Date Night

The plot – Claire and Phil Foster (Tina Fey and Steve Carell) are a suburban couple slogging through their daily lives and marriage. Even their ‘date nights’ of dinner and a movie have become routine. To reignite the marital spark, they visit a trendy Manhattan bistro, where a case of mistaken identity hurtles them through the city at breakneck speeds, into non-stop adventure. Remembering what made them so special together, Phil and Claire take on a couple of corrupt cops, a top-level mobster – and a crazed cabbie – as their date becomes a night they’ll never forget.

Seriously, I came out filling full in my stomach because I LAUGHED TOO MUCH. Haha.

This show is explicitly hilarious to the point of no return. I don’t know what to say though, but it’s like watching Steve Carrell in Get Smart, minus the agent show-being. His acting, together with fellow legendary comedian Tina Fey, works so well that probably they should consider having another show together.

Though it is stated PG, please do not bring your kids along. They just do not know what they are expecting to watch. But it’s really really humourous to hear corny and lameness humour all over again. I haven’t had a good laugh since. Perhaps the minus point from this movie is that I feel there isn’t much impact from what I have watched so far. Frankly I did laugh a lot, like really a lot since, but I just felt that the movie didn’t had a strong impression after that, though I can still remember a little of it. Haha.

Nonetheless, I felt that it is a great movie. So much stress from work, I guess you should go watch this movie. Let free all your minds and get dumb awhile, because the 2 of them will be more dumb than you think they would be. =D

Ratings – 3 and a half out of 5 stars.

Ip Man 2

The plot – In this sequel, Ip Man (Donnie Yen) arrives in Hong Kong in 1949, only to discover that martial arts schools there operated like triads rather than more respectable institutions. His efforts to teach his Wing Chun discipline is fraught with poverty and meets resistance from Master Hung (Sammo Hung), a fellow kungfu master who runs a fish market and is being bullied by the British authorities. However, he takes solace in his bright student Leung (Chen Dao Ming) and his loving, patient wife (Lynn Hung @ Xiong Dai Lin). As conflicts brew and tempers flare, an English boxing champ (Darren Shahlavi) insults the Chinese and challenges the whole establishment to an East vs. West showdown, leaving Master Hung and Master Ip to find themselves possible allies.

Watching this movie is like sitting on the fence between Greed and Values. Like whether fighting and winning is more important than spending precious time with your family.

The direction was perfect, storyline was so good that I’m speechless. Donnie Yen – forever with that expressionless face no matter how hard he tries to smile – still does the perfect job as Ip Man, the legendary kungfu master of Bruce Lee. And that he still doesn’t change, his cold expression accompanied with his righteous and humble attitude towards things in life.

The show not only possess qualities of chinese martial arts but it inculcates certain moral values and lessons to learn in life. Watching the movie did moved me somehow. I guess it is carved to our hearts that we all should probably learn to be someone as noble but yet as gracious and humble as Ip Man in real person. Respectable yet reputable.

Overall, it’s full points for me. Give me another choice and probably I will want to catch this movie. Too good.

Ratings – 5 out of 5 stars

Iron Man 2

The plot – The world is aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is the armoured superhero Iron Man. Under pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military, Tony is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armour because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands. Inevitably, Stark is pitted against his Russian arch nemesis, Whiplash (Mickey Rourke), and corporate rival Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell). Also making their Marvel debuts are Scarlett Johansson as the sexy Russian spy Black Widow, and Don Cheadle, who takes over the role of Colonel James Rhodes from Terrence Howard.

Ok, the long wait for this sequel is here and I thought I could just go and catch it. If you ask me which movie is better, than I would say part one has more visuals than part two, though part two did excite at the end.

Sadly, the bad guy was so easily defeated. Probably my grandma could do a better job. Such a tough guy with tough luck trying to survive. They make it look so easy that he could just die just like that. Weird.

Then again, the story isn’t so bad, with visuals still providing a pretty sight to behold when it is almost to the end, and that Robert Downey Jr just makes up for everything that has gone wrong. Of course there are some things that could be found in the show but I will not try to spoil it here anymore. Haha. Scarlett Johansson didn’t make much of an impact though. But I must say War Machine and it’s damn suit looks damn cool. Probably because the introduction of War Machine was the highlight more than Iron Man was, that’s why eventually the show became a bit aimless because no one knew where the movie direction was heading to.

But overall, I think the movie was pretty alright. Still worth to watch. Just a reminder to wait till the end of the credits. =)

Ratings – 3 and a half out of 5 stars

Alice in Wonderland

The Plot – 17-year-old Alice (Mia Wasikowska) attends a party at a Victorian estate only to find she is about to be proposed to in front of hundreds of snooty society types. She runs off, following the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen) into a hole and ends up in Wonderland, a place she visited in a similar manner 10 years before, yet doesn’t remember. Wonderland was a peaceful kingdom until the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) overthrew her sister, the White Queen (Anne Hathaway). The creatures of Wonderland, such as the Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry), Tweedledee and Tweedledum (Matt Lucas) and the March Hare (Paul Whitehouse), ready to revolt, wait for Alice to help them. With the help of the White Queen, the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) and the Caterpillar (Alan Rickman), Alice starts seeing flashbacks of her original visit, back when she was seven.

Alrighty, as much as I would want to start off, I would first commend – argubly the most times – on Johnny Depp’s acting. He’s still the man to beat of course. Fantastic Mad Hatter performance. Lol.

This rendition of a darker and gloomier Alice in Wonderland has been brought to life by the mystical and magical graphics and forest with the abundance of creatures that are out of this world. It’s not wonder everyone is highly recommending me to watch the 3D version. But I would rather lower my expectations to curb any disappointment from the show.

But it’s not surprising that Tim Burton loves a show that is of so much colour and yet filled with gloom (think about Sweeny Todd / Edward Scissorshands). If I have to be frank, I would say that Tim Burton’s movie here is a small hiccup in his quest for more glory in the Oscars as best director/producer. This movie – in my opinion – feels that he’s making a movie for Disney rather than making a Tim Burton original film, which usually stands out as a Tim Burton movie filled with uncertainty and making the ugliest of all things beautiful, and that his movies always tells you about flaws that are believable, and that you can think about 6 different impossible things before breakfast.

But it is not this day, that Alice is Wonderland did moved away from the cartoon movie, and that it was a darker movie to begin with. And that the plot so magical wouldn’t have shadowed the fact that the story was neither appealing nor boring. Probably the target audience was a different group compared to the hey days of Mickey, but still, this movie is worth a go. And probably it might be due to the fact that it’s perspective of a Wonderland is of a twisted mind. Maybe I would have commented better if it was in 3D.

And yes, how can we forget about humour. Laughter though, still looms around the atmosphere of the show, as the Red Queen never fails to entertain with her huge but empty head. It’s silly sometimes, but you gotta know that in Wonderland, almost anything can happen. =D

For all that is worth, why not just catch this show? Besides, you might know the difference from the cartoon once you watch this. =)

Ratings – 4 out 5 stars (for the magical graphics and mystical plot but not for Tim Burton.)

Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief


The plot – Trouble-prone teen Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of school but that’s the least of his problems. The gods of Mount Olympus and other assorted monsters seem to have walked out of the pages of Percy’s Greek mythology texts and into his life and they’re not happy. Zeus’ lightning bolt has been stolen and Percy is the prime suspect. Now, Percy and his friends must embark on a cross-country adventure to catch the true thief, save Percy’s mother, and unravel a mystery more powerful than the gods themselves.

After much hype over this show, I decided to catch it with my own gut feeling that it might be good. And guess what? Maybe it still has it’s flaws after all. Well, not all movies are perfect, and that this movie ain’t perfect either. But I can tell you one thing is that this movie kinda got me into my seat somehow.

But the only thing I would want to critic on is that some of the new young blood acting in there aren’t as good as what I would have thought of, unlike Harry Potter and his whole chin gang of wizardry. Still, the CGI is not as bad as it seems. Besides, if you wanna talk about understanding the movie in a bit, yes, I would say that even a small kid would understand the movie even if he had not read the storybook. I’m one of the kids by the way. =D

Like a flaw, that’s the flaw. Because it’s kinda predictable and some parts and that it’s too simple and naive a story that probably the kids will get more interested than the adults. But it’s the action packed ever-moving story that keeps our eyes glued to the screens. It’s like reading a story book. But a kids one. And it spells cheesy sometimes.

I reckoned that you would take a chance at this show. For 2 reasons. One, if you are into wizardry and more “godlike” action stories. Two, if you have a choice between Wolfman and this. Go figure. =)

Ratings – 3 and a half out of 5 stars

Wolfman

The Plot – Set in the late 1880s, this remake of the 1941 Hollywood classic begins with Lawrence Talbot meeting his estranged father following his brother’s death. While searching for his brother’s murderer, he soon discovers something horrifying – that the murderer is none other than the werewolf himself.

Tell me if I had just read a fantastic novel. Ok, I’m kidding on the reading part, but to me, watching this movie felt like I was reading the storybook from a decade ago. And it seemed all so surreal, from the morphing to the werewolf to the sad love story to the betrayal and stuff like that.

Benecio Del Toro looks really weird in this movie though I felt that his character was mysterious enough. I felt that he looks more like Dracula than a werewolf though. Anthony Hopkins still has that kind yet sly but cunning face that ever masks so well in his role personally. And the fact that Hugo Weaving is the detective makes it all the more sound like himself as Agent Smith in the Matrix.

In my perspective, the plot was fantastic, as there’s a start, a follow up, action scenes, death, love, all the way till the end. But then, everything else was a slight problem. Given the fact that the colour tone of this show is mainly black and grey, it’s not surprising to imply that a show of darkness and horror has to be of a monotonous tone. Fair enough, most mythical shows like these end up with colours of despair and dullness.

The other thing I would like to comment is the sound effects that probably was so crisp and clear that in a horror movie, I would just get ready to close my eyes and not watch. Wicked.

Overall, I felt that because it’s a remake, and that it’s an old movie, nothing much has changed from last time only to have better CGI inculcated into the movie, but nonetheless, if you have time to kill, this movie ain’t that bad if you know how to appreciate it. =)

Ratings – 3 and a half out of 5 stars.

Avatar

wooohooooo.. after a long wait, at last, I manage to catch it during this long vacation.

The Plot – “Avatar” is an emotional journey of redemption and revolution. The story tells of a wounded ex-marine, who thrust unwillingly into an effort to settle and exploit an exotic planet rich in bio-diversity, and eventually crosses over to lead an indigenous race in a battle for survival. Thus, combining the elements of massive spectacle and intimate character that made James Cameron’s “Titanic” the highest grossing film of all time.

As I was told, Avatar was a must watch from all friends. Some are even willing to pay for 3D. Some are willing to pay to watch again. Now I see why.

The CGI was so fantastic, and that James Cameron brought another mystical and magical world to our vision that all I could do is envy in awe of the beauty of the “world” that I see on the big screen. In fact, it was jaw-dropping from the start till the end of the show. I couldn’t help but ask myself why we didn’t had these places in the first place.

Then again, the storyline was alright, with much “African” relation to it, but that’s what makes us differentiate between the rags and riches no? The forest is like an imaginary one, where the unthinkable and the impossible materialised in this movie itself. It probably will bring you back to where technology proves to be a key factor in our lives, but at the same time, complicates our thinking for a peaceful world and living. It’s so diplomatic but beautifully crafted.

Overall, if I have the chance to watch it again, probably I will spend that amount to watch it in 3D. There are so many action scenes that I feel that even the slowest of the magical moments can bring me even the slightest excitement in the 3D glasses itself. Go watch it, before it’s too late. =)

Ratings – 5 out of 5 stars

Bodyguards and Assassins

The Plot – “Bodyguards And Assassins” concerns efforts by a group of martial artists to protect Dr. Sun Yat-sen who is popularly referred as the Father of Modern China, from an assassination attempt while visiting Hong Kong to raise funds at the beginning of the 20th century.

Deemed fit to be screened, this movie shows what people with patriotic hearts can do. In fact, the star studded cast of this movie is so wide and huge that sometimes I wonder how do you fit so many stars in to one movie. Well, this movie worked well and it surpassed my expectations for a movie that proves to be sad but true.

Well, direction was fantastic, with some action packed fight scenes courtesy of your kungfu master Donnie Yen together with a few other elites like Leon Lai, who single handedly eliminates like probably a hundred men. Apparently the whole show doesn’t really focus on Donnie Yen, whom some other viewers might feel that this movie revolves around him. But I would say that for this movie, everyone and every equal actor and actress have their fair share of air time and role time.

Best of all, their acting still never fails to impress me somehow.

In all, it touched my heart to see people fight and put their lives in the line to protect someone that they do not even know, and that by protecting Sun Yat Sen, they can change the course of the future for China. Indeed, a fantastic movie that fulfills my attempt to catch a movie in a long time. =)

Ratings – 5 out of 5 stars

P.S – Mandarin movie posters are so hard to find. Apologies. =(

Paranormal Activity

The plot – A young couple suspects that their house is haunted by a malevolent entity. They set up video surveillance to capture evidence of what happens at night as they sleep.

Scary? I would say not for the weak hearted. People are jumping around me when I was watching this show yesterday.

But I would also say that the whole movie isn’t as scary as what I thought. Yea, a few scare moments, and it’s totally fiction. If it was a true story, probably I would have goosebumps right now. But apparently, No.

The flaw was that when the so called “demon” was suppose to make it’s entrance, there’s this low mellowing tone that took away the silence of the couple. And usually when the room is quiet, you can usually feel the silence and if it was that low mellowing tone, it wouldn’t be that loud like what we are hearing directly in front of the camera. Of course, every human being would say that you cannot judge the power of the demon, but I would say that the demon’s mellowing is probably still judged by nature – which is the speed of sound.

Anyways, on the good note, effects to make motions in the middle of the night is something that is quite well done. No frills, no spills, no bloopers. Wasn’t a bad storyline, but with a freaky ending. And I heard there’s a movie ending and an online ending. Suffice to say, you don’t wanna watch it alone. The audience around you plays a big part. And prolly because of this, you might just want to watch it in the cinema and that’s it. DON’T EVER BRING THIS MOVIE TO YOUR HOME. TRUST ME.

Overal – enjoying the movie was an hard to believe, but to be so damn bored about the movie is also an understatement. I didn’t got scared out of my wits though. But demonic possession is rather freaky. For people who are afraid of such stuff, it’s better to believe than you don’t. Once you don’t believe it, things will start appearing in front of you. Haha.

P.S – I couldn’t even retrieve the poster from the net. Sorry, but I feel I shouldn’t do it also.

Ratings – 3 and a half out of 5 Stars

(500) Days of Summer

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The plot – The film tells a story of the relationship between a woman, Summer (Deschanel), who doesn’t believe in true love and a man, Tom (Gordon-Levitt), described as a hopeless romantic, who falls in love with her. When Tom is blindsided after his girlfriend Summer dumps him, he shifts back and forth through various periods of their 500 days ‘together’ to try to figure out where things went wrong. His reflections ultimately lead him to finally rediscover his true passions in life.

I love the direction of the movie. I love the direction of where this movie is getting at. But after watching this movie, my heart broke down. Reminisce after reminisce. Memories after memories.

I will stop here before I start to tear apart and shed more tears.

Ratings – 5 out of 5 stars.

Funny People

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The Plot – George Simmons (Adam Sandler) is a successful stand up comedian who learns that he has an untreatable blood disorder and is given less than a year to live. Ira (Seth Rogen) is a struggling up-and-coming stand up comedian who works at a deli and has yet to figure out his onstage persona. One night, these two perform at the same club and George takes notice of Ira. George hires Ira to be his semi-personal assistant as well as his friend.

After much of the critics’ words, I have a different view on this movie. Because this movie hit me hard in the face. Apart from all the in-your-face crude humour and jokes that perhaps will keep you laughing somehow, this movie – apart from it’s shallow plot – has taught me quite a number of values in life. Makes you realise that there are many things that you will do for this and that and such.

The movie makes you kinda wanna think about what’s next for you. It kinda deviates from the whole title itself. Funny people speaks for it’s characters for the movie but not the plot in whole, which kinda takes people by surprise besides all the humour inside the show. I had a good laugh, but I had mixed emotions as well. Perhaps I did blend well into such situations maybe.

Then again, I would say the movie is still possible to watch – if you can handle both emotional runs at the same time. I mean, you can laugh while you are crying and perhaps you can cry when you are laughing. Get it? Ok I think not. But simply put, there’s laughter, there’s sadness.

Overall, go catch this movie and put your emotions to the test. Then you will know that sometimes life isn’t always a joke. =)

Ratings – 3 and a half out of 5 stars

The Gamer

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Caught this with Colin at The Cathay on Sunday.

The plot – “Game” is a near-future action/thriller starring Gerard Butler (Kable) as the champion of an online game called “Slayers”. Mind-control technology has taken society by storm and “Slayers” allows humans to control other humans in a mass-scale, multiplayer online game. With his every move tracked by millions, Kable’s ultimate challenge is regaining his identity and launching an attack on the system that has imprisoned him.

I won’t be surprised that Lionsgate will be producing this movie. Because of such “genre”, the likes of Death Race and The Condemned exist. And now this.

Gamer would be a movie of such power and mind intriguing that perhaps that point was lost almost halfway through the movie, because it kind of deviate from the title itself. But then again, the clever part of this movie is that the director knows that if he emphasize so much into just the “Game” itself, the “Game” – or in this instance the movie – will become a bore in the after stages of time.

Which is why he’s smart enough to deviate abit and into more family and ideas that come under scrutiny, leading Kable to find out more than just game his life would revolve around. That’s the good part of the plot.

Perhaps the story – if a little more impactual, and a little more longer – the movie would make much more sense if they cut the talk. But the more core importance of this movie is that it left the “gaming” mindset into something drama mama already.

Overall, if you gotta watch this, just pick a weekday. =S

Ratings – 3 out of 5 stars

District 9

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My Oh My.

The plot – Set in South Africa, this movie is rumoured to be a “Cloverfield”-type sci-fi about an extraterrestrial race that is forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth and suddenly finds a friend in a government agent who is exposed to their biotechnology. Alien spacecrafts are seen hovering over many locations, interrupting daily human lives and raising concerns from the residents of the area. This film is also said to be a sort of social commentary, diverging from what you would usually expect from films featuring aliens.

Yes, forget “Cloverfield”. In my point of view, every moment that was pictured in this movie is totally exposing the hypocrisy of the human world irregardless of moral or legal terms. It tells us many things about the world and how we are all blinded by many things in life. A totally unusual approach apart from other “it’s another alien story” kinda movie.

In fact, the director himself took someone who’s an unknown and “not-even-an-actor-in-the-first-place” actor to do a seemingly questionable role of love and hate. Justifiable actions from his role, this government aide is supposingly doing some right and wrong and in my point of view, it’s a question about morals and issues.

Picture this, imagine you are exposed to extra-terrestrial, hazardous biotechnology that can alter and change your DNA to evolve into something like them? And all you wanted to do was to get back to your own life but at the same time, being caught up with mixed feelings on whether to save them from humanitarian ill-treatment but at the same time wanting to send them back home to where they came from? To compliment the fact that you are a hybrid, you suddenly became a national threat and a gem to experimentation and medical research in advance technology with people who are only blinded by greed and money. Does that sound right or wrong to you?

And the fact that we challenge democracy together with dictatorship where both seek power in their own beliefs. And as you, a hybrid, stand in the middle of two long standing challengers of the world, which side do you take?

That’s how I feel. And that’s how the movie made me sit back to answer my own thoughts. And for the record, that’s how a GOOD movie should be done. Great CGI as well as a good docudrama kinda approach just makes you feel that after all, a living thing – either human or alien – do have their emotional point of view. =)

Well done Peter Jackson. I spent my $8 dollars wisely and fruitfully. =)

Ratings – 5 out of 5 stars.

Turning Point

Pardon me as I cant find the poster. =(((

The plot – This movie tells the story of Laughing with a dark background as a triad member under Chou (Anthony Wong). Chou was the triad’s leader and persuaded Laughing to join the police force as an undercover for the triad to spy on police activities. While in the police academy, Laughing excelled but not well enough to be confirmed as a police officer. Instead he was recruited to be an undercover agent to spy on some illegal activities. Laughing now maintains the life as a double undercover agent, with crucial information from both sides. However, an incident disturbs the balance of the two identities and threatens to blow his cover. With both the triad and police force suspicious of his loyalty, Laughing does not know who he can trust to save him.

This is a love/hate movie that I caught and I felt the story does portray a lot of ups and downs in being a gangster. But the story itself ain’t strong enough to bring out the true character of the show though.

Admire the casting for this show as many HK drama stars all appear in this show where it’s all about the underworld and triad members of such. Strong love did play a small part here and there, humour is as usual as well (which we mostly will expect from HK dramas and perhaps their movies as well). And you know how HK triad members can really act damn well and still feel cool about it. That’s what I like. Gangster style.

Then again, the acting for all cast were good enough and that highlights the standard that they have that have churned out many many successful series in HK drama.

Overall, I liked the show for sure, but if you were to ask any movie critic, I’m sure that they will tell you that the cast is great but maybe not the story. Impact? I don’t really felt any. Hmm..

Ratings – 3 and a half out of 5 Stars

UP

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*Applause*

The plot – A 78-year-old man named Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. Due to his age, he thinks life has passed him by. One day, an 8-year old wilderness explorer named Russell, changes his outlook on life and the pair goes on adventures, encountering wild terrains, unexpected villains and jungle creatures.

And once again, Pixar animations did a wonderful job on this one, and yes, it was really really amazing indeed. Don’t talk about 3D, but I’m watching the normal movie itself and it was spectacular as I would say.

The cinematography is fantastic, with many at times, touching, and of course, hilarious with the kiddish fun and jokes. Makes me feel like wanting to be a kid all over again. I did really love the beginning, it was so perfect yet so sad. It was rather painful to watch that, almost teared though, but once all this sadness is over, it was hilarious already. Haha.

Russell is just cute la. That lump of meat is just really very chubbish and likeable to pinch for. And he has this immature mind that really cracks me up all the time. It’s just funny, but sometimes being innocent might just be the key to many things more. Totally interesting when things like talking dogs appear. Totally out of this world.

And as a matter of fact, Paradise Island is quite beautiful so to speak.

Anyways, I love the movie. Touching at points, laughing at most, and yes, it feels that sometimes you ever wonder why you always stay at home. Go out and have fun, you will never know what you will find out there in the world. =)

Ratings – 5 out of 5 stars

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