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September 2007

The woman who brought you Harry Potter

42000 06200

Fall previews:

Eastern Promises In the Valley of Elah Rendition

From the Ed itor

Javier Serrano - Editor-in-Chief

Toni Washington - Writer and Collaboration Advisor Joseph Meza - Account Analyst

Contact Phone: 619.307.9496

Contact Email: montepictures@gmail.com

www.montepictures.blogspot.com

Dot the

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Directed by Matthew Parkhill

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IMIOYDIE

REVIEWS

What I found interesting about Dot the I was the originality of the story.

I had a gut feeling that one day a film like this would emerge. Director Matthew Parkhill took the liberty to engage characterization from the actors and collaborated in many twist sequences. To know surprise the film received astonishing reviews including Roger Ebert - one of America's respective film critics- raved the film and gave it four stars and thumbs up. The film has a great ensemble cast. Gael Garcia Bernal (Y tu mama tambien and Arrwres Perros) has proven to be an up and rising international star. He is that good as an actor. Natalia Verbeke and James D'Arcy both promising actors which they both can go beyond the distances of their performances.

Carmen (Verbeke) goes to a French restaurant where she is invited to participate in a ceremony in which she is allowed to kiss a stranger of her choice before her marriage. She picks Kit (Garcia Bernal) who has been eyeing her from the very moment he entered the restaurant. They both enjoyably kiss. Suddenly, Carmen and Kit have the sudden urge of affections for one another. In her rejection towards Kit, she is confused and doughty with such aggression of anger because she is in love with Barnaby (D'Arcy) a wealthy man who is willing to change Carmen's life and protect her from her violent pass. Carmen is trapped from her triangle affair, she is willing to accept the consequences of her action. Going beyond the measurements of perhaps murder.

Henry Fitzherbert from The Sunday Express (England) writes, "A sensuous thriller with a gorgeous cast and a killer twist."

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MOYIE

REVIEWS

An American Rhapsody

Directed by Eva Gardos

I saw this film in late 2003, when Scarlett Johansson was emerging as a serious actress in the Academy Award Winning film Lost in Translation.

Scarlett Johansson was seventeen years old when this film was released in the United States. Her performance was astounding and convincing. She captured my attention by learning several phrases in Hungarian for her role. What I like about the film is it's a semi-autobiography from the director. Of course, its not precisely at pin point accuracy. Although, it delivers the message of the film and that's identity and family.

The film was shot in Budapest.

Hungary and Los Angeles, California. To actually film in Hungary was perhaps a privileged because for one, the expenses to send the cast and crew to Europe: costly. And that's what I loved about the film. Staying true to the nature of the story and the language, even if its short phrases.

In 1950, a Hungarian couple, Peter (Tony Goldwyn) and Margit (Nastassja Kinski), are forced to flee from their home in Hungary. when the oppression of the communist is taking over. Under difficult circumstances they leave behind their infant daughter Suzanne (Johansson) who is raised by kindly foster couple. The American Red Cross is fortunate to bring Suzanne to America in her new home in Los Angeles. The film chronicles the rebellious Suzanne in America, unsure-of- herself she travels to Hungary to find her roots.

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MOVIE

REVIEWS

Beauty and the Beast

Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise

Beauty and the Beast, a family classic and the thirtieth animated feature produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. I was seven years old when this animation was released in 1991. I enjoyed this film, not only because it's a musical (remember my favorite film is The Sound of Music) but it's a heart warming story that love and good-hearted conquers all. What people don't know about this film is that it's the first and only animation film nominated for the coveted Academy Award for Best Picture (loosing to The Silence of the Lambs). However, it did win the Coveted Best Picture- Musical or Comedy Golden Globes making history. What's intriguing about the

genre of the Disney animation was the infatuation we had and our children had starting back from 1989 with the two-time Academy Award winner The Little Mermaid until last of animation of 1999 Oscar winning Tarzan which toppled the renaissance era of Walt Disney Features. This would influence the new genre of 3D technology which has produced blockbuster films like the 2001 internationally fame Shrek.

Once upon a time their lived a beautiful young woman named Belle who lived in a small French village.

Belle, the daughter of an inventor, is fascinated with heroism and fantasy books. She believes in love and happy tails. Her father leaves her behind to travel to the next village to a fair. He is soon alone and lost in the frozen night in the mountain. He is attacked by hungry wolves and escapes pondering for shelter. He stumbles to finds himself at the gate of an old eerie castle. He is taken prisoner by the BEAST of the castle. Belle is left searching for her father and soon meets the Beast. There she takes her father's place as the Beast's prisoner. The Beast must learn to respect

and love in order for the curse to be broken.

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MOYDIE

REVIEWS

Curse of the Golden Flower

Directed by Zhang Yimou

One word: Gorgeous. I have been a fan of Asian cinema since the release of Taiwan's 2000 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon which was directed by Ang Lee ( the First Asian director to win the Oscar for Best Director for 2006 Brokeback Mountain). China has produced successful international films like 2004 Hero and 2005 House of Flying Daggers. Every film from China which has been was released since 2000 are stunning and very well crafted. Curse of the Golden Flower is one of my favorite films from China. Brilliantly acted from Chow Yun-Fat (Crouching Tiger) and the beautiful Gong Li (Memoir's of a Geisha). The photography is spectacular and direction is superb by director Yimou. With a budget of $45 million

dollars its currently the most expensive Chinese film ever. Ironically, it does not compare the budget to American cinema. Spider-Man 3 holds the record for expensive film with $278 million dollars. Go figure!

The film is set in the Tang Dynasty period. Emperor Ping (Yun-Fat) is a man of humble origins and ambition. Emperor Ping is custom to traditional Chinese values. He summons his three son's whom they are potential for the thrown. In the time when jealously and family virtues do not meet eye to eye. Emperor Ping must conclude his decision to bestow the crown to his three son's whom are not unworthy of the thrown.

Critic's Choice

A Little Princess

Directed by Alfonso Cuaron

A film that seldom gets any acclaim or mention but is a feel good story of depth and imagination is "A Little Princess". The story takes place during WWI when America was barely involved and the British and the rest of Europe fought. There from India and getting reassigned to the trenches was Captain Crew who had to place his daughter in boarding school in New York City till he could return for her.

By Toni Washington, Writer toniwashington 69@yahoo.com Author of Mulatto and Peacock

Among the connective tissue of story and girls interweaving themselves in school life, Sara's father is proclaimed dead and thus penniless, Sara is forced to become a servant in the schools walls. The story is enchanting with an Indian Sheik who rescues Sara and a servant girl Becky from their impoverished upstairs prison. The story is filmed delicately with an old world feel. You can't help but feel the tight corsets and tightly wound hair in high buns where clothing completely covers a woman tastefully.

In the end, Sara is the survivor and Becky is also adopted. This story is my feel good story when I have had a really bad day and restores my good faith in the world. I recommend this film. I know you won't be disappointed.

"Harry Potter was the experience of a lifetime."

J .K. Rowling has completed her seventh and final installment of the enormously successful Harry Potter series. Joanne "do" Murray is her born name, but uses her pen name J.K. Rowling because her publisher once said that no male readers will read a novel about a young boy in a fantasy world written by a woman. Ms. Rowling has become my idol and highly a respective writer living today. She has influenced and inspired millions of people whom have read the Harry Potter series, learning about her struggle in completing her first book called Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. A single mother on welfare in London trying to provide an income for herself and her daughter. In creating Harry Potter, she commuted from Manchester, England to London on a four-hour delay train home. There she "reached her Clapham Junction flat, and began to write immediately."

The success of the Harry Potter series have scorched an enormous record as her four previous installments have told rapidly making history. In her accomplishments of the series, the total of pages are impressively 4,195 and have been translated into 65 languages. She is currently the second richest entertainer behind Oprah. She made history by becoming the first writer to reach the U.S. - dollar billionaire by writing books. The only other writer surpass the $100 million dollar was Stephen King.

I was once in denial and not convinced in watching Harry Potter or reading any of the series. I respected her aspirations and dedication because, honestly she convinced the newer generation to read her books. Mrs. Washington had lend me four films on Harry Potter. My reactions to the films: powerful. I was automatically attached to the series. I could not believe how much I enjoyed watching the films. Than I was on my quest to read the first installment of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I finished reading the first book weeks ago and I see why people have become hooked to Harry Potter.

In Theaters ...

In the Valley of Elah

The film tells the story of war veteran Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones), his wife Joan (Susan Sarandon) and the search for their son Mike (Jonathan Tucker), a soldier who recently returned from Iraq but has mysteriously gone missing

Eastern Promises

Anna Khitrova (Naomi Watts), a midwife at a London hospital, finds a RUSSian-language diary on the body of a Tatiana, a fourteenyear-old girl who dies in childbirth. Now its up to Anna to seek answers.

Coming Soon to Theaters ...

Rendition

Reese Witherspoon stars in this action thriller about an American wife of an Egyptian-born chemical engineer, who disappears on his flight home from Africa to Washington, D.C.

An all star ensemble cast which includes:

Academy Award Winner Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Academy Award Winner Meryl Streep, Academy Award Winner Alan Arkin and Peter Sarsgaard.

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