due to a spatter of good films i'd seen lately, i really didn't think Wanted would measure up to the rest, so i basically ignored it.

good thing my friend was insistent about watching it. actually she had already seen it, but i guess she just wanted to persuade me that it was good enough for second viewing. also, i wasn't in the mood for Hancock, so i gave in.

ok, more than halfway through the film i got convinced. and during the last 20 minutes i was half-cursing myself for not seeing this earlier. i initially thought it was more hype than anything, but after considering the movie from many angles i am now sure that it's one of the better films i'd seen so far (2008).

angelina jolie (Fox) was -- as expected -- great. it's almost downright easy to see her as this beautiful and lethal assassin who can kick your ass with a mere flick of her finger. james mcavoy (Wesley Gibson), although not the first actor you would automatically think of for an action flick like Wanted, does an amazing job as a reluctant recruit into a secret band of assassins. and morgan freeman (Sloan) has a heavy screen presence that would serve him in any role he chooses to portray.

if Timur Bekmambetov (director) had chosen to play Wanted (based on a comic book series by Mark Millar) as a straightforward story, it would have lost most of its charm and heft. The twist near the end made things worthwhile and more interesting.

[i'm seeing The Dark Knight for the second time tonight, so my review on this amazing movie will have to wait till then.]

Other years- I love to get my kids to write ransom notes.

Take a text and simply cut the words out at key points. The stick the story on coloured paper and fill in their own words.

Use newspapers as display board backing.

Here's a topical one:

''"The mother and her babies are doing very well," reported the Fondation Lenval hospital.
There had been rumours the star would make her exit by helicopter from the roof of the hospital in Nice.
But it is not known how she managed to leave without being spotted by the reporters and cameramen camped outside.
Angelina and her megastar partner Brad Pitt will have been keen to keep twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt away from the lenses as they have reportedly agreed to sell the first images of the babies to a US publication for a whopping £5.5m.
Jolie checked into the hospital on July 2 and delivered the babies by Caesarian section 10 days later.
Vivienne Marcheline weighed 5lbs and her brother Knox Leon was a fraction heavier.
In its statement, the Fondation Lenval thanked the Jolie-Pitts for choosing its hospital.
It also thanked the hospital staff "for the attention and care they paid to the family" and the "journalists around the hospital who did their best to respect their privacy".
The publication that has signed the photo deal has not been named but the proceeds are expected to go to charity.''

Prostia asta de film se bazeaza pe cea mai retardata chestie posibila care nu credeam ca poate exista.

(Spoilere in continuare)

O organizatie de asasini veche de peste 1000 de ani (ce impresionant, au traditie) primeste ordine de la un razboi imens de tesut, ordine care sunt descifrate numarand firele suprapuse in tesatura care iese din razboi (care e lata de 2 metri dar se citeste numai o bucatica, cu lupa) si fac ceva chestii in binar si rezulta numele celor care trebuie executati pentru ca "soarta" vrea asa.

In caz ca n`ai vazut filmul, reciteste paragraful de mai sus, e exact asa de idiot precum suna.

Avem un looser fara personalitate, Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), care afla de la Fox (Angelina Jolie) ca tatal sau, un mare asasin, a fost omorat de alt asasin (Cross) si ca el trebuie sa`i faca felul. Wesley are o petarda de prietena care e combinata cu cel mai bun prieten al sau, o slujba nasoala si o sefa care injura si urla. Se pare ca talentul de asasin e mostenit (?) pentru ca Wesley are ceva puteri de a putea vedea in slow motion. Muzica rock, injuraturile si slow motion`ul il vor face cool pe parcursul filmului.

Organizatia e condusa de Sloan (Morgan Freeman) care e asa mult incearca sa para malefic incat e un cliseu al tuturor rolurilor sale. Faza cand incepe sa explice ceva, cu vocea lui monotona cu care a tot explicat in N filme, e anestezica. Numai ii auzi vocea si adormi.

Dupa ce e recrutat de organizatia asta de criminali incepe initierea lui. Are ore de lupta cu cutiele cu un macelar, ora de pistoale cu un tip mai negru, apoi il legau de un scaun si`l bateau ca sa stie cine e. Makes sense...Ca sa se refaca aveau la subsol niste bazine cu o solutie care`i regenera.

Evident ca nu poate omori direct pe Cross, trebuie sa omoare in mod fantezist alte tinte ca sa se initieze. Deja din punctul asta zici ca`i Harry Potter si Voldemort. Wesley devine si mai smecher cand incepe sa traga gloante cu traiectorie curba pentru ca legile fizicii cu conteaza.

Alte filme precum seria Die Hard, care au adus demolarea orasului la un "must" atunci cand tipul bun fuge dupa tipul rau (tuna masini pe autostrada, darama poduri, trec cu masina prin piata de zarzavat si intra intr`un carut cu pepeni si ii iau pe parbriz, mai impusca un elicopter care explodeaza undeva in fundal, etc) sunt un copil mic pe langa Wanted. In acest film, in cursa de a`l prinde pe Cross astia rastoarna un tren intreg, plin de pasageri nevinovati intr`o rapa fara fund.

Apoi intervine o mirifica schimbare de actiune. De fapt Wesley afla ca tatal sau e Cross, cel pe care deja l`a omorat in tren si de fapt organizatia de debili mintali care l`au antrenat (si caftit la greu intre pranz si cina) sunt aia rai care trebuie ucisi. Si apoi se duce ca Rambo, omoara tot, inclusiv maestrii de la care a invatat si in final Fox trage un glont cu traiectorie circulara care omoara pe restul de asasini care intamplator erau in cerc si i se intoarce ei in creieri si yay toti mor.

Concluzia e ca Wesley a facut ceva in viata si ca noi ce dracu` facem. Chiar asa zice o voce la final. Un amestec de sange, injuraturi, gloante, batai fara rost. E exact genul de om care face pe un american idiot sa`si ia pusca si sa zboare creierii la toti colegii de facultate sau de servici.

Angelina is finally heading home.

After checking into the hospital on July 2nd and delivering Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline via c-section last weekend, the mother of 6 left the hospital before sunrise this morning in Nice, France
The latest additions to the growing Jolie-Pitt army reportedly left with mom and got their first taste of the celebrity high life as they were sped away from the hospital in a large van with tinted windows.

A bidding war has erupted for the first pics of the twins, with magazines reportedly offering between $11 and $20 million. Knox and Vivienne have to pose for the pics, but will never see a dime of that cash-their philanthropic parents are donating the money to charity.

The 60-year-old actor was named Thursday to the board of directors of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, the foundation raising money to build the memorial to the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Crystal becomes the 45th member of the board, joining "Analyze This" co-star Robert De Niro.

He participated in a benefit concert for the city a month after the terror attacks. He also has co-hosted eight Comic Relief telethons on HBO to raise money for the homeless.

The foundation has raised more than $350 million privately to build the memorial.

Hellboy e seu exército tiram Hancock do 1º lugar...

1º Hellboy II: O Exército de Ouro - O diretor Guilherme Del Toro insistiu, e conseguiu fazer uma sequência do longa original de 2004... E olha só, o faturamento desta sequência foi muito maior do que o do primeiro filme, pois conseguir uma bilheteria de US$ 34,5 milhões em uma semana que antecede um dos grandes blockbusters do ano não é nada fácil!

2º Hancock - Perdendo a liderança, mas no entanto, arrecadando ainda muito bem, o desajeitado superherói (Will Smith) conseguiu mais US$ 32,1 milhões.

3º Viagem Ao Centro da Terra - A aventura estrelada por Brendan Fraser estrou direto no 3º lugar, obetendo um resultado mediano de US$ 21 milhões.

4º Wall-E - E o robozinho continua no Top 05, e somou mais US$ 18,5 milhões (e já acumula no total - nos E.U.A mais de US$ 162 milhões). 

5º Wanted - E fechando o top 05 da semana, Angelina Jolie e sua turma perita em movimentos balísticos segura o último lugar do top, e fatura mais US$ 12 milhões.

Obs: Pessoal, peço desculpas pela demora nas atualizações desta semana (estudando MUITO para o vestibular!!).

This was my most highly anticipated movie of the summer. It was "The Departed" starring Batman and The Joker. I went with 2 people a couple of years older than me and 4 teens (14, 14, 15, and 15)

The teens' reviews: "Boring", "I thought it would have been better", "Loved it", and "FN awesome".

My review: Pretty Good.

Heath Ledger as the joker turned in a good performance. He was the highlight of the film. The blazing reviews he has been getting for his acting job is based on these factors: 1) He did a GOOD job. 2) The movie is very slowly paced so his under-the-top performance is a jolt in a slow paced movie. 3) Post Death Honors 4) All the cool lines in the movie went to the Joker. (They didn't give Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhardt, or Michael Caine anything interesting to say or do. I don't remember 1 thing Batman said.) The Joker's magic trick is CLASSIC.

I picked up on several of the inspirations for Ledger's Joker. The obsessive annoying lip licking is straight from Hannibal Lector when he licked at Jodie Foster. The punk kid act is straight from A Clockwork Orange's Alex as played by Malcolm McDowell. There were a couple of forced Nicholson's Joker laughs. He also very much reminded me of Jigsaw puppet from Saw. So for me it was like listening to a really good a Beastie Boys song from "Paul's Boutique" where all the samples form something cool but you still know that it's really a lot of other people's work that's been incorporated. Kinda of an Andy Warhol painting of a soup can or Marilyn Monroe. No matter how many people say how original it is, it's still not a Michelangelo.

So if The Academy wants to give him a posthumous Oscar that he maybe should have earned for Brokeback Mountain, who am I to protest. But, this was not in the same class as Jack Nicholson's joker by any stretch of the imagination.  Had Jack Nicholson reprised his role with this script it would have been truly something magical.

The Rest of the Movie: I'm tired of the self conscious superhero looking for an excuse to quit storyline. But, I enjoyed the movie with all of its flaws. I would watch it again. To me it was as if they took the movie, "The Departed" and added in Batman and The Joker. And I really liked The Departed. I'm going to break it out on DVD asap as soon as I watch Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, and Tim Burton's more entertaining Batman on DVD. Maybe I'll watch them in picture in picture.

I do recommend the movie. It is pretty good. Better than The Incredible Hulk (who also played that get me out of here superhero role). Not as fun as Iron Man but with a much better villain. Not as good as Wanted with Angelina Jolie.

UPDATE: Quote from MSNBC review about Heath Ledger's performance: "Nothing that Jack Nicholson, much less Cesar Romero, created even comes close." That is utter nonsense. It's a journalistic crime to insult and belittle the all-time best superhero villain performance just for the sake of hyperbole. Jack Nicholson has 3 Academy Awards (Oscars) for Best Actor and another 9 nominations. He was robbed of an Oscar for his take as the Joker in Batman but did win a Golden Globe for Best Leading Actor for Batman, a BAFTA, a Saturn, and various other awards. It's a fallacious argument to tear one person down in order to build another up. How come it isn't reasonable to say Ledger's performance stands up to Nicholson's?

It looks like the little ones take all their time and attention and what they drive really doesn't matter much to them or does it?

It looks like their favorite car is BMW Hydrogen 7.

According to the manufacturer it will be driven only by selected users (read celebrities), at least in the beginning.

Brad and Jolie do not only take good care of their children but also take care of the environment. Hydrogen technology used in this car dramatically reduces emissions generated by "normal" cars and, in particular, minimizes the emission of CO2. Running in the hydrogen mode, the BMW Hydrogen 7 essentially emits nothing but vapor. And, unlike fossil fuels and traditional gasoline, hydrogen is available in virtually infinite supply.

Hát mit ne mondjak, egy élmény volt. :D Nem az a "romantikus csöpögős gengszterfilm happy enddel a végén", amit manapság mindenki elvár Hollywoodtól. Ez egy igazi élet-szagú-te-is-lehetsz-szuperhős film volt. Olyasmi, amik később hatalmas kultuszfilmekké növik ki magukat.

Hogy miről is szól? Wesley Allan Gibson igazi lúzer a legrosszabb fajtából. Az apja kiskorában elhagyta, a csaját dugja a legjobb haverja, egy irodában számlavezető, ráadásul pánikrohamok gyötrik. Van ennél lejjebb? Wesley szerint nincs.  Aztán egy nap betoppan az életébe egy gyönyörű bérgyilkosnő /természetesen Angelina Jolie/ és beszervezik egy 1000 éve alakult "Szövetség" nevű bérgyilkosegyletbe. Kiderül, hogy a pánikrohamai nem is pánikrohamok, csak a szive percenként 400at verve garantálja neki a tökéletes reflexeket.

A Szövetség feje, Sloan, kegyetlen kiképzésnek veti alá az újoncot, miközben kiderül, hogy annak apja is a szervezet tagja volt. És hogy mi adja a célpontokat? Egy, a szövet szálai között elrejtett kód adja ki a neveket, így teremtve meg az egyensúlyt a világban. A Szövetség jelszava : "Ölj meg egyet, ments meg ezret!".

Nos mikor Wesley már legkevésbé sem mondható lúzernek, inkább kanyarlövő mester-bérgyilkosnak, az ellen az ember ellen küldik, aki állítólag megölte az apját. Hősünk végez is vele, csakhogy ekkor kiderül, hogy Sloan végig hazudott neki, így Wesley az igazi apját ölte meg. Mindezek tetejére Sloan a szövetség egyik tagját is ráküldi a fiúra, hogy végezzen vele.

Hogy hogyan oldódik meg a film, csak körvonalazom : Wesley végezni akar a Szövetség minden tagjával, ezért a felkeresi a főhadi szállásuk, lesz ott vérfürdő, könnyek, csihi-puhi és minden, ami egy jó akciófilmhez kell.

Az utolsó pár mondat számomra a legemlékezetesebb : Ez nem én vagyok, amint Janice parancsolgat nekem, ez nem én vagyok, amint az irodámban ülök, ez nem én vagyok, amint apám nyomdikaiba lépek, ez nem én vagyok, amint megmentem a világot. Ez TÉNYLEG nem én vagyok. EZ vagyok én, amint apám nyomdokaiba lépek, beteljesítem a sorsom és olyat teszek, amiről a lúzer énem álmodni se mert. TE MI A SZART CSINÁLTÁL EDDIG?!

                                                                        Jessica Brooklyn Vicious

NOTE: This little blog may seem biased towards musicians so tried to pepper it up with some choices outside of the world of music.

LITERARY CRUSH (NPR EDITION)

Sarah Vowell is one of my favorite authors. I have read every one of her books, I immediately turn up the radio when she comes on NPR and have seen her do readings in Boston. I even loved hearing her voice in The Incredibles (she voiced Violet, the daughter with invisibility powers).  In her writing, you can feel her passion for history and her details of family interactions are so true to life. She loves my favorite band (They Might Be Giants) and is a self confessed geek. Despite playing this for humorous effect, her writing hits me deeply and I always feel like I've learned something after reading one of her stories. And she is so cute!! Her pictures do her no justice whatsoever. I'm not sure what happens with the camera, but she looks so different in person. *sighs*

COMEDIC CRUSH

Madeline Kahn. I grew up watching her in the comedies of Mel Brooks and every time, she plays the over the top scenery chewing, comedic center of attention and I love every minute of it. Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles and even Clue, she shines in an ensemble cast where a lesser actress could easily fall into the background. One of her famous quotes: "There are no small parts, only small actors". She was so right.

DRAMATIC CRUSHES

Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek....do I even have to explain? Didn't think so...let's move on.

POP STAR CRUSH

Lady Kier from Deee-Lite. I have never owned very many so-called 'dance' albums, but their first album was incredible and you cannot tell me that your ass doesn't start moving when "Groove is in the heart" comes pumping out the speakers! The video for that song was incredible and damn this woman can dance. We were at the Hard Rock Cafe in Boston and this video started playing in the restaurant. For a few minutes I was lost in that technicolor goodness....

ROCK CRUSH (WITH A SCOTTISH ACCENT)

Shirley Manson from Garbage. Working in radio had it's perks and one of them was having the opportunity to meet musicians. When their first album was released, I weaseled my way to one of their shows and got a chance to interview Miss Manson. I was reduced to a giggly little fanboy in about 30 seconds. The eyes, the voice, the attitude, this woman has a way of cutting right through the pop/rock posturing and creating amazing pieces of writing and music. She challenges you with her lyrics while making your ass move with the beat....

ROCK CRUSH (ICELANDIC EDITION)

Bjork, strange, quirky, silly, shows up to awards shows dressed as a swan, throws a mean right hook if a papparazzi takes too many pics of her kids. Loved her unique voice when she was in the Sugarcabes but she really came into her own when she struck out as a solo artist.

ROCK STAR (COLLEGE RADIO EDITION)

Tanya Donnelly, formerly of Throwing Muses and Belly. Yeah, our little world of college radio in the 80's and early 90's didn't have alot of women as headlining artists. There were a few who were more than inspiring (Kate Bush, Kim Gordon, Juliana Hatfield, PJ Harvey and of course, Tori Amos, more on her later) but Tanya Donnelly was just downright sexxy. Last year, she and Kristin Hersh, the other half of Throwing Muses got together for a show at the Brattle Theater that I heard about, but ultimately missed due to the suck that is my job...missed an opportunity to relive a little piece of my youth.

ROCK STAR CRUSH (COLLEGE RADIO EDITION, PART DEUX)

Natalie Merchant. I was re-reading this and I totally forgot to mention the amazing Miss Merchant. Formerly of 10000 Maniacs, she has since broken out on her own and produced some of the most soulfull music of the last decade or so. But when she was with the Maniacs, she stole my heart, spinning and singing on stage, her voice soaring above the music. "These Are Days" is one of those songs that will always be with me and will always make me smile and my heart to swoon a little.

ROCK CRUSH (TATTOOED GOODNESS)

Jennifer Arroyo from Kittie and Suicide City. I can't say enough nice things about this woman. Met her through my friends in other bands and she is a total rockstar: super sweet, always so positive, tosses her bass around like a baton, amazing stage presence and covered in some really sick ink.

POLITICAL CRUSH (LEFT WING PUNDITRY)

Janeane Garofalo, I first saw her do stand up comedy on the very short lived Dennis Miller talk show and had a little crush on her ever since. The punk attitude, the glasses (not pictured) she epitomizes what I would chase after in the 90's: frumpy post punk nerdy girl goodness! :) Lately, she has been the voice of the 'radical left', which, truly is a bunch of bullshit. You want radical left wing looniness? Go talk to Jello Biafra sometime and get back to me how 'lefty looney' you think Janeane is then. I heard she is returning to acting this coming season on 24! I'm so excited!

TELEVISION CRUSH (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER EDITION)

Allyson Hannigan...and pretty much every woman on that show! I think this show was the ultimate nerdy culture wet dream! A group of amazing and dead sexxy woman fighting the supernatural evils of the world...with a couple guys thrown in there too... But Allyson Hannigan truly won my heart with her shy portrayal of the computer nerd who slowly but surely finds herself and her confidence as the show went along...

TELEVISION CRUSH (FOOD NETWORK SPECIAL)

Giada and Rachael Ray....there is a reason why males 18-45 are watching their shows! Giada is truly a wonderful chef and she is great at showing technique and truly creating some amazing recipes. She is a traditionalist, formerly trained and experienced with cooking and creating restaurant ready recipes for the home. Rachael Ray is not. She is perky and happy and way way overexposed but her appeal is simple: she is the everyperson who can create a great dish in the kitchen that may not be 'formerly' or 'technically' correct, but still great food. She is more accessible than Giada, perhaps. But both are damn cute, but Giada wins, hands down in just sheer luminescance. She absolutely glows when she is talking about something she is truly passionate about. Rachael giggles, which is cute...but no Giada... :)

TELEVISION CRUSH (NEWS NETWORK ALERT)

Robin Meade, the only reason I watch Headline News on CNN. I know nothing about her other than the camera loves her and she can read the news....

ROCK CRUSH (LOCAL GAL MAKES IT BIG EDITION)

Amanda Palmer from the Dresden Dolls. She just rocks my little world. Been to about 12 shows for the Dresden Dolls over the years and have been truly amazed at how far they have come, how the punk cabaret scene has grown and grown and Miss Palmer just matures more and more as artist. My friend Marriette said it best: she just seems like this force of nature and I can't help but be drawn in by her words and her voice.

OVERALL TOTAL AMAZING GODDESS

Tori Amos is just incredible. An amazing talent, incredible writer and performer and capable of reducing me to a blubbering puddle of goo. Her words inspire me, her voice sends chills down my spine and seeing her perform, well, definitely one of the best shows I have ever been to. When I was living in England, I had the opportunity to meet her and I completely froze up. I had bullshitted my way backstage with the "I work for an American Radio Station" which worked more often than not for some reason. I met the guitarist and we were chatting when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and there was Tori Amos. I completely froze. The world went into slow motion as I introduced myself and tried to talk. I don't remember what we talked about, but at the end, she said "enjoy the show" and leaned in and gave me a little hug. I watched her walk away and the guitarist got my attention again. He was laughing. And I was beet beet red..... He looked at me and said: "DOn't worry, shes used to that..." One of my favorite lyrics: "Just because you can make me cum, doesn't make you Jesus Christ". Love her...

Po (Jack Black) is a chubby panda working in a Chinese restaurant but dreams of making it big as a Kung Fu hero. He idolizes the biggest Kung Fu heroes of the village, namely, Tigress, Snake, Monkey, Mantis and Crane (Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen and David Cross respectively). He, then, hears about the induction of the Dragon Master who will be selected by Master Oogway himself. By seemingly sheer luck (or bad luck), Po gets selected as the Dragon Master who is to protect the village from the claws of Tai Lung (Ian McShane). In his mission he is assisted by Master Shifu (Hoffman, unidentifiable) who first seeks to drive out Po, but turns over a new leaf after a while.

Po is as cute as an animation character can get, but it is a pity that the creators have not utilized Jack Black fully for Po and vice versa. A bit more dedicated reconstruction could have not only guaranteed a great character, but also a huge brand value for the character which could then be merchandised well. With a enviable cast for the Furious five, it is but natural to expect some big role for them. Unfortunately, the film spends most of its time bringing out Po’s vulnerability and innocence and hence, the characters are merely reduced to a bunch of creatures you will fascinate staring at a zoo. However, Shifu’s small stature (a red panda) and Hoffman’s efforts suit the etching of his character and makes his presence worthwhile. The depiction of Tai Lung is anything but novel.

One of the minor commendable points of the film is the choice of its fauna for the images of the characters. The monochromatic Po is totally out of place in the colourful world of Valley of Peace, the slow and steady tortoise is the intellectual master of the palace, subordinated by the relatively rash, hare-like Shifu and a black and white polar creature, Tai Lung is pitted against another. However, the writers are to blame for the biggest blow for the film, the utterly stale and predictable plot that has become a favorite of critics to pan down. No sir, we did not expect this from the creators of Shrek (2001) and Madagascar (2005).

Now there must be something in the film to counterbalance the wound created by the plot and there is. The fabulously rendered world of Valley of Peace and Chinese architecture, never once pretending to be realistic, vibrant and daring use of colours and Kung Fu action that can substitute many Hong Kong flicks are definitely noteworthy. The tone of imagery, which is now fast becoming the trademark of Dreamworks, is thankfully retained and this paves way for the future flicks from Dreamworks to add girth to the plot. Finally, there is a huge opportunity for a sequel with a lot of spaces to be filled from the first one. Hmm… I guess the image of the Furious five can be reinstated there.

Unlike Madagascar, which provided visual treat for the toddlers and also retained the adults with its hilarious one-liners, Kung Fu Panda is clearly for the children and hence focuses more on slapstick and juvenile verbal humour. This, without doubt, will entice the young ones, but grown ups (cinematically, that is) beware. With Madagascar’s sequel to hit in a few weeks, it is a good time for Dreamworks to recapture the adult market it may have lost with Kung Fu Panda.

Verdict:

Angelina Jolie

Seriously, Wall street ought to pay a lot of attention to Fashion.  "flush times mean higher hemlines" Forget the twins, look at Angelina's hemlines.

Then Wanted shows Angelina Jolie, mother of 6 children, kicking ass and shooting stuff.

Fuckin awesome, eh?

Then we are shown a group of assassins who kill whatever name comes up in the Loom of Fate. Yes. It's a mill machine that encode names in binary code into a fabric. Clever, I must say. But not so much.

Okay, there are more things that I love about the movie than the absurd bits. I love Angelina in this movie. I usually like Morgan Freeman, but not this time. I love James McCavoy. I love the bullet through the head scenes. I love the high-adrenaline chases and the orientation beat-ups and the knife trainings. The only absurdity was the plot twist, which was similar to star wars'.

Overall this movie is a 4.0 out of 5.0

stay for the action, dont mind the plot. read the comic instead.

1. Flip Your Part and Take Off

One of the fastest styles you can create without a pair of scissors? A low side part. “It’s so dramatic and instantly glamorous,” says hairstylist Kim Kimble, who works with Beyoncé. “Plus, it’s great for all hair types and textures.” She parts hair about four to six inches above the ear and sweeps strands back with the pointy tip of a comb.

2. Hike Up Lashes

Doing mascara on the fly requires a surgeon’s steady hands—or a makeup artist’s speedy strategy. “Always do your mascara first,” says Carol Shaw, who works on Nicole Kidman and Cindy Crawford. “If you mess up, which happens a lot, you can remove the smudge without wiping off everything else you’ve already applied.” Her warp-speed wand move: Wiggle the brush into the roots of lashes before pulling it through, then hit the tips of lashes a second time to make them seem a mile long. Try Fasio 3D Curl & Airy Lashes, P350.

3. Flawless Face Fix

If you can’t head out the door without foundation or concealer, save some time by combining these steps together: “Choose a product that can function as both foundation and concealer,” advises Xeng Zulueta of Shu Uemura. “Cream types are easy to apply while you’re on the move, as it’s best to apply them with fingers and they won’t spill in the process. Work your way out from underneath the eyes and blend out to the cheeks. Go easy on the cheeks and spot-conceal problem areas.” Try Becca Stick Foundation with SPF30, P2,000, or SanSan Matte Finish Liquid Foundation, P91.75.

4. Freeze Out a Zit

It’s Murphy’s Law in action: If anything can go wrong, it will. This is often manifested by the appearance of a monstrous zit just before a hot date. For an emergency fix, Hollywood aesthetician Sonya Dakar tells her star flock (which includes Drew Barrymore and Brittany Murphy) to dab toner over the zit to dry up excess oil, then cool and flatten the bump with an ice cube (wrapped in tissue) for a minute. “Don’t leave the cube on for too long or you’ll wind up with redness,” she warns. Finish by drying the skin with a tissue and dotting a creamy concealer like Estée Lauder Ideal Light Brush-On Illuminator, P1,850.

5. Score Instant Waves

If the humidity puts your strands on permanent frizzmode, Maybelline New York’s Barbi Chan suggested tying slightly damp hair in a bun, then setting it with hair spray before blasting it with a hair dryer. “This creates instant wavy hair without using a curling iron,” Chan says. For soft, bouncy curls, try Tigi Curls Rock Hairspray, P1,195. Bonus: Your man will love the sweet candy smell of your hair!

6. Flush in a Flash

They say that the best blush is the color that you get in the throes of an orgasm—capture this look with cheek tint and some light shimmer. “Liquid blush layered with pink-gold shimmer imparts a soft glow,” says local makeup pro Tatin Yang. “Match it with tinted lip balm and curled lashes, and you’re good to go.” We’re betting Nichido Tickled Pink Cheek Tint, P128, to give you that perfect post-coital glow. Finish off by dusting The Balm Hot Mama Shadow Blush, P1,250, for its peachy-pink shimmer.

7. Whip Out a Posh Ponytail

If you must pull your hair back in a ponytail, at least do it with style. First, tease the roots around the crown to add volume, then pull everything up and back with your fingers. “But don’t tug hair too tightly or you’ll kill the volume,” says Kimble. Secure with an elastic, then dress it up by wrapping a few strands of your own hair around the band or covering it up with a bejeweled clip or scrunchie.

8. Dramatize Your Pucker

Ever wonder how film stars manage to look glamorous sans the smoky eyes and tons of shimmer? The trick is in a tube of classic red lipstick. “Whether you’re in a hurry or simply need an instant boost, red gives you the energy needed to [instantly project] that you’re strong, sexy, or ambitious,” says Jen Delica of Avon. Her hue-finding guide: If you have a darker complexion, go for a warm, brownish red like Avon Moisture Rich Wear in Spicy, P375. If your skin is fair, pick a blue-based red to make your mouth pop like Chanel Luminous Satin Lip Color in Lover, P1,650.

9. Fake Perfect Brows

Warning: If you’re about to walk out the door, avoid tweezing at all costs (you’ll waste time trying to cover up that puffy, red unibrow). “Groom brows by combing upwards and filling in sparse areas with light, feathery strokes with a brow pencil,” suggests Jigs Mayuga of L’Oréal. “[Fix strays with] brow gel or spray an eyebrow brush with hairspray before combing them out.” Check out Bloom Retractable Brow Definer in Medium Brown, P495.

10. Bedazzle Your Tresses

If it’s the mother of all bad hair days and you can’t spare another minute, slip on a metallic headband (or one with a posh print) or tie a casual ribbon around your head. The flashy hairpiece will help draw attention away from your less-than-perfect coif and create a glamorous (or funky, depending on what you’re wearing), put-together look with no effort at all.

11. Revive Your Roots in No Time

When party-hard celebs need to oomph up their hair on the double, New York stylist Tippi Shorter (who works with Ashanti and Rihanna) relies on this tip: “Rub a bit of sculpting wax between your palms until you see a bit of sheen on your hands, then scrunch up your roots,” she says. Try Dep Sport Sculpting Clay, P329.

12. De-Fuzz in a Hurry

Can’t make it to the salon for a wax session? Disguise a bigotilyo by dipping a fluffy powder brush into mineral powder foundation, then swipe it downward over any downy spots. This smoothens the hair so it lies flat and blends into your skin. Youngblood Loose Foundation, P1,850, will do just the trick.

13. Line Your Peepers

Eyeshadow can be the most time-consuming step in makeup. Cut down on blending time by skipping it altogether, and line your eyes instead. “Just use colored liner to give the illusion of wearing eyeshadow,” says Chan. Zulueta agrees. “Go bold with colored pencils, and make sure the tip is sharp and soft for easy application.” For smudge- and waterproof orbs, check out Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes, P850 each.

14. Try the 10-Second Towel Trick

Instead of heading straight for the fan or dryer, cut drying time in half by blotting excess water from your strands with a thick towel. Don’t rub it vigorously, though—it’ll only create frizz and be harder to style later on. Just press the towel firmly over large sections, then air dry.

15. Do a Super Fast Manicure

Cut the drying time of your nail polish in half by applying two very thin coats. “Most people throw on one thick coat to get it done fast, but that takes forever to harden and looks clumpy,” says manicurist Deborah Lippmann, who polishes up Reese Witherspoon and Hilary Swank. To ensure the lightest application of lacquer, wipe the brush against the neck of the bottle before painting a nail. We like Bobbie Nail Crème in Touch Me Hot, P35.10, or Caronia Nail Polish in Love, P25.

16. Speed Up Your Blowdry

No one wants to spend the better part of the day with a hairdryer in hand, so cut blowdrying time in half by using an extrawide round brush. “Not only can you cover more area quickly, but a larger barrel creates a smoother finish,” explains hairstylist Jimmy Paul, who works with Keira Knightley. Laminate your pin-straight locks with a few drops of serum like Citré Shine Anti-Frizz Serum, P229.50, for super shine.

17. Amp Up Your Pout

You might never have Angelina Jolie’s enviable lips, but here’s an old-fashioned recipe for full lips: olive oil and salt. “The oil is super moisturizing, and the sodium makes your skin bloat up fast,” says Dakar. Mix a spoonful of regular olive oil with a pinch of salt and spread lightly on your kisser.

18. Boost Volume in a Blink

There’s just no denying the appeal of soft, sexy curls. If you want to give life to stick-straight hair, you’ll be glad to know that it doesn’t take five hours to get fat curls. To do this, gather large sections of dry hair (about three inches wide), and roll them around the barrel of a skinny curling iron. In 10 minutes, you’ll be a vampy vixen. Our favorite: Philips 8-in-1 curling iron, P1,500.

19. Make Your Eyes Pop—Pronto

“The easiest way to achieve super dramatic eyes is to rim your eyes with black liner and load up on the mascara,” says Zulueta. It also helps if you do your mascara first so you can wipe off the smudges without having to start everything all over again. Just keep cotton buds handy to erase smears.

All trademarks and copyrights belong to their respective owners