Movie Trailer: Alex Proyas’ Knowing
IGN has the first trailer for Alex Proyas’ Knowing. My first impression is that the film looks rather generic and boring, which is sad considering how much I am rooting for Proyas. The director gained critical acclaim for his 1998 sci-fi thriller Dark City, but his follow-up efforts (I, Robot and Garage Days) have been pretty uninspired. The concept of Knowing sounds interesting, but this trailer is less than exciting, especially compared to DJ Caruso’s Eagle Eye. Tell me what you think in the comments below.
Watch the trailer in High Definition on IGN. Knowing is set to hit theaters on March 20th 2009.
Official Plot Synopsis: In 1958, as part of the dedication ceremony for a new elementary school, a group of students is asked to draw pictures to be stored in a time capsule. But one of the students, a mysterious girl who seems to hear whispered voices, fills her sheet of paper with rows of apparently random numbers instead.
Fast forward 50 years to the present: A new generation of students examines the contents of the time capsule and the girl’s cryptic message ends up in the hands of young CALEB MYLES. But it is Caleb’s father, professor TED MYLES (Nicolas Cage), who makes the startling discovery that the encoded message predicts with pinpoint accuracy the dates, death tolls and coordinates of every major disaster of the past 50 years. As Ted further unravels the document’s secrets, he realizes it foretells three additional events-the last of which hints at destruction on a global scale and seems to somehow involve Ted and his son. When Ted’s attempts to alert the authorities fall on deaf ears, he takes it upon himself to try to prevent more destruction from taking place.
This gripping supernatural thriller charts one man’s faltering steps towards belief in the ultimate order of the universe even as he finds himself surrounded by mounting chaos. With the reluctant help of DIANA WHELAN (Rose Byrne) and ABBY, the daughter and granddaughter of the now-deceased author of the cryptic prophecies, Ted’s increasingly desperate efforts take him on a heart-pounding race against time until he finds himself facing the ultimate disaster-and the ultimate sacrifice.
30 Days: Animal Rights
“I think half of that is bullshit” - George the hunter
Normally, I would go into an episode about vegetarianism and animal rights with a pretty strong opinion. However, since this is 30 Days, I know I’m bound to see and hear things that will, at least, give me second thoughts, if not change my opinions completely.
When it comes to animal rights, I have always been somewhere in the middle. I think killing animals for fur is cruel but I don’t have a problem with people who eat meat. I personally have an affinity for pigs, so I don’t eat pork. However, I think chickens are stupid, so I don’t mind some pollo asado now and then. I don’t think cosmetics should be tested on animals but I have found a lot of uses for prescription drugs. As far as hunting goes, well, I think you get the point. This episode was tailor made for a guy like me.
When George the hunter meets his vegan host family, it’s interesting to see him smile and act polite while his body language is completely defensive. To make matters worse, his first assignment is to dress up like a chicken and participate in a demonstration outside of a KFC. I, personally, found the demo a little insipid and it was clear that, if anything, it simply reinforced George’s opinions about animal rights activists.
When George reports for his first day at the animal sanctuary, it becomes clear what his biggest obstacle is. George, like many people, is turned off by the shock tactics and the platitudes that are used by most animal rights groups. Spurlock does a great job of showing how and why their rhetoric falls on deaf ears.
When George’s host, Melissa, buys a hunting magazine and flips through it with George, there is a glimmer of hope that she may be willing to see what George gets out of hunting animals. Unfortunately, she uses that time to continue to push her agenda on George who has already heard enough. I, personally don’t have a problem with the kind of hunting George does. Bow hunting is definitely a skill and since he eats and mounts what he kills, it’s not about the killing. Clearly, there are hunters who do things differently and some who are just flat out poachers but that’s a far cry from what George is doing.
The episode’s most informative scene came when George had a meeting with a neurologist who spoke to him in a way he could understand. Without spouting rhetoric, she explained that only 4% of all drugs that are tested on animals are eventually proven safe for humans. Moreover, she laid out viable alternatives to animal testing that made a lot of sense. It’s too bad this scene was so short.
The real powerful stuff comes when George visits what he thinks is an innocent dairy farm. When he sees how the dairy farm abuses and neglects the calves that they consider to be a byproduct of the milking process he is visibly affected and the irony is palpable.
Just when you think it can’t get any more personal, Spurlock works his magic and George visits an animal shelter. Again, the facts and the numbers are laid out for him in a rational way and it clearly makes an impact. When George sees that most of the animals in that shelter are killed because the owners simply didn’t want them anymore, you can see the anguish in his face.
If you haven’t already seen this episode I urge you to watch it if only for the last twenty minutes which include George adopting a calf and participating in an anti-fur demonstration.
In the end, the best thing that could have happened actually happens. George comes to an understanding and starts to question his own beliefs about animal rights. While he probably won’t stop hunting or barbecuing, I seriously doubt he will eat a piece of veal or drink a glass of milk without at least thinking twice.
Shirley Manson signed to Sarah Connor Chronicles, other casting notes - VIDEO
Looky there. With just those seven little words The Sarah Connor Chronicles has become the show I’m most looking forward to next season. With music, there’s nothing I like more than putting a little Garbage on the turntable. Because of that, over the years I’ve become just a little bit obsessed with Shirley Manson. And now comes word that the lovely and talented Miss Manson has been signed to the show.
Just that is enough to make me watch, but it gets even better. This isn’t a musical guest like someone stopping by to play at P3 or the Montecito. Oh no, Shirley will join the cast in a regular role as Catherine Weaver, CEO of a high-tech company. One could certainly argue that it’s stunt casting, or that they could find a more qualified actor to take on such a big role. But any crazy argument like that will fall on deaf ears here pal. It’s Shirley Manson. That’s all I need to know.
In other casting news, fans of Californication can look forward to Paula Marshall (Cupid!) returning for eight more episodes. Over at ABC, Josh Cooke (Big Day) has been added to an untitled comedy pilot from David Cohan and Max Mutchick. That one also stars Alan Tudyk (Firefly). The two of them play life long friends and business partners, with Cooke’s character being straight and Tudyk’s being gay.
They’re joined at ABC by Will Sasso (Mad TV). He’s been added to Five Year Plan, another comedy about a group of twenty-somethings trying to find direction in their lives. And finally, over at Fox we find Courtroom K. It’s described as a darkly comedic courtroom drama and boasts Alfred Molina as a judge. He’s joined by Michael Landes (Special Unit 2), Megan Dodds (Spooks), Jon Bernthal (The Class), and Omar Benson Miller. The early bets are that if this one goes to series it completes the law show failure tri-fecta that was started with Justice, and continued with Canterbury’s Law.
And just to bring it all full circle, the most cinematic of the Garbage videos, “The World Is Not Enough.”
Big Brother 9: Eviction #2 & HOH #3
(S09E08) And they’re okay! After their medical emergencies, Allison and Amanda returned to the house to open arms and new attitudes. The hamsters went all “Care Bear” after their ordeals. I don’t like Care Bear hamsters. I like cranky, hungry, irrational hamsters.
In other hamster news, Adam has been fired from his job for his very off-color comment about autistic children. Those of you may remember that the houseguest called autistic children “retards” and went even further to say that since he worked with them, he can call them whatever he wants. Well, he doesn’t work with them anymore. And he’ll find that out after he gets out of the house.
After the jump, a recap of last night’s Big Brother 9…
The Road to Eviction
Operation Brodown? Okay, no more “operations,” please. I fear my supplication will fall on deaf ears though and we will indeed see many more operations named after birds and many more bird impressions from James.
I don’t think it was ever really a question who was going home tonight. James wanted Alex and Amanda to go and it’s early in the game. As we’ve seen before on BB, early HOHs usually get their way as houseguests don’t want to ruffle any feathers early on. (Wow, that bird reference worked rather nicely there.) Allison, however, did bring up a good point to her fellow houseguests. Matt and Natalie are a strong couple, mostly physically, not as much mentally. It could be a good idea to take them out early. But this suggestion didn’t stick in the long run and Matt and Natalie worked hard to secure votes for themselves.
The Eviction: “No Bueno.”
The hamsters cast their vote live after two less-than-memorable speeches from the nominated couples. What was with Alex saying that they’re a Big Brother family? Has he seen the show before? In previous seasons, they houseguests have been anything but a family. Matt said a whole lot of nothing and then apologized for being nervous. Natalie just begged not to be sent back to the Beaver State. She says “Beaver State” a lot.
Sheila / Adam: Amanda and Alex
Joshua / Sharon: Amanda and Alex
Ryan / Allison: Amanda and Alex
After the Chenster announced that Amanda and Alex were evicted by unanimous vote, Amanda started weeping and didn’t stop till the end of her exit interview. Alex admitted that while Amanda was probably responsible for their nomination, he may have been to blame for their eviction since he didn’t campaign. I hate when people don’t campaign. Again, has he seen the show before? You could put a saint in that house and if he/she didn’t campaign to stay, then he/she would go home. Hint: hamsters like to make deals.
HOH Competition: Sharon and Josh have been studying.
Well, someone’s been reading those quotes BB put up all over the house. Sharon and Joshua rocked this competition. First the ladies played. Julie asked questions about the framed quotations. All could be answered with one of the following: Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, Goethe, Wilde, or None of the above. Sharon answered correctly and eliminated Allison. Sharon answered correctly again and eliminated Sheila. Sharon answered correctly AGAIN and won the ladies’ round. The men’s round went almost the same way. Ryan got the first question wrong and eliminated himself. Joshua got the next question correct and eliminated Matt. Joshua got the last one right and won the game.
These competitions are telling because the houseguests have to eliminate their fellow players. I always think it’s revealing who they decide to eliminate first when they get a question right. This time around was no different. Sharon quickly eliminated Allison from this competition. Was it just because she thought Allison is smart and might win or is there something deeper between the two couples? Also, Joshua eliminated Matt first but would he have eliminated Ryan had Ryan not screwed up the first question? I didn’t see Ryan really congratulating Sharon or Josh when we were left spying on the houseguests at the end of the show. I didn’t Allison in the kitchen at all. Was she there?
Final comments / questions:
- What was with the Chenster’s outfit? She’s usually so well put together. Whoever picked out that super reflective sweater should be fired.
- Alex’s speech when he ran his hand across his shirt as he said, “Keepin’ it Real” was awesome. I wanted Natalie to do the same with her “Heart of Gold” shirt.
- My prediction for Joshua and Sharon’s nominations? I think Ryan and Allison will definitely go up, unless they strike a brilliant with the HOHs. I also think Sheila and Adam may go up.
- Who would have thought that Joshua and Sharon would come out so strong in the competitions?