Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Manuel Carballo
Cast: Sophie Vavasseur, Stephen Billington, Douglas Bradley, Tommy Bastow, Richard Felix, Jo-Anne Stockham
RunTime: 1 hr 41 mins
Released By: GV
Rating: NC-16 (Some Disturbing Scenes)
Official Website: http://www.laposesiondeemmaevans.com/

Opening Day: 20 January 2011

Synopsis: Fifteen-year-old Emma Hawkins is like any other teenage girl; she thinks that her parents don’t understand her. She longs for independence and a life free of family ties and responsibilities, and she is prepared to do anything to achieve it. But one day she will be forced to face up to the consequences of her actions. Life seems to be carrying on as normal until one day Emma starts experiencing frightening fits. Her parents are convinced that her problems are either medical or psychological, but when doctors' tests are unable to draw any conclusions, the family is forced to look elsewhere for answers. It all started off as a bit of fun. Emma never really believed it, but the truth is there is something dark and sinister within her, and it won’t take long to surface.

Movie Review:

Out of nowhere, a Spanish team who produce a gem call REC and REC2 stirred up a British cast a genre we are all too familiar with. Demon possessions. Exorcist would come to mind and yes, there isn’t anywhere else that can drive one to steer into a different direction. Many have tried from found footage style, to sequels and even prequels but none ever managed to hit the spot and strike fear into the human heart. Blame the gore fest we’re bombarded with and the many things that happens in real life. They have been surrounding us for so long that we have become jaded and immune to such classic horror, the horror we use to scare ourselves silly when we were young, that such inhumane/unbelievable occurrence is like a morning cereal. But a recommendable effort i must say. Although most failed, many had potentials among the thorns.

And those who are included in this torrential gathering of potentials is namely, Exorcismus or also known as La posesión de Emma Evans (The Possession of Emma Evans). Premiered at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain (A festival i would love to visit one day) last year, this interpretation of a modern urban possession feels slightly more real than other followers. It can be your neighbour, your cousin or even secretly hiding with your siblings....Have i creeped you out yet? Anyway, yes, setting is substantial to how you connect to your audience and i have to applause at the effort but the cinematographer must have wanted something more current and tried to follow NYPD or any MTV series because the consent camera movement and random quick zooms, after the 45min mark, became a distraction and took away the dread stillness of the setting and situation.

Acting overall was alittle touch a go for my taste. The lead girl playing Emma, isn’t very new to our screen, being known in various films like, Evelyn, Resident Evil: Apocalypse and Becoming Jane. Of cos that was when she was a wee little girl and between those and this, she grew up on small TV movies and have yet to get her groove yet. Everyone played their part but felt washed out. Its not that they were all bad but somehow it just didn’t fit in all aspect of the genre. Also there is a quick cameo if you’re old enough to remember one of the horror icon back in the 80s in the series called Hellraiser. Mr Pinhead himself. But you have to google him to find out how he looks like in his natural form, where he is the high priest who is in the flashbacks. Such irony. But not really. You just have to watch the movie yourself.

An army of darkness has steadily spewed across our country from local to the outer reaches of our region in Asia and then comes the western culture with their own horror of fame, many have scarred our minds and struck a chord over the ages from their Amityville Horror to Poltergeist, gore-fest classics like Hellraiser to Child's Play but nothing could have prepared us when Exorcist was rolled out to the world for the first time. And that was the beginning of ever increasing nightmare occurrence among boys and girls and not to mention, even adults too. In fact, even up to this date, i know for a fact that some are too scared to watch it. And like all movies which hit a high note at birth, it starts to roll down hill ever so gradually one step at a time, unable to pick itself up. Seems like a fate of doom for most successful entry isn’t it? Well if you’ve guessed that this is will somehow reboot the franchise, don’t even think about it. OMG, i said reboot. i hope no one saw that. Please don’t let anybody reboot Exorcist or I'll put a curse on which ever film production who does it...

Movie Rating:

(A new spew of twist would have stuck a harder hit if not for its lucksture build-up and acting)

Review by Lokman BS

Genre: Drama/Romance
Director: Wee Li Lin
Cast: Mo Tzu Yi, Joanna Dong, Sarah Ng Li-Wen, Teo Kiat Sing, Alice Lim
RunTime: 1 hr 30 mins
Released By: GV
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.foreverthemovie.com.sg/

Opening Day: 3 March 2011

Synopsis:

Since she became a flower girl at the age of eight, JOEY has been in love with the idea of finding that special man and being his bride. So much so that she got a job as a video consultant at the Wedding Education Department (W.E.D.). There, Joey shares the art of getting and marrying a man, through her romantic 'faux' wedding videos, which are screened to young singles all over Singapore. But the idea of fantasy and reality are blurred as Joey falls madly in love with GIN, a handsome music teacher from Taiwan. They appear together as bride and groom in a landmark W.E.D video that will serve as a prelude to their upcoming nuptials.

But soon her bubble is burst. A beautiful girl, CECILIA, claims to be Gin's real fiancée while Gin claims that his affection for her was strictly for the video. Not letting her childhood dream go, Joey pursues Gin to make him see that she is his true bride as she sees his true heart. As her work mates, family and Gin begin to find out who she really is, will Joey's relentless drive to restore the happiness and joy she once knew also be her ultimate failing and undoing?

Movie Review:

As cutesy as the movie poster may be, this local film is not a romantic comedy.

Sure, there were many occasions which we chuckled in amusement, but upon walking out of the theatres after the film’s end credits rolled, we thought to ourselves: “What was going on in the mind of director Wee Li Lin?”

The Mandarin language film tells the story of a young girl who works in a government supported organisation which educates Singaporeans on the merits of getting hitched. Aptly named Wedding Education Department (W.E.D. – get it?), this organisation holds tea parties and screens promo videos to encourage couples to get married. Our protagonist is the one in charge of producing these beautiful clips, and before anyone knows it, she is compulsively in love with the leading man of one of her well received videos.

The twist? The leading man is getting married to another girl soon, but nothing will stop our heroine from wanting to play bride and groom with the dashing guy. The consequences? Disturbing.

This is a surprisingly dark piece of work, considering the lush, bright and cheery colours which almost stung our eyes during the movie’s 89 minute runtime. Gerald Stahlmann’s cinematography is an intricate and lovingly planned series of visuals which transport you to the endless realms of cinema’s sights and sounds. This is complemented by Charles Lim’s elaborate art direction, which serves the tale of fixation and obsession fittingly.

It is a good thing, actually, that Wee’s second feature film is not one of those generic romantic comedies which viewers could predict the ending 15 minutes into the movie – forgettable flicks like that would have put us to sleep. Through dramatisation, the traits and characteristics displayed by the protagonist is probably Wee’s take on how this little island has contorted our lives into something rather, for the lack of a better word, warped. Like many other Singapore made movies, there are also some clever jibes and pokes in the film which local viewers can identify with.

It comes as no surprise that Wee is tackling with this rather unconventional theme, with her last film Gone Shopping (2007) dealing with the heavy topic of urban alienation. With a quirky and offbeat script co written with Silvia Wong, viewers are allowed to stretch their imaginations and venture into the psyche of a girl whose fascination takes her to a place which many would deem disturbing. Never falling into the predictable glum and grim, there is always something in the screenplay which will make you sit up and watch - that’s what makes this homegrown filmmaker’s works gems.

A familiar face in theatre and musical productions, Joanna Dong takes on the role of Joey, the fanatical and infatuated protagonist. With her petite frame, Dong manages to command screen presence, with her somewhat disquieting glances and glares. Her performance brings to mind the stalker Audrey Tautou played in He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (2002) and the bold lover Marion Cotillard played in Love Me If You Dare (2003). Dong’s co star Mo Tzu Yi puts his good looks to use, emoting at the right moments and complementing his partner’s showier performance. Supporting actors like Sarah Ng, Alice Lim and Kenny Gee fare well too, and cameos by some of Singapore’s most well known personalities add a touch of fun to the film.

Who would have thought? Something as wacky and out of the ordinary as this would come so highly recommended. Never mind the film ends on a somewhat rushed note – you just need to ditch those perceptions about a conventional love story, and go for a ride with this alternative fairy tale.

Movie Rating:



(An unconventional and remarkably bizarre love story which challenges your senses)

Review by John Li

In Korean with English & Chinese Subtitles
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Director: Jang Yoo-jung
Cast: Lim Soo-jung, Gong Yoo, Chun Ho-jin, Jeong Su-kyung
RunTime: 1 hr 52 mins
Released By: Encore Films & GV
Rating: PG
Official Website:

Opening Day: 24 February 2011

Synopsis: Ki-jun starts an agency that helps people locate their long lost first loves and Ji-woo becomes his first client. She is dragged there by her worried father who learns that Ji-woo is still hung up on Kim Jong-wook, a man she fell in love with on her trip to India in her early twenties. But she’s reluctant to go looking for her first love after all these years--the mere thought of it even scares her to bits.

But Ji-woo’s “extremely uncooperative attitude” doesn’t stop Ki-jun from bringing in all his resources in order to find Kim Jong-wook. Ki-jun is determined to successfully accomplish the first assignment for his detective agency. In order to identify the face of Ji-woo’s long lost first love, the two travel all around the country and come face-to-face with a smorgasbord of Kim Jong-wooks.

After days on end of little success in the search for Kim Jong-wook, the agency receives a single phone call of fate. Kim Jong-wook himself, inquired at Ki-jun’s agency, in the hope of finding Ji-woo!  Ki-jun tells Ji-woo the good news, but realized he has feelings for her.

Movie Review:

If you are one of the early adopters of the Korean wave, you will probably find this lead actor immensely familiar. You’re right, he’s Gong Yoo (as Ki-jun). He was the leading actor in one of the popular drama series in Singapore, Coffee Prince. However this time, his role in this movie is not as demanding as his role in the drama. The focus is on his comedic side. Well, this movie is after all a rom-com. Co-actress Im Soo-Jung (as Ji-woo), though less heard of, is equally dazzling. She has pulled off a good performance of a woman who finds her first love hard to forget and showed a good balance of emotion display. Also, her role in this movie also exemplifies her versatility.

This movie was adapted from a Korean musical play which has been running since 2006. Hence, it is easy to pick parts of the movie that actually work better on the stage than on the big screen. That being said, the cinematography of the movie still deserves some credit. The colourful and vibrant culture in India was very beautifully captured, from the opening scene to the flashbacks. Although the recall was exciting to watch, it was a pity that there was a lack of heart-tugging emotions. When we talk about first love, isn’t there a tinge of pain in our hearts? Then again, these scenes are fitting and characterize her encounter with her first love, colourful and jovial.

Having love as the main theme of the movie, there are also some sub themes that were in the movie. These sub themes are not particularly helpful in helping one to understand the narrative. It even seems that it has such a mix of themes, in desperate hopes that people will identify with at least part of it. The narrative became a little confusing in past mid-way of the movie because many things were left unexplained. The significance of the events were also not emphasized, hence the confusion.

However, the saving grace of the movie is the comedic elements. One can expect a pretty good laugh in the cinema. It has picked up a little on the pop culture and people’s fascination over the Korean wave. These elements, combined with pretty witty dialogues, have brought about some good entertainment. As of the purpose of all movie-goers, going to a movie is a time to be transported momentarily to another time and space, and also get entertained. Therefore in this respect, it is pretty enticing to watch.

As meaningful as it is towards the ending, it serves as a careful reminder to all: to live in the present and not in the shadows of the past; whether it is towards love, life or even achievements. What is important is not what we used to have, but what we have now!

Movie Rating:



(Wait no longer… carpe diem!)

Review by Tho Shu Ling

Genre: Thriller
Director: Doug Liman
Cast: Naomi Watts, Sean Penn, Sam Shepard, Bruce McGill, David Andrews
RunTime: 1 hr 48 mins
Released By: Shaw
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.everybodypays.com/

Opening Day: 13 January 2010

Synopsis:

A fascinating glimpse into the dark corridors of political power, Fair Game is a riveting drama inspired by the experiences of real-life undercover CIA officer Valerie Plame, whose career is destroyed and her marriage strained to its limits when her covert status is exposed by a White House press leak.

Valerie Plame (Watts), a covert officer in the CIA's counter-proliferation department, discovers that Iraq has no active nuclear weapons program, contrary to the belief of many in the U.S. government. Meanwhile, Valerie's husband Joe Wilson (Sean Penn), a former ambassador to Niger, is sent by the State Department to Africa to investigate rumors of the possible sale of enriched uranium to Iraq. After the White House ignores Joe's findings that no such deal took place, (along with at least two other reports that also confirmed the absence of any evidence of a uranium purchase) and declares war on Iraq, Joe writes a piece in The New York Times outlining his conclusions and ignites a firestorm of controversy.

Soon after, Valerie's covert status is leaked to high-profile Washington journalists. Is it an unfortunate coincidence or a coordinated campaign to retaliate against her husband for his very public disagreement with the government? With her cover blown and her overseas contacts now left exposed and vulnerable, Valerie is pushed to the breaking point as her career and private life begin to implode. Friends become indignant, then distant. Valerie receives anonymous death threats and Joe's consulting business dries up as a result of the concerted smear campaign against them. After 18 years serving the government, Valerie-a mother, a wife and a field officer with an impeccable record-now struggles to save her reputation, her career and her marriage.

Crackling with sharp dialogue, intrigue and heart-pounding suspense, Fair Game is the gripping account of one woman's struggle to overcome a staggering betrayal and reclaim her life.

Movie Review:

One of the greatest ironies of our decade is how Hollywood has proven to be a better reporter of the truth of the Iraqi war than our reputed news media. Think about it- from political thrillers like “Body of Lies” and “Rendition” to intimate family dramas like “In the Valley of Elah” and “Home of the Brave”, Hollywood has not been shy to paint an unflattering picture of the unjustified war that was Iraq and its consequences on the Iraqis as well as the American soldiers sent there to fight a war many did not believe in. What about our news media? Too quick to swallow President George W. Bush’s propaganda, and unwilling to question the veracity of their written words, they were as guilty as W. in selling the lies of the war to the American public and to the world.

That indictment against the news media continues in Doug Liman’s “Fair Game”, a well-crafted film that is both an exciting spy thriller and a poignant family drama. Liman’s biopic focuses on the former CIA operative Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts), whose covert identity was exposed by White House officials in 2003 in apparent retaliation over her husband Joseph Wilson’s (Sean Penn) New York Times op-ed piece. In that piece, Joseph alleges that W. misrepresented information about the sale of nuclear materials from the African country of Niger to Iraq- he would know, the CIA had sent him there to gather the very same intel which came up naught.

Liman sets up the first half of the movie in familiar thriller mode, showing Valerie in the field (Kuala Lumpur, Eygpt and Jordan) gathering intel of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. All those efforts however have proved futile (of course, we now know why), culminating in the CIA’s engagement of Joseph- the former U.S. ambassador and expert on Africa- to go on a fact-finding mission to Niger. When he hears W. twisting those facts to convince the nation in a 2003 State of the Union address justifying the imminent invasion of Iraq, Joseph decides to set the truth straight, albeit with heavy personal consequences.

The latter half of the movie becomes a compelling study of Joseph and Valerie’s marriage under duress- friends and family are shocked at the revelation, reporters hound their family at their doorstep, anonymous phone calls spewing death threats and finally, Joseph’s insistence on going around the cable television and lecture circuit defending his opinion. “What is the point?” Valerie asks exasperatedly. “It’s the White House you’re going up against. They will bury us!” And indeed, you’ll feel acutely her sense of despair and injustice, going up against the powerful machinery of the State and the assault of the right-wing media.

The sympathies of Liman and his screenwriters- Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth- are clear right from the start, but they do not blatantly bias their film towards their subjects. Rather, they paint a thoughtful and fact-based picture of the real-life events, refraining from condemning the administration- in particular Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief-of-staff Scooter Libby (a deliciously snarky performance by David Andrews) and Bush advisor Karl Rove (Adam LeFevre)- but emphasising the fallout of the State’s betrayal on their marriage and family. Liman’s focus here is almost singular, and some familiar with the case may be disappointed that key persons like New York Times reporter Judith Miller and conservative pundit Robert Novak have been excluded from the movie.

Still, their exclusion by no means diminishes the movie which has a keen sense of purpose throughout, driven by Sean Penn and Naomi Watts’ electrifying performances. Penn plays the outspoken, self-righteous fighter with aplomb, and one of his best scenes is one where he reminds Valerie that the loudest voice in the room isn’t always the smartest or the bravest. Watts is also uniformly excellent as the intelligent Valerie, her transformation from steeliness to vulnerability thoroughly engaging.

As with other Iraqi war-themed movies, Liman uses television-news footage of the War- especially Bush’s State of the Union address- to underscore the relevance and immediacy of the proceedings. Departing from his usual strict action-territory, Liman nicely juggles the aesthetics of a spy thriller with the machinery of a political and familial drama to deliver a captivating account of the falsehoods behind the Iraq War and the cost of telling the truth in an exceedingly hostile climate. No doubt the events may be slightly passé by now, but its twin messages of political integrity and personal conviction are ever pertinent, and this film an ever-important reminder of that.

Movie Rating:

(Compelling from start to finish, Doug Liman’s retelling of the Valerie Plame story is a sobering reminder of political corruption of the highest order and the cost of telling the truth)

Review by Gabriel Chong

Genre: Drama
Director: David O. Russell
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee, Dendrie Taylor, Jenna Lamia
RunTime: 115 mins
Released By: GV
Rating: M18 (Coarse Language and Drug Use)
Official Website: http://www.thefightermovie.com/

Opening Day: 6 January 2011

Synopsis: "The Fighter" is a drama about boxing champ "Irish" Micky Ward and his half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer who rebounded after nearly being destroyed by drugs and crime.

Movie Review:

“Irish” Micky Ward was the born-and-bred boxer from the working-class Massachusetts city of Lowell who fought his way to an unlikely world championship in the year 2000. Mark Wahlberg’s passion project “The Fighter” traces the rise of Micky from no more than a “stepping stone” (i.e. someone you fight with just to rise up the ranks) to his sweet victory as junior welterweight world champion. As far as boxing dramas go, this tale of an underdog who battles the odds to accomplish a shot at the big time may seem familiar, but David O’Russell’s film proves that there is still plenty of punch in the genre.

Russell is acutely aware that the best boxing dramas don’t keep their combats confined in the ring; rather, that ringside victory is but only a metaphor of the boxer’s triumph over adversity in his/her own life, and the genuine payoff for an audience emotionally vested in the character’s personal struggles. So in addition to being a rousing boxing drama, this is also a psychologically complex family drama, a sweet and poignant love story, and most of all, a complicated tale of two brothers. Russell’s greatest accomplishment? Weaving together all these disparate elements together into a knockout of a film.

When we first meet Micky, he has just lost three fights in a row, and though his older half-brother and trainer Dicky Ecklund- whose moment of glory was once knocking down Sugar Ray Leonard- assures him that his time to shine is coming, a mismatched bout with a fighter 20 pounds heavier than him knocks out his fight. Luckily for him, a sexy and spunky bargirl, Charlene (Amy Adams), sashays into his life and helps him find the courage to accomplish his dream and remove the familial obstacles standing in his way.

Russell’s film thrives on these complex and thorny family dynamics- Micky’s family see him as their last bastion of hope to earn some boxing cash, in particular his chain-smoking gin-drinking mom and manager Alice (Melissa Leo), whose distrust of outsiders including Charlene is as ferocious as her denial of her jewel-in-the-eye Dicky’s crack addiction. Adding to the dysfunctional working-class family are seven loud and virulent sisters all stoically inclined towards Alice’s opinions, amidst their cackle not one voice of reason. The verbal showdown between Charlene and Micky’s exploitative female family for Micky’s future is one of the beautifully staged sequences in the film, and Micky’s difficult decision to free himself from their suffocating choke around his life is one of the many poignant moments here.

But the heart of the story is still the fraternal relationship between Dicky and Micky, one the star of the family basking in his past glory and the other the wannabe-boxer living in his brother’s shadow. Their subsequent emotional tug-of-war as Micky is forced to choose to do what’s right by himself is heartrending in its brutal honesty, culminating in Micky’s avowal to abandon Dicky as his trainer. Russell spends the first half emphasising the close bond between the two brothers, such that their separation and eventual reunion are easily the most affecting elements of the film.

Against these troubled sentiments portrayed with a keenly felt rawness, Micky’s relationship with the smart and tough Charlene who fights fearlessly against his family for his interests is a perfect counterbalance, and thanks to a terrific performance by Amy Adams, ends up tender and moving. Kudos to Adams for going beyond her usual perky type (e.g. “Enchanted” or “Julie and Julia”) to play Micky’s feisty other half with a will of steel- her unaffected performance will win you over right from the start.

That Adams’ stellar achievement in her supporting role may be so conveniently overlooked is testament to the quality of the acting on display in this film, which can be summed up in one word- phenomenal. In particular, you’ll be astounded by perhaps Christian Bale’s best performance to date, an exceptional accomplishment from one of the greatest character actors of our time. Bale dropped thirty pounds to play the skinny, fidgety older brother complete with receding hairline, bald spot and crack-addict teeth. It’s easy to cast Dicky as the bad guy in the story, but Bale imbues him with such warmth and sensitivity that you can’t help but feel immensely for his character. Bale keeps up a nervous energy about Dicky in every frame, and it is simply mesmerising to watch.

On the other hand, Wahlberg has the less showy role as Micky, and though Dicky pretty much steals the first half of the movie, Russell makes it plainly clear by the second half that we- like Dicky’s family- have very much been distracted by his antics. Micky is no less than the very core of the movie- it is his fighting spirit that eventually reunites the family. So while Wahlberg’s performance may be low-key, it is still outstanding and counts among one of his best ever. Wahlberg’s dedication to his craft is even more admirable considering how the actor started preparing for this role five years ago, building a boxing ring in his backyard, hiring two trainers on his own dime, and training hours each day to hone his skills. That preparation has certainly paid off- Wahlberg’s athletism is clearly evident onscreen, especially in d.p. Hoyte Van Hoytema's long shots around the boxing ring.

Beyond preparing for the role, Wahlberg’s contribution to this film goes even further- when Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and subsequently Darren Aronofsky dropped out, it was Wahlberg who shaped the project from a studio film to a US$25m indie and got director David O’Russell on board. His efforts have paid off tremendously- Russell has created one of the best boxing dramas to date, a film that belongs in the league of “Raging Bull” and “Rocky”. So much more than an underdog tale, this is a complex study of familial ties, the ones that strengthen and the ones that strangle. And thanks to astounding turns by Wahlberg, Bale and Adams, this “Fighter” is simply one of the best films of the year.

Movie Rating:

(Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale give two of the best performances you’ll see this year- and thanks to them, this boxing drama is deeply poignant and stirring)

Review by Gabriel Chong

Genre: CG Animation
Director: Reinhard Klooss, Holger Tappe
Cast: Jim Broadbent, James Cordon, Omid Djalili, Jason Donovan, Dawn French, Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, Billie Piper, Vanessa Redgrave, Andy Serkis
RunTime: 1 hr 33 mins
Released By: Shaw
Rating: G
Official Website: http://www.animalsunitedmovie.com

Opening Day: 9 June 2011

Synopsis: In the Okavango Delta, Billy, the little mischievous meerkat, and his best (and only) pal Socrates, the friendly lion, wait for the annual flood, essential to the Delta and all the animals living there.

Wanting to prove to his adoring son Junior that he's not the screwball loser everyone, sometimes justifiably so, thinks he is, Billy sets out to find water, accompanied by Socrates. On their journey, they meet a truly wild and funny bunch of animals from all over the world, who have flocked to Africa in search of a new home.

Movie Review:

Yes, we know everyone’s excited about being the first to catch the mutants, aliens, robots and other superheroes on the big screens. That, together with the expensive looking flashy special effects, makes smaller movies like this look mediocre and second rate. Unfortunately, it also doesn’t help that this isn’t an animated feature from Hollywood honchos like Pixar or DreamWorks.

Call this reviewer soft hearted, but how can you bear to diss a movie that promotes environmentalism and sends a strong message about man’s destruction of animal habitats?

The two protagonists in this animated film are a glib meerkat and a disenchanted lion, who decide to go on a quest to discover why the river in their habitat has unexpectedly dried up. Along the way, they meet other animals whose homes have been destroyed by man’s inconsiderate ways. Their journey brings them to a dam which has been constructed to supply energy for a luxury resort. They must then come up with a plan to break the dam to get water flowing back into the delta again.

You aren’t the only one who noticed something strange with the characters’ mouth movements. The lip synching seems out of place only because this is a German production with an original German cast of unfamiliar names like Ralf Schmitz, Thomas Fritsch and Bastian Pastewka. Here, we have James Corden (Gulliver’s Travels) as the talkative meerkat, Stephen Fry (Alice in Wonderland) channeling a tender and gentle touch to the disillusioned lion, as well as veterans Jim Broadbent (Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince) and Vanessa Redgrave (Letters to Juliet) lending weight to the movie as a pair of loving tortoises.

It is inevitable that you compare this movie with more well known animations like 1994’s The Lion King (weren’t Timon the meerkat and Simba the lion in this Disney production best friends too?) and 2005’s Madagascar (weren’t the motley crew of animals in this DreamWorks hit from Africa as well?). True, this somewhat bland movie directed by Reinhard Klooss and Holger Tappe won’t be the most impressive animated movie you’ve seen. Its 3D effects are average at best, the animal characters do not leave a lasting impression, while the computer generated effects in scenes involving massive numbers of rhinoceroses and buffalos seem dated.

But the movie still deserves some credit - if you’ve got any heart for this planet you call home.

Based on a children’s storybook 1945 The Animals’ Conference, this movie was first visualised in 1969 by Curt Linda. Some 40 years later, the satire in which the world’s animals unite to successfully force humans to disarm and make peace with each other may be diluted (no thanks to today’s need to produce movies which are simple and digestible), but the 93 minute movie is so upfront with its environmental message that you can’t help but recommend young kids to catch it.

It may seem ridiculously unbelievable at first, but the film’s highlight has to be the rather surrealistic finale where animals from all over the world march onto the streets of New York to sound out that the animal kingdom is under threat from mankind.

Movie Rating:



(An environmental lesson for the young ones at home)

Review by John Li

Genre: Drama
Director: Jodie Foster
Cast: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence, Cherry Jones
RunTime: 1 hr 31 mins
Released By: Shaw
Rating: NC-16 (Some Scenes of Intimacy)
Official Website: http://www.thebeaver-movie.com/

Opening Day: 23 June 2011

Synopsis: Two-time Academy Award(r) winner Jodie Foster directs and co-stars with two-time Academy Award(r) winner Mel Gibson in The Beaver - an emotional story about a man on a journey to re-discover his family and re-start his life. Plagued by his own demons, Walter Black was once a successful toy executive and family man who now suffers from depression. No matter what he tries, Walter can't seem to get himself back on track...until a beaver hand puppet enters his life.

Movie Review:

The phrase “I’m depressed” is a phrase we hear people lamenting a lot these days. Heck, we are guilty of whining about how depressed we are too. Work woes? Relationship problems? Uncertain future? Depression is more indeed a convenient state to live with, until a solution comes along.

But how serious can depression get? How affected can one get to entirely lose interest in activities that dictate normalcy? While we are no medical experts, we are guessing that if one’s feelings of sadness, anxiety, emptiness, worthlessness and restlessness lead to difficulties concentrating, remembering and making simple decisions, he should be duly concerned. We are also guessing that if one can only communicate through a hand puppet like the protagonist of this film, he is in need of medical attention too.

After a 16 years hiatus (Home for the Holidays) as director, Jodie Foster casts good friend Mel Gibson (Edge of Darkness) as the CEO of a toy company who becomes depressed after being kicked out by his wife. A series of incidents leads to him taking on a new persona in which he speaks through a beaver hand puppet. His wife and elder son are unconvinced that he is serious about this, but as a favour to his younger son who loves the beaver, they try to play along with the depressed man.

Anyone with some common sense would think that this setup is a joke, wouldn’t he? We, too, would be cynical if someone comes up to us one day to say that he can only converse through a hand puppet. However, we wouldn’t mind playing along if the puppet was cute. And in this case, the beaver is one adorable creation that you’d want to cuddle. But wait till you see how serious our protagonist is with his newfound identity.

That is also probably when you realise that this 91 minute film written by Kyle Killen has got a somber message to tell. Things get heavy handed as Gibson’s character plunges deeper into this absurd game, and as a concerned fellow human being, you begin to wonder how severe one’s depression can get.

Gibson seems to be the perfect actor to play the troubled protagonist. The Australian actor has been in the news recently for accusations of anti-Semitism, misogyny and racism – could the Academy Award winning filmmaker be facing some personal problems himself? His sunken eyes and sullen emotions in the film seem to be cry out for help, and you can’t resist reading a little deeper into this role. Besides directing the film, his Maverick (1994) co star Foster takes on the role of the skeptical wife. The two have a comfortable on screen chemistry, probably due to their long time friendship.

The film also features outstanding performances by up and coming young actor Anton Yelchin (Terminator Salvation) as the couple’s elder son and Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) as his girlfriend hiding a secret.

Audiences expecting a smart comedy (who wouldn’t when the protagonist talks through a beaver puppet almost throughout the movie?) will be left cold by the production’s serious tone. There is a unsettling feeling that the film tries a little too hard at times to shed light on depression as a medical condition, but we are assuming that its intentions are good – you wouldn’t want yourself to resort to conversing via a hand puppet one day, would you?

Movie Rating:

(A heavy handed drama which showcases sincere performances)

Reviewed by John Li 

Genre: Comedy
Director: Jake Kasdan
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Jason Segel, John Michael Higgins, Lucy Punch, Molly Shannon, Eric Stonestreet
RunTime: 1 hr 32 mins
Released By: Sony Pictures Releasing International
Rating: M18 (Some Sexual Scenes and Drug Use)
Official Website: http://www.areyouabadteacher.com/

Opening Day: 25 August 2011

Synopsis: Some teachers just don't give an F. For example, there's Elizabeth (Cameron Diaz). She's foul-mouthed, ruthless, and inappropriate. She drinks, she gets high, and she can't wait to marry her meal ticket and get out of her bogus day job. When she's dumped by her fiance, she sets her plan in motion to win over a rich, handsome substitute (Justin Timberlake) - competing for his affections with an overly energetic colleague, Amy (Lucy Punch). When Elizabeth also finds herself fighting off the advances of a sarcastic, irreverent gym teacher (Jason Segel), the consequences of her wild and outrageous schemes give her students, her coworkers, and even herself an education like no other.

Movie Review:

It's hard to like a movie if you hate the protagonist. And this movie is a prime example, judging by the bad reviews. However, I was rather entertained by the mouthful of venom spewed by the self-centred, potty-mouth and money-grubbing Cameron Diaz.

Diaz, who is mostly typecast as the airy va-va-voom romantic lead or the take-charge action heroine, gamely plays the role of devil-may-care junior high teacher, Elizabeth Halsey, to the hilt. She is every parent's nightmare, outrightly condoning video-watching during classes, just so she can snooze in class. And preferring to coast through her job by doing the bare minimum. Although she would gladly bare the minimum for a car wash fundraiser, so she can pocket some money. And it doesn't stop there. Every unscrupulous move she makes forwards her agenda of getting a boob job, just so she can nab a sugar daddy.

In fact, it is hard to believe any junior high school, much less the buttoned-up small-town school in the movie, would accept a morally corrupted person like Halsey. So you've been warned. Take the movie's credibility with a pinch of salt. Sit back and enjoy the movie's crude invectives and pitch black satirical tone, even if it verges on the cartoonish at times and isn't very clever. Otherwise, steer clear and you'll be better off watching the crowdpleasing model-teacher-rises-to-the-occasion movie, Dangerous Mind.

All is not rosy for Halsey. She faces tough competition from a colleague, Miss Squirrel (Lucy Punch), who in our world, would be winning the yearly teaching accolades. Much of the wicked fun comes from seeing the condescending Squirrel snooping around Halsey in a bid to discredit her.

As much as the audience would like to root for Squirrel, she comes across as one-dimensional and exasperated. Her single-minded obsession to destroy and outwit Halsey paints her in an ugly light. Compared to the petulant Halsey, she isn't any better.

Even bigger fun ensues when the two bare their claws over new geek-cute teacher, Scott Delacorte (Justin Timberlake in a preppy getup but sleepwalking role), who remains the sweetheart with a bland personality to boot.

Being an R-rated feature with two hot stars, Diaz and Timberlake, at the helm, this movie has the requisite 'raunchy' scene where the two of them get intimate together. But it is anything but raunchy. It is conceived awkwardly and adds nothing to the story. The only reaction it would elicit is a queasy one. It has to go down as the year's (or even decade's) worst sex (or is there?) scene.

Just when you think it would all end boldly in a darkly humourous manner where Halsey gets her comeuppance, the movie takes an about-turn. For all the preceding ballsy one-upmanship, it ends with a whisper. It turns all schmaltzy with an unbelieveably pat coda involving Jason Segel as an improbable suitor that feels like it belongs to a totally different movie.

The biggest cheat is not Halsey. It's the movie.

Movie Rating: 

(Entertaining but not up to mark as a black comedy)

Review by Adrian Sim

Joanna from FOREVER won Star Hunter award in Shanghai Posted on 21 Jun 2011 Joanna Dong, the lead actress of Wee Li Lin-directed feature film FOREVER, was given a Star Hunter award at this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival. A total of 10 of the most promising young actors in Asia are honoured at the inaugural edition of the Star Hunter award. Joanna, who made her film debut in Forever, was on hand to receive the award. She is only one of the three ... more

Genre: Live-Action/CG Animated Adventure in 3D
Director: Raja Gosnell
Cast: Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Mays, Sofia Vergara, Hank Azaria, Anton Yelchin, Jonathan Winters, Katy Perry, Alan Cumming, Fred Armisen, George Lopez, Paul Reubens, John Oliver, Kenan Thompson, B.J. Novak, Jeff Foxworthy, Wolfgang Puck, Gary Basaraba, Tim Gunn
RunTime: 1 hr 43 mins
Released By: Sony Pictures Releasing International
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.smurfhappens.com/

Opening Day: 1 September 2011

Synopsis: Audiences everywhere are in for a Smurfy good time as the Smurfs make their first 3D trip to the big screen. When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the tiny blue Smurfs out of their village, they tumble from their magical world and into ours – in fact, smack dab in the middle of Central Park. Just three apples high and stuck in the Big Apple, the Smurfs must find a way to get back to their village before Gargamel tracks them down.

Movie Review:

Before James Cameron introduced us to a community of blue people called the Na’vi, a certain Belgian cartoonist called Peyo had already charmed a whole generation of children growing up in the 1980s with his creation of ‘three apples high’ blue-skinned creatures with white pants living in mushroom-shaped houses deep in the woods. They were called ‘The Smurfs’, and though they first made their appearance way back in 1958, your memory of them is likely to be from the popular Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoons.

And thanks to the success of fellow 1980s animated creation ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’, the Smurfs are getting the live-action/ animated treatment on the big screen. For that, they are making a journey from their magical village to our world- or more precisely, the Big Apple- where they will meet TV star humans like Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Jayma Mars (Glee) and Sofia Vergara (Modern Family). A magical portal is their mode of transportation, through which their nemesis, the evil wizard Gargamel (Hank Azaria), follows hot in pursuit.

After making the trip to New York City, the Smurfs spend the rest of their time trying to reopen the portal to get back to their home while evading the clutches of Gargamel, who is intent on capturing them and using their essence (e.g. snippets of hair) for his magic. Luckily, they won’t be alone- Harris’ cosmetics company marketing executive Patrick Winslow and his pregnant wife Grace (Mars) will come to their assistance, and in the process learn the importance of placing family first.

Of course, as formula would have it, Patrick will need some time to come around to their presence, particularly because he’s been given a very important assignment by his boss at work and the Smurfs with their infectious- annoying or otherwise- tune aren’t what you would call work-conducive. It took four writers (J. David Stem, David N. Weiss, Jay Scherick and David Ronn) to come up with the script, but the plot that comes as uncomplicated as it sounds above is really paper-thin.

The simplicity of the storytelling allows director Raja Gosnell to focus his audience’s attention on each of the six Smurfs sucked through the portal- Grouchy (George Lopez), Brainy (Fred Armisen), Clumsy (Anton Yelchin), Gutsy (Alan Cumming), Smurfette (Katy Perry) and not forgetting Papa Smurf (Jonathan Winters)- and the film’s seamless blend between CGI and live-action is testament to Gosnell’s craft honed from directing movies like ‘Scooby Doo’ and ‘Beverly Hills Chihuahua’. That experience has also led him to be well attuned to the attention span of kids, so he moves the film along with a brisk lively pace that will keep them engaged.

Juvenile though it may be, there is still a fair amount of fun to be had from watching the Smurfs banter and bicker with each other. Gosnell has assembled a wonderful voice cast, and the chemistry between the actors shines through in their well-timed comedic repartee. The script’s insistence on substituting every possible noun, verb and adjective with ‘Smurf’ is amusing at times and ingratiating at others, but there are also flashes of slightly more adult wit- such as when the Smurfs find themselves again blending in with the blue around us (e.g. Blu-Ray ads, Blue Man Group posters and Bluetooth appliances); or when Gutsy joins Smurfette in a Marilyn Munroe moment atop a subway grate.

Mostly though, the film is well aware that it is able to get away with its pratfalls, potty humour and kid-friendly slapstick- and true enough, the kids in our screening were chuckling away at the childish antics. Still, there’s an undeniable sweetness to the Smurfs, endearing and adorable no matter their personalities reflected so plainly through their names. Like ‘The Chipmunks’ unfortunately, it rests too easily on the charms of its characters to get by- but even as unambitious as it is, this Smurfs outing is not without its appeal, and the fact that their kids love it is probably reason enough for some adults to like it as well.

Movie Rating:

(A Smurfing good family time the kids won’t be able to resist)

Review by Gabriel Chong