Italian Job (Review)

The movie started with Charlie Croker and his gang of 6 members, Handsome Rob, Lyle, Leaf Ear, John and Steve devised a excellent plan to steal a whole cupboard of gold ballerina bricks. The plan was perfect and the execution was better. After pulling off a successful gold bullion heist, the gang was unaware that Steve was an inside man and was going to double-cross them. When the gang went to the mountains to celebrate their wealth, they were blocked on a bridge and were confronted by two MPVs fulled of armed guards who belonged to Steve. Steve's people held Charlie's gang at gunpoint and shipped all the gold bricks to their cars. John tried to resist and Steve shot him in his stomach. The situation was getting out of hand and the gang was not ready for a hijack. Handsome Rob accelerated the car right into the freezing river while the bullets from Steve's crew sprayed all around in the freezing water. The gang helped each other to survive by sharing oxygen from a single oxygen mask. John had lost too much blood from his wound and lost his life.

Charlie was extremely devastated by John's death and was adamant to get back at Steve as John was like a father to him. The was dejected too but they knew that they have to put John's death behind them and start the planning to stage a revenge at Steve. After 6 months, Charlie came up with a plan. He knew that Steve would only spend the some of the gold bricks and would not sell all of them. These gold bricks would definitely be stored safely in a high-classed safe. As John was the safe-cracker of the gang, Charlie needed a new member who was skilful at breaking the codes of the safes so that they can aquire the gold bricks. Charlie then seeked help from John's daughter, Stella, who was a professional at handling safes. Stella refused to help at first as she blamed Charlie for her father's death but she was tempted by the thougt of avenging for her father's death. After much deliberation, she wanted a part in the gang.

Charlie and his team spend weeks staging lookouts at Steve's house, keeping tabs of the activity at Steve's mansion. He was determined to find the exact location of the safe in Steve's house to facilitate the hijack of Steve's house. However, he was unsuccessful at his attempts. Charlie then devised a plan to enter Steve's premises. He ask Left Ear, the electronic expert of the group to cut off the electrical power of the mansion. (Left Ear is called Left Ear as he went deaf in his leaft ear when he was 8 as his accidentally bombed up a toilet bowl. Ever since that day, he developed an unwaverig interest in electronics and bombing techniques.) Steve was pissed to have a power failure in his house. He called for assistance from the electronic company. Stella was then selected to be a repair woman assigned by the company after Charlie managed to contact the company to allow Stella to help Steve. Steve did not know Stella but knew the rest of the gang and so Stella was the best choice to enter the mansion and determine the location of the safe which kept the gold bricks so that the crew can stage a attack so as to minimise suspicions.

Steve was very attracted to Stella's charm and beauty and invited her to dinner. Stella was caught unprepared and she did not make a decision. However, Stella did probe around the house and had found the safe which kept the gold bricks. Stella then made it out of the house, but was shaken having met the person who had killed her father. Charlie comforted her and they continued their planning to rob the gold bricks back from Steve. Charlie aquires the help of a fat man and a person whose cousin was killed by Steve.

Stella then accepted Steve's date and went for a dinner with Steve. Steve started to have suspisions about Stella when Stella made a comment which her father always used - "I trust everyone, but I do not trust the devil inside their hearts". Steve started to find that Stella looked very alike John, his enemy. He questions Stella and went overboard. Charlie and his gang then appeared to help Stella. Steve then found out that Stella was indeed John's daughter and she was in cahoots with Charlie. Charlie punches Steve when Steve insulted Stella and John and hinted to Steve to watch out as they would strike back.

When Charlie was busy setting up and planning his attack, Lyle receives intel that Steve was about to leave the country and was going to ship the gold bricks out of the country to Spain. This was a dramatic change and the team had to act fast as the gold bricks were going to be shipped out very soon. Charlie acquires the help a Wrench, a mechanic with lots of experience with cars. Charlie then experimented how the gold bricks were going to be stolen and how the bricks were going to be loaded in the cars. After days of preparation, the plan was out and the team was ready to get hold of the gold bricks.

On that day, Handsome Rob and Left Ear were positioned outside the residence of Steve in a White Mini Cooper, making sure that the gold bricks were really going to leave the mansion. Charlie was in the Blue Mini Cooper while Stella was behind the wheel in the Red Mini at the Metro Station. Lyle was stationed in the metro station and after hacking into the traffic control system, Lyle had all the power to control all the traffic lights in California.

To the team's surpise, three armored plated trucks exited Steve's mansion, all of them might carry the gold bricks. This was challenging as the crew did not know which truck to follow which contained the gold bricks. Charlie then instructed Lyle to determine which truck was travelling lower which means that the truck was with the bricks. With a wave of hand, the target was locked to one out of the three trucks, allowing the team to zero in on their target. The White Mini then went to the Metro Station to join the other Minis. Lyle then manupulated the traffic system and forced the truck to the Metro Station.



Lyle then signalled to Charlie and the 3 Minis zoomed to the underground station where they were going to bomb the road so that the truck is going to drop down and the crew would then have access to the safe. The execution was perfect and the Minis were soon loaded with the bricks which amounted to 27 million. The team was ecstatic and Lyle even cried out in joy in the Metro Station. However, the crew's laughter were shortlived as they were immediately caught by Steve's helicopter in hot pursuit.

Charlie then instructed Lyle to provide all the green lights for them to the train station. Charlie beckoned to Stella and Handsome Rob to return to the train station first while he decoyed Steve's helicopter away. Steve knew that Charlie was in the Blue Mini and followed Charlie. Charlie was then forced into a corner in a dunkyard. With excellent driving skills, Charlie broke free from Steve's pursuit and made a beeline to the train station. Steve's helicopter broke down and he hijacked a car and went after Charlie.

However, Steve arrived shortly at the train station shortly after Charlie. However, he was no match for the large numbers of guards supplied by Markov, Charlie's ally. Steve was then held at gunpoint and then dragged off by Markov's men to help out ath Markov's workplace.

Charlie and his gang succeeded in staging a revenge for John. Everyone had a fair share of the money. Left Ear bought a mansion in Spain with a whole room just dedicated for shoes. Handsome Rob bought an Aston Martin. Lyle bought a stereo which was his dream and the stereo was so loud that it can blow off clothes which people are wearing. Charlie and Stellafell in love with each other and spent their lives together.

Italian Job (Summary)

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for violence and some language

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Mos Def

Synopsis: The plan was flawless... the job was executed perfectly... the escape was clean. The only threat mastermind thief Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) never saw coming was from a member of his own crew.... The plan was flawless... the job was executed perfectly... the escape was clean. The only threat mastermind thief Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) never saw coming was from a member of his own crew. After pulling off an amazing gold bullion heist from a heavily guarded palazzo in Venice, Italy, Charlie and his gang -- inside man Steve (Edward Norton), computer genius Lyle (Seth Green), wheelman Handsome Rob (Jason Statham), explosives expert Left-Ear (Mos Def) and veteran safecracker John Bridger (Donald Sutherland) -- can't believe it when one of them turns out to be a double-crosser. Now the job isn't about the payoff, it's about payback!

Enter Stella (Charlize Theron), a beautiful nerves-of-steel safecracker, who joins Charlie and his former gang when they follow the backstabber to California, where they plan to re-steal the gold by tapping into Los Angeles' traffic control system, manipulating signals and creating one of the biggest traffic jams in L.A. history!

A contemporary update of Paramount's 1969 classic, "The Italian Job" features the ever-popular MINI Cooper in state-of-the-art chase scenes down Hollywood's Walk of Fame, through the Metro Rail tunnels and down narrow escape routes only the MINI can go. Full of twists, turns and exciting stunts with armored cars, motorcycles and helicopters, this action-packed thrill-ride takes audiences on wild curves they'll never see coming

Runtime: 110 minutes

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvj9vhA8ixY

Eight Below (Reflections)

I feel that this movie had showed us very vivid examples of two themes, loyalty and perseverance.

Loyalty was portrayed in the movie not only when the dogs were very loyal to Jerry and brought him back to base after the expedition even without Jerry's supervision and guidance as the dogs knew that their master was in danger and they ran as hard as they could back to the base to ensure Jerry and Dr McLaren's safety. The dogs also always hoped that Jerry would return and would not give up on them and when Jerry returned, they were quick on their noses and pick up Jerry's scent. Even after months of separation, the dogs were very loyal to be still able to find their daddy.

Perseverance was also a theme in the movie. During the months of separation, Jerry seized and tackled every opportunity to return back to the base, even though he knew that nobody would travel back to the Poles during the winter season and the chances were very slim. However, Jerry was adamant and tried all his means to gather support from others for a trip back to save his dogs.

The dogs also persevered during the months when they were on their own. They fought for their survival and devised many means get food for survival. They kept together as a team and worked hand in hand to catch birds for food and also fed on a whale. They braved difficult situations together such as being confronted by a tiger seal.

In conclusion, I feel that this movie is verytouching as it shows brotherhood and perseverance and I urge everyone to watch this excellent movie.

Eight Below (Review)

I feel that Eight Below is a very good movie and I really was touched during the end when the dogs came through alive. It all started when Dr McLaren arrived at the South Pole and wanted to have an expedition to a mountain in search of meteorites for his project. This was a very risky expedition as it was coming to the stormy season and the weather may not permit this travel. However, Dr McLaren was adamant on the trip and Jerry could only listen to his boss and they set off with the sled dogs on the expedition.

Dr McLaren had successfully found a rock which he believed very much that it was a meteorite dropped from the outer space. Smarting from his excellent discovery, Dr McLaren was upbeat but his happiness was soon wiped out when he suffered a fall and broke a leg. Jerry saved him from the cold waters and sacrifice his warmth by taking off his coat for Dr McLaren to wear to keep him warm. Jerry's hand suffered severe frostbite but they made it back to camp safely with the aid of the dogs, Maya, Buck, Shorty, Dewey, Truman, Max, Old Jack and Shadow.

The team receives intel that a heavy snowstorm is approaching and they were ordered to vacate their base and fly to McMurdo for the winter. However Katie's helicopter did not have enough room to bring the dogs back to McMurdo and Jerry was furious that his beloved dogs were not leaving with him. However, Jerry relented when he was promised that another plane would come back for the dogs.

When the team reaches McMurdo, Jerry was very upset at the news that the storm has set in and there would not be any more planes airborne. Jerry tried to ask Katie to secretly fly back to base to get the dogs but Katie assured him that the dogs would do fine and she cannot do anything for him. Jerry was devastated and he knew that he would have to wait for winter to pass before he can return to find his dogs.

In the meantime, the dogs broke free of the leashes bound to their necks after a few days of waiting for their daddy. However, Old Jack did not move as he was already very old and knew that he would not make it alive and so he stayed in the snow and was soon buried under a whte blanket. The others went on and they were led by Maya, the leader of the pack, to find food and maintain survival. During this course of a few months, the dogs stayed together as one and was always bearing the hope that Jerry would return to save them.

During this time, Jerry went back to his house in California and spent his time searching for people and resources to go back to South Pole. However, all his hard work were futile and Jerry was dejected that he would not be able to see all his dogs alive when he returns back to base after the winter season.

Jerry finally finds financial aid from Dr McLaren and the team reunites and sets off to the South Pole via different transports like helicopters and snow trucks. When the team arrived at their base, Jerry was upset to see that Old Jack had died and he presumed that the other dogs also suffered the same fate like Old Jack. However, Jerry was ecstatic to see 6 dogs dashing from afar to him. It was like the dream of his life, seeing the huskies emerging from the top of the hill. During the months, Truman also died after he fell from a hill.

Eight Below (Summary)

Rating: PG [See Full Rating] for some peril and brief mild language

Starring: Paul Walker, Bruce Greenwood, Moon Bloodgood, Jason Biggs

Synopsis: Inspired by a true story and the hit Japanese film NANKYOKU MONOGATARI, Frank Marshall's (ALIVE, CONGO) EIGHT BELOW captures a rugged world of ice, snow, and threatening weather that few will ever experience in person. As a guide for a National Science Foundation Research Base in Antarctica, Jerry Shepard (Paul Walker) is perfectly content to spend his time exploring the wilderness with his sled dogs and goofing around with his best buddy, cartographer Charlie Cooper (Jason Biggs). Then UCLA geologist Davis McLaren (Bruce Greenwood) arrives at the camp with plans for a risky expedition: treacherous ice fields make his target destination accessible only by dog sled so late in the season. Soon Shepard, McLaren and the sled dogs--Maya, Max, Old Jack, Buck, Shorty, Dewey, Shadow, and Truman--are on their way in search of McLaren's prize: a meteorite from Mercury. Unfortunately, an approaching storm forces Shepard and McLaren to return to base early. The return trip proves life-threatening, but the dogs pull through, saving both Shepard and McLaren from certain death. The storm also forces the scientists to leave the research center earlier than planned, and there's no room on board bush pilot Katie's (Moon Bloodgood) plane for the dogs. With the promise that someone will return for them immediately, Shepard leaves his beloved dogs behind. Soon, however, it becomes apparent that the weather has made a return trip impossible. Can the dogs survive in the Antarctic wilderness on their own, or will Shepard get back in time to save them? The dogs emerge as the most intriguing characters in the story, each exhibiting a distinct personality and fierce loyalty. The other major player is the wilderness itself, a beautiful, mysterious world that is rarely depicted on film.

Runtime: 120 minutes

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXkoGlxVbLY

Coach Carter (Review)

Throughout the movie, there were quite a few themes which the movie was trying to portray. Firstly, the movie was trying to portray violence and the use of bad language. The basketball players in the team were quite abusive with their language use. For example, when they met their new coach, Coach Carter. They labelled him the preacher man with his tie on and a nigger. These words were very abusive and should not be used as others may be insulted. Before Coach Carter took over the team, the team always fought with other teams and there were many conflicts between the teammates. After Coach Carter took over the team, he enforced certain rules like being punctual for classes and trainings etc and made the players sign contracts. The teenagers slowly changed for the better and had a better attitude.

The theme of brotherhood was also brought up in this movie. When one of the players, Timo Cruz, was banished by Coach Carter for severe misconduct and was kicked out of the team, Timo wanted very much to re-enter the team but Carter meted out a severe punishment of physical work. Timo could not finish in time and was not allowed back into the team. However, the others wanted very much to have an extra player in the team and so as a team, they helped Timo complete the rest of his punishment for him to get back into the team. "One person struggle, we all struggle. One person triumph, we all triumph." was what one of the players said which made all the others follow him and help Timo. This is a great example of team bondedness and brotherhood.

The theme of "sex" was also brought up. In this movie, one of the basketball players was hooked up with a girlfriend from his school. They behave intimately and later the girl was pregnant. The player was responsible for his actions but he supported the idea of an abortion as he was enlighten by his basketball coach and knew that this was not the correct path as they were still very young and would certainly have no means of supporting the baby. I feel that his decision was very mature as compared to his past actions with the girl and it should be better if the baby was aborted as the time was not right.

There was a quote in the movie which really caught me. "Our deepest is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frighten us. Your playing small does not serve the world there was nothing enlighten about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine like children do. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same as we are liberated from our own fear. Our presence automatically liberates others."

The scene was really heartwarming as all his players stood up for him although the coach was fired from service. Timo finally realised what his mistakes were and what his coach had been trying to teach him, to teach the whole team. He says that everyone has an equal chance and when you are succeeding, you are also giveing others the opportunity to do the same. Although they were very notorious in the past, they were still special and shone like all children do. The link to this video is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkdgK3adrmw

'Coach Carter' is one of my favourite movies and really has a lot meaning to this film. I really encourage everyone to watch it as you would really be very touched and I hope to have a chance to showcase this movie to my classmates.

Coach Carter (Summary)

Rated: PG-13 for violence, sexual content, language, teen partying and some drug material. (However, I find that it is still a good show)

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Ri'chard, Rob Brown, Debbi Morgan

Synopsis:
In the movie, Jackson portrays real-life figure Ken Carter, who graduated from... In the tradition of LEAN ON ME and DANGEROUS MINDS comes COACH CARTER, an inspirational drama starring Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson portrays real-life figure Ken Carter, who graduated from California's Richmond High only to return there years later, in 1999, and take over as head coach of the boys' basketball team. Unfortunately, the troubled school he remembered as a teenager is an even more insufferable place in his adulthood. Determined to make a change in his players' lives, Carter makes each young man sign a contract that ensures he will maintain a 2.3 GPA, attend every class, and wear a jacket and tie on game day. Of course, the players reject the contract at first, but when they realize that they don't have any other choice, they give in. And when it appears that their tough-as-nails coach is actually turning them into winners on the court, they embrace their coach's philosophy even further. But when Coach Carter receives the incomprehensibly awful progress reports of his players, he does the unthinkable: he benches the entire team.COACH CARTER is a sensitive drama that features an impassioned performance by Jackson, as well as the impressive young cast.

Runtime: 2 hrs 16 mins

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOFhHEepF4s