ETHAN ROY REVIEWS SHERLOCK HOLMES!

Sherlock Holmes, the last action film of 2009, went with a bang. Well it’s more of a mystery rather than an action film, but it had more action than many other “action” films this year. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude law are just a pleasure to watch. Now I’m not a hardcore Holmes fan, in act I’ve never read any of the books, but I did my research and this goes back to old school Holmes. Downey is funny and amazing as Holmes. Watson (Jude Law) was really good too. He is the fool that follows. He knows what’s going to happen yet he still follows him. The action was a blast to watch. Guy Richie knows what h is doing; I feel he should go to action rather than gangster films. But the real show stopper is England. I love just staring in to the background and just seeing the shops and homes. It had the sin city approach to it. The cinematography also was astonishing for an action film. I love how more and more films are starting to care about that. (SPOILER ALERT HERE TILL THE END OF THE SENTENCE) But I love how the concept of the cult is played and all is science rather than magic. The only problem of the film is Rachael McAdams. The first half she was all right, then what happen? She was so bland and sometimes really bad, but she isn’t in it as much as the others. But the slow-mo then cut to fast action scenes actually serve a purpose unlike Watchmen. In these Holmes explains the moves and effects.

I had a ball with this film - I was shocked because my expectations were very low, but I can easily say that this is one of the best of '09. 8.5/9

NOTE* I apologize for the Avatar review for those that saw that James Cameron got an award nomination for writing. My source was wrong he did not get a nomination for that (which is good). Please understand that I am very busy. I had a school play, exams, and a new high school so understand if they’re mistakes. I assure you out there, there will be no more mistakes. And the finalized score for Avatar is a 7.5

ETHAN ROY'S REVIEW OF AVATAR: PERFECT CGI / IMPERFECT STORY

With Avatar, James Cameron finally perfects CGI, but does he perfect storytelling, NO. The story has been done thousands of times, Dances with Wolves, District 9, Last Samurai, and a little bit of Ferngully. James Cameron came out saying that this will be the greatest movie ever made; it’s far from it. Now is it a bad movie, no it is an incredible film, but the story is meh. The effects will obviously win an Academy Award, but James Cameron shouldn’t win any awards for this.

Already before the release the film got Golden Globes for best writing, Director, and best drama. No I feel that people shouldn’t let their experience take a hold of them saying that it is the greatest film ever, believe me I had an amazing experience, but I can tell the difference between what is awesome and what is a amazing story. Trust me it is one of my favorite sci-fi films but Mr. Cameron disappointed me with the story. It is no District 9 (which is my personal favorite sci-fi film), but it is better than Star Trek. The 3D wasn’t any thing special; Coraline’s was a 1,000 times better. The 3D bothered my eyes way too much. But the effects where unbelievable. I felt like I was actually there and the Na’vi felt real at times, like I couldn’t tell the actors apart from the Na’vi a few times.

The action was great, but again the story felt dull and unoriginal. Not the say I completely hated the story is that I’ve seen it done better. Cameron has done action with a great story I mean look at T-2, Arnold Schwarzenegger actually made people cry at the end of that movie, which is something we never saw coming. Avatar, yet having an amazing experience and effects, it still lacks in story, but it is still an amazing film. 7.5-8/10

ETHAN ROY: MARILYN MANSON'S PHANTASMAGORIA

           

 As you may know, Tim Burton has a new Alice in Wonderland movie coming out, but there is also another coming out in the same year,  written, directed, and starring Marilyn Manson:  Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll.  Now I’m a Manson fan (may not look like that through that photo of me - that was almost two years ago) I’ve been a fan of his for awhile and when I heard about this I was excited, but that was two years ago now he is finally working on it. For those who don’t know who he is, he is notorious known as maybe the world’s most famous shock rocker.  His songs talk about issues involving guns, god, and government. His concerts have been canceled due to many causes of churches thinking he is Satan, also he is believed to be to reason why the two kids shot up Columbine, yet there is no proof. 

Freshi Now Team Gets to Work!

Ben Spiegel and Ethan Roy (in foreground) at work in Freshi headquarters Saturday with some new musical members of the Freshi Now team.

ETHAN ROY: "FANTASTIC MR. FOX" REVIEW

If you’ve seen my list of my own anticipated films of the holiday I put this on the number 2 spot and what can I say it was, well, fantastic. It's nothing like the other animated films this year or any of the ones before. I thought UP was going to be my favorite animated film of the all time, but this takes its place. The only problem with the film is that I don’t think that it will do well because people especially may not find Anderson’s humor or style amusing. The animation was amazing though I felt nauseous at times through the panning shots. The real reason I love this movie a lot is because it stays true to the book. Roald Dahl is one of my favorite authors and they capture his creativity mixed with Anderson’s creativity. George Clooney was great as Mr. Fox. With animation it feels good to see stop-motion rather than CG, because Stop-motion captures the passion these people have to create a film and it is some of the best since Coraline and Life Aquatic. Plus it didn’t brother me that it wasn’t R like his other films in fact they mess around with that. If you want to see a funny, creative, family film, check this out.

ETHAN ROY: HOLIDAY FILMS, PART THREE

I read the book in 2008 and I fell in love with it. But it was a very heavy and depressing book, but the power of Cormac McCarthy writing makes everything very visual memorizing. Now in 2009 we finally have The Road With Viggo Mortensen. So far from the trailer behind from Brad Pitt in Inglourious Basterds Viggo might be the best actor of the year. The visuals look outstanding, but one of the big reasons I want to see it is because of Robert Duvall and the soundtrack by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. Why Nick Cave, well because they did my favorite soundtrack of all time The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, which is a beautiful soundtrack and I know they can pull it off for this. Check it out on Thanksgiving.

"The Road" Official Site

Other candidates: Bad Lieutenant, Lovely Bones, Invictus, and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

ETHAN ROY: HOLIDAY FILMS, PART TWO

#2

Another one with Clooney, but the reason I want to see this is because of Wes Anderson. I am a huge fan of his films. His quirky dialogue, realistic characters, and the humor. Clooney has the perfect voice for Mr. Fox and I love the animation, it reminds me of Wallace and Gromit. If I had any problems with it probably that it isn’t rated R like his other films.

"Fantastic Mr. Fox" Official Site

Check back next Tuesday for Ethan's Top Pick

ETHAN ROY: HOLIDAY FILMS, PART ONE

Well the end of the end of the year is coming up and you know what that means…. Oscar season. I am looking forward to many films coming up, but I’m going to choose my top 3:

#3

Seriously, how can you go wrong with a cast with George Clooney and Jason Bateman, plus with "Juno" director Jason Reitman and looking at the trailer some BEATIFUL aerial shots from the airplane to the ground. I love George Clooney; everything he is in he is great in everything (Hey at least he tried in Batman and Robin). The story seems very clever. Plus Clooney in a dramedy, where he belongs.

"Up In The Air" official site

CHECK BACK THURSDAY FOR PART TWO

COMING SOON TO FRESHI NOW!

Freshi Now is just starting to gear up - over the next weeks and months, you'll see more and more features and special reports.

This week, we're going to start off a three-week Ben Speigel film festival. Ben, 16, is the newest member of our team, and we're going to feature some of his best films over the next three Wednesdays. Make sure you join his YouTube channel! Also this week, look for Ben's review of Zombieland.

Ethan Roy kicks off the holiday season with his three top picks for the most anticipated films of the holiday season. In the coming weeks, look for the rest of the team to offer their own picks.

Finally, we'll have some exciting news about Freshi itself - we're a company with an international reach to young media creators around the world. Find out what we've been doing.

Remember, we want you're involvement - if you'd like to contribute as a writer or vlogger, let us know.

ETHAN ROY: BEST AND WORST FILMS OF THE SUMMER (PART ELEVEN)

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN

Why did a cinematic genius like Speilberg decide to produce this god-awful piece metal clanking garbage? Wow the story was atrocious. Michael bay just got 200 million to do this film and we get, farting robots, racist twin robots, humping robots, robot with balls, and robot heaven. I am totally not joking. This says yeah we’ll just put a name like transformers and we’ll make bank. Its like the Batman and Robin of sci-fi movies.

ETHAN ROY: BEST AND WORST FILMS OF THE SUMMER (PART TEN)

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

Wow. I couldn’t believe what I saw. This is incredible. Quentin Tarantino is now one of the greatest or the greatest director ever. Now my favorites are him and Spielberg, but I have never been so intense in my life from watching a movie. Brad Pitt gives his best and funniest performance ever, but maybe the actor that steals it is Mr. Christoph Waltz giving his performance as Col. Hans Landa. I feel bad saying this but in the beginning he seems like the Nazi I would want to hang out with, until he start killing Jews and you find out his nickname the Jew hunter. I mean I thought Ralph Finnes was the best with that part in Schindler’s list as Amon Goeth, but nope, it’s Christoph Waltz. A lot of people are going to say Pulp Fiction is better and I’m with that and not it’s hard to say, but it is his best. Like what Lt. Aldo Raine said “You know something, Utivich? I think this just might be my masterpiece.”

SEE ETHAN'S PICK FOR WORST FILM OF SUMMER

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH!

Freshi Now Welcomes BEN SPIEGEL!

Ben Spiegel is joining the Freshi Now team! If you saw the "Dark Night" film on this blog yesterday, you're familiar with his co-starring role (with Ethan Roy) in that film from our 2008 Freshi Film Camp / Hollywood. He continues to create films, and will be bringing his experiences to Freshi Now as our newest reporter.

Not only that, you heard it here first: Starting January 1st, Ben and Ethan will launch a new Vlog....stay tuned for more details.

HALLOWEEN SPECIALl: "TRAPPED" WORLD PREMIERE!

At Freshi Film Camp 2009, Veteran Freshi Camper (and Freshi Now writer/vlogger) Ethan Roy took advantage of a break in the schedule to create the thriller, "Trapped." Here, finally, is the World Premiere - Written, Directed and Starring Ethan Roy.

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: "I SAW RED"

Here's a video from our Freshi Film Camp 2009 - Ethan Roy's in this one, too.

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: "THE DARK NIGHT" PART TWO

Here's Part Two of "The Dark Night," from Freshi Film Camp Hollywood 2008, featuring Freshi Now's own Ethan Roy:

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: "THE DARK NIGHT" PART ONE

From Freshi Film Camp / Hollywood, 2008, Bit of comedy for your Halloween! This film features Freshi Now Writer Ethan Roy!

PART TWO COMING UP LATER TODAY!

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: "ASYLUM"

Here's a film from our own Freshi Film Camp, 2007:

Come back throughout the day for more Halloween Specials!

ETHAN ROY: BEST AND WORST FILMS OF THE SUMMER (PART TEN)

500 DAYS OF SUMMER

Now let me make it clear that I HATE romantic movies. But this was funny, sad, and heart warming. The main character reminds me a little of me so I can sort of know what he is going through, but I’m 14 what do you care. But I haven’t love a movie like this ever. The music fantastic, but in my opinion what steals the show is the visuals and locations. The fact that it shot here in L.A. takes my breath away it reminds me of New York.

CHECK OUT PART TEN MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND!

ANOTHER HALLOWEEN WARNING

Watch out for Ethan!

ON HALLOWEEN DAY....

...keep checking in to Freshi Now for special Halloween content - some incredibly creepy (and funny) featured attractions from our Freshi Advanced Film Camps the last couple of years - and also A WORLD PREMIERE from Freshi Now's Ethan Roy!

SEE YOU ON OCTOBER 31ST!

ETHAN ROY: BEST AND WORST FILMS OF THE SUMMER (PART EIGHT)

DISTRICT 9

This film will change how we look at Sci-Fi for a while. The message it has, the depth of the characters, and the interesting camera work. And 30 million dollars for a sci-fi movie - that’s like 1 million in the 80’s.

CHECK OUT PART NINE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30TH!