Rhona Mitra

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What?

A lethal virus spreads throughout a major country and kills hundreds of thousands. To contain the newly identified Reaper, the authorities brutally quarantine the country as it succumbs to fear and chaos. The literal walling-off works for three decades – until Reaper violently resurfaces in a major city. An elite group of specialists, including Eden Sinclair (Mitra), is urgently dispatched into the still-quarantined country to retrieve a cure by any means necessary. Shut off from the rest of the world, the unit must battle through a landscape that has become a waking nightmare.

Where?

Hotel Room…again.

With?

This time the girlfriend was awake.

Why?

I initially watched this last year, quite late at night and remembered enjoying elements of it but then ended up falling asleep. I had to bring the DVD back the next day so I never got to see the end of it, or in fact any of it whilst fully awake. I’m a big fan of Neil Marshall so I’m rooting for Doomsday to make it 3/3.

Worth It?

Well it wasn’t 3/3 but then it wasn’t completely bad either, merely a bit of a mess.

You could see where Marshall was taking his influences from and for a while (mainly the first 40 minutes) they were really working for him but by the end it was all a bit slapdash and confused. The performances were all adequate without busting a gut and the effects were pretty spot on but that was to be expected as it was the biggest budget he has handled.

I’m hoping Marshall can take the positives from Doomsday and build on them, whilst being able to identify where it went wrong, and then pushing his career forward to become a big name in genre pictures.

For now, it seems he is one or two movies off.

5.5/10

Doomsday è un film del 2008, film d’azione scritto e diretto da Neil Marshall. Il film si svolge nel futuro, in cui la Scozia è stata messa in quarantena a causa della comparsa di un virus mortale.

Leggi altre notizie su: | Neil Marshall | Malcolm McDowell | Rhona Mitra | Bob Hoskins | Alexander Siddig

A 4th UNDERWORLD Movie Is Getting The Greenlight After The Strong Performance Of 'UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS'

THE SHIELD was THRALL WORLD’s best television experience EVER (narrowly edging out BABYLON 5) and the writing was MINT.

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The adventure

BIG FISH
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Steve Buscemi
Released: 2003
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Synopsis: Throughout his life Edward Bloom (Ewan McGregor) has always been a man of big appetites, enormous passions and tall tales.  In his later years, portrayed by five-time Best Actor Oscar® nominee Albert Finney (Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Erin Brockovich, 2000), he remains a huge mystery to his son, William (Billy Crudup).  Now, to get to know the real man, Will begins piecing together a true picture of his father from flashbacks of his amazing adventures in this marvel of a movie. (From the DVD cover)

Why watch this? I see absolutely no reason for why you shouldn’t. This is a colourful, fascinating, crazy, fantastic fairy tale for adults. Tim Burton is easy to recognise, and this is no exception, although it’s not as dark as Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Sweeney Todd etc. This is the story of a son trying to find out who his father really is, behind all the amazing stories. The editing, music, dialogue and general impression is just wonderful, and if you haven’t watched this yet – then I really don’t know what you are waiting for.

The horror movie

[REC]
Directors: Jaume Balagueró & Paco Plaza
Starring: Manuela Velasco, Ferran Terraza, Jorge Serrano, Pablo Rozzo
Released: 2007
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Synopsis: REC turns on a young TV reporter and her cameraman who cover the night shift at the local fire station. Receiving a call from an old lady trapped in her house, they reach her building to hear horrifying screams – which begin a long nightmare and a uniquely dramatic TV report. (From IMDB)

Why watch this? It’s hard to find a good horror movie. At least I think so. [REC] is very satisfying, considering the challenging genre. The story is pretty good, and you’re (quite literally) left in the dark not understanding what’s actually going on for a long while. Through the camera man and the ambitious reporter’s eyes, a nightmare unfolds, and due to the ‘panicky’ filming (Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield), you’ll probably find yourself dragged into the story. Remember to pick up a copy with subtitles unless you speak Spanish!

The chick flick

THE HOLIDAY

Director: Nancy Meyers
Starring: Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black
Released: 2006
IMDB
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Synopsis: Iris is in love with a man who is about to marry another woman. Across the globe, Amanda realizes the man she lives with has been unfaithful. Two women who have never met and live 6000 miles apart, find themselves in the exact same place. They meet online at a home exchange website and impulsively switch homes for the holiday. Iris moves into Amanda’s L.A. house in sunny California as Amanda arrives in the snow covered English countryside. Shortly after arriving at their destinations, both women find the last thing either wants or expects: a new romance. Amanda is charmed by Iris’ handsome brother Graham and Iris, with inspiration provided by legendary screenwriter Arthur, mends her heart when she meets film composer Miles. (From IMDB)

Why watch this? Right, listen guys. If your girlfriend is making you watch a chick flick, it might aswell be this one. This is a charming love story, involving all the usual complications and twists a chick flick should include, without getting too cheesy. I find myself  smiling and aww-ing through most of it, and both my brothers and my boyfriend seemed to be okay with this movie.

The documentary

MARCH OF THE PENGUINS

Director: Luc Jacquet
Starring: Lots and lots of penguins
Released: 2005
IMDB
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Synopsis: The cycle of life the Emperor’s penguins is disclosed in this wonderful documentary. Every autumn, these animal leave the safety of the ocean and march along twenty days to a place called “Oamack”. Once there, they select their mates, they procreate, protect and feed their offspring and after months they return to the sea. Later, their progeny go to the ocean, where they stay for four years, and when they reach their adult life, they follow the same pattern of their parents. (From IMDB)

Why watch this? I’m not gonna lie to you. I adore penguins. And this is the best documentary I’ve EVER seen about them. The camera team has spent ages out there in the extreme cold with them, and made an amazing documentary of it. This is more than your average documentary, you really do get involved emotionally in this one. The music is amazing, and footage is crisp and close to what’s happening. (As a side note, I put this movie on when my boyfriend was sleeping, and tried to wake him up through all of it – but only managed in time for the mating. Now he definately thinks I have an awkward penguin fetish.)

The disaster movie

DOOMSDAY

Director: Neil Marshall
Starring: Rhona Mitra, Jeremy Crutchley, Cecil Carter
Released: 2008
IMDB
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Synopsis: A lethal virus spreads throughout the British isles, infecting millions and killing hundreds of thousands. To contain the threat, acting authorities brutally quarantine the country as it succumbs to fear and chaos. The quarantine is successful. Three decades later, the Reaper virus violently resurfaces in a major city. An elite group of specialists, including Eden Sinclair, is urgently dispatched into the still-quarantined country to retrieve a cure by any means necessary. Shut off from the rest of the world, the unit must battle through a landscape that has become a waking nightmare. (From IMDB)

Why watch this? If you have a thing for nasty disasters, this is a good example. I do love a good disaster movie, especially the ones involving a crazy epidemic/pandemic.

Bill Nighy doesn't drink...wine.

(Screen Gems) Michael Sheen, Rhona Mitra, Bill Nighy, Steven Mackintosh, Kevin Grevioux, David Aston. Directed by Patrick Tatopoulos

Every story has a beginning. For the ongoing war between the Vampires and Lycans (werewolves), we have seen only the middle. This is where it began.

Most fairy tales begin with “Once Upon a Time.” So, once upon a time the vampires were in charge of everything. Human lords paid them tribute and vampires kept Lycan slaves to do the heavy lifting and also to protect them during the daylight hours when they must sleep.

Victor (Nighy) is ruler of the Vampire coven. His daughter Sonja (Mitra) is like him haughty and a member of the ruling council, although she doesn’t seem to take her responsibilities seriously. It’s a serious time for the Vampires; the original pure-blooded Lycans who are more beast than human are on a rampage, and they have far greater numbers.

One of the pureblood Lycans has had a baby who has retained its humanity. While Victor executes the mother, he spares the baby who grows up to be Lucian (Sheen), who was part of the central action in the first Underworld. From his blood Victor creates a number of – clones? – Well, a lot of bare-chested guys that get hairy when the moon is full. Victor controls them by means of silver bondage collars that kind of fit in with the whole S&M motif – the vampires are awfully fond of leather corsets, bustieres and trenchcoats. 

Lucian has also fallen in love with Sonja and the two are carrying on a torrid, illicit affair that is forbidden by Vampire law (which sounds like a title for a new series on the CW). When Sonja impulsively goes out to save a group of human nobles who were attacked by the bestial Lycans on the way to a meeting with the Vampire council, Lucian rides out to save her and is forced to remove his collar to fight his cousins. Although he saves Sonja, he is punished for breaking the law of never removing his collar.

Lucian is befriended by a human slave named Raze (Grevioux, who also appeared as this character in the first Underworld) who is turned to werewolf by Victor, who has Raze bitten by a pureblood. Seeing that his people are being brutalized by the Vampires Lucian undergoes a change of heart. He decides, Spartacus-like, to lead his people – and incidentally the humans too – to freedom. Sonja helps him escape but in the process their love for each other is exposed – and Victor is forced to do something so horrible it will set events in motion that will reverberate around the world for a thousand years.

This is the kind of movie that needs to be a wild ride, and for some of the movie it accomplishes that. There are plenty of nifty action scenes, vampire and werewolf chow downs and transformations galore. There’s also a great deal of blood as you might expect.

You don’t see this kind of movie for the acting, but there are actually some fine actors involved. Nighy is having a grand old time going over the top like he’s summiting Everest. It’s actually fun to watch him wrap himself around dialogue that would do a Roman epic proud. He can make even the tritest lines sound positively Shakespearean and he doesn’t disappoint here.

Sheen has been coming on lately to deliver some awesome work of late in movies like The Queen and Frost/Nixon. He is reprising a role from earlier in his career; it isn’t the most glamorous of his career but he nonetheless gives it his all and makes Lucian heroic, if a bit bland. He certainly looks far more hunky than in his turns as Tony Blair and David Frost.

Because this is all about vampires, most of the movie takes place at night and inside a creepy, dark castle. Dark is the operative word here; dark as in underlit. Between the dark sets, the black wardrobe and the pale skin, sometimes it feels like you’re watching the film through black gauze.

There’s not a lot of emotional resonance here which is a bit odd since at the center of the movie is a forbidden love story, but in the long run that’s okay. After all, we’re talking vampires and werewolves here, right? That’s just a recipe for awesomeness that shouldn’t disappoint and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans doesn’t. There’s enough fun that the movie fulfills its purpose and leaves me wanting another go.

WHY RENT THIS: Bill Nighy chows down on the scenery like he hasn’t eaten in days, and he seems to be having a great time doing it too. Sheen has been doing the best work of his career lately; he puts a brave face on and does exceptionally well in a part that doesn’t necessarily deserve it.

WHY RENT SOMETHING ELSE: This is a very, very dark movie. No, not the tone; the lighting. It’s downright hard to see sometimes. Some of the CGI is a little weak, and the dialogue is a bit pretentious.  

FAMILY VALUES: Gore, gore and more gore. And then, a little more gore. Oh, and some violence. And then gore. Did I mention there is a lot of gore?

TRIVIAL PURSUIT: Michael Sheen was asked to re-record some dialogue for Frost/Nixon during shooting and did so, covered in fake blood after a days shooting for Underworld: Rise of the Lycans. A framed picture of the event sits in Ron Howard’s office.

NOTABLE DVD EXTRAS: The Blu-Ray edition has an interactive map feature called “Lycanthropes Around the World” that traces reputed werewolf sightings from around the globe.

FINAL RATING: 6/10

TOMORROW: Six Days of Darkness Day Two

I’m sitting here painting my nails and considering calling up Jude to go see The Vampire’s Assistant with me tonight.

Jude is my best friend, and literally the boy next door. We met when his family became our neighbors when we were both toddlers and it just kind of grew from there. Every summer, we’d sneak out of our rooms and spend half  the nights together in our treehouse fort we built in the tree that sits on the property line between our parents’ houses. We even went to college together. How awesome is that? Now that we’re both graduated, he still lives nearby, even if it is across town instead of across the lawn.

Our close friendship has made dating difficult. Anytime one of us starts seeing somebody, they start feeling threatened and eventually freak out which I seriously do not understand. I mean, it’s SO not like that between me and Jude. We’re just friends. Well, that’s not really true. We’re far more than friends. We’re more like siblings (especially since both of us are only children). He’s a good looking guy, but his penis is the last thing I’m interested in.

Part of why we’re friends is that he puts up with all my bullshit and obsessive tendencies when it comes to the creatures of the night. Through our entire friendship he’s listened to me swoon over various vampires including (but not limited to) Angel, Louis, Frost (from Blade… hell yes), and most recently Edward Cullen and Bill Compton. Even though I catch him rolling his eyes, he still smiles, shakes his head, and continues to stick by me.

I even got him to go see the Underworld movies with me. I mean, I’m pretty sure this mostly had to do with the tight shiny leather catsuit and corset that Kate Beckinsale and Rhona Mitra were wearing, but still. I bet he’ll go see the Vampire’s Assistant with me. It’ll be his penance for making me go see Twilight by myself, that bastard. Of course, I’m not complaining too much. The movie turned out to be all kinds of terrible, so I’m kinda glad he hasn’t seen it so he can’t make fun of me for liking it.

Damn. I just realized The Vampire’s Assistant doesn’t open until next weekend. I’ll still call him. I haven’t seen him in days. Maybe he’d be up for a bad movie night complete with my trademark burnt popcorn.

That is, if his girlfriend doesn’t mind.

Not being able to sleep last night I decided to watch Doomsday.  It’s a futuristic movie set in the United Kingdom, predominantly Scotland in 2035.  A deadly virus, ominously called the ‘The Reaper Virus’ ravaged Scotland in 2007 and the government at the time decided that the best course of action was to rebuild Hadrian’s Wall and quarantine all those north of the border.

Fast forward to 2035 and the virus has been found again, but this time in the centre of London.  A group of elite specialists, comprising of military and scientific personnel are sent over the wall in search of a doctor who was last heard from in Glasgow, and a cure. What they find is a Glasgow that some would say is not too dissimilar to the one that currently exists on Old Firm day; basically angry tattooed nutcases looking for a fight. 

The story is set primarily around Eden Sinclair (played by Rhona Mitra), a bad ass Major with the military training to lead the misch masch of merry men on their mission.  The cast is pretty strong on paper but none of the actors ever really seem stretched by the content of the film.  There are a few are faces that may only be familiar to those who watch UK movies and TV, one who stands out is Darren Moffit who seems like he is a pretty solid actor deserving of larger roles, conversely an established actor who should have got more screen time is Bob Hoskins who plays the old school street cop competently.

At the end of the day the movie is a collection of ideas and themes taken from Aliens, 28 days later, Mad Max and others. What you get is a crazy hour and a bit of a entertainment complete with bucket loads of violence, gore, cannibalism and a dash of humour (look for the signage throughout the movie).   

I can understand anyone who flatly doesn’t like the flick, many wont, but if you know it’s a futuristic action flick complete with knights on horseback, Mohican cannibals, a deadly virus and you start pointing out plot holes and claiming that it’s just not realistic you should chose your movies more carefully.

Título: Underworld 3: La Rebelión de los Licántropos
Título original: Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
País: USA
Estreno en USA: 23/01/2009
Estreno en España: 13/03/2009
Productora: Lakeshore International
Director: Patrick Tatopoulos
Guión: Len Wiseman, Danny McBride y Kevin Grevioux
Reparto: Rhona Mitra, Bill Nighy, Michael Sheen, Shane Brolly, Steven Machintosh, Kevin Grevioux

Sinopsis:

Hace cientos de años los poderosos vampiros combatían con dureza a los licántropos, fuertes bestias salvajes que rodeaban su fortaleza. Con el tiempo, los vampiros lograron crear híbridos entre los humanos y esas fieras, utilizándolos como mano de obra para los más crueles trabajos y para su defensa. Sin embargo Lucian, el líder de estos seres, tenía la férrea voluntad de liberar a los suyos del yugo de los vampiros. Para ello contó con la ayuda de Sonja, una princesa vampira con la que mantenía una relación en secreto. Tercera entrega de la popular saga Underworld, centrada en el conflicto existente entre los vampiros y los hombres lobo.

Opinión:

Que no, hombre, que no, por Dios. Como se puede tener semejante error. Es que no me entra en la cabeza, teniéndolo tan a huevo y no aprovecharlo. O sea, que tienes el pluscuamperfecto culo de Rhona Mitra a tu alcance, ¡y no pones ni un miserable plano del mismo a los aburridos espectadores que buscan cualquier cosa para entretenerse ante el ladrillo que están viendo! Anda y vete a cagar a la vía, señor Tatopoulos.

En el trono

¿Y la película en si? Pues nos encontramos a Len Wiseman sableando de mala manera la Espartaco de Kubrick y para colmo haciéndolo mal. Aburridisimos diálogos que no interesan nada, tramas políticas que se olvidan a los diez minutos, un líder licantropo que si es mas tonto no nace, etc etc… Un guion horripilante que no salva ni las buenas escenas de acción que posee el film. Y encima, al director de fotografía se le debieron joder todas las bombillas del set en el mismo día y la película sale mas oscura que los cojones de un mandril. A veces ni sabes que estas viendo.

¿Está lo suficientemente afilado?

Pero bueno, puede valer para pasar el rato, los personajes están bien caracterizados, hay ostias finas y sangre a tutiplen. Eso si, lo del fallo del trasero de la Mitra ¡no os lo perdonare nunca, cabrones!

Puntuación:

4 / 10

Rhona Mitra

In the continuing theme of adding interesting people with acting chops to Stargate Universe, Rhona Mitra of Underworld and Doomsday fame will join the cast of SGU for an apparent three episode affair. She will be playing a villain that hopefully makes the SGU kids lives miserable.

According to Gateworld, she’ll play an alien bent on saving her people at any cost. The episodes will be called Subversion and the two part season ender Incursion.

Source(s) io9.com, scificool.com

Amazon Specials!

The End Is Nigh.

Um vírus, de seu nome Reaper, aparece na Escócia e começa a ceifar vidas a torto e a direito. Cá para mim isto são efeitos colaterais de visky feito a martelo, tipo carrascão, mas se eles dizem que é um vírus, eu não discordo. É então criada uma parede, tipo muro de Berlim para separar o vírus da parte Norte da parte Sul do Reino Unido, mas passados 34 anos começam a aparecer casos de Reaper no Sul bem como se descobrem sobreviventes no Norte. É então enviada uma equipa para resgatar uma sobrevivente, liderada por uma mulher, tipo Rambo misturada com Red Sonja. Com cenas a fazer lembrar Mad Max, Excalibur e 28 Days Later, Neil Marshall consegue aqui surpreender com uma história sólida e com algum humor. De Neil Marshall, com Caryn Peterson, Adeola Ariyo, Emma Cleasby, Christine Tomlinson, Vernon Willemse, Paul Hyett, Daniel Read, Karl Thaning, Stephen Hughes, Jason Cope, Ryan Kruger, Nathan Wheatley, Cecil Carter, Jeremy Crutchley, Rhona Mitra, Tom Fairfoot, Eloise Cupido, Lily Anderson, Az Abrahams, Bob Hoskins, Alexander Siddig, David O’Hara, Cokey Falkow, John Carson, Nathalie Boltt, Susan Danford, Adrian Lester, Rick Warden, Nora-Jane Noone, Leslie Simpson, Chris Robson, Sean Pertwee, Darren Morfitt, Alessia Ramazzotti, Shaamilla Noordien, Lee-Anne Liebenberg, Craig Conway, Nicholas Pauling, Riaz Solker, MyAnna Buring, Porteus Xandau Steenkamp, Axelle Carolyn, Benedict Carver, Martin Compston, Henie Bosman, Cal Macaninch, Malcolm McDowell, Martin Ball, Tyrell Kemlo, Garry George, George Bailey, Dermot Brogan, DTeflon, Matt Lasky, Stephen Modell e Chris Wilson.

Vão para os Boxinos? Dá-me uma boleia, se faz favor, que esta vai para a Enxabarda

Arranje um emprego como vendedor de pipocas para ver o filme no cinema

Charlize Theron

Not much is known about the upcoming “The Dark Knight” sequel, but that’s not stopping rumors to be circulated on the internet. While there is no guarantee that any of them will come true, at least we know which actors and actresses would want to be part of the franchise.

Regarding Catwoman, several actresses, including Angelina Jolie, Rachel Weisz, Rhona Mitra and Megan Fox, have come forward about their interest to play the character. You can now add Charlize Theron to that list.

“It’s news to me,” Theron said about the rumor that she’s being considered for Catwoman. “But that’s kick-ass news. I like that. I think that what has happened to that franchise is amazing, and director Chris Nolan is a genius. So I would be an idiot to not consider that.”

Source(s): WorstPreviews, STV

Has Hollywood explored the “invisible man” enough or is there a new hidden depth in the theory?

“Hollow Man’s” story brings us deep into the mind of a frustrated scientist Sebastian Caine and his abused team who are on the verge of uncovering the secrets of invisibility. Caine is ego driven and often drives his co-workers insane by his stunts. Caine oversteps his bounds when he decides to turn his experiments on himself and become the world’s first man to step into the invisible world.

“Hollow Man” is directed by Paul Verhoeven who brought us “Total Recall“, “Starship Troopers” and “Basic Instinct“. In a lot of Verhoeven films there is always an exploration into the world of eroticism from a twisted angle. Some of those twisted angles include the co-ed showers in “Troopers”, the three breasted woman in “Recall” and the heavy lesbianism in “Instinct”. All of them push the envelope and were all controversial. In “Hollow Man” this tradition continues.

Another tradition associated with Verhoeven is his amazing special effects. “Hollow Man” does pave a new road for invisibility and the effects here are truly amazing. The idea of watching a man disappear a vein at a time was breathtaking.

See-thru Bacon... just like his performance!

I liked the questions “Hollow Man” asks but under its shiny special effects surface we have a pretty mind numbing B monster movie without a beast. Some films that achieved monster movie status and were enjoyable include “Leviathan“, “The Relic“, “Predator” and “Watchers” but “Hollow Man” for me really never broke free of its B-movie script.

The creature unleashed in the lab always seems to have its final battle within the walls of that same lab. Why is that? And as for Bacon being a creature well his portrayal is believable about half the time. The more and more he loses his humanity the more the film sinks into creature feature mode. I wish the film would have dealt more with the subject matter on a human level.

My biggest disappointment is that this film doesn’t really explain or answer the question I asked Kevin Bacon last week, “Why do all invisible men eventually go insane?” Caine is insane from start to finish in this film. “Hollow Man” to put it plainly is quite hollow.

3 out of 5

So Says the Soothsayer.

HIGHWAYMEN

Jim Caviezel & Rhona Mitra

Rennie Cray (Caviezel) is a man hell-bent on avenging his wife’s death by a murderous driver. For five years he’s been driving around the country, pursuing the man responsible for the hit-and-run, looking for retribution.

James Fargo (Colm Feote) is the chilling killer whose body has been reduce to a combination of human parts; prosthetics, straps and harnesses. His 1972 Cadillac has been transformed into an extension of his own body, a killing machine that he uses to torture and taunt unsuspecting motorists.

Rated18

Because I am.