolnation - Sail.

Film: The Grey

Unreal. I can't get enough of Liam Neeson. I'm imagining the pitch for this film.

Writer: Hey, I have an awesome idea for a film.

Producer: Sorry, I'm not making any films at the moment.

Writer: C'monnnn... it'll be really good.

Producer: Ok, if you can pitch something worth me spending money on in 3 seconds I'll hear you out {sniggers}

Writer: EASY!

Producer: Go on then.

Writer: Liam. Neeson. Pack. Of. Wolves.

Producer: When shall we start filming?

Check out the trailer.

Music: Jay-Z and Blue Ivy Carter New Song

So Beyonce finally had the baby and named her Blue Ivy. So, Daddy (Jay-Z) releases a song about it. Despite all the hate I have for all the self-promotion I do like the song for how heartfelt it is. If I was a world-renowned artist, like Jay-Z clearly is, I'm sure this is the sort of song I would write and sing. However, this is not the sort of song I would write, sing and then release... and especially not as a "featuring Blue Ivy Carter." Claiming this as your daughters debut is one of the most gimmicky things they could have done. Anyway, the song aint too bad.



Telegraph: "Despite the odd cringeworthy couplet (“the most beautifulist thing in the world / Is daddy’s little girl”) Glory is an unusually grounded paean to a new born, counter balancing the innate sentimentality of such parental classics as Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t She Lovely and John Lennon’s Beautiful Boy with the gritty drama expected of hip hop."

Film Sequel: Wrath of the Titans

Why oh why oh why....