Genre: Drama/Romance
Director: R.J. Cutler
Cast: Chloe Moretz, Jamie Blackley, Mireille Enos, Liana Liberato, Lauren Lee Smith, Aliyah O'Brien, Joshua Leonard, Chelah Horsdal, Aisha Hinds, Stacy Keach, Jakob Davies
RunTime: 1 hr 47 mins
Rating: PG13 (Scene of Intimacy)
Released By: Warner Bros
Official Website: http://ifistaymovie.com

Opening Day: 4 September 2014

Synopsis: Mia Hall (Moretz) thought the hardest decision she would ever face would be whether to pursue her musical dreams at Juilliard or follow a different path to be with the love of her life, Adam (Blackley). But what should have been a carefree family drive changes everything in an instant, and now her own life hangs in the balance. Caught between life and death for one revealing day, Mia has only one decision left, which will not only decide her future but her ultimate fate.

Movie Review:

Call this reviewer a Scrooge, but he was hardly moved by this romantic drama based on the novel of the same name by Gayle Forman. Now, this 33 year old male writer doesn’t read a lot, so he may not be aware of the literary magic that words can conjure, or how touching a story about a dying teenage girl travelling to back and forth in time between her recollections can be. Hence he is asking readers to pardon him if his review of this R J Cutler directed movie seems hard hearted and indifferent.

This is the story of Mia Hall (Chloe Grace Moretz), a shy teenage cellist whose parents (Joshua Leonard and Mireille Enos) were rockers and rollers before they settled down to become responsible parents. About 10 minutes into the film, the family is in a car accident that leaves Mia in a coma and the other three dead or dying. Now having an out of body experience and wandering the hospital as a spirit like character, Mia reflects on her life thus far and debates whether to fight for survival or go toward the light (hence the title “If I Stay”, get it?).

Then we get flashbacks to Mia’s recent past, particularly her storybook romance with Adam (Jamie Blackley), the dreamiest boy in school, who sought her out and told her she’s beautiful, blah, blah, blah. Basically you just need to know Adam is the perfect boyfriend fond of making grand romantic gestures, and Mia is the perfect girlfriend destined to spend eternity with him (the guy’s a rocker whose band is rising fast, the girl’s a cellist who is making her way into the prestigious Julliard). Everything’s looking up – until the terrible car accident.

There’s a part of this mean columnist who wants to see Mia walk towards the light, but he knows it’s not going to happen. How else can viewers find hope in this cold hearted and cruel world? How can audiences bear to see Adam and Mia separated forever? Sure there was some tension based on petty and dumb teenage jealousies, but you know it will be resolved in a jiffy so the characters can appreciate each other better. That said, you probably know how this 107 minute film is going to end.

Moretz has played a wider variety of characters, and she plays them well. She’s only 17, but her ability to play both someone girlish and someone wise beyond her years can be seen from her solid filmography. Be it the Kick Ass franchise, Let Me In or Carrie, you have to acknowledge that the young actress does what she’s supposed to do well. It is no different in her latest work. Although it’s a weepy young adult flick about a teenage girl trapped in an ethereal realm but must soon choose between life and death, Moretz’s screen presence is undeniable. She has easy chemistry wit her co stars, and it is evident she gave her all to portray Mia.

However, this is a melodrama through and through. While it may go down well with a certain group of viewers, those with a lack of patience and ability to appreciate emotionally manipulative plots may want to sit this one out. 

Movie Rating:

(Chloe Grace Moretz is great as usual, but the melodramatic weepie may not be everyone’s cup of tea)

Review by John Li

SYNOPSIS: Mr. Peabody, the most accomplished dog in the world, and his mischievous boy Sherman, use their time machine - the WABAC - to go on the most outrageous adventures known to man or dog. But when Sherman takes the WABAC out for a joyride to impress his friend Penny, they accidentally rip a hole in the universe, wreaking havoc on the most important events in world history. Before they forever alter the past, present and future, Mr. Peabody must come to their rescue, ultimately facing the most daunting challenge of any era: figuring out how to be a parent. Together, the time traveling trio will make their mark on history

MOVIE REVIEW:

This generation of young people won’t really know the fact that Mr Peabody & Sherman actually originated far back in the 1960’s as part of The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. Never mind the whole history behind the characters; this reimagined full-length feature from DreamWorks is a sweet family animation nevertheless and I must add often pretty exhilarating.

Retaining the spirit of the original classic cartoons, Mr Peabody (Ty Burrell) is still the smartest being/dog in the universe. He is an accomplished inventor, scientist, musician and much more. Most important of all, a devoted father to his adopted son, Sherman (Max Charles). With the help of a time machine dubbed WABAC (Wavelength Acceleration Bi-directional A-Synchronous Controller), father and son often embarks on adventures that takes them back in time learning about history. But things went way wrong when Sherman and his classmate, Penny (Ariel Winter) took WABAC on a joyride and now Mr Peabody must find a way to repair history and save everyone.

The animation started off on a shaky note but the pacing soon picks up when Mr Peabody, Sherman and Penny wonder off to ancient Egypt and encounter King Tut. From this point on, the Rob Minkoff’s (The Lion King, Stuart Little) helmed feature becomes an action-packed romp filled with colourful characters and historical notes to guarantee a wild time. Ever think about meeting Leonardo da Vinci (voiced by Stanley Tucci) and Mona Lisa? Or hop into a Trojan horse? Even Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein (anyone here who can still remember Mel Brooks?) make their respective appearances.

It’s both incredibly witty and wacky for the most part and a flashback showing how Mr Peabody came to adopt Sherman provides a warm touching moment to the movie. Kids will love the excellent visuals and gags. The adults can rest assured the little ones are in good hands no doubt. While certainly not as perfect or polished as some of DreamWorks’ efforts, Mr Peabody & Sherman still deserved a recommendation. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

A tour of the WABAC machine introduces audiences to the different functions and capabilities of the time machine.

Can many universes exist at the same time? Real physicists talk about the logic behind time travel in Time Travel: Mad Science

Gallery, Theatrical Trailer, Holiday Favorites (more trailers actually) and the World of DreamWorks Animation jukebox round up the extras. 

AUDIO/VISUAL:

The digital transfer is excellent and images are overall crisp, brimming with clarity. Sound effects are definitely immersive and dynamic.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee

SYNOPSIS: New York attorney Carly Whitten is nobody's fool. So when she accidentally discovers that her too-good-to-be-true boyfriend Mark is married, she's less than thrilled. Not only that, she and Mark's wife Kate learn about yet another mistress! Before long, however the betrayed beauties become unlikely pals who decide to teach their three-timing man a lesson. The more the trio learns about Mark, the worse he seems and the more fun they have without him!

MOVIE REVIEW:

If you have no qualms believing Cameron Diaz as an attorney and rapper Nicki Minaji as her colourful dressed personal assistant then you will have no problem enjoying this comedy about three women ganging up to deal with a cheating man.

Ditching his usual preference for serious, gloomy dramas (The Notebook, My Sister’s Keeper), Nick Cassavetes takes the helm and to a certain extent, the movie is nothing memorable but serves as a stylistically shot comedy aimed at the female demographics to pass the night.  

Upon knowing his husband, Mark (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau from Game of Thrones) is cheating on her, Kate (Mann) decides to seek out Mark’s girlfriend, Carly (Diaz) to find out the truth behind her husband’s cheating. The unlikely duo starts to bond and eventually they discover Mark is not just cheating on both of them but also involved in a major scam as well.  

Primarily, Leslie Mann (This is 40) is the one supplying all the goofy and silly moments here while Cameron Diaz on the other hand plays a more rational character. Sports Illustrated model Kate Upton joins the fun as one of Mark’s girlfriends. She ultimately has the least screentime and mostly sidelined as a dialogue-free, smiling character. At least she looks cute and beautiful if you know what I mean. Mann’s screwball comic timing is definitely gold and of course the lady managed to salvage the entire movie from sinking into oblivion.

Diaz is believable enough as a classy attorney working in New York and the comforting reason is both Diaz and Mann shares a sizzling chemistry which makes it at least watchable. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau probably makes good use of his break from filming Game of Thrones. He gets paid to dress well, romance a lot of babes and even gets to drive a baby blue Maserati around Manhattan. Best job in the world I would say.

Oh well this is not the best drama/comedy on cheating spouse. Girls just wanna have fun in the end and The Other Woman is clearly a chick flick to celebrate the occasion. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Watch the cast having a lot of fun fumbling their lines in Gag Reel. Leslie Mann and Cameron just can’t stop laughing in Giggle Fit. A Still Gallery is also provided. 

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Visual images and colours are solid and brimming while the 5.1 audio track is clear and crisp. 

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee
 

Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Sophon Sakdaphisit
Cast: Tanapop Leerattanakajohn, Chutavuth Pattarakampol, Supassara Thanachart
RunTime: 1 hr 53 mins
Rating: M18 (Sexual Scene & Disturbing Scenes)
Released By: GV
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 28 August 2014

Synopsis: Perth (Chutavuth Pattarakampol) and Tan (Thanapob Leeratanakajorn) are both best friends and longtime rivals. No matter how hard Perth tries, he can never out do Tan. Life gets even more complicated for these two swimmers when Perth starts to fall for Ice (Supassara Thanachart), Tan’s girlfriend, who has also developed feelings for Perth as well. When Ice unexpectedly commits suicide at the swimming pool where the swim team practices, Tan can’t keep his depression in check and stops going to swim practice. Now Perth becomes the shoe in for the only university sports quota left. The opportunity to finally eclipse Tan pushes Perth to train every chance he gets, even if that means swimming alone at night in the same pool where Ice was found dead. One day, Tan reveals to Perth that Ice committed suicide because she was pregnant. Tan goes on a relentless pursuit to find and take revenge on the culprit. Find out whether love can overcome hatred? Remember no one can hear you scream underwater!

Movie Review: 

It’s been a while since we saw a competent horror movie from the Land of a Thousand Smiles. The offerings from Thailandin 2014 were decent but forgettable – how much do you remember about Piyapan Choopetch’ Project Hashima, Pisut Praesangeam’s She Devil and Poj Arnon’s Make Me Shudder 2? While Banjong Pisanthanaku’s 2013 hit Pee Mak gave us a few good scares, it was more of a comedy than anything else. Here we have an aqua themed horror flick which isn’t ashamed to display its good looking leads on the promotional poster. Check out the dude’s well defined abs! That ghostly looking girl is quite a looker with her pretty face! Wow, that nice tan the other dude is sporting!

Before you dismiss this Sophon Sakdaphisit directed movie as a disposable flick exploiting its young stars, let us assure you it’s a well made psychological thriller worth your time – especially if you appreciate a good horror movie from Thailand.

The titular swimmers are Perth(Chutavuth Pattarakampol) and Tan (Thanapob Leeratanakajorn), who are best friends, but also enemies in the pool. Things get complicated when Perthfalls in love with Tan’s girlfriend Ice (Supassara Thanachart), who expresses her fond feelings towards the charming but somewhat promiscuous Perth. The horror quotient goes up with Ice is found to have committed suicide in the pool, and the furious Tan begins seeking revenge for his dead girlfriend. Perthbegins experiencing strange things, and your mind begins to play mind games as well.

Sakdapisit, who impressed us with Laddaland (2011), about a father who moves his family to a supposedly haunted housing development, has again helmed a taut psychological thriller which reflects the larger social issue on hand. Strictly speaking, this 113 minute movie isn’t exactly about ghosts but about the guilt and aftermath of a hormone rush. Without elaborating too much, let’s just say if you had to resolve your sexual urge, at least make sure a condom is in place. If not, you may want to be spiritually protected against the demon that will follow you for the rest of your life, should an unfortunate accident take place.

Youngsters will flock to watch this movie: muscular teen dudes and cutesy teen girls are generously shown on screen. The triangular love story is an accessible plot to most teenage audiences. The three main leads are eye candy and deliver decent performances, which is a plus point for the production. Movie studio GTH has produced a commercial product which will go down well with today’s viewers. This is not a bad thing in this movie’s case, because there are some messages to take away after the credits roll.

There are some tolerably good scares scattered throughout the film, and things get a little absurd when the cocky Perth’s tummy begins to swell. Yes, it is every man’s worst nightmare: male pregnancy. A teammate tells him: "Hey Perth, your six-pack is now a one-pack!" We hear nervous giggles in the theatre, but you know this is the last thing any guy wants. How do things turn out in this recommended horror flick? We urge you to step into the cinemas to find out. 

Movie Rating:

(Look beyond the movie’s exploitative [but oh so good looking] bods and you’ll find a well made psychological thriller well worth your time)

Review by John Li

Genre: Drama/Romance
Director: Snow Zou
Cast: Nicholas Tse, Gao Yuanyuan, Du Haitao, Luo Shi, Qin Hao
RunTime: 1 hr 46 mins
Rating: PG13 (Scenes of Intimacy)
Released By: GV & Clover Films
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 4 September 2014

Synopsis: Friends An Ran and Zhao Yongyuan are separated as children and meet again years later in Beijing in the early 1990s, when An is a university student and Zhao is a hawker. They rediscover their children friendship and Zhao helps An raise funds to study abroad. The two fell in love, but try to conceal it, in view of An’s pending departure to further her studies. As An prepares for her trip, Zhao can’t hold back his feelings and profess his love and desire to take care of her for the rest of her life. Though touched by Zhao’s sincerity, An eventually leaves for America after a cruel twist of events. Things haven’t been smooth for An and in 2001, she runs into Zhao, who is now a successful businessman in New York. While An has given up on their past, Zhao’s persistence and sincerity moves her. They decide to get married, but another turn of event results in their being separated once more…

Movie Review:

Anyone who’s been in a relationship will tell you that sincerity is one of the most important ingredients, and so it is with the best romances that we read on the page or watch on the screen – which is the reason why ‘But Always’ isn’t a true romance. It operates under a veneer of sincerity, leading you into thinking that it is some portrait of undying love, when in fact it is quite the opposite, leaving you feeling used, cheated, and ultimately frustrated.

A tale of two childhood sweethearts that spans Beijing and New York, it plots the ups and downs of Zhao Yongyuan (his last name meant to rhyme with ‘forever’ in Chinese) and An Ran’s love for each other against the vicissitudes of life. The tale begins in 1976 against the backdrop of the Tangshan earthquake, where An Ran loses her mother to the tragedy and is subsequently raised by her father. On the other hand, Zhao loses both his parents, and is tended by his grandmother who struggles to make ends meet in order to provide for her grandchild. Because of his family’s poverty, Yongyuan is often the scruffiest kid in school, who is also therefore ostracised by his classmates.

But An Ran strikes up an unlikely friendship with Yongyuan after an unexpected act of kindness on her part, so much so that they end up taking the same bus to school every day and hanging out together after as well. The sudden death of Yongyuan’s grandmother is the first turning point of their relationship, when his uncle (Lam Suet) takes him away without giving him the opportunity to say goodbye to An Ran. As far as such childhood romances go, it is as sweet and innocent as it gets, though the brevity of it doesn’t quite explain why the pair will be as emotionally tied.

The next act unfolds 18 years later when Yongyuan follows his uncle back to Beijing to help out in the latter’s street stall, the former now played by Nicholas Tse. It is one propitious day that he chances upon An Ran, who is now a medical student looking forward to a university education in America. Although neither Gao Yuanyuan (who plays An Ran) or Tse look anything like their younger selves, they immediately recognise each other, and realise that each is still very much fond of the other. For sheer narrative necessity, Yongyuan runs afoul of the law while trying to protect An Ran from a spot of trouble, and the next turning point comes when the former is sent to jail while the latter goes forth to pursue her dream of a brighter future in New York.

Fast forward a couple of years more and we catch up with both of them in the Big Apple; but whereas An Ran is now working as a tour guide, Yongyuan is a successful businessman on Wall Street whose masterful grasp of English proves that you can do a lot with your time in prison. Though the hand of fate has turned, Yongyuan is still very much in love with An Ran, and despite knowing that she is already attached to a painter (Qin Hao), wants to let her know that his feelings for her have never diminished through the years. On the other hand, An Ran is less sure, and only sparks to Yongyuan’s advances after being convinced of his sincerity - alas, a happily ever after isn’t on the minds of co-writer and director Snow Zou.

In a most cliched turn of events, An Ran’s on- and off-boyfriend is left paralysed from the waist down after a car accident, and because he had just visited her prior to it, she feels responsible for his condition and chooses to stay by his side to take care of him. But just as you think Zou might be ending things on a bittersweet note, he goes on to deliver yet another stunner straight out of a certain Robert Pattinson movie called ‘Remember Me’. Yes, it’s no coincidence that our couple find themselves in New York in the year 2001, but instead of being poignant, that supposed twist is so shamelessly manipulative that it may leave you infuriated.

It comes off even worse when you consider the coda at the end, which sees An Ran returning to Beijing in 2014 on board a bus which announces how many Chinese like her are doing likewise to take advantage of the opportunities in their own hinterland. Admittedly, Peter Chan’s most recent ‘American Dreams in China’ also had the same message, but the positioning here reeks of sheer insensitivity, so much so that you won’t be thinking of the romance by the time the movie is over.

On their part, Tse and Gao try to muster as much chemistry they have with each other against weak plotting and one-note characterisation, but ultimately neither their characters nor their relationship resonates as much as it should. There aren’t any strong supporting characters to speak of, which is why it is fortunate that the cinematography is excellent, so even though the story or the characters aren’t particularly engaging, the shots are always pretty to look at.

But of course, it takes more than a collection of beautiful shots to make a compelling movie, and ‘But Always’ falls way short of that - not only because it isn’t moving or romantic enough, but also because it wrings what goodwill it manages to muster on a conclusion that is clearly intended as political subtext. Right from the point An Ran leaves for America to the point she returns to Beijing, the film tries to be a cautionary tale for those still under the “illusion” that the West holds greener pastures, even going to the extent of exploiting one of the most tragic events in recent memory to underscore that point. Like we said, it is a film without sincerity, and some may say, also without integrity.

Movie Rating:

(A half-hearted romance with barely disguised political overtones, this shamelessly manipulative film lacks poignancy and more importantly sincerity)

Review by Gabriel Chong
  

Genre: Comedy
Director: Shawn Levy
Cast: Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver, Rose Byrne, Corey Stoll, Kathryn Hahn, Abigail Spencer, Dax Shepard, Jane Fonda
RunTime: 1 hr 43 mins
Rating: M18 (Coarse Language and Sexual Scenes)
Released By: Warner Bros
Official Website: http://thisiswhereileaveyou.com

Opening Day: 18 September 2014

Synopsis: When their father passes away, four grown siblings, bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. Confronting their history and the frayed states of their relationships among the people who know and love them best, they ultimately reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways amid the chaos, humor, heartache and redemption that only families can provide—driving us insane even as they remind us of our truest, and often best, selves.

Movie Review:

Grief is cathartic. Just ask any one of Hollywood’s dysfunctional families, and they will tell you that there is nothing like a death to bring every single one together for a chance at reconciliation. And so if you’ve seen last year’s ensemble drama ‘August: Osage County’, you can pretty much guess what the death of the patriarch which sparks off the reunion between four adult siblings (played by Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Adam Driver and Corey Stoll) and their mother (played by Jane Fonda) does for this Jewish family.

Adapted by Johnathan Tropper from his 2009 novel of the same title, 'This Is Where I Leave You' is built around one week of a reunion among the members of the Altman family gathered in their parental home to observe the rite of Shiva - no matter that their father was a self professed atheist. Apparently Dad had told Mum on his deathbed that he wished to be mourned for seven days, so while the squabbling siblings recoil at the thought of spending a week next to each other, they dutifully assume their seats next to one another where once a year the family's Christmas tree stands.

As you've probably already guessed, this is the kind of movie where each member has his or her own emotional baggage. The eldest Paul (Stoll of FX's 'The Strain') is quietly resentful of being the only one among them who stayed behind in their sleepy hometown of Westchester County to manage their father's sporting's goods business, and takes it out on his free-spirited baby brother Philip (Driver) who drives a sports car but still behaves as irresponsibly as a child. Meanwhile, the mild-mannered Judd (Bateman) is struggling to come to terms with his wife's infidelity, having in the film's opening scenes stumbled upon her having sex with his radio jock boss (Dax Shepard) in their bed on the occasion of his birthday.

And last but not least is Wendy (Fey), functionally the most normal of the lot but is herself dealing with a husband who is too attached at work to be emotionally and physical present for her. To top it all off is matriarch Hilary (Fonda), a celebrated child psychologist best known for her book 'Cradle & All' in which she laid out every secret there was to know about her kids; oh and did we mention that despite her age, she still believes in the boob job every now and then to make herself less unattractive.

Taking a cautious step into more adult territory, director Shawn Levy (better known for his 'Night at the Museum' franchise) allow his characters to bicker and brawl with each other before engineering a series of hijinks that allow them to come together as family. A good part of the former falls to the chemistry of the actors, which thankfully this ensemble pulls off beautifully. Bateman is likeable as always, Driver's persona is no different from that which he plays on HBO's 'Girls', Stoll is engaging whether stoic or loosened up and Fey holds her own amidst her male companions, and when they come together, the atmosphere is electrifying.

Not quite so believable are the gags that follow - besides the deliberately raunchy humour, a sequence where Paul, Philip and Judd smoke pot and set off the fire alarm at a synagogue is amusing but too evidently contrived. It is only in the last third that Levy lets his foot off the pedal so that the movie might find its own rhythm and settle into something more assured and measured; indeed, Tropper is also to be blamed for the movie's somewhat frenetic plotting, and it is only very much later on that he allows his characters to develop more organically.

Though it does come a tad too late, there's no denying that there is still poignancy to this tale of fractured relationships that find healing. Not all the characters fare equally in the regard, but the one that matter ultimately do. Bateman for instance comes to terms with his marriage and impending parenthood with dignity and humanity. Same goes for Stoll, who comes to see that the hand he was dealt with isn't necessarily the worst of the lot. And Driver gets to see that life doesn't wait for you to grow up, no matter how much you wished it would.

The supporting characters here do their part to make their respective arcs entertaining and affecting, but between a wife who can't wait to get pregnant, a middle aged woman who loves by letting go and a mother who only wants for her family to be OK, it is Fonda's turn as the latter which leaves the deepest impression. Levy steers the performances with a steady hand, but it certainly helps when you have assembled a calibre of actors and actresses like the one he has got here.

Yet this isn't the award worthy prestige picture which you may think it is, not because of the acting but because the writing and the storytelling just isn't as compelling as such dysfunctional family dramas ought to be. It does amuse and it does tug at your heartstrings but Tropper's own adaptation suffers from cliché. Where does it leave its audience? Caught somewhere between polite praise and nonchalance we suppose, leaving you wishing that it could have been better.

Movie Rating:

(Fitfully amusing and poignant in parts, this uneven dramedy tries too hard to be a crowd pleaser for its own good)

Review by Gabriel Chong

Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: John R. Leonetti
Cast: Annabelle Wallis, Alfre Woodard, Eric Ladin
RunTime: 1 hr 39 mins
Rating: PG13 (Horror)
Released By: Warner Bros
Official Website: http://annabellemovie.com

Opening Day: 2 October 2014

Synopsis: John Form has found the perfect gift for his expectant wife, Mia — a beautiful, rare vintage doll in a pure white wedding dress. But Mia’s delight with Annabelle doesn’t last long. On one horrific night, their home is invaded by members of a satanic cult, who violently attack the couple. Spilled blood and terror are not all they leave behind. The cultists have conjured an entity so malevolent that nothing they did will compare to the sinister conduit to the damned that is now...Annabelle.

Movie Review:

Whereas ‘The Conjuring’ rode on a wave of overwhelmingly positive test screenings to secure a prime release date in summer last year, ‘Annabelle’ seems to have taken the opposite route. Screened late or in some territories never for critics and audiences alike, it almost seems as if the producers want to keep the movie locked up – like the real-life ‘Raggedy Ann’ doll of the same name from which this was inspired – in a glass cabinet. And yet, the reason for their reluctance to unveil ‘Annabelle’ in the same way that they did for ‘The Conjuring’ is plainly simple once you’ve seen the former.

First things first, ‘The Conjuring’s’ James Wan doesn’t return to direct ‘Annabelle’; the Malaysian-born director serves only as a producer here and instead has relinquished the reins to his director of photography on the former, John R. Leonetti.  Neither is ‘Annabelle’ scripted by the writers of ‘The Conjuring’, who – if it’s any relief to fans of the original – are returning for the direct sequel ‘The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist’ due next year; instead, that credit falls here to Gary Dauberman, whose filmography before this consists of dubious direct-to-video titles like ‘In the Spider’s Web’ and ‘Swamp Monkey’. The point we’re trying to make? Don’t expect the same pedigree as ‘The Conjuring’, because there just isn’t.

It’s unfortunate that ‘Annabelle’ gets immediately compared with the far-superior ‘The Conjuring’; though, to be fair, that association is something the studio has put out prominently in order to garner attention from fans of the latter. On its own, ‘Annabelle’ is a pretty average genre exercise that should satisfy those looking for a horror fix; but when you lay it next to ‘The Conjuring’, then this in-name prequel just is utterly inferior, and probably no more than an attempt to cash in on its predecessor’s success to get more people into the cinema. Heck, they couldn’t even get Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga to cameo in the scene where their characters, Ed and Lorraine Warren, frm ‘The Conjuring’ are clearly referenced.

Since ‘The Conjuring’ is set in the mid-1970s, ‘Annabelle’ sets itself about a decade before, when medical school student John (Ward Horton) and his wife Mia (Annabelle Wallis) are a young couple living in a quiet suburban neighbourhood and expecting a baby. Mia is a doll collector, and Annabelle is John’s surprise present to her to complete her antique doll collection – though why one naturally wonders just why anyone would want a creepy looking thing like Annabelle in their home. Anyhow, on the night they learn of the Manson family murders (Google that if you’re keen for more information), their home is invaded by the daughter of their next-door neighbour.

A Satanic hippie best described as a crazed demon worshipper, she and her boyfriend have just murdered her parents before proceeding to try to do the same with John and Mia. But the police arrive, and in the melee that follows, her boyfriend is shot dead while she slits her throat such that her blood gets into the titular creepy doll. None of this is a spoiler, since you already can see most of it from the trailer. After some weird and dangerous things happen in that house (from the usual moving of furniture to slamming of doors and leading up to the kitchen catching fire), John and Mia move into a new apartment in a new town, where John is to complete his residency.

Needless to say, Annabelle follows them to the new place, and while John is away, proceeds to terrorise Mia as well as their newborn baby daughter. Who do the couple turn to? Well, as clichés go, John looks to a local elderly priest (Tony Amendola), while Mia confides in the eccentric black woman (Alfre Woodard) who runs a bookstore down the street with a convenient occult section. The entity responsible for the paranormal activities? It’s a demon; and before you can say ‘exorcism’, Father Perez (conveniently) turns into the eager exorcist who tries to rid the demon from the doll – and if you need any clue as to how that turns out, well just re-watch the opening sequence from ‘The Conjuring’.

None of what happens is particularly scary in and of itself, because instead of the nice slow-burn type of atmospheric dread that ‘The Conjuring’ traded in, Leonetti insists on hitting his audience over their heads with repeated ‘boo!’ scares which are akin to the genre’s junk food. Yes, if you’re well versed in the genre, this is more about things jumping out at you at various moments – accompanied by appropriately sudden sound effects – than any genuine tension or fear. It is cheap to say the least, and lazy if you compare it against the well-crafted sequences which made ‘The Conjuring’ such a success in the first place.

It doesn’t help that Dauberman’s script plagiarises elements from all the horror classics we’ve known – from the helpless mother to her logical companion to the local priest who doesn’t need a permit from the Vatican to decide he wants to take on the demon to the peculiar black lady who actually knows a thing or two about the demonic stuff she keeps ranting about. There is nothing here that transcends genre mediocrity, and Leonetti’s reliance on the frights of the lowest denominator doesn’t help one bit.

Like we said, though the producers of ‘Annabelle’ would gladly like for their film to be related with ‘The Conjuring’, that association is a double-edged sword. It will get fans in no doubt, but whether it leaves them satiated in the same ‘scared stiff’ way ‘The Conjuring’ did is clear – it won’t. What that means in terms of goodwill for ‘The Conjuring’ franchise in general is still suspect; but here’s something we do know – ‘Annabelle’ is no ‘Conjuring’, and at its best, is a thoroughly mediocre genre exercise that is good for Halloween but little else. 

Movie Rating:

(A far inferior prequel to ‘The Conjuring’, this is a cash-grab exercise in mediocrity that trades in cheap scares than any genuine fear or tension)

SYNOPSIS: Buckle up with Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad) as he sets out on a mission of revenge against wealthy and arrogant Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper), who framed him for a crime he didn’t commit. Tobey pushes his limits to the max in a high-octane race across America, hitting the road with the world’s most exotic supercars – delivering real speed, real danger and real action. Adapted from the top-selling video game franchise – and complete with never-before-seen bonus features – Need For Speed is the ultimate thrill ride.

MOVIE REVIEW:

You can’t totally blame Need For Speed for not trying. For a movie that is based on a best-selling video game, the budget and technical achievements will put the original Fast & Furious to shame but alas the plotting just come up way short and in desperate need of further polishing.   

Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul plays Tobey Marshall, a small-town mechanic and street racer who unwittingly causes the death of a childhood buddy after a race with once rival, Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper) went wrong. Tobey subsequently went to jail because of it and Dino went scot-free.

It took an excruciating two hours to flesh out a simple revenge tale on wheels because once Tobey gets out of jail, the first thing he did was hook up with a tough chick, Julia (Imogen Poots) and cross-country in a Shelby Mustang to participate in a winner-takes-all race, the De Leon while invading the cops and bounty hunters sent by Dino. The long drive from New York to California is a poor excuse to showcase more reckless driving and some needed romance between Tobey and Julia. Not to mention, Tobey’s motley crew, Benny, Joe and Finn. With the exception of Benny who always show up interestingly from a small plane to a military chopper, the rest are merely there to provide the movie’s cheesy one-liners.

Yet if you are car junkie or a fan of daredevil stunts, director Scott Waugh (Act of Valor) opted for some amazing practical stunt effects and choreography in place of CGI to deliver often spectacular looking car flipping explosions. Of course, the excellent display of those killer gleaming machines, Shelby GT 500, Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, Bugatti Veyron to Koenigsegg Agera are pure eye candy.

As one of DreamWorks’ title and even with Steven Spielberg’s inputs, Need For Speed just doesn’t quite have the horsepower to zoom past the finishing line. But then again, the Fast & Furious took three sequels to finally find it’s footing maybe this property from Electronic Arts need a couple more outings to hone its engine. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Capturing Speed: Making an Authentic Car Movie is a nine minutes plus feature that takes a look at creating the car chases and stuntwork.

Need for Speed Rivals Trailer is a brief videogame promo reel. 

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Prepare for a dynamic, aggressive Dolby Digital 5.1 listening experience as muscle cars throttles across the screen. Video presentation is also solid and striking as well. 

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee

SYNOPSIS: From the Studio that brought you the greatest Super Hero movie of all time, Marvel’s The Avengers, comes Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the global phenomenon that teams Captain America (Chris Evans) with the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and a new ally, the Falcon (Anthony Mackie), in a fight for the future of mankind. Following the cataclysmic events in New York with the Avengers, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, is living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the entire world at risk. As the conspiracy deepens and it’s no longer clear whom to trust, Captain America, Black Widow and the Falcon must join forces to overthrow their insidious enemy’s most mysterious and powerful weapon yet : The Winter Soldier.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Marvel has come to a stage where they can’t afford to fail. Simply put, there’s too much at stake and we are talking a billion dollars worth market out there. Captain America; The Winter Soldier while being a standalone movie has to be connected to a much larger universe at the same time. Amazingly, the sequel not only progresses Captain America as a character but stands out as the best Marvel movie in the entire MCU to date.   

After the events of Avengers, Steve Rogers aka Captain America (Chris Evans) is still struggling with daily life as he navigates the reality of the modern world. His work in S.H.I.E.L.D with plenty of complex work hierarchy and procedures doesn’t make it any better. When Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) is assassinated by a mysterious assailant dubbed The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Rogers must attempt to uncover the conspiracy and the alarming fact that Hydra still exists in present day!

What’s really great about Captain America; The Winter Soldier is that it’s both a popcorn and ambitious political action thriller. The level of intensity is undeniable and for every twist and turn, there’s a furious shootout and an effects-laden spectacle to go with it. We especially love the edgy, dark nods to the real-world issues and credit has to go to serious actor/director Robert Redford’s performance as ambiguous S.H.I.E.L.D senior official, Alexander Pierce. His presence alone effectively pushes up the believability of the existence of government conspiracies and shadow organizations.

It’s bewildering that Marvel can successfully find ways to include various comic characters whether big or small, known or unknown to be in the Marvel movies. So besides the usual familiar Nick Fury and Black Widow acting as Roger’s sidekick (Scarlett Johansson), Cobie Smulders in a short appearance as Maria Hill, we have Stan as the Winter Soldier who is also Roger’s ex-buddy, Bucky, Anthony Mackie as the Falcon and also Frank Grillo as counter-terrorism strike team member who will turned into another villain character in future.

The visual effects by ILM are close to realism (especially the huge Helicarriers), the many old-school action sequences a pleasure to watch and there’s always room for a funny Garry Shandling cameo. In short, the Russo brothers and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have accomplished an impressive feat worthy to be one of the best movies of 2014.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Only one Deleted Scene: "In Pursuit of Captain America" is included.

Steve Rogers' Notebook detailed the slight differences of the notebook scene in the international versions of the movie. 

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Dialogue and sound effects are presented in the best possible way for the home audience to enjoy. Subwoofer activity, directional panning effects aplenty while skintones and overall images are striking and impressive with no visible banding. 

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee

SYNOPSIS: Two Frogs! One Pig! Intrigue! Music! Mayhem! Muppets! There’s plenty of fun for the whole family as Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Animal and the entire Muppets gang head out on a world tour. But mayhem follows the Muppets, as they find themselves unwittingly entangled in an international crime caper. Now Kermit is behind bars at the mercy of prison warden Nadya (Tiny Fey), and the World’s Number One Criminal, Constantine – a dead ringer for Kermit – has taken his place. As Constantine and his dastardly sidekick Dominic (Ricky Gervais) plot the robbery of the century, they are pursued by Sam Eagle and Interpol agent Jean Pierre Napoleon (Ty Burrell). Will Constantine get away with his nefarious scheme? Will Kermit escape in time to save the day? Packed with dozens of guest cameos, new songs and the most extended, most exclusive scenes not in theaters, Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted is the most hilarious, most wanted Muppet movie ever!

MOVIE REVIEW:

Muppets Most Wanted follows immediately after the events of The Muppets which served as sort of a reboot to the muppet series after an absence of twelve years.

Approached by an in-demand tour manager, Dominic Badguy (Rick Gervais), the muppets agree to go on a European tour. But what the muppets didn’t know is the world’s number one criminal Constantine and Badguy is in cahoots and the two plan to steal the Crown Jewels of England with the intention of pitting the crime on the unsuspecting muppets.

The movie is most of the time hilarious and has no problem being self-referential. Kids and adult Muppet fans will have a field day enjoying the children-friendly madcap antics and bizarre characters. There’s nothing like watching Kermit and Miss Piggy getting into a fight again over the issue of marriage and a Peter Sellers-like Interpol Agent Jean Pierre (Ty Burrell) and his partner, Sam Eagle fumbling at the crime scenes because this is a Muppet movie after all.

In addition, the numerous highly infectious musical numbers written by Academy Award winner, Bret McKenzie will win your hearts once more. Check out the duet by Celine Dion and Miss Piggy in “Something So Right” and Constantine/Ricky Gervais’s “I’m Number One”. Adding to the fun is the galore of cameos (some blink-and-you-miss) ranging from Lady Gaga to James McAvoy to Til Schweiger to Saoirse Ronan to Tom Hiddleston and many more.

Though Tina Fey is a hoot as a Russia prison guard, if one has to nitpick, Gervais as the main leading man failed to capture the magic writer and star Jason Segel and Amy Adams who is conspicuously absent from the sequel conjured. Some gags proved to be too long for it’s own good and a swifter pacing might improve things on the whole.

With present day kids being more familiar with Lightning McQueen than Kermit the Frog and Elsa more recognizable than Miss Piggy, the Muppets deserved more attention given their everlasting theme of friendship and brand of comedy is simply timeless. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The only extra is Bret McKenzie’s music video “I’ll Get You What You Want”.   

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Audio and visual is both splendid. Dialogue and music songs are well mixed and visually brimmed with excellent colours and details. 

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee