Monday 21 February 2011

Movie review of The Rite


The Rite - 4/10
Directed by Michael Hafstrom
Cast - Anthony Hopkins,Colin O'Donaghue, Alice Braga,Rutger Hauer

Plot Summary
An American priest travels to Italy to study at an exorcism school.

Review
I am a big fan of William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist.It is still to me,my favourite horror movie.Not many movies based on exorcisms have been remotely close to The Exorcist.The sequels and prequels were pretty much rubbish except for The Exorcist 3 which I found more of a mind fuck movie than a horror one.The exorcism of Emily Rose was good.So when I first saw the trailer for the Rite,I thought maybe this could be good as well.I mean what can possibly go wrong? you have Sir Anthony Hopkins and demons.Should be fun.
Sadly,what could have been a potentially good movie was ruined by quite a few things.
Casting for this movie was pretty bad.Besides veterans like Rutger Hauer and Anthony Hopkins,the newer actors were shit.Colin O'Donaghue was totally fuck all.They should have gotten a much more versatile actor than a Keanu Reeves worshipper.He has a really stupid quizzical look on his fuck face whenever something happens.It gets really annoying after awhile.The fucking cats acted better than him.Alice Braga is in this movie just to look pretty.That's about it cause the rest of the women in this movie are either psychotic or possessed and they look terrible.Marta Gastini was good.She had the "crazy,evil,I'm gonna shove a cross in my vagina" look and the "innocent,I'm not a girl not yet a woman" look.Too bad she had little screen time.
Anthony Hopkins' character Father Lucas tells Colin O'Donaghue's character Michael Kovak that exorcisms aren't about head spins and pea soup(which is a nod to Exorcist).But through out the movie,there are so many scenes that are littered with the Exorcist.You tell the audience that this move is not gonna be anything like The Exorcist but you film scenes,say out lines which are pretty much Exorcist material.That is fucked up.
The script was pretty good,especially the confrontation between Father Lucas and Michael Kovak.To me that was the best part of the movie. And Anthony Hopkins threatening in a Welsh accent.Very freaky.
The Rite could really have done without the special effects and most importantly the fucked up sampled demonic voices.I loved the lines but I fucking hated how it sounded.Hopkins was terrifying in Silence of the lambs and there was no effects on his voice so why do you have to add it for this movie?And with the silly effects on his voice,he did not sound scary at all.He sounded ridiculous.The special effects on Hopkins' face made him look like a leopard more than a demon.Why do we need these kinda cheap shit to get the message across?The Rite could have had a better psychological effect if it were made and directed in a simple manner.All this movie needed was good acting which Hopkins can definitely pull it off.
There was one scene,I was laughing my ass off.Michael Kovak was trying to exorcise father Lucas with a very small cross.The cross was so small,you could shit it out with ease.

Don't even bother paying to watch.And to make this movie even worse.The character,Micheal Kovak is real and the idiot is staying in America or some shit.Fuck this lanjiao pro religion turd of a movie.


Quotes
Father Lucas Trevant: Michael - close the door. We don't want to be disturbed, do we.

Recommended movies done by the director
Shanghai
Derailed
1408

Movie review of The King's Speech


The King's Speech - 7.5/10
Directed by Tom Hooper
Cast - Colin Firth,Helena Bonham Carter,Geoffrey Rush

Plot Summary
Tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stammer and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through war.

Review
I am a big fan of the movie,Damned United which was Tom Hooper's previous directorial effort.So when I found out he was directing the King's speech with a magnificent cast of British actors,I was looking forward to it.I have to say this was a fantastic movie.The cast selection was perfect.Colin Firth was perfect for the role of King George VI.The ticks,the stammering,the temper,I'm pretty sure only Firth could have pulled off a character like King George VI.He should be recognized for his portrayal.Geoffrey Rush as usual did a fine job as Lionel Logue, the speech therapist and friend to King George VI.The chemistry between these two actors was a delight to watch.There were some light hearted scenes like the one where Lionel sits on the chair,The first time Lionel calls King George,Bertie and the one where King George swears.I have always enjoyed watching Helena Bonham Carter and she did manage to stand out on her own despite the two acting powerhouses (Firth and Rush).Even the supporting cast were good.Two of my favorites were Guy Pierce.His British accent and the whole royalty acting was fantastic.I wished he had more screen time though.And Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill.He got the voice and the attitude down perfectly.
Direction for The King's speech was good.The cinematography was fantastic.The costumes and location shots were good.The script was brilliant.A truly heart warming,feel good movie with fine acting to watch.

I really recommend this movie to one and all.Worth watching on a weekend.


Quotes
King George VI: L-listen to me... listen to me!
Lionel Logue: Why should I waste my time listening to you?
King George VI: Because I have a voice!
Lionel Logue: ...yes, you do.

Lionel Logue: Do you know any jokes?
King George VI: ...Timing isn't my strong suit.

[watching a clip of Hitler speaking]
Lilibet: What's he saying?
King George VI: I don't know but... he seems to be saying it rather well.
Lionel Logue: [as George "Berty" is lighting up a cigarette] Please don't do that.
King George VI: I'm sorry?
Lionel Logue: I believe sucking smoke into your lungs will kill you.
King George VI: My physicians say it relaxes the throat.
Lionel Logue: They're idiots.
King George VI: They've all been knighted.
Lionel Logue: Makes it official then.


Recommended movies done by the director
The Damned United

Sunday 6 February 2011

Movie review of Black Swan


Black Swan - 8.5/10
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Cast - Natalie Portman,Mila Kunis,Vincent Cassel,Winona Ryder

Plot Summary
A ballet dancer wins the lead in "Swan Lake" and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan - Princess Odette - but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like Odette's evil sister, Odile, the Black Swan.

Review
Initially I was a little apprehensive about watching this movie.Well because I do not like Natalie Portman.To me,her only good movie was Leon the Professional.I did not like Closer and V for vendetta could have done better without her.And as for Star Wars,I wanted her raped by the Sand People as much as I wanted Jar Jar Binks to be ripped apart by the Jawas.That's how much I dislike Natalie Portman.But Black Swan is directed by Darren Aronofsky and I have to watch his movies.He did a fantastic job pushing Mickey Rourke to his acting limit in The Wrestler and I wanted to know if he could do the same for Portman.To my surprise,he did.This is definitely Portman's finest moment as an actress.She did such a fantastic job,I'm pretty sure she would be nominated for Best Actress and perhaps win it.Not only did Portman did a fantastic job,the rest of the cast were really good as well.Vincent Cassel who is a brilliant French actor and the lucky bastard is married to Monica Bellucci and Mila Kunis from the series That 70's show.The three main cast have fantastic chemistry between them.There was also a barely recognizable Winona Ryder.The scene with Ryder in a wheelchair was one of the best scenes of the movie.
Just like The Wrestler,Black Swan was done with a very tight budget.Aronofsky should continue doing this cause it seems to be working for him so far.Cinematography and camera works were fantastic.I loved the track shots and the mirror shots especially.Editing was fucking brilliant.You have to pay attention cause there are quite a few scenes where you might miss in a blink of an eye.And all these scenes are fucking creepy.There are also some scenes that made me shudder and go "What The Fuck" as well.
Even though you may figure out the twist before the end,it was the way the movie ended which is another reason why I found Black Swan a really good movie.

Definitely worth watching on a weekend.

Quotes
Nina Sayers: I was perfect...

Thomas Leroy: That was me seducing you. It needs to be the other way around.

Recommended movies done by the director
Requiem for a dream
Pi
The Wrestler

Friday 4 February 2011

Movie review of The Green Hornet


The Green Hornet - 3.5/10
Directed by Michel Gondry
Cast - Seth Rogen,Jay Chou,Cameron Diaz,Christoph Waltz

Plot Summary
Following the death of his father, Britt Reid, heir to his father's large company, teams up with his late dad's assistant Kato to become a masked crime fighting team.

Review
You have a good writer and comedian in Seth Rogen, you have a fantastic visual director in Michel Gondry,you have a talented actor who can play a villain in Christoph Waltz and still somehow fuck this movie up so bad..Initially,it was Stephen Chow who was supposed to direct and act as Kato.I guess he probably knew this movie would be shit so he left and Gondry took over.Judging from the trailer itself,I knew this movie was gonna suck ass.But I had to watch this movie as Michel Gondry is one of my favourite directors.Not even halfway through the movie,you can notice that the writers are clearly confused as to whether they want Green Hornet to be funny or serious.Some scenes were supposed to be funny and some scenes were serious.A good 90% of the jokes in the movie fell flat.And I hate to say this as I always enjoyed Seth Rogen's brand of comedy but in Green Hornet, he was fucking annoying! Motherfucker had this really annoying voice and half the fuck time he is shouting.I really had the sudden urge the slap him.And then there was Jay fucking Chou.To say he was trying to outdo Keanu Reeve would be an understatement.And why the fuck can't they just get a Chinese actor who can SPEAK PROPER ENGLISH!!! This fucktard was barely comprehensible.I seriously needed subtitles whenever he opened his cheebye mouth.Christoph Waltz was wonderful in Inglorious Basterds and shit in Green Hornet.I really wished I did not see him in this movie.I sincerely hope he chooses his next movie wisely.Cameron Diaz was a waste of space here.There was no need for her in any part of the show and she looks like a melted plastic bag.Surprisingly Edward Furlong has a cameo.It took me awhile to recognize Terminator 2's John Connor.And boy does he look haggard but it was nice to see him on screen again.
As bad as the acting was,the script,plot and editing were horrible.The ending was just stupid especially the part about the thumb drive.There were some jump cuts before the actor finishes his line.And the script was just horrible and not funny.The action sequences(Kato's fights) was interesting the first time,then they kept repeating it. The only good thing about this movie was the multi screen shot scene which was brilliant.I have seen this done before.Michel Gondry once directed this music video but it was just a split screen then.
Luckily for me,I hate watching movies in 3D,so I did not bother wasting more money on this shit.Apparently,there wasn't much 3D sequences.Only a few scenes and the end credits.

Do not bother watching this on 3D or on a weekend.

Quotes
Kato: I was born in Shanghai. You know Shanghai?
Britt Reid: Yeah, I love Japan.

Mike Axford: You are blowing this guy completely out of proportion.
Britt Reid: I will blow this guy in any proportion I want!

Recommended movies done by the director
Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind
Science of sleep
Be kind rewind