In recent years, films have begun to move from the theater to our home screens far more quickly. This is largely thanks to the improved streaming options offered by cable providers and the different services, such as Netflix and On Demand, that tend to show brand new movies. This means that the films that are in theaters today will be available in a matter of just a couple of months, if not sooner, for you to watch at home with the click of a button. So, with this in mind, here is a brief review of the massive undertaking “Immortals” which is one of the hotter topics in Hollywood right now.

“Immortals” director Tarsem Singh gave a rather confident interview not long before the release of his epic action/adventure film, and seemed to be criticizing both “300” and “Clash of the Titans” both of which are inevitably compared to “Immortals”. Singh did acknowledge that were it not for the visual style of “300” his film would not have happened, or at least wouldn’t look the way that it does.  However, he also seemed to imply that “300” and “Clash of the Titans” were less mature than his film, and that they were childish versions of the same idea. Singh bluntly supports the realistic nature of his film’s violence and firmly declared that a violent battle scene should look real and horrifying.

Singh’s opinions are interesting to consider when actually watching “Immortals” which does indeed set itself apart from its predecessors in certain mature ways. For example, Mickey Rourke, who plays the part of the antagonist in King Hyperion (who seeks to destroy the gods by taking over Greece and releasing the Titans), is horrifyingly quick to violence and should send chills down most audience members’ backs. Additionally, much of the blood and violence in “Immortals” is displayed more vividly than in similarly themed movies from the past. If Singh was shooting for making the “R” version of the epic film, he certainly succeeded.

Unfortunately, once you get past visual display and violence, “Immortals” doesn’t have much to offer. The film is essentially about the journey of Theseus, a young Greek man with elite fighting skill who finds himself leading the resistance to King Hyperion in an effort to avenge his mother and fulfill tasks placed upon him by the gods. There are certainly epic elements to the story, and the interplay between gods and mortals can be very engaging to follow. However, Singh seems to have been so focused on establishing his wonderful visuals that the actual story of his movie was at many points lost in its own epic quality. “Immortals” is entertaining and contains original elements, but lacks the storytelling quality of, say, “300”.

Content provided by Anthony Bradshaw

Every year there are those movies that we never seem to notice or hear much about and for one reason or another they seem to slip under the radar and dwell in the land of cinema obscurity. This is a shame since sometimes these kinds of movies deserve more than to sit and gather dust in the annals of film. Here are a few flicks I thought to be worthy of viewing if you need a break from the usual fare.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

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Based on the bestselling 2005 novel by Lisa See this movie virtually came and went without a flutter since it had the same opening day as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (July 15th, 2011) which just happens to be one of THE most epic movies of all time. The film is an unconventional love story about two Chinese women over the span of their lifetimes. Set in the 19th century the two women develop a secret language to communicate with each other and though they are very different from one another their friendship runs deep. Beautifully filmed and well worth the watching.

All Good Things

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Ryan Gosling is definitely having a break out couple years and his name seems to be on the lips of everyone these days and he could even be an Oscar contender one day soon (Have you heard of a little George Clooney production called The Ides of March?). Kirsten Dunst also seems to be a name we’re hearing a lot of these days and with her next role in Melancholia with Alexander Skarsgard one might even say she’s having a come back. In All Good Things Dunst effortlessly portrays Katie Marks, a woman who once led a carefree and happy existence. This all changes when her once doting husband David Marks starts losing it and begins to beat and terrorize her.

Set in New York during the 80′s this film is somewhat creepy thanks to Gosling’s and Frank Langella’s performance, yet it is deceivingly mundane at the same time and during the whole film you will feel a sick sense of foreboding. This film is based on  true events. It’s about a woman named Kathleen McCormack who goes missing in 1982. Her wealthy yet mentally unstable husband Robert Durst, who is heir to a real estate dynasty, was suspected of her disappearance but was never tried. Kathie is still missing to this day. Believe it or not, All Good Things is a murder mystery romance. Weird combo, yes, but it’s actually a fairly gripping movie and both Dunst and Gosling are superb. Even weirder is the fact that the real life Robert Durst actually likes the film. Well worth watching.

One Day

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Anne Hathaway is the current reigning America’s sweetheart and Jim Sturgess is one helluva likeable guy. This is one of those films about two people who belong together but just can’t get it together. The thing is we know it and we want them to be together and it’s frustrating that they just can’t seem to get their acts together. Based on the novel of the same name this movie has date night written all over it and it’s another movie that’s well worth watching.

What other recent movies did you see that slid under the radar that are well worth watching?

I’ve been waiting for this series for almost a year. Finally Camelot is coming to CBC Canada on Tuesday, September 13th, 2011! And you know what that means, right? That’s right! The Scribe’s Desk will be reviewing Camelot! Hooray! Check out the series promo below (I couldn’t get the CBC promo which is awesome BTW to embed for the life of me!) and don’t forget to mark your calendars.

ΩPhoto Credit

This is a photo of Anne Boleyn I haven't seen before. Have you? She looks very young here, a time of halcyon days, before the terror of her days as queen.

Today marks the 475th anniversary of Anne Boleyn’s death by the sword of the executioner. Did you know she was maybe 35 at the time of her death? The exact date of her birth is unknown and is placed as being sometime between the years of 1501 and 1507. She was still a young woman with her whole life ahead of her. Henry’s decision to execute Anne left Elizabeth, who wasn’t quite 3 when her mother was killed by the command of her ruthless father, motherless. I still find it so sad that Anne’s death was pointless. All of Henry’s worries were for naught. Elizabeth was the the greatest ruler England has ever known. It is so sad that Anne’s life was wasted just because Henry tired of her.

As I watch my Youngling play in the golden afternoon sunshine, laughing and playing and carefree, I find myself thinking about Anne Boleyn. Did she have enough halcyon days just enjoying the sunshine? Did she ever enjoy Elizabeth just for being born a thriving healthy baby? Did she get a chance to just be with her child and bask in the wonderment of motherhood? Or was every moment tarnished by her fear of her impending doom and the wrath of Henry? Did she spend every moment scheming and playing the game of thrones and kings and power?

Part of me thinks she was so obsessed with her quest to become queen, keep Henry bound to her, and protect herself and her position from those who would see her destroyed that she never had a moment’s peace. For certain her last thoughts were of Henry. Some of her final words were of Henry, “…but I pray God save the king and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord…” I wonder what her thoughts were of her only living child? The daughter she was leaving behind; the daughter that had caused Henry so much disappointment just because she was born female. I can’t even begin to imagine Anne’s sorrow knowing she would never see Elizabeth grow to womanhood. How proud Anne would have been of her brave, smart and wily girl.

It makes me sad to think that Anne might not have enjoyed the simple and most important things in life once she became queen. Whenever I think of the saying, be careful what you wish for, Anne Boleyn and her saga goes through my mind.

Anne Boleyn’s execution took place May 19th, 1536 at 8 o’clock in the morning and was the first public execution of an English queen.

Anne Boleyn was known as The Most Happy. I wonder if she was? Maybe she was, for a time. I hope she has found happiness now, where ever she might be.

A young Elizabeth. Does she look like Anne?

Anne Boleyn_Queen of England

Do you think Elizabeth resembles Anne?

Elizabeth Tudor_Queen of England

“Reading will end poverty. Free education for all.” ~ Kimani N’gan’ga Maruge, The First Grader

Have you ever wanted something that would change your life that should never have been placed beyond your reach in the first place? Can you imagine for a moment being 84 and not knowing how to read? What would you do? This is the premise for the remarkable film The First Grader, directed by Justin Chadwick and based on a true story.

Kimani N’gan’ga Maruge is an 84 year old veteran Mau Mau freedom fighter who lives in a village in Kenya, Africa. When the Kenyan government declares that it will offer free education for all, Maruge decides that he will finally get the education that was denied him. He decides to go to First Grade at an isolated primary school so that he can learn to read. Once, he fought for his country’s right for freedom from colonialism. Now he will defend his right to learn to read.

The First Grader (2010) - Oliver Litondo as Kimani N'gan'ga Maruge

When I heard that I was going to be speaking with Justin Chadwick about his movie The First Grader, I was elated. I knew that a movie like this needed to be handled with a sensitivity and an honesty devoid of a loud and ostentatious manner. After seeing the film, I knew that Chadwick had told a story of not only…[Read more...]