Unfortunately, terrorist attacks are something which have become more common and are therefore also part of movies. They are usually based on real events and give the viewer a sense of hope and patriotism, in which certain individuals are always named heroes. After Patriots Day, Stronger is the second film about the attack on the Boston marathon. Yet this film approaches this terrible event from a different point of view. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Jake Gyllenhaal
Demolition (2015) – Review
If we are really honest with ourselves, would there be parts of our lives we would change if we wouldn´t think about the consequences? Would you still work for the same employer? Stay in your relationship? Change your daily routine? We all have sometimes wonder about these questions, but we rarely make big choices which change our lives drastically. Sometimes we won´t face facts and have the feeling we have invested too much energy into something to get out of it. But what would happen if we did not hide our interests and desires and follow them completely? That is exactly what Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhaal) does in Demolition. Continue reading
Nightcrawler (2014)
It is fantastic how a movie can transport you. Behind the door of every cinema or after pressing play at home you can feel like you’ve stepped into a different world. A short escape from reality, providing a unique experience you normal won’t be able to feel.
Nightcrawler takes you into the world of the “nightcrawlers”, the men and women who, armed with a police scanner, are searching for accidents and crimes to film and photograph. The goal is to sell the material to either newspapers or news agencies. Continue reading
End of Watch (2012)
You only have to take one look at the writing and director credits on IMDB to see that David Ayer knows Los Angeles, the police department and the crime scene. He wrote screenplays for Dark Blue, Harsh Times and Training Day. He also has written this movie, following two LAPD officers (played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña) during their every day activities. This includes routine activities like chasing cars and investigating 911 calls. When they run into someone who is connected to a Mexican cartel their work becomes a lot more dangerous. Continue reading
The Many Faces of… Jake Gyllenhaal
Jake Gyllenhaal has been born on December 19, 1980 in Los Angeles. His father is a film director and his mother film producer and screenwriter. This meant when he was growing up he saw a lot of the movie industry and first appeared on screen in the movie City Slickers as the son of Billy Crystal’s character in 1991. He went to the Harvard-Westlake School and Columbia University where he studied Eastern religions and philosophy. He didn’t finish his studies though as he wanted to do more acting. The movie which really helped him was Donnie Darko, a movie which quickly became popular through word of mouth. He has since starred in movies like The Day After Tomorrow, Brokeback Mountain, Jarhead, Zodiac, Prince of Persiea: The Sands of Time, Source Code and End of Watch. Continue reading
Source Code (2011)
Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal), a helicopter pilot for the army, wakes up disoriented on a passenger train. He doesn’t recognise his girlfriend (Michelle Monaghan) and jumps when he sees his own reflection as he doesn’t look the way he remembers. Moments later he wakes up again, but now finds himself in a capsule in front of a monitor with a woman telling him what he should do and warps back to the train. Slowly he finds out that there is a bomb on the train and it is his assignment to find it and the person who planted it. Continue reading
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
Movies based on games usually aren’t well-known for their great quality, for example Super Mario Bros, Street Fighter and Max Payne. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is based on the 2003 game with the same name (de franchise started in 1989). If finished the game and thought it was a really great game. The Arabian nights atmosphere, the beautiful environments, the acrobatics (running along walls, making incredible jumps) and of course the possibility to rewind time all impressed.
Unfortunately the developer (Ubisoft) decided to change the whole feeling with the Warrior Within. The games just misses the magic that the Sands of Time had. It seemed to be based on a rock/gothic vibe and the focus on platforming was changed and fighting seemed to be more important. After that game I actually stopped playing the Prince of Persia games. However I was very interested in this movie as it was based on the Sands of Time. Does the movie manage to be just as good as the game or is it as disappointing as the Warrior Within? Continue reading