The NoteBook: 2011

Παρασκευή 30 Δεκεμβρίου 2011

Τρίτη 27 Δεκεμβρίου 2011

On assignment in Budapest to intercept a courier working for a person of interest code-named "Cobalt", IMF agent Trevor Hanaway is killed by an assassin named Sabine Moreau. Hanaway's team leader, Jane Carter, and newly promoted field agent Benji Dunn extract Ethan Hunt and Hunt's source Bogdan from a Moscow prison. Hunt is recruited to lead Carter and Dunn to infiltrate the secret Moscow Kremlin archives and locate files identifying Cobalt. Partway through the mission, someone broadcasts across the IMF frequency, alerting the Russians to Hunt's team. Although Hunt, Dunn, and Carter escape; a bomb destroys the Kremlin, and Russian agent Sidirov accuses Hunt of masterminding the attack.
The IMF extracts Hunt from Moscow. The Russians have called the attack an undeclared act of war, and the US president activates "Ghost Protocol", a black operation contingency that disavows the entire IMF. Hunt and his team are to take the blame for the attack, but they will be allowed to escape from government custody so that they may track down Cobalt. Before Hunt can escape, the IMF's secretary is killed by Russian security forces led by Sidirov, leaving Hunt and intelligence analyst William Brandt to find their own way out. The team identifies Cobalt as Kurt Hendricks, a Swedish-born Russian nuclear strategist who believes the weak must die for the strong to survive, so he plans to start a nuclear war to initiate the next stage of human evolution. Hendricks bombed the Kremlin in order to retrieve a Russian nuclear launch-control device, however he now needs the activation codes from the Budapest courier in order to launch a nuclear missile at America.
The exchange between Moreau and Hendricks's right-hand man, Wistrom, is due to take place at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. There, Hunt's team-members separately convince Moreau and Wistrom that they have made the exchange with one another. However, Moreau identifies Brandt as an agent. While Hunt chases Wistrom—only to realize that Wistrom is actually Hendricks in disguise, escaping with the codes—Carter detains Moreau. Moreau attempts to kill the inexperienced Dunn, and Carter throws her out a window to her death. Brandt accuses Carter of compromising the mission for revenge against Moreau, but Hunt accuses Brandt of keeping secrets from them, as he has displayed fighting skills atypical of an analyst. While Hunt seeks more information from Bogdan, Brandt admits he was assigned as security detail to Hunt and his wife Julia. While Brandt was on patrol, Julia was killed by a Serbian hit squad, prompting Ethan to pursue and kill them before he was caught by the Russians and to prison.
Bogdan and his arms-dealer cousin inform Hunt that Hendricks will be in Mumbai. Hendricks facilitated the sale of a defunct Soviet military satellite to Indian telecommunications entrepreneur Brij Nath, which could be used to transmit the order to fire a missile. While Brandt and Dunn infiltrate the server room to deactivate the satellite, Carter gets Nath to reveal the satellite override code. But Hendricks has anticipated Hunt's plan and turns off Nath's servers before sending a signal from a television broadcasting tower to a Russian nuclear submarine in the Pacific to fire at San Francisco. Hunt pursues Hendricks and the launch device while the other team-members attempt to bring the broadcast station back online. Hunt and Hendricks fight over the launch-control device before Hendricks jumps to his death with it to ensure the launch. Dunn kills Wistrom, allowing Brandt to restore power to the station and enabling Hunt to deactivate the missile. Hunt is then confronted by Sidirov, who sees Hunt has stopped the missile, proving the IMF is innocent in the Kremlin bombing.
The team reconvenes weeks later in Seattle. Hunt introduces the team to longtime colleague Luther Stickell, and then issues them new assignments. Dunn and Carter accept, but Brandt refuses to accept the mission. Hunt reveals Julia's death was staged, as he knew he could not protect her, and used her death as a pretext to infiltrate the prison and get close to Bogdan, an IMF source on Hendricks. Relieved of guilt, Brandt accepts his mission while Hunt watches Julia from afar. They share a smile before he embarks on his next mission.
(from Wikipedia)

Σάββατο 19 Νοεμβρίου 2011

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves!

Robin of Locksley (Costner), an English nobleman who joined King
Richard the Lionheart in the Third Crusade, is imprisoned in Jerusalem
along with his comrade Peter. Robin escapes, saving the life of a Moor
named Azeem (Freeman) in the process, but Peter dies while escaping and
has Robin swear to protect his sister Marian (Mastrantonio). Robin
returns to England with Azeem, who has vowed to accompany him until the
debt of saving his life is repaid.
In England, with King Richard still away, the cruel Sheriff of
Nottingham (Rickman) rules over the land, aided by his cousin Guy of
Gisbourne (Michael Wincott), along with the witch Mortianna (Geraldine
McEwan) and the corrupt Bishop of Hereford (Harold Innocent). At
Locksley Castle, Robin's father (Brian Blessed) is killed by the
Sheriff's men after refusing to join them.
Robin returns to England to find his father dead, his home in ruins,
and the Sheriff and his men oppressing the people. While fleeing the
Sheriff's forces, Robin and Azeem encounter a band of outlaws hiding in
Sherwood Forest, led by Little John (Nick Brimble). Among the band is
Will Scarlet (Slater), who holds a belligerent grudge against Robin and
does not hesitate to show Robin his true feelings. Robin ultimately
assumes command of the group, encourages his men to fight against
Nottingham, and trains them to defend themselves. They rob English
soldiers and convoys that pass through the forest, then distribute the
stolen wealth among the poor. One of their early targets is Friar Tuck
(Michael McShane), who subsequently joins these Merry Men. Robin’s
successes infuriate the Sheriff, who increases the maltreatment of the
people, resulting in more support for Robin Hood.
Hiring Celtic warriors from Scotland to bolster his forces, the Sheriff
manages to locate the outlaws' hideout and launches an attack,
destroying the forest refuge. He confines Marian when she tries to
summon help from France. The Sheriff proposes to Marian, claiming that
if she accepts, he will spare the lives of the captured outlaws.
Nevertheless, several of the rebels are due to be executed by hanging
as part of the wedding celebration. Among the captured is Will
Scarlett, whom seemingly makes a deal with Sheriff to find and kill
Robin in order to be set free.
Will meets back with Robin and a handful of his most trusted aides who
survived the assault by the Celts. Instead of attacking Robin, Will
informs him of the Sheriff's plans to marry Marion and execute Robin's
men. Will still continues to take out his anger against Robin, to which
Robin then questions Will as to why he hates him so much. Will then
reveals himself to be Robin's younger illegitimate half-brother, Will's
mother being a peasant woman with whom Robin's father took comfort with
after his mother died. However Robin's anger toward his father caused
him to separate from her and leave Will fatherless. Despite Robin's
anger toward his father for being with another woman, he is overjoyed
to learn that he has a brother and embraces Will.
On the day of the wedding and hangings, Robin and his men storm
Nottingham Castle, freeing the prisoners. Originally planning to free
their friends and retreat, Azeem reveals himself and his willingness to
fight the Sheriff, turning the peasants to revolt. Robin kills the
Sheriff but is attacked by Mortianna, who charges with a spear. Azeem
slays Mortianna, fulfilling his vow to repay his life debt to Robin.
Robin and Marian profess their love for each other and marry in the
forest. Their wedding is briefly interrupted by the return of King
Richard (Sean Connery), who blesses the marriage and thanks Robin for
his deeds.
(from Wikipedia)