The Quick and the Dead 1995 American western film

 

The Quick and the Dead is a 1995 American western film directed by Sam Raimi, and starring Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe andLeonardo DiCaprio. The story focuses on "The Lady" (Stone), a gunfighterwho rides into the frontier town of Redemption, controlled by John Herod (Hackman). The Lady joins a deadly dueling competition in an attempt to exact revenge for her father's death.

Simon Moore's script was purchased by Sony Pictures Entertainment in May 1993, and actress Sharon Stone signed on as both star and co-producer. Development was fast tracked after director Sam Raimi's hiring, and principal photography began in Old Tucson Studios in Arizona on November 21, 1993. The film was distributed by TriStar Pictures and Columbia Pictures, and was released in the US on February 10, 1995 to a dismal box office performance, receiving lukewarm reviews from critics.

This was Russell Crowe's first American film debut. This was Woody Strode's final performance (the film is dedicated to him), as well as the last theatrical release of Roberts Blossom who died in 2011. The phrase "the quick and the dead" is from the Book of Common Prayer and its version of the Apostles' Creed, describing the final judgement. The plot of this film bears no resemblance to that of the 1987 film of the same name, which was based on a western novel by Louis L'Amour.

 

An unnamed gunslinger, referred to as The Lady, enters the Old West town of Redemption circa 1881 where she enters a single elimination gunfighting contest held by Redemption's ruthless leader, John Herod, a former outlaw. She meets Cort, a former Herod henchman turned reverend, whom Herod captures and forces to enter the contest; and Fee, also known as "The Kid," a brash young gun shop owner who hopes to impress Herod, whom he believes to be his father, by winning the contest. Though now a preacher, Cort is an amazingly fast and talented gunfighter, and the only man that Herod truly respects and fears. Herod covers this by treating Cort cruelly, denying him water, beating him and keeping him chained to an old fountain.

In the first round of duels, The Kid defeats a Swedish quick-draw champion, while Herod kills braggart Ace Hanlon, who had taken credit for some of Herod's own accomplishments. The Lady defeats an old enemy she left shackled to a wagon, while Cort defeats one of Herod's men who thought he was getting an easy kill. Herod later learns that the townspeople have secretly hired a bounty hunter, Clay Cantrell, to enter the contest and kill him. The next day, Herod declares that all remaining duels must be to the death, then kills Cantrell when the two face off against one another. Herod angrily informs the townspeople that since they had enough money to hire Cantrell, he will raise their taxes. Later that day, during a rainstorm, the Lady duels and guns down a competitor who has sexually abused the bartender's young daughter.

Flashbacks reveal that The Lady's true name is Ellen, and she had grown up in Redemption, where her father was the town's Marshal. One day Herod and his men invaded the town, killed all the deputies and tied her father to the gallows. Herod gave Ellen a gun and offered to let her shoot the rope and free him. However, she missed and killed her father instead. Seeking revenge, she has come to Redemption with the intent of killing Herod. However, an uncomfortable dinner date with Herod leaves Ellen unsure about whether or not she can go through with it and she attempts to flee. She then reunites with the town's local doctor, Wallace, who was also her father's best friend. The old man convinces her to return to Redemption and free the town from Herod.

With Ellen, Cort, Herod and The Kid left as the four remaining contestants, Kid challenges Herod to a duel to win his respect. Although Herod and the Kid both injure each other with bullet wounds, Kid's wounds prove fatal and he dies in Ellen's arms. Herod is saddened by the Kid's death, but does not publicly acknowledge the Kid as his son. When Ellen and Cort are forced to face each other, they refuse to open fire and Cort only shoots Ellen after Herod threatens to kill them both. Cort furiously challenges Herod to a duel the next day, but seconds before their duel, Ellen suddenly reappears after using the Kid's stolen dynamite to blow up Herod's illegitimate business establishments. She and Cort had faked her death with help from Wallace and a blind salesman.

In the confusion, Cort dispatches Herod's men while Ellen goes on to fight Herod. Although Herod outdraws and shoots Ellen in the arm, she shoots him in the chest and finishes him once and for all with a well-aimed gunshot to the eye. With Herod gone and the law restored, Cort becomes the new Marshal of the town as Ellen rides off into the sunrise.

Cast
Sharon Stone as Ellen ("The Lady")
Gene Hackman as John Herod
Russell Crowe as Cort
Leonardo DiCaprio as Fee "The Kid" Herod
Pat Hingle as Horace
Kevin Conway as Eugene Dred
Keith David as Sgt. Clay Cantrell
Lance Henriksen as Ace Hanlon
Mark Boone Junior as Scars
Tobin Bell as Dog Kelly
Raynor Scheine as Ratsy
Olivia Burnette as Katie
Roberts Blossom as Doc Wallace
Gary Sinise as The Marshal
Sven-Ole Thorsen as Swede Gutzon
Scott Spiegel as Gold Teeth Ma
Woody Strode as Charlie Moonlight
Jonothon Gill as Spotted Horse
Lennie Loftin as Flat Nose Foy
Josef Rainer as Virgil Sparks
Stacy Linn Ramsower as Young Ellen

Waist Deep 2006 drama-action film Tyrese Gibson

Waist Deep is a 2006 drama-action film directed by Vondie Curtis-Hall, starring Tyrese Gibson and Meagan Good. It is loosely based on the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde, including some similar subplots including the two main characters on the road, trying to avoid police, and committing bank robberies.

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Ex-con Otis (Tyrese Gibson), or "O2" as he was once known on account of his ability to vanish from a crime scene like oxygen, has done his time and is now determined to stay out of trouble and never leave his young son, Otis, Jr. (played by Vondie Curtis-Hall's young son, Henry Hunter Hall), ever again.

On October 18, 2005, when O2 shows up late to pick Junior up from school one afternoon, he swears that he will always come back for Junior. That promise is put to the test just moments later when O2's vintage 1966 Chevrolet Impala SS Lowrider convertible is stolen from him at gunpoint in the middle of a crowded Southland intersection — with Junior in the back seat.

O2 chases the car and gets into a nasty gun battle with the carjackers — circumstances that then make it possible for O2 to go to the police — but to no avail.

O2 does, however, catch up with Coco (Meagan Good), a woman who sells stolen suits on the streets for a thug known as P Money (Julius Denem). O2 knows she is the one who marked him for the carjacking, and he forces her to help him retrieve Junior. The two steal a car, 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS, in a maintenance garage. While there, Coco's boyfriend savagely beats her upon finding her there. In retaliation for beating a woman, O2 viciously beats him with his gun before the two retreat to Lucky's home. Lucky (Larenz Tate), Otis' unreliable cousin who works for Big Meat (Jayceon "Game" Taylor), the brutally vicious leader of the Outlaw Syndicate, also offers to help.

After a few hours on the street, Lucky comes back with some bad news: Junior has fallen into Meat's hands, and Meat is demanding that O2 deliver $100,000 by midnight the following night, or Junior will die. Otis claims that he has no money, but Meat thinks otherwise: Meat was once O2's partner in crime, and he thinks O2 is still holding onto the $100,000 they made off their last job together — the job that got O2 six years in prison.

Desperate to raise the cash, O2 comes up with a plan: he and Coco will rob P Money's and Meat's own operations, staging it to look like the one is stealing from the other, and thereby triggering a gang war that will hopefully eliminate both and help O2 and Coco rescue Junior. After a successful robbery of one of the Big Meat's locations, O2 and Coco come across a set of safe deposit box keys belonging to numerous banks in the area. The next day with time wearing thin, they stage a number of bank robberies and are able to retrieve expensive jewellery, which Lucky offers to get rid of eager to prove his worth. When Lucky takes the jewelry to Big Meat unknowing that it belongs to Big Meat, Lucky is forced to set up a meeting between himself, O2, and Coco, with Big Meat along to end O2 once and for all.

They take the car to an alley and give him the money. It is then revealed that Big Meat never intended to let Junior live, as he signals one of his men to kill Junior. Lucky sees this and tackles him as the man shoots many shots, one shooting Lucky in the side of the chest. O2 kills Meat's men, leaving only Meat. He then proceeds to shoot O2 but has no shots remaining. O2 shoots and kills him and retrieves Junior.

On the road, they stop at a gas station to attend to Lucky's wound. O2 tells Lucky that they will get him to a hospital, but Lucky soon dies from his wounds. Swerving off the road, they are chased by the cops. O2 hides in a parking lot and tells Coco that she must take Junior and go to the Mexican border while he outruns the cops. As Junior and Coco escape, O2 is tailed by the cops. They run him to a dead end where the lake is. O2, realizing he has no choice, drives straight into the water.

Five days later in Mexico, Coco and Junior are living in a house on a beach. They are walking on the beach when Junior sees something in the distance. He and Coco find that it is O2, who has escaped the ocean and come back to them, as he promised. They then reunite.

CastTyrese Gibson as O2/Otis
Meagan Good as Coco
Larenz Tate as Lucky
Jayceon Terrell Taylor(Game) as Big Meat
Henry Hunter Hall as Junior
Kimora Lee Simmons as Fencing House Lady
Julius Denem as P Money
Thomas Abate as Gas Attendant

London 2005 independent film Jason Statham

 

London is a 2005 independent film centering on a Manhattan party. The movie, produced by Bonnie Timmermann and was directed and written by Hunter Richards. It stars Jessica Biel, Chris Evans, Jason Statham, Joy Bryant, Dane Cook, Kat Dennings and Louis C.K.

  

Syd (Chris Evans) receives a phone call from a friend informing him that his ex-girlfriend London (Jessica Biel) is having a going-away party before she moves to California with her new boyfriend in a few days. Syd, who has been deeply depressed since London cheated on him, flies into a rage upon hearing the news, and wrecks his apartment. He decides to go to the party uninvited, bringing along Bateman (Jason Statham), a banker who deliverscocaine to Syd as a favor to their mutual dealer.

After arriving at the party at the condominium belonging to the parents of club girl Rebecca (Isla Fisher), Bateman and Syd install themselves in the bathroom, where they snort line after line of cocaine, guzzle tequila and discuss love, sex, God, women and pain. Over the course of the night and a massive pile of blow, Bateman tells Syd to get on with his life.

The private party-within-a-party is soon joined by Maya (Kelli Garner) and Mallory (Joy Bryant), who feign sympathy for Syd to grab some free cocaine. When Syd learns that London has arrived, Bateman challenges him to go out and talk to her.

After a heated confrontation in the middle of the party, Syd and London decide to leave to talk somewhere more private. As they are leaving, a fight ensues in which Syd and Bateman fight the other male guests, barely making it out of the party. London and Syd make up in Syd's car, and later they have sex in London's apartment. In the last scene, at the airport, Syd tells London he loves her. Although this impresses London, she still leaves him.

Sequel[edit]

A sequel to London, entitled; White Picket Fence is being planned[citation needed], again to be produced by Bonnie Timmermann, Paul Davis-Miller and Grammy Winner Jay Rifkin.

CastJessica Biel as London

Chris Evans as Syd

Jason Statham as Bateman

Joy Bryant as Mallory

Kelli Garner as Maya

Isla Fisher as Rebecca

Dane Cook as George

Louis C.K. as Therapist

Casey LaBow as Dominatrix

Kat Dennings as Lilly

Blades of Glory 2007 American Sports comedy film

Blades of Glory is a 2007 American Sports comedy film directed by Will Speck and Josh Gordon, and starring Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. The movie was produced by MTV Films, Red Hour and Smart Entertainment and released on March 29, 2007 by DreamWorks Pictures.

At the 2002 World Winter Sport Games, rival men's singles skaters Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell), a skillful skater but raunchy sex addict, and Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder), an equally talented but sheltered and effeminate skater, tie for gold. An argument ensues, which develops into a fight on the awards podium, ending with the World Games mascot being set on fire. As a result, they are stripped of their medals and banned from men's singles competition for life. Jimmy's competitive adoptive father, billionaire Darren MacElroy (William Fichtner), immediately disowns him and leaves him stranded on the side of the road.

Three and a half years later, Jimmy is working at a winter sporting goods store and gets demoted to sorting stock after he refuses to listen to a little girl when she tells him her skating boot has been tied too tightly. Chazz is fired from a children’s skating show called "Grublets On Ice" for being in a drunken stupor on stage. Jimmy's obsessive stalker, Hector (Nick Swardson), tells him of a loophole in the ban allowing him to compete in pair skating. In hopes of entering the upcoming World Winter Sport Games, Jimmy contacts his old coach, Robert (Craig T. Nelson), but is unable to find a partner. Jimmy's search for a last-minute partner leads him to Chazz, and Robert convinces the two to skate as the first-ever same-sex pairs team, because the regulations fail to state the genders of the pairs.

The reigning U.S. national pairs champions, brother and sister Stranz and Fairchild Van Waldenberg (Will Arnett and Amy Poehler), see the new pair as a threat and conspire against them. The pair convince their sister Katie (Jenna Fischer), whom they often take advantage of by reminding her that their parents died taking Katie to skating practice, to spy on the duo. In the process, Katie becomes acquainted with Jimmy and they develop a relationship. Although Chazz and Jimmy are initially disgusted by each other, they eventually develop a friendship. They compete at the United States Figure Skating Championships and earn a chance to compete at the World Winter Sport Games.

Chazz and Jimmy’s coach, Robert, informs them that to win, they will need to perform a technique that has never been performed successfully: The "Iron Lotus", an extremely complicated maneuver that Robert developed years ago. However, it is also dangerous: the only attempt of the maneuver was “behind the bamboo curtain” in North Korea, and resulted in the man decapitating the woman with his skate blade. Nonetheless, they decide to attempt it as Robert is convinced that two males would be better suited for the move because of the physics of a same-sex team (this is a parody of skating-themed film The Cutting Edge, where the conflicting main characters also decide to practice a dangerous skating routine). Fairchild commands Katie to disrupt the duo by having sex with Chazz, threatening to harm Jimmy if Katie does not comply. Katie gets Chazz's attention after attending a sex addict's meeting as the newest member, then invites Chazz to her room, and tries to seduce him. Chazz refuses, delighting Katie, but cannot resist grabbing her breasts. Jimmy witnesses this and is outraged at Chazz's and Katie's betrayals.

The next day, Chazz and Jimmy are both kidnapped and restrained by Stranz and Fairchild. Katie gets tired of her siblings and accepts that their parents were not properly safe while driving. While handcuffing Jimmy in a bathroom, Fairchild reveals that she and Stranz commanded Katie to have sex with Chazz yet she could not go through with it, due to her love for Jimmy. Chazz escapes but is pursued by Stranz through Montréal on ice and then through streets and stores. He tries to shoot Chazz with a crossbow, but accidentally hits the Winter Sport Games Mascot, Snowflake. Jimmy also escapes when a kid in the bathroom knocked down the bin which contains the key for the handcuff, though he had to use his tongue to drag the dirty toilet paper, as the key was on it.

Stranz and Fairchild perform their routine, a dramatization of the "Forbidden Romance" of John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. Both Chazz and Jimmy arrive in the ice rink just in time to compete. Chazz and Jimmy reconcile quickly and begin their routine, which has a science fiction theme. Fairchild, seeing the two doing well, throws pearls onto the ice. Chazz trips over a pearl and breaks his ankle, which renders him unable to perform his role in the Iron Lotus. Jimmy then offers to switch places with him. Although they have never practiced the other's roles, they perform it perfectly, with Jimmy's blade only cutting two small strands of Chazz's facial hair. Jimmy and Chazz win the competition, Jimmy reconciles with Katie, and Stranz and Fairchild are arrested due to the kidnappings and Snowflake‘s shooting. Stranz and Fairchild begin arguing, then inexplicably kiss each other incestuously before they are handcuffed by the authorities. Jimmy and Chazz receive the gold medal and fly off into the sky through rockets on their skates. During the credits, Hector is seen playing dolls of himself, Jimmy and Chazz.

Cast
Will Ferrell as Charles "Chazz" Michael Michaels
Jon Heder as James "Jimmy" MacElroy
Zachary Ferren as Young James "Jimmy" MacElroy
Will Arnett as Stranz Van Waldenberg
Amy Poehler as Fairchild Van Waldenberg
Jenna Fischer as Katie Van Waldenberg
William Fichtner as Darren MacElroy
Craig T. Nelson as Coach Robert
Romany Malco as Jesse
Nick Swardson as Hector
Rob Corddry as Bryce
William Daniels as Commissioner Ebbers
Luke Wilson as Sex Class Counselor

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement 2004 American romantic comedy film

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement is a 2004 American romantic comedy film and the sequel to 2001's The Princess Diaries. Unlike the first film, this film is not based on any of the books. Most of the cast returned from the first film, including Julie Andrews, Anne Hathaway, Héctor Elizondo, Heather Matarazzo and Larry Miller. Garry Marshall returned to direct and Debra Martin Chase to produce the sequel. New characters include Viscount Mabrey (John Rhys-Davies), Lord Nicholas Devereaux (Chris Pine), and Andrew Jacoby (Callum Blue).

 

Five years after the first film, Crown Princess of Genovia Amelia "Mia" Thermopolis (Anne Hathaway) has just graduated from Princeton University'sWoodrow Wilson School and is returning to Genovia with her bodyguard Joe (Héctor Elizondo) and beloved cat Fat Louie. There, she will await her reign once her grandmother, Queen Clarisse (Julie Andrews), steps down as Queen. During Mia's 21st birthday party, she dances with all the eligible bachelors in hope of finding a husband. She becomes attracted to a handsome young gentleman named Nicholas (Chris Pine). During the course of the night, Mia's tiara falls off and is caught by Parliament member Viscount Mabrey (John Rhys-Davies) who secretly plans to steal Mia's crown. While the Parliament is in-session the next morning, Mia stumbles upon a hidden room that allows her to secretly listen in. Viscount Mabrey reveals his nephew, Lord Devereaux, is another heir to the Genovian throne. Despite Queen Clarisse's objection, the only way Mia can assume her duties as Queen is if she marries within the month. Clarisse invites Lord Devereaux to stay at the palace, while Mia is shocked to discover Lord Devereaux is Nicholas. Mia's best friend Lilly Moscovitz (Heather Matarazzo) surprises her by visiting. Together, they pick through potential husbands. Mia eventually chooses Andrew Jacoby (Callum Blue), Duke of Kenilworth and days later they are engaged. Mabrey plans to have Nicholas woo Mia and dissolve the engagement.

For a ceremony, Mia is to ride sidesaddle but does not know how. Queen Clarisse provides an ancestral wooden leg decoy to make it look like she's riding sidesaddle. Mabrey spooks Mia's horse with a rubber snake and Joe rushes to Mia's aide, but accidentally tears off the wooden leg. Humiliated, Mia flees to the stables, where Nicholas fails to comfort her. At a garden party, Mia and Nicholas quarrel about Mia's relationship with Andrew; Nicholas tricks Mia into admitting she doesn't love him. Angered, she argues but instead gets bombarded by a kiss. At first, she kisses him back but then backs away. Nicholas pursues her even more, which causes both of them to fall into a fountain. Queen Clarisse finally tells Mia that her behavior with Nicholas needs to stop.

During the Genovian Independence Day parade, Mia sees some boys picking on a little girl (Abigail Breslin), and abruptly halts the parade to comfort the girl. Learning the children are orphans, Mia has a vendor give them all tiaras and lets them walk with her in the parade. Everyone is impressed by her act of generosity, while Mabrey sees it as a political maneuver. Mia later decides to convert one of the royal palaces into a temporary children's center. That night, Mia has her bachelorette/sleepover party, where Queen Clarisse surfs on a mattress and sings a duet with Princess Asana (Raven-Symoné), one of Mia's good friends. In the meantime, Mabrey realizes Nicholas has fallen for Mia, but Nicholas says that Mia will never love him. Nicholas comes upon Mia as she is practising her archery as part of her coronation rites. He helps her succeed in getting the arrow to hit the bullseye, something she had been struggling with. Nicholas then informs Mia that he is leaving, but asks to see her just one more time before he goes. She declines, saying she is under close guard.

That night, Nicholas appears outside Mia's window and asks her to come out. Lilly encourages her to go, and Mia sneaks out. They ride out to a lake where they share secrets, dance and eventually fall asleep. They awaken to find a man in a boat videotaping them. Mia thinks Nicholas set her up, while he insists had no idea. By the time Mia gets back to the palace, the scandalous footage is already being broadcast. Andrew is disappointed and kisses Mia to see if there is a romantic spark between them. They realize they do not love each other, but do not call off the wedding for the good of Genovia. The wedding is to take place the following day, and Mia's mother Helen (Caroline Goodall) comes with her new husband Patrick (Sean O'Bryan) and their newborn son Trevor. Nicholas decides against attending, but his surly housekeeper Gretchen informs him that Mabrey engineered their televised scandal.

Right before the wedding, Joe informs Mia that Nicholas is innocent. Queen Clarisse encourages Mia to follow her heart, something she has never done and has now cost her Joe, the only man she truly loved. Mia reenters the church, and asks the members of the Parliament to consider the women in their families and if it would be right to force them to marry those they don't love. Mabrey cites the law again, suggesting that Nicholas be named King, only for Nicholas to arrive and refuse the crown and disown his uncle. Mia proposes the law on royal marriages be abolished, and Parliament unanimously gives its assent. Encouraged by Mia to have her own happy ending, Clarisse proposes to Joe and they are promptly married.

About a week later, Mia is preparing for her coronation when Nicholas shows up. He professes his love for Mia on bended knee, and they share a romantic kiss. The next day, Mia is crowned "Her Majesty Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, Queen of Genovia", with all in attendance in the royal palace.

An epilogue shows that Genovian Parliament now allows female members, one of which is Charlotte. And Queen Mia officially opens the children's home.

CastAnne Hathaway as Princess Mia Thermopolis Renaldi
Julie Andrews as Queen Clarisse Renaldi
Héctor Elizondo as Joe
John Rhys-Davies as Viscount Mabrey
Heather Matarazzo as Lilly Moscovitz
Chris Pine as Nicholas Devereaux
Callum Blue as Andrew Jacoby
Raven-Symoné as Princess Asana
Kathleen Marshall as Charlotte Kutaway
Jonny Blu as "Miracles Happen" singer
Tom Poston as Lord Palimore
Joel McCrary as Prime Minister Motaz
Kim Thomson as Reporter Elsie Kentworthy
Larry Miller as Paolo
Caroline Goodall as Helen Thermopolis O'Connell
Meredith Patterson as Lady Elyssa
Spencer Breslin as Prince Jacques
Tracy Reiner as Lady Anthony
Paul Vogt as Lord Crawley
Paul Williams as Lord Harmony
Peter Allen Vogt as Mr. Crawley
Anna Netrebko as herself
Abigail Breslin as Carolina, the orphan child
Hannah Schneider as Dancing Princess Hannah
Charlee Corra Disney as Princess Charlee
Aimee Adams Hall as Princess Aimee
Nadege August as Princess Nadege

Jarhead 2005 biographical drama military film

 

Jarhead is a 2005 biographical drama military film based on U.S. MarineAnthony Swofford's 2003 memoir of the same name, directed by Sam Mendes, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford with Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard and Chris Cooper. The title comes from the slang term used to refer to United States Marines.

 

In 1989, Anthony "Swoff" Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) attends or assists toU.S. Marine Corps training before being stationed at Camp Pendleton. Claiming that he joined the military because he "got lost on the way to college", Swofford finds his time at Camp Pendleton difficult, and struggles to make friends. While Swofford feigns illness to avoid his responsibilities, a "lifer", Marine Staff Sergeant Sykes (Jamie Foxx), takes note of his potential and orders Swofford to attend his Scout Sniper course.

After grueling training, the Scout Sniper course is left with eight candidates, among them Swofford, now a sniper, and Swofford's roommate Troy (Peter Sarsgaard) who becomes his spotter. When Iraq invades Kuwait, Swofford's unit is deployed to the Arabian Peninsula as a part of Operation Desert Shield. Eager for combat, the Marines find themselves bored with remedial training, constant drills, and a routine monotony that feeds their boredom, and prompts them to talk about the unfaithful girlfriends and wives waiting for them at home. They even erect a bulletin board featuring photographs and brief notes telling what perfidies the women had committed.

Swofford obtains unauthorized alcohol and organizes an impromptu Christmas party, arranging for Fergus (Brian Geraghty) to cover his watch so he can celebrate. Fergus accidentally sets fire to a tent while cooking some sausages and ignites a crate of flares, waking the whole camp and enraging Staff Sergeant Sykes, who demotes Swofford from lance corporal to privateand puts him on "shit-burning" detail. The punishments, combined with the heat, the boredom, and Swofford's suspicions of his girlfriend's infidelity, give Swofford a mental breakdown, to the point where he threatens Fergus with a rifle, then orders Fergus to shoot him instead.

Later, Operation Desert Storm begins and the Marines are sent to the Saudi Arabia-Kuwait border. Swofford learns from Sykes that Troy concealed his criminal record when enlisting and will be discharged when the unit returns home. Troy becomes distant from his friends. Knowing that Troy will not be allowed to reenlist, the Marines attack him with a red-hot USMC branding iron, marking him as one of their own. Following an accidental air attack from friendly forces, the Marines advance through the desert, facing no enemies on the ground. The Marines march through the Highway of Death, strewn with the burnt vehicles and charred bodies of retreating Iraqi soldiers, the aftermath of an allied bombing campaign. The Marines later suddenly catch sight of distant burning oil wells, ignited only moments before by retreating Iraqis, and they attempt to dig sleeping holes as a rain of crude oil falls from the sky. Before they can finish, Sykes orders the squad to move upwind.

Swofford and Troy are finally given a sniping mission. Lieutenant Colonel Kazinski, their battalion commander, orders them to kill at least one of two high-ranking Iraqi Republican Guard officers at a nearby airfield. At the last split second before Swofford takes the shot, Major Lincoln (Dennis Haysbert) interrupts them to call in an air strike. Swofford and Troy protest, but are overruled and look on in disappointment as airplanes destroy the Iraqi airfield.

After returning home the Marines parade through a town in a jovial celebration of victory. Swofford returns home to his family and girlfriend but discovers she has a new boyfriend. Fowler is seen with a prostitute in a bar, Kruger (Lucas Black) in a corporate boardroom, Escobar (Laz Alonso) as a supermarket employee, Cortez (Jacob Vargas) as a father of three, and Sykes continuing his service as a first sergeant in the Iraq War. Later, Swofford learns of Troy's death during a surprise visit from Fergus. He attends his funeral, reunites with some of his old friends and afterwards reminisces about the effects of the war.

CastJake Gyllenhaal as Pvt/LCpl Anthony Swofford

Peter Sarsgaard as Cpl Alan Troy

Jamie Foxx as SSgt Sykes

Chris Cooper as LtCol Kazinski

Brian Geraghty as PFC Fergus O'Donnell

Lucas Black as LCpl Chris Kruger

Evan Jones as PFC Dave Fowler

Laz Alonso as LCpl Ramon Escobar

Jacob Vargas as LCpl Juan Cortez

John Krasinski as Cpl Harrigan

Dennis Haysbert as Major Lincoln

Iván Fenyő as Pinko

Brianne Davis as Kristina

Martin Papazian as Brian Dettman

Scott MacDonald as D.I., SSgt Fitch

James Morrison as Old Mr. Swofford

Rini Bell as Swoff's sister

Jocko Sims as Julius

Steve Nguyen as Recruit

Damion Poitier as Marine #1

Michael Mercurio as Marine #2

Pixels Adam Sandler 2015 American science fiction action-comedy film

Pixels is a 2015 American science fiction action-comedy film produced byColumbia Pictures, 1492 Pictures and Happy Madison Productions. The film was directed by Chris Columbus. Its screenplay was written by Tim Herlihyand Timothy Dowling, with a screen story penned by Tim Herlihy and based on French director Patrick Jean's 2010 short film of the same name. The film features computer animated video games characters, special effects, and stars Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Josh Gad, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Monaghan, Brian Cox, Ashley Benson, and Jane Krakowski. The film's plot has extraterrestrials misinterpreting video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war, and invading Earth using technology inspired by games such as Pac-Man and Space Invaders. To counter the alien assault, the United States hire former arcade champions to lead the planet's defense.

Principal photography on the film began in 2014 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was released in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D in 2015. The film was a box officesuccess. It has grossed over $237 million worldwide but received generally negative reviews from critics.

 

In the summer of 1982, Sam Brenner and Will Cooper are thirteen-year-olds who love playing in the local arcade. Brenner enters an arcade game world championships. At the event, the MC tells that a time capsule will be launched into space containing a videocassette that includes scenes from the championships. Brenner and Cooper meet Ludlow Lamonsoff, a child who's in love with Lady Lisa, the main character of the game Dojo Quest. Brenner succeeds in every game, but finally loses to Eddie Plant in Donkey Kong.

In the present, Brenner works for a company that installs home theater systems and Cooper is the President of the United States. In Guam, a U.S. military base is attacked. The soldiers try to fight back, but are easily defeated, and one soldier is abducted.

Brenner is sent to work at the home of Violet Van Patten, a divorcée who lives with her son Matty. Brenner heads to theWhite House after receiving a call from Cooper. To his surprise, he finds out that Violet is a Lieutenant Colonel. Cooper brings Brenner into the Oval Office to show him the attack in the base. Brenner says that the way the attack was carried out was like in the classic version of the video game Galaga.

Later, Brenner drives home when Ludlow suddenly appears inside his van. Ludlow takes Brenner to his home where he says that the aliens are sending creatures with classic video game designs to attack. Ludlow found a message using manipulated footage to explain their plans: The tape was found and seen as a threat; they are using the video games as a challenge. If they win three rounds, they will claim the Earth. They show the video to Cooper and determine that the next attack will happen in India, but are too late; the Taj Mahal is attacked with Arkanoid paddles and another person is abducted as a trophy.

Brenner and Ludlow are brought in to "train" soldiers by showing them how to play these games. Violet shows Brenner and Ludlow that the pixels are taken down by strong light beams. The next attack will happen in London. The soldiers brace for attack in Hyde Park. Centipede appears in the sky. Brenner tells the men to shoot the head and anticipate the pattern, but they lack the skills, so more appear. Brenner and Ludlow take over with permission from Cooper and they defeat them. The aliens send a message to congratulate them on their victory, and give the Duck Hunt dog as a trophy, but remind that they are leading 2-1.

New York City is the place of the next attack. Ludlow and Cooper say that they need help. Brenner, Cooper, and Violet go to a prison to find Eddie, who is serving a sentence for counts of fraud. Cooper agrees to let Eddie out of prison and relinquish his taxes in exchange for his help.

The team discovers that they are going to face the title character from Pac-Man and in order to succeed they need to defeat him three times. Violet presents them with four Mini Cooper cars based on the ghosts in Pac-Man, with the other car driven by the game's creator, Toru Iwatani. In the downtown area Iwatani tries to appeal to Pac-Man as a son, but gets his hand bitten off instead. The remaining three chase after Pac-Man. He eats a power pellet, which gives him the ability to eat ghosts, and Ludlow escapes as it eats his car. Eddie defeats the first Pac-Man after catching up to him quickly, to the surprise of everyone. Eddie takes Pac-Man out a second time, but accidentally drives into the East River as he attempts the 3-1 sweep. Brenner takes up the chase but Pac-Man finds another power pellet. Brenner drives backwards through a parking garage. The power pellet wears off, and Pac-Man is defeated. As a result, the team is given Q*bert as a trophy.

The team celebrate the victory, until the aliens send another message saying that someone cheated and the contest for the planet has been forfeited. Matty finds out Eddie used a speed cheat during the battle with Pac-Man. Eddie flees and Matty is abducted as a trophy.

The aliens cascade more video games on Washington, D.C. as they prepare to take over. Cooper joins the team, while Ludlow stays to fight. One of the aliens takes the form of Lady Lisa. She fights Ludlow until he says he loves her, and they share a kiss. Eddie comes to fight as well. Brenner, Violet, Cooper and Q*Bert are brought up to the space ship by Max Headroom where they have to face the title character from Donkey Kong, who rolls barrels at the group to prevent them reaching the captives. Matty reveals to Brenner what he found out about Eddie, and Brenner takes the hammer and throws it at Donkey Kong, destroying him. This causes the video games to freeze and then are brought back up to the ship, including Lady Lisa.

The team is recognized as heroes. A peace agreement has been made with the aliens. Q*bert randomly transforms into Lady Lisa, to Ludlow's delight. Brenner and Violet become a couple, while Eddie gets a text message from Serena Williamsand Martha Stewart.

A year later, Lady Lisa and Ludlow are married and have Q-Bert children, named Q*by.
Cast[edit]

Adam Sandler as Sam Brenner, a former arcade world champion, William's childhood best friend, and the leader of the team.
Anthony Ippolito as 13-year-old Sam.
Kevin James as William Cooper, the President of the United States, Sam's childhood best friend, and a member of the team.
Jared Riley as 13-year-old Will.
Michelle Monaghan as Lieutenant Colonel Violet van Patten, a unique weapons developer and specialist for the military, a member of the team.
Peter Dinklage as Eddie Plant, Sam's brash former video game-playing nemesis and a member of the team.[8] The character's physical appearance and personality is styled after real-life Pac-Man and Donkey Kong champion Billy Mitchell.
Andrew Bambridge as 13-year-old Eddie.
Josh Gad as Ludlow Lamonsoff, a conspiracy-theory-obsessed, genius with poor social skills, and a member of the team. Unlike the rest of the group, he was an 8-year-old child in the 1980s.
Jacob Shinder as 8-year-old Ludlow.
Brian Cox as Admiral Porter, a military heavyweight.
Matt Lintz as Matty, son of Violet
Ashley Benson as Lady Lisa, a beautiful warrior from the fictional 1982 video game Dojo Quest.
Jane Krakowski as Jane Cooper, the First Lady of the United States and the wife of William.
Denis Akiyama as Toru Iwatani, the creator of Pac-Man.
Matt Frewer as Max Headroom.
Sean Bean as Corporal Hill.
Affion Crockett as Sergeant Dylan Cohan.
Dan Aykroyd as 1982 Championship M.C.
Nick Swardson as Pac-Man victim.
Lainie Kazan as Mickey Lamonsoff.
Jackie Sandler as Jennifer, President Cooper's assistant.
Jared Sandler as Jared, President Cooper's junior aide.
Tucker Smallwood as CIA Chief.
Sadie Sandler as Lemonadie Sadie.
Sunny Sandler as Sweet Scout Girl.
Daryl Hall as Himself.
John Oates as Himself.
Serena Williams as Herself.