Special Effects

Pacific Rim: Robots vs. Monsters

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Growing up, my friends and I often waged epic battles between monsters and robots. The stakes were high and the rewards intangible. Movies such as “Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla” set the creative standard for destructive mayhem, bad acting, and awful storyline inherent to the genre. A successful formula that connected with 12 year old boys worldwide. Inevitably after a successful string of hits for the genre, interest began to wane. The resurgence of the Transformers reignited the imagination of a new generation. Yet a proper story including Robots and Monsters remained conspicuously absent in the 21st century. Enter Director Guillermo Del Toro’s modern vision of the Robots vs. Monsters movie, “Pacific Rim.”

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Jurassic Park in 3D Review

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Do you remember the first time you saw an event movie as a kid? Not your run of the mill story but a genuine larger than life spectacle that transported you into a new realm of imagination. The type of movie that leaves a lasting impression in your heart and mind for the rest of your life. A cinematic phenomenon which not only defines generations but bridges them. Some obvious examples would be “Star Wars” in the 1970s and “E.T.” in the 1980s. Yet these same blockbusters lose their inherent awe inspiring qualities when presented to new viewers at home despite the HDTV behemoths electronics manufacturers are churning out. Certain movies were just meant to be experienced in a movie theater or not seen at all. Such is the case of the 20th Anniversary re-release of “Jurassic Park” in 3D.

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Avatar (2009) – Movie Review

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This past week after enduring gift return lines and the inherent shenanigans at a well known toy store chain, I had the opportunity to screen James Cameron’s Avatar. Your viewing choices are abundant in the sense that you can see it in standard format, 3D, and 3D Imax. Due to scheduling conflicts, I watched it in 3D instead of 3D Imax. In retrospect, I am guessing I would have enjoyed the more immersive 3D Imax experience. Nonetheless, that’s just a personal preference. But I digress. What’s the verdict on this latest cutting edge Science Fiction spectacle? On to the review.

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