Genre: Drama
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Dakota Johnson, Matthias Schoenaerts, Tilda Swinton, Aurore Clément, Lily McMenamy
Runtime: 2 hrs 5 mins
Rating: M18 (Nudity and Sexual Scenes)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website: https://www.facebook.com/abiggersplash/
Opening Day: 31 March 2016
Synopsis: Rock legend Marianne Lane is recuperating on the volcanic island of Pantelleria with her partner Paul when iconoclast record producer and old unexpectedly arrives with his daughter Penelope and interrupts their holiday, bringing with him an A-bomb blast of delirious nostalgia from which there can be no rescue. A Bigger Splash is a sensuous portrait of laughter, desire, and rock and roll detonating into violence under the Mediterranean sun.
Movie Review:
Damn those Westerners - they always seem to have all the time in the world to “chillax" (read: chill and relax) on vacations. If you’re an Asian (more poignant if you’re a Singaporean), you must have come across people like that while you’re on holiday. While you’re rushing from one place to another, trying to squeeze as many locations into your tight schedule, you speak to fellow vacationers who are so “yolo" (read: you only live once), you wonder why you even bothered going on a holiday.
That is, till you see the next scenic spot, and you frantically whip out your camera phone to snap a picture to upload it on Instagram. Yes, and you do not forget to add countless hashtags, in the hoping to see a staggering number of “likes” the next time you log in.
Wait, what is the point of the above paragraphs with regard to this film helmed by Italian director Luca Guadagnino? The first impression left after viewing this 124 minute Italian French production is: Damn, these Western folks sure know how to take a break from the hustles and bustles of the city!
The story begins with Tilda Swinton’s famous rock star character going on a holiday with her gorgeous photographer boyfriend played by Matthias Schoenaerts on the remote Italian island of Pantelleria. Why keep the fun to two people when you can have four? Along comes an old friend played by Ralph Fiennes and his daughter played by Dakota Johnson. What follows is, well, a group of Westerners having what seems like a really great holiday, and an eventual series of events so dramatic, you would think twice about sharing secrets with your dearest ones.
We’ve got a fine ensemble cast here - there’s the Anglo Scottish wonder Swinton never fails to surprise or impress (be it the devastated mother in 2011’s We Need to Talk About Kevin or the White Witch in the Chronicles of Narnia series), the classically trained Englishman Fiennes (before playing Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series, he charmed audiences as Amon Goeth in 1993’s Schindler’s List and Count Almasy in 1996’s The English Patient), the ridiculously good looking Belgian actor Schoenaerts (audiences from this part of the world probably took note of him after last year’s Far From The Madding Crowd and The Danish Girl) and the obligatory American represented by Johnson (yup, she has earned herself the title of “That Fifty Shades of Grey Girl”).
We know Guadagnino from his previous collaboration with Swinton, I Am Love (2010). Hence, we were not particularly surprised with the boldness of this film, which competed for the Golden Lion at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival (it took home the Soundtrack Stars and Best Innovative Budget Awards eventually). The actors are allowed to let themselves loose in this film, and you can expect to see sex and nudity (Fiennes appear naked in quite a number of scenes). You will also realise the storyline does meander quite a bit, but hey, that’s how the Westerners holiday - what’s the rush?
Movie Rating:
(The plot isn’t exactly arresting, but thanks to director Luca Guadagnino’s bold vision, the cast - especially Tilda Swinton and Ralph Fiennes - get to let loose their inhibitions in this dangerously compelling drama)
Review by John Li
Genre: Action/Comedy
Director: Paco Cabezas
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, James Ransone, Anson Mount, Michael Eklund, RZA
Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins
Rating: M18 (Coarse Language And Violence)
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films
Official Website:
Opening Day: 21 April 2016
Synopsis: Martha (Anna Kendrick) discovers that her new beau, Francis (Sam Rockwell), is a professional assassin… with a cause. He kills the people ordering the hits. As the bodies pile up, Martha must decide whether to flee or join her man in the mayhem.
Movie Review:
If there is one thing that ‘Mr Right’ gets right, it is in casting Sam Rockwell and Anna Kendrick as the romantic couple at the centre of this screwball rom-com-slash-hitman movie. Oh yes, Rockwell, whom we loved in ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ hasn’t had a role this delightfully kooky in years; while Kendrick, who charmed our socks off in ‘Pitch Perfect’, nails what could easily have been a caricatured neurotic routine beautifully, right down to her garrulous patter and lightning mood swings. And together, Rockwell and Kendrick simply light up the screen, exuding a rapturous effervescence falling in love with each other and shooting dead all who stand in their way.
Unfortunately, they are also the only thing that this candy-coloured carnival of violence and humour has going for it. In particular, a dark premise like this needs both sharp writing and direction, neither of which writer Max Landis (best known for the over-hyped ‘Chronicle’) and director Paco Cabezas offer. The set-up is disappointingly ho-hum, including a grade-school prelude where a young girl named Martha tells the camera that she wants to grow up to be a T-Rex, a cartoonish break-up where the now grown-up Martha (Kendrick) catches her boyfriend cheating on her, and a lovelorn phase where she hides in closets, dances with abandon at parties and sets free a rabid cat at the pet shop where her roommate works. It’s meant to be funny while getting us to empathise with Martha, but there’s hardly a chuckle to be had.
Francis’ (Rockwell) introduction is just as uninspiring. His first kill we see is a middle-aged woman in a hotel room who had apparently hired him to take out her husband, whereupon we learn how he is not some ordinary hitman but a reformed one who enforces his own moral code of taking out those paying for such assassinations. That however puts him at odds with his former mentor Hopper (Tim Roth), who after sitting out a disastrous ambush in the same hotel’s dining room decides to take matters into his own hands and spends the rest of the movie trying to finish Francis off by himself. If you’re expecting a bang, well let’s just say that Cabezas’ staging feels utterly monotonous, especially a sequence where Francis is meant to show off his lightning-quick reflexes and tango-style moves against a roomful of armed assailants.
Their meet-cute happens in a convenience store while knocking over a rack of condoms, and in between traversing across New Orleans on dates, Martha discovers a knack for catching knives in the air while Francis gets unwittingly entwined in a plot by a pair of gangsters (James Ransone and Michael Eklund) to take out their big brother (Anson Mount). Rather than lie about what he does, Francis tells Martha that he’s a killer right from the start; though the latter regards his casual references to killing people as a joke until he sees her shoot someone on a bridge right in front of her eyes. It’s a neat twist no doubt, but is quickly buried underneath an unnecessarily convoluted plot involving said Jersey mobsters as well as other stupid characters such as RZA’s kindhearted gunman who has the general misfortune of being given lousy weapons.
If not for Rockwell and Kendrick, the subsequent display of nihilistic violence as Francis confronts both the people who have set him up as well as the person who trained him up at the same time will no doubt turn out ingratiating and even ludicrous, not least for the fact that Kendrick’s character becomes an even more unhinged person than Francis after she is bound to a chair and threatened with her life. That we remain engaged and amused is to their credit, both individually and together, and it is no overstatement that they pretty much carry the movie through to its somewhat clichéd ending promising more ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’-like adventures in Asia. They are a killer couple all right, and in ‘Mr Right’, there’s no doubt that they kill it.
Movie Rating:
(Sam Rockwell and Anna Kendrick make a killer couple in this screwball rom-com-slash-hitman movie, but are somewhat undermined by a dull script and weak direction)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: James Watkins
Cast: Idris Elba, Richard Madden, Kelly Reilly, Charlotte Le Bon, Anatol Yusef
Runtime: 1 hr 32 mins
Rating: NC-16 (Some Nudity and Violence)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website:
Opening Day: 21 April 2016
Synopsis: Michael Mason (Richard Madden, ‘GAME OF THRONES’) is an American pickpocket living in Paris who finds himself hunted by the CIA when he steals a bag that contains more than just a wallet. Sean Briar (Idris Elba, ‘LUTHER’, PROMETHEUS), the field agent on the case, soon realizes that Michael is just a pawn in a much bigger game and is also his best asset to uncover a large-scale conspiracy. Going against commands, Briar recruits Michael to use his expert pickpocketing skills to help quickly track down the source of the corruption. As a 24hr thrill ride ensues, the unlikely duo discover they are both targets and must rely upon each other in order to take down a common enemy
Movie Review:
Let is be known that English actor Idris Elba is one actor not to be messed with. Most people would know the 43 year old actor as Heimdall, the all seeing and all hearing guardian sentry of Asgard who stands on the rainbow bridge, always ready to take on any foes who are planning to attack Asgard. Yup, we are talking about the tall and overbearing dude who has appeared in Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Thor films.
Elba has gone on to take on roles in big Hollywood titles like Prometheus (2012), Pacific Rim (2013), and most notably, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) where he played Nelson Mandela. He has also done some impressive voice acting jobs in this year’s Zootopia, The Jungle Book and the upcoming Finding Dory. If you have been active on the worldwide web, you would also know that the London born actor will be the main villain in Star Trek Beyond, slated for release a few months later in July.
And this is a timely opportunity to check out Elba as an action hero in James Watkins’ movie. He is a no nonsense field agent tasked to investigate a case involving a pickpocket, a bomb explosion and terrorist attacks. His on screen star is Scottish actor Richard Madden, who you may recognise as Robb Stark in the popular TV series Game of Thrones and Price Kit in Disney’s live action version of Cinderella (2015). Oh, we almost forgot that the film is set in France, and as the title suggests, the French National Day holds a significant meaning for the movie.
While there’s nothing to shout about the plot of this 92 minute action thriller (originality isn’t a big thin in the movie making business these days, anyway), the filmmakers manage to deliver a fast paced story which doesn't dwell on unnecessary side plots. The sequences are executed the way viewers would expect them to, and are appropriately engaging to keep you interested throughout its very welcoming runtime.
There are scenes of cars chasing each other down busy streets, people chasing each other on rooftops, people shooting each other with huge ass guns and of course, explosions going off. There is even a story twist towards the end of the movie. It may not be exactly the most novel thing to include, but its serviceable enough for us to overlook this attempt to spice things up a bit.
The real gem here is Elba’s on screen charisma. Watch him take down enemies one by one - we get the feeling he is the next Denzel Washington to watch out for (extra doses of Man on Fire, Unstoppable, The Equalizer, anyone?). At the same time, Elba makes time for truly charming banter with Madden - it’s almost like seeing a new kind of bromance ala Lethal Weapon’s Danny Glover and Mel Gibson forming on screen. It also helps that Madden, as sneaky as he is as a pickpocket, is suave and easy on the eyes - who cares if you do not have a build like Chris Evans? The chemistry between these two men allows the movie to easily keep you entertained for one and a half hours.
Movie Rating:
(The premise of the movie might be cliched, but the entertaining action sequences, as well as Idris Elba and Richard Madden’s on screen chemistry make this 93 minute action flick a fun watch)
Review by John Li
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DIRECTOR KELVIN TONG'S FIRST HOLLYWOOD HORROR THE FAITH OF ANNA WATERS OPENS IN CINEMAS ON 12th May!Posted on 25 Apr 2016 |
Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Ilya Naishuller
Cast: Sharlto Copley, Danila Kozlovsky, Haley Bennett, Andrey Dementyev, Dasha Charusha, Sveta Ustinova, Tim Roth
Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins
Rating: R21 (Violence and Gore)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website: http://www.stxmovies.com/hardcorehenry/
Opening Day: 14 April 2016
Synopsis: Strap in. HARDCORE HENRY is one of the most unflinchingly original wild-rides to hit the big screen in a long time. You remember nothing. Mainly because you’ve just been brought back from the dead by your wife (Haley Bennett). She tells you that your name is Henry. Five minutes later, you are being shot at, your wife has been kidnapped, and you should probably go get her back. Who’s got her? His name’s Akan (Danila Kozlovsky); he’s a powerful warlord with an army of mercenaries, and a plan for world domination. You’re also in an unfamiliar city of Moscow, and everyone wants you dead. Everyone except for a mysterious British fellow called Jimmy (Sharlto Copley). He may be on your side, but you aren’t sure. If you can survive the insanity, and solve the mystery, you might just discover your purpose and the truth behind your identity. Good luck, Henry. You’re likely going to need it…
Movie Review:
You wake up in a lab and is addressed as “Henry” by a beautiful lady who then fits you with bionic body parts she tells you she is your wife and you both love each other deeply. Next thing you know, your wife is being kidnapped by a bunch of thugs who wants to steal your cyborg technology/capability. Your mission is to beat the living daylights out of everyone who stands in the way of you rescuing your wife.
Sounds like the background of a first person slash-and-kill game doesn’t it? Except this is a movie and you don’t press the “start” button to commence the game. Your only form of interaction or participation in this “game” is sit back and watch the action unfold from Henry’s perspective as he slashes, shoots, bombs and pretty much demolishes anything that gets in his way of getting his wife back.
And after a while, it gets pretty boring as well as nauseating to watch Henry do all that. Yes, the execution of tightly choreographed action sequences is amazingly slick and quite awe-inspiring (how does a man so precisely catch a grenade and throw it into a hatch the spilt second before it explodes is baffling) but imagine watching a 1 hour long parkour video captured with a Go-Pro camera. I’m pretty sure some people will need barf bags on standby for that. Unfortunately, that results in the movie’s strength- its brilliantly executed intense action sequences becoming a double-edged sword that can both exhilarate and also torment audiences.
Action sequences aside, there’s little going for this movie. The plot is thin and you don’t really feel anything for the main characters because you simply don’t get a chance to bond with them. Henry doesn’t have much of a memory which results in you knowing little about him. His wife, Estelle, is gone pretty quickly and you don’t get to see her much throughout the movie. Ditto her kidnapper, Akan. Jimmy, Henry’s partner/friend for this journey, appears in different forms with different personalities and dies pretty quickly each time, rendering the audiences unable to pin down who Jimmy really is and what he is like as a human being. Not enough is explored of any of the characters and you simply can’t relate to them. Unlike Kill Bill and Mad Max: Fury Road where the characters have moments or make decisions that show their humanity, Henry is merely a reticent killing machine who is programmed to stop at nothing to save his wife and bring her back home.
The other selling point of the movie, being one told from a first-person perspective, is really nothing new nor exciting. Robert Montgomery got there first in as far back as 1947 with his noir thriller Lady in the Lake. More recently, Gasper Noe’s 2009 psychedelic tour of life, Enter the Void, adopted a first-person perspective with much more effectiveness (with less head spinning and nausea-inducing results too).
Hardcore Henry is essentially a first-person shooter-bomber-fighter-killer videogame, without the player having the option of playing the game, thinly disguised as a movie. Sure, it has great action sequence but unless you are a gamer who actually only like to sit back and watch the action unfold without actually playing the game or an action junkie who just likes to soak up fight sequences, this is unlikely the game movie for you.
Movie Rating:
(Go watch this only if you are a fan of “Let’s Play!” videos without the commentaries. But do prepare a barf bag)
Review by Katrina Tee
Genre: Romance
Director: Xue Xiaolu
Cast: Tang Wei, Wu Xiu Bo, Kara Hui, Paul Chun, Lu Yi
Runtime: 2 hrs 11 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Coarse Language)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website:
Opening Day: 5 May 2016
Synopsis: Is it destiny that brings people together, or is it accident? Jiao, a happy-go-lucky casino hostess living in Macau, is a lucky charm in the eyes of her VIP clients. Her know-how on statistical logic and gambling theory is her trump card, making all her clients leaving the table happily with stacks of chips. But her tumultuous past and carefree style always get in the way when it comes to finding true love. Meanwhile, across the Pacific, hotshot realtor Daniel smooth-talks his wealthy Chinese clients into buying house after house. A class opportunist, he seizes the chance when the Chinese economy booming means money making business. While people look to him as an example of success, no one realizes that his heart is as empty as an open house. Fate comes into play when Jiao and Daniel stumble upon the book 84 Charing Cross Road. Out of frustrations, they each send an ambiguous letter to the book title’s address. Serendipity weaves its way and their letters reach each other, marking the beginning of their long distance communication. Sharing ups and downs with a total stranger through letters, they found relief and console from each other, and miraculously, a spiritual connection. But one day, their exchange halts due to certain setback. Jiao is in bad debt and looking for a way out. A wealthy client’s offer to getaway to Las Vegas comes just at the right time. On the other hand, to woo an old couple into selling their house, Daniel offers to accompany them on a trip to Las Vegas. Will this intricate threadwork of timing, circumstances and serendipity bring these two people, living 11,000 kilometers apart, to finally meet each other in the city also known as the Capital of Second Chances?
Movie Review:
Admit it - it’s usually easier to relay your truest feelings via some sort of platform. In today’s context, it is probably on chat apps like WhatsApp, Line or WeChat. Remember there was a time when people had pen pals and actually wrote letters to each other? Unlike chat apps where reactions are almost instant (oh, and there’s that painful function where you actually know whether the other party has read your message, making you...wait), people had to wait for the letter to be read, a reply to be penned and posted out before eventually reaching your mailbox. Coupled actual handwriting, this whole thing made the revelation of feelings more indulgently romantic.
And that’s what this pseudo sequel to Xue Xiaolu’s wildly popular Finding Mr Right (2013) is about.
Jiao (the gorgeous Tang Wei), a hostess in a Macau casino, and Daniel (Wu Xiubo), a Los Angeles real estate agent, strike up a correspondence, the former claiming to be from London’s posh West End and the latter a West Coast professor. We actually venture into the emotions of these two protagonists as she lives a hollow existence in Macau that sees her drift from one disastrous affair to another, while the somewhat heartless womaniser to tries to persuade an old couple to sell their house.
The two characters have no relations to the 2013 movie. The only connection is that they are played by Tang and Wu, who share irresistible chemistry between them. You admit that this is a cash cow to make die hard romantics (especially in China, where the two stars are very, very popular) step into the cinema to enjoy 132 minutes of a beautiful fantasy, but you go along for the ride anyway - simply because, who doesn't wish to live a fairytale romance?
The novel which brings the two characters is 84 Charing Cross Road, a story written in 1970 by Helene Hanff about her twenty-year correspondence with book buyer Frank Doel at Marks & Co. It mirrors the long distance correspondence relationship of the two leads. A whole load of side plots in the form of misfortunes happen along the way (the two odd hour runtime does feel like a stretch at times), and you get sequences coated with magic realism where imaginary characters appear to talk to the protagonists. Yet, your eyes are glued to the screen as the actors do a remarkable job which have us empathising with them, yet seeing their flaws at the same time. The characters are endearingly true to life, as we find ourselves asking what we would do if we were in their situations.
Supporting characters deliver outstanding performances too. Kara Hui is Tang’s father’s ex girlfriend who is raising the gambling addict. Paul Chun and Wu Yanshu are the old couple Wu tries to swindle, but eventually finds himself reassessing his personality. Lu Yi is a fine young man who breaks Tang’s heart early in the film.
You know this movie is the greatest form of escapism, with all its lyrical and emotional voiceovers, but for that two plus hours, you let yourself go to indulge in an engagingly charming love story.
Movie Rating:
(The charming chemistry between Tang Wei and Wu Xiubo make this indulgent romance endearingly engaging)
Review by John Li
When was the last time you read the liner notes for a CD? This reviewer was glad he flipped open the booklet tucked snugly into this album’s jewel case. Penned by Gary Barlow, the frontman and lead vocalist of British pop group Take That (Back for Good! Relight My Fire! Never Forget!), the notes recount how he came on board the project to curate a soundtrack of original songs recorded by the who’s who of British pop acts during the 1980s.
It is very heartening to know that this is not another album containing a convenient lineup of songs from the 1980s. Even more amazing is how these new recordings sound like music from the good ol’ eighties (yup, this writer grew up in that lovely era).
There's an authentic, specific style of singing from the 13 songs in this CD. If you are familiar with music from that period, you’ll recognise the distinctive ‘manly’ sound accompanied by a retro electronic programming. The drum machines and the synthesisers complement the voices to give listeners a fluffy feeling we don’t get from much of today’s emotionally crippling music.
The album opens the dramatically inspiring “Ascension” by Holly Johnson – the climax is unaplogetically 1980s, and it’ll leave you smiling. Elsewhere, there are songs like “Out of the Sky” by Marc Almond and “Living Inside My Heart” by ABC which also reflect the style and vibe of that time. You’ll also have an indulgingly nostalgic time listening to “Moment” by Tony Hadley and “Touching Hearts and Skies” by Midge Ure.
A pleasant surprise comes in the form of “Thrill Me” written by Gary Barlow and Andy McCluskey, and performed by the movie’s main leads Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman. The over the top dance track is a guilty pleasure you’ll want to put on repeat mode. The album closes with the feel good “Eddie The Eagle Theme” composed by Matthew Margeson, fondly reminding us why we love the 1980s so much.
ALBUM RATING:
Recommended Track: (13) Thrill Me - OMD featuring Taron Egerton & Hugh Jackman
Review by John Li
Genre: Drama
Director: Patricia Riggen
Cast: Jennifer Garner, Kylie Rogers, Martin Henderson, John Carroll Lynch, Eugenio Derbez, Queen Latifah
Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins
Rating: PG
Released By: Sony Pictures Releasing International
Official Website: http://www.miraclesfromheaven-movie.com
Opening Day: 21 April 2016
Synopsis: MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN is based on the incredible true story of the Beam family. When Christy (Jennifer Garner) discovers her 10-year-old daughter Anna (Kylie Rogers) has a rare, incurable disease, she becomes a ferocious advocate for her daughter’s healing as she searches for a solution. After Anna has a freak accident, an extraordinary miracle unfolds in the wake of her dramatic rescue that leaves medical specialists mystified, her family restored and their community inspired.
Movie Review:
It’s easy to dismiss ‘Miracles from Heaven’ as yet another preachy faith-based film meant to tug at the heartstrings and make Christian believers go ‘Amen’, but such cynicism does the sincere and well-intentioned family drama no favours. Sure, the Christian faith features conspicuously throughout – from the sermons in church by the kindly Pastor Scott (John Carroll Lynch) to the frequent references to God by any one member of the Beam family at the heart of the story – but that alone doesn’t make this fact-based tale inspirational hokum; in fact, compared to other Christian movies that have come before it that we have seen, there is an incredible degree of nuance on display here, and it is to director Patricia Riggen and her screenwriter Randy Beams’ credit that their message of faith never once comes across too Churchy.
Based upon the memoir by Christy Beam, ‘Miracles’ tells the story of young Anna Beam (Kylie Rogers), the middle child of three daughters of Christy (Jennifer Garner) and Kevin (martin Henderson), who begins experiencing abdominal pain misdiagnosed as either lactose intolerance or acid reflux until it is finally found to be a rare, debilitating and potentially incurable intestinal disorder. Heartbroken, Christy labours tirelessly in search of a cure, and eventually decides to take Anna to Boston and drop in personally at the clinic of the country’s leading pediatric gastroenterologist Dr Nurko (Eugenio Derbez) despite not having an appointment in the first place. Anna’s affliction also precipitates a crisis of faith in Christy, as she questions why a supposedly merciful God would allow a child who has done no wrong to go through such a painful ordeal.
Rightly so, Riggen emphasises on the grief faced by the family during Anna’s illness and how individually as well as a collective unit each one of the Beam members grapple with the sheer hopelessness of the circumstances. Right from her opening voice-over narration, there is no doubt that Christy is the emotional centre of the film, and Garner makes her character’s anguish, desperation and despair as a parent very keenly felt, so much so that we dare to say even the most hardened soul will find it hard not to sympathise with her plight. It is probably one of the most compelling performances we’ve seen from Garner – down-to-earth, fully committed, real and tough – drawn surely from her own experience of motherhood.
Concomitantly, one also feels an indomitable sense of admiration and respect for Anna’s tenacity and inner resilience, who never gives up hope test after test, procedure after procedure, even reaching out to a fellow patient at the Boston Children’s Hospital to ease her fear of death. Rogers is truly impressive as Anna, never hitting a false note or resorting to cheap theatrics to convey her character’s pain and misery. It is perhaps inevitable that the other family members get less attention, but even so, Kevin’s struggle to be emotional bedrock to both Christy and Anna while supporting two other daughters and putting in longer hours for extra dough at the veterinarian clinic he runs does not go unnoticed.
That Anna will eventually recover is no secret, but her process is probably one of the most, if not the most, significant miracles that the title is referring to. Discharged after Dr Nurka concludes that there is nothing more he can do for her, Anna is playing on a tree in their front yard with her older sister when she falls headfirst three storeys into the dead trunk. It will be hours before firefighters manage to pull her out, but she emerges miraculously cured, which in scientific jargon is a spontaneous remission. Anna only relates this later on to her mother, but according to her, she had an out-of-body experience to Heaven and was told by God that it was not yet her time to pass from this world.
Were this fictional, such a twist would most certainly be deemed as deus-ex-machina, but as Christy forewarns us at the beginning, a miracle cannot quite be explained by science. Therein lies the paradox and the crux for believers and non-believers alike – do you accept without rational explanation that such an event did indeed occur? But faith is just like that; you either do or you don’t believe – or as Anna puts it in the movie, “not everyone is gonna believe. That’s alright. They’ll get there when they get there”. Just as respectfully, Riggen doesn’t force her audience to take it one way or another; rather, she lays it out as it is, leaving you to make up your own mind – and yes, in the most objective sense, that choice remains yours.
So even though there is a very specific point of view that its author takes, this adaptation doesn’t blindingly subscribe to the same without question. In fact, it recognises the inevitable response of scepticism, acknowledges the right not to believe, and puts forth that faith isn’t something that comes to everyone equally. What does, and that can be universally appreciated, is the unconditional love that a mother has for her child, expressed in the selfless ways that Christy goes out to look after Anna, as well as the little acts of goodness in the people we meet. Whether you’re Christian or not, those are the little miracles that we can and should be thankful for.
Movie Rating:
(Believer or not, this well-acted faith-based film is immensely touching as a family drama about love and sacrifice as well as a beautiful reminder to pay attention to the little miracles in our everyday lives)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: Sci-Fi/Action
Director: Gareth Edwards
Cast: Felicity Jones, Forest Whitaker, Ben Mendelsohn, Diego Luna, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Alistair Petrie, Jonathan Aris, Genevieve O'Reilly, Jiang Wen
Runtime: 2 hrs 14 mins
Rating: PG (Some Violence)
Released By: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Official Website: http://www.starwars.com
Opening Day: 15 December 2016
Synopsis: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, is the first film in the new standalone movies from Lucasfilm. It tells the story of how a group of unlikely heroes unite to undertake a daring and seemingly impossible mission to steal the plans for the Death Star.
Movie Review:
Star Wars remains one of the biggest if not the biggest (lucrative) cinematic franchise ever. And if you are one of those who cannot differentiate between any of the Star Wars movies except maybe pointing out “Hey! I know that Star Wars green creature whose name I forgotten”, the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story occur somewhere after Revenge of the Sith and before the beginning of A New Hope. (That famous green creature in the Star Wars universe happened to be Yoda.)
The latest entry to the famous space opera series has a plot that is thinner than the current state of Big Mac, to be brutally honest, and that’s coming out from a longtime Star Wars fan. To recap, (spoiler alert) at the end of A New Hope, Luke Skywalker actually flies a X-wing and blows up the Death Star via an exhaust vent. Decades later, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story basically address how Luke managed to accomplish that - and it begins .with a man called Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen from Casino Royale).
The gifted architect Galen unable to protect his wife and young daughter, Jyn, is forced to design and build the deadly Death Star for the evil empire led by none other than Darth Vader (James Earl Jones reprising his voice role) and the devilish Director of Advanced Weapons Research, Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn from Netflix’s Bloodline). Years passed and Jyn (Felicity Jones) has grown up to be a pretty but angry and petty criminal, until her calling to join the rebels and form a group of ragtag warriors to steal the blueprints of the Empire’s deadly secret weapon - the Death Star, which ironically is designed by his father.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is basically a stand-alone movie trapped in a 39 year old franchise. At one end it tries to break away from the epic saga; and on the other it keeps reminding audiences that it is still a Star Wars story. When it does break away, the results are mind-blowing. Aside from a rather tepid and confusing first act, the movie starts to generate excitement once the various crew are assembled for the mission - the dreamy rebel intelligence officer Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), cargo pilot Bodhi (Riz Ahmed), a blind zen-like monk Chirrut (Donnie Yen), an assassin Baze (Jiang Wen) and droid K-2SO (motion capture performance by Alan Tudyk).
With a brand new cast headlining the movie, Felicity Jones is the new Daisy Ridley - in other words, another badass female heroine to grace the galaxy. Of course, whether it’s Ip Man or the unpronounceable Chirrut Imwe, Donnie Yen particularly his swift kung fu moves shines with his limited screentime. The scenery chewing Ben Mendelsohn as this outing’s villain deserved more. The rest of the human characters unfortunately are less memorable not taking into account countless planet hopping and political talk to muddle the outing. Not exactly a major spoiler but Lord Darth Vader appears showcasing why he is the most feared leader of all time.
It’s an unspoken tradition that Star Wars needs a memorable droid be it R2D2 or BB8. Tudyk’s K-2SO is both deadly and funny, providing some ticklish one-liners in an otherwise serious movie. Surpassing the rest of the other Star Wars movies in terms of innovation, the creatures’ and production design on display is brilliant! That’s because there are plenty of location shooting and animatronic effects.
Disney has promised this outing will be much grittier and it simply means the body count is much higher than The Force Awakens. But this is apparently a good thing and the biggest accomplishment I must admit. The war sequences are staged with realism akin to old war movies when the troopers and rebel soldiers engaged in heavy artillery during the finale. We have seen battle on the icy planet Hoth in Empire Strikes Back, the harsh rocky planet Geonosis in Attack of the Clones and the volcanic Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith. Get ready for planet Scarif, a Maldives-like setting that is too beautiful to be destroyed by AT-ACT walkers and X-wings.
While director Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) was rumored to be removed at some point during production with reshoots and rewrites ongoing, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story actually benefitted from his contribution. J.J. Abrams was blamed for sticking to close to formula for A Force Awakens; however there are obvious parts where Rogue is close to venturing into the unknown until Disney executives tow it back to reality. Despite Disney playing it safe, Rogue One is no doubt a breath of fresh air to the franchise. The effects are flawless, there are eye-popping non-CGI creatures and the galactic fights are enthralling. The force is definitely strong as compared to Lucas’ prequels.
Movie Rating:
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(A Star Wars movie that nearly doesn’t feel like one and that’s for sure a good thing)
Review by Linus Tee
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Mike Flanagan
Cast: Thomas Jane, Kate Bosworth, Scottie Thompson, Annabeth Gish, Scottie Thompson, Dash Mihok, Jay Karnes, Kyla Deaver, Lance E. Nichols
Runtime: 1 hr 37 mins
Rating: PG13 (Horror)
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films
Official Website:
Opening Day: 5 May 2016
Synopsis: Jessie (Kate Bosworth) and Mark (Thomas Jane) decide to take in a sweet and loving 8-year-old boy, Cody. In one moment they experience the incredible wonder of Cody's imagination and the next, the horrific nature of his night terrors. In an attempt to save their new family, Jessie and Mark embark on a dangerous hunt to uncover the truth behind Cody's nightmares.
Movie Review:
It’s often common for us to wish and hope for our dreams to come true. But ‘Before I wake’ certainly takes that to a whole new meaning. What if your dreams, even your darkest dreams, come to reality?
This film centres a boy named Cody (Jacob Tremblay), an orphan boy who has troubles settling in with previous foster families. Finally, Jessie and Mark decided to take up the adoption and foster Cody. However they soon discover that Cody refuses to fall asleep. He is in fear of something. Many supernatural occurrences started to happen, with Mark and Cody’s classmate disappearing mysteriously. Jessie embarks on her investigation and slowly came to a revelation and learn what truly happens when Cody falls asleep.
‘Before I wake’ is unlike the usual horror films. To more accurately categorize this movie, it is more of a fantasy thriller, probably owing to director Mike Flanagan's unique take on horror films. In his early years, his films tend to be skewed towards being melodramatic. That undertone is still apparent in this movie, manifesting in a postive way. The movie is one that is coherent and has focus. The story development was well done and balanced, giving enough background and narrative.
If one is judging this movie based on the merits of a typical horror film, like the scare tactics, the soundtrack, the suspense and the 'ghost', then 'Before I wake' probably will not make it to the mark. However, the plot of the movie is commendable, one which unfolds gracefully with a slight plot twist. What works to its benefit was also Jacob Tremblay's right on point acting - as expected of an award-winning child actor (for his performance in Room).
All in all, 'Before I wake' is a supernatural fantasy thriller all-in-one. Although it does not ace as a horror film and has its shortfalls, you will enjoy if you watch it with an open mind. Let your imagination take over!
Movie Rating:
(Makes you think twice before hoping for your dreams to come true)
Review by Tho Shu Ling
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