Genre: Drama/Thriller
Director: Toya Sato
Cast: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Yûsuke Iseya, Yuriko Yoshitaka, Katsuhisa Namase, Teruyuki Kagawa, Hayato Kakizawa, Suzuki Matsuo, Ken Mitsuishi, Kyusaku Shimada
RunTime: 2 hrs 17 mins
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films & Encore Films
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.kaiji-movie.jp/
Opening Day: 17 November 2011
Synopsis: The much-anticipated sequel to the hit movie, KAIJI, is about to hit theaters. KAIJI 2 is a feature film adaptation of arguably the most popular episode “The Greed Swamp” from the original comic book series. Surviving one death-defying game after another, Kaiji Ito (Tatsuya Fujiwara) manages to erase all of his debts, but finds himself once again choking under a new mountain of debt. Eager for another shot at turning his fortunes around for good, Kaiji earns a chance to take on a monster pachinko machine with a billion yen payout a beast of a machine dubbed “The Swamp”. Under the tight control of the illegal casino’s ruthless manager, Seiya Ichijo (Yusuke Iseya), the machine is 100 percent unbeatable. What’s more, a dark and telling secret exists between Ichijo and Kaiji...
Movie Review:
Thankfully, the wait is finally over! After two years, Kaiji Ito is back and better.
Kaiji 2 picks up from where the previous movie ended, and wastes no effort in retelling what was already told. Hence, it could be a little confusing for viewers who missed out Kaiji. However, the flashbacks do provide the viewers with a little knowledge of what happened, and is sufficient for one to enjoy the movie. Cutting back on setting up the background for Kaiji 2 allowed more packed action and sequences.
Kaiji Ito (Tatsuya Fujiwara) finds himself deep in debt again, and works underground for Teai (Note: a leading capitalistic company that has loaned them money) with fellow “make inu” (loosely translates to losers), who apparently lost their purpose of living. Now that Kaiji earned himself the chance to go above the grounds, he is entrusted with a sum of money by his mates, who are betting their final hopes on him so that he could get ¥200 million (S$3.3 million) within 14 days, clear all their debts, and redeem new lives. Without a doubt, Kaiji was set on gambling in desperate hopes to obtain that huge amount of money. Kaiji bumped into Tonegawa (Teruyuki Kagawa), who lost to him in the last gambling showdown in the last movie. Tonegawa gave Kaiji an invitation to an exclusive gambling club, where the key to getting ¥200 million lies. Ultimately he has to outwit the gambling club manager, Seiya Ichizo (Yusuke Iseya), in order to win the grand prize at the Monster Pachinko Machine aka The Swamp.
Kaiji 2 follows the previous themes in Kaiji, with a good deal of deceptions, swinging loyalties, friends turning into enemies and vice versa. This time it is more exciting to watch because all the characters are in a complicated web of correlations, namely Yumi Ishida (Yuriko Yoshitaka) the daughter of a man who was killed by Teai, Seiya Ichizo who survived the Brave Men’s Road to rise up in Teai, Kaiji Ito who got enslaved by Teai, and Tonegawa who was once employed but thrown into the ashes by Teai. Then there are also other characters who got involved by Teai. As symbolic as it is, this probably mirror some truth in today’s capitalistic society, suggesting that human’s weaknesses are being capitalized on (predominantly in this movie, capitalizing on human’s greed).
On another note, Tatsuya Fujiwara’s acting in this film is significantly better than what it was two years ago or even tracing back to the time to his role in Death Note. This star has been steadily gaining popularity over the years from all over since Death Note, with Japanese teenage girls crowning him as Ikemen (good looking guy). Yusuke Iseya steals the limelight as well. As the cunning manager of the gambling club, he is unexpectedly comical and entertaining and inevitably perks up the film. This leads on to the fact that the film, unlike other feature films, is guilty of anime-styled improvisation, with exaggerated expressions and all. However arguably, that is what sets it apart from other films and make it so ‘laugh out loud’.
As of many Japanese movies, the ending is often redundantly lengthy. This film is no exception. It does kill the movie a little as the focus got lost. Tested and proven, a leopard doesn’t change its spots. Likewise, Kaiji stays true to who he is, all the way till the end. Anyway, if you do follow Japanese drama or movies along this genre, you would probably find Kaiji pretty similar to the leading female character in Liar Game, Nao. With that, you can probably guess what happened in the end!
Movie Rating:
(As suggested by Tatsuya Fujiwara himself, watch Kaiji 2 as a movie primarily intended for entertainment. Kaiji is back, wittier and more entertaining!)
Review by Tho Shu Ling
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SHAW THEATRES to bring back IMAX blockbuster hitsPosted on 20 Oct 2011 |
Genre: Drama
Director: Derek Yee
Cast: Tony Leung, Lau Ching Wan, Zhou Xun, Qin Pei, Yan Ni, Wu Gang
Runtime: 2 hrs 9 mins
Rating: PG
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films & Clover Films
Official Website:
Opening Day: 12 January 2012
Synopsis: 1916. General Yuan Shi-kai has just died and the Japanese are encroaching. A mysterious magician Zhang Xian catches the eye of local warlord, Lei Daniu, who hopes to use him to win the affections of Liu Yin, a woman he forced into being his seventh concubine. Unbeknownst to him, Zhang is the fiancé of Liu who has been waiting for him to rescue her. Zhang, who was hellbent on destroying Lei, discovers that the man behind the evil deeds is actually his head butler Liu who has joined forces with the Japanese in his misguided efforts to unite the country. To defeat Liu and win back the heart of his love, Zhang pulls out his ultimate magic trick.
Movie Review:
Derek Yee’s name may be synonymous with socially-aware crime thrillers like ‘One Nite in Mongkok’, ‘Protégé’ and ‘Shinjuku Incident’, but the veteran writer/director’s latest work- adapted from the novel by Zhang Haifan- shows that the man has quite the sense of humour too. Defying expectations as well by reuniting two heavyweight dramatic actors in Tony Leung and Lau Ching Wan, Yee’s ‘The Great Magician’ plays less like the historical drama you would expect it to and more like a witty comedy packed with trickery, shifting alliances and of course sleight-of-hands.
Just with its tone alone, Yee differentiates his film from Hollywood’s critically-acclaimed ‘The Illusionist’ to which it has been compared to- never mind that both movies deal with the return of a powerful magician and his attempt to win the heart of a woman he has loved before. Leung plays that very magician, Zhang Xian, who comes back to 1920s Beijing to reclaim the love he left behind three years ago and rescue his mentor imprisoned by an arrogant warlord General Bully Lei (Lau Ching Wan). Coincidentally, his lover, Liu Yin (Zhou Xun), has also been taken by Lei as his seventh wife- though despite Lei’s best efforts, he has not been able to make her fall in love with him.
The story is as much Zhang Xian’s as it is General Lei’s, and the equal emphasis that Yee gives to each character affords his audience distinct but equally delightful pleasures. There is campy fun to be had with General Lei’s scenes- whether his six wives, including an especially hardworking Third Wife played by Mainland actress Yan Ni, fighting for his attention; or his futile attempts at trying to win Liu Yin’s heart; or his condescension towards his second-in-command Butler Liu (Wu Gang)- and Yee deliberately plays them for broad laughs. Nowhere is this more obvious than in a classic scene where General Lei is discussing power plays with fellow bickering warlords (featuring cameos by director Tsui Hark and Vincent Kok), the squabbling and wrangling among them simply a riotous hoot.
On the other hand, the scenes with Zhang Xian crackle with riveting intensity. Yee successfully keeps his audience rapt with Zhang’s elaborate prestidigitation, as well as his and that of his magic troupe’s plot to kidnap General Lei for the release of the political prisoners Lei has kept imprisoned since assuming power. Zhang’s ostensible enmity with Lei- at least in the first half of the movie- also makes for an equally fascinating watch, as the former tries to overcome the latter’s inherent suspicion for someone who has (literally) always something up his sleeve. And of course, in the hands of two of the best male actors in Hong Kong, both Zhang and Lei truly come alive.
Last paired on the Johnnie To-produced crime thriller ‘The Longest Nite’ (for which both Leung and Lau received Best Actor nominations at the year’s Hong Kong Film Awards), both actors seem to be having a great time playing against their usual serious dramatic type roles. Lau gleefully hams it up in an over-the-top performance that is surprisingly endearing, especially for his well-meaning but unsuccessful attempts at trying to impress Liu Yin. On the other hand, Leung is charismatic as ever as the titular ‘great magician’ performing with poise and confidence his array of dazzling tricks. Though a trifle compared to his previous roles in ‘In the Mood for Love’, ‘2046’ or ‘Lust, Caution’, Leung is still as alluring playing the pining lover, and his scenes with Zhou Xun have an understated chemistry.
Yee engineers a number of twists and turns in the script he co-wrote with his regular collaborators Chun Tin-Nam and Lau Ho-Leung, but the most rewarding one is that which changes the dynamic between Zhang and Lei and allows them to share the screen as allies. The quick-witted Zhang and the brusquer Lei makes for an oddball but eccentrically appealing combination, and the second half of the film works like a charm thanks to the rapport and repartee between the two actors. Their engaging performances also anchor an otherwise frenetic final half-hour where Yee and his writers try to pack a lot of plot development into too little time- which admittedly also causes the tone of the film to veer quite dangerously into farce.
Mostly though Yee treads the fine line between wit and farce deftly- and even if certain scenes, especially those with Lau Ching Wan and Yan Ni, end up in slapstick, the movie is almost always smarter than what it appears to be. Yee may have been considerably influenced by the runaway success of Jiang Wen’s ‘Let the Bullets Fly’, so while it doesn’t possess the latter’s ingenuity and social acuity, there are similarities in the ‘wink-wink’ comic tone of both films. Much as it draws from historical events- the turbulent period after the fall of Yuan Shikai and his cronies trying to re-establish the Chinese monarchy- there is little to be taken seriously here, especially not when you have General Lei telling his guards to drive a tank backwards down the dust-beaten streets of Beijing because the other end of the vehicle looks nicer. It’s a departure from the usual Derek Yee films for sure, but one that’s light-hearted, witty and entertaining fun all around- besides, how often do you get both Tony Leung and Sean Lau at the same party?
Movie Rating:
(The unusual Derek Yee film that’s a witty and entertaining comedy packed with action and romance- and two irresistible leads in Tony Leung and Lau Ching Wan)
Review by Gabriel Chong
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More from THE GREAT MAGICIANPosted on 20 Oct 2011 |
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THE 'REAL' DEALPosted on 20 Oct 2011 |
SYNOPSIS: Embark on an extraordinary coming-of-age adventure as Simba, a lion cub who cannot wait to be king, searches for his destiny in the great :Circle of Life". From the stunningly beautiful opening sequence over African vistas to the hilarious escapades of "Hakuna Matata" with Timon and Pumbaa to the awe-inspiring moment when Simba takes his rightful place atop Pride Rock.
MOVIE REVIEW:
The huge theatrical and home video success of “The Lion King” prompted the Disney Company to release this direct-to-video sequel, “Simba’s Pride” in 1998.
Produced on a much lower budget, the story is accessible to anyone from 3 years of age onwards. Those younger than this age group can just feast on the visual if their attention span allows. “Simba’s Pride” to sum up is the Pride Lands version of “Romeo And Juliet”, the daughter of Simba, Kiara is in love with Kovu, the offspring of Scar who has been living in exile with his mother, Zira and siblings. Trained by his vengeful mother to reclaim Scar’s throne, Kovu is caught between his true love, Kiara and his family’s heinous plan.
Obviously, you need certain knowledge of the original movie to truly enjoy this one as there are references littered throughout liked Simba’s seeking advice from his deceased father, Mufasa while the wayward, rebellious Kiara is an exact carbon copy of the young Simba. Parenting issues is an recurrent event right here as Kiara expect his overprotective father to give her a chance to explore the Pride Lands herself instead of assigning Timon and Pumbaa behind her trail (not that they did a good job trailing her). And things of course don’t go that well when Daddy found out that her beloved princess is dating the enemy.
Being a Disney movie, the flick brought across interesting learning lessons for both parents and children. At the same time, it is filled with catchy song segments though a far cry from the Tim Rice and Elton John’s written works and Hans Zimmer’s pounding score. The drawings at times look less elaborate and fanciful but I guess most kids will be distracted by everyone favorite goofballs, Timon and Pumbaa who make the occasional appearance when things get a bit slow.
Overall, “The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride” still deserved a place in your DVD shelf if you are a fan of the original. It’s a much stronger piece as compared to other direct-to-video sequels which Disney fond of releasing.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Hosted by Timon and Pumbaa, Timon & Pumbaa's Insectapedia is a 6 minutes educational feature containing facts on assorted insects.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
Voices and song segments are rich and the sound effects are respectably reproduced on the DVD. Though the animation looks subpar compared to the original, colours are rich and deep despite being a decade old title.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
SYNOPSIS: Hilarity reigns in the motion picture comedy-adventure that takes you waaay back to the beginning before Simba's tale began... and beyond! From their uniquely hysterical perspective, Timon and and his windy Pumbaa - the greatest unsung heroes of the Savanna! - reveal where they came from, how they helped save the Serengeti and what really happened behind the scenes of The Lion King's biggest events.
MOVIE REVIEW:
In ought to be the usual tactic by Disney to milk more cash out of its lucrative franchise, “The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata” or “The Lion King ½” as it’s more widely known as is a silly, not-so-funny attempt to reintroduce audience to the origins of the franchise’s comedic sidekicks, Timon and Pumbaa.
If you have seen the original “The Lion King”, you would have known that Timon and Pumbaa only appeared halfway through the movie when Simba left the Pride Lands after the death of this father. You are wrong. Timon and Pumbaa were already at the inauguration ceremony of young Simba when he was just a cub.
Did you know that Timon was an outcast meerkat when he met the insectivore warthog, Pumbaa? The wondrous colourful song segment, “I can’t wait to be king” with Simba and Nala? Timon and Pumbaa were the ones that caused the fall right at the end. Remember the massive stampede scene where Musfasa met his death? These two free-spirited animals were actually right in front of all the mayhem as well. “The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata” took a spin on all the classic scenes and turn them into gags involving Timon and Pumbaa.
These two sidekicks are hilarious providing some needed comic relief in the first two instalments but right here, Timon just gets on one’s nerves with his self-assuming beliefs and his rattling is plain annoying. This is not to say there ain’t any funny bits of humour. For examples, Simba and Timon having a snail-eating competition and the secret of a spa right in the middle of a forest works all thanks to Pumbaa.
The song segments are clumsily put together, the sole memorable track could be “Digga Tunnah Dance” and I doubt the soundtrack will fly off the shelves for this instalment. While the animation such as the backdrops is not as rich as before, it retains the original magical feel of old Disney toons.
This 76 minutes feature is fart-jokes filled and mock fun at the original “The Lion King”, sacrilegious to the loyal fanbase perhaps though kids will find it far more entertaining than adults who love the 1994 movie feature.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Hosted by Timon and Pumbaa, Timon & Pumbaa's Vacation Safariis a 5 minutes educational feature on animals such as the cheetahs, crocodiles, rhino etc.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The sound design here is strictly meant for television viewing, nothing spectacular or awesome comparing to the original movie and sequel. Animation on the other hand is bright and colourful and looks wonderful on the small screen.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Cast: Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton, Michael Douglas, Michael Angarano
RunTime: 1 hr 32 mins
Rating: PG13 (Violence)
Released By: GV
Official Website: www.HaywireMovie.com
Opening Day: 19 January 2012
Synopsis: This dynamic action-thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh boasts a talented cast that includes Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton, Michael Douglas, Michael Angarano; and introduces MMA superstar Gina Carano as Mallory Kane, in a demanding lead role that has her performing her own high-adrenaline stunts. Mallory Kane is a highly trained operative who works for a government security contractor in the dirtiest, most dangerous corners of the world. After successfully freeing a Chinese journalist held hostage, she is double crossed and left for dead by someone close to her in her own agency. Suddenly the target of skilled assassins who know her every move, Mallory must find the truth in order to stay alive.
Movie Review:
Steven Soderbergh’s repertoire of 24 films within the past 22 years probably qualifies him as one of the most versatile directors in Hollywood, but his latest actioner ‘Haywire’ shows that even someone of his calibre has his limits. Essentially a B-grade movie wrapped up in an A-list package of stars, it is supposed to be the breakout vehicle of mixed martial arts champion Gina Carano- though it’s hard to fathom how anyone would take notice of Carano when Soderbergh is too busy putting his audience to sleep.
Like most of his works, Soderbergh adopts a low-key down-to-earth vibe to his globe-trotting thriller- beginning first in a diner in upstate New York where covert operative Mallory Kane (Carano) meets a former partner Aaron (Channing Tatum). Their brief exchange of words soon escalates into a brutish melee, the first of many where Carano gets to show off her mean MMA moves (with some expert choreography by J. J. Perry) that will make any man think twice before messing with her.
‘Woah’ is the appropriate response in this instance, and should be the response every other time Carano gets to take out her enemies of the opposite sex- alas, Soderbergh does her and the movie a great disservice by his minimalist direction. Indeed, for the most part, there is a distinct sense that Soderbergh is simply content to point his camera and watch like a spectator while his actors go about their scenes, attempting little build-up in excitement or tension where such basic moviemaking techniques would have mattered.
The detachment works in so far as the action is concerned- Carano is after all front and centre performing on her own every one of the stunts, and Soderbergh’s cinematography (under his usual d.p alias of Peter Andrews) enables his audience to appreciate her physicality without having to put up with the annoying use of handheld close-ups plaguing many action movies of late. But his unfussy style also means that his audience has to get through writer Lem Dobbs’ unwieldy exposition that lacks the brevity and concision necessary for any action movie worth its salt.
So even as the action switches from Barcelona to Dublin where Mallory’s earlier mission of rescuing a Chinese dissident journalist (Anthony Brandon Wong) turns out to be no more than a setup, the film never quite musters any genuine excitement at either location- and the sheer amount of talk that the characters engage in do it no favours. That is even more so when the intentions of the various characters become clear towards the end of the film, and what we thought may have been something smarter turned out to be nothing more than an unnecessarily convoluted setup for an otherwise simplistic plot.
Soderbergh also struggles to maintain a consistent tone for the movie, wavering between a classiness befitting of the ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ movies (thanks in no small measure to returning composer David Holmes’ jazzy score) and a grittiness befitting of his latest ‘Contagion’, both of which seem ill at ease in what is in actual fact a glorified B-movie. The ensemble cast however manage to make the best of their respective supporting roles. Antonio Banderas and Michael Douglas are appropriately smarmy as two shadowy Government figures responsible for Mallory’s contract, while Bill Paxton is unexpectedly touching as Mallory’s father. Michael Fassbender steals the show as a fellow operative contracted to take out Mallory, his hand-to-hand combat with Carano easily the best sequence in the whole film. Sadly, Ewan McGregor is miscast as Mallory’s contact man Kenneth, nowhere more evident than in a painfully obvious choreographed showdown between him and Mallory on the beach.
And on hindsight, it may not have been a wise move to cast these actors (with the exception of Fassbender) against Carano. None of them are Carano’s match, and as any Asian action star (pick Donnie Yen or Tony Jaa for instance) can tell you, a worthy opponent goes a long way in an action movie. Soderbergh is also let down by his own disinclination for the material, as his arthouse touch ultimately drains the movie of the sheer adrenaline thrills it should pack. It’s clear to see why Soderbergh had taken the trouble to build a movie around a newcomer, but unfortunately, this star-driven vehicle goes exactly where its title suggests.
Movie Rating:
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(An impressive lead debut by MMA star Gina Carano cannot save this action thriller from being talky, draggy and ultimately an interminable bore)
Review by Gabriel Chong
SYNOPSIS: A spectacular journey of an unwilling young hero thrust into a mysterious past full of monsters, dragons, and strange hidden powers. Through a series of out of this world battles and adventures, Jun, a shy middle school boy, is transformed into a hero destined to battle evil and ensure harmony and tranquility in the world..
MOVIE REVIEW:
You don’t really get a major anime title to be release on home video via a major branding such as this one under Sony thus you expect the product to be something above the usual crop. Alas, “Legend of the Millennium Dragon” is nothing exceptional and you might find it all too familiar to have a lasting impression.
The animation opens with an exciting battle between the monks led by Gen’un and the Oni (demons). Not satisfy with the period setting, director and co-writer Hirotsugu Kawasaki brought audience back to contemporary Kyoto where a shy, middle-school boy, Jun Tendo is being transcend back into the Heian era by Gen’un cos he is the savior and he is believed to be the one to help defeat the increasing powerful Oni.
For a while, the plotting is engaging to watch. As we follows Jun as he begins to explore the happenings and the fact that he is actually the descendant of the Magatama Clan which to sum up can summon the powerful Oruchi (dragon). And why he is the one? Just as Harry Potter has a lightning mark on his forehead well Jun has the birthmark of a dragon on his body if you are curious. Then it starts to drag a little and drag further till we await the next climatic battle.
Those hardcore anime fans won’t be surprised by the genre frequent fusion of magical powers, Buddhism mythology and Japanese folklore. To his credit, Kawasaki did a pretty good job concocting them into his tale yet his execution of the story just fall flat to grab one’s attention when you get a character liked Jun who spends much of his screentime deciding who he should trust. Plain wishy-washy, my friend. Is Gen’un a trustworthy fella or is he up to no good? The Oni on the other hand turns out to be a bunch of banished villagers in disguise (it’s a very effective tool with all that magical masks thingy) that comprise a cute girl and a cute kid and come on; you know instantly who are the good guys.
The sole good thing is the various spectacular battles between the Oni and Gen’un with the massive Oruchi throws in for more insane action. The artwork here ranges from good to average to not so good though I personally thought the backdrops and characterizations could need a bit more work. Other than that, this is a very ordinary anime that could be a lot better. It definitely won’t win you over but makes a mere deserving rental.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
NIL.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The audio is fantastic when it comes to the battle sequences and the Japanese dialogue is clear. The video quality is a mixed bag. At times the animation looks great and at times rather bland but still colour contrast on the whole is presentable.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by Linus Tee
SYNOPSIS: Directed by suspense master and director of the first trilogy, Wes Craven, Scream 4 is the newest installment in the acclaimed franchise that ushered in a new wave of horror in the 1990's. In Scream 4, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), now author of a self-help book, returns home to Woodsboro on the last stop of her book tour. There she reconnects with Sheriff Dewey (David Arquette) and Gale (Courtney Cox), who are now married, as well as her cousin Jill (Emma Roberts). Unfortunately Sidney's appearance also brings about the return of Ghost Face, putting Sidney, Gale, and Dewey, along with Jill, her friends (Hayden Panattiere, Rory Culkin) and the whole town of Woodsboro in danger.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Who would have thought? The movie that defined the American slasher film genre returns for a fourth time on the big screen – after 10 years. While its two sequels were somewhat substandard, who could forget Drew Barrymore’s brilliant cameo in the original movie’s opening sequence? For the younger and uninitiated readers, we will not spoil the wonderful scene by telling you telling you too much. What we will reveal though, is that it involves a phone call and some popcorn popping. Also, let’s just say that Ghost Face became one of the best selling Halloween masks ever.
Back to this fourth movie in the franchise, the original scream queen Sidney Prescott (played by the ever disturbed looking Neve Campbell) returns to Woodsboro (the town that Ghost Face frequents) as part of her book tour. Yes, the scriptwriters have made Sidney an author and she has managed to put herself back together again, thanks to her writing. As one would expect, Ghost Face surfaces and begins killing people. The gang involved this time round consists of Sidney’s younger cousin, as well as a whole lot of other teenagers from her high school who learns the new rules of surviving horror movies.
Also returning to the franchise are Courtney Cox’s Gale Weathers Riley and David Arquette’s Dewey Riley. The first thing you’d notice is how Campbell, Cox and Arquette have aged. However, if you think about it, aging is only a natural process that Hollywood stars have to go through, right? Hence, Kevin Williamson cleverly plays up this factor in his script, so that a whole new generation of young stars can have their place in the story. In the mix are notable faces like Emma Roberts (Nancy Drew, Wild Child), Hayden Panettiere (I Love You, Beth Cooper!, Alpha and Omega) and Rory Culkin (Igby Goes Down, The Night Listener). There are also cameo appearances by Adam Brody (Jennifer’s Body), Anna Paquin (X Men: The Last Stand) and Kristen Bell (Burlesque).
It seems to director Wes Craven’s intention to train and cultivate a new breed of scream queens (and kings) with this lineup of young actors. While they are not your A list big names, they deliver commendable performances which will have you, apologies about the pun here, kill 106 minutes of your time.
The formula is still very much generic: Through elimination, the cast gets killed off one by one, narrowing down your choice of who the mastermind is. It is an enjoyable, if not too intelligent ride with an adequate amount of thrills and spills to have you liking it – that is, if you are a fan of the slasher genre, thanks to the original Scream movie in 1996.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
NIL
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The visual transfer of the movie is fine, and is presented in its original English soundtrack.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD RATING :
Review by John Li
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