Genre: CG Animation
Director: Reinhard Klooss
Cast: Kellan Lutz, Robert Capron, Jaime Ray Newman, Spencer Locke
RunTime: 1 hr 35 mins
Rating: PG
Released By: Shaw
Official Website:
Opening Day: 13 March 2014
Synopsis: Edgar Rice Burroughs’ TARZAN® -- one of the most classic and revered stories of all time - returns to the big screen, completely reimagined for a new generation. It is now present day. On an expedition in the remote African jungle, John Greystoke and his wife are killed in a helicopter crash while investigating a mysterious meteorite site. Only their young son J.J., nicknamed Tarzan, survives. A group of gorillas discovers the boy in the wreckage and takes him in as their own. Tarzan grows up learning the harsh laws of the jungle for nearly a decade until he encounters another human being - the courageous and beautiful young Jane Porter. It is love at first sight. But things get dangerous when William Clayton, who travels to Africa with Jane under false pretense, reveals his true - and greedy - intentions. Tarzan, now a man like no other, must use all his jungle instincts and intellect to protect his home and defend the woman he loves.
Movie Review:
Can you believe that it’s been more than a decade since Edgar Rice Burroughs’ titular character last made its appearance on the big screen? Indeed, some of you may recall Disney’s 1999 hand-drawn animation with the popular Phil Collins ballad ‘You’ll Be In My Heart’, though nostalgia alone doesn’t quite justify the mediocrity of this German-backed production from the studio behind ‘The Mortal Instruments’ and ‘Pompeii’. Yes, if you’re looking for no more than a fast-paced action adventure to keep the tykes occupied, this motion-capture animation will do just fine; otherwise, swing away fast.
Assuming both the role of writer and director is Reinhard Klooss, who has three German animated films to his credit and only one English-language feature called ‘Animals United’ that you probably have not seen. At least for the first hour, Klooss borrows heavily from his Disney predecessor, setting up the origin story of how the young son of millionaire John Greystroke is left abandoned in the jungle when dad and mom die in a helicopter crash and finds himself adopted by the kind mother ape Kala who recently lost a son and raises him as her own.
As Tarzan grows from a kid to an adolescent and finally a full-fledged adult to be voiced by ‘The Legend of Hercules’ star Kellan Lutz, he meets the ecologist Jane Porter (Spencer Locke) visiting the jungle with her dad (Les Bubb) - and anyone with a semblance of knowledge of pop-culture will know just what needs to happen in order for there to be the phrase ‘Tarzan and Jane’. Of course, Tarzan hasn’t yet learnt the English language, so in between introducing her to the breathtaking sights of his jungle home, the pair engage in some simple pantomime leading up to that classic - and therefore mandatory - ‘me Tarzan, you Jane’ scene.
To give the German-based Ambient Entertainment its credit, the animation looks pretty impressive. Tarzan’s top-to-bottom ratio may look a little disproportionate, but once you’re willing to look past the physics of his vine-swinging, you’ll find that the ‘Avatar’-like tropical flora and fauna are vividly rendered. Ditto for the large cast of jungle creatures whom Tarzan counts as friends; surely benefiting from the experience they had animating such creatures in Klooss’ aforementioned earlier feature, they do a fine job making the monkeys come alive.
On his part, Klooss keeps the pace swift and steady, and even though the storytelling isn’t particularly inspired, he at least covers the obligatory plot points without falling off the vines. Tarzan finds his nemesis here in an opportunist (Trevor St John) who has no qualms with razing the entire forest in order to locate a lost meteorite with potentially extra-terrestrial energy. There is an eco-message that Klooss tries to make about sacrificing nature for profit and development, but admittedly it feels tacked on and ripped from the pages of ‘Avatar’.
And indeed, originality is what seems consistently lacking in this reboot of the classic Apeman. Its plot seems recycled from a combination of Disney’s ‘Tarzan’ and James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’, its animation largely drawn from compositions of the latter, and its man-versus-nature lesson made more emphatically in many other movies. But for the young ones of whom a visual presentation would be a much more memorable introduction than a textual one, ‘Tarzan 3D’ - the first to feature the character with the additional dimension no less - is as good a place as any to start.
Movie Rating:
(Good only if you need a quick introduction to Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic Apeman character - or if you need something to distract the tykes)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: Drama/Biography
Director: Justin Chadwick
Cast: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, Zolani Mkiva, Simo Mogwaza, Fana Mokoena
RunTime: 2 hrs 27 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Violence and Brief Nudity)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website: http://pompeiimovie.tumblr.com/
Opening Day: 20 March 2014
Synopsis: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is the long awaited motion picture adaptation of the personal story of one of the world’s most revered leaders, an esteemed statesman in modern history and an international icon, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Based on his autobiography, the motion picture rights to which were entrusted exclusively to producer Anant Singh, this is the first film to tell Mandela’s whole story. The epic film spans Mandela’s exceptional life journey from his early years as a herd boy in rural Transkei to his inauguration as the first democratically elected President of South Africa.
Movie Review:
When we first heard there was going to be a biographical film about former South African president Nelson Mandela, we thought this would be the film to root for come awards season. It has every ingredient needed to pick up accolades – a well respected anti apartheid revolutionary protagonist, a script based on an autobiographical book, two established African American leads and the timely passing of the politician and philanthropist on 5 December last year.
Alas, how wrong we were. There wasn’t much love showered for this British and South African production directed by Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl, The First Grader). Was Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave really a much superior film than this? Was David O. Russell’s American Hustle really a better movie than this? Was Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity really a more impressive filmmaking feat than this? One must understand, amidst the red carpets and acceptance speeches, the whole award fever is nothing more than a showbiz game.
Back to this rather ill fated movie that almost had things going for it till crunch time – the film chronicles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison before becoming President and working to rebuild the country’s once segregated society. Yup, it is a long story to tell, hence the 146 minute runtime.
Therein lies the problem of this film: the length. Although it isn’t frustrating to sit through the two and a half hour film, there is nothing particularly exciting to keep your interest going. You don’t need to be very well informed about Nelson Mandela’s life story (the perfect example is this reviewer, who doesn’t fare very well when it comes to general knowledge on worldly matters), and you won’t have problems settling in nicely to the plot development with this adapted screenplay by William Nicholson (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Les Miserables). Things are predictably paced with South Africa’s first black chief executive, and the first elected in a fully represented democratic election. You experience the Mandela’s hardship, his rise and his fall, before telling the world he can forgive the people who put him behind bars for 27 years.
On a good day, you will feel inspired by this important political figure. If you aren’t in the mood to be visually fed with all things prim and proper, you may find this film somewhat preachy. It is a respectful piece of work, the very safe approach taken by the filmmakers may be the reason why it didn’t garner much love during the award season (read: no heart throbbing scenes where the protagonist undergoes humiliation and pain).
The production values are top notch. With cinematography by Lol Crawley (Four Lions), editing by Rick Russell (44 Inch Chest) and a music score by Alex Heffes (The Last King of Scotland), this film is wonderfully executed. And the end credit song Ordinary Love by Irish rock band U2 doesn’t hurt either. In fact, the radio friendly tune took home the only award (a Golden Globe for Best Original Song – Motion Picture) for the movie, which cost $35 million to make.
As for its leads Idris Elba (Thor, Pacific Rim) and Naomie Harris (Ninja Assassin, Skyfall), they deliver noteworthy performances, which have been unfortunately been overlooked by the award juries. Were Matthew McConaughey, Christian Bale, Bruce Dern, Leonardo DiCaprio and Chiwetel Ejiofor better than Elba, who rightfully captured our attention throughout the entire film? Like what we said, awards are but a fame game, so enjoy the film for what it is, and you’d leave the cinema feeling inspired by the late African nationalist and democratic socialist.
Movie Rating:
(Despite its lengthy duration, Idris Elba’s impressively inspiring performance manages to keep us engaged)
Review by John Li
Genre: Comedy
Director: Matt Chow
Cast: Sandra Ng, Nick Cheung, Louis Koo, Ronald Cheng, Ivana Wong, Alex To, Lo Hoi-Pang, Tony Leung, Eason Chan, Dayo Wong, Donnie Yen, Edison Chen, Anthony Wong, Chapman To, Shawn Yue, Fiona Sit, Jim Chim, Andy Lau
Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins
Rating: M18 (Sexual References & Coarse Language)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website:
Opening Day: 30 January 2014
Synopsis: Working as a prostitute since she was 16, Kam has witnessed the highs and lows of Hong Kong over the decades. Kam is now a "Mamasan" who manages a stable of high-end prostitutes, entertaining and hosting parties for rich men. She has seen it all. On the surface she embraces the prosperity of the 'New HK' but like countless middle-class HK citizens, she laments the loss of the old Hong Kong that once belonged to the people. Over-the-hill mob boss, Gordon, was put behind bars before the Hong Kong Handover in 1997. Gordon's appearance and mindset are still stuck in the colonial past. Recently released from prison, he is unable to cope with the New Hong Kong. His sole source of solace is his old flame, Kam. But Kam is no longer the nave young girl who once idolized Gordon. She is heartbroken as she watches him struggle to adapt to life in the New Hong Kong. But rather than abandoning him to his fate, Kam decides to help Gordon rebuild his life, an undertaking as daunting as rebuilding our beloved Hong Kong. But Kam believes there's no problem that she can't solve or no adversity that she can't overcome. Kam ultimately represents the indomitable spirit of the Hong Kong people who are ready to reclaim their rightful place!
Movie Review:
More than a decade after hanging up them fake G-cup boobs, Sandra Ng returns to her most iconic screen persona as the big-hearted prostitute ‘Ah Kam’ in the curiously titled ‘Golden Chickensss’. Yes, that’s three ‘S-es’ behind the original title ‘Golden Chicken’, and the third film in the series if you’ve lost count - though it bears arguably no relation to the earlier two films except for their titular character and of course Hong Kong’s most versatile female comedian in the role.
Lest anyone forget, Ng won her first and thus far only Golden Horse Best Actress award for the role back in 2002, where she played the plucky (ok, pun intended) and likeable Ah Kam whose vicissitudes was cast against the changing fortunes of Hong Kong over the years. As much as it was a character showcase for Ng, the Samson Chiu and Matt Chow-scripted movie was also a love letter to their home territory, a celebration of the go-getter spirit which has made Hong Kong triumph over the odds from the 1980s right up till the early 2000s.
Circumstance created an inevitable sequel just ten months later, as ‘Golden Chicken 2’ reflected on Hong Kong’s most trying period yet, i.e. the SARS epidemic of 2003. It was a valentine to the resilience that the people of Hong Kong displayed, mirrored in the same perseverance that Ah Kam showed during that period. But it was also evidently a more weakly scripted film, which was ultimately borne out by the less than stellar box office results - hence the absence of a third film till now.
Suffice to say that even fans of ‘Ah Kam’ who were disappointed by the last sequel will probably feel nostalgic about her return so many years later - and yet even that is probably not enough to make up for an even more lazily plotted sequel that rests too heavily on its impressive list of star cameos. Indeed, Ng has pulled out all the stops to get some of Hong Kong showbiz’s most recognisable faces to turn up for the return of her ‘Golden Chicken’ - and the poster proudly touts many of these, including Anthony Wong, Donnie Yen, Chin Kar Lok, Alex To, William So, Raymond Wong, Ronald Cheng, Jim Chim, Lo Hoi Pang, Louis Koo and an unbilled Andy Lau (stay back for the end credits if you wish to catch that).
Matt Chow returns to script and for the first time direct the movie, and to his credit, he doesn’t let one second of their precious time go to waste. Some are specifically designed to riff on their previous roles (like Donnie Yen playing ‘Ip Man’ to riff on ‘The Grandmasters’), while other more substantial ones are exaggerated caricatures of their real-life personas - our favourite here is Louis Koo hamming it as his own impersonator from the Mainland, complete with poor Cantonese and a flamboyant get-up. In fact, the episodic nature of the movie suggests that it was written and re-written to ensure maximum star wattage - and for that matter, the best use of it.
What that also means in this case is a general lack of purpose and coherence. After an extended prologue laying out the evolution of the term ‘chicken’, the first half of the movie pretty much details the day-to-day routine of a ‘mamasan’, whom we are told not only needs to fight with other ‘mamasans’ for a limited pool of girls but also offer value-added services (like queuing to register at a popular kindergarten) to their regular clients. But when one of her regulars, an acupuncturist played by Jim Chim, suggests she pay a visit to Japan to learn some new tricks of the trade, she promptly leaves for Nippon-land to meet with a barely-there Edison Chen and a much-funnier Wyman Wong as the ‘King of BJ’.
Only in the second half does some semblance of a story take shape, with Nick Cheung playing ‘Ah Kam’s’ former love Gordon, a righteous triad leader who has just been released from prison. Together with his right-hand man Jackie (Eason Chan), ‘Ah Kam’ conspires to keep the truth of the reality from Gordon, whose mentality remains stuck in that of the 1990s. Though both are excellent actors in their own right, Ng and Cheung ultimately share less chemistry with each other than Ng’s previous outing with Jacky Cheung in ‘Golden Chicken 2’, so much so that this detour into romantic territory seems unnecessary and uninvolving.
Even more important than the fact that it doesn’t have a poignant angle to Hong Kong (despite trying to say something about the spate of protests in recent years) like the previous two films is the prominence of ‘Ah Kam’ in her own movie. Ng has always been front and centre with her character, but here she is almost like a talk show host whose act is less important than the revolving list of guests she has on her programme. To put it simply, ‘Ah Kam’ feels somewhat inconsequential here, without a compelling arc for her character that’s supposed to be rightly the centre of attention.
And so, ‘Golden Chickensss’ feels less like an addition to the franchise than a Lunar New Year comedy built around the titular character. Certainly, it is nowhere as meaningful nor poignant as either one of the earlier movies, and when compared to them, will probably end up the worst of the lot. But against the lowered expectations of a CNY comedy, there are still some good laughs to be had, as well as the pleasure of seeing an all-star cast that’s quite definitely the most star-studded in any Hong Kong movie this year. It’s not the award-winning material it used to be, but if all you’re looking for is some humour and entertainment, then ‘Golden Chickensss’ provides just that kind of throwaway fun.
Movie Rating:
(Not nearly as meaningful or poignant as either of the earlier ‘Golden Chicken’ films, this third chapter banks on some sporadically amusing bits and an all-star cast to be fitfully entertaining)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance
Director: Spike Jonze
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Pratt, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Spike Jonze, Sam Jaeger, Katherine Boecher, Rachel Ann Mullins, David Azar
RunTime: 2 hrs 6 mins
Rating: M18 (Sexual Scene)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website: http://www.herthemovie.com/#/home
Opening Day: 16 January 2014
Synopsis: Set in the Los Angeles of the slight future, "Her" follows Theodore Twombly, a complex, soulful man who makes his living writing touching, personal letters for other people. Heartbroken after the end of a long relationship, he becomes intrigued with a new, advanced operating system, which promises to be an intuitive entity in its own right, individual to each user. Upon initiating it, he is delighted to meet "Samantha," a bright, female voice, who is insightful, sensitive and surprisingly funny. As her needs and desires grow, in tandem with his own, their friendship deepens into an eventual love for each other. From the unique perspective of Oscar-nominated filmmaker Spike Jonze comes an original love story that explores the evolving nature-and the risks-of intimacy in the modern world.
Movie Review:
All of us - male or female, young or old, single or married - crave connection. Simply put, we don’t want to be alone. We want to find a companion, someone to spend our days with, someone to talk to during the nights, and hopefully someone to accompany us for the rest of our lives. The protagonist in Spike Jonze’s sad, funny and soulful love story ‘Her’ is no different. Even as he holds a day job composing heartfelt notes-for-hire at a company named beautifulhandwrittenletters.com, Theodore Twombly, is lonely.
Enter Samantha, the first of its kind (hence the term ‘OS1’) Siri-like operating system that possesses a consciousness - and by that we mean the ability for that system to learn and respond to its user’s dreams and desires. To put it simply, this is the wildly inventive love story between a man on the brink of depression and his cutting-edge OS that possesses intuition, curiosity and most of all an amazing adaptability. Oh, it doesn’t hurt that she has a vivacious female voice that makes her fully alive, charming, emotionally rounded and alluring.
On the surface, ‘Her’ appears to be a high-concept premise that is pretty much self-explanatory in and of itself. And yet, Jonze will surprise even the greatest of expectations by turning it into a thoughtful meditation on human relationships in a slightly futuristic world that isn’t quite as different as the one that we currently inhabit. At first, Samantha functions as his personal assistant, reminding Theodore of his appointments, his playlists and his email correspondences. But pretty soon, their relationship deepens - not only is she proofreading his work, she helps him play his video games, jokes and flirts with him and even goes on a double date with a guy (Chris Pratt) Theodore works with.
Can you blame Theodore? As voiced to full life by Scarlett Johansson, she is wise, understanding and playful. Perhaps even more so than a fellow human being, she is attentive and responsive. So Theodore treats her as his date, tucking his cigarette case-like device in his breast pocket with the camera lens facing out, popping the ear bud in, and taking her on a stroll around town, on a boat ride, down to the beach. In every respect besides physical, she is his ‘girlfriend’ - and Jonze’s sharply written screenplay suffused with emotion and humanity creates no doubt in the viewer’s mind of the plausibility of their virtual relationship.
Therein lies the brilliance of Jonze’s first self-penned movie; despite the far-fetched nature of the premise and even how alienating it may sound at first, Jonze grounds the notion of a human being falling in love with a sentient artificial intelligence with the disarming charm of some of the best boy-meets-girl romantic movies you’ve ever seen. And much as it is easy to see his story as an allegory of how technology can somehow never substitute the authenticity of the human interaction, Jonze is better than to simply let his sci-fi love story be just that.
Instead, the film gets much deeper into the meta-physical as the relationship between Theodore and Samantha deepens. From a story about loneliness and longing, Jonze’s film evolves into a cautionary tale of the nature of consciousness whether in a human or in an A.I. As Samantha constantly reminds Theodore, “I have intuition, the ability to grow and evolve through my experiences, just like you”, Jonze poses an interesting question of just how easily technology can give up on us if we make it better than us and give it that very consciousness to realise that. Yes, it’s as twisty as it sounds, but Jonze portrays the ambivalence in the problems and solutions that follow perfectly.
As contradictory as it sounds, it is a him at the centre of ‘Her’ - and yes, we’re talking about none other than Joaquin Phoenix himself. Even though Phoenix is known for playing wounded individuals isolated from the world, his performance here is nothing short of a revelation, especially when you consider how he had to film his scenes with a co-star who was always offscreen. In Phoenix’s heartfelt portrayal of an individual searching for that universal need for connection, he conveys not just his character’s loneliness and desperation but also his capacity for hope and true love. Much has already been said about Johansson’s memorable turn; indeed the actress is pitch-perfect (pun intended), expressing not only her character’s moods so palpably but also giving Samantha a physicality that makes her feel present in flesh and blood.
But perhaps the strongest praise should be reserved for Jonze, from whose imagination and inspiration this brilliantly original masterpiece was born. Not just in terms of the casting, but also in every aspect of the production, there is no doubting the clarity of Jonze’s vision, visible in the costume designs to the colour schemes to the props and right down to the camera angles. Jonze’s choice of music is also impeccable, with songs from Karen O and Arcade Fire’s score offering a beguilingly raw and honest touch to the feelings within. This is by far Jonze’s most personal film yet, and it is easily his most poignant and moving. Many filmmakers have attempted to portray the idea of isolation and connection, of solitude and companionship, but none have come as close or as inventive to this. There is meaning and feeling in every frame, from the opening words which we learn are no more than Theodore’s words for another couple to the closing sound as a human breath. It is heartbreaking and heartbreakingly beautiful, a must-see movie of the year.
Movie Rating:
(One of the most original films you’ll see this year, Spike Jonze’s sci-fi romance of a man who falls in love with an advanced operating system is funny, sad and soulful in equal measure)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: Drama/Thriller
Director: Eric Rochant
Cast: Jean Dujardin, Cécile De France, Tim Roth, Émilie Dequenne, John Lynch, Maksim Vitorgan, Brad Leland, Branka Katic
RunTime: 1 hr 49 mins
Rating: M18 (Sexual Scenes)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website: https://www.facebook.com/mobiuslefilm
Opening Day: 16 January 2014
Synopsis: Grégory Lioubov, alias Moïse, is a Russian intelligence officer stationed in Monaco to observe the activities of a powerful businessman. Alice, a financial whiz, is recruited to serve as an undercover operative on the same mission. Suspicious that Alice may betray them, Grégory breaks the golden rule and contacts her. A forbidden passion erupts between them that will inevitably precipitate their downfall.
Movie Review:
We think one reason why the Luc Besson’s Europacorp-produced ‘Mobius’ hasn’t gotten much love from critics is the expectation that it is some spy thriller in the vein of ‘Mission Impossible’ or ‘The Bourne Identity’; that, we can definitively say, it is not, despite boasting slick location filming in Monaco which could easily pass off as one of them Hollywood spy movies. Instead, Gallic helmer Eric Rochant uses the backdrop of a present-day post-financial crisis world to spin a gripping tale of forbidden love between a spy and his undercover charge.
The former is Gregory Lioubov (Jean Dujardin), a Russian secret agent whose latest mission brings him to Monaco to collect dirt on a Russian businessman named Ivan Rostovsky (Tim Roth). To do so, his team recruits the female financial analyst Alice Redmond (Cecile De France), whose intelligence and good looks immediately catches Rostovsky’s eye when he pops into her firm one day for business. Gregory is equally smitten by Alice, except in his case, the attraction is mutual - and yet her undercover status means that he has to hide his true identity from her as well as from his own fellow team members.
Such romances depend very much on the chemistry of its key players, and Dujardin and De France are just magnetic together. Rochant doesn’t so much as tell the romance as let his actors play it out, so those looking for some form of rational explanation why the pair are drawn to each other will probably be frustrated. Yet in their littlest gestures - an exchange of glances, a gentle smile on the lips, their body language - Dujardin and De France leave you with no doubt how attracted their characters are to one another, even more so during their lovemaking in which we are told De France’s character Alice reaches orgasm twice in the first session.
A particularly well staged sequence has Gregory and Alice engage in a handsomely disguised phone conversation while the former is in a car with three fellow agents tracking the latter outside a hotel in Moscow. Dujardin nails the part of the professional who finds himself going against every rule of the book in his dangerous line of work for a lady with whom he cannot deny an intense and perhaps even inexplicable connection with. He and De France complement each other perfectly, their attraction never less than palpable and heartfelt - which only makes their final denouement even more heartbreaking.
Once you perceive it as a romance first and a thriller second, you’ll be more forgiving towards Rochant’s clunkily plotted espionage story. Besides Russia’s FSB, it appears that Alice may also be simultaneously working for the CIA, as depicted in some stiltedly-scripted scenes filled by TV actors Wendell Pierce, John Lynch and Brad Leland. And then it seems Gregory may also be a double agent spying on the FSB for the CIA, but by that time, the overly complicated intrigue just ends up spinning itself into a knot. The explained reference to the titular strip also adds little to the state of affairs, and like Dujardin’s character in the movie, only leaves one with a look of confusion.
Yet while it may come off at the start as a thriller set in the financial world like ‘Arbitrage’, this is really more an old-school spy romance set against a backdrop that doesn’t always necessarily make the most sense. Even so, there’s no denying that there is something mesmerising in the powerful and passionate connection between Dujardin and De France’s characters, one made even more compelling by the bittersweet finale. Put aside your expectations of it as an espionage thriller and think of it as a tragic love story, you’ll find ‘Mobius’ quite the stylish and sexy affair that's unexpectedly moving.
Movie Rating:
(Less a thriller than a tragic romance, the espionage-driven ‘Mobius’ boasts strong chemistry between its lead stars Jean Dujardin and Cecile De France)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: CG Animation
Director: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Cast: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Cobie Smulders, Morgan Freeman, Will Arnett, Will Ferrell, Liam Neeson, Alison Brie, Nick Offerman
RunTime: 1 hr 40 mins
Rating: G
Released By: GV
Official Website: http://thelegomovie.warnerbros.com/index.html
Opening Day: 6 February 2014
Synopsis: An ordinary LEGO minifigure, mistakenly thought to be the extraordinary MasterBuilder, is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil LEGO tyrant from gluing the universe together.
Movie Review:
If there was a postage system that can send letters to the past, this writer would pen a letter to his younger self - say, to the primary school kid he knew 25 years ago. And this is how the letter would read.
Dear John (from the past),
This is your future self writing to you. It’s the year 2014 and much has changed. The Internet is amazingly fast, and almost everyone I see on the street is busy looking at some sort of electronic gadget. Most importantly, I have seen The Lego Movie, and this is the reason why I feel the need to tell you about it.
The 100 minute directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller is one you had dreamed of ever since you owned your first Lego construction set. That toy wasn’t an elaborate castle of city set, but it sure brought you endless wondrous hours of imaginative fun. The police car (and the minifigure that comes with it) was a reward for your spelling test, and boy, was it a reward well earned.
Ever since then, you’d imagine an entire movie starring Lego minifigures, embarking on adventures in the different Lego backdrops. I have seen that movies 30 years on, and here are five reasons why I think you should look forward to it every single day of your life – till you’re 33.
Reason 1: The movie is a fine example of good ol’ storytelling. The protagonist is an ordinary Lego minifigure (yup, one of those yellow faced common folks you’d lose if you had a humongous city set) who mistakenly gets recruited to stop an evil tyrant from destroying the Lego universe. The story by Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman, and the two directors is encouraging, inspiring and a feel good tale about how every individual has the potential to go a long way. Trust me, you may hear a lot about this in school now, but some 20 years on, the cynicism of the world will get to you. The plot of this movie, however, will steer you in the right direction to do good things about your life.
Reason 2: The movie is hilariously clever. The jokes are fast and furious, and while you may not understand the puns spouted by the minifigures now (if the movie was playing in 1989), it would make your teacher chuckle. Clever references to pop culture and the Lego brand are aplenty, and it is one movie you’d want to revisit repeatedly.
Reason 3: The movie is a technical achievement. I’m not sure whether you’re familiar with the concept of stop motion, but go ask your teacher and you will be amazed by the amount of work needed to produce a stop motion clip. This movie infuses computer technology (I won’t go into details of how scarily advanced this has become in 2014) with stop motion and the end result is an enjoyable visual treat.
Reason 4: The movie is chockfull of cameo appearances. As the years go by, you’d hear how everyone wants to see Superman and Batman in the same movie. This animated feature is the first to make that happen. On top of that, other well known characters appear as well. The names probably won’t make sense to you now, but when you grow older, you’ll understand why certain wizards from a popular movie franchise are a big deal. Oh, there are also characters from a certain galaxy far, far away; and a fellow yellow faced personality who make this movie a must watch for all nerds and geeks (I meant that in a cool way, of course).
Reason 5: The movie has got heart, lots of it. Some movies may be too obsessed with showing off its technical prowess, and forget about how it touches the human soul. This one is different. The revelation is one affecting turn of events, and trust me, it’s one of the most relevant and heartfelt plots you’d ever see.
Before signing off, my advice to you is to hang on to that Lego police car set, continue to let your imagination take you to places, and all things will be good.
Yours sincerely,
John (from the future)
Movie Rating:
(The movie tells an awesomely heartfelt story, and is awesomely perfect for both adults and kids)
Review by John Li
SYNOPSIS: The young Dee Renjie arrives in the Imperial Capital to join the Supreme Court as a district magistrate, a high level government posting with the functions of detective, prosecutor, judge and executioner intent to become an officer of the law. Empress Wu, who is at the start of her reign, has sent the fiery-haired Detective Yuchi to investigate a sea monster that stalks the city at night. By chance, both Dee and Yuchi fight off the creature when it attacks a ceremonial procession carrying the beautiful courtesan Yin to be sacrificed at a temple to appease the Gods. Suspicious of the stranger, Yuchi has Dee imprisoned. Dee escapes with the help of visiting doctor Shatuo and together they discover that the upper reaches of society, including the Emperor himself, are addicted to a poisonous tea produced by Yuan's famous teahouse. Yuan, who was romantically attached to Yin, has been missing for months. Dee shadows the courtesan, who is under Yuchun's protection, until the sea monster reappears. Just as the two men are about to kill it, Yin reveals that the monster is her lover, Yuan. Yuan has been poisoned by a foreign Prince whose kingdom was overthrown by the Emperor. As the Prince's army readies itself on a nearby island to attack the capital, a real sea dragon rises from the deep.
MOVIE REVIEW:
When I first heard of it, I thought it’s a shame Tsui Hark didn’t opt to do a sequel to his massively successful detective action pic, Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame but instead hatch a prequel with the screenwriters from the original, Chen Kuofu and Zhang Jialu.
But my worries are completely unfounded in the end as the legendary Tsui Hark seems to be back in top form as he concocted another wildly fantasy, largely enjoyable adventure of a young Detective Dee.
Instead of CG face replacement for Andy Lau, Taiwanese actor Mark Chao (So Young) took on the role of Dee. Dee has just arrived in Luoyang City to join the Justice department headed by Chief Minister Yuchi (Feng Shaofeng). The people of Luoyang lived in fear of a fearful Sea Dragon and a beautiful courtesan; Ruiji (Angelababy) is to be sacrificed to appease the monster. But the trouble doesn’t end there as Ruiji is attacked by a scaly sea creature shortly after and Dee and Yuchi must reluctantly join hands to solve the case before Empress Wu Zetain (Carina Lau) cuts both their heads off.
It’s an absolutely pleasure to follow Dee on his investigation, truthfully there isn’t much investigation or complications as compared to Phantom Flame. The young Detective Dee is more of an impulsive and free spirited fellow that rush from point to another chasing after suspects and the sea creature while Yuchi makes a good crime solving partner with his no-nonsense attitude. The scripting allows many opportunities for Chao and Feng to work out some rivalry. That in a way allows the kinetic chemistry between the two actors to brought out the intensity needed to cover up the weaknesses of the detective flick.
For all the seriousness in the Andy Lau’s instalment where everyone has the risk of being combusted to death at anytime, there’s some light amusing moments right here with the introduction of a wacky physician (Mainland actor Chen Kun in his best performance) and his fumbling disciple, Shaluo (Lin Gengxin). Remember to stay back for the end credits for more.
In addition to Yuen Bun’s fluid action choreography, Tsui’s flawless attempt in applying 3D (though the DVD does not come with 3D technology) and visual effects once again prove the Zu Warriors filmmaker is still adept at making a visually stunning movie especially the climax which involved the relevance of the gigantic monster in the high sea.
Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon is a piece of enthralling entertainment, very much Tsui Hark at his commercial best. Well, there’s always Angelababy for eye candy sake if everything fails.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
NIL
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The DVD comes with serviceable visual and audio aspects. A lack of a 5.1 channel track is glaring for this title though.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy
Director: Soi Cheang Pou-soi
Cast: Donnie Yen, Chow Yun-Fat, Aaron Kwok, Joe Chen, Peter Ho, Kelly Chen, Zhang Zilin, Gigi Leung
RunTime: 2 hrs
Rating: PG
Released By: Shaw
Official Website:
Opening Day: 6 February 2014
Synopsis: After the Battle of Gods and Demons, Nu Wa (Goddess of Works) used 36,500 magic boulders to repair Heaven and one of it fell accidentally onto Earth and sat on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits on an island across the Eastern Sea. Bathed for thousands of years in the energies of Heaven and Earth as well as the light of Sun and Moon, a godly creature was nurtured inside the stone-egg and finally it cracked open to release a full-grown monkey…
Movie Review:
Surely the production of this 3D movie extravaganza is an important business decision. How else would you explain the reported four million yuan thrown into the film’s budget? What about recruiting A listers Donnie Yen, Chow Yun Fat and Aaron Kwok to appear in the same movie? It is also hard not to notice the involvement of “ang moh” (read: Hollywood) talents who were in charge of the movie’s visual effects and special make up. In China, viewers get to watch this 120 minute blockbuster in
But, is it something Asians would be proud of?
Based on Wu Cheng En’s beloved classic novel Journey to the West, Soi Cheang’s (Motorway, Accident) version tells the story of how the Monkey King, otherwise known as Sun Wukong, rebels and creates havoc in Heaven, much to the chagrin of the Jade Emperor. Other characters in the tale include the ambitious and evidently upset Bull Demon King and his wife Princess Iron Fan, the jealous Erlang Shen, as well as other household names like Ne Zha, Guan Yin, Nuwa and the Nine Tailed Vixen.
Fans familiar with the fable will enjoy seeing these characters visualised on the big screen. Having celebrities personify them is a bonus. Mr Wing Chun Donnie Yen as Sun Wukong? Check. Mr God of Gamblers Chow Yun Fat acting regal as the Jade Emperor? Check. Pop idol Aaron Kwok sporting two horns to play the Bull Demon King? It’s a godsend. Elsewhere, there’s Peter Ho trying his best to look menacing as the three eyed Erlang Shen, and idol drama princess Joe Chen trying her best to look solemn as Princess Iron Fan. Also, spot Miss World Zhang ZIlin, 1990s popular singers Kelly Chen and Gigi Leung in walk on cameos.
It is a star studded affair alright. Yen, unrecognisable and hidden under his hairy makeup, is impressive and delivers the best performance. Moments of cheekiness, forlorn, loss and angst are the emotions the actor, better known for his role as Ip Man, have portrayed effectively here. Chow effortlessly plays the Jade Emperor, while Kwok does nothing much than to frown and look cross with his Bull Demon King. Ho’s Erlang Shen does a decent job of having viewers despise his unethically disloyal character.
Alas, this celebrity burlesque is somewhat letdown by an onslaught of visual effects. From the first minute of this collaboration between China, Hong Kongand United Statesbrings on computer generated sets in an attempt to wow audiences. Some scenes are more impressive than the others: Heaven is a magnificent sea of gold, Sun Wukong’s birth place Hua Guo Shan is a lush spread of green, Dragon King’s underwater palace looks a little shoddy, while Bull Demon King’s fiery lair seems underdeveloped. There are also some questionable character designs, in particular the harmless demons who hang out with the Nine Tailed Vixen. This group of strangely cute characters is played by actors wearing mascot heads, and the unexplainable group of animals concerned includes a salamander and a, yes, you read it right here: panda.
There are some genuinely affectingly light hearted moments in this movie. Watch out for the scenes Sun Wukong says farewell to his master, and how he humiliates Erlang Shen’s iconic third eye on his forehead. Unfortunately, these are few and far between in this otherwise numbingly entertaining blockbuster.
Movie Rating:
(Donnie Yen is impressive as the Monkey King, but is unfortunately drowned by an overdose of visual effects)
Review by John Li
Genre: Comedy
Director: Adam McKay
Cast: Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, James Marsden, Christina Applegate, Kristen Wiig, Vince Vaughn, Harrison Ford, Josh Lawson, Greg Kinnear, Kirsten Dunst, Meagan Good, Dylan Baker
RunTime: 1 hr 53 mins
Rating: NC-16 (Sexual References and Drug Use)
Released By: UIP
Official Website: http://www.anchormanmovie.com/intl/splashpage/
Opening Day: 20 February 2014
Synopsis: With the '70s behind him, San Diego's top rated newsman, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell), returns to the news desk in "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues." Also back for more are Ron's co-anchor and wife, Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate), weather man Brick Tamland (Steve Carell), man on the street Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd) and sports guy Champ Kind (David Koechner) - all of whom won't make it easy to stay classy ... while taking New York's first 24-hour news channel by storm.
Movie Review:
This writer was telling his colleague how he is looking forward to the sequel of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, and the response was: “Err, how is that kind of humour funny?” This got him a little worried, because it has been, after all, a good 10 years since he laughed his butt off at the world’s silliest news broadcaster in the comedy movie directed by Adam McKay, produced by Judd Apatow, starring Will Ferrell, and written by McKay and Ferrell.
For a movie that’s ranked 113 on Empire’s 500 Greatest Movies of All Time to release a sequel 10 years on, it surely must be good stuff, right? Has age caught up with this reviewer? Will he remain straight faced throughout the movie that promises to be bigger and better? Will “lame” be the perpetual word in his mind as people around him roared in laughter?
Thankfully, he walked out of the cinema thinking to himself, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues is worth the wait.
McKay and Ferrell’s script has Ron Burgundy (Ferrell in a role that has launched countless memes online) leaving the 70s behind him, taking New Yorkin its first 24 hour news channel by storm. That’s really all you need to know about the plot, because story developments of how Ron and his wife Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) are almost calling it quits, how Ron gets his old team of Champ Kind (David Koechner), Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd) and Brick Tamland (Steve Carell) together, and how Ron has to face competition in the form of the dashing Jack Lime (James Marsden) are not really that important. Audiences want to laugh their asses off with this McKay and Ferrell’s brand of humour, and that’s what they are getting.
If you are a fan of the first movie back in 2004, chances are that you have been looking forward to this one, and that you will love it to bits. The gags are as random as ever, but with a bigger budget (there are special effects in the movie!), you can expect some really funny moments. Like its predecessor, not all the jokes are spot on, but they are so erratically hilarious, you’d find yourself howling in laughter every now and then throughout the 113 minute runtime.
Greg Kinnear, Meagan Good and Kristen Wigg join the ensemble in this sequel and although they don’t portray instant classic characters, they seem to be having lots of fun portraying the supporting characters, so we’re assuming that’s all that matters. There's also a part of us wishing the humour could be ruder and cruder, but with box office in mind, that's probably a business consideration the filmmakers and investors had in mind.
There are some repeated gags which fans of the first movie would appreciate. Without spoiling the fun, let’s just say audiences can look out for the return of a silvery musical instrument and a black animal shaped cologne.
Ah, don’t even get us started on the cameos. Because of how the movie making business has changed (and also how Ferrell and his team has gotten a lot more famous over the years), the climatic news team showdown (another nod to the much talked about scene in the first movie) towards the end of the movie is a hoot. In the mix are talk show hosts, Oscar winners (and nominees!) and A listers – all who seem like they had a hell of a time goofing around with Ferrell and his team.
Movie Rating:
(Again, this is kind of a big deal, really)
Review by John Li
Genre: Comedy/Action
Director: Wong Jing
Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Nicholas Tse, Chapman To, Jing Tian, Gao Hu, Annie Wu, Michael Wong, Max Zhang, Philip Ng, Meng Yao
Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Coarse Language And Violence)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website:
Opening Day: 30 January 2014
Synopsis: Super Hacker “Show Hand” (Nicholas Tse) and Karl (Chapman To) went to Las Vegas with their mentor, the retired swindler, Benz. They were there to visit Benz’s old buddy Hendrick (Chow Yun Fat), a renowned master-level conman who left behind his troubled past to work as a Security Consultant for a casino…
Movie Review:
Chow Yun Fat has not been this funny, or charming, or all-round entertaining in a long while as he is in ‘From Vegas to Macau’, and that alone is reason enough to make a beeline for this caper comedy during the Lunar New Year holiday. Touted as the long-awaited reunion between Chow and Wong Jing in a gambling-themed action comedy since their hugely successful ‘God of Gamblers’ series in the 1990s, it also sees Wong at his slapstick best, and that is saying a lot for the prolific filmmaker who has been known more for the quantity of his output than for quality.
In a role that bears many similarities to his iconic ‘Ko Chun’ from ‘God of Gamblers’, Chow is the legendary gambler Ken who is renowned for his ability to read cards simply by touching them. Dubbed ‘Magic Hands’, the former Las Vegas Chief Security Consultant has returned to Macau to be with friends and family to celebrate his birthday, as well as to find a love interest for his only daughter Rainbow (Kimmy Tong). But Ken isn’t just a replica of Ko (as the hilarious epilogue will also make a point about); instead, the former is also a prankster, and unlike his predecessor, has a madcap sense of humour.
Truth be told, Chow doesn’t appear until almost 20 minutes into the movie, which teases his entry by first introducing its supporting acts. Chow’s co-stars here are Nicholas Tse and Chapman To, whom together with the former’s father and the latter’s uncle played by Hui Shiu Hung, are a team of swindlers out to rob the rich to return a piece of justice (and hopefully some cash along with it) to the poor. Benz (Shiu Hong) is an old friend of Ken’s, and brings Cool (Tse) and Karl (To) along for the latter’s lavish birthday bash held at the Venetian Macau no less.
As with most Wong Jing action comedies, there is a lot going on at the same time. On one hand, you have Karl having the hots for Rainbow even as the latter (and we might add her father Ken) has her eye on Cool. On another, you have both Cool and Karl trying to convince Ken to take them under his wing as his disciples. But what really puts a spin on things is the addition of the villainous Mr Ko (Hugh Gao), the leader of a money laundering organisation that Cool’s stepbrother Lionel (Philip Ng) was an undercover agent in just before his untimely death. Long story short, Ken, Cool and Karl find a common enemy in Mr Ko, setting the stakes for an action-packed finale set on board a luxurious cruise vessel.
One can certainly criticise Wong Jing for the slapdash manner in which he flits between the various elements, but in the case of ‘From Vegas to Macau’, there is a zany energy with which he combines them for maximum crowd-pleasing entertainment. Lest it be any surprise, Wong has never been one to pay careful attention to plot and/or character development; instead, like a much more sophisticated Jack Neo, he isn’t afraid to cut straight to the punch line if necessary, which also explains why certain subplots or characters even are presented but never really expounded - like Chapman To’s Karl, who is pretty much absent in the last third of the movie.
Thankfully, Wong Jing’s comedic senses are at his sharpest here, so you’ll likely be more than willing to overlook the obvious flaws in the story department. Ken’s entry could not be more delightful with a hilarious game of poker between him and an arrogant challenger (played by Patrick Keung) as well as an obviously rigged lucky draw competition in order to engineer a match-up between his daughter Rainbow and Cool. There are also some good laughs to be had with the running jokes in the movie, including Ken’s ability to imitate the sounds of gunshot with his mouth and a truth serum that Mr Ko’s henchmen uses to force a confession out of his enemies.
But through it all, Wong Jing’s best lines seem to be reserved for none other than Chow Yun Fat himself, who takes a break from the more serious and dramatic roles of late to indulge in some screwball comedy. To say the change is refreshing is an understatement, for Chow reminds his fans that he has lost none of his charisma or drollness over the years. His timing here is pitch-perfect, and the same can be said of his singing and dancing not once but twice with Benz Hui as well as a former love played by TVB actress Maria Cordero. Indeed, Chow easily upstages all of his younger, more handsome, and prettier co-stars, leaving Tse looking positively wooden and To a somewhat childish one-note act. It is also Chow who anchors the more incredible sequences, most prominently Ken’s ‘killer’ card-throwing skills.
This is through and through Chow’s show, a bravado display of charm and wit that will rekindle the love that his older fans have of him and win him a new generation of younger ones. As with last year’s ‘The Last Tycoon’, Wong Jing seems at his creative best when paired with Chow, and even with the obvious change in tone, both actor and director have lost none of their collaborative spark. Here, they have created an unabashedly entertaining flick that packs action, comedy, romance and espionage into a rollicking package of fun and laughter. It's a perfect throwback to the 'God of Gamblers' series, and also your best bet at a jolly good time at the movies this New Year.
Movie Rating:
(Chow Yun Fat at his most charismatic and witty and Wong Jing at his funniest and most inspired in a long while - 'From Vegas to Macau' is a must-see action comedy this Chinese New Year)
Review by Gabriel Chong
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