soundvision Reviews

Prometheus (I) (2012)

So bad it made AVP look good...

[1/10 · 10 June 2012]

On paper, AVP sounded ridiculous. Dying rich industrialist hires motley crew of professionals and mercenaries to explore ancient relics. All ended up being slaughtered by an equally motley bunch of extra-terrestrials with the exception of an alpha female lead. Well, silly yes, but at least it was silly fun.

Fast forward a couple of years, some people apparently felt that the Alien franchise was still worth milking and decided to finance a prequel (not but quite), brought back Ridley Scott (at least in name) and also threw in a few bits of pseudo religious mumbo jumbo for good measure (this being backed by American money?) As much as this will surely turn you off, the movie then felt that it should rip off the best bits of the other movies in the series. And ridiculous as AVP was, it too was not spared.

Here the (spoiler) dead/dying/and not quite dead rich industrialist hires motley crew of professionals and mercenaries to explore ancient relics. All ended up being slaughtered by an equally motley bunch of extra-terrestrials with the exception of an alpha female lead. At the same time, remove all sense of fun and suspense, but load up the movie with ridiculous dialogue and gaping plot holes, and the creme de la creme, a demonstration on how to get oneself killed under a falling spacecraft.

Really sad.

V for Vendetta (2005)

Daring, timely and gripping. Up there with the best.

[10/10 · 22 September 2006]

For reasons known or unknown, the publicity machinery for V for Vendetta had been relatively muted compared to its less deserving cohorts this year – so much so that I only finally managed to watch it on board an airliner's in-flight entertainment program, months after its screening in the cinemas. I really did not know what to expect then, but I can safely say now that it was probably the best 2 hours I had ever spent in cargo class.

Not being familiar with the original graphic novel, I can only judge the movie on its own merits. It is certainly one of the most intelligent and beautifully nuanced commercial movie releases for a long time. The Wachowski brothers had finally redeemed themselves for their underwhelming Matrix sequels.

There were invariably several issues that were left hanging at the end. Indeed, should every maligned individual with a cause célèbre or an axe to grind, be entitled to go after the detractors? Where does one draw the line? Perhaps the fundamental answer lies within us, or Valerie says, "Our integrity sells for so little but it is all we really have. It is the very last inch of us but within that inch we are free." One of the best movies of all time.

Be with Me (2005)

A Brave Effort

[8/10 · 17 September 2005]

"The cinematic spectacle has its rules, its reliable methods for producing satisfactory products. But the reality that must be taken as a point of departure is dissatisfaction. The function of the cinema, whether dramatic or documentary, is to present a false and isolated coherence as a substitute for a communication and activity that are absent." Guy Debord Critique de la séparation (1961)

Eric Khoo's "Be With Me" will divide its audiences. For some, weaned on slick Hollywood mega productions and blockbusters, the film's deliberate measured pacing is likely to exasperate, while others, plugged into the hype from the Cannes Festival, are likely to ignore its flaws and sing its praises.

The truth probably lies somewhere in between.

Interwoven among its three vignettes on love/lost/yearning, "Finding Love", "Meant To Be" and "So In Love" is also the semi documentary – on Theresa Chan. Told largely through subtitles, the story on how she had managed to overcome life injustices after being deaf and blind will strike a chord with many viewers. The segment does however come across as being rather detached, causing some of the other segments to be less developed.

Ironically, the poignancy of the film is corroborated by its Singapore setting, where the denizens are constantly admonished to be productive and efficient, and its humanity for the most part, relegated to mega TV charity fund raising programs. That "Be With Me" was able to speak to the heart of the ordinary, the downtrodden, the destitute and the minorities there, may perhaps then be the best accolade one can accord the film.

Session 9 (2001)

Creepy but not entirely a success

[6/10 · 9 September 2005]

Due to some strange synchronicity, I ended watching One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and Session 9, back to back. Corny but true.

To say that Session 9 was not good, will not do it justice. It was definitely creepy, but somehow the idea of running two plot lines in the movie didn't quite gel. It was as if they weren't too sure which will finally work in the end. Apparently a separate story involving a female inmate was removed as it was felt to be too confusing for viewers.

Where it did well was its ability to disturb, and the suggestion that ultimately, we all have to confront our inner demons, in our own space and time.

Dead End (I) (2003)

One of the best horror movies for a long time

[8/10 · 9 September 2005]

Had managed to grab a copy of the DVD not knowing what to expect, other than possibly a cheap fright or a laugh, or both.

Dead End has instead ended up (ahem) in my list of all time horror favorites. A tight script, suspense and good acting, and while a budget production, does not look cheap. It also gave me goose pimples - which doesn't happen too often, and no, the air-conditioning system was fine.

While some of the ideas in the movie had been explored before, you have to applaud the directors for doing it so well in a neat little package - which essentially involves a long car ride.

Bravo.

War of the Worlds (2005)

An expensive coitus interruptus

[3/10 · 8 September 2005]

That Hollywood can make pretty pictures is a given.

The Cruise flick is very much what it is supposed to be, visuals wise. And the cellar scene was suspenseful enough, while it lasted.

That said, Cruise is playing Cruise, and the only movie that he was bearable in recent times, was Magnolia, when he was basically parodying himself.

As for the WOTW, we all know that the germs will have their day, and despite some obvious plot holes here and there, the ending really does leave much to be desired.

That Cruise's in-laws can remain unscathed and that the family house intact despite the mayhem, is really a stretch. Maybe Spielberg is telling us that we should all move to Boston. I will probably need to get a green card then.

Can't remember when I last felt so cheated at the movies.

The Maid (2005)

Out come the freaks and the woodwork squeaks

[2/10 · 3 September 2005]

There was a good movie trying to claw itself out of the Maid - much like the ghouls that were creeping out of the woodwork, at regular intervals throughout the show.

Plus points - that the producers chose to use a local Chinese dialect - Teochew in this instance, instead of trying to be politically correct and abide by the country's speak mandarin campaign, and that there were moments of genuine scares, that made you jump out of the seats.

Pay attention however and you will be rewarded with ample plot holes, e.g. why did Wati react in fright when she saw our maid for the first time, even though the former and Esther had been friends? and why did they even bother to feature a ex-Singapore Idol reject as the itinerant postman, other than the fact that he looks good - well, to me anyway - and seriously, which postman in Singapore actually carry free stamps to give away? etc. And oh, all that screeching and creaking of doors and gates do grate.

That said, it wasn't an unpleasant way to spend an afternoon on the last day of the ghost month. And oh yes, the first few rows of the cinema hall were empty. Wooo....oooh...