bridget marquardt

Date of Birth

25 September 1973, Tillamook, Oregon, USA
Birth Name : Bridget Christina Sandmeier
Height: 5' 5" (1.65 m)

Daydream Nation Movie Poster

Daydream Nation

Release: May 6, 2011
Director: Michael Goldbach
Writer: Michael Goldbach
Cast: Kat Dennings, Reece Thompson, Josh Lucas, Andie MacDowell
 
Synopsis: Daydream Nation tells the story of a city girl who moves to a small town and becomes entangled in a love triangle between her highschool teacher and a stoner classmate.
 
 

Daydream Nation Trailer

The Athabasca All-Candidates Forum

During the last federal election, I got a lot of shit from one of my learned colleagues for not attending Athabasca's all-candidates forum. As I blogged at the time, I had some problems with the all-candidates forum. Problem the first was that it was not an open forum. It was being held by an anti-war group called the Athabasca Peace Initiative, and they made it clear that they would be asking all the questions at this forum. When asked about why they were doing this, they responded that, �It's important the right questions be asked,� which I found a little insulting. Problem number two was that not all the candidates were coming. The Conservative, Liberal, and Green candidate all chose not to show up. So it was just the NDP and the fringe parties. Lastly, it was at the same time as the Magnificent River Rats meeting, and we were deciding on ticket prices for that year's festival.

So, I could cast my vote on ticket prices, or I could watch some anti-war activists beg the Christian Heritage Party to bring the troops home. I chose River Rats.

But here we are now, 2.5 years later, and in the throes of another federal election. Athabasca's all-candidates forum had a format I was much more agreeable to. Rather than being held by a specific group, it was being hosted by a group of concerned individuals who just felt Athabasca had to had one. Only four candidates are running in Fort McMurray � Athabasca this time out � Conservatives, Liberals, NDP, and Green � and only the NDP candidate chose not to come out to the forum. And yes, it was an open forum, so all could ask questions, and they were even planning to have some meet-and-greet time before and after the forum so you could talk to the candidates one-on-one.

Before we get to the show, though, just want to take a moment to talk about the riding's NDP candidate, Berend Wilting. With the surprising surge in popularity of the NDP, there seems to be a lot of growing anger towards the NDP here in Fort McMurray-Athabasca. At least in this part of the riding, Wilting hasn't done any door-knocking, declined all interview requests, and is doing no campaigning whatsoever. There's a lot of angry and frustrated NDP supporters out here, and it'll be interesting to see how it affects the NDP results on election night.

The three players at tonight's forum were:

• Green candidate, Jule Asterisk 
• Liberal candidate Karen Young
• the incumbent, Conservative Brian Jean.

To provide some structure to the evening, four key questions would be asked of the candidates. Once they provided their answers, the floor would be open, and members of the public could then pose questions that were a little more specific, but still relating to that topic. The four questions were:

1)What is the role of the federal government in our own country and internationally?

2)What are the top three action the federal government could take to improve the lives of citizens in this region?

3)What are the most pressing environmental issues facing the region, and how would your party address those issues?

4)How do you see the Canadian economy evolving and what polices would you recommend to monitor and enhance it?

And then, after that, the floor would be open to any other questions.

Opening Statements

 Incumbent Brian Jean was first to speak, citing that Northern Alberta is the best region in the nation right now. He cited the Economic Action Plan, which kept the economy going through the global recession. He also mentioned that the Conservatives have invested half-a-billion dollars in the region, including $350,000 in improvements to the Boyle arena, $65 million to ALPAC, and $51 million between Athabasca, Lac la Biche, and Boyle. He continued that a Conservative government would continue to focus on economic recovery, and that there would be no cuts to healthcare.

Green candidate Jules Asterisk began her opening comments with some leftover grumbling as to how Elizabeth May was left out of the debates. She then continued with the message that there's been too much fighting as of late in the House of Commons, and that a Green government would try to restore a sense of civility to the House. She then elaborated on her background, by pointing out that she's accredited with bringing recycling to Slave Lake, and she still works in waste management.

Liberal candidate Karen Young was the last to give opening statements, and she emphasized that she's still new to politics, and she's still on a learning curve. She highlighted her experience as a single parent and a small business owner. She stuck pretty close to the Liberal platform, as she emphasized the need for a national child care plan.

Question 1

For the first question, Asterisk was able to speak first. She said that the role of the federal government should be to protect people, and that the current government hasn't done enough to protect people from pollution. She also mentioned that a government should simply be planning for the next generation, but seven generations ahead. Jean then spoke next, emphasizing the speration of provincial and federal jurisdictions. He said that the federal government isn't there to get involved in provincial matters, and that the provinces and the federal government should work more co-cooperatively on some issues. Young then spoke, focusing more on Canada's global role, and how Canada's image on the international stage has suffered under Conservative rule. She then elaborated that how Canada behaves in the world affects how they behave at home. She summed up her thoughts by saying Canada should matter to the world.

At this point, the floor was then opened to questions relating to this topic. The first question posed was, What is your party's biggest aspiration for change? Young was the first to speak, and she highlighted the losses under the Conservative government, such as the loss of a seat on the Security Council at the UN. Jean was next to speak, and he cracked a joke about his biggest aspiration for change being world peace. But, he then got serious as he elaborated that Canada still plays a tremendous role in the world, and highlighted that Canada has double its aid to Africa, and that the Conservatives are working to help the world through peaceful means. Asterisk spoke last, and she said that Canada needs to shore up its reputation as a protector of sustainability.

The next question from the floor was how to keep a focus on Canadian industry at an international level. Asterisk spoke first, saying that yes, the Green party does support heave industry, but she also admitted we'll never get the �dirty oil� label off the oilsands, so perhaps development could just slow down a bit. Next up was Jean, who mentioned that he has met with industry leaders, and agrees that things need to be done better. He brought up new pollution regulations that have been brought in, and pointed out that the oilsands are responsible for 6% of the nation's GDP. He also then said, �God knew what he was doing when he put the oilsands in Alberta, because we're responsible with them,� which did illicit some groans from the audience. Young then spoke last, speaking of the need for government to work jointly with industry to help better our communities.

The third question in this section caused a few chuckles in the audience, and that's when Jean specifically was asked about the never-ending stream of mail-outs we get from the Conservatives. Jean said that every party sends out these mail-outs, and he is trying to reduce the number he sends out. He did point out, though, that the riding of Athabasca-Fort McMurray is, geographically, one of the largest ridings in the country, and he's actually discovered the mail-outs to be one of the best ways to keep in touch with his constituents. He also said that each mail-out costs him 3 cents per flier Asterisk was up next, and said that there has to be a better way to keep in touch with the constituents, and focused on paperless ways like toll-free numbers, radio ads, and town hall forums. Young spoke last, saying that for her campaign, it cost her 14 cents per flier, and she also brought up town hall forums and more one-on-one time with constituents. She also then joked that a great way to recycle these political fliers is to shred them up and give them to farmers for their chicken coops.

  

Question 2

As you'll recall, for the second question, the candidates were asked to list three things to improve the lives of their constituents. Asterisk went first, listing cleaning up the oilsands, pledging $1 billion to municipalities, and more co-operation with the First Nations. Young summed up her three things with three F words: families, finance, and the future. For families, she emphasized the need for a child care plan. For finance, she brought up the plan to give post-secondary students a $1000 bursary, and for future, better care for seniors.

Jean spoke next, and the question about the mail-outs must have hit a nerve, because he spent a good portion of his time first elaborating on how he keeps in touch with constituents. He mentioned that yes, his office has a toll-free number so you can call him anytime, and he found town hall forums to be ineffective, as he tried them early in his career, and no one showed up. That did dovetail into the first thing on his list, though, which was listening to the constituents. Number two was continuing with the Conservative low-tax plan, and three was better health and safety monitoring.

The floor was then opened to questions. The first one was from a very angry man who said that the Conservative government has done �jack shit� [sic] for veterans, and what would their party do for the vets. Young was first to speak, and she brought up that she has family serving in the military, and we must create new programs to support them. Jean was next to speak, and was offended by the question, citing that the Conservatives have done quite a bit for the veterans, emphasizing $140 million pledged to patient care, the hiring of more mental health practitioners, and the creation of new programs. Asterisk spoke last, talking about ending the Conservative practice of giving soldiers a lump sum at the end of their service, and moving back to some form of pension plan. She also mentioned giving veterans the benefit of the doubt whenever necessary.

The next question came from a reporter for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. In one of Jean's earlier responses, Jean made an offhand comment about the First Nations �looking after themselves,� and she had taken offense to that. She then elaborated that the Conservatives have done very little to advance the First Nations, and what the other parties would do. Jean spoke first, saying that when he made that comment, he was speaking to the separation of government powers and that the First Nations govern themselves. He then went on to say that the federal government do have a responsibility to work more cooperatively with the First Nation, and that the aboriginal communities in this riding are doing quite well. Asterisk spoke next, talking how a lot of First Nations identity involves the environment, and there must be greater cooperation. Young spoke next, and revealed that she is of First Nations heritage. She then went on to say that there has to be greater assistance to get First Nations into post-secondary education.

This is the point where things stopped for a 15-minute break, and folks grabbed refreshments, and got in a little one-on-one time with the candidates. When the break was done, it was pointed out that things were running long, so for the rest of the evening, they would skip asking the general questions, and just move to questions on that topic.

  

Question 3

 Since question 3 pertained to the environment, most of the questions here were environmental in nature. First question asked was quite simple: �Global warming. What's your party's plan?� Jean spoke first, and that admitted yes, the planet is warming, so adaptation is the key strategy at this point. He brought up the Conservatives creating a green infrastructure, and also highlighted that Conservatives think that Kyoto will do no good because two of the planets biggest polluters � China and India � still aren't on board with it, so that's why the Conservatives think Copenhagen is a better plan. Young spoke next, reminiscing about taking ice from a nearby lake for water when she was a kid, and now that lake is dry. So she focused on long term reduction targets. Asterisk spoke last, pointing out that the Greens have the best platform on the environment. She brought up the need for a carbon tax, and pointed out that the province of Alberta already has one, and Alberta doesn't seem to have suffered. �Tax the things that are bad for you,� was a rallying cry for the Greens. She also then pointed out that she thought it was odd that Jean highlighted Copenhagen, as most of the world thought Canada was one of the most difficult and obstructionist countries in those negotiations.

The next question was asked about water quality in the province, and that while water quality is largely a provincial issue, how bad does it have to get before the federal government steps in? Jean got to speak first, pointing out that he is a registered trapper back home in Fort Mac, and he goes fishing upstream of Fort Chipewyan whenever he can, and he hasn't suffered any ill effects yet. However, he did bring up a recent incident when he broke with party lines and sent a letter to Premier Stelmach asking for tighter environmental regulations on the Clearwater River. Going back to some earlier answers, he emphasized not so much the federal government stepping in, but working more cooperatively with the provinces. Asterisk spoke next, pointing out that many of the water monitoring organizations in Alberta are volunteer organizations, and encouraged people to get out and volunteer. Young spoke last, and also emphasized cooperation with the provinces, this time in setting up a new water strategy.

The final question was intriguing. The questioner asked that, in the rush to help the environment, something's got to give, so what will drop in priority to focus on the environment? Asterisk spoke of the Green's smart economic plan, and once again, �Tax the things that are bad for you.� Jean spoke about how the Conservative government has been lax in enforcing the Environmental Protection Act, citing that enforcement of it would shut down everything in Alberta. Young spoke about working on energy conservation measures.

(Sorry if this last paragraph seems disjointed...my notes aren't the best for this section. I think I was checking the score in the Montreal-Boston game on my BlackBerry during this one.)

Question 4 and More

Since things were really running late at this time, the decision was made to open the floor to all questions, but please, ask questions about the economy first.

The first question was a long rambling one, but I think the jist of it was creating a more equitable distribution of wealth. Asterisk was first, citing that there has been some disenfranchisement because of the current taxation system, and that the Green tax shift would help. She also then said that the Conservative's corporate tax cuts have not creative jobs. Jean speak next, and of course he disagreed, saying the Conservative's tax cuts have crated jobs. He also then spoke that the Conservative strategy is to reduce the taxes on your pre-tax income, to give you more money in your pocket. Young spoke last, emphasizing the need to create jobs, and to help low income owners.

Next up was from a person who had taken umbridge at a Conservative attack ad, attacking the cuts to healthcare made under the last Liberal government. Jean said that he can't justify the cuts the Liberals made, and that the Conservatives have increased health transfers by 33%. Young spoke next, saying that there were government surpluses before the Conservatives took charge, and that we wants to work to reduce wait times. Asterisk spoke last, bringing some old quotes from Stephen Harper that were in favour of privatized healthcare, and speaking of the Greens having a renewed commitment to the health act.

The second-last question of the night was about strengthening the manufacturing sector in the nation. Jean spoke first, saying that yes, a lot of Canadian companies are moving their manufacturing jobs overseas, but that's because those companies are doing really well. He then brought up that there's still a thriving manufacturing section in Canada. Young was next up, saying that a stronger manufacturing sector would help bring stability to the economy. Asterisk spoke to the marketing model of planned obsolesence, and how the manufactuing sector quickly creates waste management issues.

The final question of the next was again from that APTN reporter. She wanted to know more about the tax cuts to the oilsands. Jean spoke first again, citing that all the Conservatives really did was reverse everything the Liberals did in the 1990s, and what the Conservatives did was allow the oilsands to be developed more quickly and create jobs. Asterisk spoke next, saying that the government should be here to protect us and that the Conservative tax cuts where not a good thing. Young admitted that she needed more information, and would look it up and get back to the reporter.

  

Closing Statements

Liberal candidate Karen Young was first with her closing statements. Young said that she wants to work for the people. She wants to work to increase the status of women, to improve the lives of seniors, and to work with industry. She also emphasized that it's important to never forget where you came from.

Green candidate Jule Asterisk spoke next. She opened with the Serenity prayer, with an emphasis on the part about accepting the things you cannot change. From there, she moved on to helping those who fall through the cracks, and that we can achieve to be better.

Conservative candidate and incumbent Brain Jean spoke last. First up, he thanked his fellow candidates for having the courage to stand up and run for office, and that they do have some good points in their platforms. Going back to the discussion on the manufacturing sector, he pointed out that 20% of North America's cars are produced in Canada. He threw in the old conservative mantra that you can't tax your way to prosperity, and he reaffirmed the Conservative commitment to scrapping the long gun registry.

My Personal Opinion

I could tell that Asterisk and Young were still very new to this. They had a nervous waver in their voice and were leafing through their notes a lot. Jean was much more polished and much more confident, but hey, 7 years on the floor of the House of Commons has got to be great public speaking practice. And the way he thanked the other candidates in his closing statement struck me to be a very classy move, and I found that to be a great surprise. Jean probably does need to revise some of his talking points, though. Seriously, dude, Stephane Dion jokes are so 2007.

It was a good turnout, though. I don't think the crowd was very Conservative-friendly though, as whenever Jean started quoting the Conservative platform, it did illicit groans from the audience. But still, being in hostile territory, Jean behaved admirably.

I won't declare a winner, because hey, it's a forum, not a debate. But it was a very informative night and I learned a lot about the candidates.

Polls are on May 2. Don't forget to vote.

Blades of Blood Movie Poster

Blades of Blood

Release: May 2, 2011
Director: Lee Joon-Ik
Writer: Seok-Hwan Choi, Cheol-Hyeon Jo, Oh Seung-Hyeon
Cast: Seong-hyeon Baek, Seung-won Cha, Kim Chang-Wan, Ji-hye Han
 
Synopsis: An incredible tale of deadly rivalries and blood-soaked battles, Blades of Blood is a heart-pounding martial arts epic that is already being hailed as a modern classic. As a kingdom faces an invading army the court splits into two rival factions, both vying for the king's trust. Frustrated with the lack of action this leads to, one courtier splits away, forming a rebel army that hacks and slashes its way to power, leaving a trail of betrayed friends and traumatized victims in its wake. But one friend, an old blind swordsman, and the young warrior he is training refuse to stand down and the battle for control of the nation becomes a grudge match between the country's two greatest warriors.
 
 

Blades of Blood Trailer

The New Weird Al Album!!

Wow, what a difference a day makes!

As I reported back on Thursday, there was a bit of a kerfuffle between "Weird Al" Yankovic and Lady Gaga.  In case you don't want to go back and click on that entry, here's the Coles Notes.  Weird Al had an idea for a parody of Born This Way, Lady Gaga made him write and produce the whole song before signing off on it...and then she said no.  Weird Al was grumpy that all his hard work had been for naught and was getting ready to release it as a free download.

But then, on Thursday afternoon, the whole story came out.  Turns out Lady Gaga...never heard Weird Al's parody.  Her manager was the one who said "She wants to hear the whole thing first," and her manager was the one who ultimately said, "No."  Once Weird Al posted the song online and told his story, Lady Gaga finally heard the parody, loved it, and officially gave it her thumbs up!

So that means, Weird Al's new album is on track!  A release date of June 21 has been announced, and Weird Al has revealed the name of his next album!

Get ready for...the Alpocalypse!

Oh, and if you don't want to wait until June 21, you can buy his Lady Gaga parody, Perform This Way, on iTunes TODAY!! 

That's What I Am Movie Poster

That's What I Am

Release: April 28, 2011
Director: Michael Pavone
Writer: Michael Pavone
Cast: Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, Molly Parker, Randy Orton, Chase Ellison, Alexander Walters
 
Synopsis: Set in California against the backdrop of the mid-sixties, "That's What I Am" is a coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison), a bright student who, like most kids his age, will do anything to avoid conflict for fear of suffering overwhelming ridicule and punishment from his junior high school peers. Everyone's favorite teacher, Mr. Simon (Ed Harris), pairs Andy with the school's biggest outcast and social pariah, Stanley aka "Big G" (Alexander Walters), on a critical school project. Sporting thick orange hair, a head too big for his body and ears too big for his head, "Big G" has been the object of ridicule since grade school. Before long, Andy will learn that there was truly a method behind Mr. Simon's madness as to why he teamed these two up.
After a dramatic incident in the schoolyard, teachers and parents rethink their roles in school and society. Principal Kelner (Amy Madigan) suspends a school bully for brutally beating up a female classmate. The vindictive father of the bully makes Mr. Simon the target of a malicious rumor about his sexuality, causing Mr. Simon to question his calling as an educator and mentor to his students. When Andy watches "Big G" fearlessly confront the school bully about the incident, a series of events are triggered. Much to Andy's surprise, he learns that "Big G" is a brilliant, kind, tolerant human being, who has more dignity than anyone Andy has ever encountered.
 

That's What I Am Trailer

Game of Thrones Movie Poster

Game of Thrones

Release: April 17, 2011
Director: Tim Van Patten, Brian Kirk, Daniel Minahan, Alan Taylor
Writer: David Benioff, Dan Weiss, Bryan Cogman, Jane Espenson, George R. R. Martin
Cast: Sean Bean, Mark Addy, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Michelle Fairley, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Iain Glen, Aidan Gillen, Harry Lloyd, Kit Harington, Jason Momoa, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Richard Madden, Alfie Allen, Rory McCann, Peter Dinklage
 
Synopsis: Seven noble families fight for control of the mythical land of Westeros. Political and sexual intrigue abound. The primary families are the Stark, Lannister, and Baratheon families. Robert Baratheon, King of Westeros, asks his old friend Eddard Stark to serve as his chief advisor. Eddard, suspecting that his predecessor had been murdered, accepts so that he can investigate further. It turns out more than one family is plotting to take the throne. The Queen's family, the Lannisters, may be hatching an incestuous plot to take control. Across the sea, the last surviving members of the previously deposed ruling family, the Targaryens, are also plotting a return to power. The conflict between these families and others, including the Greyjoys, the Tullys, the Arryns, and the Tyrells, leads to war. Meanwhile, in the north, an ancient evil awakens. Amidst war and the political confusion, a brotherhood of misfits, The Night's Watch, is all that stands between the realms of men and the horrors beyond.
 

Game of Thrones Trailer

Weird Al Don't Get As Much Respect Anymore

Most people who know me will tell you that I'm one of the biggest "Weird Al" Yankovic fanboys in the world.  Therefore, there's three little words that always gets me tingling:  new Weird Al.

Today, on YouTube, Weird Al posted a brand new parody...a spoof of Lady Gaga's Born This Way which he retitled I Perform This Way.  Weird Al also added the disclaimer that this song will NOT be on his new album. 








As the story goes, Weird Al wanted to get Lady Gaga's approval for the parody. Weird Al doesn't need to get approval, he just does because he's a nice guy like that. However, rather than just a description of the song or a copy of the lyrics, Lady Gaga insisted on hearing the song fully produced before signing off on it. So Weird Al did. And then she said no.

So, Weird Al's being miffed stems from the fact that he poured a lot of hard work into this, and he doesn't want all his hard work to go for naught because of it. Never mind that now he's looking for a new song to parody to be the lead single on his new album. So, he's posting the song to YouTube, and he'll be making it a free download at his official website in the weeks ahead.

Why am I sitting here rehashing this tale? Just go to Weird Al's official blog, and read the tale in his own words.

Sadly, though, this is starting to become par for the course for Weird Al. Let's flash back to five years ago. Pretty much the same thing happened. The lead single was going to be You're Pitiful, a parody of James Blunt's You're Beautiful. But, James Blunt's record company stepped in at the last minute and forbade it's release, fearing that the parody would damage Blunt's image. Blunt himself was cool with it. So, Weird Al made it a free download at his website...where you can still download it today!





Or heck, back in 2003, with Weird Al's album Poodle Hat. The lead single was Couch Potato, a spoof of Eminem's Lose Yourself. While Eminem reluctantly agreed to the parody, Eminem vetoed the music video. Eminem's argument was that he already mocks himself though his "Slim Shady" persona, so no one else has to. But still, with music videos still being the biggest part of Weird Al's exposure, it was a devastating blow ot Poodle Hat's sales.





Weird Al just doesn't get the same respect he once did. Once upon a time, about 20 years ago, when Weird Al did a parody of your song, it was taken as a badge of honor...achievement unlocked...a sign that you had made it! Now, though, it's starting to be seen as embarrassment...a dark spot...a chip in the original aritst's carefully constructed image.

As for my thoughts on the song...meh. It's not one of Weird Al's stronger parodies. Even in his original blog entry, Weird Al talks about making it kinda because everyone expected him to.

Oh, well. When You're Pitiful was barred from release, Weird Al came back and did the much more kick-ass White n' Nerdy. So I'm sure whatever replacement Weird Al cooks up will be better.

We Go Way Back Movie Poster

We Go Way Back

Release: April 29, 2011
Director: Lynn Shelton
Writer: Lynn Shelton
Cast: Kate Bayley, Aaron Blakely, Maggie Brown, Sullivan Brown, Sean Cook, Alycia Delmore, Basil Harris, Russell Hodgkinson
 
Synopsis: A hard-working young actress with a small theater company, Kate lands her first leading role on her twenty-third birthday. When she reads a cheerfully inquisitive birthday letter from her thirteen-year-old self, it seems she might actually be fulfilling childhood aspirations. But the letter triggers mounting confusion for Kate, and her former self - in the form of a voice and the occasional fleeting vision - won't seem to go away. As Kate bends to the whims of those around her with dwindling resistance, the protests of her adolescent self grow more hauntingly intrusive until, in a surrealistic turn, thirteen-year-old Katie appears in the flesh, primed for a confrontation. Beautifully shot and poetically edited, this resonant film explores the comedy and pain of finding the courage to face up to yourself.
 

We Go Way Back Trailer

History Repeats, As Always

I was leafing through the paper the other day, and I found this article that caught my eye.

It looks like Jasper is going to get a Tim Hortons. 

Reading the article, I was instantly taken back to around 10 years ago, when it was announced that Japser would be getting a McDonald's.  There were mass protests.  People did not want it in their backyard.  It opened up anyway, and closed down after two or three years.  The official reason for the closing was the labour shortage...they couldn't find anyone to work there. 

As I'm sure you know, Jasper is a favourite place of mine.  I've been going there on vacation ever since I was a kid.  And Jasper has always prided themselves on being less commercially-developed than Banff.  I last went to Banff a couple of years ago.  And yeah, Banff really is for tourists now.  Big chain stores on every corner.  Throngs of tourists crowding the streets.  I was camping with my parents, and we needed some propane for the BBQ.  No one in Banff carries propane anymore, as very few people come to Banff to camp anymore.  We wound up going all the way out to Canmore to get propane. 

But Jasper, on the other hand, has fought very hard to retain their small mountain town charm.  There's hardly any chain stores.  The only major fast food chains that come to mind are A&W and KFC.  They've managed to protect themselves, and keep their small business community thriving. 

That was part of the reason of the protests against McDonald's all those years ago.  McDonald's is the ultimate symbol of commercialization...of course they didn't want it in their backyard.  Tim Hortons, though, while not as global as McDonald's, it is a big chain moving in. 

Jasper has to face pressure, though, right?  They have to feel the pressure to become as commercialized as other places in order to start brining in more money.  But then it can be argued that, with the focus on small business, you have the potential for more things like boutiques which bring in higher-end stuff. 

Oh, well.  I'm sure that Jasper getting a Tim Hortons is inevitable.  After all, one of the big selling points of Rocky Mountain tourism is to provide that Canadian experience.  And, according to the TV commercials, what's more Canadian than a cup of Tim Hortons coffee? 

Transformers: Dark of the Moon New Poster

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Release: July 1, 2011
Director: Michael Bay
Writer: Ehren Kruger
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Ken Jeong, Patrick Dempsey, Alan Tudyk

Let's All Go to the Trailer Park!

A couple of new movie trailers have gone online in the past few days, and I feel all compelled to share my thoughts on them.

First up, time for the reboot of one of the first science-fiction franchises, Planet of the Apes.  To borrow one of Charlton Heston's lines from the original, Rise of the Planet of the Apes shows how we maniacs blew it all up.  So I guess that kind of makes it a remake of the original series film Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, which tackled the same material.





*sigh* I gotta tweak my blog format so I can get wider movies in here.

My first thought: this is the first time I've ever seen a special effects company get top billing. Weta Digital, of course, became the kings of motion capture technology when they gave us Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Andy Serkis, who played Gollum, dons a motion capture rig once again to play Caeser, the first ape to gain intelligence and lead the uprising. James Franco plays the scientist who starts granting the apes intelligence.

Is it just me, or does it seem to be following a zombie movie formula, with intelligent apes instead of zombies?

August 5 is when this hits theatres, and I'll probably check it out.

Next up, we have the new trailer for Cowboys & Aliens. I'll admit, the first trailer didn't quite capture my interest, but this one gets me jazzed. It's got a great pedigre behind it. Jon Favreau (the Iron Man movies) directs, with a script from Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (the Star Trek reboot and the first Transformers movie), based on the graphic novel of the same name. Daniel Craig plays a man in the old west, who wakes up in the middle of the desert with no memory of who he is and a strange device attached to his wrist. Apparently, he's a wanted man, and when he's being apprehended by a posse, aliens show up and start abducting people. Now, our hero must lead a ragtag band of western archetypes to save those who've been abducted. Harrison Ford and Olivia Wilde are also in this one.





It hits theatres July 29.

Prom Movie Poster

Prom

Release: April 29, 2011
Director: Joe Nussbaum
Writer: Katie Wech
Cast: Aimee Teegarden, Thomas McDonell, Danielle Campbell, Yin Chang, Kylie Bunbury, Nicholas Braun, Jared Kusnitz, Jonathan Keltz, Raini Rodriguez
 
Synopsis: At Prom, every couple has a story and no two are exactly alike. Several intersecting stories unfold at one high school as the big dance approaches; "Prom" portrays the precarious passage from high school to independence as some relationships unravel and others ignite. For Nova Prescott (Aimee Teegarden), it's a battle of wills as she finds herself drawn to the guy (Thomas McDonell) who gets in the way of her perfect prom. Fellow seniors Mei (Yin Chang) and Tyler (De'Vaughn Nixon) harbor secrets, while others face all the insecurity and anticipation that surrounds one of high school's most seminal events. There are hundreds of nights in high school, but there's only one Prom.
 

Prom Trailer

Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil Movie Poster

Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil

Release: April 29, 2011
Director: Michael D'Isa-Hogan
Writer: Cory Edwards, Todd Edwards, Tony Leech
Cast: Hayden Panettiere, Glenn Close, Patrick Warburton, David Ogden Stiers, Andy Dick, Benjy Gaither, Martin Short, Joan Cusack, Wayne Newton, David Alan Grier, Amy Poehler, Bill Hader
 

Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil Trailer

Sniper: Reloaded Movie Poster

Sniper: Reloaded

Release: April 26, 2011
Director: Claudio F�h
Writer: Ross Helford, John Fasano, Michael Frost Beckner, Crash Leyland
Cast: Billy Zane, Richard Sammel, Chad Michael Collins, Patrick Lyster, Annabel Wright
 
Synopsis: While working with the UN Forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Marine Sgt. Brandon Beckett (Chad Michael Collins), son of renowned sniper Thomas Beckett, receives orders to rescue a European farmer trapped in the middle of hostile rebel territory. When he and his men arrive at the farm, a mysterious sniper ambushes them, wounding Beckett and killing everyone else. With the help of his father's former prot�g�, sniper instructor Richard Miller (Billy Zane), Beckett must learn to think like a sniper to track down the assassin before the sniper returns to finish the job.
 

Sniper: Reloaded Trailer

When Harry Tries to Marry Movie Poster

When Harry Tries to Marry

Release: April 22, 2011
Director: Nayan Padrai
Writer: Nayan Padrai, Ralph Stein
Cast: Rahul Rai, Stefanie Estes, Freishia Bomanbehram, Tony Mirrcandani, Zenobia Shroff, Osvaldo Hernandez Chavez, Caitlin Gold, Grant Kretchik
 

When Harry Tries to Marry Trailer

Textuality Movie Poster

Textuality

Release: April 22, 2011
Director: Warren P. Sonoda
Writer: Liam Card
Cast: Jason Lewis, Carly Pope, Kristen Hager, Eric McCormack, Liam Card, Holly Elissa Lamaro, Supinder Wraich

Textuality Trailer

The Bang Bang Club Movie Poster

The Bang Bang Club

Release: April 22, 2011
Director: Steven Silver
Writer: Steven Silver
Cast: Malin Akerman, Taylor Kitsch, Ryan Phillippe, Ashley Mulheron, Frank Rautenbach, Neels Van Jaarsveld
 

The Bang Bang Club Trailer

Apollo 18 Movie Poster

Apollo 18
Release: April 22, 2011

Synopsis: Officially, Apollo 17, launched December 17th, 1972, was the last manned mission to the moon. But a year later, in December of 1973, two American astronauts were sent on a secret mission to the moon funded by the US Department of Defense. What you are about to see is the actual footage which the astronauts captured on that mission. While NASA denies its authenticity, others say it's the real reason we've never gone back to the moon.

Apollo 18 Trailer

Red Dog Movie Poster

Red Dog

Release: April 21, 2011
Director: Kriv Stenders
Writer: Louis de Berni�res, Daniel Taplitz
Cast: Josh Lucas, Rachael Taylor, Luke Ford, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Noah Taylor
 
Synopsis: Red Dog (1971 � November 20, 1979) was a Kelpie/Cattle dog cross which was well-known for his travels through Western Australia's Pilbara region. There is a statue in his memory in Dampier, which is one of the towns to which he often returned. He is frequently referred to as a "Red Kelpie" or a "Red Cloud Kelpie", although no such breeds exist.
Red Dog is believed to have been born in the town of Paraburdoo in 1971 and had a variety of names to those who knew him, including: Bluey, Tally Ho, and Dog of the Northwest. Tally Ho was his first name, given to him by a man called Colonel Cummings, who is believed to have been his first owner and the one who brought him to Dampier. The nickname "Red Dog" has been attributed to the red dirt of the Pilbara Region. His second owner was John Stazzonelli, a truck driver with Hamersley Iron, whose work allowed Red to travel as far as Perth, Broome, Roebourne, Point Samson and Port Hedland.
Following John's death in 1975, Red spent a lot of time traveling on his own although he was taken in by many members of the community and a veterinarian who treated him. Red was made a member of the Dampier Salts Sport and Social Club and the Transport Union. He was also given a bank account with Wales Bank, which is said to have used him as a mascot and sales tool with the slogan, "If Red banks at the Wales, then you can too". Although he had many friends, it is believed that his death in 1979 was caused by deliberate strychnine poisoning. Red is buried in an unmarked grave somewhere between Dampier and Karratha.
 

Red Dog Trailer

Street Kings 2: Motor City Movie Poster

Street Kings 2: Motor City

Release: April 19, 2011

Director: Chris Fisher
Writer: Ed Gonzalez, Jeremy Haft
Cast: Ray Liotta, Shawn Hatosy

Synopsis: Marty Kingston (Liotta) is an undercover narcotics detective who is shot and barely survives a drug bust gone wrong to save the life of his partner. When his partner is killed by a masked gunman four years later, Marty must team up with hothead homicide detective Dan Sullivan (Hatosy) to investigate a string of brutal cop murders and hunt down the cop killer. The investigation that ensues is shrouded in deception and loaded with plot twists that question the line between the rules of law and justice.

Street Kings 2: Motor City Trailer

Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure Movie Poster

Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure

Release: April 19, 2011
Director: Michael Lembeck
Writer: Robert Horn
Cast: Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Austin Butler, Bradley Steven Perry, Lauren Collins, Cameron Goodman, Alec Mapa, Jack Plotnick, Shawn Byfield, Jorge Molina, Alessandra Cannito

Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure Trailer

Scream 4 Movie Poster - Photo Gallery

Scream 4

Release: April 15, 2011
Director: Wes Craven
Writer: Kevin Williamson
Cast: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox Arquette, Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Marielle Jaffe, Rory Culkin, Nico Tortorella, Erik Knudsen, Marley Shelton, Anthony Anderson, Adam Brody, Alison Brie, Mary McDonnell, Anna Paquin, Kristen Bell, Brittany Robertson
 
Synopsis: Ten years have passed, and Sidney Prescott, who has put herself back together thanks in part to her writing, is visited by the Ghostface Killer.
Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), now the author of a self-help book, returns home to Woodsboro on the last stop of her book tour. There she reconnects with Sheriff Dewey (David Arquette) and Gale (Courteney Cox), who are now married, as well as her cousin Jill (Emma Roberts) and her Aunt Kate (Mary McDonnell). Unfortunately Sidney's appearance also brings about the return of Ghostface, putting Sidney, Gale, and Dewey, along with Jill, her friends, and the whole town of Woodsboro in danger.
 

Scream 4 Trailer

 

Scream 4 Teaser Trailer

 
Scream 4 Photo Gallery
 
 

Scream 4 Photo 1

 

Scream 4 Photo 2

 

Scream 4 Photo 3

 

Scream 4 Photo 4

The Three Musketeers 3D Movie Poster

The Three Musketeers 3D

Release: April 15, or October 14, 2011
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Writer: Paul W.S. Anderson, Alex Litvalk
Cast: Logan Lerman, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans, Matthew Macfadyen, Christoph Waltz, Mads Mikkelsen, Milla Jovovich, Juno Temple, Orlando Bloom, James Corden
 
Synopsis: The hot-headed young D'Artagnan (Logan Lerman) joins forces with three rogue Musketeers (Matthew MacFadyen, Luke Evans and Ray Stevenson) in this reboot of Alexandre Dumas' story. They must stop the evil Richlieu (Christoph Waltz) and face off with Buckingham (Orlando Bloom) and the treacherous Milady (Milla Jovovich).
 

The Three Musketeers 3D Trailer

Water for Elephants Movie Poster

Water for Elephants

Release: April 15, 2011
Director: Francis Lawrence
Writer: Richard LaGravenese
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz, James Frain, Hal Holbrook, Paul Schneider
 
Synopsis: Based on the acclaimed bestseller, Water for Elephants presents an unexpected romance in a uniquely compelling setting. Veterinary school student Jacob meets and falls in love with Marlena, a star performer in a circus of a bygone era. They discover beauty amidst the world of the Big Top, and come together through their compassion for a special elephant. Against all odds -- including the wrath of Marlena's charismatic but dangerous husband, August -- Jacob and Marlena find lifelong love.
 

Water for Elephants Trailer

The Princess of Montpensier Movie Poster

The Princess of Montpensier

Release: April 15, 2011
Director: Bertrand Tavernier
Writer: Jean Cosmos, Fran�ois-Olivier Rousseau, Bertrand Tavernier
Cast: M�lanie Thierry, Lambert Wilson, Gr�goire Leprince-Ringuet, Gaspard Ulliel, Rapha�l Personnaz
 
Synopsis: Bertrand Tavernier is in top form with this gripping, superbly mounted drama set against the savage Catholic/Protestant wars that ripped France apart in the 16th century. Based on a novella by the celebrated Madame de Lafayette, the action centers on the love of Marie de Mezi�res for her dashing cousin Henri de Guise, thwarted when her father's political ambitions force her into marriage with the well-connected Philippe de Montpensier, who she has never met. When Philippe is called away to fight, she is left in the care of Count Chabannes, an aging nobleman with a disdain for warfare, and soon becomes exposed to the sexual and political intrigues of court.
 

The Princess of Montpensier Trailer

Bizim Buyuk Caresizligimiz Movie Poster

Bizim Buyuk Caresizligimiz - Our Grand Dispair

Release: April 15, 2011
Director: Seyfi Teoman
Writer: Seyfi Teoman, Baris Bicakci
Cast: Ilker Aksum, Fatih Al, G�nes Sayin, Baki Davrak, Taner Birsel, Mehmet Ali Nuroglu

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Character Posters

Pen�lope Cruz as Angelica Blackbeard's daughter and Sparrow's love interest.

Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow the former captain of the Black Pearl who is now in search of the Fountain of Youth.

Geoffrey Rush as Captain Hector Barbossa a former pirate captain; now a privateer in the court of King George II and captain of the HMS Providence.

Ian McShane as Blackbeard the pirate captain of the Queen Anne's Revenge who wants to reclaim his youth by finding the Fountain of Youth.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Mermaids: Gemma Ward as Tamara, �strid Berg�s-Frisbey as Syrena

Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow - Character: Pirates of the Caribbean Films

Madison County Movie Poster

Madison County

Release: April 15, 2011
Director: Eric England
Writer: Eric England
Cast: Nick Principe, Ace Marrero, Colley Bailey, Natalie Scheetz, Joanna Sotomura, Matt Mercer, Adrienne Harrell, Katie Stegeman, James Cotten, Marshall Yates
 
Synopsis: A group of college kids travel to a small, mountain town called Madison County to interview the author of a tell-all book on the accounts of several grisly murders that happened there. But when the kids get to Madison County, the author is no where to be found and the towns people act like they haven't seen him in years. They also say that the killer never existed and the murders never happened. However, when the kids start digging around to get their own answers, they find out that the stories maybe more real than the townspeople are letting on.
 

Madison County Trailer

The Imperialists Are Still Alive! Movie Poster

The Imperialists Are Still Alive!

Release: April 15, 2011
Director: Zeina Durra
Writer: Zeina Durra
Cast: Elodie Bouchez, Jose Maria de Tavira
 
Synopsis: A successful visual artist working in post-9/11 Manhattan, Asya lives the life of the hip and glamorous, replete with exclusive art parties, supermodels, and stretch limousines while she carefully follows the situation in the Middle East on television. Asya learns that her childhood friend, Faisal, has disappeared--the victim of a purported CIA abduction. That same night, she meets Javier, a sexy Mexican PhD student, and romance blossoms. Javier finds Asya's conspiracy theories overly paranoid--but nothing in Asya's world is as it seems. Asya's life is reflective of the themes of cultural fusion, and the complications and humor that arise simultaneously out of everyday life.
Zeina Durra's atmospheric debut feature is an alluring and intelligent look at the way the war on terror seeps into the texture of everyday American life. Gorgeous 16 mm grain imbues the film with an anachronistic feel that interestingly evokes times past. The Imperialists Are Still Alive! is an exceptional work and heralds the arrival of Durra as an exciting new directorial talent.
 

The Imperialists Are Still Alive! Trailer

 
 

Elodie Bouchez

Hesher Movie Poster

Hesher

Release: April 15, 2011
Director: Spencer Susser
Writer: Spencer Susser
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman, Rainn Wilson, Devin Brochu, Piper Laurie
 
Synopsis: Loud music. Pornography. Burning stuff to the ground. These are a few of Hesher's favorite things. And they are what Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) brings into the lives of 13-year-old TJ (Devin Brochu) and his father, Paul (Rainn Wilson) when he unexpectedly takes up residence in their garage uninvited. Told through the eyes of TJ, HESHER is a dark fairy tale about an eccentric unhinged drifter who appears out of nowhere to help a struggling family deal with loss in the most unconventional of ways. TJ is simply going through the motions of his daily life, quietly grieving throughout each day, until Hesher arrives like a force of nature, not stopping for anything in his path. Paul is also so grief-stricken the he can't muster the strength to evict the strange squatter, and soon the long-haired, tattooed Hesher becomes a fixture in the household. Hesher also befriends TJ's grandmother (Piper Laurie), who lives with them. She's extremely lonely as her son and grandson are unable to snap out of their fog. When Hesher arrives and appreciates her cooking and listens to her stories, it's as though she found a new friend, under very odd circumstances. The only friend TJ really has is Nicole (Natalie Portman), who is a supermarket cashier who comes to TJ's rescue when he first encounters Hesher. They have an odd relationship that's based, in part, on TJ's infatuation with Nicole. Although initially a rather terrifying character, over time Hesher's anarchy shakes the family out of their grief and helps them embrace life once more.
 

Hesher Trailer

Footprints Movie Poster

Footprints

Release: April 15, 2011
Director: Steven Peros
Writer: Steven Peros
Cast: Sybil Temtchine, H.M. Wynant, Pippa Scott
 
Synopsis: From the writer of The Cat�s Meow (directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Kirsten Dunst and Eddie Izzard) comes this haunting, hopeful, and unforgettable mystery. A young woman wakes up at dawn, face down on the famed footprints of Grauman's Chinese Theatre, with no idea who she is or how she got there. She spends the day entirely on Hollywood Boulevard, piecing together her identity through her interaction with a host of disparate characters and famous locales. By sundown, she will discover the revelatory truth about her existence, forcing her to make choices that will literally result in either her life� or death.
 

Footprints Trailer