I really love watching TV so I'm always looking forward to finding new shows. It may be a long running hit show from a famous network or a brand new one from a typical cable channel. I truly enjoy watching great original series.
So I would like to introduce two highly recommended programs. If you know about these then I'm sure you're a fan. If you haven't heard about them, then it will only take some time and you'll soon find them enjoyable as well.
Larry David displayed an extraordinary performance in Curb Your Enthusiasm. This program's been shown for almost seven years now and each season continuously gains popularity. This show always makes me laugh.
You might not be aware of this, but Larry David is the creator of the hit comedy Seinfeld. More than just being a writer, he is also the main character of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Here he meets some odd experiences and it's really a great laugh to see him deal with his situations.
If you have seen Seinfeld then you can pinpoint the similarities between these two programs. Some people believe that Curb your Enthusiasm might even turn out to be better than Seinfeld. To see is to believe, then.
Now that you know about Curb Your Enthusiasm, I guess this next one would be a little more unfamiliar. This is almost as funny with the addition of some amazing acting skills and a brilliant storyline.
The show is entitled Party Down. It depicts the life of caterers who go to different venues to provide services. Their events vary from office team buildings to college fests and high school reunions.
Watch and Enjoy. You'll be surprised to see some familiar faces since the cast of characters include popular celebrities.
Come and visit a lively website about camera lanyard. Read articles on my blog at http://cameralanyard.org.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Grummans
Sonntag, 9. Mai 2010
How Online DVD Rentals Have Changed the Movie Industry
Online DVD rental services have radically reshaped the movie industry. For the consumer the changes are obvious and generally pretty favorable. You can rent movies cheaply, you can keep them as long as you want and you can get virtually anything. For the movie industry, the outlook is a little different. In some ways this is good, and in some ways it is to their detriment.
The biggest downside for the movie business is that cheap convenient DVD rentals always tends to encourage people to stay home and watch movies. This is a compounded by the increase in television quality and the use of good sound. A lot of people have picture and audio quality at their homes that rivals what they would be able to experience in a movie theatre, and that making staying home an attractive option when the alternative is expensive movie tickets, crying children, and sticky floors.
The movie industry has reacted to this by becoming more reliant on event movies to get people to the theatres. Movies where you will want to see them in their opening week and where you will still get an experience that you cannot really duplicate at home.
One result of this is the recent surge in 3D movies. The technology does not yet exist to duplicate the 3D experience with our home theatres, so if you want to get the full effect you are obliged to actually go to the movies. When you combine this with the extra fees that are usually associated with 3D tickets, it is easy to see why the movie theatres are pushing the new technology so hard.
The increased presence of online DVD rentals has caused the movie industry to focus more and more on these blockbuster movies, relying on them for immediate profit to bolster their earning while smaller movies take a more leisurely road to profitability.
The good side of renting DVDs online, from the perspective of the movie companies, is that it extends the profitable lifespan of movies. Normally, a movie is released to DVD, then gets a features laden special edition DVD, sells to essentially everyone it is going to, and is then relegated to the sales sections at supermarkets.
With a service like Netflix or Lovefilm, though, old movies can find new life. Because these services have both recommendation systems and individual rentals are essentially free, people end up requesting movies that they would have just ignored. In order to meet that demand, the online rental companies have to buy more copies, allowing the movie companies to make more profit.
This also means that people will be more likely to purchase their own copies of DVDs, presenting more income, and that they maybe interested in cheaper, straight to DVD sequels. All of which is good news for smaller movies that would have once struggled to find an audience. What this mostly means is that the movie industry is going to have to continue to adapt to the new marketplace. For the consumer, this is only going to make renting online better and better as the industry adapts to take full advantage.
Tracey Roper is a freelance writer and webmaster based in the UK. Visit her sites to find out more about DVD duplication and CD packaging
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracey_Roper
The biggest downside for the movie business is that cheap convenient DVD rentals always tends to encourage people to stay home and watch movies. This is a compounded by the increase in television quality and the use of good sound. A lot of people have picture and audio quality at their homes that rivals what they would be able to experience in a movie theatre, and that making staying home an attractive option when the alternative is expensive movie tickets, crying children, and sticky floors.
The movie industry has reacted to this by becoming more reliant on event movies to get people to the theatres. Movies where you will want to see them in their opening week and where you will still get an experience that you cannot really duplicate at home.
One result of this is the recent surge in 3D movies. The technology does not yet exist to duplicate the 3D experience with our home theatres, so if you want to get the full effect you are obliged to actually go to the movies. When you combine this with the extra fees that are usually associated with 3D tickets, it is easy to see why the movie theatres are pushing the new technology so hard.
The increased presence of online DVD rentals has caused the movie industry to focus more and more on these blockbuster movies, relying on them for immediate profit to bolster their earning while smaller movies take a more leisurely road to profitability.
The good side of renting DVDs online, from the perspective of the movie companies, is that it extends the profitable lifespan of movies. Normally, a movie is released to DVD, then gets a features laden special edition DVD, sells to essentially everyone it is going to, and is then relegated to the sales sections at supermarkets.
With a service like Netflix or Lovefilm, though, old movies can find new life. Because these services have both recommendation systems and individual rentals are essentially free, people end up requesting movies that they would have just ignored. In order to meet that demand, the online rental companies have to buy more copies, allowing the movie companies to make more profit.
This also means that people will be more likely to purchase their own copies of DVDs, presenting more income, and that they maybe interested in cheaper, straight to DVD sequels. All of which is good news for smaller movies that would have once struggled to find an audience. What this mostly means is that the movie industry is going to have to continue to adapt to the new marketplace. For the consumer, this is only going to make renting online better and better as the industry adapts to take full advantage.
Tracey Roper is a freelance writer and webmaster based in the UK. Visit her sites to find out more about DVD duplication and CD packaging
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracey_Roper
Movie Review of Red Cliff - Original International Version - Part 2
Setting: Ancient China
Rating: 5 stars
Movie lovers enthralled by the first part of the Red Cliff saga will be thoroughly rewarded for watching Red Cliff Part 2. John Woo and his excellent cast starring Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung, and Zhung Fengyi create an epic worthy of grossing over $100 million in the Asian market. With great special effects that recreate colossal naval battles and a sparkling script full of intelligence and subtlety, Red Cliff Part 2 entertains during every moment.
The story picks up exactly where Part 1 left off. The imperial forces of the Han Dynasty as led by Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) have descended upon the fortress at Red Cliff where the Grand Viceroy Zhou Yu (Tony Leung) of the Eastern Wu Kingdom is holed up with his allies led by Liu Bei. The master strategist of Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) is working with Zhou Yu to craft plans to thwart the overwhelming invasion of Cao Cao.
Red Cliff Part 2 presents a wonderfully conceived dramatization of many principles explained in the classic Art of War by Sun Tzu. The character Zhuge continues to reveal his sharp intellect and far-ranging knowledge as he counters Cao Cao on many levels both physical and psychological. Zhuge uses weather to his advantage and takes a big gamble on the likelihood of shifting winds when a big naval battle begins. His ploys and cunning use of fire are truly artful as he makes war.
The struggle also emphasizes the critical roles of spies in waging war. Spies lend many advantages to the allies as the confrontation unfolds, both by gathering information about Cao Cao's camp and feeding him disinformation that undermines his trust in crucial commanders. Another elaborate ploy is achieved when Zhou Yu's wife, who is greatly coveted by Cao Cao, surrenders herself to Cao Cao. She hopes to prevent the battle by giving herself to him, but her goal is far more devious. No war that has already marshaled so many resources is going to be stopped by one woman, but she does significantly distract Cao Cao when he should be paying attention to his battle.
Red Cliff Part 2 rewards movie lovers with an intelligent action adventure that uses special effects but does not rely on them. The script and the actors are the strengths that empower this wonderful movie inspired by Chinese history and culture. Numerous plot twists and elaborate battle scenes constantly propel this movie that was a delight to experience.
As a fantasy writer, movies like Red Cliff stimulate my imagination. To enter an enticing world of magic and epic battle, read The Rys Chronicles fantasy series available at http://www.braveluck.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracy_Falbe
Rating: 5 stars
Movie lovers enthralled by the first part of the Red Cliff saga will be thoroughly rewarded for watching Red Cliff Part 2. John Woo and his excellent cast starring Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung, and Zhung Fengyi create an epic worthy of grossing over $100 million in the Asian market. With great special effects that recreate colossal naval battles and a sparkling script full of intelligence and subtlety, Red Cliff Part 2 entertains during every moment.
The story picks up exactly where Part 1 left off. The imperial forces of the Han Dynasty as led by Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi) have descended upon the fortress at Red Cliff where the Grand Viceroy Zhou Yu (Tony Leung) of the Eastern Wu Kingdom is holed up with his allies led by Liu Bei. The master strategist of Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) is working with Zhou Yu to craft plans to thwart the overwhelming invasion of Cao Cao.
Red Cliff Part 2 presents a wonderfully conceived dramatization of many principles explained in the classic Art of War by Sun Tzu. The character Zhuge continues to reveal his sharp intellect and far-ranging knowledge as he counters Cao Cao on many levels both physical and psychological. Zhuge uses weather to his advantage and takes a big gamble on the likelihood of shifting winds when a big naval battle begins. His ploys and cunning use of fire are truly artful as he makes war.
The struggle also emphasizes the critical roles of spies in waging war. Spies lend many advantages to the allies as the confrontation unfolds, both by gathering information about Cao Cao's camp and feeding him disinformation that undermines his trust in crucial commanders. Another elaborate ploy is achieved when Zhou Yu's wife, who is greatly coveted by Cao Cao, surrenders herself to Cao Cao. She hopes to prevent the battle by giving herself to him, but her goal is far more devious. No war that has already marshaled so many resources is going to be stopped by one woman, but she does significantly distract Cao Cao when he should be paying attention to his battle.
Red Cliff Part 2 rewards movie lovers with an intelligent action adventure that uses special effects but does not rely on them. The script and the actors are the strengths that empower this wonderful movie inspired by Chinese history and culture. Numerous plot twists and elaborate battle scenes constantly propel this movie that was a delight to experience.
As a fantasy writer, movies like Red Cliff stimulate my imagination. To enter an enticing world of magic and epic battle, read The Rys Chronicles fantasy series available at http://www.braveluck.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracy_Falbe
Movie Review of Red Cliff - Original International Version Part 1
Setting: Ancient China
Rating: 4 stars
Asian cinema is not just about low budget kung fu movies anymore. The two-part $80 million production of Red Cliff directed by John Woo has raised the bar as high as a dragon can fly. Inspired by the epic labyrinth of Chinese history, the Red Cliff saga gives movie lovers an exciting and historically detailed adventure full of action and top notch performances.
Starring Zhang Fengyi, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Tony Leung among many other fine actors, Red Cliff Part 1 begins with Prime Minister Cao Cao's (Zhang Fengyi) plot to absorb the power of his emperor, leader of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Granted authority to subdue rogue warlords, Cao Cao makes war on the idealistic Liu Bei who is rebellious because Cao Cao is subverting the true authority of the emperor. Liu Bei is served by many elite warriors who follow him because he is the better man and more deserving of their magnificent prowess in battle. The principle hero of the story is Liu Bei's master strategist Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro). It is Zhuge's challenge to avoid total destruction by the superior imperial forces led by Cao Cao.
Liu Bei soon suffers a bad defeat by Cao Cao's imperial army, and he must flee with as many of his civilians as he can save. Liu Bei's goodness is revealed by his devotion to protecting the people. He declares that if he cannot protect them then he has no right to rule them. Forced to flee, Liu Bei accepts Zhuge's idea that they must seek an alliance with the Eastern Wu Kingdom, led by Sun Quan who is also targeted by Cao Cao.
Sun Quan, however, proves reluctant to ally with Liu Bei because of political pressure to preserve the peace. In peace the people prosper whereas they suffer in war. Sun Quan is tempted to surrender to Cao Cao and expose Liu Bei to destruction. Persisting in his mission, Zhuge seeks to convince the Grand Viceroy Zhou Yu, who is Sun Quan's greatest general. Zhou Yu is receptive to the alliance. He is also a master strategist and is attracted to the intellectual challenge of fighting off the mighty army of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
As the story advances it very much revolves around the emerging relationship between the two master strategists as they work together to survive the onslaught of Cao Cao. Many other important subplots develop as well to enrich the film.
The only major criticism I have of Red Cliff Part 1 is the ridiculous fight scene near the beginning in which a general is trying to save Liu Bei's wife and baby. I realize the goal was to create drama, but the general fighting with spears and swords while carrying the infant simply offended all sensibility. He would have shaken the baby to death during his hectic battle, and why the mother threw herself in a well I will never fathom. This silly baby-saving scene cost the film a star in my review, but I want to emphasize that everything else about the movie was masterful, thought-provoking, and very entertaining.
Red Cliff Part 1 splendidly marries military action and hand-to-hand combat with a compelling script driven by politics, strategy, and ancient Chinese culture. Stunning special effects portray the massive armies of ancient China and its urban and rural landscapes. The translation into the English subtitles is thoroughly engaging. This is NOT a boring foreign film. Red Cliff Part 1 is by far some of the best entertainment produced recently by film makers of any country. At a length of two and half hours, Part 1 never dragged and left me entirely eager to watch Part 2, which I did the very next night.
As a fantasy writer, movies like Red Cliff stimulate my imagination. To enter an enticing world of magic and epic battle, read The Rys Chronicles fantasy series available at http://www.braveluck.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracy_Falbe
Rating: 4 stars
Asian cinema is not just about low budget kung fu movies anymore. The two-part $80 million production of Red Cliff directed by John Woo has raised the bar as high as a dragon can fly. Inspired by the epic labyrinth of Chinese history, the Red Cliff saga gives movie lovers an exciting and historically detailed adventure full of action and top notch performances.
Starring Zhang Fengyi, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Tony Leung among many other fine actors, Red Cliff Part 1 begins with Prime Minister Cao Cao's (Zhang Fengyi) plot to absorb the power of his emperor, leader of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Granted authority to subdue rogue warlords, Cao Cao makes war on the idealistic Liu Bei who is rebellious because Cao Cao is subverting the true authority of the emperor. Liu Bei is served by many elite warriors who follow him because he is the better man and more deserving of their magnificent prowess in battle. The principle hero of the story is Liu Bei's master strategist Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro). It is Zhuge's challenge to avoid total destruction by the superior imperial forces led by Cao Cao.
Liu Bei soon suffers a bad defeat by Cao Cao's imperial army, and he must flee with as many of his civilians as he can save. Liu Bei's goodness is revealed by his devotion to protecting the people. He declares that if he cannot protect them then he has no right to rule them. Forced to flee, Liu Bei accepts Zhuge's idea that they must seek an alliance with the Eastern Wu Kingdom, led by Sun Quan who is also targeted by Cao Cao.
Sun Quan, however, proves reluctant to ally with Liu Bei because of political pressure to preserve the peace. In peace the people prosper whereas they suffer in war. Sun Quan is tempted to surrender to Cao Cao and expose Liu Bei to destruction. Persisting in his mission, Zhuge seeks to convince the Grand Viceroy Zhou Yu, who is Sun Quan's greatest general. Zhou Yu is receptive to the alliance. He is also a master strategist and is attracted to the intellectual challenge of fighting off the mighty army of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
As the story advances it very much revolves around the emerging relationship between the two master strategists as they work together to survive the onslaught of Cao Cao. Many other important subplots develop as well to enrich the film.
The only major criticism I have of Red Cliff Part 1 is the ridiculous fight scene near the beginning in which a general is trying to save Liu Bei's wife and baby. I realize the goal was to create drama, but the general fighting with spears and swords while carrying the infant simply offended all sensibility. He would have shaken the baby to death during his hectic battle, and why the mother threw herself in a well I will never fathom. This silly baby-saving scene cost the film a star in my review, but I want to emphasize that everything else about the movie was masterful, thought-provoking, and very entertaining.
Red Cliff Part 1 splendidly marries military action and hand-to-hand combat with a compelling script driven by politics, strategy, and ancient Chinese culture. Stunning special effects portray the massive armies of ancient China and its urban and rural landscapes. The translation into the English subtitles is thoroughly engaging. This is NOT a boring foreign film. Red Cliff Part 1 is by far some of the best entertainment produced recently by film makers of any country. At a length of two and half hours, Part 1 never dragged and left me entirely eager to watch Part 2, which I did the very next night.
As a fantasy writer, movies like Red Cliff stimulate my imagination. To enter an enticing world of magic and epic battle, read The Rys Chronicles fantasy series available at http://www.braveluck.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracy_Falbe
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