SophomoreSlump Reviews

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)

A world so strange as strange can be...

[8/10 · 5 January 2010]

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus tells the story of the immortal Dr Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) and his magical Imaginarium, a travelling show in which a volunteer from the audience gets to experience their greatest need in vivid forms and then has to choose between two paths. Choose correctly and you will be enlightened, choose wrongly and things won't be so good for you. Dr Parnassus however has a very dark secret; he once made a bet with Mr Nick the Devil (Tom Waits), in which he won immortality. Centuries later, he decided to trade his immortality with youth when he met his one true love, on the condition that his daughter Valentina (Lily Cole) belongs to Mr Nick when she reaches 16. The daughter is now reaching that consenting age, and Mr Nick comes to collect but Dr Parnassus is not about to let go. However, being the devil that he is, Mr Nick renewed the wager: Whoever entices the first 5 souls wins Valentina.

Enter Tony (the late Heath Ledger), a mysterious man found hanging under a bridge by the Imaginarium crews and was revived by Anton (Andrew Garfield) to join the show and eventually make it successful. However, there's something about Tony that makes Parnassus' loyal friend Percy (Verne Troyer) uneasy. Tony's shady backgrounds and friendship with Valetina also make the jealous Percy more anxious. Dr Parnassus on the other hand is happy with Tony and he promises his daughter's hand in marriage to whoever that helps him win the bet. A race against time and choices of morality ensues in the wonderland that is the Imaginarium.

Terry Gilliam directed this painting of a movie wonderfully with timing and pace coherently controlled. He gives us not just a great story but a whole world so outstandingly created with visual effect and cinematography that might leave you wondering where you are at the end of the movie and where you were during it. The Imaginarium, with its doorway made of simple foil sheets, is filled with random worlds produced by people's mind which is so vivid and mysterious and weird. This whole film is weird. But in a good way.

What most might notice is the fact that the script and dialogues flow and form so smoothly and realistically that it is like watching real people in real situation. Heath Ledger did improvise some of his line and that fact alone proves how great of an actor he is. Although you might find his acting a bit similar to last year's most famous villain, The Joker in The Dark Knight (2008) which, of course, he himself played. His acting is believable, since he is an Australian playing British. Then there are Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell, each playing the different version of Tony when he enters the Imaginarium. The three actors played that one role so well that they disappeared into Heath Ledger's character so effectively that you are seeing a man whose face had changed and not a change in the person himself.

But of course, this is not a story about Tony but Dr Parnassus (as in the title). Christopher Plummer did well playing a failing, sometimes drunken, side-show immortal and he provided enough mystical quality for the character. There are also several flashback scenes of a younger Parnassus also played by him. Tom Waits, played the Devil brilliantly with his growly voice and dark demeanour. Lily Cole proved that she can show real raw emotion in some scenes. Verne Troyer plays a lovable Percy, equipped with fast witty comments and wise words. And Andrew Garfield plays the distress young man, Anton.

The score is great. Nothing ground-breaking but the music disappears and becomes a part of the scene. A great touch is when whenever Mr Nick appears, the score changes to something jazzy or bluesy.

The storyline itself is something to be loved and the twist and turns of the plot is something to be admired. It's one thing people might not expect from a CGI-laden movie. But the story will grip you and make you captivated that you will sit through the 120 minutes just to see how it ends. The writers Terry Gilliam and Charles McKeown deserve an applause for handling such complicated story so well.

It is basically a story about a father protecting his daughter. But what makes it unique is the fact that is it layered with metaphors and references about religion, the battle between good and evil, choices people made, impression people put up and morality behind each of our action.

Not many people will like this movie simply because of its strange nature. The storyline itself is quiet confusing and its combination with the weird graphic of the Imaginarium world does not help at all. Some parts need a second viewing which I'm sure will be a rewarding watch. But if you understand it, I expect you will love The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Better than expected!

[8/10 · 30 December 2009]

Well, some might expect this to be nothing more than just an action movie with silly dialogues thrown around. Well, it's more than that. It's smart, beautiful and what's more, it stays true to the original source.

The good: The acting. It was top-notch. As seen from the cast list, you can expect nothing less. Robert Downey Jr was amazing playing a British detective. And Jude Law, a gentleman doctor. These two make a great team. There's chemistry between them. They leave us wanting more.

The visuals. Really did not expect this movie to be layered with CGI. But it was good and realistic. Very beautiful to say the least.

The storyline. It was very engaging. See, you already know who the bad guy is. What keeps you guessing is how he did the crimes...

The score and soundrack. Very fitting, to what's happening on screen as well as to what year it was.

The action sequence. Boldly done. Very eye-catching. And with Holmes' narration on what he'll be doing when he attacks the person makes the action scene more 'smart'.

The bad: Well, the mumbling doesn't help people to understand what is being said. And the whole mystery can be quite confusing.

Overall: A nice movie for those who are seeking adventure and just wants to have fun doing it!

Zombieland (2009)

The Most Fun Movie Experience Ever!

[10/10 · 30 December 2009]

This movie has everything. It's funny, horrifying, romantic and filled with smart-ass witty dialogues/situations.

I walked into the cinema expecting another teen-horror movie. What I got was a masterpiece. Here's in a nutshell...

The Good: The dialogues. It's witty, it's realistic.

The storyline. It actually goes deeper than just smacking zombie heads. You will actually get to know the character and love them. Every one of them has a back-story, reasons why they're fighting zombies and why they're trying to survive this wasteland.

The whole concept of the movie. I really love the whole 'Rules' thing. What you need to do to survive this apocalypse. And I love it even more the fact that the 'Rule' pops up on screen each time it is being applied. That makes the movie fun and helps it become funnier.

The horror....!!! It was shocking, terrifying and just plain scary. The zombies caught you when you least expects it. Great fun!

The bad: Well...hmm...

Overall: This movie is a must-see for all fans of comedy, horror, romance and adventure movie or just plain ole movie-loving movie-goers out there.

Avatar (2009)

The Best Cinematic Experience of the Year!

[8/10 · 30 December 2009]

Do I even have to tell you how awesome this movie is? In a nutshell...

The Good:

The visuals, the graphic, what you see on screen. James Cameron literally built his own new world, shot on it, then release the movie for us to see. That's how real it felt. And to think that I only saw it in 2-D. Imagine seeing it in 3-D if you haven't.

The acting was phenomenal. The reason is because the actors actually acted the whole movie before it is layered with those photo-realistic imagery. Zoe Saldana really captures the audience with how 'real' she was on screen. Her emotion, her movement and even her voice can tell you how her character is feeling.

The others are good too. Nothing less that can be expected from a James Cameron movie. Sam Worthington proves to us that he is the next big thing as he can play any character as he is transformed from a crippled to a warrior. And Sigourney Weaver's back!

The bad:

Well, to be honest, the movie is not exactly original. In fact, it's also predictable. But that what makes it fun! It's the type of movie that you watch to relax and have a good time. And to think about it, this movie was written ages ago before James Cameron dusted it for filming. So technically, at the time, it was quite original.

Overall: You should see it. You don't need anybody to tell you to see it. If you haven't, then there's something wrong with you.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)

Better not to have high expectation.

[6/10 · 30 December 2009]

I've never read the novel New Moon so I went to the cinemas with no expectation whatsoever than what I seen in the trailer. So here's in a nutshell.

The Good: The acting is actually better than what most reviewers said. Kristen Stewart did a great job playing a depressed Bella who just got out of a relationship. She really captures the emotion of only someone who has experienced that can know. The only person who is better than her was Dakota Fanning, playing the vampire Jane. She only gets a few minutes of screen time but it was enough to convince me how evil her character is and how good Dakota is.

Next, the CGI was a bit early millennium. But it was adequate.

The storyline itself was engaging. And the whole story was kept well-paced.

The bad: What makes the movie not as good as what the audience expected is because it lost its original formula from Catherine Hardwicke's Twilight. There were less chemistry between the actors. The directing and editing could've been better. It's just the entire atmosphere of the movie seems 'not right'.

Overall: New Moon is a great movie if you haven't yet read the book. If you have, then you might be disappointed.

District 9 (2009)

An Original and Powerful Movie with a Message

[9/10 · 17 August 2009]

Every not-so-often comes a movie that is disturbing and holds such a powerful message that it will definitely leave an impression on you. Whether you enjoyed it or not, it will certainly cling onto you. District 9 is original, realistic, and powerful and it definitely delivers the message.

District 9 tells the story of what happened when a malnourished and weakened alien race is stranded on Earth. Our people give them a place to stay, yet, like any normal human, we fear and hate them. Thus 'racism' is the main subject even after two decades since the aliens landed.

As the story goes, Wikus, an MNU (Multi-National United)agent, is sent to evict these 'prawns' to a new place  or rather, a concentration camp  where they can no longer make human feel uneasy. But during the eviction notification process, conflicts arise and Wikus is accidentally exposed to a biofuel that slowly turns him into the 'prawns'. He then experiences what it feels like to be surrounded by people that hate him.

The movie is way more realistic that  in its own term.

It's told in the form of a documentary, using snippets of 'real and raw' footage of when the alien first came, interviews with people, and also hand-held and even security camera all put together into one beautiful piece of work. The second half however is shown in a clean and edited movie picture. It is so well done that you won't even notice the shift in the story-telling process.

The acting are top-notch and not to mention that the movie is made by a first-time big-budget movie director with a cast of unknowns.

But enough of that.

What I love the most about the movie is that the 'prawns' are depicted not as aliens but as a minority race living on Earth. People hate them. We run tests of them. Abuse and even kill them. Racism and intolerance is a bad thing. And through Wikus we will feel how it's like to be hated. For example, in one powerful scene, Wikus is forced to kill a prawn. He hesitates and was electrocuted.

I won't say any more. You have to see it for yourself and really catch that message it's trying to deliver.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

Do not underestimate it!

[8/10 · 15 August 2009]

After Transformer: Revenge of the Fallen, most people weren't getting their hopes high for GI Joe. It wasn't even screened for critics fearing that they might and will bash it. However, do NOT underestimate GI Joe because it is something completely different.

First, the storyline itself is 'smart' for this type of adrenaline-filled action movie. It is one long storyline that starts at the middle, then goes back to the beginning with the efficient uses of flashbacks and it finishes off with all the questions answered at the end. This way, you'll keep guessing throughout and the twist is also great – if you haven't read the spoilers, that is. I also love the fact that most of the characters have their own backstories and some even intertwine. The characters show development and are lovable, even the bad guys like Baroness and Storm Shadow.

Next, the action and visual effect is really fun to watch. The editing is neat and camera angles are superb. Some scenes might not be as realistic as others but that is okay because it makes the movie looks like a real live-action cartoon. There's plenty of choreographed hand-to-hand and sword fights, shoot-outs and an awesome car chase scene where the Joes are trying to stop the Baroness from destroying the Eiffel Tower – and the Joes are not even in a car.

The acting, honestly, is nowhere near Oscar-worthy. It's cheesy and awkward most of the time. But it fits because it gives the movie a B-movie feel to it. Super-evil villains trying to take over the world, a great leader, a wise-crack, add in some philosophical lines, silly one-liners and scientific jargon nonsense and it will spell 'Fun'! However, the movie contains a lot of flaws. I mean, sinking ice? What? But you have to remember that this movie is based on a toy franchise, and a cartoon and comic series whose sole purpose is to sell those toys. So it could easily be forgiven.

All in all, if you're seeking a fun, action-spiked, filled with testosterone movie that you just want to watch, laugh, be awed by the visual and just want to turn your brain off, relax and enjoy, then GI Joe is just the thing.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

A Beautiful Epitome of a True Summer Movie

[9/10 · 18 July 2009]

Mixing several genres such as comedy, horror, romance, action adventure and even a bit of a detective story, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a thrilling summer movie.

In this sixth instalment of the Harry Potter series, Harry begins his sixth year at Hogwarts knowing that the world is now in serious threat because the Dark Lord Voldemort and his fellow Death Eaters are on the loose, causing havoc, death and destruction to the wizarding and the muggle world. He then finds an old potion book mysteriously marked "This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince" and, with Dumbledore's help, begins to uncover Lord Voldemort's dark history.

First and foremost, this is undeniably the most gorgeous-looking movie this year. Thanks to the graceful directing of director David Yates and the genius of the director of photography, newcomer Bruno Delbonnel, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince gives us an outstanding visual effect and cinematography. With much control of the CGI and special effect, David Yates provide us a whole exceptionally new atmospheric world using bigger set pieces that actually help the flow of the movie without really showing too much that it was edited by computers and thus making it a total eye-candy. And Nicholas Hooper's score, consisting of orchestra and choir, really complements the movie and give each scene more emotion and a sense of nostalgia with the hint of the memorable sounds from Order of the Phoenix but amazingly enough, using only slight traces of the original scores by John Williams.

Next, we can definitely see that the three main actors had grown up, not only physically but emotionally and also in the sense of acting skills. The story has to follow JK Rowling's increasingly mature and darker books, and so have the actors. The sense of longing and raging hormones, plus the tense feeling towards danger and death makes this a more adult movie in the Harry Potter series thus far. But the PG rating seems fair. In The Goblet of Fire, Cedric Diggory's death was shocking, but in The Half-Blood Prince, Voldemort is at full power, making us feel the constant presence of danger and evil and that anyone on screen could die at any moment (but don't fret; body count: 1).

But the thing is, this movie does not only deal with the three actors like the films before it. They are a few outstanding performances. One, by the amazing Tom Felton (who plays Draco Malfoy) who shows true emotion and sadness in what he was forced to do. And then there's Jim Broadbent (who plays the new Prof. Slughorn) who could actually received an Oscar Buzz for 'Best Supporting Actor'. He plays the old yet loved professor effortlessly and did the best with his time on screen without having to overpower or drown the other actors around him. He's just natural.

As for the action: yes, some action scenes were omitted from the movie, but those that were left behind are astoundingly thrilling. The most outstanding and chilling sequence is the cave scene where Harry and Dumbledore penetrate Voldemort's secret. It's layered with horror and sadness and not to mention top notch special effect. The extra 7-month post production did the movie good! And despite its long running time, over 2 hours 30 minutes, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince seems adequate as David Yates pushes the movie to a cracking pace and some of us might even crave for more. But after entering the first two hours, you might already forget about the titular Half-Blood Prince. The mystery is gone and drowned by some needless fillers (hint: too much romance is never good). The storyline itself missed some key points that made the book such a masterpiece. If you see this movie as an adaptation, then, yeah, it's not good. But as a movie on its own, then Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a beautiful epitome of a true summer movie. Epic is definitely the word for it.

Public Enemies (2009)

An epic story told in a slow pace.

[7/10 · 11 July 2009]

Public Enemies tells the story of John Dillinger, the 1930's public enemy number one and how the Feds tried to take him down along with his friends. Or better yet, it just tells the story of how Dillinger was taken down. The story didn't start at the beginning nor did it tells us about John Dillinger, it just skipped to the middle of his 'career' and showed us how he escaped from prison and went on a bank-robbery-spree. So, in a way, the story was not in depth and, of course, it didn't really follow the real history with some changes made. But the storyline is gripping nonetheless.

The acting is brilliant. You can expect nothing less from the casts of Johnny Depp, who played public enemy number one convincingly; Christian Bale, who is obsessed to take Dillinger down; and of course the lovely Marion Cotillard, who played Dillinger's girlfriends. Cotillard however didn't get a very long screen time but she used every second of it to give us her best, and one of the best stand out scene is the interrogation scene.

The movie is shot with a shaky "hand-held" camera. It feels like we are chasing the action as it happens. And the tone of the movie is bright making it look like a documentary without the use of CGI or such. Everything about this movie looks realistic from the costumes to the buildings and cars in the background.

The soundtrack really fits the movie and I love the shooting scene, which most of the time is just silence with only gunshot ringing in the theatre hall. The gunshot sounds realistic and not surprising coming from Michael Mann, the director of Heat (1995).

All in all, Public Enemies is not for everyone and the 140 minutes long run does not help either. But if you want realistic drama and sweet shooting scene, plus great acting from a cast of brilliant actors and maybe a light history lesson, then this movie is for you.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

There's NO way to write an UNBIASED review for this movie.

[3/10 · 11 July 2009]

I want to do justice for the franchise. So I will now write a non-biased review. But really, I can't see that happening.

So how about this? If you see it as a usual type of movie, of course, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is an epic fail. There were no character development. The storyline – I won't even call it rushed – was a mess! So much plot holes that you can shove Optimus Prime in them and back again. There was too many missed opportunity for a better plot such as the "Sam-as-a-fugitive" storyline which could've been more in depth or even "Jetfire, the old Decepticon turned good" deserves a better story than that. And a lot of WTF moments. And one more thing, I remember the filmmaker saying that they had to write in Shia LaBeouf's hand injury -- that was also one of the WTF moments.

But the only way to write a good review for this movie is that you have to see it as a "Michael Bay type" movie. Then this is the best movie ever made. His best effort yet. There were plenty of explosions that your ears could go numb, slow-motion sequences that most probably made up half an hour of the movie, and some more explosions! There are also random Transformers running around that you won't even know who is fighting what.

I don't think anyone is capable of making a better "Michael Bay type" movie than this. Heck, I don't even think Bay himself can top this.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)

Just another Hollywood big-budget sequel.

[6/10 · 5 July 2009]

The reason why I went to watch this is because the first one was such a good family movie. It has humour, suspense, slight action and in depth plot and twist.

The sequel unfortunately is far from that. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is about Larry Daley who has a better job since the first movie and has now moved on to a different life. Little did he knows that his friends at the Museum of Natural History are about to be shipped and stored at the famous Smithsonian Institute. Long story short, he now has to save little Jedediah and Octavius from a pharaoh who is trying to take over the world. Sounds weird. Because it is. It feels like the writers were out of ideas.

So what they do was they throw in a hell lot of characters including Kahmunrah, a crazy pharaoh who is trying to take over the world, Albert Einstein, Abe Lincoln and even Darth Vader.

The story seemed rush and some parts didn't make sense. For example, why did Kahmunrah, the threatens to suffocate Jedediah in an hour-glass when Jedediah is just a little statue who will most probably come back to life the night after even if he 'died' today.

But negativity aside, I have to say that the actor that really stood out was Hank Azaria, playing the villain Kahmunrah. He was loud and funny and not to mention he even voiced Abe Lincoln and The Thinker. Ben Stiller is just his usual self. And Amy Adams was fun and very adorable as the female pilot Amelia Earhart, but the gung-ho attitude gets old pretty fast.

The special effect and the score of the movie were okay. Not too good, not too bad.

Overall, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is just another Hollywood big-budget movie that has a massive room for improvement and really could've done so much better.

Drag Me to Hell (2009)

Sam Raimi brings back the Horror Genre!

[9/10 · 12 June 2009]

Drag Me to Hell tells a story of a loan officer Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) who "has a good job, a great boyfriend, and a bright future" as the tagline said. But one day, she had to order an eviction of an old woman, Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) from her house. After failing to convince Christine for an extension, the old lady cursed her and Christine finds herself being haunted by supernatural powers and her life is now a living hell. Desperate, she finds a seer and will try anything to save herself from being dragged to hell.

The thing about this movie is that we know what's going to happen in the end. Hence, the title. But the journey to get there was the real deal.

The soundtrack and camera angles really complement each other. We barely get to see the demon pursuing Christine, but we could feel the intensity. The jump scenes (the scary shocking scenes) are so effective; it gets you every time like a buzzer placed on your sit, unlike in recent Hollywood horror movies. The special effect was good, and the cinematography and atmosphere of the movie was perfect.

Of all the actors, Justin Long, playing Christine's boyfriend Clay, was the standout. His reactions and especially towards the ending were priceless. The others were mediocre. But in a good way. It reminds me of the fun horror B-movies from the 80's or so.

Drag Me to Hell is horror plus fun with a dash of comedy in its purest form. I had the most intense movie experience of my life. It is definitely a classic. I recommend it. And you HAVE to watch this in theatre to get the full experience.

The Brothers Bloom (2008)

The Feel Good Movie of the Year

[10/10 · 12 June 2009]

The Brothers Bloom tells the story of two orphan siblings that grew up conning people and often with the assistant of the silent Bang Bang, their muscleman in the scheme. One day, the little brother, Bloom wants to quit and have a normal life. But the big brother, Stephen, offers him one last con and then he'd be free to live his life. The plan was simple. They were to con a beautiful and eccentric heiress by giving her the time of her life, while sucking her money on the way. But there's a problem: Bloom fell in love with her.

The story is simple and very effective. It feels like a movie from the 40's or 50's. It's one of those feel good movies that'll make you smile throughout the movie and make you sigh and smile some more when it ends. The storyline is also laced with twists and turns that will shock you and keep you guessing until the end.

The characters are so lovable and often funny. The acting is top-notch and even Oscar-worthy I might add. The star of the movie, I've to say, is Rachel Weisz playing the eccentric heiress Penelope. She really captures the souls of the audience and makes us fall in love with her character. Mark Ruffalo did a great job playing Stephen, a slick con man, like he's been doing it for years. Adrian Brody really shows us a different side of him by playing the little brother Bloom who gets slightly controlled by his brother and always does what he's told. Another star of the movie is Rinko Kikuchi playing the silent Bang Bang without any dialogue save for one profanity and a karaoke scene.

The cinematography is very beautiful. It transports you into a different world, in a way.

I am shocked that this movie did not get the hype that it deserves. But if you would like to watch a movie that will make you feel happy and good, then this movie is for you. You can follow the crowd and watch a blockbuster movie, but watch this if you want true quality.

Terminator Salvation (2009)

Epic visual cinematography, but the rest falls apart.

[8/10 · 1 June 2009]

Let's keep it simple: For fans of Terminator, you might find it disappointing. But for the rest, this movie is the one to watch.

The movie focuses on Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a death row inmate, who is convinced by Dr. Kogan (Helena Carter) to donate his body for an experiment, and then finds himself in a devastated future. He then comes across a teenager Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin) and a little girl named Star (Jadagrace). The three of them avoid danger and certain death on a journey to find the future leader of the Resistance to the machines, the legendary character we all know from the past Terminator movies, John Connor (Christian Bale). John Connor, with the help of his wife Kate (Bryce Howard), on the other hand, is busy trying to stop Skynet with a new found sound wave that could "off" machines and also trying to convince the command of the Resistance not to bomb Skynet because there are still human prisoners there.

The storyline sounds interesting enough, yet there is no depth to it. It's the total opposite of what the first two movies were all about. There are little development for the characters and the ending seems rushed. The first half of the movie is very promising, but the rest just says "Hollywood".

The acting is a very good aspect of the movie though. Sam Worthington stole the spotlight from the rest. Seeming as an unknown actor, he works well being a confused person who was reborn into the future. We could feel his pain and suffering in some scenes. And with James Cameron's Avatar coming up, I see a bright future for Worthington. The rest of the cast were just good enough. Anton Yelchin has convincingly played a young Kyle Reese. He had probably watched and rewatched The Terminator (1984). Christian Bale really needs to drink some water and put off his Batman voice, while Helena Bonham Carter and Bryce Howard did not get enough screen time.

What really saves this movie is the visual aspect. The CGI effect is marvellous and epic. We get to see a post-apocalyptic world, with a tone down colour that really gives a sombre atmosphere. And then the jets, weaponry and the submarine of the Resistance. And, of course, the terminators look so realistic. The action sequences were way above any summer movies this year.

To conclude, if you're a die-hard Terminator fan, stay away from this movie – far away! – or give it a chance. But if you're just a casual fan and wants to know what happens next, or an action movie fan, or just a casual movie-goer out for a bit of summer action fun, then Terminator Salvation is perfect for you.

I Love You, Man (2009)

A new take on the 'bromance' genre.

[9/10 · 24 May 2009]

I Love You, Man is a whole new take on the "bromance" genre. It shows the 'love' between two men and how they build it up. Before anyone shouts 'Brokeback Mountain', here's the deal: I Love You, Man is about what happens when a ladies man turn out to have no close male friends at all and have to befriend a very testosteroned-up guy just so he could have a best man at his wedding. The movie also shows how he tries out with a few different guys (even a homosexual man, by mistake) before he finally found his true friend.

Sounds simple enough. But what really made this movie was not the plot but the realistic dialogues, the funny intended awkward silences throughout and the whole concept of it.

The writers and filmmakers did a great job bringing us a not-so-usual romance movie laced with good acting and unfamiliar soundtracks. It doesn't have anything you might expect from a usual Hollywood movie (I'm not going to spoil anything, but I'm sure you get it).

Funny man Jason Segel (Peter's new friend, Sydney Fife) did a great job. So did Rashida Jones (Peter's fiancé), Andy Samberg (Peter's gay brother) and the other cast members. But the star of the movie is, obviously, Paul Rudd. He plays Peter Klaven, a nice ladies man, who don't usually drink, who don't really hang out with dudes, and just not good with socializing. He can't even make up nicknames.

The jokes are pretty grossed out type (not those 'smart' ones). Some might love it, some may not. But all of them are mildly-amusing, so the movie really doesn't have any dull moments for you to worry bout.

All in all, it's a perfect comedy for anyone who just wants to "chillax" or just hang out with friends or significant others.

Angels & Demons (2009)

Effective for those who have yet to read the novel.

[8/10 · 18 May 2009]

I know there has been a lot complaint about the changes done in the movie; from the twist ending even to the storyline. But as a person who hasn't read the novel, I find the movie as a very effective thriller. The storyline is very complicated yet interesting. The suspense is intense. I love the twist ending. The acting, though not Oscar-worthy, is anything you might expect for a summer movie. The editing is done very well. And the special effect is marvelous. The movie itself is such an eye-candy (it's like a tourism video of Rome). And the movie seems to be like a visualization of a novel. Watching it feels like you're reading a book.

Angels & Demons is a sure movie for anyone who wants a bit of suspense, intensity and mystery and also for those who like thought-provoking stories.

Recommended.

Star Trek (2009)

Phenomenal!

[10/10 · 10 May 2009]

Director JJ Abrams has outdone himself this time with this new Star Trek reboot/prequel. It simply tells the story of the early days of Captain Kirk and Mr Spock from the Star Trek we all know and love. But the difference between this and the original TV series and movies is that this Star Trek has the privilege of special effect visualization.

The visual effect is astounding! JJ Abrams managed to create something as massive as a planet and the USS Enterprise look so real. It is like we are there. To add to the realism, there are creative uses of lens flare (those lights that are reflected at the screen throughout the movie) that makes it look like the camera is actually out there filming the scenario.

The soundtrack is epic. It has the combination of orchestra and choir which really complement the sequence shown.

I also like the fact that there are several silent scenes showing the outer space. One where the Romulan drilling vessel is attacking the Federation starship. The Federation starship is damaged, a silhouette of a crew member drifting in outer space with explosions and shooting still going on in the background, yet there is no sound. And when Kirk and Sulu dive from the Enterprise to enter Vulcan, there was only silence until after they enter the planet's atmosphere. Usually, a sci-fi film would ignore the fact that sound can't travel in vacuum to make a scene seem cooler. But the fact that Star Trek acknowledges this just adds more to its realism.

Regarding the acting; everyone was great. The star of this movie is, obviously, Chris Pine as James T. Kirk, showing off the character's rebellious and cocky, and ultimately, leadership side. Zachary Quinto playing the iconic Spock was logical. He may not have the same deep and commanding voice Leonard Nimoy has, but the other resemblance of characteristic is undeniable. The rest of the crew -- Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Karl Urban as McCoy, John Cho as Sulu, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, and especially Simon Pegg as the babbling Scotty -- did an appraisable job forming a team that would make Star Trek lasts throughout the ages. And of course Leonard Nimoy himself had no problem taking back the role of the original Spock.

This movie is for everyone. No matter if you're a trekkie, a film-addict or just a casual movie-goer, you will be purely entertained as I did.

The directing is superb. The editing and camera angles are sleek. The storyline and the storytelling itself is very engaging; holding your breath and grabbing your attention in the most mind-numbing sequence, Star Trek is everything a summer blockbuster should be like.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

Great Story; Poor Storytelling

[5/10 · 1 May 2009]

X-Men Origins: Wolverine tells the story of Logan a.k.a. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) who grows up as a mutant who can regenerate himself and has bone claws sheath in his hands. He kills the man who killed his father before finding out that the murderer was his real father. His brother, Victor a.k.a. Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber), ran away with him. They stick together until they're adults and fought in countless wars throughout the ages before ultimately joining a team of mutants a man named Stryker (Danny Huston) put together. This team however is not what Wolverine thought they would be and left. Six years passed, and Stryker comes up to Logan with a favour to ask because most of the team members are found dead. And that's pretty much the basic storyline.

THE GOOD: The storyline itself. This prequel and spin-off is what fans of the franchise had been waiting for. It supposedly answer the question about Wolverine origins that was brought up in X-Men 2. The acting is also a good aspect of this movie. Hugh Jackman really embraces the character Wolverine and he really unleashes his anger so powerfully that we can feel his rage. Schreiber makes a good animalistic Sabretooth that would hunt down anything he is pointed at. And Ryan Reynolds got Deadpool spot on with some witty lines and great action scene. The action sequence is another factor. The fight scenes are only a few minutes in length, but it was good while it lasted.

THE BAD: The CGI looks very cheap! It looks like they started it well (the opening credits was real art) but then fell short on money. Never had I seen Wolverine claws look so fake. The teleportation ability by Wraith (Will.i.Am) looks like something from the 80's sci-fi. What happened to the way Nightcrawler teleports in X2 (which was a CGI masterpiece)? And furthermore, just like in X-Men 3, a lot of characters are killed of pre-maturely and/or badly casted. And although I said the story itself is good, the way it is being told is not. They didn't make good use of the flashbacks, or twist or anything that will keep the suspense. None of the scenes are as dramatic as they should have been.

THE BOTTOM LINE: X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a movie that only fans should see. It's no where near X2, but good enough if you just want to know about Wolverine's past.

Fast & Furious (2009)

Same old but slightly enhanced formula.

[6/10 · 10 April 2009]

Fast & Furious, the fourth in line of the Fast and the Furious franchise, uses the same old formula that makes the first three movies good and then trimmed off the little things that make them bad.

The story kicks off with the return of some familiar faces, namely, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his band of brothers – and girlfriend, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) – in an attempt to steal some petrol, in which they succeed. But Dom is a wanted man. And being an honorable wanted man that he is, he left his friends in hope that the cops would come for him instead of them. Skip a few years later, Dom gets a call from his sister Mia (Jordana Brewster) telling him that his beloved girlfriend is murdered. And that is generally the plot of this movie: Dom's out to find the person responsible for Letty's death.

And then in come another familiar face, the undercover cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker), in a very fast and adrenaline-rushed chase scene. That is, on foot and from rooftop to rooftop. That is one of the most exciting scenes in the movie.

Brian is on a hunt for a drug-dealer, who is actually the same guy that Dom is trying to find. So they teamed up... just like old times.

Fast & Furious is really for fans only. New-comers might not understand the connection between the characters, but the story itself is quite easy to follow, with some surprising twist in the plot.

But it was a disappointment to see that some of the action sequences are done in CGI, namely the tunnel scenes. This really takes away the excitement that the first three movies offer. And also, this movie is way too serious. Instead of the cars and races, we're focused on Dom's quest for revenge which could be a drag after a while.

If you just let go of the bad dialogues and some plot holes, and probably the lack of action, Fast & Furious is actually not bad. It's still fast and still furious, and with a more matured storyline.

But if they're planning for a sequel, I suggest that they get back to the original theme of the franchise, which is racing and cars.

Knowing (2009)

Requires the suspension-of-disbelief to the max!

[8/10 · 5 April 2009]

The movies starts off with a prologue about a disturbed girl, Lucinda Embry (Lara Robinson), whose class was asked to draw pictures to be placed in a time capsule 50 years ago. She however writes down numbers on the paper instead. Then, being out of time to completely write the whole thing, she runs away and scratches the remaining number at the back of a door. This gives us a clue that this movie is probably about psychic and predicting the future. But let me tell you that it has nothing to do with any of that.

Skip 50 years later, and we meet a teacher John Koestler (Nic Cage), an agnostic son of a pastor, whose son, Caleb, goes to the same school as Lucinda. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the school, the time capsule is dug up and opened. Students from the school are given the envelope containing the pictures from the students 50 years ago. Somehow, probably by fate, John's son received Lucinda's envelope containing the numbers. Curious of what it means, John tried to find a pattern from the number and what he found are some chilling predictions of disasters that have occurred and those that have yet to occur.

John, believing that he is somehow responsible to stop this disaster, meets with Diana (Rose Byrne), the daughter of Lucinda, to find out more about her mother and try to stop it from happening. And that's the basic premise of the story.

The storyline will hook you on pretty fast. And will keep you guessing throughout.

The special effect is just tremendous and this is really no surprise coming from director Alex Proyas whose last movie was I, Robot. The highlight of the movie, I have to say, is the plane crash scene where John is caught in the middle of a traffic jam and a plane suddenly crash a few metres away and he tried to save some of the people from the crash. What's so amazing is that it is in a single continuous shot and it feels like you are a part of it. Quite frightening, too. And the last apocalyptic scene will take your breath away. It did mine.

The acting is slightly good. Keyword: Slightly. It is everything you might expect from Nic Cage. And Rose Byrne is slightly over-acting. While the rest of the cast are pretty generic. Not good, but not bad either.

The only problem with this movie is that the premise that has been set at the beginning of the story is not well-played with the ending. Quoting John Koestler, "S*** just happens." It felt like the writer had a change of mind midway through writing the story. And this might leave some viewers disappointed. Hint: Indy 4.

But this movie is for everyone. Seriously. It has the element of suspense, horror, supernatural, disaster, action (a quick chase scene), drama, scientific jargon, etc. But to fully enjoy it, we are required to use our suspension-of-disbelief to the max and just accept what's happening on screen.

Hey, this is a movie... "S*** just happens."

Dragonball Evolution (2009)

I'm Speechless...

[4/10 · 29 March 2009]

In all the interviews before the movie was released, James Wong, Justin Chatwin and even James Masters told us how much this movie will remained faithful to the manga and anime, but also with an added bonus such as the modern setting and the realism so that it looks like it is set in the real world. Thus, I had my hopes high.

Walking into the cinema, I sat down with my popcorn as the reel started to roll. A fast prologue explains that 2,000 years ago, the evil Lord Piccolo tried to destroy the world with the help of his monstrous demon, Oozaru and was only imprisoned by a brotherhood of mystics. The film then skips to present day, as young Goku spars with his grandfather. As a gift for his 18th birthday, Grandpa Gohan gives Goku a dragonball, briefly explaining that only seven of the balls exist and when they are united a dragon is summoned which can grant one perfect wish.

Okay, it still sticks to the original story. Fair enough.

But on the same day, Piccolo emerges, freed from shackles, with his lady assistant in an airship, trying to find the Dragonball. All the while, Goku is at a school party trying to woo his high school crush, Chi Chi when his grandfather is killed by Piccolo who couldn't find the Dragonball. With his last breath, Goku's grandfather tells him to find Master Roshi, who lives on a small island in the middle of town, and find the rest of the Dragonballs to save the world.

Okay, maybe some few changes. I can live with that.

Goku then went on a "Wizard of Oz"-like adventure, where he seeks the Dragonball and meets a few friends along the way. At least the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion have more characteristic and development than Bulma, Master Roshi and Yamcha.

Everything happened too fast. Goku had his training with Roshi on the way to find the Dragonball and learns the Kamehameha "theorically", because Roshi just tells him how to do it and in the final battle, he did it.

The actor that really (or, almost) lives out the character is James Masters playing Lord Piccolo. We can feel his anger and vengeful drive towards the Earth, though we still do not know why, or how he was freed. And unfortunately, he gets so little screen time that the movie-maker could have just use CGI and spare Masters from wasting his time. Chatwin was also a great actor and was a real Goku... if Goku was such a moody and one dimensional character.

But I guess what save the movie is the special effect and the storyline itself (which is from the manga; the "Demon Lord Piccolo" Saga). The special effect is really awesome (no where near Transformers or Watchmen, but still); everything looks real. From the background to the slow-motion fight scene and even the Kamehameha. And the plot was also entertaining, although it could have been done way better.

Dragonball Evolution looks like a very high-budget B-movie, or something straight to DVD or TV.

As soon as the movie ended, I was speechless.

But the there was a short scene during the credits. Stay if you want, but I know a lot of Dragonball fans would already know what it is.

Dragonball Evolution; recommended....if you have never read or watched the manga or anime and would like to just kill some time off the weekends.

Bedtime Stories (2008)

Once upon a time, Adam Sandler was in an entertaining family movie. True story...

[7/10 · 19 March 2009]

The thing about Bedtime Stories is that it is light, funny, easy to digest and all around great for the whole family.

It's just like any other Sandler's movies except this one doesn't contain any only-for-adults jokes.

It might not be the movie I'd recommend to someone who is in for something serious or something that is seriously funny, but this movie has got it all. There's comedy, slight drama and a lot of action; from cowboys to the outer space.

Great writing and great acting.

Really, there's nothing to complain. It's just a very entertaining family movie, which we don't get a lot these days.

I recommend Bedtime Stories to any Disney fans and also to anyone who'd enjoy Adam Sandler's movies, minus the sexual and dirty jokes.

Watchmen (2009)

Watchmen Explores Humanity

[9/10 · 6 March 2009]

It is the year 1985. The Doomsday Clock is set at five minutes to midnight. America is at the brink of war with the Soviet Union, and the only thing standing between them is Dr. Manhattan who has the ability to control the physics around him. At the same time, a superhero-turned-vigilante, Rorschach discovered that one of his former colleagues was murdered. He investigate the case while trying to reach his other colleagues, Nite Owl II, Silk Spectre II, Ozymandias and Dr. Manhattan, fearing that they might be next. As he gets deeper to the truth, he discovers an even more disturbing conspiracy -- linking with their past and will bring devastating consequences for the future of not only them but the entire country – that has something to do with one of them.

I went into the theatre without knowing anything about the graphic novel. And guess what? I actually enjoyed it. It was really entertaining and the entire two plus hours seems to just fly by.

What really impressed me was the coherency of the movie. It starts off with The Comedian murdered, a tense Rorschach, and some other distressed member of the Watchmen. However, as the story progresses, we are given the entire back-story of each characters as the flashbacks and the present story lines intersect with each other. A masterful storytelling.

The special effect is spectacular. It's like we're transported into another reality; a whole new world right on screen.

But this is no 'The Dark Knight' though. It is dark but it has a lot of flaws. For instance, some might say that it follows the graphic novel too directly that it seems campy at some point. Even the sound effect for the punches is so unrealistic ("Swoosh...Dup...Dush!").

What redeems this movie is the plot itself. It explores humanity. It raises questions such as: What would happen if a man is given unlimited knowledge but the most important parts of him is taken away such as his emotions and his humanity? How a woman actually forgives his attacker in an attempted rape and actually had an affair with him? How the people back then hated gays that they murdered a superhero for being homosexual? What would happen if a powerful man is given the choice between killing millions or let billions of people get killed? And so on. This is the kind of questions that makes watching Watchmen very interesting.

Overall, Watchmen is a very well-made movie. I recommend it for any comic book fans, action movie fans, or just any casual movie-goers. This is a must WATCH!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

A Timeless Classic about Love, Mortality and Time

[10/10 · 1 March 2009]

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is unlike any other films I've ever seen and most probably ever will. It is an absolute masterpiece and will most definitely be one of the greatest films of all time. An instant classic. It is layered with top notch acting, well-executed directing and a magical soundtrack. It explores the subject of life, love and death, the death of the ones we love, on losing and finding and how it all connects. This movie is nothing but brilliance. An epic that have left me breathless.

It is a tale of Benjamin, a man who was born old and aged in reversed, and was told from the diary read by his daughter. It is not his condition that makes him special. It is the choices that he made throughout his story. He gets to witnessed life from all angles. While he is growing younger, the people around him grow old and eventually die. He learned that in order to know how much a person meant to us, we are made to lose them. Life is not measured in minutes, but in moments. That is why he left his home, go to sea, fight in a war, find love, have a child, and in the end, start all over again.

The most curious part of the movie – for me – is its incredible attention to detail. The art of this movie is unlike anything I have seen before. It puts you directly into the period of time of what is shown on screen. Never was a movie so vastly detailed and lavishly put together as this. From the war scenes at seas, to the city during the winter, events in the cities, 1920s, 30s, 40s and so on; they will leave you speechless. Instead of just showing earlier times, we're shown historical (though with a dash of fiction) events and figures, like the WWII, President Roosevelt, some reference to Shakespeare, etc. Some of these scenes are in washed-out colours, like a footage taken straight from that time period. And especially the six "struck-by-lightning" scenes, which have no sounds, just white-and-black footage that last for about 2 seconds each. It really gives the authenticity of those moments.

Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, on the other hand, had proved themselves that they can't only play variety of characters in variety of movies, but also characters living their lives while spanning decades and decades...all while in a movie. They are both so empathetic that audience can feel what they are depicting; how they grow, matured and developed. I get to see it in less than three hours. It has got nothing to do with the directing skill or the screenplay – they're just highly skilled actors.

David Fincher used the three hours that was given to him very wisely. Not one scene seemed out-of-place or inappropriate. He directed the film so well that the graceful storytelling reflects his direction.

It will be a curious thing how this movie gets awful reviews.

It is a definite example of the most wonderful depiction of love, life and death. It will leave you astonished. Because what makes our life meaningful are not the choices we have made and not the things we have found, but instead, the opportunities that we strike even the ones we missed, and the ones we love and how they are gone. Life IS curious. And the Curious Case of Benjamin Button had thought me how to appreciate it.

P/S: One of the last scenes in the movie is the most beautiful and touching picture I have ever seen; An old woman, cradling a baby, and knowing that both of them are dying...

Burn After Reading (2008)

The Genius of the Coen Bros. -- at a lesser effort.

[7/10 · 28 February 2009]

Burn After Reading, simply said, is a story of what happens when paranoia is combined with depression, stress, and/or loneliness.

It tells of what happens when something as simple as finding a memoir of a CIA agent can be deadly when handled extremely by the CIA.

It tells a story of two very idiotic gym employees who found the memoir and want to use it to their own personal advantages (Linda, who wants her cosmetic surgery paid and Chad, who just want some rewards for finding the CIA's sh*t -- Chad: "Osbourne Cox? I thought you might be worried... about the security... of your sh*t.") Now, this movie is made out of random, meaningless plot and intersected with some more random, meaningless sub-plots.

But, somehow, the meaningless-ness of this movie is what made it genius, I'd say! It explores how normal people would react when this kind of things happened to them (I won't tell you what, you have to see it for yourself). And it is filled with dark humour.

But what stands out the most is the acting. It is a cast of big names acting stupid. Which is...good, actually...in a way. It's very confusing, to say the least. You just have to watch it.

And the star of this movie is not Clooney, but surprisingly, Pitt. He just shines throughout each scene he's in. And, not to mention, his character is very funny.

Burn After Reading -- another genius movie by the Coen Bros. -- but at a lesser effort -- recommended!