Archive for December, 2011

  • 31 Dec

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    We Don’t Need the “Sphere” of Life [Kermode's Worst of 2011]

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    Happy new year everyone! Yes, you too!

     

     

  • 30 Dec

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    Hey Man, Nice Shot [2011]

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    Other than year end lists, we’re not much good at recapping the year with images/videos like so many other great sites around the web-o-sphere. Too busy watching movies than to write about them I guess. That’s why we give a huge hero cookie out to our friend Ryan McNeil over at The Matinee for hooking us up with his version of the year in pictures.
    Take it away Ryan…

    As the end of the year approaches, I find myself reflecting on 2011 at the movies. As a guy who sees much of the world through a camera lens – though admittedly not as much as he once did – I find that certain images get burned into my brain. So in no particular order, here are twelve of my favorite shots from the films of 2011…

    What did you think? Please leave comments with your thoughts on some of the best shots of 2011.

  • 30 Dec

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    Friday One Sheet: Casa de mi Padre

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    Every bit of promotional art for this Will Farrell comedy has been stellar. Check ‘em all out here.

  • 30 Dec

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    Review: We Need to Talk About Kevin

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    Instead of issuing birth control pills or contraceptives, one needs only to show Lynne Ramsay’s superb new film to high school classes as a deterrent to early pregnancy. For the eponymous child is a distillation of the collective fears and anxieties of the challenges of new parents: How to balance unconditional love with discipline and a healthy morality? These big questions are the unspoken crux of the relationship between two smart, educated parents that are born with the little boy from hell. The film itself seems to reside in hades, I suppose Tilda Swinton’s headspace after giving birth, and is in equal measure, soaked tomato juice, ink and bodily fluids and bathed in harsh red filters. There hasn’t been this much red in a film in some time and there is enough compulsive scrubbing on display to make Lady MacBeth blush.

    » Read the rest of the entry..

  • 29 Dec

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    DVD Review: 3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy

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    Director: Christopher Sun
    Screenplay: Stephen Siu, Mark Wu
    Based on the novel: “The Carnal Prayer Mat” by Yu Li
    Starring: Hiro Hayama, Leni Lan, Saori Hara
    Producer: Stephen Siu
    Country: Hong Kong
    Running Time: 110 min
    Year: 2011
    BBFC Certificate: 18

    (2/5)

    I don’t normally review this kind of film. Softcore porn comedies are not films I have much of an interest in watching let alone reviewing, but this was an exception. After gaining a lot of press attention for its claim to be the ‘first 3D erotic movie’ (which I very much doubt), as well as its phenomenal success in China, I’d been strangely interested in this follow up to the popular Sex and Zen series so jumped at the chance when I was offered a screener to review. From the posters and trailers it looked like a lot of fun too so I actually had fairly high hopes for 3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy. Unfortunately it didn’t really live up to these, but it’s still worth writing about.

    Sex and Zen’s “story”, which is based on a novel surprisingly enough, tells of a man who marries the woman of his dreams but finds he can’t satisfy her in the bedroom due to his lack of ‘longevity’. He therefore seeks the assistance of an evil prince who is famous for his rampant sexual activities and huge member. In doing this our hero becomes the prince’s slave though and after ‘practising’ on various ladies from his harem, the young man’s wife leaves him. To top this all off our hero also discovers that his minuscule trouser snake is not sufficient to satisfy any woman. This all leads to much silliness, love-making and waving around of giant fake penises.

    » Read the rest of the entry..

  • 28 Dec

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    Mamo #233: A Prisoner of Your Gibberish

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    As the year winds to a close we look at a chock-a-block week in popular culture, from Sherlock Holmes to BBC’s Sherlock, from The Hobbit to Lord of the Rings, from Tintin to the next Tintin, and from Prometheus to Alien (in reverse). Pull up a chair and get some cream for your coffee.

    Mamo #233: A Prisoner of Your Gibberish [ 0.01 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup

    To download this episode, use this URL: http://rowthree.com/audio/mamo/mamo233.mp3

  • 28 Dec

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    Cinecast Episode 239 – A Vortex of Insanity

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    The Christmas holiday has a knack for doing two things. One, about 100 major theatrical releases all vying for a spot at the Oscars. Two, it keeps the movie nerds (us) home with family, friends and food rather than out at the multip-plex to see said films. That said, we managed to catch up with a few different currently released titles this week. Kurt indulged in the Spielbergian version of mo-cap while Andrew took Matt Gamble’s advice and caught up with Detective Holmes on his second go-around. But starting things off this week is some talk on the much buzzed about, silent picture, The Artist. Much buzzed and now much loved as well. A very very quick watch list then off to bed to rest up for what should be a lengthy week of playing catch-up in anticipation of year-end wrap-ups, lists and such.

    As always, please join the conversation by leaving your own thoughts in the comment section below and again, thanks for listening!

     
     

    Cinecast Episode 239 [ 1:40:11 | 68.79 MB ] Play Now | Play in Popup

     

    To download the show directly, paste the following URL into your favorite downloader:
    http://rowthree.com/audio/cinecast_11/episode_239.mp3

     
     
    Full show notes are under the seats…
    » Read the rest of the entry..

  • 26 Dec

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    Review: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

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    Although far from seminal, there are a few Hollywood franchises I enjoy more than the Mission Impossible series. Laden with spectacular stunts and driven by a Lalo Schifrin’s sensational main theme, each film bears the unique stylistic stamp of the director at the helm – Brian De Palma (Scarface) for the original, John Woo (Face/Off) and J.J. Abrams (Star Trek) for the sequels – while at the same time succeeding as fun, fast paced action movies guaranteed to excite and entertain. Most recently, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol sees another new filmmaker take the reins: The Incredibles director Brad Bird, in his very first live-action film. And while the plot may be slapdash and characterizations frequently feeble, this new mission once again delivers what audiences really want: ambitious, gripping, fantastically conceived action.

    Ghost Protocol kicks off with IMF agents Jane Carter (Paula Patton; Precious) and Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg; Paul) breaking team leader Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) out a Russian prison so that the three of them might infiltrate the Kremlin and recover files that will help them identify a criminal known only as Cobalt (Michael Nyqvist; Abduction) who is bent on instigating a nuclear war. But the mission is soon revealed to be a set-up, and after a bomb destroys a large part of the Russian presidential complex, Hunt and his team, as well as the mysterious Agent Brandt (Jeremy Renner; The Hurt Locker) find themselves labelled as terrorists, disavowed by their agency, and with no choice but to clear their names by whatever means they can.
    » Read the rest of the entry..

  • 26 Dec

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    Mondays Sucks Less in the Third Row

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    Sorry we haven’t been around with your fix these last couple of weeks. Because of illness, my Mondays sucked pretty much no matter what. But we’re back with a slew of interesting and fun things from around the netz. May or maybe not movie related. Enjoy…

     

     

     

    Happy Holidays!

     

     

    » Read the rest of the entry..

  • 25 Dec

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    2011 List of Lists (v.11.3)

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    This post will be continuously updated and re-posted to the main page over the coming weeks. If you find a list that is not included or want yours added, please email it to me so I can add it asap! Thanks.

    Believe it or not it’s already the end of 2011. You know what that means? 2012. But it also means that Top Ten lists start cropping up all over the place. Books, music albums, recipes, podcasts, cheesecakes, you name it. Resistance is futile. But around here it’s of course film. While there is still a month (or more) to go of 2011 film watching to be had for most of us in the third row, a few lists have already started popping up here and there. So as I do every year, this will be the go-to place for a constantly updated source to where you can find all of the movie top ten lists that are being spurted all over the interwebz.

    send me any list to add that isn’t already here (including yours)!

     
    TODAY’S UPDATES:
    1 More Film Blog
    AARP
    Blood, Dirt and Angels [Rod Miller]
    Blood, Dirt and Angels [Tanner Smith]
    Chris and Phil Present [David Hall]
    Chris and Phil Present [Glen Chapman]
    Chris and Phil Present [Kim Howson]
    Chris and Phil Present [Stuart Barr]
    Cinematic Paradox
    CineTalk
    Dearborn Times Herald
    Entertainment Linx
    Fanatic Film Journal
    Floating World
    Front Row
    Geekadelphia
    Hotter in Hollywood
    Indie Wire [Drew Taylor]
    Indie Wire [Gabe Toro]
    L.A. Weekly [Karina Longworth]
    Movie Reviews by Dave
    North Shore Movies
    NYU
    Philly.com [Steven Rea]
    Review Fix
    Screen Invasion
    St. Louis Film Critics
    Sydney Film Critics
    Talk Vietnam
    Total Film
    Wild Grounds [from AsianMediaWiki]

    full list of submissions under the seats…
    » Read the rest of the entry..

  • 25 Dec

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    Fireplace for Your Home [Courtesy of Netflix]

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    Merry Christmas RowThree readers! Just a quick note here between gift opening, stomach stuffing and nap taking. If you’re like many of us stuck in an apartment or a house without a chimney, Christmas just doesn’t feel like Christmas without a roaring fireplace to warm the bones while drinking hot cider or cuddling next to the one you love. Luckily, Netflix can help you out with that one.

    There are two version that Netflix has on Instant Watch. Each depict an invitingly warm, crackling fireplace. The one entitled episode 1 plays just that: a crispy fireplace that turns your TV into a fireplace. Episode 2 (“Crackling Yule Log Fireplace”) is the same thing along with comforting, Christmas instrumentals to enhance your holiday mood.

    There. Don’t say we never gave you anything. Enjoy your holiday. Love, RowThree.

  • 23 Dec

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    Merry Christmas from the Friday One Sheet Featurette

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    Ho. Ho. Ho.

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