TOM CRUISE....a RISKY COCKTAIL

Lejanos están aquellos tiempos en que existían las  celebridades de Hollywood, cuando uno corría a las salas para ser el primero en ver la nueva cinta de tu celebridad favorita porque esto garantizaría entretenimiento seguro y de calidad. Inclusive los estudios se peleaban por tener cierta exclusividad con estas celebridades que les traerian millones en taquilla y en retribucion les abririan las puertas a nivel global. Su estatus de estrellas de cine los pondria en un nivel de iconos de la cultura pop, dando de que hablar y considerandose lo mas cercano a lo que es la realeza un Europa. Algunos de los restantes actores pertenecientes a esta ola y que ahora se encuentran batallando por encontrar su lugar en una industria cinematográfica en decadencia, es Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, mejor conocido como Tom Cruise, actor y productor que inicio su carrera a sus 19 primaveras, nacido en Syracuse, NY en 1962, hijo de una maestra y un ingeniero eléctrico, ambos originarios de Kentucky, con antecedentes Ingleses, Alemanes e Irlandés, al igual que sus tres hermanas. Criado bajo extrema pobreza y con su padre abusando física y emocionalmente de ellos, su familia se vio forzada a moverse constantemente en busca de una mejor oportunidad, lo que los llevo a vivir por un tiempo en Canada, orillándolo a asistir a 14 diferentes escuelas en el transcurso de 15 años pero tras intentar formar parte del equipo de football, termina tomando clases de arte dramático, lo cual despertaría su gusto por esta vocación.

Su carrera comienza con una breve participacion en el romance adolecente "Endless Love" (1981), acerca de dos adoscentes de familias muy diferentes que se enamoran teniendo que enfrentar las consequencias. La cinta fue mal criticada por su pobre adaptacion de la novela homonima pero al ser protagonizada por Brooke Shields y con una banda sonora que fue nominada a varios premios, logro una decente taquilla. Otras breves apariciones en "Taps" (1981), una cinta sobre un grupo de estudiantes de toman a cargo su escuela militar para impedir que la cierren, generando buenas criticas y taquilla aunque con una participación pequeña que le abriría las puertas para "The Outsiders" (1983), un drama de adolescentes dirigido por el talentoso Francis Ford Coppola contando la historia de dos hermanos y su grupo de amigos y su rivalidad con la pandilla del otro lado del pueblo, creando una mezcla y division social que no ayudara a estos jóvenes a madurar y encontrar su camino en tal marginada sociedad. Con un reparto repleto de caras nuevas y futuras promesas ademas de Cruise, Mat Dillon, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Diane Lane, entre otros, hicieron de la cinta un exito para su generacion. Lo cual le brindaria su primer protagonico que resultaria en un rotundo fracaso tanto en taquilla como critica, "Losin' it" (1983), sobre el road trip de un grupo de amigos a Tijuana, Mexico lo cual los llevara a una serie de eventos propios de la edad.

Pero su verdadero salto al estrellato viene con "Risky Business" (1983) y su iconico baile en calzoncillos mientras interpreta a un joven que se relaciona con una atractiva mujer tan solo para verse envuelto en su perdida de inocencia y un despertar al capitalismo moderno mientras hace honor a su titulo, via negocios riesgosos. Curiosamente el actor iniciaria una relacion con su co protagonista, la actriz Rebecca De Mornay, a sus tan solo 21 anos. Gozando de s nueva fama, protagoniza "All the right moves" (1983), a lado de Craig T. Nelson y Lea Thompson, en un drama deportivo sobre un joven talentoso tanto en la cancha como en clase que busca desesperadamente una beca que le permita salir del pueblo en que vive y entrar a la universidad mas sus relaciones no ayudaran mucho para poder dejar el nido y volar lejos. Y al menos lo logra en su siguiente proyecto, poniendose bajo las manos del visionario director Ridley Scott en "Legend" (1985), una cinta de fantasia con un tono obscuro que de inicio fue un fracaso pero con el tiempo le llevo a ganar varios premios tecnicos e iniciar una base de fans, aunque su interpretacion como el Lord de la Obscuridad en busca de dos unicornios que protegen la fuerza de la Luz, no es uno de sus mas memorables roles. Lo cual pasaría al olvido en 1986 cuando interpretaría al ahora iconico Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, en la tragicomedia de acción "Top Gun", bajo la dirección del otro Scott, Tony, en una historia sobre un grupo de pilotos de la fuerza area, quien si lo llevaría a las mieles del éxito pues la cinta fue un rotundo éxito de taquilla y a la fecha es uno de los estándares de cintas de los 80's.

Mas el actor no solo busca fama sino talento por lo cual ahora mas cotizado, opta por proyectos mas serios, como "The Color of Money" (1986), al lado de Paul Newman y bajo la batuta de Martin Scorsese en una historia sobre un vendedor que ven un joven, el potencial para usarlo en juegos de billar para ganar dinero, usado a la mujer de sus deseos para manipularlo. La cinta fue un éxito en taquilla y critica, pero lo fue mas para Newman quien robo pantalla y un Oscar por su interpretación en la cinta. Esto no detendria a Cruise, quien regresa con un protagonico y todo el peso de la cinta "Cocktail" (1988) en sus hombros, interpretando a un sexy cantinero que solo utiliza los medios para una meta mayor, mas alla de conquistar chicas y pasarla bien. La cinta seria otro gran exito para el actor que tambien lo colocaria como un sex symbol de su generacion. Pero nuevamente buscando balancea sus proyectos, co protagoniza al lado de Dustin Huffman "Rain Man" (1988), un drama sobre un arrogante y egocentrico joven vendedor de llantas que al moi su padre, se entera que toda su millonaria fortuna a quedado en manos de un hermano autista que el desconocía. La cinta fue un exit en taquilla y critica que le llevo a ganar el Oscar a mejor película, así como mejor actor para Huffman y mejor director para Barry Levison, dejando a Cruise a un lado nuevamente. Razón por la que regresaría con un potente drama bajo el brazo en 1989 "Born on the 4th of July", la biografía sobre el veterano de la guerra de Vietnam, la cual expone la vision y motivos de los jóvenes por unirse a la guerra y su experiencia en ella, siendo el mismo director Oliver Stone, un veterano de la misma, lo cual llevaría la cinta a 8 nominaciones de la Academia, una de ellas, finalmente para el actor quien no ganaría pero al menos da un paso adelante, sin contar el éxito en taquilla que logra.

En 1990 lo vemos en "Days of Thunder", Aliandose nuevamente con el director Tony Scott, buscando repetir viejas glorias ahora sobre pilotos de carreras y aunque esta tragicomedia de acción fue un éxito no gozo del mismo status de su pasada colaboración, pero le trajo una relación que termino en matrimonio, con su co protagonista la actriz, Nicole Kidman, con quien co protagonizaría su siguiente cinta "Far and away" (1992), un drama romántico sobre una pareja de inmigrantes irlandeses que buscan hacerse de fortuna en America de 1890. La popularidad de la pareja ayudo a promover la cinta a pesar de las criticas mezcladas. Lo cual empujaria al actor a formar parte del drama legal "A few good men" (1992), a lado de Demi Moore y Jack Nicholson, quien nuevamente le robaria la pantalla en una historia de un joven abogado llevando a juicio a dos marines por el asesinato de dos de sus colegas, destapando una serie de eventos uneticos escondidos en la Marina por los altos rangos. Nuevamente la cinta fue un éxito en taquilla y critica, llevándola a varias nominaciones y un premio para Nicholson como actor de reparto. Ya instalado en su rol de abogado, protagoniza "The Firm" (1993), un thriller legal dirigido por Sydney Pollack, basado en la popular  novela de John Grishman, sobre un joven estudiante de leyes, que a punto de graduarse recibe una oferta para trabajar en una prestigiada firma de abogados, la cual pondrá su carrera y su vida en juego al enfrentarse a un caso que tiene mas capas que los archivos que esta por desenterrar. Para estas alturas la popularidad del actor es una garantia y asi lo demuestra llevando la cinta a un exito seguro y las gracias de la critica,

Volviendo a un proyecto basado en una novela, co protagoniza al lado de otro sex symbol de la era, Brad Pitt, la cinta "Interview with the Vampire" (1994), una historia sobre la vida de un vampiro a través de los siglos y su relación con su convertidor. El simple hecho de poner dos de las estrellas mas populares del momento juntos fue suficiente para explotar la taquilla apesar de las variantes en la historia vs la novela original. Mas la gente queria mas del actor en blockbusters, por lo cual se apodera de la serie "Mission Impossible" (1996), basada en la serie de tv homonima, bajo la direccion de Brian de Palma, centrandose en un grupo de espias, lidereados por Ethan Hunt, capaces de resolver las mas complicadas misiones alrededor del mundo, y con score que es ya un clasico. El éxito de la cinta dio luz verde a cuatro secuelas: "Mission: Impossible 2" (2000), "Mission: Impossible III" (2006), "Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol" (2011) y "Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation" (2015), un caso curioso al ir incrementando popularidad y calidad con cada nueva entrega. Pero no olvidando a su publico femenino protagoniza el ahora clásico "Jerry McGuire" (1996), una comedia romántica, sobre un joven agente deportivo que tras una mala jugada por parte de su agencia, se ve obligado a renunciar e iniciar por su cuenta desde cero, contando únicamente con la ayuda de su asistente, una madre soltera que le pondrá los pies sobre la tierra y robaría su corazón y el de la audiencia, que hicieron un éxito de la cinta y varias nominaciones, una de ellas para el actor pero quien se robaría los premios seria su co protagonista Cuba Gooding Jr.

Buscando compartir pantalla nuevamente con su esposa Kidman, la pareja se pone en manos del aclamado director Stanley Kubrick, en lo que seria su ultimo proyecto, "Eyes Wide Shut" (1999), un thriller erotico sobre un hombre en una serie de eventos a lo largo de una noche tras enterarse que su esposa considero serle infiel, llevándolo a una enmascarada orgia para explorar los diferentes placeres del ser humano y aunque la cinta tuvo que ser editada para su exhibición, el morbo de la audiencia pago bien. Pero el actor gusto de participar en proyectos mas independientes y artísticos, por lo que lo veríamos después en "Magnolia" (1999), un drama con un ensamble que cuenta diferentes personajes e historias sobre la búsqueda de la felicidad, el perdón y el significado de su vida para terminar cruzandose y donde el actor interpreta a un motivador oral atrapado en medio de una entrevista con una reportera. Mas alla del exito en taquilla, la cinta gener varias nominaciones incluyendo otra para Cruise en la categoria de Actor de Reparto. Nuevamente buscando repetir exitos pasados se asocia con Cameron Crowe en la cinta "Vanilla Sky" (2001), la adptacion hollywoodense de la popular cinta espanola "Abre tus Ojos" (1998), una mezcla de romancey sciencia ficcion con tintes moralistas y contando con las participaciones de Cameron Diaz y Penelope Cruz, pero que a pesar de su exito en taquilla, gozaria de malas criticas y rodeada de noticas amarillistas sobre el divorcio de Cruise y Kidman. Por lo que trataria de sacarse la espina y mantenerse ocupado, protagonizando el blockbuster de sciencia ficcion "Minority Report" (2002), bajo la vision de Steven Spielberg, una adaptacion de un cuento corto de Phillip K. Dick que nuevamente pondra la moral en tela de juicio, un asesinato es igual de malo si es detenido antes de cometerse? Con diversas incógnitas, visualmente deslumbrante y escenas al mas puro estilo Hollywoodense, la cinta es otro clásico en la carrera del actor.

Regresando al genero épico y de guerra, protagoniza "The Last Samurai" (2003), donde interpreta a un capitán NorteAmericano que tras conflictos personales termina relacionandose con guerreros Samurai del Japón del siglo XIX, exponiendo el choque de las culturas orientales y occidentales. A pesar del genero la cinta funciono bien consolidando el poder del actor en la industria, lo cual da pie para que por primera vez interprete al villano de la historia en "Collateral" (2004), un thriller de Michael Mann sobre un asesino a sueldo que secuestra a su chofer del taxi para que lo ayude por esa noche. Nuevamente el tiro le sale por la culata siendo su co protagonista quien se roba la escena y un par de nominaciones, mas la cinta en general logra ser un éxito en taquilla y critica, por lo que en 2005 regresa al lado de Spielberg para anotarse otro blockbuster con el remake de la cinta "War of the Worlds", una historia de ciencia ficción sobre una invasion extraterrestre y aunque esta ligeramente basada en la obra original, no le impidió ser un éxito en taquilla y de paso complacer a la critica con la historia de un padre soltero buscando proteger a su familia en medio del caos. Tras un break dados rumores personales ligados a su devocion por la cientologia y su nueva relacion con la jove actriz Katie Holmes, regresa con "Lions for Lambs" (2007), otro drama de guerra a lado de Robert Redford y Meryl Streep, sobre las decisiones del gobierno repecto a la guerra en Medio Oriente y como manda soldados al matadero, todo desde la perspectiva de tres historias, un senador en busca de lanzar una nueva estrategia militar y su confesion de esta a un periodista, la de dos soldados involucrados en la misma, y uno de ellos involucrando a su profesor del colegio en dicha historia. La ambigüedad de la historia y la falta de frescura en tiempos saturados por historias de guerra de Medio oriente le valió para opacar el talento de los involucrados y con una aceptable pero mediocre taquilla, paso al olvido de inmediato.

Buscando repetir formulas, se pone bajo la batuta del director Bryan Singer en el thriller de guerra "Valkyrie" (2008), sobre un grupo de generales en la Alemania Nazi en plena Segunda Guerra Mundial, que planean asesinar a Hitler y tomar el país bajo la operación Valkyrie de plan de rescate de emergencia y aunque una historia ficticia, funciono nuevamente anotando otro éxito para el actor. mas no de la talla a lo que estaba acostumbrado. Reuniéndose en pantalla con la actriz Cameron Diaz, lo vemos en "Knight and Day" (2010), una comedia de acción que le permite explotar sus dotes de comediante y no tomarse tan en serio sin perder su estilo de héroe de acción, como un agente secreto huyendo de la CIA para toparse con una restauradora de autos tras toparse aleatoriamente en la terminal del aeropuerto pero suficiente para levantar sospechas en sus perseguidores quien la pondrán en la mira y ahora el tendrá que rescatarla. A pesar de contar con tibias criticas, la taquilla fue aceptable pero nuevamente alejada de los tempranos exitos del actor. Por lo que decide enfocarse en la comedia, ahora formando parte de la adaptacion cinematografica del musical de Broadway "Rock of Ages" (2012), un ensamble de canciones clasicas del rock de los 80's enfocandose en la historia de una joven que se muda a L.A. en busca de convertirse en una cantante para terminar trabajando en un bar a lado de un joven cantinero que pinta como interes amoroso y donde el actor funge como icono del rock en crisis de edad meda. Obviamente la critica estuvo dividida apesar del talento del elenco involucrado, incluyendo Alec Baldwin, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bryan Cranston, y con una baja taquilla que no es considerada fracaso pero tampoco un exito.

Buscando explotar nuevas formulas, regresa a su fuerte, el genero de acción, en el cual es conocido por interpretar sus propios stunts, y ahora con "Jack Reacher" (2012), un thriller de acción basado en la popular novela del escritor Lee Child One Shot interpreta a un policía de la milicia que es llamado para resolver ciertos casos que involucran a la milicia de los E.U.A. teniendo que lidiar tanto con abogados como criminales y veteranos. La cinta mantiene un tono que la distingue de las otras pero es dificil ver a Cruise y no poder sacudirse su otro alter ego, el agente y espia, Ethan Hunt de la franquicia Mission:Impossible, por lo que este papel se vuelve olvidable, mas entretenido. Su aceptable éxito e taquilla dio luz verde a la secuela "Jack Reacher:Never go Back" (2016), mas ambas comparten la timidez de la critica y taquilla. Así lo vemos en otro intento de ciencia ficción en "Oblivion" (2013), cinta ubicada en un mundo post-apocaliptico y basado en la novela gráfica homónima, interpretando a un hombre en una torre de control encargado a lado de su pareja, de reparar drones de combate que los protegen de los alienigenas que devastaron el planeta, pero a pesar de que su memoria ha sido borrada, tiene sueños recurrentes de otra vida pasada lo que lo pondrá en conflicto con la comunidad dada su curiosidad por el pasado que podría desenmascara algunas verdades ocultas de los hechos en la batalla alienigena. La historia no fue traducida en su esplendor a la pantalla, lo que le costo pobres criticas y taquilla cuestionando la popularidad del actor ahora que no es mas un sex symbol sino un actor maduro y establecido.

Esto no lo detendría para regresar a la ciencia ficción por la puerta grande con "Edge of Tomorrow" (2014), un filme dirigido por Doug Liman, sobre un soldado atrapado en una guerra alienigena donde tendrá que morir irrepetidamente hasta que logre vencer a la raza alienigena que lo ha puesto en este circulo. Co protagoniza con la actriz Emily Blunt, quien nuevamente se roba la pantalla, como una guerrera bad-ass y que sera clave para que este soldado encuentre la manera de ganar la batalla. En esta ocasion, la formula funciono al ganar grandes criticas y una mejorad taquilla. Pero este mes lo volvemos a ver en el remake "The Mummy" (2017), donde interpreta a un terco militar que tras descubrir una tumba escondida despertara a una princesa Egipcia con una maldicion que promete acabar con el mundo occidental del nuevo milenio y que pone al soldado en la mira para ser sacrificado en pos de revivir al amante de la princesa. A pesar del éxito pasado de la formula, en esta ocasión la historia falla en entregar entretenimiento fresco y novedoso, generando una de las peores criticas para una cinta protagonizada por el actor sin contar una taquilla mediocre que pone en duda posibles secuelas y el potencial del actor para lanzar franquicias en esta nueva era. Aun esta por verse, ya que mucho se culpa a la producción, mas que a su interpretación, y en Septiembre lo veremos en "American Made" una cinta de crimen y autobiográfica sobre un piloto que se convierte en narco traficante, al ser contratado por la CIA para hacer entregas clandestinas, termina relacionandose con el acrtel de Colombia y ayudando a crear el cartel mas poderoso a la fecha, todo orquestrado por el mismo gobierno de los EUA y que al principio beneficio al piloto pero al final termino con u vida y gracias a las cintas que dejo como evidencia ahora el gobierno esta expuesto como el que abrio el camino al narcotrafico en el pais. A la fecha la cinta promete regresar a lo que el actor nos tiene acostumbrados, una potente interpretacion en una historia bien dirigida, escrita y que no deja de ser entretenida y que es ya un must see por los eventos que relata y su impacto en la actualidad exponiendo la verdadera cara del supuesto mejor pais en el mundo ademas de gozar ya con excelentes critias. Mas con la mira puesta en el futuro de su carrera, mucho se espera de esta cinta y su proxima entrega en 2018 de la franquicia "Mission: impossible 6".

WONDER WOMAN...justice begins with her

"I used to want to save the world, this little beautiful place". That's how everything starts. We came here as idealists expecting the best from life, from the world, from others. Until we start living and things start to happen. We suddenly start to realize that we can't be good all time. There is some bad and dark on everyone of us. But we've been told we are all good and should stay that way, away from evil and hiding those bad behaviors not even realizing why all are they happening. Yes, this means to be human, and in order to be able to expose that nature that make us flawless and truly understand it, we were in need of an outsider that will explore it and get to understand it first to prove it right, That's why we created heroes, those saviors for humans that will seem perfect in appearance but also full of layers and shades that will help us not just to save the day but to put humanity back in track, even in it's worst moments, teaching us one or more lessons about ourselves and serving more as a role model than a true heroic figure. And in recent times, when things have been going from bad to worse and the world seems submerged in chaos, losing hope for a chance of change, we finally get a super hero that won't save the day but will remind us how worthy we are and that it's our choice to do right or wrong because we both in us, but is only love what can save us. And her name is "Wonder Woman" (2017).

Or better known as Diana. She is a princess, a god, a powerful, strong woman. But she doesn't know it. She was raised as an Amazon among her equals, training for a battle that might come but no one knows when, but will be under the God of War directions. So they must be prepared. But she doesn't know what she is capable of as her mother is hiding a lot of information from her, afraid that knowing will put her in more danger. But her nature is to fight, to be prepared for that moment and face all those ideals she has been raised for. She becomes a warrior that will fight among others for what is right. Until she gets out of the bubble she has been all her life. Believe things will happen as been told in books of by spreading the word. But in reality things are more complex. And she needs to learn that in the hard way. As she stars to become stronger, war finds her. And comes in form of a spy. A man that is been persecuted for stealing valuable information from the enemy. And they found him rescued by the amazons that will face men in this new era, World War I is happening and has found them. So after this man explains them what is happening, she feels like this is her call for war. She needs to go out there and help this people to end the war. This is why they've been training for. This is her mainly reason to exist. At least for now tat she doesn't know more.

Once Diana travels to Europe and clashes with humanity and society for that era, she will learn what humans are made of. She will see their love and compassion for each other, their ability to care for others, their fashion, their guilty pleasures, the pleasures of the flesh, all those feelings that make us feel alive and excited, to get up everyday, go to work, fall in love, get married, have kids, cook for them, dance, and get old. Is it worthy? We don't know but it's in our nature and that push everyone of us to keep going in the good and bad days. But also she will see our insecurities, our hunger for power, aggressiveness, selfishness, that has turned the dreams of a few into a war and misery of the rest of the world that are fighting in the name of their nation or under the orders of other hiding behind a desk. And this is not what she expected, neither what she was told. As a warrior and a princess she fights back to back with her team, so can't understand why all these Captains and Generals are just sitting in a room, making decisions that will affect the lives of those on the battlefield instead of them being there, fighting as equals. But she will prove them wrong as she will be the first to take a step into a no man's land and try to save a village that has been taken by the enemy.

She soon will face the reality of war. Women and children been murdered. Men are injured and villages are being destroyed. Why? How's possible we are turning into each others. What makes a few more special that deserve the rest to sacrificed for them, appealing to everyone's nature of courage and honor to their country and family, trying to save them and protect them form others threats. But sadly is not a one man's fault. If we need to blame it comes to all that had fall for this ideals of power in need to feed that emptiness in our lives. Some people come from a violent or dysfunctional background so they don't know better and others need to fulfill a need or a lack of love for themselves with power, feeling more than others and bring them down will bring them some entitlement that they need in order to survive and because of that they will do whatever it takes as for them it comes as a matter of life or death but why a majority has to pay for the actions of  a few?. Why we keep falling for their crap and their promises? How far do we need to go or how deep we need to fall to realize that that path won't take us anywhere safe but to destroy ourselves, and we keep history repeats. As if never happened before we keep believing that is an actual solution. We keep doing the same mistakes over and over. That's the only reason why we need super heroes, not just as a kid fantasy of saving the world but as a role model that will remind us that the real power is in us.

Also for the first time, we got a fresh air from the super her genre bringing the most iconic and best known female super hero in modern history. A woman that is willing to prove that not only men can kick ass and that men not longer rule the world. Women as different from men as they are, also can save the day and prove to be strong and powerful, even they are best known for being emotional but it's all about balance. Finding the right amount of strength an vulnerability that will aloud you to win a war. Just by knowing your flaws and controlling your emotions you can be able to overcome whatever will come at you. As in the movie, set in early XX century, when women had no right to vote or being heard, had to suffer the consequences from men's decisions. But also at that time, we were told that men can't cry, and have to be strong to support and protect their families. That being a man was all about be strong, smart, and cold hearted, but  things have changed and we had evolved to the point that we realize now that men can and should be emotional as well, because have feelings as women have. And women can be strong and be smart and driven to manage companies and take the lead. We are still different, but we share a lot of similarities and those differences are what brings a balance to our society and human kind so this movie comes in a perfect timing to remind us all this and with a performance that feels like was born to perform under a direction and a perfect story that will captivate us as much as will thrill us, making it the perfect and one of the best entries for the genre.

BAYWATCH....please help! Hollywood is sinking

Summer has finally arrived and another day on the movies comes. But things have changed drastically. Summer is not longer the blockbuster season and in hope of trying to keep the money coming, studios have lined up a selection of pretty lame options that seem to just try to appeal masses and cash the money. Things have turned desperate in the film industry where studios seemed to have no fresh ideas and when a few ones shine out of the big franchises, people seemed to have no interest if there's not enough buzz around the project. Also big starts have no impact anymore. No one cares if a major Hollywood star is in the cast of a movie if the project seems unappealing for the audience interest. And if we add the fact that television is enjoying the glow of a new golden era, keeping people attached to their phones or tv to catch up a show when there are so many out there and so accessible, that just the idea of getting out to the theaters feels not right. Just two decades ago, tv was pure entertainment full of sit comes and campy shows that felt more like guilty pleasures. But that was actually the idea. The fact of turning on the tv expecting to just chill and relax and when looking for something more meaningful and exciting, that's when you go to the movies. But not anymore.

Quality in tv has reached a high bar and we have a lot of options that visually bring any cinematography experience to the small screen. And following a show through different seasons feels like when waiting for the next entry of a film franchise just without a long waiting and getting more of it for less. So far are now those days when tv was trying to imitate the big screen, turning the table being now the big screen trying to translate some of the most popular shows to the big screen experience forgetting that there is a reason why both formats are still different from each other as most of these offers fail in translation missing what they made it so popular in the first place. Most recent case is "Baywatch" (2017), based on the popular show that run for 10 seasons of slow motion running on the beach scenes to a different level in times where girls in swimsuits where worth to watch as a kick ass option to modern feminism and when underdogs could save the day, but things have changed and as treasured that show is in our hearts, those days are far and trying to bring it back to the millennials era is just not fitting right. Reason why the movie takes the path of a raunchy comedy turning it's core and concept just as an excuse to make a parody of itself when originally was already a sort of the same, so how can you make fun of a joke? The result, a bomb that had audiences away from the theaters over it's opening weekend and critics hating it as much to spread the word to every place on earth.

And seems like Hollywood is forgetting past lessons or try to deny their lack of opportunities as they keep bringing this kind of projects and sell them as a potential new franchise when have been failing for long time now. Now the question is: why studios haven't figured out what networks are doing to deliver quality shows and bring audiences to their multiple options and generate big buzz and major events for a tv show/series rather than a motion picture event? Some new turns had proved to be successful in the big screen, like the new take on the Alien franchise, that serving as a prequel brought old audiences interested in this world and build a new one with an interesting take over human kind origins just to a point where everybody where expecting a new entry to continue that path, and under the vision of it's creator, the talented director Ridley Scott, we also got "Alien:Convenant" (2017), continuing where the last entry ended, now with a new crew and ship, one that is looking for a new planet to move and start again before falling in hands of an android with an ego and curiosity of a god willing to explore more about nature and origins further than humanity, just to bring back an iconic creature that was missing last time. But what worked before, the suspense, the hidden clues and secrets that linked it to the original franchise, this time are gone, we see more than what we want, the suspense is translate to action sequences and not one but multiple aliens on screen. Add to that the fact that all information about how this creature was conceived makes it less intriguing as kills any sign of imagination and curiosity to know what if.

This idea of trying to keep exploring popular ideas is just not what audiences want  when there are so many already out there. And again, after a great opening, this new entry fell drastically in it's second weekend even if most of the critics are raving about it, audiences are just spreading the word about skipping it since on the contrary to the previous one, this one feels predictable and less scary and suspenseful. Where are the new ideas? Where are those times when people used to go to the movies and leave the theater feeling like they just witness something magical, scary, excited, and makes you want to come back and re watch over and over again. Is it us that we lose our capability of being amazed feeling like we've seen everything already? How can that be possibly in a format where you can create as many worlds as your imagination let you? Cinematography is an art and a language that has multiple sides to explore and let you create and re invent if you know how to use it, why are they still trying to be a crowd pleaser instead of a story teller? But at least we can't blame them for trying. After trying to make adaptations of tv shows, old movies, Broadway musicals, now they turned their heads to a new golden mine: Novels. Specially now that franchises are coming from popular novels and series of books, attracting young audiences to read more and encourage grown ups to get a read at least once per year.

The new effort to create a new major event based on a novel, appealing to a demographic group and crate a bigger fan base is "Everything, Everything" (2017), a new YA novel, which as we know can go two ways, or is a dystopian world  or star crossed lovers, and this time is the latter, a romantic tale of an ill teenage girl that happens to suffer from a disease that keeps her trapped in her house unable to have enough defenses for virus and bacteria outside in her immune system, meaning she'll die. But she's managing her life until a new guy moves next door, and as he feels also like an outcast, the two connect texting each other from window to window and sharing all kind of stuff that makes anyone fall for someone. The movie falls in all the cliches from the genre but it's the young cast full of fresh faces, that keeps the story going making us forget all the wrongs along the way. What deserves to mention is that actually the story has some twists that takes the story to different ways making it feels like a fresh air in a polluted city, and the way the story centers on how two different people connect in more intimate ways in the lack of physical contact makes you realize what love and get to know someone really means far from idealism's and how as we grew up, he lose that capacity of feeling and get excited to be with someone like when we were young and started to explore love and all it's emotions. Sadly this is not enough to stand out the current tendency of YA novels and again we can't but wonder where are the fresh ideas, the romance that will excite u, make us cry and believe in love again. Seems like we are doomed to wait for a miracle that will turn the industry in other directions and go back to the old days when summer meant entertainment and novelty that carried crowds to the theaters. Due are those days as they are the one for shows like Baywatch, Aliens trapped in a spaceship treating human kind or romance that will bring sparks from the screen to real life. HELP!

THE WALL...when we actually need barriers

You, as me, might like war movies. Those thrillers packed of action with strategies where you can't but keep rooting for  your side hoping for them to win and destroy, literally, the enemy, that usually plays a villain role, when usually there is more than black or white there, but still you can't denied that good feeling when they win or that sadness when they lose. And there's nothing wrong with that wen you are watching it on the big screen, surrounded by the loud sound of explosions and images of dead bodies flying all around. But when you realize that what you are witnessing is a recreating of real events, where real people were killed for stupid reasons and political interests and mostly clash of cultures, then things turn from fun to scary, and it might become a horror movie, but we are not ok watching a serial killer slashing teenagers all around the place but we approved to see men in combat killing another man in the most savages way as a way of survival. Why? Because they are fighting for cause and dying for a reason bigger than them? Is it not the same at the end? Just because someone is wearing a uniform and belong to the militia, that gives them the validation to kill other man while in battle? How about the victims?, Most of them didn't want to die or fight, but got caught in a battle that gave them no option other than a survival mode and even if they make it at the end, we've already talked a few times about the side effects and consequences of that. For any normal, sane, person, after witnessing the stress and horrors of war, there's something that sticks with you, hard to shake it out and will transform your life and mind from now on.

Playing with this scenarios, we got this summer an interesting story, a mix of a suspense/war film, that has some interesting points, playing as a psychological thriller, where lot of dialogue will take place and steal scenes over action sequences that we are used to for the genre, and a twist from other stories of war that we've heard previously, we get this month "The Wall" (2017), supposedly based on real events, This is the story of two soldiers, after the war is ended. This time the Iraq war. It's over. All troops are retiring, going back home, so it's time to pick up everybody and go back to the camp. But after a distress call, Allan Isaac and Shane Mathews are sent to check whats going on. But once they are the point of reference, everything seems like a dead zone. No one is there. They are hiding and monitoring the area, waiting for something to happen so they can intervene. But nothing happens. Time is passing by. The heat is on. Been hiding for a while under the sun and they get anxious. So Isaac make the call of go out there and explore the scene, just to find enough evidence of a previous attack, with some dead bodies from both sides that were probably protecting the oil pipes there, but no one seems to be alive to make the call, or maybe they did it before everything happened, but if so, what happened? war is over, why they would be fighting for?

Soon, they will find out, when the soldier gets shot. Where did that come from? Who's shooting? Isaac is down. Bleeding from his ribs. His injured, but still tries to fight back but more shootings keep coming so he falls down pretending to be dead. Mathews sees everything but doesn't know what's happening, so he's instinct is to run over to help his brother down just to find himself trapped in the shooting and get hurt in his leg, so since he  can't do anything to help Isaac and bullets are flying all over the place, has no option but to retreat and crawl behind the stone wall close by. Once he is there, safe from now from the shooter, he starts damage control, taking care of his wound, trying to ask for help with the radio, just to find the antenna is broken, water is gone too, and Isaac is alive but he passed out. So now what? he is injured and can't walk, plus there is a shooter out there and can't tell where is he so he fades out until the sound of his intercom wakes him up. Someone is reaching out. Maybe they are looking out for them. He responds excited, asking for help, until he notices that this guy is not following the protocol, why he is asking so many questions about him? And then as the keep talking he notices a very light foreign accent. He is the shooter!

But he wants to  talk. He wants to know about this American soldier ad why did he join to the army and wanted to come to the war and fight for his country. Why would someone like him, left his family and friends and is so scared to go back home? Maybe he's  hiding from something at war that is scarier that sacrificing? Or maybe sacrificing his life in the name of  his country is a way to repair some guilt that he's been carrying for a while? As we see how Mathews tries to solve the puzzle of this shooter playing mind games with him, knowing that he is trapped behind that wall, figuring out all the why's of what happened there before and what's happening now, the more we know about him and his motives to join the army and how this one brain washes anyone's set of mind to create a bond as strong as family, a brotherhood that makes them rectify their lives and fight for their brothers and nation. But he also wants to go back home. Once you face death, the realization that nothing can't be that bad to run away from and all the people that care for you. But the only way to go back home is to fight back this shooter and knowing where is he hiding will be the only way out. But this guy has more reasons than getting to know an average american soldier. He is the one who brought them there. He's the one asking for help to the Americans pretending to be an American soldier, using the information from agent Mathews.

A few we know about this shooter, only information is that he is well known around everybody as a menace because his skills and even war is over he still wants to kill as many American soldiers as he can. Why? Because they dared to come to his country and start a war. He represents the other side of the coin. As we said previously, war is made from two sides, as any relationship, and sometimes the ones that we seem like the bad guys, had another motives that the ones they made us believe, and they also have the right to fight for their own  culture and believes. This guy represents his country. He was an average guy. Having a peaceful life as a teacher until war started and his country was invaded, his school has teared apart, killing hundreds and he had to witness. Consequences. The consequences of war change us all. And he has changed. He learned how to shoot and became a great shooter a now his purpose is to kill as many american soldiers as he can bringing them to this trap that he has created and it's working so far. We judge others by their actions not knowing what's behind. Being unconscious of their intentions when some of them are the result of our actions. We push them to some point where we are affected but the were affected first too. It's kind of selfish to expect that we can do whatever we want with no consequences . And not necessarily has to go that extreme but the fact that a soldier has to live with the damage of  war or use it to hide from his past reflects the ugly truth behind it, and how it make things worse for everybody and the more people you get involve the more damage spreads out. Sometimes it's ok to build a wall literally or metaphorically to prevent getting in trouble. And don't miss the independent film that is running limited but deserves a look, with a great performance from young actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson and directed by Doug Liman, bringing interesting topics to the table that might not be solved but will raised some hands while keeping you at the edge of your seat. It's time to stop any war and avid fighting violence with more violence and this new proposal for a wasted genre.

ERIC BANA...desde Troya hasta Munich.

Dicen que la vida da muchas vueltas y uno nunca sabe lo que el destino le depara o los giros que puede tomar llevándonos por senderos que poco creíamos al alcance. Y para muestra basta un botón, o un ejemplo, tal es el caso de Eric Banadinovic, un Australiano de nacimiento pero de origen Croata, gracias a su padre un carpintero, y su madre, una estilista, que lo criaron en los suburbios de Melbourne a lado de su hermano mayor Anthony, aunque su familia rostro un tanto racismo hacia sus origines, Eric siempre se mostró orgulloso de ellos y buscaba relacionarse con gente Europea. Mas nunca mostró interés por las artes ni la actuación, sin embargo dadas estas circunstancias empezó a imitar a miembros de su familia, con sus manerismos y forma de hablar. Esta facilidad lo haría algo popular entre sus conocidos, quienes lo empujaron a hacer comedia stand up cuando trabajaba de cantinero y mesero en un hotel pues esto no le daba dinero suficiente para sobrevivir pero gracias a ello aparece un show nocturno en vivo, donde su presentación atrajo la mira de productores que le ofrecieron su primer gran oportunidad en la industria del espectáculo, en un show donde participarían como comediante y escritor del mismo. Lo cual a lo largo de cuatro años le daría material suficiente basado en mucho en su propia familia. Pero fueron sus interpretaciones de celebridades como Tom Cruise y Sylvestre Stallone las que le ganarían popularidad entre los fans del show. De paso es aquí cuando conoce a la que es ahora su esposa, una reconocida publicista e hija de nada menos que el jefe de Justicia de Australia y con la que tendría dos hijos mas adelante.

Esta creciente fama en la comedia lo llevaría a un episodio especial totalmente basado en el, el cual fue un éxito que llevaría a crear su propio show en vivo con imitaciones e invitados especiales, pero por desgracia este no logro los raitings esperados, obligandolo a cancelarlo con tan solo ocho episodios al aire. Mas este fracaso le abrió otras puertas, cuando meses después hace su debió cinematográfico en la cinta australiana "The Castle" (1997), contando la historia de una familia en Melbourne que vive cerca del aeropuerto y se ve forzada por las autoridades a moverse de dicha locación, y sorpresivamente fue un éxito en critica y taquilla en su país. A pesar de haber contado con una participación secundaria y no tener experiencia en dramas, un director lo busca para protagonizar su siguiente proyecto, "Chopper) (2000), un filme basado en la vida del criminal australiano Chopper Read, siendo este mismo quien lo sugiere para quedarse con el papel, para el cual Bank tuvo que aumentar 30 kilos, raparse la cabeza, pasar por cinco horas de maquillaje para llenarse de tatuajes y pasar dos días enteros con el criminal para imitar sus gestos y movimientos. La cinta fue otro éxito en taquilla y critica en su país natal pero fuera de este sufrir de una exhibición limitada mas gano excelentes criticas para la interpretación del actor y una vez que gano el premio a mejor actor por la Academia Fílmica Australiana por dicha interpretación, las puertas de Hollywood se le abrieron.

Entrando por la puerta grande se pone en las manos del aclamado director Ridley Scott en "Black Hawk Down" (2001), una cinta basada en un hecho verídico sobre un helicóptero derribado en territorio hostil con varios soldados que deberán buscar la manera de sobrevivir en plena guerra de Iraq. Bank, quien interpreta a un sargento de una fuerza armada elite, quien tras la misión se viene abajo tendrá que luchar por encontrar una salida de dicha batalla al capturar a dos asociados de un terrorista. El actor se coló en dicho papel gracias a la recomendación del actor Russell Crowe quien lo vio en su también natal Australia y tras trabajar con el director y ganar un Oscar lo sugiere para dicho papel. La cinta fue todo un éxito en taquilla y critica mas el actor paso desapercibido y opacado por otros jóvenes actores que llamaron mas la atención en la cinta. Tratando de abrirse camino en Hollywood, donde su nombre aun no es reconocido, forma parte del elenco que presta su voz a la cinta animada "Finding Nemo" (2003), donde nuevamente solo logra un papel secundario y menor a pesar de que la cinta otra vez fue un rotundo éxito en taquilla y critica global, lo cual añadiría solo pedigree a su curriculum. Lo cual pareciera haber funcionado ya que su siguiente proyecto no solo es uno grande y verde sino que representaría su primer protagónico en Hollywood. se trata de la adaptación del comic de Marvel "Hulk", el hombre verde, un super héroe que es interpretado por Bruce Banner, un científico que tras ser expuesto a rayos gama, lo transforma en un super hombre o monstruo verde capaz de demoler tanques y brincar edificios por su fuerza y tamaño. La adaptación viene de la mano del aclamado director Ang Lee, quien pareciera que los blockbusters no son lo suyo ya que la cinta, para su genero tuvo una muy tibia recepción poniendo en duda y en pausa la franquicia de este mundialmente reconocido super héroe.

El fracaso de la cinta se le adjudico a la vision del director, por lo cual el actor salio bien librado y al contrario, le gano cierta populridad que le abrio otras puertas, siendo "Troya" (2004) la cual lo lanzaria al estrellato en una moderna re interpretacion de la popular y clasica novela LA ILIADA de Homero, narrando la epica y larga batalla de Troya, centrada en sus dos lideres, Aquiles y Hector, interpretados por Brad Pitt y Bana respectivamente. La cinta fue todo un exito en taquilla sobre todo en su corrida internacional aunque gozo de criticas mezcladas que no le impidieron colarse a algunos premios populares, y poniendo a su elenco en la mira de la industria, sobre todo de reconocidos directores, siendo ahora el mismo Spielberg quien lo acogeria para su proximo proyecto "Munich" (2005), un thriller basado en lo hechos historicos sucedidos despues de la masacre de los juegos Olimpicos del 72 y la operacion secreta del gobierno Israeli en contra de los Palestinos. gozando de este pedigree mas una decente taquilla y criticas, para entonces el actor es ya una figura del cine comtemporaneo.

Continuando su buena racha, se pone en las manos del director Curtis Hanson en "Lucky You" (2007), un drama romantico sobre un hombre tratando de figurar el sentido de su vida y librarse de la sombra de su padre en Las Vegas, en medio de la escena de los casinos y que al conocer a una joven recien llegada a la ciudad podria ser su inspiracion o perdicion en la competencia de poker mundia. Co protagonoza con un elnco de la talla de Robert Duvall como su padre y Drew Barrymore como su interes romantico y Robert Downey Jr., como su primo y rival. Mas la cinta se estreno junto con otro blockbuster que le robo toda atencion y con malas criticas, se convirtio en un fracaso en taquilla que no logro ni una cuarta parte de su presupuesto. Mas un pequeno tropiezo no lo detuvo para tomar el rol del rey Enrique VII en la nueva adaptacion filmica de su historia y relacion con Ana Bolena en "The Other Boleyn Girl" (2008), la cual conto con la presencia de Scartlett Johansson y Natalie Portman como las hermanas Bolena, y aunque las crticas fueron mas malas que buenas, no cayo en lo terrible y a la audiencia le gusto este drama historico que poco o mucho tiene de veracidad con los hechos reales pero que la hicieron un exito en taquilla.

En 2009 volveria a ponerse los pantalones del rol del villano, ero ahora mas en serio al interpretar a Nero, mejor conocido por los geeks y fans de la serie en la nueva adaptacion de "Star Trek" (2009), ahora en las manos del visionario director J.J. Abrahams y que trayendo de vuelta a los personajes originales con un variado per talentoso elenco de jovenes promesas, refrescando la popular franquicia con una historia digna para todos los fans y atraer nuevos aficionados a la ciencia ficcion. La cinta fue todo un exito sorpresivo en taquilla que dio luz verde a varias secuelas aunque el actor al interpretar al villano unicamente participaria en esta ocasion, razon por la cua su siguiente proyecto seria algo totalmente distinto pero de alguna manera relacionado: un romance con tintes de ciencia ficcion. Asi es como llego "The Time Traveler's Wife" (2009), basada en la novela homonima de 2003, sobre un hombre con un desorden genetico que lo hace viajar en tiempo a momentos y lugares que no puede controlar, pero que lo llevan a cruzar caminos en diferentes tiempos con la misma mujer de quien termina enamorandose llevandolos a una complicada pero pasional relacion. Apesar de lo cursi e irracional que suena la historia, la cinta fue un gran exito en taquilla, en gran parte al carisma y quimica de los protagonistas, mas obviamente los criticos no fueron fans, lo cual poco importo a ese punto.

Retomando sus origenes en la comedia forma parte con un papel secundario, en la nueva cinta del director/productor Judd Apatow: "Funny People" (2009), protagonizada por Adam Sandler y Leslie Mann, esta vez en una historia no tan simpatica sobre un comediante que tras ser diagnosticado con una enfermedad terminal, busca reconectarse con personas del pasado y que de alguna manera fuero importantes en su vida, incluyendo su ex quien ahora esta casada , rol que interpreta el actor. La cinta a pesar de contar con talentos nuevos de la comedia contemporánea como Seth Rogen y Jonah Hill bajo el sello de Apatow, no logro despertar mucho interés y mucho se critico su falta de originalidad y sentido del humor, y aunque no fue un fracaso en taquilla o critica, tampoco fue un éxito. Buscando darle otro giro a su carrera lo vemos en 2011 en "Hanna", una cinta de acción sobre una joven adolescente que es criado y entrenada como una asesina, por su padre, viviendo alejados de la civilización lo que permitirá explorar el choque de la joven con la civilización una vez que un agente de la CIA emprende una cacería para atraparla junto a su padre.La cinta es dirigida por el talentoso Joe Wright, contando con una buena recepción de los críticos así como en taquilla, y mejor aun ganándole un estatus de culto con el paso del tiempo.

Curiosamente su siguiente proyecto pareciera una secuela bizarra o un spin off de esta ultima cinta, así es, "Deadfall" (2012), es un thriller independiente sobre dos hermanos que quedan atrapados en las nevadas montañas tras huir de su ultimo asalto a un casino, decidiendo separarse para buscar ayuda y encontrar la manera de escapar de ahi mientras son acosados por un matón que busca recuperar el botín robado. Co protagoniza Olivia Wilde y Charlie Hunnam. La trama y los escenarios la hacen sentir familiar, como algo visto antes pero por desgracia en esta ocasión algo también falto, sin suspenso, personajes planes y una historia poco convencional la llevaron a una pobre taquilla y casi nula taquilla. Lo cual pareciera ser un giro o una maldicion en su futura carrera, pues su siguiente cinta "Closed Circuit" (2013), otro thriller ahora contando la misión de de la policia local por descubrir al responsable del atentado terrorista en el mercado de Londres que ha matado a 120 personas y que tras atrapar a un inmigrante turco, corren contra reloj por descifrar la verdad detrás de este acto y capturar al responsable si es que aun no lo tienen bajo techo. La premisa promete mas que lo que la cinta ofrece pues quienes si la vieron le dieron pobres criticas que se tradujo en una mala, alias pobre, taquilla.

Tratando formulas conocidas, se involucra en otra cinta bélica, y nuevamente una basada en hechos reales y la novela que narra los mismos. Esta ocasión la historia es acerca de un equipo de infantería tratando de llevar a cabo una misión por atrapar a un posible terrorista en Afganistan, quedan atrapados en territorio enemigo y una vez descubiertos son cazados uno por uno, siendo su maldicion el titulo que prácticamente revela el final de la cinta, "Lone Survivor" (2013), mas esto aprecio no importar mucho ya que la cinta fue un rotundo éxito de taquilla y critica. Bank aparece en un rol secundario como el Teniente a cargo de la base que busca rescatar al equipo antes de que sea demasiado tarde. Siendo actores como Mark Wahlberg, Ben Foster, Emile Hirsh se llevaron los aplausos. Para 2014 regresa incursionando en el genero de horror-suspenso con "Deliver us from Evil", otra cinta que aparentemente esa basado en hechos reales, ubicados en la ciudad de New York, y basados en la novela no ficticia de los mismos, basados en la búsqueda de una pareja de policías y varios hechos que los llevan a colaborar con un sacerdote en lo que pareciera un caso de exorcismo o calvez un culto satanico. La cinta fue aplastada por la critica pero como sucede con este genero, eso no importo para los seguidores del mismo que la hicieron una decente propuesta de horror en pleno verano.

Mas tarde lo veríamos en otro rol menor, "The Finest Hours" (2015), otra cinta supuestamente basada en hechos reales, que aunque no retratan los mismos de manera fidedigna, sirven para establecer la trama y lo que pareciera ser un genero que definiera al actor, mas aveces sus proyectos empiezan a parecerse mas y mas los unos con otros, como en este caso, narrando los hechos de un grupo de guarda costas que buscara rescatar a la tripulación de una navegación varada en mar abierto tras sufrir de problemas mecánicos debido a la tormenta que esta azotando el area. Protagonizada por el actor Chris Pine, Bank interpreta a su superior quien tendrá que dirigir la operación desde tierra mientras los jóvenes se aventuran al océano para cumplir el rescate. La cinta bajo el sello de la casa Disney, gozo de decentes criticas pero un fracaso en taquilla, por la misma razón de sentirse como algo que ya hemos visto ates y aunque honra la valentía de los involucrados, carece del suspenso y aventura de otras similares. Co protagonizando con el comediante británico Rick Gervais y la talentosa actriz Vera Farmiga, lo vemos en "Special Correspondents" (2016), una de las primeras cintas lanzadas en plataforma de video en demanda por la popular cadena Netflix. El actor interpreta a un periodista de radio que tras cometer un delito para conseguir su ultima noticia pondrá su carrera en el péndulo justo en tiempo para tener que recurrir a nuevos recursos para obtener la nueva historia. Esta comedia pretende parodiar el periodismo e industria de noticias, mas la burla le salió por la culata al ser aplastada por la critica y tener una baja respuesta por parte de los subscriptores de la cadena.

Finalmente este mes lo vemos en "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" (2017), que no basada en hechos reales pero si en una popular novela británica que bajo la vision de Guy Ritchie buscara establecer los parámetros para una nueva franquicia sobre el legendario rey y su mundo medieval con tintes mágicos y donde el actor nuevamente goza de una pequeña participación como el padre del rey homónimo que sera el escogido por Excalibur, la espada en la piedra, y así poder enfrentar a su avaro y peligroso tío quien ahora gobierna la region, pero ni el elenco encabezado por Jude Law y Charlie Hunnam ni la vision de Ritchie parece ser suficiente en una historia que carece de emotividad y trama para dar pie al espectáculo visual, lo cual parece sera el primer gran fracaso del verano, poniendo en duda el destino del actor en la industria Hollywoodense donde a pesar de contar con una mezcla de buenas y malos proyectos, su nombre ya no es garantía de taquilla o man de audiencias, mas sin una clara tendencia en géneros todo puede suceder para el actor quien solo necesita otra gran oportunidad.

the mother of horror....BATES MOTEL

At this point who hasn't seen the movie "Psycho" (1960)? A classic from the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock. And for those who already forgot about it or happen that haven't seen it yet, it's a story based on a psychopath named Norman Bates, who runs a Motel and when a pretty girl checks in, can't control but to spy on her and if his mother comes around, she might end dead. As frightening as it was watching that iconic shower scene, the story left so much to explore, why is he so obsessed with his mom? Has he always been like that? How come he gets away with murder? And moving forward to this new golden era for tv, when fresh ideas start to running out when so many networks are working on demand for new options, comes to the point of translating popular movies into tv shows (things got inverse from what used to be when movies used to do the same with series). So now we get 5 seasons of one of the most intriguing yet damaged shows in tv now. It's a show that is so good that is scary. But what makes it that good? Well let's say that mostly because more than focusing on the murders and the suspense, its main focus it's on the relationship between the characters, specially Norman Bates and his mom Norma Bates, which will expose why he becomes the man that we knew at the movie, a psycho, and maybe we was always one or maybe his mother did it? Whatever the answer is, that bound of mother and son has a special yet fragile line that makes us the person we are when we grew up  .

 When we think about our moms, it all comes to love, tenderness, protection, but there is also a side that just a few times we realized: we have more of them in us that we possible imagine.  And for two simple reasons: genes and education. The first we can't do anything about it, it comes with our ADN, even it's mixed like a cocktail with our dads and the rest of the family, we have something from our moms in us. For some, they get all the nice things, sense of humor, intelligence, adventurous spirit, compassion, etc, but for others the not so good things, like addictions, bad temper, disorders, genetic diseases, insecurities. Or we get a mix of both. But the second comes as part of being raised by another human that has the better intentions to give us the best but as human as she is, will make mistakes and in that learning process will drop some baggage on us that will be our task to get over it. And we can see it or notice when it's our turn to become parents and we realize that we are doing the same exact things we used to hate from our parents, but at the end it's the only way we know so it's h back in our minds as the right to do even it's not as right as we thought. Or when getting old, our friends or partners tell us how alike we are to our parents.

This is exactly the plot of the show. We meet Norma and Norman bates just when her husband is laying on the floor, dead from what seems was an accident after the couple were fighting, pushing the two of them to move away and start a new life as she over protects her son: Norman. He seems like a nice teenager. Always willing to help his mom, whom by the day, it's a very insecure and unstable person. Coming from a poor abusive family, she has created this world for her and her son that if someone threats to destroy it or figure out the reality of it, she will run away or push them away. But her instability to keep it together and change of mood, will reflect soon in her son, while he tries to move along high school and issues teenagers go through at that age, unfortunately for him, things will go extreme once he starts getting images of his mom telling to do stuff that otherwise he wouldn't be able and soon he will be find himself in the middle of a lot of chaos and trouble. Lucky for him, his older brother, Dylan, will show up to save the day. We didn't know about his existence, but he is Norma's first son, and the fact that he comes from an act of violence is why she ran away from him too. But he had found her and asking for help until he realizes is better to stay away from her but before that ants to take his brother with him because know how bad influence is for him to stay closer to his mom and the damage she is causing to him.

But she has an excuse for that behavior, she is insecure and has suffered a lot, that's why she tries to protect her son, and also he's the only one she can actually trust not realizing that putting all her emotions on him, as if he was her partner or best friend is not the best way to be a parent or become a role model, specially when she notices that Norman has some psychological issues, but even she's aware of that, she's too afraid of losing him that won't expose him for treatment or help, making things just worse and worse. The mix of both personalities and characters leaves up to enough drama, suspense and chaos to become anyone crazy, but at the same time it becomes addictive to watch them go through all these craziness just making you root for them as if they could have a happy ending knowing there's not a chance for them after all this, because they seem like nice people, like any of your neighbors. They want to be happy, they are looking for love and acceptance, to fit in and make new friends, but at the same time they have a lot baggage and are damage already. What they need is help but every time someone offers them an option, ends bad or something goes south, pushing them to the dark side every single time they taste a bit of happiness, like if they were doomed already.

For that reason, this mother's day, it's the perfect day to start a new show that not only will make you cheer and cry but keep you on the edge of your seat realizing how tough and important being a parent is, specially a single one, and because mothers know their kids like no one else, you might realize you might also know her better when you notice how similar you can be. But also is important to use this excuse to point the fact that parenting is no experimenting. Whatever you choose to do to raise your child, will define the man or women they will become in the future and even we are all humans and mistakes are meant to be made and stuff will happen because no one was born knowing how to do this, is for your best and the best of your family to prepared yourself to the task. Accepting and acknowledging your flaws will make you stronger before you pass them to the kids. Being a mom is a natures gift but also a curse because you have someone's life and future in your hands and you are molding that person in one direction and it's your choice which one will be,, and as scary as to be chased by a psycho it can be having one at home making your life miserable without noticing it, all in the name of love. But in case you need a break of that you can always check in at the "BATES MOTEL" (2013-current).

THE CIRCLE...social media is all rounded

Dear Technology,
Remember those days where we needed to buy maps to get anywhere or figure out how to move around? When we used to watch the weather forecast at TV or read the news in our local newspaper? How about back when we needed to go out to bars to socialize and meet new people, and talking to someone at a bar or the street was a nice gesture, because we used to flirt by eye contact when walking on the street? And family dinners where all about discussing everyone's day and plans. We used paper and pen to  take notes, keep records, make payments, organize schedules. Those were very different days and they feel old and due by now, when basically it's only been 10 years now that things have changed so dramatically that we can't see our lives without you. You came to our lives as a revolution. Like the one that happen with the industry a century ago and transform capitalism in the new role model around the world. Now you seem to be the one ruling it and trending every new step of the way. Making our lives easier, more safe, and comfortable. Connecting people not only by relatives but around the world. Giving us access to whatever is happening far way from home and hopefully soon expand our territories beyond our own planet now that we basically are killing it by keeping you alive and innovating you. How do the millennials can possible survive without you?

Is it? Is this really what we want from you? We really create you with a purpose to make our lives easier and help to make thing better, faster, and now we can access to things by one finger move when before were unthinkable. But what's the price of this whole new world? Is it worthy? Why are you making us so dependable on you that just the idea of going back to what we were before you came and evolve into this seems like the stone age, not really sure if i'd make it back there again.Do you know? Because i might. You better check this movie called "The Circle" (2017), based on Dave Eggers 2013 popular novel that had everyone reading about the trend of technology back on those days. Sadly with only four years since the novel was realized things have moved forward really  fast and now what we read the is more of a close reality making the whole story feel outdated but it's message is still there. And it's all about you, technology. And that's exactly is not working for the movie as it did with the book, because we are missing more of a plot and character development while watching this at the movie theater than just a lecture warning us about what you have become.

And it's sad after having a very talented cast, such as Tom Hanks and Emma Watson on the main roles, and a story that has so much potential and feels like a scary, creepy reality from that side that we might need to make a stop and realize how deeply connected we are to you now. Don't know why i mean? Well the story centers on Mae, a young girl living in the suburbs of North California, trying to make for a living after graduation and having her dad sick, trying to help  their parents is what mostly drives her to look out for a better future. An this is holding her back from anything else in her life, reason why her only friend that might have a crush on her, it's growing apart from her. But things might get better for her when an old friend from college calls her for an interview at one of top tech companies in the Silicon Valley, and her innocence and determination gets her in. And what might seem like a dream come true, because we know it's not thanks to companies like Google or Amazon, takes stage for a long run instead on focusing on her journey there, instead of that the new tech world becomes the new character, showing off how friendly people are when working in that industry, and how they can't be if they have free food, outdoors area for relaxation and mingle, parties at night, weekend events, modern and comfy facilities design to make you feel better while working.

But isn't that the whole point? To become more efficient and make our lives easier, pushing us to achieve what we though was not possible? Well in paper it is. But as an industry and ruled by capitalism rather than a charity, the only way to keep up with demand is innovation, so now everybody is just trying to make it bigger, better, faster, louder, and that's why things get out of control. For example, why we still complain about privacy when now more than ever, we have our lives exposed out there in social media? Strangers that we'll never know can access to our photos and information but if the government wants some access for public safety we all scream and get mad. We are ok sending nude pictures around the web, but if someone talks about sex we get aroused. We feel proud to show off our trips, daily activities, friends, relationships, even when we make fool of ourselves  on a short vid just feel those 5 minutes of fame when everybody like it so why we are afraid of post anything that has no filter from us, why can't be transparent with the real person we are and not only with what we choose to show, we expose our lives but under the condition of being filter, so how honest that make us?

And that's exactly what the movie tries to prove as we meet the CEO of this tech company, hence to the title, that feeling like a guru, tries to motivate his employees with a weekly meeting to show all the new trends and innovations coming up. And by many factors that only in the movies can happen, this master mind ends liking our main girl, and ask her to be the new face for their new project will be streaming live her every move all day from a micro camera that she will be wearing and letting everybody see what her life is like and watch her, as if that couldn't sound creepy enough to be watched full time, but it's the fact that you will be real and no filters and soon she realizes how wrong things are now that she's been used, his friends and family are exposed too and they didn't asked for it, how can she turn all this off?, and why is ok for some to communicate and live through the social media, and in need of the use of phones and apps plus our gadgets at home and work to feel functional? where are those times when we used to think without them, using real language and making human connections rather than user names and codes, emojis and new techy languages . Why technology are making us act more as robots and less humans? where can we get those filters to applied to the things that matter and draw a line between why we need you and why we shouldn't let you, and when things just need to stop and when to continue to innovate. Why are we letting you in and make us so addictive to you? Explain technology, please.