Movies/Film
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Intro
Adann-Kennn J. Alexxandar
Movie Critic,
Valdosta Daily Times
Valdosta, Georgia 31601
www.valdostadailytimes.com
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About Alexxandar
Cinematography:
-Movies/Films
-Recommendations
Television, Music and
Other Media
Contact Information
If William Shakespeare were alive today, he might write, "All the world's a film, and all the men and women merely players."
Movie/Film Critic
Adann-Kennn J. Alexxandar is currently the Film Critic with The Valdosta Daily Times (www.valdostadailytimes.com/) and Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. (CNHI), where his reviews are readable, at times, in multiple states on-line in and in print every week in The Valdosta Daily Times and associated affiliates of CNHI.
He reviews about 200 movies per year, averaging approximately three to four reviews a week.
Alexxandar has served as Vice Chair of the Valdosta-Metro Film Commission and a Commissioner of Lowndes/Valdosta Arts Commission, where helped found Movie Night at The Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, where he had previously served as Curator.
Movie Critic, the Debut
I have always liked films. They are the perfect getaway. If you ever want to be alone, just you, with others or with that someone special, cinemas are the perfect way to achieve mini vacations.
I began my interest in film at age 17. While visiting Universal Studios, I decided to do a "Star Trek" taping. The taping involved a number of scenes, and it was tough to memorize my lines, remember what actions were necessary, and act simultaneously. Yet I managed to all those acts and more . . .
I yelled "cut" a number of times. I also asked the people operating the cameras to adjust their angles for better shots, changed some of my lines, augmented some of the props and asked if the tech people for CGI effects if they could shrink the blue-screened Commander Scott (James Doohan) so that he did not appear like a giant and dwarf a smaller me at 6 feet, 2.25 inches (1.885 meters). However, it was my audacity to yell cut that made the director curse.
Despite his anger, he said I was the best he had seen come through his studio/department. He did not believe me when I told him I was 17. He asked for my license. "You're pretty good at this. You were doing several peoples jobs, and you still managed to act," he told me. I am the director and you were doing my job, he added.
He said he could get me an audition with the producers of S Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . I was still in high school and quite shy at the time, so I did not see his offer as one that worked me. He said if I did not want to come back for an audition, at least consider interning with him at Universal Studios. Alas and to my regret, I did not take him up on the offer.
Years later, I was approached by a modeling agency while receiving money from an ATM. I did take the agency up on its offer. I modeled for few agencies in Valdosta, Georgia, Winter Haven, Florida (via Manhattan Model Search) , and briefly for an agency based in Boulder, Colorado. Well to make a long story short, my work as model and duties as Curator of the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts lead me back to my love of film.
While delivering some information to the Valdosta Daily Times, I inquired to Elizabeth Butler, Lifestyles Editor, why the Times using a syndicated movie critic from Colorado. I suggested they use someone local; someone who knows the South Georgia area. I offered to write a few starter reviews free. Ms. Butler ran the reviews, which were a hit with the Valdosta, Georgia, area. She recalled me the next day and told me the Times wanted to put me on payroll. I have been writing film reviews now for over a decade.
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When did you realize that you could make a living doing what you love?
"As teen, I watched Gene Shalit on NBC's "Today Show" present his movie reviews often and thought I would love to do just that. I have been writing movies for the Valdosta Daily Times for approximately a decade, and I have been a guest on radio talk shows to discuss films, as well as few guest lectures on campuses.
Once, someone asked me during a presentation did people like or hate my reviews. I thought for a moment because I have been called some choice, four-letter words, and said 'All my readers are for me. Many are for me to keep writing my reviews, and some are for the Times to fire me.' Either way, they are all for me. Some in the audience did not laugh!"
An excerpt from an interview with the 11th Hour, Valdosta (Jessica Donaldson, Correspondent)
Alexxandar's Reviews can be viewed at the following sites:
The Valdosta Daily Times at www.valdostadailytimes.com
F acebook.com/AJAlexxandar (where I post my movie selesction of the week)
or just Google my name, Alexxandar, plus any recent film.
Other works can be viewed here (Click below):
International Movie Database entry
Celebrity Interviews
Archival, Editorials et cetera
Cinematography
Movies
Latest reviews at the Valdosta Daily Times: Click here .
In alpha order, these films are praiseworthy 2011 films. A hyphen ( - ) beside the title indicates highly reccomemndable. This list is updated weekly, depending on reviews of débuts.
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At the top the critical mass:
Per iod Dramas: Casablanca (1942)
Citizen Kane (1941)
Dramas: Color Purple (1985)
Crash (2004)
The Godfather (Series:1972,1974)
Action: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Science-fiction: Dune (1984)
Horror: Hitchcock's Pyscho (1960)
Adventure-Fantasy: Pans Labyrinth (2006)
Animated: The Incredibles (2004)
The Triplets of Belleville (2003)
Comedy: As Good as It Gets (1997)
Grumpy Old Men (1993)
Adjustment Bureau, The (Director George Nolfi; Science Fiction: 1 hour, 45 minutes)
Adventures of Tintin,The (Director Steven Spielberg; Adventure/Action: 1 hour, 47 minutes)
African Cats (Director Keith Scholey; Documentary: 1 hour, 30 minutes)
Big Year, The (Director David Frankel; Comedy: 1 hour, 40 minutes)
Bridesmaids (Director Paul Feig; Comedy: 2 hours, 05 minutes)
Captain America: The First Avenger (Director Joe Johnston; Action/Science Fiction: 2 hours, 05 minutes)
Company Men, The (Director John Wells; Drama: 1 hour, 44 minutes)
Contagion (Director Steven Soderbergh; Drama/Thriller: 1 hour, 46 minutes)
Cowboys & Aliens (Director Jon Favreau; Western/Science-Fiction/Thriller: 1 hour, 58 minutes)
- Crazy, Stupid, Love. (Directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa; Comedy: 1 hour, 58 minutes)
-Drive (Director Nicolas Winding Refn; Drama/Action: 1 hour, 40 minutes)
Debt, The (Director John Madden; Drama: 1 hour, 53 minutes)
- Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (Director: Stephen Daldry; Drama: 2 hours, 09 minutes)
Fright Night (Director Craig Gillespie; Horror/Comedy: 1 hour, 45 minutes)
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The (Director David Fincher; Crime/Drama: 2 hour, 36 minutes)
Hanna (Director Joe Wright; Action/Mystery: 1 hour, 49 minutes)
- Help, The (Director Tate Taylor; Drama/Comedy: 1 hour, 26 minutes)
-Hugo (Director Martin Scorsese; Adventure/Drama/Family: 2 hour, 07 minutes)
Iron Lady, The (Director Phyllida Lloyd; Drama/Biopic: 1 hour, 45 minutes)
J. Edgar (Director Clint Eastwood; Drama/Biopic: 2 hour, 17 minutes)
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (Director Jon Chu; Music/Documentary: 1 hour, 45 minutes)
- Lincoln Lawyer, The (Director Brad Furman; Drama: 1 hour, 58 minutes)
Lion King 3D, The (Directors Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff; Animation/Adventure/Comedy: 1 hour, 29 minutes)
- Midnight in Paris (Director Woody Allen; Fantasy/Comedy: 1 hour, 34 minutes)
Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol (Director Brad Bird; Action: 2 hours, 13 minutes)
- Moneyball (Director Bennett Miller; Sports Drama: 2 hours, 13 minutes)
Muppets, The (Director James Bobin; Comedy/Family/Musical: 1 hour, 43 minutes)
My Week with Marilyn (Director Simon Curtis;
Drama: 1 hour, 39 minutes)
Prom (Director Joe Nussbaum; Drama: 1 hour, 44 minutes)
Puss in Boots (Director Chris Miller; Animation/Adventure/Action: 1 hour, 30 minutes)
Rango (Director Gore Verbinski; Animation/Adventure/Western: 1 hour, 47 minutes)
Real Steel (Director Shawn Levy; Sports/Science-FIction: 2 hour, 06 minutes)
Rio (Director Carlos Saldanha; Animation/Adventure: 1 hour, 35 minutes)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Director Rupert Wyatt; Science-Fiction/Drama: 1 hour, 45 minutes)
Sarah's Key (Director Gilles Paquet-Brenner; Drama: 1 hour, 51 minutes)
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Director Guy Ritchie; Action/Adventure: 2 hour, 09 minutes)
Super 8 (Director J.J. Abrams; Mystery/Sci-Fi/Thriller: 1 hour, 52 minutes)
War Horse (Director Steven Spielberg; Period War Drama: 2 hours, 26 minutes)
- Warrior (Director Gavin O'Connor; Sports Drama: 2 hours, 20 minutes)
Water for Elephants (Director Francis Lawrence; Period Drama: 2 hours, 00 minutes)
We Bought a Zoo (Director Cameron Crowe; Family Drama/Comedy: 2 hours, 04 minutes)
Winnie the Pooh (Director Stephen J. Anderson; Family/Adventure: 1 hour, 09 minutes)
X-Men: First Class (Director Matthew Vaughn; Action/ Science-Fiction: 2 hours, 12 minutes)
Other Noteworthy, Honorable Mentions:
50/50 (Director Jonathan Levine; Drama/Comedy: 1 hour, 40 minutes)
Cars 2 (Director John Lasseter; Animated/Adventure: 1 hour, 49 minutes)
Conspirator, The (Director Robert Redford; Period Drama: 2 hours, 02 minutes)
Dolphin Tale (Director Charles Martin Smith; Family Drama: 1 hour, 52 minutes)
Gnomeo & Juliet (Director Kelly Asbury; Animation/Comedy: 1 hour, 23 minutes)
Grace Card (Director David G. Evans; Drama: 1 hour, 41 minutes)
Happy Feet Two (Director George Miller; Animation/Family: 1 hour, 40 minutes)
Hop (Director Tim Hill; Family Comedy/Fantasy: 1 hour, 35 minutes)
No Strings Attached (Director Ivan Reitman; Romantic Comedy: 1 hour, 50 minutes)
Red Tails (Director: Anthony Hemingway; War Drama/Action: 2 hours, 05 minutes)
Source Code (Director Duncan Jones Science-Fiction/Thriller: 1 hour, 33 minutes)
Take Me Home Tonight (Director Michael Dowse; Romantic Comedy: 1 hour, 37 minutes)
Thor (Director Kenneth Branagh; Action/Science-Fiction/adventure: 1 hour, 54 minutes)
Movie websites:
(Click on title below.)
International Movie Database (IMDB.com)
Hollywood.com
Rotten Tomatoes
List of Notable, Recent Films
Recommended Photoplays:
Top Movie Selections by Year
2010
127 Hours (Drama: 1 hour, 34 minutes; Director Danny Boyle)
—- American, The (Director Anton Corbijn; Action: 1 hour, 42 minutes)
Another Year (Drama/Comedy: 2 hour, 10 minutes; Director Mike Leigh)
A-Team, The (Director Joe Carnahan; Action: 1 hour, 59 minutes)
Babies (Director Thomas Balmès; Documentary: 1 hour, 19 minutes)
—- Black Swan (Director: Darren Aronofsky; Drama/Thriller: 1 hour, 48 minutes)
—- Blue Valentine (Drama: 1 hour, 52 minutes; Director Derek Cianfrance)
—- Easy A, An (Director Will Gluck; Comedy/Romance: 1 hour, 33 minutes)
—- Fighter, The (Bio Drama/Sports: 1 hour, 56 minutes; Director: David O. Russell)
—- Ghost Writer, The (Director Roman Polanski; Mystery/Drama: 2 hours, 10 minutes)
—- Harry Brown (Director Daniel Barber; Drama/Crime Thriller: 1 hour, 43 minutes)
Hereafter (Director Clint Eastwood; Drama: 2 hour, 8 minutes)
How to Train Your Dragon (Directors Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders; Adventure: 1 hour, 38 minutes)
— - Inception (Director Christopher Nolan; Science Fiction: 2 hour, 28 minutes)
Inside Job (Documentary: 1 hour, 48 minutes; Director Charles Ferguson)
Karate Kid, The (Director Harald Zwart; Drama/Martial Arts: 2 hours, 20 minutes)
—- King's Speech, The (Director: Tom Hooper, Drama/Historical: 1 hour, 51 minutes)
Megamind (Director Tom McGrath; Comedy/Animation: 1 hour, 36 minutes)
Morning Glory (Director Roger Michell; Comedy: 1 hour, 35 minutes)
—- Let Me In (Director Matt Reeves; Romantic Drama/Horror: 1 hours, 55 minutes)
Love & Other Drugs (Romantic Comedy: 1 hour, 52 minutes; Director Edward Zwick)
—- Remember Me (Director Allen Coulter; Drama: 1 hour, 53 minutes)
Shutter Island (Director Martin Scorsese; Drama: 2 hours, 18 minutes)
Shrek Forever After (Director Mike Mitchell, Animation/Adventure/ Comedy: 1 hour, 33 minutes)
—- Social Network, The (Director David Fincher; Drama: 2 hour, 00 minutes)
— Tangled (Animation/Adventure: 1 hour, 30 minutes; Directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard)
— - Toy Story 3 (Director Lee Unkrich; Animation/Adventure/Family: 1 hour, 43 minutes)
—- True Grit (Directors: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen; Western: 1 hour, 50 minutes)
—- Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (Director Oliver Stone; Drama: 2 hour, 13 minutes)
2009
(500) Days of Summer
An Education
A Single Man
Avatar
Blind Side, The
Brothers
Crazy Heart
District 9
Everybody's Fine
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Hangover, The
He's Just Not That Into You
Hurt Locker, The
Informant, The
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
It's Complica ted
Julie & Julia
Last Station, The
Michael Jacksons: This Is It
Precious
Princess and the Frog, The
Road, The
Sherlock Holmes
Sin Nombre
Toy Story - Toy Story 2 in 3D, Double
Feature (2009 rereleases)
Up
Up in the Air
Where the Wild Things Are
2008
Slumdog Millionaire
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Doubt
The Wrestler
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Reader
Last Chance Harvey
The Secret Life of Bees
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MySpace
Television, Music and other Media
Et Cetera
Star Trek (TOS, TNG, DS9, Voyager, Enterprise, et cetera) Star Wars (all), Battlestar Galatica (both series), Stargate SGC, Stargate Atlantis,
Heroes, Smallville, Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Event,
All in the Family, The Andy Griffith Show, Bewitched, Cheers, The Cosby Show, Golden Girls, Good Times, The Jeffersons, Maude, Sandford and Son
Family Guy, Simpsons, Futurama, American Dad, King of the Hill, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, She-Ra: Princess of Power, X-Men (all), Wolverine and the X-Men, The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers,
24, Falcon Crest, Flashforward, In the Heat of the Night, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, Matlock, Nip/Tuck, Queer As Folk (U.S.), The Shield, The Tudors,
Jeopardy,
The View, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
News, Commentary and Information:
Face the Nation (CBS), Fox News Sunday (FOX), Meet The Press (NBC), Situation Room (CNN), State of the Union (CNN), This Week (ABC), Today (NBC), 20/20 (ABC) and the de facto Crossfire (CNN, 1982-2005).
Music Notables:
"That's All I Ask Of You" - The Phantom of the Opera
Nat King Cole - "Smile"
Deanna Storey - "Little Person"
Alicia Keys - "Empire State of Mind"
Tom Joyner Morning Show
- http://www.tjms.com/
Radio
Sites for telvision shows and more:
http://www.hulu.com/
http://www.tv.com/
Other:
Television Listings, What's on he boob tube!:
Top TV Bytes - www.toptvbytes.com/
TV Guide - http://www.tvguide.com/
IMDB TV - http://www.imdb.com/sections/tv/
Tele's Watchable Series:
Contact Information:
Contact: Adann-Kennn J. Alexxandar:
Valdosta Daily Times, c/o Ms. Gloria Jackson
201 North Troup Street Post Office Box 968
Valdosta, Georgia 31602 Valdosta, GA 31603
Tel.: 229-244-1880 or 229-244-3400, ext. 1241
Fax: 229-244-2560
Thanks for visting, and I will see you at the movies!
Online:
http://www.valdostadailytimes.com/
Email: alexxandar_email.com
Facebook.com/alexxandar
