Monday 24 June 2013

Movie review of After Earth

After Earth - 4.5/10
Directed by M.Night Shyamalan
Written by Gary Whitta and Will Smith
Cast - Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Zoe Kravitz, Sophie Okonedo

Plot Summary
A crash landing leaves Kitai Raige and his father Cypher stranded on Earth, a millennium after events forced humanity's escape. With Cypher injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help.

Review
The moment I found out that M.Night Shyamalan was directing this movie,I knew in fact everyone knew it was gonna be shit. His last few movies have been shit so why wouldn't this be as well? I would know because I have been watching them in the cinemas grudgingly since unbreakable.All because of a stupid pact,me and my friend made that we would watch all his movies in the cinema with a bucket of KFC chicken. And with every M.Night movies, we were concentrating more on the chicken than the movie itself. So we had no choice but to watch After Earth and as usual we watched it with zero expectations.Surprisingly enough, the movie didn't suck as bad as we thought it usually would.
It wasn't spectacular or anything but just boring. The good parts of the movie were the camera works. There were some really fantastic shots and of course your trademarks M.Night shots which has that shock feel sometimes as well.
Acting wise, its bad. Will Smith had that constipated look throughout the whole film, you wonder what's been up his ass the whole time.The worst is Jaden Smith. That frown he gives through out the movie makes me want to punch his throat repeatedly. That boy is so annoying and he cannot act to save his life.
Script is equally bad and just plain lazy.For a science fiction movie,the plot was dull and unimaginative. Animals evolving to hate humans after just 1000 years is kinda dumb and you will see half hyena and half lion hybrids and a giant bird which is half vulture and half eagle.And that fucking bird scene was just so ridiculous,it made me groan.


It's a good thing that Will Smith was pretty much in charge of the whole movie.From casting to script and direction.He just let M.Night do his usual bit but at a minimum level. Because if After Earth is fully written and directed by M.Night, he would have made the fucking bird as Kitai's father as a plot twist cause that's the kind of stupid shit M.Night pulls.

Don't bother, just wait for cable to watch this.

Best Quotes
Cypher Raige: Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. That is near insanity. Do not misunderstand me danger is very real but fear is a choice. We are all telling ourselves a story and that day mine changed.

Recommended movies done by the director
Sixth Sense
Unbreakable

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Movie review of Man of Steel


Man of Steel - 7/10
Directed by Zack Snyder
Written by David S.Goyer
Cast - Henry Cavill, Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon,Diane Lane, Amy Adams

Plot Summary
A young itinerant worker is forced to confront his secret extraterrestrial heritage when Earth is invaded by members of his race.

Review
Never been a big fan of Superman comics but I have always enjoyed watching cartoons and certain movies(Reeve) so I wouldn't really know the full details of Superman.What I do know is just the basic stuff like his real name,what his powers are and all that. The last superman movie directed by Bryan Singer titled Superman returns was awful. Also the last movie directed by Zack Snyder was Sucker Punch and that was awful. So I was rather skeptical that Man of Steel would do well. but when I saw the trailers and all,it seemed promising.
Well, after watching Man of Steel, I have to say it does have flaws but its an enjoyable movie for a non Superman fan such as me.
The special effects were pretty cool. I really liked the destruction of metropolis during the fight scenes.It was as though Hulk was fighting instead.Even though the fight scenes were great,it was a tad too long. Superman fights General Zod, Zod takes a break,goes back to the ship rests and then comes back for round 2?
The fathers did a good job acting. Costner did well whenever he was onscreen and Crowe as well.The thing that made me laugh was when Crowe was in control of the ship and he does those funny hand signs to close doors and the walking to one shot to the next.Hilarious.
Michael Shannon did a good job as Zod but he ain't no Terence Stamp.
This is possibly the most boring Louis Lane I've seen. They shouldn't have cast Amy Adams as Louis.However I do like Henry Cavill as the new Superman. He has a fantastic body and I hope he does well in the sequel as well.
Camera works were inconsistent. I hated the abrupt and yet constant zooming. The close up of Superman flying was fucked up. Script was ok nothing great. I fucking hated the church scene especially that shot where you see Jesus behind Superman.That was unnecessary and stupid. Costumes for the Kryptonians were cool even Superman's costume minus the red underwear was nice.
The explanation of why Superman's weakness for Krypton was not bad also. Though I'm not sure if it is in line with the comics. That whole kotex or codex bit which looks like a monkey's skull,I have no clue. Guess you have to ask a hardcore Superman fan whether that bit is part of the comics.

All in all I would recommended to watch it on a weekend. Man of Steel may not be great but it sure beats the last one.


Best Quotes
General Zod: [transmission] My name is General Zod. For some time, your world has sheltered one of my citizens. I request that you return this individual to my custody. To Kal-El, I say this: surrender within 24 hours, or watch this world suffer the consequences...

Jor-El: Goodbye, my son. Our hopes and dreams travel with you.

Lara Lor-Van: He will be an outcast. They'll kill him.

Jor-El: How? He'll be a god to them.

Faora: [Beating up Cal-El] You have a sense of morality and we do not. And that gives us an Evolutionary Advantage. And if there's one thing that History teaches us it's that Evolution always wins.

Lois Lane: Welcome to the Planet.

Recommended movies done by the director
Dawn of the Dead
300
Watchmen