Wednesday 23 January 2008

Movie review of Cloverfield

MOVIE OF THE MONTH
Cloverfield - 8.5/10
(Highest rating so far)
Directed by Matt Reeves
Produced by JJ Abrams

Plot Summary
Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper, descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.

Review
This is definitely the most exciting, adrenalin pumped movie for this month(could even be for this year). The special effects for this movie is spectacular! You are always at the edge of your seat from the beginning to the end. It's either you love it or hate it. The probable reason why you would hate Cloverfield is mainly because of the cameraworks.
Everything is captured in a handheld camera (think Blair Witch Project). But apart from that, I feel Cloverfield is done very well and the marketing for it is cool. And as expected everything was hush hush. But once the excitement starts, it just doesn't fucking end. Casting are mostly unknowns which is a good thing. The script was pretty funny as well and is however highly recommended that you watch Cloverfield in a good cinema with a good sound system. You would not enjoy watching it in a shitty cinema or even if you download and watch.
Simply no kick! For those who have watched Blair Witch Project and found it nauseating cause of the camerawork, you should still try and watch Cloverfield.And if you still are nauseous, I would recommend you to get drunk and watch it. It would definitely make you far worse than before and you deserve it cause you are a pussy. hehehe... Worth watching TWICE on a weekend and buying the dvd as well.

Best Quote
Woman: What is that thing?

Officer: I don't know, but whatever it is, it's winning.

Movies recommended by the director
mostly tv series episodes but check out JJ Abrams instead
Mission Impossible 3
Lost(tv series)

Movie review of The Bucket List

The Bucket List - 5.5/10
Directed by Rob ReinerCast - Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman

Plot Summary
2 old men who are terminally ill become close friends and decide to do a things to do before I dielist as they have only a few months to live,they decide to do the list.

Review
Rob Reiner has always done pretty decent feel good movies. His good movies I have listed below. Bucket List is a movie with 2 superb actors and a good story with a director who has had a good track record but somehow it is just disappointing. The script was horrible and there were just too many cliched lines. Somehow I found the visual in this movie so fake, it was just obvious they didn't even bother. Sadly even the direction was bad and felt like it was done in a way just for the fuck of it. No passion! Tthe cinematography was bad as well. Even though you have two awesome actors here, it just wasn't enough to save this movie. I actually found Jack Nicholson of all people to be annoying and Morgan Freeman's narration, bad. Not worth watching in the cinema on a weekend. Watch it on a weekday only if you have nothing else to do. If I were you, I would just wait for it to be on cable.

Best Quote
Edward Cole: The sequel was like that. She never backed me up on anything.

Carter Chambers: The sequel?
Edward Cole: The second Mrs Edward Cole. [Carter rolls his eyes ]
Edward Cole: Hell, that woman hated me.
Kyle the parachutist: Maybe because you called her the sequel.
Movies recommended from the director
A few good men
When harry met sally
Stand by me
This is spinal tap

Movie review of Heartbreak kid

Heartbreak kid - 3/10
Directed by the Farelly Brothers
Cast - Ben Stiller,Carlos Mencia,Jerry Stiller,Michelle Monaghan

Plot Summary
Eddie(Stiller) who has been a bachelor for a long time finally decides to get married on an impulse with this blonde girl, Lila(Akerman). He doesn't know her well
enough and as they go for their honeymoon in mexico,he slowly discovers her true self and realize that the marriage is not gonna work out and to make matters worse,he believes he found his true love with another girl who is in Mexico as well.

Review
The farelly brothers are known for their crude jokes in their movies. Their best work I feel is "Something about Mary". Their other works have been quite boring actuallyand sadly, heartbreak kid is not one of their best work. It is unusually rather long and their jokes are like the typical naked gun jokes which I find are abit too slapstick. Ben stiller is at his usual comedic best. He always have that 'I wish I could kill you' look which most of the time is pretty amusing but not for this movie. Michelle Monaghan is pretty but I find her too boring and unfunny in this movie, she was like a fill up space. Malin Akerman on the other hand is like a cheaper version of Cameron Diaz which I find sad (even though Diaz is a fuckall actress). There are only a few jokes in this movie which you can actually laugh but other than that, I would definitely give this movie a miss if I were you. Not really worth watching in the cinema. Just download or borrow the dvd from a friend who stupidly bought it.

Best quote:
Lila:Cock me!
Eddie:I think i am cocking you.
Movies recommended by the director
Something about mary
Shallow Hal

Thursday 17 January 2008

Movie review of Gone Baby Gone

Gone Baby Gone - 8/10
Directed by Ben Affleck
Cast - Casey Affleck,Morgan Freeman,Ed harris,Amy Ryan

Plot Summary
A small girl goes missing in Boston. Everyone starts looking for her. The child's white thrash no good mom (who is also a slut), a junkie's brother and wife employs a couple who work as private detectives to help find the missing girl. The whole ordeal fucks the couple up personally and professionally as well. Based on the Dennis Lehane novel.

Review
Ben Assfleck is a fuckall actor. The good thing about this movie is, he is not acting in it. He did direct this movie pretty well though. I would rather see Ben Assfleck direct than act now because that's how good this movie is. The acting in this movie is fucking fantastic. Cinematography, direction and editing were pretty good. I liked the plot and the script as well. The twist towards the end is somewhat predictable but what I really liked is the non Hollywood type of ending. (It will definitely make you go "wah lan eh!!!").
What made me gave 8 points for this movie is the acting. Especially Casey Affleck and Amy Ryan. They were fucking brilliant.
Casey Affleck, if u do not know who is he...is the better acting half of the Affleck brothers. He appears in supporting roles mostly (ocean's 11,12,13). This is his shining role and perhaps the upcoming movie with Brad Pitt called "The Assassination of Jesse James" by the Coward Robert Ford. Somehow he reminds me of deadpan comedic actor Bill Murray (Lost in translation which is a fucked up movie imo) but only younger and a little more serious. His acting in this movie is funny and sad as well. I would definitely check Casey Affleck out in future movies provided he doesn't do a BEN ASSFLECK like Paycheck, Dare Devil, Pearl Harbour and other horse shit movies he has done.
Amy Ryan."FOO!!!!...". Its been awhile since I hated a movie character and the way Amy Ryan acted, she was so fucking good even you would fucking hope she fucking die a very horrible death. There were only 2 characters which I loved hating so much and In 1st place, Patrick Mcgoohan as King Edward Longshanks in "Braveheart" and in 2nd, Louise Fletcher as Nurse Mildred Ratched in "One flew over the cuckoo's nest".
and to my latest addition is Amy Ryan as Helen McCready in "Gone Baby Gone" in 3rd
Worth watching in the cinemas during the weekend and worth buying the Dvd as well. Check it out when it comes out.
Movies recommended by the director


I Killed My Lesbian Wife,
Hung Her on a Meat Hook,
Now I Have a Three-Picture Deal at Disney (I haven't watch it yet and yes its for real.)
I would only recommend one movie Ben Assfleck has acted and that is "Good Will Hunting" .

Movie review of The Great Debaters

The Great Debaters - 7.5/10
Directed by Denzel Washington
Cast - Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker

Plot Summary
Based on the true story of a professor (Washington) who coaches a debate team in an all black university to challenge an all white harvard university.

Review
Simply outstanding. From the casting for this movie to the acting is fucking brilliant. You have Washington and Whitaker both oscar winners in a movie. There is one particular scene where you can see both actors having an argument and u can feel the intensity cause. Both actors are not afraid and can stand up for themselves even the debaters who were kids were excellent. Nate parker, Jurnee Smollett and Denzel Whitaker. I love the way they deliver their speeches and all. Surprisingly the cinematography and the direction is good and very nicely done. Kudos to denzel for that! There are a lot of scenes which were nicely taken. By the way this movie is also produced by oprah winfrey.
Not sure when Great Debaters will be out in Singapore but this movie is really worth the cash spent on a ticket for a weekend. If you like great acting, you would love this movie.Enjoy.

Editor's note: As what Subash has said above plus a very good script. One of my fav quotes;

Melvin B. Tolson: Who is the judge?
Samantha, Henry Lowe, James Farmer Jr., Hamilton Burgess: The judge is God.
Melvin B. Tolson: Why is he God?
Samantha, Henry Lowe, James Farmer Jr., Hamilton Burgess: Because he decides who wins or loses. Not my
opponeent.
Melvin B. Tolson: Who is your opponent?
Samantha, Henry Lowe, James Farmer Jr., Hamilton Burgess: He does not exist.
Melvin B. Tolson: Why does he not exist?
Samantha, Henry Lowe, James Farmer Jr., Hamilton Burgess: Because he is a mere dissenting voice
of the truth I speak!

Movies recommended by director
None, but you can watch movies he has acted in like;
Training Day
Glory
Man on fire
Remember the titans
Philadelphia
Malcolm X

Movie review of The Hunting Party

The Hunting Party - 6.5/10
Directed by Richard Shepard
Cast - Terence Howard and Richard gere

Plot Summary
A seasoned cameraman (Howard) and a shamed journalist (Gere) head to serbia to find a war criminal who has a bounty of 5 million bucks for his capture. Apparently only the most ridiculous parts of the movie are true which they will later state at the end of the movie.

Review
Not a bad movie I must say, it has it's plus sides. Acting in this movie is pretty ok. Terence Howard is pretty good just as Richard Gere even though I''m not a big fan of him. Cinematography and direction is fine as well. The plot is alittle flimsy as it is based on an esquire article. Didn't really like the ending but the narration was good. This is one of those movies where you have nothing left to watch or you are really bored and you watch this movie to kill your time.
Not really worth watching in the cinema on a weekend. Weekday ok or just wait for the dvd. Preferable if you download and watch it.

Monday 7 January 2008

Movie review of 3:10 to Yuma

3:10 to Yuma - 7.5/10
Directed by James Mangold

Plot Summary
Small time rancher (Bale) whose eldest son thinks he's a pussy,decides to bring a renowned yet dangerous outlaw (Crowe) to justice by escorting him to a train station. By bringing the outlaw to prison he wants yo prove to his son, that he ain't no pussy. During the journey both characters try to mindfuck each other. Based on a short story and also a remake of the same movie title in 1957.

Review
The acting in this movie is superb. Bale and Crowe were really good in their respective roles, but the one actor who really caught my attention is Ben Foster.He was just outstanding. From his posture to his accent every scene he is in, is cool. The cinematography and direction were pretty good in my opinion. Everything was going great right till the ending. Somehow the ending was good but I found it too mama drama. Whatever it is...for a western movie, I think it's still worth to watch it. Not sure if it has already been shown in the cinemas, if it has and you haven't caught it, I suggest you go rent, buy the dvd or just download the fucking thing.

Recommended movies by director
Walk the line (Joaquin Phoenix)
Identity (John Cusack) <-- Editor's choice another mind fug show
Girl,interrupted (Angelina Jolie)

Movie review of Rise of a Footsoldier

Rise of the Footsoldier - 5.5/10
Directed by Julian Gilbey

Plot Summary
Based on a true story by a British thug called Carlton Leach.
From his rise as a football hooligan to a feared gangster in Essex in the eighties and nineties.

Review
A pretty cool British gangster movie without any jokes (not like a guy Ritchie movie). Acting in this movie is pretty cool, quite straight forward and nothing extra. Editing is alright as well. I did like the storyline and the plot. What I could really use is subtitles, cause sometimes the accent can be so thick and fast, you won't understand what the fuck some of them are saying. Another thing I didn't like about this movie is its ending. I felt it was messy and abit too rushed. All in all its a pretty good show to watch.
Watch it on a weekday if it comes to singapore if not just download or borrow the dvd.

Movies recommended by the director
None but you can watch;
Layer cake
Green street hooligans
Lock Stock and 2 smoking barrels.

Friday 4 January 2008

Movie review of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox story


Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox story - 6/10
Directed by Jake Kasdan
Written by Jude Apatow and Jake Kasdan

Plot Summary
The story of musician Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly),on his rock 'n roll spiral. He sleeps with shitloads of women and a man, marries twice, has about 20 over kids, he gets to star in his own 70s TV show, collects friends ranging from Elvis to the Beatles to a chimp and gets addicted to – and then kicks – every drug known to man… but despite it all, Cox grows into a national icon and eventually earns the love of a good woman – longtime backup singer Darlene (Jenna Fischer). - Written by Sony Pictures.

Review
All musicians and anyone into music icon biographies should watch this movie. It's fucking hilarious and it's a spoof of the Johnny Cash biography, walk the line and Ray charles' biography Ray. I love the script for this movie and I only realized it was Jude Apatow till I did a little research. Jude has a knack for doing a normal yet totally funny kinda script. The acting in this movie is ridiculous but that's exactly how everyone was supposed to act. Jenna fischer, John c. reilly and Tim Meadows were my favourite. In the beginning of this film, I thought it was gonna be another one of those fucked up American slapstick shit which isn't funny. But thankfully it wasn't. You should just watch for the script and there are some scenes like- Dewey Cox meets Elvis (Jack White of white stripes) and also the whole beatles scene was fucking funny. Jake Black as McCartney, Paul Rudd as Lennon, Justin Long as Harrison and Jason Schwartzman as Ringo Starr. The whole introduction to drugs by Tim Meadows is hilarious. Recommended to watch on a weekend provided if it comes to Singapore uncut.

Movies Recommended by the director or the writer
Orange County(Kasdan) Knocked up(Apatow)
40 year old virgin(Apato)

Movie review of Aliens vs Predator : Requiem

Aliens vs Predator:Requiem - 5/10
Directed by Strause Brothers

Plot Summary
Continuation of the first AVP. Predalien (half alien half predator) comes out and kills 2 predators in their spaceship which has about 4 facehuggers captive. The spaceship crashes back to earth in a small town where all the facehuggers and the predalien go on and kill shitloads of humans and making more aliens as well. Just as one of the predator dies before getting killed by the predalien in the spaceship,he sends out a distress signal,where a battle hardened predator nicknamed the Wolf (after Harvey Keitel's character in Pulp Fiction) comes to earth to do some clean up.
If you have no idea on what the fuck am I talking about, you should stop reading this and don't even bother watching this movie cause you won't understand.

Review
This movie is way much better than AVP1. AVP1 is shit because
a) It's directed by Paul WS Anderson. (Resident Evil)
b) It was rated PG. Never has that happened.
c) The predators were like pansies.
whereas AVPR is;
a) directed by 2 brothers who hated AVP1 and decided to make it more violent.
b) In US it's rated R.(just like all aliens and predator movies). Singapore it's NC16 but not to despair,it's fully uncut.
c) It's just one predator and he is a fucking badass!!

Bear in mind, if you wish to watch this movie, it's either you are an aliens or a predator fan or you like seeing people killed ridiculously then go ahead and do so.
The plot is shit and even worse is the script.Acting...fuck acting when you got 2 of the greatest sci fi villains going at each other. To my surprise, I loved the soundtrack. It has a mix of the old aliens and predator music in it which was very cool. There are also some scenes which are a direct tribute to both franchises.
and the kill scenes are fantastic. What I didn't like about this movie is the predalien which I think is an abomination to both characters. The whole movie is like predator vs predalien and not aliens vs predators even though there were shitloads of aliens in this movie. I rather watch the queen alien fight it out with a predator. The predator this time has quite abit of weapons and some were under used in my opinion but I found him to be really cool. The whole blue liquid thingy was abit too much though.
I would definitely recommend all fans of both genres to watch this movie on a weekend.
bottom line is FUCK the aliens!!! PREDATOR RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Movies Recommended by the director
None but everyone should watch Alien 1 to 3 (dont bother watching the fourth one cause it has winona ryder aka whineona "I'm a thief but please watch my movies" ryder in it)
Predator 1 and 2