My sincere apologies to those who actually take the time to read my posts (only a couple as of now). It's been a long busy time for me, and though I have had countless movie outings since then, I did not really have the time to sit down and type an entry about it. This time, the movie would be one that people rarely would want to watch.
Genre: Horror
Rating: NC16 (Violence & Gore) *note: a little of some stuff children are not supposed to see too)
Language: Spanish with English subtitles
#tvmblog
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts
19 Nov 2008
13 Jul 2008
Movie Review by Ame (Part 2)
Moving on from the Parental Guidance category to the restricted age category, lets look at what we have in the movies showing now:
Rated NC16:
You Don't Mess With The Zohan - This is a downright hilarious movie, which if one loves the crude and sexual humor that is sprinkled throughout the entire time, this is THE movie of the year! I fell apart laughing at the character Zohan played by Adam Sandler, who slips into his character so well that you can almost feel his sincerity of "making ze hair smooth and shiny" as the Zohan would put it. A downright sexual comedy, it is only best enjoyed when one needs a good laugh and does not put much into the nonexistent plot of the storyline. In other words, entertainment value: Maximum; artistic value: Zilch. This is Adam Sandler in his natural form..
Wanted - Looking for something with blood, gore, and the frenzied excitement of action movies? Wanted, with its computer-generated special effects truly instigates my fascination. Moving off describing the dreary life of accounts manager Wesley who is basically bullied by everyone he knows, the story comes to life when Fox (Angelina Jolie) comes to his rescue in the drugstore, from Cross, a man that they claimed betrayed The Fraternity, their gang of assasins. After a series of dramatic training sessions, Wesley is trained to use what he thought was an illness but was in actual fact the special ability to move 300 times faster than the usual human to perform incredible feats. Going after Cross with single-minded determination, when Wesley finally does kill Cross, the bleak truth is revealed. (Warning: DO NOT READ ON IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE MOVIE) Cross is actually Wesley's father, and everything the fraternity has told him is one huge lie. The only reason why they bothered to train him so well was because he was the one person that Cross would never kill! When the mastermind Sloan (head of the fratinity) behind the whole ensnarement is revealed, three guesses as to what Wesley did. Although the movie starts off looking dowdy, have patience and stay on during the movie for the rising climax that would be unforgettable.
Rated M18:
Sex and the City - This is basically about the lives of four women and their lasting friendships through the roller coaster rides of their romantic relationship(s). I could not seem to find more information about the movie itself, but I was recommended to watch it by my sister, who hints strongly that the never-before-displayed-in-an-M18-movie male organ has been splashed out on the big screen! Excited and anxious (just joking) as I was to catch a glimpse of that rare phenomenon, there just was not enough time to slot in the movie in my packed schedule. However, personally, this movie trailer does not seem the least bit interesting, and I do not get the big exclamation by everyone over the release of the movie. Perhaps though, I am just clueless as to the girly world of the females out there ( I AM female, although not typically so..intepret that to what you think it means :) ). Then again, there is also that possibility that I am merely having a case of sour grapes to have missed this movie. Judge it for yourself when you grab that ticket to the movie. Don't forget to send an invitation ^^
Rated R21:
To speak about R21 movies is my greatest desire, alas, with a heavy heart I bid thee section farewell, for it is truly saddening that I have to declare that I can neither sneak in nor break the rules of the government, for I am not of age to gain entry into the glorious movies meant for only the mature adults. Hence, till one is able to gain access into these movies, one will leave this section alone for now. I am sorry for any disappointment caused.. (but of course, if you do have any R21 movies provided for my entertainment in any form, I would certainly have no objections ;) [disclaimer: this is just a joke and should not be taken seriously in any way])
Upcoming shows:
Watch out for more on this column when one comes back from a busy and hectic week to write about the blazing action raging over the fires from hell (Hellboy II: Rise of the Golden Army), the tall, dark and mysterious (notice I don't say handsome?) stranger with the bat cloak (The Dark Knight), and the dance of doom (Prom Night). Stay tuned, and hope you liked this week's review!
PS: Any shortcomings to this part 2 is met with sincere apologies from the author, Ame, for she has not had sufficient time to complete this to her satisfaction. She will do better next time!
Rated NC16:
You Don't Mess With The Zohan - This is a downright hilarious movie, which if one loves the crude and sexual humor that is sprinkled throughout the entire time, this is THE movie of the year! I fell apart laughing at the character Zohan played by Adam Sandler, who slips into his character so well that you can almost feel his sincerity of "making ze hair smooth and shiny" as the Zohan would put it. A downright sexual comedy, it is only best enjoyed when one needs a good laugh and does not put much into the nonexistent plot of the storyline. In other words, entertainment value: Maximum; artistic value: Zilch. This is Adam Sandler in his natural form..
Wanted - Looking for something with blood, gore, and the frenzied excitement of action movies? Wanted, with its computer-generated special effects truly instigates my fascination. Moving off describing the dreary life of accounts manager Wesley who is basically bullied by everyone he knows, the story comes to life when Fox (Angelina Jolie) comes to his rescue in the drugstore, from Cross, a man that they claimed betrayed The Fraternity, their gang of assasins. After a series of dramatic training sessions, Wesley is trained to use what he thought was an illness but was in actual fact the special ability to move 300 times faster than the usual human to perform incredible feats. Going after Cross with single-minded determination, when Wesley finally does kill Cross, the bleak truth is revealed. (Warning: DO NOT READ ON IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE MOVIE) Cross is actually Wesley's father, and everything the fraternity has told him is one huge lie. The only reason why they bothered to train him so well was because he was the one person that Cross would never kill! When the mastermind Sloan (head of the fratinity) behind the whole ensnarement is revealed, three guesses as to what Wesley did. Although the movie starts off looking dowdy, have patience and stay on during the movie for the rising climax that would be unforgettable.
Rated M18:
Sex and the City - This is basically about the lives of four women and their lasting friendships through the roller coaster rides of their romantic relationship(s). I could not seem to find more information about the movie itself, but I was recommended to watch it by my sister, who hints strongly that the never-before-displayed-in-an-M18-movie male organ has been splashed out on the big screen! Excited and anxious (just joking) as I was to catch a glimpse of that rare phenomenon, there just was not enough time to slot in the movie in my packed schedule. However, personally, this movie trailer does not seem the least bit interesting, and I do not get the big exclamation by everyone over the release of the movie. Perhaps though, I am just clueless as to the girly world of the females out there ( I AM female, although not typically so..intepret that to what you think it means :) ). Then again, there is also that possibility that I am merely having a case of sour grapes to have missed this movie. Judge it for yourself when you grab that ticket to the movie. Don't forget to send an invitation ^^
Rated R21:
To speak about R21 movies is my greatest desire, alas, with a heavy heart I bid thee section farewell, for it is truly saddening that I have to declare that I can neither sneak in nor break the rules of the government, for I am not of age to gain entry into the glorious movies meant for only the mature adults. Hence, till one is able to gain access into these movies, one will leave this section alone for now. I am sorry for any disappointment caused.. (but of course, if you do have any R21 movies provided for my entertainment in any form, I would certainly have no objections ;) [disclaimer: this is just a joke and should not be taken seriously in any way])
Upcoming shows:
Watch out for more on this column when one comes back from a busy and hectic week to write about the blazing action raging over the fires from hell (Hellboy II: Rise of the Golden Army), the tall, dark and mysterious (notice I don't say handsome?) stranger with the bat cloak (The Dark Knight), and the dance of doom (Prom Night). Stay tuned, and hope you liked this week's review!
PS: Any shortcomings to this part 2 is met with sincere apologies from the author, Ame, for she has not had sufficient time to complete this to her satisfaction. She will do better next time!
12 Jul 2008
Movie Review by Ame =)
Hey everyone, good to write in a blog again after who knows how long. In this blog, I will probably be only contributing towards the movie section, because I guess thats the only stuff I know. Being an avid supporter of movies, I watch at least one every week, furthermore repeating some of them!
Contrary to Vic, I will probably be providing movie reviews, mostly with a personal touch (unless I have not watched the movie before, of course), so bear in mind, everything below is just MY opinion of the movies and not as what vic does, which is, analysing it in a more factual aspect.
So here's it for my scoop of the movies showing now, and some for quite a bit now: (If you have not watched the movie and are intending to watch the movie, be warned, spoilers ahead!)
Rated G:
10 Promises to My Dog - I have not watched it, and am not planning to watch it, but this japanese movie is about a girl's journey of growing up with her dog, and the pact of understanding that they form with each other. Although the tale is said to be utmost touching, I don't really watch this genre of movies, so this is a movie you'll have to catch to judge for yourself..
Kung Fu Panda - If you're someone who loves comedies, plus love to watch CG-animated movies, go ahead and watch this goofy movie. It portrays a panda Po, who yearns to be good at kungfu despite him having a umm I- don't-know-exactly-what-animal father who believes that he is supposed to continue with the tradition of selling noodles for in his (Po's father) mind, they are noodle folk (although his great great grandfather won the noodle shop in gambling *sweat-drops*). Anyway, the story kicks off as Po is accidentally (there are no coincidences in this world - Master Turtle) chosen as the Dragon Warrior to save the Valley of Peace (the whole village of people/animals) when Master Turtle forsees the future that evil snow leopard Tai Lung will come back to rage war on the people/animals in the village. The path to being a kungfu master for Po is tedious as he is faced with prejudices and discrimination by the other kungfu masters. So go along on the ride as this fun and hilarious movie leads you to find your self confidence in the end as one realises that it isn't what additional arsenal you possess that makes you who you are, but the plain old you that makes you unique. (It was quite useless to use so many star-studded actors and actresses for this as it didnt really matter. After all, you can't see them onscreen!! But on another note, their voices did perform the job well ^^) So go on ahead and look in the mirror today to rediscover yourself!
Rated PG:
Red Cliff - Some would say that this is THE chinese movie long awaited. I would say that the hype is overblown, unless one is a Takeshi Kaneshiro or a Tony Leung fan. Nonetheless, this is a movie I will probably tag along with my friends to watch, so await the next review when I have experienced the epic action. My guess though is that the movie's plot would be too complicated for me, a complete chinese history dummy, to understand, as was the movie "Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon". Lets see how dramatic chinese history was..
Hellboy II - I have no faintest idea what the first movie was about, although I did watch it. Though I do recall that I had no appreciation for it. In contrast to Vic, I did not enjoy the movie Pan's Labyrinth and thought it was a waste of my movie money. However, that does not necessarily indicate anything. Perhaps I just don't appreciate the artistic value of the film. In any case, the movie trailer looks somewhat tempting, packed with queer creatures of another realm, hell breaking loose on earth, the good fighting evil, and the typical (my optimistic guess) good triumphs over evil ending. But whoever said that a common ending renders no good movies?
Hancock - Superhero movies never lack an audience. I believe that everyone has dreams where they can fly or do unimaginable stuff that sets them aside from the rest of society. Hence the former comment. This movie is about the forever drunk hero Hancock who seems to be a hopeless cause, according to the general public and the US government, because no matter how much lives he saves, he seems to leave a truckload of immeasureable damage behind him. When one day he happens to save a kind-hearted PR executive Ray, things take a 360 degree turn as Ray is determined to be a good samaritan and strip off the bad image of Hancock, giving him a "makeover". However, along the way, things get a little messy as Hancock falls for Ray's wife, Mary, who happens to be an angel just like him ("stronger. WAY stronger" - Mary). Technically Mary and Hancock are husband and wife, with both being like ancient beings all the way from the early BC. When they are together, their powers disappear, both becoming humans in order to enjoy the love and lifestyle of a normal human. Only when separated do their powers increase tenfold. Oh, and the reason Hancock didnt know all this? He had amnesia after a blow to his head when he tried to save the life of Mary previously. As the jumbled jigsaw falls into place, things get bloody as both almost die trying to save one another. In the end, Ray saved the day and well, got his pretty (ancient) wife back. Watch this movie only when you have money and time on your hands. If not, wait patiently for the tv premiere ^^.
The Strangers - Have resolved NOT to watch this genre, so you'll get no good reviews from me on this category, so as not to scare myself and freak out all the time every night when the sky goes dark. Storyline makes out to be a young couple facing psychological terror by a bunch of masked strangers. Sounds like a gory movie to me. Enjoy, and live to tell the tale..
Get Smart - Adapted from the popular TV series, this movie proves to be a good laugh. Cheesy lines are best delivered by Steve Carell, who brings the house down by his ability to tell a joke with a straight face. His earnesty to perform his job well touches a string in my heart, and it makes the audience want to want him to succeed. When CONTROL (the good guys) computers get hacked into and every secret agent's identity known, who else is left but Maxwell Smart, a guy who wasn't going to get the promotion to field agent because he was too good at his current job. Paired up with (in my opinion, too young) Agent 99 played by Anne Hathaway, they try their darnded best to defeat the evil KAOS (the bad guys). With an unexpected twist at the end, this movie is full of good old gadgets coupled with new surprises. A refreshing breath of air after the endless production of secret agent movies like James Bond (though I do enjoy them hehe).
Shaolin Girl - A girl (Rin) returning to Japan after training in the art of shaolin kungfu for 9 years, she finds that everything has changed, and no one seems to be interested in her passion to spread the art of shaolin kungfu. After Rin befriends a girl (Kitty Zhang) who plays lacrosse, they exchange hobbies as Rin learns lacrosse while Kitty learns shaolin kungfu. Rin is introduced to the concept of teamwork after she is shunned by the team after trying to outshine them in a friendly competition with a neighbouring school. As she puts down her selfishness and realise her mistake, she is let back into the team and they soar to greater heights. She is then spotted by the principal of the school, who happens to be someone from her dojo in the past. Apparently some power had been sealed in Rin a long time ago and she was sent to China to learn to control it, but the principal (the bad guy) is determined to unleash it. They fight, and well, it ends with a cliche, violence dispelled with compassion. For those who did not watch the movie, decipher that yourself while you cancel your reservation of tickets for the movie.
The Incredible Hulk - Compared to the first movie (which I vaguely recall as lousy and with very fake graphics), this movie is a complete surprise when i realise that this movie IS incredible!! With the enhancement in computer generated graphics, you'll have to watch this movie yourself to taste the thrilling adrenaline as the fast-paced action will leave your mouths dry. Still in love with co-scientist Betty (played by Liv Tyler, whom i think is gorgeous), Bruce (the HULK) races against time desperately to find a cure to his "disease". An accidental mistake results in the surfacing of his blood sample leading to a massive manhunt which turns his life upheaval. A soldier (Tim Roth) desperate for more power to defeat the hulk is injected with some chemical substances which makes him a superhuman in various ways. Unsatisfied, he seeks out the hulk and discovers the lab where there are countless blood samples of Bruce which was replicated by a scientist trying to help Bruce. There, he injects this blood into himself and turns into an enormous ugly creature akin to the hulk. Bruce, being kindhearted, forced himself to turn back into the Hulk to save the city from being destroyed by Tim, who has no control over his own violent streak. One has no need to guess the ending of the movie (Clue: look what i said in the review of Hancock). If you have no time to watch this movie, make the time to, for you won't want to miss it.
Thats it for G and PG movies this wk. More oncoming tomorrow: NC16, M18, R21 and new movies coming soon...
Contrary to Vic, I will probably be providing movie reviews, mostly with a personal touch (unless I have not watched the movie before, of course), so bear in mind, everything below is just MY opinion of the movies and not as what vic does, which is, analysing it in a more factual aspect.
So here's it for my scoop of the movies showing now, and some for quite a bit now: (If you have not watched the movie and are intending to watch the movie, be warned, spoilers ahead!)
Rated G:
10 Promises to My Dog - I have not watched it, and am not planning to watch it, but this japanese movie is about a girl's journey of growing up with her dog, and the pact of understanding that they form with each other. Although the tale is said to be utmost touching, I don't really watch this genre of movies, so this is a movie you'll have to catch to judge for yourself..
Kung Fu Panda - If you're someone who loves comedies, plus love to watch CG-animated movies, go ahead and watch this goofy movie. It portrays a panda Po, who yearns to be good at kungfu despite him having a umm I- don't-know-exactly-what-animal father who believes that he is supposed to continue with the tradition of selling noodles for in his (Po's father) mind, they are noodle folk (although his great great grandfather won the noodle shop in gambling *sweat-drops*). Anyway, the story kicks off as Po is accidentally (there are no coincidences in this world - Master Turtle) chosen as the Dragon Warrior to save the Valley of Peace (the whole village of people/animals) when Master Turtle forsees the future that evil snow leopard Tai Lung will come back to rage war on the people/animals in the village. The path to being a kungfu master for Po is tedious as he is faced with prejudices and discrimination by the other kungfu masters. So go along on the ride as this fun and hilarious movie leads you to find your self confidence in the end as one realises that it isn't what additional arsenal you possess that makes you who you are, but the plain old you that makes you unique. (It was quite useless to use so many star-studded actors and actresses for this as it didnt really matter. After all, you can't see them onscreen!! But on another note, their voices did perform the job well ^^) So go on ahead and look in the mirror today to rediscover yourself!
Rated PG:
Red Cliff - Some would say that this is THE chinese movie long awaited. I would say that the hype is overblown, unless one is a Takeshi Kaneshiro or a Tony Leung fan. Nonetheless, this is a movie I will probably tag along with my friends to watch, so await the next review when I have experienced the epic action. My guess though is that the movie's plot would be too complicated for me, a complete chinese history dummy, to understand, as was the movie "Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon". Lets see how dramatic chinese history was..
Hellboy II - I have no faintest idea what the first movie was about, although I did watch it. Though I do recall that I had no appreciation for it. In contrast to Vic, I did not enjoy the movie Pan's Labyrinth and thought it was a waste of my movie money. However, that does not necessarily indicate anything. Perhaps I just don't appreciate the artistic value of the film. In any case, the movie trailer looks somewhat tempting, packed with queer creatures of another realm, hell breaking loose on earth, the good fighting evil, and the typical (my optimistic guess) good triumphs over evil ending. But whoever said that a common ending renders no good movies?
Hancock - Superhero movies never lack an audience. I believe that everyone has dreams where they can fly or do unimaginable stuff that sets them aside from the rest of society. Hence the former comment. This movie is about the forever drunk hero Hancock who seems to be a hopeless cause, according to the general public and the US government, because no matter how much lives he saves, he seems to leave a truckload of immeasureable damage behind him. When one day he happens to save a kind-hearted PR executive Ray, things take a 360 degree turn as Ray is determined to be a good samaritan and strip off the bad image of Hancock, giving him a "makeover". However, along the way, things get a little messy as Hancock falls for Ray's wife, Mary, who happens to be an angel just like him ("stronger. WAY stronger" - Mary). Technically Mary and Hancock are husband and wife, with both being like ancient beings all the way from the early BC. When they are together, their powers disappear, both becoming humans in order to enjoy the love and lifestyle of a normal human. Only when separated do their powers increase tenfold. Oh, and the reason Hancock didnt know all this? He had amnesia after a blow to his head when he tried to save the life of Mary previously. As the jumbled jigsaw falls into place, things get bloody as both almost die trying to save one another. In the end, Ray saved the day and well, got his pretty (ancient) wife back. Watch this movie only when you have money and time on your hands. If not, wait patiently for the tv premiere ^^.
The Strangers - Have resolved NOT to watch this genre, so you'll get no good reviews from me on this category, so as not to scare myself and freak out all the time every night when the sky goes dark. Storyline makes out to be a young couple facing psychological terror by a bunch of masked strangers. Sounds like a gory movie to me. Enjoy, and live to tell the tale..
Get Smart - Adapted from the popular TV series, this movie proves to be a good laugh. Cheesy lines are best delivered by Steve Carell, who brings the house down by his ability to tell a joke with a straight face. His earnesty to perform his job well touches a string in my heart, and it makes the audience want to want him to succeed. When CONTROL (the good guys) computers get hacked into and every secret agent's identity known, who else is left but Maxwell Smart, a guy who wasn't going to get the promotion to field agent because he was too good at his current job. Paired up with (in my opinion, too young) Agent 99 played by Anne Hathaway, they try their darnded best to defeat the evil KAOS (the bad guys). With an unexpected twist at the end, this movie is full of good old gadgets coupled with new surprises. A refreshing breath of air after the endless production of secret agent movies like James Bond (though I do enjoy them hehe).
Shaolin Girl - A girl (Rin) returning to Japan after training in the art of shaolin kungfu for 9 years, she finds that everything has changed, and no one seems to be interested in her passion to spread the art of shaolin kungfu. After Rin befriends a girl (Kitty Zhang) who plays lacrosse, they exchange hobbies as Rin learns lacrosse while Kitty learns shaolin kungfu. Rin is introduced to the concept of teamwork after she is shunned by the team after trying to outshine them in a friendly competition with a neighbouring school. As she puts down her selfishness and realise her mistake, she is let back into the team and they soar to greater heights. She is then spotted by the principal of the school, who happens to be someone from her dojo in the past. Apparently some power had been sealed in Rin a long time ago and she was sent to China to learn to control it, but the principal (the bad guy) is determined to unleash it. They fight, and well, it ends with a cliche, violence dispelled with compassion. For those who did not watch the movie, decipher that yourself while you cancel your reservation of tickets for the movie.
The Incredible Hulk - Compared to the first movie (which I vaguely recall as lousy and with very fake graphics), this movie is a complete surprise when i realise that this movie IS incredible!! With the enhancement in computer generated graphics, you'll have to watch this movie yourself to taste the thrilling adrenaline as the fast-paced action will leave your mouths dry. Still in love with co-scientist Betty (played by Liv Tyler, whom i think is gorgeous), Bruce (the HULK) races against time desperately to find a cure to his "disease". An accidental mistake results in the surfacing of his blood sample leading to a massive manhunt which turns his life upheaval. A soldier (Tim Roth) desperate for more power to defeat the hulk is injected with some chemical substances which makes him a superhuman in various ways. Unsatisfied, he seeks out the hulk and discovers the lab where there are countless blood samples of Bruce which was replicated by a scientist trying to help Bruce. There, he injects this blood into himself and turns into an enormous ugly creature akin to the hulk. Bruce, being kindhearted, forced himself to turn back into the Hulk to save the city from being destroyed by Tim, who has no control over his own violent streak. One has no need to guess the ending of the movie (Clue: look what i said in the review of Hancock). If you have no time to watch this movie, make the time to, for you won't want to miss it.
Thats it for G and PG movies this wk. More oncoming tomorrow: NC16, M18, R21 and new movies coming soon...
5 Jul 2008
Movies - Summer 2008
Yeah, I know many good summer movies have already come and gone, but I'm gonna write this anyway, even if it is just for my own reference so that I know what to watch.
Out Now:
You Don't Mess with the Zohan - Seems crazy. In a good way. Been itching for a good comedy for quite a while. Nothing like a good laugh to forget that you're paying an exorbitant fee to watch a movie!
Get Smart - Another comedy. Steve Carell has proven himself to be quite funny on the big screens too. Pity most of my friends have already watched this :(
Driving Lessons - Quite a risky film to pick if I don't have the time and money to watch everything. But Rupert Grin (my favourite among the main Harry Potter actors) is in there, so how bad can it be?
Children of Glory - It seems all "Children of.." films are a little arty and tend to be rather interesting (Children of Men, Children of Heaven). This one sounds quite good, though a little over-dramatized.
Hancock - I don't really like most of Will Smith's films (except Men in Black and Wild Wild West), but this one adds an interesting twist to the standard superhero formula. From what I see in reviews so far, it starts off as a action comedy, and gets serious in the second half. Hmmm...
The Bank Job - I've heard good things about this movie. Not really a deep or arty film, but still very good. Anyone wanna sneak into this R21 movie with me? =P
Coming Soon:
Hellboy 2 - I didn't watch the first film, but I loved Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth. MUST WATCH
Red Cliff - The Chinese Government lent them 20000 PLA soldiers for the filming of certain battle scenes. Takashi Kaneshiro is boycotting the film for it's inaccurate portrayal of Chinese history though. John Woo is directing this effort, so expect lots of over-the-top action sequences. I just hope there won't be pistol fights.
The Dark Knight - Batman! In my opinion, the first one was the BEST superhero movie I have ever watched. Yes, much better than Spiderman, X-men, and Iron Man. And this one has Heath Ledger as The Joker! I'll rant more about superhero movies in another post... MUST WATCH
Out Now:
You Don't Mess with the Zohan - Seems crazy. In a good way. Been itching for a good comedy for quite a while. Nothing like a good laugh to forget that you're paying an exorbitant fee to watch a movie!
Get Smart - Another comedy. Steve Carell has proven himself to be quite funny on the big screens too. Pity most of my friends have already watched this :(
Driving Lessons - Quite a risky film to pick if I don't have the time and money to watch everything. But Rupert Grin (my favourite among the main Harry Potter actors) is in there, so how bad can it be?
Children of Glory - It seems all "Children of.." films are a little arty and tend to be rather interesting (Children of Men, Children of Heaven). This one sounds quite good, though a little over-dramatized.
Hancock - I don't really like most of Will Smith's films (except Men in Black and Wild Wild West), but this one adds an interesting twist to the standard superhero formula. From what I see in reviews so far, it starts off as a action comedy, and gets serious in the second half. Hmmm...
The Bank Job - I've heard good things about this movie. Not really a deep or arty film, but still very good. Anyone wanna sneak into this R21 movie with me? =P
Coming Soon:
Hellboy 2 - I didn't watch the first film, but I loved Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth. MUST WATCH
Red Cliff - The Chinese Government lent them 20000 PLA soldiers for the filming of certain battle scenes. Takashi Kaneshiro is boycotting the film for it's inaccurate portrayal of Chinese history though. John Woo is directing this effort, so expect lots of over-the-top action sequences. I just hope there won't be pistol fights.
The Dark Knight - Batman! In my opinion, the first one was the BEST superhero movie I have ever watched. Yes, much better than Spiderman, X-men, and Iron Man. And this one has Heath Ledger as The Joker! I'll rant more about superhero movies in another post... MUST WATCH
Labels:
Movies
16 Apr 2007
Cages
Cages, in case you don't know, is a film based on the popular hobby of retired coffeeshop-lurking uncles (Singing Birds) and was shot entirely in Singapore. Shooting took place in 2005 but, due to the numerous competitions it took part in, it had a limited release in Singapore in 2007.
From Wikipedia:
Tan Kheng Hua plays her role beautifully! Dickson Tan (playing the blind son of Kheng Hua's character and who is blind in real life too) simply strikes the right cords with the audience in his heart-warming role of a blind boy trying to live a normal life. The other 2 main characters, Tan and Liz, however, seem to be a little out of place. Mako, who plays Tan, is a Hollywood actor who typically plays the role of wise old Asian men. His performance here seems to be a little out of place. Same goes to Zelda Rubenstein who plays Liz the shop manager. Maybe it's because they are not Singaporean?
While Director and Writer Graham Streeter may not be Singaporean (and maybe because of that), he managed to capture Singapore on HD video like we have never seen it before. Ang Mo Kio and Tiong Bahru never looked this beautiful! One scene stood out from the rest though... As the camera pans across the rows of birdcages in a small backalley, I couldn't help but grin. :)
Rating: 4/5
A grin for those who love good cinematography, and a tear for those who love emotional, heart-warming stories.
From Wikipedia:
Cages is a 2005 film which tells the story of a single mother named Ali Tan (Tan Kheng Hua) attempt to escape repeated bad releationships which puts her before the man she resents the most- her father, Tan (Mako Iwamatsu). The truth is not always easy to face when her father reveals a dark secret 20 years past; a past that may cost a lifetime of relationship.
Tan Kheng Hua plays her role beautifully! Dickson Tan (playing the blind son of Kheng Hua's character and who is blind in real life too) simply strikes the right cords with the audience in his heart-warming role of a blind boy trying to live a normal life. The other 2 main characters, Tan and Liz, however, seem to be a little out of place. Mako, who plays Tan, is a Hollywood actor who typically plays the role of wise old Asian men. His performance here seems to be a little out of place. Same goes to Zelda Rubenstein who plays Liz the shop manager. Maybe it's because they are not Singaporean?
While Director and Writer Graham Streeter may not be Singaporean (and maybe because of that), he managed to capture Singapore on HD video like we have never seen it before. Ang Mo Kio and Tiong Bahru never looked this beautiful! One scene stood out from the rest though... As the camera pans across the rows of birdcages in a small backalley, I couldn't help but grin. :)
Rating: 4/5
A grin for those who love good cinematography, and a tear for those who love emotional, heart-warming stories.
9 Apr 2007
Remember the 300
Spartans, tonight, we dine in hell!
And dine in hell they did, as Spartan after Spartan fought till their glorious CG-fied deaths, brutally sliced apart and beheaded Madame-Tussauds-wax-figure style. The backgrounds were beautiful, the CG fluid and plentiful, the action scenes exciting and well-coordinated. The tinge of brown throughout most of the movie gave it a parchment-like feel, which I think was very appropriate. It was a visual feast! (especially for the ladies)
The story, however, feels like a tiny speck of butter spread over a huge slice of bread; its simply too thin! Too few story elements, coupled with what seemed like half the movie done in slow motion, made it kinda boring. The action sequences might be well-choreographed, but they are long and tend to be draggy (partially due to liberal use of slow motion).
For most parts, it feels exactly like how another reviewer puts it; a highly-stylised MTV.
Rating: 3/5
Watch it for the action scenes. And visuals.
Oh, btw, check out what Cheng Hong posted on his blog:
And dine in hell they did, as Spartan after Spartan fought till their glorious CG-fied deaths, brutally sliced apart and beheaded Madame-Tussauds-wax-figure style. The backgrounds were beautiful, the CG fluid and plentiful, the action scenes exciting and well-coordinated. The tinge of brown throughout most of the movie gave it a parchment-like feel, which I think was very appropriate. It was a visual feast! (especially for the ladies)
The story, however, feels like a tiny speck of butter spread over a huge slice of bread; its simply too thin! Too few story elements, coupled with what seemed like half the movie done in slow motion, made it kinda boring. The action sequences might be well-choreographed, but they are long and tend to be draggy (partially due to liberal use of slow motion).
For most parts, it feels exactly like how another reviewer puts it; a highly-stylised MTV.
Rating: 3/5
Watch it for the action scenes. And visuals.
Oh, btw, check out what Cheng Hong posted on his blog:
At the age of 18 or 19, it is customery in spartapore for the boy to be separated from his parents and thrown into a world of violence. Manufectured for over 40 years, the spartapore warrior society created the finest civilian army the world has ever known. By punishment and physical training, the boy was taught to show no fatigue, no mercy. Constantly tested, tossed into tekong, left to pit his wit and will against the jungle's fury. It was his initiation, his time in Tekong, that he will return to his people as a soldier.Hahaha! Good luck with NS Cheng Hong! I'll be joining you soon enough......
The commando mosquitos begin to circle to boy, syringe of black steel, burned as dark night, eyes glowing red, jewels from the pit of hell itself. The commando mosquitos sniffing, savouring the scent of the meal to come. Its not fear that grips him, only a heightened sense of things. The warm air in his lungs, winswept rainforest trees moves against the calming night. His hands are steady, his form perfect (squishes the mosquitos with his rifle butt). And so the boy given up for dead returns to his people to sacred spartapore a soldier! Our Soldiers!
12 Jan 2007
Pan's Labyrinth
Without the recommendation of Ivan and Cheryl, I would have missed this masterpiece. For the first time in my life, I felt that I was watching an art flick instead of a Hollywood blockbuster. This movie is definitely not for everyone, but I don't think anyone would think too badly of it either.
In this dark, grim world that director Guillermo Del Toro had crafted, Ofelia stands out as a mature young girl that still believes in fairy tales. However, as the movie progresses and we are introduced to the monstrous creatures that filled her fantasy world, this dark and depressing tale seems to be shouting in the viewers' faces "NO HAPPY ENDING". Kudos to Guillermo (of Hellboy fame) for creating such memorable creatures such as Pan the faun and the child-eating Pale Man. Perhaps the most monstrous creature of all was Captain Vidal, Ofelia's stepfather, who, in the 2nd half of the movie, seemed more like a devil. The sadistic undertone of the entire movie led me to think that this man might kill his own baby son! That's how depressing this movie is.
The movie isn't a perfect masterpiece yet though. I believe the fantasy part of the story could have been better fleshed out. It felt too much like a WoW quest (kill the Giant Toad to get a Golden Key? Use the key to retrieve a cool-looking uber-powerful Knife of Portal Opening?).
Overall, the look and feel of the movie was really good. The bluish tinge used throughout the movie (except for one scene near the end) really brought across the feeling of sadness and hopelessness. The sound and musical score were perfect too, immersing the audience as the Pale Man chased after Ofelia, ready to eat her.
Rating: 5/5
Highly recommended, except for those looking for a Harry Potter clone. Not suitable for everyone though.
In this dark, grim world that director Guillermo Del Toro had crafted, Ofelia stands out as a mature young girl that still believes in fairy tales. However, as the movie progresses and we are introduced to the monstrous creatures that filled her fantasy world, this dark and depressing tale seems to be shouting in the viewers' faces "NO HAPPY ENDING". Kudos to Guillermo (of Hellboy fame) for creating such memorable creatures such as Pan the faun and the child-eating Pale Man. Perhaps the most monstrous creature of all was Captain Vidal, Ofelia's stepfather, who, in the 2nd half of the movie, seemed more like a devil. The sadistic undertone of the entire movie led me to think that this man might kill his own baby son! That's how depressing this movie is.
The movie isn't a perfect masterpiece yet though. I believe the fantasy part of the story could have been better fleshed out. It felt too much like a WoW quest (kill the Giant Toad to get a Golden Key? Use the key to retrieve a cool-looking uber-powerful Knife of Portal Opening?).
Overall, the look and feel of the movie was really good. The bluish tinge used throughout the movie (except for one scene near the end) really brought across the feeling of sadness and hopelessness. The sound and musical score were perfect too, immersing the audience as the Pale Man chased after Ofelia, ready to eat her.
Rating: 5/5
Highly recommended, except for those looking for a Harry Potter clone. Not suitable for everyone though.
23 Dec 2006
Curse of the Book to Movie translation
Eragon sucks. Not the book. The movie.
The plot seems interesting though. But it was plagued with some cheesy dialogue and mediocre acting. I think the main fault lies with the actor playing the main character. It's hard to appreciate the scenery when you have seen it all in LotR. Being so similar to that well-known classic, it definitely welcomes people to compare between the two, and Eragon fails miserably in trying to win over LotR fans. Pity... the whole dragon plot would have been really cool during battles.
Rating: 2/5
Curse of the golden flower was simply spectacular! The visuals were stunning and the attention to details meticulous. However, this extravagant setting did not fit the well-paced cunning plot. The intricate plot kept me on the edge of my seat, thinking about who knows what and what is going to happen to who, when, and how. Jay Chou sucks at acting, but thankfully he was given really cool fight scenes. I especially love the one near the beginning of the film where he duels with his father in an armour-clashing sword fight. Overall, a good but somehow mismatched movie. Don't miss it though.
Rating: 4/5
The plot seems interesting though. But it was plagued with some cheesy dialogue and mediocre acting. I think the main fault lies with the actor playing the main character. It's hard to appreciate the scenery when you have seen it all in LotR. Being so similar to that well-known classic, it definitely welcomes people to compare between the two, and Eragon fails miserably in trying to win over LotR fans. Pity... the whole dragon plot would have been really cool during battles.
Rating: 2/5
Curse of the golden flower was simply spectacular! The visuals were stunning and the attention to details meticulous. However, this extravagant setting did not fit the well-paced cunning plot. The intricate plot kept me on the edge of my seat, thinking about who knows what and what is going to happen to who, when, and how. Jay Chou sucks at acting, but thankfully he was given really cool fight scenes. I especially love the one near the beginning of the film where he duels with his father in an armour-clashing sword fight. Overall, a good but somehow mismatched movie. Don't miss it though.
Rating: 4/5
10 Sept 2006
Recounting the dreams... (Singapore Dreaming)
Go read the movie review by movieXclusive.
Must watch!
It's one of the best movies I've seen this year and definitely the best local production so far with a PG rating. I can't help but compare Director Colin Goh's work with Jack Neo's. Colin is like... a grown up, more matured version of Jack Neo. Singapore Dreaming comes across as a completely Singaporean movie that encompasses almost everything that makes a Singaporean Singaporean. It's subtle and yet daring in its shockingly accurate portrayal of typical Singaporeans. During the scene where C.K. was talking to a Chinese girl, my friend exclaimed "Eh! His chinese sounds exactly like yours!" And I was arguing with my friend that the use of black and yellow in certain scenes were definitely not accidental.
Watch it yourself to find out what I'm talking about :)
Score: 4/5
Must watch!
It's one of the best movies I've seen this year and definitely the best local production so far with a PG rating. I can't help but compare Director Colin Goh's work with Jack Neo's. Colin is like... a grown up, more matured version of Jack Neo. Singapore Dreaming comes across as a completely Singaporean movie that encompasses almost everything that makes a Singaporean Singaporean. It's subtle and yet daring in its shockingly accurate portrayal of typical Singaporeans. During the scene where C.K. was talking to a Chinese girl, my friend exclaimed "Eh! His chinese sounds exactly like yours!" And I was arguing with my friend that the use of black and yellow in certain scenes were definitely not accidental.
Watch it yourself to find out what I'm talking about :)
Score: 4/5
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