Kate Beckinsale is once again reprising her role as Selene the Death Dealer in Underworld: Awakening, the fourth film in the Underworld franchise. Screen Gems has released this first trailer of the upcoming film which is coming to theaters on January 20th, 2012 in both 2D and 3D. And who doesn’t want to see more of Beckinsale in her tight black vinyl suit and in 3D no less? Rumors are swirling that Scott Speedman will also be joining the cast but who knows if that will happen.

Director: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein
Written by: Len Wiseman, John Hlavin, Allison Burnett, J. Michael Straczynski
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea, Michael Ealy, Theo James, India Eisley, Charles Dance

Synopsis: Selene escapes imprisonment and finds herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.

So what do you think of this trailer? Does it look like more of the same? Or will this movie be as good as the others?

Underworld Trivia

The model for the Selene character was the psychic vampire of the Hellfire Club in the X-Men comics, the Black Queen Selene.

Kate Beckinsale first met future husband Len Wiseman on the set of Underworld.

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Disney’s Tangled is one of my favorite Disney movies. It’s Disney’s 50th animated film, it’s cute, funny, cool and has one of my favorite songs in it too. “I See the Light” sang by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi is one of those songs that make your eyes water and shine with happiness. It’s a popular wedding song too from what I hear. It also makes me want to bust out the karaoke machine and start singing from the rooftops. I’ve included the song lyrics so you can sing along… because I know you’ll want to. It’s just one of those songs. Enjoy the video!

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“I See the Light” Lyrics

All those days watching from the windows
All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing
Just how blind I’ve been
Now I’m here, blinking in the starlight
Now I’m here, suddenly I see
Standing here, it’s all so clear
I’m where I’m meant to be

And at last I see the light
And it’s like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it’s like the sky is new
And it’s warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once everything looks different
Now that I see you

Eugene (Flynn):
All those days chasing down a daydream
All those years living in a blur
All that time never truly seeing
Things, the way they were

Now she’s here shining in the starlight
Now she’s here, suddenly I know
If she’s here it’s crystal clear
I’m where I’m meant to go

Rapunzel & Eugene (Flynn):
And at last I see the light

Eugene (Flynn):
And it’s like the fog has lifted

Rapunzel & Eugene (Flynn):
And at last I see the light

Rapunzel:
And it’s like the sky is new

Rapunzel & Eugene (Flynn):
And it’s warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once, everything is different
Now that I see you, now that I see you

I’m not a huge Bradley Cooper fan, but I have to give him an A+ for this movie. I wasn’t expecting much from this film and watched it out of boredom more than anything else and I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. The cinematography was very unique in the way it portrayed how the drug made you “see” the world. It was almost as if the cinematographer wanted you to “see through” the clear pill that was NZT as if you were holding it up to your eye. It’s a neat concept, to think what your life could be like if you could use 100% of your brain at the same time. The main character Eddie (Bradley Cooper) is one entertaining slacker turned whiz kid. Limitless is definitely a fun film to watch and The Scribe’s Desk gives it 3.5 loupes out of 5.

Did You Know?: Limitless is based on the 2001 novel The Dark Fields by Alan Glynn? Don’t you just love books on film?

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***THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!***

The definition of a social issue film is defined as a narrative film that merges a certain social conflict into the lives of its characters. The social issue genre film has its roots in the 1930’s and 40’s, so it has been around a very long time and chances are you’ve seen one before. Yet you haven’t seen one like One Hour Fantasy Girl, a film written and directed by Edgar Michael Bravo and produced by No Restrictions Entertainment.

This is a movie based on a true story which makes the bleakness and the reality of it have that much more impact. It’s definitely a look at the darker side of life in an honest, and at times, extremely unflinching way.

Brandi/Becky is a 20 year old woman who has a dream of investing in real estate as a way to improve her situation. Tired of struggling to get by, she gets an offer from a friend (who becomes her pimp) to make some “easy” money as ‘a by the hour fantasy girl’ where she fulfills any fantasy one might have, as long as you can pay her fee and as long as there is no sex or kissing. It’s pretty straight forward but it doesn’t mean that it is pretty. As a fantasy girl no fantasy is off limits, and pleasing the client is paramount if you want repeat clientele. Everything has a price, and there is a price for everything. One Hour Fantasy Girl makes that aphorism really hit home.

There is a desolate truth and a certain honesty to Becky’s story that evokes sympathy for her, yet it’s not as if she spends her time making you feel sorry for her. She is a strong and determined woman — she had to be strong to withstand the things she learned about people and not run screaming from the room and descend into insanity. But she is a survivor of child sexual abuse and anyone who can survive that has strength.

There is a quote in the movie that stood out to me. “When you have discipline you make something of yourself.” Becky had such discipline. It was apparent in everything she did and every decision she makes until she lets emotion cloud her foresight. Even we are duped by a sense of safety in the film so that when a betrayal occurs we feel it just as keenly as Becky does. We feel just as much impotent anger as Becky does. And in the end it is made so clearly evident that so often in a life like Becky’s there is little one can do to get any sense of justice. All you can do is keep going. It is also made keenly apparent in a life like hers, emotions get you in trouble and they dull your instinct. Blocking the need to feel, which is a luxury in itself, is probably the biggest obstacle Becky must overcome. It is why being cold and emotionless if you are a fantasy girl is not just a necessity, it really is survival.

The film demonstrates instances of kindness and then shocking cruelty. There is a real sense throughout the film that something is going to go wrong to derail Becky’s pursuit of her dream, but what that obstacle is you just don’t know. There are many forms a problem could take in this movie. Danger can and does come so suddenly and unexpectedly when you stray from the acceptable forms of society’s morality; but this is the harsh reality for some people. To stray is the only choice they have, to do the unpalatable in order to escape the lurid state that is their life to hopefully somewhere better in the future.

There were definitely moments in the film that made me so uncomfortable that it made me squirm. The bleakness of Becky’s journey to a freedom that seems unattainable is at times harsh and not easy to watch. But that is what makes One Hour Fantasy Girl so intensely effective. It’s adept at making you grateful for your own situation in life because it really could be much worse. It is a film that makes you think, and isn’t that what a social issue film should do?

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Who didn’t love Dirty Dancing? Who didn’t root for Baby and her love Johnny from the other side of the tracks? Who didn’t rejoice when they did the final dance and really did look like they had the time of their life? This is one of my favorite movies of all times and whenever I hear this song I can’t help but be happy. I hope you enjoy this pick for Music Monday!

Here it is, “Time of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes from the movie Dirty Dancing starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Both the song and movie are classics that never, ever get old.

I've Had The Time Of My Life by Discodandan

“Time of My Life” Lyrics

Now I’ve had the time of my life
No I never felt like this before
Yes I swéar it’s the truth
and I owe it all to you
‘Cause I’ve had the time of my life
and I owe it all to you
I’ve been waiting for so long
Now I’ve finally found someone
To stand by me
We saw the writing on the wall
As we felt this magical
Fantasy
Now with passion in our eyes
There’s no way we could disguise it
Secretly
So we take each others hand
‘Cause we seem to understand
The urgency just remember
You’re the one thing
I can’t get enough of
So I’ll tell you something
This could be love because

CHORUS:

I’ve had the time of my life
No I never felt this way beforeYes I swear it’s the truth
And I owe it all to you
With my body and soul
I want you more than you’ll ever know
So we’ll just let it go
Don’t be afraid to lose control
Yes I know what’s on your mind
When you say “Stay with me
tonight.” Just remember
You’re the one thing I can’t get enough of
So I’ll tell you something
This could be love because

CHORUS

‘Cause I’ve had the time of my life
And I’ve searched through every open door
Till I’ve found the truth
and I owe it all to you

CHORUS

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