3rd World Movie Junkie

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:30:19 +0800

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Directed by: Shane Black

Starring:

Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pierce,

Don Cheadle, and Ben Kingsley

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CzoSeClcw0

After the catastrophic events that transpired in New York City while fighting alongside the Avengers, it’s back to the drawing board for billionaire playboy Tony Stark (Downey), who is trying to perfect his latest and most effective Iron Man suit yet. While keeping himself preoccupied, the nation is under serious threat. A series of mysterious bombings by a terrorist known as the Mandarin (Kingsley), has intelligence authorities baffled and unable to retaliate. When Stark decides to get personal with the terrorist, he issues a televised threat and challenges the Mandarin, who responds by ordering a massive air strike on Tony Stark’s home in an attempt to destroy everything, including the Iron Man.

Iron Man 3 is a superhero film directed by Shane Black, who also co-wrote the films screenplay together with Drew Pearce. The film is the third film installment in the Iron Man film franchise and the seventh installment in connection with several other Marvel Universe films that will eventually build up to The Avengers series of film.

Actor Robert Downey Jr. returns to his role of Tony Stark, with actress Gwyneth Paltrow and actor Don Cheadle also reprising their roles as Pepper Potts and James Rhodes, respectively. Actors Guy Pearce and Ben Kingsley make their debut in the series as villains Aldrich Killian and Mandarin.

The Iron Man film franchise is probably the most impressive of the Marvel Studios released films. The series has been consistent in it being darkly comical, action packed, and just non-stop high-adrenaline entertainment. Robert Downey Jr. again proves that he is spot for the role of Tony Stark and that the actor doesn’t have to do much or be in the middle of all the action in order to make this film great. Whether dawning the Iron Man suit and locking horns with hostiles, or just being locked up in a dusty garage with an annoying kid, Downey’s presence makes this film great and entertaining. The addition of an underrated talent in actor Guy Pearce, who plays the films main villain is brilliant, and Ben Kingsley, well Kingsley is just as always awesome on screen.

The story line is very well written and is probably the best one of the series. The few comedic twists were a bit of a throw off, but was not at all damaging to the film. If anything, it was actually that “slap in the face” humor that you know you had coming. With that in mind, it’s funny how after waiting for the end credits to role out, that surprise clip gives you the same feeling.

There is plenty to love in Iron Man 3. This is definitely hands down the best installment in the series yet, and a great first release following The Avengers film as well. With several more Marvel films to the build up of the Avengers sequel, there is plenty more Marvel superhero madness to look forward to.

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G.I. Joe Retaliation (2013)

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:30:00 +0800

G.I. Joe Retaliation (2013)

Directed by: Jon M. Chu

Starring:

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Arnold Vosloo, Adrianne Palicki,

DJ Cotrona, Bruce Willis

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZEAvgvjbDM

The G.I. Joe unit is framed for stealing nuclear warheads from Pakistan and are accused of committing crimes against the country they so proudly serve. As a result, a surprise massive airstrike on the G.I. Joe base camp is immediately put into motion by order of the United States President, with the intent to terminate the very existence of G.I. Joe and everyone involved. Those who survive the attack, Roadblock (Johnson), Flint, and Lady Jaye (Palicki), are all that remains of the G.I. Joe team. The surviving Joes go rogue in their search for answers, as they address the very threats within the government that wants them dead, and before the brewing forces of Cobra unleash their plans for world domination.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation is a science fiction action film directed by John M. Chu and is co-written by Zombieland writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, based on characters from Hasbro’s popular G.I. Joe set of toys and action figures, comic books, and cartoons. The film is the second installment in the G.I. Joe series of film and is a sequel to 2009’s G.I. Joe : The Rise of Cobra.

The film stars an ensemble cast led by actor/pro-wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, actor DJ Cotrona, and actress Adrienne Palicki, with an appearance from actor Bruce Willis, who plays a special role in the film.

Also reprising the roles they had portrayed in the first film are actors Channing Tatum, Arnold Vosloo, Jonathan Pryce, British martial artist Ray Park and South Korean actor Byung-hun Lee.

After a disastrous first film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), which in my opinion had underwritten characters, an unengaging story line, and overall just had a bad leading cast who did not give justice to any of the characters in the film, it was likely that this film franchise was doomed right from the start. Some four years later and here we are with the second installment, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, marketed as a sequel to the first, but feels more like a forced reboot of the film series.

A major change in a lot of the first films main cast and some of its lead roles may be a sign of the trouble in production this film was heading for. The character of Duke, who is played by actor Channing Tatum both in the first film and here, and who was the main character in The Rise of Cobra, SPOILER ALERT: is surprisingly killed off within the first 30 minutes of the film. Why they would kill off arguably one of the most popular G.I. Joe characters in the franchise is just insane. From then on, the lead is taken over by actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who will most probably be replacing Tatum as the face of this franchise and hopefully save the film series.

Just like its predecessor, this second film is a flop in my books. A sad combination of uninspiring story telling and bad casting. Director John M. Chu, who is best known for directing Step Up 2, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, and the web series Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, was an odd choice for directing this film. Im surprised we actually didn’t see the cast suddenly break out in song and dance. Jokes aside, the action sequences were nicely choreographed and the overwhelming number of explosive events, heavy artillery, and special effects is good candy on the eyes, but overall it just doesn’t surpress the fact that this is another bad adaptation of the series that not even the combined machismo of action star Bruce Willis and WWE Champion “The Rock” can control.

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Red Dawn (2012)

Sun, 05 May 2013 11:30:21 +0800

Red Dawn (2012)

Directed by: Dan Bradley

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0edgYX2Ca0

The morning after a mysterious nationwide power outage, the city of Spokane, Washington finds itself caught in the middle of a serious threat, after the military forces of North Korea stage a surprise attack on the United States. As the city is swiftly taken under military control, a group of teenagers lead by off duty U.S. Marine Jed Eckert (Hemsworth), find refuge in the woods, where they tactically train themselves to go to war in order to defend and liberate their town from its captors.

Red Dawn is a action war film directed by Dan Bradley, who is best known for being a stunt coordinator and second unit film director for several notable films. His previous works include contributions to the Spider-Man, James Bond, Mission Impossible, and Jason Bourne series of film. The film is written by Carl Ellsworth, who had written the screenplay for the films Red Eye (2005), Disturbia (2007), and Last House on the Left (2009).

The film stars a cast of young talent with include actors Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson, and Connor Cruise, and with actresses Adrianne Palicki and Isabel Lucas.

After doing my research for this film, i had just found out that this is actually a remake of a 1984 film of the same name by director John Milius, which i am yet to see, so you probably wont find comparisons between the two here (originals are almost always better though, at least for me).

Anyway, i thought this remake by director Dan Bradley was okay but not quite. The film as a whole is probably geared towards a younger audience. The young cast keeps it fresh and current, but it’s also the young cast of characters here who kill a lot of the “believability” of the films plot. I mean come on, is anyone really gonna buy into a plot that has a group of inexperienced kids outsmarting an invading countries military force? It would have probably made more sense if this were branded as a comedy, so no normal thinking person would actually take this impossible plot seriously. It is a serious war film though, and it is what it is.

On a higher note though, the film is easy going and there is some entertainment to salvage here and you might just find yourself sitting through this from start to finish. It sort of reminds me of the film Toy Soldiers (1991), which was equally as entertaining because it also had that same kids-vs-hostiles theme. The whole experience is like watching a surprisingly okay B-movie HBO feature on a Sunday afternoon (if that makes any sense). Director Dan Bradley’s experience in stunt coordination is present in some of the nicely choreographed action sequences and shootouts, which are nowhere fancy and top notch, but just gives the film that little bit of entertainment value.

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LUV (2012)

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:00:00 +0800

LUV (2012)

Directed by: Sheldon Candis

Starring: Common, Michael Rainey Jr, Danny Glover

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqdhpvLrmMI

Woody (Rainey), an 11-year-old young boy abandoned and left to live with his grandmother, gets a crash course on life and what it takes to be a man, after spending a day with his uncle Vincent (Common), an ex-convict looking to change his ways and leave his criminal past behind.

LUV is a drama film co-written and directed by Sheldon Candis. The film stars an impressive cast that include Hip-Hop rapper Common, young actor Michael Rainey Jr, and with supporting performances from actors Danny Glover and Dennis Haysbert. The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

The characters are brilliantly acted by the films cast and that is probably the saving grace of this film. Hip-Hop artist Common has starred in several films before, but this may just be his best performance to date. Both Common and co-star Michael Rainey Jr put in excellent performances in this piece.

It’s a nice little film here from director Sheldon Candis. Its plot is nothing new nor original and overall is nothing great to get all excited about. Its a coming of age drama of sorts set within the African-American community, where a child learns the ropes from his ex-con uncle on what it takes to hustle and live a “thugs life.” This is no family friendly movie though, as most of what was presented here involved drugs, guns, beatings, killings, and a lot of negative images and values. Somewhere along the way though, one would realize that this just may be the reality of someone out there, and it is smart and thought provoking.

As interesting enough as it presents itself to be, the plot just doesn’t hold itself together with a few unbelievable “What the Fuck” twists along the way and a disappointing open ended ending.

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The Master (2012)

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:00:00 +0800

The Master (2012)

Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ1O1vb9AUU

Freddie Quell (Phoenix), has just returned from his service aboard a Navy vessel during World War II. While trying to adjust to society, Freddie stumbles through several day jobs where he experiences recurring Posttraumatic Stress Disorder which lead to violent breakdowns. He then finds himself stowaway aboard a ship where he meets Lancaster Dodd (Hoffman), a charismatic speaker and leader of a religious movement known as “The Cause.” Dodd takes Freddie under his wing as they travel together and spread their teachings.

The Master is a drama film written, directed, and produced by American film director Paul Thomas Anderson. The films plot is inspired by Scientology and its founder L. Ron Hubbard. Starring in the film are actors Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and actress Amy Adams. The trio main cast all received Academy Award nominations: Phoenix for Best Actor, Hoffman for Best Supporting Actor, and Adams for Best Supporting Actress.

Not my favorite of P.T. Anderson’s films, but one i did appreciate for the brilliant direction and the acting from the cast involved. P.T. Anderson’s directing here is poetic. The director at his best. His latest film is again brilliant and enigmatic, coupled with yet another mesmerizing musical score and visual frames. A solid cast who turn in excellent performances top off this strange yet entertaining arrangement of a film.

A somewhat return to sanity and a good comeback film for actor Joaquin Phoenix. Arguably the best performance of his career yet i’m still quite baffled still on how the actor lost out on the Oscar for Best Actor. I appreciate the acting chemistry between Phoenix and Hoffman in this. The film is more a character study than it is enjoyable for having a engaging storyline, thus, some good acting chops are needed to pull off the characters of the film. Amy Adams, though mostly in the shadows, manages to still nicely translate that strong presence required by her character. Watch out for the brilliant interrogation scene, as well as the jail argument between Hoffman and Phoenix, which were probably the films main highlights for me.

The story line is intricate and a bit of a confusion. Probably a sleeper if you don’t put much effort into breaking it down. Halfway through the film was when i realized that i had to dig deeper into understanding the relationships between the three main characters in order to get a sense of what was really unraveling before me.

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Killing Them Softly (2012)

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 19:00:00 +0800

Killing Them Softly (2012)

Directed by: Andrew Dominik

Starring: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Scoot McNairy

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCCBo0yh6YM

Jackie Cogan (Pitt), a professional hitman and enforcer, is hired to restore order in the criminal underworld by hunting down the amateur thieves who had recently robbed a Mob protected gaming room, which resulted in the collapse of the local criminal economy.

Killing Them Softly is a crime-caper film directed by Australian film director Andrew Dominik. The film, which is based on the novel Cogan’s Trade by author George V. Higgins, marks Dominik’s third full length feature release. It was nominated for the Palm d’Or prize at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

Starring in the film is actor Brad Pitt. A second collaboration between the actor and film director after Pitt previously played the starring role in Dominik’s 2007 film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Playing supporting roles here are actors Ray Liotta, James Gandolfini, Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy and Ben Mendelsohn.

A lot of slow unraveling and verbal chatter is what you will get here. More dialogue driven than action packed, and for its genre is probably a step back from your typical mafia film. One bit that does stay present is the brutality synonymous with Mob beatings and hits. The films title comes nowhere close to the blood splattering deaths depicted in the film. But not to mislead anyone into thinking that this is a bad film, as it is a nicely directed film that is also well casted and very well acted. Pitt is convincing as the stone faced hitman and much more kudos to the excellent performances from the supporting cast.

The script in itself is well written with a lot of brainy dialogue and smart conversation. Also, it is brilliant how amidst all that is happening in this film, we do get the constant radio and television commentary from what i assume is/was the presidential campaign and the candidates spieling their false monologues on the “American Dream”. I guess the main theme/point here that the film tries to get across is “capitalism” and how business in the criminal underworld is one and the same as one would go about the business of running a country. It’s all about the money. And when someone fucks up, someone has to tie up the loose ends.

A bit slow paced and demands much more of ones attention than i had thought, but all in all was a pleasing view.

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Flight (2012)

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 19:00:00 +0800

Flight (2012)

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Starring: Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Don Cheadle

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlFMZ5D8FNc

Capt. Whip Whitaker (Washington), an experienced pilot, maneuvers his plane from crashing during a return flight, sparring the lives of the majority of his passengers on board. Now dubbed a hero, he must face his personal demons as further investigation into the plane malfunctions reveals the troubling truth.

Flight is a drama film co-produced and directed by Robert Zemeckis, and written by Amercian screenwriter John Gatins (nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay). The film is director Robert Zemeckis return to directing a live-action film since his last release of What Lies Beneath and Castaway back in 2000.

The film stars Academy Award winner Denzel Washington, who received an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination for his role of Capt. Whip Whittaker in this film. Also starring in the film are Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, and John Goodman.

Robert Zemeckis is back to working with live-action and his latest film Flight is a pretty fun, intense, and satisfying drama. The films alcohol induced, cocaine-fiend lead is brilliantly played by the always entertaining Denzel Washington. In one of the more exciting plane crash scenes in film or in just any other disastrous situation, leave it to Denzel’s character to always be the one and only character who is cool and calm under intense pressure. Only Denzel can.

Anyway, The script is very nicely written with a lot of simple plot twists and turns that will keep one entertained. It’s more a serious addiction drama than anything else, as we watch another one of society’s respected figures fall from grace. The intense adrenaline packed opening is dropped down to slower pace and from then on is a deeper look into our characters demons and addiction. Whip Whitacker is both a likable and annoying character to connect to, and as we witness his journey here, we want nothing more but to either see him fail or succeed.

This is well worth it. A great collaboration between director and actor.

A good comeback for Robert Zemeckis to what he is loved for.

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Django Unchained (2012)

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:00:00 +0800

Django Unchained (2012)

Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUdM9vrCbow

Django (Foxx), a slave whose freedom is bought by German bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Waltz), is tasked to accompany and assist the good doctor in claiming several bounty rewards, before they travel to a Greenville plantation owned by the ruthless Calvin Candie (DiCaprio), where they plan to buy the freedom of Django’s wife.

Django Unchained is a action drama film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The film was nominated for several Golden Globe and Academy Awards, where director Quentin Tarantino took home the prize for Best Screenplay in both ceremonies. The film is currently Quentin Tarantino’s highest grossing film to date.

The film stars Jamie Foxx alongside actors Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio, and with Samuel L. Jackson and actress Kerry Washington also playing supporting roles. Christoph Waltz took home the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, edging out his co-star DiCaprio, who was also nominated in the category. The actor continued on to win the BAFTA and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, the second time he had won all three awards the same year for his role in a Tarantino film following a treble win for Inglorious Basterds in 2009.

Another masterful film from director Quentin Tarantino. The director has never been afraid to tackle the most sensitive of society issues and in his latest piece, he is not shy in exposing some in-your-face acts of racism and racial slavery. Graphic images combined with the always witty dialogue, plus an excellent cast of talent, make every second of this 170 minutes long film very entertaining and well worth it. No dull moments in this film as scene after scene is a jump from the humorous to the brutal. Sorry for the term, but i cant recall any other film in history that boldly used the word “Nigger” as many times as this film did (let me know if you have knowledge of any other). It’s smart really, as i imagine this whole film slowly but surely getting under the skin of its audience because of all the innapropriate language and mistreating, which in turn probably lead to the films success behind all the controversy. You can expect loads of action, comedy, drama, and everything in between. The casting is somewhat of a surprise as well and you will find some hilarious and unexpected cameo appearances in there.

I got to give it to Chritoph Waltz. The actor is perfect for Tarantino films. Only his second collaboration with the director and it’s another brilliant performance and another triple sweep in the Best Supporting Actor category. Foxx, DiCaprio, and Samuel L. Jackson are brilliant as well. Unleash all four actors in one intense table conversation scene and the result is pure genius.

Five Stars! Two Thumbs Up! Whatever you wan’t to think of it.

Quentin Tarantino’s best film to date if you ask me.

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Premium Rush (2012)

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:00:00 +0800

Premium Rush (2012)

Directed by: David Koepp

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon, Dania Ramirez

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oBxSPohVzY

Manhattan bike courier Wilee (Gordon-Levitt) is all business when making deliveries across the busy city streets on his bike with no brakes. Today, his latest contract is of great importance both to his client and to crooked cop Bobby Monday (Shannon), who will stop at nothing to intercept the package before it is delivered.

Premium Rush is a action film directed by David Koepp, who also co-wrote the film together with John Kamps. The director is probably best known for being a screenwriter. His resume boasts several successful titles which include Jurassic Park (1993), Mission Impossible (1996), Spider Man (2002), and much more. This is only Koepp’s fifth film as a director, where he has had lesser success. He had previously directed Stir of Echoes (1999), Secret Window (2004), and Ghost Town (2008).

The film stars actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Shannon, with supporting performances from actress Dania Ramirez and Jamie Chung.

Director David Koepp’s film is quite entertaining. Its a simple chase flick staged on the New York streets and featuring a group of bike couriers. Lots of adrenaline pumped action and nicely choreographed stunts that are made believable as the actors themselves performed most of the simple yet appealing tricks. Its plot has something going for it and there is a substantial story line behind all the fancy pedaling. Also enjoyable are the performances of the film lead and his antagonist, who are brilliantly played by the always talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Shannon. The talent combined hold this film together and make it more interesting than it actually is. Any other two actors playing these starring roles would have flopped this film.

True Romance (1993)

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:23:00 +0800

True Romance (1993)

Directed by: Tony Scott

Starring: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuQOXLn25A4

After meeting at a Sonny Chiba triple feature, comic book clerk Clarence Worley (Slater) and Alabama Whitman (Arquette), a prostitute, fall in love and decide to get married. They accidentally acquire a suitcase full of high-grade cocaine from Alabama’s now dead pimp. They decide to run to Los Angeles with case in hand and a plan to make a huge profit, by negotiating a one time deal and selling all the drugs to a local film producer.

True Romance is a romantic crime film written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott. The film is one of Quentin Tarantino’s early written screenplay’s for a motion picture and is one which he chose to sell rather than direct. It stars Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette, with a huge who’s who cast of supporting performers that include Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken, Samuel L. Jackson, James Gandolfini, and Chris Penn.

This is a gem of a film. Probably best known for still being a cult classic despite the mainstream premiere which happened to flop in the box office. The cast in this is huge and with an excellent line up of talent. At the top of their game, Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette are excellent leads in this film and the supporting cast is brilliant as well. Who can forget Gary Oldman playing a pimp and Brad Pitt playing the worst and laziest stoner roomie ever. What a trip.

Much of this films cult success can probably be credited to diretor Quentin Tarantino, who actually wrote the screenplay but not direct this piece. Though the film was nicely directed by Tony Scott, the entire experience is very Tarantino.

The film at least for me, is memorable for the excellent dialogue synonymous to a lot of Tarantino written screenplays. I especially enjoyed the opening sequences leading to the diner scene with Clarence and Alabama, and not to forget that very awesome SiciIian conversation between Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper’s characters.

One of the classic 90’s films i remember enjoying that is just highly original for being your unconventional, graphiclly brutal, and just plain fucked up love story. You just gotta love it.

THANK YOU.

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:13:59 +0800

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1000 hits from our friends in the United States of America.

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Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:08:00 +0800

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow

Starring: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Jason Clarke

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxC_JNz5Vbg

Maya (Chastain), a young CIA operative has spent her career searching for reliable intelligence and leads that would lead to the capture of Osama Bin Laden, leader of al-Qaeda, the terrorist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States. When she finally comes across a piece of intelligence that suspects America’s most wanted terrorist to be hiding in a urban compound in Pakistan, it’s all systems go for a high risk covert operation that will have an experienced U.S. Navy SEAL team raiding the compound.

Zero Dark Thirty is a historical film directed by Kathryn Bigelow. It is a dramatization of what is dubbed to be “The Greatest Manhunt in History”, and how the United States operated in the successful finding and killing of Osama Bin Laden.

The film was nominated in several Golden Globe Award categories including Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actress in a Drama nomination for Jessica Chastain, who took home the prize in the category. Zero Dark Thirty is currently in contention for several Academy Awards including Best Picture.

A pretty good film. Director Kathryn Bigelow has a knack for directing this somewhat war/post-war back story type of drama’s. More than this being the tale of Osama Bin Laden’s capture and death, it is the story of the people working behind the scenes leading up to the finale that shocked the world. The film’s main character is Maya, the CIA operative responsible for pin pointing the terrorists location, puttiing into action one hell of an impossible mission. The role is brilliantly played by actress Jessica Chastain. The story unfolds through the chronological events that go as far back as the 9/11 incident. One of the bits i enjoyed here, is how the film gives you a good sense of how long it actually took for the US government to bring down al-Qaeda’s leader. Though quite the lengthly film, there is a lot of informative detail that’s interesting enough to sit through.

This film did not have as much of an emotional impact on me as i imagine it would have for the people who had suffered great loss because of 9/11. I like how this is a good closure film that doesn’t come off as depressing or a tragic reminder that one wouldn’t want to relive. Rather it is something that is feel good and triumphant when the credits wrap.

The Impossible (2012) Directed by: Juan Antonio Bayona Starring: Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, Tom...

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:50:00 +0800

The Impossible (2012)

Directed by: Juan Antonio Bayona

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, Tom Holland

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU4mXJRHIcQ

Henry Bennett (McGregor), his wife Maria (Watts), and their three sons Lucas (Holland), Tomas and Simon, are enjoying the holidays at a paradise resort in Khao Lak, Thailand, when a devastating tsunami unexpectedly hits the shores and sweeps away everything in its path, leaving the family separated from each other.

The Impossible is a disaster-drama film from Spanish film director Juan Antonio Bayona, with a screenplay by Sergio G. Sanchez. The film is based on the actual accounts of Maria Belon and the experience that she and her family had to go through during the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami.

The films main stars are actor Ewan McGregor, actress Naomi Watts, and young actor Tom Holland. Naomi Watts puts in another excellent performance in this piece. The actress received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Drama, and is currently in the running for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Everybody remembers the tragic event that struck the shores of Thailand back in 2004. The Impossible is supposedly a reenactment based on actual accounts from Maria Belon, who had experienced the event first hand and lived to tell about it. The title says it all, it is an “Impossible” story relived and told.

A nicely directed piece from Spanish director J.A. Bayona. Its plot is quite the human tragedy tale accompanied by enough graphic images and depressing moments made real and convincing by its stellar cast which include brilliant dramatic performances from Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, and young upcoming actor Tom Holland. Actress Naomi Watts again and as always, brilliantly manages to look convincingly wrecked and all over the place as she staggers in distraught from scene to scene together with Tom Holland, who as well gives a worthy breakthrough performance. The build up is pretty suspenseful and each scene seems to come off as horrifically tragic as we watch our characters on survival mode. You actually feel the explosion of intense emotion in the performances which is what controls the pace of this film.

This is a great film. A disaster drama filled with heavy emotion and gritty in your face depressing drama. The fact that it is inspired by actual events make it that more interesting to screen.

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles (2012)

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:00:00 +0800

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles (2012)

Directed by: Erik Matti

Starring:

Dingdong Dantes, Lovi Poe, Joey Marquez,

Janice de Belen, Ramon Bautista

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk2rccJ_vl0

Macoy (Dantes), a stubborn and arrogant city slicker, travels to the remote provincial town of Palupandan, to win back his girlfriend Sonia (Poe), who is pregnant with his child. Though not welcomed by Sonia’s mom Fely (de Belen), Macoy is set on not leaving town without his girlfriend. He decides to stay the night to help Nestor (Marquez), Sonia’s father, and Bart (Bautista), the trusty family servant, as they prepare a feast for Sonia’s birthday. While buying a pig for the upcoming celebration, Macoy gets into trouble with a group of townfolk, who happen to be Tiktik — man-eating creatures of local folklore, who enjoy feasting on fetuses that are still developing inside the womb.

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles is a Filipino action horror-comedy film written and directed by Erik Matti. The first Filipino film of its kind. The film is shot entirely on green screen, giving much of the films scenery its unique look and computer generated pieces.

The film stars Dingdong Dantes and Lovi Poe, with supporting performances from Joey Marquez, Janice de Belen, and Ramon Bautista. For someone who we rarely catch onscreen nowadays, Joey Marquez is excellent. Though goofy and comedic, his performance is the one that pretty much stood out for me.

Director Erik Matti’s film is an entertaining piece. Horror films have always been a staple in Philippine cinema and the Aswang folklore has been told and portrayed several times to date. Erik Matti gives us a fresh take on the age old Filipino myth that is classic grindhouse, gory and brutal. It is reminiscent of something you would expect to see in a Quentin Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez film. This totally reminds me of “From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)” or even “Planet Terror (2007)”, and i mean that in a good way as i love those two films.

Anyway, the film is pretty straightforward and is much enjoyed for its original story, often humorous dialog, special effects, and non-stop action, which are all in the light of being a Filipino film. Disappointingly, there is not much of a plot to grasp onto here. A backstory on the Aswang’s would have been a nice touch, especially for those viewers who wouldnt have a clue what a Aswang/Tiktik was.

Was it just me, or was there a hell lot of product placement in this? Brand close ups in almost every other scene. I got to admit though, the significant role and use of Boy Bawang in this is hilarious!

The overall look of the film is good but not perfect. Aside from the nicely colored backdrops of the film, third world film technology and skill is still evident in a lot of the films CGI. The computer generated Tiktik’s still seem unconvincing and almost like they were stopmotion puppets?

The film is all in all not bad at all. Its another step up in terms of how far Philippine cinema has come and how brilliantly talented Filipino filmmakers can get.

The Fifth Element (1997)

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:22:00 +0800

The Fifth Element (1997)

Directed by: Luc Besson

Starring: Bruce Willis, Mila Jovovich, Gary Oldman

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoKssDjs64o

In the twenty-third century, Korben Dallas (Willis), a former elite special forces commando turned New York City cab driver, finds great responsibility in protecting Leeloo (Jovovich), an ulikely fare who just happened to drop in. She is the perfect beauty, who also just happens to be the mythical Fifth Element, a being that appears every five thousand years and is humanities only hope from total annihilation.

The Fifth Element is a science fiction film written, produced, and directed by French filmmaker Luc Besson. The film was selected as the opening piece for the 1997 Cannes Film Festival. It received a series of accolades and nods during its release, including Academy Award nominations for Best Effects and Sound Design, but losing out to George Lucas’ Titanic. It also received several Cesar Award nominations and won the Cesar Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and a Best Director award for Director Luc Besson.

Actor Bruce Willis heads a cast that include Mila Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, and Chris Tucker. Jovovich received a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Supporting Actress and Chris Tucker for the Worst New Star, for their performance in the film.

Director Luc Besson has directed over 50 films throughout his career, most of them French, and most of which are probably action films. The Fifth Element is probably his most popular sci-fi title to date. The film is very well directed. The nineties in my opinion was a good year for science fiction films, and this film is up there as one of the best during the time. The cast is excellent and quite goofy come to think of it. I’ve always thought that Bruce Willis and Mila Jovovich were spot on avatars for science fiction roles. Chris Tucker on the otherhand, was typically funny for one of his earlier film roles, playing a borderline homosexual radio host. Gary Oldman plays the main villain in the film, a role which probably never suited the brilliant actor in the first place.

Aside from the film being visually good production-wise, its story is also quite original. I like how its actually funny and humorous throughout. It makes the complex story seem not too dragging, and makes it a serious piece that doesn’t have to be viewed too seriously.

All in all, this Luc Besson gem is an awesome sci-fi title and a classic, and is always a joy to relive.

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:00:00 +0800

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Directed by: David O. Russell

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj5_FhLaaQQ

After being discharged from a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano Jr. (Cooper) moves back in with his parents, much to the surprise of his father, Pat Solitano Sr. (De Niro), who has found a new career in sports bookmaking. While Pat Jr. tries to get his life back on track and reconcile his past differences with his ex-wife, he meets Tiffany (Lawrence), a young dancer with problems of her own.

Silver Linings Playbook is a romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by David O. Russell, who adapted the screenplay from author Matthew Quick’s novel of the same name. Starring in the film are Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, with Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, Anupam Kher, and Julia Stiles playing supporting roles.

The film is currently nominated for several Academy Awards which include Best Picture and Best Director for David O. Ruseell. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence are nominated for their performance in this film, with De Niro and Weaver also receiving nods for their supporting roles. Actress Jennifer Lawrence had also recently won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.

A awkwardly entertaining little film from director David O. Russell. His main character’s are not typical and not the cliche romantic duo you would usually find in a love comedy. They’re in simpler terms “cuckoo”, yet very likable. Kudos to the films cast who are all excellent in this film. I liked the supporting performances, with Robert De Niro as the superstitious sports fan. Chris Tucker’s presence was also a joy and something i had missed seeing onscreen since his Rush Hour days.

The film is a little dark for a comedy. It hits the right spot with having just a little bit of everything for everyone to enjoy. It’s romance, comedy, sports madness, nuthouse crazy, and family dysfunction, all rolled up into one package.

A pretty light and feel good film that well deserves all the recognition and praise it has been getting.

Savages (2012)

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 19:00:00 +0800

Savages (2012)

Directed by: Oliver Stone

Starring: Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFWZ6doRb34

Business is good for Laguna Beach entrepreneurs Ben (Taylor-Johnson) and his close friend Chon (Kitsch). The two share a very lucrative business of home growing and selling some of the best marijuana money can buy. They also share the same love for Ophelia (Lively), an extraordinary beauty who is very much in love and in a relationship with the two friends. All is good and well, until the notorious Mexican Baja Cartel decide they want in on Ben and Chon’s business. A deal which the two friends don’t want to be a part of. When the Cartel kidnap Ophelia in order to get her lovers to cooperate, Ben and Chon buy themselves some time and plot a daring heist to save their girlfriend.

Savages is a crime-thriller film directed by American filmmaker Oliver Stone. The film is based on a novel of the same name by author Don Winslow, who is also credited for co-writing the screenplay together with Stone and Shane Salerno. The film is headed by a cast of young talent which include Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and with supporting performances from actors John Travolta, Benicio del Toro, and actress Salma Hayek.

A nice little cast round up this film. Young actors Kitsch, Lively, and Taylor-Johnson light up the screen as menage et trois lovers, and their onscreen chemistry translate as something you would expect from a 90210 episode gone wrong or an episode of “Gossip Girl Gone Wild”. I like how the flight of young talent is nicely balanced off with the presence of the veteran actors. John Travolta plays the dirty federal agent, Benicio is the cartel muscle, and Salma Hayek is the big boss of this tale.

An interesting choice of a film for director Oliver Stone to take on, given the director is probably best known for his biographical films, which I’ve always thought was his bread and butter. His latest film feels like a sort of resurgence of the darker side of the director that is reminiscent of the Oliver Stone that brought us The Doors (1991), Natural Born Killers (1994) and U-Turn (1997).

Not that there was anything wrong with this film, but it’s actually enjoyable. I kinda like the Oliver Stone who doesn’t choose to tackle the social issues, tell political tales, or depict historical events. It’s rare for film with elements of sex, drugs, and decapitated bodies, to translate onscreen as something well crafted yet clumsily put together. The director is brilliant in making this film seem less brutal than it actually is. The brutality is topped off with some witty dialogue and a bit of humor. A lot of the time, this felt like I was screening a feel good stoner film with a lot of thrilling crime elements to it.

Overall, a hard film to take seriously but is quite entertaining. Probably Oliver Stone’s least serious film to date.

Life of Pi (2012)

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:20:00 +0800

Life of Pi (2013)

Directed by: Ang Lee

Starring: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZEZ35Fhvuc

Follows the amazing adventure of a 16-year-old boy named Piscine Molitor “Pi” Patel, the son of a zookeeper, who is the only survivor of an unfortunate shipwreck that kills his entire family. Lost at sea, Pi finds himself lucky to be aboard a lifeboat, which he must share with several surviving animals from his fathers zoo, including an injured zebra, a hungry hyena, a tired orangutan, and a viscious Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

Life of Pi is an adventure-drama film directed by renowned filmmaker Ang Lee. Shot in full 3D format for the big screen. It is based on a 2001 best-selling novel of the same name by author Yann Martel. It tells the story of a 16-year-old boy who survives a shipwreck and goes on an amazing journey while lost at sea aboard a life boat together with his father’s Bengal tiger. The film is currently nominated for several Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Visual Effects, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Its like this film was meant for director Ang Lee, who makes a superb directional return with this 2012 3D film adventure the Life of Pi. The film mostly seems simple. The cast is headlined by a lesser known Bollywood talent (upcoming young actor Suraj Sharma), the entire film for the most part is set on a single setting, and there is but one character to follow the whole time through, that’s if you not include the tiger Richard Parker, who actually plays a big role in the film. Its awesome how hard it was to tell whether that Tiger was purely computer generated or real. If there were such an award, the tiger should get a nod for Best CGI Performance.

Anyway, Ang Lee manages to make something quite simple very entertaining by keeping each of his scenes suspenseful, exciting, and dramatic. Not to mention each scene being brialliantly colored with breathtaking CGI and special effects.

As a whole, this was a brilliant visual masterpiece best viewed in 3D cinemas to fully experience the beauty of the images. The storytelling and visual explosion compliment each other. Ang Lee directs a dreamlike piece that’s top notch creative and very imaginative.

One of the more visually beautiful films i’ve seen in awhile.

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:00:00 +0800

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Directed by: Wes Anderson

Starring: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N8wkVA4_8s

Set in an island of the coast of New England in the 1960’s, a young boy and girl fall in love and decide to runaway together. Their sudden disappearance causes panic between the different factions of the community, who conduct an island wide search led by Police Captain Sharp (Willis), with the help of Scout Master Ward (Norton) and his troop of “Khaki Scout’s”, and with Walt Bishop (Murray), the girl’s attorney father not far behind.

Moonrise Kingdom is a romance comedy film co-written and directed by American film director Wes Anderson. The film is currently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

The ensemble cast include performances from actors Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, and Bill Murray. Murray, who makes his sixth appearance in a Wes Anderson film, has always been the perfect avatar for Anderson’s films and his presence here though not upfront, is entertaining as always. The real scene stealers in this for me, were Bruce Willis and Edward Norton. First seemed like a bad idea when I read the cast list on the cover of the DVD, but surprisingly, I enjoyed both actors performance in this. Bruce Willis was pretty good and convincing, playing a role way out of his element. Ed Norton’s performance on the otherhand, reminds me of his role in “Death to Smoochy (2002)”, in a way that he translates as a nerdy grown man who is a child at heart. Bottomline: both actors were brilliant.

Wes Anderson’s seventh feature film Moonrise Kingdom may just be his best one yet. As always, the director’s signature style of filmmaking is stamped all over his latest feature. It’s another off-beat comedy that’s hilariously childish, yet a feel good experience. An imaginative story that’s highly original and filled with all the quirky and odd, but always likable characters. The camerawork is distinctively Wes Anderson. The scenes are very orderly framed and are well balanced, creating breathtaking images that are very picturesque.

Once you’ve seen several of the director’s previous films, you’ve probably seen them all as this won’t seem a different movie experience. What keeps his films current, is how each one always stands out from any other comedy film you will find out there.

A Wes Anderson film is a Wes Anderson film and should just be on a category of its own.

As always, this was brilliant and awesome.

The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:50:00 +0800

The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)

Directed by: Rza

Starring: Russell Crowe, Rza, Lucy Liu

Link to trailer on youtube.com:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II9q8Q5wE0Y

Stories of a fabled treasure of gold, lead a ruthless band of warriors, a group of deadly assassins, and a lone British officer, to Jungle Village, where the resident blacksmith is left with no choice but to protect himself and the villagers from the chaos that is about to ensue.

The Man with the Iron Fists is a martial arts action film directed by rap artist/music producer RZA (Wu-Tang Clan). This film is RZA’s directional debut, which he also co-wrote together with filmmaker Eli Roth, and stars as the films title role alongside his co-stars Russel Crowe, Lucy Liu, and former WWE Superstar David Bautista.

A long time project of first time film director RZA. The Wu-Tang Clan head honcho takes a page off Quentin Tarantino’s book, having previously worked with the filmmaker in creating the soundtrack for his 2003 film Kill Bill, and after being inspired by Tarantino’s unique style of filmmaking.

Starring as the lead in his first film probably does not do wonders for this film. RZA is no acting god. Its odd as well that Russell Crowe actually opted to star in a backseat role for this film.

The end result is a modern day martial arts take set in the nineteenth century, that is pretty much an explosion of RZA’s long time stored ideas for a big screen film debut. The film does not at all seem uniquely RZA, as it in most ways feels like a Tarantino film that’s not quite. I imagined this would have been more enjoyable had it been a RZA envisioned project all the way with no such influences. One thing I enjoyed in this though, was the not so serious humor it presented, plus the impressive soundtrack that goes well with each of the films scenes. The sound selection includes a variety of hip hop tracks by artists Kanye West, Wiz Khalifa, and the Wu-Tang Clan, plus some soulful tunes by William Bell and Isaac Hayes to name a few.