Watch Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster Description
Superstar Donnie Yen reurns to this latest installment as Yip Man, the master martial artist who always finds himself in the worst possible circumstances.
This movie starts up pretty much right after the events in the first movie where Yen flees to Hong Kong from China. He wants to settle down and teach martial arts (Wing Chun), but almost immediately finds he has to fight leaders from the Wushu schools for approval.
Sammo Hung is new to the cast, and plays Master Hung, the best of the enemy masters who want to fight Yen for supremacy. The fights between Hung and Yen are nothing short of fantastic. Hung choreographed all the fight scenes himself, and some of these are so good that people will be talking about some of them forever.
Ip Man 2 Legend of the Grandmaster puts the bar for new martial arts movies so high that it is difficult to think that any movie could come along in the near future that could match it. Unless that is Ip Man 3.
Donnie Yen = Ip Man
Sammo Hung = Hung Chun-nam
Simon Yam = Chow Ching-chuen
Fan Siu-wong = Jin Shanzhao
Lynn Hung = Cheung Wing-sing
Huang Xiaoming = Wong Leung
Kent Cheng = Fatso
Pierre Ngo = Leung Kan
Calvin Cheng = Chow Kwong-yiu
Li Chak = Ip Chun
To Yu-hang = Cheng Wai-kei
Darren Shahlavi = Taylor “The Twister” Milos
Charles Mayer = Wallace
Jiang Daiyan = Bruce Lee
Ashton Chen = Tsui Sai-cheung
Lam Hak-ming = Master Lam
Lo Mang = Master Law
Fung Hak-on = Master Cheng
Brian Burrell = Emcee
Lu Meifang = Hung Chun-nam’s wife
Watch Ip Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster Preview/Trailer
There has been so much written about this movie that it would be almost impossible to go into the theater without some type of pre-set idea on whether you would like it or not. But I was not prepared for just how good this movie, and especially Sandra Bullock, was. Easily the best performance of her career.
Sandra Bullock plays well-to-do southern housewife Leigh Anne Tuohy, a woman with a beautiful life and beautiful children. One day she encounters Michael Oher at a Christian school. Michael is s troubled African American teenager with a lot of emotional problems who is going nowhere. She takes him into her family and under her wing and shows him the love and understanding his life has been missing.
With a new family to lean on Michael’s life turns around. Bullock discovers he has a talent for football and gets him onto the school team. Under her guidence and with her support Michael flourishes in all areas.
This may sound like an offending “rich white woman takes in poor black boy and saves him” type of movie, but believe me it is not. It is just a very good movie about love and relationships.
Sandra Bullock = Leigh Anne Touhy
Kathy Bates = Miss Sue
Tim McGraw = Sean Touhy
Quinton Aaron = Oher
Lily Collins = Collins Touhy
Jae Head = S.J. Touhy
Ray McKinnon = Coach Cotton
Kim Dickens = Mrs. Boswell
Adriane Lenox = Denise Oher
Catherine Dyer = Mrs. Smith
Andy Stahl = Principal Sandstrom
Tom Nowicki = Literature Teacher
Libby Whittemore = Sarcastic Teacher
Brian Hollan = Jay Collis
Melody Weintraub = History Teacher
Sharon Morris = Investigator Granger
Omar J. Dorsey = “Big Tony” Hamilton
Paul Amadi = Steven Hamilton
Hampton Fluker = David
Rhoda Griffis = Beth
Eaddy Mays = Elaine
Ashley Campbell = Sherry
Brandon Rivers = Michael Age Seven
Jody Thompson = Paramedic
James Donadio = Photographer
L. Warren Young = Big and Tall Salesman
Brett Rice = Cousin Bobby
Preston Brant = Michael’s Brother
Matthew Atkinson = Valet Parker
Trey Best = Michael’s Brother Age Twelve
Joseph Chrest = Clemson Coach
Michael Fisher = Georgia Assistant Coach
Lamont Koonce = Tennessee Assistant Coach
Phil Fulmer = Himself
Lou Holtz = Himself
Tom Lemming = Himself
Houston Nutt = Himself
Ed Orgeron = Himself
Franklin Rodgers = Himself
Nick Saban = Himself
Tommy Tuberville = Himself
The Fighter tells the true story of Boston boxer Mickey Ward by tracing his career from it’s early days to the film’s present time. Mickey is training for the most important fight of his life.
This is to be his big comeback after three straight losses. If he can just win this one fight he is sure he can get his troubled life back on track.
Acting as his trainer is his brother Dicky Eklund, a former boxer who was quite well known in his own fighting days. Unfortunately Dickey’s drug habit derailed a promising career and pretty much his entire life afterwards. Mickey knows that Dickie is not the best person to train him, but he doesn’t have the heart to replace him.
Mickey’s mother is his manager. She is a strong woman who has always been tough on her boys. It has been apparent to Mickey for years that she loves Dickie more than himself.
When Mickey meets and falls in love with a local bartender named Carlene, he begins to reevaluate his life choices as she tries to explain how damaging his dysfunctional family is to his boxing career and health. Mickey must decide what is more important, obligation to family or a real honest to goodness shot at the title.
Mark Wahlberg = Micky Ward
Christian Bale = Dicky Eklund
Amy Adams = Charlene Fleming
Melissa Leo = Alice Ward
Jack McGee = George Ward
Mickey O’Keefe = Mickey O’Keefe
Melissa McMeekin = “Little Alice” Eklund
Bianca Hunter = Cathy “Pork” Eklund
Erica McDermott = Cindy “Tar” Eklund
Jill Quigg = Donna Eklund Jaynes
Dendrie Allyn Taylor = Gail “Red Dog” Eklund
Kate O’Brien = Phyllis “Beaver” Eklund
Jenna Lamia = Sherri Ward
Frank Renzulli = Sal Lanano
Paul Campbell = Gary “Boo Boo” Giuffrida
Caitlin Dwyer = Kasie Ward
Chanty Sok = Karen
Ted Arcidi = Lou Gold
Ross Bickell = Mike Toma
Sean Malone = Wolfie
Jose Antonio Rivera = Gilberto Brown, aka Jose
Richard Farrell = HBO Cameraman #1
Matthew Muzio = HBO Cameraman #2
Steven Barkheimer = HBO Producer
Art Ramalho = Art Ramalho
Sugar Ray Leonard = Sugar Ray Leonard
Jackson Nicoll = Little Dicky
Alison Folland = Laurie Carroll
Sean Doherty = Jimmy (Laurie’s Husband)
Sue Costello = Becky
Thomas Benton = Businessman
Ray Greenhalge = Ray Ramalho
Tino Kimly = Pran
Epifanio Melendez = Carlos Garcia
Jeremiah Kissel = Bald Businessman
Sean Eklund = Man in Diner
Roeun Chea = Chan
Brian Nguyen = Brian
Rikki Kleiman = Court Clerk
Michael Dell’orto = WBU Commissioner
Paul Locke = Reporter #1
Kim Carrell = Reporter #2
Colin Hammell = John Hyland
Dale Place = Referee Mickey Vann
Eddie Lee Anderson = Referee Joe Cortez
Joseph Lupino = Referee Mitch Halpern
Bonnie Aarons = Crackhead Bonnie
Walter Driscoll = Court Officer
Matt Russell = Photo Guy on Street
A. Joseph Denucci = Man on Street #1
Richard A. Eklund = Man on Street #2
George Michael Ward = Man on Street #3
Richard Eklund, Jr. = Man on Street #4
Jack Greenhalge = Man on Street #5
Kevin Paige = Man on Street #6
David A. Ramalho, Sr. = Trainer
Ziad Akl = Inmate
Simon Hamlin = Movie Patron
Gerald Greenhalge = Uncle Jerry
Matthew Russell = Running Kid #1
Tommy Eklund = Running Kid #2
Rita Mercier = Woman on Street #1
Deborah Bolanger = Woman on Street #2
Kerry Moore = Woman on Street #3
Philip D. Herbert = Micky’s Cutman
Raul Vera = Sanchez Trainer
Jack Lally = Neary Trainer
Carlos L. Smith = Sugar Ray Leonard Bodyguard
Jerrell Lee = Fight Spectator #1
Hugh K. Long = Fight Spectator #2
Catherine Lynn Stone = Fan
Eric Weinstein = Micky’s Friend
Bo Cleary = Cop
Anthony Molinari = Neary
Peter “Sugarfoot” Cunningham = Mike “Machine Gun” Mungin
Miguel Espino = Alfonso Sanchez
Anthony ‘Ace’ Thomas = Castillo
Brian Christensen = Drunk Guy
Jen Weissenberg = Drunk Girl
What makes this movie truely great is that most people already know the remarkable story of Aron Ralston, the young rock climber who got trapped Utah’s Blue John Canyon back in April of 2003. But that aside, you will still find yourself glued to the screen as Aron (played brilliantly by James Franco) fights to survive.
The film begins by showing Ralston hurrying around his apartment grabbing the few items he thinks he’ll need for an afternoon of rock climbing in the nearby canyon. Of course he doesn’t realize it then, but the items he selects will end up saving his life.
127 hours is a film about the human spirit and the innate will to survive. The title refers to the 127 hours that Ralston was trapped alone in that canyon, which equates to just over 5 days. A small misstep, a simple slip was all it took for his life to change as he fell down that narrow crevese and got his arm logded under a huge, immovable boulder.
This movie shows Aron trying to survive a situation that seems unsurvivable. As he spends 5 days alone, trapped inside that small space, we watch as he goes from emotion to emotion. First anger at his carelessness, then panic as he begins to realize his hopeless situation, then acceptance when he is sure he is going to die, to finally defiance as he makes the decision to cut off his arm. And Franco makes it all believable. This is basically a one-man performace. Yes, the story is captivating, but I can’t image having been so hooked for the entire running time if it wasn’t for the terrific acting job of James Franco.
James Franco = Aron Ralston
Amber Tamblyn = Megan McBride
Kate Mara = Kristi Moore
Clémence Poésy = Rana
Lizzy Caplan = Sonja
Treat Williams = Ralston’s father
Kate Burton = Ralston’s mother
When Big Brother 10 began, Brian and Dan swiftly aligned themselves with one another making a pact to go to the end. Unfortunately, the end came fast and furious for Brian, aka The Puppet Master, who was evicted from the house that very first week. Most houseguests, after commencing the game with a blow that harsh to the solar plexus might as well have packed their bags and followed suit. Most houseguests would have become next week’s target and forced to do exactly that. Dan Gheesling isn’t like most houseguests. Not only did Dan endure the second week, but he endured all the weeks, emerging as the winner of Big Brother 10 in a unanimous seven to zero win for that coveted half a million dollars.
Realizing he had some bridges to repair, Dan quickly relocated into a calm, quiet presence in the house letting drama kings and queens like Jessie and Renny take centre stage. His strategy worked. The spotlight was off him. His alliance with Brian on the back burner of everyone’s mind. He was safe.
Week after week, Dan played the physically feeble competitor, forgoing POV wins, HOH wins, allowing others to shine and become targeted. Steven and Angie were the new targets and they respectfully followed Brian’s exit out the Big Brother house.
Then came week four. The week of the twist. The week of America’s Player. The week Dan started on his journey to become the best player of this season. He accepted the challenge of America’s Player; not only completing all the required tasks, but surviving speculation and accusations by Libra and Michelle that he was a plant. And still, the charming Catholic school teacher wasn’t targeted. The opposite happened. He became the vote everyone wanted.
Both sides of the house came at him. Which one would he side with? The one’s determined to kick Memphis out the door, or those gunning for Jessie? Fortunately, America made the decision for him in voting out Jessie thus aligning himself with Memphis to create the unstoppable Renegades. Afterwards there was no stopping Dan. He played the house expertly. He knew his house mates inside and out and his strategy was unquestionably brilliant.
Dan never fell into the trap the others did. He kept his emotions in check. His temper guarded. His tongue was soothing and charming instead of dripping with venom. When Jerry was outing him as “Judas” to one and all he never retaliated. He let it all roll off his back, and rose above the catty name calling, the verbal abuse, and the threats. When he chanced the potentially backfiring game of Replacement POV Roulette he still remained calm under fire.
Ollie was riding high on his so-called untitled HOH win with the three part deal he had with Dan. The problem with a deal like that is you’re one hundred percent dependent on the other party holding up their end of the bargain. Dan isn’t The Man for nothing. He made Ollie think he was the fool, when in reality he was playing Ollie for the fool. Not only did he backdoor Michelle, he sent Ollie packing the very next moment. It was pure genius. His every move had you on the edge of your seat, chewing at your nails in anticipation of the outcome.
After that there was no hiding in shadows. He dominated the challenges, scraped through being on the block, took the impossible and made it happen, rescued the Renegades time and time again. He not only said what everyone wanted to hear, he made them believe he meant it. And even though it was Renegades to the end there could be only one Renegade who would walk away with the cash, and there was no way that Renegade could be anyone one other than Dan.
It was a win truly deserved by a player who truly played the game. Is Dan the best player of the season, or the best player in Big Brother history? In my eyes he’ll always be epitome of Big Brother. Every player from here on will be looking to Dan’s gameplay to reach the coveted final prize. Dan, you are truly The Man.
* Brian: Age 27. He’s a single telecommunication manager originally from Elk Grove, CA and now lives in San Francisco, CA. He’s an Air Force veteran and the CBS website states that he’s a “guy’s guy.” Whatever could they mean?
* Angie: Age 29. She’s a single pharmaceutical sales representative hailing from Virginia Beach, VA and now resides in Orlando, FL. The CBS site touts her as a “smart and sexy Korean-American tomboy.” She’s recently divorced. She prides herself for being the Guinness-chugging champion for women at a bar event. Oh, she wants to be with a guy’s guy … will there be a showmance?
* Memphis: Age 25. He’s originally from Collierville, TN and now lives in Los Angeles, CA. Now, here’s a typical reality television kind of guy — he claims to be a “mixologist.” He says it’s not a bartender, but that’s exactly what it is. He’s single, but has lived with his girlfriend for over three years.
* April: Age 30. She’s a single financial manager originally from Arlington, NE and now resides in Higley, AZ. Uh-oh. She claims to be obsessive compulsive. That will go over well, huh? Her favorite movie is Dumb and Dumber. So much for intellect.
* Ollie: Age 27. He’s a single marketing sales representative originally from Des Moines, IA and now lives in Minneapolis, MN. He doesn’t drink, smoke, or curse. (Does he know what he’s getting into on the show?) He grew up in a strict Pentecostal family and refers to them as “the black Brady Bunch.” He’s definitely not a Will Mega (BB1) type, is he?
* Michelle: She’s 28, a single realtor, and hails from Cumberland, RI. The CBS website says she’s “an East Coast firecracker.” Um, okay. She actually spoke up and didn’t hold her peace at her brother’s wedding. I can see her having some issues in the house.
* Jerry: He’s 75, a married great-grandfather, and a retired marketing executive originally from Wiles Barre, PA now in Magnolia, TX. He should be interesting — he’s in great shape and has never missed an episode of the show in all nine previous seasons. He’s also been a fan of the live feeds. I think I want him for the win already, but time will tell.
* Libra: Age 31, a married human resources representative from Spring, TX. She has three children and recently gave birth to what the CBS site says is a medical rarity — twins, one black and one white. She’s a staunch Obama supporter and says Oprah Winfrey is her hero. She likes to shop and gossip and is attracted to men like Nick from BB8.
* Steven: Age 35, he’s a gay rodeo competitor now living in Dallas, TX but originally hailing from Opelousas, LA. He’s a champion bull rider, but will he be able to ride the bull that goes on in the Big Brother house? He thinks everyone who meets him likes him. We’ll see about that.
* Renny: Age 53, she’s a married beauty salon owner from New Orleans, LA. She’s a proud New Orleans socialite, loves to party, and hangs out in the French Quarter. I don’t think she’s one of the flashing women on the balconies. She’s been married for 27 years and has two grown children. Hopefully she’s no Sheila (BB9).
* Dan: Age 24, he’s a single Catholic school teacher from Dearborn, MI. He’s very conservative and doesn’t like liberals. (No, no! Don’t make this a political season, please!) According to the CBS website, he considers vegans to be “weird tree-huggers” and that “tattoos are trashy and piercings are for freaks.” Enough said.
* Keesha: Age 29, she’s a single waitress originally from Sterling, OH now living in Burbank, CA. The website calls her a “blond bombshell” and, for me, a quick glance reminds me of Daniele Donato with a bit more meat on her bones. She works at Hooters. (Didn’t Daniele work at Hooters for a while, too?) I predict shallow.
* Jessie: Age 22, he’s a single professional bodybuilder originally from Rudd, IA now residing in Huntington Beach, CA. The information at the CBS website has him coming across as the squeaky clean all American boy next door. Let’s see if Big Brother can taint him!