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Advance Ticket Sales for GLEE THE 3D CONCERT MOVIE starts Friday, August 12Posted on 11 Aug 2011 |
Genre: Comedy
Director: Wong Jing
Cast: Cecilia Cheung, Ronald Cheng, Wong Jing, Lin Miao Ke, Shao Bing, Liu Hua, Ekin Cheng, Lucas Tse, Philip Ng
RunTime: 1 hr 38 mins
Released By: Shaw
Rating: PG (Some Fighting Scenes)
Official Website:
Opening Day: 25 August 2011
Synopsis: Peggy (Cecilia Cheung), the renowned charming director in the advertising industry, was married with a 3 years old son Lucas (Lucas Tse). She was persuaded by her boss to shoot an advertisement on a deserted island with the so-called “The Strongest Man in the Galaxy” kung fu master Mr. Big (Ronald Cheng), a notorious womanizer and his daughter Cissy (Lin Miao Ke). Andy (Ekin Cheng), Peggy’s husband, failed to dissuade his wife to back out of the job, left home in a temper with Lucas. Peggy had no choice but to depart for the island.
At the pier where the filming crew took a boat to the island, Mr. Big had a row with Cobra (Liu Hua) and his 4 fellow ruffians over a new fishing boat. Cobra's gang got a treasure map and planned to search for a huge treasure hidden on the island. To avoid further publicity, Cobra backed off, but planned to get rid of the filming crew on the island.
On the deserted island, all mobile phones were dead, cutting off all contacts with the outside world. Cobra’s fishing boat was anchored on the other side of the island, where they kept an eye on the filming crew. However, they did not realize that there were two environmentalists, Star (Shao Bing) and his child Starlet (Peng Gen) residing on the island, leading an eco-friendly “primitive” life like Tarzan. The mischievous Starlet walked off with Cobra’s map. Cobra was furious & went after them. While filming the advertisement, Mr. Big, playing Tarzan, collided with Star and fell into a coma. Mr. Big, who had led an unhealthy life, was no longer the outstanding kung fu master he once was. Star, as an expert in Chinese herbal medicines, helped Mr. Big to cleanse all the toxin in his body.
When Mr. Big came to his senses, he felt as if he was a “New” man. When the shooting was finished, the whole crew had a celebration party on the island. Cobra came to retrieve the treasure map but was beaten back by Star’s booby traps. Meanwhile, his men kidnapped Mr. Big’s agent, Wayne (Wong Jing), Cissy and Starlet. With the treasure map stolen by Starlet, Mr. Big, Star and Peggy ventured into the jungle and found the huge stash of treasure at “Heaven beyond the Sky”, where many deadly traps were laid. At this time, Cobra and his men arrived, with the intent to plunder the national treasure...
Movie Review:
Wong Jing must somehow be prescient to the fact that Hollywood’s celebrity husband-and-wife couple Nicholas Tse and Cecilia Cheung were going to split up, hence his decision to cast them in two separate films this summer- ‘Treasure Inn’ for the former; and ‘Treasure Hunt’ for the latter. While the similarity in their titles may suggest some sort of connection between the two, there is in fact none- although it seems Cecilia has gotten the short end of the stick, judging by their relative qualities.
Indeed, Wong Jing’s films have always been hit-or-miss affairs, but his latest is quite simply a miss. Boasting every one of his flaws as a scriptwriter and a director but none of his strengths, it is an unfunny excuse of a film masquerading as family entertainment, shocking in its audacity to proclaim itself as ‘the best family film this summer’ on its ads. It could very well be the exact opposite, so take that as fair warning for anyone who thinks that there could be some wholesome fun to be had.
The plot if you have to know revolves around some ancient treasure lost on a deserted island, which a group of baddies led by Cobra (Mainland star Liu Hua) are after. Unfortunately for them, their quest leads them to cross paths with Peggy (Cecilia Cheung), who is on the island with gongfu star Mr Big (Ronald Cheng), his manager Wayne (Wong Jing) and their kids to film a milk powder commercial (talk about blatant product placement!). Complications ensue- well, to be sure, the simplistic plot means that there aren’t really that many complications- and after countless times of wondering when it would end, it finally does happily-ever-after in 98 mins.
That’s more than one half hours of your time you’ll never get back- and for that, you can blame the infamously prolific writer/director Wong Jing. The multi-hyphenate Jing sadly fails in every aspect here, whether as actor, scriptwriter or director. As the director, he doesn’t provide the film with any polish, haphazardly going from scene to scene without paying attention to their intended rhythm or purpose. Of course, if you’re familiar with Jing’s films, then you shouldn’t know to expect better.
But what’s truly disappointing is how Jing even fails at his usual trademark screwball humour. Besides a moment right at the start when a character enters a cave and starts searching for lost treasure when in fact its location is clearly indicated with an arrow, the rest of the movie is totally devoid of the kind of humour we have come to expect from Jing. And without those ‘mo lei tau’ moments to enliven the movie, this just becomes a tired exercise in Jing’s customary unoriginality.
Jing’s sloppiness seems to have been quite infectious on set, going by the performances on display. This is Cecilia’s second big-screen appearance after her hiatus following her marriage five years ago, but if this and ‘All’s Well Ends Well 2011’ is all she can offer, then she might as well retire. Her co-star Ronald fares no better, his over-acting hammy and downright childish. Only Mainland star Shao Bing manages to preserve a measure of dignity in the film, playing the island’s sole dweller together with his son (Peng Gen).
We haven’t forgotten too how this movie is supposed to be Nicholas and Cecilia’s eldest son, the four-year-old Lucas Tse’s big screen debut- but let us tell you that if that’s what you’re here for, you’ll be sorely disappointed. After all, Lucas only appears at the start and the end of the movie- ditto for Ekin Cheng. Yes, even the supposed highlight turns out to be a downer, which leaves little, if anything, worth redeeming about this sorry effort.
Take our advice, Nicholas and Cecilia- you guys may have split up, but if there’s one thing you should stand in solidarity about, it’s to pick your projects more carefully, especially if they come with the name Wong Jing in them. Cos right now, despite the umpteen years of experience behind him, Wong Jing really doesn’t count for much in a film anymore.
Movie Rating:
(A movie that is as bad as a Wong Jing film can get- and that means lazy scriptwriting, sloppy direction and piss-poor performances)
Review by Gabriel Chong
Genre: Drama
Director: Manuel Gómez Pereira
Cast: Alvaro Cervantes, Clara Lago, Adriana Ugarte, Abel Folk, Victòria Pagès, Víctor Valdivia, Mary Murray
RunTime: 1 hr 48 mins
Released By: Shaw
Rating: R21 (Sexual Scenes)
Official Website:
Opening Day: 8 September 2011
Synopsis: Gerona 1989. Sandra (15) and David (16) have been best friends since childhood. For DAVID, SANDRA represents love and she is his best adventures partner. By the time they get to adolescence, it’s only logical that their friendship should become something deeper. But something unexpected happens to them both, separately, and changes the course of their lives. She is forced to become a survivor, and he, incapable of betraying his friend, becomes the holder of a secret. Together, they forge a relationship of complicity, something which they don’t need to couch in words. They love each other, with childlike innocence and cruelty, though with bodies that foreshadow the advent of adulthood. Everything is more or less fine until Sandra is driven by curiosity to attempt to cross the threshold of that secret, to find out, to get to know the only thing her friend never told her.
Movie Review:
There must be a reason why the local distributor decided to bring this Spanish production here three years after it was made. Is there artistic merit for this 2008 film (most non Hollywood mainstream movies which make it to our shores have those artistic vibes) directed by Manuel Gomez Pereira? Has the film gotten international acclaim and received accolades from festivals around the world? Or is there a certain, ahem, demographic that the distributor aims to attract, considering how the female lead is looking at you alluring on the poster?
Of course, the leads on the poster also suggest that this is a film that features lots of, well - how do we put it in the most polite manner - passion.
We first meet the protagonists when they are kids. In a rather unique setup, the boy risks his life to save the girl, leaving quite an impression. The two grow up, with the boy struggling with his studies in school (no thanks to a repressive father) and the girl becoming a loner. The two grow even closer after the girl gets raped. Somewhere in the mix, a crime of passion is committed, someone gets killed and what follows is a complex relationship that leads to tragedy.
The film starts off with an interesting premise, and viewers would have no problem empathizing the characters’ motivations and actions. Things get even more compelling when we see the female protagonist abused and her childhood best friend comes forward heroically to avenge her. Set against the Spain’s fervent backdrop, there is an unabashed idealism which will appeal to the romantics in the art house crowd.
Then comes the portion of the film which attempts to show how love becomes obsession. The guy becomes compulsive and almost irrational as the girl finds it increasingly claustrophobic to be with him. This section of the 108 minute film feels overlong as we see the couple engage in quarrels and fights. Yes, this is also the part of the film where viewers will be treated to lots of skin.
Although director Gomez Pereira (known back home for his comedies rather the thrillers like this) does a fine job at depicting the intensity between the couple, the final act of the film which involves the girl moving on to Dublin isn’t managed well. As the film ends predictably, viewers may feel unsatisfied at the somewhat shoddy finale which is supposed to heighten your emotional senses.
Despite the slight letdown in pacing, leads Clara Lago (For the Good of Others) and Alvaro Cervantes (Hanna) are charming enough to keep you rooted to your seats throughout the film. Though not spectacular in their delivery of the central characters, the actors are likeable and pass the eye candy test. Elsewhere, stronger performances come from Adriana Ugarte (TV’s Hospital Central) who play the girl’s best friend and Mary Murray (The Magdalene Sisters) who play the girl’s English teacher mentor.
Shot in picturesque Spanish cities of Barcelona and Girona, as Ireland’s Dublin, the film captures the sights and sounds of these foreign lands, so that we can have a sense of what it’s like to experience love and passion in a place other than Singapore.
Movie Rating:
(An adequate tale of love and passion which could have been managed better in its final act)
Review by John Li
Genre: War/Drama
Director: Kang Je-gyu
Cast: Jang Dong-gun, Joe Odagiri, Fan Bingbing, Kim In-kwon, Kim Hee-won, Oh Tae-kyeong
RunTime: 2 hrs 23 mins
Rating: NC-16 (War Violence)
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films
Official Website:
Opening Day: 14 June 2012
Synopsis: It wasn’t life they wouldn’t give up, but hope. Kyungsung, 1938: Jun-shik (JANG Dong-gun) is a young Korean man who dreams of becoming the next SOHN Kee-chung, the Korean gold medallist marathoner. Tatsuo (ODAGIRI Joe) is Japan’s top marathoner. Having a strong sense of competition with each other since childhood, Jun-shik and Tatsuo grow up to be the greatest of national rivals, representing their native Korea and Japan. A year after an unexpected incident sees Jun-shik impressed into Japanese service, destiny reunites him with Tatsuo, now a colonel in the Japanese army. Thrown into the maelstrom of WWII, the two young men traverse the battle fields of China, the Soviet Union, and Germany, finally arriving in Normandy, France. They survive endless battles and 12,000km, slowly transforming into each other’s greatest hope… A Korean man and Japanese man meet as enemies, but become each other’s hope. And a drama of true humanity that transcends borders and nationality unfolds.
Movie Review:
War movies will always have a special place in this reviewer’s (or for that matter, any other male reader who has done his National Service) heart. Seeing how soldiers rough it out on the battlefield in their gungho uniform on the big screen, it brings back memories of how National Service made boys men. Meanwhile, cynics will tell you how the reel world portrays wars. You know, the usual themes are explored: patriotism, sacrifice, brotherhood, loyalty, betrayal and other similar subject matters that you may expect from a war movie.
So it is with this perception in mind that this columnist reviews this mega production directed by Kang Je gyu. As a commercial movie meant to make big bucks at the box office, we are not expecting an art house production filled with nuances and thought provoking symbolisms. What we expect from a movie like this are loud explosions, fighter planes, artillery tanks, war cries, tears, blood – yes, lots of blood.
Inspired by true life events, the story follows a Japanese and a Korean who first meet at a marathon race. The two rivals meet again at war (as fate has it, of course). Both are forced to enlist in the army. The Japanese becomes the head of defense in the Korean’s unit and tension rises. As fate would have it (again), both men are captured by the Soviets. They run away but soon are captured by Germans and forced embark on separate ways. As the 140 minute movie comes to a close, they meet again at the shores of Normandy.
Heartthrobs Jang Dong gun and Joe Odagiri play the two protagonists in this emotionally manipulative movie about how two men, who initially were rivals, eventually became friends. Expect zero subtlety in this multinational collaboration which brings together production teams from Korea, Japan, China, Russia and Germany. Besides the deafening explosions (it’s a war movie, remember?) that occur during the countless battle sequences, expect overly exaggerated acting, an overbearing music score and lots of carefully choreographed scenes which cost a bomb to produce.
This is not a bad thing though, because a movie of this genre is one that requires its audiences’ senses to be blasted. It is, in fact, an engaging and entertaining movie to sit through. We are not talking about Terrence Malick’s philosophical take on the war The Thin Red Line (1998) here. What we have instead is an in your face display of emotions which actually work, considering you’d end up feeling for the two men’s eventual fate.
One can also expect very high production values from Kang’s latest work. The director was on a seven year hiatus before helming this high budget blockbuster. The 28 million won movie took 10 months to film, and the story is based on a documentary he had watched. While we are sure that there are hundreds (and possibly thousands) of such tales of camaraderie during wars, it takes an engrossing movie like this for viewers (especially the younger generation in Singapore who never had the opportunity to experience a real war) to get a glimpse of the turmoil and emotions experienced in the worst of times.
Movie Rating:
(A brazenly manipulative (and we mean it in a good way) war movie that does its job of heightening the viewers’ emotions)
Review by John Li
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Director: Hitoshi Ohne
Cast: Mirai Moriyama, Masami Nagasawa, Kumiko Asô, Riisa Naka
Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins
Rating: PG13
Released By: Encore Films & Filmgarde
Official Website: http://www.encorefilms.com/lovestrikes
Opening Day: 15 March 2012
Synopsis: “Moteki” is...a period in one’s life when a person is most attractive to the opposite sex. Fujimoto, 31, has no money, no aspirations and no girlfriend. Leaving his temp job, he decides to finally get a life and lands a job as a writer for an Internet news site. But love eludes him. At the height of his loneliness and social isolation, out of nowhere springs his season of irresistibility – the arrival of “moteki”. Miyuki, a fun and gregarious magazine editor, who shares a lot of Yukiyo’s interests but has a boyfriend. Rumiko, Miyuki’s close friend, a pretty but obsessive office worker. Ai, a gaudy young bar hostess. Motoko, Yukiyo’s senior colleague, a cool beauty with an acid tongue. Between these four very different women, Yukiyo gets pushed and pulled in all directions. But will Yukiyo reach the elusive promised land of true love?
Movie Review:
Love Strikes! (or commonly known as Moteki!) is a manga turned 12 episode long drama turned movie. After about a year long after the run of the drama, director Hitoshi Ohne brings back love-deprived Yukiyo attempts to break away from his ‘second virgin’ identity.
At first glance, the movie seems to be a lame comedy that mocks at the life of a loser, aka Yukiyo (played by Mirai Moriyama). However, it is more than meets the eye! The movie started off with a very succinct introduction of our main character, Yukiyo. It wasted no air time by cluttering us with unnecessary details. Instead, it has successfully set the tone of the movie: sarcastic yet light hearted. Unexpectedly, the movie is embedded with lots of subtle criticisms of a modern city dweller’s behaviour and raises a few thought-provoking issues as well.
One of these was brought up rather extensively and was pivotal to the story, which is the discussion on online identity. Yukiyo met Miyuki (played by Masami Nagasawa) through an online social network, Twitter. As you could already tell from the trailer, Yukiyo is a very social inept person, incapable to interact with people in real life. However, he was able to open up to a stranger, and constructed an alternate identity on the internet. Does this story sound familiar? This is a pretty keen observation and accurate pick up of the trend in modern society nowadays. When people get so suffocated with their real life, they do create an alternate identity to eventually seek comfort and belonging from the (initially) unacquainted.
It also continues to explore the complicated web of relationships that exist in modern society. As much as people want to believe more in the good of humankind and altruistic behaviours, many of these relationships are more often than not relationships based on exchange. If you can provide me this, I will give you that in exchange. This pattern of relationship appears to be pretty prominent in the movie.
One of the greatest successes of this film is that there is not a single dull moment. It kept the audience entertained and engaged through the songs, and generally the development of the plot. Recently there has been some hype about ‘less is more’. But that is definitely the anti-thesis of the movie. The movie is jam-packed with content and comedic elements, songs and lyrics, which simply display the director cum scriptwriter’s flair and outstanding content management. All these elements are easy to follow, and put together with very good coordination. They flow together so seamlessly with the songs that it is very enjoyable and delectable.
Cast wise, it is also a pretty pleasant ensemble. Yukiyo and his primary romantic interest, Miyuki, may not be your typical and ideal onscreen couple, but the chemistry and mood between them was at times awkward, but generally good. This is not their first collaboration together, but in fact they had worked together in the “Crying out from the centre of the earth”, a melodramatic movie released in 2005, which received quite a couple of recognitions. Also to mention, this both Mirai Moriyama and Masami Nagasawa received award for their roles in Love Strikes!. The supporting actresses are also to watch for, although Naka Risa (as Ai) seemed more like a calefare (aka bit-role actress).
All in all, Moteki! has achieved a great balance overall. It is highly entertaining, with a good mix of the so-called cheap humour and as well as the subtle ridicule on ourselves. It is definitely a highly entertaining movie from the land of the rising sun which provides an escape from the typical stifling Singaporean lifestyle. Oh and sorry to disappoint some potential viewers, as much as it is marketed as a ‘sex comedy’, there really isn’t any ‘real action’…
Movie Rating:
(Have you had your MOTEKI yet? If Yukiyo had it, so can you!)
Review by Tho Shu Ling
SYNOPSIS: Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy lead an all-star cast in Tower Heist, a New York comedy caper about ordinary working guys who seek revenge on the Wall Street swindler who stole all their money. After the workers at a luxury Central Park condominium discover the penthouse billionaire has stolen their retirement fund, they plot the ultimate revenge: an insane heist to reclaim what he took from them.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Just because he directed the last instalment of the “X-Men” franchise which many deemed to be subpar, Brett Ratner from then on has been receiving a lot of flak for all his attached movie projects. After an absence of five years, Ratner is back with another feature length movie, “Tower Heist”.
While Ratner is definitely not in the league of extraordinary filmmaker, at least he is capable of delivering crowd-pleasing popcorn stuff. Combining his usual trademark of goofy humour and unbelievable action bits (just watch his “Rush Hour” series to prove my point), “Tower Heist” is a light-hearted caper comedy that succeeds mainly of his ensemble cast. And in the midst of the Lehman Brothers and Bernard Madoff investment scandal, this movie probably comes at the right time as well.
Ben Stiller plays Josh Kovacs, a hardworking, committed building manager of a high-rise luxury residential building in Manhattan. Kovacs entrusted one of the tenants, Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda) to invest his staff’s pension hoping to triple their portfolio but it turns out that Shaw is wanted by the FBI for investment fraud and their hard-earned money is at risk. Enlisting the help from a small-time crook, Slide (Eddie Murphy), his brother-in-law Charlie (Casey Affleck), a bankrupt investor Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick), a lift technician Enrique (Michael Pena) and a chambermaid, Odessa (Gabourey Sidibe), Kovacs decides to take back the money Shaw took from them even if it means breaking into a guarded premise with armed FBI agents at the door.
There isn’t anything smart about Kovacs’ plot and nothing too complicated but it fits the bill. This group of blue-collar workers are amateurish unlike the merrymen of “Ocean’s Eleven” and the latest draft of the scripting by Ted Griffin (Ocean’s Eleven) and Jeff Nathanson (Catch Me If You Can) does a serviceable job blending in the mayhem and humour though it gets a bit clunky and stalled for minutes after the heist begins.
After years of dabbling in boring family comedies, Eddie Murphy seems to be back in high form channeling his Axel Foley mode and pairing up for the first time with Ben Stiller, the duo is a breath of fresh air. Stealing the show however is Casey Affleck with his outrageously funny jabs at Josh, the actor who is also an alumnus of the Ocean’s Eleven clubhouse. Precious’ breakout star, Gabourey Sidibe is an absolute blast opposite Murphy in a suggestive scene that will leave you cracking.
“Tower Heist” functions as a serviceable comedy caper, offering anything from laughs to a huge payoff, a harmless colourful one involving the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. You can’t deny the fact that Ratner once again delivers yet another unpretentious, fun action comedy this time without Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker or any X-Men lurking around.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Two Alternate Endings provide a look at Ben Still’s character 15 months later. It’s quite puzzling Ratner didn’t leave any of them in the final reel.
6 minutes. 9 Deleted/Alternate Scenes. Some totally unnecessary and some pretty entertaining.
4 minutes of Gag Reel consisting mostly of the cast’ ad-libbing.
Director Brett Ratner leads the way offering a digestible, fun Commentary Track which has a lot of production anecdotes liked there are in fact over 500 visual shots and why it took years developing the script. He is joined occasionally by his Editor Mark Helfrich and Co-Writers Ted Griffin and Jeff Nathanson.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The visual transfer on this DVD is brimming with details and natural colours while the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack offers detailed ambient sound effects and crystal clear dialogue transfer.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Brad Bird
Cast: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Ving Rhames, Josh Holloway, Simon Pegg, Michael Nyqvist, Anil Kapoor, Lea Seydoux, Tom Wilkinson, Vladimir Mashkov, Samuli Edelmann
RunTime: 2 hrs 13 mins
Released By: UIP
Rating: PG13 (Violence)
Official Website: http://www.missionimpossible.com/
Opening Day: 15 December 2011
Synopsis: This holiday season, two-time Academy Award®-winner Brad Bird directs, with producers Tom Cruise and J.J. Abrams, the action-packed spy adventure MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL.Blamed for the terrorist bombing of the Kremlin, IMF operative Ethan Hunt is disavowed along with the rest of the agency when the President initiates “Ghost Protocol”. Left without any resources or backup, Ethan must find a way to clear his agency’s name and prevent another attack. To complicate matters further, Ethan is forced to embark on this mission with a team of fellow IMF fugitives whose personal motives he does not fully know.Tom Cruise returns in the starring role as Ethan Hunt and is joined by an international cast that includes Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Michael Nyqvist, Vladimir Mashkov, Josh Holloway, Anil Kapoor and Léa Seydoux.
Movie Review:
Summer is usually the time for big loud action-packed blockbusters like this, but let us tell you right at the start that none of the bombast we’ve seen this summer compares to what lies in store for you in the fourth big-screen adaptation of the 1970s television series. This is hands-down the best action film this year, boasting some of the most exhilarating action ever captured in a long while- including one truly nail-biting sequence filmed against the tallest building in the world. It also restores Tom Cruise’s marquee value as an action star, and we dare attest that any naysayer to Cruise’s ability to resurrect the franchise he almost drowned will be silenced once they see what he does on screen.
Indeed, the last ‘Mission: Impossible” from ‘Alias’ and ‘Lost’ creator J.J. Abrams was then easily the best of the series- though all that positive word about it couldn’t quite triumph the bad press surrounding its star and producer Cruise’s erratic behaviour (yes, we’re talking about that infamous sofa-jumping publicity stunt he pulled on Oprah). So ‘MI3’ ended up hitting a nadir for the franchise at the box-office, and Cruise’s star wattage has never since fully rebounded. Trying to restore its lustre wasn’t a mission impossible, but it was going to be an uphill task as well- if not only for the fact that it had to better J.J. Abrams’ solid work.
That gamble has however paid off with an unlikely bet- choosing animation hero Brad Bird from ‘The Iron Giant’ and ‘Ratatouille’ to make his first live-action film. Bird is also of course the director of Pixar’s ‘The Incredibles’ and there is certainly the same pulsating energy running through every frame of ‘MI4’. From the very beginning, Bird places his definitive stamp on the series with a classy opening that sees IMF operative Ethan Hunt breaking out of a Russian prison. That sequence, which combines Dean Martin’s ‘Ain’t That A Kick in the Head’ with Steve McQueen’s ‘The Great Escape’, is carefully executed and fluidly filmed- and both are signature attributes of Bird’s style throughout the movie.
No ‘Mission Impossible’ film would be complete without the exotic locales, fancy gadgets and big explosions- but there is a certain finesse by which Bird assembles all these elements together into one package. So even as the setting moves from Russia to Dubai to Mumbai, even as the gadgets grow increasingly fanciful (one especially nifty device is a retina-based mirror-like screen) and even as the explosions get more colossal (how about blowing up the Kremlin?), Bird never lets the adventure get frenetic, alternating confidently between quiet tension and full-blown action to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Riveted is what you’ll be as Hunt and his team infiltrates the Kremlin to steal some classified intel about the Russian extremist Kurt Hendricks (Swedish actor Michael Nyqvist from ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’), then hoodwinks two sets of bad guys just one floor apart atop the Burj Khalifa, and then races against time literally in the crowded streets of Mumbai to stop Hendricks from precipitating an all-out nuclear war between the United States and Russia. Each elaborate setpiece is in itself a spectacle, and watching them unfold one after another quite simply takes your breath away.
But the most awe-inspiring- and worthy of singular mention- setpiece is Cruise’s vertiginous climb up the glass exterior of the Burj Khalifa using suction gloves. It is Cruise himself way up on the 130th floor, and the authenticity of it shows in every second of Robert Elswit’s breathtaking cinematography that is enough reason alone to catch this in IMAX. It is even more heart-stopping than you can imagine, not least when Cruise is left dangling with just one glove after the other malfunctions. Nothing else quite comes close to the sheer dizzying excitement of this sequence- not even the intensely gripping race-against-time climax with a good-old fistfight between Hunt and Hendricks in an automated parking garage.
Yes, Cruise isn’t one to rest on his laurels, and at the age of 49, the extent to which he commits to perform the stunts in this movie by himself is simply amazing. When he is not attempting some death-defying move in the air or for that matter on the ground, Cruise uses his immense charisma to deliver a slickly captivating performance as the leader of the disavowed IMF. He also enjoys great chemistry with his supporting players- the tech whiz Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), the tough sexy female player Jane Carter (Paula Patton) and last but not least the enigmatic analyst William Brandt (Jeremy Renner). The banter between Cruise and Pegg is particularly enjoyable, the source of most of the movie’s comic relief.
Their wisecracks may at first seem at odds with the gravity of the situation at stake, but ultimately these lighter moments provide a light zesty touch that ensures the movie doesn’t sink into its own self-seriousness. Besides these instants of levity, the script by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec works hard to spin an intriguing espionage plot amidst the action set-pieces that harks back to the Cold War- though admittedly their most glaring failure is in creating a more compelling villain than simply another madman bent on world destruction. They fare much better drawing links between this instalment and J.J. Abrams’ last, especially in explaining Hunt’s absence from duty as well as Brandt’s mysterious past.
Still, story isn’t its strong suite, and Bird knows that well enough to keep most of his cards close and revealing just enough clues to keep his audience hooked. But the ‘Mission Impossible’ films were always going to be about delivering thrilling blockbuster entertainment, and it is in this regard that Bird truly shines. To say that the action on display is exhilarating is merely an understatement, and let us reassure you that the extra bucks you will shell for an IMAX ticket is worth every additional cent. It is quite simply the best ‘Mission Impossible’ entry yet, and the best action film you’ll ever see this year.
Movie Rating:
(The best ‘Mission Impossible’ yet is also our pick for the best action film of the year)
Review by Gabriel Chong
SYNOPSIS: It is happening across America - rural landowners wake up one day to find a lucrative offer from an energy company wanting to lease their property. The company hopes to tap into a reservoir dubbed the "Saudi Arabia of natural gas", developing a hydraulic drilling process called "fracking" and suddenly America finds itself on the precipice of becoming an energy superpower. Gasland documents Josh Fox's cross-country odyssey; unearthing a shocking story about a practice that is understudied and inadequately regulated and races to find an answer about the controversial process before it's far too late.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Documentaries, especially Oscar nominated ones, have a way of making viewers feel emotional about a cause. Look at An Inconvenient Truth (2006) – has it ever occurred to you how we have been mistreating our home for the longest time? Then there is The Cove (2009) – a certain renowned resort is facing one of its biggest PR nightmare, no thanks to the number of people who have caught how dolphins can be mistreated. We also have The Inside Job (2010) – bet you didn’t know how banks and multi national corporations could bring down the economy so easily, did you?
Here, we have filmmaker Josh Fox, who sheds light on how communities in the United States are impacted by natural gas drilling and a stimulation method known as hydraulic fracturing. The result? A very alarming truth which involves contaminated water which is not only undrinkable, but also flammable. Yes, you can actually light your tap water on fire.
The 106 minute production sees Fox traveling to various states to talk to dozens of property owners and environmental experts on the under reported threat and the dangers of natural gas. You see, the masses may think that natural gas is a good thing over fossil fuels, but it is nothing more than an attempt by energy firms to include this alternative source of petroleum on their corporate portfolio.
At least that is what the documentary had us thinking. We may not live in the United States, but there is no doubt your emotions will run high from the interviewees’ testimonials. The sight of the affected property owners putting their lighters near their tap water, only to have it bursting in flames, is simply shocking. Also, watch out for one property owner who has been keeping a dead bird and rabbit (presumably from the pollution) in her fridge so that autopsy can be carried out on these poor animals one day.
Fox knows better than to sensationalise the issue by indulging his viewers with such sights. He goes on to reach out to scientists, politicians and industry executives to get their views on this worrying trend. He even ends up in the halls of Congress as a subcommittee member to discuss how the Safe Drinking Act should be amended.
If you are worried that this is all too serious and heavy handed, do not fret. The Oscar nominated documentary never forgets to inject the occasional humour. There is one sequence which has Fox playing a banjo in front of a gas drilling site. This hilarious image, of course, made it to the cover art of this must watch
SPECIAL FEATURES:
NIL
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The visual transfer of the movie is fine, and is presented in a Dolby Digital 2.0 English soundtrack..
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by John Li
SYNOPSIS: Master diver Frank McGuire leads a team - including his 17-year-old son - to explore the largest, most beautiful and least accessible cave system on Earth. But, when a tropical storm cuts off their only escape route, the team must work together to find their way through an uncharted and dangerous underwater labyrinth to make it out alive. With time running out, can they survive, or will they be trapped forever?
MOVIE REVIEW:
You know the producers are up to something when certain words jump out at you on the cover of the
This reviewer thinks otherwise though, simply because the 108 minute movie reminds him of good old adventure movies where it boils down to man versus nature. And he also remembers worrying about the fate of every character, fully knowing that most of them would come to a tragic end.
The ingredients in disaster movies like this are standard: A group of people are trapped in a cave, and together they must find an exit route through the unexplored depths to find a path to survival. Along the way, the ugly side of human nature surfaces and nature shows its scarily powerful side to eliminate the characters one by one.
If you are a seasoned movie watcher, you’d be able to figure out who will be gone next. About halfway through the movie, you’d be able to predict which character will be the sole survivor. It doesn’t help that the movie uses a flashback approach to tell its story, which cynical viewers will scorn at. The cast of the movie are not you’re A listers either – Richard Roxbourgh, Ioan Gruffudd (yes, he’s the guy with the long arms from Fantastic 4), Rhys Wakefield and Alice Parkinson may deliver decent performances, but without a stellar big name in the ensemble (remember how Samuel L Jackson was gloriously sacrificed in Deep Blue Sea?), the movie lacks a selling point.
But look beyond all that and what’s offered to adventure movie lovers is still an exciting drama with suspenseful sequences and dangerous looking stunts. For one, this reviewer was thrilled with the escape voyage which showcases various gripping scenes. Shot with the 3D technology developed by Cameron for Avatar, one can only imagine how beautifully shot and impressively magnificent will look if you don those 3D glasses (no, this
Director Alister Grierson may have not scored with the majority of the critics with his big budget feature film, but do give it a chance, and you may be left impressed with the riveting action sequences it has to offer. Hopefully, it will also set you thinking about how you’d deal with such a situation if Mother Nature becomes a threat.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
NIL
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The visual transfer of the movie is acceptable, but the movie would have definitely looked better if it was in 3D
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by John Li
SYNOPSIS: Feel the rhythm...hear the beat... and let your spirit soar! From the makes of ICE AGE comes a high-flying animated comedy for the whole family. Blu is an exotic pet bird who believes he's the last of his kind. But when his owner learns about Jewel, Blu's female counterpart in Rio de Janeiro, they set out on the adventure of a lifetime. Even though he's never learned to fly, Blu befriends a group of wise-cracking city birds who help him find the courage to spread his wings and follow his destiny!
MOVIE REVIEW:
Despite being very much below the radar, Blue Sky Studio has been constantly churning out hits after hits albeit on a slower pace than her competitors. After a year of absence on the Hollywood scene, Blue Sky is back with “Rio”.
Harnessing a voiceover cast that includes Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Anna Hathaway (Love And Other Drugs), Leslie Mann (Funny People), comedians such as George Lopez and Tracy Morgan, music artiste will.i.am and Jamie Foxx (Collateral), “Rio” tells the adventures of a macaw Blu (Eisenberg) which is being adopted by a human, Linda (Mann) since young. When a naturalist turns up to persuade Linda to bring Blu to Brazil to mate with a lone surviving female of his kind, Jewel (Hathaway), Blu suddenly finds himself in dangerous territory when a group of ‘birdnappers’ appear, learns how to finally fly and also befriend a bunch of streetwise city birds.
If you are going for an animation that has a ‘deeper’ meaning then unfortunately speaking, “Rio” won’t be your cup of tea. The story by Brazilian-born director Carlos Saldanha and his team of scriptwriters offer nothing new other than a furry version of another ‘fish-out-of-water’ adventure in the likes of DreamWorks’ “Madagascar” series. Replace the lion and hippo with colourful exotic birds and there you have it. But yet Saldanha’s tremendous eye for detail and comic sense upped the ante. That’s why “Rio” manages to keep the pacing going and the amazing relationship Blu has with his human companion, Linda is detailed and pretty touching. Blu constant ribbing with his prospective wife-to-be Jewel is another factor that makes the movie works.
Saldanha who also works on the hugely successful “Ice Age” series filled the dazzling story with other memorable characters, one which includes an evil theatrics cockatoo, Nigel (Jemaine Clement) and not forgetting the cheeky singing duo, Nico (Jamie Foxx) and Pedro (will.i.am) who crank out the atmosphere a notch or two and a bunch of outrageous monkeys out to create havoc and mayhem on the busy streets of Brazil.
The main voice actors liked Jesse Eisenberg is perfect as the neurotic Blu while Anna Hathaway is equally engaging as the gutsy Jewel. Yet it’s the rich computer imaginary that will probably charm the socks off everyone. All thanks perhaps to Brazil native, Saldanha whom with the help of his talented team of visual artistes have created a wonderful landscape that will make the tourism board of Rio de Janeiro proud. The opening montage for one which showcases dancing birds of flight in the jungle of Rio will impress you even before the movie begins and all the samba-inspired fast numbers is stunning and infectious.
In today’s cinematic releases where CG animations have revolved into a common genre, “Rio” stood out for its heartfelt message, exhilarating moments and a never-before-seen CG setting in South America. This is one title that will please the entire family.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
A single Deleted Scene complete with voiceover and storyboard is included here. Other fluffy extras include Taio Cruz "Telling the World" Music Video and a chuck of Angry Birds Rio’s related promos stuff including Trailer, Nigel Mashup and Exclusive Clue Video.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
An incredible palette of sharp and beautiful colours filled this video presentation, definitely one of the best-looking titles out on DVD. The ambient chirpy effects, Carnaval music and dialogue are perfectly replicated on the disc making this an obvious choice to your video library.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
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