Film Blog #2635

Mongol by Sergei Bodrov (2007, Germany / Kazakhstan / Russia)

2008-10-09T17:01:00.004+08:00

The gorgeous backdrop (of what appears to be mostly China) is truly captivating in this historical piece. Sergei Bodrov managed to achieve an epic feel of realism through marvelous casting and non-annoying use of CGI. The battle scenes were superbly shot, and every character was well-acted. The deliberate pacing, though jarring at times, was good and moved the plot well enough. The love angle was a bit weak and feels forced and was my main beef with the film. Otherwise, I look forward to the next 2 films in this prospective trilogy.

3.5/5 stars
IMDB

Lilja 4-ever by Lukas Moodysson (2002, Sweden / Denmark)

2008-05-06T19:32:00.005+08:00

A movie set in the armpit slums of Russia. A story about Lilja, a young girl who is about to be abandoned by her single mom, and how she copes living alone in the ghetto. It is a movie which will motivate most viewers to greatly sympathize with characters like Lilja, propelling them to do extreme stuff like volunteer in their local orphanage during weekends... or something.

The film is extremely gritty. The characters there are thrown into very unforgiving circumstances, to which they are presented with almost no way out.

4/5 stars
IMDB

August Rush by Kirsten Sheridan (2007, USA)

2008-05-06T19:13:00.005+08:00

A story based on the classic Dicken's novel, Oliver Twist. It's a love story between 2 talented musicians who had an incredibly romantic encounter one night conceiving a son who was orphaned (won't go into detail, just have to watch the movie to find out why). Life's bleak and realistic circumstances broke then apart and extraordinary circumstances reunited them again many many years after.

To me the show was trying to teach us all a lesson about finding one's solace, in this case it was music.

The soundtrack to the film is nothing short of beautiful. Almost every scene was complimented with euphonic instrumental arrangements. The movie had a tendency to be quite corny in some areas but somehow always makes up for it soon after.

If everything else isn't appealing to you, it has Jonathan Rhys Meyers doing his own vocals and instruments in the movie, that to me is one significant selling point.

3/5 stars
IMDB

Eastern Promises by David Cronenberg (UK / Canada / USA)

2008-01-06T14:59:00.000+08:00

A gripping mob tale with all the inner workings of a good film. A good, unique plot with a nice setting in London, a great cast of actors, some intricate camerawork punctuated by a nice score, and a dash of bloody violence makes this a fine thriller by Cronenberg. Viggo Mortensen is outstanding in his role as a Russian driver cum hitman. It's obvious he's done research and spent some time with some Russian tough guys before this film. His mannerisms and speech were great, with an icy cold stare and some badass prison tattoos.

The fight at the bathhouse is probably one of the best hand to hand combat ever filmed for a non-martial arts movie, in the likes of the hammer fight in 'Oldboy'. This is one of the best films of 2007, and Cronenberg has got his own unique style and tone down on the film. I'm definitely looking forward to catching up with his filmography. For some reason I've been avoiding watching his movies so far, with the exception of 'Spider', but that's going to change soon.

4/5 stars
IMDB

The Detective by Oxide Pang Chun (2007, Hong Kong)

2008-01-05T20:00:00.000+08:00

Gritty supernatural HK thriller set in Thailand. It looks good, but lacks any real substance, not to mention the supernatural element is really tacky and cliched and for the Pang brothers, it's pretty much beating a dead horse by this point. The scares weren't scary and it's really evident the Pang brothers desperately need some kind of inspiration, from the kind of shit they've been churning out lately. Andy Lau wasn't bad, but not even he and a handful of pretty chicks could save this movie from making viewers fall asleep.

2/5 stars
IMDB

American Gangster by Ridley Scott (2007, USA)

2008-01-05T19:55:00.000+08:00

Ah, what a waste of time. Ridley Scott should have done better with a drug kingpin movie. Instead he focus too much time on the buildup of the story on the two main characters, which ultimately led to a slow movie with a boring payoff. Interesting characters, but I think I've seen this kind of cop/villain film before. Watch out for the director's cut though.

2/5 stars
IMDB

Sunshine by Danny Boyle (2007, UK / USA)

2008-01-05T19:43:00.000+08:00

I felt a little let down after watching this movie. Definitely not Danny Boyle's best movie. In fact I couldn't believe he basically made a crazy space monster movie, choosing to abandon character development and a believable plot in the last act. Anytime you have a pseudo-religious wackjob as your villain, it's usually a good sign the plot is turning to shit. Cliff Curtis was cool while he lasted.

2.5/5 stars
IMDB

The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down by Paul Sapiano (2006, USA)

2007-12-27T18:30:00.000+08:00

The problem with most mock documentaries, is that they are often not really funny, or have that much to say in trying to push a point or satirize the subject matter in the first place. This show wasn't deep or even that much funny, but it's more a laid back look at the interesting, hedonistic culture and lifestyle of some LA clubbers.

I'd say it seems accurate portraying the subject matter, taking into account that I have zero knowledge of the partying lifestyle there, but it seems real enough. None of the character really stood out in the show, but the social interactions between them was interesting enough to move the show along. The editing was good, in that I didn't feel bored at all watching it, compared to other shows in the same vein, like perhaps 'The Mating Habits of the Earthbound Human'.

There was a late scene that somehow made me feel a little for the characters, when a few of the characters were heading back from the party. It was after sunrise and they were in a car, with Zero 7's 'Today' being prominently played in the background. So they were just passing by normal people going about their normal routines, and it struck a chord with me at the realness of the situation and the characters, that just by being around the normal people makes them actually feel awkward and somewhat guilty, and how it made them feel like a freak. But then you think back, hey it's all right, after all they did have fun.

3/5 stars
IMDB

Futurama: Bender's Big Score by Dwayne Carey-Hill (2007, USA)

2007-12-27T18:02:00.000+08:00

I wasn't much of a fan of Matt Groening's more famous creation, 'The Simpsons', but I've been hooked on Futurama from the first time I watched it. Maybe it was the satirical humor, the stupid jokes, identifying a little with the protagonist Fry, or wanting to be more like Bender, or maybe it's because it was a straight-up awesome cartoon adventure. I felt a little sad inside when Fox canceled Futurama after the fourth season, so imagine my excitement upon hearing news of a 5th season coming back in the form of a trilogy of movies that would be re-cut and re-edited to tv episodes.

Well let's just say that this show didn't disappoint. In fact I would be so bold as to say that it's just as good if not, better than any of the previous seasons. The show just seems to get better and better as it goes along, contrary to most tv shows. And the running gag on Fox network is just too funny. They weren't scared to venture into time-traveling and paradoxes this time, which is a writer's nightmare's considering all the potential plotholes and flaws that have to be covered up. It was nice seeing everything was written flawlessly and all loose ends covered. I await in much anticipation and glee to the forthcoming movies.

4/5 stars
IMDB

Exodus by Pang Ho-Cheung (2007, Hong Kong)

2007-12-08T21:56:00.000+08:00

Ah, it's been a while since I've watched an artsy flick. Or at least a pretentious one, if the opening scene of Exodus is anything to go by. A pitiful man gets beaten up by a half-dozen naked men with scuba masks and flippers using hammers in slow motion, captured by a slow zooming out tracking shot, complete with soaring classical music. The shot actually kind of pissed me off. I'm not sure whether its the odd music choice, or the fact that the naked frogmen really suck at beating up a helpless guy, or because it seems so pretentious. Anyway by the end of the film, I didn't care that much for the opening shot enough to dislike the show. It was a pretty 'cute' film, if I have to describe it in one word.

The plot about a conspiracy for women to eliminate all men is kinda cute in a morbid fashion, also not to mention the cute female protagonist and Cecilia Cheung look-alike, Annie Liu. Simon Yam's experience shows from his portrayal of his character, though I think he's a bit too old for it, compared to his character's wife. I like the scene where the dead man's ex-wife was pouring out her feelings to Simon Yam's character, and they ended up having sex. It was a long static shot, and it was composed as such to make the viewer feel as if he/she is peeping at them throughout the whole exchange, at what ultimately is an adulterous couple. The plot needs a bit of work though, but the cinematography is good and composition is excellent. I wasn't so much a fan of the revolving camera though, it makes me dizzy.

3/5 stars
IMDB

The Kingdom by Peter Berg (2007, USA)

2007-12-08T13:48:00.000+08:00

The Kingdom is an ambitious political/action thriller that successfully attempts what few Hollywood movies have been able to these past few years - to unabashedly depict the social and political atmosphere in the Middle East with all the tension and hate amid its unique culture. Although it's not a flawless film by any means, it manages to remain mostly unbiased in the face of the controversial subject matter: islamic insurgency.

The real star of the show here is Ashraf Barhom, a sympathetic, good-hearted Colonel who faced a tragic end, in the one of the best last half-hour of non-stop action in the film. The first half of the film really took its time with its pace, with all the bureaucracy and red tape that explains for the lack of any action of the movie, taking place mostly in a foreign workers housing complex.

However once, Colonel Ghazi grew some balls and got some power from the prince to lead the FBI team out of the compound, that's where the film quickly picks up pace. From a crashed and rolled, overturned SUV, the FBI agents, Colonel Ghazi and one of his man chased the insurgents around, ultimately ending with them versus a whole village of insurgents. Undoubtedly, this leads up to a much visceral and heart-pounding climax, before ending on a sad note of the reality of the situation. Overall, I must say the action is top-notch and the acting was excellent, which makes it a must-watch, even though it may seem to be a tad unrealistic and idealistic, but for what it has managed to achieve, I say it's forgivable. Also watching Jennifer Garner sticking a knife in a big man's head is more than satisfying.

3.5/5 stars
IMDB

Shoot 'Em Up by Michael Davis (2007, USA)

2007-12-08T13:22:00.000+08:00

A glorious, over the top action movie starring Clive Owen, Monica Belluci and Paul Giamatti. Really, what more could I ask for in an action movie? Guns, sex, a bald villain, crazy stunts, and a nice dose of cleavage. Multiply that with an over-zealous hollywood production and you get 'Shoot 'Em Up', a crazy shooting action movie which reminds me of Crank in some ways, but is not as fast-paced. There are some parts that kinda dragged, but overall I enjoyed this movie for what it was, and because Clive Owen as a badass anti-hero simply rocks.

3/5 stars
IMDB

The Stepford Wives by Frank Oz (2004, USA)

2007-11-02T20:37:00.000+08:00

I had the chance to watch this on tv and I have to say remaking this was a terrible idea. Aside from having gaping plot holes due to the 'hollywood ending', this weak remake isn't worth watching at all, despite starring Matthew Broderick and Chris Walken. Really, the ending is what disappointed me the most, other than the fact that it wasn't funny or scary, even though it attempted to be sort of a light comedy/horror spoof. Instead of updating upon the ideas from the original script to fit modern times, the show was focused mostly on making the twist work, and the plot is wasted on what could have been a brilliant satire on the social expectations of men and women. No doubt the original is way better, and this remake was done purely in the interests of making some fast cash for the producers. Still, nice art direction, and Nicole Kidman is good eye candy, if nothing else.

2/5 stars
IMDB

Stealing Beauty by Bernardo Bertolucci (1996, USA)

2007-07-19T20:55:00.000+08:00

This is a story of a virgin girl; Lucy who went back to a beautiful rural province in Italy to get her portrait painted by her uncle after her mother passed away.

The first 15 to 20 minutes of the film was compelling where what seems to be a house full of middle aged strangers who chance upon, talking about sex all day. but what was compelling before quickly turned incoherent and rather confusing. the script was cloying with too much sentimentalism and cheesiness. I guess i can almost relate to what the director was trying to show his audience but he does not quite get there amidst all the sub plots and anti climatic scenes.

There was one scene in the movie that cracked me up though, it was where Lucy stumbled onto an old friend of hers whom i assume was her pen pal, and then 2 other beautiful European men stepped in to say their hellos to her. That scene was like one of those porno flicks reaching for plot. It was kinda hilarious, and i seriously thought then and there, it would lead to a three way romp... and it didn't, i was once again disappointed.

All i had to take away from this film was the beautiful rural Italian scenery and the respectable cinematography.

2.5/5 stars
IMDB

Big Nothing by Jean-Baptiste Andrea (2006, UK/Canada)

2007-06-23T21:22:00.000+08:00

One of the most frustrating movies I've had the displeasure of seeing. The plot is so derivative and nonsensical to the point where I had a huge headache trying to keep track of the story with all the glaring plotholes and loose ends until I realised suspension of disbelief was paramount here, and stop caring halfway in. This led to a much easier viewing to one of the most boring, unfunny 'dark comedy' to star Simon Pegg. The movie is basically a big rip-off of all the major mystery plots before it, plus a few witty one-liners the screenwriters oh so cleverly slotted in. Sigh... the inclusion of David Schwimmer should have served enough of a warning to me in the first place though.

2/5 stars
IMDB

The Fountain by Darren Aronofsky (2006, USA)

2007-05-05T16:08:00.000+08:00

A beautiful film by one of my favorite directors, Darren Aronofsky, that almost did not make it to the big screen. It has a simple plot about a man soon to be bereft of his sickly wife, but told masterfully with 3 different stories in 3 different parallel universes.

Much of the film had a Christian undertone, but that did not tarnish the story line one bit. I gained a newfound respect for both Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz with their performances. It's nice to see high profile actors like them coming out of their comfort zones to work on projects that aren't promising them an exorbitant amount of cash (not to my knowledge at least). Regardless, they did an extraordinary job. The cinematography was also magnificent and emotive. It is very rare to spot such effects like the ones used in The Fountain in any other film. I heard that Darren refused the use of the green screen for all of the nebulae shots, and he turned to unique methods to capture that timeless effect (not sure what it was though..).

Overall a marvelous film - do not be thrown off by the tacky title given to it.

4/5 stars
IMDB

This is England by Shane Meadows (2006, UK)

2007-04-03T19:34:00.000+08:00

A pretty enchanting film set in the 80s about a boy and his skinhead friends in suburban England. It's very well-made, everything flows perfectly but there just seem to be a little too many characters, scenes and subplots that don't really tie in well together or have any real closure until you realise the film is somehow suppose to replicate life and its many loose elements, relationships and the things that you probably won't know of and the things that was never meant to make sense or have any real meaning.., and then boom! the ending catches you by surprise. A great film with many subtle moments I can draw inspiration from.

3.5/5 stars
IMDB

300 by Zack Snyder (2007, USA)

2007-03-12T22:01:00.000+08:00

Too much testosterone-inducing material here. Everything from the steel-hard abs to the constant campy pep-talk lines Leonidas spouts out to the sore lack of females. I understand that it is indeed an action movie and Zack Snyder probably didn't aim for it to be more than anything else, but it just kinda felt like one really long music video, with a bit of blood and violence.

I can't complain about the aesthetics of this film though. Visually stunning, it's really quite a sight to be seen, but the irony is how soulless these Spartan warriors all seem. Lack of character development plus the fact that they all look the same doesn't really help to lend any emotional weight to this film and any of its characters, and the dramatic impact was never really achieved especially when it needed it the most. (in the battlefield, when the Captain mourns for the loss of his son)

Frustrated, a little bored. Not entirely satisfied. These are the feelings I felt when the movie ended. Not a good adaptation by any stretch. It's kind of a letdown actually - a good reminder to never let internet hype get to you.
All in all, a homoerotic fest of a war movie, with a very generous helping of slow motion.

3/5 stars
IMDB

The Queen by Stephen Frears (2006, UK/France/Italy)

2007-01-08T21:23:00.000+08:00

Pretty effective character study with some intimate dramatic scenes and wonderful, wonderful acting. The direction was masterful as evident from the film itself. The scene with the queen and the stag was touching and metaphoric of human nature itself. I was never 'into' Princess Diana though, so her death at that time meant next to nothing for me as an 11 year old boy, not to mention I know basically nothing of british politics and culture even today. So in many ways, this film is sort of an eye-opener for me.

3.5/5 stars
IMDB

The Proposition by John Hillcoat (2005, Australia/UK)

2007-01-08T21:10:00.000+08:00

A moody modern western by John Hillcoat featuring music from Nick Cave. Great cinematography and good acting on all accounts, especially Ray Winstone. He played the troubled cop brilliantly and with conviction. The action and dramatic scenes were equally gripping and they were paced and balanced well too. The violence was beautiful, almost poetic, and the outback setting coupled with Nick Cave's vocal musings was perfect. I hope Cave and Hillcoat continue their collaborations well into the future.

3.5/5 stars
IMDB

Flag of our Fathers by Clint Eastwood (2006, USA)

2007-01-08T20:53:00.000+08:00

One of the two recent WWII movies by Clint Eastwood on the Battle of Iwo Jima. The story was intriguing enough but the narrative kind of meanders around and didn't really have a firm grounding. It was and felt very much a like a war drama with overtones of anti-war sentiment, but the present day stuff tacked into it was really distracting and didn't really work for me. The war scenes were shot superbly, being no surprise since it was produced by Spielberg himself. It got a bit repetitive with some of the scenes too, and ended up being too long and not entirely rewarding for its duration. I hope Letters from Iwo Jima will be better.

3/5 stars
IMDB

Apocalypto by Mel Gibson (2006, USA)

2007-01-08T20:15:00.001+08:00

This works so very well as an action movie, so much so that the historical context it was in is merely secondary to what this film has to offer - the action. The action was superb and paced perfectly, the brooding suspense and the refreshing cinematography totally sucks you into the movie, the music was excellent and complements the action perfectly. The camerawork was magnificent and should be a guide to how most action scenes should be shot, instead of all the shaky cam we've been getting recently. The violence was visceral enough, but not too gory to turn your head away from. In short, it was almost the perfect action movie.

However, it took some time to get to the real core of the action, even though it was worth it. From the opening scene, the film quickly pulls you into its world and brings you along for the rollercoaster journey ahead, toying around with your emotions while making you watch in fascination at the beautiful Mayan world it has created. The journey to the Aztec city was paced too slowly though, it took too long for what is essentially a journey of two or three days, and in the end you don't really care for any of the characters there other than the protagonist Jaguar Paw and maybe the big foolish guy, Blunted. Other than that, the historical inaccuracies don't really bother me though, I wasn't actually expecting Mel Gibson to make a honest documentary anyway.

3.5/5 stars
IMDB

Little Children by Todd Field (2006, USA)

2007-01-06T22:24:00.000+08:00

As much as I want to like this film, it gets progressively worse as it goes on. What bothered me most was how idealistic this film turned out to be. It started out as a realistic tale of infidelity and 'suburban ennui', then slowly progressed to be a satire of societal prejudice against sex offenders. Then both storylines merged somehow and by the end of the movie, it became some sort of an uplifting story about moral values and how everything turned out fine because somehow everyone gets a dose or reality or a jolt of sense into them finally, when they've been acting morally ambiguous all throughout the film.

The use of narrative voice over, probably as a reference to the title, did more to hurt the film than it actually helped. The dramatic impact of the 'shock ending' is lost when the audience knows everything is gonna be alright in the end. We all know that's not how it is in real life anyway. Still, I can appreciate what commentary this film had, especially on all the discrimination towards the registered sex offender Ronnie, played brilliantly by Jackie Earle Haley. Also I appreciate how they tried to downplay the preachiness of such a film on moral values and societal prejudice, compared to the over-the-top crap like Crash and the like.

3/5 stars
IMDB

Tideland by Terry Gilliam (2005, Canada/UK)

2007-01-02T13:47:00.000+08:00

Some people has complained that this film was incoherent and hard to follow. I agree with them, but I think that's why it's such a great film. It was made to be hard to watch at times because of the awkwardness of the situations present in the film and also how sad the life of the child protagonist is. The incoherence of the plot just made me focus more on the story and that's why I found this film to be so engrossing. It is told exclusively from the child's point of view, and that's where all the dutch camera angles, upbeat mood despite the bleak setting, saturated colors and surrealism all come into play. This is some of the best acting by a child actor I've ever seen. Jodelle Ferland, that kid from Silent Hill, has put in one hell of a performance here, and I must credit Terry Gilliam for that. When I say Pan's Labyrinth is one of the best fantasy movies I've seen all year, Tideland is undoubtedly on par with that film as well.

4/5 stars
IMDB

Idiocracy by Mike Judge (2006, USA)

2007-01-02T13:39:00.000+08:00

Pretty funny satire from Mike Judge. Kinda sad how long it took him to release this and why Fox has mysteriously decided to let as few people watch this as possible. It had a lot of potential though but I think some of the stuff has been omitted or dumbed down to cater more for the mainstream (case in point - the sappy third act), so I feel the film hasn't been fully realised, if that makes sense. The stuff on dysgenics was really interesting and this film has made me realise how hot Maya Rudolph is.

3.5/5 stars
IMDB