Movie Review: Shooting April

　　Reviewing Shooting April, the new film written and directed by Tod Lancaster, has been a lot harder than I originally thought because after watching it, the only thing I can really think is "…that was pretty f***ing crazy." And while one line would assuage some people, I don’t really think that’s something most others would be content with, so bear with me as I try to gather my wits throughout the course of this review.

　　So, Shooting April was pretty f***ing crazy… DAMN. Hang on. Deep breath...

　　

　　Despite suffering from the logic flaws of other films shot in a similar way (Cloverfield, Diary of the Dead), Shooting April manages to rise above it on the strength of both its story and the absolute knockout performance by its lead actor. It hits all the right spots, being both funny and disturbing at the same time, and Lancaster shows his ability to create tension that builds up until it’s released in a final act that is so dark, I’m having a hard time getting it out of my head.

　　Shooting April is made up of a series of videos recorded by three friends: Truman (Matthew John Prater), Weasel (Eric Fagundes), and Doug (Darius Safavi). Truman is the leader of the group, the loud boisterous one who lacks any fear and any conscience. Weasel is the opposite of Truman, horrible with the ladies and would probably scream if he saw his own shadow. Doug, the third man, is the guy with the camera shooting the footage and occasionally chiming in with his two cents.

　　The reason they are shooting footage in the first place is for their website, where they post a variety of videos of them doing stunts and engaging in all sorts of other debauchery. For the first half of the movie, we follow the three as Doug tapes Truman destroying property, having sex with a girl in a boat at a party, and setting himself on fire, all the while trying to outdo himself and to get Weasel to "grow a pair" (that’s the technical term, Google it). At one of the parties they attend, they meet a girl named April (Rachel Seiferth), who’s shy and from the looks of it, way too nice to be associating with people of this caliber. Naturally since Truman considers himself to be a god, he thinks he can get her to sleep with him on the first date. The other two disagree, and it becomes a bet: if Truman can do it, he gets 100 bucks. Unfortunately, things begin to escalate and eventually get out of hand.

 

New York skyline facing big change

　　

　　The Empire State Building overlooks the rest of Manhattan. Photo / AP

　　NEW YORK - Look at Manhattan from afar, and the first thing you notice is the Empire State Building, spiking like a needle above the carpet of skyscrapers that coats Manhattan from tip to tip.

　　Now it's got some competition - a proposal for a nearby glass office tower that would rise almost as high and alter the iconic skyline.

　　The tower would spoil the famous view of the 102-storey skyscraper for millions of tourists, the Empire State Building's owner, Anthony Malkin, testified at a City Council hearing today. It "defines New York," he said.

　　"We view this as an assault on New York City and its iconography," said Malkin, whose grandfather founded the Malkin Holdings company. It's "the end of the image of New York City that billions of people hold dear."

　　The City Council is to vote this week on whether to allow a developer to erect a 67-storey tower that's only 10 metres lower than the 79-year-old Empire State Building, the city's tallest skyscraper.

　　The proposed tower's developer, David Greenbaum, says 15 Penn Plaza would provide critically needed and state-of-the-art office space to midtown Manhattan, creating at least 7,000 new jobs.

　　

　　"The fact is, New York City's skyline has never stopped changing, and I certainly hope it never will," testified Greenbaum, president of Vornado Realty Trust's New York chapter.

　　The council's Zoning and Franchises subcommittee planned to vote Tuesday on whether to change rules. If they OK the plan, the final word would lie with the City Council - unless the mayor objected.

　　Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports the tower, which was approved by the City Planning Commission last month, spokesman Stu Loeser said late Monday.

　　The building would stand two blocks west of the Empire State Building on the site of the current Hotel Pennsylvania on Seventh Avenue, steps from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station.

　　"Wow! Wouldn't that be sad!" said Christa Huggins, a 35-year-old from Utah visiting the Empire State Building's 102nd-floor observatory.

　　Huggins said she "loves the view of New York all the way around, but especially in that direction. And this would block it."

　　Renderings of the proposed building - designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects - portray a skyscraper shaped like a giant chisel atop a block. It tapers to a flat edge at the peak and is marked by a top-to-bottom groove on its face.

　　In his last-ditch effort to change the plans, Malkin - who also owns a stake in Vornado - appealed to subcommittee members to make 15 Penn Plaza no more than 250 metres high, about two-thirds of the originally proposed size. In addition, he asked asked that it be streamlined to minimally obscure the view of the western side of the Empire State Building.

　　But the idea of even an 250-metre tower next to the 380-metre tall Art Deco symbol of New York - 440 metres if you include its spire - disappointed some tourists.

　　"That would still be no good, because I like to look down at the streets of New York." said LeeSa Snarr, 37 - who did so Monday from the 102nd floor.

　　Malkin told the subcommittee that the Empire State is "the No. 1 favorite building in the US, surpassing the White House."

　　It was the tallest building in the world when completed in November 1930. King Kong scaled it in the 1933 movie and subsequent remakes; a B-25 bomber crashed into it in fog in 1945.

　　It became the city's tallest building again after the World Trade Center was destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001. Its brightly lit spire shines different colors to celebrate national holidays and special occasions year-round.

　　Greenbaum testified that he would work to help improve nearby transportation facilities, including wider rail platforms at Penn Station, one of the world's busiest rail stations; provide better access to subway stations; and ease pedestrian and traffic congestion in the area, which also includes Macy's flagship department store.

　　He said he would reopen an underground passage connecting nearby subway lines and PATH commuter trains to New Jersey, so travelers don't have to go outside to transfer.

　　The developer has not set a target date for the tower's construction, saying Vornado needs to wait until it signs a large commercial tenant first.

　　Malkin said he favors the development of this midtown Manhattan neighborhood, but "we are concerned about the legacy" - of the Empire State Building.

　　"We are the stewards of this great icon," he said.

New Details on X-Men: First Class

　　

　　Producer Bryan Singer teases details on Matthew Vaughn’s X-Men: First Class.

　　In a discussion with AICN, Bryan Singer, co-writer and producer on the upcoming X-Men: First Class, revealed a few details about the movie, including when it will be set, the look he’s going for, and a few pieces of casting news.

　　The movie will focus on Charles Xavier, played by James McAvoy, and Erik Lensherr (aka Magneto), played by Michael Fassbender as they first meet and together dream up the X-Men. The events will take place before Xavier was confined to a wheelchair, although the movie will feature the events that led to his injuries.

　　Set in the early days of the 1960s when Kennedy was president, the Civil Rights was gaining popularity, and the country felt like it could do anything, the story will feature both the look, and the optimistic feeling of the era. The movie will have a heavy international feel to it, akin to the old James Bond movies, and filming will take place in the US, England, and several locations will be created to represent places like the Soviet Union. The movie will begin with Xavier at Oxford, and the Hellfire Club — an organization of mutants in England that are part social club, part villains — will play a major part.

　　Singer also revealed a few pieces of casting news as well. Neither Jean Grey nor Cyclops will be in the movie (contradicting earlier rumors that had Kick Ass’ Aaron Johnson playing the role of Cyclops), but it will feature his brother, Alex Summers, aka Havoc. There are more casting surprises coming in the next month as filming gets underway, but for now we have confirmation that we will be seeing Darwin, Raven Darkholme, Banshee, Beast, Azazel, Emma Frost, and a female Angel. Singer also confirmed that despite the similar name, the movie would not be related to the comic of the same name.

Week's box office: Watch The Expendables at 1 spot Movie Online Free Streaming

　　location: Week's box office: Watch The Expendables at 1 spot Movie Online Free Streaming Watch The Expendables at 1 spot Movie Online Free Streaming. Sylvester Stallone ( The Expendables Movie ) and a posse of pumped-up action heroes held the 1 spot in weekend box office. Find out how much money 'The Expendables' made it for all hoped to end the current era of parody films may have broken the 'Vampires Suck' and our performance, 'Switch,' says Jennifer Aniston's star power in this week's box office rundown.

　　

　　'The Expendables' is not enough business to stay in the first place, $ 16,500,000, more than enough to outdo all the five new wide releases that opened in theaters last week. The action looks like total gross so far: $ 64,800,000. Remember when you last week not to buy a ticket on the plump parodies such as 'Vampires Suck' is the only way to prevent them from happening? So much for that. The 'Twilight' parody of the planned second place earned $ 12,200,000 this weekend, and a total of $ 18.5 million already in his pocket since opening Wednesday. The film received the most support to young moviegoers, according to Box Office Mojo, 72 percent of the audience was under 21. Oh good. Hope for our future. (The third in the series, 'Eat, Pray, Love Movie' generated by the proposed $ 12,000,000 revenue. After the final numbers come Monday, we'll see the vampires finally squeaked a win Julia Roberts.

　　The four other films that debuted in theaters - 'Lottery Ticket Movie' Piranha 3-D Movie, 'Nanny McPhee returns Movie' and 'The Switch Movie' - guess which place the lowest? If you guessed the Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston rom-com, you're right! Despite a press campaign that preceded the establishment, the situation comedy that has landed in eighth place, only $ 8.1 million. When the question arises: Should not the film Jennifer Aniston a little better than that, taking into account that according to Forbes magazine, is the fourth highest paid actress in Hollywood