[8.00/10] The King's Speech (2010)

The King's Speech (2010)

Brief review: British filmmaker Tom Hooper brings this simple, yet brilliantly-written and cleverly conceived story, about the unusual friendship between a future king and his speech therapist, which is not only historically accurate, but also hugely engrossing and truly heartfelt. The uneven, yet beautiful relationship between the two key characters is certainly the driving force of this film. Colin Firth delivers the performance of his career as the unconfident soon-to-be-king Albert, struggling to overcome a stammer, and yet, Geoffrey Rush is somewhat the more interesting and likable of the two. His performance is nothing short of fascinating, and although Firth gets all the credit for his difficult role as King George VI, Rush is equally as good, if not better, as the speech therapist, Lionel, who possess an incredibly uplifting spirit and a great charisma. Bonham Carter also gives a bravura performance as the supportive wife of "Bertie". From a technical standpoint, "The King's Speech" is no less impressive. Hooper's elegant camera work and smooth narrative are often mesmerizing, as is Danny Cohen's murky, yet splendid cinematography, and Eve Stewart's sophisticated production design captures the late 30's era to perfection.

Overall summary: Filmed with subtlety, care and utter smoothness, "The King's Speech" is a profoundly gripping, if slightly monotonous historical drama, driven by the exceptional, award-worthy performances of its superb cast, Geoffrey Rush in particular.

[6.50/10] Love and Other Drugs (2010)

Love and Other Drugs (2010)

Brief review: "Blood Diamond" director, Edward Zwick, brings this refreshing, love story about a handsome, yet selfish salesman, who happens to fall for a beautiful young woman, who suffers from Parkinson's disease. Though Zwick hardly balances the drama with hilarious character-driven humour, the end result is a smart, funny and sexy, yet heartfelt rom-com, that will leave you satisfied. The films also delivers plenty of delicious nudity and delightful sex scenes to satisfy viewers' curiosity. The two wonderful leads are certainly driving force of this movie. Not only that they are extremely physically attractive, but they both possess some truly impressive acting skills. Gyllenhaal often steals the show as the ambitious and handsome Jamie, however Anne Hathaway's charisma is so strong, that it's hard to take your eyes off of her, when she's on screen. In terms of chemistry, Gyllenhaal and Hathaway are a match made in heaven! Their relationship feels sincere and believable, it makes you think they're meant for each other. However, Josh Gad really lets the film down as the annoying younger brother of Jamie. Unfortunately, Gad appears on the screen way more often than expected, and most of the time he's just barely standable.

Overall summary: Thanks to its extremely likable leads, and grippingly-enjoyable story, "Love and Other Drugs" is a bittersweet dramdey, that is every bit as engaging and amusing, as it's touchingly emotional.

[9.00/10] Under the Hawthorn Tree (2010)

Under the Hawthorn Tree (2010)

Brief review: After his sumptuous piece of eye candy, "Curse of the Golden Flower", Chinese master Zhang Yimou is back to being himself with this deeply-touching love story, that takes place during Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and '70s. Though quite simple, this romance between a young woman and a man from different economic backgrounds, is probably the purest love story ever put on film. From the enthralling beginning to the tearjerking finale, everything about this beautifully-told story feels real, authentic and sincere, and you may find yourself emotionally involved with the characters and their feelings. Even though, this is Dongyu Zhou's first time in front of the camera, her performance is nothing short of impressive. She acts extremely naturally as the tender and innocent Jing Qiu, who faces life's struggles with strong will, and you can't help but feel engaged with her delicate, yet lovely personality. Shawn Dou, who's also widely unknown, is absolutely captivating and very likable as Zhou's love interest, who's extremely loyal and dedicated to his feelings for Jing. Though not nearly as lush and lavish, as Yimou's previous masterpieces "Hero" and "House of Flying Daggers", "Under the Hawthorn Tree" is equally as stunning, visually. The Chinese countryside scenery is breathtaking, and beautifully-captured by Yimou's camera, almost to the point of distraction. The muted color palette, used by cinematographer is smooth, elegant and gentle as the film itself, and the art direction dazzles with its simplicity.

Overall summary: Remarkably genuine, profoundly moving and beautifully-filmed, "Under the Hawthorn Tree" is yet another gem in the crown of Zhang Yimou's amazingly impressive filmography.

[6.75/10] Bedevilled (2010)

Bedevilled (2010)

Brief review: Jang Cheol-so's debut feature, "Bedevilled" takes place on an uncivilized island near Seoul, and tells the unusual story of Bok-nam - a woman, long time harassed by her husband, who seeks revenge for the death of her daughter. Despite being slightly pretentious and suffering from slow development, this blood-soaked revenge flick is a consistently gripping and thoroughly effective shocker, that while lacking in suspense, is filled with scenes of extreme violence, disturbing images and buckets of blood. Acting-wise, "Bedevilled" truly succeeds. Ji Sung-won does a great job as the complicated and lonely Hae-won, however, she's completely outshined by Yeong-hie Seo, who delivers an incredibly convincing and truly disturbing performance as the rejected Bok-nam. The supporting performances are as good as they're intimidating. Koren director Jang Cheol-so has an eye for detail, and an incredible sense of visual style, and it certainly shos, since "Bedevilled" is one of the most beautifully-shot and visually-stunning slashers I've ever seen. The choice of location is his smartest move regarding this film, as the Geumodo Island's scenery is simply breathtaking, and a beautiful backdrop for this otherwise grim story.

Overall summary: As gritty and violently brutal, as it's visually striking, "Bedevilled" delivers plenty of shocks, chills and spills, despite its oddness and pretentiousness.

[5.00/10] Vanishing on 7th Street (2011)

Vanishing on 7th Street (2011)

Brief review: "The Machinist" director, Brad Anderson, brings this post-apocalyptic horror-thriller about a bunch of strangers who find themselves alone, after a mysterious power plunges the city of Detroit into total darkness. Despite its great premise, "Vanishing" fails to deliver on many levels, as it suffers from slow pacing, lazy direction and a somewhat muddled plot, that never lives up to its potential. Furthermore, it contains very few chilling moments, and it's neither scary, nor suspenseful enough to call itself a horror movie. Though hauntingly atmospheric, "Vanishing on 7th Street" offers nothing spectacular in terms of visuals. It's a rather boring affair, lacking in imagination and budget, with very limited variety of settings and special effects. The acting is pretty mediocre. from everybody involved in this. Hayden Christensen may be physically attractive, but he hardly possesses any talent or acting skills. He's typically stiff in his role as Luke, as he fails to convey any genuine feeling or depth of emotion. Thandie Newton gives a decent performance as Rosemary, though she often has a tendency to overact. John Leguizamo is just okay, and Jacob Latimore delivers in his role as the daring and likable James.

Overall summary: Though potentially good and somewhat intriguing, "Vanishing on 7th Street" ends up as a huge disappointment, as it's completely ruined by an unimaginative script and lackluster execution.

[6.00/10] Life as We Know It (2010)

Life as We Know It (2010)

Brief review: Greg Berlanti's second full-length feature, "Life as We Know It", doesn't stand out amongst other movies of its ilk, as it uses many tired rom-com cliches, but it still tells a decent story that has plenty of hilarious moments, as well as some emotional and dramatic ones. Actually, aside from the annoyingly hackneyed climax, "Life as We Know It" is a charming and very pleasant cinematic experience, that hardly fails to engage the attention of its audience. The movie works mainly due to the stellar chemistry between its two sympathetic leads. Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel, not only look great, but they both deliver pretty good performances as Holly and Messer - two characters that can't stand each other, but still have an amazing on-screen relationship and mutual feelings that seem believable and very sincere. In fact, they would make a great real life couple. "Life as We Know It" is also quite attractive, visually. Berlanti's direction is smooth and competent enough, and the production design is excellent for this type of movie, but the reddish tint of Andrew Dunn's cinematography is somewhat unappealing. The bakery scenes are delightful and and deserve a special mention.

Overall summary: With its decent story, nice visuals and utterly likable cast, "Life as We Know It" is an entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable, if extremely formulaic romantic dramedy.

Music Blogfest: Top 10 Countdown

Music Blogfest: Top 10 Countdown

My dear friend, Alex J. Cavanaugh, is hosting yet another blogfest, and this time, it's all about music! Over 100 bloggers participate in this fantastic music blogfest, and today, on Jan 24, 2011, they will all share their 10 all-time favorite tunes. Visit Alex's blog, and pump up the volume! :)

As a complete House Music Junkie, I've decided to post 10 of my most favorite club tracks ever (plus a special and kinda shocking bonus entry), so enjoy, get on the dance floor, and shake your booty :)

"Not Everyone Understands House Music...Its a Spiritual Thing, a Body Thing, a Soul Thing..."

Nebular's TOP 10 CLUB TRACKS

1. Martijn Ten Velden - Wish I Could

2. Eric Prydz - Pjanoo

3. Michael Gray - The Weekend

4. Freemasons feat. Amanda Wilson - Watchin'

5. Rui Da Silva - Touch Me

6. ATB - Justify

7. Unknown Artist & Title

8. Sebastian Leger feat. Gia - Hypnotized

9. Three Drives on a Vynil - Greece 2000

10. Seamus Haji & Emanuel - Take Me Away

+BONUS: Mariah Carey feat. Boyz II Men - One Sweet Day

(probably my favorite song of all time)

[6.75/10] The Green Hornet [3D] (2011)

The Green Hornet [3D] (2011)

Brief review: Though it suffers from uneven pacing and unsteady direction, Michel Gondry's 'new wave' anti-superhero flick delivers exactly what it promises: great visuals, exciting car chases, cool gadgets and and plenty of martial arts action. Sadly, Seth Rogen plays the least likable character in this movie, as the Green Hornet himself is an egocentric idiot, who's more like а drone, rather than a hornet. The Taiwanese charmer, Jay Chou, is the true star of the film - not only that he's charismatic and engaging as an actor, but he also possesses an incredible martial arts skills, that will blow you away. Christoph Waltz steals the show, yet again, as the weird, yet delightfully sympathetic villain, Chudnofsky. Diaz is just okay in her role, and James Franco's cameo is rather disappointing. "The Green Hornet" may not have the most substantial plot ever, but it certainly delivers visually. The CGIs are truly impressive, especially those during the slow-mo Matrix-like fight sequences. The action itself is clearly the highlight of this flick, as it's exciting, well-shot and creatively-choreographed. Though the 3D adds little to the experience, it isn't exactly bad or unnecessary.

Overall summary: Quite brainless and often clumsy, yet spectacularly-entertaining, "The Green Hornet" is an inventive blend of flashy visuals and exciting action scenes, fleshed out with lots of enjoyable silliness.

[9.00/10] 127 Hours (2010)

127 Hours (2010)

Brief review: Based on the real-life story of the mountain climber Aron Ralston, who became trapped by a boulder in Robbers Roost, Utah, for more than five days in 2003, "127 Hours" is an emotional story of fate, hope and despair, that is sure to stay with you long after the credits roll. Despite its predictable climax, it's still a unique experience and unforgettable piece of filmmaking, that is as adventurous and entertaining, as it's claustrophobic and terrifying. Acting-wise, "127 Hours" is basically a one-man-show, but, oh boy, what a show! James Franco turns in an outstanding performance as the adrenaline-junkie climber, Ralston, who's not only physically trapped by a rock, between the canyon's walls, but also mentally "stuck" between harsh reality and dreamy illusions, in his fight for survival. Thanks to his magnetic charm and strong on-screen charisma, he carries the entire movie all by himself. Technically, "127 Hours" is nothing short of impressive! Danny Boyle's imaginative shooting style and vigorous camerawork are to be admired, as uses a very wide range of camera angles, and provide us with some breathtaking panoramic shots, as well as some impressive and intimate close-ups. The 'dream' sequence in particular is wonderfully-executed, and deserves a special mention. Moab's red rock canyon scenery is as stunning, as it's glorious, and it's beautifully-complemented by Chediak and Dod Mantle's sumptuously-saturated cinematography. The amazing music score fits perfectly with the absolutely arresting visuals of this real gem of a film.

Overall summary: A visual and technical tour-de-force, accompanied by James Franco's irresistible performance, "127 Hours" is one of Boyle's most remarkable achievements, and one of 2010's best films.

[7.25/10] Robot a.k.a. Endhiran (2010)

Robot

a.k.a.

Endhiran (2010)

Brief review: With its $ 42 million budget, Shankar' robo comedy, "Endhiran" is not only the most expensive Tamil film to date, but also one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time, earning more than $85 million worldwide. Although the story of a gifted scientist, who invents a super-powered robot, gets more and more ridiculous as the movie progresses, is hugely entertaining nonetheless, as it's filled with tons of hilarious situations, explosive action sequences, delightfully cartoonish special effects and plenty of quirky, yet likable characters. Oddly enough, the film even features 4 or 5 music videos, that are as funny and glamorously-looking, just as the actual movie itself. Pretty much everything about "Robot" is completely over-the-top. The stunts, coordinated by martial arts expert, Yuen Woo-Ping, are typically spectacular, as is the animeesque action choreography. The CGIs, while a bit cheesy and quite overdone, are fun to watch. The acting is also hilarious. Tamil "superstar" Rajinikanth is great as the super-cool robot, Chitti, and Aishwarya Rai, one of the most stunningly-gorgeous women in the entire world, overacts delightfully in her role as Sana.

Overall summary: Outrageously silly and ridiculously over-the-top, yet uniquely-executed and thoroughly enjoyable, "Endhiran" is the perfect Bollywood sci-fi blockbuster.

[5.00/10] Season of the Witch (2011)

Season of the Witch (2011)

Brief review: Sena's medieval fantasy, "Season of the Witch" is the first release of 2011, and despite its paper-thin plot, complete lack of scares and so-so sword fight sequences, it somehow manages to entertain, even if only occasionally. "Season of the Witch" is basically a road movie, as Cage and company are on a mission to transport a supposed-to-be-witch to a faraway monastery, in order to stop a mysterious plague, that religious masses believe is a work of witchcraft. However, it's biggest problem is, that it doesn't work very well, neither as a road movie, nor as a period fantasy, simply because it has very little to offer in terms of originality or thrills. Having said that, the film is far from terrible, visually. Shot in Central Europe, "Season of the Witch" boasts a scenery, that is as beautiful as it's grim, but the special effects while passable, often border on cheesy. Just like the movie itself, the acting is so-so. Cage and Perlman are convincing enough in their roles as Behmen and Felson, and the relationship between their characters is somewhat believable. Claire Foy also does a fair job as the innocent-looking, yet evil witch, but the supporting performances are, unfortunately, pretty dull.

Overall summary: Cliched and silly, yet hardly boring, "Season of the Witch" is a just another medieval horror/fantasy fare, that you'll forget as soon as the credits roll.

[7.00/10] Conviction (2010)

Conviction (2010)

Brief review: Based on the true story of Betty Anne Waters, an unemployed single mother who, with the help of attorney Barry Scheck, exonerated her wrongfully convicted brother, "Conviction" is an inspirational character-driven drama about loyalty, devotion, struggle and courage, that shows how even situations that seem hopeless are not always lost. However, "Conviction" is all about the performances. Hilary Swank, one of the finest actresses working today, delivers a powerful and extremely convincing performance as the determined and fierce Betty, devoted to her unjustly accused brother. Sam Rockwell also gives an astounding performance as the troubled rebel, Kenny Waters. Minnie Driver also shines as Betty's best friend, Abra, and though her screen time is very limited, she's an absolute joy to watch. Though, "Conviction" has this made-for-TV feel about it, it looks slick enough, visually. The muted, yet saturated color palette represents the 80's era well, and suits the tough and dramatic subject matter of the film. Tony Goldwyn's direction is competent, if unremarkable, and the simplicity of the story is compensated by a clever structure and a smooth editing.

Overall summary: Though traditional and often predictable, "Conviction" is a solid, emotionally-charged and brilliantly-acted drama, that inspires as well as entertains.

[8.25/10] Let Me In (2010)

Let Me In (2010)

Brief review: "Cloverfield" director, Matt Reeves, brings this masterfully-crafted remake of the 2008 Swedish phenomenon "Låt den rätte komma in", and his version of the well-acclaimed vampire story is, surprisingly, on-par with the original, and even superior in some ways. The story, while familiar, stands on its own, in a new, unique way. The pacing is subtle and exquisite, and the movie gets more and more gripping as the plot unfolds. Moreover, "Let Me In" delivers some truly chilling moments and intensity, which are rendered even stronger by the contrast with Michael Giacchino's haunting music score. The acting is also one of the film's main strengths. New comer, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and "Kick Ass" girl, Chloe Moretz, both deliver absolutely magnificent performances as Owen and Abby. They act so naturally and so sincerely in front of the camera, it's fascinating! "Let Me In" also dazzles with its technical brilliance. Reeves' direction is versatile as possible, providing us with countless precisely-shot scenes and great variety of camera angles. The snowy scenery is as creepy as it's gorgeous, and the production design is first-rate. The cinematography is absolutely breathtaking and deserves a special mention. Every scene is deeply atmospheric, and "painted" in different tint - golden, bluish, greyish, sepia, as every next scene is more stunning than the previous! Kudos to cinematographer Greig Fraser, as his use of color, shades and low-key lighting is amazing! Simply put, "Let Me In" is technically flawless.

Overall summary: Beautifully-filmed, subtly creepy and thoroughly compelling, "Let Me In" is one of those extremely rare cases, where the remake surpasses the original on many, many levels.

[5.50/10] Outcast (2010)

Outcast (2010)

Brief review: Despite being potentially great, this Celtic-inspired horror is a quite odd experience, that unsuccessfully combines horror elements with some modern day social drama. It's way too grim and moody to be enjoyable, and too slow and uneven to keep constantly the viewer's attention. However, the film really succeeds in terms of originality, as the story is like almost nothing you've seen before. Though lacking a great budget and technical enthusiasm, "Outcast" still manages to impress with its cheap-looking, yet appropriate production values, and murky cinematography that suit the dark mood of the story quite well. Furthermore, the practical effects are absolutely superb, as the creature itself looks uniquely-nasty and downright terrifying. What the movie lacks in budget terms is compensated with the superb and intense performances from the actors involved. Kate Dickie is definitely the main star of the show! She delivers an incredibly disturbing performance as the creepy mother, Mary. Niall Bruton also does a good job as the confused teenager who hides a true beast within, and Hanna Stanbridge is great as his temperamental love interest, Petronella.

Overall summary: Too unique to be a 'bad' horror movie, yet far too bizarre to be a great one, "Outcast" could be considered as both, a triumph and a failure.

[4.50/10] Die (2010)

Die (2010)

Brief review: A bunch of strangers wake up in an unknown place, without knowing how they got there or why. A cliche? Definitely! "Die" can be easily considered as a complete rip-off, as it shamelessly borrows ideas from many other similar horror thrillers, such as "13 (Tzameti)", "Saw" and "The Killing Room", just to name a few. Although, the story gets more intriguing as the movie unfolds, it never leaves up to its potential, as the film suffers from poor plot structure, muddled pacing and lazy direction. Technically, everything about "Die" screams low budget, as it's quite unimpressive in terms of visuals and execution. Yes, the death scenes are well-crafted and somehow clever, but they're neither gory, nor terrifying enough to stand out on their own. Actually, the only clever thing about "Die" is its tricky title. Acting-wise, "Die" also fails to deliver. Though Caterina Murino is one of the most naturally beautiful middle-aged women I've ever seen in my life, she lacks screen presence and seems quite bored throughout the film, and therefore, she never feels believable as the police inspector, Sofia. Elias Koteas is mediocre at best, and Emily Hampshire as Lisa is just too over-the-top.

Overall summary: With its cliched premise, poor execution and uninspired direction, "Die" is yet another lazy horror flick, that never rises above mediocrity.

CM: Nebular's All-Time Favorite Directors [Part 2]

PART 2 [No.10 - 1]

*********************************************

1. Zhang Yimou

SUMMARY:
"An extraordinary visionary, and a one-of-a-kind filmmaker!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[11/10] Hero a.k.a. Ying Xiong (2002)
[11/10] House of Flying Daggers (2004)
[9.75/10] Curse of the Golden Flower (2006)
[9.75/10] Raise the Red Lantern (1991)
[9.25/10] Ju Dou (1990)

*********************************************

2. Quentin Tarantino

SUMMARY:
"A unique genius! An amazing talent!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[11/10] Kill Bill vol.1 (2003)
[11/10] Kill Bill vol.2 (2004)
[10/10] Inglourious Basterds (2009)
[9.75/10] Pulp Fiction (1994)
[9.50/10] Death Proof (2007)

*********************************************
3. David Fincher

SUMMARY:
"A master behind the camera, and a true perfectionist!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[10/10] The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
[9.75/10] The Social Network (2010)
[9.75/10] Fight Club (1999)
[9.50/10] Se7en (1995)
[8.50/10] Zodiac (2007)
*********************************************
4. Guillermo del Toro

SUMMARY:
"Hands down, the most imaginative filmmaker ever born!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[10/10] Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
[9.75/10] Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (2008)
[9.50/10] Hellboy (2004)
[9.25/10] The Devil's Backbone (2001)
[8.75/10] Blade II (2002)
[8.75/10] Mimic (1997)
*********************************************
5. Ang Lee

SUMMARY:
"A personification of versatility!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[11/10] Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
[9.50/10] Lust, Caution (2007)
[9.50/10] Brokeback Mountain (2005)
[9.50/10] Sense and Sensibility (1995)
[8.75/10] Hulk (2003)


*********************************************
6. Peter Jackson

SUMMARY:
"A mindblowingly talented director, and a brilliant executor!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[10/10] The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001 - 2003)
[9.75/10] King Kong (2005)
[9.50/10] Dead Alive a.k.a. Braindead (1992)
[8.50/10] The Lovely Bones (2009)

*********************************************

7. Zack Snyder

SUMMARY:
"The most exciting contemporary filmmaker, with a striking visual style!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[10/10] 300 (2006)
[9.25/10] Watchmen (2009)
[9.00/10] Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010)
[8.25/10] Dawn of the Dead (2004)

*********************************************
8. Christopher Nolan

SUMMARY:
"A directional brilliance accompanied with inventiveness!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[9.75/10] The Prestige (2006)
[9.50/10] Batman Begins (2005)
[9.75/10] Memento (2000)
[9.50/10] Inception (2010)
[9.25/10] The Dark Knight (2008)

*********************************************
9. Tim Burton

SUMMARY:
"Wonderfully creative and a definite visionary!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[9.75/10] Edward Scissorhands (1990)
[9.25/10] Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
[9.50/10] Corpse Bride (2005)
[9.50/10] Big Fish (2003)
[9.50/10] Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)*********************************************
10. James Cameron

SUMMARY:
"The God of commercial cinema!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[10/10] Aliens (1986)
[9.75/10] Avatar [3D] (2009)
[9.75/10] Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
[9.50/10] The Terminator (1984)
[9.50/10] The Abyss [SE] (1989)*********************************************

+ HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Pedro Almodovar, Gore Verbinski, Paul Verhoeven, Wong Kar-Wai,
John Woo, Paul Thomas Anderson, David Cronenberg, Brian Singer,
Steven Soderbergh, Roman Polanski, Alejandro González Iñárritu
Sam Mendes, Clint Eastwood, Frank Parabont, Tom Tykwer.

*********************************************

CM: Nebular's All-Time Favorite Directors [Part 1]

PART 1 [No. 20 - 11]

*********************************************

Editor's Note: This list does not include "clichés" such as: Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Francis Ford Coppola, Akira Kurosawa, Federico Fellini, Bernardo Bertolucci and the Coen Brothers. Not that those aren't great filmmakers, they're just not my personal favorites. So deal with it! :)

*********************************************

11. Danny Boyle

SUMMARY:

"Boyle can perfectly handle ANY genre thrown at him!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:

[9.75/10] Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
[9.50/10] Trainspotting (1995)
[9.25/10] 127 Hours (2010)
[9.00/10] 28 Days Later (2003)
[8.50/10] Millions (2004)

*********************************************

12. Darren Aronofsky

SUMMARY:
"A Twisted genius, full of original ideas!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[9.75/10] Requiem for a Dream (2000)
[9.50/10] Black Swan (2010)
[8.50/10] The Fountain (2006)
[8.50/10] Pi (1998)
*********************************************

13. Stephen Chow

SUMMARY:
"The most unique mastermind in Asian film history!"
FAVORITE MOVIES:
[10/10] Kung Fu Hustle (2005)
[9.75/10] Shaolin Soccer (2001)
[8.75/10] God of Cookery (1996)
[7.50/10] CJ7 (2008)

*********************************************

14. Alfonso Cuaron

SUMMARY:
"An amazing visionary, with incredible directing skills!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[9.75/10] Y tu mamá también (2001)
[9.50/10] Children of Men (2006)
[9.50/10] Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
[8.50/10] A Little Princess (1995)

*********************************************

15. The Wachowskis

SUMMARY:
"Revolutionary directors, with stupendous visual style!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[11/10] The Matrix (1999)
[9.75/10] The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
[9.00/10] The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
[8.00/10] Speed Racer (2008)

*********************************************

16. Steven Spielberg

SUMMARY:
"Probably the most accomplished director working today."

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[9.50/10] Jaws (1975)
[9.75/10] Schindler's List (1993)
[9.50/10] Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
[9.50/10] E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
[9.50/10] Minority Report (2002)

*********************************************

17. Sam Raimi
SUMMARY:
"Skillful and exceptionally talented!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[9.50/10] Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)
[9.50/10] Spider-Man 2 (2004)
[9.25/10] The Evil Dead (1981)
[9.00/10] Spider-Man (2002)
[8.50/10] Drag Me to Hell (2009)

*********************************************

18. Jean-Pierre Jeunet
SUMMARY:
"A remarkable visual style"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[9.75/10] Amelie (2001)
[9.00/10] Delicatessen (1991)
[8.75/10] The City of Lost Children (1995)
[8.50/10] Micmacs (2009)
[8.25/10] A Very Long Engagement (2004)

*********************************************

19. Robert Rodriguez
SUMMARY:
"Crazy ideas, spot-on executions!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[9.75/10] Sin City (2005)
[9.75/10] Planet Terror (2007)
[7.50/10] Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
[7.50/10] Machete (2010)

*********************************************

20. Yuen Woo-Ping
SUMMARY:
"A true martial arts legend and an incredible director!"

FAVORITE MOVIES:
[9.75/10] Iron Monkey (2005)
[9.50/10] Wing Chun (1994)
[9.50/10] Tai Chi Master (1993)
[9.25/10] Drunken Master (1978)
[8.75/10] True Legend (2010)

*********************************************
+ MOST PROMISING DIRECTORS:

• Joon-ho Bong (Known for "The Host" and "Mother")
• Matthew Vaughn (Known for "Kick-Ass" and "Stardust")
• Neill Blomkamp (Known for "District 9")
• James McTeigue (Known for "V for Vendetta" and "Ninja Assassin")
• Jon Favreau (Known for "Iron Man I & II" and "Elf")
• Edgar Wright (Known for "Shaun of the Dead" and "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World ")

*********************************************