The Orphanage is a Spanish horror movie from the year 2007.

In the leading role is Belen Rueda (Laura) who lives in the old house with her husband Carlos and son Simon. The house used to be an orphanage and Laura spent her childhood there until she was adopted. Laura’s son is also adopted but he doesn’t know it at the beginning of the movie. He is the only child in the family and that’s why he has a lot of imaginary friends.  Laura is a bit worried about Simon because of these friends: Simon says that his friend told him that Laura and Carlos aren’t his real parents. Simon is HIV positive and because of that he must take medicines every day.

When Laura was a child there wasn’t a lot of children in the orphanage -only six, including Laura. And now, Laura is going to open the orphanage again and take there only a few child. But when Simon disappears the plans about opening the orphanage again are cancelled. After Simon’s disappearance Laura starts to see these Simon’s imaginary friends and soon she realizes that they are the children who lived in the orphanage with her when she was a child. There is only one strange thing: these children haven’t grown up at all. And in a really complicated ways these children try to help Laura to find Simon.

Casting of the film is very successful, though first it was a bit weird to see Rueda in a movie like this because she is probably best known from the Spanish series ”Los Serranos”. This movie is a horror movie and there is a lot of scary scenes (of course music has a big part in this: without it the scenes wouldn’t be so horrible) but it isn’t really that traumatic, like some other movies in this genre.

The Quantum of Solace is a James Bond film and belongs to the genre of action movies – and of course the right genre for this movie. It was released in 2008 and it is directed by Marc Foster. The premiere was in Britain 28^th October and in Finland 7^th November in 2008. The stars are Daniel Craig as James Bond, Judi Dench as M and Olga Kurylenko as “the Bond girl” Camille. The movie is produced by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. The previous James Bond film was Casino Royale (2006 ) and the latest film is Skyfall (2012). The most famous British agent is created by Ian Fleming. Most of the Bond films are based on his books. Fleming is also one of the scriptwriters.

The plot of the film is quite simple, but not so fascinating. At the first scene James Bond and M get almost killed by an international terrorist organization, Quantum. Bond starts to investigate the Quantum and finds himself in Haiti where he meets Camille who wants to revenge her parent’s death to General Medrano (Joaquin Cosio) whereas Medrano is planning a coup d’etat in Bolivia. Bond finds out that a wealthy business man, Dominic Green (Mathieu Amalric) is a member of Quantum. Bond surprises the meeting of Quantum in the middle of opera show in Austria and accidentally slays a bodyguard of Prime Minister that leads to troubles with MI6. After the uncomfortable accident there is only one man left that Bond can trust, Rene Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini). Unfortunately Mathis gets killed and Bond and Camille need to head for Bolivia without Mathis. It turns out that Greene’s target is the water reserves of Bolivia. CIA is interested in the oil and has promised that it won’t stop the coup if it gets oil fields. Greene and Medrano are going to do a contract which says the new government will use Greene’s company as the water supplier and Greene will own 60 per cent of water reserves. Bond and Camille find their way to the Atacama Desert where Camille kills Medrano and Bond forces Greene to tell everything about Quantum.

Bond movies are famous for the soundtracks. The soundtrack of The Quantum of Solace is Another way to die which is made by Alicia Keys and Jack White. It is a rock song with a modern nuance. Personally, I have heard better Bond film theme songs than Another way to die, like Diamonds are forever.

In my opinion this wasn’t the best Bond movie which I have seen. My favorite James Bond movie is the Skyfall because the plot is better than ever before in James Bond films.

I chose the movie Nine. It released in 2009. Nine is musical romance film directed and produced by Rob Marshall and the screenplay are written by Anthony Minghella and Michael Tolkin. In the leading roles are Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Penélope Cruz, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson and Stacy Ferguson.

Nine tells about almost 50-years-old movie director man, named Guido Contini ( Daniel Day- Lewis). He is struggling with a middle age crisis: his new movie doesn’t seem to finished (even the script it’s not ready) and his relationships are mess. He is trying to get his work, his arts and his private life to balance. Guido has to solve his relationships to the women of his life; his wife (Marion Cotillard), his secret lover (Penélope Cruz), his muse (Nicole Kidman), a costumer and a loyal friend (Judi Dench), an American journalist (Kate Hudson), prostitute from his past (Stacy Ferguson) and his mother (Sophia Loren). The movie’s location is Italy in 60’s.

The first impressions after seeing movie were that the movie is very artistic and you can’t loose your focus because of the flash backs of Contini’s childhood. Sometimes it felt so stupid that the characters spoke English, even when two Italians spoke to each other English. Overall the characters were believable. For example when Luisa Contini (Guido Contini’s wife) sang about their marriage, you could almost felt her pain.

The dancing scenes were spectacular. The choreograhies were big and massive. Of course when there was dancing there was also singing. Every character had his or her time to shine with singing. My own favorite dancing scene was when Stephanie (Kate Hudson) singing Cinema Italiano.

The casting is very interesting but also succeed. I couldn’t think some else in the male role. Daniel Day-Lewis sound like a real Italian. Kate Hudson and Penélope Cruz suprised me by their singing. Judi Dench who I had only seen in Bond films made very impressive work as an costumer and Guido Contini’s loyal friend. Nicole Kidman was like usually perfect to her role as Contini’s muse. Penélope Cruz succeed her role more than perfect; I almost believe that she and Daniel Day-Lewis are lovers.

The flash backs made nice twist to the film. Those were black and white. The way how those were coloured got you understood easier what it now and what it’s past.

Genre is musical and it’s one of my facorite genre so that made this more fun. Nine is more fascinating because the singing scenes are separated so well from the other scenes than usually in musicals. That’s why I think it’s easy musical for everyone.

This Is Spinal Tap is a 1984 American Rock’n’Roll mock documentary directed by Rob Reiner. ”Mockumentary” is a type of film or television show, which fictional events are presented in documentary style and it’s a parody at the same time.

This Is Spinal Tap is a film about a 1982 United States concert tour for the fictional British rock group ”Spinal Tap” to promote their new album Smell the Glove. The band was founded by two childhood friends, David and Nigel.  Later they found from their band bassist, keyboardist and a series of drummers, each of whom mysteriously dies. So, without any damage the band will not survive. The tour continues, rescheduled into smaller and smaller venues. The gears are not working as well as it should be.

The movie ends, when Nigel already has left the band and coming to last gig of the tour and wishes to all others a good gig. Spinal Tap get up on the stage and Nigel (ex-guitarist) watching their gig from the side of the stage. It is last song of the gig, when David beckons Nigel to the stage. He grabs his guitar and plays with them.

Spinal Tap consists of heavy metal parody stereotypes of actors. Still, they have played in concerts and released albums. That is the point, when many people have thought that Spinal Tap is a real band.

Runnig time is 82 minutes, budget 2.5 millions and box-office 4,7 millions.

The movie is a great lesson that you should not take your wife on  the tour, because in this movie David’s wife first helps in practical matters and finally, she plays on the stage as part of the band. I have seen this movie many many times. ’This Is Spinal Tap’  is a movie that every rocker should be seen. One of the best ’movie’ on the world.

”Hello, Cleveland,,

The movie ”Revolutionary Road” is a drama film and it is directed by Sam Mendes. It based on the novel by Richard Yates. Revolutionary road is a love story but the happy one. The movie tells how April and Frank Wheeler strugles in their marriage and try to raise their two children at the same time. April is acted by Kate Winslet and Frank is acted by Leonardo DiCaprio. Yeas, the same couple as in the movie ”Titanic”, (they just aren’t as in love as they were in the Titanic.)

Wheelers family lives in Revolutionary Road which is suburban in Connecticut. Their children are called Michael and Jennifer. Wheelers have Campbells as their neightbours and they become friends. April wants to be an actor but her dream fails and Frank hates his job. They decide to move back to Paris where they could start over. But suddenly April is pregnant and the plans also fails. April doesn’t want to keep the baby but Frank disagree. They fight a lot about it. One day when Frank is at work, April sent the children at the Campbell’s house and do an abortion to herself. Of course It’s a very dangerous, specially at that time, in the 1950’s. April has to go to the hospital and have a cerdury. April doesn’t survive and Frank starts to live alone with the children. They move away from the Revolutionary Road and starts everything from the beginning.

I’m going to tell you about TV-series named Friends. Show was on TV during years 1994-2004 and it has been one of the most popular TV-series in television history. The creators of the series are David Crane and Marta Kauffman and it has been produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions. The series got filmed in front of live audience.

The series tells about six friends who live in Manhattan: Monica Geller (Courtney Cox), Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), Ross Geller (David Schwimmer), Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) and Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc). The actors were in their twenties when the series started and they were not specifically well-known but the show has made them globally renowned. But anyhow series begins when Rachel Green has run away from her own wedding and she comes to the coffeehouse named Central Perk where the rest of the group is. She is looking for her old high school friend Monica Geller. Rachel is spoiled girl and now she has to learn to live without her dad’s money. She moves in with Monica and gets her first job as waitress in coffeehouse Central Perk, where the group spends most of their spare time. During the series she dates Monica’s big brother Ross Geller and they are in on-off-relationship during the whole ten seasons. After her job in coffeehouse Rachel starts to work in fashion which is her passion. Rachel and Ross have a baby named Emma in the end of season eight.

Monica Geller works as a chef and she is a little perfectionist, bossy and she has competitive nature. Monica starts dating her friend Chandler Bing after spending one night together in the end of season four. The relationships begins with sneaking around because they don’t want anyone to know about them. However, the relationship is revealed and Monica and Chandler get married in the end of season seven. They can’t have babies but in the end of the season 10 they adopt twins.

Phoebe Buffay has lost her mom and dad and she lived in the streets her whole adolescence. She isn’t traumatized by that and she is totally okay whit what has happened to her. Phoebe has also a twin-sister Ursula but they are not in contact very much. Phoebe plays guitar and her songs are quite unique and she is also a masseuse.  Phoebe has one serious relationship with Mike Hannigan (Paul Rudd) and they get married in the last season.

Ross Geller is a paleontologist and in the beginning of the show he is divorcing from her lesbian-wife Carol Willick (Jane Sibbet). In the end of season one Carol gives birth to her and Ross’ children Ben (Cole Sprouse). Ross has on-off-relationship with Rachel and when they are off several years Ross gets married with Emily Waltham (Helen Baxendale) in the end of season four. Marriage doesn’t last long because Ross says Rachel’s name at the altar. Rachel and Ross also get married in Vegas when they were very drunk and that marriage also ends in divorce. So Ross is divorced three times and he is often joked about it. In the end of last season Ross and Rachel finally get back together.

Chandler Bing is the humor-man of the group and he makes a lot of sarcastic jokes about almost everything. In the first seasons he works in big corporation but later he quits his job and starts working with advertising. He is quite scared of commitment before he gets married with Monica. Chandler has quite odd past, because he is son of an erotic novelist mother and his dad is drag-queen in Las Vegas.

Joey Tribbiani is an actor and he is good with the ladies and he has many short-term girlfriends. He is not one of the smartest one, but he is an innocent and caring character with good intentions. Joey lives with Chandler for several years but when Monica and Chandler move in together Joey starts to live with Rachel.

The soundtrack of FRIENDS is I’ll be there for you by The Rembrandts. It was sold 500 000 copies in November 1995. The song I’ll be there for you is written by David Crane and Marta Kauffman and in the music video of the song there is all the six main characters from FRIENDS dancing and singing with The Rembrandts.

In my opinion FRIENDS is one of the best comedy series there has ever been. All the actors and writers have done great job and the characters are lovable and the humor is good. I recommend watching this series for all of you!

Plot:
Platoon is a movie that tells about Vietnam war. A young recruit, Chris Taylor, drops out of college and volunteers for combat duty in Vietnam and he’s assigned to Bravo Company, near the Cambodian border. He’s facing alot of problems from the beginning. He writes to his grandmother every now and then and he tells her that Vietnam is hell even though he’s only been there for a week. ”A goddamn week” says Chris himself. Soon after arriving, Chris is sent for an ambush during which one soldier loses his arm and few others are hit, including Chris. The platoon then returns to base camp.

Then the platoon is sent for a patrol near Cambodian border where they find a bunker complex. Sergeant Elias says ”See you next week” (even though he’s soon back) and jumps into the bunker tunnel to see where it leads. Meanwhile, Sandy and Sal are killed by a booby-trap. As the patrol moves forward, they reach a village nearby. The villagers are hiding in little holes but the platoon finds all of them. They also discover a supply cache. The soldiers are having trouble with the villagers and the chief’s wife is killed in order to get some answers. Sargeant Elias then interrupts Sargeant Barnes by also starting a fight but platoon commander Lieutenant Wolfe orders the men to leave with the villagers and burn the village which they then do. As they’re leaving, Chris also stops a group of soldiers raping two young girls.

The platoon then returns to base and they meet Captain Harris who says there will be court-martial if he finds out that there’s been illegal killing in the village. Then comes the next patrol and the platoon runs into an ambush during which numerous soldiers are wounded. Wolfe then calls for an artillery strike but accidently gives wrong coordinates which leads in friendly fire casaulties. In the meantime, Elias takes Taylor and Rhah with him to intercept the enemies. Barnes orders the platoon to retreat and he goes into the jungle himself to find Elias’ group. Barnes finds Elias in the jungle and shoots him. As Barnes returns, he claims that Elias was killed by the enemy troops. As the platoon is taking off, they spot Elias running away from a group of Vietnamese soldiers. Back in the base camp, Taylor is mad at Barnes and is willing to kill Barnes as revenge. Drunken Barnes then interrupts them and Taylor starts a fight with Barnes which results in Taylor having a cut near his eye.

Bravo Company is then sent back to combat. Wolfe also orders Ramucci to take Elias’ squad. Taylor’s good friend King is sent back home. Taylor shares a foxhole with Francis and that night NVA (North Vietnamese Army) attacks the platoon breaking their defensive line. NVA also breaks through Alpha Company. During the fight, some of the soldiers of Bravo Company are killed, including Junior, Bunny and Wolfe. O’Neill is also about to die but he manages to hide under a dead body so the ”gooks” couldn’t see him and thus O’Neill survives. Taylor’s foxhole is also blown up. Not only that, a suicide bomber runs into the battalion headquarter killing everyone inside it. Captain Harris then asks for the air force to blow the whole perimeter up. Barnes is just about to hit Taylor very hard but an explosion knocks both men unconscious. In the morning, Taylor finds wounded Barnes and shoots him. Friendly forces then find Taylor, Francis and O’Neill. Francis wasn’t harmed so he stabs himself in the leg so he can leave for home along with Taylor. Captain Harris then tells O’Neill shocking news that he gets the second platoon. Shocking because O’Neill has wanted to go home badly for a long time.

Information:
Charlie Sheen as Chris Taylor
Tom Berenger as Sergeant Bob Barnes
Willem Dafoe as Sergeant Elias
Keith David as King
Johnny Depp as Lerner
Mark Moses as Lieutenant Wolfe
John C. McGinley as Sergeant O’Neill

The movie is written and directed by Oliver Stone and produced by Arnold Kopelson. Charlie Seen, Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe are the stars of the movie. Platoon was released on the 19th of December, 1986. Music is by Georges Delerue.

Full soundtrack can be found here.

Source and full information can be found here.

Genre:
The main genre for this movie is war. Other genres are drama and action. Platoon won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1986. In 2007, the American Film Institute placed Platoon at #83 in their ”AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies” poll. British television channel Channel 4 voted Platoon as the 6th greatest war film ever made, behind Full Metal Jacket and ahead of A Bridge Too Far.

My opinion:
I haven’t ever been a big fan of war movies. Some time ago a good friend of mine told me to watch this along with few other war movies. I really liked all of them. Now I’ve watched this movie about ten times and I don’t see any reason why I wouldn’t watch this ten more times. I can suggest this movie to anyone who likes nice action because this one is full of it. Now I can proudly say I love war movies.

Casino Royale was released on 14. november 2006. It is based on Ian Fleming’s novel Casino Royale (1953) and it was directed by Martin Gampbell. It is the first Bond movie featuring Daniel Craig.

The Plot is consisted of Bond’s journey of becoming a double-0 agent, playing in a high-stakes poker game and discovering how no one can be trusted. Casino Royale is the new beginning for Bond movies. It’s story is continued in Quantum of Solace (2008) and Skyfall (2012). These movies explain the beginning of Bond and other characters such as M, Q and Miss Moneypenny. But only Casino Royale was written by Ian Fleming.

The casting is done very well. The actors are suited well to their characters and bring them to life. The Main star of the movie is obviously Daniel Craig as James Bond. He might not be the Bond we are used to but he brought something new to this series. Craig is joined by Judi Dench as M; Eva Green as Vesper, the Bond girl; Giancarlo Giannini as Rene Mathis, Bond’s contact and Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre, the Bond villain.

Casino Royale features great camerawork, effects and stunts. Effects include the biggest effect ever to be in a Bond movie the sinking of an Venetian house and the crash of Bond’s Aston Martin that broke a Guinness World record with it’s 7 rolls. Music of the movie was composed by David Arnold. The title song You Know my name was performed and composed by Chris Cornell.

Having also read Casino Royale (1953) I can safely say that the movie is actually much better! Believe it or not. The novel beeing the first of it’s kind it didn’t tell things that the movie did. The book starts at Montenegro with the poker not from how Bond became a double-0. Not to say the novel is bad but I like how in the movie more information is given of Bond. Of course the endings differ from each other because the movie needed to end so a sequal could be made.

All in all Casino Royale is a great movie. It’s different from former Bond movies and some people (including me) call it the best Bond movie ever made.

Desperate Housewives is an American TV-serie, which was created by March Cherry. Desperate Housewives tells about four women, who might look perfect but they all have their own problems and lives. These five ladies lives in imaginary Fairviews suburb.

The main characters are Teri Hatcher (Susan Mayer), Felicity Huffman (Lynette Scavo), Marcia Cross (Bree Van De Kamp), Eva Longoria (Gabrielle Solis). They all have their own personalities: Susan is a litle quick-tempered, Lynette is the trusted one, Bree is always perfect and Gabrielle is the most superficial. I don’t have any favourite, I like them all but Eva Longoria is the beautiest in my eyes. I think they all are very good actors, and the Desperate Housewives has wone one Golden Globe and one Emmy.

The creator of Desperate Housewives, March Cherry, had got the idea to make this serie from one shocking news. Andrea Yates, Texan mother, had killed her five child, and Cherry asked her own mother what kind of mother would do that. His mother told him, that she understands Yates, because she had also been so desperate when her man was away and she had to raise her children alone. This made Cherry think thay maybe also other women, who look doing fine, can be inside very depressed ans desperate.

There are eight production seasons. The first period was shown on ABC in 2004 and in year 2005 serie came to Finlands TV. One season includes 23 periods. The serie is very popular all over the world – also Oprah and Dr. Phil watches it. Description group spends normally 15 days for shooting one period. Every period has own theme which is demonstrated in the begining of the period. When there was a rumour that Eva Longoria will leave the show, Longoria said that they all (the main characters) have 10 years contract.