We are back...

      Turn off the lights. Pay attention. Look at the screen. Welcome back.

Something to think about: women in films

We'll give you the link to a fantastic article about women in film. Why women, especially the latest action films, have to be strong? Why men are strong by "default" and women aren't, so that we have to be amazed when we see one? These questions are brought up in this fantastic article by Sophia McDougall in The New Statesman. 

http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2013/08/i-hate-strong-female-characters

Have a look, it is worth it. 

#SecretCinema: #StarWars The Empire Strikes Back

One of the greatest experiences we ever had. You enter into the world of Star Wars and you have to undertake very important missions! While you wait for your ship to take you to the world of "Star Wars Episode V", you are going to walk in the city of Tatooine and in the Death Star. You will encounter Darth Vador, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca...and many others! 

These are the last days for #SecretCinema #StarWars so we HEAVILY recommend: GET your tickets straight away Londoners! It is the worth the price, it is worth the adventure! Go for it, it is simply stunning. 

A little bit of fun...

Outtakes are part of any filming process, and sometimes they are hilarious. We share with you this best-of of cinema outtakes for this Sunday. Enjoy!

More music to Red Curtain's playlist!

We opened the music playlist and only saw dust! We cleant it and added a few more beautiful music scores. Hope you enjoy it!

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (Bad,2/5)

An already familiar tale told through the eyes of an unconfident and uninteresting teenager. A very strange film.

Another story of a teenager dying from a disease. Another foreseeable movie ending. The Fault in Our Stars rings a bell to you? We all know what is going to happen, however it is the trip to that ending that matters. Is it going to be moving? Is it going to be funny? Is it going to be dull? All those questions went through our head whilst watching this film. The film is very good at something: at being indecisive. It surely wanted to reflect the main character's personality of Greg, portrayed decently by Thomas Mann. At a first glance he has none but then it changes. Perhaps this is the strongest aspect of the film: while we discover a complexity and depth, the movie starts to be more mature in its focus and storytelling. That was pretty original. However it is a shame that the other characters (especially Earl) are deeply superficial. Even our dear Dying Girl (Olivia Cooke) does not make us feel sympathy or empathy. Simply nothing. That's a low point for a dramatic film.

Another strength of the film is in the technical part. Very fresh cinematography by Chung hoon Chung with a very special attention to colors. Also the music by the genius Brian Eno is an essential plus to it. A shame they are not able to save the film. Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and screenwriter Jesse Andrews forgot to give a stronger personality to the characters and to the relationship between the Dying Girl and Greg. We observe it but we don't feel anything. There's definitely something wrong. It only starts to shine at the end. The end is definitely the best part (we would even dare to say that they made a whole film just to get to the well-done ending).

One the film ended, we did not understand the whole critical acclaim with this film. It has certain freshness and originality but lacks of soul. What is originality without a soul? Something forgettable. This is what this film is: easily forgettable. A shame because there were good ideas dancing around the camera but we left the cinema pretty indifferent. Our advice? Just watch the end, forget the rest.


Trailer: 

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (3/5, Regular)

Agent Ethan Hunt is back to face new bad guys and, with no surprise, they are being more dangerous and scary! In proportion to that, Ethan Hunt undertakes crazier tasks and stunts! Very entertaining. 

Tom Cruise decided to continue with the saga that gave him success. This new Mission Impossible is much better than its predecessor (or even MI2) because it doesn't suffer from long and boring scenes. This movie goes really fast as Tom Cruise (as an actor and as a producer) knows that people don't have much time to have fun. Therefore his recipe is unbreakable: action, action, a simple and square story and...more action! Does it work? Oh yes. 

The main quality resides in the action scenes. They are very impressive and they try to be as accurate as they can. Many action films today seek refuge with CGI whereas Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation continues with the traditional real stunts. The first scene is already very impressive. Not even to mention the last one. The other advantage of this film is that it blends the different qualities from the previous Mission Impossible movies. They learned how to shoot a good action sequence and how to build a good spy story. 

Final words? This is a very good action film. Don't expect too much of it (we read a review for this film saying 'very informative' ...what?! ) otherwise you will be disappointed. Let yourself go with this new mission , apparently impossible, for Ethan Hunt ( terrible acting from Tom Cruise, as usual) and his new buddies to save the world. 

#CinemaIsAction: free online films about social change

This is a great website showing the commitment that can exist between cinema and social change. It is a recommended one. Have a look at this website Films for Action

                                                http://www.filmsforaction.org/walloffilms/

Gone Girl (4/5, Good)

Anyone who already saw a David Fincher film knows that it won't be soft. He likes to tell twisted and dark stories. You thought that Gone Girl was an exception? You're wrong.

What's the story then? On the day of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) finds his home vandalized. Front door open, a broken glass table, suspicious red stains on the wall and his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike) missing. He calls the police and an investigation is led by detective Rhonda Buney (Kim Dickens). Whilst a media fuzz around this disappearance entertains America, suspicions with Nick's innocence arouse. Did he kill his wife? What happened to her? The answer to those questions will reveal more than anyone could ever imagine.

The narrative is efficient at manipulating the viewer. We ask ourselves many questions and Fincher knows how to play with us. He is taking us through a dark path and doesn't hesitate to make us feel uneasy and lost. That is definitely the strongest pillar of this film. The soundtrack, marking the third collaboration with Trent Reznor (NIN) and Atticus Ross, is also to be praised for.

The story, despite many flaws, achieves to grab elements relative to a Fincher's film: characters who wonder if they live in a dream or a nightmare, deeply rooted impulses which takes over rationality and 'outsiders' who aren't able to integrate to society. The concept of 'outsider' as someone who plays with norms and accepted social behaviors is a constant in a Fincher film. If in Fight Club consumption society and individualism was put into criticism, here the Media and information are targeted.

We recommend the film, especially if you are Fincher's fan. Red Curtain Cinema assures you strong emotions and suspense. However it does not reach the level of powerful films such as Fight Club or The Social Network. In addition to this, this is definitely not a dating movie. Au revoir! 



Movie trailer: 

Another weekend, new Movie songs!

A new weekend lies ahead. A new homage to a genre that is slowly dying.



Nostalgics:


Chad Kroeger feat. Josey Scott- Hero (from the movie Spiderman (2002))

This is not the new trash which Sony developed a few years ago with 'The Amazing Spiderman'. This is Sam Raimi's version and for me, one of the best Spiderman features ever (especially its sequel). Why is it nostalgic? Pop songs like these are something from the past.



Michael Jackson- Will you be there? (from the movie Free Willy (1993))

Could you believe that Michael Jackson wrote this song specially for Free Willy? This family drama was apparently, one of Jackson's favorite (for some, that would not be surprising). Many of us liked that film ( Red Curtain Cinema admits that they bought many tickets to see it in the cinema) but the song is definitely the best outcome. The gospel touch along with the sad tone of Jackson's makes you remember an old friendship.



Rockers :


U2- Hold me, Thrill me, Kiss Me, Kill me (from the movie Batman Forever (1995))

The movie was crap (but quite good compared to Batman and Robin (1997)). This dark song is not one's of most famous U2 songs and still, it is one of their best. The Edge with his powerful guitar and riffs gives life to the darkness of Batman and the city of Gotham.

See the brilliant videoclip here: http://vimeo.com/66321792




Limp Bizkit- Take a look around (from the movie Mission Impossible 2 (2000))

Most teenagers of the 1990s will recognize that they loved this song. It is impossible to imagine today that a new-wave song would promote a blockbuster such as Mission Impossible. Nevertheless the formula worked and both the song and movie were a hit.



Romantics: A short note for you guys. You wouldn't imagine how many romantic songs exist out there. Red Curtain Cinema cannot put all of them in here- unless you demand it- so sneak around and romantic songs will find you!




Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey-When you believe (from the movie Prince of Egypt (1999))

Dreamworks thought about gathering two of the biggest pop-stars of all time for promoting their brand new feature. Two huge voices singing a song about hope. The result? A success.



Seal- Kiss from a rose (from the movie Batman Forever (1995))

Wait...there was a song for this movie already right? Well, for marketing reasons, Warner Bros. decided to put forward a 'romantic' side of Batman (with charming Val Kilmer and sexy Nicole Kidman). It is so far one of Seal's biggest hit.




Dreamers:



Israel Kamakawiwo- Somewhere over the rainbow/What a wonderful world (from the movie Meet Joe Black (1998)

This box-office flop ( you bet, Brad Pitt playing...Death!) gave one of the best covers for two classic songs. The soundtrack, signed by Thomas Newman (American Beauty) is also brilliant. We recommend it.



Enya-Only time (from the movie Sweet November (2001))

This is a movie for people who really don't have anything else ( at all) to watch. The song is what gives a a higher emotional impacts in certain scenes. Despite the song wasn't written especially for the movie, it is its main theme. Let you be taken by Enya's voice.




Lebo M- He lives in you (from the movie The Lion King II: Simba's pride (1998))

Great song. Powerful voices and interesting sound. Too bad this song is not well-known. It reaches the level of incredible songs such as 'The Circle of Life' in the previous movie. Worth it.




Bonus song: Pharrell Williams-Happy (from the movie Despicable Me II (2013))

A disappearing genre? Let's hope not. Music and movies fit so well together. Otherwise, the most important is just to be happy.

Movie songs for the weekend

Finally it's the weekend and we need to clear our heads from this crazy world. Some will want to rock the weekend, some others to chill. Red Curtain Cinema gives you a taste for different moods!


 For Rockers:

• The Ramones-Pet Sematary (for the movie Pet Sematary (1989))

The greatest punk band of all times came up with this big hit for a terrible horror movie. This song is actually more scary than the movie.

• Survivor- The eye of the tiger (for the movie Rocky III) 

Feel like smashing something? Just push play and Survivor will tell you how to give a good punch like Rocky. 

For the 80's lovers:

• Ray Parker Jr.- Ghostbusters (for the movie Ghostbusters (1984))

This song was made to be in this list. This song IS the 1980s. That was definitely the kind of commercial music that was made by then. Enjoy ....oh and you know who to call!

• Huey Lewis and the News- The power of love (for the movie Back to the Future (1985))

What a good song! It has been reported when Back to the Future had its theatrical re-release in 2010, people were dancing to this song in the cinemas. You can do the same, just ask the projectionist in your local cinema to put this tune through the speakers.  

• Simple Minds- Don't you forget about me (for the movie Breakfast Club(1985)) 

Who would forget Simple Minds? Also, who would forget those rebels at school? Actually, who can forget the 1980s? Play it loud!


For the Romantics:

• Aerosmith- I don't want to miss a thing (for the movie Armagedon (1998))

 Aerosmith's biggest hit so far (and ironically, the only song they haven't written). Any romantic person born in the 1990s knows this song. Just dance to it with the person you like, a kiss will come afterwards.

• Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova-Falling Slowly (for the movie Once (2006)).

Actually this song is pretty sad but romantic as well. This Oscar winning song was written for a low-budget movie telling a simple love story. Let the sweet voices and melody take you. 

For the Dreamers:

• Lisa Gerrard (feat. Hans Zimmer)- Now we are free (for the movie Gladiator (2000)) 

Close your eyes and let Lisa Gerrard tell you a story back in time. An incredible soundtrack (by Hans Zimmer) with many Asian and African influences. Turn the lights off and dream. 

• Lebo M (feat. Hans Zimmer)- The Journey-Kopano part III (for the movie Tears of the Sun (2003))

Curious song in a bad movie. Lebo M ( yes, the same guy singing at the beginning of the Lion King) singing for peace in Africa. There is sweetness and sadness in his voice. Powerful.



Bonus song:          Michael J. Fox- Johnny B. Goode (guess which movie) 

We have to end this post with a good song. Next weekend, another post for movie soundtracks! Rock'n roll guys.