HIGHLY Recommended: Safe House Is An Adrenaline Rush!
Aspire Online Media was invited by Liquid Soul Media and Konsole Kingz to the pre-screening of Universal Picture’s Safe House on Wednesday February 8th at Regal Theater 24 in Atlanta. As you all may know, the movie, directed by Daniel Espinosa, stars Denzel Washington as Tobin Frost and Ryan Reynolds as Matt Weston. First of all, let me just say that Denzel is one of my favorite actors and I have been a fan of Mr. Reynolds ever since he co-starred with Sandra Bullock in The Proposal. Both the actor’s characters in this action thriller are beyond believable to the point where I actually felt each of their inner turmoil while living the treacherous lives of CIA agents in present day South Africa.
During several scenes I literally thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest. From the plodding opening scene to the edge-of-your-seat climax, it is quite the adrenaline rush given the multiple shoot outs and high-speed chases for the better part of the film. My favorite scene is where Denzel’s character has a “lesson in life” moment with Ryan Reynolds character in one of the safe houses. It provides an emotional backdrop that foreshadows what Ryan Reynolds character will soon experience throughout the various twists and turns in the movie. There were also several quotes by Denzel’s character that I absolutely loved – one of them being from this particular scene.
Overall, I would have to give this movie “5” HIGH FIVES out of five simply because it held my attention the ENTIRE time. I truly respect good acting and appreciate an even better plot. I had extremely HIGH expectations of the film and as you can see from this review, it surely did not disappoint. Go see it!!
N. Renee for Aspire Online Media and The HIGH UP. Follow Atlanta’s multimedia hub on Twitter @AspireOnline!
Green Lantern Makes A Great Movie For the Entire Family!
Hal Jordan, played by Ryan Reynolds, was a test pilot, who lived his life fearlessly and self-absorbed. But when he became the chosen one to save the human race by killing the evil Parallax (who looked like a ginormous octopus and fed off of fear) his cocky, fearless ways were overtaken by his own insecurities. After he was chosen, he was taken to the planet Oa and given a brief history lesson on the Green Lantern Corps, peace-keepers of the universe, and the power the ring possessed. One key thing Hal learned about the ring was that it was powered by the emerald energy of willpower, and was sent to every sector of the universe to choose a recruit, but was never sent to earth. So, he was the first human to be a part of the corps.
AOM's T. Monet and Strings (Hip-Hop Artist)
While Hal, was on the planet Oa, he went through rigorous training to help rid him of his fear and strengthen his will. This was an important training session since the Green Lanterns were known for their lack of fear and iron clad willpower. After all the hardcore training, he still felt he could not bear the weight of being a failure if he could not defeat, Parallax, so he quit. But after his ex-lover Carol Ferris, played by the beautiful Blake Lively and his BFF, have an intervention with him, he rejoined the battle, but minus the fear and selfishness. He jumped back into the fight, defeated Parallax, got the girl back, and saved the human race with his fearless nature that was within him the whole time.
My Final Thoughts:
Guests at the pre-screening
The Green Lantern movie was in 3D, which was awesome! All kinds of things were flying at me and I was jumping all over the place because of it. 🙂 I have been to many 3D movies, but these 3D images were almost in my lap, and it seemed so real. The special effects were amazing and were meant to be over the top, because the story line was lifted right from a comic book. If people are looking for something realistic, I don’t see why. It is a comic book, people. And if you are looking for a thought out storyline, it is a superhero movie! They all follow the same formula; good vs. evil, and good always wins! If you can get past looking for new twists and plots, you will enjoy the movie for what it is.
The sexy Ryan Reynolds was perfect for this part. He was the total jock that looked like he had everything, but as his character unraveled, you could see his weaknesses, and he was just like anybody else. He did a good job in relaying this to the audience, as he took you along his journey from cockiness to humbleness. I also loved Blake’s role. She was not just a pretty face in the
T. Monet and Kwanzaa Hall (Atlanta City Council, District 2)
movie, and held her own on the big screen. The two had great chemistry, and immediately you knew they had something brewing before and she was not quite over it. The other actors in the film were Angela Bassett, Tim Robbins and Michael Clark Duncan (voiceover role). One evil key player in the movie, Peter Sarsgaard, who played Hector, the genius professor, was infected by the another life form, and later used by Parallax to help play out his evil scheme. He did a fabulous job of being creepy for the entire movie, even before he was infected. I loved it. He was my favorite charter.
But what I loved most about this movie is the message. The message was simple yet profound. You must learn to overcome your fears, and whatever you face in this life. You already possess everything inside of you to overcome it.
This movie is a great family movie, and would lend itself to great lessons and messages that parents can discus with their kids. There is hardly any blood and no sex scenes in which makes the movie very kid friendly. I give Green Lantern 4 stilettos out of 5!
See more photos under “event highlights” at Aspire Online Magazine.
-T. Monet is Special Correspondent for AOM and The “HIGH UP”
Green Lantern Is Action Packed: Opens Today!
Guest at Green Lantern Pre-screening
The Green Lantern (2011 Warner Bros.) was pre-screened in Atlanta to an audience of celebrities, media and select general viewers. The turn out resulted in a packed house, complete with security, instructions to turn OFF your phones and roaming guards searching for violators. A leak was nearly impossible on this night…
Hal Hess (Ryan Reynolds) is chosen to join the ranks of the Green Lantern Corps after being chosen, by the essence of the ring itself, on the death bed of one of the Corps bravest warriors. After going through a series of trials, to include an impromptu training by fellow members of the Corps, he quits the ranks, just as he has everything in his life. That is, until the earth is threatened by a menace unlike any seen before in any galaxy – the evil Parallax, who is energized by fear. With urging by friends and a former lover, Green Lantern finds the will and strength to fight off and defeat this menace – and ultimately receives full acceptance into the Corps by his colleagues.
The film is relatively predictable throughout and has ebbs and flows for the first 2/3 of the movie.
After party "signature" drink
In the final 1/3, the action picks up, significantly, as the villain begins to take shape in the form of a brilliant scientist, Hector Hammond, (played by Peter Sarsgaard) who is infected by an evil life force during the autopsy of the Green Lantern’s predecessor. The action intensifies as Hammond is killed and the Green Lantern must engage the source of evil, which infected Hammond – Parallax himself. A galactic chase and battle ensue and the Green Lantern defeats Parallax through sheer will, determination and by recalling a lesson learned during his training.
The special effects were plentiful and incredible – we saw the Real 3D version of the film. However, many of the scenes were obviously shot via green screen and there was a clear delineation of actors from the background – so much that at times the background looked fully animated when compared to the actors. The film was riddled with these types of scenes unfortunately. Additionally, there were clear product placements by Chevrolet, Apple and LG. The placements were supposed to be subtle (general rule of thumb, anyway), but ended up being glaring promotions. The film included a number of relatively unknown actors, but also included veteran actors in key roles (Angela Bassett and Tim Robbins) and/or voice over roles (Michael Clarke Duncan). Blake Lively performed relatively well in the Leading Female role as the beautiful, multi-talented and highly sought after Carol Ferris. Additionally, Peter Sarsgaard provided several instances of comic relief in the role of Hector Hammond, the under-achieving, yet brilliant, scientist who rapidly began to go mad after being infected by Parallax.
Overall, on a scale from 1-5 (5 being awesome), I’d have to rate the film a 3. The plot is predictable, along with the outcome. Special effects are incredible (again, we saw the Real 3D version); however, several of the scenes looked VERY unrealistic due to how the scenes where shot and post produced. The movie started with action but then experienced a number of slow periods during the first 60-90 minutes, picking up in the final 30 minutes or so.
For more information on the Green Lantern movie, visit http://greenlanternmovie.warnerbros.com.
For additional footage from the Green Lantern after party in Atlanta, revisit The “HIGH UP” this weekend to see interviews with the likes of Dee Woods (former Danity Kane member), Strings (Chicago rapper, formerly of both R. Kelly’s camp and former first lady of Cash Money) and Rennie Curran (Tennessee Titans rookie linebacker). Also, look for a second review of Green Lantern from AOM’s T. Monet later today!
-Jay Young for AOM and The “HIGH UP”
Angela Bassett Stars In Green Lantern on June 17th!
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros
Bringing the enduringly popular superhero to the big screen for the first time, “Green Lantern” stars Ryan Reynolds (“X-Men Origins: Wolverine”) in the title role, under the direction of Martin Campbell (“Casino Royale”).
In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan.
Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal is clearly the missing piece to the puzzle, and along with his determination and willpower, he has one thing no member of the Corps has ever had: humanity. With the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris (Blake Lively), if Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax…he will become the greatest Green Lantern of all.
–
–
Campbell directs “Green Lantern” from a screenplay by Greg Berlanti & Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim and Michael Goldenberg, story by Greg Berlanti & Michael Green & Marc Guggenheim, based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.
The film also stars Blake Lively (upcoming “The Town,” TV’s “Gossip Girl”) as the spirited Carol Ferris, a test pilot and the heir apparent to her father’s aviation company; Peter Sarsgaard (“An Education,” “Flightplan”) as scientist Dr. Hector Hammond; Mark Strong (“Sherlock Holmes”) as Sinestro, Jordan’s powerful mentor in the Green Lantern Corps; Jay O. Sanders (“Revolutionary Road”) as Carl Ferris, Carol’s aircraft designer dad; Temuera Morrison (“Star Wars” Episodes II and III) as Abin Sur, Jordan’s alien predecessor; Taika Waititi (TV’s “The Flight of the Conchords”) as flight navigator Tom Kalmaku, Hal’s good friend and confidante; Academy Award® nominee Angela Bassett (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”) as enigmatic government scientist Amanda Waller; and Academy Award® winner Tim Robbins (“Mystic River”) as Hector’s influential father, Senator Robert Hammond.
The film is being produced by Donald De Line (“The Italian Job”) and Greg Berlanti (upcoming “Life As We Know It”). Herbert W. Gains and Andrew Haas serve as executive producers. Geoff Johns and Lucienne Papon are co-producing.
The film’s behind-the-scenes creative team is led by a number of Academy Award® winners, including director of photography Dion Beebe (“Memoirs of a Geisha”), production designer Grant Major (“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”), and costume designer Ngila Dickson (“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”), as well as Oscar®-nominated editor and longtime Campbell collaborator, Stuart Baird (“Gorillas in the Mist,” “Superman”). The film’s visual effects are being overseen by Oscar®-nominee Kent Houston (“The Adventures of Baron Von Munchausen,” “Casino Royale”).
The film is currently scheduled for release in 3D and 2D on June 17, 2011. “Green Lantern” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.
AOM and The “HIGH UP” will be covering the private VIP pre-screening tonight in Atlanta. Stay tuned for updates and follow us throughout the evening on Twitter @AspireOnline!
The "HIGH UP" 