Action

I saw an amazing preview for the upcoming 3-D movie Avatar last night while I was watching House on Fox with Dish Network. I was hooked the second the trailer began. This film looks phenomenal and I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes the next “Star Wars”. The trailer was much longer than most and totally captured the gist of what the movie is about. I’ve seen plenty of advertised pictures of the characters in the film while browsing online, but nothing compares to the way they look on screen. The effects look absolutely astounding and the acting seems flawless.

I originally thought this film would be geared toward a younger audience because of the computerized characters and thought the pictures were characteristic of what might end up being a comic book type movie. Once I watched the entire trailer for Avatar I realized that this is going to be much more intricate and emotional than I expected. The plot runs thick and the characters display such emotion that there’s no way this film can be disappointing. I can pretty much guarantee that we will be in for an action packed ride full of stunning audio and visual effects and emotion that absorb us completely into the film. Rumor has it that the film cost $500 million to make though many argue that this figure is too high. Another more reliable source claimed that Avatar cost $230 million plus another $150 million in products and advertising. Either way, you can certainly tell by its appearance that spending was not an issue. The characters look amazing and although they are a different type of being, they seem so real. Their facial expressions are illuminated with feelings and I’m sure that after watching the movie for a few minutes we’ll totally forget that these creatures are aliens.

Writer and Director James Cameron created Avatar- another reason why it will be a sure winner. Cameron offered to forfeit his share of Avatar’s profits if it costs more than it makes at the box office. He wrote an 80 page script for the film back in 1994 and had plans to start filming right after Titanic in 1997 and release the movie in 1999 but the cost was way too high at the time. He was also holding out for some much needed advancements in special effects.

Cameron made a major accomplishment in the filmmaking industry. He invented his own stereoscopic filmmaking with his “Reality Camera System” that uses two HD cameras built into one. This technique adds to the effects by accenting depth perception. It also gives Cameron the ability to see on a monitor how the virtual characters will appear as he directs the film. This is a huge breakthrough because these effects were always added to movies after they were done filming, giving the director very little to work with. Imagine how this is going to look now that he can work with his characters in real time and make adjustments along the way until their expressions are perfect. Wikipedia quoted Cameron, "It’s like a big, powerful game engine. If I want to fly through space, or change my perspective, I can. I can turn the whole scene into a living miniature and go through it on a 50 to 1 scale”.

“The Volume” was also created to highten Avatar's visual effects. This is amazing. It is a skullcap made to fit the actor’s head with a small camera attached. The camera calculates every facial expression including the eyes and sends the information to the computers. Cameron recruited 1,000 people to take part in the film’s production and sent the cast on a trip to a jungle so they could bond with its surroundings and each other in preparation for the film. Avatar was intended to be released this past May but Cameron decided to allow more time for post-production. Many theaters still do not have 3-D projectors. It was also his intention to give theaters a heads-up to prepare for this groundbreaking epic by purchasing new equipment. Many years of preparation and technological advancements have been made for the sole purpose of making this film come to life for audiences everywhere so get prepared for December 18, 2009 because this is going to be good. Cameron has intentions of making two sequels to Avatar. He is already gaining recognition for his filmmaking accomplishments with Avatar and is slated to receive two awards, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Lucky Brand Modern Master Award on February 6, 2010 as well as the Visual Effects Society’s VES Lifetime Achievement Award on February 28, 2010.

My Top 5 Favorite James Cameron Movies

#1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
2. Titanic
3. The Terminator
4. Aliens
5. True Lies

Here are my Top 10 Movies to watch on Dish Network’s America’s Everything Package from now until Sunday night!

#1 Lady in the Water at 9 pm on 5StarMax 11-12

Directed by M. Night Shayamalan and starring Paul Giamatti, this film is a sure win and it is rated PG-13. This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Don’t expect horror or sci-fi as it is meant to be a drama/fantasy. Watch it with a friend or loved and look at the deeper meaning of the film because you’ll want to discuss it later.

2. Nights in Rodanthe at 9 pm on HBO Signature 11-13

If you like Richard Gere and/or Diane Lane, then you will absolutely fall in love again for the first time when you watch this dramatic hit. These two make the most believable film couple that I have probably ever seen and the acting is phenomenal. George C. Wolfe who also filmed The Devil Wears Prada directed this movie.

3. Slumdog Millionaire at 9 pm on HBO2 11-12

I know many of you have heard how great this movie is and about the awards it has received. This film received Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing- that was just at the Oscar’s. Those of you who have seen this film can watch it a second time. Those of you who haven’t seen this drama, here is your chance! See what all of the buzz is about and you will be pleasantly surprised when you find out just how unique this film really is!

4. This Boy’s Life at 8 pm on Encore Drama 11-12

Robert De Niro fans, this movie is a must to add to your collection. If you haven’t seen it yet, you don’t know what you’re missing. This drama also stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Barkin. De Niro is so aggravating in this film that you will want to jump at him through the TV screen! He plays an abusive stepfather to DiCaprio so if you have children be sure that they are tucked soundly to sleep before show time then enjoy the ride.

5. Cop Land at 4:20 pm on Encore Mystery 11-15

Though this film is not the most action-packed it is a great drama with an awesome cast. The actors include Robert De Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel and Ray Liotta. I will say no more.

6. The Kite Runner at 7:30 pm on The Movie Channel Extra 11-13

This movie is adapted from the book of the same title written by Khaled Hosseini. It centers around a boy in Afghanistan who is living in troubled times and witnesses the rape of his friend but does nothing to stop it. He lives with the regret throughout his life. The movie depicts Afghanistan as citizens are beginning to seek refuge in Pakistan and the U.S. to avoid terror as the Taliban begins to grow.

7. The Bucket List at 9 pm on 5StarMax 11-15

Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman make a very entertaining pair in this Rob Reiner film. The story focuses on two friends with very different perspectives in life that are faced with their own mortality and, in their own bizarre way, help each other discover the things in life that truly matter.

8. The Way of the Gun at 5:45 pm on Showtime Extreme 11-12

This blast of a movie will have you entertained from opening to closing credits. It stars Ryan Phillipe, Benicio Del Toro, Juliette Lewis and Taye Diggs. This is a non-stop dark comedy/drama/action flick that takes place mostly in Mexico and it’s a non-stop thrill ride. If you want one-of-a-kind entertainment like no other then you will love this flick!

9. Burn After Reading at 9:30 am on Cinemax 11-15

The Coen Brothers are so reliable when it comes to making movies that are off the beaten cuff. You will crack up when you see Brad Pitt as a gum-chewing gym worker with tight pants who acts like a little boy paired up with his coworker Frances McDormand. They come across a very valuable memoir that was left behind by a gym member and they hold it for ransom. Will the writer of the memoir pay the ransom or will these two have to go through heck first? Find out Sunday!

10. The Neverending Story at 8:20 am on Starz Kids & Family 11-14

This movie is great for children and adults who are kids at heart. It’s an old time favorite of mine since it was one of the first movies I saw in the theater. This fantasy movie will make your children excited to read and embark on new adventures as it makes a story come to life! It includes a beautiful white flying dragon, a rock biter, a troll, a snail that travels as fast as lightening and more!

Look out Directv, the good old satellite television provider known as Dish Network is thriving in today’s difficult economy. The new Dish motto “Why Pay More?” has drawn the attention of satellite TV customers across the nation. Many people ordered Directv because they were told that it offers the most high definition and delivers a better signal but the truth is both services a very much alike. Customers decide to switch their service to Dish for many reasons, the most important one being price.

It is ridiculous during a time when every dollar counts to spend more money on one provider when you can get the same thing for less through another. That’s like asking someone which Snickers bar they want to buy- the one that costs $1.00 or the one that costs $1.25. There is just no doubt that people who are educated about their television service would not switch to another service of the same quality for less money. This is a no win situation for Directv unless they cut their monthly cost, upfront deposits, receiver charges and give more advanced equipment, if not dual receivers, to first time customers.

Directv has lost the Versus channel even though they’ve spent years talking about how Dish is the provider that doesn’t want to spend extra money to carry great networks. Dish Network has Versus and it also has more premium channels for the money including Showtime Beyond (horror and sci-fi movies), 5StarMax (Cinemax channel dedicated to award winning films only), Starz Comedy, Starz Kids & Family and HBO Comedy, HBO Zone (all movies in HD). Directv requires customers to pay extra for the Encore premium channels but Dish offers them in the package below America’s Everything Package.

Dish Network does not have the NFL Sunday Ticket but football fans will still have access to Red Zone for $5.99 per month. Directv requires customers to subscribe to the Ticket before they can order Superfan on top of it, then customers are able to get Red Zone $400.00 later. Football fans that are mostly interested in game-only content available in HD will be more than satisfied with Red Zone.

Dish is being humble in their approach when they ask you why you would pay more for the same service because they have so much more to offer than Directv including International channels. As a previous Directv customer with the Premier Package, 1 HD receiver and 2 standard receivers, I can attest to the fact that Dish Network is better. I switched and was able to change my boring existing equipment to 1 HD-DVR that records and plays on 2 different TVs (1 standard-def TV and 1 HD TV) as well as 1 HD only receiver. I had no upfront cost. I have America’s Everything Package and will save a total of $1,044 in the next two years because I have finally made an educated decision.

If my testimony is not enough, let’s look at the facts. The CEO of Dish Network has just announced a dividend of $2.00 on each of the company’s shares. The 3Q09 report also reflected that Dish has exceeded expectations with its gain of 241,000 new subscribers. Dish closed the market day with 5.17% at $20.14- Not too shabby.

Who isn't interested in a double-feature filled with thrills and chills?  I know I am, especially if Quentin Tarantino has anything to do with it!  Grindhouse is now available at YOUR house and includes two short movies- Planet Terror (Robert Rodriguez) and Death Proof (Quentin Tarantino).  All you need is the STARZ package and you can watch this action-packed pair of movies.  It airs on Dish Network Satellite TV on STARZ InBlack July 17th @ 8:45 est!

I found Death Proof to be the better of the two films.  Not because it had a 70's feel to it, or for the fact that Tarantino rocks, but for it's quality.  The directing was spot on.  The action scenes were unrefined and gritty.  Kurt Russell is absolutely insane in this movie as a stunt man/ serial killer.  This is certainly one of his best acting performances.  Grab a huge bag of popcorn for this one so you're not biting your nails! 

Planet Terror is a great ride.  I was reasonably confident this would be a hit, considering Robert Rodriguez's history with horror movies.  Nothing beats the scene where Cherry Darling (Rose McGowan) replaces her chewed-off leg with a machine gun  to protect herself from zombies.  I'm not a huge fan of the walking dead, but I have to admit that I'd watch this movie a few more times.

With the 4th and final season of Battlestar Galactica fast approaching, the internet is abuzz with speculation as to who is the final Cylon. Fans of Battlestar Galactica know that Cylons include "human models" (Six, Sharon, Cavil, D'Anna, Simon, Doral, Leobin). While some of these models appear throughout the last 3 seasons of the show, the "final 5" were only hinted at. In Season 3, all but 1 of these were revealed (Col. Ty, Tyrol, Anders, Foster). The identity of these four was shocking and for some -unexpected. Most fans have been patiently waiting for the revelation of the final human-Cylon model in Season 4.

There is a lot of speculation out there. Here is a brief summary, excluding characters who are already dead.

First, the final cylon has to be a significant main characters, in no particular order: Cmdr. Adama, Lee Adama, Roselyn, Starbuck, Gaeta, Baltar, "Helo" Agathon, Dualla, Zarek, Lampkin.

Lampkin, Dualla and Gaeta are probably not significant enough for this big reveal as the final Cylon. Though, a webcast featuring Gaeta is the scifi.com lead in to Season 4. It would be kind of ironic for the final Cylon to be Zarek since he played Apollo in the original TV series, but his character is not significant enough.

Helo could be the final Cylon but since he is prominently set as the father of the first human-cylon child, he probably is not.

Lots of people think the final Cylon is Starbuck, but I don't think so. She is too good as the human pawn, tortured and manipulated by the Cylons. Also, the whole Leobin thing on New Caprica makes little sense if its her, not to mention the prophesy.

Baltar might be the final Cylon, but that would make him happy, which the writers don't like to do. He will remain the tortured crazy man who wishes he was the final Cylon.

Roselyn could be the final Cylon, but I think not. While her being a Cylon would be tough on Adama, Toasters don't get cancer.

Cmdr Adama could be the final Cylon but that would be too weird, someone has to remain human, and he is the personfication of the struggle of humanity. I think he is more likely to be the main character effected by the revelation of the final Cylon. The two characters who would most impact him if revealed as teh final Cylon are Roselyn (who for reasons already mentinoed is not the final Cylon) or Lee "Apollo" Adama. I am betting the final Cylon is Lee Adama.

If I were to hedge this bet and predict an alternate... Cmdr Adama is the final Cylon. If this happens, Lee Adama spends Season 4 in a fit of Oedipus-like rage, while Adama looks for a good shrink. Just seems implausible. No, the final Cylon is Lee Adama.

For the first time ever in CRISS ANGEL MINDFREAK history, A&E will broadcast a special LIVE one-hour episode on Wednesday, July 30 @ 10 PM ET / 7 PM PT a week after the series' fourth season premiere on Wednesday, July 23 at 10 PM ET/PT.

In the special one-hour live episode, "Building Implosion Escape," world-renowned mystifier Criss Angel will be shackled in a 6-story building in Florida that is loaded with explosives and set to detonate. Angel must attempt to escape the restraints and overcome physical obstacles to make it to a hovering helicopter on the roof before the building implodes in front of the crowd, cameras and viewers at home.

Once again stretching the boundaries of reality and belief, the fourth season of CRISS ANGEL MINDFREAK will feature three one-hour specials and 15 all-new half hour episodes premiering every Wednesday at 10 PM ET/PT. The season kicks off with "Walk on Lake," a one-hour series premiere on Wednesday, July 23 at 10 PM in which Criss attempts to walk on the world's largest manmade lake, Lake Mead in Nevada amidst spectators and boaters.

The upcoming season will feature incredible illusions, death defying escapes, fearless demonstrations and astonishing physical feats including being cremated alive, walking through steel and inviting skeptics to be part of a deadly challenge where one wrong move will cost him his life.

Watch A&E in HD on Satellite TV channel 265.