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DISNEY'S FAVOURITE PRINCESSES ENCHANT THE BIG SCREENPosted on 05 Nov 2013 |
Genre: Drama
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Dallas Roberts, Steve Zahn, Denis O'Hare, Kevin Rankin, Griffin Dunne
RunTime: 1 hr 57 mins
Rating: R21 (Sexual Scene, Drug Use and Coarse Language)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website: http://www.focusfeatures.com/dallas_buyers_club
Opening Day: 23 January 2014
Synopsis: Matthew McConaughey stars in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB as real-life Texas cowboy Ron Woodroof, whose free-wheeling life was overturned in 1985 when he was diagnosed as HIV-positive and given 30 days to live. These were the early days of the AIDS epidemic, and the U.S. was divided over how to combat the virus. Ron, now shunned and ostracized by many of his old friends, and bereft of government-approved effective medicines, decided to take matters in his own hands, tracking down alternative treatments from all over the world by means both legal and illegal. Bypassing the establishment, the entrepreneurial Woodroof joined forces with an unlikely band of renegades and outcasts - who he once would have shunned - and established a hugely successful “buyers’ club.” Their shared struggle for dignity and acceptance is a uniquely American story of the transformative power of resilience.
Movie Review:
Let’s start this review of the much talked about Oscar nominated film by talking about the underrated Jared Leto. The 42 year old (woah, really?) actor has been dabbling in showbiz since the early 1990s, but when was the last time you actually remember seeing the Lousisiana born artiste in a movie? For us, we cannot shake his performance in the urban horror Requiem for a Dream (2000) directed by Darren Aronofsky. There, he plays a heroin addict whose life spirals towards destruction, no thanks to the cruel world of delusion and reckless desperation. Leto’s unforgettable portrayal of the film’s protagonist made us sit up and look, hoping that he will be recognised by the industry one day.
And that day is here, with his latest work in this biographical drama film directed by Canadian filmmaker Jean Marc Vallee (C.R.A.Z.Y., The Young Victoria). Leto, who is also the lead vocalist, multi instrumentalist and main songwriter for rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars, has been picking up countless accolades for his powerful performance as an AIDS positive transgender woman in this 117 minute movie.
For the record, Leto has also appeared in titles like Girl, Interrupted (1999), Panic Room (2002) and Alexander (2004). This is the point where you go “Oh yah, he’s THAT GUY.” Now, people will know Jared Leto is – after years of hard work. If that’s one thing that pays off in the sometimes brutal world of showbiz, it’s something worth being hopeful about.
Leto’s character is a supporting one in this movie which takes place in 1985 Dallas. The protagonist is Ron Woodroof, a cowboy cum electrician who is diagnosed with AIDS due to his hustling lifestyle. Given 30 days to live, he becomes determined to get around the system to help get the medication they need. In a society where government approved medicines are doubtfully effective, it will take a lot for him to get pass the establishment.
If you’re still reading this review, you’re probably in the know when it comes to film awards. You should have heard how leading man Matthew McConaughey, like Leto, is picking up trophies at film awards everywhere. The 44 year old actor’s performance is one you have to see for yourself. Yes, this is the same man who charmed female audiences with romantic comedies like How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days (2003), Fool’s Gold (2008) and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009). What the Texasborn actor did with his body is a work of wonder. You may have seen Christian Bale do it in films like The Machinist (2004) and The Fighter (2010), but McConaughey tops it with his engagingly moving performance in this movie.
The movie paces itself nicely, telling the story of how an individual’s belief can lead to big things. The ensemble cast also includes the surprisingly pleasant Jennifer Garner (The Invention of Lying, Butter) and the scene stealing Steve Zahn (A Perfect Getaway, Diary of a Wimpy Kid). The film has been well rewarded at the upcoming Oscars, with the expected acting nominations for McConaughey and Leto, as well as Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
Will the two actors, who are in top form here, walk away with the big prize come 2 March? We are hoping they will, as their performances are unmistakably the best amongst the nominees. What then is in store for them after the big night? Given the increasingly profit driven nature of showbiz, we’d love to find out too.
Movie Rating:
(McConaughey and Leto are in top form here, and it’s time showbiz rewarded them with the deserving recognition)
Review by John Li
SYNOPSIS: A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far, Far Away…. Against the might of the Galactic Empire, an unlikely band of heroes emerges to renew the fight for freedom. Witness the epic debut of the riveting animated series Star Wars Rebels, in this full-length, must-own movie – now on DVD for the first time ever! Five years before the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, the reigning evil Empire continues to tighten its grip of power and fear throughout the cosmos. But even amidst the tyranny and oppression of these dark days, a glimmer of light emerges. Meet the ragtag crew of the starship Ghost : Twi’lek pilot Hera, street-smart pickpocket Ezra, team leader Kanan, alien enforcer Zeb, explosives expert Sabine, and Chopper, the cantankerous Droid. Together, they embark on action-packed adventures, battle ruthless villains, and ignite the very first Spark Of Rebellion against a surging tide of Storm troopers, TIE fighters and the mysterious Inquisitor.
MOVIE REVIEW:
So much has happened after Disney bought out Lucasfilm. A new Star Wars movie is in production, several spin-offs are in the pipeline and there are rumors of a bigger Star Wars presence in Disney theme parks.
With the sudden cancellation of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Disney needs something new to fill in for Disney XD channel and what better choice than to fall back into the Star Wars timeline for more adventures in outer space.
Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion marks the pilot episode of the series. Taking place fourteen years after the events of Star Wars Episode III, viewers are taken on a whirlwind ride onboard The Ghost. Manned by pilot Hera (Vanessa Marshall) and led by Team Leader Kanan (Freddie Prinze Jr) with Alien Zeb (Steve Blum) and explosives expert Sabine (Tiya Sircar), the foursome are on missions to fight against the Imperial troops.
As Obi-Wan Kenobi said in a hologram message, “… a new hope will emerge.” As always, there will be a Master and an apprentice. This time round, the master is Kanan, an ex-Jedi and survivor of Order 66 and the apprentice happened to be a young con artist and orphan by the name of Ezra Bridger.
For the mere 45 minutes, one can feel the original spirit of Star Wars is much alive and it’s obvious the filmmakers took effort in surprising audience with fresh elements while still persevering the old. If the prequels have memorable villains such as Darth Maul and General Grievous, look out for the much-touted latest bad guy of the far away galaxy, The Inquisitor (voiced by Harry Potter actor Jason Isaacs) making his first appearance.
Wildly entertaining and deeply engaging, Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion might be the appropriate title to kick-start your love for a franchise that is more than three decades old. The animation details on the other hand can be way slicker but that’s just me being nitpicking.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The Machine in the Ghost, Art Attack, Entanglement, Property of Ezra Bridger are short clips that introduce viewers to the various leading characters: Kanan, Hera, Sabine, Zeb and Ezra.
Producer Dave Filoni and Writer Simon Kinberg gave a short introduction before giving viewers an extended trailer in Star Wars Rebels Season 1: Look Ahead.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The DVD is backed by a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track with a dynamic soundfield which frequently features rumbling explosions. Visual presentation is serviceable, save for a couple of instances where there are obvious minor flaws.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
Genre: Action/Drama
Director: Park Hong-soo
Cast: Choi Seung-hyun (T.O.P), Han Ye-ri, Yoon Je-moon, Cho Seong -ha, Kim Yoo-jung
RunTime: 1 hr 53 mins
Rating: NC16 (Coarse Language and Some Violence)
Released By: GV
Official Website:
Opening Day: 21 November 2013
Synopsis: After his father is killed in the South, North Korean Myung-hoon and his young sister Hye-in are sent to a labor prison camp. In order to save his sister’s life and his own, Myung-hoon becomes a spy and infiltrates to the South as a teenage defector. He assumes the role of an ordinary high school student and carries out missions when his orders are given. To his surprise though, he meets a fellow classmate girl named Hye-in, and he comes to her rescue when she is bullied. South Korean Intelligence agent Cha soon discovers of Myung-hoon’s activities and begins tracking him, all the while his own government sends a vicious assassin to eliminate him… .
Movie Review:
Almost 10 out of 10 Korean films about North-South Korean disputes have that same faithful ending. Commitment was no exception. In order to preserve the life of his only surviving family member, Myung-hoon (T.O.P) was sent out of his country to become a spy in South Korea. He disguised as a teenage defector, to infiltrate and carry out top missions involving the bureaucracies’ dispute. In hopes of going home to a bright future, Myung-hoon became unafraid and ruthless, taking down the opponents one by one. Even before he realizes it, he has become a killing machine, a chess piece craftily manipulated by his government.
However, Myung-hoon’s encounter with Hye-in (same name as Myung-hoon’s sister, played by Han Ye-ri) at high school changed him. He slowly began to open up and started relate to her circumstances, and possibly made his first friend. His commitment to his country and perhaps his commitment to his personal beliefs were eventually put to a test. What would he do if he learns about the truth of his father’s death? What would he do if he knew about his actual fate?
With a quick glance, the narrative actually does appear to be quite promising. However, here we have a case of a rather good premise, but average execution in terms of the writing and development. Other than Hye-in and Myung-hoon being the constants, the other characters either had no relevance or were brought in too briefly. This result in a disconnection with the audience and probably many do not understand what exactly is going on in the movie. The missions that Myung-hoon carried out also got boring because they were simply repetitive, taking on the same pattern each time he encounters a new opponent.
The highlight of the movie is undoubtedly T.O.P. Unlike in 71 into the Fire (2010), where he was given a more secondary role, his role in this movie was more crucial and demanded more from him. His acting was not as outstanding as that in 71 into the Fire, but his close combat scenes were exhilarating and impressive. It was refreshing to see him in this light, apart from seeing T.O.P rap in his playful and mischievous ways, or strutting the fashion runway.
Casting wise, it is quite mind-boggling as to why T.O.P was chosen to take on a teenage role. I know right. T.O.P as a ‘high school student’? Even Han Ye-ri, Myung-hoon’s high school classmate Hye-in, is actually 28 years old this year. It seems like the director and producers probably didn’t want to put their bet on the younger actors and actresses. Nevertheless, it is a good move since both of them proved to be much of a value-add to the drama aspect of the movie.
Characteristically Korean, ‘Commitment’ is just as sappy and melodramatic as every other Korean movie. Unfortunately, this didn’t work to the advantage of the movie and instead seemed too intentional and immature. Coupled with the rather unpolished narrative and over emphasis on uncovering the inconspicuous intent of the bureaucracy, ‘Commitment’ lacked a good flow and story development that can fully capture the audiences.
Movie Rating:
(Just about any other South Korean film on North Korean spies; fortunately, this one is at least spiced up with T.O.P.)
Review by Tho Shu Ling
Genre: Drama/Adventure
Director: Joachim Roenning, Espen Sandberg
Cast: Pål Hagen, Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Jakob Oftebro, Tobias Santelmann, Odd-Magnus Williamson, Gustaf Skarsgård, Agnes Kittlesen
RunTime: 1 hr 53 mins
Rating: PG13 (Brief Nudity and Some Intense Sequences)
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films & InnoForm Media
Official Website: https://www.facebook.com/kontikifilmen
Opening Day: 14 November 2013
Synopsis: Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl crossed the Pacific ocean in a balsa wood raft in 1947, together with five men, to prove that South Americans already back in pre-Columbian times could have crossed the sea and settle on Polynesian islands. After gathering financing for the trip with loans and donations, they set off on an epic 101 day-long journey across 8,000 kilometers, all while the world was watching. KON-TIKI tells about the origin of Heyerdahl's idea and the events surrounding the group's voyage.
Movie Review:
Let’s start with the facts. In 1947, a Norwegian explorer by the name of Thor Heyerdahl had the radical notion that the native Polynesians originated from the South American Incas and not Asia. Laughed off by the scientific community, Thor assembled a ragtag crew of six men (including, we might add, a refrigerator salesman), built his own raft using the Incas’ primitive methods and materials, and set out on a 5000-mile drift from Peru to Polynesia. The rest, as they say, is history - Thor successfully completed the journey, his voyage documented by an eager press which he made sure to provide regular updates on, and has since been published into a bestselling book and made into an Oscar-winning documentary by the man himself.
And yet even with knowing the facts, there’s no denying that this first attempt to dramatise that historical voyage is a rippling good yarn. In telling the story of Thor’s foolhardy and yet awe-inspiring scientific experiment, filmmakers Joachim Roenning and Espen Sandberg have carefully balanced a character study of the man behind the voyage and a gripping man-against-nature adventure. Make no mistake, this isn’t some indie foreign language film; as the most expensive Norwegian film ever produced, it is the stuff of Hollywood blockbusters blessed with gorgeous imagery thanks to location work in Norway, Bulgaria, Thailand and Malta. In short, it is as accessible to a mainstream audience as can be.
While the man himself remains an enigma to this day, Petter Skavlan’s screenplay makes careful inferences based on what is known. The opening vignette introduces us to his fearless nature even as a child, insisting on leaping atop an ice floe despite warnings from his fellow peers, almost drowning as a result. Next, we are brought to 1937 Polynesia where Thor (Pal Hagen) and his young wife, Liv (Agnes Kittlesen), are living with the natives on the Polynesian isle of Fatu Hiva. It is there he develops the idea which will be met with scorn from publishers as well as the National Geographic Society. At least in the first hour, we are taught to believe Thor as a man of determination, one not afraid to risk the odds to stand firm in his beliefs.
Once on the balsa-wood raft, we begin to realise how his doggedness might actually be obstinacy. When the aforementioned salesman Herman (Anders Baasmo Christiansen) pleads with him to reinforce their waterlogged raft with wires, he dumps the box along with the wires into the open sea in a fit of anger. Rather than prep his crew beforehand, he keeps their encounter with a razor-sharp line of reefs right before they make shore a secret till the last minute, forcing makeshift preparations in order to avoid being smashed into the rocks. As much as it pays tribute to its subject’s persistence, it isn’t afraid to recognise how that may easily be construed as faults.
With fluency, Roenning and Sandberg ensure that the details are not missing - their encounter with a giant whale shark, Herman’s close shave with a school of sharks after falling overboard, the accidental ingestion of their supply of shark repellent after thinking it was tomato soup etc. Certainly, inherent in any narrative feature is the need to play up the drama from time to time, and indeed the film has been accused of incorrectly portraying Herman as the weak link in the crew - in addition to exaggerating the tension which ensues from spending a prolonged time adrift. Admittedly, these excesses don’t add much to the tale, which in itself is already enthralling. Comparisons will inevitably be drawn to Ang Lee’s ‘Life of Pi’ - in particular one which shows the sea’s phosphorescent glow in the still of the night - but this tale still stands on its own by its incredible facts.
Besides being fascinating in and of itself, the movie also boasts a fantastic lead performance by Hagen. He’s strappingly handsome no doubt, compared by many reviewers to a young Peter O’ Toole from ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, but Hagen inhabits the role with plenty of charisma, verve and conviction. His co-stars rarely miss a beat too, though there is no doubt Hagen is the heart and soul of the movie. In fact, it is Hagen who provides the emotional glue for the narrative, especially in the parts where the conflict between the crew members could come off as contrived.
And yet, the film that Roenning and Sandberg pull off is undeniably impressive. Granted that they did already have a riveting story to start out with, but the visuals they assemble to portray an extraordinary voyage will leave you going wow - whether the more minimalist shots that maintain a sense of perspective of the size of the raft and the proximity of the crew members or the more attention-grabbing shots of their fantastical encounters. Its impact might be a little muted coming after Ang Lee’s gem, but ‘Kon-tiki’ remains a spellbinding tale of wonder when you consider that it is after all based on fact and not fiction.
Movie Rating:
(Altogether a fascinating and even spellbinding dramatization of the incredible real-life ‘Kon-tiki’ voyage of 5000 miles across the open sea by one man who could not swim and his equally inexperienced crew of five)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: CG Animation
Director: Manuel Sicilia
Cast: Antonio Banderas, Freddie Highmore, Saoirse Ronan, Mark Strong, Olivia Williams, Rupert Everett, Julie Walters, Alfred Molina, Charles Dance, Michael Culkin, James Cosmo, Barry Humphries, David Walliams
RunTime: 1 hr 30 mins
Rating: PG
Released By: Shaw
Official Website: http://www.justinandtheknightsofvalour.com/
Opening Day: 14 November 2013
Synopsis: STIN (Freddie Highmore) lives in a kingdom where bureaucrats rule and knights have been ousted. His dream is to become one of the Knights of Valour, but his father REGINALD (Alfred Molina), the chief counsel to the QUEEN (Olivia Williams), wants his son to follow in his footsteps. JUSTIN leaves home and embarks on a quest to become a knight. Along the way he meets the beautiful, feisty TALIA (Saoirse Ronan), a quirky wizard called MELQUIADES (David Walliams), the handsome SIR CLOREX (Antonio Banderas) and is mentored by three monks; BLUCHER (James Cosmo), LEGANTIR (Charles Dance) and BRAULIO (Barry Humphries), who teach and test him in the ancient ways of the Knights of Valour. JUSTIN must rise to the challenge quickly when banished former knight SIR HERACLIO (Mark Strong) and his army, led by SOTA (Rupert Everett), return and threaten to destroy the Kingdom.
Movie Review:
Made in Spain by Kandor Graphics and voiced by a cohort of English actors, Justin and the Knights of Valour is a poor man’s version of How to Train Your Dragon and Brave combined.
Set in a medieval kingdom that favors the rule of law, the boy from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Freddie Highmore voiced the lead character, Justin whom against his father’s (Alfred Molina) wish, prefers to be a knight then being a lawyer. Determined to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, Justin set off in his quest to be a knight. Under the tutelage of three wise monks with a pending war against the kingdom by a ruthless banished knight, Sir Heraclio (Mark Strong), will Justin able to complete his quest in time to save the kingdom?
On the outside,Justin and the Knights of Valour screams of medieval adventure, swashbuckling action and mysterious sorcerer magic but the script by Matthew Jacobs and director Manuel Sicilia is a little too mundane for both adults and kids to sit through. One mistake leads to another and the script never offers much to entertain with the exception of a gross gag after a seemingly long introduction.
The biggest problem with Justin and the Knights of Valour is its inability to do a good copy despite the filmmakers’ very genuine attempt to do so. There’s a fast food type of restaurant situated in the medieval kingdom that seems to be a reject from Far, Far Away. And there’s a big fat crocodile rigged up as a dragon for Justin’s training purposes. At least Hiccup has a real dragon with a missing tail but Justin has the worst. This certainly spells disaster not adventure. And no, watching an overweight croc lumbering around isn’t that funny after all since the story actually promises the presence of dragons earlier.
Talking about magic, there isn’t any either but Justin did managed to meet quite a number of weirdoes along the way. The schizophrenic, spilt-personality magician by the name of Melquiades (David Walliams) who just can’t stop rambling for most of the time, a fake knight voiced by producer and actor Antonio Banderas who is much better as a cat in Puss-In-Boots than this absolutely redundant role and finally Justin’s true love, a feisty warrior girl, Talia (Saoirse Ronan). Who can forget the evil knights as well, the obligated villain of this decade, Mark Strong as Sir Heraclio with his partner, the feminine fashion conscious Sota voiced by Rupert Everett.
While it’s still a long way to go comparing it with a Pixar or DreamWorks title, the animation quality of Justin surprisingly holds up pretty well on the big screen. The texture and detailing are fine except characteristic wise, the humans look like gloop of plastic on closer look.
On the whole,Justin and the Knights of Valour is a decent, uplifting animation for the entire family. However if you are a devoted fan of How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek and Brave then it’s probably best that you stay away from this flick.
Movie Rating:
(Strictly filler material until the next major animation title to arrive)
Review by Linus Tee
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COMING NOT SO SOON...The Midnight Coterie of Sinister IntrudersPosted on 11 Nov 2013 |
SYNOPSIS: A high profile terrorism case unexpectedly brings two exceptional lawyers with a romantic past together on the defense team. They soon realize they've stepped into a dangerous web of cover-ups and lies and their knowledge of the government's top=secret classified evidence has put their reputations and lives at stake.
MOVIE REVIEW:
A bomb went off in a crowded market in central London killing 120 innocent people and a Turkish by the name of Farroukh Erdogan is subsequently caught and detained by the authorities. Lawyers Martin Rose (Eric Bana) and Claudia Simmons-Howe (Rebecca Hall) are selected by the Attorney General (Jim Broadbent) to represent Erdogan in court with Rose replacing the previous defense barrister who committed suicide. As Rose dig deeper into the case, he realized his daily actions are heavily monitored and there’s more to a mere bombing case by terrorists.
Closed Circuit in short is yet another conspiracy thriller that plays on the after effects of 9/11, this time from the British filmmakers. Arabic looking man as terrorist suspect. Checked. Politics and cover up. Checked. Government agents that went on secret killing rampages. Checked. The two heroes involved in the case happen to have a romantic past. Checked. The script by Steve Knight (Redemption, Eastern Promises) evolves into nothing exceptional thrilling and the plot unravels predictably in the most mundane way making all that promised mumbo-jumbo about surveillance technology redundant in the end.
The sole impressive trait about the movie happens to be the cast. Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall are excellent as two smart lawyers caught in a silly wild goose chase. At least we believed the duo has done their job well. Veteran Jim Broadbent snarls, growls and threatens in the most gentleman way ever but we still know he is up to no good. The same goes for Cairan Hinds who plays a close friend of Rose. Instead of generating a real sense of tension, perhaps the fault lies again in Knight’s screenplay, which makes the guessing game much too easy. Not forgetting American Julia Stiles is also in the picture playing a journalist caught up in the conspiracy theories. It’s as if she never left The Bourne movies.
Despite serviceable directing effort from John Crowley (Boy A), Closed Circuit fails to breathe life to a compelling subject. It’s too much of the same old to generate much interest. Watchable only for the terrific cast.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
NIL
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack boasts a clear listening experience and visually showcases the intended cold, washed out palette.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
SYNOPSIS: The Conjuring is based on the true story of the Perron family and their supernatural encounters in their Rhode Island home. Ed and Lorraine Warren, experts in paranormal activities, investigated and the alleged occurrences, inspiring both The Amityville Horror and The Haunting in Connecticut. The Conjuring tells the horrifying true story of Ed and Lorraine Warren’s encounter with the powerful demonic force in the secluded farmhouse in the most terrifying case of their lives.
MOVIE REVIEW:
You won’t necessarily loves to stay in one but everyone loves a good haunted house story.
After shocking the world with his directorial debut in Saw and returning to the horror genre with Insidious, Malaysia born filmmaker James Wan is back raising the goose bumps once again. And what better way than telling a horror story that is inspired by true life events.
The premise of The Conjuring is based on the horrifying encounters faced by the Perron family in the early 70’s. After shifting the entire family of seven not counting their pet dog to a large farmhouse in Rhode Island, the Perrons especially mother Carolyn (Lili Taylor) and her younger children starts to experience unexplained bruises and paranormal encounters. Seeking the help of paranormal investigators, husband-and-wife team, Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), the Perrons realised an exorcism is much needed as the land in which the house is built on has a far more sinister history than anyone can imagine.
All thanks to Wan’s employment of old school filmmaking tactics and well-crafted prolonged scenes of silence; it’s sure terrifying enough to imagine one living in a large house with creepy basement and long corridors after sitting through the horror flick. Abandoning the current trend of using grotesque violence and found footages crap to scare you; Wan delivers successfully the tension and freakiness that makes horror stories work. If you have been following the trailers, you would have noticed that little ending scene of Carolyn fumbling with her matches in the dark basement. Well, the actual scene plays out even more spine-chilling and the children’s first encounter with the spirit will unexpectedly scare the wits out of you. Damn, even a simple game of hide-and-seek in broad daylight is not that advisable either.
While it’s not a fast-paced terrifying movie throughout the 112 minutes, The Conjuring boasts the convincing acting of Taylor, Farmiga and Wilson. The latter of course has become a regular fixture in Wan’s horror outings in recent times. Not forgetting the relatively-known younger actresses, Mackenzie Foy (last seen in the final Twilight) and Joey King (White House Down) who plays Cindy and Christine Perron respectively. John R. Leonetti who has worked with Wan on Insidious and Dead Silence captured hell lot of atmosphere with his slow sweeping cinematography while writers and twin brothers Chad and Carey Hayes finally turned in a cinematic gem after scribing a series of junks such as The Reaping, House of Wax and Whiteout.
Definitely the best horror of 2013 and Wan’s most matured work to date,The Conjuring is a nail-biting spookfest preferably watched alone in the dead of the night if you dare. Crank up the volume and let those demonic sound effects consumed you.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Scaring the '@$*%' Out of You is an 8 minutes interview segment with director James Wan, the producers and writers covering stuff liked creating the atmosphere and sound of the movie.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
Images are crisp and clean despite the intended softness and paleness. The Dolby Digital 5.1 erupts and directional effects are top notch when the movie calls for it and it sure didn’t disappoint for a relatively quiet title.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
Genre: Drama
Director: Jason Reitman
Cast: Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Gattlin Griffith, James Van Der Beek, Alexie Gilmore, Clark Gregg, Lucas Hedges, Brooke Smith, Gattlin Griffith, Tom Lipinski, Maika Monroe, Brighid Fleming, Micah Fowler, Tobey Maguire
RunTime: 1 hr 52 mins
Rating: NC-16 (Sexual Scene)
Released By: UIP
Official Website: http://www.labordaymovie.com/index_splash.php
Opening Day: 13 March 2014
Synopsis: “Labor Day” centers on 13-year-old Henry Wheeler, who struggles to be the man of his house and care for his reclusive mother Adele while confronting all the pangs of adolescence. On a back-to-school shopping trip, Henry and his mother encounter Frank Chambers, a man both intimidating and clearly in need of help, who convinces them to take him into their home and later is revealed to be an escaped convict. The events of this long Labor Day weekend will shape them for the rest of their lives.
Movie Review:
Since bursting out of his father’s shadow eight years ago with the subversive dramedy ‘Thank You for Smoking’, Jason Reitman has been cementing his reputation as a ‘wunderkind’ in Hollywood with critically acclaimed films like ‘Juno’, ‘Up in the Air’ and ‘Young Adult’. It’s a little surprising therefore that Reitman has, for his fifth feature, decided instead to go all Nicholas Sparks on his fans, and despite not being based on a novel by the writer, his adaptation of Joyce Maynard’s novel barely rises above the stuff of a sappy romance – and that is even with an A-list cast including Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin.
The title refers to the weekend over which the events of Reitman’s adaptation unfold, which trades the contemporary vibe of his earlier movies for a small New Hampshire town circa 1987. It is in that fictitious town of Holton Mills where 13-year-old Henry (Gattlin Griffith) and his mother (Winslet) meets the escaped convict Frank (Josh Brolin) in the local Pricemart department store. There is blood on his scalp and he walks with a limp, but Frank manages to convince the mother-and-son pair to take him in.
Turns out that Frank is in fact a convicted murderer who escaped from hospital after an appendectomy, but hey this isn’t the kind of movie where he turns psychotic on them. Instead, Frank reveals himself to have a heart of gold, and over that titular weekend develops a bond with both Adele and Henry. He teaches Henry how to throw a baseball. He changes the oil in Adele’s station wagon. He cooks chili and makes them breakfast. But most of all, he makes a damn hell of a peach pie, so no matter the fact that they are actually his hostages, it isn’t any surprise that both quickly take to him as the father figure that they never had in the house.
But it goes deeper than that. Frank and Adele are both nursing their own emotional wounds from their previous relationships. Frank’s conviction we learn arose from a cheating wife; while Adele is in chronic depression after suffering numerous miscarriages and never quite recovering from a divorce with Henry’s father Gerald (Clark Gregg), so Henry has since assumed the role of caretaker for his mother. “I came to save you,” declares Frank, and if you are the sort who thinks you will respond with tremulous yearning gazes (as Adele does), then you’ll find ‘Labor Day’ is just the movie for you.
Otherwise, you will quite likely find this mush quite ingratiating, especially how it ultimately strains logic at almost every juncture. At no point in the movie does Reitman bother to convince us that Frank is in the least bit dangerous; instead, through overlit flashback sequences, Reitman paints him as the young military vet undone by his intense love for a run-around wife. Determined not to lose anything from his source material, Reitman further elaborates on Adele’s past, as well as Henry’s budding friendship with a sassy new girl in town (Brighid Fleming) whose precociousness is annoying to say the least.
Only in the latter half does Reitman restore some rightful tension into the proceedings as a neighbour drops by for an unexpected visit and Adele is called to watch a friend’s disabled son for a day. And yet, even if Reitman fumbles with the material, his cast ultimately save the day. Winslet is uniformly excellent as the sad and exhausted Adele, making her character’s pain real and present in a way few actresses can manage to. Brolin complements Winslet’s searing performance with an equally intense portrayal brimming with a tortured aura. It is thanks to Winslet and Brolin’s chemistry that the emotional and sexual interplay between their characters sizzles.
Yet even with the duo’s compelling acting, ‘Labour Day’ feels exactly as its title implies no thanks to surprisingly flat-footed writing and directing from Reitman. There are elements of a sexually charged wish fulfilment fantasy here, but these are largely watered down; instead, Reitman strains to find pathos in a setup that strains credibility at many turns, and ends up being no more than two-hanky fodder for those waiting for the next Sparks novel. It’s an undeniable comedown for a director who has built a reputation as one of the most promising young ones to watch, and if there’s one thing that should come out of it, it’s that Reitman should stay away from the stuff that belongs in sappy romances.
Movie Rating:
(Compelling performances from Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin can’t quite redeem this sappy tearjerker from the stuff of die-hard romantics)
Review by Gabriel Chong
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