Filed under: Action, Thrillers, New Releases, Mystery & Suspense, Theatrical Reviews

An average to slightly above-average thriller with a noticeable lack of twists, predictable or otherwise, Untraceable is acceptable viewing for anyone who is a fan of Diane Lane or dense enough about the Internet to buy the film’s premise, that a hacker of limited means and intelligence could create and maintain a high-profile Website; the origin of which is untraceable by the FBI. It’s a conceit that sounds fishy even to the computer know-nothings in the theater and at one point the film acknowledges this, throwing in the caveat that while the technology to trace the killer does exist, it’s only available to the National Security Agency, and they aren’t willing to share their technology with the FBI. Uh-huh. Let’s assume, for the sake of argument, that that’s the case. Once FBI agents themselves start getting murdered and their bodies grotesquely displayed on the site in question, wouldn’t some responsible FBI chief threaten the NSA with a press conference to let America know that this culprit could be caught if the NSA spooks would only share their toys?

After they’re stalked and selected, the killer’s victims meet the sharp end of a taser and end up trapped in a Saw-like contraption in a dank basement, staring into a video camera that’s sending feed to a website called KillWithMe.com — yes, Sony has grabbed that particular domain and you should go there now to see some funny marketing. The killing mechanisms, be it a drip of acid into a water tank or the turning on of heat lamps one after the other, are incrementally activated by the number of hits the Website receives. The more people tune in, the faster the victim dies. Much like in Seven, the killer chooses high-profile, prominent victims to draw attention to his crimes and that only adds to the outlandishness of him being uncatchable. Still, there’s enough lack of knowledge about the technology in question to make it sound something less than absurd, and the movie works on a the level of a cheap, quick ride that you can ride just long enough before it gets tiresome and irritating.

Continue reading Review: Untraceable

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Filed under: Action, Lionsgate Films, Theatrical Reviews, Remakes and Sequels

The once and future action hero Sylvester Stallone delivers 9/10 of a taut, sobering, bloody thriller about the futility of trying to change people in Rambo, which opened nationwide on Friday. Director, co-writer and star Stallone has it in him to make a penetrating, multi-layered story that isn’t afraid to look at the dark side of Vietnam vet turned murderous killing machine John J. Rambo. But in the end, just like Rambo, Stallone can’t help being true to himself.

The fourth film based on a character originally created by novelist David Morrell in 1972, the newest edition posits that Rambo has returned to Thailand after his adventures in Afghanistan in Rambo III. Nearly 20 years have passed in real life, but in the film the time period is left unspoken. News footage refers to a breakdown in nearby Burma — a country that officially changed its name to Myanmar in the late 1980s — and atrocities being committed by the military against defenseless villagers. Whatever the year, Rambo has settled back into a peaceful lifestyle. He hunts snakes for a living and has lost any spiritual or political beliefs he might have once held.

When a Christian missionary relief group seeks to hire his fishing boat for a trip up river to deliver Bibles and medical supplies, he initially refuses. Michael Burnett (Paul Schulze), the group’s leader, is earnest and stiff, imploring Rambo to help because they believe they can change people’s lives. Rambo asks, “Did you bring weapons?” “Of course not!” Rambo replies, “Then you’re not changing anything.” Thus the seed is planted for a classic confrontation between good and evil.

Continue reading Review: Rambo - Peter’s Take

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Filed under: Action, Thrillers, Warner Brothers, Movie Marketing, Trailers and Clips

You know, the more I see of Roland Emmerich’s 10,000 B.C, the more confused I get. ComingSoon.net is now hosting six new TV spots for the prehistoric action flick, and if you are anything like me, you are going to spend half your time wondering whether this movie could be as bad as these commercials make it seem. Well, to be fair — the shots of hunters battling saber tooth tigers and woolly mammoth bits are pretty awesome, but as soon as somebody speaks a line of dialog, it is game over.

The film stars Steven Strait as D’Leh, a mammoth hunter who is on a mission to save his tribe when his girlfriend (played by Camilla Belle) is kidnapped by a warlord. After discovering a group of warriors long thought to be extinct, D’Leh leads them to take on the oppressive warlord. Meanwhile, the new TV spots throw in plenty of Braveheart-esque moments of storming the battlements and lots of shouting and chest beating.

After you watch the first couple of trailers you might be wondering why I’m assuming that 10,000 B.C is going to be so uproariously bad. I know that it might look good, but let’s consider the evidence. For starters, it’s written and directed by Roland Emmerich, the man behind such gems as Godzilla and The Day After Tomorrow — not to mention that most of the so-called pre-historic extras are just way too ‘modelized’ to look even remotely authentic. Finally, I’ve been going to the movies long enough to know that when a film’s release date is pushed back not once, but twice, that it is never a good sign. 10,000 BC will finally hit theaters on March 7th, 2008.

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Wild Fire Motors has released its three-wheeled vehicle, the WF250-C that nets you an amazing 72 miles per gallon without breaking the bank with its $5,495 starting price. EPA certification states that this is a “highway motorcycle”, making this a street legal vehicle to travel around. There doesn’t seem to be any seat belts in sight, but then again you don’t have that on your regular bike, do you? Also, with just 17 horsepower lugging you around, this isn’t exactly the most highway-friendly vehicle. What’s good about this would be having it zip around town in a fast and efficient manner. Perhaps future iterations could see seat belts and airbags included. Could this possibly be the future of the infamous Tuk-Tuks in Thailand?

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Looks like the world is looking for something fresh musically these days, as the trend seems to be leaning towards building your own musical instruments. While efforts to date seem to rely on digital technology too much with results that aren’t too pleasing to the ears, at least it is a start. The Drum Buddy is one such example - why don’t you check out the video (requires QuickTime) and leave us a comment on what you think about it? Open source music - who would’ve thought?

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You know those flying sticks that you played with when you were a kid? All you need to do is place the stick between your palms and give it a good rub before releasing it into the air, where the aerodynamics of the propeller will keep it flying for some time. The Flying Stick Camera is based on that principle, although it throws in a camera that captures images at set intervals so you never quite know what you’re getting. There is no word on the resolution, but that’s only to be expected since this is but a concept from Tsunho Wang.

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Hitachi has plans to make Japan happy with its new DZ-BD90 camcorder which comes with the following specifications :-

• 60GB hard drive
• 5.3 megapixel CMOS image sensor
• 2.7″ LCD monitor


• Full HD (1080p) video recording of up to 9 hours

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Filed under: Computers

It’s a really bad time to be a bank robber.

A new DNA technology, in the form of new software called DNAboost, is about to hit the crime investigation scene in the UK. It allows scientists to use previously ineffectual genetic samples, and was hailed for its crime-fighting potential by former Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2006.

Experts believe the powerful software will identify up to 6,000 extra suspects a yeah. Oddly, the tech was banned for police use for more then a year, despite impressive results from pilot tests around the country - essentially over privacy complaints regarding the National DNA Database. But the software could provide crucial evidence in cases like that of Madeleine McCann, where DNA evidence is particularly difficult to analyze.

“This is the biggest step forward in crime-fighting science for more than a decade, and it has taken far too long to get clearance,” said a Home Office spokeswoman.

From DailyMail

Related links:

• Police Can Search Through Cell Phone Contents
• Your Hard Drive Is Spying on You

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Filed under: Audio/Video, iPod, iPhone, Portable Audio, Reviews

When we first reported about the upcoming launch of Dr. Dre’s Beats high-end headphones, we expected a mix of both parties’ aptitude for doing things big and right. We got a chance to take the new skullpods for a test run last night, and our expectations were spot-on.

Sound Quality
Without getting too technical, we can confidently say that the Beats handled all the frequencies thrown at them without flapping on the bass or screeching on the treble. They have a definitive “warmth” to them that may make hardcore audiophiles scream such things as “accuracy” and “flat response,” but, frankly, these headphones are designed to sound good on subways and streets. We convinced the Monsters to let us try out some of our own old ’70s and ’80s music just to see how the Beats handled that — we weren’t disappointed, although they behaved a lot more evenly with modern hip-hop and R&B. All in all, DJs and club-goers will absolutely love the sound quality.

Design & Comfort
These things scream class. With a shiny exterior and high-end ear cups, the Beats are seriously comfortable. While we only had them on for about 10 minutes, we experienced none of the ear fatigue or “hot ears” that other, less well-designed head cans exhibit. They come in a nice, sturdy case and fold up with an assuring “click.” The Beats aren’t small, though, so don’t expect to just throw them in a pocket like you can in-ear headphones. What’s more, big headphones like these are questionable as gym accessories.

iPhone Compatibility
Instead of including a call/send/end button and microphone right on the Beasts’ cables, Monster has you using a cable adapter that makes things a little annoying, with several wires hanging from your ears and multiple connections to maintain. Performance on calls was also questionable, as we experienced radio interference from the phone’s antenna. Hopefully Monster will take the time to add some shielding if they really want to call the Beats iPhone-compatible.

So Are They Worth It?
At $399, these aren’t the headphones for just anyone. They are, however, perfect for street-smart, style-conscious, serious hip hop and club music listeners with a little extra cash and a penchant for high-end, high-impact sound. They sound every bit as good and loud as Dr. Dre promised they would, and they look great.

As mentioned, hardcore audiophiles may be disappointed in their hip-hop-friendly bass warmth. Overall, these are a solid entry into the crowded, but long-in-the-tooth high-end headphone set. It’s nice to finally see some innovation in a genre of headphones that hasn’t seen anything new and exciting in quite some time.

Related Links:

• Dr. Dre and Monster Announce Beats Headphones
• Best Headphones for the Gym

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Filed under: Cell Phones, iPod, iPhone, Handheld Devices,