Genre: Drama
Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Cast: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Mark Ruffalo, Yaya DaCosta, Kunal Sharma, Eddie Hassell
RunTime: 1 hr 46 mins
Released By: Festive Films & Cathay-Keris Films
Rating: R21 (Homosexual Theme)
Official Website: http://filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/the_kids_are_all_right

Opening Day: 24 February 2011

Synopsis: "The Kids Are All Right" is the heartfelt new comedy from acclaimed director Lisa Cholodenko, starring Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo. Two teenaged children ("Alice in Wonderland's" Mia Wasikowska and "Journey to the Center of the Earth's" Josh Hutcherson) get the notion to seek out their biological father and introduce him into the family life that their two mothers (Bening and Moore) have built for them. Once the donor (Ruffalo) is found, the household will never be the same, as family ties are defined, re—defined, and re—re—defined.

Movie Review:

The Kids Are All Right may contain the obvious homosexuality theme, but it is essentially a movie that eagerly attempts to break stereotypes. Right off the bat, the title alone already strikes off one of the notions that people like the California’s prop 8 supporters, might probably have towards the family life of same-sex couples.

The kids in question are Joni, played by Mia Wasikowski (the girl from Alice in Wonderland), and Laser (yes that’s Laser as in light) – two teenaged half-siblings living comfortable upper middle class lives with their two mothers whom they address in the collective, as ‘moms’. The boy skates and the girl is a straight-A student because well, the movie wants you to know that even though they have gay parents they are still well adjusted. One mom is a doctor and the other is about to start a landscaping business – both loving and caring towards each other and the kids. They have home dinners, family tv sessions and things are as normal as can be for the family unit, until one day, Laser convinces his elder college-going sister to contact their birth father i.e. their moms’ sperm donor.

She drags her feet doing it, but eventually forms a close bond with Mark Ruffalo’s easily likable character of Paul – a middle-aged hippie sans peace sign necklace and bell-bottoms, who dropped out of college, zips around on a motorcycle and owns a restaurant that strictly serves locally grown produce. His character is laid-back, free-spirited, and easily connects with people.

Awkwardness and flattalk on personal histories peppers the first meeting between the father and the kids, and also most of the conversations between most of the characters actually. But, this is a good thing, as the movie does not care to strive towards the usual comedy movie banter a la an episode of Friends thus preserving realism as it addresses life’s grey areas. This however, makes its comedy genre kind of misplaced.

After surviving first meetings with the kids and then followed by the moms, Paul’s demeanor wins the hearts of everyone except Nic the control freak as played by Annette Benning, who stands as the antithesis to the biological father. She begins to see him as an interloper as he starts to hang out with the kids naturally like a cool dad does. Oh, and he also goes into amutually initiated affair with yes, one of his sperm recipients, Julianne Moore’s Jules. Now, that’s another stereotype broken there, because the movie wants you to know that human desire is complex and irrational. Another example would be, Nic and Jules’ intimate sessions done to gay male pornography. Yup.

With so many stereotypes to challenge through explicit means, the movie loses its focus and at the same time, its justification for getting that best picture Oscar nomination. The pop psychology notes on human sexuality and insights on the negotiable meanings of family, marriage and relationships are interesting, but they are not backed up by proper characterization. For a start, Laser’s motivation to connect with his biological father should have been fleshed out more rather than transforming him into an apathetic teenager who could only go ‘meh’ at the whole thing. Instead, the issue is completely ignored in favour of the less interesting subplots of Joni’s last summer before college and the adults’ mid-life crisis. Paul’s character too, is not given a dignified exit worthy of the most likable character in the movie leaving the ending to not be all right.

Movie Rating:



(The movie is just all right)

Reviewed by Siti Nursyafiqa

Genre: Martial Arts
Director: Benny Chan
Cast: Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse, Fan Bing Bing, Wu Jing, Yu Shaoqun, Yu Hai, Xiong Xin Xin, Yan Neng, Bai Bing, Jackie Chan
RunTime: 2 hrs 11 mins
Released By: GV & Scorpio East Pictures
Rating: PG (Violence)
Official Website:

Opening Day: 21 January 2011

Synopsis:

China is plunged into strife as feuding warlords try to expand their power by warring over neighboring lands. Fuelled by his success on the battlefield, young and arrogant warlord Hou Jie (Andy Lau) sneers at Shaolin masters when he beats Jing Neng (Wu Jing) in a duel. But the pride comes before a fall.

Soon, Hou Jie is betrayed by Cao Man (Nicholas Tse), who is the 2nd-in-command and his buddy, and walks right into a trap and gets waylaid by rival warlord Song Hu (Shi Xiong Hong). To make matter worse, his wife (Fan Bing Bing) deserts him, while his child is killed. The crestfallen and heartbroken Hou Jie seeks refuge at Shaolin.

Hou Jie is on the verge of giving up his life when he becomes acquainted with the cheery Shaolin cook (Jackie Chan) who helps him see through life. He also resolves his conflicts with fellow monks Jing Neng, Jing Hai (Yu Shao Qun) and Jing Kong (Xing Yu). After becoming enlightened, he takes the tonsure.

As the civil unrest spreads and the people suffer, Hou Jie and the Shaolin masters are forced to take a fiery stand against the treacherous warlord Cao Man and his collaborator Suo Xiang Tu (Xiong Xin Xin). Led by Hou Jie, they launch a daring operation. 

Movie Review:

“Hatred does not cease by hatred, but by love alone. This is the ancient law.”

The 1982 gongfu classic “Shaolin” introduced Jet Li to the world, but there is no breakout star to be found here in Benny Chan’s take on the famed birthplace of Shaolin martial arts. No matter really- though Heavenly King Andy Lau may not have the moves or the agility to match Jet Li, his leading man performance here is no less terrific. Indeed, what Andy lacks in the physical department, he more than amply makes up for with his dramatic chops, delivering a deeply moving performance as the arrogant and scheming warlord Hou Jie who undergoes a 180-degree transformation under the tutelage of the Shaolin monks.

This transformation is at the heart of Benny Chan’s film, which differentiates itself splendidly from the recent crop of period epics with a generous infusion of Buddhist teachings. These nuggets of wisdom elevate “Shaolin” into a surprisingly thoughtful film, meditating on the fruitlessness of anger, violence and hatred, and preaching ever persuasiveness the merits of peace, compassion and love. Non-believers however need not fear- Benny’s sure hand never lets the film become sanctimonious, instead emphasising the universal truths of these teachings and demonstrating their truism through a heartfelt yarn.

Written by no less than four writers, the story is a gripping one of repentance and renewal set amidst a time when China was torn apart by internal strife and threatened by foreign powers. General Hou Jie was one such local warlord, his hunger for power matched by that of his second-in-command, the equally scheming Cao Man (Nicholas Tse). A compelling opening sequence introduces Hou Jie and Cao Man as the despotic men they are (at least at the start), chasing an enemy right into the compounds of the Shaolin temple and paying no heed to the abbot’s words to let him save the dying man.

Hou’s victory though is short-lived, as an ambush on his sworn brother whom he suspects of ill intentions goes awry. The orchestrator is none other than Cao Man, whose own tyrannical ambitions Hou had fomented over the years. In a reversal of fate, the film plants Hou at the doorstep of the Shaolin temple, seeking the monks’ help to rescue his badly wounded young daughter. There is an obvious play on the Buddhist concept of karma here- but rather than dwell too much on these implications, Benny shrewdly grounds this turn of events in keenly-felt poignancy, underscoring their importance as a defining moment in Hou Jie’s subsequent metamorphosis.

Whereas lesser directors may have been tempted to skim through Hou Jie’s redemptive journey, Benny exhibits an assuredness in allowing the movie to settle down to a more measured pace before its action-packed, explosive (literally) finale. He also brings on Jackie Chan in an amusing role as the resident Shaolin cook Wu Dao, a laid-back fellow perfectly content with his circumstance. It is not unlike the one Jackie played in “Little Big Soldier” two years ago, but it’s always enjoyable to see the veteran gongfu actor back on screen, especially in a particularly entertaining sequence where he uses his cooking skills to good measure against Cao Man’s soldiers.

Other notable supporting roles include Wu Jing as the senior Shaolin monk Qing Neng and Hou’s mentor, as well as Xiong Xin Xin (best known as Ghost Feet Seven in the Wong Fei Hung series) as Cao Man’s evil henchman Jiang Yuan. Unfortunately, the script doesn’t quite do justice to the actors playing these supporting roles- Xiong’s character and Fan Bingbing’s one as Hou Jie’s wife Yan Xi are sorely underwritten and a waste of their considerable talent. If there is one consolation, it must be that Benny has given Andy ample screen time to flesh out the complexities of his character.

And what a job Andy does, equally effective as the egotistical warlord on the pursuit of riches and power and as the reformed monk who realises the folly of his past ways. There’s never been a doubt that Andy possessed screen charisma, but here he rewards Benny’s attention to his character with a richly nuanced and textured portrayal of a man struggling to overcome his angry and violent tendencies to become a better person. Just as impressive is his gongfu, though no match for Jet Li’s naturally but still admirable nonetheless- especially when he duels with Nicholas with a long wooden pole.

Thanks to some nifty action direction by Corey Yuen and choreography by veteran stunt people Yuen Tak and Lee Chung Chi, the action sequences do not disappoint. But ultimately, the strength of Benny Chan’s “Shaolin” lies in how surprisingly intellectual and deeply moving it is- intellectual in its Buddhist leanings of the vicious cycle war, hatred and greed perpetrates; and moving in its portrayal of one man’s redemptive journey to free himself from his sinful past. It is a blockbuster in every sense, from spectacle, to emotion, and most of all spirit.

“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.”

Movie Rating:

 (The rare blockbuster that is not just loud on spectacle, but also rich in heart and spirit- Benny Chan’s “Shaolin” is both fearlessly exciting and deeply moving, sure to be one of the best films of the year)

Review by Gabriel Chong

SYNOPSIS:

When Ronny sees the wife of best mate Nick kissing another man he makes it his mission to get answers. As his investigation dissolves into comic mayhem and crazy farce, Ronny learns Nick has a few little secrets of his own!

MOVIE REVIEW: 

This really came as a surprise to us. Ron Howard directing a comedy? We are fans of dramas like Angels & Demons (2009), Frost/ Nixon (2008) and Cinderella Man (2005), but a comedy? A check with Howard’s filmography shows that the last time the award winning filmmaker directed a comedy was more than 10 years ago in 1999 (Edtv). That may be the reason why we couldn’t find ourselves liking this awkwardly made comedy.

The protagonists of the movie are two best friends and partners in an automobile company. They are working on a very important project. At this point, one of them sees his friend’s wife kissing another man. While he seeks out the truth behind this forbidden relationship, he has to figure out how to tell his friend without affecting his work.

The movie has managed to bring together an impressive ensemble. Vince Vaughn (Couples Retreat) and Kevin James (Grown Ups) play the best friends, while Jennifer Connelly (He’s Just Not That Into You) and Winona Ryder (Black Swan) play their partners. Somewhere in the mix are Queen Latifah (Valentine’s Day) and Channing Tatum (Dear John). While we feel that Vaughn and James have some room to command screen presence, everyone delivers decent performances. Stealing the show in particular is Ryder (watch out for a scene where she puts on a show to be the victim) and Tatum (the beefcake is as amusing as he gets).

Yet, we don’t find ourselves laughing a lot, considering that this is supposed to be a comedy. The leading men have made us chuckle quite a bit with their previous works (Vaughn’s Wedding Crashers and James’ I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry really were funny stuff), but their latest work together lacks a much needed punch. Maybe it’s the 111 minute runtime which is too long for its own good, maybe it’s the inconsequential plot development which didn’t manage to involve audiences’ emotions, or maybe there’s something holding the movie back.

The movie changes gear halfway through its overlong duration and becomes a drama about guilt and remorse. However, it is difficult to empathise with the characters (especially with Vaughn and James’ reps as comedians) and take them seriously. 

The result is a somewhat half baked movie which seems more suited for the small TV screen. Howard is known for his ability to conjure big and magnificent sets involving thousands of extras. A project this small seems inadequate for a guy who has been known to make blockbusters. That is probably why local distributors didn’t have the confidence to bring this movie to local cinemas.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

This Code 3 disc has 15 minutes of Deleted Scenes (Howard says that the original cut was much longer) where you see characters engaging in more banter. Trailers for other Paramount productions are also included on the disc.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

  The movie's visual transfer is fine, and you can choose to watch the feature in either English or Thai 5.1 audio track.   

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by John Li

Posted on 29 May 2011

Genre: Comedy/Romance
Director: Patrick Kong
Cast: Eason Chan, Rene Liu, Bai Bing, Allen Lin, Harlem Yu
RunTime: 1 hr 40 mins
Released By: InnoForm Media & Cathay-Keris Films
Rating: TBA
Official Website:

Screening Dates: 5 and 8 June 2011

Opening Day: 23 June 2011 

Synopsis:  The sweet smell of success may just be the antidote for a tangled web of deceit and betrayal

Huo Caiguo is forced to keep his marriage a secret in order to get a new job as an assistant at a perfume company. As his CEO Mandy becomes more appreciative of him,  their relationship starts to arouse the suspicions of his wife, Jingyi, who also discovers Caiguo has been lying about his marital status at work. The inevitable happens when Caiguo and Mandy are on a business trip together, and Jingyi asks for a divorce. The heartbroken Caiguo buries himself in work and mixes a scent that becomes a bestseller.  Jingyi sees the ads that say: “Let’s get married… it’s love’s antidote”. Will the new scent be the antidote they need to heal themselves and start afresh?

Movie Review:

You may have noticed the recent increase of Mainland Chinese friendly movies. These productions feature a mix of recognisable household names and less familiar Mainland Chinese stars. A large part of these co productions are shot on location in China. Most important of all, these movies touch on subject matters which do not require censorship, making romantic comedies a favourite genre amongst filmmakers.

The rationale behind the boost of these productions is clear: The Mainland Chinese market is a lucrative one, and isn’t movie making predominantly a money making business these days?

The latest in joining the frenzy is Hong Kong writer director Patrick Kong. His previous solo directorial efforts (2008’s Forgive and Forget, 2009’s Love Connected) may not have been screened in theatres here, but you may have seen DVDs of movies like Love Is Not All Around (2007) and L For Love, L For Lies (2008) on sale in local retail stores. From the abovementioned movie titles, you would have noticed that Kong is apt at helming romantic flicks, which makes his latest work very accessible in the Mainland Chinese market.

The movie’s protagonist is a married man who has to deal with bills, loans and a wife who adds to the high cost of living. To make ends meet, he takes on the job of a personal assistant to a seemingly cold and unfeeling CEO in a perfume company. The catch here? He has to pretend that he is still single to nab that high paying job.

Based on a stage production, this decent movie tackles a phenomenon which is apparently a cosmopolitan social issue in China. Young people are getting married secretly (to the rest of the world, they are still single) in order to get a better job and command a higher income. Because this isn’t a problem in our society, this social commentary may fly past our heads. As a result, this production may merely be a time passing romantic comedy.

Which is quite a shame, because the movie does offer some issues which are worth pondering in our fast paced society. Most viewers are likely to miss them though, because the 103 minute plays out in a predictable manner, throwing in predictable chuckle worthy moments and the obligatory product placements so intermittently, you’d dismiss it like the dozens of romantic comedies you’ve seen elsewhere.

The familiar faces here are singers Eason Chan and Rene Liu. Chan plays the man who faces the pressures of sustaining his marriage with a highly paid job, while Liu plays his unsympathetic and hardhearted boss. The power play here is interesting in the initial stages, but as the movie progresses, it develops into an inevitable romance between the two. The tension is set up nicely, but it’s nothing you haven’t seen elsewhere. The two leads deliver strong performances, especially with Liu taking on a role she’s particularly good at – the long suffering woman who appears strong and competent on the outside, but is desperately in need of affection and care.

Elsewhere, expect stereotypical portrayals of supporting characters like the one dimensional wife (Bai Bing), the gay colleague (Chen Hao) and the girlfriend who dishes bad advice (Qin Lan). Harlem Yu also shows up for a special appearance as Chan’s good friend. One thing which we always welcome in productions like this is hearing our favourite singers perform. And that’s why when Chan and Liu’s songs were played, we couldn’t help but hum quietly along, thinking to ourselves that this isn’t such a bad movie after all.

Movie Rating:



(A decent but unmemorable romantic comedy featuring strong performances by Eason Chan and Rene Liu)

Review by John Li

Genre: Drama/Romance
Director: Johnnie To, Wai Ka Fai
Cast: Louis Koo, Daniel Wu, Gao Yuan Yuan, Lam Suet
RunTime: 1 hr 57 mins
Released By: Clover Films & Cathay-Keris Films
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.mediaasia.com/dontgobreakingmyheart/trailer.html

Opening Day: 7 April 2011

Synopsis: Yen is a single girl from China working in an IT company in Hong Kong. Overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of this sleepless city, she feels increasingly like a fish out of water. Just when she has almost succumbed to the inevitable prospect of being alone and lonely in this unfriendly place, her fate begins to turn in an unexpected way.

One day, she notices a handsome hunk in the office building across the street from hers trying to catch her attention with paper signs. She immediately picks up a scrap of paper and doodles back. A quirky romance ensues as she starts communicating with him by paper signs every day.

On the day when she finally has the chance to meet him in flesh and blood, however, she discovers to her consternation that this so-called romance has been an embarrassing mix-up on her part. The love notes this guy, Sean, has been writing are only meant for a sexy vixen working at the office above hers. He is oblivious to her existence, let alone their blossoming romance.

Just when Yen is ready to crawl back to her lonesome shell, her fate changes again. She is accosted by a beggar called Kevin in the park and is captivated by the sad expression on his face. They start talking and, before they know it, have become the best of friends. She learns that this starkly handsome beggar was an elite architect who ended up wandering the streets after losing his self. Yen starts helping him rebuild his confidence and get back on tracks.

Months pass. Sean finally gives up his life as a playboy and realizes Yen is the dream girl he would like to spend the rest of his life with. Meanwhile, the rebound Kevin is also planning to propose to Yen at the rooftop of his latest design that was inspired by his love for her.

Yen is no longer alone and lonely, but will she be able to find her true love?

Movie Review:

Alone, Johnnie To makes gritty crime thrillers like “Vengeance”, “Election” and “The Mission” that have won critical praise from even the West. On his own, Wai Kar-Fai makes mainstream Chinese New Year offerings like “Fantasia”, “Himalaya Singh” and “The Shopaholics” as well as offbeat- and more critically acclaimed- dramas like “Written By”. But given their respective strengths as director and scripter, their mutual collaborations have not surprisingly been the most critically and commercially successful for both To and Wai- whether is it the action thrillers “Mad Detective” or the romantic comedies “Needing You” and “Love on a Diet”.

It is in the latter genre that To and Wai are collaborating as directors on after a four-year sojourn (the last the pair were credited as co-directors was “Mad Detective”), the title of this latest in Mandarin another variation of the ‘male-female’ moniker that appears in their Andy Lau-Sammi Cheng rom-coms above. Instead of a straightforward two-person romance, To and Wai have upped the ante this time with a love triangle- one the high-flying finance company CEO Cheung Shen-ran (Louis Koo), one the architect Fang Qihong (Daniel Wu) masquerading as a drunken tramp at first, and the last the investment bank analyst Cheng Zixin (Gao Yuanyuan).

Though both Shen-ran and Qihong are vying for Zixin’s affections, the two men couldn’t be more different. One is a rich playboy who professes his love in grand gestures (like asking Zixin to pick the Maserati and apartment of her choice) but doesn’t believe that commitment is in a man’s genes; and the other is a earnest romantic at heart who only wants to be that constant reassuring presence next to her and remains steadfastly unwavering in his love, even after three years and numerous propositions from other eligible girls. Who she will eventually choose is the question Wai and his fellow Milkyway Team screenwriters (Yau Nai-hoi, Rayker Chan, Jevons Au) keep from their audience right till the end.

Meanwhile, they concoct a series of fortunate (or unfortunate) coincidences for the trio- first in 2008 with the backdrop of the Lehman Brothers crisis, as an enamoured Zixin forgets her date with Qihong after Shen-ran’s romantic overtures, only to have Shen-ran forsake their date for another busty Western woman; then three years later when Zixin meets Shen-ran once more when he assumes the position of CEO of the bank she is working for, only to have Qihong take over the office space where Shen-ran used to work. The Wai high concept here? A lot of the communication between the leads takes place across their diagonally located office windows with Post-Its and other miming devices.

This amusing conceit is directed with breezy delight by veteran To in the first hour, and the fleet footedness of this utterly winsome half is reminiscent of their earlier rom-com genre classics. But what goodwill the film accrues from its audience is put to the test by a draggier and less wieldy second half, as Zixin goes back and forth between Shen-ran and Qihong. Wai tries to root her indecision in the perennial dilemma of choosing between a love that is fierce, passionate and often described as “the kind that sweeps you off your feet” and a love that is gentle, supportive, and often described as “the comforting arm around your shoulder”- but doesn’t quite make her character a strong enough emotional anchor. Without that connection, her vacillation comes off as shallow and the cliff-hanger finale where she finally makes up her mind lacks the punch it should pack.

Not that the star-studded cast doesn’t try- Mainland actress Gao Yuanyuan remains likeable from start to finish, despite her character’s slightly annoying indecisiveness, and bears more than a passing resemblance to Hong Kong’s Gigi Leung with her bop-headed haircut. Louis Koo has by now perfected the role of the charming cad, and Daniel Wu delivers a sincere if unremarkable performance. In supporting turns are Liu Yihong as Zixin’s grandmother and Lam Suet in yet another comic relief role as Zixin’s effeminate confidante at work. None of the roles demand much from the seasoned actors, and they reciprocate accordingly.

The same can be said of this movie for both To and Wai, who take a break from their more creative, more unique and ultimately more fulfilling ventures for something fluffy and lightweight. As a rom-com, it has enough charm and genuinely amusing moments to keep you entertained; but as a To-Wai rom-com, this lacks the poignancy of their more superior Andy Lau-Sammi Cheng efforts. To has widely acknowledged that this was made primarily for the Mainland market; now let’s hope after this brief detour, both To and Wai will return to the distinctive stuff that they have been known of and that few Hong Kong filmmakers have been able to replicate.

Movie Rating:



(This lightweight fluffy rom-com is good for a date night out, but little more)

Review by Gabriel Chong

Genre: Drama/Romance
Director: Chen Daming
Cast: Andy Lau, Gong Li, Russell Wong, Li Chengru, Wang Deshun, Osric Chau, Yuan Li, Julien Chen
RunTime: 1 hr 56 mins
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films
Rating: PG
Official Website:

Opening Day: 17 February 2011

Synopsis: Andy Lau, an advertising executive, who develops the ability to listen to women’s thoughts, he locks horns with his new boss, played by Gong Li.

Movie Review:

Following Benny Chan successful remake of the Hollywood action thriller "Cellular", HK Heavenly King Andy Lau joined hands with several Mainland investors under his Focus Films banner to adapt the 2000 Nancy Meyers’s romantic comedy "What Women Want" back into the big screen, this time in Mandarin of course.

According to producer Dede Nickerson, this 2011 version retains much of the plot structure of the original but then again it has been more than a decade and Mel Gibson has literally went lethal weapon while Helen Hunt has faded from the limelight. Unless you want to hunt down a copy of the DVD or catch the rerun on network television, it’s hard to tell the differences.

Anyway, Lau plays Sun Zi Gang, a chauvinistic ad executive and a divorcee with a teenage daughter who happens to gain the ability to listen women’s inner thoughts after a freak incident. His initial intention to get rid of rival using his newfound ability, senior ad executive Liu Yi-Long (Gong Li) failed as he realizes he has slowly fallen in love with the tough-as-nut career woman.

For actor-director Chen Daming (One Foot Off The Ground), on a certain level, he did accomplished a respectable job helming his first major commercial flick. The cast are good looking, the production values are definitely A-plus given the mediocre US$5 million budget and the inclusion of contemporary China’s social views is an eye-opener. Yet, Chen’s overall adaptation treads on safe ground and never attempt to surprise the audience given the obvious predictability towards the end. The relationship between Sun and his baritone father with his daughter, Doudou is at times bittersweet and a reflection of today’s fast-moving society. The bantering between Sun and his cleaner auntie easily qualifies as the best thing in the movie. Unfortunately, these genuine entertaining moments are few and short as Chen, understandably so has to cater more screentime to his two biggest stars of Chinese cinema.    

Evergreen Lau no doubt has the biggest screen-pie of all. The 50 year old actor (who looks closer to 40 instead) is a charmer onscreen as ever. He dances, he clowns around, he disguises as a woman, he even sings in English to impress Liu Yi-Long and the female demographics. See he really can listen to women’s thoughts. International starlet Gong who after a long hiatus is still a luxury to watch, her screen presence is captivating and imposing. But pairing Lau with Gong on paper seems godsend as the two biggest stars of all time hasn’t work together before. However, both stars achieved little or no chemistry at all. Lau and Gong shines in their respective moments here but put the two of them together, everything becomes mundane and should I say, boring. Sammi Cheng has worked with Lau on many occasions and you wonder if Cheng would have done a better job with Gong’s character.  

The rest of the supporting cast members are filled by competent unknown Mainland actors and actresses with the exception of Julien Chen, one third of the once popular pop group, "Little Tigers" and a cameo by American-Chinese actor, brother of Michael, Russell Wong. And other than some insensitive product placements which can rival a typical Jack Neo’s production, “What Women Wants” also serves as a showcase of how good the Mainland movie industry is compatible of in terms of technical abilities and a fast-developing fantastic-looking metropolis called Beijing.

Ultimately, this remake of the Hollywood version is a forgettable romantic comedy. There is so much potential to develop the material further and yet Chen only manages to churn out something glossy that lacks much substance to enjoy. Perhaps next time just do "What Men Want".

Movie Rating:


 

(What a man wants is a surprise factor to win us over not just glossy visual and cast)

Review by Linus Tee 
 

Genre: Comedy/Action/Crime
Director: Katsuyuki Motohiro
Cast: Yuji Oda, Yuki Uchida, Toshiro Yanagiba, Eri Fukatsu, Yusuke Santamaria, Atsushi Itô, Kôtarô Koizumi, Sôichirô Kitamura, Takehiko Ono, Satoru Saitô, Kenta Satoi
RunTime: 2 hrs 24 mins
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films
Rating: PG
Official Website: www.odoru.com

Opening Day: 9 June 2011

Synopsis: BAYSIDE SHAKEDOWN 3 is the third movie based on the popular BAYSIDE SHAKEDOWN TV Series, known for its unique and humorous depiction of the Japanese police force while avoiding the conventions that define most police dramas.

After Detective Shunsaku Aoshima (Yuji Oda) is promoted to section chief he has the daunting task of dealing with eight cases at the same time, which includes a bomb threat, a bus hijacking, and even a series of homicides made worse by the fact that the murder weapons are pistols stolen from him and his juniors!

Movie Review:

This reviewer remembers a time when Japanese dramas were the rage, and it was almost socially unacceptable if you were not a follower of these TV series originating from the Land of the Rising Sun. Well, as far as entertainment goes, he is not a big follower of Japanese series (he also doesn’t understand the craze over Korean series these days). And that probably explains why this movie’s runtime of 148 minutes didn’t exactly sound very appealing to him.

Based on the cult Japanese police drama comedy series originally broadcast by the Fuji Television group in 1997, this feature film version is the second follow up after the first two movies in 1998 and 2003. If you are familiar with the characters of this popular series, you would have no problem with the plot here. The protagonist is a charismatic detective who has just been promoted to be a section chief. He is put in charge of a big scale relocation project of the Bayside police station. The drama begins when three loaded pistols get stolen and a threat is issued to release a list of inmates previously arrested by our hero.

One may notice that there is a five year gap between the first and second movie, and a seven year gap between the second and third one. The producers must have been very confident that the movies would make money at the box office – and they are right, because the first feature raked in $100 million while the second one made $172 million, making it the top grossing live action movie of all time in Japan in 2003. It is of no wonder that the gang is back for a third time (spin off series and TY movies have been made during the interim period).

Considering that leading man Yuji Oda first played the beloved Detective Shunsaku Aoshima some 14 years ago, one can see that he has effortlessly eased himself into the character’s enigmatic personality, exuding an appealing charm. Oda (and his signature green jacket) has aged nicely over the years, and his co stars Yuki Uchida, Toshiro Yanagiba, Eri Fukatsu, Yusuke Santamaria have also returned to reprise the characters they portrayed in the successful series.

Fans of the original TV series and first two movies will find themselves comfortably engaged in the storyline, as each character’s unique persona and behaviour will not be unfamiliar to them – it’s like meeting your old friends from the past. Speaking of which, the filmmakers have also cleverly brought back Kyoko Koizumi’s character from the 1998 movie (she had a bad habit of stuffing teddy bears into her victims’ stomachs). Here, the psychotic baddie is again planning to wreak havoc by luring computer nerds to the dark side. Koizumi’s performance here is gleefully chilling, despite her limited screen time.

No worries for those who are unacquainted with this series, because the two odd hour duration will set you in to know all the characters appropriately without any dull moment. You’ll find yourself identifying with some poignant themes explored in the movie, including office politics, political interference, bureaucratic red tape and lazy public officers. Director Katsuyuki Motohiro manages to poke fun at these subject matters through an entertaining and winning screenplay written by Ryoichi Kimizuka. You’d be keeping your eyes on the screen because of the top notch production values, ranging from first rate cinematography to impressive chase sequences. 

If all Japanese series were this fun and appealing, it is not too late for this reviewer to catch up on what he has been missing out.

Movie Rating:



(How can we not recommend this enjoyable production that has entertained tens and thousands of viewers in Japan?)

Review by John Li

Genre: Comedy
Director: Mark Waters
Cast: Jim Carrey,Carla Gugino, Ophelia Lovibond, Philip Baker Hall, Andrew Stewart-Jones, James Tupper, Clark Gregg, David Krumholtz, Angela Lansbury
RunTime: 1 hr 35 mins
Released By: 20th Century Fox
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.popperspenguins.com/

Opening Day: 16 June 2011

Synopsis: In this family comedy, Jim Carrey is Mr. Popper, a driven businessman who is clueless when it comes to the important things in life ?until he inherits six penguins. Popper's penguins turn his swank New York apartment into a snowy winter wonderland ?and the rest of his life upside-down. Filmed on a refrigerated soundstage with real Gentoo Penguins, "Mr. Popper's Penguins" is a contemporary adaptation of the classic book.

Movie Review:

Not since Ace Ventura has Jim Carrey played opposite animals, but he does just that- next to six gentoo penguins to be exact- in this contemporary adaptation of the 1938 classic children’s book by Richard and Florence Atwater. The setting has been updated to modern-day New York, but the premise of a businessman called Mr. Popper who inherits six penguins remains largely similar. Rather than an eccentric relative, the inheritance here instead comes from Mr. Popper’s father, a globetrotter who has never been around for much of his son’s life.

And as formula would have it, Mr. Popper has also not been much of a father to his two children- a teenage daughter Janie (Madeline Carroll) and a young son Billy (Maxwell Perry Cotton). He is also separated from his wife Amanda (Carla Gugino), choosing to devote his time to his real-estate job in an effort to climb up the echelons of the company. Again, as formula would have it, Mr. Popper receives his father’s inheritance just when he is one deal short of joining the firm as a partner- the clincher an iconic Tavern on the Green restaurant in Central Park owned by a feisty old woman Mrs. Van Gundy (Angela Lansbury).

The untimely gift however becomes a blessing in disguise, a tool if you will, for Mr. Popper to acquaint himself with his children, especially Billy who can't seem to get enough of the Subarctic flightless birds. He soon develops a change of heart- and instead of devising ways to get rid of them, starts to learn on how best to take care of them, even going to the extent of turning his house into a winter wonderland for their comfort. The rest of the plot unfolds pretty much as you'd expect it to, right down to its denouement where Mr. Popper's personal and professional life collide. 

Indeed, no less than three writers (Sean Anders, John Morris and John Stern) worked on the screenplay, but there is little originality in their adaptation. Even the villain of the movie, the New York Zoo official Nat Jones (Clark Gregg buying time before next summer’s The Avengers) seems no more than a perfunctory character introduced to bring the movie to some kind of a climax. Yet the fact that the film remains surprisingly entertaining despite their middling script is a testament to Jim Carrey’s comedic talents.

Carrey is a master of slapstick and he uses his flair for physical comedy to great effect here. Much of the fun comes from watching Carrey interact with the six penguins, each one of them given a name which represents their behavioural inclinations. Carrey’s initial exasperation with the six new occupants of his swanky New York City apartment is a hoot to watch, and his eventual bonding with the birds is equally hilarious- Carrey demonstrating once again that he is easily one of the most physically expressive comedians in Hollywood.

He also has a great sense of comedic timing, especially telling in his wise-cracking delivery. The fast-talking shtick recalls his earlier Ace Ventura days, and his perfectly-timed, deadpan delivery of punch-lines such as this- “Somewhere out there, there’s a giant sentence missing an ending” when looking at an art piece resembling a large round dot in the Guggenheim Museum- shows that he has lost none of that Midas touch. Yes, Carrey is through and through a consummate comedian, and his uproarious performance is truly entertaining.

Of course, the kids will inevitably be more enthralled by the flightless sextet- the squawky Loudy, the hugger Lovey, the farter Stinky, the clumsy Nimrod, the biter Bitey and the leader of the pack Captain- and director Mark Waters (better known for his much less CGI-ed comedies Mean Girls and Freaky Friday) does a fantastic job combining the real animals with CGI. Waters also milks what cute potential there is within the penguins and their respective characteristics to largely charming effect, and this is a movie parents can rest assured that the kids will love.

As is typical of such fare, there is a final message about the importance of staying together as family- although it isn’t as heartfelt as it should be, thanks to the lacklustre plotting. Nevertheless, there is great family fun to be had here- the kids with the lovable and even irresistible penguins, and the adults with the rubber-faced Jim Carrey back in Ace Ventura-mode- and perhaps there is all one should ask of a family-friendly comedy like this. 

Movie Rating:

(Jim Carrey makes a welcome return back to pure comedy mode, and this movie delivers just the kind of winning family fun it promises)

Review by Gabriel Chong

HAPPY FEET TWO gets a teaser trailer! Posted on 26 May 2011 It has taken four years, but the sequel to 2007's Academy Award for Best Animation "HAPPY FEET" finally gets a sequel this November. And today, Warner Bros. released a first look at the upcoming animation that sees George Miller returning as director and features the voices ofBrad Pitt, Matt Damon, Elijah Wood, singer Pink, Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, and Sofia Vergara. Here& ... more

Genre: Comedy
Director: Chai Yee Wai
Cast: Mark Lee, Zhu Mi Mi, Linda Liao, Cavin Soh, Randall Tan, Candy Ice, Joey Leong, Josh Lai, Tracy Lee, Alvin Wong, Brendan Yuen
RunTime: 1 hr 46 mins
Released By: Shaw & Clover Films
Rating: NC-16 (Violence and Horror)
Official Website: http://www.facebook.com/twistedthemovie

Opening Day: 28 July 2011

Synopsis: The story revolves around a drug dealer who banged up a young girl, a pair of con men who wants to turn over a new leaf, and 4 cabin crews whose lives were turned upsidedown over a fateful night of drugs and booze. This is a story of individuals with fates intertwined and how their paths clash. A series of twisted events that is both a study on cause and effect, and how our actions affect the people around us.

Movie Review:

Truth: We’ve seen worse Singapore movies than this Chai Yee Wei directed horror action comedy.

At the rate Singaporeans are condemning almost every other commercial flick which comes our way (when was the last time you actually liked a Jack Neo movie?), it is only a matter of time our homegrown filmmakers lose confidence in making films. But this doesn’t give the liberty for directors to produce works which, well, to simply put it, make viewers feel that they could have better made use of their time by sleeping at home.

After receiving MDA’s Feature Fund to make his debut feature Blood Ties (2009), how does Chai’s second horror feature project fare?

In what seems to be a popular approach to telling stories, the 108 minute movie features three intertwined segments starring an ensemble of familiar faces in the region. The protagonists are exaggeratedly personified for comedic effect: A flashy womanizing drug dealer who kills his girlfriend in an accident, two horny male flight attendants who want to get fresh with their pretty colleagues and a pair of hilarious con men who decide to take on their last job by exorcising a demon out of a possessed girl.

Thanks to his capable cast, you almost ignore how underdeveloped Chai’s story is. The screenplay co written by Chai and Eng Boon Ping does not boast of the most innovative dialogues, but you’d still find yourself chuckling at some of the deliberately localised usage of words. The nice mix of dialects in the film is definitely welcoming.

This is where leading man Mark Lee, who plays the flirtatious drug dealer, is a natural. The comedian (and recently turned director) shoots his mouth off the moment he appears on screen in the first segment, and doesn’t stop until he meets his, err, end. Despite the character’s unlikable personality, his entertaining performance is one of the highlights of the movie.

The other member of the cast to look out for is Hongkong based Zhu Mi Mi, who stars in the film’s third story. The veteran actress plays the mother of a possessed schoolgirl, and you have to take your hats off as the acclaimed comedian sends shivers down your spine with her zoned out and creepy expressions. Commendable performances also come from Malaysian actors Joey Leong (she plays the obligatory possessed girl again after her breakout role in Chai’s first feature), Alvin Wong and Brandon Yuen (as the mediums who unluckily stumble upon the cursed family).

Elsewhere, pretty faces come in the form of Linda Liao, Tracy Lee and Randall Tan, who star in the segment about a wild party gone wrong. The most senseless segment of the lot, the only redeeming aspect of this story comes from local host Cavin Soh, who will have you believe that cabin crew members can be a slimy, sneaky lot.

Chai attempts to link the three segments together by superficially writing the characters into each others’ stories. There is also this underwhelming feeling that the writer director is attempting to relay a message about karma and fate, as well as cause and effect. Unfortunately, this gets buried beneath the laughs (no, there aren’t much scares here except the “been there done that” specials makeup), and as the film’s end credits begin rolling, you’d find yourself moderately entertained with no contemplation on how karma can affect one’s life.  

Movie Rating:

(Praiseworthy and entertaining performances from Mark Lee and Zhu Mi Mi are the highlights of this otherwise unfulfilling horror comedy)

Review by John Li