Gallery: Despicable Me

Gru used to be the world’s number one supervillain. Now he is being outsmarted by a young opponent named Vector. He needs to pull a great coup to get back on top. Unfortunately for his wicked ways, he adopts 3 little girls who end up progressively changing his ways. Gru becomes a dad.

Gru at his girl's dance class. The villain is losing his grip, and it is only the beginning...

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Unstoppable Hero: Man on Fire

How do you give a protagonist a reason to be a juggernaut that can steamroll all enemies without fail and still give him a flawed human side? You start him up as a suicidal, drunk, out-of-shape ex-mercenary repent and looking for salvation, up against an entire corrupt organization merchandising perversion and death. In Man on Fire, John Creasy, played by Oscar winner Denzel Washington, comes to Mexico to visit his old friend Rayburn (Christopher Walken) and stays to try a new life as a bodyguard for an adorable Lupita Ramos (Dakota Fanning).

Big fish Victor Fuentes (Jesús Ochoa) provides information to Creasy (Denzel Washington) before his punishment.

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Gallery: Kung Fu Panda

Imagine the most unlikely Kung Fu master. Can you picture him as a panda? Po dreams of becoming the greatest Kung Fu master in all China. But he can see how remote the possibility is, until he is “accidentally” chosen to become the Dragon Warrior.

Told you he loved food, right? Here, Po (Jack Black) is fighting his master (Dustin Hoffman) for a tasty dumpling.

Now Master Shifu, his unhappy instructor, must transform the food-loving-fat-and-sensitive-in-the-flabby-parts panda into the warrior that will defend the valley from Tai Lung, a powerful and vengeful snow leopard who escaped from a high-security prison.

This classic comedy delivers laughs in every scene is soon to be followed by a sequel.

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Memorable Movie Lines: Who Framed Roger Rabbit

In our first scene, Jessica Rabbit walks into Eddie Valiant’s office. That’s after he took the pictures that started the whole thing (her playing pattycake with Acme). Jessica is not happy about those photos; the first time she met Eddie, he received a resounding slap the from the cartoon vixen.

Jessica Rabbit, "I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way."

This time she is trying to offer an explanation. Here we are right in the middle of the conversation.    Read more »

Strong Characters: The Dark Knight

One of the most crucial ingredients of a great story is characters. The more carefully crafted/chosen, multi-dimensional the characters are, the better their impact on the quality of the narration, the plot, the levels of conflicts, and the longevity of the final piece. Ordinary characters are never remembered. In this regard, The Dark Knight‘s creators put together quite a remarkable masterpiece that no one will ever forget.

The Joker (an unforgetable Heath Ledger) faces Batman in the streets of Gotham City

This version of the Joker (not to mention the spectacular performance by the late Heath Ledger, sanctioned by an Academy Award) will remain a feat that will inspire writers for generations to come. He steals the show every time he shares the screen. Batman is surrounded by a bunch of tough-as-nails elements that elevate the severity of the situations he finds himself in. They keep tightening the screws. Relentlessly. And because of that, the heroes shine like very few did in the history of modern literature.    Read more »

Quirky Characters: Burn After Reading

In the world of quirky characters, Burn After Reading is a masterpiece of inventiveness. Realistic people that are funny when put in the situations the writers created for them. All different and unique, like characters should be, swimming in a sea of problems of their own.

“They all seem to be sleeping with each other.” Almost all unfaithful.

A different George Clooney plays Harry Pfarrer, treasury agent, ladies' man, avid hobbyist...

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Suspension of Disbelief: Aliens

James Cameron is especially good at creating stories that stretch believability to the breaking point. His take on the Alien franchise, Aliens, uses the environment a lot like Ridley Scott did in the first movie. It is set in a claustrophobic space that feels more like a prison and heightens the sense of danger. Cameron’s cast of characters feel better, including the treacherous Burke.

The alien queen: the mother of all scary villains -- literally

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