March 06, 2007

FILM: Bridge To Terabithia

by Jack Garner
Dated: February 16, 2007
SOURCE: The Democrat & Chronicle

To steal a phrase from famed child psychologist Bruno Bettelheim, Bridge to Terabithia is a children's tale that demonstrates "the uses of enchantment." In Terabithia, two childhood friends share their imaginations to create a fantasy world where they can better understand the challenges and complexities of their young lives.

For the full article, click here.

This is the kind of film that Hollywood almost never makes anymore. A real positive kind of movie. -ed.

Posted by andrewanissi at 10:33 AM | Comments (0)

November 05, 2006

Cool Animation

This is a very well done animation.

Posted by andrewanissi at 04:31 PM | Comments (0)

February 28, 2006

Eastman Film Company Created First Commercial Motion Picture Ever

On March 26, 1885, the Eastman Film Company manufactured the first commercial motion picture in the world.

I would save this little bit of information to print on March 26 of this year, but I'm putting it up now in case it slips my mind.

Posted by andrewanissi at 01:06 PM

February 22, 2006

FILM: Unknown White Male

SCREENING:

Friday, February 24, 2006
Loews Village 7
3rd Avenue and 11th New York, NY
1-800-FANDANGO #780
Presented by Shooting People

IMAGINE waking up and
not knowing who you are.

IMAGINE that every memory of your life
had been wiped and no one knew why.

IMAGINE having to meet your family and
closest friends and rediscover your world.

It happened to Douglas Bruce.
And we filmed it.

UNKNOWN

WHITE

MALE

An extraordinary documentary

If you lost your past
would you want it back?

Posted by andrewanissi at 05:13 PM

December 18, 2005

FILM REVIEW: Bell, Book, and Candle

by Andrew A. Anissi

Bell, Book, and Candle (1958), starring Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak

I've been a fan of Jimmy Stewart ever since I saw Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, but Bell, Book, and Candle touches on a theme of particular interest to me. Stewart's character is a publisher in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, who moves into a new apartment which is downstairs from a mischievous witch, and upstairs from a beautiful and sexy other witch, played by Kim Novak. As the witches get interested in him, their destinies become tied together, with the help of a little magick, but the witches soon find out, as America already knows, that Jimmy Stewart is too swell of a guy to be the victim of their spellcasting. This is a very nice film for any pagan romantics out there. And for any fans of the actors, in the same year Bell, Book, and Candle was made, Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak were also together in Alfred Hitchcock's film, Vertigo.

Posted by andrewanissi at 02:34 AM

October 03, 2005

Shining in a New Light

Have you seen Stanley Kubrick's The Shining? Were you terrified and emotionally scarred aftewards? Or did you think it was a heart-warming family film that touches us deeply? Click on this link for a new trailer that seems to indicate the latter:

http://www.ps260.com/molly/SHINING%20FINAL.mov

Posted by andrewanissi at 11:24 AM

August 04, 2005

Rendezvous Racer: The most reckless, irresponsible film you’ll ever see

Click the picture to watch the movie.

Or so a quote goes about a 9-minute short film called “C’était un Rendezvous” in which a man drives like a maniac through the streets of 1970’s Paris with only an engine roaring and tires squealing for a soundtrack. The single-shot film, made in 1976 by French director Claude Lelouch, employs no special effects and was created using only a front bumper-mounted camera. No one knows what type of car was used or whether Lelouch was the actual driver. The legend goes that at the film’s first screening the director was arrested on the spot and after that the film went underground. It has since resurfaced and been restored and is now even available on DVD. Or you could just go here to watch the whole thing. Search for “Rendezvous Racer” on the main page and enjoy.

Posted by andrewanissi at 12:34 PM

May 21, 2005

FILM REVIEW: Star Wars, Episode III

This film was not even good enough for me to attach a picture here.

When I saw Star Wars, Episode III, I felt a great pity for the young generation, and all the lack of talent surrounding the art they are exposed to. The writing was absolutely horrendous, especially the dialogue. Anakin's transformation to the dark side was completely stupid and unbelieveable, and
the emperor was weak and pathetic. Most of the movie consisted of light sabre duels, and the dialogue was purely functional, giving information rather than presenting human interaction and emotion. In fact, I don't think the dialogue is even copyrightable, because it lacks the requisite modicum of creativity.

George Lucase clearly lost his soul about 20 years ago, and he is now a really awful director. I've never directed a film before, but I am confident that I could make a better movie on my first try.
Watching Episode III made me feel as though the movie was made as part of a junior high school project, and then was sent it to post production to add all the special effects, before theatrical distribution. I can't imagine how a writer and director could be that unimaginative and lame.

Posted by andrewanissi at 12:58 PM

April 29, 2005

FILM :: FAVELA RISING

Saturday April 29, @4pm
Stuyvesant High School
(1,2,3,9, to chambers st.....just walk west on
chambers and you'll be there!)

Director's Statement: Jeff Zimbalist

My close friend and co-filmmaker Matt Mochary called me on the phone from a shantytown in Brazil. He told me to pack my bags because he’d found the story we’d been searching for. A week earlier, I’d sat with Matt at a Mexican bar in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and expressed my wish for more nonfiction stories in the news, television, and theaters about communities that succeed, that overcome great adversity, that unite and reach and achieve. In short – communities that work.

Continue reading "FILM :: FAVELA RISING"

Posted by andrewanissi at 12:09 PM | Comments (0)

April 14, 2005

FILM REVIEW: Palindromes

Review by: Andrew A. Anissi

In his first three features, Happiness, Storytelling, and Welcome to the Dollhouse, director Todd Solondz has taught us to love rape, child rape, masturbating telephone stalkers, and other wacky and fun activities. Solondz's fourth feature film, Palindromes, is just as hilariously disturbing as a Solondz fan could hope for.

Continue reading "FILM REVIEW: Palindromes"

Posted by andrewanissi at 12:01 PM | Comments (0)