Summer vacation films come with a load of surprises, and especially when it comes from another plant. The surprises in 'Aliens In The Attic' keep view3ers on its feet and rarely leaving a dull moment. It appears this was never part of their family vacation plans.
The movie is an all-out battle between the Pearson family and the aliens "who came from upstairs" and will decide the fate of Planet Earth. Stuart (Kevin Nealon) and his wife Nina (Gillian Vigman) played their summer vacation with their family in a comfortable suburban house in Michigan.
Then there are the kids - the adorable seven-year old Hannah (Ashley Boettcher); the 15-year old Tom, a computer geek whose grades intentionally tanked; and the older sister Bethany (Ashley Tisdale), who is secretly dating an 'older' boyfriend Ricky Dillman (Robert Hoffman).
Stuart decides to band the family together and takes them to an old fashioned retreat in a surburban house away from the things the kids became attatched to, such as video games and computers. The PearsoNana Rose (Doris Roberts) and identical 12-year old twins Art (Henri Young) and Lee (Regan Young). This side of the family is the polar opposite of Stuart's family, as they drive in cranking loud rock music, playing video games and carryingillegal fireworks for the sheer thrill of it all.
An unexpected Ricky also works his way into an overnight visit with the Pearsons. This does not sit well with Tom, as he is the only member of his family who sees through Ricky's shallow ways.
Gradually, as night time falls, dark clouds swirl around the house and then four glowing objects shoot towards the roof. This is where the alien crew of Skip, the tough commander (voiced by J.K. Simmons); Tazer, a muscle-bound enforcer (voiced by Thomas Hayden Church); Razor, a lethal female commandert (voiced by Kari Wahlgren); and Spark, the techie four armed member, who is also the sole non-threatening one (voiced by Josh Peck).
While Tom and Ricky were supposed to be bonding on the roof while fixing their satellite dish, this is when Ricky is taken under a spell of the aliens, due to a high-tech-mind-control device and plug implanted into his brain. Dillman put on quite a performance, as Ricky having to move around at fast speeds into walls and his marionette like portrayals throughout the film. While Ricky is a slimeball as a character, his potrayal was worked in as karmic, payback way by the kids.
Much of this film is focused around the children trying to takr down the aliens. Each of the children's roles plays a key part in the interaction with the aliens. Tom is the brains and figures out how to counteract the aliens' tactics. Bethany is the love struck yet later betrayed whose moods swing throughout the film. ZJake is the crazy one who loves to play with fireworks and blow things up. The twins tinker with the controls they stole from the aliens, and later use to control Ricky, Hannah plays the sensitive one who bonds with the alien Sparks, when he is captured by the kids.
In many ways, this film showed hints of the 1985 hit Goonies, with the kids on an adventure type feel. But unlike the Goonies, Aliens in the Attic is a simplified version without the in depth adventure story that would make it exciting for viewers of all ages to enjoy.
The four aliens each portray a unique personality that comes across well as they attempt their evil ways, inside of the house. Plus their interaction with the kids, especially during the shooting scenes with the potato guns, comes across somewhat predictable but still enough to leave some of the excitement within the story.
Aliens In The Attic is the human versus alien film that the family can enjoy together. While this film does not have the rough 'em up type of story like much of the movies out today, instead it is one of the few movies that people of all ages could enjoy.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Orgy @ Roxy (VISIONS Magazine - January 22, 1999)
Orgy: Los Angeles - The Roxy (22.01.1999)
Autor: Rei Nishimoto
Erschienen in: VISIONS Nr. 74 Author: Rei Nishimoto
Published in: VISIONS No. 74
Support: Professional Murder Music, Hero
Besucher (Visitors): 500
Der Abend wird von zwei Bands eröffnet, in denen ehemalige Mitglieder der verblichenen Band Human Waste Project mitwirken.
The evening is opened by two bands, in which former members of the faded band Human Waste Project participate. At work is Sänger Aimee Echo und Drummer Scott Ellis, together with former Snot members Mike Smith (Guitars) und Jamie Miller, former Drummer, now Bassist. Hero is a lot more melody-driven than HWP and have more in common with Cure or the Beatles than with the grain. For Professional Murder Music are HWP, bassist Jeff Schartoff and ex-Tura satana guitarist Brian Harrah of the meeting. PMM go on wearing experimental Industrial enriched with DJ scratches and chilling background sounds from the synthesizer. Both Professional Murder Music and Hero have already been offers from various labels on the table - there will probably still listen. In the last six months, Orgy, the emerging heroes of the music of the 21st Century, the scene by storm. Their bizarre, some glam, some Gothic-influenced outfit, and the ubiquitous cover of New Orders "Blue Monday", the band from the state to quasi-Stars. Their first appearance in their home city of Los Angeles as the headliner is also definitely a success, well over 400 people fill the Roxy, among them some members of Coal Chamber, Downset, and Limp Bizkit, Orgy, the wish to express their support. The star of the band is clearly the mastermind and vocalist Jay Gordon: Less than two meters tall, spindly and with a hairstyle, which suggests that he deals with Manson and Coal Chamber announced the hairdresser, he immediately draws the attention. What is not surprising, because the rest of the band is not nearly as involved in the show as he delivers an excellent job but as an accompaniment. Orgy define the 80s-wave and synth-rock re-fit, but the zeitgeist of modern synth guitar effects and an extremely dark background. The highlight of the predicted performance is said "Blue Monday" in which an almost familial atmosphere emerges. Orgy optimists see as one of the bands, the hard music in the new millennium may bring. Even if something seems premature - Orgy will make their way.
Autor: Rei Nishimoto
Erschienen in: VISIONS Nr. 74 Author: Rei Nishimoto
Published in: VISIONS No. 74
Support: Professional Murder Music, Hero
Besucher (Visitors): 500
Der Abend wird von zwei Bands eröffnet, in denen ehemalige Mitglieder der verblichenen Band Human Waste Project mitwirken.
The evening is opened by two bands, in which former members of the faded band Human Waste Project participate. At work is Sänger Aimee Echo und Drummer Scott Ellis, together with former Snot members Mike Smith (Guitars) und Jamie Miller, former Drummer, now Bassist. Hero is a lot more melody-driven than HWP and have more in common with Cure or the Beatles than with the grain. For Professional Murder Music are HWP, bassist Jeff Schartoff and ex-Tura satana guitarist Brian Harrah of the meeting. PMM go on wearing experimental Industrial enriched with DJ scratches and chilling background sounds from the synthesizer. Both Professional Murder Music and Hero have already been offers from various labels on the table - there will probably still listen. In the last six months, Orgy, the emerging heroes of the music of the 21st Century, the scene by storm. Their bizarre, some glam, some Gothic-influenced outfit, and the ubiquitous cover of New Orders "Blue Monday", the band from the state to quasi-Stars. Their first appearance in their home city of Los Angeles as the headliner is also definitely a success, well over 400 people fill the Roxy, among them some members of Coal Chamber, Downset, and Limp Bizkit, Orgy, the wish to express their support. The star of the band is clearly the mastermind and vocalist Jay Gordon: Less than two meters tall, spindly and with a hairstyle, which suggests that he deals with Manson and Coal Chamber announced the hairdresser, he immediately draws the attention. What is not surprising, because the rest of the band is not nearly as involved in the show as he delivers an excellent job but as an accompaniment. Orgy define the 80s-wave and synth-rock re-fit, but the zeitgeist of modern synth guitar effects and an extremely dark background. The highlight of the predicted performance is said "Blue Monday" in which an almost familial atmosphere emerges. Orgy optimists see as one of the bands, the hard music in the new millennium may bring. Even if something seems premature - Orgy will make their way.
Asian Dub Foundation @ Troubadour (VISIONS Magazine - March 23, 1999)
Asian Dub Foundation: Los Angeles - Troubadour (23.03.1999)
Author: Rei Nishimoto Published in: VISIONS No. 76
Visitors: 350
The British revolution of new electronic music slowly reached the American coast, and in the form of Asian Dub Foundation. The existing five-man combo, originally from India, break beats mixed with hip-hop, funk, reggae and electronic influences to create a new, fresh sound to modern, with all these styles, new country enters. Together with socially critical lyrics and the fact than Asian living in England, they have in the music world, new doors open. Since the U.S. as opener for the Beastie Boys for the first time already have, they could be an ever-growing popularity of delight. Her most recent appearance in Los Angeles again this was impressively demonstrated. Among the enthusiastic audience was also Rage Against The Machine frontman Zach de la Rocha, who probably also wanted to show his support. Resemblance to him, are not absurd, especially since ADF frontman Master D vocally the reggae version that is de la Rocha represents. Master D and guitarist Chandrasonic are often the audience to the deeper meaning of a song to convey. This is a piece not just down, but like when? crash? the audience indicated that this was the secret behind the world economy going. This is not to say that, as with most rap-metal acts, the rest of the band in the background hidden, and only one or two people in the show included. On the contrary, even Sampler DJ Pandit G and J Sun actively take part in the action and let her run free movement, especially when you agree with an imprisoned hero in a song for his recognition proves. The Asian Dub Foundation, slowly opens up new avenues for the musical future and probably will in the coming years, the leadership style of taking the time is still emerging. Take in eight.
Author: Rei Nishimoto Published in: VISIONS No. 76
Visitors: 350
The British revolution of new electronic music slowly reached the American coast, and in the form of Asian Dub Foundation. The existing five-man combo, originally from India, break beats mixed with hip-hop, funk, reggae and electronic influences to create a new, fresh sound to modern, with all these styles, new country enters. Together with socially critical lyrics and the fact than Asian living in England, they have in the music world, new doors open. Since the U.S. as opener for the Beastie Boys for the first time already have, they could be an ever-growing popularity of delight. Her most recent appearance in Los Angeles again this was impressively demonstrated. Among the enthusiastic audience was also Rage Against The Machine frontman Zach de la Rocha, who probably also wanted to show his support. Resemblance to him, are not absurd, especially since ADF frontman Master D vocally the reggae version that is de la Rocha represents. Master D and guitarist Chandrasonic are often the audience to the deeper meaning of a song to convey. This is a piece not just down, but like when? crash? the audience indicated that this was the secret behind the world economy going. This is not to say that, as with most rap-metal acts, the rest of the band in the background hidden, and only one or two people in the show included. On the contrary, even Sampler DJ Pandit G and J Sun actively take part in the action and let her run free movement, especially when you agree with an imprisoned hero in a song for his recognition proves. The Asian Dub Foundation, slowly opens up new avenues for the musical future and probably will in the coming years, the leadership style of taking the time is still emerging. Take in eight.
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